Chapter Summaries

Nie Yun and Ye Jianxing planned to steal herbs from a medicinal garden guarded by a mid-stage Heavenly Bridge Realm demon beast, while Nie Yun also sought Golden Stalk Grass for his own purposes. They reached the valley and began their stealthy approach, leaving the theft and confrontation unresolved.

• Ye Jianxing proposed that he distract a mid-stage Heavenly Bridge Realm demon beast while Nie Yun used his Earth Walker Master Talent to steal herbs from its garden.
• Ye Jianxing warned Nie Yun that the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast, a powerful mid-stage Void Absorption Realm guardian of Sword Spirit Peak, might intervene against herb thieves.
• Nie Yun learned that the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast had Golden Stalk Grass and recalled that Zong An had once obtained a stalk from it.
• Nie Yun decided to first check whether the other demon beast's garden contained Golden Stalk Grass, then agreed to Ye Jianxing's plan.
• Nie Yun burrowed underground to watch the valley with his Heavenly Eye Talent as Ye Jianxing suppressed his aura and crept toward it.

Ye Jianxing drew the Flame Unicorn into battle while Nie Yun stole the fire-element herbs from its garden. Ye Jianxing escaped with a Blood Escape Talisman, leaving Nie Yun with the herbs and still inside the valley.

• Ye Jianxing ignored the Flame Unicorn's warning and charged into its valley herb garden, provoking the beast to attack.
• The Flame Unicorn and Ye Jianxing clashed, and their battle shattered formations and destroyed some of the spirit herbs.
• Nie Yun used his Earth Walker Master, Concealment Master, Divine Thief, and Blazing Fire Talents to steal the garden's herbs.
• The Flame Unicorn noticed the theft and struck Ye Jianxing with its full strength, leaving him badly wounded.
• Nie Yun emerged from underground, broke the herb garden's seal with the Maha Divine Palm, and gathered the herbs.
• Ye Jianxing crushed a Blood Escape Talisman and fled toward the entrance to Sword Spirit Peak.

Nie Yun discovered a mature Blazing Flame Fire Bamboo Shoot in the Flame Unicorn’s cave and chose to risk stealing it despite the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast’s arrival. He was struck by lightning at the cave entrance and spat blood.

• After storing the medicinal herbs, Nie Yun spotted a mature Blazing Flame Fire Bamboo Shoot and realized it could improve his Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique.
• When the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast’s aura reached Sword Spirit Peak, Nie Yun decided to pursue the treasure instead of escaping.
• The Flame Unicorn attacked Nie Yun, who blocked it with Primordial Immeasurable and rushed toward the cave.
• The Flame Unicorn alerted the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast, which appeared above the valley and blocked the cave with lightning.
• Nie Yun crashed into the lightning, took a heavy blow to his internal organs, and spat out blood.

Nie Yun fought the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast to reach the Blazing Flame Fire Bamboo Shoot, using his healing ability and talisman jade tokens to survive. As the beast attacked him inside the cave, Nie Yun threw out Demon Venerable Luotian's corpse and his remaining three jade tokens while trying to collect the treasure.

• Nie Yun survived the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast's first attack and used his Healing Dantian to mend his injuries.
• Nie Yun used two talisman jade tokens sealed with Supreme Sword Art, breaking through the beast's wind and thunder and entering the cave.
• The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast sealed the valley with a wind-thunder barrier and pursued Nie Yun into the cave with the Flame Unicorn.
• Nie Yun found the Blazing Flame Fire Bamboo Shoot and used his Blazing Fire Master talent to seize it.
• The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast attacked with greater force, and Nie Yun threw out Demon Venerable Luotian's corpse and his remaining three talisman jade tokens as he tried to collect the shoot.

Nie Yun collected the Blazing Flame Fire Bamboo Shoot, but the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast revealed its peak Void Absorption Realm strength and pursued him into the magma. With the beast closing in, Nie Yun prepared to use his Void Breaking Realm jade token, despite the risks of exposing himself to the Sword God Sect.

• The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast shattered Demon Venerable Luotian's corpse and broke through Nie Yun's three jade tokens, but Nie Yun collected the Blazing Flame Fire Bamboo Shoot during the brief delay.
• The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast revealed its peak Void Absorption Realm strength and launched a devastating attack at Nie Yun.
• Nie Yun escaped the attack by diving into the magma with his Blazing Fire Master Talent.
• The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast recognized Nie Yun's escape route and pursued him through the magma.
• As the beast closed in, Nie Yun considered using the Void Breaking Realm jade token he had obtained from Mi Honggang, although it could alert the Sword God Sect.

Nie Yun fled the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast and Flame Unicorn into Void Turbulence, relying on his cave dwelling's formation to survive. The beasts discovered his refuge and coveted it, and the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast began devising a way to reach him.

• Nie Yun raced deeper beneath the magma, seeking a place to use his Void Breaking Realm talisman without alerting the Sword God Sect experts.
• Nie Yun found Void Turbulence and realized it could conceal the talisman's energy, but that entering it would kill him without protection.
• Cornered by the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast and Flame Unicorn, Nie Yun leaped into the Void Turbulence, making the beasts think he had chosen suicide.
• The beasts saw Nie Yun's cave dwelling withstand the turbulent currents and realized its formation could protect him.
• The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast decided to kill Nie Yun and take the cave dwelling, then asked whether the Flame Unicorn's horn could withstand Void Turbulence.

The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast used the Flame Unicorn’s horn to reach the Purple Splendor Cave Mansion and tried to kill Nie Yun, but Nie Yun killed it with a talisman made by a Void Breaking Realm expert. The Flame Unicorn fled, only for Nie Yun to appear in its path and block its escape.

• The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast ordered the Flame Unicorn to carry it through Void Turbulence to the Purple Splendor Cave Mansion and threatened to kill it if it withdrew its horn.
• The Flame Unicorn extended its horn into Void Turbulence, allowing the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast to reach the cave mansion and drag it closer.
• The Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast attacked Nie Yun with a thundercloud tornado, and Nie Yun unleashed a talisman jade tablet that formed a massive hand seal.
• The hand seal shattered the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast’s bones and killed it in one strike.
• The Flame Unicorn retracted its horn and fled, but Nie Yun controlled the surrounding magma and fire to slow it before appearing in its path.

Nie Yun killed the Flame Unicorn, secured treasures from both demon beasts, and took the Golden Stalk Grass from the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast's medicinal garden. As he headed for Sword Spirit Peak’s entrance to meet Ye Jianxing, the ground began to rumble.

• Nie Yun used the Great Sorrow Seven Immortal Sword to kill the Flame Unicorn and stored its corpse.
• Nie Yun gave Xiao Feng the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast's corpse to refine and gave Purple Eye the Flame Unicorn's horn.
• Nie Yun recovered from his injuries, then traveled underground to the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast's medicinal garden.
• Nie Yun collected the five stalks of Golden Stalk Grass and all the other medicinal herbs in the garden.
• Nie Yun headed toward Sword Spirit Peak's entrance to meet Ye Jianxing, but stopped when the ground rumbled and he saw something that delighted him.

Nie Yun watched all ten trial participants converge on a peak Heavenly Bridge Realm demonic beast, which died just as it was about to self-destruct. The participants fought over its corpse, but it abruptly vanished, leaving everyone stunned.

• Nie Yun saw Chu Yang and Zong Yan's factions battling the demonic beast while Ye Jianxing and Ying Long hid nearby, waiting to seize the corpse.
• As the beast began to self-destruct, it suddenly collapsed and died for an unknown reason.
• The participants abandoned their alliances and rushed to claim the corpse, while Ye Jianxing and Ying Long attacked from hiding.
• Ye Jianxing and Ying Long fought off Chu Yang, Zong Yan, and the others as they tugged at the corpse.
• The corpse swayed and vanished before anyone could take it.

Nie Yun and Ye Jianxing divided the spoils from the Sword Spirit Peak trial, with Ye Jianxing taking the Golden Mane Iron Back Beast corpse and Nie Yun keeping the medicinal herbs. After Elder Luo Yutian ended the assessment, they headed for the entrance and found an unexpectedly large gathering of Grand Elders.

• When the demon beast corpse vanished, Zong Yan and Chu Yang accused Ye Jianxing and Tong Yun of stealing it, and Ye Jianxing fled into the forest.
• Ye Jianxing met Nie Yun in a concealed cave and learned that Nie Yun had taken the Golden Mane Iron Back Beast corpse and valuable herbs.
• Nie Yun insisted that Ye Jianxing take the corpse, while he kept the herbs from their cooperation.
• After spending half a day in the cave, Nie Yun secretly placed herbs from the Golden Light Wind Thunder Beast in the Purple Splendor Cave Mansion.
• When Elder Luo Yutian announced the assessment's end, Nie Yun and Ye Jianxing flew toward the entrance and saw many Grand Elders gathered there.

The Sword God Trial participants learned that the Sect Master would personally rank them in Sword God Hall, and Nie Yun decided to risk being exposed to pursue the opportunity. At the hall, the elders revealed that a distinguished guest had arrived as a friend of the Sect Master, leaving Luo Yutian startled and warning the disciples to behave.

• Luo Yutian announced that the Sect Master would personally rank the participants in Sword God Hall and warned them to follow the rules.
• Nie Yun worried that the Sect Master might see through his disguise but chose to enter the hall rather than lose his chance at the Sword Hall.
• The participants discussed the legendary Sect Master, Thousand Hand Sword Yun Xuan, and Nie Yun recalled his promise to Thousand Illusions.
• Luo Yutian and the participants arrived at Sword God Hall, where Ni Xu reproached them for arriving late.
• Ni Xu told Luo Yutian that a distinguished guest had come as a friend of the Sect Master, and Luo Yutian ordered Ni Xu to announce them while he instructed the disciples.

Luo Yutian warned the Sword God Sect disciples to obey the rules as they entered the hall, where Yun Xuan announced the next stage of the Sword God Trial and introduced Mishin Sect’s Sect Master Mi Hua. Nie Yun realized Mi Hua might have recognized him and watched warily as Mi Hua gave him an unsettling smile.

• Luo Yutian warned the disciples that anyone who broke the rules in Sword God Hall would face death.
• Ni Xu led the disciples into the hall, where Nie Yun saw Yun Xuan, the Sword God Sect’s Grand Elders, and an unfamiliar guest.
• Yun Xuan praised the disciples who had placed in the Tianyou Valley trial and explained that the trial had three parts, with Tianyou Valley and the Sword Spirit Peak treasure hunt completed.
• Yun Xuan revealed that the guest was Mi Hua, Sect Master of Mishin Sect, and said he had come to witness the Sword God Sect disciples’ strength.
• Nie Yun feared Mi Hua had recognized him and might seek revenge, but Mi Hua only stroked his ring and smiled at him.

The Sword God Sect disciples presented their Sword Spirit Peak spoils for contribution points, but Zong Yan challenged Ye Jianxing’s ranking by claiming his Golden Mane Iron Back Beast had died from poison. Zong Yan then accused Nie Yun of being a Poison Master, leaving the crowd suspicious and Nie Yun sensing a conspiracy.

• Zong Yan presented a peak Heavenly Bridge Realm Red Scale Golden Armor Eagle and received 300 contribution points, while the other disciples’ spoils were assessed.
• Nie Yun received 100 points for medicinal herbs, and Ye Jianxing received only two points for his Golden Mane Iron Back Beast, placing Zong Yan first.
• Zong Yan pointed out that the beast’s stiff muscles and blackened bones showed it had been killed by potent poison.
• Zong Yan argued that only a Poison Master could use such poison, prompting the crowd to suspect Ye Jianxing.
• Zong Yan shifted the accusation to Nie Yun, saying the beast had suddenly died while they were fighting it, and Chu Yang and others backed his account.

Zong Yan accused Nie Yun of poisoning the Golden Mane Iron Back Beast, and the elders suspected him of being a demon spy. Yun Xuan demanded proof that he was not a Poison Master, but before Nie Yun had to take her deadly poison, Mi Hua offered a way to prove his innocence.

• Zong Yan claimed Nie Yun had poisoned the Golden Mane Iron Back Beast, and Chu Yang supported the accusation by saying he had seen Nie Yun use poison in Tianyou Valley.
• Nie Yun rejected the accusations of being a demon by pointing out that he had mastered one hundred and forty-eight sets of the Sword God Sect's Elite Sword Arts in ten days.
• Yun Xuan silenced the arguing elders and challenged Nie Yun to prove he was not a Poison Master or swallow a drop of poison.
• Nie Yun admitted he could not prove he lacked the Poison Master talent, and Yun Xuan prepared to make him take the poison.
• Mi Hua offered a way to prove that Nie Yun was not a Poison Master.

Mi Hua offered to vouch for Tong Yun, but explained that the Blazing Fire Master Talent could not prove Tong Yun was human because humans and demonfolk shared it. Tong Yun was left facing Zong An’s demand to prove his humanity with a human-exclusive talent or swallow the Sect Master’s poison.

• Mi Hua intervened on Tong Yun’s behalf and explained that human and demonfolk talents sometimes overlapped.
• Ye Jianxing said Tong Yun possessed the Healer Talent, but Mi Hua explained that both races could use it.
• Tong Yun revealed his Blazing Fire Master Talent, which impressed the elders, but Mi Hua said Five Elements talents also belonged to both races.
• Yun Xuan listed several talents unique to humans, and Tong Yun realized that his Nameless Art let him possess talents from both races.
• Zong An argued that Tong Yun had not proved he was human and demanded that he either show a human-exclusive talent or swallow the Sect Master’s poison.

Nie Yun revealed that Tong Yun possessed the Immortal Sound Master Talent, disproving the accusation that he was a demon spy. Yun Xuan punished Zong Yan and Zong An, then began the Sword Heart comprehension assessment by summoning the Sword Heart Stone.

• Zong An struck Ye Jianxing for challenging his demand, and Nie Yun supported Ye Jianxing and helped heal him.
• Nie Yun displayed the Immortal Sound Master Talent, and the crowd recognized it as proof of a human-only talent.
• Zong An called on Mi Hua to verify his claim about Huo Ying, so Mi Hua struck him with a palm technique instead.
• Yun Xuan confirmed Nie Yun’s talent, revoked Zong Yan’s Sword Spirit Peak assessment qualification, and struck Zong An when he tried to argue.
• Luo Yutian began the Sword Heart comprehension assessment, and Yun Xuan summoned the Sword Heart Stone into the hall.

Nie Yun entered the Sword Heart Stone to temper his sword heart, but the passage’s overwhelming Sword Dao nearly shattered his confidence. The Netherworld Sword awakened the Essence of Martial Skill and restored his clarity; after absorbing hundreds of sword arts, he was forced out when he could take no more, leaving everyone staring at him in shock.

• Yun Xuan summoned ten doorways from the Sword Heart Stone and sent Nie Yun and nine others inside to comprehend the Sword Dao.
• Nie Yun advanced through increasingly profound sword arts until he believed his cultivation was worthless and tried to seal away the Netherworld Sword forever.
• The Netherworld Sword’s warmth stirred the Essence of Martial Skill within Nie Yun and brought him back to his senses.
• Nie Yun recognized the Sword Heart Assessment’s danger and began comprehending the sword intent, absorbing hundreds of sword arts into his understanding.
• When Nie Yun could no longer endure the flood of sword intent, he returned to the Sword God Hall and found everyone staring at him like a monster.

Nie Yun emerged from the Sword Heart Stone assessment after enduring an hour, while Ying Long lasted slightly longer and took first place in that event. With the Sword God Trial’s final champion still to be decided, Nie Yun left the hall to find Zong Yan challenging him to a duel.

• Nie Yun learned from Ye Jianxing that several outsiders, including Chu Yang and two noble-family disciples, had suffered shattered sword hearts because they lacked the Sword God Sect disciples’ prior experience with the Sword Heart Stone.
• Ying Long emerged after enduring the Sword Heart Stone for a little over an hour, and Ye Jianxing explained that Ying Long had trained beneath it for three years.
• Luo Yutian announced Ying Long first, Tong Yun second, Ye Jianxing third, and Zong Yan fourth in the Sword Heart Assessment, then sent the participants out while the Sect Master and elders deliberated over the champion.
• Grand Elders gathered around Nie Yun to offer help, while Zong An glared at him in anger over Zong Yan’s poor results.
• After the participants left the Sword God Hall, Zong Yan challenged Tong Yun to a duel.

Nie Yun refused Zong Yan’s challenge and was warned by Ye Jianxing about the risks of choosing a Supreme Great Sword Art. After the Sword God Sect announced the trial results, Ying Long was named champion instead of Nie Yun.

• Nie Yun rejected Zong Yan’s demand for a duel, and Ye Jianxing led him away while Zong Yan raged.
• Ying Long, Luo Yun, Zhang Yan, and Yuan Chao congratulated Nie Yun and praised his prospects in the sect.
• Ye Jianxing advised Nie Yun to choose a Supreme Sword Art rather than a Supreme Great Sword Art, explaining that the latter were incomplete and difficult to master.
• Ye Jianxing revealed that Sect Master Yun Xuan was said to have mastered a Supreme Great Sword Art and recovered the Sword God’s Sword, prompting Nie Yun to think of Thousand Illusions.
• Sect Master Yun Xuan had Elder Luo Yutian announce Ying Long as the Sword God Trial champion.

Ying Long was declared the Sword God Trial champion despite Nie Yun’s superior results, and Nie Yun swallowed his anger to preserve his chance to enter the Sword Hall. After the trial participants departed, Mi Hua admitted Tong Yun was the son of an old friend, while Yun Xuan suspected he had engineered the encounter and resolved to counter his plan.

• Elder Luo Yutian announced Ying Long as champion, citing his endurance in the Sword Heart Assessment, and dismissed objections to the elders’ decision.
• Nie Yun challenged the ruling by comparing his results with Ying Long’s, but after Elder Ni Xu warned him, he concealed his anger to pursue information about Soul Summoners and his younger brother’s revival.
• Luo Yutian explained that Ying Long would enter the Heaven Grade Zone while the other nine finalists would cultivate in the Earth Grade Zone, then led them to the Sword Hall.
• After the others left, Yun Xuan confronted Mi Hua about protecting Tong Yun, and Mi Hua said Tong Yun was the son of an old friend.
• Mi Hua suggested Yun Xuan had denied Tong Yun the championship because of his connection to him, and she promised not to obstruct Tong Yun unless he broke the sect’s rules.
• After Mi Hua departed, Yun Xuan suspected his actions were meant to provoke the Sword God Sect into acting against Tong Yun and vowed to turn his scheme against him.