Recaps

Dongfang Yueming learned the Nine-Turn Qi Refining Method from Hong Ling, then drew Xi Zhenyue into following him toward the outskirts. Meanwhile, Gao Feng, Ye Yingying, and the others were assigned to care for Crimson Flame Steeds at a Cloud-Overturning Gate stronghold, where Shi Tao was rewarded for bringing them there.

• Dongfang Yueming learned that the Nine-Turn Qi Refining Method required three hundred points and teased Hong Ling, who ran off blushing.
• Hong Bai caught up with Hong Ling and teased her for leaving Dongfang Yueming alone to cultivate; Dongfang Yueming reflected on his debt to her.
• Dongfang Yueming noticed Xi Zhenyue watching him, pretended not to notice, and walked toward the city outskirts; Xi Zhenyue followed.
• Gao Long heard that Xi Zhenyue had not joined the other invited martial artists and privately dismissed him as a fool.
• Shi Tao brought Gao Feng, Ye Yingying, and five others to a Cloud-Overturning Gate stronghold, where a deacon ordered them to feed and clean up after the Crimson Flame Steeds.
• Xie Ning arrived on a Crimson Flame Steed and gave instructions for its feed and water; afterward, the deacon rewarded Shi Tao with Qi Refining Powder for recruiting the outsiders.

Dongfang Yueming killed Xi Zhenyue after rapidly advancing his cultivation, then used his remaining points to perfect the Crimson Swirl Qi Refining Method and strengthen the Crimson Flame Fist Technique. His new fist intent drew the attention of a master in Cloud Water City, who told Xie Ning to prepare for the approaching Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate.

• Dongfang Yueming raised the Crimson Swirl Qi Refining Method to Greater Success and turned to face Xi Zhenyue, who had followed him outside the city.
• Xi Zhenyue attacked Dongfang Yueming with the Billowing Waves Fist, but Dongfang Yueming overpowered him and killed him despite his threat to invoke the Heaven-Surging Alliance.
• Dongfang Yueming looted Xi Zhenyue's three spiritual-qi coins and martial arts manual, then spent points to perfect the Crimson Swirl Qi Refining Method and form a high-grade Qi Swirl Phenomenon.
• Dongfang Yueming advanced the Crimson Flame Fist Technique to Greater Success, causing its fist intent to resonate with his Qi Swirl Phenomenon.
• An old man at the Cloud-Overturning Gate sensed Dongfang Yueming's powerful fire-attribute Martial Dao True Intent and told Xie Ning to prepare for the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate.

Dongfang Yueming killed Gao Long after learning that he belonged to the Heaven-Surging Alliance, then returned to the city and gathered information about the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate. He learned that unaffiliated cultivators could qualify through trials held in the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty’s Trial Valley.

• Gao Long sensed Dongfang Yueming’s powerful fire-attribute True Intent and attacked him with a technique from the Heaven-Surging Alliance.
• Dongfang Yueming overpowered Gao Long and killed him with a punch through his protective true qi.
• Dongfang Yueming looted Gao Long’s corpse, finding thirty white coins and the Heaven-Surging Qi Refining Method, then destroyed the traces of both Gao Long and Xi Zhenyue.
• Three days later, Dongfang Yueming listened to martial artists at a teahouse discuss the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate and learned that unaffiliated cultivators could qualify by passing trials.
• A curly-bearded man said the three-stage selection trials would be held in the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty’s Trial Valley.

Dongfang Yueming left a teahouse after hearing about the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate, while the Heaven-Surging Alliance began hunting Gao Long’s killer. Qu Yutang learned of Gao Long’s death and concealed her hatred of the alliance leader as she prepared to pursue her own plans.

• A curly-bearded man invited martial artists to join his traveling team to the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty, but Dongfang Yueming declined and ignored the locals’ taunts as he headed for the teahouse exit.
• A Grandmaster elder learned that Gao Long had been killed by a Qi Refining Realm martial artist who used powerful fire-attribute True Intent, and ordered a search at Trial Valley.
• The elder told his subordinate to watch for young martial artists displaying powerful fire-attribute Martial Dao True Intent during the Battle of the Flood Dragon Gate.
• Qu Yutang arrived and agreed that Gao Long’s killer should be avenged, though she privately believed Gao Long deserved his fate.
• The elder congratulated Qu Yutang on reaching the Internal Force Realm, while she privately vowed to reclaim what the Heaven-Surging Alliance leader had taken from her Qu Family.

Dongfang Yueming left the teahouse after effortlessly defeating a local martial artist, then spent seven days cultivating before the Cloudwater Sect, Cloud-Overturning Gate, and Heaven-Surging Alliance gathered to travel to the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty. As the procession departed for Trial Valley, Dongfang Yueming asked an elderly stallholder for Qi Refining Realm movement techniques and decided to buy all three manuals.

• Dongfang Yueming slapped away a local martial artist who attacked him and walked out of the teahouse without looking back.
• Dongfang Yueming spent seven days cultivating at an inn and planned to perfect the Heaven-Surging Qi Refining Method after another day.
• Yun Han and Yun Qian led the Cloudwater Sect contingent into the central square, followed by Xie Ning and Gao Feng with the Cloud-Overturning Gate.
• Qu Yutang led the Heaven-Surging Alliance into the square, and Princess Yun Qian showed a trace of hostility toward her.
• The three powers and independent martial artists set out for the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty, while Dongfang Yueming asked an elderly stallholder about movement techniques.
• The elderly stallholder offered the Surging Waves Movement Technique, Cloud-Treading Steps, and Shadow-Chasing Movement Technique, and Dongfang Yueming said he would take all three.

Dongfang Yueming bought three manuals and improved Cloud-Treading Steps to minor mastery while traveling after the main party. The leading groups sped ahead, leaving the independent cultivators to face the dangers of the road, including Sand Snake Land, as Dongfang Yueming continued onward.

• Dongfang Yueming paid the old stallholder nine white coins for three manuals and left to catch up with the party.
• Dongfang Yueming spent 36 points to raise Cloud-Treading Steps to minor mastery and quickly caught up with the procession.
• Princess Yun Qian and Yun Han sped ahead, and Qu Yutang and Xie Ning followed with their groups, leaving the independent cultivators behind.
• The curly-bearded man warned the independent cultivators about Sand Snake Land and urged them to work together there.
• Dongfang Yueming wondered about the dangers of Sand Snake Land, while the local martial artist who had previously provoked him secretly wished him dead.

Dongfang Yueming slipped away from the procession and used his points to cultivate the Heaven-Surging Qi Refining Method to perfection. He fused it with the Crimson Swirl Qi Refining Method into a supreme-grade Water-Fire Yin-Yang Art, then planned to improve it further after his points recovered.

• Li Niu demonstrated Cloud-Treading Steps to the procession while Dongfang Yueming suspected he had an ulterior motive and left for a secluded grove.
• Li Niu sent Li Tie to follow Dongfang Yueming, but Dongfang Yueming accelerated through the forest and escaped him.
• Yunshan, using the alias Li Shan, learned that Li Tie had lost Dongfang Yueming and warned him not to reveal the factions' secrets.
• Dongfang Yueming raised the Heaven-Surging Qi Refining Method to perfection, forming a black cyclone that balanced the Crimson Swirl Qi Refining Method's flame cyclone.
• Dongfang Yueming fused the two perfected methods into a supreme-grade taiji cyclone and named the new method the Water-Fire Yin-Yang Art.

Dongfang Yueming joined Li Niu’s group across Sand Snake Land and suspected their journey was a scheme to feed travelers to the snakes. When he fled, a Heaven-Surging Alliance Inner Force martial artist pursued him to prevent any “accidents.”

• After three days of travel, Li Niu led the cultivators into Sand Snake Land, where sand snakes attacked and killed several people.
• Li Niu killed a mature sand snake while ignoring smaller snakes, winning the group’s gratitude as Dongfang Yueming noticed his selective targets.
• Three hidden Internal Force Realm experts guarded the group’s outskirts, and Dongfang Yueming suspected they were preventing anyone from escaping.
• As the group fought the snakes, Dongfang Yueming slipped away in the opposite direction from the travelers.
• Li Tie noticed Dongfang Yueming’s flight, and Yunshan and the other experts reacted; a Heaven-Surging Alliance Inner Force martial artist silently went after him.

Dongfang Yueming killed the Heaven-Surging Alliance expert who pursued him by combining his Crimson Flame Fist with his water-and-fire taiji cyclone. After upgrading Cloud-Treading Steps to perfection, he fled Sand Snake Land while Yunshan and another Cloud-Overturning Gate expert reconsidered pursuing him.

• Dongfang Yueming stopped and faced the Heaven-Surging Alliance expert, whose first palm attack was melted by his Crimson Flame Fist.
• The Heaven-Surging Alliance expert offered Dongfang Yueming a place in the alliance, then attacked again with Heaven-Overwhelming Palm when Dongfang refused to answer.
• Dongfang Yueming's taiji cyclone weakened the palm force, allowing his Crimson Flame Fist to strike the expert and kill him.
• Dongfang Yueming looted two jade slips and a pouch of white coins, then spent points to raise Cloud-Treading Steps to perfection.
• Yunshan and another Cloud-Overturning Gate expert sensed the clash, suspected Dongfang Yueming had defeated their ally, and chose not to pursue him.

Dongfang Yueming acquired the Heaven-Overwhelming Force Condensation Method and Heaven-Overwhelming Palm, then reached the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty and entered its border stronghold. There, he learned of Wei Yun’s exceptional strength and declined Wei Meng’s offer to travel to Trial Valley with her and Hou Liang.

• Dongfang Yueming inspected the two jade slips he had looted and found an Internal Force cultivation method and the Heaven-Overwhelming Palm.
• After traveling for fifteen days, Dongfang Yueming reached the Heavenly Splendor Dynasty, where Qi Refining Realm martial artists queued to enter the city and paid ten white crystal coins each.
• Wei Yun walked through the gate without queuing, and guards explained that the Qi Refining genius had killed a Vicious Beast called the Crimson-Spotted Tiger King.
• Dongfang Yueming paid the entry fee and entered the city, where Wei Meng invited him to travel with her and Hou Liang toward Trial Valley.
• Hou Liang disparaged Dongfang Yueming, who politely declined Wei Meng’s offer and continued into the city alone.

Dongfang Yueming perfected the Primordial Yin-Yang Art, entered the Internal Force Realm, and struggled with a clash between his cold Inner Force and Crimson Flame fist intent. After arriving in Tianhua City, he attended Grandmaster Yuye’s lecture and explained that prestigious disciples excel because their techniques form compatible lineages.

• Dongfang Yueming spent points to perfect the Nine-Turn Qi Refining Method, which merged with his other perfected methods into the Primordial Yin-Yang Art.
• Dongfang Yueming entered the Internal Force Realm using the Heaven-Overwhelming Force Condensation Method, but its yin-cold Inner Force clashed with his Crimson Flame fist intent.
• Dongfang Yueming learned the Heaven-Overwhelming Palm, which slightly eased the conflict between his powers.
• Dongfang Yueming arrived in Tianhua City and followed the crowd to Grandmaster Yuye’s free public lecture.
• Dongfang Yueming said that prestigious disciples benefited from compatible techniques inherited through a single lineage, and Grandmaster Yuye praised his answer.

Grandmaster Yuye demonstrated how mismatched cultivation methods and martial techniques could hinder independent cultivators, then examined Dongfang Yueming and found his arts had violently opposing attributes. Though he first declared the condition difficult to treat, he revealed that the Martial Sect might be able to solve it.

• Grandmaster Yuye explained that incompatible cultivation methods and martial techniques weakened independent cultivators, then described the matched sets in his Yuye Secret Manual Pavilion.
• Grandmaster Yuye invited Dongfang Yueming onto the platform to demonstrate how he diagnosed and matched cultivation methods and martial techniques.
• Dongfang Yueming circulated his Heaven-Overwhelming Force Condensation Method, Heaven-Overwhelming Palm, and Crimson Flame Fist, shocking Grandmaster Yuye with the conflicting martial true intents.
• Grandmaster Yuye said Dongfang Yueming’s condition was difficult to treat, prompting gloating from some onlookers and disappointment from Wei Meng.
• Grandmaster Yuye described restarting after crippling Dongfang Yueming’s cultivation as one possible remedy, then revealed that the Martial Sect might offer another solution.

Grandmaster Yuye told Dongfang Yueming that the Martial Sect might be the only place able to resolve the conflict between his cultivation methods, while failing to help him and leaving the selection slot open. Reflecting on the true meaning of his fused techniques, Dongfang Yueming sought out Body Tempering Realm manuals to investigate a new insight.

• Grandmaster Yuye explained that the Martial Sect’s profound martial heritage might help Dongfang Yueming resolve the conflict between his cultivation methods.
• Dongfang Yueming thanked Grandmaster Yuye and left, while Grandmaster Yuye confirmed that the unfilled slot remained open for another candidate.
• As he walked through Tianhua City, Dongfang Yueming considered whether his Extreme Body Tempering Method and fused techniques had reached the limits of their respective fields.
• Dongfang Yueming asked a passing martial artist where to buy Body Tempering Realm manuals and hurried to a manual shop.
• At the shop, Dongfang Yueming followed Xiaoyu to a room full of manuals and began choosing cultivation methods and martial arts.

Dongfang Yueming studied Skin Tempering methods, discovered their shared principles, and created a technique that used true qi to strengthen the skin. After quickly perfecting it, he absorbed its insights into the Extreme Body Tempering Method.

• Dongfang Yueming perfected the Flame Sand Skin Tempering Method and the Shaking Skin Tempering Method, learning how each strengthened the skin through a different kind of stimulation.
• Xiaoyu warned Dongfang Yueming that the Shaking Skin Tempering Method was ineffective and reminded him of the store's browsing hours, but he continued studying it.
• Dongfang Yueming combined insights from the manuals to create the True Qi Skin Tempering Method, then used his Primordial Yin-Yang True Qi to cultivate it directly.
• Dongfang Yueming quickly perfected the True Qi Skin Tempering Method, and its insights, along with those of the other two methods, flowed into the Extreme Body Tempering Method.

Dongfang Yueming completed his self-created Extreme Body Tempering Method after studying the repository’s Blood Replacement manuals, then used his insights to help Chi Xiaoyu overcome a cultivation bottleneck. He continued mastering Body Tempering martial arts as Chi Xiaoyu entered deep cultivation.

• Dongfang Yueming spent three days studying Body Tempering manuals and integrated their Blood Replacement methods into the Extreme Body Tempering Method.
• Chi Chunshui and Qiang Yao recruited candidates who could pass Trial Valley’s second stage, offering a gathering with the Chi Family or a guest-elder position with the Qiang Family.
• Dongfang Yueming reached a sense of perfect completion in Body Tempering, while Chi Xiaoyu returned disappointed that she had not yet perfected Blood Replacement.
• Dongfang Yueming advised Chi Xiaoyu to improve the quality and circulation of her qi and blood, and she entered deep cultivation with signs of a breakthrough.
• Dongfang Yueming mastered Black Wolf Claw and used point allocation to perfect dozens of other Body Tempering martial arts.

Dongfang Yueming perfected and fused the Body Tempering martial arts into the Body Technique and Weapon Technique, then left the manual repository after Chi Xiaoyu broke through to perfection in the third level of the Blood Replacement Realm. He reached the Trial Valley registration point, where the Heavenly Wolf Gate offered applicants interest-free loans for the registration fee.

• Dongfang Yueming perfected the Venomous Snake Dagger Technique and other weapon arts, then fused them into the Weapon Technique.
• Dongfang Yueming stopped the attendant from entering as Chi Xiaoyu broke through to the third level of the Blood Replacement Realm at Ultimate Perfection.
• Dongfang Yueming left the manual repository for Trial Valley, while the attendant switched to fawning over Chi Xiaoyu and she departed.
• Dongfang Yueming arrived at the Trial Valley registration point and saw that applicants needed to pay one hundred white crystal coins.
• A middle-aged man from the Heavenly Wolf Gate offered applicants interest-free loans, which would be forgiven if they passed the first stage of the trial.

Dongfang Yueming registered for Trial Valley’s first round under the name Dongfang Ri and quickly defeated Zhang Meng, taking five identity tokens. After Wang Gang backed away from challenging him, Lang Xiaotian demanded that Dongfang hand over the tokens.

• The Heavenly Wolf Gate offered loans to trial participants, requiring those who failed the first round to serve the gate to repay their debts.
• Dongfang Yueming paid the registration fee, signed up as Dongfang Ri, and entered the first-round arena, where participants had to collect ten identity tokens by winning one-on-one fights.
• Zhang Meng challenged Dongfang Yueming, but Dongfang dodged his first strike, snapped his saber with two fingers, and sent him flying with a palm strike.
• Dongfang Yueming took Zhang Meng’s five identity tokens, and Wang Gang, who had planned to attack the winner, backed away after seeing Dongfang’s strength.
• Lang Xiaotian, the son of a Heavenly Wolf Gate elder, approached Dongfang Yueming and demanded that he hand over the tokens.

Dongfang Yueming faced Lang Xiaotian in the arena and overcame his sword qi and Grandmaster-level martial art with his saber skill and Heaven-Overwhelming Palm. Lang Xiaotian was left severely injured, while the crowd watched in disbelief.

• Dongfang Yueming dismissed Lang Xiaotian, who leaped into the arena and attacked him with his sword.
• Dongfang Yueming calmly blocked Lang Xiaotian's sword strikes and cut through his projected sword qi with Light Snow.
• Chi Qing and Qiang Feng watched Dongfang Yueming's fight, praised his martial comprehension, and left the martial arts field.
• Lang Xiaotian unleashed a beginner-stage Grandmaster-level martial art, summoning an illusory giant wolf to attack Dongfang Yueming.
• Dongfang Yueming used the Heaven-Overwhelming Palm to smash the giant wolf apart and sent Lang Xiaotian crashing down, too injured to continue fighting.

Dongfang Yueming defeated Lang Xiaotian in the first trial, but Lang Xiaotian vowed revenge and seized tokens from other students. The survivors entered the second trial, where Dongfang Yueming encountered a seemingly unkillable apparition in the deadly, disorienting fog.

• Dongfang Yueming took Lang Xiaotian's tokens and left, then gave his name as Dongfang Ri when Lang Xiaotian demanded it.
• Lang Xiaotian threatened the remaining students into handing over their tokens and vowed to make Dongfang Ri suffer in the next trial.
• After seven days, fewer than a tenth of the contestants passed the first trial and gathered at the gorge for the second trial, which required them to survive the passage through it.
• Dongfang Yueming checked his cultivation status and entered the gorge, where thick fog disoriented him and concealed the other martial artists.
• Dongfang Yueming saw a martial artist swallowed by the fog, then fought the same figure when it reappeared and attacked him; each time Dongfang Yueming struck, it dissolved and returned.

Dongfang Yueming, Lang Xiaotian, Wei Meng, and Hou Liang escaped an illusion in the canyon fog, believing its attacks could not hurt them. When the fog surged again and the returned martial artists killed a trainee, Wei Meng stopped Hou Liang from fleeing as the group fell into chaos.

• Dongfang Yueming realized the martial artist and deadly fog were illusions meant to frighten him, causing them to vanish and the fog to clear.
• Lang Xiaotian fought through the phantoms, while Wei Meng realized their attacks were harmless and persuaded Hou Liang to keep moving.
• The trainees emerged from the fog and gathered, with Hou Liang dismissing Dongfang Yueming and Lang Xiaotian preparing to confront him.
• The fog thickened again, swallowed trainees near the canyon’s edge, and sent them back as violent figures who attacked the others.
• A returned martial artist killed a trainee, proving the attacks were real this time, and the panicked crowd fled as Wei Meng held Hou Liang back.

The martial artists discovered that the mist monsters could be wounded, but the monsters wore down those who fled and attacked once they were exhausted. As the remaining fighters struggled against increasingly powerful monsters, Wei Meng offered Dongfang Yueming a Grandmaster-level martial art and a force-condensing method in exchange for his help.

• Lang Xiaotian and Dongfang Yueming wounded mist monsters, revealing that they could be harmed, while Wei Meng urged the survivors to fight together.
• A fleeing martial artist realized the monsters were exhausting their prey before attacking, then was killed when he could no longer fight.
• The remaining martial artists battled monsters of varying strengths, but the creatures regenerated quickly and more powerful ones joined the fight.
• Wei Meng called for the fighters to unite, but they remained focused on protecting themselves as the battle worsened.
• When a monster lunged at her, Wei Meng offered Dongfang Yueming a Grandmaster-level martial art and a good-quality Internal Force Realm force-condensing method for his help, and he agreed to the terms.

Dongfang Yueming helped the martial artists defeat the mist monsters, earning their gratitude and rewards as the group began working together. After setting out again, they reached a massive stone wall filled with dark, narrow passages, where two groups were waiting.

• Dongfang Yueming rescued Wei Meng and other martial artists from the mist monsters, while Lang Xiaotian joined the fight out of jealousy.
• The survivors coordinated their attacks and defeated the last mist monster as the canyon’s mist dispersed.
• Wei Meng gave Dongfang Yueming the Red Flame Hand and Red Flame Force Condensation Method, and the other martial artists presented their promised rewards.
• The group rested briefly, then continued onward and found the corpses of martial artists who appeared to have died after exhausting their true qi.
• The group reached a huge stone wall lined with narrow, dark passages and found two groups waiting before it.

Dongfang Yueming and the other trainees entered the final trial’s narrow passages, where he found a Gray Mist Pearl and learned it could turn its holder into a Mist Phantom that hunts others. The trainees gathered in an underground cavern and argued over who would enter the deeper passages first, while their leaders watched without intervening.

• Dongfang Yueming cautioned his group about the narrow passages, and the trainees rested before entering them the next morning.
• Dongfang Yueming defeated a mist monster and collected the Gray Mist Pearl it left behind.
• Dongfang Yueming found an inscription explaining that only three people could pass the trial and that anyone with a Gray Mist Pearl could become a Mist Phantom and hunt others.
• Dongfang Yueming reached a cavern where the scattered trainees had gathered, and Chi Qing proposed that they advance in groups.
• Trainees from Wei Dao's and Chi Qing's groups argued over who should enter the deeper passages first as Wei Dao, Lang Po, Chi Qing, and Qiang Feng watched.

Dongfang Yueming destroyed a powerful mist monster with one punch, while a monster disguised as Hou Liang slaughtered martial artists and sought Wei Meng. The disguised Hou Liang later rejoined Wei Meng and Dongfang Yueming, who continued into the fog together, unaware of the danger among them.

• Dongfang Yueming killed a peak Qi Refining Perfection mist monster with a single punch, astonishing the martial artists who witnessed it.
• A monster disguised as Hou Liang infiltrated a group fighting a mist monster, killed several martial artists by draining their life essence, and went searching for Wei Meng.
• Survivors gathered with Dongfang Yueming and Wei Meng, shared reports of monsters impersonating companions, and then split up to enter different passages.
• Dongfang Yueming chose the same passage as Wei Meng, and the disguised Hou Liang later caught up with them and claimed he had been lost alone.
• Wei Meng moved closer to Dongfang Yueming, and Hou Liang watched her with jealousy and venom.

Dongfang Yueming and the surviving martial artists fought their way through the mist-filled caverns, where former companions had become monsters. After Dongfang Yueming killed a martial artist empowered by a Gray Mist Pearl, he realized the bead caused a voluntary, incomplete transformation, unlike the irreversible corruption that turned others into mist puppets.

• Hou Liang tried to ambush Dongfang Yueming, who struck him apart and watched his body dissolve into white mist.
• The survivors concluded that people swallowed by fog in the canyon had returned as mist monsters, then destroyed a disguised monster together.
• A silent martial artist crushed a Gray Mist Pearl, transformed, and killed the companion who had been speaking.
• The transformed martial artist attacked Dongfang Yueming, who killed him with a single Body Technique punch.
• Dongfang Yueming noticed the dead man's corpse retained flesh and bones, unlike the pure-mist remains of Hou Liang and the impostor, and deduced that the Gray Mist Pearl enabled a temporary path toward corruption.