Chapter Summaries

After the North Azure Grand Meet, Chen Ping'an crippled Azure Dragon Special Envoy Qi Guangshan for delivering an order that demanded he restore the Shadowless Saber Sect and Blood Saber Sect's interests, provoking outrage and uncertainty across the region. As others anticipated the Province Town Pacification Office's response, Chen Ping'an quietly set out for Azure Dragon Province City, having advanced to Jade Balance Middle Stage Perfection.

• Mu Wanjun won the Star of North Azure honor, and Chen Ping'an presented her award as Gu Jinyu watched and later bid him farewell.
• Qi Guangshan delivered the Province Town Pacification Office's order to punish Chen Ping'an and restore the Shadowless Saber Sect and Blood Saber Sect's North Azure interests.
• Chen Ping'an rejected the order, declared the sects would have no place in North Azure while he remained there, and crippled Qi Guangshan with one move.
• News of Qi Guangshan's defeat spread, alarming regional powers and prompting Gu Hongxiu to advise her Lineage to postpone plans to marry a daughter to Chen Ping'an.
• Chen Ping'an left North Azure alone for Azure Dragon Province City and checked his status beside a roadside stone stele, confirming his Jade Balance Middle Stage Perfection and Great Grandmaster-threshold combat strength.

Chen Ping'an traveled from North Azure Stronghold to Long'an Stronghold, where he encountered a complex balance of provincial powers and a thriving trade and monster-hunting hub. He arrived at the Zhong Residence and met Yu Jinjue’s master, the Veteran Grandmaster Zhong Lisheng.

• Chen Ping'an cultivated the Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging Art during the journey and considered how soon he might inscribe his Seventh Spirit Pattern.
• Xiong Sanrang announced that they had reached Long'an Stronghold, and Chen Ping'an entered after the required paperwork and basic inspection.
• Chen Ping'an observed Long'an Stronghold’s tangled administration, its bustling shops, and the monster-hunting squads recruiting along the streets.
• Chen Ping'an’s carriage arrived at the Zhong Residence, where the crimson-bearded Zhong Lisheng came out to greet him.

Chen Ping'an tried to draw Guan Yuping back to Five Peaks Mountain Garrison by repeatedly writing that he had made an important discovery in Feng Shixian's case, while Guan ignored the letters and rumors undermined Chen's standing. Chen then appealed to the Wei River Town Pacification Office to intervene in the stalled investigation and clarify his duties, leaving the dispute poised to escalate.

• Chen Ping'an sent Guan Yuping a letter asking him to return to the garrison and take charge of the investigation into Feng Shixian's death.
• Guan Yuping's gatekeepers kept Chen Ping'an's runner waiting for hours and ultimately accepted the letter without giving a reply.
• Rumors spread through Five Peaks Mountain Garrison that Guan Yuping despised Chen Ping'an, while Niu Lianghong and others privately criticized Chen and predicted he would soon be removed.
• Chen Ping'an continued cultivating and sent Guan several more publicized letters, but none received a response.
• Chen Ping'an wrote to the Wei River Town Pacification Office, describing Guan's absence and his own unclear duties, and requested that it coordinate a resolution.

After Chen Ping'an broke through to the Jade Balance Grandmaster Realm and killed Wei Yiqi, the gathering’s guests and rival families reassessed his terrifying talent and the Gu Family’s growing influence. The celebration ended, Chen Ping'an left to consolidate his realm, and news of his feat spread across the Great Qian Dynasty as the Dragon and Tiger Rankings were updated.

• Chen Ping'an’s breakthrough and killing of Wei Yiqi stunned the gathered Grandmasters and earned him recognition as a peer.
• The Gu Family celebrated Chen Ping'an’s achievement, while the Xue Family abandoned its plan to undermine his marriage alliance and reconsidered its approach.
• Raging Wave Guest and Earth Splitting Old Man taunted Gu Qingchan over the Gu Family’s past losses, revealing tension between the Gu Family and the Azure Cang Prince Manor’s faction.
• After the celebration ended, Grandmasters flocked to befriend Chen Ping'an, and Gu Qingchan told him to consolidate his realm before meeting her.
• Chen Ping'an left to consolidate his realm, while Feng Wuhen reconsidered his suspicions about Qingchan and the Black Robe Old Monster.
• News of Chen Ping'an’s breakthrough and victory spread throughout Azure Dragon Province, and the Great Qian Dragon and Tiger Rankings were officially updated.

Chen Ping'an discovered that the Yellow-Faced Old Man’s mask could disguise his face, then decided to confront Cao Yingxiong over the stolen credit. As Cao Yingxiong’s party traveled toward North Azure Stronghold, Chen Ping'an ambushed his carriage in disguise.

• Chen Ping'an inventoried his spoils from Red Maple Mountain and found a miraculous transparent mask that could alter his appearance and skin color.
• Angered by Cao Yingxiong’s plan to claim credit for the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s defeat, Chen Ping'an put on the mask, enlarged his body, and set off after him.
• Cao Yingxiong ordered Zhao Zhitin to omit Chen Ping'an from the battle report, then made him deliver it to the Azure Dragon Province Universe Control Division as punishment and to implicate him.
• Cao Yingxiong, Lin Wanying, and Lu Shengyang departed for North Azure Stronghold, where Cao Yingxiong anticipated the powerful martial artists gathering for the auction.
• A disguised Chen Ping'an crashed down onto Cao Yingxiong’s carriage and smashed it apart.

Chen Ping'an reunited with Er Ya, arranged her coming-of-age ceremony, and learned how far she had advanced in her studies. After selling resources and accumulating nearly one hundred thousand Origin Crystals, he considered a trip to Mystic Spirit Major City, while officials in Azure Dragon Province City debated reporting his defeat of the Evil Extremity Twin Fiends.

• Chen Ping'an reunited with Er Ya and Peony, arranged Er Ya's coming-of-age ceremony, and tested her studies before she exposed how little he knew.
• Chen Ping'an learned that Er Ya was progressing rapidly at Azure Dragon School and that she had a strong chance of receiving a recommendation to an Academy.
• Chen Ping'an bought cultivation resources for Er Ya and Peony at the Wishful Treasure Pavilion and sold other goods, raising his available funds to nearly one hundred thousand Origin Crystals.
• Chen Ping'an considered visiting Mystic Spirit Major City for its upcoming auction and Trading Convention because he had few suitable ways to spend his wealth.
• Ning Zhengyue's meeting agreed to assess Chen Ping'an's merits for defeating the Evil Extremity Twin Fiends and report the matter to the Northern Border Pacification Bureau.
• Li Wusheng agreed to the merit assessment but objected to reporting the defeat, arguing that the Evil Extremity Twin Fiends were not Great Grandmasters.

At a Mu Family banquet, Chen Ping'an rejected Mu Feiyu’s challenge and Mu Tianxiong’s marriage proposal. As Mu Feiyu vowed to challenge him the next day, Chen Ping'an demonstrated the perfected One Sword Flying Star, leaving the gathering stunned.

• Mu Feiyu challenged Chen Ping'an at the banquet, but Mu Tianxiong stopped him and made him apologize.
• Mu Family youths mocked Chen Ping'an and taunted Mu Wanjun over her defense of him.
• Mu Tianxiong asked Chen Ping'an about marriage and offered a Mu Family daughter, but Chen Ping'an said he intended to focus on martial cultivation.
• As Chen Ping'an left, Mu Feiyu announced he would visit the next day to challenge him, and Chen Ping'an responded with One Sword Flying Star.
• A Mu Family Clan Elder identified the killing art, and the onlookers were shocked while Mu Feiyu turned pale.

Chen Ping'an brought his handwritten Iron Cloth manual to the Black Market, hoping to sell it for silver. After cautious buyers passed him by, a bearded martial artist challenged his claim that he practiced Iron Cloth, and Chen Ping'an proposed an arm-wrestling contest to prove it.

• Chen Ping'an entered the Black Market after paying two Small Money and found a place to offer his Iron Cloth manual for sale.
• A short, fat man in a bamboo hat tried to inspect the manual, but Chen Ping'an slapped his hand away and warned him not to touch it unless he intended to buy.
• Chen Ping'an waited for more than half a shichen as passersby asked about the manual without buying it.
• A bearded man doubted that Chen Ping'an practiced Iron Cloth and challenged him to take a punch, but Chen Ping'an pointed out that fighting was forbidden in the market.
• Chen Ping'an proposed an arm-wrestling match: the bearded man would pay ten taels of silver if Chen Ping'an won, while Chen Ping'an would pay one tael if he lost.

Chen Ping'an sold his Iron Cloth manual in the Black Market after winning an arm-wrestling wager, earning six taels of silver toward his debt. He returned home safely and looked ahead to rising through the constable ranks.

• Chen Ping'an challenged Bearded to an arm-wrestling wager, and Bearded lost when Chen Ping'an overpowered him.
• Bearded tried to bargain the manual's price down from ten taels to six, and Chen Ping'an accepted the payment.
• Chen Ping'an left the Black Market cautiously, assessed the armed guard, and took a long detour home without being followed.
• Chen Ping'an climbed over his courtyard wall and considered moving, but dismissed the idea because he could not afford a better home.
• Chen Ping'an anticipated that becoming a Formal Constable or advancing further could improve his circumstances.

After reaching the Profound Light High Realm, Chen Ping'an tested his new abilities and grew confident in his strength. He summoned the Five Peaks Mountain Garrison’s Banner Heads for an urgent mission but withheld its details, prompting Niu Lianghong to question him.

• Chen Ping'an entered the Profound Light High Realm, used Profound Light Mystique to move objects, and discovered his Indestructible Body could last for an hour.
• Chen Ping'an considered how his strength compared with other Profound Light experts and resolved to take action.
• Chen Ping'an urgently summoned the Five Peaks Mountain Garrison’s Banner Heads to the Council Hall, where Niu Lianghong and others questioned the sudden gathering.
• Chen Ping'an took the seat of honor and ordered each Banner Head to bring a squad to the garrison gates in half an hour.
• Niu Lianghong asked what the mission was, and Chen Ping'an said he would explain after they set out.

The latest Hidden Dragon Rankings caused a stir across Great Qian, placing Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an at seventy-seventh after his recent breakthrough to Grandmaster. As factions reacted to his rise and Gu Qingchan prepared to travel to Thunderclap City, Chen Ping'an's carriage arrived at Wei River County City.

• The chapter introduced prominent young talents across Great Qian, including Xuan Yueli, Li Cangming, Yun Wuche, Ruan Yushu, Ye Hanxing, Jiang Wuya, Chen Xuanli, Dugu Yiren, Lu Mengyao, Feng Lingyin, Wang Chen, and Yin Shangjin, and described Dugu Yiren's dangerous birth poison and isolation.
• Nangong Liu reviewed the rankings and privately reflected that Nangong Wan had already become a Jade Balance Grandmaster, surpassing Chen Ping'an in talent while remaining hidden from the list.
• The Xue and Wang families read Chen Ping'an's detailed profile and reacted with surprise and envy when they saw him ranked seventy-seventh on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
• The Gu Family celebrated Chen Ping'an's ranking, while Gu Qingchan treasured his coarse linen garment and resolved to set out for Thunderclap City for the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden True Scroll opportunity.
• After the rankings stirred factions throughout Great Qian, Chen Ping'an's carriage arrived at Wei River County City.

Chen Ping'an celebrated his promotion to Reserve Constable, advanced his Public Gate Thirteen Blades to Greater Accomplishment, and began training in the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training. The next morning, he took charge of the Third Squad and faced his new subordinates, while privately planning to settle scores with Zheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong.

• Constables Huang, Liu, and Li greeted Chen Ping'an, and Shen Shi Kang helped transfer Monkey Head, Da Shan, Qin Head, and others under his command.
• Chen Ping'an told Chen Er'ya about his promotion and higher pay, then practiced martial arts and raised the Public Gate Thirteen Blades to Greater Accomplishment.
• Chen Ping'an began the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training and completed its basic movements, though he decided to prioritize his other techniques for now.
• At the morning meeting, Chen Ping'an stood on the platform as the Pacification Office's only Reserve Constable and was assigned to oversee the Third Squad.
• Chen Ping'an silently marked Zheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong for later, then kept Qin Head, Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Zeng Jihe behind after addressing the squad.

Little Tiger Lord's gang ransacked Old Gao's home over his debt and tried to take his wife, prompting Chen Ping'an to challenge Little Tiger Lord under the Great Qian Law. A rogue charged at Chen Ping'an after Little Tiger Lord let him attack.

• Little Tiger Lord ordered his thugs to search Old Gao's home, and they seized his wife's bracelet and furniture while finding little else of value.
• Little Tiger Lord ordered a thug to take Old Gao's wife, and Old Gao tried to stop them before Little Tiger Lord kicked him down.
• Old Pan and Old Pan's Wife mocked Chen Ping'an for not intervening, but Old Pan grew frightened when Chen Ping'an looked their way.
• Chen Ping'an confronted Little Tiger Lord and argued that the Great Qian Law forbade abducting Old Gao's wife and applied to everyone.
• Little Tiger Lord accused Chen Ping'an of insulting the Tiger Head Gang, and a burly rogue charged at him.

Chen Ping'an killed Ding Tong, protected Chen Er'ya and Peony, and secretly rode back toward Fang Rui's abandoned temple. Fang Rui waited for Ding Tong to return, unaware that Chen Ping'an was approaching.

• Chen Ping'an searched Ding Tong's body, took his silver and ruby-hilted dagger, then burned the corpse and hid the horse.
• Chen Ping'an reassured Chen Er'ya and Peony before taking them to an inn and settling them into rooms.
• Chen Ping'an slipped out of the inn, retrieved Ding Tong's horse, and rode toward the abandoned temple.
• Fang Rui grew impatient while waiting for Ding Tong, and Fang Shicheng speculated that the attack had merely been delayed.
• Fang Rui mistook hoofbeats for Ding Tong's return, then watched a rider gallop past the temple as more hoofbeats approached.

Chen Ping'an discovered a Heavenly Luo Sect stronghold beneath White Cloud Temple and escaped without being noticed. He left the mountain determined to be more cautious and suspecting the sect’s involvement in Feng Shixian’s death.

• Chen Ping'an descended through a hidden passage beneath White Cloud Temple and found an Underground Great Hall occupied by Black Robes.
• He recognized the Heavenly Luo Sect’s symbols and feared that powerful experts might be stationed at the stronghold.
• Chen Ping'an concealed his aura, retreated through the passage, and returned to the Old Taoist's room without being discovered.
• He slipped out through the window, left White Cloud Temple, and reflected on how recklessly he had acted.
• Chen Ping'an concluded that the Heavenly Luo Sect was likely connected to Feng Shixian's death.

Chen Ping'an drove Fei Zi and the Tiger Head Gang rogues from his courtyard by invoking the Great Qian Law and his position as a temporary runner of the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office. Expecting them to return with reinforcements, he prepared to face them while Chen Er'ya stayed by his side.

• After hearing a knock, Chen Ping'an hid the stone by the courtyard wall and joined Chen Er'ya at the kitchen door.
• Fei Zi and several rogues burst through the gate, and Chen Ping'an angrily confronted them over the broken entrance.
• Chen Ping'an warned the rogues that he would take the matter to the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office and cited the Great Qian Law.
• Fei Zi and the rogues left after Chen Ping'an ordered them out, but he suspected they would return with reinforcements.
• Chen Ping'an reassured Chen Er'ya, covered the marks on the courtyard wall, and waited by the gate with a firewood chopping knife.

After killing Rogue Liu Er, Chen Ping'an returned home and worried that the blood scent might lead investigators to him, while promising to protect Chen Er'ya. The next morning, he left her hidden at home and remained anxious about the Tiger Head Gang's response.

• Chen Ping'an returned late and found Chen Er'ya waiting worriedly for him.
• Chen Ping'an burned his bloodstained clothes and shoes, then realized the lingering scent could expose his home, though he judged the deaths of several rogues unlikely to prompt a serious investigation.
• Chen Ping'an reflected that killing Zheng Shiyong or Tan Huacong would have drawn much greater scrutiny, and resolved to learn from his mistakes.
• Chen Er'ya embraced Chen Ping'an and admitted she was worried, and he promised to protect her before she fell asleep in his arms.
• After practicing and eating breakfast, Chen Ping'an told Chen Er'ya to stay inside and cooperate with the Tiger Head Gang if its members came looking for Rogue Liu Er.
• Chen Ping'an left home but worried that Little Tiger Lord or someone in the Tiger Head Gang might trace Rogue Liu Er's death back to him.

Chen Ping'an confronted Head Constable Zheng over the missing Contribution Silver collection vouchers and defended himself against accusations that he had neglected the task. Old Fan and two constables backed Zheng’s version, but Chen exposed a contradiction in their testimony, leaving the dispute tilted in his favor.

• Head Constable Zheng criticized constables who had not collected Contribution Silver, prompting Chen Ping'an to report that he still had not received his collection voucher.
• Head Constable Zheng blamed Chen Ping'an for waiting until the final day to raise the issue, but Chen argued that the Errand Office was responsible for the delay.
• Head Constable Zheng called Old Fan to explain the missing voucher, and Old Fan claimed the vouchers had been ready since the previous day and that Chen had failed to collect them.
• Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu supported Old Fan, saying they had seen him look for Chen Ping'an, but Chen asked why they had not accepted the vouchers themselves.
• Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu could not answer Chen Ping'an's question, exposing a flaw in their testimony.

Chen Ping'an cultivated the Three Points of Human Tribulation Finger while rumors spread that Guan Yuping had vanished or been killed by the Heavenly Luo Sect. After more than ten days, Chen Ping'an reached the Initiation stage, solidified his realm, and gained enough strength to contend with powerful opponents.

• After the victory banquet, Chen Ping'an returned to the Wooden House and divided his cultivation time between the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill and the Three Points of Human Tribulation Finger.
• Lao Mao and another constable regretted declaring loyalty to Chen Ping'an at the banquet, but Mu Small Banner told them that Lord Guan was apparently dead.
• The garrison learned that Guan Yuping had gone to Five Peaks Mountain and vanished, prompting rumors that the Heavenly Luo Sect's Profound Light Middle Stage expert had killed him.
• Chen Ping'an ignored the rumors and continued his secluded cultivation while awaiting news from the Wei River Town Pacification Office.
• After more than ten days of cultivation, Chen Ping'an advanced the Three Points of Human Tribulation Finger to Initiation, stabilizing his realm and greatly increasing his combat strength.

Chen Ping'an celebrated his promotion to Chief Constable Candidate and planned to expand his martial arts training while keeping his purchases discreet. News of a Deputy Commander’s mysterious death near the Azure Dragon Mountain Range raised concerns about the Ten Thousand Demons Sect and the Dragon Peace Trade Route, as Mu Wanjun invited him to tea.

• Chen Ping'an received his Chief Constable Candidate badge, uniforms, cloak, and a sharp-blade-grade sword, placing him fifth in rank at the South City Pacification Office.
• Chen Ping'an selected the Flying Star Sword Technique and Great Vajra Palm as his next martial arts but planned to buy them later under another identity.
• Chen Ping'an heard from Mu Wanjun that the White Stone City Town Pacification Office Deputy Commander had died mysteriously, with the Ten Thousand Demons Sect suspected.
• Chen Ping'an connected the death near the Azure Dragon Mountain Range to the Dragon Peace Trade Route and the treasure location on his map.
• Mu Wanjun invited Chen Ping'an to drink tea with her the next day, leaving him wondering whether she intended to introduce him to people.