Chapter Summaries

Chu Ping'an fought Bai Di inside his sword domain, where Bai Di’s Ten Steps, One Kill wounded him and threatened to finish the match. Chu Ping'an unleashed the Demon Ancestor’s Ants Shake the Tree, shattering the domain and devastating Bai Di, leaving the arena stunned.

• Bai Di opened his sword domain and used Ten Steps, One Kill to strike Chu Ping'an from behind after Chu Ping'an broke his sword intent.
• Bai Di pierced Chu Ping'an’s shoulder, and Chu Ping'an retreated but remained trapped inside the sword domain.
• Cui Tiegu explained that Bai Di’s domain power came from combining it with the true intent Like Shadow, Follow Form.
• Chu Ping'an planted his foot and took an unusual fist stance, gathering the qi and blood he had left.
• Chu Ping'an used Ants Shake the Tree to punch through Bai Di’s sword intent and sword domain, destroying nearly half of Bai Di’s body.

Xu Taiping’s punch revealed that his fist technique held true intent, while Bai Di survived the blow by using the Heavenly Silkworm Mystic Art to heal himself. As Bai Di closed in and threatened to kill Xu Taiping, he offered him a chance to admit defeat.

• Zhu Huai explained to Chu Yinan that Xu Taiping’s fist true intent let him unleash great power with little qi and blood, though using it drained divine soul power.
• Xu Taiping replenished some qi and blood by breathing as his Furnace Body Tempering Art refined the air.
• Bai Di escaped Xu Taiping’s attack and used the Heavenly Silkworm Mystic Art to restore his injured body.
• Bai Di approached Xu Taiping with his sword ready and admitted he had spent much of his true essence healing himself.
• Bai Di warned Xu Taiping that he could still kill him and told him to admit defeat if he wanted to live.

Xu Taiping defeated Bai Di by releasing the true essence he had kept suppressed, revealing strength far beyond what the spectators had expected. He asked Fairy Lingyue whether the spectacle was enough to draw Su Chan out, and considered drawing the Demon-Sealing Sword if it was not.

• Bai Di warned Xu Taiping that his final sword strike could not be stopped, while Xu Taiping refused to concede and the spectators urged him to save his strength.
• Fairy Lingyue reminded Zhao Linglong that Xu Taiping was also a blade cultivator and had not yet used his saber or much true essence.
• Bai Di thrust at Xu Taiping, who drew his saber and blasted Bai Di off the Sword Platform with a torrent of blade qi.
• Xu Taiping unleashed his true essence at full power, causing his aura to surge beyond that of many Heaven Gazing Realm cultivators.
• Xu Taiping secretly asked Fairy Lingyue whether the display would draw Su Chan out and offered to draw the Demon-Sealing Sword if needed.

Xu Taiping won the Sword Inquiry for the Heavenly Gang Group without using True Essence, drawing attention that Fairy Lingyue hoped would flush Su Chan out of hiding. The next day, Zhao Linglong brought news that Senior A Meng had returned and would compete in the Heavenly Punishment Star's Sword Inquiry in three days.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping not to draw the Mad Demon Sword, then explained to Zhao Linglong that his contest performance was meant to showcase his Qi and Blood and attract Su Chan's attention.
• Fairy Lingyue estimated that Xu Taiping could fight a cultivator newly entered into the Heaven Questioning Realm, while cautioning that combat strength varied widely.
• Elder Yu announced Chu Ping'an as the winner of the Sword Inquiry, and Fairy Lingyue hoped Su Chan's people would take the bait.
• The following day, Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue discussed the visitors gathering at their inn in Liuxian Town.
• Zhao Linglong arrived with news from her father that Senior A Meng had returned and was confirmed to compete in the Heavenly Punishment Star's Sword Inquiry in three days.

Xu Taiping and his companions learned that A Meng would enter the Sword Champion Assembly’s Heavenly Punishment Star group alongside Lin Qingnu, who was actually Taihao Sect Master Lin Qinggu. Three days later, at Heavenly Pearl Peak, Mu Yun explained that Lin Qingnu was one of three true bodies created by Lin Qinggu’s Corpse Liberation.

• The group welcomed news that A Meng might compete, but Fairy Lingyue warned that the Heavenly Punishment Star group also contained a formidable opponent.
• Zhao Linglong showed Xu Taiping that the group’s remaining challengers included A Meng and Lin Qingnu of the Taihao Sect.
• Fairy Lingyue and Zhao Linglong revealed that Lin Qingnu was Taihao Sect Master Lin Qinggu, leaving Xu Taiping puzzled about his assumed identity and eligibility.
• Three days later, Mu Yun brought Mu Yuchen and Ji Ye to watch the Heavenly Punishment Group’s Sword Inquiry matches at Heavenly Pearl Peak.
• Mu Yun explained that Lin Qingnu was one of three true bodies Lin Qinggu had formed through Corpse Liberation sixty years earlier after completing the Three Delusions Scripture.

Mu Yun explained to Mu Yuchen and Ji Ye how Lin Qinggu used the Three Delusions Scripture to create three true bodies through Corpse Liberation, and why Lin Qingnu was competing in the Sword Champion Assembly. Dongfang Yuejian and Monk Xuanzhi joined them, and Dongfang asked whether Mu Yun had found out where Daoist Taiping was.

• Mu Yun confirmed that Lin Qingnu was Lin Qinggu's second true body and described how Lin Qingpu had won the Azure Cloud Assembly Chief title.
• Mu Yun and Ji Ye explained that Lin Qinggu's three true bodies could help him achieve Dao Integration if they all broke through the Heaven Shocking Realm.
• Mu Yun explained that the Sword Chief Ranking gave Lin Qingnu a Sword Inquiry Token because it judged genuine cultivation and combat strength rather than identity.
• Dongfang Yuejian and Monk Xuanzhi arrived at the side room, and Dongfang asked Mu Yun whether he had asked the Azure Profound Sect about Daoist Taiping's whereabouts.

Mu Yun told Dongfang Yuejian that Xu Taiping remained missing, while the Sword Inquiry for the Heavenly Punishment Group was about to begin. Before taking her place in the match, Zhao Linglong asked Xu Taiping about his defiance of Heaven, and his answer strengthened her resolve; A Meng then arrived at the Sword Platform.

• Mu Yun said that the Azure Profound Sect and the Nine Prefectures had found no trace of Xu Taiping, and Master Xuanzhi reasoned that he was likely still alive.
• Zhou Nianchun announced the Heavenly Punishment Group's Sword Inquiry, and Mu Yun revealed that A Meng and Lin Qingnu were among its cultivators.
• Zhao Linglong prepared to join the Sword Inquiry and asked Xu Taiping why he had repeatedly charged the Heavenly Gate in the Mysterious Wasteland Tower.
• Xu Taiping said he had refused to accept the suffering of his friends and the people of Mysterious Wasteland Heaven, and that he wanted to be able to defy Heaven when his loved ones were threatened.
• Zhao Linglong understood Xu Taiping's answer, thanked him, and headed down to the Sword Platform.
• A Meng arrived at the Sword Inquiry seats as cultivators from True Martial Heaven called out to him.

A Meng’s arrival sparked a wager between rogue cultivators and sect disciples over whether he would win the Sword Inquiry against Lin Qingnu. Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue suspected someone was inflaming tensions, then detected a powerful cultivator whose Divine Soul pressure forced Xu Taiping to withdraw his perception.

• Rogue cultivators and sect disciples argued in the Spirit Mirror over whether A Meng or Cui Tiegu was True Martial Heaven’s greatest sword cultivator.
• Dong Yi wagered that sect and aristocratic clan disciples would admit A Meng had lost to Cui Tiegu if A Meng failed to win the Sword Inquiry, while rogue cultivators would kneel and apologize if A Meng won.
• Qian Xiaofu accepted Dong Yi’s wager on behalf of herself and invited other sect disciples to join.
• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue suspected Su Chan was fanning tensions and considered asking Zhao Linglong to investigate Dong Yi.
• A powerful cultivator’s Divine Soul pressure struck Xu Taiping’s perception, and Fairy Lingyue brushed it away and told him to withdraw his senses.

Lin Qingnu arrived at the Sword Inquiry venue, and his overwhelming pressure stunned spectators and revealed his fearsome strength. When Zhao Linglong was named the first challenger, she unexpectedly chose Lin Qingnu, leaving Xu Taiping shocked.

• Lin Qingnu arrived, and his pressure forced the Nine Prefectures to activate the stands' protective barrier.
• Ye Feiyu said Lin Qingnu had sealed away seventy percent of his pressure, and Fairy Lingyue judged his strength comparable to A Meng and Cui Tiegu.
• The Sword Inquiry cultivators took the platform, and the Sword Chief Ranking selected Zhao Linglong as the first challenger.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that Zhao Linglong had asked about her chances against Lin Qingnu.
• Zhao Linglong challenged Lin Qingnu, and Xu Taiping shattered his teacup in disbelief.

Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue suspected that someone had manipulated Zhao Linglong into challenging Lin Qingnu, but they decided not to use the Lotus Eye while the Sword Inquiry was underway. As Zhao Linglong and Lin Qingnu were sealed inside the Sword Platform, Sect Master Zhao Qian worried over her challenge and Dugu Qingxiao recalled that Lin Qingnu had seemed neither vicious nor bloodthirsty.

• Fairy Lingyue and Xu Taiping realized Zhao Linglong had known about Lin Qingnu for some time and suspected someone had pushed her to challenge him.
• Xu Taiping chose to use the Lotus Eye to investigate Zhao Linglong, but Fairy Lingyue advised him to wait because the challenge had begun and powerful figures were nearby.
• Bai Yu reminded Xu Taiping that Zhao Qian, the peak lords, and Dugu Qingxiao would protect Zhao Linglong.
• Lin Qingnu accepted Zhao Linglong’s challenge, and golden barriers enclosed the two cultivators on the Sword Platform.
• Zhao Qian angrily rebuked Zhao Linglong, while Jiang Zhi and Dugu Qingxiao persuaded him that she may only have wanted to spar.
• Dugu Qingxiao told Zhao Qian that Lin Qingnu and Lin Qingpu had seemed neither vicious nor bloodthirsty when he met them.

Zhao Linglong launched a carefully planned assault on Lin Qingnu during their Sword Inquiry match, surprising the spectators with her skill and hidden weapons. She ended the chapter with eight Fire-Armored Divine Generals surrounding him.

• Zhao Linglong ignored the spectators’ hopes that she would concede and attacked Lin Qingnu with her Immortal Silk.
• Lin Qingnu used a wind Cloud Talisman to deflect the silk, but Zhao Linglong reshaped it into a spear and drove it through the gale.
• Lin Qingnu stopped the spear with illusory bronze gates, but Zhao Linglong turned the silk back and revealed a hidden sword that shattered his protective light and sent him flying.
• Lin Qingnu summoned his flying sword and cut apart Zhao Linglong’s sword strike.
• Zhao Linglong summoned eight Fire-Armored Divine Generals around Lin Qingnu, stunning the spectators.

Zhao Linglong summoned eight Fire-Armored Divine Generals, but Lin Qingnu destroyed them with a single display of his sword-controlling skill. Rather than concede, Zhao Linglong began a powerful deity-summoning ritual that Fairy Lingyue recognized as Heaven and Earth Borrowing Law.

• Zhao Linglong unleashed eight Fire-Armored Divine Generals, who trapped Lin Qingnu in a barrage of fire spells.
• Lin Qingnu summoned Windfeather and used its sword gang to destroy all eight divine generals.
• Dugu Qingxiao explained that Lin Qingnu's sword-controlling art, rather than true intent or true essence, gave the strike its power.
• Zhao Linglong carved a deity-summoning talisman across the Sword Platform and began a lengthy incantation.
• Fairy Lingyue recognized Zhao Linglong's ritual as Heaven and Earth Borrowing Law, one of the Deity-Summoning Technique's three great origin laws.

Zhao Linglong used Heaven and Earth Borrowing Law to borrow the power of a Golden-Armored Divine General and fought off Lin Qingnu’s attacks. She then borrowed the Fire-Armored Divine General’s power and began calling on the Water-Armored Divine General, leaving spectators wondering if she intended to wield all Five Directions’ divine powers at once.

• Fairy Lingyue explained to Xu Taiping that Heaven and Earth Borrowing Law let a caster summon deities’ power for their own use.
• Lin Qingnu attacked Zhao Linglong with Windfeather, and she blocked the opening strike with her Life-Bound Immortal Silk while continuing to chant.
• Lin Qingnu empowered Windfeather with sword intent and sword gang, pierced the Immortal Silk, and drove his sword toward Zhao Linglong.
• Zhao Linglong borrowed the Golden-Armored Divine General’s power, whose golden light stopped Windfeather and strengthened her defenses.
• Zhao Linglong borrowed the Fire-Armored Divine General’s power, sending a wave of fire origin power that knocked Windfeather away.
• Zhao Linglong called on the Water-Armored Divine General, prompting spectators to wonder whether she would borrow the powers of all Five Directions’ Deities.

Zhao Linglong risked her body and soul by attempting to borrow the Water-Armored Divine General’s power for a third time, while Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue suspected she had foreseen Lin Qingnu’s strength. Lin Qingnu launched a powerful sword attack that began breaking through Zhao Linglong’s Golden-Armored defenses as she continued her summoning.

• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue worried that Zhao Linglong could be destroyed by borrowing the powers of three divine generals at once.
• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue inferred that Zhao Linglong knew the Golden-Armored and Wood-Armored powers would not be enough to fight Lin Qingnu.
• The Water-Armored Divine General’s power approached Zhao Linglong but burst apart before she could touch it.
• Zhao Linglong tried again to borrow the Water-Armored Divine General’s power.
• Lin Qingnu attacked Zhao Linglong with White Waves Upending the Heavens, piercing through her Fire-Armored protection and beginning to break apart her Golden-Armored defenses.

Zhao Linglong continued risking her life to borrow the Water Armor Deity’s power, while Xu Taiping prepared to use his Lotus Eye to find whoever he believed was forcing her. Ping'an revealed that Zhao Linglong was acting of her own will because she believed her family and the Azure Profound Sect would otherwise die.

• Xu Taiping prepared to open his Lotus Eye, but Dugu Qingxiao called for Zhao Linglong to stop and endured a thunder strike from the Sword Chief Ranking.
• Fairy Lingyue urged Xu Taiping to wait and see whether Dugu Qingxiao could persuade Zhao Linglong, but Zhao Linglong continued invoking the Water Armor Deity.
• Xu Taiping took out the gold essence stone again, but Ping'an told him he had heard Zhao Linglong's inner thoughts and that no one was forcing her.
• Zhao Qian and the Azure Profound Sect's peak lords called out to Zhao Linglong and endured thunder strikes, but she remained determined to continue.
• Ping'an shared Zhao Linglong's thoughts with Xu Taiping: she believed that stopping meant they would all die, and she was willing to risk being destroyed in order to save them.

Xu Taiping recognized Zhao Linglong’s Sword Inquiry as a trial of her Dao Heart and chose not to intervene, allowing her to keep fighting. As Lin Qingnu’s sword threatened to break her divine armor, Zhao Linglong prepared to sacrifice her primordial spirit, leaving Xu Taiping alarmed.

• Ping'an told Xu Taiping that Zhao Linglong’s resolve was stronger than he had ever seen, and Xu Taiping realized the Sword Inquiry was a trial of her Dao Heart.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue not to save Zhao Linglong, and Fairy Lingyue agreed to let her continue.
• Lin Qingnu’s Wind Feather Sword battered the Golden-Armored Divine General’s armor while Zhao Linglong tried to borrow the power of another divine ability.
• A sphere of water gathered above Zhao Linglong, but Lin Qingnu strengthened his sword intent and pierced more holes in the golden armor.
• Zhao Linglong’s inner thoughts urged her to offer up all the divine soul in her primordial spirit, and Xu Taiping cried out for her not to do anything foolish.

Zhao Linglong sacrificed her body and soul to borrow the power of three divine generals, then fought Lin Qingnu with overwhelming strength. As she tried to force him to reveal his Divine-Human Variant Bone, Xu Taiping learned from Fairy Lingyue that even the gods of Primordial Antiquity had begun as ordinary beings.

• Zhao Linglong used a soul-and-body-burning spell to call down the Five-Road Divine Lords and borrow the powers of the Golden Armor, Fire Armor, and Water Armor divine generals.
• Zhao Linglong attacked Lin Qingnu with her Fire Armor spear, but Lin Qingnu met the thrust with a sword strike that surprised the spectators.
• Zhao Linglong overwhelmed Lin Qingnu’s sword gang, pursued him across the Sword Platform, and punched him hard enough to separate him from his sword.
• Xu Taiping heard Zhao Linglong’s inner voice reveal that she needed to force Lin Qingnu to expose his Divine-Human Variant Bone.
• Xu Taiping asked Fairy Lingyue whether ordinary cultivators could develop that physique, and Fairy Lingyue explained that the ancient gods had once been ordinary living beings.

Zhao Linglong wielded the power of three Divine Generals against Lin Qingnu, enduring immense pain to force him to reveal his Divine-Human Variant Bone. Lin Qingnu countered with an earth Cloud Talisman and a Dharma Robe, then broke through her spear attack and unleashed a gale across the Sword Platform.

• Zhao Linglong used the combined power of three Divine Generals to break Lin Qingnu's sword technique and drive him onto the Sword Platform.
• Zhao Linglong attacked again despite the pain tearing at her body, while Lin Qingnu defended himself with an earth-element Cloud Talisman that summoned a mountain god's temple.
• Lin Qingnu realized Zhao Linglong's real aim was to force him to use his Divine-Human Variant Bone, but said she could not yet make him reveal it.
• Lin Qingnu's Cloud Talisman transformed into a Dharma Robe, and he turned into sword light that broke through Zhao Linglong's spear force and struck her chest.
• Lin Qingnu emerged from the clash, invoked the wind, and enveloped the Sword Platform in a gale.

Zhao Linglong revealed that she had used the Three Divine Generals to nurture the Junque Sword, forcing Lin Qingnu to unveil his Divine-Human Variant Bone. After Lin Qingnu shattered Junque and attacked her despite her concession, A Meng intervened, and the Sword Chief Ranking named him as the next challenger.

• Lin Qingnu unleashed his hidden sword strike, but Zhao Linglong laughed and revealed that she had used the Three Divine Generals to nurture Junque inside her Qi Mansion.
• Zhao Linglong launched Junque at Lin Qingnu, who activated his Divine-Human Variant Bone and shattered the sword with one palm.
• Zhao Linglong conceded, but Lin Qingnu continued attacking her and tore apart the protection of the Three Divine Generals.
• Fairy Lingyue rushed toward the Sword Platform as A Meng stepped in and met Lin Qingnu's sword with his own.
• The Sword Chief Ranking announced A Meng of the Pure Yang Sword Sect as the next challenger.

After Zhao Linglong survived her duel with Lin Qingnu, Xu Taiping learned that she had tried to force Lin to reveal his divine intent so A Meng would be prepared for the Sword Inquiry. He decided to use his Lotus Eye to find the person who had urged her to challenge Lin, but A Meng took the Sword Platform before Xu could open it.

• Bai Yu stirred up discussion about Lin Qingnu's strike and the Sword Chief Ranking's early announcement while Xu Taiping was relieved that Zhao Linglong had survived.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Lin Qingnu's Divine-Human Variant Bone could produce divine intent powerful enough to kill cultivators below the Heaven Shocking Realm.
• Xu Taiping realized Zhao Linglong had risked her life to make Lin reveal his divine intent, which Lin could unleash at most once during the Sword Inquiry.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue he wanted to find the person who had incited Zhao Linglong to challenge Lin, and she agreed to help him open his Lotus Eye.
• Elder Zhou announced that the Sword Platform's barrier had been repaired, and A Meng flew to the platform to choose his Sword Inquiry opponent.