Chapter Summaries

After the Four Great Sects exposed the Demonic Sect’s network in Yunlin Prefecture, fleeing Great Clans plunged the region into chaos. He Yuzhou dispatched Chen Qing to intercept the Zhu Clan, while other Wutai Sect teams targeted the fleeing families and Demonic Sect strongholds.

• Chen Qing examined his loot and suspected Bai Qingquan had secretly used his position as a Liu Family steward to aid the Demonic Sect, while remaining wary of the Liu Family.
• Du Lingchuan tortured a captured Demonic Sect expert, learned of strongholds and Great Clan collaborators, and killed him after extracting his information.
• Shi Kaishan ordered a coordinated raid with the Four Great Sects, but the Liu Family, Zhu Clan, and other major families escaped with wealth and martial arts manuals, triggering widespread pursuit and disorder.
• He Yuzhou ordered Chen Qing to pursue the Zhu Clan branch and recover its secret vault key and the rumored Thick Earth Treasure Cultivation Art; other disciples and elders received separate targets.
• Chen Qing selected several disciples, including Xu Qi, and quietly left the sect to pursue the Zhu Clan, while Luo Xinya stayed behind because she was too conspicuous.

Chen Qing killed Zhu Xin after rescuing Xiang Jaren and Xiang Xiaoling, then claimed the Black Iron Box found among Zhu Xin’s belongings as Alliance spoils. Miao Zhiheng demanded the box and threatened Chen Qing, who refused to back down.

• Miao Zhiheng pursued the wounded Zhu Xin through Black Stone Ridge while other martial artists held back from intervening.
• Chen Qing, Xu Qi, and Zhao Shi stopped at a tea stall, where Chen Qing met Luo Wei and the physician Xiang Jaren with his granddaughter, Xiang Xiaoling.
• Zhu Xin burst into the tea stall and attacked Xiang Jaren and Xiang Xiaoling, but Chen Qing intercepted him and killed him in three moves.
• Chen Qing searched Zhu Xin’s belongings and found a Black Iron Box, which Xiang Jaren identified as a treasure.
• Miao Zhiheng arrived, offered up to fifty thousand taels for the box, and then threatened to take it by force when Chen Qing refused.
• Chen Qing invoked the Four Sect Alliance’s authority over Zhu Xin’s spoils and rejected Luo Wei’s advice to yield, declaring that he would not avoid Miao Zhiheng’s challenge.

Chen Qing defeated Miao Zhiheng in a fierce duel over the Black Iron Box, prompting Miao to concede and withdraw while secretly vowing revenge. Luo Wei then told Chen Qing that Zhu Yi planned to flee east by way of Blackwater Wharf and carried the Earth Core Marrow Pearl, leaving Chen Qing with a new lead in the hunt.

• Miao Zhiheng attacked Chen Qing over the Black Iron Box, but Chen Qing countered his saber techniques and wounded him with the Cloud-Coiling Spear.
• Chen Qing resisted Miao Zhiheng's Soul-Shocking Howl with the Eight Extremes Vajra Body and struck him hard enough to force his surrender.
• Miao Zhiheng publicly relinquished the Black Iron Box and left, then secretly vowed to kill Chen Qing after advancing to Gang Jin.
• Xiang Jaren and Xiang Xiaoling thanked Chen Qing and departed for Lin'an Prefecture.
• Luo Wei told Chen Qing that Zhu Yi had disguised himself and planned to travel east from Blackwater Wharf, carrying the Earth Core Marrow Pearl.

Chen Qing followed a secret report to Blackwater Wharf, where rival sects converged on the disguised Zhu Yi and the treasures he carried. A fake Earth Core Marrow Pearl drew the fighters into chaos, while two sinister newcomers revealed themselves as Netherworld Guards under Blood Rakshasa.

• Chen Qing sent Xu Qi and Zhao Shi to continue searching for the Zhu Clan, opened the Black Iron Box, and learned the Formless Art before heading for Blackwater Wharf.
• At Pingyang Inn, Chen Qing met Yan Yaoyang and Li Lei as Earth Origin Sect and Golden Sand Fort fighters gathered, and Zhu Yi was exposed as the young woman they had surrounded.
• Zhu Yi threw a manual fragment, a pearl, and a silk bundle in different directions, and Chen Qing recognized that the pearl was fake before passing it to Yu Jiayao to draw the factions outside.
• Zhu Yi revealed his powerful demonic cultivation and fought Yan Yaoyang while Chen Qing killed two Zhu Clan disciples, then Chen Qing blocked a hidden attack on Yan Yaoyang from a seemingly frightened man.
• The man and his companion drained the essence from the wounded Zhu Clan disciples, and the innkeeper identified them as Netherworld Guards under Blood Rakshasa.

Chen Qing killed the Nether Guard inside the inn, recovered the real Earth Core Marrow Pearl from Zhu Yi, and emerged to find the battlefield outside in chaos. After killing the second Nether Guard with a powerful spear strike, he hurried after the fleeing Miao Zhiheng.

• The male Nether Guard killed the innkeeper and attacked Chen Qing, but Chen Qing defeated him and demanded the real Earth Core Marrow Pearl from Zhu Yi.
• Zhu Yi revealed that he had swallowed and sealed the real pearl, then died after Chen Qing pierced his heart; Chen Qing recovered the pearl from his abdomen.
• Outside, Miao Zhiheng wounded Shi Long while fighting Lu Da and Li Lei, and Li Lei fled after Yan Yaoyang falsely reported that Chen Qing had died inside.
• The female Nether Guard drained Shi Long and Yu Jiayao of their true qi and essence blood, then pursued the wounded Miao Zhiheng as Lu Da helped him escape.
• Chen Qing emerged carrying the dead male Nether Guard's head, provoking the female Nether Guard to attack him; he killed her with a spear strike that split her storm apart.
• Chen Qing gathered nearby valuables and hurried after Miao Zhiheng.

Chen Qing escaped a Gang realm expert after finding Miao Zhiheng and Lu Da, then studied the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and considered fusing Five Elements True Qi. Meanwhile, Yan Yaoyang and Li Lei mistakenly believed Chen Qing had died at the inn and hurried back to report the incident to the Wutai Sect.

• Chen Qing found Miao Zhiheng and Lu Da being treated by Senior Yu, an Earth Origin Sect expert, and fled after Senior Yu struck him with a Gang Jin palm.
• Chen Qing escaped to a mountain stream, recognized Senior Yu as likely one of the Earth Origin Nine Elders, and resolved to repay the injury someday.
• Chen Qing examined the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and realized it could purify Kuntu True Qi, prompting him to consider seeking treasures for the other four elements.
• Chen Qing hid in a secluded cave, stored his spoils, and decided to recover before studying the pearl further.
• Yan Yaoyang told Li Lei that Chen Qing had likely died during the Nether Guard's attack, and the two set off to report the incident to the Wutai Sect.

Wutai Sect learned that Chen Qing had gone missing during the battle at Blackwater Wharf, and an investigation found no body, prompting the sect to presume he was dead. As rumors spread, Xu Qi considered pursuing the vacant Chief Disciple position, while Hanyu Valley received confirmation of Chen Qing’s death and Leng Qianqiu urged Xiao Bieli to move on.

• Nie Shanshan returned to Wutai Sect with the Liu Family’s Converging Flow Strength, reporting that Tingyu Tower had taken most of the family’s valuables and that the Demonic Sect had supported them.
• A steward reported that Yan Yaoyang and Li Lei had escaped a Demonic Sect attack near Blackwater Wharf, but Chen Qing might have died there; He Yuzhou sent Sang Yanping to investigate.
• Sang Yanping searched the ruined inn and nearby area but found no remains or belongings identifying Chen Qing, and Wutai Sect members began treating his death as likely.
• Xu Qi heard the rumors at Qingmu Institute, where Hong Liangcai urged him to seek the vacant Chief Disciple position; Xu Qi said he would consider it.
• Leng Qianqiu heard a report confirming Chen Qing’s death and told Xiao Bieli to put aside his rivalry and focus on the Demonic Sect.

Yu He abandoned the search at Blackwater Wharf after discovering that the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and cultivation text were fakes, while Wutai Sect leaders discussed Chen Qing’s presumed death and returned protection plan. Chen Qing came back alive and concealed what happened, letting the sect blame Yu He for the Netherworld Guards’ disappearance as Peng Zhen suspected Chen Qing had the real pearl.

• Yu He discovered that the pearl and text given to him were fakes, threatened Miao Zhiheng, and left Blackwater Wharf with Lu Da.
• Nie Shanshan questioned Sang Yanping’s report that Chen Qing had died, and Sang explained that declaring him dead would shield him from enemies searching for him.
• Sang Yanping revealed that he had secretly arranged people to search for Chen Qing, while He Yuzhou said the Netherworld Guards had not returned to a known Demonic Sect stronghold.
• A steward announced that Chen Qing had returned, and Chen Qing told the Wutai Sect leaders he had fled the inn and hidden in a cave to recover.
• The Wutai Sect leaders accepted Peng Zhen’s suggestion that Yu He had fought the Netherworld Guards, and Chen Qing let them believe he knew nothing about the battle.
• Peng Zhen asked whether Chen Qing had obtained the Earth Core Marrow Pearl, but Chen Qing denied seeing it after Yu Jiayao took it.

After returning to Wutai Sect, Chen Qing secured the Earth Core Marrow Pearl, began preparing to pursue Gang Jin and Five Elements fusion, and dealt with unrest among his fellow disciples. A month later, he attended the Prefectural Lord’s banquet, where he learned that the Tianbao Supreme Sect might gather geniuses from more than a hundred sects at Xuwang Mountain for training against the Wuji Demonic Sect.

• Chen Qing told Li Baichuan about the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and asked about fusing True Qi with five different treasures; Li Baichuan hinted that he could help for a sufficient benefit.
• Chen Qing returned to Qingmu Institute, reassured Yu Bao'er, and received visits from Lin Xue and Nie Shanshan; afterward he inventoried his gains and wrote Miao Zhiheng and Yu He in his notebook as targets for future revenge.
• Chen Qing obtained rubbings of five cultivation arts from Elder Ma, while Xu Qi confessed that Hong Liangcai had tried to enlist his support for the Chief Disciple position.
• Hu Mei concluded that Yu He was the likeliest cause of the Netherworld Guards’ disappearance and set out with Zuo Feng for Lin'an Prefecture to retaliate against the Earth Origin Sect’s disciples.
• During the month Chen Qing cultivated, Shen Xiuyong broke through to Gang Jin and hosted a banquet; Chen Qing later accepted an invitation to the Prefectural Lord’s gathering for the Five Heroes and Seven Beauties.
• At the Prefectural Lord’s banquet, Chen Qing reunited with other young talents and heard that the Tianbao Supreme Sect might select disciples from over a hundred sects for training at Xuwang Mountain.

At Bian Zhengze’s banquet, Zhao Lin announced that the Jingwu Guard would offer voluntary missions and military merit exchanges, prompting Chen Qing and the others to weigh the benefits against the Imperial Court’s influence. Chen Qing later sold his accumulated spoils at Hundred Treasures Pavilion, learned that Five Elements treasures were usually found through barter or high-level auctions, and chose to focus on cultivation rather than venture into the Ten Thousand Poisons Swamp.

• Bian Zhengze welcomed the young sect talents to his banquet, where Zhao Lin announced voluntary Jingwu Guard missions and military merit that could be exchanged for rare resources, including Gang Condensing Pills.
• Zhao Lin distributed Military Merit Tokens, and after the banquet he named Chen Qing, Nie Shanshan, Xiao Bieli, Han Dang, Feng Shuhao, and Jiang Bai as the six talents he favored most.
• Chen Qing, Nie Shanshan, Yan Yaoyang, Shi Ziyi, and Fang Rui discussed the offer; Fang Rui and Yan Yaoyang leaned toward accepting it, while Chen Qing and Nie Shanshan urged caution.
• Chen Qing disguised himself and sold his collected materials, weapons, and pills to Steward Qian at Hundred Treasures Pavilion for 287,000 taels of silver.
• Chen Qing asked Steward Qian about Earth Core Marrow Pearls and learned that Five Elements treasures rarely entered ordinary markets, though they might appear at high-level auctions or be traded by barter.
• Chen Qing considered exploring the Ten Thousand Poisons Swamp but decided to leave, settle down, and improve his cultivation first.

Chen Qing discovered that the Earth Core Marrow Pearl could not be safely harmonized with his Qingmu True Qi without other elemental treasures, then broke through to the eleventh regular meridian. He traveled with Shen Xiuyong to Lin'an Prefecture to bid on a Wood Sun Jade and visit the Haisha Sect, arriving at its mountain gate.

• He Yuzhou learned from the white-robed man that a high-ranking mole had warned Heart Eater about the Xiyang Mountain operation, then urged the man to kill Heart Eater and take over the Yunlin Branch.
• Chen Qing found that the Earth Core Marrow Pearl overwhelmed his Qingmu True Qi, so he concluded that he needed more elemental treasures before attempting a fusion.
• After three months of cultivation, Chen Qing opened his eleventh regular meridian and learned from Yu Bao'er that Shen Xiuyong wanted to see him.
• Shen Xiuyong showed Chen Qing an auction list featuring Wood Sun Jade, and Chen Qing agreed to travel with him to Lin'an Prefecture to try to obtain it.
• Shen Xiuyong and Chen Qing rode to Lin'an Prefecture, where Shen described its major powers and the Haisha Sect; they arrived at the sect's mountain gate the following afternoon.

Chen Qing reunited with Haisha Sect elders and Li Yuan, whose regret resurfaced when he learned how far Chen Qing had risen. Qiao Hongyun arranged a spar between Chen Qing and Chen Lin, and Zhou Yu recognized Chen Qing as the match began.

• Qiao Hongyun welcomed Shen Xiuyong and Chen Qing to the Haisha Sect, where Chen Lin recognized Chen Qing as the disciple who had defeated Miao Zhiheng.
• Li Yuan recognized Chen Qing and realized that the promising young man he had once rejected had become the Wutai Sect's Chief Disciple.
• Qiao Hongyun proposed a contest between Chen Qing and Chen Lin, and Chen Qing agreed after Shen Xiuyong promised to help him obtain the Wood Sun Jade.
• Haisha Sect disciples gathered at the training ground to watch Chen Qing face Chen Lin, while Zhou Yu recognized Chen Qing and reacted in shock.
• Zhou Yu heard spectators predict that Chen Lin would win as the two men faced each other.

Chen Qing battled Chen Lin at the Haisha Sect training ground, matching his perfected Qingyun Sword Art with powerful spear techniques and the Eight Extremes Vajra Body. Chen Qing defeated Chen Lin’s ultimate sword strike, leaving him injured on the ground as the crowd watched in stunned silence.

• Chen Lin and Chen Qing exchanged more than thirty moves, with Chen Qing’s spear force and physique countering Chen Lin’s sword techniques.
• Chen Lin unleashed the perfected Vast Sea Raging Waves, but Chen Qing broke through it with Collapsing Mountain Piercing Rainbow and drove Chen Lin back.
• News of the fight drew Haisha Sect disciples and core elites, including Mao Cheng, Shao Wenxuan, and Mo Xia, to the training ground.
• Chen Lin changed tactics with the Qingyun Nine Transformations, but Chen Qing countered his subtle swordplay and forced him to retreat.
• Chen Lin warned Chen Qing before unleashing Boundless Vast Sea, his trump-card technique.
• Chen Qing answered with One Mountain Suppresses the Sea, shattered Chen Lin’s sword attack, and sent him flying, injured, while his Sea Overturning Sword fell from his grasp.

Chen Qing defeated Haisha Sect’s Chen Lin in a decisive spar, then attended a banquet with the sect’s elites. He reunited with Li Yuan and Zhou Yu, eased Li Yuan’s guilt over their past, and left Zhou Yu with the sense that their lives had grown far apart.

• Chen Qing defeated Chen Lin with a spear strike, and Chen Lin accepted the loss respectfully.
• Shen Xiuyong celebrated Chen Qing’s victory as Qiao Hongyun arranged a feast for him and Haisha Sect’s leading disciples.
• Chen Qing learned that Zheng Fu had left to seek a breakthrough to Gang Jin and invited the Haisha Sect disciples to visit Yunlin Prefecture.
• Chen Qing visited Li Yuan and Zhou Yu, and he told Li Yuan he held no resentment over their past.
• Chen Qing and Zhou Yu reminisced about Zhou Academy and their years apart before he offered to help her if she faced difficulties.
• Zhou Yu watched Chen Qing leave beneath the moonlight and felt that an insurmountable distance now separated them.

Shen Xiuyong and Qiao Hongyun discussed the powerful contenders gathering for the Lin'an auction, while Chen Qing traveled there with Shen and learned about the Cangming Twin Suns and how Shen would help him bid on Wood Sun Jade. Meanwhile, Miao Zhiheng persuaded Yu He to suspect that Chen Qing possessed the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and was responsible for the Netherworld Guards’ disappearance.

• Shen Xiuyong learned from Qiao Hongyun that the auction’s Cangming Twin Suns were half-spirit Treasures and that powerful experts, including Granny Frost, had arrived in Lin'an.
• Qiao Hongyun and Shen Xiuyong recalled Ruan Lingxiu, whom they had not seen since their expedition to the Ten Thousand Poisons Swamp six years earlier.
• Miao Zhiheng, alarmed by Chen Qing’s victory over Chen Lin, resolved to hinder Chen Qing before he could advance to Gang Jin.
• Qiao Hongyun led Shen Xiuyong, Chen Qing, and Haisha Sect disciples to Lin'an, where Shen explained the auction’s attractions and offered to bid for Chen Qing’s Wood Sun Jade.
• Miao Zhiheng told Yu He that Chen Qing likely held the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and may have killed the Netherworld Guards, planting suspicion despite having no proof.

Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong attended Treasure Gathering Workshop’s auction, where they secured the Wood Sun Jade before leaving as the Cangming Twin Suns sparked a fierce bidding war. After learning that Yu He had followed them out of the city, they fled toward Yunlin Prefecture, but his powerful Gang Jin aura closed in behind them.

• Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong surveyed the auction’s notable guests, including Yu He, Granny Frost, and Miao Zhiheng, before bidding began.
• Granny Frost outbid Miao Zhiheng for the Tai Xuan Finger Art, while Shen Xiuyong purchased Black Iron Essence for reforging his weapon.
• Shen Xiuyong bid 170,000 taels for the Wood Sun Jade on Chen Qing’s behalf, and the bamboo-hatted rival withdrew.
• The Cangming Twin Suns triggered a bidding frenzy, and Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong left the auction after collecting their purchases.
• A Treasure Gathering Workshop Third Shopkeeper sent word of their departure to Yu He, and a Haisha Sect deacon later warned them that Yu He had followed them.
• Chen Qing and Shen Xiuyong rode out of Lin'an Prefecture toward Yunlin Prefecture, but Yu He’s heavy Gang Jin aura rapidly caught up as they entered a forest.

Shen Xiuyong held off Yu He while Chen Qing fled, but Earth Origin Sect disciples and Miao Zhiheng tried to capture him on the road. Chen Qing killed them all, erased the evidence, and continued toward Yunlin Prefecture.

• Shen Xiuyong stayed behind to fight Yu He and give Chen Qing time to escape.
• Lu Da and three Earth Origin Sect disciples blocked Chen Qing and attacked him, but Chen Qing killed all four.
• Miao Zhiheng revealed himself after watching the fight and tried to kill Chen Qing, who defeated and killed him.
• Chen Qing searched the bodies, dissolved them with corpse-dissolving powder, and headed toward Yunlin Prefecture.

Shi Jian escalated Yu He's pursuit of Chen Qing to the Earth Origin Sect, while Miao Feng secretly put a bounty on Chen Qing for his son's suspected death. In Tongping City, Chen Qing was cornered by Jiang Chuanqiao, a Demonic Sect expert seeking to recruit him, and left the story by tricking nearby assassins into rushing toward the tavern.

• Shi Jian learned that Yu He was pursuing Chen Qing and ordered the Earth Origin Sect to report Yu He's unauthorized pursuit of the Wutai Sect's Chief Disciple.
• Miao Feng suspected Chen Qing had killed Miao Zhiheng and offered rewards for information on Chen Qing and for his death.
• Chen Qing reached Tongping City and overheard assassins discussing the bounty and their search for him.
• Jiang Chuanqiao revealed himself to Chen Qing, offered to recruit him into the Holy Sect, and threatened to expose his location.
• Chen Qing injured himself and shouted that he was upstairs, then jumped through the window to lure the Three Oddities of Lake Mountain and the Yidao Nunnery assassins toward Jiang Chuanqiao.

Chen Qing fought Jiang Chuanqiao outside Tongping City, survived the Demonic Sect expert’s strongest attacks, and escaped when Yu He arrived. Jiang Chuanqiao tricked Yu He into pursuing him instead, leaving the two Gang Jin experts battling while Chen Qing fled south.

• Jiang Chuanqiao revealed his Bone Corroding Poison Palm in the tavern, killed two Yidao Nunnery assassins, fatally wounded Third Brother, and drove off the survivors before pursuing Chen Qing.
• Chen Qing fled beyond Tongping City, where he used the Eight Extremes Vajra Body and Mountain Suppressing Prison Spear to withstand Jiang Chuanqiao’s attacks and counter his Black Fiend True Gang.
• Yu He arrived at the ruined tavern, learned that Chen Qing and Jiang Chuanqiao had fled toward the river, and raced after them.
• Chen Qing and Jiang Chuanqiao clashed again by the Yunjin River, and Chen Qing endured Jiang Chuanqiao’s full-power Netherworld Bone Corroding Palm with help from his body and Azure Flood Dragon Armor.
• When Yu He’s aura approached, Jiang Chuanqiao shouted to implicate Chen Qing and fled; Yu He mistook Jiang Chuanqiao for Chen Qing and pursued him instead.
• Yu He discovered Jiang Chuanqiao’s Demonic Sect identity and continued attacking him, while Chen Qing escaped south.

Chen Qing returned to the Wutai Sect after escaping Yu He and learned that Golden Sand Fort might be behind the bounty and rumors targeting him. He asked Li Baichuan for guidance on fusing Five Elements true qi and paid him to deal with Golden Sand Fort, then focused on breaking through to Gang Jin.

• Chen Qing returned to the Wutai Sect, where Elder Sang warned him to stay cautious and said the sect would investigate the bounty placed with Yidao Nunnery.
• Shen Xiuyong told Chen Qing that Yidao Nunnery had ties to a powerful Millennial Family and that Golden Sand Fort likely helped spread information about him.
• Chen Qing resolved to grow stronger and use the Wood Sun Jade to advance toward Gang Jin.
• Li Baichuan explained how Chen Qing could use elemental treasures as bridges to gradually fuse matching true qi origins.
• Chen Qing told Li Baichuan about Golden Sand Fort's suspected role and gave him herbs and silver; Li Baichuan assured him he could cultivate without worrying about the matter.