Recaps

Chen Heng defeated Qiao Ying with the Tai Su Jade Body and killed him, then faced the arrival of Qiao Mao and Qiao E Nü, who abruptly escaped using a Greater Teleportation Talisman. Chen Heng left with Qiao Rui and the World-Escaping Shuttle for the Zhao Kingdom, while Taotie Zhou Ji emerged to deal with the remaining trouble.

• Chen Heng used the Tai Su Jade Body to grievously wound Qiao Ying, then destroyed his Origin Spirit with the Avici Sword.
• Qiao Rui thanked Chen Heng for saving her, and he warned her and her maid that powerful newcomers were approaching.
• Qiao Mao and Qiao E Nü appeared amid crimson dust, but the dust exploded and they vanished after using a Greater Teleportation Talisman.
• Chen Heng gathered Qiao Ying's belongings and departed with Qiao Rui and the World-Escaping Shuttle for the Zhao Kingdom.
• After they left, Taotie Zhou Ji emerged from the bushes and complained that he had to clean up the remaining trouble.

Qiao E Nü and Qiao Mao abandoned their attempt to kill Qiao Rui after Qiao E Nü sensed danger, then tried to contact the Mishan Qiao Clan. Zhou Ji appeared and killed them before they could send a warning, while Qiao Rui arrived at the World-Escaping Shuttle’s residence and was asked to explain what had happened.

• Qiao E Nü told Qiao Mao that her gift had warned her of a calamity, so they gave up pursuing Qiao Rui and prepared to contact the Mishan Qiao Clan’s elders.
• Qiao Mao crushed the fishermen who had come to retrieve the drowned, and Qiao E Nü suggested he seek opportunities amid the coming upheaval in Law Sage Heaven.
• Qiao Mao asked whether the conflict in Law Sage Heaven concerned the Dao Court’s collapse, and Qiao E Nü said she did not know the truth.
• Zhou Ji arrived, said he intended to kill Qiao E Nü and Qiao Mao to prevent them from sending word, and killed them both.
• Qiao Rui arrived at the World-Escaping Shuttle’s residence, where he asked her what had caused the affair.

After Qiao Rui explained that Qiao Jingyi and Ju Shou had plotted against her, Chen Heng agreed to shelter her until her family could help. He gave her a protective sword talisman, while he and the World-Escaping Shuttle decided to stay in the Zhao Kingdom and conceal themselves.

• Qiao Rui revealed that Qiao Jingyi and Ju Shou had conspired against her, while Qiao Ding and much of his branch were occupied in Law Sage Heaven.
• Xiao Dian and Qiao Rui asked Chen Heng to protect Qiao Rui until her sister Qiao Wei could return, and Chen Heng agreed to shelter her for a month or so.
• Chen Heng gave Qiao Rui a Deep Void Demon-Subduing Sword Talisman and warned her to be cautious about trusting others.
• Chen Heng asked the World-Escaping Shuttle whether they should remain in the Zhao Kingdom or flee, and the elder advised them to stay and hide their aura.
• Firecrackers sounded outside as the year-end festivities began, and the World-Escaping Shuttle called it a good omen for Chen Heng.

Chen Heng discovered that he had a talent for divination and quickly mastered the Zhouyuan Secret Manual of Turtle Divination. After Qiao Rui and the World-Escaping Shuttle returned from exploring the mortal world, the Shuttle recognized Chen Heng’s progress and predicted it could help him gain access to the Yuchen Upper Sect’s Divination Art.

• Chen Heng used the Millennium Spirit Turtle shell to predict a neighbor’s words and realized he had talent for the Divination Art.
• Chen Heng reviewed the Zhouyuan Secret Manual, the dangerous Youwang Demon, and the Gray River Water among the items recovered from Qiao Ying and Wei Wanhua.
• Chen Heng wondered why the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven and Eastern Sea Dragon Palace had remained quiet during their ten days in Yi City.
• Qiao Rui and the World-Escaping Shuttle returned from the market with Xiao Dian, and Qiao Rui brought Chen Heng sugar and a sugar figurine.
• The World-Escaping Shuttle noticed Chen Heng’s mastery of the Zhouyuan Secret Manual and said his talent might help him obtain the Yuchen Upper Sect’s Divination Art.

Chen Heng learned that Plum Blossom Numerology was one of the Jade Dawn School’s supreme methods, then joined the World-Escaping Shuttle and Qiao Rui in celebrating New Year and attending the lantern festival. Amid the festivities, the World-Escaping Shuttle asked Chen Heng about his relationship with Senior Sister Wei Lingjiang.

• Chen Heng asked the World-Escaping Shuttle about the divination method among the Eight Merits and learned that Plum Blossom Numerology rivaled Chen Jade Pivot’s Central Heaven Dipper Calculations.
• The World-Escaping Shuttle persuaded Chen Heng and Qiao Rui to celebrate New Year, and they decorated the courtyard and set off firecrackers.
• The next day, Chen Heng gave Qiao Rui a golden New Year bell from the World-Escaping Shuttle, and they went out to see the lantern festival.
• Qiao Rui and Xiao Dian were separated from Chen Heng and the World-Escaping Shuttle in the crowd, while the two men continued together.
• Chen Heng confronted the World-Escaping Shuttle about his worries, and the World-Escaping Shuttle asked what relationship Chen Heng had with Wei Lingjiang.

On New Year’s Eve, Chen Heng told the World-Escaping Shuttle that survival and reaching a higher realm mattered more to him than love or worldly concerns. After mastering the Third Sword Dao Realm, Chen Heng received notice that the Jadechen Four Academies had gathered at Crane-Cry Mountain and prepared to leave as the Formless Lie Sword Cave reopened.

• Chen Heng explained his priorities to the World-Escaping Shuttle, who apologized for overstepping and praised Chen Heng’s resolve.
• Chen Heng looked toward the heavens and said they would see what happened six years later as the city celebrated New Year’s Eve beneath fireworks and snow.
• Several dozen days later, Chen Heng broke through to the Third Sword Dao Realm and mastered Refining Sword into Gang, though his attempt to practice Refining Sword into Threads failed.
• The World-Escaping Shuttle and Qiao Rui brought Chen Heng a talisman announcing that the Jadechen Four Academies had assembled at Crane-Cry Mountain for the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation reception.
• Chen Heng decided to leave for Crane-Cry Mountain in two days, then sensed the Formless Lie Sword Cave opening and its token drawing his spiritual intent toward it.

Chen Heng used the Formless Lie Sword Cave to master Refining Sword into Threads, advancing to the peak of the Third Sword Dao Realm. He then traveled with Qiao Rui and the World-Escaping Shuttle to Crane-Cry Mountain to find Scripture Master Shen, where a passing young cultivator recognized Qiao Rui with shock.

• Chen Heng endured the fourth level of the Formless Lie Sword Cave and studied the mysteries of Body and Sword as One.
• After seven days in the Sword Cave, Chen Heng returned to the Present World and demonstrated his control of nearly a thousand strands of Sword Qi.
• Chen Heng left Yi City with Qiao Rui, Xiao Dian, and the World-Escaping Shuttle, traveling to Crane-Cry Mountain.
• At Crane-Cry Mountain, Chen Heng and Qiao Rui presented their academy tallies to Zheng He and asked for Scripture Master Shen.
• As Zheng He escorted them through the clouds, a young cultivator saw Qiao Rui and reacted with shock.

Chen Heng and Qiao Rui reached Crane-Cry Mountain, where Shen Yuanzhi let Qiao Rui stay while she awaited news from her family. Meanwhile, Xie Yu learned that Qiao Wendun might target Qiao Rui before the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven opened, and Chen Heng asked Qiao Rui what she thought of Shen Yuanzhi’s advice.

• Qiao Rui confronted Qiao Qi over his branch’s actions, and Chen Heng’s presence frightened him into fleeing.
• Two women saw Qiao Rui but left without speaking, while Zheng He continued guiding Chen Heng and Qiao Rui to the jade palace.
• Shen Yuanzhi welcomed Chen Heng and told Qiao Rui to wait at the palace for someone from her grandfather’s branch, explaining that Mi Mountain allowed entry but not departure.
• Xie Yu and Qiao Jingyi discussed Chen Heng and Qiao Rui, and Xie Yu inferred that Qiao Wendun might attack Qiao Rui before the grotto-heaven opened.
• Xie Yu asked Qiao Jingyi about becoming Dao Companions, and she said he should first attain Primordial Spirit and a middling-rank Dharma Form.
• Chen Heng asked Qiao Rui what she made of Shen Yuanzhi’s words.

Qiao Rui told Chen Heng she wanted to enter the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven with him, and he agreed to protect her despite the dangers. After Chen Heng dealt with a disrespectful messenger sent by Liu Lingzheng, he accepted an invitation to a gathering where Liu planned to expose a shameful incident from Chen Heng’s past.

• Qiao Rui explained that she feared Qiao Wendun would come after her and asked to enter the grotto-heaven with Chen Heng, who promised not to abandon her.
• Qiao Rui thanked Chen Heng for his kindness and said she was willing to suffer alongside him.
• As the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven’s descent approached, Chen Heng watched for Qiao Wendun, who did not appear.
• A blue-robed cultivator caused a scene at Chen Heng’s residence, and Chen Heng struck him down before learning he carried Liu Lingzheng’s invitation to a banquet.
• Liu Lingzheng told Wang Dian he planned to humiliate Chen Heng at the gathering by revealing a shameful incident from his past.

At Liu Lingzheng’s banquet, Chen Heng arrived and was provoked through a humiliating performance about his past. Chen Heng played the zither, then severed Liu Lingzheng’s hand and killed Ye Peng, leaving the guests to accuse him of using Sword Refining into Threads.

• Liu Lingzheng waited for Chen Heng at his banquet and planned to humiliate him in front of the gathered disciples and clan members.
• Chen Heng arrived dramatically, extinguished the hall’s lamps, and relit them with his True Qi, exposing Liu Lingzheng’s failed attempt to extinguish them.
• Liu Lingzheng and Ye Peng used Ye Peng’s past as a bedfellow to taunt Chen Heng and pressured him to play the zither.
• Chen Heng accepted, took Ye Peng’s zither, and performed a piece that astonished the gathering.
• A zither string snapped as Chen Heng’s attack severed Liu Lingzheng’s left hand and killed Ye Peng.
• The guests sprang up and accused Chen Heng of using Sword Refining into Threads over a mere quarrel.

Chen Heng defeated the cultivators who attacked him during his zither performance and forced Liu Lingzheng to surrender the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven talisman edicts. After maiming Liu Lingzheng and warning his allies, Chen Heng faced the sudden approach of a powerful streak of light.

• Chen Heng played his zither as countless sword lights cut through the attackers’ spells and wounded the cultivators, including Ji Wen and Yin She.
• Chen Heng finished the piece, collected one talisman edict from Liu Lingzheng, and let the uninvolved Changying Court disciples take the rest.
• Chen Heng confronted Liu Lingzheng over his misuse of the edicts, then severed his remaining arm after Liu Lingzheng apologized.
• Sima Quantong warned Chen Heng that Liu Guan might retaliate, and challenged Chen Heng to a future match after he reached Purple Mansion.
• A streak of light hurtled toward the hall, smashing through layers of smoke and cloud.

Chen Heng confronted Liu Guan after exposing his concealed approach, then used the Deep Void Demon-Subduing Sword Talisman to deter him from escalating their dispute. Liu Guan chose to let the matter go, while Liu Lingzheng vowed to seek revenge after reaching the Purple Mansion stage.

• Liu Lingzheng celebrated Liu Guan's arrival, but Chen Heng attacked an unseen presence approaching from the east and clashed with Liu Guan's lightning art.
• Liu Guan appeared and questioned how Chen Heng had detected his concealment, then objected to Chen Heng severing Liu Lingzheng's arms and injuring the other disciples.
• Liu Guan prepared to attack, but Chen Heng revealed the Deep Void Demon-Subduing Sword Talisman, making Liu Guan retreat and dismiss the barrier surrounding the peak.
• Chen Heng and Liu Guan spoke amicably before parting, as Chen Heng intended to publicize his trump card and discourage others from targeting him in the grotto-heaven.
• Liu Guan refused to avenge Liu Lingzheng, explaining that his arms could be reattached and praising Chen Heng's strength; Liu Lingzheng vowed to settle accounts once he reached the Purple Mansion stage.

After Chen Heng was punished for maiming the clansmen, Master Luo replaced his lost cultivation allotments and gave him the upper volume of Purple-Clear Divine Thunder, drawing him closer to a sect faction. When the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven descended upon Crane-Cry Mountain, Chen Heng and Qiao Rui entered it, while Qiao Wendun watched from afar and an old yellow dog emerged from hiding.

• The Jade Dawn School deprived Chen Heng of half a year's cultivation allotments for severing the clansmen's arms, while Liu Lingzheng remained dissatisfied with the punishment.
• Master Luo visited Chen Heng, restored his lost resources, and gave him the upper volume of Purple-Clear Divine Thunder as an overture from a sect faction.
• The Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven descended toward Crane-Cry Mountain, then vanished into another realm as the mountain shook.
• Chen Heng and Qiao Rui activated their Talisman Edicts and flew into the Grotto-Heaven, joining the other entrants.
• Qiao Wendun left after watching Qiao Rui enter, while a voice in his sleeve mocked him and an old yellow dog crawled out of a golden haystack, demanding a seat at the table.

Chen Heng and Qiao Rui entered the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven, where he discovered that it had abundant spiritual energy but only three years remained before it sank. As they traveled east toward a place to settle, they encountered strange beasts resembling ancient divine monsters and then a fleeing cultivator warned them of a powerful vicious bird approaching.

• Chen Heng communed with the grotto-heaven and learned that three days there equaled one day in the Present World and that the realm would endure for another three years.
• A horde of strange apes attacked Chen Heng and Qiao Rui, and Chen Heng killed them with the Avici Sword.
• Chen Heng promised to protect Qiao Rui, divined an eastern route to a mountain within three hundred li, and warned her that their journey’s fortune was unclear.
• Chen Heng and Qiao Rui flew east, encountering beasts resembling Heroic Apes, Bifang, and Tulao that lacked intelligence and seemed connected to ancient divine monsters.
• A female cultivator fleeing on a jade ring warned Chen Heng and Qiao Rui to leave because a vicious bird was pursuing her.
• Chen Heng spotted the approaching mountain-sized bird and remarked that its power resembled that of a divine monster.

Chen Heng evaded a Bifang-like monster, then found a secluded cave in the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven to focus on advancing his Purple Mansion cultivation. He began meditating with the goal of using the grotto-heaven’s accelerated time to reach the next realm, while another scene unfolded in a Dragon-Horn Flying Palace.

• Chen Heng refused to help two cultivators being chased by a colossal Bifang-like bird, and the bird killed them.
• Chen Heng concealed his aura among the strange beasts, collected the cultivators’ sleeve pouches, and learned that Huo Xia Patriarch had created the creatures.
• Chen Heng summoned Qiao Rui with the World-Escaping Shuttle, and they left the area rather than pursue Huo Xia Patriarch’s temporary palace.
• Chen Heng and Qiao Rui found a secluded mountain, concealed their caves, and settled in to cultivate.
• Chen Heng decided to prioritize his cultivation over mastering Dao arts and began meditating toward the second Purple Mansion realm, Transcending Form and Shedding Shape.
• A separate scene began in a Dragon-Horn Flying Palace several hundred miles away.

Xiao Xiujing and his companions discussed the deaths of Liu Changji and Liu Changgong and the prospects of breaching Huo Xia Patriarch's traveling palace. Qiao Yan argued that the palace might contain the Sūtra of Receiving Life or divine monster remains, then Xiao Xiujing gave him an item and warned him to be careful around Chen Heng.

• A blue-robed youth apologized to Xiao Xiujing for bringing Liu Changji and Liu Changgong into their group, while a woman rebuked him and the hall erupted into an argument.
• Qiao Yan condemned the Liu brothers for entering the traveling palace without telling Xiao Xiujing, then urged the group to stop arguing over whether the brothers had sold the map scroll.
• Xiao Xiujing reconsidered his suspicions after Qiao Yan pointed out that the other great clans likely had their own maps, and he reassured the blue-robed youth.
• Xiao Xiujing worried that the traveling palace might hold only ruined remains, while Qiao Yan argued that it could contain the Sūtra of Receiving Life or the remains of innate divine monsters.
• After discussing the palace's restrictions and their rivals, Xiao Xiujing recognized Qiao Yan's concern about Chen Heng and gave him an item for protection, warning him not to act recklessly.

Xiao Xiujing gave Qiao Yan the Lunar Wheel Mirror to aid his plan to eliminate Qiao Rui, while Chen Heng continued his secluded cultivation. After reaching Purple Mansion's second layer, Chen Heng used his last Yellow Pool Pill to dissolve half the turbid substance in his Origin Spirit, then turned to the One True Dharma Realm for his next step.

• Xiao Xiujing gave Qiao Yan the Lunar Wheel Mirror and its command formula after learning that Qiao Yan intended to target Qiao Rui for the Mishan Qiao Clan.
• Qiao Yan pledged loyalty to Xiao Xiujing and hinted that he might one day control the Xiao family estate.
• Chen Heng spent two and a half years in seclusion, reached Purple Mansion's second layer, and used Yellow Pool Pills to work toward the third layer.
• Chen Heng swallowed his last Yellow Pool Pill and dissolved about half the turbid substance in his Origin Spirit, greatly increasing his True Qi.
• With no more pills available, Chen Heng ended his seclusion and entered the One True Dharma Realm through the Golden Cicada.

After two years and six months of seclusion, Chen Heng left his mountain to test his improved cultivation and swordsmanship, entrusting Qiao Rui’s safety to protective talismans and the World-Escaping Shuttle. He headed into the failing grotto-heaven, where a group of cultivators discussing the hunt for Qiao Rui and Chen Heng learned that Chen Heng might soon appear.

• Chen Heng concluded that further seclusion would bring little benefit and decided to seek dangerous opponents to temper his swordsmanship before the grotto-heaven collapsed.
• Chen Heng gave Qiao Rui talisman jades to conceal her aura and left a strand of the World-Escaping Shuttle’s divine intent to protect her.
• Chen Heng told Qiao Rui to stay inside and cultivate, then flew away from the mountain.
• Qiao Rui resolved to cultivate harder after Chen Heng departed.
• A young cultivator urged the purple-robed Ninth Brother to pursue Qiao Rui and Chen Heng, but Ninth Brother said they had been missing for two years and promised to act if they appeared.

Chen Heng appeared before the Xie cultivators and killed the young cultivator after the man attacked him and trapped him briefly with a bell. Chen Heng uncovered the man’s secret blood-relative-killing cultivation art, then pursued the fleeing purple-robed man and his companions as they sought help from Qiao Yan and Xiao Xiujing.

• The young cultivator pressed the purple-robed man to help find Qiao Rui, hoping to win Xiao Xiujing’s favor, and the purple-robed man boasted that his trump card could rival Chen Heng’s Sword Talisman.
• Chen Heng arrived, and the young cultivator attacked him with Fire Serpents before trapping him inside the Jade-Covering Compassion Light Dharma Bell.
• The purple-robed man and the two female cultivators fled while Chen Heng smashed the bell, wounded the young cultivator, and killed him with the Avici Sword.
• Chen Heng searched the young cultivator’s belongings and Mind Image, learning that he had secretly slaughtered blood relatives to practice the Yellow Register Five Elders Flying Heaven Ritual.
• Chen Heng pursued the fleeing cultivators as the purple-robed man asked whether Qiao Yan and Xiao Xiujing had received their messages; Qiao Yan was on his way, but Xiao Xiujing had not replied.

Chen Heng confronted Xie Mou and two women after overhearing them discuss their plans, learning that an underground palace beneath the temporary palace still held undiscovered fortunes. He killed one woman and wore Xie Mou down in battle, then used red fog and Talisman Artifacts to create an opening for a sudden sword strike.

• Xie Mou warned two women to keep quiet about abandoning their dead clansman, then boasted that he could make Chen Heng suffer if pursued.
• Chen Heng appeared and learned from Xie Mou that an underground palace beneath the temporary palace remained unexplored.
• Xie Mou attacked Chen Heng while the two women fled, and Chen Heng killed the woman escaping to the left with Yin-Eroding Red Water.
• Chen Heng battled Xie Mou, broke through most of his defensive ring, and gradually forced him to exhaust his True Qi.
• Chen Heng concealed himself in red fog and distracted Xie Mou with Talisman Artifacts before a sword light suddenly struck from an unknown direction.

Chen Heng killed Xie Mou, seized his Thunder Marsh Stones, and continued hunting the cultivators who had targeted him. After killing a fleeing Senior Sister and confronting more than a dozen Purple Mansion Senior Adepts, he unleashed the Innate Great Sun Divine Light; Qiao Yan arrived afterward to find a terrifying scene.

• Chen Heng decapitated Xie Mou, then crushed his Origin Spirit after the Mountain-Sinking Seal broke the pearl protecting it.
• Chen Heng searched Xie Mou's Sleeve Pouch and found two hundred Thunder Marsh Stones, then told the World-Escaping Shuttle he would continue testing his sword against his enemies.
• Chen Heng pursued a female cultivator until she stopped to beg for mercy, then severed her arm and forced her to keep fleeing toward reinforcements.
• When more than a dozen cultivators arrived, Chen Heng killed the woman and declared that he needed no Sword Talismans to defeat them.
• Chen Heng unleashed the Innate Great Sun Divine Light, swallowing the attackers' techniques in a vast golden-red blaze.
• Qiao Yan arrived less than a quarter of an hour later and was nearly overcome by fear at the scene.

Chen Heng slaughtered most of Qiao Yan’s forces and fought off Qiao Yan and the Lunar Wheel Mirror, whose spatial attacks could not pin him down. He detonated Thunder Marsh Stones to destroy the remaining cultivators, then captured the weakened mirror as it tried to escape.

• Qiao Yan arrived with reinforcements and watched Chen Heng kill two more cultivators, while the last two survivors fled.
• Qiao Yan summoned a golden-armored divine general, but Chen Heng destroyed it and then fought Qiao Yan and his companions.
• Qiao Yan called on the Lunar Wheel Mirror, which attacked Chen Heng with freezing divine light but failed to hit him as he used spatial transference.
• Chen Heng reappeared among Thunder Marsh Stones and triggered their thunder and fire, obliterating Qiao Yan and every other cultivator nearby.
• The weakened Lunar Wheel Mirror tried to escape, but Chen Heng appeared and seized it.

Chen Heng killed Qiao Yan and his companions with thunder marsh stones, subdued the damaged Lunar Wheel Mirror, and tested his strength against Yin He. He then waited on a cliff, intending to seek allies and compete for the Grotto-Heaven’s opportunities.

• Chen Heng used the World-Escaping Shuttle to detonate ninety thunder marsh stones near Qiao Yan, killing him and his companions and damaging the Lunar Wheel Mirror.
• Chen Heng subdued the Lunar Wheel Mirror with the Deep Void Demon-Subduing Sword Talisman, and its spirit agreed to acknowledge him as master while warning that Xiao Fang’s restriction remained.
• Chen Heng repelled Yin He’s attack with the Innate Great Sun Divine Light, then left after sensing another cultivator approaching.
• Ji Yuetan arrived and reproached Yin He for letting Chen Heng escape, but Yin He refused to pursue him, and Ji Yuetan also withdrew.
• Chen Heng settled on a stone cliff and told the World-Escaping Shuttle that he was waiting for someone and intended to compete for the Grotto-Heaven’s opportunities.

Chen Heng allied with Shen Cheng to resist the aristocratic clans and compete for the underground palace in the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven. Shen Cheng gave Chen Heng a talisman to suppress the Lunar Wheel Mirror, and Chen Heng prepared to meet him at the Traveling Palace.

• Chen Heng welcomed Shen Cheng and agreed to join forces against the aristocratic clans.
• Shen Cheng explained that refining all four Water-Fire Wells would open another route into the underground palace, and asked Chen Heng to guard his well while he completed the refinement.
• Chen Heng agreed to meet Shen Cheng at the Traveling Palace five days later, where Shen Cheng expected to need two months to finish refining his well.
• Shen Cheng gave Chen Heng a Five-Direction Spirit-Suppressing Talisman to restrain the Lunar Wheel Mirror and offered to remove its magical restriction after they left the grotto-heaven.
• Chen Heng recovered his True Qi, practiced his Mystery Art, instructed Qiao Rui, and then set out for the appointed meeting.

Chen Heng arrived at the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven to join Shen Cheng and the others defending the Water-Fire Well, but He Manzi challenged his reputation and fought him. Chen Heng defeated He Manzi without seriously injuring him, and He Manzi responded with exhilarated admiration.

• Chen Cheng welcomed Chen Heng to Bright Virtue Hall, where several cultivators resented the new arrival sharing in the Water-Fire Well’s benefits.
• He Manzi challenged Chen Heng, doubting his reputation and demanding to test his abilities.
• Chen Heng and He Manzi exchanged flying-sword attacks, and He Manzi used his Kaiyang Fire to repel Chen Heng’s Avici Sword.
• Chen Heng and He Manzi continued their duel in the sky as Shen Cheng told Shen Ming that He Manzi would lose.
• Chen Heng’s golden-red light swept away the clouds and defeated He Manzi, who narrowly avoided being killed.
• He Manzi accepted the defeat with wild joy and praised Chen Heng for finally appearing.