Chapter Summaries

Song Changming reached Taiqing Commandery City and learned from He Yanxian that Liang Zhaolong and the Changming Association were being hunted. Liang was secretly planning to rescue imprisoned members, but he recognized the two people who had entered the General Security Department and called them the Changming Association’s true backer.

• Song Changming entered Taiqing Commandery City with He Lian'er and her daughter, then accompanied them to the He residence.
• He Yanxian told Song Changming that Liang Zhaolong had escaped arrest and was hiding somewhere beyond the city, while the authorities and Sanhe Gang hunted him.
• Song Changming promised to find Liang and turned toward the General Security Department to seek clues.
• Liang Zhaolong secretly gathered loyal association members to plan a prison break, despite his injuries and the plan’s low chance of success.
• A messenger reported that two people and two fierce hounds had forced their way into the General Security Department, and Liang recognized the hounds as belonging to people he knew.
• Liang Zhaolong abandoned the prison-break plan and led his followers to meet the Changming Association’s true backer.

Song Changming rescued the imprisoned Changming Association members and used his Wind Dragon technique to defeat the soldiers sent against him. He led the survivors to the Sanhe Gang’s victory banquet, where he confronted Meng Baihu and sent Big Yellow and Big White to attack him.

• Song Changming forced the Head of the General Headquarters to reveal the prison’s location, and Song Ping'an went there with Big White to free the prisoners.
• Song Ping'an returned with dozens of injured Changming Association members, and Song Changming learned Liang Zhaolong was safe and reunited with him.
• When soldiers fired a barrage of arrows and bolts, Song Changming summoned the Wind Dragon and hurled more than a hundred soldiers into the walls.
• Song Changming led Liang Zhaolong and the rescued members away, then arrived at the Sanhe Gang’s victory banquet, where the Changming Association traitors were celebrating.
• Song Changming confronted Meng Baihu, and Big Yellow and Big White leaped toward the gang leader as the two sides prepared to fight.

Song Changming and the Changming Association defeated the Sanhe Gang and escaped the authorities’ response, while Tao Qiucheng chose not to pursue them. Song Changming continued to Wangyue Commandery to visit Liu Dingsheng and seek Body Tempering manuals, arriving near Wangyue City beneath Wangyue Mountain.

• Liang Zhaolong and the Changming Association killed the traitors and wiped out the Sanhe Gang, with Big Yellow and Big White defeating Meng Baihu.
• After soldiers began searching Taiqing Commandery City, Song Changming and his companions had already left.
• Tao Qiucheng learned that a Qi Refining cultivator backed the Changming Association and ordered that wanted notices and bounties be issued, but decided against further retaliation.
• Song Changming traveled through the mountains toward Wangyue Commandery, intending to visit Liu Dingsheng and ask about Body Tempering manuals.
• Song Changming and Song Ping'an passed Mountain and Water One-Line Sky, spotted Wangyue Mountain, and reached a city nestled among the mountains.

Song Changming visited Liu Dingsheng in Wangyue Prefecture City and discovered that the region’s spiritual energy, nourished by a Spirit Vein in Wangyue Mountain, improved Qi cultivation. As he waited for help finding a way to advance his Body Refinement, news finally arrived of a possible secret art.

• Song Changming entered Wangyue Prefecture City, met Liu Ziwen and Liu Dingsheng, and agreed to stay with Liu Dingsheng.
• Liu Dingsheng explained that a Spirit Vein beneath Wangyue Mountain enriched the region’s spiritual energy, and Song Changming confirmed that cultivating there was more effective.
• Song Changming watched Liu Dingsheng practice a profound Body-Nourishing Fist that Liu Yan'er had obtained for him.
• Song Changming asked Liu Dingsheng about ways to improve beyond the utmost realm of Body Refinement, and Liu Dingsheng offered to search for secret arts and ask Liu Yan'er.
• Song Changming received Liang Zhaolong’s reply confirming that Liang had regrouped with the Changming Association and was no longer pursued by the Second Prince.
• After Liu Ziwen defeated Song Ping'an in a saber spar, Liu Dingsheng’s subordinate reported a lead on the Body Refinement secret art Song Changming sought.

Song Changming bought the Heavenly Origin Body Refining Art, an Ancient Abyss Kingdom secret art said to strengthen the body without limit but gradually corrupt its practitioner's temperament. The chapter ended with him opening the verified manual, confident that he could risk trying it because he had another life to spend on resurrection.

• A messenger told Liu Dingsheng and Song Changming that Jewel Box Pavilion had appraised the secret art at one thousand Han Gold and said it could theoretically strengthen the body without limit.
• Liu Dingsheng identified the Ghost-faced Vajra as a past practitioner whose body had been renowned as the world's strongest, but warned that the art had likely contributed to his violent nature.
• The messenger explained that the art twisted its practitioner's temperament until they lost their humanity, and that powerful Spiritual Power and self-restraint were needed to resist its effects.
• Despite Liu Dingsheng's warning, Song Changming decided to buy the manual for study and gave him one thousand Han Gold and a pouch of money for the brothers.
• Liu Ziwen completed the purchase, and several days later Song Changming received the manual and opened it to find the title Heavenly Origin Body Refining Art.

Song Changming mastered the Heavenly Origin Body Refining Art and tested it by refining Fierce Beast meat, strengthening his body but suffering attacks from the beasts’ lingering spiritual wills. After his companions noticed the ferocity in his expression, he insisted he was fine, though the art’s mental side effects remained a problem.

• Song Changming read the Heavenly Origin Body Refining Art and mastered it after adding it to his panel and practicing for over a month.
• Song Changming bought high-quality Fierce Beast meat and used the art to extract its flesh-and-blood essence, enduring a tiger’s spiritual will attacking his Nether Sea.
• Song Changming refined several dozen pounds of meat and gained roughly one or two pounds of strength, but the process depleted his Spiritual Power and gave him a headache.
• Liu Dingsheng, Liu Ziwen, and the others noticed Song Changming looked more ferocious, and Song Ping'an urged him to stop cultivating the secret art.
• Song Changming reassured them that he was fine but recognized that the spiritual will’s lasting effects would need to be solved if he continued cultivating.

Song Changming continued cultivating the Heavenly Origin Body Refining Art cautiously while waiting for a way to address its side effects. When Liu Yan'er returned to Liu Residence with Wangyue Pavilion disciples, Guan Weijing learned Song Changming was an Earth Ranking Martial Artist and challenged him to exchange pointers.

• Song Changming limited his body-refining practice to once every three to five days because its side effects took time to recover from.
• Liu Yan'er arrived at Liu Residence with Guan Weijing, Shen Xueyu, and other Wangyue Pavilion disciples to visit her family.
• Song Changming greeted Liu Yan'er and Shen Xueyu, who remembered that he had saved them from a Mist Beast.
• Guan Weijing questioned Song Changming about his cultivation and learned he was an unaffiliated martial cultivator.
• A Wangyue Pavilion disciple recognized Song Changming as the East Lai Dragon Saber on the Earth Ranking, and Liu Dingsheng confirmed it.
• Guan Weijing revealed that he was also an Earth Ranking Martial Artist and challenged Song Changming to exchange pointers.

Song Changming accepted Guan Weijing’s sparring challenge for a wager of three hundred Han Gold and defeated the Wangyue Pavilion disciple with overwhelming strength. Guan Weijing admitted his loss and vowed to challenge him again, while Song Changming told him to bring more money next time.

• After a Wangyue Pavilion disciple provoked him, Song Changming agreed to spar Guan Weijing for three hundred Han Gold.
• Guan Weijing and Song Changming took their positions in Liu Dingsheng’s courtyard, and Song Ping'an brought out Song Changming’s wager.
• Song Changming broke through Guan Weijing’s first sword strike with his saber and sent him onto the courtyard wall.
• Guan Weijing attacked again with the Moon Cosmos Sword Art, but Song Changming’s two Wind Dragons shattered his sword intent and left his saber at Guan Weijing’s forehead.
• Guan Weijing conceded that his skills were inferior and promised to return for another challenge, while Song Changming told him to bring more Han Gold.

Song Changming defeated Guan Weijing and learned that his physical strength far exceeded what he had realized. Liu Yan'er taught him the Ice Heart Pure Thought Art, which calmed his distracting thoughts, and he gave her a Dragon Transformation Bead in return before she returned to Wangyue Pavilion.

• Song Changming defeated Guan Weijing, ranked forty-fifth on the Earth Ranking, and Song Ping'an told him the victory suggested his strength surpassed that rank.
• Liu Yan'er offered Song Changming a meditation art she had obtained independently, and Liu Dingsheng reassured them that sharing it would not violate Wangyue Pavilion's rules.
• Liu Yan'er taught Song Changming the Ice Heart Pure Thought Art, which he mastered within a few days and used to calm his mind and suppress distracting thoughts.
• Song Changming gave Liu Yan'er a Dragon Transformation Bead to repay her for sharing the meditation art, and Liu Yan'er accepted it.
• Liu Yan'er returned to Wangyue Pavilion, while Song Changming reflected that he preferred to cultivate without the restrictions of a Hidden Great Sect.

Song Changming refined his body with the Ice Heart Pure Thought Art and learned that Xiao Yanli was plotting against the Second Prince, whom Song still wanted to confront over their old grudge. As Song prepared to investigate and join the plot, Xiao Yanli gathered his allies and announced they would move against the Second Prince within three days.

• Song Changming used the Ice Heart Pure Thought Art to counter the Fierce Beast essence's savage influence and continue daily body refinement, though the expense and scarcity of suitable meat remained a problem.
• Song Changming received a letter from Xiao Yanli, and Liu Dingsheng explained that Xiao Yanli had gathered martial world experts and was hiding in the Second Prince's commanderies.
• Song Changming considered joining Xiao Yanli's plan, while Liu Dingsheng offered to investigate the situation and prepare for Song's departure.
• Xiao Yanli met his allies in an abandoned residence and revealed that he intended to overthrow the Second Prince to avenge the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Yanli declared that the Second Prince would die within three days and led his group toward Hengyang Commandery.

Xiao Yanli launched a long-prepared assault on Chu Jing’s residence in Hengyang Commandery, joining forces with Gu Wenhui’s side to kill the Second Prince. As the residence burned and attackers broke through its walls, Chu Jing retreated to the Guard Palace, where Duan Fangshuo prepared to defend him.

• Xiao Yanli arrived in Hengyang Commandery, confirmed that the Nanyang experts had assembled, and resolved to kill Chu Jing that night despite Song Changming’s absence.
• Chu Jing argued with his officials over the cost of supplying his troops and ordered extra guards after Duan Fangshuo reported a powerful suspicious figure outside the residence.
• An alarm bell rang, and Duan Fangshuo escorted Chu Jing to the Guard Palace as flaming arrows set the prince’s residence ablaze.
• Duan Fangshuo organized the Prefecture Soldiers and guards around the Guard Palace while attackers fought their way into the residence.
• A burly attacker smashed through the residence’s high wall, and the invading Martial Artists charged inside, shouting for Chu Jing.

Xiao Yanli led an assault on Chu Jing’s residence, then used Mist Gold to transform a flock of Outer Realm Black Soul Crows into powerful Mist Beasts. Song Changming watched from the shadows as the crows flew toward the Guard Palace where Chu Jing was hiding.

• E'tuo charged into the front hall but was badly wounded by Chu Jing’s retainers, sparking a fierce battle between the two sides’ Martial Artists.
• Xiao Yanli led his group toward the Guard Palace while Gu Wenhui’s experts fought Chu Jing’s forces and the residence burned around them.
• Xiao Yanli took out Mist Gold and used it to transform the surrounding black crows into enormous, high-level Mist Beasts called Outer Realm Black Soul Crows.
• Song Changming observed the assault from a courtyard wall, intending to see Chu Jing die and claim benefits for himself.
• Xiao Yanli sent the transformed crows around the main battlefield toward the Guard Palace.

Song Changming watched Duan Fangshuo defend the Second Prince from Xiao Yanli’s Black Soul Crows, but Xiao Yanli’s death transformed the remaining birds into stronger monsters. Duan Fangshuo fled with the Second Prince while Song Changming entered the ruined Guard Palace and decided to search the rest of the residence for treasure.

• Duan Fangshuo used powerful fire-aspect saber energy to kill most of Xiao Yanli’s Black Soul Crow Mist Beasts, revealing that he had once been a Heavenly Ranking Martial Artist.
• As his qi-refining allies began considering retreat, Xiao Yanli swallowed Mist Gold and let the remaining Black Soul Crows devour him.
• The five surviving Black Soul Crows mutated after consuming Xiao Yanli and attacked the Guard Palace, resisting Duan Fangshuo’s saber energy.
• Duan Fangshuo rushed into the palace hall, then escaped through a window carrying the Second Prince as the mutated crows pursued them.
• Song Changming entered the ruined Guard Palace, drove off a retainer, and flew away to search other parts of the prince’s residence for treasure.

A martial artist was driven from the Second Prince’s treasury by Hua Li, who then faced Tian Jun and Cao Long over the treasures. Song Changming arrived and began fighting Cao Long, leaving him swallowed by two Wind Dragons.

• A jianghu martial artist killed the treasury guards and packed five chests of the Second Prince’s treasures before Hua Li wounded him with sword Qi and forced him to flee.
• Tian Jun and Cao Long demanded the treasures from Hua Li, and the three prepared to fight over them.
• Song Changming arrived, identified the three Earth Ranking experts, and declared that he wanted all the treasures.
• Cao Long attacked Song Changming with his Overlord Saber, but Song Changming calmly stopped and knocked aside the strike.
• Song Changming unleashed two Wind Dragons that swallowed Cao Long.

Song Changming killed Cao Long, took the treasure chests, and returned to the burning prince’s estate to settle his grudge with the Second Prince. He found the Second Prince fleeing under heavy guard, while Duan Fangshuo stayed behind to fight three Black Soul Crows.

• Song Changming overwhelmed Cao Long and killed him with a slash across the neck.
• Hua Li abandoned the treasure and fled, while Tian Jun also turned and ran; Song Changming took the treasure chests without pursuing them.
• Song Changming handed the chests to Song Ping'an, then returned to the estate to confirm whether the Second Prince was alive and kill him if possible.
• Duan Fangshuo held off three strengthened Black Soul Crows and ordered the Second Prince’s guards to escort him away.
• Song Changming appeared on the estate wall in front of the fleeing Second Prince and cleared away the incoming arrows.

Song Changming stormed the Second Prince’s residence and killed the Second Prince despite a warning from afar. He then faced Duan Fangshuo and watched the last Black Soul Crow’s strange reaction to the corpse.

• Song Changming broke through the Second Prince’s Qi Refining guards and cornered the prince with a gale that blocked his escape.
• The Second Prince offered compensation and invoked his Imperial bloodline, but Song Changming declared that he would die and beheaded him.
• Duan Fangshuo arrived with a fire-aspected saber strike, and Song Changming split it before the two exchanged a powerful blow.
• Song Changming withstood Duan Fangshuo’s attack, while the guards realized the Second Prince had been killed.
• The last Black Soul Crow flew to the Second Prince’s corpse, shed bloody tears, and cried as Song Changming wondered whether Xiao Yanli’s spiritual will influenced it.

Song Changming escaped Hengyang Commandery with the Second Prince’s treasures and a seventh-grade Fire God Saber Art after the prince’s death left the six commanderies up for grabs. He began studying the manual as Song Ping'an stopped the carriage to deal with bandits.

• The Black Soul Crow killed and swallowed the Second Prince, drove Duan Fangshuo from the prince’s residence, and then attacked Song Changming.
• Flute music drew the Black Soul Crow to Outer Domain cultists, who bonded with it using Mist Gold and took it away, suspecting Xiao Yanli’s spiritual consciousness remained inside.
• Song Changming left the burning prince’s residence, while the returning army found the Second Prince dead and Duan Fangshuo missing.
• Gu Wenhui invaded the six ownerless commanderies, and Song Changming departed in a carriage loaded with five chests of treasures from the Second Prince’s treasury.
• Song Changming studied the seventh-grade Fire God Saber Art and compared its powerful fire-element techniques with his Wind Dragon Divine Saber Art as Song Ping'an went to handle bandits blocking the carriage.

Song Changming returned to Wangyue Commandery with valuable treasures and learned from Liu Dingsheng about the dangerous Outer Domain and the legendary Ancient Abyss Kingdom. He settled on cultivating in Wangyue for now, discovered an Eighth-grade martial art, and his name stirred up trouble again after Jewel Box Pavilion updated its Secret Records.

• Song Changming entrusted the treasures from the Second Prince’s residence to Liu Ziwen and discussed Xiao Yanli and the Black Soul Crow with Liu Dingsheng.
• Liu Dingsheng recounted his failed journey into the Outer Domain and explained that Ancient Abyss Kingdom was said to be the origin of the world’s martial arts.
• Song Changming promised to take Liu Dingsheng to Ancient Abyss someday, but decided to remain in Wangyue Commandery and focus on cultivation.
• Song Changming studied the manuals he had brought back and added the Eighth-grade Flying Thunder Art to his martial arts panel.
• Jewel Box Pavilion updated its semiannual Secret Records, once again causing an uproar over Song Changming’s name.

Jewel Box Pavilion ranked Song Changming first on the Earth Ranking after publicizing his assassination of the Second Prince and other accomplishments. Song learned of his sudden fame in Wangyue Commandery and intended to keep a low profile, while Guan Weijing learned the news after emerging from seclusion.

• Jewel Box Pavilion moved Nan Chenguang to second place and ranked Song Changming first on the Earth Ranking for assassinating the Second Prince.
• Li Pu learned from Sun Lu that Song’s feat justified his temporary top position, though he questioned whether Song could surpass Nan Chenguang in strength.
• Jewel Box Pavilion’s records also credited Song with killing Cao Long, driving back Tian Jun and Hua Li, and fighting Duan Fangshuo to a draw.
• Liu Dingsheng told Song that he had become a leading figure in the martial world, but Song dismissed the acclaim and planned to avoid drawing attention to himself.
• Guan Weijing saw Song’s name at the top of the Earth Ranking and fell silent after his junior brothers explained what had happened.

Song Changming received his annual evaluation rewards, gaining the Qi Cultivator trait and enough internal Qi cultivation to form a second Martial Path Vortex. He celebrated his advancement and considered taking on powerful villains to earn higher evaluations.

• A Wangyue Pavilion disciple abandoned his plan to descend the mountain and challenge Song Changming after realizing the gap between their strengths.
• Fairy Yuehan told Liu Yan'er to make good use of the Dragon Transformation Bead because it might let her go beyond their current world.
• Song Changming received an exceptional annual evaluation and chose the Qi Cultivator trait and increased internal Qi cultivation as his rewards.
• The Qi Cultivator trait improved Song Changming's Qi cultivation speed and control, allowing him to shape wind-attributed saber Qi in his palm.
• The cultivation reward filled Song Changming with internal Qi until he formed a second Martial Path Vortex and reached the second level of Qi cultivation.
• Song Changming decided that defeating powerful villains might help him earn higher annual evaluations.