Chapter Summaries

Zhang Ningyuan endured brutal boxing practice under Zhou Wu and later visited the Faraway Inn, where Li Ping'an recognized the damage to his body and prescribed a medicinal decoction. Zhang Ningyuan accepted the advice and went to find Little Girl.

• Zhou Wu made Zhang Ningyuan practice boxing by letting him attack, then beat him until he could barely move.
• Zhang Ningyuan noticed that Zhou Wu returned from somewhere with black eyes and secretly felt pleased, though he did not know who had injured him.
• While walking through town, Zhang Ningyuan heard that a female Sword Immortal from Great Sui had defeated several Demon Race Sword Immortals near Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Zhang Ningyuan visited the Faraway Inn and spoke with Li Ping'an, who examined his battered body and realized he had been practicing boxing and taking medicinal baths.
• Li Ping'an recited a Life-Pulse Powder formula for Zhang Ningyuan to take before his medicinal baths, and Zhang Ningyuan thanked him before going to find Little Girl.

Zhang Ningyuan spent the day at the Faraway Inn before discovering that his bargain-bin master, Zhou Wu, repeatedly challenged Old Ox and was badly beaten each time. He returned to his brother’s house with medicinal herbs, reflecting on how many powerful figures lived around Demon-Suppressing Pass.

• Zhang Ningyuan talked with Little Girl about cultivation, then played Go with her and helped with chores at the Faraway Inn.
• Zhang Ningyuan bought the ingredients for Li Ping'an’s prescription at an apothecary and noticed a crowd gathered to watch a fight.
• Zhang Ningyuan recognized his bargain-bin master as the fighter challenging Old Ox, who ate beef jerky while Zhou Wu attacked him.
• Old Ox endured Zhou Wu’s punches and kicks without apparent harm, then tossed the exhausted Zhou Wu into a corner.
• Zhang Ningyuan avoided approaching Zhou Wu and returned to his brother’s house carrying the medicinal herbs.

Qin Shi traveled toward Demon-Suppressing Pass and met a young woman in green riding a black puppet, then protected Little Squirrel when the woman tried to catch it. After they continued toward Jingmen Mountain, the young woman’s master found her and demanded she return.

• Qin Shi left Jiuquan City and walked for days toward Jingmen Mountain, where he met a young woman in green and her giant black puppet.
• Qin Shi and the young woman sheltered from the rain in a cave, where she tried to take Little Squirrel for food.
• Qin Shi rescued Little Squirrel, returned its nuts, and explained that they should not bully the weak.
• After the rain stopped, Qin Shi and the young woman continued toward Jingmen Mountain, but her master appeared and ordered her to come back.

Qin Shi rescued the Azure-Robed Woman from a powerful old man and drove him away, then continued toward Demon-Suppressing Pass with her. The Azure-Robed Woman offered to help Qin Shi find Mr. Li and recover Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s Mountain-Guarding Treasure.

• The old man used Mind Power to overpower the Azure-Robed Woman, but Qin Shi intervened and fought him.
• Qin Shi’s strength and Daoist Dragon-Tiger Qi alarmed the old man, who withdrew after warning his disciple to return on time.
• The Azure-Robed Woman thanked Qin Shi, and he explained that he was traveling to Demon-Suppressing Pass to find Mr. Li and retrieve Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s Mountain-Guarding Treasure.
• As they continued toward Demon-Suppressing Pass, the injured Azure-Robed Woman offered to help Qin Shi find Mr. Li.

Li Ping'an left Little Girl to run the inn while he went fishing, and she served a large meal to the Azure-Robed Woman and Qin Shi. The pair tried to leave without paying after claiming they found a bug, but Qin Shi offered to work at the inn instead; the chapter ended with Little Girl facing their unpaid bill.

• Li Ping'an refined a batch of pills, and Little Girl packed them into a gourd before telling him she planned to fish because they had run out of fish.
• Li Ping'an went fishing the next morning, leaving Little Girl alone at the inn while Old Ox went off to play.
• The Azure-Robed Woman and Qin Shi arrived with a black-clad companion, ordered the inn's best dishes, and ate everything Little Girl served.
• The Azure-Robed Woman pointed to a bug on a plate and admitted she and Qin Shi had come to make trouble, then tried to leave without paying.
• Qin Shi stopped the Azure-Robed Woman, confessed he had no money, and offered his strength for work at the inn.

Li Ping'an met Yang Jianbai while fishing, then returned to his inn and discovered that Chi Ling and Qin Shi had been working off a meal they had eaten without paying. Qin Shi recognized Li Ping'an as an old acquaintance and revealed that his master had sent him to gain experience and bring White Jade Capital back.

• Li Ping'an fished beside Yang Jianbai, who introduced himself as the second head of the Daoist Lineage and asked whether humanity could weather the coming calamity.
• Li Ping'an returned to the inn with Old Ox and learned that Little Girl had recruited Chi Ling and Qin Shi to work off their unpaid meal.
• Chi Ling argued with Qin Shi about repaying their debt, then told Li Ping'an that she and Qin Shi were from the Southern Border and Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
• Qin Shi recognized Li Ping'an and greeted him warmly, while Chi Ling realized they had met the innkeeper he had spoken about.
• Qin Shi told Li Ping'an that his master had sent him to gain experience and bring White Jade Capital back, and Li Ping'an invited him to talk over a meal.

Qin Shi settled into life at Demon-Suppressing Pass, where his brave assaults earned him a reputation but left him badly wounded. While Chi Meng cared for him at the inn, he tried to connect with her by repeating her story in a way that left Li Ping'an and Chi Meng stunned.

• Li Ping'an directed Qin Shi to Qianlong at Demon-Suppressing Pass and welcomed him and Little Girl to stay at the inn.
• Qin Shi joined the defenders at Demon-Suppressing Pass and repeatedly led assaults against the Demon Army, surviving attacks and earning a reputation.
• Chi Meng treated Qin Shi's severe wounds and urged him to stop risking his life on the battlefield.
• Chi Meng told Qin Shi about her master ripping off his fingernails, and Qin Shi later asked her to tell the story again.
• Qin Shi repeated Chi Meng's phrase with a meow, making Li Ping'an nearly spit out his tea and leaving Chi Meng appalled.

Qianlong oversaw the Demon-Suppressing Pass command hall while wondering why the Demon Race’s attacks had suddenly eased. As a torrential rain fell, Zheng Changwen sensed danger and ordered every checkpoint’s watch posts inspected.

• Qianlong reviewed reports and remarked that the Demon Race’s recent attacks had become unusually mild.
• Zheng Changwen told Qianlong that Yang Jianbai wanted to see him, and Qianlong left the hall to visit him.
• Zheng Changwen recalled his resentment toward Qianlong and his own family’s history of dying in battle at Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• A sudden torrential rain fell, and Zheng Changwen noticed Zhao Ling’er before feeling an inexplicable unease.
• As his sense of danger intensified, Zheng Changwen ordered the sentries to check the visible and hidden watch posts at every checkpoint.

Zheng Changwen realized the enemy had infiltrated Demon-Suppressing Pass and tried to warn the First-Level Hub Center. Qin Yuan and a force of Demon Race Sword Cultivators launched a surprise attack, leaving the center cut off and its officials fighting for their lives.

• Zheng Changwen sensed an unnatural change in the rain and was trapped by an invisible attack in the courtyard.
• Zhao Ling'er noticed blood on her cheek as Zheng Changwen appeared, warned her of the enemy attack, and collapsed.
• Qin Yuan revealed herself with more than a dozen Demon Race Sword Cultivators and struck Zhao Ling'er down.
• The attackers cut off the First-Level Hub Center's communications and killed many officials with sudden flying-sword strikes.

Demon Sage Qin Yuan led an attack on the Wolf Guards, where Zhao Ling'er fought fiercely before Qianlong exposed Yang Jianbai's betrayal and forced Qin Yuan to retreat. Mortally wounded, Qianlong and Zheng Changwen reconciled and died wishing they had shared a drink.

• Zhao Ling'er killed three Demon Race sword cultivators while Qin Yuan watched and revealed that an insider had helped the attackers infiltrate.
• Qin Yuan destroyed the Sand Table and documents, but Qianlong announced that Yang Jianbai had betrayed humanity and the Wolf Guards had fallen.
• Qin Yuan ordered a retreat as flames engulfed the Wolf Guards, and Zhao Ling'er lay mortally wounded.
• Despite facing Yang Jianbai and his two disciples, Qianlong survived long enough to sound the alarm, though he was gravely injured.
• Qianlong and Zheng Changwen spoke beside each other, regretted never having shared a drink, and died at the third quarter of the hour of the Rabbit.

Demon Race forces overwhelmed the weakened defenses of Demon-Suppressing Pass after the Wolf Guards disappeared, and Zhou Wu broke through to the Eighth Realm while fighting to destroy an enemy bridge. Qin Shi and Old Ox collapsed the bridge, and Li Ping'an arrived as a revelation that Yang Jianbai had betrayed humanity and the Wolf Guards had fallen.

• Demon Sages and Great Demons intensified attacks on the northwest and southeast fronts, leaving the first defensive line disconnected and the Flying Sword Towers without coordination.
• Zhou Wu fought the Great Demon advancing across a Void-Manifested Bridge, but the Demon Army stabilized it and began pouring onto the walls.
• Zhou Wu broke through to the Eighth Realm and struck the bridge, then collapsed from exhaustion when his blow only shook it.
• Qin Shi and Old Ox joined forces to strike the bridge's weakest point and bring it down.
• Li Ping'an appeared on the battlefield, and the defenders learned that Yang Jianbai had betrayed humanity and the Wolf Guards had fallen.

After Yang Jianbai defected and the Wolf Guards were destroyed, Li Ping'an brought the gravely wounded Zhao Ling'er back to the inn while Demon-Suppressing Pass braced for further betrayal. Li Ping'an sensed that an upheaval unseen in ten thousand years was approaching, though he did not tell the children about the danger.

• The Old Sword Immortal recognized Qianlong's voice, while Li Ping'an and his allies gained ground against the Wolf Guards and heard that Yang Jianbai had defected.
• Kong Yang found the Wolf Guards compound burned out, learned that Zhao Ling'er was the sole survivor, and allowed Li Ping'an to take her away for treatment.
• Kong Yang learned that Qing Xuan had ended his seclusion, as the Dao Court's Second Sect Master defecting stirred fear and distrust at Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Chi Meng, Little Girl, and Zhang Ningyuan struggled through a busy day at Faraway Inn while Li Ping'an and the others were away.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox returned with Zhao Ling'er, and Li Ping'an told the children little about the crisis before sensing a great upheaval was near.

Yang Jianbai agreed with the Extraterrestrial Demon to betray Demon-Suppressing Pass in exchange for a province where humanity could take refuge. At the pass, Qing Xuan and the other leaders prepared for an assault by the united Demon Race and appointed Li Ping'an to replace Yang Jianbai.

• The Extraterrestrial Demon assured Yang Jianbai that the Demon Ancestor would cede a province to humanity after the pass fell, and Yang Jianbai said later generations would vindicate him.
• Qing Xuan met with humanity’s strongest defenders, and Kong Yang reported that at least ten enemy fighters of the ninth realm or higher threatened them.
• Cui Li pointed out that the Demon Race’s infighting might help humanity, but Gu Kai warned that the situation seemed unusually serious and called for reinforcements.
• Kong Yang announced that the defenders would take up their usual positions at Demon-Suppressing Pass, and Cui Li asked who would replace Yang Jianbai.
• Mo Chun said Li Ping'an had agreed to take over Yang Jianbai’s position, provided he alone defended that area and its existing defenders were reassigned.

Li Ping'an took command of Demon-Suppressing Pass’s southeastern battlefield and faced the Demon Army alone while reinforcements from across the Nine Provinces began heading north. The Demon Army tried to wear him down, but he showed no fear of the battle or of revealing his abilities.

• Li Ping'an arrived at the undefended southeastern battlefield and destroyed the Demon soldiers attacking it with a single sword strike.
• The Extraterrestrial Demon recognized that Demon-Suppressing Pass had gained a wild card and challenged Heaven's Punishment One to stop the coming tide.
• Pang Jun left Chaolong Temple with Xuan Ruo after arranging for Wen Ruohai to stay and guard the mountain gate.
• Great Sui, Shushan, the Daoist Lineage, the academies, and other powers across the Nine Provinces sent troops and cultivators north toward Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Li Ping'an held the southeastern battlefield alone as the Demon Army increased its attacks to exhaust him, while he remained unconcerned about revealing his vulnerabilities.

Zhao Ling'er recovered at the Faraway Inn while Little Girl cared for her, and the battle for Demon-Suppressing Pass raged for five days. The Demon Race abruptly halted its assault, and Demon Sage Baize appeared on the battlefield.

• Zhao Ling'er lay injured in bed as Little Girl accidentally drank most of her medicine and went to prepare more.
• Yu Er killed two Great Demons, then returned to the city wall while Li Ping'an and Old Ox continued defending the southeastern battlefield in shifts.
• Kong Yang fought on the main battlefield as the Demon Army launched a relentless assault, while the Heavenly Demon urged eight Demon Sages to return triumphant.
• The Demon Race suddenly stopped attacking across the battlefields, leaving the human cultivators to wonder what was happening.
• Demon Sage Baize emerged from the Demon Race's ranks and landed in the center of the main battlefield.

The Demon Race launched an all-out assault on Demon-Suppressing Pass, where Kong Yang led the human defenders into battle. As the fighting spread across the battlefield, Qing Xuan confronted the returning Demon Ancestor, while Li Ping'an and Old Ox held off three Demon Sages.

• Eight Demon Sages, Yang Jianbai, more than three hundred Eighth Realm Great Demons, and the Demon Army appeared before Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Kong Yang called on the defenders to follow him, and the Ninth Realm Immortals and thousands of Sword Cultivators charged into the Demon Army.
• Qing Xuan wielded a wooden sword to tear open the battlefield, then ascended into the sky to confront the returning Demon Ancestor Kunpeng.
• The human fighters battled the Demon Sages and demon troops across the field as Qin Shi fought among the defenders and Zhou Wu and other Martial Warriors broke through summoned mountains.
• Li Ping'an and Old Ox fought three Demon Sages on the southeastern battlefield, and Old Ox endured Qin Yuan's three Magic Treasures without injury.

Qing Xuan fought the Demon Ancestor with his three swords, then moved their decisive battle into the River of Destiny to spare the Nine Provinces. There, Qing Xuan struck down the weakened Demon Ancestor, whose body and soul began to shatter.

• Qing Xuan and the Demon Ancestor battled across the wilderness, sky, and sea, using powerful sword techniques and abilities that devastated their surroundings.
• Qing Xuan sealed the two fighters inside a barrier, and after it shattered, he used his three bonded swords to tear open the River of Destiny.
• Qing Xuan led the Demon Ancestor into the River of Destiny so their fight could decide their fates without making the Nine Provinces their battlefield.
• The Demon Ancestor recalled his youth, his failed attempt to conquer the Nine Provinces, and the bargain he made with the Heavenly Demon after three Ninth Realm Immortals nearly killed him.
• Qing Xuan's sword light pierced the Demon Ancestor, destroying his body and soul as he endured the pain in silence.

Qing Xuan killed the Demon Ancestor, but an Extraterrestrial Demon emerged from the River of Destiny and challenged him. At Demon-Suppressing Pass, the Human Race’s defenders were overwhelmed by the Demon Army, and Kong Yang wondered if the battle was already lost.

• The Demon Ancestor revealed that he had sacrificed himself to lure Qing Xuan into a trap, and an Extraterrestrial Demon emerged from the River of Destiny after the Demon Ancestor died.
• A voice in the River of Destiny announced that someone was challenging Qing Xuan by the sword.
• Feidan defeated Yu Er in their minor world and badly injured Gu Kai as the Human Race’s defenses crumbled.
• Black Ox charged at Feidan, while Li Ping'an fought four Demon Sages and several Great Demons but could not stop the battle line from retreating toward Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Kong Yang looked toward the failing defenses as Baize pursued him and wondered whether all was lost.

As Qing Xuan’s defeat by the Extraterrestrial Demons forced Demon-Suppressing Pass into its final retreat, he passed command to Kong Yang and used his remaining strength to lift the pass toward Cloud Province. Qing Xuan dispersed, and Kong Yang faced the demons as Demon Sage Guiche attacked him.

• Kong Yang waited for Qing Xuan while facing Demon Sage Baize and recalled how Qing Xuan had surpassed him to become City Lord of Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Demon-Suppressing Pass began moving as Qing Xuan’s avatar used the City Lord’s power to carry out their plan to retreat more than three thousand li toward Cloud Province.
• Qing Xuan told Kong Yang that the Extraterrestrial Demons had trapped him in the River of Destiny, then named Kong Yang his successor and entrusted him with protecting Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Kong Yang and Qing Xuan raised Demon-Suppressing Pass into the air, throwing its remaining residents into chaos as Kitten tried to protect valuables and reach Zhao Ling’er.
• Qing Xuan dispersed into heaven and earth, while Baize dismissed the retreat as futile and Yang Jianbai lowered his raised hand.
• Demon Sage Guiche aimed a spear of Nanming Li Fire at Kong Yang, but Cui Li arrived and struck the spear with a punch.

As the Demon Race overwhelmed Demon-Suppressing Pass, Kong Yang transferred the City Lord’s power to Li Ping'an so he could move the pass toward Cloud Province. The human cultivators charged out to hold back the enemy, leaving Li Ping'an to lead their last attempt at survival.

• Kong Yang and Cui Li fought to protect Demon-Suppressing Pass as the Demon Race attacked it from all sides.
• Yu Er detonated his immortal body to destroy the mountains and cave abodes falling toward the pass, becoming the first Ninth Realm Immortal to die in the battle.
• Li Ping'an broke through the demons surrounding Demon-Suppressing Pass and used his origin-qi dharma form to steady it alongside Kong Yang.
• Kong Yang transferred the City Lord’s power to Li Ping'an and asked him to protect Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Kong Yang, Gu Kai, Cui Li, and the other human cultivators charged the Demon Race to buy Li Ping'an time to move the pass toward Cloud Province.