Chapter Summaries

Fang Xuan mastered the Martial Dao Divine Power Divine Dragon Tail Swing and went with You Tongfu to sell his spoils and find a buyer for the Bone Asura remains. Outside the shop, Pei Qian was caught by his aunt, but Fang Xuan's voice warned her to release him.

• Fang Xuan absorbed Divine Dragon Tail Swing and realized it could let him contend with a Martial Saint.
• Pei Qian introduced Fang Xuan to You Tongfu, who examined the treasures and remains in Fang Xuan's gourd.
• You Tongfu paid Fang Xuan one hundred forty-six thousand Talisman Jade for the other items and agreed to take him to a buyer for the remains.
• Fang Xuan followed You Tongfu into an eerie shop while Pei Qian waited outside.
• Pei Qian's aunt caught him and threatened to take him back to the sect.
• Fang Xuan spoke from behind Pei Qian's aunt and warned that she would be begging for help if she did not let him go.

Fang Xuan parted from Pei Qian and met the blacksmith Ruan Hong, who bought the four Bone Asura remains Fang Xuan had brought. Ruan Hong hinted at the human body's terrifying potential, leaving Fang Xuan with a payment of sixty thousand Talisman Jade and an intriguing new contact.

• Pei Qian introduced Fang Xuan to his aunt, who realized Fang Xuan's killing intent marked him as a formidable warrior and scolded Pei Qian for lending him the Myriad Herbs Compendium.
• Pei Qian boasted to his aunt about Fang Xuan's accomplishments, but she ordered him back to the Tai Xuan Sect and left to pursue her mission.
• Fang Xuan examined Ruan Hong's shop while You Tongfu offered the blacksmith four Bone Asura remains.
• Ruan Hong dismissed You Tongfu, introduced himself to Fang Xuan, and inspected the remains.
• Ruan Hong rejected Fang Xuan's suggestion that he was making corpse puppets, paid him sixty thousand Talisman Jade, and told him to close the door on his way out.

After three months of cultivation, Fang Xuan reached the Late Fourth Heavenly Gate as wars and revelations reshaped the Nine Provinces. In Yuqing City, Sikong Jihuai urged Fang Li to claim the Nine Provinces for the Fang name.

• Pei Zhizhen thanked Long Jing for helping Pei Qian, left the Myriad Herbs Compendium with him, and invited him to visit the Tai Xuan Sect.
• Three months later, Deng Lun was rescued as the sole survivor of the Deng Family’s secret realm, while wars erupted across several provinces and a drunken swordsman revealed a realm beyond the Fifth Heavenly Gate.
• Fang Xuan advanced his Primordial Chaos Dragon Transformation Art, broke through to the Late Fourth Heavenly Gate, and traveled east through the snow with a new resolve.
• In Yuqing City, Fang Li and An Yan discussed the coming turmoil and the Dragon Whale Army’s readiness as Sikong Jihuai arrived late at night.
• Sikong Jihuai told Fang Li that the Nine Provinces should bear the Fang name.

Fang Xuan returned to Sea Province and reunited with the Dragon Whale Army, which had spent six months building strength amid clashes with the Sea Province Royal Court Army. With the Nine Provinces in turmoil, Fang Li announced that the army’s next goal was to unify Sea Province.

• Fang Xuan returned to Zhongshan City and learned that armies across Sea Province had mobilized three days earlier.
• Fang Xuan met Water Monkey, who explained that the Dragon Whale Army had gathered troops and might be preparing to attack the Sea Province Royal Court Army.
• Fang Xuan traveled to PingLiao City and reunited with Fang Li, Sikong Jihuai, and the Dragon Whale Army’s leaders.
• Fang Li recounted the army’s costly battle at Jiayuan City, where Sikong Xiao was crippled and the Dragon Whale Army suffered losses despite driving back fifty thousand Royal Court Army troops.
• Fang Xuan said the Dragon Whale Army would no longer remain confined to one corner of the land, and Fang Li declared that its primary objective was to unify Sea Province.

Fang Xuan prepared the Dragon Whale Army for its campaign against the Hai Province Royal Court Army by offering cultivation guidance and strengthening its leaders. He also arranged Fang Li and An Yan’s wedding and gave Fang Li a powerful Sword Armor for protection.

• Fang Xuan learned that Zheng Chuan was in seclusion and that the Dragon Whale Army had five late Third Heavenly Gate martial artists, then promised to teach them how to break through to the Fourth Heavenly Gate.
• Fang Xuan gave the five martial artists cultivation manuals and Talisman Jade, and ordered them to break through within a week.
• At breakfast, Fang Xuan told Fang Li and An Yan to hold their wedding before the army marched, and learned that Fang Lan managed the Dragon Character Branch across Sea Province’s eleven cities.
• Fang Li told Fang Xuan that the army would march north in half a month, with Ning Guanhai leading thirty thousand elite soldiers as the vanguard.
• Fang Xuan gave Fang Li a Sword Armor capable of injuring Fourth Heavenly Gate martial artists, explaining that he wanted to protect the Dragon Whale Army’s core.

Fang Xuan visited Zheng Chuan and gave him a Rising Phoenix Grass as a betrothal gift for Fang Li and Zheng Lan, hoping Zheng Chuan would break through to the Fourth Heavenly Gate before war began. Back at the City Lord's Mansion, Fang Xuan welcomed Deng Shang, who offered the Tiger Travel Escort Agency's support and declared that the people hoped the Li Family Dynasty would be replaced by Fang's rule.

• Fang Xuan visited Zheng Chuan in PingLiao City and learned that Zheng Chuan was struggling to break through to the Fourth Heavenly Gate.
• Fang Xuan gave Zheng Chuan a Rising Phoenix Grass as a betrothal gift for Fang Li and Zheng Lan.
• Deng Shang arrived at the City Lord's Mansion and revealed that he knew Fang Xuan had once traveled under the identity of Long Jing.
• Deng Shang offered the Tiger Travel Escort Agency's full support to the Dragon Whale Army, despite the risk to his business in Yuan Ling City.
• Deng Shang told Fang Xuan that the people hoped the Li Family Dynasty would change its surname to Fang, and Fang Xuan thanked him.

The Dragon Whale Army swiftly captured Daqu, Yangping, and the Three Gorges, then ambushed a Royal Court Army reinforcement force in the mountains. Fang Xuan arrived to face Fu Shao, and their clash carried into the forest.

• The Dragon Whale Army took Daqu, Yangping, and the Three Gorges in a rapid winter campaign.
• One Line Sky and Water Monkey prepared an ambush for Fu Shao's twenty-thousand-man reinforcement force using Spider Web intelligence.
• Water Monkey detonated explosives as the Royal Court Army entered the mountain road, and the Dragon Whale Army attacked from both sides.
• Fu Shao wounded Water Monkey and One Line Sky, but Fang Xuan arrived from the sky and killed two of the Eight Generals.
• Fang Xuan and Fu Shao exchanged powerful blows before vanishing into the mountain forest.

Fang Xuan defeated Fu Shao and sent Chu Liqun to deliver the slain commanders’ heads to Mo Hongyi, while Fang Li prepared to attack Ningjiang City. A blue-robed envoy of Immortal Master Deyi demanded the Dragon Whale Army withdraw, then attacked Fang Li when he refused.

• Fang Xuan returned with Fu Shao’s head, learned the Dragon Whale Army had defeated the reinforcements, and recruited prisoner Chu Liqun to carry a message to Mo Hongyi.
• Fang Li ordered the army to rest for three days before striking Ningjiang City, explaining that winter made a prolonged campaign difficult.
• A blue-robed man entered Fang Li’s command tent unseen, announced that he had incapacitated the guards, and asked whether the Dragon Whale Army would withdraw on behalf of his master, Immortal Master Deyi.
• Fang Li refused and urged Immortal Master Deyi to reconsider backing Mo Hongyi, but the envoy drew a cyan sword and attacked him.
• Sikong Jie unleashed his strength and stepped in front of Fang Li and Sikong Jihuai as the envoy’s Sword Qi struck, ending in a deafening explosion.

Sikong Jie sacrificed himself to protect Fang Li and Sikong Jihuai, leaving Fang Li to face the Blue-Robed Man alone. Fang Li’s Sword Armor wounded the attacker, and just as Fang Li despaired, his Big Brother’s overwhelming presence arrived and drove the Blue-Robed Man away.

• Sikong Jie burned his Dantian Sea and fought the Blue-Robed Man with the Shadow Moon Three Burning Spears, but fell in battle after telling Fang Li and Sikong Jihuai to forgive him.
• Fang Li vowed to avenge Sikong Jie by destroying the Hidden Moon Sect, but the Blue-Robed Man attacked him again.
• Sikong Jihuai tried to push Fang Li out of the sword strike, but Fang Li’s Sword Armor activated and severely injured the Blue-Robed Man.
• Fang Li realized the Sword Armor could not kill the Blue-Robed Man and told Sikong Jihuai to flee.
• Fang Li’s Big Brother arrived with an oppressive aura, and the Blue-Robed Man vanished before facing him.

After Sikong Jie died protecting Fang Li from a Hidden Moon Sect assassin, Fang Xuan retaliated with brutal force and ordered the Dragon Whale Army to march against the Hai Province Royal Court Army. At the Hidden Moon Sect, Deyi and Mo Hongyi discussed the failed assassination before a thunderous explosion announced Fang Xuan’s arrival.

• Fang Li grieved over Sikong Jie's death, blamed his own weakness, and fainted in Fang Xuan's arms.
• Sikong Jihuai revealed that a Fourth Heavenly Gate martial artist from the Hidden Moon Sect had attacked the camp, and Ning Guanhai linked the sect to Mo Hongyi.
• Fang Xuan killed the Hidden Moon Sect attackers and ordered the Dragon Whale Army to reorganize and march on the Hai Province Royal Court Army the next day.
• Deyi assured Mo Hongyi that the assassination would succeed, while Mo Hongyi reflected on Fang Li's importance to the Dragon Whale Army and asked about the Great Yang Dynasty's strength.
• An explosion shook the Hidden Moon Sect as Fang Xuan challenged its members to face their deaths.

Fang Xuan stormed the Hidden Moon Sect and slaughtered its disciples and elders while seeking revenge for Fang Li. He crushed Deyi despite the sect master’s offer to negotiate, and declared that no one from the sect would survive.

• Fang Xuan hurled the Blue-Robed Man Xiao Feng to the ground and killed him, then cut down Hidden Moon Sect elders and disciples as he advanced toward the great hall.
• Deyi attacked Fang Xuan, but Fang Xuan shattered his Light Shield and drove him into the broken stairway with a crushing sword strike.
• Fang Xuan unleashed Whale Tyrant Killing Fist: Myriad Streams, killing more elders as the Hidden Moon Sect began to collapse.
• Deyi crawled from the crater and sought help from Mo Hongyi, but Mo Hongyi had vanished; the remaining disciples fled from Fang Xuan.
• Deyi offered to help the Dragon Whale Army unify Sea Province, but Fang Xuan charged again and vowed to leave no Hidden Moon Sect member alive.

Fang Xuan killed Deyi and attacked the Hidden Moon Sect, but its Grand Elder emerged from seclusion and revealed himself as a Blood Martial Saint. Fang Xuan refused his offer to become the sect’s master and continued fighting, leaving the battle unresolved as he vanished using Whale Leap.

• Fang Xuan killed Deyi with the Tai Xuan Sword Scripture, then burned hundreds of fleeing Hidden Moon Sect disciples with the Heart Burning Flame Palm.
• The Hidden Moon Sect’s Grand Elder arrived and struck Fang Xuan with a purple pillar of inner force, blasting him away and revealing his strength as a Blood Martial Saint.
• The Grand Elder offered to make Fang Xuan his disciple and the Hidden Moon Sect’s master, but Fang Xuan rejected him and vowed to destroy the sect.
• Fang Xuan transformed with the Primordial Chaos Dragon Transformation Art and attacked the Grand Elder with lightning drawn into No Edge.
• Fang Xuan used Crimson Demon Eyes · Moon Eclipse to stall the Grand Elder’s consciousness, then disappeared with Whale Leap as the Grand Elder dismissed his tricks.

Fang Xuan fought the red-robed Grand Elder of the Hidden Moon Sect, but the Blood Martial Saint overwhelmed him despite his powerful techniques and divine flames. Just as the Grand Elder was about to kill him, he stopped, let Fang Xuan leave, and ordered the sect to withdraw from the war in Sea Province.

• The red-robed man wounded Fang Xuan with a claw strike, and Fang Xuan retaliated with the Wind Thunder Saber Art, splitting the man's inner-force defense.
• Fang Xuan unleashed his heavy sword and Dragon Qi, then clashed with the red-robed man until their battle devastated the Hidden Moon Sect and left Fang Xuan badly injured.
• Fang Xuan's Heart Burning Flame Palm burned the red-robed man's hand, forcing him to cut it off and regrow it before he declared his intent to kill Fang Xuan.
• The red-robed man appeared before Fang Xuan with purple flame, but abruptly extinguished the surrounding fire and told Fang Xuan to leave.
• The red-robed man ordered the Hidden Moon Sect to seal itself off, stay out of the war in Sea Province, and never seek revenge against the Dragon Whale Army, then vanished.

After recovering from his battle with the Hidden Moon Sect, Fang Xuan learned that the Martial Temple’s interest in him was tied to the Nine Spring Eyes. Meanwhile, the Dragon Whale Army conquered Sea Province, and Fang Li prepared to rebuild it while trusting that her missing brother was safe.

• Fang Xuan left the ruined Hidden Moon Sect to recuperate, while Zhuang Dong and Xiang Jie discussed the Martial Temple, the Nine Spring Eyes, and the need to unify Sea Province.
• The Dragon Whale Army defeated the Hai Province Royal Court Army after Mo Hongyi died and his Eight Generals vanished, leaving the army in control of Sea Province.
• One Line Sky reported that Fang Xuan had slain the Hidden Moon Sect’s sect master, after which the sect agreed to close its gates for a hundred years and avoid Sea Province’s military affairs.
• Fang Li stopped One Line Sky from searching for Fang Xuan and told Sikong Jihuai to focus on restoring Sea Province, with her younger sister’s trading firm assisting him.
• Fang Li privately affirmed her belief that Fang Xuan would be all right.

Fang Xuan learned that the Dragon Whale Army had defeated the Hai Province Royal Court Army and unified Sea Province, then met Xiang Jie of the Martial Temple, who offered him a Dragon Heart and a chance to refine his body. Fang Xuan agreed to return to Ningjiang City before traveling south with Xiang Jie.

• Fang Xuan gained the Dragon Emperor Seal after refining his dragon scales and realized he needed an opportunity to break through to the Fifth Heavenly Gate.
• Fang Xuan learned in Yi City that the Dragon Whale Army had crushed the Hai Province Royal Court Army, while rumors falsely credited him with killing Mo Hongyi and the Eight Generals.
• Xiang Jie offered Fang Xuan a Dragon Heart containing a trace of Dragon Soul, which could protect Fang Li, and revealed that he came from the Martial Temple.
• Xiang Jie admitted that he had killed Mo Hongyi and offered Fang Xuan access to the Martial Temple's Dragon Pool to refine his body and a year's protection for Sea Province.
• Fang Xuan agreed to return to Ningjiang City first and then travel south with Xiang Jie.

The Linyang Princess visited Consort Yang in Jingxiu Palace and worried about Lele’s prospects in Wan Province. Fang Xuan departed Sea Province for the Martial Temple, where Xiang Jie revealed the ranks of spiritual weapons and hinted at a greater world beyond the Nine Provinces.

• The Linyang Princess asked Consort Yang about Fang Xuan and Lele, and Consort Yang warned her to respect the emperor and suggested he might return to Central Province.
• Fang Li, Fang Lan, Zheng Chuan, and Sea Province’s leaders saw Fang Xuan off as he set sail for Central Province.
• Zheng Chuan gave Fang Xuan the Zheng family’s heirloom Talisman Sword and asked him to protect Fang Li and Fang Lan.
• Xiang Jie explained that treasured weapons could become Spirit Items and identified No Edge as a potential fourth-grade Spirit Item.
• Xiang Jie said that a senior he admired had become a Wall Guardian and told Fang Xuan that the Nine Provinces were only a small part of a more complicated world.

Fang Xuan reached the Great Yang capital, met a mysterious barefoot monk, and finally visited the Martial Temple. There, he learned that its nine statues represented legendary Higher Realm martial artists and the roots of the Nine Provinces Martial Dao.

• Fang Xuan entered the Great Yang capital with Xiang Jie and witnessed a noble youth's servants beating an old man, but he left without intervening.
• Fang Xuan explored the capital instead of immediately visiting the Martial Temple, and Xiang Jie departed after spotting a barefoot monk.
• Fang Xuan later met the barefoot monk at White River Temple, where the monk spoke cryptically about karma, the people, and Dragon Fortune before vanishing.
• Three days later, Xiang Jie brought Fang Xuan to the Martial Temple, where Fang Xuan saw nine golden-bodied statues that seemed to watch him.
• Xiang Jie explained that the statues represented Higher Realm martial artists and that their presence helped keep the Nine Provinces stable.

Fang Xuan met Sun Temple Keeper and became a Registered Disciple of the Martial Temple, but rejected its offer of a grander destiny because he only wanted to protect Xiao Li and Xiao Lan. He declared that he wanted the Nine Provinces to bear the Fang name, and left to train at Dragon Pool after learning that entry to the Martial Temple normally required a Martial Saint body.

• Xiang Jie brought Fang Xuan to the Martial Temple's main hall, where Sun Temple Keeper explained the Temple's power and ancient rules.
• Fang Xuan asked why the Martial Temple wanted him and what benefits it offered, then refused its invitation to pursue the summit of Martial Dao.
• Fang Xuan explained that he cared most about keeping Xiao Li and Xiao Lan safe, and agreed to register his name with the Martial Temple.
• Fang Xuan said he wanted the Nine Provinces to bear the Fang name, and Sun Temple Keeper told him to grow stronger while the Temple remained bound by its rule against interfering in dynastic wars.
• Sun Temple Keeper took Fang Xuan's heavy sword to reforge it and ordered Xiang Jie to take him to Dragon Pool to temper him until he opened the Fifth Heavenly Gate.
• Xiang Jie told Fang Xuan that condensing a Martial Saint body was the minimum requirement for entering the Martial Temple, leaving Fang Xuan stunned.

Fang Xuan underwent Dragon Qi body tempering in the Martial Temple’s Dragon Pool and received the dragon body’s blessing, which awakened his Dantian Qi Sea and began forming a golden Inner Core. The Sun Temple Keeper finally stopped him after thirteen rounds, leaving the Dragon Pool drained and the nine Black Armored Old Men ordered to replace its lost Dragon Qi.

• Xiang Jie brought Fang Xuan to the Dragon Pool, where nine Black Armored Old Men instructed him to accept the Dragon Qi without resisting.
• A transparent dragon appeared above the pool, blessed Fang Xuan with golden Dragon Qi, and his cultivation at the peak of the Fourth Heavenly Gate began to loosen.
• Fang Xuan’s Dantian Qi Sea absorbed the golden Dragon Qi, and a golden Inner Core began taking shape as the dragon body repeatedly returned.
• Xiang Jie warned the Sun Temple Keeper that Fang Xuan had undergone thirteen rounds of tempering, and the Sun Temple Keeper severed Fang Xuan’s connection to the dragon body.
• The Sun Temple Keeper carried away the unconscious Fang Xuan and punished the nine Black Armored Old Men, ordering them to replace the Dragon Qi they had lost.

After awakening from Dragon Qi body tempering, Fang Xuan investigated the golden pearl in his qi sea and questioned whether his unusual cultivation differed from the martial artists of the Nine Provinces. He consumed the Blood Spirit Mushroom, which transformed the pearl and the talisman, and he emerged as a Blood Martial Saint.

• Fang Xuan woke in the Martial Temple with a golden pearl in his qi sea and asked Xiang Jie whether humans could cultivate an Inner Core.
• Xiang Jie explained qi seas and Acupoints, revealed Fang Xuan had undergone thirteen rounds of Dragon Qi body tempering, and gave him the Blood Spirit Mushroom from Sun Temple Keeper.
• After Xiang Jie left, Fang Xuan concluded that his strength surpassed the Fifth Heavenly Gate despite his Acupoints not opening, and suspected the Black Talisman had caused his qi sea's mutation.
• Fang Xuan drank the Blood Spirit Mushroom, and its medicinal power made crimson lights ripple across the golden pearl as the talisman developed golden patterns and an ancient aura.
• Fang Xuan suppressed the talisman's aura and recognized that he had become a Blood Martial Saint.