Chapter Summaries

The Sacred Lord of the Heavenly Snow Sacred Land accepted that his land had been reduced to a subordinate of the Divine Firmament Sword Sect after Lü Qingyi demonstrated her power. Meanwhile, Ying Huaixu advanced his cultivation and made the Illusory Dream Trial far more difficult, leaving the sect’s disciples struggling against its new challenges.

• The Sacred Lord of the Heavenly Snow Sacred Land rejected an elder’s suggestion to resist the Divine Firmament Sword Sect and returned home, resigned to obeying Lü Qingyi.
• He Xixiang returned to Tianqu Peak, while Ying Huaixu used his accumulated experience to reach the Meridian Opening Ninth Layer.
• Ying Huaixu visited the Illusory Dream Mountain Range and learned that word of the Ghost Bride and returning disciples had made the trial extremely popular.
• Ying Huaixu added Black Bear and Sword Slave to the trial, then worked with the Tree Spirit to raise its higher difficulty levels to an extreme.
• The new trial overwhelmed disciples who had previously cleared Hard, while other disciples kept challenging Sword Slave at Ridiculous Difficulty.

Ying Huaixu visited Ye Ningshuang and arranged to train her in a week, while Lü Qingyi urged Ye Ningshuang to grow strong enough to protect him. Meanwhile, Zhuang Mu reconsidered the Divine Firmament Sword Sect’s approach to its enemies, then learned Ying Huaixu had taken He Xiuyuan and Ye Ningshuang into Thousand Mechanisms Sect territory.

• Ying Huaixu found Ye Ningshuang at Sword-Questioning Peak, asked after Lü Qingyi, and agreed to take Ye Ningshuang training in seven days.
• After Ying Huaixu left, Lü Qingyi encouraged Ye Ningshuang to overcome her fear and become strong enough to protect him.
• Zhuang Mu investigated the Illusory Dream Trial Instance and Ying Huaixu’s family massacre, while Scholar reported that the attackers had left no clues.
• Zhuang Mu argued that the Divine Firmament Sword Sect should act against the Thousand Mechanisms Sect despite lacking a just cause, citing lessons he had learned from Ying Huaixu and Lü Qingyi.
• A disciple reported that Ying Huaixu had taken He Xiuyuan and Ye Ningshuang into Thousand Mechanisms Sect territory, claiming it was his way of showing concern for Ye Ningshuang.

The Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s master ordered Ye Ningshuang killed after his elders persuaded him the sect could survive a war with the Divine Firmament Sword Sect by adopting the Mile-High Heaven Clan’s techniques. Meanwhile, Ying Huaixu, He Xiuyuan, and Ye Ningshuang prepared for a dangerous training expedition in Thousand Mechanisms Sect territory.

• The Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s master realized the Annihilation Envoys had taken control of his sect and feared Ye Ningshuang was the person of great fortune destined to destroy them.
• A disciple reported that Ye Ningshuang had appeared in Thousand Mechanisms Sect territory, and the elders urged the Sect Master to kill her.
• The Great Elder argued that the Thousand Mechanisms Sect and the Divine Firmament Sword Sect were already mortal enemies and promised the sect could not be destroyed if it adopted the Mile-High Heaven Clan’s techniques.
• The Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s master ordered his followers to kill Ye Ningshuang at any cost.
• He Xiuyuan watched Ying Huaixu buy a Storage Bag full of talismans while Ye Ningshuang interpreted the preparations as proof of her senior brother’s affection.

Ying Huaixu used his system to rapidly master talisman crafting and make a huge haul of supreme-grade Talismans and Talisman Treasures. After Lü Qingyi paid him a million Spirit Stones, Ying Huaixu prepared to take Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan out to gain experience, while He Xiuyuan dreaded being pushed to become stronger.

• Ying Huaixu asked Lü Qingyi for talisman-making materials and discovered his system could guide him through drawing Talismans.
• Ying Huaixu maxed out his third-tier Talisman proficiency, then crafted seven Talisman Treasures while Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan watched.
• Ying Huaixu failed to understand the mathematics required for formations and gave up learning them.
• Ying Huaixu gave Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan ten thousand Talismans each and sent the remaining products to Lü Qingyi.
• Lü Qingyi exchanged Ying Huaixu's work for a million Spirit Stones, including payment for ten supreme-grade Talisman Treasures.
• Ying Huaixu said he was taking Ye Ningshuang out to gain experience, while He Xiuyuan wished he could remain useless and Ying Huaixu insisted everyone else had to improve.

Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan fought their way through the Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s territory, then fled when its disciples overwhelmed them. They discovered that Ying Huaixu was being hunted by powerful Sea of Qi Realm cultivators, drawing the sect’s pursuers away from them.

• Ying Huaixu told Ye Ningshuang he would expose her to the cultivation world’s cruelty, then hid as Thousand Mechanisms Sect disciples attacked.
• He Xiuyuan killed the attackers with his sword, while Ye Ningshuang used black mist and Shadow Sword Dance to kill the disciples who charged her.
• After three days of fighting, Ye Ningshuang asked why the Thousand Mechanisms Sect wanted them dead, and He Xiuyuan explained that Xue Si had revealed her talent.
• When a large force gathered outside their cave, Ye Ningshuang dug a tunnel to escape with He Xiuyuan and seek Ying Huaixu.
• As Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan fled, they saw Ying Huaixu pursued by Sea of Qi Realm cultivators, who ordered their forces to focus on killing him instead.

Ying Huaixu was hunted by the Thousand Mechanisms Sect after his victims were found devoid of vitality, and he used talisman treasures to hold off their growing pursuit. After breaking through to the Sea of Qi Realm, he turned the tables and chased down the sect’s disciples, while Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan watched from afar.

• Ying Huaixu killed Thousand Mechanisms Sect disciples who attacked him, prompting the sect to report that his victims were completely devoid of vitality.
• The Thousand Mechanisms Sect sent increasingly powerful forces after Ying Huaixu, and he used frost techniques and talisman treasures to fight and escape.
• Ying Huaixu contacted He Xixiang for a Profound-Breaking Pill and used the system to break through to the Sea of Qi Realm.
• Ying Huaixu stopped fleeing and killed the pursuing cultivators with ice blades and exploding icebergs.
• Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan watched as the fleeing Thousand Mechanisms Sect disciples became Ying Huaixu’s prey.

After Ying Huaixu reached the Sea of Qi Realm, he overwhelmed the Thousand Mechanisms Sect disciples until Zhuang Mu intervened and defeated He Wuyan, who revealed signs of having become inhuman. Zhuang Mu took Ying Huaixu, Ye Ningshuang, and He Xiuyuan away, but admitted he could not kill He Wuyan.

• Ying Huaixu broke through to the Sea of Qi Realm and slaughtered the Thousand Mechanisms Sect disciples who attacked him.
• Zhuang Mu appeared just as an elder intervened and told Ying Huaixu to leave the fighting to him.
• He Wuyan declared that he would not let Ying Huaixu go, and Zhuang Mu struck him with a golden sword, breaking through his defense.
• He Wuyan's wounds rapidly healed, and he warned Zhuang Mu to leave or they would all perish; Zhuang Mu then took Ying Huaixu and the others away.
• Zhuang Mu treated the group to an expensive meal and fishing trip, leaving Ying Huaixu to pay.
• Ye Ningshuang asked why Zhuang Mu had not killed He Wuyan, and Zhuang Mu admitted he could not.

Zhuang Mu explained why the sects had not destroyed the Thousand Mechanisms Sect: its ancient treasure could wipe out a third of the continent, and using it would break the seal on an entrance for Extraterrestrial Demons. Ying Huaixu suspected that unseen forces were steering events, then agreed to protect Ye Ningshuang in the Cold Pool Secret Realm in exchange for Qingyi's Little Leisure Painting.

• Zhuang Mu told Ying Huaixu that the Thousand Mechanisms Sect's ancient treasure was tied to the Grand Ancestor's seal and could extinguish life across a vast region if activated.
• Zhuang Mu explained that the sect wanted Ying Huaixu dead because he could permanently cut off the life force of the Mile-High Heaven Clan, preventing them from reviving.
• Ying Huaixu reasoned that the sects planned to let the Mile-High Heaven Clan destroy the ancient treasure rather than risk its catastrophic release.
• Ying Huaixu wondered whether unseen players were manipulating events like a chess game, and Zhuang Mu recalled a prophecy depicting two people playing chess.
• Zhuang Mu asked Ying Huaixu to protect Ye Ningshuang as she sought the Nine-Leaf Nether Soul Lotus in the Cold Pool Secret Realm, and Ying Huaixu agreed in exchange for Qingyi's Little Leisure Painting.

Zhuang Mu noticed Ying Huaixu’s lack of Spirit Power Control and began training him as they traveled toward Falling Radiance City. Ying Huaixu practiced with a crystal ball while Zhuang Mu watched, and the chapter left him still working to improve his control.

• Ying Huaixu accepted a portrait of Lü Qingyi from Zhuang Mu, then sent He Xiuyuan and Ye Ningshuang back to the sect.
• Ying Huaixu set out for Falling Radiance City to tackle three instances, check his investment returns, and choose a magic treasure.
• Zhuang Mu followed Ying Huaixu and pointed out that his Spirit Power Control was nearly nonexistent.
• Zhuang Mu demonstrated how controlling spirit power could change a sword slash’s strength, then gave Ying Huaixu a crystal ball to practice with.
• Ying Huaixu practiced adjusting the crystal ball’s brightness for days and helped Zhuang Mu catch and grill a fish.
• Zhuang Mu saw Ying Huaixu still practicing the next morning and felt ashamed of how little he had worked when he was young.

Ying Huaixu gained a powerful Psionic Adjustment skill and used it to kill a red-named monster, while Zhuang Mu investigated the strange beasts and Ying Huaixu’s influence on his cultivation. Zhuang Mu believed his path was becoming clearer but expected Ying Huaixu to die during his future tribulation.

• Ying Huaixu mastered Psionic Adjustment, then used charged attacks to kill a Sea of Qi Realm demonic beast.
• Ying Huaixu and Zhuang Mu found a humanoid red-named bird monster, which Ying Huaixu froze and killed with a charged sword strike.
• Zhuang Mu snatched the Gale Fan magic treasure and studied the bird’s corpse, then asked Ying Huaixu to find another red-named monster.
• Zhuang Mu fought a red-named Wood Demon while suppressed to Sea of Qi Realm strength, won only by exceeding that level, and claimed its treasure.
• Ying Huaixu asked why Zhuang Mu had been following him, and Zhuang Mu said his experiment had confirmed that his cultivation path was growing clearer.
• Zhuang Mu told Ying Huaixu to choose a coffin or burial site, saying he expected Ying Huaixu to die during his Spirit Sea Realm tribulation.

Zhuang Mu warned Ying Huaixu that his extraordinary talent could bring devastating Heavenly Tribulations, showed off his powers, and gave him three Golden Little Men to block fatal blows. After a drunken incident involving Lü Qingyi’s portrait, Lü Qingyi privately asked Ying Huaixu what he knew about the Cold Pool Secret Realm.

• Zhuang Mu described Lü Qingyi’s near-death tribulations and admitted he could not determine her current realm, then demonstrated his power by shrinking mountains and playing with planets.
• Zhuang Mu warned Ying Huaixu about his future Heavenly Tribulations and gave him three Golden Little Men that could each block a fatal blow.
• Zhuang Mu took Ying Huaixu drinking, but both found the food and wine unappealing after their breakthroughs, and Ying Huaixu said Lü Qingyi could defeat Zhuang Mu nine times in one breath.
• Ying Huaixu woke bruised and learned from Zhuang Mu’s Projection Stone that, while drunk, he had hugged Lü Qingyi’s portrait and been strung up and beaten by her.
• Lü Qingyi shattered the Projection Stone, teased Ying Huaixu about his desires, and asked what he knew about the Cold Pool Secret Realm.

Ying Huaixu discussed the dangerous, early-opening Cold Pool Secret Realm with Lü Qingyi, who gave him an Innate Ice Spirit Fruit and tasked him with obtaining the Nine-Leaf Nether Soul Lotus for Ye Ningshuang. After leaving, he headed for Falling Radiance City, while Lü Qingyi worried about his fate under the Heavenly Tribulation and suspected He Xixiang would help him.

• Ying Huaixu gave Lü Qingyi a grim divination about the Cold Pool Secret Realm and warned that its dangers might leave entrants with only a one-in-ten chance of survival.
• Lü Qingyi explained that disciples from other sects would enter the early-opening Secret Realm, gave Ying Huaixu an Innate Ice Spirit Fruit, and asked him to secure the Nine-Leaf Nether Soul Lotus for Ye Ningshuang.
• Lü Qingyi showed Ying Huaixu a painting of He Xixiang fresh from a bath, and he stored it away before checking out and heading toward Falling Radiance City.
• Lü Qingyi watched Ying Huaixu leave and wondered what had brought him closer to He Xixiang.
• The little deer worried that Ying Huaixu might perish under the Heavenly Tribulation, and Lü Qingyi said He Xixiang would help him.

Ying Huaixu upgraded his sword, pendant, and spiritual root before returning to the sect to prepare for the Cold Pool Secret Realm. After learning Frost Waltz Slash, he went to the Mission Plaza for experience and found that the missions he expected were gone.

• Ying Huaixu collected seven million Supreme Spirit Stones from the Nether Capital Merchant Guild and bought materials and a Frost Spirit Pendant.
• Ying Huaixu advanced Frost Annihilation and the Frost Spirit Pendant, then used an Innate Ice Spirit Fruit to improve his Way Sword spiritual root.
• Ying Huaixu returned to the sect, paid his respects to He Xixiang, and hurried to the Scripture Pavilion.
• Ying Huaixu selected Frost Waltz Slash but lacked enough experience to perfect it, so he went to the Mission Plaza.
• Ying Huaixu found that the missions he had expected to complete were gone.

Ying Huaixu recruited He Xiuyuan to hunt demonic beasts after the sect’s missions ran out, using the fights to gain experience and test his growing strength. By nightfall, Ying Huaixu had killed a Sea of Qi red-name, while He Xiuyuan had greatly improved his skills and intent, leaving Ying Huaixu pleased and He Xiuyuan suspecting he was bluffing about a special constitution.

• A disciple told Ying Huaixu that the sect’s missions had dried up because stronger disciples had cleared the demonic beasts from the territory.
• Ying Huaixu summoned He Xiuyuan to post hunting missions, then made him fight the beasts while Ying Huaixu collected experience.
• He Xiuyuan reached the Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening, and Ying Huaixu brought him to fight a red-named monster while heading off to test his own strength.
• Ying Huaixu froze and killed a Sea of Qi giant python with Frost Waltz Slash, earning 150,000 experience and a Water-Repelling Pearl.
• He Xiuyuan gained the upper hand against his red-named opponent as his Metal Intent and sword techniques improved, but Ying Huaixu took the final kill.
• He Xiuyuan reported reaching minor mastery in his intent and full mastery in his other techniques, then asked whether he had awakened a special constitution, and Ying Huaixu said possibly.

He Xiuyuan trained relentlessly under Ying Huaixu until he was close to breaking through to the Sea of Qi Realm, then fled back to the sect to advance in seclusion. Ying Huaixu returned to Tianqu Peak and learned from He Xixiang that she was a Heaven-and-Earth True Immortal and that the world contained immortal qi.

• He Xiuyuan admitted his strength came from luck, but Ying Huaixu praised his fighting and made him continue doing quests.
• He Xiuyuan spent three days killing monsters for experience and, nearing the Sea of Qi Realm, flew back to the sect to break through.
• Ying Huaixu found Ye Ningshuang in seclusion, could not find the peak master, and returned to Tianqu Peak.
• He Xixiang showed Ying Huaixu a huge pile of supreme-quality Blood-Scab Fruits and explained that they strengthened the body.
• He Xixiang told Ying Huaixu she was a Heaven-and-Earth True Immortal and explained that disciples from other small worlds ascended to their world.
• Ying Huaixu asked about immortal qi, and He Xixiang blew a breath toward him as an example.

Ying Huaixu strengthened himself with Blood-Scab Fruits and gained experience from He Xixiang’s lecture, then warned Lü Qingyi against investigating a dangerous discovery because he feared she would not return. Lü Qingyi agreed to reconsider and left, while Ying Huaixu was left awkwardly explaining himself to He Xixiang.

• Ying Huaixu ate nine Blood-Scab Fruits, grew stronger, and saved his experience for advancing the Snow-Tempering Scripture.
• He Xixiang lectured Ying Huaixu for two hours, granting him 1.2 million experience but leaving him with severe mental aftereffects.
• Lü Qingyi told He Xixiang she planned to investigate something dangerous and asked her to oversee the Divine Firmament Sword Sect.
• Ying Huaixu warned Lü Qingyi that a peak was sealed when its lineage ended and urged her not to investigate yet; she suggested waiting until Ye Ningshuang rose to prominence.
• Lü Qingyi secretly swapped Ying Huaixu’s and He Xixiang’s Spatial Rings, then left on Fawn after agreeing to reconsider.
• He Xixiang grew jealous when Ying Huaixu seemed to watch Lü Qingyi depart and stormed off after he denied it.

Ying Huaixu discovered that his and He Xixiang’s Spatial Rings had been swapped, while He Xixiang found his painting of her but pretended she had not seen it. After their quiet life resumed, He Xiuyuan invited Ying Huaixu to explore a dangerous secret realm, and Ying Huaixu brought Ye Ningshuang along.

• Ying Huaixu searched for his missing inventory, realized he was wearing Lü Qingyi’s Spatial Ring, and worried that his own ring contained a painting of his master.
• He Xixiang explored Ying Huaixu’s Spatial Ring, found his painting of her, put it back without mentioning it, and used a Divine Ability to swap their rings back.
• Ying Huaixu found his inventory restored with extra storage and fruit, then returned to relaxing and handling Tianqu Peak’s daily affairs with He Xixiang.
• He Xiuyuan visited Tianqu Peak and asked Ying Huaixu to help explore the dangerous Golden Goblet Small Secret Realm; Ying Huaixu accepted the side quest.
• Ying Huaixu recruited Ye Ningshuang and led her and He Xiuyuan toward the secret realm, while Ye Ningshuang stopped counting Talismans after He Xiuyuan said he had discovered it.

Ying Huaixu brought Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan to a Secret Realm that he expected to be relatively safe, where they planned to let He Xiuyuan explore while using other cultivators to test the traps. Xu Yaoyang joined them, and Ye Ningshuang decided he could be a useful ally, though He Xiuyuan worried Ying Huaixu might get him killed.

• Ying Huaixu assessed the Secret Realm as more troublesome for its puzzles and traps than its monsters, and Ye Ningshuang inferred from his lack of preparation that it was not especially dangerous.
• Ying Huaixu brought Ye Ningshuang and He Xiuyuan to a city near the Secret Realm and reassured He Xiuyuan that they would protect him while he explored.
• Ying Huaixu spotted Xu Yaoyang, who joined their table despite Ying Huaixu's attempts to avoid him.
• Ying Huaixu left the tavern to look for materials for Frost Annihilation, while Xu Yaoyang offered to show him around and Ye Ningshuang stayed behind.
• Ye Ningshuang decided Xu Yaoyang's strength and friendship with Ying Huaixu made him a potential helper, but He Xiuyuan warned that Ying Huaixu might accidentally get him killed.

He Xiuyuan suspected the secret realm was bait for geniuses, but spent the day selling rice dumplings with a beautiful woman instead of joining the fighting. At the inn, Ye Ningshuang and Ying Huaixu’s ruthless exploits frightened the other cultivators, while rumors spread that the Holy Son of the Great Sun Sacred Ground was protecting He Xiuyuan.

• He Xiuyuan noticed geniuses being hunted and fighting inside the secret realm, strengthening his suspicion that someone had lured them there.
• He Xiuyuan bought rice dumplings, met their beautiful vendor, and helped her sell out by adding fragrant spirit herbs.
• The vendor invited He Xiuyuan home for tea after he helped her carry her goods back, and he accepted her invitation.
• Ying Huaixu returned to the inn and learned that Ye Ningshuang had killed more than two hundred people, while Xu Yaoyang had stopped the attackers he encountered.
• Other cultivators whispered about Ye Ningshuang’s brutal killings and heard that the Holy Son of the Great Sun Sacred Ground was protecting He Xiuyuan.

Ying Huaixu searched for the missing He Xiuyuan and found him selling rice dumplings with a woman who was a terrifying future boss. He called for help, and Meng Wuya arrived to protect them as Ying Huaixu feared the woman’s future threat.

• After days without seeing Old He, Ying Huaixu asked Ye Ningshuang about him and then searched the city’s brothels with her.
• Ying Huaixu asked Xu Yaoyang to check Old He’s soul lamp, learned it was intact, and continued searching with Xu Yaoyang and Ye Ningshuang through the night.
• At dawn, the three found He Xiuyuan selling rice dumplings beside a woman, and Ying Huaixu recognized her as a dangerous future boss.
• Ying Huaixu contacted Lü Qingyi, who warned him not to attack the woman and told him to wait while she sent help.
• Meng Wuya was kicked through a spatial rift, introduced himself as their senior martial uncle, and asked Ying Huaixu about the woman.