Recaps

After the alchemy room was destroyed, Ying Huaixu went to the Preaching Institute and encountered He Xixiang, whose painful lecture unexpectedly earned him a great deal of experience. He left hoping to attend her next lecture, though she only came once a month.

• The Pill Peak Master took Huang Tianqi and his immortal-grade Qi-Gathering Pill away, while Ying Huaixu wondered if he could reproduce the result.
• Unable to use the ruined alchemy room or the full Artifact Refining Room, Ying Huaixu went to the Preaching Institute for an activity.
• He Xixiang appeared and asked Ying Huaixu to attend her lecture after the servant disciples hurried out.
• Ying Huaixu endured He Xixiang's agonizing lecture and gained 1,000 experience points per minute for two hours.
• He Xixiang told Ying Huaixu she would lecture again on the first of next month, and he thanked her before she left.

Ying Huaixu suffered lingering effects from He Xixiang’s lecture, while the Pill Peak Master struggled with Huang Tianqi’s costly immortal-grade pill refining. At a sect meeting, Lü Qingyi defended her training methods for Ye Ningshuang and left after demanding the sect either appoint a new Master or let her teach as she saw fit.

• Ying Huaixu returned to his Cave Abode with a headache, then dreamed of He Xixiang’s lecture despite taking a Sleep Aid Pill.
• Huang Tianqi refined another Immortal-Grade Qi-Gathering Pill using a thousand portions of herbs, leaving the Pill Peak Master frustrated by the huge loss.
• The Sect Master praised Ye Ningshuang’s role in resolving the Falling Radiance City incident and proposed discussing a training plan for her.
• Lü Qingyi challenged the Sect Master’s concerns by pointing out Ye Ningshuang’s progress and asking whether she had actually died in Falling Radiance City.
• Lü Qingyi demanded that the sect choose a new Master for Ye Ningshuang or let her continue her own methods, then vanished.

Lü Qingyi visited He Xixiang and discussed Ying Huaixu’s unusual progress and He Xixiang’s interest in taking him as a disciple. A divination warned that Ying Huaixu would betray He Xixiang and stab her in the back, leaving He Xixiang unconvinced as Lü Qingyi hurried off to find him.

• Lü Qingyi complained to He Xixiang that the sect master and the other senior disciples were pressuring her over how she trained Ye Ningshuang.
• He Xixiang told Lü Qingyi about an outer disciple who had listened to her entire Dao lecture, and Lü Qingyi identified him as Ying Huaixu.
• He Xixiang questioned whether Ying Huaixu truly had a low-grade spiritual root after learning he had reached the first layer of Meridian Opening in less than a month.
• He Xixiang admitted she wanted to take Ying Huaixu as her disciple but feared the Grand Ancestor’s prophecy that her future disciple would betray her.
• Lü Qingyi divined that Ying Huaixu would betray He Xixiang and stab her in the back, then left to find him while He Xixiang accused her of trying to keep him for herself.

Ying Huaixu resumed taking quests after recovering from He Xixiang's preaching, then accepted a delivery quest from the Pill Room. He bought a large supply of Grain-Bigging Pills from an unexpectedly honest supervisor, who realized too late that he had forgotten to tell Ying Huaixu where Reflection Cliff was.

• Ying Huaixu attended sermons at the Preaching Institute and compared their meager experience rewards with He Xixiang's generous preaching.
• After several days of low-reward sermons, Ying Huaixu stopped attending most preachers and accepted an Adventure Quest to deliver food to Reflection Cliff.
• The Pill Room supervisor explained that Ying Huaixu was delivering oversized, defective Grain-Bigging Pills and showed him a smaller, well-made pill.
• Ying Huaixu asked to buy Grain-Bigging Pills, and the supervisor persuaded him to purchase ten thousand Spirit Stones' worth instead of a hundred thousand.
• Ying Huaixu gave the supervisor an extra two thousand Spirit Stones and headed for Reflection Cliff, while the supervisor realized he had forgotten to explain where it was.

Ying Huaixu delivered fasting pills to the disciples at Reflection Cliff, where a mysterious voice tried to lure him toward the mountaintop before Qiu Shiyi intervened. After the danger passed, Ying Huaixu fulfilled Qiu Shiyi’s unspoken request by bringing him a flask of wine.

• Ying Huaixu reached Reflection Cliff after a grueling climb and watched its imprisoned disciples scramble for the fasting pills he had brought.
• A woman’s alluring voice tried to control Ying Huaixu and draw him toward the mountaintop, but Qiu Shiyi fired a water sword at the source.
• A sealing formation activated on the mountaintop, and the trapped voice roared at Lü Qingyi before the mountain fell quiet.
• Ying Huaixu thanked Qiu Shiyi, who began asking him for a favor, but Ying Huaixu left before he could finish.
• Ying Huaixu returned with a flask of wine taken from a disciple at Reflection Cliff, and Qiu Shiyi drank it with satisfaction.

Qiu Shiyi thanked Ying Huaixu for saving He Xiuyuan and Ye Ningshuang in Falling Radiance City, then rewarded him for completing the hidden Adventure Quest. Ying Huaixu left with a key to Sword Mountain, an offer to become an Inner Disciple, and the promise that the sect would back him in future conflicts.

• Qiu Shiyi revealed that he had recognized Ying Huaixu's ice Spiritual Root and explained that Ying Huaixu had saved him from severe punishment by keeping the others alive.
• Qiu Shiyi admitted that he had arranged the Alchemy Hall quest to bring Ying Huaixu to Reflection Cliff.
• Qiu Shiyi urged Ying Huaixu to apply to become an Inner Disciple and gave him a Swimming Fish Jade Pendant as a reward for advancing quickly.
• Ying Huaixu recognized the pendant as a key to Sword Mountain and learned it would let him choose a growth Divine Weapon.
• Qiu Shiyi added Ying Huaixu to his friends list and promised that the Divine Firmament Sword Sect would call in reinforcements until they defeated anyone who threatened their own.

After Ying Huaixu returned to Reflection Cliff, Lü Qingyi explained the Divine Firmament Sword Sect’s rules for helping fellow disciples and sharing the rewards from dangerous missions. Ying Huaixu left with Qiu Shiyi’s promise to help him once he joined the Inner Sect.

• After Ying Huaixu left, Lü Qingyi descended and punished a noisy presence on the mountaintop with a True Spirit Hand.
• When Ying Huaixu returned, Lü Qingyi asked why he had come to Reflection Cliff, and he explained that he wanted Qiu Shiyi to give him a ride down the mountain.
• Ying Huaixu asked whether fellow disciples would help him in danger, and Lü Qingyi said they would also expect him to help others.
• Lü Qingyi explained how the sect handled a helper’s share and compensation if that disciple died during a mission.
• Lü Qingyi told Ying Huaixu he could ask for help from someone no more than one major cultivation realm above him, except in special cases.
• After Lü Qingyi left, Ying Huaixu asked Qiu Shiyi to help him in the future, and Qiu Shiyi agreed.

Ye Ningshuang returned to the Divine Firmament Sword Sect after a harsh training trip, having become colder and reached the first layer of Meridian Opening. She and Ying Huaixu entered the inner sect, where their cultivation qualified them for promotion.

• Ye Ningshuang returned to the sect changed by her experiences and promised Ying Huaixu she would protect him.
• Ying Huaixu and Qiu Shiyi arrived, and Qiu Shiyi was stunned to learn Ye Ningshuang had reached Meridian Opening.
• Ying Huaixu asked Qiu Shiyi to take him and Ye Ningshuang to register with the inner sect.
• Ye Ningshuang told Ying Huaixu she had killed a few dozen people during her trip, and Ying Huaixu and Qiu Shiyi explained that such violence was common beyond the sect's territory.
• Qiu Shiyi took Ying Huaixu and Ye Ningshuang into the inner sect, where Ying Huaixu received a Silver Disciple Token and Ye Ningshuang received a Swimming Fish Jade Pendant.

After Ye Ningshuang left with Lü Qingyi’s Divine Deer, He Xixiang offered Ying Huaixu the chance to become her disciple, and he accepted. His new master gave him generous supplies and unrestricted choices at the Scripture Pavilion, then prepared to show him around Tianqu Peak.

• Qiu Shiyi left after advising Ying Huaixu to seek his help only with serious problems.
• Lü Qingyi’s Divine Deer came for Ye Ningshuang, who insisted that Ying Huaixu come too until Lü Qingyi assured her someone else would take him as a disciple.
• He Xixiang appeared and asked Ying Huaixu to become her disciple after praising his cultivation and making him swear an oath.
• Ying Huaixu accepted He Xixiang’s offer and completed his quest to become a disciple.
• He Xixiang upgraded Ying Huaixu’s token and gave him supplies, pills, spirit stones, clothing, and free choices at the Scripture Pavilion.
• He Xixiang revealed that she was Tianqu Peak’s peak lord and said she would take Ying Huaixu to the Scripture Pavilion and show him around the peak.

After entering the Inner Sect, Ying Huaixu saw disciples recruiting for quests and chose an ice-focused cultivation build that seemed unremarkable to He Xixiang. He and Ye Ningshuang arrived at Sword Mountain to select their magical artifacts, leaving He Xixiang and Lü Qingyi to worry about Ying Huaixu’s judgment.

• Ying Huaixu saw Inner Sect disciples recruiting teammates and workers for quests, and He Xixiang told him there was no need to rush into them.
• Ying Huaixu chose the Snow-Tempering Scripture, Ice Rain Sword-Controlling Art, and Frost-Swept Shadow, despite He Xixiang offering to let him choose again.
• He Xixiang took Ying Huaixu to Sword Mountain to collect a magical artifact and warned him that he could choose only one.
• Ying Huaixu and Ye Ningshuang inserted their Swimming Fish Jade Pendants into the gate and vanished to choose their artifacts.
• He Xixiang told Lü Qingyi about Ying Huaixu’s technique choices, and Lü Qingyi agreed that they seemed ordinary.

Ying Huaixu and Ye Ningshuang entered Sword Mountain, where both seemed to trigger ten thousand swords crying in unison, though the swords fled from Ying Huaixu after he silently told them to scram. Ye Ningshuang chose a rusty sword, while Ying Huaixu ignored nine supreme treasure swords and picked an icy-blue longsword, leaving He Xixiang furious but promising to find him a better weapon.

• He Xixiang worried that Ying Huaixu's ordinary cultivation method might disappoint her at Sword Mountain, while Lü Qingyi said Ye Ningshuang would be drawn to a sealed supreme sword.
• Ying Huaixu and Ye Ningshuang entered Sword Mountain, and every sword began to hum; Ying Huaixu frightened the swords away with a silent command, and they flew toward Ye Ningshuang.
• Lü Qingyi noticed her Seven-Colored Divine Deer feared Ying Huaixu, and the deer told her that his aura felt like that of its sternest father.
• Ye Ningshuang chose a rusty sword, and the remaining swords gathered before Ying Huaixu, including nine supreme treasure swords.
• Ying Huaixu ignored the nine supreme treasure swords and chose an icy-blue longsword, then he and Ye Ningshuang were teleported out.
• He Xixiang scolded Ying Huaixu for his choice but promised to borrow an unparalleled divine weapon for him.

Ying Huaixu explained why he had chosen the seemingly ordinary Frost Annihilation sword, then began cultivating on Tianqu Peak. After his painful breakthrough produced a flawed realm, he spent his experience points to improve his techniques, leaving He Xixiang astonished by the snow and cold his cultivation unleashed.

• Lü Qingyi sent Ye Ningshuang to Reflection Cliff and angrily drove the Sect Master and the others away from Sword-Questioning Peak.
• He Xixiang questioned Ying Huaixu about passing over the Nine Divine Swords, and he revealed that he had chosen Frost Annihilation for its hidden potential.
• Ying Huaixu assured He Xixiang that he wanted to keep his chosen cultivation method and began training in the spirit-stone-filled cave abode.
• Ying Huaixu painfully reached Meridian Opening Second Layer, but his realm was flawed and required experience points and Spirit Stones to repair.
• Ying Huaixu spent his experience points to max out his techniques, causing heavy snow and intense cold to spread across Tianqu Peak.
• He Xixiang wondered why Ying Huaixu's cultivation looked different from everyone else's.

Ying Huaixu perfected several techniques, restored his cultivation, and strengthened his Dao Sword Spiritual Root while hiding in his Cave Abode. When he finally emerged, He Xixiang noticed his mastery, and his careless question about her past provoked her.

• Ying Huaixu perfected Ice Rain Sword-Riding Technique and Snow-Tempering Scripture, gaining Ice and Snow Intent and passive experience from Tempering Snow Chill.
• Ying Huaixu restored his cultivation to Meridian Opening Second Layer and used Primordial Qi to raise his Dao Sword Spiritual Root to middle grade, gaining a sword-technique power bonus.
• Ying Huaixu stayed in his Cave Abode for over ten days before deciding to explain his progress by showing others its dense spiritual energy.
• He Xixiang saw Ying Huaixu emerge amid the snow he had caused and told him to turn off his Ice and Snow Intent.
• Ying Huaixu admitted his Ice Rain Sword-Riding Technique and Frost-Swept Shadow had reached perfection, then angered He Xixiang by asking whether she had perfected three introductory Divine Abilities in two hours.

Ying Huaixu shared rare treasures with He Xixiang, who promised to help him improve his spiritual root and equipped him for an excursion. After he left Tianqu Peak to gain experience, He Xixiang gave Lü Qingyi a share of his treasures, leaving Lü Qingyi to privately recognize them as his betrothal gift.

• He Xixiang learned that Ying Huaixu's spiritual root had advanced and promised to obtain an Innate Ice Spirit Fruit for him.
• Ying Huaixu gave He Xixiang numerous Spirit Leaves, which she identified as Great Dao Fragments, and over three thousand Dao Stones, which she identified as Star Crystals.
• He Xixiang agreed to keep half of the treasures for Ying Huaixu and gave him Soft Armor and a token before he left to gain experience.
• He Xixiang visited Lü Qingyi and offered her dozens of Spirit Leaves and hundreds of Dao Stones, which Lü Qingyi recognized as Ying Huaixu's betrothal gift.

He Xixiang persuaded Lü Qingyi to help her obtain an Innate Ice Spirit Fruit for Ying Huaixu, and they agreed to leave in three days. Meanwhile, Ying Huaixu joined a Giant Rock Lizard subjugation mission and came face-to-face with He Xiuyuan, who feared being beaten by him again.

• He Xixiang gave Lü Qingyi treasured items and asked her to accompany her to the Heavenly Snow Sacred Land for Ying Huaixu's Innate Ice Spirit Fruit.
• Lü Qingyi agreed to go with He Xixiang in three days after preparing for her own disciple, Ye Ningshuang.
• Ying Huaixu joined an Inner Sect mission to slay a Giant Rock Lizard by demonstrating that his ice ability could restrain it.
• The mission team waited for He Xiuyuan, its main fighter, who arrived late and boasted that he could slay the lizard with one strike.
• He Xiuyuan recognized Ying Huaixu, became meek, and urged the team to set out quickly after the leader offered him a share of the mission rewards.

Ying Huaixu learned that He Xiuyuan had gained fame and rewards after Ying’s earlier actions in Falling Radiance City, then led their party to hunt a Giant Rock Lizard King. They defeated it, but Ying was unimpressed by He Xiuyuan’s damage and insisted they would spar after returning.

• He Xiuyuan told Ying Huaixu that Ying’s credit-sharing in Falling Radiance City had led to his commendation, fame, and rewards, and Ying realized he and Ye Ningshuang might have been overlooked.
• Ying Huaixu led He Xiuyuan and two other disciples into a cave, where they found a sleeping Giant Rock Lizard King instead of ordinary Giant Rock Lizards.
• The other disciples panicked when the Giant Rock Lizard King awakened, but Ying froze it with his snow intent and ordered the others to attack.
• He Xiuyuan and the two disciples struggled to damage the frozen beast until He Xiuyuan repeatedly struck its head and finally killed it.
• After the mission was completed, Ying Huaixu told He Xiuyuan they would spar when they returned, while He Xiuyuan asked to postpone it.

Ying Huaixu helped He Xiuyuan’s team kill a Giant Rock Lizard King, then took him on another mission to build his combat experience. The chapter ended as He Xiuyuan fought an Elite Tiger while Ying Huaixu lightly slowed it with his Snow-Tempering Chill.

• Ying Huaixu killed the ordinary Giant Rock Lizards with a single sword strike and helped He Xiuyuan’s team recover the Giant Rock Lizard King’s valuable corpse and Demon Core.
• Ying Huaixu demonstrated his flexible control of spiritual power while flying back to the sect, leaving He Xiuyuan determined to cultivate harder.
• After exchanging the Giant Rock Lizard King’s materials for resources, Ying Huaixu persuaded the reluctant He Xiuyuan to join another mission for practical experience.
• Ying Huaixu discovered the new team intended to hunt an Elite Monster instead of the Northern Mountain Lord, and He Xiuyuan tried to reassure himself that he was not the weakest disciple.
• At the Elite Tiger’s territory, He Xiuyuan asked Ying Huaixu to limit his control so he could fight properly, then attacked the beast.

He Xiuyuan and Ying Huaixu killed two elite Tiger Demons, and Ying Huaixu encouraged He Xiuyuan to keep training. At the next mission site, Ying Huaixu’s chill failed to stop a fire-wielding Tiger Demon, but his sword sent it flying.

• He Xiuyuan killed the first Tiger Demon while Ying Huaixu’s icy aura slowed it, but Ying Huaixu received no hunting mission completion notice.
• Ying Huaixu killed a second Tiger Demon with an Ice Sword when it tried to ambush him.
• Ying Huaixu told He Xiuyuan to stabilize his cultivation and strengthen his understanding of the metal attribute, then led the squad to another mission.
• Ying Huaixu chilled a humanoid Tiger Demon, but its flames overcame the cold and forced the squad to retreat.
• The Tiger Demon charged Ying Huaixu with two hammers, and Ying Huaixu struck it with the Frostbane Long Sword, sending it flying.

Ying Huaixu defeated a powerful tiger demon and tried to use the quest system to strengthen the Divine Firmament Sword Sect’s disciples more efficiently. When He Xiuyuan balked at posting a quest against Cold Mountain Temple, Ying Huaixu asked Qiu Shiyi to investigate the temple and then prepared another quest.

• Ying Huaixu killed the tiger demon with Sword Qi Unity Slash and completed the Lightning Kill quest.
• The disciples processed the corpse, and Ying Huaixu gave them all his share of the rewards so they could improve their strength.
• Back at the sect, Ying Huaixu stopped He Xiuyuan from leaving and asked him to post a hunting quest targeting Cold Mountain Temple’s supposed evil flood dragon.
• He Xiuyuan refused to post the quest without approval from the sect’s superiors, so Ying Huaixu contacted Qiu Shiyi and asked him to investigate Cold Mountain Temple.
• Ying Huaixu told Qiu Shiyi to take him along if the report proved true, then handed He Xiuyuan another quest slip.

Ying Huaixu organized a mission to explore the forbidden Illusory Dream Mountain Range, recruiting Huang Tianqi, three Tiger Demon Hunt companions, and Ye Ningshuang. As the group departed, He Xixiang fretted over her disciple while Lü Qingyi privately watched their growing closeness.

• He Xiuyuan posted Ying Huaixu's mission to explore the Illusory Dream Mountain Range, and several disciples quickly joined, including Huang Tianqi and the Tiger Demon Hunt trio.
• Ying Huaixu accepted the World Mission, which promised experience, Spirit Stones, and Spirit Leaves for finding the source of the mountain range's forbidden status.
• Ying Huaixu invited Ye Ningshuang to join the mission, and she agreed before the group set out by Sword Flight.
• Lü Qingyi told He Xixiang she would make up Ying Huaixu's missing reward and planned to use the matter to teach the Sect Master a lesson.
• He Xixiang messaged Ying Huaixu warnings and affection, while Lü Qingyi watched and wondered whether the Grand Ancestor's prophecy was correct.

A woman bribed the Tree Spirit with Xirang to let Divine Firmament Sword Sect disciples enter the Illusory Dream Mountains, hoping to infiltrate the sect. Meanwhile, Ying Huaixu led a growing group of disciples to the mountains and broke through in cultivation alongside Ye Ningshuang and Huang Tianqi.

• The woman offered the Tree Spirit Xirang in exchange for easing restrictions on the Illusory Dream Mountains so she could infiltrate the Divine Firmament Sword Sect.
• The Tree Spirit agreed to cooperate but warned she would not oppose the sect and could not guarantee the plan would succeed because of its Heart-Questioning Array.
• Ying Huaixu arrived at the Illusory Dream Mountains with dozens of Divine Firmament Sword Sect disciples who had joined to support him and his companions.
• Ying Huaixu broke through to the third level of Meridian Opening after claiming he had gained insight while flying on his sword.
• Ye Ningshuang swallowed several beast souls and also reached the third level of Meridian Opening, while Huang Tianqi advanced from the first to the second level after his pills took effect.

Ying Huaixu enhanced Frost Annihilation and led his companions into the Illusory Dream Mountain Range to check whether the events of the original plot were still unfolding. After Ye Ningshuang and Huang Tianqi effortlessly defeated demonic beasts, Ying Huaixu sent He Xiuyuan to confront the Black Cloud Crow, which immediately pinned him down.

• Ying Huaixu enhanced Frost Annihilation and took Ye Ningshuang, He Xiuyuan, and Huang Tianqi toward the Illusory Dream Mountain Range.
• Ying Huaixu told Ye Ningshuang to kill any red-haired woman dressed like a temptress who approached him, and explained that he wanted to check whether the Black Cloud Crow was present.
• Ye Ningshuang cut down several demonic beasts with one slash, while Huang Tianqi subdued others with purple poison smoke.
• He Xiuyuan tried to prove himself against a demonic beast but was knocked into a tree, then sat down in dejection after seeing Ye Ningshuang and Huang Tianqi's strength.
• Ying Huaixu encouraged He Xiuyuan to prove himself by attacking the Black Cloud Crow, but the enormous bird pinned him to the ground with one claw.

Ying Huaixu helped the Divine Firmament Sword Sect disciples defeat the Black Cloud Crow by freezing it with his ice and snow intent, then triggering a burst of accumulated frost. Afterward, he claimed he was only good at crowd control, leaving He Xiuyuan, Huang Tianqi, and Ye Ningshuang staring at him in disbelief.

• Ying Huaixu froze the Black Cloud Crow and told the arriving Inner Disciples to attack while he held it back.
• The Black Cloud Crow entered its second phase, but Ying Huaixu stayed motionless under its spatial power and the beast targeted him.
• A half-step Qi Sea disciple shielded Ying Huaixu and led the others in forming a dragon of flying swords.
• Ying Huaixu's accumulated frost marks froze the Black Cloud Crow, and the flying-sword dragon smashed it to pieces.
• Ying Huaixu received the Black Cloud Crow's rewards and told the disciples he was not good at fighting, prompting doubtful looks from He Xiuyuan, Huang Tianqi, and Ye Ningshuang.

After the Black Cloud Crow was killed, Ying Huaixu warned the Divine Firmament Sword Sect that Xue Si was a suspicious descender who might infiltrate the sect. The sect decided to let her approach so they could investigate her methods, and Xue Si then appeared wounded and unconscious before them.

• The Divine Firmament Sword Sect disciples butchered the Black Cloud Crow and chose to sell it, while Ying Huaixu gave his share to Ye Ningshuang.
• Ying Huaixu told the Half-Step Qi Sea disciple that Xue Si was connected to the Thousand Mechanisms Sect and might be planning to infiltrate the Divine Firmament Sword Sect.
• Ying Huaixu described Xue Si's red hair and red clothes, then told the disciple she liked seducing people.
• The Half-Step Qi Sea disciple and the sect decided not to expose Xue Si, hoping to learn how she might evade the Questioning Heart Formation and the Sin-Severing Formation.
• Xue Si stumbled out of the forest wounded, cried for help, and collapsed unconscious as a demonic beast pursued her.

Ying Huaixu arranged for the Phantom Tree Spirit to cooperate with the Divine Firmament Sword Sect and turn her illusions into an extreme training ground for its disciples. He tested her creation himself, but found it too rigid and began adjusting it.

• The Divine Firmament Sword Sect disciples debated who would rescue the unconscious Xue Si, and He Xiuyuan ended up saving her.
• Xue Si thanked He Xiuyuan and offered to serve him, leaving him and the other disciples captivated while Ying Huaixu checked that their plan was still on track.
• Ying Huaixu found the Phantom Tree Spirit beneath a tree and pressured her into cooperating with the Divine Firmament Sword Sect for protection.
• Ying Huaixu gave the Phantom Tree Spirit entries from his bestiary and ordered her to create illusions with overwhelming demonic beasts for the disciples to challenge.
• The Phantom Tree Spirit created an illusion for Ying Huaixu to test, but he called it too rigid and began making adjustments.