Chapter Summaries

Ye Qiubai killed Tian Pin but collapsed from the backlash of drawing the Azure Cloud Sword, and Yun Ming rescued him. Huang Tian Ming used Tian Pin’s death as a pretext to lead the imperial guards to the Hidden Dao Academy, where Lu Changsheng and Hong Ying prepared to face them.

• After Ye Qiubai fell helplessly, Yun Ming rescued him before the Sixth Prince and Fan Jingrao could kill him.
• The Sixth Prince and Fan Jingrao returned to the palace, where Huang Tian Ming decided to demand Ye Qiubai’s surrender for killing Tian Pin.
• The ruler of Heavenly Origin agreed to send the imperial palace guards with Huang Tian Ming to the Southern Region’s Hidden Dao Academy.
• Yun Ming brought Ye Qiubai back to the Cottage, and Lu Changsheng treated his injuries while Hong Ying awakened from the Celestial Person State and broke through to the Qianyuan Realm.
• Lu Changsheng sensed the approaching imperial forces, and Qin Tiannan asked Huang Tian Ming why he had come to the Hidden Dao Academy.

Huang Tian Ming demanded that the Hidden Dao Academy surrender Ye Qiubai, but Qin Tiannan and the elders refused and prepared to fight the Sunset Dynasty. As the academy faced overwhelming odds, Yang Xu arrived to defend it, and a spear-wielding woman appeared before Eunuch Ming.

• Huang Tian Ming accused Ye Qiubai of killing Tian Pin and demanded that the academy hand him over.
• Qin Tiannan refused, and the academy elders united behind him as Huang Tian Ming threatened war.
• Qin Tiannan and Fan Jingrao flew off to fight, while Gao Weian challenged the academy elders.
• Yang Xu arrived and said he would protect the academy one more time.
• The academy’s grand protective formation took shape, but Eunuch Ming claimed he could break it in two strikes.
• A woman holding a spear appeared before Eunuch Ming and asked what would happen if he faced her too.

Hong Ying confronted the Sunset Dynasty’s forces and fought Eunuch Ming, revealing her Qianyuan Realm cultivation and three powerful artistic conceptions. Ye Qiubai chose to handle the Sunset Dynasty himself, while Eunuch Ming’s whisk transformed into an array that halted Hong Ying’s giant flaming spear.

• Lu Changsheng prepared to intervene, but Hong Ying stopped him and charged at the Sunset Dynasty’s forces with Yun Ming following.
• Hong Ying revealed her Qianyuan Realm cultivation and told the academy elders to deal with the imperial guards while she faced Eunuch Ming.
• Hong Ying’s spear displayed destructive spear, reincarnation, and flame artistic conceptions, shocking Eunuch Ming and making Huang Tian Ming regret provoking Ye Qiubai.
• Ye Qiubai woke and chose to leave the Sunset Dynasty to himself, saying he would soon be able to flatten it.
• Hong Ying’s giant flaming spear destroyed Eunuch Ming’s horsetail whisk, but the whisk released an array that stopped the attack.

Hong Ying and Ye Qiubai turned the battle against Huang Tian Ming and his forces, forcing them to retreat from the Hidden Dao Academy. Lu Changsheng captured and soul-searched an assassin from Shadow Kill, then headed toward the Northern Region, while Yang Xu received a pill as he prepared for a dangerous breakthrough.

• Hong Ying overwhelmed Eunuch Ming, and Yang Xu learned that Lu Changsheng of the Cottage was her master.
• Ye Qiubai attacked Huang Tian Ming, but a Shadow Kill assassin tried to stab him before Lu Changsheng intervened and pulled the assassin to the Cottage.
• Lu Changsheng searched the assassin's soul, learned he belonged to Shadow Kill, and left for the Northern Region.
• After the imperial guards were killed and the battle turned against them, Huang Tian Ming ordered a retreat and warned Ye Qiubai to stay inside the academy.
• Ye Qiubai thanked Qin Tiannan and the elders, while Yang Xu said his chance of surviving a breakthrough was ten percent.
• A streak of light arrived, and Yang Xu caught it and found a pill inside.

Yang Xu received an Origin-Breaking Pill from Hong Ying and left to break through, while Lu Changsheng confronted the Shadow Kill leaders after killing First Kill. Lu Changsheng saw through the Shadow Kill Formation and beat the master of Shadow Kill as the confrontation continued.

• Hong Ying explained that the Origin-Breaking Pill could guarantee Yang Xu a Qianyuan Realm breakthrough but would prevent him from advancing further afterward.
• The Pill Hall elder learned that the pill belonged to Lu Changsheng and asked to meet him, while Yang Xu left to attempt his breakthrough.
• The master of Shadow Kill learned that First Kill’s soul tablet had disappeared and suspected Ye Qiubai had received help from a powerful expert.
• Lu Changsheng appeared before the master of Shadow Kill and confirmed that he had killed First Kill.
• The master of Shadow Kill used the Shadow Kill Formation, but Lu Changsheng tracked him easily, grabbed him, and slapped him repeatedly.

Lu Changsheng confronted the Shadow Kill Pavilion Master for repeatedly targeting his disciple, Ye Qiubai, and destroyed the Pavilion after the Master tried to trap him in a formation. He killed the Pavilion Master and erased the evidence, then left to eat; someone later arrived at the ruins.

• Lu Changsheng held the Shadow Kill Pavilion Master by the collar and slapped his head, then demanded that he cripple his own cultivation for targeting Ye Qiubai.
• The Shadow Kill Pavilion Master activated Shadow Kill’s maze formation, but Lu Changsheng unleashed Sword Intent, Spear Intent, and flame that destroyed the formation and the Pavilion.
• The black-clad man was consumed by the flames, and Lu Changsheng killed the wounded Shadow Kill Pavilion Master by shattering his soul.
• Lu Changsheng burned the Pavilion Master’s corpse, vanished to return home and eat, and someone arrived at the ruins about two incense sticks later.

Lu Changsheng returned to the Cottage after destroying Shadow Kill Pavilion and learned that Ye Qiubai had blamed him for the Pill Hall elder’s request, leading him to punish Ye Qiubai. As Lu Changsheng went to the Pill Hall, a scholar arrived at the Hidden Dao Academy seeking his master at the Cottage.

• Huang Yitong learned that Shadow Kill Pavilion had been destroyed and ordered men to seal it off while wondering who could have overcome its formation.
• Lu Changsheng returned to the Cottage, told Ye Qiubai and Hong Ying that he had wiped out Shadow Kill Pavilion, and asked them to prepare a meal.
• Hong Ying told Lu Changsheng that the Pill Hall elder wanted to see him, then blamed Ye Qiubai when Lu Changsheng asked who had volunteered him.
• Lu Changsheng made Ye Qiubai take responsibility for the blame and ordered him to do all the Cottage’s chores for the month.
• Lu Changsheng headed to the Pill Hall as a scholar arrived at the academy gate and said he was seeking his master at the Cottage.

Ning Chenxin returned to the Cottage and used a discussion of the Dao to help Zhong Wu and two disciples break through. Lu Changsheng arrived at the Pill Hall elder’s courtyard, where the elder asked him how he had refined a pill he knew nothing about.

• Ning Chenxin introduced himself as Lu Changsheng’s disciple at the mountain gate, and Zhong Wu invited him to discuss the Confucian Dao.
• Ning Chenxin explained that different paths could all become supreme Great Daos, inspiring Zhong Wu and the two disciples to begin breaking through.
• Ye Qiubai and Hong Ying came to meet Ning Chenxin, confirmed he was their new junior brother, and brought him to the Cottage.
• Zhong Wu and the other two disciples completed their breakthroughs and praised Lu Changsheng’s disciples.
• Lu Changsheng visited the Pill Hall elder, who asked how he had refined a pill, leaving Lu Changsheng confused.

Lu Changsheng tried to reproduce the Origin-Breaking Pill from the Pill Hall elder’s description and made a new pill. Elder Li took it and broke through to the mid-stage Qianyuan Realm, while Lu Changsheng’s pill’s full effects remained uncertain.

• The Pill Hall elder asked Lu Changsheng how he had refined the Origin-Breaking Pill, and Lu Changsheng pretended he had forgotten its properties.
• After hearing the pill’s effects again, Lu Changsheng used his knowledge of medicinal ingredients to refine a pill in the Pill Hall elder’s chamber.
• The Pill Hall elder judged Lu Changsheng’s pill-refining skill to be far beyond his own after seeing the purified medicinal liquids.
• Hong Ying told Lu Changsheng that Ning Chenxin had returned, then followed him and the Pill Hall elder to test the pill.
• Elder Li swallowed Lu Changsheng’s pill and broke through from the early-stage to the mid-stage Qianyuan Realm.

Lu Changsheng’s pill helped Elder Li advance to the mid-stage Qianyuan Realm while restoring his talent, drawing the Pill Hall’s attention. After Ning Chenxin left to lecture in the Southern Region and Hong Ying departed, Ye Qiubai traveled with Qin Tiannan to the Hidden Dao Academy’s main campus in the Central Region.

• Elder Li broke through to the mid-stage Qianyuan Realm, and his meridians and talent seemed to have regained vitality after taking Lu Changsheng’s pill.
• Lu Changsheng left extra pills with the Pill Hall elder but kept the formula, then returned to the Cottage and ordered Ye Qiubai to cook and clean the mountain.
• Ning Chenxin lectured at the Confucian Academy and earned the students’ respect before preparing to continue teaching the Dao in the Southern Region.
• Hong Ying gave Ning Chenxin a phoenix jade pendant, while Ye Qiubai gave him a voice transmission talisman before he departed.
• Qin Tiannan came to take Ye Qiubai to the main academy, and Hong Ying left the Cottage for an unknown destination.
• Ye Qiubai arrived at the Hidden Dao Academy’s main campus in the Central Region.

Ye Qiubai and Jian Chaomian arrived at Hidden Dao Academy’s main campus and learned about its trial grounds and ranking system. After Ye Qiubai easily defeated Jian Chaomian in a spar, the two headed into the Land of Hundred Refinements to test its floors.

• A guide showed Ye Qiubai, Jian Chaomian, Tian Cheng, and Zhang He their residences and explained that Dao-Seeking Mountain required points to enter.
• Tian Cheng and Zhang He chose the Body Refinement grounds, while Ye Qiubai and Jian Chaomian decided to visit the Land of Hundred Refinements.
• Jian Chaomian challenged Ye Qiubai to a spar, but Ye Qiubai’s Sword Intent cut through Jian Chaomian’s attack and widened the gap between them.
• Tian Cheng and Zhang He left for the Body Refinement grounds, while Ye Qiubai and Jian Chaomian went to the Land of Hundred Refinements.
• Onlookers explained that the Land of Hundred Refinements had fifty floors and that Guan Zongyan’s first-place record reached Floor 47; Ye Qiubai and Jian Chaomian entered the rift.

Ye Qiubai and Jian Chaomian descended through the Land of Hundred Refinements, defeating its guardians and powerful Devil Beasts as they tested their limits. Jian Chaomian stopped at the thirty-first level, while Ye Qiubai continued to the thirty-fourth and fought two Half-Step Qianyuan Devil Beasts alone.

• Ye Qiubai and Jian Chaomian raced through the first four levels, then each defeated a Peak Purple Mansion Realm guardian to enter the sixth level.
• Ye Qiubai and Jian Chaomian descended together, gaining experience as the Devil Beasts grew stronger, until Jian Chaomian stopped at the thirty-first level.
• Ye Qiubai continued alone and reached the thirty-fourth level, where two Half-Step Qianyuan Devil Beasts confronted him.
• Ye Qiubai revealed that he had reached Great Sword Master mastery and fought both Devil Beasts with his Sword Intent and the sixth sword of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon.
• Ye Qiubai broke three of the Four-Horned Bull Demon's horns and forced the tiger-leopard back, astonishing the onlookers.

Ye Qiubai rose to ninth place on the Land of Hundred Refinements stele and advanced to the middle stage of the Qi Sea Realm, drawing attention at the Main Academy. Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng checked on his disciples and learned what each was doing.

• At the Main Academy, a middle-aged man asked Qin Tiannan why Ye Qiubai would not stay, and Qin Tiannan explained that Ye Qiubai already had a master.
• A maid told a frost-surrounded woman that a Great Sword Master had arrived at the academy, but the news did not stir her interest.
• People gathered at the stone stele saw Ye Qiubai take ninth place after reaching the thirty-seventh floor, surpassing the previous holder.
• Jian Chaomian emerged after failing to pass the thirtieth floor, congratulated Ye Qiubai, and said he would keep striving to catch up.
• Ye Qiubai emerged at the middle stage of the Qi Sea Realm and left with Jian Chaomian to consolidate their cultivation.
• Lu Changsheng checked his disciples’ information and saw Ye Qiubai at the Main Academy, Hong Ying searching for Cloud Phoenix Empire subordinates, and Ning Chenxin preaching in the Southern Region.

Lu Changsheng was forced by Qin Tiannan to lecture at the academy’s halls, beginning with the Pill Hall. He demonstrated an unconventional pill-refining method that left the students unable to understand how Ye Qiubai and the others had learned under him.

• Qin Tiannan praised Ye Qiubai’s exploits at the main academy and told Lu Changsheng he had turned down an offer for Ye to join it.
• Qin Tiannan ordered Lu Changsheng to teach at the Pill Hall, Sword Hall, and Confucian Academy, and Lu reluctantly agreed.
• Qin Tiannan brought Lu Changsheng to the Pill Hall, where the elder and students awaited his lesson.
• Lu Changsheng decided to refine mind-stabilizing pills and began tossing ingredients into the furnace while giving the students vague instructions.
• The students were dumbfounded by Lu Changsheng’s strange method and wondered how Ye Qiubai and the others had managed to learn from him.

Lu Changsheng refined pills meant to clear the mind and nourish the spirit, but they unexpectedly helped Pill Hall students break through, improve their alchemy, and strengthen their soul power. Qin Tiannan then took him to teach at the Sword Hall, while Lu Changsheng hoped to ruin his own reputation by teaching nonsense.

• Lu Changsheng filled sixteen jade vials with pills and ate the leftover pill, then gave one to everyone in the Pill Hall.
• After taking the pills, a student broke through from the Golden Core Realm to the Purple Mansion Realm, while another gained the insight needed to refine a pill.
• A student's soul power grew stronger, and the Pill Hall elder said the pill had helped him solve a problem with a formula he had studied for years.
• The students and elder thanked Lu Changsheng for their gains, leaving him to lament that he had destroyed his chance at a quiet life.
• Qin Tiannan praised Lu Changsheng's teaching method and flew with him to the Sword Hall, where Lu Changsheng planned to teach nonsense.

Lu Changsheng's basic sword demonstration unexpectedly helped Xin Hongyi reach the threshold of Sword Intent and inspired breakthroughs across the Sword Hall, further spreading his reputation as a master. Three days later, Ye Qiubai rose to eighth place in the Land of Hundred Refinements before Huang Zhengzhan challenged him to a spar.

• Lu Changsheng performed basic sword techniques with a twig at the Sword Hall, and Xin Hongyi copied him until she reached the threshold of Sword Intent.
• Xin Hongyi explained her insights into basic swordsmanship, prompting the Sword Hall elder to advance to the Great Sword Master level and other disciples to make progress.
• Qin Tiannan took Lu Changsheng to the Confucian Academy, where dozens of students displayed breakthroughs; elders from several halls urged him to teach more often.
• Over three days, Ye Qiubai repeatedly fought Devil Beasts in the Land of Hundred Refinements and climbed to eighth place on its ranking stele.
• After Ye Qiubai and Jian Chaomian left the Land of Hundred Refinements, Huang Zhengzhan, the former eighth-ranked fighter, stopped Ye Qiubai and asked to spar.

Ye Qiubai accepted Huang Zhengzhan’s challenge on Yan Cloud Platform, where they agreed to fight to the death despite the gap between their cultivation realms. Their battle began with Huang charging through Ye’s Sword Intent, and the chapter ended as Ye cut apart Huang’s golden palm attack with the Sixth Sword of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon.

• Huang Zhengzhan told Ye Qiubai that the Sunset Dynasty was his home and challenged him to a fight, and Ye accepted.
• Huang led Ye and Jian Chaomian to Yan Cloud Platform, prompting students and elders to gather and watch.
• Tian Cheng and Zhang He warned Ye that Huang was a half-step Qianyuan expert with an exceptionally strong body, but Ye assured them he was ready.
• Huang declared that the match would be to the death, and Ye agreed before drawing the Dark Demon Sword.
• Huang charged through Ye’s river of Sword Intent, which left only white marks on his skin, while Ye infused it with Demon Qi.
• Huang formed a golden palm from his Battle Intent, and Ye cut through it with the Sixth Sword of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon.

Ye Qiubai used the seventh sword of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon to wound Huang Zhengzhan and gain the advantage on the Yan Cloud Platform. Huang Zhengzhan then activated the Blood-Burning Demonic Art, raising his strength to rival a Qianyuan Realm expert, as Ye Qiubai prepared to face his next attack with the Primordial Sword Scripture.

• Huang Zhengzhan unleashed Heaven Breaker, and Ye Qiubai countered with the seventh sword, Demon's Descent.
• Ye Qiubai's sword strike broke through Huang Zhengzhan's defenses, cracked his arm, and forced him backward, while Ye Qiubai suffered only a minor impact.
• Huang Zhengzhan declared Ye Qiubai a future threat to the Sunset Dynasty and resolved to kill him on the Yan Cloud Platform.
• Huang Zhengzhan activated the Blood-Burning Demonic Art, which burned his blood essence and greatly increased his physical strength.
• Huang Zhengzhan vanished as he attacked, and Ye Qiubai surrounded himself with the vitality-bearing presence of the Primordial Sword Scripture.

Ye Qiubai fought Huang Zhengzhan after Huang used the Blood-Burning Demonic Art to reach Qianyuan Realm strength, ultimately gaining the upper hand with the Primordial Sword Scripture. The Law Enforcement Hall master intervened to save Huang, and when Ye Qiubai challenged his interference, the master attacked him.

• Huang Zhengzhan used the Blood-Burning Demonic Art and attacked Ye Qiubai, who withstood his punch using the Primordial Sword Scripture.
• Ye Qiubai used Pacify Mountains and Rivers to shatter Huang Zhengzhan’s blood-colored sound wave and wound him with Sword Intent.
• Ye Qiubai pursued Huang Zhengzhan, severed one of his arms, and struck with Demon’s Descent as Huang’s power faltered.
• The Law Enforcement Hall master broke through the Yan Cloud Platform’s barrier and destroyed Ye Qiubai’s slash before it could kill Huang Zhengzhan.
• Ye Qiubai objected that the master had violated the platform’s rules, and the master responded by striking at him with his palm.

Ye Qiubai was nearly stopped from killing Huang Zhengzhan when Zhou Shizhong intervened, but Yun Jing arrived and forced the Law Enforcement Hall Master to stand down. Ye Qiubai killed Huang Zhengzhan, while the chapter ended with a bald monk inviting Ning Chenxin to the Pure Heart Temple.

• Zhou Shizhong broke into the Yan Cloud Platform duel and struck Ye Qiubai, sending him flying.
• Yun Jing arrived, shattered Zhou Shizhong's attack, and ordered him to respect the platform's rules.
• Yun Jing kept Zhou Shizhong from interfering as Ye Qiubai approached and killed Huang Zhengzhan.
• Yun Jing spoke with the Hidden Dao Academy's headmaster, who said Zhou Shizhong was unfit to lead the Law Enforcement Hall.
• A bald monk appeared before Ning Chenxin and invited him to accompany the monk to the Pure Heart Temple.