Recaps

Wang Chen risked a dangerous breakthrough in Linjiang Guard Post’s cultivation chamber and became a fifth-tier Martial Master after condensing the Non-Poison fiend wheel. He spent three more days consolidating his new realm before leaving seclusion.

• Wang Chen entered the underground cultivation chamber to break through, wary that the Hidden Dragon Society would attempt another assassination.
• Wang Chen burned potential to condense the Non-Poison fiend wheel and used a slice of five-hundred-year-old wild mountain ginseng to replenish his strength.
• Wang Chen’s four existing fiend wheels resonated as the Non-Poison fiend wheel took shape, and his unleashed Killing Intent cracked the chamber’s Azure Gang Stone.
• Wang Chen solidified the Non-Poison fiend wheel and reached Martial Master, spending nearly five hundred potential points and almost half the ginseng.
• Wang Chen used the remaining ginseng slices to consolidate his realm for three days, then left seclusion.

After breaking through to Fourth Tier Martial General, Wang Chen asked Pang Tai to assign him missions as a Lone Wolf rather than wait for a squad. He collected custom-made equipment around the city and returned home with it.

• Wang Chen revealed his Fourth Tier Martial General strength to Pang Tai, who was astonished by his rapid advancement.
• Wang Chen asked for an external mission, and Pang Tai explained that no men were available to fill his squad.
• Wang Chen volunteered to serve as a Lone Wolf, and Pang Tai agreed to assign him suitable missions while warning him to stay safe.
• Wang Chen collected ten custom-made metal sleeve tubes from a blacksmith and paid the craftsman a reward.
• Wang Chen visited several other shops for supplies and returned to his residence carrying a large bundle.

Wang Chen built and tested flintlock firearms as the first step in his plan to conquer the Cangqing Realm and seek its origin. After several days of testing, he received a mission from the Guard Station.

• Wang Chen decided to pursue the Cangqing Realm’s origin and began making flintlock guns as a way to reshape the world’s balance of power.
• Wang Chen produced gunpowder, commissioned seamless barrels and other parts, and assembled a long gun and a pistol.
• Wang Chen tested the long gun in the wilderness and found that its bullet pierced deeply into a tree, though it did not pass through the trunk.
• Wang Chen tested the pistol and experimented with different powder charges over the following days.
• On the fifth day after Wang Chen advanced to martial grandmaster, the Guard Station assigned him a mission.

Wang Chen investigated the deaths of a family in Kaoshan Village and suspected a Blood-Sucking Fang was responsible. After screening the village with a Demon-Identifying Talisman, he discovered that fifteen residents were missing.

• Wang Chen completed a medicinal bath, then rode to Kaoshan Village on orders to investigate suspected demonic activity.
• Wang Chen examined the four members of Zhang Xiaoqi's family and recognized the bite marks as signs of a Blood-Sucking Fang.
• The village chief told Wang Chen that a similar family tragedy had occurred more than ten years earlier.
• Wang Chen ordered all 683 villagers screened and used a Demon-Identifying Talisman as they passed before him.
• Wang Chen found no demon among those screened and asked the village chief where the fifteen missing residents had gone.

Wang Chen investigated Kaoshan Village for the Blood-Sucking Fang responsible for Zhang Xiaoqi’s family massacre, but found no clues among the villagers who returned. The last missing villager, hunter Zhang Shitou, had once quarreled with Zhang Xiaoqi’s family, and Wang Chen set out to investigate him.

• Wang Chen waited in Kaoshan Village and inspected returning villagers with his Demon-Identifying Talisman, but it showed no sign of a demon.
• Wang Chen accepted lunch and bamboo wine at the old village chief’s home, then paid for the village’s remaining wine.
• The old village chief told Wang Chen that Zhang Shitou was the only one of the fifteen absent villagers who had not returned.
• The old village chief recalled that Zhang Shitou had quarreled with Zhang Xiaoqi’s family three months earlier.
• Wang Chen ordered the old village chief to take him to Zhang Shitou’s home.

Wang Chen tracked Zhang Shitou to a hut on Tiger Head Mountain and discovered that he was a demon working with the Hidden Dragon Society, which had laid a trap to kill him. As Zhang Shitou lunged at him, Wang Chen faced two Hidden Dragon Society assassins and the transformed demon.

• Wang Chen searched Zhang Shitou's hut in Kaoshan Village, sensed demonic energy, and learned that Zhang Shitou might be at Tiger Head Mountain.
• Wang Chen reached the mountain hut and confronted Zhang Shitou, whose demonic aura made the Demon-Identifying Talisman burn.
• Two masked Hidden Dragon Society assassins appeared and revealed that they had set a killing trap for Wang Chen.
• Wang Chen learned that the assassins had taken a job to kill him and suspected a connection to Ling Hongfeng.
• Zhang Shitou transformed into a demon, the talisman turned to ash, and he leaped at Wang Chen with claws extended.

Wang Chen fought the demon possessing Zhang Shitou while using his homemade firearms to kill two Hidden Dragon Society assassins. Zhang Shitou then transformed into a monster and attacked Wang Chen, who blocked its volley of spikes with the Seven Feather Spear.

• Wang Chen exchanged blows with Zhang Shitou, wounding him badly but discovering that the demon could heal rapidly.
• Wang Chen shot and killed a Hidden Dragon Society assassin who had crept up behind him with a flintlock hand cannon.
• Wang Chen used loaded flintlock long guns to kill another Hidden Dragon Society assassin hiding in the mountain forest.
• Zhang Shitou recalled seeing firearms in another world, then shed his human body and attacked Wang Chen as a dark-red monster.
• Wang Chen used the Seven Feather Spear to knock aside the monster's incoming spikes.

Wang Chen confronted and killed the Bloodthirsty Demon that had slaughtered Zhang Xiaoqi's family, earning Luck and a Demon Pearl. He returned to Kaoshan Village with the demon's head and revealed that it had been Zhang Shitou, while the village chief reacted guiltily.

• Wang Chen recognized the transformed fiend as a rare Bloodthirsty Demon and learned that it had devoured a Hidden Dragon Society assassin.
• The Bloodthirsty Demon attacked Wang Chen with a net of scarlet threads, but Wang Chen opened his fifth Sha Wheel and killed it with a spear thrust.
• Wang Chen gained five Luck and collected the Demon Pearl and the Bloodthirsty Demon's head, then concealed the remaining assassin's body to protect the secret of his firearm.
• Wang Chen returned to Kaoshan Village and told the old village chief that the demon that killed Zhang Xiaoqi's family was dead.
• Wang Chen showed the villagers the Bloodthirsty Demon's head and identified it as Zhang Shitou, prompting the village chief to lower his head guiltily.

Wang Chen learned that the old village chief had concealed his suspicions about Zhang Shitou and accepted an ancient spearhead as compensation. After fitting it to his plume spear and channeling life qi through it, he saw its runes glow and the character “Slay” pulse blood-red.

• The old village chief confessed that he had suspected Zhang Shitou of demonic corruption for years but had kept quiet to avoid trouble for Kaoshan Village.
• The old village chief offered Wang Chen a mysterious spearhead, and Wang Chen recognized its engraved True Script rune as evidence it came from beyond the Cangqing Realm.
• The old village chief explained that tomb robbers had found the spearhead with a skeleton and that it had once frightened away a demon.
• Wang Chen accepted the spearhead, gave the old village chief a silver note, and promised to report the matter without implicating him.
• Wang Chen attached the spearhead to his plume spear and found that channeling life qi made its runes glow and its “Slay” character pulse red.

Wang Chen discovered that the Punish-character spearhead was part of the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear and learned its spear technique after it consumed the Demon Pearl and absorbed his blood. He returned to Linjiang City with the Bloodthirsty Demon's head and earned Pang Tai's promise to report his achievement for a reward.

• The Punish-character spearhead resonated with the Demon Pearl, consumed it, and absorbed Wang Chen's blood, forming a connection with him.
• Wang Chen learned that the spearhead belonged to the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear and received the Demon Punishing Spear Technique.
• Wang Chen questioned the old Village Chief, suspected the Hidden Dragon Society had set a trap and placed an informant at the Linjiang Guard Post, then returned to Linjiang City.
• Wang Chen presented the Bloodthirsty Demon's head to Pang Tai, who praised his merit and promised to request a reward.

Wang Chen practiced the Demon Punishing Spear Technique and discovered its powerful demon-breaking spear radiance, but his reward for killing a Bloodthirsty Demon was challenged by Captain Xu and two Centurions. When they tried to pressure him into surrendering most of the credit, Wang Chen revealed that he was a fifth-tier Martial Grandmaster.

• Wang Chen trained with the Demon Punishing Spear Technique, discovering that its spear radiance could cut through iron and strengthened his Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels cultivation.
• Pang Tai returned from the prefectural city and summoned Wang Chen to the guard station, where two Centurions and Captain Xu awaited him.
• Captain Xu claimed that he had wounded the Bloodthirsty Demon and that Wang Chen had merely taken credit for killing it.
• A Centurion proposed giving Captain Xu seven-tenths of the merit and Wang Chen three-tenths, plus three hundred taels of silver, citing Captain Xu's powerful father.
• When Captain Xu insulted him and the Centurions exerted pressure, Wang Chen activated all five fiend wheels and revealed himself as a fifth-tier Martial Grandmaster.

Wang Chen revealed that he was a fifth-tier Martial Grandmaster and forced Captain Xu and the two Centurions to back down. Three days later, Xu Jinghui visited Wang Chen with his son and ordered Captain Xu to apologize.

• Captain Xu accused Wang Chen of using a trick, but Wang Chen unleashed his killing intent and overwhelmed him and the two Centurions.
• Pang Tai pleaded with Wang Chen to spare them, and Wang Chen withdrew his pressure and left their punishment to Pang Tai.
• Wang Chen returned home to practice the Demon Punishing Spear Technique and resolved to seek justice from the Metropolitan Guard Bureau if necessary.
• Three days later, Pang Tai, Captain Xu, and Commander Xu Jinghui visited Wang Chen.
• Xu Jinghui greeted Wang Chen courteously and ordered Captain Xu to apologize.

Xu Jinghui apologized to Wang Chen with silver and a residence, then Wang Chen received a promotion and an order from Yao Peng to seek revenge in Anyang City. Wang Chen left Linjiang with three mounted inspectors and arrived at Anyang, where he felt a faint tremor in his soul.

• Xu Jinghui brought his son to apologize to Wang Chen, offering more than a hundred thousand taels, a residence in Jiangyuan City, and confirmation that Wang Chen’s battle merit had been reported.
• Mounted inspectors arrived with an order promoting Ling Zhiyuan to Hundred Household Commander and Demon Suppressing Captain, along with rewards.
• Wang Chen read Yao Peng’s letter ordering him to go to Anyang City to reclaim what was his and avenge his father, with three mounted inspectors placed under his command.
• Wang Chen hosted the Blood-Clad Guards of Linjiang at Spring Moon Tower before leaving for Anyang City at dawn with the three inspectors.
• Wang Chen arrived at Anyang City on the third evening and felt a faint tremor in his soul.

Ling Hongfeng was forced into a wedding with Tong Baodai, whose family intended to take over the Ling Family. The ceremony was interrupted when Ling Zhiyuan returned as a Blood-Clad Guard Centurion, leaving the gathered family and guests stunned.

• Ling Hongfeng sat in despair on his wedding day, fearing Tong Baodai and her family would seize control of the Ling Family.
• Steward Zhang threatened Ling Hongfeng and forced him to proceed with the wedding rites.
• As Ling Hongfeng and Tong Baodai completed the ceremony, guests heard that Ling Zhiyuan had returned.
• Ling Zhiyuan entered the hall wearing a Blood-Clad Guard Centurion's uniform and accompanied by more than a dozen Blood-Clad Guards.
• A Ling Family elder confronted Ling Zhiyuan and told him to wait until after Ling Hongfeng's wedding to address any business.

Wang Chen confronted the Ling and Tong families at the Ling Family wedding hall, accusing Tong Wanshan and Ling Hongfeng of plotting against Ling Hongyun. Commander Guo intervened on Wang Chen’s behalf and exposed Tong Baodai’s pregnancy, leaving the wedding in uproar.

• Wang Chen warned Ninth Uncle not to interfere as he announced he had come to settle the debt for Ling Hongyun.
• Wang Chen accused Tong Wanshan and Ling Hongfeng of hiring assassins to attack Ling Hongyun and plotting to take over the Ling Family.
• Tong Wanshan ordered his guards to seize Wang Chen, but Commander Guo entered and defended him as a Blood-Clad Guard Commander.
• Tong Wanshan tried to leave rather than answer Commander Guo’s challenge, while Tong Baodai urged him to continue the wedding.
• Commander Guo revealed that Tong Baodai was pregnant, shocking the hall and enraging her as Ling Hongfeng’s condition worsened.

Wang Chen uncovered the Tong Family’s role in his father’s murder, stopped Tong Wanshan’s attack, and crushed the Tong Family’s resistance at the wedding. He killed Tong Wanshan and Ling Hongfeng, fulfilled his oath to his father, and severed his karma with the original owner of the body.

• Ling Hongfeng blamed the Tong Family for forcing him to take over the Ling Family and marry Tong Baodai, while admitting his gambling debts had given them leverage.
• Tong Wanshan attacked Ling Hongfeng, but Wang Chen stopped his strike and shattered his leg when he tried to kick Wang Chen.
• Ling Hongfeng beat Tong Baodai as the Tong Family members rushed Wang Chen, and Commander Guo led the Blood-Clad Guard in killing those who resisted.
• Wang Chen beheaded Tong Wanshan and Ling Hongfeng, then pinned Steward Zhang to the door as he tried to escape.
• Wang Chen placed the two heads on the altar and bowed to his father, fulfilling his oath and receiving five points of Fortune.

Wang Chen settled the Ling Family’s and Tong Family’s affairs in Anyang, then reclaimed his true name and prepared to leave. Commander Zhang warned him that the Hidden Dragon Society’s bounty remained active, but Wang Chen set out without an escort, ready to face another assassination attempt.

• Commander Guo led the Blood-Clad Guard to raid the Tong Family and confiscate its property under charges of rebellion and murder.
• Ling Family elders offered Wang Chen the family head position, but he rejected them, declared that he was Wang Chen rather than Ling Zhiyuan, and left the Ling Family.
• Commander Guo reported that the Tong Family had been destroyed and that the Blood-Clad Guard had found wealth, rebel evidence, and a cache of weapons and armor.
• Commander Zhang told Wang Chen that the Hidden Dragon Society’s bounty remained active and that one more assassination attempt was likely.
• Wang Chen refused Commander Zhang’s offer of an escort to Jiangyuan City and said he would welcome the next assassin.

Wang Chen took shelter from a thunderstorm and met Qin Qingxuan, an envoy from the reclusive Yuhua Sword Manor who had been waiting to approach him. Their exchange ended with Wang Chen explaining that he had changed his name to Wang Chen, a decision that carried serious consequences in the Cangqing Realm.

• Wang Chen sought shelter from the storm with his Yellow Dappled Horse and found Qin Qingxuan waiting alone.
• Qin Qingxuan recognized Wang Chen as Commander Ling and introduced herself as an envoy of Yuhua Sword Manor who wished to forge goodwill with him.
• Qin Qingxuan removed her veil, but Wang Chen resisted her striking beauty and pressed her to explain her purpose.
• Qin Qingxuan lost her composure at Wang Chen's blunt replies, then insisted that her wish to befriend him was sincere.
• Wang Chen questioned Qin Qingxuan's age, then told her he had changed his name and asked her to call him Wang Chen.

Qin Qingxuan tried to recruit Wang Chen into the Rebel Faction, but he saw through her attempt to gain his help without offering anything. Their conversation ended with Wang Chen anticipating a third assassination attempt by the Hidden Dragon Society.

• As rain trapped them in a pavilion, Wang Chen produced tea-making equipment from nowhere and let Qin Qingxuan brew tea.
• Qin Qingxuan praised the Rebel Faction’s cause and urged Wang Chen to join it, claiming he had the fortune to rise to power.
• Wang Chen accused Qin Qingxuan of trying to recruit him as a spy without offering him any benefit.
• Qin Qingxuan warned that Wang Chen was in imminent danger, and he guessed that the Hidden Dragon Society would send a fifth-tier Martial Grandmaster for its third assassination attempt.

After Qin Qingxuan failed to persuade Wang Chen to leave the Hidden Dragon Society’s bounty unresolved, he continued along the mountain road and encountered Huang Jue, the Soul Sever Spear. Huang Jue launched an all-out attack, and Wang Chen met it by reaching for his Seven Feather Spear.

• Qin Qingxuan offered to persuade the Hidden Dragon Society to withdraw its bounty, but Wang Chen refused and insisted he would face its assassin.
• Qin Qingxuan left the rain pavilion after urging Wang Chen to reconsider his view of the Rebel Faction.
• Wang Chen rode onward cautiously, but the expected Hidden Dragon Society assassin did not appear until he reached a road junction.
• Huang Jue introduced himself as a member of the Hidden Dragon Society and challenged Wang Chen to speak his last words.
• Huang Jue unleashed a powerful spear strike, and Wang Chen reached for his Seven Feather Spear to meet the attack.

Wang Chen used the Seven Feather Spear and the Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels to withstand Huang Jue’s attacks in a prolonged duel, gradually overcoming the aging assassin’s advantage. Their concealed spear mechanisms clashed in a final exchange that ended with Wang Chen’s spearhead piercing Huang Jue’s heart.

• Wang Chen drew the Seven Feather Spear and blocked Huang Jue’s opening strike, surprising the fifth-tier Martial Ancestor.
• Huang Jue unleashed a complex spear technique, but Wang Chen countered with Sweep Through a Thousand Armies, and they fought to a standstill.
• As the battle dragged on, Huang Jue’s strength and confidence wavered while Wang Chen’s fighting spirit grew.
• Huang Jue knocked Wang Chen back and extended his Soul Sever Spear with a hidden chain during a simultaneous thrust.
• Wang Chen detached the Seven Feather Spear’s head, which pierced Huang Jue’s armor and passed through his heart.

Wang Chen killed Huang Jue with the Demon Slaying Spearhead and brought the Soul Sever Spear and Huang Jue’s head to Donglu Prefecture City. Yao Peng recognized the kill as a major achievement, promised to report Wang Chen’s merit, and invited him to request a greater reward.

• Wang Chen killed Huang Jue, saluted his fallen opponent, and took the Soul Sever Spear and Huang Jue’s head as proof of his achievement.
• Wang Chen rode to Donglu Prefecture City and told Yao Peng that he had severed his family ties and would use the name Wang Chen.
• Wang Chen showed Yao Peng Huang Jue’s head and the Soul Sever Spear, shocking the Pacification Commissioner.
• Yao Peng confirmed Huang Jue’s identity, praised Wang Chen for the kill, and said he would report the achievement to the Chief Guard Lord and the Emperor.
• Yao Peng told Wang Chen that his previous reward had been too small and invited him to state his requests.

Wang Chen received his rewards for killing the Bloodthirsty Demon and Huang Jue, then agreed to serve as a Demon Suppressing Captain in Donglu Prefecture. He settled into a new residence with Xi Jun as his maidservant while Yao Peng prepared to arrange his assignment.

• Yao Peng explained that he could not grant Wang Chen access to Yuntai Mountain Daoist Palace’s secret transmissions without an imperial decree, and Wang Chen withdrew his request.
• Yao Peng awarded Wang Chen a horse, armor, a saber, gold, and a residence in Donglu Prefecture, and asked him to help deal with the prefecture’s rising threats.
• Wang Chen agreed to serve as a Demon Suppressing Captain and welcomed Yao Peng’s offer to let him act independently rather than command troops.
• Yao Peng assigned Xi Jun to serve Wang Chen and hosted a banquet where Wang Chen met Donglu Prefecture’s Blood-Clad Guard officials, including Xu Jinghui.
• After the banquet, Wang Chen went with Xi Jun and two Blood-Clad Guards to his furnished residence near the prefectural guard office.

Wang Chen received a mission to investigate the disappearances of dozens of people in Donglu Prefecture and set out for Guangping County. He left Xi Jun in charge of his residence while he pursued a dangerous case.

• Wang Chen finished training and noted that his cultivation had slowed while his Luck had risen after taking office as a Hundred-Household Officer and Demon Suppressing Captain.
• Wang Chen gave Xi Jun silver for household expenses and suggested she hire servants, but she insisted she could manage alone.
• A Blood-Clad Guard delivered a sealed letter from Yao Peng assigning Wang Chen to investigate dozens of disappearances across Donglu Prefecture.
• Wang Chen read the case file, told Xi Jun he might be away for two or three days, and rode toward Guangping County.

Wang Chen traveled to Guangping County to investigate disappearances linked to Peony Tower, disguising himself as a wealthy wanderer to avoid alerting the culprit. After entering the tavern and surveying its gambling hall, he joined a dice game and won his first bet.

• Wang Chen rode from the prefectural city to Guangping County, where the Blood-Clad Guard's investigation had traced the disappearances.
• Wang Chen hired local children to guide him to Peony Tower and paid them before entering under his disguise.
• Wang Chen rented a private room, ordered an extravagant meal, and rejected the courtesans offered to him.
• Wang Chen toured Hundred Victories Pavilion, exchanged a banknote for chips, and took a seat at a dice table.
• Wang Chen bet on high, and the dealer revealed a total of fifteen, winning him the round.