Chapter Summaries

Fourth Peak’s Zhu Shining impressed the Seven Peaks Grand Competition by inscribing a verse while suspending five hundred jin of iron. She then challenged Zhao Linglong, while Wu Mo resolved to fight for Seven Peaks when her turn came.

• Zhu Shining of Fourth Peak stepped forward to inscribe with suspended iron, and Jiang Zhi introduced her talent and wind-essence golden variant bone.
• Zhu Shining chose to suspend five hundred jin of iron, astonishing the disciples watching from the Cloud Tower stands.
• Wu Mo refused to concede a future bout, saying she wanted to do her part for Seven Peaks and the Peak Lord.
• Zhu Shining completed a seven-regulated verse without showing fatigue, and Elder Black Dragon confirmed her result.
• Zhu Shining pointed her sword at Zhao Linglong and challenged her to fight.

Fifth Senior Sister Wu Mo took Zhao Linglong’s place in the Fourth Peak’s challenge and attempted to suspend more than Zhu Ningshi’s 500 jin. Despite her fear and the pain of soul weeping, she kept controlling her jade hairpin as the iron’s weight reached 400 jin.

• Wu Mo volunteered to try suspending 501 jin, and Jiang Zhi persuaded Zhao Linglong to let her take the challenge.
• Yu Cai apologized for Zhu Ningshi’s rude behavior and carried her away when she tried to dissuade Wu Mo.
• Wu Mo announced her 501-jin attempt, then steadied herself with encouragement from Zhao Linglong, Jiang Zhi, Zhou Liang, and the others.
• Wu Mo used her Natal Treasure, a jade hairpin, to suspend the Ship-Ballast Iron, remaining steady as Elder Black Dragon added the first 300 jin.
• Wu Mo strained as the weight reached 400 jin and endured soul weeping without passing out, continuing to control the trembling jade hairpin.

Fifth Senior Sister Wu Mo endured the Soul Weeping Affliction to lift ship-ballast iron with her jade hairpin during the Seven Peaks contest. After reaching the cliff and nearly dropping the hairpin into the pool, she steadied it and kept trying to raise it.

• Shi Wen told Xu Taiping that Wu Mo had secretly practiced enduring the pain of Soul Weeping so she could help rescue the Peak Lord.
• Wu Mo asked Elder Black Dragon to hang the remaining ship-ballast iron on her jade hairpin, and the added weight brought her to the edge of collapse.
• Wu Mo refused Xu Taiping and the others' pleas to stop, then slowly raised the heavily laden jade hairpin toward the cliff.
• Wu Mo made the jade hairpin reach the cliff, but she spat blood and lost control of it, sending it plummeting toward the pool.
• Wu Mo steadied the jade hairpin just above the pool and continued trying to lift it.

Wu Mo defeated Zhu Ningshi by suspending five hundred and one jin of iron, but collapsed from the strain. Zhou Liang then answered Tang Yi’s nine-hundred-jin challenge by attempting to suspend fourteen hundred jin despite his injury from Blade Ghost.

• Wu Mo rallied herself with the arena’s cheers, carved the principles of Seven-Regulated Verse into the cliff, and suspended five hundred and one jin of iron to win the round for the Seven Peaks.
• The Seven Peaks disciples tended to Wu Mo, and she asked whether she had disgraced them before closing her eyes to rest.
• Tang Yi mocked the Seven Peaks, then suspended nine hundred jin of iron and challenged them to respond.
• Zhou Liang leaped onto the platform and declared that he would suspend fourteen hundred jin despite his injury from Blade Ghost.
• Zhou Liang used Blade Control to lift an enormous block of Ship-Ballast Iron, leaving Tang Yi stunned.

Zhou Liang and Jiang Zhi led Seventh Peak to victory over Fourth Peak, revealing that Jiang Zhi had recovered her strength. First Peak chose Seventh Peak as its next opponent, and Xu Taiping's seniors promised to fight while preserving his sword.

• Zhou Liang carved the Seven-Regulated Verse into the cliff with fourteen hundred jin of suspended iron, defeating Fourth Peak's challenge.
• Jiang Zhi inscribed the verse with thirty-six hundred jin, forcing Yu Cai to concede and securing Seventh Peak's victory over Fourth Peak.
• Jiang Zhi confirmed to Yu Cai that her injuries had healed, and Seventh Peak's disciples recognized First Peak as their next major opponent.
• Xu Taiping told Jiang Zhi that he was nurturing his sword, so she planned to keep him out of the next match unless necessary.
• Yan Bing chose Seventh Peak as First Peak's opponent, and Xu Taiping's seniors vowed to fight without making him draw his sword.

Lin Buyu overheard Jin Hezhi urging Huang Qi to suspend far more iron than he normally could, apparently to delay the Soul Weeping Affliction, and left the stands under concealment. As the First Peak–Seventh Peak match approached, Jiang Zhi planned for Zhao Linglong to face Huang Qi while warning that First Peak’s other disciples’ abilities remained unknown.

• Elder Black Dragon announced the First Peak–Seventh Peak bout, with Xu Taiping and Ye Xuan among the competing disciples.
• Lin Buyu used the Taixuan Hundred-Li Listening Wind Art to hear Jin Hezhi tell Huang Qi to suspend eighteen hundred jin of iron in exchange for help finding the Upper Azure Imperial Thunder Art.
• After suspecting Huang Qi’s plan was connected to something suspicious, Lin Buyu left and vanished using her concealing Dharma Robe.
• Jiang Zhi told the Seventh Peak disciples that Zhao Linglong should face Huang Qi, and Zhao Linglong said she could likely suspend enough iron to meet his challenge.
• Jiang Zhi warned that Yan Bing and Jin Hezhi’s strength was unknown, and Xu Taiping reassured the group that he could compete without using his sword.

Xu Taiping learned that First Peak's Huang Qi planned to suspend eighteen hundred jin of iron using talismans that suppressed soul weeping, and joined hands with Lin Buyu to hear his thoughts. The chapter ended with Xu Taiping discovering Huang Qi's lecherous intentions toward Seven Peaks' female disciples.

• Xu Taiping resolved to win the contest, despite the pain he would face without using a sword.
• Lin Buyu told Xu Taiping that Jin Hezhi expected Huang Qi to suspend eighteen hundred jin of iron and that First Peak had a treasure that delayed soul weeping.
• Xu Taiping and Lin Buyu held hands to use their Hearts in Harmony bracelets and listen to Huang Qi's thoughts.
• Xu Taiping heard Huang Qi think that the Wang You Talismans suppressed soul weeping for only two hours and that he was willing to endure the consequences to obtain the Upper Azure Thunder-Controlling Art.
• Xu Taiping heard Huang Qi scheme to choose a Seven Peaks disciple as his Dao Companion and grew furious at Huang Qi's thoughts about Jiang Zhi and Wu Mo.

Xu Taiping discovered that First Peak’s Wang You Talismans helped its disciples suppress the Soul Weeping Affliction, and he learned how to disrupt them with Fairy Lingyue’s help. As the match began, Huang Qi volunteered to fight under eighteen hundred jin of suspended iron.

• Xu Taiping and Lin Buyu found that Jin Hezhi and Ye Xuan had concealed their inner voices with a Soul Sealing Art, while Fairy Lingyue offered to break the talismans’ power.
• Xu Taiping learned from Yan Bing’s thoughts that the Wang You Talisman delayed the Soul Weeping Affliction and decided to disrupt Huang Qi’s talisman during the Seven-Regulated Verse Outline.
• Xu Taiping and Lin Buyu agreed that Huang Qi deserved to have his talisman destroyed just before he finished carving the final character.
• Elder Black Dragon ended the rest period and called First Peak to send out its disciple.
• Huang Qi flew onto the platform and declared that he would take on eighteen hundred jin of suspended iron.

Huang Qi used a Wang You Talisman to suspend eighteen hundred jin of iron and quickly carved most of the Seven-Regulated Verse Outline, humiliating the Seven Peaks disciples as he boasted. Just before finishing, a sudden assault on his divine soul made him convulse and lose control of his bladder.

• Huang Qi amazed the Seven Peaks disciples by choosing to suspend eighteen hundred jin of iron, while Xu Ziyan and Zhao Linglong doubted he could manage it.
• Huang Qi secretly activated the Wang You Talisman and used his golden flying sword to lift the iron as the crowd cheered.
• Zhao Linglong declared she would defeat Huang Qi even if it damaged her divine soul, but Xu Taiping and Jiang Zhi reminded her the contest was not over.
• Huang Qi carved more than half of the Seven-Regulated Verse Outline, then mocked the Seven Peaks and warned Zhao Linglong not to challenge him.
• As Huang Qi prepared to carve the final line, pain struck his divine soul, making him convulse and lose control of his bladder.

Huang Qi’s challenge ended in failure after Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue interfered with his Wang You Talisman, giving Zhao Linglong of Seven Peaks the first-round victory by default. As Seven Peaks prepared for the next round, Xu Taiping focused on Jin Hezhi, whose thoughts he could now hear.

• Huang Qi screamed in pain and dropped the Ship-Ballast Iron into Five Elders Pool, then suddenly recovered when Fairy Lingyue stopped interfering with his Wang You Talisman.
• Elder Black Dragon examined Huang Qi but found no evidence of foul play, while Jin Hezhi denied that First Peak had cheated.
• Jiang Zhi and Zhou Liang asked how the round would be decided, and Elder Black Dragon told Jiang Zhi to prepare for the second round.
• Elder Black Dragon declared that Huang Qi had failed and Zhao Linglong of Seven Peaks had won by default.
• Xu Taiping learned that the talisman could not be found and realized he could now hear Jin Hezhi’s thoughts.

Xu Taiping learned Jin Hezhi’s limit was nineteen hundred jin, but Zhou Liang volunteered to face that challenge before Xu Taiping could stop him. As Zhou Liang took the stage, Jin Hezhi suspected Lü Daoxuan was helping Seven Peaks and revealed in his thoughts that he served Su Chan and intended to ruin his enemies and Qingxuan.

• Xu Taiping and Lin Buyu listened to Jin Hezhi’s thoughts and learned he planned to avoid using the unstable Wang You Talisman unless the challenge exceeded nineteen hundred jin.
• Xu Taiping told Jiang Zhi and Zhou Liang that Jin Hezhi could suspend nineteen hundred jin of iron, and Jiang Zhi offered to take the match.
• Zhou Liang insisted on taking the challenge himself and leaped onto the stage before Jiang Zhi could follow.
• Jiang Zhi explained Zhou Liang’s sense of duty to Xu Taiping, while Xu Taiping reassured her that he could still take the burden if needed.
• After Zhou Liang challenged nineteen hundred jin, Jin Hezhi suspected Lü Daoxuan was aiding Seven Peaks and thought that he served Su Chan and meant to bring his enemies and Qingxuan to ruin.

Xu Taiping realized Jin Hezhi had conspired with Su Chan to undermine the Seven Peaks as Zhou Liang endured the strain of suspending nineteen hundred jin of ship-ballast iron. Though he nearly collapsed, Zhou Liang pulled out his saber and began carving the required verse into the cliff.

• Xu Taiping concluded that Jin Hezhi and Su Chan had secretly orchestrated several disasters to bring down the Seven Peaks and Qingxuan.
• Zhou Liang asked Elder Black Dragon to hang nineteen hundred jin of ship-ballast iron on his Life-Bound Weapon, and he endured the crushing weight without falling.
• Zhou Liang drove his saber into the cliff face, drawing astonished cries from the audience and silent, pained reactions from the Seven Peaks disciples.
• Jin Hezhi challenged Zhou Liang’s feat as cheating, so Elder Black Dragon ordered him to pull out his saber and carve the seven-regulated verse.
• Though Zhou Liang had nearly exhausted his strength, he pulled out the weighted saber and began carving the verse into the cliff.

Zhou Liang completed the Seven-Regulated Verse Outline while suspending 1,900 jin of iron, then collapsed, and Jin Hezhi conceded his round. Ye Xuan announced that he would suspend 6,000 jin of iron, forcing Xu Taiping to consider drawing his sword to protect the Seventh Peak’s chance at the Chief title.

• Zhou Liang finished the Seven-Regulated Verse Outline and suspended 1,900 jin of iron before collapsing on the platform.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that she had destroyed the Wang You Talismans carried by Jin Hezhi, Yan Bing, and Ye Xuan before stronger restrictions could take effect.
• Jin Hezhi conceded his round, while Xu Taiping heard Ye Xuan’s intention to force him to draw his sword.
• Ye Xuan took the platform and declared that he would suspend 6,000 jin of iron, alarming Elder Black Dragon and the gathered disciples.
• Jiang Zhi warned Xu Taiping that Ye Xuan was trying to force him to draw his sword.

Ye Xuan of First Peak suspended six thousand jin of iron and completed the cliff inscription flawlessly, forcing Seventh Peak to choose a challenger. Xu Taiping prepared to face him, but Jiang Zhi took his place, determined to act as the eldest senior sister now that her hidden ailment was gone.

• Zhao Linglong asked Xu Taiping about his sword techniques, and he explained that he nurtured his sword to make it sharper.
• Ye Xuan suspended six thousand jin of Ship-Ballast Iron, inscribed the Seven-Regulated Verse Outline, and returned his sword without error.
• Elder Black Dragon announced that Ye Xuan had completed the trial and called for a disciple from Seventh Peak to face him.
• Xu Taiping released Lin Buyu's hand and stepped forward, but Jiang Zhi pressed him back down and insisted on taking the platform.
• Jiang Zhi introduced herself to Elder Black Dragon as the eldest disciple of the Seven Peaks, while spectators reacted with surprise and some accused Xu Taiping of avoiding Ye Xuan.

Xu Taiping listened to Jiang Zhi’s thoughts and learned that she planned to endure the Soul Weeping Affliction through perseverance, not a life-for-life method. Jiang Zhi began her trial by suspending three thousand jin of iron, then asked Elder Black Dragon to add another thousand.

• Xu Taiping heard Jiang Zhi’s thoughts through Lin Buyu and felt reassured that Jiang Zhi would rely on her own endurance.
• Zhao Linglong worried that the Seven Peaks had to depend on Jiang Zhi and Xu Taiping, and Xu Taiping gave her candy to calm her.
• Jiang Zhi asked Elder Black Dragon to suspend three thousand jin of ship-ballast iron from her flying sword and endured the strain.
• The spectators discussed Jiang Zhi’s past as the Seven Peaks’ Sword Champion and whether she could reach six thousand jin.
• Jiang Zhi asked Elder Black Dragon to add another thousand jin of iron, and her sword trembled under the increased weight.

Jiang Zhi endured the Pain of Soul Weeping and used sheer conviction to complete the sword challenge after losing consciousness. Her triumph stirred Xu Taiping’s own sword intent as the crowd erupted in applause.

• Jiang Zhi asked Elder Black Dragon to hang all the remaining Ship-Ballast Iron from her flying sword.
• The full weight brought Jiang Zhi and her sword crashing down, but she struck the ground repeatedly and urged herself onward.
• Jiang Zhi’s flying sword rose through her blows and carved graceful characters into the cliff while she lay unconscious.
• Xu Taiping heard his sword cry and realized that his sword could leave its scabbard, as Rusty Lion roared in response.
• Jiang Zhi’s flying sword finished carving the words, and the Cloud Tower stands erupted in cheers and applause.

The Seventh Peak defeated the First Peak, then advanced to contend for Chief after the Second and Third Peaks withdrew. Xu Taiping publicly challenged Jin Hezhi for Sword Inquiry Qingxuan, leaving the reason as his dislike of Jin Hezhi’s face.

• Jiang Zhi survived the match, and Elder Black Dragon declared the Seventh Peak the winner over the First Peak.
• Jin Hezhi accused the Seventh Peak of cheating, but Elder Black Dragon angrily dismissed him, and Jin Yue arrived to intervene.
• Xu Taiping challenged Jin Hezhi by name for Sword Inquiry Qingxuan, while Zhao Linglong vowed the Seventh Peak would win the final match.
• The Second and Third Peak Lords withdrew, and Elder Black Dragon declared the Seventh Peak the winner of the round and eligible to contend with the First Peak for Chief.
• Xu Taiping repeated his challenge to Jin Hezhi, then told Zhao Linglong he wanted to smash Jin Hezhi’s face with his fists.

Liu Chuxuan anxiously waited for news about the Seventh Peak’s competition while Huang Que managed his unstable master, who transformed and attacked him. A message finally appeared on Huang Que’s Communication Jade Slip, but its contents were not revealed.

• Liu Chuxuan pressed Huang Que for news about whether the Seventh Peak had won, but the Communication Jade Slip barely worked near Cloud Cottage Mountain.
• Huang Que and Liu Chuxuan’s little-girl master woke, mistook them for her father, and beat Liu Chuxuan as she transformed into a tall man.
• Huang Que tricked his master into eating a Mind-Awakening Pill hidden in osmanthus cakes, and she collapsed back into a little girl.
• Liu Chuxuan swore never to provoke Huang Que’s master again, but Huang Que then spotted a message on the Communication Jade Slip.

After Jiang Zhi’s victory kept the Seventh Peak in contention for a Sword Inquiry, Fairy Lingyue explained to Xu Taiping why the challenge upheld the sect’s older values and revealed the wider Heaven-Demon War. The final round was five days away, and Lingyue warned Xu Taiping to focus on preparing for the Sword Inquiry.

• Huang Que told Liu Chuxuan that Jiang Zhi had suspended 6,000 jin of iron to win the Seventh Peak’s round, while Xu Taiping had not participated.
• Liu Chuxuan and Huang Que suspected Zhou Tong had caused Jiang Zhi’s earlier injury and worried about the unconscious Little Girl as they counted down to the final round.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that the Sword Inquiry challenged not only the sect master but also Qingxuan’s peaks to restore the old emphasis on character and disposition.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that the Heaven-Demon War began every three hundred years, when human cultivators entered a minor world to resist the Nine Abysses for a century.
• Fairy Lingyue said the Shangqing Realm selected ten powerful fighters to face ten champions of the Nine Abysses, and warned Xu Taiping to focus on the Sword Inquiry in five days.

Xu Taiping reunited with Recluse Sansan, who advised him not to draw his sword against opponents he considered unworthy. Five days later, Sword Inquiry Qingxuan began, and Mo Jun named Zhao Linglong as his opponent, shocking the Seventh Peak’s seniors.

• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that he could control his left eye but feared it might go out of control if opened.
• Recluse Sansan visited Xu Taiping and told him not to draw his sword in the upcoming competition because the opponents were not worthy.
• Five days later, Sword Inquiry Qingxuan began at the Stored Swords Grounds, with Xu Taiping and Zhao Linglong representing the Seventh Peak.
• Jiang Zhi and Wu Mo discussed Xu Taiping’s plan to challenge Jin Hezhi and watched the competitors gather.
• Elder Black Dragon announced that Mo Jun of the Fifth Peak had named Zhao Linglong of the Seventh Peak as his opponent.