Chapter Summaries

Song Changming fed two Dragon Transformation Beads to Big Yellow and Big White, whose transformation made them far stronger and more intelligent. He planned to use another bead to strengthen Liang Zhaolong, kept the last after Liu Dingsheng declined it, and confirmed that his Nether Sea had been opened, though his Spiritual Power still needed cultivation before he could refine qi.

• Song Changming gave Big Yellow and Big White a Dragon Transformation Bead each, and they slept for half a month while undergoing their transformation.
• Big Yellow and Big White awoke larger, more intelligent, and powerful enough to fight Seventh or Eighth Realm Martial Artists.
• Song Changming summoned Liang Zhaolong and decided to give him the third Dragon Transformation Bead to help strengthen the Changming Association.
• Liu Dingsheng declined Song Changming's Dragon Transformation Bead and suggested that Song Changming marry Liu Yan'er, but Song Changming refused for now.
• Song Changming confirmed that the Dragon Transformation Bead had opened his Nether Sea and recognized that he still needed to strengthen his Spiritual Power before refining qi.

Song Changming improved his Spiritual Power, mastered the Wind Dragon Divine Saber Art, and successfully refined his first thread of internal Qi. The chapter ended with him entering a new stage of cultivation.

• Song Changming’s study of the Martial Art Manual unlocked the Wind Dragon Divine Saber Art on his panel, allowing him to begin gaining experience in it.
• Gu Wenhui’s faction proclaimed the flood dragon a true dragon and used the omen to promote Gu Wenhui’s claim to rule, reigniting the southern war.
• After more than half a year of practice, Song Changming mastered the Wind Dragon Divine Saber Art enough to wield its Spiritual Power-driven saber technique.
• Song Changming used a Qi cultivation method to guide natural Qi through his body and successfully refined and stabilized his first thread of internal Qi.

Song Changming fled Donglai Commandery City with his family as a coalition led by the Second Prince attacked, and the city fell amid invading Mist Beasts. As his convoy neared the edge of the commandery, a scout reported that cavalry were driving a huge number of refugees toward them.

• Song Changming learned that the Second Prince’s forces, the Three Dragons of Dongcang, and the Dinghai Water Gang were converging on Donglai Commandery City, then prepared to flee with his parents.
• Song Yu joined Song Changming’s convoy with her children, while Zhao Dezhi and Zhao Huaiming stayed behind; Liang Chuanshan, Lu Gang, and other acquaintances also refused to leave.
• Song Changming’s convoy left the city, and from a distant slope he watched flames and black smoke rise as Liu Ziwen declared that the city had fallen.
• Liu Dingsheng recognized that a large number of Mist Beasts had gathered over the city, and he ordered the convoy to keep moving away.
• A scout reported that a large cavalry force ahead was driving a huge number of refugees toward the convoy.

Liu Dingsheng’s convoy was ambushed by the Second Prince’s cavalry, and Song Changming fought to protect the group. After defeating the Flying General and slaughtering the attacking force, Song Changming stood atop a mountain of corpses as the last riders fled.

• Liu Dingsheng changed the convoy’s route to avoid a cavalry force, but hundreds of riders pursued them along a narrow mountain path.
• Song Changming sent Song Ping'an to guard the carriages and joined the fight while Big Yellow and Big White tore through the cavalry.
• Reinforcements swelled the enemy force to nearly two thousand riders, forcing the convoy’s guards to let the carriages escape while they held the path.
• The Flying General injured Liu Ziwen, but Song Changming seized the general’s spear, overwhelmed him, and killed him when he refused to order his soldiers to stop.
• Song Changming and the surviving guards fought for over an hour until the remaining cavalry fled, leaving Song Changming atop a mountain of corpses.

After Father Song died following the cavalry attack, Song Changming agreed to honor his wish to be buried in the old Song Family Village outside Donglai Commandery City. He left his family in Liu Dingsheng’s care and returned alone to the fallen city, where he began confronting the Dinghai Water Gang’s abuses.

• Song Changming returned to the convoy and learned that Father Song had been badly frightened and was near death.
• Father Song regained consciousness, said farewell to Song Yu, Mother Song, and Song Changming, and asked to be buried in the old Song Family Village outside Donglai Commandery City.
• After Father Song died and was cremated, Song Changming decided to return to the Prefecture City immediately, while Liu Dingsheng agreed to protect Mother Song and Song Yu.
• Song Changming left Big Yellow and Big White with his family, then rode alone back to the burning, blood-soaked Prefecture City.
• Song Changming killed Dinghai Water Gang members who were threatening a woman and her child, then told them to flee.

Song Changming fought through the Mist Beast-infested city while a mysterious scholar predicted that a brave warrior would defeat an evil dragon. At the Zhao Family’s hiding place, a giant python Mist Beast swallowed one of the women, forcing Zhao Huaiming to flee with the survivors.

• Song Changming killed a high-level Mist Beast and several others, then met a scholar who recognized him as Dragon Blade Song Changming.
• The scholar followed Song Changming briefly and claimed his divination foretold a brave warrior fighting an evil dragon that day, before heading toward Jinxiu Street.
• Song Changming found the Song Residence, Liang Chuanshan’s residence, and Lu Gang’s residence looted, with no signs that their families had been killed.
• Song Changming went to the Zhao Residence, hoping to rescue Song Yu’s husband, Zhao Huaiming.
• A giant python Mist Beast attacked the alley where Zhao Huaiming’s family was hiding and swallowed Zhao Dezhi’s youngest concubine.
• Zhao Huaiming led the remaining family members away from the python Mist Beast.

Song Changming returned to Donglai Commandery City, rescued Zhao Huaiming’s family and the captured Patrol Guards, and cut down the bandits who stood in his way. As the Second Prince’s forces prepared to loot and evacuate the city, the Dinghai Water Gang’s leader was killed by a mysterious young saber wielder, leaving Xue Boyan and Jiang Kan wondering who had struck.

• Song Changming killed the bandit soldiers surrounding Zhao Huaiming and destroyed the python Mist Beast, then learned that the County Governor’s Mansion had fallen and sent Zhao Huaiming into hiding.
• Song Changming fought through the ruined Patrol Guard Headquarters, freed Liang Chuanshan, Zhao Dezhi, and other officials, and brought the severely injured Liang Chuanshan and Lu Gang to a hidden cellar.
• Jiang Kan and Yao Yizhu argued over how long the Dinghai Water Gang could loot the city until Xue Boyan ordered the evacuation to begin at dawn.
• Xue Boyan told Jiang Kan that the Second Prince would dispose of the Dinghai Water Gang after using them, but a guard then reported that Yao Yizhu had been killed by a young wandering saber wielder.

Song Changming infiltrated the County Governor's Mansion and killed Yao Yizhu, Xu Dabao, and numerous guards. He fought Xue Boyan and Jiang Kan, then discovered that Xue Boyan possessed Qi Refining Realm strength and had to face his spear art.

• Song Changming killed Yao Yizhu outside the County Governor's Mansion and slipped inside as the troops searched for him.
• Song Changming killed an officer with a throwing knife, then fought and killed Xu Dabao with one slash.
• Xue Boyan and Jiang Kan confronted Song Changming, and he overwhelmed both of them with his strength.
• Xue Boyan unleashed the Sky-Piercing Sun-Penetrating Spear Art, revealing his Qi Refining Realm strength and forcing Song Changming to retreat.

Song Changming unleashed the Wind Dragon Divine Saber Art against Xue Boyan and overcame the general’s spear Qi with his superior physique and strength. After defeating and killing Xue Boyan, Song Changming saw Jiang Kan flee over the wall.

• Song Changming used the Wind Dragon Divine Saber Art to clash with Xue Boyan’s spear Qi and drive him back.
• Jiang Kan joined the fight, and guards and soldiers surrounded Song Changming with arrows and Crossbow Bolts.
• Song Changming’s Wind Dragon swept away the projectiles and hurled soldiers out of the courtyard, then he activated a secret technique to boost his Qi and Blood.
• Song Changming broke through the encirclement and battered Xue Boyan with successive saber strikes until the general fell into a pit, gravely wounded.
• Song Changming told Xue Boyan that the city’s people wanted him dead and beheaded him with the Dragon-Patterned Saber.
• Jiang Kan vaulted over the wall and fled as Song Changming turned his attention to the remaining officers and soldiers.

Song Changming killed the Three Dragons of Dongcang, freed Donglai Commandery’s leaders, and helped drive the invaders from the city. After returning home and mourning Father Song, he resumed cultivating and wondered how powerful his Qi could become over centuries.

• Song Changming killed Jiang Kan, completing the defeat of the Three Dragons of Dongcang, then rescued Li Yan, Chen Yan, Zhuang Ren, and the detained officials.
• Li Yan sent orders to the counties for reinforcements, and the arriving troops joined his counterattack, driving the enemy forces from Donglai Commandery City.
• Song Changming visited the ruins of Song Family Village and spent three days beside Father Song’s grave before returning to the city.
• Song Changming brought Mother Song, Song Yu, and the others home, while Liu Dingsheng settled in Nanyang and invited Song Changming to visit him in the north someday.
• After the family mourned Father Song, Song Changming resumed Qi cultivation and considered how much strength he might accumulate over a very long life.

Song Changming read the latest Jianghu Secret News Record and discovered that the Jewel Box Pavilion had publicized his role in saving Donglai Commandery City, earning him fame as East Lai Dragon Saber. The new Earth Ranking also listed him ninety-first, while he remained wary of the attention and the conflict it could bring with the Second Prince.

• Song Ping'an delivered the latest Jianghu Secret News Record to Song Changming, who read its reports on events across the realm.
• Song Changming learned that the record praised him as a hero for killing Yao Yizhu, the former Three Dragons of Dongcang, and Xue Boyan, while overlooking the other people who helped save Donglai Commandery City.
• Song Changming worried that his growing fame could worsen his existing conflict with the Second Prince's faction, though he had no intention of changing his plans.
• Song Changming reviewed the largely unchanged Heavenly Ranking and found that the Jewel Box Pavilion had added a new Earth Ranking.
• Song Changming discovered that he had been ranked ninety-first on the Earth Ranking under the title Dragon Blade.

Song Changming’s achievements earned him a place on the Earth Ranking, drawing attention from Chu Jing and Xiao Shuyun. His annual evaluation named this his best year, and he chose two lifespan-costing physique rewards, leaving their effects to be revealed.

• Song Changming appeared in ninety-first place on the Earth Ranking after displaying Qi cultivation and helping save Donglai Commandery City.
• Chu Jing, furious over his defeat and Xue Boyan’s death, ordered Jianghu retainers to capture Song Changming while his advisers urged restraint.
• Xiao Shuyun read Song Changming’s ranking entry, recalled his past promise, and then went to answer Third Young Master’s summons.
• Song Changming received an annual evaluation of “The best year,” highlighting his cultivation, battles, connections, family loss, and completed events.
• Song Changming selected the rewards that granted the green Physique Trait “Light as Wind” and upgraded one of his existing physique traits, spending four thousand lifespan.

Song Changming gained the green-grade Light as Wind trait and upgraded Strong into the green-grade Imposing and Powerful, greatly increasing his speed, strength, and durability. As Earth Ranking challenges flooded in, he received a challenge from Yellow Springs Sword, Gu Sangao.

• Song Changming acquired Light as Wind and tested its effects, finding that his speed and agility had improved dramatically.
• Song Changming upgraded Strong to Imposing and Powerful, which transformed his body and gave him a naturally imposing aura.
• Song Changming’s strength rose to thirty thousand jin, and he demonstrated his power by denting an iron stake without injuring his fist.
• The next day, Song Ping'an saw the nearly broken iron stake and recognized how powerful Song Changming had become.
• In July, Earth Ranking challenges spread through the martial world, and Song Changming received challenge letters almost daily.
• Song Ping'an urged Song Changming to accept the challenges, and Song Changming saw a letter from Yellow Springs Sword, Gu Sangao.

Song Changming required challengers to wager ten Han Gold, then defeated Gu Sangao of the Yellow Springs Sword with a single saber strike at the Prefecture City's Martial Proving Stage. The victory strengthened his reputation in Donglai Commandery, while potential challengers reconsidered their plans.

• Song Changming set a ten-Han-Gold wager for anyone who challenged him, and Song Ping'an arranged a match with Gu Sangao.
• Commoners thanked Song Changming for saving Donglai Commandery City as he arrived, disrupting Gu Sangao's attempt to provoke him in front of a crowd.
• Song Changming and Gu Sangao wagered their money and began the match while onlookers debated their chances.
• Song Changming defeated Gu Sangao with one saber strike, sending him off the Martial Proving Stage without using internal Qi.
• Song Changming collected the wager with Song Ping'an, and other challengers withdrew their letters as his reputation rose.

Song Changming continued strengthening his body and refused a challenge so he could absorb two pieces of Crimson Jade Marrow. That night, Jiang Maocai broke into his courtyard and revealed himself as a Qi Refining Martial Artist sent by the Second Prince to kill him, leaving Song Changming facing an armed opponent.

• Song Changming trained in the courtyard and found that his strength and physical traits had continued to improve.
• Song Ping'an brought Song Changming two pieces of Crimson Jade Marrow, which Song Changming swallowed at once, and delivered a challenge letter from Jiang Maocai that Song Changming refused.
• Song Changming played chess with Song Ping'an that evening until Big Yellow and Big White sensed someone approaching.
• Jiang Maocai climbed over the courtyard wall and said he had come to fight after Song Changming rejected his challenge.
• Song Changming recognized Jiang Maocai's Spiritual Power and inferred he was a Qi Refining Martial Artist sent by the Second Prince.
• Jiang Maocai confirmed the prince's involvement and challenged Song Changming, who prepared to face him.

Song Changming fought Jiang Maocai, a powerful retainer sent by the Second Prince to capture him, and overwhelmed him with his extraordinary strength and resilience despite Jiang Maocai’s superior Qi cultivation. The fight ended with Song Changming carrying the defeated Jiang Maocai away through the city.

• Jiang Maocai attacked Song Changming by surprise, but Song Changming blocked his strike and led him away from the Song Residence to protect the house.
• In a secluded grove, Song Changming’s tremendous physical strength sent Jiang Maocai flying and made him realize that Song’s power came from his inborn divine strength.
• Song Changming charged through Jiang Maocai’s fiery saber Qi unharmed and continued pressing the attack.
• Jiang Maocai fled after being badly wounded, but Song Changming pursued him through the streets and alleys.
• Song Changming reappeared carrying Jiang Maocai in one hand and walked away as onlookers watched.

Song Changming reflected on the failed assassination by the Second Prince’s retainer, then spent years coping with his parents’ deaths while steadily cultivating. Three years later, he reached the Ninth Extreme Realm in Skin Refining and completed Body Refinement Great Perfection, though he continued to view it as only one stage of cultivation.

• Song Changming handed the crippled Jiang Maocai to Li Yan, while Li Yan tightened security in Donglai Commandery City against further attacks.
• Song Changming resolved to keep growing stronger and, if necessary, personally kill the Second Prince.
• Song Changming buried Mother Song beside Father Song and asked Song Yu to care for their graves after he left Donglai; Zhao Huaiming promised the Zhao Family would maintain them.
• Song Changming completed the final transformation of Skin Refining and reached the Ninth Extreme Realm in Bone Forging, Marrow Cleansing, Flesh Refining, and Skin Refining.
• Song Ping'an complained that Song Changming ranked too low on the Earth Ranking, but Song Changming dismissed the ranking and focused on his cultivation.

Song Changming tested his newly reinforced body, advanced his Qi cultivation enough to form a Martial Path Vortex, and improved his Wind Dragon Divine Saber Art. After learning that treachery threatened the Changming Association, he decided to travel to help Liang Zhaolong.

• Song Ping'an struck Song Changming at full force, but Song Changming's newly strengthened skin and flesh showed no mark.
• Song Changming considered searching for a stronger Body Refinement Martial Art Manual and worried when Liang Zhaolong's regular letter did not arrive.
• Song Changming received his annual reward, raised his Spirit attribute to forty, and cultivated under the Heaven Rewards Diligence status.
• Song Changming formed a Martial Path Vortex and used his Wind Dragon Divine Saber Art to release blade Qi without a saber.
• Liang Zhaolong wrote that a traitor had colluded with outside forces to seize the Changming Association, and Song Changming decided to go help him.

Song Changming set out north with Song Ping'an and their two dogs, while Liang Zhaolong learned that the Second Prince’s forces were behind a forced-recruitment scheme and prepared to withdraw from Taiqing Commandery. Near Taiqing, Song Changming avoided a fight on the road, but Big Yellow found a woman and girl from a convoy hiding in the brush.

• Song Changming left Donglai Commandery with Song Ping'an, Big Yellow, and Big White to visit Liang Zhaolong and Liu Dingsheng and seek information about Body Refining Martial Art Manuals.
• Liang Zhaolong and Old Hu the Third traced a threat to the Second Prince’s advisers and agreed to withdraw from Taiqing Commandery after dealing with wavering members of the Changming Association.
• Half a month later, Song Changming’s carriage entered Taiqing Commandery, where a convoy passed them without approaching the two Strange Blood Fierce Beasts.
• A group of masked riders hurried past the carriage, and Song Ping'an predicted that the convoy was in danger when fighting broke out ahead.
• Song Changming told Song Ping'an to take a detour rather than intervene, but Big Yellow spotted two people hiding in the brush: a woman and a girl from the convoy.

Song Changming rescued He Lian'er and her daughter from pursuers, then discovered they were agents of the authorities acting for the Second Prince. He learned the authorities were also behind the Changming Association’s crisis, and his arrival gave him a chance to intervene.

• He Lian'er begged Song Changming to save her and her daughter, and he let them join his carriage after deciding to trust them.
• He Lian'er told Song Changming that the authorities had arrested many members of the Changming Association and explained that she did not know why her family was targeted.
• The pursuers caught up with the carriage, and Song Ping'an, Big Yellow, and Big White defeated them.
• Song Changming identified the attackers as agents of the authorities, who admitted they had been ordered to abduct He Family members and force the family to provide money and manpower.
• Song Changming learned that the authorities were also orchestrating the pressure on the Changming Association on behalf of the Second Prince.