Recaps

Xu Taiping faced Du Heng on the sacrificial platform after retracting the Dragon-Trapping Tower, and Du Heng revealed a Great Sage Physique whose Gazing Heaven Hou bloodline suppressed Xu Taiping’s True Dragon bloodline. After driving Xu Taiping back and blocking the other cultivators’ attack with his dragon-blood bamboo hat, Xu Taiping faced Du Heng alone as Du Heng declared he needed no help.

• Xu Taiping retracted the Dragon-Trapping Tower and found himself surrounded by eleven cultivators on Yin God Su Yan’s sacrificial platform.
• Du Heng challenged Xu Taiping’s Great Sage Realm physique and manifested his own Great Sage Physique, tempered for a hundred years.
• Du Heng revealed that his physique inherited the Gazing Heaven Hou’s bloodline, which suppressed Xu Taiping’s True Dragon bloodline.
• Du Heng struck Xu Taiping with a solidified surge of qi and blood, sending him sliding backward dozens of zhang.
• Four or five cultivators attacked Xu Taiping together, but he blocked their combined strike with his dragon-blood bamboo hat.
• Du Heng stopped the other cultivators and declared that he alone was enough to deal with Xu Taiping.

Xu Taiping fought Du Heng after learning that a sect had sent him to stop Xu Taiping from attending the Dragon-Slaying Assembly. Du Heng’s Heavenly Gang Fist overwhelmed Xu Taiping, but Abbot Jiaye activated the seal just as Du Heng launched another attack, allowing Xu Taiping to unleash his full power.

• Xu Taiping transformed his Sleeping Dragon Physique into a Raging Dragon Physique and revealed his immense qi and blood power.
• Du Heng said a sect had hired him to prevent Xu Taiping from attending the Dragon-Slaying Assembly, but promised to reveal the sect’s identity only if Xu Taiping defeated him.
• Du Heng used the Household Heavenly Gang Fist to summon stellar power and broke through Xu Taiping’s Baxia Form and Shoulder the Heavens stance.
• Du Heng attacked Xu Taiping again as he lay embedded in a mountain wall, and Abbot Jiaye told Xu Taiping that the seal was active and he could unleash his full power.

Dongfang Yuejian and Master Xuanzhi tried to reach Xu Taiping after his fight with Du Heng vanished from the projections, but Abbot Jiaye warned them not to enter or contact the Wilderness. In Su Yan's Lair, Du Heng continued to overpower Xu Taiping and learned that Abbot Jiaye had sealed the area against communications to the Five Heavens.

• Dongfang Yuejian decided to use the Grand Teleportation Array to go to the Wilderness with Master Xuanzhi, despite the cost to her clan.
• The projections and communications from the Wilderness were cut off, and Dongfang Yuejian could not reach Abbot Jiaye through his Voice Transmission Jade Slip.
• Abbot Jiaye told Dongfang Yuejian and Master Xuanzhi not to contact or enter the Wilderness, then relayed Xu Taiping's promise to arrive for the Dragon-Slaying Assembly on time.
• Du Heng struck Xu Taiping through several hills, then surrounded him with two elders and seven cultivators from the Lower Realm.
• The pale-faced elder told Du Heng that Abbot Jiaye had sealed the region against reflection-power transmissions, and said they could restore communications by taking Xu Taiping beyond the seal.

Xu Taiping unleashed his full strength and defeated Du Heng with a single overwhelming punch, then cut down the silver-haired Dharma Protector Elder. He revealed the fourth level of his blade domain, Returning to the Sea, Burying the Blade, as the remaining enemies faced a vast sea of blade flames and thunderflame blade shadows.

• Du Heng attacked Xu Taiping with Heavenly Gang Fist, but Xu Taiping unleashed his qi and blood and true essence and shattered Du Heng's fist force with Baxia Form.
• Xu Taiping's golden fist shadow struck Du Heng and sent him crashing into the mountain valley.
• The silver-haired Dharma Protector Elder attacked Xu Taiping with a blazing palm, but Xu Taiping cleaved the elder in two with his blade.
• The dying silver-haired elder warned White Wolf to flee with Du Heng, but Xu Taiping declared that no one would escape.
• Xu Taiping activated the fourth level of the blade domain, Returning to the Sea, Burying the Blade, covering the area with blade flames and thunderflame blade shadows.

Zhang Moyan, Duan Xiaoyu, and Chu Tiancheng reached Dragonwhisker Town to travel to the Profound Elixir Palace’s Dragon-Slaying Assembly, but Zhang Moyan was repelled by the jade gate after their invitations passed inspection. The chapter ended with him questioning whether his jade jue was faulty.

• Zhang Moyan warned Chu Tiancheng and Duan Xiaoyu that cultivators might try to rob them of their invitations to the assembly.
• At the West Gate, Profound Elixir Palace disciples inspected the trio’s jade jue and offered them pills, which Zhang Moyan declined on their behalf.
• The disciples verified the invitations and directed the three to pass through a jade gate before boarding the Teleportation Platform.
• Zhang Moyan was thrown back by the jade gate, leaving him to suspect that something was wrong with his jade jue.

Zhang Moyan, Duan Xiaoyu, and Chu Tiancheng discovered that their Jade Jue could not open the jade gate and accused Profound Elixir Palace disciples Zhu Ti and Tian Qi of swapping them. Elder Wei arrived and demanded evidence from Zhang Moyan, leaving the dispute unresolved.

• Duan Xiaoyu and Chu Tiancheng each tried to enter the jade gate, but its barrier threw them back.
• Zhang Moyan realized their Jade Jue had been swapped, and Chu Tiancheng confronted Zhu Ti and Tian Qi.
• Zhang Moyan offered to use his Moonshadow Stone to prove what had happened, while the disciples denied the accusation and threatened them.
• Elder Wei emerged after Chu Tiancheng challenged the disciples, then attacked him with gang qi, which Zhang Moyan cut through with his spear.
• Elder Wei learned Zhang Moyan was a martial artist and demanded to see his evidence.

Zhang Moyan, Duan Xiaoyu, and Chu Tiancheng were framed by Profound Elixir Palace disciples and detained by Elder Wei in Dragonwhisker Town. A powerful black-robed man appeared, defeated the disciples sent to seize them, and confronted Wei Yixiao with the three Jade Jue.

• Elder Wei crushed Zhang Moyan’s Moonshadow Stone, accused him of forging it, and recaptured him and his companions after Zhang used the Phoenix-Crying Boots to flee.
• Zhang Moyan revealed their identities as guests invited by the Dongfang Household, but Wei Yixiao mocked their connections and ordered Zhu Ti and Tian Qi to take them to the Great Prison in Dragonwhisker Town.
• A black-robed man appeared beside the captives and challenged Wei Yixiao over his claim that Zhang Tianze and Jiang Cuicui had been his errand runners.
• Zhu Ti and Tian Qi attacked the black-robed man with their Flying Swords, but he knocked them away and sent them crashing through a room with a kick.
• The black-robed man showed Wei Yixiao the three Jade Jue and accused him of allowing the disciples to switch them and frame the palace’s invited guests.

The Black-Robed Man proved that Profound Elixir Palace disciples had stolen Zhang Moyan and his companions’ Jade Jue, then defeated Elder Wei Yixiao despite his powerful Daoist attacks. After Wei tried to detonate himself with a sect token, Li Yunxiao, Elder Niu, and Fu Liu arrived and accused the Black-Robed Man of attacking Wei.

• The Black-Robed Man showed the three stolen Jade Jue, confirming Zhang Moyan and Chu Tiancheng’s innocence and enraging Wei Yixiao.
• Wei Yixiao summoned a massive Geng Metal Sword Shadow, but the Black-Robed Man caught it with one hand and crushed it.
• Wei Yixiao attacked with a Geng Metal palm, but the Black-Robed Man shattered it and struck him down with a punch.
• The Black-Robed Man stomped Wei Yixiao’s arm, breaking the Jade Token he had intended to use to detonate himself.
• Li Yunxiao arrived with Elder Niu and Fu Liu, drove the Black-Robed Man away from Wei, and Zhu Ti and Tian Qi welcomed the newcomers as rescuers.

On Dragonwhisker Street, the black-robed man ignored the Profound Elixir Palace’s accusations and freed Zhang Moyan, Duan Xiaoyu, and Chu Tiancheng from the Immortal-Binding Rope. As Fu Liu attacked him, the black-robed man unleashed overwhelming Qi and Blood Power, leaving the watching crowd in an uproar.

• Chu Tiancheng and Duan Xiaoyu protested that Elder Wei had been beaten fairly, but Li Yunxiao used his pressure to injure them and Fu Liu told them to be quiet.
• Zhu Ti and Tian Qi accused the black-robed man of ambushing Elder Wei, and Li Yunxiao ordered him to give his name and surrender Elder Wei’s Communication Jade Slip.
• The black-robed man picked up the Jade Slip, dispersed Li Yunxiao’s pressure around Zhang Moyan and his companions, and ignored Fu Liu’s demands.
• The black-robed man failed to cut the Immortal-Binding Rope at first, then revealed a reddish-gold, Dragon-Scaled knife-hand and sliced through it; Zhang Moyan recognized him and agreed to keep his identity secret from Duan Xiaoyu and Chu Tiancheng.
• Fu Liu attacked from above, but the black-robed man’s Qi and Blood Power swept away Fu Liu’s Sword Intent and forced Fu Liu to abandon his sword and flee.

The black-robed man confronted Li Yunxiao and the Profound Elixir Palace elders after stepping in to expose Zhu Ti and Tian Qi for switching the Jade Jue. He refused their attempt to dismiss the matter as a misunderstanding and summoned Palace Master Jiang, leaving the elders’ attack suspended.

• The black-robed man scattered Fu Liu’s Sword Intent with his Qi and Blood Power, prompting Li Yunxiao to challenge him while Elder Niu urged that they first learn what had happened.
• Zhang Moyan told Elder Niu that Zhu Ti and Tian Qi had switched their Jade Jue, but Zhu Ti and Tian Qi denied the accusation and blamed the black-robed man for attacking Elder Wei.
• Li Yunxiao offered to let the matter go, and Zhang Moyan tried to lead Chu Tiancheng and the others away, but the black-robed man condemned Elder Niu for failing to distinguish right from wrong.
• Six more Profound Elixir Palace elders arrived, and Li Yunxiao and the elders surrounded the black-robed man and the three women with their auras.
• The black-robed man broke the pressure with a stamp, took Wei Yixiao’s bloodstained Communication Jade Slip, and called Palace Master Jiang to come deal with the unreasonable disciples.

Xu Taiping confronted Li Yunxiao and six Profound Elixir Palace elders at Dragonwhisker Town, then revealed his identity through a saber strike Jiang Xuanfeng recognized. Ancestor Feng Tianxing confirmed that the black-robed man was his younger brother and turned on Jiang Xuanfeng over the elders’ attack.

• Li Yunxiao accused the black-robed man of deception and rallied six elders to capture him.
• The black-robed man used Wei Yixiao’s Communication Jade Slip to summon Jiang Xuanfeng and warned that he would draw the saber strike he had shown at the Martial Champion Tower.
• Jiang Xuanfeng and Ancestor Feng Tianxing recognized the voice and redirected the hall’s projection to the fight near Dragonwhisker Town’s West Gate.
• The black-robed man switched places with an attacking elder and struck Li Yunxiao through his protective sword gang, severely injuring him.
• Feng Tianxing identified the black-robed man as Xu Taiping and angrily rebuked Jiang Xuanfeng for his disciple’s attack.

Xu Taiping fought Li Yunxiao and the Heaven Frost Hall elders at Dragonwhisker Town, defeating one elder and breaking Li Yunxiao’s blade technique. Li Yunxiao unleashed a frost-dragon attack, but Xu Taiping’s blade-drawing stance revealed a deadly blade intent that left Li Yunxiao sensing imminent annihilation.

• Li Yunxiao ordered the six elders to attack Xu Taiping, who endured their combined axe strike with his body.
• Xu Taiping struck a Profound Elixir Palace elder from a distance, caving in his chest and sending him crashing through a teahouse.
• Li Yunxiao took over the battle formation and attacked with a blade shadow, but Xu Taiping shattered it with Sword Hidden Within the Fist and knocked him into the rubble.
• Li Yunxiao released a wisp of true dragon breath, covered the area in frost, and attacked Xu Taiping atop a giant frost dragon.
• Xu Taiping assumed a blade-drawing stance, and Li Yunxiao sensed blade intent powerful enough to erase him from heaven and earth.

Jiang Xuanfeng intervened to stop Li Yunxiao from attacking Xu Taiping after recognizing Xu Taiping’s Ultimate Realm blade intent. He took Xu Taiping to complete his Ranking Ascension and asked him to speak on behalf of the Profound Elixir Palace disciples who had wronged his friends.

• Jiang Xuanfeng arrived and struck Li Yunxiao and the Frost Giant Dragon away after sensing Xu Taiping’s Ultimate Realm blade intent.
• Xu Taiping withdrew his blade intent, and Jiang Xuanfeng kicked Wei Yixiao for provoking the crisis.
• Li Yunxiao thanked Jiang Xuanfeng for saving him and Xu Taiping for sparing him, then shared the blade intent with the Profound Elixir Palace elders.
• Jiang Xuanfeng stopped Elder Niu from identifying Xu Taiping and offered to escort him to complete his Ranking Ascension.
• Xu Taiping asked Jiang Xuanfeng to look after Zhang Moyan and the other two, and Jiang Xuanfeng asked him to put in a good word for the palace disciples with the Ancestor.

Xu Taiping arranged for the Profound Elixir Palace elders to guide Zhang Moyan, Duan Xiaoyu, and Chu Tiancheng, then accepted Old Palace Master Jiang Xuanfeng’s offer of a ride to the palace in the Dragon Chariot. The elders learned that Xu Taiping was the Ancestor’s great benefactor and expected him to appear in the Dragon-Slaying Assembly rankings.

• Xu Taiping told Jiang Xuanfeng that the elders should earn the three young women’s forgiveness by guiding them during the Dragon-Slaying Assembly.
• Jiang Xuanfeng ordered Li Yunxiao and the other elders to care for Zhang Moyan, Duan Xiaoyu, and Chu Tiancheng or face expulsion from the Profound Elixir Palace.
• Jiang Xuanfeng summoned the Dragon Chariot and flew with Xu Taiping toward the Profound Elixir Palace, astonishing the cultivators watching in Dragonwhisker Town.
• Jiang Xuanfeng told the elders that Xu Taiping was the Ancestor’s great benefactor and warned them to treat the three young women well.
• Elder Niu predicted that Xu Taiping would take part in the Dragon-Slaying Assembly and said the Spirit Mirror would soon show him again.

At the Dragon-Slaying Assembly’s ranking ceremony, Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi finally submitted their Same-Boat Chains after waiting for Xu Taiping. Dongfang Yuejian’s chain earned a double grade A, while Xu Taiping’s arrival remained uncertain.

• Xiahou Qingyuan explained the Dragon-Suppressing Platform’s history and the importance of the Same-Boat Chain rankings to Xiahou You.
• Xiahou You and Xiahou Qingyuan discussed whether Xu Taiping could still arrive after surviving Du Heng’s ambush, and Xiahou You vowed to investigate who had invited Du Heng.
• As the deadline approached, Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi rose and handed their Same-Boat Chains to Elder Lu.
• Xiahou Qingyuan used a spirit mirror to watch the Chenglong Heaven clan heads’ reactions for clues about who had arranged the ambush.
• Elder Lu tested Dongfang Yuejian’s Same-Boat Chain, and its sword light reached two thousand one hundred zhang, earning her the sole double grade A ranking so far.

Xuanzhi’s Same-Boat Chain shattered five barriers and earned Double Grade A, while the Xiahou siblings continued wondering which Chenglong Heaven clan was targeting the Dongfang Clan. Just as Dongfang Yuejian was about to explain that Xu Taiping had not arrived, a Dragon Chariot descended, carrying Jiang Xuanfeng and another figure.

• Xiahou You and Xiahou Qingyuan discussed whether the Fu Household and Chenglong Heaven’s great clans were suspicious of targeting the Dongfang Clan.
• Xuanzhi placed his Same-Boat Chain on the stone stele, and its sword light broke five barriers, reaching two thousand five hundred zhang.
• Elder Lu declared Xuanzhi eligible for Double Grade A, and the Xiahou siblings speculated about Xu Taiping’s possible ranking and the clan’s suspected collusion.
• Elder Lu asked whether the Dongfang team’s third cultivator had arrived, and Dongfang Yuejian began to answer that he had not.
• A dragon roar announced the arrival of a Dragon Chariot pulled by four true dragon phantoms, and Xiahou Qingyuan recognized Jiang Xuanfeng aboard it.

Xu Taiping arrived at the Dragon-Slaying Assembly in disguise and revealed himself to Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi. After Elder Lu confirmed their Same-Boat Chains belonged to one team, Xu Taiping faced doubts about his identity and produced two heads from his White Gourd to prove it.

• Jiang Xuanfeng brought Xu Taiping down from the Dragon Chariot, then left him to deal with Elder Lu and the registration rules.
• Xu Taiping said he was there to register and presented his Same-Boat Chain, then revealed himself as the black-robed man on Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi's team.
• Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi recognized Xu Taiping, while the Xiahou siblings and the assembled cultivators reacted with astonishment at his survival.
• Fu Kui challenged Xu Taiping's identity, but Elder Lu verified that his Same-Boat Chain matched Dongfang Yuejian's and Xuanzhi's.
• When cultivators continued to question whether he was really Xu Taiping, he summoned two human heads from his White Gourd onto the platform.

Xu Taiping proved his identity at the Profound Elixir Palace by presenting evidence tied to Du Heng’s ambush, and the palace confirmed he could enter the rankings with Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi. The chapter ended as Elder Lu placed Xu Taiping’s Same-Boat Chain on the ranking stele to reveal its spiritual power.

• Xu Taiping turned over the two heads and revealed they belonged to Du Heng’s Dharma Protector Elders, but Jiang Jiuxuan challenged their authenticity.
• Xu Taiping summoned a ghostly face that proved to be the divine soul of a Three Corpses Cave elder, convincing the crowd that the heads were genuine.
• Xiahou You rebuked Jiang Jiuxuan for continuing to question Xu Taiping’s identity, and Jiang Jiuxuan’s father pressed him back into his seat.
• Elder Lu confirmed Xu Taiping’s identity and announced him as the final entrant in the rankings alongside Dongfang Yuejian and Xuanzhi.
• Elder Lu placed Xu Taiping’s Same-Boat Chain on the dragon claw of the ranking stele as the gathered cultivators watched.

Xu Taiping’s Same-Boat Chain produced sword qi that reached 4,360 zhang, earning him heaven’s mandate and alarming the aristocratic clans competing in the Dragon-Slaying Assembly. Xiahou Qingyuan and Xiahou You noticed Chu Hanshi’s disdainful reaction and suspected the Chu Household concealed considerable power.

• Elder Lu placed Xu Taiping’s Same-Boat Chain on the stele, and its sword qi pierced barriers up to 4,360 zhang before bursting apart.
• Elder Lu announced that Xu Taiping qualified for heaven’s mandate, prompting despair among the aristocratic clan disciples seeking rankings.
• Xiahou Qingyuan said Xu Taiping’s strength left the other teams little chance of winning first place at the Dragon-Slaying Assembly.
• Xiahou Qingyuan examined the Spirit Mirror and noticed that Chu Hanshi showed disdain rather than despair after Xu Taiping’s result.
• Xiahou You and Xiahou Qingyuan suspected the Chu Household was powerful and might be connected to the effort to stop Xu Taiping.

As Elder Lu announced the Dragon-Slaying Assembly rankings, three Nine Abysses demon cultivators arrived and invoked the Demon Mother’s Edict, making the assembly’s championship decide the Heaven-Demon War. Xu Taiping protected Elder Lu as Jiang Xuanfeng reluctantly accepted the demons’ right to compete, and the edict named the first three Nine Abysses entrants.

• Elder Lu announced that Xu Taiping’s Dongfang Clan team had taken first place and began listing the remaining rankings.
• Three Nine Abysses demon cultivators appeared on the Dragon-Suppressing Platform, and the Demon Mother’s Edict declared that the winner of the assembly would decide the Heaven-Demon War.
• Xu Taiping recognized the edict as the one Su Chan had requested at the True Martial Sword Champion Assembly a century earlier.
• When Elder Lu challenged the demons’ right to participate, they caused blood mist to burst from him, and Xu Taiping used the Blade of Guicang to help Jiang Xuanfeng dispel the attack.
• Jiang Xuanfeng warned the demons not to harm Profound Elixir Palace disciples, and the edict named Demon Emperor Li Yezhu, Demon Emperor Qing He, and Heartless Demon Emperor as the first three Nine Abysses entrants.

The Dragon-Slaying Ranking allowed three Demon Emperors of the Nine Abysses to join the assembly, then announced lavish rewards to secure human cultivators’ participation. As the teams prepared to compete for ranking positions, Wuxin challenged Xu Taiping for the chief spot.

• The Demon Mother's Edict named Li Yezhu, Qing He, and Wuxin as participants, alarming the spectators with the Nine Abysses’ three Demon Emperors.
• The Ranking Spirit permitted the three Demon Emperors to enter if their Same-Boat Chain placed in the top three during the ranking ascension.
• The Ranking Spirit added rewards for the human teams that won the Heaven-Demon War, including gold essence stone, mystic origin metal essence, and a chance for the human chief to comprehend at the Heaven-Ascending Platform.
• Xiahou Qingyuan and Xiahou You realized the new opportunity could help Xu Taiping comprehend a Heavenly Dao Edict.
• Wuxin greeted Xu Taiping and declared that they would compete for the chief position in the ranking ascension.
• Xiahou Qingyuan worried the Nine Abysses’ strength could give them the chief position, while Xiahou You trusted Xu Taiping and his companions to contend.

The cultivators watched Heartless Demon Emperor and Qing He Demon Emperor test their Same-Boat Chains in the Ranking Ascension, each falling short of Xu Taiping’s team’s score. As Li Yezhu’s turn began, Xiahou You and Xiahou Qingyuan discussed her past battles and the Kindling Sword.

• Jiang Xuanfeng placed Heartless Demon Emperor’s Same-Boat Chain on the stele, and its sword light rose three thousand zhang before bursting.
• Qing He Demon Emperor’s sword light reached two thousand five hundred and one zhang, leaving the Nine Abysses team needing Li Yezhu to reach at least three thousand seven hundred zhang to take first place.
• Xiahou You said she doubted Li Yezhu could surpass two thousand five hundred zhang, and Xiahou Qingyuan agreed that the Nine Abysses’ earlier results were not enough.
• Jiang Xuanfeng accepted Li Yezhu’s Same-Boat Chain and approached the stele as Xiahou You recalled that Li Yezhu had once been their most troublesome opponent on the Tenth Layer.
• Xiahou You asked Xiahou Qingyuan about his past fight with Li Yezhu and the Kindling Sword, and he insisted its sword spirit no longer controlled him.

Li Yezhu’s sword raised the Nine Abysses’ combined result above Xu Taiping’s group, giving the Nine Abysses first place in the Ranking Ascension. As the Dragon-Slaying Assembly approached, Xu Taiping learned that the Lotus Eye had predicted great fortune from taking second place.

• Li Yezhu’s sword broke through the runic barriers to a height of three thousand eight hundred and forty zhang, surpassing Xu Taiping’s group when combined with the Nine Abysses’ other results.
• Xiahou Qingyuan warned Xiahou You that the human cultivators’ chances had fallen and offered to take her back to Jade Balance Mountain, but she hinted at using the Xiahou bloodline’s divine intent.
• Jiang Xuanfeng announced the Nine Abysses as first and the Dongfang Clan as second in the Ranking Ascension.
• Li Yezhu taunted Xu Taiping, and Demon Emperor Qing He threatened to fight him in the secret realm despite Dongfang Yuejian’s warning.
• Xu Taiping asked the Lotus Eye why it had made him remove a bead from the Same-Boat Chain, and it explained that first place foretold misfortune while second place promised great fortune.

After studying the Dongfang Household ancestor’s notes, Xu Taiping learned that the clue to the complete Shangqing Mysterious Origin Avatar Art led to Xuanchengzi’s former cultivation ground, possibly in Outer Heaven. With the Dragon-Slaying Assembly approaching, he opened the second Divine Soul Mark to prepare for the contest.

• Dongfang Yuejian and Master Xuanzhi discussed Xu Taiping’s growing reputation and the danger posed by those who had hired Upper Realm cultivators to intercept him.
• Xu Taiping told Blade Ghost that the ancestor’s notes described a shattered star claimed by the Daoist great cultivator Xuanchengzi as a cultivation ground.
• Blade Ghost recognized Xuanchengzi as the Taiyi Sect’s founder and recalled that the sect had once been near the Zen Meditation Sect.
• Xu Taiping decided to investigate the Taiyi Sect after ascending to Outer Heaven, but put the matter aside until after the Dragon-Slaying Assembly.
• Xu Taiping explained the assembly’s contest to the Lotus Eye, then opened the second Divine Soul Mark within the golden lotus.

Xu Taiping watched the memories of two orphaned brothers who survived an attack on their Academy and used pot-bottom ash to draw a Deity-Summoning Talisman. After remembering their teacher and the children who were taken, the brothers prepared to summon a deity and seek revenge.

• Xu Taiping saw a younger boy escape with two bowls of pot soot while servants beat his older brother and set a guard dog on him.
• Three years later, the brothers used sacks of pot-bottom ash to draw a Deity-Summoning Talisman in their mud-walled courtyard.
• The older brother told the younger that their teacher, Teacher Red Carp, had been killed, their Academy burned, and their friends abducted and sacrificed to the Demon Dragon.
• The younger brother remembered Teacher Red Carp and said he missed the Academy, while the older brother reminded him they had survived to avenge their teacher and friends.
• The brothers resolved to begin their Deity-Summoning Technique.