Chapter Summaries

A man’s attack and an oil-fueled fire destroyed a Wang Family ship carrying goods worth ten thousand gold. At a gathering in the Wang estate, Wang Jingzhi demanded heavy contributions from his vassal factions and arranged for his prodigy, Wang Ning, to spar with them; Wang Ning struck Duan Youguo with a golden arc, leaving the hall silent.

• A short-clad attacker killed Wang Family members aboard their ship, then fled into the river after the steward struck him.
• While the Wang Family pursued the attacker’s distraction, accomplices doused the ship with fire oil and burned it down.
• Wang Jingzhi summoned the martial factions under the Wang Family’s control and demanded fifty Martial Warriors, tens of thousands of Wish Stones, and one hundred thousand shi of grain from each.
• Wang Jingzhi introduced Wang Ning and offered to reduce the factions’ demands by ten percent for every move their chiefs withstood from him.
• Duan Youguo attacked Wang Ning with hidden-force palm strikes, but they had no effect; Wang Ning planted a Triangular Formation Flag and sent a golden arc flashing across Duan Youguo.

Wang Ning killed Duan Youguo and Wang He, then set out to destroy the gangs that had resisted the Wang Family. In Lu Ling City, Zhang Yi heard that disguised Iron Tiger Gang members had attacked the Wang Family and went to the Martial King Residence to trade that intelligence for his sword.

• Wang Ning defeated and killed Duan Youguo, and Wang Jingzhi demanded tribute from the gathered Martial Warriors.
• After Wang He reported that Iron Tiger Gang men had burned a Wang Family cargo ship, Wang Jingzhi sent Wang Ning to eliminate the gang and other holdouts.
• Wang Ning killed Wang He for failing to guard the ship, then left to prepare for the expedition.
• Zhang Yi listened to teahouse gossip with his younger sister and suspected someone had disguised themselves as Iron Tiger Gang members to provoke the Wang Family.
• Zhang Yi went to the Martial King Residence and told Gao Yanshi that the attack had been carried out by impostors, offering the information to redeem his sword.

Zhao Hongming learned that the Wang Family was targeting martial factions and confronted Wang Ning, who had attacked the Bright Cult. Wang Ning’s array and ghostly techniques failed against Zhao Hongming’s Eternal Youth Dharma Form, and Zhao Hongming overwhelmed him.

• Gao Yanshi reported that Iron Tiger Gang members had burned the Wang Family’s goods, and Zhao Hongming went to investigate.
• He Jinlong and the other Bright Cult hall leaders learned that Wang Ning had destroyed Phantom Shadow Gate and the Lin Guang Association, then worried the Wang Family would target them next.
• Zhao Hongming arrived at the former Iron Tiger Gang hall and confirmed that his followers had not attacked the Wang Family.
• Wang Ning entered the hall, announced that he had come to take their heads, and attacked Zhao Hongming with a Triangular Formation Flag.
• Zhao Hongming blocked Wang Ning’s array attack with Green Mist and struck him into the courtyard wall.
• Wang Ning unleashed ghost heads and golden attacks, but Zhao Hongming’s Eternal Youth Dharma Form dispersed them and battered him with Azure Arms.

Zhao Hongming defeated Wang Ning and ordered the Bright Cult to attack the Wang Family’s river-shipping business, while Wang Jingzhi learned of the death and consulted the Wang Family Old Ancestor. The Wang Family showed little response, and the Bright Cult’s forces and reputation grew as Zhao Hongming prepared to recruit men for training.

• Zhao Hongming overwhelmed Wang Ning, destroyed his protective flag, and beat him to death before the Bright Cult’s gathered leaders.
• Zhao Hongming ordered the Bright Cult’s branch halls to challenge the Wang Family by targeting its Ying River shipping business and asked them to recruit talented refugees.
• Wang Jingzhi learned that Wang Ning had been killed and went to the underground palace, where the Wang Family Old Ancestor told him to endure and arrange a human sacrifice through the Upper Immortal Sect.
• Several Bright Cult branch halls attacked Wang Family ships and forces; the Wang Family limited its retaliation, while the Bright Cult gained more than a thousand Martial Warriors.
• Zhao Hongming welcomed the Bright Cult’s rapid growth and considered drawing recruits from its forces to train as soldiers.

Zhang Yi gained an audience with Zhao Hongming and proposed using the Wang Family’s financial troubles to negotiate for armor and bows while securing the prefect’s withdrawal of surveillance. Zhao Hongming approved his plan and sent him to the Wang Family with a thousand gold.

• Zhang Yi discussed the prefect’s continued surveillance of the Martial King Residence and learned from Liang Ying that the Wang Family was short of money.
• Gao Yanshi met Zhang Yi and Liang Ying, heard their intelligence, and brought Zhang Yi into the Martial King Residence.
• Zhang Yi impressed Zhao Hongming with his assessment of Ying Commandery and offered to negotiate with the Wang Family.
• Zhang Yi asked Zhao Hongming for a thousand gold and an escort so he could obtain armor, bows, and crossbows from the Wang Family.
• Gao Yanshi returned Zhang Yi’s treasured sword as Zhang Yi left to prepare for the mission.

Zhang Yi used gold to secure the Wang Family’s cooperation and persuaded Chen ShengHai to withdraw surveillance over Zhao Hongming. He returned to the Martial King Residence and reported that he had completed his mission.

• Wang Jingzhi worried over the Wang Family’s worsening finances and agreed to meet Zhao Hongming’s envoy, Zhang Yi.
• Zhang Yi rebuked Wang Jingzhi for his poor hospitality, then offered gold in exchange for the Wang Family’s bows, crossbows, and armor.
• Wang Jingzhi accepted Zhao Hongming’s offer of friendship and sent a Wang Family martial artist to escort Zhang Yi back.
• Zhang Yi persuaded Chen ShengHai to withdraw surveillance by warning that the Wang Family might use evidence against him and offering Ying Commandery’s taxes and Wish Stones.
• Chen ShengHai agreed to withdraw surveillance, and Gao Yanshi informed Zhao Hongming that the watchers had left.
• Zhang Yi arrived at Zhao Hongming’s study and reported that he had not failed his mission.

Zhao Hongming accepted Zhang Yi as a retainer and embraced his plan to use reform and royal power to control the Martial Arts Forces. Wu Qi selected and began training the Wei Elite Soldiers, leaving the army energized by rewards and the promise of the Killing Scripture.

• Zhao Hongming agreed to Zhang Yi's request for a future Chancellor's post and appointed him a retainer in the Martial King Residence.
• Zhang Yi advised Zhao Hongming to reform the law, eliminate rival Martial Arts Forces, and begin consolidating power in Ying Commandery.
• Zhao Hongming appointed Wu Qi as a general, and Wu Qi tested nearly a thousand Martial Warriors with a forced march before admitting those who passed to his camp.
• Wu Qi distributed silver and Wish Stones to the successful candidates and promised promotion, advanced techniques, and the Killing Scripture for great merit.
• Ma Chuanping joined the Hard Qigong formation as Wu Qi divided the soldiers by their Martial Arts specialties and began organizing the Wei Elite Soldiers.

Zhao Hongming advanced his Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique to Martial Courage Second Grade and gained power enough to dominate Ying Commandery. Meanwhile, Chen ShengHai, the Wang Family Old Ancestor, Wang Jingzhi, and an old Daoist began a ritual at the Bronze Ancient Gate.

• Zhao Hongming broke through Mountain Shattering Martial Skill and reflected on the limits of Martial Arts, resolving to seek ways beyond them.
• Gao Yanshi reported that Zhang Yi was a disciple of the Cloud Dream Sect, which had taught schemes and the Art of War before its disappearance.
• After two months of preparation and cultivation, Zhao Hongming broke through to Martial Courage Second Grade and formed a Green Mist Dharma Form with eighteen arms.
• Zhao Hongming concluded that no one in Ying Commandery could threaten him, given his new strength and the Wang Family Old Ancestor's declining Qi and Blood.
• Chen ShengHai, the Wang Family Old Ancestor, Wang Jingzhi, and an old Daoist prepared a Soul Summoning Banner using the Wang Family's Ancient Immortal Array Dao and the vital essence of over ten thousand people.
• The old Daoist activated the Soul Summoning Banner before the Bronze Ancient Gate, causing its runes to flicker.

The Wang Family Old Ancestor, Chen ShengHai, and the Upper Immortal Sect Daoist opened the Yin Kingdom tomb with human sacrifices and discovered immense treasure and Ancient Immortal Methods. After they left the tomb, they realized the seven slaves had vanished, while an unfamiliar crowned man lingered outside and a stiff face approached Wang Jingzhi from the shadows.

• The Wang Family Old Ancestor sacrificed four slaves and his own blood to open the Bronze Ancient Gate, and an unfamiliar crowned man appeared among the remaining slaves outside.
• Chen ShengHai, Wang Jingzhi, the Wang Family Old Ancestor, and the old Daoist explored the tomb, finding headless bones, a preserved True Dragon, great riches, and the Beginningless Scripture and Dragon Grasping Hand.
• The four agreed to divide the tomb’s treasures, while the Wang Family Old Ancestor pressed Chen ShengHai to move against Wei Country and Chen ShengHai delayed.
• The four emerged from the tomb and found that all seven slaves had disappeared, then Chen ShengHai and the old Daoist departed.
• The Wang Family Old Ancestor insisted the slaves had been there, as a stiff male face crept toward Wang Jingzhi from behind.

Wang Jingzhi and the Wang Family Old Ancestor awakened a terrifying, withered man in the Yin Royal Family’s tomb, and the Old Ancestor died before Wang Jingzhi escaped. Wang Jingzhi and the Upper Immortal Sect urged prefect Chen ShengHai to move against Martial King Zhao Hongming, while Zhao prepared to deploy the Wei Elite Soldiers.

• The withered man emerged in the tomb, drained the Wang Family Old Ancestor into flying sand, and drove Wang Jingzhi to flee with his life.
• Wang Jingzhi warned the Upper Immortal Sect taoist that the Old Ancestor had died and pressed him to activate the Celestial Transformation Array ahead of time.
• The Upper Immortal Sect taoist persuaded Wang Jingzhi to urge prefect Chen ShengHai to act against Martial King Zhao Hongming, and Chen gathered nearly a thousand men despite having no weapons or armor in the storehouses.
• The Upper Immortal Sect taoist returned to the Wang Family Estate and ordered young Daoists to set up array flags while the estate lay strewn with human-shaped piles of sand.
• Gao Yanshi told Zhao Hongming that Chen ShengHai’s forces were marching on the Martial King Residence, and Zhao ordered Guard Chang to bring the trained Wei Elite Soldiers.

Zhao Hongming received Zhang Yi’s detailed map of Lu Ling before Chen ShengHai led an attack on the Martial King Residence. Zhao Hongming revealed his Martial Courage Second Grade cultivation, killed Chen ShengHai and his followers, and awaited General Wu’s approaching army.

• Zhang Yi presented Zhao Hongming with a detailed map of Lu Ling, which Zhao Hongming sent to General Wu for troop deployments.
• Chen ShengHai marched on the Martial King Residence with Wang Jingzhi and more than twenty Martial Warriors, while his soldiers surrounded the estate.
• Zhao Hongming calmly armed himself and confronted Chen ShengHai, who admitted that he had come to kill him.
• Zhao Hongming killed Wang Jingzhi with Heaven Opening and revealed that he had reached Martial Courage Second Grade.
• Zhao Hongming defeated Chen ShengHai’s tiger Dharma Form, killed Chen ShengHai, and ordered the Imperial Guards to eliminate the remaining attackers.
• General Wu hurried his armored army toward Lu Ling City, while Squad Leader Ma Chuanping realized that the troops were heading into actual combat.

Wu Qi led the Wei Elite Soldiers into Lu Ling City, where their formations overwhelmed the County Soldiers and martial forces surrounding the Martial King Residence. Zhao Hongming emerged after defeating the men at the gates and ordered the attack to continue, leaving the Wei Elite Soldiers poised to finish the battle.

• The city guards allowed Wu Qi and more than a thousand Wei Elite Soldiers to enter Lu Ling City.
• Wu Qi ordered the soldiers to use the Five Talents Formation, and Ma Chuanping led his squad in cutting down the defenders outside the Martial King Residence.
• The Wei Elite Soldiers used coordinated attacks and military rewards to exhaust and kill an Aperture Opening Realm County Soldier, then pressed on against the remaining defenders.
• Zhao Hongming emerged from the Martial King Residence with heads taken from the Prefect’s men and killed the County Soldiers blocking its gates with his eighteen arms.
• An Imperial Guard announced that the Prefect and his men had been executed, and Zhao Hongming beat the drums as Wu Qi ordered the Wei Elite Soldiers to attack.

Zhao Hongming celebrated the Wei Elite Soldiers’ victory and ordered Wu Qi and Chang Wubing to seize the Chen and Wang forces, but a sudden formation at the Wang Family Estate drew him there. The Upper Immortal Sect Old Daoist activated the Celestial Transformation Array and battled the awakened Emperor of the Yin Kingdom, whose Four Directions Seal disrupted the array.

• Wu Qi reported to Zhao Hongming after the Wei Elite Soldiers defeated Chen ShengHai’s conscripted forces, and Zhao Hongming praised him.
• Zhao Hongming ordered Chang Wubing and Wu Qi to take Chen Family Village, eliminate the allied Martial Arts Forces, and make Bright Cult the only Martial Arts Force in Ying Commandery.
• A formation of light rose from the Wang Family Estate, and Zhao Hongming led his Personal Guard toward it.
• The Upper Immortal Sect Old Daoist activated the Celestial Transformation Array, which killed disciples caught inside and strengthened those who entered it.
• The Old Daoist learned that the dried corpse was Xin, Emperor of the Yin Kingdom, and attacked him as the formation drained his life force.
• The Emperor fought back with ice powers and a black-light suction force, then produced a Four Directions Seal that caused the Celestial Transformation Array and the Old Daoist’s figure to waver.

The Dried Corpse man destroyed the Celestial Transformation Array and returned to the Ancient Tomb, while Zhao Hongming investigated the vanished Wang Family and discovered danger beneath its lake. After learning that the Bright Cult was struggling against Chen Family Village, Zhao Hongming went there disguised as Wei Wuji and turned the battle with a single attack.

• The Dried Corpse man used the Four Directions Seal's National Destiny True Dragon to break the Celestial Transformation Array, and the Upper Immortal Sect Old Daoist escaped as his disciples burned to ash.
• The Dried Corpse man remembered something of his identity, recognized that his injuries prevented him from recovering, and returned to the underground Ancient Tomb.
• Zhao Hongming followed two Wang Family disciples into the empty estate, waited outside the lake-bottom entrance, and found that everyone he allowed inside disappeared.
• Zhao Hongming ordered his Imperial Guards to control the Wang Family Estate and use a false claim about a hidden treasure to lure Wang Family members into the dangerous passage.
• Gao Yanshi reported that Chang Wubing's Bright Cult followers were struggling to attack Chen Family Village, so Zhao Hongming rode there disguised as Wei Wuji.
• Zhao Hongming killed the armored Chen Family fighter who was about to strike He Jinlong, lifting the Bright Cult's morale and alarming the village elders.

Zhao Hongming led the Bright Cult in destroying Chen Family Village, then returned to Lu Ling City after finding its martial arts collection disappointing. There, he encountered Jing Qiao Yan offering herself to anyone who would destroy the Upper Immortal Sect, but he rode on without intervening.

• Zhao Hongming killed Chen Family Village’s defenders, stopped a disciple from activating the defensive array, and learned that its Triangular Flags were tied to a Wang Family secret art.
• Zhao Hongming’s arrival turned the battle in the Bright Cult’s favor, and Chen Family Village was destroyed; he told Chang Wubing to handle the aftermath and inspected the village’s storehouse and martial arts manuals.
• Zhao Hongming found Chen Family Village’s Subduing Tiger Sky-Shaking Skill and other manuals less impressive than he had hoped, then left the cleanup to Chang Wubing and returned to Lu Ling City.
• On his way out, Zhao Hongming noticed several women from Chen Family Village being led away, including an exceptionally beautiful woman.
• In Lu Ling City, Zhao Hongming recognized Jing Qiao Yan from Clear Sky Tower as she offered to become a servant or worse in exchange for someone destroying the Upper Immortal Sect.
• Jing Qiao Yan saw Zhao Hongming ride past without speaking, and his indifference left her pride wounded.

Zhao Hongming explored the Wang Family Martial Repository and discovered the Thunder Annihilation Dharma Body, an ancient technique with methods for reaching the Forging Furnace Realm. After breaking through a hidden formation on the second floor, he uncovered the Wang Family’s research into formation arrays and began studying it.

• Zhao Hongming ordered the Imperial Guards to reinforce the Martial Repository and move the Wang Family’s valuables before outsiders arrived.
• Zhao Hongming examined the first-floor manuals and found the Thunder Annihilation Dharma Body, which described cultivation up to the Forging Furnace Realm but required True Dragon Blood.
• Zhao Hongming concluded that the Wang Family had declined because its martial arts had fallen behind the times, then went upstairs seeking the secret art that linked the Immortal Path and Martial Dao.
• Zhao Hongming used his Divine Soul Power to locate the second-floor formation’s array core, then crossed the trapped area with Desolations Secret Travel and destroyed it with his Azure Arms.
• Zhao Hongming found dismantled humanoid puppets, formation flags, and the Profound Essentials of Heaven and Earth Formation Arrays, then began reading the Wang Family’s research.

Zhao Hongming studied the Wang Family’s formation research, named his new cultivation method the Array Dao Scripture, and considered miniaturizing Wei Country’s Seven Stars Sky Severing Formation. Zhang Yi devised a scheme to investigate the dangerous lake beneath the Wang Family estate, and three days later Zhao Hongming prepared to see what the many martial artists sent into it had uncovered.

• Zhao Hongming studied the Wang Family’s formation manuscripts and learned that the family had developed formations using flags and even human bodies, then found the Sky Severing Formation’s principles resembled Wei Country’s Seven Stars Sky Severing Formation.
• Zhao Hongming took the scroll and core manuscripts from the Wang Family Martial Repository and ordered General Wu’s soldiers to transport the remaining materials and formation flags to his residence.
• Zhao Hongming asked Zhang Yi how to investigate the dangerous lake beneath the Wang Family estate, and Zhang Yi proposed spreading rumors of immortality and a sect’s foundation there to lure martial arts forces into exploring it.
• Zhao Hongming gave Zhang Yi his bronze command token, and Zhang Yi used the rumor to send martial artists into the lake while General Wu’s troops waited nearby.
• Zhao Hongming studied the Wang Family’s formation research over the following days, unlocked an Unknown Technique on his Attribute Panel, and named it the Array Dao Scripture.
• After three days of martial artists entering the lake, Gao Yanshi reported that results were expected, and Zhao Hongming ordered a carriage so he could go see what had happened.

Zhao Hongming learned that the lake beneath the Wang Family Estate held Emperor Xin’s tomb and a terrifying, wounded dried corpse, then entered the tomb alone. He found the corpse beyond a Bronze Ancient Gate, where its exposed heart continued to beat.

• Zhang Yi reported that hundreds of martial artists had entered the lake bottom and that few had returned, while Wu Qi proposed greatly expanding the troops in Ying Commandery.
• Zhao Hongming questioned the bloodied Dugu Haoran, severed his remaining arm, and learned that the lake bottom contained Emperor Xin’s burial ground, a Dragon Scale, and a deadly dried corpse.
• Dugu Haoran tried to escape after revealing what he knew, but Zhao Hongming killed him and took the Dragon Scale.
• Zhao Hongming ordered Wu Qi and the others to prevent more martial artists from entering, then descended into the lake bottom alone.
• Zhao Hongming passed through a Bronze Ancient Gate and found a crippled, withered figure among the corpses, its exposed dark red heart still beating.

Zhao Hongming confronted Di Xin, the last king of Yin, in the Ancient Tomb and fought him for the Imperial Jade Seal. He killed Di Xin and claimed the seal, but its power overwhelmed him as soon as he touched it.

• Di Xin recognized the Dragon Vein Zhao Hongming carried and revealed that he had once been called Di Xin.
• When Di Xin accused Zhao Hongming of seeking his burial treasures, Zhao Hongming attacked and discovered that Di Xin's strength was unstable.
• Di Xin used the beating heart in his chest to disrupt Zhao Hongming and wounded him with an invisible ice sword, but Zhao Hongming healed with Eternal Youth True Intent.
• Di Xin brought out the Yin Kingdom's Imperial Jade Seal, whose National Destiny overwhelmed Zhao Hongming until he used the Sky Severing Formation to lessen its suppression.
• Zhao Hongming struck Di Xin down with Mountain Shattering, then picked up the Imperial Jade Seal and was overcome by visions of mountains and rivers.

Zhao Hongming fused with the Imperial Jade Seal, explored Emperor Xin’s tomb, and uncovered treasures and ancient cultivation techniques. He left the tomb with the Martial Beginning Scripture’s secrets memorized, including its claim that National Destiny could not grant immortality, while the mysteries surrounding National Destiny and Di Xin remained unresolved.

• Zhao Hongming fused with the Imperial Jade Seal after enduring a painful vision of Ying Commandery’s National Destiny.
• Zhao Hongming watched Emperor Xin’s body turn to dust, then passed through the tomb as Corpse Eating Moths swarmed the corpses and withdrew from him.
• Zhao Hongming found a True Dragon Corpse containing some blood essence and discovered immense stores of Wish Stones and other burial treasures.
• Zhao Hongming read the Beginningless Scripture and Dragon Grasping Hand in the West Chamber, then found the Martial Beginning Scripture beneath the Bronze Coffin lid.
• Zhao Hongming learned that the Martial Beginning Scripture described cultivating National Destiny but denied that it could grant immortality, memorized its contents, and erased the inscription.
• Zhao Hongming returned to the surface and told Zhang Yi and Wu Qi that the Dried Corpse was dead, then ordered them to retrieve the tomb’s treasures.