Chapter Summaries

The White-haired Storyteller revealed that two powerful young Nascent Soul figures from Central Continent had come to the Northern Wasteland, unsettling the gathered cultivators and drawing threats from Yang Xuanxiao, Jun Lingzi, and Xiao Yunhe. As Shen Yun hoped to meet a worthy rival, a thief fleeing Xiao Yunhe sought refuge in his room after stealing the Xuanming Sword.

• The White-haired Storyteller described Jun Lingzi of the Heavenly Craft Institute and Xiao Yunhe, heir of the Azure Heaven Marquis, as Nascent Soul-level prodigies from Central Continent.
• The Sword Sect Disciples worried that Shen Yun might lose the martial examination to the newcomers, while Shen Yun became eager to face an opponent like the Overlord.
• Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi called for the White-haired Storyteller to be killed, and Xiao Yunhe boasted that he could sweep across the Northern Wasteland.
• When asked about the third young Nascent Soul, the White-haired Storyteller denied having said there were three and refused to explain further.
• A black-clad thief fled Xiao Yunhe with the Xuanming Sword and asked Shen Yun for help; Shen Yun dispelled Xiao Yunhe's sword qi and let the thief escape into his room.
• Xiao Yunhe searched Shen Yun's room without finding the thief, then told Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi that his Xuanming Sword had been stolen.

Fang Shiyun, an envoy of Great Qian's Mirror Division, hid in Shen Yun’s protection after stealing the Xuanming Sword from Xiao Yunhe. When Xiao Yunhe tracked the stolen treasure with the Azure Nether Marquis’s Life Essence Blood, Shen Yun left to respond, while the pursuers rushed after the fading trail.

• Shen Yun concealed Fang Shiyun from Heavenly Secrets tracking, and she identified herself as an envoy from Great Qian's Mirror Division.
• Xiao Yunhe ordered the Azure Nether Guard to seal off Thousand Peaks City, but the search through the night failed to find Fang Shiyun.
• Shen Yun told Fang Shiyun to stay hidden until the imperial examination began and recognized that she cultivated a special Five Elements Dao Method.
• Fang Shiyun handed Shen Yun the Xuanming Sword, and he left after warning her not to respond to anyone searching for her.
• Xiao Yunhe used the Azure Nether Marquis's Life Essence Blood to locate the sword's trail, then raced after it with Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi.

Shen Yun escaped Thousand Peaks City with the Xuanming Sword, whose restriction unleashed a profound sword force that drew him into enlightenment. Xiao Yunhe pursued him but was overwhelmed by Shen Yun’s aura and fled, warning Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi that Shen Yun had comprehended sword force.

• Xiao Yunhe sent three hundred Azure Nether Guards to intercept Shen Yun and pursued him with Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi.
• Shen Yun passed through the Azure Nether Guards’ formation unnoticed and escaped beyond Thousand Peaks City.
• Shen Yun discovered the Xuanming Sword’s restriction held the sword force of a Void Returning Dao Lord and entered a state of enlightenment as he studied it.
• Xiao Yunhe encountered Shen Yun’s overwhelming sword force, was injured by a single glance, and fled in terror.
• Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi learned that Shen Yun had comprehended sword force and hurriedly fled ahead of Xiao Yunhe.

Shen Yun used the Qingming Sword Momentum to overwhelm three Central Continent talents, leaving Xiao Yunhe trapped and badly injured while Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi fled. Situ Jing arrived to rescue the survivors, and the group found Xiao Yunhe charred on a sand dune, raising fears of repercussions.

• Xiao Yunhe, Yang Xuanxiao, and Jun Lingzi fled toward Thousand Peaks City after encountering a sword momentum expert, but Shen Yun's Azure Sky Sword Momentum caught up with them.
• Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi used life-preserving methods to escape the sword qi, abandoning Xiao Yunhe when he begged for help.
• Shen Yun reflected on the sword strike and realized he had grasped the mysteries of sword momentum through the Xuanming Sword.
• Situ Jing arrived and used Vast Righteous Qi to treat Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi, discovering that their cultivation and foundations had been severely damaged.
• Situ Jing, Yang Xuanxiao, and Jun Lingzi returned to the storm's center and found Xiao Yunhe charred on a sand dune.

Shen Yun’s confrontation with Central Continent’s prodigies left Xiao Yunhe crippled and strengthened Shen Yun’s resolve to claim the martial examination’s first place. While the Northern Wasteland celebrated, Yang Xuanxiao poisoned Xiao Yunhe to conceal his own role and protect his chance at victory.

• Situ Jing confirmed that Xiao Yunhe’s Spirit Veins, qi sea, and Spiritual Root were ruined, while Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi feared he might expose their inaction.
• At Dream Return Tower, the White-haired Storyteller announced Xiao Yunhe had been crippled and a Heavenly Crafts Pavilion prodigy was gravely injured, prompting the Northern Wasteland cultivators to celebrate.
• Fang Shiyun recognized the scale of Shen Yun’s strength, and Shen Yun resolved to stop hiding his abilities and pursue the martial examination’s first place.
• Shen Yun’s resolve let him reach the realm of Sword Momentum, and the White-haired Storyteller sensed that turmoil was coming to the Cultivation World.
• Yang Xuanxiao secretly entered Xiao Yunhe’s room, poisoned him with Scattered Life Water, and hid the murder to protect his chance of winning first place.

Shen Yun entered the Literary Examination at Wenhua Academy, where he quickly passed a difficult Daoist classics question and drew the attention of the academy’s scholars. The chapter ended with Situ Jing watching Shen Yun approach beneath the Literary Heart Ancient Tree.

• Shen Yun and Shen Wude headed to Wenhua Academy, where Shen Yun said he was interested in becoming a civil official.
• Candidates struggled with their examination questions, while the celebrated Tang Bozho passed with remarkable speed.
• Shen Yun took the examination, surprising Bai Qian and the gathered candidates by correctly explaining an obscure Daoist scripture.
• Shen Yun passed and walked into Wenhua Academy as Situ Jing watched him approach, distracted even while Tang Bozho saluted.

At the Scholarly Arts Tournament, Shen Yun entered a deep Cognitive Barrier while pondering the meaning of his Dao, then wrote a passage from the Book of Changes that stirred a miraculous response from the Dao Steles. The chapter ended with Situ Jing recognizing the vast righteous qi rising around Shen Yun.

• Situ Jing examined Shen Yun and concluded that he was not the person who had crippled Xiao Yunhe, while Tang Bozho assessed Shen Yun's literary talent.
• Shen Wude passed the preliminary selection and boasted to Shen Yun about his performance.
• Situ Jing explained that examinees had to write from their true hearts and earn recognition from the seventy-two Dao Steles.
• Guo Ruofei's poem failed to stir literary qi, and Situ Jing rebuked him for vanity before he left in despair.
• Tang Bozho's composition stirred the steles and earned him three feet of literary qi, while Shen Yun remained trapped in a Cognitive Barrier.
• Shen Yun wrote a passage from the Book of Changes, causing the ancient tree and all seventy-two steles to respond as vast righteous qi surrounded him.

Shen Yun broke through the Cognitive Barrier with his unwavering Dao-seeking heart and won first place in the Literary Examination, stunning Wenhua Academy and Thousand Peaks City. Meanwhile, Yang Xuanxiao’s plan to target Shen Yun faltered after Jun Lingzi warned that the examination result made a move against him impossible.

• Shen Yun’s Vast Righteous Qi stabilized his expanded sea of consciousness as he clarified his original heart and attained his true self.
• Tang Bozho acknowledged Shen Yun’s exceptional achievement, while Situ Jing suspected Emperor Qianyuan had restarted the examinations in anticipation of a great age.
• Shen Yun took first place in the Literary Examination, and Shen Wude placed fiftieth with his Doggerel Poem.
• The Jade Ranking revealed Shen Yun as the top scholar, and the crowd recognized him when he walked out of Wenhua Academy.
• Yang Xuanxiao arranged for Qing Zhange to deal with Feng Gumming and Shen Yun, but Jun Lingzi warned that Shen Yun’s first-place result had changed the plan.

Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi plotted to persuade Shen Yun to withdraw from the martial trials, while Shen Yun celebrated with the Sword Sect Disciples before traveling to the Heartless Blade Tomb. At the tournament grounds, the Great Gan Immortal Dynasty’s arrivals drew attention, and Qing Zhange’s grave reaction to Shen Yun’s appearance left their confrontation looming.

• Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi agreed to devise a way to make Shen Yun back out of the martial trials.
• Shen Yun confirmed to the Sword Sect Disciples that he had entered the Scholarly Arts Tournament, and they celebrated his achievement at Dream Return Tower.
• Young Heavenly Prides gathered at the Heartless Blade Tomb, where the Spirit Array opened the grounds for the martial arts tournament.
• Spectators discussed Zhao Zijian, Mo Xuanji, and Feng Gumming as the Great Gan Immortal Dynasty’s Yang Xuanxiao and Qing Zhange arrived in a golden war chariot.
• Qing Zhange assessed Feng Gumming’s blade intent, then recognized Shen Yun as he arrived with the Lone Swan Sword Sect and reacted with unusual gravity.

Shen Yun rejected Yang Xuanxiao’s attempt to bribe him before the martial examination, prompting Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi to plot against him. The Ninth Prince arrived, took charge of the examination, and announced the first test.

• Shen Yun captured Jun Lingzi’s Spirit Puppet, examined the treasures Yang Xuanxiao offered, and returned them without accepting the bribe.
• Yang Xuanxiao grew furious and discussed punishing Shen Yun with Jun Lingzi, including manipulating the examination scores.
• The Ninth Prince arrived at the Heartless Blade Tomb, and Yang Xuanxiao, Jun Lingzi, and Qing Zhange bowed to him.
• The Ninth Prince exchanged a greeting with Shen Yun and took over as the martial examination’s presiding official.
• The Ninth Prince summoned a Spirit Sensing Stone and announced that the first test would measure bone age and cultivation.

The Years Spirit Appraisal Stele revealed the cultivation and ages of the contestants, and the Shen Family’s young talents stunned the crowd. Qing Zhange then demonstrated an even greater gap in power by testing as a ninety-year-old Nascent Soul Fourth Layer cultivator.

• The Ninth Prince explained that the first round would judge contestants by their cultivation and bone age using the Years Spirit Appraisal Stele.
• Shen Qiu tested at ninth-layer Foundation Establishment and twenty years old, drawing attention for his youth, while Shen Yun privately regarded him as a figure of misfortune.
• Shen Wude tested at Void Core Realm at twenty-four years old, and Shen Qingruo tested at Void Core Realm at twenty, shocking the crowd with the Shen Family’s talent.
• Several renowned contestants, including Zhang Zijian and Mo Xuanji, posted strong Golden Core results before Yang Xuanxiao challenged their claims to the top spot.
• Qing Zhange tested at ninety years old and Nascent Soul Fourth Layer, leaving the gathered heavenly talents stunned.

Shen Yun stunned the Northern Wasteland and Central Continent cultivators by revealing that he had reached the ninth layer of the Golden Core Realm at twenty. The Ninth Prince suspected Shen Yun was the person his Imperial Brother sought and changed the next assessment so he could personally test the contestants’ talents.

• Qing Zhange revealed that he was a Nascent Soul True Lord, and Jun Lingzi’s test showed he had reached the second layer of Nascent Soul at ninety-three.
• Shen Yun quietly advanced from the eighth layer of Golden Core to Golden Core Peak as he walked to the appraisal stele.
• The stele announced that Shen Yun was twenty years old and at the ninth layer of Golden Core, leaving the gathered cultivators in disbelief.
• Yang Xuanxiao and Jun Lingzi claimed Shen Yun must have used demonic arts, while the Ninth Prince judged his foundation unparalleled and suspected he was the person his Imperial Brother sought.
• The Ninth Prince announced that he would personally conduct the second assessment, which would test talent.

During the talent test, the Ninth Prince discovered that Shen Yun’s ordinary Three-Attribute Spirit Root made him an extraordinary anomaly and praised his potential to attain immortality. As the martial examination moved to its combat round, Yang Xuanxiao prepared hidden allies to dominate the contest, while Shen Yun and Feng Gumming sensed that events were shifting.

• The Ninth Prince tested the participants with a jade ruler covered in formations, giving Shen Yun far more attention than the others.
• The Ninth Prince reacted with astonishment to Shen Yun’s Three-Attribute Spirit Root and concluded that he might attain the Dao and become an immortal.
• The Ninth Prince announced the combat round, summoning eight battle platforms and explaining that participants could challenge their defenders twice.
• Yang Xuanxiao secretly instructed several powerful older cultivators to help him sweep the top nine, excluding Shen Yun.
• Feng Gumming decided he needed an ally and fixed his attention on Shen Yun, who sensed the rising winds as he studied the horizon.

Feng Guming tried to persuade Shen Yun to join forces against Jun Lingzi, but Shen Yun saw through his scheme and refused. Shen Yun then stepped onto a battle platform and challenged Yang Xuanxiao, Jun Lingzi, and Qing Zhange, leaving the assembled candidates waiting to see who would answer.

• Feng Guming appeared beside Shen Yun and proposed that they work together to exhaust Jun Lingzi before the decisive battle.
• Shen Yun rejected the proposal, recognized Feng Guming's hidden motives, and ordered him to leave.
• As the candidates waited and none dared take a platform, Shen Yun stepped onto one himself.
• Shen Yun's presence awed Shen Qiu, Shen Qingruo, and the other candidates.
• Shen Yun fixed Yang Xuanxiao, Jun Lingzi, and Qing Zhange with his gaze and challenged them to fight.

Shen Yun challenged the Central Continent talents and defeated Jun Lingzi with a single overwhelming attack, leaving Yang Xuanxiao and Qing Zhange under pressure. The chapter ended with Shen Yun asking Qing Zhange whether he dared to take the stage.

• Yang Xuanxiao stopped Qing Zhange from fighting first and sent Jun Lingzi to test Shen Yun.
• Jun Lingzi summoned the Southern Border Twin Fiends, whose Spirit Puppets unleashed a vast swarm of powerful Gu worms against Shen Yun.
• Shen Yun vanished from the swarm, struck Jun Lingzi into the air, and smashed him into the Battle Platform with his Nine Revolutions Mana.
• Jun Lingzi's defeat disabled his Spirit Puppets and Gu worms, while spectators mocked Yang Xuanxiao's faction.
• Shen Yun confronted Qing Zhange and asked whether he dared to step onto the stage.

Shen Yun advanced to the final battle after Qing Zhange backed down, while the Northern Wasteland’s remaining geniuses fought for a place on the stage. Shen Qingruo defeated Leng Wuxin, and Yang Xuanji’s hidden forces began to move as the competition reached its decisive phase.

• Qing Zhange withdrew from Shen Yun’s challenge, and the Ninth Prince recognized Shen Yun’s Five Elements Mana as the Great Five Elements Dao.
• Shen Yun reached the final decisive battle, collected Jun Lingzi’s scattered gu insects, and noticed powerful rogue cultivators in the crowd.
• Feng Qisha defeated Shen Qiu after a long fight, then lost his next match when his mana suddenly turned disorderly.
• Shen Qingruo defeated Leng Wuxin with her wood-form mana and divine calculation, while Shen Yun warned Mo Xuanji against coveting her art.
• Yang Xuanji gave a signal, and the remaining experts began to act as killing intent rose across the Battle Platforms.

Yang Xuanxiao sprung a trap with six powerful hidden guards, but Shen Yun armed the Northern Wasteland Heavenly Prides with transformed gu worms that swiftly killed them. Feng Gumming submitted to Yang Xuanxiao, leaving his allegiance uncertain as the battle’s outcome turned against the Marquis Guangcheng’s Estate.

• Yang Xuanxiao sent six disguised Golden Core experts onto the Battle Platform, where their strength overwhelmed the Heavenly Prides.
• Feng Gumming saw the trap and publicly offered to submit to Yang Xuanxiao, angering Jue Wushen, Zhang Zijian, and the Heartless Blade Tomb disciples.
• Shen Yun worked inside the Azure Dragon Ring to inscribe Spirit Arrays and runes onto gu worms.
• Shen Yun gave transformed gu worms to the Northern Wasteland Heavenly Prides and instructed them to bind the worms with their blood and control them with Divine Sense.
• The gu worms pierced through the six hidden guards’ attacks and killed all six, shocking the spectators.

Shen Yun’s gu worms destroyed Yang Xuanxiao’s hidden guards and stunned the gathered talents, while the Ninth Prince recognized their unusual blend of cultivation arts. Feng Guming defeated the depleted Zhang Zijian, but Shen Yun claimed his remaining challenge opportunity, leaving Feng Guming facing a new opponent.

• Shen Yun’s gu worms defeated Yang Xuanxiao’s six hidden guards, overturning Yang Xuanxiao’s scheme.
• The Ninth Prince examined a Golden Silkworm Gu and identified spirit formations, runes, and spirit puppet arts within it, while the other talents marveled at Shen Yun’s skill.
• Feng Guming, having defected from the Northern Wasteland, chose Zhang Zijian as his opponent and attacked him on the Battle Platform.
• Zhang Zijian used a blood-red giant bat and a multicolored venomous spider to block Feng Guming’s strike, but Feng Guming knocked him off the platform.
• Shen Yun asked the Ninth Prince to let him give up his previous quota and use his remaining challenge opportunity, and the Ninth Prince agreed.

Shen Yun defeated Feng Gumming with the Azure Cloud Sword Momentum, killing him and securing the Northern Wasteland’s place in the final battle. As the final contest approached, Yang Yuanxiao pinned his hopes on Qing Zhange defeating Shen Yun.

• Feng Gumming summoned the Hundred Tribulations Thousand Peaks Blade and unleashed a river of blade intent against Shen Yun.
• Shen Yun split Feng Gumming’s attack with the Azure Cloud Sword Momentum and reduced him to ashes.
• The onlookers revered Shen Yun and his sword art, while Yang Xuanxiao suspected Shen Yun might be connected to the Mysterious Sword Cultivator and plotted revenge.
• The final battle lineup was announced with Qing Zhange as the only non-Northern Wasteland Heavenly Pride, and Yang Yuanxiao urged him to defeat Shen Yun.

After comprehending the Hundred Tribulations Thousand Peaks Blade, Shen Yun formed the Wind and Thunder Great Dao and glimpsed a path toward a Seven-Colored Nascent Soul, then sensed that light and darkness were also part of the heavens. The heavens’ secrets suddenly changed across the Five Regions, while Emperor Qianyuan investigated Fang Tianyi and Overlord’s faction prepared to challenge Ye Jiuge before the Metropolitan Examination.

• Shen Yun returned to the Sword Sect Disciples and studied the Dao Lord laws in the Hundred Tribulations Thousand Peaks Blade, while Shen Wude and Shen Qingruo also showed signs of transformation.
• Shen Yun’s Golden Core developed green and purple patterns as he formed the Wind and Thunder Great Dao and learned from Azure Dragon how cultivators advanced toward the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Shen Yun sensed that light and darkness belonged alongside the other natural Great Daos, just as a mysterious fluctuation darkened the sky and disrupted heaven’s secrets throughout the Five Regions.
• Emperor Qianyuan recognized that the ancient True Immortal inheritance might reappear and ordered an attendant to ask whether Fang Tianyi’s whereabouts had been found.
• Overlord’s faction discussed its control over the imperial examination’s regional slots and identified Ye Jiuge, who had condensed a five-colored Nascent Soul, as an obstacle.
• Overlord said he would test Ye Jiuge before the Metropolitan Examination, and the gathered nobles resolved to assert their faction’s dominance.