Chapter Summaries

Chen Shuangbai joined a Jade Spring Sect surprise attack on Heart-Eroding Stronghold forces at Azure Light Mountain, where the teams aimed to reclaim earth Qi nodes and repair the Empty Sword Sect's formation. As his team approached Mulberry Wood Forest, Chen's blessing incantations began protecting them from its poisonous miasma.

• Exalted Cultivator Yue You explained that the Heart-Eroding demonic beasts had seized three earth Qi nodes and asked the Jade Spring disciples to attack them.
• The twelve disciples split into three teams, and Chen Shuangbai joined Jin Shaoyou's team bound for Mulberry Wood Forest with Lin Jingtao and Liu Mian.
• Jin Shaoyou assigned Chen to strike the guarded formation leader and destroy the formation eye while the others sealed escape routes and provided support.
• Chen Shuangbai blessed his teammates with incantations that could heal, restore Law Power, and cleanse poisonous miasma.
• As the team neared Mulberry Wood Forest, Chen's blessing dispelled the numbness caused by the bloody scent in the air.

Heart-Eroding Stronghold Devil Cultivators guarded an evil formation in a village on Azure Light Mountain, where Chen Shuangbai and Jin Shaoyou launched a sudden attack. The formation was destroyed and its defenders were killed, leaving the village ablaze.

• Two Late Qi Refining Devil Cultivators complained about being sent to guard the formation, then feared the consequences of openly hating the Heart-Eroding Stronghold.
• Chen Shuangbai’s Midnight Month Cold Light Yin Thunder struck the two guards and killed one while badly wounding the other.
• The wounded Devil Cultivator tried to warn the others as deep-blue water arrows and a colorful flying wheel attacked the surviving defenders.
• Chen Shuangbai appeared and killed a fleeing Devil Cultivator with Sword Qi between his brows.
• Jin Shaoyou destroyed the evil tower and formation, then used a talisman to set the area ablaze.

Chen Shuangbai’s group effortlessly defeated the Devil Cultivators in Mulberry Wood Forest, and the Empty Sword Sect restored the contaminated formation node. Back at camp, Chen Shuangbai reattached an injured disciple’s arm with Life-Accepting Spirit Liquid, astonishing the others.

• Chen Shuangbai used his Midnight Month Cold Light Yin Thunder to cripple two late Qi Refining Devil Cultivators, and his group cleared the stronghold in Mulberry Wood Forest.
• The four returned to the Empty Sword Sect camp uninjured and told Exalted Cultivator Li and Yue You about the raid and Chen Shuangbai’s Yin Thunder Method.
• The other two raiding parties returned with injuries, including one disciple whose arm had been severed, and Yue You arranged treatment for him.
• Chen Shuangbai used Life-Accepting Spirit Liquid and Law Power to reattach the disciple’s arm, then gave him more liquid to support his recovery.

Chen Shuangbai reunited with Lu Mingxuan at White Creek Camp and met Lu’s junior sister, Xu Yingying. When Xu Yingying reported trouble involving Junior Brother Li, Lu asked Chen to come along and advise them about it.

• Chen Shuangbai arrived at White Creek Camp with the Jade Spring Sect reinforcements and encountered Lu Mingxuan, whom he had rescued before.
• Lu Mingxuan and Chen Shuangbai caught up over tea and discussed how fighting on Azure Light Mountain had advanced Lu’s cultivation.
• Xu Yingying arrived, and Lu introduced her to Chen Shuangbai as the fellow cultivator who had saved his life.
• Xu Yingying told Lu that Junior Brother Li was in trouble, prompting Lu to ask Chen to accompany them and offer advice.
• Chen followed Lu and Xu Yingying to a cluster of buildings filled with the scent of medicine.

Chen Shuangbai joined the Jade Spring Sect Alchemists treating the Empty Sword Sect’s wounded and prepared to use his Water and Wood Pure Splendor Incantation to draw out their entrenched Bone-Eroding Miasma. The chapter ended as he revealed a glowing green gourd before the gathered Alchemists.

• Lu Mingxuan and Xu Yingying brought Chen Shuangbai to the Empty Sword Sect’s camp, where hundreds of wounded awaited treatment.
• Fan Caiwei explained that many wounded had Bone-Eroding Miasma and needed some of the poison drawn out before they could take antidote pills.
• Fan Caiwei introduced Chen Shuangbai to Lu Mingxuan and Xu Yingying, and Lu Mingxuan learned that Chen Shuangbai was an Alchemist.
• Xu Yingying confirmed that Lu Mingxuan’s younger cousin Li Mingye was suffering from Bone-Eroding Miasma.
• Fan Caiwei paused the Alchemists’ work and announced that Chen Shuangbai would cast a spell to draw out the poison.
• Chen Shuangbai stepped forward and produced a glowing green-skinned gourd.

Chen Shuangbai used the Life-Accepting Gourd and his incantations to draw poison from the patients at the camp, earning Lu Mingxuan’s gratitude. When disciples reported that two Heart-Eroding Stronghold fighters were threatening hostages, Chen Shuangbai flew after Lu Mingxuan to help.

• Chen Shuangbai blessed the patients with sweet dew and the Duckweed Water Incantation, drawing much of the poison from their bodies.
• Fan Caiwei examined the patients and arranged for them to receive antidote pills, while Lu Mingxuan thanked Chen Shuangbai and promised to repay his kindness.
• Kong Jian disciples reported that two demonic beasts were threatening to kill two captured fellow disciples unless Lu Mingxuan appeared.
• Xu Yingying explained that core disciples of the Heart-Eroding Stronghold’s Hundred Poisons and Resentful Blood lineages were likely luring Lu Mingxuan into a trap.
• Chen Shuangbai followed Lu Mingxuan on the Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch to help him confront the attackers.

Chen Shuangbai joined Lu Mingxuan in battle, then confronted Xue Pan of the Heart-Eroding Stronghold’s Hundred Poisons lineage. Chen Shuangbai crippled Xue Pan and damaged his Scorpion King Hook, but Xue Pan hid in poisonous miasma and prepared to wear him down.

• Chen Shuangbai caught up with Lu Mingxuan and insisted on fighting alongside him as devil beasts attacked.
• Lu Mingxuan battled a concealed Heart-Eroding Devil Cultivator while Chen Shuangbai was separated from him.
• Xue Pan appeared behind Chen Shuangbai, identified himself, and attacked with his poisonous hook.
• Chen Shuangbai used Cold Spring to knock the hook aside, damage it with frost, and sever Xue Pan’s right hand.
• Xue Pan released poisonous beasts and filled the area with poisonous miasma, hiding himself as he threatened to wear Chen Shuangbai down.

Chen Shuangbai defeated Xue Pan’s poisonous insects and mist with Midnight Month Cold Light Yin Thunder, then joined Lu Mingxuan in pursuing the fleeing Devil Cultivator. He left the strange man dead in a burst of cold lightning.

• Xue Pan unleashed Black Blood Bone-Corroding Mosquitoes, but Chen Shuangbai blocked them with the Mystic Water Wave-Stilling Mirror.
• Chen Shuangbai destroyed the insect swarm and blasted Xue Pan into pieces with Midnight Month Cold Light Yin Thunder.
• A crimson figure fled after Xue Pan’s death, and Lu Mingxuan pursued it with Sword Qi.
• Chen Shuangbai caught up with the fleeing Devil Cultivator and pinned him down with Cold Spring and Sword Qi.
• The short Devil Cultivator escaped with bloody light, but Chen Shuangbai killed him with Midnight Month Cold Light Yin Thunder.

Chen Shuangbai returned to White Creek Camp after defeating the demonic beast and rescuing the captured disciples, while Xiao Boqing escaped and resolved to find a way to counter his thunder methods. As rumors about Chen Shuangbai spread, Lu Mingxuan explained the sword path’s four realms and began describing Sword Essence.

• Lu Mingxuan accompanied Chen Shuangbai to rescue two captured Empty Sword Sect disciples and returned with him to camp.
• Xiao Boqing emerged from the worm beast’s slime, recognized Chen Shuangbai’s thunder methods as a threat, and withdrew to seek a counter.
• Xu Yingying checked Chen Shuangbai for injuries, and Lu Mingxuan recounted the battle to the camp.
• Empty Sword Sect disciples spread exaggerated rumors about Chen Shuangbai after learning he had cultivated Sword Qi.
• Lu Mingxuan explained that the sword path had four realms and described Sword Qi and Sword Essence to Chen Shuangbai.

Lu Mingxuan explained Sword Essence and Sword Intent to Chen Shuangbai, who learned how Sword Essence arose and how little the Empty Sword Sect knew about Sword Intent. The next day, Chen Shuangbai joined his fellow Jade Spring Sect disciples at White Creek Camp, where they teased him about his reputation after the recent battle.

• Lu Mingxuan told Chen Shuangbai that Sword Essence was Sword Qi refined through Law Power and the cultivator’s will, and described Exalted Cultivator Yue’s ability to cut through profound iron without a visible display.
• Lu Mingxuan explained that Sword Intent was said to form a realm capable of affecting or defining its surroundings, though no one in the present-day Empty Sword Sect had comprehended it.
• Chen Shuangbai thanked Lu Mingxuan for his guidance, and the two spent the evening discussing cultivation and the Sword Dao.
• Chen Shuangbai arrived at the council hall in White Creek Camp and saw Exalted Cultivator Huo presiding, while Exalted Cultivator Li and Exalted Cultivator Wu were absent.
• Fu Qianlan and Lin Jingtao greeted Chen Shuangbai and joked about the impressive reputation he had gained after the recent surprise attack.

Exalted Cultivator Wen and Exalted Cultivator Huo planned a coordinated strike against the Heart-Eroding devil beasts' reinforcements, assigning Chen Shuangbai to lead a squad into enemy territory. The squads prepared to infiltrate while the two Foundation Establishment cultivators drew the enemy's attention.

• Exalted Cultivator Wen thanked the Jade Spring disciples for their aid and announced plans to attack the Heart-Eroding devil beasts' rear forces and reinforcement outposts.
• Exalted Cultivator Wen and Exalted Cultivator Huo divided the disciples into eight squads, appointing Chen Shuangbai to lead one of the four raiding squads.
• Chen Shuangbai met his squad members Lin Jingtao, Ji Yang, and Wang Tongfang, who described their combat skills and sword lineages.
• Exalted Cultivator Wen assigned Chen Shuangbai's squad to strike more than a dozen reinforcement outposts west of Azure Light Mountain.
• Exalted Cultivator Wen instructed the raiding squads to use breath-concealing talismans, attack supplies, avoid prolonged battles, and retreat once their strikes succeeded.

Chen Shuangbai led his group through the fighting around Azure Light Mountain and into Heart-Eroding Stronghold's poisoned territory. After protecting his companions from the miasma with his incantations, he studied a map of enemy supply bases and identified Insect Miasma Ridge as their next target.

• Lu Mingxuan left with several cultivators to join the battle, while Huo Mingjue warned Chen Shuangbai to be cautious and put his life first.
• Chen Shuangbai led Lin Jingtao, Ji Yang, and Wang Tongfang covertly along Azure Light Mountain, avoiding Devil Cultivators and traps as Foundation Establishment fighters clashed nearby.
• The group crossed the nineteenth hill into Heart-Eroding Stronghold's territory, where poisonous miasma and a sickly-sweet bloody odor filled the air.
• Chen Shuangbai used the Duckweed Water Incantation and Flower Bloom Incantation to shield the group from the miasma, impressing Ji Yang and Wang Tongfang.
• In a concealed cave, Chen Shuangbai examined a map of enemy rear supply bases and learned that Insect Miasma Ridge bred insect beasts for the Hundred Poisons Lineage.

Ji Yang returned from scouting Insect Miasma Ridge, and Chen Shuangbai devised a surprise attack to overcome its formidable defenses. The squad prepared to split up, with Chen Shuangbai drawing the defenders while Ji Yang targeted the central breeding ground with Earth Baleful Fire Pills.

• Ji Yang emerged from his cave abode and gave Chen Shuangbai a Jade Slip mapping Insect Miasma Ridge's three entrances and defenses.
• Chen Shuangbai proposed splitting the squad, sending Ji Yang through the poisonous southwestern rift to plant five Earth Baleful Fire Pills in the central area.
• Chen Shuangbai assigned Lin Jingtao to attack the defenders from a nearby cliff with his enchanted bow and Wang Tongfang to protect him with a sword formation.
• Chen Shuangbai gave Ji Yang the Mystic Water Wave-Stilling Mirror and promised a Sweet Dew Incantation to help protect him from the explosions.
• Chen Shuangbai said he would draw most of the defenders' attention on the frontal battlefield, and the squad agreed to the plan.

Ji Yang and Chen Shuangbai carried out a surprise attack on Insect Miasma Ridge, drawing out its defenders and defeating several Devil Cultivators. The Empty Sword Sect group escaped after joining up with Lin Jingtao and Wang Tongfang.

• Ji Yang used Chen Shuangbai's Mirage Illusory Scene to disguise himself as a Heart-Eroding Stronghold Devil Cultivator and left with the Mystic Water Wave-Stilling Mirror and five fire pellets.
• Chen Shuangbai, Lin Jingtao, and Wang Tongfang took up concealed positions near Insect Miasma Ridge while Ji Yang infiltrated the ridge.
• Ji Yang set off a blaze that devastated the ridge and fled under the mirror's protection as insects, beasts, and Devil Cultivators pursued him.
• Chen Shuangbai attacked the pursuers with Cold Spring and Green Parasol, while Wang Tongfang's water arrows struck Devil Cultivators from afar.
• Chen Shuangbai used Midnight Month Cold Light Yin Thunder to kill or scatter the pursuing forces, then escaped with Ji Yang and joined Lin Jingtao and Wang Tongfang.

Chen Shuangbai’s team continued raiding Heart-Eroding Stronghold outposts, but learned that Yue Qianshan’s team might have been killed by a false Foundation Establishment cultivator. After narrowly avoiding the enemy’s ambush, Chen Shuangbai warned his companions to stay vigilant as they prepared to return.

• Chen Shuangbai’s team escaped their pursuers, hid in a riverbank cave, and rested behind an array that concealed them from early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
• Over less than three days, the four teams destroyed around twenty important Heart-Eroding Stronghold outposts, disrupting the enemy’s rear network.
• Chen Shuangbai sensed an ambush at a planned target and led his team away, narrowly avoiding a crimson-and-black-robed false Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• After raiding another outpost, Ji Yang learned that Yue Qianshan and his team might have fallen to the false Foundation Establishment cultivator, who wielded a black awl Law Artifact and commanded insects and beasts.
• Chen Shuangbai told Wang Tongfang and Ji Yang to remain especially cautious before their planned return the following day.

Zhang Heng responded to the repeated destruction of Heart-Eroding Stronghold outposts by ordering his forces to abandon the perimeter and releasing Heart-Rotting Butterflies to track the orthodox cultivators. After another surprise attack, Chen Shuangbai and his companions prepared to withdraw toward Azure Light Mountain, battered but changed by their battles.

• Zhang Heng flew into a rage over the outposts lost to Chen Shuangbai’s group and ordered a mortal attendant who broke a wine vessel to be swallowed by his leopard.
• A gray-robed Devil Cultivator reported that Chen Shuangbai’s team had destroyed more outposts, and Zhang Heng ordered the stronghold to concentrate its forces at the Blood Pool and Bone Hall.
• Zhang Heng ordered all stored Heart-Rotting Butterflies released, and the butterflies set out to follow the clear spiritual power left by orthodox cultivators.
• Chen Shuangbai and the others launched another surprise attack and left an outpost burning.
• On the fourth day of their raids, Chen Shuangbai and his companions prepared to return to the area around Azure Light Mountain, carrying injuries from the fighting but showing changes from their ordeal.

Chen Shuangbai and his companions tried to escape the Heart-Eroding Stronghold by river, but Feiguang spotted an ambush near the Empty Sword Sect's border. As enemies surrounded them and Zhang Heng pursued, Chen Shuangbai blasted through the formation barrier, and Feiguang carried the group away.

• Chen Shuangbai led Ji Yang, Wang Tongfang, and Lin Jingtao downstream under the cover of Abyss Diving Shadow Escape.
• Feiguang spotted grayish-brown butterflies gathering along the riverbanks, and Chen Shuangbai ordered the group to flee.
• Devil Cultivators and insect beasts attacked from both sides, while a formation barrier blocked the group's path ahead.
• Zhang Heng pursued the four, and Chen Shuangbai blasted a breach through the barrier with Cold Light Yin Lightning.
• Feiguang swooped down and carried Chen Shuangbai and the others into the clouds.

Chen Shuangbai and his companions escaped the Heart-Eroding Stronghold and returned safely to the Empty Sword Sect’s camp after their mission, though seven members of their teams were lost. Back in his cave abode, Chen Shuangbai began recovering from the backlash of unleashing his Yin Thunder and reflected on how the expedition had tempered his combat skills.

• Chen Shuangbai and the others escaped their pursuers and reached the Empty Sword Sect’s domain aboard Feiguang, whose speed left his passengers sick and shaken.
• The four traveled to White Creek Camp, where they learned that Exalted Cultivator Huo had killed a Foundation Establishment Devil Cultivator from the Resentful Blood lineage.
• Exalted Cultivator Wen summoned the returning teams, praised their mission, and acknowledged that only six of eight teams had returned; Chen Shuangbai realized seven of the sixteen people sent into enemy territory were likely dead.
• The Empty Sword Sect rewarded the Jade Spring Sect reinforcements, and Chen Shuangbai returned to his cave abode with Lin Jingtao after Ji Yang and Wang Tongfang left to recover from their injuries.
• Chen Shuangbai used the Clear Waves Reflecting the Moon Banner and Life-Accepting Spirit Liquid to heal his scorched meridians, noting that his thunder seed also needed time to replenish.
• Chen Shuangbai reflected that the expedition had improved his Law Techniques and sword Dao despite the minor injuries he had suffered.

After the Heart-Eroding Stronghold retreated from Azure Light Mountain, Chen Shuangbai recovered in seclusion and broke through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining. He learned that the allied sects had expanded their offensive, but the war was expected to continue as they aimed to seize five commanderies.

• After Ma Chi died, the Heart-Eroding Stronghold retreated, and the Empty Sword Sect took control of all Azure Light Mountain.
• Chen Shuangbai healed his meridians, recovered his Law Power, and entered seclusion to pursue a breakthrough.
• Exalted Cultivator Huo sent Chen Shuangbai a Jade Liquid Pill, which he used during his cultivation.
• Chen Shuangbai emerged in a snowstorm at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, while Feiguang had advanced to the eighth layer.
• Ji Yang, Fan Caiwei, and Lin Jingtao told Chen Shuangbai that the allied sects had taken two Heart-Eroding Stronghold commanderies and planned to seize at least five.

Chen Shuangbai learned that the Jade Spring Sect and the Empty Sword Sect planned to keep pressuring the Heart-Eroding Stronghold despite the Spirit-Seeking Sect’s warning. After receiving permission to cultivate for three months inside the [Sharp Mountains and Embracing Rivers Painting], he emerged from seclusion back in a bright hall.

• Exalted Cultivator Huo told Chen Shuangbai that the Spirit-Seeking Sect had warned against pushing the Heart-Eroding Stronghold too far, but the Jade Spring Sect and the Empty Sword Sect intended to demand further concessions.
• Exalted Cultivator Huo granted Chen Shuangbai three months of cultivation inside the [Sharp Mountains and Embracing Rivers Painting], along with pills, in recognition of his contributions.
• Chen Shuangbai entered the painting and found its spiritual atmosphere naturally stirred the "Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method," so he began cultivating in a cliff cave beneath a waterfall.
• During the three months, Chen Shuangbai carefully checked his cultivation and refined his Law Artifacts, including the [Cold Spring Sword] and the [Green Parasol Tree Sword].
• When the three months ended, Chen Shuangbai was transported back to a bright hall and greeted Martial Uncle Huo.