Chapter Summaries

Mu Shi fought Niu Zhong and broke through to the Sword Master realm under the pressure of a life-or-death battle. When Niu Zhong’s fiery attack closed in, Mu Shi vanished, and Ye Qiubai set off to find him.

• Mu Shi’s Sword Intent sharpened, and he fought Niu Zhong, who wounded him with flames from his staff.
• Niu Zhong knocked Mu Shi down and raised his staff for a killing blow, but Mu Shi’s Sword Intent erupted as he broke through to the Sword Master realm.
• Mu Shi countered with the second sword of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon, but Niu Zhong’s twin fiery vortices overwhelmed him.
• A Heavenly Lightning Escape Talisman made Mu Shi vanish before the vortices could crush him, leaving Niu Zhong and Ai Xue unable to find his body.
• Ye Qiubai left to search for Mu Shi, while Ai Xue ordered Niu Zhong to return to cultivating for the selection.

Ye Qiubai reassured Mu Shi after his defeat, while Xiaoshu continued improving as an alchemist in Fortune Temple Village. An abnormally early beast tide approached the village, and Ye Qiubai and the others identified hidden Evil Devil Qi behind it, suspecting Xin Hongyi.

• Ye Qiubai rescued Mu Shi from a wolf, healed him, and encouraged him to learn from his loss to Niu Zhong.
• Mu Shi renewed his resolve to train and defeat Niu Zhong in their next fight.
• Four months before the election, Xiaoshu refined Profound Grade pills successfully under Mu Wan'er's guidance.
• A beast tide struck Fortune Temple Village ten years earlier than expected, and Mu Wan'er sensed a strange, familiar presence behind it.
• Shi Sheng identified the presence as Evil Devil Qi, and Ye Qiubai concluded that someone among the trial participants had triggered the beast tide to eliminate their competitors' disciples.
• Ye Qiubai suspected Xin Hongyi was the remnant of the Evil Devil Domain responsible.

As a massive beast tide approached Fortune Temple Village, Ye Qiubai and the others uncovered Xin Hongyi’s connection to the Evil Devil Domain and chose to defend the village. Xu Meng took command of the villagers, while Ai Xue secretly plotted to sabotage her; the villagers’ opening volley struck the leading beasts and slowed the tide.

• Ye Qiubai and the others realized Xin Hongyi was a remnant of the Evil Devil Domain, and Ye Qiubai decided they would defend Fortune Temple Village and question her later.
• Xu Meng took charge of the village’s defense and ordered the villagers to use bows behind the fences while the disciples prepared to fill gaps and attack.
• Ai Xue told Niu Zhong and the other three to hold back and secretly let beasts through the fences so Xu Meng’s formation would collapse.
• Xu Meng ordered the villagers to loose their arrows, killing the leading beasts and slowing those behind them.
• The villagers cheered as Xu Meng called for the first group to reload and the second group to follow up.

Xu Meng directed the villagers and disciples in defending Fortune Temple Village against a beast tide, but three powerful bears turned the battle against them. As Mu Shi kept one bear occupied and Niu Zhong and Wang Dan were injured, Ai Xue admitted she was treating the trial as a competition and challenged Hong Ying to intervene.

• Xu Meng organized the villagers’ defense, while Ye Qiubai and the others praised Xu Meng’s leadership and discussed Hong Ying recruiting her for the Cloud Phoenix Empire.
• Mu Fusheng and Ye Qiubai left to search for Xin Hongyi and confront her about becoming a remnant of the Evil Devil Domain.
• Three giant bears with sinister black markings joined the beast tide, and Xu Meng ordered Mu Shi, Niu Zhong, and Wang Dan to hold them back.
• Mu Shi used the bears’ slow reactions to keep one occupied, but Niu Zhong and Wang Dan were sent flying and spat blood.
• Hong Ying accused Ai Xue of using a trick, and Ai Xue said the disciples were competitors in the trial and challenged Hong Ying to risk interfering.

Niu Zhong and Wang Dan turned three giant bears against Mu Shi while Xu Meng held the defensive line, and Mu Shi used his Sword Domain to wound one bear. Ye Qiubai and Mu Fusheng confronted Xin Hongyi over her release of Evil Devil Qi, and their second clash was about to begin.

• Niu Zhong and Wang Dan used pills to retreat toward the fence, drawing the other two giant bears onto Mu Shi.
• Xu Meng kept command of the villagers’ defensive line instead of leaving to help Mu Shi.
• Mu Shi used his Sword Domain to evade the bears and slash one of their paws, though he continued to suffer injuries.
• Ye Qiubai and Mu Fusheng found Xin Hongyi and demanded to know why she had joined the Evil Devil Domain.
• Xin Hongyi refused to stop releasing Evil Devil Qi unless they forced her, and Ye Qiubai drew the Geng Metal Divine Sword as their battle began.

Xin Hongyi attacked Ye Qiubai and Mu Fusheng with black flames, then summoned a rain of flaming meteors aimed near Fortune Temple Village. Mu Fusheng blocked the first meteor with the Eight Peaks Thunder Prison, and Ye Qiubai rose to support him despite the flames still burning him.

• Xin Hongyi spread black markings across her body and sent two enormous black-flame tigers charging at Ye Qiubai and Mu Fusheng.
• Ye Qiubai and Mu Fusheng struck the tigers with their sword and lightning attacks, but the tigers endured and wounded Ye Qiubai.
• Xin Hongyi cast Demonic Flame Heavenly Tribulation, summoning a huge flaming meteor whose shock waves threatened the people near Fortune Temple Village.
• Mu Fusheng raised the Eight Peaks Thunder Prison and used five kinds of Ancient Divine Lightning to hold the meteor above the ground.
• Xin Hongyi sent several more meteors down, and Ye Qiubai stood up with the Geng Metal Sword Case to support Mu Fusheng as he fought her.

Ye Qiubai and Mu Fusheng fought Xin Hongyi as she attacked them with devil-flame meteors. Mu Fusheng destroyed the meteors and wounded Xin Hongyi, but she escaped and could not be tracked.

• Ye Qiubai used the Geng Metal Sword Case and Pohong Sword Art to split one of Xin Hongyi's devil-flame meteors, worsening his injuries.
• Mu Fusheng revealed his Half-Step Divine Lord Realm cultivation and used five kinds of Ancient Divine Lightning to destroy Xin Hongyi's fiery cloud.
• Mu Fusheng struck Xin Hongyi with lightning and used barriers and a talisman to blast away one of her arms.
• Xin Hongyi regenerated her arm, said she had no need to kill Mu Fusheng, and warned that Evil Devil Domain Qi could not be tracked.
• Xin Hongyi vanished, and Mu Fusheng confirmed that he could not follow her presence.

Ye Qiubai began breaking through while Mu Shi and the villagers fought the beast tide, until the beasts suddenly weakened and Zhao Ya killed the three giant bears. Zhao Ya’s display won the villagers’ cheers and frustrated Ai Xue, while Hong Ying and the others recognized that Xin Hongyi had achieved her goal.

• Mu Fusheng used lightning power to help Ye Qiubai expel demonic flames, and Ye Qiubai’s presence surged as he began breaking through.
• Mu Shi endured the three giant bears’ assault and advanced to the Early Stage of the Qi Sea Realm while the villagers struggled against the beast tide.
• The beasts’ black markings and bloodshot eyes faded, leaving them briefly stunned, and Zhang He charged into the herd as Xu Meng ordered a counterattack.
• Zhao Ya appeared before Mu Shi and killed all three giant bears with his bone-spiked whip, then charged into the remaining beasts.
• The villagers cheered Zhao Ya and Zhang He, while Hong Ying and the others concluded that Xin Hongyi had secured her intended effect and Ai Xue realized Zhao Ya had taken the opportunity she had arranged for Niu Zhong and the others.

After the beast tide, Fortune Temple Village held its vote for the four stone houses, and Xu Meng won first place while Xiaoshu came second before withdrawing. Niu Zhong challenged Mu Shi to a fight for the village chief’s votes, and Mu Shi accepted, determined to defeat him.

• The villagers thanked Mu Shi and the others for saving Fortune Temple Village, while Ye Qiubai and Mu Fusheng reported that Xin Hongyi’s bloodline power made her a formidable opponent.
• After the beast tide, Ye Qiubai and the others focused on training their disciples as the village vote approached.
• The villagers voted for the stone houses, placing Xu Meng first, Xiaoshu second, Zhang He third, and Zhao Ya fourth, while Mu Shi finished fifth.
• Xiaoshu withdrew from the competition, moving Zhao Ya and Mu Shi into the top four and leaving Niu Zhong just behind Mu Shi by two votes.
• Niu Zhong asked the village chief to award his votes to him if he defeated Mu Shi, and Mu Shi accepted the challenge.

Mu Shi challenged Niu Zhong to avenge his earlier defeat and revealed that he had become a Great Sword Master. After defeating Niu Zhong despite his boosted cultivation, Mu Shi won the village chief’s three votes and secured the contest’s result.

• Mu Shi accepted Niu Zhong’s challenge, and the villagers cleared space for their fight.
• Niu Zhong attacked with his flame-patterned staff, but Mu Shi’s Sword Domain and sword strike cut through his flames and injured his arms.
• Niu Zhong covered himself in the staff’s flame patterns to strengthen his Spiritual Qi, then attacked Mu Shi again.
• Mu Shi used the fourth sword of the Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon to split Niu Zhong’s fiery Spiritual Qi and send him flying, badly wounded.
• The village chief gave his three votes to Mu Shi, and Ai Xue called Niu Zhong trash.

After the trial, the village chief revealed his immense power and offered the successful participants a chance to enter the Fusheng Diagram’s core area. Ye Qiubai and the others chose to bring their disciples with them, while Ai Xue revealed that the wooden-faced man was far stronger than she was.

• Ai Xue expelled Niu Zhong and her other disciples after none of them made the top four.
• The village chief revealed his powerful soul and offered the successful participants time to say goodbye to their disciples before entering the core area.
• Mu Wan'er insisted that Xiaoshu and the others were their genuine disciples, and the village chief allowed them to take their disciples out.
• The village chief permitted Xin Hongyi to enter the core area despite her connection to the Evil Devil Domain, and Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying, the wooden-faced man, and Xin Hongyi followed him through a spatial rift.
• After the rift closed, Ai Xue told the others that the wooden-faced man was stronger than she was and that they could not defeat him.

At the Fusheng Diagram’s core, Ye Qiubai challenged Jiang Mu for the chance to claim it and discovered that the seemingly dull man was a powerful hidden expert. Ye Qiubai continued fighting despite being badly outmatched, while Jiang Mu revealed his full strength and declared that Ye Qiubai would have no chance from then on.

• The village chief explained that whoever harmonized with the Fusheng Diagram’s power would gain the core’s recognition, prompting the group to decide who would try first.
• Ye Qiubai challenged the dull-witted man, who revealed himself as Jiang Mu and knocked Ye Qiubai away with a single blow.
• Ye Qiubai attacked Jiang Mu again with the Pohong Sword Art, but Jiang Mu blocked his strikes with a wind-wall palm imprint and golden armor.
• Ye Qiubai sent a barrage of swords at Jiang Mu, who revealed golden armor and a halberd and repelled every sword with a storm.
• Jiang Mu praised Ye Qiubai’s skill but said Ye Qiubai would have no chance from then on.

Ye Qiubai used the Geng Metal Sword Case to fuse five swords and wounded Jiang Mu despite their disparity in cultivation, but Jiang Mu defeated him with a burst of Spear Intent. When Jiang Mu urged Ye Qiubai to join the Supervisory Sacred Hall and insulted his sect, Hong Ying stepped forward to confront him.

• Jiang Mu revealed overwhelming strength and attacked Ye Qiubai with a golden wind dragon infused with Spear Intent.
• Ye Qiubai compressed his Sword Domain into the Geng Metal Sword Case, then used Sword Case Sword Control, Sword Fusion to combine five swords and break through Jiang Mu's storm.
• Ye Qiubai's Sword Intent pierced Jiang Mu's armor and injured him, but Jiang Mu unleashed a burst of Spear Intent that scattered the swords and sent Ye Qiubai flying.
• Jiang Mu invited Ye Qiubai to join the Supervisory Sacred Hall and claimed that no other faction, including the Primordial Sword Sect, could offer him a better future.
• Hong Ying rejected the invitation and said Jiang Mu had wronged Ye Qiubai and insulted their sect, then summoned the Samsara Long Spear as the Intent of the Emperor rose.

Hong Ying challenged Jiang Mu after he disparaged the Cottage, using her imperial intent and the Samsara Long Spear to overcome him. She broke through to the middle God Emperor Realm during the fight and defeated him, leaving her spear at his throat.

• Hong Ying confronted Jiang Mu and suppressed him with her imperial intent and the Dao Law of Samsara.
• Hong Ying used the first and second forms of her Imperial Record, but Jiang Mu answered with his full strength and shattered her spear light.
• Hong Ying unleashed the third and fourth forms, Earth Splitting and Heaven Collapse, as the battle intensified.
• Hong Ying broke through to the middle God Emperor Realm during the fight and attacked Jiang Mu with Lu Changsheng's Samsara Spear Technique.
• Hong Ying knocked Jiang Mu's golden spear from his hands and held the Samsara Long Spear to his throat, asking whether Ye Qiubai still needed to join the Supervisory Sacred Hall.

Hong Ying resonated with the Fusheng Diagram's core and claimed it, despite the village chief's rules and Jiang Mu's attempts to bargain for it. Back in Fortune Temple Village, she rejected the Supervisory Sacred Hall's threats, while Jiang Mu and Ai Xue withdrew to seek another chance to seize it.

• The village chief ruled that Hong Ying could try sensing the Fusheng Diagram's core first, despite Xin Hongyi's objections.
• Xin Hongyi's cultivation reached the Half-Step Divine Lord Realm, but she withdrew rather than fight the village chief.
• The Fusheng Diagram's core absorbed Hong Ying's Intent of the Emperor and Dao Law of Samsara, then chose her and fed its Power of Rules into her.
• Hong Ying broke through to the Late God Emperor Realm, drew the core into her dantian, and returned with the others to Fortune Temple Village.
• Jiang Mu offered Hong Ying a greater reward if she handed the Fusheng Diagram to him, but she rejected the Supervisory Sacred Hall's claim and dared its deputy hall masters to come take it.
• Jiang Mu stopped Ai Xue from attacking, admitted neither of them could defeat Hong Ying, and left with her to plan another attempt.

After ten years of cultivation inside the Fusheng Diagram, Ye Qiubai and his companions emerged stronger and chose the Demon King Domain as their next destination. As they returned through a canyon, concealed formations erupted around them and trapped the group.

• Hong Ying took control of the Fusheng Diagram and sent Ai Xue, Jiang Mu, and Xin Hongyi outside while the others stayed to cultivate.
• Ten years passed inside the Fusheng Diagram, and Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying, Xiao Hei, and their companions advanced their cultivation and Dao attainments.
• Ye Qiubai and the others decided to enter the Demon King Domain, where Xiao Hei hoped to rescue someone from his memories.
• The group left their disciples inside the Fusheng Diagram and returned to the Ancestral Emperor Palace.
• Mu Fusheng warned the others to watch for their enemies, but concealed formations activated around them as they entered a canyon.

Ye Qiubai and his companions broke through the Blood Demon Soul Severing Array and thwarted Jiang Mu, Ai Xue, and Song Ci’s ambush. Song Ci warned that they still could not take the Fusheng Diagram out of the Ancient Battlefield, but Ai Xue was suddenly pierced by a lightning spear.

• Fang Qiong located the Blood Demon Soul Severing Array’s core, and Ye Qiubai destroyed it with his fused swords.
• Jiang Mu, Ai Xue, and Song Ci ambushed Hong Ying, but she held off their attacks while the others trapped and struck the three.
• Shi Sheng recognized Song Ci, who revealed that he had faked his death to hide in the shadows and prepare a surprise attack.
• Song Ci warned Ye Qiubai’s group that they could not take the Fusheng Diagram out of the Ancient Battlefield even if they refused to hand it over.
• A lightning spear pierced Ai Xue’s dantian, and her vitality and presence began to fade.

Mu Fusheng killed Ai Xue, Jiang Mu, and Song Ci to keep the Supervisory Sacred Hall from learning about their strength or taking the Fusheng Diagram. After escaping the Ancient Battlefield, the group learned the Supervisory Sacred Hall would likely make major moves, and Liu Ziru gave them a route to the Dark Domain before departing.

• Mu Fusheng revealed his God Lord Realm strength and killed Ai Xue, Jiang Mu, and Song Ci after refusing to surrender the Fusheng Diagram.
• Mu Fusheng warned the group not to take the Supervisory Sacred Hall members’ spatial rings and led everyone toward the Ancient Battlefield’s exit.
• The group bowed to the skeletons guarding the exit, who said the Mortal Realm’s future rested in their hands as they left.
• Liu Ziru met Ye Qiubai and the others in the Luan Emperor Region, warned that the Supervisory Sacred Hall would make major moves, and gave them a map route to the Dark Domain before returning there.

Nan Congyin learned that Jiang Mu, Ai Xue, and Song Ci had died inside the Ancient Battlefield and tried to detain everyone leaving while searching for the Fusheng Diagram. After comparing the entrants with those who had emerged, he identified Ye Qiubai and others as missing and ordered the Supervisory Sacred Hall's Inspectors to find them.

• Nan Congyin ordered a formation set up to detain people leaving the Ancient Battlefield, then learned that Jiang Mu's, Ai Xue's, and Song Ci's soul tablets had shattered.
• Nan Congyin and He Shangke rushed to the exit, where Nan Congyin questioned Ji Qianyao, Jin Wujin, and Du Yun about the Supervisory Sacred Hall's disciples.
• Nan Congyin ordered the newcomers to stay for a search, while He Shangke displayed a drawing of the Fusheng Diagram and asked them to hand it over if they had found it.
• After a prodigy searched the Ancient Battlefield and found no bodies, Nan Congyin compared the entrant records with those who had emerged.
• Nan Congyin named Ye Qiubai and several others as missing, then ordered every Inspector of the Supervisory Sacred Hall to find them.

The Supervisory Sacred Hall and two Divine Lord-level factions issued a joint pursuit order for Ye Qiubai and the others, who fled to the Dark Domain before setting out for the Demon King Domain. Xiao Hei planned to infiltrate the Demon King Imperial Guard to find the place where his younger sister was imprisoned.

• The Supervisory Sacred Hall discovered that the listed prodigies' soul tablets had shattered and offered Divine Lord-level rewards for capturing Ye Qiubai and the others, while the Yin Yang Divine Sect and Eight Desolations Divine Sect joined the pursuit.
• The Dark Lord gave Ye Qiubai and the others the pursuit notices and advised them to stay in the Dark Domain, but they said they had other matters to handle and prepared to leave.
• Liu Ziru gave Xiao Hei a dossier on the Demon King Domain and warned the group to conceal their identities from the factions searching for them.
• Divine Lord Hao Tian ordered the grand elder to discreetly spread news about the Fusheng Diagram and sent people toward the Demon King Domain to help protect Ye Qiubai and the others.
• Ye Qiubai and the others arrived in the Demon King Domain in disguise, and Xiao Hei said he would join the Demon King Imperial Guard to get close to the place where his younger sister was imprisoned.