Recaps

Qin Yi entered the Golden Core cave abode with the city lord's manor, concealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation, and used a disciple as bait to claim a knife from a trap. Deeper in the corridor, he saw a figure and was suddenly transported into a childhood scene where Prince Qing told him his years of cultivation might have been a dream.

• Qin Yi learned the secret realm was a Golden Core cave abode restricted to young Qi Refining cultivators and agreed to join Song Qingyun after waiting a month.
• The six great Lineages opened the cave abode with tokens, and Qin Yi noticed their Law Seals had formed a sealing formation.
• Qin Yi entered a passage alone, found a knife, and let a slender man trigger the vine trap before taking the treasure.
• Qin Yi continued through a corpse-filled corridor with Cangyuan in hand and spotted a figure ahead.
• A dazzling light transported Qin Yi to his childhood room, where Prince Qing appeared and told him not to worry about lacking a Spirit Root.
• Qin Yi found he could not sense Spiritual Qi and wondered whether his life as a cultivator had only been a dream.

Qin Yi escaped the female ghost’s illusion, subdued her as Hong She, and learned the location of True Person Chiyu’s treasures. He reached the Alchemy Chamber, where Song Qingyun’s group was facing off against another faction, and prepared to let Hong She attack.

• Qin Yi spent eight years in an illusion with Prince Qing before leaving, then pierced the illusion and destroyed the surrounding black Qi with lightning.
• Qin Yi discovered that a female ghost named Hong She had been trapped in the formation and bound her to him with a contract.
• Hong She told Qin Yi that True Person Chiyu’s cave abode held treasures and pills deeper inside, so she guided him toward the Alchemy Chamber.
• Qin Yi reached the Alchemy Chamber and found Song Qingyun confronting another group after losing many of his men.
• Qin Yi sent Hong She down to attack, hoping her cultivation would advance, and waited for the slaughter to begin.

Qin Yi plundered True Person Chiyu’s cave abode, then rescued Song Qingyun from Liu Shihong’s attempted assassination. He fled toward the exit with Song Qingyun as Liu Shihong’s men pursued them.

• The red snake killed several people with its illusion, but Qin Yi spared Song Qingyun and knocked him unconscious before looting the Alchemy Chamber.
• Qin Yi used Thunderclap Pearls to blast open True Person Chiyu’s cultivation room and found pills, a spear martial technique, and other resources in the corpse’s Storage Bag.
• Song Qingyun woke among the corpses and panicked, while Qin Yi left the cave abode after collecting its most valuable treasures.
• Liu Shihong arrived with his men, recognized Song Qingyun, and tried to kill him with a concealed silver needle.
• Qin Yi blocked Liu Shihong’s attack, threw talismans at the group, and escaped toward the exit carrying Song Qingyun as Liu Shihong’s men gave chase.

Qin Yi escaped Star City after helping ignite a battle between the Liu Household and the other Lineages, then fled disguised as a Liu disciple. Half a month later, in Heavenly Sea Commandery City, he learned of a martial competition for the Commandery Princess’s hand and briefly caught her attention before leaving.

• Qin Yi carried Song Qingyun out of the cave abode, and Song Yunian accused Liu Shihong of killing the Song and Tang youths after Qin Yi gave a false account.
• Song Yunian and the Tang Household’s head declared war on the Liu Household, and the other Lineages joined the battle to seize its resources.
• Qin Yi killed Liu Shihong, disguised himself as a Liu Household disciple, and escaped amid the fighting.
• Half a month later, Qin Yi heard that the Commandery Princess of Heavenly Sea would hold a martial competition to choose a husband.
• The Commandery Princess watched Qin Yi leave the teahouse and told Uncle Tie that she expected her fate to be determined by the imperial family’s plans.

Uncle Tie invited Qin Yi to a competition hosted by Zhou Jiayue, the Commandery Princess of Heavenly Sea, but Qin Yi initially refused. After learning that many geniuses would attend, Qin Yi decided to go so he could hone his martial techniques.

• The commandery princess agreed to have Uncle Tie invite Qin Yi after he praised Qin Yi's strength.
• Qin Yi led Uncle Tie through crowded streets before confronting him in an alley, where a red snake startled Uncle Tie into explaining the invitation.
• Qin Yi refused the invitation despite Uncle Tie's efforts to persuade him, then secretly took it as he left.
• Qin Yi read Zhou Jiayue's name on the invitation and decided to attend the competition to practice against the geniuses.
• That night, Qin Yi began cultivating in his room in Heavenly Sea City.

Qin Yi attended the tournament for the Commandery Princess of Heavenly Sea’s hand and watched the contestants fight in a colosseum protected by the Prince of Heavenly Sea. When Qin Yi faced Ye Qing, he defeated him with a single spear strike, drawing the princess’s interest and leaving his chances of reaching the final five uncertain.

• The Prince of Heavenly Sea welcomed the contestants, created a protective barrier over the arena, and ordered the matches to begin.
• Qin Yi watched a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator kill his exhausted Eighth Layer opponent and reflected that strength determined the rules.
• The tournament screen paired Qin Yi, number seven, against Ye Qing, number eleven.
• Qin Yi struck Ye Qing with his spear, broke several ribs, and forced him to admit defeat rather than die.
• The Commandery Princess of Heavenly Sea asked her father whether Qin Yi could reach the final five, and the Prince of Heavenly Sea said he might because he had reached Foundation Establishment.

Qin Yi watched Wu Pingjian defeat Sun Xing and became eager to face the sword cultivator himself. Wu Pingjian left the arena after revealing Heavenly Flame and sparing his wounded opponent.

• Wu Pingjian entered the arena to face number twenty-two, who surrendered rather than make him draw his sword.
• Qin Yi watched as the draw paired Wu Pingjian against Sun Xing, a fellow sword cultivator who challenged him to a duel.
• Sun Xing attacked Wu Pingjian, who countered his strikes without drawing his sword.
• Sun Xing unleashed his strongest attack, and Wu Pingjian drew Heavenly Flame and shattered the giant sword, sending Sun Xing flying and spitting blood.
• Wu Pingjian returned Sun Xing's sword and praised him for wounding him, while the Prince of Heavenly Sea smiled at Wu Pingjian's growth.

Yang Hua, the third prince of Azure Cloud, fought Cheng Biao in the martial contest for a bride, where both used powerful weapons and techniques. Yang Hua won after Cheng Biao admitted defeat, then warned whoever had sent him to wait.

• Yang Hua entered the arena to face Cheng Biao, whom Yang Jian had sent to disrupt his effort to marry Princess Tianhai.
• Yang Hua and Cheng Biao exchanged blows, and Cheng Biao used his hammers to force Yang Hua into close combat.
• Yang Hua unleashed a Divine Sense attack through the Heavenly Dragon War Halberd and struck Cheng Biao, who survived because of his Body Refining Cultivation Method.
• Yang Hua and Cheng Biao launched their weapons at each other, and Yang Hua's halberd broke through Cheng Biao's longevity lock barrier.
• Cheng Biao admitted defeat after Sword Qi knocked Yang Hua's halberd away, and Yang Hua warned him to tell whoever sent him to wait.

Qin Yi and Wu Pingjian fought to a standstill, then agreed to settle the match with one decisive exchange. As Wu Pingjian’s giant flaming sword descended, Qin Yi transformed Cangyuan into a lightning dragon and unleashed a mysterious attack, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Qin Yi and Wu Pingjian exchanged attacks with their spear and sword, neither gaining a lasting advantage.
• The Heavenly Sea King judged that both fighters were holding back, while the Heavenly Sea Commandery Princess wondered at Qin Yi’s strength.
• Qin Yi and Wu Pingjian agreed to decide the match with one move each.
• Wu Pingjian summoned a massive flaming sword, while Qin Yi called down lightning to transform Cangyuan into a thunderous spear.
• Qin Yi declared, “A mere mortal dares contend with the Heavenly Dao?” and sent the lightning dragon charging into Wu Pingjian’s descending sword.

Qin Yi defeated Wu Pingjian in the martial contest, then Zhou Jiayue chose Qin Yi as her intended husband from the final five. The Prince of Heavenly Sea declared Qin Yi the contest’s winner, leaving Qin Yi surprised by the unexpected match.

• Qin Yi unleashed Soaring Dragon's Fury, shattering Wu Pingjian's giant sword and forcing him to admit defeat.
• Wu Pingjian congratulated Qin Yi, said he counted the loss as half a move, and left the arena.
• Yang Hua became interested in recruiting Qin Yi after witnessing his strength.
• After the final five contestants emerged, the Prince of Heavenly Sea asked Zhou Jiayue to choose one of them.
• Zhou Jiayue chose Qin Yi, and Yang Hua accepted the decision without protest.
• The Prince of Heavenly Sea dissolved the coliseum's protective barrier and announced Qin Yi as the contest's winner.

Qin Yi left Heavenly Sea City after promising Zhou Jiayue that he would marry her if he returned within a year, then traveled to Falling Cloud City on Song Qi’s orders to join the coming war between the righteous and devil paths. He arrived to find the city bustling and the Eight Gods Pavilion’s forces gathered there, though their full deployment remained unclear.

• Qin Yi told the Prince of Heavenly Sea that he was an Eight Gods Pavilion disciple and agreed to a one-year promise with Zhou Jiayue before leaving for Falling Cloud City.
• Wu Pingjian emerged from seclusion, while Yang Hua watched Qin Yi depart and summoned his guards.
• Song Qi ordered Qin Yi to join the battle in Falling Cloud City, where forces from several immortal sects were gathering.
• Qin Yi disguised himself as an ordinary-looking Eight Gods Pavilion inner disciple and rode Cangyuan toward Falling Cloud City.
• Qin Yi paid the entry fee and entered the city, then followed Zheng Yuan to the Eight Gods Pavilion’s gathering place in the Heavenly Cloud House.
• Zheng Yuan explained that the teahouse was only one base and that most Pavilion disciples were staying at inns or in assigned courtyards.

Qin Yi uncovered Ye Zhen’s betrayal as demonic forces attacked Falling Cloud City and warned Grand Elder Su Mingyue that the chaos could let enemies infiltrate the sect. Su Mingyue organized the survivors and ordered them to prepare for battle after discovering that the sects’ message talismans had been destroyed.

• Qin Yi wounded Ye Zhen as he set up a formation at the inn, then killed him after learning he had betrayed the sect.
• Explosions and screams erupted across Falling Cloud City, and Qin Yi changed his appearance before heading to the assembly point.
• Qin Yi found the city burning and feared demonic infiltrators could exploit the chaos to strike the righteous sects.
• Grand Elder Su Mingyue arrived at the assembly point and forced the battered disciples to organize themselves.
• Qin Yi warned Su Mingyue that demonic forces might infiltrate the sect, and she sent out patrols.
• Su Mingyue discovered that the sects’ message talismans had shattered and ordered the disciples to prepare for battle.

After the Eight Gods Pavilion gathered at Azure Seclusion Plain, the demonic Dao launched a coordinated attack, with traitors among the righteous sects turning on their comrades. A gateway opened above the plain, and demonic cultivators emerged as their hidden allies gathered around them.

• Zhao Rongxuan complained about the grand elder’s chosen refuge, then bullied a disciple after she left.
• The sect ordered its elders to take nearby disciples to Azure Seclusion Plain, where Qin Yi and the others joined cultivators from other sects.
• The grand elder learned the Eight Gods Pavilion had lost nearly a hundred disciples in the earlier attack and exchanged greetings with Qian Yun of the Clear Bathing Palace.
• A blood-red pillar appeared, and disciples in several sects suddenly attacked their own people, though no rebellion broke out among the Heavenly Buddha Temple, the Clear Bathing Palace, or the Eight Gods Pavilion.
• The pillar became a gateway, and demonic Dao cultivators emerged as the rebel cultivators gathered around them; an icy voice mocked the righteous Dao’s strength.

Bai Junhao and the demonic cultivators launched a battle against the righteous sects on the Azure Seclusion Plain while He Xuan completed the Heavenly Demon Great Array. The array sealed the battlefield, leaving the Grand Elder and Qin Yi trapped as Bai Junhao declared that the conflict would be settled there.

• Bai Junhao confronted the Grand Elder, his former senior sister, and rejected her offer to bring him back to the righteous path.
• Bai Junhao summoned four notorious demonic figures, including He Xuan, and Qin Yi became wary and looked for a chance to escape.
• He Xuan gathered Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi as the righteous and demonic cultivators clashed across the Azure Seclusion Plain.
• Qin Yi noticed a line absorbing the blood spilled in battle and tried to retreat from the battlefield.
• He Xuan raised a blood-red curtain that sealed the Azure Seclusion Plain, completing the Heavenly Demon Great Array.
• The Grand Elder realized the demonic path had prepared an ambush, and Bai Junhao announced that the feud would be settled there.

The Devil path trapped the righteous sects on the Azure Seclusion Plain inside the Heavenly Demon Great Array, draining their spiritual power while Bai Junhao kept the Grand Elder occupied. After the array blocked a rescue attempt and the battle worsened, Bai Junhao argued that the human heart could not withstand a test.

• The Heavenly Demon Great Array drained the righteous disciples’ spiritual power as Bai Junhao drew the Grand Elder away from the battlefield’s center.
• Qin Yi failed to damage the array and realized it was still absorbing blood and spiritual power from the battle.
• The righteous disciples suffered mounting losses, while the elders concluded that only a Nascent Soul expert or the array core could break the array.
• A Golden Core elder crushed a Jade Slip to summon help, but the array’s pillar of light destroyed the summoned hand and shattered the vortex.
• Bai Junhao taunted the Grand Elder that the righteous disciples would slaughter the Eight Gods Pavilion if offered a chance to escape, then said the human heart could not withstand a test.

Qin Yi summoned Song Qi, whose sword shattered the Heavenly Demon Great Array and enabled the righteous forces to retreat, though the demonic army pursued them. At the Eight Gods Pavilion camp, the grand elder learned of heavy casualties, admitted the battle was lost to her Senior Brother, and watched the Jade Slip turn to powder.

• Qin Yi used Cangyuan to summon Song Qi, who appeared above the Azure Seclusion Plain and challenged Bai Junhao.
• Song Qi gathered the swords across the battlefield into a giant blade, broke Bai Junhao’s attack, and shattered the Heavenly Demon Great Array.
• The grand elder ordered the righteous disciples to retreat while the elders struck at the demonic army; Qin Yi killed a demonic cultivator and fled with the others.
• Bai Junhao ordered the demonic cultivators to pursue and kill the retreating righteous disciples for fifty li.
• An Eight Gods Pavilion deacon reported hundreds of dead or missing disciples and severe losses among the elders, and the grand elder told her Senior Brother they had lost the battle before the Jade Slip turned to powder.

After the first battle devastated both sides, the demonic path withdrew after Song Qi challenged its Holy Lord, and the two sides agreed to a decisive battle in ten years. The righteous sects returned home to prepare, while the demonic elders received the Holy Lord’s promise of future rewards.

• The righteous sect elders debated whether to continue fighting or retreat until a deacon reported that the demonic path had withdrawn.
• The elders learned that Song Qi had challenged the demonic path’s Holy Lord at the Sacred Altar, leading to a ten-year ceasefire and an agreement to fight a decisive battle then.
• The great elder told the Eight Gods Pavilion disciples that they had lost the battle and that the sect would open its resources to help them prepare for the final war.
• Bai Junhao and the demonic path elders met with the Holy Lord, who gave Bai Junhao a Nascent Soul Breaking Pill as a reward.
• The Holy Lord promised the demonic elders that their forces would grow stronger over the next ten years and that they would be rewarded after the righteous path was destroyed.

Qin Yi received a red Flame Cloud Fruit from the Grand Elder after the battle and learned that a high-ranking traitor had betrayed the righteous path. Three days later, the survivors returned to the Eight Gods Pavilion, where they were urged to prepare for revenge in the decisive battle ten years away.

• The Grand Elder praised Qin Yi for his role in the battle and gave him a red Flame Cloud Fruit to help refine his spiritual power and advance his cultivation.
• The Grand Elder warned Qin Yi that a high-ranking traitor had exposed the righteous path's movements and might even be inside the Eight Gods Pavilion.
• Qin Yi recognized that his position as the pavilion master's personal disciple could make him a target and resolved to strengthen himself.
• The flying ship reached Eight Gods Pavilion territory three days later, and the returning disciples mourned those who had not survived.
• The survivors were welcomed back and told to recover their strength for the next battle and their eventual revenge.

Qin Yi returned to the bamboo grove, where Grandmaster Cangsong appeared to test his cultivation and combat ability. Qin Yi unleashed his strongest attacks, and the chapter ended with his lightning dragon charging into the smoke around Cangsong.

• Qin Yi left the Eight Gods Pavilion after its elders were summoned to Purple Myrtle Peak.
• Qin Yi recognized the old man who ambushed him in the bamboo grove as Grandmaster Cangsong, the pavilion’s supreme elder and Song Qi’s martial uncle.
• Cangsong told Qin Yi that Song Qi had asked him to test Qin Yi and demanded that Qin Yi attack with all his might.
• Qin Yi charged Cangsong with Cangyuan, but Cangsong easily dodged his spear and sent him flying with a flick of his finger.
• Qin Yi unleashed Nine Shas, Mysterious Fire, then transformed Cangyuan into a lightning dragon and sent it into the smoke around Cangsong.

Cangsong explained why Central Province cultivators had an advantage and revealed how Bai Junhao acquired Buddhist Vajra before being branded a fiend by the righteous sects. He left Qin Yi with the account of the pressure that forced the Eight Gods Pavilion to confront its former disciple.

• Cangsong told Qin Yi that Central Province cultivators benefited from more complete Principles and far richer cultivation environments.
• Cangsong said Qin Yi’s master had taught him Buddhist Vajra to strengthen his meridians, and that she had followed a path he once took.
• Cangsong revealed that Bai Junhao brought Buddhist Vajra back after defeating the Buddhist son in a duel at Heavenly Peace Peak.
• Cangsong recounted that the Buddhist son was later crippled and rumors spread that Bai Junhao had suffered Qi Deviation.
• Cangsong said the Heavenly Buddha Temple and other sects demanded Bai Junhao’s execution, while the Clear Bathing Palace alone did not join them.

Cangsong recounted how Bai Junhao defected after the immortal sects stripped him of his cultivation, then passed the Jade-Shattering Spear technique to Qin Yi. Song Qi told Qin Yi that the Eight Gods Pavilion would open its resources to him, but required him to reach Golden Core within ten years and lead its disciples into the decisive battle.

• Decades earlier, the immortal sects stripped Bai Junhao of his cultivation, and he crushed a token to escape through a vortex after Cangsong warned him of the decision.
• The next day, the Eight Gods Pavilion learned that Bai Junhao had defected to the demonic path, and Cangsong later explained that he had replaced the pavilion's barriers.
• Cangsong passed the Jade-Shattering Spear technique to Qin Yi, who spent the day absorbing it and recognized how it strengthened his close-combat spear work.
• Song Qi told Qin Yi that Cangsong had assigned him to reach Golden Core within ten years and lead the Eight Gods Pavilion's disciples into the decisive battle.
• Song Qi gave Qin Yi a Flame Cloud Fruit, and Qin Yi accepted the task and resolved to make full use of the pavilion's resources.

Qin Yi broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage as Song Qi prepared to open the Azure Dragon Secret Realm for the disciples. Meanwhile, Bai Junhao set the demonic path’s plans in motion and told Ye Gong to strengthen his position while he pursued a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.

• Qin Yi used the Flame Cloud Fruits during cultivation, broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and improved his control over flames.
• Song Qi summoned Qin Yi, the elders, and their disciples to the main hall and announced that the Azure Dragon Secret Realm would open in three days.
• An elder questioned opening the realm less than five years after the Black Tortoise Secret Realm had opened, but Song Qi cited the grand elder’s order and received no further objections.
• Bai Junhao told Ye Gong that he would enter seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and instructed him to use the demonic path’s resources to reach the Golden Core stage and watch the elders.

Qin Yi entered the Azure Dragon Secret Realm determined to obtain its inheritance, despite Song Qi warning him that rival disciples might target him. He ambushed and killed Xiao Tianyou, an inner disciple seeking revenge for an old grudge.

• Song Qi warned Qin Yi that powerful disciples might attack him in the secret realm, and Qin Yi said he would kill anyone who tried to kill him.
• Three days later, Song Qi and the elders opened the Azure Dragon Secret Realm, and the Eight Gods Pavilion disciples entered for a six-month trial.
• Qin Yi traveled into the forest and laid formation flags after Xiao Tianyou pursued him.
• Xiao Tianyou introduced himself as the seventh-ranked inner disciple and revealed that he blamed Lan Xuan for taking his opportunity five years earlier.
• Qin Yi trapped Xiao Tianyou with poisonous vines, took his sword, and stabbed him through the heart.

Qin Yi killed Xiao Tianyou and used the jade slip linked to him to lure Zhao Zhongtian into a fight with an Iron-Armored Giant Crocodile. While the crocodile chased Zhao Zhongtian away, Qin Yi took the Clear Heart Lotus and fled, drawing the attention of a mysterious cultivator.

• Qin Yi killed Xiao Tianyou, took his belongings, and burned his body before leaving.
• The elders at Purple Myrtle Peak saw Xiao Tianyou’s soul jade shatter and realized someone had died inside the Azure Dragon Secret Realm.
• Qin Yi found an Iron-Armored Giant Crocodile guarding a nearly mature Clear Heart Lotus and crushed Xiao Tianyou’s jade slip to summon Zhao Zhongtian.
• Qin Yi disguised himself as Xiao Tianyou and used Beast Soul Incense to provoke the crocodile into attacking Zhao Zhongtian, who fled from the beast.
• Qin Yi picked the Clear Heart Lotus, stored it in a jade box, and escaped as a mysterious cultivator arrived and watched the direction he had gone.

After stabilizing his cultivation, Qin Yi disrupted a fight between Liu Xiaoxiao’s group and Zhao Wuya’s by stealing their spirit medicine and wounding Zhao Wuya. Zhao Wuya blamed Xiao Tianyou and retreated, while Liu Xiaoxiao reflected on how much her group depended on Lan Xuan’s protection.

• Qin Yi finished refining the Clear Heart Lotus, stabilized his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and learned from Hong She about a nearby fight over spirit medicine.
• Liu Xiaoxiao and Zhao Wuya argued over a medicinal herb field before their groups broke into battle, with Zhao Wuya’s side gaining the upper hand.
• Qin Yi used Hong She’s illusion to trap both groups and took all the spirit medicine, then tried to have Hong She extract Zhao Wuya’s soul.
• A golden light injured Hong She and freed Zhao Wuya, so Qin Yi attacked him with Cangyuan and fled after leaving a long wound across his chest.
• Liu Xiaoxiao attacked Zhao Wuya after waking, forcing him to retreat with his group while he mistook Qin Yi for Xiao Tianyou.
• After the fight, Liu Xiaoxiao told Ling'er that she had overestimated her group’s strength and that they had relied on Lan Xuan’s reputation.