Chapter Summaries

Jing Yang and Elder Fu plotted to use Jing He’s entrance test to damage Ten Thousand Daos Born’s reputation, while Sang Ying entered the Thousandfold Formation and began its first trial. As the elders watched the trials on water screens, Elder Xiao spotted a cultivator whose bearing seemed familiar despite an unfamiliar appearance.

• Jing Yang reported that he had bet ten thousand high-grade Spirit Stones on Jing He and explained how the Mara Gate and Jing Household planned for Jing He to win first place and refuse Ten Thousand Daos Born.
• Elder Fu praised Jing Yang for challenging Sang Ying and dismissed her as no threat to Jing He, unaware that she ranked fifteenth on the Heaven's Chosen Ranking.
• Sang Ying entered the Thousandfold Formation, where the first trial required her to defeat countless wooden figures, and she charged at them with Floating River.
• The elders of Ten Thousand Daos Born watched the entrants' trials through water screens as Elder Xiao lamented that Jimo Zanxing had not registered.
• Elder Xiao noticed a cultivator on a water screen whose bearing was familiar but whose appearance was not.

Ten Thousand Daos Born’s elders watched Sang Ying and Jing He face the first trials, arguing over whether female cultivators were suited to the sect. After Sang Ying passed the Wooden Man Formation, she entered the Jiaoren Illusion Formation and encountered a real jiaoren who offered to teach her, leaving Elder Xiao worried.

• Elder Chen criticized Sang Ying and praised Jing He, while Jiulian defended Sang Ying and mocked Jing He.
• Sang Ying was buried beneath the wooden men, then broke free with her sword and froze the remaining attackers to pass the first formation.
• Jing He passed the first trial fastest, ahead of Sang Ying and Lan Fusheng, prompting Jiulian to suspect the Jing Household had a hidden motive.
• Sang Ying encountered a dangerous real jiaoren in the next formation, who invited her to become her disciple and claimed Ten Thousand Daos Born was unsuitable for her.
• Elder Chen celebrated the jiaoren’s criticism, while Elder Xiao silently worried that Sang Ying had encountered her.

Sang Ying fought the golden-tailed mermaid in the Thousandfold Formation, determined to join Ten Thousand Daos Born despite the mermaid’s warnings. After freezing the pool and defeating her water dragons, Sang Ying was swallowed when the ice shattered and her Spiritual Qi was sealed, leaving Elder Chen and Jiulian watching darkness in the water mirror.

• The golden-tailed mermaid revealed human bones in the pool and claimed she had eaten people, then urged Sang Ying to withdraw from the formation.
• Sang Ying refused to leave, explaining that she wanted to join Ten Thousand Daos Born and believe in its ideals, and attacked the mermaid’s water dragon.
• Sang Ying froze and cut apart the mermaid’s water dragons, enduring repeated attacks as the mermaid summoned more.
• Sang Ying sealed the pool in ice and immobilized the mermaid, but the mermaid declared she was hungry as the ice broke and Sang Ying’s Spiritual Qi was sealed.
• The mermaid swallowed Sang Ying, leaving the water mirror dark as Elder Chen and Jiulian watched in silence.

Sang Ying passed the Heart-Questioning Array after resisting the golden-tailed mermaid’s illusion and earning an upper ranking. The elders of Ten Thousand Daos Born began competing to claim her as a disciple while she remained unconscious and her test continued.

• The mermaid revealed that Sang Ying had passed the Heart-Questioning Array and explained that she had broken through the illusion and approached her.
• Jiulian declared that Sang Ying had a fateful connection with him, prompting Elder Chen and other elders to claim that connection for themselves.
• The elders argued over Sang Ying’s potential and offered Cultivation Methods, pills, Law Artifacts, and robes to attract her.
• Elder Xiao stopped the dispute and reminded the elders that Sang Ying would choose her own master after completing the test.
• Elder Chen moved his water mirror to watch Sang Ying, while Jiulian quietly noted what the other elders had offered.

Sang Ying recovered after escaping the golden-tailed merfolk’s illusion and entered a room where she faced Ten Thousand Daos Born’s sword formation. Outside the Thousandfold Formation, Jing He emerged first, giving Jing Yang hope that the Jing Household’s plan would succeed.

• Sang Ying woke unharmed, and Gu Shu told her she had frozen when she looked into the golden-tailed merfolk’s eyes before the merfolk sent them out of the formation.
• Sang Ying explained that an illusion had impersonated Gu Shu and tried to make her abandon Ten Thousand Daos Born, then wondered whether the merfolk had learned her secrets.
• Sang Ying entered a sealed room and discovered that spirit swords shot from its walls; she drew Floating River and fought the growing sword formation.
• The Gu cultivator waited outside the Thousandfold Formation, unaware that the Jing Household planned to use his bet with Jing Yang to boost Jing He’s reputation.
• The Thousandfold Formation opened, and Jing He emerged first as Jing Yang watched anxiously.

After the entrance test, Jing He assumed he had won first place and publicly insulted Ten Thousand Daos Born, claiming he would join the Mara Gate instead. Elder Xiao revealed that Jing He was blocking the actual first-place winner, whose striking appearance drew the crowd’s attention.

• Jing He emerged from the formation first, and Jing Yang and Elder Fu celebrated while waiting for Ten Thousand Daos Born to announce the results.
• Lan Fusheng congratulated Jing He, then joined Bai Kejin and Dong Fuzhu, who warned that Jing He and the Jing Household were no good and predicted he would cause trouble.
• Elder Xiao announced that four hundred and ten candidates had passed and praised the exceptional first-place winner, leading Jing He to step forward expecting recognition.
• Jing He criticized Ten Thousand Daos Born and declared he would join the Mara Gate, but Elder Xiao told him to move because he was blocking the first-place winner.
• The crowd parted to reveal a blood-scented female cultivator holding a longsword.

Sang Ying was named first place in Ten Thousand Daos Born’s entrance test, but Jing He challenged the result and rallied other cultivators against her. As the dispute grew, Bai Kejin recognized the significance of Sang Ying’s sword and anticipated that the real confrontation was still ahead.

• Sang Ying emerged from the crowd and greeted Elder Xiao, who announced her as first place and prepared to present her with a disciple token.
• Jing He objected that Sang Ying had been the last to leave the Thousandfold Formation and questioned whether she deserved first place.
• Jing He argued that Sang Ying was too weak to lead the new disciples, and several male cultivators backed him with sexist remarks.
• Dong Fuzhu spoke in Sang Ying’s favor, while Bai Kejin recognized that her sword was extraordinary and told his companions to keep watching.
• Elder Xiao’s expression darkened after Jing He’s challenge.

Elder Xiao defended Ten Thousand Daos Born’s choice of Sang Ying as chief disciple and showed how she had outperformed Jing He in the formations. Jing He finally admitted defeat, while the new disciples realized they had misunderstood the sect’s efforts to spare them embarrassment.

• Elder Xiao rebuked the protesters and said Ten Thousand Daos Born would accept a female chief disciple without distinction.
• Elder Xiao displayed water mirrors showing Jing He and Sang Ying passing through the formations, and Jing He initially appeared faster.
• Sang Ying broke through multiple later formations while Jing He remained trapped in the third, revealing that she had surpassed him.
• Jing He objected that Sang Ying’s trials were easier and questioned why she had entered more formations.
• Elder Xiao explained that the formation’s difficulty depended on cultivation and that the elders had extended Sang Ying’s time inside to spare others embarrassment.
• Jing He admitted that he had lost, and the new disciples regretted misjudging Ten Thousand Daos Born.

Sang Ying became the chief disciple of Ten Thousand Daos Born after defeating Jing He in the array, and the new disciples entered the sect ahead of the master-selection assembly. As Elder Xiao went to stop a brawl among the elders, a handsome young man in red appeared beside Sang Ying.

• Jing He accused Sang Ying of mocking him and challenged her to face him at a future sect competition before leaving.
• Jing Yang tried to console Jing He, who rebuked him, and then a black-robed Gu cultivator stopped Jing Yang to collect their wager.
• Elder Xiao gave Sang Ying the disciple token and led the new disciples through the opened mountain gate to tour Ten Thousand Daos Born.
• Elder Xiao explained the sect's training and resource rules as the new disciples gathered on the main peak and discussed the master-selection assembly.
• Elder Xiao entered the hall and dodged flying teacups and Sword Qi before preparing to break up the elders' melee.
• A handsome young man in red appeared beside Sang Ying as she waited outside the hall.

Jiulian abducted Sang Ying from the master selection assembly and persuaded her to become his disciple at Carefree Peak. As their bond was sealed, Gu Huaiwei remained trapped in a black undercurrent and succumbed again to Demonic Qi.

• Jiulian took Sang Ying to Carefree Peak before the master selection assembly, leaving Elder Xiao to discover that the first-ranked disciple was missing.
• Elder Xiao proceeded with the assembly, where Lan Fusheng joined Dream River Peak, Dong Fuzhu joined Three Wonders Peak, and Bai Kejin entered the sword elder’s tutelage.
• Jiulian showed Sang Ying the room he had prepared and offered her the chance to become Carefree Peak’s sole disciple.
• Sang Ying told Jiulian she had once been Gu Huaiwei’s disciple, and Jiulian accepted her without judging her past.
• Sang Ying offered Jiulian tea and accepted him as her master, while Gu Huaiwei was overwhelmed by Demonic Qi and failed to awaken.

The Mara Gate Holy Maiden learned that Sang Ying had returned and vowed to destroy her at the upcoming sect competition. Meanwhile, Jiulian demanded that Elder Gu give Sang Ying his ice-attribute sword soul.

• The Holy Maiden angrily ordered her maids to obtain more merfolk pearls for her scar medicine, even if they had to hunt merfolk in other realms.
• The Holy Maiden learned that Sang Ying had placed first in Ten Thousand Daos Born's entrance test and vowed to make her suffer at the coming sect competition.
• Jiulian visited Elder Gu and demanded the ice-attribute sword soul as a gift for his new disciple, Sang Ying.
• Elder Gu protested that Jiulian had already obtained the other ice-attribute treasures, but Jiulian insisted that only Elder Gu's sword soul remained.

Jiulian gave Sang Ying a collection of valuable ice-attribute treasures, including a sword soul for Floating River, and she learned that he had prepared gifts for her decades earlier. After hearing how her test victory had humiliated Jing Yang and Jing He, Sang Ying resolved to keep working hard, inspiring other new disciples and giving Ten Thousand Daos Born hope for the next inter-sect competition.

• Jiulian gave Sang Ying more than ten valuable ice-attribute treasures and offered her the treasury key.
• Jiulian gave Sang Ying an ice-attribute sword soul to help Floating River gain an attribute and advance in grade.
• Sang Ying told the Gu cultivator she had become a Peak Master's personal disciple, and he recounted how his bets against the stall owner and Jing Yang had turned out.
• The Gu cultivator told Sang Ying that Jing He had become a laughingstock after mistakenly thinking he had placed first, and that Jing He now used her portrait to motivate himself to cultivate.
• Sang Ying vowed to work harder so she would not lose her top ranking, prompting other new disciples to strive to follow her example.
• The Supreme Elder and Elder Xiao hoped the new disciples' diligence would give Ten Thousand Daos Born a chance in the next inter-sect competition.

Sang Ying returned to Ten Thousand Daos Born from the sea for the upcoming sect competition, while the new disciples prepared by practicing a powerful sword formation she had devised. She arrived at the main peak's great hall, where the elders and the rest of the competition team had gathered.

• Baby Face complained about daily sword formation practice, and his companion reminded him of Sang Ying's diligence and achievements.
• The disciples reflected on how Sang Ying's example had spurred them to cultivate harder and how the sword formation she devised would help them in the competition against Mara Gate and the Azure Feather Sect.
• Baby Face and his companion spotted Sang Ying flying toward the main peak and felt confident that Ten Thousand Daos Born would do well with her on the team.
• Sang Ying arrived from the sea, entered the great hall, and bowed to the elders after seeing the gathered competition team.

Elder Xiao assigned Sang Ying to lead Ten Thousand Daos Born’s disciples in the sect competition and warned them about their rivals. Meanwhile, a Beast Taming Sect cultivator forced a wounded Crimson Flame King Lion to target Ten Thousand Daos Born, leaving the coming competition fraught with danger.

• Elder Xiao told Sang Ying and the other disciples to compete for Ten Thousand Daos Born and gave them Law Artifacts and warnings.
• Jiulian suggested seeking an alliance with the Taotie Gate, and Sang Ying agreed to consider it carefully.
• Elder Xiao warned the disciples to beware of the Seven Emotions Pavilion and the Beast Taming Sect, allies of the Mara Gate.
• A Beast Taming Sect man threatened a wounded Crimson Flame King Lion’s cub and ordered the beast to attack Ten Thousand Daos Born’s disciples during the competition.

Hua Yaoyu traveled with Seven Emotions Pavilion disciples to Hidden Sparrow City, where she planned to turn the Azure Feather Sect against its vassals and use it to trouble Ten Thousand Daos Born. Meanwhile, Ten Thousand Daos Born’s disciples departed for the competition, determined to win.

• Hua Yaoyu assured Junior Sister Lu that the Azure Feather Sect would let them use its spiritual spring when they reached Hidden Sparrow City.
• Junior Sister Lu told Hua Yaoyu that the Beast Taming Sect had taken beasts to Yao Zhou and that the Mara Gate’s new holy maiden was close to its sect master.
• Hua Yaoyu dismissed the Beast Taming Sect and told her disciples to sow discord between the Azure Feather Sect and its vassals, then use the Azure Feather Sect against Ten Thousand Daos Born.
• Ten Thousand Daos Born’s disciples sailed toward Spirit Prefecture aboard a treasure ship while Elder Gu and Venerable Hongyi scolded them for their tearful farewell.
• Jiulian praised Sang Ying as certain to return victorious, and the disciples went back to their cabins to cultivate for the competition.

Ten Thousand Daos Born arrived at Azure Feather Sect, where Peak Master Luo’s scheme to slight the guests was thwarted by Sang Ying’s calm response. After hearing a false report that Sang Ying had insulted him, Sect Master Jimo decided to visit her himself and asked whether he looked presentable for his niece.

• Jiulian brought the group to Azure Feather Sect, where a Golden Core cultivator greeted them instead of the sect master and tried to direct them to guest lodgings.
• Sang Ying stopped Elder Gu from confronting the young man and agreed to go to the courtyard, which turned out to be dilapidated.
• The young man, acting on Peak Master Luo’s orders, falsely told Sect Master Jimo that Sang Ying had insulted him and refused the proper lodgings.
• Sect Master Jimo smiled at the report, said Sang Ying was not wrong, and decided to go see her himself.
• Sect Master Jimo asked the young man whether he looked presentable before visiting his niece.

Sect Master Jimo hurried to the West Mountain Courtyard after learning that Ten Thousand Daos Born had arrived, while Jimo Xuan discovered the sect had assigned them the worst guest quarters and the Mara Gate the best. As the Beast Taming Sect’s young sect master provoked Sang Ying’s group over their shabby lodgings and Su Fuyun’s gifts, Su Fuyun went out to watch the confrontation.

• Lin Xi told Senior Brother Jimo that Ten Thousand Daos Born had been assigned the West Mountain Courtyard and the Mara Gate the Swan Courtyard, prompting Jimo Xuan to react angrily.
• Dong Fuzhu accidentally knocked down a rotten door, and Sang Ying reassured her that the Azure Feather Sect might have to compensate them for the courtyard’s condition.
• The disciples of Ten Thousand Daos Born began cleaning, and a wall in the courtyard collapsed during their work.
• The Beast Taming Sect’s young sect master arrived and taunted Sang Ying’s group with the Mara Gate’s offer of clothes from its holy maiden, Su Fuyun.
• Su Fuyun found that none of the robes Jimo Xuan had arranged for her fit, then went out after hearing that the Beast Taming Sect’s young sect master was confronting the people across the way.

Mu Ren accidentally knocked down the guest courtyard wall, and the resulting dispute brought Sect Master Jimo and Su Fuyun to the scene. Sang Ying and Su Fuyun faced each other again, while Sect Master Jimo revealed that the Swan Courtyard had been reserved for Ten Thousand Daos Born, not the Mara Gate.

• Mu Ren accidentally broke the courtyard wall, and Dong Fuzhu, Lan Fusheng, and Bai Kejin challenged his account of the damage.
• Sect Master Jimo arrived, while Mu Ren tried to leave and was stopped by Su Fuyun.
• Sang Ying recognized Su Fuyun, and the two women exchanged tense greetings as Ten Thousand Daos Born's disciples took Sang Ying's side.
• Su Fuyun blamed Ten Thousand Daos Born for insisting on the West Mountain Courtyard and knocking down its wall.
• Sect Master Jimo offered Ten Thousand Daos Born the Swan Courtyard as honored guests and denied reserving it for the Mara Gate, embarrassing Su Fuyun.

Su Fuyun and Mu Ren were forced to vacate their courtyards to make room for Ten Thousand Daos Born. Jimo Xuan reunited with Sang Ying and arranged for the Swan Courtyard to be refurnished for her.

• Su Fuyun agreed to give up the Mara Gate's courtyard, but Sect Master Jimo required her disciples to move out before sunset.
• Sect Master Jimo confronted Mu Ren about damaging a courtyard wall and ordered the Beast Taming Sect to move into the West Mountain Courtyard, freeing its lodgings for the Mara Gate.
• After arriving, Jimo Xuan greeted Jiulian, his companion, and Sang Ying, then accepted the task of showing Sang Ying's group around the Swan Courtyard.
• Jimo Xuan helped Sang Ying's group settle in and ordered his household disciples to replace everything in the Star-Plucking Pavilion with items from his treasury.
• Jimo Xuan told the disciples to replace the room's white robes with blue or red ones because they looked pretty.

Hua Yaoyu and Lu worried that the Azure Feather Sect’s warm reception of Ten Thousand Daos Born could threaten the Mara Gate’s position. Meanwhile, Su Fuyun nursed her anger at Sang Ying, who continued cultivating and prepared to face her at the upcoming competition.

• Lu told Hua Yaoyu that the Beast Taming Sect had been moved to the West Mountain Courtyard after angering the Azure Feather Sect and Ten Thousand Daos Born.
• Hua Yaoyu and Lu suspected that the Azure Feather Sect and Ten Thousand Daos Born were forming an alliance after Jimo Xuan was appointed to receive the guests.
• Su Fuyun learned that the Azure Feather Sect had thrown out the dresses she sent and vowed to suppress Sang Ying’s proudest talent at the competition.
• Sang Ying let the sleeping Jiang Zhuoxue rest in the moonlight and meditated with the Floating River Sword as its new sword spirit called to her.
• Sang Ying prepared to face Su Fuyun at the grand competition and vowed to crush her pride.