Chapter Summaries

Wang Chen was promoted to lead the newly formed Sixth Squad at Linjiang Guard Post and invited the Blood-Clad Guards to celebrate at Spring Moon Tower. He secured Pang Tai’s goodwill with a discreet gift, leaving the Chief Banner Officer impressed by his tact.

• Five days after Wang Chen earned merit by killing Black Whirlwind Li Kui, he received a promotion to Banner Officer and became leader of the newly added Sixth Squad.
• Old Qiu congratulated Wang Chen, while Dong Zhihui concealed his jealousy and tried to challenge Wang Chen’s promise to host a banquet at Spring Moon Tower.
• Wang Chen invited the Blood-Clad Guards and four other Banner Officers to the banquet, while Pang Tai declined to attend.
• Wang Chen presented Pang Tai with a letter containing a silver note, and Pang Tai accepted it and was impressed by Wang Chen’s potential and tact.

Wang Chen hosted the Blood-Clad Guards at Spring Moon Tower, winning their goodwill with a lavish feast and gambling chips. As the gathering turned violent, two courtesans launched a coordinated assassination attempt, and Wang Chen fought back while Old Qiu and the others rushed to help.

• Wang Chen gathered the five Banner Officers and more than thirty Blood-Clad Guards on Spring Moon Tower’s seventh floor for a banquet.
• Wang Chen gave the Blood-Clad Guards gambling chips, earning their gratitude and respect.
• Wang Chen sensed something wrong with the tea offered by the courtesan beside him and set down his cup.
• The lead dancer attacked Wang Chen with a dagger as the courtesan tried to stab his Dantian with a silver fork.
• Wang Chen blocked the dagger with an overturned table, crushed the courtesan’s wrist, and swung her into the dancer.
• Old Qiu and the other Banner Officers sprang up to counterattack and support Wang Chen.

Wang Chen and the Blood-Clad Guard fought off an assassination by the Hidden Dragon Society at Spring Moon Tower, though some killers escaped. After Pang Tai learned what had happened, Wang Chen realized the attack was likely aimed at him—or Ling Zhiyuan.

• Disguised assassins attacked Wang Chen at Spring Moon Tower, and he used his shield and Seven Feather Spear to kill several of them.
• Wang Chen joined Old Qiu and three squad leaders in the fight, and the assassins used poisonous smoke to cover their retreat.
• A captured courtesan killed herself with poison, while the surviving assassins escaped and the constables and City Guard Army arrived afterward.
• Back at Linjiang Guard Post, Pang Tai questioned Wang Chen and learned from Old Qiu that the attackers belonged to the Hidden Dragon Society.
• Pang Tai asked whether Wang Chen had offended anyone, and Wang Chen suspected the assassination was meant for him or Ling Zhiyuan.

After the Hidden Dragon Society’s assassination attempt, Wang Chen returned to the Guard Post, where his promotion brought him a surge of fortune and unlocked the Qi Gazing Technique. He remained vigilant and cultivated in seclusion as the threat appeared to fade.

• Pang Tai explained that the Blood-Clad Guard could not accuse Ling Hongfeng without evidence, but offered to help Wang Chen reclaim the family-head position; Wang Chen chose to seek justice himself.
• Pang Tai warned Wang Chen that the Hidden Dragon Society might send stronger assassins and ordered him to live at the Guard Post and avoid assignments.
• Three nights after his promotion, Wang Chen gained fortune and unlocked the Qi Gazing Technique, which let him see the gray-white qi above his head.
• Wang Chen returned to the Guard Post and cultivated diligently, while the prefectural city rewarded him with minor merit and imperial inner armor for killing six assassins.
• The Yellow Lotus Sect and Hidden Dragon Society made no further moves, and Wang Chen stayed on guard as three months passed.

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.