Chapter Summaries

The Holy Lord received instructions from his father, a Saint Realm expert, to prepare secretly for Lin Tianlei’s possible breakthrough and protect him from interference. At Flame Sun Peak, Lu Changzhi watched Li Yi, Cang Wenyu, and Xu Kun smith together, then faced a choice when Cang Wenyu invited him to try.

• The Holy Lord learned that his father had arrived in a false body and was personally overseeing preparations for Lin Tianlei’s possible breakthrough to the Saint Realm.
• The Holy Lord was ordered to prepare a secret area in the Holy Land’s secret realm, ready the elders, and guard against interference from other forces.
• At Flame Sun Peak, Lu Changzhi and Mu Fan arrived as Li Yi, Cang Wenyu, and Xu Kun began smithing together.
• Lu Changzhi watched Li Yi and Cang Wenyu hammer heated black iron in alternation, and Cang Wenyu nearly stumbled into it after their hammers collided.
• Cang Wenyu invited Lu Changzhi to try smithing, and a prompt offered him three choices with different rewards.

Lu Changzhi chose the Large and Small Forging Hammer and stunned Cang Wenyu, Li Yi, and the others with his powerful strikes. After sharing spinach and helping arrange rewards for Flame Sun Peak’s forging disciples, he joined Li Yi in addressing the assembled peak, who greeted him as their Peak Master.

• Lu Changzhi selected the Large and Small Forging Hammer, studied its techniques, and used it to strike the black iron with tremendous force.
• Cang Wenyu and Li Yi marveled at Lu Changzhi’s strength, while Mu Fan thought his master was holding back.
• Lu Changzhi gave Li Yi black dragon scales for forging and spinach to distribute among Flame Sun Peak’s workers.
• Lu Changzhi and Cang Wenyu helped Li Yi establish a spinach reward plan for elders and disciples who performed well in the forging department.
• Li Yi summoned Flame Sun Peak’s disciples and introduced Lu Changzhi, who received their greeting as Peak Master Lu.

Lu Changzhi scanned Flame Sun Peak for disciples with talents and found Li Kailu's throwing specialty, which impressed Mu Fan with its potential. He also discovered Sun Daniu's romantic-entanglement talent and arranged for him to spend more time outside the artifact-forging department.

• Lu Changzhi scanned the gathered Flame Sun Peak disciples and found several people with unusual talents.
• Lu Changzhi learned that Li Kailu specialized in throwing flying daggers, and Li Kailu destroyed a distant rock with one throw.
• Mu Fan saw potential in Li Kailu's throwing ability for his own work and thought about finding helpers.
• Lu Changzhi found a disciple with staff and club specialization and encouraged him to keep practicing with those weapons.
• Lu Changzhi discovered that Sun Daniu had a talent for romantic entanglements and asked Li Yi to arrange more opportunities for him to go out.
• Li Yi suggested that Xu Kun teach Sun Daniu dual cultivation, but Xu Kun said the Sect Master should teach him instead.

Lu Changzhi discovered Wang Jishi’s linked talents in medicine and poison and encouraged him to reconsider the Dao of Poison as a way to protect others and deepen his medical skills. As the elders praised Lu Changzhi’s growth, the story shifted to Xiao Ye, who worried because Tongtong had stopped responding.

• Lu Changzhi found disciples talented in formations and alchemy, then identified Wang Jishi as skilled in both medicine and poison.
• After Li Yi explained Wang Jishi’s history of accidentally producing poisonous medicines, Lu Changzhi told him that the Dao of Poison could help him heal and protect people.
• Wang Jishi reconsidered his reluctance to study poison after Lu Changzhi explained that a person’s intentions determined how the Dao was used.
• Xu Kun and Cang Wenyu praised Lu Changzhi, and Cang Wenyu said Li Yi might someday have to call him Old Ancestor.
• In the Scripture Repository, Xiao Ye called for Tongtong repeatedly, received no answer, and worried that Tongtong had run away because he had not been diligent enough.

Lu Changzhi handled a simple system task and encouraged Xiao Ye to resume cultivating after the system's unexplained departure unsettled him. Meanwhile, the Azure Cloud Sect's alliance with the Cloud Heaven Holy Land strengthened its standing, and Yuan Hou considered asking the Holy Land to support an attack on the Five Symbols Sect.

• Li Yi visited Hidden Origin Peak, helped prepare food to earn his meal, and joined Cang Wenyu and Xu Kun in competing to prove they would not eat for free.
• Lu Changzhi completed the task of feeding Xiao Ming and received experience and an Earth Rank cultivation technique.
• Lu Changzhi told Xiao Ye to rest and promised to take him to test his cultivation; Xiao Ye realized his worry over the system had disrupted his training and returned to cultivate.
• News spread that the Azure Cloud Sect would cooperate with the Cloud Heaven Holy Land, prompting powers across the Eastern Region to see the Azure Cloud Sect as the region's leading force.
• Yuan Hou considered contacting the Cloud Heaven Holy Land to seek its support for destroying the Five Symbols Sect.

The Flower Spirit Sect planned to draw the Azure Cloud Sect’s attention toward the Five Symbols Sect by arranging a marriage alliance with Lu Changzhi of Hidden Origin Peak. In the Northern Region, the Star Moon Holy Land and Extreme Arms Holy Land reacted to the Cloud Heaven Holy Land’s expansion by considering moves into the Eastern Region.

• The Flower Spirit Sect Master rejected an offer to befriend the Azure Cloud Sect and proposed using the Five Symbols Sect to divert its attention.
• The Flower Spirit Sect chose a marriage alliance with Lu Changzhi, and an elder volunteered to disguise herself and proceed with the plan.
• The Star Moon Holy Land discussed the Cloud Heaven Holy Land’s actions and ordered preparations concerning the Eastern Region.
• The Extreme Arms Holy Land debated its response to the growing chaos and sent word to its ancestors to help decide what to do.

The Dongfang Clan and Western Buddhist leaders reacted to new treasures and turmoil in the Eastern Region by planning to intervene. Meanwhile, the Flower Spirit Sect announced a marriage alliance between Mu Jiaojiao and Lu Changzhi, but Lu discovered the proposed bride was a disguised elder and ordered the Five Symbols Sect to publicly reject the scheme.

• Dongfang Jun proposed that the Dongfang Clan seek cooperation with the Vast Heaven Sect to secure a share of future opportunities.
• The Western Buddhist abbot ordered monks headed for other regions to turn toward the Eastern Region and invited the leader of Aid the Azure Gate to receive Buddhist teachings.
• The Flower Spirit Sect announced that Mu Jiaojiao would enter a marriage alliance with Lu Changzhi, prompting speculation about an alliance between their sects.
• Cang Wenyu showed Lu Changzhi the announcement and asked what he thought of Mu Jiaojiao; Lu learned she was actually Chen Fangfang, a Flower Spirit Sect elder over five hundred and thirty years old.
• Lu Changzhi chose to reject the proposal, and the Five Symbols Sect publicly denied discussing a marriage alliance and accused the Flower Spirit Sect of stirring up discord.

Yuan Hou pressured the Cloud Heaven Holy Land to act against the Five Symbols Sect, while Lu Changzhi found another way to improve Jin Fugui’s aptitude with wine brewed from Marrow Cleansing Fruits. The next morning, Cang Wenyu summoned Lu Changzhi because the sect was facing serious trouble.

• Yuan Hou decided to press the Cloud Heaven Holy Land again after the Five Symbols Sect rejected the marriage alliance.
• The Holy Lord summoned elders and prepared to make a personal visit to the Azure Cloud Sect.
• Lu Changzhi learned that Jin Fugui’s aptitude had reached high-grade heaven rank and that more Marrow Cleansing Fruits seemed to have little effect.
• Luo Ling'er finished brewing the Marrow Cleansing Fruit wine, and Lu Changzhi gave Jin Fugui a jar as a reward.
• Cang Wenyu contacted Lu Changzhi early the next morning and told him the sect was about to face big trouble.

Lu Changzhi advised the Five Symbols Sect to conceal its true strength when dealing with the Cloud Heaven Holy Land, then retaliate later if needed. As the holy land arrived in the Eastern Region, it stopped first at the Azure Cloud Sect, where Yuan Hou eagerly welcomed it.

• Cang Wenyu told Lu Changzhi that the Cloud Heaven Holy Land would soon visit the Five Symbols Sect and asked how they should respond.
• Lu Changzhi advised the sect to act according to the strength it showed outsiders and keep its hidden power concealed.
• Lu Changzhi said the sect could endure a loss of face now and strike back later; Gu Qingyang and Cang Wenyu praised his judgment.
• Cang Wenyu outlined plans to reinforce the Heaven-Veiling Illusion Array, while Gu Qingyang hinted that the patriarchs had played a trump card.
• The Cloud Heaven Holy Land's flying boat entered the Eastern Region and went to the Azure Cloud Sect, where Yuan Hou welcomed the Holy Lord and elders.
• The Holy Lord asked Yuan Hou whether he was in a hurry.

Yuan Hou was forced to kneel before the Cloud Heaven Holy Land’s Holy Lord, then led the Azure Cloud Sect’s forces toward the Five Symbols Sect. As the Holy Land and its allies arrived, Cang Wenyu staged a nervous welcome while Lu Changzhi watched from the Heaven-Veiling Illusion Array and received a trial mission.

• The Holy Lord’s cold snort forced Yuan Hou to his knees, and he warned Yuan Hou not to repeat his conduct before ordering him to stand.
• Yuan Hou gathered the Azure Cloud Sect’s elders and followed the Holy Land’s flying boat toward the Five Symbols Sect, alarming the mortals who saw the procession pass overhead.
• Lu Changzhi confirmed that the Five Symbols Sect’s preparations were ready and observed Cang Wenyu and the elders preparing to act worried as the approaching forces drew near.
• Cang Wenyu led the Five Symbols Sect’s elders into the air to meet the Holy Land’s flying boat and asked what had brought its seniors there.
• A Cloud Heaven Holy Land elder accused the Five Symbols Sect of failing to welcome them properly, and Lu Changzhi received the trial mission, “Be a courteous person.”

Lu Changzhi received a trial mission to deal Cloud Heaven Holy Land a substantial blow within a month, then watched the holy land search Five Symbols Sect’s disciples for promising talent. As the Holy Lord prepared to leave, Cang Wenyu and Luo Zhen both announced that someone was missing, and Luo Zhen identified Lu Changzhi.

• Lu Changzhi inspected the trial mission, which required him or his disciples to deliver Cloud Heaven Holy Land a crushing blow and promised at least 8,000 experience points.
• Lu Changzhi considered targeting the Holy Lord but decided to weigh his options before acting.
• Cloud Heaven Holy Land’s visitors examined Five Symbols Sect’s disciples, while Yuan Hou worried about the Holy Lord’s influence and his own position.
• The Holy Lord and Zhou Chang found no distinctive disciples and prepared to leave.
• Cang Wenyu and Luo Zhen called for the Holy Lord to wait, and Luo Zhen said that Lu Changzhi had not come out.

Luo Zhen demanded that Lu Changzhi come out and spar, while Cang Wenyu tried to protect Lu Changzhi and redirect the Holy Lord’s attention toward the Holy Land. Lu Changzhi decided to face the situation, and Cang Wenyu announced that he had come out.

• Luo Zhen asked the Cloud Heaven Holy Land to summon Lu Changzhi so he could challenge him.
• Lu Changzhi reviewed the system’s choices and decided that coming out was preferable to refusing.
• Yuan Hou provoked Cang Wenyu, who cursed him and urged the Holy Lord to give Lu Changzhi a chance to enter the Holy Land if he proved worthy.
• The Holy Lord silenced Yuan Hou and agreed that the Holy Land would give Lu Changzhi a chance if he was good enough.
• Cang Wenyu looked behind him and told the Holy Lord that Lu Changzhi had come out.

Lu Changzhi emerged before the Holy Lord and the gathered sects, whose scrutiny left most convinced he was ordinary. When Luo Zhen challenged him to spar, Lu Changzhi refused, prompting Zhou Chang to recommend that the Holy Lord consider nurturing him for his judgment and temperament.

• Lu Changzhi came out and drew the gathered onlookers’ scrutiny, but most found nothing exceptional about him.
• Cang Wenyu explained that the sect was trying to secure an opportunity for Lu Changzhi, while the Holy Lord and Zhou Chang also judged him to be ordinary.
• Luo Zhen asked Lu Changzhi to spar, but Lu Changzhi declined, citing Luo Zhen’s higher realm and Holy Land cultivation.
• After Luo Zhen pressed him, Lu Changzhi calmly repeated that he lacked the confidence to fight, frustrating Luo Zhen’s plan to use him as a stepping stone.
• Zhou Chang told the Holy Lord that Lu Changzhi’s disposition and handling of the situation made him worth nurturing.

Lu Changzhi faced pressure to spar with Luo Zhen over the Azure Cloud Sect’s territory, but Cang Wenyu urged him to stall until help arrived. Min Qianlan of the Star Moon Holy Land appeared and challenged Huang Yunya, forcing the Cloud Heaven Holy Lord to retreat under their clash of presences.

• Luo Zhen challenged Lu Changzhi to a spar, and the Holy Lord offered the Azure Cloud Sect’s territory as the wager.
• Cang Wenyu warned Lu Changzhi to play along because someone was about to arrive, while a Holy Land elder pressed him to begin the fight.
• Min Qianlan arrived with five powerful companions bearing Star Moon Holy Land emblems and accused Huang Yunya of expanding Cloud Heaven’s power.
• Huang Yunya unleashed his Dao Comprehension Realm presence, but Min Qianlan countered and forced him back two steps.
• Min Qianlan mocked Huang Yunya for failing to reach the Transcendent Realm and suggested his father was the reason he remained Holy Lord.

Min Qianlan claimed the Five Symbols Sect’s territory for the Star Moon Holy Land and ordered the sect to leave within a day. Huang Yunya offered to let the Five Symbols Sect stay as a vassal of the Cloud Heaven Holy Land, leaving Cang Wenyu to choose between the two powers.

• Lu Changzhi realized Huang Yunya’s father might be a living Saint and decided to investigate the Cloud Heaven Holy Land’s information.
• Min Qianlan taunted Huang Yunya about relying on his father, but Huang Yunya restrained his anger and hinted that the Cloud Heaven Holy Land had gained good fortune.
• Min Qianlan declared that the Star Moon Holy Land would take the Five Symbols Sect’s territory and ordered its people to leave within one day.
• Huang Yunya offered Cang Wenyu continued residence in exchange for making the Five Symbols Sect a vassal of the Cloud Heaven Holy Land, and demanded an answer within three breaths.

Min Qianlan forced Huang Yunya and the Cloud Heaven Holy Land to withdraw, then ordered Cang Wenyu and the Five Symbols Sect to leave within a day or be destroyed. An aged voice challenged Min Qianlan, leaving the Star Moon Holy Land’s threat on the verge of confrontation.

• Min Qianlan unleashed his and the Star Moon Holy Land elders’ Transcendent Realm presences against Huang Yunya and the Cloud Heaven Holy Land, while the flying boat’s barrier shielded them.
• Min Qianlan demanded that Huang Yunya leave within three breaths, and Huang Yunya held back from summoning reinforcements because he feared disrupting the old ancestor’s breakthrough.
• A Star Moon Holy Land elder said their experts were already on the way, and Min Qianlan summoned a powerful, star-engraved staff.
• Huang Yunya recalled Luo Zhen and withdrew, warning that the Cloud Heaven Holy Land would remember what happened.
• Min Qianlan told Cang Wenyu and the Five Symbols Sect to leave within one day or be razed, but an aged voice challenged him to prove his strength.

Jiang Yuanyin arrived at the Five Symbols Sect and defeated Min Qianlan with a single saber strike, then declared the place his. Lu Changzhi recognized him as the Azure Saber Saint, but the system identified him as Jiang Qing and revealed that he was a Saint King Realm expert.

• An unidentified saber strike overwhelmed Min Qianlan's staff, injured him, and sent him flying.
• Jiang Yuanyin appeared with the Azure Concealment Saber and said that the place was his.
• The holy land elders recognized Jiang Yuanyin as the Northern Region's Number One Saber and fell silent when he asked whether anyone objected.
• Lu Changzhi asked Cang Wenyu whether Jiang Yuanyin's arrival had been planned, and Cang Wenyu said he could not have schemed around the ancestor of the Extreme Arms Holy Land.
• Lu Changzhi checked Jiang Yuanyin's information and found the system listed his name as Jiang Qing and his realm as Saint King Realm First Level.

Jiang Yuanyin revealed himself as the Saber Saint and claimed the Five Symbols Sect’s territory for the Extreme Arms Holy Land, forcing the Star Moon and Cloud Heaven Holy Lands to withdraw. After the holy lands departed, Lu Changzhi used the reward from his earlier choice.

• Min Qianlan withdrew the Star Moon Holy Land from the competition after Jiang Yuanyin claimed the territory.
• Jiang Yuanyin rebuked the Cloud Heaven Holy Land for interfering in Eastern Region affairs and shattered its defenses with a saber attack that exhausted the elders’ life-saving measures.
• Jiang Yuanyin declared the Five Symbols Sect and its territory belonged to the Extreme Arms Holy Land and planted a banner there.
• The Star Moon Holy Land left, and the Cloud Heaven Holy Land departed after Jiang Yuanyin let its members go.
• Lu Changzhi checked the system and used the reward for his earlier choice.

Lu Changzhi discovered that Luo Zhen’s new talent made him suffer the calamities caused by Heavenly Sha Lone Star while still giving him a chance to survive. Jiang Yuanyin revealed himself as an old ancestor of the Five Symbols Sect who had become a Saint King, then placed the territory under the Extreme Arms Holy Land’s name before departing.

• Lu Changzhi saw that Luo Zhen had gained Nine Deaths and One Life, which altered Heavenly Sha Lone Star so Luo Zhen would share the resulting calamities.
• After the Cloud Heaven Holy Land left, Azure Cloud Sect’s elders and Yuan Hou fled, while Jiang Yuanyin inspected the Five Symbols Sect and could not see through Lu Changzhi.
• Cang Wenyu told Lu Changzhi that Jiang Yuanyin was one of the Five Symbols Sect’s old ancestors who had gone away to study and become a Saint King.
• The Extreme Arms Holy Land arrived, and Jiang Yuanyin declared that the Five Symbols Sect’s territory would belong under its name, assigning Lin Jia to handle the details before vanishing.
• Cang Wenyu told Lu Changzhi to keep the illusion active until negotiations ended, and Lu Changzhi considered using Holy Lord Huang Yunya’s father to help him obtain better trial rewards.

The Extreme Arms Holy Land decided to claim the Five Symbols Sect’s territory while leaving the Azure Cloud Sect as a buffer for the coming conflict. As the Cloud Heaven Holy Land returned home, someone blocked its route and announced they had been waiting.

• Duan Yi explained that Ancestor Jiang had ordered the Extreme Arms Holy Land to secure the Five Symbols Sect’s territory because it was linked to a future opportunity.
• The elders agreed that the Azure Cloud Sect’s territory should remain outside their claim, since it could buffer conflict with the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty and other powers.
• Lin Jia said they had secured the land but still needed to wait for the right time and cultivate harmony among the people.
• Lu Changzhi worried that a Saint King could see through his illusion array and planned to imprint Xiao Fan’s talent on everyone at Hidden Origin Peak when he could.
• Min Qianlan told the Star Moon Holy Land elders to avoid conflict with Ancestor Jiang and focus on the Cloud Heaven Holy Land.
• A light shot into the sky ahead of the Cloud Heaven Holy Land’s flying ship, and an unknown voice declared that they had been waiting for them.