Recaps

Shang Huaitong demonstrated his self-created Weed-Pulling Chapter to Sui Zaihua and earned the Sword Cultivation Academy’s acceptance, then explained how he judged and dealt with enemies. Meanwhile, Qi Zhaohua completed the arrangements for work at Egret Isle Lake and, exhausted, found resolve in watching an egret catch a fish.

• Shang Huaitong revealed that he had created the Weed-Pulling Chapter, and Sui Zaihua tested it with him before praising its potential.
• Sui Zaihua accepted Shang Huaitong into the Sword Cultivation Academy through Kongtong’s recommendation, subject to a Hero Tally requirement that could be waived through the Prefectural Office.
• Li Piaoqing worried that Pei Ye might risk bloodshed against Shang Huaitong, while Sui Zaihua asked Shang Huaitong what kind of man he was.
• Qi Zhaohua handed over the Seven Flood Dragons’ deeds and arranged for work at Egret Isle Lake to begin after the Five Lakes Gang was cleared out and laborers were gathered.
• After the officials left, Qi Zhaohua washed away her makeup and watched an egret catch a fish, then reflected that other people’s judgments did not matter as much as finding what she needed.
• Shang Huaitong said he treated enemies according to interest, answering righteousness with righteousness and evil with evil.

Qi Zhaohua exposed Shang Huaitong’s true nature by repeating his private insult about Zhang Junyu, confirming Li Piaoqing’s accusation before the gathering. Shang Huaitong realized Qi Zhaohua had turned against him, and his composure faltered as he faced the threat of losing his chance at the Sword Cultivation Academy.

• Sui Zaihua questioned Shang Huaitong about his principles, and Shang said he could succeed even if the Sword Academy rejected him.
• Li Piaoqing accused Shang Huaitong of deceiving Zhang Junyu and Gu Guang for personal gain, but most witnesses supported Zhao Zhang’s account and left her without evidence.
• Shang Huaitong countered that he had not harmed Bai Yuliang, and the gathering continued to trust him.
• Qi Zhaohua stepped forward and asked Shang Huaitong whether he had once called Zhang Junyu easy to fool, repeating his private words as proof of Li Piaoqing’s accusation.
• Shang Huaitong recognized that Qi Zhaohua’s claim was true and realized she had turned against him, leaving him afraid that Sui Zaihua would see his true character.

Qi Zhaohua revealed that she had planned to use her knowledge of the Seven Flood Dragons’ interests to force them to sign the lake contract, but the news that they were connected to the murder of her loved one turned her plan into a desire for revenge. She accused Shang Huaitong before Sui Zaihua, who remained cautious, while Shang Huaitong challenged Qi Zhaohua over how little she had trusted him.

• Qi Zhaohua recalled how she had planned to pressure the Seven Flood Dragons into surrendering Moon-Catching Lake by tying herself to Shang Huaitong and threatening to expose their alleged role in Xu Gu and Zhang Junyu’s deaths.
• After learning that the murderer had worn Xu Cang’s face, Qi Zhaohua abandoned her willingness to compromise and asked Pei Ye whether Jade Feather could make the Seven Flood Dragons lose their property.
• Pei Ye told Qi Zhaohua that Jade Feather could force the Seven Flood Dragons to lose the property within three days, and the two joined forces against them without Shang Huaitong’s knowledge.
• Qi Zhaohua told Sui Zaihua that she would stake her life on Shang Huaitong’s guilt, and Sui Zaihua asked Shang Huaitong to answer the accusation.
• Shang Huaitong denied having a motive to harm Xu Gu and Zhang Junyu, then asked Qi Zhaohua why he had spared Bai Yuliang and whether she had ever truly trusted him.

Shang Huaitong proved through Sword Heart Reflection that his swordsmanship was untouched by murderous intent, leaving his accusations and the case against him unresolved. Pei Ye then met Sui Zaihua at the Prefectural Office, where Sui showed him a collection of swords and explained the East Sea Sword Forge’s inscriptions.

• Shang Huaitong used Sword Heart Reflection and revealed the disposition [Holding the Heart · Untouched].
• Pei Ye explained that Shang Huaitong had wanted to defeat Bai Yuliang and Li Piaoqing openly with his sword, despite using vicious methods against others.
• Sui Zaihua denied Shang Huaitong special admission for the time being and told him to win the Autumn Champion title before seeking another assessment.
• Pei Ye and Li Piaoqing went to the Prefectural Office, where Sui Zaihua showed Pei a wall of swords and identified one bearing the East Sea Sword Forge’s marks.
• Sui Zaihua explained that the East Sea Sword Forge used Sword-Casting and Sword-Appraisal inscriptions to mark and evaluate swords.

Pei Ye asked Sui Zaihua about the Soul-Seizing Pearl, and the old man explained how its heart amber could capture a person’s mind and martial skills. After helping Pei Ye document the artifact for the Immortal Platform, Sui Zaihua turned to Pei Ye’s sword talent and the Shaolong Sword Cultivation Academy.

• Sui Zaihua showed Pei Ye the costly East Sea sword and explained its craftsmanship and sword patterns.
• Sui Zaihua explained that Sword Heart Reflection used heart amber to reflect a person’s Mindscape Realm.
• Pei Ye revealed that he had the Soul-Seizing Pearl, and Sui Zaihua identified its heart-amber face and solid metal backing as features that could retain a mind.
• Sui Zaihua theorized that the pearl could make someone display their strongest swordsmanship before sealing away that part of their mind, and Pei Ye wondered whether Quail Head could protect him from it.
• Sui Zaihua wrote down his findings for the Immortal Platform and gave Pei Ye a stamped copy to take to Heavenly Mountain.
• Sui Zaihua asked about Pei Ye’s age, sword training, and progress, then challenged Pei Ye’s claim that he did not want to enter the Shaolong Sword Cultivation Academy.

Pei Ye discussed sword cultivation with Sui Zaihua, demonstrating his swordplay and offering a solution to an old question about controlling sword intent. Sui Zaihua planned to coauthor a Sword Theory essay with him, then challenged Pei Ye’s views on right, wrong, and personal interests.

• Pei Ye told Sui Zaihua that he wanted to go to the Divine Capital and claimed he had a backer there, though he had not met them yet.
• Pei Ye performed the Cicada Section for Sui Zaihua, who recorded him among Shaolong’s outstanding sword talents.
• Pei Ye explained that a swordsman could regulate intent by sensing how the sword form drew upon emotion and adjusting the sword’s momentum.
• Sui Zaihua said he would verify Pei Ye’s idea and write a Sword Theory essay bearing both their names.
• Sui Zaihua questioned whether Pei Ye would sacrifice his interests for what he believed was right, and Pei Ye said he could, even at the cost of his life.

Pei Ye and Li Piaoqing discussed the Sword Academy’s recruitment paths and the upcoming Martial Competition, while Pei Ye arranged lodging for his visiting students. The chapter ended with Li Piaoqing bringing him to a tailor to have new clothes made for the competition.

• Pei Ye urged Sui Zaihua not to recruit Shang Huaitong and declined Sui Zaihua’s offer to join Shaolong Sword Cultivation Academy.
• Li Piaoqing told Pei Ye that her ties to Jade Feather made joining the Dao Initiation Assembly difficult, though she could seek a recommendation from the court or a Sword Sect.
• Pei Ye invited more than twenty children from Fenghuai Martial Arts Hall to watch the Martial Competition, and Li Piaoqing offered to lodge them at Jade Feather’s residence.
• Li Piaoqing explained the Martial Competition’s platforms and double-elimination rules to Pei Ye as they looked over the grounds.
• Li Piaoqing took Pei Ye to a tailor and introduced him as a young hero who needed new outfits for the competition.

Pei Ye spent the evening on Moon-Catching Lake with Li Piaoqing, Qi Zhaohua, and their companions, joking about rowing, poetry, and his cat. The group began sharing their ambitions, with Li Piaoqing declaring she wanted Jade Feather to become the foremost sect in the Five Provinces.

• Li Piaoqing took Pei Ye to a clothing shop, where she arranged custom robes for him and paid the deposit.
• Pei Ye and his companions boarded a boat on Moon-Catching Lake after the poetry gathering and teased him about his poor rowing and lack of poetic talent.
• Qi Zhaohua admired Pei Ye's cat and asked whether it was male or female, leaving him unsure how to answer.
• Qi Zhaohua proposed that the group share their ambitions, and Pei Ye suggested they toast whoever had the grandest one.
• Li Piaoqing said she wanted Jade Feather to become number one in the Five Provinces.

After sharing their ambitions on the boat, Pei Ye and his companions toasted one another, and Qi Zhaohua recited a wistful lyric about the past. Three days after the Egret Isle Poetry Gathering, Bowang City buzzed with anticipation for the Golden Autumn Martial Contest and the Ascension Pill auction.

• Pei Ye and his companions shared their ambitions, and Pei Ye declared that he wanted to become number one on the Crane List.
• The group voted on whose ambition deserved a toast, then toasted one another and their hopes for the future.
• At Pei Ye's urging, Qi Zhaohua recited her lyric "Dream of Those Years" as the boat fell quiet.
• Three days after the Egret Isle Poetry Gathering, Bowang City filled with martial wanderers and visitors drawn by the Golden Autumn Martial Contest and Pill Auction.
• People learned that no one had been chosen at the poetry gathering, leaving them to await the Martial Competition to discover who would receive the flower.

As Master Huang and the children traveled toward Bowang's Prefectural City for the Golden Autumn Martial Contest, they heard how the Egret Isle Poetry Gathering had reshaped expectations for the competition. A local scholar revealed several formidable contenders, then began introducing another sword cultivator who challenged Shang Huaitong's title as Bowang's Number One Sword Talent.

• Master Huang and the children reached Can County ahead of schedule and listened to travelers discuss the Golden Autumn Martial Contest.
• A scholar explained that Shang Huaitong, the Sixth Growth True Disciple of Seven Flood Dragon Cave, remained the favorite to win but no longer stood alone.
• The scholar named Zhang Mozhu of White Bamboo Pavilion and Li Piaoqing, Jade Feather's seventeen-year-old Young Sect Master, as major contenders, revealing that Li had helped kill four Seven Flood Dragon cave masters.
• The scholar said fifteen-year-old Yang Yan, a Fifth Growth saber wielder competing for Dingyun Trading Company, might take Zhang Mozhu's semifinal place.
• The scholar said another sword cultivator from the Egret Isle Poetry Gathering challenged Shang Huaitong's title as Bowang's Number One Sword Talent, but had not yet revealed the person's name.

On September seventh, Pei Ye attended the Golden Autumn Martial Contest with Master Huang and the children from Fenghuai. As the competitors were called to draw lots, he left the stands to prepare for his first match.

• Pei Ye explained the arena arrangements and match schedule to Master Huang and the children as they waited for the contest to begin.
• The children recalled how Li Piaoqing had taken them sightseeing, given them new clothes and toys, and taught them Finger Sword.
• Pei Ye surveyed the gathered competitors, including the Jade Feather, White Bamboo Pavilion, Can County saber practitioners, and his friends in the stands.
• Shang Huaitong arrived with the Seven Flood Dragon Cave delegation, drawing the children's attention.
• When the call for competitors to draw lots sounded, Pei Ye picked up his sword and left the stands after the children wished him luck.

At the Golden Autumn Martial Contest, Shang Huaitong defeated Jian Zimin with one blow, while Pei Ye won his opening match against Feng Guangsui by calmly countering his sword techniques. Pei Ye returned to his seat as Master Huang’s students celebrated his victory.

• Bai Sibing read the Ministry of War’s edict, and Zhao Zhang led the officials through the contest’s opening rites.
• The announcer paired Shang Huaitong with Jian Zimin and Pei Ye with Feng Guangsui in the first round.
• Shang Huaitong ignored Jian Zimin’s salute and knocked him off arena one without drawing his sword.
• Feng Guangsui attacked Pei Ye with the Three Steps to Pluck Flowers and several more moves, but Pei Ye deflected each attack.
• Pei Ye knocked Feng Guangsui’s sword aside, stopped his own blade at Feng Guangsui’s chest, and accepted his surrender.
• Pei Ye returned to his seat as Master Huang’s students cheered his win.

Pei Ye watched the first day of the Martial Competition, where familiar fighters won their matches and Zhang Zongyuan stunned the crowd by defeating Xiao Qiu with one staff strike. Later, as Pei Ye walked through the woods with Qi Zhaohua, memories of his past martial meets surfaced, and he fell silent beneath her gaze.

• Pei Ye watched Li Piaoqing, Zhang Junxue, Zhang Mozhu, Yang Yan, and Gu Guang win their opening matches.
• Zhang Zongyuan defeated Xiao Qiu with a single strike, surprising the spectators and angering Zhang Dingyun over Qi Yun Trading Company's concealed fighter.
• Pei Ye and his companions teased Yang Yan about his oversized Dingyun Trading Company outfit before inviting Zhang Junxue to join them for dinner.
• Pei Ye, Qi Zhaohua, and the others dined at Willow-Watching Tower, where Zhang Junxue arrived with two Zhang family elders.
• Pei Ye and Qi Zhaohua walked into the willow grove, where Pei Ye recalled winning past Mid-Autumn Martial Meets and abruptly fell silent.

Pei Ye and Qi Zhaohua encountered Shang Huaitong practicing on Bright Frost Ground, and Qi suspected his drive to win the competition served a deeper purpose. Li Piaoqing joined them after her efforts to secure Zhang Family cooperation were rebuffed, and Pei Ye told her about Qi’s suspicions.

• Pei Ye and Qi Zhaohua found Shang Huaitong meditating on Bright Frost Ground with Luo Defeng guarding him nearby.
• Qi Zhaohua recalled Shang Huaitong’s past delight in growing grass and suggested his brutality came when he saw others as obstacles.
• Qi Zhaohua suspected Shang Huaitong sought the championship as a symbol or fulfillment of a deeper purpose, and Pei Ye reassured her as she voiced fears about him and Seven Flood Dragon Cave.
• Qi Zhaohua predicted Li Piaoqing would come over, and Li soon joined them after speaking with Zhang Junxue’s parents.
• Li Piaoqing told Pei Ye that Zhang Junxue’s uncle had refused to advocate cooperation with Jade Feather because he would follow the Zhang Family head’s decisions.
• Pei Ye told Li Piaoqing that he and Qi Zhaohua had just encountered Shang Huaitong and that Qi thought he had an unknown purpose.

Pei Ye defeated Wei Guangzhou as the Golden Autumn Martial Contest narrowed its field, while Shang Huaitong again brutally drove a Seven Flood Dragons disciple from the ring. After the matches, Li Piaoqing told Pei Ye that the Zhang Family Head had secretly entered Bowang and might be hiding under the Seven Flood Dragons’ protection.

• Li Piaoqing and Qi Zhaohua speculated that Shang Huaitong’s confidence came from having found a path toward ascension, and suggested unleashing Pei Ye against him.
• Shang Huaitong pulled up one of seven grasses growing in a box at the waterside pavilion.
• On the second day of the contest, Zhang Zongyuan defeated a Fourth Growth White Bamboo Pavilion disciple with one staff blow, and Shen Yao also won her match.
• Pei Ye defeated Wei Guangzhou by exploiting his nervousness and superior swordsmanship, then saluted him after disarming him.
• Shang Huaitong knocked a hesitant Seven Flood Dragons Third Cave disciple from the ring with his scabbard, leaving spectators wondering why he had struck so harshly.
• Li Piaoqing told Pei Ye that the Zhang Family Head had secretly come to Bowang and disappeared, and that Jade Feather would search for him before the following night.

Pei Ye accompanied Li Piaoqing to meet her master, Li Weiru, who thanked him for helping Jade Feather and began offering him gifts. The chapter ended as Li Weiru presented a manuscript copy of Yellow Jadeite and prepared to name further rewards.

• As Pei Ye and Li Piaoqing walked through the rain, their playful banter gave way to awkwardness when their shadows joined together.
• Pei Ye and Li Piaoqing arrived at Moon-Catching Tower and met Li Weiru in Seven Flood Dragon Cave's private pavilion.
• Li Weiru thanked Pei Ye for aiding Jade Feather and praised his modesty, while Li Piaoqing joined in praising his appearance.
• Li Weiru offered Pei Ye any reward within Jade Feather's power and introduced Yellow Jadeite as the first gift.

Li Weiru explained the origins and grading of the Jadeite sword arts to Pei Ye, while Shang Huaitong approached a breakthrough using the damaged Sword Manual. The Martial Competition’s top sixteen stage began under the watch of Bowang Prefecture’s officials, who gathered and traded friendly banter.

• Li Weiru gave Pei Ye sword manuals, a horse, and silver, then explained how Wind Yao and Yellow Jadeite could unite as Flying Feather Immortal.
• Li Weiru told Pei Ye that Flying Feather Immortal was a Dynasty-transmitted sword art whose final-move fusion might reach the Intent domain.
• Shang Huaitong practiced with grass blades, studied the damaged Sword Manual, and believed he was close to advancing.
• Officials assembled at the Martial Competition’s eastern stand as the top sixteen stage began, and Zhao Zhang joked with the arriving county magistrates about their gift-giving.

The county magistrates gathered to watch the Martial Competition and discussed which counties and factions might claim the top sixteen places. The draw for the first matches was announced, leaving Guhe County’s last contestant with a favorable pairing as Zhang Mozhu and Zhang Zongyuan were matched against each other.

• County magistrates discussed the remaining contestants, while Lord Shen worried that Xiao Qiu had fallen into the losers' bracket.
• Chang Zhiyuan arrived to encourage Fenghuai County’s sole contestant, who was still in the competition.
• Luo Defeng and Li Weiru arrived as the officials prepared the contestants’ match draw.
• The draw paired several county contestants against sect disciples, including Zhang Junxue against Fu Sanqing and Gu Guang against Tong Weiping.
• The Guhe magistrate celebrated when Zhang Mozhu was paired against Zhang Zongyuan, giving Guhe County’s last contestant a favorable matchup.
• The final pairing announced was Fu Xueshu against Pei Ye.

Pei Ye defeated Fu Xueshu to claim the final place in the winners’ sixteen, while Zhang Zongyuan revealed himself as a sixth-growth Meridian Tree fighter by crushing Zhang Mozhu. As the next round approached, Pei Ye warned the injured Li Piaoqing to concede immediately if she faced Shang Huaitong.

• Pei Ye defeated Fu Xueshu with a single sword stroke, securing Fenghuai County’s place among the winners’ sixteen.
• Director of Merit Xu praised Pei Ye, and County Magistrate Shen made room for Chang Zhiyuan beside him.
• Zhang Zongyuan defeated Zhang Mozhu in five moves, overwhelming the White Bamboo Pavilion disciple with his strength and speed.
• The spectators realized Zhang Zongyuan had reached the Meridian Tree’s sixth growth.
• Li Piaoqing warned Shen Yao about Zhang Zongyuan, and Pei Ye urged Li Piaoqing to concede if she faced Shang Huaitong.

Zhang Junxue faced Gu Guang for the final place in the Top Eight, recalling their warm friendship and his guidance before the tragedy that left him with an empty sleeve. The chapter ended with the two former friends standing opposite each other, as Zhang Junxue confronted the painful history between them.

• The draw paired Zhang Junxue against Gu Guang for the eighth spot, while the other matches determined the first seven members of the Top Eight.
• Li Piaoqing defeated Zhang Huan with her swordsmanship and advanced.
• Shang Huaitong defeated his opponent with the Weed-Pulling Chapter and entered the Top Eight, eager to face a powerful challenger.
• Pei Ye, Yang Yan, Shen Yao, Yu Yingcai, and Zhang Zongyuan each won their matches and advanced.
• Zhang Junxue remembered how Gu Guang had once welcomed and taught her, and how they had shared a close friendship through their interest in saber techniques.
• Zhang Junxue and Gu Guang faced each other on the platform to contest the final place in the Top Eight.

Zhang Junxue fought Gu Guang in the final Top Eight match and accepted his victory after he stopped short of killing her and entrusted his hatred to her. After the crowd dispersed, Pei Ye met Chang Zhiyuan, who had traveled to see him.

• Zhang Junxue and Gu Guang began their match with a series of forceful saber clashes, and the spectators realized she had reached Fifth Growth.
• Gu Guang used Wave Stacking to build his attacks through four layers, while Zhang Junxue refused to use the saber technique against him and held her ground.
• Gu Guang controlled the fifth wave instead of striking Zhang Junxue, then challenged her to test their strength with their left hands and praised her for surpassing him.
• Gu Guang surrendered and entrusted his hatred to Zhang Junxue, who became the last member of the Top Eight.
• Pei Ye spotted Chang Zhiyuan in the departing crowd, and Chang Zhiyuan told him he had come to see him.

Pei Ye spent time with Chang Zhiyuan and helped Zhang Junxue reconnect with her Zhang Family, while Li Piaoqing investigated the missing Zhang Family Head. The chapter ended with news that Lord Sui had returned to Bowang, offering a possible lead.

• Pei Ye visited Chang Zhiyuan, discussed the next day's tournament, and encouraged Zhang Junxue to reconnect with her Zhang Family.
• Zhang Junyan welcomed Zhang Junxue back, and she joined her relatives for dinner as they shared childhood memories and warmly questioned her about the tournament and Pei Ye.
• Pei Ye learned that Li Piaoqing had gone with Li Weiru to the Prefectural Office to investigate the Zhang Family Head's disappearance.
• Li Piaoqing asked Gu Guang to check whether the Zhang Family Head was with Zhang Junxue and told him they suspected the man had dealings with the Seven Flood Dragons.
• Li Piaoqing told Gu Guang that Lord Sui had returned to Bowang, providing a possible lead in the search.

Li Piaoqing and Li Weiru headed toward the Prefectural Office while Zhang Junxue prepared for the Zhang Family’s Offering the Blade and Inscribing the Wish ceremony. As Zhang Junxue hesitated over what wish to write, Gu Guang arrived to see her.

• Li Piaoqing asked Gu Guang to notify the Prefectural Office if the family head was at the Zhang Family’s residence, then went with Li Weiru toward the office.
• Zhang Junxue’s relatives explained the meaning of the Zhang Family’s blade rite and celebrated her upcoming martial contest.
• Zhang Junlan suggested that Zhang Junxue write a top-four finish as her wish, while Zhang Junxue privately considered aiming higher.
• Zhang Wendi and Zhang Junxue’s fifth uncle began the offering ceremony, and Zhang Junxue drew the new blade across her forearm before writing her name on the red silk.
• Zhang Junxue hesitated over what aspiration to write, and Zhang Junyan returned from the gate to announce that Gu Guang had come to see her.

Gu Guang told Zhang Junxue that her uncle Zhang Wenqian was secretly helping the Seven Flood Dragons by testifying for Shang Huaitong, shattering the warmth of her blade-bestowal ceremony. After learning the Zhang Family had accepted a lucrative deal, Zhang Junxue rejected their willingness to slander her dead sister and vowed to kill Shang Huaitong.

• Gu Guang told Zhang Junxue that Zhang Wenqian was in the Prefectural City and suspected of cooperating with the Seven Flood Dragons.
• Zhang Junxue returned to her blade-bestowal ceremony and asked whether Zhang Wenqian was at the Prefectural Office.
• Zhang Wendi confirmed that Zhang Wenqian was helping clear Shang Huaitong of suspicion in exchange for silver, saber arts, properties, and a share in Bowang Garden.
• Zhang Wendi urged Zhang Junxue to accept the family's decision and finish her ceremony, but she refused to let them slander her sister.
• Zhang Junxue wrote Shang Huaitong's name on the red silk, pinned it to the wall with her dagger, and declared that she would kill him.

Li Weiru advised Li Piaoqing to stop treating leadership as a series of tasks and embody Jade Feather’s spirit as its sect master. Meanwhile, Shang Huaitong prepared to test the Nether Growth Sword after completing the missing pages of its manual.

• Li Piaoqing left the Prefectural Office frustrated after Zhang Wenqian helped the Seven Flood Dragons evade blame, and Li Weiru urged her to accept setbacks and lead from a broader perspective.
• Li Weiru told Li Piaoqing that she needed to embody Jade Feather’s principles rather than perform the role of a sect master, and promised to keep guiding her.
• Shang Huaitong recalled a dream that showed him the realm needed to master the Nether Growth Sword and his two-year struggle to understand it.
• Shang Huaitong wrote the Weed-Pulling Chapter to replace the manual’s missing pages, convinced his contemptuous view of others explained why he should prevail.