Chapter Summaries

Lin Changqing arrived at Fengle County to investigate the mass killings in Tianhe Town and learned that demons were suspected. After reviewing the case files, he set out with constable Wei Tingfeng to reach Tianhe Town and hunt down the culprit.

• Lin Changqing showed his Demon Suppression Division token at the county yamen and asked County Magistrate Zhou Chenkang for the Tianhe Town case files.
• Zhou Chenkang provided the files and summoned Wei Tingfeng, the constable in charge of the case, to accompany Lin Changqing.
• Lin Changqing found that more than a thousand people had died and several neighboring villages had been wiped out, leading him to suspect demons.
• Lin Changqing learned that Wei Tingfeng was a Wei Family Branch Disciple but set aside the family grudge and prepared to leave for Tianhe Town.
• Wei Tingfeng explained that yamen investigators remained in Tianhe Town but had failed to catch the fast-moving culprit, while Lin Changqing resolved to kill it rather than escort it back alive.

Lin Changqing, Wei Tingfeng, and Hu San'er investigated a report from Small Fishing Village and found signs of a massacre and demonic activity. At the village ancestral hall, Lin Changqing exposed the kneeling villagers as corpses that dissolved into blood and accused Hu San'er of knowing why.

• Lin Changqing and Wei Tingfeng arrived at Tianhe Town, where Hu San'er told them the other constables had gone to Small Fishing Village.
• Hu San'er led Lin Changqing and Wei Tingfeng to the village, where Lin Changqing sensed no living people besides their group and the three encountered an unnatural chill.
• The group followed bloodstains and human remains toward the ancestral hall, and Lin Changqing identified evidence of a Demon Beast and Demonized Warriors.
• At the ancestral hall, Lin Changqing kicked a kneeling villager, whose body collapsed into pus and blood, triggering the same fate for the other kneeling villagers.
• Lin Changqing told Wei Tingfeng that Hu San'er would have to explain what had happened.

Lin Changqing exposed Hu San'er as a Demonized Warrior and defeated him, then confronted Li Kuishan, the White Lotus Sect’s Fengle County branch master. Li Kuishan tried to recruit Lin Changqing before threatening to kill him, and Lin Changqing attacked one of his subordinates.

• Lin Changqing explained how Hu San'er’s lack of reaction to the Yin Cold Evil Qi exposed him, and Hu San'er revealed his demonic form and the slain constables’ heads.
• Hu San'er attacked Lin Changqing, who severed his claw and blew apart his arm with a punch.
• Hu San'er summoned four Demonized Warriors from the ancestral hall, led by Li Kuishan, the White Lotus Sect branch master in Fengle County.
• Li Kuishan offered to recruit Lin Changqing and admitted the sect would kill him if he refused.
• After an Iron Tower Man demanded that Lin Changqing kneel, Lin Changqing drew the Jingzhe Saber and slashed at him with Blade Qi.

Lin Changqing slaughtered the White Lotus Sect warriors who attacked him and forced Hu San'er to reveal that the sect was collecting blood for a Myriad Blood Pill. Hu San'er could not identify the protector behind the plan, and Lin Changqing turned on him.

• Lin Changqing killed one Demonized Warrior with a swift slash, then used his Qi and Blood Domain to immobilize Li Kuishan and cut him in two.
• Li Kuishan's exploding body killed two more Demonized Warriors, leaving Wei Tingfeng and Hu San'er terrified.
• Hu San'er begged for his life, and Lin Changqing demanded to know why the sect had massacred villagers.
• Hu San'er revealed that a White Lotus Sect protector needed blood from ten thousand people to refine the Myriad Blood Pill, using the blood of a hundred ordinary people in place of one Ranked Martial Artist's blood.
• Hu San'er said he did not know the protector's whereabouts and suggested the Branch Master might know, so Lin Changqing questioned the value of keeping him alive and struck at him.

After avenging Small Fishing Village, Lin Changqing pretended to leave so he could uncover Fengle County Magistrate Zhou Chenkang’s connection to the White Lotus Sect. Zhou attacked him in the study, beginning their confrontation.

• Lin Changqing killed Hu San'er, then burned Small Fishing Village and rode away from Wei Tingfeng.
• Wei Tingfeng reported to Zhou Chenkang that Li Kuishan, Hu San'er, and the others were dead, and Zhou ordered him to continue gathering Essence Blood for the Dharma Protector.
• Zhou Chenkang discussed the White Lotus Sect’s plans and the possibility of slaughtering people in Fengle County to help the Dharma Protector break through.
• Lin Changqing burst into Zhou Chenkang’s study, revealing that he had faked his departure and heard their conversation.
• Zhou Chenkang killed the dying Wei Tingfeng, then lunged at Lin Changqing with a punch.

Lin Changqing killed Zhou Chenkang and discovered a hidden chamber filled with wealth and thirty-three spiritual medicines. He realized the medicines were likely being stored for the White Lotus Sect, but took them anyway, knowing the sect would probably target him.

• Lin Changqing overwhelmed Zhou Chenkang with a Qi and Blood tiger, then killed him with the Jingzhe Saber.
• Lin Changqing searched Zhou Chenkang's residence and found a hidden chamber containing large amounts of gold, silver, and notes.
• Lin Changqing opened thirty-three boxes and found a spiritual medicine in every one, including three Yellow Grade High Rank medicines.
• Lin Changqing suspected the spiritual medicines were meant for a White Lotus Sect Protector's Myriad Blood pill refinement.
• Lin Changqing packed away the spiritual medicines and banknotes, leaving the remaining valuables for others to secure.

Lin Changqing and Chen San discussed Zhou Chenkang’s ties to the White Lotus Sect and divided the confiscated wealth. After Lin Changqing left for Green Mountain Village, Chen San ordered his people to support the village, convinced Lin Changqing’s rise had only begun.

• Lin Changqing told Chen San that Zhou Chenkang had been a Demonized Warrior and White Lotus Sect member, and they agreed the Wei Family needed a thorough investigation.
• Chen San’s guard Xu Zhan returned with three hundred thousand taels of gold from the confiscation, and Lin Changqing divided it among himself, Chen San, and the workers.
• Lin Changqing left the Divine Weapon Pavilion to return to Green Mountain Village.
• Chen San told Xu Zhan to respect everyone from Green Mountain Village and give the village and Lin Changqing’s family generous assistance.
• Chen San reflected on Lin Changqing’s rapid rise and felt glad he had given him the Chen Family’s assessment quota.

Lin Changqing returned to Green Mountain Village and learned that the village had grown into a fortified settlement amid the Eternal Army’s spreading chaos. He discovered that Green Mountain Village’s strength had risen sharply, with Lin Hu reporting twenty Ranked Martial Artists as the discussion continued.

• Lin Changqing rode back to Green Mountain Village and was welcomed by the villagers, Lin Yuntang, and his father Lin Yongfan.
• Lin Changqing went home with the village’s core figures and remarked on the village’s expansion and bluestone walls.
• Lin Yuntang and Lin Yongteng explained that bandits had attacked nearby villages and Green Mountain Village, prompting the village to build defenses.
• Lin Hu revealed that the supposed bandits were the Eternal Army, which was ravaging the region while the Northern Garrison Army suffered defeats.
• Lin Hu told Lin Changqing that Green Mountain Village now had twenty Ranked Martial Artists, with others away hunting in the Back Mountain.

Lin Changqing asked about the Hundred Thousand Mountains while searching for Ice Crystal, and learned that his father had once ventured deep into them. Lin Yongfan and Lin Yongshan identified a mysterious, perpetually frigid pool called Cold Spring near the mountains’ boundary, leaving Lin Changqing hopeful that it held the Ice Crystal he sought.

• At a feast, Lin Changqing learned that Green Mountain Village had grown stronger and wealthier through martial training and weapon forging.
• Lin Changqing asked Lin Yuntang and the others whether anyone knew the Hundred Thousand Mountains, hoping to find clues to Ice Crystal.
• Lin Yongfan revealed that he was the only member of a hunting party to return after they became lost deep in the mountains while fleeing a ferocious beast.
• Lin Changqing asked about places of extreme cold, and Lin Yongfan described a strange pool whose water stayed freezing but never froze over.
• Lin Yongshan identified the pool as Cold Spring and said the area around it was extremely cold, giving Lin Changqing hope that Ice Crystal lay beneath it.

Lin Changqing traveled with Lin Yongshan and Lin Hu to the remote Cold Spring in the mountains, where his Spiritual Perception detected many Ice Crystals. He entered the fog-shrouded hollow ahead of the others, eager to see what he would find.

• Lin Changqing set out with Lin Yongshan and Lin Hu after Lin Yongfan asked his brother to guide them.
• The three crossed Great Green Mountain without hunting, wary of drawing dangerous beasts with the smell of blood.
• Lin Yongshan pointed out the fog-covered hollow where the Cold Spring lay and warned Lin Changqing about its dangers.
• Lin Changqing sensed that the trip would bring great gains and said his Spiritual Perception could see through the fog.
• Lin Changqing headed into the hollow and sensed that many Ice Crystals lay within the Cold Spring.

Lin Changqing led Lin Yongshan and Lin Hu through the Mountain Hollow to investigate Cold Spring, where he discovered that its water devoured his Spiritual Power and could shatter stone. Determined to uncover what lay beneath, Lin Changqing jumped into the spring while Lin Yongshan held Lin Hu back and told him to wait.

• Lin Changqing guided Lin Yongshan and Lin Hu through the dense fog to Cold Spring.
• Lin Yongshan noticed that the spring’s surroundings were colder than during his previous visit two years earlier.
• Lin Changqing found that his Spiritual Power vanished when he tried to probe the spring.
• Lin Hu kicked a stone into Cold Spring, and it shattered beneath the surface without making a splash.
• Lin Changqing jumped into the spring to investigate, while Lin Yongshan stopped Lin Hu from following and told him to wait farther away.

Lin Changqing dived into the Cold Spring and collected hundreds of Ice Crystals before discovering a massive piece of Purple Green Profound Iron. When he grabbed it, a colossal python attacked, and he fled toward the surface with the treasure as it pursued him.

• Lin Changqing used his Qi and Blood Furnace and sturdy body to descend through the Cold Spring’s crushing pressure and cold.
• Lin Changqing found hundreds of Ice Crystals on the bottom and gathered them into his backpack.
• Lin Changqing spotted a huge piece of Purple Green Profound Iron and rushed to claim it despite his growing unease.
• A colossal python revealed itself and struck Lin Changqing with a powerful blast, sending him flying.
• Lin Changqing seized the Purple Green Profound Iron, put it in his backpack, and raced toward the surface as the python chased him.

Lin Changqing escaped the Cold Spring with Lin Yongshan and Lin Hu after a Black Scaled Violet Light Python attacked. They reached Great Green Mountain safely, where Lin Changqing warned that the village must avoid the spring.

• The Cold Spring erupted, and Lin Changqing burst out injured, warning Lin Yongshan and Lin Hu to run.
• A huge Black Scaled Violet Light Python emerged from the spring and pursued Lin Changqing.
• Lin Changqing used his Spiritual Power to carry Lin Yongshan and Lin Hu into the air, narrowly escaping the serpent's jaws.
• Lin Changqing brought them to Great Green Mountain, where he explained that the serpent was a growing Black Scaled Violet Light Python.
• Lin Changqing warned Lin Yongshan to tell the villagers to stay away from the Cold Spring.

After three days in Green Mountain Village, Lin Changqing rode toward Fengle County Town to meet Chen San and saw the growing refugee crisis along the road. At the city gate, he discovered martial artists inciting refugees to storm the town and dragged their leader from the crowd with an Energy Blast.

• Lin Changqing finished opening the apertures in his Twelve Meridians, left resources and plans for Green Mountain Village, and set out after bidding farewell to Lin Yongfan, Lin Hu, and the others.
• Lin Changqing rode toward Fengle County Town to answer Chen San's request for help and saw large numbers of starving refugees on the road.
• Lin Changqing noticed the refugees crowding the city gate and suspected that Jiuyuan County had suffered a military disaster, while recalling Green Mountain Village's grain and weapons preparations.
• The guards let Lin Changqing enter the city, prompting angry refugees to demand entry and allowing agitators to urge the crowd to charge the gate.
• Lin Changqing spotted martial artists inciting the refugees, leaped down from his horse, and used an Energy Blast to pull their Ninth Rank of Flesh leader out of the crowd.

Lin Changqing stopped refugees from storming Fengle County by killing the agitators and using Spiritual Power to calm the crowd, then demanded that the county arrange food for them. Chen San offered the Chen Family’s grain and asked Lin Changqing to escort someone to North Sea Commandery City, promising a Yellow Grade High Rank Spiritual Medicine as payment.

• Lin Changqing killed a man inciting the refugees and used flying stone shards to kill other agitators at the city gate.
• Lin Changqing calmed the refugees with Spiritual Power, ordered the soldiers to guard the gate, and promised porridge distribution.
• Lin Changqing went to the county yamen and ordered Mo Qiyuan to open the granaries and establish Porridge Sheds for the refugees.
• Mo Qiyuan said the yamen had too little grain, so Chen San offered grain from the Chen Family and promised to gather supplies from wealthy households.
• Chen San asked Lin Changqing to escort someone to North Sea Commandery City that day and offered a Yellow Grade High Rank Spiritual Medicine as a reward.

Lin Changqing learned that Chen San wanted him to escort Zhao Yufei, a Saintess of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Palace, whose guards had been killed in an ambush. He balked at facing powerful pursuers and demanded ten or eight Yellow Grade High Rank Spiritual Medicines; just as Chen San resisted, Zhao Yufei entered and offered three.

• Lin Changqing questioned Chen San about the escort job despite the offer of a Yellow Grade High Rank Spiritual Medicine.
• Chen San sent Mo Qiyuan and Xu Zhan away before revealing that his niece Zhao Yufei was a Saintess of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Palace and had survived an ambush that killed her guards.
• Lin Changqing learned that Zhao Yufei could not fight without ruining her cultivation and that her pursuers might include Purple Mansion Great Realm experts.
• Lin Changqing called the mission too dangerous and demanded ten or eight Yellow Grade High Rank Spiritual Medicines, claiming it was a friendship price.
• Zhao Yufei entered the hall and offered Lin Changqing three spiritual medicines.

Lin Changqing negotiated with Zhao Yufei to escort her to North Sea Commandery City for eight Yellow Grade High Rank Spiritual Medicines. After arranging porridge distribution for the refugees, he waited at the city gate as a carriage approached.

• Lin Changqing recognized that Zhao Yufei's cultivation technique passively influenced the feelings of people around her.
• Zhao Yufei offered three Yellow Grade High Rank Spiritual Medicines, but Lin Changqing rejected her offer and started to leave.
• Zhao Yufei agreed to pay Lin Changqing eight Yellow Grade High Rank Spiritual Medicines, and they arranged to depart in one hour.
• Lin Changqing assured Chen San that he would protect Zhao Yufei on the journey to North Sea Commandery City.
• Lin Changqing went to the city gate and urged Mo Qiyuan to distribute porridge to the refugees, then waited as a carriage approached.

Lin Changqing escorted Zhao Yufei toward North Sea Commandery City while secretly accelerating his cultivation with Spiritual Medicine. Their enemies planned an ambush at Qiaoshi Town, unaware that they underestimated Lin Changqing.

• Zhao Yufei tested Lin Changqing about his backpack, but he rebuffed her and warned that leaving openly could attract her enemies.
• Lin Changqing and Zhao Yufei left Fengle County Town as the yamen distributed porridge to refugees outside the city.
• Three enemies watched Zhao Yufei depart and planned to intercept her group at Qiaoshi Town with Hamster and others.
• Lin Changqing cultivated while riding, judged that he could open all three thousand apertures within ten days, and decided to use Spiritual Medicine to speed up.
• Lin Changqing took a Yellow Grade Low Rank Spiritual Medicine from his backpack and swallowed it to refine its medicinal effects as he traveled.

Lin Changqing used a stalk of Spiritual Medicine to rapidly open more than a hundred apertures and believed he could soon reach the Qi Gathering Realm. After three quiet days on the road with Zhao Yufei and Lu Zhan, he proposed stopping in Qiaoshi Town to draw out their pursuers, revealing that his three thousand apertures were nearly complete.

• Lin Changqing refined a stalk of Spiritual Medicine, opening more than a hundred apertures and speeding his progress toward Three Thousand Apertures.
• Lin Changqing reflected that his strengthened body, connected meridians, and Spiritual Power could let him advance rapidly through the Qi Gathering Realm.
• After three uneventful days of travel, Lin Changqing identified the approaching town as Qiaoshi Town and warned Zhao Yufei that her enemies might be watching them.
• Lin Changqing proposed stopping in Qiaoshi Town to lure their pursuers into attacking on his terms, and Lu Zhan and Zhao Yufei considered his plan.
• Zhao Yufei asked Lin Changqing what his plan was, and he replied that he would respond as events came while three thousand points of light shone within his meridians.

Lin Changqing, Zhao Yufei, and Lu Zhan arrived in Qiaoshi Town and checked into the Penglai Inn, where Lin Changqing planned to buy the inn’s wine. After Lin Changqing drove off men who leered at Zhao Yufei, the party followed the waiter to their rooms.

• Lin Changqing led Zhao Yufei and Lu Zhan into Qiaoshi Town and chose the Penglai Inn for its wine.
• Lin Changqing paid the waiter to care for their horse and carriage, arrange three superior rooms, and pack ten or eight jars of wine.
• Lin Changqing told Zhao Yufei he would stand his ground against opponents in the Qi Sea Realm but would flee if a Purple Mansion Great Realm expert appeared.
• Several men in the inn’s main hall leered at Zhao Yufei, so Lin Changqing’s cold snort made them bleed and flee in terror.
• Lin Changqing asked the waiter to show them to their rooms, and the waiter led the party away with renewed respect.