Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping’s clone faced an ambush in the Golden Scale Pavilion after his attackers tried to poison and abduct him. He exposed their mistake by striking back, then let them destroy his Mysterious Origin Avatar, leaving the attackers to realize they had only fought his clone.

• A young cultivator and three martial artists sealed the room and demanded that Xu Taiping go with them for questioning.
• The young cultivator demonstrated that the Sound-Sealing Talismans and Golden Bastion Formation Flag would hide any struggle from people outside.
• Xu Taiping refused to hand over his Golden Scale Seal and punched the young cultivator, revealing that the tea had not poisoned him.
• The three Martial Saint Realm martial artists struck Xu Taiping’s Mysterious Origin Avatar together, and the young cultivator set it ablaze with Earthly Fire Burns the Body.
• Xu Taiping’s Mysterious Origin Avatar burst apart, and the young cultivator warned the others that they had attacked a clone.

Xu Taiping killed the ambushers sent to eliminate him, but a hidden rune silenced their leader before he could reveal who ordered the attack. Meanwhile, Prefect Qiu Shanyuan learned that Xu Taiping had arrived and went with the steward to meet him.

• Xu Taiping revealed he had anticipated the ambush and killed Tiehu, Tieniu, and Tieshi with his Dragon Whale Physique and Great Sage Fist.
• The surviving young cultivator recognized Xu Taiping's Martial God Realm physique and battle intent, then began to break under Xu Taiping's questioning and Thousandfold Force kicks.
• A hidden rune activated and exploded the young cultivator's head before he could identify who sent the group.
• At Golden Scale Pavilion, Qiu Shanyuan recognized Xu Taiping's name and told the steward to summon him.
• Qiu Shanyuan decided to accompany the steward to meet Xu Taiping, while the steward remained confident that Daoist Priest Wu and the three Tieniu brothers had completed their task.

Xu Taiping survived an assassination attempt in Golden Scale Pavilion and confronted Prefect Qiu Shanyuan about the steward’s betrayal. Qiu took him toward Golden Scale Hall, while back at Azure Profound Sect, Zhao Linglong worried that something had happened to him.

• The steward found no answer at Xu Taiping’s door, then opened it at Qiu Shanyuan’s order and discovered his own men’s severed limbs inside.
• The steward attacked Xu Taiping, but Xu’s illusion dissolved and Qiu Shanyuan pinned the steward to the ground.
• Xu Taiping told Qiu Shanyuan that Youyun Prefecture’s people had poisoned his tea and sent four assassins after him; the steward then killed himself.
• Xu Taiping showed Qiu Shanyuan his Golden Scale Seal, and Qiu invited him to Golden Scale Hall, warning that the Chu Kingdom Imperial Clan would not dare harm someone on the Golden Scale Ranking.
• At Azure Profound Sect, Zhao Linglong noticed Xu Taiping’s name was still missing from the ranking, and Dugu Qingxiao insisted the spirit mirror could not be at fault.

The Seven Peaks disciples learned that Xu Taiping’s Listening Wind Tower jade bracelet was still intact, confirming that he was alive. Lin Buyu privately revealed that she had burned a hundred years of her fortune to save him and planned to recover most of it through his first-place finish at the Golden Scale Assembly.

• Xu Ziyan recalled that Lin Buyu had heard Xu Taiping’s troubled voice through the Listening Wind Tower jade bracelet seven years earlier.
• Lin Buyu explained that the jade bracelets would shatter if either owner died, reassuring Dugu Qingxiao and the others that Xu Taiping was alive.
• Lin Buyu revealed in private that she had spent a hundred years of her fortune helping Xu Taiping survive the Earth-Killing Tribulation.
• Lin Buyu told Lin Buyan that Xu Taiping’s first-place finish in the Golden Scale Assembly could restore most of the fortune she had lost.
• Lin Buyan warned that Lin Buyu’s plan was a gamble, but Lin Buyu insisted she was willing to take the risk.

Xu Taiping’s identity was verified in Youyun Heaven, and Qiu Shanyuan officially entered him into the Golden Scale Ranking. His name appeared on the stele just as Dugu Qingxiao and Xu Ziyan restored the Spirit Mirror’s image in True Martial Heaven.

• The Spirit Mirror lost power before the Seven Peaks Disciples could see whether Xu Taiping had entered the ranking, so Dugu Qingxiao and Xu Ziyan went to borrow Gold Essence Coins.
• A White-Robed Attendant verified Xu Taiping’s token and seal, including the blood qi they had absorbed, and confirmed his identity to Qiu Shanyuan.
• Qiu Shanyuan explained that Xu Taiping was the first cultivator from True Martial Heaven to attend the Golden Scale Assembly in five hundred years and prepared to enter him into the ranking.
• Xu Taiping provided a drop of essence blood, and Qiu Shanyuan stamped the seal onto the jade disc, sending golden light to the bronze bell.
• The bell rang across the Imperial Capital, and Xu Taiping’s name appeared on the Golden Scale Pavilion stele.
• Dugu Qingxiao and Xu Ziyan fed Gold Essence Coins into the Spirit Mirror, restoring its image of the stele in True Martial Heaven.

Xu Taiping entered the Golden Scale Assembly ranking, bringing joy to his sect and the Nine Prefectures, though his first opponent was a powerful cultivator named Qi Hao. In Youyun Heaven, Chu Tiancheng and Lu Rushuang confronted Chu Yudie over the long confinement of Chu Tiancheng’s master and companions.

• Xu Taiping entered the Golden Scale Assembly ranking, and the Seven Peaks disciples rejoiced that he was alive and safe.
• The ranking matched Xu Taiping against Qi Hao, a formidable heir of the Qi Household and disciple of Black Tiger Mountain.
• Liu Chuxuan and the Nine Prefectures elders accepted that Xu Taiping had already secured a share of fortune for True Martial Heaven, while Qian Yi joked that he would kowtow if Xu Taiping won a match.
• Chu Tiancheng swept the Go pieces aside and challenged Chu Yudie for keeping her, her master, and others confined despite promising to release them when the Golden Scale Assembly began.
• Lu Rushuang accused Chu Yudie of repaying the group’s help in driving away the Night Demon with years of confinement.

Fan Zhixing’s imprisonment scheme failed when Xu Taiping entered the Golden Scale Ranking, freeing Lu Rushuang, Lu Yun, his sister, and Dharma Master Chongde. Fan Zhixing and Chu Yudie accepted that Xu Taiping could no longer be targeted, though they still believed the Third Prince could win the assembly.

• Fan Zhixing told Lu Rushuang that he had imprisoned her and the others to find the cultivator who activated the Spirit Bone Stele, and promised to release them if that person entered the Golden Scale Ranking.
• The Tangli Palace bell announced Xu Taiping’s registration as a disciple of the True Martial Heaven Azure Profound Sect, and the three fish escaped Fan Zhixing’s painting as Lu Yun, his sister, and Dharma Master Chongde.
• Lu Rushuang reunited with Lu Yun and his sister, then told Fan Zhixing and Chu Yudie that they had won their wager and demanded that they stop interfering during the Golden Scale Assembly.
• Fan Zhixing said Xu Taiping’s registration protected him under Emperor Youyun’s fortune, but argued that the Third Prince could still defeat him at the assembly.
• Fan Zhixing revealed that he had sought Xu Taiping to obtain the method of activating the Mahavairocana Mudra and bring the Spirit Bone Stele under the Great Chu Imperial Clan’s control.
• Chu Yudie blamed Chu Tiancheng for hiding Xu Taiping’s identity, though she knew she could not act against him.

After learning that the Imperial Clan had targeted him because of a divination, Xu Taiping reunited with his companions and discovered that Qi Hao would be his first opponent in the Golden Scale Assembly. Qi Hao dismissed Xu Taiping as a nobody and focused on defeating Third Prince Chu Yinan.

• Xu Taiping learned that Second Princess Chu Yudie had tried to capture him after Fan Zhixing’s divination suggested he could obstruct the Third Prince at the Golden Scale Assembly.
• Lu Rushuang reminded Xu Taiping that his place on the Golden Scale Ranking protected him from the Imperial Clan and urged him to prepare for his first match.
• Chu Xiaoxiao told Xu Taiping that his opponent was Qi Hao, the Qi Household heir and a powerful disciple of Black Tiger Mountain.
• Xu Taiping concealed his past feud with the Qi Household, and Chu Xiaoxiao offered to bring him information about Qi Hao.
• Qi Hao told his father that Chu Yinan was his only real opponent and boasted that no other cultivator would last long against him.

The first round of the Golden Scale Assembly began as Lu Yun and Lu Wen made their way to the Golden Scale Platform to watch Xu Taiping compete. They arrived at the vast arena, where Lu Yun explained that it contained a realm of its own.

• Cultivators in the Imperial Capital discussed the many participants and doubted Xu Taiping could defeat Qi Hao.
• Lu Wen defended Xu Taiping, but Lu Yun urged him to ignore the mockery and hurry to the Golden Scale Pavilion.
• The Seventh Princess sent Lu Yun directions to the Golden Scale Platform, where she had saved seats for them.
• Lu Yun and Lu Wen entered the enormous platform and learned from Lu Yun that it came from Emperor Youyun's Golden Scale Pool, which contained a realm of its own.

Lu Wen and Lu Rushuang watched the Golden Scale Assembly with Chu Tiancheng and Chu Xiaoxiao, learning that Bai Che would face Mu Yun of Guangling Pavilion. The second match was announced, leaving Bai Che’s prospects uncertain.

• Lu Wen and Lu Wen joined Chu Tiancheng, Chu Xiaoxiao, and Lu Rushuang in the stands, bringing them fresh meat pies.
• Lu Rushuang said Lu Taiping was scheduled to fight in the third match, after the upcoming bout.
• Chu Xiaoxiao explained that Mu Yun was the young master of Guangling Pavilion and the elder brother of Mu Yuchen, Peerless Nether Heaven’s Divine Maiden.
• Lu Wen worried that Bai Che would be in danger against Mu Yun, but Lu Rushuang urged him not to judge before the match ended.
• The Prefect of Youyun Prefecture announced the second match between Bai Che of the White Household and Mu Yun of Guangling Pavilion.

The Golden Scale Assembly’s rules were explained before Bai Che and Guangling Mu Yun took the platform for the first match. After Mu Yun urged Bai Che to concede, the Sword Qi barrier vanished and Bai Che launched the opening attack.

• Chu Xiaoxiao, Chu Tiancheng, and Lu Rushuang explained how the Golden Scale Ranking enforced the Assembly’s rules and what happened to violators.
• The White-Robed Attendant recited the rules, and the Golden Scale Platform formed a wall of Geng Metal Qi between the two contestants.
• Bai Che and Mu Yun took their positions, and the spectators noted Mu Yun’s imposing physique and long saber.
• Bai Che greeted Mu Yun politely, but Mu Yun told him to concede, drawing boos from the stands.
• When the Sword Qi wall dissipated, Bai Che drew his sword and thrust at Mu Yun.

Mu Yun defeated Bai Che with the Azure Emperor Dragon-Slaying Saber, forcing him to yield. The next Golden Scale Ranking match was announced: Xu Taiping of the Azure Profound Sect would face Qi Hao of the Qi Clan.

• Mu Yun shattered Bai Che's sword attacks and broke his arm with the Azure Emperor Dragon-Slaying Saber.
• Mu Yun held his saber to Bai Che's neck, and Bai Che yielded to stay alive.
• Chu Xiaoxiao saw that Mu Yun could be Xu Taiping's later opponent and bet her entire fortune on Xu Taiping.
• Qiu Shanyuan announced that Mu Yun had won and that Xu Taiping would next fight Qi Hao.
• Zhao Linglong anxiously clung to Jiang Zhi, who tried to reassure her about Xu Taiping's match.

Xu Taiping faced Qi Hao in the second match on the Golden Scale Platform while his fellow disciples and supporters watched through the Spirit Mirror. The chapter left the match poised to begin, with concern rising over Qi Hao’s formidable physique and weapon, though Xu Taiping’s Martial Saint-level physique offered hope.

• Zhao Linglong, Dugu Qingxiao, Xu Ziyan, and Lin Buyu watched the match begin through the Spirit Mirror and remembered Xu Taiping’s rise from the Seven Peaks Selection.
• Dugu Qingxiao magnified the image and identified Qi Hao as a burly fighter wielding a black ancient Immortal Weapon.
• The Seven Peaks Disciples saw Xu Taiping in his worn Azure Profound Sect robe and wished for his safe return, regardless of whether he won.
• Chu Xiaoxiao revealed that she had bet her savings on Xu Taiping, while Chu Tiancheng warned that Qi Hao had exceptional gifts and years of training.
• Lu Rushuang explained that Xu Taiping had an ordinary white spirit bone but a physique that rivaled the Martial Saint Realm.

Xu Taiping faced Qi Hao in the second bout of the Golden Scale Assembly, enduring a series of powerful attacks before answering with a crushing counter. The chapter ended with Qi Hao knocked to the ground and Chu Xiaoxiao excitedly declaring Xu Taiping her dad.

• Qi Hao used his body-refinement strength to knock Xu Taiping backward and nearly send him off the Golden Scale Platform.
• Qi Hao grew to twelve or thirteen feet tall and offered Xu Taiping a chance to admit defeat.
• Xu Taiping refused to quit and shifted his Dragon Whale Physique into the rising dragon stance.
• Xu Taiping unleashed Baxia and smashed through Qi Hao's fist force, sending Qi Hao flying.
• Chu Xiaoxiao saw Qi Hao on the ground and shouted that Xu Taiping was her dad.

Xu Taiping used the Great Sage Fist to withstand Qi Hao’s powerful techniques, then trapped him in an unbroken barrage of punches. By the end, Qi Hao was pinned down as the spectators watched True Martial Heaven’s supposed nobody overwhelm Youyun Heaven’s favored prodigy.

• Dugu Qingxiao and Lin Buyu recognized that Xu Taiping’s physique and fist technique had advanced dramatically through life-and-death trials.
• Qi Hao unleashed Tiger Binding, but Xu Taiping blocked it with the Great Sage Fist’s Mountain-Bearing Form and forced Qi Hao to stagger back.
• Xu Taiping struck Qi Hao with the swift Raging Thunder Form, then used successive punches to interrupt Qi Hao whenever he tried to gather force or escape.
• After more than a hundred punches in an unbroken barrage, Xu Taiping’s fist force stirred the heavens’ force and grew powerful enough to threaten Qi Hao.
• The spectators fell silent as Xu Taiping suppressed and pummeled Qi Hao on the Golden Scale Platform.

Xu Taiping faced Qi Hao’s desperate power-up and answered his Heaven-Opening Axe with the Raging Thunder Form at the Ultimate Realm. His lightning-wreathed punch sent Qi Hao crashing through the restrictions protecting a pavilion stand, leaving the spectators stunned by the force of a martial artist’s fist.

• Xu Taiping broke through Qi Hao’s defenses with hundreds of punches, and Qi Hao’s father warned him to use his hidden technique before he died.
• Qi Hao activated the Xun Yi Wood Returning Art, swelling into a giant and gaining power that seemed to rival a Martial God.
• Qi Hao endured Xu Taiping’s continued punches, then drew his Heaven-Opening Axe and swung it at him with overwhelming force.
• Xu Taiping merged the force of more than a thousand punches into one and unleashed the Raging Thunder Form at the Ultimate Realm.
• Xu Taiping’s lightning punch knocked the axe from Qi Hao’s hands and hurled him through the restrictions protecting a pavilion stand.

After Xu Taiping defeated Qi Hao with a powerful ultimate-realm punch, the disciples of Seven Peaks and True Martial Heaven’s senior cultivators celebrated his victory. His win secured more martial fortune for True Martial Heaven, and the chapter ended with Prefect Liu Chuxuan wondering whether Xu Taiping could win another round.

• Zhao Linglong and the Seven Peaks disciples reacted with disbelief and then celebrated Xu Taiping’s victory over Qi Hao.
• Dugu Qingxiao recognized that Xu Taiping had defeated Qi Hao with a new ultimate-realm fist technique empowered by martial artists’ blood qi.
• Xu Ziyan encouraged Dugu Qingxiao to aim to compete alongside Xu Taiping at the Azure Cloud Assembly in Peerless Nether Heaven.
• Zhao Linglong proposed celebrating Xu Taiping’s win, and Dugu Qingxiao agreed that he was the first True Martial Heaven cultivator in eight hundred years to reach the Golden Scale Assembly’s second round.
• Prefect Liu Chuxuan and the Nine Prefectures’ guest elders celebrated Xu Taiping’s victory and its benefit to True Martial Heaven’s martial fortune.
• Prefect Liu Chuxuan asked whether Xu Taiping might win another round.

Xu Taiping’s victory over Qi Hao stirred the other heavens, while Mu Yuchen recognized him and proposed trying to secure his next match against Mu Yun without a fight. After Xu Taiping returned to his companions, he learned Chu Xiaoxiao had wagered her entire fortune on him and won.

• A Meng warned the Guest Elders that Xu Taiping’s next opponent, Mu Yun of Guangling Pavilion, came from a powerful family with a strong Golden Scale Assembly record.
• Mu Yuchen recognized Xu Taiping as the cultivator she had met outside the Relic-Seeking Studio and offered to persuade him to forfeit against Mu Yun using wealth and her beauty.
• Mu Yun accepted Mu Yuchen’s proposal and noted that he was watching Zhang Moyan’s upcoming match because of Zhang Moyan’s exceptional Root Bone.
• Xu Taiping returned to the stands, where Chu Xiaoxiao embraced him and called him her father.
• Chu Tiancheng explained that Chu Xiaoxiao had bet her entire fortune on Xu Taiping defeating Qi Hao, and Chu Xiaoxiao announced that she had won.

After defeating Qi Hao, Xu Taiping told Chu Tiancheng and Lu Rushuang that he had spent seven years cultivating inside the Dragon-Trapping Tower and had ambushed the Qi Household. As his next match against Mu Yun approached, Lu Rushuang warned him to prioritize returning safely and introduced Zhang Moyan, whose rare Geng Metal Sword Bone made him a renowned genius.

• Chu Xiaoxiao revealed that her bet on Xu Taiping had won fifty thousand Gold Essence Coins and asked if he could beat Mu Yun, but Xu Taiping warned her not to gamble on him.
• Lu Rushuang thanked Xu Taiping for the hardship he had endured during their seven years apart, and he revealed that he had cultivated inside the Dragon-Trapping Tower throughout that time.
• Xu Taiping admitted that he had used the tower and a Dhyana Seal to catch the Qi Household off guard, but said he could not explain why he had not contacted Chu Tiancheng and Lu Rushuang.
• Lu Rushuang said Xu Taiping had a chance to compete for the Golden Scale Ranking, while warning him that Mu Yun was much stronger than Qi Hao and that he should be ready to concede.
• Lu Rushuang told Xu Taiping to watch Zhang Moyan's upcoming match and said he might possess the rare Geng Metal Sword Bone.

Zhang Moyan overwhelmed Lu Xiao with a single spear thrust, revealing power that shook the Golden Scale Assembly spectators. Mu Yun then sent Mu Yuchen to persuade Xu Taiping to withdraw from his next match, and she arrived at the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall to see him.

• Prefect Qiu Shanyuan announced the fourth match between Zhang Moyan of Western Liang and Lu Xiao of the Three Origins Sect.
• Xu Taiping sensed battle intent in Zhang Moyan that resembled the Red Armor Cavalry's, while Lu Xiao opened with an Ultimate Realm Origin-Returning Blade strike.
• Zhang Moyan unleashed Martial God Realm qi and blood and pierced through Lu Xiao's blade force with one spear thrust, ending the match.
• Mu Yun asked Mu Yuchen to make Xu Taiping give up his next match so Mu Yun could save his trump cards for Zhang Moyan, and warned her not to put herself at risk.
• Two days later, Mu Yuchen arrived at the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall and asked Lu Wen for Xu Taiping, who hurried inside to call him.