Chapter Summaries

Shi Xuan led seven Outer Disciples in improving their sword techniques and practicing a formation before taking ten disciples aboard the White Cloud Boat toward the Luofu Sect. As the boat neared Luofu Mountain, the group spotted a gigantic blood-red carriage pulled by eight dragons.

• Shi Xuan recognized Ren Shuiyao's swordsmanship talent and made her the lead of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions, switching her role with Li Bingnan.
• Ren Shuiyao demonstrated her fierce swordsmanship, thanked Shi Xuan for his guidance, and joined the others in practicing the sword formation, which failed seventeen times.
• Shi Xuan led the disciples out of Tianyang City aboard Tang Youqiu's White Cloud Boat, and they practiced the formation throughout the three-day journey.
• The seven disciples successfully formed an azure dragon, but lost control of it until Shi Xuan caught their flying swords with the Yin-Yang Two Qi Bottle.
• As the White Cloud Boat approached Luofu Mountain, Shi Xuan and the disciples saw a blood-red carriage pulled by eight blood dragons.

Shi Xuan and the Penglai disciples reached Luofu Mountain for the Golden Core Ceremony, where they encountered Ning Wuque and learned the Luofu Sect’s cultivators wanted to challenge Shi Xuan. After arranging to accept one match, Shi Xuan settled his disciples in Jade Valley and ordered them to keep practicing their sword formation.

• Ning Wuque recognized Shi Xuan from their past conflict, then hurried ahead in his blood-red carriage before his resentment could provoke him into attacking.
• Shi Xuan warned Luo Banshan, Tang Youqiu, and the Outer Disciples that Ning Wuque might target them and explained why he would not attack near Luofu Mountain.
• Hu Yunsong welcomed Shi Xuan at Luofu Mountain and said the Luofu Sect’s Elders and disciples wanted to exchange pointers with him.
• Shi Xuan agreed to accept at most one challenge and followed Hu Yunsong to the lodgings in Jade Valley.
• Shi Xuan told the exhausted disciples to continue practicing their sword formation.

Shi Xuan received a visit from Gong Xujing and Lou Yizhi, who warned him about Ning Wuque and told him that Ying Jiaoxiao had won Luofu Sect’s challenge to face him. Ying Jiaoxiao arrived that evening, and Shi Xuan agreed to go with him for their duel.

• Gong Xujing introduced Lou Yizhi to Shi Xuan and explained that Luofu Sect’s swordsmanship experts had fought to choose who would challenge him.
• Gong Xujing said Ying Jiaoxiao had narrowly defeated Hu Yunsong and warned Shi Xuan that Ying had mastered Sword Qi Thunder Sound.
• Gong Xujing warned that Ning Wuque might attack Shi Xuan and revealed that Ning had devoured Blood Demon Son to achieve high-grade Golden Core.
• Shi Xuan declined Gong Xujing’s offer of a Ten Thousand Year Ice Soul Heart, saying he had already found one.
• Ying Jiaoxiao arrived at Jade Valley and asked Shi Xuan for instruction, and Shi Xuan agreed to go with him.

Shi Xuan faced Ying Jiaoxiao in a flying-sword duel at the Luofu Sect’s Battle Stage, where their sword arts filled the stage with lightning and starlight. Shi Xuan countered Ying Jiaoxiao’s hidden attack, knocking the Misty Star Sword into view and ending his Frenzied Song of the Sword.

• Jiang Nianqiao learned that Shi Xuan had gone with Ying Jiaoxiao to the Luofu Sect’s Battle Stage and hurried there with the other disciples.
• Ying Jiaoxiao proposed a contest limited to flying swords, and Shi Xuan agreed, revealing his Heavenly Thunder Demon Subduing Sword against Ying Jiaoxiao’s Misty Star Sword.
• Shi Xuan and Ying Jiaoxiao exchanged rapid attacks as Gong Xujing explained their swordsmanship to the Penglai Sect disciples watching.
• Ying Jiaoxiao used Misty Rain and then Starry Mist, while Shi Xuan answered with thunder and lightning and appeared to gain the upper hand.
• Ying Jiaoxiao launched Frenzied Song of the Sword, but Shi Xuan sensed his concealed attack and struck it, revealing the Misty Star Sword and dispelling the falling stars.

Shi Xuan turned the sword contest against Ying Jiaoxiao around by using his Illusory-Real Sword Light Differentiation, then overwhelmed him with basic sword forms until Ying conceded. The Luofu Sect disciples acknowledged Shi Xuan as the foremost swordsmanship Grandmaster below the Golden Core, while he kept the details of his technique secret.

• Ying Jiaoxiao used the Misty Star Sword and Sword Qi Thunder Sound to keep Shi Xuan on the defensive, prompting concern from the Penglai Sect disciples.
• Shi Xuan split his sword light into real and illusory strands, disrupting Ying Jiaoxiao's defense and seizing the initiative.
• Shi Xuan pressed Ying Jiaoxiao with the Heavenly Thunder Demon Subduing Sword while keeping his second sword light in reserve.
• Ying Jiaoxiao's swordplay faltered, and Shi Xuan stopped his sword light before Ying Jiaoxiao's chest, forcing him to concede defeat.
• Shi Xuan declined to confirm whether he had truly mastered Sword Light Differentiation, and the Luofu Sect disciples respectfully praised his swordsmanship.

After defeating Ying Jiaoxiao with Sword Light Differentiation, Shi Xuan agreed to a joint Soul Departure Stage exchange at the Golden Core Ceremony. He returned to Jade Valley, received visits from Xu Yu and Dong Yuanzi, and learned that Daoquanzi’s black bear was doing well.

• Wu Yun challenged the Penglai Sect disciples, but Shi Xuan postponed the match and agreed with Ying Jiaoxiao and Gong Xujing to hold an exchange at the Golden Core Ceremony.
• Shi Xuan proposed having the Soul Departure Stage disciples enter the arena together, and Ying Jiaoxiao and Gong Xujing accepted.
• Hu Yunsong and other Luofu Sect cultivators arrived after the sword match; Ying Jiaoxiao told them Shi Xuan had mastered Sword Light Differentiation and defeated him.
• Xu Yu visited Shi Xuan to thank him for helping her in the past, then left after they exchanged pleasantries and discussed Daoist magic.
• Dong Yuanzi visited Shi Xuan, praised his swordsmanship, and told him that Daoquanzi’s black bear was doing well in the Yingzhou Sect.
• The sects spent the following day drilling their disciples for the Golden Core Ceremony exchange.

Shi Xuan attended Luofu Sect’s celebration of Shen Xianyun’s Golden Core achievement and represented Penglai Sect in offering congratulations. After the ceremony, Ning Wuque challenged Penglai Sect’s disciples to spar against the Blood Demon Sect, leaving Shi Xuan to decide whether to accept.

• Shi Xuan arrived at Milo Peak with Penglai Sect disciples and took a seat among cultivators gathered for Shen Xianyun’s celebration.
• The King of Reincarnation, Ning Wuque, and representatives of other sects arrived, and Shen Xianyun entered to receive congratulations on achieving the Golden Core.
• Shi Xuan presented Penglai Sect’s gifts and exchanged words with Shen Xianyun and Qiao Mubai, who advised him about controlling his arrogance.
• After the congratulations ended, the Luofu Sect served immortal fruits and held a dance before Qiao Mubai announced that the Eight Great Sects’ disciples would spar.
• Ning Wuque volunteered the Blood Demon Sect and named Penglai Sect as its opponent, and Qiao Mubai asked Shi Xuan whether Penglai would accept.

Penglai Sect and Blood Demon Sect began their staged contest, and Luo Banshan defeated Zhao Yongshou in the Qi Induction match despite both fighters suffering the Battle Stage’s illusory injuries. Shi Xuan then sent Ren Shuiyao and the other disciples to face eight Blood Demon Sect cultivators, and their sword formation began its attack.

• Shi Xuan agreed to one match each at the Qi Induction and Soul Departure stages, and Luo Banshan faced Zhao Yongshou on the Battle Stage.
• Luo Banshan used the Myriad Heavens Thunder Mirror to defend against Zhao Yongshou’s Blood Luo Saber and eventually unleashed his eighth-rank Crimson Flame Flowing Fire Thunder.
• Zhao Yongshou counterattacked while engulfed in flames, but Qiao Mubai declared him the loser and the fighters returned from the Battle Stage unharmed.
• Ning Wuque sent eight Blood Demon Sect cultivators into the next match, while Shi Xuan told Ren Shuiyao and the others to rely on their training.
• Ren Shuiyao led seven disciples in forming an azure dragon with their sword-lights, while Zhou Ban Yu stood aside with his Soul-Bewildering Banner.

Ren Shuiyao and the other Penglai Sect disciples used Shi Xuan’s sword formation to overwhelm the Blood Demon Sect team, but their apparent victory turned when Ning Wuque revealed that seven opponents were Blood and Flesh Puppets. The puppets’ self-destructions multiplied them into powerful monsters, leaving the Penglai disciples facing a spreading Blood and Flesh Hell Array.

• Ren Shuiyao and the other Penglai Sect disciples attacked the Blood Demon Sect team with the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions sword formation while Zhou Ban Yu shielded them with his Soul-Bewildering Banner.
• The azure dragon shattered the Blood Demon Sect’s defenses and pierced one disciple’s throat, seemingly deciding the match in Penglai Sect’s favor.
• The pierced disciple rose and self-destructed, and his blood light entered another fighter, transforming him into a two-headed, four-armed monster.
• Ning Wuque revealed that only one of the eight Blood Demon Sect fighters was genuine and that the other seven were Blood and Flesh Puppets.
• Ren Shuiyao and the others hesitated as more puppets self-destructed and transformed, creating powerful monsters and spreading blood and flesh across the stage.
• The two remaining monsters filled the Battle Stage with blood mist as the writhing flesh on the ground seemed ready to give birth to something.

Penglai Sect’s Soul Departure disciples fought two Blood Demon Sect monsters in a grueling Battle Stage match, and Ren Shuiyao’s resolve secured their victory at the cost of her exhaustion. Shi Xuan withdrew his disciples from the remaining matches, and the chapter ended with him telling Ning Wuque that the Blood Demon Sect had yielded.

• Ren Shuiyao steadied the Penglai Sect disciples and led their azure dragon sword formation against the monsters while Zhou Ban Yu trapped one with his Soul-Bewildering Banner.
• Bloody hands overwhelmed the Battle Stage, forcing Zhou Ban Yu to abandon the formation and protect his companions as the monsters changed again.
• Ren Shuiyao and the other disciples unleashed the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions Formation, and their final clash destroyed the monster but left most of them injured or unconscious.
• A Blood Demon Sect disciple rose from the foul blood and tried to attack, but Ren Shuiyao pierced his head with her sword before collapsing from exhaustion.
• Qiao Mubai declared Penglai Sect the winner, and Shi Xuan explained that Ren Shuiyao would recover before withdrawing his disciples from the remaining matches.

After the Golden Core Ceremony ended, Shi Xuan praised his disciples and advised Luo Banshan about the consequences of relying too heavily on pills. Tang Youqiu then suspected that Shi Xuan had deliberately provoked Ning Wuque, and Shi Xuan left her wondering whether Ning Wuque had seen through his plan.

• Luofu Sect and Netherworld Sect, Medicine King Sect and Yingzhou Sect, and Guanghan Sect and Heavenly Fire Gate finished their matches, with Guanghan Sect winning both of its bouts.
• Qiao Mubai ended the competition because the Soul Departure Stage disciples were exhausted, and Shen Xianyun concluded the ceremony.
• Shi Xuan told the returning disciples to rest, praised their performance, and watched as Zhou Ban Yu belatedly became overwhelmed by the bloody battle he had faced.
• Shi Xuan explained that Luo Banshan's excessive use of pills had left hidden dangers and advised him to temper himself for twenty or thirty years before seeking Spirit Soul.
• Tang Youqiu accused Shi Xuan of deliberately provoking Ning Wuque to resolve a hidden danger, and Shi Xuan asked whether Ning Wuque might already understand his intentions.

Shi Xuan advised Tang Youqiu to avoid a dangerous path and chose to remain at Luofu Sect rather than leave with the other sects. Ning Wuque learned that Lou Yizhi and Xu Yu had departed and decided to risk a possible trap to kill Shi Xuan before he could grow stronger.

• Shi Xuan told Tang Youqiu that he would face Ning Wuque, and she chose to stay rather than leave with the other sects.
• Shi Xuan warned Tang Youqiu against pursuing a Dao Companion's promise of reaching the Spirit Soul Stage, and she thanked him for his guidance.
• Tang Youqiu reported that the Blood Demon Sect, Guanghan Sect, and Medicine King Sect had departed, while Lou Yizhi had already left Luofu Mountain.
• Ning Wuque learned that Lou Yizhi and Xu Yu were heading to Tianyang City and debated whether Shi Xuan's decision to stay was a trap.
• Ning Wuque accepted the risk of a trap and summoned Blood Shadow Number Three as he prepared to kill Shi Xuan.

Shi Xuan deliberately set out from Luofu Mountain to draw Ning Wuque into attacking him, and Ning trapped the White Cloud Boat in a blood-filled Void Illusion. Shi Xuan revealed a terrifying aura that made Ning suspect he possessed an External Core, leaving their confrontation on the verge of battle.

• Ning Wuque ordered Blood Shadow Number Three to watch the Luofu Sect, then discussed how Shi Xuan might use himself as bait while Lou Yizhi and Xu Yu rushed to help.
• Shi Xuan declined Dong Yuanzi’s offer to travel with him the next day and departed with Tang Youqiu, Ren Shuiyao, and the other disciples.
• As the White Cloud Boat sped toward Tianyang City, Shi Xuan told Tang Youqiu that Ning Wuque was likely waiting to strike that night.
• Ning Wuque drew the White Cloud Boat into a blood sea within his Void Illusion and appeared above it, claiming Lou Yizhi and Xu Yu were in Tianyang City and could not come to Shi Xuan’s aid.
• Shi Xuan unleashed a savage aura, astonishing the disciples, and Ning Wuque guessed that his trump card was an External Core.

Shi Xuan used the External Core and a hidden plan to draw Ning Wuque into a battle, then revealed Xie Fangwei as his ally. With Xie Fangwei suppressing Ning Wuque’s Void Illusion, the two prepared to kill him.

• Ning Wuque attacked Shi Xuan’s White Cloud Boat, and Shi Xuan protected the disciples before confronting him with sword qi and teleportation.
• Ning Wuque deployed the Heavenly Net Blood Web and Azure Blood Divine Fire, while Shi Xuan countered with the Seven Stars Great Hand Seal and Taiji Diagram.
• Ning Wuque’s Blood Ghost Devouring Heaven Saber clashed with Shi Xuan’s Heavenly Thunder Demon Subduing Sword as the Other Shore Golden Bridge briefly stalled Ning Wuque.
• Xie Fangwei emerged from a stone statue puppet and struck Ning Wuque with the Eight Desolations Imperial Thunder Seal, breaking the Void Illusion and wounding him.
• Shi Xuan revealed that he had used the Tai Xu Incarnation Talisman to contact Xie Fangwei and had arranged the other people and puppets as feints.

Ning Wuque fought off Shi Xuan and Xie Fangwei as they pursued him toward Tianyang City, using his blood arts and remaining treasures to evade their attacks. The chapter ended with him still fleeing after two more attacks struck his blood-shadow doubles.

• Ning Wuque tried to break through Shi Xuan’s defenses, but Shi Xuan used the Ten Thousand Year Black Tortoise Shield and a Minor Teleportation Talisman to delay him.
• Xie Fangwei’s Five Directional Thunder Gods Great Grappling and Shi Xuan’s Heavenly Thunder Demon Subduing Sword repeatedly blocked Ning Wuque, who countered with blood arts, talismans, and secret treasures.
• Ning Wuque unleashed a blood-colored pearl that collapsed space, then escaped while Shi Xuan and Xie Fangwei fled its effect and resumed their pursuit.
• Shi Xuan and Xie Fangwei caught up with Ning Wuque and chased him toward Tianyang City, where he hoped to use the teleportation array to escape.
• The pursuers broke through the Blood Shadow Ghost Soul Pearl’s protection and restrained Ning Wuque, but he shed a blood-colored double and escaped their grasp.
• Xie Fangwei sent the Thunder God Stab and Demon Subduing Thunder Sound Ruler after Ning Wuque, who split off two blood-colored doubles to intercept them.

Shi Xuan and Xie Fangwei appeared to kill Ning Wuque after Lou Yizhi and Xu Yu stopped his escape, but Ning Wuque survived through a secret life-saving technique. Gravely injured and desperate to recover, he devoured his maidservants and then turned on Blood Shadow Number Five, whose fate remained uncertain.

• Lou Yizhi and Xu Yu struck Ning Wuque as he neared Tianyang City, and the Demon Subduing Thunder Sound Ruler reduced his blood-colored fragments to smoke; Xie Fangwei then realized Ning Wuque had escaped through a hidden technique.
• Xie Fangwei destroyed the Heavenly Net Blood Web, and he and Shi Xuan entered Tianyang City with Ning Wuque's remaining Spirit Artifacts as Lou Yizhi and Xu Yu departed.
• Ning Wuque reappeared outside the Luofu Sect, revealed that he had survived through a life-saving secret art, and flew away while badly injured.
• Ning Wuque killed Xiao Ze and the other maidservants in his carriage valley, draining their flesh and blood to regain some strength.
• Ning Wuque recognized that Blood Shadow Number Five had tested his weakness and decided to attack him rather than merge with him; Blood Shadow Number Five froze under his blood light, then smiled as Ning Wuque lunged.

Blood Demon Son took control of Ning Wuque’s body, broke free of the Blood Shadow Soul Control Curse, and confirmed Ning Wuque’s death. Shi Xuan returned safely with Xie Fangwei and the disciples, while a new Golden Core breakthrough began on Penglai Island.

• Blood Demon Son merged with Ning Wuque, sealed his Spirit Soul, broke the Blood Shadow Soul Control Curse, and used Soul Searching Technique to uncover Ning Wuque’s resurrection secret.
• The Tianji Ranking announced Ning Wuque’s death, shocking the cultivators in Tianji City and prompting Ouyang and Bai Xiaosheng to speculate about the Blood Demon Sect’s response.
• Shi Xuan brought Tang Youqiu and the other disciples back to Bright Moon Island and explained that Ning Wuque had escaped but would be unable to cause trouble for a century or two.
• Shi Xuan and Xie Fangwei boarded the White Cloud Boat with the disciples and headed back to their sect, where Shi Xuan recounted their encounter with Ning Wuque.
• A heavenly phenomenon of surging wind, clouds, and spiritual energy appeared over Penglai Island, and Xie Fangwei realized that someone had achieved Golden Core.

Shi Xuan learned that Ning Wuque had died and returned to the Penglai Sect with his companions, where they celebrated his feats at the Luofu Sect ceremony. He then discovered that Hong Zhishan had achieved a Golden Core, meaning Shi Xuan would have to give up his position as head of Tian Ji Peak.

• The disciples celebrated the signs that a Penglai Sect member had achieved a mid-grade Golden Core, and Ling Ri arrived to report that Ning Wuque had perished.
• Ling Ri reassured Shi Xuan that the Blood Demon Sect would not retaliate against the Penglai Sect, though he warned Shi Xuan to be cautious around its Golden Core Grandmasters.
• At Guest Greeting Island, Jiang Nianqiao told the waiting disciples that Shi Xuan had mastered Sword Light Differentiation and defeated Ying Jiaoxiao.
• Huang Kun revealed that Hong Zhishan had achieved a Golden Core, prompting the disciples to worry that Shi Xuan would lose his position as head of Tian Ji Peak.
• Ren Shuiyao encouraged Shi Xuan, saying his loss would be through no fault of his own and that he could reclaim the position in ten or twenty years.

After Ning Wuque’s death and Hong Zhishan’s Golden Core breakthrough, Shi Xuan accepted the loss of Tian Ji Peak’s leadership and resolved to cultivate toward his own Golden Core. The chapter ended with Hong Zhishan taking over the peak while Shi Xuan prepared to enter seclusion.

• Shi Xuan thanked Xie Fangwei for his help, then told him he would hand over Tian Ji Peak’s leadership in person and later seek to reclaim it through Golden Core attainment.
• Shi Xuan retrieved the Azure Dragon Sword of Yimu and the Soul-Bewildering Banner from Jiang Nianqiao, Ren Shuiyao, and Zhou Ban Yu, and advised them to earn opportunities through effort and preparation.
• Jiang Nianqiao told Jin Leiyu that Shi Xuan and Xie Fangwei had killed Ning Wuque, shocking the disciples when they learned Ning Wuque had been a high-grade Golden Core Grandmaster.
• Cangwu informed Shi Xuan that Hong Zhishan had attained Golden Core, but Shi Xuan said anger would not help and that diligent cultivation was the proper response.
• At the handover ceremony, Shi Xuan gave Hong Zhishan the Heavenly Jade Seal and the leadership of Tian Ji Peak, then left to prepare for seclusion.
• Jiang Nianqiao and Ren Shuiyao remarked that Shi Xuan would need a high-grade Golden Core to reclaim the position of Peak Head.

Twelve years after reaching Spirit Soul perfection, Shi Xuan remained unable to discern a path to Golden Core and sought guidance from True Person Jiang. Jiang told him his divination pointed to “profit in the West,” leaving Shi Xuan to ponder what the words meant.

• Shi Xuan reflected on his stalled Golden Core progress and continued refining his sword arts and abilities.
• Shi Xuan told Ao Gu he would release him after achieving Golden Core, but Ao Gu asked to remain and Shi Xuan promised him spirit pills to heal his damaged limbs.
• At the End of the World Pavilion, Shi Xuan overheard disciples debate when he would achieve Golden Core and sympathize with his difficult circumstances.
• Shi Xuan asked True Person Jiang for guidance, and Jiang said his divination had revealed four words: “profit in the West.”