Chapter Summaries

Later Jin’s experts overwhelmed Xiangyang’s defenders, killing two Great Grandmasters and driving a third to flee as Nurhaci ordered an all-out assault. The city gates fell, but Guo Jing’s Dragon Blocking Stones stopped the invading army from entering the inner city.

• Ao Bai fought Guo Jing while Qiao Feng battled four Great Grandmasters, and five more attacked Xiangyang’s three Great Grandmasters.
• Later Jin’s experts killed two of Xiangyang’s Great Grandmasters, while the last fled the battlefield.
• The enemy forces joined together to besiege Qiao Feng, and Nurhaci ordered his army to attack Xiangyang with everything it had.
• Nearly six million soldiers charged the city as a battering ram smashed through Xiangyang’s gates.
• The attackers found Guo Jing’s nine Dragon Blocking Stones blocking the entrance, and their battering ram could not break them.

As Later Jin breached Xiangyang’s defenses, Huang Rong and the Central Plains martial artists joined the battle, but Ouyang Feng entered the fight and unleashed deadly poisons. Qiao Feng remained trapped by Jiumozhi and eight other experts as Ouyang Feng began attacking the defenders.

• Later Jin broke through Xiangyang’s defenses, and Huang Rong called on Song Yuanqiao, Qiu Chuji, and the other martial artists to defend the city.
• Song Yuanqiao led the Wudang disciples into battle, while Qiu Chuji ordered the Quanzhen disciples to form the Seven Star Formation.
• Huang Rong defeated a Tibetan lama with the Dog Beating Staff Technique and killed him with Dogless Under Heaven.
• Jiumozhi ordered Ouyang Feng to attack the Central Plains martial artists, prompting Qiao Feng to try to break away from his opponents.
• Jiumozhi used Flame Blade and the other experts’ ultimate techniques to keep Qiao Feng surrounded and occupied.
• Ouyang Feng spread poisonous gas and unleashed venomous snakes, killing several martial artists as his body swelled grotesquely.

Ouyang Feng slaughtered the martial experts with his Toad Stance and poison, but suddenly died before he could finish them off. Zhang Cuishan confirmed that Ouyang Feng was dead, leaving Jiumozhi and the other experts baffled by his sudden collapse.

• Ouyang Feng unleashed his Toad Stance, killing many experts and scattering poisonous mist over the survivors.
• Ouyang Feng suddenly lost his vitality and crashed to the ground, dying before his poison could kill the experts.
• Huang Rong sensed that Ouyang Feng's aura had vanished, and Zhang Cuishan inspected the body and confirmed he was dead.
• Jiumozhi and the other great experts wondered what had caused Ouyang Feng's sudden death, while Jiumozhi angrily regretted sending him.

The Profound Dark Duo and Jiumozhi were killed by an unseen attacker, forcing the remaining invaders to flee Xiangyang. Qiao Feng killed one fleeing Great Grandmaster, then joined his Second Brother against Ao Bai, who fought desperately while seeking a chance to escape.

• Jiumozhi sent the Profound Dark Duo to break through Xiangyang, but both were killed mysteriously as they leaped from the wall.
• Jiumozhi threatened the unseen attacker by invoking the Nyingma Sect Master of Esoteric Buddhism, and was killed in response.
• The remaining five Great Grandmasters fled, and Qiao Feng pursued them, killing the strongest after more than thirty exchanges.
• Qiao Feng leaped from the city tower and joined his Second Brother against Ao Bai, who was driven back by their combined attacks.
• Ao Bai burned his vitality and blood to unleash Overlord Fist while disguising his desire to escape.

Qiao Feng and Guo Jing wounded Ao Bai but failed to stop his escape, then led Xiangyang’s army in pursuit of Later Jin. Ao Bai urged Nurhaci to retreat as the enemy approached, but Nurhaci refused, trusting his army’s numerical advantage.

• Qiao Feng and Guo Jing joined forces with Ao Bai in a desperate clash, and all three suffered severe injuries.
• Ao Bai used a burst of strength to escape while Qiao Feng and Guo Jing were too depleted to pursue him immediately.
• Qiao Feng ordered Xiangyang’s troops to pursue Later Jin and intercept its retreat at First Line Gorge.
• Ao Bai returned to camp badly injured and urged Nurhaci to withdraw before Xiangyang’s army arrived.
• Nurhaci focused on Later Jin’s heavy losses and refused to retreat, arguing that his six million soldiers could overwhelm Xiangyang’s forces.

After suffering devastating losses, Nurhaci ordered Later Jin to retreat and assigned Dorgon and Dodo to cover the army’s withdrawal. Dorgon realized Ao Bai had maneuvered to put the brothers in danger, and he warned Dodo to escape if the situation became hopeless.

• Nurhaci ordered Later Jin to retreat after its forces suffered catastrophic casualties and Xiangyang’s defenders approached.
• Ao Bai urged Nurhaci to send Dorgon, Dodo, and their elite banners to hold off the enemy, hoping the brothers would be killed.
• Nurhaci accepted Ao Bai’s recommendation and ordered Dorgon and Dodo to intercept the enemy while the main army withdrew.
• Dorgon recognized Ao Bai’s scheme but obeyed the military order, silently vowing revenge if he survived.
• Dorgon warned Dodo that they might not both survive and urged him to flee if they could not hold the battlefield.

Dorgon and Dodo led Later Jin forces into battle against Xiangyang, though Dorgon feared their odds and urged Dodo to survive if the army was defeated. Dodo fought Chang Yuchun while Yang Xiao confronted Dorgon.

• Dorgon warned Dodo that their army was likely to lose and made him promise to preserve his life for their mother's sake.
• The two armies clashed, and Dorgon and Dodo cut through Xiangyang's soldiers with their weapons.
• Chang Yuchun challenged Dodo, and the two generals began a fierce duel.
• Niu Mang challenged Dorgon, but Yang Xiao stopped him and rode out to face Dorgon himself.
• Yang Xiao told Dorgon that killing him would be a worthwhile trade because Later Jin would lose a rare strategist.

Yang Xiao killed Dorgon, and Chang Yuchun killed Dodo, triggering the defeat of Later Jin’s million-strong army at Xiangyang. When Nurhaci heard of the disaster, he collapsed, leaving Ao Bai to restore order and prepare the remaining troops to resist.

• Yang Xiao defeated Dorgon with the Great Shift of the Universe, severed his arm, and killed him.
• Dodo charged Yang Xiao in grief, but Chang Yuchun seized the opening and pierced Dodo’s heart.
• With both commanders dead, the Later Jin forces lost morale and fled or surrendered as Xiangyang’s troops pursued them.
• The battle left more than five hundred thousand Later Jin soldiers dead, with the rest surrendering, and crippled both the Plain White Banner and Bordered White Banner.
• Nurhaci fainted after learning of the defeat, and Ao Bai killed panicked soldiers, restored order, and ordered the troops to prepare to resist.

Xiangyang’s defenders defeated Later Jin after a brutal day-and-night battle, killing its Great Grandmasters and forcing its army to retreat. The victory left Xiangyang devastated, with more than eight hundred thousand casualties and enormous compensation costs.

• Qiao Feng killed Ao Bai but suffered a grave chest wound, while Guo Jing killed the remaining three Great Grandmasters.
• Later Jin’s troops broke and fled after their commanders were slain, and Guo Jing sent Chang Yuchun and Yang Xiao to drive them toward First Line Gorge.
• Guo Jing and Qiao Feng celebrated the victory, and Qiao Feng said he planned to leave Xiangyang and travel after resting.
• Xiangyang’s survivors collected and buried the dead, then counted more than eight hundred thousand losses and over sixty million taels in expected compensation.

After Xiangyang’s victory at First Line Gorge, Guo Jing struggled with how to handle more than 1.2 million prisoners, and Huang Rong persuaded him to put them to work rebuilding the city. He learned that the battle had devastated the martial arts sects as well, and arranged for the dead heroes’ families to be cared for.

• Yang Xiao and Chang Yuchun reported that Xiangyang’s army had routed four million Later Jin troops, killed three hundred thousand, and captured seven hundred thousand.
• Huang Rong urged Guo Jing to use the prisoners for dangerous reconstruction and mining work, and Guo Jing reluctantly agreed.
• Guo Jing said Later Jin had lost three million troops across the battles and lamented that Nurhaci had escaped.
• Huang Rong told Guo Jing that the Quanzhen and Wudang sects had suffered heavy losses, including the deaths of Ma Yu, Tan Chuduan, Hao Datong, Sun Bu'er, Song Qingshu, Yu Lianzhou, and Mo Shenggu.
• Guo Jing asked Huang Rong to ensure the fallen heroes’ families were supported, and she said she had already ordered the arrangements.

Xiao Xian criticized Yang Guo’s rigid swordsmanship, then demonstrated how a simple thrust could become deadly when the sword moved like an extension of the body. Yang Guo grasped the lesson and began developing his own living sword technique through repeated practice.

• Xiao Xian mocked Yang Guo’s swordsmanship and struck him with a bamboo switch while claiming to teach him.
• Xiao Xian disarmed Yang Guo, explained the flaws in his basic thrust, and demonstrated a powerful straight strike.
• Yang Guo reflected on Xiao Xian’s demonstration and realized he had never truly understood the sword.
• Yang Guo concentrated on the strike for an hour, then began practicing thrusts from varied angles.
• Yang Guo’s basic sword moves gained vitality and power, allowing him to rival Postnatal Realm experts without internal energy.

Xiao Xian denied saving Guo Jing, then agreed to travel with him to Wudang Mountain. As the convoy left Xiangyang, Qiao Feng departed alone to travel the world, while Xiao Xian rode in a lavish custom carriage.

• Guo Jing visited Xiao Xian to thank him for saving his life, but Xiao Xian denied having intervened.
• Xiao Xian told Guo Jing he planned to leave Xiangyang, and Guo Jing invited him to travel with the party visiting Wudang Mountain.
• Guo Jing explained that Zhang Sanfeng led Wudang and held first place on the Heavenly Ranking, while Guo Jing ranked eighth and Qiao Feng seventh.
• Qiao Feng left Xiangyang to travel the world after deciding that Later Jin would soon be defeated.
• Seven days later, Guo Jing, Yang Xiao, Xiao Xian, and a large party departed Xiangyang, with Xiao Xian traveling in a luxurious carriage he had commissioned.

Yang Guo devoured Xiao Xian’s expensive pastries during their journey, while Xiao Xian recalled how he had obtained them from an arrogant shop. After Xiao Xian killed the shop assistant and confronted the Great Grandmaster who ran the shop, the master dropped to his knees and begged for his life.

• Yang Guo stuffed himself with pastries in Xiao Xian’s carriage despite his distended belly.
• Xiao Xian explained that the pastries were costly delicacies made by a Great Grandmaster and recounted how he had demanded several portions from the shop.
• A shop assistant refused to serve Xiao Xian because he lacked the status required by the shop’s rules and insulted him.
• Xiao Xian killed the shop assistant with a slap, and the Great Grandmaster rushed out with a rolling pin to attack him.
• The Great Grandmaster abruptly knelt and begged Xiao Xian for mercy, then blamed the dead shop assistant and offered to make him more pastries.

Xiao Xian sampled the Great Grandmaster’s Nine Wonders Candy, demanded a hundred boxes, and left after taking everything in the shop. On the caravan journey, Xiao Xian forced Yang Guo to train by running with a heavy load, and Yang Guo’s cultivation advanced quickly despite his misery.

• The Great Grandmaster made Nine Wonders Candy, and Xiao Xian praised its flavor.
• The Great Grandmaster offered the candy as a tribute, but Xiao Xian asked for another hundred boxes and learned there was only one batch.
• Xiao Xian spared the Great Grandmaster, took everything in his shop, and left him wailing in despair.
• Yang Guo grew bored during the caravan journey, so Xiao Xian made him run with a heavy bundle and punished him with a Sand Whip whenever he slowed down.
• Guo Jing approved of Xiao Xian’s strict training and ignored Yang Guo’s pleas for help.
• Yang Guo endured the training because his meditation became more effective, and he broke through a minor realm in a few days.

The convoy reached Wudang Mountain, where Zhang Sanfeng mourned the sect’s heavy losses and Song Yuanqiao grieved for his son. Guo Jing arrived to pay his respects and apologize, while Zhang Sanfeng assured him he was not responsible for the deaths.

• The convoy traveled through Heaven Province and reached Wudang Mountain after an otherwise peaceful journey.
• The Wudang Five Heroes returned ahead of the convoy with their fallen disciples, and Wudang Mountain began mourning the dead.
• Song Yuanqiao became despondent after losing his only son, while the wounded Zhang Wuji recovered in bed.
• A disciple reported that Guo Jing had arrived, and Zhang Sanfeng invited him into the mountain.
• Guo Jing and his companions offered incense before Guo Jing apologized to Zhang Sanfeng for the Wudang disciples’ deaths.
• Zhang Sanfeng told Guo Jing that Wudang had volunteered for battle and that he did not blame him.

Xiao Xian stayed on Wudang Mountain after Guo Jing departed, then traveled across Great Xia and neighboring lands before returning through a spatial passage to his own world. A year later, Little Dragon Girl came looking for him, but missed him and spent her life searching until she died with regret.

• Zhang Sanfeng welcomed Xiao Xian and his companions to Wudang Mountain while he oversaw the funeral rites for his fallen disciples.
• After the rites ended, Guo Jing delivered the court’s condolences and left to visit other sects, while Xiao Xian stayed behind to spend time with Zhang Sanfeng.
• Zhang Sanfeng entered seclusion after gaining insight from their discussions, and Xiao Xian left Wudang to travel through Great Xia and neighboring countries.
• Five months later, Xiao Xian opened a spatial passage on a mountain and departed from the world.
• A year later, Little Dragon Girl arrived at Wudang seeking Xiao Xian, but left to retrace his travels after learning he was gone.
• After searching for eighty years, Little Dragon Girl returned to the Ancient Tomb and died regretting that she had not left with Xiao Xian.

Xiao Xian returned from his journey and approved the Yunlan Sect’s wedding arrangements before his marriage day arrived. The wedding drew the Dou Qi Continent’s most powerful clans, and the chapter left the guests gathered as the newlyweds were about to appear.

• Xiao Xian returned to the main world, received a Broken Hoe from the System, and discarded it.
• Xiao Xian approved the Yunlan Sect elder’s wedding preparations.
• Xiao Xian dressed for the wedding while Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan received guests at the Yunlan Sect.
• Gu Yuan and the Medicine Clan arrived with lavish gifts, followed by the Yan Clan, Lei Clan, Soul Clan, and other powerful groups.
• Zhu Kun arrived with the Void Ancient Dragon Clan, and Xiao Zhan welcomed the assembled guests before the newlyweds’ appearance.

Xiao Xian and Yun Yun held their wedding, drawing powerful clans who admired the couple and congratulated them. During the banquet, Xiao Xian teased Gu Yuan about the Gu Clan's robbed Treasure Vault, then turned toward Soul Emperor, who remembered being forced to surrender the Soul Clan's vault.

• Xiao Zhan exchanged courtesies with Gu Yuan and the other clan leaders, then prepared to officiate the wedding.
• Xiao Xian and Yun Yun emerged in their wedding attire, and Xiao Zhan led them through the ceremony honoring Heaven and Earth.
• Xiao Xian and Yun Yun toasted the guests, and Gu Yuan congratulated Xiao Xian while explaining that his clan had learned of the wedding through its information network.
• Xiao Xian joked that he had not invited Gu Yuan because the robbed Gu Clan might not afford a proper gift, angering Gu Yuan.
• Xiao Xian approached Soul Emperor, who recalled Xiao Xian beating the Soul Clan and taking its Treasure Vault.

At Yun Yun’s wedding banquet, Xiao Xian taunted Soul Emperor over the Soul Clan’s past losses, while Soul Emperor concealed his resentment and plotted to advance to Dou Emperor. Yun Shan emerged from seclusion after breaking through to Dou Zong, mistook the wedding guests for people congratulating him, and provoked Soul Emperor.

• Xiao Xian reminded Soul Emperor of the Soul Clan’s past plundering and their peace agreements, and Soul Emperor hid his anger while enduring the taunts.
• Soul Emperor privately resolved to kill Xiao Xian once he advanced to Dou Emperor, then forced a stiff smile and answered politely.
• Yun Shan appeared above the banquet after breaking through to Dou Zong and wondered why the Yunlan Sect was so lively.
• Yun Shan assumed the guests had gathered to celebrate his breakthrough and demanded they submit to the Yunlan Sect.
• Soul Emperor seized on Yun Shan’s arrogance as a chance to vent his anger, and Yun Shan angrily challenged him for calling him an ant.

Yun Shan attacked Soul Emperor after breaking through to Dou Zong, ignoring Yun Yun’s desperate warnings. Soul Emperor effortlessly beat him into the ground, leaving Yun Shan suffering while imagining he was taking revenge on Xiao Xian.

• Yun Shan unleashed the Azure Wood Sword Art against Soul Emperor, and Yun Yun rushed to stop him.
• Yun Shan refused to listen to Yun Yun and bragged that he would deal with the person who had challenged him.
• Xiao Xian reassured Yun Yun that Soul Emperor would show restraint and let Yun Shan learn a lesson.
• Soul Emperor easily dispersed Yun Shan’s first attack and mocked his strength.
• Yun Shan attacked again, but Soul Emperor punched him into a crater and repeatedly battered him.
• Soul Emperor grew more excited as he mistook Yun Shan for Xiao Xian in his mind.