Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yang used Broadwood’s wood energy to exploit the Water-Merging spirit array and damage Cen Huaijun’s Wu Earth Mystic Palace. The spectators recognized his rare Dao lineage, while Jiang Yang’s assault left the palace on the verge of collapse.

• Jiang Yang transformed his displayed aura and used Conjoined Branch to make wood energy flourish against the Wu Earth Mystic Palace’s Water-Merging spirit array.
• The True Persons and other cultivators noticed Jiang Yang’s strange wood energy, and Canyang, Feng Yi, and Guangsheng recognized its ancient significance.
• The Water-Controlling Dragon King identified Jiang Yang’s path as Southern Nest Branch, and Xuan Di concealed how Jiang Yang had obtained it.
• Ao Qian warned that the Water-Merging spirit array could not quickly withstand Southern Nest Branch’s power and predicted trouble for Cen Huaijun.
• Jiang Yang advanced with his sword, and his wood energy shook the palace until its beams and pillars began to sway; Cen Huaijun’s confidence faltered.

Jiang Yang decisively defeated Cen Huaijun of Locust Image Mountain, then agreed to continue fighting after recovering. Lu Jingchuan of the Heavenly Directorate's Chengming Dao Lineage challenged him and opened their bout with an array of mystic artifacts and his Profound Cave Jade Tablet.

• Jiang Yang shattered Cen Huaijun's Wu Earth Mystic Palace with his sword stroke, Leaning on Clear Autumn, and forced him to kneel.
• A true person from Locust Image Mountain declared that her side had lost the round and took Cen Huaijun away.
• Jiang Yang accepted another bout, while Yuanzhu treated him with renewed respect and the watching cultivators grew eager to challenge him.
• Lu Jingchuan defied his royal father's warning and stepped onto the platform to fight Jiang Yang.
• Lu Jingchuan introduced himself as belonging to the Heavenly Directorate's Chengming Dao Lineage, unleashed numerous mystic artifacts, and activated his Profound Cave Jade Tablet.

Jiang Yang used his Conjoined Branch Immortal Foundation’s Branches of a Common Root to overcome Lu Jingchuan’s Divine Generals and force him to concede. Lu Jingchuan left the platform regretting that he had not understood his royal father’s warning sooner.

• Lu Jingchuan summoned silver-armored Divine Generals with his Profound Cave Jade Tablet Immortal Foundation and ordered them to attack Jiang Yang.
• Jiang Yang’s wood qi caused flowering branches to grow through the Divine Generals’ armor, weakening them and draining Lu Jingchuan’s True Essence.
• Mo Yu admired Jiang Yang while the burly man beside her mocked his appearance.
• Jiang Yang urged Lu Jingchuan to concede, and Lu Jingchuan dispersed his Spells and asked what technique had defeated him.
• Jiang Yang named the art Branches of a Common Root, and Lu Jingchuan collected his Mystic Artifacts and left the platform.

Jiang Yang continued defeating challengers at the gathering, while the cultivators debated his unfamiliar Dao lineage. After Yuan Jiu challenged him, Jiang Yang swiftly injured the Water Ape and sent him back to the Side Hall.

• Lu Jingchuan returned to the Side Hall after Jiang Yang defeated him and refused to reveal anything about Jiang Yang's abilities.
• Cultivators speculated that Jiang Yang cultivated Broadwood after discussing the blossom that had appeared on the platform.
• Yuan Jiu volunteered to challenge Jiang Yang, believing Jiang Yang had been weakened by his earlier matches.
• Yuan Jiu attacked Jiang Yang, but Jiang Yang sent him flying back into the Side Hall with severe sword wounds.
• The dragon prince ordered two Clam Maidens to take Yuan Jiu away for treatment, while three cultivators settled their wager over how long he would last.

After Jiang Yang’s swift victory over the water ape, the other cultivators hesitated to challenge him, each hoping someone else would wear him down. Yan Heng of the Vermilion Flame Separation Palace finally took the platform, and Jiang Yang prepared to face a formidable late-stage Foundation Establishment opponent.

• The cultivators in the side hall praised the water ape’s abilities but recognized Jiang Yang as an exceptional prodigy, then avoided volunteering for the next bout.
• Qin Dingying struggled with fear and guilt as her inner demon taunted her about her sister Qin Dingyi’s death, but a white halo gradually calmed her.
• The cultivators exchanged excuses rather than challenge Jiang Yang, wary of losing strength before competing for the Dragon King’s rewards.
• The Dragon Prince invited Yun Zhen and Tan Hong to take the platform, but both politely declined.
• Yan Heng approached Yun Zhen, introduced himself as a disciple of the Vermilion Flame Separation Palace of Xiangli, then went to the platform and challenged Jiang Yang.
• Jiang Yang recognized Yan Heng’s formidable cultivation and resolved to end the fight quickly.

Jiang Yang fought Yan Heng, a stronger cultivator who wielded Separation Fire, and used concealed arts to locate him despite his escape technique. Jiang Yang’s sword light trapped Yan Heng, leaving the duel poised for a decisive strike.

• Yan Heng summoned Zhu Mingye and attacked Jiang Yang with vermilion flames, but Jiang Yang countered with Touching Green Moss.
• Yan Heng brought out the Dark Candle Bright Separation Lamp and strengthened his fire arts, putting pressure on Jiang Yang in the confined arena.
• Jiang Yang secretly used Peach Bow and Thorn Arrows and Suppress Old Qi, Punish the Unjust, Fated Presence to weaken Yan Heng’s flames before striking with Silencing the Cold Cicada.
• Yan Heng transformed into fire and hid with Red Mulberry Flame-Step while spreading flames across the platform.
• Jiang Yang’s gaze revealed that he had already found Yan Heng, and his sword light sealed every direction around him.

Jiang Yang overwhelmed Yan Heng’s defenses with precise sword strikes and a hidden final attack, forcing Yan Heng to concede defeat after a True Person intervened to stop the Spirit Sword. The duel ended with Jiang Yang victorious and Yan Heng alive but shaken.

• Jiang Yang trapped Yan Heng with sword light, while Yan Heng used a Jade Talisman to raise a Mystic Shield and continued attacking with vermilion flames.
• Jiang Yang repeatedly struck one point on Yan Heng’s shield as he evaded the flames and conserved his true essence.
• Yan Heng formed the Evening-Glow Mystic Candle Dragon and prepared to overwhelm Jiang Yang, only to realize Jiang Yang’s Spirit Sword had vanished.
• Jiang Yang’s bluish-white Spirit Sword nearly struck Yan Heng before a red-robed True Person restrained it.
• The Spirit Sword escaped the True Person’s control long enough to embed itself in Yan Heng’s Scale Shield, and Yan Heng conceded defeat.

Jiang Yang defeated Yan Heng in their fifth consecutive bout, drawing the attention of a True Person, then recovered enough strength to continue competing for a Shuo Yang spirit treasure. His next opponent, Qi Lianggu of the Purple Sun Palace, arrived wielding lightning artifacts and began his challenge.

• Yan Heng conceded defeat after Jiang Yang's sword strike pierced his Spirit Sword, and the red-robed True Person questioned Jiang Yang about his sword essence, Autumn Response.
• Jiang Yang explained that he cultivated his master's Sword Canon, then swallowed a Pill to restore his depleted true essence as the hall's cultivators discussed his five victories.
• Yuanzhu advised Jiang Yang that his result likely secured him a place in the top three, but Jiang Yang chose to keep fighting for a Shuo Yang spirit treasure.
• Qi Lianggu of the Purple Sun Palace on Lingye Mountain appeared on the platform, greeted Jiang Yang, and revealed violet lightning and a pair of mystic artifacts.
• Qi Lianggu struck his Urn-Gold Hammer against his Long Nail, sending violet lightning through the air as the next bout began.

Jiang Yang fought Qi Lianggu, a Firmament Thunder cultivator, and used his speed and Spirit Oak to evade and counter the violet lightning. As Qi Lianggu launched a desperate hammer strike, Jiang Yang prepared Bright Mystery for a final clash.

• Qi Lianggu struck the stone wedge and unleashed Firmament Thunder, but Jiang Yang dodged the lightning and remained unharmed.
• Jiang Yang drew his polished Spirit Oak and used the Scarlet Palace Heart Mansion Meridian-Pulsing Canon to accelerate his sword strikes, cutting Qi Lianggu's cheek.
• Qi Lianggu activated the Violet Sun True Talisman Secret Thunder Art, healed his wound, and bombarded Jiang Yang with mystic thunder and violet lightning.
• Jiang Yang conjured thirty-six sword lights with Illusory Wonder and sent them around Qi Lianggu, forcing him to react.
• Qi Lianggu enlarged the Urn-Gold Hammer, ignored the encircling sword lights, and charged down at Jiang Yang, who invoked Bright Mystery.

Jiang Yang defeated Qi Lianggu with his final sword qi and chose to stop after securing six victories because his true essence was exhausted. He left the platform to rest, drawing eager attention from the other cultivators and praise from Yun Zhen.

• Jiang Yang blinded and disoriented Qi Lianggu, then defeated him with fine sword qi around his throat.
• Jiang Yang and Qi Lianggu exchanged respectful words, and Qi Lianggu asked to spar with him again.
• After winning six bouts, Jiang Yang declined another match and descended from the platform to recover.
• Cultivators crowded around Jiang Yang to introduce themselves until Yuanzhu announced the next round.
• Jiang Yang returned to his seat, where Yun Zhen praised his victory and he ate Spirit Fruits to replenish his qi sea.

Jiang Yang watched the Water Palace bouts and won first place with six victories, while Xuan Di received congratulations for his talent. The sparring ended with Jiang Yang ready to claim the reward he had chosen.

• Xuan Di accepted congratulations from nearby cultivators, and Ao Qian said that anyone could earn treasures from the Water Palace.
• Jiang Yang ate and drank before watching Han Gui use Ji Earth techniques against a Kan Water cultivator, while Yun Zhen and the Dragon Prince explained the Earth Virtue path.
• Han Gui won three bouts before running out of Magic Power and losing to a Demon Cultivator; Wen Tao, Cheng Xingye, Qin Dingying, and other cultivators also fought.
• The bouts ended with Jiang Yang in first place with six wins, the cultivator surnamed Qu in second with four, and Han Gui in third with three.
• Yuanzhu announced the winners as they went to receive their treasures, and Jiang Yang prepared to claim his chosen reward.

Jiang Yang chose a Purple Mansion Spirit Treasure from the Dragon King's lavish rewards after winning the Martial Arts and Spell Duel. Yuanzhu identified it as the [Shuoding Manifestation Pupil], and the chapter ended as Jiang Yang asked what abilities it possessed.

• Ao Qian displayed an array of Spirit Treasures, Mystic Artifacts, and cultivation resources as rewards for the duel's victors.
• Ao Qian invited the victors to choose a treasure, while the Water-Merging Spirit Array screened out Spirit Sense.
• Jiang Yang waited before selecting the merfolk woman holding a jade tray in the second row.
• Yuanzhu revealed that Jiang Yang's choice was a Purple Mansion Spirit Treasure of the Three Yangs at Their Final Manifestation, belonging to the 'Shuo Yang' path.
• Yuanzhu opened the Jade Box and named the treasure the [Shuoding Manifestation Pupil].

At Ao Qian’s banquet, Jiang Yang received a rare shuo yang Spirit Treasure and listened to Yuanzhu’s advice about using it. The Dragon Prince then summoned Jiang Yang to a secluded pavilion to honor the sparring champion’s promised reward, but her purpose remained unclear.

• Yuanzhu gave Jiang Yang the shuo yang Spirit Treasure and warned him to keep it away from daylight and moonlight.
• Yuanzhu advised Jiang Yang that the treasure would be most useful to someone of a related Dao Lineage and suggested possible ways to use or trade it.
• Qu Huarou chose an ancient-method Cloud Pouch, while Han Gui selected a chunk of crystalline blue sea jade.
• Ao Qian resumed the banquet with wine, music, and dancing after the three guests finished choosing their rewards.
• The Dragon Prince told Jiang Yang that Ao Qian would honor the sparring champion’s promised reward and led him to a secluded pavilion.
• Jiang Yang questioned the Dragon Prince about why she had brought him there, but she remained silent.

Yuan Jun lured Jiang Yang to a private loft and proposed that he father a child with her, then restrained him when he refused. After Jiang Yang discovered something suspicious about the spirit tea and tried to escape, Yuan Jun subdued him and threw him onto the Cloud Bed.

• Yuan Jun served Jiang Yang spirit tea and asked whether he had a courtesy or Daoist name.
• Yuan Jun told Jiang Yang she wanted him to father a child with her, and Jiang Yang refused.
• Yuan Jun began removing her robe, and Jiang Yang noticed that the spirit tea contained feathers reacting to those in her cup.
• Jiang Yang tried to leave, but Yuan Jun's dragon tail coiled around his waist and held him fast.
• Jiang Yang attacked with Sword Qi, but Yuan Jun used Azure Tide Arises to immobilize him and toss him onto the Cloud Bed.

Yuan Jun restrained Jiang Yang and brought him to the Cloud Bed to discuss his Broadwood cultivation in private. She used Spirit Tea made from Wingmate Bird feathers to confirm that she believed he cultivated the Southern Nest Branch, and Jiang Yang asked what she wanted after learning this.

• Yuan Jun bound Jiang Yang with Water-Merging, while Bai Tang intervened so he could move freely.
• Yuan Jun explained that she had restrained Jiang Yang to speak with him privately on the Cloud Bed, which concealed them from outsiders.
• Yuan Jun asked whether Jiang Yang cultivated Broadwood's Southern Nest Branch, and he kept his answer guarded.
• Yuan Jun revealed that the Spirit Tea contained Wingmate Bird down feathers and that it was meant to test his cultivation.
• Jiang Yang connected Yuan Jun's explanation to the Wingmate Bird statues in Jun Guang Hall and asked what she wanted now that she had confirmed her suspicion.

Yuan Jun explained to Jiang Yang the origins of broadwood, from the primordial Jianmu tree to the later Immortal Mansion lineage, and revealed that she knew his Immortal Foundation. She offered Dragonkind’s support, believing he was Lady Xuanming Youwei’s creation, and left Jiang Yang questioning that assumption.

• Yuan Jun told Jiang Yang that Jianmu had once sheltered living beings and received the broad Fruit Position, becoming the first master of broadwood.
• Yuan Jun recounted how Jianmu’s fall ended the primordial age and how the Mysterious Capital Immortal Mansion later revived broadwood as the peach-radiance path.
• Yuan Jun said broadwood’s accumulated karma made Jiang Yang’s revealed Immortal Foundation impossible to hide from Dragonkind.
• Yuan Jun offered Dragonkind’s help, saying she believed Jiang Yang had been created by Lady Xuanming Youwei.
• Yuan Jun challenged Jiang Yang’s denial by asking why Yun Zhen had obeyed him at the ominous gathering of separation fire.

Yuan Jun warned Jiang Yang that the return of the Broadwood Dao Lineage could attract both allies and enemies, and offered him access to Dragonkind teachings to cultivate divine powers. She then revealed that the masterless grotto-heaven Azure Corner Heaven would soon fall.

• Jiang Yang rejected Yuan Jun’s suspicion of Yun Zhen, pointing out that Yuan Jun was also showing him goodwill.
• Yuan Jun warned Jiang Yang that Broadwood’s history and his Dao Fruit could draw people seeking to help or harm him, and urged him to cultivate divine powers.
• Yuan Jun offered Jiang Yang access to the Dragon Palace’s Dao Canon, including Southern Nest Branch and Mulberry in Time, after he cultivated divine powers.
• Jiang Yang thanked Yuan Jun and said he would visit the Water Palace if he needed the teachings.
• Yuan Jun explained how grotto-heavens differed from blessed lands and revealed that Azure Corner Heaven would soon fall.

Yuan Jun told Jiang Yang that Azure Corner Heaven, an inheritance from the Thunderbolt Wind Sky Windwood Lineage, would descend into the Spirit Marsh Domain within a few years. Jiang Yang realized that Ping Yan’s death had helped locate it and suspected that Fang Xu was the Destiny Bearer, but Yuan Jun said destiny alone could not open the Grotto-Heaven.

• Yuan Jun explained Azure Corner Heaven’s origins and its connection to the Thunderbolt Wind Sky Windwood Lineage, prompting Jiang Yang to recall scriptures he had found at Fang Xu’s home.
• Yuan Jun said the Grotto-Heaven would likely descend within three to five years and revealed that the lords had used a Purple Mansion cultivator’s death to locate it.
• Jiang Yang recognized the dead cultivator as Ping Yan and recalled witnessing his death, realizing it had been used to calculate the Grotto-Heaven’s position.
• Yuan Jun said the Grotto-Heaven would probably descend near the border of the Zheng Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom in the Spirit Marsh Domain, and warned Jiang Yang to keep the secret.
• Jiang Yang suspected Fang Xu was the Destiny Bearer and asked whether identifying him could open the Grotto-Heaven early, but Yuan Jun said the Destiny Bearer was only one link in the chain.

Yuan Jun teased Jiang Yang with a staged seduction before giving him the promised Azure Silk Severing Hub Dao Scroll. He learned that the difficult art was suited only to cultivators of the longevity qi and broadwood paths and could damage lifespan.

• Jiang Yang accepted Yuan Jun's explanation of Destiny Bearers and stopped pressing the subject.
• Yuan Jun disheveled their clothes to make their act convincing, then teased Jiang Yang with the spirit tea.
• Jiang Yang realized the tea had been a pretext and declined another cup, asking to return.
• Yuan Jun gave Jiang Yang the Azure Silk Severing Hub Dao Scroll and warned him to use it cautiously.
• Jiang Yang read that the scroll required the longevity qi or broadwood paths, and Yuan Jun revealed that its art could damage lifespan.

Yuan Jun gave Jiang Yang the Dao Scroll’s Azure Silk Hub-Cutting Art, which could erode or expend lifespan, and warned him to use its yang technique with care. They returned to the banquet, where Yun Zhen noticed a scent on Jiang Yang and glared at Yuan Jun.

• Yuan Jun explained that the Dao Scroll’s arts damaged lifespan and had once made their practitioners enemies across the world.
• Jiang Yang studied the yin art’s ability to erode opponents’ lifespans and the yang art’s power to spend his own lifespan to cancel theirs.
• Jiang Yang considered how the yang art might help him defeat a powerful cultivator near the end of their life, while Yuan Jun cautioned him against using it recklessly.
• Jiang Yang accepted the Dao Scroll and thanked Yuan Jun before she led him back to the banquet.
• Yun Zhen noticed a scent on Jiang Yang, looked toward the Dragon Prince, and bared her teeth at Yuan Jun when their eyes met.