Recaps

Song Changming rose to prominence through the Liu Dingsheng retirement attack and strengthened his martial skills as the imperial succession crisis plunged the region into war. After refusing to serve the Fifth Prince, he lost his captaincy, defeated Gao Qiu, and received a rare ginseng from Liu Dingsheng.

• Chen Yan and Zhuang Ren defeated the Dinghai Water Gang, and Song Changming explored the fish market and discovered that Jade Marrow improved his Spirit Monkey Art.
• Song Changming stopped a street fight involving Young Master Xu and the Sword Star Sect, then watched Liu Dingsheng's allies retaliate against the Xu Family.
• At Liu Dingsheng's retirement ceremony, Outsiders unleashed Mist Beasts, and Song Changming fought them before rescuing Liu Yan'er from the ruined hall.
• Song Changming sought Liu Dingsheng's guidance, sparred with him, and learned that his many Body Refining Techniques could slow his progress without limiting his potential strength.
• After the emperor died and rival princes fought for the throne, the Fifth Prince made Donglai Commandery his base, and Song Changming chose not to attach himself to him.
• Song Changming confronted Gao Qiu after his men assaulted a woman, then lost his captaincy when the authorities removed him and several patrol guards resigned alongside him.
• Gao Qiu attacked Song Changming and his family, but Song Changming killed him, took control of the Mist Beast, and helped uncover his remaining allies.
• Song Changming learned that Mist Gold could be sold for a high price, and Liu Dingsheng sent him a 350-year-old Flowing Gold Ginseng.

Song Changming advanced his body-refining skills amid drought and war, then joined a plot that ended with Chu Huai’s death and Gu Wenhui’s takeover. After reaching the Ninth Realm, he learned that opening his Nether Sea was necessary to cultivate Martial Art Manuals and considered attending the Peach Banquet.

• Song Changming used the Flowing Gold Ginseng to complete Bone Forging and reach the Seventh Realm, then began learning Liu Dingsheng’s martial arts in exchange for protecting Liu Yan'er.
• Song Changming captured attackers sent against Liu Dingsheng, later seized Mist Gold and the pieces of an Ancient Abyss Kingdom map, and learned that the map held a secret art.
• Song Changming studied the Blood Burst Secret Technique as drought and rebellion spread, while the Imperial Court’s forces invaded Donglai and Chu Huai’s harsh rule turned the people against him.
• After soldiers attacked the Song Residence and injured Big Yellow and Big White, Song Changming agreed to join Lu Zheng’s operation against Chu Huai.
• Gu Wenhui captured the Fifth Prince and seized control of the Seven Commanderies, while Song Changming killed Chu Huai and Xiong Dangshan during the attempt on the Young Prince’s life.
• Song Changming received a five-hundred-year-old ginseng as a reward, advanced his Great Strength Bull Demon Art to the Ninth Realm, and gained Nine Ox Strength.
• Liu Dingsheng explained that Song Changming needed to open his Nether Sea to cultivate Martial Art Manuals and offered to take him to the Peach Banquet at Jade Void Cave.
• Song Changming declined Li Pu’s challenge and said he would attend the Peach Banquet if he had not opened his Nether Sea by then.

Song Changming gained the Flood Dragon Body and began cultivating Qi before returning to a fallen Donglai Commandery City, where he defeated the invaders and rescued its people. His growing fame brought Earth Ranking challenges and left him facing Jiang Maocai, a Qi Refining Martial Artist sent by the Second Prince.

• Song Changming swallowed a Dragon Transformation Bead, opened his Nether Sea, and gained the Flood Dragon Body, then helped Song Ping'an and his animals transform with other beads.
• Song Changming fought Li Pu for a Dragon Transformation Bead, won the duel, and returned to the Prefecture City, where he gave a bead to Liang Zhaolong and began refining internal Qi.
• Song Changming fled Donglai Commandery City with his family as the Second Prince's forces approached, but cavalry attacked the convoy and Father Song later died on the journey.
• Song Changming returned alone to the occupied city, rescued Zhao Huaiming and detained officials, and killed Yao Yizhu, Xu Dabao, Xue Boyan, and Jiang Kan before helping drive out the invaders.
• Song Changming mourned Father Song and resumed cultivation, then learned that the Jianghu Secret News Record had ranked him ninety-first on the Earth Ranking.
• Song Changming gained Light as Wind and upgraded Strong to Imposing and Powerful, then defeated Gu Sangao with one saber strike and discouraged other challengers.
• Song Changming swallowed two pieces of Crimson Jade Marrow and refused Jiang Maocai's challenge letter, but Jiang Maocai climbed into his courtyard and revealed that the Second Prince had sent him.

Song Changming rescued Liang Zhaolong’s association, acquired a dangerous body-refining art, and joined the campaign against the Second Prince. After killing the prince and taking his treasury, Song became the Earth Ranking’s top name and advanced his Qi cultivation in Wangyue Commandery.

• Song Changming defeated Jiang Maocai, completed his Ninth Extreme transformations, and left Donglai with Song Ping'an to help Liang Zhaolong.
• Song Changming rescued Liang Zhaolong and the Changming Association from the authorities and Sanhe Gang, then traveled to Wangyue Commandery to seek a body-refining secret art.
• Song Changming bought the Heavenly Origin Body Refining Art and began refining Fierce Beast essence, then learned the Ice Heart Pure Thought Art from Liu Yan'er to control its savage influence.
• Xiao Yanli launched an assault on the Second Prince, transformed crows into Black Soul Crows, and drew Song Changming into the battle at the prince’s residence.
• Song Changming seized the Second Prince’s treasury, killed Cao Long, and beheaded the Second Prince, while the surviving Black Soul Crow swallowed the corpse and was taken by Outer Domain cultists.
• Song Changming returned to Wangyue Commandery with the treasure chests, studied new martial arts, and was ranked first on the Earth Ranking for killing the Second Prince.
• Song Changming chose Qi cultivation rewards from his annual evaluation, formed a second Martial Path Vortex, and reached the second level of Qi cultivation.