Chapter Summaries

Zhou Wuji accepted Yan Baoying’s request to eliminate the evil spirits at White Forest Bay and traveled there with her and members of the Great River Association. After entering the abandoned village, he encountered a powerful red-clad spirit whose lantern had cast a domain over the entire area.

• Zhou Wuji asked Yan Baoying to gather medicinal ingredients, then insisted they leave immediately to deal with the evil spirits.
• Yan Baoying took Zhou Wuji and Great River Association members Qian Lao Wu and Water Snake downstream to White Forest Bay.
• Zhou Wuji gave Yan Baoying and the others Golden Light Talismans before going ashore alone.
• Zhou Wuji used his Six Yang Spirit Eyes to follow the black Yin Qi through the silent forest and into a village marked by signs of many deaths.
• A pale woman in red appeared behind Zhou Wuji with a glowing lantern, revealing a domain that covered the village.

Zhou Wuji was trapped in a powerful Red Lantern Law Domain and traced its source to the lantern buried beneath a villager’s house. He destroyed the parasitic evil entity and claimed the lantern, but discovered that his lifespan had fallen by one year.

• The red-lantern woman’s Law Domain distorted Zhou Wuji’s senses and made him drowsy, so he used the Pure Yang Lotus Crown and Big Dipper Star Domain to resist it and locate a presence underground.
• Zhou Wuji broke through the Law Domain’s force and found a freshly dug pit behind a wooden house, where his Big Dipper Star Eye revealed something buried deep below.
• Zhou Wuji struck the pit with Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder, then seized the emerging red light with divine-light hands and destroyed the evil entity inside the lantern.
• Zhou Wuji identified the undamaged octagonal artifact as the Life-Burning Red Lantern and found that it had earned him seven liang and seven qian of Origin Profound Qi.
• Zhou Wuji checked the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment and saw that his lifespan had dropped to 169.

Zhou Wuji killed the evil creature in White Forest and warned Yan Baoying that the rogue cultivator Chen Ye might be suspicious. He rode back to Chuyang with Yan Baoying, who grew infatuated with him, while she later told her father about Zhou Wuji’s warning and Yan Zhen urged her to strengthen their connection with him.

• Zhou Wuji confirmed that the Life-Burning Red Lantern had drained a year of his lifespan only while its Law Domain was active, then put the lantern away and found no other evil presences underground.
• Yan Baoying welcomed Zhou Wuji back from the woods, and he told her the evil creature had been dealt with.
• Yan Baoying explained that Sixth Rank martial artist Chen Ye had gone mad, killed several people, and then killed himself; Zhou Wuji warned her to investigate him thoroughly.
• Zhou Wuji summoned the Vanishing Shadow Yin Dragon Steed and rode it with Yan Baoying to Chuyang, where she arranged a guest room and spent the night awake with desire.
• Yan Baoying gathered medicinal ingredients and reported the events in White Forest to Yan Zhen, who praised Zhou Wuji and told her to cultivate their friendship.

Zhou Wuji prepared medicinal herbs and refined batches of Jade Liquid Pills while using his scriptures to improve his pill-making knowledge. After inviting Yin Le and Wuming to appreciate poems, he received a visit from Su Wuyi, who was astonished when he showed her a pill he had made.

• Zhou Wuji had Yang Tie Ying and Shangqi sort a valuable haul of herbs and used the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment and Green Satchel Scripture to advance his pill-refining knowledge.
• Zhou Wuji and his attendants converted a side room into a pill-refining room and spent days preparing the herbs.
• Zhou Wuji wrote a peach-blossom poem to Yin Le and later sent Wuming a poem about the fading blossoms.
• Zhou Wuji refined one hundred and fifty fourth-turn and thirty-six fifth-turn Jade Liquid Pills from the prepared herbs.
• Su Wuyi visited Zhou Wuji, and he showed her a fourth-turn Jade Liquid Pill he had refined; she reacted with astonishment.

Su Wuyi invited Zhou Wuji to join her and Shui Wushang on an expedition into the Thousand Spirits Mountain Secret Realm to obtain Dragon Saliva Grass guarded by a Third Rank snake demon. Zhou Wuji agreed and finished preparing for the journey, then Yang Tie Ying announced a visitor whose identity was not yet revealed.

• Su Wuyi was astonished to learn that Zhou Wuji had refined an excellent fourth-turn Jade Liquid Pill using the Gold and Jade Pill Scripture.
• Su Wuyi praised Zhou Wuji's alchemy talent and invited him to transfer to the Tianxuan Lineage, but he declined.
• Su Wuyi explained that the Thousand Spirits Mountain Secret Realm contained Dragon Saliva Grass guarded by a powerful snake demon and asked Zhou Wuji to help her obtain it.
• Su Wuyi said she would bring Shui Wushang, whose Big Dipper Heavenly Mandate Sword could help kill the demon, and offered to divide the Dragon Saliva Grass equally among them.
• Zhou Wuji agreed to join Su Wuyi's expedition and prepared his talismans, sword techniques, and escape options over the following days.
• Yang Tie Ying entered to tell Zhou Wuji that someone had come to see him, and Zhou Wuji wondered whether Yin Le had arrived.

Yan Baoying visited Zhou Wuji, reported that the Heavenly Ghost Sect had caused the White Forest disaster, and gave him protective travel gear. Zhou Wuji prepared to enter the Thousand Spirits Mountain Secret Realm, while True Person Zhiming sent Zheng Wukong to observe him and warned him not to attack a fellow member of their lineage.

• Yan Baoying told Zhou Wuji that the Great River Association had uncovered a Heavenly Ghost Sect cultivator behind the White Forest deaths and thanked him for his warning.
• Yan Baoying gave Zhou Wuji a gold-silk rain cape and conical hat, which he accepted.
• Zhou Wuji bought two pairs of Nine Silk Cloud-Stepping Boots and packed his supplies for the Thousand Spirits Mountain Secret Realm.
• Zhou Wuji told True Person Zhiming that he planned to enter the secret realm, and Zhiming reminded him of its dangers.
• True Person Zhiming summoned Zheng Wukong and directed him to follow Zhou Wuji into the secret realm and assess his abilities.
• Zheng Wukong disparaged Zhou Wuji and the other candidates, but agreed not to initiate a fight with Zhou Wuji.

Zhou Wuji entered the Thousand Spirits Mountain Secret Realm after meeting several True Disciple Candidates, including Shui Wushang and Su Wuyi, who gave him Heart Incense Pills to help the group stay together. Shortly after entering, Zhou Yichun challenged him over his resentment toward True Person Zhihua and attacked with Stars Fall Like Rain.

• Zhou Wuji arrived at the secret-realm entrance and drew the attention of the gathered cultivators, while Shui Wushang sensed that his strength was terrifying.
• Su Wuyi greeted Zhou Wuji and gave him three Heart Incense Pills to help them locate one another inside the secret realm.
• After the entrance was confirmed safe, Zhou Wuji entered last and found himself on a spirit-rich mountainside, with the snake demon to the southeast.
• Zhou Yichun of Yuheng confronted Zhou Wuji, saying he had come to test his swordsmanship because of Zhou Zhihua.
• Zhou Yichun attacked Zhou Wuji with the Fifth Rank Flying Star Sword, using the Yaoguang Sword's Stars Fall Like Rain technique.

Zhou Wuji dueled Zhou Yichun and used the fight to learn the Fourth Rank Yaoguang Sword’s variations while demonstrating his vastly superior swordsmanship. After defeating Zhou Yichun without killing him, he left him humiliated, and Shui Wushang recognized Zhou Wuji’s technique as beyond mortal bounds.

• Zhou Wuji recognized Zhou Yichun’s Yaoguang Sword and secretly studied its variations while effortlessly defending against Stars Fall Like Rain.
• Zhou Yichun attacked with the Flying Star Sword for over a hundred exchanges, but Zhou Wuji countered every technique with the Tianshu Sword.
• Zhou Yichun unleashed the Army-Breaking Sword’s Mountain-Slaying and Sea-Splitting, and Zhou Wuji used Water Moon to evade and confound his attack.
• Zhou Wuji’s revolving sword light disarmed Zhou Yichun and pierced his mind with Sword Intent, making him believe he had been killed.
• Zhou Wuji spared Zhou Yichun but shaved the top of his head with a precisely controlled strike, and Zhou Yichun fled in humiliation.
• Su Wuyi asked what sword technique Zhou Wuji had used, and Shui Wushang said his swordsmanship had passed beyond mortal bounds.

After defeating Zhou Yichun, Zhou Wuji traveled into Thousand Spirits Mountain with Su Wuyi and Shui Wushang to hunt a snake demon. When a powerful demon bird attacked, Zhou Wuji killed it with one sword, leaving Shui Wushang convinced that his swordsmanship was unrivaled among Fourth Rank cultivators.

• Su Wuyi and Shui Wushang watched Zhou Wuji defeat Zhou Yichun, and Zhou Wuji hid Zhou Yichun’s scabbard in a shrub as a petty revenge.
• Su Wuyi warned Zhou Wuji about the Zhou Household, then introduced him to Shui Wushang before the three set out together.
• The group camped in Thousand Spirits Mountain, arranged night watches, and set off at daybreak through the dangerous forest.
• Medicine Master sensed an approaching demon bird, and Zhou Wuji stayed to face it while Shui Wushang pulled Su Wuyi aside.
• Zhou Wuji killed the diving demon bird with a single sword strike, shocking Shui Wushang with the gap between their abilities.

Zhou Wuji and his companions traveled through Thousand Spirits Mountain, where he demonstrated his swordsmanship and learned about Shui Wushang’s Kaiyang techniques. At Purple Leaf Valley, they used a poisoned bait to lure the snake demon into swallowing pills made from Earth Baleful Intent Heart-Burning Grass.

• Zhou Wuji killed a demonic bird with one sword strike and collected its fate as Origin Mystic Essence.
• Shui Wushang discussed the Northern Dipper Wuji Divine Gang Scripture and the Big Dipper Heavenly Mandate Sword with Zhou Wuji, who resolved to look for a chance to kill the snake demon himself.
• Over the next several days, Zhou Wuji exchanged sword insights with Shui Wushang, helping her improve as Su Wuyi felt increasingly neglected.
• The group reached Purple Leaf Valley, where Su Wuyi explained that she had prepared poisonous pills to weaken the snake demon.
• Zhou Wuji provided a captured demonic monkey, and Shui Wushang threw it into the valley after Su Wuyi fed it two pills; the snake demon swallowed it whole.

Zhou Wuji, Su Wuyi, and Shui Wushang attacked a giant serpent demon after Su Wuyi’s poison began to take effect. Su Wuyi sealed the demon with the Great Void Mysterious Mirror Method, and Shui Wushang and Zhou Wuji struck at its exposed throat as the chapter ended.

• The serpent demon swallowed the poisoned monkey, then retreated into its cave while Zhou Wuji and the two women waited for the Heart-Burning Grass to take effect.
• After the serpent vomited pus and showed signs of detecting the poison, Zhou Wuji launched Yin Thunder and Seven Star Demon-Slaying Spirit Sword attacks while Su Wuyi began preparing her altar spell.
• Zhou Wuji struck the serpent’s throat with Yang Brightness Divine Lightning, enraging it and forcing him to flee its poisonous Yao Qi.
• As the serpent tried to take flight, Su Wuyi used the Great Void Mysterious Mirror Method to seal it in purple light.
• Shui Wushang stabbed toward the serpent’s exposed throat with the Mysterious Light Sword while Zhou Wuji charged with the Tianshu Sword and Limitless Star Sword.

Zhou Wuji, Shui Wushang, and Su Wuyi defeated the snake yao through a coordinated attack and collected the Dragon Saliva Grass. After sharing the plants and agreeing to split the pills made from the remainder, Zhou Wuji sensed something emerging from the empty pit.

• Shui Wushang wounded the snake yao’s soul with the Big Dipper Heavenly Mandate Sword, while its eruption shattered Su Wuyi’s Great Void Mysterious Light Mirror.
• Zhou Wuji used Dipper Turns and Stars Shift to withstand the snake yao’s poison and Yao Qi, then killed it with the Tianshu Sword and Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder.
• Zhou Wuji confirmed the snake yao was dead, and the three praised one another and grew closer after surviving the dangerous battle.
• The group entered the cave and found five plants of Dragon Saliva Grass; each took one, and Su Wuyi kept the remaining two to make pills for them to share.
• Zhou Wuji sensed something emerging from the pit where the Dragon Saliva Grass had grown.

Zhou Wuji and his companions escaped a swarm of Scarlet Fire Flying Ants, then spent more than a month gathering herbs and hunting Demon Beasts before returning home. Soon after his return, Zhou Zhiyi of Yuheng arrived at Fallen Blossoms Studio and demanded to see him.

• Zhou Wuji sensed danger underground and led Su Wuyi and Shui Wushang out of the cave as Scarlet Fire Flying Ants surged after them.
• Zhou Wuji sealed the cave entrance, mounted the Vanishing Shadow Yin Dragon Steed with Su Wuyi and Shui Wushang, and raced out of the valley ahead of the burning swarm.
• The three traveled more than a thousand li, rested beside a river, and agreed to gather herbs by day and travel by night.
• Over the next month, Zhou Wuji and the two women gathered herbs and killed several Demon Beasts, including three Fourth Rank Demon Beasts, before splitting up near the secret realm entrance.
• Zhou Wuji returned to Fallen Blossoms Studio, rested, and considered seeking True Person Zhihua's help with the Third Rank Army-Breaking Sword.
• Zhou Zhiyi of Yuheng entered Fallen Blossoms Studio and called out to Zhou Wuji.

Zhou Zhiyi confronted Zhou Wuji over his defeat of Zhou Yichun and tried to recruit him into the Yuheng Lineage. Zhou Wuji refused and challenged Yuheng to Seven Star Consecutive Battles, wagering an apology and his sword against the Third Rank Army-Breaking Sword; Zhou Zhiyi accepted.

• Zhou Zhiyi demanded that Zhou Wuji apologize to Zhou Yichun and return his sword sheath, but Zhou Wuji argued that Zhou Yichun had lost a fair match.
• Zhou Zhiyi offered Zhou Wuji a place in the Yuheng Lineage, promising its support and access to its secret arts, but Zhou Wuji refused to leave Tianshu.
• Zhou Wuji offered to apologize and surrender his Tianshu Sword if anyone defeated him in a sword match.
• Zhou Wuji proposed Seven Star Consecutive Battles, inviting up to seven Yuheng cultivators of his rank to challenge him.
• Zhou Wuji wagered that if he won, he would receive the Third Rank Army-Breaking Sword, and Zhou Zhiyi agreed.

Zhou Wuji secured the sect leader’s support for his Seven Star Consecutive Battles against the Yuheng Lineage, while Yuheng began choosing powerful challengers. As the match drew near, Su Wuyi and Shui Wushang discussed Zhou Wuji’s chances, and the news spread through the court and Chuyang City.

• Zhou Zhiyi consulted the Yuheng elders, who proposed bringing in Ye Wuque, and he agreed to summon him as a potential challenger to Zhou Wuji.
• Zhou Wuji reported the contest and its Army-Breaking Sword Secret Method stakes to Zhou Xuan'an, who praised his martial courage and promised that the sect would protect him as long as he obeyed its rules.
• Su Wuyi warned Zhou Wuji that Yuheng had recruited Ye Wuque and had the Four Swords of Yuheng, then told him she would finish preparing a Golden Nectar Pill for him in seven days.
• Su Wuyi told Shui Wushang about the contest, and Shui Wushang expressed confidence in Zhou Wuji’s swordsmanship; Su Wuyi decided to take a gamble on his victory.
• News of the match spread throughout the court and reached Chuyang City.

Yan Baoying offered Zhou Wuji the Yan family's support before his match against seven Yuheng sword cultivators, and Quan Zhiguang explained the Heavenly Pivot Lineage's higher Secret Methods. That night, Zhou Wuji advanced his Northern Pole Sword to the Transformation Realm and felt the Tianshu Sword's power as he prepared for the match.

• Yan Zhen told Yan Baoying to help Zhou Wuji and strengthen the Yan family's ties with him, and she brought Zhou Wuji an offer of support.
• Zhou Wuji asked Yan Baoying to bring him medicinal ingredients and a replacement golden-thread rain cape, then invited her and two companions to watch his match.
• Quan Zhiguang warned Zhou Wuji about the Yuheng Lineage's sword arts and explained the Heavenly Pivot Lineage's higher Secret Methods.
• Zhou Wuji gave Quan Zhiguang twenty fourth-refinement Jade Liquid Pills in thanks.
• Zhou Wuji used Zuo Yurong's fate to raise his Northern Pole Sword to the Transformation Realm and grasped the Tianshu Sword, feeling as if he held the North Star.

Zhou Wuji refined six-transformation Golden Nectar Pills with Su Wuyi’s help while preparing for the Seven Star Consecutive Battles. As the sword contest approached, Ye Wuque arrived at Yuheng Hall and impressed the assembled Yuheng Lineage with his calm bearing.

• Yan Baoying gave Zhou Wuji high-quality medicinal ingredients and a golden-thread rain cloak and bamboo hat, accepting no payment.
• Su Wuyi brought Zhou Wuji twenty five-transformation Golden Nectar Pills and urged him to take Dragon Saliva Grass before the contest, but he chose to refine more pills instead.
• Zhou Wuji used the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment to master Golden Nectar Pill refining and, with Su Wuyi’s help, produced thirty-six six-transformation pills.
• Zhou Wuji gave Su Wuyi three pills to test and shared other pills with Shangqi and Yang Tie Ying; Su Wuyi left after calling him a heaven-gifted genius capable of anything.
• Ye Wuque arrived at Yuheng Hall, where Zhou Zhiyi, Zhou Yichun, and the elders admired his gentle Sword Intent and expected him to defeat Zhou Wuji.

Zhou Wuji faced the Yuheng Lineage in the first match of the Seven Star Consecutive Battles, drawing the attention of the court’s leaders and cultivators. He defeated Zhou Shangying with a single effortless stroke, and Wang Zhishou praised his reputation as Sword Lord Xiaoxiang.

• Yan Baoying asked Yang Tie Ying about the Seven Star Platform, and he explained that its meteorite-like stone could repair itself.
• True Person Zhimiao and Wang Zhishou discussed Zhou Wuji’s challenge and the old conflict involving Zhou Zhihua as Zhou Zhiyi arrived with the Yuheng Lineage.
• Zhou Wuji arrived, and Yuan Zhiheng set rules requiring wooden swords and an end to each match once its outcome was clear.
• Zhou Wuji recognized Ye Wuque as the strongest Fourth Rank sword cultivator present, while she watched him closely.
• Zhou Shangying opened the Seven Star Consecutive Battles for Yuheng, but Zhou Wuji disarmed him and broke his protective robe with one stroke.
• Wang Zhishou applauded Zhou Wuji and declared that Sword Lord Xiaoxiang’s reputation was well deserved.

Zhou Wuji defeated Zhou Shangying and Zhou Wusi with ease, then faced Lu Yifeng in the Seven Star Consecutive Battles. He pierced Lu Yifeng’s defenses with a single thrust, leaving the onlookers stunned.

• Wang Zhishou publicly praised Zhou Wuji as Sword Lord Xiaoxiang, while Zhou Shangying lost quickly and endured the crowd’s jeers.
• Zhou Zhiyi sent Zhou Wusi to challenge Zhou Wuji, and Zhou Wuji broke her wooden sword and defeated her in four moves.
• Zhou Zhiyi and Lu Yifeng judged Zhou Wuji’s swordsmanship and decided to send Lu Yifeng to wear him down.
• Lu Yifeng attacked with the Army-Breaking Sword, but Zhou Wuji pierced his sword defense and protective incantation with one thrust, stopping his wooden sword at Lu Yifeng’s throat.

Zhou Wuji effortlessly defeated the Four Swords of Yuheng on the Seven Star Platform, leaving the Yuheng Lineage with only Ye Wuque to defend its honor. Zhou Zhiyi urged Ye Wuque to win and promised to support her advancement, as she calmly prepared to face Zhou Wuji.

• Zhou Wuji used his Sword Intent to overwhelm Lu Yifeng, who left the platform in tears after losing.
• Ye Wuque told Zhou Zhiyi that she had a twenty or thirty percent chance of defeating Zhou Wuji, and Zhou Zhiyi chose her to fight last.
• Zhou Wuji defeated Huang Yitong by redirecting his attack and breaking his protective light.
• Zhou Yiwei launched an all-out attack, but Zhou Wuji pierced his defense and broke at least two of his ribs.
• Zhou Zhijing lectured Zhou Wuji before fighting, but Zhou Wuji's Dusk Snow Sword swept him unconscious into the platform's protective formation.
• Zhou Zhiyi promised to recommend Ye Wuque as a True Disciple Candidate and support her advancement if she won, and Ye Wuque accepted calmly.