We get introduced to the world of the Heng Kingdom, striving to become the Great Heng Empire, at the end of its conquest of the Lie Kingdom. The victors celebrate, yet during the celebration a great betrayal is revealed.
The three deaths - two of the Heng Empire and one of its enemies - ripples throughout Fengming City. Ye Celing's suspicions are proven correct and a former disciple of the Sword Furnace sect pays her respect to the fallen Zhou Zhan.
Ding Ning aligns himself with his next chess piece, Li Daoji, commander of the Two Towers. After what should be negotiations, but ends up as a fight for control over the city, he gets permission to join the White Goat Cave sect.
Ding Ning's speed in cultivating impresses many and alienates a few, however the masters of White Goat Mountain see his potential and provide him all the resources he needs. Green Vine Sword School makes a power play.
Both Zhangsun Qianxue and Ding Ning get surprise visitors with less than honorable intentions. Xue Wangxu comes out of seclusion to protect Ding Ning. The Mountain Moving Realm he uses to slay the soldiers is seen throughout the kingdom.
General Liang Lian listens to advisor Qi Pomo to focus his efforts on finding Lone Mountain Sword Trove. While his anger towards Ye Celing is not gone he cares most about a noble title. The empress sends Celing to investigate as backup.
The great tournament of the Green Vine Sword School is starting and Ding Ning enters at the 2nd realm of cultivation, generating unbelief among his peers. Qianxue seeks an audience with Master Baili Shanshui of White Mountain Sect.
Ding Ning wins the tournament and humiliates Sun Xing in the process, who leaves the White Goat Cave sect. His masters hope he can change his ways. The Empress accompanied by Rong Zhi visits Qianxue, without revealing their identities.
Cave Master Xue wants to return an artifact that once belonged to White Goat Cave. The item is capable of preserving Ding Ning's body, so he can attend the Min Mountain sect's sword trials. The empress instructs her son to befriend Ning.
After Qianxue's interrogation it is now Ding Ning's turn to be questioned by the prime minister, but he's not allowed to leave. The queen pardons Xue Wangxu and promises to protect Ding Ning in exchange for General Liang's life.
Ye Celing and Superintendent Chen Xuan theorize about the Emperor's plans and achievements. Master Xue stays at the tavern, resting from what was probably his last battle. Ding Ning gets challenged much to his teacher's amusement.
The Emperor kills the impudent maid with a drop of ink, as his son is watching. Ding Ning spots his assassination team at the Fish market and uses its influence to deal with them. Zhao Si and Bai Shanshui finalize their deal.
Master Xue is a bit bored and has arranged several challengers for Ding Ning to fight in a non-lethal challenge. Rong Zhi is assigned to Prince Yuan to help him train. Ye Celing must close the case of the descendant within a month.
Ding Ning and the old fox Zhou Rongmo exchange philosophies about the painting and strike a deal. Master Xue warns about dealing with him. Prince Yuan Zichu feels guilty about a person dying because of him and Rong Zhi tries to calm him.
When the Empress arrives at the fish market to deal with the rebellion, Zhao Si and Bai Shanshui get severely injured but get away. Prince Zichu wants to go to Deer Mountain and brings Ding Ning along under false pretenses.
Ancestor Zhou Rongmo takes Ding Ning and Prince Yuan (using the alias Su Mu) to Wu Mountain, but the King of the Xian kingdom awaits them to get the strong yang medicine from himself. When they get in first, they have to deal with traps.
Ding Ning meets the king face to face and needs time adjust his posture. The prince brothers meet after a long time, but the reunion is not amicable. The King sends his youngest back home to guard the capital.
The Deer Mountain conference is underway and Mo Kingdom's prime minister is defeated. Li Kingdom's general wants to avenge him, but the king doesn't allow it. A youngster rushes forward and Ding Ning has to fight him.
General Liang Lian doesn't listen to his advisor Qi and kills him. He then hunts Bai Shanshui and kills her lieutenant for which the king rewards him with the marquis position. Bai turns to Miss Shang for help.
With the Min Mountain Sword trails moved up half a year, Ding Ning must devote all his time to cultivation. Sun Xing is exposed as a spy, but gets a second chance to prove his worth to Great Heng: he must defeat Ding Ning at the trials.
The Min Mountain Sword trials have begun. Sun Xing tries to kill people close to Ding Ning to disturb his mental state. Qianxue came to the mountain to kill the emperor, but Master Baili stops her.
Cave Master Xue Wangxu passes on his duties to 1st senior brother Zhang Yi, who is reluctant to accept. The one on one fights begin and Zhang Yi takes the bait Sun Xing dangles and looses. Xie Ruo wakes up and implicates Sun Xing.
Ding Ning enters the cave in the Min Mountain Sword Academy that unlocks the secrets of the Heavenly Replenishing Divine Art. The cave is filled with dangers toxic fumes that forces one to come to terms with their past deeds.
Ding Ning pays his respects to the old cave master and meets Zhang Li, who wants to avenge him. They full realize the identity of the person behind his murder, but agree to expose the pawn Rong Zhi and she how her mistress reacts.
Zhang Yi avenges his master in a duel with Palace maid Rong Zhi. It infuriates the queen and she demands to be handed the entire Min Mountain as retribution. Qianxue and Bai Shanshui embark upon the jail break of Lin Zhujiu.
The party narrowly escapes the ambush after Ye Celeng sacrifices herself. The empress is questioned and doubted by the emperor, yet she prevails his inquisition. Everyone, including Lin Zhujiu recovers at Min Mountain Sword academy.
Qianxue puts all the pieces together and figures out Ding Ning's true identity. Meanwhile Ding Ning, Bai Sanshui and Lin Zhujiu figure out the clues of the Lone Mountain Sword Trove. All things point to Fengwu.
The party consisting of Zhang Li, the Xie siblings, Nangong and Ding Ning set out of Fuweng. Superintendent Chen Xuan responds to the Empress' summons and finds out she wants the Heavenly Replenishing Divine Art. He is told to investigate.
Zhangsun Qianxue and Bai Shanshui rescue the crown prince of Great Heng and they witness General Liang kill survivors of the ambush. Meanwhile Ding Ning rescues the crown prince of Fengwu from the clutches of power hungry Zhan Mohe.
The emperor enters Fengwu in pursuit of his son. The trail leads to Wuchou village, the base of the Spirit Void Sword sect and its master Tuoba Wuchou that disappeared from the martial arts world. The Torture Sword picks its new owner.
Fengwu kingdom is falling and the crown prince and a handful of soldiers slow Great Heng's progress while Ding Ning and his friends help evacuate citizens. The crown prince poisoned by his brother insults his father in front of the court.
Li Kingdom retreats leaving Mo Kingdom to fend for themselves - the alliance of the three kingdoms does not hold. Prince Zhichu does not remember anything from his outburst and Huang Zhenwei investigates.
The empress, formerly Ye Zhen and Qianxue of former Gongsun family settle their scores and when Ding Ning arrives at the scene it becomes clear to Ye Zhen that she is no longer in his heart. The plot against the crown prince is uncovered.
Prince Zichu's poison has entered the bone marrow and the antidote no longer can help. Zheng Xiu begs for Ding Ning's love one last time. The emperor must deal with the assault of Xian kingdom and White Goat Mountain helps Great Heng.
