Chapter Summaries

Liang Qu used the Ze Cauldron and 10,000 points of Marsh Essence to transform a strand of Long Qi into a spirit fish that gave the Dragonfolk superior-grade Qi. With Long Binglin, Long E Ying, and Long Yanrui all equally qualified to consume it, Long Zongyin decided to draw lots.

• Liang Qu toured the Dragon Man Tribe’s settlement with Long E Ying and discovered that entering the clan grounds had given him two strands of Dragon Seed Aura.
• Long Zongyin welcomed Liang Qu, and Long Yanrui handed him an Ice Orb containing a strand of Long Qi to improve for the Dragonfolk.
• Liang Qu spent 10,000 points of Marsh Essence in the Ze Cauldron, producing a lively blue-eyed spirit fish, then returned it in the Ice Orb for testing.
• Long Binglin, Long E Ying, and Long Yanrui each tested the Qi and all achieved a superior grade, prompting Long Zongyin to thank Liang Qu and suspect he had used Dragon Lord Blood Essence.
• The Dragonfolk debated which of the three should consume the Qi, and Long Zongyin arranged a draw to choose one.

The Dragonfolk drew lots to decide which young clansman would consume the Heavenly Water Morning Dew, and Fat Catfish's winning draw chose Long Yanrui. After the Second Elder took Long Yanrui away, the First Elder asked Liang Qu to become the Dragon Man Tribe's Fourth Elder.

• Long Zongyin defended drawing lots to choose who would consume qi, and the First Elder and Second Elder arrived and approved the plan.
• The First Elder suggested pairing the three Dragonfolk youths with Liang Qu's three beasts to draw the lots.
• Long Yanrui chose Fat Catfish, Long Binglin chose Round Head, and Long E Ying chose Cannot Move.
• Fat Catfish drew the shortest strand, selecting Long Yanrui to consume the Heavenly Water Morning Dew.
• The Second Elder took Long Yanrui away to prepare, while the First Elder dismissed the other elders and asked Liang Qu to become the Fourth Elder.

Liang Qu settled into his new role as the Dragon Man Tribe’s Fourth Elder while replenishing his marsh essence with great king lotus seeds. After deciding to return home, he discovered that Fat Catfish had accumulated an impressive amount of essence by winning the favor of the dragon girls.

• Long Binglin led Liang Qu to his new residence and explained that Long Yanrui’s Qi Consumption breakthrough could take half a month or longer.
• Long E Ying brought Liang Qu great king lotus seeds, which restored his marsh essence as he learned that the tribe relied on great king lotuses for food.
• Unable to sleep in the Dragon Man Tribe’s pitcher-plant beds, Liang Qu went outside to cultivate and considered how Ying Long Marks differed from River Lord upgrades.
• Over the next two days, Long E Ying delivered more lotus seeds, and Liang Qu recovered the ten thousand essence he had spent.
• Liang Qu told Long E Ying he planned to return home and could visit again when the lotus seeds ripened in July or August.
• Liang Qu checked Fat Catfish’s remaining evolution requirement and realized it had gathered over ten thousand essence by carrying dragon girls and receiving lotus roots.

Liang Qu returned from the Dragon Man Tribe, checked in at the River Conservancy Office, and strengthened his Ying Long Mark enough to walk across water. He prepared for a major Jianghuai sacrifice in Hua Zhu County, hoping it would increase his Favorability, while construction began at Liang Residence.

• Liang Qu asked Long Zongyin to secretly replace ruined Water God Temple statues with White Ape statues, then left with Long Binglin and Long E Ying as his guardians.
• Liang Qu checked in at the River Conservancy Office, received orders to lead a team to catch Treasure Fish, and learned that a curfew would begin on July twelfth.
• Liang Qu gained a second Ying Long Mark layer and found he could walk across water, though he could not yet fly through the air.
• Long Pingjiang and Long Pinghe reported that replacing statues in three abandoned temples had not increased Liang Qu's Favorability, so he turned his hopes to Hua Zhu County's grand August sacrifice.
• After the rainy season ended, Liang Residence began renovations, and Ke Wenbin and Xiang Fangsu invited Liang Qu to go catch fish.

Liang Qu joined a large River Conservancy Office fleet to fish for schooling Treasure Fish in the Great Marsh and learned how the government used costly bait, nets, and large-scale operations to catch them. After two days of favorable sailing, the crew found a fish school and began chumming the water.

• Liang Qu set out with Xiang Fangsu, Ke Wenbin, and Bai Yinbin on a fleet of twenty-one large ships and over a hundred Net Shuttle Boats.
• Liang Qu inspected the fleet and heard the field Record Keeper explain the Cold-Blooded Rooster Pills and the challenges of catching and selling schooling Treasure Fish.
• The field Record Keeper described how the fleet targeted abundant, lower-quality Treasure Fish that could be sold to the prefectural city's large population of Martial Artists.
• After two days of sailing, the fleet's swimmers found traces of a fish school, and the ships deployed Net Shuttle Boats in a wide circle.
• The crew poured red bait into the water, and Liang Qu sensed countless Big Fish rushing toward it.

Liang Qu’s fleet celebrated a rich catch as Bing Fire Day began, while the Dragon Palace learned that the King of Yue had captured Scarlet Scale and three other Snake Demons. The Flood Dragon summoned the Four Pillars again, and Liang Qu heard of the summons from Fat Catfish after diving into the cooler water.

• Liang Qu’s fleet hauled in Treasure Fish, found a Silver Sand, and Liang Qu shot down a Wolf Fish Spirit Monster.
• A Snake Demon reported to Lin Lord that the King of Yue had captured Scarlet Scale and three other Snake Demons, so Lin Lord informed Lord Ran.
• Lord Ran summoned the Four Pillars, and a reporting serpent’s visit prompted Old Toad to warn Da Pang and Er Pang that the Frog Clan should wait before challenging the Flood Dragon.
• On the second day of Bing Fire Day, Liang Qu ran out of ice water after thirteen days on the marsh and ordered mung bean cool soup.
• Liang Qu jumped into the cooler depths, where Fat Catfish told him that the Flood Dragon had summoned the Four Pillars again.

Old Toad rallied the Frog Clan to pursue White Ape for the promised rewards, while Liang Qu considered how the bounty might help his plans. On a fishing fleet, he calculated its profits and learned from Xiang Fangsu how the operation could become even more lucrative.

• Old Toad persuaded the Frog Clan that capturing White Ape and claiming the promised territory would bring greater gains than letting the Long Insect profit.
• Frog Guerrilla and the assembled frogs cheered Old Toad's vision of the Frog Clan expanding across the Great Marsh and beyond.
• Liang Qu learned that the Flood Dragon had offered the title of Small Pillar of Jianghuai and eastern territory to whoever captured or killed White Ape.
• Liang Qu joined the fleet's round-the-clock harvest, helped catch fish, and calculated that a trip could earn several hundred taels and minor merits.
• Xiang Fangsu explained that merchants bought the Treasure Fish at market price and used their bones, fins, and offal, allowing the fleet to cut its chumming costs nearly in half once the process was established.

After the fleet completed its haul and began returning, Liang Qu confirmed that the Ze Cauldron produced Red Qi at a steady rate during Bing Fire Day. He used the accumulated qi to Sublimate Favor to Martial Dao Divinity Second Level, triggering a surge that alarmed his companions aboard the ship.

• The fleet began its return journey after twenty-three days at sea, while Liang Qu watched the suns and waited for the Ze Cauldron to react.
• At dinner, Bai Yinbin, Ke Wenbin, and Xiang Fangsu talked about home and Xiang Fangsu's hopes of reaching Hunting Tiger within the year.
• That night, Liang Qu obtained his third wisp of Red Qi and realized that the cauldron granted one wisp every ten days under three suns and every twenty days under two suns.
• Liang Qu poured twenty thousand portions of Marsh Essence into the Ze Cauldron and used the two resulting Spirit Fish to Sublimate Favor to Martial Dao Divinity Second Level.
• A Divine General emerged in the cauldron's vision and fused with Liang Qu, causing a powerful surge that made Ke Wenbin call for Xiang Fangsu to wake and drill through the ship.

Liang Qu completed his third Talent Transformation and gained the third level of Martial Dao Divinity, but the experience left him severely exhausted. After his companions threw him into the river and he recovered, he refused to reveal what he had realized.

• Liang Qu underwent his third Talent Transformation and witnessed the River Lord slay the Flood Dragon, gaining the third level of Martial Dao Divinity and evolving Preserving Spirit into Divine Monarch Seal.
• Liang Qu collapsed from the transformation’s toll, and Awei dragged him to bed and helped him drink water.
• Ke Wenbin, Xiang Fangsu, and Bai Yinbin carried the helpless Liang Qu onto the deck and threw him into the river.
• Liang Qu slept for a day and a half, then woke and devoured Ke Wenbin’s hidden beef supply to regain his strength.
• When Xiang Fangsu asked what Liang Qu had realized, Liang Qu said he would not tell them because they might jump into the river.

Liang Qu returned to Yi Xing Town after the fleet’s successful fishing expedition, newly empowered by the River Master Emperor’s favor and transformed Preserving Spirit. At home, the Old Monk gave him the Body Consciousness Method, which could help a martial artist reach the Melting Hundred Classics realm.

• Liang Qu discovered that the River Master Emperor’s favor had improved his talent and comprehension, while Preserving Spirit had transformed into the Divine Monarch Seal with a greater cost for overuse.
• The fleet arrived at the wharf, where officials and merchants registered and hauled away its fish, and Ran Zhongshi granted the crew three days off.
• Liang Qu returned to Yi Xing Town, saw the completed Drum Tower, and found the Liang Residence renovated while Su Guishan was absent.
• The Old Monk gave Liang Qu the Body Consciousness Method to copy and send to his master.
• The Old Monk explained that the method could reach the Melting Hundred Classics realm by gradually integrating a martial artist’s techniques.

Liang Qu brought home the Body Consciousness Method, which could help Yang Dongxiong achieve Melting Hundred Classics and advance toward Perfected Elephant. After studying the method, Yang Dongxiong decided to seek cultivation resources from the court and help from General Wen Zhu.

• Liang Qu returned from his voyage, inspected the expanded residence, and personally copied the Body Consciousness Method manuscript.
• Liang Qu ordered Long Yao and Long Li to make nine copies, then rode to the Yang Residence to give one to Yang Dongxiong.
• Yang Dongxiong studied the method and recognized that it could help him reach the realm of Melting Hundred Classics.
• Yang Dongxiong told Liang Qu that he was polishing his Profound Light Opening and could seek court resources and General Wen Zhu's assistance.
• Liang Qu encouraged Yang Dongxiong by mentioning that his wife would return to Huang Province for a birthday celebration later that year.

Liang Qu repaired the Vortex Waterway, delivered Yan Rui’s Grandmaster insights to Master, and distributed mermaids to his companions. After harvesting Grandmaster Long Yanrui’s Dragon Qi, he returned home and activated the Soul Gold Lotus Master Wang had given him.

• Liang Qu copied Yan Rui’s Grandmaster insights and repaired the collapsed Vortex Waterway leading to Fragrant Township County.
• Liang Qu brought a mermaid to Xu Shi and offered another to Zhuo Shaoqin, who accepted it in exchange for three thousand taels.
• Liang Qu gave a Red Mane Lion Fish and a mermaid to Long Binglin and Long E Ying, who ultimately traded them and shared the mermaid.
• Liang Qu harvested Dragon Qi from Grandmaster Long Yanrui and considered whether a Flood Dragon might possess even more Dragon Qi.
• Liang Qu went into seclusion and activated the Soul Gold Lotus Master Wang had given him.

After eating a Soul Golden Lotus, Liang Qu woke with his spirit strengthened and felt his fourth major meridian beginning to open. He found the Beavers and River Otters assembling a fortune ship model, which the Great Beaver promised to finish within three days, and planned what Treasures to exchange for it.

• Liang Qu swallowed the Fifth Grade Soul Golden Lotus and fell into a deep sleep.
• Long Binglin watched the Beavers and River Otters assemble a fortune ship model while wondering whether Liang Qu could enlighten the Dragonfolk.
• The Great Beaver discovered that the Fat Catfish had taken the bow, retrieved it, and began assembling the ship's components.
• Liang Qu woke feeling refreshed and sensed his fourth major meridian opening after the Soul Golden Lotus strengthened his soul.
• Liang Qu inspected the ship model, and the Great Beaver promised to complete it within three days.
• Liang Qu encouraged the Great Beaver and planned to exchange two Golden Gong Fish for Treasures when the model was finished.

Liang Qu exchanged a modular Fortune Ship for treasures from Toad, then arranged a faster ship to be built from Azure Water Wood. By late August, Red Mountain and the River Otters set sail for Huazhu aboard the Fortune Ship.

• Liang Qu brought Toad a modular Fortune Ship, which Toad eagerly accepted in exchange for two treasures.
• Liang Qu and A Fei chose Vast Sea Azure Gold and Azure Water Wood, then exchanged two Golden Gong Fish for a Heaven Spirit Fish and a Pine Cypress Fish.
• Toad spent the night assembling and disassembling the Ship Model, forgetting to ask Liang Qu to demonstrate how a person turned into a White Ape.
• Liang Qu asked Liu Quanfu to build a faster Fortune Ship from the Azure Water Wood and requested a design before his departure.
• In late August, Red Mountain boarded the Fortune Ship, and Ta Ta Kai and Fat Catfish led the River Otters as they sailed toward Huazhu.

Liang Qu used rare treasure plants to advance his Dragon Tiger Golden Body to the fifth level, Wearing Treasure Clothes, and reviewed the vast resources and Marsh Essence he had accumulated. He prepared to reach Huazhu the next day, expecting another costly undertaking.

• Ta Ta Kai lowered the sails during a sudden storm while Liang Qu cultivated inside the cabin.
• Liang Qu swallowed three Two Lives Flowers and a Wither-Bloom Sister Lotus, advancing his Golden Body to Wearing Treasure Clothes.
• Liang Qu tested the golden protection on his Dragon Spirit Silk and found it could withstand cuts from Azure Wolf while strengthening his body.
• Liang Qu reviewed his remaining treasures and saw that his Marsh Essence had reached 135,172 points.
• Long Yao told Liang Qu that dinner was ready after the ship docked, and Liang Qu said he would arrive at Huazhu the next day.

During dinner, Long Binglin and the other young Dragonfolk declared that they would follow Liang Qu over the absent Dragon Lord, and Liang Qu agreed to enlighten Long Pingjiang and Long Pinghe. After forming Mental Links and investing in their evolution, Liang Qu left the Dragonfolk astonished by how much stronger the brothers’ bloodline had become.

• Long Binglin told Liang Qu that the younger Dragonfolk would follow him, while Long Pingjiang explained that the Dragon Lord had been gone for a hundred years.
• Liang Qu asked Long Pingjiang and Long Pinghe to come to his room after dinner and warned them not to resist the Mental Link.
• Liang Qu carved the character "river" onto the brothers’ backs and established Mental Links with them.
• Liang Qu spent 4,600 essence to begin the brothers’ evolution, and cocoons of light enveloped them.
• Long Binglin tested Long Pingjiang’s blood and found that his bloodline had grown stronger.

Liang Qu bestowed Dragon Seed Aura on Long Pingjiang and Long Pinghe, easing Long Binglin and Long E Ying’s worries about their people’s future. The next day, he captured a Black Water River bandit and learned that the Sand River Gang’s downfall had begun with a feud involving a Young Master Liang.

• Long Binglin and Long E Ying reacted with relief to the improved Dragon Seed Aura, and Liang Qu said he would bestow it on Long Pingjiang and Long Pinghe for their service.
• Liang Qu told Long Binglin to inform the other Elders discreetly, then shared iced mung bean soup with Long Pingjiang and Long Pinghe.
• On the Black Water River, Liang Qu blasted apart a hillside where water bandits were hiding, and Long Pingjiang captured a bearded bandit.
• The bandit explained that he had once worked for the Sand River Gang and became a water bandit after its leaders were killed.
• The bandit said the Sand River Gang’s trouble began when its leader took the sweetheart of a Young Master Liang, and Long Pinghe pressed him to explain what happened next.

Liang Qu arrived in Hua Zhu County, where Magistrate Liu Wennian welcomed him and arranged lodging at Spirit Valley Temple ahead of the River God Sacrifice. After learning about the temple’s famous Flowing Light Sea, Liang Qu settled into the private rooms prepared for his party.

• Liu Wennian greeted Liang Qu at Huazhu Wharf, and Liang Qu explained that he had captured a Water Bandit leader and wanted to hold him in the Prefectural Office prison.
• Ta Ta Kai left the fortune ship with its pet otters, frightened diners away from a Small Restaurant, and paid the Shopkeeper for food.
• A monk guided Liang Qu and the Dragon Girls through Spirit Valley Temple and described the Flowing Light Sea and the best places to view it.
• Liang Qu recognized how Liu Wennian had cleared the back mountain for his party and felt he was experiencing the privileges of power.
• The monk showed Liang Qu and his party their three adjoining rooms and private courtyard, and the Dragon Girls carried in their belongings.

Liang Qu dismissed rumors about a concubine and let the Dragon Girls scout the route, but heavy rain spoiled their hope of seeing fireflies. The next day, he reviewed Liu Wennian’s sacrificial text and prepared for the River God Sacrifice in Hua Zhu County.

• Long Yao and Long Li asked Liang Qu about a rumor that he had fought over a concubine, and he explained that it was fabricated by someone with a grudge.
• The Dragon Girls invited Liang Qu to scout the back mountain, but he chose to nap while they went without him.
• Long E Ying, Long Yao, and Long Li were disappointed when dark clouds and heavy rain ruined their chance to see fireflies, and Liang Qu promised they could stay until they saw them.
• Liu Wennian hosted Liang Qu’s group and gave him the sacrificial text for Hua Zhu County’s River God Sacrifice.
• Liang Qu praised Liu Wennian’s writing, reviewed the ceremony itinerary, and asked him to arrange a guide along the procession route.

After Hua Zhu County’s river sacrifice, Liang Qu gained enough River’s Favor to advance his Marsh Spirit and fused with the Marsh Ape, awakening the Subduing Dragon Taming Tiger Body. He began advancing in the mountain pool, where his transformation unleashed a powerful pressure that even the Dragonfolk struggled to withstand.

• Liang Qu joined Liu Wennian and more than a hundred thousand villagers in the river sacrifice, and the burning Lord’s ship’s mast fell toward the river, signaling good fortune for Hua Zhu.
• The sacrifice granted Liang Qu 0.8942 River’s Favor, bringing his total to 5.1861 and allowing his Marsh Spirit to advance.
• Liang Qu went to the mountain pool with Fubo and Abysswood, while the Fat Catfish, Round Head, and Cannot Move guarded him.
• Liang Qu completely fused with the Marsh Spirit Marsh Ape and advanced, awakening the Subduing Dragon Taming Tiger Body.
• The White Ape phantom absorbed the Ze Cauldron’s radiance, and Liang Qu’s transformation sent powerful waves through the pool as the Dragonfolk felt an overwhelming pressure.