Recaps

Xu Taiping used the Ice Breath Art to freeze the Fire-Patterned Python in the pool, allowing the dying Mountain-Lifting Ape to kill it. Before leaving Bamboo Creek Valley with the Fire Spirit Mushroom, Xu Taiping agreed to find the ape’s child and returned carrying a Little Snow Monkey.

• The Fire-Patterned Python dragged the Mountain-Lifting Ape toward the pool, and Xu Taiping planned to lure it away from the ape.
• Fairy Lingyue lifted the concealment over Xu Taiping, prompting the Fire-Patterned Python to attack him.
• Xu Taiping froze the python’s lower body and the pool with the Ice Breath Art.
• The Mountain-Lifting Ape used its remaining strength to smash the frozen Fire-Patterned Python’s head, then collapsed.
• The Mountain-Lifting Ape asked Xu Taiping to find its child in the western mountain forest, and Xu Taiping went to look.
• Xu Taiping returned to Bamboo Creek Valley carrying a docile Little Snow Monkey.

Xu Taiping took in the little monkey Ping'an after the Mountain-Lifting Ape died, and received a rare Ice Soul Moon Spirit Stone from the dying ape. With Fairy Lingyue's guidance, he planted the Earth Treasury Fruit and prepared for its third transformation, while planning how to earn more Merit Coins.

• Xu Taiping brought the little monkey to the dying Mountain-Lifting Ape, who asked him to care for his child and offered a soul contract for one jiazi of service.
• The little monkey agreed to stay with Xu Taiping, who forged the soul contract and received an Ice Soul Moon Spirit Stone from the Mountain-Lifting Ape before burying him.
• Xu Taiping named the little monkey Ping'an and brought him home to Green Bamboo Abode, where Ping'an ate and fell asleep.
• Fairy Lingyue guided Xu Taiping in placing items in three directional holes in the medicine garden, then he planted the Earth Treasury Fruit in the main hole to ripen over three months.
• Xu Taiping counted his remaining Merit Coins and decided to plant more valuable medicinal herbs to cover his cultivation expenses.

Three months after planting the transformed Earth Treasury Fruit, Xu Taiping tended his Medicine Garden and waited for Fairy Lingyue to awaken. As he visited the three gourds with Ping'an, the Azure Gourd spoke in Lingyue’s voice, leaving Xu Taiping delighted that she had finally woken.

• Xu Taiping spent three months practicing, cultivating his Medicine Garden, and teaching Little Monkey Ping'an while his qi sea remained unformed.
• Xu Taiping calculated that his snow-root he shouwu harvest could earn him around fourteen hundred Merit Coins and planned to refine Qi-Gathering Pills from his other herbs.
• Little Monkey Ping'an told Xu Taiping that a Cloud Tower Society recruiter had returned, and Xu Taiping told Ping'an to refuse the group and stay inside the courtyard.
• Xu Taiping took Ping'an to the Back Courtyard to check the three gourds, expecting Fairy Lingyue to awaken that night.
• The Azure Gourd spoke in Fairy Lingyue's voice, and Xu Taiping greeted her happily.

Xu Taiping learned that the Cloud Tower Society had kidnapped Little Monkey Ping'an and demanded he come to Peach Garden Ridge, likely to seize the valuable herbs in his medicine garden. He waited for Fairy Lingyue's gourds to ripen so he could take their treasures before confronting them, and Fairy Lingyue emerged from the Azure Gourd that night.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping she needed another day or two for the gourds to ripen, and Xu Taiping returned to cultivation while Little Monkey Ping'an played in the courtyard.
• A middle-aged man from the Cloud Tower Society lured Little Monkey Ping'an with a spirit peach, knocked him unconscious, and left a letter demanding Xu Taiping come to Peach Garden Ridge within three days.
• Xu Taiping found the letter and told Fairy Lingyue about the kidnapping and the Cloud Tower Society's repeated invitations.
• Fairy Lingyue suspected the Cloud Tower Society wanted the medicinal herbs in Xu Taiping's garden and advised him to collect the gourd treasures before going to Peach Garden Ridge.
• At midnight, the Azure Gourd dropped from the vine, and Fairy Lingyue emerged from it in a translucent form.

Fairy Lingyue explained the Azure Gourd’s growing storage space and revealed that Xu Taiping’s newly fallen Fire Gourd contained a dragon gall stone. The discovery suggested a true dragon had once lived beneath the mountains, and Fairy Lingyue marveled at finding such a rare treasure in a spiritually barren land.

• Xu Taiping learned that the Azure Gourd’s inner space could expand as Fairy Lingyue recovered and could eventually hold living creatures.
• A red, flame-patterned Fire Gourd fell from the vine and drifted into Xu Taiping’s arms.
• Xu Taiping opened the Fire Gourd, releasing scorching spiritual qi and a roar like a dragon’s cry.
• Fairy Lingyue concluded that a true dragon had once appeared in the mountains and explained that dragons had mostly left the Lower Realm for the Upper Realm.
• Xu Taiping poured out an egg-sized bead, and Fairy Lingyue identified it as a rare dragon gall stone that could be steeped in wine to boost cultivation and nourish the divine soul.

Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue learned that Dragon Gall Wine could accelerate cultivation and nourish medicinal herbs, though it was dangerous and scarce. The third treasure from the Earth Fruit was the Azure Luan Ring, whose defensive power Xu Taiping demonstrated before preparing to test its three offensive techniques.

• Fairy Lingyue explained Dragon Gall Wine's limited supply, its benefits, and the danger of drinking too much, while Xu Taiping planned to start with half a cup.
• Fairy Lingyue and Xu Taiping watched the third gourd fall, and Xu Taiping opened it to release a silver light that became a ring on his finger.
• Xu Taiping identified the ring as the Azure Luan Ring, an upper-grade Spirit Artifact with the divine essence of the ancient Azure Luan as its ring spirit.
• Xu Taiping activated the ring's defensive power, forming a wind wall that stayed around him as he moved and practiced Green Ox Fist.
• Xu Taiping described the ring's three offensive techniques, and Fairy Lingyue urged him to try them.

Xu Taiping tested the Azure Luan Ring’s powerful attack and learned about the three gourds before visiting Peach Garden Ridge to confront Mr. Yashan over his stolen monkey. Mr. Yashan claimed the monkey had come willingly to enjoy his Spirit Fruit, and Xu Taiping demanded it back.

• Xu Taiping used the Azure Luan Ring to pierce a cloud with a Wind Blade, but exhausted his True Qi before he could test its two-finger attack.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that the Iron Gourd could nurture weapons and that Xu Taiping would need to strengthen it before it could hold more than one.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue he planned to visit Peach Garden Ridge, and she readily agreed.
• The next day, Xu Taiping entered the Guest-Retaining Abode and kept a Golden Bell Talisman ready as he met Mr. Yashan.
• Xu Taiping asked why Mr. Yashan had taken his monkey, and Mr. Yashan claimed he had only brought it to enjoy the garden’s Spirit Fruit.
• Xu Taiping held out his hand and demanded that Mr. Yashan return the monkey.

Xu Taiping confronted Mr. Yashan and recovered Little Monkey Ping'an, but Yashan and two maids ambushed him as he tried to leave. Xu Taiping broke through their attacks, and Yashan called in more hidden attackers at Peach Blossom Ridge.

• Xu Taiping refused to join the Cloud Tower Society and demanded that Mr. Yashan return Little Monkey Ping'an.
• Mr. Yashan returned the monkey, but Fairy Lingyue warned Xu Taiping of an attack as he approached the courtyard gate.
• Mr. Yashan and the two maids attacked Xu Taiping, who used Golden Bell Talismans to block their strikes.
• Xu Taiping realized Yashan was using an invisibility artifact and used his Azure Luan Ring's Wind Wall to break Yashan's sword before counterattacking.
• Yashan escaped Xu Taiping's saber strike with a jade pendant and summoned four or five hidden attackers into the courtyard.

Xu Taiping defeated Master Yashan and the Cloud Tower Society cultivators who ambushed him, then learned they had targeted him for his medicinal herbs. After disposing of the evidence and taking their belongings, he returned to the Green Bamboo Abode and prepared to test the Dragon Gall Wine.

• Xu Taiping used Mountain Shatter to kill four attackers, beat Master Yashan, and forced him to explain that a West Wind Pavilion disciple had revealed Xu Taiping’s valuable medicinal herbs.
• Master Yashan admitted the attack had been his own idea and surrendered the Concealment Grass, which could hide its holder three times a day for ten breaths each time.
• Xu Taiping asked about joining the Cloud Tower Society, then killed Master Yashan rather than leave a potential threat alive.
• With Fairy Lingyue’s guidance, Xu Taiping cleaned the courtyard, hid the bodies in the gourd, and collected talismans and six hundred Merit Coins.
• Two days after returning to the Green Bamboo Abode, Xu Taiping poured a cup of Dragon Gall Wine and asked Fairy Lingyue whether he should drink it.

Xu Taiping used Dragon Gall Wine to improve his cultivation and spent two years mastering his arts, while Fairy Lingyue taught Ping'an the Ape Demon Art. On the eve of Xu Taiping’s planned breakthrough to the Nether Gazing Realm, the wounded Bai Yu crashed outside his courtyard and warned him not to approach.

• Xu Taiping drank Dragon Gall Wine, settled his surging Qi and Blood with the Setting Sun Glow Art, and found that he could absorb far more Heavens Spiritual Energy.
• Ping'an licked the wine cup, passed out, and was taken by Fairy Lingyue into her gourd to learn the Ape Demon Art.
• Over two years, Xu Taiping reached Great Completion in the Gate Opening Realm and mastered several martial arts, while Ping'an nearly reached Minor Completion in the Ape Demon Art.
• Xu Taiping prepared to break through to the Nether Gazing Realm before the selection, and Fairy Lingyue promised to protect him from an Otherworldly Heavenly Demon.
• On a stormy night before the breakthrough, Bai Yu crashed into the mud outside Xu Taiping’s courtyard, badly wounded, and warned Xu Taiping not to approach.

Bai Yu escaped the massacre of the White-Headed Eagle Clan and sought Xu Taiping’s help, revealing that West Wind Pavilion and the Peacock King had attacked his clan. Xu Taiping hid Bai Yu in the Azure Gourd and deceived the Peacock King, then asked Bai Yu to explain what had happened in Wind, Come Valley.

• Bai Yu told Xu Taiping that West Wind Pavilion and the Peacock King had ambushed his mother and slaughtered the White-Headed Eagle Clan, leaving him as the only known survivor.
• Fairy Lingyue urged Xu Taiping to hide Bai Yu in the Azure Gourd, and Xu Taiping drew him inside as the Peacock King approached.
• Xu Taiping told the Peacock King that the wounded white-headed eagle had flown away, and the Peacock King left after finding no trace of Bai Yu.
• The next day, Bai Yu learned Xu Taiping had saved him with the Azure Gourd and agreed to keep its secret.
• Xu Taiping asked Bai Yu to explain what had happened in Wind, Come Valley.

Xu Taiping learned that West Wind Pavilion and the Peacock King had attacked Wind, Come Valley, seized Bai Yu’s mother, and claimed control of the valley and its trade routes. After hearing that the White-Headed Eagle Queen Night Sparrow would be publicly executed in seven days, Bai Yu begged Xu Taiping to help him see her once and offered to serve him for sixty years.

• Bai Yu told Xu Taiping that West Wind Pavilion and the Peacock King had ambushed the White-Headed Eagle Clan, captured his mother, and left the clan’s forces scattered.
• Liu Songshan used the Wind-Speaking Great Yellow Bell to declare that the White-Headed Eagles had rebelled and offered rewards for killing or reporting escaped clan members.
• Bai Yu asked Xu Taiping to take him to West Wind Pavilion, but Xu Taiping refused to betray his friend for Merit Coins.
• Liu Songshan announced that the Cloud Ridge Peacock Clan would manage Wind, Come Valley and share oversight of Western Mountain’s trade with West Wind Pavilion.
• Liu Songshan revealed that Night Sparrow was alive but would be publicly executed in seven days, and Bai Yu tried to rush to her rescue before Xu Taiping pulled him back into the Azure Gourd.
• Bai Yu pleaded to see his mother once and offered to form a Soul Contract and serve Xu Taiping for sixty years.

Xu Taiping decided to help Bai Yu find a way to see her mother, and Fairy Lingyue urged him to follow his true heart while preparing to break through to the Nether Gazing Realm. As his breakthrough reached its final stage, the Otherworldly Heavenly Demon appeared, and Fairy Lingyue summoned a Golden Armor Warrior to attack it.

• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that he would think of a way to help Bai Yu, and she advised him not to abandon his true heart.
• Fairy Lingyue agreed to let Xu Taiping attempt a breakthrough to the Nether Gazing Realm but warned him not to take the risk if he failed that night.
• Xu Taiping swallowed a Foundation Establishment Pill and began condensing his true qi into a Qi Sea.
• As Xu Taiping reached the final step, an Otherworldly Heavenly Demon reached into the room through the window.
• Fairy Lingyue summoned a Golden Armor Warrior, which struck the demon's arm with a whip and saber.

After Xu Taiping established his foundation, the Azure Luan Ring protected him from an Otherworldly Heavenly Demon. Five days later, he reached Star-Viewing Cliff with Bai Yu to help him see his imprisoned mother, and began sneaking down toward Cinnabar Dawn Terrace.

• The Azure Luan emerged from Xu Taiping's ring, devoured the Otherworldly Heavenly Demon's skeletal arm, and drove the demon away.
• Xu Taiping experienced the benefits of reaching the Nether Gazing Realm, including a vast Qi Sea that replenished his True Essence.
• Xu Taiping and Bai Yu traveled toward Wind, Come Valley, planning to see Bai Yu's mother and escape through a secret passage beneath Star-Viewing Cliff.
• At Star-Viewing Cliff, Xu Taiping and Bai Yu saw Bai Yu's mother, a White-Headed Eagle, chained on Cinnabar Dawn Terrace.
• Xu Taiping used Concealing Form Grass to hide himself and descended the cliff toward the execution terrace.

Xu Taiping and Bai Yu secretly visited Bai Yu’s imprisoned mother, Night Sparrow, on Cinnabar Dawn Terrace. As Night Sparrow began transferring her Origin Demon Blood and Demon Core to Bai Yu, the Peacock King arrived, and Night Sparrow urged Xu Taiping to escape with her daughter.

• Xu Taiping hid beneath Night Sparrow’s wing and revealed that he had brought Bai Yu to see her.
• Night Sparrow warned Xu Taiping that the Peacock King would soon inspect the terrace, while Xu Taiping said he and Bai Yu had an escape route.
• Night Sparrow asked Xu Taiping to wait while she transferred her Origin Demon Blood and Demon Core to Bai Yu, and Xu Taiping agreed.
• Night Sparrow swallowed Bai Yu and began the painful transfer as Xu Taiping watched over them.
• The Peacock King arrived and threatened Night Sparrow and Bai Yu, so Night Sparrow told Xu Taiping to take Bai Yu and flee while she held him off.

Xu Taiping fought the Peacock Demon guards while Fairy Lingyue prepared to take control of his body and confront the Peacock King. She possessed him just in time to dodge the Peacock King's strike and send it tumbling through the air with a single punch.

• Xu Taiping told Night Sparrow to continue passing demon blood to Bai Yu while he held off the Peacock King.
• Xu Taiping fought the Peacock Demon guards with his saber, talismans, and arrows as the Peacock King descended to attack him.
• Xu Taiping struck the Peacock King with Azure Luan Ring Two-Finger Mountain Shatter, but its metallic wings blocked the attack.
• Fairy Lingyue took control of Xu Taiping's body, dodged the Peacock King's wing strike, and punched it tumbling through the air.

Fairy Lingyue took control of Xu Taiping and battered the Peacock King with saber strikes and Thousandfold Force, teaching Xu Taiping how to use the technique. After Xu Taiping tried a weaker version himself, Lingyue reclaimed control and struck the Peacock King with another devastating punch.

• Fairy Lingyue controlled Xu Taiping and drove the Peacock King to the ground with powerful saber strikes, then cut apart his feather-arrow attack and wounded his wings.
• When the Fine Steel Saber shattered, Fairy Lingyue switched to punches and explained that Thousandfold Force gathered hundreds or thousands of blows into one strike.
• The Peacock King ignited his qi and blood and attacked, so Fairy Lingyue used a golden palm spell to pin him down, consuming more than half of Xu Taiping's true essence.
• Fairy Lingyue yielded control, and Xu Taiping managed to merge three punches into one against the Peacock King's wing.
• After the Peacock King mocked Xu Taiping's weakened strike, Fairy Lingyue took control again and hit him with Thousandfold Force, making him scream in pain.

Fairy Lingyue used the Azure Luan Ring to drive off Elder Black Dragon, while Xu Taiping rescued Bai Yu after Night Sparrow died. Back at Green Bamboo Abode, Bai Yu gave Xu Taiping a half Teleportation Token that Fairy Lingyue identified as a route to the Youyun Continent.

• Fairy Lingyue battered the Peacock King and used the Azure Luan Ring to block Elder Black Dragon’s attack, cutting off one of his talons.
• Xu Taiping found Night Sparrow dead and rescued Bai Yu before Fairy Lingyue took him through the secret passage.
• Xu Taiping returned to Green Bamboo Abode and evaded the cultivators searching for the robber.
• Bai Yu gave Xu Taiping a half Teleportation Token from his mother, and Fairy Lingyue identified it as leading to the Youyun Continent.

Xu Taiping accepted the Teleportation Token from Bai Yu and agreed to become his brother after Bai Yu chose to form a sixty-year soul contract with him. Fairy Lingyue explained that martial artists could rival cultivators and praised Xu Taiping’s progress in body tempering, promising to teach him an ancient Human Sovereign method after he went up the mountain.

• Fairy Lingyue described the dangerous, treasure-filled Youyun Continent and explained that the broken Teleportation Token’s pieces could sense one another.
• Xu Taiping accepted the Teleportation Token from Bai Yu, who remained grief-stricken over his mother’s death.
• Bai Yu offered Xu Taiping his origin demon blood and vowed to become his spirit pet for sixty years; Xu Taiping said they would be brothers instead of master and servant.
• Xu Taiping practiced Thousandfold Force, and Fairy Lingyue explained that accomplished martial artists could match cultivators.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue he had practiced her Body-Tempering Method and worn its weights for two years, so she promised to teach him an ancient Human Sovereign method after he went up the mountain.

Xu Taiping chose the Mist-Borrowing Technique for the coming Seven Peaks Selection, and Fairy Lingyue revealed that it could eventually be refined into the powerful Mist Escape Method. Two months later, Zhao Linglong brought Dugu Qingxiao news that Xu Taiping was still alive.

• Xu Taiping asked Fairy Lingyue to help him choose a spell, and he settled on the Mist-Borrowing Technique to support his aggressive fighting style and help him escape danger.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that the Mist-Borrowing Technique came from the Water Element Escape Technique and promised to teach Xu Taiping how to refine it into the true Mist Escape Method.
• Xu Taiping resolved to win the Seven Peaks Selection and continued his daily cultivation despite the pain and exhaustion.
• Two months later, Zhao Linglong rushed to Dugu Qingxiao on the Seventh Peak and excitedly announced that Xu Taiping was still alive.
• Dugu Qingxiao recognized Xu Taiping as the boy from Green Ox Village and was startled by the news.

Zhao Linglong and Dugu Qingxiao learned that Xu Taiping had survived and entered the Seven Peaks Selection, and they planned to help him remain in the sect even if he failed. On the first day of the Four Mountains Assembly, Xu Taiping arrived at West Wind Pavilion to register and was approached by a burly, bald man.

• Zhao Linglong found Xu Taiping's name on the Seven Peaks Selection roster and told Dugu Qingxiao he was still alive.
• Zhao Linglong and Dugu Qingxiao agreed to ask their master to let Xu Taiping stay in the sect if he did not pass the selection.
• Dugu Qingxiao explained the stages of the Seven Peaks Selection and offered to seek a Mountain Patrol Mirror so they could watch the Dragon Gate Assembly.
• On the ninth day of the first month, Xu Taiping registered at West Wind Pavilion for the Four Mountains Assembly and received lot C twenty-seven.
• A burly, bald man slung an arm around Xu Taiping and asked if he had come for the Seven Peaks Selection.

Xu Taiping discovered that his first opponent at the Four Mountains Assembly was Sun Hu, who mocked his appearance and expected an easy victory. After watching Elder Qin defeat Manor Lord Zhao with Transforming Force, Xu Taiping received Fairy Lingyue’s advice about speed and was called into the arena.

• Xu Taiping found that his opponent in the Xuan-Character Arena was Sun Hu, who joined the other contestants in teasing him.
• Xu Taiping ignored Sun Hu’s taunts and waited with him beside the arena for their match.
• Elder Qin used Transforming Force to defeat Manor Lord Zhao and send him flying out of the arena.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that Elder Qin had only scratched the surface of Transforming Force and advised him that speed was unbreakable.
• The examiner called Xu Taiping and Sun Hu into the arena.

Xu Taiping defeated Sun Hu with a single punch in the Four Mountains Assembly and advanced to the top one hundred and twelve. News of the fifteen-year-old’s victory reached Zuo Ju and Zhou Gu, who learned his name was Xu Taiping.

• Sun Hu leaped onto the arena platform while Xu Taiping climbed the stairs, drawing mockery from Sun Hu’s companions.
• Xu Taiping took the Green Ox Fist stance and prepared to fight Sun Hu seriously.
• After the examiner began the match, Xu Taiping rushed forward and broke Sun Hu’s Protective Gang Qi with Ox Horn Crashes the Mountain, sending him flying off the platform.
• The examiner declared Xu Taiping the winner over Sun Hu and advanced him to the top one hundred and twelve.
• A roving examiner told Zuo Ju and Zhou Gu that a fifteen-year-old had badly injured Sun Hu with one punch, then identified the victor as Xu Taiping.

Zhou Gu and Zuo Ju arranged for Xu Taiping to face Qin Yuan in the next Four Mountains Assembly round, hoping to eliminate him. After Fairy Lingyue revealed their scheme, Xu Taiping chose to fight rather than expose them, and the chapter ended as he learned Qin Yuan would be his opponent.

• Zhou Gu and Zuo Ju recognized Xu Taiping and discussed their resentment over their lost posts at Raging Wind Hall.
• Zhou Gu proposed tampering with the match assignments so Xu Taiping would face Qin Yuan, and Zuo Ju agreed.
• Fairy Lingyue overheard their plan and relayed it to Xu Taiping, who decided to face Qin Yuan without reporting them.
• The next round's assignments were announced, and Xu Taiping learned he would fight Qin Yuan.

Xu Taiping faced Qin Yuan in the arena, dodging the elder’s surprise attack and forcing him to reveal his Unfalling Art. Qin Yuan evaded Xu Taiping’s attacks and countered by knocking him backward, taunting him about his slow saber and weak fists.

• Fairy Lingyue warned Xu Taiping that Qin Yuan might have arranged their matchups in advance and urged him to stay alert.
• Xu Taiping entered the arena with Wind Shadow Step, impressing the spectators with his profound true qi.
• After the match began, Qin Yuan launched a sudden palm strike, but Xu Taiping dodged and drove him backward with an Ox Horn Crashes the Mountain punch.
• Xu Taiping pursued Qin Yuan with another punch and several saber strikes, while Qin Yuan used the Unfalling Art to evade them.
• Qin Yuan caught Xu Taiping’s wrist, slammed his shoulder into Xu Taiping’s chest, and taunted him for being too slow and too soft.