Chapter Summaries

Situ Lie and fewer than three hundred Kaoshan Sect survivors were trapped against a sheer cliff by Chen Xuanli’s two thousand cavalry and chose to fight rather than surrender. In Qinghe Prefecture City, Liu Canglan told Wang Yuan that Situ Lie had been surrounded, leaving Wang Yuan poised to respond.

• Chen Xuanli pursued Situ Lie’s dwindling forces through the mountains until they were trapped between his cavalry and a hundred-zhang cliff.
• Situ Lie offered his three hundred surviving soldiers the choice to fight or surrender, and every man stood with his weapon.
• Chen Xuanli encircled the Kaoshan Sect survivors and taunted Situ Lie before their final battle.
• After cultivating through the night, Wang Yuan sat in the Kaoshan Sect courtyard and adjusted to the strength he had gained from reaching the fourth layer of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Divine Skill.
• Liu Canglan arrived and told Wang Yuan that Sect Master Situ had been surrounded.

Wang Yuan learned that Situ Lie was surrounded in the Cangwu Mountains and rode alone to rescue him. As Wang Yuan raced north, Chen Xuanli began attacking Situ Lie and the three hundred Kaoshan Sect remnants, leaving Situ Lie wounded and outmatched.

• Liu Canglan reported that Chen Xuanli had surrounded Situ Lie and fewer than three hundred Kaoshan Sect remnants in the Cangwu Mountains.
• Wang Yuan set out alone on horseback to support Situ Lie and entrusted Liu Canglan with guarding Prefecture City and his family.
• Liu Canglan went to the Black Armor Camp to secure the rear while Wang Yuan raced north.
• Chen Xuanli ordered his two thousand cavalry to close in after Situ Lie refused to surrender.
• Situ Lie led the remnants into battle and fought Chen Xuanli, but Chen Xuanli wounded him several times.

Wang Yuan arrived at the cliff just as Chen Xuanli was about to kill Situ Lie and declared that he would take responsibility for Kaoshan Sect. He began activating his strength while the Imperial Court cavalry surrounded them.

• Chen Xuanli defeated Situ Lie and prepared to execute him as the last Kaoshan Sect soldiers continued fighting without surrendering.
• Wang Yuan galloped into the battlefield alone and landed between Situ Lie and Chen Xuanli.
• Chen Xuanli mocked Wang Yuan's youth and weak cultivation, while Situ Lie urged him to flee.
• Wang Yuan told Situ Lie that the burden of Kaoshan Sect was no longer his alone and that the sect's defeat was not his fault.
• Wang Yuan tapped five acupoints and declared, "I'll take it from here."

Wang Yuan unleashed his Dragon-Tiger True Form and overwhelmed Chen Xuanli in a brief clash, leaving the late Organ Tempering Realm commander injured and disarmed. Chen Xuanli ordered the Imperial Court iron cavalry to surround Wang Yuan, who prepared to face their charge.

• Wang Yuan transformed into his fully unleashed Dragon-Tiger True Form, startling Chen Xuanli and the two thousand Imperial Court iron cavalry.
• Chen Xuanli attacked Wang Yuan’s ribs, but Wang Yuan blocked his sword with his forearm and left it uninjured.
• Wang Yuan struck Chen Xuanli with a punch that bent his sword, dented his breastplate, and sent him crashing through a boulder.
• Chen Xuanli discarded his ruined sword, retreated into the cavalry formation, and ordered his soldiers to surround Wang Yuan.
• The Imperial Court iron cavalry charged Wang Yuan in a crescent-shaped formation, and Wang Yuan vowed to kill them.

Wang Yuan used his Dragon-Tiger True Form to devastate Chen Xuanli’s two thousand cavalry and defeat Chen Xuanli’s final attack. He seized Chen Xuanli by the throat and declared his identity as the Mysterious Abyss Daoist Heir of the Kaoshan Sect before crushing his neck.

• Wang Yuan charged into the cavalry and smashed through riders and horses with his Dragon-Tiger True Form.
• Chen Xuanli ordered his troops to scatter and wear Wang Yuan down, but Wang Yuan continued to pursue and scatter them.
• Chen Xuanli attacked Wang Yuan from behind, but Wang Yuan struck him aside and left his arm numb.
• Wang Yuan routed the two thousand cavalry, leaving Chen Xuanli unable to lead another attack.
• Chen Xuanli launched a final sword strike, but Wang Yuan caught him by the throat and named himself before killing him.

Wang Yuan killed Chen Xuanli and drove the Imperial Court cavalry from the cliff, saving Situ Lie and the remaining Kaoshan Sect members. Elsewhere, Xiao Jin cornered Li Zhenyue and Cao Hongshen’s forces and killed Cao Hongshen, leaving Li Zhenyue at his mercy.

• Wang Yuan crushed Chen Xuanli’s throat, causing the Imperial Court cavalry to flee and abandon their wounded.
• Wang Yuan returned to his normal form, checked on Situ Lie, and arranged for the Kaoshan Sect remnants to treat his shoulder wound.
• Li Zhenyue and Cao Hongshen were trapped with their followers by Xiao Jin’s cavalry at an abandoned hunter’s cabin.
• Cao Hongshen attacked Xiao Jin with a broken saber, but Xiao Jin cut him in half with the Nine Nether Baleful Suppression Demon Blade.

Xiao Jin forced Li Zhenyue and the Li Family to submit, then ordered Chen Xuanli to capture Situ Lie and secure Kaoshan Sect’s treasury plans. Wang Yuan returned to Qinghe Prefecture City with the wounded Situ Lie and discovered signs of unrest, which Liu Canglan confirmed had grown during his absence.

• Xiao Jin killed Cao Hongshen, accepted Li Zhenyue’s surrender, and ordered him to reveal the Li Family’s assets.
• Xiao Jin learned Chen Xuanli had cornered Situ Lie and ordered him to seize Kaoshan Sect’s treasury blueprints, taking prisoners or killing Situ Lie if necessary.
• Wang Yuan brought the wounded Situ Lie and the surviving soldiers back toward Qinghe Prefecture City at a measured pace, carrying Chen Xuanli’s head as proof of his death.
• Wang Yuan noticed fewer people at the city gate, slack Kaoshan Sect guards, and townspeople acting evasively as he entered the city.
• Liu Canglan told Wang Yuan that something had been wrong in Prefecture City during his absence.

Wang Yuan learned that Qi Yun Manor, Iron Banner Gate, and the Green Willow Society were testing Kaoshan Sect’s weakened hold over the Prefecture City, and he ordered Chen Xuanli’s head displayed as a warning. Meanwhile, the three faction leaders met to discuss whether Situ Lie had survived, but Liu Sanbian received urgent news and led the others into the city, where they stopped in shock.

• Liu Canglan told Wang Yuan that grain prices had risen, three minor factions had withheld tribute, and Green Willow Society stewards had smashed Kaoshan Sect’s tax checkpoint sign.
• Wang Yuan said the factions were testing Kaoshan Sect and ordered Liu Canglan to hang Chen Xuanli’s head from the tallest city-gate flagpole.
• Qi Bonian, Tie Hengshan, and Liu Sanbian discussed Situ Lie’s uncertain fate, and Tie Hengshan revealed that he had advanced to Early-stage Organ Refining.
• A Green Willow Society Steward Disciple hurried to Liu Sanbian with urgent news, prompting him and the other two leaders to rush to the main street and stop in shock.

After seeing Chen Xuanli's severed head, Liu Sanbian, Qi Bonian, and Tie Hengshan concluded that Situ Lie was badly wounded and plotted to seize control of Prefecture City. Meanwhile, Wang Yuan prepared to use a seventh-grade Essence-Origin Divine Ore to cleanse his blood and temper his organs.

• Qi Bonian, Tie Hengshan, and Liu Sanbian saw Chen Xuanli's severed head displayed above the city gate and hurried back to the rear courtyard.
• Liu Sanbian reasoned that Situ Lie had killed Chen Xuanli at great cost and was now severely injured, leaving the Kaoshan Sect vulnerable.
• Liu Sanbian proposed that the Three Great Families demand control of Prefecture City the next morning, and Tie Hengshan vowed to challenge Situ Lie if he appeared.
• Wang Yuan opened the black wooden box in the Quiet Room and examined the seventh-grade Essence-Origin Divine Ore he had saved for his breakthrough.
• Wang Yuan resolved to use the ore within half a month to replace and purify his blood, cleanse his organs, and enter Organ Tempering.

Wang Yuan began purifying his blood with the Essence-Origin Divine Ore as he prepared to break through to the Viscera Refining Realm. Meanwhile, the three great families pressured the injured Kaoshan Sect by demanding control of Qinghe Prefecture City, and Liu Canglan stalled them while waiting for Wang Yuan to emerge from seclusion.

• Wang Yuan used the Essence-Origin Divine Ore to cleanse his blood and organs, then planned to continue the process twice daily for seven days before attempting his breakthrough.
• Seven days later, Qi Bonian, Tie Hengshan, and Liu Sanbian arrived at the Kaoshan Sect headquarters with elite disciples and requested an audience with Situ Lie.
• Liu Canglan learned that the three factions had posted notices calling for the Kaoshan Sect to transfer governing authority and jointly manage the city's defenses and grain reserves.
• After Situ Lie's guard said the Sect Master could not receive visitors, Tie Hengshan's group refused to leave and waited outside the headquarters before the watching citizens.
• Liu Canglan ordered tea sent to the visitors and went to the Quiet Room, where he saw the steady golden glow and told Wang Yuan the three factions had begun their performance.

Wang Yuan completed seven days of Blood Exchange and organ cleansing, broke through to the Viscera Refining Realm, and left seclusion with greatly increased strength. As the Three Great Families forced their way into the Kaoshan Sect headquarters to confront the injured Situ Lie, Wang Yuan headed toward the central courtyard.

• Wang Yuan refined his blood and organs for seven days with the Essence-Origin Divine Ore while Tie Hengshan and Liu Sanbian waited outside the headquarters.
• Wang Yuan completed the internal circulation of Vital Blood and broke through to the Early-stage Organ Refining realm, gaining power far beyond ordinary martial artists at his level.
• Wang Yuan left the Quiet Room, and the Iron-Scaled Giant Rat sensed his newfound pressure as he headed toward the front hall.
• Tie Hengshan led more than twenty people from the Three Great Families into the Kaoshan Sect headquarters after the sect's disciples tried to stop them.
• The Three Great Families pushed the Kaoshan Sect's disciples back into the central courtyard while demanding to see Situ Lie, and Wang Yuan approached.

Wang Yuan confronted Tie Hengshan and the Three Great Families after they forced their way into the Kaoshan Sect. He killed Tie Hengshan with one move, leaving the surviving intruders too terrified to challenge him.

• Liu Canglan held back from fighting Tie Hengshan to avoid revealing his Bitao Sect origins.
• Wang Yuan emerged from the corridor and ordered Tie Hengshan to take his people and leave.
• Wang Yuan learned that Tie Hengshan was the only Organ Refiner among the intruders.
• Wang Yuan killed Tie Hengshan with a single strike that pierced his chest.
• The disciples dropped their weapons or fell to their knees, while Liu Sanbian and Qi Bonian remained silent in fear.

Wang Yuan subdued the Green Willow Association and Qi Yun Manor with poison pills, then learned that Xiao Jin could soon become an even greater threat. After promising to reach Mid-stage Organ Refining within six months, Wang Yuan faced the looming danger of Xiao Jin’s advancing army.

• Wang Yuan forced Liu Sanbian and Qi Bainian to swallow poison pills and ordered their organizations to pay more tribute, monitor Imperial Court movements, and obey him.
• Wang Yuan told Liu Canglan to watch the two leaders and deal with any secret disobedience directly.
• Wang Yuan visited the recovering Situ Lie and confirmed that he had reached Organ Tempering.
• Situ Lie warned Wang Yuan that Xiao Jin had killed thousands to strengthen himself and might reach Half-step Grandmaster within months.
• Wang Yuan vowed to reach Mid-stage Organ Refining within half a year as Xiao Jin’s iron cavalry rode north.

After Wang Yuan killed Tie Hengshan, the people and factions of Qinghe Prefecture City quickly restored their dealings with the Kaoshan Sect and showed renewed respect for its Dao Child. Liu Canglan then reported that Xiao Jin’s army was advancing toward Chiyan Valley, and Wang Yuan ordered him to keep watch.

• Qi Yun Manor reopened its grain shops at reduced prices, while the Green Willow Society restored the South City Gate tax checkpoint and helped Kaoshan Sect disciples collect taxes.
• Small Lineages delivered their overdue tribute, merchants and townspeople treated Kaoshan Sect disciples with new deference, and visiting cards from across the region piled up at the sect headquarters.
• Liu Canglan told Wang Yuan that the city’s affairs had settled and that Qi Bonian’s gifts had been exchanged for grain and fodder for the common people.
• Liu Canglan reported that Li Zhenyue had surrendered to Xiao Jin, Cao Hongshen had been killed, and Xiao Jin’s army was heading toward Chiyan Valley to seize Daoist Fencang’s Deathsworn Camp and the Western Wastes’ mineral veins.
• Wang Yuan ordered Liu Canglan to keep watching Xiao Jin’s movements and report any developments.

Xiao Jin assessed Chen Xuanli’s death, chose to focus on Chiyan Valley, and ordered Wei Ping to present himself with the Bitao Sect’s leaders to confirm the sect’s surrender. In Qinghe Prefecture City, Wang Yuan finished stabilizing his Organ Refining cultivation and began working toward the twin Force Power cores needed to break through the fifth level of Nine Heavens Mountain.

• Xiao Jin concluded that Situ Lie had likely risked his life to kill Chen Xuanli and decided the wounded Kaoshan Sect could wait while he targeted Chiyan Valley.
• A messenger reported that Wei Ping had offered to submit the Bitao Sect and provide its waterways, warships, and grain depots to the Imperial Court.
• Xiao Jin accepted the offer conditionally and ordered Wei Ping and the Bitao Sect’s decision-makers to come in person.
• Xiao Jin burned the report on Chen Xuanli’s death and declared that Cloud Province would soon be under his control.
• Wang Yuan completed seven days of seclusion, stabilized his Early-stage Organ Refining realm, and focused on forming twin Force Power cores to advance Nine Heavens Mountain.

Wang Yuan broke through to the sixth layer of Nine Heavens Mountain, then learned that Wei Ping and the Bitao Sect had surrendered to Xiao Jin. He began organizing intelligence and seeking an alliance against Xiao Jin’s advancing forces.

• Wang Yuan used his strengthened body and qi and blood to form twin Force Power cores, overcoming the dangerous bottleneck and reaching the sixth layer of Nine Heavens Mountain.
• Wang Yuan tested his newly controlled six-layer Force Power and concluded that a full-strength punch could break through a Peak Organ Tempering martial artist’s defenses.
• Liu Canglan delivered an urgent report that Wei Ping had surrendered the Bitao Sect to Xiao Jin and turned over its naval resources.
• Wang Yuan assessed that Xiao Jin would target Chiyan Valley next, then move against the Kaoshan Sect.
• Wang Yuan ordered Liu Canglan to monitor the Bitao Sect and Xiao Jin’s army, and to approach Chiyan Valley and Tingyu Tower about an alliance.

With Xiao Jin’s army closing in on Chiyan Valley, Daoist Fencang sought allies and ordered scouts to investigate the Kaoshan Sect and find Tingyu Tower’s master. The scouts set out as Tingyu Tower’s master tracked Xiao Jin’s advance on her map.

• Daoist Fencang learned that Xiao Jin was leading thirty thousand cavalry toward Chiyan Valley while Wei Ping’s aquatic troops blocked the western retreat.
• Daoist Fencang rejected surrender and heard that the Kaoshan Sect’s Dao Child had reached the Viscera Refining Realm and killed Tie Hengshan.
• Daoist Fencang sent scouts north to investigate the Dao Child and east to ask Tingyu Tower’s master for an alliance.
• Daoist Fencang examined his unfinished armor and resolved to settle an alliance pact within seven days.
• Tingyu Tower’s master marked Xiao Jin’s forces near Chiyan Valley on her map.

Su Qinghan sent Luo Qingyi to Qinghe Prefecture City to assess Wang Yuan and deliver Tingyu Tower’s intelligence on Xiao Jin, while weighing an alliance with Kaoshan Sect. Three days later, Luo Qingyi and a crimson-robed youth arrived at the city gate at nearly the same time.

• Luo Qingyi reported that Chiyan Valley was being surrounded and that Daoist Fencang had asked Tingyu Tower to ally with him against the Imperial Court.
• Su Qinghan judged Fencang’s appeal desperate but useful, then ordered Luo Qingyi to visit Kaoshan Sect and observe Wang Yuan before deciding whether to ally with him.
• Su Qinghan gave Luo Qingyi a bronze tube containing intelligence about Xiao Jin’s tactics, troops, demonic blade, and generals.
• Su Qinghan reflected that Wang Yuan was the only variable she could not see through as Xiao Jin’s forces pressed toward Cloud Province’s sects.
• Three days later, Luo Qingyi and a crimson-robed youth named True Disciple Yan reached Qinghe Prefecture City’s south gate from opposite roads.
• A Kaoshan Sect disciple stopped them and asked whether they were visiting someone or passing through.

Luo Qingyi of Tingyu Tower and Yan Wushuang of Chiyan Valley arrived in Qinghe Prefecture City to meet Kaoshan Sect's Mysterious Abyss Dao Child. They saw how peaceful the city had become and finally met Wang Yuan, whose presence immediately impressed them.

• Luo Qingyi and Yan Wushuang presented their tokens at the city gate and requested an audience with the Mysterious Abyss Dao Child.
• While they waited, a Kaoshan Sect disciple explained that the city had stabilized after the Dao Child settled several disturbances, lowering grain prices and restoring normal tribute payments.
• Liu Canglan escorted Luo Qingyi and Yan Wushuang through the calm, orderly city toward the Kaoshan Sect stronghold.
• Luo Qingyi noted that the city showed no signs of the war or the thousands of civilians it had taken in, while Yan Wushuang reflected on Chiyan Valley's constant preparations.
• Wang Yuan welcomed Luo Qingyi and Yan Wushuang at the stronghold after his formidable presence made Yan Wushuang's True Essence contract.

Luo Qingyi and Yan Wushuang met with Wang Yuan to discuss joining forces against Xiao Jin, while confronting how far he had advanced since their last meeting. They delivered intelligence and an alliance offer, which Wang Yuan welcomed, leaving the negotiations to follow.

• Luo Qingyi and Yan Wushuang sensed Wang Yuan's stable Organ Tempering cultivation and congratulated him on breaking through half a month earlier.
• Wang Yuan recalled their skills at the Yunzhou Martial Gathering and reassured them that their progress toward Organ Tempering was not slow.
• Luo Qingyi delivered Tingyu Tower's intelligence on Xiao Jin's forces and raised the prospect of an alliance with Kaoshan Sect.
• Yan Wushuang presented a sealed letter from the Chiyan Valley Master, offering an alliance against Xiao Jin on negotiable terms.
• Wang Yuan accepted their willingness to set aside the past and seek an alliance.