Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning visited Myriad Blossom Pavilion to sell treasures and bought an invitation to its upcoming auction, where he spotted several items he wanted. The pavilion’s appraiser summoned Manager Shen, and Jiang Ning reunited with Shen Congyun, who was delighted to see him in Guangning City.

• Jiang Ning learned that Myriad Blossom Pavilion would hold an auction in three days and bought an admission invitation, hoping to sell treasures he had looted from Water Moon Sword Palace.
• Jiang Ning showed a Blood Jade, two books, two Precious Swords, and a piece of white bone to the pavilion’s appraiser, Elder Qian, who examined them and asked the maid to summon a manager.
• Jiang Ning read the auction list and became interested in a Mustard Seed Leaf, Celestial Gold Stone, a Bronze Fragment, and three drops of Demon God Blood.
• The maid brought Manager Shen into the VIP room, and Jiang Ning recognized Shen Congyun; the two greeted each other, and Shen Congyun expressed his delight at seeing him in Guangning City.

Jiang Ning met Shen Congyun at Myriad Blossom Pavilion and consigned several treasures for auction while demonstrating the power of a Tiger Bone Divine Mark. Shen Congyun secured Blood Ginseng for him and gave him a VIP invitation and bidding tokens for the auction.

• Jiang Ning told Shen Congyun that he had been promoted to Dongling County Patrol Envoy, and Shen Congyun welcomed him as an honored guest.
• Elder Qian appraised Jiang Ning’s Blood Jade, twin swords, Tiger Bone, Azure Wave Sword Art, and Desire Severing Heart Sutra for auction.
• Jiang Ning manifested a ferocious tiger with True Essence to demonstrate the Tiger Bone Divine Mark’s power, and Elder Qian agreed to evaluate it further.
• Jiang Ning gave Shen Congyun one thousand gold to buy Blood Ginseng, and Shen Congyun returned with three roots and a VIP auction invitation.
• Shen Congyun gave Jiang Ning four purple Knife Coins, each representing a bidding limit of one thousand gold.

Jiang Ning recovered from his First Blood Exchange by consuming Blood Ginseng, then broke through his Firewood Chopping Blade Technique and realized his Saber Intent could connect Heaven and man. The chapter left him with the foundation and qualification to attempt a Third Blood Exchange.

• Jiang Ning and Luyi sampled grilled donkey meat at Guangning City's night market on their way back to Listening Bamboo Pavilion.
• Jiang Ning ate a three-hundred-year-old and a five-hundred-year-old Blood Ginseng to replenish the weakness left by his Blood Exchange.
• Jiang Ning rested overnight and found that New Blood had restored much of his strength and begun nourishing his fleshly body.
• Jiang Ning spent twenty thousand Source Energy Points to break through his Firewood Chopping Blade Technique, causing his Saber Intent to reach Connecting Heavenly Human.
• Jiang Ning realized his Saber Intent could guide Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy into his body, giving him the qualification for a Third Blood Exchange.

Jiang Ning gained the blade-art Trait Summit of the Mountain, then joined Bai Luoyu in visiting Ye Zhengqi, who questioned whether Jiang Ning had reached Heaven and Man as One. Ye Zhengqi revealed that a demon had killed all 123 people in Sanlang Village and suspected the Great Demon White Dragon, leaving Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu set to accompany him to the Marquis.

• Jiang Ning gained the Summit of the Mountain Trait, which made his blade-art talent and comprehension the highest of the current age.
• After eating and taking Five-Hundred-Year-Old Blood Ginseng, Jiang Ning went with Bai Luoyu to visit Ye Zhengqi.
• Ye Zhengqi asked whether Jiang Ning had gained insight into Heaven and Man as One, and told Bai Luoyu that Jiang Ning had likely killed Xiao Qiushui.
• Ye Zhengqi showed them a report that a demon had killed all 123 residents of Sanlang Village in BeiMang County's Anyuan County.
• Jiang Ning asked whether the Great Demon White Dragon was responsible, and Ye Zhengqi said there was a seventy percent chance before asking them to accompany him to the Marquis.

Shen Wenyuan met with Xie Yun before Ye Zhengqi brought Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu to report that the Great Demon White Dragon had killed more than thirteen hundred people. After learning Jiang Ning had reached the Third Grade Heavenly Human realm, Shen Wenyuan set out to hunt the demon, while Jiang Ning, Bai Luoyu, and Ye Zhengqi accepted invitations to the Summer Auction.

• Shen Wenyuan reassured Xie Yun that Shen Congyun could remain in Guangning City, then accepted an invitation to the Summer Auction.
• Ye Zhengqi brought Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu to Shen Residence, where Shen Wenyuan sensed Jiang Ning had broken through to the Third Grade Heavenly Human realm.
• Ye Zhengqi reported that the Great Demon White Dragon had killed more than thirteen hundred people and that he could not defeat it, so Shen Wenyuan decided to hunt it himself.
• Shen Wenyuan left for Luo River Lake, while Xie Yun gave black-and-gold auction invitations to Jiang Ning, Bai Luoyu, and Ye Zhengqi.

Jiang Ning used Ye Zhengqi’s token to enter the Academy, conquer its nine-story Martial Training Tower, and study ancient texts in the Library for clues about the Ice Coffin Woman. After recovering his strength and gaining knowledge and resources, he left to prepare for the Myriad Blossom Pavilion auction with Bai Luoyu.

• Ye Zhengqi gave Jiang Ning a token that let him freely use most Academy buildings and facilities.
• Jiang Ning reached the ninth floor of the Martial Training Tower, earned 780 credits, and left before the gathering students could identify him.
• Jiang Ning visited the Library, where the old woman allowed him access to its first three floors but barred him from the fourth.
• Jiang Ning spent two days reading ancient texts, learned that history before Great Xia contained a major gap, and greatly increased his Literacy experience.
• Jiang Ning finished the Blood Ginseng, recovered his physical condition, and saw his Source Energy rise to 13,834 while his New Blood continued transforming his body.
• Jiang Ning left the Academy to prepare for the Myriad Blossom Pavilion auction, which he planned to attend with Bai Luoyu.

Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu attended Myriad Blossom Pavilion’s Summer Auction, where their black-and-gold invitations earned them a private room. As Jiang Ning reviewed the auction catalogue, he found his own consigned items and wondered what the costly final lot might be.

• Bai Luoyu reunited with Jiang Ning and brought his maids Hongmei and Qingzhu along to the auction.
• Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu arrived at Myriad Blossom Pavilion, where Xu Tongpan identified them as Dongling County Patrol Envoys and praised Jiang Ning’s Martial Path prospects.
• The pavilion staff escorted Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu to the fifth-floor VIP Rooms after seeing their black-and-gold invitations, and Shen Congyun welcomed them.
• Jiang Ning settled into the private room with Luyi and reviewed the 126 auction listings, including several items he had consigned.
• Jiang Ning saw that the catalogue’s first lot had a starting bid of five thousand gold, but its description was blank.

At the Myriad Blossom Pavilion auction, Jiang Ning watched his White Tiger Mystic Bone sell for 250 gold and bought a Celestial Gold Stone to upgrade his saber. As item ninety-five was unveiled with the enticing label “Nine-Five Supreme,” he prepared to use the Heavenly Eye to inspect the mysterious Bronze Fragment.

• Xia Wanqin opened the auction and sold the Turtle Origin Fetal Breath Art for thirty gold.
• Xia Wanqin joined the bidding on Jiang Ning’s White Tiger Mystic Bone, driving the sale price to 250 gold and prompting the bearded bidder to leave.
• Jiang Ning won the Celestial Gold Stone for 110 gold after Old Mo withdrew from the bidding.
• Jiang Ning shut the viewing window and prepared to use the Heavenly Eye as the auction reached item ninety-five.
• Xia Wanqin introduced the mysterious item as “Nine-Five Supreme,” and a bidder accused her of bluffing.

Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to inspect the Bronze Fragment and discovered it was a bell fragment whose chime overwhelmed his mind, then won it for five hundred gold. After collecting it and the Celestial Gold Stone, he considered the mysterious Xia Wanqin and the fragment’s ancient power before turning his attention to his consigned Purple Green Twin Swords and the coming auction of the Mustard Seed Leaf.

• Jiang Ning opened his Heavenly Eye, noticed Xia Wanqin wore a Seamless Heavenly Garment, and was knocked unconscious by the Bronze Fragment’s illusory bell chime until Luyi called him back.
• Jiang Ning bid five hundred gold for the Bronze Fragment after recognizing that it was a bell fragment rather than a cauldron fragment, and the other bidders withdrew.
• Shen Congyun delivered Jiang Ning’s Celestial Gold Stone and Bronze Fragment, and Jiang Ning reflected on the fragment’s power and Xia Wanqin’s mysterious background.
• Jiang Ning waited for the auction of his Purple Green Twin Swords, which rose to five hundred gold before a man in a moon-white robe bid six hundred gold after Xia Wanqin praised them as a gift for a fair lady.

Jiang Ning won the Mustard Seed Leaf at auction after intimidating Duke Tu Ling into backing down, then bound it with the Weapon Refining Art and transferred his belongings into its spacious storage. Later, his consigned martial arts sold for a high price, leaving him newly wealthy as the auction continued.

• Jiang Ning bid 1,200 taels of gold for the Mustard Seed Leaf, and Duke Tu Ling withdrew after sensing the threat of a Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
• Jiang Ning won the Mustard Seed Leaf, bound it with the Weapon Refining Art, and found that its storage space was roughly the size of a basketball court.
• Jiang Ning moved his belongings from two Sumeru Rings into the Mustard Seed Leaf and gave the rings to Luyi for safekeeping.
• The Desire Severing Heart Sutra sold for 1,100 taels of gold, while the Azure Wave Sword Sutra sparked fierce bidding and sold for 2,600 taels.
• Jiang Ning realized that selling the two martial arts had made him wealthy overnight, having profited more from robbing Water Moon Sword Palace than from his previous efforts.

At Myriad Blossom Pavilion’s auction, Xia Wanqin killed two Grandmasters who tried to seize the Demon God Blood, while Jiang Ning recognized their fox-like tails and suspected they were Half-Demons. After Xia Wanqin visited to settle his auction accounts, Jiang Ning declined both gold notes and physical gold, leaving what he wanted unanswered.

• A Longevity Fruit sold for ten thousand taels of gold, and the Ten Thousand Year Divine Wood Soul Nourishing Incense sold for ten thousand five hundred taels.
• Two mysterious women attacked the display platform to seize the Demon God Blood, but Xia Wanqin killed them with a single sword strike and ended the auction.
• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to see that each dead woman had three fox-like tails and suspected they were Half-Demons.
• Xia Wanqin visited Jiang Ning’s private box to settle his sales, rounding his proceeds to five thousand taels of gold and his purchases to one thousand eight hundred taels.
• Xia Wanqin offered Jiang Ning gold notes or physical gold, but he refused both and left her asking what he wanted.

Jiang Ning bought rare body-nourishing medicines through Xia Wanqin, killed a man who had followed him, and took the Awakening of Insects Fragment from the corpse. Back at his residence, his Summit of the Mountain trait let him rapidly comprehend the blade art, bringing it to proficiency in two strikes.

• Xia Wanqin sold Jiang Ning a large cache of rare medicines at a steep discount, leaving him with little money.
• Jiang Ning lured his pursuer into a remote alley and killed him with the Silver Sword Pellet.
• Jiang Ning looted the corpse and found the Awakening of Insects Fragment, which he had been unable to afford at the auction.
• Jiang Ning returned home, reviewed his Summit of the Mountain trait, and carefully read the fragment.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Awakening of Insects technique and reached proficiency after two saber strikes.

Jiang Ning reforged his Spirit Weapon into a Blade Embryo with Celestial Gold Radiance, then trained Awakening of Insects to the Perfected Realm and comprehended its Saber Intent. He chose not to push the technique beyond its limits, deciding instead to pursue the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Saber Technique and its deeper understanding of the Four Seasons and time.

• Jiang Ning used the Weapon Refining Art to reshape his Spirit Weapon into a Blade Embryo and fuse Celestial Gold Radiance into it.
• Jiang Ning practiced Awakening of Insects, first gaining experience with its artistic conception and then moving to the wilderness to avoid disturbing nearby residents.
• Jiang Ning rapidly advanced Awakening of Insects from Minor Completion through Great Completion to the Perfected Realm and fully grasped its Saber Intent.
• Jiang Ning considered breaking the technique's limits but decided to preserve its structure and save his Source Energy Points for cultivation and skills that could aid his blood exchanges.
• Jiang Ning resolved to collect the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Saber Technique and pursue the Four Seasons, reincarnation, and time artistic conceptions before returning.

Jiang Ning spent the final month before the Martial Examination Provincial Exam studying the Martial Path and preparing to pursue greater standing in the Patrol Office. After learning that Shen Wenyuan had been gravely injured by a mysterious attacker while confronting the Great Demon White Dragon, Jiang Ning visited him and was warned to stay away from the demon.

• Jiang Ning continued reading in the Academy's Library, registered for the Martial Examination Provincial Exam, and considered how the title of Martial Champion could help him gain access to the Second Rank Great Grandmaster method.
• Jiang Ning learned from Bai Luoyu that Shen Wenyuan had injured the Great Demon White Dragon before a mysterious person ambushed him and left him gravely wounded.
• A black-haired young man in Daoist robes gave the injured Great Demon White Dragon a bloodline Elixir Pill and said Shen Wenyuan would be unable to trouble it for a while.
• Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu visited Shen Wenyuan at the Marquis Mansion, where Jiang Ning saw how badly the attack had weakened him.
• Shen Wenyuan said he could not remember the attacker’s face despite having seen it, and warned Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu that someone powerful was backing the Great Demon White Dragon.

After completing his first body transformation, Jiang Ning prepared for and successfully underwent his Second Blood Exchange, using his Inner Alchemy Pellet to gather Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. He emerged with New Blood remade but physically weak and ravenously hungry, awaiting the end of his second rebirth.

• Jiang Ning learned that Shen Wenyuan’s Spirit Soul injury would take months to heal and suspected a powerful figure was behind the White Dragon’s appearance.
• Jiang Ning finished his first transformation, felt his strength surge, and measured his Qi and Blood Beacon at three zhang high.
• Jiang Ning traveled to the mountains and gathered Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy into his Inner Alchemy Pellet before beginning his Second Blood Exchange.
• Jiang Ning’s blood dried up and his body withered, but he found his True Spirit Mark and regained memories from his previous life.
• Jiang Ning released the stored spiritual energy to revive his body and remake his New Blood, completing the Second Blood Exchange before becoming weak and hungry.

After completing his Second Blood Exchange, Jiang Ning used Crimson Flame Blood Crystals to ease his body's severe hunger and began recovering. He learned that a Yellow Sky Sect Heavenly King would soon pray for rain in Guangning Prefecture, then received a letter from Ji Mingyue and replied that he would attend the Martial Examination in the Royal Capital in September.

• Jiang Ning ate five Crimson Flame Blood Crystals to relieve the burning hunger caused by his Second Blood Exchange and returned to his residence with Luyi for a feast.
• At Nine Heavens Pavilion, Jiang Ning heard that a Yellow Sky Sect Heavenly King would come to Guangning Prefecture to pray for rain, and he saw the sect distributing Talisman Water to treat people.
• After resting overnight, Jiang Ning checked his increased Source Energy and decided to save it for breaking through Literacy, hoping to improve his Heavenly Eye against the Ice Coffin.
• A Red-Crowned Messenger Bird delivered a letter from Ji Mingyue, who shared news from the Royal Capital and asked when he would visit.
• Jiang Ning replied that he would go to the Royal Capital for the September Martial Examination, sent the bird back, and practiced boxing to help his body absorb more Crimson Flame Blood Crystals.

Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu met Ye Zhengqi to discuss the Yellow Sky Sect’s spread through Guangning Prefecture and prepare to confront Shen Wenyuan. Ye Zhengqi also explained how Jiang Ning’s True Spirit Nine Transformations path differed from Blood Exchange methods that relied on the world around them, then led them toward the Marquis Mansion.

• Jiang Ning stopped practicing the Deer Form Fist when Bai Luoyu arrived with Ye Zhengqi’s summons.
• Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu met Ye Zhengqi, who explained that Shen Wenyuan had allowed the Yellow Sky Sect to preach in exchange for a Heavenly King praying for rain.
• Ye Zhengqi said he wanted them to accompany him to warn Shen Wenyuan that the Yellow Sky Sect’s presence posed a danger.
• Jiang Ning asked why he had not sensed True Intent or unusual powers after entering the Third Grade, and Ye Zhengqi learned that he had chosen True Spirit Nine Transformations.
• Ye Zhengqi explained that True Spirit Nine Transformations sought inward transformation and advised Jiang Ning to seek guidance from Grandmasters in the Royal Capital.
• Ye Zhengqi rose and led Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu to the Marquis Mansion.

Jiang Ning and the others met Shen Wenyuan to discuss the Yellow Sky Sect, the drought, and the coming rain ritual, while Shen Wenyuan prioritized keeping Guangning Prefecture’s people alive. After restoring his body from the Second Blood Exchange, Jiang Ning reflected on how it was transforming his life and deepened his conviction in the Martial Path.

• Shen Wenyuan told Ye Zhengqi, Jiang Ning, and Bai Luoyu that the drought threatened famine, that an unknown person was behind it, and that the Yellow Sky Sect’s Heavenly King would arrive in two days to pray for rain.
• Shen Wenyuan asked Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu to watch the city during the ritual, and Ye Zhengqi explained that the Martial Saint was old but still powerful enough to deter major forces from openly acting.
• Jiang Ning consumed a Five-Hundred-Year-Old Blood Ginseng, practiced his Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, and accumulated experience while absorbing the Great Sun Essence Qi.
• Two days later, Jiang Ning had fully recovered from the Second Blood Exchange, felt his strength rise as New Blood transformed his body, and considered the Martial Path’s reliance on power cultivated within oneself.

Jiang Ning watched the Yellow Sky Sect’s Heavenly King Li pray for rain, then secretly amplified the storm with his own Divine Ability of Summoning Clouds and Rain. After returning home, he received an unexpected letter from Dongling City.

• Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu watched Heavenly King Li prepare to pray for rain and discussed the Yellow Sky Daoist’s suspected Cave Heaven World.
• Heavenly King Li summoned thunder and rain through Daoist rites, while Jiang Ning sensed his Field and realized the prayer was drawing on the power of Heaven and Earth.
• Jiang Ning secretly strengthened the storm, causing rain to fall across Guangning City and leaving Heavenly King Li wondering which great expert had helped him.
• Xia Wanqin watched the rain and heard Aunt Bai explain the power of peak Martial Artists and the Martial Saint.
• Jiang Ning left with Bai Luoyu after observing the rain, then received a letter from Dongling City.

Jiang Ning learned that Wang Qingtan was coming to Guangning City and agreed to help her, while Ye Zhengqi also decided to support Jiang Ning. Wang Qingtan arrived and sought Jiang Ning out, finding him practicing with his upper body bare.

• Jiang Ning received Wang Qinghan's letter asking him to look after Wang Qingtan, who was traveling to Guangning City under her Master's orders.
• Ye Zhengqi learned that Jiang Ning cared for Wang Qingtan and resolved to help him despite the risk of offending Bai He Song and Prince Huai'an's household.
• Wang Qingtan arrived at Guangning City's East City Gate with an elite Black Armor squad, where Ye Zhengqi's men welcomed her and offered to guide her to Jiang Ning.
• Wang Qingtan parted from Captain Qin and followed the Patrol Envoy Office men to Jiang Ning's residence.
• Jiang Ning finished practicing the Indestructible Vajra Body and opened his courtyard gate to find Wang Qingtan waiting outside.