Chapter Summaries

Chen Ping'an recovered from his injuries after battling the Heavenly Luo Saintess and assessed the gaps in his resources, equipment, and movement techniques. He decided to pursue stronger techniques and Divine Weapons, then prepared to leave before his absence drew suspicion.

• Chen Ping'an dissolved his healing medicines and used his True Essence to stabilize his spiritual and physical injuries.
• Chen Ping'an reviewed how the Heavenly Luo Saintess’s superior treasures had thwarted him and assessed his own combat strength, shortcomings, and need for a better movement technique.
• Chen Ping'an considered spending his Origin Crystals on a forged Divine Weapon and identified healing supplies and concealment methods as other priorities.
• Chen Ping'an checked his panel, saw that Tyrant Saber was close to Great Accomplishment, and reflected that defeating the Heavenly Luo Saintess had dissolved the heart demon tied to her.
• Chen Ping'an ended his recuperation and prepared to leave, but paused when he heard a faint sound.

Chen Ping'an returned home and found Chen Er'ya still skimping on food to save money despite his reassurance about their debt. As they shared dinner, she revealed she was also saving for his future marriage, and they ended the evening doing chores together in the comfort of family life.

• Chen Ping'an came home, drank the water Chen Er'ya brought him, and found she had eaten only one small slice of beef for lunch.
• Chen Ping'an scolded Chen Er'ya gently for saving food and reassured her that he had a way to repay the fourteen taels owed to the Tiger Head Gang.
• Chen Ping'an and Chen Er'ya ate a generous dinner of meat, eggs, soup, and white rice.
• Chen Er'ya explained that she was saving at least twenty taels for Chen Ping'an's marriage, and Chen Ping'an was touched by her concern.
• Chen Ping'an worked on a new courtyard-gate latch while Chen Er'ya washed the dishes, and they shared a sense of comfort at being together.

Chen Ping'an forced Big Steel Tooth to pay the Contribution Silver after killing a Tiger Head Gang member at Tiger Run Gambling House, then returned to the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office with Zeng Jihe. His colleagues learned of his success, while Chen Ping'an hoped his display would attract the attention of the South District Town Pacification Office Chief Constable.

• Chen Ping'an confronted Big Steel Tooth publicly, compelled him to pay the full Contribution Silver, and insisted that the attack on him required a separate explanation.
• Chen Ping'an left Tiger Run Gambling House with Zeng Jihe, who declared himself Chen Ping'an's fanboy after learning Chen had reached Qi Blood Second Level.
• Chen Ping'an considered how his public success might help him gain the Chief Constable's notice and advance within the Town Pacification Office.
• Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Qin Head offered to help Chen Ping'an face the Tiger Head Gang when he returned to the office.
• Zeng Jihe told them Chen Ping'an had already collected the Contribution Silver, leaving them stunned.

Chen Ping'an bought the Dragon Elephant Overlord Body Art and quickly comprehended it to Initiation, dramatically increasing his combat power and nearing a breakthrough to the Jade Balance Grandmaster Realm. After Lan Yingying won the Mystic Ice Heart Lotus, the auction turned to its mysterious final item, which Li Dongshan was about to reveal.

• Xue Kunsheng delivered the Dragon Elephant Overlord Body Art to Chen Ping'an, who paid 830 Origin Crystals and rebuffed Xue's curious scrutiny.
• Chen Ping'an studied the inherited martial intent and cultivated the Dragon Elephant Overlord Body Art to Initiation, exhausting the jade booklet's Spiritual Light.
• Lan Yingying raised her bid for the Mystic Ice Heart Lotus to 1,500 Origin Crystals and discouraged the remaining bidders from competing.
• Chen Ping'an realized the new Divine Technique had raised his combat power to a level comparable to a Grandmaster and left him ready to attempt the Jade Balance Grandmaster Realm.
• Li Dongshan announced Lan Yingying as the winner of the Mystic Ice Heart Lotus and prepared to reveal the auction's final item.

Chen Ping'an reflected on the dangers of acting against the world’s currents and resolved to pursue the Grandmaster Realm as he listened to Yuan Zutong recount North Azure Stronghold’s recent events. Yuan then described Lan Yingjun’s challenge campaign, in which she defeated increasingly powerful young geniuses with a single move, including a New Talent Rankings expert ranked twenty-fifth.

• Yuan Zutong recounted how a rogue cultivator killed a Xiao Family Peak Realm expert, destroyed the family’s Treasure Pavilion, and was later captured and executed.
• Chen Ping'an considered how his ambitions had changed as his horizons widened, then focused his resolve on reaching the Grandmaster Realm.
• Yuan Zutong described how Xue Kunsheng used his Vajra Subduing Demon Chain to defeat and kill a powerful heretical expert who had resisted three Peak Realm fighters.
• Yuan Zutong explained that Lan Yingjun had challenged North Azure Stronghold’s young talents, offering to serve a female victor or marry a male victor who could defeat her.
• Lan Yingjun defeated Liu Ziming, ranked seventy-fifth on the New Talent Rankings, in one move, and Chen Ping'an recognized him as an old acquaintance.
• Lan Yingjun challenged a Lin Family genius ranked twenty-fifth on the New Talent Rankings and defeated him in one move despite his Profound Light Realm cultivation and Divine Technique.

After the Spring Rain Pavilion investigation earned Chen Ping'an second merit, Mu Wanjun summoned him to the South City Pacification Office. As Chen Ping'an arrived with Chang Zheng, they encountered a high-ranking official in a distinctive Fish Scale Uniform.

• The South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office interrogated Spring Rain Pavilion's survivors and uncovered Ten Thousand Demons Sect informants.
• Shen Shi Kang's Merit Plea awarded himself first merit, Chen Ping'an second merit for capturing Ruchun alive, and the Deputy Constable Director third merit.
• Chen Ping'an advanced his Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training and received a point of experience while cultivating at the office.
• Chang Zheng arrived and told Chen Ping'an that Chief Constable Mu Wanjun wished to see him.
• Shen Shi Kang and other officials learned that the South City Pacification Office had summoned Chen Ping'an and resolved not to provoke him.
• Chen Ping'an and Chang Zheng reached the South City Pacification Office, where Chang Zheng bowed to the approaching Lord Fu.

After demonstrating his perfected martial arts at the Mu Family banquet, Chen Ping'an left without concern for their belated attempts to win him over. He finalized his Deputy Commander appointment in Wei River, visited Little Zeng, and returned to his old courtyard, where the Red Bear Gang learned he had come back.

• Chen Ping'an displayed Heavenly Rain Descends Crown Perfection and Flying Star Sword Technique Perfection at the Mu Family banquet, then walked away from the family.
• Chen Ping'an collected his Waist Tag and completed his promotion to Deputy Commander at the Wei River Town Pacification Office with Zhao Lianzhi's help.
• Chen Ping'an visited Little Zeng at South City Prison and saw that the boy had reached the Qi Blood Second Level.
• Chen Ping'an returned to his old courtyard in Pear Blossom Lane and practiced the Great Vajra Palm there.
• Three Red Bear Gang hooligans encountered Chen Ping'an, recognized him as Lord Chen, and reported his return to their leader, who celebrated the news.

Chen Ping'an walked Chen Er'ya home after she traded sharp words with Donghua and Donghua's mother, who had insulted their family. Later, armed men ambushed Donghua's carriage and beat them before vanishing as the Night Patrol constables arrived.

• Donghua mocked Chen Er'ya for walking home, but Chen Er'ya retorted that Donghua was jealous of her.
• Donghua's mother insulted Chen Er'ya and Chen Ping'an, then told Donghua she could deal with Chen Er'ya at school later.
• Chen Ping'an reassured Chen Er'ya, who told him not to call her by her childhood name in public.
• Several armed men stopped Donghua's carriage in South City Neighborhood and beat Donghua and her mother, while the driver was kicked to the ground.
• The young leader warned Donghua's mother that some people were beyond her reach, and the men fled before the Night Patrol constables arrived.

Chen Ping'an confronted Head Constable Zheng over delays in collecting Contribution Silver and blamed Old Fan, Cheng Yuan, and Zhao Hu for obstructing him. After Zheng gave him the collection voucher and threatened punishment if he failed, Chen Ping'an set out to collect the silver with Zeng Jihe, leaving Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu behind.

• Old Fan took blame for the delayed collection voucher, but Chen Ping'an accused him, Cheng Yuan, and Zhao Hu of negligence and demanded they be punished.
• Head Constable Zheng ordered Old Fan to fetch the voucher and warned Chen Ping'an he would face consequences if he failed to collect the Contribution Silver by the end of duty.
• Old Fan brought Chen Ping'an a voucher requiring Tiger Run Gambling House to pay one hundred and ten taels.
• Chen Ping'an called Zeng Jihe, Cheng Yuan, and Zhao Hu to accompany him, then left with Zeng Jihe when the other two hesitated.
• Head Constable Zheng left angrily, while the other head constables watched Chen Ping'an depart and doubted he would avoid retaliation.

Chen Ping'an settled into his role overseeing Northern Cang, planned to seek a Supreme Divine Skill, and approved preparations for the North Azure Grand Meet. The chapter ended when a dispute between two patrol squads erupted outside the Town Pacification Office.

• Chen Ping'an accepted gifts from Northern Cang factions and planned to sell lower-value stolen goods to fund his cultivation and search for a Supreme Divine Skill.
• Chen Ping'an received a letter from the Little Girl, who congratulated him, answered his questions, and invited him to visit Azure Dragon Province City.
• Chen Ping'an approved Huang Jingyao's revised implementation proposal for the North Azure Grand Meet.
• Chen Ping'an reviewed his cultivation progress and was interrupted by a report that the office patrol squad and the Joint Patrol Squad had fought over patrol gains outside the office gates.

Chen Ping'an led the Town Pacification Office assault on the Tiger Head Gang headquarters and killed the gang leader who had mortally wounded Tan Huacong. Tan Huacong died after Chen Ping'an spoke to him privately, and Chen Ping'an turned back to the battle.

• Chen Ping'an led the constables into the Tiger Head Gang headquarters, where they gained the advantage in the fight.
• Tan Huacong battled a Tiger Head Gang minor leader until a Flying Locust Stone struck his wrist and left him vulnerable.
• The minor leader battered Tan Huacong, but Chen Ping'an intervened and killed the attacker.
• Chen Ping'an leaned close to Tan Huacong and quietly told him not to blame him before publicly promising the Town Pacification Office would handle Tan Huacong's affairs.
• Tan Huacong died, and Chen Ping'an rose to survey the ongoing battle.

The Fang Family’s Inner Hall Elder condemned the family’s failure to stop Zuo Wumei and ordered that those responsible be punished. Three days after killing Zuo Wumei, Chen Ping'an visited the Fang Family to claim his promised treasure, where Fang Shicheng offered to bring him into the family.

• A Fang Family Clan Elder learned that Chen Ping'an had killed Zuo Wumei and criticized the family for letting the intruder escape.
• The Clan Elder lamented that his anger had wilted his flowers and ordered someone to call the gardener.
• Three days after killing Zuo Wumei, Chen Ping'an accepted the Fang Family’s invitation to choose a treasure from its Inner Treasury Pavilion.
• Chen Ping'an rode through the Inner City in a Fang Family carriage and observed the privileges enjoyed by the great families.
• Fang Shicheng introduced himself and recounted the Fang Family’s history before revealing that the family intended to recruit Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an learned that Gu Qingchan could arrange a top-tier Trading Convention in one and a half months, then returned home and resumed cultivation while Gu Qingchan hurried preparations. The chapter ended as a carriage from the Xue Family arrived at Chen Ping'an’s courtyard.

• Chen Ping'an rejected Gu Qingchan’s attempt to touch him, reviewed records of past conventions, and agreed to attend the Heaven-Tier Trading Convention in one and a half months.
• Gu Qingchan chose not to attack Chen Ping'an and ordered the Wishful Treasure Pavilion’s stewards to move the convention forward, granting them special authority to prepare it.
• Chen Ping'an returned safely to his room, noted that Tong Guan had escaped, and cultivated the Seven Absolute Divine Skill to prepare for the convention.
• Gu Qingchan planned to persuade the other Elders to offer a complete Supreme Divine Skill inheritance at the convention.
• Chen Ping'an shared breakfast with Er Ya, saw her off to class, and reflected on his determination to raise her status alongside his own.
• A carriage from the Xue Family arrived outside Chen Ping'an’s courtyard.

After Xue Mingde excluded him from the promotion ceremony, Chen Ping'an left Wei River County City on patrol and resolved to overturn the forces treating him as a pawn. As he cultivated toward mastering the Soul Severing Saber, Northern Lands Saber Guan Dongxiang arrived in the city and challenged him.

• Feng Chengxiu and Wu Dazhen celebrated Xue Mingde's decision to exclude Chen Ping'an from the promotion ceremony and hoped the two men would clash.
• Chen Ping'an dismissed Fan Zhengheng's excuses for the snub and decided he would not let Xue Mingde's targeting go unanswered.
• Fan Zhengheng assigned Chen Ping'an to patrol Wei River, and Chen Ping'an left Wei River County City to investigate reports of Heavenly Lotus Sect remnants near Rising Origin City.
• On the journey, Chen Ping'an reviewed his progress in the Soul Severing Saber Technique and planned to use its perfected secret art against Xue Mingde at the ceremony.
• Guan Dongxiang arrived in Wei River County City, and news spread that the Northern Lands Saber had challenged Chen Ping'an to battle.

Gu Qingchan joined the siege of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s deputy altar, where the advancing forces discovered the hidden Blood Flame Cave. The raid turned into an ambush when six enemy Grandmasters attacked and poisonous blood mist weakened the besiegers, leaving Chen Ping'an fighting amid the chaos.

• Gu Qingchan arrived at the karst cave and greeted Feng Wuhen, Situ Ba, Qu Zhaocheng, and the other Grandmasters before the combined force set out.
• The besiegers advanced through the deputy altar, meeting little resistance until they found the hidden Blood Flame Cave.
• Feng Wuhen shattered the cave’s stone door with a sword strike, and Gu Qingchan led the Grandmasters into the passage.
• The forces entered the cavern and discovered six Ten Thousand Demons Sect Grandmasters fighting them; Chen Ping'an killed a bandit who attacked him from above.
• The passage began collapsing as poisonous blood mist spread through the battlefield, weakening the besiegers and bringing down cultivators below the Profound Light Realm.
• Chen Ping'an shielded himself from the poison and killed a bandit who was about to attack a fallen cultivator as the battle erupted into chaos.

After reaching Initiation in the Golden Bell Shield, Chen Ping'an continued his training and celebrated his twentieth birthday at a banquet attended by South Spring Lane's powerful figures. As he left the celebration, he remembered Old Chen, who had died before he could witness Chen Ping'an's coming-of-age ceremony.

• Chen Ping'an reached Initiation in the Golden Bell Shield and gained greater defensive strength.
• Chen Ping'an kept training while Chen Er'ya enjoyed a comfortable life at home with Peony.
• Tian Fulang and South Spring Lane's gangs and forces celebrated Chen Ping'an's twentieth birthday and capping ceremony with a lavish banquet and gifts.
• Chen Ping'an remembered Old Chen's promise to place the cap on him, then thanked Tian Fulang and left the feast early.
• A gang leader rebuked a subordinate for questioning Chen Ping'an's authority and recalled how the Tiger Head Gang had been destroyed after offending him.

Chen Ping'an reached initiation in the Three Points of Human Tribulation Finger after little more than ten days of cultivation and continued training in seclusion. His victory over Gu Wu drew the attention of the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office and the Universe Control Division, both of which considered recruiting him, while Cao Yingxiong set a lower offer than Zhao Zhitin had proposed.

• Chen Ping'an remained in seclusion to cultivate after reaching initiation in the Three Points of Human Tribulation Finger.
• The Wei River Town Pacification Office reported that Chen Ping'an had helped suppress a Heavenly Luo Sect branch and killed Gu Wu, while Guan Yuping was suspected to have died in Five Peaks Mountain.
• Yu Zhanhong read the report, recognized Chen Ping'an's exceptional potential, and hurried to inform Gu Haoqing.
• Zhao Zhitin urged Cao Yingxiong to recruit Chen Ping'an into the Universe Control Division as a Second Seal Universe Control Guard.
• Cao Yingxiong rejected the higher rank and authorized Zhao Zhitin to offer Chen Ping'an a First Seal Universe Control Guard position instead.

Chen Ping'an reunited with Mu Wanjun, comforted her unease, and learned that the Mu Family wanted to offer her as his concubine to gain his support. They agreed he would help the family without making her a concubine, and Mu Wanjun chose to preserve her own freedom rather than bind herself to his future.

• Chen Ping'an welcomed Mu Wanjun to his residence and eased her nervousness by reminiscing about their past.
• Chen Ping'an thanked Mu Wanjun for recognizing his potential, and their exchange brought back memories of their former relationship.
• Chen Ping'an recalled that the Mu Family had urged Mu Wanjun to become his concubine in hopes of gaining his support.
• Chen Ping'an and Mu Wanjun agreed that he would assist the Mu Family without accepting its proposal, while he promised Mu Wanjun she could come to him if she changed her mind.
• Mu Wanjun declined Chen Ping'an's offer of marriage and said she preferred a quiet, independent life.

Chen Ping'an killed Quicksand Gang Protector Uncle Gu at his welcome reception and challenged the city’s factions to meet with him. Quicksand Gang Leader Yin Zisheng chose to contain the dispute for now and invited Chen Ping'an to a banquet.

• Chen Ping'an killed Uncle Gu and warned the gathered faction representatives against provoking him.
• Chen Ping'an ordered Cheng Renjing to deliver Uncle Gu’s head to the Quicksand Gang and ask Yin Zisheng to host another meal.
• Yin Zisheng rejected Shen Taiyuan and Duan Peng’s calls to demand an explanation, deciding the Quicksand Gang should handle the matter lightly.
• Yin Zisheng planned to invite Chen Ping'an to a banquet at Drunken Immortal Pavilion the following night and gauge his ability.

After his promotion to Deputy Brigade Commander, Chen Ping'an assumed oversight of the Wei River Outer City and received reports from Lin Shaohua and Yan Wu. He began cultivating in his office, confident that his growing martial strength—not the Gu Family’s support—would let him keep his position, when an urgent letter arrived.

• News of Chen Ping'an's promotion spread through Wei River County City and Azure Dragon Province, and he counted more than a hundred Origin Crystals' worth of congratulatory gifts.
• Chen Ping'an officially took up his post and gained oversight of the Dragon Peace Trade Route, several cities and garrisons, and the Wei River Outer City.
• Lin Shaohua reported on the Outer Town Pacification Office, and Chen Ping'an instructed him to manage its affairs carefully.
• Chen Ping'an reminded Yan Wu of their past connection and ordered him to assist Lin Shaohua and protect the Outer City; afterward, Yan Wu saw an opportunity in their old friendship while Lin Shaohua considered how to win Chen Ping'an's favor.
• Chen Ping'an dismissed thoughts of managing subordinates and resumed cultivating, reasoning that his martial strength could secure his position without relying on the Gu Family.
• An attendant announced that Chen Ping'an had received an urgent letter.