Chapter Summaries

Parker defeated Zhao Ridi and several other Great Chu challengers at the Persian Arena, demonstrating that his strength far surpassed theirs. As Parker continued to dominate the platform, Wu Zhen waited for a chance to challenge him.

• Zhao Ridi challenged Parker, but his punches and kicks failed to hurt him.
• Parker struck Zhao Ridi once, knocking him off the platform and leaving him unconscious.
• A blue-robed middle-aged man challenged Parker, who sent him flying and badly injured him with several punches.
• Wu Zhen prepared to enter the arena, but other challengers went up before him.
• Within half an hour, Parker had defeated five martial world experts, none of whom lasted more than five moves.

Wu Zhen entered the arena to challenge Parker after five Great Chu fighters had lost, and Huang Shaojie believed Wu Zhen could overcome the Persian warrior. The chapter ended with Wu Zhen launching a powerful Wind God Leg attack at Parker.

• Parker defeated five Great Chu martial artists and mocked the spectators, while Prince William and Austin discussed the strength of Great Chu's court experts.
• Wu Zhen leaped onto the arena stage, drawing cheers for his Lightness Skill; Huang Shaojie and Vermilion Bird recognized him as Huang Manor's Manor Guard Captain.
• Prince William considered replacing Parker with a stronger Persian fighter, but Austin assured him that Wu Zhen was only a Third Rank Grandmaster and Parker could win.
• Wu Zhen introduced himself, ignored Parker's taunts, and attacked with the fourth form of Wind God Leg, Swift as Thunder and Wind.

Wu Zhen defeated Parker with his Wind God Leg, giving Great Chu its first victory after five losses. He then faced Bobby, a far stronger Persian warrior, and was driven back by Bobby’s punch, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Wu Zhen knocked Parker out of the arena in seconds, breaking bones and severely injuring him.
• The spectators cheered Wu Zhen’s victory, and Emperor Xuande learned he was the Manor Guard Captain in Huang Shaojie’s residence and promised him a reward.
• Bobby challenged Wu Zhen as he tried to leave the arena, and the crowd’s encouragement persuaded Wu Zhen to stay and fight.
• Bobby overwhelmed Wu Zhen with a powerful punch, sending him more than ten zhang backward, but Wu Zhen returned to the arena and continued the fight.

Wu Zhen lost to the Persian warrior Bobby, who went on to defeat a series of Great Chu challengers. Lu Changkong arrived at Donghua Gate Plaza to challenge Bobby, and Huang Shaojie believed he could win.

• Wu Zhen used the Wind God Leg against Bobby, but Bobby blocked his attacks and struck him hard enough to send him crashing to the ground.
• Xiao He and the servants brought the injured Wu Zhen back to Huang Manor, where Lu Changkong promised to avenge him and set off for Donghua Gate Plaza.
• Bobby defeated several more challengers while Emperor Xuande refused to send Imperial Court experts into the competition.
• Lu Changkong flew over the crowd and landed on the arena, prompting Emperor Xuande to stay and watch the match.
• Huang Shaojie recognized Lu Changkong and noted that his Nine Yang Divine Skill, Wind God Leg, and cultivation made him comparable to a Half-step Great Grandmaster.

Lu Changkong killed Bobby in two moves, drawing cheers from the crowd and recognition from Emperor Xuande and his officials. He then fought Rowan and knocked him off the arena, leaving Rowan badly injured.

• Lu Changkong struck Bobby with a feinting palm and followed with Wind God Leg kicks that killed him.
• Emperor Xuande and the officials identified Lu Changkong as a former Golden-Robed Constable of the Six Gates who had recovered from his injury by Old Monster Xuanming.
• Prince William sent Rowan, a Ninth Rank Peak Grandmaster, to avenge Bobby.
• Lu Changkong and Rowan clashed with their fists, then fought through more than a dozen exchanges as Rowan fell behind.
• Lu Changkong kicked Rowan beneath the arena, where he struggled to rise and spat out blood.

After Lu Changkong won twice, Prince William sent Great Grandmaster Kyle to kill him, but Huang Shaojie intervened and defeated Kyle with one palm strike. Huang Shaojie took Lu Changkong toward the city wall to meet Emperor Xuande, while Kyle returned to the Persian shelter in defeat.

• The crowd and Emperor Xuande celebrated Lu Changkong's two victories, and Prince William ordered Kyle to fight him.
• Huang Shaojie recognized that Lu Changkong could not match Kyle and descended from the city wall to bring Lu Changkong to the Emperor.
• Huang Shaojie told Prince William that Emperor Xuande wanted to see Lu Changkong, then led Lu Changkong away from the arena.
• Kyle pursued Lu Changkong through the air, but Huang Shaojie intercepted him and knocked him into the square with one palm strike.
• Kyle returned to the shelter, where Prince William rebuked him for losing to Huang Shaojie.

Huang Shaojie and Lu Changkong earned Emperor Xuande’s praise after defeating Persian challengers, and Lu Changkong revealed that Huang Shaojie was his master. That night, Huang Shaojie set out to investigate the Persian Envoy Group’s hidden purpose.

• Prince William learned that Huang Shaojie was Great Chu’s General Who Guards the Army, while Austin reassured him that Huang was no match for Adrian and himself.
• Lu Changkong refused Emperor Xuande’s offer to make him Chief Constable of the Six Gates, but accepted a reward of one thousand taels of gold.
• Lu Changkong revealed that he lived at Huang Shaojie’s residence and had taken Huang as his master after Huang taught him a skill that countered the Xuanming Divine Palm.
• Huang Shaojie explained that he had taught Lu Changkong the skill to save his life, and Emperor Xuande praised the experts in Huang’s household.
• Great Chu lost most of the afternoon’s arena matches against the Persian Envoy Group.
• After spending the evening with Vermilion Bird and Xiao He, Huang Shaojie left to investigate the Persian Envoy Group at Commander Ling’s request.

Huang Shaojie secretly searched Persian official Lucas’s soul and learned that Persia planned to invade Great Chu if it found the empire weak. The next morning, Prince William discovered Lucas had become an idiot, while the Persian envoy group could not explain what had happened.

• Huang Shaojie slipped into the Persian residence and abducted Lucas, a senior official, for a soul search.
• Huang Shaojie learned that King Charles XVIII wanted to conquer Great Chu and had sent Prince William to assess its strength.
• Huang Shaojie discovered that William’s proposal to marry Princess Pingyang and the martial arts arena were part of Persia’s plan to test Great Chu before deciding whether to invade.
• Huang Shaojie returned the brain-damaged Lucas to his room without killing him.
• Prince William found Lucas acting like an idiot the next morning, and Adrian and Austin could not determine what had happened.

Nangong Feixue secretly traveled from Xianyang to Chang'an with her maid Cui'er, determined to find Huang Shaojie. Dongfang Bubai also left for Chang'an, leaving the Divine Moon Cult in the Four Great Protectors’ hands.

• The second day of arena matches continued, with Great Chu losing far more bouts than it won.
• After waiting 148 days for Huang Shaojie, Nangong Feixue decided to travel to Chang'an and find him herself.
• Nangong Feixue persuaded Cui'er to accompany her and slipped out of the Nangong residence under the pretense of admiring the snow.
• Dongfang Bubai announced her departure for Chang'an and instructed the Four Great Protectors to manage the Divine Moon Cult while she was away.
• Nangong Feixue and Cui'er arrived in Chang'an, where Cui'er admired the bustling city and asked why her mistress had come.

Nangong Feixue and Cui'er visited Leisure Cloud Pavilion, where they heard about the Persian envoys’ martial arts arena and encountered Dongfang Bubai. As they rode toward the Imperial Guard’s Eastern Pacification Office, Young Marquis Gou Shuai caught up and blocked their path.

• Nangong Feixue and Cui'er ate at Leisure Cloud Pavilion, where Gou Shuai noticed Nangong Feixue and coveted her.
• Dongfang Bubai arrived, and her intimidating presence made Gou Shuai and the other diners avert their eyes.
• Nangong Feixue and Cui'er listened to diners discuss the Persian envoys’ arena and the powerful fighters who had entered it.
• Dongfang Bubai decided to visit Donghua Gate Plaza to see the Persian fighters for herself.
• Nangong Feixue and Cui'er left the restaurant and rode toward the Imperial Guard’s Eastern Pacification Office.
• Gou Shuai and his four guards caught up with the women and blocked their way.

Nangong Feixue fought off Gou Shuai’s guards after he tried to abduct her and Cui'er, but a powerful guard captain wounded her. Dongfang Bubai intervened, killed Gou Shuai and his men, and left Nangong Feixue and Cui'er thanking her.

• Gou Shuai ordered Nangong Feixue and Cui'er seized and taken to the Marquis Manor after Nangong Feixue rejected his advances.
• Nangong Feixue killed one guard and wounded another, but the guard captain disarmed and injured her with a palm strike.
• As the guard captain moved to seize Nangong Feixue and Cui'er, Dongfang Bubai killed him with a long-range attack.
• Dongfang Bubai swept her palm and turned Gou Shuai and the two remaining guards into a mist of blood.
• Nangong Feixue and Cui'er thanked Dongfang Bubai for saving them, and Dongfang Bubai turned to look at the injured Nangong Feixue.

Dongfang Bubai healed Nangong Feixue, revealed she had come to catch up with Huang Shaojie, and accompanied Feixue to find him. At Donghua Gate, the Persian tournament continued as Kyle defeated Lin Song, leaving Great Chu’s officials looking to Huang Shaojie.

• Dongfang Bubai healed Nangong Feixue, who recognized her as the Divine Moon Cult leader and thanked her for saving her life.
• Nangong Feixue claimed Huang Shaojie was her cousin, and Dongfang Bubai said she had come to the Capital City to catch up with him.
• Nangong Feixue learned Huang Shaojie had been promoted to Northern Pacification Commissioner and discovered he had gone to watch the Persian Arena Tournament.
• Dongfang Bubai, Nangong Feixue, and Cui'er headed to Donghua Gate Plaza to watch the tournament.
• Kyle defeated Lin Song in fewer than ten moves, and the crowd and officials reacted to Great Chu's loss as attention turned toward Huang Shaojie.

After Kyle defeated the Imperial Guard’s chief instructor, Yuchi Yu challenged him, but Persian Great Magician Adrian empowered Kyle with Blessing Magic. Kyle’s Star Wave Fist overwhelmed Yuchi Yu, leaving the Tiger Swift Guard commander gravely injured.

• Yuchi Yu volunteered to fight Kyle, and Kyle stepped down briefly to rest after the interpreter announced he had fought three battles in a row.
• Prince William ordered Adrian to cast Blessing Magic on Kyle, greatly increasing Kyle’s power, agility, and defense.
• Kyle returned to the arena with his enhanced strength, and Yuchi Yu sensed that his opponent had become nearly an Intermediate Great Grandmaster.
• Kyle struck Yuchi Yu with Star Wave Fist and battered him in midair, leaving him bloodied and barely clinging to life after he crashed to the ground.

Kyle defeated Yuchi Yu in seconds, but Ling Xiaotian entered the arena and killed Kyle with the Black Tortoise True Art. The Persian Envoy Group still had other fighters, and Austin watched, preparing to face Ling Xiaotian next.

• Kyle knocked Yuchi Yu off the arena with a swift punch, shocking the spectators and angering Emperor Xuande.
• Emperor Xuande ordered Ling Xiaotian to kill Kyle, and Ling Xiaotian appeared on the arena.
• Austin sensed Ling Xiaotian's strength but let Kyle fight so he could study his martial arts before taking his own turn.
• Kyle attacked with Star Wave Fist, but Ling Xiaotian countered with Black Tortoise Divine Palm and blasted him backward.
• Ling Xiaotian pierced Kyle through the chest with the Heavenly Inquiry Spear Art, killing him as the spectators cheered.

Ling Xiaotian killed Kyle and then faced the magically enhanced Persian Golden Knight Austin in a fierce battle. The clash left both fighters standing after Austin shattered Ling Xiaotian’s sixth attack.

• Ling Xiaotian killed Kyle in two moves, prompting Prince William to order Austin to avenge him.
• Great Magician Adrian enhanced Austin with magic, doubling his cultivation before he challenged Ling Xiaotian.
• Ling Xiaotian introduced himself as Commander of the Imperial Guard of Great Chu and opened the fight with the Black Tortoise True Art.
• Austin evaded Ling Xiaotian’s first two attacks, blocked the sword rain with a divine shield, and broke the halberd with a punch.
• Austin countered Ling Xiaotian’s Classic of Mountains and Seas Fist with his Heavenly Gang Fist, shattering Ling Xiaotian’s attack and sending his own fist into the clouds.

Austin defeated Ling Xiaotian with a single counterattack, then fought Cao Kun after Emperor Xuande sent him to challenge the Persian Golden Knight. Austin overpowered Cao Kun as well, leaving Great Chu without another apparent match for him.

• Ling Xiaotian exhausted the nine moves of the Black Tortoise True Art, but Austin evaded them and defeated him with Heavenly Gang Fists, leaving him gravely injured in a pit.
• The spectators, Emperor Xuande, and Princess Pingyang were shocked by Ling Xiaotian's defeat, while Prince William and the Persian officials celebrated.
• Austin challenged the assembled Great Chu fighters, and Emperor Xuande ordered Cao Kun to face him.
• Cao Kun attacked with Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers and Sunflower Divine Fist, breaking Austin's shield, but Austin countered with Heavenly Gang Fist.
• Austin's Heavenly Gang Fist overwhelmed Cao Kun, sent him flying more than a hundred zhang, and left him crashed on the ground.

After Ling Xiaotian and Cao Kun lost to Austin, Huang Shaojie volunteered to fight before Prince Ning could take the arena. He faced Austin as the spectators doubted him and Adrian watched warily, and Austin challenged him to make the first move.

• The spectators lamented Great Chu’s losses, and Princess Pingyang urged Prince Ning to fight Austin.
• Huang Shaojie volunteered to face Austin, but Xiang Qingyang warned that he was no match for him.
• Prince Ning approved Huang Shaojie’s challenge, hoping to see what divine skill he would use.
• Huang Shaojie jumped from the city wall into the arena as spectators predicted his defeat, while Nangong Feixue worried and Dongfang Bubai remained confident.
• Austin mocked Huang Shaojie, but Adrian watched him with suspicion and vigilance.
• Austin crooked a finger at Huang Shaojie and told him to make his move.

Huang Shaojie instantly killed the Persian warrior Austin, stunning the crowd and restoring Great Chu’s confidence. Prince William sent Adrian to fight next, promising him permission to use any Forbidden Magic if he killed Huang Shaojie.

• Huang Shaojie dodged Austin’s Heavenly Gang Fist and pierced through his chest with the Three Points Divine Finger, killing him in less than a tenth of a second.
• The people at Donghua Gate Plaza cheered, while Emperor Xuande and his ministers praised Huang Shaojie for his victory.
• Prince Ning was shaken by Huang Shaojie’s speed, and Vermilion Bird and Princess Pingyang rejoiced that he had survived and won.
• Huang Shaojie challenged the Persian warriors and told Prince William to admit defeat and kneel before Emperor Xuande.
• Prince William ordered Adrian to fight Huang Shaojie and allowed him to use any Forbidden Magic; Adrian transformed into white light and appeared on the arena.

Huang Shaojie tested the power of Persia’s Great Magician Adrian by enduring his attacks, while his Indestructible Vajra Technique left him unharmed. After Adrian’s magic failed to hurt him, the magician began considering a desperate attack against Emperor Xuande and his ministers.

• Huang Shaojie let Adrian make the first move so he could see what Persian magic could do without risking an attack on the watching civilians.
• Adrian hit Huang Shaojie with a blazing fireball, but golden light scattered the flames and left him unharmed.
• Huang Shaojie challenged Adrian to use all his magic, then withstood steel darts and a powerful lightning strike without injury.
• Adrian unleashed more than a dozen magical attacks, failed to harm Huang Shaojie, and began plotting to take Emperor Xuande and the ministers down with him.

Adrian cast the Forbidden Curse Magic Meteor Firefall, threatening everyone gathered in the square and on the city wall. Huang Shaojie began slowing the falling meteors and planned to lower them safely into the square.

• Adrian completed his long incantation and summoned more than a dozen fire meteors with Meteor Firefall.
• The crowd panicked as the meteors descended, while Prince Ning raised a barrier around Emperor Xuande and the city wall.
• Prince William confronted Adrian, who admitted he intended for them all to die rather than accept Great Chu's victory.
• Huang Shaojie teleported beneath a falling meteor and raised his palm to slow it, intending to bring all the meteors down into the square without casualties.