Chapter Summaries

Fairy Lingyue learned that the Nine Prefectures' new rules for climbing Ten Thousand Evils Peak were meant to restrict rogue cultivators from qualifying for the Sword Champion Assembly, intensifying tensions across True Martial Heaven. After Chen Sheng persuaded most climbers to leave, Chu Ping'an volunteered to face the test.

• Zhao Linglong explained that rogue cultivators had grown in number and strength since the True Martial Heaven Barrier began lifting, and that many summit climbers were now seeking places at the Sword Champion Assembly.
• Fairy Lingyue and Zhao Linglong discussed how the Nine Prefectures' restrictions could worsen conflict between the sects and rogue cultivators.
• Chen Sheng rebuked the climbers and warned them not to risk their lives, while guards surrounded the thirty-four rogue cultivators, including Xu Taiping.
• Many rogue cultivators abandoned the challenge and left Ten Thousand Evils Peak after hearing Chen Sheng's appeal.
• Chu Ping'an volunteered to attempt Chen Sheng's test.

Xu Taiping endured Sword Immortal Chen Sheng’s Sword Gang and earned permission to climb Ten Thousand Evils Peak. He reached the mountain’s foot as Zhao Linglong and Fairy Lingyue recognized that the real test was only beginning.

• The rogue cultivators in the pavilion rallied around Xu Taiping, while Zhao Linglong worried that her junior brother would never retreat once he had set his mind on something.
• Chen Sheng challenged Xu Taiping to take an apple from his basket, and Xu Taiping entered the Sword Gang surrounding him.
• Xu Taiping used his Martial God Realm qi and blood and Raging Flood Dragon Physique to withstand the Sword Gang and reach Chen Sheng.
• Xu Taiping explained that he sought a place in the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly to learn from sword cultivators, then took an apple from Chen Sheng’s basket.
• Chen Sheng warned Xu Taiping that the Sword Gang on Ten Thousand Evils Peak was much fiercer and gave him a jade slip to summon help if necessary.
• Xu Taiping passed through the small building and arrived at the foot of Ten Thousand Evils Peak, while Zhao Linglong and Fairy Lingyue watched anxiously.

Rogue cultivators gathered at Crane-Questioning Tower to watch Chu Ping'an challenge Ten Thousand Evils Peak, while Bai Di offered them a place on the third floor. The chapter ended with Bai Di privately dismissing Xu Taiping's chances and praising Fairy Zi Jin as the only rogue cultivator who could climb the peak alone.

• Rogue cultivators heading to Crane-Questioning Tower learned that the first two floors were full and that the third floor required an extra thirty Gold Essence Coins.
• Bai Di paid for the rogue cultivators to watch from the third floor, and they recognized him as the young manor lord of Carp Willow Manor.
• The rogue cultivators praised Bai Di's rise from an incomplete Qi Refining Method to the Spirit Refining Realm's great perfection and recounted rumors about his future marriage.
• The group saw Xu Taiping standing at the foot of Ten Thousand Evils Peak and hurried to find seats to watch his challenge.
• In a private room, Bai Di mocked Xu Taiping's attempt to climb the peak and told Fairy Zi Jin that she was likely the only rogue cultivator who could reach the summit alone.

Xu Taiping climbed Ten Thousand Evils Peak by relying on his body and qi and blood to endure its sword qi. Fairy Lingyue revealed that he had chosen this method himself, and he continued toward the summit despite his wounds.

• Liu Zijin identified herself as a martial artist and observed that Chu Ping'an was also a martial artist.
• Xu Taiping stepped onto Ten Thousand Evils Peak and endured its sword qi with his flesh and blood, taking another step upward despite being covered in cuts.
• Bai Di noted that the peak's sword qi grew stronger against the strong, while Liu Zijin said a martial artist could endure as long as their resolve held.
• Rogue cultivators cheered as Xu Taiping continued climbing, and Fairy Lingyue told Zhao Linglong that Xu Taiping had chosen this method himself.

Xu Taiping continued climbing Ten Thousand Evils Peak using only his Qi and Blood Power, accepting the danger of a joint sword strike rather than relying on another method. As the torrent of Sword Qi tore open his wounds, he pressed onward, but a deep injury to his foot made him sway on the next step.

• Fairy Lingyue told Zhao Linglong that Xu Taiping would face a joint sword strike from the masters of the myriad evil Sword Intents, and explained that he had refused to climb by another method.
• Zhao Linglong recalled Xu Taiping’s determination during the Seven Peaks Selection and steadied herself to watch him climb Ten Thousand Evils Peak.
• Xu Taiping endured a stronger torrent of Sword Qi, let it tear open his healed wounds, and forced himself up another step.
• The rogue cultivators watching from the tower fell silent, and one murmured that Xu Taiping’s struggle showed what a true cultivator should be.
• After Xu Taiping climbed roughly another hundred steps, another torrent nearly cut through his foot, making him sway as he tried to step forward.

Xu Taiping reached the Great Treachery Pavilion on Ten Thousand Evils Peak and defeated its sealed evil soul in a fierce sword-and-blade battle. He continued up the steps, leaving Zhao Linglong wondering what trials had strengthened him during his decades away.

• Xu Taiping endured the pain in his injured foot, healed briefly, and climbed until he reached the Great Treachery Pavilion.
• Zhao Linglong and Fairy Lingyue explained that the Ten Evils Pavilions held the remnant souls of villains slain by the True Martial Great Emperor.
• The evil soul in the pavilion offered Xu Taiping time to heal before fighting, but Xu Taiping refused and attacked at once.
• Xu Taiping repeatedly struck the evil soul, rebuilding his Blade Force after each clash until he found an opening and severed its head.
• Xu Taiping sheathed his Bone Blade No Edge and continued upward as Zhao Linglong wondered what trials had advanced his Blade Techniques.

As Xu Taiping climbed Ten Thousand Evils Peak, he used the Demon-Slaying Blade and Lü Sword Nine’s swordsmanship to cut through a torrent of sword qi. He kept his blade force unbroken and charged into the second Ten Evils Pavilion, where Zhao Linglong recognized its evil soul as the Sword Fiend.

• Fairy Lingyue told Zhao Linglong that she could not yet explain the trouble they had faced after leaving the Withered Stone Sea.
• Xu Taiping stopped to meet a descending torrent of sword qi with his blade, and Fairy Lingyue realized he intended to build up blade force without pause.
• Xu Taiping cut through the sword qi by finding its weaknesses and tracing Lü Sword Nine’s swordsmanship with his blade.
• Xu Taiping continued toward the second Ten Evils Pavilion without resting, since stopping would dissipate his accumulated blade force.
• Xu Taiping attacked the pavilion’s unseen evil soul, which revealed itself as the Sword Fiend, and Zhao Linglong recognized it.

Bai Di and the masked woman Zi Jin watched Xu Taiping battle the Wicked Soul, a former disciple of the True Martial Great Emperor, and wagered a half-fruit on the outcome. Xu Taiping overcame the Sword Fiend and defeated him, who then demanded a rematch if Xu Taiping reached the summit.

• The masked woman explained that the Wicked Soul had been a disciple of the True Martial Great Emperor before the Demon Abyss changed his disposition and led to his imprisonment on Ten Thousand Evils Peak.
• Bai Di and Zi Jin made a talisman-bound wager over whether Xu Taiping or the Sword Fiend would win, with Bai Di staking a half of a Six-Colored Fruit.
• The Sword Fiend pressed Xu Taiping to the cliff's edge with swift sword strikes and unleashed a brilliant attack that impressed both spectators.
• Xu Taiping's Blade Force surged, and he read through the Sword Fiend's swordsmanship as he countered the attack and closed the distance.
• Xu Taiping cut off the Sword Fiend's head, dispersing his body, and the Sword Fiend called from Ten Thousand Evils Peak for another fight if Xu Taiping reached the summit.

Xu Taiping fought his way through the Ten Evils Pavilions, discovering how to combine his saber and fist techniques into a unique fighting style. After defeating the Sixth Evil with fist force channeled through his saber, Zhao Linglong understood the method.

• Bai Di gave the Veiled Woman his half of a Six-Colored Fruit after Sword Evil praised Xu Taiping, while insisting Xu could not reach the summit without help.
• The rogue cultivators left Wild Goose Feather Peak to celebrate Xu Taiping, as Zhao Linglong worried about the remaining Ten Evils.
• Fairy Lingyue told Zhao Linglong that Xu Taiping had been working to combine his techniques, and said he had begun finding the way during his fights.
• Xu Taiping defeated the third villain and charged toward the fourth, using his saber to break the villain's sword intent and behead him.
• At the Sixth Ten Evils Pavilion, Xu Taiping channeled fist force through his saber to break the Sixth Evil's hammer strike and defeat him.
• Zhao Linglong realized that Xu Taiping could deliver a fist strike without using his fist.

Xu Taiping developed his own blade technique and fought his way through the ninth Ten Evils Pavilion, impressing the cultivators watching through the Spirit Mirror. He reached the tenth pavilion, where Bu Xueting appeared and requested a duel.

• Xu Taiping used fist-like force through his saber to overwhelm the sixth pavilion’s brute and kill him with a final slash.
• Xu Taiping swept through the seventh, eighth, and ninth pavilions, defeating their evildoers and beheading Mo Wen despite nearing exhaustion.
• Mo Wen laughed as he dissipated, warning everyone that Bu Xueting would likely lose to Xu Taiping.
• Fairy Lingyue and Zhao Linglong explained that Bu Xueting had imprisoned himself on Ten Thousand Evils Peak to perfect his swordsmanship and might choose not to fight Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping reached the tenth pavilion, where Bu Xueting appeared in a blue scholar’s robe and requested Xu Taiping’s instruction.

Xu Taiping fought Bu Xueting in the Spirit Mirror using only qi and blood power and martial techniques, turning the tide with daring close-range attacks. As Bu Xueting was driven back and wounded, a spectator named the supposed unknown rogue cultivator: Chu Ping'an.

• Zhao Linglong and Fairy Lingyue recognized Bu Xueting by his Life-Bound Flying Sword, while Ping'an regretted praying to the Bodhisattva for protection.
• Xu Taiping attacked Bu Xueting, dodged his sword thrust, and used blade intent as fist intent to knock him out of the Unprincipled Pavilion.
• Bu Xueting launched a lightning-fast thrust at Xu Taiping's throat, but Xu Taiping hardened his neck with qi and blood power and struck Bu Xueting with the hilt of his blade.
• Xu Taiping pressed Bu Xueting in close combat, landing repeated blows and leaving bloodstains on his robes.
• A cultivator marveled that an unknown rogue cultivator had driven Bu Xueting back, and another corrected him that the young man was named Chu Ping'an.

Xu Taiping defeated Bu Xueting by turning a punch into a blade strike after losing his saber and badly injuring both arms. Bu Xueting conceded, and Xu Taiping continued toward the final step to reach the summit of Ten Thousand Evils Peak.

• The cultivators in the Crane-Questioning Tower argued over Chu Ping'an's identity until the tower master silenced them.
• Bu Xueting pulled himself back from the cliff and stabbed through Xu Taiping's palm, disarming him and forcing him to fight with his fists.
• Xu Taiping repeatedly blocked Bu Xueting's sword with his mangled hands, then used 108 punches to knock the Dragon Roaming Sword aside.
• Bu Xueting stepped out of reach, but Xu Taiping transformed his fist into a blade strike and split Bu Xueting's body, winning the round.
• Bu Xueting admitted defeat and invited Xu Taiping to visit him, and Xu Taiping thanked him before approaching the final step to the summit.

Xu Taiping endured the final stretch of Ten Thousand Evils Peak and briefly entered a profound state of Dao-heart tranquility, drawing spiritual energy from the surrounding mountains. Fairy Lingyue jolted him awake, and he reached the summit, where he used a Grass Return Pill and the Raging Lion Physique to withstand the winds as she warned him he had been in grave danger.

• Bai Di asked Steward Lü to investigate Chu Ping'an, while Martial Aunt Zi Jin warned him not to cause trouble before the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly.
• A fierce gust knocked Xu Taiping off balance and injured him, but he rose and continued climbing despite being unable to use True Essence or Qi and Blood Power to heal himself.
• As Xu Taiping chose to climb for the sake of other cultivators, his tranquil Dao heart let him sense everything within a hundred li and brush a gale aside, drawing mist and spiritual energy toward Ten Thousand Evils Peak.
• Fairy Lingyue called out to Xu Taiping and awakened him, causing the gathered mist and spiritual energy to recede.
• Xu Taiping broke through another gust, leaped onto the summit, took a Grass Return Pill, and unleashed the Raging Lion Physique as Fairy Lingyue warned him he had been in terrible danger.

After Xu Taiping reached the summit of Ten Thousand Evils Peak, Fairy Lingyue explained that he had awakened the rare Daoheart Emptiness and warned him to keep it hidden from hostile cultivators. Elder Chu Qiuyai then invited him to drink from the Star-Gathering Disc, whose water could pass down the True Martial Great Emperor’s sword intent, and gave him a jade ladle.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that his Daoheart Emptiness could greatly aid his cultivation but made him a target for demon and heretical cultivators.
• Fairy Lingyue said she had suppressed the disturbance from Xu Taiping’s awakening and would explain its benefits after they left Ten Thousand Evils Peak.
• Xu Taiping healed his wounds and greeted Chu Qiuyai, a guest elder of the Nine Prefectures, when he emerged from the golden hall.
• Chu Qiuyai explained that the Star-Gathering Disc’s spirit spring could grant the Great Emperor’s sword intent legacy to someone with a fated affinity, though it might erase their own swordsmanship.
• Chu Qiuyai handed Xu Taiping a jade ladle and told him he could take one ladleful of water.

Xu Taiping refused to drink the Spirit Spring water because he feared it would erase Ninth Uncle’s Hidden Sword Art, but accepted Chu Qiuyai’s offer to pour it over himself. The water awakened his Lotus Eye, which showed Chu Qiuyai’s death, and six days later Zhao Linglong brought news that the Sword Inquiry list had been released.

• Xu Taiping refused to drink the Spirit Spring water, saying he would not risk losing the swordsmanship taught to him by a senior.
• Chu Qiuyai offered to let Xu Taiping pour the water over himself, and Xu accepted, healing his wounds and nourishing his body.
• The Spirit Spring water awakened Xu Taiping’s Lotus Eye, which showed Chu Qiuyai pinned dead to a hall plaque by a sword.
• The Lotus Eye told Xu Taiping that the vision was a gift to Chu Qiuyai and left it to Xu to decide whether to save him.
• Six days later, Zhao Linglong hurried into the inn and told Xu Taiping that the Sword Inquiry list for the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly had been released.

Xu Taiping and his companions ate Gray Profound Goat hot pot while Zhao Linglong explained how he had gained access to Impermanence Peak and brought the first-round Sword Inquiry group list. The list revealed that Bai Di, a formidable rogue cultivator, would face Xu Taiping, and Zhao Linglong began showing the group proof that Bai Di’s master had defeated A Meng.

• Zhao Linglong joined Xu Taiping and the others for a meal and learned that he had hunted Gray Profound Goats on Impermanence Peak with Elder Chu Qiuyai’s invitation.
• Zhao Linglong explained how to reveal the Sword Inquiry group list by placing Xu Taiping’s token on her Spirit Mirror.
• Xu Taiping activated the mirror, and Zhao Linglong noticed that Bai Di was in his group.
• Zhao Linglong told Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue that Bai Di was a young rogue cultivator whose master, Cui Tiegu, had defeated A Meng by half a move.
• Zhao Linglong produced a Moonshadow Stone and projected images of A Meng’s Sword Inquiry defeat.

After watching A Meng lose to Cui Tiegu in a devastating Sword Inquiry, Xu Taiping learned that Cui Tiegu’s disciple Bai Di had also defeated Mu Yun with a single stroke. The chapter ended with Xu Taiping discovering that Mu Yun was in his group and might face him in another match.

• Bai Yu, Fairy Lingyue, and Zhao Linglong discussed how A Meng and Cui Tiegu’s Sword Inquiry had destroyed eight mountains and concluded that Cui Tiegu had won through superior Swordsmanship.
• Zhao Linglong explained that Cui Tiegu was a Mortal World-born Rogue Cultivator and that A Meng had disappeared after their match, amid rumors that he had withdrawn to his Dao Field.
• Xu Taiping rejected the idea that one loss had broken A Meng’s Dao Heart, recalling that A Meng had lost to Su Chan many times without faltering.
• Zhao Linglong told Xu Taiping that Bai Di had defeated Mu Yun of Guangling Pavilion at the Azure Cloud Assembly by shattering an Origin Law with one stroke.
• Fairy Lingyue noticed that Mu Yun had been placed in Xu Taiping’s group and suggested they might fight, giving Xu Taiping a chance to watch.

Xu Taiping learned that Lu Sibai, one of the Arsonists responsible for the Great Liang Kingdom’s deaths, had accepted a Sword Inquiry Token and was on his first-round roster. Zhao Linglong then explained the three rounds of the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly to him.

• Zhao Linglong spotted Lu Sibai’s name on Xu Taiping’s roster, and Xu Taiping recognized him as one of the thirteen Arsonists he had once meant to pursue.
• Zhao Linglong explained that the Nine Prefectures had sent Lu Sibai a Sword Inquiry Token, forcing him either to face judgment at the Assembly or risk exposing himself as an Arsonist.
• Xu Taiping vowed to issue Lu Sibai a Sword Inquiry if he remained undefeated until Xu Taiping could challenge him.
• Zhao Linglong reviewed the roster with Xu Taiping, then explained that the Assembly had three rounds: Sword Inquiry, Sword Seizure, and Sword Champion.

Zhao Linglong explained the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly rules to Xu Taiping, then revealed two pieces of bad news: Dugu Qingxiao might face Cui Tiegu, and Elder Chu had been killed at Ten Thousand Evils Peak. The chapter ended with Xu Taiping questioning whether the report about Elder Chu was accurate.

• Zhao Linglong gave Xu Taiping the Jade Slip containing the Sword Champion Assembly rules and explained its rounds and restrictions.
• Zhao Linglong learned that Cui Tiegu was assigned to Dugu Qingxiao's group, and explained their history of enmity over Cui Tiegu's adopted son.
• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue worried that Cui Tiegu might challenge and kill Dugu Qingxiao, while Zhao Linglong prepared to speak with him.
• Xu Taiping reminded Zhao Linglong to share her second piece of bad news, and she reported that Elder Chu had been killed at Ten Thousand Evils Peak by a sword strike that pinned his body and Primordial Spirit to the Golden Hall's plaque.
• Xu Taiping asked Zhao Linglong whether she was sure the report was correct.

Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue concluded that Su Chan was likely connected to the attempt on Chu Qiuyai’s life and decided Chu Qiuyai should stay hidden and watch events unfold. Meanwhile, Bai Di chose Chu Ping'an as his first sword inquiry opponent despite warnings from Liu Zijin and his master, Cui Tiegu, and secretly used a Wish-Fulfilling Talisman.

• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that Chu Qiuyai had survived an ambush at the Golden Hall after heeding their warning.
• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue suspected Su Chan was connected to the assassination and decided Chu Qiuyai should remain hidden and observe what happened next.
• Bai Di chose Chu Ping'an as his first sword inquiry opponent, and Liu Zijin warned him to be cautious.
• Cui Tiegu sent Bai Di a warning about challenging Chu Ping'an, but Bai Di said he would not hold back if Chu Ping'an challenged him.
• Bai Di activated a Wish-Fulfilling Talisman, hoping it would bring peace to his Dao heart.