Chapter Summaries

Xie Rui recovered from his injuries and sought a way to track Chen Heng, but the Taotie Zhou Ji appeared and killed him. Two days later, Chen Heng finished recovering and returned to his peak.

• Xie Rui fed the blood essence gathered by his five blood souls to the Yang-Demon Wuying Dharma Eye and healed his wounds through meditation.
• Xie Rui failed to divine Chen Heng's whereabouts and decided to risk using his incomplete Kun Yuan Insect to track him.
• Zhou Ji appeared in Xie Rui's cavern, revealed himself as an Innate Divine Monster, and killed Xie Rui.
• Two days later, Chen Heng used up a Talisman Coin and confirmed that his injuries had healed completely.

Chen Heng recovered from his injuries in the Zhao Kingdom while preparing to enter the Flowing Fire Grand Transformation Grotto-Heaven in a month. He entered the Formless Lie Sword Cave to study the Sword Dao, but landed in a deadly realm and was torn apart by blood threads.

• Chen Heng explained that his Tai Su Jade Body could heal severe injuries with enough spiritual energy, but refused to spend the remaining spell coins needed for the World-Escaping Shuttle's escape art.
• Chen Heng disguised himself as a scholar in Yi City, where Steward Wang's man offered him a marriage to Wang's daughter and promised him a government post.
• Chen Heng planned to wait a month before heading to Crane-Cry Mountain and asked the World-Escaping Shuttle to guard him while he cultivated.
• Chen Heng learned that the Formless Lie Sword Cave let entrants study the Sword Dao for seven days each month, but his entry point would be chosen at random.
• Chen Heng entered the Formless Lie Sword Cave and was immediately engulfed by blood threads, which burst his body into scarlet mist.
• Wusheng Child realized Chen Heng might have landed on the sword cave's tenth level and remarked that he was more ruthless than expected.

Chen Heng endured the Formless Lie Sword Cave’s seventh level by repeatedly escaping into the One True Dharma Realm, then confirmed the refuge let him wait out the cave’s seven-day trial. Five days later, the World-Escaping Shuttle returned from seeing something unusual and asked Chen Heng what he thought.

• Sword Qi repeatedly killed Chen Heng in the seventh level, and he managed to reach the One True Dharma Realm by calling on the Golden Cicada.
• Chen Heng tested whether he could wait out the sword cave’s trial in the One True Dharma Realm, returning to the cave whenever his awareness was restored and repeating the process until seven days passed.
• Chen Heng returned to his body in the Present World, where the World-Escaping Shuttle briefly mistook his disordered aura for cultivation deviation.
• Chen Heng concluded that time passed at the same rate in the One True Dharma Realm and the Formless Lie Sword Cave, giving him a way to endure future trials.
• Five days later, the World-Escaping Shuttle saw something unusual and asked Chen Heng what he thought.

Chen Heng learned that Qiao Rui was being hunted by members of her own clan and went to rescue her because of her grandfather’s debt to True Lord Qiao. As Qiao Ying moved to capture Qiao Rui, a mysterious figure appeared and struck him down.

• The World-Escaping Shuttle told Chen Heng that Qiao Rui had been separated from Baishang Court and was being pursued amid a feud within the Qiao Clan.
• Chen Heng decided to rescue Qiao Rui because her grandfather had helped True Lord Qiao, and he and the World-Escaping Shuttle departed.
• Qiao Ying and two Qiao Clan members pursued Qiao Rui and her maid, waiting for the protections on their Flying Vessel to fade.
• Qiao Ying’s companions destroyed the Flying Vessel, leaving Qiao Rui and her injured maid exposed by a mountain stream.
• Qiao Rui refused to surrender, and Qiao Ying prepared to seize her before a hazy figure appeared and blood gushed from him.

Chen Heng intervened to save Qiao Rui, killed two of Qiao Ying’s allies, and fought Qiao Ying while Qiao Rui battled the giant python. The chapter ended with Qiao Ying’s defenses shattered and him falling from the clouds.

• Chen Heng appeared beside the python and killed a blue-robed man, then destroyed the pink-robed girl’s Mountain-Subduing Stele and killed her with his red water and divine light.
• Qiao Ying attacked Chen Heng with a poisoned throwing knife, recognized him by the Violet Maitreya Treasure Garment, and tried to persuade him to withdraw.
• Chen Heng refused to leave, evaded the python’s demonic fire, and knocked the python from the clouds with the Mountain-Sinking Seal.
• Qiao Ying sent his throwing knife against Chen Heng’s Scarlet Light flying sword, but the clash cracked the knife and sent it flying away.
• Qiao Rui fought the python while Chen Heng battled Qiao Ying, and she killed the python with a talisman artifact.
• Qiao Rui told Xiao Dian she would not abandon Chen Heng, then Qiao Ying’s spiritual defenses shattered and he fell from the clouds.

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.