Chapter Summaries

Chen Ning demonstrated the Heaven-Slaying Bow’s power by shooting down the person who had taken the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit, then recovered from the effort as the crowd yielded to the Dragon-Seeking Sect. The chapter left Situ Zhuikong facing his family’s sudden demand that he gouge out his eyes to atone.

• Chen Ning used all his primordial power to fire an arrow into the sky and kill the person who had taken the divine fruit.
• Xiao Mei helped the weakened Chen Ning, while the surrounding groups were too frightened to touch the corpse’s spatial ring.
• The Tyrant Blade Gang dispersed the crowd and left the Dragon-Seeking Sect and the four Situ Family members beneath the ancient tree.
• Chen Ning reminded the Situ Family experts that they had discussed making Situ Zhuikong gouge out his eyes, and they pretended they had supported the punishment all along.
• The three Situ Family experts rebuked Situ Zhuikong and ordered him to gouge out his own eyes.

After forcing the Situ Family to blind Situ Zhuikong, Chen Ning returned to Gold and Iron City and took the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit with Xiao Mei’s help. As its powerful energy surged through his body, the treatment grew more intense.

• Chen Ning ordered Situ Zhuikong to gouge out his eyes, and the Situ Family obeyed before leaving with him alive.
• Situ Zhuikong rejected an offered pill and blamed his uncles for following the family head’s order to save his life.
• Chen Ning searched the stranger’s spatial ring, found the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit and other treasures, and told Xiao Mei to investigate the stranger’s identity.
• Chen Ning rested in Gold and Iron City while Xiao Mei and Su Ling'er argued over who could enter his room.
• Xiao Mei urged Chen Ning to take the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit and helped him as its force began cleansing his body.
• As Chen Ning grew hotter from the fruit’s energy, Xiao Mei removed his upper-body clothes to help the impurities escape.

Chen Ning recovered from cleansing his marrow with Xiao Mei’s help, then traveled with her and Su Ling'er to Vermilion Bird Peak. There, Law Enforcement Hall disciples reported that they had identified the person who tried to steal the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit.

• Xiao Mei sent her True Essence Power into Chen Ning and helped him endure the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit’s effects.
• After Chen Ning recovered, Xiao Mei stayed close to him through the night, hoping to win his approval and earn future help with her cultivation.
• The next morning, Chen Ning told Xiao Mei they would set out for Vermilion Bird Peak, and she agreed.
• Chen Ning, Xiao Mei, and Su Ling'er rode their Immortal Feather Spirit Beasts to Vermilion Bird Peak.
• Law Enforcement Hall disciples greeted Chen Ning and reported that they had discovered the identity of the person who had tried to snatch the fruit.

Chen Ning learned that the thief who stole the Marrow-Cleansing Divine Fruit belonged to Three Quarters Past Noon, then accepted an epic mission to investigate the missing Thief God, Su Ling’er’s grandfather. After learning the Thief God had been out of contact for six months, Chen Ning decided to take Su Ling’er to the Great Yan Imperial Capital.

• A disciple identified the fruit thief as an outlaw from Three Quarters Past Noon, and Xiao Mei explained the organization’s ranks and origins to Chen Ning.
• Chen Ning returned to his residence and accepted the system’s epic mission to find the missing Thief God, whose last known location was the Great Yan Imperial Capital.
• Chen Ning asked Su Ling’er about her family, and she revealed that her grandfather was her only living relative and had not contacted her for half a year.
• Chen Ning connected Su Ling’er’s lack of contact with the Thief God’s disappearance and told her they would leave for the Great Yan Imperial Capital the next day.

Chen Ning and Su Ling'er traveled by teleportation array to the Great Yan Imperial Capital for a time-limited mission, while Cang Yue secretly arranged protection for him. After Chen Ning concealed their identities from the guards, their extortion attempt turned violent, and he struck the lead soldier.

• Chen Ning and Su Ling'er asked Great Elder Cang Yue to activate Verdant Peak's teleportation array for their journey to the imperial capital.
• Cang Yue urged Chen Ning to take Ying Wu, but he declined, and she told Su Ling'er to protect him.
• Cang Yue privately ordered Ying Wu to contact people in the imperial capital and have them attend to Chen Ning's every need.
• Chen Ning and Su Ling'er arrived at the imperial capital and told the soldiers they were travelers from Desolate Province.
• The lead soldier demanded money and demanded that Su Ling'er spend the night with him, so Chen Ning kicked him in the groin.

Chen Ning and Su Ling'er escaped the soldiers after fighting their way through the Great Yan Imperial Capital, then Chen Ning followed a system hint to the Listening Rain Tower to investigate the Thief God. After an informant refused to answer, Chen Ning overheard him report to the Marquis Who Guards the North, Shi Tianhao, and learned the Marquis was tracking him.

• Chen Ning and Su Ling'er defeated the soldiers who attacked them near the teleportation array, then escaped and found lodging in the capital.
• The system directed Chen Ning to investigate the Thief God at the Listening Rain Tower, so he left Su Ling'er asleep and went there that night.
• Chen Ning offered an elderly informant a gold note for information about the Thief God, but the man refused and had guards escort him out.
• Chen Ning secretly followed the informant to the residence of Shi Tianhao, the Marquis Who Guards the North.
• The informant told Shi Tianhao that a young man had asked about the Thief God and that he had sent men to follow Chen Ning.
• Chen Ning listened from nearby eaves as Shi Tianhao approved the surveillance.

Chen Ning infiltrated the Marquis’s chambers and forced him to reveal that the Thief God was imprisoned in his dungeon. After the system assigned Chen Ning a mission to rescue the thief, the marquis agreed to release him, and they headed to the dungeon together.

• Chen Ning held the Marquis at knifepoint and asked where the Thief God was, while the Marquis killed a concubine who screamed.
• The Marquis revealed that the Thief God had stolen the Nine Revolutions Exquisite Treasure Pagoda and been imprisoned in the dungeon half a year earlier.
• Chen Ning received the second stage of his mission: rescue the Thief God from the dungeon.
• The Marquis agreed to release the Thief God after Chen Ning promised that the thief would compensate him tenfold for the treasure.
• Chen Ning insisted they go immediately, and he and the Marquis entered the dungeon together.

Chen Ning accompanied the Marquis Who Guards the North to meet the Thief God, then realized the two had conspired to lure him into a trap. After Chen Ning countered the Thief God’s Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand, the Thief God suspected he belonged to the founding master’s lineage, and Chen Ning went along with it.

• The Marquis Who Guards the North led Chen Ning through the dungeon to the Thief God’s well-appointed cell, and Chen Ning urged the old man to leave with him.
• As they walked out, the Thief God attacked Chen Ning and admitted he intended to take him down while sparing his life.
• Chen Ning escaped with a Protective Talisman and explained that the marquis’s long delay in acting had made him suspect the pair were conspiring.
• The Thief God revealed his Spirit Martial Realm Peak cultivation and used Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand to try to steal Chen Ning’s primal power.
• Chen Ning used the same technique with greater mastery, prompting the Thief God to ask whether he came from the founding master’s lineage.
• Chen Ning nodded and claimed that he did.

Chen Ning met the Thief God, who recognized him as a successor to the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand, while the Marquis of Zhenbei turned against them and trapped Chen Ning in a dungeon battle formation. The Thief God offered to steal the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty's national fortune in exchange for Chen Ning's safety and a promise to leave Su Ling'er alone, and the Marquis of Zhenbei accepted.

• The Thief God recognized Chen Ning's Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand and apologized, while Chen Ning received the final mission to resolve the Thief God's troubles.
• Chen Ning mentioned Su Ling'er, prompting the Thief God to reveal his connection to her as the Marquis of Zhenbei emerged and challenged him.
• The Thief God protected Chen Ning, but the Marquis of Zhenbei attacked and signaled soldiers to surround Chen Ning with a dungeon killing formation.
• The Thief God offered to steal the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty's national fortune if the Marquis of Zhenbei spared Chen Ning and stopped pursuing Su Ling'er.
• The Marquis of Zhenbei halted the battle formation and agreed to the Thief God's conditions.

The Marquis Who Guards the North tried to make the Thief God steal Great Yan’s national fortune, but Chen Ning urged the Thief God to protect Su Ling'er and challenged the plan. When the Marquis ordered the soldiers to kill Chen Ning, Chen Ning revealed his mastery of the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand and began breaking through the battle array.

• The Marquis Who Guards the North agreed to release Chen Ning and spare Su Ling'er after the Thief God stole Great Yan’s national fortune.
• Chen Ning warned the Thief God that heavenly punishment could harm Su Ling'er and urged him to protect his granddaughter himself.
• The Marquis ordered his soldiers to attack Chen Ning before the Thief God could change his mind.
• Chen Ning’s presence rose, and the Thief God recognized his Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand as being at great perfection.
• Chen Ning struck down soldiers and opened a gap in the battle array, while the phantom spears disintegrated into primordial Qi around him.
• The Marquis ordered the soldiers to fight to the death and promised ten thousand taels of silver for those who fell.

Chen Ning broke the Marquis Who Guards the North’s battle formation, stripped him of thirty years of cultivation, and left him for the Thief God to handle. After reuniting the Thief God with Su Ling'er, Chen Ning received mission rewards that raised his cultivation and unlocked new abilities, then wondered what he could do while invisible.

• Chen Ning seized control of the battle formation’s core and shattered it, leaving the soldiers defeated and the Marquis Who Guards the North unable to escape.
• The Thief God recognized Chen Ning’s supreme mastery of the [Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand], while Chen Ning asked his permission to strip the Marquis of thirty years of cultivation.
• Chen Ning drained the Marquis’s cultivation and left him for the Thief God to deal with before taking the Thief God to see Su Ling'er.
• Su Ling'er reunited tearfully with her grandfather at the inn while Chen Ning went upstairs to rest.
• The system rewarded Chen Ning with five cultivation levels, the [Shadow Cloak], the [Star-Picking Finger], and the missing portion of the [Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand]; Su Ling'er also advanced three levels.
• Chen Ning reached the Eighth Heaven of the Spirit Martial Realm and considered testing the Shadow Cloak on Cang Yue, then wondered what he could do while invisible.

Chen Ning considered his new Star-Picking Finger and Su Ling'er's sudden gains, while the Thief God learned Chen Ning had completed the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand and urged Su Ling'er to stay by his side. The Thief God then left to protect the Shi Clan's Lineage and its military power.

• Chen Ning dismissed the thought of acting freely toward his new disciple and began studying the Star-Picking Finger, whose final strikes exceeded his current strength.
• Su Ling'er told the Thief God that Chen Ning had endured a heavenly lightning tribulation for her, and the Thief God regretted keeping secrets from Chen Ning.
• Su Ling'er revealed that the missing portion of the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand had appeared in her mind, and the Thief God discovered she had advanced from the Sixth to the Ninth Heaven of the Spirit Martial Realm.
• The Thief God concluded Chen Ning had completed Su Ling'er's cultivation method and told her to protect and follow him; Su Ling'er denied having fallen for Chen Ning, blushing.
• The Thief God decided to return to the Shi Clan to preserve its Lineage and the Marquis Who Guards the North's military power, then tearfully said goodbye to Su Ling'er.

Chen Ning and Su Ling'er were recognized as wanted criminals after killing Imperial Guards, and Zhao Hao, commander of the Imperial Guard, confronted them in a restaurant. Three attendants of Situ Changqing recognized Chen Ning and tried to intervene, but Zhao Hao refused to release the pair and prepared to enforce the arrest.

• Chen Ning comforted Su Ling'er after the Thief God left and admitted he had long known her identity.
• Imperial Guards posted wanted portraits of Chen Ning and Su Ling'er, recognized them in the restaurant, and surrounded the building.
• Zhao Hao arrived and accused the pair of killing his men, while Su Ling'er defiantly confirmed they had done it.
• Three powerful attendants of the Situ Family presented the Left Minister's token and asked Zhao Hao to let them pass.
• The attendants identified Chen Ning and Su Ling'er as friends of Situ Changqing, but Zhao Hao refused to release them and warned the attendants not to interfere.

Chen Ning and Su Ling'er were nearly arrested by Zhao Hao, but Chu Fengnian arrived and revealed that they were also his friends. After the Imperial Guards knelt and Chu Fengnian escorted them toward the teleportation formation, Su Ling'er told Chen Ning she might not be able to return for now.

• Zhao Hao ordered his Imperial Guards to seize Chen Ning and Su Ling'er despite the Situ Family members’ protests.
• Chu Fengnian rushed into the restaurant, disarmed Zhao Hao, and declared that Chen Ning and Su Ling'er were his friends.
• Chu Fengnian explained that the Eldest Princess had secretly instructed him to protect the pair, and Zhao Hao and the Imperial Guards knelt to beg forgiveness.
• Chen Ning declined Chu Fengnian’s offer of hospitality and asked him to activate the teleportation formation.
• As Chen Ning and Su Ling'er followed Chu Fengnian through the streets, Su Ling'er said she might not be able to return for the time being.

Chen Ning got lost on Verdant Peak and accidentally fell into Meng Yuyi’s bathing tub, where he discovered that the Second Elder was the Heavenly Lake Holy Land’s undercover Holy Maiden. After Meng Yuyi showed him the way out, she reflected on her Extreme Cold Spirit Body, and Chen Ning received a limited-time quest.

• Chen Ning returned to Verdant Peak alone and lost his way among its misty paths.
• Chen Ning entered Meng Yuyi’s courtyard and accidentally fell into her bathing tub.
• Meng Yuyi confronted Chen Ning, and he recognized her as the Second Elder and undercover Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Lake Holy Land.
• Meng Yuyi explained that her maid had represented her at the Azure Cloud Rite and showed Chen Ning the path out.
• Meng Yuyi put out the brazier’s flames with her Extreme Cold Spirit Body, and Chen Ning received the limited-time [Carry Water] quest.

Chen Ning completed the system’s water-carrying task for Meng Yuyi and received a bonus that reduced the negative effects of her Extreme Cold Spirit Body. His unexpected show of concern left Meng Yuyi wondering whether her life could hold more than cultivation and duty.

• The system ordered Chen Ning to deliver ten buckets of water to Meng Yuyi’s residence within an hour, with the loss of a previous reward as the failure penalty.
• Chen Ning drew and carried the water by hand because the system prohibited him from using divine abilities to help.
• Chen Ning accidentally dropped the last bucket beside Meng Yuyi’s bath, then persuaded her he had brought the water to make up for disturbing her.
• Meng Yuyi declined Chen Ning’s offer to arrange maids, and Chen Ning hurriedly left, resolving to avoid her.
• The system rewarded Chen Ning with one level of cultivation and reduced the negative effects of Meng Yuyi’s Extreme Cold Spirit Body.
• Looking at the buckets, Meng Yuyi reflected on Chen Ning’s concern and wondered whether life could offer her something beyond cultivation and responsibility.

Meng Yuyi wondered whether Chen Ning had eased her Cold Ice Devouring the Body, while Chen Ning planned to remain in the sect and searched for food for his picky black dragon. At Verdant Peak’s gathering, the Ninth Elder prepared to act on his long-held ambition to seize the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s secret treasure.

• Meng Yuyi endured only mild cold instead of her usual torment and suspected Chen Ning’s contact with her had caused the change.
• Chen Ning decided to stay in the sect to test how missions were triggered, reflected on threats within the sect, and tried to feed his black dragon.
• Verdant Peak gathered its disciples and elders for a ceremony celebrating inner disciples and encouraging the sect’s future leaders.
• The Ninth Elder recalled his plan to steal the sect’s legendary secret treasure and judged the gathering to be his chance to act.

The Ninth Elder planned to use the Heart Demon Scripture to plunge Verdant Peak into chaos and steal the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s secret treasure, but he was surprised when Cang Yue appeared at the gathering. He began his address by challenging the disciples’ understanding of the Dao, leaving them silent with questions about the cruelty of the world.

• The Ninth Elder prepared to use the Heart Demon Scripture during his speech to awaken heart demons among Verdant Peak’s disciples and exploit the resulting chaos to reach the sect leader.
• Chen Ning entered a side hall with the little black dragon, which ate twenty mid-grade Origin Stones, and Ying Wu told him the Grand Elder wanted to speak with him later.
• The Third Elder finished his address, and the disciples eagerly awaited the Ninth Elder’s speech after some had begun contemplating the sword intent in the Third Elder’s words.
• The Ninth Elder asked the disciples what the Dao was, prompting them to debate and offer answers about all things and an innocent heart.
• The Ninth Elder questioned whether the Dao had meaning in a brutal world where the strong preyed on the weak, and his words silenced the training ground.

Chen Ning chose to stop the Ninth Elder from planting heart demons in the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s disciples and addressed them from the platform. His stirring words began to shake the Ninth Elder’s influence, but the chapter ended as Chen Ning delivered his final declaration.

• The Ninth Elder used the Heart Demon Scripture to inflame the disciples’ resentment and began planting heart demons in their hearts.
• Chen Ning noticed the Ninth Elder’s plot and chose the system’s option to stop him rather than risk losing three cultivation levels.
• Chen Ning asked Ying Wu to carry him to the platform on a cloud of mist, where Cang Yue urged him to give the disciples guidance.
• Chen Ning spoke about the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s legacy and urged the disciples to cultivate diligently and face hardship.
• Chen Ning declared, “Establish a heart for heaven and earth, secure a livelihood for the people, carry on the lost teachings of the sages, and bring peace to ten thousand generations!”

Chen Ning’s words summoned auspicious clouds and drove away the disciples’ heart demons, while the Third Elder’s sword path broke through and Cang Yue grew more certain of Chen Ning’s hidden abilities. The Ninth Elder sacrificed twenty years of his lifespan to activate the Heart Demon Scripture, plunging the training grounds into chaos as demonic voices tormented the disciples.

• Chen Ning’s words summoned auspicious clouds of merit and dispersed the disciples’ heart demons, strengthening their States of Mind.
• The Third Elder reflected on his obsession with restoring his fallen Lineage, found clarity, and broke through in his sword path.
• Cang Yue took the auspicious phenomenon as proof of Chen Ning’s extraordinary power and looked forward to spending the evening with him.
• The Ninth Elder saw that the disciples’ heart demons had nearly vanished and decided to sacrifice twenty years of his lifespan to activate the Heart Demon Scripture.
• The Ninth Elder offered Essence Blood and invoked the scripture, unleashing black currents and demonic voices that plunged the disciples into turmoil.