Chapter Summaries

Gu Shaoshang met the greatest detective under heaven, Zhang Jinjiu, at Xiuyu Tower and asked him about Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom. Zhang Jinjiu revealed that only two cardamoms might remain and suggested Zhuge Zhengwo’s healing skill as another way to treat Gu Shaoshang’s injured friend or relative.

• Gu Shaoshang carried Zhang Yi to Xiuyu Tower, where the crowd recognized the Zhanhua Scholar at a window.
• Zhang Jinjiu arrived at the tower, recognized Gu Shaoshang, and followed him inside.
• Gu Shaoshang asked Zhang Jinjiu about Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, and Zhang explained how it worked and that only two might remain.
• Zhang Jinjiu suggested that Zhuge Zhengwo could heal severe injuries with his Half-Pattern Brocade Divine Skill.
• Gu Shaoshang reacted sharply to Zhuge Zhengwo’s name.

After learning more about the martial world from Zhang Jinjiu, Gu Shaoshang went to Dragon Guard Manor to claim Zhu Wushi’s intelligence and manuals and seek Gu Santong. There, the Western Depot surrounded Zhu Wushi’s remaining allies, and Gu Shaoshang arrived as Yagyu Danma no Kami prepared to fight Mi Youqiao.

• Zhang Jinjiu told Gu Shaoshang about the martial world and said Divine Marquis Zhuge had gone to Black Wood Cliff, then left after sharing what he knew.
• Gu Shaoshang rested at an inn, considered why Emperor Zhu Houzhao would not seek revenge for Zhu Wushi, and slipped out to collect Zhu Wushi’s spoils and find Gu Santong.
• At Dragon Guard Manor, Tianya, Guihai Yidao, and Shangguan Haitang faced the Eastern and Western Depots, while Yagyu Danma no Kami and Yagyu Hyosui stood with Zhu Wushi’s 108 hidden young experts.
• Mi Youqiao identified himself as Director of the Western Depot and challenged Yagyu Danma no Kami, who readied his God of Slaughter’s Saber Strike.
• Gu Shaoshang appeared in the moonlight, and his arrival dispersed the killing intent filling the square.

Gu Shaoshang arrived at Dragon Guard Manor and ordered everyone to leave its secrets untouched. After killing Yagyu Danma no Kami and Yagyu Hyosui with one punch, he turned his attention to Mi Youqiao.

• Gu Shaoshang walked openly into the standoff at Dragon Guard Manor and said no one could touch anything there.
• Mi Youqiao challenged Gu Shaoshang’s claim, but his fist intent pressured Mi Youqiao into silence.
• Yagyu Danma no Kami offered to reveal Zhu Wushi’s secrets if Gu Shaoshang rescued him and his daughter, while Tianya warned Gu Shaoshang not to agree.
• Gu Shaoshang rejected Yagyu Danma no Kami’s offer and attacked him and Yagyu Hyosui.
• Gu Shaoshang shattered both Japanese blades and killed Yagyu Danma no Kami and Yagyu Hyosui with a single punch.
• Gu Shaoshang turned toward Mi Youqiao, identified him as Heaven-Facing Cudgel, Mi Cangqiong, and launched himself into the air.

Gu Shaoshang defeated Mi Youqiao in a clash of fists and cudgel, then spared him after forcing him to submit. As Gu Shaoshang headed into Dragon Guard Manor, Guihai Yidao challenged him over Shangguan Haitang, and Gu Shaoshang asked whether he truly wanted to die.

• After killing Yagyu Danma no Kami, Gu Shaoshang attacked Mi Youqiao with Buzhou Break while Mi Youqiao countered with the Heaven-Facing Cudgel.
• Gu Shaoshang's punch shattered Mi Youqiao's staff and overwhelmed his defenses, leaving him helpless in a crater.
• Gu Shaoshang stopped his fist just short of Mi Youqiao's head, explaining that he only meant to make him submit, then pulled him from the crater.
• Gu Shaoshang walked toward Dragon Guard Manor as Shangguan Haitang watched and Guihai Yidao questioned what he would do about her.
• When Guihai Yidao gripped his blade and called for him to wait, Gu Shaoshang turned and asked whether he truly wanted to die.

Gu Shaoshang searched Dragon Guard Manor’s central hall and uncovered Zhu Wushi’s hidden intelligence chamber and a vast treasure room. As he opened a wooden box, the tongueless servant revealed himself as a top expert and attacked him with poisoned needles and true qi.

• Shangguan Haitang persuaded Guihai Yidao to release Gu Shaoshang, then Gu entered Dragon Guard Manor’s main hall.
• Guihai Yidao led the attack on the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends formation, and the gathered fighters clashed inside Dragon Guard Manor.
• Gu Shaoshang used his Sea of Consciousness Power to locate a concealed passage behind the throne and smashed through its massive iron gate.
• Gu Shaoshang found a tongueless old servant and searched the secret chamber’s extensive collection of intelligence dossiers.
• The servant showed Gu Shaoshang a second hidden room containing gold and silver, where Gu opened a wooden box.
• Poisoned needles shot from the box as the tongueless servant lunged at Gu Shaoshang with powerful true qi.

Gu Shaoshang defeated and killed Ren Woxing, who had infiltrated Dragon Guard Manor disguised as a mute servant. He searched Zhu Wushi’s records, learned that Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom grew in the distant Western Regions, and left as the battle at the manor ended.

• Ren Woxing ambushed Gu Shaoshang with silver needles and the Great Absorption Technique, but Gu Shaoshang resisted and struck him with a devastating elbow.
• Ren Woxing revealed that he had survived and infiltrated Dragon Guard Manor, then claimed his daughter Yingying had died at Gu Shaoshang’s hands.
• Gu Shaoshang questioned Ren Woxing about his schemes, then crushed his skull when he refused to answer.
• Gu Shaoshang found ordinary martial arts manuals, including Cao Zhengchun’s Heavenly Dipper Pure Yang Skill, and searched Zhu Wushi’s intelligence records.
• Gu Shaoshang learned that Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom had originated in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom in the far Western Regions and took the dossier and manuals with him.
• The Eastern and Western Depots and Imperial Guards wiped out Zhu Wushi’s young martial artists as the fighting at Dragon Guard Manor ended.

After discovering that the human-skin scroll had left a malicious seed in his blood qi, Gu Shaoshang severed it and learned of the Five-Star powerhouse Dao Chasing Old Man. He stayed focused on training Zhang Yi as the Great Ming world neared its end, while riders approached the city gates.

• Gu Shaoshang returned to the inn after leaving Dragon Guard Manor's border army deployment maps untouched.
• Gu Shaoshang noticed his emotions had grown unusually indifferent and found a ferocious ghost face hidden in his blood qi.
• Gu Shaoshang used Sea of Consciousness Power to cut away the ghost face, resisting its surge of negative emotions and gaining memories of the Blood Prison Demon God Great Law and Dao Chasing Old Man.
• Dao Chasing Old Man sensed that the consciousness in his Blood Body had been erased and vowed to avenge himself on Chen Ang once he reached Saint Manifestation.
• Gu Shaoshang spent the following week calming his blood qi and guiding Zhang Yi's martial arts progress.
• As the city gates opened at dawn, riders charged toward them through the dust.

Cui Lüeshang reported the fall of Dragon Guard Manor and the defeat at Black Wood Cliff, while Emperor Zhu Houzhao offered a princely title to whoever killed Dongfang Bubai. Zhuge Zhengwo visited Gu Shaoshang and showed him the reordered Weaponry Ranking, leaving Gu to ask what business had brought him there.

• Cui Lüeshang rode through the city gates to report urgent news to the emperor.
• News spread that Gu Shaoshang had killed the rebellious Iron Gallbladder Divine Marquis and that Divine Marquis Manor and Six Doors had been defeated at Black Wood Cliff; the emperor announced a reward for Dongfang Bubai's death.
• Gu Shaoshang trained Zhang Yi in Xingyi Quan at his courtyard and corrected her movements.
• Zhuge Zhengwo, Cui Lüeshang, and Leng Lingqi visited Gu Shaoshang, and Zhuge gave Zhang Yi a Jade Pendant.
• Zhuge Zhengwo presented Gu Shaoshang with Bai Xiaosheng's reordered Weaponry Ranking, which listed Dongfang Bubai first and Gu Shaoshang second.
• Gu Shaoshang asked Zhuge Zhengwo why he had personally come to deliver the ranking.

Gu Shaoshang agreed to confront Dongfang Bubai in exchange for access to the Great Ming’s martial arts collections and help finding Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms. As Zhuge Zhengwo warned him that Dongfang Bubai might break through within a year, Gu Shaoshang asked what realm lay beyond Innate.

• Cui Lüeshang asked Gu Shaoshang to face Dongfang Bubai on behalf of the imperial court, and Zhuge Zhengwo admitted that he had come for the same reason.
• Gu Shaoshang agreed to fight Dongfang Bubai if the court let him study its collected divine arts, secret techniques, Daoist scriptures, and Buddhist sutras.
• Gu Shaoshang also asked the court to help search the western desert for three Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms, and Zhuge Zhengwo accepted both conditions.
• Gu Shaoshang reserved a third condition until after his battle with Dongfang Bubai.
• Zhuge Zhengwo warned that Dongfang Bubai could break through within a year and gave Gu Shaoshang no more than a thirty percent chance of winning.
• Gu Shaoshang asked Zhuge Zhengwo what realm came after Innate.

Gu Shaoshang discussed martial cultivation with Zhuge Zhengwo, who gave him the Half-Section Brocade manual before leaving. Gu Shaoshang continued training Zhang Yi and refining his blood and qi, then received another enormous meal as his cultivation drove him to eat four cattle a day.

• Zhuge Zhengwo explained how a martial artist beyond the Innate realm could connect with heaven and earth, and Gu Shaoshang asked to see his Half-Section Brocade manual.
• Zhuge Zhengwo gave Gu Shaoshang the manual despite objections from Cui Lüeshang and Leng Lingqi, explaining afterward that blindness had clarified his heart and he no longer needed the technique.
• Gu Shaoshang ended Zhang Yi's training and used a light pat to force impurities and damaged tissue from her body.
• Gu Shaoshang absorbed supreme yang energy in the sunlight, refining his blood and qi while his body consumed energy at an extraordinary rate.
• Fatty Zhang delivered two specially prepared yaks to Gu Shaoshang, who accepted the food after intimidating the delivery men with his aura.

After three months of intensive cultivation, Gu Shaoshang completed the initial tempering of his Blood Qi and developed a small amount of Saint Body Blood Qi. Zhuge Zhengwo then accompanied him into the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Prison to meet Gu Santong.

• Gu Shaoshang ate an enormous meal and spent the next three months tempering his Blood Qi while guiding Zhang Yi in her cultivation.
• Gu Shaoshang completed his initial Blood Qi tempering and saw pale gold specks appear in his scarlet Blood Qi.
• Zhuge Zhengwo visited Gu Shaoshang and warned him that Gu Santong's martial arts were formidable.
• Gu Shaoshang and Zhuge Zhengwo passed through the Heavenly Prison's checkpoints and reached the Ninth Level.
• Gu Shaoshang entered the Ninth Level first while Zhuge Zhengwo followed, eager to witness the coming battle.

Gu Shaoshang confronted Gu Santong in the Heavenly Prison, revealing that Zhu Wushi was dead and that Gu Santong had a wife and son. Gu Santong learned his son was in danger and erupted into battle, transforming with his Golden Vajra Divine Skill.

• Gu Shaoshang entered Gu Santong’s cell with Zhuge Zhengwo and told him that Zhu Wushi had been killed by Young Hero Gu.
• Gu Santong broke his chains in disbelief, then calmed down and mourned the twenty years he had spent imprisoned.
• Gu Shaoshang provoked Gu Santong by revealing that Suxin had borne him a son who had grown up on the streets and was about to be sold into the palace as a eunuch.
• Gu Santong demanded to know where Suxin and his son were, shattered his remaining chains, and attacked as golden light transformed his body into a towering figure.

Gu Shaoshang defeated Gu Santong in the dungeon and offered to trade information about his family for the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill and the Great Absorption Technique. Gu Santong agreed to do anything in exchange for learning where to find the remaining Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms that could save Suxin.

• Gu Shaoshang met Gu Santong's palm force with a punch, injuring him and proving he could have killed Zhu Wushi.
• Gu Santong charged again, but Gu Shaoshang used Buzhou Break to knock him senseless and drive him into the ground.
• Gu Shaoshang told Gu Santong that Suxin was sleeping in an ice cave on Mount Tian after taking a Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, and that their son Cheng Shifei was in the capital.
• Gu Shaoshang offered to reveal where the remaining two Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms were if Gu Santong did something for him.
• Gu Santong eagerly agreed to Gu Shaoshang's demand.

Gu Shaoshang left the Heavenly Prison after asking Gu Santong to retrieve three Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms, then entered the Imperial Library to seek Buddhist and Daoist texts and peerless martial arts manuals. The chapter ended with Mi Youqiao unable to name any peerless manuals, prompting Gu Shaoshang to question whether the court truly had none.

• Gu Shaoshang told Gu Santong to find the ruins of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom and retrieve three Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms after reuniting with his family.
• Gu Santong left the Heavenly Prison to search for his wife and son, while Zhuge Zhengwo lamented that his years in prison had hindered his martial progress.
• Gu Shaoshang and Zhuge Zhengwo went to the imperial palace, where Zhuge Zhengwo directed Gu Shaoshang to the Imperial Library.
• Mi Youqiao greeted Gu Shaoshang and explained that the library held vast collections of scriptures and martial arts manuals across three floors.
• Gu Shaoshang asked whether the library contained peerless manuals, and Mi Youqiao could not name any.

Gu Shaoshang pressed the Great Ming court for Peerless Divine Skills while reading and memorizing scriptures in the imperial Scripture Depository. Zhu Houzhao agreed to send him a supposedly impossible-to-cultivate Demonic Art and promised the imperial family’s three Peerless Divine Skills if Gu Shaoshang killed Dongfang Bubai; Gu Shaoshang then left the palace with Zhuge Zhengwo.

• Gu Shaoshang confronted Mi Youqiao about the lack of Peerless Divine Skills in the Scripture Depository, then began reading and memorizing Buddhist and Daoist texts.
• Mi Youqiao reported Gu Shaoshang’s demand to Zhu Houzhao in the Imperial Study, where he avoided advising the Emperor whether to comply.
• Princess Yunluo reminded Zhu Houzhao about a Demonic Art from the imperial family’s secret treasury that nobody had managed to cultivate.
• Zhu Houzhao ordered Mi Youqiao to give Gu Shaoshang the Demonic Art and promised all three imperial Peerless Divine Skills if Gu Shaoshang killed Dongfang Bubai.
• After memorizing over a thousand volumes, Gu Shaoshang left the imperial palace with Zhuge Zhengwo as the sky darkened.

Gu Shaoshang discovered how to use his Sea of Consciousness Power after studying a forbidden spiritual technique in the imperial palace. He demonstrated its potential by flying above the Forbidden City, realizing he had reached a power associated with the Spirit Condensation realm.

• After meditating through the night, Gu Shaoshang assigned Zhang Yi her cultivation tasks and went to the imperial palace with Zhuge Zhengwo.
• Mi Youqiao gave Gu Shaoshang the Heavenly Annihilation Great Soul Searching Hand, a demonic mind-cultivation technique from the imperial collection.
• Gu Shaoshang studied the technique and used its principles to control his Sea of Consciousness Power, reading more than a hundred books at once.
• Yun Luo entered the Scripture Depository and watched Gu Shaoshang make the books fly and turn their pages before he returned them to the shelves.
• Gu Shaoshang used his Sea of Consciousness Power to rise above the Forbidden City and fly through the sky while Yun Luo watched in astonishment.

Gu Shaoshang spent half a year refining his strength and preparing for a decisive battle with Dongfang Bubai, as the Martial World gathered in the Capital City. Chongxu told Fang Zheng of Gu Shaoshang’s overwhelming power, while Gu Shaoshang continued to deduce the martial arts he had studied, leaving the showdown imminent.

• Yun Luo excitedly decided she wanted Gu Shaoshang as her master after seeing him fly.
• Gu Shaoshang tested his ability to ride the wind, caught an eagle midair, and enjoyed his newfound freedom.
• Gu Shaoshang challenged Dongfang Bubai to fight outside the Capital City on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, drawing martial artists from across the land.
• Gu Shaoshang killed nearly a hundred Heretical Paths experts with one strike on Vermilion Bird Avenue, restoring order in the Capital City.
• Chongxu told Fang Zheng that Gu Shaoshang had defeated Wudang’s nine senior elders with one punch and carried them to Wudang’s True Martial Hall.
• Gu Shaoshang continued cultivating and studying the Imperial Library’s martial arts and scriptures as he prepared to advance beyond the Grandmaster Realm.

Gu Shaoshang trained his two disciples while Yun Luo wandered the capital and defeated a youth who was secretly Cheng Shifei, the Child of Destiny of Great Ming Jianghu. The encounter earned Gu Shaoshang 600 Source Power, and he opened his eyes in surprise.

• Gu Shaoshang continued tempering his blood and qi and integrating martial arts and scriptures while Zhang Yi and Yun Luo practiced his Dragon-Snake Fist Arts.
• Zhang Yi stayed in the courtyard to train, while Yun Luo slipped out to explore the capital with guards and her maid, Little Bench.
• Outside a gambling house, Yun Luo saw guards knock down Cheng Shifei and approached him when he pretended to be injured.
• Cheng Shifei ambushed Yun Luo with Shaolin Grappling Hand, but she broke free with Hidden Force and struck him down with Half-Step Collapsing Fist.
• Yun Luo beat Cheng Shifei, and Gu Shaoshang received 600 Source Power before suddenly opening his eyes.

Gu Shaoshang realized the Myriad Heavens Mirror could gain Source Power through means beyond his own victories and decided to change how he dealt with promising people. As Yun Luo brought Cheng Shifei back to meet him, Gu Santong faced a mysterious young swordsman outside the capital.

• Gu Shaoshang reacted to the Myriad Heavens Mirror's unexpected Source Power and told Zhang Yi to bring Yun Luo and everyone with her back.
• Yun Luo beat Cheng Shifei in the street, then silenced the onlookers by revealing that Gu Shaoshang was her master.
• Zhang Yi summoned Yun Luo and Cheng Shifei to Gu Shaoshang, while Cheng Shifei feared the consequences of meeting the Invincible Divine Fist.
• The chapter revealed that Gu Santong had reunited with Suxin and Cheng Shifei, given his son some of his cultivation, and continued teaching him martial arts.
• Gu Santong confronted powerful strangers outside the capital as a blue-robed young man with a curved blade emerged from the forest and recited a poem.

Chou Xiaolou, successor of the Western Demonic Cult, challenged Gu Santong and revealed his plan to defeat Gu Shaoshang after his duel with Dongfang Bubai. Their clash ended with both men seriously wounded, and Gu Santong realized Chou Xiaolou’s Divine Blade Slash had broken his Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill.

• Chou Xiaolou introduced himself to Gu Santong and declared that he had entered the world to challenge its masters.
• Gu Santong sent Suxin toward the southwest of the capital, where he said Gu Shaoshang could protect her.
• Chou Xiaolou revealed that he had come to kill Gu Santong and intended to defeat Gu Shaoshang and claim the title of number one under heaven.
• Gu Santong transformed with his Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill and attacked Chou Xiaolou with a powerful palm strike.
• Chou Xiaolou cut through Gu Santong’s palm force with his Divine Blade Slash, and Gu Santong countered with Gu Shaoshang’s Buzhou Break.
• The clash broke Gu Santong’s Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill and wounded both fighters, leaving Gu Santong to realize that Chou Xiaolou’s blade had struck directly through his Fist Seal.