Chapter Summaries

Ye Fan was selected for direct entry into the Three Yuan Sect’s inner sect, while Shi Xuan secretly evaded the Grotto-Heaven Barrier’s inspection. Over the next ten years Ye Fan avoided pills, broke through to the Qi Induction Stage, and fulfilled his system quest for an intermediate-grade Protagonist Template.

• Ye Fan encountered Xia Wanjun and Luo Heng, who mocked his talent and family background, and he vowed to make them regret it.
• Xiyi True Person used the Fortune Immortal Mirror to select inner-sect disciples and named Ye Fan the most outstanding disciple present.
• Shi Xuan’s thoughts passed unnoticed through the Grotto-Heaven Barrier, and Ye Fan’s system announced that its exchange function would be closed inside the dangerous area.
• After Ye Fan entered the sect, the system activated a quest requiring him to reach the Qi Induction Stage within ten years without pills in exchange for an intermediate-grade Protagonist Template.
• Sect Golden Core Grandmasters praised Ye Fan for refusing pills but agreed to observe his narrow-minded character before taking him as a disciple.
• Ye Fan broke through to the Qi Induction Stage before the deadline and celebrated his expected intermediate-grade Protagonist Template.

Ye Fan followed Shi Xuan’s quests from Qi Induction cultivation to performing good deeds, earning the name “Gentleman Sword,” then joined a campaign against the Great Dragon Sea’s pirates. He killed a low-grade Golden Core Grandmaster by detonating his External Core, though he believed the loss was an accident.

• Ye Fan reached Minor Qi Induction Accomplishment, traveled abroad, and later received a quest to perform 9,999 good deeds within four years.
• Ye Fan performed good deeds around the city and across the Cultivation World, gradually overcoming his resentment as his reputation as the “Gentleman Sword” spread.
• Ye Fan completed the quest and received 10,000 Merit Points, a Spirit Artifact, First Heaven perfected, and an External Core, then accepted a quest to help destroy the seventy-two pirate bands of the Great Dragon Sea.
• Ye Fan led cultivators against the pirates and fought a low-grade Golden Core Grandmaster when the other cultivators were in danger.
• Ye Fan took advantage of an undersea volcanic eruption, detonated his External Core, and killed the Golden Core Grandmaster, unaware Shi Xuan had intended the Core not to return to the Three Yuan Sect.

After killing a Golden Core Grandmaster and breaking through to the Spirit Soul Stage, Ye Fan earned Cui Wang’s mentorship and later entered Three Yuan Hall to observe its Sect-Protecting Divine Light. Shi Xuan secretly used Ye Fan’s eyes to reconstruct the Two Forms Dao Destroying Sword method, then barely concealed himself from True Lord Xuanji and the hall’s protective restriction as Ye Fan left.

• Ye Fan killed the low-grade Golden Core Grandmaster by detonating his External Core, and the surviving cultivators elected him their Alliance Leader.
• Ye Fan’s fortune suppressed the cultivators around him, and he broke through to the Spirit Soul Stage amid their reverence.
• Cui Wang accepted Ye Fan as his disciple and promised to petition for him to observe the Sect-Protecting Divine Light after reaching Spirit Soul perfected.
• After forty years, Ye Fan entered Three Yuan Hall and discovered True Lord Xuanji cultivating beside the Sect-Protecting Divine Light.
• Shi Xuan secretly examined the light and reconstructed the Two Forms Dao Destroying Sword method before his concealment began to fail.
• True Lord Xuanji briefly stopped Ye Fan to praise his mental strength, and Shi Xuan escaped detection as Ye Fan left the hall.

Shi Xuan completed the transfer of the Two Forms Dao Destroying Sword method and began preparing for the Heavenly Human First Decay. Ye Fan lost access to his system after leaving the Grotto-Heaven, while Shi Xuan ultimately triggered his own Decay Tribulation and began resisting its force.

• Ye Fan used True Lord Xuanji's observation to explain his unusual survival, then hurried back to his dwelling and left the Grotto-Heaven five days later when his system would not respond.
• Shi Xuan thanked Meng Nishang and Cold Mirror Heavenly Sovereign for helping him deceive the Grotto-heaven Barrier and transfer the Two Forms Dao Destroying Sword method to his true body's Primordial Spirit.
• Shi Xuan, Meng Nishang, and Cold Mirror Heavenly Sovereign left for the Chongxuan Great World.
• Ming Qingyue, Xie Fangwei, and Yang Zongzhi overcame their first Heavenly Tribulations and achieved Pure Yang Primordial Spirits after Shi Xuan returned to the sect.
• Shi Xuan told Xie Fangwei he was ready to face the Heavenly Human First Decay, then triggered it in the ice cave and used his Primordial Spirit and secret arts to resist the decay.

Ge Chenghui received personal guidance from Shi Xuan and followed his cryptic instructions to escape with a pair of Illusionary Magic Treasures. Half a year later, Shi Xuan overcame the Heavenly Human First Decay and merged his fleshly body with his Primordial Spirit.

• Ning Feng brought Ge Chenghui to meet Shi Xuan, who gave him cultivation advice and instructed him to bury himself beneath a sand dune in the Western Wilderness seven days later.
• Ge Chenghui followed Shi Xuan's instructions and escaped toward Tianji City just as two golden-red rays entered his escape light.
• Ge Chenghui discovered that the two rays were the Conjoining and Separating Double Hooks, treasures left behind by battling Yin Spirit Venerables.
• Half a year later, Shi Xuan shut down the Cold Light Heaven-Splitting Earth-Cracking Immortal Array as the final backlash of the Heavenly Human First Decay struck.
• Shi Xuan used his Primordial Spirit and the Black and White Light to suppress the backlash, overcome the Body Decay, and merge his fleshly body with his Primordial Spirit.

Shi Xuan emerged from secluded cultivation after overcoming the Heavenly Human First Decay in just fifty-one years, strengthening his natal Spirit Treasures and surprising Penglai Sect. As he discussed the sect’s future and possible demonic inheritances with Xu Zhifei and Pan Zikai, he was hailed as Penglai’s greatest figure since its founding.

• Shi Xuan left the ice cave after overcoming the Heavenly Human First Decay, and his Taiji Diagram and Yin-Yang Two Qi Bottle became first-tribulation Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasures.
• Shi Xuan reassured Qing Suo and Purple Ying that he would not rush their tribulations or worry about facing Shi Jingren at Taixu Temple’s Magic Combat.
• Shi Xuan told Ning Feng that the sect did not need to announce his success immediately, but that he would hold a sermon after stabilizing his treasures.
• Xu Zhifei and Pan Zikai sensed Shi Xuan’s breakthrough, and Shi Xuan congratulated Pan Zikai on achieving Primordial Spirit.
• Shi Xuan told Xu Zhifei and Pan Zikai that Qin Sheng might have inherited the Primordial Sky Demon Tome, and explained that Penglai would soon possess a superior supreme true method.
• Xu Zhifei congratulated Shi Xuan on overcoming the First Decay and called him Penglai Sect’s greatest figure since its founding.

Shi Xuan gave a public discourse to the Penglai Sect, where his disciples realized he had crossed the Heavenly Human First Decay and debated how to respond to danger. Qinghe Boy then arrived to escort him to Taixu Temple, and Shi Xuan departed in a carriage drawn by nine mysterious Heavenly Dragons.

• Ge Chenghui, Hu Yang, and Tong Yasong entered the Dao Listening Hall, where Shi Xuan began his public discourse.
• Hu Yang guessed that Shi Xuan had crossed the Heavenly Human First Decay, and the disciples listened to his explanations of the sect’s cultivation methods.
• Shi Xuan asked whether the disciples would endure humiliation for a better chance of survival or resist for a slim chance of victory, then advised them to weigh each situation rather than follow one rule.
• Ning Feng asked Shi Xuan which choice was better, and Shi Xuan told him that both could be good or bad depending on understanding.
• Qinghe Boy arrived to take Shi Xuan to Taixu Temple, and Shi Xuan boarded a carriage pulled by nine ethereal Heavenly Dragons.
• Shi Xuan traveled through the Void Universe with his awareness unable to determine their destination, until another carriage caught up from behind.

Shi Xuan and Meng Nishang traveled to Taixu Temple for its banquet, encountering strange figures and learning that the temple stood among the roots of the Chaos Hidden Profound Vine. As they entered the temple, Shi Jingren and Lian Yu discussed an opportunity to help Shi Jingren.

• Shi Xuan met Meng Nishang on the way to Taixu Temple, and they compared their mysterious invitations and journeys.
• Shi Xuan and Meng Nishang passed a procession led by the Purple Star Emperor, whom Qinghe Boy said was not a Taixu Temple guest.
• Shi Xuan saw Shi Jingren nearing the Second Tribulation and later heard Lian Yu challenge him and Meng Nishang to a future spar.
• Qinghe Boy explained that the Nanyin Great World was the Chaos Hidden Profound Vine, with Taixu Temple located at its roots.
• Shi Xuan and Meng Nishang entered Taixu Temple's great hall, while Shi Jingren asked Lian Yu about an opportunity Lian Yu had secured to help him.

Shi Xuan and Meng Nishang attended a gathering of young Heavenly Sovereigns at Taixu Temple, where they reunited with Jian Tonghui and Kong Ran and met other notable cultivators. Temple Master Qianxuzi announced a sparring competition with powerful secret treasures as prizes, leaving the assembled True Lords eager to compete.

• Shi Xuan and Meng Nishang arrived at Taixu Temple and joined Jian Tonghui and Kong Ran, who congratulated Shi Xuan on passing the Heavenly Human First Decay and Kong Ran on her progress.
• Jian Tonghui explained Shi Jingren’s widespread fame, and Shi Xuan recounted his enmity with him; the group discussed why no second-tribulation Mighty Ones were present.
• Jian Tonghui introduced several notable Heavenly Sovereigns, including Mo Jingqiu, while Peng Ziqian of the Divine Emperor Great World arrived.
• Qianxuzi welcomed the guests and proposed sparring matches before the Taixu Dao Fruits were served.
• Qianxuzi announced separate competitions and offered eight powerful secret treasures as prizes, prompting the True Lords to rise and thank him.

At Qianxuzi’s gathering, lots paired Heavenly Sovereigns for magic combat, and Mo Jingqiu swiftly defeated Sima Zheng with her Hunyuan Golden Dou. Shi Xuan was then drawn to fight Chen Bosen, as Shi Jingren’s public praise had stirred other True Lords to underestimate him.

• Qianxuzi introduced the secret treasures and opened a Lesser Thousand World for the Heavenly Sovereigns’ magic combat, with opponents assigned by lot.
• Mo Jingqiu defeated Sima Zheng’s water-based attacks with the Hunyuan Golden Dou, causing him to concede before she explained why the matchup had been so one-sided.
• After several more battles, Shi Xuan’s name was drawn, and Shi Jingren emphasized that he had only just crossed the Heavenly Human First Decay.
• Shi Xuan recognized that Shi Jingren’s praise was meant to provoke other Heavenly Sovereigns into challenging him, but he remained unconcerned.
• The next lot named Chen Bosen as Shi Xuan’s opponent, and the two headed into the Lesser Thousand World.

Shi Xuan overwhelmed Chen Bosen with his Calamity Fate flying sword, then watched Shi Jingren decisively defeat Li Xiaoqing as the matchups continued. The next drawn opponents were the little-known True Lords Shen Chenxi and Ding Suyuan, whose strengths remained unknown.

• Shi Xuan struck Chen Bosen first with a swift sword light, disarmed his Great Cave True Thunder Ring, and forced him to concede.
• Shi Xuan explained that his flying sword wielded the Innate Calamity Fate Great Dao and that he had feared Chen Bosen striking first; Chen Bosen accepted the loss without resentment.
• Shi Xuan and Mo Jingqiu compared the strengths of their flying sword and Hunyuan Golden Dou, while the gathered Heavenly Sovereigns discussed the Calamity Fate Great Dao.
• Shi Jingren used his Minor Destiny Art to defeat Li Xiaoqing after a brief fight, and Shi Xuan and Meng Nishang observed that Shi Jingren had grown stronger.
• The boy drew Shen Chenxi and then Ding Suyuan as opponents, leaving the True Lords curious about the little-known Heavenly Sovereigns.

Shen Chenxi defeated Ding Suyuan by triggering the Heavenly Human Second Decay with his Tribulation Fate Great Dao, while Qianxuzi effortlessly restored her. The Magic Combat continued to showcase powerful Heavenly Sovereigns, and Shi Xuan recognized Zhou Zhengshi, an old acquaintance’s disciple who had risen to become a First Tribulation Heavenly Sovereign.

• Shen Chenxi used a Starlight Chessboard to inflict the Heavenly Human Second Decay on Ding Suyuan, who conceded before Qianxuzi stopped the tribulation and restored her.
• Shen Yimo defeated her opponent with one sword strike, while Shao Zhuoran displayed the power of the Innate Power Great Dao and Lian Yu defeated his opponent with a series of calamity techniques.
• Yan Sheng used three white rings to seal an opponent’s Spirit Treasure and Immortal Technique, then knock him down.
• Meng Nishang froze and weakened her opponent with the Myriad Worlds Freezing Divine Light, and Jian Tonghui defeated hers with her Six Paths of Reincarnation sword light.
• Peng Ziqian defeated his opponent using only the Great Pervading Divine Light.
• Shi Xuan recognized Zhou Zhengshi, the disciple of Jade Peace True Person, as a First Tribulation Heavenly Sovereign.

Shi Xuan watched the grand gathering’s Magic Combat, where Zhou Zhengshi and An Yile revealed powerful techniques and the First Tribulation contestants narrowed toward the prize contenders. After Shi Xuan’s next opponent was announced as Qin Fengming, the onlookers questioned whether his luck had turned bad.

• Zhou Zhengshi defeated his opponent with his Five Elements Pure Yang Divine Fire, which Kong Ran recognized as resembling the Five-Colored Divine Light.
• Yi Tuan easily won his match, while An Yile used Buddha Kingdom in Palm to overwhelm Spirit Martial True Lord.
• The first round ended with eighty-four First Tribulation Mighty Ones advancing, and Shi Xuan observed other combats during the break.
• Meng Nishang narrowly defeated a veteran Mighty One with the Myriad Worlds Freezing Divine Light and deepened her understanding of the Innate Frozen Absolute Great Dao.
• Shi Xuan was paired with Qin Fengming, whom the gathered True Lords considered the strongest opponent still remaining.

Shi Xuan defeated Qin Fengming with a devastating sword strike that impressed the gathered Heavenly Sovereigns, then advanced through the tournament as An Yile easily defeated Yuan Yangzi. The next draw paired Shi Xuan with Shen Chenxi, whose Decay Tribulation attack seemed to leave him little chance to use his swordsmanship.

• Shi Xuan suppressed Qin Fengming's Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens and defeated him with the Big Dipper Killing Sword, striking down his fire phoenix and natal Spirit Treasure before Qin Fengming conceded.
• Sword-cultivating Heavenly Sovereigns explained that Shi Xuan had balanced the Power of Calamity with his sword art, and Shen Yimo agreed that the strike had nearly reached her level of power.
• The One Tribulation Heavenly Sovereigns' first round concluded, and the next round began with An Yile defeating Yuan Yangzi in fewer than ten breaths without using the Karma Lotus Embryo.
• After several other matches, Shi Xuan was drawn against Shen Chenxi, prompting the spectators to fear that Shen Chenxi's Decay Tribulation attack would overwhelm him.

Shi Xuan fought Shen Chenxi in the Lesser Thousand World, using a feint of Creation's aura and a relentless sword assault to keep Shen from deploying his Decay Tribulation. Just as Shi Xuan seemed poised to win, Shen Chenxi unleashed the Karma Killing Tribulation, summoning Shi Jingren's phantom.

• Shi Xuan opened the duel with the Big Dipper Killing Sword, and Shen Chenxi began forming the Heavenly Human Second Decay Tribulation.
• Shi Xuan revealed an aura of Creation, making Shen Chenxi abandon the Decay Tribulation and form the Star Tribulation to block the sword.
• Shi Xuan pressed Shen Chenxi with successive sword transformations, using the Taiji Diagram to suppress the Chaos Tribulation before striking through with the Golden Crow.
• Shen Chenxi unleashed the Doomsday Tribulation, but Shi Xuan froze the destruction and Shen Chenxi with a moonlit sword transformation.
• As Shi Xuan's sword enveloped the injured Shen Chenxi, Shen Chenxi erupted his Myriad Tribulations Chessboard and triggered the Karma Killing Tribulation, summoning the phantom of True Lord Yuntu, Shi Jingren.

Shi Xuan defeated Shen Chenxi in Magic Combat by using a false aura of Creation and a decisive exchange of attacks, earning recognition throughout the Myriad Worlds. The chapter ended with Shi Xuan reflecting on the danger of Shen Chenxi's Karma Killing Tribulation and the limits that kept it from becoming even more powerful.

• Shi Jingren's phantom used the Minor Destiny Art to stop Shi Xuan's sword from reaching Shen Chenxi, giving Shen Chenxi time to unleash the Heavenly Human Second Decay.
• Shi Xuan used the Five Elements Immortal Slaying Sword to destroy the Fate Boundary and Shi Jingren's phantom, then struck Shen Chenxi with the Three Powers Dharma Destroying Sword as Shen Chenxi's Decay Tribulation struck him.
• Shi Xuan and Shen Chenxi both fell to the Heavenly Human Second Decay, but Qianxuzi restored them and declared Shi Xuan the winner because Shen Chenxi had been defeated first.
• Shen Chenxi acknowledged Shi Xuan's victory, and the Heavenly Sovereigns realized Shi Xuan had used a false aura of Creation to force the exchange.
• Shi Xuan returned to his seat, nodded to Meng Nishang, and explained that Shen Chenxi's Karma Killing Tribulation was limited by its target's realm.

Shi Xuan discussed the Heavenly Human Second Decay while the Magic Combat matches revealed the strength and breakthroughs of several Heavenly Sovereigns. The next round’s twenty-one contestants were chosen, and Shi Xuan was drawn to face Peng Ziqian.

• Shi Xuan described how the Heavenly Human Second Decay weakened his Dharma Power and Primordial Spirit, prompting discussion of how Grotto-heaven power could sustain a cultivator through it.
• Yan Sheng defeated Meng Nishang, but Meng Nishang endured three attacks and raised her Myriad Worlds Freezing Divine Light to the sixth tier during the battle.
• Lian Yu used Apocalypse Disaster to defeat Zhou Zhengshi after Zhou forced him to reveal the transcending-level Immortal Technique.
• Peng Ziqian used his Seven Treasures Golden Pagoda and Deity's Wrath to defeat his opponent, while Shao Zhuoran defeated Yi Tuan with Shattering Vacuum.
• The Magic Combat determined twenty-one Heavenly Sovereigns for the next round, including all six contestants nearing the Second Decline.
• The next round's lots matched Shi Xuan against Peng Ziqian.

Shi Xuan and Peng Ziqian began their magic combat, each striking first before Shi Xuan trapped Peng Ziqian in the Myriad Stars Array Sword Formation. Peng Ziqian escaped with his Prayer Power Avatars and turned the tables, leaving Shi Xuan facing the Boundless Sea of Suffering Pervading Immortal Formation as its divine light closed in.

• Qianxuzi warned Peng Ziqian not to use treasures lavishly bestowed by his elders, and Peng agreed.
• Peng Ziqian attacked Shi Xuan with the Immeasurable Great Hand Seal as Shi Xuan countered with his sword.
• Shi Xuan disrupted Peng Ziqian's defense and trapped him inside the Myriad Stars Array Sword Formation.
• Peng Ziqian escaped by scattering his Primordial Spirit into lotuses and summoning powerful Prayer Power Avatars.
• Peng Ziqian's avatars and converted gods formed the Boundless Sea of Suffering Pervading Immortal Formation around Shi Xuan.
• Shi Xuan recognized that the formation could trap and convert him and prepared to respond as its divine light attacked.

Shi Xuan defeated Peng Ziqian by resisting the formation’s Head-On Shouts and piercing his Golden Body with the Five Elements Immortal Slaying Sword, securing a place in the top ten. As the tournament continued, Shi Jingren demonstrated the Minor Destiny Art’s overwhelming power, and Jian Tonghui was selected for his match.

• Shi Xuan pierced Peng Ziqian’s defenses with the Five Elements Immortal Slaying Sword and suppressed his attempted escape with the Other Shore Golden Bridge, defeating him and breaking the formation.
• Qianxuzi restored Peng Ziqian, while the spectators praised Shi Xuan’s victory; Mo Jingqiu and Shi Jingren discussed the methods and circumstances behind it.
• Shi Xuan explained that his natal Spirit Treasure, the Calamity Fate Great Dao, and years of exposure to Buddhist chants had let him withstand the Head-On Shouts.
• The tournament continued, and Shi Jingren defeated a powerful peak One Tribulation Heavenly Sovereign in three instants using the Minor Destiny Art.
• An Yile Buddha and then Jian Tonghui were drawn as opponents, and Jian Tonghui calmly rose for his match.

Jian Tonghui fought An Yile to sever a long-standing grudge against the Buddhist Sect, using a secret technique that manifested an Evil Corpse and helped him break through. After An Yile defeated him with Karma Lotus Embryo and Qianxuzi restored them, Jian Tonghui said he would resolve the remaining part of his heart’s knot himself.

• Jian Tonghui entered the Lesser Thousand World overwhelmed by hatred, then explained that facing An Yile had stirred his old enmity with the Buddhist Sect.
• Jian Tonghui and An Yile clashed, and his sword damaged her Buddha Kingdom in Palm before he died outside it.
• Jian Tonghui’s Reincarnation scenes entered his corpse and formed an Evil Corpse, which attacked An Yile with a Six Paths of Reincarnation that countered her Buddhist kingdom.
• An Yile destroyed the Evil Corpse, and the revived Jian Tonghui broke through and shattered her Buddha Kingdom in Palm with another sword.
• An Yile used Karma Lotus Embryo to destroy Jian Tonghui’s sword light and Primordial Spirit, after which Qianxuzi restored them without removing Jian Tonghui’s breakthrough.
• An Yile recognized that Jian Tonghui had used the contest to sever most of his heart’s knot, and Jian Tonghui said he would sever the rest himself.