Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning discovered that Yun Shanhe and an Immortal Path cultivator had trapped his residence in a concealed Sword Array, and he sent Zhong Ling and Luyi away before returning to face them. The array rose around his home, cutting off the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau’s view, while its agents tried to send help that would take thirty breaths to arrive.

• Yun Shanhe and the ordinary-looking cultivator waited at Star Plucking Tower, expecting Jiang Ning to return to the trapped residence.
• Jiang Ning examined the concealed array, identified the two men, and decided to confront them after sending Zhong Ling and Luyi away.
• The ordinary-looking cultivator detected Zhong Ling and Luyi leaving, then spotted Jiang Ning entering his residence and confirmed his return with Yun Shanhe.
• Yun Shanhe and the cultivator activated the Sword Array, and Bai Luoyu sensed its rising killing intent from nearby.
• The Heavenly Surveillance Bureau saw the array cut off the Luotian Disk and sent word for White Immortal Lady to aid Jiang Ning, though she would need thirty breaths to reach him.
• Inside the array, Yun Shanhe ordered the attack finished within ten breaths.

Jiang Ning killed Yun Shanhe and another assassin with a single punch each, then learned from White Granny that the Luotian Disk could track First-Rank and Immortal Path experts. After dismantling the Sword Array and giving its eight Precious Swords to White Granny, he decided to go to the Royal Capital to stay safe and continue growing stronger.

• Jiang Ning unleashed his Sixteen-Foot Golden Body and Heart Tribulation Fire, killing Yun Shanhe and the other assassin with one punch apiece.
• White Granny arrived, praised Jiang Ning for surviving the attack, and warned him that further assassinations could follow.
• White Granny explained that the Luotian Disk tracked powerful experts, including those from the Blessed Grotto-heavens, and Jiang Ning said he would stay in the Royal Capital for a while.
• Jiang Ning used his Fire Eye to locate and remove the Spirit Crystals and Precious Swords, collapsing the great array.
• Jiang Ning gave White Granny the eight Precious Swords and decided to return to the Royal Capital rather than repair his damaged residence.

The Martial Saint traced the attack on Jiang Ning to Xuan Yuan Blessed Land and annihilated it with a single punch, warning the world against targeting the Dongling Marquis. Jiang Ning returned home with Luyi and Zhong Ling and prepared to display his Martial Champion plaque.

• The Martial Saint arrived in Dongling City, used time-reversal to identify Yun Shanhe and Xuan Yuan Blessed Land as the attackers, and promised to protect Jiang Ning.
• The Martial Saint crossed the world to Zhi Xuan Mountain and destroyed Xuan Yuan Blessed Land, killing the Profound Origin Ancestor and its inhabitants.
• The Martial Saint returned to Dongling City and told Jiang Ning he would strike again if anyone attacked him.
• News of the destruction spread across the Nine Provinces Thirty-Six Prefectures, while Jiang Ning decided not to remain in Dongling City for long.
• Jiang Ning reunited with Luyi and Zhong Ling at home, confirmed they were safe, and brought out his Martial Champion Under Heaven plaque to hang in the main hall.

After a Martial Saint destroyed Xuan Yuan Blessed Land while protecting Jiang Ning, Jiang Ning met with Dongling officials to discuss his safety and plans. Marquis Shen Wenyuan arrived, warning that Jiang Ning’s rapid rise could be dangerous.

• Jiang Ning told Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu that he would return to the Royal Capital for the year-end and come back to Dongling in spring, despite his new post as Zeshan Province Inspector.
• Wang Shouyi brought Wang Qingtan to visit Jiang Ning, and the officials agreed that he should petition the Imperial Court to let him direct provincial affairs from the Royal Capital for the time being.
• Jiang Ning invited Zhao Yulong, Bai Luoyu, Wang Shouyi, and Wang Qingtan to stay for lunch, then sensed a Great Grandmaster approaching.
• Jiang Ning went out to welcome Shen Wenyuan, Marquis Wenyuan, who said Great Grandmasters across the Nine Provinces Thirty-Six Prefectures had witnessed the Martial Saint destroy Xuan Yuan Blessed Land.
• Shen Wenyuan told Jiang Ning that his dazzling rise might not be a good thing in the current situation, and Jiang Ning agreed.

Jiang Ning weighed Shen Wenyuan’s warning about the dangers of his growing prominence while preparing to leave Dongling City. Wang Qingtan chose to follow her feelings despite her father’s fears, and Jiang Ning entrusted his trusted subordinates with the city before his departure.

• Shen Wenyuan warned Jiang Ning that the Martial Saint’s support could draw even more enemies, but Jiang Ning believed the Martial Saint’s intervention had bought him time to grow.
• Wang Shouyi told Wang Qingtan that Jiang Ning’s enemies could endanger her, but she firmly said she would choose her own path.
• Jiang Ning summoned Xie Xiaojiu, Feng Jiuge, and Zhou Xing, gave them golden wine that strengthened their cultivation, and told them to continue training.
• Jiang Ning said he would leave Dongling City in two days and handed Xie Xiaojiu his Marquis Seal, authorizing the three subordinates to manage city affairs in his name.

Jiang Ning and Wang Qingtan spent the night together after she insisted on trying to bear his child, while he remained uncertain whether he could survive the coming calamity. As threats gathered around Dongling Marquis’s return to the Royal Capital, Jiang Ning resumed cultivating and made notable progress toward perfecting his method.

• Jiang Ning entered the County Governor's Mansion and told Wang Qingtan he had only half confidence of surviving the coming calamity, so she decided to try to bear his child.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning left Wang Qingtan asleep, helped Luyi clear the snow with a wave of his hand, and then cultivated until his Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method gained significant experience.
• Wang Qingtan reflected on the difficulty of conceiving Jiang Ning's child, then read a secret report with Wang Shouyi warning that powerful ministers and sect members were stirring in the Royal Capital.
• Wang Shouyi warned Wang Qingtan that Jiang Ning's return to the Royal Capital could place him at the center of a dangerous political vortex, and promised to protect Dongling and support her choices.
• Jiang Ning entered cultivation again in the snow-covered pavilion, sensing the barrier before the method's Perfected Realm and accumulating more experience.

Jiang Ning left Dongling City for the Royal Capital, where he expected to be drawn into the crisis surrounding the Emperor and the Martial Saint. On the road, Xia Xuanyan offered him protection in Profound Yellow Great Cave Heaven if he married Xia Wanqin and accepted restrictions, but Jiang Ning rejected the idea of shackles.

• Jiang Ning departed Dongling City with Luyi and Zhong Ling, while Wang Shouyi and Zhao Yulong discussed the dangers awaiting him in the Royal Capital.
• Jiang Ning cultivated inside the carriage until he sensed Xia Xuanyan’s presence on the road and went to meet him.
• Xia Xuanyan explained that the Martial Saint’s destruction of Xuan Yuan Blessed Land had made Jiang Ning a target, though no faction would dare attack him while the Martial Saint remained alive.
• Xia Xuanyan offered to protect Jiang Ning in Profound Yellow Great Cave Heaven if he married Xia Wanqin and accepted restrictions on his conduct.
• Jiang Ning said he could not accept shackles and restrictions, and Xia Xuanyan urged him to trade an unlikely chance at surpassing the Martial Saint for a long life and the opportunity to nurture the next generation.

Jiang Ning refused Xia Xuanyan’s invitation to settle down and produce descendants, then raced to the Royal Capital to buy cultivation resources. The chapter ended with him entering Myriad Blossom Pavilion to purchase eighteen bottles of Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid.

• Jiang Ning refused Xia Xuanyan’s offer, and Xia Xuanyan vanished using spatial power.
• Jiang Ning gave Luyi and Zhong Ling Spirit Feeding Pills and his official tokens, then left them to continue toward the Royal Capital without him.
• Jiang Ning used his new ability to merge with space to travel rapidly and reached the Royal Capital before noon.
• Jiang Ning entered the city, where the guards recognized and saluted him as Dongling Marquis.
• Jiang Ning went to Myriad Blossom Pavilion and asked Steward Liu for Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid.
• Steward Liu quoted one thousand taels of gold per bottle, and Jiang Ning ordered eighteen bottles.

Jiang Ning collected Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid, accepted Ji Minghao’s resources and request for future help, then took refuge at the Imperial Advisor’s Residence with Su Qingying’s consent. Using the spirit liquid to cultivate, he dramatically increased his progress toward the First Grade realm.

• Jiang Ning collected eighteen bottles of Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid from Myriad Blossom Pavilion and went to the Imperial Advisor’s Residence.
• Ji Minghao gave Jiang Ning a spatial ring filled with valuable resources, including thirty-six bottles of Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid, and asked him to help in the future; Jiang Ning accepted the favor.
• Jiang Ning entered the Imperial Advisor’s Residence, where Su Qingying welcomed him and Qing He reunited with him before he visited Jiang Li, Liu Wanwan, and the children.
• Jiang Ning used Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid to cultivate the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method, raising its progress from 5733 to 6417 in half a day.
• Jiang Ning realized his cultivation efficiency had increased more than threefold and continued cultivating, encouraged that the path to the First Grade realm was close.

Jiang Ning received Divine Might King Li Tianwen, who warned that the Martial Saint’s support had put him in the world’s view. Their meeting was interrupted when the Martial Saint’s Spirit Body crossed ten thousand li and killed a Grotto-heaven Expert over the Eastern Sea, leaving Jiang Ning to grasp the Martial Saint’s overwhelming martial will.

• Xiao Wuque and Martial King Xiang Yuan discussed the Martial Saint’s reasons for destroying Xuan Yuan Blessed Land and noted Jiang Ning’s rapidly strengthening spirit.
• Jiang Ning resumed cultivating with Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid, then agreed to receive Divine Might King Li Tianwen two days later.
• Jiang Ning and Li Tianwen discussed the attention focused on Jiang Ning and the consequences of the Martial Saint backing him.
• A distant resonance alerted Jiang Ning and Li Tianwen that the Martial Saint had appeared above the Eastern Sea to confront a Grotto-heaven Expert.
• The Martial Saint killed the Grotto-heaven Expert with one punch, and Jiang Ning sensed the immense martial will behind the strike.

After the Martial Saint’s strike in the Eastern Sea deterred the great forces, Jiang Ning withdrew into seclusion and perfected the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method. He emerged with a transformed Spirit Soul and reached the threshold of the First Rank Mixed Origin Realm, while Su Qingying appeared before him.

• Jiang Ning told Li Tianwen that the Martial Saint had destroyed Xuan Yuan Blessed Land and struck in the Eastern Sea to deter their enemies and support him.
• Li Tianwen left the Imperial Advisor's Residence, privately resenting the Martial Saint’s favor toward Jiang Ning and recalling his former favoritism toward Junior Brother Xiao.
• The Yellow Robed Daoist told his Eight Trigrams-sword disciple that the Martial Saint might be too weak to fight him or might consider their forces unimportant.
• Jiang Ning entered seclusion and used Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid while cultivating the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method.
• Jiang Ning fused the True Spirit Mark into his Spirit Soul, perfected the method, and gained greater control over himself, though his spirit remained stronger than his essence and qi.
• Su Qingying appeared in Jiang Ning’s courtyard as he realized he had reached the threshold of the First Rank Mixed Origin Realm.

After merging his True Spirit Mark, Jiang Ning found that his Spirit far outstripped his Essence and Qi, leaving him unable to reach First Grade by ordinary means. The Martial Saint taught him the ancient path of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and imparted its foundational Dharma, the Secret Record of Three Flowers.

• Su Qingying explained that merging the True Spirit Mark freed Jiang Ning from the fate of past and future lives, and Jiang Ning realized his Spirit had reached a level comparable to a Human Immortal.
• The Martial Saint summoned Jiang Ning, who traveled alone to the nameless mountain and entered the world containing the Thatched Hut.
• The Martial Saint identified the imbalance between Jiang Ning's Spirit, Essence, and Qi and warned that forcing them into ordinary balance would suppress his Spirit.
• The Martial Saint explained that Jiang Ning should cultivate Essence, Qi, and Spirit to their limits and nurture three Dao Flowers until they gathered at the crown and formed Mixed Origin.
• The Martial Saint tapped Jiang Ning between the brows and passed on the Secret Record of Three Flowers, a Dharma outlining how to nurture the three Dao Flowers.

Jiang Ning learned the Secret Record of Three Flowers, a method for balancing Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and asked the Prefecture Lord to help him cultivate inside the Cave Heaven. With the Prefecture Lord replenishing him with Cave Heaven origin, Jiang Ning condensed a six-petaled Essence Flower, reaching the limit of what he could manage.

• Jiang Ning understood that the Secret Record of Three Flowers could resolve the imbalance between his strong spirit and weak essence and qi.
• Jiang Ning chose to cultivate in the Cave Heaven and entered his Inner Scenery to master the method, impressing the Prefecture Lord.
• Jiang Ning began condensing his Essence Flower, repeatedly exhausting his blood qi as the Prefecture Lord replenished him with Cave Heaven origin.
• Jiang Ning first formed a three-petaled Red Flower, then used the Prefecture Lord's aid to grow it to five petals.
• Jiang Ning continued until his Essence Flower reached six complete petals, which he said was his limit.

Jiang Ning condensed the Golden Flower with the Prefecture Lord’s help, bringing him two-thirds of the way to Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown. After resting and treating the strain on his body, he began condensing the Spirit Flower, and its first three petals took shape.

• Jiang Ning repeatedly depleted and restored his True Essence until a six-petaled Golden Flower manifested above his head.
• Jiang Ning thanked the Prefecture Lord and planned to press on, but the Prefecture Lord made him rest and drink vitality-rich tea to remove hidden injuries.
• Jiang Ning drank tea for several hours, then returned to the courtyard to condense the Spirit Flower.
• Jiang Ning burned and purified his spiritual power while the Prefecture Lord replenished him with Grotto-heaven source energy.
• Jiang Ning formed the Spirit Flower’s first petal, then condensed the second and third petals.

Jiang Ning completed Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, received the Martial Saint’s guidance on reaching the First Grade Hunyuan Realm, and returned to the Royal Capital with a major increase in Source Energy Points. He visited Five Fragrances Studio for sweets and brought lotus cake to Qing He at the Imperial Advisor’s Residence.

• Jiang Ning completed the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, harmonizing his Essence, Qi, and Spirit as the Martial Saint watched.
• The Martial Saint explained that Hunyuan was a self-sustaining domain formed by balancing Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and gave Jiang Ning a Prayer Bead containing his understanding of First Grade.
• Jiang Ning absorbed the Prayer Bead’s information, left the Cave Heaven World, and discovered that his Source Energy had increased to 467783.
• Jiang Ning concluded that he could enter the First Rank Mixed Origin Realm within a month and returned to the Royal Capital, where he learned that fifteen days remained until year-end.
• Jiang Ning bought sweets at Five Fragrances Studio and gave Qing He lotus cake when he arrived at the Imperial Advisor’s Residence.

After gaining the Three Flowers of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, Jiang Ning secluded himself to cultivate and discovered that the Spirit Flower greatly improved his training efficiency. Seven days later, he had nearly completed the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method and prepared for its final breakthrough.

• Jiang Ning told Su Qingying he would close his doors to visitors and focus on seclusion while his Three Flowers continued transforming him.
• Jiang Ning realized his Essence, Qi, and Spirit were beginning to form a self-contained cycle resembling the Hunyuan Realm.
• Jiang Ning used Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid to cultivate the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method and found that his Spirit Flower increased his gains.
• Jiang Ning spent seven days cultivating, bringing the method to 9766 out of 10000 experience points.
• Jiang Ning recovered his strength by drawing in energy from the surroundings and prepared to take the method through its final step.

Jiang Ning used Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid to complete the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method’s first breakthrough, gaining the True Self as One trait and greatly increasing his cultivation efficiency. After cultivating day and night for three days, he reached the next experience threshold and spent twenty thousand Source Energy Points to begin another breakthrough.

• Jiang Ning cultivated with Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid until the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method reached the Perfected Realm, then spent ten thousand Source Energy Points to break through.
• The breakthrough awakened the True Self as One trait, strengthened Jiang Ning’s spirit to the Nascent Soul Realm, and accelerated the growth of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
• Jiang Ning tested his new cultivation efficiency with more Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid and found that his experience gains had more than doubled.
• Jiang Ning devoted himself to cultivation, expecting the increased efficiency to hasten his entry into the First Rank Mixed Origin Realm.
• Three days later, after exhausting his Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid, Jiang Ning reached 20,000 experience points for the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method’s First Breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning spent twenty thousand Source Energy Points to trigger the method’s next breakthrough.

Jiang Ning spent twenty thousand Source Energy Points to make a second breakthrough in the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method, strengthening his spirit and accelerating his progress toward the First Rank Mixed Origin Realm. His breakthrough produced a citywide phenomenon that others mistakenly attributed to Su Qingying, while Jiang Ning gained the Light Gold Trait True Self is Unique and decided to keep his progress hidden.

• Jiang Ning triggered a vast resonance of True Spirit Fragments, and the Three Flowers manifested as his Spirit Soul and the beginnings of his Domain grew stronger.
• Su Qingying sensed Jiang Ning’s breakthrough, while Jiang Li, Jiang Yiming, Jiang Yuanyuan, and Xiao Doubao felt their spiritual strength and bloodlines respond.
• Experts and factions across the Royal Capital noticed the silver radiance and speculated that Su Qingying was advancing, with few suspecting Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning completed the second breakthrough, saw his progress toward the Mixed Origin Realm accelerate, and gained the Light Gold Trait True Self is Unique.
• Jiang Ning estimated that he might reach the First Rank Realm before year-end and resolved not to reveal his strength prematurely.

Jiang Ning discovered that his new Light Gold Trait greatly accelerated the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method, and he committed to pushing it toward another breakthrough despite mounting spiritual exhaustion. Meanwhile, Qi Consort arrived secretly in the Royal Capital, and Jiang Ning resumed cultivation as night fell.

• Jiang Ning cultivated the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method and found that his new Trait sharply increased his experience gains and the fusion of True Spirit Fragments.
• Jiang Ning gained nearly four thousand experience points in less than half a day, decided to focus on another breakthrough, and asked Qing He to bring him food.
• Qi Consort arrived at the Royal Capital on a Snow-Treading Green Steed and concealed her identity from the city guards, telling the general not to reveal her arrival.
• Jiang Ning saw that his method had reached 6337/30000 experience points and recognized that continued cultivation was causing deep mental and spiritual exhaustion.
• Jiang Ning resolved to keep cultivating because time was short and the efficiency boost could hasten his advance into the First Rank Mixed Origin Realm.

Jiang Ning reunited with Qingyi, who revealed her Taiyin Inheritance and spent the night with him before leaving unseen. Their intimacy improved his condition and cultivation, and he resolved to grow stronger as his understanding of Qingyi’s circumstances deepened.

• Jiang Ning noticed Qingyi descend from the moonlight and recognized her after she removed her bamboo hat.
• Qingyi told Jiang Ning she had come to find him and explained that the Taiyin Inheritance had left her body cold.
• After teasing one another, Jiang Ning and Qingyi spent the night together.
• Jiang Ning woke to find Qingyi gone and realized she had escaped the Imperial Advisor's Residence formation using extraordinary powers.
• Jiang Ning reflected on Qingyi’s Taiyin Inheritance and his feelings toward her, then decided he needed to strengthen himself to face what lay ahead.
• Jiang Ning cultivated in his Inner Scenery and raised his Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method experience from 10227 to 13167.