Chapter 1: On a Snowy Night, Little Taiping Knocks on the Door to Ask for Charcoal Volume 1: The Wind Rises in Yunlu Thud, thud, thud… Amidst the howling winter gale, a thinly clad young boy trembled violently, his small fists rapping against a courtyard gate. It was New Year’s Eve. Bursts of warm, joyous […]

Chapter 2: At the Sickbed, Receiving Grandfather’s Final Gift “I’ve heard of them.” Taiping nodded, his small face washing over with profound longing. “Uncle Zhao from the village entrance said there are Immortals residing on Yunlu Mountain, not too far from here. A few years back, that snake demon in Qingshui Town was slain by

Chapter 3: The Seventh Day, The Evil Aunt Sells Her Nephew into Slavery Six days later. At the home of Xu Taiping’s Second Uncle. “What? You want to sell Taiping?!” Xu Taiping’s Second Uncle, Xu Erniu, stared at his wife in utter disbelief. “Shh!…” The aunt, her fleshy face scowling, pressed a finger to her

Chapter 4: Thirty Taels, Little Taiping Severs Mortal Ties “What crime has he committed?” The red-clad Junior Sister couldn’t help but let out a silvery giggle. She waved her hand dismissively. “We haven’t descended the mountain to subdue demons. We are here to bring this youth, Xu Taiping, back to the peaks.” “Up the mountain?”

Chapter 5: Crossing the Sea of Clouds, Qingxuan Hidden Within Yunlu Mountain On the other side, the young girl holding Xu Taiping’s hand simply gazed at him with a silent, warm smile. Xu Taiping looked at the young man before him, then at the crimson-clad girl beside him, and finally at his aunt and uncle,

Chapter 6: Leaping the Dragon Gate, Black Dragon Elder Guards the Mountain Gate “White Spirit Bones are also known as false spirit bones. While cultivation is technically possible, the progress is agonizingly slow. One might spend decades without ever breaking through to the Door Opening Realm. In truth, it’s barely a step above having no

Chapter 7: Testing the Spirit Bone; Xu Taiping Misses the Seventh Peak “Senior Brother Jin, I told you before. My Spirit Bone is by no means ordinary.” The lavishly dressed youth opened his eyes. Upon seeing the transformation within the dragon pearl, his face flushed with unabashed smugness. Xu Taiping observed this with tranquil indifference,

Chapter 8: Green Bamboo Residence, Xu Taiping Bids Linglong Farewell Yunlu Mountain, West Wind Pavilion. This was one of the administrative hubs within the Qingxuan Sect, responsible for managing the affairs of outer sect disciples. “Fairy Linglong, the registration for this little brother has been processed. Please take this bronze mirror and this transmission jade

Chapter 9: Planting Soybeans, Obtaining a Fated Chance Within the Pods “Should I fetch some water for it?” Rustle… Just as Xu Taiping was about to go find water, the small mound of earth he had packed over the soybean seed was suddenly pushed aside by something from beneath. “Hm? It… it sprouted? That fast!”

Chapter 10: Obtaining Spirit Crystals, the Mystery Within the Earth Treasury Fruit “En.” Xu Taiping followed her instruction, plucking a single pod from the beanstalk before carefully prying it open with his thumbs. “Fairy, what are these?” Once the pod was split, Xu Taiping saw that it held no beans. Instead, it cradled several sparkling,

Chapter 11: Gift of a Prescription, Xu Taiping Obtains the Bone Cleansing and Marrow Purifying Decoction “Excellent.” Fairy Lingyue offered Xu Taiping a faint, approving smile. For some inexplicable reason, despite the boy before her being barely in his early teens, his mental fortitude felt firmer than that of most seasoned adults. It reminded her

Chapter 12: Opening the Bronze Mirror, Xu Taiping’s First Sutra Lecture “Snap!” Fairy Lingyue extended a slender finger, tapping the space between the Chang Ghost’s brows. A milky-white radiance flowed from her fingertip, etching a glowing talisman into its flesh. As the gleaming rune sank into its skin, the Chang Ghost stood with a wooden,

Chapter 13: Listening to the Sutra Lecture, First Glimpse into the Path of Cultivation “No need for formalities.” To Xu Taiping’s surprise, the mirror spirit actually responded to him, albeit in a rigid, icy tone. “Profound Mirror, this old man is ready.” Right at that moment, a deeply authoritative voice resonated from within the bronze

Chapter 14: Purchasing Medicine and Seeds, First Attempt at the Bone-Cleansing Marrow-Purifying Decoction “So what if I mention it? Can Zhou Tong truly cover the sky with one hand within the Qingxuan Sect?” Perfected Lord Ziyang snorted coldly, flicking his sleeves as he turned away. Just before stepping into his cave abode, he glanced back

Chapter 15: Soaking in the Medicinal Decoction, Enduring Agony to Cleanse the Marrow and Purify the Bones “Once immersed in the medicinal decoction, one must utilize breathing techniques to stimulate its efficacy.” Having acclimated to the searing heat of the bath, Xu Taiping began to inhale and exhale according to the methods outlined in the

Chapter 16: Selling Medicinal Herbs, Hunting in Yanglu Mountain “Huu…” The instant he circulated the Remnant Glow breathing mantra, a gentle breeze swept through the small courtyard. Wisps of heaven and earth Spiritual Qi drifted into his body through his newly opened acupoints. The Meridians and acupoints that had always eluded his perception were now

Chapter 17: Ambush—Slaying the Demon Wolf in Yanglu Mountain “Baa…” Just as Xu Taiping neared the trap, the sudden bleat of a goat pierced the silence. Could I have actually caught a yellow goat? Xu Taiping’s heart instantly leaped with joy. The rich flavor of roasted yellow goat was leagues above wild boar, especially when

Chapter 18: Earning Merit Coins—Acquiring the Green Bull Fist and Piercing Willow Arrow A day passed. “Screech!…” Deep in cultivation, Xu Taiping’s eyes snapped open at the sharp cry of a spiritual bird echoing from the courtyard gate. That must be Uncle Eagle here to deliver my money. He rolled off his bed in one

Chapter 19: The Frost Transformation Phase—Minor Mastery of the Green Bull Fist After finalizing his martial arts, Xu Taiping spent another ten merit coins to procure a fine-steel goose-feather saber, a recurve bow crafted from horn and ironwood, and over a hundred arrows. “Lord Profound Mirror, I have made my selections.” I really need a

Chapter 20: Encountering a Cry for Help—The Piercing Willow Arrow First Displays Its Power It really is a demon wolf… Standing on the roof tiles and gazing out toward Yanglu Mountain, Xu Taiping spotted a massive demon wolf tearing swiftly through the ancient timber. Initially, he wasn’t overly surprised. The Novice transmission jade slip had

Chapter 21: A Chang Ghost Revealed—Qingmei Begs for Mercy and Speaks the Truth “It seems you are just like me, Sister Qingmei, a person cursed with a bitter fate. Since you do not mind my humble dwelling, you may take shelter in my courtyard tonight.” Xu Taiping nodded, projecting an air of profound sympathy. Upon

Chapter 22: Dust Seeking Incense, Framed by a Villain and Reduced to Slavery “Sister, for you to manifest your spirit just to tell me this tale… is there something you need of me?” Xu Taiping had already guessed the female ghost’s true intentions. “Your intuition is sharp, young master. This humble one manifested tonight because

Chapter 23: Fierce Wind Hall, Two Disciples Make an Outrageous Demand According to Liu Qingmei, Lu Chen was the nephew of an Elder from the Fifth Peak. The Sect would undoubtedly shield him. Only a fool would hand over the Dust Seeking Incense and the corpse directly to them. If everything Sister Qingmei said is

Chapter 24: Battling the Chang Ghost, Xu Taiping Fights with His Back to the River “Hehehe… hehehe…” Not long after the two disciples from the Fierce Wind Hall departed, the Chang Ghost, draped in a tattered cloak and possessing a rotting corpse, rode a demon wolf to the gates of Xu Taiping’s courtyard. “You sought

Chapter 25: Barrier Damaged, the Canxia Art Breaks Through the Ice Condensation Phase After taking a deep, greedy gulp from his gourd, the old man suddenly broke into a grin. “Born as a mortal, you cultivate the self, uplift others, and embody the nature of water—dwelling in the abyss of vice yet acting with unyielding

Chapter 26: Laying the Trap, Charging Ox Piercing Formation Battles the Chang Ghost “Patience, just one final step.” Forcing his racing heart to steady, Xu Taiping’s gaze fell upon the heavy clay jars of strong liquor resting beside his bed. Tuning out the Chang Ghost’s incessant shrieks and provocations echoing outside the walls, he hauled

Chapter 27: Slaying the Chang Ghost, the Tiger Demon Berates Xu Taiping “You think a simple pit like this can hold me?” Having confirmed it was nothing more than a hole in the ground, the Chang Ghost’s laughter echoed once again, dripping with mockery. “What does it matter if you trap this flesh? I am

Chapter 28: Invitation to a Meal, Xu Taiping’s First Encounter with Old Nine Xu Taiping said nothing upon hearing this, merely flashing a wide grin. The tiger demon’s unguarded answer perfectly corroborated the Chang Ghost’s intel, considerably putting his mind at ease. “You wretched little thing! Three months from now, I will skin you alive,

Chapter 29: A Guest Arrives, Ninth Uncle Hosts a Feast for Liu Songshan A moment later. “Alright, the final dish: stir-fried yellow mutton is ready!” Xu Taiping scooped the sizzling meat from the wok, carrying the platter into the main hall. By now, the dining table was groaning under the weight of a full feast.

Chapter 30: Crowded or Not? Xu Taiping Watches the Show by the Table “Is that so?” Ninth Uncle lowered his soup bowl, shooting Liu Songshan a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. “I will transmit a message to him this instant!” Liu Songshan scrambled to his feet, instantly producing a Talisman from his

Chapter 31: Call Him Ninth Uncle! Squeeze In, There’s Always Room to Sit “Indeed, it was gifted to me by that patrolman surnamed Zuo from the Fierce Wind Hall.” Xu Taiping nodded. For the sake of the merit coins, he had no choice but to reveal this matter. However, he decided to conceal the threats

Chapter 32: Demonic Lotus Blooms, Ninth Uncle and Bai Hong Head to the Northern Border However, for Pavilion Master Liu and his three subordinates, this meal was an agonizing ordeal. Not only were the four of them wedged tightly into a single cramped corner, but a mere glance or stray word from Ninth Uncle would

Chapter 33: Obtaining a Magical Artifact, Please Call Me Sister Lingyue Before the courtyard gate of the Green Bamboo Residence. “Ninth Uncle is truly a peerless figure, capable of performing the legendary art of Sword Riding. I wonder if, in my lifetime, I too might soar through the heavens upon a blade just as he

Chapter 34: Obtaining a Pill Furnace, Preparing to Refine the Qi Gathering Pill “Sister Lingyue, could you take another look for me? What exactly is this bronze furnace used for?” Next, Xu Taiping lifted the bronze furnace in his palm, presenting it to Fairy Lingyue with a face full of curiosity. “Little Taiping, your luck

Chapter 35: Qi Gathering Pill, The Price of Mortal Bone Cultivation “Sister Lingyue, all the medicinal ingredients have been deposited into the pill furnace.” Xu Taiping turned his head toward Fairy Lingyue, a vivid gleam of anticipation dancing in his eyes. “Excellently done. Now, you need only maintain the furnace’s heat. Keep vigil for half

Chapter 36: The Heavenly Demon Descends, A Spell of Extinguishing Karmic Flames Yet, some things could not be achieved simply by enduring agony and expending tenfold the effort of ordinary men. The Heavenly Dao still favored those blessed with extraordinary innate talent. Just like Xu Taiping at this moment. He had attempted the breakthrough six

Chapter 37: Repelling the Heavenly Demon, A Tiger’s Roar Shakes Qingfeng Gorge “Hmph.” Chu Lingyue let out a cold sneer. With just that single sound, the pitch-black hand reaching through the window suddenly stiffened. Keeping her hand locked in a seal, Chu Lingyue pointed a glacial finger at the monstrous hand and spoke: “All that

Chapter 38: One Month Later, Lu Chen from the Fifth Peak Kicks the Door One month later. Green Bamboo Residence. Riiip… Xu Taiping tore a page from the wall almanac, revealing a fresh date—the ninth day of the seventh month, auspicious for receiving guests, inauspicious for travel. “In the blink of an eye, almost a

Chapter 39: Killing Intent Arises, The Young Girl’s Name is Liu Zijin “Really?” The young girl’s face immediately lit up with eager surprise. Xu Taiping paused for a brief moment before offering her a look of deep regret. “But the woman I encountered was at least forty years of age.” Hearing this, the radiant hope

Chapter 40: Qingfeng Gorge, Senior Brothers Ambush the Demon Tiger “What you say does hold a certain measure of reason.” Bai Yu retracted the displeasure from his gaze, nodding deeply in profound agreement. “However, if I am to carry you there, you must offer me ten merit coins. Do not misunderstand, it is not out

Chapter 41: Red Maple Forest, Xu Taiping Watches the Tiger Fight from Across the Shore “Just help me keep an eye on the maiden in green.” Xu Taiping felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Very well.” Bai Yu gave a curt nod. “The maiden in green is presently standing alongside a young girl dressed

Chapter 42: Shuofeng Pearl, Tiger Demon’s Trap to Trap Everyone “Clang!” In the nick of time, Lu Chen channeled True Qi into the flying sword in his hand; man and blade merged into one, transforming into a streak of flowing light that darted forward, narrowly dodging the tiger demon’s fatal claw. “Boom!” The beast’s massive

Chapter 43: Danger Arises, Buyu and Zijin Trapped in a Desperate Situation “Third Senior Brother!” Without a moment of hesitation, Liu Zijin turned back. Tapping the ground lightly, she vaulted down toward Lu Chen’s position, raising her blade to intercept the beast’s descending claw. Ignorant of the deep-seated malice masking Lu Chen’s true nature, she

Chapter 44: Bang, Bang, Bang! The Youth Who Descended From the Heavens The reason the tiger demon did not immediately activate the Shuofeng Pearl was not born of arrogance, but rather a cunning caution to probe if the two human cultivators harbored any final trump cards. “Bang!” Liu Zijin viciously slashed her sword against the

Chapter 45: Defeating the Tiger Lord, None Compare to That Xu Taiping “Boom!…” Amidst a concussive blast, a plume of bone-chilling white mist exhaled from the youth’s lips, enveloping the massive bulk of the demon tiger. In an instant, the once-warm maple forest was plunged into the bitter depths of winter. A vast expanse, including

Chapter 46: Slaying the Tiger Demon, This Is the Final Fist Seven days. Xu Taiping had hunted that tiger demon for seven full days and seven endless nights. During this time, not a single drop of water had crossed his lips, nor a grain of rice entered his belly. He had clashed with the dying

Chapter 47: Obtaining Treasures, A Three-Hundred-Year Fire Ganoderma? “When it attempted to flee, I pursued it relentlessly for seven days and seven nights, whittling down its endurance until it was thoroughly exhausted…” “Once I drove it into that blind valley, it lost all avenues of escape.” Fairy Lingyue listened quietly to Xu Taiping’s recounting. Though

Chapter 48: True Fire Talisman, Earth Fruit’s Second Transformation Through Seed Burning “So that’s how it is…” Those words instantly doused the burning anticipation in Xu Taiping’s heart, leaving him thoroughly calm. Though his White Bone aptitude rendered his cultivation painfully slow, breeding a desperate need to accelerate his progress, courting certain death for a

Chapter 49: Gourd Fruit, Gathering the Fire Spirit Fungus in Bamboo Stream Valley “Little Taiping, what comes next is of the utmost importance. Listen closely.” Her gaze settled upon Xu Taiping, her expression grave and solemn. “Alright.” Xu Taiping carefully stored away the seed, his own demeanor mirroring her gravity. “Once the Earth Treasury Fruit

Chapter 50: Sudden Change, Mountain-Moving Ape Battles Fire-Patterned Python Swish! Almost the exact moment Fairy Lingyue’s voice echoed in his mind, Xu Taiping executed the Wind Shadow Steps he had learned days prior, his silhouette darting from the underbrush like a phantom gale. Though he had only mastered the first two stances of the Wind

Chapter 51: The Demon Python Dies, the Mountain-Moving Ape’s Dying Entrustment Bang! The Mountain-Moving Ape’s fist slammed into the Fire-Patterned Python, forcing its massive bulk to violently arch backward and crash against the sheer cliff wall. Boom! Yet, the moment the Mountain-Moving Ape stomped upon its tail once more, a cloud of blinding blood mist

Chapter 52: Forming a Soul Contract, Xu Taiping Gains a Little Spirit Monkey Squeak, squeak… Upon seeing the ruined Mountain-Moving Ape upon the blood-stained ice, the little monkey’s eyes filled with primal terror, and it struggled fiercely to clamber down from Xu Taiping’s shoulder. “Do not panic. I will take you to him.” Xu Taiping

Chapter 53: Three Months Later, the Gourd Bears Fruit, and Lingyue Awakens Time flowed swiftly within the secluded mountains. In the blink of an eye, three months had quietly slipped away. For Xu Taiping, these past three months had been a period of rare tranquility. Aside from dedicating specific hours each day to cultivating the

Chapter 54: The Yunlou Society’s Failed Invitation, A Spirit Monkey Seized “Mmm.” The green gourd swayed gently on its vine, her voice echoing from within: “However, it will take another day or two before I can emerge. We must wait until all three gourds have fully ripened.” Fairy Lingyue had already explained this to Xu

Chapter 55: The Gourd Falls, A True Dragon Hidden in the Green Mountains? Seeing Fairy Lingyue once more, Xu Taiping could clearly sense that the vitality radiating from her had grown significantly denser; she no longer possessed the spectral, bone-piercing chill of their first encounter. “Sister Lingyue, it seems your divine soul has mended considerably.”

Chapter 56: The Azure Simurgh Ring, Three Fingers to Break Clouds and Split Seas “So, in the future, as long as I drink the liquor steeped with this Dragon Gallstone, I will be able to increase my cultivation speed?” Xu Taiping’s eyes lit up at her words. “Correct.” Fairy Lingyue smiled and nodded, then continued:

Chapter 57: Taoyuan Ridge, Mr. Yashan’s Banquet of Ambush “Mmm.” Even if Fairy Lingyue had not suggested it, Xu Taiping wanted to test the divine power of this ring for himself. Immediately, he followed the operational method imparted to his divine soul. He injected his True Qi into the ring while pointing a single finger

Chapter 58: Battle with Yashan, Ambush Within Taoyuan Ridge “No rush, no rush, Young Friend Taiping. Please, enter the residence first. Once we have partaken of food and wine, we can discuss this matter at leisure.” Mr. Yashan waved a hand, his face plastered with an oily smile. “There is no need.” Xu Taiping shook

Chapter 59: Unleashing the Second Finger, Mr. Yashan Presents a Treasure Swish! Xu Taiping paid no heed to the others. Instead, he took another step, his figure surging toward Mr. Yashan like a howling gale. Boom! Just as Mr. Yashan was about to fade into the unseen once more, Xu Taiping’s fist, carrying the crushing

Chapter 60: Two Years Later, Bai Yu Falls on a Stormy Night “Drink it. It is merely half a cup of liquor, and with me keeping watch, nothing will go awry.” Fairy Lingyue smiled, nodding in encouragement. Xu Taiping nodded, lifted the porcelain cup, and downed the contents in a single swallow. In truth, this

Chapter 61: A Stormy Night, the Fall of the White-Headed Eagle Clan “Do not come near me. If you are tainted by my aura, they will hunt you down as well!” The noble spirit bird explained to Xu Taiping, its voice strained and weak. “Who?” Xu Taiping retreated warily into the courtyard, his guard raised.

Chapter 62: The Wind-Whisper Bell, West Wind Pavilion’s Mandate Last night, Bai Yu had only offered a fragmented account, leaving Xu Taiping largely in the dark about the true sequence of events. He did know that Fenglai Valley was the territory officially bestowed upon the White-Headed Eagle clan by the Qingxuan Sect. “The West Wind

Chapter 63: Breaking Through to Wangyou, Chu Lingyue Battles the Heavenly Demon Again Forging a Soul Covenant with a noble spirit beast possessing strength equivalent to a Wangyou Realm cultivator was naturally tempting. However, Xu Taiping was not the sort to be blinded by immediate gain. What truly shook his disciplined heart was Bai Yu’s

Chapter 64: Wangyou Realm Achieved, Taiping Helps Bai Yu See His Mother Bang! Amidst the deafening roar of bursting air, the window shattered into sawdust, and the phantom of the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon dissipated into nothingness. Boom! Yet in the very next breath, a mass of pitch-black shadow surged through the broken window, swift

Chapter 65: Danxia Flat, A Mother’s Desperate Heart Upon Danxia Flat. The moon hung bright against a smattering of sparse stars, casting a deathly silence over heaven and earth. “Hmm? Did you just hear footsteps?” A Peacock Demon guard grew instantly alert, its piercing gaze sweeping toward the massive chains binding the White-headed Eagle. “What

Chapter 66: Battle the Peacock King, Chu Lingyue Possesses Xu Taiping Though Ye Que spoke with absolute resolution, Xu Taiping could still hear the bitter resignation in her voice, unwilling to accept her failure to pass on her demon blood to Bai Yu. Xu Taiping shared her profound frustration. He desperately wished to help Ye

Chapter 67: Thousand-fold Strength, Fairy Lingyue Displays Her Divine Power Clang! Before Xu Taiping could even gather his wits, Fairy Lingyue seized control of his body and abruptly drew the blade from its sheath. A single slash plummeted toward the Peacock King, who had yet to steady itself. Boom! Compared to the previous punch, the

Chapter 68: Teleportation Token, Bai Yu’s Mother Bestows a Treasure Bang! Bang! Bang! Following that, Fairy Lingyue wasted no more words. She ruthlessly drove fist after fist into the Peacock King, battering the arrogant beast until it hovered at death’s door. It was not that Fairy Lingyue possessed a sadistic nature; rather, Xu Taiping’s mortal

Chapter 69: Recalling Youyun, Martial Artists Are Not Weaker Than Cultivators “The Youyun Continent… I journeyed there for experiential training in my youth.” “In that land, the boundary between the mortal realm and the cultivation world is virtually non-existent. The populace is fierce and unyielding; even mortals incapable of cultivation practice martial arts to protect

Chapter 70: Mist Borrowing Technique, The Day of the Seven Peaks Selection Approaches “Many thanks, Sister Lingyue.” Xu Taiping held deep anticipation for this ancient Human Emperor’s body tempering method that Fairy Lingyue had mentioned long ago. “By the way, I heard that upon becoming a disciple of the Seven Peaks, one is granted the

Chapter 71: The Seventh Peak, Linglong and Qingxiao Remember Taiping For the past three years, Dugu Qingxiao and the others had sought news of Xu Taiping, but the answers they received were always vague and clouded. They had even heard dark rumors of Chang Ghosts and demonic wolves prowling near the Green Bamboo Residence, claiming

Chapter 72: The Four Mountain Meet, Xu Taiping’s First Opponent “Brother Hu, this brat’s thighs are not even as thick as my arms. Is he not just courting death?” “Perhaps he was brought here by an Elder?” “Brat, this is no place for you. Hurry back to your mother’s skirts.” The group of men clustered

Chapter 73: Fighting Sun Hu, What Did You Say His Name Was? “I, Sun Hu, have arrived!” Sun Hu let out a thunderous roar, his massive frame leaping from the ground like a savage tiger to clear the one-zhang high martial platform in a single bound. The sheer momentum of his ascent was oppressive. “Excellent!”

Chapter 74: Being Schemed Against, Xu Taiping Faces Qin Yuan “What did you say his name was?” Zhou Gu seemed unable to believe his own ears, repeating the question to the patrol examiner. “It is Xu Taiping. Why do you ask?” The patrol examiner looked at Zhou Gu with a trace of confusion. Zuo Ju

Chapter 75: Unfalling Technique, Young Man, Your Fist is Too Slow “They likely obtained the combat bracket beforehand and manipulated the tally distribution to ensure you and that old fool drew corresponding numbers. With advance preparation, orchestrating such a scheme would require little effort.” Fairy Lingyue’s voice echoed within Xu Taiping’s mind through divine sense.

Chapter 76: Seeking the Flaw, Is This Really Green Bull Fist? “As expected of Elder Qin.” “The youth is too inexperienced, relying solely on brute strength. That is no way to defeat Elder Qin.” As these words faded, another wave of cheers erupted from the crowd beneath the arena. None among them saw anything untoward

Chapter 77: Weak Water Technique, Comprehending the True Meaning of Green Bull Fist Thud! Although Qin Yuan was struck by Xu Taiping’s fist, the unique neutralizing properties of his Protecting Qi shed a significant portion of the force. Just as he was about to be launched off the arena, he executed a Thousand-Jin Drop, causing

Chapter 78: Jinx, You Two Idiots! “But… but we cannot just let that brat off like this!” Zhou Gu’s face was still twisted with unwillingness. “Then what do you suggest? Find someone to silence him? If the brat were still an obscure nobody, it might be manageable. But today, he shocked the entire assembly and

Chapter 79: Dragon Gate Meet, Ninth Uncle and Bai Hong Are Still Alive? “You finally remember the meaning of loyalty now? Why did you not use your brains before you acted? Do you think that meal at the Green Bamboo Residence was free? Did you not see that Ninth Uncle treated that boy differently? How

Chapter 80: Mountain Patrol Mirror, Old Acquaintances Gather at Youxuan Residence Hearing this, Lin Buyu turned to glance at Zi Yan, then looked away, shaking her head without a trace of emotion. “I do not remember.” A brief silence fell over the group, tinged with awkwardness. “Three years have passed; it is only natural to

Chapter 81: Battling Tian Qi, Why Is This Person’s Killing Intent So Heavy? Before the Dragon Gate Hall. “Sister Lingyue, do you see those specks of light above? I feel as though they have been watching me.” Xu Taiping gazed up at the two luminous points in the sky, transmitting his thoughts to Fairy Lingyue.

Chapter 82: Battling Tian Qi, No Wonder He Defeated Qin Yuan “Hehe…” Xu Ziyan was amused by Zhao Linglong’s indignant expression. However, she knew full well that this was simply Zhao Linglong’s nature; she frequently championed the disciples of the Seventh Peak in her daily life. “Do not agitate yourself, Sister Linglong. These people likely

Chapter 83: Battling Tian Qi, Is This Really the Charging Bull Breaks the Formation? “A mere yellow-mouthed brat! A mere yellow-mouthed brat!” Completely suppressed by the momentum of Xu Taiping’s fists, Tian Qi felt a humiliation he had never known before, instantly flying into a rabid frenzy. “Swish, swish, swish!…” Disregarding the crushing impact of

Chapter 84: Defeating Tian Qi, the Perfected Green Bull Fist Thud! Even as they spoke, the bronze mirror reflected Xu Taiping driving a heavy fist squarely into the knee of Tian Qi’s descending leg. He instantly twisted his waist, landing another vicious blow directly to his opponent’s groin, forcing a violent twitch from Tian Qi’s

Chapter 85: Battle Lu Yuan, This Match I Will Use the Blade Although Dugu Qingxiao and Zi Yan had already noted Lu Yuan as a prime candidate for the various peaks, Zhao Linglong still refused to give up hope, seeking confirmation. “Judging by what we have seen, had it not been for that grueling battle

Chapter 86: Battle Lu Yuan, Seven Kills’ Execution – Soul Claim “Overseer, I am ready.” Xu Taiping turned his head to glance at the overseer standing a short distance away. “I am ready as well.” Lu Yuan spoke up, signaling his assent. By now, the confusion had vanished from his face, replaced by a burning

Chapter 87: Battle Lu Yuan, The Blade Art for Fools to Learn Swish, swish, swish! The moment Zi Yan’s voice fell, Xu Taiping’s seven residual shadows abruptly erupted into seven blinding arcs of blade light. Seven strikes followed in unbroken succession; each brutal slash carved into Lu Yuan, violently extinguishing the blade qi that shrouded

Chapter 88: Half a Month, The Method of Tempering the Body “You said the exact same thing right before Taiping clashed with Lu Yuan.” Zhao Linglong shot Qingxiao a sharp, sidelong glance. The corner of Qingxiao’s mouth twitched. He coughed dryly twice before replying, “These six are entirely different beasts. None possess a mere White

Chapter 89: Seven Peaks Meet, Old Friends and New Fill the Seats Half a month later. The Qingxuan Sect’s First Peak, Qionglou Peak, Sword Suppressing Platform. A giant sword, dozens of zhang tall, pierced diagonally into the center of the Sword Suppressing Platform, radiating an inexplicable, heavy pressure. The arena directly facing this giant sword

Chapter 90: Battle Gongsun, Are You That Xu Taiping? “Learning that Junior Sister was here, I naturally came to see.” The corners of Jin Hezhi’s mouth curled up into a frivolous smile. “There are no seats left here. I advise you and your little Junior Brother to seek accommodations elsewhere.” Zhao Linglong shot Jin Hezhi

Chapter 91: Battle Gongsun, Xu Taiping vs. Gongsun Sheng Xu Taiping cast his gaze toward the board, noticing that the roster for the upcoming trials had already been posted. “Then, I shall look forward to Senior Brother Gongsun’s guidance when the time comes.” His expression a placid pool of calm, Xu Taiping respectfully cupped his

Chapter 92: Battle Gongsun, Green Bull Fist vs. Golden Bell Shield “Overseer, I am prepared.” Gongsun Sheng had not anticipated this. Instead of cowering from the threat, Xu Taiping’s eyes blazed with a raging martial intent, practically burning with the desire to clash. “Gongsun Sheng, are you prepared?” The Overseer gave Xu Taiping a slight

Chapter 93: Defeat Gongsun, Did the Green Bull Fist Shatter the Golden Bell Shield? “As expected of a former formal disciple of the Fifth Peak.” Witnessing this spectacle from the Cloud Pavilion, Jin Hezhi curled his lips into a smirk. “To think he managed to cultivate the Golden Bell Shield to the Immovable as a

Chapter 94: Ji Wuyou, The Art of Qi-Guided Swordsmanship? An outer sect disciple. A youth cursed with a mere White Spirit Bone aptitude. Relying solely on a martial art that could not even be deemed superior, he had slaughtered Gongsun Sheng—a man who had mastered spells, possessed remarkable innate talent, and had once been a

Chapter 95: Battle Wuyou, Concern Breeds Chaos Up in the spectator pavilion of the Cloud Tower. “Senior Brother, this Ji Wuyou was once a formal disciple of the peaks as well, was he not?” Zhao Linglong looked to Qingxiao beside her, her expression etched with worry. “Indeed. Ji Wuyou was once a disciple of the

Chapter 96: Battle Against Ji Wuyou, Trading an Arm for a Sword These six fine steel longswords were his greatest expense for this trial. “I fear you will not even find the chance to draw your blade.” Ji Wuyou rested his hand on the hilt at his waist, his eyes narrowed into a mocking smile

Chapter 97: Defeating Wuyou, So What If It’s Ten Times the Pain? Squelch! Amidst Dugu Qingxiao’s cry of astonishment, Ji Wuyou snatched a dagger from his waist and drove it ruthlessly into his own thigh. “Ugh!” The excruciating pain caused his brows to knot, but a feral, twisted grin immediately spread across his face as

Chapter 98: Jin Hezhi, Must You Go This Far? Bang! Perhaps stripped of his ability to weave sword incantations, the might of Ji Wuyou’s final strike was a mere shadow of its former glory. Before the flying sword could even close the distance, Xu Taiping merged his body with his blade light. Sweeping in a

Chapter 99: The Sword Inquiry Trial, First Peak Disciple Ye Xuan “Senior Brother Jin, we share the same Sect. Is there truly a need to push things to such extremes?” Standing nearby, Xu Ziyan finally could not hold her silence. “Junior Sister Zi Yan, if you agree to become my Dao Companion, I might consider

Chapter 100: Battling Ye Xuan, Where Does This Killing Intent Come From? And this decree once again ignited a frenzy among the Sect disciples in the cloud pavilions. “To actually send Ye Xuan down for the Sword Challenge? Does the First Peak truly value Xu Taiping so highly?” “Ye Xuan is currently one of the

Chapter 101: Battling Ye Xuan, How Should Taiping Respond? “Clang!” The blade in Xu Taiping’s grasp clashed against Ye Xuan’s sword once more. The resounding crash of iron against iron, intertwined with the sharp shrieks of blade and sword Qi rending the air, echoed across the Sword-Leveling Platform. This time, however, a sharp crack rang

Chapter 102: Battling Ye Xuan, Within Ten Zhang, I Am Invincible “You are welcome to test the depths of my capability,” Xu Taiping stated expressionlessly, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. “Ten zhang.” Ye Xuan abruptly halted his steps and raised the sword in his hand. At this moment, the distance between

Chapter 103: Battling Ye Xuan, You Have Become a Disposable Pawn Ye Xuan did not submit without a struggle. Judging from the ceaseless eruption of blazing True Qi from his form, he was frantically drawing upon his inner True Essence, desperately attempting to manifest the Dragon Flame Armor to withstand Xu Taiping’s Charging Bull Breaks

Chapter 104: Battling Ye Xuan, Two Thousand Jin of Ship-Pressing Iron From this moment forth, even if Ye Xuan butchered him upon the arena, no one would intervene. At most, the sect would issue a symbolic Penalty after the fact. “This is not fair, this is not fair!” Zhao Linglong gripped the railing, her pretty

Chapter 105: Battling Ye Xuan, Are You Worthy to Issue a Sword Challenge to Me? Perhaps driven by the suffocating breath of defiance pent up in his chest. Xu Taiping’s words were spoken with resounding force, every single syllable detonating like a thunderclap across the Sword-Leveling Platform. It caused the faces of many disciples—who had

Chapter 106: Battle Ye Xuan, The Disciple Chosen by the Spirit Bone Stele “Swish!” However, in this hair’s-breadth moment, Ye Xuan finally wrenched his body around, raising his longsword to block Xu Taiping’s descending blade. “Bang!” Yet even so, the tyrannical force behind the strike sent Ye Xuan crashing to the stone floor. He tumbled

Chapter 107: Battle Ye Xuan, A Fist at the Pinnacle of Mastery The sheer ferocity and devastating might of this gathering fist sent a chill of absolute terror through the six disciples observing below the platform. Every one of them realized that had they been the ones facing Xu Taiping, victory would have been entirely

Chapter 108: Defeating Ye Xuan, What Wrong Have I Committed? “Pfft!” Shifting his posture even a fraction, he immediately collapsed to one knee, vomiting a mouthful of thick blood. The rampant sword qi clinging to that flying sword was simply beyond what a cultivator of his realm could endure. The excruciating agony, previously numbed by

Chapter 109: Ascending the Seven Peaks, How About Joining My First Peak? Upon hearing this, the Peak Masters of the Seven Peaks exchanged bewildered glances. None of them could fathom what medicine their Grandmaster Uncle was selling from his gourd. No one wished to be the bird that pokes its head out first to catch

Chapter 110: Ascending the Seventh Peak, You Brat Dare Refuse Me? “I apologize, Peak Master Jin, but I… do not have much desire to join the First Peak.” Xu Taiping barely hesitated, delivering a flat rejection to the First Peak’s master. Hearing this, a violent twitch seized the corner of Jin Yue’s mouth. A venomous

Chapter 111: Ascending the Seven Peaks, I Still Choose the Seventh Peak Naturally, the others did not hear Dao Xuan’s words. Upon hearing that Dao Xuan was merely testing Xu Taiping, Headmaster Zhou and the various Peak Masters secretly breathed a sigh of relief. While they acknowledged Xu Taiping’s stellar performance in this Sword Inquiry,

Chapter 112: Ascending the Seventh Peak, Let Him Come and Take Me as His Master “Bai Hong is Little Martial Uncle’s final arm. As long as we sever it, it will not be long before this Qingxuan Sect falls entirely under my, Zhou Tong’s, control.” Headmaster Zhou Tong declared, his eyes flashing with a cold,

Chapter 113: Little Martial Uncle, This Isn’t Quite According to the Rules, Right? Zhao Qian initially assumed that Little Martial Uncle’s offer to take Xu Taiping as a disciple on the Sword Calming Platform was merely a trial of the boy’s character. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine the old man’s intent was

Chapter 114: The Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion, Lingyue’s Resolve “Additionally, regarding that Mystic-rank cultivation Sutra, since you previously cultivated the Remnant Glow Art, I strongly advise you to select the Danxia Scripture. This scripture is essentially the complete version of the Remnant Glow Art. Transitioning to an entirely different Qi Condensation method isn’t impossible, but

Chapter 115: The Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion, The Secret Within the Shadow Partitioning “That is exactly what I was thinking.” Xu Taiping nodded in agreement. Even setting everything else aside, he felt he had barely scratched the surface of the Potential within the Green Bull Fist and the Seven Kill Saber. Not to mention, he

Chapter 116: The Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion, Two Yellow-Rank Dharmas? “For where I stand now, even cultivating just the first three layers will suffice.” Xu Taiping remained rather optimistic. “Indeed.” Fairy Lingyue nodded, then pondered to herself. “Logically speaking, such an ingenious method of concealing a manual would not be used just once by the

Chapter 117: Liu Zijin, Give Me That One Too “It is Senior Sister Liu, correct?” Xu Taiping’s gaze remained placid as he looked at the young woman beyond the threshold. “It’s me!” Seeing that Xu Taiping still recognized her, a radiant smile immediately bloomed on Liu Zijin’s face. After all, in her mind, she and

Chapter 118: Liu Zijin, I Shall Avenge My Sister Over these past few days, even the fragmented whispers he gleaned from Senior Sister Linglong were enough to reveal the tangled web of powers upon this mountain. Thus, he knew with absolute clarity that dealing with Lu Chen was far more perilous than he had initially

Chapter 119: Qiyue Pavilion, The Novice Trial Descends This stone building was also known as Fan Tower. The majority of its stone walls were embedded deeply into the sheer cliff face, rendering it incredibly sturdy. According to Zhao Linglong and Dugu Qingxiao, this was a sanctuary specifically forged for cultivators entering Secluded Cultivation. Once inside,

Chapter 120: Bestowing the Dharma, Imparting the Crimson Crow Golden Flame Art Xu Taiping nodded and broke the seal on the envelope— “By commission of Empress Qi of the White Tree Nation. In three months, the Sixth Princess of the White Tree Nation shall travel to the Black Vulture Nation for peace talks. The royal

Chapter 121: Two Months, Minor Achievements After Secluded Cultivation Although this was Xu Taiping’s first time hearing of the Golden Flame of the Red Crow Technique and he remained uncertain of its true might, he understood the profound rarity of any Heaven-rank technique. Within the Qingxuan Sect, the number of Heaven-rank arts possessed by any

Chapter 122: Tiger-patterned Saber, Preparing to Descend the Mountain for a Trial “Not bad. Your most pressing concern is still adapting to the medicinal potency of the Dragon Gall Liquor. Once you can down an entire flagon in a single breath, your cultivation speed will finally rival those with a Heavenly Spirit Bone.” Fairy Lingyue

Chapter 123: Before Departure, Eighth Senior Brother Has a Favor to Ask “As this is my first time descending the mountain, I wish to be thoroughly prepared.” Xu Taiping offered a somewhat sheepish smile. Hearing this, Zhao Linglong let out a light giggle. “Ease your mind. Though foul spirits and malicious ghosts roam the mortal

Chapter 124: Lion Slope, Re-entering the Mortal World After Three Years “Elder Yun Ye, I entrust my little Junior Brother to your care.” Zhao Linglong seemed to recognize the immortal crane, immediately waving her hand in greeting. “Mn.” Upon seeing Zhao Linglong, the cold arrogance in Elder Yun Ye’s eyes faded by a fraction. Even

Chapter 125: Green Snail Valley, The One the Sixth Princess Awaits? Hearing this, Xu Taiping frowned slightly. Elder Yun Ye’s parting words clearly carried an underlying meaning. “Do not overthink it. Your sole decree is to ensure the Sixth Princess’s safety. All other matters are of no concern to you.” The moment Elder Yun Ye

Chapter 126: Green Snail Valley, The Blood Spider Valley Young Master’s Betrothal Gift “It truly is that bastard Zhu Tianze from Blood Spider Valley. If we were still in the Baishu Kingdom, I would deploy the vanguard to wipe his vile sect from the face of the earth!” General Chu slammed his palm against the

Chapter 127: Green Snail Valley, Are You the One the Princess Has Been Waiting For? Swish, swish, swish! As the man sprinted, a volley of arrows whistled through the air behind him. Some narrowly grazed his scalp, while others buried themselves deep into his heavy armor. Yet, despite the deadly rain at his back, the

Chapter 128: Green Snail Valley, First Trial of Spring Tiger 21 Xu Taiping nodded. Then, with a sharp swish, he swept his blade upward, severing the thick spider silk that suspended the man. Sensing the sudden, lethal aura, the Blood Demon Spider atop the webbing above dared not linger. It frantically scuttled along the crimson

Chapter 129: Inside the Manor, the Sixth Princess is Forced to Hold the Wedding Ceremony As Xu Taiping spoke, he gently exhaled a breath of Turbid Qi from his lungs. Clang! He abruptly drew his blade. Amidst a thunderous detonation of displaced air, Xu Taiping’s figure blurred into a mere afterimage. The ensuing dance of

Chapter 130: Inside the Manor, Are You the Sixth Princess? “First bow to Heaven and Earth!” Within the grand hall, lavishly adorned in festive crimson, a woman from Blood Spider Valley announced loudly, her face plastered with a sycophantic smile. The Young Master of Blood Spider Valley had come thoroughly prepared, bringing all the necessary

Chapter 131: Within the Manor, I Only Need to Ensure Your Safety The Sixth Princess, unable to speak with her acupoints sealed, could only struggle incessantly and nod her head with desperate vigor. “I have come by decree to escort Your Highness. Please be at ease. I will bring you to safety momentarily.” Xu Taiping

Chapter 132: Blood Spider Valley, Isn’t That Even Better? Xu Taiping remained entirely unmoved, turning instead to verify the Sixth Princess’s identity: “Show me your half of the bracelet.” As he spoke, he retrieved his own fragmented piece of the jade bracelet. Before officially concluding this stage of his escort decree, he needed to make

Chapter 133: Blood Spider Valley, Inviting the Blood Spider Ancestor to Emerge from Seclusion Blood Spider Valley. The Blood Pool Altar in the rear mountain. This towering altar stood over ninety zhang tall. Standing upon its peak, one could take in the entirety of Blood Spider Valley at a single glance. “Tianze, my son, who

Chapter 134: Blood Spider Valley, Be My Three-Hundred-Year Spirit Pet With a sharp whinny, the young cultivator hauled back on the reins, bringing his galloping steed to a sudden halt. Even so, the surging torrent of his Qi and the sharp, whistling blade aura swirling around him projected an invisible, suffocating weight upon Zhu Mo

Chapter 135: Blood Spider Valley, How Did I Do, Sister Lingyue? At the same time, Xu Taiping, having long since activated his Wind Shadow Steps, burst from the roaring flames. His blade cut through the air with a piercing whistle, slashing straight toward the Blood Spider Ancestor. Sensing the mortal peril, the Blood Spider Ancestor

Chapter 136: Blood Spider Valley, Sword Quill Su Chan’s Scabbard Witnessing this, Valley Master Zhu Mo abandoned all lingering delusions and spun on his heel to flee. Yet in that very instant, the little monkey vaulted into the air, landing squarely in his path. “Gonna smash you!” Little Ping’an declared in its childish voice, raising

Chapter 137: Inside the Manor, Nuquan Manor’s Butcher Fan Qi Xu Taiping was naturally familiar with the name Su Chan. Indeed, any disciple of the Qingxuan Sect, whether an outer disciple at the mountain’s base or an inner disciple at its peak, had heard tales of Su Chan’s exploits. After all, he was the sole

Chapter 138: Inside the Manor, The Flame Emperor’s Furnace Manual Body Tempering Technique “Are we not proceeding directly to the Wujiu Kingdom’s imperial palace?” Xu Taiping was somewhat confused. The missive provided by the Qingxuan Sect had made no mention of this detour; it merely instructed him to escort the Sixth Princess to the Wujiu

Chapter 139: Lao Shan Temple, This Rain Is Eerily Wicked Hearing this, Xu Taiping’s eyes brightened. The Ship-Pressing Iron’s effectiveness had waned considerably. Unless he could find a material far heavier, continuing to temper his bones and sinews with this method would yield little improvement. “Sister Lingyue, I wish to attempt it now.” Xu Taiping

Chapter 140: Lao Shan Temple, Old Qian’s Signature Dish Within the ruined temple walls. The guards, including Thousand-man Commander Cao, seemed entirely oblivious to the unnatural atmosphere; some busied themselves stoking the cooking fires, while others took inventory of their supplies. Meanwhile, Xu Taiping sat alone before a row of crumbling clay Bodhisattvas near the

Chapter 141: Lao Shan Temple, Deciding to Play the Villain to the End “In that case, I absolutely must taste it.” Hearing Xu Taiping’s words, the Sixth Princess showed no hint of displeasure. Instead, her face lit up with genuine delight, eager for the opportunity. “It is merely roasted lamb; what extraordinary flavor could it

Chapter 142: Lao Shan Temple, It’s Our Turn to Dine However, to Xu Taiping’s surprise, even after forcing down an entire plate of mutton, the Sixth Princess never betrayed a single hint of disgust or displeasure. She even enthusiastically described the local customs and landscapes of her Baishu Kingdom to him. If not for the

Chapter 143: Lao Shan Temple, Who Sent You to Do This Swoosh! At these words, the fox spirit’s eyes widened in alarm as she shot backward, floating through the air with unnatural grace. A bushy fox tail instantly unfurled from beneath her robes. “Such practiced caution. You must have laid this trap many times before.”

Chapter 144: Lao Shan Temple, The Oriole Stalking from Behind In an instant, the faces of the two men drained of all color. “Could this be the legendary ghost feast, set out by fiends to gorge themselves before harvesting mortal lives?” “Does that mean… we just ate all that filth?” Realization struck the surrounding guards

Chapter 145: Nuquan Manor, A Chance Encounter on the Streets of Huangmei Town “Fellow Daoist, you stand firm in your convictions without being rigid. Fascinating. Truly fascinating.” Huang Que paused, momentarily taken aback, before letting out a hearty, booming laugh. “Fellow Daoist Huang Que, this fox fiend tonight… could it be your handiwork?” Xu Taiping

Chapter 146: The Life-and-Death Arena, Second Senior Brother’s Friend Huang Que “Young man, fine martial skill.” The old man, his back severely hunched, cupped his fists toward Xu Taiping. He stood barely five chi tall, his scalp adorned with only a few wisps of sparse white hair. Were it not for their collision just moments

Chapter 147: The Life-and-Death Arena, Wandering Warriors Riding to Their Deaths “No wonder Fellow Daoist Huang Que warned me time and time again; he was acting on Second Senior Brother’s behest.” The lingering shadows of doubt regarding Huang Que finally dissipated from Xu Taiping’s mind, leaving behind an inexplicable warmth in his chest. “Thank you,

Chapter 148: The Life-and-Death Arena, Do You Still Remember My Great-Grandfather? Upon hearing that name, Fan Qi, who had been sitting upon the arena with his eyes closed in meditation, suddenly opened them, a flicker of surprise crossing his gaze. At that exact moment, an exceptionally burly man launched himself from the ground, landing upon

Chapter 149: The Life-and-Death Arena, I, Fan Zhong, Have No Regrets “Not only has Fan Qi tempered this physique into copper skin and iron bones, but he has also attained absolute dominion over every inch of his flesh and blood. The strikes of ordinary martial artists can no longer mar him. He was merely testing

Chapter 150: The Life-and-Death Duel, Willing to Die for the Sixth Princess A deathly silence blanketed the arena and the viewing stands alike. Although Fan Zhong’s desperate, suicidal strike had failed to leave a single scratch upon Fan Qi, his indomitable and solitary courage commanded the absolute respect of everyone present. Up in the stands,