Chapter Summaries

Yuan Jia killed the Netherwhales Yun Cang and Zhong Mang, and their deaths cleansed the corrupted gray cliffs. In the outer seas, Jinghua used the stolen blood essence to strengthen Ye Yanzhen and prepared him to pursue the Heavenly Leaf tradition and seek a chance at Purple Mansion.

• Zhong Mang returned to the gray cliffs and discovered that the living fodder and patrol demons had vanished.
• Yuan Jia tortured Yun Cang with the Heavenly Punishment Smite-Thunder Mace, then killed him with the Five Thunders Binding Qilin Ring.
• Yun Cang's blood essence escaped through a demonic heart, but Yuan Jia captured Zhong Mang and killed him, turning the gray cliffs' waters into a Ren Water spiritual land.
• Jinghua caught the demonic heart in the Great Void and transformed it into a blood-red pomegranate for Ye Yanzhen.
• Jinghua told Ye Yanzhen that his lineage traced back to the Heavenly Leaf Palace and urged him to prepare for the Azure Leaf Sky, where he could pursue Purple Mansion.
• Ye Yanzhen resumed studying the Heavenly Leaf Cycle-Jia Scripture and declared that its completed divine ability would be Heaven-Shrouding Leaf.

Xu Xuan went to Flame-Offering Mountain after hearing of a change there and met Yang Zhongzhou, a Golden Crow envoy bearing an edict about his marriage to Yang Yuanxin. He entered Bingyang Hall to question Yang Zhongzhou about his plans and found Yang Yuanyi cultivating what appeared to be [Drought as Calamity].

• Bai Su told Xu Xuan that Flame-Offering Mountain had invited him and Yang Yuanxin, and that Yang Yuanxin had already returned there.
• Bai Su presented an offering of [Autumn Lake Cold Water] from Lady Qing Ling, and Xu Xuan asked her to arrange a later meeting before leaving for Flame-Offering.
• Xu Xuan reunited with Yang Yuanxin, who warned him that a high-ranking Golden Crow from Sun Valley was meeting her elder brother.
• Yang Zhongzhou introduced himself as [Linzhou Yang-Meeting Golden Crow] and delivered Lord Shang Guang's edict urging Xu Xuan and Yang Yuanxin to settle their marriage arrangements and prepare betrothal gifts.
• Xu Xuan agreed to speak with Yang Zhongzhou and entered Bingyang Hall, where he found Yang Yuanyi half-merged with Earth Baleful Qi and suspected he was cultivating [Drought as Calamity].

Yang Yuanxin and Xu Xuan pressed Yang Zhongzhou for news of Shang Guang, while the Golden Crow noble explained Bing Fire’s path to the Golden Rank and offered wedding gifts. After Xu Xuan accompanied Yang Zhongzhou to Heaven Pool for a private conversation, Yang Zhongzhou asked whether he knew about Jiaoyang’s affairs.

• Yang Zhongzhou bestowed the title Bing-Day Plume-Filling Fire Crow on Yang Yuanxin, who asked about Shang Guang’s condition despite Yang Yuanyi’s warning.
• Yang Zhongzhou said Shang Guang was studying Demon Lord Xihua’s method for seeking the Golden Position and that Bing Fire’s Fruit Position would manifest again, giving several positions a chance to return.
• Xu Xuan and Yang Zhongzhou agreed to hold the wedding in winter, and Yang Zhongzhou said he could not attend because he had to travel to the Eastern Vast and the Li Kingdom.
• Yang Zhongzhou gave Yang Yuanxin a Greater Yang-Crossing Fire Pill and Xu Xuan a Great Thunder-Yang Sky-Breathing Root as wedding gifts.
• Yang Zhongzhou invited Xu Xuan to Heaven Pool, where they privately prepared to discuss the real matter.
• Yang Zhongzhou asked Xu Xuan whether he knew of Jiaoyang’s affairs.

Xu Xuan learned that the Golden Crow clan was trying to bring Monster Lord Jiaoyang back through an evil creature in the Western Sea, and discussed its plans and vacant Golden Ranks with Yang Zhongzhou. After Yang Zhongzhou left, Xu Xuan tried to contact the Dragon Court, but the Deep Abyss passage shattered and the connection was severed.

• Yang Zhongzhou told Xu Xuan that Jiaoyang was the only surviving lord among the Ten Sons of the Golden Crow and explained how their Golden Ranks had been attained.
• Yang Zhongzhou revealed that the Golden Crows and Mist Blossom faction had used Mu Wude and an evil creature made from Jiaoyang’s bone to prepare for Jiaoyang’s return.
• Yang Zhongzhou said the evil creature had fled to Sindhu, become master of Yunmojia Land, possessed an Asura, and reached the limit of Purple Mansion cultivation.
• Xu Xuan learned that the Fire Crows’ Bright Injured cultivation lineage had Dao Yan Demon King’s approval and that the Three Fires of Bingli True Flame positions were vacant, though Great Li’s Dust-Sweeping was also pursuing them.
• Yang Zhongzhou departed, and Xu Xuan returned to the Clear Harmony Water Palace, where he examined the Great Thunder-Yang Sky-Breathing Root and sealed the palace.
• Xu Xuan tried to contact the Dragon Court through the Mist Marsh Edict, but the Deep Abyss passage shattered and the connection was completely severed.

Xu Xuan and Yang Yuanxin completed their wedding rites and prepared to enter cultivation together, while gifts arrived from across the demon realms. Fu Dong of Tomb Mountain then brought a Witch Relic and asked to meet Xu Xuan to discuss the ancient immortal dao and the grotto-heavens.

• Xu Xuan gave Yang Yuanxin a pair of Long-Thought Mystic Pearls from Flame-Offering, and they vowed to face future dangers together before studying a fire-and-lightning cultivation art.
• Xu Xuan and Yang Yuanxin practiced the Heavenly Brilliance Jade Chamber Qi-Union Art, and a day of storms and violet lightning followed over the Ren Sea.
• Hidden Rosy Clouds received Yijiang, who delivered Heaven-Slaying Gang Thunder from the Azure Sea Clear-Waves Dragon King as a wedding gift for King Mingdu.
• Fu Dong arrived from Tomb Mountain with a Witch Relic, and Bo Chang recognized her as belonging to the Heavenly Inquiry path.
• Fu Dong asked to meet Xu Xuan and said she wished to discuss the ancient immortal dao and its possible connection to the grotto-heavens.

Fu Dong revealed herself to Xu Xuan as the ancient Heavenly Demon Cangyu and proposed that they cooperate over the impending descent of the Heavenly Leaf Palace, which could help him transform his shock-thunder ability. After she left, Xu Xuan weighed the danger to his cultivation and examined his gifts, including a shamanic spear that could strengthen his control over thunder and concealment.

• Fu Dong met Xu Xuan in Mistsea, disclosed that she was the former Heavenly Demon Cangyu, and explained her Heavenly Inquiry path.
• Fu Dong told Xu Xuan that the Heavenly Leaf Palace, an ancient Wood Virtue Grotto-Heaven, would descend and that its jia wood opportunity could help him cultivate Returning Dao Pivot.
• Xu Xuan agreed to cooperate with Tomb Mountain when the Azure Leaf Sky descended, while suspecting that Fu Dong’s patron wanted to influence his pursuit of lightning flash.
• After Fu Dong departed, Xu Xuan recognized that ride without blame posed an urgent problem and resolved to consult Tiantuo.
• Xu Xuan considered using the heaven-slaying gang thunder to complete his Thunder-Grasping Formation and examined Fu Dong’s Cloud-Dream Guardian Divine Spear, which could summon thunderous phenomena and conceal him.

Xu Xuan completed the Heart Sword and learned that the dragon body would have to wait for Azure Leaf Sky's descent. After recovering his fighting strength, he accepted a concealment talisman from Wei Shuang and departed for the Grotto-Heaven, where the Imperial Palace was soon expected to open.

• Xu Xuan completed the Heart Sword, inscribed with Tribulation Law, and Tiantuo explained its strengths and limitations.
• Tiantuo said they had to wait for Azure Leaf Sky to descend before they could investigate the dragon body and conceal its secrets.
• Xu Xuan told Tiantuo he expected to reach Purple Mansion after about ten years of cultivation in Azure Cloud Heaven.
• Wei Shuang visited Xu Xuan and reported that the central Imperial Palace within Kunwei Heaven would soon open.
• Wei Shuang gave Xu Xuan a Concealment and Yin-Evasion Talisman prepared by Senior Guan Quan, and Xu Xuan confirmed his Dharma Body had recovered enough to fight.
• Xu Xuan thanked Louguan, tore open the Great Void, activated the talisman, and secretly departed for the Grotto-Heaven.

Xu Xuan entered the Shu Grotto-Heaven, stole the Great Wind Shaking Xun Fan from the Eastern Sacred Peak, and discovered that a hidden Lesser Yang Treasure was tied to the peak’s formation. When the formation broke, a mysterious golden-white light began rising from the summit as Xu Xuan waited among the other cultivators.

• The Song Clan’s li fire captured the Long Wu Rampart City, exposing the Grotto-Heaven’s Five Sacred Peaks and its central Spiritual Pivot.
• Xu Xuan used the Ancient-Inquiry Ji Chronicle to locate a Spirit Treasure in a whitewood temple on the Eastern Sacred Peak.
• Xu Xuan subdued and took the Great Wind Shaking Xun Fan with the black laws just before Song Shiyi entered the temple.
• Tiantuo sensed a hidden Lesser Yang Treasure within the Eastern Sacred Peak, and an unseen force dispelled Xu Xuan’s concealment.
• Xu Xuan feigned severe injury as the Eastern Sacred Peak’s formation broke, and a golden-white radiance rose from its summit.

Xu Xuan competed for the Azure-Glow True-Gold Bamboo on Eastern Sacred Peak, defeating Changsun Yi and seizing the Spirit Root amid a three-way clash. Henhai’s attempt to attack Xu Xuan’s destiny failed, and Xu Xuan ended the chapter appearing gravely injured again.

• Xu Xuan reached Eastern Sacred Peak first and found the Origin Wood Spirit Root, the Azure-Glow True-Gold Bamboo, on an opened terrace.
• Xu Xuan confronted Changsun Yi, Xing You, and Henhai over the bamboo, while Changsun Yi attacked him with black flame and a golden halberd.
• Xu Xuan used the Great Wind Shaking Xun Fan and Tribulation Law to overpower Changsun Yi, then took his lead decree as Xing You and Henhai watched.
• Xing You and Henhai fought over the bamboo as Xu Xuan cut through Xing You’s Li Fire net and seized the Spirit Root.
• Henhai ambushed Xu Xuan with a secret treasure from the Hatewater Demonic Path, but Xu Xuan shattered its dewdrop with a black-edict sword stroke and gained feedback that formed a star in his Inner Scenery.
• Henhai realized Xu Xuan had concealed his strength, but Xu Xuan again appeared gravely injured and said he had merely managed to swing his sword.

Xu Xuan explored the opened sacred peaks, avoided further conflict with Xing You, and discovered an ancient Eastern Radiance cultivator’s corpse and the Eastern Pole True Yang token. He then turned toward the western metal mountain to obtain Dui Metal for reforging Cinnabar Thunder, just as the ore emerged and cultivators erupted into battle.

• Henh​​ai retreated from Xu Xuan and Xing You, while the other Mysterious Terraces opened and Zhou You defended the Jia Wood spirit root with his Bronze Thunder Bell.
• Xu Xuan and Xing You exchanged threats over their claims, and Xing You left for the Yi Wood Spirit Platform to seize the God-Entrusting Infant-Bearing Flower.
• Xu Xuan searched the Eastern Sacred Peak, found Thunder-Raising Branches and a diminished Gathering Nest, and claimed the artifact for a junior in his sect.
• The Eastern Sacred Peak revealed the corpse of an ancient Eastern Radiance cultivator and his Eastern Pole True Yang token, prompting Tiantuo to identify the corpse’s extraordinary age and significance.
• Xu Xuan went to the western metal mountain to seek Dui Metal for reforging Cinnabar Thunder, and the Dui Metal ore emerged as cultivators surged into battle.

Xu Xuan seized the heavenly retribution five punishments gold from Han Chenzi and Xiao Dianqing, then outmaneuvered Xiang Mang when he tried to steal it. After surveying the other terraces, Xu Xuan went to aid Xi Wuya, while Tiantuo urged him to take half of the dragonkin’s heaven-mending qian-filling crystal.

• Xu Xuan broke through Han Chenzi and Xiao Dianqing’s divine abilities, took the heavenly retribution five punishments gold, and wounded them with his Worship the Profound, Reveal the Light Heavenly Eye.
• Xiang Mang stole the metal stone, but Xu Xuan’s hidden Crimson Centipede and the Heart Sword concealed in the Divine Radiance Tower injured him, allowing Xu Xuan to reclaim it.
• Xiang Mang recognized the imperial artifact within Xu Xuan’s golden body and fled, while Xu Xuan saw that True Person Wanjin, True Person Baoqiu, and Xing You had claimed other metal stones.
• Xu Xuan spotted Xi Wuya, who was besieged while carrying a five-colored mysterious crystal, and advanced to help him.
• Tiantuo identified Xi Wuya’s treasure as the heaven-mending qian-filling crystal and told Xu Xuan to take at least half of it.

Xu Xuan helped Xi Wuya escape the Western Peak, then went to the Northern Mountain and killed Henhai, completing the Army-Breaker star and realizing he had cultivated [Taking the Northern Dipper's Place]. The chapter left Xu Xuan with Henhai’s Gui Water inheritance as another corpse appeared on the Western Peak, while the Greater Yin corpse remained to be revealed.

• Xu Xuan rode Xi Wuya’s dragon body through the attackers, and Xi Wuya gave him the larger share of the [Heaven-Mending Qian-Filling Crystal].
• Xu Xuan saw Song Clan Shiyi claim the Southern Mountain’s fires and discovered the corpse of a Greater Yang path wielder there.
• Xu Xuan found Henhai surrounded by Gongsun Xi and other cultivators on the Northern Mountain, then used [Tribulation Command] to kill him and sever the Hatewater Demonic Path’s inheritance.
• Xu Xuan completed the Army-Breaker star, and Tiantuo explained that he had mastered [Taking the Northern Dipper's Place] rather than [Fate-Extinguishing Purge].
• Xu Xuan obtained Henhai’s Gui Water spirit treasure and inheritance, while Gongsun Xi acknowledged his achievement and a Lesser Yin corpse appeared on the Western Peak.

Xu Xuan joined Pingxiu in trying to seize the immortal ash on the Central Sacred Peak, but Changsun Jun and Changsun Yi intervened to claim it for the Changsun Household. After Xu Xuan wounded Changsun Yi, he prepared to face Changsun Jun and test his sword against the stronger cultivator.

• Xu Xuan reflected on completing [Taking the Northern Dipper's Place] as the Central Sacred Peak began to open, and Gongsun Xi withdrew from the mountain.
• Xu Xuan met Pingxiu, who revealed that the immortal ash on the Central Sacred Peak had drawn the interest of several lineages.
• Xu Xuan helped Pingxiu fight through the Purple Mansion cultivators toward the crimson-gold cauldron containing the immortal ash.
• Changsun Jun drove Pingxiu away from the cauldron and claimed the immortal ash, while Changsun Yi challenged Xu Xuan and Pingxiu.
• Xu Xuan cleaved Changsun Yi with a sword strike, and Changsun Jun healed him as Changsun Yi went on to battle Pingxiu.
• Tiantuo told Xu Xuan that Changsun Jun carried red cicada, Great Feng, and foreign fortune, and Xu Xuan drew his sword to confront him.

Xu Xuan fought Changsun Jun, a powerful true fire cultivator, while Pingxiu and Changsun Yi battled over the immortal ash. Changsun Jun withdrew after securing some ash, Pingxiu left with most of it, and Xu Xuan saw origin magnetism glimmer atop the Central Sacred Peak as it was revealed.

• Changsun Jun attacked Xu Xuan with the Wild Continent Evil Toad Banner and his true fire abilities, while Xu Xuan countered with tribulation lightning and sword intent.
• Xu Xuan pierced Changsun Jun's armor and wounded him, but Changsun Jun trapped Xu Xuan and tried to swallow him with a black toad of ultimate fire.
• Xu Xuan used his feather fan to unleash Hurricane Calamity, and Changsun Jun survived by using Rekindling Again to restore his body.
• Pingxiu arrived with the great true fire cauldron, while Changsun Yi had taken just under half of the immortal ash.
• Changsun Jun rebuked Changsun Yi, took the ash he had seized, and warned Xu Xuan that he would return for the clan's profound token.
• Pingxiu departed with most of the immortal ash, and Xu Xuan saw origin magnetism briefly appear atop the Central Sacred Peak.

Xu Xuan claimed the [Water-Fire Malevolent Armor] and [Pure Dao Divine Pearl] in the Central Sacred Peak Grotto-Heaven, then received a golden Dao Seed. Du Li, a claimant to Shu imperial blood, demanded the seed, but General Weihua intervened to defend Xu Xuan.

• Xu Xuan used the Ji Book and his black laws to seize the fierce [Water-Fire Malevolent Armor], then declined Song Shiyi’s offer to trade [Boundless Water] for the [Great Wind Shaking Xun Fan].
• Xu Xuan took the [Pure Dao Divine Pearl] from Xing You and explained that he needed it to reforge [Cinnabar Thunder].
• The Central Sacred Peak’s manifestations produced five Dao seeds, which the Imperial Preceptor, a dragon-associated woman, True Person Zhou You, and a Netherworld cultivator claimed; the golden seed descended to Xu Xuan.
• Xu Xuan drew his sword to deter the cultivators competing for the golden Dao Seed, but Du Li appeared and demanded that he kneel before Shu imperial blood.
• Du Li identified himself as a descendant of Chen Yunxiang and revealed the spear that had killed True Person [Jiang Xiao], while Xu Xuan recognized it.
• General Weihua arrived and defended Xu Xuan, warning Du Li that the Netherworld was no longer what it once was.

Xu Xuan fought Guangshan for the Azure-Li Sky-Nurturing Urn and seized it, while the Central Sacred Peak released four Golden Natures that drew powerful factions into conflict. The Netherworld claimed the Golden Nature of Righteous Order, but a sinister maw emerged from its Nether Lamp and swallowed a powerful officer, revealing an Evil Creature.

• Xu Xuan drove Du Li away with help from True Person Weihua, then received Tiantuo’s explanation of the Complete Yang Dao Seed and the Sun-Moon Unmeasured Dao Scroll.
• Xu Xuan battled cultivators for the Azure-Li Sky-Nurturing Urn, overcame Guangshan’s Moon-Patrolling Everlasting Purity Mystic Talisman with [Tribulation Command], and took the urn.
• The Central Sacred Peak released four Golden Natures, and Zhu Yucheng used an imperial seal to gain the Blackbird’s recognition before escaping with help from a great lord.
• True Person Yuanpu took the Blackbird Golden Nature, the Li Fire lineage claimed the white qilin, and the Netherworld seized the Nether Lamp of Righteous Order.
• A sinister maw with a dark vertical eye emerged from the Nether Lamp and swallowed the Netherworld officer, prompting Tiantuo to identify it as an Evil Creature.

Xu Xuan survived the Nether Lamp’s attack after the Supreme Clarity Stele inscribed the evil creature with [Mimicked Righteous Order], then escaped the collapsing Grotto-Heaven. He returned with the spirit treasures needed to forge his sword as Great Li’s Divine Dao neared completion.

• The Nether Lamp’s evil creature swallowed Du Li, a Great Li cultivator, and Xu Xuan, but the Supreme Clarity Stele bestowed [Mimicked Righteous Order] upon it and helped drive it toward the [Reincarnation] gateway.
• A Netherworld adjudicator identified as Judge Chen examined Xu Xuan’s exposed secrets, then withdrew after a mysterious voice warned him against entangling himself in the Flame Dynasty’s karma.
• The Grotto-Heaven shattered, and Xu Xuan rode lightning out of the Great Void with the spirit treasures he needed to forge a sword.
• Xu Xuan and Tiantuo considered the Netherworld’s Golden Core beings and the possibility of influencing the evil creature if it reincarnated.
• Song Shiyi met Weihua in the Great Void, where Weihua said the mountains and rivers had settled and explained that Great Li’s Divine Dao was nearly complete.

After returning from Yizhou, Xu Xuan assessed the growing threat of Wu Earth, reviewed the treasures and cultivation methods he had obtained, and arranged matters for his sect before his planned ten-year seclusion. He gave Wen Si'an a cultivation method to prepare for her breakthrough and stayed with her as the rain intensified, while Tiantuo was left bound and silenced in the Dao Realm.

• Xu Xuan returned to Red Cloud Commandery, examined Henhai's inheritance, and considered resources for Wen Si'an's breakthrough and his other cultivation plans.
• Xu Xuan told Liu Xingfang he would enter seclusion for about ten years, warned him to watch the Thunder Department, and agreed to seek a cultivation method for his altar-thunder path.
• Xu Xuan instructed Liu Xingfang to train Shu Han as a core disciple and gave him the [Gathering Nest] to raise the sect's spirit beasts.
• Xu Xuan told Wen Si'an that Kunwei Heaven had collapsed and gave her the Pure Xu Heavenly Rain Dao Formula to study for her breakthrough.
• Wen Si'an asked Xu Xuan to remain until the rain stopped, and he agreed as Tiantuo cried out after being bound and deprived of his senses.

Xu Xuan studied his thunder arts and treasures, bestowed the [Five Poisons Joined as One] seal script on the [Red-Fighting Centipede], and planned to strengthen his sect before pursuing new spiritual treasures. He left for Guyang Commandery, with forging a sword as his most urgent task.

• Xu Xuan examined [Taking the Northern Dipper's Place], the Black Laws, and the [Tribulation of the Northern Dipper's Death Sentence], while Tiantuo urged him to seek the Northern Thunder School's method for finding tribulations.
• Xu Xuan used the [Azure-Li Sky-Nurturing Urn] to accelerate the growth of his spirit roots and studied the [Supreme Evil Divine Embryo Secret Art], concluding that he would need a proper pretext before striking at the Green-Waste Dao.
• Xu Xuan bestowed [Five Poisons Joined as One] on the [Red-Fighting Centipede], which awakened its spirituality and gained the potential to evolve into an Origin Insect.
• Tiantuo explained the origins of the Heavenly Poison True Lord and questioned whether Imperial Preceptor Qi could attain the Fortune Qi Fruit Position; Xu Xuan decided to raise the centipede as a spiritual insect for now.
• Xu Xuan planned to visit Sword Appraisal, Dousing Flame, and Mount Fei of the Earth, and to investigate the [Pure Abode of Mysterious Principles].
• Xu Xuan left the Dao Realm and headed to Guyang Commandery to address his most urgent task: forging a sword.

Xu Xuan entrusted Candle Sword, whose birth name was Xue Cuihan, with forging Cinnabar Thunder anew using the Heaven-Inspired Sword-Forging Art and promised to bring him Purple Mansion altar thunder in three years. He then traveled toward the Western Sea, considering a visit to White Fox and whether Demon King Stolen Script had discovered his identity.

• Xu Xuan presented Candle Sword with rare spirit treasures and explained that his emerging divine ability would provide Purple Mansion altar thunder for the sword’s reforging.
• Candle Sword revealed his clan’s inheritance of the Heaven-Inspired Sword-Forging Art and offered to risk the materials to forge Cinnabar Thunder into a spirit treasure.
• Despite Tiantuo’s warning that the ancient method was likely to fail, Xu Xuan agreed to let Candle Sword use it and promised to make the swordsmith’s name known if it succeeded.
• Candle Sword said he would need three years to refine the materials before Xu Xuan could bring the altar thunder.
• Xu Xuan left for the southwest, planning to pass through the Southern Border Witch Kingdom and visit Pingxiu about the pills.
• Xu Xuan asked Tiantuo whether Stolen Script might have noticed something amiss, then considered sending his dragon body to investigate her intentions.