Chapter Summaries

Song Yan joined Yang Zhu’s caravan to Xiangyang after realizing his impatience had made him lose his bearings, and he used the journey to settle his mind. Yang Zhu told him of an immortal who claimed to have seen Yingzhou and gave Song Yan an old sea chart, which Song Yan accepted before revealing his name.

• Song Yan learned that Xiangyang lay east across the Red Ridge Mountains and that the caravan was headed there, then agreed to accompany it without payment.
• Song Yan reflected on his restless pursuit of Core Formation and chose to rest and regulate his state of mind while traveling with the caravan.
• Yang Zhu approached Song Yan with wine, and they spoke about commerce and Yang Zhu’s youthful dream of seeking immortals in Yingzhou.
• Yang Zhu recounted that a rescued immortal had claimed to see Yingzhou and had given Yang Zhu’s father a sea chart before a great wave swept him away.
• Yang Zhu showed Song Yan the old, possibly incomplete sea chart, and Song Yan accepted it and introduced himself by name.

Song Yan discovered the Sword Sect’s hidden valley and settled into Mountain Retreat, where he found messages left by former disciples, including Si Xiangqing. After examining the risks of refining the sun and moon spiritual sources, he explored the valley and reached the Nine-Zhang Cave Waterfall, where Si Xiangqing had hidden a trinket.

• Song Yan recognized the canyon from his Sword Dao illusion, parted ways with Yang Zhu, and used the broken Sword Sect Jade Seal to reveal the hidden valley.
• Song Yan entered the valley, found Mountain Retreat, and read the jade tablets left by past Sword Sect cultivators, including messages from Si Xiangqing and Dugu.
• Song Yan tidied Mountain Retreat, set up the Spirit-Absorbing Sword Formation, and slept for ten hours before reviewing his gains from Below the Abyss.
• Song Yan examined the sun and moon spiritual sources in the Two-Pole Realm and considered how he might safely refine and fuse them.
• Song Yan left Mountain Retreat to search for Wu Daoxuan’s calligraphic treasures and reached the Nine-Zhang Cave Waterfall, where Si Xiangqing had hidden a trinket.

Song Yan discovered a painting in the Sword Comprehension Pavilion and entered the second Sword Dao realm, then went to Xiangyang City to prepare for One-Qi Core Formation. After attending an auction, he left an impression on a bickering brother and sister when they learned he was a Jun Mountain disciple.

• Song Yan found the concealed object Si Xiangqing had left behind the waterfall, then continued to the Sword Comprehension Pavilion.
• Song Yan comprehended the painting for three years, advancing both sword intents to minor accomplishment and reaching the second Sword Dao realm.
• Song Yan sold accumulated goods in Xiangyang's market ward and bought supplies for Core Formation, but learned that the meridian-protecting pills he wanted might be available at an auction.
• Song Yan spent four days searching for useful treasures and bought several formations before attending the auction.
• After the auction, a brother and sister discussed Song Yan, and the bookkeeper identified him as a Jun Mountain disciple.

Song Yan refined the Kunwu Remnant Flame, but its power threatened to scorch the foundation of his cultivation before he could recover. With no time to rest, he chose to refine the Eye of the Ruinous Sea immediately, leaving his fate uncertain as he began the next ordeal.

• Song Yan prepared for the Kunwu Remnant Flame’s refinement with formations, the Sun-Moon Eclipse, and Heart-Nourishing Pills.
• When Song Yan broke the flame’s restriction, the black Sun Crow burst free and tried to flee, but the valley’s restriction drove it back.
• Song Yan used the Solar Eclipse aspect and fought through the flame’s physical and spiritual attacks until he completely refined it.
• Song Yan realized the Kunwu Remnant Flame was scorching his unformed Sword Dao Lotus and considered forcing Core Formation or refining the lunar source at once.
• Song Yan chose to refine the Eye of the Ruinous Sea despite his exhaustion and swallowed a Sword-Nurturing Pill to renew his Sword Qi.

Song Yan survived refining the sun and moon Spirit Sources, discovered that they had transformed his body and cultivation, and began a long seclusion to pursue Golden Core formation. Meanwhile, Ying Yu entertained the little yao with tales of her adventures, while Xiao He missed Yanyan and longed for winter to end.

• Song Yan woke on the Swordsmanship Platform and confirmed that he had successfully refined the sun, moon, and Eye of the Ruinous Sea Spirit Sources.
• Song Yan found that the Infinite Treasury’s Two-Pole Realm now had a blazing sun and a moonlit Dark Sea, and decided to pursue Golden Core formation without waiting for an earth-element Spiritual Source.
• Song Yan discovered that the Eye of the Ruinous Sea had greatly expanded his Sword Qi capacity and recovery, while the Kunwu Remnant Flame had tempered his body and refined incoming Spiritual Power.
• After recovering his strength, Song Yan returned to his Mountain Retreat cave abode, raised a Sword Formation, and began a long seclusion.
• Ying Yu regaled the little yao with stories of her adventures, then learned from Feng Xiao that Xiao He was preparing to advance to the third tier.
• Xiao He sat alone in Drunken Flower Grove, remembering Yanyan and wondering when her winter would finally end.

Deng Ke and Ma Sheng’s group witnessed a vast sword-energy phenomenon over Xiangyang as Song Yan completed his Golden Core formation. Song Yan emerged from seclusion with a first-rank Golden Core and began preparing to refine the Unmoored Boat.

• Ma Sheng brought his Yuzhen disciples aboard an immortal ship and met Deng Ke, a Golden Core cultivator traveling from the Wusun Kingdom to the Daoyuan Mountain Pure Discussion Assembly.
• Ma Sheng told Deng Ke about Su Xueming’s second-rank Golden Core, while Deng Ke lamented that he was an unworthy inheritor of the Sword Cultivator legacy.
• Deng Ke’s Sword Heart and Life-Bound Flying Sword reacted as spiritual energy gathered east of Xiangyang, drawing the attention of cultivators across the region.
• A vast display of Sword Intent and Sword Qi spread across the sky, forming the Guixu Sea Eye and bearing up the sun and moon as cultivators recognized a first-rank Golden Core phenomenon.
• Song Yan emerged from his Mountain Retreat after forming a first-rank Golden Core and reflected on his cultivation before summoning Core Flame to begin refining the Unmoored Boat.

Song Yan stabilized his first-grade Golden Core, refined his swords, and left a message for the Sword Sect’s successors before setting out for Jun Mountain. Meanwhile, cultivators searched for the mysterious core-former, and Deng Ke agreed to seek news at Daoyuan Mountain; Song Yan concealed his identity when another cultivator approached him, then learned the way to Jun Mountain.

• Song Yan refined the Unmoored Boat and his other ancient swords with Core Flame and spiritual power, then consolidated his cultivation until his Sword Qi became Sword Dao True Essence.
• Song Yan practiced swordsmanship, wrote “Diligently cultivate Sword Intent; do not waste the spiritual opportunity” on a jade slip, and left the Mountain Retreat.
• Deng Ke failed to find the mysterious Golden Core cultivator, and Ma Sheng persuaded him to go to Daoyuan Mountain’s Clear-Talk Assembly to seek news.
• Song Yan emerged from a secluded exit and told a searching cultivator that his household had sent him to look for the core-former.
• Song Yan asked the cultivator for directions, and the man told him to fly south toward Yueyang territory to reach Jun Mountain.

Song Yan arrived at Jun Mountain and met Divine Lord Li Li, who accepted him as a disciple and assigned him a cave abode at the Sword-Washing Pool. After Song Yan left, Li Li realized that Song Yan had formed a First-Rank Golden Core and began carving a figure in his likeness.

• Song Yan traveled by bamboo raft to Jun Mountain, where he learned that Liu Tianfang was away guarding the Eastern Wilderness.
• Yuan Xiaolu welcomed Song Yan on Li Li’s orders and escorted him to the Sword-Washing Pool.
• Song Yan met Li Li, who sensed his unusual familiarity with him and asked about his age and cultivation.
• Li Li accepted Song Yan as his disciple, directed him to stay in Linyuan’s old cave abode, and asked him to return in a month.
• After Song Yan left, Li Li recognized that he had formed a First-Rank Golden Core and carved a wooden figure with Song Yan’s face.

Song Yan reunited with the Dongyuan Sect disciples on Jun Mountain and revealed that he had formed a Golden Core. The next morning, he discovered that Infinite Treasury could draw him into the sword memories of Zhong Min, then decided to collect his cultivation resources to support his treasures.

• Song Yan disguised himself as an old man and surprised Gu Qingqing at Sword Debate Peak, then went with her to meet the other Dongyuan Sect disciples.
• At a reunion feast, Song Yan told Li Qingfeng that he had formed his core, and Li Qingfeng admitted he had hoped to catch up with him.
• Song Yan asked how the Dongyuan disciples had fared on Jun Mountain, but their uneasy reactions left him sensing that they had faced some hardship.
• The next morning, Song Yan used Jin Returner in Infinite Treasury and briefly experienced Zhong Min’s Sword Dao memories inside the Two-Pole Realm.
• Song Yan decided to visit the Duties Distribution Academy for his Golden Core cultivation allotment, and felt that someone had glanced at him as he left the Two-Pole Realm.

Song Yan collected most of his Golden Core resources from the Duties Distribution Academy, but learned that his pills and Sword-Washing Pool robes were being withheld. He suspected Jun Mountain was hiding something, while Divine Lord Xiaoxiang celebrated Song Yan’s first-rank Golden Core with Li Li.

• Song Yan introduced himself to Chen Rong as a newcomer from the Dongyuan Sect rather than as Li Li’s disciple.
• Chen Rong gave Song Yan seven of the nine listed spiritual objects, explaining that the Dust-Cleansing Pills and Dragon-Rising Pills were delayed because of a shortage of spirit medicines.
• Song Yan suspected the stated shortage was false and decided to investigate why Jun Mountain was withholding his pills and robes.
• Song Yan left the Duties Distribution Academy and returned to the Sword-Washing Pool.
• Divine Lord Xiaoxiang visited Li Li and confirmed that Song Yan had formed a first-rank Golden Core.
• Divine Lord Xiaoxiang celebrated Song Yan’s talent and recalled that Jun Mountain had once failed to retain Chen Linyuan.

Chu Xiao decided to publicly recognize Song Yan's first-rank Golden Core and make him a Jun Mountain True Disciple, believing his boldness could revive the sect. Meanwhile, Song Yan's fellow Dongyuan Sect cultivators worried over their mistreatment and feared involving him, until he suddenly appeared and demanded to know what had happened.

• Li Li warned Chu Xiao that Song Yan might be too strong-willed and prone to trouble, but Chu Xiao welcomed the prospect of a disruptive new spirit in Jun Mountain.
• Chu Xiao resolved to hold a Golden Core Ceremony for Song Yan, name him a True Disciple, and submit the request to Senior Hong.
• At midnight, the Dongyuan Sect cultivators gathered and discussed their withheld pills and increasingly difficult missions, which Han Yuan suspected the Zhao Household had influenced.
• Li Qingfeng urged the group not to burden Song Yan by asking him to defend them, while Gu Qingqing cried over the possibility that they might harm his Dao Path.
• Song Yan suddenly appeared beside Gu Qingqing, wiped away her tears, and asked who would tell him what had happened.

Song Yan learned that Zhao Shu had abused the Dongyuan Sect cultivators and that Zhao Zun had intervened in a duel to protect him. Determined to confront the Pill Academy over the withheld pills, Song Yan arrived with Dongyuan Sect disciples and demanded that Chen Rong hand them over.

• Li Qingfeng told Song Yan how Zhao Shu had shortchanged the Dongyuan Sect cultivators and withheld their pills before Li Qingfeng challenged him to a duel to the death.
• Li Qingfeng explained that Zhao Zun had intervened to save Zhao Shu, and warned Song Yan not to provoke Zhao Zun's powerful family.
• Song Yan decided to act, saying the injustice had become a thorn in his heart and that he would use the moment to make his name known at Jun Mountain.
• Chen Rong visited Zhao Zun and admitted that he had withheld Song Yan's pills, while Zhao Zun dismissed the Dongyuan Sect cultivators and approved of Chen Rong's actions.
• A young cultivator reported that Song Yan had arrived with Dongyuan Sect disciples and demanded that Chen Rong hand over the pills.

Song Yan confronted Chen Rong and Zhao Zun over the delayed pills, then challenged the Pill Academy’s refusal to resolve the matter. When Zhao Zun and Chen Rong forced a fight, Song Yan severed Zhao Zun’s arm with a single sword strike and revealed the Avīci Illustrated Scroll.

• Song Yan questioned Zhao Shu about the missing pills, and Zhao Shu blamed shortages and adjustments in allocation.
• Chen Rong said the pills would take a few more days, while Zhao Zun refused to give Song Yan a definite delivery time.
• Song Yan demanded herbs and a Pill Furnace so he could refine the pills himself, but Zhao Zun barred him from the Pill Academy’s restricted grounds.
• Chen Rong and Zhao Zun proposed a sparring match, and Song Yan agreed.
• Song Yan struck with Black-and-White Sword Light and severed Zhao Zun’s right arm.
• Song Yan rose into the air as the Avīci Illustrated Scroll unfurled behind him, declaring that the fight had begun.

Song Yan defeated Zhao Zun in a duel at the Pill Academy and left after ordering Zhao Mo and Zhao Shu to deliver the owed pills. A disciple then rushed to report the incident to True Lord Zhao Wang, Zhao Zun’s father.

• Song Yan’s sword bypassed Zhao Zun’s protective Law Treasure and severed his right arm, silencing the witnesses.
• Song Yan severed Zhao Zun’s left arm as well, then ended the duel after Chen Rong declared him the victor.
• Song Yan ordered Zhao Mo and Zhao Shu to deliver the pills owed to his cave abode at Chiyu Peak before sundown, then departed with the Dongyuan Sect cultivators.
• A Pill Academy chief-furnace Alchemist left to report Song Yan to the Discipline Court, while Chen Rong and another Alchemist gathered Zhao Zun and his arms.
• A disciple hurried to Dragon Snake Peak and entered True Lord Zhao Wang’s courtyard to report an important matter.

Zhao Wang learned that Song Yan had severed Zhao Zun’s arms after Zhao Zun’s pill embezzlement led to a duel, and discovered Song Yan was Divine Lord Yangsu’s newly registered disciple. At Chiyu Peak, Chu Rang and Yuan Xiaolu questioned Song Yan about the incident, leaving Yuan Xiaolu upset that she had not protected the Dongyuan disciples.

• Zhao Zhengchu told Zhao Wang that Song Yan had cut off both of Zhao Zun’s arms after Zhao Zun agreed to a duel at the Pill Academy.
• Zhao Wang learned Song Yan came from the Dongyuan Sect, was listed under Divine Lord Yangsu in the Preparations Court, and lived on Chiyu Peak; he then set out to see him.
• Yuan Xiaolu registered Song Yan as a disciple and flew back toward the Sword-Washing Pool to tell him the news.
• Chu Rang arrived at Chiyu Peak with two Enforcement Strongmen and asked Yuan Xiaolu to accompany him to investigate Song Yan.
• Song Yan recounted the dispute to Chu Rang, and Yuan Xiaolu became upset that she had not intervened sooner to protect the Dongyuan disciples.

Song Yan was cleared for a light reprimand over his duel with Zhao Zun, but Yu Yichan arrived and accused him of practicing a Devil Cultivation Method. She attacked him with her Cloud Tripod One Swallow Great Hand Seal, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Chu Rang told Song Yan that the Discipline Court had confirmed Zhao Zun initiated the duel and would only admonish and fine him for striking too hard.
• Yu Yichan arrived with cultivators and Dao soldiers, then challenged Chu Rang's investigation and accused Song Yan of harming fellow disciples without consequence.
• Chu Rang suspected that Xu Lingyi had appealed to her friend Yu Yichan after Zhao Zun lost both arms.
• Yu Yichan asked Song Yan whether he had practiced a Devil Cultivation Method, and Song Yan denied it.
• Yu Yichan declared that she would capture Song Yan and interrogate him with Demon-Refining True Fire, then struck with her Cloud Tripod One Swallow Great Hand Seal.

Yu Yichan attacked Song Yan on Chiyu Peak, but he used his Seven-Star Sword Formation to dissolve her Nascent Soul Great Hand Seal. As Yu Yichan escalated her assault, Yuan Xiaolu sought help from Li Li, who trusted Song Yan could defend himself and expected Elder Pei to arrive.

• Yu Yichan's Cloud Cauldron Great Hand Seal swept Yuan Xiaolu away and descended on Song Yan, but Song Yan summoned seven Flying Swords and used Shift Stars and Change Constellations to dissipate it.
• Yuan Xiaolu flew to Divine Lord Yangsu's courtyard and urged Li Li to intervene, but he showed her the Cloud Screen and said Song Yan was no ordinary Golden Core cultivator.
• Song Yan told Yu Yichan he would cooperate with the Discipline Court's investigation but challenged her to produce evidence for accusing him of practicing a Devil Cultivation Method.
• Xu Lingyi's embellished reports had fueled Yu Yichan's anger, and she unleashed her Cloud Cauldron True Vapor to form a roaring Great Dragon.
• Chu Rang urgently tried to stop Yu Yichan as her attack battered Chiyu Peak and frightened the watching disciples and cultivators.

Song Yan evaded Yu Yichan’s Cloud Dragon attack and struck her with a sword that severed her sleeve, revealing a Divine Ability. Yu Yichan recognized Sole Laughter and prepared to attack again, but Elder Pei arrived to deliver the Jun Mountain Sect Master’s Order.

• Yu Yichan’s Cloud Dragon attacked Song Yan, but he used Heavenly Dao in Motion to evade its claw and close the distance between them.
• Song Yan gathered his Sword Qi and struck Yu Yichan, cutting off her sleeve with a sword light that she recognized as a Divine Ability.
• Yu Yichan noticed Sole Laughter and demanded to know how Song Yan had obtained Chen Linyuan’s sword; Song Yan said Chen Linyuan had given it to him and that he was his inheritor and junior brother.
• Yu Yichan accused Song Yan of cultivating a Devil Cultivation Method and moved to cripple it, but a bell rang nine times and Elder Pei arrived.
• Elder Pei ignored Yu Yichan and announced that he was delivering the Jun Mountain Sect Master’s Order.

Elder Pei announced Song Yan’s First-Rank Golden Core and True Disciple status, removed Yu Yichan from her post, and gave Song Yan a light punishment before his upcoming symposium. After visiting his Master, Li Li, Song Yan asked what Sword Dao Divine Ability Chen Linyuan had comprehended.

• Elder Pei proclaimed that Song Yan had achieved First-Rank Core Formation and would become a True Disciple, then dismissed Yu Yichan and appointed Chu Rang acting head of the Discipline Court.
• Elder Pei ordered Song Yan to reflect at Stillwater Liuli for half a month, allowing him to serve the punishment after representing Jun Mountain at Huayin Taiyi’s symposium.
• Yuan Xiaolu supervised repairs to Song Yan’s cave abode while Song Yan visited Li Li to apologize for the disturbance.
• Li Li gave Song Yan two wooden figures, including one carved in Chen Linyuan’s likeness, and asked after Song Yan’s cultivation.
• Before leaving for Stillwater Liuli, Song Yan asked Li Li what Sword Dao Divine Ability Chen Linyuan had comprehended.

Song Yan learned more about Chen Linyuan’s Divine Ability and the old grudges tied to his legacy before traveling to Liuli Island to serve his punishment. After an enforcement recording of Song Yan spread through Jun Mountain, Yu Yichan flew into a rage and demanded that Chu Rang be summoned.

• Li Li told Song Yan that Chen Linyuan had named his Divine Ability “Sword Dao True Body of Ten Thousand Ages and a Thousand Worlds,” though he did not know its powers.
• Song Yan returned to Chiyu Peak, reassured Yuan Xiaolu and the others, and prepared to leave for Liuli Island with Chu Rang.
• During their journey, Chu Rang explained Yu Yichan’s family’s resentment toward Chen Linyuan and warned Song Yan that Chen’s rejected admirers might target his inheritor.
• Song Yan reached Liuli Island by bamboo ferry, while Chu Rang promised to collect him in half a month.
• Discipline Court strongmen secretly shared a copy of the enforcement recording of Song Yan, and it spread throughout Jun Mountain.
• Yu Yichan destroyed her Recording Pearl and ordered her disciples to summon Chu Rang over the leaked recording.