Chapter Summaries

Wang Ming rebuilt the Underworld Society and suspected Wen Chou Chou had secretly helped Emperor Shitian undermine Lord Conqueror. Meanwhile, Emperor Shitian returned to Tianmen after Invincible Warrior defeated him and decided he had to prepare for slaying the dragon.

• Wang Ming reflected on Wen Chou Chou’s betrayal and realized Emperor Shitian had likely disguised himself as Wen Chou Chou to poison Lord Conqueror and weaken his Trinity Origin Qi.
• Wang Ming grew frustrated with the Underworld Society’s paperwork and considered asking Yan Ying to help manage its affairs.
• Emperor Shitian fled to Tianmen after Invincible Warrior defeated him in battle and repeatedly killed him.
• Emperor Shitian realized that the Phoenix Blood’s immortality did not prevent aging, which weakened his body and internal energy.
• Emperor Shitian decided to begin preparations for slaying the dragon, though he worried that Lord Conqueror’s destiny would make him difficult to kill.

Wang Ming had Yan Ying take over the Underworld Society’s internal affairs while he considered how to manage Cloud and Wind and strengthen himself. He planned to find Qin Shuang and You Ruo, purify Wind’s absorbed cultivation, and use his remaining destiny to digest the gains from the Water Moon Cave World.

• Wang Ming reflected on the Underworld Society’s collapse and Mud Buddha’s prediction that Lord Conqueror’s destiny depended on Wind and Cloud.
• Yan Ying confronted Wang Ming, who gave her documents and spent the night teaching her to handle government affairs until she took over the society’s internal affairs.
• Wang Ming considered the risks of Cloud recovering his memories and Wind having his demonic nature purged, and decided he needed to find Qin Shuang and You Ruo.
• Wang Ming resolved to purify Wind’s absorbed cultivation because its foreign essence, energy, spirit, and artistic conceptions could harm him.
• Wang Ming decided to use his remaining destiny to digest the gains from the Water Moon Cave World and raise his strength.

Wang Ming returned to the Underworld Society and left Qin Shuang to manage its depleted affairs while he watched over Wind and Cloud. He explained that he would need several months before he could remove Wind’s demonic nature, then focused on using the Society’s feng shui layout and the brothers’ fortunes to protect himself as the divine dragon’s period of weakness approached.

• Wang Ming told Qin Shuang that Wind had gone mad and Cloud had lost his memories, then assigned him responsibility for the Underworld Society’s affairs.
• Qin Shuang saw Wind and Cloud but kept the truth about Kong Ci’s death from Cloud, and he prioritized his relationship with Ding Ning.
• Wang Ming visited Wind, whom Yan Ying and You Ruo were caring for, and told them he could not eradicate Wind’s demonic nature for several months.
• Wang Ming returned to the grand hall and used the Underworld Society’s feng shui layout to plan how to borrow Wind and Cloud’s fortunes and protect himself.
• Wang Ming considered Emperor Shitian’s need to slay the divine dragon during its approaching period of weakness, since he could not wait another six hundred years.

Wang Ming strengthened the throne hall with a spirit-gathering array and gave Cloud a powerful sword, while reflecting on how he had wronged his disciples. Cloud was deeply moved by Wang Ming’s care, though he did not express his gratitude before being dismissed.

• Wang Ming carved a spirit-gathering barrier into the throne and dais to improve his cultivation.
• Wang Ming explained the Peerless Sword’s origins and Cloud’s ties to it, then gave Cloud the Crimson Blood Sword.
• Cloud tested the sword with his sword techniques, but Wang Ming insisted that he keep it.
• Cloud remembered Wang Ming’s kindness in restoring Zi Ning’s sight, teaching them martial arts, and helping find Yu Chuchu.
• Wang Ming told Cloud that his disciples and daughter mattered more to him than royal ambitions, then dismissed him.

Wang Ming explained why Wind could not safely leave the Underworld Society and urged him to remain while searching for Second Dream. He argued that unifying the martial world would end its chaos, though he privately knew Wind would only change his mind after confronting harsh reality.

• Qin Shuang reported that he had recalled loyal Underworld Society disciples, bringing its numbers to about two hundred, while Wind proposed withdrawing from the jianghu.
• Wang Ming warned Wind that leaving would endanger Yan Ying and reminded him that his past demonic rampage had made him a target; he also revealed that Second Dream was alive but missing.
• Wind decided to search for Second Dream, but Yan Ying persuaded him to stay in the Underworld Society and spread word that he was looking for her.
• Qin Shuang proposed recruiting orphans, and Wind objected to renewed bloodshed; Wang Ming claimed that unifying the realm would bring peace by ending conflict over scarce resources.
• Wang Ming privately recognized that Wind had not been persuaded by his argument and resolved to wait for reality to change his outlook.

As the Underworld Society prepared for its reconstruction ceremony, the Supreme Martial Artist ordered an attack, while Emperor Shitian sent people to attend and continued recovering from his injuries. Wang Ming warned Qin Shuang, Wind, and Cloud that the ceremony would be dangerous and had them train at Heaven Mountain.

• The Underworld Society regained its footing under Qin Shuang, and its invitation to a reconstruction ceremony prompted the major factions to unite against it before deciding to attend with their finest weapons and disciples.
• The Supreme Martial Artist ordered a massive army to exterminate the Underworld Society, angered by Lord Conqueror's return and the threat to his rule.
• Emperor Shitian told Divine Mother Luo Xian to send people to support Lord Conqueror's ceremony, while he recovered from another beating by Invincible Warrior and planned to pursue Dragon Essence.
• Wang Ming told Qin Shuang, Wind, and Cloud to prepare for the dangerous ceremony and ordered Qin Shuang to hand the Society's affairs to Yan Ying so he could focus on martial arts.
• Wang Ming kept the three disciples at Heaven Mountain to cultivate in a Spirit-Gathering Barrier, where they and Wang Ming rapidly recovered their lost strength.

Wang Ming hosted a banquet at Underworld Society while Qin Shuang, Wind, and Yan Ying welcomed martial artists who secretly planned to eradicate Lord Conqueror. As the gathering continued, Wang Ming prepared Cloud for the danger ahead by urging him to face stronger opponents without fear.

• Qin Shuang and Wind welcomed the invited martial artists at Underworld Society and flattered each guest by claiming their martial arts were no weaker than Wind's.
• The Four Oddities of the Four Cardinal Directions arrived, received Qin Shuang and Wind's praise, and entered the main hall.
• Yan Ying presided over the celebration and considered how she might secure her position by getting into Lord Conqueror's bed.
• Cloud told Wang Ming that his family had been sent through a secret passage in case trouble broke out.
• Wang Ming encouraged Cloud to fight even against stronger opponents, while privately thinking that Cloud's courage would make his Continuous Weakening Strikes worthwhile.

Wang Ming prepared for the martial world's hostile gathering at the Underworld Society, knowing the sects wanted to keep the resources they had taken. As the crowd confronted Qin Shuang, Cloud, and Wind, Wang Ming let them enter and faced a Shaolin monk who invited him to visit Shaolin.

• Thousands of martial world figures gathered at the Underworld Society, intent on destroying it and retaining its former resources.
• Wang Ming told You Ruo that he had invited the hostile factions to confront them at a time of his choosing, and checked her progress with the Trinity Gang Qi.
• You Ruo and Wang Ming saw the crowd rise and challenge Cloud, Qin Shuang, and Wind for Lord Conqueror's absence.
• Wang Ming ordered Qin Shuang to let the crowd into the hall, where the Shaolin monk invited him to visit Shaolin.

A Shaolin monk tried to take Wang Ming to Shaolin for thirty years, but Wind, Cloud, and Frost challenged him instead. Cloud ultimately defeated the monk, while the onlookers collapsed in pain and the monk accused Wang Ming of foul play.

• The Shaolin monk invited Wang Ming to Shaolin as a guest, then demanded he disband the Underworld Society and submit to Buddhist conversion.
• Wang Ming refused, and the monk attacked him with Buddha's Palm, but Wind and the others shattered the swastika seal.
• Wind, Qin Shuang, and Cloud fought the monk; Wind and Qin Shuang were injured, while Cloud continued battling him with his sword and rapid attacks.
• Cloud's moves prevented the monk from using his full strength, and Cloud struck him down with a final palm.
• The monk accused Wang Ming of being despicable as everyone collapsed and began wailing.

Wang Ming faced the poisoned martial artists in the Underworld Society hall as Broken Wave returned to confront Cloud and Lord Conqueror. Broken Wave revealed that he had poisoned the gathered experts and served Emperor Shitian, while Wang Ming considered the Fire Qilin Sword in his hand.

• The gathered martial artists collapsed and cursed Lord Conqueror, while Wang Ming noticed explosives beneath his chair and wondered why no one had set them off.
• Broken Wave entered the hall, announced his return, and challenged Cloud over their past grudge.
• Broken Wave silenced the poisoned martial artists and admitted that he had poisoned them to capture the martial arts experts for Emperor Shitian’s plan to rule the world.
• Broken Wave accused Lord Conqueror of favoring Wind over him and forcing him to lose to Cloud, then mocked the downfall of the Underworld Society.
• Wang Ming recognized Broken Wave’s Fire Qilin Sword and considered how its power could corrupt its wielder.

Broken Wave attacked Wang Ming, but Cloud intercepted him and fought him with the Crimson Blood Sword while Wang Ming protected the injured Qin Shuang and Wind. The poisoned martial artists remained helpless amid the battle, and Northern Wild Lion and his companions worried about surviving.

• Broken Wave drew the Fire Qilin Sword and attacked Wang Ming, but Cloud blocked his strike and defended his master.
• Broken Wave taunted Cloud and attacked with the Eclipse Sun Swordplay, but Cloud absorbed his fiery sword qi with the Qilin Arm.
• Wang Ming pulled Qin Shuang and Wind to safety and used Northern Darkness Qi to dissolve the sword rain before it reached them.
• Cloud clashed swords with Broken Wave, whose Fire Qilin Sword began losing ground against the Crimson Blood Sword’s cutting force and Cloud’s fast attacks.
• Northern Wild Lion, Southern Zhuge, Yue Buqun, and Western Smiling Buddha discussed defecting to Cloud and feared the poisoned fighters would not survive.

Wang Ming trapped Cloud and Broken Wave in a protective qi shield and made them continue fighting so Cloud could improve through battle. As Cloud struggled against Broken Wave, Wang Ming healed Wind and Qin Shuang and warned that more enemies were coming.

• Cloud and Broken Wave fought fiercely in the Underworld Society palace, with neither gaining the upper hand.
• Wang Ming gathered heaven and earth origin qi and formed a protective shield around the fighters, stopping them from leaving.
• Wang Ming ordered Cloud to treat Broken Wave as a whetstone, and Cloud resumed attacking despite Broken Wave urging him to join forces against Lord Conqueror.
• Cloud used Cloud Dispensing Palm and his Qilin Arm to break through Broken Wave's attack, but Broken Wave escaped the follow-up by forcing Cloud to retreat with a wave of heat.
• Wang Ming channeled origin qi into Wind and Qin Shuang to heal them and warned that Broken Wave was likely not the only enemy arriving.

Ice Emperor headed to the Underworld Society after learning Broken Wave was fighting Cloud, while Broken Wave nearly killed Cloud inside Wang Ming’s energy shield. Wang Ming rescued Cloud and trapped Broken Wave in a sphere of liquid and gaseous true qi, leaving his fate undecided.

• The poisoned pugilists accepted that they could not escape and watched Cloud and Broken Wave fight.
• Ice Emperor learned that Broken Wave was locked in battle with Cloud and set out to intervene, after reflecting on his years in the Ice Hell and his renewed loyalty to Emperor Shitian.
• Broken Wave overwhelmed Cloud with Eclipse Sun Swordplay and knocked the Crimson Blood Sword from his hand.
• As Broken Wave’s Fire Qilin Sword was about to strike Cloud, Wang Ming filled the energy shield with liquid true qi and pulled Cloud to safety beside Wind.
• Wang Ming suspended Broken Wave inside a sphere of true qi and wondered whether to kill him.

Wang Ming considered whether to spare or recruit Broken Wave, then sensed Ice Emperor approaching and prepared to face him. Ice Emperor survived Wang Ming’s explosive attack on his forces and advanced toward the hall, ready for battle.

• Wang Ming dismissed the idea of recruiting Broken Wave because he believed Broken Wave would betray anyone he served.
• Wind asked Wang Ming to spare Broken Wave, but a powerful, icy aura approached the Underworld Society hall.
• Wang Ming warned everyone to stay close and launched a sphere of condensed true Qi through the palace gates.
• Ice Emperor caught the sphere, which burst into explosive droplets that killed many of his followers, while Ice Emperor escaped unharmed.
• Broken Wave landed unharmed, and Ice Emperor advanced alone toward the hall after abandoning his contempt for Wang Ming.

Ice Emperor attacked Wang Ming on Emperor Shitian’s orders, but Wang Ming’s extraordinary body and strength overcame the Snow Blood Claw. Ice Emperor was left impaled by Wang Ming’s golden palm.

• The Northern Wild Lion and the other three decided to pledge allegiance to Wang Ming if he survived, or to the unknown expert outside if he died.
• Ice Emperor entered the Underworld Society hall, announced that Emperor Shitian had sent him to kill Wang Ming, and froze several nearby martial artists with the Snow Blood Claw.
• Wang Ming’s energy spheres burned through Ice Emperor’s defenses and set many martial artists on fire, but Ice Emperor eventually broke Wang Ming’s vital Qi barrier and struck his chest.
• Wang Ming’s Qi knocked Qin Shuang, Cloud, and Wind unconscious, while his golden, steel-like body withstood Ice Emperor’s claw attacks.
• Wang Ming punched Ice Emperor hard enough to break his bones, then endured a hundred more Snow Blood Claw strikes beneath a thick layer of ice.
• As Ice Emperor turned to leave, Wang Ming’s golden palm burst through his chest.

After Underworld Society’s founding ceremony, Wang Ming continued cultivating while the surviving powers reacted to his defeat of their forces. The Supreme vowed vengeance, Emperor Shitian planned to confront Lord Conqueror after recovering, and the martial world feared Underworld Society would expand across the realm.

• Wang Ming had Qin Shuang, Cloud, and Wind knocked unconscious to keep them from studying his Indestructible Vajra Body, then left Underworld Society’s affairs to You Ruo and Yan Ying.
• An armored messenger told The Supreme that the force sent to kill Lord Conqueror had been wiped out, and The Supreme flew into a rage.
• Luo Xian told Emperor Shitian that Broken Wave had returned and that Lord Conqueror had killed Ice Emperor and the other disciples.
• Emperor Shitian ordered Luo Xian to withdraw and said he would deal with Lord Conqueror once his injuries healed.
• The martial world learned that many who attended Underworld Society’s founding ceremony had died or defected, and the sects feared Lord Conqueror would again try to bring them under his rule.

Wang Ming discussed how to deal with the captured martial artists and ordered their sects to ransom them while putting the prisoners to work. He then pointed out Qin Shuang, Cloud, and Wind’s weaknesses in battle, leaving their training needs unresolved.

• Wang Ming realized that establishing the Underworld Society had modestly increased his cultivation speed because his rule brought stability to the realm.
• Wind proposed releasing the captured martial artists, while Yan Ying recommended executing them all.
• Wang Ming rejected both proposals and ordered ransom letters sent to the prisoners’ sects, claiming the Underworld Society had rescued them from Tianmen.
• Wang Ming ordered the prisoners to build roads, including one leading to the Luoyang Imperial Palace, and said they would remain at hard labor if their sects refused to ransom them.
• Wang Ming identified Qin Shuang’s insufficient internal energy, Cloud’s lack of memories and sword techniques, and Wind’s inability to use the Demonic Saber as reasons for their poor performance.

Wang Ming addressed his disciples’ weaknesses and gave Qin Shuang and Cloud martial arts suited to their needs. After demonstrating a terrifying sword illusion, he left Cloud with the Five Peaks Swordplay, hoping it would strengthen his close-combat style against Emperor Shitian.

• Wang Ming assessed Qin Shuang, Cloud, and Wind’s shortcomings and led them to the Threefold Training Grounds.
• Wang Ming gave Qin Shuang the Empty Clarity Fist, Great Subduing Demon Fist, and Ice Profound Force to broaden his techniques and deepen his internal energy.
• Wang Ming gave Cloud several sword manuals and demonstrated a fearsome illusion using sword stances from the Five Peaks Sword Sects.
• Cloud, Qin Shuang, and Wind realized Wang Ming could have killed them effortlessly, and Cloud thanked him for teaching the swordplay.
• Wang Ming privately admitted that the sword intent was a spell-made illusion and intended the Five Peaks Swordplay to improve Cloud’s close-combat attacks against Emperor Shitian.

Wang Ming gave Wind, Cloud, and Qin Shuang powerful martial arts, then offered the women manuals so they could protect themselves and escape danger. He left the Underworld Society in the three disciples’ hands and went into seclusion to study the Dragon God Skill.

• Wang Ming taught Wind the final stance of Wind God Leg and gave him the Illusion Sword manual.
• Wang Ming made You Ruo, Ding Ning, Yu Chuchu, and Zi Ning his disciples and gave them the Lesser Unphased Skill, which could preserve youth and prolong life.
• Wang Ming gave You Ruo more lightness skill manuals for the women, and Cloud picked one up to teach Yu Chuchu.
• Wind asked whether Yan Ying could learn the martial arts, and Wang Ming agreed that she could.
• Wang Ming announced his seclusion to research the Dragon God Skill and left Qin Shuang, Cloud, and Wind to manage the Underworld Society together.

As Wang Ming entered seclusion, the Underworld Society’s return stirred the major sects and ambitious pugilists. Cloud released the sects’ detained disciples in accordance with Wang Ming’s orders, while his allies debated which apprentice would inherit the Society and ultimately chose to remain with him.

• The top ten sects, angered by Wang Ming’s ransom demands, paid to recover their detained disciples, while other pugilists considered joining the Underworld Society.
• Cloud refused Northern Wild Lion and Western Smiling Buddha’s suggestion to keep the disciples and build an army, saying he would follow Wang Ming’s orders and had no interest in leading the Society.
• After Cloud left, Northern Wild Lion, Western Smiling Buddha, Southern Zhuge, and Eastern Yue Buqun debated whether Qin Shuang or Feng had the stronger claim to succeed Lord Conqueror.
• Western Smiling Buddha speculated that You Ruo’s affection for Feng and Yan Ying’s apparent closeness to Lord Conqueror could strengthen Feng’s position.
• Northern Wild Lion cautioned that switching allegiance might look like sowing discord, and the four decided to continue following Cloud.