Arc 20Chapters 476–500
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No recap yet.
Zhao Qian defeated Zhou Tong in the Sword Inquiry by completing the eighth turn of his Heavenly Thunder Sword, destroying the Heavenly Hound Sword and fatally wounding Zhou Tong. As the Seven Peaks disciples celebrated, a black opening appeared above Five Elders Pool and a spear-bearing hand hurled a demonic spear toward Xu Taiping.
Xu Taiping and the Azure Profound Sect faced a Nine Nether assault after the sect’s defenses were breached and demon cultivators began entering through black clouds. The chapter revealed that Su Chan and Nine Nether’s six other strongest Demon Venerables had gathered above Qingxuan, with the traitor Jin Hezhi and Yinyin kneeling before them.
Su Chan opposed the Seven Demon Venerables’ attack on Qingxuan until Lü Daoxuan died, warning them that a new sword made him difficult to force into action. As the others prepared to attack, Su Xue withdrew with Su Chan, who revealed his fear of Lü Daoxuan’s chosen sword.
As demonic beasts poured into the Azure Profound Sect, Xu Taiping followed Recluse Sansan to the summit of Five Elders Peak. Recluse Sansan revealed that his primordial spirit was outside his body and asked to borrow Xu Taiping’s seven-year-nurtured sword, promising one strike could turn the battle.
Xu Taiping gathered seven years of stored sword qi as Recluse Sansan prepared to teach him a devastating strike against the descending Demon Venerables. The chapter ended with Recluse Sansan joining Xu Taiping at the Rusty Lion Sword and promising to demonstrate the strike once.
Recluse Sansan taught Xu Taiping the Sword Drawing Stance during the battle at Qingxuan, and Xu Taiping used it to slay Demon Venerable Thunder Lion. Xu Taiping and Recluse Sansan then swept across the battlefield, leaving True Martial Heaven with a new Demon-Slaying Sword and raising hopes for the Golden Scale Assembly.
Xu Taiping and Recluse Sansan killed Demon Venerable Nine Infants, but Su Chan escaped after revealing he intended to retrieve Chixiao at the next Sword Champion contest. Recluse Sansan revealed that he was Grand Martial Uncle Daoxuan, and Xu Taiping collapsed from the strain before Ninth Uncle's sword carried him to safety.
Xu Taiping dreamed of Lü Sword Nine’s childhood bond with Senior Brother Zhou Ang and the sacrifice that awakened Lü Sword Nine’s swordsmanship, then learned about Qingxuan’s recovery after waking from a three-month sleep. Qingxuan had nominated Zhao Qian as its next sect master, though the succession ceremony would wait until the sect regained its strength.
Xu Taiping learned that he had been committed to attend the Golden Scale Assembly in Youyun Heaven, where he would seek Emperor Youyun’s fortune for True Martial Heaven. As he prepared to leave, Liu Chuxuan reported that a Youyun Heaven disciple had trapped the Heavenly Blade Sect and threatened to slaughter it unless someone defeated him within fifteen days.
Huang Que told Xu Taiping that a powerful cultivator from Youyun Heaven had attacked the Heavenly Blade Sect while its master and promising disciples were away. When Huang Que urged the recently injured Xu Taiping to stay behind, Xu Taiping tested his recovery and revealed that his strength had grown, leaving Huang Que astonished by his approach to the Mid Achievement Stage of the Mystic Understanding Realm.
Xu Taiping prepared to travel with Huang Que to the Heavenly Blade Sect and learned from Fairy Lingyue how his Python Flood Dragon Physique could advance toward the Dragon Whale Physique. He planned to use the trip to Youyun Heaven to cultivate the Awakened Flood Dragon Realm, while leaving the Furious Flood Dragon Realm to fate.
Xu Taiping learned that the Lotus Eye had controlled his body while he was unconscious, and Fairy Lingyue planned to confront the Yin God when he reached the Spirit Refining Realm. She also urged him to win the Golden Scale Assembly because it could determine whether he could reach the Transformation Realm with a mortal bone body. At the Heavenly Blade Sect’s Sword Tomb, a brutal young man killed a hostage while demanding Duan Tianya’s Demon-Slaying Blade Manual or a blade test.
Xu Taiping learned that reaching the Transformation Realm was the greatest barrier for someone with mortal bones and that Emperor Youyun’s fortune could help him find breakthrough resources. As the group traveled to the Heavenly Blade Sect, Huang Que gave Xu Taiping thirty thousand Gold Essence Coins for his seven years of preparation in Youyun Heaven, but could not provide more before the journey.
Xu Taiping traded an ancient Youyun Teleportation Token for Gold Essence Coins and received a map and information about Youyun Heaven from Huang Que. As the Nine Prefectures' party approached the Heavenly Blade Sect, Xu Taiping spotted Duan Xiaoyu among the disciples sheltering in the Sword Tomb.
Xu Taiping and Huang Que watched Mo Hai threaten the Sword Tomb disciples and saw Duan Xiaoyu step out to face him. Mo Hai gravely wounded Xiaoyu with a single strike as Xu Taiping and the others were still on their way to help.
Duan Xiaoyu fought Mo Hai with a life-risking saber technique that gathered force through consecutive strikes, but Mo Hai’s Ultimate Realm saber technique overwhelmed her. The chapter left Duan Xiaoyu badly injured after being hurled to the ground, while Xu Taiping and Huang Que recognized the gulf between the two fighters.
Elder Su arrived to rescue Duan Xiaoyu from Mo Hai, who had beaten her and discovered she had consumed zhuyu grass. Elder Su challenged Mo Hai inside the Silver Sand Formation and landed a powerful strike, though Mo Hai remained standing.
Xu Taiping realized Mo Hai’s trump card was a grand formation that suppressed Elder Su’s cultivation, while Mo Hai’s Martial Saint Realm body let him keep fighting at full strength. As Mo Hai began overpowering Elder Su, Huang Que recognized that Mo Hai followed the same path as Xu Taiping.
Xu Taiping and Huang Que hurried toward Raging Wind Valley as Elder Su struggled to hold off Mo Hai, a Martial Saint Realm blade cultivator. Elder Su protected Duan Xiaoyu until Xu Taiping arrived, pinning Mo Hai with his blade force as he descended from the sky.
Xu Taiping arrived to face Mo Hai, the Mo Household’s eldest son, while helping the badly injured Duan Xiaoyu. Mo Hai trapped Xu Taiping inside the Silver Sand barrier, and Duan Xiaoyu began to identify his origins.
Xu Taiping fought Mo Hai inside a formation that suppressed cultivation and talismans, but his awakened python flood dragon physique let him break Mo Hai’s blade and withstand his attacks. Mo Hai was sent reeling, then drew two blades and launched a fiery assault at Xu Taiping.
Xu Taiping fought Mo Hai inside a formation that suppressed his cultivation and sealed his Spiritual Power, while Mo Hai used a Phoenix Cry Pill to strengthen his body. After removing his massive Ship-Ballast Iron armor, Xu Taiping faced Mo Hai’s scorn as their fight continued.
Xu Taiping revealed his full physique and defeated Mo Hai in a contest of strength, then captured Mo Hai’s fleeing primordial spirit. A powerful cultivator from Youyun Heaven arrived and attacked Xu Taiping, but Fairy Lingyue stepped in to handle the threat.
Mo Yu, a deacon of the Mystic Blade Sect, attacked Xu Taiping and demanded Mo Hai’s primordial spirit, then abducted Duan Xiaoyu when her assault failed. Xu Taiping pursued Mo Yu, while Huang Que, the elders, and the Walkers of the Nine Prefectures followed toward the Teleportation Platform.
After Mo Yu abducted Duan Xiaoyu, Xu Taiping prepared to travel to Youyun Heaven, where he would seek to grow stronger before trying to rescue her. The chapter ended with Duan Xiaoyu’s mother knocking on Xu Taiping’s door.