Chapter Summaries

Lin Sheng agreed to travel with Princess Lingyu to the imperial capital, where he hoped to study the imperial records about an ancient calamity that had nearly wiped out the ancient beasts. While they explored Butterfly Island, Granny Shi encountered a masked attacker, and Lin Sheng sensed trouble and left Ling Yu by the waterfall as he rushed into the forest.

• Princess Lingyu told Lin Sheng that the imperial family might have Demon Beast materials and invited him to return with her to the imperial capital; he agreed.
• Princess Lingyu explained that an ancient calamity had nearly exterminated ancient beasts and Demon Beasts, allowing humanity to rise, and offered Lin Sheng access to the imperial library.
• Lin Sheng and Princess Lingyu arrived at Butterfly Island and explored its colorful scenery and poisonous Phantom Colored Butterflies.
• Granny Shi detected the scent of dragon saliva, found an open porcelain bottle by a spring, and was attacked by a masked black-clad figure who prevented her from returning to Princess Lingyu.
• At the waterfall, Lin Sheng sensed something in the forest and told Princess Lingyu he would catch wild beasts before vanishing into the woods.

Lin Sheng discovered the Sea King Sect’s plot against Princess Lingyu and killed Elder Hai, then pursued the Sea Snake Jade’s signal to Moyunzi’s boat and killed him. After finding the Ghost Snake Lust Gall, Lin Sheng destroyed the boat and headed back to Butterfly Island.

• Lin Sheng recognized Elder Hai as a Sea King Sect Grandmaster and realized the sect was targeting Princess Lingyu.
• Elder Hai attacked Lin Sheng, but Lin Sheng killed him with a single palm strike and took his Sea Snake Jade.
• The Sea Snake Jade led Lin Sheng to Moyunzi’s boat, where Moyunzi planned to use the Ghost Snake Lust Gall to entrap Princess Lingyu.
• Moyunzi discovered the Sea Snake Jade had gone quiet and found Xu Er’s severed head outside the cabin.
• Lin Sheng killed Moyunzi, found two Ghost Snake Lust Galls in a brocade box, destroyed the boat, and returned toward Butterfly Island.

Princess Lingyu, Lin Sheng, and Granny Shi escaped a Sea King Sect ambush on Butterfly Island and returned to Wanghai City. Meanwhile, Dark Star forces fought Imperial Court Grandmasters and broke through Yan Pass while transporting Crimson Crystal Stone, as a mysterious red-clad figure pursued them.

• Lin Sheng returned to Princess Lingyu with an Earth Fang Beast, but her warning jade pendant lit up, so they hurried to leave Butterfly Island.
• Granny Shi met them injured and explained that a Grandmaster had attacked; she led Lingyu and Lin Sheng back to the warship and then to Wanghai City.
• Sea King Sect elder Meng Changquan realized his allies had disappeared and fled into the sea as Lin Sheng sensed and lost track of him.
• In Northern Yan, Luo Yin fought the Grandmasters Xiang Kong and a black-robed stranger while his disciples and other Dark Star members transported Crimson Crystal Stone toward the border.
• Luo Lie, Yuan Fang, Gong Wei, Ye Qing, and the convoy stormed Yan Pass, killed its defenders, and broke through the far gate.
• A red-clad figure watched the convoy escape, remarked that the group had been expected, and flew after them.

Lin Sheng warned the Military Department about the Sea King Sect while Southern Qi’s leaders debated how to counter Northern Yan’s beastified fighters. The Sea King Sect’s plan against Princess Lingyu failed, leaving Bi Haitian enraged by the deaths of his son Moyunzi and Elder Hai.

• Princess Lingyu urged Lin Sheng to stay in Wanghai City and return to the Imperial City with her, and Lin Sheng agreed while arranging to send a letter about the Sea King Sect to the Military Department.
• Lin Sheng wrote the letter, gave it to Bai Can to deliver, and quietly left his residence as night fell.
• At the military camp, Hu Yanji showed the leaders a rapidly healing beastified fighter, while Bi Haitian argued against escalating the conflict into a battle between Grandmasters.
• Hu Yanji secured agreement to increase Crimson Crystal Stone supplies for Fire God Cannons, requiring each major faction to contribute more and the Sea King Sect to provide an additional thirty percent.
• Bi Haitian learned from an urgent message that the plan had failed and that Elder Hai and Young Sect Master Moyunzi were dead.
• Bi Haitian ordered Xu Changping to investigate the Imperial City and military camp, then grieved over Moyunzi, his secret son and sole surviving bloodline.

Bi Haitian investigated who killed Hai He and Moyunzi, suspected Dark Star, and ordered Crimson Crystal Ore sent to the Military Department to forestall trouble. Meanwhile, Lin Sheng tracked down Moyunzi’s Brahma Crimson Fire Bull, killed and absorbed it, then examined its abilities.

• Xu Changping reported that neither the imperial family nor the Military Department appeared responsible for the attack, and suggested Dark Star might have sent Grandmasters with Princess Lingyu.
• Bi Haitian ordered Xu Changping to gather information on Dark Star, deliver the sect’s refined Crimson Crystal Ore to the Military Department, and arrange a meeting with Northern Yan in three days.
• Lin Sheng followed the Brahma Crimson Fire Bull’s aura to a Sea King Sect manor, where disciples said an elder would take the beast away the next day.
• When the Brahma Crimson Fire Bull charged him, Lin Sheng overpowered it, killed it, and absorbed its body while the Sea King Sect disciples tried to flee.
• Lin Sheng escaped the manor and checked the Brahma Crimson Fire Bull’s information, which listed strength and constitution boosts along with Great Strength and Brahma Crimson Fire talents.

Lin Sheng assimilated the Brahma Crimson Fire Bull, gaining greater strength and combining its flame with his dragon fire. After learning that Dark Star’s convoy was approaching Southern Qi and that he must receive it, he postponed his trip with Princess Lingyu and set out alone.

• Lin Sheng tested the Brahma Crimson Fire Bull’s Great Strength and Brahma Crimson Fire talents, then combined its flame with his dragon flame into a far more powerful scarlet-gold fire.
• Luo Lie led Yuan Fang, Gong Wei, and the convoy through a sandstorm in the Yellow Sand Wasteland, explaining that Lin Sheng would receive them in Southern Qi and that they would remain there afterward.
• Lin Sheng simulated the Crimson Fire Bull using its heart and found that the process produced pure energy in his dantian despite painful side effects.
• Lin Sheng received a letter from Dark Star confirming that he would replace the Heavenly Net Sect in receiving Luo Lie and the others, and learned that Dark Star was withdrawing its seed geniuses from Northern Yan.
• Lin Sheng told Princess Lingyu he had to handle an organizational mission, watched her depart for the imperial capital, and set out alone toward the Northern Lands border.

Tang Chong learned that Bi Haitian’s failed attempt to seize Ling Yu had pushed him toward treachery, and decided to eliminate him. Tang Chong killed Bi Haitian and Xu Changping in Jushi City, while Bi Haitian’s plans to defect to Northern Yan remained unfinished.

• Hu Yanji told Tang Chong that Lin Sheng had thwarted the Sea King Sect’s attempt to seize Ling Yu and killed Hai He and the sect’s young master.
• Tang Chong praised Lin Sheng’s potential, discussed the approaching war with Northern Yan and his own injuries, and told Hu Yanji that Bi Haitian should be killed.
• Bi Haitian told Xu Changping that Northern Yan had agreed to meet in three days and planned to defect, destroy Dark Star, and use its Crimson Crystal Stones as an offering.
• Tang Chong and Hu Yanji entered the Sea King Sect’s residence and confronted Bi Haitian and Xu Changping.
• Tang Chong’s power destroyed Xu Changping, then his white fox swallowed Bi Haitian.

Tang Chong took control after killing Bi Haitian, while Lin Sheng waited at Eagle Cry Valley for Yuan Fang's delayed group. Yuan Fang's convoy finally crossed the wasteland, but an ambush struck as they entered a suspiciously quiet valley.

• Tang Chong sat in the Sea King Sect garrison hall and told Hu Yanji to summon the city's leaders so he could handle the aftermath of Bi Haitian's death.
• Lin Sheng reached Eagle Cry Valley, cultivated through the night, and left to check on Yuan Fang's group after they failed to arrive on time.
• Yuan Fang, Luo Lie, and Gong Wei led their delayed convoy out of the Yellow Sand Wasteland, where two Hidden Star Emissaries had been killed by beasts.
• The convoy crossed the Northern Barrens, and Gong Wei killed bandits who tried to block their road with refugees.
• Luo Lie noticed the valley was unnaturally quiet and learned Red Wolf and two others might be in trouble, so he sent Gong Wei back with the convoy and went ahead with Yuan Fang and Uncle Qing.
• Hidden attackers fired darts at the convoy, and Luo Lie knocked them aside before charging into the woods, where several figures appeared.

Lin Sheng found Luo Lie and the Dark Star convoy under attack by Northern Yan forces and killed their Divine Form experts. After rescuing the survivors, he went to find Yuan Fang and Gong Wei and returned with them.

• A Northern Yan force ambushed Luo Lie, Ye Qing, and the Hidden Star Emissaries, killing or injuring many of them.
• Lin Sheng heard an elephant cry and hurried toward the valley, where Luo Lie and the others were losing the battle.
• Luo Lie tried to hold off Commander Meng while Yuan Fang and Gong Wei escaped, but Commander Meng severely injured Luo Lie and Ye Qing.
• Lin Sheng appeared and killed Commander Meng and the other four Northern Yan martial artists with finger strikes.
• Lin Sheng searched the fallen enemies, learned that Yuan Fang and Gong Wei had fled, then found them and returned with them.

Lin Sheng discovered that Red Demon Liu Yu had secretly followed the convoy and was plotting to attack its members. Liu Yu attacked him, but Lin Sheng transformed, seized him, and killed him with a single blow.

• Lin Sheng learned that Luo Yin had settled his family and arranged for the convoy to deliver the Crimson Crystal Ore and travel onward to Misty Sea Island.
• After the convoy left the valley, Lin Sheng sensed a strange fragrance and used his Dragon Might to expose a hidden follower.
• Ye Qing identified the red-robed follower as Red Demon Liu Yu, a Grandmaster and deputy master of Sky Rainbow Pavilion who had arranged the earlier Northern Yan attack.
• Liu Yu revealed that he had planned to gather and kill the groups heading to Eastern Continent, then taunted Lin Sheng.
• Lin Sheng charged Liu Yu, broke through his Thread-Winding Force, and transformed into a giant.
• Lin Sheng seized Liu Yu after briefly stunning him and killed him, scattering his body into a rain of blood.

Lin Sheng reached Jushi City after killing Red Demon Liu Yu and met Tang Chong, who confirmed the Sea King Sect had been dealt with and that Lin Sheng’s engagement to Princess Ling Yu was settled. Tang Chong gave Lin Sheng the complete Supreme Heavenly Demon Scripture and revealed that he had collected many cultivation methods; Lin Sheng left with a new manual and a glimpse of Tang Chong’s vast knowledge.

• Lin Sheng killed Red Demon Liu Yu, then led Luo Lie, Yuan Fang, and the others onward to White Deer City without further trouble.
• Lin Sheng learned that Tang Chong had killed Sea King Sect Master Bi Haitian and Great Elder Xu Changping, and decided to visit him in Jushi City.
• Hu Yanji brought Lin Sheng to Tang Chong, who sensed the lingering traces of a Grandmaster Lin Sheng had killed and praised his progress with the secret technique.
• Tang Chong told Lin Sheng that Emperor Jing had confirmed his engagement to Ling Yu and that he had informed Green Robe, so Dark Star would not object.
• Tang Chong gave Lin Sheng a complete copy of the Supreme Heavenly Demon Scripture and revealed that his bookcases held many other factions’ cultivation methods.

Lin Sheng reached the Southern Qi imperial city and met Emperor Jing, who approved his marriage to Princess Lingyu and arranged for their wedding next year. When Lingyu asked for demon beast flesh and blood for Lin Sheng, Emperor Jing proposed giving Lin Sheng an official post first, leaving Lin Sheng wary that he had walked into a trap.

• Tang Chong warned Lin Sheng that the Supreme Heavenly Demon Scripture was unusually ancient and difficult to trace, while Lin Sheng obtained its subsequent cultivation method.
• Emperor Jing approved Grand Councilor Gongsun's request for more supplies for the Crimson Feather Army, then learned that the sea bandits in Hai He Valley were not yet a serious threat and suspected Gongsun's forces were exploiting the situation.
• Princess Lingyu struggled to focus on cultivation while waiting for Lin Sheng and had demon beast flesh and blood gathered for his use.
• Lin Sheng reached the imperial city three days later and entered the palace with Princess Lingyu to meet Emperor Jing.
• Emperor Jing agreed to Lin Sheng and Princess Lingyu's marriage and set their wedding for the following year.
• When Lingyu requested the gathered demon beast materials, Emperor Jing said their withdrawal might draw criticism and proposed bestowing an official post on Lin Sheng first, making Lin Sheng suspect a trap.

Emperor Jing arranged Lin Sheng’s marriage to Princess Lingyu and appointed him commander of the Crimson Feather Army, challenging the Gongsun family’s control. Lin Sheng finished refining the Scarlet Fire Bull’s essence blood and saw his strength increase, while he awaited more demon beast flesh and blood.

• Emperor Jing promised Lin Sheng demon beast flesh and blood and said he would announce Lin Sheng’s marriage to Princess Lingyu and confer an official post.
• Emperor Jing ordered A'Fu to prepare the finest demon beast flesh and blood and Dragon Saliva Golden Liquid, then revealed he planned to appoint Lin Sheng commander of the Crimson Feather Army.
• Emperor Jing announced Lin Sheng’s marriage and appointment in court, and rejected Gongsun Yue’s objections by citing the War God’s recommendation.
• Emperor Jing sent the imperial edict and prepared treasures to Princess Lingyu’s residence.
• Lin Sheng finished refining the Scarlet Fire Bull’s essence blood and found that his strength had risen by one point.

Emperor Jing appointed Lin Sheng a second-rank General of the Cavalry and commander of the Crimson Feather Army, while sending him rare demon beast flesh and two bottles of Dragon Saliva Golden Liquid. After Granny Shi explained the political purpose behind his appointment, Lin Sheng refined both bottles and substantially strengthened his spirit and other attributes.

• Princess Lingyu read Emperor Jing's decree appointing Lin Sheng a second-rank General of the Cavalry and commander of the Crimson Feather Army.
• Princess Lingyu and Granny Shi identified the imperial gifts as high-grade demon beast flesh, including Earth Fiend Rock Dragon flesh, and two bottles of Dragon Saliva Golden Liquid.
• Granny Shi told Lin Sheng that the Gongsun family had controlled the Crimson Feather Army for decades and that Emperor Jing likely expected Lin Sheng to reclaim its command.
• Lin Sheng swallowed and refined both bottles of Dragon Saliva Golden Liquid, enduring intense physical and spiritual pain as his consciousness grew clearer.
• Lin Sheng checked his attribute panel and found that his agility and perception had each risen by one point and his spirit by two, while his strength and constitution had also improved.

Lin Sheng accepted Emperor Jing’s request to take command of the Crimson Feather Army and departed for Hai He Valley to suppress sea bandits. On the journey, he learned that the Gongsun family had entrenched itself throughout the army, while Gongsun Yue planned to undermine his command.

• Lin Sheng found that the Dragon Saliva Golden Liquid had slightly strengthened his Sea Sacrifice Demonic Blood talent, then accepted Emperor Jing’s request concerning the Crimson Feather Army.
• Lin Sheng left the imperial city for Hai He Valley after Princess Lingyu wished him well, while Granny Shi urged her to improve her cultivation.
• Gongsun Yue rejected a plan to assassinate Lin Sheng and instead sent Hei He to deliver a letter to Hai He Valley, intending to make Lin Sheng fail and return the army’s command to the Gongsun family.
• Emperor Jing learned that Gongsun Yue and Gongsun Ao had stayed in the capital, while Old Dragon confirmed that the Gongsun family had not acted openly.
• Lin Sheng practiced during the journey and asked Meng Lie about the Crimson Feather Army, learning that Gongsun family members held over seventy percent of its centurion posts and had been demanding extensive military supplies.

Lin Sheng arrived at Hai He City to take command of the Crimson Feather Army and found the Gongsun family’s officers openly disregarding him. After discovering a centurion indulging in luxury instead of attending the command meeting, Lin Sheng killed him.

• Lin Sheng reached Hai He City, where Deputy Commander Gongsun Changhai and the other battalion centurions were absent, supposedly on patrol against sea bandits.
• Lin Sheng declined City Lord Sun Kaixuan’s banquet and went directly to inspect the Crimson Feather Army camp.
• Lin Sheng found the camp poorly maintained, its soldiers divided in their reception of him, and its officers absent despite remaining nearby.
• Lin Sheng examined the Crimson Feather Dragon Statue and learned it was a powerful formation commissioned by the late emperor.
• After several centurions claimed to be ill, Lin Sheng went to Gongsun’s tent and killed the soldiers who tried to stop him, then crushed Gongsun beneath his boot.

Lin Sheng began retaking control of the Crimson Feather Army by killing the centurions who challenged his authority. After wiping out nine Divine Form martial artists, he ordered Meng Lie to fill the vacant posts, leaving the camp in stunned silence.

• Lin Sheng killed a Crimson Feather centurion and told Xie Kui to notify the others, then learned from Meng Lie that Emperor Jing had left military decisions to him.
• Gongsun Chongli stormed into Lin Sheng's tent to avenge his family, but Lin Sheng crushed him with his own warhammer and killed another centurion who threatened him.
• Gongsun Chongfeng and the other centurions knelt and claimed they had been too injured to welcome Lin Sheng, so Lin Sheng killed several of them for lying.
• Lin Sheng spared no one who remained, killing Gongsun Chongfeng despite his wound and killing Wang Shuang before Xie Kui could explain he was not from the Gongsun family.
• Lin Sheng ordered Meng Lie to fill the vacant centurion posts with officers from the accompanying generals, while Meng Lie realized the purge had thrown the camp into turmoil.

Lin Sheng purged the Crimson Feather Army’s Gongsun-aligned officers and ordered an investigation into the sea bandits, while Emperor Jing arranged protection and Gongsun Yue vowed retaliation. At the coast, Gongsun Changhai received the family head’s order to kill everyone who had come from the imperial capital.

• Lin Sheng had Meng Lie replace the Crimson Feather Army’s centurions and purge soldiers below Bone Alteration, reducing the army to about one thousand.
• Lin Sheng ordered Xie Kui to locate the sea bandits and learned that Gongsun Changhai was away at sea; he entered seclusion and asked to be told if Changhai returned.
• Emperor Jing read Meng Lie’s report, asked Old Dragon to watch Gongsun Yue, and sent three Imperial Guard commanders to Hai He Valley to obey Lin Sheng.
• Gongsun Yue learned that Lin Sheng had killed nine Gongsun descendants and declared that the imperial court should not blame him for what came next.
• Gongsun Changhai received Gongsun Yue’s message and told Gongsun Changyue that everyone from the imperial capital was to be left alive, then agreed they would make a plan to deal with them.

Lin Sheng broke through to the Divine Form realm after five days of cultivation and prepared to leave Hai He Valley. He ordered the Crimson Feather Army to suppress coastal bandits, then entered Hai He City, where Sun Kaixuan promised to gather demon beast blood for him.

• Lin Sheng absorbed the black mist from his cultivation and reached the Divine Form realm, gaining nine attribute points and a fifth body-entry mark.
• Meng Lie confirmed that Gongsun Changhai remained on the Eastern Sea and that the officers could defeat him, while Lin Sheng ordered the army to sail out against the bandits the next day.
• Lin Sheng accepted three Divine Form officers sent by Emperor Jing and assigned them to vacant centurion positions.
• Lin Sheng led a force of more than a hundred men to Hai He City, where Sun Kaixuan knelt to apologize and offered him several million taels.
• Lin Sheng returned Sun Kaixuan's money and told him to prepare demon beast blood; Sun Kaixuan agreed, then worried about how to obtain it.

Lin Sheng’s fleet encountered the Black Snake pirates attacking a Feng family merchant fleet, and he ordered Meng Lie and Xie Kui to deal with them. The Crimson Feather Army moved to intervene as Feng Cheng and Feng Die’er fought to survive the raid.

• Lin Sheng ordered Meng Lie to wipe out the five pirate groups, and his ships sailed into the nearshore waters.
• Feng Cheng and Feng Die’er’s fleet encountered Black Snake, who demanded their cargo and attacked after Feng Cheng refused.
• Black Snake poisoned Feng Cheng and his pirates seized Feng Die’er as the Feng family sailors were overwhelmed.
• Feng Die’er escaped and sent up a red smoke signal as the Crimson Feather Army arrived nearby.
• Xie Kui identified the attackers as the Black Snake pirate group, and Lin Sheng ordered Meng Lie and the others to deal with them.