Chapter Summaries

After Li Zicheng shot and killed Huyan Ji, the Barbarian Tribe's Sixth Prince, the Barbarian army collapsed into a rout while the Great Li Border Army pressed its advantage. Li Zicheng went missing after surviving Wanyan Bulin's saber strike, leaving his comrades to wonder about his fate as they continued the battle.

• Xin Ruonan and Xiao Lie announced Huyan Ji's death, causing the Barbarian soldiers to panic and the Great Li troops to charge with renewed morale.
• Wanyan Bulin ordered a full retreat, retrieved Huyan Ji's body, and flew toward the Northern Plains Forest after discovering his ring and weapon were gone.
• Xin Ruonan's group left the burning crater to attack the retreating Barbarian army and target the Blood Frenzy Army.
• Li Yuanqi charged after reflecting that Li Zicheng had achieved the military feats he had long dreamed of, while Zuo Yutang suspected Li Zicheng was the masked warrior from Blackwater City and resolved to confront him after the battle.

After defeating the Barbarian Tribe, Gu Chenfeng recovered underground and claimed Huyan Ji’s treasures, including a powerful Flying Source Weapon. When a Forbidden Artifact began breaking its seal near the retreating Barbarians, he rushed to help his father.

• Gu Chenfeng reflected on the battle and recovered underground with a Holy Crystal while the Barbarian army fled before Great Li’s Iron Cavalry.
• He claimed Huyan Ji’s Flying Source Weapon and Storage Ring, then used the energy in Huyan Ji’s personal seal to expand the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins.
• After emerging from the battlefield, Gu Chenfeng saw a purple light rise from Northern Plains Forest and recognized it as the Forbidden Artifact his father had been guarding.
• Fearing the Barbarians would find his father, Gu Chenfeng flew to a mountain cave and activated its Teleportation Array with his father’s token.

Gu Chenfeng returned to the Underground Palace and found Gu Lingxiao risking his life to claim a Forbidden Artifact as the Barbarian army closed in. He forced his father away and fought through approaching soldiers, racing toward the Teleportation Array with the enemy’s experts still on their way.

• Great Li's victorious army saw a purple pillar rise from Northern Plains Forest, but Yu Chi Zhong and Xin Ruonan urged the commanders to retreat to the Border Pass rather than risk a trap.
• Wanyan Bulin recognized the pillar as a Forbidden Artifact and sent his troops and Source Spirit Realm experts to secure it, hoping the prize would redeem his defeat and the Sixth Prince's death.
• Gu Chenfeng teleported into the Underground Palace and hurried toward the sealed artifact as Barbarian forces approached.
• Gu Chenfeng found Gu Lingxiao gripping the Forbidden Artifact's hilt despite his injuries and kicked him free, then carried him out of the chamber.
• Gu Chenfeng cut down dozens of Barbarian soldiers with the Mountain-Splitting Great Axe and raced toward the Teleportation Array while Gu Lingxiao protested about leaving the artifact behind.

Gu Chenfeng fought his way through the Underground Palace to get Gu Lingxiao onto the Teleportation Array, but stayed behind to protect its energy source from Nalan Qing’s arrow. After Gu Lingxiao escaped, Gu Chenfeng was surrounded and battled Nalan Qing, whose shock at his strength ended their first clash.

• Gu Chenfeng carried Gu Lingxiao through the Underground Palace and activated the Teleportation Array while fighting off Barbarian Tribe soldiers.
• As the array began to teleport Gu Lingxiao, Nalan Qing fired an arrow at one of its energy crystals, and Gu Chenfeng left the array to shield it.
• Gu Lingxiao vanished through the array as Gu Chenfeng held off the arrow’s blast, leaving him surrounded by Nalan Qing and the Barbarian Tribe forces.
• Nalan Qing recognized Gu Chenfeng as the fighter who had slain the Sixth Prince and the masked warrior who had killed their Shaman, then ordered her soldiers to seize him.
• Gu Chenfeng cut through the soldiers and charged Nalan Qing, but their clash sent both of them back and revealed to Nalan Qing that he had Source Spirit Realm strength.

Gu Chenfeng fought his way out of the Underground Palace but found himself surrounded by the Barbarian Tribe Army and its experts. Just as they moved to seize him, Gu Lingxiao arrived on a giant bird and declared that they should come after him instead.

• Gu Chenfeng used a divine sense attack and the Azure Dragon Transformation Technique to defeat Nalan Qing and escape the Underground Palace when the Teleportation Array failed.
• Gu Chenfeng fought through the Barbarian Tribe soldiers and drove back Nalan Qing and Wushu Lang before emerging from the Underground Palace.
• Gu Chenfeng found himself surrounded by tens of thousands of Barbarian Tribe troops, Marshal Wanyan Bulin, and several Source Spirit Realm experts.
• Wanyan Bulin ordered his experts to seize Gu Chenfeng, who prepared to fight to the death.
• Gu Lingxiao arrived on a giant bird and warned the Barbarians not to touch his son.

Gu Lingxiao arrived at the barbarian camp, but instead of rescuing Gu Chenfeng, he was captured alongside his son. Wanyan Bulin planned to take them and the sealed Purple Broken Blade to the Barbarian Emperor, while Gu Chenfeng began to suspect his father had a hidden purpose.

• Gu Lingxiao appeared before Wanyan Bulin’s army, and Wanyan Bulin realized Gu Chenfeng was the General Who Guards the North’s son.
• Wanyan Bulin charged at Gu Lingxiao, who fled on his bird and was soon captured after calling for Gu Chenfeng to save him.
• Wanyan Bulin’s forces imprisoned Gu Chenfeng and Gu Lingxiao, with their cultivation sealed, and prepared to transport them alongside the Purple Broken Blade.
• Wanyan Bulin mocked Gu Lingxiao’s weakness and said he would escort both captives to the Barbarian Emperor.
• Gu Chenfeng grew suspicious of his father, then closed his eyes to meditate.

Gu Chenfeng was transported as a captive toward the Barbarian Tribe while secretly working to break Wanyan Bulin's seal and searching the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins for a way to escape. He discovered the Nine Nether Demon-Subduing Order and used energy from Huyan Ji's jade seal to activate it against his Heart Demon.

• In Heavenly Journey City, Xin Ruonan and Yu Chi Zhong told Li Yuanqi and the others that Li Zicheng remained missing and that they were investigating the purple light in Northern Plains Forest.
• Wanyan Bulin, Nalan Qing, and Wushu Lang carried the captive Gu Chenfeng, his father, and the sealed Forbidden Artifact toward the Barbarian Tribe on a flying ship.
• Gu Chenfeng quietly refined Wanyan Bulin's seal with his Gray Source Qi, then entered the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins and found that the Demon Abyss had expanded.
• Gu Chenfeng confronted his Heart Demon, whose attacks could not harm him inside the Divine Ruins, and followed the blood-colored chain to the Nine Nether Demon-Subduing Order.
• Gu Chenfeng channeled energy from Huyan Ji's jade seal into the order, causing its inscriptions to flow and the chained Heart Demon to howl as blue smoke rose from its body.

Emperor Xuan received reports of major victories in the South Sea and at the Northern Pass, then learned from the Female Imperial Preceptor that the Four Great Sects had joined forces against Marshal Gu. He left Profound Heaven Abbey angry at the threat to the Gu Lineage, while the sects prepared to eliminate Gu's greatest backer.

• Hongxi reported that the Sea-Calming King had wounded the Two-Headed Evil Flood Dragon and won a victory in the South Sea.
• Hongxi told Emperor Xuan that the Northern Pass army had defeated the Barbarian Tribe, killed its Sixth Prince, and lost track of Li Zicheng and Great General Gu Lingxiao.
• Emperor Xuan ordered rewards for the victorious forces and asked the border to report on the Third Young Master of the Gu Family.
• Emperor Xuan questioned the Female Imperial Preceptor about the Four Great Sects' dispute with Marshal Gu, and she said they wanted an object he possessed.
• The Female Imperial Preceptor warned that the four sects had joined forces and that Marshal Gu might not escape his destined calamity.
• Emperor Xuan declared that he would continue treating the Gu Lineage well and left Profound Heaven Abbey in anger.

Wanyan Bulin brought Gu Chenfeng and Gu Lingxiao to the Barbarian Tribe’s Holy Land, where the Protectors inspected the captives and the sealed Purple Broken Blade. The Barbarian Emperor emerged from the Holy Water lake on a Seven-Colored Crystal throne and addressed the prisoners as guests.

• Wanyan Bulin received the Barbarian Emperor’s order to bring the Forbidden Artifact and Gu father and son directly to the Holy Land.
• The flying vessel entered the Holy Mountain and reached the lake that produced the Barbarian Tribe’s Holy Water and Holy Crystals.
• Five Barbarian Tribe Protectors emerged from the lake and questioned Wanyan Bulin about the failed battle and the captured Gu father and son.
• Wanyan Bulin identified Gu Lingxiao and Gu Chenfeng and showed the Protectors the sealed Purple Broken Blade.
• The Barbarian Emperor rose from the lake on a Seven-Colored Crystal throne and told his people they were being rude to his guests.

Gu Chenfeng and Gu Lingxiao met the Barbarian Emperor, who tried to make them persuade Gu Beiwu and the Futu Army to defect to the Barbarian Tribe. When they refused, the emperor ordered Gu Chenfeng to undergo a ritual that would transform his bloodline, and Gu Chenfeng agreed after a mysterious connection formed in his mind.

• The Barbarian Emperor rewarded Wanyan Bulin for capturing Gu Chenfeng and Gu Lingxiao and bringing back the Forbidden Artifacts.
• The Barbarian Emperor offered Gu Chenfeng and Gu Lingxiao titles and lands if they pledged allegiance and urged Gu Beiwu to surrender the Futu Army.
• Gu Chenfeng explained that the offer would turn the Gu Lineage into traitors and leave them vulnerable to the Barbarian Tribe later.
• The Barbarian Emperor offered to adopt Gu Chenfeng, then revealed he would use a secret art to change their bloodlines and make them members of the Holy Clan.
• Gu Chenfeng and Gu Lingxiao each tried to make the other go first, but the Barbarian Emperor chose Gu Chenfeng.
• A mysterious connection formed in Gu Chenfeng's mind, and he agreed to undergo the bloodline transformation first.

Gu Chenfeng broke Wanyan Bulin’s seals and fought Wushu Lang and Nalan Qing, revealing his dual cultivation and powerful axe techniques. Wanyan Bulin subdued him with overwhelming force, but as Gu Chenfeng began to buckle, he activated the Nine Nether Demon-Subduing Order.

• Gu Chenfeng broke the seals on his strength, knocked Wushu Lang and Nalan Qing away, and summoned the Mountain-Splitting Great Axe.
• Gu Chenfeng fought Wushu Lang and Nalan Qing at full strength, revealing his Three-Star Source Core Realm cultivation and Diamond Realm physical cultivation.
• Gu Chenfeng unleashed the Mountain-Piercing Form, River-Cutting Form, and Earth-Splitting Form, driving Wushu Lang and Nalan Qing back until Wanyan Bulin intervened.
• Wanyan Bulin stopped Gu Chenfeng’s attack and pressed him down with a giant hand of flame, declaring that he would receive the Holy Clan Bloodline.
• As Wanyan Bulin’s power forced him toward his knees, Gu Chenfeng activated the Nine Nether Demon-Subduing Order.

Gu Chenfeng used the Nine Nether Demon-Subduing Order to harness his heart demon’s power while keeping his mind, allowing him to fight Wanyan Bulin on equal terms. As the Barbarian Emperor ordered his five protectors to capture him, Gu Chenfeng unleashed a powerful axe technique against their encirclement.

• Gu Chenfeng’s battle axe released black mist, and he entered a demonic state while telling Gu Lingxiao he was fine.
• Gu Chenfeng used the heart demon’s power to break Wanyan Bulin’s flaming palm attacks and fought him evenly, though the power strained his body and threatened his mind.
• Gu Chenfeng’s growing strength overwhelmed Wanyan Bulin, Wushu Lang, and Nalan Qing, prompting the Barbarian Emperor to order the five protectors to capture him and reshape his bloodline.
• The five protectors combined their Five Elements Secret Art to knock Gu Chenfeng back, then surrounded him and tried to suppress him without killing him.
• As the protectors closed in, Gu Chenfeng’s black qi erupted, and he swung his axe with the Seven Mountain-Splitting Forms’ Fourth Form, Mountain-Splitting Form.

Gu Chenfeng’s all-out strike failed to harm the Barbarian Emperor, who revealed himself as a Grandmaster and left Gu Chenfeng gravely injured. Gu Lingxiao rescued his son and used layer upon layer of arrays to fend off the pursuing Barbarians, stopping at the rock sealing the Forbidden Artifact’s broken blade.

• Gu Chenfeng broke through the five guardians’ array and struck at the Barbarian Emperor, but the Emperor stopped his axe with one finger.
• The Barbarian Emperor revealed his Grandmaster strength and sent Gu Chenfeng flying, leaving him unable to fight.
• Gu Lingxiao leaped into the crater, picked up Gu Chenfeng, and evaded the guardians’ attempt to seize them.
• Gu Lingxiao revealed that he was a Formation Grandmaster and blocked the guardians’ attacks with an array.
• As the Barbarians bombarded his defenses, Gu Lingxiao formed dozens of layered arrays and reached the rock sealing the Forbidden Artifact’s broken blade.

Gu Lingxiao revealed that he had deliberately allowed himself and Gu Chenfeng to be captured, then activated a formation he had secretly prepared around the Barbarian Tribe Holy Mountain. He exposed the Holy Water’s poison and hinted at a deeper threat to the Barbarian Tribe’s shamans as he summoned a Soul-Devouring Gu insect.

• Gu Chenfeng deduced that Gu Lingxiao had planned their capture and escape, and Gu Lingxiao admitted he had been waiting for the right moment.
• Gu Lingxiao activated twelve seals, transforming the peaks around the Holy Mountain and trapping everyone inside a powerful formation.
• Gu Lingxiao revealed he had prepared the formation eleven years earlier and had secretly added Soul-Devouring Gu Poison to the Holy Water.
• Gu Lingxiao explained that the poison damaged martial artists’ foundations and that Soul-Devouring Gu insects could infest powerful souls, especially those of Barbarian Tribe shamans.
• Gu Lingxiao summoned a tiny Soul-Devouring Gu insect, stroked it, and snapped his fingers while commanding it to burst.

Gu Lingxiao revealed that he had used the Holy Mountain to poison the Barbarian Tribe’s elites and killed every shaman there with a snap. He announced that he had come to destroy Huyan Nushan’s influence and kill the Barbarian Emperor, then summoned an attack with a Pale Golden Command Flag.

• A young shaman and the other shamans on the Holy Mountain had their heads explode as Gu Lingxiao’s hidden Gu Arts took effect.
• Huyan Nushan realized Gu Lingxiao had turned the Holy Mountain into a trap that had weakened the Barbarian Tribe for ten years.
• Gu Lingxiao told Huyan Nushan that he intended to eliminate his followers, erase his influence, and kill him.
• Huyan Nushan argued that the Barbarian Tribe’s troops and generals could defend the Holy Mountain, while Wanyan Bulin and the others regained confidence.
• Gu Lingxiao produced a Pale Golden Command Flag, sent it outside the grand formation, and ordered all troops to attack.

Gu Lingxiao revealed that a hidden force of seventy thousand Futu Army soldiers had reached the Barbarian Tribe Sacred Mountain and then introduced a new aerial force, the Divine Firmament Army. The Barbarians prepared to defend the Holy Mountain as the newly deployed forces threatened its defenses.

• Gu Lingxiao shouted for his army to charge, and Wanyan Bulin spotted seventy thousand Futu Army soldiers approaching from the north.
• The Barbarian Tribe sounded the alarm and gathered its soldiers to defend the Sacred Mountain while Wanyan Bulin urged Huyan Nushan to seek reinforcements.
• Tens of thousands of Crimson Flame Tiger-Eagles descended from the clouds with Great Li cavalrymen riding them.
• Gu Lingxiao announced that he had formed the thirty-thousand-strong aerial force and named it the Divine Firmament Army.

Gu Lingxiao’s forces broke through the Barbarian Tribe Army’s defenses and revealed that Empress Helian had already seized control of the Imperial Capital. With Huyan Nushan cornered, Gu Lingxiao began to summon the sealed Purple Broken Blade to face the Barbarian Emperor himself.

• The Divine Firmament Army used thirty thousand Crimson Flame Tiger-Eagles to burn through the Barbarian Tribe Army’s defenses and set the Holy Mountain ablaze.
• The seventy thousand Futu Army soldiers charged through the breach and routed Huyan Nushan’s troops.
• Gu Lingxiao revealed that Helian Na had helped him take the Imperial Capital and bring the northern outposts under their control.
• Huyan Nushan unleashed his Grandmaster pressure, shattering Gu Lingxiao and Gu Chenfeng’s defensive barriers and threatening to kill them.
• Gu Lingxiao reached toward the sealed Purple Broken Blade and called for the sword as Huyan Nushan laughed at his challenge.

Gu Lingxiao took up the Purple Broken Blade and revealed overwhelming strength, killing Wanyan Bulin and defeating the Barbarian Tribe's Five Great Protectors. He then confronted the Barbarian Emperor and declared it was time to kill him.

• Gu Lingxiao took the Purple Broken Blade and told Gu Chenfeng to rest while he faced the Barbarian Emperor.
• Wanyan Bulin attacked Gu Lingxiao with his strongest saber technique, but Gu Lingxiao killed him with a single strike.
• The Barbarian Tribe's Five Great Protectors formed the Five-Element Sacred Source Seal and attacked Gu Lingxiao.
• Gu Lingxiao shattered the seal with the Purple Broken Blade, sending the Five Great Protectors flying and leaving their fates unknown.
• Gu Lingxiao walked through the air to face the Barbarian Emperor and said it was time to send him on his way.

Gu Lingxiao fought the Barbarian Emperor at the Sacred Mountain Summit, revealing that he had sealed his Grandmaster cultivation inside the Severing Baleful Intent Sword ten years earlier. After a two-hour battle, Gu Lingxiao defeated the Barbarian Emperor, though both were badly battered.

• Gu Lingxiao and the Barbarian Emperor clashed in a fierce battle that shook the Holy Mountain.
• The Barbarian Emperor gained the upper hand and said Gu Lingxiao could not match his Grandmaster strength.
• Gu Lingxiao used his blood to awaken the Severing Baleful Intent Sword and unsealed his cultivation, reaching the Source Manifestation Realm.
• The Barbarian Emperor summoned the Profound Ice Battle Axe, and the two Grandmasters fought for two hours as the mountain’s protective formation nearly collapsed.
• Gu Lingxiao struck down the Barbarian Emperor, who crashed into and shattered a Mountain Peak, and declared that he had lost.

Gu Lingxiao faced the Barbarian Emperor’s desperate summoning of the Barbarian God’s Phantom atop the Holy Mountain. As the phantom’s axe came down, Gu Lingxiao completed the Severing Baleful Intent Sword and prepared to unleash the Heaven-Slaying Sword-Drawing Technique.

• Gu Lingxiao’s sword strike dissolved in the Barbarian Emperor’s blood-red light, and the wounded Huyan Nushan invoked the power of the Holy Mountain and his Barbarian God Bloodline.
• The Holy Mountain’s gathered faith formed a towering Barbarian God’s Phantom, empowering the Barbarian Tribe soldiers and giving Huyan Nushan a divine axe to attack Gu Lingxiao.
• Gu Lingxiao revealed that he had spent ten years sealing his cultivation in the Severing Baleful Intent Sword to nurture one ultimate strike.
• Gu Lingxiao adopted a reverse grip and invoked the Heaven-Slaying Sword-Drawing Technique, causing the sword’s bloody inscriptions to fill in its broken blade.
• The completed sword released overwhelming Sword Qi that shook the Barbarian God’s Phantom as Huyan Nushan brought down its axe, and Gu Lingxiao opened his eyes to unleash his strike.