Chapter Summaries

Liang Qu dined with the Sacred Emperor and Lan Jicai, then went to the Xu Residence after his arrival in the Imperial Capital drew attention. His rewards remained undecided until the next day, and he ended the night feeling that he had finally made a name for himself.

• Liang Qu ate a lavish hot-pot meal with the Sacred Emperor and Lan Jicai, replenishing his Marsh Essence to 66,400.
• The Sacred Emperor and Lan Jicai argued over how Liang Qu should pursue Long E Ying, while Liang Qu listened without taking their advice.
• After the banquet, Liang Qu told Lan Jicai where to find Mermaid Silk and declined his offer to shop for jewelry.
• Eunuch Li sent Liang Qu to the Xu Residence, where General Xu Wenzhu and Duke Xu welcomed him and arranged another banquet for the following day.
• Liang Qu's senior brothers and sisters asked about the emperor's rewards, but he told them nothing had been settled yet.
• Liang Qu returned to his room, saw Long E Ying reading, and reflected beneath the moon that he had finally made something of himself.

Liang Qu received imperial honors at the noon court for entering Hunting Tiger at eighteen years and five months, and the Sacred Emperor also reorganized Pingyang Prefecture and Lan Province. After court, Liang Qu went to collect the garments, tokens, and seal for his new titles and office.

• Capital officials discussed the blood pillar and learned that Liang Qu had broken the record for entering Hunting Tiger from Wolf Smoke.
• At the noon court, the Sacred Emperor named Liang Qu Xingyi Baron with perpetual hereditary succession and awarded him the third-grade Flying Cavalry Commandant title and the Water Balance Commandant office.
• The Sacred Emperor granted Liang Qu farmland, a residence, clothing, and other rewards, and exempted Pingyang's surrounding counties from taxes while canceling arrears and barring additional taxes for twenty years.
• The Sacred Emperor merged Lan Province into Pingyang Prefecture, established Jiangchuan County, and appointed Quan Linghan its magistrate.
• After court, Liang Qu collected the garments, waist token, and seal associated with his new honors and office.

Liang Qu received imperial rewards, raised Red Mountain’s rank, and moved his companions into a new residence beside Accumulated Water Pond. As invitations from the capital’s great clans arrived and Yang Xu departed for Heyuan Prefecture, the Feather Forest Army learned that Liang Qu was an eighteen-year-old Great Martial Master.

• Liang Qu examined the Cloud Thunder Pattern Robe, Tiger Brave Jade Belt, and Kui Boots, then put on the rewards crafted by the Empress and Heavenly Artisans.
• Liang Qu brought Red Mountain to the Imperial Horse Administration, where officials agreed to raise its rank and condition it for advancement.
• Liang Qu reunited with his senior brothers and sisters at the Xu Residence, where they celebrated his rewards and learned about his three salaries.
• Liang Qu led everyone to their new three-courtyard residence beside Accumulated Water Pond, and General Xu sent ten servants to help them settle in.
• Liang Qu selected invitations from the Marquis of Ji'an’s and Marquis of Changxing’s households and several friends, while Yang Xu departed with his guards for Heyuan Prefecture.
• A young man told a commander at the Feather Forest Army that Liang Qu was indeed an eighteen-year-old Great Martial Master.

The Imperial Capital's Heavenly Feather Guards discussed Liang Qu's arrival, background, and martial ability before deciding to seek him out. Liang Qu spent the next two days celebrating with his companions and receiving gifts, while the guards found only Ta Ta Kai at his home.

• The Heavenly Feather Guards examined a portrait of Liang Qu and learned about his cultivation, military experience, and background.
• The commander led the guards to Accumulated Water Pond to test Liang Qu, but Ta Ta Kai told them he was not home.
• Yang Xu departed from Liang Qu and the others, and Liang Qu's companions urged him to treat them in celebration of his new rank and title.
• Liang Qu and his companions ate at Xiang Family Restaurant and received gifts and favors from their acquaintances' families.
• Liang Qu visited Lu Kaiyun's home, where Uncle Liu recognized him as the one who had taken his Abyssal Wood Bow and told him to care for it.

After finishing the Vortex Waterways near the Imperial Capital, Liang Qu celebrated with a midnight fish feast before Feather Forest Commandant Meng Qiang warned him about the Northern Court’s coming contest between young fighters. Meng Qiang revealed that he had arranged for selected Heavenly Feather Guard experts to confront the Northern Court’s youths at the New Year Festival.

• Liang Qu completed the Vortex Waterways linking the Imperial Capital’s outskirts with the Jiang Huai Great Marsh and decided to wait before revealing them.
• Liang Qu and his companions grilled Treasure Fish for a midnight feast beneath the Phoenix Tree.
• Meng Qiang arrived at Liang Qu’s gathering and asked to speak with him privately.
• Meng Qiang explained that the Northern Court had sent nine talented youths, including a genius who had reached Hunting Tiger before age twenty, to challenge Da Shun’s younger generation.
• Meng Qiang told Liang Qu that he had secretly arranged for selected Heavenly Feather Guard experts to face the Northern Court’s youths beneath the Jade Steps during the New Year Festival.

Meng Qiang recruited Liang Qu to help the Feather Forest Army face the Northern Court’s challenge, and Liang Qu agreed to join the contest. At the Martial Arts Field, he chose to spar with Zhang Shaofan, while the Northern Court delegation continued preparing for the New Year Festival matches.

• Meng Qiang explained that the Northern Court planned to challenge Da Shun’s young fighters and invited Liang Qu to meet the Feather Forest Army’s candidates.
• On January twenty-seventh, Liang Qu rode Red Mountain across the river to the Martial Arts Field, where Meng Qiang introduced the leading Heavenly Feather Guard fighters.
• Meng Qiang said Liang Qu only needed to defeat Hua Qingdu to qualify, but Liang Qu chose to face Zhang Shaofan instead to leave no room for gossip.
• At Honglu Temple, the Northern Court delegation trained for the upcoming matches while a mountain-like member ate a roasted lamb.

The Northern Court delegation discussed Ha Lu Han and Liang Qu before the sound of a bell drew them toward the Feather Forest Army’s Martial Arts Field. There, Liang Qu fought Zhang Shaofan, whose defense he had managed to break, and Liang Qu’s speed began to overwhelm him.

• Ha Lu Han ate roasted lamb while Su Na’er and the others discussed his strength and compared him with Liang Qu.
• A bell rang repeatedly, and the Northern Court envoy allowed the delegation to go watch the activity at the nearby Training Field.
• At the field, Liang Qu and Zhang Shaofan fought amid clouds of dust, impressing the watching cultivators with their strength.
• Liang Qu drew blood from Zhang Shaofan, who demanded another exchange and charged back into the fight.
• Liang Qu evaded Zhang Shaofan’s punch, struck his lower abdomen, and moved so quickly that Hua Qingdu said he could barely keep up.

Liang Qu was tested in a three-on-one battle against Zhang Shaofan, Hua Qingdu, and Li Bingzhong, and his spear skill grew rapidly as he fought. The Northern Court delegation watched from outside the Training Field, while Su Na’er was left marveling at Da Shun’s strength.

• Meng Qiang sent Hua Qingdu to join Zhang Shaofan against Liang Qu, who used Fubo to face the arrows and the Divine Elephant Charge.
• Su Na’er watched from outside as the White Ape fought the Divine Elephant and Golden Feather Eagle, then fell behind when a dragon-headed spear joined the attack.
• Liang Qu’s spear technique improved during the fight, and Meng Qiang realized he was absorbing and digesting the remnants of Grandmaster power he had gained on the Heavenly Altar.
• A Heavenly Feather Guard told Meng Qiang that the Northern Court delegation had arrived, and Meng Qiang ordered them kept from seeing anyone.
• The fighters left the Martial Arts Field with the other Heavenly Feather Guards, and Su Na’er marveled at Da Shun’s many Great Martial Masters.

The Heavenly Feather Guard assessed the Northern Court delegation and agreed that Liang Qu would represent them in the first-day Ranked Battle for those under twenty-four. Liang Qu and his companions celebrated New Year's Eve at home, and the chapter ended as the new year began.

• He Lun'e and Su Na'er discussed the Northern Court fighters' strength and warned the Heavenly Feather Guard not to underestimate Da Shun's opponents.
• Meng Qiang treated the Heavenly Feather Guard to braised beef tendon and other Imperial Capital snacks, while Liang Qu gave a singing woman silver and wished her a happy Spring Festival.
• Meng Qiang confirmed Liang Qu would rank first among those under twenty-four and fight first in the Ranked Battle; Shao Fan, Qingdu, and Li Bingzhong accepted that they had not been selected.
• On New Year's Eve, Liang Qu, Xiang ChangSong, and the others decorated the residence and set off a closing firecracker as the new year arrived.

Liang Qu attended the New Year’s Grand Court Assembly and learned that the court knew about his upcoming contest with the Northern Court delegation. He entered Heavenly Chen Hall as the Northern Court envoy brought forward a Congratulatory Memorial, leaving the anticipated confrontation about to begin.

• Long Yao woke Liang Qu before dawn for the Grand Court Assembly, and Long E Ying checked his appearance before he left.
• Xu Wenzhu told Liang Qu that the court had learned about his contest with the Northern Court delegation and that the Sacred Emperor would reward him only if his side won all nine matches.
• Liang Qu joined the officials at Noon Gate, where Ha Lu Han’s enormous appearance startled the foreign envoys; Liang Qu wondered if he was the Northern Court’s young Great Martial Master.
• Liang Qu entered Heavenly Chen Hall with the summoned officials and endured the New Year’s ceremonies and Congratulatory Memorials.
• The Northern Court envoy stepped into the hall to present his Congratulatory Memorial as Liang Qu sensed the atmosphere had changed.

During Da Shun’s New Year court ceremony, Northern Court presented a second memorial that challenged Da Shun to hold martial contests immediately. The Sacred Emperor accepted Meng Qiang’s proposal to select fighters from those already in the hall, and Northern Court’s warriors entered as the challenge began.

• Qiyan Tribe envoy Batu presented Northern Court’s gifts, then halted the ceremony to submit a second memorial.
• Minister Xu read Northern Court’s challenge to Da Shun, provoking angry reactions from the smaller-state envoys and the court.
• Meng Qiang urged the Sacred Emperor to settle the contest that day by pitting Northern Court’s warriors against fighters chosen from within the hall.
• The Sacred Emperor approved Meng Qiang’s proposal despite officials’ pleas for more time and a larger selection of fighters.
• Batu summoned Ha Lu Han, Su Na’er, Bai Bu Hua, He Lun’e, and the other Northern Court warriors into Heavenly Chen Hall.

At the Grand Court Assembly, Batu presented nine elite Northern Court warriors and arranged contests against Da Shun’s Heavenly Feather Guard, including Liang Qu. After learning Da Shun had prepared targeted matchups, Batu changed the format to group fights, leaving Ha Lu Han to face one opponent alone.

• Batu introduced Ha Lu Han and eight other Northern Court warriors, then asked to meet Da Shun’s young talent, Liang Qu.
• Liang Qu came before the hall, and Batu proposed contests following the Martial Examination’s rules.
• Meng Qiang selected Liang Qu and eight Heavenly Feather Guards to face the nine Northern Court warriors.
• Batu changed the planned nine individual matches into four contests: one solo match for Ha Lu Han, one two-on-two match, and two three-on-three matches.
• Outside Heavenly Chen Hall, Batu told his warriors that Da Shun had likely received leaked information and that the new format would let them support one another in battle.

Liang Qu entered Da Shun’s contest against Ha Lu Han of the Northern Court, and their first clash revealed Ha Lu Han’s extraordinary Mahakala true astral force. The chapter left the battle poised to continue as the onlookers learned that Ha Lu Han wielded a forbidden Great Snow Mountain art.

• Meng Qiang urged Liang Qu to lead Da Shun’s side, and Liang Qu prepared with Fubo before removing his protective gear at Envoy Batu’s request.
• Liang Qu and Ha Lu Han exchanged formalities, then charged and met in a clash that sent both fighters flying backward.
• Liang Qu manifested the Golden Eye White Ape, Coiling Dragon Great Pillar, and Flowing Cloud Immortal Island, while Ha Lu Han revealed a black, two-armed true astral force.
• Lan Jicai identified Ha Lu Han’s art as Mahakala, a legendary fourth rank of the Great Snow Mountain’s Black Bietian Method that could not ordinarily be cultivated.
• Meng Qiang recognized the wind, thunder, and blood phenomena in Ha Lu Han’s manifested weapons as the battle remained unresolved.

Liang Qu fought Ha Lu Han in a fierce duel, overcame his Naiman Secret Art with Yan Dongjun’s Blood Chrysanthemum spear art, and defeated Mahakala when it threatened to open its eyes. Batu intervened to stop the final force, then conceded to the Sacred Emperor.

• Liang Qu and Ha Lu Han exchanged powerful blows, with Liang Qu landing an inch-deep wound before Ha Lu Han revealed the Naiman Secret Art.
• As Ha Lu Han’s strength mounted, Liang Qu adapted during the battle and unleashed Yan Dongjun’s Blood Chrysanthemum spear art, covering Ha Lu Han with wounds and ending his secret art state.
• Liang Qu pressed his advantage and drove Ha Lu Han to his knees, but Mahakala began opening its eerie white eyes and threatened the field.
• The White Ape lowered its pillar, and Liang Qu released a powerful strike that shattered Mahakala into fragments.
• Batu caught and crushed the remaining force, Ha Lu Han fell, and Batu conceded to the Sacred Emperor.

Liang Qu defeated Ha Lu Han but collapsed from exhaustion, then watched the two-on-two match while recovering. Lan Jicai explained that Great Snow Mountain was a loosely controlled tributary land of Da Shun and began describing why its people and the Northern Court shared beliefs in Eternal Heaven.

• Liang Qu defeated Ha Lu Han, and the officials declared Liang the victor.
• Meng Qiang and the Heavenly Feather Guard concealed Liang Qu from the envoys and forced medicinal water and pills into him until he regained consciousness.
• Liang Qu recovered enough to watch Li Bingzhong and another Heavenly Feather Guard fighter face Su Na’er and Bai Bu Hua in a closely matched two-on-two battle.
• Liang Qu asked Lan Jicai about Great Snow Mountain’s ties to Da Shun and the Northern Court.
• Lan Jicai explained that Great Snow Mountain was a tributary land beyond Da Shun’s direct control and said its harsh conditions made its people’s faith in Eternal Heaven especially strong.

Liang Qu learned that Ha Lu Han’s Daheitian true qi came from a divine ritual and that its practitioners were God Chosen. After the Heavenly Feather Guards won three of four matches, the Northern Court conceded the final match, leaving the contest’s outcome settled.

• Lan Jicai explained that Great Snow Mountain had deeply influenced the Northern Court and revealed that Daheitian practitioners were called God Chosen.
• Lan Jicai said Daheitian God and the Ghost Mother were similar remnants enshrined through rituals, and warned that Daheitian true qi could only be obtained by becoming a God Chosen.
• Liang Qu told Lan Jicai that he had learned his final spear strike from White Ape.
• A Heavenly Feather Guard lost his right arm but killed his opponent, and the Sacred Emperor promised to have him grow a new one.
• Batu conceded the final match on behalf of the Northern Court, stunning the court.

After Da Shun’s Heavenly Feather Guards defeated the Northern Court in the New Year competition, the Sacred Emperor rewarded them and declared a year of great abundance. Liang Qu rested in the Imperial Medical Bureau while the news spread across the capital and the festivities continued.

• Liang Qu and the wounded guards received treatment, and a physician explained why severed limbs became harder to regenerate as a warrior’s realm increased.
• The Sacred Emperor visited the injured guards, gave them New Year gifts, and rewarded them with merits, promotions, Heavenly Water Pool time, Heavenly Marrow Emulsion, and leave.
• Wang Chao took a Scorpion Tail Reviving Pill, and flesh began growing from his severed arm as Liang Qu fell asleep.
• News of Da Shun’s victory spread through the capital, where crowds celebrated and entertainers rushed to tell the story.
• The Sacred Emperor declared the year one of great abundance and extended the New Year holiday; by Accumulated Water Pond, Xu Zishuai wondered at the commotion.

After celebrating the new year, Liang Qu was approached by envoys from Ba Kingdom and Loulan, who offered him money to father their heirs. He rejected them, and the Heavenly Feather Guards teased him before escorting him to the palace for his arranged bath.

• Liang Qu celebrated the new year at the banquet with the Heavenly Feather Guards while the injured Ha Lu Han ate voraciously.
• On New Year's morning, envoys from Ba Kingdom and Loulan asked Liang Qu to meet them before he entered the palace.
• The envoys presented four women and explained they wanted Liang Qu to father heirs, offering him up to one million taels if all four conceived.
• Liang Qu drove the envoys away without accepting their offer.
• Meng Qiang and the Heavenly Feather Guards laughed and teased Liang Qu about the proposal.
• Eunuch Li told the group that the Sacred Emperor had arranged for them to bathe on the top floor of Moon Gazing Tower.

Liang Qu and the other Heavenly Feather Guards visited Moon Gazing Tower, where Meng Qiang explained how its Yin Yang Creation Divine Wood gathered Sunlight Radiance and Moonlight Radiance for cultivation. The group climbed toward the upper floors, and Liang Qu learned that a pair of meditators they passed were Sunlight Radiance and Moonlight Radiance Dao companions.

• Liang Qu traveled with the Heavenly Feather Guards to Moon Gazing Tower and learned that its Creation Divine Wood gathered qi to help nourish Divine Power Seeds.
• Meng Qiang explained that the tower collected Sunlight Radiance and Moonlight Radiance Long Qi, which appeared in different quantities and at different times.
• Liang Qu entered the tower and saw its immense library, where books, medicines, and treasures could be preserved and restored.
• Eunuch Li led the group up the tower, presenting his token at checkpoints as they passed above the clouds.
• Liang Qu saw a young man and woman meditating on the thirtieth floor, and Meng Qiang identified them as Sunlight Radiance and Moonlight Radiance.

Liang Qu used Golden Eye to find his otters enjoying the Imperial Capital before soaking in a Heavenly Water Pool with Heavenly Marrow Emulsion. After waking, he discovered the treatment had deepened his spirit-body integration and let him form a fourth meridian wall, though the fifth remained just out of reach.

• Liang Qu spotted Ta Ta Kai drilling his otter family at home and found Fat Catfish, Round Head, Fist, and Cannot Move listening to a storyteller beneath Dragon Ford Bridge.
• Liang Qu and the others entered Heavenly Water Pools, and Liang Qu poured Heavenly Marrow Emulsion into his bath before falling asleep.
• Liang Qu woke to find his body and mind unusually aligned, then formed his fourth meridian wall by mobilizing his Qi and blood.
• Liang Qu concluded that the Heavenly Marrow Emulsion had helped his spirit command his body and asked Eunuch Li for the Great Merit Exchange Ledger.