Recaps

A hidden young man from the Heaven-Viewing Saint Sect revealed the Heaven-Severing Sacred Physique as he rapidly ascended the white jade stairs, alarming the gathered cultivators. Jiang Bo planned to use the prodigy to lead his sect toward controlling the entire Heaven-Gazing Domain.

• The young man from the Heaven-Viewing Saint Sect climbed the white jade stairs without stopping as lightning and thunder gathered above him.
• The cultivators recognized that the young man was a powerful hidden trump card and wondered what physique he possessed.
• The Divine Nether Sect's sect master identified the young man's Heaven-Severing Sacred Physique, and Jiang Bo confirmed that it matched the former Domain Lord's physique.
• The gathered cultivators recalled that the former Domain Lord had vanished after heaven and earth supposedly punished his monstrous physique, and they feared the young man might become his successor.
• Jiang Bo dismissed the political suspicions around his sect and resolved to unite the Heaven-Gazing Domain under the Heaven-Viewing Saint Sect.
• The young man reached a high level on the stairs before returning to the bottom, and Jiang Bo judged that his ambitions would soon be realized.

The Heaven-Viewing Saint Sect prodigy climbed seventy-two steps and received the Heaven-Gazing Saint Instruction, emerging with a bearing that astonished the assembled sect leaders. Then Xian Ni of the Azure Soaring Daoist Sect began her climb, and the black stain and sorrowful murmurs from the steps revealed the manifestation of the being in her belly.

• The final Heaven-Viewing Saint Sect prodigy reached seventy-two steps and was granted entry to a blessed land to receive the Heaven-Gazing Saint Instruction.
• The young man entered the spatial ripple and emerged moments later with a changed bearing that reminded Jiang Bo of the Heaven-Gazing Domain lord.
• The Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect elders and Qi Zhengliu worried that Luo Qingxue could not match the seventy-two-step result, while she remained waiting for her turn.
• The Azure Soaring Daoist Sect leader called forward Xian Ni, whose pregnant appearance provoked revulsion among the surrounding cultivators.
• Xian Ni climbed the white jade steps as thunder sounded and blackness spread beneath her feet, accompanied by sorrowful murmurs.
• Qi Zhengliu realized the manifestation came from the being in Xian Ni's belly, which appeared to be a shattered immortal climbing back toward the heavens.

Xian Ni of the Azure Soaring Daoist Sect reached eighty steps on Heaven-Gazing Ridge, stunning the gathered sects and raising fears that the Immortal Embryo was consuming her life. The Purple Firmament Palace's Holy Son reached sixty-four steps, and attention turned to the injured Luo Qingxue and the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect.

• The Heaven-Viewing Saint Sect's vice sect master told Jiang Bo that the Azure Soaring Daoist Sect had gone mad, while he suspected Xian Ni was carrying the Immortal Embryo.
• Xian Ni exhausted herself climbing to the eightieth step before being transported back, securing first place and prompting Jiang Bo to suspect she was a false vessel with little life left.
• The Purple Firmament Palace's Holy Son climbed to the sixty-fourth step and consoled himself that he had done well for his first participation.
• Lei Mingzi approved of his Holy Son's result as the gathered sects admired the Purple Firmament Palace's showing.
• The crowd looked toward the injured Luo Qingxue and doubted that the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect could match the other sects' results.

Luo Qingxue climbed Heaven-Gazing Ridge despite her injuries, determined to fight for the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect’s standing. As her condition worsened, she resolved to risk her life rather than turn back.

• Lei Mingzi taunted Qi Zhengliu and suggested Luo Qingxue should not climb because she was injured.
• Luo Qingxue recalled the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect’s sacrifices for her and chose to ascend despite Qi Zhengliu calling after her.
• Luo Qingxue’s ascent produced a vast, magnificent phenomenon that impressed the gathered sect leaders and spectators.
• After passing the thirty-third step, Luo Qingxue’s injuries flared and her climb became increasingly unsteady.
• Luo Qingxue steeled herself to continue, resolving to sacrifice her life for the cause if she could not succeed.

After Luo Qingxue failed at the fifty-second step, the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect feared losing its place among the four great sects. Lang Ping entered Heaven-Gazing Ridge despite his poor aptitude, determined to test himself against the steps.

• Luo Qingxue fell at the fifty-second step, and Qi Zhengliu and the elders treated her wounds and comforted her.
• The Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect realized it might no longer rank among the four great sects, while the other sects watched calmly.
• A new climber appeared on the first step, drawing attention away from the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect.
• The onlookers mocked the climber for moving extremely slowly and predicted he would soon fall.
• The climber was revealed to be Lang Ping, who accepted that his aptitude might stop him but climbed anyway.

On the Heart-Questioning Road, Lang Ping faced a version of himself who had accepted Lin Xuan’s offer to improve his aptitude and saw the glory that choice might have brought. He rejected that alternate path without regret and moved beyond the ninth level of Heaven-Gazing Ridge.

• Lang Ping heard the voices of people who had mocked or doubted him and met an alternate self who had accepted Lin Xuan’s offer.
• The alternate Lang Ping showed him visions of rising quickly through Heaven-Gazing Ridge and becoming a celebrated heaven’s chosen.
• Lang Ping dismissed the visions and insisted that Lin Xuan was his master, not the alternate’s, and that he would pursue the sword with a mortal body.
• Lang Ping’s resolve shattered the alternate self, and he took a steady step beyond the ninth level.

Lang Ping steadily climbed beyond the ninth level of Heaven-Gazing Ridge, revealing a vast, quiet manifestation of stones and ordinary people that an old man identified as the Mortal Sword Dao. Lang Ping continued until he reached exhaustion, then accepted that he had done his best and prepared to withdraw.

• Lang Ping passed the ninth level and continued climbing while the crowd wondered why no manifestation had appeared.
• The spectators discovered that his manifestation silently covered the mountains with stones, a pangolin, and mortals carrying swords as they climbed.
• An old man explained that Lang Ping followed the exceptionally difficult Mortal Dao and said success could grant someone the qualifications to become a Saint Lord and perhaps an Immortal.
• Lang Ping kept climbing without counting his steps, then stopped when exhausted and decided he had fulfilled his task.

Lang Ping secretly climbed to the eighty-first step of Heaven-Gazing Ridge, breaking the record, then returned with Lin Xuan’s help while everyone mistook him for an unknown outsider. Feng Jingyu decided to make her own climb and show the crowd a greater prodigy.

• Lin Xuan watched Lang Ping climb the white jade stairs and felt proud of his disciple’s perseverance.
• Lang Ping reached the eighty-first step without a Heaven-Gazing Token and claimed the new record.
• Lin Xuan used a shadow double to conceal Lang Ping’s return, and Lang Ping thanked his master for helping him evade the four sect leaders.
• The four great sects’ disciples searched among outsiders for the mysterious climber, never suspecting Lang Ping.
• Feng Jingyu concealed her appearance with a ring and prepared to climb the stairs herself.

Feng Jingyu climbed Heaven-Gazing Ridge at remarkable speed, displaying a phoenix manifestation that impressed the onlookers. Liu Rumei then joined the ascent, and their rival manifestations drove both women to climb faster as observers feared the inheritance would go to outsiders.

• Feng Jingyu used a concealment ring to enter the white jade stairs unnoticed and climbed swiftly, revealing a phoenix manifestation.
• Feng Jingyu crossed the forty-ninth level without slowing, convincing the onlookers that her aptitude and resolve were exceptional.
• Liu Rumei entered the stairs while Feng Jingyu was still climbing, using an escape technique and showing little concern for the local custom against simultaneous climbs.
• Liu Rumei’s Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox manifestation met Feng Jingyu’s phoenix manifestation, and the two visions each claimed half the sky.
• Feng Jingyu noticed the rival manifestation and quickened her pace, while both women’s competitive ascent left the crowd wondering whether outsiders would claim the inheritance.

Feng Jingyu and Liu Rumei reached the eighty-eighth and eighty-ninth floors of Heaven-Gazing Ridge, earning rare treasures before escaping the great sects. Their feats left the Heaven-Gazing Domain stunned and dealt a final blow to the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect’s hopes of remaining one of the four great sects.

• Feng Jingyu and Liu Rumei received treasures and inherited cultivation methods for reaching the eighty-eighth and eighty-ninth floors.
• Feng Jingyu brooded over losing by one floor, while Liu Rumei wondered whether her rival came from beyond the domain.
• The formation spirit sent Feng Jingyu and Liu Rumei out of the reward space, and they escaped the four great sects’ attempts to stop them.
• The crowd marveled at the visitors’ records, while Lang Ping reflected on the vast gap between mortal limits and prodigious talent.
• Qi Zhengliu saw Luo Qingxue’s despair and realized the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect would have to leave the ranks of the four great sects.

After Liu Rumei left Heaven-Gazing Ridge with a new record of eighty-nine steps, Lin Xuan entered and triggered a startling array of visions, including a powerful Sword Dao vision. Recognized by Liu Rumei and Feng Jingyu, he raced up the ridge and reached the thirty-third level in two breaths.

• Liu Rumei emerged from Heaven-Gazing Ridge after reaching eighty-nine steps, satisfied with her gains despite failing to reach the summit.
• Lin Xuan appeared on the ridge, and his ascent immediately produced several distinct visions, dominated by Sword Dao.
• Liu Rumei recognized Lin Xuan’s Sword Intent, while Feng Jingyu identified it as the Sword Intent of the Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion.
• Lin Xuan considered the ridge a chance to test his aptitude and seek spirit medicines that could repair the soul.
• Lin Xuan charged up the ridge without stopping, reaching the thirty-third level in two breaths.

Lin Xuan climbed Heaven-Gazing Ridge at astonishing speed, breaking its record and reaching the summit at the one hundred and eighth level. As the sect leaders expected the final winner to be settled, the formation spirit announced that Lin Xuan belonged to the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect.

• Lin Xuan's climb produced overwhelming phenomena that made cultivators' weapons tremble and fly toward the sky.
• Lin Xuan passed the ninetieth level, received an inheritance, and broke Heaven-Gazing Ridge's record.
• Lin Xuan continued climbing and reached the summit at the one hundred and eighth level, leaving the crowd stunned and envious.
• Heaven-Gazing Ridge began to tremble as it neared closing, and the sect leaders prepared to announce the final winner.
• The formation spirit announced that the summit climber's affiliated faction was the Cinnabar Cloud Sword Sect.