Chapter Summaries

Mu Bai reunited with Xing Yun after conceding his tournament match to Qiu Yu, and the two spent the night together and shared their longing. Their reunion ended with the alarming news that Wu Meng had gone missing on the day Mu Bai left the Eastern Ridge.

• Mu Bai stopped Hu Meier from attacking Qiu Yu, accepted healing pills, and gave Qiu Yu the victory by withdrawing from the match.
• Mu Lan told Mu Bai that Chen Qi had returned to the Northern Plains amid trouble at the Sword Sect and that Ye Wan was overseeing Mu Lan Pavilion.
• Mu Bai and Xing Yun reunited privately beneath Tianmu Mountain, where they discussed their separation and their future together.
• Xing Yun told Mu Bai that Wu Meng had disappeared the day he left the Eastern Ridge, and that the White Wolf Tribe had searched for her without success.

Xing Yun told Mu Bai that Wu Meng had disappeared, and the two reaffirmed their love before returning to their lodgings. Later, Mu Bai watched the Eastern Ridge Prodigies tournament with Xing Yun and recognized Tao Hang competing for the Taoyuan Tribe.

• Xing Yun told Mu Bai about Wu Meng's disappearance, and Mu Bai assured Xing Yun that his complicated feelings for Wu Meng were not love.
• Mu Bai and Xing Yun kissed beneath the night sky and returned to their lodgings at dawn.
• Xi Bazì and Sweet Potato Boy teased Mu Bai and Mu Lan, and Zeng Yuan gave Mu Bai three Silver-Winged Tiger Might Pills.
• Mu Bai took a Silver-Winged Tiger Might Pill in his room while Hu Meier sat listlessly before her mirror.
• Mu Bai went with Xing Yun to South Peak and decided to wait until after the tournament to tell her about Xiu Zun Xing Yuan's belongings and ashes.
• Mu Bai watched Tao Hang of the Taoyuan Tribe compete at Peak Xiu Zun cultivation on the Mu Viewing Platform.

Mu Bai studied Tao Hang’s Wood Emperor inheritance and realized that plants and trees could lend him power if he returned it to them, allowing him to refine his body through a cycle of borrowing and returning. He successfully began Dao Refining cultivation ahead of schedule, gaining a new combat method but risking an unstable foundation.

• Xing Yun brought Mu Bai to watch Tao Hang compete, and Tao Hang won by drawing on the power of plants and trees.
• Mu Bai recognized how Tao Hang’s method differed from his own Five Elements cultivation and considered how to connect his body to the Origin Realm’s elements.
• Inspired by the World Tree seedling, Mu Bai realized that he had to borrow plant power and return it rather than simply absorb it.
• Mu Bai released the plant essence stored in his body, shriveling as it flowed outward before his body regained its vitality.
• Mu Bai drew in the surrounding plants’ power and returned it after use, advancing his physical cultivation while gaining a sustained source of combat strength.
• Mu Bai began Dao Refining cultivation before reading the Flying Immortal Scripture’s teachings, gaining new abilities but leaving his foundation at risk of becoming unstable.

After completing his wood- and earth-attribute experiments, Mu Bai joined the Tianmu Mountain tournament as the top-four matches were set. He drew Bai Yu, Hundred Virtues’s grandson and a Kunling Sect opponent, and prepared for their imminent battle.

• Mu Bai opened connections between his wood and earth attributes and the outside world, then ended his seven-day enlightenment and flew with Xing Yun to the Northern Peak.
• The four rising stars—Zhou Detai, Deng Yufei, Ling Jinyu, and Duan Tianshu—were celebrated, while people from Mu City and Ximu City rushed to Tianmu Mountain to support Mu Bai.
• Mu Bai reunited with Mu Lan and the others, then exchanged hostile words with Hundred Virtues and Bai Yu on the main platform.
• The draw paired Mu Bai against Bai Yu, Ling Jinyu against Deng Yufei, Rao Lin against Duan Tianshu, and Lu Ming against Zhou Detai.
• Mu Bai and Bai Yu faced each other with fighting spirit as their battle was about to begin.

Mu Bai and Bai Yu fought fiercely, with Bai Yu initially forcing Mu Bai onto the defensive before Mu Bai countered his Kunxiang arts and injured him. The bout ended with Hundred Virtues intervening to heal Bai Yu, and Mu Bai asking whether he had won.

• Mu Bai and Bai Yu exchanged dozens of attacks, and Bai Yu's spear and Earth Soul Nether Dragon kept Mu Bai on the defensive.
• Bai Yu unleashed the Nether Dragon Burial of the Ominous, but Mu Bai answered with his own Kun-earth dragon, revealing that he could use Kunxiang arts too.
• Bai Yu transformed into his Kunxiang form and knocked Mu Bai down, then threw the Dingkun Spear at him and raised his forefeet to trample him.
• Xing Yun cried out, calling Mu Bai "Husband," as Mu Bai turned Tianmu Mountain's vegetation into a huge spear and pierced Bai Yu's Kunxiang body.
• Bai Yu reverted to human form with a grievous chest wound, and Hundred Virtues tore through the protective formation to heal him.
• Mu Bai asked Hundred Virtues whether he had won the round.

Mu Bai fought Bai Yu on the Mu Viewing Platform as Hundred Virtues intervened and gave Bai Yu the Kunxiang Moon Disc. Mu Bai countered with the Star Sword and broke through Bai Yu’s moonlight attack, leaving the battle in his favor.

• Hundred Virtues tried to strike Mu Bai, then gave Bai Yu the Kunxiang Moon Disc and urged him to fight for the Kunling Earth Mother.
• Rao Lin defeated Duan Tianshu and lent Mu Bai the Human Emperor Battle Halberd, but Mu Bai returned it and accepted Rao Lin’s challenge for a later fight.
• Bai Yu attacked with the Kunxiang Moon Disc, darkening the sky and unleashing rays of moonlight from his blade.
• Mu Bai used the Star Sword to block and shatter Bai Yu’s moonlight attacks, weakening Bai Yu’s confidence.
• Mu Bai flew into the darkened sky and slashed open a rift, letting a shaft of sunlight pour through.

Mu Bai battled Bai Yu, who used two Earth Spirit Clones to overwhelm him, while Xi Bazì, Hu Meier, and Sweet Potato Boy secretly beat spectators who insulted Mu Bai. The chapter ended with Bai Yu merging his clones into a giant of metal and stone and pressing his attack, as Mu Bai prepared to counter.

• Mu Bai struck Bai Yu with the Star Sword, but Bai Yu refused to concede and created two Earth Spirit Clones to attack alongside him.
• Bai Yu and his clones forced Mu Bai onto the defensive, while Xi Bazì, Hu Meier, and Sweet Potato Boy lured hostile spectators away and beat them unconscious.
• Ling Jinyu narrowly defeated Deng Yufei and secured a place among the Eastern Ridge Prodigies tournament's final four.
• Bai Yu merged his Earth Spirit Clones into an armored giant and attacked Mu Bai alongside his own body.
• Mu Bai said Bai Yu had chosen the wrong opponent as the giant and Bai Yu continued their assault.

Mu Bai defeated Bai Yu in the tournament, prompting Hundred Virtues to end the fight and take Bai Yu back to the Kunling Sect. As Ximu City celebrated Mu Bai’s return, the Eastern Nether Great Tribe grew alarmed by his victories and considered asking the Kunling Sect for help.

• Mu Bai countered Bai Yu’s Kun-Earth Avatar Art, destroyed his true body, and overwhelmed his golden stone avatar until Hundred Virtues declared Mu Bai the winner.
• Hundred Virtues took the wounded Bai Yu away, and Mu Bai released the four Kunling Sect elders from the Void Beast’s realm before they left Tianmu Mountain.
• Xi Bazì, Sweet Potato Boy, Xing Yun, Hu Meier, and the cultivators on Northern Peak cheered Mu Bai’s victory.
• Xi Hong, Zhi Cun, and Qian Feng arrived at Tianmu Mountain as Ximu City prepared to celebrate Mu Bai’s return and his victory over the Kunling Sect’s successor.
• The Eastern Nether Great Tribe feared Mu Bai’s strength, and Du Zhong proposed seeking help from the Kunling Sect.

Du Lang urged Du Xiang to seek the Kunling Sect’s protection from Mu Bai, who had already decided to destroy the Eastern Nether Great Tribe. In the Northern Plains, Chen Shichong learned of Mu Bai’s return and faced the Sword Sect’s coercive demands through a painful confrontation with his uncle Chen Jianduan.

• Du Lang persuaded Du Xiang that the Eastern Nether Great Tribe had to seek the Kunling Sect’s protection to survive Mu Bai’s threat.
• News of Eastern Ridge’s Four Strongest spread to the Northern Plains, and Chen Shichong was glad to hear that Mu Bai had returned.
• Chen Jianduan revealed that the Chen Household was bound to the Sword Sect, and Chen Shichong condemned the sect for exploiting his family.
• Chen Shichong urged Chen Jianduan to leave the Sword Sect, but his uncle insisted that they had to endure and fight to protect their loved ones.
• Chen Jianduan stabbed and slashed Chen Shichong, who refused to fight back and said the wounds repaid his father and uncle.
• As Chen Shichong lay in the snow, he looked up at the bright sunlight and realized that even the coldest places held fierce warmth.

Chen Shichong killed his uncle Chen Jianduan in a duel orchestrated by the Sword Sect, then mourned him and marked his grave. Meanwhile, Mu Bai celebrated at Tianmu Mountain with his companions, where Ling Jinyu arrived and asked to catch up.

• Chen Jianduan and Chen Shichong fought as the Sword Sect's elders watched and planned to control whoever survived.
• Chen Shichong's Autumn Sun Sword pierced Chen Jianduan, and Chen Jianduan praised him before falling from the cliff.
• Chen Shichong carved an inscription marking his uncle's tomb and roared as avalanches buried the canyon.
• Beishan Fengyun ordered Beishan Lie to arrange a marriage for Chen Shichong.
• Ling Jinyu arrived at Mu Bai's celebration, exchanged drinks with him and his companions, and said she had come to catch up.

Mu Bai’s companions welcomed Ling Jinyu with a feast, where Ling Jinyu and Hu Meier clashed over their closeness to him. Xing Yun’s song moved the guests, and Hu Meier’s sword dance turned into a restrained exchange with Ling Jinyu, leaving the rivalry unresolved.

• Ling Jinyu arrived and exchanged toasts with Mu Bai’s companions, while Hu Meier and Ling Jinyu drank against each other in a tense contest.
• Xing Yun played her harp and sang about friendship and reunion, moving Mu Bai and the other guests to reflect on family and companions.
• Hu Meier, stirred by memories of her father’s death and her resentment toward Mu Bai, performed a sword dance but could not bring herself to strike him.
• Ling Jinyu joined Hu Meier with her sword, and the two women began a graceful, cautious duel as the guests watched.

Xing Yun ended Hu Meier and Ling Jinyu’s sword fight with a song that reminded them Mu Bai already loved her, and the banquet ended peacefully. Meanwhile, Rao Jinchuan asked Rao Lin what he thought of Mu Bai after observing his unusual powers and Star Sword.

• Xing Yun sang to urge Hu Meier and Ling Jinyu to stop fighting, then sang again to remind them that Mu Bai loved her.
• Mu Bai embraced Xing Yun and affirmed his devotion, while Mu Lan admired how Xing Yun handled the rivalry.
• Hu Meier and Ling Jinyu understood the song, stopped fighting, apologized to each other, and reconciled.
• The guests parted in good spirits, and Mu Bai carried Xing Yun back to their room.
• Rao Lin cultivated and activated his Human Emperor Bloodline, displaying the characters for white and king on his chest.
• Rao Jinchuan asked Rao Lin what he thought of Mu Bai, whose powers and Star Sword had raised suspicions about his connection to Qi Zhenzi and Gu Chen.

Rao Lin prepared to face the tournament’s challengers, rejecting the genuine Human Emperor Battle Halberd because he wanted to rely on his own strength. As the tournament approached, the Jialan Sect anticipated interference from the Venerable Domain, while Lu Ming focused on facing Mu Bai.

• Rao Jinchuan warned Rao Lin not to kill the mysterious Mu Bai and offered him the genuine Human Emperor Battle Halberd, but Rao Lin declined to rely on it.
• Rao Lin promised Rainbow Phoenix that he would choose territory near the Silver Frost Forest and take her there to explore.
• Rao Jinchuan told Rao Xing that the Kunling Sect had sent someone to the Venerable Domain, and he went to discuss a response with Lu Tuo.
• Lu Ming made his final preparations at the Primordial Soul Sect’s guest residence, privately resolved to defeat Mu Bai, and prepared for the tournament.

Zhou Dekai rushed to warn Mu Bai that the Kunling Sect was seeking help from Qianyuan Sacred Land, but Zhou Detai intercepted him and Mu Lan. Zhou Detai blocked their way and humiliated Mu Lan, leaving Zhou Dekai to confront him.

• Zhou Dekai learned that the Kunling Sect's master had gone to the Venerable Domain, and deduced that the sect planned to seek Qianyuan Sacred Land's intervention against Mu Bai.
• Zhou Dekai hurried to Tianmu Mountain and found Mu Lan at the Mu Lan Pavilion's market stall, urging her to return to Ximu City and help him reach Mu Bai.
• Mu Lan flew with Zhou Dekai toward Mu Bai's secluded cultivation spot, but Spirit Taming Sect disciples reported Zhou Dekai's arrival to Zhou Detai.
• Zhou Detai tore through the void and stopped Mu Lan and Zhou Dekai with a formation, accusing them of consorting together.
• Zhou Detai insulted Mu Lan, causing her to spit blood, and ordered her to return to the Spirit Taming Sect; Zhou Dekai condemned him.

Zhou Dekai fought Zhou Detai to reach Mu Bai, revealing that Zhou Detai had used him as a pawn and tried to silence him. Mu Bai arrived in time to save Zhou Dekai and confronted Zhou Detai, beginning a fight between them.

• Zhou Dekai demanded to see Mu Bai and accused Zhou Detai of exploiting him and arranging the robbery of the war supplies.
• Zhou Detai attacked Zhou Dekai, who fought back with lightning and Netherfrost techniques while Mu Lan sent Mu Bai a voice transmission.
• Zhou Dekai shielded Mu Lan from Zhou Detai’s giant sword and was badly injured.
• Mu Bai arrived, stopped Zhou Detai’s descending sword with his fist, and crushed his Spirit Taming Sect Elder Token.
• Mu Bai rejected Zhou Detai’s accusations and fought him, activating his Gods and Devils Transformation against the Spirit Command Sword.

Mu Bai fought Zhou Detai after Zhou Detai attacked him with the Green Duckweed Sword Art and a lightning dragon. Mu Bai killed Zhou Detai and gave the Spirit Command Sword to Zhou Dekai, who had agreed to take over as Sect Master.

• Mu Bai countered Zhou Detai's green lotuses with ink-black ones, hiding Exploding Pills among them and blasting Zhou Detai into a battered state.
• Zhou Detai summoned a lightning dragon, but Mu Bai grabbed it and swung it into Zhou Detai, hurling him into a cliff.
• Zhou Detai took a secret pill to increase his strength and offered Zhou Dekai the Sect Master position, which Zhou Dekai accepted.
• Zhou Detai wounded Mu Bai and pressed him with the Spirit Command Sword, but Mu Bai used the Star Sword to destroy Zhou Detai's mental attack and then pummeled him.
• Mu Bai pierced Zhou Detai with his fist, tore out and crushed his heart, then took the Spirit Command Sword and handed it to Zhou Dekai.

Mu Bai learned that the Kunling Sect answered to the mighty Qianyuan Sacred Land and realized his actions had placed Mu Lan Pavilion in danger. He urged Mu Lan and Zhou Dekai to protect their people while he took Xing Yun away, and vowed to personally avenge the Haibei Tribe.

• Zhou Dekai told Mu Bai that the Kunling Sect had appealed to the Qianyuan Sacred Land, an ancient power far above the Eastern Ridge’s super sects.
• Mu Bai recognized that he had underestimated the wider world and warned Mu Lan to close some businesses and abandon the Mu Lan Pavilion’s holdings if necessary.
• Mu Bai asked Mu Lan and Zhou Dekai to find his surviving clanspeople if he could not return, and said he would take Xing Yun away until the danger passed.
• Mu Lan and Zhou Dekai offered to surrender territory or destroy the Eastern Nether Great Tribe to help him, but Mu Bai refused and vowed to kill Du Xiang’s clanspeople himself.

Mu Bai rushed to the markets beneath Tianmu Mountain after learning Xing Yun and Hu Meier were missing, fearing that a plot against them had begun. When five veteran Dao Zuns confronted him over his Divine Sense sweep, their clash injured bystanders, and Mu Bai explained that his beloved had fallen victim to a scheme and her whereabouts were unknown.

• Zhou Dekai gave Mu Bai the Spirit Taming Sect Elder Token and left after urging him to return and inherit the Sect Master position.
• Mu Bai learned that Xing Yun had gone shopping with Hu Meier, searched the markets with his Divine Sense, and found neither woman.
• Mu Bai told Mu Lan to leave because their enemies had begun to act, then traveled to the markets and swept his Divine Sense across the area.
• Five veteran Dao Zuns surrounded Mu Bai and demanded that he accept punishment for his provocative search.
• Mu Bai struck the burly Dao Zun, who transformed into a Snow-Winged White Lion and attacked with white flames that wounded nearby cultivators.
• Mu Bai extinguished the flames on the injured bystanders and explained that he had searched for his missing beloved in his anxiety.

Mu Bai faced three veteran Dao Zun after disrupting their gathering, but Chang Feng intervened and helped defuse the dispute. After taking a punch from the Snow-Winged White Lion, Mu Bai asked Chang Feng for help finding Xing Yun and Hu Meier, and Chang Feng began showing him market surveillance projections.

• A childlike Dao Zun and his wife left after arguing with Mu Bai, while Lan Ying and Nangong Que accepted Chang Feng's apology and departed.
• Chang Feng invoked his connection to the Jialan Sect to calm the Snow-Winged White Lion, but the Snow-Winged White Lion insisted on venting his anger.
• Mu Bai offered to take one punch, and the Snow-Winged White Lion struck him in the chest, leaving him badly injured.
• Chang Feng supported Mu Bai and learned how much he had progressed, while the Snow-Winged White Lion said he would keep his word and leave.
• Mu Bai showed Chang Feng images of Xing Yun and Hu Meier and asked whether he had seen them.
• Chang Feng produced a jade disc displaying projections of the market's entrance, middle, and exit, and began reviewing the day's scenes.

Xing Yun and Hu Meier shopped through the market, where they bought clothes and beat a young cultivator who harassed them. They continued browsing without fear after he threatened to bring his Dao Zun father.

• Mu Bai watched three Light Screens and spotted Mu Lan, Xing Yun, Hu Meier, and the others in the market.
• Xing Yun and Hu Meier bought silk dresses for themselves and Mu Lan, then found a blue robe Xing Yun wanted for Mu Bai.
• A young cultivator pressed his flute against Xing Yun's wrist and tried to touch her, so Xing Yun slapped him and Hu Meier slapped his attendants.
• Hu Meier beat the young cultivator and disabled his two attendants after he ordered them to seize the women.
• The young cultivator fled after threatening to return with his Dao Zun father, while Xing Yun bought the blue robe and continued shopping with Hu Meier.