Recaps

Ning Chenxin discussed the suffering of ordinary people and his doubts about changing cultivators with the Confucian Emperor, who urged him to stay true to his heart and influence others without trying to change everyone. Ning Chenxin comprehended Lu Changsheng’s words, entered the Celestial Person State, and received the Confucian Scripture after awakening seven days later.

• Ning Chenxin told the Confucian Emperor how Buddhists had allowed Devil Beasts to slaughter villagers and how other cultivators ignored ordinary people’s suffering.
• The Confucian Emperor praised Ning Chenxin’s devotion but explained that he could not change every cultivator and should remain true to his own Dao.
• Ning Chenxin recalled Lu Changsheng’s words, “Have a clear conscience,” and realized he should grow stronger and spread his ideas to more people.
• Ning Chenxin entered the Celestial Person State as the Confucian Emperor watched over him.
• Seven days later, Ning Chenxin awoke and found the Confucian Emperor gone, leaving behind the Confucian Scripture as a reference for his Dao.
• Ning Chenxin bowed to the Confucian Emperor in gratitude for dispelling his doubts.

Ye Qiubai received the Four Absolutes Sword Array inheritance while Hong Ying and the Grand Preceptor discussed their plans. After the secret realm ended, Li You concealed Ye Qiubai’s identity to keep the Li Clan from targeting him, and a black-robed figure arrived at the Sunset Dynasty palace.

• Ye Qiubai combined five kinds of concepts and received the Four Absolutes Sword Array inheritance scroll.
• The Grand Preceptor chose to remain in the inheritance ruins until Hong Ying had recovered her strength, promising to aid her in a future war on the Heavenly Road.
• After the secret realm ended, Li You told the Li Clan that an unknown masked person had intercepted him, concealing that Ye Qiubai was responsible.
• The Buddhist Son emerged from the secret realm smiling, while a black-robed figure left for the Northern Region.
• The black-robed figure reached the Sunset Dynasty palace, where imperial guards surrounded the visitor and demanded to know their identity.

An impostor using Huang Tian Ming’s body convinced Huang Yitong that he had gained a powerful inheritance and secured command of the Sunset Dynasty’s troops to unify the Northern Region. He then went to the Pear Garden and discovered something about Jiang Chan that filled him with joy.

• The impostor entered the imperial palace and persuaded Huang Yitong that he had returned from the Southern Region’s secret realm with an inheritance.
• He asked to take charge of the matter involving Ye Qiubai, claiming he meant to finish what he had started.
• The impostor revealed that he had reached the Late Qianyuan Realm and possessed three Half-Step Void God corpse puppets, prompting Huang Yitong to give him the tiger tally and authorize plans to unify the Northern Region.
• The impostor went to the Pear Garden, restrained Jiang Chan, and examined her brow and dantian.
• After sensing Jiang Chan, the impostor rejoiced and thought that Heaven was helping him.

After the ancient secret realm closed, the Sunset Dynasty launched a devastating campaign in the Northern Region, destroying the Absolute Array Sect and Azure Origin Sect. Yun Jing organized the region’s factions to prepare for war, while Ye Qiubai learned of the attacks and was told to wait and cultivate.

• The Sunset Dynasty destroyed the Absolute Array Sect and continued south to attack the Azure Origin Sect.
• Huang Tian Ming killed the Azure Origin Sect’s sect master by draining his vital Qi, and the dynasty slaughtered everyone in the sect.
• Yun Jing told Wu Deshi to unite the Northern Region’s factions, establish ship routes, and gather their people at the Hidden Dao Academy.
• Ye Qiubai asked to go to the Northern Region, but Qin Tiannan urged him to wait until they understood the Sunset Dynasty’s strength and motives.
• Lu Changsheng told Ye Qiubai to focus on cultivation.

As the Sunset Dynasty’s brutal campaign spread panic through the Northern Region, Huang Yitong confronted Huang Tian Ming over his ruthless methods. At the Cottage, Lu Changsheng tried to keep Ye Qiubai from joining the conflict by setting him a punishing waterfall training task, while the Northern Region’s war continued to stalemate.

• Huang Yitong warned Huang Tian Ming that draining mortals and rogue cultivators would cost the Sunset Dynasty the people’s support, but Huang Tian Ming dismissed the value of popular approval.
• Xiao Hei traveled to the Northern Region to find a place of extreme cold for the second level of the Eternal Devil Body, while Ye Qiubai remained troubled by the war.
• Mu Ziqing urged Ye Qiubai to focus on strengthening himself, and Lu Changsheng took him to a waterfall and required him to carve a hundred sword marks into a boulder using a wooden sword.
• Ye Qiubai repeatedly fell from the boulder under the waterfall’s force, while Lu Changsheng secretly hoped the training would keep him from going to the Northern Region.
• A month later, the Sunset Dynasty divided its forces into three armies led by Huang Yitong’s three great experts, while Huang Yitong guarded the imperial palace and Huang Tian Ming waited in ambush.

After completing his sword training and breaking through to the late-stage Water Overflow Realm, Ye Qiubai headed to the Northern Region with Qin Tiannan and Yun Ming to help defend against the Sunset Dynasty. The Northern Region’s forces were nearing collapse as they waited for reinforcements.

• Ye Qiubai calmed his mind beneath the waterfall, carved a sword mark with one strike, and broke through to the late-stage Water Overflow Realm.
• After carving one hundred sword marks, Ye Qiubai returned to the Cottage, where Qin Tiannan reported that the Northern Region had requested aid against the Sunset Dynasty.
• Lu Changsheng allowed Ye Qiubai to go and gave him a small sword that could save his life; Hong Ying sent Yun Ming with him, while Mu Ziqing stayed behind.
• The Sunset Dynasty attacked the Northern Region along three routes, forcing sects and clans to consolidate near the Northern Region Hidden Dao Academy.
• At the academy, Dean Wu and the gathered leaders waited anxiously for reinforcements as the second defensive line faced a possible breach.

The Northern Region Alliance prepared to defend Heavenly Punishment Valley after the Sunset Dynasty swiftly captured its first defensive line. At the academy council, Ye Qiubai argued that defense alone would fail and proposed ambushing the enemy outside the valley.

• The Northern Region Alliance fell back from Devil Beast Valley to the Azure Mountain Range and planned to make its final stand at the Northern Region Hidden Dao Academy.
• Wu Deshi welcomed Yu Su, Tian Cheng, Zhang He, Qin Tiannan, Ye Qiubai, and the other reinforcements, then called them to discuss the defenses.
• Yun Jing revealed that a half-step Void God Realm corpse puppet had severely injured him and warned that each of the Sunset Dynasty's three armies might have one.
• Wu Deshi proposed holding Heavenly Punishment Valley until reinforcements arrived, but explained that the Hidden Dao Academy Main Academy could not act while the Sunset Dynasty's previous ruler threatened it.
• Ye Qiubai warned that three corpse puppets could break through the valley and proposed launching an ambush outside it.

Ye Qiubai persuaded the Northern Region Alliance to ambush the Sunset Dynasty’s advancing armies outside the Valley of Heavenly Punishment instead of defending the valley. By nightfall, the teams were concealed around the great rift, waiting for the enemy to arrive.

• Ye Qiubai argued that defending the valley would leave the alliance vulnerable to the Sunset Dynasty’s superior forces and proposed a swift ambush at the great rift.
• Yun Jing, Wu Deshi, and the others approved Ye Qiubai’s plan and assigned three fast-striking teams to attack the advancing armies, with Qin Tiannan covering their retreat.
• The ambush teams prepared for the operation and set out after dusk wearing cloaks enhanced with presence-concealing formations.
• Ye Qiubai’s team took the rift’s left flank, the Azure Sect’s grand elder took the right, and Yu Su’s team positioned itself in the center.
• Qin Tiannan reminded the teams to strike once and withdraw, and they waited silently in the darkness for the Sunset Dynasty’s forces.

Ye Qiubai and the other ambushers attacked the Sunset Dynasty’s sinister army as it crossed the great rift, killing the two experts sustaining its bridge. They escaped toward the Valley of Heavenly Punishment while the enemy general was left to count his losses.

• Ye Qiubai recognized the approaching Sunset Dynasty army as sinister and watched two mid-stage Qianyuan Realm experts create a Spiritual Qi bridge across the rift.
• Ye Qiubai signaled Jian Chaomian and the others to attack the two experts once the army reached the middle of the bridge.
• The ambushers trapped the experts with Sword Intent, and Ye Qiubai killed them both with Demon's Descent.
• The bridge vanished, sending nearly a third of the Sunset Dynasty’s troops plunging into the rift.
• Ye Qiubai ordered the ambushers to retreat as a powerful presence approached, and the armored general did not pursue them toward the Valley of Heavenly Punishment.
• The armored general ordered the remaining troops to count their numbers and feared punishment from the eldest prince.

After a successful ambush, Ye Qiubai learned the Azure Sect grand elder’s team was pinned down and chose to go rescue them despite Qin Tiannan’s objections. He reached the battlefield and found the Sunset Dynasty’s army had crossed the Great Rift Valley, leaving only six members of the team to face three late Qianyuan Realm experts.

• Ye Qiubai and his companions returned safely after their ambush, and Qin Tiannan welcomed them back.
• Yu Su’s team returned with Yu Su slightly injured, but the Azure Sect grand elder’s team failed to appear.
• Spiritual Qi erupted from the Great Rift Valley, and Yu Su recognized the Azure Sect grand elder’s presence as the team came under attack.
• Ye Qiubai insisted on going to rescue the grand elder and his companions, and Qin Tiannan reluctantly let him go.
• Ye Qiubai reached the battlefield and saw that the Sunset Dynasty’s army had crossed the valley and reduced the original ten-person team to six, who were trapped by three late Qianyuan Realm experts.

Ye Qiubai rescued the Azure Sect's Grand Elder and the surviving ambush squad, then led them away from the Sunset Dynasty's army. Once the three pursuing Late Qianyuan Realm experts became separated from their army, Ye Qiubai turned to attack them with the others.

• The Azure Sect's Grand Elder and his squad were trapped and losing hope after their ambush failed, and an enemy expert killed one of their members.
• Ye Qiubai shattered two attacks aimed at the Grand Elder, ordered the squad to retreat, and used his Sword Intent and Demon’s Descent to cover their escape.
• The Sunset Dynasty's commander-in-chief ordered the army to stop pursuing after learning that the other two armies had been ambushed and could not reinforce them.
• Ye Qiubai noticed that the three pursuing experts had become separated from their army and asked the squad members still able to fight to join him in attacking them.
• After the group drew five hundred zhang from the army, Ye Qiubai turned back, unleashed his Sword Domain, and called on the others to attack.

Ye Qiubai and the Azure Sect’s grand elder joined forces to overwhelm three late Qianyuan Realm experts, but the enemies called for reinforcements. As a Half-Step Void God corpse puppet raced toward them, Ye Qiubai prepared to unleash the eighth sword of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon.

• Ye Qiubai and the Azure Sect’s grand elder attacked the three late Qianyuan Realm experts together, breaking their assault and forcing them to retreat.
• Ye Qiubai trapped the three men within his Sword Domain and pressed forward on the river of Sword Intent as the others attacked again.
• One of the three experts fired a signal flare, prompting Qin Tiannan to order his group to advance fifty zhang.
• The armored Sunset Dynasty general released a corpse puppet from a coffin and sent it rushing toward Ye Qiubai’s group.
• Ye Qiubai sensed the approaching corpse puppet, raised the Dark Demon Sword, and began the eighth sword of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon.

Ye Qiubai unleashed the eighth strike of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon and killed three late Qianyuan Realm experts. After using a recovery pill, he ordered the Azure Sect's grand elder and the others to retreat as a figure filled with Corpse Qi rushed toward them.

• Ye Qiubai gathered overwhelming Demon Qi and raised the Dark Demon Sword to unleash the eighth strike against the three late Qianyuan Realm experts.
• The Demon Qi disrupted the three experts, and Ye Qiubai's black slash shattered their Spiritual Qi barriers and Treasure Artifacts.
• Ye Qiubai opened his Sword Domain and sent three enormous swords through the experts' hearts, killing them.
• Ye Qiubai took a recovery pill, then told the Azure Sect's grand elder and the others to retreat immediately because a Corpse Qi-filled figure was approaching.

Ye Qiubai led the surviving ambush squad toward the Valley of Heavenly Punishment while a Half-Step Void God corpse puppet pursued them. He slowed it with his Frost Sword Domain and held it back with a sword strike, then reunited with Qin Tiannan as the puppet abandoned the chase.

• The Azure Sect's grand elder urged the ambush squad to flee while he stayed behind to hold off the approaching corpse puppet.
• Ye Qiubai combined Ice Artistic Conception with his Sword Domain, slowing the corpse puppet and giving the squad time to escape.
• Ye Qiubai struck the corpse puppet with Pacify Mountains and Rivers, holding it back for nine breaths before leading everyone onward.
• The corpse puppet stopped pursuing the squad and returned after apparently receiving a command.
• Ye Qiubai reunited with Qin Tiannan and the support squad; six members of the ten-person ambush squad survived, and the Azure Sect's grand elder praised Ye Qiubai.

Huang Tian Ming learned of the ambush that struck the Sunset Dynasty’s three armies and ordered their commanders replaced, while he continued forcibly raising Jiang Chan’s cultivation to harvest her Heavenly Nether Cauldron Physique. Back at the Northern Region Alliance’s base, Ye Qiubai received praise for the successful ambush and declined a reward, putting the war first.

• Huang Tian Ming learned through his corpse puppets that Ye Qiubai carried two Sword Saint inheritances, then ordered the puppets to stop pursuing him.
• An armored man reported that all three Sunset Dynasty armies had been ambushed near the Valley of Heavenly Punishment, and Huang Tian Ming ordered their commanders recalled and replacements appointed.
• Huang Tian Ming visited Jiang Chan in a sealed chamber and continued raising her cultivation so he could absorb her cauldron power once she reached the Void God Realm.
• Ye Qiubai and his companions returned to the Northern Region Alliance’s base, where Wu Deshi and the others praised the successful ambush and the Azure Sect master apologized to Ye Qiubai.
• Wu Deshi offered Ye Qiubai a reward, but Ye Qiubai declined for the time being, saying the war took priority.

News of Ye Qiubai’s successful ambush spread across the continent, drawing the Hidden Sword Sect into the conflict and earning praise from the Hidden Dao Academy. The former ruler of the Sunset Dynasty remained confident in his plans, while Lu Changsheng and the others in the Southern Region learned of Ye Qiubai’s victory.

• Word spread that Ye Qiubai had devised and led the ambush that rallied the Northern Region Alliance, and people began speculating about his unknown master.
• After learning the full details, Lin Rufeng praised Ye Qiubai and ordered the Hidden Sword Sect to support the Hidden Dao Academy and pressure the Sunset Dynasty.
• Dean Yan questioned the former ruler of the Sunset Dynasty about his forces, then defended the master of the Law Enforcement Hall when the former ruler reacted to news of the ambush.
• The master of the Law Enforcement Hall reported Ye Qiubai’s victory, prompting Dean Yan to praise him while the former ruler warned that Huang Tian Ming’s methods still posed a grave threat.
• At the Cottage, Mu Wan'er celebrated Ye Qiubai’s success, Mu Ziqing felt relieved, and Lu Changsheng grumbled that he should not cause trouble.

Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin left the Cottage to aid the Northern Region Alliance, while Lu Changsheng secretly sent a phantom after them. As the alliance planned its next moves, Ye Qiubai sensed two powerful presences arriving.

• Ning Chenxin offered to help his Senior Brother, and Lu Changsheng warned him not to cause trouble.
• Hong Ying decided to investigate the corpse puppets used by the Sunset Dynasty, and Mu Wan'er gave her two rings of recovery pills.
• Hong Ying, Ning Chenxin, and Hu Qing left the Cottage, while a phantom secretly departed for the Northern Region.
• Wu Deshi proposed reinforcing the Valley of Heavenly Punishment's formations and having alchemists prepare more pills.
• Ye Qiubai said the alliance needed more peak combatants, then sensed two presences approaching and said they had arrived just in time.

Hong Ying, Ning Chenxin, and Ye Qiubai arrived to help the Northern Region Alliance, and Hong Ying proposed that the three gather intelligence behind enemy lines. At the Great Rift Valley, Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin had Ye Qiubai draw the enemy’s attention so they could slip past the sentries.

• Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin joined Ye Qiubai at the Northern Region Alliance’s council and offered to help.
• Hong Ying proposed that the three handle reconnaissance because the alliance lacked intelligence about the Sunset Dynasty’s forces.
• The trio used Hong Ying’s concealment cloaks to leave the Valley of Heavenly Punishment, and Hong Ying decided to target the enemy’s pill-refining supplies.
• At the Great Rift Valley, Hong Ying noticed black Qi surrounding the enemy troops and determined that they could only cross by flying past the sentries.
• Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin chose Ye Qiubai as bait, and he unleashed his Sword Domain and a slash across the valley, alerting the enemy.

Ye Qiubai's strike opened a breach in the Great Rift Valley while Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin infiltrated the Sunset Dynasty's camp and destroyed its pill-refining site. The pair were surrounded, with Hong Ying confronting a Half-Step Void God corpse puppet as Ning Chenxin blocked the Qianyuan Realm experts.

• Ye Qiubai unleashed his Sword Domain, opened a breach in the Great Rift Valley, and retreated toward the Valley of Heavenly Punishment as the enemy's powerful fighters pursued him.
• Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin used concealment cloaks to reach the rear of the Sunset Dynasty's camp, noting enemy positions and locating the pill-refining site and nearby corpse puppet.
• Hong Ying told Ning Chenxin to destroy the pill-refining site with her and then leave while she investigated the corpse puppets, but Ning Chenxin insisted they leave together.
• Hong Ying attacked with her Samsara Spear Intent as Ning Chenxin summoned a divine general with the Dao Scripture, and their strikes destroyed the pill-refining camp and killed its alchemists.
• More than a dozen Late Qianyuan Realm experts and a Half-Step Void God corpse puppet arrived, and Hong Ying charged at the puppet while Ning Chenxin stayed behind to hold off the experts.
• Ning Chenxin used the word “Suppress” to stop an expert's palm attack and declared the road closed.

Ning Chenxin used the Dao Scripture to repel the Sunset Dynasty’s experts, but their armored commander sacrificed his allies’ souls to a banner and surged to near Void God Realm strength. Hong Ying recognized him as the ancient terror Yin Corpse Elder.

• The armored commander ordered the Sunset Dynasty’s experts to attack Ning Chenxin while Hong Ying fought the corpse puppet.
• Ning Chenxin summoned a heavenly general from the Dao Scripture, and Ye Qiubai sensed the battle’s eruption and rushed toward the Great Rift Valley.
• Ning Chenxin used the Formation character to strengthen the heavenly general, who shattered the experts’ attacks and drove them back.
• The armored commander used a soul banner to absorb Corpse Qi and souls from the Sunset Dynasty’s experts, raising his strength to the Half-Step Void God Realm.
• Hong Ying recognized the armored commander as Yin Corpse Elder.

Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin fought the Yin Corpse Elder’s armored servant and corpse puppet, then withdrew after learning that reinforcements were approaching. The armored man ordered his troops to stop them, fearing punishment from the eldest prince.

• Ning Chenxin used the Dao Scripture’s Dispel to purify the armored man’s Corpse Qi, but the man absorbed the heavenly general’s power during their clash.
• Hong Ying told Ning Chenxin to retreat and unleashed the Samsara Spear Technique against the armored man.
• Ning Chenxin used the heavenly general to hold back the corpse puppet while Hong Ying struck the armored man and sent him flying.
• Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin withdrew because they had achieved their objective and two more corpse puppets were approaching.
• The armored man ordered his troops to stop Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin, fearing the eldest prince’s punishment.

Hong Ying, Ning Chenxin, and Ye Qiubai escaped pursuit after Lu Changsheng secretly activated a formation beneath the Great Rift Valley, then the three returned to the Northern Region Alliance with news of their successful raid. The alliance celebrated their victory and prepared to go on the offensive, while a young man arrived at the Western Region Buddhist Sect.

• Ye Qiubai opened a gap in the enemy ranks with his Sword Domain, allowing Hong Ying and Ning Chenxin to cross the Great Rift Valley toward the Valley of Heavenly Punishment.
• A rainbow radiance erupted across the rift and stopped the armored man and three corpse puppets from pursuing the trio.
• Lu Changsheng revealed that he had set the formation beneath the rift, then disguised its origin by damaging formation nodes and arranging five enemy corpses nearby.
• A man in a yellow brocade robe inspected the formation and skeletal remains, concluded they were remnants from the past, and departed.
• Hong Ying and the others returned to the Northern Region Alliance, where Wu Deshi praised their raid and announced preparations for an offensive.
• A young man arrived at the Western Region Buddhist Sect and stood before its golden Buddha statue.

A white-robed envoy from the Upper Realm ordered the Western Region Buddhist Sect to investigate the mysterious man who had thwarted powerful projections and to control his disciples through the Sunset Dynasty. As the Buddhist Sect joined the Northern Region war, Lin Rufeng arrived to support Dean Yan against the Sunset Dynasty’s old sovereign, escalating the conflict.

• The Upper Realm envoy told the six Buddhist elders that Empress Yunhuang had been reborn and a mysterious man had defeated projections sent to stop her.
• The elders recognized the mysterious man as someone whose phantom had once overwhelmed their sect, and the envoy ordered them to learn whether he sought the divine object without provoking him.
• The long-bearded elder proposed targeting the man’s disciples, including Ning Chenxin, Ye Qiubai, and a red-robed woman, and the sect planned to help the Sunset Dynasty win the Northern Region war.
• The envoy approved the plan and headed to the Sunset Dynasty with an elder, officially drawing the Buddhist Sect into the war.
• At the Hidden Dao Academy, Lin Rufeng arrived to aid Dean Yan, and the Sunset Dynasty’s old sovereign disappeared to fight as the conflict escalated.

The Northern Region Alliance welcomed reinforcements from the Hidden Dao Academy Main Academy and the Hidden Sword Sect, then organized a counterattack against the Sunset Dynasty. Both armies gathered on opposite sides of the Great Rift Valley, where the first full-scale battle was about to begin.

• Ding Yunhe and the Hidden Dao Academy Main Academy arrived with the Hidden Sword Sect, whose vice sect master Sun Luo and disciple Liang Feng had come partly because of Ye Qiubai.
• The alliance leaders divided their forces into three groups, placing Ding Yunhe and Hong Ying at the center and Ye Qiubai and Ning Chenxin on opposite flanks.
• Wu Deshi rallied the Northern Region Alliance, and its forces marched toward the Great Rift Valley to attack the Sunset Dynasty's three armies.
• The Sunset Dynasty's scouts spotted the alliance's advance, and the three armies assembled to meet the attack.
• The two forces faced each other across the Great Rift Valley as the Sunset Dynasty's right-flank general ordered his soldiers to prepare to attack.

The Northern Region Alliance gained an edge when its battle formation strengthened its troops, but the Sunset Dynasty sent powerful experts to disrupt it. Ning Chenxin stepped in and killed two Qianyuan Realm experts, leaving the enemy army shaken.

• The Northern Region Alliance's formation restored Spiritual Qi and strengthened its soldiers, shifting the battle in its favor.
• A late Qianyuan Realm expert attacked the formation's four Water Overflow Realm cultivators, but Wu Deshi intercepted him and went up to fight.
• The armored general sent two more Qianyuan Realm experts after the formation, and Ning Chenxin volunteered to stop them.
• Ning Chenxin used the Dao Scripture's suppressive seal to repel both experts, then summoned a heavenly general that crushed them.
• The armored general recognized Ning Chenxin and shouted for his men to retreat, while the Azure Sect's sect master wondered who had trained him and the other remarkable disciples.