Chapter Summaries

Wei Zihao returned to the Wei Residence with fellow disciples and Yu Yan, then learned from Wei Xinghe how Old Doctor Chen and Young Master Lu had saved the clan from the Heavenly Azure Sect. He was stunned by Lu Qing’s victory over a Martial Dao Grandmaster and learned that Lu Qing and his master were staying at the residence.

• Wei Xinghe welcomed Wei Zihao, Yu Yan, and Zihao’s fellow disciples after they arrived at the residence.
• Wei Zihao reunited with his mother and then asked Wei Xinghe why the family had not summoned him when the Heavenly Azure Sect attacked.
• Wei Xinghe explained that the residence had been cut off from sending messages and that Old Doctor Chen and Young Master Lu had resolved the crisis.
• Wei Zihao was astonished to hear that Lu Qing, despite having Tendons and Bones Realm cultivation, had defeated a Martial Dao Grandmaster.
• Wei Xinghe told Wei Zihao that Lu Qing and Old Doctor Chen were staying in the Secluded Bamboo Courtyard and warned him not to offend them.

Wei Zihao returned as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion and visited Lu Qing with his younger brother, Wei Zi'an. Wei Zihao’s secret technique sensed Lu Qing’s overwhelming danger, and he resolved never to provoke him, while Lu Qing recognized that Wei Zihao was unusual too.

• Wei Xinghe asked Wei Zihao to help receive guests for Wei Zi'an’s apprenticeship and learned that Wei Zihao had become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion.
• Wei Zihao offered to take Wei Zi'an as a sword-attendant boy, but accepted that Ma Gu was a suitable master for his younger brother.
• Wei Zi'an brought Wei Zihao to visit Lu Qing at the Secluded Bamboo Courtyard, where Wei Zihao thanked Lu Qing for saving the Wei Clan.
• Wei Zihao sensed through his sect’s secret technique that Lu Qing was extraordinarily dangerous and decided that he must never provoke him.
• Lu Qing noticed the Wei brothers leaving and guessed that Wei Zihao possessed the Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion’s Mind Secret Technique.

Lu Qing attended the Wei Residence banquet for Ma Gu’s apprenticeship ceremony, where the guests treated him with awe. The Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion disciples noticed his influence but did not know who he was.

• Ma Gu worried about the apprenticeship ceremony until Lu Qing reassured him that the Wei Residence would keep things orderly.
• Lu Qing brought Xiao Yan and Xiao Li to the banquet while Ma Gu went to prepare for the ceremony.
• Lu Qing’s arrival silenced the guests, who watched him with awe as Grand Steward Wei escorted him to the head table.
• Grand Steward Wei introduced Lu Qing to the Wei Family Head and Ma Gu’s parents, and Lu Qing greeted them warmly.
• An Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion disciple asked Brother Li who Lu Qing was, but Brother Li said he did not recognize him.

At Wei Zi'an’s apprenticeship ceremony, Lu Qing sensed danger as the Qian Family Head presented a hidden weapon. The Qian Family Head launched himself at Wei Zi'an with a short sword, leaving the attack in progress.

• Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion disciples doubted the local heirs’ claims that Lu Qing had defeated a Martial Dao Grandmaster.
• The County Magistrate and Your Excellency Zhi Rui arrived and joined Lu Qing’s banquet table, where the County Magistrate and Lu Qing exchanged pointed courtesies.
• Wei Zi'an completed his apprenticeship ceremony by bowing and presenting tea to Ma Gu.
• The Qian Family Head presented Wei Zi'an with an exquisite wooden box, claiming its contents were a gift he would like.
• Lu Qing sensed danger through his Supernatural Ability and shouted for Wei Zi'an to watch out.
• The wooden box exploded, and the Qian Family Head drew a black short sword and charged at Wei Zi'an.

A Seven Killings Hall assassin disguised as the Qian Family Head attacked Wei Zi'an with a poisoned sword, but Lu Qing intervened and pursued him. Wei Zi'an was left unconscious from Blood Fiend Poison, and the chapter ended with Lu Qing returning after capturing the assassin.

• The disguised Qian Family Head used Soul Shaking Mystic Art and lunged at Wei Zi'an, but Lu Qing deflected the sword with a teacup and struck the attacker with a punch.
• The assassin used Lu Qing's force to escape through a wall, and Lu Qing chased after him.
• The guests discovered Wei Zi'an had been poisoned with Blood Fiend Poison, and Zhi Rui gave him an antidote pill that only temporarily slowed the poison.
• Wei Xinghe learned Old Doctor Chen was away, while Ma Gu and Madam Wei urged him to bring Lu Qing back to save Wei Zi'an.
• Lu Qing returned with the assassin captured and declared that the man could not escape.

Lu Qing defeated the Seven Killings Hall assassin impersonating the Qian Family Head and saved Wei Zi'an from Blood Fiend Poison. After the captive revealed that the real Qian Family Head was dead, the Plain-Clothed Youth asked which of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Star Assassins he was.

• Lu Qing captured the fake Qian Family Head and hurried to treat the poisoned Wei Zi'an.
• Lu Qing used medicinal liquid and acupuncture to neutralize the Blood Fiend Poison, and Wei Zi'an woke up.
• The fake Qian Family Head admitted he had killed the real Qian Family Head and said he knew nothing about who ordered the assassination.
• The Plain-Clothed Youth stopped Wei Xinghe from killing the captive and asked which Thirty-Six Heavenly Star Assassin he was.

The Plain-Clothed Youth confronted the Qian Family Head about the Seven Killings Hall’s growing influence and uncovered that the Ten Thousand Year Shift was approaching. After learning Lu Qing was not from a secret realm, the Qian Family Head called him a Dao Child of Fortune, revealed the assassination mission’s purpose and reward, and died by severing his own heart meridian.

• The Plain-Clothed Youth described the Seven Killings Hall’s elite assassins and challenged the Qian Family Head over the Hall’s interference in the Human Race’s stability.
• The Qian Family Head revealed that a great change unseen in ten thousand years was approaching, and Lu Qing connected it to Spiritual Qi Revival.
• The Qian Family Head asked Lu Qing about his origins, then declared him a Dao Child of Fortune after hearing he had no sect or secret-realm lineage.
• The Qian Family Head revealed that his mission was to kill Wei Xinghe’s youngest son in front of him, for a reward of three pills that could help an Inner Organs Realm martial artist achieve Grandmasterhood.
• The Qian Family Head urged Lu Qing to fight for fortune in the coming Era of Great Strife, then severed his own heart meridian and died.

After Qian Family Head died, his body reverted from its disguised appearance, and Zhi Rui explained Seven Killings Hall’s rules and the danger Lu Qing now faced. Lu Qing learned that assassins might target him to claim the vacant Heavenly General position, but he stayed confident that they would not threaten Xiao Yan and that he could handle them.

• Qian Family Head’s body changed back to its ordinary appearance after his death, revealing his use of the Muscle Tendon Changing and Bone Shifting Technique.
• Zhi Rui explained to Wei Xinghe that Seven Killings Hall would require a much larger bounty to continue targeting Zi An after the failed assassination.
• Zhi Rui warned Lu Qing that assassins might target him to compete for Heavenly Lone Star’s vacant position among the Top Twelve Generals.
• Lu Qing worried that Seven Killings Hall might endanger Xiao Yan, but Zhi Rui assured him its rules forbade using threats against others to claim the position.
• Lu Qing accepted the prospect of further assassinations, confident that his abilities would expose the assassins and that Innate Realm fighters were restricted by the Holy Mountain Decree.

After Lu Qing defeated Heavenly Lone Star, Zhi Rui explained that surviving the Seven Killings Hall’s seven assassination attempts would earn its protection, but Lu Qing refused to rely on its rules. As Zhi Rui and Yan Canghai discussed the coming Ten Thousand Year Shift, Zhi Rui warned that meddling in it could destroy even the Heaven's Secret Pavilion and the Holy Mountain.

• Zhi Rui told Lu Qing that the Seven Killings Order allowed up to seven assassination attempts and that survivors received the Seven Killings Hall’s protection and honors.
• Lu Qing said he would not trust the Seven Killings Hall’s promise and would treat any attempt on his life as a declaration of enmity.
• After the Wei Clan ceremony ended, Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion disciples resolved to report the Ten Thousand Year Shift and praised Lu Qing’s strength and medical skill.
• Zhi Rui sent a report about recent events to his sect, then worried that the approaching upheaval would bring chaos and that Lu Qing might be a Child of Destiny.
• Yan Canghai joined Zhi Rui for wine and chess and pressed him about the Ten Thousand Year Shift.
• Zhi Rui confirmed the world was about to change and warned Yan Canghai that interference could doom his family, the Heaven's Secret Pavilion, and even the Holy Mountain.

Lu Qing prepared Burning Flame Liquid and went to Casting Heart Workshop to resume forging with Heavenly Meteorite Iron. Old Craftsman Lin and Wei Xinghe watched with great anticipation as Lu Qing prepared to use Furnace Number One.

• Wei Xinghe brought Lu Qing the materials he had requested, and Lu Qing borrowed the Wei Residence's alchemy room.
• Lu Qing successfully prepared Burning Flame Liquid and told Wei Xinghe he was heading to Casting Heart Workshop.
• Wei Xinghe asked to accompany Lu Qing, and Lu Qing agreed before retrieving a piece of Heavenly Meteorite Iron from his Universe Qi Bag.
• Old Craftsman Lin welcomed Lu Qing and Wei Xinghe, closed Casting Heart Workshop, and lit Furnace Number One for Lu Qing.
• Lu Qing took the Heavenly Meteorite Iron from his wooden box, and Old Craftsman Lin stared at it in astonishment.

Lu Qing used Burning Flame Liquid to heat Heavenly Meteorite Iron in the Casting Heart Workshop and began forging it into a weapon. His thunderous hammering continued for more than two hours before abruptly stopping.

• Old Craftsman Lin warned that the workshop's furnace could not heat Lu Qing's Heavenly Meteorite Iron, but Lu Qing said he had come prepared.
• Lu Qing dripped Burning Flame Liquid into the furnace, turning its flames pure azure and raising their heat until the Heavenly Meteorite Iron glowed red.
• Lu Qing hammered the heated iron with immense strength, reshaping it with each strike as Old Craftsman Lin and his disciples watched in shock.
• The thunderous blows alarmed nearby residents, while Old Craftsman Lin's disciples kept outsiders from entering the workshop.
• Lu Qing continued forging for more than two hours, and the booming sounds then abruptly stopped.

Lu Qing forged the Heavenly Meteorite Iron into a top-grade Divine Weapon blade embryo with the potential to evolve into an Artifact or Spirit Artifact. After arranging for a scabbard and forging another Divine Weapon for his master, he and his companions bid farewell to the Wei Residence.

• Lu Qing and Old Craftsman Lin finished forging the Heavenly Meteorite Iron into a blade embryo, whose natural patterns revealed it was a top-grade Divine Weapon.
• Lu Qing inspected the blade embryo and discovered its exceptional capacity to contain many kinds of power and evolve over time.
• Lu Qing declined to have the blade sharpened and asked Old Craftsman Lin to make a scabbard instead.
• Lu Qing and Wei Xinghe left the workshop while onlookers dared not approach them.
• Lu Qing later forged an ordinary Divine Weapon sword for Old Doctor Chen, who was delighted with the gift.
• After staying several more days, Lu Qing and the others bade farewell to the Wei Residence.

Lu Qing, Old Doctor Chen Songqing, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Li left the Wei Residence and returned to Nine Li Village after nearly half a month away. In the County Town, Yan Canghai learned Old Doctor Chen Songqing was the mysterious Innate Realm expert, while the Plain-Clothed Youth rebuked Yan Canghai and departed; the travelers reached the village before dusk.

• Lu Qing and the Old Doctor rejected the Wei family's offers to stay, then departed the County Town with Xiao Yan and Xiao Li as Madam Wei and Wei Zi'an watched them leave.
• Yan Canghai learned from the Plain-Clothed Youth that the mysterious Innate Realm expert was Old Doctor Chen Songqing, whose accumulated Merit Light had helped him advance.
• The Plain-Clothed Youth told Yan Canghai he was unfit to compete with his brothers, advised him to remain County Magistrate, warned him not to provoke Lu Qing, and left Cang County.
• On the journey home, Xiao Yan admired the roadside flowers while Xiao Li happily showed her excitement at being free to move around.
• Lu Qing and the others reached Nine Li Village before dusk, and Lu Qing retrieved the Red Rope from the village entrance, drawing the villagers' attention.

After returning home, Lu Qing practiced the Four Directions Saber and recognized that his tempered Divine Soul Power had let him touch the Intent Realm. He began cultivating the Furnace Contemplation Method, cautiously visualizing a small stove and entering its flames to temper his Divine Soul Power.

• Lu Qing recalled how the villagers had worried during his absence and felt warmed by their care.
• Lu Qing practiced the Four Directions Saber with his rough Heavenly Meteorite Iron Divine Weapon Blade Embryo and reflected on his progress toward martial intent.
• Lu Qing decided to strengthen his Divine Soul Power by cultivating the Furnace Contemplation Method inherited from the Li Fire Sect.
• Lu Qing visualized a small stove, entered its blazing interior as mental power, and endured the flames while reciting the cultivation mantra.

Lu Qing strengthened his Divine Soul Power with the Furnace Contemplation Method and visited Old Doctor Chen with Xiao Yan and Xiao Li. There, Zhi Rui warned him that Seven Killings Hall had issued a Seven Killings Order against him and revealed that Lu Qing had appeared on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

• Lu Qing completed his first cultivation of the Furnace Contemplation Method and felt his Divine Soul Power grow stronger.
• Lu Qing brought Xiao Yan and Xiao Li to the Half-Mountain Courtyard, where he found Zhi Rui visiting Old Doctor Chen.
• Zhi Rui reported that Wang Cangyi had returned to the Heavenly Azure Sect and that he was leaving the County Town.
• Zhi Rui told Lu Qing that Seven Killings Hall had issued a Seven Killings Order against him.
• Zhi Rui showed Lu Qing the Hidden Dragon Ranking and revealed that Lu Qing was listed on it.

Lu Qing learned that the Hidden Dragon Ranking gave its listed Martial Artists a trace of Luck, and found himself ranked twenty-ninth. After he told the Old Doctor that the coming upheaval might be a Spiritual Qi Revival, his master accepted that powerful sects would handle the larger crisis, while news of Lu Qing’s ranking stirred the outside world.

• The Plain-Clothed Youth explained the Hidden Dragon Ranking and warned the Old Doctor that a great upheaval might come within ten years, advising him to use his Holy Pool opportunity within five.
• Lu Qing used his Supernatural Ability to discover that the ranking gathered Luck for those listed, then found himself in twenty-ninth place alongside familiar names including the Plain-Clothed Youth, Wei Xinghe, and Zhao Xiong.
• The Old Doctor connected the Plain-Clothed Youth’s warning with the Ten Thousand Year Shift, and Lu Qing said it might refer to the Spiritual Qi Revival described in the Carefree Wanderer’s notes.
• Lu Qing reminded the Old Doctor of the miraculous cauldron beneath the Wei Clan, and his master concluded that powerful sects would deal with the coming transformation while he focused on healing people.
• The newly released Hidden Dragon Ranking caused an uproar throughout the outside world because Lu Qing’s name appeared on it.

Heaven's Secret Pavilion announced Lu Qing's debut on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, drawing attention from factions across the land. At Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion, the Sect Master sought answers about the approaching Ten Thousand Year Shift from his imprisoned Little Martial Uncle, who revealed he knew the secret and demanded a deal.

• Heaven's Secret Pavilion confirmed that seventeen-year-old Lu Qing of Cang Province had reached the Inner Organs Initial Stage and ranked twenty-ninth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.
• Elders of Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion connected Lu Qing to the genius described in Ming Jian's letter and to the target of Seven Killings Hall's Seven Killings Order.
• The elders discussed the approaching Ten Thousand Year Shift and decided that the Sect Master should ask Little Martial Uncle what he knew.
• The Sect Master entered the Sword Pavilion's forbidden cave and spoke with Little Martial Uncle, whom the sect had poisoned, crippled, and imprisoned more than two hundred years earlier.
• Little Martial Uncle reacted wildly to news of the upheaval, said he had waited more than two hundred years for it, and offered to explain in exchange for a deal.

A prisoner known as Little Martial Uncle persuaded Xiao Jian Wen to release him by warning that the Ten Thousand Year Shift threatened the Sword Pavilion’s survival. Meanwhile, Lu Qing went fishing with Xiao Li and used his newly upgraded treasure rod to hook a strange fish.

• Little Martial Uncle offered to reveal the truth about the Ten Thousand Year Shift if Xiao Jian Wen let him out of prison.
• Little Martial Uncle swore the coming upheaval could destroy the Sword Pavilion, and Xiao Jian Wen resolved to release him under conditions.
• Lu Qing took Xiao Li to the Strange Fish Fishing Spot, where she eagerly watched for a catch.
• Lu Qing used a Thousand-Refined Fish Hook on his upgraded rod and pulled a strange fish from the river.

Lu Qing caught five Red Moon Carp while fishing with Xiao Li, then learned that a powerful stranger was secretly watching Nine Li Village. He and Xiao Li approached the hidden observer, and Lu Qing confronted him from below.

• Lu Qing caught five Red Moon Carp, gave one to Xiao Li, and saved the others for his family.
• Xiao Li sensed an unfamiliar, powerful aura lurking near the village and told Lu Qing about it.
• Lu Qing suspected the stranger might be an assassin from Seven Killings Hall and followed Xiao Li's guidance toward the northern mountain.
• Lu Qing and Xiao Li concealed themselves as they approached the stranger, who remained confident that no one could detect him.
• Lu Qing called up to the hidden man and demanded that he come down or be dragged down.

Lu Qing defeated and gravely wounded Lin An, a Seven Killings Hall assassin known as Dark Shadow, then forced him to reveal the organization’s base locations. Dark Shadow also disclosed the traps at a key site that could deal Seven Killings Hall a serious blow, leaving Lu Qing with a target for revenge.

• Lu Qing discovered Lin An hiding in a tree and blasted him down with a stone, exposing him as a Seven Killings Hall assassin.
• Lin An attacked Lu Qing with a poisoned short sword, but Lu Qing disarmed him and struck him into a tree.
• Lin An pretended to be dead and tried to flee, but Lu Qing hit him with another stone and left him grievously wounded.
• Lu Qing threatened to kill Lin An unless he revealed Seven Killings Hall base locations, and Lin An gave him several.
• Lin An named a more important Seven Killings Hall site and described its traps and mechanisms.