Chapter Summaries

Tong Yan and the Nether Master refined a plan to lure the High Priest’s followers onto Chaotian Continent, while sect leaders gathered at Fruitful Accomplishment Temple for the Plum Gathering amid rising tension between Green Mountain and Zhongzhou. The chapter ended with Jing Jiu and three other Green Mountain representatives arriving to face Zhongzhou’s formidable delegation.

• Tong Yan asked the Nether Master about hidden passages and checked whether their locations and bait for the Netherworld priests could be trusted.
• Tong Yan said he would seek a meeting with the High Priest if the priests hesitated, and the Nether Master revealed that the High Priest was cleansing his body in the Nether River.
• The Zhongzhou Sect’s Cloud Boat left for Moqiu as sect representatives gathered at Fruitful Accomplishment Temple to discuss the Plum Gathering and the conflict between the two great sects.
• The assembled cultivators saw White True Person arrive with three Void Refinement Realm Valley Masters, including Yue Qianmen.
• Zhao Layue, Gu Qing, Zhuo Rusui, and Jing Jiu emerged from the Pagoda Forest as Green Mountain’s representatives.

The Plum Gathering began with the sects gathered in opposing camps, and He Wei demanded an explanation from Jing Jiu over Chen Wen’s death. White True Person ended the dispute by declaring that the matter would go no further, leaving He Wei silent for the rest of the gathering.

• Jing Jiu, Zhao Layue, Zhuo Rusui, and Gu Qing arrived at the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple and took their places opposite the Zhongzhou Sect delegation.
• He Wei accused Liu S sui of involvement in Chen Wen’s death and demanded an explanation from Jing Jiu.
• Bu Qiuxiao defended Liu S sui and argued that Master Huiyuan had caused Chen Wen’s death, while He Wei proposed that the Zhongzhou Sect investigate.
• White True Person declared that the matter ended there, and He Wei returned to his seat without speaking again.

At the Plum Gathering, Bai Zao asked Green Mountain to accept changes to the resource-allocation rules, and Jing Jiu refused most of them. News then arrived that the Twelfth Priest had crossed into the Chaotian Continent in his true body and been killed by a Green Mountain Daoist Friend.

• Tong Yan discussed karma and the Netherworld’s future with A Piao, then warned the Nether Master not to tamper with the child.
• Bai Zao presented the Zhongzhou Sect’s demands to the gathering and argued that Green Mountain should bear more responsibility for the Netherworld threat.
• Jing Jiu agreed only that Green Mountain would take the Western Sea’s share, leaving the other regulations unchanged.
• The Zen Child received reports from Green Mountain, the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple, and the Pure Heaven Bureau that the Twelfth Priest had appeared at Cold Mountain in his true body.
• The Zen Child announced that a Green Mountain Daoist Friend had killed the Twelfth Priest.

At the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple, Jing Jiu confirmed that Green Mountain’s killing of the Twelfth Priest was only the beginning and left the assembly waiting for what came next. At Cold Mountain, the chapter revealed that True Person Guangyuan had killed the Twelfth Priest, while other Green Mountain experts had also gathered nearby.

• Bai Zao asked whether the killing was only the beginning, and Jing Jiu said it was before leading the Green Mountain group out of the hall.
• Zhen Tao worried that the Twelfth Priest’s death was suspicious, while Se Se argued that Green Mountain had prepared for him and had nothing to explain.
• The dying Twelfth Priest recalled how the Zhongzhou Sect had sent him to find the Fire Carp and the Nether Emperor’s Seal before his soul fire was burned away.
• True Person Guangyuan confirmed that he had killed the Twelfth Priest with the Returning Sun Sword, and the Wind Saber Sect Master recognized his identity.
• True Person Guangyuan revealed that Junior Sister Nan Wang was drinking nearby, and the Wind Saber Sect Master spotted another stretch of wind and snow, realizing Green Mountain had prepared thoroughly.

The Green Mountain Sect killed successive Netherworld invaders while Jing Jiu discussed his Lower Realm dealings with the Zen Child and warned Bai Zao against contacting it. After the crisis passed, the sects settled the Western Sea Sword Sect’s shares, and Jing Jiu directly held the Zhongzhou Sect responsible for the Netherworld fiends escaping through Soul-Gathering Valley.

• True Person Guangyuan burned the Twelfth Priest’s corpse and departed, while Jing Jiu told the Zen Child he had no evidence of Jing Jiu’s contact with the Lower Realm.
• The Seventh Priest and two sorcerers appeared near Juye City and were killed by Green Mountain swords.
• Bai Zao asked Jing Jiu whether Senior Brother was in the Lower Realm, then left the Quiet Garden feeling lonely as Se Se, Que Niang, and Zhen Tao arrived.
• Green Mountain forces killed more Netherworld invaders near Cold Mountain, and the sects later withdrew the Zhongzhou Sect’s proposal and assigned the Western Sea Sword Sect’s shares to Green Mountain.
• Jing Jiu told the Zhongzhou Sect that Soul-Gathering Valley was its responsibility and declared that he was calling it to account.

After White True Person withdrew from the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple, Bu Qiuxiao questioned Jing Jiu about Green Mountain’s Netherworld allies, while Tong Yan learned the Nether Master feared Jing Jiu might be True Person Taiping. At the East Sea, Jing Jiu told the Zen Child he intended to try once more to draw Taiping out and kill him.

• Jing Jiu warned White True Person that the Zhongzhou Sect must not threaten Green Mountain again, and she accepted his words before leading her sect away.
• Bu Qiuxiao asked whether Green Mountain’s Netherworld helpers were remnants of Taiping’s faction, and Jing Jiu said he had sent a Green Mountain disciple ahead.
• Tong Yan asked the Nether Master about the hidden passage between the Netherworld and Yunmeng Mountain, then learned the Nether Master wanted him to determine who Jing Jiu really was.
• The Nether Master said he feared cooperating with Jing Jiu if Jing Jiu truly was that person, while Tong Yan faced danger from the priests’ armies surrounding the Nether Capital.
• Jing Jiu told the Zen Child that he planned to try again to lure True Person Taiping out and kill him.

Jing Jiu and the Zen Child discussed the danger posed by White True Person and the possibility of the world descending into chaos. White True Person revealed her suspicions about Jing Jiu and her plan to let him and Taiping destroy each other, while Jing Jiu later led his companions to the Great Marsh to confront Emperor Xiao.

• The Zen Child warned Jing Jiu that White True Person might know his identity and urged him to consider the danger of her power, while Jing Jiu said he was difficult to kill and preferred to wait for opponents to reveal their intentions.
• White True Person visited the Hanging Bell Sect cemetery, told the Old Madam's grave that she believed Jing Jiu and Taiping would destroy each other if left alone, and threatened the Old Madam's daughter-in-law.
• Bai Zao heard White True Person explain that love was natural for humans but had to be transcended by Daoist cultivators seeking ascension.
• Jing Jiu waited at the Heavenly Access Well for Tong Yan, then sent a mosquito into the well when Tong Yan did not appear.
• Zhao Layue and the others returned from questioning a Penglai Divine Island treasure ship, and Jing Jiu told them to come with him after the Sword Boat departed.
• Jing Jiu led Zhao Layue, Zhuo Rusui, and Gu Qing to the Great Marsh, where they prepared to confront Emperor Xiao.

After Jing Jiu failed to kill his intended target, he took Zhao Layue, Gu Qing, Zhuo Rusui, and Big One to a remote mountain to cultivate together. An autumn rain carried faint spiritual qi to a nearby sect, and after days of shared cultivation, Zhuo Rusui noticed a change in his sword and asked Jing Jiu if this was how he had cultivated before.

• Jing Jiu said the person he had meant to kill had escaped, then had the Curtain Rollers search their files for Master Huiyuan, whose whereabouts remained unknown.
• Jing Jiu learned that the Curtain Rollers belonged to the Imperial Court and chose not to return to Green Mountain, instead inviting Zhao Layue, Gu Qing, and Zhuo Rusui to cultivate with him.
• Jing Jiu and the others settled on a snow-covered mountain with sparse spiritual qi, while Zhou Yunmu of the Xuantian Sect watched them from a distance.
• When rain containing faint spiritual qi fell, Zhou Yunmu called for his disciples and granddisciples to come out and experience it.
• After days of snow, Jing Jiu received a Sword Letter, and Zhuo Rusui saw that the Swallowing Boat Sword had changed before asking Jing Jiu if he had cultivated this way before.

Jing Jiu entered the Thunder Domain and returned with his aura changed, while the spiritual energy around him helped Zhao Layue and Zhuo Rusui approach a breakthrough. He then found Master Huiyuan in Yizhou City and demanded to know where Taiping was, ending with Jing Jiu raising a hand that filled the monk with fear.

• Jing Jiu entered the Thunder Domain and returned through the Void Realm, scorched but pleased by the experience.
• Zhao Layue and Zhuo Rusui realized they were nearing the Wandering the Wilds Upper Realm, and Zhuo Rusui asked to cultivate beside Jing Jiu.
• The Xuantian Sect members paid respects to the passing Green Mountain Sword Lights, and Zhou Yunmu announced he would enter secluded cultivation.
• Jing Jiu arrived at Pinggu Temple and told Master Huiyuan to reveal where Taiping was or die.
• Master Huiyuan challenged Jing Jiu's ability to kill him, and Jing Jiu raised his hand as the monk sensed thunder and the shadow of death.

Jing Jiu defeated Master Huiyuan, who died after warning that Jing Jiu would never find True Person Taiping. By examining the prefect's belongings, Jing Jiu traced Taiping's movements to a Treasure Ship in the Ice Storm Sea.

• Master Huiyuan summoned countless prayer beads and merged with the Buddha statue to fight Jing Jiu.
• Thunderous clashes destroyed Pinggu Temple, and Jing Jiu blinded Huiyuan and severed his Buddhist utterances with Sword Intent.
• Before turning to dust, Huiyuan told Jing Jiu he would never find True Person Taiping and said the world needed him.
• Jing Jiu returned to the prefectural office, where Zhao Layue confirmed the dead prefect had been a Never-Old Forest member carrying a fragment of the Blazing Sun Banner.
• Jing Jiu examined the study's objects and concluded that True Person Taiping was aboard a Treasure Ship in the Ice Storm Sea.

Jing Jiu followed the treasure ship’s heat trail north across the Ice Storm Sea, while Zhuo Rusui, Zhao Layue, and Gu Qing advanced their cultivation together before he sent them back to Green Mountain. He and Big One continued toward Yin San, whose preparations suggested he was attempting Feathering, and Big One warned he could hold Profound Yin Child off for only seven breaths.

• Jing Jiu gathered the group on an ice floe and absorbed the Heavenly Thunder in his body while Zhuo Rusui, Zhao Layue, Gu Qing, and Big One cultivated alongside him.
• Zhuo Rusui and Zhao Layue broke through to the Wandering the Wilds Upper Realm, while Gu Qing chose to delay his own breakthrough.
• Jing Jiu followed the treasure ship’s lingering heat trail north and ordered the others to return to Green Mountain, taking only Big One with him.
• Zhuo Rusui questioned why Jing Jiu had brought them along and then left them behind, while Zhao Layue remained quiet and Gu Qing showed no concern about the future of Green Mountain.
• Jing Jiu explained to Big One that Yin San’s preparations pointed toward an attempt at Feathering and that he intended to face him while both Yin San and Yin Phoenix were weakened.
• Big One said he could hold Profound Yin Child off for at most seven breaths as Jing Jiu continued north along the ship’s clear trail through the ice.

Jing Jiu traveled to the frozen northern sea to confront Yin San before his planned Feathering, while Yin San waited aboard a treasure ship for their reunion. As they finally faced each other, the Snow Nation Queen’s immense Divine Sense arrived, leaving the confrontation interrupted by her presence.

• Yin San told the Profound Yin Ancestor that he was waiting for Jing Jiu because he needed to ask him a question before attempting Feathering.
• Jing Jiu deduced that Yin San had deliberately left clues to draw him north, and he discovered and erased a faint shadow left in his mind by Heaven Near Person.
• Yin San came on deck, thanked the Profound Yin Ancestor for his loyalty, and told the Yin Phoenix to return to Green Mountain if he died.
• Jing Jiu and Yin San saw each other across the frozen sea as the wind and snow abruptly stopped and the ice began to crack.
• The Snow Nation Queen’s distant Divine Sense swept across the frozen sea, prompting Big One to suggest that Jing Jiu and Yin San might need to join forces against her.

Jing Jiu fled after the Snow Nation Queen’s Divine Sense recognized Snow Ji’s scent, while Yin San began a painful Feathering ritual under her gaze. Jing Jiu returned to Zhao Layue without killing True Person Taiping and admitted that he was very sad.

• The Snow Nation Queen’s Divine Sense examined the Treasure Ship, and Jing Jiu sensed that she had detected Snow Ji’s scent and escaped with the Netherworld Immortal Sword.
• Yin San chose to let the Snow Nation Queen witness his Feathering, and the Profound Yin Ancestor and Yin Phoenix helped prepare the ritual.
• Yin San played the Bone Flute as the lotus’s aura stripped away his rotting flesh, and he closed his eyes after the Profound Yin Ancestor wondered whether he wanted to die.
• Zhao Layue waited on an ice floe, and Jing Jiu arrived and told her he had seen True Person Taiping from afar but had not killed him.
• Zhao Layue reminded Jing Jiu that he could leave whenever he wished, and Jing Jiu confessed that he felt very sad.
• Big One reached the floe, sensed their subdued mood, and lay down in Jing Jiu’s arms.

Jing Jiu set aside his sorrow and searched for clues to why Taiping had tried to stop his ascension, tracing a lead to a vanished Sword Immortal in the Western Sea. He uncovered an old account of a madman whose warnings and actions suggested a lonely immortal had once descended into the mortal world.

• Jing Jiu told Zhao Layue that his loneliness had ended, then focused on finding the reason Taiping had opposed his ascension.
• Jing Jiu visited the Western Sea and promised Cheng Youtian that Shiyue Peak would relieve Jade Lake Peak in four years.
• Jing Jiu searched Shaoming Island and found Nan Qu's cryptic note in a Record of Sword Immortals, then ordered old books from Haizhou City.
• Jing Jiu found records of a middle-aged madman who warned people not to go outside, leaped into the sky, and was followed by the destruction of several cultivation groups.
• Big One recalled the Western Sea's past tragedies, and Jing Jiu connected the madman to the previous Sword Immortal and his writings about loneliness.

Jing Jiu reflected on the dangers beyond ascension, then ordered a residence built in Yunji Town and announced he would enter seclusion until the Sect Master's investiture in four years. Nan Wang returned from the Water-Moon Convent injured after claiming she could not lose.

• Jing Jiu told Zhao Layue that the world beyond ascension was dangerous and explained why he still intended to explore it.
• At a Yunji Town hotpot restaurant, Jing Jiu sensed that True Person Taiping might have died and concluded that the man had not always intended to kill him.
• Jing Jiu asked the Gu Household to build a residence in Yunji Town for four years later, gave Universe Edge to Gu Qing, and announced the Sect Master's investiture ceremony would be held then.
• Jing Jiu entered seclusion and refused to see anyone, while Zhao Layue asked whether pursuing the Great Dao had to be so bitter.
• Nan Wang returned from the Water-Moon Convent and, after boasting to Big One that she could not lose, suddenly spat out blood.

Nan Wang returned to Green Mountain after fighting the Convent Master and sent Nan Zheng to Water-Moon Convent to investigate Lian Sanyue and Guo Dong. Meanwhile, Ping Yongjia searched Cloud-Traveling Peak for a sword, cultivated beside Yuan Qu’s sword for four years, and began developing a Sword Body before Yuan Qu left him to continue cultivating.

• Nan Wang said she had fought the Convent Master to a draw, then ordered Nan Zheng to enter Water-Moon Convent and investigate Lian Sanyue and Guo Dong.
• Ping Yongjia told Gu Qing he wanted to visit Cloud-Traveling Peak to find a sword, and Gu Qing supported his decision.
• Ping Yongjia encountered several exceptional flying swords but rejected them, then found the sword Jing Jiu had chosen for Yuan Qu and sat beside it to cultivate.
• Four years later, Yuan Qu found Ping Yongjia surrounded by Cloud-Traveling Peak’s sword intent and realized his junior brother was nearing great completion of the Sword Body.
• Yuan Qu took his sword and left Ping Yongjia undisturbed, knowing he would miss the Green Mountain Sect Master’s inauguration ceremony.

Tong Yan returned from the Netherworld and was brought to Green Mountain, where he entered the Sword Prison and then Hidden Peak with A Piao. A Piao attacked him and revealed that his teacher was True Person Taiping.

• Yuan Qu walked down Cloud-Traveling Peak after nurturing his unnamed sword for five years, and Green Mountain disciples congratulated him.
• Tong Yan arrived at the Heavenly Access Well with a case, and Jing Jiu’s Green-Curtain Sedan carried him to a residence near Green Mountain.
• Tong Yan asked to visit the Sword Prison, and Yuan Qijing allowed him to descend with the case despite disliking the visit.
• Tong Yan carried the case through the Sword Prison to Hidden Peak, where he found a red gem outside a cave indicating someone was cultivating inside.
• Tong Yan opened the case, and A Piao emerged and struck him, saying he had to act despite Tong Yan being like a teacher to him.
• A Piao played a bamboo flute to open the cave door and revealed that True Person Taiping had been his teacher.

A Piao carried out True Person Taiping’s plans in Hidden Peak, helping Fang Jingtian break through to the Heaven-Connecting Realm as Jing Jiu arrived for his inauguration as Green Mountain Sect Master. Fang Jingtian then reached the Sword Prison and called for his Great-Martial-Uncle to leave.

• A Piao visited Fang Jingtian’s secluded cave and planted a bamboo flute, which grew seven plum blossoms.
• A Piao entered the Sword Prison, greeted Corpse Dog, and waited for Yuan Qijing to depart.
• Representatives from the cultivation world gathered on Heavenly Light Peak for Jing Jiu’s inauguration, and Jing Jiu arrived amid a ringing sword.
• The seven plum blossoms bloomed as Fang Jingtian emerged from seclusion, having reached the Heaven-Connecting Realm.
• Corpse Dog found a dead cultivator in a cave, buried his body, and claimed the flying sword hidden in it.
• Fang Jingtian entered the Sword Prison, stopped at a cell, and told his Great-Martial-Uncle that it was time to go.

Jing Jiu took his place as Green Mountain Sect Master, but Fang Jingtian arrived after reaching the Heaven-Connecting Realm and challenged both his right to sit in the chair and his identity. Jing Jiu revealed that he was Jingyang as thunder sounded over Green Mountain.

• Jing Jiu sat beneath the hut's eaves as Green Mountain Sect Master, and Fang Jingtian arrived in a wheelchair with the newly achieved Heaven-Connecting Realm cultivation.
• Fang Jingtian challenged Jing Jiu's right to the Sect Master's Seat, while Green Mountain disciples and Nan Wang supported Jing Jiu and cited True Person Liu Ci's last edict.
• Fang Jingtian questioned Jing Jiu's origins and argued that the second son of the Jing Household in Chaoge City was a false identity; Yuan Qijing implied that the real child had been taken away.
• Jing Jiu explained that he had chosen the name Jing Jiu by looking at Divine End Peak, then declared, "I am Jingyang," as the rain stopped and thunder struck.

Jing Jiu revealed that he was True Person Jingyang, shocking Green Mountain and the gathered cultivators. Fang Jingtian then claimed that Jing Jiu was not Jingyang but a sword, leaving his true identity in question.

• The thunder and Jing Jiu's confession stunned the witnesses, while Yuan Qijing confirmed that Jing Jiu was Jingyang.
• Those present recalled Jing Jiu's past feats and bowed to him, while Bai Zao grieved and Zhao Layue wondered why he had revealed himself.
• Fang Jingtian questioned why Jingyang had remained in the mortal world, and Jing Jiu replied that he had unfinished business.
• Fang Jingtian accused Jing Jiu of forgetting that he was a sword rather than Jingyang.