Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping survived the Blade Ghost’s Domain until the Ghost-Sealing Talisman bound the spirit at dawn. Back in Fan Tower, he resolved to study the Demon-Slaying Blade before the next full moon so he could wound the Blade Ghost again and keep him from focusing on destroying his Divine Soul.

• Xu Taiping drew the Blade Ghost into another exchange, but the Ghost struck him down before his blade landed and then found a cut on his shoulder.
• The Blade Ghost revived Xu Taiping and demanded another duel, but Xu Taiping refused and endured his torment as the Ghost-Sealing Talisman grew stronger.
• Xu Taiping announced that dawn was coming, and the Ghost-Sealing Talisman bound the enraged Blade Ghost as his Blade Domain collapsed.
• Xu Taiping awoke in Fan Tower, recovered his Blood Qi with medicine and Dragon Gall Wine, and recognized the Blade Ghost’s aim and obsession with perfect victory.
• Xu Taiping decided to spend the coming month studying the Demon-Slaying Blade so he could wound the Blade Ghost again at the next full moon.

Xu Taiping spent a month refining his cultivation and learning the first form of the Demon-Slaying Blade, then demonstrated its power against Bai Yu. He was still far from mastering Hundred Cicadas Crying in Unison, and Bai Yu asked whether he would face the Blade Ghost again that night.

• Xu Taiping meditated with the Rosy Dawn Formula after taking a Grass Return Pill, seeking to improve his cultivation and resist the Ghost-Sealing Talisman's drain on his blood qi.
• A month later, Xu Taiping and Bai Yu sparred in the clearing before Fan Tower, trading rapid strikes with their blades and wings.
• Xu Taiping used the Demon-Slaying Blade's first form, Cicada Cry, to pin Bai Yu in place and stopped the massive blade shadow just before it struck him.
• Xu Taiping explained that he had spent over a month learning Cicada Cry and that Hundred Cicadas Crying in Unison meant striking once as though striking a hundred times.
• Bai Yu decided he needed to cultivate Heavenly Eagle Claw and asked Xu Taiping whether he would meet the Blade Ghost again that night.

Xu Taiping spent a month preparing to face the Blade Ghost again, strengthening his cultivation and practicing the Demon-Slaying Blade. As the full moon arrived, he entered the Blade Domain more composed than before, carrying both Spring Tiger and the undrawable Water-Cutting Blade.

• Xu Taiping reassured Bai Yu that he had prepared for the rematch, and Bai Yu promised to keep watch while he practiced the Danxia Art.
• Xu Taiping used his merit coins to buy medicinal ingredients, and Grass Return Pills helped his true essence grow as his Qi Mansion doubled in size.
• Xu Taiping continued practicing swordsmanship, studying cultivation techniques, and developing the Red Crow Golden Flame Formula and the Demon-Slaying Blade's Cicada Cry.
• Xu Taiping prepared for the full moon by circulating the Danxia Art and filling his Qi Mansion with true qi.
• Water-Cutting flew from the Iron Gourd and struck Xu Taiping, who brought it along despite being unable to draw it.
• Xu Taiping entered the Blade Domain and faced the Red-Haired Blade Ghost again with greater composure.

Xu Taiping used Duan Tianya’s blade technique to wound the Red-Haired Blade Ghost, who challenged him to strike again and promised to restore his body if he could make him use E Lai. The Red-Haired Blade Ghost healed Xu Taiping, and Xu Taiping launched another Cicada Cry slash.

• The Red-Haired Blade Ghost noticed Water-Cutting and learned that Duan Tianya had left Xu Taiping the blade and its manual, but declared Xu Taiping unworthy.
• The Red-Haired Blade Ghost attacked Xu Taiping, who dodged the first strike at the cost of an arm and countered with Spring Tiger.
• Xu Taiping’s Cicada Cry slash forced the Red-Haired Blade Ghost to block with his Life-Bound Weapon, E Lai, and left a shallow wound on him.
• The Red-Haired Blade Ghost asked whether Xu Taiping had learned Duan Tianya’s blade technique in one month and challenged him to make him use E Lai again.
• The Red-Haired Blade Ghost healed Xu Taiping and returned to an ordinary saber, while Xu Taiping rushed forward with another Cicada Cry slash.

Xu Taiping endured another brutal session in the blade domain and secretly revealed that he had mastered Hundred Cicadas Crying in Unison. After wondering when Fairy Lingyue would awaken, he heard her call from Moon Perching Pavilion and rushed to see her.

• Xu Taiping left the blade domain after surviving another night of torture from the Blade Ghost, who was still eager to learn more of Duan Tianya's Demon-Slaying Blade.
• Xu Taiping revealed to the Ghost-Sealing Talisman that he had mastered Hundred Cicadas Crying in Unison and used the move to provoke the Blade Ghost.
• Xu Taiping took medicine and Dragon Gall Wine to recover, then reflected on his blade training and the danger of facing the Blade Ghost again.
• Xu Taiping hoped Fairy Lingyue would awaken soon so he could ask her about sealing the Blade Ghost and the Taixuan Sect ruins.
• Fairy Lingyue called to Xu Taiping from Moon Perching Pavilion's central courtyard, and he hurried to meet her.

Xu Taiping met Fairy Lingyue and asked her about the Sumeru Realm and the Nine Nether demon cultivators. She revealed that she came from the Sumeru Realm, warned him not to investigate it before reaching the Transformation Realm, and explained the Nine Abysses; Xu Taiping then asked whether True Martial Heaven had any former Nine Abyss sites.

• Xu Taiping found Fairy Lingyue in the Bamboo Grove, where she appeared as a little girl because her body was not fully formed.
• Fairy Lingyue wanted to confront Blade Ghost over Xu Taiping's injuries, but he asked to discuss him later and told her about his battles with Nine Nether demon cultivators.
• After Xu Taiping described the Taixuan Sect ruins, Fairy Lingyue revealed that she came from the Sumeru Realm and warned that powerful beings used the One-Leaf Book to seek Sumeru cultivators.
• Fairy Lingyue said the Sumeru Realm had been devastated by two world-destroying beings and urged Xu Taiping not to investigate it before reaching the Transformation Realm.
• Fairy Lingyue said the Taixuan Sect could be discussed safely but advised caution about the Great Void Calamity, which she had never heard of.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Nine Nether demon cultivators likely descended from the Nine Abysses, and Xu Taiping asked whether True Martial Heaven had any former Nine Abyss sites.

Fairy Lingyue explained the Profound Grotto’s history and warned Xu Taiping that his Grand Martial Uncle might be behind the scheme at Yunmeng Marsh. Xu Taiping refused to believe Junior Martial Uncle would harm him, and Fairy Lingyue ended the discussion by inviting him to settle the score with Blade Ghost.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that the Profound Grotto’s destruction had depleted True Martial Heaven, and that escaped demon cultivators likely founded Nine Nether while searching for the ruins.
• Fairy Lingyue urged Xu Taiping to break through to the Mystic Understanding Realm and then travel with her to Youyun Heaven, explaining how cultivation realms and combat skills affected a cultivator’s strength.
• Fairy Lingyue warned Xu Taiping that the demon cultivators at the Yunmeng Marsh Immortal Abode Ruins might have been manipulated to feed a monster in Taixuan Hall and draw out a Devil Master for the Taixuan Sect’s hidden cache.
• Fairy Lingyue said Xu Taiping’s Grand Martial Uncle was the most suspicious figure, but Xu Taiping insisted Junior Martial Uncle would never harm him.
• Fairy Lingyue wondered whether the Grand Martial Uncle wanted to take Xu Taiping as his disciple, then invited him to settle the score with Blade Ghost.

Xu Taiping entered the Ghost-Sealing Talisman with Fairy Lingyue and watched her confront the Blade Ghost. Fairy Lingyue overwhelmed him in his Blade Domain, but the Blade Ghost recovered and attacked her with two enormous grinding discs.

• Fairy Lingyue explained that she had created the Ghost-Sealing Talisman and revealed the Blade Ghost imprisoned inside it.
• Fairy Lingyue awakened the Blade Ghost, who demanded that Xu Taiping show him Hundred Cicadas Crying in Unison before recognizing her and asking why she was still alive.
• Fairy Lingyue refused to release the Ghost-Sealing Talisman, expanded the prison, and entered the Blade Domain with Xu Taiping.
• Fairy Lingyue ignored the Blade Domain's distance-warping power and punched the Blade Ghost, then summoned a Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva Statue to destroy his attacks and pound him to pulp.
• The Blade Ghost restored his body and declared himself the ruler of his Blade Domain before sending two enormous grinding discs toward Fairy Lingyue.

Fairy Lingyue seized control of the Blade Ghost’s blade domain and shattered it, then confronted his increasingly powerful attacks inside the Stone Prison. She ended the chapter by invoking “Without abiding, without thought, without form,” bursting his mountain-like blade force.

• Fairy Lingyue used a towering dharma aspect to hold apart the Blade Ghost’s grinding discs, then trapped him in them and took control of his blade domain.
• The Blade Ghost transformed everything in the domain into blades, fused them into his weapon, and shattered Fairy Lingyue’s dharma aspect and thousand-armed Bodhisattva with a slash.
• Fairy Lingyue struck with her Heavenly Principle Finger, breaking the blade domain and shattering the Blade Ghost, who reappeared weakened in a corner of the Stone Prison of the Ghost-Sealing Talisman.
• The Blade Ghost attacked again with a mountain-like blade force, and Fairy Lingyue stopped his strike with one finger before being forced several steps back.
• Fairy Lingyue chanted “Without abiding, without thought, without form,” and the Blade Ghost’s mountain-like blade force burst apart.

Fairy Lingyue nearly destroyed the Blade Ghost with Red Crow Golden Flame Fire, but he revealed a dormant Demon Lotus growing inside Xu Taiping’s Ghost-Sealing Talisman. The Blade Ghost proposed a deal, leaving Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue to face the danger posed by the lotus.

• Fairy Lingyue shattered the Blade Ghost’s manifested form and used Red Crow Golden Flame Fire to hunt him and the demonic shadows in the Stone Prison.
• The Red Crow broke through the Blade Ghost’s defenses, and he revealed a black lotus that Xu Taiping recognized as a Demon Lotus.
• Fairy Lingyue sealed the lotus’s aura inside nine layers of Stone Prison and questioned the Blade Ghost about its origin.
• The Blade Ghost said the lotus had grown from lingering demonic qi drawn in by the Ghost-Sealing Talisman, and Fairy Lingyue concluded no one had deliberately planted it.
• The Blade Ghost held up the dormant Demon Lotus and proposed a deal.

Xu Taiping agreed to test blades with the Blade Ghost once every three months after the Blade Ghost knelt and pleaded for help finding a blade technique. The Blade Ghost swallowed the Demon Lotus to keep it sealed for now, while Fairy Lingyue began to explain how they could remove it; Zhao Linglong then arrived with news that Xu Taiping had secured a place in the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven.

• The Blade Ghost offered to use his blade domain to seal the Demon Lotus in exchange for testing blades with Xu Taiping, explaining that Duan Tianya's techniques might help him find the blade technique that would set him free.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping she could suppress the Demon Lotus without the Blade Ghost, but the Blade Ghost knelt and swore he would never betray Xu Taiping as he begged for more blade tests.
• Xu Taiping agreed to test blades with the Blade Ghost once every three months, and the Blade Ghost swallowed the Demon Lotus and promised to keep it from harming Xu Taiping.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping they still needed to prepare the items required to uproot the Demon Lotus.
• Zhao Linglong arrived at the Moon Perching Pavilion and announced that Xu Taiping had secured a place in the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven.

Sect Master Zhou Tong announced that Ye Xuan would represent the Azure Profound Sect in the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven, prompting Zhao Qian and Meng Qingqiu to demand an explanation. A Nine Prefectures Walker then revealed that the Immortal Law Bureau had separately invited Xu Taiping to enter on its behalf, leaving Zhou Tong stunned and angry.

• Zhou Tong announced that Ye Xuan had been chosen to represent the Azure Profound Sect in the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven.
• Meng Qingqiu and Zhao Qian questioned why Lin Buyu and Xu Taiping had been passed over, but Zhou Tong asserted his authority to award the place to Ye Xuan.
• Xu Shengbo arrived with an urgent message from the Nine Prefectures Immortal Law Bureau.
• Xu Shengbo announced that the bureau wanted Xu Taiping to enter the grotto-heaven and seize the cauldron on its behalf.
• Zhao Linglong told the others at Moon Perching Pavilion that Zhou Tong had nearly turned green with anger.

Xu Taiping learned about the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven and why he had been selected to represent the Immortal Law Bureau in its contest. He left with a clearer understanding of the secret realm’s dangers, its rewards, and Lay Buddhist Yuqing’s limited role as its gatekeeper.

• Zhao Linglong explained that the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven was a vast secret realm opened to outstanding young cultivators every twelve years, with a contest to reach Jade Gourd Peak first.
• Qingxiao revealed that Huang Que had recommended Xu Taiping, though Xu’s deeds in the Yunmeng Marsh Immortal Abode Ruins had already drawn the Prefect’s attention.
• Zhao Linglong explained that the realm was relatively safe and that each entrant received three Teleportation Scrolls, which could also end their exploration if used up.
• Qingxiao said the secret realm was so vast that even Lay Buddhist Yuqing had explored only a small part, and Xu Taiping concluded that Yuqing was essentially its gatekeeper.

Xu Taiping received a map and a list of treasures for the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven, and learned that reaching Jade Gourd Peak could offer insight into Su Chan’s Sword Intent. Meanwhile, Jin Hezhi gave Ye Xuan Su Chan’s sword and Sword Canon, urging him to climb Jade Gourd Peak and claim the Immortal Gourd.

• Qingxiao advised Xu Taiping to try climbing Jade Gourd Peak, where Su Chan had once attained Sword Enlightenment.
• Qingxiao gave Xu Taiping a map and a booklet of known treasures, which Fairy Lingyue recognized as a fragment of the ancient Immortal-Demon Battlefield.
• Jin Hezhi showed Ye Xuan Su Chan’s sword and explained that the Sword Case also held Su Chan’s Sword Canon.
• Jin Hezhi explained that only Sword Intent of the same origin as Su Chan’s could unlock the Sword Case, then handed it to Ye Xuan.
• Ye Xuan vowed to represent First Peak, climb Jade Gourd Peak, and claim the crown of the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven.

Fairy Lingyue explained the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven’s ancient origins and warned Xu Taiping to prepare for its dangers and seek the materials needed to remove his Demon Lotus. Three years later, after Xu Taiping completed his daily sword practice, Recluse Sansan appeared before him for the first time.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven was one of nine battlefield fragments and described the ancient war that created them.
• Fairy Lingyue revealed that the grotto-heaven had a lower level with a Blood Pool, warned Xu Taiping to avoid it, and urged him to retrieve Jade Bone and Spirit Marrow Liquid to remove his Demon Lotus.
• Fairy Lingyue noted that the grotto-heaven might contain herbs for the Quenching Fire Pill and Grass Return Pill, warned of sleeping Demonic Beasts, and advised Xu Taiping to prepare for the trip in three years.
• Xu Taiping spent the next three years training in seclusion and practicing his techniques while continuing his daily sword practice with the longsword at Moon-Fishing Pool.
• Xu Taiping found Recluse Sansan’s wooden board blank, carved six thousand characters into the cliff with one sword stroke, and prepared to leave for the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven.
• Recluse Sansan descended onto a rock in the pool and spoke to Xu Taiping, appearing before him for the first time.

After Xu Taiping completed three years of carving words through Sword Flight without complaint, Recluse Sansan appeared and agreed to teach him about the sword. He explained the Stored Swords Stance and asked whether Xu Taiping wanted to learn it, leaving Xu Taiping eager to accept.

• Xu Taiping told Recluse Sansan he held no resentment and was willing to become his disciple, but Recluse Sansan said he had only guided him at his Peak Lord's request.
• Recluse Sansan revealed that he had wagered with the Peak Lord to appear and teach Xu Taiping if he persisted for three years without complaint.
• Xu Taiping explained that he practiced the sword because he felt he would need it on his cultivation path, and Recluse Sansan described it as a final safeguard.
• Recluse Sansan introduced the Stored Swords Stance, a technique centered on keeping a sword in reserve for moments of utter desperation.
• Recluse Sansan asked whether Xu Taiping wanted the sword, and Xu Taiping immediately said yes.

Xu Taiping learned Recluse Sansan’s Stored Swords Stance and borrowed the righteous sword Rusty Lion before preparing to enter the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven. He learned that the Peacock King might soon be released, and refused to let Bai Yu face him alone.

• Recluse Sansan taught Xu Taiping how to nurture and conceal a sword, and asked him to bring back plum trees from Jade Gourd Mountain.
• Recluse Sansan lent Xu Taiping Rusty Lion, a sword that rusted whenever its wielder intended an unrighteous deed.
• Fairy Lingyue praised Recluse Sansan’s swordsmanship and said she could only send a wisp of divine sense with Xu Taiping into the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven.
• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue discussed his cultivation and preparations, while Bai Yu and Ping'an learned they could not accompany him into the grotto-heaven.
• Bai Yu warned that the Seven Discipline Hall might release the Peacock King under the pretense of executing him, and Xu Taiping agreed there would still be time to deal with him after his return.
• Bai Yu offered to kill the Peacock King without Xu Taiping, but Xu Taiping sharply refused.

Xu Taiping prepared to enter the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven, while Fairy Lingyue agreed to watch over Bai Yu and gave Xu Taiping three bamboo leaves containing her divine sense. As the Immortal Gourd Contest began and Xu Taiping was drawn into the grotto-heaven, a bloodshot eyeball suddenly appeared in the bronze mirror, accompanied by screams.

• Xu Taiping insisted that he would not abandon Bai Yu and entrusted Fairy Lingyue with keeping him from acting recklessly while he was away.
• Fairy Lingyue gave Xu Taiping three bamboo leaves containing her divine sense and reminded him to save them for the grotto-heaven's level entrances or a crisis.
• Five days later, Qingxiao, Zhao Linglong, Xu Ziyan, and Lin Buyu gathered to watch the Immortal Gourd Contest through a bronze mirror.
• Lay Buddhist Yuqing opened the jade gourd and drew the contestants into the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven as the mirror showed its unfamiliar landscape.
• As Qingxiao searched the mirror for Xu Taiping, a bloodshot eyeball filled the image and screams came from inside the grotto-heaven.

Xu Taiping was transported to Phoenix Perch Hall in the Immortal Gourd Grotto-Heaven and began planning a route to gather the materials he needed. As he waited for Lay Buddhist Yuqing, Murong Song approached and invited him to help seize the cauldron on Jade Gourd Peak.

• Xu Taiping found himself at Phoenix Perch Hall and realized that the disciples had been scattered among different locations in the secret realm.
• Xu Taiping recognized Phoenix Perch Hall as a convenient starting point for collecting herbs and spirit stones, reaching Jade Gourd Mountain, and entering the lower level.
• Xu Taiping reviewed his plan to head north to Starfall Lake and gather Blue-Silver Pearls while watching for the catfish spirit.
• A brawny youth accused Xu Taiping of staring at a young girl, but the girl stopped him and said Xu Taiping had not been looking at her.
• Murong Song and his companions confronted Xu Taiping, and Murong Song invited him to help seize the cauldron at Jade Gourd Peak in exchange for a reward from Dustless Island.

Xu Taiping refused Murong Song's offer to join Dustless Island, then recognized the Blood Moon Tide as the sky darkened and a red moon appeared over Phoenix Perch Hall. While Murong Song fought to keep two siblings outside the hall, Xu Taiping noticed the girl's saber stance resembled the Cicada Cry Form.

• Xu Taiping rejected Murong Song's invitation to join Dustless Island and walked away.
• The Blood Moon Tide began, darkening the sky and preventing cultivators from escaping with Teleportation Scrolls; Murong Song urged everyone to take shelter in Phoenix Perch Hall.
• Xu Taiping recognized the blood-red full moon and retreated from the hall, suspecting a savage beast was suppressed beneath it and questioning whether Lay Buddhist Yuqing had foreseen the tide.
• Murong Song barred the brother and sister from entering Phoenix Perch Hall, and the siblings fought back with their sabers.
• Murong Song sent his flying sword at the siblings, but the girl shattered its attack with a powerful saber strike.
• Xu Taiping noticed that the girl's stance matched the Cicada Cry Form of Duan Tianya's Demon-Slaying Blade and wondered whether she belonged to the Heavenly Blade Sect.