Recaps

After learning the limits of the Kunwu Sword’s power over the River of Time, Xu Taiping prepared the Earth Fruit Golden Lotus with treasures and entered the River of Light and Shadow to rescue little Buyu. He arrived in the tributary where she was waiting for him.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that the Kunwu Sword would return him to the same tributary if he used the same strand of temporal power, and that he could enter the River of Time only three times for up to a day each.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Xu Taiping needed to plant nutrients around the Earth Fruit Golden Lotus before leaving, so he, Ping'an, and Bai Yu filled nine holes with treasures over four or five days.
• Xu Taiping placed the Dragon-Trapping Tower beside the pond and prepared to travel through the River of Light and Shadow with the Kunwu Sword.
• Xu Taiping plunged into the golden River of Time, where little Buyu excitedly greeted him.

Xu Taiping reunited with Lin Buyu in the cave and learned she had survived four months alone by practicing the Remnant Sunset Scripture. He broke open the blocked entrance, flooding the cave with sunlight and preparing to take her out.

• Xu Taiping returned to the cave and helped the frail Lin Buyu to her feet, discovering that her aura had reached the Gate Opening Realm.
• Lin Buyu told Xu Taiping she had spent four more months in the cave, using the Remnant Sunset Scripture to endure hunger and marking time on the wall.
• Xu Taiping explained that he could get her out and led her to the rocks sealing the cave entrance.
• Xu Taiping used the Ancestral Sage Fist's Baxia Form to shatter the rocks, then cleared the rubble with successive palm strikes.
• Sunlight streamed into the cave as the entrance opened.

Xu Taiping helped little Buyu escape her cave, but the collapse of her tributary in the River of Time swept him through scenes from Lin Buyu’s past. He saw her leave the Taihao Sect for the Ten Evils Monastery and endure cruel treatment there before he was pulled back to the Golden Court, confused about what he had witnessed.

• Xu Taiping found an invisible barrier blocking the cave exit and began turning transparent as the River of Time expelled him.
• Xu Taiping urged little Buyu to leave on her own, and she ran out of the cave before the sunlight swallowed them both.
• Xu Taiping was swept through time and saw Lin Buyu defy the Taihao Sect’s Sect Master, then leave after he threatened to send her to the Ten Evils Monastery.
• Xu Taiping saw a woman at the Ten Evils Monastery kick Lin Buyu down and force her to eat from a dog bowl.
• An invisible force dragged Xu Taiping into darkness, and he returned to the Golden Court wondering what had happened.

Xu Taiping learned from Fairy Lingyue that the scene he witnessed in Lin Buyu’s River of Time was not a death tribulation and that he could intervene again without disrupting karma too much. When the Kunwu Sword regained its power, he returned to Lin Buyu’s past and wondered whether he could possess her to avoid being expelled from the River of Time.

• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue what he had witnessed after rescuing Little Buyu from the cave.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that the scene was not a death tribulation and said Xu Taiping could return to help Lin Buyu, though he should first understand the causes and effects involved.
• Fairy Lingyue pointed out that Lin Buyu may have lived a second or third life and suspected that someone within the Taihao Sect wanted to harm her.
• Fairy Lingyue urged Xu Taiping to forge a Soul-Sealing Sword with the Furnace Body Tempering Method before continuing his cultivation.
• The Kunwu Sword recovered its power, and Xu Taiping returned to Lin Buyu’s River of Time as she was kicked by a burly female disciple of the Ten Evils Monastery.
• Xu Taiping wondered whether he could possess Lin Buyu to avoid being expelled from the River of Time.

Xu Taiping took control of a big yellow dog to save Lin Buyu from being forced to eat dog food, then followed the monastery’s supervisors after the exhausted dog was captured. He overheard a tenant farmer’s son question the sinister threats at Ten Evils Monastery, giving him a new lead as he investigated the place.

• Xu Taiping possessed the big yellow dog, broke its leash, and knocked down a disciple as he charged toward Lin Buyu.
• Xu Taiping snatched the dog-food dish from beside Lin Buyu and caused a commotion in the rear courtyard, distracting the disciples with fires in two Firewood Sheds.
• Lin Buyu watched as the dog’s actions saved her from the burly female disciple, while Xu Taiping’s control left the dog exhausted and unable to wake.
• Monastery Supervisors caught the big yellow dog and dragged it away, so Xu Taiping followed them to investigate Ten Evils Monastery.
• Xu Taiping overheard an Estate Head warn Old Jiang and his son not to make noise or wander, and the boy asked his father why the monastery’s people seemed so sinister.

Xu Taiping learned how Ten Evils Monastery punished its imprisoned disciples and discovered that the old farmer might once have been a cultivator. When Lin Buyu challenged Su Muling for the sake of a big yellow dog, Xu Taiping recognized her kindness and understood that she was truly Junior Sister Buyu.

• The old farmer explained to his son Muguang that Ten Evils Monastery forced disciples to challenge one another for gems, with repeated losses leading to slavery in the mines.
• Xu Taiping suspected that Lin Buyu had been attacked because other disciples hoped to win gems by defeating her.
• The old farmer hinted that he had once been a cultivator and asked Muguang if he wanted to become an immortal.
• Lin Buyu challenged Su Muling by name, and the monastery master granted the match for the next day.
• Lin Buyu asked to receive a big yellow dog instead of spirit stones if she won, explaining that she would not let someone who had shown her kindness die.
• Xu Taiping realized that Lin Buyu's compassion confirmed she was truly Junior Sister Buyu.

Xu Taiping possessed Old Man Jiang and secretly sparred with Lin Buyu, using the fight to correct her techniques before her challenge against Su Muling. He revealed the Blood Qi Body Tempering Art and prepared to teach it to her.

• Xu Taiping watched Lin Buyu train and decided to teach her the Blood Qi Body Tempering Art to improve her chances against Su Muling.
• Xu Taiping possessed Old Man Jiang, whose cultivation had been sealed, and disguised himself as the old man.
• Xu Taiping provoked Lin Buyu into attacking, then defeated her and pointed out flaws in her punches and footwork as they sparred.
• Lin Buyu realized Xu Taiping was helping her and asked why he had come to her aid.
• Xu Taiping demonstrated the art by turning his arms bronze and surging with Qi and Blood Power, and Lin Buyu asked him to teach it to her.

Xu Taiping investigated why Lin Buyu was hated at the Ten Evils Monastery and learned that her rejection of Lü Kuan had provoked the other female disciples. As Lin Buyu’s challenge match against Su Muling began, he saw her conserve her True Essence while making her way to the platform.

• Xu Taiping learned that Lin Buyu was likely the Taihao Sect master's daughter, though the sect master seemed to hate her.
• Xu Taiping discovered that Lü Kuan's public favor had made Lin Buyu a target, and that his rejected proposal had intensified the female disciples' hostility.
• Su Muling arrived at the platform as her supporters urged her to hurt Lin Buyu.
• Supervisor He called Lin Buyu and Su Muling to begin their match.
• Lin Buyu walked to the platform rather than leaping up, conserving her True Essence, and greeted Supervisor He.

Lin Buyu fought Su Muling in a match overseen by Supervisor He, who favored Su Muling and mocked Lin Buyu. After both fighters exhausted their True Essence, Lin Buyu revealed that she had mastered the Blood Qi Body Tempering Method and broke Su Muling’s leg with a bronze fist.

• Supervisor He announced that Su Muling would win a spirit stone, while Lin Buyu would win a big yellow dog, and allowed the match to begin despite Su Muling’s early attack.
• Su Muling struck first and pressed Lin Buyu with forceful attacks, but Lin Buyu used her Dharma Robe and improved punches to land a series of blows.
• Su Muling counterattacked with Gang Qi and powerful kicks, exhausting Lin Buyu’s True Essence and knocking her to the ground.
• Su Muling charged at Lin Buyu again, but Lin Buyu’s Qi and Blood Power surged and her fist turned bronze.
• Lin Buyu struck Su Muling’s incoming leg and broke it, revealing that she had mastered the Blood Qi Body Tempering Method.

Lin Buyu defeated Su Muling through a relentless battle of endurance, then left the arena alone after Supervisor He announced her victory. Xu Taiping secretly congratulated her, and Lin Buyu began to suspect he was the “Big Brother” who had practiced boxing with her that morning.

• Lin Buyu repeatedly attacked Su Muling as she tried to set her broken ankle, eventually breaking several of her fingers with a bronze-tempered punch.
• Lin Buyu traded injuries with Su Muling until Su Muling’s defenses faltered, then knocked her unconscious with a punch to the face.
• Supervisor He reluctantly declared Lin Buyu the winner, and Lin Buyu collapsed before pushing away help and limping off alone.
• Xu Taiping secretly congratulated Lin Buyu by voice transmission, but stayed silent when she asked who he was.
• Lin Buyu turned back and guessed that Xu Taiping was Big Brother, the person who had practiced boxing with her that morning.

Xu Taiping witnessed Lü Kuan coercing Lin Lu into delivering a suspicious medicine to Lin Buyu, then secretly intervened when Lü Kuan tortured him. Lin Lu suddenly displayed extraordinary strength, leaving Lü Kuan’s sword attack poised against his mithril-colored body.

• Lü Kuan threatened Lin Lu into taking a medicine bottle to Lin Buyu, but Lin Lu refused and tried to flee.
• Lü Kuan wounded Lin Lu with his flying sword, used an Earth-Rank Eye-Obscuring Talisman to hide them, and tortured him until he nearly agreed to obey.
• Xu Taiping intervened through a thunderous voice, prompting Lin Lu to seize Lü Kuan’s sword and defy him.
• Lü Kuan recalled his sword and unleashed hundreds of Sword Shadows at Lin Lu.
• Lin Lu rose on one leg as his body, except for his face, turned mithril-colored and withstood the attack’s opening surge.

Xu Taiping used Lin Lu’s body to defeat Lü Kuan and discovered that possessing someone kept him from being expelled by the River of Light and Shadow. After returning, he saw an ominous vision of a giant Fire Python attacking Ten Evils Monastery, then learned Fairy Lingyue had found a way out.

• Lin Lu destroyed Lü Kuan’s flying sword, shattered his protective barriers, and used the Mysterious Wasteland Art to break his mind.
• Xu Taiping revealed himself after Lin Lu collapsed and concluded that possessing another person prevented the River of Light and Shadow from expelling him.
• Lin Buyu welcomed the big yellow dog into her courtyard and shared steamed buns with it.
• As the River of Light and Shadow pulled Xu Taiping back, he saw a thousand-zhang Fire Python devouring the disciples of Ten Evils Monastery.
• Bai Yu and Ping'an woke Xu Taiping, and Fairy Lingyue told him to practice the Furnace Body Tempering Method and forge the Demon-Sealing Sword because she had found a way out.

Fifty years after Xu Taiping disappeared, cultivators gathered in Immortal-Retaining Town ahead of the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly and argued over his legacy. Liu Changtian insulted Xu Taiping and praised a child as his superior before Zhao Linglong confronted him.

• An old storyteller recounted Xu Taiping’s pursuit of the Arsonists and toasted him for defending True Martial Heaven.
• Liu Changtian objected to the storyteller linking Liang Chengshan to Wang You Valley, and True Martial Heaven cultivators challenged his denial.
• Liu Changtian led the Wang You Valley disciples toward the exit and claimed Xu Taiping could not compare to the boy beside him.
• Zhao Linglong drew her sword and warned Liu Changtian to watch his mouth, and he recognized her as an Azure Profound Sect disciple.

Zhao Linglong confronted Liu Changtian after he insulted Xu Taiping, but Liu Changtian revealed a rumor that threatened the Azure Profound Sect, prompting Lu Sibai to intervene. Dugu Qingxiao drove the two Wang You Valley cultivators out and agreed to face Lu Sibai at the True Martial Sword Champion Tournament, where he accused him of burning millions of people in the Great Liang Kingdom.

• Zhao Linglong struck Liu Changtian with her sword intent and demanded that he apologize to Xu Taiping and leave.
• Liu Changtian protected himself with a jade pendant and revealed rumors that the Cloud Lodge secret realm held an ancient Sword Immortal's ruins, angering Zhao Linglong.
• Lu Sibai arrived and clashed with Zhao Linglong, forcing her back with his sword intent.
• Dugu Qingxiao shattered Lu Sibai's sword intent and ordered Zhao Linglong to sheathe her sword.
• Dugu Qingxiao accepted Lu Sibai's challenge for the True Martial Sword Champion Tournament on the condition that Lu tear Liu Changtian's mouth apart.
• Dugu Qingxiao accused Lu Sibai of burning millions of Great Liang Kingdom's common people, suggesting he was the last of the thirteen Arsonists.

In Liuxian Town, Zhao Linglong wandered alone while Dugu Qingxiao went to confirm leads about Xu Taiping. An old man found her and revealed that Xu Taiping had sent him, bringing a Dragon-Slaying Stele that could determine whether Xu Taiping returned to the world.

• Lu Sibai and Dugu Qingxiao clashed over the accusation that Lu Sibai was one of the thirteen Arsonists, but Huang Que intervened before they fought.
• Dugu Qingxiao told Zhao Linglong that new leads about Xu Taiping had arrived and went with Huang Que to the Nine Prefectures.
• Zhao Linglong ignored Wu Liang's warning, went wandering through Liuxian Town, and reflected on the Azure Profound Sect's growth and its long search for Xu Taiping.
• Zhao Linglong vowed that the Azure Profound Sect would avenge Xu Taiping on the Azure-Eyed Evil Lord.
• An old man stole Zhao Linglong's wine jar, then said Xu Taiping had sent him and planted a Dragon-Slaying Stele that could determine whether Xu Taiping returned to the world.

Fairy Lingyue explained that she had hired Wuji Immortal Elder to retrieve a Dragon-Slaying Stele from the deadly Wind Demon Eye so Xu Taiping could eventually leave the Golden Court Grotto-Heaven. Just as Xu Taiping’s first Demon-Sealing Sword was about to emerge, Wuji Immortal Elder reported that his companions had died and a terrifying being had trapped him in the secret realm.

• Fairy Lingyue told Bai Yu and Ping'an that Wuji Immortal Elder had spent decades preparing to retrieve Zhu Songyu’s Dragon-Slaying Stele from the Wind Demon Eye.
• Fairy Lingyue recalled that she had promised Wuji Immortal Elder an Origin Demon Pearl, an Ancient Times sage relic, and a Confucian Sect Immortal Weapon for the mission.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that his first Demon-Sealing Sword was about to emerge, then warned her that Wuji Immortal Elder was in trouble.
• Wuji Immortal Elder told Fairy Lingyue that everyone who entered the Wind Demon Eye with him had died and that a being stronger than Heavenly Lord Cangzhu might prevent his escape.

Wuji Immortal Elder arranged for his cursed clone to carry the Dragon-Slaying Stele to Zhao Linglong in the Azure Profound Sect. He and Fairy Lingyue agreed to explore the Heavenly Court Ruins after the Sword Chief Tournament, while Xu Taiping continued forging his first Demon-Sealing Sword.

• Wuji Immortal Elder said he would send his refined clone with the Dragon-Slaying Stele to True Martial Heaven, where the clone would need a trusted receiver to help evade pursuers.
• Xu Taiping chose Zhao Linglong, and Wuji Immortal Elder agreed to have his clone seek her out.
• Wuji Immortal Elder deduced that a divine general of the Ancient Heavenly Court was trapping him and proposed that he and Fairy Lingyue explore the ruins for a Path to Heaven leading to the Old Heavenly Gate.
• Fairy Lingyue agreed to explore the ruins after the Sword Chief Tournament, and Wuji Immortal Elder's presence then vanished.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that his first Demon-Sealing Sword could emerge from the furnace at any moment.

Xu Taiping completed the Demon-Sealing Sword, named it Black Hound, and sealed one of his soul seals inside it, while Fairy Lingyue advised him to cultivate slowly in the Heaven Gazing Realm. Half a year earlier, Wuji Immortal Elder's clone urged Zhao Linglong to pour her true essence into a stone stele to help rescue Xu Taiping as masked attackers surrounded them.

• Xu Taiping spent decades forging a sword from outer heaven meteoric iron and the Demon Emperor's remnant body, then completed its quenching and unsealed its edge.
• Xu Taiping used the sword to seal the Black Hound Demon Emperor's soul seal and named the sword Black Hound, allowing it to merge with the seal and freeing his suppressed aura.
• Fairy Lingyue observed that Xu Taiping's true essence had become unusually pure and profound, then warned him to cultivate slowly in the Heaven Gazing Realm.
• Half a year earlier, Zhao Linglong met Wuji Immortal Elder's clone after returning to the Azure Profound Sect and asked whether his stone stele could help find Xu Taiping.
• Masked figures surrounded Zhao Linglong and Wuji Immortal Elder's clone, but the clone raised a wind wall and ordered Zhao Linglong to pour all her true essence into the stone stele without letting go.

Zhao Linglong activated the Dragon-Slaying Stele in hopes of bringing Xu Taiping back, while the Wuji Immortal Elder's clone fought the Netherworld Rakshasa Hall cultivators. As the clone charged the surviving enemies, Xu Taiping's voice came from inside the stele and called out to Zhao Linglong.

• Zhao Linglong recalled that the Dragon-Slaying Stele could transport someone between realms and poured her true essence into it.
• A Netherworld Rakshasa Hall cultivator ignited a black talisman, and the eight masked cultivators revealed their ghostly forms and netherworld weapons.
• The Wuji Immortal Elder's clone countered the cultivators' attacks with eight arms and powerful spells, killing two and severely wounding three.
• Wounded and exhausted, the clone refused Zhao Linglong's offer to fight together, saying that this was their only chance to bring Xu Taiping back safely.
• As the clone lunged at the remaining enemies, Xu Taiping's voice came from inside the stele and asked whether Zhao Linglong was there.

Xu Taiping discovered that Zhao Linglong was on the other side of the Geng Character Room door, trying to open the Dragon-Slaying Stele. He began merging his mind with the Dragon-Trapping Tower to connect with her, despite Fairy Lingyue warning him that he had not confirmed whether she was in danger.

• Xu Taiping heard pounding from the Geng Character Room and learned from Fairy Lingyue that the Dragon-Slaying Stele had to absorb enough True Essence before he could communicate through it.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Xu Taiping could use the Dragon-Trapping Tower to sense nearby Dragon-Slaying Steles and help open one, but the attempt could severely damage his Divine Soul.
• Xu Taiping asked the person beyond the door to knock three times, then used a private question to confirm that the person was Zhao Linglong.
• Xu Taiping began merging his entire mind with the Dragon-Trapping Tower, while Fairy Lingyue warned him that he had not established whether Zhao Linglong was in danger.

Xu Taiping linked his mind to the Dragon-Slaying Stele and learned that Zhao Linglong was fighting five Netherworld Rakshasa Hall assassins while protecting it. He opened the door to find Zhao Linglong gravely wounded and Wuji Immortal Elder's clone dismembered, then refused to flee and prepared to fight.

• Xu Taiping linked his Divine Soul Power and True Essence to the Dragon-Slaying Stele and spoke with Zhao Linglong through the door.
• Zhao Linglong explained that five Netherworld Rakshasa Hall assassins had nearly exhausted Wuji Immortal Elder's clone and described their abilities to Xu Taiping.
• Fairy Lingyue warned Xu Taiping to rely on physical attacks and weapons when fighting the Netherworld Rakshasa Hall disciples.
• A powerful impact silenced Zhao Linglong, and Xu Taiping opened the door to find her impaled and Wuji Immortal Elder's clone dismembered.
• The five assassins rushed toward Xu Taiping and Zhao Linglong, but Xu Taiping refused to leave and reached for his bone blade.

Xu Taiping revealed his overwhelming strength and killed four Netherworld Rakshasa Hall assassins while sparing Qingmian’s head, after Zhao Linglong was badly wounded protecting him. Zhao Linglong’s sealed memories of the Mysterious Wasteland Tower began returning, and with pursuers approaching, Xu Taiping decided to take her to the Golden Court Grotto-Heaven.

• Qingmian attacked Xu Taiping with a wall of spearheads, and Xu Taiping shattered it with No Edge, though the spear’s toxic mold began to spread across the blade.
• Four Netherworld Rakshasa Hall assassins launched a combined attack, and Zhao Linglong intercepted it, taking their strike and falling gravely wounded.
• Xu Taiping caught Zhao Linglong and stopped hiding his strength, using the Ancestral Sage Fist’s Baxia Form and the Demon Ancestor’s true intent of Ants Shake the Tree to destroy the five attackers, sparing Qingmian’s head.
• Zhao Linglong’s sealed memories of the Mysterious Wasteland Tower resurfaced, and she asked Xu Taiping how he had appeared there.
• As Nine Prefectures pursuers approached, Xu Taiping decided to take Zhao Linglong back to the Golden Court Grotto-Heaven.

Xu Taiping discussed Zhao Linglong’s recovered memories and the danger of revealing the Earth Fruit with Fairy Lingyue. The Earth Fruit Golden Lotus ripened, and Xu Taiping harvested its nine pods before trying one of their lifespan-extending seeds to restore his Divine Essence.

• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that he had brought the injured Zhao Linglong into the Dragon-Trapping Tower and hidden the Dragon-Slaying Stele with Bai Yu and Ping'an.
• Fairy Lingyue warned Xu Taiping not to tell Zhao Linglong about the Earth Fruit, and he agreed to keep it secret.
• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue concluded that his aura had awakened Zhao Linglong’s memories and that the Nine Abysses would not discover the sealed Eight Demon Emperors in him right away.
• The nine Earth Fruit Golden Lotuses dropped their petals and ripened, leaving nine lotus pods.
• Xu Taiping harvested the pods, and Fairy Lingyue explained that each held one golden treasure-bearing seed and ordinary seeds that could extend life and restore Divine Essence.
• Xu Taiping ate an ordinary lotus seed to test whether it could repair the damage to his Divine Soul.

Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue shelled the Earth Fruit’s golden lotus seeds to discover what treasures they contained. The first two revealed an enhanced Water-Cutting Blade and the Azure Luan Ring, whose unexpected transformation left Xu Taiping stunned.

• Xu Taiping ate an ordinary Earth Fruit seed and found that its spiritual power rapidly repaired his damaged primordial spirit.
• Xu Taiping shelled the first golden lotus seed, revealing a Water-Cutting Blade upgraded with the Thunder Soul Blade’s power and a One-Cut Guaranteed Break that could sever true intent and spells.
• Xu Taiping shelled the second golden lotus seed, and its golden light transformed into the Azure Luan Ring.
• Xu Taiping sensed the Azure Luan Ring’s changes and exclaimed in disbelief, wondering whether something had gone wrong with the Earth Fruit.

Xu Taiping discovered that the earth fruit had upgraded the Azure Luan Ring into a top-grade immortal weapon and awakened its divine ability, Wind God's Wrath. After he tested it by reducing a massive stone mountain to dust, Fairy Lingyue urged him to shell the remaining golden lotus seeds for more surprises.

• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that the earth fruit had fused the Azure Luan Ring with the Wind-Suppressing Pearl, restored Azure Luan's remnant soul as its ring spirit, and raised its grade to a top-grade immortal weapon.
• Xu Taiping explained that the ring could absorb wind essence from the world and enemy attacks, and that its divine ability, Wind God's Wrath, could unleash devastating gang wind.
• Xu Taiping used Wind God's Wrath against a stone mountain, but the initial gale swept through the surrounding forest without moving the mountain.
• Xu Taiping concentrated the gale around the mountain to a radius of a thousand zhang, and the mountain shattered into sand and dust.
• Fairy Lingyue praised the ring's power and urged Xu Taiping to shell the remaining golden lotus seeds.