Chapter Summaries

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.

Ying Huaixu set the Illusion Tree’s instance difficulty and brought Lü Qingyi and He Xixiang to inspect the training ground. After testing the instance and fighting his illusory double, Lü Qingyi saw how formidable Ying Huaixu was and had He Xixiang test it too, leaving both women looking strangely at him.

• Ying Huaixu tested and adjusted the instance until he settled on a difficulty he could clear without making it impossibly harsh for the disciples.
• Ying Huaixu contacted He Xixiang, and Lü Qingyi and He Xixiang arrived through a spatial rift.
• Lü Qingyi gave the Illusion Tree’s spirit an elder’s token and accepted her into the Divine Firmament Sword Sect.
• Lü Qingyi entered the instance and was shocked by its extreme difficulty, then asked the Illusion Tree’s spirit to conjure Ying Huaixu’s illusory double.
• Lü Qingyi fought Ying Huaixu’s double, barely defeating it after using power beyond the Meridian Opening realm.
• Lü Qingyi had the Illusion Tree’s spirit pull He Xixiang into the instance, and He Xixiang emerged looking strangely at Ying Huaixu.

Lü Qingyi revised the Illusory Dream Training Ground, adding difficulty levels, leaderboards, and rewards, while Ying Huaixu learned he would receive a share of its earnings. After the mission was completed, Lü Qingyi and He Xixiang repeatedly challenged him in the illusion, then beat him in person when they lost.

• Lü Qingyi adjusted the trial difficulties, created realm-specific leaderboards, and offered rewards to the top-ranked disciples.
• He Xixiang told Ying Huaixu that the sect would give him twenty percent of the training ground’s earnings, and the World Mission completed with rewards for him.
• Lü Qingyi and He Xixiang challenged Ying Huaixu in the illusion but repeatedly lost to his crowd control, Ice Marks, and flying swords.
• Lü Qingyi and He Xixiang woke up angry and whipped Ying Huaixu, then hung him from a tree after he taunted them about losing at the same realm.

He Xixiang and Lü Qingyi struggled against Ying Huaixu in the illusion, then worried that the Grand Ancestor’s prophecy meant powerful enemies might target him. Meanwhile, the sect’s disciples tried the newly opened Illusory Dream Mountain Range trial grounds and were stunned when the rankings revealed unexpected high-difficulty clears.

• He Xixiang and Lü Qingyi repeatedly fought Ying Huaixu in the illusion before leaving him behind and returning to the sect.
• He Xixiang warned Lü Qingyi that the Grand Ancestor’s prophecy might mean Ying Huaixu was a remarkable genius in danger, and she described the clues surrounding his family’s destruction.
• He Xixiang and Lü Qingyi resolved to protect Ying Huaixu and studied his cultivation method and swordsmanship.
• The Illusory Dream Mountain Range opened as a trial ground, and disciples who chose absurd or nightmare difficulty died almost immediately before struggling on easy difficulty.
• The rankings announced Ye Ningshuang in first place for clearing nightmare, Huang Tianqi in second for clearing hard, and Qin Erniu in third for clearing easy, leaving the disciples dumbfounded.

The Divine Firmament Sword Sect disciples struggled through the Illusory Dream Trial and realized its opponents had truly existed, prompting them to train harder. After He Xiuyuan cleared the Hard Trial, the sect’s leaders visited the dungeon and asked the Tree Spirit about its limits.

• The disciples challenged Huang Tianqi and learned his deadly poison made him a formidable Hard Trial opponent, then struggled against the Easy Trial’s Ghost Bride, who fled and caused their attempts to count as failures.
• Qin Erniu told the disciples they had to overpower trial opponents head-on, and they realized the dungeon’s demonic beasts had really existed and represented dangers they might face.
• He Xiuyuan claimed third place by clearing the Hard Trial, and Qin Erniu challenged him, discovered He Xiuyuan’s golden defense and sword energy were too strong, then returned to the sect to improve and find Xue Si.
• The disciples returned from the trial or the Illusory Dream Mountain Range and began cultivating desperately after recognizing their shortcomings.
• The sect’s leaders learned the trial had spurred the disciples to train, visited the Tree Spirit, and asked whether the trial currently went only up to Spirit Sea.

The Sect Master and the peak masters challenged the Meridian Opening trial at ridiculous difficulty, only to be repeatedly defeated by Ying Huaixu. As they questioned the Grand Ancestor’s prediction that Ye Ningshuang was chosen by the Heavenly Mandate, Tong Xinran rushed to Tianqu Peak and was hurled back through three mountains.

• The Sect Master chose Ying Huaixu in the trial and was frozen and slain three times despite paying to challenge again.
• The peak masters also chose Ying Huaixu and suffered repeated defeats, while Tong Xinran regretted refusing to take him as her disciple.
• The sect leaders wondered whether the Grand Ancestor had correctly identified Ye Ningshuang as the one chosen by the Heavenly Mandate, and the Sect Master said her spiritual root had yet to fully awaken.
• Tong Xinran abruptly headed for Tianqu Peak, and the others turned back after she was sent flying through three mountains.