Chapter Summaries

After more than two months in the Alchemy Cave, Xiao Hua realized he might be able to use his Primordial Spirit to refine pills in his space, but he lacked the necessary secret arts. As he waited for the city guard, he encountered Li Chengxu and prevented an attack by claiming he had already summoned the guards.

• Xiao Hua received Cui Hongshen’s order to return, then realized that Primordial Spirit hand seals might let him refine pills inside his space.
• Xiao Hua searched a sword jade slip but found that the secret arts for Primordial Spirit sword seals were beyond the Bright Sword Swordsman realm.
• Xiao Hua collected artifact-refining and yellow-talisman materials before leaving the quiet chamber and summoning the city guard.
• Xiao Hua recognized Li Chengxu, who intended to seize and kill him to learn the whereabouts of the beast cultivator’s true body.
• Xiao Hua greeted Li Chengxu and said he had already summoned Xuntian City’s guards, making Li Chengxu lower his raised arm.

Xiao Hua left the Alchemy Cave after narrowly avoiding a fight with Li Chengxu and befriending the city guard Chang Shu. He rejoined Thunder Control Sect’s First Squad as they set out for an undisclosed mission, arriving with other cultivators at a northern Teleportation Array where a huge crowd was already gathered.

• Li Chengxu recognized Xiao Hua and hid his hostility, then left after handing his token to the city guard.
• The city guard Chang Shu inspected Xiao Hua’s Alchemy Cave, accepted his spirit stones, and exchanged communication talismans with him.
• Xiao Hua returned to the pavilion, where Cui Hongshen reprimanded him for arriving late before the squad was ordered to depart.
• Xiao Hua learned that neither Cui Hongshen nor the other squad members knew their destination or mission.
• The Thunder Control Sect squads traveled through Xuntian City to a northern Teleportation Array and found a vast crowd waiting there.

Xiao Hua and the Thunder Control Sect First Squad prepared to enter the Teleportation Array for a secret mission against the sword cultivators. Cui Hongshen led his squad through the array’s defensive barrier, while Xiao Hua remained wary of Li Chengxu.

• Yuan Zhongyu ordered the squads’ Captain’s Tokens collected and their missions sealed so the sword cultivators could not learn the operation’s purpose.
• The sect squads entered the mountain peak in sequence, and Xiao Hua noticed that Li Chengxu did not seem to recognize him.
• A city guard explained that only squads carrying marked tokens could pass the Teleportation Array’s barrier and that squads had to enter in order.
• Cui Hongshen claimed the First Squad’s place at the front, exchanged a hopeful promise with Senior Brother Gan, and stepped into the barrier.

Xiao Hua’s team passed through Xuntian City’s secret teleportation network and arrived at a concealed temporary array in a frozen region of Xi Kingdom. After emerging onto a glacier, they followed the Captain’s Token’s route toward their objective, with Xiao Hua taking charge of the team’s safety.

• Cui Hongshen, Zhen Minghui, and Xiao Hua passed through the guarded light barrier and were sent through a Teleportation Array without knowing its destination.
• Xiao Hua remained steady after the long teleportation, impressing the Golden Core cultivator who explained that the arrival array was temporary and would soon be moved.
• The Golden Core cultivator gave Xiao Hua’s team Evasion Talismans and warned him to bring every disciple back alive.
• Xiao Hua led the recovered team out of the cavern and onto a remote glacier, where he found no nearby sword cultivators.
• Cui Hongshen consulted the Captain’s Token, and Zhen Minghui steered the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat northwest toward their assigned destination.

Cui Hongshen's group learned that they were headed to the secret Quanjin Mountain spirit stone mine vein to reinforce its defense. Xiao Hua warned that the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi aberration could make spirit stones scarce and draw sword cultivators to the mine, then spotted a reason to change the flying boat's course.

• Cui Hongshen told the group that their mission was to defend the Quanjin Mountain spirit stone mine vein alongside Xuntian City disciples.
• Xiao Hua explained that the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi aberration could prevent spirit stones from regenerating, making the mine especially valuable and a likely target for sword cultivators.
• Xiao Hua gave Dui Qimeng a storage bag of pills to distribute among the group.
• Cui Hongshen joined Zhen Minghui in channeling magic power into the flying boat, while snow began falling beneath the dark clouds.
• Xiao Hua told Zhen Minghui to lower the flying boat by thirty meters and turn left.

Xiao Hua led the flying boat on a winding route to avoid nearby sword cultivators, then directed the group into an ambush by more than thirty Bright Sword swordsmen. When the swordsmen attacked, Xiao Hua killed their leader with a swift strike, and the battle began.

• For more than ten days, Xiao Hua repeatedly changed the flying boat’s direction and altitude, keeping the group away from sword cultivators near Xuntian City.
• Xiao Hua sensed danger ahead, ordered the group to prepare for battle, and guided the flying boat toward more than thirty approaching Bright Sword swordsmen.
• Xiao Hua told Zhen Minghui to pretend to flee, and the swordsmen pursued the boat toward the snow-covered hills.
• The leading swordsman attacked Zhen Minghui and Dui Qimeng, while Cui Hongshen countered with lightning pearls that the swordsman overcame.
• Xiao Hua rushed at the leader, evaded his flying sword, restrained him, and cut him in half with a flash of golden light.

Xiao Hua slaughtered a force of Bright Sword cultivators with his Phoenix Dharma Body, lightning, and other techniques while Cui Hongshen’s group joined the fight. The battle ended with the swordsmen defeated, and Xiao Hua discovered that one fleeing swordsman carried an object capable of shielding the soul from his Soul Capturing Bell.

• Xiao Hua killed four swordsmen, then used the Phoenix Dharma Body to repel their flying swords and strike several more down with lightning.
• Xiao Hua and the Phoenix Dharma Body attacked the swordsmen while Cui Hongshen and the others watched in shock, then joined in to finish off the wounded.
• The remaining swordsmen fled, but Xiao Hua pursued them, using the Soul Capturing Bell to stop four and chasing down the one who resisted it.
• Xiao Hua examined a swordsman’s soul and found a withered-leaf-like object that appeared to protect the soul from the Soul Capturing Bell.
• Dui Qimeng and Su Qing trapped a wounded Second Grade Bright Sword cultivator with their lightning vial and Fire Control Fan.

Xiao Hua and the Thunder Control Sect First Squad defeated more than thirty sword cultivators, then divided their spoils before continuing their journey. On the flying boat, Xiao Hua awakened the Spirit Guard Armor with soul silk and used it to protect the mysterious dark cloud.

• Xiao Hua and the squad wiped out more than thirty Bright Sword Swordsmen, with Xiao Hua noting that thirty was the most he could defeat while concealing his full strength and protecting the others.
• Xiao Hua ordered the corpses burned and the spoils divided, then accepted Dui Qimeng's share and distributed flying swords and magic artifacts among the squad.
• Xiao Hua erased the sword cultivators' Primordial Spirits from the captured flying swords before Zhen Minghui piloted the squad onward in the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat.
• Xiao Hua examined a sword slip, recognized the withered leaf as the Spirit Guard Armor, and activated it with soul silk until it flew into his Dharma Eye.
• Xiao Hua shaped the Spirit Guard Armor around the mysterious dark cloud, where it expanded into a rune-covered green armor and made the cloud's surface more solid.

Xiao Hua and Thunder Control Sect’s First Squad encountered the aftermath of a massacre and buried the Daoist cultivators killed by sword cultivators. After days of fighting, they rushed to aid a Taiqing Sect squad surrounded by strange enemies, whose shocking appearance left the battle unresolved.

• Xiao Hua found the mangled bodies of dozens of Daoist cultivators, and Dui Qimeng and the others buried them.
• Cui Hongshen collected the dead squads’ tokens, while Xiao Hua took the discarded storage pouches.
• Xiao Hua guided Thunder Control Sect’s First Squad through several days of battles, helping them grow stronger and coordinate better.
• Xiao Hua sensed a fight ahead, hurried to the scene, and disappeared from Cui Hongshen’s sight.
• Cui Hongshen led his squad to help ten Taiqing Sect disciples surrounded by sword cultivators, including three who attacked with their bodies.
• The three strange sword cultivators turned around and made Cui Hongshen and the others recoil in shock.

Cui Hongshen and the others fought avian and artifact cultivators, and Xiao Hua arrived to help turn the battle around. After killing an avian cultivator, he joined the ongoing struggle as Dui Qimeng and a Taiqing Sect disciple faced a dangerous fire bird.

• An avian cultivator rushed Cui Hongshen, but Qiu Xu trapped him with a lightning net while He Fangyuan bound him with the Qing Huan.
• Xiao Hua used the Town Cloud Seal to crush the trapped avian cultivator, revealing the remains of a Spirit Bird and a human beneath it.
• He Fangyuan told Xiao Hua about Changbai Sect’s missing Sea-Overturning Seal, then asked him to help fight the remaining enemies.
• Dui Qimeng used her thunder bottle to suppress a fireball artifact cultivator while a Taiqing Sect disciple attacked with a hook.
• The fireball transformed into a blue fire bird, which pierced the Taiqing Sect disciple’s hook with its beak.

Dui Qimeng and Cui Hongshen worked together to capture a firebird and defeat its artifact cultivator, while the two sects finished off the remaining enemies. The surviving Taiqing Sect and Thunder Control Sect disciples regrouped, and He Fangyuan learned that Cui Hongshen was the captain of Xiao Hua’s squad.

• Dui Qimeng used her lightning bottle to draw in the firebird’s flames while Cui Hongshen’s paired lightning pearls pierced the artifact cultivator and the firebird.
• Dui Qimeng captured the firebird in her lightning bottle and stored the artifact, leaving the artifact cultivator weakened and exposed to Cui Hongshen’s lightning.
• With help from the Taiqing Sect disciple and Xiao Hua’s Town Cloud Seal, the Thunder Control Sect disciples helped slay six artifact cultivators and three beast cultivators.
• The surviving disciples shared medicinal pills, and He Fangyuan thanked Cui Hongshen for helping save his life.
• Cui Hongshen introduced himself to He Fangyuan as a Myriad Thunder Valley disciple and captain of the Thunder Control Sect First Squad.

He Fangyuan recounted how a mysterious Changbai Sect senior had killed two powerful artifact cultivators before Cui Hongshen’s group arrived, while the others suspected Xiao Hua was responsible. As both sects traveled toward Quanjin Mountain, He Fangyuan privately warned Xiao Hua that Taiqing Sect elders had investigated his role in foundation-establishing incidents at the Feathered Immortal Convention.

• He Fangyuan described how an unknown cultivator wielding an azure-and-crimson flying sword killed two powerful artifact cultivators and then left, leading him to assume the rescuer belonged to the Changbai Sect.
• Cui Hongshen and He Fangyuan divided the spoils from the battle, then discovered their groups were both traveling to Quanjin Mountain and agreed to fly there together.
• He Fangyuan praised Xiao Hua’s cultivation and told him that Taiqing Sect elders had questioned him about establishing his foundation in the Feathered Immortal Convention’s illusion formation.
• He Fangyuan revealed that Taiqing Sect elders had tested other powerful disciples without reproducing the result and suggested that some disciples had established their foundations while fighting Xiao Hua.
• Xiao Hua denied responsibility, saying those disciples had already been near a breakthrough, and thanked He Fangyuan for the warning.

Xiao Hua and He Fangyuan discussed how beast cultivators and artifact cultivators had displayed abilities and behavior that differed from their sect records, leaving Xiao Hua wary of drawing the Taiqing Sect’s attention. Far away, an Illusion Sword swordsman received a message condemning a failed undertaking, then continued to Emerald Lake, where many other Illusion Sword swordsmen had gathered.

• He Fangyuan told Xiao Hua that beast cultivators had fused spirit beasts into their bodies and that artifact cultivators could link their bodies with magical artifacts far below the expected cultivation realm.
• He Fangyuan noted that the enemy cultivators had refused to flee even when outmatched, and Xiao Hua suggested they tell Fellow Daoist Cui about the strange behavior.
• Xiao Hua worried that the Taiqing Sect might take an interest in him and considered whether the enemy cultivators had been influenced by their beasts or artifacts.
• An Illusion Sword swordsman received a flying sword message, angrily blamed its sender for ruining his undertaking, and destroyed the message.
• The swordsman reached Emerald Lake and found dozens of rock-wall ledges occupied by other Illusion Sword swordsmen.

Lu Ruochang gathered sword cultivators and allied artifact cultivators to discuss how to defeat the Dao Sect and establish the Illusion Sword Great Formation. The preparations were underway, but the sword spirit needed by the Mingjian Sect had not yet been found.

• Lu Ruochang welcomed the arriving sword cultivators and warned that they risked being driven back into the Sword Domain without a winning strategy.
• Qin Jian argued for killing cultivators one by one, while Yuan Qing dismissed the idea and Qu Jianchong urged them to weaken the Dao Sect's younger disciples.
• Fan Zuiyuan demanded news about the planned formation in the Sword Tomb, and Lu Ruochang explained that the Illusion Sword Great Formation required more preparation and hidden killing moves.
• Lu Ruochang asked the sects about their preparations, and Zhong Haoxuan reported that the Mingjian Sect had found clues to the Yin Yang Sword Spirit and expected to locate it within three months.

Lu Ruochang explained how the Spirit Devouring Insects would support the Illusion Sword Great Formation, but Ling Yunwu revealed that the disciples sent to find them had been killed near White Jade Mountain. The gathering was interrupted by a bird’s cry from the valley crevice.

• Lu Ruochang said the Illusion Sword Great Formation would use the Sword Tomb’s sword intent and metal qi to ambush and kill Dao Sect cultivators.
• Lu Ruochang revealed that she had given Ling Yunwu Chansi Wood and a Sword Pouch to locate Spirit Devouring Insects for a separate formation against Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples.
• Ling Yunwu reported that more than thirty Third Grade Bright Sword disciples had been killed near White Jade Mountain while carrying the Chansi Wood and Sword Pouch.
• Lu Ruochang rebuked Ling Yunwu, while Qingfeng offered to use Qushan Sect’s secret technique to find the insects despite its consequences.
• A bird cried out from the valley crevice, and its wail disturbed the gathering and sent ripples across Emerald Lake.

Qi Peng visited the sword cultivators with Lian Xiaocao and Gao Dazhuang, bringing news of new allies and hidden experts joining the war. He also warned them that Daoist cultivators were moving toward several fixed locations, leaving Lu Ruochang and the others to plan their response.

• Qi Peng arrived at Emerald Lake and introduced Lian Xiaocao, chief of the Giant Tribe, and Gao Dazhuang, chief of the Dwarf Tribe, to the sword cultivators.
• Qi Peng told Lu Ruochang that the Giant Tribe and Dwarf Tribe had joined the war and that two reclusive experts from Alchemy Valley might help steady the conflict.
• Gao Dazhuang informed Qi Peng that his clansmen had spotted Daoist cultivators moving purposefully toward several locations east of the Sword Domain.
• Qi Peng departed with Lian Xiaocao and Gao Dazhuang, and Fan Zuiyuan wondered why Lu Ruochang had already anticipated the Daoist movement.

Lu Ruochang explained that the Sword Domain's war against the Three Kingdoms of Dao Sect was aimed at capturing spirit stone mines, then assigned the swordsmen their tasks. Meanwhile, Xiao Hua traveled with Thunder Control Sect and Taiqing Sect disciples toward their destination, where an avalanche suddenly swept through a mountain gorge.

• Lu Ruochang told Fan Zuiyuan that the Sword Domain had launched the war to seize spirit stone mines, using other conflicts as cover, and explained how Dao Sect reinforcements guarded them.
• Lu Ruochang coordinated the swordsmen's plans, then instructed Ling Yunwu to search for Chansi Wood and the Sword Pouch and to report when he found the Spirit Devouring Insect.
• Xiao Hua flew with the Thunder Control Sect and Taiqing Sect disciples, reflected on the Lightning Evasion Technique and the missing Lightning Devouring Bead, and wondered what had happened to Gan Qinghuo.
• He Fangyuan announced that the group would soon reach its destination, and his voice disturbed snow on a mountainside, triggering a massive avalanche.
• The cultivators hurried to escape the avalanche while Xiao Hua observed its growing force and contemplated the power of accumulated snow.

After escaping an avalanche, the Thunder Control Sect and Taiqing Sect disciples encountered avian cultivators and giants besieging more than forty Daoist cultivators. Xiao Hua led the disciples into the battle, and their arrival opened gaps in the encirclement as the trapped cultivators looked for a chance to escape.

• He Fangyuan led the Thunder Control Sect and Taiqing Sect disciples away from the avalanche site, while a tiny dwarf emerged from the rocks and followed their trail using Earth Evasion.
• Two days later, Xiao Hua spotted more than twenty avian cultivators and over a dozen giants attacking more than forty Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Cui Hongshen and He Fangyuan hesitated, but the disciples looked to Xiao Hua, who said they should go to the trapped cultivators' aid.
• Cui Hongshen rallied the Thunder Control Sect disciples, and He Fangyuan's Taiqing Sect disciples joined them as they charged into the battle.
• The avian cultivators expanded their encirclement to include the arriving reinforcements, creating gaps that gave the trapped cultivators hope of escape.

Cultivators trapped by bird cultivators fled through the encirclement, and one Taiqing Sect disciple was killed after trying to escape. Xiao Hua then drew two bird cultivators away and secretly killed them with a flash of golden light, leaving him to face a giant’s spiked club.

• Zheng Shuo and several other cultivators fled through gaps in the bird cultivators’ encirclement, prompting nearly twenty people to escape.
• A Taiqing Sect disciple ignored Xiao Hua’s warning, was struck by a bird cultivator, and was killed by a giant’s spiked club.
• Xiao Hua charged between two bird cultivators and drew them away from the encirclement with Fireball Talismans.
• As the two bird cultivators attacked Xiao Hua, he sent a streak of golden light through their necks, killing them.
• Xiao Hua confronted the giant and its spiked club while the other cultivators watched in astonishment.

Xiao Hua routed the giants and drove off the bird cultivators with his Long Staff, then pretended to collapse after the battle. Ming Mou and Dui Ling rushed to catch him as he steadied himself and began coughing.

• Xiao Hua struck two giants with the Long Staff, and both fled, prompting the remaining giants to run as well.
• Xiao Hua pursued the bird cultivator who had killed a Taiqing Sect disciple and killed him with a blow to the abdomen.
• Xiao Hua shouted after the fleeing bird cultivators, who escaped after realizing he was not pursuing them.
• Xiao Hua stopped circulating his true essence and plunged from the air, while Ming Mou and Dui Ling flew to catch him.
• Xiao Hua steadied himself before Ming Mou and thanked her and Dui Ling, then broke into a fit of coughing.