Chapter Summaries

On New Year’s Day, Green Mountain disciples came to pay respects to Jing Jiu, and the gathering ended with a hotpot feast. Jing Jiu freed A Piao from the ice and bound him to the Nether Emperor’s Seal, only for everyone to discover that A Piao was a girl.

• Gu Qing, Zhuo Rusui, and Yuan Qu asked Jing Jiu to cultivate, and Zhao Layue explained that his spiritual energy would be too violent for them.
• Lei Yijing, Yao Songshan, Lin Yingliang, and many other Green Mountain disciples visited Jing Garden to pay respects to Jing Jiu.
• Jing Jiu suggested hotpot after Gu Qing counted 164 visiting disciples, and the group celebrated together.
• Jing Jiu drew A Piao’s soul into the Nether Emperor’s Seal, and A Piao surrendered after watching the others eat hotpot.
• Zhao Layue freed A Piao from the ice, bathed and dressed him, and A Piao revealed that she had been a girl all along.

Jing Jiu taught the disciples the basic principles of the Sword Dao and agreed to teach A Piao the Emperor’s Art while assessing her soul fire. In the Azure Sky Mirror Illusion, Zhang’s eldest son kept waiting for a missing fish as an azure bird watched over the growing-real world, until a crimson bird arrived beside her.

• Jing Jiu explained that the Sword Dao was about finding and cutting through boundaries, then demonstrated the idea by revealing lines of light on a porcelain vase.
• A Piao asked why Jing Jiu had killed True Person Tailu, and he replied that it was because he was himself.
• Jing Jiu told A Piao that he would teach her Soul Fire Control after choosing a successor, and promised to teach her the Emperor’s Art in the meantime.
• Jing Jiu watched A Piao display her soul fire and told her that an emperor should judge people, employ them, and refrain from acting.
• In the Azure Sky Mirror Illusion, Eldest Young Master Zhang remained in the countryside and repeatedly asked where the fish had gone, while an azure bird delayed pirates planning to attack Zhao.
• The azure bird left the illusion and met a crimson bird on a branch.

Ping Yongjia emerged from years of seclusion to find that Green Mountain had changed and that his master had been driven away. After reaching the deserted Divine End Peak and mourning what he found there, he was led by an old ape to a hidden cave.

• Ping Yongjia woke on Sword Peak, released powerful sword intent by stretching, and found that the flying swords avoided him.
• Ping Yongjia learned that more than four years had passed and heard Green Mountain disciples accuse his master of being a sword demon, so he rushed to Divine End Peak.
• Ping Yongjia crossed Divine End Peak’s dangerous restrictions by moving with his eyes closed and hopping past a perilous section of the path.
• Ping Yongjia found Divine End Peak deserted and discovered that the horse had died and been buried beneath stones.
• The apes comforted Ping Yongjia after he grieved, and an old ape led him across the stream to a hidden cave abode.

Ping Yongjia swallowed an entire bottle of powerful elixirs and survived a year trapped in a collapsed cave abode, emerging with greatly improved cultivation. He descended Divine End Peak hoping to find a way to attend the Plum Gathering and discovered that the Green Mountain Sword-Testing Assembly was taking place that day.

• Ping Yongjia chewed and swallowed the whole bottle of elixirs, triggering a year of cultivation and thunderous farts that frightened the old ape and the monkeys.
• The cave abode's cliff collapsed, and the old ape believed Ping Yongjia had died until he emerged from the rubble the following spring.
• Ping Yongjia washed away the filth, accidentally parted the creek with his sword intent, and asked the applauding monkeys to judge his cultivation.
• Ping Yongjia changed into a sword robe and bamboo hat, then descended Divine End Peak to ask Martial Aunt Mei Li about the Plum Gathering.
• At the Sword-Washing Pavilion, Ping Yongjia learned that the Green Mountain Sword-Testing Assembly was being held that day.

Ping Yongjia slipped into the Green Mountain Sword Trial disguised as a Qingrong Peak disciple and watched Jian Ruyun defeat Lei Yijing before Fang Xingwai challenged the disciples who favored Jing Garden. Mei Li chose Ping Yongjia to face Fang Xingwai, and the chapter ended with Ping Yongjia stopping his flying sword barehanded as an elder recognized the technique as Locking Clear Autumn.

• Ping Yongjia entered the Sword Forest disguised as a Qingrong Peak Senior Sister and was recognized by Mei Li, who told him to watch the trial properly.
• Jian Ruyun defeated Lei Yijing, then condemned the disciples who supported Jing Jiu and Jing Garden as following an evil path.
• Fang Xingwai challenged the disciples who favored Jing Garden, prompting Yao Songshan and others to step forward before Mei Li claimed the round for Qingrong Peak.
• Mei Li selected Ping Yongjia, who had no sword and had never fought, to face Fang Xingwai.
• Ping Yongjia caught Fang Xingwai's flying sword between his fingers and stopped it, leading an elder of Past Arrival Peak to identify the technique as Locking Clear Autumn.

Ping Yongjia revealed himself as Jing Jiu’s disciple after defeating Fang Xingwai with Qingrong Peak’s Endless Sword Technique, then challenged Jian Ruyun. Jian Ruyun pursued him into the sky with a sword-riding attack, while the elders watched with grave expressions.

• Ping Yongjia trapped Fang Xingwai’s flying sword with Qingrong Peak’s Sword Net Technique and shattered it with the Endless Sword Technique, causing Fang Xingwai to fall.
• Ping Yongjia challenged Jian Ruyun, removed his bamboo hat, and identified himself as a disciple of Divine End Peak and Jing Jiu.
• Shi Mingxuan objected to Ping Yongjia joining the Sword-Testing Assembly, but Jian Ruyun accepted the challenge and warned that Ping Yongjia could not see his sword.
• Jian Ruyun launched an extremely swift flying sword, and Ping Yongjia stamped the stone pillar and shot into the sky to evade it.
• Jian Ruyun pursued Ping Yongjia by riding his sword, while Guo Nanshan and the elders watched the sky with concern.

Ping Yongjia defeated Jian Ruyun at the Green Mountain Sword Trial and publicly declared that he had used the innate Formless Sword Body, challenging Fang Jingtian to explain his accusations against Jing Jiu. He then reached Jing Garden, only to discover that Jing Jiu and the others had already left.

• Ping Yongjia returned from the clouds with Jian Ruyun gravely injured, and the crowd realized he had won their exchange of swords.
• Ping Yongjia revealed streaks of sword light withdrawing into his body and declared that he had used the innate Formless Sword Body, addressing Fang Jingtian.
• Shi Mingxuan demanded that Ping Yongjia be seized, but no one responded as the gathered elders watched Fang Jingtian.
• Mei Li took Ping Yongjia through Yunji Town and told him that Jing Jiu and the others had lived in Jing Garden before she left him at the fog.
• Ping Yongjia charged through the fog into Jing Garden and found it empty, then sat on the marks left by the Bamboo Recliner and wondered where everyone had gone.

Ping Yongjia traveled to Chaoge City for the Plum Gathering and searched with Que Niang for Jing Jiu and the others, who had vanished from Jing Garden. After Ping Yongjia won the Dao Battle, Que Niang continued investigating while he prepared to enter the palace.

• Ping Yongjia learned that Jing Garden had stopped ordering hotpot and traveled to Chaoge City in the Gu Household's carriage.
• At the Plum Gathering, Ping Yongjia told Que Niang that Jing Jiu and the others had disappeared, and they searched the Jing Residence and Zhao Garden without finding a clue.
• Que Niang sent Ping Yongjia to White City for the Dao Battle and stayed behind to investigate.
• Ping Yongjia produced the second-highest number of Blood Plum Blossoms in the gathering's history and learned the Divine Emperor wanted his painting.
• Que Niang urged Ping Yongjia to return to Green Mountain, then continued investigating and saw a short, stout figure vanish in golden light near the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Ping Yongjia met the Divine Emperor in Chaoge City, then reunited with Jing Jiu after a terrifying encounter in the palace gardens. On Green Mountain’s Hidden Peak, Jing Jiu’s trapped companions guessed he was heading to Yunmeng Mountain because the Divine Emperor was going to die, while Que Niang arrived in their cave abode.

• Ping Yongjia entered the imperial palace, met the Divine Emperor, and recounted the Plum Gathering’s Dao Battle.
• After the elderly eunuch disappeared, Ping Yongjia encountered a short, stout expert in the palace gardens, who vanished without attacking him.
• Jing Jiu appeared, and Ping Yongjia knelt down crying that their family’s horse had died.
• Gu Qing, Yuan Qu, Zhuo Rusui, Tong Yan, and Zhao Layue remained imprisoned in Jing Jiu’s cave abode on Hidden Peak and wondered what dangerous plan he was pursuing.
• Tong Yan deduced that Jing Jiu was going to Yunmeng Mountain, and Zhao Layue said the Divine Emperor was going to die.
• Night Howl stopped Zhao Layue and Zhuo Rusui from escaping, and Que Niang arrived in the cave abode after meeting a short, stout expert who gave off golden light.

Que Niang, Tong Yan, and the others discussed the looming conflict between the Green Mountain Sect and the Zhongzhou Sect as Jing Jiu prepared for coming events in Chaoge City. True Person Tan then confronted the Water-Moon Convent and declared that the son of a demon fox could not become Divine Emperor.

• Que Niang reported that Chaoge City seemed peaceful but was stirred by undercurrents, and Tong Yan warned that the Zhongzhou Sect would fight the Green Mountain Sect openly, with Kou Qingtong a possible threat.
• Jing Jiu told Ping Yongjia to stay in the Imperial Palace and run back to Green Mountain when ordered, carrying what he saw to Tong Yan.
• A Piao revealed herself as Jing Jiu's Closed-Door Disciple and asked to leave, but Jing Jiu kept her to learn the Emperor's Art from the Divine Emperor.
• Jing Jiu promised the Divine Emperor that the coming affair would remain confined to Chaoge City and admitted he feared both his own death and the deaths of others.
• True Person Tan entered the Water-Moon Convent despite its grand formation and said that the son of a demon fox could not become Divine Emperor of the Human Race.

True Person Tan took Jing Xin from Water-Moon Convent after Jing Xin knelt, while Nan Zheng was sent to warn the palace. In Chaoge City, Yin San brought Qing'er to witness the coming succession struggle as the Zhongzhou Sect arrived with its Cloud Boats, and he revealed that he had come despite Green Mountain's stated neutrality.

• True Person Tan waited for Jing Xin to decide whether to submit, and Jing Xin finally knelt, so True Person Tan took him toward Chaoge City.
• The Convent Master identified Nan Zheng's knowledge of the sleeping Guo Dong and sent Nan Zheng ahead to the palace in the Green-Curtain Sedan.
• Yin San walked through Chaoge City with Qing'er and explained that the Divine Emperor was dying and the factions would struggle over the throne.
• Yin San told Qing'er he expected the Imperial Court's collapse to cause great chaos, arguing that humanity had to grow stronger to survive.
• The Zhongzhou Sect's Cloud Boats reached Chaoge City as the Divine Guard Army evacuated civilians and the city prepared its Divine Crossbows.
• When Qing'er asked where the Green Mountain Sword Boats were, Yin San said Green Mountain had not sent them because he himself had come.

As Zhongzhou Sect’s Cloud Boats threatened Chaoge City, the Jing Dynasty evacuated residents and prepared its defenses while the Divine Emperor faced the sect’s challenge to Crown Prince Jing Yao’s succession. The chapter ended with White True Person promising the sect would wait until the Divine Emperor departed, then act over his Last Edict and the Crown Prince.

• Gu Pan and Zhang Yiai watched Zhongzhou Sect’s Cloud Boats approach Chaoge City as the city prepared for a siege.
• Lord Zhao urged Jing Shang to take the Jing Household south, but said he would stay to see whether Green Mountain would oppose the Zhongzhou Sect.
• Gu Pan inspected the Forbidden Array with two officials, then learned that the approaching figure was the Grand Elder of Water-Moon Convent.
• Nan Zheng arrived at the Imperial Palace and announced that True Person Tan had taken Jing Xin toward Chaoge City.
• The Divine Emperor ended the court assembly, and the officials bowed to him as they feared it would be his last.
• White True Person told the Divine Emperor that the Zhongzhou Sect would not act until after his departure, making clear that it intended to challenge the Crown Prince’s succession.

As the Zhongzhou Sect surrounded the Imperial City, the Divine Emperor waited for Chaoge City's people to evacuate before dying, and Jing Yao prepared to ascend the throne. The Zhongzhou Sect then began draining the Imperial City Grand Formation, prompting Jing Jiu and Yin San to order an attack.

• Bu Qiuxiao opposed the Zhongzhou Sect's attack on Chaoge City and secured its promise to confine the fighting to the Imperial City.
• The Divine Emperor spent his final hours with Consort Hu and Jing Yao, holding on until Chaoge City's people had been evacuated before he died.
• Consort Hu urged Jing Yao to cry that night, and he composed himself before walking toward the Imperial Throne.
• White True Person ordered the Imperial City Grand Formation opened, and the Zhongzhou Sect's Cloud Boats began draining its power.
• Jing Jiu told his allies to act, while Yin San ordered them to kill the Zhongzhou Sect forces.

The Divine Emperor’s preparations thwarted the Zhongzhou Sect’s attempt to seize Chaoge City, as the Curtain Rollers and hidden Never-Old Forest forces recovered the Imperial City Grand Formation. With Jing Yao still approaching the throne, Xin Haichen suddenly attacked him.

• Gu Pan killed Gao Jingxiu, maintained the Forbidden Array, and reported to Zhang Yiai that the situation was handled.
• The Heir of the Duke of Zhan took a formation core from his grandmother, who died, and Jing Li delivered the core to the Divine Guard Army.
• The Curtain Rollers and Never-Old Forest assassins reclaimed formation cores, while Yin San told Qing'er he opposed the Zhongzhou Sect because its victory would prevent chaos.
• Jin Mingcheng and Attendant Niu confronted each other over the Imperial City Grand Formation’s core, then realized neither served the Zhongzhou Sect.
• The Imperial City Grand Formation regained its strength, and the Divine Crossbows damaged a Zhongzhou Sect Cloud Boat, forcing it to retreat.
• As Jing Yao neared the throne, Xin Haichen slashed at him from the front rank.

Jing Jiu stopped Xin Haichen from killing Jing Yao, then revealed the Divine Emperor’s final edict naming him Imperial Uncle Jingyang and overseer of the state. Jing Yao took the throne as the First Child Sword cut down those who tried to stop him, while the gathering forces outside Chaoge City drew closer.

• Jing Jiu appeared in time to block Xin Haichen’s strike against Jing Yao, then killed Xin Haichen with a touch to the neck.
• Jing Jiu ordered the Duke of Lu to read the final edict, which named Jing Yao emperor and Imperial Uncle Jingyang overseer of the state.
• Jing Yao bowed to Jing Jiu and went to take the throne as officials and guards moved to stop him.
• Jing Jiu used the First Child Sword to kill the officers and guards who threatened Jing Yao, then identified it as his own sword.
• Jing Yao sat on the throne as the Duke of Lu led officials in acclaiming him, while Jing Jiu watched from the steps and True Person Tan arrived.

True Person Tan arrived in Chaoge City and used the Yunmeng Edict to challenge the Imperial City Grand Formation, but Jing Jiu revealed hidden defenses and stopped the Zhongzhou Sect’s Cloud Boats. Tan entered the formation and offered to let Jing Yao and Consort Hu leave safely while preserving the Plum Gathering, leaving Jing Jiu to answer before the gathered sects.

• True Person Tan arrived above the Imperial Palace and used the Yunmeng Edict to weaken the Imperial City Grand Formation as the Zhongzhou Sect’s Cloud Boats advanced.
• Jing Jiu activated the Twelve Void-Breaking Primordial Qi Cannons, damaging a Cloud Boat and restoring the formation with his emerald-green bamboo tablet.
• True Person Tan walked through the Imperial City Grand Formation with Jing Xin, while Jing Yao and Jing Xin silently faced one another.
• True Person Tan offered Jing Jiu safe passage for Jing Yao and Consort Hu and promised to preserve the Plum Gathering, asking the gathered sects to witness his pledge.
• The assembled cultivators waited for Jing Jiu to respond, while no one from the Green Mountain Sect had arrived.

Yin San drew the Zhongzhou Sect’s Cloud Boat toward himself, but its attack devastated Chaoge City and killed civilians before it stopped. At the Imperial Palace, Jing Jiu rejected True Person Tan’s proposal for a three-on-three contest and challenged him directly.

• The Zhongzhou Sect’s Cloud Boat descended toward Chaoge City, and Bu Qiuxiao warned White True Person that the attack violated their agreement to confine the war to the Imperial Palace.
• Yin San left the Ministry of Rites Minister’s Residence to face Yue Qianmen, while Qing'er accused him of deliberately drawing the Zhongzhou Sect there and condemned the deaths of civilians.
• Yue Qianmen’s Cloud Boat wrecked streets and buildings as it pursued Yin San, until Bu Qiuxiao objected and the boat stopped.
• Jing Yao ordered the Secret Guards to withdraw, and Jing Jiu met True Person Tan in the square before the Great Hall.
• True Person Tan proposed a three-on-three fight to decide the conflict, but Jing Jiu refused and challenged him to fight one-on-one.

Jing Jiu challenged True Person Tan to settle the conflict between Green Mountain and the Zhongzhou Sect, and the two agreed to a five-match contest. As the palace grounds were being cleared, a mysterious voice from inside a small Green-Curtain Sedan ordered the eunuchs not to move it.

• Jing Jiu challenged True Person Tan to fight, but Tan declined a direct duel.
• Jing Jiu proposed that each sect send ten fighters, then offered to expand the contest to a hundred or a thousand matches.
• True Person Tan proposed five matches in which the winner stayed on, and Jing Jiu agreed.
• Jing Jiu deactivated the Imperial City Grand Formation, and True Person Tan sent the Cloud Boats away from Chaoge City.
• As eunuchs prepared to carry off the small Green-Curtain Sedan, someone inside told them not to move it.

Guo Dong revealed herself as Lian Sanyue, the legendary Water-Moon Convent master who had survived a failed ascension by taking a new incarnation. She intervened in the conflict between the Zhongzhou Sect and Green Mountain, declaring her support for Jing Jiu and leaving White True Person to face her formidable power.

• Guo Dong stepped from the Green-Curtain Sedan and challenged True Person Tan, saying she had decided to fight him openly.
• Morning light awakened Guo Dong's overwhelming aura, and True Person Tan recognized her as Lian Sanyue.
• The chapter recounted how Lian Sanyue had once crushed bandit forces and helped preserve the Chaotian Continent, before revealing that her failed ascension had led her to reincarnate through Spring Silkworm Transforms into a Butterfly.
• White True Person objected to Lian Sanyue interfering in the dispute between the Zhongzhou Sect and Green Mountain.
• Lian Sanyue insisted that she would intervene because the matter concerned the world, then told White True Person, "But I am his."

Lian Sanyue openly claimed Jing Jiu as hers, and he quietly acknowledged her before she challenged True Person Tan to gather whatever allies she could. White True Person sent Kou Qingtong, a legendary killer from Cloud-Dream Back Mountain, to attack Lian Sanyue, and his opening punch left her vanished into a deep hole in the Imperial Palace Square.

• Lian Sanyue declared that Jing Jiu was hers, and Jing Jiu gave a quiet assent before she told True Person Tan to find all the help he wanted.
• White True Person asked Kou Qingtong to act, and he demanded the Immortal Register before agreeing to attack Lian Sanyue.
• Kou Qingtong crossed the sky over Chaoge City and arrived at the Imperial Palace Square, where Jing Jiu recognized him and Lian Sanyue sensed his murderous nature.
• Kou Qingtong flew at Lian Sanyue and struck her with a powerful punch that blasted her from the square and left a deep hole where she had stood.