Chapter Summaries

Xu Xuan visited Pingxiu on Blazing Heaven-Covering Mountain, learned more about the mountain’s true fire lineage, and commissioned pills for a gui water cultivator preparing to reach Purple Mansion. After leaving with Zhang Yiwan, he considered which sect disciples might advance and heard Tiantuo warn that the coming war could benefit an outside power.

• Xu Xuan arrived at Blazing Heaven-Covering Mountain and met Pingxiu, whose true fire abilities had advanced after receiving immortal ash.
• Pingxiu explained that his master, Jingying, came from the fallen Heaven-Covering Fire Heaven, survived a failed attempt to attain the Dou Nuan position, and was sustained by the power of regret.
• Xu Xuan commissioned two gui water spirit pills for a Purple Mansion breakthrough and gave Pingxiu Rootless Void Rain and other spiritual essences to refine them.
• Xu Xuan departed with Zhang Yiwan, whose cultivation remained at early Foundation Establishment despite years on the mountain.
• Xu Xuan considered the breakthrough prospects of Xiao Wen and Xing Fang and weighed who should receive the Complete Yang Dao Seed.
• Tiantuo urged Xu Xuan to consider the Lesser Yang path and warned that Great Li and Northern Liao might devastate the land while serving another power’s interests.

True Person Zhaoyu visited Xu Xuan’s mountain to trade for the Ancient-Inquiry Ji Chronicle, then revealed that Wen Si’an carried noble blood. After Zhaoyu departed, Xu Xuan showed Wen Guang the seal and flame left by the fallen True Persons, and the flame merged with Wen Guang as Xu Xuan promised to settle the sect’s old grievances.

• True Person Zhaoyu arrived at the mountain seeking the Calamity-Splitting Sword Immortal, and Liu Xingfang and Wen Si’an kept the formation closed while a disciple broke through to Purple Mansion.
• Zhaoyu recognized Fuyi Mystic Blood in Wen Si’an and learned that Wen Si’an was the daughter of the late Sword Immortal Wen.
• Xu Xuan returned and traded the Ancient-Inquiry Ji Chronicle to Zhaoyu for the Universalizing Thunder Edict Seal, which he recognized as a Thunder Palace treasure.
• Zhaoyu warned Xu Xuan that someone of noble blood in his mountain might help him find a powerful backer, then left for Azure Radiance.
• Xu Xuan summoned Wen Guang and showed him the Constant-Bright Mysterious Seal and the Void-Bright Heavenly Fire, telling him how True Persons Jiang Ying and Jiang Xiao had died.
• The Void-Bright Heavenly Fire merged into Wen Guang, and Xu Xuan urged him to restore his cultivation and promised that their sect’s old affairs would be settled.

Xu Xuan learned that escaping an evil creature was a rare anomaly as he discussed ancient precedents with Guan Quan and tried to trade for Louguan’s spiritual land. Guan Quan refused, then warned him that Feng Yan had become a powerful new holder of the Greed and Evil position.

• Xu Xuan continued recovering at Louguan and heard from Guan Quan about two earlier figures who had escaped evil creatures, realizing that others might be trying to explain his own escape.
• Xu Xuan asked to exchange for Louguan’s [Pure Abode of Mysterious Principles], but Guan Quan refused because it had to remain to aid the blessed land’s recovery.
• Xu Xuan gave Guan Quan a [Pure Stone of the Purple Enclosure] as thanks and considered using further purple qi treasures to strengthen ties with Louguan.
• Guan Quan told Xu Xuan that the previous Pleasure and Desire and Greed and Evil manifestations were dead and had been replaced by more formidable cultivators.
• Guan Quan revealed that Feng Yan held the Greed and Evil position, cultivated ancient blood qi, and had killed the True Person of Martial Mu Mountain, warning Xu Xuan to be careful.

At the Green-Waste Dao’s palace, Ji Huo discussed the approaching war, the recovery of fortunes, and an invitation from the Evil Land Bodhisattva while secretly holding the Supreme Evil Divine Embryo Secret Art. In the Bliss-Desire Demon Land, Feng Yan and Zhi Xi departed, leaving Zhi Youya burdened with affairs until another demon manifestation emerged from seclusion.

• Rang'an reported that wu earth had been divided among Li Song, the Netherworld, Earth-Subduing, and Dust-Sweeping, and asked Ji Huo how to handle the approaching conflict between Li and Liao.
• Ji Huo said he had refused the Evil Land Bodhisattva’s invitation, planned to wait for war before acting, and then examined the Supreme Evil Divine Embryo Secret Art while ordering the Four Celestial Beasts gathered.
• Feng Yan learned that Deliverance was secluded, then announced he would visit the Origin Thunder Palace to challenge Great Thunder Heaven and departed by smashing through the Great Void with his physical strength.
• Zhi Xi declined Zhi Youya’s request for help and left to discuss the Dao at an imperial prince’s residence.
• A newly emerged demonic silhouette appeared before Zhi Youya, who congratulated it for attaining Violet-Gazing Pass.

After attaining Qi Refining and receiving a mysterious spirit egg, Liu Shu Han returned to Red Cloud with Wu Shaoyue, followed by a powerful demonic nature invisible to most cultivators. Xu Xuan sensed the danger and withheld her seal script; the demonic presence stopped outside the Founders' Hall and called him “Constant Light.”

• Liu Shu Han attained Qi Refining, and Wu Shaoyue brought her to Nangang, who confirmed her inheritance and gave her a spirit egg from Kunwei.
• Nangang urged Wu Shaoyue to bring Liu Shu Han back to the Wu Household if Red Cloud became unsafe, but Liu Shu Han said she wanted to remain with her parents.
• Xu Xuan left Louguan after an unexplained alarm, while Guan Quan discovered that Jing Xing had reached Purple Mansion.
• Xu Xuan returned to Red Cloud and saw Liu Shu Han's demonic inheritance and the black footprints following her, which Tiantuo connected to the Wu Household's Colorless World Gate.
• Xu Xuan took Liu Shu Han to the Founders' Hall but decided not to bestow her seal script until he understood the demonic nature, which remained outside and addressed him as “Constant Light.”

Xu Xuan watched the Two Wuchang Envoys capture the Colorless Demonic Nature and learned about their Mount Tai Underworld Office and its ties to Great Li. After the envoys departed, he discovered Liu Shu Han had gained a profound measure of destiny from the demonic nature and invited her into Heavenly Tribulation.

• The Two Wuchang Envoys, Xie Sheng and Fan Si, arrived on Azure Sky Peak and identified the demonic nature as one left by the Colorless Devil Lord of Lost Law and Extinction.
• Xie Sheng used the Gloomy Netherworld Turbid Nature Banner to collect the demonic nature, then explained the Mount Tai Underworld Office's role and its lord's turbid qi path.
• Xie Sheng said the demonic nature's former connection to Liu Shu Han had brought her benefits and explained that the Devil Lord had demoted his golden nature to prevent it becoming an evil creature.
• After the envoys departed, Tiantuo explained the significance of the Northern Yin title, which the first master of withering qi had borne and a member of the Wu Household now used.
• Xu Xuan saw that Liu Shu Han's name had moved to the front of his jade register, then invited her to accompany him into Heavenly Tribulation.

Xu Xuan formally welcomed Liu Shu Han into the sect, bestowed a powerful seal script on her, and worked with Tiantuo to create purple qi spirit treasures. The chapter ended with Xie Sheng and Fan Si ferrying a being of immense demonic nature through the Netherworld while Elder Zhang spoke of the divine thunder’s outcome.

• Xu Xuan learned that Liu Shu Han had received the Colorless Withering Demon Book and accepted her as a True Disciple, assigning Wen Guang to forge her an artifact.
• Xu Xuan bestowed the Supreme Demon's Perilous Might seal script on Liu Shu Han, empowering her to refine demonic nature while warning her to obey the sect’s rules and keep the gift secret.
• Tiantuo used harmonious mystic qi to create three purple qi spirit essences, but warned Xu Xuan that a great figure occupied their station.
• Tiantuo said his reincarnated body was nearing a Purple Mansion breakthrough and promised another attempt at transforming purple qi spirit treasures.
• Xie Sheng and Fan Si hired Elder Zhang to ferry them and a being with powerful demonic nature across the Netherworld river.
• Elder Zhang said he stayed in the Netherworld because the divine thunder’s outcome had become clear, while Xie Sheng considered whether ultimate fire could neutralize the sword wound afflicting Fan Si.

Xu Xuan created Heaven-Severing Thunder and gave Wen Si'an a pill to help her cultivate Clear Rainfall, while her dreams pointed toward the Flame Dynasty’s return. Elsewhere, Empty-Handed reflected on the Flame lineage’s fate and his own search for a path to Purple Mansion.

• Xu Xuan formed Heaven-Severing Thunder, a bolt that could strip away a target’s essential nature and life, then waited for news from Sword Appraisal Mountain.
• Xu Xuan assigned Jiang Zhoudu to assist Yi Wan in the Pill Room and asked her to determine the sect’s need for Foundation Establishment Pills.
• Wen Si'an discussed the Pure Xu Heavenly Rain Dao Formula with Xu Xuan, who gave her a Treasure Rain New-Growth Pill to help her attain Clear Rainfall.
• Wen Si'an told Xu Xuan that she had dreamed of a falling flame star and a crimson immortal sword, and Tiantuo identified the sword as Red Firmament.
• Liang Yong sparred with Empty-Handed and lost; afterward, Empty-Handed considered the rising Flame lineage and sought traces of the Feng Dynasty that might help him attain Purple Mansion.

Xu Xuan and Wen Guang watched True Person Candle Sword forge the Cinnabar Thunder Sword with the Heaven-Inspired Sword-Forging Art, while the dangerous process revealed a secret at the bottom of the Sword Abyss. The sword was completed as a Purple Mansion Spirit Treasure, and Candle Sword recovered after appearing to be fatally wounded.

• Xu Xuan brought Wen Guang to Sword Appraisal Mountain, where Candle Sword explained how he would forge a Spirit Sword using the Heaven-Severing Thunder and other materials.
• As Candle Sword refined the sword embryo, heavenly punishments struck him, and Xu Xuan’s sword casket drew his awareness to the Yue Maiden’s crossed swords and the Two Stops of Life and Death stele beneath the Sword Abyss.
• Candle Sword was decapitated by the sword embryo’s execution light but ordered the forging to continue, then had Xu Xuan send Cinnabar Thunder’s sword spirit into the embryo.
• Candle Sword added the Pure Dao Divine Pearl, and the finished sword absorbed the final tribulation lightning and received the inscription Tribulation Law.
• Xu Xuan wielded the completed Cinnabar Thunder Sword, whose thunder cleared the storm, while Candle Sword’s wounds healed and he praised it as a supreme Altar Thunder Spirit Sword.

Xu Xuan received the reforged Cinnabar Thunder from Candle Sword, who planned to leave and seek the golden position by forging an emperor’s sword. As Xu Xuan returned to Red Cloud, Jiang Yuehong emerged from seclusion to find that the Purple Gold Abbey had gained a Purple Mansion cultivator, prompting Liu Xingfang to warn that the balance around their sect would change.

• Cinnabar Thunder was reforged with five properties, and Xu Xuan realized it could contend with late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators and that the sword casket sensed the Sword Abyss.
• Candle Sword announced that he would leave in three days to pursue the golden position by forging a sword for an emperor, while Xu Xuan promised to make the weapon’s fame spread.
• Xu Xuan learned that Radiant Refinement would take charge of Sword Appraisal Mountain and then asked Wen Guang to record the recovered Constant Light Flame-Renewal Book in the Scripture Repository.
• Jiang Yuehong emerged from seclusion after establishing his Geng Metal immortal foundation and saw golden thunder rise over the Purple Gold Abbey.
• Liu Xingfang arrived and told Jiang Yuehong that the Purple Gold Abbey’s new Purple Mansion cultivator would change the balance around their sect.

Xin Yuanchang attained the Yanghaoquan Divine Ability, and Xu Yi and Xin Henian discussed whether to join the Thunder Department’s Divine Dao. Meanwhile, Xu Xuan began cultivating the Supreme Clear Profound-Mystery Dharma Body and considered how its ancient ascension art might fit into his plans.

• Xin Yuanchang emerged from seclusion after attaining Yanghaoquan, giving Purple Gold Abbey a Purple Mansion cultivator.
• Xu Yi presented Xin Yuanchang with a divine thunder Spirit Treasure from Yin Thunder Mountain and explained the Divine Dao’s Li Elevation art.
• Xu Yi said she had been urged to pursue Purple Mansion through the Immortal Dao, while Xin Henian chose to seek a place in the Thunder Department despite its drawbacks.
• Xu Xuan sensed Xin Yuanchang’s breakthrough and began refining the Long Rampart Relic Stone and Heaven-Rising Treasure Qi to cultivate the Supreme Clear Profound-Mystery Dharma Body.
• Tiantuo warned Xu Xuan that perfecting the Dharma Body might allow him to ascend, and Xu Xuan decided to focus on gaining initial mastery before pursuing the Qilin Divine Ability.

Xu Xuan accepted Mu Wude’s request to enter Sindhu under the Dragon Court’s banner, then traveled with Yang Yuanxin to Phoenix-Qilin Isle. There, the Phoenix Lord revealed himself and Gao Chen explained the connection between True Lord Upper Successive Union, Interflowing Union, and Sindhu’s Maya True Dharma.

• Hidden Rosy Clouds delivered Demon King Wu Yan’s letter about war in Sindhu, and Xu Xuan appointed him General of the Western Expedition.
• Xu Xuan agreed to accompany Yang Yuanxin to Phoenix-Qilin Isle before her planned seclusion, and they crossed the Weak Water with Gao Chen’s help.
• Gao Chen welcomed Xu Xuan and Yang Yuanxin to the isle and explained that its Weak Water formed from the fallen Golden Core Yanyuan.
• Gao Chen said the Phoenix Lord had asked which Golden Rank Xu Xuan intended to pursue, and Xu Xuan answered that he sought [Lightning Flash].
• The Phoenix Lord manifested before Xu Xuan, who recognized that the being was not Upper Successive Union.
• Gao Chen explained that True Lord Upper Successive Union attained the Dao in Fengqian through [Interflowing Union], prompting a response from Sindhu’s Pure Brahma Heaven.

Gao Chen explained True Lord Upper Successive Union’s ancient theories and the dispute that followed his use of Withered Spring’s Return, while warning Xu Xuan that her clan would only support his pursuit of lightning flash. She agreed to upgrade his Xi Flame armor, and after Xu Xuan left, she asked her ancestor for an opinion.

• Gao Chen described how True Lord Upper Successive Union’s teachings placed mystic qi at the beginning of the cosmic cycle, and Xu Xuan questioned how the three ancestral qi changed roles over time.
• Gao Chen revealed that True Lord Upper Successive Union’s attainment of the Dao revived withered wood throughout the world and displeased the elder occupying the true fire Fruit Position.
• Gao Chen offered her clan’s help with Xu Xuan’s pursuit of lightning flash but warned him that claiming a shock thunder position would be difficult and that her clan could not support another pursuit.
• Gao Chen sent Yang Yuanxin away, then told Xu Xuan that Withered Spring’s Return was an ancient taboo wood ability whose Golden Rank had ceased responding.
• Xu Xuan gave Gao Chen the Xi Flame armor, and she agreed to place it in her clan’s grotto-heaven to absorb divine status and become greater yang and true fire armor.
• Xu Xuan left the palace to find Yang Yuanxin, and Gao Chen gazed upward and quietly asked her ancestor what they thought.

Wu Yan established Dragon Court rule in Sindhu and arranged for a temple to be built, but Yanhan revealed herself as the reborn enemy of Indra and transformed Wu Yan to serve her. The chapter ended with Yanhan showing Yang Yuanyi the Golden Crow remains beneath the Black Sun, as a powerful dry-heat ability stirred within him.

• Wu Yan's forces took control of Sindhu and ordered the monsters to build a temple without yet installing a deity's statue.
• Jiuchiling dismissed Taqian's prophecy that the master of the Baleful Abyss would return to settle a debt with Indra.
• Wu Yan considered his uncertain ties to Jiaoyang, then was pulled into the Baleful Abyss and met Yanhan, who identified herself as Indra's enemy.
• Yanhan tortured Wu Yan into a lotus bud, rebirthed him with improved bloodline and cultivation, and ordered him to build her Flow-Stopping Temple and pretend to submit to Ren Dragon.
• Yanhan returned Wu Yan to the mortal world, then showed Yang Yuanyi the Golden Crow remains supporting the Black Sun as a dry-heat Divine Ability gathered within him.

Kong Xuan ordered Bao Chi to take a Spirit Treasure to Heaven Pool and seek reconciliation with Mu Youdu, then investigated a strange change at Asura Mountain. He received Sanskrit-Speech Water-Fire and a message urging him to send it to Heaven Pool, leaving him to wonder whether it was meant for Mu Youdu.

• Kong Xuan learned that Kong Zhao had gone to the Li Kingdom and ordered him to return and visit the Southern Sea's Grotto-Heaven.
• Kong Xuan sent Bao Chi to Heaven Pool with a Spirit Treasure as an offering for Mu Youdu's wife, intending to mend relations and probe the Southern Sea.
• Kong Xuan sensed an unusual aura from Obscuring Barrier's retreat and traveled to Asura Mountain to investigate.
• Kong Xuan saw Yanhan Temple responding with black light and burning wind, despite Yanhan's divine position having supposedly been destroyed.
• Kong Xuan received Sanskrit-Speech Water-Fire from Rahu's temple, which spoke the command to send it to Heaven Pool.

Xu Xuan accepted Peacock’s gifts and questioned Bao Chi about the Demon Refining Tower, while Bimo and Zhou You discussed the coming Azure Leaf Sky grotto-heaven. The chapter ended as Bimo’s grandmaster’s wooden statue awakened and asked how Great Li was faring.

• Xu Xuan ordered Heaven Pool to monitor Azure Leaf Sky and received Bao Chi, who offered Peacock’s treasures to seek forgiveness for Kong Zhao.
• Xu Xuan accepted the Sanskrit-Speech Water-Fire and questioned Bao Chi about his past and the demons imprisoned in the Demon Refining Tower.
• Bimo reassured Zhou You about Ruan Yuan’s unusual breakthrough visions and discussed the Constructive Wood spirit root rumored to lie in Azure Leaf Sky.
• Bimo went to the Awakening Celestial Phenomena Altar, where her grandmaster’s wooden statue stirred and asked about Great Li.

Bimo received guidance from Jiang Li about overcoming inner demons on the path to golden rank, while Ruan Yuan neared the completion of his divine ability. Xu Xuan rejected the divine dao post for Liu Xingfang and decided to travel to Upper Successive Union Mountain to seek a cultivation method.

• Jiang Li told Bimo that her sect had supported her without expecting repayment and drew out a trace of withering qi, warning her that she alone had to overcome the trial of inner demons.
• Ruan Yuan continued perfecting his divine ability and planned to emerge from seclusion in half a year, while wondering which sky thunder position Bimo intended to claim.
• Xu Xuan read Zhuoxie's decree about the coming divine dao and refused the li elevation for Liu Xingfang, judging the divine dao too restrictive.
• Xu Xuan told Liu Xingfang to study the Tribulation Command Heavenly Punishment Dao Outline and said he would seek a purple mansion cultivation method at Upper Successive Union Mountain.
• Xu Xuan resolved to travel north as an altar thunder cultivator, and a thunder sparrow landed on his shoulder as he prepared for the journey.

Xu Xuan traveled through the Northern Sea, found a guide in the demon Hexin, and reached the dangerous Vast Sea. There he encountered a powerful white-robed man who recognized him as Fu Yi and forced him to draw his sword.

• Xu Xuan searched for the Vast Sea and found Hexin, a spirit-thunder demon ray, picking through abandoned belongings on the ice.
• Xu Xuan restrained Hexin, eased the spirit thunder causing her pain, and ordered her to guide him north.
• Hexin told Xu Xuan how a crimson light had killed the Cloud Whale king and transformed her cultivation before leading him to the Vast Sea.
• Xu Xuan saw the blue-jade Heavenly Stele marked Unvast and discovered a man standing amid the vast currents, impervious to them.
• The man approached Xu Xuan, prompting Xu Xuan to attack with the Cinnabar Thunder Sword; the man evaded and revealed a sword wound leaking golden lightning.

Xu Xuan fought Feng Yan, a formidable blood qi cultivator, and managed to wound him before being struck down by Feng Yan’s punch. Feng Yan escaped after using Rebirth from a Drop of Blood, while Xu Xuan recovered, worried that Feng Yan might have sensed Wen Si'an’s existence, and decided to bring Hexin back with him.

• Feng Yan identified Xu Xuan and offered to leave if Xu Xuan survived one move from him.
• Xu Xuan unleashed his tribulation and sword abilities, breached Feng Yan’s Greater Yin protection, and cut his neck with Heavenly Retribution.
• Feng Yan struck Xu Xuan with a devastating punch, then left after asking whether Xu Xuan had a Fuyi blood descendant nearby.
• Feng Yan’s hidden sword intent and lightning tribulation erupted after he departed, forcing him to shed his wounded body and restore himself through Rebirth from a Drop of Blood.
• Xu Xuan assessed the fight, suspected Feng Yan had detected Wen Si'an, and woke Hexin before deciding to take her back to investigate her connection to spirit thunder.

Xu Xuan copied a sword intent from the Heavenly Stele and traveled to Upper Successive Union Mountain seeking an altar thunder cultivation method for his disciple. Yun Yi agreed to discuss a trade but asked him to lend his sword intent to help meet the immortal sword.

• Xu Xuan copied the stele’s sword intent into his Cave-Transmuting Sword Casket and considered visiting Upper Successive Union Mountain to investigate its sword lineage.
• Xu Xuan left Hexin at the edge of the Vast Sea and traveled east to the mountain, where Yun Yi welcomed him as the Calamity-Splitting Sword Immortal.
• Xu Xuan asked Yun Yi to trade for the Northern Thunder Tribulation-Rising Scripture so his disciple could cultivate altar thunder.
• Yun Yi offered the scripture in exchange for Xu Xuan’s assistance and asked him to follow her to meet the immortal sword.