Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping and Xuanzhi escaped Blood Rain Forest for Phoenix Cry Mountain after Princess Tiancheng used the Spirit Bone Stele to gain the power to fight Night Demon. They arrived marked by Fire Cloud Temple’s demon-nurturing lotus pollen, while the Demon Monk sent demonic beasts after them.

• The Spirit Bone Stele announced that Dusk Rain Forest’s restrictions had activated, and its farewell rain began dissolving the cultivation power of those above the Transformation Realm.
• Princess Tiancheng used the Spirit Bone Stele to gain power rivaling Night Demon and asked it to help her kill him.
• Night Demon broke through the encirclement and attacked Xu Taiping and Xuanzhi, but Princess Tiancheng cut him apart with Elder Qu’s sword.
• A black lotus burst on the teleportation platform, coating Xu Taiping and Xuanzhi with pollen that Xuanzhi identified as a tracking mark from Fire Cloud Temple.
• Xu Taiping and Xuanzhi teleported to a valley beside Phoenix Cry Mountain, where the Demon Monk’s black lotuses and demonic beasts approached as he threatened to capture Xu Taiping.

Xu Taiping used the Dragon-Trapping Tower’s Mustard Seed Sumeru Array to block Butterfly Valley and stop Demon Monk Zhenwu’s pursuit. With Xuanzhi, Bai Yu, and Ping'an aiding him, he enlarged the tower to over a thousand zhang.

• Dusk Rain Forest’s activated restrictions grounded Demon Monk Zhenwu and forced the black lotuses into the forest.
• Xu Taiping learned that blocking Butterfly Valley would keep demonic beasts from crossing the surrounding mountains, then decided he could not delay his journey to plant the earth fruit.
• Xu Taiping took out the Dragon-Trapping Tower and poured his true essence into its Mustard Seed Sumeru Array.
• Demon Monk Zhenwu recognized the array and charged toward Xu Taiping as the tower began to grow.
• Xuanzhi, Bai Yu, and Ping'an channeled their power into the tower, which expanded to over a thousand zhang.

Xu Taiping chose to spend six years in seclusion inside the Dragon-Trapping Tower before the Golden Scale Assembly, after planting the Earth Fruit on Phoenix Cry Mountain. As he prepared to enter the tower, cultivators began trying to claim it, and Fairy Lingyue warned him to get inside at once.

• Xu Taiping used the Dragon-Trapping Tower to block the exit from Blood Rain Forest, then told Monk Xuanzhi he would remain there and spend six years in seclusion.
• Xu Taiping gave Xuanzhi Wan Qianhu's Red Armor Cavalry token and asked him to help find Duan Xiaoyu, whom Mo Yu had taken; Xuanzhi agreed to investigate.
• Xu Taiping, Ping'an, and Bai Yu dug five caves on Phoenix Cry Mountain and buried the Earth Fruit, several treasures, and jewels as Fairy Lingyue had instructed.
• Xu Taiping found that the One-Leaf Book Mark had disappeared, while Fairy Lingyue warned him that his final seven-kill tribulation remained and said she would sleep for three days.
• Xu Taiping saw cultivators piling rocks at the Dragon-Trapping Tower's entrance and surrounding it with azure light, prompting Fairy Lingyue to warn him that they could make the tower change hands if it was unoccupied.

Xu Taiping learned that the Qi Household ancestor was trying to claim the Dragon-Trapping Tower and, despite his injuries, launched a distraction so he could attack the boulder blocking its entrance. The ancestor saw through the attempt and charged at Xu Taiping.

• Xu Taiping overheard the Qi Household ancestor and Sixth discussing their plan to reclaim the Dragon-Trapping Tower and recognized their connection to Qi Yu.
• Xu Taiping assessed his injuries and decided to have Bai Yu and Ping'an hold off the ancestor while he cut through the boulder.
• Bai Yu and Ping'an distracted the ancestor with a giant ape, a white-headed eagle, and thick fog as Xu Taiping struck the boulder with his blade.
• The ancestor repelled the beasts, dispelled the fog, and spotted Xu Taiping attacking the boulder.
• The ancestor accused Xu Taiping of killing Qi Household disciples and charged at him.

Xu Taiping escaped the Qi Household Ancestor by entering the Dragon-Trapping Tower, whose doors closed behind him for six years. Inside, he heard violent banging from the locked Geng Character Room and a voice begging to be released.

• Xu Taiping split the boulder blocking the tower entrance, reached the doors, and used his Azure Gourd to capture the giant ape and White-Headed Eagle.
• The Qi Household Ancestor attacked Xu Taiping, but the tower absorbed his punch, and Xu Taiping taunted him before the doors closed.
• The Qi Household Ancestor ordered the Qi Household to guard the tower and prepare to capture Xu Taiping when he emerged in six years.
• Xu Taiping heard banging inside the tower, searched its second floor, and found the Geng Character Room door shaking under repeated blows.
• A shrill voice behind the Geng Character Room door cried that they had returned and begged to be let out.

Xu Taiping resisted a strange voice behind a sealed door in the Dragon-Trapping Tower and spent three days planning his cultivation for the Golden Scale Assembly. After Fairy Lingyue woke, he explained how the Spirit Bone Stele had reworked his techniques, including the Great Sage Fist.

• A voice behind a tower door begged Xu Taiping to open it, but his Jade Bone Grass bracelet warned him off; when he shouted, the creature fell silent.
• Xu Taiping returned to the first floor, released Bai Yu and Ping'an, and resolved to use the next six or seven years to prepare for the Golden Scale Assembly.
• Xu Taiping assessed his goal of reaching half-step Spirit Refining and mastering the Great Sage Fist and Demon-Slaying Blade, while acknowledging the assembly’s formidable young competitors.
• Three days later, Xu Taiping told the newly awakened Fairy Lingyue how the Spirit Bone Stele had refined the Great Sage Fist and described its three ultimate moves.

Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue about the Spirit Bone Stele’s Great Sage Fist, Demon-Slaying Blade, and Hidden Sword Art, and she assessed their power and origins. She advised him to master the newly derived techniques and revealed that the completed Taiqing Profound Origin Clone Technique could let his clone cultivate in his stead.

• Xu Taiping described the Demon-Slaying Blade’s three ultimate moves and its perilous No-Self True Intent to Fairy Lingyue.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping not to treat the Blade Manual’s warning as absolute, though he remained wary of using the move.
• Fairy Lingyue said Lü Sword Nine’s Hidden Sword Art was already close to Immortal Rank and asked Xu Taiping to arrange a conversation with his master after they returned to True Martial Heaven.
• Fairy Lingyue guided Xu Taiping through the Great Sage Fist and Demon-Slaying Blade, then urged him to practice the Taiqing Profound Origin Clone Technique and Great Sun Golden Flame Art.
• Fairy Lingyue revealed that the completed Taiqing Profound Origin Clone Technique allowed Xu Taiping’s clone to cultivate in his stead, astonishing him.

Fairy Lingyue explained the Taiqing Profound Origin Clone Technique and warned Xu Taiping never to let a life-bound clone touch his origin qi. She advised him on which techniques to cultivate, and Xu Taiping realized the Dhyana Seal could help him master them before asking about strange noises in the tower.

• Fairy Lingyue explained that the Taiqing Profound Origin Clone Technique used profound and primal qi to create a life-bound clone, and warned Xu Taiping that including origin qi could cause one of two identical beings to die.
• Fairy Lingyue advised Xu Taiping to prioritize cultivating one life-bound clone and warned him to absorb any origin qi that arose after he reached the Spirit Refining Realm into a Life-Bound Immortal Weapon.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that he could safely cultivate the Great Sun Golden Flame Art and encouraged him to master several other techniques during his seclusion.
• Xu Taiping remembered the nine-bead Dhyana Seal Venerable Jiaye had given him, and Fairy Lingyue said it could make mastering the techniques within six or seven years possible.
• Xu Taiping asked Fairy Lingyue what had caused the strange noises in the Geng Character Room on the tower's second floor.

Xu Taiping learned more about the Dragon-Trapping Tower and heard Fairy Lingyue’s cultivation instructions before she fell asleep again. After six and a half years of cultivation inside the tower, the Qi Household waited for its gate to open.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that the noises inside the Dragon-Trapping Tower were harmless as long as its door stayed shut, and said Lin Buyu might be in Youyun Heaven.
• Fairy Lingyue taught Bai Yu and Ping'an methods to cultivate toward the Demon Venerable Realm and warned Xu Taiping not to underestimate the Golden Scale Assembly’s competitors.
• After Fairy Lingyue fell asleep, Xu Taiping used the Dhyana Seal to sharpen his mind and began practicing techniques derived from the Spirit Bone Stele.
• Six and a half years passed as vines and moss covered the Dragon-Trapping Tower, while Xu Taiping continued cultivating inside.
• The Ancestor of the Qi Household predicted that the tower gate would open within days, and he waited angrily for Xu Taiping.

Inside the Dragon-Trapping Tower, Bai Yu used his developing Heavenly Eye Ability to observe the Qi Household gathering outside and discovered a demon monk among them. His warning to Ping'an was interrupted when Xu Taiping unleashed a tremendous wave of Blade Qi, apparently bringing his Demon-Slaying Blade techniques to Great Completion.

• Bai Yu tried to steal Grass Return Pills, but Ping'an accidentally pinned him beneath his hand before they argued about taking the pills.
• Bai Yu used his first-stage Heavenly Eye Ability to observe the tower entrance while Ping'an discussed his slow progress in Mind-Heart Communication.
• Bai Yu noticed that the Qi Household had gathered more powerful guards because the Dragon-Trapping Tower was losing its power.
• Bai Yu spotted a white-robed demon monk beside the Ancestor of the Qi Household, then suffered a backlash when their gazes met.
• Before Bai Yu could warn Xu Taiping, a Blade Cry and surging Blade Qi erupted from the second floor, and Bai Yu realized Xu Taiping had likely brought his Demon-Slaying Blade techniques to Great Completion.

Xu Taiping completed his Demon-Slaying Blade training and revealed his Mysterious Origin Life-Bound Clone to Ping'an and Bai Yu. With the Dragon-Trapping Tower set to open in three days and the Qi Household and Fire Cloud Temple waiting outside, he prepared to leave and revealed that Fairy Lingyue had awakened.

• Xu Taiping's Mysterious Origin Life-Bound Clone released blade intent, and he explained its cultivation benefits and the danger of risking it in battle.
• Xu Taiping said the Dragon-Trapping Tower's gate would open in three days and it would then fall dormant for at least a month.
• Bai Yu reported that the Qi Household had gathered forces outside the tower and that a Demon Monk from Fire Cloud Temple was also watching.
• Xu Taiping warned that the enemies had likely prepared formations and traps, making a direct escape dangerous.
• Xu Taiping told Ping'an and Bai Yu that Fairy Lingyue had awakened half a month earlier and was expected to send them a voice transmission.

As Xu Taiping prepared to leave the tower, he and his companions discussed their plans and Fairy Lingyue awakened after sleeping for three years. She warned them that the Qi Household and Fire Cloud Temple had set a costly Copper Sparrow Formation outside to trap them.

• Xu Taiping said he would fight his way out if Fairy Lingyue could not help, then collected Ping'an's finished Bone-Regenerating Pills.
• Bai Yu praised Ping'an's progress in the Ape Demon Art, while Ping'an worried that he had not mastered the ninth layer or advanced in Mind-Heart Communication.
• Bai Yu suggested going to Southern Chu's Imperial Capital to seek ingredients for Transformation Pills, but Ping'an warned it was too dangerous for Xu Taiping.
• Fairy Lingyue contacted Xu Taiping, Bai Yu, and Ping'an through the Azure Gourd and confirmed that they should avoid the Imperial Capital.
• Fairy Lingyue revealed that the Qi Household and demon monks from Fire Cloud Temple had prepared a Copper Sparrow Formation outside the tower, prompting Xu Taiping to ask how it could be broken.

Fairy Lingyue explained how Xu Taiping could collapse the Copper Sparrow Formation and warned him about the powerful enemies awaiting him outside Dusk Rain Forest. Xu Taiping prepared to break out quickly, while Lingyue suggested that Yingui Pavilion’s limited forces near Western Liang might offer a place to take shelter.

• Fairy Lingyue explained that the Copper Sparrow Formation’s 108 pillars had to be severed in resonating pairs, and that Bai Yu’s Heavenly Eye Ability could identify too few pairs to break it that way.
• Xu Taiping suggested using the Azure Luan Ring to destroy every pillar at once, but Fairy Lingyue said the formation was too sturdy and advised him to kill the disciple carrying a Formation Nodes Treasure before the formation stabilized.
• Fairy Lingyue warned Xu Taiping to quickly ambush the Ancestor of the Qi Household and Demon Monk Zhenwu after breaking the formation, and Xu Taiping resolved to use his full strength.
• Fairy Lingyue revealed that Yingui Pavilion had also stationed demon cultivators around Dusk Rain Forest’s exits, though only one Demon Venerable Realm cultivator guarded the exit near Western Liang.
• Xu Taiping asked whether they should take shelter in the Western Liang Kingdom after escaping Dusk Rain Forest.

Xu Taiping chose to travel to Western Liang and prepared to face his final killing tribulation after Fairy Lingyue identified its signs as an earth-killing tribulation. Two days later, the Dragon-Trapping Tower began shrinking ahead of the Qi Household’s expected schedule, signaling that its gate was about to open.

• Xu Taiping chose Western Liang over Southern Chu and planned to visit Cloud-Hidden Temple to see Xuanzhi and ask about Xiaoyu.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that his Lotus Eye had shown an image, a strange fragrance, and a stranger’s voice; she said the signs pointed to an earth-killing tribulation.
• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue agreed to face the tribulation, and Bai Yu promised to watch for Gold Essence Coins so Xu Taiping could use his Lotus Eye safely.
• Xu Taiping discussed their escape plans with Fairy Lingyue, Bai Yu, and Ping'an, then changed his appearance as the tower gate neared opening.
• The Ancestor of the Qi Household rejected activating the Copper Sparrow Formation early, but the Coiling Dragon Tower began shrinking before the Head of the Qi Household finished speaking.

The Qi Household ambushed Xu Taiping as the Dragon-Trapping Tower opened, but he unleashed his blade and struck the Ancestor of the Qi Household with the Great Sage Fist. The Ancestor was sent flying, while Xu Taiping’s full strength remained unrevealed.

• The Ancestor of the Qi Household ordered the Qi Household to block the exits and activate the Copper Sparrow Formation as the Dragon-Trapping Tower opened.
• Xu Taiping emerged from the tower, which shrank and flew into his sleeve, reopening the passage through Butterfly Valley.
• Qi Household disciples attacked Xu Taiping from both sides, and his blade technique left over a hundred afterimages that cut down or drove back the attackers.
• Xu Taiping used his Concealment Cloak to approach the Ancestor of the Qi Household while Qi Changqing watched the attack in shock.
• The Ancestor of the Qi Household countered Xu Taiping’s fist with the Heavenly Gang True Thunder Hand, but Xu Taiping’s Baxia shattered the palm force and blasted him backward.

Xu Taiping escaped the Copper Sparrow Formation by destroying a formation node, then faced the Qi Household’s ambush in Butterfly Valley. He sent the Ancestor of the Qi Household flying again, as the battle continued.

• The Ancestor of the Qi Household activated the Copper Sparrow Formation and trapped Xu Taiping in a cage of golden light.
• Bai Yu located a formation-node treasure on a Qi Household disciple, and Xu Taiping told Bai Yu and Ping'an to gather Gold Essence Coins while he escaped.
• Xu Taiping used the Azure Luan Ring’s One-Finger, Cloud-Piercing to kill two Qi Household disciples and destroy the formation node, breaking the Copper Sparrow Formation.
• Qi Changqing ordered the ambushed Qi Household disciples to attack Xu Taiping in squads of seven and offered rewards for capturing him.
• Xu Taiping shattered the Ancestor of the Qi Household’s palm strike with one punch and sent him flying backward.

Xu Taiping and his spirit pets fought the Qi Household in Butterfly Valley, and he used the Baxia Form at the ultimate realm to overpower the ancestor. As Xu Taiping moved to kill him, Demon Monk Zhenwu ambushed him, but Xu Taiping’s clone drew the Water-Cutting Blade to counterattack.

• Xu Taiping struck the Ancestor of the Qi Household, while Bai Yu and Ping'an attacked the Qi Household disciples.
• The ancestor used a jade pendant to restore his Spirit Refining Realm cultivation and briefly suppressed Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping gathered the heavens’ force and used the Baxia Form at the ultimate realm to shatter the ancestor’s defense and smash him into the mountain wall.
• Xu Taiping pursued the injured ancestor, who called for Zhenwu to attack from behind.
• Demon Monk Zhenwu manifested his Mad Demon Dharma Aspect, but Xu Taiping’s clone appeared and unleashed the Demon-Slaying Blade with the Water-Cutting Blade.

Xu Taiping overwhelmed the Ancestor of the Qi Household and confronted Demon Monk Zhenwu, whose black lotus threatened to trigger Dusk Rain Forest’s restrictions. He unleashed the Great Sun Golden Flame to break Zhenwu’s defense, burning Zhenwu’s arm as the clash continued.

• Xu Taiping split Demon Monk Zhenwu’s Mad Demon True Body with a blade strike and battered the Ancestor of the Qi Household with Baxia Form and Raging Thunder.
• The Ancestor of the Qi Household tried to sacrifice his Life-Bound Item, but Xu Taiping’s repeated punches kept him from doing so.
• Demon Monk Zhenwu formed a black lotus from his true demon essence, triggering Dusk Rain Forest’s restrictions, and claimed Xu Taiping could not cut through his defense.
• Xu Taiping covered his Demon-Slaying Blade with Great Sun Golden Flame and struck Zhenwu, shattering his black swastika defense.
• Zhenwu caught Xu Taiping’s blade with the Flower-Picking Finger, but the Great Sun Golden Flame burned his arm to charcoal.

Xu Taiping defeated Demon Monk Zhenwu in battle but failed to destroy the black lotus, which released a powerful Spider Demon. As Xu Taiping tried to escape, his left eye opened against his will and swallowed the Gold Essence Coins, interrupting his movement technique with Zhenwu closing in.

• The Ancestor of the Qi Household escaped inside a scroll after Xu Taiping shattered his Life-Bound Item.
• Xu Taiping struck Demon Monk Zhenwu with the Baxia Form, blasting apart half his body but leaving the black lotus intact.
• Xu Taiping called Bai Yu and Ping'an back and received the Gold Essence Coins recovered from the Qi Household.
• The black lotus fully bloomed, releasing a Spider Demon that merged with Zhenwu and fought against Dusk Rain Forest's suppressive rain.
• Xu Taiping began using Endless Horizon to escape, but his left eye opened and swallowed the Gold Essence Coins, stopping the technique as Zhenwu approached.

Xu Taiping’s Lotus Eye devoured much of Demon Monk Zhenwu before Zhenwu engulfed him in black fog and sent him to Tianhai Town. There, Xu Taiping learned that a brother and sister were fleeing a sea-born demonic beast while carrying a wounded Sea-Calming Tower officer.

• Demon Monk Zhenwu fled after seeing Xu Taiping’s Lotus Eye, but the eye bloomed and devoured most of his body.
• Zhenwu turned himself into black fog, carried Xu Taiping away, and left his blood-jade Life-Bound Item behind.
• Xu Taiping escaped the fog and discovered he had been brought to a misty forest near the West Li Sea and Tianhai Pass.
• Bai Yu identified the area as Tianhai Town, and Xu Taiping followed it toward cries of people being hunted.
• A young woman carrying a fishing spear told A Hu to flee with the wounded Sea-Calming Tower officer while she faced the approaching demonic beast.