Chapter Summaries

Iron City fell under attack from the Horned Dragon Python and a massive beast tide, forcing its defenders to flee. Ye Chen and the beautiful woman escaped the city amid the chaos, while the Flame Refining Sect’s Supreme Elder and Tian Hao disappeared in a blast as the old man tried to draw the Python away.

• The Horned Dragon Python destroyed Iron City’s gate and City Lord’s Mansion, killing the City Lord and driving the defenders toward escape.
• Ye Chen saved Tian Hao from a pitch-black beam, and the Flame Refining Sect’s Supreme Elder arrived but warned that he could only hold off the Horned Dragon Python briefly.
• Tian Hao announced the evacuation to Golden Cauldron City, but beast tides sealed every route out of Iron City.
• Ye Chen fought off flying Demon Beasts as the Yin Wind Wolf, Black Kui Bear, and Three-Eyed Toad joined the assault, killing many martial artists attempting to flee.
• The Supreme Elder rescued Tian Hao from a group of Level 6 Demon Beasts, but a beam from the Horned Dragon Python engulfed them; Ye Chen and the beautiful woman then fled on their own.

Ye Chen and the beautiful woman escaped a beast tide after evading the Three-Eyed Toad and surviving the Horned Dragon Python’s attack, but his Shadow Splitter Lightness Skill left him badly injured. As they traveled toward a large city through the continuing devastation, Ye Chen fused more forms of the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style into a powerful new technique.

• Ye Chen used the Shadow Splitter Lightness Skill to lead the beautiful woman through the beast horde, evading the Three-Eyed Toad’s tongue and escaping the encirclement.
• The Horned Dragon Python fired a beam of Demonic Energy at them, and Ye Chen created a mass of afterimages to evade it, damaging his meridians and internal organs in the process.
• The beautiful woman guarded Ye Chen while he healed, and afterward they continued toward a large city while fighting demon beasts along the way.
• Two figures arrived at the ruins of Iron City and discussed the beast tide’s destruction of twenty cities and the appearance of more than ten Level Seven demon beasts.
• Ye Chen killed a diving demon ox with Lone Peak Annihilation, a newly fused sword technique, then used the move again to kill another Level Six demon beast.

Ye Chen and Guo Lanyue faced a peak Level 6 Iron Scale Beast five hundred li from Golden Cauldron City, and Guo Lanyue left him to fight it alone. Under the beast’s pressure, Ye Chen advanced his Sword Intent and broke through to the Mid Primal Origin Realm, then faced its next charge to test his new strength.

• Black Crow Taoist and Fire Spirit Child compared their records against Level 7 demonic beasts and discussed the era’s powerful young geniuses over wine.
• Ye Chen and Guo Lanyue struggled to injure the Iron Scale Beast, and Ye Chen told her to flee to Golden Cauldron City while he held it back.
• Guo Lanyue revealed that she was a steward of Moon Plucking Pavilion, promised Ye Chen a favor, and escaped the beast’s attack.
• Ye Chen struck the Iron Scale Beast’s weak point, then endured its red Demonic Energy and met its claw with Heart-Piercing Sword, injuring the beast and advancing his Sword Intent.
• Ye Chen discovered that he had broken through to the Mid Primal Origin Realm and swung at the charging Iron Scale Beast to test his increased strength.

Ye Chen killed a peak Level Six Iron Scale Beast and fled toward Golden Cauldron City after sensing a Level Eight Demonic Beast. At the city, experts discussed the unusual beast tide as powerful young fighters arrived, including Moon Plucking Pavilion's Fourth Night and Sixth Night.

• Ye Chen used the Star Scar Sword and his martial skills to exploit the Iron Scale Beast's weaknesses, then killed it by cutting along the pale line on its spine.
• Ye Chen removed the Iron Scale Beast's Inner Core and claws, then sensed a Level Eight Demonic Beast's roar and flew toward Golden Cauldron City.
• Black Crow Taoist and Fire Spirit Child discussed the Level Eight beast and the possibility that the small beast tide was growing into a medium beast tide.
• Young fighters from nearby sects arrived at Golden Cauldron City, including Meng Chao, Tian Hao, the Green Vulture Palace chief disciple, and Moon Plucking Pavilion's Fourth Night and Sixth Night.
• Sixth Night complained that Golden Cauldron City had no young experts worth noticing, while Guo Lanyue thought of Ye Chen and Fourth Night said their real contest would be the next Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Ye Chen arrived at Golden Cauldron City after breaking through to the mid Primal Origin Realm, where Meng Chao challenged him with a casual attack. Ye Chen split the attack and dismissed its weakness, leaving their rivalry poised to continue on the battlefield.

• Meng Chao dismissed Tian Hao's account of Ye Chen's strength, while the Flame Refining Sect's Supreme Elder defended Meng Chao's abilities.
• Wu Liangyu arrived with his master, Black Crow Taoist, and declared his goal was to reach the top ten in the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
• Tian Hao recognized Ye Chen approaching and called him over, prompting Meng Chao to confront him with a wave of crimson fire.
• Ye Chen split Meng Chao's attack with a palm strike and landed beside Tian Hao, then called the attack weak.
• Guo Lanyue realized Ye Chen had advanced from the Early Primal Origin Realm Peak to the mid Primal Origin Realm within hours.

After seven days of quiet, a horde of roughly twenty million demon beasts attacked Golden Cauldron City, led by the Level 8 Diamond Demon Ape and five Level 7 beasts. The strongest fighters drew the leaders away while Ye Chen and the other martial artists began battling the horde, and the fight continued as Fourth Night took on three Level 6 flying beasts.

• Ye Chen and Tian Hao watched the western wall and discussed patience as they waited for the demon beasts to arrive.
• A vast demon beast horde descended on Golden Cauldron City, led by the Diamond Demon Ape and five Level 7 Demon Beasts.
• Golden Cauldron City's Star Extremity Realm experts engaged the powerful beasts and lured them away from the city and the main horde.
• Wu Liangyu, Ye Chen, Meng Chao, Sixth Night, and Fourth Night attacked the approaching demon beasts with their martial skills.
• Fourth Night crushed three Level 6 flying demon beasts that dove at her, impressing Guo Lanyue.

Ye Chen fought the Demonic Beast tide outside Golden Cauldron City while using Lone Peak Annihilation to pursue a breakthrough in the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style and deepen his Landscape Intent. By nightfall, his swordsmanship had advanced further, and Guo Lanyue finally spotted him.

• Guo Lanyue searched for Ye Chen while Sixth Night protected her from a Level 6 Demonic Beast.
• Wu Liangyu unleashed Death Hurricane, killing scores of Demonic Beasts and showing off his tenth-layer Black Crow Grand Art.
• Ye Chen repeatedly executed Lone Peak Annihilation, studying the balance of speed and stillness as he slew Demonic Beasts with precise strikes.
• Two peak Late Primal Origin Realm martial artists recognized that Ye Chen's Landscape Intent disrupted opponents' sense of space.
• Ye Chen fused the tenth move of the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style and continued seeking a breakthrough as the battle raged from noon until nightfall.
• Guo Lanyue finally found Ye Chen amid the carnage outside Golden Cauldron City.

Ye Chen tested Lone Peak Annihilation against Sixth Night during the beast tide outside Golden Cauldron City and overwhelmed him, stopping just short of killing him. As the battle continued, Wu Liangyu killed a level-six peak Black Wind Python, while Black Crow Taoist noticed Ye Chen cutting through the demon beasts.

• Sixth Night attacked Ye Chen after learning he had refused to join Moon Plucking Pavilion, but Ye Chen blocked his Hundred Snake Strike and cleaved through his Hundred Snake Halo.
• Ye Chen tested Lone Peak Annihilation on Sixth Night and held his sword at his neck until Guo Lanyue called for mercy; Sixth Night admitted Ye Chen's swordsmanship was terrifying.
• Ye Chen returned to the beast tide as Guo Lanyue urged the martial artists to defend Golden Cauldron City and the Star Extremity Realm experts watched from the walls.
• Wu Liangyu killed the level-six peak Black Wind Python, impressing the martial artists and Black Crow Taoist.
• Black Crow Taoist turned toward Fire Spirit Child's gaze and saw Ye Chen cutting down demon beasts with every stroke of his sword.

Ye Chen, Fourth Night, and Wu Liangyu joined forces against a peak level-six Yin Wind Wolf whose Ancient Demon Beast bloodline gave it formidable defenses and freezing Demonic Energy. Their attacks injured and battered the wolf, but it remained standing and turned its Demonic Energy blood-red.

• The Yin Wind Wolf attacked Ye Chen, and Fourth Night joined him while Guo Lanyue and Sixth Night stayed out of the fight.
• Ye Chen and Fourth Night struggled to penetrate the Yin Wind Wolf's defenses, and Wu Liangyu arrived and added his attacks.
• Fourth Night staggered the wolf with three earth dragons, and Ye Chen pierced its eyelid before its claw struck him and made him spit blood.
• The Yin Wind Wolf unleashed stronger Demonic Energy and pursued Ye Chen, while Wu Liangyu attacked it with Death Storm.
• The Yin Wind Wolf endured Wu Liangyu's assault, its eyes reddened and its Demonic Energy turned faintly blood-red.

Ye Chen survived the Yin Wind Wolf’s Bloodline Power attack and killed the weakened beast with a sword strike that fused the eleventh form of the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style with the Heart-Piercing Sword. His feat stunned the gathered martial artists, while Ye Chen realized he could not yet reproduce the technique.

• The Yin Wind Wolf unleashed its Bloodline Power roar, killing more than a hundred martial artists and demon beasts and badly injuring Wu Liangyu and Fourth Night.
• Meng Chao attacked the weakened Yin Wind Wolf, but its concealed Bloodline Power claw broke through his Protective True Qi and left him unconscious.
• Ye Chen sensed the Yin Wind Wolf’s remaining blood energy gathering in its claw but waited until it had fully dissipated before attacking.
• Ye Chen struck the Yin Wind Wolf’s throat with Lone Peak Annihilation, instinctively fusing the eleventh form of the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style with the Heart-Piercing Sword and killing it.
• The onlookers praised Ye Chen’s strength, and Old Zhao judged that his sword surpassed his own, though Ye Chen admitted he could not repeat the strike.

As the exhausted defenders of Golden Cauldron City struggled against the demon beast horde, Star Extremity Realm experts turned the tide with devastating attacks, and Ye Chen continued fighting while refining his sword techniques. Sunlight revealed Blood Demons forming from the battlefield’s blood; the experts destroyed those they could see, but an even more powerful Blood Demon began to emerge beneath the ground.

• Star Extremity Realm experts, including Black Crow Taoist and Fire Spirit Child, attacked the demon beast horde and killed more than half of its members.
• Ye Chen kept fighting, observed the experts’ power, and used Lone Peak Annihilation to pierce several demon beasts in a line.
• As the Demonic Energy clouds dispersed, sunlight exposed Blood Demons that fed on the battlefield’s blood and drained the vitality of demon beasts.
• Fire Spirit Child, Black Crow Taoist, and the other Star Extremity Realm experts killed the visible Blood Demons and used True Essence to evaporate the blood.
• Deep underground, a Blood Demon with clear human features rose from an underground river of blood and grinned evilly.

After the beast tide, Ye Chen reviewed his battlefield mistakes and cultivated in seclusion, while Blood Shadow hid underground to recover. On the fifth day, Ye Chen advanced his Sword Intent to roughly fifty percent.

• The Star Extremity Realm experts finished clearing the blood rivers, discussed the danger Blood Demons posed, and left the battlefield for Golden Cauldron City's army to clean up.
• Ye Chen told Guo Lanyue he had no reason to join Moon Plucking Pavilion yet, then returned to his inn to review his combat experience and cultivate.
• Blood Shadow sensed humans above the blood river but decided their blood essence was too weak to consume and sank deeper to consolidate its rank.
• After five days in seclusion, Ye Chen released an invisible sword strike and realized his Sword Intent had reached roughly fifty percent.

Ye Chen attended the Golden Cauldron City auction, where the grand finale was three Sword-Shaped Grasses containing traces of the Battle King's Sword Intent. He decided the rare grass could help swordsmen comprehend Sword Intent, while Guo Lanyue prepared to lend him money and gain his favor.

• A waiter gave Ye Chen a VIP card from a woman, and he learned the Golden Cauldron City auction would begin the next day.
• Guo Lanyue discussed recruiting Ye Chen into Moon Plucking Pavilion and planned to build goodwill by lending him money if needed.
• Ye Chen entered the auction with Guo Lanyue and learned that a Fire Dragon Fruit was among the treasures being sought.
• The auction began with gold-priced items, and bidders drove the Green Light Blade's price to five million five hundred thousand taels.
• The auctioneer explained that Sword-Shaped Grass grew near Sky-Trench Gorge and carried Sword Intent that could aid swordsmen's comprehension.
• Ye Chen decided he wanted the Sword-Shaped Grass and believed he had enough resources to outbid the other buyers.

Ye Chen outbid powerful swordsmen to buy three Sword-Shaped Grasses for 150 million taels of gold, believing their Battle King Sword Intent would trigger something unexpected. The second part of the Golden Cauldron City auction began with bidding restricted to Spirit Stones, and the Fire Dragon Fruit was still to come.

• Bidders including the arrogant young man, the Star Extremity Realm swordsman, and the square-faced middle-aged man competed for the Sword-Shaped Grasses as the price climbed.
• Ye Chen entered the bidding and repeatedly raised the price, ultimately defeating the vicious middle-aged man with a bid of 150 million taels of gold.
• Ye Chen explained to Guo Lanyue that the grasses held Sword Intent left by the Battle King and that he had enough valuables and Spirit Stones to afford them.
• The auctioneer delivered the three grasses to Ye Chen, who kept them separate from the Battle King's Sword for the time being.
• The auctioneer opened the second part of the auction and announced that only Spirit Stones could be used to bid.

Ye Chen won the auction for a Fire Dragon Fruit after outbidding a rival, intending to use it to increase his True Qi. The auction ended with Black Crow Taoist buying the final holy medicine, while Ye Chen left the hall.

• Fire Spirit Child outbid the Flame Refining Sect’s Supreme Elder and bought five Fire Origin Crystals for three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Ye Chen bid on the Fire Dragon Fruit, which could rapidly increase a martial artist’s True Qi, and competed against an arrogant young man and other Primal Origin Realm martial artists.
• The young man stopped bidding at three hundred and fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and Ye Chen won the Fire Dragon Fruit for three hundred and sixty thousand.
• Black Crow Taoist bought a bottle of holy healing medicine and later won the holy medicine that offered a thirty percent chance of breaking through a minor Star Extremity Realm stage.
• After the auction ended, Ye Chen acknowledged Black Crow Taoist’s wealth, stood up, and prepared to leave.

Ye Chen avoided selling his treasures to Liang under pressure, then sold one Sword-Shaped Grass to Song Yan and took shelter at the Moon Plucking Pavilion branch. After consuming the Fire Dragon Fruit, he advanced to the peak of the Mid Primal Origin Realm.

• Liang tried to obtain Ye Chen’s Sword-Shaped Grasses and Fire Dragon Fruit on credit, but Ye Chen refused, and Liang and Ghost Elder left plotting to kill him.
• Song Yan offered Ye Chen two hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones for one Sword-Shaped Grass, and Ye Chen accepted the deal.
• Guo Lanyue brought Ye Chen to the Moon Plucking Pavilion branch, where she explained its system for cultivating young talents and offered him a courtyard.
• Ye Chen ate the Fire Dragon Fruit and used the Grand Dark Art to advance from the Mid Primal Origin Realm to its peak, increasing his True Qi by more than thirty percent.

Ye Chen refined his lightness skill and swordsmanship, then left Golden Cauldron City and used Soul Force and concealment techniques to assassinate a pursuer. He continued onward, confident against most Late Primal Origin Realm opponents but still uncertain he could assassinate a Star Extremity Realm expert.

• Ye Chen contemplated the Floating Luo Three Profound Secrets and the Sword-Shaped Grass, seeking to improve his lightness skill without wasting its Sword Intent.
• Ye Chen defeated Fourth Night in a spar, and explained that martial artists should adapt techniques to their own style rather than remain bound by them.
• Guo Lanyue revealed that Murong Qingcheng was Second Night of the Moon Plucking Pavilion, and Ye Chen considered her Demonic Force Field and Celestial Demon Hand Seal formidable.
• After a month, Ye Chen left Golden Cauldron City at Guo Lanyue's urging and sensed a pursuer with his Soul Force in the woods.
• Ye Chen concealed his aura, ambushed the black-clothed Late Primal Origin Realm martial artist, killed him with one sword, and removed his Storage Spirit Ring.

Ye Chen ambushed and killed the young master and his black-clad guards, then fought Ghost Elder through the forest after discovering how formidable his Purple Zombie Demonic Art was. As night fell, Ye Chen continued to hide and attack while Ghost Elder adapted to his tactics, leaving their battle unresolved.

• Ye Chen killed Ghost Nine and Ghost Six before Ghost Elder and the young master arrived.
• Ye Chen beheaded the young master and wounded Ghost Elder with Lone Peak Annihilation, but Ghost Elder survived using Purple Zombie Demonic Art.
• Ghost Elder struck at Ye Chen, who escaped the attack with Shadow Splitter Lightness Skill and fled into the forest.
• Ye Chen stopped Ghost Elder from leaving with a soundless Void Piercing Finger, then harried him with repeated attacks and false images.
• At night, Ghost Elder steadied himself, gave up hope that Ghost Five, Ghost Six, and Ghost Nine were alive, and adapted to Ye Chen's assassination tactics.

Ye Chen fought Ghost Elder in a dangerous battle and killed him after Ghost Elder used the Beast Transformation Secret Technique. Badly injured, Ye Chen survived the fight and reflected on how close he had come to death.

• Ye Chen's opening strike only wounded Ghost Elder, so he used afterimages and a decoy sword to land a surprise attack with the Star Scar Sword.
• Ghost Elder activated Beast Transformation, blasted Ye Chen backward, and attacked with greater speed, strength, and a monstrous body.
• Ye Chen evaded Ghost Elder's attacks, but Ghost Elder's tail trapped him while he was bound to the Star Scar Sword.
• Ye Chen formed a Wind Tornado at close range, escaped the tail, reclaimed his sword, and pierced Ghost Elder repeatedly before stabbing through his forehead.
• Ghost Elder died and returned to human form, while Ye Chen survived with injuries and a damaged outfit.

After recovering from his battle with Ghost Elder, Ye Chen examined the group’s treasures and returned to Martial City to seek revenge on Yuan Zongbo and Mister Jin. Yuan Zongbo learned of Ye Chen’s return and began assembling a larger force to ambush him.

• Ye Chen took Ghost Elder’s Storage Spirit Ring and fled the forest while Corpse-Ghoul Taoist arrived and ordered his followers to capture a passing Star Extremity Realm expert as a Martial Corpse.
• Ye Chen settled in a small town, inspected the five men’s possessions, and found a bottle of precious healing pills among the young man’s treasures.
• After three days of recuperation, Ye Chen’s injuries and lost Origin Energy were fully restored, and he set out for Martial City to take revenge on Yuan Zongbo and Mister Jin.
• Ye Chen concealed his cultivation with the Aura Concealment Art, reserved a mid-grade cultivation room, and went to the Grand Exchange Hall.
• An attendant reported Ye Chen’s return to Yuan Zongbo, who rewarded him and decided to recruit Mister Jin and the Wolfhead Mountain Three Brothers for an ambush.