Recaps

Xu Taiping and the abbots of the Five Chan Temples subdued the demonic beasts at Vairocana Temple, and the abbots mistook his departure for a sign that Kasyapa was displeased with them. Before Xu Taiping could explain, a Buddha appeared and ordered the Youyun Chan School to raise the Buddha Child to adulthood and resolve its karma before judgment.

• An old monk transformed into an asura and blasted the demonic beasts attacking Xu Taiping and the Buddha Child, while the other monks subdued the rest.
• Abbot Huiming checked that Xu Taiping and the Buddha Child were unharmed, then introduced Xu Taiping as the Heavenly Dharma Protector to the abbots of the Four Great Buddhist Temples.
• Xu Taiping said he would leave Cloud Emergence Kingdom, and the five abbots feared that Kasyapa had rejected their Chan School.
• Guangze knelt before Xu Taiping and begged him to tell the Ancient Buddha about the Chan School's plight.
• A Buddha appeared above Vairocana Temple and commanded the Youyun Chan School to raise the Buddha Child to adulthood and resolve its karma before receiving judgment.

Xu Taiping learned that Venerable Jiaye had used Ancient Buddha Kasyapa’s name to enlist him as the Heavenly Dharma Protector, then warned him that he faced deadly ill fortune within a hundred days. As Xu Taiping felt a strange brand burn on his hand, Fairy Lingyue revealed that she had gambled both their lives by bringing him to Youyun Heaven.

• Venerable Jiaye admitted that he had impersonated Ancient Buddha Kasyapa to command the abbots and explained that Xu Taiping’s Buddhist connection made him a useful messenger.
• Xu Taiping asked Venerable Jiaye to pay him for rescuing the Buddha Child, and Venerable Jiaye left him a Dhyana Seal with nine beads that each granted a hundred days of meditative absorption.
• Venerable Jiaye warned Xu Taiping that he would likely face life-threatening ill fortune within a hundred days.
• A burning pain appeared on Xu Taiping’s hand, and Fairy Lingyue told him to cover it without looking.
• Fairy Lingyue confessed that she had gambled both her life and Xu Taiping’s by bringing him to Youyun Heaven.

Fairy Lingyue explained that Xu Taiping needed Phoenix Marrow to overcome the Transformation Realm with mortal bones and planned to obtain it through her former role in the Abyssal Pavilion. The plan depended on a treasure from the Blood Rain Forest, but a mark from the One-Leaf Book revealed that its owner had discovered them.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that breaking through the Transformation Realm with mortal bones required an Ultimate Realm technique, a Life-Bound Immortal Weapon, and Phoenix Marrow.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Phoenix Marrow could be obtained from Phoenix Marrow Stones in the deadly Fire Prison Secret Realm.
• Fairy Lingyue revealed that she had been Yuezhu, Second Seat of the Abyssal Pavilion, and planned to offer Immortal Elder Wuji a treasure from the Blood Rain Forest in exchange for a Phoenix Marrow Stone.
• Xu Taiping promised to give his all at the Golden Scale Assembly to improve their chances of obtaining the treasure.
• Fairy Lingyue showed Xu Taiping a leaf-shaped brand on his hand and told him that the owner of the One-Leaf Book had discovered them.

Fairy Lingyue revealed that the One-Leaf Book would detect her in Youyun Heaven, making their plan a dangerous gamble. Xu Taiping chose to face the risk with her, and Lingyue sealed the brand on his hand to delay the Master of the One-Leaf Book’s pursuit.

• Fairy Lingyue admitted she had concealed that entering Youyun Heaven would let the One-Leaf Book detect her, and Xu Taiping understood why she had called their plan a huge gamble.
• Fairy Lingyue offered Xu Taiping a way to return to True Martial Heaven, but he chose to explore the path beyond the Transformation Realm with her.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that the One-Leaf Book would screen three thousand people over as long as three months, giving them time to reach Blood Rain Forest, perform Seed Burning, and plant the Earth Fruit.
• Fairy Lingyue sealed the eye-shaped brand on Xu Taiping’s hand, making the Master of the One-Leaf Book believe Xu Taiping had already been screened.

Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue discussed the danger posed by the Master of the One-Leaf Book and planned preparations for the Blood Rain Forest. Xu Taiping read Sect Master Zhao Qian’s letter and learned how the Seven Peaks had gathered money, treasures, and messages of goodwill for him.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that she could seal the One-Leaf Book’s imprint for only two or three months and warned him that the Master of the One-Leaf Book was nearly unmatched in Youyun Heaven.
• Fairy Lingyue urged Xu Taiping to perform Seed Burning for the Earth Fruit and reach the Blood Rain Forest within three months, using a Threefold True Fire Talisman instead of the Red Crow Golden Flame Fire.
• Xu Taiping proposed visiting the Southern Chu Kingdom’s trading house to buy the talisman and other supplies, and Fairy Lingyue reminded him that an Azure Profound Sect disciple had established a martial arts school there.
• Xu Taiping opened Sect Master Zhao Qian’s letter, which explained that Junior Martial Uncle had insisted he attend the Golden Scale Assembly and sound his sword there.
• Xu Taiping read that the Seven Peaks had pooled twenty thousand Gold Essence Coins and contributed pills, talismans, and other gifts, while Linglong had placed a Moonshadow Stone containing messages from the sect’s disciples.

After learning from the Azure Profound Sect's letter that the Mysterious Cloud Hall could shelter him in Youyun Heaven, Xu Taiping went to Southern Chu's Imperial Capital. He found the hall, only to discover that its master had just been thrown out by a challenger.

• Xu Taiping read that the Mysterious Cloud Hall was a martial hall in Youyun Heaven and that winning another match there could help his dying Junior Martial Uncle, so he decided to leave for Southern Chu's Imperial Capital with Fairy Lingyue.
• Two days later, Xu Taiping arrived in the Imperial Capital and asked a fox demon for directions to the Mysterious Cloud Hall.
• Xu Taiping gave the fox demon a Gold Essence Coin and headed toward the hall, intending to explain that he belonged to the Azure Profound Sect.
• Before Xu Taiping reached the entrance, a woman flew out of the Mysterious Cloud Hall and crashed into a wall.
• A bystander told Xu Taiping that the woman who had been thrown out was the master of the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall.

Xu Taiping learned from Auntie Sun why the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall had fallen into decline and how its remaining siblings were struggling to keep it open. After another loss, he turned his attention to the young man, just as the girl was thrown out of the hall again.

• Xu Taiping met Auntie Sun outside the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall and asked about its past.
• Auntie Sun explained that Zhou Guanxu abducted Princess Tiancheng and fled into the Blood Rain Forest, where Hall Master Lu Rushuang and her husband pursued them and never returned.
• Auntie Sun said that the hall's former disciples scattered, leaving Lu's adopted siblings to keep it running and face the city's annual challenges.
• Auntie Sun explained that a martial hall would be struck from the rolls after losing more than ten received challenges each year for three consecutive years.
• A refined young man was thrown from the hall after another defeat, and Auntie Sun warned Xu Taiping not to make trouble for the siblings.
• As Xu Taiping turned toward the young man, the girl was thrown from the hall again.

Xu Taiping rescued Lu Wen from Ma Wenxuan’s lethal attack and agreed to pose as a newly recruited martial master of Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall to avoid being charged with a street brawl. Ma Wenxuan then challenged him to face his towering senior brother.

• Ma Wenxuan accused Lu Yun of trying to seduce him and defeated Lu Wen when he attacked in anger.
• Ma Wenxuan prepared to kill the fallen Lu Wen, but Xu Taiping appeared and repelled his kick with a punch.
• Xu Taiping helped Lu Wen stand, and Lu Yun thanked him for saving her younger brother.
• Ma Wenxuan claimed Xu Taiping had started a street brawl, so Lu Yun said he was a martial master newly recruited by Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall.
• Ma Wenxuan challenged Xu Taiping to fight his nine-foot-tall senior brother, who threatened him.

Xu Taiping faced Jiang Wu in the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall’s challenge match, where defeat could lead to the hall being struck off the rolls. After Jiang Wu’s first punch drove him back, Xu Taiping caught the next punch with one hand, revealing that he also had a Martial Venerable Realm physique.

• Lu Yun and Lu Wen warned Xu Taiping about Jiang Wu’s strength and explained that the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall could lose its standing if it lost the match.
• Ma Wenxuan brought constables to witness the challenge and threatened to accuse Xu Taiping of pretending to join the hall if he conceded without fighting.
• Jiang Wu mocked Xu Taiping and launched a golden, forceful punch that Xu Taiping blocked with crossed arms, sending him sliding backward.
• Jiang Wu surged forward and struck again, but Xu Taiping caught his punch with one hand.
• Onlookers noticed Xu Taiping’s muscular physique and realized he had a Martial Venerable Realm physique too.

Xu Taiping used his awakened flood dragon physique to withstand Jiang Wu’s attacks and countered the Vajra Sky-Splitting Hammer with the Azure Ox Great Sage Fist. He shattered Jiang Wu’s hammer shadow, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Jiang Wu attacked Xu Taiping with a punch, but Xu Taiping blocked it without injury and caught both of Jiang Wu’s fists.
• Jiang Wu headbutted Xu Taiping, but the collision left Jiang Wu bleeding and Xu Taiping unharmed.
• Jiang Wu used Diamond Power to break free, then launched the Vajra Sky-Splitting Hammer at Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping answered with the Azure Ox Great Sage Fist’s Heaven-Rending Stance and shattered Jiang Wu’s hammer shadow.

Xu Taiping defeated Jiang Wu and Ma Wenxuan, but Dharma Master Chongde stepped in to fight for the Ma Family Martial Arts School. After learning Chongde was a disciple of Prajna Temple’s abbot Guangze, Xu Taiping paused to confirm something with a Sound Transmission Jade Disc.

• Xu Taiping battered Jiang Wu and Ma Wenxuan with the Heaven-Rending Stance, then sent them flying through the training hall’s doorway.
• Dharma Master Chongde caught Jiang Wu and Ma Wenxuan and dispelled Xu Taiping’s fist force with golden light.
• Ma Wenxuan offered to establish a Buddhist Hall, and Chongde agreed to fight for the Ma Family Martial Arts School.
• Chongde urged Xu Taiping to concede, but Xu Taiping asked which Chan temple Chongde had studied under.
• Chongde revealed that his master was the abbot of Prajna Temple, Guangze, and Xu Taiping took out a Sound Transmission Jade Disc to confirm something.

The five presiding abbots waited anxiously in Huiming’s meditation room for a message from the Heavenly Dharma Protector, who had traveled to Southern Chu. Guangze revealed Prajna Temple’s growing influence there, and the chapter ended as the Message Jade Disc lit up with an incoming message.

• Huiming tried to send the other abbots home, but they refused to leave until the Heavenly Dharma Protector contacted them.
• The abbots worried that the Heavenly Dharma Protector might be in danger in Southern Chu, where the Chan School had little Buddhist support and his avatar lacked the Asura Armor’s power.
• Guangze explained that Prajna Temple’s disciples had spread the Dharma in Southern Chu and that his disciple Chongyang led the Golden Saber Guard.
• Guangze revealed that Chongyang would command Southern Chu’s campaign against the Yaomo around Black Wind Ridge, potentially helping Prajna Temple establish a temple in the Imperial Capital.
• The Message Jade Disc began shining, and Guangze recognized that the Heavenly Dharma Protector had sent a message.

Xu Taiping alerted Abbot Guangze that Chongde had come to challenge his friend’s martial arts school, prompting Guangze to order Chongde not to trouble the school again. At the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall, Chongde prepared to fight, and Xu Taiping pointed out that Chongde’s messaging artifact was lighting up.

• Abbot Guangze learned that Chongde was a Prajna Temple disciple and offered him to Xu Taiping’s service.
• Xu Taiping explained that Chongde had come to challenge his friend’s martial arts school, and Guangze apologized and promised to speak with him.
• Xu Taiping asked Guangze to tell Chongde not to trouble his friend again, and Guangze summoned Chongde to receive his orders.
• At the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall, Ma Wenxuan and Jiang Wu dismissed Xu Taiping’s attempt to seek help, while Chongde warned he would not hold back.
• Xu Taiping told Chongde that the messaging artifact in his sleeve had lit up.

Xu Taiping’s status as a Dharma Protector forced Monk Chongde to withdraw from the challenge and seek a place at the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall. There, Lu Yun and Lu Wen recognized his Azure Profound Sect Token and entrusted him with a Jade Box their missing mother had left for a sect disciple.

• Monk Chongde received Guangze’s message identifying Xu Taiping as the Buddha Child’s Heavenly Dharma Protector, then apologized to Xu Taiping and withdrew from Ma Wenxuan’s challenge.
• Chongde asked to become a martial master at the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall, while Jiang Wu warned Ma Wenxuan not to provoke him.
• Xu Taiping showed Lu Yun and Lu Wen his Azure Profound Sect Token, and they recognized it as matching the one their mother had left them.
• Lu Yun explained that their mother, Lu Rushuang, had founded the martial hall to preserve her connection to the Azure Profound Sect and had gone missing while hunting a traitor in the Blood Rain Forest.
• Lu Yun gave Xu Taiping the Jade Box Lu Rushuang had left for an Azure Profound Sect disciple, saying its contents could help Qingxuan end its suffering.

Xu Taiping read his martial aunt’s letter and learned that the gold-colored object she had sent to Qingxuan was the key to breaking the Azure Profound Sect’s death trap and saving Lü Daoxuan. When the Lotus Eye transformed it into a Heaven-Sealing Stone, Fairy Lingyue recognized its importance, but Xu Taiping lost control of his body and One-Leaf Book’s brand appeared again.

• Xu Taiping opened the jade box with his Azure Profound Sect true essence and found a letter and a lump of gold.
• Xu Taiping read his martial aunt’s letter, which said the object had taken her centuries to find and could save Lü Daoxuan from the sect’s death trap.
• Fairy Lingyue asked Xu Taiping to let her examine the gold, but his Lotus Eye flared and transformed it into a purple-gold stone.
• Fairy Lingyue recognized the stone as a Heaven-Sealing Stone and told Xu Taiping to close his Lotus Eye, but he said he could not control it or move his body.
• Fairy Lingyue prepared to take control of Xu Taiping’s body, but One-Leaf Book’s brand appeared on the back of his hand.

Xu Taiping’s Lotus Eye consumed the Heaven-Sealing Stone, and Fairy Lingyue explained that it could help repair the Demon-Sealing Gate beneath Azure Profound Sect. After the eye sent Xu Taiping visions of the future, he feared that he would be killed in the coming days.

• The Heaven-Sealing Stone shattered and was absorbed by Xu Taiping’s left eye, leaving a tiny fragment behind.
• Fairy Lingyue explained the stone’s history and surmised that Xu Taiping’s Martial Aunt had sought it to repair the Demon-Sealing Gate beneath Azure Profound Sect.
• Xu Taiping worried that his eye had ruined the effort to save the sect, but Fairy Lingyue said the Earth Fruit could grow a complete stone if he reached the Transformation Realm.
• Xu Taiping resolved to make the Blood Rain Forest trip decisive for his cultivation breakthrough.
• A voice called the stone’s absorption a thank-you gift, and Xu Taiping saw visions of events that seemed to be in his future.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that he had seen someone kill him a few days from then.

Xu Taiping shared breakfast with Lu Yun and Lu Wen, confirming that his Lotus Eye showed possible futures rather than inevitable events. As he and Fairy Lingyue examined the seven deaths he had glimpsed, she recognized the Seven Tribulations Curse and explained that One-Leaf Book’s master had cursed all three thousand people he was screening.

• Xu Taiping split the porridge and meat patty with Lu Yun and Lu Wen, changing the scene his left eye had shown him.
• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue concluded that his Lotus Eye revealed possible futures and discussed the seven fatal calamities he had glimpsed.
• Fairy Lingyue realized that the Seven Tribulations Curse, a misfortune spell from One-Leaf Book, was behind the calamities.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that the curse did not mean One-Leaf Book’s master had found them; he had cursed all three thousand people he was screening.

Xu Taiping learned that the Seven Tribulations Curse might be countered by the calamities his left eye revealed, and he decided to face the danger awaiting him at the Relic-Seeking Studio to obtain the Coiling Dragon Tower. After helping Lu Yun with money for the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall, Xu Taiping was visited by Chongde.

• Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue realized his left eye’s seven calamities might help counter the Seven Tribulations Curse placed on three thousand people.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that cultivators would try to assassinate him after he visited the Relic-Seeking Studio, where he planned to buy a Coiling Dragon Tower.
• Fairy Lingyue identified the Coiling Dragon Tower as a possible Dragon-Trapping Tower, a rare treasure tied to a secret about True Dragons, and urged Xu Taiping to acquire it.
• Xu Taiping decided to visit the Relic-Seeking Studio rather than avoid the danger predicted by his left eye.
• Xu Taiping gave Lu Yun over a thousand Gold Essence Coins to help keep the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall running and asked to use it again that night.
• Chongde arrived at the courtyard gate and announced that he had come to visit Xu Taiping.

Xu Taiping went with Chongde to the Relic-Seeking Studio, where he recognized Qi Yu as the man from a vision who would later ambush him. On the third floor, he intervened in a dispute over a Crimson Flame Stone by offering a different stone to a young master and his maid.

• Xu Taiping and Chongde visited the Relic-Seeking Studio, where Xu Taiping bought herbs and supplies while Chongde reported his behavior to Abbot Guangze.
• Xu Taiping recognized Qi Yu as the man his left eye had shown leading an ambush against him, and Fairy Lingyue suggested marking him with a Divine Soul Mark.
• Xu Taiping saw Qi Yu's subordinate kick a young maid and knock a Crimson Flame Stone from her grasp.
• The maid's young master urged her to let the stone go, but Qi Yu mocked him and kept the stone.
• Xu Taiping approached the young master and his maid with another Crimson Flame Stone, offering them the chance to try it instead.

Xu Taiping drew attention to himself to help Fairy Lingyue place a Divine Soul Mark on Qi Yu, then sold a Crimson Flame Stone to the curious young master, who turned out to be a woman. At the auction, Xu Taiping learned that the Coiling Dragon Tower was needed by the Ancestor, and the disguised young woman revealed her identity beside him.

• Xu Taiping used a proposal to buy a Crimson Flame Stone to distract the crowd while Fairy Lingyue marked Qi Yu with a Divine Soul Mark.
• The handsome young master returned and insisted on buying Xu Taiping's stone, agreeing to split any treasure fifty-fifty despite Qing'er's objections.
• The attendant opened the Crimson Flame Stone and revealed a short saber with the aura of a Heaven Rank Spirit Treasure, drawing astonished cries from the crowd.
• At the Relic-Seeking Studio auction, Chongde asked Xu Taiping to take him stone-seeking, then the auctioneer announced the Coiling Dragon Tower among the lots.
• Fairy Lingyue's mark transmitted that the Ancestor needed the Coiling Dragon Tower, and the young woman beside Xu Taiping revealed she was the young master in disguise.

Xu Taiping learned that Chu Xiaoxiao was a princess with a gambling habit and agreed to advise her during the Relic-Seeking Studio sale. He planned to drain Qi Yu’s funds before bidding on the Dragon-Trapping Tower, and the first item was introduced.

• Xu Taiping sensed that Young Master Cao’s aura had changed and learned that she was Chu Xiaoxiao, the daughter of the emperor’s third uncle.
• Monk Chongde told Xu Taiping that Chu Xiaoxiao collected antiques and had once gambled away much of her family’s estate.
• Chu Xiaoxiao told her maid Qing’er that Xu Taiping was her benefactor and asked him to join forces during the sale.
• Xu Taiping declined to bid alongside Chu Xiaoxiao but offered to advise her, while planning to reduce Qi Yu’s funds before the Dragon-Trapping Tower auction.
• The Head Shopkeeper announced a Heaven Rank Golden Body Talisman as the sale’s first item and opened its Jade Box, releasing powerful aura fluctuations.

Xu Taiping manipulated the auction to drain Qi Yu’s funds while helping Chu Xiaoxiao win several treasures, then prepared to bid on the Coiling Dragon Tower himself. As Qi Yu believed he still had nearly thirty thousand Gold Essence Coins, Xu Taiping asked Chongde how much the Qi Household could raise at most.

• Chu Xiaoxiao bid against Qi Yu for the Heaven Rank Golden Body Talisman until the Qi Household bought it for three thousand seven hundred Gold Essence Coins.
• Xu Taiping let Chu Xiaoxiao win four or five later treasures at fair prices, further reducing Qi Yu’s funds.
• Chu Xiaoxiao asked Xu Taiping not to stop her if Qi Yu competed for the next item, but Xu Taiping said he needed to bid on it himself.
• Qi Yu told Xu Taiping that only the Coiling Dragon Tower remained on the Ancestor’s list and that the Qi Household still had nearly thirty thousand Gold Essence Coins.
• Xu Taiping asked Chongde about the Qi Household’s resources, and Chongde said fifty thousand Gold Essence Coins was likely its maximum available at once.

Xu Taiping bid aggressively against Qi Yu for the Coiling Dragon Tower, despite Chongde and Qing'er warning him not to get drawn into a price war. He raised his offer to thirty thousand Gold Essence Coins, leaving Qi Yu stunned as the auction continued.

• The Relic-Seeking Studio offered the Coiling Dragon Tower with a minimum bid of ten thousand Gold Essence Coins, and Qi Yu bid eleven thousand for the Qi Household.
• Xu Taiping bid twenty thousand Gold Essence Coins, prompting Qi Yu to accuse him of deliberately opposing the Qi Household.
• Chongde defended Xu Taiping, who confirmed he could pay the auction price on the spot.
• Qi Yu raised the bid to twenty-one thousand Gold Essence Coins and challenged Xu Taiping to bid again.
• Despite warnings from Chongde and Qing'er, Xu Taiping bid thirty thousand Gold Essence Coins, freezing Qi Yu's smile.

Xu Taiping outbid Qi Yu for the Coiling Dragon Tower and proved he could pay thirty thousand Gold Essence Coins, forcing Qi Yu and his men to leave the Relic-Seeking Studio. Outside, Qi Yu arranged an ambush with his uncles and the Qi Household’s Black-Robed Guards to kill Xu Taiping and reclaim the tower.

• Xu Taiping raised his bid for the Coiling Dragon Tower to thirty thousand Gold Essence Coins, enraging Qi Yu, who could afford only twenty-seven thousand.
• Qi Yu accused Xu Taiping of disrupting the auction and pressured the Head Shopkeeper to demand proof that Xu Taiping could pay.
• Xu Taiping agreed to show his funds on the condition that Qi Yu and his men leave if he proved his bid was genuine.
• Xu Taiping poured out thirty thousand Gold Essence Coins, and the Head Shopkeeper ordered Qi Yu and his men to leave the Relic-Seeking Studio.
• Qi Yu stationed his men around the Relic-Seeking Studio and contacted his Third Uncle to gather Fourth Uncle, Fifth Uncle, and the Black-Robed Guards for an ambush on Xu Taiping.

Xu Taiping stocked up on talismans, pills, and other supplies for his perilous journey to the Blood Rain Forest, then sent a clone to test a trap laid by the Qi Household. He told Monk Chongde that he had only a one-in-ten chance of surviving the journey, leaving the monk to fear that Xu Taiping intended to confront the Blood Demon Ancestor.

• Xu Taiping spent nearly twenty thousand Gold Essence Coins on supplies for the Blood Rain Forest, including powerful Heaven Rank talismans and materials for Bone-Regenerating Pills.
• Xu Taiping created a clone, gave it the Heaven Rank Bone-Freezing Talisman, and sent it downstairs to test the Qi Household's trap.
• Xu Taiping told Monk Chongde he was going to the Blood Rain Forest to find something he needed and refused the monk's offer of help.
• Xu Taiping used his clone to rescue a girl and her grandfather from a speeding carriage, avoiding the Qi Household's planned ambush.
• Monk Chongde heard that Xu Taiping had only a one-in-ten chance of survival and feared he was going to kill the Blood Demon Ancestor.