Chapter Summaries

Gu Shao'an explained Shenzhou’s plan to nurture the Great Xia dynasty’s dragon vein by provoking wars in Jiuzhou, and warned that Shenzhou might send agents again within several years. Zhang Sanfeng learned that Gu Shao'an had already prepared him to lead Jiuzhou’s resistance, while Gu Shao'an expected to reach the Heavenly Human Realm soon.

• Abbess Miejue realized Bai Xiaosheng had sought to provoke war so national fortune could nurture the Great Xia dynasty’s dragon vein, and Zhang Sanfeng revealed he had sensed Jiuzhou’s restrictions years earlier.
• Gu Shao'an explained that Shenzhou could discover the dragon vein’s progress had stalled and send agents to stir up conflict again within two to six years.
• Gu Shao'an described Shenzhou’s martial artists as few in number and generally weaker than Zhang Sanfeng, easing Zhang Sanfeng’s concern about a future invasion.
• Zhang Sanfeng questioned why Gu Shao'an had killed Ba Shibaba and Zhu Houzhao, and Gu Shao'an argued that internal threats had to be settled before confronting Shenzhou.
• Zhang Sanfeng realized Gu Shao'an had given him the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art to prepare him to lead Jiuzhou’s defense, and Gu Shao'an promised to enter the Heavenly Human Realm within two years at the latest.

Gu Shao'an returned to Emei and explained why he would not destroy Shaolin despite having the strength to do so. He planned to weaken the temple through court pressure and gradual restrictions, leaving Shaolin’s eventual decline unconnected to Emei.

• Zhang Sanfeng trusted Gu Shao'an's plans for what came next and told Abbess Miejue they should follow his lead.
• Gu Shao'an returned to West Garden and waited while Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Huang Xuemei finished cultivating.
• Gu Shao'an told the three women that he had killed Zhu Houzhao, Ba Shibaba, and the other Heavenly Human Realm fighters at One Line Sky.
• Huang Xuemei questioned why Gu Shao'an had not destroyed Shaolin, and he explained that doing so would damage Emei's reputation and risk disorder among Shaolin's disciples.
• Gu Shao'an proposed weakening Shaolin by secretly removing its strongest fighters and letting the court gradually restrict its land, wealth, and operations.

After returning to Wudang, Gu Shao'an reassured Zhang Sanfeng and Abbess Miejue that he had plans for the dangers facing the martial world. He explained to Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Huang Xuemei why he would not destroy Shaolin outright, instead proposing to weaken it gradually through the court.

• Zhang Sanfeng trusted Gu Shao'an's judgment and agreed to follow his plans, while Abbess Miejue welcomed his confidence in their disciple.
• Gu Shao'an returned to West Garden and waited for Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Huang Xuemei to finish cultivating before recounting the events at One Line Sky.
• Yang Yan, Zhou Zhiruo, and Huang Xuemei were shocked to learn that Gu Shao'an had killed the Heavenly Human Realm experts of Great Wei and Great Yuan, including Zhu Houzhao and Ba Shibaba.
• Huang Xuemei questioned why Gu Shao'an had not destroyed Shaolin after killing Xuan Mie, Tong Hai, and Du Shan, and Gu Shao'an explained that doing so would damage Emei's reputation and destabilize the martial world.
• Gu Shao'an proposed secretly weakening Shaolin and letting the court gradually restrict its land, wealth, and influence, a plan the three women recognized as safer than destroying the temple directly.

Gu Shao'an gave Yang Yan a Heavenly Silkworm Golden Silk Inner Armor and Huang Xuemei Black Gold Soft Jade Gloves, then used a Martial Arts Enlightenment Card after returning to Emei. His Emei Nine Yang Manual reached completion, and his qi seed blossomed into a golden lotus in his middle dantian.

• Gu Shao'an gave Yang Yan the Heavenly Silkworm Golden Silk Inner Armor and encouraged her and Zhou Zhiruo to gain experience traveling the martial world.
• Gu Shao'an gave Huang Xuemei the Black Gold Soft Jade Gloves, which she liked because they protected her hands without hindering her Sky Demon Qin.
• After spending several days with Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Huang Xuemei, Gu Shao'an used his Martial Arts Enlightenment Card in Emei's training forest.
• Gu Shao'an used the enlightenment to open his Hidden Meridians and advance the Emei Nine Yang Manual from beginner proficiency to completion at the ninth level.
• Gu Shao'an's Gang Yuan transformed, and the qi seed in his middle dantian grew roots before blooming into a crystalline golden lotus.

Gu Shao'an condensed his Qi Flower into a Qi Elixir in one hour after unusual, furnace-like Heaven and Earth Power aided his Yin-Yang refinement. He explained the process to Zhang Sanfeng and asked why the power had vanished, leaving Zhang Sanfeng to answer the mystery.

• Gu Shao'an used Yin and Yang qi, Heaven and Earth Power, and three sword forces from the Emei Sword Manual to form a patterned Qi Elixir.
• After his Martial Arts Enlightenment Card's effect ended, Gu Shao'an found that he could not draw the same scorching Heaven and Earth Power again.
• Zhang Sanfeng arrived, examined Gu Shao'an's Qi Elixir, and was astonished that he had formed it in only one hour.
• Gu Shao'an recounted how he had refined the Qi Flower and described the unusual Heaven and Earth Power.
• Gu Shao'an asked Zhang Sanfeng what the scorching power was and why he could not summon it again.

After discussing Heaven and Earth Power with Zhang Sanfeng, Gu Shao'an watched him return to Wudang and spent the following months cultivating on Emei Mountain. He mastered the beginner stage of the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art's third form, Thunder God's Wrath, as a carriage approached the Emei Sect through the snow.

• Zhang Sanfeng explained that Heaven and Earth Power had different natures and said Gu Shao'an had drawn on it during an enlightened state.
• Gu Shao'an told Zhang Sanfeng he trusted his own strength rather than Shangguan Jinhong, and Zhang Sanfeng then returned to Wudang.
• Peace settled across the Great Wei Kingdom and its border with the Great Yuan Kingdom as the year drew to a close.
• Gu Shao'an cultivated through the winter on Emei Mountain, gathering special Heaven and Earth Power to form the Thunder God Dharma Manifestation.
• Gu Shao'an entered the beginner stage of Thunder God's Wrath and found that its power already exceeded Fire God's Wrath at full mastery.
• A carriage traveled through heavy snow toward the Emei Sect.

Shangguan Jinhong visited Gu Shao'an at Emei to report that he had taken control of the imperial palace and secured approval for a decree targeting Cihang Jingzhai. Gu Shao'an urged him to prepare to exploit Shaolin's weakened state, while Shangguan Jinhong revealed his ambition to replace the Zhu dynasty with his own; after Shangguan left, Gu Shao'an reflected on his hidden influence over events.

• Shangguan Jinhong arrived at Emei and respectfully asked to see Young Sect Leader Gu Shao'an.
• Shangguan Jinhong reported that he controlled the palace and capital, then presented a decree branding Cihang Jingzhai and Bai Xiaosheng traitors.
• Gu Shao'an approved the decree and told Shangguan Jinhong that Shaolin had no remaining Heavenly Human Realm martial artists, making its wealth vulnerable.
• Shangguan Jinhong said he would prepare to target Shaolin and asked permission to eventually change the realm's ruling surname from Zhu to Shangguan.
• Gu Shao'an told Shangguan Jinhong to handle the change himself and reminded him of the things Gu Shao'an wanted.
• After Shangguan Jinhong departed, Gu Shao'an considered how he had become the hidden force driving events and said that he liked the feeling.

After returning from Emei, Shangguan Jinhong killed Sun Qingyu for overstepping and warned Cao Zhengchun that they must avoid offending Gu Shao'an and Zhang Zhenren. By February, an imperial edict had exposed Cihang Jingzhai’s alliance with Bai Xiaosheng and Great Yuan, and the chapter ended with Gu Shao'an and the others reading news of the court’s attack on Cihang Jingzhai.

• Shangguan Jinhong returned to his residence outside Jiading Prefecture, where Sun Qingyu and Cao Zhengchun reported that the Golden Coin Gang and Azure Dragon Society controlled much of the capital.
• Sun Qingyu suggested that Shangguan Jinhong summon Gu Shao'an by imperial edict, so Shangguan Jinhong had Cao Zhengchun strike him and then killed him.
• Shangguan Jinhong told Cao Zhengchun that they had to avoid angering Gu Shao'an and Zhang Zhenren, whose power and protection could secure their rule.
• In February, an imperial edict accused Cihang Jingzhai and Bai Xiaosheng of conspiring with Great Yuan and credited Gu Shao'an with defeating their forces and killing the Heavenly Human Realm experts at One Line Sky.
• At the end of February, Gu Shao'an, Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, Huang Xuemei, Juechen, Jueyuan, and others gathered in Abbess Miejue's courtyard to read Sun Baifa's report that the court had attacked Cihang Jingzhai with the Azure Dragon Society and Golden Coin Gang.

After Huang Xuemei left Emei to tend to the Heavenly Dragon Gate, Gu Shao'an rushed to treat the poisoned and gravely injured Sun Tianfeng. On the road ahead, a mysterious white-haired woman appeared to intercept Huang Xuemei’s carriage.

• Abbess Miejue agreed to help arrange Gu Shao'an and Huang Xuemei’s wedding after he returned from the Great Sui Kingdom, and Huang Xuemei left for the Heavenly Dragon Gate.
• Sun Xiaohong told Gu Shao'an that Sun Tianfeng was badly injured and poisoned, so he rushed with her to the house by the pond and began treating her.
• As Huang Xuemei traveled by carriage, she thought about her upcoming marriage to Gu Shao'an and then sensed a powerful Gang Yuan aura ahead.
• A white-haired woman with the face of a child approached Huang Xuemei’s carriage at extraordinary speed.

Jiangnan Yue confronted the Heavenly Dragon Gate convoy while searching for an old man traveling with an unconscious old woman, and Huang Xuemei challenged her after she attacked a gate elder. Jiangnan Yue escaped toward the Emei Sect, while Huang Xuemei suspected she was hunting someone there and believed Gu Shao'an could kill her.

• Jiangnan Yue charged into the Heavenly Dragon Gate formation and immobilized an elder while asking whether the convoy had seen an old man with an unconscious old woman.
• Huang Xuemei attacked Jiangnan Yue from the carriage with the Sky Demon Qin, and Jiangnan Yue identified herself as Three Thousand Feet of White Hair.
• Huang Xuemei and Jiangnan Yue exchanged attacks, with Huang Xuemei breaking apart Jiangnan Yue's Red Dust Zhang Xin Palm.
• Jiangnan Yue withdrew toward the Emei Sect, warning Huang Xuemei that she would teach her a lesson when they met again.
• A Heavenly Dragon Gate elder suggested Jiangnan Yue might be hunting people from the Emei Sect, and Huang Xuemei said Gu Shao'an would kill her if she caused trouble there.

Jiangnan Yue confronted Sun Baifa at Emei, and the two fought fiercely as Gu Shao'an watched. Sun Baifa was wounded while weakened, but Zhou Zhiruo arrived before Jiangnan Yue could press her advantage.

• Jiangnan Yue recognized Gu Shao'an and apologized for entering Emei, but Gu Shao'an said he would settle accounts with her later.
• Jiangnan Yue recognized Sun Baifa as the Old Man Tianji, and Sun Baifa taunted her before they began fighting.
• Sun Baifa used the Heavenly Machine Rod Technique to deflect Jiangnan Yue's attacks, while Gu Shao'an observed their battle with the Son of Heaven's Qi Gazing Technique.
• Jiangnan Yue overwhelmed Sun Baifa with her Red Dust Zhang Xin Palm and hair-sword attacks, exploiting his weakened condition to wound him and knock him back.
• Sun Xiaohong called out to Gu Shao'an, who reassured her, as Zhou Zhiruo arrived and halted Jiangnan Yue's advance.

Gu Shao'an confronted Jiangnan Yue after learning she had injured Emei Sect members in Jiading Prefecture, then killed her with a single strand of sword qi. After dissolving her body, he sat with Sun Baifa, who asked whether Gu Shao'an had personally killed Bai Xiaosheng and the others at One Line Sky.

• Zhou Zhiruo told Gu Shao'an that Jiangnan Yue had injured the Emei Sect elders and disciples stationed in Jiading Prefecture, and Gu Shao'an asked Zhou Zhiruo to report that he would handle the matter.
• Gu Shao'an restrained Jiangnan Yue with his aura as Zhou Zhiruo departed, then told Sun Baifa he would settle their score with her.
• Gu Shao'an formed a strand of sword qi that severed Jiangnan Yue's three thousand white hairs, pierced her defenses, and beheaded her.
• Gu Shao'an dissolved Jiangnan Yue's corpse and joined Sun Baifa at a bamboo table while Sun Xiaohong prepared tea.
• Sun Baifa asked Gu Shao'an whether he had personally killed Bai Xiaosheng, Si Hanfei, Ba Shibaba, and the others at One Line Sky.

Gu Shao'an revealed that Bai Xiaosheng was Xiang Yutian and explained how the Sun family had fled Bai Xiaoge with the Nine Dragon Stone, which could prevent the Great Xia Dynasty from repairing its dragon vein. After Sun Baifa told Sun Xiaohong the family’s history, Gu Shao'an asked where the Great Xia Dynasty’s passage into Jiuzhou was, as he planned to travel to Great Sui Kingdom.

• Gu Shao'an told Sun Baifa that Bai Xiaosheng was Xiang Yutian and that Bai Xiaoge had nearly uncovered the Sun family's identities and numbers.
• Sun Baifa explained to Sun Xiaohong that the Great Xia Dynasty had sealed Jiuzhou to nurture its dragon vein and had used Bai Xiaoge to conceal the truth and manipulate dynasties.
• Sun Baifa revealed that the Sun family's ancestors had defected from Bai Xiaoge during its civil war and changed their surname to evade pursuit.
• Sun Baifa said the Sun family's ancestors had taken the Nine Dragon Stone, whose earth-vein power was needed to repair the Great Xia Dynasty's damaged dragon vein.
• Gu Shao'an asked Sun Baifa where the Great Xia Dynasty's passage into Jiuzhou was because he planned to go to Great Sui Kingdom.

Gu Shao'an learned that a hidden altar beneath Cihang Jingzhai in the Great Sui Kingdom connected Jiuzhou to Shenzhou, and that the Evil Emperor's Relic could help him locate it. After leaving Sun Baifa, he went to the Golden Summit Hall, where Abbess Miejue had gathered the Emei Sect leaders and Zhao Jingxuan.

• Gu Shao'an told Sun Baifa he intended to destroy the passage between Shenzhou and Jiuzhou, and Sun Baifa revealed that its altar lay beneath Cihang Jingzhai in the Great Sui Kingdom.
• Sun Baifa explained that the Evil Emperor's Relic was the key to activating the altar and could help Gu Shao'an find it.
• Gu Shao'an considered using his Great Skill of Absorbing Power to draw out the Relic's stored cultivation and strengthen the Emei Sect, then decided to visit Yang Gong's Treasury.
• Sun Baifa warned Gu Shao'an that Xiang Yutian might have founded Cangbing Valley and its Buliangren organization, which had ties to the Li Clan.
• Gu Shao'an left Sun Baifa's residence and flew to the Golden Summit Hall, where Abbess Miejue, Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, Mei Jiangxue, Zhao Jingxuan, and the Emei elders had gathered.

Gu Shao'an set out from Emei Mountain for the Great Sui Kingdom with Mei Jiangxue, intending to find a rare fruit in Ten Thousand Miasma Valley. After reaching Nanshan Prefecture, he suspected Mount Heng Sect had lost control of the area, then heard a familiar voice in the inn.

• Gu Shao'an told Abbess Miejue that his conflict with Jiangnan Yue had been resolved and announced his journey to the Great Sui Kingdom.
• Gu Shao'an explained that the Ten Thousand Heart Candle Dragon Fruit could help strengthen the group’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and asked to bring Mei Jiangxue along.
• Abbess Miejue agreed to let Mei Jiangxue travel with Gu Shao'an and instructed her to follow his guidance.
• Three days later, Gu Shao'an and Mei Jiangxue left Emei Mountain and traveled toward the Great Sui Kingdom.
• In Nanshan Prefecture, Mei Jiangxue asked why the territory of Mount Heng Sect had such poor order, and Gu Shao'an suspected Mount Heng Sect no longer controlled it.
• At an inn, Gu Shao'an heard a familiar voice order braised meat, side dishes, and old wine.

Gu Shao'an explained to Mei Jiangxue that the Sun Moon Divine Sect had secretly taken control of the Mount Song Sect and suspected the same had happened to the Mount Heng Sect. After learning that Linghu Chong was drinking with a bearded stranger, Gu Shao'an recognized a clue to the stranger’s identity and stopped at the door.

• Mei Jiangxue realized that the Mount Song Sect had been secretly taken over by the Sun Moon Divine Sect, which used its name and resources to control Dengfeng Prefecture.
• Gu Shao'an suspected the Mount Heng Sect was also under Sun Moon Divine Sect control, but said its disorder suggested Dongfang Bai had been eliminated by Zhu Houzhao.
• Gu Shao'an and Mei Jiangxue finished their meal and headed downstairs, where they saw Linghu Chong drinking with a bearded man who urged him to join the Sun Moon Divine Sect.
• The bearded man noticed Mei Jiangxue as she left, and Gu Shao'an stopped at the doorway after recognizing the short saber at the stranger’s waist as a clue to his identity.

Gu Shao'an recognized Tian Boguang at the inn and sent Mei Jiangxue to fight him. When Linghu Chong intervened with the Star Absorbing Great Method, Gu Shao'an destroyed his dantian with sword Qi, leaving him collapsed against the wall.

• Gu Shao'an recognized the man beside Linghu Chong as Tian Boguang and identified him to Mei Jiangxue.
• Gu Shao'an told Mei Jiangxue to deal with Tian Boguang, and she attacked him with her sword.
• Mei Jiangxue overwhelmed Tian Boguang with Sunset Swordplay and drove him back against the wall.
• Linghu Chong tried to use the Star Absorbing Great Method to pull Mei Jiangxue's true Qi into his hand.
• Gu Shao'an shattered Linghu Chong's suction force with sword Qi and destroyed his dantian, sending him crashing into the wall.

Gu Shao'an used Tian Boguang to test Mei Jiangxue's combat skills, intervened when Tian tried to flee, and guided her through a breakthrough into the Condensing Qi into Essence realm. Afterward, he turned his attention to Linghu Chong and his swordsmanship.

• Tian Boguang recognized Gu Shao'an and tried to escape by spraying poison at Mei Jiangxue, but Gu Shao'an neutralized the poison and struck Tian with sword qi.
• Gu Shao'an ordered Mei Jiangxue to continue fighting Tian, who attacked recklessly and began overpowering her with his swift, deceptive saber technique.
• Mei Jiangxue broke through during the fight and defeated Tian Boguang with sword qi; Gu Shao'an then guided her through the Emei Nine Yang Manual until she entered the Condensing Qi into Essence realm.
• Gu Shao'an reflected on Mei Jiangxue's training and recalled his interest in Dugu Nine Swords.
• Gu Shao'an considered that Linghu Chong had released Ren Woxing and became interested in Linghu Chong's swordsmanship.

Mei Jiangxue reached the Condensing Qi into Essence realm as Gu Shao'an dealt with Tian Boguang and killed Linghu Chong after he attacked with Dugu Nine Swords. Gu Shao'an then explained why Linghu Chong had been expelled and decided to visit the Huashan Qi Sect to see the true master of Dugu Nine Swords.

• Mei Jiangxue completed her cultivation breakthrough, and Gu Shao'an reassured her before explaining that Linghu Chong had been expelled from the Huashan Qi Sect.
• Linghu Chong attacked Gu Shao'an with Dugu Nine Swords, but Gu Shao'an caught his blade, broke off its tip, and killed him with it.
• Gu Shao'an compensated the tavern proprietor and told him to claim the reward for Tian Boguang's corpse and handle Linghu Chong's body as well.
• As they left, Gu Shao'an told Mei Jiangxue about Linghu Chong's past actions and explained why his conduct could bring disaster to the Huashan Qi Sect.
• Gu Shao'an told Mei Jiangxue that he planned to visit the Huashan Qi Sect to see how its Dugu Nine Swords master had developed the technique.

Gu Shao'an and Mei Jiangxue arrived at Mount Hua and met Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, and Yue Lingshan. After explaining that he had killed the disgraced Linghu Chong and had no grievance with the sect, Gu Shao'an revealed that he had come to demand an explanation from Feng Qingyang.

• Li Qianzhong recognized the visitors’ extraordinary movement skills and ordered the Mount Hua disciples to sheathe their swords.
• Gu Shao'an identified himself as the Emei Sect’s Young Sect Leader, and Li Qianzhong went to summon Yue Buqun.
• Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, and Yue Lingshan greeted Gu Shao'an and Mei Jiangxue at the mountain gate.
• Gu Shao'an told them he had encountered Linghu Chong with Tian Boguang in Nanshan Prefecture and had killed Linghu Chong.
• Yue Buqun clarified that Linghu Chong had been expelled from the Mount Hua Sect years earlier, and Gu Shao'an said he had not come to cause trouble for the sect.
• Gu Shao'an announced that he had come to demand an explanation from Sword Madman, Feng Qingyang.