Recaps

Hou Niao used his Body Sword Technique to break through the three Daoists’ defenses and kill two of them. As the Zhou Sect Daoist tried to escape, Li Shipeng’s last sword fragments delayed him long enough for Hou Niao’s flying sword to catch up.

• Li Shipeng sacrificed his Sword Spirit and flying sword to survive Li Laiheng’s attack, then watched as Hou Niao transformed into a flying sword.
• Hou Niao shattered the Wu Sect Daoist’s formation, pursued him, and killed him despite his plea to talk.
• The Qi Sect Daoist trapped Hou Niao’s flying sword inside the Corpse Puppet Coffin, but Hou Niao broke the coffin apart with his Array Character Formula.
• The Zhou Sect Daoist swept the Qi Sect Daoist and Hou Niao into his Wind-Fire Tornado, using the attack as cover to prepare his escape.
• Li Shipeng unleashed the final fragments of his sword to delay the Zhou Sect Daoist, and Hou Niao’s flying sword appeared before him again.

Hou Niao’s forces routed the Wu Sect Daoists at Baijun Mountain, though the battle cost the Commandant Prefecture many sword cultivators. Back in Zhongqing City, Hou Niao resumed cultivating the Five Elements Mystic Light and weighed the strengths and risks of his Three Sword Stances.

• Hou Niao reassured Li Shipeng after Li Laiheng escaped, and suggested that losing his flying sword might let Li Shipeng pursue the Body Sword Technique with a newly refined sword.
• Hou Niao and Li Shipeng watched the Daoists collapse as the sword cultivators defeated them, and the survivors fled after more than half their number were killed or wounded.
• The sword cultivators returned to Zhongqing City in triumph, while Hou Niao considered how his attack on Baijun Mountain might disrupt the border stalemate and draw higher authorities into the conflict.
• Hou Niao resumed cultivation and studied the Five Elements Mystic Light as the final part of his offensive and defensive system.
• Hou Niao reviewed the advantages and limitations of his Sword-Wielding, Body Sword, and Flying Sword Stances, focusing on how the Body Sword Stance could leave him unaware of battlefield dangers and vulnerable to traps.

Hou Niao reflected on the Flying Sword Stance and the defensive technique he wanted to master before Li Chuping arrived with Shanmen reinforcements to confront the fallout from Hou Niao’s attack across the border. Li Chuping removed Hou Niao from his command post but kept him at the prefecture to serve, as the Wu Sect’s troop movements raised the possibility of war.

• Hou Niao concluded that the Flying Sword Stance should be his usual combat stance and that the Five Elements Mystic Light could protect him while his flying sword was away.
• Li Chuping arrived in Zhongqing City with a large force of Shanmen Sword Cultivators and rebuked Hou Niao for attacking cultivators across the border.
• Li Chuping explained that the three prefectures had prepared for war after receiving reports of major Wu Sect troop movements around Anhe.
• Li Chuping announced that Lan Zaitian would remain Pastoral Marshal and Kou Cuo would become acting head of the Central Army Prefecture.
• Li Chuping stripped Hou Niao of his post as Pingliang Commandant, retained Su Lingyun as acting Commandant, and ordered Hou Niao to remain at the prefecture awaiting assignment.

After the Wu Sect's movements prompted Li Chuping to reorganize Pingliang Prefecture, Hou Niao focused on his cultivation and decided to pursue the Five Elements Pearls to advance his Five Elements Mystic Light. A month later, at a gathering of the prefectures, he advised Li Shipeng to focus on sword practice as the new administration settled into place.

• Li Chuping told Hou Niao that Shanmen had discovered the Wu Sect was transferring personnel, while Hou Niao urged him to attack the gathered cultivators.
• Li Chuping reorganized the three prefectures, while Hou Niao avoided official duties and studied the Great Bird Original Diagram with the old Langzhong cultivators.
• Hou Niao recognized that the Five Elements Pearls could help him master the Five Elements Mystic Light and resolved to seek out the Earth and Water Spirit Pearls.
• A month later, Li Chuping assembled the three prefectures' cultivators for a rally, where Hou Niao attended despite losing his position.
• Hou Niao advised Li Shipeng to take an undemanding post and concentrate on sword practice, while Li Shipeng doubted he would ever master Yin-Yang Peacock Spreading Its Tail.

After the Battle of Baijun Mountain, Li Chuping explained that the Wu Sect demanded a duel to the death between Hou Niao and its foremost True Disciple, Tang Yan, or the two sides would go to war. Hou Niao chose to accept the challenge, and Li Chuping agreed to present his request to the Jade Capital for a decision.

• Li Chuping told Hou Niao that the Wu Sect demanded a duel to the death over the Battle of Baijun Mountain and the dispute over the gengjing ore trade route.
• Li Chuping explained that Jade Capital leaders were divided over whether to go to war or hold off, and warned that Hou Niao's actions could spark a wider conflict.
• Li Chuping identified Hou Niao's opponent as Tang Yan, the Wu Sect's foremost True Disciple and a Constellation known as the Heavenly Chief Star.
• Hou Niao said he wanted to fight Tang Yan, while Li Chuping warned that Tang Yan had suppressed his realm for decades and might possess unknown techniques.
• Li Chuping agreed to pass Hou Niao's request to the Jade Capital, where the decision would be made.

Li Chuping told Hou Niao that Shanmen had accepted the life-and-death duel against the Wu Sect’s Tang Yan, a prominent Zodiac True Disciple. Though Li Chuping warned him of the danger, Hou Niao eagerly prepared to fight at Baijun Mountain in three days.

• Li Chuping reported Hou Niao’s request to his superiors and learned that Shanmen would not interfere with the duel.
• Li Chuping explained the Three Heavens Realms’ Zodiac rankings and warned Hou Niao that Tang Yan and the other Zodiac True Disciples could defeat opponents above their realm.
• Hou Niao told Li Chuping that he had spent decades honing his swordsmanship for a battle like this.
• Li Chuping named the duel’s terms: Hou Niao would face Tang Yan at Baijun Mountain under a life-and-death pact, with representatives from Shanmen, the Wu Sect, and Southern and Northern Anhe present.
• Hou Niao dismissed the need for preparation and looked forward to fighting Tang Yan.

Daoist Jin told Gu Ximing why the Wu Sect had accepted a death-match challenge for Tang Yan against Hou Niao, despite fearing Hou Niao’s strength. He explained that Tang Yan had challenged Shanmen on his own initiative and that his standing made him the person best suited to defend the sect.

• Gu Ximing and Daoist Jin discussed why the sects were using a settlement that would leave their grievances unresolved, fearing a wider conflict as upheaval approached.
• Daoist Jin revealed that Tang Yan’s challenge to Hou Niao had caused dissent within the Wu Sect.
• Daoist Jin described Hou Niao as a dangerous opponent who had survived repeated attempts on his life and killed at least two Wu Sect Golden Core cultivators.
• Daoist Jin explained that the Wu Sect had little confidence in defeating Hou Niao but could not withdraw Tang Yan’s challenge without losing face.
• Gu Ximing questioned why Tang Yan had to fight, while Daoist Jin concluded that the senior True Disciple had to step forward after the Wu Sect’s losses at Baijun Mountain.

Hou Niao arrived at Baijun Mountain to face Tang Yan in a duel inside the Ganling Small World, while their elders inspected the arena and settled the rules. As the contest approached, Tang Yan tried to unsettle Hou Niao by showing familiarity with Daoist Zhan, and the elders emerged from the small world after finding no problems.

• Daoist Gu comforted Tang Yan's elder and suggested Tang Yan could use Hou Niao as a test for the coming competition among Constellation True Disciples.
• Hou Niao and Li Chuping arrived at Baijun Mountain with Daoist An and Daoist Zhan, and Daoist Zhan explained that the duel would take place in the Ganling Small World.
• Hou Niao met Tang Yan, and the Golden Core elders agreed on the contest's rules before entering the small world to inspect it.
• Tang Yan greeted Daoist Zhan and mentioned giving her Tranquillity Salve, while Daoist Zhan replied that her sisters appreciated it.
• Daoist Zhan defused Tang Yan's attempt to unsettle Hou Niao, who privately resolved to answer the provocation in kind.
• The four Golden Core elders emerged from the small world after completing their inspection.

Tang Yan and Hou Niao entered a sealed Small Grotto-Heaven Small World to fight a duel to the death. After preparing for their clash, Tang Yan launched a Fire Crow spell at Hou Niao.

• Daoist Gu opened the passage after Daoist Gu and Daoist An explained that the Small World would remain sealed until one combatant emerged.
• Tang Yan entered the Small World and used Harmonizing with the Source and a Body-Substituting Kite to prepare for the duel.
• Tang Yan spotted Hou Niao through the Kite's vision, and the two advanced toward each other as their kite cries and sword howls intensified.
• Tang Yan cast a Fire Crow with the Left-and-Right Capturing Yellow Technique and sent it toward Hou Niao.

Tang Yan used a series of powerful fire techniques and Wu Sect merits to suppress a Sword Cultivator and trap him when he reunited with his flying sword. The chapter ended with man, sword, and converging true fire gathered together, leaving Tang Yan apparently close to victory.

• Tang Yan sent a Fire Crow and Fire Snake of Triple Burner True Fire against the Sword Cultivator, who attacked with his flying sword.
• Tang Yan used the Jade Clarity Dharma Body to shrug off the flying sword and then the Mustard-Seed Hidden-Gold Body to withstand another strike.
• Tang Yan returned to normal form and surrounded the Sword Cultivator with a Fire Crow, Fire Snake, and fire turtle.
• Tang Yan waited for the Sword Cultivator to reunite with his flying sword, then shouted for his three streams of true fire to converge.
• The true fire closed around the Sword Cultivator as he and his flying sword met in midair, and Tang Yan thought victory had come easily.

Tang Yan and Hou Niao fought to a standstill as Tang Yan tested the power of Hou Niao’s unusual flying-sword technique. Tang Yan sought a battle near death to break through his stalled growth, and the chapter ended as he prepared to force Hou Niao out of his sword.

• Hou Niao used the “Before” formula’s Sword Momentum to damage Tang Yan’s Jade Clarity Dharma Body and drive him into the air.
• Tang Yan recognized that Hou Niao’s body was inside the flying sword’s Sword Spirit space and used his Mustard Seed Golden Body and Spirit-Suppressing Bell to try to trap it.
• The flying sword shattered Tang Yan’s bell, and Hou Niao appeared as the two fighters faced each other after their exchanges ended in a draw.
• Tang Yan reflected that he had suppressed his advancement to compete for Extraterrestrial Spirit Green and now sought a dangerous battle to break his strength bottleneck.
• Tang Yan decided he had to force Hou Niao’s true body out and told him he would not let him use the fight to rise higher.

Tang Yan and Hou Niao fought for several quarters of an hour without either gaining the advantage. As the observers worried that Hou Niao might be losing strength, Daoist Zhan suggested he had chosen the declining Ganling Small World deliberately to uncover the Wu Sect’s plans and set a trap.

• Tang Yan used Force Technique to burden Hou Niao’s flying sword, but Hou Niao switched to a sword-in-hand attack and Tang Yan evaded it with Fuyao’s help.
• Tang Yan launched Fire Crow, Fire Snake, and Fire Tortoise again, while neither fighter managed to overcome the other.
• Daoist Jin and Daoist Gu worried that Tang Yan was taking too long to defeat Hou Niao.
• Li Chuping feared Hou Niao would run out of strength after the prolonged fight, while Daoist An praised his endurance.
• Daoist Zhan pointed out that Hou Niao had helped cause the Ganling Small World’s decline and suggested he had deliberately chosen it to expose the other side’s plans and lay a trap.

Tang Yan trapped the Sword Cultivator inside his Jade Clarity Dharma Body using Body Heaven and Earth, while Same-Origin Joint Cultivation secretly made him stronger as the Ganling Small World weakened. Confident he had won, Tang Yan offered to make the Sword Cultivator his disciple, but the man challenged his certainty.

• Tang Yan abandoned the Mustard-Seed Hidden-Gold Body and expanded his Jade Clarity Dharma Body to force the Sword Cultivator into using the Body Sword Technique.
• Tang Yan invoked Body Heaven and Earth, trapping the Sword Cultivator and his flying sword inside the Dharma Body.
• The Sword Cultivator slashed at the Dharma Body but could not escape, while Tang Yan concealed how Same-Origin Joint Cultivation increased his strength as the Ganling Small World weakened.
• Tang Yan judged that he had secured victory and asked the Sword Cultivator to swear a Dao pact and take him as his master.
• The Sword Cultivator questioned whether Constellation True Disciples all thought themselves invincible, and Tang Yan prepared to prove his claim in combat.

Tang Yan trapped the Sword Cultivator with Same-Origin Joint Cultivation, but discovered the Small Grotto-Heaven Small World was collapsing far faster than he had expected. The Sword Cultivator revealed he had accelerated its collapse, forcing Tang Yan to choose between killing him immediately or risking an unwanted breakthrough to the Golden Core Upper Realm.

• Tang Yan used his Dharma-Myself Body to restrain the Sword Cultivator and urged him to swear a Dao pact.
• The Sword Cultivator asked about Tang Yan's technique, and Tang Yan explained that he had activated Same-Origin Joint Cultivation.
• Tang Yan realized the Small Grotto-Heaven Small World was collapsing at a rate that would soon overwhelm his mortal body with power.
• The Sword Cultivator admitted he had accelerated the Small World's collapse and warned that Tang Yan would soon advance to the Golden Core Upper Realm.
• The Sword Cultivator told Tang Yan that his only chance was to kill him and escape before the breakthrough, leaving Tang Yan torn between fighting and suspecting a bluff.

Tang Yan unleashed his full strength against Hou Niao, believing he had gained the upper hand, while observers debated the battle’s strange progress and feared its aftermath. The contest remained unresolved, and Li Chuping worried more about what the Wu Sect might do if Tang Yan were defeated than about Shanmen’s reaction to Hou Niao’s loss.

• Tang Yan dismissed his Dharma-Myself Body, brought his Fire Constructs and White Kite into the fight, and attacked Hou Niao with everything at his disposal.
• Tang Yan realized Hou Niao could not affect the Small World’s collapse while using Man and Sword as One, and continued pressing him as their contest became a test of endurance.
• Daoist Gu and Daoist Jin discussed how to handle the Gengjing Ore mine and prepare Anhe for Shanmen’s likely response.
• Li Chuping pointed out that Tang Yan’s steady rise and Hou Niao’s steady retreat were suspicious, and said Hou Niao was probably waiting for an opportunity.
• Daoist Zhan said she feared Tang Yan more when he appeared to have the advantage, while Li Chuping worried about the trouble the Wu Sect might cause if Tang Yan were defeated and killed.

Tang Yan nearly defeated the Sword Cultivator with his fire techniques, but the Sword Cultivator countered them with hidden earth and water defenses. Tang Yan was forced into ascension and chose to endure the consequences rather than die fighting.

• Tang Yan trapped the Sword Cultivator in Fire Prison Realm Heaven and combined the White Kite with the Fire Crow, Fire Snake, and Fire Tortoise to unleash the Three-Jiao Heart Fire.
• The Sword Cultivator destroyed the White Kite, then used yellow earth radiance and blue water radiance to extinguish the flames and defeat Tang Yan’s attack.
• Tang Yan’s brief lapse in focus allowed the Unseen to seize him, and thunderclouds formed over Ganling Small World as he was forced to ascend.
• The Sword Cultivator congratulated Tang Yan on his ascension and said he would take care of the extraterrestrial spirit green.
• Tang Yan weighed dying alongside the Sword Cultivator against surviving the dangers of ascending within a small world, and chose to endure humiliation and shoulder the burden.

Hou Niao watched Tang Yan face Core Formation tribulation as the Ganling Small World collapsed, reflecting on his hidden role in accelerating its decay and on Tang Yan’s strength. Tang Yan survived the first two lightning strikes and prepared to face the final one.

• Hou Niao recalled how he had secretly used the Ancient Thunder Talisman to accelerate the Ganling Small World’s collapse and reconsidered Tang Yan as an equal in battle.
• As the small world’s collapse accelerated, Hou Niao watched Tang Yan and called out mockingly while thunderclouds gathered.
• Tang Yan endured the first lightning strike and resolved to kill Hou Niao after forming his core.
• The second lightning strike left Tang Yan unharmed, and he transformed into the Jade Void Dharma-Myself Body to face the final bolt.

Tang Yan formed a Thunder Core during the collapse of the Ganling Small World, and he and Hou Niao were ejected before it closed. The duel ended without a winner, leaving Tang Yan newly advanced and privately intent on killing Hou Niao later.

• Tang Yan endured the final purple Thunder bolt and imprinted the High Antiquity Thunder Talisman into his half-formed Golden Core, advancing to the Upper Realm.
• The Ganling Small World collapsed, and its forces ejected Tang Yan and Hou Niao before it sealed itself away.
• Daoist Qingshan and the others saw both men emerge unharmed, while Tang Yan's aura showed that he had formed his core.
• Hou Niao claimed the Small World had collapsed just as the duel was about to be decided, and Tang Yan supported his explanation.
• Tang Yan and the others agreed to return, while Tang Yan concealed his humiliation and resolved to kill Hou Niao later.

After Tang Yan advanced to the Upper Realm, Hou Niao and the others parted ways, and Li Chuping warned Hou Niao about the Wu Sect’s likely revenge. Pingliang Prefecture began rebuilding as Li Chuping pondered Hou Niao’s mysterious rise and suspected a connection to the Anhe Daoist Sect.

• Daoist Zhan teased Hou Niao about his schemes, while Li Chuping and Daoist An exchanged farewells and warned him that Tang Yan might seek revenge.
• Hou Niao told Li Chuping that he had planted a weakness in Tang Yan during his heavenly tribulation, but said it would not let them control Tang Yan outright.
• Li Chuping proposed a public account that preserved Tang Yan’s honor, claiming he had willingly advanced to escape the changed Grotto-Heaven World.
• Pingliang Prefecture began rebuilding, while Hou Niao spent his time wandering and visiting the Anhe Female Cultivator instead of helping Li Chuping.
• Li Chuping reflected on Hou Niao’s steady progress and suspected that his unusual fortune might have come from secrets tied to the Anhe Daoist Sect.

Hou Niao reviewed his failed fight against Tang Yan and examined the limits of his swordsmanship, especially his slow, unreliable Flying Sword Stance. He traced his dissatisfaction with Quanzhen’s Flying Sword Art to the Soul Realm Sword Cultivators he had encountered, whom he had always considered true Sword Cultivators.

• Hou Niao recognized that his Flying Sword could not overcome Tang Yan’s powerful Dharma Bodies, while his Forward Character Formula had managed to injure the Dharma-Self Body.
• Hou Niao identified momentum as the key to mastering the Body Sword Technique and considered the distinct meanings of the Self-Alone, Dugu, and Hook-Sinking momentums.
• Hou Niao compared his three sword stances and concluded that the Flying Sword Stance lagged behind the Sword-Wielding and Body Sword stances despite decades of effort.
• Hou Niao questioned whether the Shanmen Quanzhen swordsmanship system had a fundamental flaw and retraced how his doubts had developed.
• Hou Niao realized that he had expected more from the Flying Sword Art ever since entering the Dao Path because he regarded the Soul Realm’s Sword One, Sword Two, and Sword Three as true Sword Cultivators.

After reflecting on his struggles to advance as a Sword Cultivator, Hou Niao asked Li Chuping for leave to travel beyond Pingliang Prefecture. Their discussion turned to the Anhe Daoist Sect’s invitation to become a True Disciple, and Hou Niao left with ambitions beyond simply securing a position.

• Hou Niao recognized that he still fell short of being a true Sword Cultivator, though the Five Elements Mystic Light had shown unexpected power.
• Under Li Chuping’s management, the three-prefecture system in Pingliang Prefecture settled into an orderly routine.
• Hou Niao asked Li Chuping for leave to travel, and Li Chuping warned him that Tang Yan might target him outside Pingliang.
• Li Chuping asked whether Hou Niao had received an invitation from the Anhe Daoist Sect, and Hou Niao said he regarded it as a precaution while preferring a True Disciple position within Shanmen Quanzhen.
• Li Chuping urged Hou Niao to consider the Northern Anhe branch’s invitation and promised that the Minister of Justice Prefecture would not obstruct him; Hou Niao accepted the support but kept his greater ambitions to himself.

After arranging affairs in Pingliang Prefecture, Li Shipeng left Zhongqing City to travel and strengthen his earth and water Profound Lights, planning to visit the Winged People Tribe, Loulan, and Bai Qingqian. He arrived in Mirage Tower during the Sea God Festival, where a mysterious veiled female cultivator stood out at a gathering in the Jiedu Prefecture gardens.

• Li Shipeng finished making arrangements in Pingliang Prefecture and departed Zhongqing City for a journey south.
• Li Shipeng planned to study the Spirit Pearls at the Winged People Tribe and Loulan and to bring Bai Qingqian with him from Mirage Tower.
• Li Shipeng reached Mirage Tower after more than twenty years, as the city celebrated its hundred-year Sea God Festival.
• Cultivators and other prominent figures gathered at the Jiedu Prefecture gardens, where a veiled female cultivator drew attention with her exceptional beauty.

Bai Qingqian attended a gathering hosted by the Jiedu Prefecture and reflected on the Bai Clan’s recovery and her quiet life in Mirage Tower City. As the guests discussed business, cultivation, and other matters, two female cultivators spotted a striking young man and considered approaching him.

• Bai Qingqian recalled how the Bai Clan had withdrawn from Anhe Daoist State, stabilized its businesses, and begun cautiously expanding into Ancient Loulan.
• Bai Qingqian mingled with the invited cultivators alongside Xiangfei Bamboo, the only person she knew well in Mirage Tower City.
• Guests exchanged gossip about the prefecture’s garden, a Smoke Jade discovery, sea merchants, and dual cultivation.
• Two female cultivators appraised the men at the gathering and singled out a handsome Natural Realm cultivator.
• The younger sister wondered who the young man was, and the elder sister urged her to approach him.

At Mirage Tower, Guan Ruyu joined a group of female cultivators who admired his looks and enjoyed his wit and knowledge. Bai Qingqian discussed Xiangfei Bamboo’s plans to seek a place in the Southeast as a guest elder, while reflecting on Hou Niao’s troubles and the growing power of the Canghai Pirates.

• A group of female cultivators called out to Guan Ruyu and learned that he came from the Weiliao Kingdom in the Southeast.
• Guan Ruyu accepted their invitation to discuss the Southeast, and more women joined their lively conversation.
• Xiangfei Bamboo told Bai Qingqian that she wanted to travel to the Southeast and find a tradition where she could cultivate as a guest elder without joining.
• Bai Qingqian agreed to ask Hou Niao for advice but warned that his enemies among the Daoist sects might make it difficult.
• Bai Qingqian noted that Fang Yazi and the Canghai Pirates had grown powerful on the Lizhi Sea, while many sword cultivators at the gathering had dealt in goods through the Bai Clan.

At the Jiedu Prefecture’s centennial celebration, Daoist Wang Chuquan announced a new sea route to Yingtai and introduced Xiang Anshi, who set a contest of strength to choose six merchant firms. The chapter ended with the cultivators studying the enormous whale they would have to drag.

• Daoist Wang Chuquan announced that six merchant firms would initially be selected to develop the new route to Yingtai.
• Wang Chuquan introduced Yingtai’s Constellation True Disciple, Xiang Anshi, and his junior sisters Chen Zhaodi and Nie Yingnan.
• Xiang Anshi declared that strength alone would determine which firms Yingtai worked with.
• Xiang Anshi summoned a giant whale and announced that the six cultivators who dragged it farthest would win.
• The assembled cultivators assessed the whale’s immense size and power, weighing whether they could move it.