Recaps

Xu Taiping used the sword art Ninth Uncle had taught him to break through the Third Prince’s Heavenly Light Sword Shadows. After naming his final strike Remove Armor, he defeated the Third Prince but remained conscious while awaiting the match’s result, and a heavenly voice declared that his sword strike deserved a reward.

• Xu Taiping drank Dragon Gall Wine and used verses from “Letter on Mourning the Ancient Battlefield” to hold back the Third Prince’s Heavenly Light Sword Shadows.
• The Third Prince drove his sword down with all his strength, but Xu Taiping continued writing and reciting as the golden words gathered overhead.
• Xu Taiping completed the final line, “What can be done? Keep watch at the four frontiers,” and joined the resulting colossal golden sword.
• Xu Taiping named his strike Remove Armor and plunged with the golden sword into the Heavenly Light Sword Shadows, overcoming the Third Prince’s attack.
• Nearly depleted, Xu Taiping stayed awake because the match’s outcome had not been announced, as a golden finger touched his forehead and a heavenly voice praised his strike.

Xu Taiping shattered Third Prince Chu Yinan’s Heavenly Light Sword Shadows with a slash taught by Lü Daoxuan, then received Emperor Youyun’s blessing for his extraordinary performance. The blessing healed his wounds and restored his blood, vital energy, and True Essence, leaving the Golden Scale Assembly poised to recognize his victory.

• Zhang Tianze recognized Xu Taiping’s sword art and respectfully connected Lü Daoxuan to Sword Nine, Ninth Uncle of True Martial Heaven.
• Xu Taiping’s slash destroyed Chu Yinan’s Heavenly Light Sword Shadows and badly injured the Third Prince, who crashed onto the Golden Scale Platform.
• Rusty Lion caught Xu Taiping as he fell, while the Azure Profound Sect disciples cheered.
• Emperor Youyun’s divine intent appeared and declared that Xu Taiping’s slash deserved a reward, which Liu Chuxuan said signaled the Golden Scale Ranking’s recognition of him as champion.
• Emperor Youyun granted Xu Taiping an immaculate Dao heart, perfect Profound Comprehension, and healing, restoring his injuries, blood, vital energy, and True Essence.

Xu Taiping won the Golden Scale Assembly after defeating Chu Yinan, then spared the Third Prince when King Zhao pleaded for his life. As the Azure Profound Sect celebrated his championship, Xu Taiping began breaking through to the Spirit Refining Realm, risking an attack by Otherworldly Heavenly Demons because of his Illuminated Dao Heart.

• Chu Yinan rose in a delirious state and attacked Xu Taiping, who severed his flying sword and knocked him down again.
• Xu Taiping prepared to kill Chu Yinan, but King Zhao bowed and begged him to spare his son, so Xu Taiping kicked Chu Yinan off the platform instead.
• Qiu Shanyuan announced Xu Taiping of the Azure Profound Sect and True Martial Heaven as the Golden Scale Assembly champion.
• The Golden Scale Ranking appeared with Xu Taiping's name at the top, prompting celebrations at Five Elders Pool.
• Xu Taiping began breaking through to the Spirit Refining Realm, and Dugu Qingxiao warned that his Illuminated Dao Heart would attract Otherworldly Heavenly Demons.

Xu Taiping began an unexpected breakthrough to the Spirit Refining realm at the Golden Scale Pool and feared attracting an Otherworldly Heavenly Demon. Zhang Tianze, Buddhist abbots, Zhu Huai, and Qionghua gathered to guard him, and Xu Taiping prepared to proceed.

• After the contest results were announced, Xu Taiping’s Cloud-Riding Art began drawing in spiritual energy as he unexpectedly started breaking through to Spirit Refining.
• Xu Taiping realized the Lotus Eye was growing hungry but decided he could not let it act at the Golden Scale Pool.
• Zhang Tianze urged Xu Taiping to break through and took his place on the Golden Scale Platform to guard him.
• Guangze, Huiming, Hongci, Zhiqing, Qingde, Faxian, and Xuanzhi joined Zhang Tianze in guarding Xu Taiping.
• Zhu Huai and Qionghua arrived to guard Xu Taiping, thanking him for sparing the Third Prince and repaying his kindness.
• Xu Taiping returned their salute and thanked everyone for guarding him.

As Xu Taiping began breaking into Spirit Refining, the assembled seniors guarded him while onlookers watched his breakthrough. A complete Red-Powder Skeleton Demon appeared, and Zhang Tianze and Zhu Huai charged to fight it.

• Qiu Shanyuan and the spectators watched two Martial Gods, seven Dharma Masters, and a Sword Cultivator join forces to protect Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping took a Breakthrough Pill, and his breakthrough proceeded smoothly as his pill fire turned azure.
• The projected image blurred, and a complete Red-Powder Skeleton Demon descended through a fissure in the sky.
• Mu Yun recognized the demon and feared its danger, while Dugu Qingxiao was shocked that it had appeared at Xu Taiping’s first breakthrough.
• Zhang Tianze challenged Zhu Huai to battle the Heavenly Demon, and both Martial Gods charged at it with their spears.

Zhang Tianze, Zhu Huai, and the other cultivators fought the Red-Pink Skeleton Heavenly Demon as she advanced toward Xu Taiping. Zhang Tianze drove her back and told the others to prepare their Beheading Techniques to kill her karmic body in one strike.

• High Immortal Qionghua wounded the Red-Pink Skeleton Heavenly Demon with the Ice-Soul Greatsword, but she healed and summoned two Heavenly Demon Warrior phantoms.
• The Red-Pink Skeleton Heavenly Demon began the Sixteen Heavenly Demon Dance, while the Cloud-Hidden Temple abbot and the Five Presiding Abbots attacked her.
• Zhang Tianze and Zhu Huai switched from spears to fists and struck the demon, resisting her influence with their blood qi.
• Zhang Tianze and Zhu Huai manifested their martial god bodies and battered the Red-Pink Skeleton Heavenly Demon, repeatedly breaking apart her body.
• Zhang Tianze told the cultivators to prepare their Beheading Techniques and kill the demon's karmic body in a single strike.

Zhang Tianze, Zhu Huai, Xuanzhi, and the other experts repeatedly shattered the Red-Powder Skeleton Demon's body until her karmic body emerged, then destroyed it with Buddhist treasures, Red Lotus Karmic Fire, and High Immortal Qionghua's sword. Qiu Shanyuan was left lamenting the enormous cost of repairing the Golden Scale Platform.

• Abbot Guangze, Xuanzhi, and High Immortal Qionghua prepared to help Zhang Tianze and Zhu Huai kill the demon's karmic body when it appeared.
• Xuanzhi, Zhu Huai, and Zhang Tianze struck the Red-Powder Skeleton Demon repeatedly, killing her nine times and forcing her karmic body to emerge.
• Guangze and the other Dharma Masters blasted the karmic body with their Magic Artifacts, destroying more than half of it.
• Faxian's Red Lotus Karmic Fire engulfed the weakened karmic body while the others retreated from the platform.
• High Immortal Qionghua cleaved the karmic body to dust with her enormous Flying Sword.
• Qiu Shanyuan complained that the destruction would cost many Gold Essence Coins to repair.

Xu Taiping broke through to the Spirit Refining realm as Liu Chuxuan announced that the True Martial Sword Chief Ranking would reopen in sixty years. Afterward, Xu Taiping was drawn into a strange vision where a shackled girl named Lin Buyu asked him to save her.

• Xu Taiping broke through to the Spirit Refining realm on the Golden Scale Platform, drawing cheers from the gathered cultivators.
• Liu Chuxuan announced that the Nine Prefectures would reopen the True Martial Great Emperor's Sword Chief Ranking in sixty years, with the winner eligible to receive the Emperor's legacy.
• Mu Yun explained to Mu Yuchen why Sword Cultivators were overjoyed by the ranking's return.
• Xu Taiping considered seeking treasures at Phoenix Cry Mountain so he could obtain a Phoenix Marrow Stone, then suddenly felt his Divine Soul leave his body.
• Xu Taiping appeared in a dungeon, where Lin Buyu asked him to get her out.

Xu Taiping recognized the imprisoned little Buyu as resembling Lin Buyu in childhood and learned her brother had trapped her in a cave, apparently to turn her into a corpse puppet. After his attempt to break the rocks began pulling his soul back from the Great Void, Xu Taiping realized he could try to save her by teaching her to cultivate.

• Xu Taiping recognized the little girl as a possible childhood version of Lin Buyu and learned that her brother had locked her in the cave after killing her dog.
• Lin Buyu explained that she had survived for three months and nineteen days by keeping her mother's Jiao Pearl in her mouth, but it would sustain her for only one more month.
• Xu Taiping discovered corpse-puppet runes and blood flags in the cave and found the entrance blocked by rocks.
• Xu Taiping punched the rocks and cracked them, but the effort made his body turn transparent as a force began pulling him away.
• Xu Taiping decided to teach Lin Buyu a cultivation method so she might survive after the Jiao Pearl failed.

Xu Taiping taught the imprisoned child Lin Buyu the Remnant Sunset Scripture before his soul returned to his body. Lin Buyu realized he had appeared in her past, then chose to feign death to evade the force hunting her, while Xu Taiping woke to find his jade bracelet cracked and feared she was in danger.

• Xu Taiping wrote down the first two levels of the Remnant Sunset Scripture for little Buyu and promised to return before his soul dispersed.
• Lin Buyu awoke from a three-day unconsciousness and told Lin Buyan that Xu Taiping had taught her the scripture in the past.
• Lin Buyu explained that her tribulation remained unresolved and decided to use the Three Corpses Scripture to feign death rather than delay and endanger her senior sister and the others in the Azure Profound Sect.
• Xu Taiping woke in the Mysterious Cloud Martial Hall, saw cracks in his jade bracelet, and worried that Junior Sister Buyu was in danger.
• Fairy Lingyue contacted Xu Taiping, and he happily answered her voice transmission.

After awakening from his breakthrough, Xu Taiping learned that his soul had encountered the river of light and shadow and that Lin Buyu’s fate was tied to a severed stretch within it. He resolved to reach the Transformation Realm and use his Life-Replenisher ability to save her, but Fairy Lingyue then revealed a mark on his palm.

• Xu Taiping woke after two days unconscious and told Fairy Lingyue about his soul’s journey through the Great Void.
• Fairy Lingyue said Xu Taiping had fallen into the river of light and shadow and explained that Lin Buyu had been saved from a fatal tribulation by someone close to her.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that Lin Buyu could be erased from existence if she relied too often on Liberation by Violence, and that Xu Taiping was a Life-Replenisher who might save her.
• Xu Taiping decided to break through to the Transformation Realm so he could enter the river of light and shadow again and help Lin Buyu.
• Fairy Lingyue warned that a Life-Replenisher’s chance to enter the river was extremely valuable, but Xu Taiping remained determined to save Lin Buyu.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping to turn over his right palm, and he recognized the mark of the One-Leaf Book.

Xu Taiping learned that the One-Leaf Book had found him and planned to meet Fairy Lingyue at Phoenix Cry Mountain to ambush it. After receiving a Gate-Sealing Stone and a plea from Dongfang Yuejian, Xu Taiping saw the Lotus Eye’s vision of Qingxuan’s destruction.

• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that the One-Leaf Book had traced him through his use of the Huangting Dao Palace inheritance and arranged to confront it at Phoenix Cry Mountain.
• Lu Yun told Xu Taiping that the Dongfang Household had left a wooden box and said its contents might concern Dongfang Yuejian’s life.
• Xu Taiping opened the box, found a Gate-Sealing Stone and a message from Dongfang Yuejian, who said she had survived the fifth tribulation and asked for help with the remaining two.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping to visit Dongfang Yuejian and learn more about her situation.
• The Lotus Eye showed Xu Taiping a vision of Qingxuan in ruins, with Zhao Linglong, Jiang Zhi, and others dead, and Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue it had seen Qingxuan wiped out.

Xu Taiping met Dongfang Yuejian at the Cloud-Knot Inn after learning that her fifth tribulation had not passed and that an assassination would take place there. He sent his Mysterious Origin Avatar to deal with the hidden assassins as Yuejian arrived.

• Xu Taiping discussed with Fairy Lingyue the Lotus Eye's visions of Qingxuan's coming calamity and planned to ask Youyun Prefecture for the Sect Master's enthronement ceremony date.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that Dongfang Yuejian's fifth tribulation would strike in two hours at the inn, where Dongfang Gulu planned to poison her with help from three hidden assassins.
• Xu Taiping explained that Dongfang Gulu had a powerful demonic beast in his Demon-Refining Pot and that the poisons would be difficult to detect unless someone used substantial true essence.
• Xu Taiping sent his Mysterious Origin Avatar, wearing the Concealment Cloak, to deal with the three assassins.
• Dongfang Yuejian arrived and greeted Xu Taiping.

Xu Taiping realized Dongfang Yuejian’s fifth tribulation was still underway and exposed Dongfang Gulu’s betrayal. The chapter ended with Dongfang Gulu’s assassination plot revealed and Xu Taiping’s Mysterious Origin Avatar entering with the three dead assassins.

• Su Qingtan offered Xu Taiping two Transformation Pills if Dongfang Yuejian survived her next tribulation.
• Xu Taiping declared that Dongfang Yuejian’s fifth tribulation had not passed and had already begun.
• Dongfang Gulu poisoned Su Qingtan and Dongfang Yuejian, then revealed that he had arranged to kill them.
• Xu Taiping’s Mysterious Origin Avatar entered the hall with the corpses of the three assassins, leaving Dongfang Gulu stunned.

Xu Taiping revealed that he had not been poisoned and killed Dongfang Gulu with a saber strike after reaching Spirit Refining, then sealed Gulu’s escaping Primordial Spirit. He accepted only the two Transformation Pills for helping Dongfang Yuejian and turned their attention to her sixth tribulation, which was due the next day.

• Dongfang Gulu attacked Xu Taiping and Su Qingtan, believing the poisoned Xu Taiping could not resist him.
• Xu Taiping’s avatar drew Gulu’s flying needles away, and Xu Taiping killed Gulu with a devastating saber strike.
• Xu Taiping sealed Gulu’s fleeing Primordial Spirit in a Ghost-Sealing Talisman after Su Qingtan asked to interrogate him.
• Su Qingtan apologized to Xu Taiping, and Dongfang Yuejian thanked him for saving them.
• Su Qingtan offered to double the Dongfang Household’s payment, but Xu Taiping declined and asked only for the two Transformation Pills.
• Xu Taiping warned Su Qingtan and Dongfang Yuejian that Dongfang Yuejian’s sixth tribulation would arrive the next day.

Xu Taiping warned Su Qingtan and Dongfang Yuejian that Yuejian’s next tribulations awaited her at Youyun Pavilion, then prepared to protect her and confront the danger. On their way there the next day, he rescued them from a carriage moments before an official’s immortal carriage crushed it.

• Xu Taiping told Su Qingtan and Dongfang Yuejian that Yuejian would face her sixth tribulation at Youyun Pavilion, where she was due to choose a treasure.
• Xu Taiping urged Yuejian to stay beside him at Youyun Pavilion and asked Su Qingtan to gather materials for Yuejian’s seventh, Earth-Killing Tribulation.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that the dangerous treasure was likely a relic from the Ancient Heavenly Court’s Treasury Pavilion and warned him to use his Dragon Whale Physique and Great Sun Golden Flame when retrieving it.
• Xu Taiping arrived at the agreed meeting place and pulled Su Qingtan and Dongfang Yuejian from their carriage.
• An official’s immortal carriage crashed onto the women’s carriage moments later, and Xu Taiping reminded Yuejian that it was the unluckiest day of her life.

Xu Taiping escorted Dongfang Yuejian through a street full of Seven Tribulations Curse accidents to Youyun Pavilion, then traded one of his ninth-floor treasure selections for a chance to choose a treasure on the seventh floor. He left the chapter preparing to go up with Yuejian, while Su Qingtan waited outside.

• Xu Taiping left Su Qingtan at the intersection and escorted Dongfang Yuejian through a series of dangerous accidents, keeping her safe on the way to Youyun Pavilion.
• Su Qingtan thanked Xu Taiping through her voice-transmission Jade Slip and asked him to bring Dongfang Yuejian out safely.
• At Youyun Pavilion, Mu Yun congratulated Xu Taiping and gave him a Teleportation Token and an Alchemist Assembly Jade Slip.
• Xu Taiping asked the pavilion steward to exchange one of his ninth-floor treasure selections for a chance to choose a treasure on the seventh floor.
• Ye Feiyu mocked Xu Taiping, but the steward confirmed that the exchange was allowed.

Xu Taiping accompanied Dongfang Yuejian to the seventh floor of Youyun Pavilion to help her face the danger he had foreseen, while she felt guilty that he had given up his chance to choose a treasure from the ninth floor. The chapter ended as Dongfang Yuejian called for the Immortal Carp Basket.

• Dongfang Yuejian apologized to Xu Taiping for costing him the chance to select a treasure on the ninth floor, and he reassured her that he had expected this.
• The steward explained that treasures on the seventh floor could be examined, summoned by name, or might choose their owners themselves, and warned that their actions would appear in the spirit mirror.
• Xu Taiping and Dongfang Yuejian entered the seventh-floor treasure chamber, while Mu Yun and Ji Ye watched from the sixth floor.
• Xu Taiping told Dongfang Yuejian to follow her original plan and summon treasures by name because he believed that was when the danger would appear.
• Dongfang Yuejian announced that she had come to request the ancient immortal treasure, the Immortal Carp Basket.

Dongfang Yuejian obtained the Immortal Carp Basket and Dew-Refining Disc in Youyun Pavilion, then mistakenly summoned the Cold Sky Pearl while seeking the Frost-Heaven Pearl. The Cold Sky Pearl unleashed a terrifying chill that began freezing her surroundings and attacking divine souls.

• Dongfang Yuejian summoned the Immortal Carp Basket and explained its ability to catch spirit-filled immortal carp that might grow into dragons.
• Dongfang Yuejian summoned the Dew-Refining Disc, while Xu Taiping worried that her excitement was making her careless and checked that his Golden Crow Fire mark had turned gold.
• Outside the treasury, Mu Yun praised the treasures and explained the Frost-Heaven Pearl's rumored frost-casting abilities.
• Dongfang Yuejian mistakenly called for the Cold Sky Pearl, and the earthy-yellow pearl hovered before her even after she apologized and tried to leave.
• The Cold Sky Pearl released a terrifying surge of spiritual energy, and Ji Ye warned that its chill could freeze the divine soul.

Xu Taiping tamed the Cold Sky Pearl, discovering it was the seventh floor’s Tower-Suppressing Treasure. He then headed to Youyun Pavilion’s ninth floor with Dongfang Yuejian to choose more treasures.

• Xu Taiping used his blood vitality to refine the Cold Sky Pearl until it acknowledged him as its master.
• Mu Yun and the other cultivators watched in amazement as the pearl circled Xu Taiping, and Qiu Shanyuan confirmed it was formed from the Heaven-Cold Lamp’s oil and suppressed the seventh floor’s treasures.
• Xu Taiping left the treasury with Dongfang Yuejian and told her to wait on the ninth floor while he collected his treasures.
• Xu Taiping asked Qiu Shanyuan whether the ninth floor also had a Tower-Suppressing Treasure, and Qiu Shanyuan worried that he meant to take it too.
• Mu Yun and the other cultivators followed Xu Taiping upstairs to see which treasures he would choose.

Xu Taiping searched Youyun Pavilion’s ninth-floor treasury for the True Martial Back Tai Shang Mantra Flower Coin, a treasure said to have been made by the True Martial Great Emperor and powerful enough to help seal the Profound Grotto. Unable to find it among the nameless treasures, he tried calling it forth by identifying himself as a disciple of True Martial Heaven and welcoming it home.

• Xu Taiping recalled his Little Martial Aunt’s account of the Gold Essence Coin and its importance to True Martial Heaven and the Azure Profound Sect.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping the coin could restrain demonic beasts and offered to teach him how to use it if he obtained it.
• After searching the crowded treasury without success, Xu Taiping decided to use the method his Little Martial Aunt had suggested.
• Mu Yun explained to Ji Ye that the ninth-floor treasures were Emperor Youyun’s private collection and lacked an outside catalog, while Qiu Shanyuan said their names had been erased.
• Xu Taiping bowed in the Spirit Mirror, introduced himself as a disciple of the Azure Profound Sect of True Martial Heaven, and called for the senior treasure to come home.

Xu Taiping obtained the Gold Essence Coin, which became his houtian divine artifact Ghost Zha and pledged to serve him for three thousand years. With one treasure selection remaining at Youyun Pavilion, Fairy Lingyue suggested that he let the treasures choose him.

• The Gold Essence Coin emerged from the treasury and asked Xu Taiping to name it, revealing itself as a divine artifact.
• Qiu Shanyuan confirmed that the coin was the Gold Essence Coin forged by the True Martial Great Emperor, while Dongfang Yuejian celebrated Xu Taiping's good fortune.
• Xu Taiping named the coin Ghost Zha, and it accepted him as its master before entering his qi abode.
• Fairy Lingyue told Xu Taiping that his current cultivation could not withstand refining a divine artifact into a lifebound treasure.
• After Qiu Shanyuan reminded Xu Taiping that he had one selection left, Fairy Lingyue suggested that he let the treasures choose him.

Xu Taiping invited the treasures on Youyun Pavilion’s ninth floor to acknowledge him, while spectators debated his choice and Ye Feiyu mocked him. Just as Xu Taiping gave up and prepared to choose a treasure himself, a multitude of treasures gathered around him.

• Xu Taiping released his True Essence and blood energy, asking the treasures to journey with him as his master.
• Mu Yun recognized that Xu Taiping had subdued the Cold Sky Pearl to help Dongfang Yuejian, while Ye Feiyu mocked Xu Taiping and Dongfang Yuejian defended him.
• Qiu Shanyuan warned the arguing disciples to be quiet and expected the ancient treasures to ignore Xu Taiping.
• Xu Taiping called to the treasures a second time, then lowered his hands when none appeared to respond.
• As Xu Taiping prepared to pick a treasure at random, the treasures rushed over and surrounded him.

Xu Taiping formed a Soul Contract with the Life-and-Death Seal, a Tower-Suppressing Treasure from the Youyun Pavilion, and arranged to contact his sect. He then told Su Qingtan and Dongfang Yuejian that the Master of the One-Leaf Book would attack Dongfang Yuejian during her tribulation the next day.

• The Life-and-Death Seal revealed that it was a fragment of the Heaven-Flipping Seal and offered Xu Taiping a Soul Contract with conditions, which he accepted.
• Qiu Shanyuan explained that the Life-and-Death Seal suppressed the ninth floor’s divine artifacts, making Xu Taiping the holder of two Tower-Suppressing Treasures.
• Xu Taiping asked Qiu Shanyuan to contact the Nine Prefectures or Azure Profound Sect and agreed to pay one hundred thousand Gold Essence Coins for the communication formation.
• Qiu Shanyuan warned Xu Taiping that others might covet the treasures, while Xu Taiping anticipated the next day’s plan to intercept the Master of the One-Leaf Book.
• Su Qingtan gave Xu Taiping the items he had requested, and he revealed that the Master of the One-Leaf Book had planted Dongfang Yuejian’s Seven Tribulations Curse and would attack her the next day.

Xu Taiping and Fairy Lingyue prepared for the coming confrontation with the Master of the One-Leaf Book, and she explained the major stages of cultivation. The chapter ended as Xu Taiping described the changes he sensed after reaching Spirit Refining.

• Xu Taiping memorized Fairy Lingyue’s formation, which would prevent high-level cultivators from concealing their auras.
• Xu Taiping told Fairy Lingyue that Su Qingtan and Dongfang Yuejian had not yet agreed to flee to the Blood Rain Forest, while Fairy Lingyue predicted the One-Leaf Book would force them out of the Imperial Capital.
• Fairy Lingyue explained that cultivators progressed through Qi Refining, Spirit Refining, True Cultivation, and Dao Integration, and related the stages to realms in True Martial Heaven.
• Fairy Lingyue asked Xu Taiping to examine his body after his breakthrough, and he described the mist-shrouded mountain range and purple qi within his Cinnabar Heart.