Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xiaohua entered the great pit by exploiting a restriction weakened by a mouse and discovered that its pill furnaces formed powerful arrays. After combining and collecting the furnaces, he broke the pit’s flight restriction and took the mist-emitting artifact that had been surrounded by them.

• Zhang Xiaohua broke through the restriction where a mouse had gnawed away part of it, then used the Shapeshifting Technique to enter the great pit.
• Zhang Xiaohua found that the pit prohibited flight and that its Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnaces resisted being moved or stored.
• Zhang Xiaohua placed a furnace from his belt into a seven-furnace array, triggering the furnaces to fuse into a stronger Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace.
• Zhang Xiaohua used his remaining eighteen furnaces to complete six more arrays and collected six additional fused furnaces.
• Zhang Xiaohua collected the lone remaining furnace, breaking the flight restriction, then summoned the mist-shrouded artifact and sealed it inside a jade box.

Zhang Xiaohua arranged for Meng to escape Shuiyunjian while he stayed behind to fulfill a secret favor for Peng Yeyu. Disguised as Peng Yeyu, he escorted Meng toward the dock, where Hall Master Li questioned his orders and noticed his altered voice.

• Meng feared Bai Yanqiu would kill them after leaving for the Martial Arts Gathering, so Zhang Xiaohua told her to flee with Peng Yeyu while he stayed behind.
• Zhang Xiaohua gave Meng directions toward the Incense-Passing Cult and promised to catch up with her after completing Peng Yeyu’s secret request.
• Disguised as Peng Yeyu, Zhang Xiaohua arrived at the cottage and led Meng past Shuiyunjian patrols using the night’s password, “Night Rain Whispers.”
• At the dock, the disguised Zhang Xiaohua ordered the drunken boat guards to prepare a boat for Meng.
• Li Xu confronted the disguised Zhang Xiaohua, questioned whether Bai Yanqiu had ordered Meng’s release, and asked why Peng Yeyu’s voice sounded different.

Peng Yeyu escorted Meng out of Shuiyunjian by invoking the Sect Leader’s authority, then parted from her in the mountains. At dawn, Zhang Xiaohua disguised himself as Pan An, misled Shuiyunjian’s disciples, and secretly set off after Meng.

• Peng Yeyu persuaded Li Xu to let him take Meng away by citing the Sect Leader’s verbal order and the password Li Xu had chosen.
• Peng Yeyu and Meng left Shuiyunjian by boat, then rode to the mountains, where they separated and Meng continued along the route she had planned with Zhang Xiaohua.
• After Meng left, Peng Yeyu destroyed his horse and vanished using a strange hand motion.
• Zhang Xiaohua woke in a cave, disguised himself as Pan An, and flew over Shuiyunjian to announce that he had come to reclaim what belonged to him.
• Li Xu discovered the island’s mist had dispersed, confirmed its formations were intact, and sent disciples to report the disturbance to Bai Yanqiu.
• Zhang Xiaohua secretly found Four Unlike, brought Huanhuan out, and rode after Meng.

Meng reunited with Zhang Xiaohua on the road, and they discussed her suspected connection to the Heavenly Dragon Sect and the Cult Master's motives before continuing leisurely toward the Incense-Passing Cult. More than half a month later, Abbess Jingyi revealed that she had broken through her cultivation bottleneck as the Martial Arts Gathering approached.

• Meng waited along the road until Zhang Xiaohua caught up, then embraced him and explained that she had wanted to travel with him.
• Meng told Zhang Xiaohua about Peng Yeyu's conflict with Li Xu, but Zhang Xiaohua refused to reveal the deal he had made with Peng Yeyu.
• Meng reasoned that the Cult Master knew of her resemblance to her mother and might be investigating her origins, while Zhang Xiaohua suggested they wait for the Heavenly Dragon Sect's arrival to learn more.
• Meng and Zhang Xiaohua decided they did not need to hurry back, then traveled together toward the Incense-Passing Cult.
• More than half a month later, Abbess Jingyi told the Incense-Passing Cult leaders that she had broken through her bottleneck three days earlier.

Abbess Jingyi discussed the Immortal Path bottleneck, Ren Xiaoyao and Zixia’s disappearance, and the preparations for the Martial Arts Gathering. The gathering began at Huaiyu Peak, where Jingyi welcomed Elder Changsheng and Alliance Leader Zhang as they arrived.

• Abbess Jingyi explained that consuming a Grass Returning Pill had helped her break through her bottleneck, then revealed that Ren Xiaoyao and Zixia had vanished after appearing at Qiu Long Mountain and Poyang Town.
• Abbess Xuezhen reported that nearly eight hundred sects were coming to the gathering, so Jingyi ordered the four halls to send disciples to help receive them.
• Abbess Jingyi said Di Shitian remained the number one martial artist and Immortal Path cultivator under heaven, and agreed that the Incense-Passing Cult should investigate the deaths of its two elders without publicly accusing Heavenly Dragon Sect.
• Abbess Jingyi and the others prepared to welcome the guests, while Chen Chen wondered where Ren Xiaoyao and Zixia had gone.
• The next day, Abbess Jingyi welcomed Elder Changsheng and Alliance Leader Zhang as they arrived at Huaiyu Peak.

Abbess Jingyi welcomed the martial world’s leaders and thousands of guests to Huaiyu Peak for the Incense-Passing Cult’s Martial Arts Gathering. She announced that the collapse of the cult’s sect-guarding formation had ended its isolation and that it would now join the martial world, while Zhang Xiaohua and Zixia had still not returned.

• Elder Changsheng and Alliance Leader Zhang greeted Abbess Jingyi and praised her breakthrough and Huaiyu Peak.
• Abbess Jingyi led the visiting leaders and their followers to Huaiyu Palace, where thousands of guests were seated inside and in the square.
• Master Chang Geng and Master Chang Xing alluded to Ren Xiaoyao’s actions at Great Forest Temple, and Abbess Jingyi revealed that Ren Xiaoyao and Zixia had not returned to Yi Xiang Peak.
• Abbess Jingyi and Elder Changsheng indicated that the Heavenly Dragon Sect would not attend, leaving Alliance Leader Zhang confused.
• Abbess Jingyi used her voice to address the gathering across Huaiyu Peak and announced the Incense-Passing Cult’s return to the martial world.

At the Incense-Passing Cult’s Martial Arts Gathering, Abbess Jingyi welcomed her disciples back to the jianghu before Shuiyunjian announced its own return and attacked with powerful artifacts. Abbess Jingyi and Elder Changsheng fought to contain the assault, but Garuda Heavenly King joined the battle, leaving the confrontation escalating around Huaiyu Palace.

• Abbess Jingyi declared that the Incense-Passing Cult had returned to the jianghu, and Master Changsheng publicly welcomed the cult on behalf of the assembled martial artists.
• A visitor speaking for Shuiyunjian announced that the sect was returning to the jianghu and fired a Sky-Shaking Bow attack at Abbess Jingyi.
• Abbess Jingyi trapped the arrow with her silk net, but the Shuiyunjian attacker sent a Demon Refining Pot toward Huaiyu Palace and broke her green ribbon with its power.
• Elder Changsheng intervened with his Buddhist beads, resisting the pot’s suction and helping Abbess Jingyi restrain it.
• Garuda Heavenly King arrived with the Black Smoke Nest and attacked the magical artifacts, prompting Abbess Jingyi and Elder Changsheng to fight back.

At Huaiyu Palace, Abbess Jingyi negotiated with Bai Yanqiu and Garuda as their sects announced their return to the martial world. After demonstrating the Incense-Passing Cult’s control of the palace, she arranged seats for the gathered leaders, leaving the balance of power unsettled.

• Garuda watched Elder Changsheng retrieve his prayer beads, then flew to Huaiyu Palace, where Bai Yanqiu introduced Shuiyunjian as the successor to the Divine Blade Sect.
• Abbess Jingyi agreed to welcome Shuiyunjian into the martial world alongside the Incense-Passing Cult, and Bai Yanqiu revealed dozens of hidden disciples around the palace.
• Abbess Jingyi used a Little Yellow flag to raise a towering wall of fire, showing the gathered leaders that the Incense-Passing Cult had prepared to trap anyone inside Huaiyu Palace.
• Bai Yanqiu apologized to Abbess Jingyi, who welcomed her and Garuda into the palace as honored guests.
• Garuda sat in Abbess Jingyi’s chair and challenged her seating arrangement, prompting her to reveal four concealed jade chairs on the platform.
• Abbess Jingyi assigned seats to Garuda, Elder Changsheng, Bai Yanqiu, and Zhang San, and Zhang San took the final chair.

At the Martial Arts Gathering, the five factions shared Incense-Passing Cult’s rare Ice Wine, which Zhang San took away for the Righteous Path Alliance. The gathering turned hostile when Garuda seized an Incense-Passing Cult disciple and demanded her as a dual-cultivation furnace, claiming she had a True Fire Physique.

• Abbess Jingyi welcomed the gathered sects and sealed the platform before serving Ice Wine to the five faction leaders.
• Abbess Jingyi warned Zhang San that he could not refine the wine without Immortal Path cultivation methods, then gave him a jade bottle to take it away.
• Garuda abruptly seized a female disciple who had brought the bottle and examined her despite Abbess Jingyi’s attempts to stop him.
• Garuda revealed that the disciple had a True Fire Physique and demanded that Abbess Jingyi give her to him as a dual-cultivation furnace.

Garuda demanded Zhang Ping'er as a human cauldron, and Abbess Jingyi delayed deciding whether to hand her over while protecting the Incense-Passing Cult from his threat. The gathering then moved toward its sword discussion, where Abbess Jingyi announced a third-place prize that enraged Bai Yanqiu.

• Garuda explained that Zhang Ping'er's rare Yin constitution suited his cultivation and threatened to abduct her if Abbess Jingyi refused to give her to him.
• Abbess Jingyi accepted Garuda's jade slip, postponed her decision until after the Martial Arts Gathering, and had him release Zhang Ping'er's acupoints.
• Zhang Ping'er identified herself as a disciple from Lihuo Hall and begged Abbess Jingyi not to send her away; Abbess Jingyi reassured her and let her leave the platform.
• Abbess Jingyi ended the refreshments and announced that Abbess Xuezhen would explain the sword discussion rules, then revealed Breaking Saber Force as the third-place prize.
• Bai Yanqiu objected that Breaking Saber Force was the Divine Blade Sect's secret technique, but Abbess Jingyi pointed out that Shuiyunjian was not the Divine Blade Sect.

Abbess Jingyi revealed the Martial Arts Gathering’s prizes, explaining how Qi Stones and magical artifacts let people cultivate and fight on the Immortal Path. She demonstrated the first-place prize, a replica Purple Phoenix Hairpin, leaving the crowd awed by its power.

• Bai Yanqiu watched Abbess Jingyi award the Breaking Saber Force to the sword discussion’s third-place finisher, while Bai Yanqiu could not demand her sect’s secret manual.
• Abbess Jingyi unveiled five Qi Stones as the second-place prize and explained that cultivators used them to absorb Primordial Qi and enter the Immortal Path.
• Abbess Jingyi presented a replica Purple Phoenix Hairpin as the champion’s prize and explained that magical artifacts could be activated with true qi.
• Abbess Jingyi demonstrated the hairpin’s lightning, destroying jade chairs and controlling a crackling net above frightened onlookers.

Abbess Jingyi and Elder Changsheng announced the sword debate’s rewards and rules, and Abbess Xuezhen began organizing the competitors. As sects rushed to submit their disciples’ names before the deadline, the platforms inside Huaiyu Palace filled first, forcing some palace entrants to seek places outside.

• Abbess Jingyi demonstrated the imitation Purple Phoenix Hairpin and offered it, with its secret manual, as a reward for the champion.
• Elder Changsheng warned that the sword debate forbade killing and that anyone responsible for a death would be expelled, whether it was intentional or accidental.
• Abbess Jingyi began the debate, and dozens of fighting platforms rose from the ground across Huaiyu Palace and the square.
• Abbess Xuezhen explained the entry limits, platform matchups, and first-round rewards, then gave sects one incense stick’s time to submit their competitors’ names.
• Sect leaders rushed to claim platform slots, and the platforms inside Huaiyu Palace filled before some competitors could register.
• More than a dozen people from inside the palace ran out to search for open platforms in the square as the deadline approached.

The Incense-Passing Cult began its swordsmanship matches while tensions with the Qingshan Sect and other martial sects grew. After a match exposed the arena’s harsh rules, Abbess Jingyi withdrew to a small hall, where she revealed her anger and summoned Yin Yin of Lihuo Hall as Xia Qing arrived with something to discuss.

• Sect leaders failed to place their slips into the disappearing arena holes, then discussed joining forces against the Qingshan Sect after Old Man Xiao left in anger.
• Abbess Xuezhen explained that contestants would lose if they fell from an arena or failed to force an opponent off within the arena’s descent, and the first pairings appeared on the light screens.
• Xu Jingwen of Vast Sky Dock used a feint and a kick to send Liu Cheng of Qihua Sect off the arena, and the Incense-Passing Cult witness upheld her victory.
• Abbess Jingyi left the gathering with Peacock, Chen Chen, and other disciples, then shattered a side table in fury and advised Peacock to endure what others could not.
• Abbess Jingyi dismissed most of the disciples, kept Peacock and Chen Chen behind, and summoned Yin Yin of Lihuo Hall; Xia Qing arrived before Yin Yin and hesitated outside the hall.

Xia Qing asked Abbess Jingyi to let her enter the sword-discussion matches to compete for the Five Elements Qi Stones, and Abbess Jingyi agreed despite warning her of the risks. Abbess Jingyi then summoned Yin Yin to discuss Zhang Ping'er, whom Garuda Heavenly King wanted to take away, leaving the Cult Master weighing the danger of resisting the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

• Xia Qing pleaded to enter the sword-discussion matches, and Abbess Jingyi allowed her to replace Yuan Hong while warning her not to wear a veil or palace robes.
• After Xia Qing left, Abbess Jingyi explained that the Five Elements Qi Stones were bait for the martial world and worried that Shuiyunjian's Liang Cangxu could defeat Xia Qing.
• Abbess Jingyi summoned Yin Yin and told him that Garuda Heavenly King wanted to take Zhang Ping'er away because of her hidden fire-element meridians.
• Yin Yin acknowledged that Garuda could abduct Zhang Ping'er easily, while Abbess Jingyi and her disciples considered the risks of opposing the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

Yin Yin learned that Zhang Ping'er had been taken to the Heavenly Dragon Sect, while Abbess Jingyi framed Zhang Ping'er's forced sacrifice as a price the Incense-Passing Cult paid for its future strength. The Martial Arts Gathering proceeded to its second round, where the sects submitted competitors and Qin Shiyue and Xu Jiaotong watched from the Heavenly Dragon Sect's section.

• Abbess Jingyi promoted Yin Yin and told her to explain that Zhang Ping'er would remain an Incense-Passing Cult disciple and that the Cult would honor her sacrifice.
• Peacock explained to Chen Chen that the Cult Master's decision reflected the martial world's rule that strength determined everything.
• The first-round victors received pills, and Abbess Xuezhen announced that one hundred and twenty disciples would compete for eight places in the second round.
• Huben, Yang Biao, Li Yifan, and Xia Qing submitted names for the Incense-Passing Cult, while the Righteous Path Alliance and Shuiyunjian also entered four disciples each.
• Qin Shiyue and Xu Jiaotong watched the proceedings among the Heavenly Dragon Sect disciples and discussed who the Heavenly King would send to compete.

At the Martial Arts Gathering, Qin Shiyue entered the arena matches and advanced after his opponent conceded, while the great sects’ disciples dominated the early rounds. Li Feng then fought Yuan Wu of the Great Forest Temple and, after breaking his spear into sections, drew a hidden dagger and thrust it toward Yuan Wu’s chest.

• Xu Jiaotong urged Qin Shiyue to enter the competition and obtain the cultivation manual, and Garuda allowed him to participate.
• Qin Shiyue was matched against a young disciple from the Mountain-Driving Sect, who conceded immediately.
• Huben defeated a disciple from Floating Willow Villa with his Blunt Copper Rod, frightening later contestants away from challenging the five great sects.
• Li Feng and Yuan Wu began a cautious duel, with Yuan Wu defending against Li Feng’s spear attacks.
• Li Feng split his spear into three sections, battered Yuan Wu’s hands, then drew a hidden dagger and drove it toward Yuan Wu’s chest.

Yuan Wu and Li Feng were both eliminated when their duel ended in a tie, and the remaining contests narrowed the field to eight disciples from the five great sects. Xia Qing defeated Qin Shiyue with sword radiance and a jade talisman just as the arena timer expired.

• Yuan Wu grabbed Li Feng’s dagger with his bare hand, and the duel ended in a tie when the arena sank, eliminating both fighters.
• The remaining sword debates left only eight disciples from the five great sects: Xia Qing, Huben, Liang Cangxu, He Xu, Chen Yang, Yuan Tong, Qin Shiyue, and Wu Shanghong.
• The next pairings matched Xia Qing against Qin Shiyue, Huben against He Xu, Yuan Tong against Liang Cangxu, and Wu Shanghong against Chen Yang.
• Xia Qing and Qin Shiyue fought evenly until Xia Qing’s sword radiance severed the tip of Qin Shiyue’s flexible sword.
• Qin Shiyue used a black deer-antler weapon to wear down Xia Qing’s sword radiance, but Xia Qing’s jade talisman blocked his attack and her remaining sword radiance struck his vital point.
• Xia Qing kicked Qin Shiyue off the arena as the time limit expired.

The sword-discussion tournament narrowed to Xia Qing, Huben, Liang Cangxu, and Chen Yang, but Shuiyunjian’s strategy let Chen Yang defeat Huben for third place and the Breaking Saber Force. The contest was interrupted when Zhang Xiaohua arrived with Meng, whom Garuda identified as the Heavenly Dragon Sect Saintess, leaving Abbess Jingyi and Bai Yanqiu facing a startling revelation.

• Xia Qing defeated Qin Shiyue, and the other arena winners were Huben, Liang Cangxu, and Chen Yang, eliminating all four Righteous Path Alliance disciples.
• Elder Changsheng drew the final pairings, and Huben and Chen Yang each conceded to their same-sect opponents, sending Xia Qing and Liang Cangxu forward.
• Chen Yang proposed a no-dodging strength contest against Huben, then knocked the Blunt Copper Rod from Huben’s hands and won third place and the Breaking Saber Force.
• Zhang Xiaohua arrived at Huaiyu Palace with Meng and challenged Chen Yang after retrieving Huben’s fallen rod.
• Garuda recognized Meng as the Heavenly Dragon Sect Saintess, while Abbess Jingyi called her an Incense-Passing Cult inner disciple named Zixia and Bai Yanqiu reacted with alarm.

Ren Xiaoyao challenged Chen Yang after Chen Yang had invited opponents to the arena, forcing Shuiyunjian to confront the rules and its public reputation. Bai Yanqiu delayed her decision, leaving the match unresolved.

• Ren Xiaoyao introduced himself as an Incense-Passing Cult Protector disciple and called out Chen Yang for inviting him to fight before refusing the challenge.
• Qin Shiyue and Xu Jiaotong recognized Ren Xiaoyao from five years earlier and reacted with disbelief that he was alive.
• Chen Yang accused Ren Xiaoyao of speaking maliciously, but the crowd backed Ren Xiaoyao and affirmed that Chen Yang had issued the invitation.
• Abbess Jingyi and Elder Changsheng explained that the sword debate rules allowed challenges across arenas when the challenger offered a reward of equal value.
• Garuda recalled taking a treasure from Jingang in a past sword debate, while Abbess Jingyi and Bai Yanqiu discussed whether Chen Yang had to accept Ren Xiaoyao's challenge.
• Bai Yanqiu said she needed time to consider, and Abbess Jingyi had Ren Xiaoyao and Chen Yang called down before another match began.

Zhang Xiaohua returned to Huaiyu Peak with Meng and exposed how Bai Yanqiu’s people had left them at Shuiyunjian. After Xia Qing deliberately conceded the final sword debate to win the Five Elements Qi Stones, Zhang Xiaohua and Chen Yang began a no-time-limit match for their sects’ cultivation manuals.

• Zhang Xiaohua explained to Abbess Jingyi that Shuiyunjian’s disciples had taken him and Meng to the island and left them there, while Bai Yanqiu denied responsibility.
• Garuda stared at Meng, who recognized him but coldly ignored him.
• Xia Qing jumped off the arena before Liang Cangxu could, conceding the match so he won the imitation Purple Phoenix Hairpin while she received the Five Elements Qi Stones.
• Abbess Jingyi and Bai Yanqiu agreed to a sword debate between Zhang Xiaohua and Chen Yang, with no time limit and Elder Changsheng supervising; the winner would claim the other’s cultivation method.
• Zhang Xiaohua entered the arena holding a Blunt Copper Rod and called to Senior Brother Hu to lend him his own rod, surprising the audience.