Chapter Summaries

Yu Huatian investigated Great Sui’s Yuwen Tuo and Great Song’s preparations while learning that Yan Shisan had lost to Xie Xiaofeng and spent a year recovering. Yan Shisan and Xie Xiaofeng began their rematch in the Southern Frontier, with Dongfang Bubai watching as their sole spectator.

• Yu Huatian ordered Lin Pingzhi to investigate Yuwen Tuo and learned from Tan Luzi that Great Song had reinforced its eastern border but made no move after Ming’s edict.
• Yu Huatian ordered the western expedition to proceed and learned that Yan Shisan had been gravely injured by Xie Xiaofeng a year earlier.
• Ma Jinliang explained that Xie Xiaofeng had recovered his peak strength, broken Yan Shisan’s Fourteenth Sword, and left him recovering at Blackwood Cliff.
• Yu Huatian decided to let Yan Shisan resolve his rivalry with Xie Xiaofeng without interference.
• One year later, Yan Shisan and Xie Xiaofeng met in the Southern Frontier and began their rematch as Dongfang Bubai watched.

As Yu Huatian prepared to launch Ming’s western campaign, coordinated opposition spread among Jianghu sects, commoners, and court officials, while Divine Saber Sect Master Bai Tianyu died suddenly. Yu Huatian refused to delay the march and ordered investigations as he went to confront the palace officials.

• Yu Huatian organized the western campaign into an imperial army, secret agents, and a Jianghu coalition, while guiding his disciples and delegating authority.
• Minor Jianghu sects withdrew from the coalition as antiwar sentiment spread, and commoners began petitioning the Imperial Court to abandon the campaign.
• Ma Jinliang reported the growing opposition, then Ding Xiu announced that Bai Tianyu had died and the Northwest had fallen into chaos.
• Cao Zhengchun reported that ministers had demanded the Empress Dowager cancel the campaign, and two officials had killed themselves by striking pillars after she refused.
• Yu Huatian ordered Bai Yujing and others to investigate Bai Tianyu’s death and check the major sects, reaffirmed that the army would march in seven days, and went to address the court.

At Bai Tianyu’s funeral, Lu Xiaofeng exposed Sect Leader Wang for trying to turn the sects against the Imperial Court’s western expedition. A mysterious Heavenly Being killed Wang before he could reveal who had ordered him, then identified himself as the grand alliance leader of the Twelve Linked Rings Dock.

• Ye Kai and Fu Hongxue held Bai Tianyu’s funeral as northern sect leaders, including Song Yuanqiao, came to pay their respects.
• Song Yuanqiao asked how Bai Tianyu had died, but Fu Hongxue said the Bai family could not discuss it.
• Sect Leader Wang suggested Bai Tianyu’s death was connected to the western expedition and tried to alarm the other leaders about joining the alliance.
• Lu Xiaofeng accused Wang of deliberately encouraging sects to withdraw, and Fu Hongxue held him at saber-point while asking who had ordered him.
• A black-clad Heavenly Being blasted Wang and two Divine Saber Sect disciples to pieces, then praised Lu Xiaofeng and let him identify him as the grand alliance leader of the Twelve Linked Rings Dock.

The Twelve Linked Reaches Alliance Leader, Zhu Xiawu, confronted the Ming martial artists and demanded they withdraw from the Western Expedition Alliance, revealing that he had killed Bai Tianyu. Just as the group faced his threats and overwhelming strength, Bai Yujing arrived, forcing Zhu Xiawu to recognize the famed swordsman.

• Zhu Xiawu told Lu Xiaofeng and the others to abandon the Western Expedition Alliance, arguing that Ming's court threatened the freedom of the martial world.
• Ye Kai and Fu Hongxue learned that Zhu Xiawu had killed Bai Tianyu and attacked him, but he brushed aside Ye Kai's dagger and struck Fu Hongxue down.
• Zhu Xiawu warned the group to obey and threatened Zhang Sanfeng, claiming another expert had gone to Wudang; Hua Manlou restrained Ximen Chuixue from drawing his sword.
• Zhu Xiawu saw through the group's plan to agree outwardly and report him to the court, warning that he could target their families and sects.
• Bai Yujing appeared at the Divine Saber Sect with overwhelming sword momentum, and Zhu Xiawu recognized him as a perfected Heavenly Being swordsman of the No Sword Realm.

Bai Yujing wounded Zhu Xiawu at the Divine Saber Sect, but Zhu escaped after using the other fighters as a distraction. Bai then hurried to Wudang to protect Zhang Sanfeng, who had already encountered the mysterious Great Demon God and was forced into battle.

• Bai Yujing stopped Zhu Xiawu from attacking Fu Hongxue and wounded him with a sword strike.
• Zhu Xiawu injured Lu Xiaofeng and the others to distract Bai Yujing, then escaped; the group identified him as the chief alliance leader of the Twelve Linked Rings Dock.
• After Song Yuanqiao warned that enemies were heading for Wudang, Bai Yujing flew there to help Zhang Sanfeng.
• Yong Xiyu and Cai Qishen led Twelve Linked Rings Dock fighters toward Wudang, while Zhang Sanfeng sensed the threat and descended from the rear mountain.
• A farmer calling himself the Great Demon God confronted Zhang Sanfeng and knocked him back with a single punch.
• Zhang Sanfeng summoned an enormous divine figure, and the Great Demon God recognized it as an image of Emperor Zhenwu.

Zhang Sanfeng used Emperor Zhenwu’s power to suppress Xiao Jingtian, but Xiao Jingtian broke free and revealed his Union with the Dao strength. As the Immortal Gate appeared, Xiao Jingtian withdrew his power and vanished, leaving Zhang Sanfeng to wonder how he had evaded the Heavenly Dao’s perception.

• Zhang Sanfeng summoned Emperor Zhenwu’s phantom and crushed Xiao Jingtian beneath its pressure.
• Xiao Jingtian recognized Zhang Sanfeng’s techniques as ancient Qi-refining arts and revealed that his strength was diminished by a cultivation mishap.
• Zhang Sanfeng formed a divine taiji diagram from lightning and used it to suppress Xiao Jingtian.
• Xiao Jingtian unleashed his full power, shattered the taiji diagram, and triggered the appearance of the Immortal Gate.
• Xiao Jingtian revealed his true Great Demon God form, then withdrew his power and vanished before ascending.
• Zhang Sanfeng watched the Immortal Gate disappear and concluded that Xiao Jingtian had evaded the Heavenly Dao’s perception.

Zhang Sanfeng drove Xiao Jingtian from Wudang, then dealt with the Twelve Linked Rings Dock experts while Bai Yujing went to inform Yu Huatian about the ancient Union with the Dao enemy. In the Capital, Yu Huatian resumed the western expedition and uncovered that Wei Zhongxian had coerced officials into opposing it.

• Xiao Jingtian suppressed his power and escaped the Heavenly Dao, leaving Zhang Sanfeng worried about Wudang's safety.
• Bai Yujing arrived at Wudang and learned from Zhang Sanfeng about the Great Demon God, who had attacked over the western expedition and could conceal his cultivation.
• Bai Yujing left to tell Yu Huatian about the threat, while Zhang Sanfeng defeated the Twelve Linked Rings Dock experts climbing Wudang Mountain.
• Yu Huatian rejected the officials' demands to halt the western expedition, declared it would proceed as planned, and sent the opposing officials to the Embroidered Uniform Guard Prison.
• The officials revealed that someone had blackmailed them with evidence of their crimes and threats against their families, and Yu Huatian learned that Wei Zhongxian was behind it.

Yu Huatian uncovered a coordinated Great Song plot to disrupt Ming’s western expedition and suspected Wei Zhongxian was only a pawn in a larger scheme aimed at him. After the unrest was quelled, the expedition’s appointed departure day arrived.

• Yu Huatian reasoned that Wei Zhongxian could not have caused the Jianghu turmoil or commanded the many experts involved, and ordered Tan Luzi to investigate him in Great Song.
• Bai Yujing and the others discovered Great Song agents had incited sects to withdraw from the Western Expedition Alliance, while other forces attacked major factions.
• Yu Huatian concluded that an unknown mastermind stood behind Wei Zhongxian and might be targeting him, then prepared for the western expedition.
• Bai Yujing and the others quelled the unrest across the regions, and the appointed day of the western expedition arrived.

After the failure of Wei Zhongxian’s plan to stop Ming’s western expedition, Wei persuaded Zhu Xiawu to remain in Great Song and help kill Yu Huatian. He led Zhu to a hidden underground cavern, where Zhu discovered Wei’s formidable black-robed ally and a circle of powerful figures kneeling before him.

• Zhao Gou rebuked Zhu Xiawu and Wei Zhongxian for failing to stop Ming’s western expedition.
• Wei Zhongxian and Zhu Xiawu blamed each other for the failed operation, and Zhu decided to leave Great Song with his forces.
• Wei warned Zhu that Yu Huatian would pursue him and his followers, then proposed eliminating Yu instead.
• Wei brought Zhu to a secluded residence and opened a hidden passage into a vast cavern.
• Zhu found a terrifying black-robed figure there, alongside the Great Demon God Zhang Wu and kneeling figures including An Yunshan, An Shigeng, and Cai Jing.

A mysterious man in black recruited Zhu Xiawu into a plan to destroy Ming, promising him power in exchange for Ming’s national fortune and help finding Bu Jingyun. He ordered Zhu Xiawu to lure Ming’s experts to Jingyan Palace before the full moon, while revealing that the location was tied to Chuanying.

• Zhu Xiawu discovered that the man in black controlled Wei Zhongxian, Cai Jing, and other leading figures while suppressing Great Song’s Dragon Vein.
• The man in black offered to help Zhu Xiawu eliminate Yu Huatian and destroy Ming in exchange for Ming’s national fortune and Zhu Xiawu’s help finding Bu Jingyun.
• Zhu Xiawu agreed to the deal and promised to lure Ming’s experts to Jingyan Palace before the night of the full moon.
• After Zhu Xiawu left, Xiao Jingtian warned the man in black not to underestimate Zhang Sanfeng and Yu Huatian, and the man in black explained that Jingyan Palace was where Chuanying had comprehended the Dao.

Xiao Jingtian and the man in black planned to use Chuanying’s lingering aura to evade the Heavenly Dao and unleash their full strength against Ming. The man in black revealed that he sought the Bu Clan’s current god-descendant as a new body, while Xiao Jingtian resolved to avenge Xiao Aoshi and abandon the Millennium Catastrophe.

• The man in black explained that Chuanying’s aura at Jingyan Palace could shield them from the Heavenly Dao’s perception.
• Xiao Jingtian suppressed his fury over Xiao Aoshi’s death after the man in black warned that their combined auras could damage Great Song’s Dragon Vein.
• The man in black said national fortune could resist the Jiuli Clan’s curse and revealed that he planned to take the current Bu Clan god-descendant’s body to regain his youth.
• The man in black explained that he had devoured nearly all of Great Song’s national fortune and wanted Ming’s fortune to evade the Heavenly Dao for longer.
• Xiao Jingtian decided to rely on the Longevity Immortal God to destroy Ming, kill Yu Huatian, and avenge Xiao Aoshi, while giving up on the Millennium Catastrophe.

Ming’s army and Jianghu experts assembled at the western border for the campaign against Great Song, while reports of Great Song’s powerful defenders unsettled the sect leaders. Yu Huatian arrived as the gathered experts awaited reassurance before the invasion began.

• Sun Chengzong and Sun Chuanting led Ming’s western campaign, while Yu Huatian arranged protection for the commanders, the Capital, and the army.
• Experts from Ming’s sects gathered at the western border and discussed Great Song’s attacks on the Divine Saber Sect and other groups.
• Song Yuanqiao and Su Can warned Ye Kai and the other leaders that Guo Jing, the Five Greats of the Central Plains, and other Great Song experts would resist the invasion.
• Lian Chengbi told the worried leaders that Ming’s experts would handle Great Song’s powerhouses and that they should focus on protecting the army.
• Yu Huatian arrived at the border in a procession as the sect leaders waited for him.

Yu Huatian gathered the sect leaders and a vast force of Grandmaster guards for the western expedition, while Yan Shisan revealed that he had killed Xie Xiaofeng and Dongfang Bubai arrived with the power of a Ninth Heaven Perfection Heavenly Being. Dongfang agreed to join the campaign against Great Song and challenged Yu Huatian to a future fight, as the united army set out to conquer the western states.

• Yu Huatian arrived with over a thousand Grandmaster Realm Embroidered Uniform Guards, shocking the assembled sect leaders, who then paid their respects and pledged to follow him.
• Lian Chengbi reported that all allied sects had arrived except the Sun Moon Holy Cult and the sects the Embroidered Uniform Guard had destroyed for plotting against the expedition.
• Yan Shisan arrived and told Yu Huatian that he had killed Xie Xiaofeng, leaving Murong Qiudi shaken by the news.
• Dongfang Bubai appeared with the power of a Ninth Heaven Perfection Heavenly Being, which Yu Huatian learned came from a sleeping soul within him.
• Dongfang Bubai accepted Yu Huatian's invitation to the Great Song campaign and promised to fight him after it; Yu Huatian then led the gathered forces toward Great Song.

Ming's commanders prepared to attack Wuguan, where Great Song had gathered nearly a million troops and over a hundred thousand martial artists. As Wang Chongyang, Yang Guo, and Xiaolongnü arrived to reinforce the defenders, Yang Guo revealed he had become a Land Immortal, and more powerful experts descended into the residence.

• Sun Chengzong told Ming's generals that Song had concentrated nearly a million troops and over a hundred thousand martial artists at Wuguan, so they would wait for Yu Huatian and Ming's martial allies before attacking.
• Guo Jing and Huang Rong welcomed Song's martial artists, while Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi worried that Wuguan lacked Heavenly Being experts to resist Ming.
• Wang Chongyang arrived with Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü, reuniting with Hong Qigong and the others.
• Yang Guo told Guo Jing that he had advanced to the Land Immortal realm, giving the defenders a powerful new ally.
• Wang Chongyang announced that other senior experts had come, and a group of figures with formidable auras descended into the residence.

Li Chenzhou, Guan Qi, Xiao Qiushui, Zhu Xiawu, and Wei Zhongxian arrived at Wuguan, where Wei proposed a preemptive strike against the Ming army. He revealed a plan to capture its commander before Yu Huatian arrived and confidently claimed that Yu would never return after being lured away.

• Wang Chongyang introduced Li Chenzhou, Guan Qi, Xiao Qiushui, Zhu Xiawu, and Wei Zhongxian to the assembled Song martial artists.
• Zhu Xiawu insulted the Jianghu fighters, but Wei Zhongxian apologized and calmed the dispute.
• Wei Zhongxian revealed that Ming had deployed over five hundred thousand soldiers and thousands of martial artists, including more than ten Heavenly Beings.
• Wei Zhongxian proposed capturing the Ming army's commander before Yu Huatian and the Jianghu coalition reached Wuguan, hoping to throw the army into disarray.
• When Wang Chongyang asked how they would stop Yu Huatian if he returned, Wei Zhongxian assured everyone that Yu would never return.

Great Song’s Heavenly Being experts raided the Ming camp at Wuguan and captured Sun Chengzong, Sun Chuanting, Zheng He, and Xu Ruowu to force Yu Huatian to come to Jingyan Palace. Yu Huatian learned of the abductions and prepared to face the trap, despite his allies’ warnings.

• Sun Chengzong and Sun Chuanting planned the western expedition while Zheng He and Xu Ruowu discussed Ming’s prospects for unifying the Divine Land.
• Wang Chongyang arrived at the camp with Yang Guo, Xiaolongnü, and five more Heavenly Beings, and Zhu Xiawu overwhelmed Zheng He and Xu Ruowu before capturing them and the two marshals.
• An Embroidered Uniform Guard reported the abductions to Yu Huatian as he traveled toward Wuguan with allied Jianghu fighters.
• The messenger said Great Song would keep its army at Wuguan and spare the captives only if Yu Huatian went to Jingyan Palace and Ming’s experts stayed out of Great Song.
• Ma Jinliang and the others warned Yu Huatian that Jingyan Palace was a trap, but he recognized that he had to go to rescue the captives.

Yu Huatian set out for Jingyan Palace with powerful allies to rescue Sun Chengzong and Sun Chuanting, while Song’s hidden experts gathered there to face him. At Jingyan Palace, Longevity Immortal God and Great Demon God discovered traces of the War God Catalogue and realized the palace was tied to Chuanying’s legacy.

• Yu Huatian ignored warnings and decided to go to Jingyan Palace to rescue Sun Chengzong and Sun Chuanting, while Ma Jinliang led the others toward Wuguan.
• Yu Huatian set off with Jian Yue, Xu Hongru, Five Elements Ancestor, Ye Gucheng, Lian Chengbi, Dongfang Bubai, and Ximen Chuixi.
• At Jingyan Palace, Zhu Xiawu, Wei Zhongxian, and other Song experts gathered with Longevity Immortal God and Great Demon God, whose auras revealed their Union with the Dao Realm strength.
• Longevity Immortal God and Great Demon God examined a pillar relief and identified its lingering aura as belonging to the War God Catalogue.
• Longevity Immortal God and Great Demon God concluded that War God Hall had once appeared at Jingyan Palace and that Chuanying had left traces of his legacy there.

The Longevity Immortal God and Xiao Jingtian agreed to destroy Ming and claim its national fortune, then waited at Jingyan Palace to ambush Yu Huatian. Yu Huatian arrived with nine other powerful fighters, and the two sides confronted each other as the chapter ended before battle began.

• The Longevity Immortal God and Xiao Jingtian abandoned their search for Chuanying's lost legacy and agreed to divide Ming's national fortune after defeating Yu Huatian.
• The Longevity Immortal God and Xiao Jingtian prepared for battle while Zhu Xiawu and the others waited at Jingyan Palace for Yu Huatian.
• Wei Zhongxian assured Li Chenzhou that Yu Huatian would come to rescue the captured Ming commanders, Zheng He, and Xu Ruowu.
• The Longevity Immortal God sensed approaching fighters, and the gathered enemies saw Yu Huatian arrive with nine others, including Heavenly Beings and No Sword Realm swordsmen.
• Yu Huatian recognized Guan Qi and Li Chenzhou, rejected Li Chenzhou's demand that he withdraw, and identified Xiao Jingtian before taunting the Longevity Immortal God.

Yu Huatian confronted Xiao Jingtian and the Longevity Immortal God at Jingyan Palace, where Chuanying’s lingering aura let them unleash their full power. The Eagle Saber awakened the War God Hall legacy, and Yu Huatian discovered that Chuanying’s recorded journey included one of its forty-nine reliefs.

• Xiao Jingtian revealed his Union with the Dao Realm power, and Zhu Xiawu, Jian Yue, Dongfang Bubai, and the others felt its pressure.
• The Longevity Immortal God joined Xiao Jingtian and explained that Chuanying’s aura at Jingyan Palace concealed them from the Heavenly Dao.
• Yu Huatian drew the Eagle Saber, which suppressed everyone’s aura before flying into Jingyan Palace and revealing its golden form and Chuanying’s vision.
• Yu Huatian recalled the Eagle Saber and found that its legacy had opened, revealing Chuanying’s journey through the War God Hall.
• Yu Huatian recognized the War God Hall’s forty-nine reliefs in the legacy and saw that Chuanying had obtained the thirty-sixth.

Yu Huatian learned the cultivation method Chuanying had left in the Eagle Saber and revealed himself as Chuanying’s successor. After Chuanying’s presence vanished, the Heavenly Dao struck Xiao Jingtian and the Longevity Immortal God with lightning punishment, leaving Xiao Jingtian ascending to the Immortal Realm and the Longevity Immortal God annihilated.

• Yu Huatian learned that Chuanying’s Heaven and Earth Tai Chi method could lead to the Union with the Dao Realm and resolved to find the Heaven Pendant and the War God Hall.
• The Longevity Immortal God and Xiao Jingtian recognized the Eagle Saber and questioned Yu Huatian about Chuanying’s legacy, which he acknowledged having inherited.
• Yu Huatian warned the two men about the gathering thunderclouds and led Jian Yue, Dongfang Bubai, and the others to retreat as the Heavenly Dao targeted them.
• Xiao Jingtian fled but was struck by lightning, gravely wounded, and carried through the Immortal Gate to the Immortal Realm.
• The thunderclouds continued to target the Longevity Immortal God because of his Bu Clan and Jiuli Clan bloodline, and a final lightning strike annihilated him.