Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ren's actions save the Nine Spirits Clan, and he's thanked by the tribe members and Ji Ruyou.
• The Great Elder senses the ongoing battle between Wu Qingfeng and King Biancheng.
• Lu Ren flies to the battlefield and witnesses King Biancheng revealing his true form.
• Wu Qingfeng and King Biancheng engage in a fierce battle, with both sustaining severe injuries.
• Lu Ren absorbs King Biancheng's Heavenly Demon Evil Qi, enhancing his Great Tomb power.
• Wu Qingfeng and Lu Ren team up to defeat King Biancheng, with Wu Qingfeng delivering the final blow.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren demonstrates his growth and power by absorbing Heavenly Demon Evil Qi and aiding Wu Qingfeng in battle.
• Wu Qingfeng shows his prowess as a Martial Emperor, fighting King Biancheng to a standstill despite his injuries.
• King Biancheng reveals his true form and Heavenly Demon abilities but ultimately falls to Wu Qingfeng's sword.

Significant Themes

• The power of the Great Tomb Devouring Heaven Art, showcased by Lu Ren's ability to absorb and neutralize Heavenly Demon Evil Qi.
• The importance of teamwork and strategy in battle, as seen in Lu Ren and Wu Qingfeng's combined efforts against King Biancheng.
• The consequences of colluding with evil forces, as King Biancheng faces his demise after allying with Ji Kuangfeng.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren and Wu Qingfeng work together to defeat King Biancheng, demonstrating their growing bond as father and son.
• Lu Ren's actions earn him gratitude from the Nine Spirits Clan members and Ji Ruyou.
• King Biancheng's underestimation of Lu Ren and Wu Qingfeng leads to his downfall.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ren absorbs the Heavenly Demon Evil Qi from King Biancheng's corpse, increasing his Great Tombs from 5,100 to 8,000.
• Lu Ren confesses to Wu Qingfeng that he is not his son.
• Wu Qingfeng learns he has a daughter and accepts Lu Ren as his son-in-law.
• The Nine Spirits Clan decides to keep Wu Qingfeng's restored strength a secret.
• The King of Hell Hall's objective is revealed to be controlling the Nine Spirits Clan and inserting their geniuses into the Netherworld Secret Realm.
• Lu Ren is offered the identity of an honorary elder of the Nine Spirits Clan.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren: Absorbs more Heavenly Demon Evil Qi, increasing his power significantly. He also confesses the truth about his relationship with Wu Qingfeng.
• Wu Qingfeng: Learns he has a daughter and accepts Lu Ren as his son-in-law. He decides to protect Lu Ren and the Nine Spirits Clan.
• Lord Ji Ruyou: Decides to give Lu Ren a qualification spot for the Netherworld Secret Realm and offers him the identity of an honorary elder.

Significant Themes

• The power of Heavenly Demon Evil Qi and the Great Tomb Devouring Heaven Art.
• The importance of the Netherworld Secret Realm and Martial Intent cultivation.
• The relationship between Lu Ren and Wu Qingfeng, and the revelation of Wu Qingfeng's daughter.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren and Wu Qingfeng: Lu Ren confesses the truth, and Wu Qingfeng accepts him as his son-in-law.
• Lu Ren and Lord Ji Ruyou: Lord Ji Ruyou decides to give Lu Ren a qualification spot and offers him the identity of an honorary elder.
• The elders of the Nine Spirits Clan: They discuss the King of Hell Hall's objective and Lu Ren's role in the clan.

Key plot points and events

• The Nine Spirits Clan celebrates two victories: Wu Qingfeng has entered the Martial Emperor Realm, and Lord Ji Ruyou’s daughter has the rare Nine-tailed Celestial Fox Bloodline.
• Lord Ji Ruyou gives Lu Ren a Fire Attribute Sacred Core, warning that awakening a second element’s Sword Momentum will make future cultivation much harder. Lu Ren accepts the risk.
• In gratitude for saving the clan, Ji Ruyou promises him as much Divine Void Grass as she can gather and lets him choose three treasures from the clan treasury.
• Lu Ren refines the Sacred Core inside the Reincarnation Ancient Pagoda. After a thousand years of cultivation there, he awakens Fire Sword Momentum, which combines with his existing Wind Sword Momentum.
• Hoping to improve his combat skills, Lu Ren plans to seek a stronger sword technique and a new secret art in the treasury.
• Xiao Man discovers a buried stone stele in the pagoda’s ruins. Its inscription appears to concern the Reincarnation Great Dao.

Character developments

• Lu Ren willingly takes on the greater cultivation burden of mastering two elemental Sword Momentums, prioritizing power and future competition in the Netherworld Secret Realm. His Small World is already forty feet across, yet he has only just reached the peak of the ninth Universe Realm level.
• Lord Ji Ruyou shows her gratitude and trust in Lu Ren by offering valuable resources, while also taking responsibility for restoring and protecting the clan after the attack.
• Xiao Man uncovers a potentially important clue about the ancient pagoda and reacts with astonishment to the stele’s inscription.

Significant themes

• Power and sacrifice: Greater abilities bring greater costs; Lu Ren must accept much harder cultivation to gain another Sword Momentum.
• Gratitude and loyalty: The clan repays Lu Ren’s service with resources and access to its treasury.
• Preparation for future trials: Lu Ren recognizes that his current techniques may not be enough to compete with elite geniuses.
• Ancient mysteries: The stele hints that the Reincarnation Ancient Pagoda holds secrets connected to the Reincarnation Great Dao.

Character interactions

• Ji Ruyou cautions Lu Ren about the risks of awakening Fire Sword Momentum, but respects his decision and rewards his help.
• Lu Ren respectfully accepts the clan’s gifts and intends to use them to strengthen himself.
• Xiao Man calls Lu Ren to help excavate the stele; Lu Ren clears the earth with his sword, and they examine its mysterious inscription together.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Man deciphers an inscription revealing that Lu Ren has been cultivating on the Reincarnation Ancient Pagoda’s first floor, where a Years Reincarnation Array repeatedly resets time. A hundred years inside passes in one second outside, while Lu Ren’s cultivation and memories remain intact.
• The array has energy for roughly ten thousand more cycles—about a million years of cultivation. When it runs out, the pagoda’s second floor will open. Xiao Man warns Lu Ren to conserve this time for demanding future cultivation; replenishing the array will require reaching Peak Martial Emperor and finding energy in the upper realm.
• Lu Ren leaves the pagoda rather than waste its remaining time. He spends the following days practicing the Saint Grade sword technique Three Thousand Worlds, reaching a limit of nineteen hundred summoned Swords from Beyond the Heavens until he strengthens his Small World.
• Ji Chi Yun, a talented Nine Spirits Clan member and Hidden Dragon Ranking contender, visits at the clan leader’s request to meet Lu Ren. He barely engages with her, irritating her.
• Lord Ji Ruyou later gives Lu Ren fifty stalks of Divine Void Grass and takes him to the treasury. While discussing Ji Chi Yun, she reveals her real purpose: she wants Lu Ren to keep his distance from Yue’er, who is expected to inherit the clan leadership and marry within the clan.
• Lu Ren refuses and declares that Yue’er is already his woman. The chapter ends with Ji Ruyou reacting coldly.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Ren becomes more deliberate about managing the pagoda’s finite time, while remaining focused on strengthening his sword technique and Small World. He firmly stands by his relationship with Yue’er despite the clan’s expectations.
• Xiao Man explains the pagoda’s mechanics and warns Lu Ren about the cost of using up its remaining energy.
• Ji Chi Yun approaches Lu Ren on the clan leader’s behalf but feels insulted when he pays her little attention.
• Ji Ruyou first supports Lu Ren’s cultivation with valuable resources, then reveals her concern about his relationship with Yue’er and presses him to end it. Their exchange turns tense.

Significant themes

• Time and opportunity: The pagoda offers extraordinary cultivation time, but its limited energy makes every remaining cycle precious.
• Power and sacrifice: Future growth may require Lu Ren to spend his own lifespan unless he reaches the upper realm in time.
• Duty versus love: Yue’er’s inherited bloodline and clan responsibilities conflict with her relationship with Lu Ren, who refuses to yield to those demands.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ren reveals his relationship with Tian Shangyue to Ji Ruyou.
• Ji Ruyou reveals that Yue'er's bloodline will awaken once she reaches the Martial Emperor Realm, making her crucial to the Nine Spirits Clan's future.
• Wu Qingfeng arrives and defends Lu Ren's relationship with Yue'er, praising Lu Ren's potential.
• Ji Ruyou challenges Lu Ren to secure spots for all ten Nine Spirits Clan members in the Netherworld Secret Realm competition.
• Lu Ren accepts the challenge confidently.
• Ji Ruyou takes Lu Ren to the clan's treasury, where he can choose three treasures.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren demonstrates fearlessness and determination in protecting his relationship with Yue'er and accepting Ji Ruyou's challenge.
• Ji Ruyou shows rigidity in her adherence to clan rules but is open to Lu Ren's potential as seen through Wu Qingfeng's eyes.
• Wu Qingfeng reveals his high opinion of Lu Ren's potential and supports Lu Ren's relationship with Yue'er.

Significant Themes

• Bloodline and its importance to the clan's future.
• Potential and its recognition by others.
• The challenge of competition and proving oneself.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren stands up to Ji Ruyou, asserting his relationship with Yue'er and accepting her challenge.
• Wu Qingfeng supports Lu Ren, praising his potential and defending his relationship with Yue'er against Ji Ruyou's objections.
• Ji Ruyou challenges Lu Ren, testing his capabilities and willingness to prove himself.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Ren selects two Ancient Martial Arts manuals—the Five Elements Unification Method and Heavenly Net Thunderfire Sword Technique—as well as Heavenly River Divine Iron for Xiao Man.
• He gives Xiao Man the divine metal, which may help repair Xiao Man’s crippled constitution.
• Lu Ren spends a year refining Divine Void Grass, expanding his Small World from forty feet to its maximum diameter of one hundred feet. He recognizes that entering the Origin Venerate Realm will require both merging his Small World with his Mystic Core and raising his Martial Intent to the Eighth Heaven.
• He begins cultivating the manuals: the Five Elements method can temporarily multiply combat power, while the sword technique requires exotic fire or lightning. Afterward, fifty thousand years pass inside the Reincarnation Ancient Pagoda.
• Meanwhile, King of Hell Hall learns that King Biancheng, a Martial Emperor who went to seize control of the Nine Spirits Clan, has not returned and is presumed dead. With its plan ruined and the Netherworld Secret Realm approaching, the Hall seeks four entry places through negotiations with the Buried Sword Sect.
• Prince Mo Yi orders the Hall to secure those places, keep his identity secret, and investigate what happened to the Nine Spirits Clan. He intends to enter the secret realm on a private mission.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Ren reaches the limit of his Small World’s growth and turns his focus toward cultivating powerful techniques and eventually breaking through to the Origin Venerate Realm.
• Xiao Man hopes the Heavenly River Divine Iron will help him overcome his long-standing physical weakness.
• Mo Yi reveals his determination to enter the Netherworld Secret Realm, though the purpose of his mission remains undisclosed. He directs Hall Master Ling and the other deputy hall masters to arrange access and investigate Biancheng’s fate.

Significant themes

• Preparation and personal limits: Lu Ren pushes his cultivation to its natural ceiling, while the next breakthrough demands mastery rather than simply more energy.
• Talent requires comprehension: Bloodline potential alone cannot overcome the Martial Intent threshold needed to reach the Origin Venerate Realm.
• Power and uncertainty: King of Hell Hall’s failed attempt against the Nine Spirits Clan—and the apparent death of a Martial Emperor—shows that even formidable forces can suffer sudden setbacks.
• Hidden agendas: Mo Yi’s concealed identity and secret mission build suspense around the coming Netherworld Secret Realm.

Plot points and events

• Lu Ren spends 50,000 years in cultivation, mastering the Heavenly Net Thunder Fire Sword at the beginner level. His Small World reaches its limit, and his strength rises enough that he believes he can challenge powerful second-stage Origin Venerates.
• Xiao Man advises him to awaken Martial Intent attributes before breaking through, since doing so will help his profound energy align with his Martial Intent. Lu Ren decides to pursue all nine common attributes: water, fire, wind, lightning, metal, wood, earth, light, and darkness.
• He continues training and masters Three Thousand Worlds, enabling him to summon three thousand swords. He expects to become even stronger after reaching the Origin Venerate Realm.
• The contest for entry into the Netherworld Secret Realm begins. Lord Ji Ruyou questions why Lu Ren has not advanced despite reaching the limit of his Small World. He keeps his real reason—wanting to awaken more attributes—private.
• Ji Ruyou reminds Lu Ren that he promised to help all ten contestants earn places. Lu Ren assures her he can deliver, while keeping the Great Tomb Devouring Heaven Art as a secret trump card.
• On the way to Gathering Nether Peak, Ji Ruyou tells Lu Ren that Tian Shangyue, now called Ji Yue, is training at a Nine Heavens Pavilion branch before she can return to the Nine Spirits Clan.
• At Gathering Nether Peak, the group meets representatives of the thirty-six clans. Lu Ren recognizes Lin Qingwei, the Little Demoness, among the Netherworld Cult’s party. She notices him too, ending the chapter with a surprised greeting.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Ren grows markedly stronger but deliberately postpones his breakthrough to pursue an unusually ambitious path: mastering all nine common Martial Intent attributes.
• Xiao Man guides Lu Ren’s cultivation strategy and is intrigued by the potential of nine-attribute Martial Intent.
• Ji Ruyou supports Lu Ren’s role in the contest but is concerned that he has not advanced; she also updates him about Ji Yue.
• Ji Chi Yun openly doubts Lu Ren’s ability to break through, though he gives no explanation for his delay.
• Lin Qingwei and Lu Ren unexpectedly reunite at the gathering, setting up a possible encounter.

Significant themes

• Ambition and exceptional cultivation: Lu Ren aims beyond the usual one or two attributes, risking greater effort for potentially extraordinary power.
• Patience and preparation: He delays a breakthrough to strengthen his foundations rather than advancing as quickly as possible.
• Hidden strength and strategy: Lu Ren conceals his plans and reserves his strongest technique for a future confrontation.
• Power and political scrutiny: The contest brings together the thirty-six clans, where Lu Ren’s promise and capabilities will be tested publicly.

Key plot points and events

• At the gathering of Youming Prefecture’s thirty-six clans, Lu Ren reunites with Lin Qingwei, whom he defeated at the Dragon Gate Grand Gathering. Lin introduces him to the Netherworld Cult Master as that tournament’s champion.
• Lu Ren attracts attention: some respect his swordsmanship, but others doubt him because he is still in the Universe Realm while most competing geniuses have reached the second or third level of the Origin Venerate Realm.
• The Nine Spirits Clan’s weak-looking lineup—especially its choice of Lu Ren as outside help—becomes a target for ridicule from rival leaders. They also mock Lord Ji Ruyou by invoking her husband, Wu Qingfeng, a former top-ranked genius now crippled.
• The judge explains the contest: teams challenge the Puppet Chess Array for an incense stick’s worth of time. Each puppet destroyed earns a secret-realm place, but any teammate knocked off the platform reduces the team’s final number of places.
• The Iron Bone Sect is called first. Five competitors enter the array, where powerful, ten-foot metal puppets appear. One team member immediately admits he is too frightened to fight.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Ren remains composed despite scrutiny and insults, observing the other competitors rather than responding.
• Lin Qingwei greets Lu Ren warmly and acknowledges his achievement, while warning that winning a secret-realm place will be difficult.
• Lord Ji Ruyou responds sternly to the mockery, insisting that strength—not boasting—will decide the contest.
• Xiang Rong and the Blazing Tiger Clan chief openly taunt Ji Ruyou and her team, revealing the rivalry between their alliances.
• The Netherworld Cult Master notices Lin Qingwei’s interest in Lu Ren and asks who he is, reflecting her concern about her daughter’s recent unhappiness.
• The Iron Bone Sect’s young competitors appear anxious about facing the puppets, setting up the first test of the contest.

Significant themes

• Reputation versus present ability: Lu Ren’s championship and swordsmanship earn notice, yet his lower cultivation level leads many to underestimate him.
• Rivalry and public humiliation: The gathering is not only a competition but also a venue for political taunts between powerful clans.
• Strength, teamwork, and risk: Teams must defeat formidable opponents while protecting every member, making success depend on more than individual power.
• Courage under pressure: The first team’s fear highlights the danger of the challenge and the psychological demands of proving oneself.

Key plot points and events

• The selection trial pits factions against powerful puppets. To earn slots in the Netherworld Secret Realm, fighters must survive on the platform for an incense stick’s burn time; defeating the puppets alone is not enough if the whole team falls.
• The Iron Bone Sect earns two slots. Shen Mu destroys three puppets, but most of his team is knocked off, leaving only him and Tie Shou.
• The Buried Sword Sect claims all ten of its slots. Four masked reinforcements destroy puppets with ease, while Young Sect Master Xiang Nanting and the rest hold their ground.
• The Blood Axe Sect loses all five competitors. Across the factions, claiming every slot proves rare.
• The Netherworld Divine Cult then takes the platform. Xu Yizhou destroys all ten puppets with a single sword attack, securing all ten slots.
• Lin Qingwei reminds Xu Yizhou of their bargain: if he kills Xiang Nanting in the secret realm, she will deliver what he wants.
• With ten slots remaining, the Nine Spirits Clan is called up. The Blazing Tiger Clan expects them to fail and hopes to claim the slots. Lord Ji Ruyou tells Lu Ren and Ji Chi Yun to focus on securing their own places rather than trying to win every slot.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Mu’s strength is impressive but not enough to overcome the puppets while protecting a weaker team; Tie Shou survives alongside him.
• The masked fighters reveal the Buried Sword Sect’s considerable outside support and overwhelming combat ability.
• Xu Yizhou establishes himself as a formidable contender, far stronger than his previous ranking alone suggested. He acts confidently and leads the Netherworld Divine Cult away after the victory.
• Lin Qingwei and Xu Yizhou’s exchange reveals a deal centered on Xiang Nanting, setting up a future conflict between him and the Netherworld Divine Cult.
• Ji Ruyou becomes more cautious after seeing the puppets’ strength, lowering her expectations for the Nine Spirits Clan. Xiang Rong and the Blazing Tiger chief openly mock the clan and anticipate competing for its slots.

Significant themes

• Strength and survival: Raw power can destroy puppets, but teams must also endure long enough to qualify.
• Unequal resources: Factions with powerful reinforcements can secure far more slots than those relying on less capable fighters.
• Rivalry and future conflict: The competition for secret-realm entry is sharpened by factional hostility and Xu Yizhou’s agreement to target Xiang Nanting.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ren confidently guarantees to secure all ten spots for the Nine Spirits Clan in the puppet chess formation.
• Ten puppets appear, targeting each of the ten clan members, but Lu Ren uses his small world to draw all their aggro.
• Lu Ren fights against all ten puppets simultaneously, using his Fire Calamity and Wind Calamity Sword Momentum, but struggles to injure them.
• Lu Ren activates the Five Elements Unity Art, boosting his power, and uses the Fire Sword Style to injure the puppets. He then calls for his clan members to attack, and they all successfully destroy the puppets.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren demonstrates exceptional strength and strategy, proving himself to be a formidable opponent despite his lower cultivation level.
• Ji Chi Yun and the other clan members initially doubt Lu Ren's plan but follow his instructions, eventually contributing to the victory.

Significant Themes

• Confidence and Strategy: Lu Ren's confidence in his abilities and his strategic planning are key to the clan's success.
• Teamwork: Despite initial doubts, the clan members work together to achieve victory.
• Cultivation Challenges: Lu Ren's cultivation of two attribute Sword Momentum is mentioned as a potential future challenge.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren and Ji Chi Yun: Lu Ren's leadership and Ji Chi Yun's initial skepticism turn into cooperation.
• Lu Ren and the other clan members: They follow Lu Ren's instructions and work together to defeat the puppets.
• Other factions: The Netherworld Divine Cult, Buried Sword Sect, and Blazing Tiger Clan representatives express disbelief and underestimation of the Nine Spirits Clan's chances.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ren single-handedly defeats ten puppets, securing all ten spots for the Nine Spirits Clan in the Netherworld Secret Realm trials.
• The Blazing Tiger Clan, having secured only three spots, decides to challenge other clans to obtain more.
• Yan Qing, an eighth-ranked genius on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and the young clan chief of the Blazing Tiger Clan, challenges Lu Ren to a fight.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren's strength and confidence grow, as he decides to face Yan Qing despite the latter's higher realm.
• Lord Ji Ruyou shows concern for Lu Ren's safety, revealing the enmity between the Nine Spirits Clan and the Blazing Tiger Clan.
• Yan Qing demonstrates arrogance and a desire for revenge, aiming to vent his clan's frustration on Lu Ren.

Significant Themes

• The importance of keeping one's promises (Lu Ren's determination to honor his word to Lord Ji Ruyou).
• The consequences of underestimating one's opponent (Yan Qing's overconfidence in facing Lu Ren).
• The tension and excitement of a high-stakes duel (the upcoming fight between Lu Ren and Yan Qing).

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren and Lord Ji Ruyou: Lu Ren reassures Lord Ji Ruyou that he will keep his promise, while Lord Ji Ruyou expresses concern for Lu Ren's safety.
• Lu Ren and Ji Chi Yun: Ji Chi Yun warns Lu Ren to be careful, showing a softening of her initial attitude towards him.
• Yan Qing and the Blazing Tiger Clan: Yan Qing discusses his plan to challenge the Nine Spirits Clan with his clan members, revealing their resentment towards Lu Ren.

Key Plot Points

• Lu Ren and Yan Qing engage in a fierce battle for a spot in the top ten of the Nine Spirits Clan.
• Yan Qing initially underestimates Lu Ren but becomes serious after taking a punch.
• Lu Ren reveals his Five Elements Unity Art and a Saint-tier secret technique, pushing Yan Qing back.
• Yan Qing activates his Flame Tiger Bloodline and uses his Saint-grade low-tier attack Secret Technique, Heavenly Fire Sword Tomb.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren demonstrates immense strength, contending with a Hidden Dragon Ranking genius despite not being on the list himself.
• Yan Qing, initially arrogant, becomes increasingly serious and enraged as Lu Ren proves to be a formidable opponent.

Significant Themes

• The power of underestimation and the danger of underestimating one's opponent.
• The importance of cultivating powerful secret techniques and bloodlines.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren and Yan Qing clash, revealing their respective strengths and pushing each other to their limits.
• The surrounding Hidden Dragon Ranking geniuses watch the battle with anticipation and shock.

Plot points and events

• Yan Qing forces Lu Ren to choose between surrender and death, but Lu Ren refuses. Yan Qing unleashes a torrent of flame swords; Lu Ren counters with Three Thousand Worlds, whose sword attacks overwhelm Yan Qing and kill him.
• Yan Xu, Yan Qing’s father and the Blazing Tiger Clan chief, tries to strike Lu Ren, but the referee stops him. The contest rules make death on the platform permissible. Yan Xu vows to take revenge in the Netherworld Secret Realm.
• The referee distributes all one hundred entry tokens for the secret realm. Participants bind their tokens with blood and are told the realm will open in seven days at the western Netherworld Mountain Range.
• Lu Ren returns to the Nine Spirits Clan, whose members celebrate his success in securing all ten of their places. Lord Ji Ruyou warns him that Yan Xu may ally with the Buried Sword Sect against him, but Lu Ren remains confident.
• Lu Ren declines to attempt a breakthrough to the Origin Venerate Realm yet. He intends first to awaken the Martial Intent of his seven remaining attributes.
• In a separate scene, Xiang Nanting breaks through to the third level of the Origin Venerate Realm, prompting praise from his fellow disciples. His father, Xiang Rong, then questions him about what happened between Nanting and Lin Qingwei.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Ren demonstrates the overwhelming force of Three Thousand Worlds and accepts the consequences of killing Yan Qing. He remains self-assured despite threats and follows his own cultivation plan rather than rushing to advance.
• Yan Qing dies in the duel; Yan Xu reacts with grief and anger, threatening Lu Ren. The referee enforces the rules and prevents Yan Xu’s retaliation.
• Lord Ji Ruyou supports Lu Ren but voices concern for his safety.
• Xiang Nanting reaches a major cultivation milestone, while Xiang Rong shifts the focus from his achievement to the unresolved matter involving Lin Qingwei.

Significant themes

• Consequences within rules: The contest permits lethal combat, but its rules also protect Lu Ren from revenge on the platform.
• Strength and confidence: Lu Ren’s victory reshapes the balance of power, while Xiang Nanting’s breakthrough marks a rival’s growing strength.
• Self-directed cultivation: Lu Ren chooses preparation according to his own goals rather than taking an obvious shortcut.
• Revenge and looming conflict: Yan Xu’s threat foreshadows danger at the secret realm, while Xiang Rong’s questions introduce another unresolved conflict.

Key plot points and events

• Xiang Nanting tells his father, Xiang Rong, that he did not take Lin Qingwei’s virginity and suspects an unknown Hidden Dragon Ranking genius did. He fears Lin Qingwei may target him, especially since Xu Yizhou is a formidable potential enemy.
• Xiang Rong proposes framing Lu Ren: Xiang Nanting can accuse him of being responsible for what happened to Lin Qingwei, while also carrying out Yan Xu’s request to kill Lu Ren in exchange for metal-attribute Intent Crystals.
• Seven days later, Ji Ruyou leads Lu Ren and the others to the entrance of the Netherworld Secret Realm, a sealed region of the Netherworld Mountain Range famed for dangerous beasts, Intent Crystals, and the Netherworld Tower.
• Before the assembled clans, Xiang Nanting publicly accuses Lu Ren of a past incident in the mountains, implying that Lu Ren took Lin Qingwei’s virginity. Lu Ren recognizes the accusation as a setup and denies being there.
• Lin Qingwei is shaken and wonders whether Lu Ren really was responsible. The referee ends the confrontation, ordering everyone to settle their grudges inside the realm. Ji Ruyou warns Lu Ren to beware of the Buried Sword Sect and Blazing Tiger Clan.
• Once inside, the martial artists scatter through the richly resourced mountain landscape. Xiang Nanting blocks Lu Ren, with Lin Qingwei behind him, but the immediate conflict remains unresolved.
• Elsewhere, Mo Yi and three masked companions depart. Mo Yi explains that killing Lu Ren now would risk exposing his identity; his greater aim is to claim first place on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and announce his return to the Xuanhuang Continent. He doubts Xiang Nanting’s group can easily defeat Lu Ren.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiang Nanting turns his fear and resentment into a calculated scheme, agreeing to frame Lu Ren and use the accusation to provoke Lin Qingwei against him. His recent breakthrough to the third stage of the Origin Venerate Realm fuels his confidence.
• Xiang Rong acts as a pragmatic strategist, advising his son to exploit the uncertainty around Lin Qingwei’s past.
• Lu Ren quickly sees through the accusation and remains composed, though he recognizes Xiang Nanting’s increased strength. He accepts the danger posed by hostile factions.
• Lin Qingwei becomes uncertain about Lu Ren and emotionally unsettled by Xiang Nanting’s claim.
• Mo Yi is revealed as a powerful figure with concealed identity and long-term ambitions. Despite his hostility toward Lu Ren, he prioritizes secrecy and recognizes Lu Ren as a difficult opponent.
• The chapter sets up conflict among Lu Ren, Xiang Nanting, Lin Qingwei, and the factions entering the secret realm, while Ji Ruyou and the referee attempt to keep the confrontation from erupting outside it.

Significant themes

• Deception and scapegoating: Xiang Nanting plans to redirect suspicion and weaponize an unresolved past event.
• Ambition and rivalry: The secret realm offers resources and status, while Mo Yi’s goal of topping the ranking reveals broader competition.
• Power versus judgment: Xiang Nanting’s breakthrough increases his bravado, but Mo Yi warns that strength alone does not make Lu Ren easy to defeat.
• Uncertainty and mistrust: Lin Qingwei’s doubt and Lu Ren’s denial leave the truth contested as the characters enter a dangerous environment.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Ren stays behind so Ji Chi Yun and eight others can escape. Xiang Nanting accuses him of wrongdoing and attacks, but Lu Ren denies the charge.
• Lin Qingwei refuses to believe Xiang Nanting’s accusations. At her command, Xu Yizhou attacks Xiang, who flees after five Buried Sword Sect disciples try to cover his escape. Xu also drives off the Blazing Tiger Clan’s two hired geniuses.
• Lin warns Lu Ren to beware Xiang Nanting and his allies, then pursues Xiang with Xu and the others. Xiao Man jokes that Lu Ren should simply confess; Lu Ren replies that Lin would likely strike him down and leaves to hunt sacred beasts.
• Lu Ren kills a first-level Origin Venerate Bright Winged Crocodile Beast and obtains a Light Attribute Sacred Core. Refining it in the Reincarnation Ancient Pagoda takes two thousand years, awakening his light-attribute sword momentum.
• He learns that awakening more attributes strengthens Martial Intent, though cultivation is increasingly difficult for Ancient Martial Artists. With more than nine hundred thousand years remaining, he continues searching.
• Lu Ren then kills a powerful lightning-aligned Sacred Lion Mad Thunder Beast with a sword technique enhanced by his Fire Calamity Sword Momentum, taking its Lightning Attribute Sacred Core to cultivate next.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Ren remains composed under accusation and conflict, then resumes his focused pursuit of greater strength. His rare ability to defeat stronger sacred beasts is highlighted, as is the growing difficulty of advancing his Ancient Martial Arts.
• Lin Qingwei trusts Lu Ren over Xiang Nanting and acts decisively against Xiang. Her confrontation with him reveals their bitter personal history.
• Xiang Nanting becomes enraged when Lin rejects his claims and insults her before fleeing. His escape leaves him a continuing threat.
• Xu Yizhou follows Lin’s order and displays overwhelming strength, motivated in part by the promised dark-attribute Intent Crystals.
• Xiao Man advises Lu Ren on how attribute cultivation strengthens Martial Intent and teases him about Lin’s reaction.

Significant themes

• Trust and accusation: Lin’s refusal to accept Xiang’s story contrasts with the unresolved evidence and leaves the conflict open.
• Relentless cultivation and its cost: Greater power requires rare cores, long periods of refinement, and ever more difficult breakthroughs.
• Strength through mastery: Lu Ren’s combination of sword technique, momentum, and domain lets him overcome beasts stronger than himself.
• Opportunity and danger: The secret realm offers valuable sacred cores, but obtaining them means confronting formidable creatures.

Key Plot Points

• Lu Ren obtains the Lightning Attribute Sacred Core and refines it, awakening the Lightning Sword Momentum.
• He hunts and refines seven Sacred Beasts, awakening four more attribute Sword Momentum (Water, Earth, Metal, Wood), totaling eight.
• Lu Ren encounters two Hidden Dragon Ranking geniuses, Ying Xi and Zhao Xufei, who attempt to kill him and steal his Sacred Cores.
• Lu Ren defeats them both, showcasing his powerful combat ability with his awakened eight attributes.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren's power grows significantly with the awakening of eight attributes, allowing him to defeat Origin Venerate Realm cultivators while still in the Universe Realm.
• Ying Xi and Zhao Xufei underestimate Lu Ren, leading to their defeat.

Significant Themes

• The power of awakening multiple attributes and the risks involved in doing so.
• The dangers of underestimating one's opponent.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren demonstrates his confidence and calmness in the face of danger, while Ying Xi and Zhao Xufei show arrogance and underestimation, leading to their downfall.

Plot points and events

• Lu Ren kills Zhao Xufei with a sword strike, then catches Ying Xi as she flees and badly injures her.
• Ying Xi tries threats and offers of submission, but Lu Ren refuses to spare her outright. Instead, he gives her a poisonous pill—actually a poison he brewed that cannot harm someone of her strength—and makes her help search for a Dark Attribute sacred beast and report if she finds Xiang Nanting.
• Lu Ren loots Zhao Xufei’s Storage Ring. Among its contents are 800,000 High-grade Spirit Stones and five Earth Attribute Intent Crystals, which can speed cultivation of Earth Martial Intent.
• He encounters a battle over an Eighth-grade Fire Lotus Ganoderma, a rare herb that can advance Fire Attribute Martial Intent. Lu Ren uses his speed and evasive techniques to snatch it and flee.
• A Hidden Dragon Ranking genius with a Giant Bull bloodline ability raises surrounding mountains to block Lu Ren’s escape. He confronts Lu Ren, accusing him of stealing the herb.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Ren displays overwhelming strength and ruthless pragmatism: he kills Zhao Xufei, subdues Ying Xi for her useful abilities, and seizes the ganoderma rather than joining the battle over it. His growing collection of cultivation resources supports his long-term ambitions.
• Ying Xi shifts from confident fugitive to frightened, humiliated captive. After her threats and offer of herself fail, she accepts Lu Ren’s conditions and takes the pill, though she regrets becoming dependent on him.
• Xiao Man identifies the crystals and explains their value, helping Lu Ren understand the benefits of his spoils.
• The Hidden Dragon Ranking fighters, initially battling one another, unite in anger against Lu Ren after he takes their prize. One of them uses an impressive mountain-moving bloodline power to corner him.

Significant themes

• Power and survival: Lu Ren’s strength determines the outcome of confrontations, while weaker opponents resort to flight, threats, or submission.
• Pragmatism and control: Lu Ren spares Ying Xi only because her stealth and speed may be useful, keeping her compliant through deception and coercion.
• Competition for advancement: Intent Crystals and the ganoderma show how valuable rare resources are to cultivators—and how quickly contests over them turn violent.
• Reputation and escalation: Lu Ren’s actions earn him powerful enemies, setting up a new confrontation after his theft.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ren picks an Eighth-grade Fire Lotus Ganoderma, attracting attention and conflict.
• Miao Shanfeng, a powerful Martial Artist in the third level of the Origin Venerate Realm, demands Lu Ren hand over the Ganoderma.
• Lu Ren refuses, leading to a confrontation. Miao Shanfeng attacks using his powerful earth-attribute Sword Momentum and an Exotic Earth, Poison Sting Earth.
• Lu Ren defends using his Calamity Sword Momentum and Nine Yang True Fire but is gradually overwhelmed.
• Miao Shanfeng uses a top-tier Heavenly grade offensive Secret Technique, King Bee Devouring Heaven Fist, which Lu Ren counters using his newly awakened Light attribute Sword Momentum, purifying the potent venom.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren demonstrates his confidence and arrogance, refusing to back down from Miao Shanfeng.
• Miao Shanfeng reveals his strength and overbearing nature, using his powerful techniques and Exotic Earth.
• Lu Ren awakens the Light attribute Sword Momentum, showing his potential and versatility in Martial Intent.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the struggle for resources (the Eighth-grade Fire Lotus Ganoderma).
• The awakening of Martial Intents and their unique properties (Light attribute's purification effect).
• The importance of confidence and self-belief in the face of adversity (Lu Ren's refusal to back down).

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren and Miao Shanfeng: A tense standoff between a confident young Martial Artist and a powerful, overbearing opponent.
• Lu Ren and the Hidden Dragon Ranking geniuses: The other geniuses watch the fight with astonishment, eventually realizing Lu Ren's Light attribute Sword Momentum.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ren, having awakened three attribute Sword Momenta (including the rare Light Attribute), faces criticism for making his cultivation path difficult.
• Miao Shanfeng, a fellow Hidden Dragon Ranking genius, challenges Lu Ren, but is defeated.
• Lu Ren, undeterred, asks who else wants to snatch the Eighth-grade Fire Lotus Ganoderma, intimidating the other Martial Artists.
• Miao Shanfeng flees, and other geniuses greet Lu Ren enthusiastically, hoping to form an alliance.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren demonstrates his strength and confidence in his cultivation path, despite the challenges of awakening multiple attribute Martial Intents.
• Miao Shanfeng shows arrogance and underestimates Lu Ren, leading to his defeat.
• Wang Kai and Li Mian, Hidden Dragon Ranking geniuses, show interest in befriending Lu Ren, recognizing his potential.

Significant Themes

• The challenges and potential benefits of cultivating multiple attribute Martial Intents.
• The importance of luck and resources in cultivation, as discussed by the geniuses.
• The intimidation factor of strength and the respect it commands.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren vs. Miao Shanfeng: Lu Ren's strength and determination are pitted against Miao Shanfeng's arrogance and underestimation of Lu Ren.
• Lu Ren and other geniuses: Lu Ren is greeted enthusiastically by other Hidden Dragon Ranking geniuses, who recognize his strength and potential.
• Wang Kai and Lu Ren: Wang Kai expresses his confusion about Lu Ren's decision to cultivate multiple attribute Martial Intents and offers guidance based on his knowledge of the Xuanhuang Continent's history.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ren learns about the Netherworld Tower's opening and the need to reach the Origin Venerate Realm to enter.
• He searches for Dark Attribute Sacred Cores and encounters several Sacred Beasts, obtaining various Intent Crystals.
• Ying Xi contacts Lu Ren about a peak eighth-tier Dark Attribute Sacred Beast.
• Miao Shanfeng and Miao Jin Jue intercept Lu Ren, leading to a confrontation.

Character Developments

• Lu Ren demonstrates his peak combat power, defeating three Hidden Dragon Ranking geniuses with ease.
• Miao Shanfeng and Miao Jin Jue underestimate Lu Ren's strength initially but are later awestruck by his power.

Significant Themes

• The importance of reaching the Origin Venerate Realm for Lu Ren's growth.
• The disparity in strength between Lu Ren and other geniuses, highlighting his exceptional abilities.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ren and Ying Xi maintain contact, with Ying Xi providing valuable information.
• Lu Ren encounters Miao Shanfeng and Miao Jin Jue, leading to a tense standoff and eventual confrontation.
• Lu Ren's strength impresses and intimidates Miao Shanfeng and Miao Jin Jue, changing their initial underestimation of him.