Chapter Summaries

After fleeing the battle, Wei He led a small group into the wilderness and took shelter in a ruined Daoist temple. He prepared food and supplies, then killed three wolves that followed their blood trail, leaving the group to rest under his guard.

• Wei He chose to escape into the wilderness, but most of the Huishan Fist disciples went to Hong Family Fort; Zhang Qi and Ouyang Lin remained with him, along with Wei Ying.
• Wei He carried Wei Ying and led Zhang Qi and Ouyang Lin to a ruined Daoist temple, where he had hidden supplies and made a fire.
• Wei Ying prepared a meal while Wei He explained why he believed Zheng Fugui could escape and why the Seven Families Alliance's troops were likely targeting the Flying Bear Saber.
• Wei He used a bloodstained garment as bait and ambushed three black wolves that approached the temple, killing them for food.

Jiang Su and the Huishan Fist survivors fled from the Blood Robe Gang after Master Zheng was badly wounded, but the gang cornered them in the forest. Wei He rescued Jiang Su and Zheng Fugui, then used powder to draw a pack of wolves onto their pursuers as he escaped.

• Jiang Su carried the unconscious Master Zheng through the forest while the Blood Robe Gang pursued the Huishan Fist group and demanded Zheng Fugui.
• Wei He heard the fighting but initially returned to the Daoist temple, then hurried toward the sounds after hearing the gang call for Zheng Fugui.
• Jiang Su fought the Blood Robe Gang leaders while her fellow disciples were killed, and the awakened Zheng Fugui urged her to leave him behind.
• Wei He knocked Jiang Su unconscious, grabbed her and Zheng Fugui, and escaped into the trees using the Flying Dragon Technique.
• Wei He scattered powder that drew a pack of wild wolves onto the Blood Robe Gang, then carried Jiang Su and Zheng Fugui away.

Wei He killed a Blood Robe Gang pursuer while carrying Jiang Su, but Zheng Fugui died after revealing that he had hidden his valuables in a fur-wrapped bundle. Feiye City then came under attack by Hong Daoyuan's army, which he led in the name of helping the suffering people.

• Wei He dodged two flying knives and killed the bearded Great Protector of the Blood Robe Gang with a poisoned, crushing strike.
• Zheng Fugui explained that the Martial Artist Alliance had been betrayed and that he had hidden provisions and valuables, then revealed a fur-wrapped bundle before dying.
• Wei He and Jiang Su knelt and kowtowed to Zheng Fugui as he died holding the bundle.
• A soldier spotted an approaching army beyond Feiye City, and the city's defenders rushed to prepare its walls and gates.
• Hong Daoyuan denounced the Seven Families Alliance for hoarding grain, challenged Ou Chen, and launched an assault on Feiye City.

As Feiye City burned during the battle between the Seven Families Alliance and its enemies, Wei He buried Zheng Fugui and learned of the Wushi Sect tokens and mutant seed Zheng had left behind. After failing to find One-Ear alive, Wei He chose to gather his supplies and lead the survivors toward Taizhou Prefecture, though he still hoped to learn what had happened to his family.

• Wei He buried Zheng Fugui with Jiang Su and the others, then read Zheng’s letter explaining the Wushi Sect tokens, the Wushi Huishan Art, and how to use the mutant seed.
• Wei He told Jiang Su and the others he would investigate One-Ear and his family before they left, then hid them in a hunting cave with supplies.
• Wei He searched for two days and found One-Ear’s stronghold burned down, with its inhabitants dead and no clues to their fate.
• Wei He studied the map and chose to travel to Taizhou Prefecture, where the Wushi Sect could offer the complete art and protection.
• Wei He decided to make one last trip to retrieve his hidden food and meat before departing with the others.

Wei Chun guided her parents and the freed miners toward Feiye City, where Hong Daoyuan’s soldiers praised his rule and distributed grain. Meanwhile, Wei He’s group traveled northwest through the wilderness; after sheltering from a storm, Wei He left the cave to scout and encountered an unseen presence in the forest.

• Wei Chun reassured Wei Tang and Li Cui as they joined the miners fleeing Shaoyang Gate for Feiye City.
• Hong Family Fort soldiers told the returning miners that Hong Daoyuan had opened the granaries and would provide grain.
• Wei He, Wei Ying, Ouyang Lin, Jiang Su, and Zhang Qi took shelter from heavy rain in a cave on Barren Mountain.
• Wei He released two bear cubs outside the cave, camouflaged the entrance, and went out to patrol the surrounding forest.
• Wei He hid from several figures hurrying through the woods, then continued scouting and heard faint, difficult-to-locate breathing.
• Wei He pressed himself against a tree and drew a throwing dart as he tried to see what was nearby.

Wei He led his group through a dangerous forest, where they encountered Jue Ru Birds and narrowly avoided an ambush by hungry travelers. After finding shelter in an abandoned village, they met a merchant caravan and learned that Cangjian Gorge and a Jue Ru Bird nest lay ahead.

• Wei He spotted Jue Ru Birds feeding on a corpse and led the group away from their territory, but later encountered another pair and suspected a nearby nest.
• After a month in the forest, Wei He and his companions discussed ways to pass the time before he sensed strangers approaching their camp.
• Wei He killed four men who had tried to ambush the group, then led his companions away from the corpses and found an intact village to shelter in.
• An old merchant named Wang arrived with his caravan, and Wei He noticed a veiled woman among them who seemed unusual.
• A merchant asked Wei He to share Beast Bait for the crossing at Cangjian Gorge, and Wei He admitted he did not know how to use it.

Wei He joined the caravan led by Wang Zichong and learned the rules for crossing Cangjian Gorge, while quietly assessing the veiled Zhen Qi and her companions. The groups began crossing the bridge the next morning, but the Jue Ru Birds returned before they had made it halfway.

• Wei He visited Wang Zichong’s courtyard, met Zhen Qi, Xue Chengyong, and Qian Hao, and agreed to join their groups for the Cangjian Gorge crossing.
• Wang Zichong warned the travelers not to injure the Jue Ru Birds and arranged for the four parties to share the cost of Beast Bait.
• After Wei He returned to Jiang Su and told her about the plan, he ordered his group to watch for trouble and follow his signals.
• The next morning, the four parties reached Cangjian Gorge and began crossing its damaged bridge, with Wang Zichong’s caravan leading.
• When the Jue Ru Birds turned back toward the travelers, Qian Hao threw his portion of Beast Bait away from the bridge.

Wei He’s group lost Ouyang Lin to the Jue Ru Birds after Xue Chengyong mishandled the Beast Bait, and Wei He pursued him before a Dragon-tailed Snake intervened. Zhen Qi rescued Wei Ying from the snake, and the shaken groups continued onward with Wei He suspicious of Zhen Qi’s insect.

• Xue Chengyong dropped Beast Bait on the bridge, drawing the Jue Ru Birds over Ouyang Lin and killing her as Wei He led the others to safety.
• Wei He attacked Xue Chengyong, but Old Wang blocked him; another piece of Beast Bait then drew the birds down, killing one of Old Wang’s men and scattering both groups.
• Old Wang showed Wei He a Trace Bug, and the groups followed it to Xue Chengyong and his two companions, who had been killed by a Dragon-tailed Snake.
• The Dragon-tailed Snake attacked the groups, and Zhen Qi cut its tail and rescued Wei Ying before everyone fled.
• At a stream, Wei He thanked Zhen Qi for saving Wei Ying and grew suspicious of her after noticing her Trace Bug resembled a Black-character Bug.

Wei He’s group traveled deeper into the Yewu Mountain Range, where he completed the second level of the Flying Dragon Technique and advanced to its third level. Old Wang then warned him that cultivating multiple qi-and-blood techniques could cause their Imprinted Blood to clash once he reached Force Entry.

• Wei He questioned Zhen Qi about the Black-character Bug, suspected she was connected to it, and thanked her for saving Wei Ying.
• Old Wang invited Wei He and Qian Hao to join his group, and the three groups traveled together through the Yewu Mountain Range for another month.
• Wei He completed the second level of the Flying Dragon Technique and used the Boundary-Breaking Pearl to advance to its third level, Gallop.
• Wei Ying grew close to Zhen Qi, accepted a jar of Detoxifying Insect Paste from her, and returned to Wei He despite his warning to be cautious.
• Old Wang told Wei He that different qi-and-blood techniques could produce Imprinted Blood that either complemented or clashed once a martial artist reached Force Entry.

Old Wang explained the importance of pure Primal Blood and described Taizhou Prefecture and the powerful Wushi Sect, giving Wei He guidance for settling there. Wei He and his companions reached Taizhou Prefecture, parted from Old Wang’s group, and left Zhen Qi and Wei Ying to say farewell without exchanging addresses.

• Old Wang told Wei He that cultivating multiple techniques divided Imprinted Blood and could hinder martial breakthroughs, and he explained that Taizhou’s major sects prized pure Primal Blood.
• Old Wang described the Daoist Sect’s three branches and said the Wushi Sect, a leading force of Baoping Dao, ruled Taizhou; Wei He considered joining it as a place to settle with Second Sister.
• After a night of discussion, Wei He, Qian Hao, and the others traveled across the Yewu Mountain Range and reached Taizhou Prefecture two months later.
• Wei He thanked Old Wang and promised to help him if he encountered trouble, then left with Wei Ying and their companions in a carriage.
• Wei Ying and Zhen Qi exchanged a silent farewell, while Old Wang cautioned Zhen Qi against growing close to the Wei siblings; Zhen Qi dismissed his concern, and the groups parted without sharing addresses.

Wei He reached the Wushi Sect and underwent an assessment with four other outpost-recommended Three-Blood Martial Artists. After being judged to have inferior bone structure, he offered the evaluator his gold notes and a rare exotic seed, then waited in a courtyard as the sect left him and two others without word for several days.

• Wei He arrived at the Wushi Sect with four other token-bearing candidates and learned that their entry depended on the judgment of their assigned masters.
• Senior Brother Han evaluated the candidates’ Huishan Fist demonstrations and gave Wei He an Inferior Bone Structure plaque, saying his qi and blood were impure.
• Wei He and two other candidates agreed to offer valuables to improve their chances, and Wei He handed over most of his gold notes and his exotic seed.
• A servant led Wei He and the other two to a separate courtyard, where they waited for days without receiving news from the sect.

The Wushi Sect’s Inner Court heads rejected Wei He because of his low bone structure and muddled cultivation, and Nine Truths chose Zhou Xinyi instead. When an elder offered Wei He a place in the Outer Court in exchange for more payments, Wei He refused and left the sect.

• The Inner Court heads reviewed the candidates’ plaques and rejected Wei He and two others for low bone structure.
• Green Leaf urged Nine Truths to consider Wei He because Senior Brother Zheng had recommended him, but Nine Truths accepted Zhou Xinyi instead.
• A young Daoist told Wei He that none of the Inner Courts wanted him and led him to the white-haired elder.
• The elder offered Wei He a place in the Outer Court if he paid more, or the choice to leave the sect.
• Wei He refused the Outer Court offer, departed the Wushi Sect, and looked back at its gate before walking away.

After learning that the Wushi Sect had rejected him, Wei He discussed their options with Jiang Su, Wei Ying, and Zhang Qi. Jiang Su and Zhang Qi chose to seek entry into the sect, while Wei He began investigating Taizhou’s other powers.

• Wei He explained that the Wushi Sect monopolized the cultivation art and exotic beast meat needed to advance, though five other major powers held influence in Taizhou.
• Jiang Su said she could not afford to start over and chose to register for the Wushi Sect’s selection with Zhang Qi, who wanted to become strong enough to rely on himself.
• Jiang Su and Zhang Qi prepared to leave for the Wushi Sect the next day, while Wei Ying returned to her room and Wei He remained alone with the map.
• Wei He marked the locations of Taizhou’s five great powers on the map: Lishan Sect, Danyang Gate, Heavenly Seal Sect, Jian Zhe Temple, and the Taizhou Prefectural Army.
• Wei He asked the innkeeper where else he could study martial arts and offered him several gold beans.

Wei He and Wei Ying reached the declining Heavenly Seal Sect, where Wei He learned how its disciples chose masters and identified the Nine Felling of Heavenly Seal as his target. He began the enrollment process and awaited an inspection before selecting a master.

• A shopkeeper told Wei He that the Heavenly Seal Sect had the largest collection of martial arts manuals and explained that its methods included True Arts.
• Wei He and Wei Ying traveled to Xuanjing City and found the Heavenly Seal Sect’s headquarters quiet and badly maintained.
• Wei He paid Yang Guo for information about joining, and she explained the sect’s recruitment process, disciple quotas, and current lack of available masters.
• Wei He examined the list of vacancies and learned that the Nine Felling of Heavenly Seal comprised nine methods derived from a complete True Art.
• Wei He asked to join the sect, and Yang Guo told him to pay the registration fee and await a senior brother’s inspection before choosing a master.

Wei He passed the Heavenly Seal Sect’s entrance tests and joined its Outer Court, where he began rebuilding his cultivation with the Heart Locking Seal. More than half a year later, he had reached the completion of Second Stage Qi and Blood and was close to Third Blood again.

• Wei He paid to arrange his registration and followed the crew-cut man with Zhao Chuan and Xiao Zhenshu to the examination arena.
• Kong Ran tested Zhao Chuan, then challenged Wei He to attack and explained how a cultivator’s Third Blood foundation affected their strength after entering Force.
• Wei He and the other candidates completed a second test and were accepted into the Heavenly Seal Sect’s Outer Court.
• Wei He spent over half a year cultivating the Heart Locking Seal, while Second Sister lived in a rented courtyard in Heavenly Seal Town.
• Wei He reached the completion of Second Stage Qi and Blood and hurried out of his Outer Court residence one morning.

Wei He completed the Heart Locking Seal's three-blood stage and chose to enter Wan Qing Court, where Wan Ling was resisting pressure to marry her daughter, Wan Qingqing, to the son of a Lishan Sect expert. The chapter ended as Wan Qingqing brought Wei He and another new disciple to meet her mother.

• Wei He broke through to three blood in the Heart Locking Seal and decided to enter the Inner Court immediately.
• Yang Guo told Wei He that the First, Second, and Sixth Branch Courts placed the least control on their disciples, and he chose to pursue a quiet path.
• Wan Ling received another marriage proposal for Wan Qingqing and ordered Bi Song not to deliver letters from Zhou Shun or Lu Chengtiao.
• Wan Qingqing brought her mother the list of newcomers and reported that two disciples had selected Wan Qing Court.
• Wan Qingqing returned with two male disciples, including Wei He, to introduce them to Wan Ling.

Wei He and Sun Yi joined Wan Qing Court, learned its cultivation rules, and paid their monthly fees, with Wan Qingqing lending Wei He the shortfall. Wei He went to visit Wei Ying in Heavenly Seal Town, where she prepared for his arrival and encountered a neighbor boy.

• Wan Qingqing explained the Overturning Rain Gathering Clouds Technique, Wan Qing Court's rules, and the costs of cultivation to Wei He and Sun Yi.
• Sun Yi paid his seventy-tael monthly fee, and Wan Qingqing covered the money Wei He lacked.
• Sun Yi left to begin cultivating, while Wan Qingqing told Wei He to repay her loan later.
• Wei He headed to Heavenly Seal Town to visit Wei Ying, who had rented a courtyard there.
• Wei Ying went out to buy vegetables and passed a neighboring courtyard, where a half-grown boy played with ants.

Wei He entered the Heavenly Seal Sect’s Inner Court and beat Wang Qubing and his father for harassing Wei Ying. After learning that cultivating the Overturning Rain Imprint required expensive Azure Thread Fish, he asked Yang Guo about ways to earn money, but her suggestions offered no quick solution.

• Wang Qubing struck Wei Ying with a stone and mocked her, so Wei He beat him and his father, then crippled their limbs and hands.
• Wei He covered Wei Ying’s stained clothes with his own garment, and they returned home to share a meal.
• Wei He studied how to cultivate the Overturning Rain Imprint and realized he needed money to buy Azure Thread Fish.
• Wei He went to Yang Guo for advice, and she described patrol work, sect tasks, and jobs for wealthy households.
• Wei He found the available work too slow and wondered whether he could earn money faster.

Wei He settled into patrol work in Xuanjing City while cultivating with plentiful Water Bear Meat, then learned of a rich bounty for the Zhou Family’s murdered heir. During his patrol, he discovered a corpse and killed a shadowy attacker, leaving the government office to investigate.

• Wei He took a long-term patrol job in Xiongshan Town that paid him Water Bear Meat, and he spent the next two months working and cultivating.
• While patrolling with Yang Xue, Wei He learned the Zhou Family offered a large bounty for the killer of Zhou Ji.
• Wei He heard a disturbance near an alley and found two stray cats feeding on a corpse.
• A black-clad attacker sprang from the alley and struck Wei He with a short blade, but Wei He killed him with a punch to the forehead.
• Wei He ordered Yang Xue to sound the gong and notify the government office without touching the bodies.

Wei He fought off several attackers in an alley, then held his ground against the Entering Force Martial Master Xiao Heng. After Xiao Heng escaped with the corpse, You Zhuang arrived and questioned how Wei He had survived the encounter.

• Wei He killed a black-clad attacker, deflected a hidden weapon, and kept two more assailants from taking the corpse before they fled.
• Captain Wang arrived with constables, but Xiao Heng attacked, badly injured Wang Chong, and killed three constables.
• Wei He exchanged more than ten blows with Xiao Heng, who grabbed the corpse and escaped from the alley.
• Wang Chong identified Xiao Heng and explained that the You family was pursuing him, then asked Wei He to keep watch until they arrived.
• You Zhuang arrived with You family servants, offered compensation for the dead and injured constables, and questioned how Wei He had resisted Xiao Heng without reaching Entering Force.