Recaps

Zhao Layue killed Yin San, a Nether Department fiend who had lingered within Green Mountain’s three-thousand-li ban, while the sect’s disciples prepared for a momentous event. The chapter ended as the sky cleared and the Green Mountain Sect awaited the ascension of their great-granduncle Jingyang.

• Yin San pleaded with Zhao Layue to release him so he could eat hotpot, but she killed him with a small sword and revealed she was an outer disciple without a sword.
• Master Meng arrived and declared that the Nether Department fiend deserved death for entering Green Mountain, then praised Zhao Layue before leaving.
• Zhao Layue directed the other disciples to clean up the restaurant and make sure Yin San’s soul-fire fragments caused no trouble.
• The disciples discussed the three-thousand-li ban and other signs that a major event was approaching.
• The sky cleared above Green Mountain, and the disciples prepared to witness their great-granduncle Jingyang ascend.

As Granduncle Jingyang began his ascension on Ninth Peak, the assembled cultivators watched him answer heavenly thunder with a sword that split the sky. His sword continued toward the widening rift as golden liquid light illuminated Green Mountain and the surrounding lands.

• Green Mountain disciples cleared the town while Zhao Layue carried Yin San’s corpse away, and Master Meng watched the arriving sect leaders and hidden masters gather around the peaks.
• Clouds parted to reveal concealed observers, and the Green Mountain Sect’s master sent out a chilling sword intent that drove a sword light toward the Western Sea.
• Heavenly thunder struck Ninth Peak, but Jingyang’s sword light cleaved it apart and cut a thin rift into the sky.
• Jingyang’s sword pressed upward through the thunder as the rift widened and golden light spread across the peaks and town.

Zhao Layue carried Yin San’s corpse away as Jingyang ascended, then a boy in white awakened in a hidden stone chamber beside another dead man. The boy stepped into a stream, struggled with his unfamiliar body and ordinary tasks, and began to cultivate by a lakeshore.

• Zhao Layue carried Yin San’s corpse toward town while heaven and earth brightened around Jingyang’s ascension.
• Zhao Layue watched Jingyang’s sword light disappear, then looked at Yin San’s corpse with a puzzled expression.
• A boy in white stood beside a dead man in a hidden stone chamber and took a wooden token and a flying sword that became a bracelet.
• The boy in white stepped into the stream and sank through the water into a lake, where he lifted a heavy rock to shore.
• The boy in white used his sword to start a fire, hung his wet clothes to dry, and sat down to meditate before forgetting the introductory mnemonic.

A youth in white entered a mountain village, where the villagers revered him as an immortal master and he arranged to stay with the Liu family. He had Liu Baogen renamed Liu S sui and learned household tasks from him, mastering them all in nine days and deepening the boy’s belief that he was an immortal.

• The youth in white reached a village, and its residents greeted him as an immortal master.
• The youth offered gold leaves and asked to live in the village for a year; the elderly man agreed and sent Liu Baogen to show him a home.
• The youth renamed the ten-year-old Liu Baogen as Liu S sui and asked him to teach household chores.
• Liu S sui taught the youth how to cook, clean, chop wood, and perform other daily tasks, while the villagers speculated about his identity.
• Over nine days, the youth mastered the chores and showed remarkable skill at cooking, crafting a bamboo reclining chair, and repairing the courtyard.

Over a year in the mountain village, Jing Jiu remained idle while growing more lively and reflecting on rebuilding what he had lost. He realized the time had come, and a middle-aged cultivator arrived before him that night.

• Jing Jiu told Liu S sui that he was skilled at severing things and revealed his name after a year of living in the village.
• The villagers respected Jing Jiu for helping fund repairs and a new road, while Liu S sui continued to care for him.
• Jing Jiu studied his reflection and noticed how his appearance and bearing had changed over the year.
• Jing Jiu compared starting over to rewriting a lost essay and told Liu S sui that the time had come.
• A middle-aged cultivator with a longsword arrived, surprising Liu S sui and drawing Jing Jiu's attention.

Master Lü discovered Liu S sui was an innate Dao Seed and invited him and Jing Jiu to join Green Mountain Sect. After taking three days to walk through the mountains, they reached South Pine Pavilion, where a gray-robed man was asleep beneath the gate.

• Master Lü identified Liu S sui as an innate Dao Seed and asked him to cultivate at Green Mountain Sect.
• Jing Jiu encouraged Liu S sui to accept, and Master Lü invited Jing Jiu to come as well.
• At dawn, Master Lü led both youths away while Liu S sui's parents watched them go; Jing Jiu secretly left a bamboo chair behind.
• Master Lü walked with Jing Jiu and Liu S sui toward the sect, and they passed through the mountain fog on the third day.
• The three arrived at South Pine Pavilion, where Master Lü relaxed at the gate and found a gray-robed man asleep at a table.

Master Lü brought Jing Jiu and Liu S sui into the Green Mountain Sect, where Liu S sui was identified as a born Dao seed. At South Pine Pavilion, Master Lü began teaching the new disciples cultivation, while Jing Jiu remained leisurely attended by Liu S sui.

• Master Lü introduced Ming Guoxing to Jing Jiu and Liu S sui, and Ming Guoxing recognized Liu S sui as a born Dao seed before registering them.
• Jing Jiu and Liu S sui entered the mountain gate, but Liu S sui continued to follow Jing Jiu as his servant despite Master Lü's explanation that worldly relationships no longer mattered inside the sect.
• Jing Jiu and Liu S sui reached the South Pine Pavilion Sword Hall, where the waiting disciples studied Jing Jiu's appearance with curiosity.
• Master Lü distributed introductory booklets and explained the Green Mountain Sect's Attuned Form and Embracing the Spirit cultivation stages.
• As the new disciples listened to Master Lü's lesson, Liu S sui poured tea for Jing Jiu and fanned him.

Master Lü recognized Liu Shisui as a potential prodigy and the disciples learned he was an innate Dao Seed, while he and Jing Jiu settled into neighboring courtyards. After studying the Green Mountain Sect’s introductory Mnemonic, Liu Shisui returned excitedly and Jing Jiu asked if he had understood it.

• Master Lü told the new disciples to break through the Youyi Realm within three months and hoped Liu Shisui would become a surprise for the Green Mountain Nine Peaks.
• The disciples learned Liu Shisui was an innate Dao Seed, and Xue Yongge tried to befriend him by recommending a courtyard near the Sword Hall.
• Liu Shisui chose two courtyards on the back mountain with Jing Jiu, who preferred their quiet location over a place beside a noisy stream.
• Jing Jiu opened the introductory Mnemonic and fell asleep as its pages turned in the wind.
• Liu Shisui returned after sunset, and Jing Jiu asked whether he had understood the Mnemonic; Liu Shisui knelt and kowtowed twice.

Liu S sui discovered that Jing Jiu’s breathing method helped him cultivate, while Master Lü worried that Liu S sui’s loyalty to Jing Jiu would hinder his progress. Master Lü agreed not to force Jing Jiu away, but warned Liu S sui that their paths would eventually part.

• Liu S sui used the Jade Gate Breath Jing Jiu had taught him to match his breathing to the fist techniques and began tempering his body.
• Jing Jiu told Liu S sui that cultivation required a quiet mind and that he no longer needed to worry about the courtyard chores; Liu S sui insisted on staying by his side.
• More than ten days later, Master Lü watched Liu S sui’s rapid progress and grew concerned that his continued service to Jing Jiu would hold him back.
• Master Lü confronted Liu S sui and urged him to sever his ties to Jing Jiu, but Liu S sui said he would stop cultivating if Jing Jiu were driven away.
• Master Lü promised not to force Jing Jiu to leave, then warned Liu S sui that they would eventually part; Liu S sui hesitated as he looked toward Jing Jiu’s darkened courtyard.

Liu S sui urged Jing Jiu to stop being lazy and train, but Jing Jiu revealed that he had already reached the Embracing Spirit Realm and was waiting for his spiritual sea to fill. He remained unwilling to cultivate diligently because he found it troublesome, and wondered whether his unfamiliar restlessness was boredom.

• Liu S sui returned to his chores and training despite Master Lü's advice, then asked Jing Jiu to stop being lazy and prepare for cultivation.
• Jing Jiu smiled at Liu S sui's worried appeal but did not follow his advice to practice body-tempering exercises.
• That night, Jing Jiu revealed that he had entered the Embracing Spirit Realm unusually quickly because of his exceptional body.
• Jing Jiu swallowed a Purple Mystic Pill and explained that his spiritual sea was so vast that it would take at least another year to fill, even with continuous cultivation.
• Jing Jiu decided against diligent daily cultivation because he wanted to avoid trouble, then wondered whether he was experiencing boredom.

Jing Jiu emerged from his courtyard and reunited with Liu S sui, who had secretly reached the Embracing Spirit Realm. After giving him a precious pill and answering his cultivation questions, Jing Jiu asked why Liu S sui still stayed by his side.

• Jing Jiu left his courtyard for the first time in over ten days, drawing the attention of the South Pine Pavilion disciples, who assumed he was embarrassed by Liu S sui's success.
• Jing Jiu entered the sword hall and called Liu S sui over, and Liu S sui ran to him happily despite Xue Yongge's taunts.
• Back in the courtyard, Jing Jiu learned that Liu S sui had broken through to the Embracing Spirit Realm and gave him tea containing a Purple Mystic Pill.
• Jing Jiu answered Liu S sui's cultivation questions until dusk, helping him resolve his uncertainties.
• Jing Jiu asked Liu S sui why he continued to stay by his side.

Jing Jiu agreed to answer the outer disciples’ cultivation questions after Liu S sui told them about his guidance. He corrected their misunderstandings and began writing explanations, until Master Lü entered the Sword Hall and demanded to know what was happening.

• Liu S sui asked Jing Jiu to help answer the senior brothers’ difficult questions, and Jing Jiu agreed.
• Jing Jiu entered the Sword Hall, where Xue Yongge mocked him before leaving after Liu S sui gave him a fierce look.
• The young disciples handed Jing Jiu their questions, and he calmly explained the errors in each one.
• Jing Jiu took a brush from Liu S sui and began writing explanations as the disciples watched in silence.
• Master Lü entered the Sword Hall and questioned Jing Jiu about the gathering.

Jing Jiu impressed Master Lü by answering the outer disciples’ cultivation questions, then criticized the sect’s teaching method. A thunderous crash revealed Zhao Layue making her first sword flight, and Jing Jiu learned why the sect regarded her as a prodigy.

• Master Lü examined Jing Jiu’s written answers, recognized his remarkable insight, and warned the disciples against consulting one another about the Method Formula.
• Jing Jiu said the sect’s method was stupid and should be changed, but a thunderous crash interrupted him.
• The disciples saw a sword light tear through the clouds, and Master Lü identified its rider as Zhao Layue, an innate Dao Seed.
• Liu S sui told Jing Jiu about Zhao Layue’s rapid cultivation and her recognition by an ancient sword on Cloud-Traveling Peak.
• The disciples discussed Zhao Layue’s achievements and hopes that she would rival young geniuses from other sects, while Jing Jiu recalled the Zen Master from the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple.

Jing Jiu challenged Instructor Lü’s understanding of the Green Mountain Sect’s Method Formula and continued to defy expectations by avoiding cultivation. A year later, Liu Shisui prepared to take the inner sect examination and quietly asked Jing Jiu whether he was a spy from another sect.

• Instructor Lü corrected Jing Jiu’s answer about the Method Formula, but Jing Jiu insisted that Jingyang’s revised interpretation was wrong.
• Jing Jiu defended helping disciples who struggled with the sect’s rules, and Instructor Lü wondered whether someone important had placed him in the outer sect.
• A year passed, and Liu Shisui applied to take the inner sect examination after completing the Embracing Spirit Realm.
• The outer disciples debated Liu Shisui’s chances and blamed Jing Jiu for distracting him, while Jing Jiu continued to lounge in his courtyard beside a dish of accumulating sand.
• Liu Shisui told Jing Jiu he felt ready for the examination, and Jing Jiu urged him not to fall behind Zhao Layue.
• After reflecting on Jing Jiu’s secrets, Liu Shisui asked him whether he was a spy from another sect.

Liu S sui passed the Green Mountain Sect’s inner sect examination, prompting Jing Jiu to offer him solemn advice about the long road ahead. Jing Jiu told him not to cling to their past, but Liu S sui insisted he would never forget.

• Liu S sui asked Jing Jiu whether he was a spy, and Jing Jiu reassured him that he was not.
• Liu S sui entered the Sword Hall for the inner sect examination while Jing Jiu stayed behind in the courtyard.
• Liu S sui used the Sword Embryo, whose powerful resonance confirmed his innate Dao Seed and astonished the examiners.
• Liu S sui passed the examination, and Master Lü and the other outer sect disciples celebrated.
• Liu S sui ran to Jing Jiu, who advised him to focus on the Great Dao and not deliberately hold on to the past; Liu S sui declared that he would never forget.

After Liu S sui left, Jing Jiu continued to appear idle, and Master Lü offered him a scholarly position at Shiyue Peak. More than two years later, Jing Jiu revealed that he had completed the Spirit Embracing Realm and entered the Sword Hall to begin the inner sect examination, leaving the other disciples in shock.

• Liu S sui left the cliff terrace for the inner sect, while Jing Jiu remained behind and ignored the other disciples' mockery.
• Master Lü confirmed Jing Jiu had no Dao Seed and offered to recommend him for a steward's position at Shiyue Peak if he would not cultivate.
• Jing Jiu told Master Lü he was ready to enter the inner sect and said his Spirit Sea was nearly full.
• Master Lü checked Jing Jiu with his sword sense, confirmed his Spirit Sea was full, and apologized for having misjudged him.
• An immortal master from Past Arrival Peak arrived, and Jing Jiu entered the Sword Hall with Master Lü, stunning the assembled disciples.
• Xue Yongge angrily questioned whether Master Lü had properly checked Jing Jiu's Spirit Sea.

Jing Jiu passed the inner sect examination without touching the Sword Embryo and left South Pine Pavilion. Meanwhile, Green Mountain’s peak masters debated Liu S sui’s origins and the contest for talented disciples, leaving Yuan Qijing dismissive of Jing Jiu.

• Junior Sister Yushan and other disciples defended Jing Jiu against Xue Yongge’s complaints about his inner sect examination.
• Jing Jiu passed the examination after merely looking at the Sword Embryo, then accepted his fellow disciples’ congratulations and left South Pine Pavilion.
• Five peak swords gathered at Heavenly Light Peak, where the peak masters discussed rewards and whether Liu S sui should be investigated or summoned early.
• Yuan Qijing revealed to Chi Yan that Liu S sui had learned the Jade Gate Breath Method, identifying him as the sect master’s chosen disciple.
• Chi Yan suggested looking into Jing Jiu, but Yuan Qijing scoffed at him as a lazybones.

Yuan Qijing and Chi Yan discussed how to explain Lei Poyun’s confinement, while Jing Jiu entered Green Mountain’s inner sect and began the Sword Washing stage. The chapter left Jing Jiu facing the question of what he would do if he failed to advance, though he said he had never considered it.

• Yuan Qijing told Chi Yan to claim Lei Poyun had been injured in an ambush, while Lei Poyun’s cries from the Sword Prison revealed that he had gone mad.
• Jing Jiu visited the building of portraits, stopped at True Person Jingyang’s portrait, and wondered why it was there despite Jingyang having ascended.
• Master Lü accompanied Jing Jiu into the inner sect and prepared to return to Shangde Peak for secluded cultivation.
• Jing Jiu arrived at Sword-Washing Creek, where a martial uncle from Past Arrival Peak asked what he would do if he could not advance enough to attend the Sword Inheritance Assembly.
• Jing Jiu said he had never thought about that possibility, and the martial uncle praised his answer.

Jing Jiu attended Lin Wuzhi’s lecture on Green Mountain’s sword traditions and the stages of sword cultivation while reflecting on familiar words in his sword scripture. The lesson ended with Lin Wuzhi explaining how swordsmanship measured progress beyond forming Sword Fruit.

• Jing Jiu entered the Sword-Washing Pavilion, where the disciples recognized him, and sat by the window as Lin Wuzhi began teaching.
• Lin Wuzhi named the principal swords of Green Mountain’s peaks and explained that Granduncle Jingyang had taken the Unthought and Nondual swords when he ascended.
• Lin Wuzhi urged the disciples to pursue cultivation and described Zhitong and Holding to One, including how Sword Fruit and Sword Pellets enabled sword control and flight.
• Jing Jiu accepted his sword scripture and silently studied the four words on its first page: “One Sword for All Things.”
• Lin Wuzhi outlined the later sword-wielding standards, from striking an opponent a hundred zhang away to breaking through space and slaying heavenly demons.

Jing Jiu and the other new inner-sect disciples arrived at Sword Peak to learn that finding a flying sword was their first lesson. As an esteemed old man in black prepared to leave, Jing Jiu asked him about his sword.

• Lin Wuzhi led the new inner-sect disciples to Cloud-Traveling Peak and explained that they would search for swords hidden in its cliffs and mist.
• Lin Wuzhi told the disciples that Zhao Layue was cultivating at the summit and had chosen to temper her body with sword intent.
• Cloud-Traveling Peak stewards registered the disciples, gave them Sword Tokens, and explained how to stay safe on the mountain.
• An old man in black arrived, and Lin Wuzhi and the stewards treated him with great respect as he spoke with the disciples.
• As the old man turned to leave, Jing Jiu asked, "How is your sword now?"

Senior Uncle Mo returned his sword to Green Mountain, leaving Jing Jiu bound by his promise to retrieve it from Sword Peak. As the new disciples prepared to climb, Gu Han arrived with Liu S sui, who recognized Jing Jiu and ran to him.

• Jing Jiu offered to try Senior Uncle Mo's sword, and Mo ascended Sword Peak to return it to Green Mountain.
• The disciples learned Mo had passed away and that his sword lay near the summit; Lin Wuzhi warned Jing Jiu he must fulfill his promise to attend the Sword Inheritance Assembly.
• A Cloud-Traveling Peak deacon explained the danger of Sword Peak and how difficult it was to obtain a sword.
• The disciples resolved to climb Sword Peak, but Jing Jiu turned to leave.
• Gu Han arrived with Liu S sui, who spotted Jing Jiu and ran toward him.

Liu S sui reunited with Jing Jiu, but Gu Han punished him and ordered him to stop associating with his young master. On Sword Peak, Liu S sui overcame his fear and made his first flight on a flying sword, soaring through the clouds.

• Liu S sui ran to greet Jing Jiu, but Gu Han interrupted them and ordered Liu S sui to receive punishment.
• Gu Han had Liu S sui beaten with a wooden rod while Jing Jiu watched, then told Liu S sui to stop associating with him.
• Gu Han led Liu S sui up Sword Peak, where Liu S sui summoned his flying sword at the cliff’s edge.
• Liu S sui stepped onto the flying sword and began his first Sword Flight, wobbling dangerously as he flew away from the cliff.
• Liu S sui steadied his flight, accelerated into a streak of light, and broke through the clouds above Sword Peak.

Jing Jiu reunited with Liu S sui at his cave abode and learned that Gu Han planned to recruit him to Twofold Forgetting Peak. Liu S sui urged Jing Jiu to meet Gu Han, but Jing Jiu refused, leaving Liu S sui puzzled by his dislike of both the peak and its instructor.

• Gu Han warned the fat man not to let Liu S sui meet Jing Jiu and be influenced by him.
• Jing Jiu returned to his cave abode, ate some fruit, and spent the day quietly contemplating.
• Liu S sui visited Jing Jiu, explained that Gu Han would take him as a disciple at the Sword Inheritance Assembly, and happily told Jing Jiu about his year in the inner sect.
• Liu S sui offered to introduce Jing Jiu to Gu Han and praised the opportunities at Twofold Forgetting Peak, but Jing Jiu said he disliked both the peak and Gu Han.
• Liu S sui left the cave and flew into the night sky, thrilled by his ability to ride a sword.
• Jing Jiu heard Liu S sui’s distant cry and reflected that Twofold Forgetting Peak had been distasteful to him from the start.

Jing Jiu watched Liu S sui struggle under Twofold Forgetting Peak’s pressure and gradually visit less often, while he continued his quiet life at the Sword-Washing Pavilion. With the Sword Inheritance Assembly set for early spring, Jing Jiu finally left his cave abode to find Liu S sui.

• Liu S sui visited Jing Jiu repeatedly, and Jing Jiu noticed his injuries and the strain of learning swordsmanship at Twofold Forgetting Peak.
• Ma Hua warned Jing Jiu not to meet Liu S sui and invited Jing Jiu to join Twofold Forgetting Peak, but Jing Jiu sent him away.
• Liu S sui said that sword practice and coursework kept him from visiting every day, and his visits grew more sporadic.
• Jing Jiu continued basking in the sun while new disciples arrived, and he treated Junior Sister Yushan and the youth from Lelang Commandery warmly.
• Junior Sister Yushan told Jing Jiu that the Sword Inheritance Assembly would take place in six months, with Zhao Layue and Liu S sui drawing widespread attention.
• Jing Jiu left his cave abode early the next morning to find Liu S sui.

Jing Jiu went to Sword-Washing Creek to bring Liu S sui a rare Xuanji Pill, where Gu Han challenged his qualifications and Mei Li and Lin Wuzhi intervened. After reflecting that he needed a sword to enter the Sword Inheritance Assembly, Jing Jiu set out for Sword Peak.

• Jing Jiu visited Sword-Washing Creek and saw Liu S sui practicing swordsmanship under Gu Han’s instruction.
• Gu Han criticized Liu S sui’s lack of progress and questioned whether Jing Jiu was qualified to use Uncle-Master Mo’s sword; Jing Jiu answered that he was.
• Mei Li and Lin Wuzhi defended Jing Jiu, and Gu Han left after warning Liu S sui to choose whether to follow him.
• Mei Li and Lin Wuzhi discussed Qingrong Peak’s interest in Jing Jiu and Uncle-Master Mo’s wish to assess his potential.
• Back in his cave abode, Jing Jiu examined the Xuanji Pill he had brought for Liu S sui and decided he needed a sword.
• Jing Jiu went to Sword Peak to obtain a sword.