Chapter Summaries

Xu Taiping learned that Nanxing and the others had been ambushed in Peach Blossom Alley and received a threat demanding that he come there. Confident that the All Beings Are Equal bracelet would help him face the Demon Cultivators, he first tried to ensure Xuanyuan Xueluo returned safely to her residence.

• Xu Taiping asked Elder Zhang where danger awaited them, and Elder Zhang identified Peach Blossom Alley and warned that the Life Gate and Death Gate might be in the same place.
• Nanxing sent Xu Taiping a warning that Demon Cultivators had ambushed her and the others in Peach Blossom Alley.
• A woman threatened to torment Nanxing's primordial spirit unless Xu Taiping came to Peach Blossom Alley, then the paired Voice Transmission Jade Slips shattered.
• Xu Taiping told Elder Zhang he had confidence in facing the Demon Cultivators and said they should first arrange for Xuanyuan Xueluo to return home.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo argued with Bai Yunfei, who refused to accompany her and insisted that leaving the Iron Armor Token with the Sun Family would waste a precious treasure.

Xuanyuan Xueluo was summoned home after failing to persuade Bai Yunfei to defend the arena for the Sun Family. She learned that the Worship Moon Pavilion had targeted Xu Taiping and Elder Zhang with its Ghost Spider Formation and Blood Hand Token.

• Bai Yunfei refused Xuanyuan Xueluo’s request, and she took the banknotes Zhou Liang had offered before leaving the Gambling Den.
• A steward told Xuanyuan Xueluo that her second sister urgently needed her, and he insisted she return alone.
• Xu Taiping and Elder Zhang suspected factions in town knew about the Demon Cultivators’ trap, while Zhou Liang said the Worship Moon Pavilion’s ghost cultivators would kill them.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo’s second sister showed her a Spirit Mirror image of Peach Blossom Alley transformed by the Ghost Spider Formation.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo’s second sister revealed the Worship Moon Pavilion’s Blood Hand Token, which named the outsiders as targets for killing.

Xu Taiping and Elder Zhang entered Peach Blossom Alley, where Worship Moon Pavilion’s heretical cultivators ambushed them. After Xu Taiping revealed his Martial Venerable-level strength and cut down one attacker, seven more charged him, and he prepared to unleash All Beings Are Equal.

• Xuanyuan Xueluo’s second sister explained that Worship Moon Pavilion had issued a Blood Hand Warrant against the outsiders and locked Xuanyuan Xueluo in her study while they watched the ambush through a Spirit Mirror.
• Elder Zhang warned Xu Taiping that the attackers were Nine Abysses demon cultivators posing as Worship Moon Pavilion disciples, and Xu Taiping told him to hold back his life-preserving measures.
• A burly heretical cultivator charged Xu Taiping, and Elder Zhang’s arrow failed to pierce the man’s Martial Venerable-level physique.
• Xu Taiping expanded his body and power, then split the first heretical cultivator in half with a dazzling blade strike.
• Seven more powerful heretical cultivators charged Xu Taiping, who smiled and declared, “All Beings Are Equal!”

Xu Taiping and Elder Zhang fought their way through Peach Blossom Alley, cutting down the Worship Moon Pavilion’s heretical cultivators. Their path was blocked by Xiong Tai, whose strength shattered Xu Taiping’s blade, but Xu Taiping advanced his Wild Lion Physique and prepared to face him.

• Xu Taiping used All Beings Are Equal and the Crane Cry Form to kill the heretical cultivators surrounding him.
• More heretical cultivators descended from the spiderweb, but Xu Taiping and Elder Zhang fought their way through the alley.
• Xu Taiping unleashed a flaming Dragon Cry strike that destroyed the last heretical cultivators and the spiderweb.
• Xiong Tai appeared and drove Xu Taiping back with his punches, shattering his blade.
• Nanxing called out from the end of the alley, where heretical cultivators surrounded her and Zhai Mo lay badly wounded.
• Xu Taiping’s Wild Lion Physique advanced to the Raging Lion Realm, and he challenged Xiong Tai.

Xu Taiping defeated Xiong Tai by building unstoppable fist momentum and secretly using Mountain-Splitting Force, then learned his Azure Dragon Commander authority could raise his allies' cultivation by one tier. When the Zhou Family joined forces with the Worship Moon Pavilion, Bai Yunfei, and the Qi Family's Three Brothers, Xu Taiping empowered his companions and prepared to face them.

• Xu Taiping traded hundreds of punches with Xiong Tai, gradually overcoming his opponent's fist momentum with the Great Sage Fist's Heaven-Rending Stance.
• Xiong Tai used the Worship Moon Pavilion's Blood Spider Curse, but Xu Taiping killed him with hidden Mountain-Splitting Force.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo and her sister learned that the outlander known as Rusty Lion was Xu Taiping, while Zhai Mo and the others heard his explanation of the technique that killed Xiong Tai.
• The Tower Spirit advanced the Azure Dragon Tokens to yellow grade, granted the bearers ten years of cultivation, and privately told Xu Taiping he could raise their cultivation by one tier on command.
• Gongshu Nanxing warned Xu Taiping that the Zhou Family had allied with the Worship Moon Pavilion, Bai Yunfei, and the Qi Family's Three Brothers.
• Xu Taiping used his Azure Dragon Commander authority to raise his companions' cultivation by one tier, and Zhai Mo declared they had no reason to fear the Worship Moon Pavilion.

Xuanyuan Xueluo prepared to defend the Sun Family’s Iron Armor Token despite the Zhou Family’s overwhelming lineup, while a letter from Rusty Lion offered help. On the day of the arena, Bai Yunfei carried the Zhou Family through the preliminary matches, and the final contest began with Zhou Liang sending the Qi brothers against Xueluo’s side.

• Xuanyuan Qingshuang warned Xuanyuan Xueluo that the Zhou Family could not hold the arena without a Martial Saint, and doubted the Otherworlders would risk appearing.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo received Rusty Lion’s letter promising that the Otherworlders would come if she commissioned them, but she decided to enter the arena without relying on them.
• Xuanyuan Qingshuang offered Xuanyuan Xueluo some of her guards, and Xueluo accepted her support.
• Bai Yunfei defeated the other military households for the Zhou Family, while the expected Otherworlders’ seats remained empty.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo and Sun Can prepared to face the Zhou Family’s challenge, and Zhou Liang opened the deciding match by naming the Qi brothers as the first challengers.

Xuanyuan Xueluo’s injured guards lost the three-on-three Iron Armor Arena match against the Qi Family’s Three Brothers, leaving her to consider conceding the next round and saving her strength for the final battle. Just as she was about to decide, Xu Taiping and his companions arrived.

• Xuanyuan Xueluo sent Sun Zhi, Sun Yuan, and Li Mu to represent her side in the three-on-three match against Qi Wen, Qi Wu, and Qi Zhong.
• Sun Zhi’s trio used their Burning Body Battle Intent to split Qi Zhong’s sword qi, but the Qi brothers adapted and drove them onto the defensive.
• After Qi Wu knocked Sun Zhi down, Xuanyuan Xueluo conceded the round to protect her sister Qing Shuang’s guards.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo considered conceding the next round to save strength for the nine-on-nine battle, but Xu Taiping and his companions arrived and apologized for being late.

Xu Taiping chose Gongshu Nanxing, Zhai Mo, and Elder Zhang to face the Qi brothers in the three-on-three bout. The Qi brothers attacked with much greater strength than before, but Zhai Mo’s Battle Intent broke through Qi Wu’s defenses and struck him in the chest.

• Xu Taiping selected Gongshu Nanxing, Zhai Mo, and Elder Zhang to fight first against the Qi brothers.
• The Qi brothers revealed that they had held back in earlier fights, and Xuanyuan Xueluo grew worried as the bout began.
• Qi Wu charged Zhai Mo with a powerful saber slash while Qi Wen followed with a fist attack.
• Zhai Mo met Qi Wu’s slash with his axe and unleashed Battle Intent that overwhelmed the brothers’ coordinated assault.
• Zhai Mo broke through Qi Wu’s Blade Force, Protective Gang Qi, and armor, striking him squarely in the chest.

Zhai Mo and the female outlander defeated the Qi Family’s Three Brothers, prompting the Zhou Family to concede rather than reveal Bai Yunfei’s abilities before Rusty Lion entered the arena. Xu Taiping decided to concede the next round too, saving the Azure Dragon Token’s power for the final nine-against-nine battle, where he hoped to defeat the Worship Moon Pavilion disciples at once.

• Zhai Mo and the female outlander knocked all three Qi brothers out of the arena.
• The red-robed Left Guardian advised Bai Yunfei not to fight before Rusty Lion entered the arena, and the Zhou Family conceded the round.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo realized that the Zhou Family wanted to hide its strength from Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping said he would concede the next round and save the Azure Dragon Token’s power for the final team battle.
• Xu Taiping recognized the red-robed man as Devil Master Tianxing, who had hunted them on Golden Summit Mountain.

The Sun Family and Zhou Family forfeited the earlier round to face each other directly in the final nine-on-nine match for the Iron Armor Token. Xu Taiping and the Northern Garrison Manor’s fighters prepared to face Devil Master Tianxing’s group and Zhou Liang’s hired fighters, with Xuanyuan Xueluo promising the Manor would protect them regardless of the outcome.

• Xuanyuan Xueluo conceded the previous round for the Sun Family, and Devil Master Tianxing concluded that both sides wanted to settle matters in the final match.
• Devil Master Tianxing led three Worship Moon Pavilion heretical cultivators onto the arena, while Bai Yunfei brought four hired Iron Armor fighters for the Zhou Family.
• Qi Wen warned Zhou Liang not to underestimate the Otherworlders, but Zhou Liang dismissed him and refused to promise help for the Qi brothers.
• Xu Taiping learned from Zhai Mo that Zhou Liang had driven the Qi brothers away, while Xuanyuan Xueluo watched Qi Wen leave with satisfaction.
• Xuanyuan Xueluo sent Xu Taiping, Zhai Mo, and four Northern Garrison Manor veterans to the arena, promising the Manor would protect them whether they won or lost.
• Xu Taiping, Zhai Mo, and the veterans vowed not to disgrace the Northern Garrison Manor.

Xu Taiping faced Devil Master Tianxing’s challenge in the arena and defeated Bai Yunfei in a clash of swordsmanship and physical strength. Zhai Mo blocked Tianxing’s sudden attack, leaving Tianxing to judge that Xu Taiping seemed less formidable than expected.

• Devil Master Tianxing confronted Xu Taiping and revealed that the Nine Abysses had narrowed down his possible identities.
• Xu Taiping and Tianxing’s killing intent and saber intent stirred the crowd before the Old Judge began the match.
• Bai Yunfei attacked Xu Taiping with his sword, but Xu Taiping shattered his sword and defeated his technique.
• Bai Yunfei charged again with golden armor and a powerful palm strike, and Xu Taiping matched it with his Wild Lion Physique.
• Devil Master Tianxing attacked Xu Taiping with the Blood Blade, but Zhai Mo blocked the slash with an Axe Shadow.
• Tianxing assessed Xu Taiping’s abilities and concluded that he had been overly cautious.

Xu Taiping used the Azure Dragon Token to raise his cultivation and nearly killed Devil Master Tianxing, but the Mysterious Maiden rescued Tianxing. At the Abyssal Pavilion, Fairy Lingyue told Ye Chensha that the Nine Abysses were searching for Rusty Lion, so he had to return from the Mysterious Wasteland Tower instead of rescuing Ye Chensha’s younger sister.

• Xu Taiping activated the Azure Dragon Token’s Fight with One's Back to the River incantation, raising the cultivation of himself and the Azure Dragon Armor.
• Xu Taiping wounded Devil Master Tianxing and pressed his attack while Zhai Mo, Nanxing, and their companions killed Tianxing’s three subordinates.
• Zhai Mo and his companions joined Xu Taiping in cornering Tianxing, but the Mysterious Maiden rescued Tianxing just as he was about to die.
• Ye Chensha noticed Yuezhu had left the Abyssal Pavilion and asked about Rusty Lion’s plan to rescue his younger sister.
• Fairy Lingyue returned and told Ye Chensha that the Nine Abysses had guessed Rusty Lion’s identity and were searching for him, so he had to return before ascending to the Fifth Layer.

After the Fourth Layer trial, Xu Taiping chose the Lotus Eye as his reward and discovered its spiritual consciousness could manifest inside the Mysterious Wasteland Tower. The Lotus Eye revealed dangers on later layers and warned him that Zhao Linglong had encountered trouble in Qingxuan, leaving Xu Taiping to prepare to return there before entering the Fifth Layer.

• The Tower Spirit rewarded Xu Taiping for leading his followers to victory and offered him one chance to wield one of his Divine Abilities.
• Xu Taiping chose the Lotus Eye's power, causing a golden lotus to appear in his left eye as its spiritual consciousness manifested inside the tower.
• The Lotus Eye showed Xu Taiping four images containing the locations and tribulations awaiting him on the Fifth through Eighth Layers.
• The Lotus Eye warned Xu Taiping that the Ninth Layer was extremely dangerous and told him to gather life-saving items before entering.
• The Lotus Eye told Xu Taiping that Zhao Linglong had encountered trouble in Qingxuan and advised him to return there before going to the Fifth Layer.
• Xu Taiping decided to tell Elder Zhang, Nanxing, and the others that he might leave the tower for a while.

Xu Taiping learned that Zhao Linglong and the others were trapped in the Thousand Buddha Kingdom after the Faceless Tower ambushed them. Fairy Lingyue taught him how to send his Primordial Spirit into the Great Void so he could contact Venerable Jiaye, but Bai Yu’s latest message revealed the group was trapped and running out of time.

• Xu Taiping woke in Fan Tower and told Fairy Lingyue that the Lotus Eye’s spiritual consciousness had entered the Mysterious Wasteland Tower.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Zhao Linglong, Xu Ziyan, Bai Yu, and several Azure Profound Sect elders had been ambushed in the Thousand Buddha Kingdom and were pursued by the Faceless Tower.
• Xu Taiping listened to Bai Yu’s messages describing Linglong’s injuries and the group’s desperate escape from powerful pursuers.
• Fairy Lingyue proposed contacting Venerable Jiaye, and Xu Taiping prepared to find a Teleportation Array.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Xu Taiping could roam the Great Void with his Primordial Spirit and use the All Beings Equal Bracelet to contact Jiaye.
• Bai Yu sent a new message saying the group was trapped in ruins and could not hold out much longer.

Fairy Lingyue taught Xu Taiping how to roam the Great Void and prepared the Azure Luan Ring as a Soul Anchor. Xu Taiping contacted Venerable Jiaye, who offered to take him to the Thousand Buddha Kingdom to help rescue Zhao Linglong and the others in exchange for a favor.

• Fairy Lingyue explained the dangers of Soul Roaming the Great Void and refined Xu Taiping’s Azure Luan Ring into a Soul Anchor.
• Xu Taiping sent his Primordial Spirit into the Great Void and reached Venerable Jiaye through the All Beings Equal Bracelet.
• Xu Taiping told Venerable Jiaye that Faceless Tower assassins had attacked Zhao Linglong and the others in the Thousand Buddha Kingdom.
• Venerable Jiaye offered to take Xu Taiping’s Primordial Spirit to the Thousand Buddha Kingdom so he could control the Duer Ashura Dharma Body and rescue his friends.
• Xu Taiping agreed to go, and Venerable Jiaye asked him to help in return if the rescue succeeded.

Xu Taiping agreed to retrieve a branch from the Withered Stone Sea’s Ten-Thousand-Year Baiye Bodhi Tree for Venerable Jiaye after rescuing his senior sister and the others. Venerable Jiaye brought him toward the Thousand Buddha Kingdom, where Huihai and the Faceless Ones were besieging Wondrous Sound Hall.

• Venerable Jiaye asked Xu Taiping to bring him a branch from the Ten-Thousand-Year Baiye Bodhi Tree in the Withered Stone Sea, promising a way to enter and leave safely once Xu Taiping’s primordial spirit reached the great perfection of the twelfth stage.
• Venerable Jiaye warned that Xu Taiping faced a trial with nine chances of death and one of survival, prompting Xu Taiping to wonder if it was connected to the ninth layer of the Mysterious Wasteland Tower.
• Xu Taiping agreed to go to the Withered Stone Sea after saving Senior Sister Linglong and the others, and Venerable Jiaye carried him toward the Thousand Buddha Kingdom on Ancient Buddha Kasyapa’s statue.
• Venerable Jiaye warned Xu Taiping to still his heart as they passed through the Wilderness’s restrictions, lest they alert the Yin Gods.
• A Faceless One reported to Huihai that the Faceless Ones had surrounded Wondrous Sound Hall but needed another hour to break its barrier without attracting nearby Yin Gods.

Huihai and the Faceless Ones tortured Wu Liang and Wu Mo to force Zhao Linglong out of the Wondrous Sound Hall. Xu Taiping watched helplessly as Venerable Jiaye prepared the Evil-Delivering Asura’s Dharma body, and Zhao Linglong emerged to accept Huihai’s challenge.

• Huihai gave his people half an incense stick’s time to force Xu Taiping’s senior brothers and sisters out of the Wondrous Sound Hall.
• A Faceless One whipped Wu Liang and Wu Mo, threatening to kill them unless Zhao Linglong came out.
• Xu Taiping urged Venerable Jiaye to let him act, but Jiaye said he needed more time to summon the Evil-Delivering Asura’s Dharma body.
• Huihai offered to let one captive inside if Zhao Linglong came out and withstood one of his moves.
• Zhao Linglong emerged from the Wondrous Sound Hall and agreed to take Huihai’s move.

Xu Taiping watched Zhao Linglong face Huihai to rescue her fellow disciples and contacted her through Venerable Jiaye. After Zhao Linglong survived Huihai’s first punch and brought Wu Mo to safety, Xu Taiping reached her mind just as she was about to accept a second blow.

• Xu Taiping asked Venerable Jiaye to help him send a voice transmission to Zhao Linglong, and Jiaye said he needed time to bypass the Wilderness’s restrictions.
• Zhao Linglong confronted Huihai and agreed to withstand one of his attacks in exchange for the release of a disciple.
• Huihai struck Zhao Linglong with a Martial God Realm punch, but she used her Immortal Silk to withstand it despite being wounded.
• Huihai released Wu Mo, and Zhao Linglong escorted her into the Wondrous Sound Hall before preparing to face a second punch.
• Xu Taiping’s voice reached Zhao Linglong’s mind and stopped her from agreeing to Huihai’s next attack.

Zhao Linglong fought Huihai while Xu Taiping prepared to appear and urged her to buy him time. She summoned the Fire-Armored Divine General, but after Huihai destroyed him, she blocked Huihai’s punch with the Immortal Silk as it began to crack.

• Xu Taiping warned Zhao Linglong to hide that anything was wrong and asked her to delay Huihai while he made his way to her.
• Huihai powered up and announced that he would use eighty percent of his strength, while Zhao Linglong wrapped herself in the Immortal Silk to strengthen her body.
• Zhao Linglong summoned the Fire-Armored Divine General, who intercepted Huihai’s punch but was driven back and destroyed.
• Huihai’s next punch struck Zhao Linglong’s crossed arms, and she held her ground as the Immortal Silk cracked and his fist force began consuming her aura.

Xu Taiping merged his primordial spirit with the Duedu Asura Dharma Body and saved Zhao Linglong from Huihai’s attack. After overpowering Huihai and the Faceless Ones, he was recognized by his Great Sage Fist, leaving Huihai to wonder whether he was Xu Taiping.

• Venerable Jiaye freed the Duedu Asura Dharma Body and told Xu Taiping to merge his primordial spirit with it.
• Xu Taiping entered the Dharma Body and caught Zhao Linglong as Huihai’s fist force was about to strike her.
• Xu Taiping confirmed his identity to Zhao Linglong and shielded her from Huihai.
• Xu Taiping used the Great Sage Fist to break through Huihai’s attack and send him flying back.
• Xu Taiping drove off the Faceless Ones with the Raging Thunder Form, and Huihai recognized his fist technique and asked if he was Xu Taiping.