Chapter Summaries

During the Martial Edge Trial, Chen Shuangbai and Fu Qianlan fought Ji Ruohua and Wei Zheng inside the [Sharp Mountains and Embracing Rivers Painting]. Chen Shuangbai endured Wei Zheng’s crushing assault, revealed his Yin Thunder and rapid healing, and the two prepared to continue their clash.

• Lin Jingtao watched the four contestants fight and was frustrated to learn that Chen Shuangbai and Fu Qianlan had cultivated Sword Qi without mentioning it.
• Fu Qianlan’s Sword Qi and protective Law Artifact overwhelmed Ji Ruohua’s defenses, while Ji Ruohua’s flying needles failed to settle the fight.
• Chen Shuangbai used water barriers and Sword Qi against Wei Zheng, whose bare-handed attacks dented the barriers and showed his formidable body cultivation.
• Wei Zheng declared that he would take first place and unleashed crimson-gold Law Power, breaking through Chen Shuangbai’s water barrier and attacking him at close range.
• Chen Shuangbai struck Wei Zheng’s fist with Midnight Month Cold Light Yin Thunder, freezing his arm, but Wei Zheng remained eager to fight.
• Wei Zheng saw Chen Shuangbai heal his shattered shoulder with spiritual liquid and a Law Seal, and Chen Shuangbai called for them to fight again.

Chen Shuangbai used enhancement spells, ice attacks, and Yin Thunder to keep Wei Zheng at bay, while the exalted cultivators watched their fight. The chapter ended as Wei Zheng unleashed Three Mountains Suppress the Peak and the mountain phantoms descended on Chen Shuangbai.

• Exalted Cultivator Yan identified Chen Shuangbai’s Water and Wood Pure Splendor Incantation, while Exalted Cultivator Li reacted with displeasure at his divided pursuits.
• Wei Zheng struggled against Chen Shuangbai’s icicles, waterspouts, magic swords, and lingering Yin Thunder as Chen Shuangbai chased him from the sky.
• Wei Zheng stopped running, erupted with Qi and Blood power, and challenged Chen Shuangbai to settle the match in one move.
• Chen Shuangbai agreed and renewed his enhancement spells as Wei Zheng revealed his Gilded Mountain-Suppressing Art.
• Wei Zheng used Three Mountains Suppress the Peak, pinning Chen Shuangbai beneath the descending mountain phantoms.

Chen Shuangbai defeated Wei Zheng with his self-created sword strike, “Shattering the Moon and Parting the Waves,” and won the Martial Edge Trial. He returned to the Crouching Tiger Plateau to widespread acclaim, where his friends and fellow disciples congratulated him.

• Chen Shuangbai used “Shattering the Moon and Parting the Waves” to cut through Wei Zheng’s attack and wound him, causing the painting to teleport Wei Zheng out.
• Foundation Establishment exalted cultivators praised Chen Shuangbai’s talent, and True Person Bo ordered them to arrange the trial’s conclusion and keep the disciples’ spirits up.
• Ji Ruohua and Fu Qianlan emerged from the painting after Fu Qianlan defeated Ji Ruohua.
• The Abyss Suppression Hall confirmed Chen Shuangbai as the Martial Edge Trial champion, and Exalted Cultivator Huo announced his rewards and urged the disciples to cultivate diligently.
• He Qi punched Chen Shuangbai’s chest in greeting, then He Qi, Wei Mingdang, Fu Qianlan, and other friends congratulated him on taking first place.

Chen Shuangbai celebrated taking first place in the Martial Edge Trial with friends at the Hundred Flavors Pavilion. He then met Du Zifeng, who apologized for the delay and presented the finished Spirit Artifact he had forged for him.

• Lu Zhiyuan treated Chen Shuangbai and his friends to a congratulatory banquet at the Hundred Flavors Pavilion, where Huang Shanglan joined them.
• Chen Shuangbai left the banquet after an attendant said an inner sect senior brother wanted to meet him on a nearby mountaintop.
• Chen Shuangbai found Du Zifeng waiting there, apologizing for delaying the commissioned artifact.
• Du Zifeng gave Chen Shuangbai a pale green and deep blue spirit banner and told him to nourish it with his Law Power.
• Chen Shuangbai activated the banner and sensed that it had surpassed the level of a Law Artifact; Du Zifeng revealed it was a Spirit Artifact that could draw down moonlight and primordial Qi and hold earth-vein water vapor.

Chen Shuangbai received the Spirit Artifact Du Zifeng had refined for him and strengthened their friendship by transferring him additional Merit Points. After learning about the sect’s three Golden Core True Persons from Lu Zhiyuan, Chen Shuangbai returned to his cave abode without revealing whom he planned to choose as his master.

• Du Zifeng gave Chen Shuangbai the Spirit Artifact he had refined, and Chen Shuangbai thanked him and insisted on paying additional Merit Points.
• Chen Shuangbai transferred Du Zifeng a large sum through Lu Zhiyuan, deepening his friendship with Du Zifeng.
• Lu Zhiyuan explained the strengths of True Person Bo, True Person Mei, and the sect master, advising Chen Shuangbai about his possible choices of master.
• Chen Shuangbai bid Lu Zhiyuan farewell, rode the Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch back to his cave abode on Lesser Yang Peak, and went to sleep.

Chen Shuangbai nurtured and named his new Spirit Artifact the Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner, then discovered its three abilities. Testing its strongest technique revealed devastating power, while Gray Ball was accidentally frozen by its domain.

• Chen Shuangbai poured Law Power into the banner, replenished his strength, and named it the Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner after seeing it gather moonlight.
• Chen Shuangbai stayed in his cave abode to refine the banner and discovered its Gather Spirit, Summon Qi ability greatly improved his cultivation.
• Chen Shuangbai tested Thousand Ripples Veil the Moon and found its ripples could blunt attacks, disrupt Law Techniques, and trap his Sword Qi.
• Chen Shuangbai activated Flowing Frost Freezes the Stars, whose freezing domain suppressed his body, Law Power, and spiritual sense while turning Gray Ball into an ice sculpture.
• Chen Shuangbai fired a frost star at a technique-testing stone, shattering its upper half into ice fragments and leaving him stunned by the banner's power.

Chen Shuangbai received his Martial Edge Trial rewards and discovered that Yu Shao, the supposed Expenditure Hall messenger, was an infiltrator sent to kill him. After Chen Shuangbai captured him, the Jade Guarding Hall revealed that demonic beasts of Heart-Eroding had launched multiple attacks on the sect’s promising disciples.

• Yu Shao arrived at Chen Shuangbai’s cave abode with the Martial Edge Trial rewards, five days after Chen Shuangbai had won first place.
• Chen Shuangbai detected concealed Blood Qi around Yu Shao and recognized him as an infiltrator.
• Yu Shao attacked with Evil Bone Baleful Fire while two mortal attendants charged as self-detonating demonic puppets, but Chen Shuangbai used the [Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner] to freeze them.
• Chen Shuangbai crippled and sealed Yu Shao, then sent the two puppets outside, where they exploded in the sky.
• White Jade Crane arrived, and members of the Jade Guarding Hall confirmed the spy’s capture and reported that it was the third assassination attempt against the sect’s prodigies that day.

After capturing a Heart-Eroding Stronghold spy, Chen Shuangbai received a feather from the White Jade Crane and reunited with his companions to collect the Martial Edge Trial rewards. Exalted Cultivator Huo arrived as the top five finished receiving their prizes.

• Cao Xiuyan praised Chen Shuangbai for capturing the hidden spy and ordered the Jade Guarding Hall disciples to take the prisoner away for interrogation.
• The White Jade Crane gave Chen Shuangbai a feather and offered to help if trouble arose, while Feiguang and Gray Ball played around at the cave abode.
• Lu Zhiyuan welcomed Chen Shuangbai to the Expenditure Hall, where the other top five had waited for him before collecting their rewards.
• Wei Zheng said Chen Shuangbai's sword strike had helped him make progress in body cultivation, and the five disciples exchanged greetings.
• The top five collected their Foundation Establishment Pills and other rewards before Exalted Cultivator Huo arrived and lifted them from their bows.

Exalted Cultivator Huo gathered the Martial Edge Trial’s survivors and praised their resolve ahead of the war with the Heart-Eroding Stronghold. True Person Mei offered to take Fu Qianlan and Chen Shuangbai as personal disciples, but Fu asked for time to consider, while Chen declined because he had already promised to become Exalted Cultivator Yi’s disciple.

• Exalted Cultivator Huo sealed the hall and told the disciples that Heart-Eroding Stronghold infiltrators had tried to kill them, then assessed their reactions to the coming war.
• Chen Shuangbai said he neither welcomed nor feared war and regarded defending Jade Spring Sect and slaying demons as his duty.
• Fan Mianchun arrived with True Person Mei’s token, announcing that Mei wished to accept Fu Qianlan and Chen Shuangbai as personal disciples.
• Fu Qianlan asked to withdraw to a side hall and think over True Person Mei’s offer.
• Chen Shuangbai thanked True Person Mei but refused, explaining that he had already promised to become Exalted Cultivator Yi’s disciple.

After Chen Shuangbai won the Martial Edge Trial, Yi Chongyue assumed he had lost his chance to take him as a disciple, but Chen honored their earlier agreement and chose Yi as his master. The chapter ended with Fan Mianchun leaving for Snow-Listening Peak with Fu Qianlan, who had decided to pursue cultivation.

• Yi Chongyue reflected that Chen Shuangbai’s talents in swordsmanship and the Yin Thunder Method exceeded what Yi could teach him, and he wondered whether they were fated to become master and disciple.
• Exalted Cultivator Huo summoned Yi Chongyue to the Expenditure Hall, where he told Yi that Chen Shuangbai had claimed they had agreed he would enter Yi’s tutelage.
• Chen Shuangbai bowed to Yi Chongyue and explained that he would keep their agreement and remembered Yi’s earlier guidance and support.
• Yi Chongyue accepted Chen Shuangbai as his disciple, while Exalted Cultivator Huo and Fan Mianchun congratulated him.
• Fan Mianchun said she would report the matter to True Person Mei, then departed with Fu Qianlan, who had chosen to pursue cultivation.

Wei Zheng was summoned to the Abyss Suppression Hall, while Chen Shuangbai returned to Yi Chongyue’s peak and formally became his disciple. The chapter ended with Yi Chongyue welcoming Chen Shuangbai as his eldest disciple and the first disciple of Deer Deep Waters Peak.

• Exalted Cultivator Huo received True Person Bo’s decree and ordered Wei Zheng to go to the Abyss Suppression Hall.
• Wei Zheng said goodbye to Chen Shuangbai and left, while Lin Jingtao and Ji Ruohua considered seeking Foundation Establishment masters.
• Yi Chongyue took Chen Shuangbai to his peak and reflected on why Chen had chosen his tutelage over that of a Golden Core True Person.
• Yi Chongyue registered Chen Shuangbai as his inner-sect disciple and invited Shi Yubai and Peng Yu to witness the acceptance ceremony.
• Chen Shuangbai paid respects to the sect’s ancestral masters and formally accepted Yi Chongyue as his master.
• Yi Chongyue declared Chen Shuangbai his eldest disciple and the first disciple of Deer Deep Waters Peak, and Chen paid respects to Shi Yubai and Peng Yu.

After Chen Shuangbai’s apprenticeship ceremony, his master and martial elders gave him gifts suited to his strengths and weaknesses. He left with new defensive and cultivation resources, along with access to Yi Chongyue’s treasury and collections.

• Yi Chongyue tried to give Chen Shuangbai the [Green Jade Mountain], but Shi Yubai and Peng Yu offered to provide gifts instead.
• Chen Shuangbai showed the three Foundation Establishment cultivators his Law Artifacts, including the [Clear Waves Reflecting Moon Flag], and explained how he had obtained the Spirit Artifact.
• Shi Yubai gave Chen Shuangbai the supreme-grade defensive Law Artifact [Mystic Water Wave-Stilling Mirror], which Chen Shuangbai refined and found easier to use than his Spirit Artifact.
• Peng Yu gave Chen Shuangbai a vial of mind-clearing jade dew to help settle his emotions and resist inner demons and distracting thoughts.
• Yi Chongyue gave Chen Shuangbai a crystal key granting access to his peak treasury and its materials, pills, texts, and cultivation records.

Yi Chongyue gave Chen Shuangbai the treasury key and began teaching him alchemy, answering questions accumulated over years of pill refining. Chen Shuangbai received his inner-disciple and Heavenly Spring Peak resources, including an enchanted robe, stipend, merit points, a cave abode, and permission to seek a higher-grade cultivation method.

• Yi Chongyue gave Chen Shuangbai the treasury key and promised to teach him alchemical techniques every seven days.
• Chen Shuangbai asked about refining Jade Cliff Pills and Azure Flower Pills, and Yi Chongyue answered his questions through the following night.
• An envoy from the Expenditure Hall delivered Chen Shuangbai's inner-disciple stipend, Heavenly Spring Peak robes and identity token, and cave-abode token and map.
• Chen Shuangbai changed the color of his new enchanted robes to match his preferred pine-frost hue.
• The envoy told Chen Shuangbai that he could visit the Book Repository Cave to seek a higher-grade cultivation method.

Chen Shuangbai settled into the sect-granted cave abode at Verdant Hills Stream, arranged for his spirit pets and artifacts, and welcomed fellow disciples from Heavenly Spring Peak. He began making plans to cultivate and manage his new home while learning more about the inner sect.

• Chen Shuangbai gave messenger Zhou Ming Azure Flower Pills and asked him to become acquainted with Lu Zhiyuan.
• Chen Shuangbai inspected his inner-disciple stipend and planned to refine his artifacts and cultivate his spiritual sense.
• Chen Shuangbai found his secluded cave abode at Verdant Hills Stream and released Feiguang and Gray Ball into their new surroundings.
• Chen Shuangbai placed the Life-Accepting Gourd, Mystic Water Wave-Stilling Mirror, and Clear Waves Reflecting Moon Flag beneath the waterfall to cleanse and nourish them.
• Ding Chengyu arrived with Fan Caiwei and Qin Shu, and Chen Shuangbai welcomed the three Heavenly Spring Peak disciples.
• Qin Shu advised Chen Shuangbai to request attendants from the Expenditure Hall, and Chen Shuangbai learned about the inner sect's six peaks and their Peak Masters.

Chen Shuangbai learned more about the sect’s peaks and discussed the escalating conflict between the Jade Spring Sect, the Empty Sword Sect, and the Heart-Eroding Stronghold. The group suspected the Heart-Eroding Stronghold had backing or was part of a larger scheme, then turned to sparring as war approached.

• Fan Caiwei asked Chen Shuangbai whether he regretted declining True Person Mei’s offer, and Chen Shuangbai said he accepted his choice.
• Fan Caiwei revealed that a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Empty Sword Sect had recently died fighting the Heart-Eroding Stronghold, likely prompting more reinforcements to Azure Light Mountain.
• Chen Shuangbai, Qin Shu, Fan Caiwei, and Ding Chengyu questioned why the Heart-Eroding Stronghold dared challenge both major sects and speculated that the Spirit-Seeking Sect or Great Buddha Temple might be involved.
• Qin Shu challenged Chen Shuangbai to spar, and Chen Shuangbai agreed.
• Chen Shuangbai unleashed deep-blue Sword Qi that resembled an ice flood dragon and froze the air around it.

After winning the Martial Edge Trial and establishing his cave abode, Chen Shuangbai settled in with four attendants sent by Yi Chongyue. He then visited the Book Collection Cave to choose cultivation methods and use his champion’s reward, leaving him inside the inner disciples’ collection chamber.

• Qin Shu fought Chen Shuangbai, but Chen Shuangbai won with the Green Parasol Tree Sword after Fan Caiwei stopped Qin Shu from demanding another bout.
• Yi Chongyue sent Chen Shuangbai four attendants, and Chen Shuangbai assigned Zhiqi and Yunxiu to the cottage and Musheng and Shiyong to the herb garden.
• The attendants put the grounds and cottage in order while Chen Shuangbai established a steady cultivation routine at Verdant Hills Stream.
• Chen Shuangbai visited the Book Collection Cave, where the Book Spirit congratulated him and explained that he could select three additional rewards as the Martial Edge Trial champion.
• Chen Shuangbai entered the inner disciples’ chamber of cultivation methods and began looking through its shelves of Jade Slips and scrolls.

Chen Shuangbai selected cultivation and combat techniques from the Jade Spring Sect’s library, choosing options that suited his Spirit Roots and his approach to sword cultivation. He left with a cultivation method, a sword control technique, a wood art, and an illusion art.

• The Book Spirit presented Chen Shuangbai with three cultivation methods suited to his water and wood Spirit Roots, and Chen Shuangbai chose the Flowing Cloud Water Horse Scroll.
• Chen Shuangbai compared the sect’s two sword control techniques and chose the True Explanation of Void Clarity Sword Control over True Person Mei’s Snow-Listening Sword Control Instruction.
• Chen Shuangbai chose Heavenly Wood Spirit Restoration, a wood art that used prepared spirit seeds to unleash beams of Heavenly Wood Profound Light.
• Chen Shuangbai also chose Mirage Illusory Scene, an illusion art that could reflect illusion through reality and confound reality through illusion.

After half a year of cultivating new techniques, Chen Shuangbai received a summons from Yi Chongyue to gather at Heavenly Spring Peak as the sect prepared for war. He joined fellow disciples there, where three high cultivators arrived before the assembled crowd.

• Yi Chongyue shared insights on the Flowing Cloud Water Horse Scroll and directed Chen Shuangbai to seek spirit seeds from Peng Yu; Peng Yu sent twelve cold wood seeds through her disciple Deng Yuxuan.
• Chen Shuangbai used the Great Yin Dao Fruit to evolve the True Explanation of Void Clarity Sword Control into the True Explanation of Profound Clarity Void Control.
• Chen Shuangbai spent half a year cultivating his new methods and techniques before Yi Chongyue summoned him to Heavenly Spring Peak.
• Chen Shuangbai told his four attendants to guard his cave abode and seek Uncle Zong if anything happened, then rode to Heavenly Spring Peak.
• Chen Shuangbai greeted Fan Caiwei, Qin Shu, Ding Chengyu, and Yan Heng among the gathered disciples as the sect's grim preparations for war became clear.
• Three high cultivators descended from the great hall, and their arrival silenced the disciples' conversations.

Chen Shuangbai joined Heavenly Spring Peak’s selected disciples as they set out aboard the Flowing Light Cloud Boat to reinforce the Empty Sword sect against the Heart-Eroding Stronghold. As the boat sped away from Jade Spring Sect, Chen Shuangbai encountered Lin Jingtao and recognized the small beast peeking from his collar as a Jade Spirit Marten.

• Yan Nanlai announced that disciples from Heavenly Spring, Snow-Listening, and Cloud-Roosting Peaks would descend the mountain to support the righteous path against the Heart-Eroding Stronghold.
• Yi Chongyue selected twenty-six Heavenly Spring Peak disciples, including Chen Shuangbai, to join the expedition while most of the peak’s Alchemists stayed behind to refine pills.
• The Flowing Light Cloud Boat rose from the Shattered Star River, and the selected disciples boarded under the supervision of Exalted Cultivators Li, Huo, and Wu.
• White Jade Cranes joined the boat, whose formation accelerated as it passed through the sect’s protective formation and departed.
• Chen Shuangbai met Lin Jingtao aboard the boat and noticed a Jade Spirit Marten peeking from Lin Jingtao’s collar.

Chen Shuangbai and the Jade Spring Sect cultivators arrived in Empty Sword Sect territory, where Yue You explained the deadlock at Azure Light Mountain and asked Jade Spring to send surprise teams against the Heart-Eroding Stronghold. The Jade Spring cultivators learned that Leng Wuhuan might be injured, presenting a chance to kill him.

• Lin Jingtao introduced his Jade Spirit Marten, Little Ling, to Chen Shuangbai and described its talents.
• The Flowing Light Cloud Boat reached Empty Sword Sect territory, where Yue You welcomed Exalted Cultivator Huo, Exalted Cultivator Li, and Exalted Cultivator Wu.
• Yue You explained that the Heart-Eroding Stronghold's three branches attacked with demonic methods and used mortals as sacrifices, while Martial Uncle Yun had died after Leng Wuhuan struck him with Heaven-Maiming Fire.
• Yue You listed the Foundation Establishment cultivators on both sides, revealing that Empty Sword had three against the Stronghold's six, including one False Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Yue You said Martial Uncle Yun's dying counterattack had likely aggravated Leng Wuhuan's old injuries, and Exalted Cultivator Wu identified the moment as an opportunity to kill him.
• Yue You asked Jade Spring to form three small teams of combat-focused disciples and send them by night to ambush the Heart-Eroding Stronghold.