Chapter Summaries

At the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly’s first-round Sword Inquiry Trial, Cui Tiegu formally challenged Dugu Qingxiao, despite Zhao Linglong’s pleas for him to refuse. Dugu Qingxiao accepted the challenge, leaving the two set to face each other.

• Xu Taiping watched the Sword Inquiry Trial with Zhao Linglong, Fairy Lingyue, and the others as the Heaven-tier cultivators took the Sword Platform.
• The Sword Chief Ranking selected Cui Tiegu to issue the first challenge, alarming Zhao Linglong and the other cultivators.
• Cui Tiegu crossed the vast platform with astonishing footwork and asked Dugu Qingxiao to take one of his strikes.
• Dugu Qingxiao insisted that Cui Tiegu issue a formal challenge under the assembly’s rules.
• Cui Tiegu formally challenged Dugu Qingxiao, and the Sword Chief Ranking acknowledged it.
• Zhao Linglong urged Dugu Qingxiao to use his Ceasefire Token, but he accepted the challenge.

Dugu Qingxiao faced Cui Tiegu in a Sword Inquiry, choosing to use the dangerous match to temper his swordsmanship rather than retreat. Cui Tiegu cleaved through Dugu Qingxiao’s opening attack, but Dugu Qingxiao countered with a life-risking strike that sent Cui Tiegu flying.

• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue to rescue Dugu Qingxiao if necessary, while explaining that his Second Senior Brother had chosen the match to temper his Sword Intent and swordsmanship.
• Elder Yu warned that the lower-realm participant could concede, but the stronger fighter could not keep attacking, then began the match after three bell tolls.
• Dugu Qingxiao swept at Cui Tiegu with a destructive Sword Intent filled with Flame Lotuses.
• Cui Tiegu drew his sword and cut through Dugu Qingxiao’s Sword Intent and the Flame Lotuses with a single stroke that also split a cloud behind the arena.
• Dugu Qingxiao sent out his Primordial Spirit to command his Life-Bound Flying Sword and unleashed a massive strike that broke through Cui Tiegu’s Sword Intent and sent him flying.

Dugu Qingxiao wielded his sword with his Primordial Spirit and briefly drove Cui Tiegu onto the defensive, but Cui Tiegu unleashed overwhelming sword intent that broke through his attack. The bout left Dugu Qingxiao’s gamble in grave danger as the disparity between them became clear.

• Dugu Qingxiao fused his Primordial Spirit with his Life-Bound Flying Sword, shattered Cui Tiegu’s protective sword gang, and sent him flying with a slash.
• Fairy Lingyue explained to Xu Taiping and Zhao Linglong that Dugu Qingxiao’s technique let him draw on spiritual energy and briefly overcome differences in cultivation, but left his body vulnerable.
• Fairy Lingyue warned that Dugu Qingxiao was risking death because he needed to keep suppressing Cui Tiegu’s sword intent.
• Xu Taiping sensed Cui Tiegu’s Divine Soul Power rising as Dugu Qingxiao launched a spiraling sword attack intended to grievously wound him.
• Cui Tiegu released immense sword intent that broke Dugu Qingxiao’s accumulated sword intent, and Fairy Lingyue judged the gap between them too great.

Dugu Qingxiao turned his apparent defeat against Cui Tiegu into a draw by threatening to destroy the Sword Platform with his flame lotus sword qi, and both advanced. As cultivators from other heavens dominated the following matches, Xu Taiping watched True Martial Heaven’s supporters leave in disappointment.

• Dugu Qingxiao filled the Sword Platform with explosive flame lotus sword qi, forcing Cui Tiegu to choose between striking him and suffering grievous injuries.
• Cui Tiegu sheathed his sword and left the platform, and the Sword Chief Ranking declared his match with Dugu Qingxiao a tie.
• Zhao Linglong returned to the Azure Profound Sect stands, while Dugu Qingxiao and Cui Tiequan won most of their remaining matches and advanced together.
• Xu Taiping watched Luo Cheng, Yun Ye, and Ye Feiyu advance as cultivators from other heavens outperformed nearly all of True Martial Heaven’s contestants.
• Several disappointed spectators left after True Martial Heaven’s repeated defeats, and Xu Taiping felt sorrow for their loss of hope.

Xu Taiping prepared to fight in the next day's Sword Inquiry, while the Nine Prefectures worried that poor attendance and weak competitors would keep the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly from recouping its costs. Liu Chuxuan noticed Chu Ping'an's name on the Heavenly Gang Group roster.

• Xu Taiping said he wanted to do his part for True Martial Heaven and admitted he was nervous about fighting after years without a true battle.
• Fairy Lingyue encouraged Xu Taiping to relax and drink with her before the competition.
• Liu Chuxuan learned that in-person attendance had fallen by more than half and Spirit Mirror viewership by nearly forty percent after True Martial Heaven's poor results.
• Huang Que said Bai Di was the only competitor in the day's groups he considered promising, and Liu Chuxuan questioned why so many weak cultivators had qualified.
• Liu Chuxuan recognized Chu Ping'an's name on the Heavenly Gang Group roster.

As the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly continued, Liu Chuxuan assigned Huang Que to oversee the Sword Inquiry and revealed that the shattered Moonshadow Stones could be restored to investigate Chu Qiuyai’s murder. At Qilin Peak, the Heavenly Gang Group’s match began amid mockery of True Martial Heaven’s sect and clan disciples, and Lu Sibai was selected as the first participant.

• Liu Chuxuan told Huang Que that the Moonshadow Stones could be repaired within about ten days, which would help identify Chu Qiuyai’s killer.
• Liu Chuxuan entrusted Huang Que with overseeing the Sword Inquiry Trials for the next few days.
• Zhao Linglong, Fairy Lingyue, Ping'an, and Bai Yu took seats in the eastern Cloud Tower and discussed the poor showing by True Martial Heaven’s cultivators.
• The Heavenly Gang Group’s thirty participants flew onto the Sword Platform as rogue cultivators mocked the sect and clan disciples and cheered for Young Master Bai Di.
• Elder Yu called for the True Martial Sword Chief Ranking to select the first participant, and Lu Sibai of Wang You Valley was chosen.

Lu Sibai challenged Lu You of Yellow Maple Valley to a Sword Inquiry and defeated him almost instantly. The Zhenwu Ranking then named Lu Sibai as the next sword challenger again, astonishing Zhao Linglong.

• Lu Sibai ignored the crowd's curses and challenged Lu You of Yellow Maple Valley.
• After Zhao Linglong and Fairy Lingyue discussed the young cultivators' unstable strength, Lu You accepted Lu Sibai's challenge.
• Lu Sibai struck Lu You down in a single exchange, and Elder Yu declared him the winner.
• The Zhenwu Ranking named Lu Sibai as the next sword challenger, and Zhao Linglong rose in surprise.

Lu Sibai won another Sword Inquiry after Zheng Chu refused to fight, then was selected again by the True Martial Sword Chief Ranking. He challenged Chu Ping'an, who accepted, setting up their match.

• Elder Yu upheld the Sword Chief Ranking's choice and allowed Lu Sibai to issue another Sword Inquiry after Lu You was carried away.
• Lu Sibai challenged Zheng Chu, who used his Ceasefire Token to refuse; Elder Yu declared Lu Sibai the winner and Zheng Chu forfeited a token.
• The True Martial Sword Chief Ranking selected Lu Sibai to issue the third Heavenly Gang Group Sword Inquiry.
• Lu Sibai appeared to choose Bai Di, then shifted his finger and challenged Chu Ping'an instead.
• Chu Ping'an refused Lu Sibai's offer to use his Ceasefire Token and accepted the challenge.

Madam Golden Bamboo and Jin Susu discussed Lu Sibai’s strategy to secure a place in the Sword Seizure Trial and obtain the Zhenwu Inheritance. Fairy Lingyue explained why Lu Sibai chose Xu Taiping, disguised as Chu Ping'an, as his next opponent, and their Sword Inquiry began.

• Jin Susu worried that Lu Sibai would waste true essence fighting Chu Ping'an, but Madam Golden Bamboo assured her he was far stronger.
• Jin Susu and Madam Golden Bamboo discussed how Lu Sibai could qualify for the Sword Seizure Trial and gain the Zhenwu Inheritance.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Lu Sibai was avoiding Bai Di while preserving his chance to challenge him after other cultivators depleted Bai Di’s true essence.
• Fairy Lingyue reasoned that Lu Sibai had chosen Chu Ping'an because he believed his swordsmanship and spells could counter Chu Ping'an’s martial arts.
• Xu Taiping, disguised as Chu Ping'an, and Lu Sibai took their places, and Elder Yu announced the start of their Sword Inquiry.

Xu Taiping faced Lu Sibai in the Sword Champion Assembly, first breaking his sword strike with No Edge and then meeting his sword method with overwhelming strength. After Xu Taiping punched through Lu Sibai’s wave, Zhao Linglong wondered what he had endured after disappearing from the Old Dragon Court.

• Lu Sibai challenged Xu Taiping to take a sword strike and sent a flying sword at him with lion-shaped sword intent.
• Xu Taiping drew No Edge, disrupted Lu Sibai’s flying sword, and carved apart the lion-shaped sword intent.
• Lu Sibai transformed his shattered sword intent into a massive wave and challenged Xu Taiping to break his method.
• Xu Taiping put away No Edge, assumed the modified Baxia Form Fist Stance, and punched through the wave.
• Zhao Linglong watched Xu Taiping’s display of strength and wondered what he had endured after disappearing from the Old Dragon Court.

Xu Taiping fought Lu Sibai on the Sword Platform, using his strength and hidden tactics to break Lu Sibai’s spells and disable him. He left Lu Sibai unable to surrender and addressed the people of the Great Liang Kingdom.

• Lu Sibai restored his sword intent and sent a powerful flying-sword attack at Xu Taiping, who knocked it aside and used the Star-Transposing Step to get behind him.
• Xu Taiping’s apparent attack was a clone; his true body struck Lu Sibai from behind, shattered his protective sword gang, and injured his throat before Lu Sibai escaped underground.
• Lu Sibai unleashed a far stronger water spell, but Xu Taiping grew to thirty feet tall and shattered the enormous wave with a purple-gold Baxia Form punch.
• Xu Taiping’s Thousandfold Force blasted Lu Sibai through the air and injured him so badly that he could not shout his surrender.
• Xu Taiping approached the helpless Lu Sibai and apologized to the people of the Great Liang Kingdom for keeping them waiting.

Xu Taiping overwhelmed Lu Sibai’s powerful water spell with martial arts and pressed his attack on the Sword Platform. As Lu Sibai’s defenses began to fail, the watching cultivators realized Chu Ping'an intended to demand justice from him.

• Lu Sibai endured his injuries, raised Sword Gang shields, and summoned a massive water dragon to attack Xu Taiping.
• Fairy Lingyue told Zhao Linglong that Lu Sibai had already lost because Xu Taiping had sealed his throat with a punch.
• Xu Taiping used Endless Horizon to close in and smashed through the water dragon with powerful punches.
• Lu Sibai used a Cloud Talisman to encase himself in the water dragon and Sword Gang shields while he tried to recover.
• Xu Taiping used the Baxia Form and Thousandfold Force to shatter the water dragon and injure Lu Sibai.
• Xu Taiping continued punching through Lu Sibai’s Sword Gang shields, prompting cultivators to realize Chu Ping'an was about to demand justice from him.

Huang Que and Dugu Qingxiao worried that True Martial Heaven’s poor results had driven spectators away from the Sword Champion Assembly, while they discussed the search for Xu Taiping. A sudden flood of seat requests and a surge in Spirit Mirror viewers left them certain that something major had happened at Qilin Peak.

• Dugu Qingxiao told Huang Que that Azure Profound Sect’s disciples had little chance against the other heavens’ established experts, and Huang Que revealed that attendance had fallen to thirty percent.
• Dugu Qingxiao said the second-round Sword Seizure Trial would feature him, Senior A Meng, Chen Sheng, and Cui Tiegu, giving Huang Que some hope for True Martial Heaven.
• Huang Que asked about Xu Taiping, and Dugu Qingxiao said Xu Taiping’s aura had last appeared at the Golden Court Grotto-Heaven in the Withered Stone Sea, where Senior White Rainbow and Elder Black Dragon were headed to investigate.
• Huang Que’s Jade Slip began receiving urgent requests from cultivators and sects to reserve seats at Qilin Peak.
• Huang Que and Dugu Qingxiao checked the Spirit Mirror and saw the viewer count jump from 830,000 to 900,000, prompting Dugu Qingxiao to urge Huang Que to pay and look into what had happened.

Xu Taiping, disguised as Chu Ping'an, stripped away Lu Sibai's defenses and used a soul art to stop him from conceding the Sword Inquiry. He forced Lu Sibai to acknowledge his crimes by facing north and kowtowing three times for the Burning Nation Tragedy.

• Huang Que and Dugu Qingxiao watched Chu Ping'an overpower Lu Sibai through the Spirit Mirror and learned that he seemed to seek justice for the Burning Nation Tragedy.
• Chu Ping'an broke Lu Sibai's final layer of protective sword gang, leaving him unable to defend himself, and demanded that he acknowledge his crimes.
• Lu Sibai tried to draw out his primordial spirit so he could concede, but Chu Ping'an's shouted question drove it back into his body.
• Chu Ping'an ordered Lu Sibai to face north and kowtow three times, threatening to force him if he refused.
• Lu Sibai knelt facing north and struck his head against the ground three times, leaving his forehead bloody.

Chu Ping'an rejected Madam Golden Bamboo’s threats and offer of Wang You Valley’s support, declaring that he would kill Lu Sibai for the people of the Great Liang Kingdom. He beheaded Lu Sibai, and Jin Susu immediately attacked him.

• Lu Sibai pleaded with Chu Ping'an, who reminded him that he had tortured the Great Liang royal family after they begged for mercy.
• Chu Ping'an accused Lu Sibai of joining twelve cultivators to burn the Great Liang Kingdom and kill tens of millions of people.
• Madam Golden Bamboo challenged the fairness of the contest, but Elder Yu maintained that Chu Ping'an had not broken the rules.
• Madam Golden Bamboo threatened Chu Ping'an and offered him Wang You Valley’s support if he spared Lu Sibai, while cultivators voiced their support for him.
• Chu Ping'an said his strike was only for the people of the Great Liang Kingdom and beheaded Lu Sibai before Jin Susu could stop him.
• Jin Susu howled in grief and attacked Chu Ping'an with a white-bone Claw Shadow.

Xu Taiping nearly drew his saber after Jin Susu trapped him with her claw technique, but the Sword Chief Ranking intervened and Elder Yu warned Jin Susu and Madam Golden Bamboo to obey the rules. As Wang You Valley threatened him and the crowd flocked to watch, Xu Taiping’s next matches drew growing attention, while Huang Que and Dugu Qingxiao discussed Xu Taiping’s plight in the Golden Court Grotto-Heaven.

• Jin Susu’s claw technique trapped Xu Taiping in an illusory mire, and he prepared to draw his saber.
• The Sword Chief Ranking shattered Jin Susu’s attack and repelled Madam Golden Bamboo when she tried to intervene; Elder Yu warned them against breaking the assembly’s rules.
• Madam Golden Bamboo apologized for Jin Susu, then threatened Chu Ping'an with a fight against Wang You Valley disciples in the coming matches.
• As Lu Sibai’s corpse was carried away, more cultivators entered Qilin Peak, and Huang Que and Dugu Qingxiao discussed Chu Ping'an’s resemblance to a martial artist and Xu Taiping’s situation.
• Huang Que promised that the Nine Prefectures would help the Azure Profound Sect rescue Xu Taiping after the assembly.
• A subordinate asked Huang Que to delay the next Sword Inquiry, reporting that another half an incense stick would fill all nine thousand seats at Qilin Peak.

Huang Que and Dugu Qingxiao learned that Wang You Valley had placed a bounty on Chu Ping'an, prompting doubts about whether the scheme violated the Sword Champion Assembly's rules. The Sword Chief Ranking approved Lu Hu's challenge to Chu Ping'an, leaving the bounty's legitimacy unresolved.

• Huang Que postponed the Sword Inquiry by half an incense stick after learning that the Nine Prefectures had heavily invested in the assembly and mortgaged a gold essence stone mine.
• Huang Que received word that Wang You Valley was offering rewards to anyone who challenged Chu Ping'an, with greater prizes for victory or killing him.
• Dugu Qingxiao condemned Wang You Valley's bounty, while Huang Que explained that the Sword Chief Ranking alone would decide whether it violated the rules.
• Elder Yu resumed the Sword Inquiry, and Lu Hu of the Morning Dew Sect requested permission to challenge Chu Ping'an.
• The Sword Chief Ranking granted Lu Hu's request.

The Sword Chief Ranking approved Lu Hu’s bounty-motivated Sword Inquiry against Chu Ping'an, leading Zhao Linglong and Fairy Lingyue to suspect a deeper plot at the Sword Champion Assembly. Chu Ping'an defeated Lu Hu decisively, but another challenger stepped forward immediately afterward.

• Fairy Lingyue suggested the Sword Chief Ranking had a deeper reason for allowing Lu Hu’s challenge, and Zhao Linglong suspected the Nine Abysses might be stirring up trouble.
• Elder Yu asked whether Chu Ping'an would accept Lu Hu’s challenge, and Chu Ping'an agreed.
• Lu Hu revealed that Wang You Valley had offered rewards to the cultivators on the Sword Platform, then attacked Chu Ping'an with his flying sword.
• Chu Ping'an knocked Lu Hu’s sword aside and punched him off the Sword Platform, earning a Sword Inquiry Token.
• Xie Mian of Heavenly Net Mountain, Youyun Heaven, challenged Chu Ping'an to a Sword Inquiry.

Chu Ping'an defeated more than twenty challengers but was badly exhausted, leaving his Sword Inquiry Tokens at risk if he lost another bout. When Bai Di was chosen to issue the next challenge, the crowd expected him to help Chu Ping'an, but he challenged Chu Ping'an instead.

• Chu Ping'an kicked the twentieth challenger off the Sword Platform, then stumbled from exhaustion before standing back up.
• Dugu Qingxiao warned Huang Que that Chu Ping'an had spent nearly all his True Essence and Qi and Blood, and that another loss would cost him every Sword Inquiry Token.
• Huang Que asked Liu Chuxuan to negotiate with the remaining cultivators’ sects to protect Chu Ping'an and secure his advancement.
• The Sword Chief Ranking selected Bai Di to issue the next challenge, and rogue cultivators urged him to challenge a Chenglong Heaven cultivator instead of Chu Ping'an.
• Bai Di declared that he wished to challenge Chu Ping'an, shocking and angering the crowd.

Jin Susu learned that Bai Di had challenged Chu Ping'an without Wang You Valley’s help, while Cui Tiegu revealed his growing ambitions and his breakthrough in cultivation. The chapter ended as Chu Ping'an accepted Bai Di’s challenge and the Sword Inquiry began.

• Madam Golden Bamboo told Jin Susu that Wang You Valley had failed to contact Bai Di, and Jin Susu considered recruiting him.
• Cui Tiegu told Liu Zijin that he had refused Wang You Valley’s offer and believed Bai Di’s challenge would expose his false virtue.
• Cui Tiegu revealed that his Nine Revolutions Sun-Devouring Art had reached the eighth revolution and said he needed the ninth to found an immortal dynasty.
• Liu Zijin and Cui Tiegu were surprised when Chu Ping'an accepted Bai Di’s challenge instead of using the Ceasefire Token.
• Elder Yu of Qilin Peak announced that the Sword Inquiry would begin.