Chapter Summaries

Li Hao studied records of monster activity near Cangyu City while Song Yueyao investigated a monster attack and learned that a Great Demon was gathering monsters in the Black Wind Mountain Range to threaten the city. The chapter ended with Li Hao noticing the same mountain range in the Demon Suppression Division’s intelligence.

• Cui Fan showed Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao the monster-slaying records and promised to take them on patrol.
• A grotesque monster emerged from Lian'er’s pregnant belly, killed her, and was slain by Song Yueyao.
• Song Yueyao left Tian Congzhi to handle the aftermath and went to meet City Warden Yue Shuhong.
• Yue Shuhong told Song Yueyao that a Great Demon in the Black Wind Mountain Range planned to gather monsters and attack Cangyu City, but the Xia Family had refused to act before an attack began.
• Song Yueyao decided to scout the mountain range’s outskirts herself.
• Li Hao finished reading the records and noticed reports of monsters gathering in the Black Wind Mountain Range.

Li Hao left the patrol to search Black Wind Mountain for the Tiger Robe Immortal and discovered a gathering of demons plotting to devour Cangyu City. After learning that humans were being delivered to them as “Flesh Stock,” he confronted the demons and claimed he had surrounded them.

• Cui Fan led Li Yuanzhao, Ren Qianqian, and two other newcomers on patrol while Li Hao skipped the mission.
• Li Hao flew to Black Wind Mountain and used his Divine Soul to scout the demons there.
• A gathering of demons discussed their plan to join the Red Eyebrow Daoist and devour Cangyu City, while waiting for the Tiger Robe Immortal.
• Li Hao approached the demons and learned they received human Flesh Stock, including a man named Yue.
• Li Hao drew his Demon-Slaying Saber and asked which demon was the Tiger Robe Immortal.
• Li Hao told the demons that he had surrounded them and challenged them not to run.

Li Hao slaughtered the demons gathered on the mountaintop while searching for the Tiger Robe Immortal. He learned that Tiger Robe was in the Northern Lands helping demons prepare to attack Cangyu City, then killed the last surviving bear demon.

• Li Hao attacked the demons after they mocked him, swiftly killing several with the Demon Slayer Blade and revealing his overwhelming strength.
• The giant bear demon attacked Li Hao with black flames, but Li Hao shattered its fire dragon, struck it down, and hunted down the fleeing demons’ divine souls.
• Li Hao questioned the wounded bear demon, which said Tiger Robe was in the Northern Lands helping demons prepare to take Cangyu City.
• The bear demon claimed the demons were attacking to survive and identified Tiger Robe as a tiger demon who had cultivated for nearly a thousand years.
• Li Hao killed the bear demon with a punch to the brow.

After honoring Uncle Lin, Li Hao slaughtered tens of thousands of monsters across the Black Wind Mountain Range. Song Yueyao discovered the massacre and found Li Hao standing among the bodies of an Ape Demon clan.

• Li Hao freed seven traumatized survivors from a cave, then built a platform from monster corpses and poured wine in memory of Uncle Lin.
• Li Hao used his Divine Soul and Demon Slayer Blade to kill tens of thousands of monsters throughout the mountain range, damaging the blade in the process.
• Song Yueyao scouted the range and found rivers of blood, thousands of dead monsters, and a summit platform made from more than twenty Great Demons.
• Song Yueyao met the survivors, who trembled and begged her not to take them, then followed a trail of corpses into the woods.
• Song Yueyao found Li Hao standing among the slain Ape Demons, holding his battered Demon Slayer Blade.

Li Hao continued clearing demons in the mountains, where Song Yueyao recognized him as the youth who had cleared the Mo River and realized he had reached the fifteen li realm. When purple smoke signaled a demon attack on the city, Li Hao hurried back alone while Song Yueyao followed on foot.

• Song Yueyao recognized Li Hao as the newcomer from Sandalwood Palace and realized he had secretly cleared the Mo River.
• Li Hao confirmed that he had killed the Ape Demons and the Great Demon, and Song Yueyao learned he had reached the fifteen li realm.
• Li Hao resumed patrolling the mountain range with his divine soul and told Song Yueyao that he had cleared the Mo River but had not claimed the Crimson Firmament Sword.
• Song Yueyao spotted purple signal smoke and recognized it as an emergency warning that demons were attacking the city.
• Li Hao flew back toward the city, leaving Song Yueyao to hurry after him through the forest.

As a horde of monsters closed in on Cangyu City, Yue Shuhong learned from Tiger Robe that the attack was aimed at the Xia Family and that the city could not be saved. Yue refused to open the northern gate and prepared to fight Tiger Robe, but Li Hao arrived between them.

• The Liu, Qi, and Zhao Families confirmed that forty to fifty thousand monsters were advancing on Cangyu City, and the city sealed its gates and prepared its defenses.
• Yue Shuhong met Tiger Robe in an underground chamber and reflected on his twenty years guarding the city and their long friendship.
• Tiger Robe revealed that the Red Eyebrow Daoist had awakened and that the attack was meant to strike the Xia Family, then asked Yue to open the northern gate in exchange for a chance to survive.
• Yue Shuhong rejected Tiger Robe's offer and went to the weapon rack, intending to fight him.
• Yue Shuhong and Tiger Robe summoned their divine souls as Li Hao descended through a fissure in the ceiling and stood between them.

Li Hao confronted the Tiger Robe Immortal in Cangyu City and brutally punished him for ambushing a member of the Li Family. After Yue Shuhong confessed to sacrificing people to demons, Li Hao left his fate to the court and called on him to help fight the Great Demon approaching the city.

• Li Hao found the Tiger Robe Immortal conspiring with Yue Shuhong and revealed that he was a member of the Li Family.
• The Tiger Robe Immortal attacked Li Hao, who swiftly subdued him and used Tiger Pressure to prevent him from resisting.
• Li Hao skinned and dismembered the Tiger Robe Immortal, then asked Yue Shuhong whether he had helped ambush the Li Family member.
• Yue Shuhong confessed that he had sent condemned prisoners, bandits, and civilians to monsters as food, claiming he had done so to protect Cangyu City.
• Li Hao said the court would judge Yue Shuhong and urged him to help slay the Great Demon approaching the city.

After learning that monsters were attacking the city, Li Yuanzhao and the others headed to the western wall while Li Fu went north to join the fight. As battle began, they saw a massive monster force approaching, then Li Hao arrived flying through the air with Yue Shuhong.

• Cui Fan received word that monsters were attacking the city and told the group to gather at the City Defense Command.
• Wei Feng and Li Fu arrived, and Li Fu left to help defend the city while entrusting Li Yuanzhao and the others to Wei Feng.
• Ren Qianqian refused to leave the city, so Wei Feng agreed to accompany her and protect the Li Family youths as well.
• The group searched for Li Hao, then went to the western wall after signal smoke announced that the battle had begun.
• Li Yuanzhao and the others saw thousands of monsters charging toward the city, and Li Hao arrived riding the wind with Yue Shuhong.

Li Hao encountered Li Yuanzhao and the others as demons attacked the western city walls. He revealed his overwhelming swordsmanship, annihilated the demon horde, and left the battlefield in stunned silence.

• Li Yuanzhao and the others recognized Li Hao, while Wei Feng realized the boy he had followed was in the fifteen li realm.
• The city defenders fired arrows and began a Demon Suppression Formation as the demons charged the walls.
• Li Hao borrowed Ren Qianqian's sword and used Rising Moon to wipe out the demons approaching the battlements.
• Li Hao sent the sword flying to kill fleeing demons, including a spirit wandering realm Great Demon, and the remaining horde fled.

Li Hao sent Ren Qianqian’s sword to the northern wall, where it killed the Red Eyebrow Daoist with a single strike. The monster assault fell into chaos, while Li Fu lay unconscious after being wounded in battle.

• After the western monster horde fled, Li Hao learned that Li Fu had gone to the northern wall and sent a flying sword there.
• At the northern wall, Song Yueyao, Liu Shunqing, and the Qi Family Head struggled against the Spirit Wandering Realm monsters, while Li Fu was knocked unconscious by their attacks.
• Li Hao’s flying sword killed a venomous toad monster before the defending commander could be attacked.
• The Red Eyebrow Daoist sent his Crimson Sword against Li Hao’s flying sword, but it evaded the weapon and charged at him.
• Li Hao’s sword used River Severance to cut the Red Eyebrow Daoist’s jiaolong form apart and destroy his divine soul, throwing the monster tide into chaos.

Li Hao used his flying sword to kill the Red Eyebrow Daoist and the other Great Demons, then routed the demon tide and saved Cangyu City. After the battle, Yue Shuhong thanked him and promised to report his achievement to the court.

• The flying sword killed the Red Eyebrow Daoist, and the frightened demons began to flee.
• Li Hao pursued and killed all eight Spirit Wandering Realm Great Demons, then cut through the demon tide with his flying sword.
• Wei Feng brought Ren Qianqian and Li Yuanzhao after Li Hao, while the city’s defenders and allies joined the pursuit as the demons scattered.
• The demon tide collapsed, the demon cloud dispersed, and the soldiers cheered over Cangyu City’s survival.
• Yue Shuhong thanked Li Hao, admitted he would report his own collusion with demons, and promised to submit Li Hao’s achievement to the court.

After Li Hao routed the monsters in Cangyu City, he checked on the wounded Li Fu and spoke with Ren Qianqian, who insisted on becoming his retainer to learn his sword technique. The chapter then shifted to Boundless Mountain, where Nan arrived at Qian Feng’s Vajra Heart Hall to register him.

• Li Hao had Yue Shuhong send the gravely wounded Li Fu to the best military physician for treatment.
• Ren Qianqian asked Li Hao about his cultivation and sword technique, then offered to become his retainer to learn it and access the Listening Rain Pavilion.
• Li Hao asked Yue Shuhong about books, art, music, and recipes, and Yue Shuhong arranged for a civil official to show him around Cangyu City.
• At Boundless Mountain, a young monk told Nan that Qian Feng had reached the fifteen li realm and received the title Qiankun Vajra.
• Nan insisted on meeting Qian Feng, and the young monk asked the soldiers at the Vajra Heart Hall to announce her visit to register him.

Li Qianfeng emerged from seclusion and prepared to leave the mountain to earn merit before competing for the True Dragon Seat, while Murong Qiulan insisted on joining him. In Cangyu City, Li Hao finished gathering cultural treasures and discovered that a new Imperial Dao chess-manual effect could temporarily double his power.

• Li Qianfeng rejected Murong Qiulan’s proposal to marry him because her family background was beneath his, but agreed she could follow if she kept up.
• Li Qianfeng registered his departure and said he planned to earn merit before returning home to compete for the True Dragon Seat against his cousin Li Wushuang.
• Li Hao prepared to leave Cangyu City after the demon disaster ended and reviewed the cultural treasures he had collected.
• Li Hao embedded Keep a Low Profile into his Path of the Physical Body, granting rapid healing and slow limb regeneration while relaxed.
• Li Hao embedded Seven Phoenixes Lighting the Lamp into his Imperial Dao and learned that seven cultivation cycles could temporarily double his power.

After Li Hao’s group completed their mission in Cangyu City, Yue Shuhong accepted responsibility for the city’s past crimes and bade them farewell. On the road to Qing Prefecture, Xia Yong and Xia Qingshuang stopped their carriage and learned that a young member of the Li Family had quelled the demon calamity.

• A scout confirmed that Li Hao had killed the Great Demons in the Black Wind Mountain Range, and Yue Shuhong realized how narrowly Cangyu City had escaped disaster.
• Two days later, Yue Shuhong escorted Li Hao and the others to the city gate and said he would take the blame for Cangyu City’s crimes.
• Li Hao warned Yue Shuhong that his confession could implicate his clan, but Yue Shuhong explained that he had severed ties with its nine branches twelve years earlier.
• Li Hao agreed to pour a cup of wine for Yue Shuhong if he ever passed through Cangyu City, and the carriage departed for Qing Prefecture.
• Xia Yong and Xia Qingshuang stopped the carriage, questioned its driver Yue Ming, and learned that a young master of the Li Family had ended the demon calamity with few casualties.

Li Hao confronted Xia Yong and Xia Qingshuang after they disparaged the Li Family and the Yanbei Battlefield, demanding an apology for their insults. He defeated Xia Yong’s divine soul in a single strike, and Xia Qingshuang took the injured man away while Li Hao’s group continued toward Cangyu City.

• Xia Yong mocked the Li Family despite learning that Li Yuanzhao belonged to it, and Li Hao challenged him for insulting the family’s service at the Yanbei Battlefield.
• Xia Yong used object manipulation to order Li Hao to slap his own mouth, but Li Hao’s power forced Xia Yong off his horse instead.
• Xia Yong attacked Li Hao with his divine soul, and Li Hao shattered it with the Half-Step Invincible Fist, leaving Xia Yong unconscious and gravely injured.
• Xia Qingshuang condemned Li Hao’s strike, then carried Xia Yong away to seek treatment after he demanded an apology.
• Li Hao let the Xia siblings depart and told the coachman to continue toward Cangyu City.

Li Hao returned to Tan Palace Academy with a successful mission report, then discussed Ren Qianqian’s wish to become his personal sword attendant. At Blackwater Lake, he learned his father might return from the Yanbei Battlefield and considered the upcoming True Dragon Trial, which could make him the Li Family’s heir and give him access to the ancestors’ secret art.

• Li Hao and his companions checked in at Tan Palace Academy with perfect evaluations, and Ren Qianqian asked to become his personal sword attendant; Li Hao told her to discuss it with her father first.
• Li Hao visited Li Muxiu and Feng Boping at Blackwater Lake and shared food from Cangyu City with them and Xiao Rou.
• Li Muxiu told Li Hao that the Saint Palace planned to withdraw from the Yanbei Battlefield, so Li Hao’s father might return soon.
• Li Muxiu explained that the Li Family’s True Dragon selection would take place that year and that the chosen heir would receive the ancestors’ support through the family’s secret art.
• Li Hao considered competing for the True Dragon Seat so his rivals would not claim it, then stayed with Li Muxiu and Feng Boping as they fished and ate dinner.

Song Yueyao told Su Yehua how Li Hao had saved Cangyu City and learned that he had been admitted to Black White Hall by exception. At the Sandalwood Palace, Li Hao explained that he had chosen Tan Palace Academy because he wanted Cotton Jade Crisps, leaving the elders stunned.

• Song Yueyao told Su Yehua that Li Hao had reached the fifteen li realm and saved her during the crisis in Cangyu City.
• Su Yehua announced that Li Hao had entered Black White Hall by exception because of his cultivation and special merit, angering Jiang Ye and surprising the Class A Institute disciples.
• Li Yuanzhao kept quiet about what had happened in Cangyu City, remembering Li Hao's request not to reveal it yet.
• Song Yufeng and the Sandalwood Palace elders questioned Li Hao about why he had chosen Tan Palace Academy.
• Li Hao said he had enrolled because he had wanted Cotton Jade Crisps, then recommended Old Liu's shop in Qinglian Lane.
• Huang Licai asked whether Li Hao had actually come for the Sandalwood Palace's Taiji Qiankun Swordplay.

Li Hao sought the Taiji Qiankun Sword at Tan Palace Academy while painting the scenery beside Thousand Ren Cliff. When a Water Kirin emerged from the pool, he painted her portrait, earning a huge surge of Painting Dao experience and leaving her admiring her own image.

• Song Yufeng and the elders debated whether Li Hao could claim the Taiji Qiankun Sword and settled on offering him a year teaching at Sandalwood Palace or a nominal instructor position in Black White Hall.
• Li Hao painted the cliff and pool beside Thousand Ren Cliff to gain Painting Dao experience.
• A Water Kirin rose from the pool and ordered Li Hao to leave, but he asked to paint her portrait.
• Li Hao completed the portrait after the Water Kirin stayed still, gaining 1986 Painting Dao experience.
• The Water Kirin admired the painting, transformed into a woman in a blue dress, and approached the drawing board.

Li Hao painted a series of portraits for the Water Kirin, who revealed her name as Song Qiumo and invited him to visit again. After she left, Li Hao met Prince Jiang Hanxing beside the Cold Pond, and the two began a poetry duel.

• Li Hao painted Song Qiumo in several poses, earning Painting Dao experience as she admired the portraits.
• Song Qiumo told Li Hao her name, explained how he could call for her, and returned to the Cold Pond with her paintings.
• Li Hao continued painting the scenery until Prince Jiang Hanxing arrived and recognized him.
• Jiang Hanxing praised Li Hao's painting and proposed that they each compose a poem about the Cold Pond.
• Li Hao recited a poem attributed to Li Bai and claimed the poet was his ancestor, leaving Jiang Hanxing bewildered.
• Jiang Hanxing prepared to recite a poem he had previously composed for the Cold Pond waterfall.

Li Hao became an honorary instructor at the Sandalwood Palace after agreeing to teach three lessons each year for ten years, and he spent the day painting Song Qiumo to gain Painting Dao experience. As the residence prepared a banquet for Li Wushuang’s return, Li Hao learned that Uncle Fu would soon be coming home as well.

• Li Hao impressed Jiang Hanxing with a waterfall poem, earning his admiration before Jiang Hanxing left.
• Li Hao chose the honorary instructor position and required the Sandalwood Palace elders to cooperate as painting models.
• Li Hao learned that Li Wushuang had returned and asked Li Yuanzhao to bring Qingzhou delicacies as her gift.
• Li Hao painted Song Qiumo in her Water Kirin form and human form, gaining over four thousand experience points.
• Uncle Zhao told Li Hao that Uncle Fu’s injuries had nearly healed and that Li Wushuang’s return banquet was being held that evening.