Chapter Summaries

Chen Qing declined the Shen Family’s offer to become a retainer, repaid Elder Pei, and learned more about the True Disciple path and the Spear Dao Grandmaster at Wanfa Peak. After warning him about Lu Chenming and explaining the benefits of the sect’s Cave Heaven, Qu He assigned Chen Qing to guard Blackwater Abyss Prison on Prison Peak, where Chen agreed to report in three days.

• Zhu Yu accepted a well-paid medicinal garden guard assignment after disciples and stewards sought to curry favor with him through his connection to Chen Qing.
• Shen Ming invited Chen Qing to join the Shen Family as a retainer, but Chen Qing declined to avoid being drawn into factional conflicts.
• Chen Qing repaid his nine-thousand-point debt to Pei Tingchun, who confirmed that Chen had entered the True Martial Demon Purging Spear and told him about the Spear Dao Grandmaster at Wanfa Peak.
• Qu He warned Chen Qing to beware of Lu Chenming, described the benefits reserved for True Disciples, and explained the Cave Heaven’s importance.
• Qu He offered Chen Qing a guard post at Blackwater Abyss Prison, and Chen accepted the thousand-Contribution-Point monthly assignment and received a passage token.

Wan Shangyi reshaped the True Disciple Candidates’ gathering while Han Xiong faced abandonment after losing to Chen Qing. On his first patrol of Blackwater Abyss Prison, Chen Qing met Master Qiku, learned that his martial art traced back to a Pure Land secret transmission, and discovered that the prison’s Killing Intent rose from below.

• Wan Shangyi decided to invite Chen Qing, Meng Qianxue, and Luo Qianjue to the gathering while leaving the injured Han Xiong out.
• Han Xiong awoke from two days of unconsciousness and learned that the Shen Family had withdrawn its support and Luo Chengxuan demanded repayment of his Contribution Points.
• Chen Qing used Qu He’s token to enter Blackwater Abyss Prison for his guard duty.
• Master Qiku introduced himself as the former Chief Seat of Wangji Hut’s Great Sun Courtyard and explained that Chen Qing’s Eight Extremes Vajra Body came from a Pure Land body-tempering art.
• Master Qiku warned Chen Qing to patrol only the first level because the Killing Intent below had grown restless.
• Chen Qing patrolled the first level and sensed that its dense Killing Intent came from beneath his feet.

Chen Qing guarded the first level of Blackwater Abyss Prison, where he encountered dangerous prisoners and learned that Master Qiku’s Buddhist arts could cleanse the prison’s Killing Intent. After Master Qiku revealed the Great Sun Tathagata Pure World Mantra, Chen Qing remained on guard, quietly cultivating and watching the prisoners.

• Chen Qing received Yang Tong, a suspected spy accused of leaking Tianbao Supreme Sect’s martial secrets, and learned that the first level also held spies, traitors, and captured Wuji Demonic Sect experts.
• Luo Xiangru tried to draw Chen Qing into conversation, but Fang Hui warned him that she was Qi Xunnan’s favored concubine and a seductress.
• Luo Xiangru revealed that Fang Hui had killed a True Disciple Candidate and three elite Inner Sect disciples, and was being used as a living test subject by Danxia Peak.
• Master Qiku returned with a wooden fish and used the Great Sun Tathagata Pure World Mantra to drive the accumulated Killing Intent from the prisoners.
• Chen Qing endured the Sanskrit Sound without discomfort, and Master Qiku explained that the mantra came from the Great Sun Tathagata True Scripture before leaving.

Chen Qing investigated Master Qiku’s history and the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body, then repeatedly sought Qiku’s guidance while guarding Prison Peak. Qiku finally explained why Chen Qing could not simply learn the Buddhist secret art, leaving him to confront the need for a Buddhist foundation.

• Chen Qing researched Pure Land, Wangji Hut, and the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body, discovering that Qiku was a former Guangmu Vajra who had been expelled from the Chan Sect.
• Zhu Yu told Chen Qing that He Shuang had reached Tianbao Tower’s thirty-first floor, matching Lu Chenming’s record.
• Wu Anren reacted to He Shuang’s achievement by resuming his sword practice with renewed urgency, while Lu Chenming faced pressure to defend his True Disciple seat.
• Chen Qing used his guard shifts at Prison Peak to seek Qiku’s guidance on body-tempering, and Qiku recognized that he wanted to learn the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body.
• Qiku told Chen Qing that the secret art could not be lightly taught and required a foundation in Buddhist Dharma to cultivate successfully.

Chen Qing obtained the first four layers of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body from Master Qiku and quickly cultivated it to the third layer. Meanwhile, Qiku confronted a captive on Blackwater Abyss Prison’s fifth level, and Chen Qing declined an invitation to give a martial lecture so he could keep cultivating.

• Master Qiku taught Chen Qing the first four layers of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body and gave him three Buddhist scriptures in exchange for Chen Qing’s promise to help with righteous matters if able.
• Elder Zhang Yi tested a new, powerful Gang-tempering pill on Fang Hui, but the experiment failed and left Fang Hui unconscious.
• Chen Qing practiced the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body and advanced to its second layer, then converted his existing Qi and Blood to reach the third layer over the following days.
• Master Qiku visited the fifth level of Blackwater Abyss Prison, where a chained captive taunted him and claimed that Great Snow Mountain could still free him.
• Zhu Tao invited Chen Qing to lead a martial lecture at Martial Discussion Peak, but Chen Qing declined because he wanted to cultivate in seclusion.

Chen Qing’s cultivation advanced during five quiet months, but a mislabeled experimental pill nearly caused trouble before he turned the mistake into compensation from Zhang Yi. The chapter ended with Zhang Yi agreeing to sell him pills at half price while Chen Qing kept the extra medicine.

• Chen Qing cultivated for five months, strengthening his Five Elements True Gang, completing the third layer of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body, and reaching Greater Mastery in two martial arts.
• Chen Qing bought pills from He Zhi, then learned from Zhu Yu that the Wang Family was secretly pursuing its investigation and that He Shuang planned to challenge Lu Chenming.
• Chen Qing took an experimental Gang Quenching Pill that He Zhi had mistaken for an ordinary one, but his strong physique let him withstand its violent medicinal force.
• Zhang Yi discovered the mistake, rushed to Chen Qing, and gave him Azure Cloud Mist Pills and Essence Nourishing Pills as compensation.
• Chen Qing pressed Zhang Yi for a lasting discount, and Zhang Yi agreed to sell him pills at half price; Chen Qing then dropped his feigned weakness and smiled at his gains.

Chen Qing attended a banquet hosted by Wang De, who questioned him about Wang Zhifu’s death and tried to arrange a marriage alliance, but Tang Lin judged him unlikely to be the murderer. Wang De ordered Tang Lin to secretly watch Luo Qianjue, while Chen Qing returned to the sect resolved to grow stronger and pursue the True Disciple position; meanwhile, He Shuang decided to challenge Lu Chenming.

• Wang Lu delivered Wang De’s invitation, and Chen Qing agreed to attend the banquet at the Wang residence.
• Wang Qi welcomed Chen Qing and showed him the Wang Family’s exotic beasts before escorting him to meet Wang De and Tang Lin.
• Wang De questioned Chen Qing about Wang Zhifu’s death, and Chen Qing named Liao Chuan as a possible lead while concealing his own involvement.
• Wang De offered Chen Qing Beast Origin Pills and proposed a marriage alliance, but Chen Qing declined romance until he reached the True Origin Realm.
• Tang Lin judged Chen Qing’s responses convincing, so Wang De ordered him to secretly investigate Luo Qianjue instead.
• Chen Qing returned to the sect determined to strengthen himself, while Gong Nansong urged He Shuang to challenge Lu Chenming for the True Disciple position and He Shuang resolved to do so.

Chen Qing discovered that his Five Elements True Gang might be unstable because it lacked the master outline of the Primordial Five Elements True Scripture, and he decided to visit Li Baichuan at the Wutai Sect for answers. Before leaving, he met Han Guxi, who welcomed him into the True Martial lineage and discussed finding him guidance from the mysterious Master of Wanfa Peak.

• Chen Qing asked Qiku whether the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body interfered with True Gang, and Qiku said the two forms of cultivation should complement each other.
• At Wanfa Tower, Chen Qing concluded that his fused Five Elements True Gang was only five separate forces joined together, not a seamless whole, because he lacked the Primordial Five Elements True Scripture’s master outline.
• Chen Qing decided to return to the Wutai Sect to ask Li Baichuan about the master outline and the origins of the True Martial Seal.
• Qu He brought Chen Qing to meet Han Guxi, who praised his conduct, welcomed him into the True Martial lineage, and promised support if others bullied him.
• After Chen Qing left, Han Guxi told Qu He that the Master of Wanfa Peak might be the best person to guide Chen Qing, and instructed him to watch over Chen Qing without forcing his development.

Chen Qing received regular rare-pill allocations from the True Martial lineage and traveled to Yunlin Prefecture to ask Li Baichuan about problems with his Five Elements True Gang. Li Baichuan explained that Chen Qing needed the Primordial Five Elements True Scripture’s general outline, then revealed he had possessed it all along.

• Deng Ziheng told Chen Qing that the Pulse Master had approved a monthly share of resources, including Dust Settling Pills and Dragon Tiger Foundation Nourishing Pills, to help him become a True Disciple.
• Zhao Ganjun complained to Sun Yinglan that the lineage was directing precious resources toward Chen Qing instead of older disciples like himself, and vowed to watch whether Chen Qing reached True Discipleship.
• Chen Qing spent six thousand Contribution Points on three precious herbs and flew to Yunlin Prefecture on the Golden Feather Eagle.
• Chen Qing visited Li Baichuan and described how his Five Elements True Gang felt sluggish and poorly fused when he tried to control it.
• Li Baichuan explained that Chen Qing’s exotic treasures had forced the five strands together without truly unifying them, and Chen Qing identified the missing Primordial Five Elements True Scripture general outline as the cause.
• Li Baichuan handed Chen Qing an ancient leather scroll containing the general outline, leaving Chen Qing astonished that he had possessed it all along.

Chen Qing obtained the general outline of the Primordial Five Elements True Scripture from Li Baichuan and used it to transform his Five Elements True Gang into Primordial Five Elements True Gang. After emerging from seclusion, he discovered that 300 Contribution Points had mysteriously been deducted and went to question Qu He.

• Li Baichuan gave Chen Qing the scripture's general outline in exchange for rare medicinal ingredients, assessed Zhang Yi's pill, and cryptically urged Chen Qing to visit Tianbao Tower.
• On his return to the Tianbao Supreme Sect, Chen Qing heard that He Shuang had lost her challenge to Lu Chenming, who had established himself as a formidable Gang Jin realm contender.
• Chen Qing studied the general outline and transformed his Five Elements True Gang into Primordial Five Elements True Gang, then concealed his new strength and cultivated until he had mastered its circulation.
• At Myriad Phenomena Hall, Chen Qing found that his Prison Peak duty reward had been recorded as 700 Contribution Points instead of 1,000.
• Suspecting an unexplained deduction, Chen Qing set aside his plans to gather medicinal ingredients and hurried to Qu He's residence to investigate.

Chen Qing learned that the Nine Heavens Vein’s Wu Hanhai had cut his Contribution Points, then bought Zhang Yi’s powerful new pills while preparing to break through his bottleneck. Chen Qing’s suggestion to add Red Blood Bodhi transformed the pill, leaving Zhang Yi astonished by Chen Qing’s apparent alchemical insight.

• Chen Qing visited Qu He, who explained that Wu Hanhai had deducted three hundred Contribution Points and that the Nine Heavens Vein was suppressing the True Martial lineage.
• Qu He told Chen Qing that Li Yujun and the traitor Li Qingyu had once been closely bonded, and that Li Qingyu had killed Li Yujun’s master during his defection.
• Qu He resolved to find a way to make the Nine Heavens Vein pay, while Chen Qing decided to remember the deduction and went to Danxia Peak to buy pills.
• Chen Qing persuaded Zhang Yi to sell him two bottles of his new pills at twenty Contribution Points each, then suggested adding Red Blood Bodhi to improve them.
• Zhang Yi tested the suggestion, refined pills with gentler medicinal power and more than thirty percent greater overall effect, and hurried out to bring one to Chen Qing.

After months of accelerated cultivation, Chen Qing attended Meng Qianxue’s gathering, where the candidates accepted that Lu Chenming was unlikely to be challenged before reaching the True Origin Realm. Chen Qing returned to seclusion and broke through to Gang Strength Late-stage, manifesting his True Gang externally.

• Lu Chenming reviewed the candidates’ strengths, concluded none posed an immediate threat, and resolved to break through to the True Origin Realm and pursue higher-ranked seats.
• With Zhang Yi’s improved pills, Chen Qing cultivated for five months, bringing his True Gang close to a breakthrough and advancing his body-tempering technique.
• At Meng Qianxue’s gathering, Wan Shangyi reported that Lu Chenming had an estimated eighty percent chance of reaching the True Origin Realm within three years, and the candidates turned their attention to their own breakthroughs.
• Han Xiong apologized to Chen Qing after the gathering, and Chen Qing accepted his attempt at reconciliation.
• After five more days of cultivation, Chen Qing broke through to Gang Strength Late-stage and manifested his True Gang outside his body.

After breaking through to Gang Strength Late-stage, Chen Qing focused on advancing his Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body and investigated the growing unrest in Blackwater Abyss Prison. He learned he could patrol the second underground level, where denser Killing Intent might help him break through to the fourth level of his body-tempering art.

• Chen Qing consolidated his Gang Strength Late-stage cultivation and began intensively cultivating the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body.
• Chen Qing caught three Ice Crystal Silver Cod at Bibo Pond and met Zhu Yu, who reported on Wu Hanhai, opposition to Chen Qing’s resource support, and Chen Qing’s fall to tenth place in the Tianbao Tower rankings.
• Zhu Yu told Chen Qing that he might marry an Outer Sect junior sister, and the two ate together at the Xuwang Mountain dining hall.
• An attendant disciple told Chen Qing that the Killing Intent in Blackwater Abyss Prison had grown denser, so Chen Qing prepared to patrol Prison Peak.
• At the prison, Chen Qing ignored Luo Xiangru’s seduction, and Qiku said Chen Qing’s physique could withstand the second underground level but warned him not to enter the third.
• Chen Qing resolved to use the second level’s stronger Killing Intent to temper his body and seek a breakthrough to the fourth level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body.

Chen Qing cultivated in Blackwater Abyss Prison until he advanced the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body to its fourth layer, then returned to Tianbao Tower to test his strength. His climb drew the attention of Wu Anren, Wan Shangyi, Qian Baole, and disciples across the sect.

• Chen Qing cultivated on the second level of Blackwater Abyss Prison, where Huang Chengzhi tried to recruit him into delivering a letter in exchange for a treasure.
• Master Qiku identified Huang Chengzhi as a dangerous Gu Sect elder imprisoned for killing an expert of the Tianbao Supreme Sect, and Chen Qing refused to help him.
• After the prison’s Killing Intent faded, Chen Qing broke through to the fourth layer of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body and spent two days mastering his increased strength.
• Zhu Yu told Chen Qing that his Xuwang Mountain ranking had fallen to thirteenth, so Chen Qing decided to challenge Tianbao Tower again.
• Chen Qing entered Tianbao Tower, and word of his challenge spread through the sect.
• Wu Anren, Wan Shangyi, and Qian Baole abandoned their plans and headed to Tianbao Tower to watch Chen Qing’s climb.

Chen Qing defeated the Tianbao Tower’s thirtieth-floor puppet with his physical strength and cleared the thirty-first floor by overcoming two coordinated Gang Strength Perfection puppets. He stopped before the thirty-second floor, and his record drew immediate attention at Xuwang Mountain as he left the tower.

• Chen Qing defeated the thirtieth-floor puppet barehanded, testing the power of his fourth-layer Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body.
• Chen Qing advanced to the thirty-first floor and used his body and True Martial Demon Purging Spear to destroy its two coordinated puppets.
• Chen Qing chose not to challenge the thirty-second floor, suppressing the agitated purple light cluster in his mind as he exited Tianbao Tower.
• The crowd saw Chen Qing’s record reach the thirty-first floor, and disciples hurried to spread the news while Wu Anren left under pressure.
• Meng Qianxue, Wan Shangyi, Qian Baole, and Zhu Yu congratulated Chen Qing, who said he would consolidate his cultivation before departing with Zhu Yu.
• Wan Shangyi told Qian Baole that Chen Qing was not ready to challenge Lu Chenming, whose Gang Strength Perfection and saber intent made him exceptionally difficult to surpass.

After Chen Qing cleared Tianbao Tower’s thirty-first floor, Lu Chenming saw him as a growing threat and ordered him watched. Chen Qing spent two months perfecting his spear technique, then formally challenged Lu Chenming, with the duel set for five days later.

• Lu Chenming learned that Chen Qing had passed Tianbao Tower’s thirty-first floor and ordered his junior brother to monitor Chen Qing’s cultivation, movements, and possible challenge plans.
• Qu He brought Chen Qing three thousand Contribution Points and a Solidify Essence Foundation Pill, then warned him that Lu Chenming and the Nine Heavens Vein were watching him.
• Chen Qing told Qu He he planned to challenge Lu Chenming after consolidating his cultivation, then devoted himself to advancing the True Martial Demon Purging Spear.
• Zhu Yu was removed from his medicine garden post, recognized the move as pressure from Lu Chenming’s side, and kept the setback from Chen Qing while he cultivated in seclusion.
• After two months, Chen Qing reached the Perfection realm in the True Martial Demon Purging Spear and went to Seven Stars Platform to challenge Lu Chenming.
• Steward Wu recorded Chen Qing’s challenge and scheduled it for five days later.

Chen Qing challenged Lu Chenming for the tenth True Disciple Seat, and their battle at the Seven Stars Platform drew the attention of the sect. After revealing his Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body and Three True Gangs Fusion, Chen Qing met Lu Chenming’s saber intent with his strongest spear strike, leaving the result unresolved.

• Lu Chenming received Chen Qing’s challenge and prepared for the fight after Zhao Mu warned him that the Nine Heavens Vein’s elders would be watching.
• The Shen Family discussed Chen Qing’s challenge, while Luo Chengxuan and Shen Wanqing judged that Lu Chenming would likely defeat him.
• Han Guxi told Qu He to attend the challenge and oversee the fight, and news of Chen Qing’s challenge spread through the sect.
• At the Seven Stars Platform, Chen Qing and Lu Chenming exchanged attacks; Chen Qing revealed his perfected True Martial Demon Purging Spear and fourth-layer Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body, forcing Lu Chenming onto the defensive.
• Lu Chenming unleashed saber intent, but Chen Qing revealed Three True Gangs Fusion and countered with Demon Subduing Mountain Suppressing; the chapter ended before the result was shown.

Chen Qing defeated Lu Chenming and was officially named the Tianbao Supreme Sect’s tenth True Disciple, prompting celebrations in the True Martial lineage and alarm among the sect’s factions. As Chen Qing began recovering, the Nine Heavens Vein and Shen Family considered the consequences of his rise and their earlier misjudgments.

• Deng Ziheng declared Chen Qing the winner and the sect’s tenth True Disciple, and Bell Peak rang once to announce his promotion.
• Qu He escorted the injured Chen Qing away from the Seven Stars Platform, where Chen Qing inspected his damaged armor and began healing in his Quiet Room.
• Luo Ziming learned that Chen Qing had defeated Lu Chenming, ordered aid for Lu Chenming, and commanded a close investigation of Chen Qing and the True Martial lineage.
• Shen Jiuhe received confirmation of Chen Qing’s promotion and summoned Shen Boyuan and Shen Wanqing to discuss the family’s failed judgment and its response.
• Shen Xinyue learned that Chen Qing had become a True Disciple and sat silently before her zither, staring at its broken string.

After becoming a True Disciple, Chen Qing moved to True Martial Peak, received a spirit treasure spear, and learned about the privileges and dangers of his new position. He settled into his new residence and planned to visit a Cave Heaven, advance his body-tempering art, and gather medicinal materials.

• Qu He explained Chen Qing’s True Disciple privileges, the balance among the True Disciples, and the threat posed by rivals who might reach the True Origin Realm first.
• Han Guxi praised Chen Qing’s service and bestowed the Mysterious Dragon Spear, a low-grade spirit treasure.
• After Chen Qing left, Qu He asked Han Guxi about his visit to Wanfa Peak, and Han Guxi said the outcome was hard to judge.
• A deacon brought Chen Qing to his new courtyard on True Martial Peak, where Qing Dai, Bai Zhi, Su Wen, and Zi Su were assigned to attend to him.
• Chen Qing tested the Mysterious Dragon Spear, declined Qing Dai’s offer to help him change, and planned his next steps while bathing.

Chen Qing entered the sect’s Cave Heaven to cultivate and discovered that the Purple Light in his mind reacted violently to its core. A mysterious woman approached the core as a storm erupted, and after Chen Qing left, Elder Xiang’s questions and Luo Ziming’s scrutiny left the cause of the disturbance unresolved.

• Chen Qing shared a meal prepared by Zi Su, then cultivated while Qing Dai reminded the other women to serve him diligently and improve their cultivation.
• Chen Qing studied the Cave Heaven at Wanfa Peak, then visited its entrance and received permission from Elder Xiang to cultivate in the outer region.
• Inside the Cave Heaven, Chen Qing’s Purple Light surged toward the core, where a violent storm erupted and a mysterious black-robed woman walked toward the dangerous region.
• Chen Qing cultivated until his Identity Jade Token warned him his time was nearly up, then left the Cave Heaven with his True Gang strengthened.
• Several angry elders gathered outside, and Chen Qing told Elder Xiang that he had been caught in the disturbance but was unharmed.
• Luo Ziming questioned when Chen Qing had entered, but Elder Xiang said he did not remember the exact time.