Chapter Summaries

Kong Jianghan discovered that the Heavenly Spirit Sect could no longer sense the Wilderness Realm and suspected a white-robed man had concealed it with a formation. He sent the grand elder to investigate, where the formation resisted Ping Ling’s attack.

• The old man reported that the sensing formation had been unable to detect the lower realm for two days, and Kong Jianghan ruled out spatial turbulence or a malfunction.
• Kong Jianghan suspected the white-robed man and ordered the grand elder to investigate the Wilderness Realm for a concealment formation.
• The grand elder led ten people through the Heavenly Road and found that a formation blocked his presence at the entrance to the Wilderness Realm.
• The grand elder sent an inner sect elder to inform Kong Jianghan and ordered Ping Ling to destroy the formation.
• Ping Ling struck the formation with a palm attack, but it left no ripple, so he drew his saber.

Lu Changsheng realized the Heavenly Spirit Sect had found the screening formation, then went back to his afternoon nap. When the sect’s Great Elder and eight experts attacked it, Lu Changsheng’s formations killed the eight and drove the Great Elder back to the Heavenly Spirit Realm.

• Lu Changsheng noticed that the screening formation had been discovered and decided to study concealment formations another day.
• Ping Ling attacked the screening formation with his saber, but was silently annihilated before his strike could reach it.
• The Great Elder and eight Heavenly Spirit Sect experts joined forces to attack the formation, but Jianmu branches blocked their strikes without damage.
• The Spatial Lockdown Grand Array hindered the nine experts, and an unseen attack killed all eight besides the Great Elder.
• The Great Elder escaped by tearing through space, though the effort crippled his cultivation for at least three years, and fled to report what had happened.

After crossing the Spiritual Qi storm, the factions discovered the Heart of the Realm, a source of spiritual power whose destruction would doom the world. As the factions coveted it, Bei Feng steered them toward attacking the Cottage, and the Buddhist Sect demanded that its members withdraw.

• The nine Void God Realm experts crossed the Spiritual Qi storm and found a sphere of concentrated Spiritual Qi that they hoped could help them reach the Emperor Realm.
• Hong Ying explained to Ning Chenxin, Ye Qiubai, and Xiao Hei that the sphere was the Heart of the Realm, and that damaging it would destroy the realm; the Cottage members vowed not to let others obtain it.
• Ren Dongsheng asked how the factions would divide the divine object, and Bei Feng proposed eliminating some factions before the contest began.
• Ye Qiubai realized Bei Feng was likely targeting the Cottage, while Dean Yan and Lin Rufeng moved closer to protect it.
• The Buddhist Sect elder demanded that the Cottage withdraw, then revealed two early Void God Realm elders and six bodhisattvas; several factions, including the Eastern Extremity Sect, moved toward the Buddhist Sect.

Bei Feng rallied six Void God Realm experts and demanded that the Cottage withdraw, but Ye Qiubai and the others refused, and Hong Ying challenged their enemies. The battle began with the Cottage’s disciples facing four Void God Realm opponents while Lin Rufeng and Dean Yan engaged two others.

• Bei Feng gathered Ren Dongsheng, He Cheng, a Styx Sect expert, and other allies, giving his side six Void God Realm experts, while some factions waited to see how events unfolded.
• Ye Qiubai rejected Bei Feng’s demand that the Cottage withdraw and warned that factions that had threatened them before had been destroyed.
• Hong Ying stepped forward to challenge the assembled forces, and Ye Qiubai, Xiao Hei, and Ning Chenxin joined her as Bei Feng ordered everyone to attack.
• The six Void God Realm experts unleashed their powers, while Lin Rufeng and Dean Yan stepped forward to fight alongside the Cottage.
• Ren Dongsheng attacked Ye Qiubai, but Lin Rufeng intercepted him, and Dean Yan engaged He Cheng.
• Hong Ying charged the Styx Sect elder, Ye Qiubai and Ning Chenxin attacked Buddhist Sect elders, and Xiao Hei rushed toward another opponent as Bei Feng resolved to eliminate the Cottage.

Hong Ying fought Ming Ao, the Styx Sect's supreme elder, while the Cottage's side faced a six-to-three disadvantage in Void God Realm experts. Her spear strike matched Ming Ao's Nether River, and she then launched a Spear of Samsara at his dangerous Nether Qi technique.

• Hong Ying charged Ming Ao, who summoned the Nether River and praised her talent while offering to take her as his disciple.
• Ye Qiubai and Hong Ying rejected Ming Ao's offer and defended their master, Lu Changsheng, as Ye Qiubai fought the Buddhist Sect elder.
• Ming Ao pressed Hong Ying from all sides with the Nether River, but her spear gleam stopped its advance and met it evenly.
• Ming Ao formed a gigantic ball of Nether Qi, while Li Yan warned that piercing it would trigger a destructive eruption.
• Hong Ying gathered Intent of Samsara into an enormous Spear of Samsara and thrust it at the Nether Qi ball; Lin Rufeng urged her to retreat, but Dean Yan trusted her ability.

Hong Ying turned Ming Ao’s Nether Qi attack back against him by containing and compressing it with her Intent of Samsara. The blast devastated Ming Ao, whose life force faded as Hong Ying stood victorious.

• Hong Ying thrust her Samsara Long Spear into Ming Ao’s enormous sphere of Nether Qi, causing it to swell and explode.
• Hong Ying used her Intent of Samsara to contain the eruption and compress the rampaging Nether Qi into a small sphere.
• Hong Ying sent the compressed sphere at Ming Ao, who gathered the nether river around himself as a barrier.
• The sphere burst against Ming Ao’s defense, unleashing a blast that shattered ice and tore at space.
• Ming Ao emerged gravely wounded and asked how Hong Ying had done it; after she replied, his presence vanished completely.

Hong Ying and Xiao Hei defeated their opponents, forcing Bei Feng’s allies to withdraw and leaving Northern Plain City exposed. Hong Ying crippled Bei Feng and announced her intention to rebuild the Cloud Phoenix Empire.

• Hong Ying killed Ming Ao, a Void God Realm cultivator, while fighting from the Qianyuan Realm.
• Xiao Hei shattered the Buddhist Sect elder’s Vajra Body and Asura phantom, then seized him by the head.
• Hong Ying challenged Bei Feng, and the Buddhist Sect elders and Ren Dongsheng withdrew with their forces.
• Hong Ying pierced Bei Feng’s dantian with her Samsara Long Spear, destroying his cultivation.
• Hong Ying pinned Bei Feng to the ice and declared that she intended to rebuild the Cloud Phoenix Empire.

Hong Ying revealed herself as Empress Yunhuang, crushed opposition, and claimed the Heart of the Realm. She explained that outsiders planned to steal it and destroy the Wilderness Realm, then called on the assembled forces to join her in resisting them.

• Hong Ying declared her identity as Empress Yunhuang, killed Bei Feng with the Intent of Samsara, and challenged anyone who opposed rebuilding the Cloud Phoenix Empire.
• Yun Zhan and the other eight members of the Nine Heavens Division, all Void God Realm experts, knelt and welcomed Hong Ying back.
• With no one daring to resist, Hong Ying drew the Heart of the Realm into her dantian while the gathered forces watched.
• Hong Ying explained that the campaign on the Heavenly Road had sought both a higher realm and protection of the Heart of the Realm from outsiders.
• Hong Ying warned that the outsiders might soon return to seize the Heart of the Realm and asked the assembled forces to join her in defending their realm.

Hong Ying rallied major factions to join the Cloud Phoenix Empire and resist outsiders seeking the Heart of the Realm, then returned to the Cottage with Ye Qiubai and the others. Lu Changsheng welcomed them by accusing them of stirring up trouble and insisting Qin Tiannan was slandering him.

• Lin Rufeng and Dean Yan declared that the Hidden Sword Sect and Hidden Dao Academy would join the Cloud Phoenix Empire, followed by Mu Heze and several first-rate factions.
• Hong Ying told the allied factions to develop independently and await her summons before everyone left the Extreme Northern Icefield.
• News of Hong Ying's strength, the ancient war over the Heart of the Realm, and the returning Nine Heavens Division spread across the continent, prompting more factions to support rebuilding the Cloud Phoenix Empire while others argued for negotiating with outsiders.
• Hong Ying returned to the Cottage with Ye Qiubai, Xiao Hei, and Ning Chenxin, and Lu Changsheng praised them for not making him take action.
• Qin Tiannan told Shi Sheng that Lu Changsheng wanted to slack off, and Lu Changsheng accused Qin Tiannan of slandering him.

Hong Ying absorbed the Heart of the Realm’s Spiritual Qi and recovered to the Void God Realm, while Qin Tiannan persuaded Shi Sheng to enter the Hidden Dao Academy’s new student tournament. Lu Changsheng secured Qin Tiannan’s promise not to recruit disciples into the Cottage without permission, but Qin also left with nearly half of Lu Changsheng’s wine.

• Hong Ying began absorbing the Spiritual Qi in the Heart of the Realm to restore her strength.
• Qin Tiannan told Lu Changsheng that Shi Sheng had to compete in the new student tournament, and Lu Changsheng agreed after securing a promise that Qin would not send disciples to the Cottage without permission.
• Xiao Hei told Lu Changsheng that Qin Tiannan had borrowed wine, and Lu Changsheng discovered that nearly half his wine jars were gone.
• Qin Tiannan happily carried the wine home, while Hong Ying’s cultivation reached the half-step Void God realm.
• The next day, Hong Ying broke through to the Void God Realm and gained a divine soul, while Shi Sheng prepared to attend the tournament.

Chen Mingzhi entered the new student competition, eager to prove he could defeat Shi Sheng, while Shi Sheng arrived with his senior disciples to compete. After Chen Mingzhi won his first match, he openly declared that he would defeat Shi Sheng.

• Chen Mingzhi agreed to join the competition and followed the Martial Hall master to the venue, hoping to face Shi Sheng.
• Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying, Ning Chenxin, Xiao Hei, and Shi Sheng arrived at the competition, where Qin Tiannan welcomed Ding Yunhe and Yun Jing.
• Qin Tiannan announced the competition’s three rounds: drawing lots, choosing opponents, and a final free-for-all.
• The Confucian Academy dean drew He Fan of the Sword Hall against Chen Mingzhi, and Chen Mingzhi quickly defeated He Fan.
• Chen Mingzhi told Shi Sheng that he would defeat him despite respecting his willpower.

Shi Sheng entered the new student competition and faced Sword Hall’s He Bufan in his first battle. He shattered He Bufan’s sword with the heavy Minghuang Mystic Axe, leaving the fight’s outcome unresolved.

• Ye Qiubai encouraged Shi Sheng to prove his strength against students who resented his acceptance as Lu Changsheng’s disciple.
• The Confucian Academy’s dean drew Shi Sheng against Sword Hall’s He Bufan.
• Shi Sheng took the Minghuang Mystic Axe onto the platform while He Bufan announced his superior cultivation and attacked with Sword Intent.
• Shi Sheng smashed He Bufan’s illusory swords with one axe strike and charged at him.
• Shi Sheng clashed axes with He Bufan’s sword, shattering the sword into pieces.

Shi Sheng defeated He Bufan and then accepted Chen Mingzhi’s challenge, revealing his Starry Sky cultivation and striking Chen Mingzhi with Falling Star. The platform split apart, leaving the fight’s outcome hidden by dust.

• Shi Sheng defeated He Bufan by destroying his sword, and He Bufan conceded.
• The first round ended, and Chen Mingzhi challenged Shi Sheng in the second round to prove himself.
• Shi Sheng accepted the challenge and gathered the Power of the Stars around himself and the Minghuang Mystic Axe.
• Chen Mingzhi attacked with his mid-stage Qianyuan Realm strength and Battle Intent, and Shi Sheng answered with Falling Star.
• Shi Sheng’s strike split the platform in two, and dust obscured the fighters before anyone could see who had won.

Shi Sheng defeated Chen Mingzhi with one axe strike, revealing that he had reached the late Qianyuan Realm after only a few days of training at the Cottage. The third round began with the other nine competitors apparently preparing to join forces against him.

• After the shattered arena formation cleared, Shi Sheng stood unharmed while Chen Mingzhi lay gravely injured, and the Confucian Academy dean declared Shi Sheng the winner.
• The Martial Hall hall master identified Shi Sheng's cultivation as late Qianyuan Realm, shocking the gathered students and academy leaders.
• Shi Sheng returned to the Cottage group, where Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying, Xiao Hei, and Ning Chenxin welcomed him warmly.
• Chen Mingzhi recovered enough to use his second challenge opportunity to defeat a student and take that student's place in the third round.
• Qin Tiannan explained that the third-round winner would enter the treasure pavilion and join the Four Regions Academy Grand Competition seven days later.
• After an hour's rest, Shi Sheng entered the third round, where the other nine competitors, including Chen Mingzhi, appeared to prepare to fight him together.

Shi Sheng defeated Chen Mingzhi and eight other competitors to win the new student competition, and the Cottage disciples agreed to represent the Southern Region Hidden Dao Academy at the Four Regions Academy Grand Competition. As they prepared to leave for the Central Region, Lu Changsheng punished Ye Qiubai for accepting on their behalf, and the disciples shared a warm evening together.

• Shi Sheng's star-infused axe shattered the nine opponents' combined attack, sent them flying, and secured his victory in the third round.
• Shi Sheng declined the Treasure Pavilion reward, while Qin Tiannan told the Cottage disciples they had to enter the Four Regions Academy Grand Competition; Hong Ying said they could blame Ye Qiubai if Lu Changsheng objected.
• The Cottage's reputation spread through the Hidden Dao Academy, and Jian Chaomian and Yun Jing sought out Ye Qiubai and Lu Changsheng before returning to their respective academies.
• Lu Changsheng learned that the disciples had agreed to compete and made Ye Qiubai sweep the mountain for six days; the disciples then drank and reminisced together at the stone table.

Ye Qiubai discovered that Mu Ziqing had been taken from the Wilderness Realm by her powerful Lineage and learned that he would need to grow stronger to find her. Meanwhile, the Main Academy prepared to host the four-region exchange to strengthen the Hidden Dao Academy’s influence during an age of great contention.

• Dean Yan explained to Qin Tiannan and the other regional deans that the Main Academy was hosting the exchange to expand the Hidden Dao Academy’s influence as the continent’s balance of power shifted.
• Ye Qiubai visited Mu Ziqing’s empty courtyard at Dao-Seeking Mountain and waited there until nightfall.
• Ye Qiubai found a jade pendant by the river where he and Mu Ziqing had first met, and it projected her message.
• Mu Ziqing told Ye Qiubai that her Lineage came from a higher realm and had taken her away after learning her physique had been resolved.
• Mu Ziqing urged Ye Qiubai to grow stronger and find her, and Ye Qiubai promised he would not keep her waiting long.

Students from the regional academies and the Main Academy gathered for the exchange, while powerful leaders came to watch and meet the Cottage’s prodigies. Dean Yan announced that the first round would take place at the foot of Dao-Seeking Mountain, leaving the students eager to commune with its intents and advance.

• Students from the academies discussed the Cottage’s strength as Dean Yan and leaders from several major powers arrived to watch the exchange.
• Dean Yan and Mu Heze joked with the other leaders while Mu Wan'er searched the crowd and hurried over to reunite with Hong Ying and the Cottage members.
• Dean Yan announced that the exchange’s first trial would take place at the foot of Dao-Seeking Mountain.
• Dean Yan explained that students who communed with at least one intent would advance to the second round, which would take place halfway up the mountain.

Students from the four regions began the first round of the academy exchange at Dao-Seeking Mountain, where they had to connect with a concept to advance. Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying, Ning Chenxin, Xiao Hei, Shi Sheng, and later Jian Chaomian passed, while more than half the participants were eliminated.

• The deans discussed Dao-Seeking Mountain's value, and Qin Tiannan named Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying, Ning Chenxin, Xiao Hei, and Shi Sheng as the most likely students to connect with concepts first.
• Ye Qiubai connected with Sword Intent, Hong Ying with fire concept, Xiao Hei with killing intent, Ning Chenxin with Confucian Dao intent, and Shi Sheng with Star Intent, advancing to the second round.
• Jian Chaomian connected with the Sword Intent in Dao-Seeking Mountain two hours later and also passed the first round.
• The first round lasted a day, and more than half the students failed to connect with a concept, though many said they had still gained insight at the mountain's foot.
• The eliminated students returned to their lodgings to cultivate, while the successful students prepared to enter Dao-Seeking Mountain.

The second round required students to comprehend an intent within three days in Dao-Seeking Mountain, where the Cottage members each sought a place suited to their cultivation. Ye Qiubai pursued wood intent, while Hong Ying headed for the Samsara Rift, Xiao Hei absorbed killing intent, Ning Chenxin read in a Confucian study, and Shi Sheng cultivated among the stars.

• The second-round students learned they had three days to comprehend an intent in Dao-Seeking Mountain, and Ye Qiubai and the other Cottage members set out to cultivate.
• Ye Qiubai paid his respects at the Sword Peak stone wall where he had received the Sword Domain legacy, then chose to cultivate wood intent in a shaded woodland.
• Hong Ying sensed the intent of Samsara and followed her memories toward the Samsara Rift.
• Xiao Hei entered a battlefield pit filled with remains and absorbed its killing conception, as blood-colored patterns spread from his fists toward his arms.
• Ning Chenxin restored and read the books in a thatched study, drawing the intent of the Confucian Dao around himself.
• Shi Sheng leaped into a treeless plain where stars filled the daytime sky and began cultivating among them.

The five Cottage members advanced to the third round after making major gains at Dao-Seeking Mountain. Jian Chaomian then challenged Ye Qiubai, and his Sword Intent rose to the Half-Step Sword Ancestor realm, earning him an invitation to cultivate in the Hidden Sword Sect’s Sword Tomb.

• Hong Ying strengthened her Samsara intent, while Ye Qiubai developed the intent of Unending Life and advanced the Primordial Sword Scripture to its second level; Ning Chenxin, Xiao Hei, and Shi Sheng also made major progress.
• All five Cottage members, Jian Chaomian, and two main academy students advanced to the combat round.
• Dean Yan proposed that the Cottage members give their opponents guidance and let Jian Chaomian and the other two choose whom to face.
• Jian Chaomian chose Ye Qiubai and explained that striving to catch up with him had spurred his cultivation.
• Jian Chaomian’s Sword Intent reached the Half-Step Sword Ancestor realm, and Lin Rufeng invited him to cultivate in the Hidden Sword Sect’s Sword Tomb.