Chapter Summaries

Yu Huatian defeated the Great Banner Alliance and gave the remaining martial factions three days to submit, setting the Sword Sect on course to unify Great Qing's martial world. As the Sword Sect crushed holdouts, Dorgon reviewed reports in Shengjing with the Prince of Peace.

• Water Matriarch Yin Ji challenged Yu Huatian's demand, but he swiftly put a sword to her brow and gave the factions three days to choose submission or death.
• Zhuo Donglai hurried to declare allegiance to Yu Huatian, followed by many others, while the Night Emperor left with Chu Liuxiang and Zhu Zao.
• The Great Banner Alliance lost the battle at the Banner Sect, with more than a thousand experts killed and the Empress of the Sun, Hua Shuangshuang, Zhuo Sanniang, Sun Yubo, Shen Xingnan, and Li Buyi among the fallen.
• The Great Banner Alliance dissolved, and the Sword Sect's subordinate factions began eliminating groups that refused to submit, bringing Great Qing's martial world close to unification within half a month.
• Dorgon examined reports of the Jianghu conflict in Shengjing and discussed Yu Huatian's victory with the Prince of Peace.

The Prince of Peace convinced Dorgon that an overseas expert and other Heavenly Beings could kill Yu Huatian, so Dorgon ordered Yuan Suiyun to begin the plan to lure Yu overseas. After the Banner Sect battle, Yu Huatian crushed those who refused to submit and stood by his decision to eliminate enemies blocking his goals.

• The Prince of Peace told Dorgon that his hidden senior had defeated the Heavenly Being in the Qing Palace in fewer than fifty moves and could help kill Yu Huatian.
• Dorgon agreed to continue the plan and ordered a black-clad guard to tell Yuan Suiyun to begin.
• The Prince of Peace left, and Dorgon cursed him privately before deciding to use him for now.
• After the Banner Sect battle, most sects submitted, while the holdouts and those seeking revenge fled.
• Yu Huatian had the remaining dissenters killed and accepted the sacrifices required to achieve his aims.

After consolidating his gains and preparing to invade the Great Qing, Yu Huatian learned that Chen Jialuo had unexpectedly become leader of an anti-Qing coalition. The chapter left him focused on a new lead: the lower half of Bodhidharma's remains would be auctioned on Bat Island, linking the prize to Yuan Suiyun.

• Yu Huatian integrated the Five Elements Divine Skill, the Killing Fist, and the Wind God Leg into his martial arts, then gave his Great Restoration Pills to his subordinates.
• Ma Jinliang reported that the Northwest had been unified and that Ye Gucheng and the others were moving east, while fighting in the south remained at a stalemate.
• Yu Huatian ordered preparations to attack the Great Qing in one month and told Ma Jinliang to investigate Chen Jialuo's sudden rise as leader of the anti-Qing coalition.
• Cao Shaoqin told Yu Huatian that the lower half of Bodhidharma's remains would be auctioned on Bat Island.
• Yu Huatian associated the Bat Island auction with the Bat Young Master, Yuan Suiyun.

Yu Huatian decided to attend Yuan Suiyun’s Bat Island auction to investigate the offer of Bodhidharma’s remains, while ordering his allies to prepare an invasion of Great Qing. He left Cao Shaoqin responsible for Ming if he failed to return and set a three-month deadline to destroy Great Qing.

• Yu Huatian suspected Yuan Suiyun’s auction was a trap but chose to go alone because he needed Bodhidharma’s remains, while Cao Shaoqin continued preparations to attack Great Qing.
• Yu Huatian told Cao Shaoqin to take charge of Ming if he did not return and said Ma Jinliang and the others would support him.
• Yu Huatian assembled the remaining sect leaders and his allies, including the Night Emperor and the Five Elements Ancestor, in the town’s guarded inn.
• Yu Huatian ordered the martial sects to divide into four forces, led by Ye Gucheng, Tie Zhongtang, Water Matriarch Yin Ji, and Zhuo Donglai, and launch their attack on Great Qing in one month.
• Yu Huatian demanded that the four forces destroy Great Qing within three months, leaving the assembled leaders stunned.

Yu Huatian ordered the Jianghu to attack Great Qing and left with the Five Elements Ancestor for the Eastern Sea, while the Night Emperor oversaw the allied armies. After the rebellion erupted across Great Qing, Dorgon remained calm and told Sengge Rinchen to notify Chen Jialuo to act.

• Yu Huatian assigned the Night Emperor to oversee the allied armies and ordered the Five Elements Ancestor to accompany him to the Eastern Sea.
• Yu Huatian sent Ma Jinliang, Ding Xiu, Cao Shaoqin, and Dong Tianbao to assist and monitor the four allied armies.
• The eastern Jianghu factions submitted, completing the unification of Great Qing's martial world, and the sects organized into four allied armies.
• On the first day of the first lunar month, three allied armies launched uprisings in Great Qing's east, west, and north, throwing the realm into turmoil.
• At Prince He's residence, Dorgon dismissed his advisers' concerns and told Sengge Rinchen to notify Chen Jialuo that he could make his move.

Dorgon ordered Sengge Rinchen to lead the Eight Banners Army against the rebel factions while preserving them for later subjugation, then focused on eliminating Yu Huatian. After half a month at sea, Yu Huatian and the other travelers reached Bat Island, where masked guides offered a rope bridge into the island’s darkness.

• Dorgon ordered Sengge Rinchen to use the Eight Banners Army’s firearms to demonstrate Qing strength without destroying the rebel factions.
• Yu Huatian traveled across the Eastern Sea for half a month with other martial artists seeking Bat Island and Bodhidharma’s remains.
• A reef blocked the ship near a dark island, and the Five Elements Ancestor joined Yu Huatian on deck.
• Masked attendants confirmed the island was Bat Island and invited the travelers to cross a rope bridge to the auction.
• King Wan Peng crossed first, while Yu Huatian rode the Heavenly Fury Sword along the rope and the Five Elements Ancestor flew after him.

Yu Huatian attended the Bat Young Master's auction, confirmed that the lower half of Bodhidharma's remains was genuine, and seized it instead of bidding. He revealed that the Bat Young Master was Yuan Suiyun and declared that he would rob everyone in the cavern of the auctioned goods and their possessions.

• Yu Huatian entered the dark cave and sensed the Bat Young Master watching the gathered guests from the third level.
• The Bat Young Master auctioned martial arts, treasures, secrets, beauties, and a Great Restoration Pill while Yu Huatian waited for Bodhidharma's remains.
• The Bat Young Master announced the lower half of Bodhidharma's remains as the final lot, and Yu Huatian asked for it to be displayed so he could verify it.
• Yu Huatian recognized the remains as genuine, then refused to bid and snatched them through the air.
• Yu Huatian identified the Bat Young Master as Yuan Suiyun and announced that he would take all the auctioned goods and rob everyone present.

Yu Huatian pursued Young Master Bat through the cavern and onto Bat Island, where Yuan Suiyun challenged him to face the gathered Great Qing martial experts. As the experts prepared to attack Yu Huatian, he called out Xiao Leixue.

• Yu Huatian exposed Young Master Bat as Yuan Suiyun and killed dozens of Grandmaster attackers who ambushed him in the cavern.
• Yu Huatian followed Yuan Suiyun’s fading aura through the passages and emerged on Bat Island, where Yuan Suiyun vowed to make it his burial ground.
• King Wan Peng led the Great Qing martial experts in pursuit of Yu Huatian, and Yuan Suiyun urged them to attack him.
• King Wan Peng recognized Nangong Yongle, while Nangong Yongle revealed that Geshu Tian, master of the Heavenly Desire Palace, was also among the crowd.
• Yu Huatian faced the gathered experts in the air and called out Xiao Leixue as their killing intent rose.

Yu Huatian annihilated the attackers on Bat Island and confronted Yuan Suiyun and Dugu Can, who had lured him there for Bodhidharma’s remains. Dugu Can demanded the relics, and Yu Huatian realized they concealed secrets he had yet to uncover.

• Xiao Leixue withdrew from the battle, while Yu Huatian killed King Wan Peng, Geshu Tian, Nangong Yongle, and Huyan Dazang as they attacked or fled.
• Yu Huatian used Long-Distance Empty-Space Absorption to drain the True Qi and vitality of the remaining martial artists, sparing only Xiao Leixue and those who had not joined the attack.
• Yu Huatian called out Yuan Suiyun, who emerged from a cave with an elderly black-robed man and admitted that he planned to kill Yu Huatian and take control of the Great Qing martial world.
• The old man introduced himself as Dugu Can, the former leader of the Western Regions' Demonic Cult, and demanded Bodhidharma’s remains.
• Yu Huatian realized the plot had used the lower half of Bodhidharma’s remains to lure him to Bat Island, while Dugu Can sought the upper half.

Yu Huatian fought Yuan Suiyun and Dugu Can on Bat Island, overcoming their attacks and gaining the upper hand. As he pressed to finish them, two hidden Heavenly Beings intervened, broke through his defenses, and knocked him down.

• Yuan Suiyun attacked Yu Huatian while Dugu Can used a mental art, but the White Tiger in Yu Huatian's mind shattered the intrusion.
• Yu Huatian fought both men, matching Dugu Can's palm strength and then suppressing them with his swordsmanship.
• Yu Huatian wounded Yuan Suiyun and blasted Dugu Can away before unleashing sword momentum that slammed both into the island.
• As Yu Huatian charged to finish them, Yuan Suiyun called for Senior Wu, and two figures emerged from a cave.
• The little old man shattered Yu Huatian's golden-body defenses with a palm strike, and the second figure struck him down again with a punch.

Yu Huatian faced four Heavenly Beings after Wu Ming and Hayato Ten'in joined Yuan Suiyun and Dugu Can, but he activated his White Tiger Bloodline and launched a fierce counterattack. He began fighting Wu Ming and Hayato Ten'in at full strength, intent on killing all four and using their blood to advance toward becoming a Heavenly Being.

• Wu Ming arrived with Hayato Ten'in, an expert from Dongying, revealing that Yuan Suiyun had invited Wu Ming because Yu Huatian had killed Wu Ming's disciple, Gong Jiu.
• Wu Ming and the others let Yu Huatian recover, and he quickly climbed out of the crater and identified Wu Ming and Hayato Ten'in.
• Yu Huatian activated his White Tiger Bloodline, unleashing a terrifying aura that astonished Yuan Suiyun, Dugu Can, Wu Ming, and Hayato Ten'in.
• Yu Huatian clashed with Wu Ming, and their attacks drove both men back dozens of yards.
• Yu Huatian struck Hayato Ten'in with layered sword energy, overwhelmed his Crimson Fire technique, and sent him flying hundreds of yards.
• Yu Huatian charged Hayato Ten'in again, resolved to kill all four Heavenly Beings and use their blood to celebrate opening his Bridge of Heaven and Earth.

Yu Huatian fought Hayato Ten'in, Wu Ming, Dugu Can, and Yuan Suiyun as they joined forces to kill him. As the battle pushed his Sword Dao toward a breakthrough, he realized he could attempt a ninth stacked sword strike.

• Hayato Ten'in unleashed his Crimson Fire Dao, and Yu Huatian met it with the Heaven-Slaying Sword, sending both fighters flying back.
• Wu Ming attacked Yu Huatian from the side, then joined Hayato Ten'in, Dugu Can, and Yuan Suiyun in trying to kill him.
• Yu Huatian mocked the four for ganging up on him and vowed to trample Dongying if he survived.
• The five fought over the sea while a mysterious creature ignored the disturbance and a white-robed swordsman headed toward Bat Island.
• Yu Huatian sensed his Sword Dao loosening and realized he could add a ninth strike to his stacked Heaven-Slaying Sword.

Yu Huatian wounded Wu Ming with nine superimposed Heaven-Slaying Swords, then was driven back when Wu Ming and the other three Heavenly Beings attacked together. After unleashing Ten Strongest Annihilation and recovering, Yu Huatian vanished to hunt his enemies.

• Yu Huatian struck Wu Ming with nine superimposed streams of sword qi, badly injuring him.
• Wu Ming rallied Hayato Ten'in and the other two Heavenly Beings, and all four attacked Yu Huatian at full strength.
• The four battered Yu Huatian until his wounds were severe, but he kept fighting while recovering his true qi.
• Yu Huatian unleashed Ten Strongest Annihilation, sending Wu Ming and the other three flying and prompting Wu Ming to recognize him as Wu Wudi's successor.
• Yu Huatian healed rapidly, declared that his enemies should feel despair, and silently vanished.

Yu Huatian killed Yuan Suiyun and Dugu Can with Nine Swords Stacked, then pursued the fleeing survivors. Wu Ming tried to bargain and escape, but Yu Huatian caught up and toyed with him as the pursuit continued.

• Yu Huatian appeared and killed Yuan Suiyun with Nine Swords Stacked, earning fortune from his death.
• Yu Huatian caught the fleeing Dugu Can and killed him with another Nine Swords Stacked.
• Wu Ming and Hayato Ten'in fled after seeing Yuan Suiyun and Dugu Can die.
• Yu Huatian blocked Wu Ming and rejected his offer to let the killing of Gong Jiu go unpunished.
• Wu Ming used his Heavenly Being Domain to slow Yu Huatian and escape, but Yu Huatian caught up and followed him at a taunting pace.

Yu Huatian killed Wu Ming and pursued Hayato Ten'in, who was intercepted and wounded by a mysterious White-Robed Man before Yu Huatian killed him. Yu Huatian learned the stranger recognized his swordless realm, but could not discern the man’s cultivation level.

• Yu Huatian killed Wu Ming with his fourth strike of nine stacked swords and took an ancient parchment scroll from his corpse.
• Yu Huatian pursued Hayato Ten'in toward Dongying, while Hayato resolved to avoid the Central Lands and focus on his plans against Xiao Aoshi.
• A White-Robed Man stopped Hayato Ten'in after Hayato provoked him, subdued him, and warned him not to act tough without strength.
• Yu Huatian caught up and killed the already wounded Hayato Ten'in with his sword, leaving no corpse to loot.
• The White-Robed Man recognized Yu Huatian’s swordless realm and asked what Sword Dao he cultivated; Yu Huatian named the Invincible Sword Dao and realized he could not see through the man’s cultivation.

Yu Huatian met a mysterious white-robed swordsman who discussed the Swordless Realm and named its rare practitioners. The swordsman recognized Yu Huatian as an exceptional prodigy and offered to answer his questions.

• Yu Huatian could not sense the white-robed man's aura and wondered whether he was a Heavenly Being on Sun En's level.
• The white-robed man praised Dugu Qiubai's legendary Sword Dao and explained that Swordless Realm swordsmen were exceedingly rare.
• The white-robed man named six Swordless Realm swordsmen, including the Sword Saint, Wuming, Pei Min, Li Changsheng, Lang Fanyun, and Yu Huatian.
• The white-robed man said Yu Huatian was unusual for reaching the Swordless Realm before opening his Bridge of Heaven and Earth, and praised his talent.
• The white-robed man offered to answer any further questions Yu Huatian had.

Yu Huatian learned from the White-Robed Man about the divine sword realm and the nine levels of Heavenly Beings. The White-Robed Man explained the first four levels, leaving Yu Huatian with more of the Heavenly Realm’s progression still to learn.

• Yu Huatian asked whether the Sword Dao extended beyond the Swordless Realm, and the White-Robed Man explained that higher realms might exist even though none were known.
• The White-Robed Man described the intent sword and divine sword realms, explaining that divine sword came from transforming perfected sword intent into spirit.
• Yu Huatian attacked with Nine swords layered as one, but the White-Robed Man blocked it with sentient sword intent formed into a white longsword.
• Yu Huatian asked about the White-Robed Man’s Martial Dao Realm and learned that he had reached Heavenly Being eighth level.
• The White-Robed Man explained that Heavenly Beings had nine levels, describing the first four and beginning to explain the cultivation of attributes.

The White-Robed Man explained the Heavenly Realm’s cultivation stages and the path to the Immortal Realm, while Yu Huatian learned that his companion was the former Chief Dragon Head of the Green Dragon Society. The chapter ended with Yu Huatian recognizing him as Bai Yujing, the Longevity Swordsman.

• The White-Robed Man explained how martial artists cultivated domain attributes, the Primordial Spirit, and the higher Heavenly Realms.
• He revealed that reaching the Ninth Heaven could lead to the Union with the Dao Realm, from which one might transcend the world and ascend to the Immortal Realm.
• Yu Huatian thanked the White-Robed Man for his guidance and resolved to pursue greater strength and see the Immortal Realm.
• The White-Robed Man advised Yu Huatian to set aside worldly affairs for the Sword Dao, but Yu Huatian maintained that his own path differed.
• The White-Robed Man said he had served as Ming’s Chief Dragon Head of the Green Dragon Society a century earlier, and Yu Huatian recognized him as Bai Yujing.

Yu Huatian admitted to Bai Yujing that he had destroyed the Green Dragon Society, but Bai Yujing declined to seek revenge and explained how national fortune protects dynasties. Yu Huatian realized that the Qing’s national fortune might be a far greater obstacle to destroying it than its powerful martial artists.

• Yu Huatian recognized the white-robed swordsman as Bai Yujing and worried that Bai Yujing would avenge the Green Dragon Society.
• Yu Huatian confessed that he had destroyed the Green Dragon Society and explained the grievances that led to it.
• Bai Yujing said he held no desire for revenge, since he had once led the society but had not founded it.
• Bai Yujing recounted how the Ming’s national fortune had defeated him and explained that a dynasty’s fortune drew strength from its people.
• Yu Huatian realized the Qing’s national fortune could be the main obstacle to destroying the dynasty, which he believed still had centuries left to rule.

Yu Huatian resolved to bring down Great Qing despite its national fortune, then received Bai Yujing’s Green Dragon Order and an invitation to seek Dragon Essence if he reached Heavenly Being within three years. After retrieving Bodhidharma’s remains and treasures from Bat Island, he left with the Five Elements Ancestor, while the Bat Young Master’s surviving subordinates emerged from hiding.

• Bai Yujing warned Yu Huatian that national fortune could thwart attempts to destroy a dynasty, but Yu Huatian remained determined to overthrow Great Qing from within.
• Yu Huatian told Bai Yujing that Bai Yunxuan and the surviving Green Dragon Society disciples were active in Great Qing, and Bai Yujing gave him the Green Dragon Order to pass on and asked him to spare them if they honored it.
• Bai Yujing invited Yu Huatian to join him in seeking Dragon Essence if Yu Huatian reached Heavenly Being within three years, warning that the dangerous venture required great strength.
• Yu Huatian returned to Bat Island, recovered Bodhidharma’s remains, and collected martial arts and treasures from the corpses.
• The Five Elements Ancestor emerged from the caves after getting lost underground, and Yu Huatian departed with him while the Bat Young Master’s surviving subordinates came out of hiding.