Chapter Summaries

Shen Jingchuan and his companions used Maxims to kill Su Wan and overwhelm Li Mo and Han Laoliu. The two men remained trapped under converging gunfire as Xiao Mingshu, Huan'er, and Shen Jingchuan attacked from different sides.

• Su Wan's shield shattered under the Maxim's gunfire, and the bullets killed her as Li Mo and Han Laoliu fought Xiao Mingshu.
• Xiao Mingshu escaped the two men's attack, took a Maxim from her Storage Ring, and wounded Li Mo while Han Laoliu defended himself with shields.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Huan'er a Maxim, loaded it for her, and urged her to attack Li Mo and Han Laoliu.
• Huan'er charged while firing, interrupting the men's attempt to rush Xiao Mingshu as Xiao Mingshu reloaded her gun.
• Shen Jingchuan rode Big Black to the flank and joined Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er in trapping Li Mo and Han Laoliu beneath converging gunfire.

Shen Jingchuan, Xiao Mingshu, and Huan'er defeated the bandit cultivators with sustained machine-gun fire, but Zhou Kui emerged from hiding and confronted them. Confident that their weapons could not threaten him, Zhou Kui advanced as Huan'er opened fire on his Spiritual Qi shield and Azure Gang Shield.

• Han Laoliu's defenses shattered under the machine-gun barrage, and bullets killed him before he could escape.
• Huan'er's ammunition ran out, but Shen Jingchuan and Xiao Mingshu alternated reloading and firing until the last bandit fell.
• Zhou Kui watched from the trees, judged the weapons harmless to him, and stepped onto the road to attack the group.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Huan'er spare ammunition and showed her how to reload while Zhou Kui watched without striking.
• Zhou Kui revealed his high-grade magic sword and threatened to kill the group, then advanced toward them.
• Huan'er fired at Zhou Kui, who raised a Spiritual Qi shield and summoned the Azure Gang Shield to block the bullets.

Shen Jingchuan and his companions overwhelmed Zhou Kui with machine-gun fire, then used a mounted 23-millimeter cannon to break his defenses. The chapter ended with Zhou Kui struck by the second belt of armor-piercing rounds and left motionless on the ground.

• Zhou Kui charged Huan'er through her machine-gun fire, but Xiao Mingshu and Shen Jingchuan joined the attack and weakened his Spiritual Qi shield.
• After Huan'er reloaded, the three machine guns tore through Zhou Kui's shield and battered his Azure Gang Shield.
• When Shen Jingchuan's machine-gun ammunition ran out, he mounted a twin-barreled 23-millimeter cannon on the carriage and fired fifty armor-piercing rounds at Zhou Kui.
• The cannon's recoil pushed the carriage backward until Little Black, Treading Snow, and Big Black braced it, while Zhou Kui's shield absorbed the cannon fire and cracked.
• Zhou Kui charged the carriage as Shen Jingchuan reloaded, but Shen fired a second belt of shells, shattering the Azure Gang Shield and striking Zhou Kui until he fell motionless.

After using a hidden autocannon to repel cultivators, Shen Jingchuan rewarded Huan'er with a gun and ammunition, then taught Xiao Mingshu to operate a 23 mm autocannon. The chapter left Xiao Mingshu demanding plenty of armor-piercing shells for herself.

• Xiao Mingshu questioned Shen Jingchuan about the autocannon, and he claimed she had taught him to keep something in reserve.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Huan'er a gun and a Storage Bag holding eight boxes of ammunition, and Xiao Mingshu warned her about the weapon's limits against high-stage cultivators.
• Xiao Mingshu claimed the autocannon for herself and made Shen Jingchuan explain how to load and fire it.
• Xiao Mingshu fired all fifty armor-piercing shells at trees, handling the recoil with Spiritual Power.
• Xiao Mingshu said the cannon consumed Spiritual Power quickly and demanded that Shen Jingchuan give her plenty of shells.

After defeating the bandits, Xiao Mingshu and Shen Jingchuan searched their belongings and continued toward Yuxi Prefecture. Xiao Mingshu suspected the dead woman had been tracking them since the market, while the group shared the recovered goods and kept watch for pursuers.

• Xiao Mingshu and Shen Jingchuan divided the armor-piercing rounds, then searched the four corpses for valuables.
• Xiao Mingshu recognized the female bandit as the woman who had bought makeup goods from her and burned all four bodies to ash.
• Shen Jingchuan treated Big Black’s injured shoulder and fed him apples before the group resumed their journey.
• Xiao Mingshu claimed Shen Jingchuan’s modified carriage, and Shen Jingchuan opened the bandits’ Storage Rings and gathered their loot.
• Shen Jingchuan offered Zhou Kui’s larger Storage Ring to Huan'er, and Xiao Mingshu later changed routes and secretly watched for anyone following them as they traveled to Yuxi Prefecture.

Shen Jingchuan returned to the Shen Residence, learned more about the Chaos Heaven and Earth Ring, and upgraded pills with its power. He fed High-Grade Ancestral Reversion Pills to Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow, and the horses fell into a deep sleep as their bodies began to change.

• Shen Jingchuan returned to the Shen Residence and reunited with the household, then spent the evening with Lin Qingyao.
• Shen Jingchuan examined the seized Storage Rings and asked Xian'er to identify two unknown pills as Spirit Concentrating Pills that could help with a Qi Refinement breakthrough.
• Xian'er told Shen Jingchuan that his ring was the ancient Chaos Heaven and Earth Ring, which could absorb Spiritual Qi and had other abilities he had yet to discover.
• Shen Jingchuan used the ring to absorb Spirit Stones and upgrade his pills, turning four Ancestral Reversion Pills into high-grade pills.
• Shen Jingchuan fed the pills to Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow, and all three horses developed a grayish-brown coating before collapsing into deep sleep.

Shen Jingchuan watched Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow awaken after their bloodlines evolved, though Treading Snow's changes looked different from the others. Su Qinghua and Xiao Mingshu saw the transformed horses, and Xiao Mingshu recognized Shen Jingchuan's success.

• Shen Jingchuan watched Big Black and Little Black awaken with forehead bumps and developing shoulder lumps, then fed them upgraded apples.
• Treading Snow awakened later with mottled black-and-white fur and subtler growths, and Shen Jingchuan noticed her body was cooler than the other horses'.
• Liu Hu asked about the horses' changes, and Shen Jingchuan said pills had caused their bloodlines to evolve.
• Su Qinghua visited the stables, and Shen Jingchuan told her Big Black's shoulder lumps would grow into wings so he could fly.
• Xiao Mingshu sensed Spiritual Power in the stables, examined the three transformed horses, and told Shen Jingchuan he had succeeded.

Shen Jingchuan learned that Big Black and the other two horses had begun awakening as Demon Beasts, and Xiao Mingshu explained their potential and how to form Equal Contracts with them. After breakfast, Shen Jingchuan offered Xiao Mingshu and Huan'er Storage Rings, but both declined his gifts.

• Xiao Mingshu explained that Big Black's awakened bloodline might eventually give him wings and lightning abilities, though raising him would require many resources.
• Xiao Mingshu urged Shen Jingchuan to contract with the three horses and described the differences between Master-Servant and Equal Contracts.
• Shen Jingchuan rejected Master-Servant Contracts, and Big Black nodded when Shen proposed an Equal Contract.
• Xiao Mingshu gave Shen Jingchuan a Beast Taming Instruction booklet containing contract, feeding, and cultivation guidance.
• After breakfast, Shen Jingchuan offered Xiao Mingshu two thousand Spirit Stones and offered Huan'er a Storage Ring, but Xiao Mingshu returned the stones and Huan'er said she already had a ring.

Shen Jingchuan gave Xiao Mingshu two precious High-Grade Qi Condensing Pills, and she jokingly offered to marry him in return; he readily agreed, while Huan'er enthusiastically approved. He then formed Equal Contracts with Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow and began teaching the three horses to cultivate, leaving them practicing in a Spirit Gathering Formation.

• Shen Jingchuan gave Xiao Mingshu High-Grade Qi Condensing Pills, and she teased that she would marry him to repay him; he accepted, and Huan'er agreed too.
• Xiao Mingshu chased Huan'er after she ran off, and the two laughed and teased each other.
• Shen Jingchuan formed Equal Contracts with Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow, sensing their simple thoughts and emotions.
• Shen Jingchuan activated a Second-Tier Spirit Gathering Formation and taught the three horses a Demon Beast cultivation method through their contract bonds.
• The horses began absorbing Spiritual Qi and regulating their breathing in the formation, which Shen Jingchuan later shut down and put away.

After returning from his trip, Shen Jingchuan learned that the Pan and Huang Households had arranged for government troops to attack Azure Cloud Stronghold. He sent Zhao Kui to warn Chief Hu and help defend the stronghold.

• Shen Jingchuan finished cultivating with the three horses, then rode Big Black to the Lin Household Escort Agency and asked Liu Hu to buy them the finest fodder.
• Shen Jingchuan reunited with Lin Weiyuan, Lin Shan, and Lin Yue, who reported that his business ideas had helped the carriage business thrive.
• Zhao Kui arrived seeking Shen Jingchuan’s protection and revealed that the Pan and Huang Households had arranged for troops from Chang'an Prefecture to come suppress Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• Shen Jingchuan ordered Zhao Kui to warn Chief Hu and asked whether he would stay to help defend the stronghold.
• Zhao Kui agreed, and Lin Weiyuan provided him with a fast horse so he could ride to Azure Cloud Stronghold immediately.

Shen Jingchuan learned that the Pan and Huang Households planned to join government troops in attacking Azure Cloud Stronghold, so he warned Hu Tieniu and ordered Returning Geese Tower to close temporarily. He introduced Zhao Kui as a new defender while privately cautioning Hu Tieniu to watch him, then revealed his cultivation and a submachine gun.

• Lin Weiyuan and Shen Jingchuan discussed the threat from the Pan, Huang, and Li Households and prepared the escort agency and carriage business for trouble.
• Shen Jingchuan returned to Azure Cloud Stronghold with Zhao Kui, where Hu Tieniu praised the success of Returning Geese Tower.
• Zhao Kui told Hu Tieniu that the Pan and Huang Households had joined forces with government troops to attack the stronghold, and Shen Jingchuan ordered the restaurant staff to withdraw.
• Shen Jingchuan introduced Zhao Kui as a new ally, then warned Hu Tieniu to keep a close eye on him because his loyalties were uncertain.
• Shen Jingchuan revealed a submachine gun from his Heaven and Earth Ring and told Hu Tieniu that he had begun cultivating.

Shen Jingchuan taught Hu Tieniu to use a submachine gun and left him ammunition to defend the fort as he stepped back from worldly affairs. Later, Shen Jingchuan cultivated with pills and broke through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

• Shen Jingchuan demonstrated the submachine gun at the fort's practice range, and Hu Tieniu fired it and praised its power.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Hu Tieniu the gun and a hundred thousand rounds, warned him never to point it at his own men, and urged him to protect the common people.
• Hu Tieniu reported that the fort's troops, defenses, and supplies were in good shape, and Shen Jingchuan told him he would have to manage the fort on his own.
• Shen Jingchuan used two High-Grade Spirit Concentrating Pills to refine his Divine Sense and weaken the bottleneck to the fourth layer.
• Shen Jingchuan swallowed a High-Grade Qi Gathering Pill and broke through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, strengthening his Spiritual Qi, body, and Divine Sense.

Shen Jingchuan learned to ride a flying sword with Xiao Mingshu, displaying unusually abundant Spiritual Qi. Meanwhile, Zhou Xian’s government army reached Azure Cloud Stronghold, joined forces with Yuxi Prefecture’s leaders and troops, and began assessing the difficult assault ahead.

• Shen Jingchuan reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, and Xiao Mingshu gave him a flying sword and taught him to ride it.
• Shen Jingchuan quickly learned to fly around the garden and kept going for two hours, astonishing Xiao Mingshu with his Spiritual Qi reserves.
• Zhou Xian led three thousand government troops along Yuxi Prefecture’s solid stone road to the foot of Azure Cloud Stronghold and established an orderly camp.
• Zhou Xian sent scouts to inspect the stronghold and dispatched guards to order Yuxi Prefecture’s authorities and households to join the campaign.
• Prefect Zhang, Garrison Commander Li, and the four great households brought several hundred trained men to Zhou Xian’s camp.
• Zhou Xian told Prefect Zhang that his scouting parties had found Azure Cloud Stronghold would be difficult to take.

Zhou Xian led government troops in an assault on Azure Cloud Stronghold, but its cement defenses and heavy crossbows devastated their first attack. Local martial arts experts reached the wall on a second assault, where Hu Tieniu killed two climbers with a submachine gun and forced the attackers to retreat.

• Zhou Xian examined the narrow mountain road and stronghold wall, then ordered his three thousand troops to attack.
• Azure Cloud Stronghold’s crossbowmen pinned down the government troops, whose retreat became chaotic and sent soldiers falling into the ravine.
• The head of the Huang Household offered martial arts experts, and Zhou Xian ordered them to lead another assault.
• The experts advanced beneath the shield wall and two used grappling claws to climb toward the stronghold’s battlements.
• Hu Tieniu fired his submachine gun at the climbers, killing them, and the stronghold’s crossbowmen killed several more attackers as the rest retreated.

Zhou Xian’s government troops failed to storm the stronghold after Hu Tieniu’s gun and the defenders’ counterattack inflicted heavy casualties. Zhou Xian withdrew and persuaded Prefect Zhang to surround the mountain instead.

• Zhou Xian ordered archers to suppress the wall while shield troops advanced siege ladders, but Hu Tieniu shot the climbers and Zhao Kui smashed a ladder with a rock.
• The government troops retreated after suffering heavy losses, and Zhou Xian ordered guards posted along the mountain routes and extra sentries at night.
• Hu Tieniu warned the defenders to prepare for a possible night attack, and Zhao Kui volunteered for the night watch.
• At camp, Zhou Xian told Prefect Zhang that the narrow mountain road and concrete walls made a direct assault impossible, so the troops would have to lay siege.
• Prefect Zhang agreed to keep the stronghold surrounded despite worrying about the cost of a prolonged siege.

Prefect Zhang ordered the four households to supply provisions for the long siege, while Third Prince Xiao Mingyuan traced the four-wheeled carriages to Yuxi Prefecture and traveled to Chang'an to pursue the business. Xiao Mingxuan identified the Zhenyuan Escort Agency as the carriages’ maker and recalled Shen Jingchuan from a poetry gathering.

• Prefect Zhang told the heads of the four households that they had to share the cost of provisions for Zhou Xian’s troops, and warned them of the consequences if the soldiers went hungry.
• Li Mo reported that the four-wheeled carriages came from Yuxi Prefecture and that the Zhou Household handled sales in Chang'an Prefecture and the Capital, prompting Xiao Mingyuan to plan a visit to Chang'an.
• Xiao Mingyuan traveled to Chang'an with three Qi Refinement Realm Attendants and was welcomed by Xiao Mingxuan at Prince Jing’s residence.
• Xiao Mingyuan told Xiao Mingxuan that he had come to take an interest in the four-wheeled carriage business, and Xiao Mingxuan said the Zhenyuan Escort Agency made the carriages and recalled Shen Jingchuan from a poetry gathering.

Xiao Mingyuan and Xiao Mingxuan conspired to seize the carriage-making business, then traveled with a large armed retinue to Yuxi Prefecture. They arrived at the Zhenyuan Escort Agency, leaving their intentions toward the Lin Household unclear but ominous.

• Xiao Mingyuan persuaded Xiao Mingxuan to join him in taking over the carriage business, offering him twenty percent of the profits in exchange for using Prince Jing's residence connections.
• Xiao Mingyuan said they would go to Yuxi Prefecture and take the business, relying on three Qi Refining attendants and a hundred guards rather than negotiating on equal terms.
• Three days later, the procession passed the government camp besieging Azure Cloud Stronghold, where Xiao Mingyuan spoke with Zhou Xian and declined an escort.
• At Yuxi's city gate, Xiao Mingxuan instructed the captain to lead them directly to the Zhenyuan Escort Agency instead of the prefect's yamen.

Xiao Mingyuan and the Prince Jing's Heir seized the Lin family's carriage workshop for ten taels of silver, forcing Lin Weiyuan to sign it over. Lin Weiyuan and his sons warned Shen Jingchuan that the prince might next target him, and Shen considered asking Princess Shaohua, Xiao Mingshu, to investigate and mediate.

• Lin Weiyuan received Xiao Mingyuan and the Prince Jing's Heir at the Zhenyuan Escort Agency and confirmed that his workshop made the four-wheeled carriages.
• Xiao Mingyuan claimed the carriages should benefit the realm and offered ten taels of silver to take over the workshop, its materials, and its craftsmen.
• Lin Weiyuan restrained Lin Shan and Lin Yue, then signed and sealed the contract under pressure.
• Xiao Mingxuan ordered his chief clerk to inventory the workshop and register its craftsmen before leaving with Xiao Mingyuan.
• Lin Weiyuan and his sons went to the Shen Residence, where Lin Yue told Shen Jingchuan how the workshop had been seized.
• Shen Jingchuan considered the matter and thought Princess Shaohua, Xiao Mingshu, might investigate and mediate.

Shen Jingchuan consulted Xiao Mingshu about Xiao Mingyuan forcing the Lin Household to give up its carriage workshop, then advised the family to yield and take responsibility for the workshop’s missing components. He left them to handle the matter while he began cultivating with his three horses in the west courtyard.

• Shen Jingchuan visited Xiao Mingshu, who advised him to give up the workshop and warned him not to interfere in mortal court affairs with his cultivation.
• Shen Jingchuan told Lin Weiyuan and his sons to surrender the carriage workshop rather than provoke Xiao Mingyuan.
• Lin Weiyuan explained that the workshop could produce only fifty more carriages because Shen Jingchuan supplied its core components.
• Shen Jingchuan told the Lin Household to name him as the supplier if questioned, promising to handle the consequences himself.
• Shen Jingchuan gathered his three horses around the Spirit Gathering Formation Plate and cultivated with them.

After the princely residence accused the Lin family of withholding the secrets to making carriage components, Lin Weiyuan and Lin Shan were arrested by Xiao Mingxuan and Xiao Mingyuan. Shen Jingchuan intervened and defeated their guards, but the princes’ Attendants recognized him as an unregistered cultivator and questioned whether they could handle him.

• The chief clerk accused Lin Weiyuan and his sons of deceiving the princely residence, but he withdrew after they repelled his men.
• Lin Weiyuan sent Lin Yue to warn Shen Jingchuan that the princely residence might target him over the carriage business.
• Xiao Mingyuan and Xiao Mingxuan arrived with a hundred guards and arrested Lin Weiyuan and Lin Shan despite Lin Weiyuan’s demand for a legal reason.
• Shen Jingchuan reached the escort agency and demanded that the guards stop, then knocked more than ten of them down when they attacked him.
• An Attendant told Xiao Mingyuan that Shen Jingchuan was a cultivator, and Xiao Mingyuan asked whether the three Attendants could deal with him.