Recaps

The Situ Clan discussed Gu Chen’s return to Shangjing and his apparent mastery of immortal cultivation techniques. They suspected he and Gu Beichi might be connected to the recently deceased Wang Gui, and debated whether to alert the clan’s main family.

• Situ Qingshi told Situ Yunqi and Situ Xiaosen that Gu Beichi and Gu Chen had killed Gu Changfeng and reclaimed the Gu Family.
• Situ Qingshi explained that Gu Chen had killed three Revolving Illumination Realm martial artists and used a flying sword technique to kill from a great distance.
• Situ Yunqi doubted that Gu Chen could possess immortal cultivation techniques, but Situ Qingshi connected his abilities to Wang Gui’s death.
• Situ Xiaosen reminded Situ Yunqi that Wang Gui’s essence blood had disappeared from the Dragon Ranking a month earlier.
• Situ Qingshi asked whether they should inform the Situ Clan’s main family about Gu Chen and Gu Beichi’s possible connection to Wang Gui.

The Situ Clan decided to attack Gu Chen and his father to seize Wang Gui’s cultivation method, but Gu Chen arrived at their villa first. Meanwhile, Gu Huan reached the Gu Family estate from the main family and learned that the Gu Family had been destroyed.

• Situ Qingshi and Situ Yunqi agreed to take advantage of the Gu Family’s turmoil and keep Wang Gui’s cultivation method for themselves.
• Situ Xiaosen joined their plan, and the Situ family prepared to set out for the Gu Family.
• Gu Chen arrived outside the Situ villa and announced his visit, startling the three Situ family members.
• Gu Huan arrived at the Gu Family estate with several people to congratulate Gu Changfeng and deliver news about Gu Mingheng’s breakthrough.
• Ma Gang told Gu Huan’s party that Gu Chen had destroyed the Gu Family and that the Heavenly Pivot Sect was restoring the estate.
• A man accompanying Gu Huan attacked Ma Gang and sent him flying, leaving him bleeding on the ground.

Gu Huan and the main Gu Family confronted the Heavenly Pivot Sect at the Gu residence, where Zhao Bo blocked their attempt to seize Gu Beichi. The chapter ended with Gu Huan, Gu Xia, and another martial artist surrounding Zhao Bo.

• Gu Huan and Gu Xia arrived at the Gu residence and challenged Gu Qichu over the new Gu Family head’s inauguration.
• Gu Xia seized Gu Qichu, but Zhao Bo struck him and forced him to let Gu Qichu go.
• Gu Huan spotted Gu Beichi at a second-floor window and accused him of conspiring against the Gu Family.
• Gu Huan leaped to capture Gu Beichi, but Zhao Bo intercepted her and won their brief exchange.
• Gu Huan joined Gu Xia and another martial artist in surrounding Zhao Bo and threatening him with their combined strength.

Gu Chen defeated Situ Qingshi, Situ Xiaosen, and Situ Yunqi, then demanded that the Situ Clan attend the Gu Family succession ceremony and have Situ Xiaosen answer for humiliating Gu Beichi. After Jiang Qi called, Gu Chen’s expression changed at what he heard.

• Gu Chen overwhelmed the Situ family members and confronted Situ Xiaosen about his past treatment of Gu Beichi.
• Situ Qingshi warned Gu Chen that the main Situ Clan could retaliate, but Gu Chen argued they could not stop him from escaping and returning stronger.
• Situ Qingshi conceded, and Gu Chen invited the Situ Clan to the Gu Family succession ceremony in three days.
• Gu Chen told Situ Xiaosen he would have to act at the ceremony, then answered a call from Jiang Qi and reacted in shock.

After Gu Chen left the Situ residence, he learned that the Gu Family had come under attack and hurried back. He found Ma Gang and Gu Qichu unconscious, with Ma Gang’s arm severed, and unleashed his Divine Sense across the residence.

• Gu Chen’s killing intent overwhelmed Situ Qingshi and his sons before he left the residence with Yu Sheng.
• Situ Qingshi recognized Gu Chen as possibly the young man who had taken the Yellow Rock Grass and ordered his family to notify the main family and attend Gu Chen’s enthronement ceremony.
• Gu Chen told Yu Sheng to ready the Honghe Sect and its informants because Jiang Qi’s desperate call suggested the Gu Family was in danger.
• Gu Chen arrived at the Gu Family residence and found Ma Gang and Gu Qichu unconscious amid fresh destruction.
• Gu Chen saw that Ma Gang’s arm had been severed and spread his Divine Sense across the residence in fury.

Gu Chen returned to find his father and Zhao Bo abducted by members of the Gu Family from the Land of Heaven and Earth, while his allies had been killed or badly injured. As he ordered a search across Shangjing, Gu Huan and Gu Xia questioned Gu Changfeng’s claim that Gu Chen had reached the Late Revolving Illumination Realm.

• Gu Chen found Gu Beichi and Zhao Bo missing, Zhu Jun dead, and Jiang Qi and Ma Gang gravely injured.
• Jiang Qi told Gu Chen that members of the Gu Family from the Land of Heaven and Earth had taken Gu Beichi and Zhao Bo after overpowering the defenders.
• Gu Chen comforted Jiang Qi, vowed revenge, and ordered Yu Sheng to search all of Shangjing for the Gu Family members.
• Gu Chen extended his Divine Sense across several kilometers in an effort to find the abductors.
• In a car leaving Shangjing, Gu Changfeng told Gu Huan and Gu Xia that Gu Chen had reached the Late Revolving Illumination Realm and that Zhao Bo had called him master.
• Gu Huan questioned Gu Changfeng’s claim while recalling how difficult it had been for the three of them to fight Zhao Bo.

Gu Changfeng warned Gu Huan that Gu Chen was terrifying, but she led their group toward the Land of Heaven and Earth on Great Green Mountain. Gu Chen tracked them down and confronted Gu Xia, leaving the clash just beginning.

• Gu Changfeng urged Gu Huan and Gu Xia to flee to the Land of Heaven and Earth rather than face Gu Chen, but they continued toward Great Green Mountain.
• Gu Huan's vehicles broke through a police cordon set up near the mountain and headed for its outskirts.
• Yu Sheng told Gu Chen that the vehicles matching the Gu Family's surveillance footage had been spotted breaking through the cordon, and Gu Chen recognized Great Green Mountain as an entrance to the Land of Heaven and Earth.
• Gu Chen told Yu Sheng to expect him back within three days, then drove toward Great Green Mountain while Wang Hu warned him that the Mystery Gate might take notice of his actions.
• Gu Chen abandoned his car on the mountain road, flew on the Dragon Scale Sword, and landed on the roof of Gu Xia's car.
• Gu Xia identified himself as an elder of the Gu Family's main family and began demanding respect, but Gu Chen jumped down and kicked him in the chest.

Gu Chen killed Gu Xia and the three Gu Family members guarding the rear, then followed Zhuge Kun’s map to the hidden entrance to the Land of Heaven and Earth on Great Green Mountain. He entered the cave and sensed spiritual qi deeper within, while Gu Huan and the others remained ahead of him.

• Gu Xia told Gu Chen that Gu Huan had taken Gu Chen’s father and Zhao Bo into the Land of Heaven and Earth, but Gu Chen killed him despite his claim that he was needed to open the entrance.
• Three Gu Family members fled, and Gu Chen killed them before heading to the mountaintop, where he found no trace of Gu Huan.
• Gu Chen consulted Zhuge Kun’s map and jumped from a cliff on Great Green Mountain to search for the hidden entrance.
• Gu Chen fought off Heaven and Earth Beasts and venomous snakes as he traversed the cliff face, then found the cave entrance and climbed inside.
• Gu Chen moved through the dark cave and sensed faint spiritual qi ahead.

Gu Chen entered the Land of Heaven and Earth to pursue the Gu Family members who had taken Gu Beichi and Zhao Bo, but realized they had likely used a different entrance. He left the neglected valley to seek the Gu Family and his father.

• Gu Chen emerged into a lush valley in the Land of Heaven and Earth and discovered that the map Zhuge Kun had given him did not mark the Gu Family.
• Gu Chen searched the valley for signs of Gu Huan and the others, but found none as ordinary wild beasts kept their distance from him.
• Gu Chen realized Gu Xia's car had likely been a decoy and that Gu Huan and the others had entered through another route with Gu Beichi, Zhao Bo, and Gu Changfeng.
• Gu Chen calmed himself, decided to leave the valley and find the Gu Family, and reached an exit marked by a weathered warning stele.

Gu Chen traveled across a plain and joined Chen Shumeng’s group on their way to the Heaven and Earth Palace, pretending to be Ma Gang of the Ma Family. He learned they were headed to watch a Gu Family genius enter the Dragon Ranking and settled into Chen Shumeng’s carriage, where he recognized her disguise as a woman.

• Gu Chen found a road across the plain and followed it until he encountered a carriage escorted by four guards.
• Chen Shumeng emerged from the carriage, and Gu Chen asked how to reach the Heaven and Earth Palace.
• Gu Chen claimed to be Ma Gang of the Ma Family, and Chen Shumeng invited him to travel with her group to the ceremony for a Gu Family genius entering the Dragon Ranking.
• Chen Zhou objected to bringing a stranger, but Chen Shumeng allowed Gu Chen to join them and then let him ride in the carriage.
• Gu Chen noticed the carriage’s feminine decorations, and Chen Shumeng explained that it belonged to her younger sister.

Gu Chen learned that the Aristocratic Family Assembly had ended and that Gu Mingheng planned to challenge for a place on the Dragon Ranking. After hearing Gu Mingheng would appear at the Heaven and Earth Palace, Gu Chen changed his plans and hinted to Chen Shumeng that he would share a secret.

• Gu Chen asked Chen Shumeng about the Gu Family's eldest young master and the Dragon Ranking ceremony, then learned the Aristocratic Family Assembly was over and the Tiger Ranking revision had been delayed.
• Chen Shumeng explained that Gu Mingheng had reached the Grandmaster Realm and that the Gu Family had announced his challenge for the Dragon Ranking.
• Gu Chen questioned Gu Mingheng's ambition and privately understood that he had skipped the Aristocratic Family Assembly to pursue the Dragon Ranking.
• Chen Shumeng admitted she was going to the Heaven and Earth Palace to try for a place in the Tiger Ranking's top hundred.
• After learning Gu Mingheng would be at the Heaven and Earth Palace, Gu Chen changed his plans and told Chen Shumeng he would share a secret.

Gu Chen left Chen Shumeng’s group and hurried to West Dan City to disrupt the Gu Family’s plans for Gu Mingheng’s Dragon Ranking challenge. While resting in a house owned by the Zhuge Family, he discovered two secret lovers and learned that the woman was Zhuge Yanjia’s wife.

• Gu Chen asked Chen Shumeng for directions to the Heaven and Earth Palace and learned its ranking ceremony would take place in two days, then left her carriage.
• Gu Chen decided to capture Gu Mingheng as leverage against the Gu Family and traveled to West Dan City.
• Gu Chen reached West Dan City, found Zhuge Kun’s private house, and meditated there for the night.
• Two secret lovers entered the house, and Gu Chen overheard them discussing the woman’s marriage to Zhuge Yanjia and the man’s work as a Zhuge Family servant.
• Gu Chen recognized the affair as a source of embarrassment for Zhuge Wangyue and let the pair leave undisturbed.

Gu Chen left the market to ride out of the city, but stopped to defend an old man from Wei Family youths abusing him. After defeating Wei Xingmian and his companions, Gu Chen faced the approaching Wei Family reinforcements led by Wei Hang.

• Gu Chen heard marketgoers debate whether Gu Mingheng could reach the Dragon Ranking, then mounted his horse to leave the city.
• Gu Chen intervened when Wei Xingmian and other Wei Family youths beat an old man, and told them to apologize.
• Wei Xingmian identified himself as a member of the Wei Family and threatened Gu Chen, but Gu Chen knocked down several of the youths and struck Wei Xingmian.
• Wei Family reinforcements arrived on horseback, led by Wei Hang, who roared angrily when he saw Wei Xingmian beaten.

Gu Chen intimidated Wei Hang into clearing his way through West Dan City, then traveled toward the Heaven and Earth Palace for Gu Mingheng’s ceremony. He arrived at the palace’s foot among nearly a thousand visitors and kept his face hidden from old acquaintances.

• Gu Chen confronted Wei Hang, who recognized him from Starfall Cliff and ordered the Wei Family members to make way.
• Wei Hang told his guards to take Wei Xingmian and the others back after Gu Chen rode away.
• On the road, Gu Chen overheard that the Six Great Families had been holding meetings and that something might be happening in the Land of Heaven and Earth.
• Gu Chen reached the Heaven and Earth Palace a day later and saw a crowd of family elites and young disciples gathered below it.
• Gu Chen lowered his hat and moved aside to avoid being recognized by Xiang Linde, Ren Chong, and other familiar faces, but he did not find Sun Jiangman.

At the Gu Family’s Dragon Ranking ceremony, Gu Mingheng began climbing the Road to Heaven while Gu Chen watched, remembering the humiliation he had suffered from him in his previous life. Gu Chen then confronted Cao Miao in the crowd, leaving Cao Miao terrified to see him.

• Gu Muyu explained that candidates had to climb the thirty-thousand-step Road to Heaven and place their essence-blood aura on the Dragon Ranking.
• Gu Mingheng arrived in a palanquin drawn by three demon beasts and declared that he had never considered failing.
• Gu Mingheng strode up the staircase, rapidly climbing hundreds of steps as the crowd admired his strength.
• Gu Chen spotted Cao Miao and asked where Tang Miaomiao was; Cao Miao said she had not come.
• Gu Chen appeared beside Cao Miao, who recoiled in shock and asked why he was there.

Gu Chen entered the Land of Heaven and Earth and confronted the Gu Family during Gu Mingheng’s ranking ceremony. He declared that he would climb the Road to Heaven and claimed that, as a Gu, he alone deserved to be the family’s eldest young master.

• Gu Chen provoked Cao Miao by claiming he had pledged himself to Sun, and Cao Miao shouted to the crowd that Gu Chen had appeared.
• Gu Chen revealed his face and walked toward the Road to Heaven as Gu Mingheng climbed its second stage.
• Gu Chen shoved Gu Muyu aside when she tried to stop him, shocking the gathered martial artists.
• Gu Muyu told Gu Chen to wait until the formation’s difficulty changed, but he said he wanted to enter the Dragon Ranking.
• Gu Chen declared that his surname was Gu, that Gu Mingheng was unworthy, and that the Gu Family’s eldest young master could only be him.

Gu Chen entered the Road to Heaven after Gu Muyu recognized his resemblance to Gu Beichi and let him pass. He raced past Gu Mingheng and left him behind, declaring that he would prove the Gu Family had made the wrong choice.

• Gu Muyu suspected Gu Chen was Gu Beichi's son and stepped aside despite the crowd's laughter.
• Gu Chen charged up the Road to Heaven, passing the first ten thousand steps without slowing and reaching twenty thousand in under ten minutes.
• Gu Chen broke through the intense pressure beyond the twenty-thousandth step and continued climbing at speed.
• Gu Mingheng recognized Gu Chen as his younger cousin and angrily insulted him and his father.
• Gu Chen used a blast of energy to force Gu Mingheng back, then swept past him as the crowd watched in shock.

Gu Mingheng ambushed Gu Chen with a deadly palm strike near the Heaven and Earth Palace, knocking him off the stairs. Gu Chen survived, recovered with a Departure Fall Pill, and surged back up the Road to Heaven toward Gu Mingheng.

• Gu Mingheng feared Gu Chen would overshadow his Dragon Ranking challenge and taunted him about being unable to return to the Gu Family.
• Gu Mingheng tricked Gu Chen into stopping, then attacked him with a palm strike intended to kill him.
• Gu Chen was blasted down the stairs, while Chen Shumeng condemned Gu Mingheng’s sneak attack and Cao Miao defended it.
• Gu Chen caught a step, swallowed a Departure Fall Pill, and began recovering as the crowd realized he had survived.
• Gu Chen unleashed his true qi and raced upward at more than twice his former speed.

Gu Chen reached the Heaven and Earth Palace ahead of Gu Mingheng after surviving the mountain formation, then faced the elders’ questions about his connection to the Gu Family. Gu Muyu confirmed that Gu Chen was a member of the family, leaving his status at the palace unresolved.

• Gu Chen caught up with Gu Mingheng on the stairs, taunted him, and reached the summit first.
• The formation on the stairs vanished, and Gu Muyu and the other prominent families’ descendants followed them up.
• At the Heaven and Earth Palace, Liu Jingce, Ge Chaoqun, and Shi Che recognized Gu Chen and questioned why he had come.
• Gu Mingheng arrived and demanded that the elders drive Gu Chen away, calling him a castoff of the Gu Family.
• Before Gu Chen could answer whether he belonged to the Gu Family, Gu Muyu arrived and confirmed that he did.

Gu Chen reported that Gu Mingheng had attacked him on the Road to Heaven, then asked to delay the Dragon Ranking ceremony until after the Tiger Ranking was revised. At the Heaven and Earth Palace, he studied the rankings and recognized the faint name of the deceased first-place holder, Wang Gui.

• Gu Chen asked Elder Liu whether attacks were forbidden on the Road to Heaven, then accused Gu Mingheng of trying to kill him and showed the palm print on his chest.
• Liu Jingce questioned Gu Mingheng and affirmed that visitors to the Heaven and Earth Palace had to obey its rules.
• Gu Chen requested that Gu Mingheng's Dragon Ranking ascension ceremony wait until after the Tiger Ranking was revised, and Elder Liu invited everyone inside.
• Gu Mingheng mocked Gu Chen and went to recover his inner energy before attempting the Dragon Ranking.
• Gu Chen examined the Dragon and Tiger Rankings, identified Wang Gui's faint name in first place, and read the names of Yin Linquan and Zhuge Wuhen below it.

Gu Chen watched the Tiger Ranking ceremony and dismissed Cao Miao’s threats while waiting for Gu Mingheng to attempt the Dragon Ranking. Gu Mingheng approached him before the ceremony and offered to help him take first place on the Tiger Ranking as a supposed favor from the family.

• Gu Chen noticed Zhuge Wangyue’s name on the Dragon Ranking and reacted with a cold expression.
• Chen Shumeng inscribed her essence blood on the Tiger Ranking and earned ninetieth place.
• Cao Miao threatened Gu Chen with the Cao Family’s power, and Gu Chen mentioned that the family had nine Revolving Illumination Realm martial artists, including two Dragon Ranking experts.
• Gu Chen declined to register for the Tiger Ranking, saying he had come to watch Gu Mingheng’s ceremony.
• Gu Mingheng arrived at the Dragon Ranking, then walked over to Gu Chen and offered to help him claim first place on the Tiger Ranking.

Gu Chen confronted Gu Mingheng, who revealed that Gu Chen was the Gu Family castoff, and the two traded threats before Gu Mingheng began challenging the Dragon Ranking. Gu Mingheng entered the ranking at number one hundred at age twenty-nine, though he appeared dissatisfied with the result.

• Gu Mingheng exposed Gu Chen as the Gu Family castoff and claimed Gu Chen would die after leaving the mountain.
• Cao Miao mocked Gu Chen, who answered with a threat that made Cao Miao recoil.
• Gu Mingheng left the confrontation and prepared to challenge the Dragon Ranking while Gu Muyu sided with him.
• Elder Ge began the ceremony, and Gu Mingheng endured the dragon’s pressure before inscribing the stele with his essence blood.
• Gu Mingheng replaced Bai Zhuosong at one hundredth place on the Dragon Ranking, astounding the crowd.

Gu Mingheng made the Dragon Ranking at one hundredth place and absorbed the heavenly phenomenon, winning the Gu Family praise and respect. Gu Chen ignored the celebrations and declared that he intended to challenge the Dragon Ranking, not the Tiger Ranking.

• Gu Mingheng's Dragon Ranking entry caused a powerful heavenly phenomenon that spread across the square.
• Gu Chen recognized the phenomenon's energy as the fortune of heaven and earth and wondered about the Mystery Gate's teachings on fortune.
• After comprehending the phenomenon, Gu Mingheng announced that he hoped to climb higher, and Liu Jingce, Elder Ge, and the gathered families congratulated him.
• Gu Chen asked Liu Jingce whether Gu Mingheng's ceremony was over, prompting Gu Mingheng and Gu Muyu to insult and threaten him.
• Gu Chen dismissed Gu Muyu's claims and told Liu Jingce that he wanted to challenge the Dragon Ranking rather than the Tiger Ranking.

Gu Chen challenged Gu Mingheng for a place on the Dragon Ranking and used his own blood as a sacrifice. The stele summoned nine golden dragon phantoms around him, leaving everyone stunned as his ranking attempt began.

• Gu Chen insisted on challenging the Dragon Ranking despite Gu Mingheng's mockery and Elder Ge's warning.
• Elder Ge began presiding over Gu Chen's attempt after Elder Liu gave permission.
• Gu Chen cut his arm and offered his own blood as a sacrifice to heaven.
• The Dragon Ranking stele produced two dragon phantoms, then continued summoning more as Gu Mingheng questioned whether Gu Chen could withstand their pressure.
• Nine golden dragon phantoms emerged and formed a ring around Gu Chen, shocking Elder Ge, Elder Liu, Shi Che, Gu Muyu, and the gathered crowd.

Gu Chen entered his essence blood into the Dragon Ranking stele and stunned the crowd by claiming thirty-fifth place, driving Gu Mingheng off the ranking. After absorbing the phenomenon’s spiritual qi and reaching the peak of the Late Revolving Illumination Realm, he confronted Gu Mingheng and Gu Muyu, whose attack was intercepted by an unknown force.

• Gu Chen imprinted his essence blood on the stele as he taunted Cao Miao and the Cao Family.
• The Dragon Ranking placed Gu Chen thirty-fifth and removed Gu Mingheng from the list, leaving Cao Miao in disbelief.
• A vast heavenly phenomenon sent spiritual qi into Gu Chen, who absorbed it and reached the peak of the Late Revolving Illumination Realm.
• Gu Chen mocked Gu Mingheng for losing his ranking, and Gu Mingheng spat blood in fury.
• Gu Chen challenged Gu Muyu’s authority because she was not on the Dragon Ranking, and she attacked him with internal force.
• An unseen force intercepted Gu Muyu’s attack before it struck Gu Chen.