Chapter Summaries

Xu Xuan attacked the Duskfall Gate and fought Kongming, whose star-chart formation and Void-Tracing Expanse could not withstand his sword intent. Lingji joined Kongming and tried to force Xu Xuan to withdraw, but Xu Xuan summoned a Thunder Palace immortal general and declared that he would not retreat from Heaven Pool.

• Xu Xuan cut through the Duskfall Gate’s formation and challenged Kongming, who had prepared a star-chart formation and refused to flee.
• Xu Xuan shattered Kongming’s star chart and wounded him with sword intent, driving him into Great Radiance Mountain.
• As Xu Xuan prepared another strike, Kongming called for Lingji, who petrified Xu Xuan with Wuji Petrifying Mysterious Radiance and helped seal the area with talismans.
• Lingji identified himself and demanded that Xu Xuan leave Heaven Pool, but Xu Xuan broke free and summoned a Thunder Palace immortal general.
• Xu Xuan drew on Heaven Pool’s support, declared he would never retreat, and sent sword intent sweeping away Lingji’s Gen Earth mysterious radiance.

Xu Xuan battled Lingji and Kongming above the Vast Sea, enduring Lingji’s Three Mountains’ Supreme Art before recovering and striking back. Lingji escaped with his true spirit, while Xu Xuan turned his killing intent on Kongming, who could no longer hide.

• Lingji used the Yueyang Bronze Mirror to turn the sea into land, while Xu Xuan summoned clouds and thunder to reclaim the waters.
• Lingji sent Kongming to hold off the Thunder Palace Immortal General and attacked Xu Xuan with the Mountain-Driving Whip, talisman mountains, and Gen Earth arts.
• Xu Xuan broke through Lingji’s defenses with Yang Thunder’s Mystic Zenith and Thunderfall Marsh, shattering Lingji’s Still-Dust Gate and badly damaging his Dharma Body.
• Lingji summoned Kunlun, Mount Sumeru, and Great Tai Mountain to crush Xu Xuan’s Thunder Marsh Dharma Body and send him plunging into the sea.
• As Lingji tried to finish Xu Xuan, five demons intervened; Xu Xuan recovered, destroyed Lingji’s Dharma Body, and forced him to retreat with his true spirit.
• Xu Xuan fixed his killing intent on Kongming and used the thunder array to leave him with nowhere to hide in the Great Void.

Xu Xuan defeated Lingji, captured Kongming and Nanfa, and learned about the Origin Mountain lineage and a mystic-qi opportunity in Heaven Pool’s core. As he prepared to secure northern Heaven Pool, the wounded Lingji warned Formed Jade that Xu Xuan had become a major threat, prompting the Stone Man Way to pursue the opportunity and seek to kill him.

• Xu Xuan defeated Lingji and Kongming, captured Kongming’s true spirit, and took the Stone Man Way’s Yueyang Inert Stone Mirror.
• Xu Xuan ordered Mo Xi to connect northern Heaven Pool with Mistsea and prepared to complete the sea enfeoffment.
• Kongming told Xu Xuan that the Stone Man Way and Dingji Mountain traced their origins to Eight Extremes Origin Mountain and revealed that an opportunity involving mystic qi had appeared in Heaven Pool’s core.
• Kongming revealed the strength of the Stone Man Way’s Purple Mansion cultivators and said they were competing with Netherwhale Gorge’s Demon Kings for the opportunity left by Great Azure.
• Lingji returned to Yellow Jade Mountain gravely injured and warned Formed Jade that Xu Xuan could threaten the Stone Man Way.
• Formed Jade resolved to seize the Heaven Pool opportunity and help his superior cultivate a final divine ability to suppress Xu Xuan, while an unseen figure watched Yellow Jade Mountain and vanished.

Soul-Concealment revived Fu Dong in a dharma body, and the two discussed the ancient destruction of the Heavenly Inquiry path and the growing power of demons and dragonkind. Fu Dong ordered Soul-Concealment to capture Lingji, investigate Heaven Pool, and contact the Fire Crows, while she planned to face Stolen Script herself once her divine ability matured.

• Soul-Concealment placed Greater Yang energy into Fu Dong's coffin, and she awakened in a dharma body made with Xiangtear Bamboo.
• Fu Dong explained how the Xia Dynasty had destroyed the Heavenly Inquiry path and dismissed Soul-Concealment's suspicions that a great one still supported her.
• Fu Dong said she wanted the Chu Lands treasures and Lingji, while Soul-Concealment warned that Mu Youdu's powerful dragon bloodline and sword intent made him dangerous.
• Fu Dong and Soul-Concealment discussed the Fire Crows, Primordial Heaven's coming, and the Yang Household's likely ambitions.
• Fu Dong ordered Soul-Concealment to capture Lingji, investigate Heaven Pool, and cautiously contact the Fire Crows, then said she would visit Stolen Script once she attained her divine ability.

Xu Xuan completed the sea-sealing of northern Heaven Pool and the Mistsea, strengthening his power and restoring his dragon body. He traveled with Illusory Visage to Colorful Cloud City to discuss the Stone Man Way, where Illusory Visage’s sudden transformation and advances ended the meeting on an awkward note.

• Xu Xuan sealed northern Heaven Pool and the Mistsea, healed with Heaven Pool’s blessing, and ordered Mo Xi and Yang Yanlu to garrison the waters.
• Xu Xuan comprehended the [Thunder Chariot] form of [Ride Without Blame], giving him a chance to escape even powerful suppression.
• Illusory Visage congratulated Xu Xuan and described Lingji’s three life-preserving divine abilities before inviting him to [Skybow Sea] to discuss the Stone Man Way.
• Xu Xuan learned that Netherwhale Gorge’s Yun Cang and Zhong Mang had refused to join the opposition to the Stone Man Way.
• Xu Xuan arrived at Colorful Cloud City, where Illusory Visage transformed into a woman and tried to take his arm, prompting Xu Xuan to draw Lightning Flash.
• Illusory Visage said the advance had been caused by his path’s divine ability, and Xu Xuan regretted accepting the invitation.

Xu Xuan learned more about Illusory Visage’s past and the mysterious death of Dragon Prince Guangyu before hearing why Illusory Visage sought to kill Ancient Hua. The chapter ended with Illusory Visage revealing that Ancient Hua had killed his mortal wife.

• Illusory Visage explained that his rainbow and rosy cloud cultivation gave him both yin and yang bodies, and Xu Xuan asked about similar traditions.
• Xu Xuan sensed dragon qi in a pavilion, and Illusory Visage said Dragon Prince Guangyu had once visited and explored the Great Dao with both of his bodies.
• Illusory Visage recounted rumors that Guangyu had been slain by a Primordial Lord after committing desecration, while Xu Xuan wondered about Guangyu’s connection to the Great Desire Demon Land.
• Illusory Visage warned that the Stone Man Way and Ancient Hua would remain enemies of Xu Xuan and the Mist Marsh Flood Serpents.
• Xu Xuan asked why Illusory Visage wanted Ancient Hua dead, and Illusory Visage said Ancient Hua had killed his wife, a mortal woman.

Xu Xuan and Illusory Visage planned to kill Ancient Hua before he could claim Great Azure’s legacy, while Pure Source warned of opposition to the Dragonkin’s return. After leaving Heaven Pool, Xu Xuan encountered Bixi, a cultivator of the origin wood path in Yearwood Sea.

• Illusory Visage told Xu Xuan that he planned to disrupt Ancient Hua’s dharma body with his divine abilities and secret treasure, leaving Xu Xuan to strike with his sword.
• Illusory Visage said Great Azure’s legacy would emerge within a few years and promised that the Mirage Path would leave the Southern Sea if Ancient Hua was killed.
• Pure Source agreed to join the plan but warned Illusory Visage that the Southern Sea’s immortal lineages opposed the Dragonkin’s return, and hinted that powerful figures might act against Xu Xuan.
• Xu Xuan left Colorful Cloud City and changed course after sensing the Stone Man Way probing his departure from Heaven Pool.
• Xu Xuan reached Yearwood Sea and met Bixi, master of the Clear Vast Way, whose cultivators followed the origin wood path; after speaking briefly, he continued on his way.

Zhou You investigated Ruan Yuan with the Azure Origin Branch and Soul-Inquiry Book, then discovered the branch recognized the child and opened his Qi Sea. He made Ruan Yuan his disciple, but the child’s inability to read left Zhou You teaching him himself.

• Lin Yu brought Ruan Yuan to Zhou You, who ordered him to stop disciples from spreading rumors that the child was an evil creature.
• Zhou You told Lin Yu that Upper Firmament’s founding patriarch had served as a retainer of Origin Wood and that Primordial Azure Wood came from True Lord Jiansui.
• Zhou You used the Soul-Inquiry Book and Azure Origin Branch to examine Ruan Yuan, but the book showed no sign of reincarnation.
• The Azure Origin Branch sent a mystical marking into Ruan Yuan’s hand, and he entered the Fetal Breath realm in a single breath.
• Zhou You sent Lin Yu away, declared himself Ruan Yuan’s master, and gave him the One-Yang Breathing Method.
• Ruan Yuan told Zhou You he could not read, so Zhou You produced a jade slip and began teaching him.

Formed Jade sought Ancient Hua’s counsel as Stone Man Way and the Netherwhale prepared to contend for the mysterious qi emerging in Ren Sea. When the Greater Yin Mystic Fish stirred, Zhong Mang saw a mysterious figure fishing atop it, but the encounter left him confused and unable to remember what he had witnessed.

• Formed Jade met Ancient Hua inside Bright Zenith Mountain and learned that Ancient Hua’s failing dharma body required him to obtain the mysterious qi, while Lingji would remain behind to support the Way.
• Formed Jade warned that Netherwhale forces were preparing at Ren Sea, where a numinous omen was about to manifest, and Ancient Hua agreed to act when it appeared.
• Hai Xiu punished Zhang Gong for delays in mining netherflow ink jade, then reported to Zhong Mang that the formation supporting the Purple Sun Heavenly Imperial Palace would soon be complete.
• Zhong Mang explained that the Netherwhale planned to use the palace to seize their opportunity at Ren Sea and retreat before rival powers could strike.
• A shock thunder sounded over Ren Sea, drawing Zhong Mang and Formed Jade to the rising Greater Yin Mystic Fish.
• Zhong Mang glimpsed a mysterious man fishing atop the Mystic Fish, lost control of his dharma body, and then forgot the encounter as the figure vanished.

Xu Xuan and Illusory Visage joined the battle over the mysterious change qi at Heaven Pool, helping Yun Cang and Zhong Mang confront Ancient Hua. Ancient Hua remained empowered by the Divine Union Grand Talisman as the factions prepared to fight for control of Heaven Pool.

• Xu Xuan gave Yang Yuanxin orders to retreat to Mistsea with Lu Lian, then accepted her Bingyang Banner before heading into the Great Void with Illusory Visage.
• The Greater Yin Mystic Fish transformed into a Heavenly Peng, and the mysterious change qi emerged above the azure-stone Dao Platform at Ren Sea.
• Ancient Hua invoked the Divine Union Grand Talisman and confronted Yun Cang, defeating him with the Mountain-Driving Whip and driving away many watching cultivators.
• Yun Cang called for help, and Zhong Mang joined the battle as Xu Xuan and Illusory Visage attacked Ancient Hua from the Great Void.
• Illusory Visage's Heaven-Falling Rainbow disrupted Ancient Hua, and Xu Xuan's sword strikes cut open his heart aperture.
• Ancient Hua stabilized his Dharma Body with the Divine Union Grand Talisman and challenged his opponents to decide who would become master of Heaven Pool.

Xu Xuan, Yun Cang, Illusory Visage, and True Person Pure Source joined forces to attack Ancient Hua, who drew on the Divine Union Grand Talisman and Bright Zenith Mountain to withstand their assault. Ancient Hua recovered and grew stronger, trapping his opponents and singling out Xu Xuan for death.

• Ancient Hua fought Xu Xuan and Yun Cang while Illusory Visage suppressed the Divine Union Grand Talisman, but Xu Xuan’s sword and Yun Cang’s blood mosquitoes pressured the Stone Man.
• Ancient Hua pinned Yun Cang with the Origin-Weaving Pearl and used [Gold-Inlay Inscription] to link himself to Xu Xuan, thwarting Xu Xuan’s attempts to escape.
• Xu Xuan summoned the Thunder-Grasping Formation while Yun Cang disrupted Ancient Hua’s dust-covered gate, allowing Xu Xuan’s thunder and sword intent to damage the sacred spirit’s Dharma Body.
• True Person Pure Source arrived and weakened Ancient Hua with Kan Water, and Xu Xuan followed with a strike that shattered the Stone Man’s Dharma Body.
• Ancient Hua invoked Mountain Refining, swallowed the Divine Union Grand Talisman, and joined with Bright Zenith Mountain to restore his body and form a grand formation around his opponents.
• Ancient Hua’s power rose toward the Purple Mansion peak, and he warned the others to withdraw while declaring that Xu Xuan should die.

Ancient Hua forced Yun Cang and Zhong Mang to withdraw, while Illusory Visage refused to abandon his revenge for his Dao companion and Pure Source left to protect his sect. Xu Xuan accepted Heaven Pool’s blessing, reached the purple mansion middle stage, and summoned the Mingxiong Origin divine ability to face Ancient Hua.

• Ancient Hua offered to spare Yun Cang and his forces if they swore to withdraw from Heaven Pool, and Yun Cang accepted after Zhong Mang was defeated.
• Ancient Hua released the formation’s suppression, allowing Yun Cang to rescue Zhong Mang and flee with his demon soldiers.
• Illusory Visage revealed his deceased Dao companion’s soul light and vowed to stop Ancient Hua in revenge for her death during the Stone Man Way’s mountain-moving.
• Pure Source abandoned Illusory Visage and Xu Xuan, swore an oath, and left through the opening in the formation.
• Xu Xuan refused to flee after Ancient Hua threatened Mist Marsh, and Heaven Pool’s blessing raised his cultivation to the purple mansion middle stage.
• Xu Xuan summoned the Mingxiong Origin divine ability and confronted Ancient Hua as a mysterious voice urged him to lift the rod.

Xu Xuan battled Ancient Hua across the Ren Sea, survived the Three Mountains’ suppression with Illusory Visage’s help, and killed Ancient Hua. Lingji escaped with the Divine Union talisman, but a mysterious woman claiming he had taken something of hers intercepted him in the Great Void and swallowed him.

• Xu Xuan used the Mist Dragon and his Thunder Marsh Dharma Body to fight Ancient Hua while Illusory Visage restrained Formed Jade.
• Ancient Hua exhausted the Divine Union Immortal Talisman and pinned Xu Xuan for Lingji to attack with Three Mountains' Supreme Art of Suppressing Rebellion.
• Illusory Visage sacrificed his Dharma Body to blunt Great Tai Mountain, allowing Xu Xuan to break free, kill Ancient Hua, and destroy his true spirit.
• Lingji fled with Bright Zenith Mountain and the Divine Union talisman, while Xu Xuan subdued Formed Jade and accepted Du Wangran's salute.
• Lingji concealed himself in the Great Void, but a woman with the form of a Nine-Headed Monster Bird confronted him, swallowed him, and sent Shengji Mountain plunging into the mortal world.

After defeating Ancient Hua, Xu Xuan learned that the sacred spirits’ flaw had forced Ancient Hua to seek the Great Azure Mystic Essence, which could restore a severed Dao Path. The mystic essence transformed his Dao Realm and revealed the Most High Pavilion, where Xu Xuan found powerful scriptures and ended on the newly discovered Great Azure Twofold Principles Scripture.

• Xu Xuan recovered from his battle with Ancient Hua, discussed the fight with Illusory Visage, and watched Illusory Visage leave with Formed Jade.
• Xu Xuan questioned Formed Jade, learned that sacred spirits suffered a flaw that caused their dharma bodies to dissolve, and imprisoned Formed Jade in the Thought-Sustaining Bowl.
• Xu Xuan obtained the Great Azure Mystic Essence from the ruined Dao Platform and brought it into his Dao Realm.
• The Great Azure Mystic Essence transformed into the Most High Pavilion, where Xu Xuan examined scriptures that could be acquired with celestial virtue.
• Xu Xuan found records of Fengxuan sword arts and the titles of three profound sword scriptures, then vowed to restore Fengxuan and take revenge on Dust-Sweeping.
• Xu Xuan discovered the Great Azure Twofold Principles Scripture among scriptures surrounded by the two qi of yin and yang.

Xu Xuan examined scriptures in the Most High Pavilion, learned the Heavenly Peng Yang Extremity Evasion Method, and claimed Heaven Pool after killing Ancient Hua and Formed Jade. He accepted the Stone Man Way's surrender and discovered its scriptures, treasures, and a dangerous Great Fury Beast Flame.

• Xu Xuan studied the Great Azure Twofold Principles Scripture, then exchanged three hundred celestial virtue for the Heavenly Peng Yang Extremity Evasion Method.
• Xu Xuan returned to the outside world and found strange black thorns and a dragon-shaped jade tree at Yellow-Stone Treasure Mountain; he dispelled the manifestations and suspected a connection to whoever had directed Ancient Hua.
• Xu Xuan joined Lu Lian and Yang Yuanxin aboard the Azure-Gold Warship and declared that Heaven Pool belonged to Mist Marsh after Ancient Hua and Formed Jade had been slain.
• Yue Xie surrendered the Stone Man Way to Xu Xuan, whose soldiers restrained the stone spirits while Xu Xuan demanded their scriptures, spirit artifacts, and stores.
• Xu Xuan examined the Stone Man Way's Gen Earth and Dui Metal texts, learned that two Equal-Earth Pearls were missing, and found the Great Fury Beast Flame sealed in a treasure pool.
• Yue Xie told Xu Xuan that True Person Elephant Shift had once activated the Great Fury Beast Flame, gone mad, and died.

Xu Xuan examined the Stone Man Way’s spirit treasures and artifacts, then left Heaven Pool with Yang Yuanxin as they considered what would come next. Yang Yuanyi arrived and pressed Xu Xuan to marry Yang Yuanxin; after he departed, Yang Yuanxin feared her brother’s changing temperament was tied to the Golden Crow’s influence.

• Yue Xie explained how True Person Elephant Shift had died after attempting to refine the black flame, so Xu Xuan set it aside and refined some Body-Settling Dust to stabilize his dharma-body injuries.
• Xu Xuan offered Yang Yuanxin a spirit artifact, and she chose the Hengyue Token for her clan’s use.
• Yang Yuanxin warned Xu Xuan that killing Ancient Hua would draw trouble and that Mist Marsh still lacked a Golden Core cultivator to protect it.
• Yang Yuanyi arrived and asked when Xu Xuan would honor his promise to marry Yang Yuanxin; Xu Xuan said he would wait for news from Mist Marsh and the clan elders.
• After Yang Yuanyi left without replying to her, Yang Yuanxin broke down and told Xu Xuan that her brother’s temperament had changed, possibly because of the path he cultivated and the Golden Crow’s influence.

Xu Xuan reorganized Heaven Pool, then used the Supreme Clarity Dao Realm to assign new roles to Nanfa, Kongming, and Formed Jade. Kongming’s account of the Celestial Stars Way deepened Xu Xuan’s doubts about Fengxuan’s vanished masters, while Formed Jade was sent to expand the immortal heaven.

• Xu Xuan ordered Mo Xi to have Yue Xie and the Stone Men move Bright Zenith Mountain and incorporate it into the Great Mountain Divine Disk Formation.
• Xu Xuan settled the aquatic clans’ requests and assigned newly arrived Foundation Establishment demons to guard Heaven Pool’s outskirts.
• Xu Xuan examined the Chaos Divine Being in his inner scenery and the ancient Mu Ming sword while recovering from his injuries.
• Xu Xuan erased Nanfa’s memories and assigned him to the Vast Transformation Hall to reform a Taotie.
• Xu Xuan sent Kongming to repair the Dao Realm’s damaged edge and learned that his Celestial Stars Way traced back to Dao Lord Great Luminary of Fengxuan.
• Xu Xuan transformed Formed Jade’s identity and assigned him to expand the immortal heaven.

Xu Xuan continued developing the Dao realm, assigned Yu Huan to coordinate its Immortal Officials, and collected purified Taotie blood essence for Fa Yan’s cultivation. He then sensed Xiao Wen awakening at Bright Sun Peak and turned his attention toward him.

• Xu Xuan visited Yu Huan, offered her a possible future Water Transformation position, and gave her a thunder token to coordinate the Dao realm’s Immortal Officials.
• Yu Huan presented Xu Xuan with two Dao Texts, including the [Heavenly Blood Demon Embryo Art], which could help contain demonic nature.
• Xu Xuan found Mu Xu extracting Taotie blood while Nanfa tried to reform the beast, and collected twelve drops of purified blood essence for Fa Yan.
• Xu Xuan sensed a radiant presence awakening within the temple, realized it was Xiao Wen, and looked toward Bright Sun Peak.

Xu Xuan and Wen Guang completed the reconstruction of Liu Xiaowen’s dharma body, restoring him to life with a fused Greater Yang and Bing fire nature. As the sect prepared to reorganize, Liu Xingfang reunited with his senior brother and revealed that he and Shao Yue had a baby daughter.

• Wen Guang used true flame to open the fiery embryo, and Liu Xiaowen emerged with a reconstructed dharma body and Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivation.
• Liu Xiaowen discussed the sect’s changes with Xu Xuan and agreed that Green Luo should be rebuilt and the sect’s rules revised.
• Liu Xiaowen revealed his transformed [Great Sun Radiant Flame], and Wen Guang connected it to the lost [eternal bright venerable light profound flame] lineage.
• Liu Xingfang arrived, reunited with Liu Xiaowen, and congratulated Xu Xuan on emerging from seclusion.
• Liu Xingfang told Xu Xuan and Liu Xiaowen that he and Shao Yue had a child, while Xu Xuan sensed Shao Yue soothing their baby daughter on Rainbow-Crossing Peak.

Xu Xuan reviewed the sect’s affairs with Wen Si'an and planned new boundaries, rules, and paths for its growing membership. He also considered the sect’s political ties and threats, deciding to seek a foothold in the Western Sea while remaining committed to Red Cloud.

• Wen Si'an reported that the sect had grown close to the Void Sword, the Liu Household branches, True Person Nanwang, and Xing Fang, and Xu Xuan outlined expanded boundaries centered on Green Peaks and Heavenly Tribulation.
• Xu Xuan and Wen Si'an discussed new disciple ranks and promotion standards, then reviewed Cheng Yan, Yi Wan, Zhengyi, Liu Fanqing, Xiong Min, and Jiang Yuehong as prospective foundation establishment cultivators.
• Wen Si'an said Qiong He remained elusive and had last been seen in the Frontier, and Xu Xuan said he would look for him there later.
• Xu Xuan resolved to revise the sect rules to manage disputes among old and new disciples and competing family factions.
• Wen Si'an told Xu Xuan that Xing Fang and Wu Shaoyue had named their daughter Shu Han and that the Wu main sect hoped she would join its lineage; Xu Xuan agreed to the arrangement to strengthen their ties.
• After Wen Si'an warned that warfare and Great Blissful Desire Demon Land cultivators threatened the region, Xu Xuan said he would claim spiritual lands in the Western Sea while continuing to hold Red Cloud.