Chapter Summaries

Chen Ping'an killed the leaders of the major factions and secured Chu Mingwei's cooperation to keep White Stone City stable. As the Town Pacification Office counterattacked the Blood Oath Alliance and Iron Fist Gang, Shan Qiwang arrived at the Blood Oath Alliance carrying two heads.

• Cheng Renjing worried that Chen Ping'an might be in danger as the major factions entered the Chu Family gates.
• Chen Ping'an left the Chu Family after defeating its visitors, spared Chu Mingwei, and warned him to keep White Stone City from descending into chaos.
• Chen Ping'an returned to the Town Pacification Office and relied on the Chu Family's support to stabilize the city and absorb the major factions' interests.
• The Town Pacification Office struck back against the Blood Oath Alliance and Iron Fist Gang, while the Chu Family blockaded the other two great families.
• The Blood Oath Alliance and Iron Fist Gang rallied to regroup, and Shan Qiwang entered the Blood Oath Alliance's gates carrying a head in each hand.

Chen Ping'an killed Crocodile Gang leader Guan Baxian with one saber strike, then pursued and killed Duan Peng. The gang members were left terrified as Chen Ping'an ordered them to submit or die.

• Chen Ping'an killed Guan Baxian in a saber exchange, shocking Duan Peng, Cheng Renjing, and Shan Qiwang.
• Duan Peng tried to flee, but Chen Ping'an caught up to him with Eight Steps Catching Cicadas.
• Chen Ping'an broke through Duan Peng's body-tempering defense and killed him with Swift Wind Quick Saber Strike.
• Chen Ping'an warned the remaining Crocodile Gang members that those who resisted would be killed without mercy.

Chen Ping'an left Wei River County City with a new appointment as Commander of Five Peaks Mountain City, while Liu Ziming vowed to surpass him. News that the Dragon Peace Trade Route had opened shook the province, and a new scene introduced Su Yun, who discovered that a family-destruction system had predicted the future ruin of his flourishing clan.

• Liu Yuanhua regretted that the Liu Family had not secured Chen Ping'an's loyalty through marriage before the Gu Family acted.
• Chen Ping'an bid farewell to Chen Er'ya and Peony, gave Peony a sword technique, and left Wei River County City with his attendants and a new appointment.
• Liu Ziming caught up with Chen Ping'an and vowed to enter the Profound Light Realm before him, but Chen Ping'an rode on, already knowing he had reached that realm.
• Fast horses brought news that the Dragon Peace Trade Route was open to caravans crossing the Azure Dragon Mountain Range into Azure Spirit Province Territory.
• After becoming clan head of the prosperous Azure Forest Su Family, Su Yun saw a system mission about rebuilding his lineage after its future destruction and wondered who would destroy it.

Chen Ping'an revisited his old friends at the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office after leaving the South City Pacification Office. Meanwhile, the Mu Family prepared to host him, and Mu Zhixuan regretted losing her chance to become his fiancée as the banquet approached.

• Chen Ping'an exchanged greetings with Shen Shi Kang and left the South City Pacification Office, then headed to South Spring Lane.
• Chen Ping'an visited the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office, where Tian Fulang and the constables welcomed him with great respect.
• Chen Ping'an reunited with Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Lao Qin, reminisced with them, and left after nearly two hours.
• The Mu Family prepared its estate for a banquet honoring Chen Ping'an, while young women discussed his fame and marriage prospects.
• Mu Zhixuan watched from the pavilion and lamented that she had once had the chance to become Chen Ping'an's fiancée but had lost it.

Chen Ping'an refused Liu Yuanhua's offer to join the Liu Family and returned to the tavern, where he learned he had been ranked ninety-first on the New Talent Rankings. He was furious that the rankings dubbed him “Reckless Saber” and “Reckless Vajra.”

• Chen Ping'an politely refused Liu Yuanhua's renewed recruitment, remaining calm despite sensing the powerful deputy commander's displeasure.
• Chen Ping'an avoided a confrontation between two groups of young nobles and continued to the tavern, where Deng Yi introduced him to the proprietor and his followers.
• Chen Ping'an cultivated the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill at the tavern, gaining cultivation experience.
• Wei River County City forces visited Chen Ping'an to congratulate him on making the New Talent Rankings, and he learned he was ranked ninety-first.
• Chen Ping'an read his entry, saw the titles “Reckless Saber” and “Reckless Vajra,” and angrily cursed the rankings.

After returning home from killing the man who had followed him, Chen Ping'an hid the evidence, counted his spoils, and studied the Flying Locust Throwing Method. He went to sleep resolved to start practicing it the next day.

• Chen Ping'an reassured Chen Er'ya, burned his bloodstained shoes, and told her he had taken care of a fool who tailed him.
• Chen Ping'an counted one and a half taels of silver and fifty-two small coins, then examined the dagger he had taken.
• Chen Er'ya helped Chen Ping'an clean up, and the siblings went to bed.
• Unable to sleep, Chen Ping'an read the Flying Locust Throwing Method and learned its uses, techniques, and targets.
• Chen Ping'an decided to begin practicing Flying Locust Stones the next day and eventually fell asleep.

At the Five Blessings Treasure Tower banquet, Chen Ping'an let a dancer from the Heavenly Luo Sect into his arms after sensing her hidden aura, while the guests mistook his actions for a weakness for women. He concealed that he had recognized the danger and continued accepting toasts, leaving the dancer’s purpose and the sect’s scheme unknown.

• The Cinnabar Beauty ended her dance by pressing herself against Chen Ping'an, who sensed her unusual aura and allowed her into his arms.
• Xue Kunsheng, Gu Hongxiu, Zhu Jiuhuan, Yan Sheng, Ma Yuanbang, and other guests interpreted Chen Ping'an's behavior as proof that beauty could distract him.
• Chen Ping'an recognized an aura resembling those of Heavenly Luo Sect members Li Pingjiang and Xing Rongzi, and suspected the dancer was part of a scheme against him.
• Chen Ping'an considered whether the dancer was a concealed Grandmaster or carried a treasure, but decided to act unaware and observe her.
• Gu Hongxiu toasted Chen Ping'an, and Xue Kunsheng, Liu Gongxi, Yu Jinjue, and the other officials followed with formal offers of loyalty.

Shen Shi Kang revealed that Spring Rain Pavilion was a Ten Thousand Demons Sect intelligence stronghold and organized the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office to raid it. Chen Ping'an was assigned to create a commotion at the pavilion as the operation’s pretext, and he considered using the opportunity to show more of his strength.

• Shen Shi Kang gathered the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office’s core constables and told them that Spring Rain Pavilion was a Hidden Stronghold of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.
• Shen Shi Kang explained that the stronghold mainly gathered intelligence and was unlikely to have martial artists above Tendon Transformation.
• The constables studied detailed intelligence files and debated how to surround Spring Rain Pavilion without alerting its members.
• Shen Shi Kang settled on a plan to send someone to provoke a scene at Spring Rain Pavilion before the office moved in to arrest its members.
• Shen Shi Kang assigned Chen Ping'an to make the scene, and Chen Ping'an accepted while considering revealing more of his cultivation during the operation.

Chen Ping'an found Fang Rui and Fang Shicheng in an abandoned temple and killed them in revenge. After revealing that he had also killed Ding Tong, he left Fang Rui dead and the Fang Family men unable to regret provoking him.

• Chen Ping'an entered the abandoned temple and swiftly killed Fang Rui's three guards.
• Fang Shicheng tried to bargain and invoke the Fang Family's standing, but Chen Ping'an disarmed him and knocked Fang Rui down.
• Chen Ping'an revealed his identity, then told Fang Shicheng that Ding Tong was already dead.
• Chen Ping'an killed Fang Shicheng with a single saber strike.
• Fang Rui panicked and begged for his life, but Chen Ping'an killed him too.

Mu Wanjun failed to persuade the Mu Family elders to help Chen Ping'an, and learned that Mu Zhixuan had accepted a new marriage arrangement with Young Master Gu. Meanwhile, Chen Ping'an brought the Great Vajra Palm to the brink of a breakthrough, putting himself close to the summit of the Inner Qi Grand Realm.

• Mu Wanjun asked the Mu Family elders to save Chen Ping'an and offered to give up her lineage's rewards, but they refused and canceled the earlier marriage alliance involving him.
• Mu Zhixuan told Mu Wanjun that the elders had arranged her marriage to Young Master Gu and that she had accepted.
• Chen Ping'an trained the Great Vajra Palm until its experience reached 60/60.

Chen Ping'an traveled toward Wei River County City and considered the dangers surrounding his new appointment as Outer Commerce Route Patrol Deputy Envoy on the Dragon Peace Trade Route. He recognized that even his Profound Light Middle Stage cultivation might not be enough to keep him safe.

• Three burly men mocked Chen Ping'an and his guards after they left the inn, while two martial cultivators realized the guards had reached at least the Qi Blood Third Level and chose not to intervene.
• Chen Ping'an estimated that he and his party would reach Wei River County City before sunset the next day, where he would report to the Wei River Town Pacification Office and assume his post.
• Chen Ping'an reviewed the Dragon Peace Trade Route's purpose, its growing trade and smuggling conflicts, and the deaths of its two previous Outer Perimeter Patrol Envoys.
• Chen Ping'an recalled that Guan Yuping, a powerful Profound Light Realm saber expert, had become his superior as Outer Perimeter Patrol Envoy.
• Chen Ping'an considered the dangers of the trade route's competing forces and concluded that he needed to grow stronger despite reaching the Profound Light Middle Stage.

Chen Ping'an rode toward Wei River County City as the latest Azure Dragon Province New Talent Rankings arrived there. The rankings revealed Chen Ping'an at ninety-first, surprising the Mu and Liu families, while Liu Ziming celebrated his rise to seventy-third.

• Chen Ping'an left the inn with Town Pacification Office elites and galloped toward Wei River County City, aiming to arrive before sunset.
• A Mu Family Clan Elder checked the rankings for Mu Feiyu, then discovered Chen Ping'an ranked ninety-first for once suppressing White Stone City in a single stroke.
• Liu Ziming celebrated being ranked seventy-third, thirteen places higher than before, as Liu Family elders praised his cultivation and prospects.
• Liu Mingyu asked whether Mu Feiyu had made the rankings, and a Liu Family Clan Elder found Chen Ping'an's ninety-first-place entry instead.
• The Liu Family members questioned Chen Ping'an's high ranking, while Liu Ziming watched with a faint glint in his eyes.

Chen Ping'an refused Liu Yuanhua’s offer to join the Town Pacification Office, and Liu Yuanhua delayed his official letter before he could depart for White Stone City. That night, Liu Ziming visited to boast that he would reach the Profound Light Realm first, unaware that Chen Ping'an had already reached it.

• Chen Ping'an firmly rejected Liu Yuanhua’s recruitment despite his warnings and advice.
• The Dispatch Office told Chen Ping'an to return the next day for his unstamped official letter, and he suspected Liu Yuanhua was responsible for the delay.
• Mu Wanjun visited Chen Ping'an, apologized for the Mu Family youths’ behavior at the banquet, and discussed his remarkable cultivation progress.
• Chen Ping'an spent the afternoon cultivating the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill in his inn room.
• Liu Ziming visited Chen Ping'an at night on behalf of the Liu Family and claimed he would reach the Profound Light Realm before him.
• Chen Ping'an let Liu Ziming leave without revealing that he had already reached the Profound Light Realm.

Chen Ping'an intervened when Wu Tianqi and the Wu Family Caravan caused a disturbance at the Red Mill, killing Wu Lin and ordering Wu Tianqi punished under the law. He rejected Wu Tianqi’s threats and bribery, leaving the steward dragged away while the officials stood in awe of him.

• Chen Ping'an questioned Zhong Shanyong about the city’s strict orders and directed him to arrest Wu Tianqi for causing disorder.
• Wu Lin tried to stop Zhong Shanyong, but Chen Ping'an killed him with a single saber strike.
• Zhong Shanyong arrested Wu Tianqi, and Chen Ping'an ordered him imprisoned, interrogated, and hanged on the city wall as an example.
• Wu Tianqi threatened Chen Ping'an with the Wu Family’s wrath and offered money and valuables in exchange for release.
• Chen Ping'an declared that Great Qian stood behind him and asked whether the Wu Family feared him, then ordered Wu Tianqi taken away and punished according to the law.

Gu Wu, the Soul Severing Spear, killed Sheng Yanshan during their pursuit through the mountain forest, then turned on Chen Ping'an. Chen Ping'an answered with a devastating blade strike that overwhelmed Gu Wu’s spear technique.

• Sheng Yanshan chased Gu Wu through the forest while Chen Ping'an followed behind them.
• Gu Wu feigned a moment of sluggishness, then counterattacked with the Seven Absolute Soul Severing Spear and killed Sheng Yanshan.
• Gu Wu turned to Chen Ping'an and declared that it was his turn to die.
• Chen Ping'an taunted Gu Wu and unleashed a powerful blade-light that swallowed him as his spear technique failed to withstand the strike.

Chen Ping'an practiced the Soul Severing Saber as the North Azure Auction approached, then disguised himself and sold most of his collected weapons across several Treasure Pavilions. He left the stronghold with 921 Origin Crystals, keeping Li Pingjiang’s saber for a later exchange of merit and reputation.

• Chen Ping'an trained with the Soul Severing Saber and counted 24 Cultivation Experience points, estimating that he needed about six more days to reach Minor Accomplishment.
• Chen Ping'an disguised his face and body, concealed his presence, and set out to sell weapons before the auction.
• Chen Ping'an sold several treasure weapons and fine blades through multiple Treasure Pavilion shops, avoiding the Wishful Treasure Pavilion.
• Chen Ping'an kept Li Pingjiang’s famous saber so he could later submit it to the Wei River Town Pacification Office for merit and strengthen his claim to have killed Li Pingjiang.
• Chen Ping'an’s wealth rose to 921 Origin Crystals, and he left the North Azure Stronghold without attracting attention.

Chen Ping'an reported to the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office, where he encountered Zheng Shiyong and learned that his squad had been assigned to collect Contribution Silver. After Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu returned from lunch looking relieved, Chen Ping'an suspected someone was plotting against him.

• Chen Ping'an greeted Monkey Head at the office, then ignored Zheng Shiyong when he tried to provoke him.
• At the pre-shift meeting, Chen Ping'an noticed the senior constables seemed more relaxed but learned nothing about the Ten Thousand Demons Sect investigation.
• Zeng Jihe told Chen Ping'an that their squad had been assigned a Contribution Silver collection task, though the specific shops had not yet been announced.
• Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu worried that their squad might be sent to collect from gang-operated shops, where constables could face intimidation or violence.
• After the afternoon patrol, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu returned with relieved expressions, leading Chen Ping'an to suspect someone was scheming against him.

At his welcome banquet in North Azure Stronghold, Chen Ping'an laid down rules while the factions and officials offered outward support and privately judged him. As courtesans performed, he thought of Mu Wanjun and wondered whether she would dance for him if they met again.

• Chen Ping'an warned the banquet guests to follow his rules, and representatives including Gu Hongxiu and Zhu Jiuhuan publicly pledged cooperation.
• Yan Sheng, Ma Yuanbang, Yu Jinjue, and other guests privately doubted Chen Ping'an, while Xue Kunsheng watched their reactions with amusement.
• Chen Ping'an read the guests' thoughts through his spiritual perception and identified Yan Sheng as putting on the least convincing act.
• Xue Kunsheng arranged for nine courtesans from Mandarin Duck Pavilion to perform the Rainbow Skirt Feather Dress Dance for Chen Ping'an.
• As Xue Kunsheng described the courtesans and pleasure houses, Chen Ping'an imagined Mu Wanjun performing a sword dance.

Chen Ping'an advanced to the Inner Qi Second Stage after his Swift Wind Saber Technique reached Greater Accomplishment, then continued training while others handled the South City Prison’s daily affairs. Xu JinKui arrived hoping to see his son Xu Renchang released and found himself waiting as Lord Chen emerged from the prison.

• Chen Ping'an broke through to the Inner Qi Second Stage when his Swift Wind Saber Technique reached Greater Accomplishment.
• Chen Ping'an assessed his progress in the Eight Steps Catching Cicadas and Golden Bell Shield, then continued practicing his martial arts.
• Xu JinKui learned that officials were unwilling to intervene in Xu Renchang’s case because Lord Chen had taken an interest in it.
• Xu JinKui heard that Xu Renchang would be released that day and hurried to wait outside the South City Prison.
• Xu JinKui saw the guards straighten up and greet Lord Chen as he came through the prison gates.

Chen Ping'an attended a banquet hosted by the Mu Family, whose elders tried to win his favor while their younger members resented his place on the New Talent Rankings. Mu Feiyu challenged him to a contest, leaving the banquet tense as Chen Ping'an remained silent.

• The Mu Family steward escorted Chen Ping'an to the main hall, where Mu Wanjun and Patriarch Mu Tianxiong welcomed him.
• Chen Ping'an noticed Mu Feiyu and the other young Mu Family members watching him with hostility over his New Talent Rankings placement.
• The Mu Family elders praised their ties to Chen Ping'an and toasted him, while several young members whispered that the family had protected and helped him.
• Mu Wanjun rebuked Mu Haorong and the others for criticizing Chen Ping'an, but Mu Feiyu quieted them and stood to challenge Chen Ping'an to demonstrate his abilities.
• Chen Ping'an sat calmly and gave no response as the banquet fell silent.