Chapter Summaries

After awakening with unprecedented cultivation attributes, Yang Zhen discovered that he could master a heaven-grade sword technique derived from the Wind and Thunder Sword. He stopped Liu Ruoning from jumping off a cliff and vowed to help her face Duan Langcai, who was set to marry her in ten days.

• Yang Zhen awakened to off-the-charts root bone, comprehension, endurance, and spiritual perception after inheriting the memories of the original Yang Zhen.
• Liu Ruoning told Yang Zhen that she had to defeat Duan Langcai within ten days to avoid marrying him, though Duan was at the ninth level of the Essence Condensation Stage and wielded an earth-grade martial skill.
• Yang Zhen recalled the Wind and Thunder Sword and gained the heaven-grade Great Evolution Wind and Thunder Sword, which he immediately mastered.
• Yang Zhen found Liu Ruoning practicing on Changyue Peak’s windswept platform and saw her stagger toward the cliff after despairing over her lack of progress.
• Yang Zhen pulled Liu Ruoning back from the edge and promised to help her stir things up against Duan Langcai.

Yang Zhen taught Liu Ruoning the Great Evolution Wind and Thunder Sword to help her resist the forced marriage to Duan Langcai, then transformed the Shangyuan Sect’s Supreme Origin Scripture into the Ancient Scripture of Shangyuan. Liu Ruoning’s sword practice unleashed a startling display of power, drawing the sect leaders’ attention to Changyue Peak.

• Yang Zhen promised Liu Ruoning a way to defeat Duan Langcai and imprinted the Great Evolution Wind and Thunder Sword into her through his true essence.
• Yang Zhen began cultivating the Supreme Origin Scripture, which transformed in his mind into the Ancient Scripture of Shangyuan.
• Liu Ruoning grasped the sword skill and unleashed thunderous sword energy as she practiced on Changyue Peak.
• True Person Changyue opposed forcing Liu Ruoning into marriage, while Gou Shengtian argued the sect needed the Sword Attendant Sect’s support.
• Gou Shengtian mistook the power on Changyue Peak for his disciple’s breakthrough, but Lu Chenghui identified its source, and True Person Changyue rushed toward the peak.

Yang Zhen’s altered Wind and Thunder Sword enabled Liu Ruoning to unleash the power of a heaven-tier martial technique, while his own cultivation surged and left him with a painful stomach. When the sect leaders confronted Liu Ruoning over the technique, she demonstrated the Wind and Thunder Sword, leaving them stunned.

• Gou Shengtian and Lu Chenghui headed toward Qiyun Peak after sensing the power of a heaven-tier martial technique, while Yang Zhen broke through to the Essence Condensation Stage Third Layer and felt his meridians and marrow being cleansed.
• Liu Ruoning celebrated mastering the transformed Wind and Thunder Sword, and Yang Zhen explained that he had modified the technique before rushing off to relieve his stomach.
• True Person Changyue arrived and asked Liu Ruoning about the heaven-tier martial technique; Liu Ruoning said she had practiced the Wind and Thunder Sword.
• Gou Shengtian accused Liu Ruoning of practicing another sect’s technique, but True Person Changyue promised to defend her if it was not an Evil Dao technique.
• Sect Master Lu Chenghui ordered Liu Ruoning to perform the Wind and Thunder Sword again, and Gou Shengtian, Lu Chenghui, and True Person Changyue watched in astonishment as she began.

Liu Ruoning demonstrated the Great Evolution Wind and Thunder Sword, prompting Lu Chenghui to cancel her engagement and seek out Yang Zhen, who had taught it to her. The elders learned that Yang Zhen had claimed to comprehend the technique in a flash of inspiration, but he was away relieving himself.

• Liu Ruoning unleashed the Great Evolution Wind and Thunder Sword, astonishing Lu Chenghui and True Person Changyue with its power.
• Lu Chenghui agreed to cancel Liu Ruoning's engagement after learning she had mastered the sect's lost heaven-grade technique.
• Liu Ruoning revealed that Yang Zhen had taught her the technique and claimed he had comprehended it in a flash of inspiration.
• Lu Chenghui ordered Yang Zhen to report to the main hall when he returned, while Liu Ruoning accompanied him to cancel her engagement.

Yang Zhen followed several Shangyuan Sect disciples into a cave where Spirit-Cleansing Marrow was said to be growing, hoping to take it before they arrived. He reached the marrow first, but the others caught up just as he was about to collect it, and he prepared to deceive them with an act.

• Yang Zhen overheard two Shangyuan Sect disciples discussing a cave and a treasure, then secretly followed them inside.
• Yang Zhen discovered Duan Langcai, Senior Brother Lü, and Junior Sister Fang searching for Spirit-Cleansing Marrow.
• Duan Langcai tried to split up the group by mentioning a Red Candle Fruit, but Junior Sister Fang chose the right path, leaving the left route open.
• Yang Zhen rushed down the left path and reached the Spirit-Cleansing Marrow before the others.
• The group caught Yang Zhen at the marrow, and he turned to face them with a practiced, profound expression.

Yang Zhen accidentally advanced the Ancient Scripture of Shangyuan to spirit grade after reciting passages from the Tao Te Ching, then pretended to be an elder and offered Duan Langcai guidance. The chapter ended with Duan Langcai emerging bloodied but convinced Yang Zhen was his grandfather, and defending him from Lü's doubts.

• Yang Zhen's words triggered a breakthrough that raised the Ancient Scripture of Shangyuan to spirit grade, and he advanced to the Essence Condensation Stage Sixth Layer.
• Yang Zhen drank Spirit-Cleansing Marrow and broke through to the Essence Condensation Stage Eighth Layer.
• Yang Zhen intimidated Duan Langcai, claimed ties to his master Wan Quan, and sent Fang and Lü out of the cave.
• Duan Langcai performed the Ghost Shadow Sword for Yang Zhen, who gave him pointers while keeping up his elder act.
• Fang and Lü speculated that Yang Zhen might be a fraud, but Duan Langcai emerged injured and angrily called Yang Zhen his grandfather.

Duan Langcai discovered that the senior expert he had called Grandpa was actually Yang Zhen, a Shangyuan Sect disciple who had deceived him. Wan Quan demanded that Lu Chenghui answer for the humiliation, bringing the sects to the brink of conflict.

• Duan Langcai told Fang and Lü that his Grandpa had critiqued the Ghost Shadow Sword and demonstrated a version he believed was Heaven Grade or Spirit Grade.
• After Fang, Lü, and Duan Langcai left, Yang Zhen returned to the Shangyuan Sect, pleased with the Spirit Grade Ancient Scripture of Shangyuan, the Spirit-Cleansing Marrow, and the Ghost Shadow Sword.
• Lu Chenghui summoned Yang Zhen to the main hall, where Duan Langcai recognized him and realized he had been tricked.
• Duan Langcai attacked Yang Zhen, but True Person Changyue knocked him back; Yang Zhen joked about him, and Duan Langcai explained that Yang Zhen had pretended to be his Grandpa.
• Wan Quan angrily demanded that Lu Chenghui give the Sword Attendant Sect an explanation or face a fight to the death.

Yang Zhen faced Wan Quan’s accusation that he had stolen the Sword Attendant Sect’s Ghost Shadow Sword, while Lu Chenghui protected him and demanded an explanation. Yang Zhen admitted to cultivating a similar martial skill, then began a suspiciously nostalgic tale about how he learned it.

• Wan Quan and True Person Changyue clashed with their Qi until Lu Chenghui intervened and asked Yang Zhen to explain himself.
• Yang Zhen claimed Duan Langcai had called him “Grandfather” in a cave where he found Spirit-Cleansing Marrow, and denied knowing the Ghost Shadow Sword.
• Duan Langcai swore that Yang Zhen had tricked him and inflicted his injuries with the Ghost Shadow Sword, but Yang Zhen swore he had never cultivated it without suffering heavenly punishment.
• When Lu Chenghui asked whether Yang Zhen had learned a similar martial skill, Yang Zhen admitted that he had, astonishing everyone and angering Wan Quan.
• Wan Quan demanded to know where Yang Zhen learned the skill, and Yang Zhen began recounting a night of wind and rain on the back mountain.

Yang Zhen spun a tale to explain how he learned the Three Origins Ghost Shadow Sword, prompting Wan Quan to withdraw from the Shangyuan Sect. Wan Quan realized the sword was a heaven-grade martial skill and sent Duan Langcai to seize it from Yang Zhen at the Youzhou Grand Assembly, while Lu Chenghui asked Yang Zhen whether his story was true.

• Yang Zhen claimed that an old master had taught him the Three Origins Ghost Shadow Sword after Yang refused to leave the Shangyuan Sect.
• Wan Quan accepted Yang Zhen’s explanation, admitted his misunderstanding to Lu Chenghui, and led the Sword Attendant Sect disciples away.
• After leaving, Wan Quan concluded that the Three Origins Ghost Shadow Sword was a heaven-grade martial skill and ordered Duan Langcai to obtain its complete method and kill Yang Zhen during the Youzhou Grand Assembly.
• Wan Quan gave Duan Langcai the Sword Attendant Sect’s last Blood Silkworm to help him capture Yang Zhen alive.
• Wan Quan told Duan Langcai to spend more time playing on the back mountain, and Lu Chenghui asked Yang Zhen whether his story was true.

Yang Zhen secretly left the Shangyuan Sect with Liu Ruoning despite insisting he would skip the Youzhou Grand Assembly, and discovered someone approaching as they traveled. The chapter left their identity unknown.

• Lu Chenghui warned Yang Zhen not to attend the Youzhou Grand Assembly because Wan Quan might target him for the Ghost Shadow Sword, and urged him to cultivate toward Foundation Establishment.
• Yang Zhen upgraded the Shangyuan Sect’s cultivation methods and martial techniques, used up his Spirit-Cleansing Marrow, and reached the Essence Condensation Stage Ninth Layer in ten days.
• Liu Ruoning broke through to the Essence Condensation Stage Ninth Layer and told Yang Zhen that Duan Langcai had threatened to kill him during the assembly trials.
• Yang Zhen tricked the others by hiding in a carriage and left the Shangyuan Sect with Liu Ruoning, claiming he only wanted to see the world and find useful treasures.
• Yang Zhen noticed someone approaching, then teased Liu Ruoning when she initially thought he was joking.

Yang Zhen left Liu Ruoning and traveled alone through the mountains, where he found a standoff over a Gale Sheep between the Black Nightmare Sect and three women led by Zhen Ping'er. The women trapped Jie Gang and the Black Nightmare Sect with Ghost Gate Vines, while Yang Zhen watched from a tree.

• Yang Zhen tricked Liu Ruoning and hurried away so he could travel without True Person Changyue and the others.
• Yang Zhen gathered supplies in the mountains and suspected a powerful Demon Beast was nearby when he found no animals.
• Yang Zhen climbed a tree and saw a Gale Sheep facing Lie Hu's Black Nightmare Sect and three women led by Zhen Ping'er.
• Jie Gang revealed his Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation and attacked the women with black-purple Qi.
• Zhen Ping'er revealed that she and Senior Sister Fang had lured Jie Gang into a trap, and Ghost Gate Vines bound Jie Gang, Lie Hu, and the Black Nightmare Sect members.

Yang Zhen intervened after Zhen Ping'er and Jie Gang poisoned each other, seizing their antidotes and demanding their possessions and martial arts. He left Zhen Ping'er as the only one still refusing to comply, while the poison continued to take effect.

• Zhen Ping'er trapped Jie Gang and his companions with the Ghost Gate Vine, but Jie Gang's poison incapacitated her and Senior Sister Fang.
• Zhen Ping'er and Jie Gang prepared to exchange antidotes, but Yang Zhen caught both bottles and claimed the Gale Sheep as his own Xiao Qiang.
• Yang Zhen offered antidotes in exchange for the groups' possessions, cultivation methods, and martial skills.
• Jie Gang, Senior Sister Fang, and Zhen Ping'er's junior sister agreed to comply, while Zhen Ping'er continued to resist despite turning bluish-black from the poison.

Yang Zhen reached Youzhou City and registered for the Youzhou Grand Assembly after escaping the poisoned group in Gloomlight Forest. When his identity became known, he learned that Duan Langcai had placed a bounty on his head for a three-star weapon.

• Yang Zhen collected the others' weapons and treasures, then gave Zhen Ping'er the antidote in exchange for her cultivation method and martial skills.
• Yang Zhen left with the Gale Sheep and spent two days gathering its meat while traveling toward Youzhou City.
• After eating, Yang Zhen joined the registration line and met Lü Xiaohu, who offered to protect him during the assembly.
• Yang Zhen registered under his real name, prompting the people nearby to react with shock and stare at him.
• Lü Xiaohu hurried Yang Zhen outside and told him that Duan Langcai had offered a three-star weapon for Yang Zhen's head.

Yang Zhen prepared for the Youzhou Grand Assembly while cultivators hunted him for the reward Duan Langcai had offered. After entering the Nine Nether Mountain Range, he ambushed a group seeking to capture him and offered to release them in exchange for their martial techniques.

• Lü Xiaohu told Yang Zhen that Duan Langcai had offered a three-star weapon and three thousand crystal stones for capturing him, and showed him his one-star Clear Sky Hammer.
• Yang Zhen secluded himself for two days, mastered the Three Origins Ghost Shadow Sword, and fused two cultivation methods into the nine-level Heavenly Demon Gang Fist.
• Yang Zhen reached the Foundation Establishment Realm as news of his appearance prompted cultivators to search for him.
• In the Nine Nether Mountain Range, Yang Zhen attacked a group discussing the reward, defeated them, searched their belongings, and tied them to trees.
• Yang Zhen told the captives to warn Duan Langcai to wait for him, then offered to untie whoever revealed their martial techniques.

Yang Zhen robbed those seeking to capture him at the Youzhou Grand Assembly, while Duan Langcai raised the bounty and learned that Yu Qimu was hunting him too. Several pursuers converged on Ghost's Sorrow, where an unusual disturbance in the ambient Qi had drawn cultivators from across the region.

• Yang Zhen left Big Beard and the others tied up, then continued robbing cultivators and cultivating with his spoils.
• Yang Zhen overheard two men discussing the increased bounty, defeated them, and tied them to a tree.
• Duan Langcai learned Yu Qimu was searching for Yang Zhen and sent a young man to track Yu Qimu without provoking him.
• Zhen Ping'er and Senior Sister Fang headed toward Ghost's Sorrow after hearing Duan Langcai had been seen there.
• Yu Qimu killed a cultivator who told him Yang Zhen had gone toward Ghost's Sorrow, then set off after him.
• Yang Zhen and countless other cultivators approached Ghost's Sorrow, drawn by the unusual disturbance in the ambient Qi.

Yang Zhen showed off his confidence and strange insight to a group of cultivators in Ghost's Sorrow, catching Princess Changyang's interest. As a powerful phenomenon erupted around the Thunder Essence Wood, Yang Zhen was thrown into chaos and accidentally grabbed a woman's arm while reaching for his bundle.

• Yang Zhen reflected on the limits of his Heavenly Demon Gang Fist, walked into a tree, and called himself a genius.
• A group of cultivators mocked Yang Zhen, but he released a powerful aura and left them unsettled with his bold words.
• Princess Changyang arrived, noticed Yang Zhen, and chose to pursue the Thunder Essence Wood instead of calling him over.
• A storm of lightning and strange phenomena spread across Ghost's Sorrow, drawing the crowd toward the depths of the valley.
• The earth shook and rocks collapsed, sending Yang Zhen flying and separating him from his bundle.
• Yang Zhen grabbed a woman's arm by mistake, and she threatened him with her sword.

Yang Zhen rescued Princess Changyang from the darkness of Ghost's Sorrow and used his formation knowledge to break through its deceptive maze. They emerged before a valley full of cultivators Yang Zhen had offended, and he went to face them alone.

• Yang Zhen recognized Princess Changyang after dodging her Vermilion Bird attack, then discovered she was afraid of the dark.
• Princess Changyang gave Yang Zhen a piece of Thunder-Scorched Ancient Jade in exchange for helping her escape, and followed him through the mist.
• Yang Zhen realized they were walking in circles, used a formation technique to dispel the mist, and identified Ghost's Sorrow's deception.
• Yang Zhen and Princess Changyang found themselves before a valley full of furious cultivators, including Duan Langcai, Zhen Ping'er, Jie Gang, and Lie Hu.
• Yang Zhen told Princess Changyang to stay back and went to confront the gathered cultivators.

Yang Zhen entered the valley full of enemies and used a mix-up with Zhen Ping'er to mock Duan Langcai. The misunderstanding ended when Duan Langcai attacked Yang Zhen, while Princess Changyang chose to wait and see whether he needed help.

• Yang Zhen greeted the cultivators in the valley, and Duan Langcai planned to use the crowd’s anger to capture him and question him about the Three Origins Ghost Shadow Sword.
• Zhen Ping'er attacked Yang Zhen while mistaking him for Duan Langcai, and Yang Zhen played along, taunting the real Duan Langcai.
• Zhen Ping'er declared that she liked Yang Zhen, then fled after Senior Sister Fang explained the confusion to her.
• Duan Langcai charged at Yang Zhen after realizing he had been mocked, revealing that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm Third Layer and wielded a three-star weapon.
• Princess Changyang’s companion warned that Yang Zhen was unlikely to win, but Princess Changyang decided to wait and see rather than intervene.

Yang Zhen defeated Duan Langcai in one move and dragged him toward a grove, while the onlookers were stunned by his strength. Princess Changyang accepted Yang Zhen’s invitation to eat noodles, and the chapter ended with ghostly cries coming from the grove.

• Duan Langcai attacked Yang Zhen with Ghost Evil and the Heavenly Ghost Blood-Drinking Sword.
• Yang Zhen countered with the Three Origins Ghost Shadow Sword and defeated Duan Langcai in a single move.
• Yang Zhen dragged the weakened Duan Langcai away and threatened to hang him in the grove, while Duan Langcai ordered the Sword Attendant Sect disciples not to follow.
• Yang Zhen reminded Princess Changyang of their agreement, and she accepted his invitation to eat noodles.
• Yang Zhen threatened to send Duan Langcai to the palace as a eunuch, and ghostly cries sounded from the grove.

At the Youzhou Grand Assembly, the crowd debated whether Yang Zhen could stand against the famous chosen gathered at Ghost's Sorrow. Yang Zhen emerged from the grove with a battered Duan Langcai and met Zhang Zongjin, whom he mocked by claiming the title of Number One Handsome Man Under Heaven.

• The crowd praised Zhang Zongjin, Fang Shenhe, Su Qingyu, and other renowned chosen, while doubting Yang Zhen could compete with them.
• Yang Zhen left the grove looking satisfied, and Duan Langcai followed him, injured and resentful.
• Yang Zhen kicked Duan Langcai for looking aggrieved, then asked Princess Changyang who the prominent people around her were.
• Princess Changyang joked that Yang Zhen was famous as Yang the Skinflint, and Yang Zhen sat down and drank from her attendant's water jug.
• Zhang Zongjin greeted Princess Changyang and praised her cultivation, but Yang Zhen interrupted by spraying water and calling him the Number One Scoundrel Under Heaven.