Chapter Summaries

Yang Yuanhong faced eight Spiritual Connection True Persons in a contest of Dao and unleashed his power against their combined assault. When he manifested his enormous black dragon body, Huo Yuan recognized that the outcome was no longer in doubt.

• Yang Yuanhong greeted the eight True Persons and invited them to begin the battle.
• Sikong Shang led the attack, combining his punch with four manifestations and the support of the other True Persons.
• Tao Yuan, Ji Ci, and Wen Shunnian cast spells that darkened Yang Yuanhong’s sight and weighed down his body, while Sikong Shang struck him.
• Sikong Shang’s hand trembled after the punch, which felt like hitting a solid city wall.
• Yang Yuanhong transformed into a gigantic black dragon, terrifying the gathered cultivators and the two True Intent figures.
• Huo Yuan concluded that the contest had no suspense and that Yang Yuanhong’s strength lived up to the title Dragon Lord.

Yang Yuanhong reflected on the gap between Spiritual Connection and True Intent Cultivators, then faced eight Northwest True Persons outside Chongtian City. He fought them while holding back, and Qin Mang’s golden-flame technique engulfed one of his dragon claws.

• Yang Yuanhong recalled how three defeats against early-stage True Intent Cultivators on Ziyun Mountain had shown him the chasm he needed to cross.
• Tao Yuan revealed his Destiny Word and asked the other seven True Persons to hold off Yang Yuanhong while he prepared.
• The seven True Persons rallied and attacked Yang Yuanhong, who chose to give them room to demonstrate their abilities.
• Sikong Shang met Yang Yuanhong’s dragon tail head-on while the other six True Persons launched attacks with their true bodies and incarnations.
• Qin Mang summoned a Three-legged Golden Flame Bird, which Yang Yuanhong seized before it scattered into fire that enveloped his dragon claw.

Yang Yuanhong endured the seven True Persons’ attacks, then countered and defeated them one by one. With only Tao Yuan left, Tao Yuan unleashed his Destiny Word, forcing Yang Yuanhong’s dragon body to shrink back into his little dragon-man form.

• The seven True Persons restrained Yang Yuanhong’s limbs and sealed his senses with coordinated techniques, while Sikong Shang pushed against his dragon tail.
• Yang Yuanhong counterattacked, crushing Sikong Shang and tearing apart Ji Ci and Wen Shunnian’s soul techniques, forcing the two to withdraw.
• Yang Yuanhong broke the remaining restraints and sent Yunlu True Person, Mingke True Person, and Wanshan True Person flying or unconscious.
• Yang Yuanhong praised Qin Mang’s golden flame technique before inhaling its flames and defeating Qin Mang as well.
• With the other six True Persons defeated, Tao Yuan pressed his golden Destiny Word toward Yang Yuanhong, and the word “Retreat” made Yang Yuanhong’s dragon body shrink into a little dragon-man.

Yang Yuanhong defeated Tao Yuan in the final bout of the Heaven Ascension Debate, but both gained recognition from the contest. Back at the Yang Family Sacred Land, Shen Yue began breaking through to Spiritual Connection on a newly activated immortal mountain as Yang Lingrui watched over him.

• Yang Yuanhong shattered Tao Yuan’s Five Character True Words, but Tao Yuan used Invoke Saint to force him back before exhausting his strength.
• Yang Yuanhong and Tao Yuan saluted each other, and the debate ended with the Dragon Lord victorious and both sides gaining renown.
• The factions returned to Chongtian City, Yu Zhen thanked Yang Yuanhong, and the wedding celebration ended as guests departed.
• Yang Yuanhong gave the enormous eyes from the Eastern Wilderness to Zi He, then returned to the Yang Family Sacred Land with Lin Qiao.
• Yang Lingrui took over watching Shen Yue, whose cultivation was advancing toward Spiritual Connection after the Yang Clan activated an immortal mountain for his breakthrough.

Shen Yue emerged from seclusion to begin his breakthrough from Essence Condensation into Spiritual Connection as cultivators from across the Yang Clan gathered to watch. The Tribulation Clouds grew more powerful as he climbed the immortal mountain, and the observers waited to see whether he could withstand the Lightning Tribulation.

• Yang Lingrui saw the Tribulation Clouds form above the immortal mountain, withdrew his spell, and joined Yang Lingqing and Chen Huaien to watch Shen Yue's breakthrough.
• Yang Lingqing arranged for younger cultivators and guests to observe the rare ceremony, and Zhao Qi encouraged the Yangyuan Peak cultivators to learn from it without comparing themselves to geniuses.
• Yang Yuanwen, Yang Yuanxing, and Lin Qiao watched from a cloud boat, and Yang Yuanwen resolved to keep improving his talisman skills.
• Shen Yue emerged from his cave dwelling surrounded by cyan radiance and began climbing toward the summit as the Tribulation Clouds and Lightning Tribulation intensified.
• Chen Huaien, Yang Lingqing, and Yang Lingrui praised Shen Yue's extraordinary talent as he reached the mountainside.

Shen Yue endured his Spiritual Connection tribulation by uniting himself with the immortal mountain, then used Invoke Saint to make the final Thunder and Fire Tribulation explode before it could strike. After he reached the Spiritual Connection Realm, Yang Lingrui, his companions, and the Yang Clan cultivators congratulated him.

• Shen Yue calmly faced the Lightning Tribulation as Yang Lingrui shielded Yang Lingqing and Chen Huaien nearby.
• Shen Yue endured the first eight tribulations by fusing the bearing of his green mountain with the immortal mountain beneath him.
• As the ninth tribulation transformed into Thunder and Fire, Shen Yue told Yang Lingrui there was no need to retreat.
• Shen Yue invoked the saints of old and shouted “Retreat!”, causing the Thunder and Fire Tribulation to explode before it descended.
• Yang Lingrui, Yang Lingqing, Chen Huaien, and the Yang Clan cultivators congratulated Shen Yue on attaining Spiritual Connection, and Shen Yue returned their salute.

After Su Dingcang left the Northwest for the Central Region, the True Intent factions suspected he was seeking revenge and the Yang Clan learned of the situation from Jia Huarai. Yang Lingqing decided to wait half a year before acting, giving Chen Yang time to reach True Intent.

• Shen Yue consolidated his Spiritual Connection cultivation, sparred with Yang Yuanhong and Lin Qiao, then traveled east with Yang Lingrui.
• Northwest True Intent Cultivators detected Su Dingcang’s aura heading toward the Central Region and speculated that he was driven by anger rather than treasure-hunting.
• Huo Yuan proposed monitoring the Su Family and sending Jia Huarai to consult the Yang Clan.
• Jia Huarai entered the Yang Family Sacred Land and told Yang Lingqing and Yang Yuanhong about Su Dingcang’s departure and the Northwest factions’ discussion.
• Yang Lingqing asked whether several True Intent Cultivators could break the Su Family’s formation, then chose to wait half a year before deciding what to do.
• Yang Lingqing set the delay to allow time for Xue Qingluan’s breakthrough and for Chen Yang to advance to True Intent.

Three sect disciples hunted a wounded tiger demon deep in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, where their Senior Brother used its blood scent to lure in more prey. After killing a wolf demon and capturing the tiger demon’s Primordial Spirit, the group decided to remain in the mountains for five more days.

• The Senior Brother led his Junior Brother and Junior Sister in pursuing an injured tiger demon for half a month into the inner region of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
• The Senior Brother told his companions to wait two days for the weakened tiger demon to tire further, while the wounded beast’s scent attracted a wolf demon.
• The Senior Brother killed the wolf demon with a swift strike of Sword Qi and captured its Primordial Spirit.
• The tiger demon fled with its Primordial Spirit as it neared death, but the Senior Brother sucked it into a gourd.
• The three disciples chose to stay in the mountains for five more days to hunt additional Demon Beasts.

A Rock Snake Great Demon ambushed three cultivators who had come to collect demon corpses, overwhelming the leading sword cultivator and his two disciples. As the Senior Brother tried to escape with his Primordial Spirit, the Rock Snake trapped it and began dragging it into its mouth.

• After scouting the valley and finding no other Demon Beast activity, the three cultivators entered to retrieve the corpses.
• A Rock Snake Great Demon burst from the ground and bit the leading Senior Brother, while its stone spikes wounded the other two disciples.
• The Senior Brother summoned his incarnation to help his disciples escape, but the Rock Snake dispersed his Sword Qi with poisonous green smoke.
• The Senior Brother escaped the Rock Snake's jaws at the cost of both legs, then was poisoned and smashed against the valley walls.
• The Senior Brother fled with his Primordial Spirit, but a ray of spell light trapped it and pulled it toward the Rock Snake's mouth.

The rock serpent devoured the three sect sword cultivators and three Demon Beasts, then advanced to Spiritual Connection Perfection. Ning Jiu met Yang Lingrui and Shen Yue after they killed it, and challenged Yang Lingrui to a sword test.

• The rock serpent pursued the fleeing sword cultivators, killed them, and swallowed their bodies and Primordial Spirits.
• After devouring three Demon Beasts as well, the rock serpent transformed and reached Spiritual Connection Perfection.
• Yang Lingrui and Shen Yue struck from opposite directions, killing the rock serpent and cutting its body into pieces.
• Ning Jiu arrived and recognized Yang Lingrui and Shen Yue, noting that Yang Lingrui's aura stirred her Sword Heart.
• Ning Jiu greeted the two men and invited Yang Lingrui to test swords with her.

Yang Lingrui and Ning Jiu fought a fierce discussion of the Dao while Shen Yue watched, confronting his own weakness and tempering his Dao heart. After their devastating clash, the winds and clouds settled, but neither fighter had shown any intent to hold back.

• Yang Lingrui agreed to test his strength against Ning Jiu, and Shen Yue agreed to bear witness.
• Ning Jiu opened with a powerful sword strike, but Yang Lingrui dodged it easily.
• Watching the battle, Shen Yue accepted his lack of strength, rekindled his fighting spirit, and tempered his Dao heart.
• Yang Lingrui opened the fourth eye of his Life Official Mask as Ning Jiu prepared to use her sixth sword.
• Yang Lingrui's giant axe and Ning Jiu's Frigid River Shattered Shadows collided, flattening the mountain forest below.
• Shen Yue rescued the Rock Serpent's corpse from the aftermath, and the sky fell still after the clash.

After Yang Lingrui and Ning Jiu concluded their Dao discussion, they traveled with Shen Yue toward Yanlai City, where Ning Jiu explained why she had let three Meishan disciples die. At the city outskirts, Shen Yue refused to enter with Yang Lingrui, choosing to continue his journey alone so he could seek the Dao without relying on the Yang Clan’s connections or assistance.

• Yang Lingrui and Ning Jiu ended their discussion of the Dao in a draw, though both recognized Ning Jiu had held back and Yang Lingrui had reached the peak of the Gold Ranking’s third page.
• Shen Yue gained insight from watching their fight, and the three discovered they were all headed for Yanlai City and traveled together.
• Shen Yue refused to take the Rock Snake Great Demon's corpse, so Yang Lingrui kept it after Ning Jiu deferred the decision to him.
• Shen Yue asked Ning Jiu why she had not saved the three Meishan disciples, and she said their greed, sluggishness, lack of courage, and self-inflicted danger made them unworthy of rescue.
• At Yanlai City's outskirts, Shen Yue declined to enter with Yang Lingrui, saying he needed to pursue the Dao alone and would never catch up if he kept accepting Yang Lingrui's help.

Shen Yue parted ways with Yang Lingrui to pursue his own Dao, while Chen Yang secretly left a protective trace of divine power in Shen Yue’s body. At Yanlai City, Yang Lingrui helped Ning Jiu investigate her missing junior brother and uncovered evidence of a Demon Child’s involvement.

• Shen Yue thanked Yang Lingrui, said they should part ways, and continued east; Yang Lingrui watched him leave, while Chen Yang’s divine power secretly entered Shen Yue’s body.
• Yang Lingrui returned to Yanlai City and told Ning Jiu that Shen Yue had left to seek his Dao; Ning Jiu reconsidered her judgment of Shen Yue.
• A Sun Clan True Intent Cultivator showed Ning Jiu her missing junior brother’s bloodstained broken sword and led her and Yang Lingrui into a preserved section of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
• Ning Jiu found no clear evidence of what had killed her junior brother, but Yang Lingrui sensed a faint crimson breeze among the stones through the Azure Nether Wind Breath.
• Ning Jiu identified the crimson breeze as remnants of Wind Dao sorcery carrying the aura of a Demon Child.

Yang Lingrui and Ning Jiu identified the crimson breeze as the work of a Demon Child from the Vast Sea Demonic Land, whose infiltrators had been sent to gather intelligence, assassinate promising righteous cultivators, and sow discord. They realized the killer had left a broken sword as if deliberately provoking them, and wondered why he had risked exposing himself.

• Yang Lingrui explained that humble-born demonic cultivators usually hid their talent to avoid being exploited or killed by powerful Demon Sect figures.
• Bai Di changed the Demonic Dao by selecting talented cultivators as Demon Children and protecting them, earning their loyalty and strengthening his forces.
• After Chen Yang received the title Divine Descent and righteous Mystic Insight Venerables mobilized, Bai Di sent previously unseen Demon Children into the Central Region to spy, assassinate, and stir up conflict.
• Yang Lingrui and Ning Jiu determined that one infiltrated Demon Child had killed Ning Jiu's Junior Brother, a Meishan sword cultivator.
• Yang Lingrui and Ning Jiu wondered why the killer had left a broken sword behind and acted so boldly when he should have tried to conceal his identity.

Yang Lingrui and Ning Jiu learned that disguised Demon Children had secretly assassinated righteous-path cultivators for years and planned to target the Wind Chasing Ceremony at Unreturning Wind Cave. As Yang Lingrui traveled there to meet the Dao Academy’s agents, a Demon Child prepared to attack two Golden Roll geniuses and hinted at a larger plot.

• The Sun Family True Intent Cultivator told Yang Lingrui and Ning Jiu that seven Central Region geniuses had been killed by Demon Children whose disguises and concealment techniques made them difficult to track.
• He explained that the Demon Children had caused conflict among righteous factions and predicted that the wind-path killer would target the Wind Chasing Ceremony.
• Ning Jiu chose to return to Meishan to report her Junior Brother’s death, while Yang Lingrui accepted an immortal boat and set out for Unreturning Wind Cave.
• A Demon Child disguised as a village laborer secretly tended two injured Demon Children and gave them Infant Blood Pills made from newborns’ blood.
• The Demon Child revealed that he had killed a Meishan disciple and planned to target Jiang Yinkong and Yun Xiwu at the Wind Chasing Ceremony.
• He said he would seek a breakthrough in the Wind Cavern and, after returning, join his siblings in carrying out their planned Dragon Slaying Matter.

Cultivators from across the Central Region gathered outside Unreturning Wind Cave for the Wind Chasing Ceremony, where invited factions would enter first to seek wind-path opportunities and ancient treasures. Liu Yanqing recruited Dongfang Yinghao to travel with her and revealed that Yang Lingrui would also attend the ceremony.

• Cultivators from prominent factions gathered at the cloud-sea pavilion outside Unreturning Wind Cave while other factions and rogue cultivators waited for their chance to enter.
• Liu Yanqing searched for Dongfang Yinghao and found him at the pavilion.
• Dongfang Yinghao bragged about his strength, but Liu Yanqing persuaded him to join her by mentioning the Wind Cave Remnants whose locations she had learned.
• Dongfang Yinghao agreed to travel with Liu Yanqing and called her Immortal Maiden Listening Wind.
• Dongfang Yinghao told Liu Yanqing that Yang Lingrui would attend the ceremony, marking his first visit to the Central Region of Canglan.

Yang Lingrui arrived at the Fuyao Sect’s Wind Chasing Ceremony, where the gathered cultivators recognized him as the Azure Wind Mandate Official and a Gold Ranking prodigy. Teng Shechuan challenged him to withstand three moves, while Yun Xiwu and Jiang Yinkong watched from above.

• Liu Yanqing told Dongfang Yinghao that Yang Lingrui had advanced rapidly on the Gold Ranking and would travel with a separate party.
• Yang Lingrui arrived at the pavilions, and the cultivators identified him as the Northwest Yang Clan prodigy known as the Azure Wind Mandate Official.
• Teng Shechuan of Wind Sand Valley greeted Yang Lingrui and proposed a contest in which Yang would try to receive three moves.
• Yang Lingrui accepted Teng Shechuan’s challenge as Yun Xiwu watched and noted his improved wind arts.
• Jiang Yinkong said he dared not calculate Yang Lingrui’s fate because of his strength and connection to Yuan Hong.

Yang Lingrui faced Teng Shechuan’s three killing moves during their dao discussion and effortlessly overcame each one. He left Teng Shechuan’s blood essence and spiritual marrow unharmed, and Teng Shechuan ended the exchange with gratitude and reverence.

• Yang Lingrui casually dispelled Teng Shechuan’s first two spells, including a wind technique that manifested a green-faced Ghost King.
• Teng Shechuan prepared a dangerous third technique using his blood essence and spiritual marrow, while Yun Xiwu stopped Jiang Yinkong and Chu Jingxiao from intervening.
• Yang Lingrui secretly used the Two Forms Divine Wind as Teng Shechuan cast his final spell.
• Yang Lingrui withdrew his defenses, yet Teng Shechuan’s spell burst into dust without injuring him.
• Yang Lingrui returned Teng Shechuan’s blood essence and spiritual marrow in wind balls, and Teng Shechuan bowed and thanked him.

Yang Lingrui defeated Teng Shechuan in their discussion of the Dao and joined Yun Xiwu, Jiang Yinkong, and Chi Tian at the cloud-sea pavilion before the Wind Cavern opened. There, Chi Tian questioned him about the Demon Child in Yanlai City, and Yang Lingrui presented evidence linking the suspect to a slain Meishan sword cultivator.

• Yang Lingrui overwhelmed Teng Shechuan, prompting cultivators to speculate that he ranked among the strongest on the Gold Ranking's third page.
• Yang Lingrui arrived at the cloud-sea pavilion, where Yun Xiwu welcomed him and asked him to call her Senior Sister.
• Jiang Yinkong asked Yang Lingrui about Yang Yuanhong and relaxed when he heard the Vaulting Dragon Lord was cultivating smoothly.
• Yang Lingrui sensed unusual power in Chi Tian, and Chen Yang recognized him as the Blood Corpse from the Blood Demon Blessed Land who had advanced to the Spiritual Connection Ninth Layer.
• Chi Tian asked Yang Lingrui about the Demon Child in Yanlai City, and Yang Lingrui confirmed the discovery and showed the group a crimson breeze left at the site where the Demon Child killed a Meishan sword cultivator.

Yun Xiwu planned to lure the Demon Child into an ambush in Unreturning Wind Cave, assigning Yang Lingrui and Chi Tian to draw him toward a hidden site. Yang Lingrui convincingly adopted He Shenglai’s arrogant manner to support their cover.

• Yun Xiwu, Chi Tian, and Jiang Yinkong examined a trace of the Demon Child’s wind art and deduced his strength, his group’s numbers, and their recent movements.
• Yun Xiwu designated herself and Jiang Yinkong as bait, planning to expose flaws and make the Demon Child choose a different target.
• Yun Xiwu assigned Yang Lingrui and Chi Tian to pose as master and servant and lure the Demon Child into one of three undisclosed regions of Unreturning Wind Cave.
• Yang Lingrui instantly imitated He Shenglai’s arrogant demeanor, impressing Yun Xiwu and Jiang Yinkong.
• Yun Xiwu gave Yang Lingrui the map and instructed him to maintain his identity as a prodigy of the Northwest Yang Clan, with Chi Tian as his servant.