Chapter Summaries

Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling explored an unfamiliar sea in the secret realm, where Chu Zhiyuan’s intuition warned them of danger. They escaped a swarm of aggressive fish and reached shore, where Chu Zhiyuan killed the fish that pursued them and discovered they left behind demon crystals.

• Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling entered the secret realm at Moon Invitation Palace and found themselves beside a vast sea.
• Chu Zhiyuan gave Xiao Ruoling a Water-Repelling Pearl, and they descended beneath the sea to explore its increasingly large and strange fish.
• Chu Zhiyuan sensed growing danger and hurried back with Xiao Ruoling, then turned around to investigate and saw a giant black fish being devoured by swarming fish.
• The fish charged after Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling as they fled toward shore.
• Chu Zhiyuan used his Bright Moon Blade to cut down fish that leaped onto the beach, revealing tiny demon crystals among their remains.

Chu Zhiyuan completed the second realm of the Glazed Blade by absorbing demon crystals while fighting off swarms of fish, then found Nine Yang Grass with Xiao Ruoling on the island. After returning it to Moon Invitation Palace and receiving access to its spiritual pills, he took a Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Pill and began rapidly strengthening his body.

• Chu Zhiyuan fought the attacking fish beneath the sea as demon crystals merged into the Bright Moon Blade and advanced his Glazed Blade cultivation to the second realm.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling returned to the island, cleared away the bloody remains, and found a stalk of Nine Yang Grass.
• Chu Zhiyuan gave the Nine Yang Grass to Xiao Ruoling, who offered it to Yun Qiuhua when they returned to Moon Invitation Palace.
• Yun Qiuhua confirmed the Nine Yang Grass and invited Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling to take any spiritual pills they needed.
• Chu Zhiyuan swallowed a Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Pill, and its energy rapidly strengthened and purified his body through the Dragon Transformation Technique.

Chu Zhiyuan refined his Dragon Transformation Technique with Xiao Ruoling’s Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Pills, then tested a refined Water-Repelling Pearl by traveling underwater to the western border of the Great Lie Dynasty. He arrived among unguarded reefs, having reached the destination by evening.

• Chu Zhiyuan advanced more than halfway through the Flesh Refining realm after Xiao Ruoling gave him a second Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Pill.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided to postpone another trip into the secret realm because the Phoenix Camp kept him busy, and he suspected Xu Yingying’s luck had helped him find treasures.
• Chu Zhiyuan used refined Flying Daggers and Gang Qi to make and propel a small wooden boat from a reef on the Eastern Sea.
• Chu Zhiyuan used a refined Water-Repelling Pearl to travel beneath the sea while remaining in an air-filled domain around his boat.
• Chu Zhiyuan reached an uninhabited reef cluster along the western border of the Great Lie Dynasty by evening.

Chu Zhiyuan investigated Great Lie’s coastal garrisons and Nanyun Island, then returned to lead the Phoenix Camp toward the eastern border. The camp reached the border with its formation trained and disguised in Great Lie armor, ready for battle.

• Chu Zhiyuan met Fatty Si in Rongxing Town and learned about nearby forts, troop movements, and Nanyun Island.
• Chu Zhiyuan inspected Great Lie’s garrisons along the coast and judged their soldiers weaker than the Phoenix Camp.
• Chu Zhiyuan obtained a travel permit, inspected Nanyun Island’s growing garrison, then surveyed Great Guang’s Northern Territory before returning to Jade Capital.
• Chu Zhiyuan led the Phoenix Camp east in ten units and trained them in the Phoenix Seeks Phoenix Formation during their march.
• After ten days, the Phoenix Camp reached the eastern border, changed into Great Lie armor, and prepared for battle.

Chu Zhiyuan briefed Phoenix Camp on a preemptive strike against the Great Lie Dynasty’s Nanyun Island, where thirty thousand troops were gathering. He laid out a detailed plan to attack the island’s camps and seize Great Guang armor, leaving the soldiers prepared to move before Great Lie and Great Guang deployed their armies.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Phoenix Camp that Great Lie and Great Guang planned to join Great Meng against Great Jing, and asked the soldiers to discuss how to disrupt their plans.
• After the soldiers favored raiding Great Guang, Chu Zhiyuan warned that enemy agents might anticipate that move and revealed Nanyun Island as the target instead.
• Chu Zhiyuan explained that Nanyun Island held Great Guang armor and thirty thousand Great Lie troops, and said destroying them could turn Great Guang against Great Lie.
• Chu Zhiyuan presented a map of Nanyun Island and gave Phoenix Camp a detailed assignment for attacking its first camp, answering the soldiers’ questions until they understood their roles.

Chu Zhiyuan led the Phoenix Camp in a nighttime assault on a Great Lie military camp, where they defeated eight thousand soldiers without losing anyone. After taking the camp’s supplies and warships, the exhausted troops sailed on to attack the remaining camps.

• Chu Zhiyuan found spies following the three ships and killed them, then scouted a dock and eliminated its guards.
• The Phoenix Camp landed in Great Lie armor and silently entered the first military camp, where its squads attacked in ten directions under Chu Zhiyuan’s plan.
• Chu Zhiyuan’s Flying Daggers killed the camp’s commanders and stopped signals and injuries as the Phoenix Camp destroyed the force in half an hour without a single loss.
• Chu Zhiyuan praised the soldiers and ordered them to rest, review their mistakes, and prepare to attack the next camp.
• By daybreak, the exhausted Phoenix Camp had taken the camp’s supplies and warships, departing Nanyun Island with twelve ships.

Chu Zhiyuan returned to Jade Capital after leading Phoenix Camp in a devastating raid on Great Lie’s Nanyun Island, then met Meng Canglan to discuss how Great Guang might respond. Meng Canglan urged him to reveal who had carried out the attack, believing Great Guang would exploit Great Lie’s weakness.

• Chu Zhiyuan returned to Prince Qing's Estate, reunited with his family, and concealed the raid’s true purpose behind the story of a field exercise.
• Chu Zhiyuan received Meng Canglan’s calling card and agreed to meet the Carefree Cult Saintess the next day.
• Meng Canglan congratulated Chu Zhiyuan for destroying the four camps on Nanyun Island and discussed Great Lie’s expected reaction.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked about Great Guang’s response, and Meng Canglan said its leaders were still guessing who had attacked.
• Meng Canglan advised Chu Zhiyuan to reveal the truth, arguing that Great Guang would seize the chance to strike at Great Lie.

After Phoenix Camp’s victory over Great Lie, Chu Zhiyuan kept the camp’s capabilities mysterious to strengthen Great Jing’s deterrence. Meng Canglan offered the Carefree Cult’s support and a spiritual pill, and the chapter ended with her warning Chu Zhiyuan to be careful.

• Chu Zhiyuan decided not to reveal how Phoenix Camp defeated Great Lie’s thirty thousand troops, preserving uncertainty about the camp’s strength.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Meng Canglan that Phoenix Camp could crush even one of Nanyun Island’s camps, though he credited luck for the victory.
• Meng Canglan presented armor, equipment, and two spiritual pills from the Carefree Cult, while Chu Zhiyuan questioned what the cult expected in return.
• Chu Zhiyuan offered to help twenty of the Carefree Cult’s Innate Perfection experts enter the Grandmaster realm, and Meng Canglan accepted.
• Meng Canglan gave Chu Zhiyuan a Universe Creation Pill, and then warned him to be careful.

Meng Canglan warned Chu Zhiyuan that Great Lie Dynasty might retaliate using Nether Secret Guards, a secretive force said to be capable of killing Grandmasters. She gave him a prayer-bead box left by one of them, but Chu Zhiyuan sensed danger and asked her to open it.

• Meng Canglan told Chu Zhiyuan that Nether Secret Guards might target him and described their cruelty, discipline, and reputed ability to kill Grandmasters.
• Chu Zhiyuan reasoned that an assassination could provoke Great Jing to wield its Emperor's Sword, while Meng Canglan explained that Great Lie's obstinacy could make its rulers accept that risk.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided to wait and see whether Great Lie acted, then asked whether a Grandmaster could track the Nether Secret Guards through their belongings.
• Meng Canglan had Li Yilong give Chu Zhiyuan a dark green box containing prayer beads dropped by a Nether Secret Guard.
• Chu Zhiyuan sensed a warning before opening the box and asked Meng Canglan to open it for him.

Chu Zhiyuan sensed danger in a box containing Black Pearls, whose strange power injured Song Yichun and Li Yilong when opened. He suspected the beads could threaten Grandmasters and accepted them from Meng Canglan for further examination; a message then arrived that surprised her.

• Chu Zhiyuan warned Meng Canglan that the dark green box contained danger, but Song Yichun opened it anyway.
• The Black Pearls released a force that attacked Song Yichun and Li Yilong, while Meng Canglan's protective treasure shielded her.
• Chu Zhiyuan used the Fearless Seal and a sharp snort to protect himself and relieve the others' pain.
• Chu Zhiyuan suspected the beads contained Outer Realm Power and could harm Grandmasters, possibly explaining Meng Canglan's great-grandfather's unexpectedly early death.
• Meng Canglan gave Chu Zhiyuan the Black Pearls to keep, then received a message and looked at him in surprise.

Chu Zhiyuan destroyed Great Guang Dynasty’s fourteen warships and used the Universe Creation Pill to advance his Dragon Transformation Technique. He visited Li Hongzhao at Linglong Bookstore, where she announced that she had good news.

• Chu Zhiyuan confirmed to Meng Canglan that he had destroyed Great Guang Dynasty’s fourteen warships, while keeping the Water-Repelling Pearl and his method secret.
• Chu Zhiyuan took the Universe Creation Pill and circulated the Dragon Transformation Technique as its alternating heat and cold spread through his body.
• Chu Zhiyuan completed Flesh Refining and began Scale Refining, which formed a protective layer over his skin that could withstand blades, water, and fire.
• Chu Zhiyuan visited Li Hongzhao at Qingmei Courtyard in Linglong Bookstore and saw Gong Qingmei perform a sword dance.
• Li Hongzhao told Chu Zhiyuan that she had good news.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao discussed Great Jing’s growing military strength, the Phoenix Camp’s recent victory, and Great Meng’s reluctance to negotiate. Li Hongzhao revealed that Sky Concealment Sect experts had arrived in Jade Capital and that Mr. Su was following them, leaving Chu Zhiyuan to recognize her warning as a bid for his help.

• Li Hongzhao confronted Chu Zhiyuan about the Phoenix Camp’s victory, but he denied knowing what she meant.
• Li Hongzhao told Chu Zhiyuan that Great Lie and Great Guang would stop opposing Great Jing, and he argued that the Martial Arts Hall’s grandmasters could strengthen the military.
• Chu Zhiyuan explained that the Phoenix Camp used the Phoenix Seeks Phoenix Formation, which had originated in Great Meng, angering Li Hongzhao.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked Li Hongzhao about the Nether Secret Guard, but she had never heard of Great Lie’s royal secret guard.
• Li Hongzhao warned Chu Zhiyuan that Sky Concealment Sect experts had reached Jade Capital and said Mr. Su was following them.
• Chu Zhiyuan realized Li Hongzhao had disclosed the information in exchange for a favor involving her Innate Perfection.

Chu Zhiyuan realized that the Sky Concealment Sect had been secretly watching Prince Qing's Estate after Li Hongzhao warned him and helped him recognize two disguised observers. After confirming their identities with Su Qiuyan, he decided to handle the matter himself and keep Li Hongzhao from learning more about his secrets.

• Li Hongzhao warned Chu Zhiyuan that the Sky Concealment Sect could conceal its aura and had been watching Prince Qing's Estate.
• Chu Zhiyuan recalled the strangers on Azure Dragon Avenue and recognized two disguised observers by their left-handed swordsmanship and unusual joints.
• Su Qiuyan arrived and confirmed that Chu Zhiyuan's portraits showed two of the four Sky Concealment Sect experts she had spotted.
• Su Qiuyan explained that capturing the experts would be difficult because the Sky Concealment Art let them evade tracking and flee quickly.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Li Hongzhao to leave the matter to him, while she pointed out that Su Qiuyan knew where the other two experts were hiding.

Chu Zhiyuan uncovered more of Li Hongzhao’s secrets at Linglong Bookstore, then drew out two Sky Concealment Sect experts who approached him about Wentian Cliff. The men offered to help him prepare for Wentian Cliff’s schemes, and Chu Zhiyuan weighed whether to trust them.

• Chu Zhiyuan hinted that Linglong Bookstore’s servants and runners were Great Meng Secret Agents, then left Li Hongzhao to ponder his accusation that Phoenix Camp had destroyed Nanyun Island’s four camps.
• Chu Zhiyuan spotted four Sky Concealment Sect experts in Yujing City and put on the Sky Concealment Jade before heading to Bright Moon Tower to learn their intentions.
• At Bright Moon Tower, Chu Zhiyuan confronted two disguised middle-aged men about the ruined jade, and they asked whether he planned to deal with Wentian Cliff.
• The plump man proposed that the Sky Concealment Sect could make trouble for Wentian Cliff and warned that Wentian Cliff might target Chu Zhiyuan; Chu Zhiyuan questioned whether he could trust the pair.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that Wentian Cliff could glimpse fragments of the future and that the Sky Concealment Sect opposed it. The two visitors identified his Black Pearl as the Return to Silence Pearl, which had protected him from Wentian Cliff’s foresight, and explained its connection to the destroyed Qianze Sect.

• Chu Zhiyuan questioned two Sky Concealment Sect men about Wentian Cliff, and they said its secret cultivation method could reveal fragments of the future.
• The men said the Sky Concealment Sect was a hidden variable Wentian Cliff could not foresee and denied being connected to Shadow Sect.
• The lean middle-aged man offered Chu Zhiyuan a Sky Concealment Jade to shield him from Wentian Cliff’s prying eyes.
• Chu Zhiyuan showed the men his Black Pearl, and they recognized it as the Return to Silence Pearl that had protected him from Wentian Cliff.
• The plump middle-aged man said the pearl had belonged to Qianze Sect, which Jade Cauldron Sect experts had destroyed.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked what weaknesses Wentian Cliff had after the men warned him to put away his Sky Concealment Jade.

Chu Zhiyuan questioned two Sky Concealment Sect experts about Wentian Cliff and learned how difficult its disciples were to kill. He proposed a secret alliance against Wentian Cliff and discovered that the Great Lie Dynasty’s Nether Secret Guard was also called the Nether God Guard, leaving him to suspect it followed the Divine Path.

• Chu Zhiyuan learned that Wentian Cliff had few weaknesses, and its disciples carried jade pendants and spirit pills that helped them escape even when gravely injured.
• The Sky Concealment Sect experts warned Chu Zhiyuan that Wentian Cliff might seek his Return to Silence Pearl and shared their suspicion that it colluded with the Shadow Sect.
• Chu Zhiyuan proposed that the Sky Concealment Sect share intelligence and cooperate with him against Wentian Cliff, and the gaunt man agreed to discuss the offer.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked about the Great Lie Dynasty’s Nether Secret Guard, and the gaunt man said it was also called the Nether God Guard.
• After the two experts left, Chu Zhiyuan suspected that the Nether God Guard cultivated the Divine Path.

Chu Zhiyuan asked Chu Qingfeng to help track the Nether Secret Guard using their prayer beads, then examined three divine envoy relics despite Chu Qingfeng's warning. A dangerous blast wrecked Autumn Knowing Hall, and all three relics began glowing in Chu Zhiyuan's Super Sensation.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Chu Qingfeng that the Carefree Cult's Saintess had revealed the Nether Secret Guard's existence and gave him their prayer beads to investigate.
• Chu Qingfeng warned Chu Zhiyuan about the Nether Secret Guard and the risks of divine envoy relics, then brought out three items left by slain divine envoys.
• Chu Zhiyuan used his Super Sensation to examine a green jade pendant and sensed a fierce tiger within its mist.
• Chu Zhiyuan's danger warning came too late, so he pulled Chu Qingfeng outside just before a blast devastated Autumn Knowing Hall.
• Chu Qingfeng and Chu Zhiyuan found the three relics embedded in the ceiling, glowing in Chu Zhiyuan's Super Sensation.

Chu Zhiyuan discovered that his Super Sensation triggered the divine envoy relics and helped the God Slaying Division use their reactions to track the Nether Secret Guard. He followed the Black Pearl’s aura to a battle outside the city, where four grandmasters were fighting eight Nether Secret Guards.

• Chu Zhiyuan used the power of the Fearless Realm to contain the three relics after they erupted, then learned that his Super Sensation caused them to react.
• Chu Zhiyuan tested the relics and confirmed that they glowed when he observed them, while Chu Qingfeng brought in Mr. Shi and Mr. Mo to inspect them.
• Mr. Shi and Mr. Mo sensed power fluctuations from the relics when Chu Zhiyuan entered Autumn Knowing Hall, and they agreed to use the aura to locate cultivators of divine power.
• Chu Zhiyuan, Grandmaster Shi, Grandmaster Mo, and Zou Fang followed the Black Pearl’s aura from Phoenix Avenue to the woods south of the city.
• Chu Zhiyuan found four grandmasters fighting eight Nether Secret Guards three hundred meters away.

Chu Zhiyuan and four Grandmasters fought the eight Nether Secret Guards, whose power came from beams of Outer Heavenly light, and killed them with help from Chu Zhiyuan’s flying daggers. As the group stood over the corpses, strange changes began to occur.

• Chu Zhiyuan deduced that the Nether Secret Guards had been watching him in Yujing City and relied on Outer Heavenly Power to fight.
• Chu Zhiyuan used his flying daggers to interrupt two Nether Secret Guards, allowing Grandmaster Shi to kill them.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Grandmaster Shi, Grandmaster Mo, and the other Grandmasters killed the remaining Nether Secret Guards with the daggers and their attacks.
• Chu Zhiyuan and the four Grandmasters watched as strange changes began taking place in the eight corpses.

Chu Zhiyuan and four Grandmasters escaped the blasts triggered by eight strings of prayer beads, then discussed his Flying Daggers and his use of Outer Heavenly Power. After learning that Divine Envoys might target him, Chu Zhiyuan collected the beads and accepted the danger.

• Chu Zhiyuan warned Shi Jingchuan not to touch the prayer beads and urged the group to take cover before they exploded.
• The four Grandmasters praised Chu Zhiyuan's intuition, and he explained that his Flying Daggers combined several martial arts and wielded Outer Heavenly Power.
• Chu Zhiyuan demonstrated Outer Heavenly Power and explained that the Dragon Subduing True Scripture protected his mind from its influence.
• The Grandmasters warned Chu Zhiyuan that Divine Envoys might come after him and advised him to have a Grandmaster nearby.
• Chu Zhiyuan placed all eight strings of prayer beads in his Spirit Sealing Box and declared that he would let the Divine Envoys come.