Chapter Summaries

Ye Chen and his companions traveled toward the Barren Ancient Land aboard Yan Fengfeng’s Void-Crossing Ship, using a fragmentary map to prepare for their expedition. At the land’s barrier, Ye Chen identified a weak point, but the group also encountered the formidable swordsman Taishi Chong as they entered.

• Yan Fengfeng showed Ye Chen, Hai Wuyai, Guan Qin, and Ling Tianhao a fragmentary map of the Barren Ancient Land and set off aboard her Void-Crossing Ship.
• Hai Wuyai explained the ship’s speed, defenses, and Puppet Cannons as Ye Chen examined its powerful energy channels.
• Wan Qilou and Ao Wubai overtook the ship, and Yan Fengfeng and Hai Wuyai identified the half-demon heirs and their abilities.
• At the Barren Ancient Land, Ye Chen spotted a weak point in the barrier, and Yan Fengfeng blasted open a passage with the ship’s cannon.
• Taishi Chong opened another breach in the barrier with his Sword of Heaven and Earth, and Hai Wuyai warned the group against provoking him.
• The Void-Crossing Ship entered the passage, while Ye Chen sensed a strong Sword Qi resonance between himself and Taishi Chong.

Ye Chen and his companions traveled into the Barren Ancient Land, where they encountered a massive swarm of Barren Locusts and fought to keep their Void-Crossing Ship from being overwhelmed. As they battled through the swarm, Ye Chen spotted people fighting ahead.

• Ye Chen, Ling Tianhao, Yan Fengfeng, Hai Wuyai, and Guan Qin entered the Barren Ancient Land and set out toward a region marked on their map.
• Taishi Chong and his five companions arrived, exchanged arrogant looks with Ye Chen's group, and flew away.
• The group encountered powerful demon beasts, including a Bone-Wing Lizard that escaped using a spatial flicker.
• Ye Chen detected an approaching swarm of Barren Locusts, and Yan Fengfeng steered the Void-Crossing Ship left to break through.
• Hai Wuyai, Guan Qin, Ling Tianhao, Ye Chen, and Yan Fengfeng attacked the locusts while the ship's cannons fired, but the swarm surrounded them.
• Ye Chen spotted people fighting the Barren Locusts ahead.

Ye Chen and his companions fought through a vast locust swarm aboard the Void-Crossing Ship while Zhang Zhongdao and Elder Li tried to seize it. After escaping the swarm, they reached a mountain rich in Spirit Veins and split up to gather herbs.

• Yan Fengfeng refused to let Zhang Zhongdao, Elder Li, and their three companions aboard the ship, so the five attacked it as they pursued through the locust swarm.
• Ye Chen used a swordsman puppet to refill the ship's High-Grade Spirit Stones while Guan Qin and Ling Tianhao helped defend it.
• Zhang Zhongdao struck the ship with his Five-Poison Grand Hand Seal, but Yan Fengfeng countered with Phoenix Flame, and Ye Chen and Hai Wuyai drove off Zhang Zhongdao and Elder Li.
• The Void-Crossing Ship broke free of the thinning locust swarm, while Zhang Zhongdao, Elder Li, and one other survivor escaped later and vowed to recover their strength.
• Yan Fengfeng led the group to a mountain of Spirit Veins, where Ye Chen requested herbs for an antidote to Shadowless Poison and the five split up to gather supplies.

Ye Chen explored a frigid mountain pool, collected valuable herbs and Soul Stones, and uncovered the source of the pool’s mysterious pressure. A pure-blooded flood dragon attacked him, leaving him buried in a hole in the rock wall.

• Ye Chen gathered medicinal herbs and ice Spirit Stones around the pool, then discovered that its depths resisted Soul Force and froze his swordsman puppet.
• Ye Chen dived into the pool, endured its growing pressure and icy energy, and found a vast deposit of Soul Stones at the bottom.
• Ye Chen excavated three large Soul Stones and used the cleared area to probe the pool, unaware that a creature was watching him from a passage.
• A pure-blooded white flood dragon charged Ye Chen, and its overwhelming force sent him crashing into the rock wall.

Ye Chen fought a white flood dragon whose immense strength and defenses overwhelmed him, but he managed to wound it with a combined sword attack. Trapped in its icy wind, Ye Chen broke free as Yan Fengfeng rushed to help.

• Ye Chen escaped the flood dragon's attack in the pool, but its tail sent him flying and injured him.
• The white flood dragon pursued Ye Chen above the pool, and he realized its Dragon Might and speed made escape impossible.
• Ye Chen used the Thunder Calamity Sword and Golden Sword together, scorching the flood dragon and cutting its chest.
• The enraged flood dragon blasted Ye Chen with icy wind, freezing him into an ice sculpture.
• Yan Fengfeng contacted Ye Chen and hurried toward him as he unleashed Sword Qi and shattered the ice around himself.

Ye Chen survived an encounter with a powerful ice flood dragon and regrouped with Yan Fengfeng and the others, who continued searching for medicinal herbs. Elsewhere, a Longevity Tree began ripening its fruits, drawing many cultivators toward a deadly trap.

• Ye Chen was badly injured by the ice flood dragon but escaped its icy breath with his speed and Undying Body.
• Yan Fengfeng carried Ye Chen away, and the ice flood dragon gave up its pursuit.
• Hai Wuyai and Ling Tianhao questioned how Ye Chen had recovered so quickly, but he concealed the secret of his Undying Body.
• Yan Fengfeng told the group to stay within fifty li of one another as they searched for herbs away from the deep pool.
• A crimson pillar of light revealed the Longevity Tree, and cultivators rushed toward it as its fruits ripened.
• Several cultivators tried to pick the Longevity Fruits and were killed by crimson rays from the tree while a hidden group watched.

Groups gathered on the island to claim the Longevity Fruits, but Taishi Chong and Heavenly Yin Old Man drove off most of the rivals. Ye Chen and his companions arrived and recognized the Longevity Tree, leaving them to wait at a safe distance for the fruits to fall.

• Taishi Chong explained that the intelligent Longevity Tree could kill even Grandmasters and warned the gathered martial artists to wait until its fruits fell.
• Heavenly Yin Old Man attacked the Yanbei Four Heroes, defeated their combined Vajra Formation, and drove them into the forest.
• Taishi Chong defeated Dugu Ming's group and cut Dugu Ming across the chest, forcing them to leave the island.
• A burly middle-aged man confronted Heavenly Yin Old Man, shattered his claw attack with a staff, and refused to leave the Longevity Tree.
• Yan Fengfeng arrived on the Void-Crossing Ship with Ye Chen, Hai Wuyai, and Guan Qin; after recognizing the Longevity Tree, they landed at a distance, and Hai Wuyai warned Guan Qin not to approach before the fruits fell.

The groups gathered around the Longevity Tree agreed to compete for its fruit after it ripened, and the first fruit sparked a fierce battle among their strongest fighters. Ye Chen seized the second fruit but was struck by seven or eight attacks, leaving his fate uncertain.

• The Heavenly Yin Old Man proposed dividing the Longevity Fruits among the four groups, but the others rejected the idea and agreed to rely on their own abilities.
• The first ripe Longevity Fruit fell, and a Gray Hawk snatched it before everyone attacked and killed the bird, sending the fruit back down.
• Yan Fengfeng, Taishi Chong, the Heavenly Yin Old Man, and the burly middle-aged man fought over the first fruit, each disrupting the others’ attempts to claim it.
• Hai Wuyai proposed that Ye Chen’s group support whoever among them obtained the next fruit, and Ye Chen agreed.
• When the second Longevity Fruit fell, Ye Chen’s speed let him reach it first, but members of Taishi Chong’s and the burly middle-aged man’s groups attacked him.
• Ye Chen put the Longevity Fruit into his Storage Spirit Ring and endured seven or eight attacks as terrifying Qi Force swallowed him.

Ye Chen seized the second Longevity Fruit and survived seven attacks by relying on his shields and Gilded Armor. As Hai Wuyai, Ling Tianhao, and Guan Qin held off other foes, Ye Chen fought the Wind-Thunder Duo, Li Feng and Li Lei, and disrupted their teamwork.

• Ye Chen snatched the Longevity Fruit, endured seven attacks, and used his pills and Undying Body to heal his severe injuries.
• Hai Wuyai, Guan Qin, and Ling Tianhao reached Ye Chen as his attackers demanded that he hand over the fruit, but he refused.
• Hai Wuyai fought the barbarian middle-aged man while Guan Qin and Ling Tianhao intercepted two others from that group.
• Li Feng and Li Lei, the Wind-Thunder Duo, attacked Ye Chen together, and he used feints and Earth Shattering Shock to create an opening against Li Lei.
• Ye Chen drove Li Lei back with his sword techniques and stayed close to him, forcing Li Feng to hold back and breaking the brothers' formation.

Ye Chen used the Void Piercing Finger and his Dual Sword Style to defeat Li Lei, while Yan Fengfeng stopped Taishi Chong from interfering. After the third Longevity Fruit ripened, Yan Fengfeng chose not to contest it, leaving the others to fight over it.

• Li Feng withdrew from the fight, and Ye Chen waited for Li Lei to lower his guard before striking with the Void Piercing Finger and Endless Cycle.
• Ye Chen pierced Li Lei's shoulder, evaded his counterattack, and then met Li Lei's Thunder God Descends with his twin-sword technique.
• Ye Chen broke Li Lei's defense and wounded him severely, while Yan Fengfeng blocked Taishi Chong's attempt to intervene.
• Li Feng caught the unconscious Li Lei and threatened Ye Chen, who refused to back down.
• The third Longevity Fruit ripened, and Yan Fengfeng stopped Hai Wuyai from joining the fight for it, deciding to let the others compete.

Taishi Chong seized the third Longevity Fruit, and the Heavenly Yin Old Man claimed the fourth by unleashing Yin Beasts. Yan Fengfeng destroyed one with her Nirvana Fire, while Taishi Chong and the burly middle-aged man were left weakened after their Yin Beasts dispersed.

• Taishi Chong drove back the Heavenly Yin Old Man and the burly middle-aged man with his sword techniques, then took the third Longevity Fruit.
• Taishi Chong declined Li Feng’s request to avenge Li Lei until after the contest for Longevity Fruits.
• After the fourth Longevity Fruit ripened, the Heavenly Yin Old Man released three Yin Beasts to halt the other contenders and took the fruit.
• Yan Fengfeng burned one Yin Beast to death with her Nirvana Fire, while Ye Chen recognized the flame’s power against souls.
• The remaining Yin Beasts delayed Taishi Chong and the burly middle-aged man before dispersing, leaving both men drained.

Ye Chen and his allies competed with Taishi Chong’s group and others for the Longevity Fruits, then left the flooded island after the Longevity Tree vanished. Ye Chen began a secluded breakthrough in a mountain chamber while Yan Fengfeng and the others stood guard.

• Hai Wuyai seized the seventh Longevity Fruit with Ye Chen’s support, and Yan Fengfeng intervened to help him withstand the others’ attacks.
• Taishi Chong, Yan Fengfeng, the burly middle-aged man, and others claimed the later fruits; Yan Fengfeng gave fruits to Ling Tianhao and Guan Qin.
• After thirteen Longevity Fruits fell, the Longevity Tree uprooted itself and flew away, and the remaining groups departed.
• Ye Chen asked for one day to break through and said he had ninety-nine percent confidence; Yan Fengfeng and Hai Wuyai agreed to guard him.
• Ye Chen began cultivating in a chamber inside a low hill in the Desolate Wilds Mountain Range while the others meditated outside.

Ye Chen broke through to the middle Spirit Sea Realm after refining the Longevity Fruit, then led his group through the Barren Ancient Land in search of treasures and materials for an antidote to Shadowless Poison. The chapter ended as Ye Chen’s group arrived at a Dragon Cave Ruins already entered by Wan Qilou and Ao Wubai’s party.

• Ye Chen refined the Longevity Fruit overnight, expelled corrosive impurities from his True Essence, and broke through to the middle Spirit Sea Realm.
• Ye Chen joined Yan Fengfeng, Hai Wuyai, Guan Qin, and Ling Tianhao on their journey toward the forbidden zones marked on Yan Fengfeng’s map.
• Yan Fengfeng’s group found that several forbidden zones had already been raided, so Ye Chen suggested searching the farthest zones first.
• The group explored several untouched forbidden zones, gained plentiful rewards, and collected more materials for an antidote to Shadowless Poison.
• Wan Qilou and Ao Wubai’s half-demon group reached a sinkhole identified as Dragon Cave Ruins and entered in search of Dragon Blood Grass and Dragon Bone Jade Marrow.
• Ye Chen’s group arrived at the Dragon Cave Ruins and recognized the dragon qi winding above the sinkhole.

Ye Chen’s group fought their way deeper into the dragon lair, defeating powerful dragon-blooded beasts before Yan Fengfeng carried them across a deadly river of Dragon Flame. Wan Qilou’s group reached the same barrier and crossed by sacrificing Superior-Grade Treasures, leaving both groups able to continue toward the ruins’ treasures.

• Yan Fengfeng killed a Thorn Dragon Lizard, and the five continued through a branch of the dragon lair.
• Ye Chen, Yan Fengfeng, Hai Wuyai, Ling Tianhao, and Guan Qin joined forces to kill a Dragon-Clawed Demon Bull, and Hai Wuyai used a Heavenly Origin White Fruit to recover from his injuries.
• Wan Qilou and Ao Wubai discussed their growing bloodline powers after their group killed an Azure-Scaled Dragon Lion.
• Ye Chen’s group reached an underground world and discovered that its lava river was actually deadly Dragon Flame.
• Yan Fengfeng transformed into a Qingfeng and carried the five across the Dragon Flame river.
• Wan Qilou tested the Dragon Flame with a Superior-Grade Treasure, then led his group across by sacrificing several treasures.

Ye Chen and his companions crossed the Bone-Corroding Poison Water and a gale filled with wind spirits, then found a dragon skeleton surrounded by Dragon Blood Grass. Wan Qilou and Ao Wubai arrived and challenged them over the treasures, and the chapter ended as Ao Wubai attacked Ye Chen.

• Ye Chen and Hai Wuyai fought off Poison Dragon Crocodiles on a white-bone boat, while Yan Fengfeng helped defeat the crocodile leader.
• The five crossed the river and entered the gale, where Ye Chen's Destruction Sword Intent drove away the wind spirits.
• The group found a dragon skeleton and several dozen stalks of Dragon Blood Grass, with Dragon Might making it difficult to approach.
• Wan Qilou and Ao Wubai arrived with three companions and demanded that Yan Fengfeng's group leave the dragon remains.
• Ye Chen and Hai Wuyai refused, and Ao Wubai threatened Ye Chen before attacking him with the power of his Azure-Eyed White Wolf phantom.

Ye Chen fought Ao Wubai while Yan Fengfeng battled Wan Qilou, and Ye Chen defeated Ao Wubai by exploiting the flaws in his bloodline transformation. Wan Qilou and the other half-demons fled into the gale, leaving Ye Chen's group alive but avoiding a wider conflict with the Ao Family.

• Ao Wubai attacked Ye Chen with wolf techniques as Wan Qilou urged Yan Fengfeng to leave and then led the half-demons into battle.
• Yan Fengfeng and Wan Qilou clashed, while Ao Wubai fused with his Azure-Eyed White Wolf bloodline and transformed into a wolfman.
• Ye Chen dodged Ao Wubai's speed-based attacks and recognized that Ao Wubai's sudden strength made his movements uncoordinated.
• Ye Chen countered Ao Wubai's charge with Thunder Bird Transformation, then struck him in the chest with One Finger Breaks Void.
• Wan Qilou ordered the half-demons to retreat, and they escaped into the gale after his Sky-Tiger Roar stalled Yan Fengfeng's pursuit.
• Ye Chen and Yan Fengfeng decided that killing only Ao Wubai would risk retaliation from the Ao Family.

After the group explored the dragon lair and gathered treasures, Ye Chen obtained the Dragon Bone Jade Marrow and advanced his cultivation. When the five left the Barren Ancient Land, they found Dugu Jue confronting Taishi Chong over Dugu Ming’s injury, and Dugu Jue challenged him to fight.

• Yan Fengfeng divided the Dragon Blood Grass among the group, and Ye Chen gave her one of his stalks.
• Yan Fengfeng shattered the dragon skeleton, but its Dragon Bone Jade Marrow repelled the others with its dragon will; Ye Chen alone claimed it.
• The five explored the dragon lair, collected Wind Essence Stones and other treasures, and left at dawn the next day.
• Ye Chen consolidated his mid Spirit Sea Realm cultivation and used pills to advance to the peak of that realm.
• At the end of the month, the five left the Barren Ancient Land and saw Dugu Jue confronting Taishi Chong over Dugu Ming’s injury.
• Dugu Jue rose into the sky and challenged Taishi Chong to fight.

Dugu Jue battled Taishi Chong and revealed a Blade Intent of Despair that overwhelmed the swordsman’s resolve. Taishi Chong survived the fight but was badly wounded, while Ye Chen identified the nature of Dugu Jue’s blade technique.

• Dugu Jue struck first and forced Taishi Chong to defend against his powerful blade slashes.
• Taishi Chong broke through to peak fourth-level Sword Intent and fought Dugu Jue on even terms.
• Taishi Chong unleashed Rampaging Flood, and Dugu Jue countered with Blade of Despair.
• Taishi Chong resisted the despair and survived, though Dugu Jue’s blade pierced his defense and wounded him severely.
• Ye Chen explained to Hai Wuyai that Dugu Jue’s despair-attribute Blade Intent could influence an opponent’s heart.

After Dugu Jue defeated Taishi Chong, he recognized Ye Chen as a rival and clashed with him through their Sword Intent and Blade Intent, promising they would fight in the future. Ye Chen later settled in Flying Feather City, mastered more Gold Essence, and prepared to refine his Dragon Blood Grass and Dragon Bone Jade Marrow.

• Dugu Jue defeated Taishi Chong, and the crowd discussed the rise of Ye Chen as a third monstrous genius alongside Dugu Jue and Tantai Mingyue.
• Dugu Jue sensed Ye Chen's fifth-tier Sword Intent, learned his name, and challenged him with Blade Intent of Despair; Ye Chen countered with Slaughter Sword Intent.
• Dugu Jue acknowledged Ye Chen as a worthy rival and predicted they would battle one day, then left with Dugu Ming and the others.
• Ye Chen went to Flying Feather City to digest his breakthrough insights and practiced until his Golden Radiance Annihilation Sword reached 130 percent mastery.
• After three days, Ye Chen finished transforming his insights into Gold Essence and prepared to refine his Dragon Blood Grass and Dragon Bone Jade Marrow.

Ye Chen refined Dragon Bone Jade Marrow, advanced his Spirit Body to the third order, and improved his sword techniques before heading to Xiling City to meet Murong Qingcheng. At Xiling Tavern, Murong was harassed by Duan Lengya and fled, with Duan pursuing her.

• Ye Chen refined Dragon Bone Jade Marrow, broke through to a Third-Order Spirit Body, and raised his strength to around four hundred thousand jin, gaining a Dragon Bone Defense Layer.
• Over the next month, Ye Chen completed Endless Cycle and raised Heavenly Thunder Severance to eleven-tenths mastery.
• Ye Chen learned that Murong Qingcheng had reached the Spirit Sea Realm and traveled to Xiling City to meet her.
• At Xiling Tavern, Duan Lengya tried to probe Murong Qingcheng's appearance and stop her from leaving, while Lin Ku briefly exchanged a palm strike with her.
• Murong escaped through a window, and Duan Lengya pursued her in a gust of cold wind.