Chapter Summaries

After Tang Anyi killed people involved in his wife's death, the Fang Family demanded that the Tang Family hand him over, using the deaths of its servants and guards as a pretext. Tang Yelan united the family against the demand, and the Fang Family Old Ancestor chose to begin an all-out war.

• Tang Anyi fled to the Sun Patrol Division with his wife's corpse after killing people at the Azure Dragon Gambling House, where Fang Family cultivators tried to stop him.
• The Fang Family demanded that the Tang Family surrender Tang Anyi, while members of the First Courtyard pressed the Second Courtyard to comply.
• Tang Yelan refused to hand over Tang Anyi and declared that the Tang Family would fight the Fang Family rather than accept its demands.
• Tang Quanren backed Tang Yelan, and the Tang Family's courtyards united, recalled their experts, and activated the formations around Tang Family Mansion.
• Tang Yelan chose not to summon Song Ankang from the White Jade Mulberry Forest and prepared to have him flee if the Tang Family faced destruction.
• The Fang Family Old Ancestor decided on all-out war, believing the Azure Dragon Gambling House gave him an excuse and that the Tang Family could not protect its businesses outside Kyoto.

The Fang Family’s attacks devastated the Tang Family’s businesses and the White Jade Mulberry Forest, while Dong Xinjie concealed the abuse from Song Ankang. After learning what had happened, Song Ankang decided to retaliate against the Fang Family that night.

• The Fang Family exploited the Azure Dragon Gambling House dispute to plunder Tang Family businesses and suppress the family’s operations outside Kyoto.
• Tang Yelan kept the Tang Family’s experts in Kyoto to protect them, even as their businesses and the White Jade Mulberry Forest suffered heavy losses.
• Song Ankang found Dong Xinjie upset, then questioned the White Jade Mulberry Forest’s stewards and learned that Fang Family members had beaten guards and violated a Weaver Girl.
• Song Ankang decided to kill Fang Zuhong and punish the Fang Family’s Foundation Establishment experts in retaliation.
• Song Ankang returned to Huanxiang Residence to cultivate before going after the Fang Family after nightfall.

Song Ankang secretly followed Fang Zuhong into his study and killed him before the Fang Family Ancestor could enjoy his new power. The Tang Family remained unaware that its feared enemy had died, while the Fang Family faced a sudden fall.

• Song Ankang arrived at the Fang Family Mansion and overheard Fang Zuhong seeing off Brother Bonian, who invited him to Wangyuan Mountain.
• Fang Zuhong boasted to a servant about his new standing and imagined he might someday reach the Minor God Realm.
• Song Ankang used Treading Snow Without a Trace and the Heaven Concealing Earth Absorbing Art to follow Fang Zuhong undetected.
• When Fang Zuhong was alone in his study, Song Ankang thrust the Sufeng Sword through his protective artifact and killed him.
• The Tang Family's leaders continued keeping watch, unaware that Song Ankang had killed Fang Zuhong over the trouble his family caused at the White Jade Mulberry Forest.

Song Ankang killed Fang Zuhong and the Fang Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators, then looted their treasures and left records of their businesses for Tang Yelan. The Fang Family’s upper ranks were wiped out, and Tang Yelan learned that the family no longer threatened the Tang Family.

• Song Ankang searched Fang Zuhong’s corpse, then killed the Fang Family’s dozen-odd Foundation Establishment cultivators and plundered their treasuries.
• Song Ankang acquired the True Sun Sword, the Mysterious Jade Armor, and other spoils worth at least three million Low-grade Spirit Stones.
• Song Ankang left account books and documents from the Fang Family in Tang Yelan’s bedroom before disappearing.
• Tang Yelan inspected the documents and wondered whether someone was framing her with the Fang Family’s hidden business records.
• Tang Yelan’s guards reported that Fang Zuhong and more than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators had been killed, leaving the Fang Family unable to threaten the Tang Family.

After Song Ankang killed Fang Zuhong and the Fang Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Tang Family seized most of the Fang Family’s assets and escaped its long-standing oppression. Tang Liuli discovered Song Ankang was responsible and celebrated him as the Tang Family’s savior.

• The Tang Family learned that Fang Zuhong and the Fang Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators had been killed, and Tang Yelan organized a rapid takeover of the Fang Family’s assets.
• The Tang Family acquired more than seventy percent of the Fang Family’s property while the weakened Fang Family was carved up by rival families.
• The Sun Patrol Division and Night Watch Division investigated the killings, focused on the Tang Family, and found no evidence before pursuing other leads.
• Tang Liuli found Song Ankang in his study and asked where he had gone the previous night.
• Song Ankang admitted that he had gone to the Fang Family, and Tang Liuli embraced and praised him for defeating Fang Zuhong and saving the Tang Family.
• Song Ankang claimed his cultivation and secret techniques made him stronger than Fang Zuhong, while keeping some of his strength concealed.

The Tang Family celebrated the Fang Family’s near-destruction, unaware that Song Ankang was the hidden powerhouse responsible. After keeping his role secret, Song Ankang spent time with Qiushi and Dong Xinjie, whose attention might help his cultivation reach the Seven Yang Body.

• The Tang Family concluded that an unknown powerful ally had eliminated the Fang Family’s cultivators above Foundation Establishment and prepared to suppress the weakened family.
• The chapter explained how the Xia Kingdom’s twenty-tier military merit peerage system worked and noted that Song Ankang could rise through its ranks if he chose to serve the Imperial Court.
• Qiushi asked Song Ankang whether he had killed the Fang Family’s villains, and he told her to keep it secret before she embraced him.
• Dong Xinjie asked whether Song Ankang had dealt with the Fang Family, and after he confirmed it, she eagerly pursued him throughout the White Jade Tower.
• Song Ankang reflected that Dong Xinjie’s unusual behavior had led him to investigate the Fang Family and that their time together might push his aptitude toward the Seven Yang Body.

Song Ankang advanced to the Seven Yang Body and considered learning more combat techniques after eliminating the threats from the First Courtyard and the Fang Family. Meanwhile, Prince Yinjiang sent Qing Ling to investigate Fang Zuhong’s death and recruit or kill the person responsible.

• Song Ankang’s talent broke through to the Seven Yang Body, strengthening his Childhood Purity True Qi and improving his cultivation prospects.
• Song Ankang decided to learn more combat and support techniques, believing he could finally cultivate in peace after dealing with the First Courtyard and the Fang Family.
• Prince Yinjiang vented his anger over Fang Zuhong’s death and the destruction of the Fang Family, then ordered Qing Ling to investigate the killer and recruit or kill him.
• Qing Ling infiltrated Kyoto and began investigating the Fang Family residence, quickly uncovering useful information.

Female Ghost Qing Ling investigated the Fang Family’s destruction and found the Tang Family remained the likeliest culprit, though she uncovered no proof. Meanwhile, Song Ankang advanced to Golden Core Fifth Turn and learned two powerful demonic secret techniques, leaving his combat power greatly increased.

• Female Ghost Qing Ling infiltrated the Tang Family and found no evidence that its members had destroyed the Fang Family cultivators.
• Female Ghost Qing Ling learned that an unknown person had left Tang Yelan account books and information that helped the Tang Family profit from the Fang Family’s collapse.
• Tang Yelan and the Tang Family Old Ancestor suspected an unknown Tang Family Old Ancestor, while Female Ghost Qing Ling considered other possible culprits and planned to use torture in her investigation.
• Song Ankang advanced smoothly to Golden Core Fifth Turn, strengthening his Golden Core, body, and spiritual will.
• Song Ankang cultivated the Blood Thunder Technique and Five Viscera Divine Wind, using their side effects to improve his strength and raise his combat power.

Song Ankang completed a preliminary combat system while Qing Ling slaughtered the First Courtyard’s five Foundation Establishment Experts to test whether the Tang Family had a hidden Golden Core ancestor. The Tang Family struggled to respond to the threat, and Tang Liuli hurried to the White Jade Mulberry Forest.

• Song Ankang cultivated several common auxiliary spells and assessed his growing combat strength among Golden Core True Persons.
• Qing Ling infiltrated the Tang Family’s First Courtyard and killed all five Foundation Establishment Experts there.
• Qing Ling hid nearby as the Sun Patrol Division and Night Watch Division investigated and suspected a powerful Eighth-Rank High-Grade Ghostly Creature was responsible.
• Tang Yelan and Tang Zhijia realized they could not confirm whether the Tang Family had a Golden Core ancestor, leaving the family uncertain how to face the threat.
• The Tang Family’s leaders planned to seek protection from the two divisions and alert the big shot who had destroyed the Fang Family, while preparing to scatter if necessary.
• Tang Liuli rushed to the White Jade Mulberry Forest after the Tang Family faced the Ghostly Creature’s threat.

Tang Liuli warned Song Ankang that an Eighth-Rank High-Grade Ghostly Creature had attacked the Tang Family and might strike again. After checking Fang Zuhong’s belongings for clues, Song Ankang assured her he could handle the threat and would protect the family.

• Tang Liuli told Song Ankang that a powerful Ghostly Creature had killed Foundation Establishment experts at the Tang Family and might attack again.
• Tang Liuli explained that Tang Yelan suspected the creature was connected to the Fang Family’s destruction and asked whether Fang Zuhong’s belongings held clues.
• Song Ankang and Tang Liuli searched Fang Zuhong’s possessions but found nothing suspicious, and Song Ankang suggested the creature might have destroyed his corpse.
• Tang Liuli warned Song Ankang that the authorities might punish him for killing Fang Family cultivators and urged him to flee with Tang Yelan.
• Song Ankang said the Ghostly Creature’s estimated Golden Core Second or Third Turn strength posed no threat to him.

Song Ankang secretly went to guard the Three Tang Sisters at the Tang Family Mansion and cultivated the Netherworld Divine Eye, using the Heavenly Book of Fate Defiance to turn its deadly side effects into improvements. As the Tang Family remained unaware of his presence and feared another attack, Song Ankang continued cultivating while keeping watch over the sisters.

• Song Ankang reassured Tang Liuli that he would guard the Tang Family Mansion, then left White Jade Mulberry Forest early without telling her.
• Song Ankang began cultivating the Netherworld Divine Eye, whose power came with rapidly fatal erosion of the body, true qi, and spirit.
• The Heavenly Book of Fate Defiance reversed the secret technique's side effects, strengthening Song Ankang as he cultivated.
• Song Ankang hid in Tang Liuli's study and reached the Netherworld Divine Eye's entry level after one day and one night.
• Song Ankang watched over the Three Tang Sisters while the Tang Family panicked over the Sun Patrol Division expert's impending departure and the possibility of another attack.

Female ghost Qing Ling investigated the Tang Family, then attacked its leaders to draw out their supposed Golden Core ancestor. Song Ankang killed her instantly and left clues for Tang Yelan to investigate while he continued guarding the family and cultivating.

• Qing Ling observed the Tang Family preparing to flee and concluded that the Fang Family’s destruction probably had not been their doing.
• Qing Ling decided to attack Tang Yelan, Tang Zhijia, and the Tang Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators to test whether their hidden Golden Core ancestor would appear.
• Song Ankang sensed Qing Ling near the Second Courtyard and killed her with one sword strike before she could enter.
• Song Ankang collected Qing Ling’s Ghost Dust and belongings but found no useful clues identifying her or her master.
• Song Ankang left Ghost Dust and a description of Qing Ling’s possessions in Tang Yelan’s bedchamber, then resumed cultivating and guarding the Tang Family Mansion.

Tang Yelan discovered evidence that a Golden Core ancestor had killed the ghost that attacked the Tang Family and wanted its identity investigated. The Sun Patrol Division and Night Watch Division traced the ghost to the Yinjiang Association, dropped their investigation of Song Ankang, and withdrew their guards from the Tang Family.

• Tang Yelan found Ghost Dust and written evidence left by Song Ankang, then called the Tang Family's leaders together.
• The Tang Family's leaders agreed to investigate the female ghost and report the evidence to the Sun Patrol Division and Night Watch Division.
• The Sun Patrol Division and Night Watch Division linked the female ghost to Prince Yinjiang and the Yinjiang Association, whose members had likely controlled the Fang Family.
• The authorities concluded that the Fang Family had probably been human traitors, stopped investigating Song Ankang, and turned their attention to Prince Yinjiang.
• The Tang Family watched as the Sun Patrol Division and Night Watch Division withdrew their forces from the family.

Tang Yelan prepared the Tang Family to evacuate after the Sun Patrol Division warned that Prince Yinjiang might attack, but the ghost secretly moved against the family anyway. Before the attack began, Song Ankang’s physique broke through to the level of an Eighth-Rank High-Grade Spiritual Artifact, leaving him powerful enough to sweep the Golden Core Realm.

• A Silver Constable told Tang Yelan that Prince Yinjiang was unlikely to attack again, but advised the Tang Family to scatter if the prediction proved wrong.
• Tang Yelan rejected the idea of trusting the ghost’s restraint and continued evacuating promising Tang Family members, including Tang Liuli, Tang Mingyue, and Song Ankang.
• Prince Yinjiang secretly infiltrated the Tang Family Mansion to avenge the Fang Family and the death of Qing Ling, despite the divisions’ expectation that it would not strike.
• A backlash from the Netherworld Divine Eye’s side effects broke through Song Ankang’s bottleneck and raised his physique to the level of an Eighth-Rank High-Grade Spiritual Artifact.
• Song Ankang’s strength surged, allowing him to contend with Golden Core Nine Revolutions True Persons and potentially challenge cultivators of the Spirit Refining Great Realm.

After his physical breakthrough strengthened his Netherworld Divine Eye, Song Ankang spotted Prince Yinjiang infiltrating the Tang Family Mansion and confronted it. The two began a fierce battle inside Tang Zhijia’s courtyard, leaving Tang Zhijia terrified but hopeful that his hidden ancestor could defeat the ghost.

• Song Ankang’s physical breakthrough advanced his Netherworld Divine Eye to the Minor Accomplishment Realm, allowing him to perceive spiritual energies and nearby ghosts.
• Song Ankang saw Prince Yinjiang use the Black Luo Bell to break through the Tang Family Mansion’s formations and enter Tang Zhijia’s courtyard.
• Prince Yinjiang revealed its plan to kill Tang Zhijia, Tang Yelan, and the rest of the Tang Family, then discovered Song Ankang waiting for it.
• Song Ankang and Prince Yinjiang fought with their Eighth-Rank High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, tearing up much of the courtyard while Tang Zhijia watched in fear.

Song Ankang fought Prince Yinjiang inside the Black Luo Bell and used the battle to improve his combat skills, while Tang Zhijia feared the ancestral elder would lose. After half an hour, Prince Yinjiang was baffled that Song Ankang remained lively despite bleeding so much.

• Prince Yinjiang unleashed his Yin Wind and Yin Dragon Vortex, briefly pushing Song Ankang onto the defensive.
• Song Ankang countered Prince Yinjiang's techniques with the Evil Warding Sword Technique, Treading Snow Without a Trace, and Blood Thunder Technique.
• Prince Yinjiang mistook Song Ankang's use of Blood Thunder Technique for a sign of weakness and began dragging out the fight.
• Song Ankang treated Prince Yinjiang as a sparring partner and steadily improved his battle experience while hiding his strongest defenses.
• Tang Zhijia panicked in the corner, believing Song Ankang could not hold out much longer.
• After half an hour of fighting, Prince Yinjiang wondered how Song Ankang could still be so lively after bleeding so heavily.

Song Ankang prolonged his fight with Prince Yinjiang to improve his combat skills, pretending to weaken even as his body recovered from the blood loss. He finally struck Prince Yinjiang with the Five Viscera Divine Wind, and Prince Yinjiang began preparing to flee.

• Song Ankang kept his Blood Thunder Technique below full power so Prince Yinjiang would survive long enough to hone his combat skills.
• Song Ankang pretended to weaken, prompting Prince Yinjiang to grow bolder and attack more fiercely while Song Ankang continued learning from him.
• Tang Zhijia watched Song Ankang endure the fight and repeatedly feared that his ancestor was about to fall.
• Song Ankang, unable to keep pretending to be weak, struck Prince Yinjiang with the Five Viscera Divine Wind and severely damaged his body from within.
• Prince Yinjiang realized Song Ankang was unusually powerful and prepared to escape.

Song Ankang killed Prince Yinjiang and agreed to let the Tang Family use his name for protection while he continued his own cultivation. He left Tang Zhijia in charge of nurturing the family and told him to let Tang Yelan lead its affairs.

• Prince Yinjiang tried to flee, but Song Ankang detonated the Five Viscera Divine Winds inside it and killed it.
• Song Ankang collected Prince Yinjiang's remains, Black Luo Bell, Blood Butcher Blade, Storage Ring, and other possessions, then warned Tang Zhijia to keep his secret techniques confidential.
• Tang Zhijia begged Song Ankang to return as the Tang Family's ancestor and protect the family from Prince Yinjiang's followers and other enemies.
• Song Ankang agreed that the Tang Family could announce he was cultivating near Kyoto and watching over them, in exchange for more than sixty percent of its profits.
• Song Ankang praised Tang Yelan's leadership and told Tang Zhijia to leave family affairs to her and focus on nurturing stronger descendants.
• After Song Ankang left, Tang Zhijia summoned the Tang Family's upper echelon for a meeting.

Tang Zhijia told the Tang Family’s leaders that their hidden Golden Core Nine Revolutions Old Ancestor had killed Prince Yinjiang and authorized the family to develop under his name. The leaders celebrated their new protection, while Tang Yelan also took comfort in the Tang Family’s future.

• Tang Zhijia asked the Tang Family leaders to call him Great Elder and declared that the family had only one Old Ancestor, a Golden Core Nine Revolutions True Person.
• Tang Zhijia revealed that the Old Ancestor had killed Prince Yinjiang during the Ghostly Creatures’ attack and confirmed the Old Ancestor’s Golden Core Invincible strength.
• Tang Zhijia said the Old Ancestor had permitted the Tang Family to act under his name, while reserving sixty percent of future profits to support his cultivation.
• Tang Zhijia urged the leaders to keep a low profile and avoid troubling the secluded Old Ancestor, then reported Prince Yinjiang’s death to the Sun Patrol Division and Night Watch Division with evidence.
• Tang Yelan told Xiachen and Dongxue that the Old Ancestor’s protection eased her worries about the Fang Family’s assets and future threats.

After defeating Prince Yinjiang, Song Ankang claimed his treasures and combat experience, while the Tang Family celebrated the belief that their ancestor was a Golden Core Nine Revolutions expert. Back at the White Jade Mulberry Forest, Tang Liuli confronted Song Ankang with questions about his true strength and regretted not making a move on him earlier.

• Tang Yelan and the concubine maids rejoiced that the Tang Family had a Golden Core Nine Revolutions ancestor who could rival Pingyao King's Mansion.
• Song Ankang reflected on the combat experience and fighting techniques he had gained from Prince Yinjiang, which greatly increased his combat power.
• Song Ankang refined Prince Yinjiang's Black Luo Bell and considered selling the Blood Butcher Blade, which suited Ghostly Creatures better than him.
• Song Ankang found valuable treasures, defensive talismans, and other resources in Prince Yinjiang's Storage Ring, bringing his total assets to at least ten million Low-grade Spirit Stones.
• Song Ankang returned to the White Jade Mulberry Forest, where Tang Liuli excitedly questioned his strength and said she should have made her move on him earlier.