Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yang traveled to the Ancestral Court for the Court Examination and encountered the ancient inheritance embodied in its imposing mountain and stele. As disciples gathered, he considered the examination’s role in finding overlooked talent and settled into a calmer view of the competition.

• After reaching Late Stage Qi Refining, Jiang Yang flew to Cold Creek Valley but waited for a boat to cross the lake without exhausting his magic power.
• Jiang Yang boarded with a crowd of disciples discussing the Court Examination and their hopes and worries about its tests.
• At the Ancestral Court, Jiang Yang admired the mountain and plaza before Bai Tang warned him not to gaze too long at the Azure Firmament stele’s inscription, [Sole Sovereign of the Vast Sea].
• Jiang Yang and Bai Tang speculated that Rain Xiang Mountain’s inheritance might descend from the Celestial River Jellyfish, an immortal.
• As hundreds or thousands of disciples gathered, Bai Tang argued that few were likely to become direct disciples, and Jiang Yang concluded that the Court Examination gave overlooked talent a chance to advance.

Tai Fu Wei brought Tai Pei'er to Rain Xiang Mountain for a ceremony, where they met the High Sect's True Persons and discussed her cultivation prospects. Tai Pei'er was set to inherit the Tai Lineage's Rare Earth path as a potential Purple Mansion cultivator.

• Tai Fu Wei and Tai Pei'er traveled through the Great Void to Rain Xiang Mountain, where Xuan Xi, Xuan Di, and Xuan Yi welcomed them.
• At the palace, Tai Fu Wei learned that Xuan Guang was in seclusion and introduced Tai Pei'er to the High Sect's True Persons.
• Xuan Di asked Tai Pei'er about her aspirations, and she cautiously deferred to her ancestor while guarding her thoughts from his heart-reading power.
• Tai Fu Wei said Tai Pei'er would cultivate Rare Earth and that he intended to prepare her for a breakthrough into Purple Mansion.
• Xuan Yi criticized Lineages for clinging to weak heirs, and Xuan Di stopped him and defended the difference between a Sect and a Lineage.

Jiang Yang and the other disciples gathered for the Heavenly River Palm Lineage Court Examination, where True Person Xuan Di unveiled the High Firmament Thunder Palace as their trial. The first contestant returned with a Spirit Stone and revealed that disciples had to defeat Spirit Puppets to climb its floors, leaving the others to prepare for the challenge.

• Jiang Yang stared at True Person Xuan Di and suffered stabbing pain in his eyes until Bai Tang explained the danger of looking upon a Purple Mansion True Person.
• True Person Xuan Di announced the Court Examination and transformed a small tower into the High Firmament Thunder Palace.
• Tai Fu Wei explained to Tai Pei'er that the Crimson Palace created Spirit Puppets and Mirage Realms to test disciples without killing them.
• Several disciples entered the palace, and Jiang Yang guessed that the trial involved clearing floors to reach the highest level.
• A disciple emerged after being knocked out on the second floor and told the crowd that defeating each floor's Spirit Puppet earned a reward, showing them his Spirit Stone.

Jiang Yang met Zhou Yanwei at the Ancestral Court and learned why older disciples were attempting the Court Examination. After Lin Jingfeng entered the Heavenly Tower, Jiang Yang went in to try it himself.

• Jiang Yang watched disciples hurry toward the High Firmament Palace after someone reached the Heavenly Tower's third floor.
• Zhou Yanwei greeted Jiang Yang, congratulated him on reaching Late Stage Qi Refining, and explained that his Pingwu Zhou Lineage connections meant he did not need to seek a peak master.
• Zhou Yanwei said Fang Xu had long hoped to join White Elm Peak but had been secretive and absent for nearly half a year.
• Lin Jingfeng arrived, and Zhou Yanwei explained that the veteran disciple was known for his combat skill and was seeking the Foundation Establishment Pill offered to disciples who passed without being accepted by a peak.
• Jiang Yang left Zhou Yanwei and entered the Heavenly Tower to take the Court Examination.

Jiang Yang rapidly climbed the Heavenly Tower, impressing the watching disciples with his swordsmanship, while Tai Pei'er recognized him as the future [Autumn’s Arrival] Sword Immortal. He continued toward the higher floors as Tai Fu Wei noticed his exceptional appearance.

• Jiang Yang left the ceremony, and Tai Pei'er spotted him and recalled his future fame as the [Autumn’s Arrival] Sword Immortal.
• Jiang Yang raced up the Heavenly Tower, reaching the seventh floor quickly and drawing attention from the disciples outside.
• Jiang Yang and Bai Tang discussed the cloud-qi puppets and their possible illusions before he entered the eighth floor.
• Jiang Yang saw through a puppet’s ambush and split it with One Qi Faces the Sun, then continued climbing.
• Tai Pei'er watched Jiang Yang in Xuan Di’s water mirror and spilled tea, prompting Tai Fu Wei to praise his looks.

Tai Pei'er resolved to change her Dao Path and seek an opportunity by befriending Jiang Yang at Clear Isle Mountain. Meanwhile, Jiang Yang defeated a mirror-image opponent in the Heavenly Tower and obtained an ancient spirit-summoning spell.

• Tai Pei'er recalled that she had suppressed her cultivation to avoid the Rare Earth path and decided to seek a different opportunity in the Blessed Land of Clear Isle Mountain.
• Tai Fu Wei noticed Tai Pei'er's agitation, but she concealed her thoughts by acting bashfully.
• Jiang Yang climbed the Heavenly Tower, conserving his magic power while defeating Spirit Puppets with Sword Qi.
• Jiang Yang encountered a mirror image that perfectly copied his sword moves, then defeated it with a sword strike it could not imitate.
• Jiang Yang collected a Jade Slip containing the ancient Spells "Spirit Summoning and Command," which he remembered Zhou Yanwei had once offered him.

Jiang Yang faced a pair of Spirit Puppets as the Heavenly Tower’s difficulty rose, while disciples watched the Court Examination from outside. Tai Fu Wei revealed that reaching the doorway to the thirtieth floor was enough to pass, though the hidden requirement was meant to test the disciples’ resolve.

• Jiang Yang learned more about the Spirit Summoning and Command technique from Bai Tang, then entered the next floor and found two Spirit Puppets bearing his face.
• Disciples gathered before the Azure Nether Stele and discussed the contestants, including Lin Jingfeng, Cen, Fang Xu, and Jiang Yang.
• Zhou Yanwei told a disciple that he genuinely believed Jiang Yang would do well in the examination.
• Tai Pei'er asked Tai Fu Wei which disciple could reach the summit, and he explained that the tower’s floors beyond the thirtieth were too difficult for the contestants to overcome.
• Tai Fu Wei revealed that contestants only needed to reach the doorway to the thirtieth floor to pass, and that the undisclosed requirement tested their potential and character.

Jiang Yang pressed onward through the Heavenly Tower while the other disciples struggled to conserve magic power and survive its higher floors. After Lin Jingfeng was expelled from floor thirty and revealed that its Spirit Puppet seemed to have Foundation Establishment cultivation, Jiang Yang reached floor thirty-one.

• Jiang Yang defeated two Spirit Puppets, collected Warm Sun Spirit Sprout Pills, and continued climbing while carefully managing his magic power.
• Cen Jin struggled on floor twenty-six, Lin Jingfeng replenished his magic power on floor twenty-eight, and Fang Xu tried to curb his temper on floor nineteen.
• After two hours, most disciples had been expelled, leaving only a dozen or so names lit on the Azure Nether Stele.
• Lin Jingfeng was expelled from floor thirty and told the gathered disciples that its Spirit Puppet had nearly defeated him in ten exchanges and seemed to have Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• The disciples speculated that Lin Jingfeng might claim the top spot, until one disciple pointed out that Jiang Yang had reached floor thirty-one.

Jiang Yang fought a Foundation Establishment Spirit Puppet on the Heavenly Tower’s thirtieth floor, surviving its attacks with Bai Tang’s warnings and his sword techniques. His performance drew the attention of the Purple Mansion True Persons, and True Person Dongmen tried to recruit him to Yi Sword Gate.

• Jiang Yang entered the thirtieth floor and narrowly evaded the Spirit Puppet’s opening strike after Bai Tang warned him.
• Jiang Yang fought the puppet’s shifting forms with Clear-Wave Mystic Shield and Spirit Oak, but its True Essence attack injured him.
• Jiang Yang realized the puppet was not very intelligent and continued the fight despite his injury.
• Tai Pei'er watched Jiang Yang’s battle and judged his swordsmanship to be formidable.
• The Purple Mansion True Persons noticed Jiang Yang’s performance, and Tai Fu Wei congratulated Xuan Di on his disciple.
• True Person Dongmen urged Xuan Di to let Yi Sword Gate take Jiang Yang, praising his potential as a Sword Cultivator.

The True Persons debated the ancient wood-aspect lineage behind Jiang Yang’s emerald Spirit Sword, which Xuan Yi identified as Cracking Wood, before Xuan Di stopped further speculation. In the Court Examination, Jiang Yang discovered that thunderous sound could disrupt the Spirit Puppet’s mist body and destroyed it with a final sword strike.

• True Person Dongmen challenged Rain Xiang Mountain’s ability to teach a sword cultivator, then left the gathering, followed by True Person Buyu.
• The True Persons examined the aura of Jiang Yang’s Spirit Sword, and Xuan Yi proposed that Thunder Wood had shifted into the rare Cracking Wood lineage.
• True Person Xuan Di halted the discussion of the disciple’s fortuitous encounter, and True Person Xuan Xi went to summon the disciples after the final disciple emerged from the Heavenly Palace.
• Jiang Yang struggled against the Spirit Puppet on the thirtieth floor as its mist body repeatedly recovered from his attacks.
• Jiang Yang pierced the Spirit Puppet’s chest with a thunderous sword ray, and Bai Tang realized that the sound vibrations disrupted its gathered clouds.
• Jiang Yang used White Rainbow Pierces the Sun to make the Spirit Puppet’s mist body churn until it burst apart.

Jiang Yang withdrew from the thirty-first floor after facing another Spirit Puppet, but the Court Examination selected him and three other disciples. The four crossed a Rainbow Bridge to meet the True Persons, where Jiang Yang finally saw the cultivators who had summoned them.

• Jiang Yang recovered some magic power after defeating the Spirit Puppet on the thirtieth floor and entered the thirty-first floor.
• Cornered by another Spirit Puppet, Jiang Yang activated his Identity Token and withdrew from the Heavenly Tower.
• A True Person announced that Jiang Yang, Lin Jingfeng, Fang Xu, and Jiang Junrui had been selected for the Court Examination.
• Jiang Yang and the other three disciples crossed the Rainbow Bridge into a palace and bowed before the True Persons.

At Rain Xiang Mountain’s Court Examination, Jiang Yang was about to choose a peak when Great True Person Xuan Guang suddenly appeared and claimed him as a disciple. Tai Pei'er recognized that this differed from what she remembered, leaving her uncertain about the future.

• True Person Xuan Di accepted Jiang Junrui into Chong'e Peak after assessing his aptitude.
• Fang Xu chose White Elm Peak, but with its master absent and unwilling to take disciples, he received a Foundation Establishment Pill instead; Lin Jingfeng also requested and received one.
• Jiang Yang began to say that he wished to join Dawn Rain Peak when Xuan Guang appeared in the hall.
• Xuan Guang declared that Jiang Yang was destined to be his disciple, and Jiang Yang had no chance to refuse.
• Xuan Di tried to use his fate divine power to examine Jiang Yang, but Xuan Guang blocked him and silently warned him off.
• Tai Pei'er realized Xuan Guang’s decision contradicted what she remembered about Jiang Yang becoming Xuan Xi’s disciple.

Jiang Yang was unexpectedly taken as a disciple by True Person Xuan Guang, while Tai Pei'er approached him to make his acquaintance. After the guests departed, Bai Tang reassured Jiang Yang about his uneasy feelings, but then sensed someone approaching.

• Xuan Guang stopped Xuan Di from being influenced by an uncanny fondness for Jiang Yang and then accepted Jiang Yang as his disciple.
• Xuan Guang told Jiang Yang to meet him at Fushu Peak after the ceremony, then departed in a flash of clear light.
• Tai Pei'er introduced herself to Jiang Yang, praised him, and left when her ancestor called her.
• After the other True Persons left, Jiang Yang told Bai Tang what had happened and asked why he felt uneasy about Xuan Guang taking him as a disciple.
• Bai Tang reassured Jiang Yang that his unease was natural, then warned him that someone was coming.

Jiang Yang met his new master, True Person Xuan Guang, who sent him to see his senior brother while discussing with Xuan Di the danger and mystery surrounding Jiang Yang. Xuan Guang decided to keep Jiang Yang close, let him choose his own cultivation path from the Dao Canon, and provide the resources he needed.

• True Person Xuan Di brought Jiang Yang to meet True Person Xuan Guang, who welcomed him as his disciple and created a green-clad maid from a flowering twig.
• Xuan Guang sent Jiang Yang with the maid to see Xingjian while he stayed behind with Xuan Di.
• Xuan Di told Xuan Guang that Jiang Yang’s Destiny appeared utterly empty and impossible to divine, and that the sect’s currents of energy had become chaotic.
• Xuan Guang told Xuan Di to treat Jiang Yang as a Destiny Bearer and keep him close rather than risk provoking whoever had placed him on the board.
• Xuan Guang decided to let Jiang Yang choose a cultivation path from the Dao Canon and promised the sect would supply the spiritual energy he needed.

Jiang Yang explored Fushu Peak with Bi Xingjian, his fourth senior brother, who introduced the scattered and powerful disciples of their master. The chapter ended with Bi Xingjian introducing a black cat named Butterfly-Bearing, the eighth son of True Person Xuan Yan.

• Wei Rui led Jiang Yang down Fushu Peak and showed him the tea shrubs that produced Xiang Mountain Timely Rain.
• Bi Xingjian welcomed Jiang Yang into his courtyard and explained that Jiang Yang's arrival meant he was no longer the youngest disciple.
• Bi Xingjian told Jiang Yang that their former first senior brother had died, while First Senior Brother Zhi Yu served at the Towering Mine Vein in the Zheng Kingdom.
• Bi Xingjian said second senior sister Cong Ya was in seclusion attempting to reach the Purple Mansion realm, while third senior sister Chu Qingjian often roamed the world.
• Jiang Yang drank Bi Xingjian's aged Xiang Mountain Timely Rain and savored its effect on his spirit sense.
• A black cat came out of the room, and Bi Xingjian introduced it as Butterfly-Bearing, True Person Xuan Yan's eighth son whom he was raising.

Jiang Yang met Butterfly-Bearing, Bi Xingjian’s kindhearted but mentally impaired black cat, before Bi led him to his assigned cave abode on Fushu Peak. Bi explained the peak’s rules and began using his Yi Wood cultivation to grow Jiang Yang a home.

• Jiang Yang learned that Butterfly-Bearing had an inborn deficiency and had never developed his intelligence despite his noble bloodline.
• Butterfly-Bearing pushed his fish toward Jiang Yang to share it, and Jiang Yang comforted Bi Xingjian about the cat’s future.
• Bi Xingjian took Jiang Yang to a clearing and revealed that it was his cave abode because their master forbade damaging the peak to build dwellings.
• Bi Xingjian explained that their master cultivated Yi Wood and that Fushu Peak had to remain in harmony with nature.
• Bi Xingjian formed hand seals and began casting a spell to grow Jiang Yang a cottage.

Bi Xingjian created a Courtyard for Jiang Yang on Fushu Peak and promised to provide a spirit tree and furnishings. As Jiang Yang sorted his rewards from the Heavenly Tower, he discovered that a rare Mystic Eye spell required two Purple Mansion Spirit Treasures he did not have.

• Bi Xingjian formed a grass hut and fence for Jiang Yang, then promised to bring him a White Elm spirit tree and arrange basic furnishings.
• Jiang Yang settled into the new Courtyard and asked Bai Tang whether she felt safe on Fushu Peak; she said she would be fine as long as they stayed away from his master.
• Jiang Yang decided not to return to his old Cave Abode, and Bai Tang said she had severed the mystic connection to her Vine Sword.
• Jiang Yang emptied his bag and sorted the Spirit Stones, Talismans, materials, and Elixirs he had received from True Person Xuan Di.
• Jiang Yang examined the Shuo-Hui Twin Polarities Mystic Eye Manifestation and learned that cultivating its paired Mystic Pupils required the Purple Mansion Spirit Treasures Shuo Yang and Hui Yin.

Jiang Yang learned that the cloud he had taken from the Spirit Puppet was the Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure Mist-Rain Mirage Cloud, and decided to send it to Shang Qingzheng as thanks for her gift. After a Spirit Steward furnished his Courtyard, he wrote Shang Qingzheng a letter and sent the cloud to her by Spirit Crane.

• Jiang Yang asked Bai Tang about the soft, cloud-like Spirit Treasure and learned it was Mist-Rain Mirage Cloud, a fine spirit material suited to refining or weaving.
• Bai Tang hinted that the cloud could make a suitable gift, and Jiang Yang realized he could give it to Shang Qingzheng in return for her gift.
• A Spirit Steward furnished Jiang Yang's Courtyard with tables, chairs, screens, lamps, and other furnishings.
• Jiang Yang sat at his new writing desk, wrote Shang Qingzheng about his recent experiences and his failed chance to become True Person Dawn Rain's disciple, and enclosed the cloud as a gift.
• Jiang Yang sent the letter and Mist-Rain Mirage Cloud away on a Spirit Crane, then returned to meditation.

Shang Qingzheng and Li Zhouying gathered jade bamboo essence together when Jiang Yang sent Shang Qingzheng a letter and a Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure. Teased about her mysterious friend, Shang Qingzheng ran off with the cloud treasure, leaving the gathering for tomorrow.

• Li Zhouying and Shang Qingzheng began gathering jade bamboo essence under the moon, with Li Zhouying striking the bamboo and Shang Qingzheng collecting its qi.
• A Spirit Crane arrived with a letter from Jiang Yang and a soft white cloud for Shang Qingzheng.
• Li Zhouying recognized the cloud as a Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure and teased Shang Qingzheng about her generous new friend.
• Shang Qingzheng wondered whether Jiang Yang had passed the Court Examination and worried he had gone to great lengths to obtain the treasure.
• Shang Qingzheng snatched the cloud, refused to tell Li Zhouying about her friend, and ran off, postponing their gathering until tomorrow.

Shang Qingzheng read Jiang Yang’s letter and prepared a reply, while Jiang Yang practiced his sword on Fushu Peak and asked True Person Xuan Guang about the sect’s strongest Dao inheritances. Xuan Guang said the sect possessed one or two great Dao paths and was about to explain them.

• Shang Qingzheng read Jiang Yang’s letter, learned he had placed first in the Court Examination and joined Fushu Peak, and received his Mist-Rain Mirage Cloud Spirit Treasure.
• Shang Qingzheng played with the cloud treasure alongside Little Sixteen, then began writing Jiang Yang a reply.
• Jiang Yang practiced containing his Sword Qi so his sword strokes would not damage the plants on Fushu Peak.
• True Person Xuan Guang summoned Jiang Yang, praised his cultivation progress, and asked about his aspirations for his Dao path.
• Jiang Yang asked True Person Xuan Guang which sect inheritance offered a bright, powerful Dao, and Xuan Guang said the sect had one or two great Dao paths.