Chapter Summaries

Jiang Dali watched the Ten Fiends of Heavenly Pool battle Fist God, then realized another expert was hidden nearby. As he charged into the fight, Demon Master Pang Ban appeared and revealed that he was helping Zhu Wushi.

• Jiang Dali reasoned that the Ten Fiends of Heavenly Pool might be bait while Zhu Wushi kept other experts hidden.
• Fist God unleashed Twin Thunder Strikes the Crown and drove the Ten Fiends of Heavenly Pool back across the river.
• Wang Yuyan offered to join the battle, but Jiang Dali told her and Murong Qingqing to stay out of it.
• Jiang Dali sensed a change in the He Clan Jade and charged toward the battlefield, throwing the brocade box to Dongfang Bubai.
• Demon Master Pang Ban appeared on the river, and Jiang Dali accused him of helping Zhu Wushi after a secret letter went unanswered.

Demon Master Pang Ban confronted Jiang Dali on the river and explained how crossing the barrier of love had advanced his strength. He revealed that he wanted Jiang Dali to drive Zhu Wushi toward the throne so Pang Ban could defeat him and break the barrier of the Demon Heart, then attacked Jiang Dali as rain began to fall.

• Pang Ban and Jiang Dali met on the river while Fist God and the Ten Fiends of Heavenly Pool continued fighting nearby.
• Black Wind Stronghold and Eight Desolations players joined the battle, boosting their allies and competing to take kills.
• Pang Ban told Jiang Dali that Demon Seeds were special primordial spirits and that he had advanced by overcoming the barrier of love after Yan Jing'an's death.
• Pang Ban revealed that he wanted Zhu Wushi to ascend the throne so Pang Ban could personally send him into the abyss and break the barrier of the Demon Heart.
• Pang Ban and Jiang Dali exchanged attacks amid thunder and pouring rain.

Jiang Dali fought Demon Master Pang Ban across the river while Nie Renwang attacked Dongfang Bubai, drawing Jiang Dali’s attention and leaving him open to Pang Ban’s strikes. Jiang Dali answered with Deep Sea Collapsing Heaven and wounded Pang Ban, who renewed his mental assault as the battle continued.

• Wang Yuyan urged Dongfang Bubai to help Jiang Dali, but Dongfang Bubai refused to interfere and instead confronted Nie Renwang when he attacked.
• Jiang Dali recognized Nie Renwang and suspected Xiong Ba was forcing him to fight by threatening Yan Ying.
• Pang Ban exploited Jiang Dali’s distraction, kicking and punching him into the river while attacking his mind with Demon Seed Cultivation.
• Jiang Dali unleashed Deep Sea Collapsing Heaven from the riverbed, sending a water-dragon-like fist force at Pang Ban.
• Pang Ban stopped the attack with a punch, but Jiang Dali’s force broke through, injured him, and sent him tumbling as he renewed his mental assault.

Jiang Dali used the Realm Breaking Bead to disrupt Pang Ban’s psychic attack, then wounded him with a powerful saber strike as Pang Ban escaped into the river. After reuniting with his companions, Jiang Dali concluded that Nie Renwang had fought Dongfang Bubai to warn him and was being forced by Xiong Ba because he intended to kill Xiong Ba.

• Pang Ban attacked Jiang Dali with the Yin and Yang Deities, but Jiang Dali used his thunderfire-forged Yang Spirit to withstand the psychic assault.
• Jiang Dali drew on the Realm Breaking Bead, which sucked in their psychic energy and began pulling Pang Ban’s Yin and Yang Deities into it.
• Pang Ban sacrificed his Yin Spirit to break free, and Jiang Dali struck him with a massive Flame Saber Energy that wounded him and sent him into the river.
• Jiang Dali reached the hill and learned that Nie Renwang had fought Dongfang Bubai while the others stayed safe.
• Jiang Dali reasoned that Nie Renwang’s fight had been a warning, and concluded that Xiong Ba had forced him to act because Nie Renwang wanted to kill Xiong Ba.

Pang Ban survived his defeat and was found by the Bear Xiong Twin Bandits, while Jiang Dali’s victory at Changzhou City won him the citizens’ gratitude and improved his standing with the Ming State. The bandits received a surprising offer from Pang Ban, and Jiang Dali gained a new title as his fame spread.

• The Bear Xiong Twin Bandits found the critically wounded Pang Ban on a riverbank and debated whether to kill, save, or rob him.
• Pang Ban awakened, restrained the two bandits with his spiritual force, and offered to teach them martial arts.
• Jiang Dali’s forces defeated the Ten Fiends of Heavenly Pool and routed the Divine Marquis Army, prompting Changzhou’s soldiers and citizens to hail him as their hero.
• Jiang Dali gained the Vast and Magnanimous True Hero title, received 1,000 Qi and Blood, and improved his relationship with the Ming State from Hostile to Friendly.
• The Four Ghosts of Xiangxi returned to Yu Kang’s side, hoping their public support for Jiang Dali would help them earn their freedom.

Jiang Dali forced Xie Wei and the Divine Marquis Army officers to surrender, then bound them with the Mother-Child Life and Death Net and ordered them to fight against Zhu Wushi’s forces. Changzhou’s defenders watched the unexpected alliance uneasily, unsure what Jiang Dali intended next.

• As Jiang Dali surrounded the Divine Marquis Army without attacking, Xie Wei dismissed his guards and prepared wine in an open space to meet him.
• Jiang Dali descended to face Xie Wei, who agreed to surrender and drink with him.
• Jiang Dali ordered Xie Wei to lead his surrendered troops against the Divine Marquis Army, promising to help clear their rebellion charges if the Emperor was restored.
• Xie Wei accepted the order, and the officers followed him in drinking with Jiang Dali.
• After the officers drank, Jiang Dali struck their acupoints and planted the Mother-Child Life and Death Net in each of them.
• City Lord Yu Kang and the others on Changzhou’s walls watched the gathering and worried that Jiang Dali might be joining forces with the rebels.

Jiang Dali earned the loyalty of Xie Wei and his army, gained a new title and mission, and led his allies into Changzhou amid the city's cheers. As he prepared to march against Zhu Wushi, news of Changzhou's surrender reached Zhu Wushi, who resolved to face Jiang Dali outside Yingtian City.

• Jiang Dali gained the Bloodless Victory title and activated the Quell Rebellion, Support Dragon mission after taking command of Xie Wei's army.
• Jiang Dali led Xie Wei and the Black Wind Stronghold players into Changzhou, where soldiers and citizens welcomed them as heroes.
• Jiang Dali told Yu Kang and the Changzhou generals that Xie Wei would lead his troops through the city to attack Zhu Wushi's rebels.
• Zhu Wushi learned that Jiang Dali had captured Changzhou and that Xie Wei and his army had surrendered.
• Zhu Wushi accepted the defeat and declared that he would settle matters with Jiang Dali outside Yingtian City.

After securing Changzhou’s cooperation, Jiang Dali rewarded players by teaching martial arts and offering discounted training, then used hidden prizes to stir excitement. He ended the chapter by launching a mass mission calling players to rally at Yingtian Prefecture for the coming battle against Zhu Wushi.

• Yu Kang and Changzhou’s officials accepted Jiang Dali’s demand to let Xie Wei and the others lead their troops through the city, and they sent the meeting’s outcome to the Ming Emperor.
• Jiang Dali summoned Black Wind Stronghold players and Eight Desolations disciples to learn the Great Strength Sea Mountain Fist or improve their martial arts at half cost.
• Shangguan Haitang and Duan Tianya discussed Black Wind Stronghold’s influence and why they trusted Jiang Dali despite his fearsome reputation.
• Jiang Dali gave Qing Ningzi a hidden Death Exemption Token, prompting players to spread news of the random rewards across the Jianghu Forum.
• After teaching nearly twenty thousand players and awarding two more hidden prizes, Jiang Dali released the Rally at Yingtian Prefecture faction mission.

The Ming Emperor pardoned Xie Wei after learning that Jiang Dali had rescued Changzhou and recruited him to fight the Divine Marquis Army. At Zhu Wushi’s camp, Nie Renwang challenged the Iron-Blooded Divine Marquis, and their clash ended with both men wary of the other’s extraordinary abilities.

• Two officials reported that Jiang Dali had relieved Changzhou City and persuaded Xie Wei to join his campaign against the Divine Marquis Army.
• The Ming Emperor agreed with his ministers that Jiang Dali had acted in his own interest and issued an edict pardoning Xie Wei and the other guilty ministers.
• Wen Chou Chou confronted Zhu Wushi over the Heavenly Alliance’s failed attempt to defeat Jiang Dali, and Zhu Wushi said he would handle Jiang Dali himself.
• Nie Renwang suddenly attacked Zhu Wushi with Startling Cold Glance, and Zhu Wushi absorbed the saber qi with his strange technique.
• Zhu Wushi countered with Stellar Shift, Grafting Flowers onto Trees, and the two fighters emerged from the destroyed tent questioning each other’s power.

After Nie Renwang’s battle with Zhu Wushi drew attention to the Iron Gallant Marquis’s overwhelming qi-absorbing art, Jiang Dali recognized him as a growing threat and resolved to kill him outside Yingtian Prefecture. Jiang Dali then began testing whether the He Clan Jade could reduce the cost of improving his techniques.

• Players debated the video of Nie Renwang and Zhu Wushi’s draw, and Hundred Knowledge Madman's Beloved Disciple argued that Zhu Wushi had developed a qi-absorbing technique beyond the Heavenly Human Realm.
• Jiang Dali laughed at players comparing him to A Qing and Fu Ying, whom he believed were ancient experts far beyond his strength.
• Jiang Dali concluded that Nie Renwang’s clash had tested Zhu Wushi and suspected Zhu Wushi had gained power by absorbing captured martial artists.
• Jiang Dali vowed to fight Zhu Wushi to the death outside Yingtian Prefecture and asked Dongfang Bubai for the He Clan Jade.
• Jiang Dali examined the jade’s effects, then sat down to cultivate with it and test how much it could reduce his Cultivation Point and Potential Point costs.

Jiang Dali resonated with the He Clan Jade and endured a dangerous expansion of his meridians, aided by Dongfang Bubai. He emerged with improved vision, stronger cultivation techniques, and greatly expanded meridians, then celebrated by washing in the courtyard pond as Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing arrived.

• Jiang Dali reached the tenth realm of the Great Strength Divine Skill but felt pain from flaws in his cultivation methods.
• Jiang Dali activated the He Clan Jade's hidden abilities and used Cultivation Points and Potential Points to advance the Golden Bell Indestructible Body and Mysterious Skill Manual.
• Dongfang Bubai tried to guide Jiang Dali's conflicting energies and was blasted backward when his meridians erupted with force.
• Jiang Dali endured severe pain as the He Clan Jade expanded his meridians, then discovered his left eye had recovered and both techniques had reached the ninth realm of Return to Simplicity and Truth.
• Jiang Dali praised the He Clan Jade, stripped, and jumped into the courtyard pond to wash while Dongfang Bubai watched.
• Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing appeared at the archway and found Jiang Dali bathing in the pond.

After activating the He Clan Jade, Jiang Dali strengthened his body, welcomed Cheng Shifei as his junior brother, and received the heads of three more Heavenly Pool Killers from Fist God. As Jiang Dali prepared to march on Yingtian, Zhu Wushi ordered a full assault on the Imperial City for that night, setting the coming battle in motion.

• The He Clan Jade widened Jiang Dali’s meridians, cleansed his marrow, healed his injuries, and increased his Qi and Blood and internal force.
• Jiang Dali recognized Cheng Shifei as his junior brother, gave him ten thousand taels of silver, taught him the Adamantine Body Cultivation, and sent him to find his mother, Suxin.
• Jiang Dali reviewed his improved attributes and prepared to march on Yingtian, wary that Xiong Ba might intervene and that his intelligence from Hua Kai Jian Hong had dried up.
• Fist God returned with the heads of three Heavenly Pool Killers, declared that he had completed his promises, and left to search for his son, Fist Fool.
• Zhu Wushi dressed in imperial robes and ordered his generals to converge on Yingtian that night and attack the Imperial City, killing everyone they encountered, including players.
• Players reported Zhu Wushi’s orders on the Jianghu Forum, alerting the Eight Desolations disciples that the battle was about to begin.

Jiang Dali arrived at Yingtian with the Eight Desolations disciples and deployed Xie Wei’s troops to face the approaching Divine Marquis Army. Meanwhile, Zhu Wushi secretly entered Yingtian City’s heavenly prison and vowed to become Emperor of Ming and awaken Suxin.

• Zhu Wushi’s armies marched toward Yingtian as Eight Desolations disciples gathered outside the city and traded while they waited.
• The disciples grew restless in the heat and began fighting among themselves after one player cursed the Black Wind Stronghold Master.
• Jiang Dali arrived on the Demonic Eagle and rallied the disciples, who gathered in force at his call.
• Jiang Dali ordered Xie Wei to divide the sixty-thousand-strong army, positioning one force on the plains and sending two divisions into ambush.
• Zhu Wushi appeared in the heavenly prison, spoke to Gu Santong’s shattered stele, and vowed that he would become emperor and awaken Suxin.

Jiang Dali suspected Zhu Wushi had infiltrated Yingtian City to seize the throne, prepared for the battle outside the city, and sent allies to rescue Imperial Grandson Yun. The two armies clashed, and Jiang Dali opened the fight with a powerful arrow aimed at Zhu Wushi.

• Jiang Dali reasoned that Zhu Wushi might have entered the imperial palace through a secret passage in the Heavenly Prison and ordered Xie Wei to command the coming battle.
• A eunuch delivered an imperial decree promoting Jiang Dali and reducing Xie Wei's punishment.
• Jiang Dali learned that Zhu Wushi had imprisoned Imperial Grandson Yun at Jujiu Mountain, then sent players and Dongfang Bubai's group to find and rescue him.
• The Divine Marquis Army charged toward Yingtian City without stopping, strengthening Jiang Dali's suspicion that Zhu Wushi was not among the troops.
• Xie Wei ordered his army to loose arrows, and Jiang Dali fired a powerful shot that killed three soldiers before Zhu Wushi countered with a dragon-claw strike.

Jiang Dali overwhelms Zhu Wushi with a barrage of arrows and a devastating long-range saber strike, then leaves the battlefield for Yingtian City. Zhu Wushi survives with almost no health, and his shattered face reveals that he was wearing a disguise.

• Zhu Wushi deflects Jiang Dali’s first arrow and assumes he can stall him from a safe distance.
• Jiang Dali fires repeatedly, injuring Zhu Wushi and knocking half his health away with an arrow.
• Jiang Dali charges through the Divine Marquis Army and unleashes a massive Crimson Flame Saber Energy from more than ten zhang away.
• Jiang Dali departs for Yingtian City on the Demonic Eagle, leaving Zhu Wushi critically wounded on the battlefield.
• Zhu Wushi crawls from the scorched ground, and his face breaks apart to reveal another man beneath the disguise.

Jiang Dali arrived at the imperial palace too late to prevent Iron-Blooded Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi from killing the emperor and absorbing his dragon aura. As the battle outside continued, Zhu Wushi offered Jiang Dali wine, sworn brotherhood, a royal title, and military support in exchange for making peace.

• After Jiang Dali left the battlefield, the Black Wind Stronghold forces and players overwhelmed the Divine Marquis Army, while players coordinated attacks on the wounded Wei Jinzhong and prevented him from restoring his strength by absorbing blood.
• Jiang Dali reached Yingtian City and discovered that Zhu Wushi had already killed the emperor and absorbed the dragon aura.
• Zhu Wushi invited Jiang Dali to share wine in the palace courtyard, and Jiang Dali joined him after safely dismounting from Demonic Eagle.
• Jiang Dali challenged Zhu Wushi's claim that his pursuit of the throne was something he could not avoid, and Zhu Wushi offered to become sworn brothers, make Jiang Dali a king, and help Song State attack Jin and Liao.

Zhu Wushi told Jiang Dali that his ambition to seize the throne was partly meant to help him revive Suxin by transferring her consciousness into another body. After Fist God left, Jiang Dali and Zhu Wushi faced each other, and their long-awaited battle began.

• Jiang Dali challenged Zhu Wushi’s claims about Suxin, and Zhu Wushi explained that he hoped to use the Great Art of Absorbing Qi to restore her consciousness in a prepared body.
• Jiang Dali questioned whether Suxin could accept returning in another person’s body, but Zhu Wushi said he had no other way to awaken her.
• Zhu Wushi told Fist God that Fist Fool was waiting for him in Fengyang, and Fist God left the courtyard.
• Jiang Dali promised to keep searching for Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom if Zhu Wushi died, then dismissed Fist God and prepared to fight.
• Zhu Wushi warned Jiang Dali that escaping alive would be difficult, then unleashed the Great Art of Absorbing Qi as Jiang Dali charged with a punch.

Jiang Dali fought Zhu Wushi in a fierce exchange of absorption skills and devastating attacks, but Zhu Wushi’s defenses and techniques kept blunting his blows. The battle ended with Jiang Dali realizing that Zhu Wushi had absorbed Divine Weapon Heavenly Wrath and fused it with his body.

• Jiang Dali hurled a stone table at Zhu Wushi, and their absorption skills divided the energy released when it shattered.
• Jiang Dali struck Zhu Wushi with Mountain Collapse Earth Split, cracking his stone-hardened body and driving him backward.
• Zhu Wushi’s surrounding qi wall weakened Jiang Dali’s attacks and absorbed their force as they continued fighting.
• Jiang Dali unleashed Deep Sea Collapsing Heaven against Zhu Wushi’s immense qi wall, but the wall turned hollow and rebounded his force.
• Zhu Wushi struck Jiang Dali with a strange, sharp fingertip technique and followed with a wave of sword qi, which Jiang Dali blocked with his back.
• Jiang Dali recognized the sword qi as Divine Weapon Heavenly Wrath and realized Zhu Wushi had absorbed and fused the weapon into himself.

Zhu Wushi explained how he had transformed the Great Art of Absorbing Qi into a way to absorb and simulate all things, seeking to create a new realm beyond the Heavenly Human Realm. Jiang Dali rejected Zhu Wushi’s challenge to his martial path and attacked him, and the two launched another sword clash.

• Zhu Wushi explained how the Great Art of Absorbing Qi and Adamantine Body Cultivation could work together, then described how he had learned to absorb and reproduce the martial arts of others.
• Zhu Wushi revealed his ambition to devour and simulate all things and create a new heaven and earth beyond the Heavenly Human Realm.
• Jiang Dali was shaken by Zhu Wushi’s words, but regained his composure by biting his tongue and entering Level 3 Demonic State.
• Jiang Dali drew the Frost Sword and charged Zhu Wushi with a demonic sword strike.
• Zhu Wushi laughed and countered with a blazing white sword attack that flickered with countless shifting points.

Jiang Dali and Zhu Wushi fought to a standstill, but Jiang Dali realized Zhu Wushi’s Divine Weapon Heavenly Wrath and greater reserves gave him the advantage. Jiang Dali attacked with the Dali Fire Qilin Saber and struck Zhu Wushi’s meridians, but Zhu Wushi uprooted a great hall and hurled it at him.

• Jiang Dali and Zhu Wushi traded sword blows, wrecking the courtyard and surrounding buildings while Imperial Guards were caught in the fighting.
• Zhu Wushi claimed Jiang Dali would eventually lose because Heavenly Wrath protected him, and Jiang Dali recognized that he was running low on true qi.
• Jiang Dali drew the Dali Fire Qilin Saber and attacked Zhu Wushi with Golden Dragon Pierces the Sky and Three Springs Startling Thunder.
• Jiang Dali’s saber intent wounded Zhu Wushi’s meridians, and Jiang Dali followed with a powerful horizontal slash aimed at Zhu Wushi’s lower body.
• Zhu Wushi used Heaven and Earth Great Shift to uproot the great hall and hurl it at Jiang Dali’s incoming saber energy.