Chapter Summaries

Ye Xuan avoided being recognized by Blood Baleful Intent Sect cultivators and continued to Starry Sky City, where he heard that Elder Xue Huo was hunting his granddaughter’s killer. Elder Xue Huo used time reversal to summon an image of the killer, whose figure began to come into focus.

• Ye Xuan pretended to be a weak wanderer, and the Blood Baleful Intent Sect cultivators dismissed him and left.
• Ye Xuan cursed the cultivators after they departed, then continued toward Starry Sky City.
• Ye Xuan heard people discussing the murder of Elder Xue Huo’s granddaughter and the elder’s killing spree.
• Elder Xue Huo vowed to avenge his granddaughter and punish the killer’s entire family.
• Elder Xue Huo used a drop of blood and a time-reversal technique to reveal a blurry figure on a blood screen.

Elder Xue Huo failed to reveal the face of the person he was hunting, but sent the Blood Baleful Intent Sect to search using portraits. Ye Xuan entered Starry Sky City, rented a premium room for a year, and drew the attention of several cultivators.

• Elder Xue Huo's blood screen exploded before it could reveal the suspect's face, so he distributed portraits and ordered the Blood Baleful Intent Sect to bring back suspicious people.
• Ye Xuan worried that his identity had been exposed, then concealed his cultivation and entered Starry Sky City.
• Ye Xuan surveyed the city's crowded streets and dismissed the vendors' wares as worthless fakes.
• Ye Xuan rented a premium room at an inn for a year and paid ten thousand low-grade immortal crystals.
• Several cultivators watched Ye Xuan from a corner of the inn.

Ye Xuan slept through the night while the Blood Baleful Intent Sect offered a bounty to find him and the Rogue Cultivator Sect watched his inn, hoping to rob him. The next morning, he left the inn and was followed by the waiting cultivators as he approached a notice in a crowded spot.

• Ye Xuan rented a premium room and went to sleep, ignoring the Rogue Cultivator Sect cultivators waiting outside.
• The Blood Baleful Intent Sect posted notices offering a reward for reports of a young man in white and a hundred thousand low-grade immortal crystals for identifying Elder Xue Huo's granddaughter's murderer.
• The Blood Baleful Intent Sect arrested suspected murderers across Starry Sky City, holding those under suspicion and releasing the rest.
• Ye Xuan left the inn the next morning, and the Rogue Cultivator Sect cultivators followed him.
• Ye Xuan reached a crowded spot and looked up at a notice.

Ye Xuan noticed a Blood Baleful Intent Sect wanted notice offering a huge reward for his capture and led three half-emperor cultivators following him into an alley. He ambushed them with Draw the Ground as a Prison, killing one instantly while the other two tried to escape the barrier.

• Ye Xuan saw the Blood Baleful Intent Sect’s wanted notice and left the crowd in disguise, wary of the powerful figures in Starry Sky City.
• Ye Xuan detected three mid-stage half-emperor cultivators following him and sped toward a deserted alley to deal with them discreetly.
• Ye Xuan concealed himself in the alley, then trapped the three pursuers inside Draw the Ground as a Prison and attacked with sword light.
• Ye Xuan killed the cultivator on the left with one strike, while the other two panicked and tried to break through the barrier.

Ye Xuan killed three Rogue Cultivator Alliance half-emperors inside Draw the Ground as a Prison. Outside the barrier, Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon gathered to watch and discuss what to do when it opened.

• Ye Xuan used Draw the Ground as a Prison to withstand the attacks of two mid-stage half-emperors and revealed that he had killed Xue Huo's granddaughter.
• Ye Xuan killed the first half-emperor with Slay an Immortal with One Sword, then defeated and killed the last one after refusing his offer of protection through the Rogue Cultivator Alliance.
• Ye Xuan collected the three men’s spatial rings and sensed several groups of cultivators gathered outside the alley.
• Xue Chen and Wu Qiu discussed breaking open the golden prison, while Devil Moon suggested waiting for it to open on its own.

Ye Xuan faced three powerful factions after his divine ability drew their experts to him, then escaped before they could discover his identity. Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon were left wondering where he had gone.

• Ye Xuan sensed Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, Devil Moon, and hidden Emperor Realm experts surrounding his prison and feared they had learned his identity.
• Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon introduced themselves and tried to coax Ye Xuan into revealing himself.
• Ye Xuan changed his appearance and presence, then Xue Chen ordered an attack after sensing something strange.
• Ye Xuan teleported outside the encirclement, concealed his presence, and escaped through three more teleports.
• Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon found the prison empty and summoned their protectors to ask what had happened.

Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon launched a citywide search for Ye Xuan after he vanished, while Ye Xuan disguised himself and asked a teahouse waiter how to reach Heavenly Domain City. The waiter began explaining the three routes, leaving Ye Xuan poised to learn how to continue his journey.

• Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon learned their Dao protectors had no idea where Ye Xuan had gone.
• Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon ordered their followers to investigate Ye Xuan and search Starry Sky City.
• Ye Xuan appeared in a teahouse disguised as an ordinary man and offered a waiter a spatial ring for information.
• Ye Xuan asked how to reach the real Heavenly Domain City, and the waiter said there were three ways to get there from Starry Sky City.

Ye Xuan learned about three routes to the Heavenly Domain and heard that the major factions were searching for a mysterious person, apparently him. Concerned that his enemies might be waiting at his inn, he decided to return anyway and kill anyone who tried to stop him.

• Xiao'er told Ye Xuan about the Heaven-Ascending Steps, the Half-Emperor Rankings, and the route controlled by the three major factions, then gave him a jade slip with the steps' location.
• Ye Xuan overheard people say that the Blood Baleful Intent Sect, the Human Immortal Sect, and the Rogue Cultivator Alliance were searching for a mysterious person, and that Devil Moon had taken a fancy to him.
• Ye Xuan left the teahouse and saw cultivators searching the area, prompting him to worry that the factions had found the inn where he was staying.
• Ye Xuan decided to return to the inn despite the danger, resolving to kill anyone who picked a fight and leave Starry Sky City if necessary.

Ye Xuan returned to the inn after killing members of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, and its cultivators learned he was there. When the inn's staff tried to bring him downstairs, Ye Xuan refused, demanding proof and berating them for their treatment of a guest.

• Ye Xuan entered the inn, and a female cultivator identified him to a Rogue Cultivator Alliance expert as the guest who had arrived the previous day.
• The Rogue Cultivator Alliance expert accused Ye Xuan of killing its members and prepared to arrest him, but the innkeeper persuaded him to wait downstairs.
• The innkeeper sent cultivators to summon Ye Xuan from his room.
• Ye Xuan refused to go downstairs without evidence and scolded the inn's cultivators for acting superior toward him.

Ye Xuan refused the inn’s staff and the Rogue Cultivator Alliance’s demand to come downstairs, insisting they had no authority or evidence against him. The Alliance members went to confront him themselves and broke through his room’s restrictions and door.

• Ye Xuan insulted the inn’s cultivator for siding with outsiders and ordered him to tell the Rogue Cultivator Alliance he had killed no one.
• The inn’s cultivators argued over whether to seize Ye Xuan by force, then went downstairs without him because they feared his strength.
• The fat innkeeper scolded the cultivators, and they explained that Ye Xuan had demanded evidence and called himself the inn’s paying customer.
• The Rogue Cultivator Alliance members decided to confront Ye Xuan themselves and headed upstairs.
• A peak half-emperor from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance kicked down Ye Xuan’s door, shattering the room’s restrictions.

Ye Xuan ambushed the Rogue Cultivator Alliance cultivators at the Peace Inn and slaughtered them, openly provoking the Alliance. He burned the inn to nothing and watched for an Emperor Realm expert so he could escape if one arrived.

• The Rogue Cultivator Alliance cultivators found Ye Xuan's room empty and surrounded the Peace Inn to stop him from escaping.
• Ye Xuan appeared on the second floor and killed the Peak Half-Emperor with a sword strike after his Mountain-Burning Palm failed.
• Ye Xuan unleashed True Solar Fire, engulfing the inn as its occupants fled.
• Ye Xuan killed more Rogue Cultivator Alliance cultivators with his golden palm imprints and the Seven Star Dragon Abyss Sword.
• Ye Xuan slaughtered every Rogue Cultivator Alliance cultivator there, killed the plump innkeeper, and burned the inn to nothing.

After Ye Xuan destroyed the Peace Inn, its guardian deacons and cultivators from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, Blood Baleful Intent Alliance, and Human Immortal Alliance closed in on him. Facing five Emperor Realm experts and dozens of peak Half-Emperors, Ye Xuan chose to break through toward Xue Chen, whom he considered the weakest.

• The Peace Inn's guardian deacons arrived, led by Heaven Number 7, an Emperor Realm expert.
• Wu Qiu arrived with cultivators from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance and threatened Ye Xuan.
• Ye Xuan sensed Xue Chen and Devil Moon approaching with two other groups from different directions.
• Ye Xuan locked onto Xue Chen and used Wandering Dragon Steps to charge toward him, aiming to escape through his side.

Ye Xuan fought off Xue Chen and escaped Devil Moon’s attempt to ensnare him, then struck Wu Qiu while he was distracted. Heaven Number 7 attacked before Ye Xuan could finish Wu Qiu.

• Heaven Number 7 attacked as Ye Xuan charged Xue Chen, but Ye Xuan ignored him and struck Xue Chen with the Thunder Emperor Seal.
• Xue Chen countered with blood-based attacks, shattering the Thunder Emperor Seal and forcing Ye Xuan to retreat.
• Devil Moon tried to charm Ye Xuan, but he burned away her influence and teleported clear of her grasp.
• Ye Xuan appeared before Wu Qiu and wounded him with the Good Fortune Heavenly Dipper Finger while Wu Qiu was briefly distracted by Devil Moon.
• Heaven Number 7 charged Ye Xuan again before he could finish Wu Qiu.

Ye Xuan escaped the Peace Inn after battling Heaven Number 7 and the three major factions, killing several Half-Emperor cultivators on his way out. His actions shook Starry Sky City, while his pursuers called for reinforcements and continued the hunt.

• Heaven Number 7 struck Ye Xuan, who dodged and counterattacked but was blasted away by the Emperor Realm expert.
• Wu Qiu, Xue Chen, and Devil Moon joined the attack, but Ye Xuan used Teleportation and raised his strength to the peak Saint Realm.
• Ye Xuan used Imprison God and the Three Primordial Unity Forms to kill seven or eight Half-Emperor cultivators.
• Ye Xuan teleported into the crowd, concealed his presence, and escaped while Wu Qiu, Xue Chen, Devil Moon, and the Peace Inn guardians pursued him.
• Heaven Number 7 requested support from Heaven Numbers 1 through 3 and reported that Ye Xuan had escaped.
• News of Ye Xuan's attack on the Peace Inn spread through Starry Sky City, where people marveled at his escape and the Half-Emperor cultivators he had killed.

After Ye Xuan slaughtered people at the Peace Inn, the three great factions searched Starry Sky City and watched the routes he might take to reach the Heavenly Domain. Disguised again, Ye Xuan set out for the Heaven-Ascending Steps, where other cultivators also gathered to look for him.

• The three great factions uncovered Ye Xuan's movements, circulated portraits of his disguised appearance, and sent experts to the Emperor Dao Pavilion and the Heaven-Ascending Steps.
• Ye Xuan listened to the city's rumors from a restaurant and realized the factions were monitoring both routes into the Heavenly Domain.
• Ye Xuan decided to try the Heaven-Ascending Steps before considering a challenge at the Emperor Dao Pavilion.
• Ye Xuan left the restaurant and headed toward the Heaven-Ascending Steps as countless cultivators followed, hoping to see the Peace Inn's killer.
• Three cultivators approached Ye Xuan and asked him to join their group on the way to the Heaven-Ascending Steps.

Ye Xuan joined Zhang Xuan, Zhao Li, and Wu Rong on the journey to the Heaven-Ascending Steps, hiding his suspicions and his strength. At the steps, powerful cultivators secretly examined him, and he spotted Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon among the familiar faces.

• Ye Xuan accepted Zhang Xuan's invitation to travel with him, Zhao Li, and Wu Rong while suspecting they might intend to rob him.
• The four traveled for more than half a day toward the Heaven-Ascending Steps as Ye Xuan used their company to avoid drawing attention as a lone traveler.
• Zhang Xuan described the steps as an ancient treasure that no one had successfully climbed or taken away.
• Ye Xuan and his companions reached the steps, where many cultivators were climbing and watching.
• Several powerful spiritual senses swept over Ye Xuan, and he pretended not to notice them.
• Ye Xuan spotted Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon among the cultivators.

Ye Xuan joined Zhang Xuan, Zhao Li, and Wu Rong in climbing the Heaven-Ascending Steps, where his divine palace reacted to the steps’ pressure and a mysterious woman recognized the place. As the four reached the tenth step, Zhang Xuan and the others continued assessing Ye Xuan while hiding their plan to kill him and devour his blood.

• Elder Xue Huo asked Xue Chen whether he had found the person they sought, but Xue Chen could not identify him.
• Zhang Xuan invited Ye Xuan to climb the Heaven-Ascending Steps with him, Zhao Li, and Wu Rong, and Ye Xuan agreed.
• When Ye Xuan stepped onto the first step, the divine palace in his mind trembled, exciting the woman in black inside it.
• A skeleton at the top of the steps trembled and spoke faintly, while Xue Chen and other experts sensed the steps shake.
• Zhang Xuan, Wu Rong, and Zhao Li watched Ye Xuan, intending to kill him and consume his blood because Wu Rong had sensed his powerful bloodline.
• Ye Xuan and the three reached the tenth step; Ye Xuan acted as if the increasing pressure was exhausting him.

Ye Xuan watched cultivators turn on one another on the Heaven-Ascending Steps as the three major factions launched a brutal assault, demanding submission. As the violence reached the steps, Zhang Xuan, Zhao Li, and Wu Rong blamed Ye Xuan and attacked him.

• Ye Xuan and the others felt the pressure of the Heaven-Ascending Steps, whose full height he could not see or measure.
• Qiu He ambushed a neighboring cultivator, who transformed into a demon beast and fought back, triggering battles among the climbers.
• The Emperor Realm experts beside Xue Chen, Wu Qiu, and Devil Moon summoned three factions of uniformed cultivators, who attacked those on the steps and killed anyone who resisted or fled.
• Zhang Xuan, Zhao Li, and Wu Rong blamed Ye Xuan for bringing them to the steps, and Zhang Xuan attacked him after sending the others a voice transmission.

Ye Xuan killed Zhang Xuan, Zhao Li, and Wu Rong on the tenth step, where the pressure prevented them from using their full strength. Xue Chen and Wu Qiu sensed Ye Xuan’s familiar techniques but could not find him in the chaos.

• Zhang Xuan, Zhao Li, and Wu Rong attacked Ye Xuan, but their weapons, punch, and poison failed to harm him.
• Ye Xuan restrained the three with Imprison God, raised his strength to the peak Saint Realm, and killed them with the Thunder Emperor Seal.
• Ye Xuan absorbed the trio’s energy, collected their spatial rings, and headed toward the eleventh step.
• Xue Chen and Wu Qiu recognized the familiar fluctuations of Ye Xuan’s techniques and searched the tenth step, but could not locate him.

Ye Xuan climbed the Heaven-Ascending Steps while collecting spatial rings from fallen cultivators and killing anyone who attacked or threatened him. Xue Chen and Wu Qiu spotted him but remained uncertain of his identity as Ye Xuan reached the eighteenth step, where fewer than thirty cultivators remained.

• Xue Chen and Wu Qiu decided to head to the Heaven-Ascending Steps and kill Ye Xuan.
• Ye Xuan killed a cultivator who attacked him, took the man's spatial ring, and began collecting spoils amid the battle.
• Ye Xuan climbed to the eleventh step, where he kept gathering spatial rings and killing attackers or weakened cultivators.
• Other cultivators noticed Ye Xuan's unusual behavior and grew furious that he was taking spoils while they fought.
• Xue Chen and Wu Qiu spotted Ye Xuan but could not confirm he was the man they sought because his presence had changed.
• Ye Xuan climbed as high as the eighteenth step, where fewer than thirty cultivators remained.