Recaps

Ye Li and Cao Ming arrived at the Xuanming Sword Sect to observe its Sword Ceremony, where Ye Li learned that the Nine Luminaries Division could not participate in the martial exchanges. As the ceremony approached, Ye Li dismissed Zhou Qingyan as a fighter and began choosing martial skills.

• Cao Ming and Ye Li arrived at the Xuanming Sword Sect and followed an elder up the special passage to the ceremony plaza.
• Cao Ming explained that Zhou Qingyan and the core disciples would attempt to awaken the Heavenly Gate in the first stage of the ceremony.
• Cao Ming told Ye Li that Mountain Gate representatives could demonstrate their martial arts in the second stage, but the Nine Luminaries Division was not eligible to participate.
• Ye Li asked to leave the Nine Luminaries Division, then accepted that he could not enter the exchanges without registering beforehand.
• Ye Li ranked Zhou Qingyan last on his Heavenly Prodigy Rankings and began selecting Premium Martial Skills from the Skeletal Elder's collection as the ceremony neared.

Ye Li attended the Sword Master Ceremony with Cao Ming and declined an invitation to meet representatives from the Heavenly Crafts Mansion. As Cao Ming joined the Sword Sect’s Old Ancestor on the viewing platform, the Old Ancestor warned that Zhou Qingyan would soon make Ye Li a stepping stone to her fame.

• Cao Ming urged Ye Li to meet powerful factions gathered for the ceremony, but Ye Li showed little interest.
• A Sword Sect elder invited Cao Ming to speak with the Old Ancestor, while the Old Ancestor briefly looked toward Ye Li.
• Zhang Yan of the Heavenly Crafts Mansion invited Ye Li to meet his companions, but Ye Li politely refused.
• Cao Ming joined the Old Ancestor, who mocked his confidence in Ye Li and predicted Zhou Qingyan would defeat him.
• Cao Ming remained confident that he could protect Ye Li and decided to watch and wait.

Zhou Qingyan arrived at the Sword Master Ceremony, where the Sword Sect’s disciples praised her and visiting prodigies debated the possibility of challenging her. The Sword Sect Old Ancestor formally began her coronation and announced that she would acknowledge the Primordial Abyss Divine Sword as her master.

• Sword Sect disciples praised Zhou Qingyan and speculated about her martial exhibition, prompting visiting prodigies to react to their boasts.
• Zhang Yan urged Mountain Mover Yue Qing to treat the ceremony as a chance to congratulate Zhou Qingyan and probe her strength rather than focus on victory.
• Mu Liuying asked whether Ye Li or Zhou Qingyan would win in a fight, and Yue Qing said it was difficult to judge.
• Ye Li watched for an opportunity to spar with Zhou Qingyan as she entered the plaza and sat before her eight hundred personal disciples.
• The Old Ancestor of the Sword Sect declared Zhou Qingyan’s achievements and announced that she would inherit the great lineage and acknowledge the Primordial Abyss Divine Sword as her master.

Zhou Qingyan used her sword intent to blast open the Sword Gate during the Sword Master Ceremony, revealing her overwhelming strength and shocking the visiting Mountain Gate representatives. The Sword Sect Old Ancestor watched with satisfaction as Zhou Qingyan was called to test her edge.

• The Sword Sect Old Ancestor announced the first stage of the ceremony, and eight hundred disciples poured their Magic Power into the ancient stone stele.
• When the disciples only managed to make the stele shine faintly, the crowd realized Zhou Qingyan was expected to supply the missing power.
• Zhou Qingyan drew her sword a fraction and unleashed sword intent that illuminated the stele and blasted open the Heavenly Gate.
• A glass-like staircase appeared, and the Sword Sect disciples knelt and welcomed Zhou Qingyan as their Sword Master.
• Yue Qing, Zhang Yan, and Cao Ming reacted with shock as they recognized Zhou Qingyan's formidable cultivation.
• The Sword Sect Old Ancestor savored his success and called on Zhou Qingyan to test her edge.

At the Sword Master trial, Zhou Qingyan challenged the Mountain Gate representatives to face her without her sword, then brutally defeated the first challenger. The representatives realized the Sword Sect was using them as stepping stones to establish Zhou Qingyan’s reputation, leaving them furious.

• Zhou Qingyan declared that she would not use her sword and challenged the representatives to enter the arena.
• The Sword Sect Old Ancestor mocked the representatives for refusing to proceed with the trial.
• Yue Qing of the Archaic War Hall entered the arena and charged at Zhou Qingyan.
• Zhou Qingyan struck Yue Qing down with a Sword Qi dragon and left him unconscious and gravely injured.
• The Sword Sect disciples celebrated Zhou Qingyan’s victory while the Mountain Gate representatives recognized the insult and grew furious.

After Zhou Qingyan brutally defeated Yue Qing, she challenged Ye Li to a public blade test and offered to let him make three moves. Ye Li accepted and entered the square, where the confrontation was about to begin.

• Zhou Qingyan asked whether anyone else would challenge her, then fixed her attention on Ye Li.
• Zhou Qingyan invited Ye Li to test blades with her and said she would give him three moves.
• Cao Ming angrily condemned Zhou Qingyan's challenge as an insult to the Nine Luminaries Division, while the Sword Sect Old Ancestor dismissed it as a jest.
• Ye Li interrupted Zhou Qingyan and accepted the invitation.
• Ye Li leapt into the square, released his Dao Evolution Realm pressure, and called for the fight to begin.

Ye Li fought Zhou Qingyan in the Xuanming Sword Sect arena, revealing his strength as the fight escalated. He unleashed his Golden Soul Revival and struck Zhou Qingyan into a rock wall, leaving the match’s outcome unclear.

• Cao Ming warned Ye Li that he would intervene if his safety was threatened, while Ye Li continued building his martial pressure.
• Zhou Qingyan dodged Ye Li’s first punch and called it his first move, then met his next barrage with Sword Qi.
• Zhou Qingyan drew her sword and exchanged countless blows with Ye Li, wounding him and appearing to gain the advantage.
• Ye Li activated his second stage, Golden Soul Revival, and overwhelmed Zhou Qingyan with his immense pressure.
• Ye Li struck Zhou Qingyan in the face and sent her crashing into the rock wall.

Ye Li brutally defeated Zhou Qingyan in front of the Sword Sect crowd after she challenged him and offered to let him have three moves. He stood over her as she lay battered on the plaza, showing no pity.

• Ye Li’s punch smashed Zhou Qingyan into the bluestone wall, leaving her injured and the onlookers stunned.
• Ye Li attacked again before Zhou Qingyan could recover, shattering her sword-aura shield and forcing her to spit blood.
• Ye Li struck Zhou Qingyan’s sword until it flew from her hand, then punched her across the plaza into a stone pillar.
• Zhou Qingyan struggled to rise as Ye Li approached and said he never refused anyone’s provocation.

Ye Li brutally defeated Zhou Qingyan after she refused to accept her initial loss, leaving her gravely injured and her Dao Heart broken. He stood amid the ruined plaza and insulted the Sword Sect’s Sword Master as the crowd watched in fear.

• Zhou Qingyan rose despite her injuries and unleashed her sword intent, determined to defeat Ye Li.
• Ye Li shattered Zhou Qingyan’s sword and crushed both her arms with a series of attacks.
• The Sword Sect Old Ancestor tried to stop Ye Li and asked him to show mercy, but Ye Li struck Zhou Qingyan into the plaza.
• Zhou Qingyan made a final desperate stand with her sword intent, but Ye Li regenerated from her attacks and battered her until her Dao Heart collapsed.
• Ye Li withdrew his fists and told the silent crowd that their sect’s Sword Master had an average feel.

Ye Li defeated Zhou Qingyan in front of the gathered sects, leaving her gravely injured and her Sword Heart shattered. When the Sword Sect Old Ancestor tried to attack him, Cao Ming intervened and upheld the rules, leaving the Old Ancestor furious but unwilling to risk a greater conflict.

• Ye Li brutally defeated Zhou Qingyan, who lay unconscious and badly injured in the ruined square.
• The Sword Sect Old Ancestor unleashed his sword intent and moved to kill Ye Li.
• Cao Ming blocked the Old Ancestor’s attack with his own Venerable pressure.
• Cao Ming defended Ye Li, citing the agreed sparring rules and Ye Li’s status as a deputy general of the Nine Luminaries Division.
• The Sword Sect Old Ancestor held back, while Ye Li met his glare without fear and hoped the Sword Sect would attack.

Ye Li defeated Zhou Qingyan and forced the Xuanming Sword Sect's Old Ancestor to swallow his anger under Cao Ming's authority. As Ye Li prepared to leave, an ancient sword intent erupted from the sect's forbidden grounds, leaving everyone stunned.

• The Sword Sect's Old Ancestor suppressed his urge to attack Ye Li and apologized, admitting that Zhou Qingyan had deserved her defeat.
• Ye Li dismissed the Old Ancestor's apology and returned to the high platform while the Sword Sect's disciples recoiled in fear.
• Cao Ming told the Old Ancestor to handle the ceremony's remaining matters and invited Ye Li to return with him.
• Ye Li agreed to leave, while the gathered sect representatives worried that his strength would shift the balance of power in Xianjing Continent.
• A deep rumble shook the Xuanming Sword Sect, and a vast sword intent erupted from its forbidden grounds, stunning everyone as the Old Ancestor cried out, "Tai... Taiyuan?!"

Ye Li claimed the Primordial Abyss Divine Sword after defeating Zhou Qingyan and left the Xuanming Sword Sect with Cao Ming, leaving the sect in turmoil. Back in Yushan, Cao Ming warned Ye Li about the danger of possessing the sword and arranged to send him a Life Jade.

• The Primordial Abyss Divine Sword emerged from the forbidden ground, acknowledged Ye Li as its master, and settled at his waist as a sword pendant.
• Ye Li and Cao Ming departed the Xuanming Sword Sect, leaving the Sword Sect Old Ancestor furious and Zhou Qingyan gravely injured.
• The Sword Sect elders rushed to save Zhou Qingyan as the sect’s representatives witnessed the humiliating end of the Sword Master Ceremony.
• Cao Ming warned Ye Li that the sword would attract challengers and gave him a Mountain River Seal for emergencies.
• Ye Li returned to his residence after telling Cao Ming he would welcome invitations to similar events, and Cao Ming ordered a Life Jade sent to him.

Ye Li consumed Dao Evolution Realm pills and spent Malice Points to rise to the early eighth level of the Dao Evolution Realm. After noticing his reserves had dwindled, he received a Life Jade from Cao Ming, who planned to collect it after his official duties.

• Ye Li reflected on his gains from the Xuanming Sword Sect and resolved to build his strength and standing before confronting more powerful foes.
• Ye Li consumed nineteen Dao Evolution Realm pills, triggering a cultivation phenomenon over the Nine Luminaries Division residence.
• Cao Ming concealed the breakthrough’s grand phenomenon and began drafting a memorial praising Ye Li to the Capital City.
• Ye Li spent Malice Points to advance first to the sixth level and then to the early eighth level of the Dao Evolution Realm.
• Ye Li worried about his diminished Malice Points and wondered whether Lin Huaijin’s recommendation had worked.
• Ye Li found a Life Jade from Cao Ming, who instructed him to illuminate it with blood and leave it on his desk.

After hearing that Ye Li had defeated Zhou Qingyan at the Xuanming Sword Sect, Lin Huaijin reported his deputy general’s achievements to Princess Ling'an. She promised to send someone to Dragon Pool and invite Ye Li to study at Shiguang Academy, leaving Lin Huaijin hopeful about his future.

• Chen Chuan told Lin Huaijin that Ye Li had defeated Zhou Qingyan at the sword ceremony.
• Lin Huaijin realized Ye Li’s victory would strengthen his recommendation and contacted Princess Ling'an despite the late hour.
• Lin Huaijin told Princess Ling'an that Ye Li had reached the Dao Evolution Realm, won first place in the Jade Mountain Refinement, and defeated a hall master of at least the fifth level of the Dao Evolution Realm.
• Princess Ling'an praised Ye Li’s potential and offered him the chance to study at Shiguang Academy in the Capital City.
• Princess Ling'an said she would send someone to Dragon Pool in a few days, and Lin Huaijin agreed to arrange Ye Li’s visit.

Princess Ling'an decided to travel to Dragon Pool County to win Ye Li’s loyalty, but the Eldest Princess stopped her at the palace gates because the Vajra Buddhist Disciple was causing trouble in the region. Ling'an returned to Qingxin Hall, leaving her journey plans dashed.

• Princess Ling'an asked Baiyue whether personally visiting Ye Li in Dragon Pool County would win his loyalty, then decided to depart that night.
• Baiyue warned Ling'an to consult the Emperor or the Eldest Princess, but Ling'an ordered her to pack and said she would inform the Emperor herself.
• As Ling'an and Baiyue left Qingxin Hall, the Eldest Princess confronted them and asked where they were going.
• Ling'an admitted she planned to visit Xianjing Continent, and the Eldest Princess warned that the Vajra Buddhist Disciple was causing trouble there.
• The Eldest Princess ordered Ling'an to return to the palace or send Baiyue with protective treasures instead, and Ling'an reluctantly went back.

Ye Li bid farewell to Cao Ming and handed over his Life Jade before leaving Yushan. After Ye Li departed, Cao Ming opened the jade seal and discovered that the nineteen-year-old was a Dao Evolution Realm domain lord with a Life Jade showing nineteen patterns, setting off a continent-wide stir.

• Cao Ming struggled with the Capital City's order not to act against the Vajra Buddhist Disciple, who was suspected of causing trouble near Xianjing Continent.
• Ye Li visited Cao Ming before departing and gave him the Life Jade he had lit up.
• Cao Ming told Ye Li about the Vajra Buddhist Disciple, but explained that tracking him was difficult and the Capital City would not allow an aggressive operation.
• Ye Li left the governor's residence without committing to Cao Ming's offer to join a later attempt to capture the Vajra Buddhist Disciple.
• Cao Ming opened Ye Li's jade seal and saw the Life Jade blaze with nineteen patterns, revealing Ye Li's age and cultivation and drawing stunned attention across the compound.

After discovering that Ye Li’s Life Jade bore only nineteen patterns, Cao Ming realized the nineteen-year-old was a once-in-an-age talent destined for immortality. Fearing the Capital City’s factions might harm him, Cao Ming sent one restrained report through official channels and another, more candid letter to Eldest Princess Zhaoyang.

• Cao Ming counted nineteen patterns on Ye Li’s Life Jade and recognized the aura he had seen in the Yushan region.
• Cao Ming regretted letting Ye Li return to Longtan Grand Commandery and decided he had to report the youth’s talent to the Capital City.
• Cao Ming wrote an official letter that mentioned Ye Li’s Life Jade without explaining its full significance.
• Cao Ming drafted a second letter plainly declaring Ye Li a potential immortal and founder of an ancestry.
• Cao Ming addressed the second letter to Eldest Princess Zhaoyang, the Virtuous Princess.

Ye Li returned to Dragon Pool and learned that the Capital City had arranged for him to study at Shiguang Academy, a path that could also bring him into Princess Ling'an’s favor. He agreed to leave in two days, while planning to clear Dragon Pool’s combat missions first.

• Ye Li used the Dragon Pool Nine Luminaries Division token to search for combat missions as his star vessel approached Dragon Pool.
• Lin Huaijin and Chen Chuan welcomed Ye Li, who asked Lin Huaijin about the Capital City’s recommendation.
• Lin Huaijin told Ye Li that he would be escorted to Shiguang Academy in two days and revealed that Third Princess Ling'an had suggested his studies.
• Lin Huaijin explained that Shiguang Academy trained powerful figures for high-ranking posts and that Princess Ling'an’s favor could open a path to court.
• Ye Li agreed to travel to the Capital City in two days, intending to clear Dragon Pool’s combat missions before leaving.

After Zhou Qingyan was left recovering from her defeat and the Primordial Abyss Divine Sword’s defection, the Xuanming Sword Sect’s Old Ancestor received an offer from the fugitive Vajra Buddhist Disciple Kamaloka. Kamaloka promised to return the sword and kill Ye Li in exchange for three Demonic Seeds, and the Old Ancestor agreed to his scheme.

• The Old Ancestor learned that Zhou Qingyan was showing signs of waking but remained unstable and refused visitors.
• A red-robed monk delivered a Black Wolf Demonic Seed and a note offering to return the Primordial Abyss Divine Sword in exchange for three Demonic Seeds.
• Kamaloka entered the hall, and the Old Ancestor recognized him as the fugitive Vajra Buddhist Disciple of the Great Brahma Palace.
• Kamaloka demanded three Demonic Seeds to create a Demonic Calamity that would divert the Prefect of Jade Mountain's Nine Luminaries Division.
• Kamaloka threatened to expose the Xuanming Sword Sect’s secrets or take the Demonic Seeds by force, and promised that Ye Li would die.
• The Old Ancestor agreed to Kamaloka’s proposal, and Kamaloka praised him as virtuous.

Ye Li wiped out the last demons around Longtan Grand Commandery, then returned to the Nine Luminaries Division and spent Malice Points learning a powerful Cosmic Birth Realm martial skill. He began using his remaining points on a lottery, which yielded an Unquenchable Oil Lamp and other items.

• Ye Li collapsed the Bone-Melting Demonic Rat’s ravine and killed the demon with a single blast of force.
• Ye Li lifted the barrier and ordered Chen Chuan and the other three team members to return to the Division, having eliminated the last source of Malice Points in Longtan Grand Commandery.
• Ye Li reviewed the Skeletal Elder’s martial skills and chose Myriad Calamity Annihilation Finger over the True Dragon Vitality Art and Sky Feather Time-Reversal Steps.
• Ye Li spent several hundred thousand Malice Points to raise Myriad Calamity Annihilation Finger to Mastery.
• Ye Li used more Malice Points on a lottery and received an Unquenchable Oil Lamp among the items.

Ye Li obtained a Flawless Azure Jade Cup and a Gluttonous Treasure Pouch before receiving Princess Ling'an’s invitation to study at Shiguang Academy. As he accepted the invitation, Chen Chuan reported a dangerous energy disturbance near Luoxia City and a missing response from its garrison.

• Ye Li drew a Flawless Azure Jade Cup and a Gold-quality Gluttonous Treasure Pouch, judging both useful despite their limitations.
• Lin Huaijin introduced Baiyue, Princess Ling'an’s maid, who invited Ye Li to the capital and enrollment at Shiguang Academy.
• Baiyue gave Ye Li a phoenix-patterned jade talisman granting him access to the academy and Imperial City, and Ye Li accepted the invitation.
• Chen Chuan reported Dao Evolution Realm energy and earth-vein tremors near Luoxia City, adding that its garrison commandant had not responded.

After hearing of a Dao Evolution Realm anomaly in Luoxia City, Ye Li postponed his trip to the Capital City and set out to investigate, accompanied by Baiyue. Princess Ling'an approved of his decision and instructed Baiyue to support him, leaving the Luoxia City crisis unresolved as they traveled there.

• Lin Huaijin reported a Dao Evolution Realm energy fluctuation in Luoxia City, and Ye Li agreed to investigate before traveling to the Capital City.
• Baiyue decided to accompany Ye Li so she could assess his abilities and continue helping him on Princess Ling'an's behalf.
• In the Capital City, Li Yingluo learned that Ye Li had diverted to Luoxia City and authorized him to handle the anomaly.
• Aboard a star skiff, Baiyue told Lin Huaijin that Princess Ling'an supported Ye Li's decision and had made the Capital City trip a lower priority.

Ye Li and his companions reached Luoxia City and found it sealed off and seemingly emptied after a massacre. Ye Li headed for the Buddhist temple at the city’s center, where a red-robed monk awaited him with a captive and a completed game of chess.

• Baiyue and Ye Li approached Luoxia City, but they could not contact its captain or see any sign of life.
• Chen Chuan discovered that Buddhist formations had sealed the city, and Ye Li shattered the gates and defenses with a punch.
• Baiyue, Lin Huaijin, Chen Chuan, and the others saw blood covering the empty streets and realized the city had suffered a slaughter.
• Ye Li sensed a powerful Buddhist aura from the central temple and rushed toward it.
• A red-robed monk welcomed Ye Li’s arrival while playing chess with a trembling captive, then placed the final black piece to win.

Kamaloka defeated the Luoxia Captain in a rigged wager and revealed that he had trapped the city's survivors in his treasure pouch. Ye Li reached the Vajra Buddhist Temple to confront him, where Kamaloka challenged him to take the people back.

• Kamaloka beat the Luoxia Captain at chess, then put him in the Myriad People Bag after rejecting his plea to spare Luoxia City.
• Kamaloka reflected that he had come to Luoxia City to trap a Dragon Pool deputy general and now had a more valuable target in Ye Li.
• Ye Li raced through the devastated city toward the Vajra Buddhist Temple, doubting that the Great Brahma Palace had truly tried to capture Kamaloka.
• Ye Li shattered the temple gates and confronted Kamaloka, who introduced himself and praised Ye Li's reputation.
• Ye Li asked whether everyone in the city was dead, and Kamaloka admitted he had killed some residents before imprisoning the rest in his human-skin treasure pouch.

Ye Li seized Kamaloka’s Human Skin Treasure Pouch and fought the Vajra Buddhist Disciple from the Great Brahma Palace. After overwhelming the disciple with his attacks, Ye Li engulfed him in sword light, earning Malice Points for publicly severely injuring him.

• Ye Li used the Heaven-Intercepting Spirit-Plundering Technique to steal the Human Skin Treasure Pouch from Kamaloka’s hand.
• Kamaloka realized Ye Li had taken the pouch and turned hostile as Ye Li unleashed his half-step Cosmic Birth Realm pressure.
• Ye Li shattered the Vajra Buddhist Disciple’s Buddha Light rune and struck his palm with a fist, forcing him backward.
• Ye Li used the Myriad Calamity Annihilation Finger to blast the Vajra Buddhist Disciple and send him flying.
• Ye Li’s sword light swallowed the wounded Vajra Buddhist Disciple, and Ye Li gained Malice Points for severely injuring him.