Chapter Summaries

Jing Jiu learned that Liu Ci had released True Person Taiping to protect Green Mountain’s future, then struggled to answer when Liu Ci offered him the Sect Master position. As Jing Jiu and Liu Ci discussed what they wanted from life, Tong Yan arrived with a proposal for Liu Ci.

• Jing Jiu questioned why Liu Ci had shielded Yin San, and Liu Ci explained that he had released True Person Taiping because he feared Green Mountain would decline after he and Yuan Qijing were gone.
• Liu Ci invited Jing Jiu to become Sect Master, pointing out that only the Sect Master could hold the Heaven-Bearing Sword Scabbard, and Jing Jiu fell silent instead of refusing.
• Liu Ci said he had risked his remaining years to ease his heart, while Jing Jiu insisted that the sacrifice had not been worth it.
• Jing Jiu and Liu Ci discussed whether cultivation and other pursuits were interesting, and Tong Yan arrived after asking Guo Nanshan where they were.
• Tong Yan asked Liu Ci why he did not seize the Azure Sky Mirror and bring it back to Green Mountain.

Tong Yan defected to Green Mountain and offered his knowledge of the Yunmeng Grand Array, helping Liu Ci and Jing Jiu steal the Azure Sky Mirror from the Zhongzhou Sect. After escaping with Qing'er, Liu Ci and Jing Jiu set their next target: the Profound Yin Sect.

• Tong Yan offered the Green Mountain Sect plans for bypassing the Yunmeng Grand Array, and Liu Ci agreed to accept him if he joined Green Mountain with the Azure Sky Mirror.
• Tong Yan arrived aboard the Sword Boat, where Nan Wang threatened to kill him after Liu Ci died and Ping Yongjia tried to hide him under felt.
• Jing Jiu and Liu Ci discussed their trust in their disciples, reviewed Tong Yan's plans, and set off secretly for Yunmeng Mountain on the Universe Edge.
• Jing Jiu and Liu Ci escaped Yunmeng Mountain with Qing'er and the Azure Sky Mirror, and Liu Ci reassured Qing'er that Tong Yan would survive.
• Liu Ci proposed wiping out the Profound Yin Sect, and Jing Jiu agreed.

Jing Jiu and Liu Ci struck the Profound Yin Sect, destroying its Mountain Gate Formation and Blazing Sun Banner before Cao Yuan’s saber strike annihilated the sect. After Liu Ci’s sword light swept through Turbid Waters and killed hidden Yaoshou, the Divine Emperor named Jing Yao Crown Prince.

• Jing Jiu and Liu Ci traveled to Cold Mountain, where Liu Ci launched Jing Jiu as a sword strike toward Blazing Sun Gorge.
• Jing Jiu’s sword light shattered the Profound Yin Sect’s Mountain Gate Formation and Blazing Sun Banner, devastating the sect and leaving Wang Xiaoming gravely wounded.
• Su Ziye watched the destruction and planned to gather the surviving disciples, but Cao Yuan’s saber light arrived from the north.
• Cao Yuan’s saber strike joined Liu Ci’s sword light in an explosion that killed Gao Ya, Su Qige, and the Profound Yin Sect’s remaining members.
• The Wind Saber Sect and North-Guarding Divine Guard Army purged Cold Mountain, while Liu Ci’s sword light killed Yaoshou throughout Turbid Waters.
• The Divine Emperor issued an Imperial Edict naming Jing Yao Crown Prince.

Jing Jiu explained True Person Taiping’s plan to Zhao Layue: kill all mortals and build a world of cultivators, driven by a purpose that reached beyond their world. Meanwhile, Liu Ci left to travel beyond the Chaotian Continent, and the chapter ended with Zhao Layue looking toward the sky as Jing Jiu hinted at what Taiping had seen there.

• The Divine Emperor named Jing Yao Crown Prince and ordered Prince Jing Xin sent to become a monk, while the Zhongzhou Sect sealed Yunmeng Mountain for three years.
• Jing Jiu and Liu Ci discussed Jing Xin’s refusal by Fruitful Accomplishment Temple and Liu Ci’s wish to visit the Snowfield, then Liu Ci set off alone to travel beyond the Chaotian Continent.
• Jing Jiu returned to Green Mountain, visited the sleeping Guo Dong, and met Zhao Layue at Divine End Peak.
• Jing Jiu told Zhao Layue that True Person Taiping wanted to kill every mortal and create a world populated only by cultivators.
• Jing Jiu explained that Taiping believed cultivators were a different form of life and wanted to strengthen their world because he saw beyond it; Zhao Layue followed his gaze toward the sky.

Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue discussed True Person Taiping’s ambition to lead all cultivators to ascension and reaffirmed their opposition to his methods. After checking on events across Green Mountain and visiting Tong Yan in Hidden Peak, Jing Jiu demanded the First Child Sword.

• Jing Jiu explained that True Person Taiping wanted to break the world’s rules and lead all cultivators to ascend, but he rejected Taiping’s willingness to kill and Zhao Layue agreed.
• Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue watched Nan Wang drinking, and Jing Jiu said she might have become Liu Ci’s dao companion if nothing unexpected had happened.
• Yuan Qijing confronted Fang Jingtian on the Stone Bridge, and Fang Jingtian entered seclusion under orders not to leave without permission.
• Yin San reunited with Profound Yin Ancestor and a golden pheasant in a village, then accepted a young boy whom he planned to teach; Profound Yin Ancestor worried that Yin San was deteriorating without the First Child Sword.
• Jing Jiu visited Snow Ji in the Sword Prison and asked whether she wanted a different chair, but she declined.
• Jing Jiu visited Tong Yan in Hidden Peak and demanded the First Child Sword.

Jing Jiu recovered the First Child Sword from Tong Yan’s concealed box and later entered seclusion as the Green Mountain Sect prepared for the looming spring rain. Two years later, Jing Jiu emerged, checked on the sect’s cultivators, and told Yuan Qijing that he was ready to break through.

• Jing Jiu confronted Tong Yan about the First Child Sword, which Tong Yan had hidden, and offered him a choice of the Nine Peaks Secret Swords in exchange.
• Cheng Youtian delivered a sea-pearl box to Green Mountain, where Jing Jiu broke its formation and found the First Child Sword concealed inside.
• Jing Jiu refused to give the sword to Yuan Qu or Ping Yongjia, then decided to enter seclusion while Zhao Layue joined him.
• Fang Jingtian, True Person Guangyuan, the Cloud-Traveling Peak Master, and other Green Mountain cultivators entered seclusion as the sect activated its Grand Array against the coming spring rain.
• Two years later, Jing Jiu emerged and found Zhao Layue nearing a breakthrough, while Tong Yan also showed signs of progress in seclusion.
• Jing Jiu visited Snow Ji in the Sword Prison, confirmed Fang Jingtian remained in seclusion, and told Yuan Qijing that he was ready to break through.

Jing Jiu agreed to represent Green Mountain at the Hanging Bell Sect’s Heart-Cleansing Assembly and inspected the peaks before using a thunderstorm to temper himself. He emerged having broken through to Sea-Breaking.

• Jing Jiu agreed to attend the Heart-Cleansing Assembly alone and told Yuan Qijing to keep his decision secret.
• Jing Jiu inspected several Green Mountain peaks and found the thunder soulwood stored beneath Jade Lake Peak.
• Jing Jiu opened a formation eye and summoned lightning to temper himself with thunder.
• Yuan Qijing watched the storm from Shangde Peak as lightning struck Jade Lake Peak and Jing Jiu.
• Jing Jiu bathed in the lake, changed into fresh robes, and reached Sea-Breaking.

Jing Jiu returned to Divine End Peak, left Zhao Layue a letter, and traveled toward Yunji Town with the White Cat and the First Child Sword. Meanwhile, cultivators gathered before the Hanging Bell Sect’s Heart-Cleansing Assembly and debated who would succeed Liu Ci as Green Mountain Sect Master, until a bamboo-hatted listener asked two monks for their opinion.

• Jing Jiu left Zhao Layue a letter and rode away from Divine End Peak with the White Cat and the First Child Sword.
• The White Cat feared Jing Jiu was using the First Child Sword to lure True Person Taiping out, and Jing Jiu confirmed its suspicion.
• Representatives of small sects and rogue cultivators gathered in a ruined temple near the Hanging Bell Sect and discussed the upcoming Heart-Cleansing Assembly.
• Two monks from Fruitful Accomplishment Temple arrived, prompting the rogue cultivator surnamed Gan to leave because he feared trouble at the assembly.
• The cultivators debated whether Yuan Qijing, True Person Guangyuan, Fang Jingtian, or Fu Wang would succeed Liu Ci as Green Mountain Sect Master.
• A person wearing a bamboo hat asked the two monks who would make a better Green Mountain Sect Master.

Jing Jiu met the monks of Fruitful Accomplishment Temple and went with them to the Hanging Bell Sect’s Heart-Cleansing Assembly without revealing his identity. At the welcoming banquet, the Old Madam introduced De Yuanquan as her chosen successor, and He Bumu confronted her over the missing Sect Master Chen and De Se Se.

• Jing Jiu asked the monks what they thought of the Green Mountain Sect master candidates, then listened as the young monk recounted their travels and charitable work.
• Jing Jiu told the monks he was going to the Hanging Bell Sect but did not want to reveal his identity, and the old monk agreed to help him.
• Three monks wearing Bamboo Hats arrived at Dawn Lake and were admitted to the Heart-Cleansing Assembly despite the Hanging Bell Sect’s displeasure.
• At the welcoming banquet, the Old Madam introduced De Yuanquan as her husband’s nephew, prompting the guests to suspect that she intended him to take control of the sect.
• He Bumu demanded to see Sect Master Chen and De Se Se, then warned the Old Madam that De Se Se must not be harmed.
• He Bumu turned to De Yuanquan and asked whether he wanted to die.

Jing Jiu sent White Cat to locate the Hanging Bell Sect’s captives while preparing his swords, then confronted De Yuanquan in Star-Catching Tower. He killed De Yuanquan and returned to the courtyard, where White Cat stared in shock at the Jing Jiu still seated in meditation.

• He Bumu demanded that the Hanging Bell Sect show Sect Master Chen and De Se Se by the next day, or Green Mountain would kill De Yuanquan.
• Jing Jiu told the monks that Sect Master Chen and De Se Se were safe and confirmed he would take action.
• White Cat slipped into the sect, found the imprisoned mother and daughter, and surveyed the island’s defenses and De Yuanquan’s residence for Jing Jiu.
• Old Madam told De Yuanquan to kill Sect Master Chen that night and use her death to pressure Green Mountain.
• Jing Jiu attacked De Yuanquan in Star-Catching Tower, passed his hand through De Yuanquan’s head, and vanished with Universe Edge.
• White Cat returned to the courtyard and was stunned to see Jing Jiu still seated in meditation.

Jing Jiu killed De Yuanquan with the Netherworld Immortal Sword, then used the Heart-Clearing Bell to find Se Se and her imprisoned mother, Sect Master Chen. He heard Se Se’s list of enemies, revealed that De Yuanquan was already dead, and left the island.

• Jing Jiu explained that his Sea-Breaking breakthrough had let him kill De Yuanquan with a single Netherworld Immortal Sword strike.
• Jing Jiu and Liu A'da jumped into a well and emerged on a secluded island in Dawn Lake.
• Liu A'da’s Heart-Clearing Bell guided Jing Jiu to the hidden prison, where Jing Jiu opened the false stone wall but could not break the inner formation.
• Jing Jiu found Se Se tending to her badly injured mother, Sect Master Chen, and agreed to help kill the people on Se Se’s list.
• Se Se named De Yuanquan as the person she most wanted dead, and Jing Jiu told her he had already killed him.
• Se Se praised Jing Jiu and said she would marry him if not for Zhan, while Sect Master Chen wished him well as he left.

After a series of mysterious killings at Dawn Lake, the Hanging Bell Sect’s Old Madam traced the culprit to a disguised monk and accused him of being Jing Jiu. When the monk removed his bamboo hat, he revealed himself as He Zhan, leaving the gathered sect representatives stunned.

• The Old Madam accused the Green Mountain Sect of killing De Yuanquan, but He Bumu denied involvement and remained at Dawn Lake with three Shiyue Peak disciples.
• The Hanging Bell Sect detained the Heart-Cleansing Assembly’s guests, while more elders were killed by an unseen attacker.
• The killings weakened the Old Madam’s faction, and a senior elder demanded that she lift the formation and release Sect Master Chen.
• The Old Madam used the Grand Formation and her Fate Bell to narrow down the attacker’s location and surround the courtyard where Jing Jiu was believed to be hiding.
• The Old Madam accused the bamboo-hatted monk of being Jing Jiu, but he removed his hat and identified himself as He Zhan, a monk of the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple.

Jing Jiu found and removed the Hanging Bell Sect’s Formation Core, ending the formations around Dawn Lake, then left as Sect Master Chen’s faction gained control. Old Madam was confined to the Star-Catching Tower, while Jing Jiu’s identity remained a mystery to He Zhan.

• Jing Jiu discovered that the porcelain flowerpot in the Star-Catching Tower was the Formation Core and took it away, undoing the sect’s formations.
• Jing Jiu explained to He Zhan that Old Madam had turned against them because she was near death and the Zhongzhou Sect had made her a promise.
• He Zhan asked whether Jing Jiu was True Person Jingyang’s illegitimate son, and Jing Jiu denied it while hinting that Liu S sui and Liu Ci shared a surname.
• Jing Jiu left Dawn Lake, telling Big One that Old Madam would give up because he knew what she wanted from when she was young.
• Sect Master Chen and Se Se confined Old Madam to the Star-Catching Tower, and Old Madam angrily cursed Sect Master Chen after she invoked Jing Jiu’s support.

Se Se stayed at the Hanging Bell Sect while He Zhan returned to White City, and Jing Jiu confirmed Lady Chen had taken power as the Old Madam withdrew from public life. Jing Jiu waited unsuccessfully for his senior brother, then the story followed Yin San and the Profound Yin Ancestor toward Cold Mountain as they sought an agreement with Yin Phoenix.

• Se Se told He Zhan she could not leave the Hanging Bell Sect, and he gave her his improved grilled-fish recipe before returning to White City.
• Jing Jiu explained to Big One that the Old Madam had relinquished control because Se Se and He Zhan's union could preserve the De family’s claim to the sect.
• Jing Jiu learned that Lady Chen had seized power and the Old Madam was confined to the Star-Catching Tower, then waited for his senior brother to appear but left when he did not.
• Yuan Qijing watched Jing Jiu enter Chaoge City and departed after confirming that his master would not appear.
• Yin San traveled with the Profound Yin Ancestor to Cold Mountain, where Yin San told him that the sect could endure as long as its people lived.
• Yin San met Yin Phoenix and proposed that it agree to give them two scales, leaving further discussion for later if they could not reach an agreement.

Yin San sent Yin Phoenix into the Lava River to obtain two scales from the Fire Carp, then revealed that he was gathering materials to attempt the legendary Feathering. The chapter ended with Yin Phoenix offering his own feathers for the undertaking.

• Yin San sent Yin Phoenix into the fissure while the Profound Yin Ancestor stayed with him at Cold Mountain.
• Yin Phoenix fought the Fire Carp through the Lava River and forced him to surrender two scales.
• Yin Phoenix returned with the scales, and Yin San thanked him and reaffirmed that he would not leave if Yin Phoenix could not escape.
• Yin San told Yin Phoenix and the Profound Yin Ancestor that he still needed lotus flowers from the Thousand-Li Wind Corridor and was preparing to attempt Feathering.
• Yin Phoenix offered to provide his own feathers for Yin San’s attempt.

Jing Jiu visited his family and the Imperial Palace, gave the First Child Sword to Jing Yao, and received the Vermilion Bird Jade Egg from the Divine Emperor. After investigating damage to the Demon-Suppressing Prison, he remained in Chaoge City, where Xi Yiyun asked whom he supported as Green Mountain's next Sect Master.

• Jing Jiu visited the Jing Household, shared soup with his family, and then went to the Duke of Lu to arrange a palace visit.
• Jing Jiu gave the First Child Sword to Jing Yao and told Gu Qing to return to Green Mountain.
• The Divine Emperor gave Jing Jiu the Vermilion Bird Jade Egg and asked him to inspect the Demon-Suppressing Prison.
• Jing Jiu found that someone had taken some of the Azure Dragon's marrow from the damaged prison.
• Jing Jiu stayed in Chaoge City as speculation over Green Mountain's next Sect Master grew, and he told Xi Yiyun that he did not support Fu Wang.

As Green Mountain gathered to choose its next Sect Master, Jing Jiu returned to the mountain and waited with Zhao Layue and the others. Liu Ci’s sword scabbard came back to Heavenly Light Peak, and spring rain fell as the Green Mountain disciples welcomed the returning Sect Master.

• The Abbot of Pure Enlightenment Temple and an envoy from the Wind Saber Sect visited Jing Jiu, who told them that Fu Wang and Fang Jingtian would not become Sect Master.
• Back on Green Mountain, Jing Jiu told Gu Qing that Yuan Qijing was unwilling to take the position, then resumed cultivating.
• In spring, Jing Jiu went with Zhao Layue, Yuan Qu, Ping Yongjia, and Cold Cicada to a gathering of Green Mountain’s leaders and disciples on Heavenly Light Peak.
• Yuan Qijing opened the Green Mountain Grand Array, allowing Liu Ci’s Heaven-Bearing Sword Scabbard to return to the stone stele.
• Green Mountain’s swords faced the scabbard as the disciples welcomed the Sect Master, and spring rain began to fall.

Spring rain marked True Person Liu Ci’s death and renewed tensions between the Green Mountain Sect and the Zhongzhou Sect. As Green Mountain’s leaders disputed who should become Sect Master, Jing Jiu arrived and took the seat himself.

• The Divine Emperor warned Consort Hu that the Zhongzhou Sect would remain restrained while he lived, but Green Mountain would have to intervene after his death.
• Liu S sui worried that the Green Mountain Sect and Zhongzhou Sect were headed for conflict, while the Zhongzhou Sect ended its three-year closure and Bai Zao wondered where Jing Jiu had gone.
• Green Mountain mourned Liu Ci, then began deliberating over his successor, with elders nominating Yuan Qijing, Fang Jingtian, and True Person Guangyuan.
• Bai Rujing urged Yuan Qijing to read Liu Ci’s final decree, but Yuan Qijing stayed silent and did not retrieve the Heaven-Bearing Sword Scabbard.
• Jing Jiu appeared on Heavenly Light Peak, took down the Heaven-Bearing Sword Scabbard, sat in the Sect Master’s chair, and said, “Let me do it.”

At True Person Liu Ci’s funeral, Jing Jiu sat in the Sect Master’s Seat, and Liu Ci’s final edict named him as Green Mountain’s next sect master. Jian Ruyun objected despite knowing the penalty was death, and more than a dozen disciples joined him as the summit faced a growing confrontation.

• Ming Guoxing told South Pine Pavilion disciples that he had welcomed Jing Jiu into Green Mountain, then fell silent while gazing toward the peaks.
• Young disciples at Sword-Washing Creek speculated about Green Mountain’s future sect master and noted that Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue were still young.
• Jing Jiu sat in the Sect Master’s Seat after taking the Heaven-Bearing Sword, drawing shock and anger from the assembled Green Mountain disciples.
• Jing Jiu released the Heaven-Bearing Sword Intent, which formed Liu Ci’s final edict: “Green Mountain belongs to Jing Jiu.”
• Jian Ruyun objected to the edict and accepted that his defiance could cost him his life.
• Ma Hua and more than a dozen other disciples joined Jian Ruyun on the summit.

Green Mountain elders challenged Liu Ci’s Last Edict naming Jing Jiu as Sect Master and moved to choose a leader by vote. Just as Bai Rujing’s opposition seemed certain to defeat Jing Jiu, Jing Jiu questioned his right to represent Heavenly Light Peak, and Guo Nanshan and Zhuo Rusui objected to Bai Rujing’s authority.

• Jian Ruyun, Bai Rujing, Elder Cheng, Fu Wang, and other Green Mountain members opposed Jing Jiu becoming Sect Master, while Zhao Layue defended his qualification.
• Guo Nanshan affirmed that Liu Ci’s Last Edict should be honored, and Zhuo Rusui noted that Green Mountain had a history of disregarding such edicts.
• Ma Hua invoked the sect rule allowing the peaks to elect a Sect Master, and Yuan Qijing agreed to let them vote.
• True Person Guangyuan, Fu Wang, and Bai Rujing voted against Jing Jiu, believing their opposition would prevent him from gaining enough support.
• Jing Jiu asked Bai Rujing what gave him the right to represent Heavenly Light Peak, and Gu Qing explained that the peak might not accept Bai Rujing as its representative.
• Guo Nanshan and Zhuo Rusui objected to Bai Rujing’s claim to represent Heavenly Light Peak.