Chapter Summaries

Jiang Dali overcame the Evil Emperor's Sarira's draining power and killed Shi Zhixuan in their battle. After Yuwen Huaji arrived with Sui soldiers and saw the Sarira and Shi Zhixuan's corpse, Jiang Dali claimed Yang Gong Treasury for Black Wind Stronghold and ordered him to leave.

• Jiang Dali grabbed the Evil Emperor's Sarira, which drew his true qi into it and trapped him beneath the waves.
• Shi Zhixuan attacked Jiang Dali while he struggled with the Sarira, but Jiang Dali broke free, entered the Life-and-Death State, and killed him with a powerful palm strike.
• Yuwen Huaji arrived with Sui soldiers and recognized the Evil Emperor's Sarira and Shi Zhixuan's corpse, then abandoned any thought of challenging Jiang Dali.
• Jiang Dali told Yuwen Huaji that Yang Gong Treasury had been seized by Black Wind Stronghold and challenged anyone who wanted it to come take it there.

Jiang Dali rebuked Kou Zhong for failing to seize the chance to attack Yuwen Huaji, while Song Que praised Jiang’s strength and challenged him to a saber demonstration. Song Que summoned his Heavenly Saber in front of the gathered crowd, leaving the two renowned fighters poised to clash.

• Players at the docks recognized Jiang Dali and identified the corpse in the river as Shi Zhixuan, while Yuwen Huaji withdrew his soldiers and left.
• Kou Zhong regretted not killing Yuwen Huaji, and Jiang Dali told him he had missed an opportunity because he lacked the courage to act.
• Song Que acknowledged Jiang Dali’s superior strength and challenged him to demonstrate his saber techniques.
• Song Que explained his understanding of the saber’s ultimate realm and leaped from his ship, summoning the Heavenly Saber Water Immortal into his hand.

Jiang Dali accepted Song Que’s challenge to exchange saber techniques and triggered the main quest “God in Intent.” Their clash began on the lake, where Song Que opened with the first art of the Eight Heavenly Saber Arts, Heavenly Wind Jade Pendant, leaving Jiang Dali facing a formidable storm of saber qi.

• Jiang Dali received the “God in Intent” main quest, which required him to win Song Que’s conviction and offered an opportunity for enlightenment in the Dao of the Saber.
• Song Que challenged Jiang Dali to a saber duel, and Jiang Dali accepted despite Wang Yuyan’s warning not to meet Song Que on his strongest ground.
• Jiang Dali handed Wang Yuyan the Evil Emperor’s Sarira and crossed the water to confront Song Que, whose and Jiang Dali’s saber intent stirred the lake before either drew a weapon.
• Jiang Dali drew the broken Dragon Slaying Saber and declared that a saber could break but he could not, prompting Song Que to praise his technique of using the man to command the saber.
• Song Que introduced his saber Narcissus and the Eight Heavenly Saber Arts, then attacked with the first art, Heavenly Wind Jade Pendant, as Jiang Dali entered Absolute Ruthlessness and met his opening strike.

Jiang Dali and Song Que fought a fierce saber duel, with Jiang Dali’s direct, forceful style wounding Song Que despite sustaining many injuries himself. Their exchange turned into a debate over the Dao, and Song Que, shaken but resolved, drew his hidden ancient saber to unleash his true Heavenly Saber.

• Jiang Dali risked taking Song Que’s saber strikes and countered with overwhelming golden attacks, forcing Song Que to retreat and injuring him.
• Jiang Dali and Song Que exchanged more than a dozen blows as observers recognized how Jiang Dali’s simple saber style exploited his formidable physique and recovery.
• Jiang Dali and Song Que paused after Song Que was blasted into the river, and Song Que praised Jiang Dali’s saber technique as a path beyond technique.
• Jiang Dali challenged Song Que’s belief that man should connect Heaven and Earth, briefly unsettling Song Que’s conviction and nearly driving him toward deviation.
• Song Que recovered his resolve, drew the ancient saber from behind his back, and declared his next strike the Saber of Heavenly Principles and Material Nature—the true Heavenly Saber.

Jiang Dali fought Song Que, whose Heavenly Saber mastery shifted between extreme lightness and heaviness, and struggled under the relentless attacks. He turned Song Que’s technique against him with overwhelming strength and life-and-death saber aura, leaving Song Que bloodied and sinking beneath the river as his treasured saber broke apart.

• Song Que drew his heavy Heavenly Saber and challenged Jiang Dali to a head-on battle, then attacked with saber strikes that shifted between light and heavy.
• Song Que repeatedly deflected Jiang Dali’s forceful blows and wounded him, while Wang Yuyan warned Murong Qingqing that she could not intervene.
• Song Que said he had seen through Jiang Dali’s simple saber technique and began another attack, but Jiang Dali trapped the Heavenly Saber with a powerful suction force.
• Jiang Dali unleashed nearly four Jiazi of cultivation, shattered Song Que’s power of Heaven and Earth, and blasted him into the water.
• Jiang Dali struck again with life-and-death saber aura, overwhelming Song Que and driving him deeper into the river as his treasured saber broke apart.

After defeating Song Que, Jiang Dali accepted his saber manual and experienced a breakthrough in his saber path. The injured Yin Empress Zhu Yuyan then asked Jiang Dali to protect Wanwan during a dangerous cultivation breakthrough, and he agreed in exchange for the Yin Gui Sect’s help with a task.

• Jiang Dali rescued the gravely injured Song Que, who acknowledged his defeat and gave him the 'Heavenly Saber Insights' manual.
• Jiang Dali experienced an epiphany that brought his Loving Saber and Ruthless Saber into a more composed, unified state.
• Kou Zhong escorted Song Que and Song Yuzhi back to the Song Clan while Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing treated Jiang Dali’s wounds.
• Zhu Yuyan told Jiang Dali that she would pass leadership of the Yin Gui Sect to Wanwan and asked him to protect Wanwan during a dangerous breakthrough.
• Jiang Dali agreed to help Wanwan if Zhu Yuyan first mobilized the Yin Gui Sect to assist him with a matter.

Jiang Dali secured Zhu Yuyan’s help in finding the Tianqin Sect elders who stole the Sky Demon Zither, then put away the dangerous Evil Emperor’s Sarira to investigate his rebirth. He mobilized players to empty the Yang Gong Treasury and, while recovering from his battles, studied Song Que’s Heavenly Saber Insights as his main quest advanced to (II).

• Jiang Dali asked Zhu Yuyan to use the Yin Gui Sect’s network to find the two elders who had taken the Sky Demon Zither, and she agreed.
• Zhu Yuyan warned Jiang Dali that the Evil Emperor’s Sarira held the lingering power and spiritual remnants of past demon lords, and that two Evil Extreme Sect masters might still be alive.
• Jiang Dali examined the sarira’s information, decided not to absorb its power, and stored it away as a possible key to understanding his rebirth.
• Jiang Dali issued players a quest to transport supplies from the Yang Gong Treasury and search for Song Que’s broken saber, then appointed overseers and arranged for cargo ships.
• Jiang Dali rested and recovered from his battles while reflecting on his saber path, then studied the Heavenly Saber Insights as his main quest advanced from (I) to (II).

Jiang Dali continued perfecting his Heaven-Defying Divine Intent Saber while traveling to Cloud Calling Mountain, where several factions had gathered to seize the Sky Demon Zither from two Tianqin Sect elders. As Jiang Dali approached, Mo Zizhu proposed that the factions join forces to kill him first.

• Jiang Dali’s saber challenges had defeated several famous wielders, and he had developed the Heaven-Defying Divine Intent Saber, though his quest progress remained at 3/8.
• Jiang Dali, Wang Yuyan, and Murong Qingqing approached Cloud Calling Mountain after learning that the Yin Gui Sect had found the two Tianqin Sect elders.
• Shuiyue Grand Sect, Mao Zishui, and Mo Zizhu confronted the two elders over the Sky Demon Zither but paused their fight when they learned Jiang Dali was arriving.
• The two elders warned their rivals that they feared Jiang Dali more than the assembled factions did.
• Mo Zizhu suggested that the factions unite to kill Jiang Dali, and the two elders encouraged them to cooperate.

Jiang Dali confronted five groups seeking the Sky Demon Zither and killed Miaole with a single saber strike. As the others attacked him together, Shuiyue Grand Sect ordered his followers to seize Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing as hostages.

• Murong Qingqing asked Miaoyin and Miaole to return the Sky Demon Zither, but they refused and challenged Jiang Dali.
• Mao Zishui, Shuiyue Grand Sect, and Mo Zizhu each declared they would oppose Jiang Dali, joining Miaoyin and Miaole’s side.
• Jiang Dali unleashed Three Springs Startling Thunder and killed Miaole with one slash.
• Miaoyin attacked Jiang Dali with the Sky Demon Zither while Mao Zishui used Mountain Moving Suppression to throw him into the air.
• Mo Zizhu attacked Jiang Dali, while Shuiyue Grand Sect ordered his followers to capture Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing.

Jiang Dali defeated Mo Zizhu, Mao Zishui, and Miaoyin, then cut down most of Shuiyue Grand Sect’s group. He spared Shuiyue Grand Sect in exchange for service in Ying Country and made him submit as his dog.

• Mao Zishui restrained Jiang Dali while Mo Zizhu and Miaoyin attacked, but Jiang Dali broke free and struck all three with his saber, killing Mo Zizhu and maiming Mao Zishui and Miaoyin.
• Jiang Dali killed Miaoyin with a punch, then resisted Mao Zishui’s illusions and killed him with a saber strike.
• Jiang Dali charged into Shuiyue Grand Sect’s men, killing many and terrifying the survivors into fleeing or collapsing.
• Shuiyue Grand Sect surrendered, and Jiang Dali offered to spare him if he served him in Ying Country.
• Jiang Dali ordered Shuiyue Grand Sect to crawl over and become his dog, and Shuiyue Grand Sect obeyed despite his humiliation.

Jiang Dali formed an alliance with Murong Qingqing’s Tianqin Sect and destroyed Mo Zizhu after he revived through the Heavenly Silkworm Demonic Art. After receiving Xiao Qiushui’s letter, Jiang Dali secured amnesty for the Greenwood forces and advanced Black Wind Stronghold to a fifth-rate faction, then gained further martial arts breakthroughs.

• Jiang Dali explained that he had spared Shuiyue Grand Sect to use him in Ying State, where he hoped to contact his friend Dongfang Bubai.
• Jiang Dali offered to make Tianqin Sect an equal ally of Black Wind Stronghold, and Murong Qingqing accepted the alliance.
• Mo Zizhu’s body began reassembling through the Heavenly Silkworm Demonic Art, so Jiang Dali burned and shattered it to prevent another revival.
• Jiang Dali learned from a cloud-goose letter that Xiao Qiushui had secured Song State’s amnesty for the Greenwood forces.
• Jiang Dali completed the Greenwood Overlord quest and advanced Black Wind Stronghold to a fifth-rate faction, earning rewards and breakthroughs in his martial arts.

After strengthening several martial arts and gaining the Grass-Head King title, Jiang Dali chose to fulfill Song State’s second war order by confronting Ying State rather than sending Black Wind Stronghold into the main battlefield. He planned to use the mission to earn Song State’s favor and advance his quest to become the Underground Emperor of the Greenwood, while wondering whether his path would lead him to the Sacred Dynasty.

• Jiang Dali reviewed his improved attributes, including breakthroughs in Great Strength Divine Fist, Great Strength Divine Skill, Golden Bell Indestructible Body, Gecko Wall-Crawling Skill, and Shaolin Lion's Roar Skill.
• Jiang Dali sent Shuiyue Grand Sect back to Ying State to mobilize the shogunate, investigate Jue Wushen Palace and General Jing Shen, and quietly search for his friend.
• Jiang Dali took Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing south on the Demonic Eagle and asked Wang Yuyan to find a suitable cultivation technique for Murong Qingqing.
• Jiang Dali told Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing that he would avoid Song State’s main war against Jin and Liao and instead target Ying State’s interference, seeking help from friends such as Ximen Chuixue.
• Jiang Dali accepted Song State’s war order and reviewed the new Underground Emperor of the Greenwood quest, which required revered standing in three Vassal States and recognition from Sacred Dynasty officials.
• Jiang Dali resolved to build influence in Song State and other Vassal States as he gradually pursued the power needed to uncover the Sacred Dynasty’s secrets.

Jiang Dali returned to Ice Fire Island and descended into the volcano, where he gave Yu Cheng'an four Fire Qilin scales to forge into a divine weapon. Meanwhile, Shuiyue Grand Sect struggled to investigate Dongfang Bubai and Wulei, as secret letters bearing the words “Soldier to Seize the Commander, Grass Head King!” reached powerful forces across the region.

• Jiang Dali returned to Ice Fire Island and sent Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing to guide Zhang Wuji while he entered the volcano.
• Jiang Dali met Fire King, Medicine King, Ghost King, and Yu Cheng'an at the volcanic forge and gave Yu Cheng'an four Fire Qilin scales for the great saber.
• Jiang Dali left the Dragon Slaying Broken Saber with Yu Cheng'an to reforge while the great saber continued its month-long forging.
• Shuiyue Grand Sect learned of a suspected Dongfang Bubai sighting near the Ying Kingdom's imperial capital and an otherworlder named Wulei at Jue Wushen Palace, but feared investigating either lead.
• Secret letters reached Jin, Liao, Jue Wushen Palace, General Jing Shen, and other influential figures, each carrying the words “Soldier to Seize the Commander, Grass Head King!”
• A powerful armored man at Wushen Jue Palace studied the secret letter and pondered its message.

Jiang Dali uncovered the Left Alliance’s involvement in Jue Wushen Palace’s attacks and mobilized Black Wind Stronghold to retaliate, while Jue Wushen prepared to confront him. Jiang Dali then left Ice Fire Island with Murong Qingqing and Wang Yuyan, bound for the Ying State to investigate Dongfang Bubai’s disappearance.

• Jue Wushen learned that the Song State might send the Black Wind Stronghold Master to seize a commander and ordered the Shinkage-ryū Family to prepare for his arrival in the Ying State.
• Jiang Dali received Guan Yutian’s invitation to discuss the Sea Shark Palace and learned that Dongfang Bubai’s disappearance might involve the Ying State imperial family or Jue Wushen Palace.
• After discovering that Wulei and the Left Alliance had ties to Jue Wushen Palace, Jiang Dali issued the Black Wind Seven Kill Order against Left Alliance forces and their industrial chains.
• Black Wind Stronghold branches and the Eight Desolations disciples mobilized to attack nearby Left Alliance factions, causing an uproar across the Jianghu Forum.
• Jiang Dali retrieved his reforged Dragon Slaying Saber and departed Ice Fire Island with Murong Qingqing and Wang Yuyan, intending to pick up three more people before traveling to the Ying State.

Jiang Dali, Xiao Feng, and Lu Xiaofeng shared a playful martial arts contest while traveling, then Jiang Dali began teaching the others new techniques. After reaching Jing City, the group searched General Jing Shen’s residence to locate and kill him before Ying Country could attack Song Country, and Jiang Dali and Murong Qingqing found a brightly lit room with voices inside.

• Jiang Dali challenged Xiao Feng and Lu Xiaofeng to spar over their wine, and the three fought across the Demonic Eagle’s back without spilling it.
• Jiang Dali decided to teach Xiao Feng the Adamantine Body Cultivation and recommended the North Darkness Divine Skill for Lu Xiaofeng, while Murong Qingqing would also learn new martial arts.
• After three days, Jiang Dali, Xiao Feng, Lu Xiaofeng, Murong Qingqing, and Wang Yuyan reached Jing City and chose to investigate General Jing Shen’s residence before the military camp.
• Jiang Dali sent Wang Yuyan away on the Demonic Eagle and led the others into the residence to search for General Jing Shen while avoiding its guards and hidden sentries.
• Jiang Dali and Murong Qingqing reached a brightly lit room in the rear courtyard and heard voices from within.

Jiang Dali and Murong Qingqing discovered that the General Jing Shen in the residence was an impostor, then fought the Yagyu Clan warriors who ambushed them. Jiang Dali wounded Yanagi Danma Shou with a powerful saber strike but deliberately spared him so he could reveal his trump card, while Xiao Feng and Lu Xiaofeng remained locked in battle nearby.

• Jiang Dali exposed the supposed General Jing Shen as an impostor after killing him and two other men with a single finger strike.
• Jiang Dali and Murong Qingqing escaped a poisoned-weapon ambush, and Yagyu Tamamori confronted Jiang Dali on the roof.
• Yagyu Tamamori attacked with his saber, but Jiang Dali blocked and countered him while Murong Qingqing used her zither to repel the surrounding Japanese warriors.
• Yagyu Tamamori unleashed his God of Slaughter's Single Slash, and Jiang Dali drew the Dragon Slaying Saber to cut his blade and inflict a massive chest wound.
• Jiang Dali held back from killing Yanagi Danma Shou and urged him to use his trump card, while Xiao Feng and Lu Xiaofeng fought formidable enemies nearby.

Jiang Dali killed Yagyu Tamamori after withstanding his World Dominator saber technique, then joined Xiao Feng and Lu Xiaofeng's fight against the Ninja King. He demonstrated the Nine Syllable Mantra Hand Seal by launching a Treasure Bottle Seal attack at the Ninja King.

• Yagyu Tamamori used golden needles to unleash Snowfall on Earth, but Jiang Dali countered with Three Springs Startling Thunder and split him in two.
• Jiang Dali told Murong Qingqing to search the estate for the Well God using her Sound Eye technique, then went to join the other battle.
• Jiang Dali found Xiao Feng and Lu Xiaofeng overpowering the Ninja King, with Xiao Feng using his Adamantine Body Cultivation to attack head-on.
• Lu Xiaofeng demonstrated his Lion Seal, and Jiang Dali used the Treasure Bottle Seal to strike at the Ninja King.

Jiang Dali and his companions defeated the Ninja King and slaughtered the Ying Kingdom warriors who attacked the estate. Murong Qingqing found hidden rooms and people concealed in the rear buildings, leaving the group with new leads to investigate.

• Jiang Dali and Xiao Feng cornered the wounded Ninja King and demanded to know General Jing Shen’s whereabouts.
• The Ninja King launched a final attack with his short blade and explosive weapons, but Jiang Dali killed him with one saber strike and survived the blasts.
• Jiang Dali told Lu Xiaofeng that mastering the North Darkness Divine Skill could let him wield the Treasure Bottle Seal with similar power.
• Murong Qingqing used Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds to kill the warriors attacking the estate while Jiang Dali and his companions watched.
• Murong Qingqing told Jiang Dali that she had found secret chambers and hidden rooms containing people in the rear of the estate.

Jiang Dali raided Jing Shen Manor in Jing City, hoping to draw General Jing Shen out and disrupt Ying State’s planned invasion of Song State. As soldiers and players surrounded the manor, he sent his companions away on the Demonic Eagle and stayed behind to face the army alone.

• Jiang Dali and his companions found no trace of Jing Shen in the manor’s hidden chambers, but they collected valuable treasure as alarms summoned soldiers to the estate.
• Murong Qingqing and Lu Xiaofeng concluded that Jing Shen was likely at the military camp, and Jiang Dali proposed creating chaos to force him out or sabotage Ying State’s provisions.
• Jing City’s emergency quest drew soldiers and players toward the manor, while news of Jiang Dali’s raid spread across the Jianghu Forum and inspired admiration for him among many players.
• As soldiers and warriors stormed the manor, Jiang Dali ordered his companions to retreat and used his strength to launch Lu Xiaofeng, Murong Qingqing, and Xiao Feng onto the Demonic Eagle.
• Jiang Dali remained surrounded by the advancing forces and challenged them to attack him.

Jiang Dali and Murong Qingqing devastated Jing City’s forces, and Jiang Dali killed the city lord before escaping on a Demonic Eagle with his allies. News of the battle and Black Wind Stronghold’s wider retaliation spread, while the Left Alliance faced a choice between fighting the stronghold and seeking peace.

• Jiang Dali used his Golden Bell Qi Shield, seals, and Lion’s Roar to break through Jing City’s soldiers and repel the players attacking him.
• Murong Qingqing supported Jiang Dali with deadly qin sound waves, cutting down soldiers as he charged toward Jing City’s lord.
• Jiang Dali smashed through the lord’s shield formation, seized Jing City’s lord, and killed him despite the warning prompts on his panel.
• Jiang Dali escaped with Xiao Feng and Murong Qingqing on the Demonic Eagle, leaving the players’ missions failed and the city in ruins.
• Players learned that Yagyu Tamamori and the Ninja King had died in a planned ambush at General Jing Shen’s manor, while Black Wind Stronghold’s forces dealt another defeat to the Left Alliance Aristocrats.
• The Four Great Clans met secretly, split over how to handle Black Wind Stronghold, and left the Left Alliance weighing war against peace.