Chapter Summaries

After returning from the Bai Residence, Jiang Ning sought ways to gather ten thousand Source Energy Points for Literacy’s Breakthrough and investigated the strange weather with his Heavenly Eye. He identified a Yellow Robed Daoist at Three Origins Daoist Temple as the likely cause, then refined pills and Great Sun Essence Qi to strengthen himself.

• Jiang Ning tallied his wealth and had Luyi sell a Tiger Bone, an Electric Eel Bone, and a Turtle Shell in exchange for Dao Embryo One Qi Pills.
• Jiang Ning fed blood to Dragon Carp and Old Turtle, then sent Old Turtle to protect his family.
• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to search for the source of the weather changes and spotted the Yellow Robed Daoist praying for rain at Three Origins Daoist Temple.
• The Yellow Robed Daoist performed a rite to disperse the clouds, and the weather returned to sunshine before Jiang Ning could act.
• Luyi returned with fifteen Dao Embryo One Qi Pills, which Jiang Ning refined after absorbing Great Sun Essence Qi and gaining 125 Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill experience points.
• Jiang Ning’s power increased from 141 to 143, though refining the pills also caused a heavy buildup of elixir toxins.

Jiang Ning led Bai Luoyu and Su Zhi to Three Origins Daoist Temple, where they confronted a powerful Yellow Robed Daoist who cultivated both martial and Daoist paths. After the Daoist defeated Bai Luoyu and drove Su Zhi back, he prepared to unleash Palm Thunder, leaving the three in grave danger.

• Jiang Ning told Bai Luoyu that the Heavenly Eye had revealed a Rain God altar and a Yellow Robed Daoist manipulating the weather at Three Origins Daoist Temple.
• Bai Luoyu recruited Su Zhi, and Jiang Ning led them through the forest to the ruined temple.
• Bai Luoyu entered the main hall to test the Daoist but was blasted out, wounded and coughing blood.
• Su Zhi confronted the Yellow Robed Daoist and exchanged blows with his summoned Golden Armor Divine General, but his Spirit Invocation Art and fire spell forced her back.
• The Yellow Robed Daoist invoked Palm Thunder as Bai Luoyu realized the group needed to withdraw and seek Zhao Yulong.

Jiang Ning intervened when the Yellow Robed Daoist overwhelmed Su Zhi and defeated him with his Water Fire Grindstone momentum. Before dying, the Daoist told Jiang Ning that the upheaval of Great Xia was inevitable, leaving Jiang Ning with no answers about the larger crisis.

• The Yellow Robed Daoist struck Su Zhi and Bai Luoyu with Palm Thunder, injuring them and forcing Su Zhi to brace for another attack.
• Jiang Ning arrived with Wind Thunder Step, shattered the Yellow Robed Daoist’s Spirit Invocation Art, and seized him.
• Jiang Ning enveloped the Yellow Robed Daoist in the Water Fire Grindstone, draining his life force until he collapsed near death.
• Su Zhi and Bai Luoyu recognized the power of Jiang Ning’s momentum and were shocked by how quickly he defeated the Daoist.
• The Yellow Robed Daoist told Jiang Ning that he was destined to rise but could not stop the mountains and rivers from changing hands, then ended his own life.

Jiang Ning and his allies defeated a Yellow Robed Daoist and destroyed the Rain God Altar, ending the threat of catastrophic floods in Dongling City. After returning home, Jiang Ning spent his Divinity Points to complete Flesh Regeneration once and began advancing it toward another breakthrough.

• Jiang Ning took the Rain God Altar’s wooden tablet, absorbed its Divinity Points, and ended the Daoist’s suppression of the gathered water vapor, bringing rain to the region.
• Bai Luoyu explained that the Yellow Robed Daoist had planned to unleash a flood that could devastate Dongling City, and he and Su Zhi agreed Jiang Ning deserved half the operation’s credit.
• Su Zhi examined the now-ordinary tablet while Bai Luoyu collected items from the altar and main hall; then the three left the temple in the torrential rain.
• Jiang Ning returned home, bathed while Luyi scrubbed his back, and reflected on how decisively he had defeated the powerful Yellow Robed Daoist.
• Jiang Ning spent twenty Divinity Points to complete Flesh Regeneration, then used his final point to raise its new progress from 0.11% to 0.41%.

After his Authority breakthrough, Jiang Ning tested his rapid healing, bought and refined Embracing Origin Qi Pills, and wrote Ji Mingyue a letter while Qingyi stayed at his home. The next morning, he checked his Panel and found 6,703 Source Energy Points.

• Jiang Ning tested his stronger recovery by cutting his arm with a saber and watched the wounds heal almost instantly.
• Wang Shouyi ordered Wu Dayong to protect the granary and reinforce the West District levee as the Raging River rose during the storm.
• Jiang Ning spent his Martial Academy credits and Patrol Office Contribution Points on Embracing Origin Qi Pills, while Qingyi arrived to collect a letter for Ji Mingyue and stayed at his home.
• Jiang Ning wrote to Ji Mingyue, then refined twenty-four Embracing Origin Qi Pills and raised his power from 143 to 147.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning opened his eyes and saw that his Source Energy had reached 6,703.

Jiang Ning exchanged his valuables for gold, bought and consumed a two-century-old Mystic Yang Ginseng, and continued refining his marrow as he pursued more Source Energy. He returned home with his yang energy strengthened, while the upcoming Child Examination and his approaching skill breakthroughs remained on his mind.

• Jiang Ning planned to earn enough Source Energy for Literacy's Breakthrough through selling valuables and claiming a Patrol Office merit reward, then practiced Marrow Refining and cleansed his marrow in the rain.
• Jiang Ning learned the Imperial Examination's Child Examination was only days away and hoped earning the Literary Scholar title would clear his Patrol Envoy assessment.
• Jiang Ning exchanged his valuables at Eight Directions Money House for just over two hundred taels of gold and spent two hundred taels on a two-century-old Mystic Yang Ginseng at Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
• Jiang Ning ate the Mystic Yang Ginseng, sensed its Spiritual Nature, and let it go because he was not ready for Blood Exchange.
• Jiang Ning felt his yang energy and kidney qi grow stronger, then used Heart Like a Mirror to dispel the desire stirred by the ginseng.

Jiang Ning broke through Wind Thunder Step, gained the Swift Wind and Lightning trait, and tested his new movement technique after the rain cleared. He then took the Civil Examination's Child Examination, finished early, and waited for the examination hall to close.

• Jiang Ning spent 200 Source Energy Points to break through Wind Thunder Step and gained the Swift Wind and Lightning trait.
• Jiang Ning tested his new movement technique by racing through the mountains and returning to his courtyard in an instant.
• Jiang Ning and Jiang Yiming went to the Examination Hall for the Child Examination, where a squad leader named Li Chao gave Jiang Ning a deferential inspection.
• Jiang Ning received the Jia Nine cubicle in the Class A Examination Hall and began the Child Examination.
• Jiang Ning finished the exam before the hour of Xu and waited until the bell rang at the hour of Hai.

Jiang Yiming and Jiang Ning passed the thousand-jin stone qualification test for the Martial Arts Children's Examination, with Jiang Ning drawing attention for his effortless strength. Jiang Yiming then received a Grade C- in Mounted Archery, ending his chance to earn the Martial Scholar title.

• Jiang Yiming told Jiang Ning he thought he had a chance of passing the Civil Children's Examination, then prepared for the Martial Examination.
• Jiang Yiming passed the qualification test by holding a thousand-jin boulder overhead for three breaths, and Jiang Ning passed it with ease.
• Officials and spectators noticed Jiang Ning's strength, while Wang Shouyi recognized him and Duwei Yan considered repairing their relationship.
• The Chief Examiner announced the first martial exam, which tested horsemanship and Mounted Archery by requiring nine arrows through nine target centers.
• Jiang Yiming shot only two of his nine arrows and received Grade C-, ending his chance of passing the Martial Arts Children's Examination.

Jiang Ning dominated the Martial Arts Children's Examination, earning First Class in Mounted Archery, Foot Archery, and Iron Lifting, while Jiang Yiming struggled through the events. As the essay became the deciding test between Jiang Ning and Yan Youjiao, Duwei Yan deliberately smudged his own son's answer sheet, shocking General Xu.

• Jiang Ning mastered Horsemanship during Mounted Archery and hit all nine targets, earning First Class as Duwei Yan decided to seek better relations with him.
• Jiang Yiming received Grade B in Foot Archery, while Jiang Ning earned First Class by splitting each previous arrow with his next shot; Yan Youjiao and Li Guangzheng also earned First Class.
• Jiang Yiming failed to lift a two-thousand-jin iron block, while Jiang Ning and Yan Youjiao earned First Class in Iron Lifting.
• Jiang Ning completed the essay examination, while Yan Youjiao expected his father to help secure him the Martial Champion title.
• Duwei Yan smudged Yan Youjiao's answer sheet, and General Xu seized his wrist before recognizing whose paper he had ruined.

Jiang Ning was named Martial Champion of the Martial Arts Children's Examination, despite expecting Yan Youjiao to win. After returning home to congratulations and an invitation to the Champion Banquet, Yan Youjiao confronted Duwei Yan over his defeat and accused his father of not helping him.

• Jiang Ning went to the Training Ground with Jiang Yiming and Xiao Doubao to see the posted results.
• The list named Jiang Ning Martial Champion, shocking Yan Youjiao and delighting Jiang Yiming.
• Jiang Ning returned home to find a congratulatory procession and plaque waiting, then accepted an invitation to the Champion Banquet and tipped the messenger one hundred taels.
• Yan Youjiao demanded to know why Duwei Yan had not helped him win, and Duwei Yan rebuked him for speaking disrespectfully.

Jiang Ning learned the importance of his Martial Champion title and agreed to attend the lavish Champion Banquet at Star Plucking Tower. The banquet began with Duwei Yan presenting him an unprecedented gift of One Hundred Taels of Gold.

• Jiang Ning completed his noon Inner Alchemy practice while Qingyi rested in his courtyard.
• Bai Luoyu told Jiang Ning that winning the Champion title made him likely to become a Martial Graduate and urged him to attend the banquet.
• Jiang Ning arrived at Star Plucking Tower with Luyi and was welcomed with an elaborate red-carpet procession.
• Jiang Ning took the principal seat and greeted Zhao Yulong, General Xu, County Governor Wang Shouyi, and Duwei Yan Yikuan.
• Duwei Yan presented Jiang Ning with One Hundred Taels of Gold, astonishing the assembled guests.

At the Champion Banquet, Jiang Ning swiftly defeated Yan Youjiao, then converted his congratulatory gifts into pills that pushed his Source Energy past the threshold for Literacy’s tenth breakthrough. The breakthrough transformed him into a powerful Yin Spirit, and he left the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range at tremendous speed, heading toward Dongling City.

• Zhao Yulong toasted Jiang Ning at the banquet, and Yan Youjiao challenged him to a spar to defy his father, Yan Yikuan.
• Jiang Ning defeated Yan Youjiao with one punch, and Yan Yikuan thanked him for showing mercy.
• Luyi reported that Jiang Ning’s gifts were worth about three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver, and Jiang Ning ordered her to exchange them for Embracing Origin Qi Pills.
• After refining the pills, Jiang Ning used his twelve thousand three hundred and eleven Source Energy Points to complete Literacy’s tenth limit break.
• Jiang Ning’s soul transformed into a solid Yin Spirit, which Bai Luoyu recognized as it formed above the residence.
• Jiang Ning tested his Yin Spirit’s ability to pass through obstacles and travel at great speed, then headed toward Dongling City.

Jiang Ning discovered that his Born Holy trait had allowed him to condense a Yin Spirit, and he explored the greatly enhanced Divine Sense that came with it. After confirming he could perceive distant places, control heavy objects, fly on his blade, and strengthen his blade attacks, he decided to investigate the incense offering he sensed in Luoshui County that night.

• Jiang Ning returned from his out-of-body journey and found the Born Holy trait on his panel, which explained how he had condensed a Yin Spirit without a special Dharma Gate.
• Jiang Ning discovered his Divine Sense could cover ten li, penetrate more than one li underground, and sense an incense offering made by an Old Woman in Luoshui County, so he resolved to investigate that night.
• Jiang Ning tested his Divine Sense by lifting Stone Dumbbells weighing up to one thousand jin and found he could briefly lift himself into the air.
• Jiang Ning controlled his long saber from a distance, chopped two trees into firewood to gain Firewood Chopping Blade Technique experience, and rode the blade above the forest.
• Jiang Ning confirmed that Divine Sense could add force to his blade strikes when he shattered a boulder with a strengthened attack.

Jiang Ning and Jiang Yiming both passed the Civil Examination and received Literary Scholar honors, while Jiang Ning continued cultivating and prepared to travel as a Yin Spirit. During his nighttime test, Qingyi saw his spirit and realized he had cultivated a Yin Spirit.

• Jiang Yiming told Jiang Ning that they had both passed the Civil Examination, with Jiang Ning ranked fourth at Grade A Middle and Jiang Yiming earning Grade A Lower.
• The Yamen Runners delivered their Reports of Success, and Jiang Ning learned that he would attend the Saint Temple ceremony before pursuing his appointment as Dongling County Inspector.
• Jiang Ning prepared to send his Yin Spirit to Luoshui County, leaving the Dragon Carp and Old Turtle to guard his physical body.
• Jiang Ning's Yin Spirit left his body and tested its ability to move through the courtyard and lake, where Linglong sensed him but could not see him.
• Qingyi appeared on the courtyard wall, saw Jiang Ning's Yin Spirit, and vanished after realizing he had cultivated one.

Jiang Ning roamed Luoshui County and discovered that incense burning before statues of him could be absorbed as Divinity Points. He visited Wang Jin and Lu Qingshan in Medicine King Valley, then realized that powerful people could sense his Yin Spirit and that Lu Qingshan’s scorching aura might threaten him if he drew too close.

• Jiang Ning traveled as a Yin Spirit to Luoshui County and found that seven clay statues made by the Xie Family had gathered incense for him.
• Jiang Ning absorbed the incense from the statues, gained three Divinity Points, and learned that incense could increase his divinity.
• Jiang Ning visited Wang Jin, who sensed an unseen presence, and used a floating stone to tell him he was Jiang Ning and would explain himself in a few days.
• Jiang Ning entered Lu Qingshan’s room, where Lu Qingshan sensed and roughly located him, and communicated with him through words formed from water.
• Jiang Ning concluded that stronger people could perceive his Yin Spirit more clearly and that Lu Qingshan’s powerful aura could scorch him if he approached too closely.

Jiang Ning discovered that the Saint Temple’s incense ceremony implanted hidden brands in scholars to bind them to Great Xia, but his body dissolved the brand, and he prevented Jiang Yiming from receiving one. He abandoned plans to advance further in the Civil Examination, continued cultivating, and anticipated the official appointment that would make him Dongling County’s County Inspector.

• Jiang Ning attended the Saint Temple incense ceremony and realized its Haoran Qi baptism carried brands from a Great Xia deity that could control worshippers.
• Jiang Ning gave Jiang Yiming condensed Essence Blood before his ceremony, then sensed that the temple had left no brand in his nephew.
• Jiang Ning declined to attend the Deer Cry Banquet and decided not to pursue higher Civil Examination ranks because further temple ceremonies could expose him to danger.
• Jiang Ning cultivated Water Fire True Force and expected his merit for killing a Demonic Path Cultivator and his County Inspector appointment to arrive soon.

After learning that Xiao Qiushui had emerged from seclusion and might have become a Heavenly Human Grandmaster, Jiang Ning focused on improving Wind Thunder Step to prepare for her. Wang Qingtan came to collect his debt but, after hearing about the danger, lent him another 1,200 taels of gold, due next year with twenty percent interest.

• Jiang Ning received Xiao Emei's message that Xiao Qiushui had emerged from seclusion and considered the possibility that she had reached the Heavenly Human Grandmaster realm.
• Jiang Ning assessed his combat skills and resources, then chose to grind Wind Thunder Step for a breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning practiced Wind Thunder Step in the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range and raised its experience past halfway toward its next limit break.
• Wang Qingtan visited Jiang Ning to collect his debt, but he said he had no money and explained that he needed resources to prepare for Xiao Qiushui.
• Wang Qingtan lent Jiang Ning 1,200 taels of gold and told him to repay it next year with twenty percent interest.

Jiang Ning used the gold Wang Qingtan lent him to raise his Source Energy Points above ten thousand, then trained his Firewood Chopping Blade Technique until it was ready for another limit break. After learning Xiao Qiushui was on her way to Dongling City, he spent ten thousand Source Energy Points on the technique and began its breakthrough.

• Jiang Ning saw Wang Qingtan off after she lent him 1,200 taels of gold, and the two sealed their promises with a pinky swear.
• Jiang Ning exchanged the gold for resources at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, raising his Source Energy Points to 13,863 by the next morning.
• Jiang Ning wielded his longsaber with Divine Sense to chop a great tree, filling the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique's Experience Points to 10,000.
• Jiang Ning received Xiao Emei's letter saying Xiao Qiushui had left the Water Moon Sword Palace and would reach Dongling City within two to five days.
• Jiang Ning recovered his Spiritual Power in the lake, then spent 10,000 Source Energy Points on the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique and closed his eyes as its breakthrough began.

Jiang Ning awakened a new saber trait that let his strikes sever waterfalls and rivers, then broke Wind Thunder Step through to its third breakthrough for a major increase in speed. With Xiao Qiushui approaching Dongling City, he abandoned slower training plans and focused on the improvements most useful for their coming confrontation.

• Jiang Ning tested his newly awakened Blade Can Reach the Profound trait and found that his saber intent could halt a waterfall and cut open a river.
• Jiang Ning identified the rule-breaking effect of his saber as Severance and used the remaining noon to breathe in Great Sun Essence Qi.
• Jiang Ning spent 500 Source Energy to push Wind Thunder Step through its third breakthrough, gaining the Chasing Wind, Pursuing Lightning trait and increased movement, striking, and reaction speed.
• Jiang Ning judged that Xiao Qiushui might reach Dongling City within two or three days and that he lacked time to further improve Wind Thunder Step.
• Jiang Ning decided to set aside Marrow Refining and spend the remaining time pursuing the improvements most likely to help against Xiao Qiushui.

Jiang Ning devoted himself to advancing Indestructible Vajra Body, aiming to strengthen his defense and develop Silver Silk Iron Armor. After practicing through the night and gaining substantial experience, he ate the porridge Luyi prepared and continued training.

• Jiang Ning chose to focus on Indestructible Vajra Body rather than Wind Thunder Arrow Technique, since he lacked a suitable bow and needed stronger defense.
• Jiang Ning practiced the twelve movements of Indestructible Vajra Body, gaining experience much faster with his current physical foundation.
• Jiang Ning trained through the night as silver threads began forming beneath his skin, while Luyi stayed nearby despite his urging her to rest.
• Jiang Ning practiced until dawn, and Luyi brought him lean pork porridge after he finished another round.
• Jiang Ning ate the porridge and told Luyi to ask his eldest sister-in-law to prepare more food with extra meat for the morning.