Recaps

Huang Xiao discovered that a newly revealed snow mountain was likely the formation eye, then cautiously climbed to its summit and approached a lake that concentrated immense Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth. As he took the final step toward the water, his consciousness faltered and the Bronze Key and Map began resonating.

• Huang Xiao realized that the newly appeared snow mountain brought the count to twenty-seven large peaks and fifty-four small ones, adding up to the Nine Keys’ eighty-one.
• Huang Xiao identified the snow mountain as the likely formation eye and climbed it, finding that its Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth grew denser before leveling off at the Fourth Layer Level.
• Huang Xiao spotted a lake on the summit where Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth condensed into visible mist and gathered with terrifying force.
• Huang Xiao spent hours cautiously approaching the lake, believing it might be the formation eye within the mountain’s formation eye.
• Huang Xiao took the final step toward the water, then grew dizzy as the snow mountains seemed to spin and the Bronze Key and Map resonated.

Huang Xiao discovered that the snowy mountains had returned to their true positions and found a person beneath the lake, where the treasures’ resonance was strongest. When he touched the water, it froze him solid, forcing him to shelter his divine sense inside the Supreme Ghost Stele as he searched for a way to escape.

• Huang Xiao realized the mountains’ true arrangement matched the map and that the formation blocking the treasures’ resonance had been broken.
• Huang Xiao spotted a person beneath the lake and decided to investigate because the treasures’ resonance came from the water.
• Huang Xiao touched the lake and was instantly encased in ice as the extreme cold began freezing his true qi.
• Huang Xiao used his remaining true qi to open the box and transferred most of his divine sense into the Supreme Ghost Stele.
• Huang Xiao’s attempt to send divine sense back to his body failed, and he considered whether fire from the Supreme Ghost Stele could help him break free.

Huang Xiao discovered that Hell Origin Flame could protect him from the lake’s chill and found a way to strengthen it faster than it was consumed, giving him a chance to survive. A year and a half later, Huo Lian still had no news of him and decided to ask the Wood Demon Sect to investigate.

• Huang Xiao guided a tiny wisp of Hell Origin Flame into his body and used it to shield his Divine Sense from the chill.
• Huang Xiao kindled his heart fire and used it to strengthen Hell Origin Flame, discovering that the amount gained exceeded what he used.
• Huang Xiao realized he would need to keep exhausting the lake’s chill and hoped his frozen body would give him enough time.
• Huo Lian, after waiting a year and a half for Huang Xiao, judged that his chances of survival were slim and grew wary of Mu Fucheng, Ke Zhenyi, and Liu Wangtai.
• Huo Lian decided to ask Ren Dongju and the Wood Demon Sect to investigate what had happened to Huang Xiao.

Huo Lian learned that Huang Xiao had vanished in the Extreme Cold Mountains and was ordered by Ren Dongju to stay at the Wood Demon Sect and develop his strength. Meanwhile, Pei Lingsha emerged from seclusion and reunited with Xiao Yan and the others, who had been waiting for more than two years since their companions left.

• A Wood Demon Sect disciple told Huo Lian that investigators had found no trace of Huang Xiao after he disappeared near the Extreme Cold Mountains.
• Huo Lian arranged for Mu Fucheng and Liu Wangtai to help protect the Wild Ox Sect while he was away.
• Ren Dongju told Huo Lian that he was now Kui Yong's only remaining successor and ordered him to stay at the Wood Demon Sect, where he could use the sect's resources.
• Huo Lian accepted the chance to cultivate and resolved to investigate Huang Xiao's fate and avenge him if the Zhu Family was responsible.
• Pei Lingsha emerged from seclusion on the island, where Zhangsun Youyue and Xiao Yan told her that more than two years had passed since the others left.

During a lunar eclipse, a small island with a stone house rose from the sea, and Pei Lingsha and Zhao Yunhui went to investigate it after daylight. They discovered the island had been concealed by a formation that had likely collapsed because it was already near its limit.

• Zhao Yunhui divined that the bright moon heralded the Heavenly Dog Swallows the Moon, and the women watched the eclipse darken the sky.
• As the eclipse ended, the women spotted a small island rising from the sea with a stone house on it.
• Pei Lingsha and Zhao Yunhui advised waiting until daylight before investigating the island.
• After sunrise, Pei Lingsha and Zhao Yunhui crossed to the island while the others stayed behind.
• Zhao Yunhui sensed that the island had been hidden by a formation, which likely failed after the eclipse intensified the fluctuations in spiritual energy.

Zhao Yunhui discovered that the formation around the stone house could only be broken on a full-moon night, and she and Pei Lingsha returned a month later to open it. A hazy woman appeared at the door, allowed them inside, and declared that all men were faithless and could be killed.

• Zhao Yunhui studied the stone house’s formation and told Pei Lingsha and You Lian'er that it could only be broken on the next full-moon night.
• Zhao Yunhui inferred that the stone house’s former owner was probably a woman, and the group waited a month to return.
• Under the full moon, Zhao Yunhui broke the formation almost instantly, which made her uneasy.
• Zhao Yunhui approached the stone door, but a flash of light forced her back as Pei Lingsha prepared to flee with her.
• A hazy woman appeared and told Zhao Yunhui and Pei Lingsha to go inside, declaring that all men were faithless and could be killed.

Zhao Yunhui and Pei Lingsha entered Senior Ji’s hidden residence and uncovered a concealed map of the Desolate Domain and nearby sea. They recognized its central marking as matching a map at the Creation Sect and began to consider what the nine markers indicated.

• Zhao Yunhui explained that Senior Ji’s image had likely tested whether visitors were women, and that men would have been killed by a hidden threat.
• Zhao Yunhui and Pei Lingsha entered the stone house marked “Ji Residence” and found its rooms apparently untouched.
• Zhao Yunhui discovered that a formation concealed the hall’s floor and revealed an enormous carved map beneath it.
• Pei Lingsha identified the map as covering the Desolate Domain, and Zhao Yunhui noted that it also included part of the surrounding sea.
• Zhao Yunhui pointed out that the map’s center matched a map at the Creation Sect, and Pei Lingsha asked whether its nine markers indicated treasures.

Leng Guhan entered the Slaughter Domain’s brutal selection contest to become one of the Slaughter Evil Lord’s named disciples. After learning the rules and the competition for three Primordial Ancient Realm spots, he prepared to join the fighting and grow stronger through slaughter.

• Leng Guhan arrived at a tavern and overheard Jianghu practitioners discuss the Ancestor’s selection of nine named disciples.
• A tavern patron mocked Leng Guhan’s sword as an imitation of Zhanlu, while Leng Guhan kept quiet and concealed that it was genuine.
• Leng Guhan learned that the selection divided contestants by realm and required them to collect a hundred identity tokens by killing other participants.
• He confirmed that the Primordial Ancient Realm had three spots and realized he had a month before the first round ended to join.
• Leng Guhan decided the prolonged contest could give him time to break through, and he looked forward to fighting in the Slaughter Domain.

In the Holy City’s selection, Leng Guhan fought to collect one hundred Identity Tokens and become a direct disciple of the Slaughter Evil Lord. After defeating a powerful opponent, he left with ninety-one tokens and still needed nine more.

• Leng Guhan left the Holy City and killed an opponent, gaining three Identity Tokens.
• Over the next half month, Leng Guhan gathered thirty tokens while avoiding primordial ancient realm peak stage experts.
• Leng Guhan encountered the balding old man who had wounded him ten days earlier and learned the man had ninety tokens.
• Leng Guhan used the Zhanlu Sword’s Sword Intent to daze the old man, then killed him with a strike across his neck.
• Leng Guhan took the old man’s ninety-one Identity Tokens and immediately left.

Wu Xuancang and Li Bai traveled with Yang Jun toward the Guiyi Sect, where he planned to recruit them for their talent. Yang Jun revealed that the great domains sent juniors to compete every thousand years for a limited number of places in an immense opportunity.

• Li Bai asked Yang Jun how far they were from the Guiyi Sect, and Yang Jun said they would arrive in five days.
• Yang Jun praised Wu Xuancang and Li Bai's strength and talent and assured them they could join the sect.
• Yang Jun explained that the Guiyi Sect was one of the five great sects governing the Righteous Path's Alliance Domain.
• Yang Jun said the Guiyi Sect sought out talented juniors in the Jianghu to strengthen the Alliance Domain.
• Yang Jun revealed that juniors from the great domains competed every thousand years to determine how many places each side received in an immense opportunity.

Yang Jun explained the contest for precious slots and the cultivation requirements for juniors to share in the opportunity it would unlock. Wu Xuancang and Li Bai resolved to reach the ancient realm peak and win slots for the Guiyi Sect.

• Yang Jun told Wu Xuancang and Li Bai that the Guiyi Sect's support could help them reach the ancient realm peak before the contest in less than ten years.
• Yang Jun explained that talented juniors could enter the great opportunity a hundred years after the contest if they reached at least the late stage of the barbarian desolate realm.
• Yang Jun revealed that the Alliance Domain received few slots and that even the Guiyi Sect could not count on winning one.
• Wu Xuancang and Li Bai resolved to compete for slots to improve their standing and prospects within the Guiyi Sect.
• Wu Xuancang wondered how Huo Lian was faring in the Demon Domain and whether he could join a sect comparable to the Guiyi Sect.

Xuanyuan Xin and Zuo Qiu Shu traveled deep into the Southern Wilderness Dense Forest while searching for a hidden place Xuan Yuanxiang had mentioned. After nearly three months, they reached a region near the forest’s center, where Xuanyuan Xin revealed a bronze key as the next clue to finding their destination.

• Xuanyuan Xin and Zuo Qiu Shu encountered enormous beasts and dangerous miasmas and formations as they entered the forest.
• Xuanyuan Xin activated a seven-colored pearl that shielded them from miasma and reduced the formations’ effects.
• Xuanyuan Xin and Zuo Qiu Shu traveled for nearly three months and reached a dim region they believed was near the forest’s center.
• Xuanyuan Xin and Zuo Qiu Shu rose above the canopy but saw only endless treetops.
• Xuanyuan Xin told Zuo Qiu Shu she had made preparations and revealed a bronze-colored key.

Xuanyuan Xin and Zuo Qiu Shu found the hidden site with the Bronze Key, but its guardian revealed that it was only an imitation and could not open the place. The old man identified the Longevity Daoist as its creator and said the key might still let them sense some of the site’s benefits.

• Xuanyuan Xin used the Bronze Key to search the Dense Forest with Zuo Qiu Shu, and after another month it led them to a concealed location.
• Xuanyuan Xin tried to use the key to enter, but an old man appeared and said it was an imitation that could not open the site.
• The old man revealed that the real key should still be with Xuanyuan Xin’s Ancestor and that he had guarded the site since the Longevity Daoist created it.
• Zuo Qiu Shu sensed that the old man was a divine beast, and the old man confirmed it.
• Xuanyuan Xin asked about the site and other similar places, and the old man said no one had entered this one and he knew nothing about the others.
• The old man told Xuanyuan Xin that her Imitation Key might still let her sense some benefits inside, and invited her to try.

Xuanyuan Xin activated the imitation key, unleashing a powerful surge of Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth, and decided to stay and cultivate with Zuo Qiu Shu. Ao Yuan allowed them to remain, but five other Divine Beasts soon arrived after sensing the disturbance.

• Ao Yuan explained that he had promised Longevity Daoist to guard the formation until someone broke it, and that keeping his word was the only thing stopping him from leaving.
• Xuanyuan Xin activated the imitation key, triggering a thunderous blast and a gale of Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth that hurled her and Zuo Qiu Shu back.
• Xuanyuan Xin chose to stay and cultivate, and Zuo Qiu Shu agreed that improving her strength could help her search for her big brother.
• Ao Yuan gave his name and welcomed the women to remain, while Zuo Qiu Shu explained that a Divine Beast had raised her.
• Five Divine Beasts—a Dragon, two Phoenixes, a White Tiger, and a Black Tortoise—arrived after noticing the surge in Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth.

Ao Yuan allowed Zuo Qiu Shu and Xuanyuan Xin to cultivate in the divine beasts’ homeland, where the newly strengthened Spiritual Energy would last about a hundred years. As the divine beasts arrived to take turns using the sacred grounds, Zuo Qiu Shu unexpectedly recognized Hong Yi, and the two concealed their acquaintance.

• Ao Yuan told the five divine beasts that Zuo Qiu Shu and Xuanyuan Xin could stay, and arranged for qualified divine beasts to take turns cultivating in the grounds.
• Ao Yuan ordered Ao Zhen to bring Hong Yi despite Ao Zhen’s objections.
• Ao Yuan explained that powerful Jianghu factions knew of the divine beast gathering place but were deterred by the cost of attacking, and said its enhanced Spiritual Energy would last about a hundred years.
• The five returned with six divine beasts, including Hong Yi, who eagerly accepted the chance to cultivate in the sacred grounds.
• Zuo Qiu Shu recognized Hong Yi, but they exchanged no words and pretended not to know each other.

Hong Yi encountered Zuo Qiu Shu among the divine beasts and learned she had arrived in the Ancient World, while Tan Ming and Baili Zhen fled their pursuers in the Immortal Spirit Domain. Cornered at the entrance to the Valley of Death, the two argued over whether to enter or fight.

• Zuo Qiu Shu noticed Hong Yi was human, and Ao Yuan refused to explain why he was staying with the divine beasts.
• Zuo Qiu Shu inferred that Hong Yi's Claw Gauntlets were connected to the Dragon Clan, while Hong Yi wondered whether his master and Huang Xiao had also reached the Ancient World.
• Tan Ming and Baili Zhen, badly injured, fled dozens of pursuers after killing their leader's disciple.
• The two reached the Valley of Death, where their pursuers threatened to capture and torture them.
• Tan Ming suggested entering the valley for a slim chance of survival, but Baili Zhen preferred to fight their pursuers.

Tan Ming and Baili Zhen escaped their pursuers by entering the Valley of Death, where they learned that returning would bring crushing pressure and death. Old Hu and Old Ke warned them that they would remain at risk unless they became the strongest people inside.

• Tan Ming and Baili Zhen charged into the Valley of Death, leaving the old man and his disciples outside.
• Baili Zhen tried to leave the valley and was knocked down by overwhelming pressure.
• Old Hu appeared and warned them that attempting to return meant death.
• Old Ke explained that the pressure grew stronger with repeated attempts to leave and recalled that Old Hu had nearly died trying to escape.
• Old Hu told Tan Ming and Baili Zhen that only becoming the strongest person there could make their lives safe.

Baili Zhen and Tan Ming learned from Old Ke and Old Hu that the Valley of Death held thousands of trapped martial artists and countless phantom images that could help them improve their skills. They heard that mastering the images might allow someone to break the formation, but no one had ever escaped, and the chapter left them preparing to settle into the valley.

• Old Ke and Old Hu told Baili Zhen and Tan Ming that more than ten thousand people might live in the Valley of Death, though many stayed secluded or had died.
• Old Hu advised the newcomers to endure hardship and avoid provoking the powerful elders, while Old Ke said there was supposedly a way out but no one had escaped.
• Old Ke explained that the valley contained phantom images depicting martial arts techniques and battles, which could yield insights comparable to major sect cultivation methods.
• Old Hu said only those who surpassed the ancient realm could access the images of the ancient earth-shaking battle, and that a saying claimed sufficiently powerful insights could break the formation.
• Old Hu admitted he had given up hope of escape, and Old Ke invited Baili Zhen and Tan Ming to their lodgings before helping them find a place to build their own.

The Radiant Sun Sect struggled to contain the Xuanyuan Sword as its sword intent resonated with the sect’s stored divine weapons. Trapped beside the sword, Dugu Sheng realized he could use the growing sword intent to cultivate while preparing to defend it.

• The Radiant Sun Sect Master and Grand Elder failed to break through the sword-shadow barrier surrounding the Xuanyuan Sword and Dugu Sheng.
• A disciple reported that the Divine Weapon Pavilion’s weapons had surged in power and injured several disciples, and the Sect Master said he could not sever their connection to the Xuanyuan Sword.
• The Sect Master decided to wait for the Ancestor to emerge from seclusion and ordered the sect to watch the other four great sects.
• The Sect Master suspected Dugu Sheng had come from another realm and believed the Xuanyuan Sword and divine weapons had returned from there.
• Dugu Sheng recognized that the Xuanyuan Sword was growing stronger by resonating with the divine weapons and resolved to use the sword intent to cultivate.
• Dugu Sheng told the Xuanyuan Sword that anyone seeking it would have to get past him first.

Qingfeng and the Soaring Immortal Fruit escaped the mist formation trapping them and discovered a vast valley filled with rare medicinal plants. The Soaring Immortal Fruit sensed that the valley’s formations suppressed the plants’ spiritual awareness, though Qingfeng questioned how it knew about formations.

• Qingfeng asked whether the Soaring Immortal Fruit could break the formations surrounding them after it sensed something nearby.
• The Soaring Immortal Fruit’s sensing caused the spiritual energy and medicinal fragrances around them to grow stronger, and Qingfeng cultivated as the mist began to thin.
• Qingfeng saw that the mist had hidden a vast valley covered in exotic flowers, herbs, and fruits, while the medicinal fragrances gathered into the Soaring Immortal Fruit and strengthened its aura.
• Qingfeng asked the Soaring Immortal Fruit what the valley was, but it said it had found no plants with awakened spiritual awareness.
• The Soaring Immortal Fruit suggested the formations suppressed the plants’ chance to awaken, and Qingfeng asked how it had learned about formations.

Qingfeng and the Soaring Immortal Fruit discovered that a formation was transmitting the medicinal efficacy of the rare plants, and the fruit planned to intercept it for their cultivation. The fruit warned that absorbing too much could collapse its spirituality, so Qingfeng offered to try his cultivation method to help stabilize it.

• The Soaring Immortal Fruit explained that its connection with the rare plants had let it pass through the fog formation, though it could not sense the other formations.
• The fruit detected a Medicinal Efficacy Transmission Formation and explained that the plants’ accumulated medicinal efficacy had made cultivation and comprehension easier.
• The fruit said it could intercept the transmitted medicinal efficacy, and Qingfeng worried that doing so would alert the formation’s creator.
• The fruit decided to absorb the efficacy despite the risk, but said the vast amount might overwhelm its spirituality.
• Qingfeng offered his mind-clearing cultivation method, and the Soaring Immortal Fruit asked him to explain it.

After enduring the lake’s cold for an unknown time, Huang Xiao escaped when the ice began to melt. He discovered that the ordeal had greatly improved his cultivation, but had nearly drained his vitality, so he retreated from the lake to replenish it.

• Huang Xiao continued using his Heart Fire to strengthen the Hell Origin Flame and dispel the cold while remaining frozen in the lake.
• The lake’s ice cracked and melted, reducing the cold flowing into Huang Xiao and allowing him to escape the ice.
• Huang Xiao awakened, struggled to stand, and discovered that fighting the cold had tempered his True Qi and raised his cultivation to at least the Ancient Realm.
• Huang Xiao found that his vitality was almost completely exhausted, leaving him unable to use Heavenly Demon Disintegration effectively.
• Huang Xiao withdrew from the lakeside, sat down, and used his Heart Fire to store up vitality.

Huang Xiao discovered that his heart fire and cultivation had grown immensely after years trapped in ice, then returned to the Lake to investigate what resonated with his Bronze Key and Map. He found a dangerously frozen man and confirmed that the sought-after secret was connected to him.

• Huang Xiao activated his heart fire and found that it consumed the spiritual energy flooding into his body, greatly strengthening it.
• Huang Xiao meditated for a month, stored enough vitality to use the tenth stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration, and decided to leave the Lake with the treasure.
• Huang Xiao dove to the Lakebed and found a Frozen Man still sealed inside a block of ice more terrifying than the chill that had frozen him before.
• Huang Xiao searched around the Frozen Man but found no treasure, then lifted the ice and the surrounding water out of the Lake without touching it directly.
• Huang Xiao sensed the Bronze Key's reaction shift with the Frozen Man and concluded that the secret was on him.

Huang Xiao spent six months melting the ice around the Frozen Man and discovered a transparent, jade-like key hidden beneath the snow. As he tried to hide the key in the lake, the man awoke, leaving Huang Xiao's life in his hands.

• Huang Xiao slowly melted the ice around the Frozen Man with his Hell Origin Flame, despite the danger of the man's possible survival.
• Huang Xiao found a crystal-clear key beneath the snow and recognized it as the source of the Bronze Key's resonance.
• Huang Xiao wondered whether the key was the fabled Iron Key or a treasure connected to the Zhu Family or Longevity Daoist.
• Huang Xiao found that the key's chill did not fade and decided to hide it at the bottom of the Small Lake until he grew stronger.
• The Frozen Man awakened and spoke as Huang Xiao was about to throw the key, leaving Huang Xiao fearing for his life.

Huang Xiao freed a middle-aged man from the ice and learned that the man had survived from the era of the great war. The man recognized Huang Xiao’s cultivation and treasures, discovered he came from the Martial World, and asked him to share what he knew before giving his surname: Ji.

• Huang Xiao tossed away the cold key and used his heart fire and Hell Origin Flame to dispel the chill while the middle-aged man examined him.
• The middle-aged man thanked Huang Xiao for awakening him, reclaimed the key, and asked how many years had passed since the great war.
• Huang Xiao estimated that at least thirty thousand years had passed, and the man reflected on his survival and demanded to know who taught Huang Xiao the Longevity Indestructible Skill.
• Huang Xiao said he inherited the skill from Zuo Qiu Yi and admitted that he possessed the Hell Origin Flame.
• The middle-aged man sensed Huang Xiao’s Supreme Ghost Stele, Bronze Key, and map, and concluded that Huang Xiao was from the Martial World rather than the Ancient World.
• The middle-aged man assured Huang Xiao he would keep his secrets, asked him to talk, and revealed that his surname was Ji.