Chapter Summaries

Chu Kuangren learned that the Azure Glass Divine Lamp might be connected to the Qingxuan Sword Emperor and decided to keep it while investigating. When the Sword Clan’s Seven-Colored Sword Attendants arrived to seize the lamp, Chu Kuangren stepped forward and revealed that it was with him.

• The Wu Family head told Chu Kuangren that several Lineages had targeted the incomplete Azure Glass Divine Lamp, which was rumored to be connected to the Qingxuan Sword Emperor.
• Chu Kuangren learned that an Emperor Position might soon emerge on Emperor Mountain and decided to keep the divine lamp rather than return it to the Wu Family.
• The Sword Clan’s Seven-Colored Sword Attendants arrived with the Zhang Family and Qian Family heads and demanded that the Wu Family hand over the lamp or be annihilated.
• The Wu Family head said the lamp was no longer in his possession, and Chu Kuangren appeared, saying it was with him.

Chu Kuangren overwhelmed the Seven-Colored Sword Attendants with several Emperor Techniques and trapped them using the Nine Heavens Sword Prison. The revelation that he possessed a Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart alerted another bearer of the same Supreme Dao Body, who resolved that only one could reach the peak of the Sword Dao.

• The red Sword Attendant demanded that Chu Kuangren hand over the Azure Glass Divine Lamp, but Chu Kuangren blasted him away with the Sorrowful Heaven Palm.
• Chu Kuangren summoned a towering Ancient Buddha and injured the other six Sword Attendants when they joined forces to defend their leader.
• The Seven-Colored Sword Attendants unleashed a combined attack and fled in seven directions, but Chu Kuangren blocked their attack with runes and summoned the Nine Heavens Sword Prison to trap them.
• A young man with a Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart sensed Chu Kuangren's Sword Dao Rhythm and wondered whether the disturbance in Stone City involved the Seven-Colored Sword Attendants.
• Chu Kuangren acknowledged the other Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart and said he was done playing with the trapped Sword Attendants.

Chu Kuangren defeated the Seven-Colored Sword Attendants, gave the Wu Family the chance to blame him for taking the Azure Glass Divine Lamp, and departed along the Emperor Road. After mastering a soul-controlling Emperor Technique, he heard from Shang Qingxue, who was trapped in a frigid space beneath a lake, and set out to find clues.

• Chu Kuangren killed the Seven-Colored Sword Attendants and bound the Zhang Family Head and his companions before leaving the Wu Family with the Azure Glass Divine Lamp.
• The Wu Family Head ordered the bound captives killed to prevent the Sword Clan from learning of the Wu Family's ties to Chu Kuangren.
• After failing to reach the Mystic Heaven Sect's Daoist Seeds, Chu Kuangren drew the Soul-Controlling Slave Seal and tested it on a Demon Beast, making it obedient.
• Shang Qingxue contacted Chu Kuangren and told him she was trapped beneath a lake in a strange, intensely cold space.
• Chu Kuangren told Shang Qingxue to protect herself and remain in contact, then headed for a distant city to search for clues.

Chu Kuangren went to Heavenly Lake Mountain after hearing rumors of its surging Heavenly Lake Energy and possible treasures, hoping to find Shang Qingxue. He entered the mountain despite the ancient Daoist Traditions’ restrictions and headed toward Heavenly Lake’s Core Region, where his spirit thoughts could not reach.

• Chu Kuangren heard cultivators discuss Heavenly Lake Mountain’s frequent energy eruptions, Heavenly Lake Ice Crystals, and the ancient Daoist Traditions claiming the area.
• Chu Kuangren revealed his Saint cultivation to the guards and entered Heavenly Lake Mountain after being warned not to approach the sealed central area.
• Chu Kuangren seized a mass of Heavenly Lake Energy from Zhu Shiba and sent her flying into the snow when she challenged him.
• Chu Kuangren refined the Heavenly Lake Energy, sensed many more masses and Ice Crystals near the lake’s core, and wondered whether Shang Qingxue was there.
• Chu Kuangren walked deeper toward Heavenly Lake’s Core Region, while Zhu Shiba climbed out of the snow and called him a terrifying fellow.

Shang Qingxue discovered that the Iceheart Snow Lotus was transforming her Frost Dao Body, while several Heavenly Prides tried to break through its defenses. Outside Heavenly Lake, Chu Kuangren arrived and tore open the barrier with his bare hands.

• Shang Qingxue found herself atop the Iceheart Snow Lotus, which shielded her from attacks by the Heavenly Prides gathered at the lake.
• Shang Qingxue realized the lotus's energy could improve her Frost Dao Body and began absorbing it as the Heavenly Prides continued attacking.
• Several Saints outside Heavenly Lake complained that the Gu Family, Sima Family, Snow Spider Lineage, and Snow Lion Lineage had barred them from entering.
• Chu Kuangren approached the barrier and let its powerful electrical arcs strike his Supreme Saint physique without harm.
• Chu Kuangren seized the barrier with both hands and tore open a massive gap using his physical strength.

Chu Kuangren broke through the barrier and defeated Bai Lei with one move before heading to the Heavenly Lake, where Shang Qingxue was inside the Iceheart Snow Lotus. Wang Tianteng tried to claim the lotus, but Spider Princess, White Lion Heart, and Sima Ren arrived to challenge him.

• Chu Kuangren tore open the barrier, dismissed Bai Lei’s warning, and defeated the Snow Lion Quasi-Emperor with Heart-Severing Finger.
• Chu Kuangren entered the barrier and confirmed that Shang Qingxue was at the Heavenly Lake.
• Wang Tianteng recognized Shang Qingxue as a Heavenly Pride from Firmament Star and tried to seize the Iceheart Snow Lotus after deciding Chu Kuangren was not there.
• Spider Princess, White Lion Heart, and Sima Ren arrived and declared that they would contest Wang Tianteng for the snow lotus.

Wang Tianteng, White Lion Heart, Spider Princess, and Sima Ren fought over the Iceheart Snow Lotus, then joined forces to break Shang Qingxue’s barrier and attack her. A powerful newcomer from the Mystic Heaven Sect shattered White Lion Heart’s attack, and Wang Tianteng recognized him with terror.

• Wang Tianteng fought White Lion Heart, Spider Princess, and Sima Ren, then used the Mixed-Origin Five-Elements Bell to withstand their attacks.
• Wang Tianteng proposed dividing the Iceheart Snow Lotus’s twelve petals equally, and the others agreed.
• White Lion Heart and the other three Heavenly Prides broke Shang Qingxue’s cold-air barrier and prepared to seize the snow lotus.
• White Lion Heart attacked Shang Qingxue, but an unseen arrival shattered his lion phantom with a palm strike.
• Wang Tianteng raised the Mixed-Origin Five-Elements Bell and exclaimed that the newcomer had arrived.

Chu Kuangren arrived at the Heavenly Lake to protect Shang Qingxue as she enhanced her Frost Dao Body, then overwhelmed the ancient Daoist Traditions’ forces. After killing White Lion Heart and a Quasi-Emperor, he drove the remaining Quasi-Emperors away.

• Chu Kuangren arrived at the Heavenly Lake, where Shang Qingxue was advancing her Frost Dao Body, and told her to focus while he handled the others.
• Wang Tianteng offered Chu Kuangren the Iceheart Snow Lotus, but Chu Kuangren rejected the offer and warned the group for threatening a Mystic Heaven Sect member.
• Chu Kuangren killed White Lion Heart with a single Finger Force, prompting Quasi-Emperor Bai Lei and other Quasi-Emperors to confront him.
• A Snow Spider Quasi-Emperor attacked Chu Kuangren, who split the spider-silk net and killed him with sword light from Kunwu.
• Bai Lei and the remaining Quasi-Emperors fled after seeing Chu Kuangren’s strength, while Wang Tianteng was stunned by how much he had improved.

Chu Kuangren killed Wang Tianteng, Spider Princess, and Sima Ren after they attacked a Mystic Heaven Sect disciple, then waited as Shang Qingxue’s Frost Dao Body fused with the Iceheart Snow Lotus. He barred others from approaching the lotus with a lethal sword mark, and the lotus began to bloom.

• Chu Kuangren killed Wang Tianteng despite the Gu Family Quasi-Emperor’s warning, then killed Spider Princess and Sima Ren after their families offered Spirit Source to spare them.
• Shang Qingxue explained how she had been transported to Heavenly Lake and accepted by the Iceheart Snow Lotus, while Chu Kuangren saw that her Frost Dao Body had reached ninety-four percent progress.
• The Snow Spider Lineage and the Snow Lion Lineage withdrew, and Chu Kuangren stayed beside Shang Qingxue as the lotus continued fusing with her.
• Cultivators rushed toward the Iceheart Snow Lotus after the barrier disappeared, but Chu Kuangren warned them not to cross his sword mark and killed a Saint who ignored him.
• The gathered cultivators recognized Chu Kuangren as the reason the ancient Daoist Traditions had backed down, and the Iceheart Snow Lotus began unfolding its twelve petals.

Shang Qingxue refined the Iceheart Snow Lotus and gained a supreme Dao Body, but four ancient Daoist Traditions’ rulers arrived to kill Chu Kuangren. Chu Kuangren repelled the Sima Family’s head with his sword, and the four rulers prepared to continue their attack.

• Shang Qingxue finished refining the Iceheart Snow Lotus, transformed her Frost Dao Body into a supreme Dao Body, and gained strength rivaling a seven-step Saint King.
• Chu Kuangren told Shang Qingxue to wait, then sensed the approach of four powerful Quasi-Emperors.
• The heads of the Sima Family and Gu Family and the chiefs of the Snow Lion Clan and Snow Spider Lineage arrived and threatened Chu Kuangren.
• Chu Kuangren reassured Shang Qingxue and dismissed the four Quasi-Emperors as no serious threat.
• The Sima Family’s head attacked with his sword, but Chu Kuangren’s Purple Sword Light drove him back and revealed his Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart.

Chu Kuangren fought the Snow Lion Clan Leader, the Gu Family Head, and the Snow Spider Clan Leader, overwhelming them with his swordsmanship and physical strength. He pinned the grievously injured Snow Lion Clan Leader beneath his Mountain Character Rune just as a tremendous wave of Emperor Dao Pressure appeared in the sky.

• The Snow Lion Clan Leader attacked Chu Kuangren with Beast King Fury, but Chu injured him with Heart-Severing Finger.
• The Gu Family Head and Snow Spider Clan Leader joined the fight, but Chu cut through the spear attack and destroyed her Heavenly Net.
• The Snow Lion Clan Leader charged with Seven-Step Killing Fist, and Chu met his punch using only his Supreme Saint body.
• Chu unleashed his full strength, shattered the Snow Lion Clan Leader's arm, and struck him into grievous injury.
• Chu pinned the Snow Lion Clan Leader to the ground with his Mountain Character Rune and mocked him as a kitty.
• A tremendous wave of Emperor Dao Pressure suddenly emerged high in the sky.

Chu Kuangren defeated the Sima Family Head and seized the Sima Family’s Emperor Weapon, then trapped and killed the Gu Family Head, Snow Spider Clan Chief, and Snow Lion Clan Chief. The Sima Family Head remained as the only surviving enemy among the four leaders.

• The Sima Family Head attacked Chu Kuangren with the Sima Family’s Emperor Weapon, but Chu Kuangren countered with the Sea God Trident and overwhelmed him.
• Chu Kuangren used his Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart to make the Sima Family’s golden longsword submit and severed the Sima Family Head’s connection to it.
• The Gu Family Head and Snow Spider Clan Chief tried to flee, but Chu Kuangren sealed them inside the Nine Heavens Sword Prison.
• Chu Kuangren killed the Gu Family Head with a purple sword strike and split the Snow Spider Clan Chief’s true form in two with the Heaven-Slaying Sword-Drawing Art.
• Chu Kuangren pierced the pinned Snow Lion Clan Chief with a Runes Sword, leaving the Sima Family Head as the only one of the four leaders still alive.

Chu Kuangren killed the Sima Family Head after defeating the four Quasi-Emperors at Heavenly Lake Mountain, then left with Shang Qingxue and their spoils. The Sima Family enlisted the Sword Clan against him, and the Sword Daoist declared that Chu Kuangren must die before the Sword Clan Leader summoned the Shadow Sword Guards.

• Chu Kuangren killed the fleeing Sima Family Head, leaving none of the four Quasi-Emperors alive, then collected their Heaven and Earth Rings and departed with Shang Qingxue.
• The Sima Family discovered that its Family Head had died and learned that Chu Kuangren possessed a Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart, Emperor Weapons, and the strength to slay Quasi-Emperors.
• The Sima Family's Quasi-Emperors agreed to ask the Sword Clan to deal with Chu Kuangren and help reclaim the Emperor Weapon.
• The Sword Clan Leader sent Chu Kuangren's information to the Sword Daoist, who said Chu Kuangren held the Azure Glass Divine Lamp he wanted and could not be allowed to live.
• The Sword Clan Leader summoned the Shadow Sword Guards, an assassination unit of three black-robed swordsmen.

The Sword Clan sent three Shadow Sword Guards to kill Chu Kuangren and recover the Azure Glass Divine Lamp, while the guards each planned to act alone. As Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue considered heading to Seven-String City to see an Emperor Weapon guqin, Mountain Sword Guard found him and declared his intent to kill.

• The Sword Clan's patriarch ordered Mountain Sword Guard, Grudge Sword Guard, and Charm Sword Guard to kill Chu Kuangren and bring back the Azure Glass Divine Lamp.
• Mountain Sword Guard and Grudge Sword Guard chose to attack separately, while Charm Sword Guard let them go first and secretly acted to protect the Sword Daoist's claim to the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart.
• Charm Sword Guard revealed her devotion to the Sword Daoist and vowed to eliminate anyone who threatened his rise.
• At a teahouse, Chu Kuangren learned from a waiter about the Emperor Weapon guqin and Ten Thousand Zithers Banquet in Seven-String City, and decided to visit.
• Mountain Sword Guard arrived at the teahouse, identified himself to Chu Kuangren, and declared that he had come to kill him.

Chu Kuangren fought the Sword Clan's Mountain Sword Guard, overpowering his Mountains and Rivers sword techniques and pursuing him when he fled. Just as the guard survived Chu Kuangren's rune swords, an emperor-grade thunder talisman appeared above him.

• The Mountain Sword Guard confronted Chu Kuangren at a teahouse and attacked him with his broadsword.
• Chu Kuangren shattered the guard's Mountains and Rivers Ninefold attacks with Purple Sword Light.
• The Mountain Sword Guard fled and tried to trap Chu Kuangren with earth qi, but Chu Kuangren broke free and caught up to him.
• Chu Kuangren attacked the Mountain Sword Guard with a rain of Runes Sword, injuring him despite his defensive Quasi-Emperor Weapon.
• An emperor-grade thunder talisman appeared above the Mountain Sword Guard as he finished blocking the rune swords.

Chu Kuangren killed the Mountain Sword Guard and told the Sword Clan Leader that their war had already begun. He and Shang Qingxue then reached Seven-String City, where Chu Kuangren planned to compete for a rumored Emperor Weapon guqin.

• Chu Kuangren killed the Mountain Sword Guard with an Emperor-Grade Thunder Talisman and took his Message Compass.
• Chu Kuangren spoke with the Sword Clan Leader, taunted him, declared that their war had begun long ago, and destroyed the compass to avoid being tracked.
• The Grudge Sword Guard watched the fight from afar and decided he would need to prepare rather than confront Chu Kuangren directly.
• The Sword Clan Leader grew furious and vowed to see how Chu Kuangren would challenge the Sword Clan.
• Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue arrived in Seven-String City and learned that the Seven-String Zither Society would present a rumored Emperor Weapon guqin at the Ten Thousand Zithers Banquet.
• Chu Kuangren decided to practice his Zither Dao and compete for the guqin, which he needed after his Lingering Echo Guqin was damaged.

Chu Kuangren went to the Cloud Pavilion with Shang Qingxue to meet Zither Dao cultivators and encountered Feng Yaorao and Li Changyin. After Li Changyin helped them enter the gathering, Chu Kuangren removed the Spiritual Light hiding his face, drawing the assembled cultivators’ attention.

• Chu Kuangren reviewed the Gods and Devils Eight Tones and asked Shang Qingxue about notable Zither Dao cultivators in Seven-String City.
• Shang Qingxue told Chu Kuangren that Yang Xiyun would make friends through the zither at the Cloud Pavilion, so they went there, only to learn that invitations were required.
• Feng Yaorao recognized Chu Kuangren, and he struggled to remember her name before she reminded him.
• Feng Yaorao offered Chu Kuangren an invitation, but Li Changyin instead invited him and Shang Qingxue in as his guests.
• At the gathering, Li Changyin introduced Feng Yaorao and asked Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue to reveal their faces; Chu Kuangren dispelled the Spiritual Light concealing his face.

Chu Kuangren revealed his handsome face at the Cloud Pavilion and drew the attention of the female cultivators. At Yang Xiyun’s musical gathering, he discovered that Murong Xuan and Yang Xiyun had grown close, and her affectionate performance and introduction confirmed their budding romance.

• Chu Kuangren dispelled the spiritual light hiding his face, stunning the gathering and attracting the female cultivators’ attention.
• Yang Xiyun arrived with her renowned zither Water Moon and announced that she would perform a newly composed piece.
• Shang Qingxue pointed out that Yang Xiyun and Murong Xuan were exchanging intimate glances, and Chu Kuangren realized they seemed interested in each other.
• Yang Xiyun played a tender composition that moved the audience, while she and Murong Xuan continued to exchange affectionate looks.
• Yang Xiyun said her new piece had been inspired by meeting someone, identified Murong Xuan as the man who had saved her life, and sat beside him.

At a zither banquet, Chu Kuangren dismissed the performances with the same faint praise, prompting the guests to mistake him for a tone-deaf layman. When a zither cultivator pressured Murong Xuan to perform, Chu Kuangren answered with a cutting insult.

• Yang Xiyun ignored the zither masters who performed and continued speaking intimately with Murong Xuan.
• Chu Kuangren called several performances, including Li Changyin’s, “not bad,” leading the guests to assume he knew nothing about the Zither Dao.
• Murong Xuan finally noticed Chu Kuangren and greeted his Sect Leader, while Yang Xiyun respectfully introduced herself to Chu Kuangren.
• Li Changyin impressed the gathering with his performance, but Chu Kuangren’s restrained assessment drew further scorn from the zither masters.
• A white-robed zither cultivator challenged Murong Xuan to perform and implied that refusing meant he looked down on them.
• Chu Kuangren said that if the cultivator counted as someone worth looking down on, then he was too insignificant.

Chu Kuangren reunited with Murong Xuan, learned how he and Yang Xiyun had fallen for each other, and traveled with them to the Rare Sound Sect. At the Ten Thousand Zithers Banquet, prominent zither cultivators gathered as the Emperor Weapon Spring Thunder appeared.

• Chu Kuangren silenced the white-robed zither player who demanded that Murong Xuan perform, and Yang Xiyun ended the dispute.
• Murong Xuan told Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue how he had rescued Yang Xiyun from Demon Beasts and grown close to her in the forest.
• Yang Xiyun invited Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue to the Rare Sound Sect, where the Sect Master received them coolly.
• The Ten Thousand Zithers Banquet began in Seven-String City, with the three chairpersons and renowned zither cultivators, including Jian Changfeng, assembling in the square.
• The Ji Family Head called for the Emperor Weapon, and lightning revealed the azure Guqin Spring Thunder.