Chapter Summaries

Li Hao prepared to welcome his cousin Shuang'er with gifts and visited Xiao Yujing with Li Yuanzhao on the way to the family gathering. Xiao Yujing warned Yuanzhao against getting close to Li Hao, while Li Hao arrived at the Evergreen Courtyard, where the other ladies were praising Shuang'er.

• Uncle Zhao gave Li Hao a dragon-horn comb and Divine Forging Pills as gifts for Shuang'er.
• Li Yuanzhao met Li Hao, and they set out for the Evergreen Courtyard together after preparing local dishes for the gathering.
• At the Exquisite Jade Courtyard, Xiao Yujing scolded Yuanzhao over his modest gift and gave him a gift box she had prepared.
• Xiao Yujing told Yuanzhao to spend less time with Li Hao because she feared he would draw trouble onto himself.
• Uncle Zhao explained that Xiao Yujing resented the Li Family because her husband had died on the battlefield, and Li Hao arrived at the Evergreen Courtyard as the ladies praised Shuang'er.

Li Hao attended a family banquet celebrating Li Wushuang’s return and gave her a Divine Forging Pill and a dragon-horn comb, but his gift sparked a tense exchange. Li Yuanzhao’s gift of the renowned dagger Fragrance Containing pleased Li Wushuang, and the banquet continued after the family gathered.

• Li Hao arrived at the banquet and met Li Wushuang, who had returned to the Li Family after years away.
• Li Hao gave Li Wushuang a Divine Forging Pill and a dragon-horn comb, and she questioned whether she needed the pill.
• Li Yun accused Li Hao of looking down on Li Wushuang, and Li Hao retorted that Li Yun might need the pill instead.
• Li Yuanzhao arrived with Xiao Yujing and gave Li Wushuang the renowned dagger Fragrance Containing, which she accepted with thanks.
• Third Madam, Eighth Madam, and Li Wushuang’s father, Li Xuanli, arrived as the family banquet continued.

At a family meal welcoming Li Wushuang home, Li Xuanli recalled the Li Family’s late Ninth Uncle and praised Li Hao for arranging special dishes. Li Wushuang’s resentment over Li Hao’s childhood fights with Li Yun caused a public quarrel, which ended with the family dismissing the old dispute and asking about Li Hao’s fiancée.

• Li Xuanli praised Li Wushuang for making the Qian Rankings, then reminisced about the late Ninth Uncle’s youthful challenge to the geniuses of the realm.
• He Jianlan revealed that Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao had bought the welcome dishes, and Li Xuanli asked Li Wushuang to thank Li Hao.
• Li Wushuang refused, claiming she disliked the dragon liver and accusing Li Hao of bullying Li Yun while she was away.
• Li Yun admitted the incident had happened five or six years earlier, and the family realized the boys had been children at the time.
• Li Yuanzhao revealed that Li Yun had coveted Li Hao’s fiancée, prompting Li Xuanli to scold Li Yun and challenge him to settle any grievance in the Martial Arts Arena.
• Gao Qingqing asked Li Hao when his fiancée, the Sword Saint’s disciple, would return and suggested she spar with Li Wushuang.

Li Hao attended a family dinner where Li Wushuang hinted that she wanted to challenge Li Qian Feng and compete for the True Dragon Seat. The next day, she confronted Li Hao over his past treatment of Li Yun, and he swiftly overpowered her and spanked her.

• Li Hao kept the dinner conversation cordial, while Li Yun felt relieved by his father's softened mood and Li Zhining comforted him.
• Li Wushuang said she wanted to spar with Li Qian Feng, and Liu Yuerong suspected she intended to test herself for the True Dragon Seat.
• Gao Qingqing reproached Li Xuanli for criticizing their children, but he praised Li Hao and inadvertently angered her again.
• Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao rode toward the Sandalwood Palace and discussed Li Hao's cultivation and Li Wushuang.
• Li Wushuang confronted Li Hao over his past bullying of Li Yun, attacked him, and was pinned against his horse before he spanked her.

Li Hao subdued Li Wushuang after she challenged him, leaving her shocked by his Fifteen Li Realm cultivation. Later, Marquis Xingwu returned from Northern Yan, and Li Hao rushed out of the city to meet his father as their eyes met.

• Li Hao restrained and slapped Li Wushuang until she submitted, then warned her not to provoke him again.
• Li Wushuang realized Li Hao had surpassed Ninth Uncle’s cultivation record, while Li Hao told Li Yuanzhao he had disciplined her for her own good.
• Li Wushuang learned that Marquis Xingwu had returned victorious after fourteen years in Northern Yan.
• The people of Qing Prefecture welcomed Marquis Xingwu and his fewer than one hundred wounded soldiers with cheers and gifts.
• After Shen Yunqing told him his father had returned, Li Hao raced out of the city on the Crimson Blood Horse and met Marquis Xingwu’s gaze.

Li Hao reunited with Li Tiangang and learned that his mother, Ji Qingqing, had died, while his father returned home determined to correct what he believed was Li Hao’s neglect of cultivation. Their clash over Li Hao’s paintings and his refusal to apologize to Yu Xuan was interrupted when Li Fu arrived and revealed Li Hao’s realm.

• Li Hao reunited with Li Tiangang after fourteen years and learned that Ji Qingqing had died a few months earlier and been avenged.
• At the Divine General Residence, Li Tiangang and Li Hao grieved together, and Li Tiangang later questioned Uncle Zhao about his son’s cultivation.
• The next morning, Li Hao discovered that Li Tiangang had moved his paintings to the Firewood Room and demanded their return.
• Li Tiangang ordered Li Hao to apologize to Yu Xuan for insulting him, but Li Hao challenged his father’s assumptions about his abilities.
• Li Fu arrived and announced that Li Hao had already reached the Fifteen Li Realm.

Li Tiangang learned that Li Hao had reached the Fifteen Li Realm and wanted to announce his son’s extraordinary talent, but their confrontation over Yu Xuan and Li Hao’s paintings exposed the hurt between them. Li Hao left, while Li Tiangang ordered the paintings carefully preserved and still planned a family banquet to proclaim his achievement.

• Li Fu told Li Tiangang that Li Hao had reached the Fifteen Li Realm, and Li Tiangang attributed the change to Second Master’s help.
• Li Tiangang praised Li Hao’s talent and ordered Uncle Zhao to tell the household, but Li Hao asked for his paintings to be brought out first.
• Li Tiangang demanded that Li Hao apologize to Yu Xuan and stop indulging in painting, and Li Hao questioned why reaching the Grandmaster Realm or becoming the greatest genius mattered.
• Li Hao explained that he had painted blurry portraits of his mother from memory and challenged Li Tiangang over whether she could be insulted.
• Li Hao walked away despite Li Tiangang ordering him to stop, and Li Tiangang ordered the paintings protected before arranging a family banquet to announce Li Hao’s cultivation.

Li Muxiu told Li Tiangang that Li Hao’s astonishing cultivation came from his own talent, not a fate-changing intervention, and urged Li Tiangang to give his son the companionship he had missed. News that fourteen-year-old Li Hao had reached the Fifteen Li Realm spread through the Li Manor, leaving the family stunned and prompting Liu Yuerong to send a secret warning to Qian Feng.

• Li Muxiu told Li Tiangang that Qingqing could not return and that Li Hao did not know the truth about her.
• Li Muxiu explained that Li Hao’s meridians had opened when he was six or seven and that his cultivation was the result of his extraordinary talent, not a changed fate.
• Li Muxiu urged Li Tiangang to keep Li Hao company, and Li Tiangang resolved to make up for the years he had been absent.
• Li Hao reunited with Xiao Rou, and Li Muxiu warned him to avoid fishing alone while he was away.
• He Jianlan announced a family banquet to celebrate Li Hao’s entry into the Fifteen Li Realm, and the news astonished the Li Manor.
• Liu Yuerong confirmed Li Hao’s cultivation and suspected Li Tiangang had concealed it, so she hurried to write a secret letter to Qian Feng.

Li Hao’s Fifteen Li Realm cultivation stirred celebration in the Li Family and drew attention from powers across the realm. As relatives argued over his achievement, Sword Wudao learned of it and reflected on Xue’er’s journey back to the Li residence.

• Li Hao checked the paintings in a quiet room, then joined the family banquet after Uncle Zhao urged him not to remain angry with Li Tiangang.
• Li Rumeng mocked Li Hao’s cultivation, and Li Yuanzhao, Li Wushuang, Li Yun, and Li Jiangying argued with her and Li Jiangying.
• Li Hao went to First Madam’s table while the assembled ladies questioned Li Tiangang and Li Hao about his sudden cultivation and talent.
• Sword Wudao heard that Li Hao had reached the Fifteen Li Realm at fourteen and said he could never have become his sword disciple.
• Sword Wudao learned that Xue’er had gone down the mountain to return to the Li residence and hoped she would resolve matters between the sword dao and the mortal world.

The Yu Emperor dismissed He Lian Boya’s demand to punish the Li Family and had the court discuss rewards for Li Hao’s defense of Cangyu City. Meanwhile, Li Qianfeng learned that Li Hao had reached the Fifteen Li Realm at fourteen, and Li Hao was summoned to visit the ancestors and have them decide the True Dragon matter.

• He Lian Boya accused the Li Family of concealing Li Hao’s talent, but the Yu Emperor dismissed the charge and turned the court’s attention to rewarding Li Hao for saving Cangyu City.
• Li Qianfeng killed a Glaring-Eyed Tiger outside Flying General City and received a message that Li Hao had entered the Fifteen Li Realm at fourteen.
• Li Qianfeng worried that Li Hao’s rapid cultivation might have been aided by the older generation, considered asking the ancestors to investigate, and decided to return early.
• After the family banquet, Li Hao received visits from concubines and their children, who sought to become acquainted with him.
• Yu Xuan told Li Hao that his father had summoned him to pay respects to the ancestors and ask them to decide the True Dragon matter.
• Li Hao washed and dressed, then followed Yu Xuan to meet his father.

Li Tiangang brought Li Hao to the Ancestral Shrine to consult the Li Family ancestors about the True Dragon position. The ancestors scheduled the selection for two months later, and Li Tiangang left with Li Hao to prepare.

• Li Hao and Li Tiangang visited Li Qingzheng at the Ancestral Shrine, where they discussed Li Tiangang’s years fighting demons in Northern Yan and the absence of Li Tiangang’s wife, Qingqing.
• Li Tiangang and Li Hao paid respects to the ancestors, and Li Hao saw the spirit tablet of Li Junye, whose heroic soul had not appeared.
• The awakened ancestors discussed the True Dragon selection and agreed to hold it in two months, while insisting that Li Hao’s character and standing among the other candidates still be examined.
• An ancestor warned Li Tiangang to keep Li Hao from meeting Li Junye’s fate, and Li Tiangang left the shrine with his son to prepare for the selection.

With the True Dragon selection two months away, Li Hao’s chances drew attention from the Li Family and other factions. Li Hao confronted Li Tiangang about his years of neglect, and after apologizing, his father promised to grant his wishes, beginning with more freedom.

• Li Tiangang announced that the True Dragon selection would take place in two months, stirring the courtyards and drawing the attention of Liu Yuerong and Boundless Buddha.
• Boundless Buddha said Qiankun Vajra would receive a buddha’s vow to help him become invincible in his realm.
• Li Tiangang explained that the selection judged both talent and character, then worried that he had neglected Li Hao’s upbringing.
• Li Hao told Li Tiangang he had never resented his parents for their duties in Northern Yan, but resented that his father had sent twenty-four military reports and only seven family letters.
• Li Tiangang admitted he had failed as a father, embraced Li Hao, and promised to fulfill his wishes; Li Hao asked for more freedom.

Li Hao secured his father’s promise to let him pursue his own interests and learned more about the upcoming True Dragon Contest. After his rescue of Cangyu City earned him a noble title and fief, news of his achievement spread through Qing Prefecture, leaving the Li Family stunned.

• Li Hao persuaded Li Tiangang to stop forcing him to practice martial arts, then heard that Qian Feng was his main rival for the True Dragon Seat.
• Li Hao withheld what he knew about Liu Yuerong’s Poison Pill plan, intending to confront her and her son without warning them.
• Li Fu revealed that Li Hao had saved Cangyu City from a Demon Calamity, astonishing Li Tiangang and Yu Xuan with the scale of his merit.
• Li Hao received a Third-rank Bo-rank Noble title, a city as his fief, gold and jewels, and arms and armor for defending Cangyu City.
• News of Li Hao’s achievement spread through Qing Prefecture, and He Jianlan, Gao Qingqing, and Li Xuanli marveled at his accomplishments.

Li Hao visited Song Qiumo before arriving at the Tan Palace Academy to teach at the Black White Hall. His reputation as a fourteen-year-old Bo-rank Noble astonished the academy students and changed the stern instructor Sun Hongdian’s attitude toward him.

• Liu Yuerong panicked when she learned Li Hao had been granted the title of Bo-rank Noble, while Li Qianfeng felt humiliated by his lower rank and accepted his master’s help in pursuing the True Dragon Position.
• Li Hao brought Song Qiumo pastries and paintings, declined her offer of Millennium Profound Nether Grass, and promised to bring more treats next time.
• Li Hao arrived at the White Hall and saw Instructor Sun Hongdian berating a student for bringing books to martial arts class.
• Song Yueyao recognized Li Hao, and the students murmured about the young newcomer as the embarrassed student left the hall.
• Sun Hongdian recognized Li Hao, welcomed him deferentially, and greeted him as he arrived to teach.

Li Hao began teaching at Tan Palace Academy and mastered the Yin Yang Reversal Sword after reading its manual once, astonishing the students with a perfect demonstration. After letting them study the moves, he prepared to demonstrate them again more slowly.

• Sun Hongdian introduced Li Hao as the academy's new honorary instructor and left him to teach the class.
• Li Hao asked for a sword manual, read Ma Jing's copy of the Yin Yang Reversal Sword, and recorded the technique at its true state.
• Li Hao invited Zhou Zheng, who had been standing outside the classroom, to join the lesson.
• Li Hao demonstrated the perfected sword technique, leaving Song Yueyao and the other students stunned by his skill.
• Li Hao told the students to recall the demonstration, painted the gathered class, then began a slower second demonstration.

Li Hao taught the White Hall students the true state of the Yin Yang Reversal Sword, helping many reach the perfect level and earning their admiration. For his second lesson, he settled a dispute between Zhou Zheng and Sun Hongdian, then took the male students down the mountain to visit a pleasure house, leaving Song Yufeng astonished by the news.

• Li Hao demonstrated the Yin Yang Reversal Sword at the true state, and Song Yueyao and more than a dozen students reached the perfect level.
• Li Hao told the students that true state surpassed supreme perfection, then dismissed the class and visited Song Qiumo at the Cold Pond with little flaky cakes.
• Zhou Liang confronted Sun Hongdian for humiliating Zhou Zheng, and Li Hao intervened so Zhou Zheng could remain in the White Hall.
• The students confirmed they had reached the perfect level and asked Li Hao to fulfill his promise of three wishes, so they chose a trip to a pleasure house.
• Li Hao gave paintings to the female students and took the male students down the mountain, while Song Yufeng was shocked to hear about the outing.

After Li Hao taught White Hall disciples swordsmanship, he took them to the Cloud and Mist Tower, where his poems amazed the gathering. He returned to the Divine General Residence and learned that the Boundless Buddha had summoned his cousin back to challenge him in the True Dragon Contention, while tension with Li Tiangang remained.

• Song Yueyao told Song Yufeng that Li Hao had mastered the Yin Yang Reversal Sword’s true state after reading its manual once, and Song Yufeng struggled to believe it.
• Li Hao took Jiang Hanxing and the White Hall disciples to the Cloud and Mist Tower, where the disciples recited poems Li Hao supplied and stunned the guests.
• The manager invited Hong Wan'er to entertain Li Hao, who had her shell melon seeds; two lines of his poetry were displayed outside the tower.
• Li Tiangang sent Li Fu to bring Li Hao home, then reprimanded him for going to a brothel and making promises to the disciples.
• Li Tiangang warned Li Hao that the Boundless Buddha had summoned his cousin back to oppose him in the True Dragon Contention, and told him to behave himself for now.

Li Hao searched the Listening Rain Pavilion for the heart that would define his path as a Grandmaster, but remained uncertain about what he wanted his martial path to be. Bian Ruxue returned after eight years away, and Li Hao took her around Qingzhou City, where she offered to support him in the coming True Dragon Contest.

• Li Hao spent a month reading basic martial arts and Grandmaster biographies, but his techniques were ready while his Grandmaster's Heart remained unsettled.
• Li Hao reunited with Bian Ruxue, who had returned after eight years, and Li Tiangang welcomed her warmly at the Divine General Residence.
• Li Hao took Bian Ruxue around Qingzhou City, bought her an Iron Frog, and caught up with her over a meal.
• Bian Ruxue told Li Hao she had investigated a Mo River that destroyed a village and asked whether he wanted her master's group to support him in the True Dragon Contest.
• Li Hao declined outside support and asked Bian Ruxue to finish the food he could not eat.

Li Hao spent several happy days with Bian Ruxue, but she revealed that she intended to devote herself to pursuing the legendary God's Sword. After learning that she had already chosen the sword over their future together, Li Hao watched her leave and resolved to climb the Sword Dao’s peak himself someday.

• Li Hao took Bian Ruxue on outings around Qingzhou City and the countryside, sharing meals, fishing, and a temple fair with her.
• Li Tiangang urged Li Hao to plan more thoughtfully for Bian Ruxue, while Bian Ruxue defended the simple outings they enjoyed together.
• As they watched the sunset, Bian Ruxue told Li Hao she wanted to pursue the Sword Dao and discover whether God's Sword truly existed.
• Bian Ruxue explained that she had decided to train first and return to marry Li Hao and have children before continuing her pursuit of the sword.
• Li Hao realized Bian Ruxue had long since given her heart to the sword, and she left him behind after their conversation.
• Left alone with the fairground gifts Bian Ruxue had not taken, Li Hao resolved to reach the summit of the Sword Dao and see whether God's Sword existed.

Li Hao encountered the Black Chess Elder by a riverside Go stall, where he won two games and exchanged views on ambition and life. The elder recognized Li Hao’s exceptional talent, while Li Hao left without accepting a gift, and the elder departed toward the city gate.

• Li Hao watched the Black Chess Elder win a Go game, then added white stones to the board to break the losing formation.
• When a coachman bullied the crowd, one of the elder’s young companions killed him and forced the passenger in the carriage to kneel before the carriage plunged into the river.
• The Black Chess Elder invited Li Hao to play, and Li Hao defeated him decisively in their first game.
• Li Hao and the elder discussed ambition during a second game, and the elder made Hua'er apologize after he insulted Li Hao.
• Li Hao won the second game and left without the elder’s promised gift, while the elder praised his talent and headed toward the city gate.