Chapter Summaries

Chen Ping'an learned more about Gao Cheng’s plans and appraised the treasures he had recovered while Jiang Shangzhen advised him about the dangers of continuing north. After Zhu Quan promised to guard against Gao Cheng, Chen Ping'an boarded a ferry; Pu Rang and the old monk parted, and the old monk shared a final teaching with the old Taoist priest.

• Jiang Shangzhen explained Gao Cheng’s plan to build a Fengdu Underworld in Ghost Realm Valley and warned Chen Ping'an that traveling farther north could be dangerous.
• Jiang Shangzhen appraised Chen Ping'an’s robe, talismans, golden thunder whip, and paintings, and told him Yang Ningxing had gained valuable treasures and good fortune.
• Jiang Shangzhen discussed Pu Rang’s love for the old monk and warned Chen Ping'an that his troubled state of mind was affecting his judgment.
• Zhu Quan broke through Jiang Shangzhen’s barriers, chased him away, and assured Chen Ping'an that the Pima Sect would protect him from Gao Cheng.
• Pu Rang revealed that she had deliberately remained a skeleton to make the old monk feel guilty, then left him; the old monk told the old Taoist priest that the heart could lead to its own attainment.
• Chen Ping'an boarded an Immortal Family Ferry bound toward the southeastern coast and read a Military Book under the lamplight.

Chen Ping'an traveled aboard Spring Dew Garden’s ferry, learning from steward Song Lanqiao about Golden Light Peak, Moonlight Mountain, and the routes ferries used. After spotting a city in Silver Screen Country shrouded in ominous black mist, he left the ferry to investigate, while reflecting on the people and spirits he had met on his journey.

• Chen Ping'an read Spring Dew Garden’s heritage booklet and practiced the Six-Step Stance aboard the ferry.
• Song Lanqiao visited Chen Ping'an and explained the rare creatures of Golden Light Peak and Moonlight Mountain, though the ferry saw neither the Golden-backed Goose nor the giant frog.
• Song Lanqiao explained how ferries adjusted their altitude to conserve Immortal Money as the vessel continued toward Spring Dew Garden.
• Chen Ping'an noticed black mist shrouding a commandery city in Silver Screen Country, and Song Lanqiao said a calamity might be approaching.
• Chen Ping'an left the ferry, refined a Thunder Whip, and set out on foot toward the city to investigate.

Chen Ping'an investigated the looming disaster in Suijia City, discovered that its City God was near collapse, and confronted Du Yu at a ruined water shrine. After defeating Du Yu and forcing the Canal Master Matriarch to explain the crisis, Chen Ping'an learned that an old wrongful death case had damaged the City God's fortunes, but the chapter ended before the account was complete.

• Chen Ping'an entered Suijia City with a charcoal seller and learned about its City God Temple and Fire God Shrine.
• Chen Ping'an inspected the shrines and found that the City God Temple was hoarding incense essence to prolong the deity's failing golden body.
• Chen Ping'an followed local youths to a ruined water shrine, where the Canal Master Matriarch arrived with two attendants and Du Yu revealed his trap.
• Du Yu attacked Chen Ping'an, but Chen Ping'an broke through the talisman formation and knocked him unconscious with one blow.
• Chen Ping'an forced the Canal Master Matriarch to explain Suijia City's crisis, including the City God's failing golden body and a scholarly household's wrongful deaths a century earlier.

Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Chen Ping'an and Du Yu visit the Algae Stream Canal Lord's temple to inquire about the secret letter.
• The Canal Lord's wife initially refuses to discuss the matter, but Chen Ping'an persists.
• He Lu and Yan Qing are revealed to be secretly meeting at the temple.
• Chen Ping'an captures the Canal Lord's wife and demands answers, threatening to harm her.
• He Lu and Yan Qing intervene, but Chen Ping'an overpowers them easily.
• Chen Ping'an forces the Canal Lord's wife to reveal information about the secret letter.
• After obtaining the information, Chen Ping'an leaves with Du Yu, and Yan Qing vows revenge.

Character Developments

• Chen Ping'an: Shows his prowess in combat, using his strength to intimidate and coerce the Canal Lord's wife. He also demonstrates his strategic thinking and understanding of people's hearts.
• Du Yu: Follows Chen Ping'an's lead, initially trying to reason with the Canal Lord's wife but later assisting Chen Ping'an in his actions. He also shows his loyalty to Chen Ping'an.
• Canal Lord's wife: Initially arrogant and dismissive, she later reveals information under Chen Ping'an's threat. She shows fear and desperation when faced with danger.
• He Lu and Yan Qing: Both show concern for each other but are ultimately no match for Chen Ping'an's strength. They vow to seek revenge together.

Significant Themes

• Power and Weakness: Chen Ping'an's strength allows him to dominate the situation, while the Canal Lord's wife and He Lu and Yan Qing are at his mercy. This highlights the theme of power dynamics in their interactions.
• Revenge and Retribution: Yan Qing's vow to take revenge on Chen Ping'an foreshadows future conflicts between them.
• Love and Loyalty: He Lu and Yan Qing's secret meeting and their concern for each other emphasize the theme of love and loyalty in their relationship.

Character Interactions

• Chen Ping'an and the Canal Lord's wife: Their interaction is one of conflict and coercion, with Chen Ping'an using his strength to intimidate the Canal Lord's wife into revealing information.
• Chen Ping'an, He Lu, and Yan Qing: Their interaction is one of combat and tension, with Chen Ping'an overpowering He Lu and Yan Qing and threatening them.
• Du Yu and Chen Ping'an: Du Yu follows Chen Ping'an's lead, showing loyalty and support. Their interaction is one of cooperation and mutual respect.

Chen Ping'an brought the Zao Creek Canal Master's wife to Cangyun Lake, where he exposed and killed her for her part in sacrificing girls to the Lake Lord. When Yin Hou and Fan Wei Ran arrived with their forces, Chen Ping'an challenged them and struck down a River God with one punch.

• Chen Ping'an questioned Du Yu about the strange boundary around Silver Screen Country and planned how to conceal his strength before confronting Cangyun Lake.
• Chen Ping'an forced the Zao Creek Canal Master's wife to lead him toward the lake, while Yan Qing followed and questioned him along the way.
• At the lakeside, Chen Ping'an asked whether the Canal Master's wife had coerced girls and their families, then rejected her promise to mend her ways.
• Yin Hou and Fan Wei Ran arrived with their Dragon Palace and Baotong Immortal Realm forces, and the Canal Master's wife tried to flee to Yin Hou.
• Chen Ping'an dragged the Canal Master's wife back, tore out her divine golden body, and shattered it as he answered that none of the girls had been willing.
• Chen Ping'an invited Yin Hou and Fan Wei Ran to attack together, charged across the dock, and killed a green-armored River God with one punch.

Chen Ping'an fought Lake Lord Yin Hou and Cangyun Lake’s Water Gods, then pressed Yin Hou for answers about Suijia City and the Prefect’s death. He returned to the Zao Creek Canal Master’s shrine, where Du Yu and Yan Qing were waiting.

• Chen Ping'an broke Yin Hou’s mist array, defeated the River Gods’ water dragons, and forced Yin Hou to flee while Fan Wei Ran arrived too late to help.
• Fan Wei Ran negotiated for the Muhan River and Zao Creek Canal Master positions, then left after Yin Hou escaped.
• Chen Ping'an returned to the shrine with Du Yu, trained, and told Du Yu to search for valuables before letting him go.
• Chen Ping'an stopped Yan Qing from pursuing him, then intercepted her after Yin Hou rescued her from Cangyun Lake.
• Yin Hou explained the Secret Letter, the City God’s schemes, and the approaching tribulation threatening Suijia City.
• Chen Ping'an returned to the shrine, where Du Yu and Yan Qing had gathered beside the treasure he had left behind.

Chen Ping'an killed Suijia City’s corrupt City God and faced the heavenly tribulation, which devastated the city and left him gravely wounded. As rival cultivators pursued the strange treasure revealed after the storm, Du Yu rescued Chen Ping'an and later found him hiding in a Haunted House, where Chen Ping'an warned that leaving would have killed him.

• Chen Ping'an entered the City God Temple, killed the Yin Yang Division chief official, and destroyed the City God despite the threat of the heavenly tribulation.
• The City God’s death brought down a vast tribulation cloud; Chu Yi killed more temple officials, while the remaining clerks fled and a Fire God Shrine deity stayed to witness Chen Ping'an’s attempt to resist it.
• Chen Ping'an fought the descending tribulation with punches, talismans, and a sword strike, while Fan Wei Ran and Ye Han withdrew their forces and watched from afar.
• After the clouds cleared, the strange treasure emerged as a black sword-light; a little monkey swallowed it, and its owner fled as cultivators began pursuing him.
• Du Yu found Chen Ping'an badly injured in the ruined City God Temple, carried him to an abandoned house, and concealed his trail.
• Days later, Chen Ping'an appeared at the Haunted House in a white robe, drove off approaching cultivators, and told Du Yu that leaving that day would have killed him.

Chen Ping'an exposed and punished the plotters who tried to manipulate him in Suijia City, then set out for Cangyun Lake as conspiracies among the region’s powerful cultivators came into focus. Jiang Shangzhen arrived to aid him, while Chen Ping'an entered Cangyun Lake’s Dragon Palace and challenged its assembled enemies to take his sword.

• Chen Ping'an recognized the staged plea of a woman who tried to use an infant to provoke him, rescued the child, and left Du Yu to care for it.
• Chen Ping'an tracked down the Wild Cultivator behind the scheme and killed him after learning that a genealogy Immortal Master from Dream Beam Peak had hired him.
• Xia Zhen and Mengliang Kingdom’s National Teacher discussed their alliance, the innate Sword Pellet, and Chen Ping'an’s Half-Immortal Weapon; Jiang Shangzhen then confronted Xia Zhen and identified himself.
• Jiang Shangzhen took the infant from Du Yu to bring him to Treasure Bottle Continent and gave Du Yu a School of Military Armor Pill.
• Chen Ping'an entered Cangyun Lake’s Dragon Palace, planted his sword in the floor, and challenged the gathered cultivators to take it, naming He Lu to go first.

Chen Ping'an crushed the schemes at Cangyun Lake’s Dragon Palace, killed He Lu and a hidden Golden Body Realm martial artist, and forced the surviving cultivators to account for their crimes. After leaving the lake with its Water Transport Essence, he returned to the Haunted House and learned that Jiang Shangzhen had taken the orphan north to Treasure Bottle Continent.

• Chen Ping'an exposed He Lu as Ye Han’s son, killed He Lu, and destroyed his soul when Ye Han tried to flee.
• Yan Qing drew her sword against Chen Ping'an, but a hidden Mengliang Kingdom martial artist struck Chen Ping'an and was then killed by him.
• Chen Ping'an killed the fleeing white-haired elder, wounded Ye Han, and drove Fan Wei Ran to escape while ordering the Dragon Palace survivors to expose one another’s crimes.
• Chen Ping'an spared Yan Qing and Cui, took the Water Transport Essence, and left Cangyun Lake after requiring Yin Hou to protect the waters and repair Suijia City’s fortune.
• Chen Ping'an returned to the Haunted House, where Du Yu told him Jiang Shangzhen had taken the orphan north and had left him a School of Military Armor Pill.

Chen Ping'an met the National Teacher of Mengliang Kingdom and avoided Ji Huan Mountain, where Xia Zhen’s schemes collapsed and Jiang Shangzhen and Li Cai killed him. Later, Chen Ping'an rescued two sisters from a treacherous master and disciple at Jinduo Temple, then flew north.

• Chen Ping'an bought the storyteller wine and recognized that the old man was the National Teacher of Mengliang Kingdom, who warned him away from Ji Huan Mountain.
• Chen Ping'an took the storyteller's warning and traveled around Ji Huan Mountain, where Xia Zhen raged after the National Teacher spoiled his plans.
• Jiang Shangzhen and Li Cai arrived at Ji Huan Mountain, killed Xia Zhen, and Jiang Shangzhen killed Ye Han and Fan Wei Ran.
• At Jinduo Temple, the master and disciple attacked Xining and Quan after pretending to help them defeat the ghosts.
• Chen Ping'an revealed his power, summoned a Fierce Ghost to kill the attackers, and used his sword to destroy another ghost.
• Chen Ping'an reassured Quan that she was right to be kind, then flew north.

Chen Ping'an bought the Mute Lake water monster from Qingqing Mansion, rescued a wounded monk from the Yellow Wind Old Ancestor, and let the monster follow him on his journey to Spring Dew Garden. Their travels brought the Great Water Monster laughter, adventures, and a glimpse of Chen Ping'an's quiet sadness.

• Chen Ping'an watched Qingqing Mansion cultivators capture the Mute Lake monster, then stepped in when Jin Le of the Golden Crow Palace threatened them and offered to buy her.
• Mao Qiulu accepted Chen Ping'an's Valley Rain Coin for the monster, and returned the bells the girl had given a scholar more than a century earlier.
• After the monks warned that the wounded Yellow Wind Old Ancestor was attacking nearby, Chen Ping'an split from the others and joined the wounded old monk to subdue the demon.
• Chen Ping'an gave the little monster her bells, and she followed him despite his attempts to leave her behind; he eventually agreed to take her along and called her Zhou.
• As they traveled toward Spring Dew Garden, Zhou shared strange encounters with Chen Ping'an, including his stopping a great boat with one hand and drinking beneath the lights of a capital.
• Looking at Chen Ping'an as he spoke of moonlight, Zhou thought his name might truly be Chen Hao Ren.

Chen Ping'an traveled with the black-clothed little girl aboard a ferry bound for Spring Dew Garden, where he punished cultivators who attacked her and fought a Golden Body Realm martial artist. After the fight, a sword-riding youth recognized Chen Ping'an as the person who had split a thundercloud over Golden Crow Palace, while the girl apologized to him.

• Chen Ping'an and the black-clothed little girl boarded an Immortal Ferry Crossing ferry, where she bought old mountain bulletins and hid the pain of being kicked by a ferry passenger.
• Chen Ping'an comforted the girl and brought her onto the railing to enjoy the view, while Wei Bai and his companions mocked them from the second deck.
• A cultivator fired a concealed Spiritual Energy arrow at the girl, and Chen Ping'an blocked it before confronting the attackers on the second deck.
• Chen Ping'an threw the attacking cultivators off the ferry, then agreed to let Master Liao strike him three times.
• Master Liao's first two punches failed to defeat Chen Ping'an, and he tried to attack the girl with his third before Chen Ping'an seized him by the throat and hurled him overboard.
• A sword-riding youth from Golden Crow Palace asked Chen Ping'an if he had split its thundercloud with a sword, and the girl apologized as Chen Ping'an reassured her.

Chen Ping'an confronted Gao Cheng aboard the ferry, but Gao Cheng escaped the Pima Sect’s trap by using Ding Tong as another vessel for his soul. After sending Zhou Mili toward Chen Ping'an’s hometown, Chen Ping'an continued his journey while Gao Cheng warned that he would meet him again in Guān City.

• Chen Ping'an challenged Gao Cheng to reveal himself, and Gao Cheng’s soul spoke through two dead passengers before an old swordsman appeared and admitted he was one part of Gao Cheng.
• Gao Cheng asked why Zhu Quan and the other Pima Sect cultivators had not helped Chen Ping'an during the heavenly tribulation, then cut off his own head rather than let them claim his soul.
• Zhu Quan freed Zhou Mili from the halted River of Time, and Chen Ping'an urged her to travel to his hometown and gave her advice about recognizing hidden malice.
• Chen Ping'an entrusted Zhou Mili to Zhu Quan and told her to go to Luopo Mountain, where she could meet his friends and eldest disciple Pei Qian.
• After the Pima Sect departed, Gao Cheng revealed himself through Ding Tong, returned Flying Sword Chuyi to Chen Ping'an, and said Chen Ping'an would eventually give it to him willingly.
• Ding Tong regained control of himself on the ferry railing, while Chen Ping'an greeted him with a wry remark.

Chen Ping'an protected the little girl from Gao Cheng’s schemes and arranged for her soul to be examined, while he and Zhu Quan discussed his choices and their distrust of Gao Cheng. He revealed that he would ask his allies for help if forced, but the memory of Mr. Qi’s death made him weep and insist that he could never let him down.

• The white-robed scholar explained why he had spared Ding Tong and killed the Golden Body Realm old man, then left the ferry to meet Zhu Quan and the others in the clouds.
• Zhu Quan revealed that Gao Cheng had tampered with the tortoise jelly and that the little girl had released a wisp of Green Smoke; Chen Ping'an asked her to send the child to Luopo Mountain for Cui Dongshan to examine.
• Chen Ping'an and Zhu Quan discussed Gao Cheng, the little girl's safety, and whether Chen Ping'an had truly been deceived into choosing her over Flying Sword Chuyi.
• Chen Ping'an described how he would ask Li Er, Cui Dongshan, the old man at the Bamboo Building, and Zuo for help if Gao Cheng took Chuyi and threatened the little girl.
• Chen Ping'an stood atop Sword Immortal and declared that he would ask no one if further Ascension Realm enemies appeared, then wept over Mr. Qi's death and said he could never disappoint him.

Chen Ping'an left Zhu Quan and negotiated a tense truce with Wei Bai before reaching Spring Dew Garden, while back in Qilong Alley Pei Qian welcomed Zhou Mili and Cui Dongshan secretly removed a remnant soul from her. The chapter ended with Chen Ping'an arriving at Spring Dew Garden’s guest residence and finding Liu Zhiqing waiting there.

• Chen Ping'an told Zhu Quan that Gao Cheng's ruinous last move was certain, revealed he was still a Six Realms martial artist, and admitted he had lost three fights to Cao Ci.
• Chen Ping'an left Zhu Quan, then met Wei Bai and the ferry steward, offering the Iron Barge Mansion a face-saving way to let Master Liao's death pass without reprisal.
• Pei Qian welcomed Zhou Mili at Yashui Shop, and Cui Dongshan touched Zhou Mili's brow before secretly pinching a black remnant of soul between his fingers.
• Chen Ping'an arrived at Spring Dew Garden, accepted the Awakening of Insects residence, and dismissed Song Lanqiao after hearing about the upcoming Farewell Spring Banquet.
• Chen Ping'an returned to his residence and found Liu Zhiqing waiting at the entrance with two Spring Dew Garden female cultivators.

Chen Ping'an gained Jade Ledge Cliff from Liu Zhiqing by advising him on his cultivation bottleneck, then opened the Ant Shop while waiting for a reply from Pima Sect. Back in Longquan County, Cui Dongshan set plans in motion around the academy and a porcelain figure before heading south with it.

• Chen Ping'an and Liu Zhiqing drank tea at Jade Ledge Cliff, where Chen advised Liu to examine Golden Crow Palace’s customs and human hearts as a way to temper his sword; Liu gave Chen the deed to the cliff.
• Chen Ping'an opened the Ant Shop on Old Locust Street, sparred with Liu Zhiqing three times, and sold Liu five Little Summer Coins’ worth of pebbles from Jade Ledge Cliff.
• Tan Ling delivered Chen Ping'an a sword case from Pima Sect, and Chen read a long letter from Pei Qian describing her life at the academy and in Qilong Alley.
• Cui Dongshan returned to Longquan County, asked Zhu Lian to have Wei Bo gather information about Gao Cheng from Pima Sect, and secretly visited Old Porcelain Mountain before tinkering at an ancestral residence.
• Cui Dongshan left Longquan County, after which the academy’s old teachers began visiting households and taking part in practical activities; he later revealed a cracked porcelain figure and addressed it as Young Brother Gao.

Chen Ping'an prepared to leave Spring Dew Garden, settling the Ant Shop’s affairs and deepening his plans to cultivate Chu Yi and Fifteen as Destiny Items. After bidding farewell to Liu Zhiqing and visiting his business contacts, he stood beneath the Old Scholar Tree on Old Locust Street before departing.

• Chen Ping'an returned hundreds of pebbles to Jade Ledge Cliff’s clear pool while Liu Zhiqing watched, then discussed sword cultivation, Golden Crow Palace, and the risks of refining Chu Yi and Fifteen.
• Chen Ping'an advised Liu Zhiqing to study Golden Crow Palace’s people before washing his sword, and Liu Zhiqing accepted the advice and left with a set of Goddess Paintings.
• Chen Ping'an practiced with the Sword Immortal and began refining two pieces of Dragon Slaying Platform so Chu Yi and Fifteen could hone themselves there.
• Chen Ping'an arranged for an apprentice to carve forty-nine Jade Ledge Cliff pebbles and asked Zhaoye Grass Hall to manage Ant Shop while he was away.
• Chen Ping'an visited Immortal Master Tang and the old woman, then watched the new shopkeeper open Ant Shop and begin serving customers.
• Chen Ping'an accepted the Talisman Boat as a gift, returned to Old Locust Street, and stood beneath the Old Scholar Tree before leaving Spring Dew Garden.

Chen Ping'an traveled north through Jinfei Kingdom and watched a deadly court-backed hunt unfold at Zhengrong Peak without intervening. After speaking with the hidden Sword Immortal Ji Yue, he left the Great Seal Dynasty behind and continued toward a coastal vassal state as the plum rains began.

• Chen Ping'an stayed near Zhengrong Peak to refine the Dragon Slaying Platform and overheard a young couple discuss the court's hunt for the former dynasty's surviving prince.
• Du Ying, Zheng Shuizhu, the Imperial Stable Bureau eunuch, and Feng Yi confronted Lin Shu, then killed a Golden Scale Palace cultivator and the young man he was escorting.
• Lin Shu's men killed many young men in Zhengrong Gate's town, while a schoolteacher prepared to attack the visiting party; Chen Ping'an left the peak without joining the conflict.
• Ji Yue killed the Golden Scale Palace's Chief Guardian, then caught up with Chen Ping'an and discussed how he had recognized the trap and survived.
• Ji Yue warned Chen Ping'an about his Jade Hairpin and Northern Juluzhou's sword cultivators before letting him go; Chen Ping'an bypassed the Great Seal Dynasty and traveled toward the sea as the plum rains began.

Chen Ping'an met Sui Xinyu’s family during a storm and watched them become entangled with Yang Yuan’s band of martial-world villains. After Cao Fu rescued the family and killed Fu Zhen, Chen Ping'an’s path crossed theirs again, ending with Sui Jingcheng begging him for help and Chen slapping her.

• Chen Ping'an played Go with Sui Xinyu at a mountain pavilion and warned the group that strange floods troubled the Jade Seal River near the Great Seal Capital City.
• Yang Yuan and his men bullied Chen Ping'an, then threatened Sui Xinyu’s family and demanded that Sui Jingcheng marry Yang Yuan’s grandson or disciple.
• Hu Xinfeng tried to strike Sui Xinyu, but Yang Yuan’s disciple Fu Zhen stopped him before Yang Yuan knocked Hu out of the pavilion.
• Cao Fu arrived, recognized Sui Xinyu, killed Fu Zhen with a Thunder Method, and agreed to escort the Sui family home instead of traveling to the Grasswood Collection.
• Hu Xinfeng attacked Chen Ping'an on the mountain road, but Chen repeatedly returned unharmed and walked beside him until the Sui party passed.
• Sui Jingcheng turned back and begged Chen Ping'an to save her; after she offered herself in marriage, Chen slapped her and revealed a Jade Bamboo Folding Fan.

Chen Ping'an revealed himself as a Golden Core sword cultivator, drove off Cao Fu and Xiao Shuye, and tested Hu Xinfeng before letting him go. The Sui family continued toward the capital, fearing Cao Fu would attack again, while Chen Ping'an watched Sui Jingcheng’s next move and wondered whether the players’ hearts ever changed.

• Sui Jingcheng rejected Cao Fu’s marriage proposal, threatened to kill herself, and asked Chen Ping'an to save her.
• Chen Ping'an claimed to be Golden Scale Palace’s Golden Core sword cultivator and sent Xiao Shuye fleeing with Cao Fu.
• Chen Ping'an confronted Hu Xinfeng, questioned him about the Rest Pavilion and his judgment of the Sui family, then allowed him to leave.
• As the Sui family rode toward the capital, Sui Jingcheng and Sui Xinyu discussed how to survive a possible attack by Cao Fu and Xiao Shuye.
• Chen Ping'an secretly followed the Sui family and reflected on Sui Jingcheng’s shrewdness and the hearts behind the new chessboard.