Recaps

After thirty years of cultivation, Hun Qianling emerged from Life and Death Ravine with a breakthrough in her Dao Principle and returned to a Thousand Souls City crowded with prodigies for the Principle Conference. Hun Qianxue worried that Han Xuanji had not emerged from seclusion, while Hun Qianling trusted him; the conference was about to begin.

• Hun Qianling completed a breakthrough in her Dao Principle of Life and Death and returned to Thousand Souls City.
• Cultivators and prodigies from neighboring prefectures and Nine Mysteries City arrived for the Principle Conference after the Nine Mysteries Holy Lord took an interest in it.
• Hun Qianxue reviewed a Jade Slip listing formidable participants, including Ling Cang and Wang Song, and worried about Han Xuanji's chances.
• Hun Qianxue asked Hun Qianling to contact Han Xuanji because he had not responded to messages about the conference, but she said she trusted him.
• Thousand Souls City prepared for the conference as the opening day drew near.

The Great Dao Society opened the Principle Conference in Thousand Souls City and announced its rules and rewards. Wang Ping, Hun Jiuge, Li Tiantong, and Hun Qianxue worried that Han Xuanji had not arrived, while his earth-grade seed status meant he could skip the early rounds.

• Elder Meng welcomed the cultivators and explained the conference rules, prizes, and chance to attract the Nine Mysteries Holy Lord’s attention.
• Wang Ping asked Hun Jiuge and Li Tiantong whether Han Xuanji had arrived, and they said they had not seen him or heard from him.
• Hun Jiuge explained that the Great Dao Society had ranked participants by grade and that Han Xuanji, as an earth-grade seed, would enter in the top 128.
• Hun Qianxue anxiously watched the entrance and worried Han Xuanji would miss his scheduled fight and be disqualified.
• Hun Qianling urged Hun Qianxue to trust Han Xuanji’s plans, and she silently hoped he would arrive in time.

While the Principle Conference began selecting contestants through the Heaven-Responding Mirror, Han Xuanji completed his tenth Dao Principle and broke through to the Eternal Dao Master Tenth Layer. He stopped short of attempting the Eternal True Lord realm, leaving his greatly strengthened power untested.

• Elder Meng explained the four ranks and how the Heaven-Responding Mirror would select profound-rank and yellow-rank contestants for the top sixty-four.
• Hun Jiuge and Li Tiantong entered the mirror world, and Wang Ping watched Hun Jiuge's name light up after a favorable match.
• Han Xuanji completed the Dao Principle of Destruction after thirty years of cultivation on the Creation Platform, and Sage Qiankun's remnant divine sense appeared to acknowledge him.
• Han Xuanji used thousands of high-grade Eternal Crystal Stones to break through from the Eternal Dao Master Ninth Layer to the tenth layer.
• Han Xuanji decided not to attempt the Eternal True Lord realm yet and assessed the power of his ten perfected upper Dao Principles.

After thirty years of seclusion on the Creation Platform, Han Xuanji emerged with the Power of Mystic Heaven, a greatly strengthened body, and a powerful soul. He met He Guanshan, who welcomed him as a brother and told him the Principle Conference had just begun.

• Han Xuanji reviewed his new Power of Mystic Heaven, his minor mastery of the Indestructible Creation Body, and his strengthened soul.
• Han Xuanji found Hun Qianxue's increasingly urgent messages and learned from Hun Qianling that his brother was worried he would miss the Principle Conference.
• Han Xuanji thanked the Creation Platform's vanished Dao intent and descended after thirty years of seclusion.
• He Guanshan greeted Han Xuanji and invited him to call him Brother Guanshan.
• He Guanshan tested Han Xuanji's physical strength with a pat on the shoulder, then said the Principle Conference had only just begun.

Han Xuanji set aside He Guanshan’s concerns about Zhou Lie and the formidable prodigies at the Principle Conference, confident in the strength he had gained at the Creation Platform. He arrived at the crowded conference plaza, where onlookers watched him expectantly because he had never tasted defeat.

• He Guanshan asked Han Xuanji to forgive Zhou Lie for their earlier disagreement, and Han Xuanji agreed as long as Zhou Lie stopped causing trouble.
• He Guanshan warned Han Xuanji that the conference’s prodigies had powerful backgrounds and advised him not to push himself for a high ranking; he explained that Han Xuanji’s earth-grade seed ranking advanced him directly to the top 128.
• Han Xuanji reflected that the Dao Principles of Creation and Destruction and his improved Indestructible Creation Body had strengthened him, and decided he would test his cultivation at the conference.
• He Guanshan told Han Xuanji that Zhou Lie was also an earth-grade seed and warned him not to let his guard down if they met.
• Han Xuanji and He Guanshan crossed Thousand Souls City to reach the conference, where Han Xuanji’s arrival drew expectant attention from the crowd.

Han Xuanji arrived at the Principle Conference, where cultivators watched him with mixed curiosity, support, and hostility as the competition drew elite prodigies from across the province. He reunited with Wang Ping and reviewed the tournament rules while waiting to see how the early rounds would unfold.

• Han Xuanji entered the Soul Household's spectator stands and ignored the whispers and doubtful looks surrounding his participation.
• He Guanshan told Han Xuanji not to let other people affect him, and Han Xuanji went to join Wang Ping.
• Wang Ping welcomed Han Xuanji and said he and his companions believed Han Xuanji could reach the top ranks.
• Han Xuanji reviewed the Mirror World's safety rules, the limits on external aids, and the difficulty of advancing through the tournament.
• Wang Ping told Han Xuanji that their companions had favorable opponents in the first two rounds, though reaching the top hundred would be difficult.

Li Tiantong defeated a stronger opponent to advance to the top hundred, while Han Xuanji entered the next stage of the Principle Conference. As the single-elimination rounds began, Hun Qianxue faced a taunt from Jiang Boyuan and hoped Han Xuanji would prove Thousand Souls City's strength.

• Li Tiantong defeated a ninth-layer eternal Dao Master and advanced, earning Wang Ping and Hun Qianling's astonished praise.
• After a seven-day rest, Elder Meng announced the rules for the top 128 and began the next round of the Principle Conference.
• Han Xuanji and the other contestants entered the Heaven-Responding Mirror as Hun Qianxue, Jiang Boyuan, and other major figures watched from the platform.
• Jiang Boyuan mocked Thousand Souls City for having only seven native contestants among the top hundred.
• Hun Qianxue answered that fewer contestants did not mean weaker strength and silently hoped Han Xuanji would make him proud.

At the Principle Conference, Wang Chong defended Hun Qianxue after Jiang Boyuan dismissed his chances, and the top hundred battles began. Han Xuanji entered the Heaven-Responding Mirror and narrowly dodged a powerful sneak attack from an opponent at Eternal Dao Master Perfection.

• Jiang Boyuan bragged about Azure Moon City's heaven-tier seed and underestimated Han Xuanji.
• Wang Chong praised a contender from Thousand Souls City, prompting Jiang Boyuan to quickly change his tune.
• The top hundred battles began, and Hun Qianxue searched the images for Han Xuanji.
• Han Xuanji appeared in a barren world inside the Heaven-Responding Mirror and noted that its weaker rules favored his Dao Principle abilities.
• An opponent attacked Han Xuanji with a five-element pillar of light, but Han Xuanji dodged and identified the attacker as an Eternal Dao Master Perfection cultivator.

Han Xuanji faced Lu Zhiyi, an earth-grade seed from Azure Moon City who cultivated the Five Elements Dao by a different path. After Han Xuanji shattered Lu Zhiyi’s signature attack, Lu Zhiyi recognized the danger and prepared to fight with everything he had.

• Lu Zhiyi launched an opening attack at Han Xuanji, who dodged it without difficulty.
• Lu Zhiyi recognized Han Xuanji as a Thousand Souls City earth-grade seed and taunted him before attacking at extreme speed.
• Han Xuanji used the Five Elements Great Grappling Hand to stop Lu Zhiyi’s five-colored light blade and crush it.
• Lu Zhiyi retreated, reassessed Han Xuanji’s strength, and formed seals to unleash his full power.

Han Xuanji defeated Lu Zhiyi with one punch, forcing the Heaven-Responding Mirror to remove Lu from the contest. The spectators celebrated Han’s victory while the visiting cities reconsidered his strength, and Hun Qianxue calmly consoled the embarrassed Jiang Boyuan.

• Lu Zhiyi summoned his Five Elements Dharma Manifestation, but Han Xuanji struck it down with the Creation Divine Fist and overwhelmed Lu with the Power of Mystic Heaven.
• The Heaven-Responding Mirror transported Lu Zhiyi out after his injuries became life-threatening, leaving Han Xuanji standing alone in the wasteland.
• Wang Ping and Hun Qianling celebrated Han’s one-punch victory, while Hun Jiuge and other spectators marveled at how quickly the fight ended.
• Ling Xuan, Qin Yong, and the woman in purple discussed Han’s strength and questioned where he had come from.
• Jiang Boyuan endured the spectators’ laughter, while Hun Qianxue advised him to take Lu Zhiyi back and help him improve.

Han Xuanji waited out the first round after defeating Lu Zhiyi, then entered the next round and quickly beat a fast sword cultivator from Seven Stars Prefecture. The heaven-grade seeds joined the competition, and Han Xuanji advanced with two consecutive victories.

• Jiang Boyuan praised Zhou Yunhe, Azure Moon City's heaven-grade seed, and hoped Han Xuanji would face him.
• Han Xuanji reviewed his fight with Lu Zhiyi while waiting inside the Heaven-Responding Mirror.
• Only Zhou Lie and Han Xuanji advanced from Thousand Souls City on the first day, while Li Tiantong was eliminated.
• After three days of rest, the next round began and the heaven-grade seeds entered the competition.
• Han Xuanji defeated an Eternal Dao Master Ninth Layer cultivator from Seven Stars Prefecture, earning his second consecutive victory.

Han Xuanji advanced to the third round with two effortless victories, while Azure Moon City lost all three of its earth-grade seeds and relied on Zhou Yunhe. The third round began without protections keeping heaven-grade seeds apart, leaving Han Xuanji and the other contestants at risk of facing top opponents.

• Han Xuanji defeated Yan Han of Seven Stars Prefecture in one move, drawing attention from spectators and faction representatives.
• Hun Qianxue silently taunted Jiang Boyuan as Han Xuanji advanced, while Ling Xuan insisted a heaven-grade seed would put Han Xuanji in his place.
• Azure Moon City’s three earth-grade seeds were eliminated, leaving Jiang Boyuan to pin his hopes on the unharmed Zhou Yunhe.
• Hun Qianxue reflected that Han Xuanji’s performances matched those of heaven-grade seeds, though he wondered how Han Xuanji would fare against one.
• The third round began with thirty-two contestants competing for sixteen places, and spectators watched anxiously as heaven-grade seeds could now be matched against one another.

The Heaven-Responding Mirror matched Han Xuanji against heaven-rank seed Zhou Yunhe in the third round, alarming Han Xuanji’s supporters and drawing attention from the spectators. Han Xuanji met Zhou Yunhe beside a great river, where Zhou declared that Han was no match for him.

• Jiang Boyuan saw that Zhou Yunhe had drawn Han Xuanji and expected Zhou to win, while Hun Qianxue worried about the pairing.
• Wang Ping, Hun Qianling, Hun Jiuge, and Li Tiantong watched anxiously as Han Xuanji faced a heaven-rank seed.
• Ling Xuan learned that Ling Cang had drawn Xun Ye, another heaven-rank seed, and shifted his attention from Han Xuanji to his brother.
• The Heaven-Responding Mirror sent the thirty-two competitors into sixteen worlds and began the third round.
• Han Xuanji sensed two presences near the great river and recognized one as Zhou Yunhe’s clone or afterimage.
• Zhou Yunhe praised Han Xuanji’s strength but declared that Han was no match for him.

Han Xuanji defeated the Heaven-grade Seed Zhou Yunhe with a single overwhelming attack, bypassing Zhou Yunhe’s spacetime defenses and striking both of his true bodies at once. Zhou Yunhe was eliminated in the third round, leaving the spectators stunned and Jiang Boyuan shaken by Han Xuanji’s strength.

• Zhou Yunhe used his Dao of Space and Time to defend himself, but Han Xuanji vanished without leaving any spatial traces.
• Han Xuanji’s fist broke through Zhou Yunhe’s Spacetime Folding and struck both of his true bodies with the Power of Mystic Heaven.
• Zhou Yunhe was sent flying and eliminated from the competition, while Han Xuanji calmly drew back his fist.
• The spectators realized a Heaven-grade Seed had fallen, and Ling Xuan and Qin Yong reacted with shock and concern for Ling Cang.
• Jiang Boyuan stared at Han Xuanji’s bright name on the light screen and questioned his background.

Han Xuanji stunned the Principle Conference by defeating heaven-tier seed Zhou Yunhe with one punch, while Zhou Lie advanced after a hard-fought victory and hoped to face Han Xuanji to erase his humiliation. When the first day ended, Han Xuanji and the disguised Xiao Yan, competing as Yan Xiao, were the two earth-tier seeds who had beaten heaven-tier opponents and reached the top sixteen.

• Han Xuanji defeated Zhou Yunhe of Azure Moon City with one punch, leaving Jiang Boyuan stunned and the spectators celebrating.
• Elder Meng and the other faction representatives took note of Han Xuanji's unexpected strength and considered what it might mean for the conference.
• Zhou Lie won a prolonged battle against another earth-tier seed, then hoped to meet Han Xuanji in the next match and wash away his earlier humiliation.
• The day's matches ended with eleven heaven-tier seeds and five earth-tier seeds in the top sixteen; Ling Cang advanced decisively, and Yan Xiao also defeated a heaven-tier seed.
• The crowd speculated about Han Xuanji and Yan Xiao, whose victories made them the conference's most talked-about competitors.
• The three-day break passed.

Han Xuanji entered the round of sixteen against Zhou Lie, whom everyone expected him to defeat easily. Their first exchange ended with both men retreating seven steps, surprising the spectators.

• Han Xuanji watched the contestants' results and noted that Zhou Lie and Xiao Yan had advanced, while he sensed another contestant was concealing formidable strength.
• Han Xuanji was transported to a snowy battlefield and discovered that his opponent was Zhou Lie.
• Zhou Lie confidently challenged Han Xuanji, believing he had grown strong enough to overcome him, while Han Xuanji decided to trade a few moves and let him lose with dignity.
• He Guanshan and Hun Qianxue expected Han Xuanji to get an easy victory, and the spectators dismissed the match as a one-sided beatdown.
• Han Xuanji and Zhou Lie struck fists and both retreated seven steps, leaving the spectators stunned.

Han Xuanji defeated Zhou Lie after prolonging their fight, revealing the vast gap between them. Zhou Lie returned to the platform expecting ridicule, but the crowd cheered him instead.

• Han Xuanji and Zhou Lie traded blows while spectators speculated that Zhou Lie was a hidden expert or that Han Xuanji was holding back.
• He Guanshan and Hun Qianxue recognized that Han Xuanji was deliberately matching Zhou Lie's strength, while Wang Ping wondered why Han Xuanji did not finish the fight.
• Zhou Lie suspected Han Xuanji was going easy on him and challenged him to settle the match with one strike.
• Han Xuanji struck Zhou Lie with the Power of Mystic Heaven, defeated him, and secured his place among the top eight.
• Zhou Lie returned to the platform expecting jeers, but the Tiger and Panther Legion, Thousand Souls City cultivators, and other spectators cheered for him.

Zhou Lie learned that Han Xuanji had held back against him and accepted his defeat, while Han advanced to the top eight. After a three-day rest, the quarterfinals began with Han entering a mist-covered stone forest battlefield.

• Zhou Lie discovered that Han Xuanji had defeated heaven-tier seed Zhou Yunhe in one exchange and realized Han had spared him.
• Zhou Lie let go of his resentment, reflected on what he had learned from the fight, and resolved to acknowledge Han's favor.
• The day's matches ended with eight contestants remaining, including Han Xuanji and Xiao Yan as the only earth-tier seeds.
• After the three-day rest, Han entered the quarterfinal battlefield, a vast stone forest, and sensed a sharp presence locking onto him.

Han Xuanji met Ling Cang of Nine Mysteries City in the quarterfinals, prompting spectators to anticipate a clash between the tournament’s greatest dark horse and a renowned Sword Dao prodigy. As Ling Cang summoned nine flying swords, Han Xuanji revealed that he, too, was a sword cultivator.

• Han Xuanji crossed the stone forest and introduced himself to Ling Cang, who identified himself as a competitor from Nine Mysteries City.
• Han Xuanji recalled Ling Cang’s reputation for combining the Sword Dao with the Space Principle, while remembering his own long-neglected Sword Dao foundations.
• Spectators and faction representatives focused on the match, with Hun Qianxue and Ling Xuan wondering whether Han Xuanji could defeat Ling Cang.
• Ling Cang released nine fifth-tier Eternal Dao Artifact flying swords, and his Sword Intent carved marks into the stone forest.
• Han Xuanji told Ling Cang, "I'm a sword cultivator too," leaving Ling Cang startled.

Han Xuanji drew Cold Chi and tested his swordsmanship against Ling Cang, overpowering Ling Cang’s defense with a single swift strike. He then slowed his attacks to keep the duel going, leaving Ling Cang wary and spectators astonished that Han Xuanji knew the Sword Dao.

• Ling Cang revealed his formidable Dao foundation and Space-Slashing Sword Intent, while Han Xuanji recognized the rarity of Ling Cang’s True Intention of Sword Dao.
• Han Xuanji drew Cold Chi and struck so quickly that Ling Cang barely had time to react.
• Ling Cang used Nine Swords Return to the Origin, but Han Xuanji’s blow damaged his swords, sent him staggering back, and injured his hand.
• Spectators outside the mirror were stunned to see Han Xuanji wield a sword, while Ling Cang privately questioned whether their fight was truly a contest of Sword Dao.
• Han Xuanji continued with measured attacks that Ling Cang could withstand, forcing Ling Cang to remain on guard.

Han Xuanji studied Ling Cang’s Space Severing Sword Intent while sparring with him in the stone forest, then ended the fight with a single strike of Falling Star. Ling Cang accepted his defeat as Han Xuanji advanced.

• Ling Cang attacked Han Xuanji with his nine flying swords, but Han Xuanji parried steadily and recovered instantly from every wound.
• As the fight continued, Ling Cang grew fatigued while Han Xuanji grasped the essence of his Space Severing Sword Intent.
• Han Xuanji withdrew and challenged Ling Cang to one final move, prompting Ling Cang to regain his resolve.
• Ling Cang merged his nine swords into Space Severing: Nine Swords Become One, and Han Xuanji countered with Falling Star.
• Han Xuanji’s strike overwhelmed Ling Cang’s sword light, and Ling Cang was teleported out after accepting that he had lost fairly.

After Ling Cang lost to Han Xuanji in the quarterfinals, Ling Zheng and Elder Meng praised Han Xuanji’s strength. Song Ling questioned whether Han Xuanji’s Dao foundation was worthy of the Principle Conference and promoted Song Tiancheng instead, leaving Hun Qianxue concerned that the criticism might influence public opinion.

• Ling Cang appeared after his quarterfinal loss, and members of the Ling Household regretted his elimination.
• Ling Zheng said Han Xuanji was an exceptional talent and that Ling Cang had lost fairly.
• Elder Meng called Han Xuanji formidable.
• Song Ling argued that Han Xuanji relied on his physical body and spiritual power, then praised Song Tiancheng’s Dao foundation.
• Hun Qianxue suspected Song Ling was trying to undermine Han Xuanji and worried that others might share doubts about his mastery of Dao principles.

After Han Xuanji defeated Ling Cang, the spectators and elders considered what the victory revealed about Han Xuanji’s talent. Ling Cang learned that Ling Xuan had boasted about him and went to apologize to Wang Ping and the others.

• Elder Meng weighed Han Xuanji’s physical strength against his unknown comprehension and Dao Foundation, which could determine his future limits.
• Spectators praised Han Xuanji’s decisive sword strike and lamented that Ling Cang had been eliminated in the quarterfinals.
• Ling Xuan struggled with embarrassment as Wang Ping, Li Tiantong, and Hun Jiuge watched him after his earlier boasts were proven wrong.
• Qin Yong told Ling Cang that Ling Xuan was ashamed of bragging on his behalf, and Ling Xuan confessed what he had said at the Shallow Dream Pavilion.
• Ling Cang acknowledged his own past arrogance, then went with Ling Xuan to apologize to Wang Ping and the others.

After Ling Cang defeated his resentment over losing to Han Xuanji, he publicly apologized for Ling Xuan’s rude behavior and acknowledged Han Xuanji’s overwhelming strength. Three days later, the Principle Conference continued, with Han Xuanji and three other contestants remaining as the next match began.

• Ling Cang brought Ling Xuan to apologize to Wang Ping, Li Tiantong, and Hun Jiuge for Ling Xuan’s earlier insults.
• Ling Cang praised Han Xuanji’s strength, then explained to Ling Xuan that their defeat had shown him how vast the world of cultivation was.
• Ling Cang told Qin Yong that Han Xuanji would claim first place, and Qin Yong approved of his calm acceptance.
• Han Xuanji saw Yan Xiao’s name remain on the light screen after Xiao Yan won, leaving Han Xuanji, Song Tiancheng, Yan Xiao, and Shi Ziyun in the competition.
• After the three-day rest period, Han Xuanji reflected on his Sword Dao insights before white light transported him as the contestants prepared for the next match.

Han Xuanji met Song Tiancheng in the mirror world for their tournament duel. Song Tiancheng revealed a remarkably harmonious Dao foundation and prepared to fight, while Han Xuanji assessed his skill.

• Han Xuanji sensed Song Tiancheng waiting in a forest clearing and went to meet him.
• Han Xuanji and Song Tiancheng introduced themselves and sized each other up before the watched duel.
• Spectators and elders focused on the match, with Song Ling expecting Song Tiancheng to showcase his Dao foundation.
• Song Tiancheng declared that he was strong too and began channeling wood-attribute power intertwined with several other Dao laws.
• Han Xuanji recognized that Song Tiancheng's ten Dao laws complemented one another with exceptional harmony.