Chapter Summaries

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.

Wang Chen won a huge fortune at Hundred Victories Pavilion after beating the dealer Zhong Yingyao, who challenged him to wager his winnings against a night with her. He went up to the pavilion's fourth floor, where the hidden Demon Slaying Spearhead began burning against his chest, signaling a nearby evil fiend.

• Wang Chen gambled his way to the third floor and amassed more than a hundred thousand taels' worth of chips.
• Wang Chen went all in against Zhong Yingyao and beat her Star-rank hand with a Moon-rank hand, winning all the wagers.
• Zhong Yingyao challenged Wang Chen to another round, offering to sleep with him if she lost, but he refused.
• Wang Chen ascended to the fourth floor, where the Demon Slaying Spearhead grew hot as he approached an evil fiend.
• A gambling-house attendant led Wang Chen into a private room as the spearhead's heat intensified.

Wang Chen used the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear to identify Shi Hongyuan, the head of the Shi family, as a demon and attacked him at Peony Tower. After Wang Chen exposed Shi Hongyuan’s demonic nature, Zhong Yingyao arrived, recognized the danger, and fled.

• Wang Chen sensed demonic aura in the gambling room and identified the purple-robed Shi Hongyuan as a demon.
• Wang Chen struck Shi Hongyuan down and pierced his chest with the Demon Slaying Spearhead, while a Fourth Tier Martial General attacked him and was repelled.
• Wang Chen revealed his Blood-Clad Guard badge and told Sun Feiyu that Shi Hongyuan was a demon.
• Wang Chen lifted Shi Hongyuan by the throat as gray smoke rose from the wound and his body began to reveal its demonic form.
• Zhong Yingyao entered the room, saw Shi Hongyuan’s transformation, and turned to flee.

Wang Chen killed the demon hiding in Shi Hongyuan and ordered Guangping’s forces to seal Peony Tower, where he suspected more demons were lurking. When County Commandant Hu Mengde tried to delay the mobilization, Wang Chen killed him and renewed his order to surround the buildings.

• Wang Chen questioned the demon occupying Shi Hongyuan, then destroyed it with a surge of Baleful Intent when it refused to reveal how many demons were present.
• Wang Chen sent up signal fireworks and went to Peony Tower, where he met Guangping Guard Captain Duan Yongfeng and ordered him to seal off the site.
• Wang Chen gave Duan Yongfeng his token to summon the county yamen and garrison, ordering that anyone who defied him be killed.
• Hu Mengde questioned whether demons were inside Peony Tower and said he needed the County Magistrate’s approval before moving the county yamen forces.
• Wang Chen accused Hu Mengde of obstructing him and beheaded him, then ordered the gathered forces to surround Peony Tower.

Wang Chen sealed Peony Tower and screened its guests for demons, killing anyone who tried to escape. He uncovered a disguised man whose real identity was Flower Butterfly Young Master.

• Wang Chen beheaded Hu Mengde and ordered the Blood-Clad Guards to seal Peony Tower.
• Wang Chen killed a Peony Tower guard who challenged him, then warned everyone inside not to flee.
• Several people tried to escape over the walls, but the guards shot them and Wang Chen killed one with his flintlock firearm.
• Duan Yongfeng sent soldiers to surround Peony Tower, and Wang Chen began inspecting guests with the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear.
• Wang Chen stopped a brocade-clad guest, exposed his Human Skin Mask, and knocked him down.
• Duan Yongfeng tore off the man's mask and recognized him as Flower Butterfly Young Master.

Wang Chen captured the notorious Flower Butterfly Young Master, who offered to reveal Peony Tower’s demons and secret passage in exchange for leniency. Wang Chen found a treasure-filled chamber, killed five Martial Artists, and cornered a demon disguised as a man, who backed into a wall panel that suddenly flipped downward.

• Duan Yongfeng identified the captured, heavily disguised criminal as the Flower Butterfly Young Master, and Wang Chen ordered his martial arts and manhood crippled before he was imprisoned.
• The Flower Butterfly Young Master offered to reveal possessed people and a secret passage beneath Peony Tower, so Duan Yongfeng forced him to lead the guards there.
• Wang Chen entered the passage alone, smashed through a stone door with his Seven Feather Spear, and advanced through a volley of arrows protected by his armor.
• Wang Chen found a chamber of treasure and killed the five Martial Artists who attacked him.
• Wang Chen recognized the purple-robed man as a demon in human skin, but the man backed into a wall panel that flipped downward.

Wang Chen killed the snake-headed demon in Peony Tower, claimed half its hidden wealth, and returned to face Guangping County Magistrate Zhou Hongming over the commandant’s death. He answered Zhou’s demand for proof by throwing the demon’s head at him.

• Wang Chen pinned the purple-robed man with the Seven Feather Spear, deflected its venom, and beheaded it with a second saber.
• Wang Chen found a silver-white demonic bead in the snake demon’s body and watched the Demon Slaying Spearhead absorb it.
• Wang Chen inspected Peony Tower’s hidden chests, took about half the gold, valuables, and weapons, and returned to the surface.
• Zhou Hongming confronted Wang Chen for killing Guangping County’s commandant and sealing Peony Tower.
• Wang Chen defended his actions and threw the demon’s head at Zhou Hongming as proof.

After exposing demons at Peony Tower, Wang Chen led a search that uncovered a hidden passage beneath Hundred Victories Pavilion. He killed three snake demons guarding it, while the search of the passage remained unfinished.

• The old county magistrate fainted at the sight of the demon’s severed head, then fled after Duan Yongfeng revived him.
• Wang Chen ordered Duan Yongfeng to guard the scene and continue searching Peony Tower, where the guests and staff cooperated after news of the demons spread.
• Wang Chen ordered soldiers and constables to search the buildings, but the initial search found no additional demons.
• A constable discovered a hidden passage beneath a gambling table in Hundred Victories Pavilion, and Wang Chen jumped inside.
• Three beautiful women attacked Wang Chen in the passage, but he used the Demon Punishing Spear Technique to kill all three snake demons.

Wang Chen uncovered a demon lair beneath Peony Tower and confirmed that the missing people had been used to prepare a Demon Ascension Pool. After receiving a promotion to Blood-Clad Guard Commander, he handed the case over to officials from the Metropolitan Guard Bureau.

• Wang Chen found the missing people’s corpses above the blood pool and ordered Duan Yongfeng to report the discovery, while the demons’ leader escaped through another passage.
• Wang Chen arranged for the Blood-Clad Guard to display the evidence from Peony Tower, rewarded the garrison and a constable, and helped recruit the constable into the guard.
• Pacification Commissioner Yao Peng arrived, identified the pool as an unfinished Demon Ascension Pool, and praised Wang Chen for uncovering it in time.
• Yao Peng presented Wang Chen with a decree promoting him to Blood-Clad Guard Commander and awarding him one thousand taels of gold for killing Huang Jue, the Soul Sever Spear.
• An elite force from the Metropolitan Guard Bureau arrived the following day, and Wang Chen reported the case before handing it over.

After Guangping County was locked down and searched over the Demon Ascension Pool, Wang Chen stayed in seclusion and trained while the investigation spread. The Zhong family offered him treasure and Zhong Yingyao as an apology, but Wang Chen accepted only the gifts and agreed to mention the family to Duan Yongfeng.

• The Metropolitan Guard Bureau and troops from Xilao Pass sealed Guangping County and launched a sweeping investigation, while Wang Chen was excluded from the search and remained under orders not to leave.
• Wang Chen spent several days training at the residence Duan Yongfeng had provided him.
• Zhong Zhenshan arrived with Zhong Yingyao and a white-haired elder carrying a chest of treasure to apologize for Zhong Yingyao's earlier offense.
• Zhong Zhenshan offered Zhong Yingyao as a servant, but Wang Chen accepted the treasure and refused to take her in.
• Wang Chen said he would mention the Zhong family to Captain Duan, and Zhong Yingyao looked at him with resentment.

After returning to Donglu Prefecture City, Wang Chen settled into domestic life with Xi Jun and cultivated while waiting for recognition of his deeds in Guangping. On the day after his seventeenth birthday, he learned that the Great Liang Emperor had promoted him to Demon Suppressing Commander and summoned him to Great Ye City for an audience.

• Wang Chen returned to Donglu Prefecture City, where Xi Jun welcomed him and had kept his household in order.
• Wang Chen accepted Xi Jun’s affection, then spent the following months cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels and improving his Potential points.
• Wang Chen advanced the fifth level of the Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels close to full mastery but could not progress without the remaining methods hidden at Yuntai Mountain Daoist Palace.
• After Wang Chen turned seventeen, Yao Peng brought him an imperial decree promoting him to Demon Suppressing Commander and summoning him to Great Ye City.
• Yao Peng urged Wang Chen to prepare and depart at once so he would not miss the deadline for his audience with the Emperor.

The president of the Hidden Dragon Society learned that Wang Chen was a young fifth-tier Martial Grandmaster and ordered the Azure Peak Bandits to kill him in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. Wang Chen left Donglu City for the imperial capital, leaving Xi Jun in Yao Peng’s care, while she waited for his return.

• A Hawk Falcon delivered a five-seal Red Dispatch to the president of the Hidden Dragon Society, reporting Wang Chen’s strength and imperial summons.
• The president and Elders Pang and Sun agreed that Wang Chen threatened their plans, and the president ordered the Azure Peak Bandits to stop and kill him in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
• Wang Chen entrusted Xi Jun to Yao Peng because he had to leave for the capital at once and could not take her with him.
• Wang Chen promised Xi Jun that he would return for her after meeting the emperor, kissed her goodbye, and rode out of Donglu City.