Chapter Summaries

Ye Chen and Murong Qingcheng survived Xiahou Zun’s attack in the treasure hall, then spent the following weeks recovering and cultivating in the fourth level world. As the Multitreasury Pagoda closed, Ye Chen emerged with Murong Qingcheng and approached Jing Aoxuan and Li Xiaoyun, while others reconsidered trying to take Jing Aoxuan’s treasures.

• Xiahou Zun escaped Ye Chen, convinced that perfecting his Void Piercing Finger would let him defeat Bai Wuxue and the other prodigies.
• Ye Chen checked Murong Qingcheng’s injuries, revealed that he had cultivated the Undying Body, and reunited with Yan Fengfeng, who soon went her own way through the treasure hall.
• After the treasure hall closed, Xiahou Zun left with a weakened aura, and Bai Wuxue remarked that the standing of the Five Great Prodigies was becoming unstable.
• Ye Chen trained against a Treasure Aura Lifeform, improving his one-sword Thunder Devour until he could condense half a thunderball and defeat it.
• As the fourth level world neared its closure, Ye Chen and Murong Qingcheng left the Multitreasury Pagoda and flew to Jing Aoxuan and Li Xiaoyun, discouraging others from attempting to seize Jing Aoxuan’s set of Superior-Grade Treasures.

After leaving the Multitreasury Pagoda, Ye Chen and his companions traveled toward the Southern Domain Cluster, while Duan Lengya persuaded his uncle Duan Binghe to avenge his ruined arm. Their paths crossed at an inn in Ancient Cloud Town, where Duan Binghe confronted Ye Chen and Ye Chen told him to leave.

• Ye Chen and Murong Qingcheng told Li Xiaoyun and Jing Aoxuan that they had each obtained a Half Supreme-Grade Treasure, and the group agreed to travel together to protect Jing Aoxuan’s haul.
• Duan Lengya showed Duan Binghe his damaged, reattached arm and explained that Ye Chen had severed it; Duan Binghe agreed to confront Ye Chen.
• Ye Chen’s group landed in Ancient Cloud Town to rest, since Murong Qingcheng was badly injured after a week of travel.
• Duan Binghe detected Ye Chen at the town’s largest restaurant and came out with Duan Lengya to face him.
• Jing Aoxuan identified Duan Binghe as Frost Ice Pavilion’s Left Protector and the Grandmaster Ranking’s thirty-first, while Ye Chen calmly told him to leave.

Ye Chen severed Duan Binghe’s right arm with one sword strike after Duan Binghe tried to do the same to him, then continued his journey. A month later, Ye Chen sparred with Mo Feng and demonstrated that his Thunder Profundity had reached minor accomplishment.

• Duan Binghe arrived to avenge Duan Lengya and declared that he would sever Ye Chen’s right arm.
• Ye Chen severed Duan Binghe’s right arm with a single sword strike and ordered him and Duan Lengya to leave Ancient Cloud Town.
• Xiahou Zun entered seclusion at the Void Altar to comprehend Space Profundity and perfect the Void Piercing Finger.
• A month later, Mo Feng tested Ye Chen’s swordsmanship at Cloudmist Mountain and attacked him with the White Dragon Four Forms.
• Ye Chen countered Mo Feng’s Dragon Tornado Cloud Strike with Thunder Devour, overwhelmed his white dragon, and sent him flying; Mo Feng recognized Ye Chen’s Thunder Profundity had reached minor accomplishment.

Ye Chen learned that Dragon God Palace was suffering losses in regional wars and offered to help if needed. Elsewhere, Beiming Hui created a stronger spear technique and Dugu Jue endured the Dugu Family’s terrifying Evil Demon Cave.

• Mo Feng and Long Biyun told Ye Chen that Dragon God Palace had lost many fighters in two wars while Long Biyun’s great-grandfather remained in seclusion, and Ye Chen offered to serve the palace if the crisis worsened.
• Beiming Hui used a brutal training trial to create Horizon at Hand Second Form and decided to wait until he could defeat Ye Chen publicly with certainty.
• Dugu Jue endured the negative emotions inside Evil Demon Cave as a middle-aged man watched from nearby and urged him not to disappoint his father.

Ye Chen studied the rain on Cloudmist Mountain and wielded Golden Ripples with greater ease, while reports spread of rising young geniuses across the Heavenly Martial Domain. Beiming Hui defeated Lin Chaonan in a public challenge, revealing the strength of his spear technique and leaving his standing among the prodigies in question.

• Ye Chen observed rain falling into puddles on Cloudmist Mountain, then practiced Golden Ripples with greater fluency.
• Martial artists discussed Helian Wuhua and Shangguan Fei defeating ranked grandmasters, and Situ Hao defeating Tu Yuan in one move.
• Crowds gathered outside the city to watch Beiming Hui challenge Lin Chaonan, one of the three great grandmasters of the blade.
• Beiming Hui urged Lin Chaonan to fight seriously and tested his Horizon at Hand technique against him.
• Beiming Hui unleashed five silver spear rays, wounded Lin Chaonan, and won the challenge before leaving.

After defeating Lin Chaonan, Beiming Hui became a leading figure among the young geniuses, while Ye Chen spent months refining his swordsmanship and Mystic Martial Arts. By late August, Ye Chen had perfected Thunder Devour and prepared for his September eighteenth battle, expecting Beiming Hui to join Dugu Jue.

• News of Lin Chaonan's defeat by Beiming Hui spread, prompting Xiao Chuhe to reconsider his plans and drawing varied reactions from Xie Bating, Shen Qianlang, and Chu Zhongtian.
• Ye Chen developed Golden Tempest by combining Gold Essence and Water Profundity, though he judged the new move to be only thirty or forty percent complete.
• As the rainy season ended, Ye Chen shifted his focus back to Thunder Devour and worked to perfect it, recognizing that his remaining flaw came from insufficient Thunder Profundity.
• By late August, Ye Chen perfected Thunder Devour, and his Thunder Profundity advanced beyond the minor-achievement stage.
• Ye Chen reflected on his September eighteenth battle with Dugu Jue and anticipated that Beiming Hui might also be his opponent.

At Nine Dragon Lake, young martial artists gathered ahead of the scheduled battles between Ye Chen and Dugu Jue, and Xiao Chuhe and Lu Shaoyou. Shangguan Fei challenged Ye Chen, who defeated him in one move as the crowd watched.

• Shangguan Fei and Helian Wuhua arrived at Nine Dragon Lake after defeating Grandmaster Ranking experts, while Situ Hao arrived the following day intent on defeating Ye Chen.
• Li Daoxuan, Yan Chi Huo, and Bing Ling watched the gathering, and Ye Chen arrived alone because Murong Qingcheng was still recovering in seclusion.
• Shangguan Fei challenged Ye Chen, believing Ye Chen's past ranking and secretive battles left his current strength uncertain.
• Shangguan Fei attacked with Python-Dragon Combined Strike, but Ye Chen used Golden Ripples to shatter the attack and send Shangguan Fei flying while spitting blood.

Ye Chen defeated Shangguan Fei with one move, then faced Situ Hao, who challenged him with the Heaven-Net Sword and Sword Control Technique. The chapter ended with Situ Hao relying on distance and relentless attacks to keep Ye Chen from using a stronger move.

• Ye Chen sent Shangguan Fei crashing into a mountainside, and Shangguan Fei’s companions carried him away unconscious.
• Helian Wuhua shrank from challenging Ye Chen, while Yan Fengfeng and Hai Wuyai acknowledged how much stronger he had become.
• Situ Hao challenged Ye Chen at Nine Dragon Lake, and Ye Chen invited him to use his improved Sword Control Technique.
• Ye Chen broke Situ Hao’s Three Absolutes Sword and Heaven-Net Sword with his Golden Ripples.
• Situ Hao unleashed the Sword Control Technique, and his flying sword repeatedly attacked Ye Chen as he retreated to maintain distance.

Ye Chen defeated Situ Hao and traded the Spirit Heart Sword and six Dragon Blood Grasses for the Sword Control Technique. Later, Bai Wuxue, Xiao Chuhe, and Beiming Hui arrived, with Beiming Hui openly setting his sights on Ye Chen.

• Ye Chen outsped Situ Hao's flying sword and struck him hard with the Spirit Heart Sword.
• Ye Chen offered the Spirit Heart Sword and Dragon Blood Grass for Situ Hao's Sword Control Technique, and they settled on six stalks.
• Situ Hao gave Ye Chen the Sword Control Technique manual, and Ye Chen handed over a Jade Slip of the Spirit Heart Sword and six Dragon Blood Grasses.
• Bai Wuxue and Xiao Chuhe arrived, followed by Beiming Hui, whose arrival drew attention because of his formidable spear technique.
• Beiming Hui laughed while staring at Ye Chen and declared his intent to defeat Ye Chen and several of the Five Great Prodigies.

Xiao Chuhe faced Beiming Hui in a battle on Nine Dragon Lake after Beiming Hui challenged the Five Great Prodigies. Beiming Hui wounded Xiao Chuhe with Horizon at Hand Second Form, but Xiao Chuhe counterattacked and defeated him, leaving the challenge to the Five Great Prodigies unanswered by anyone else.

• Beiming Hui directed his hostility toward Ye Chen, while Xiao Chuhe's fighting spirit toward Beiming Hui erupted.
• Beiming Hui challenged Xiao Chuhe, declaring that he would take a place among the Five Great Prodigies.
• Xiao Chuhe and Beiming Hui exchanged attacks across Nine Dragon Lake, with Xiao Chuhe blocking Silver Dragon Seven Strikes and Beiming Hui breaking his Sea Split blade radiance.
• Beiming Hui used Horizon at Hand Second Form and struck Xiao Chuhe's left shoulder, sending him flying and drawing blood.
• Xiao Chuhe halted his retreat and unleashed Three Sea-Splitting Blades, severing Beiming Hui's silver dragon and sending him flying.
• Xiao Chuhe declared that Beiming Hui was not ready to take a place among the Five Great Prodigies.

Xiao Chuhe defeated Beiming Hui at Nine Dragon Lake, and the appointed day arrived as Lu Shaoyou and Dugu Jue appeared. Dugu Jue unleashed his terrifying Blade Intent of Despair against Ye Chen, leaving Xie Bating convinced Ye Chen would lose.

• Xiao Chuhe overwhelmed Beiming Hui with his Three Sea-Splitting Blades, and Beiming Hui admitted defeat.
• Li Daoxuan and Yan Chi Huo watched the battle as the fourth day passed and the appointed day began.
• Xu Yuan of the Earth Sword Sect arrived with Xie Bating, and Lu Shaoyou soon reached Nine Dragon Lake, ready to fight Xiao Chuhe.
• Dugu Jue arrived before Lu Shaoyou and Xiao Chuhe could begin their duel, then fixed his gaze on Ye Chen.
• Dugu Jue's Blade Intent of Despair shook the onlookers, and Xie Bating withdrew his own Blade Intent, convinced Ye Chen would lose.

Dugu Jue challenged Xiao Chuhe before promising Ye Chen a decisive battle, and the two bladesmen began a fierce fight over Nine Dragon Lake. As Ye Chen watched Dugu Jue wield the Blade Intent of Despair, he clarified his own commitment to the pure sword path and his Swordsman's Heart.

• Dugu Jue withdrew his Blade Intent of Despair after testing Ye Chen, then postponed their battle to challenge Xiao Chuhe first.
• Dugu Jue declared that Xiao Chuhe would fall beneath his blade and told Ye Chen he would fight him afterward; Ye Chen calmly said he would wait.
• Xiao Chuhe met Dugu Jue above Nine Dragon Lake and opened with a powerful blade strike, but Dugu Jue deflected it without moving.
• Xiao Chuhe unleashed forty-nine attacks, and Dugu Jue countered with blade light strengthened by the Blade Intent of Despair.
• Ye Chen studied Dugu Jue's blade path and reflected that his own swordsmanship served his Swordsman's Heart and would remain the pure sword path.

Dugu Jue unleashed the Blade of Despair and decisively defeated Xiao Chuhe, ending his five-year reign among the young giants. Afterward, Xie Bating estimated his chances against Dugu Jue at four to six.

• Dugu Jue overwhelmed Xiao Chuhe, whose ordinary blade techniques could not break through the suppression.
• Xiao Chuhe used the Three Sea-Splitting Blades, but Dugu Jue awakened the full power of the Blade of Despair and shattered them.
• Dugu Jue struck Xiao Chuhe twice, leaving him badly wounded and unable to continue fighting.
• Spectators reacted to Xiao Chuhe's defeat and recognized Dugu Jue as a formidable young giant.
• Xu Yuan asked Xie Bating about his chances against Dugu Jue, and Xie Bating said he would be at a four-to-six disadvantage.

Ye Chen stunned the spectators by defeating Lu Shaoyou in three moves, revealing strength that matched the rumors about Dugu Jue. The long-awaited duel began with Ye Chen's Sword Intent overpowering Dugu Jue's Blade Intent, and Dugu Jue launched a full-strength slash.

• Dugu Jue defeated Xiao Chuhe, and Ye Chen stood to declare that Dugu Jue was finally qualified to challenge him.
• Lu Shaoyou challenged Ye Chen to a three-move contest, and Ye Chen countered his Void Slayer Sword Technique with seven rapid sword strikes.
• Lu Shaoyou unleashed One Sword Annihilates the Void, but Ye Chen met it with Thunder Devour and then wounded Lu Shaoyou with the third slash of Spirit Heart Sword, Triple Slash.
• The spectators realized Ye Chen had concealed his strength, while Dugu Jue welcomed him as his true opponent.
• Ye Chen's destructive Sword Intent suppressed Dugu Jue's Blade Intent, but Dugu Jue drew strength from despair and slashed at Ye Chen with all his might.

Ye Chen and Dugu Jue fought a fierce duel, with Ye Chen eventually overpowering Dugu Jue and piercing his shoulder. As Dugu Jue flew backward, he unleashed his ultimate attack, Despair of All Beings, and its massive gray pillar of light closed in on Ye Chen.

• Ye Chen found the weak points in Dugu Jue’s blade defense and forced him from offense into defense.
• Dugu Jue awakened the power of despair and launched a barrage of Blade of Despair strikes, but Ye Chen countered with consecutive killing moves.
• Ye Chen used Triple Slash and Thunder Devour to break through Dugu Jue’s attacks and keep up the pressure.
• Ye Chen’s rapid close-combat strikes overwhelmed Dugu Jue, pierced his shoulder, and sent him flying backward.
• Dugu Jue unleashed Despair of All Beings, a huge gray pillar of light that swept toward Ye Chen as Dugu Jue lost the strength to control his body.

Ye Chen defeated Dugu Jue with Golden Tempest, ending Dugu Jue’s undefeated record and leaving the spectators in awe of Ye Chen’s strength. After Dugu Jue vowed to grow stronger and challenge him again, Gao Changtian predicted Ye Chen could rank first or second among grandmasters and offered him the title of Sword Sect Master.

• Ye Chen used Golden Tempest to split Dugu Jue’s devastating blade attack and send him crashing into the lakeshore.
• The crowd saw that Ye Chen was uninjured while Dugu Jue struggled to rise, and Bai Wuxue judged Ye Chen’s overall strength to be comparable to his own.
• Dugu Jue acknowledged that Ye Chen was the first person of his generation to defeat him, then recovered his resolve and vowed to defeat Ye Chen someday.
• Gao Changtian said Dugu Jue qualified for the Grandmaster Ranking’s top five and predicted Ye Chen would place first or second.
• Gao Changtian asked Ye Chen to accept the title of Sword Sect Master.

Ye Chen accepted the title of Sword Sect Master despite the challenges it would bring. He defeated three Grandmasters who challenged him, while older sword experts remained potential challengers.

• Gao Changtian offered Ye Chen the title of Sword Sect Master, and Ye Chen accepted it despite the crowd's doubts.
• Bai Wuxue defended Ye Chen's decision and warned Lu Shaoyou that Ye Chen's arrival had unsettled his sword path.
• The Fire Sword Sect Master, Broken Sword Sect Master, and Shadow Sword Sect Master challenged Ye Chen to withstand their attacks, but Ye Chen defeated all three with three sword strikes.
• The three defeated Grandmasters acknowledged Ye Chen as Sword Sect Master while cautioning that senior sword experts might challenge his claim.
• Ye Chen said he was prepared to face any challenger, including the Heaven Sword Sect Master, Demon Sword Sect Master, and Blood Sword Sect Master.

Ye Chen accepted the Sword Sect Master title and left Nine Dragon Lake for the Southern Zhuo Region. Xiahou Zun ambushed him in the Tortoise Coil Mountains, but Ye Chen defeated him with his overwhelming sword Momentum and left him crashing into a mountain.

• Dugu Jue departed after promising to fight Ye Chen again someday, and the other spectators gradually left Nine Dragon Lake.
• Li Daoxuan, Yan Chi Huo, and Bing Ling reunited with Ye Chen, who told them he was returning to the Southern Zhuo Region.
• Xiahou Zun intercepted Ye Chen above the Tortoise Coil Mountains and challenged him with his perfected Void Piercing Finger.
• Ye Chen used his Sword Sect Master Great Momentum to overpower Xiahou Zun's attacks and break his emperor phantom.
• Xiahou Zun's Void Piercing Finger missed Ye Chen, and Ye Chen's Golden Tempest blasted him through his armor into a mountain.

After leaving the Tortoise Coil Mountains, Ye Chen witnessed a bloody sect war over a top-tier Low-Grade Spirit Vein and reflected on the Dragon God Palace’s perilous situation. He returned to the Ye Family and began practicing the Sword Control Technique, piercing an artificial hill with his first attempt.

• Ye Chen dismissed Xiahou Zun’s threat and left him raging after their confrontation.
• Ye Chen flew into the White Xuan Kingdom and saw the Black Centipede Sect and Flying Sword Sect battling Green Snake Valley and Firecloud Sect for a top-tier Low-Grade Spirit Vein.
• Ye Chen left without claiming the Spirit Vein and resolved to help the Dragon God Palace if it faced a crisis.
• Ye Chen visited Murong Qingcheng, who remained in seclusion while recovering from her severe injuries, then returned to the Ye Family.
• Ye Chen told Long Biyun he would help if needed and began practicing the Sword Control Technique, sending his emerald-green sword through an artificial hill from a hundred paces away.

Ye Chen refined the first level of the Sword Control Technique, then practiced it at home while Ye Xuan and her three friends watched from Windward Tower. The visitors admired him from afar, and the chapter ended with Ye Chen noticing them.

• Ye Chen used his Soul Force to guide a flying sword through curved attacks, then decided to keep refining the first level before advancing.
• Ye Xuan arrived at the Ye Family with Di Hongyin, Lan Cuicui, and Luo Baishuang, who hoped to see Ye Chen.
• Ye Xuan refused to take her friends into Ye Chen's courtyard but led them to Windward Tower to watch from a distance.
• The four women saw Ye Chen practicing the Sword Control Technique beside the lake and reflected on his rise to fame.
• Di Hongyin said she would accept being Ye Chen's concubine, and Ye Chen turned toward Windward Tower after returning his sword to its sheath.