Chapter Summaries

Bai Tang absorbed Jiang Yang’s sword essence until she regained a physical body and the Rusty Sword revealed its name, Bai Du. Their sword intent intertwined, giving Jiang Yang insight into Bai Tang’s Sword Dao before he collapsed from exhaustion; the next evening, he woke recovering and recognized the benefit to his cultivation.

• Bai Tang drew sword essence from Jiang Yang, regained a flesh-and-blood body, and let the Rusty Sword shed its rust to reveal the name Bai Du.
• Jiang Yang nearly exhausted his true essence while continuing to supply Bai Tang with sword essence.
• Bai Tang’s sword intent surged into Jiang Yang’s Sea of Consciousness, and their intertwined spirit senses let him absorb her Sword Dao insights.
• Their connection ended when Jiang Yang ran out of true essence and spirit sense, and Bai Tang laid him on the bed.
• Bai Tang examined Bai Du and murmured that its name felt familiar.
• The following evening, Jiang Yang woke with some strength restored and realized the experience would help his progress in the Sword Dao.

Jiang Yang learned from Bai Tang why sword intent had to be attained before reaching the Purple Mansion, then asked to see her sword intent again. Bai Tang summoned the restored White Du Sword, leaving Jiang Yang to behold its hidden murderous intent.

• Jiang Yang checked on Bai Tang and learned that replenished sword essence could keep her active for several months if she avoided fighting.
• Bai Tang warned Jiang Yang to pursue sword intent before breaking through to the Purple Mansion and acquiring divine powers.
• Bai Tang explained that a mighty being's attainment through the sword had made the Sword Dao supreme and that sword intent functioned as an unconventional Dao lineage incompatible with other divine powers.
• Jiang Yang asked to see Bai Tang's sword intent again, and she summoned the rust-free White Du Sword.
• Jiang Yang recognized the transformed sword and sensed its intense murderous intent beneath its plain appearance.

Bai Tang revealed that her sword intent was called Daybreak Separation, but Jiang Yang could not reproduce the sword-principle insight he had experienced with her the previous night. After he explained what had happened, Bai Tang tested the connection by drawing sword essence from him, and the familiar flow of sword principles returned.

• Bai Tang showed Jiang Yang her Daybreak Separation sword intent and explained how sword-intent lineages were named and classified.
• Jiang Yang tried to experience Bai Tang's sword intent but sensed only its sharpness, not the insight he had gained the night before.
• Bai Tang mistook Jiang Yang's request for a desire to repeat their intimate encounter and scolded him.
• Jiang Yang explained how their mingling sword intents had let him comprehend sword principles, including Bai Tang's Withering and Flourishing Tribulation.
• Bai Tang decided to test his claim and drew sword essence from Jiang Yang, restoring the flow of sword principles into his Sea of Consciousness.

Jiang Yang used Bai Tang’s Sword Essence to comprehend her Sword Intent and demonstrated his rapid progress, easing her fears that her influence would hinder his own path. After more than a month of secluded cultivation, he was summoned to meet his master on the mountain.

• Bai Tang saw her Sword Intent gather in Jiang Yang’s eyes as he entered a trance and realized he could comprehend her Sword Dao through their bond with the White Du Sword.
• Jiang Yang demonstrated his new mastery by unleashing “Leaning on Clear Autumn” in the courtyard, convincing Bai Tang of his progress.
• Bai Tang worried that borrowing her Sword Dao would prevent Jiang Yang from forging his own Sword Intent, but Jiang Yang reassured her that he was using her cultivation to create something of his own.
• Jiang Yang entered seclusion to temper his magic power with elixirs, and more than a month later emerged with a stronger aura.
• Spirit Steward arrived in the courtyard and told Jiang Yang that his master had requested his presence, so he went with her into the mountains.

Jiang Yang learned that he would accompany Xuan Di to the Dragon Lord’s birthday celebration, where he could meet the world’s outstanding talents. After notifying Shang Qingzheng that he would miss their meeting, Jiang Yang traveled with Xuan Di through the Great Void and arrived at the Heli Heavenly Abyss.

• Jiang Yang visited Xuan Guang and Xuan Di, who praised him for forming sword essence and urged him to seek guidance and devote himself to the Sword Dao.
• Xuan Di invited Jiang Yang to the Dragon Lord’s birthday celebration in the Lesser Sea, and Xuan Guang agreed that he should go.
• Jiang Yang returned to his courtyard and sent Shang Qingzheng a letter explaining that he could not keep their appointment at the Jade Bamboo Grove.
• Xuan Di carried Jiang Yang through the Great Void for many hours before emerging above a vast, dark whirlpool.
• Xuan Di identified the place before them as the Heli Heavenly Abyss.

Xuan Di brought Jiang Yang to the Heli Heavenly Abyss and explained its deadly weak-water powers before taking him to the Azure Void Sea. They met Yuanzhu, who welcomed them on behalf of the Ripplefront Water Palace and prepared to escort them to the Dragon Lord’s birthday celebration.

• Xuan Di showed Jiang Yang the Heli Heavenly Abyss and explained that its weak water pulled down anything unable to resist it, while the Venerable Spirit of Abyssal Depths slept below.
• Xuan Di and Jiang Yang flew to the Lesser Sea, which was also called the Azure Void Sea and was controlled by Dragonkind.
• Xuan Di stopped over the deep sea and waited for an escort to the Ripplefront Water Palace.
• Yuanzhu emerged with a host of sea demons and greeted Xuan Di as Lü Chengcang of the Celestial River Tradition, then welcomed him and Jiang Yang to the Water Palace.
• Yuanzhu summoned jade steps and invited the pair to board the Water-Avoiding Greenback Softshell Turtle for the journey to the seabed palace.

Jiang Yang accompanied Xuan Di aboard the turtle beast carrying guests toward the Dragon Lord’s birthday banquet, where they met Prince Jing Lu Xinghuai and his junior, Lu Jingchuan. During the voyage, Jiang Yang recognized the imperial family’s official fortune qi and confirmed that Yuanzhu possessed longevity qi.

• Lu Xinghuai and Lu Jingchuan emerged from the Great Void and joined Yuanzhu, Xuan Di, and Jiang Yang on the Softshell Turtle Beast.
• Yuanzhu ordered the beast to dive, then conjured a palace onto its back and invited the guests inside.
• Xuan Di exchanged greetings with Prince Jing and introduced Jiang Yang to Lu Xinghuai and Lu Jingchuan.
• Jiang Yang sensed official fortune qi around Lu Jingchuan and realized his own abilities could give him an advantage against the young cultivator.
• As the guests drank tea and spoke, Jiang Yang used Conjoined Branch to see that Yuanzhu was 869 years old with a heavenly lifespan of 1,130 years, confirming his longevity qi.

Jiang Yang learned that Yuanzhu, the ancient turtle demon guiding the party, cultivated the blighted path of longevity qi, which granted long life but barred him from reaching the Purple Mansion. After three days, the Water-Avoiding Greenback Softshell Turtle brought them to the seabed Ripplefront Water Palace, where Yuanzhu's high standing among the water demons became clear.

• Jiang Yang recognized Yuanzhu's longevity qi and reflected on the dangers of its damaged Dao lineage.
• Yuanzhu asked Xuan Di about Great True Person Ji Shang and learned that he had died after failing to claim the remaining position of Weak Water.
• Xuan Di and Lu Xinghuai recalled Ji Shang's cultivation and lamented that he had failed to ascend to the golden position.
• After three days, the Water-Avoiding Greenback Softshell Turtle settled on the seabed, and Yuanzhu escorted the guests toward Ripplefront Water Palace.
• Xuan Di explained to Jiang Yang that longevity qi was a hereditary shackle for spirit turtles, leaving Yuanzhu unable to attain divine powers or break through to Purple Mansion.

Jiang Yang accompanied Xuan Di and Lu Xinghuai to Ao Qian’s birthday banquet at Wavefront Water Palace, where the Dragon King welcomed the guests and received their gifts. Jiang Yang was seated with the younger disciples in the Side Hall, where a fellow guest asked where he came from.

• Yuanzhu explained the Misty Expanse Way and the Dragon King’s authority as Jiang Yang’s group approached Wavefront Water Palace.
• Ao Qian personally welcomed Xuan Di, Lu Xinghuai, Jiang Yang, and their companions at the palace gates and led them inside.
• Xuan Di presented gifts on behalf of the Celestial River Tradition, and Ao Qian invited him to a seat of honor.
• Lu Xinghuai presented the Heavenly Ministry Imperial Lineage’s gifts, and Ao Qian welcomed him to the banquet.
• A green-robed demon guided Jiang Yang to the Side Hall, where his arrival with Lu Jingchuan drew the younger disciples’ attention.
• After Jiang Yang took a seat, someone beside him asked where he came from.

At the Dragon King’s birthday banquet, Jiang Yang learned that his seat reflected the prestige of the Celestial River Tradition and met Yun Zhen, a Luan Phoenix who explained the gathering’s hierarchy. As the feast preparations began, Yun Zhen noticed a tempting fragrance about Jiang Yang and asked why he seemed so special.

• Yun Zhen introduced herself to Jiang Yang as a Supreme Li Sunset Sun-Fighting Luan and explained how the banquet seats reflected each guest’s lineage and standing.
• Jiang Yang realized the Celestial River Tradition’s reputation protected him despite his limited strength.
• Jiang Yang surveyed the guests, recognizing Lu Jingchuan, Dongmen Shu, and Qin Dingying among the gathered lineages.
• Servants brought fruit, wine, and delicacies into the hall as the banquet approached its start.
• Yun Zhen moved closer to Jiang Yang, said his fragrance made her mouth water, and asked why he seemed special.

Jiang Yang concealed the bird-attracting aura of his Immortal Foundation from Yun Zhen before a Dragon Prince arrived to host the banquet. When a Dragon Lord passed above the palace, Jiang Yang suffered eye pain after looking at him, and the chapter left him meeting the Dragon Prince’s gaze.

• Jiang Yang invoked his Immortal Foundation’s marvel to disguise his aura and convince Yun Zhen that the fragrance she sensed had vanished.
• A Dragon Prince arrived in the Side Hall, and the assembled scions of immortals paid their respects.
• A Dragon Lord swam above the palace, and Jiang Yang stared upward until Bai Tang warned him to close his eyes.
• Jiang Yang lowered his gaze and later saw that Yun Zhen and other guests had suffered bloodshot or injured eyes from looking at the Dragon Lord.
• After recovering, Jiang Yang noticed the Dragon Prince watching him, and their gazes met.

Ao Qian welcomed the guests to the Water Palace banquet after the Dragon Lord’s brief appearance, and the cultivators began drinking and enjoying the performances. Jiang Yang stayed cautious and sober, discovered that the Dragon Prince was a dragon maiden, and ended up sharing a drink with Yun Zhen.

• The Dragon Lord appeared above the hall in a brief display of scales, claws, and golden lightning, and Ao Qian welcomed the gathered cultivators on his behalf.
• Ao Qian announced the banquet, and the guests enjoyed wine, performances, and lavish food while Jiang Yang kept to himself and drank sparingly.
• Jiang Yang noticed that the Dragon Prince had a woman’s voice, while Tan Hong asked her for plain tea because he was observing Buddhist precepts.
• Yun Zhen invited Jiang Yang to share a drink, drained her cup, and blushed when he thanked her for keeping him company.

At the birthday banquet, Jiang Yang helped Yun Zhen sober up after she tried Dragonkind wine, and she shared a jar of Hundred-Flower Spirit Honey with him. The honey greatly boosted his cultivation and left him on the verge of reaching the foundation establishment middle stage, while Yun Zhen insisted he keep the valuable jar.

• Jiang Yang stopped Yun Zhen from drinking more Dragonkind wine and used spiritual light to dispel its effects.
• Jiang Yang sampled raw fish at the banquet and wondered whether the creature it came from had once taken human form.
• Yun Zhen gave Jiang Yang a jar of sweet honey and urged him to taste it.
• Jiang Yang recognized the honey as rare Hundred-Flower Spirit Honey and felt his cultivation nearing a breakthrough.
• Jiang Yang tried to return the jar, but Yun Zhen insisted that he keep it.

At Ao Qian’s birthday feast in the Dragon Palace, he introduced Xuan Di to the assembled cultivators and Monsters while trying to put him at ease and renew old ties. Ba Yu disrupted the refined entertainment, and Ao Qian redirected the rowdy guests toward a fight between two water beasts.

• Ao Qian invited Xuan Di to drink and suggested that their Water-Controlling and Weak Water paths renew their old friendship.
• Ao Qian introduced the gathered guests, including Feng Yi, Ba Yu, True Person Canyang, and several prominent cultivators and demons.
• Ba Yu complained that the songs and dances lacked vigor and demanded more entertaining festivities.
• The Demon Kings clamored for debauchery and bloody fare, but Ao Qian rejected bloodshed at the birthday feast and proposed a fight between sea demons.
• Ao Qian dismissed the performers and ordered two water beasts brought into the hall to fight.

At Ao Qian’s birthday banquet, Jiang Yang watched a brutal fight between two monsters before Yuanzhu halted it and proposed a martial arts and spell duel for the gathered juniors. Ao Qian approved the contest and offered valuable treasures to the top three, with an extra reward for first place.

• Jiang Yang watched two monsters battle on a platform while Yun Zhen identified them as a White Horseshoe Crab and a Four-Armed Tiger Jiao.
• The Tiger Jiao nearly crushed the White Horseshoe Crab, but Yuanzhu stopped the fight to prevent a death at the birthday banquet.
• Yuanzhu proposed a martial arts and spell duel among the juniors, and Ao Qian asked the assembled cultivators for their approval.
• Ao Qian announced that the top three duelists could choose a treasure, with an additional reward promised to the winner.
• Xuan Di surveyed the valuable prizes and marveled at Dragonkind’s wealth.

At the Dragon King's birthday banquet, Jiang Yang learned that a treasure in the Dragon Palace collection was a Shuo Yang spirit treasure needed for a spell art he had long meant to cultivate. He became interested in joining the spell duel to win it.

• Yuanzhu invited the True Persons to send disciples forward, and Xuan Di told Jiang Yang he could decide for himself whether to participate.
• Jiang Qianchuan of Emerald Que Mountain, Azure Peak Ridge, stepped onto the platform and challenged the other juniors to a spell duel.
• Jiang Yang asked Yun Zhen whether she wanted to fight, but she dismissed Jiang Qianchuan as too weak and said the water-aligned prizes were useless to her.
• Senior Bai told Jiang Yang that a jade box held a Purple Mansion spirit treasure of the Shuo Yang Dao, the counterpart to the Hui Yin treasure in Jiang Yang's Storage Bag.
• Jiang Yang changed his answer and said he might be willing to fight.

Jiang Yang watched Dongmen Shu of West Peak challenge Jiang Qianchuan of Emerald Que Mountain, while considering the rare Spirit Treasures needed for his eye technique. Dongmen Shu’s Geng Metal sword arts overwhelmed Jiang Qianchuan’s poison until Jiang Qianchuan secretly invoked his Heart Gu.

• Jiang Yang heard of a Shuo Yang Spirit Treasure and considered trying to obtain it for his eye technique.
• Dongmen Shu introduced himself and challenged Jiang Qianchuan on the platform.
• Jiang Qianchuan released poisonous mist and venomous creatures from his Five Poisons Treasure Bag, but Dongmen Shu cut through them with his sword.
• Dongmen Shu activated Fighting Mystic Force, using Geng Metal energy to suppress the poison and drive Jiang Qianchuan onto the defensive.
• Jiang Qianchuan silently chanted Heart Gu while retreating and summoning Mystic Artifacts.

Jiang Qianchuan used gu poison to weaken Dongmen Shu, but Dongmen Shu broke through his defenses with a powerful sword technique and won the first bout. As Dongmen Shu recovered, Jiang Yang prepared to claim the next match and test his sword against a fellow Sword Cultivator.

• Jiang Qianchuan summoned spirit-sense-undetectable yu that poisoned Dongmen Shu during their fight.
• Yun Zhen identified the yu and explained that a purple qi lotus could cure their poison, prompting Jiang Yang to recall the crimson mansion cloud whirlpool lotus.
• Dongmen Shu unleashed Myriad Forms Return to the Source and broke through Jiang Qianchuan’s shield, forcing him to concede.
• Jiang Qianchuan drew the remaining poison from Dongmen Shu, and Yuanzhu announced Dongmen Shu’s victory.
• Dongmen Shu took an elixir to recover during his quarter-hour break, while Jiang Yang decided to claim the next bout.

Jiang Yang challenged Dongmen Shu and used autumn response sword essence to overwhelm him, revealing a level of swordsmanship beyond Dongmen Shu’s. Dongmen Shu conceded, while the spectators recognized Jiang Yang’s distinctive sword essence as the legacy of the famed Sword Immortal Yi Yuanguang.

• Yun Zhen encouraged Jiang Yang to enter the bout, and Jiang Yang leaped onto the platform to face Dongmen Shu of the Yi Sword Gate.
• Jiang Yang and Dongmen Shu exchanged sword attacks, and Dongmen Shu realized Jiang Yang surpassed him in the Sword Dao.
• Dongmen Shu activated his Geng Metal immortal foundation and attacked with sharpened sword rays, but Jiang Yang took to the air and unleashed autumn response sword essence.
• The birds and autumn winds of Jiang Yang’s sword essence overwhelmed Dongmen Shu, while the spectators identified him as a successor of Yi Yuanguang.
• Hwamei birds formed from sword essence perched on Dongmen Shu’s shoulder, prompting him to concede; Jiang Yang revealed he had never moved from his original position.

Jiang Yang defeated Dongmen Shu, then faced Cen Huaijun, whose Wu earth techniques and Wu Central Palace proved to be a formidable defense. The chapter ended with Cen confident that Jiang Yang could not break through his immortal foundation.

• Jiang Yang defeated Dongmen Shu using his swordsmanship and Mirage Mist, and Dongmen left grateful for the guidance that showed him a path forward in the sword Dao.
• Jiang Yang rested briefly before Cen Huaijun of Locust Image Mountain challenged him.
• Jiang Yang's sword rays barely disturbed Cen Huaijun's earth-colored barrier, so Jiang Yang unleashed his sword essence and attacked with Black Bird Descends from Heaven.
• Cen Huaijun summoned the Wu Directional Mystic Seal, and Jiang Yang evaded its crushing strike by charging toward him with his sword.
• Xuan Di and Dragon King Ao Qian discussed Cen Huaijun's Wu Mystic Pivot-Elephant Dao lineage and its defensive strength as the Wu Central Palace appeared around him.
• Cen Huaijun's Wu Central Palace knocked Jiang Yang out of his sword-union state without taking damage, and Cen declared that he could not be defeated while it remained active.