Chapter Summaries

Shi Gu ambushed Lin Sheng, Wei Yun, and their companions, badly injuring the two disciples before Xie Qingyun arrived and fought him. As Xie Qingyun began to risk her life to match Shi Gu’s power, Ouyang Bing appeared nearby, startling Shi Gu.

• Wei Yun recognized Shi Gu of the White Dragon Gang, who revealed that he had lured Lin Sheng there and offered to spare him if he joined the gang and killed Wei Yun.
• Shi Gu struck Wei Yun with a branch and then blasted Lin Sheng into the forest with stones, but Xie Qingyun arrived and shielded Lin Sheng from a second attack.
• Wei Yun gave Lin Sheng a Scattering Jade Pill, and he used his Rapid Healing talent to weaken the force injuring him.
• Xie Qingyun and Shi Gu fought, with Xie Qingyun falling behind as Lin Sheng and Wei Yun watched from the forest.
• Xie Qingyun and Shi Gu both intensified their transformations, but Shi Gu noticed Ouyang Bing standing atop a distant tree and called his name.

Ouyang Bing stopped Xie Qingyun from pursuing Shi Gu, and the injured group returned to the Seven Forms Sect. Lin Sheng settled his companions at the mountain town but worried that Shi Gu had discovered his Three-eyed Spirit Monkey in Wanhua City, leaving him to consider how to retrieve it.

• Ouyang Bing let Shi Gu escape, then told Xie Qingyun to end the matter and return to the sect.
• Xie Qingyun treated Lin Sheng and Wei Yun, explained that Shi Gu's attacks carried Bone Force, and warned them not to confront Bone Transformation experts.
• Xie Qingyun suffered injuries from fighting Shi Gu but stabilized them with a pill and breathing adjustment.
• After reaching the Seven Forms Sect, Lin Sheng arranged lodging for his companions and kept Cao Ying and Cao Luan away from the White Dragon Gang.
• Lin Sheng worried that Shi Gu had discovered the Three-eyed Spirit Monkey in Wanhua City and weighed the risks of retrieving it before resolving to act.

Lin Sheng prepared to gather resources and secretly returned to Wanhua City to capture the Three-eyed Spirit Monkey, but Shi Gu had anticipated his interest and appeared in the courtyard. Shi Gu confronted Lin Sheng just as he was about to leave with the poisoned monkey.

• Lin Sheng sent a message from Qingniao Institute and resolved to deal with Shi Gu before pursuing his cultivation plans.
• Black Dragon told Shi Gu to halt actions against the Seven Forms Sect until after Shi Gu's expected breakthrough, and Shi Gu ordered his men to leave Lin Sheng's monkey untouched.
• Shi Gu revealed that Lin Sheng's unusual spiritual beast, poisonous insects, perception, and survival had aroused his curiosity.
• Lin Sheng traveled secretly to his Wanhua City residence after confirming he was not followed.
• Lin Sheng fed the Three-eyed Spirit Monkey, poisoned it with Three Corpses Severing Soul, and prepared to leave with it.
• Shi Gu appeared in the courtyard and told Lin Sheng that the monkey seemed important to him.

Lin Sheng lured Shi Gu into an ambush and had Qi Ning kill him, then returned to the Seven Forms Sect after cleaning up the courtyard. Shi Gu's death left the White Dragon Gang facing a major loss, while Lin Sheng stayed out of its expected response.

• Shi Gu caught Lin Sheng in the courtyard and attacked him, but Lin Sheng escaped through a window and drew him toward Qi Ning.
• Qi Ning appeared behind Shi Gu, disabled his Bone Force and communication jade, then froze him and shattered his body.
• Qi Ning took Shi Gu's belongings and warned Lin Sheng to keep the Dark Star organization and its activities discreet.
• Lin Sheng cleaned the courtyard, returned the Three-eyed Spirit Monkey to its cage with food, and left Wanhua City for the Seven Forms Sect.
• Lin Sheng reflected that Shi Gu's death would severely damage the White Dragon Gang and affect its struggle over the beast mines.

Lin Sheng trained with Bai Qing, learned that the White Dragon Gang was clashing with Crimson Whale Hall, and received Xie Qingyun’s permission to leave Qingniao Institute. He visited his family and Cao Ying with Zhao Kongfang before planning to return to Wanhua City the next day.

• Bai Qing praised Lin Sheng’s progress in the Samadhi realm after sparring with him.
• Lin Sheng gave Zhao Kongfang ten thousand taels from Fat Dragon, but Zhao Kongfang told him to keep the money until he was better off.
• Zhao Kongfang told Lin Sheng that the White Dragon Gang and Crimson Whale Hall had clashed outside Wanhua City, and Lin Sheng decided to return to the city.
• Lin Sheng and Zhao Kongfang visited Xie Qingyun, who allowed Lin Sheng to go down the mountain after warning him to be careful.
• Lin Sheng and Zhao Kongfang visited Lin Hong and Xie Guilan, where Zhao Kongfang mistook Cao Ying for Lin Sheng’s wife and praised her cooking.
• Lin Sheng told Cao Ying he would return to Wanhua City the next day, and Zhao Kongfang teased him about marrying her.

Lin Sheng returned to Wanhua City, checked his animals and poisonous-insect compound, and assimilated the mutated Black Fiend Snake to strengthen his venomous martial art. Meanwhile, Shi Yan and Shi Kai suspected Red Hair of causing Shi Gu's disappearance and prepared to investigate the Crimson Whale Hall.

• Shi Yan questioned his men about Shi Gu's disappearance, and Shi Kai killed a subordinate who suggested that something had happened to him.
• Shi Yan and Shi Kai considered Ouyang Bing, the Fang Family elder, and Red Hair as possible suspects, then decided to investigate the Crimson Whale Hall and keep Shi Kai close.
• Lin Sheng returned to Wanhua City with Cao Ying and Cao Luan, gave Cao Ying five thousand taels, and went ahead to check his residence.
• Lin Sheng found his Three-eyed Spirit Monkey safe, then discovered that beggars had died after entering his southern-district compound and encountering his poisonous insects.
• Lin Sheng caught the mutated Black Fiend Snake and found that its Poison Augmentation had risen to three points.
• Lin Sheng assimilated the Black Fiend Snake, strengthening his Three Corpses Soul Severing Palm, and decided to seek stronger poisonous herbs.

Lin Sheng worked to strengthen his cultivation and resolve his need for money, then arranged to buy an avian Spirit Beast and accepted a Dark Star commission. The chapter left him pursuing the wanted flower-plucking thief Jade-Faced Man Kong Qi, with the outpost woman offering information to help.

• Lin Sheng refined the cold poison from Star Dew Grass, assessed his need for a third strange poison, and resolved to build his strength against Bone Transformation threats and the demon seed.
• Lin Sheng visited Myriad Beasts Hall, where Yang Niu promised to find him an avian Spirit Beast within a month for thirty percent above market price.
• Lin Sheng paid a deposit for the promised beast and bought Earthfire Rhinoceros blood, raising the Third Imprint's activation progress to six percent.
• Lin Sheng went to the Dark Star outpost, found no suitable Gray Star commission at first, and accepted the mission to kill Black List figure Jade-Faced Man Kong Qi for two hundred merit points.
• The middle-aged woman told Lin Sheng that Kong Qi was a notorious flower-plucking thief and offered him information, urging him to bring back Kong Qi's head.

The black mist took control of an Earth Rock Giant Lizard and swallowed the Three Tigers of Tiannan in the mountains outside Wanhua City. In Wanhua City, Lin Sheng learned that Jade-Faced Man Kong Qi was a deadly assassin and remained interested in tracking him down, while Zhao Kongfang also mentioned the Ground-Drilling Rat.

• The black mist overtook the Earth Rock Giant Lizard, turned its eyes black, and drove it downhill.
• The Three Tigers of Tiannan went into the forest to hunt the wounded Earth Rock Giant Lizard, but the beast and black mist trapped and swallowed them.
• Zhao Kongfang agreed to seek information about girls nearing marriage in Qingping, Zhoushan, and Wen County, and Lin Sheng explained that he was investigating Jade-Faced Man Kong Qi.
• Zhao Kongfang obtained records showing that Kong Qi specialized in disguise, movement, and assassination, and had killed four late Blood Circulation experts with single strikes.
• Lin Sheng said he would not confront Kong Qi head-on, and Zhao Kongfang warned him against taking risks.
• Zhao Kongfang mentioned that the Ground-Drilling Rat had recently caused a stir, prompting Lin Sheng to recall hearing the name during Liu Tianci and Ouyang Lengshui's confrontation.

Lin Sheng learned that Liu Tianci’s pursuit of Pei Er was connected to the missing Black List leader Wanyan Bei, while Pei Er escaped the constables tracking him. Two days later, Lin Sheng entered a strange state of calm in his courtyard and opened his eyes when Da Huang licked his face.

• Zhao Kongfang told Lin Sheng that Pei Er was a Black List fugitive who had assassinated two county magistrates, and explained that Liu Tianci’s search was connected to Wanyan Bei.
• Zhao Kongfang described Wanyan Bei as a Southern Qi sword genius who might carry the foundation of his destroyed sect, and Lin Sheng decided to stay focused on his own target, Kong Qi.
• Pei Er emerged from underground, treated his injuries, chose to flee toward Zhoushan County, and burrowed away as Liu Tianci’s constables found traces of his blood.
• The constables sent a signal to Liu Tianci, who ordered them to pursue Pei Er.
• Two days later, Lin Sheng entered a profound, still state while resting in his courtyard, and Da Huang licked his cheek until he opened his eyes.

Lin Sheng discovered that his increased mental attribute strengthened his control over the Heart Ape talent and improved his comprehension, then headed to Zhoushan County to search for Jade-Faced Man Kong Qi. The chapter ended with the Sun family’s Second Miss shopping in town shortly before her wedding, making her a possible target.

• Lin Sheng tested the Heart Ape talent after his mental attribute reached three points and endured it for twenty-five breaths with little exhaustion.
• Lin Sheng found that his improved mental attribute made Qingniao Chasing Star Finger easier to understand and practice, potentially speeding his progress to the third level.
• Le An delivered Zhao Kongfang’s intelligence to Lin Sheng, revealing that Kong Qi targeted wealthy unmarried women and that Zhoushan County had three women due to marry soon.
• Lin Sheng traveled toward Zhoushan County using the Heart Ape talent to increase his speed.
• The Sun family’s Second Miss shopped through Zhoushan County with her maid and guards as townspeople discussed her upcoming marriage.

Kong Qi selected Sun Yu as his target in Zhoushan County, while Lin Sheng arrived to investigate the three families and Pei Er hid in the Su Family manor. At Su Mei’s coming-of-age banquet, Sun Yu accepted a fragrant sachet that could help Kong Qi track her.

• Kong Qi killed two women at Hundred Fragrances Tower, used a pill to suppress his pain, and chose Sun Yu of the Sun Family as his target, avoiding Su Mei because of her father’s influence.
• Lin Sheng arrived in Zhoushan County to search for the Jade-Faced Man and planned to track Su Mei, Wang Hongli, and Sun Yu using specially made tracking powder.
• Pei Er disguised himself as a servant and hid in the Su Family manor, where he hoped to recover from his injuries and evade Liu Tianci’s pursuers.
• At Su Mei’s coming-of-age banquet in Wanke Tower, Su Mei gave Sun Yu a fragrant sachet she had bought from a vendor, and Sun Yu happily accepted it.

Lin Sheng waited outside Su Manor for Jade-Faced Man Kong Qi and chased a suspicious intruder beyond Zhoushan County, only to discover he had mistaken Earth-Drilling Rat Pei Er for his target. Lin Sheng recognized Pei Er as a wanted criminal and moved to capture him.

• Lin Sheng used sachets and medicinal powder to track Su Mei and waited near Su Manor for Kong Qi to appear.
• Lin Sheng spotted a figure leaving Su Manor and pursued him beyond Zhoushan County, where the figure’s tracks suddenly vanished.
• Pei Er burst from underground and attacked Lin Sheng, who transformed with the Three-eyed Spirit Monkey and fought back.
• Lin Sheng changed to the Silver-patterned Black Crocodile and used Earth Affinity to force Pei Er out of the ground as he tried to escape.
• Lin Sheng and Pei Er realized they had mistaken each other for someone else, and Lin Sheng identified Pei Er as the wanted Earth-Drilling Rat.

Lin Sheng pursued Pei Er after the Ground-Drilling Rat tricked him into confronting two Prefectural Office constables, then caught him outside Zhoushan County using his Heart Ape talent. As Lin Sheng prepared to kill Pei Er, an unseen attacker intervened and demanded that he spare him.

• Pei Er offered Lin Sheng fifty thousand taels to let him go, then used the arrival of two constables to create an opening and escape.
• The two constables mistook Lin Sheng for Pei Er's accomplice and attacked him, so Lin Sheng killed them and destroyed the evidence.
• Pei Er fled underground toward Zhoushan County, but Lin Sheng waited outside the town and caught him when he emerged.
• Lin Sheng used his Heart Ape talent to terrify Pei Er into helplessness, then grabbed him and prepared to kill him.
• A fast-moving leaf struck Lin Sheng's arm, and an unseen attacker told him to spare Pei Er.

Lin Sheng collected payment from a bamboo-hatted Bone Alteration expert after poisoning Pei Er, then returned to Zhoushan County to pursue the Jade-Faced Man Kong Qi. As Lin Sheng watched Sun Yu’s household, an old Blood Circulation expert and a boy arrived, apparently intending to hunt the Jade-Faced Man themselves.

• Lin Sheng accepted sixty thousand taels and two superior Bone Forging Pills from the bamboo-hatted man in exchange for releasing Pei Er, then left Pei Er infected with a lethal cold poison.
• The bamboo-hatted man treated Pei Er, learned about Lin Sheng’s earlier encounter with him, and decided to return to Zhoushan County to face Liu Tianci.
• Liu Tianci’s men concluded that Abi Xiu Er had been killed by an expert connected to Pei Er, and Liu Tianci went toward Zhoushan County to investigate.
• Three days later, Lin Sheng watched Su Mei’s wedding and, seeing no sign of the Jade-Faced Man Kong Qi, turned his attention to Wang Hongli and Sun Yu.
• Lin Sheng bought Spirit Beast Blood and poisonous ingredients, raised his Third Imprint activation progress to eight percent, and moved near Sun Yu’s residence to watch her.
• An old Blood Circulation expert and a ragged boy arrived near the Sun residence, and the old man claimed he had a plan to find the Jade-Faced Man.

Lin Sheng sensed danger outside Zhoushan County while Kong Qi planned to target Sun Yu, but Kong Qi noticed the Sun Residence’s precautions and fled before he could act. An old Daoist and his young companion pursued Kong Qi, and Lin Sheng followed after realizing something had happened.

• Lin Sheng sensed a lingering threat through the Jade Moth’s Danger Sense and suspected the demonic seed was waiting outside Zhoushan County.
• Kong Qi watched the busy Sun Residence, decided to act that night, and took a pill when he suffered a sudden bout of pain.
• An old Daoist’s Yang Stone reacted to Kong Qi, and he explained to the youth that Kong Qi’s Yin-Yang Union Skill complemented the youth’s Yang Extremity Skill.
• Kong Qi entered the Sun Residence but spotted its tracking preparations, grew suspicious, and abandoned his attempt to reach Sun Yu.
• The old Daoist and the youth chased Kong Qi out of the city, and Lin Sheng followed them after finding no response from the birds he had sent to watch the residence.

Lin Sheng arrived as Kong Qi overpowered the Yang Extremity elder and his young companion, then confronted Kong Qi. The chapter ended with Lin Sheng holding Kong Qi’s severed head while the elder stared in shock.

• Kong Qi defeated the Yang Extremity elder, but the youth’s stones disrupted his Yin-Yang Union Skill before Kong Qi quickly recovered by revealing his Yin-malevolence integration.
• Kong Qi captured the elder and youth, then tried to cripple the elder after learning he might know about Qiankun Palace.
• Lin Sheng emerged from the forest and asked about the Yin-Yang Union, Yang Extremity, and Qiankun Palace.
• Kong Qi dismissed Lin Sheng and charged at him, while the elder shut his eyes, expecting Lin Sheng to die.
• Lin Sheng killed Kong Qi and held up his severed head, leaving the elder and youth stunned.

Lin Sheng carried Kong Qi’s head and two captives toward Zhoushan County while sensing a demon seed nearby, as Wanyan Bei and Liu Tianci fought to a draw. Wanyan Bei and Pei Er headed for Wanhua City but were ambushed by a demon seed, and Wanyan prepared to fight despite his injuries.

• Lin Sheng seized the old man and youth, then rushed toward Zhoushan County to prepare for the approaching threat.
• Liu Tianci and Wanyan Bei clashed on a hill, but neither defeated the other; both withdrew after sustaining injuries.
• Wanyan Bei told Pei Er that he had reached the Fifth Level Sword Intent, then chose to leave for Wanhua City and regroup.
• Liu Tianci reprimanded a constable who questioned him, then returned toward the Prefecture City to recover and cultivate his gains from the fight.
• A demon seed possessing an Earth Rock Giant Lizard attacked Wanyan Bei and Pei Er, surrounding them with three figures as Wanyan prepared to fight.

Lin Sheng traded the Yang Extremity Skill for access to Kong Qi’s belongings and a copy of the Yin-Yang Union Skill, then returned to Wanhua City to claim his rewards. As Wei Bo investigated the city’s factions and the beast mine, Lin Sheng headed to Myriad Beasts Hall to look for news of avian spirit beasts.

• Lin Sheng questioned the old man, agreed to let him copy the Yin-Yang Union Skill, and took the old man’s Yang Extremity Skill in exchange.
• The old man copied the Yin-Yang Union Skill from Kong Qi’s hidden scroll and departed with the youth.
• Lin Sheng returned to Wanhua City, earned merit for Kong Qi’s head, visited Lin Hong, Xie Guilan, and Xie Qingyun, then collected twenty thousand taels from the Prefectural Office.
• Wei Bo learned that the city’s major forces were contesting Bai Peak, that Red Hair planned to meet Shi Yan and Fang Tiankui, and that Shi Gu had disappeared; he ordered further investigations.
• Lin Sheng disguised himself after leaving the yamen and went to Myriad Beasts Hall to seek news of avian spirit beasts.

Lin Sheng continued building his strength and learned that the Yunshui Mountain beast mine dispute had temporarily ended before Yang Niu returned with an injured Green-eyed Fierce Eagle. Lin Sheng liked the bird but rejected Yang Niu’s demand of fifty-five thousand taels, pointing out that it was near death.

• Lin Sheng bought Spirit Beast Blood and raised his Third Imprint’s activation progress to fifteen percent, then decided to sell his two Bone Forging Treasure Pills to fund further progress.
• Zhao Kongfang told Lin Sheng that sect missions might begin early and that the Crimson Whale Hall had temporarily secured the Bai Peak beast mine after negotiations with the Fang Family and White Dragon Gang.
• Lin Sheng checked on his venomous creatures and the Three-eyed Spirit Monkey, drew twenty jin of its blood, and raised his Third Imprint’s progress by another three percent.
• A shop hand told Lin Sheng that Yang Niu had returned and wanted to speak with him at Myriad Beasts Hall.
• Yang Niu showed Lin Sheng an injured Green-eyed Fierce Eagle that he had obtained from a Tianxiang Sword Sect elder.
• Lin Sheng approved of the eagle but challenged Yang Niu’s price of fifty-five thousand taels because the bird was severely injured and close to death.

Lin Sheng bought the wounded Green-eyed Fierce Eagle and the Ghost Face Black Plover, then used Enter the Body on the eagle and tested its boosts and Penetration talent. After absorbing the eagle’s remaining blood, he turned to the frightened Ghost Face Black Plover to absorb it as well.

• Lin Sheng negotiated with Yang Niu to buy the Green-eyed Fierce Eagle and Ghost Face Black Plover, then also purchased Spirit Beast Blood.
• Back at his residence, Lin Sheng subdued the Green-eyed Fierce Eagle when it attacked him and used Enter the Body, killing it as he absorbed its blood.
• The Green-eyed Fierce Eagle’s entry transformed Lin Sheng, increasing his agility and giving him cyan scales that reduced air resistance.
• Lin Sheng tested the Penetration talent by striking bluestone, shattering its interior while leaving its surface intact.
• Lin Sheng absorbed the Green-eyed Fierce Eagle’s remaining blood, raising the Third Imprint’s activation progress above twenty percent, then reached into the Ghost Face Black Plover’s cage.