Chapter Summaries

Xu Changxing’s simulation showed him forming a first-rank golden core, abandoning the Setting Sun Sect before the Yin Corpse Sect destroyed it, and living for centuries as a secluded sect founder. He eventually forced a flawed nascent soul to defend his disciples, died from his injuries, and felt frustrated by the slow, troubled life.

• Xu Changxing began a new simulation, cultivated the Yi Wood Sword Art, and formed a first-rank golden core in his eighth year.
• He chose not to warn the Setting Sun Sect about the Yin Corpse Sect, left under the pretext of traveling, and watched from afar as the sect fell.
• Xu Changxing settled in a secluded paradise, founded a sect, took a disciple, and later reached the core formation late stage.
• He learned that Li Changge had wounded the Yin Corpse Sect’s Resurrected Ancestor and regretted failing to protect his former sect.
• Xu Changxing forced himself to condense a nascent soul to defend his disciples from an Artifact Soul Sect elder, then died of his injuries twenty years later.
• After the simulation ended, Xu Changxing grumbled that the life had been frustrating despite its long years and many disciples.

Xu Changxing watched the first-person footage of his simulated life and understood how witnessing the Setting Sun Sect’s destruction had left a knot in his heart that hindered his cultivation. After resolving to fulfill his simulated self’s unfinished wish, he mastered the Sword Pellet and practiced sword techniques until a summons announced the sect tournament.

• Xu Changxing chose to watch his simulated life rather than claim late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, then studied the Yi Wood Sword Art and his tournament battles in detail.
• He watched his simulated self condense a first-grade Golden Core and saw the Setting Sun Sect destroyed, understanding the source of the lingering knot in his heart.
• Xu Changxing watched Li Changge wound the Yin Corpse Sect's patriarch, his simulated self’s prolonged struggle to condense a perfect Nascent Soul, and his eventual death.
• He resolved to fulfill what his simulated self had left unfinished and drew the Sword Pellet Li Changge had given him.
• Xu Changxing wielded the Sword Pellet and practiced sword techniques for dozens of days and nights until someone knocked and said the sect tournament was about to begin.

Xu Changxing mastered the Yi Wood Sword Art, reached the foundation establishment middle stage, and condensed sword intent as he prepared for the Sect Grand Competition. At the venue, he met Han Mingguan and bet that they would be matched against each other that day.

• Xu Changxing realized two months had passed while he practiced, and discovered his cultivation had advanced to the foundation establishment middle stage.
• Xu Changxing decided to enter the Sect Grand Competition and asked the young Daoist attendant when it would begin; the attendant noticed Xu Changxing had condensed sword intent.
• Xu Changxing asked the attendant to keep his sword intent secret, learned the competition began the next day, and spent the night refining and practicing Liu Chenyu's Flying Shuttle.
• Xu Changxing arrived at the venue and recognized Han Mingguan, who had defeated him in an earlier simulation with a barrage of talismans.
• Xu Changxing told Han Mingguan they might compete in two days, then bet a thousand spirit stones that they would meet in the arena that day.
• Han Mingguan accepted the bet and contacted his master to arrange for them to draw their lots together.

Xu Changxing agreed to wager three thousand low-grade spirit stones with Han Mingguan before the sect tournament, confident that he could fight without holding back. As the Core Formation elders gathered, Liu Chenyu defended his third disciple and accepted a wager that Xu Changxing would advance through five rounds.

• Xu Changxing proposed betting three thousand low-grade spirit stones on the outcome of his duel with Han Mingguan, and Han accepted.
• Xu Changxing reflected on his changed resolve to pursue immortality and prepared to reveal more of his strength.
• Core Formation elders questioned Liu Chenyu about letting his newly established Foundation Establishment disciple compete, and Liu defended Xu Changxing's solid foundation and sword talent.
• An elder surnamed Li wagered Heaven Crystal Sand against Liu Chenyu's Spirit-Nourishing Fruit plant on whether Xu Changxing would make it through five rounds.
• Liu Chenyu accepted the wager and challenged the elder surnamed Li to be ready to hand over the Heaven Crystal Sand.

Pei Yong'an drew Xu Changxing to face Han Mingguan in the tournament's first match, surprising Liu Chenyu and drawing bets from the watching elders. Xu Changxing's Greenwood Sword cut through Han Mingguan's talismans and chains, and the match remained underway.

• Pei Yong'an arrived at the tournament and drew Han Mingguan and Xu Changxing as the first opponents.
• Liu Chenyu and the watching elders reacted with surprise when Xu Changxing was matched against Han Mingguan, while Elder Li and others began betting on Xu Changxing's prospects.
• Xu Changxing and Han Mingguan entered the arena, and Han Mingguan sent dozens of talismans to intercept Xu Changxing's Greenwood Sword.
• Xu Changxing's sword pierced Han Mingguan's talismans and killing formation, forcing Han Mingguan to use a Displacement Talisman and summon Dragon-Locking Talismans.
• Xu Changxing turned the Greenwood Sword aside to sever the chains aimed at him and then cut through the remaining chains.

Xu Changxing fought Han Mingguan through a second shower of talismans, refusing to use his Flying Shuttle and instead countering with talismans of his own while attacking with his sword. Han Mingguan retreated under the pressure as the spectators realized Xu Changxing was breaking through his defenses.

• Xu Changxing sent his Greenwood Sword at Han Mingguan, who answered with a renewed shower of talismans and layered protective barriers.
• Xu Changxing remembered losing to this tactic in a simulation, but chose not to use his Flying Shuttle and resolved to overpower Han Mingguan head-on.
• Xu Changxing drew talismans with one hand to hold back Han Mingguan's attacks while repeatedly striking his barriers with his flying sword.
• Xu Changxing smashed through several layers of Han Mingguan's defenses, forcing Han Mingguan to retreat and draw chains from more talismans to stop the sword.
• The watching cultivators marveled at Xu Changxing's strength and worried that the tournament's other competitors could not match him or Han Mingguan.

Xu Changxing defeated Han Mingguan without moving from his spot, astonishing the tournament spectators and delighting Liu Chenyu. After Ye Hong won his own match, he challenged Xu Changxing to fight him in the tournament tomorrow.

• Xu Changxing overwhelmed Han Mingguan’s talisman barrage and won when his Greenwood Sword reached Han Mingguan’s shoulder.
• Liu Chenyu pressed Elder Li to honor their wager, while the elders realized Xu Changxing had not moved during the entire match.
• Pei Yong’an quietly spoke to Han Mingguan after the loss, and Liu Chenyu’s fellow elders praised Flying Stream Peak for producing two prodigies.
• Ye Hong defeated his opponent with his Flowing Cloud Flying Shuttle, then challenged Xu Changxing to meet him in the first match tomorrow.

Xu Changxing wagered six thousand low-grade spirit stones against Ye Hong before their upcoming match, while Liu Chenyu backed his disciple with rare treasures amid a dispute with Li Pingyang. Back at his mountain peak, Xu Changxing reviewed his fight with Han Mingguan and decided to face Ye Hong without using a simulation.

• Xu Changxing clarified that he wanted to wager six thousand low-grade spirit stones against Ye Hong, and Ye Hong accepted.
• The Core Formation elders discussed the wager and placed bets on the upcoming match, while Liu Chenyu staked heaven crystal sand and a Spirit-Nourishing Fruit on Xu Changxing.
• Li Pingyang warned that Xu Changxing might lose tomorrow and later face Han Mingguan in the losers' bracket, but Liu Chenyu stood by his wager.
• After the matches ended, Xu Changxing returned to his mountain peak and reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of his fight with Han Mingguan.
• Xu Changxing considered using a simulation to prepare for Ye Hong but chose to fight him without one.

Xu Changxing received supplies and intelligence about Ye Hong from Liu Chenyu before the tournament, then chose to rely on the Greenwood Sword rather than a defensive artifact. He restored himself and flew to the tournament grounds for his match against Ye Hong.

• Xu Changxing received pills, spirit stones, a defensive artifact, and a Message Jade Pendant from Liu Chenyu through a young Dao Attendant.
• Xu Changxing learned that Ye Hong carried an artifact designed to counter flying swords and that Liu Chenyu had bet on him reaching the fifth round.
• Xu Changxing examined the supplies and found three thousand low-grade spirit stones and a defensive artifact that could block spell attacks automatically.
• When Xu Changxing picked up the defensive artifact, the Greenwood Sword's Sword Pellet sprang out, and he decided to defeat Ye Hong using the sword alone.
• Xu Changxing resonated with the Greenwood Sword until dawn, restored himself with a Qi-Restoring Pill, and flew to the tournament grounds.

Xu Changxing faced Ye Hong in the Sect Grand Competition after Ye Hong tried to unsettle him with a speech about the Setting Sun Sect’s competing cultivation schools. Xu Changxing stayed determined and entered the arena, while Liu Chenyu worried that his Third Disciple had been affected.

• Xu Changxing arrived at the venue and drew Ye Hong as his opponent while Core Formation elders watched and placed bets.
• Ye Hong approached Xu Changxing and described the elders’ businesses and the sect’s two schools of cultivators, then urged him not to disappoint the Setting Sun Sect’s future.
• Xu Changxing recognized Ye Hong’s remarks as psychological warfare and resolved to defeat him fairly with the Greenwood Sword.
• The elders explained that Ye Hong often chatted with opponents to disturb their composure, and Liu Chenyu worried after seeing Xu Changxing standing dazed.

Xu Changxing defeated Ye Hong with a single swift strike of verdant swordlight, stunning the watching elders. After the match, Han Mingguan wondered whether he should switch to sword cultivation, and Pei Yong'an was left speechless.

• Liu Chenyu defended Xu Changxing's subdued sword intent while Li Pingyang mocked him and challenged him to another bet.
• Ye Hong opened the match by sending a Flying Shuttle at Xu Changxing, who stood motionless until the artifact reached him.
• Xu Changxing unleashed the Greenwood Sword, which shattered the Flying Shuttle and cut through three of Ye Hong's defensive artifacts.
• The arena elder declared Xu Changxing the winner, and Ye Hong protested that he refused to accept the loss.
• Han Mingguan watched Ye Hong's reaction and asked Pei Yong'an whether it was too late for him to switch to sword cultivation.

After Xu Changxing’s decisive victory, the Core Formation elders questioned the depth of his foundation and speculated about his unusual cultivation art. He offered the Spring Renewal Art to the sect and received a bottle of rare soul-nourishing pills from Liu Chenyu.

• Li Pingyang conceded the wager to Liu Chenyu and wondered how Xu Changxing’s foundation had let him destroy Ye Hong’s artifacts so easily.
• The Core Formation elders questioned Liu Chenyu about Xu Changxing’s cultivation art and warned that the sect might ask to see it.
• Xu Changxing watched the remaining tournament matches, then returned to his peak and reviewed the day’s fights.
• After Liu Chenyu’s Dao Attendant warned him that the sect might inquire about his cultivation art, Xu Changxing transcribed the Spring Renewal Art onto a Jade Slip and sent it to his master.
• Xu Changxing opened the Storage Bag Liu Chenyu had sent and found pills refined from the Spirit-Nourishing Fruit to nurture his soul.

Xu Changxing met Shi Haoyan, a Spirit Transformation patriarch interested in the Spring Renewal Art, and offered the cultivation art to the Setting Sun Sect. Shi Haoyan promised him merit points and invited him to explore an old friend’s secret realm after the competition.

• Xu Changxing admired the benefits he expected from joining the Setting Sun Sect while Liu Chenyu accidentally shattered the jade slip trying to undo Xu Changxing’s sword-intent restriction.
• Shi Haoyan visited Liu Chenyu after learning about the Spring Renewal Art and asked to meet Xu Changxing.
• Xu Changxing used his sword intent to temper the Spirit-Nurturing Pill’s effects, then met Shi Haoyan and agreed to record another copy of the Spring Renewal Art.
• Shi Haoyan explained that the art could help people without spiritual roots cultivate up to the fifth grade and promised Xu Changxing ten thousand merit points.
• Shi Haoyan invited Xu Changxing to explore his old friend’s secret realm after the competition and said he would come for him in half a month.

Xu Changxing won the tournament and used his growing resources to begin another simulation, which followed his expedition into the Secret Realm and ended with Shi Haoyan offering to guide his cultivation. Liu Chenyu accepted the offer on Xu Changxing’s behalf.

• Liu Chenyu told Xu Changxing that Granduncle-Master had awarded him ten thousand merit points and urged him to keep performing well in the tournament.
• Xu Changxing won his remaining matches, strengthened his sword intent, defeated Han Mingguan again, and claimed the tournament’s defensive robe as first prize.
• Remembering the Setting Sun Sect’s future crisis, Xu Changxing added spirit stones until his system points reached 2,000 and began a simulation.
• In the simulation, Xu Changxing exchanged 860 merit points for defensive artifacts and Life-Saving Pills before Shi Haoyan took him and Liu Chenyu into the Secret Realm.
• Xu Changxing and Liu Chenyu discovered a sealed passage, and Shi Haoyan returned to lead them to the Cave Abode and help Xu Changxing refine it.
• Xu Changxing offered the Cave Abode to the sect, accepted Shi Haoyan’s offer to guide his cultivation, and saw Liu Chenyu agree on his behalf.

Xu Changxing became a peerless swordsman and slaughtered his way to Nascent Soul, then joined Shi Haoyan in confronting the Yin Corpse Sect’s awakening Old Devil. The plan ended in tragedy: Shi Haoyan detonated himself, and Xu Changxing died striking down the Spirit Transformation patriarch who had shattered his Nascent Soul.

• Xu Changxing trained under Shi Haoyan, advanced to Foundation Establishment late stage, and honed his swordsmanship in demonic Secret Realms.
• Xu Changxing entered the Dao through slaughter, formed a first-rank Golden Core, and advanced to Core Formation late stage.
• Xu Changxing killed Yin Corpse Sect elders, escaped a trap set by three Nascent Soul patriarchs, and later shattered his Golden Core to form a slaughter Nascent Soul.
• Xu Changxing told Shi Haoyan about the Setting Sun Sect’s crisis, and they devised a plan to draw out the Yin Corpse Sect’s high-level cultivators while Shi Haoyan sought the Old Devil.
• The Yin Corpse Sect awakened its Old Devil early, and Shi Haoyan detonated himself during his surprise attack.
• A Spirit Transformation patriarch shattered Xu Changxing’s Nascent Soul, but Xu Changxing ignited it and pierced the patriarch with his final sword strike before dying.

After rejecting a killing-intent golden core, Xu Changxing strengthened his wood spiritual root and began another simulation. He warned the righteous sects about the Yin Corpse Sect, but the sect’s old devils escaped their attack and soon devastated their forces.

• Xu Changxing rejected the killing-intent golden core and chose to improve his wood spiritual root.
• Xu Changxing spent two thousand low-grade spirit stones and started another simulation, forming a slaughter nascent soul three months earlier than before.
• Xu Changxing investigated the Yin Corpse Sect, reported its plans to Shi Haoyan, and helped gather seven Spirit Transformation patriarchs and dozens of Nascent Soul Cultivators.
• The allied sects found the Yin Corpse Sect largely abandoned, while its patriarchs and the unnamed Old Devil had vanished.
• The righteous sects’ kill order killed or wounded many Yin Corpse Sect cultivators, but its Spirit Transformation patriarchs remained missing.
• The Star Cloud Sect was destroyed, and three of six Spirit Transformation patriarchs who confronted the Yin Corpse Sect’s old devils fell while the newly awakened Old Devil suffered only minor injuries.

After another simulation ended in his death at the hands of the revived Yin Corpse Sect Old Devil, Xu Changxing chose Foundation Establishment late stage cultivation and paused further simulations to save points for emergencies. Shi Haoyan and Liu Chenyu arrived and discovered Xu Changxing had advanced and condensed nine cloud patterns before leading him toward a Secret Realm.

• Xu Changxing died in the simulation when the revived Old Devil shattered his sword light, and the system offered him cultivation or a first-person review.
• Xu Changxing chose Foundation Establishment late stage cultivation and decided to keep enough points for an emergency rather than simulate again before Shi Haoyan arrived.
• Xu Changxing refined his defensive robe and adjusted to his stronger cultivation while waiting for Shi Haoyan.
• Shi Haoyan and Liu Chenyu arrived, and Liu Chenyu noticed that Xu Changxing's aura had grown stronger.
• Shi Haoyan confirmed Xu Changxing had reached Foundation Establishment late stage with a solid foundation, then revealed he had condensed nine cloud patterns.
• Shi Haoyan set aside further discussion of Xu Changxing's cultivation and led him and Liu Chenyu toward a Secret Realm.

Shi Haoyan brought Xu Changxing and Liu Chenyu into a secret realm that had once been his deceased friend’s cave abode. As they uncovered a formation requiring Xu Changxing’s Spring Renewal Art, Xu Changxing realized the realm’s killing intent might have caused the Slaughter Nascent Soul in his simulations, and Shi Haoyan led them toward what lay deeper within.

• Shi Haoyan flew with Xu Changxing and Liu Chenyu to a forest hiding the secret realm’s entrance, disabled its maze formation, and opened the way inside.
• Xu Changxing found the realm filled with killing intent and twisted vegetation, prompting him to suspect that the realm had influenced the Slaughter Nascent Soul he formed in his simulations.
• Shi Haoyan cleared a path through the hostile forest with golden light, and he and Xu Changxing reached a plaza made of jade-like roots.
• At Shi Haoyan’s instruction, Xu Changxing poured his Spring Renewal true essence into the plaza for two hours, revealing a formation and shaking the ground beneath it.
• Shi Haoyan split the platform open, discovered another maze formation below, and gave Xu Changxing a mid-grade piece of rootless wood before leading him onward.

After Shi Haoyan left the Secret Realm, Xu Changxing and Liu Chenyu gathered a rich harvest, and Xu Changxing decided not to search for the realm’s hidden core. He left his spirit fruits with Liu Chenyu to refine and sell for spirit stones, which would support his future cultivation.

• Shi Haoyan warned Xu Changxing not to become too immersed in the Secret Realm’s murderous intent, then left with his task complete.
• Xu Changxing and Liu Chenyu searched the Secret Realm for several days and collected many treasures, including hundreds of spirit fruits.
• Xu Changxing considered finding the Secret Realm’s core and offering it to the sect, but chose to leave it undiscovered so he could keep his freedom near Liu Chenyu.
• Xu Changxing met Liu Chenyu at their agreed spot and asked him to refine the spirit fruits tainted by murderous intent.
• Liu Chenyu examined Xu Changxing’s unusually large harvest and agreed to exchange the refined pills for spirit stones.

Xu Changxing simulated leaving the Setting Sun Sect to train as a rogue cultivator, a path that eventually led him to form an ordinary first-grade golden core. He wondered whether to settle for that core rather than continue pursuing a sword core as he watched the rest of the simulation.

• Xu Changxing absorbed the Emerald Crystal, further improving his first-grade wood spiritual root, then started a simulation.
• Xu Changxing's simulation showed him struggling over whether to stay with the Setting Sun Sect, and he recognized that the system understood his feelings about leaving.
• Xu Changxing decided to leave the sect, gave Liu Chenyu a reason for departing, and bid farewell to the Setting Sun Sect after leaving his master a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
• Xu Changxing traveled to the Artifact Soul Sect's territory and trained as a rogue cultivator, surviving betrayals and dangers while exploring Secret Realms.
• Xu Changxing formed an ordinary first-grade golden core in the sixth year of the simulation and questioned whether he should abandon his pursuit of a sword core.