Recaps

Shen Fei handled clan business, rejected the Second Elder’s attempt to discuss his marriage pact with Miss Xiao, and rewarded him for securing the First Elder’s and Third Elder’s submission. After reviewing the clan’s affairs, Shen Fei set out to visit Su Ming.

• Shen Fei ordered the clan to inventory and discount old inscription materials, repair leaking storerooms, and sort and dry the soaked medicinal herbs.
• Shen Fei told the Second Elder not to bring up his marriage pact with Miss Xiao again and said he would decide for himself.
• The Second Elder reported that the First Elder and Third Elder had submitted, and Shen Fei gave him ten Scarlet Blood Crystals.
• Shen Fei reviewed the purchasing accounts and decided to inspect storerooms and shops later, then cultivate with Body Tempering Pills that evening.
• Shen Fei remembered he had not visited Su Ming since returning from the Dark Forest and left the residence to see him.

Shen Fei met Su Ming at the City Guard barracks and learned that Su Ming had been approved to establish an independent noble family. They discussed the city’s policy over tea, with Su Ming due to complete the formalities in a few days.

• Shen Fei watched Su Ming defeat a young soldier in a sparring match at the Third Battalion’s training ground.
• Su Ming greeted Shen Fei and revealed that he had reached gold rank 1-star and been told he could establish a noble family.
• Shen Fei invited Su Ming to a nearby teahouse to discuss the matter.
• Su Ming explained that the City Lord’s Mansion had approved his application under a policy offering qualified commoner cultivators land and benefits for forming noble families.
• Shen Fei recalled that the city introduced the policy periodically to recruit cultivators and strengthen its defenses.

Su Ming asked Shen Fei how to handle relatives who had ignored him but now sought to benefit from his rise. After deciding to recruit any capable relatives while keeping the rest at a distance, Su Ming accepted Shen Fei’s offer of support and headed back to the City Guard.

• Su Ming told Shen Fei that estranged relatives had come seeking favors now that he could establish a noble family, and asked for advice.
• Shen Fei told Su Ming to judge which relatives could be useful and keep his distance from those who could not.
• Su Ming decided to recruit capable relatives and promising descendants to help build his household and serve Glory City.
• Shen Fei gave Su Ming a Sacred Family honored guest token and offered financial help and assistance.
• Su Ming thanked Shen Fei, accepted the token, and headed for the City Guard garrison as Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family.

Shen Fei examined the white pearl and Ink Cloud Sword in his room, and the pearl reacted to the sword’s Spiritual Power. It transformed into white light and merged into the sword’s hilt, leaving new patterns in the wrapping.

• Shen Fei circulated his Spiritual Power, ate lunch, and took the Ink Cloud Sword and white pearl from his Space Ring.
• Shen Fei probed the pearl with his Soul Force but found a dense barrier that prevented him from sensing its interior.
• Shen Fei examined the Ink Cloud Sword’s Spiritual Power, and the pearl began glowing and hovering above its box.
• The pearl transformed into a mass of white light, which descended onto the sword’s hilt and spread through its cloth wrapping.
• The white light merged into the hilt, leaving matte white patterns and making the wrapping feel warm in Shen Fei’s hand.

Shen Fei discovered that a white bead had repaired and enhanced the Ink Cloud Sword, and he suspected more auxiliary components were scattered elsewhere. After securing his belongings, he left to meet Xiao Ning'er for their agreed evening sparring session.

• Shen Fei tested the Ink Cloud Sword and found its grip warmer and its Spiritual Power circulation nearly twice as fast after the white bead merged into its hilt.
• Shen Fei concluded that the bead was likely an auxiliary component and wondered whether others could help restore the Ink Cloud Sword to its original form.
• Shen Fei planned to ask Nie Li the next day about the bead and any other components matching the sword.
• Shen Fei remembered his agreement to spar with Xiao Ning'er that evening and left before he would be late.

Shen Fei met Xiao Ning'er at night, and the two walked toward the main street while he wondered why she seemed embarrassed. As they continued, Shen Fei told her that someone had been watching their family's merchant caravan.

• Shen Fei entered the Winged Dragon Family's side courtyard and found Xiao Ning'er hiding a rolled-up paper behind her back.
• Xiao Ning'er blushed, said nothing was wrong, and quickly led Shen Fei out of the courtyard.
• Shen Fei followed Xiao Ning'er through the alley and onto the nearly empty main street without pressing her about her behavior.
• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er that someone had been watching their family's merchant caravan for the past two days.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er discussed unfamiliar watchers near their families’ trade routes and suspected that a faction mentioned by Nie Li was gathering information about Glory City. At the City Lord’s Mansion, they trained with weapons until exhaustion, while Shen Fei felt the Body Tempering Pill strengthening his body and Xiao Ning'er practiced techniques from her Spear Manual.

• Xiao Ning'er told Shen Fei that unfamiliar groups had watched her family’s caravans from a distance without approaching them.
• Shen Fei linked the watchers to the other faction Nie Li had mentioned and agreed with Xiao Ning'er that they should be careful.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er entered the City Lord’s Mansion’s back courtyard and took a practice sword and spear from the Martial Arts Arena.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er sparred for nearly two hours without spiritual power or Demon Spirits, and Shen Fei felt the Body Tempering Pill’s effects in his muscles.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er continued fighting as they grew increasingly exhausted, with Xiao Ning'er applying movements from the Spear Manual Mingyu had given her.

After an exhausting spar, Xiao Ning'er and Shen Fei collapsed, and Shen Fei carried her to a bench. Xiao Ning'er’s memories of fearing he would not return from the Black Prison showed how deeply she cared for him, while Shen Fei resisted the intimacy of their close encounter.

• Xiao Ning'er fell from exhaustion, and Shen Fei dropped his sword and went to help her.
• Shen Fei tried to lift Xiao Ning'er, but her legs gave out and she fell back as he leaned over her.
• Xiao Ning'er remembered Aunt Wang advising her to show weakness and recalled anxiously waiting for Shen Fei to return from the Black Prison.
• Xiao Ning'er relaxed in Shen Fei's arms, and he suppressed his impulse and carried her to a bench.
• Shen Fei laid Xiao Ning'er on the cold bench, and they quietly looked at each other.

After kissing, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er took Body Tempering Pills and recovered from their sparring before going to the City Lord's Mansion to warn Nie Li that their caravans were being watched. They arrived to find Nie Li chatting intimately with Ye Ziyun, who grew embarrassed when she saw them.

• Shen Fei kissed Xiao Ning'er, then told her to circulate her energy and consolidate her gains.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er took Body Tempering Pills and meditated side by side to recover from training.
• After bathing, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er headed to the City Lord's Mansion to tell Nie Li that their caravans were being watched.
• At Nie Li's courtyard, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er heard Ye Ziyun laughing with Nie Li before entering.
• Ye Ziyun stopped smiling and moved away from Nie Li when she saw Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er.

Nie Li warned Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er that the New Faction had begun surveilling their families’ caravans and planned to suspend outside activity while Glory City strengthened its defenses. After they left, Ye Ziyun reflected on Xiao Ning’er’s past and felt she had found a better life beside Shen Fei.

• Shen Fei told Nie Li that unknown, powerful observers had been tracking both families’ caravans, and Nie Li suspected they belonged to the New Faction.
• Nie Li planned to halt long-distance caravan trips, reinforce the freight depot, and rely on Yu Yan and Mingyu’s strength while everyone worked to improve their cultivation.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left Nie Li’s courtyard, and Ye Ziyun watched Xiao Ning'er go.
• Ye Ziyun remembered how Xiao Ning'er had lost confidence after her betrothal and concluded that she now had her own path and had chosen Shen Fei for herself.
• Nie Li asked Ye Ziyun what she was thinking, but she shook her head and said nothing.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er walked home together through the quiet city, holding hands for the first time. At the entrance to the Winged Dragon Family's side courtyard, Xiao Ning'er embraced him, and Shen Fei realized he was experiencing love for the first time.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left the City Lord's Mansion and walked silently through the moonlit streets.
• Shen Fei reached for Xiao Ning'er, and she threaded her fingers through his as they continued toward the Winged Dragon Family.
• Xiao Ning'er stopped at the side courtyard entrance, released Shen Fei's hand, and embraced him.
• Shen Fei held Xiao Ning'er and reflected that, despite having lived three lives, this seemed to be his first time falling in love.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er shared a tender farewell before the approaching battle, and Xiao Ning'er returned to her courtyard. Aunt Wang teased her about their embrace, leaving Xiao Ning'er blushing as she savored the memory and ate the osmanthus cake.

• Xiao Ning'er clung to Shen Fei at the courtyard gate, and he kissed her forehead and offered to stay with her.
• Xiao Ning'er said Shen Fei had important things to do, then went inside after he reminded her to prepare for the coming battle.
• Alone in her room, Xiao Ning'er touched her forehead and tried to calm herself with cool water.
• Aunt Wang brought Xiao Ning'er pastries and teased her for embracing Shen Fei outside the gate.
• After Aunt Wang left, Xiao Ning'er recalled the moment with Shen Fei, smiled, and ate the osmanthus cake.

Shen Fei received Nie Li’s invitation to the City Lord’s Mansion and brought Xiao Ning'er with him. They arrived at Nie Li’s courtyard, where several others had gathered.

• Shen Fei told the old steward to stop all Sacred Family merchant caravans from leaving Glory City until he returned.
• Shen Fei went to the Winged Dragon Family residence, where Xiao Ning'er was ready to accompany him.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er traveled to the City Lord’s Mansion and entered through its side gate.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er arrived at Nie Li’s courtyard and found Lu Piao, Du Ze, Xiao Xue, Duan Jian, and Ye Ziyun gathered there.
• Nie Li greeted Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er and invited them to sit.

Nie Li revealed a formation that converted Demon Spirits into soul force and activated it in the courtyard. He invited Shen Fei and the others to stand within the array and absorb the soul force as it spread.

• Shen Fei examined the dark-gold formation and asked Nie Li what it did.
• A guard delivered a box containing ten Space Rings, and Nie Li placed the rings into slots around the stone pillar.
• Nie Li activated the array and explained that it contained a hundred thousand Demon Spirits, which the formation would convert into soul force with few side effects.
• Shen Fei asked when they would begin, and Nie Li answered that they would start immediately.
• Nie Li told everyone to stand on the array's patterns, circulate their cultivation arts, and absorb the soul force into their dantians.

Nie Li used the formation to absorb over a thousand kilograms of Demon Spirits, reaching Black Gold Rank 1-star. The formation then filled the courtyard with refined soul force, allowing Shen Fei to cultivate faster and gradually strengthen his dark law.

• Nie Li activated the formation and summoned a phantom Tiger-Fanged Panda to devour over a thousand kilograms of Demon Spirits.
• The Tiger-Fanged Panda returned to Nie Li’s dantian, and Nie Li broke through to Black Gold Rank 1-star.
• The formation released dark golden radiance that enveloped everyone within it and raised the soul force concentration to more than eight times its normal level.
• Shen Fei sat within the formation and circulated the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art, absorbing the compatible soul force into his meridians.
• Shen Fei sensed faint traces of law in the soul force and gradually absorbed them into his soul sea, strengthening his dark law.

Nie Li’s array converted demon spirits into soul force while extracting law fragments, allowing Shen Fei and the others to cultivate rapidly. Shen Fei broke through to black gold rank 4-star, and Xiao Ning’er began advancing to black gold rank 2-star.

• Shen Fei realized that Nie Li’s array extracted residual law fragments from demon spirits as it converted their spiritual power.
• Lu Piao, Du Ze, Xiao Xue, Xiao Ning’er, and Shen Fei cultivated in the array as their spiritual power and laws grew stronger.
• Nie Li awakened first, consolidated his cultivation at black gold rank 1-star, and moved beside Shen Fei.
• Shen Fei broke through to black gold rank 4-star as his Shadow Mantis absorbed more dark law fragments.
• Xiao Ning’er broke through to black gold rank 2-star, strengthening the Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow’s lightning and dark law-light.

Xiao Ning'er, Lu Piao, Xiao Xue, and Du Ze broke through to higher cultivation ranks while the group cultivated in Nie Li's array. Ye Mo urged Ye Zong to settle Nie Li's marriage to Ziyun, and the chapter ended after Nie Li shut down the array and told everyone to consolidate their cultivation.

• Xiao Ning'er stabilized her new realm, while Lu Piao broke through to gold rank 5-star and Xiao Xue advanced to gold rank 4-star.
• Du Ze broke through to black gold rank 1-star as the group continued cultivating in the array for nearly twelve hours.
• Ye Mo told Ye Zong that the young cultivators were the Human Race's future and urged him to settle Nie Li's marriage to Ziyun.
• Ye Zong accepted that Nie Li was a suitable match for Ziyun but struggled with the thought of letting his daughter go.
• Nie Li removed the ten Space Rings and shut down the array, then told everyone to return home and consolidate their cultivation.

After leaving Nie Li’s formation with their cultivation strengthened, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er walked back through the quiet city and parted at the Winged Dragon Family’s courtyard. Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family and went to the Martial Arts Arena, where he summoned Ink Cloud to examine the sword’s changed appearance.

• Lu Piao, Du Ze, Duan Jian, Ye Ziyun, Shen Fei, and Xiao Ning'er left the formation with their cultivation strengthened and stabilized.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er walked together to the Winged Dragon Family’s side courtyard, where Xiao Ning'er went inside after Shen Fei advised her to consolidate her cultivation and rest.
• Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family, greeted the guards, and went to the Martial Arts Arena instead of immediately returning to his room.
• Shen Fei summoned Ink Cloud and examined its blade and hilt, noting the patterns formed after the white bead fused into the sword.

Shen Fei tested Ink Cloud’s power and cleaved a five-meter-deep scar through the Martial Arts Arena, though the strike consumed a third of his Soul Force. Second Elder Shen Kun arrived, saw the damage, and recognized that supporting Shen Fei had been the right choice.

• Shen Fei channeled Soul Force into Ink Cloud, which absorbed roughly a third of his reserves as its patterns darkened and its Spiritual Power flowed more smoothly.
• Shen Fei struck the bluestone ground with Ink Cloud, splitting it into a narrow, smooth sword scar nearly five meters deep.
• Shen Fei assessed the strike’s immense power and cost, then returned Ink Cloud to his Soul Sea and began recovering his Spiritual Power.
• Second Elder Shen Kun hurried into the Martial Arts Arena, inspected the sword scar, and bowed to Shen Fei as Family Head.
• Shen Fei told Shen Kun that nothing was wrong and that he planned to test his strength further.

The Second Elder concluded that Shen Fei’s sword strike had reached legend rank and that the Sacred Family had chosen the right path under his leadership. Above Glory City, Ye Mo faced Wu Man, a pinnacle legend rank expert from the Witch Ghost Family, while Ye Zong watched tensely from the City Lord’s Mansion.

• The Second Elder recognized that Shen Fei’s strike had exceeded black gold rank and reaffirmed his support for Shen Fei and the Sacred Family’s break with the Dark Guild.
• Shen Fei examined the smooth sword scar in the Martial Arts Arena, then headed toward the exit.
• Ye Mo and Wu Man confronted each other in the sky above the City Lord’s Mansion as Ye Zong watched from the courtyard.
• Wu Man identified Ye Mo as the pinnacle legend rank expert Ye Han had mentioned and remarked that he had expected Glory City’s strongest expert to be weaker.
• Ye Mo studied Wu Man’s sinister aura and recognized the dark-red patterns as marks of the Witch Ghost Family’s life-draining Secret Method.

Ye Mo and Wu Man fought above the City Lord's Mansion, then summoned their demon spirits to clash. Ye Mo's Heavenly Plume Sacred Bird began overpowering Wu Man's Witch Ghost Beast, and Wu Man ended the beam contest and recognized Ye Mo's power of laws.

• Wu Man attacked Ye Mo with a punch, but Ye Mo stopped it with pale golden light and evaded his follow-up strikes.
• Ye Mo and Wu Man exchanged blows in midair while Ye Zong watched from the courtyard steps.
• Ye Mo summoned the Heavenly Plume Sacred Bird, and Wu Man summoned the Nether Domain Witch Ghost Beast.
• The demon spirits fired beams at each other, and Ye Mo's golden beam steadily suppressed Wu Man's dark red attack.
• Wu Man cut off his demon spirit's beam and told Ye Mo that he had underestimated his power of laws.

Wu Man threatened Glory City with the Witch Ghost Family’s strength, but Ye Mo refused to surrender and let him leave. Ye Zong placed the city on alert and informed Nie Li, while the chapter ended with Shen Fei waking at dawn.

• Ye Mo refused Wu Man’s demand to surrender Glory City, and Wu Man withdrew into the wilderness.
• Ye Mo judged that Glory City could not withstand the Witch Ghost Family’s forces and told Ye Zong to alert Nie Li and prepare the city’s fighters.
• Ye Zong ordered a First-Level Alert, closed the outer passages, and summoned Black Gold Rank and higher cultivators to prepare for battle.
• Ye Zong relayed Ye Mo’s warning to Nie Li, who listened and nodded.
• Glory City mobilized through the night, and Shen Fei woke at dawn after cultivating late into the night.

After learning that the Witch Ghost Family threatened Glory City with dozens of Legendary Rank experts and three Demi-Gods, Shen Fei hurried to the City Lord's Mansion with Xiao Ning'er. They arrived as the Ten Thousand Demons and Spirits Array activated above the city.

• The old steward told Shen Fei that a Legendary Peak outsider from the Witch Ghost Family had demanded Glory City's surrender, prompting Ye Mo to order the city to prepare for battle.
• Shen Fei fused with the Shadow Mantis and raced from the Sacred Family to the Winged Dragon Family.
• Shen Fei met Xiao Ning'er, who summoned her Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow, and the two flew together to the City Lord's Mansion.
• A muffled boom sounded as Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er entered the back courtyard, and the Ten Thousand Demons and Spirits Array unfurled over Glory City.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er rushed to the City Lord's Mansion, where Witch Ghost Family attackers were overwhelming the retainers as Nie Li, Ye Zong, and Ye Mo struggled to hold a seal containing more than twenty Legend Rank experts. Shen Fei intervened to save Gongliang Shu, piercing a Black Gold Rank Five-Star attacker with Ink Cloud.

• Shen Fei saw Nie Li, Ye Zong, and Ye Mo exhausting themselves to stabilize the Ten Thousand Demons and Spirits Array, which held more than twenty Legend Rank experts.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er hurried to the front courtyard and found twelve injured retainers surrounded by more than thirty Witch Ghost Family Black Gold Rank experts.
• A Black Gold Rank Five-Star attacker slipped around the retainers' formation and swung his saber at the wounded Gongliang Shu.
• Shen Fei summoned the Shadow Mantis, drew Ink Cloud, and charged to Gongliang Shu's side.
• Shen Fei pierced the attacker's chest and heart with Ink Cloud, which cut through his spiritual armor without resistance.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er intervened to protect the retainers in the City Lord's Mansion, killing and disabling Witch Ghost Family experts before identifying themselves as reinforcements. Wu Hong then descended into the square, revealing the oppressive aura of a Legendary Rank expert, and the Witch Ghost Family members congratulated him on his breakthrough.

• Shen Fei killed a Black Gold Rank Five-Star expert with one sword strike, while Xiao Ning'er used a Thunder Spear to disable another attacker.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er introduced themselves as support from the Sacred Family and the Winged Dragon Family, and Gongliang Shu acknowledged them.
• Wu Hong descended into the Front Courtyard, and Shen Fei judged him to be Legendary Rank 2-Star.
• The Witch Ghost Family experts sheathed their weapons, retreated, and congratulated Wu Hong on his successful breakthrough.