Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning joined Canglang Martial Hall’s disciples for the Patrol Office assessment, where his killing intent unsettled Zhao Hu and caught Zhou Xing’s attention. Meanwhile, Medicine King Valley’s Third Elder recovered Liu Qingsong’s corpse and learned that Liu had gone to question Jiang Ning, while the assessment gathering awaited the Patrol Office Prefect.

• Li Qing asked Jiang Ning whether he was confident about the assessment, and Zhao Hu mocked him before backing down when Jiang Ning’s killing intent surfaced.
• Zhou Xing recognized that Jiang Ning had likely killed before, and Wang Jin ended the tension between Jiang Ning and Zhao Hu.
• Medicine King Valley’s Third Elder followed Liu Qingsong’s Life Tablet to the riverbed, recovered Liu’s corpse and those of his two companions, and learned Liu had gone to question Jiang Ning.
• Wang Jin and Divine Might Hall’s Yu Yuan discussed their Eighth Rank disciples, Zhou Xing and Du Yang, as possible contenders for Team Leader.
• At the training field, Jiang Ning spotted Lin Jia’er and Liu Sansheng among the Martial Academy students on the Viewing Platform, while the Patrol Office Prefect’s seat remained empty.

Jiang Ning and the other candidates began the Patrol Office assessment as Prefect Hong Minghu arrived at the Training Ground. After Li Qing failed the first test, Jiang Ning was called forward, drawing the attention of Gongsun Yu, who had come to investigate him.

• Hong Minghu arrived with armored soldiers, ordered the assessment to begin, and drew Jiang Ning’s suspicion that he had reached Fifth Grade through his use of Inner Breath.
• The candidates began the eight-hundred-jin iron-lock test, and Lin Mu failed before Divine Might Martial Hall’s candidates took their turns.
• Gongsun Yu met Hong Minghu and explained that he had come to learn about Jiang Ning after Elder Liu died while pursuing the bandit who robbed Prince Huai'an’s Tribute.
• Zhou Xing, Zhao Hu, and Zhang Tiesheng passed the test, while Li Qing failed and left Canglang Martial Hall’s disciples worried about Jiang Ning.
• The presider called Jiang Ning’s name, and Gongsun Yu recognized it and turned his attention toward him.

Jiang Ning passed the Patrol Office examination by effortlessly lifting an eight-hundred-jin iron lock, revealing strength at Martial Arts Eighth Rank and drawing attention from Medicine King Valley elder Gongsun Yu. Wang Jin examined Jiang Ning's bones afterward and discovered that his Bone Constitution had become Superior Grade.

• Gongsun Yu recognized Jiang Ning and asked Hong Minghu to question him about Liu Qingsong's death, but Hong Minghu warned him not to touch anyone from the Patrol Office.
• Jiang Ning lifted the eight-hundred-jin iron lock with ease and passed the examination, impressing the Examination Master, Hong Minghu, and Gongsun Yu.
• Zhou Xing praised Jiang Ning, Li Qing admired him, and Zhao Hu regretted having antagonized him.
• Li Qing told Wang Jin that she would travel to Bashu County to join the Sword Pavilion after failing the examination.
• Wang Jin tested Jiang Ning's bones and exclaimed that his Bone Constitution was Superior.

Jiang Ning learned that his Bone Constitution had become superior, while the Patrol Office assessment moved into its arena battle stage. He watched as the Martial Academy students, including the Heavenly Strength prodigy He Jinyun, prepared to compete.

• Wang Jin confirmed Jiang Ning's superior Bone Constitution, drawing envy from the others and praise from Yu Yuan.
• Hong Minghu announced that the second assessment stage was an arena battle: ten fighters on each arena, with five advancing to the Patrol Office.
• Wang Jin urged Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and the other disciples to support one another, but Zhao Hu left to team up with someone else.
• He Jinyun mocked Liu Sansheng and headed for an arena, while Jiang Ning chose to wait and observe the Martial Academy students.
• Jiang Ning recognized the sallow, gaunt He Jinyun as the Heavenly Strength prodigy when he heard him urge the arena host to hurry.

He Jinyun crushed five opponents in the Patrol Office examination, while Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng later took the stage and drew the attention of Lü Renyao. Lü Renyao tried to recruit Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing by threatening to defeat them, but the Examination Master unexpectedly declared all four men had passed before they fought.

• He Jinyun knocked five Ninth Rank fighters off the arena and said he intended to compete for Deputy Commander.
• After the crowd hesitated to take the stage, Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng entered together, but their reputations kept others from joining them.
• He Jinyun and Qin Xuan discussed recruiting Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing before Lü Renyao leapt onto their arena and offered them places in his future squad.
• Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing rejected Lü Renyao's pressure and agreed to test his strength in a fight.
• The Examination Master announced that Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, Zhang Tiesheng, and Lü Renyao had all passed and called them to collect their Identity Tokens.

Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng passed the Patrol Office examination without fighting after the arena failed to gather enough contestants, and they received temporary identity tokens. As the entry examination ended, Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing prepared to compete for Team Leader, while Zhao Hu arrived boasting that he had also passed.

• The Examination Host declared the contestants on the arena passed because it had not gathered ten fighters, and Lü Renyao collected his identity token while Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng received theirs.
• Zhao Hu regretted missing the chance to pass without fighting, while Wang Jin congratulated his disciples and revealed he planned to stop accepting students to pursue further martial progress.
• Yu Yuan reacted with surprise and envy when Wang Jin confirmed that he had advanced in his cultivation.
• Jiang Ning told Cheng Ran he might be able to help him enter the Patrol Office, giving Cheng Ran hope of returning to martial arts.
• The examination host swept contestants off the arena when they tried to imitate the earlier group, and the remaining candidates continued fighting under the stated rules.
• After the examination ended, Wang Jin urged Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing to vie for Team Leader, and Zhao Hu burst in to announce that he had passed the assessment.

Jiang Ning watched several candidates claim Team Leader positions before deciding to enter the contest himself. After rejecting Liu Sansheng’s offer to join his command, Jiang Ning launched himself toward the arena.

• He Jinyun and Qin Xuan each held the arena for an incense stick and claimed Team Leader positions without being challenged.
• Liu Sansheng took the arena, defeated Fu Shiquan with a swift sword strike, and secured a Team Leader position.
• Jiang Ning judged Liu Sansheng weaker than himself but chose not to challenge him while he was on the arena.
• Liu Sansheng invited Jiang Ning to join his command and offered him a marriage alliance, but Jiang Ning refused and declared he would contend for Team Leader.
• Jiang Ning sprang toward the arena.

Jiang Ning entered the Team Leader contest and overwhelmed Martial Academy Student Lu Yuan with a single strike, shocking the audience. Xie Xiaojiu then challenged him, while Qingyi worried that Xiaojiu’s superior cultivation and sword skills would defeat him.

• Jiang Ning stepped onto the Arena, prompting concern from his allies and interest from the Martial Academy Students and the Three Great Families.
• Martial Academy Student Lu Yuan challenged Jiang Ning, but Jiang Ning knocked him off the Arena with one swift strike.
• He Jinyun, Qin Xuan, Cao Zijian, and Liu Zhaonan reacted to Jiang Ning’s extraordinary speed and growing strength.
• Xie Xiaojiu stepped onto the Arena and introduced herself as Jiang Ning’s next challenger.
• Qingyi judged that Xie Xiaojiu’s cultivation, perfected martial arts, and Sword Heart gave her a major advantage, then resolved to warn Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning defeated Xie Xiaojiu in an arena match, earning her promise to serve under him if she lost. As Lü Renyao approached Jiang Ning’s arena, onlookers anticipated a new challenge.

• Lin Qingyi apologized to Jiang Ning, and he accepted a blade before agreeing to fight Xie Xiaojiu, who said she wanted to prove herself against him.
• Xie Xiaojiu used her exceptional speed and swordsmanship to attack Jiang Ning, but he blocked her opening strike and countered with swift blade work.
• Jiang Ning disarmed Xie Xiaojiu and struck her chest with a controlled palm, sending her off the arena and winning the match.
• Xie Xiaojiu acknowledged Jiang Ning’s strength and left, while Jiang Ning hoped she would honor their agreement to come under his command.
• He Jinyun and Qin Xuan discussed Jiang Ning’s prospects as Team Leader, and Lü Renyao walked toward Jiang Ning’s arena to challenge him.

After defeating Xie Xiaojiu, Jiang Ning stunned the spectators by defeating Lü Renyao with a single punch. The viewing platform’s powerful figures reassessed his potential as the arena contest continued.

• Qingyi recognized that Jiang Ning had defeated Xie Xiaojiu, a peak Divine Strength Realm fighter, and considered him a potential future Grandmaster or greater.
• Hong Minghu warned Gongsun Yu not to act recklessly toward Jiang Ning and promised he could speak with him after the contest.
• Lü Renyao challenged Jiang Ning to fight with fists and kicks, believing Jiang Ning’s skill in that area was weak.
• Jiang Ning returned his saber and faced Lü Renyao’s Cloud-Stacking Palm with a punch powered by fivefold Jin Force.
• Jiang Ning broke Lü Renyao’s arm and knocked him off the arena with one punch, leaving the spectators and Hong Minghu astonished.

Jiang Ning defeated Lü Renyao and secured a Team Leader position, while Zhou Xing failed to win one and pledged to serve under him. After the thirteen Team Leader contests ended, the Examination Master announced that four Deputy Commander posts would be decided through arena battles, and He Jinyun stepped forward first.

• Lin Jia'er regretted having rejected Jiang Ning, while Qin Xuan and He Jinyun discussed Jiang Ning's strength and martial skill.
• Jiang Ning received his Silver Identity Token and declined the Examination Master's offer, choosing to compete for Deputy Commander instead.
• Wang Jin praised Jiang Ning, and Zhou Xing later lost his arena challenge before asking to work under Jiang Ning in the Patrol Office.
• Only three Luoshui County Martial Artists won Team Leader positions: Jiang Ning, Liu Zhaonan, and Ruan Hongmei.
• The Examination Master announced that four Deputy Commander posts would go to the victors of one-on-one arena contests against Team Leaders.
• He Jinyun challenged the others first, but everyone—including Jiang Ning—held back from facing him.

He Jinyun, Yuan Hua, and Tang Miaomiao claimed three Deputy Commander positions without anyone challenging them. The final position was left to the remaining competitors, and Jiang Ning defeated a Martial Academy student to advance.

• He Jinyun automatically claimed a Deputy Commander position after the crowd refused to challenge him, then left the arena.
• Yuan Hua and Tang Miaomiao each claimed a Deputy Commander position without a fight, leaving one seat for twelve competitors.
• Qin Xuan defeated Ruan Hongmei in an armed match, and she told Jiang Ning that she had injured Qin Xuan's right arm.
• Jiang Ning stepped forward to fight a Martial Academy student in a contest of fists and feet, then knocked him off the arena with Blind Man Ramming Tree.

Jiang Ning advanced through the second round of the contest and faced Feng Jiuge, whose Prairie Fire Spear Technique initially drove him toward the arena’s edge. He revealed overwhelming strength, disarmed her, and left her stumbling into his chest.

• After the first round, Jiang Ning was the only Luoshui County martial artist among the six remaining contestants, while Qin Xuan won his opening second-round match.
• Jiang Ning requested a saber and faced Feng Jiuge, the daughter of a Dongling City Colonel, in an armed-combat match.
• Feng Jiuge unleashed the Prairie Fire Spear Technique and pressed Jiang Ning toward the edge of the arena, but he easily read and blocked her attacks.
• Jiang Ning ended the exchange with a Fivefold Jin Force slash that knocked Feng Jiuge’s spear aside, then grabbed and pulled it from her hands.
• Feng Jiuge staggered into Jiang Ning’s chest and stammered an apology as her face flushed.

After Feng Jiuge conceded her fight, Jiang Ning arranged to meet her and befriended Qin Xuan while the finalists were decided. Yuan Fei defeated Qin Xuan in a staff duel, leaving Yuan Fei and Jiang Ning to contend for the Deputy Commander position.

• Feng Jiuge admitted defeat, and Jiang Ning arranged to visit her at Qixue Residence that afternoon.
• Qin Xuan struck up a friendship with Jiang Ning, teased him about Feng Jiuge, and explained Yuan Fei's White Ape Tongbei Fist after Yuan Fei won his match.
• The Examination Master learned that Jiang Ning was only eighteen and arranged for him to wait while Qin Xuan and Yuan Fei fought first.
• Yuan Fei chose to face Qin Xuan with a Refined Iron Long Staff, then overwhelmed him with a relentless attack.
• Qin Xuan yielded and stepped off the arena, leaving Yuan Fei and Jiang Ning as the remaining contenders.

Jiang Ning fought Yuan Fei in the Deputy Commander selection and overwhelmed him with a heavy saber, forcing Yuan Fei to use a Forbidden Art. Jiang Ning released his Human Body Limitation and revealed Blade Intent, leaving the Fifth Grade observers astonished as the clash continued.

• After Qin Xuan withdrew, Yuan Fei challenged Jiang Ning and displayed his mastery of the Superior Grade Martial Art Ape Demon True Body.
• Jiang Ning chose a weapon battle and took a three-hundred-jin saber before attacking Yuan Fei with relentless, powerful slashes.
• Jiang Ning repeatedly drove Yuan Fei backward, while Qin Xuan watched in disbelief at the gap between their abilities.
• Yuan Fei unleashed a Forbidden Art and struck Jiang Ning hard enough to force him back three steps.
• Jiang Ning released his Human Body Limitation, and Hong Minghu and Gongsun Yu recognized that he had achieved Internal Strengthening.
• Jiang Ning's next slash manifested Blade Intent, astonishing Hong Minghu and Gongsun Yu.

Jiang Ning defeated Yuan Fei and won the Patrol Office’s Deputy Commander position, using his display of Blade Intent to strengthen his standing against the Medicine King Valley expert he suspected was targeting him. After accepting his new post and recruiting Xie Xiaojiu, he was summoned by Prefecture Lord Hong Minghu, who wondered whether Jiang Ning could enter the Hidden Dragon Rankings’ Human Rankings.

• Jiang Ning struck Yuan Fei off the Arena, winning the assessment and becoming Deputy Commander.
• Zhao Hu hid in the crowd, while Qingyi, Lin Jia'er, Wang Jin, and others reacted to Jiang Ning’s victory.
• Jiang Ning considered the threat from the Medicine King Valley expert and believed that demonstrating Blade Intent would help protect him by raising his value to powerful allies.
• Ye Qiu congratulated Jiang Ning, gave him a Golden Token, and invited him to a gathering; Jiang Ning then arranged to bring Xie Xiaojiu under his command.
• A personal guard summoned Jiang Ning to meet Hong Minghu, and Jiang Ning left while Wang Jin and Li Qing headed home.
• Hong Minghu discussed Jiang Ning’s remarkable performance and considered whether he qualified for the Hidden Dragon Rankings’ Human Rankings.

Jiang Ning was questioned by Gongsun Yu about Liu Qingsong’s murder, then learned that Hong Minghu was a Fifth Grade expert and declined an offer to meet his fourteen-year-old daughter. He visited Feng Jiuge at Qixue Residence, where she asked to join his command.

• Gongsun Yu questioned Jiang Ning about Liu Qingsong’s death, suspected Jiang Ning had killed him, and left to report his suspicions to Medicine King Valley’s Valley Master.
• Hong Minghu praised Jiang Ning, revealed he was a Fifth Grade expert, and proposed that Jiang Ning meet his fourteen-year-old daughter; Jiang Ning declined for now.
• Jiang Ning went to Qixue Residence to visit Feng Jiuge and was welcomed into her courtyard by Yi Yi, who was also fourteen.
• Feng Jiuge met Jiang Ning at the lakeside pavilion, congratulated him on winning the Deputy Commander position, and asked to join his command.
• Jiang Ning welcomed Feng Jiuge into his command.

After defeating Feng Jiuge in a spar, Jiang Ning learned that their martial arts could be exchanged to pursue a Superior Grade Martial Art and Water Fire True Intent, then secured his master’s approval for the deal. Newly appointed as a powerful county official, he received gifts from local factions, met Commander Ye Qiu, and continued training before an unknown woman arrived asking for him.

• Jiang Ning sparred with Feng Jiuge, revealed his Blade Intent and Ninefold Force, and defeated her.
• Feng Jiuge explained that her Prairie Fire Spear Technique and Jiang Ning’s Canglang Saber Technique could be combined to form a Superior Grade Martial Art, and they agreed to seek their fathers’ approval for an exchange.
• Jiang Ning told Wang Jin about the proposed exchange, and Wang Jin approved it and entrusted him with the Canglang Saber manual.
• Jiang Ning returned home to find gifts from Luoshui County’s powerful families and trading factions, including the Cao, Liu, and Xie families, then declined the Sihe Trading Company chairman’s invitation to dinner.
• Jiang Ning attended a private banquet with Commander Ye Qiu, then reviewed his Panel the next morning and trained with the Leopard Embryo Transformation Body Tempering Pill.
• Xiao Doubao interrupted Jiang Ning’s practice to tell him that an unidentified pretty woman had come to the house asking for him.

Jiang Ning gave Li Qing a farewell drink infused with the Black Stone before escorting her home as she prepared to leave for Sword Pavilion in Bashu County. At the Patrol Office, Liu Zhaonan used fabricated evidence to defend Zhao Hu and fought Head Constable Xu Zhengnan, while Jiang Ning watched and accepted Ye Qiu’s invitation to talk.

• Li Qing told Jiang Ning she was leaving with her father to study at Sword Pavilion in Bashu County, and Jiang Ning poured her wine infused with the Black Stone to improve her Bone Constitution and Martial Talent.
• Li Qing drank two cups, became heavily intoxicated, and Jiang Ning escorted her to the Li Residence; after he left, she sobered up and watched his carriage depart.
• An old man and constables demanded justice outside the Patrol Office over the death of Xia Li, whom Zhao Hu had killed, and Zhao Hu claimed Xia Li had colluded with the Evil God Sect.
• Liu Zhaonan presented a letter as evidence and named Zhao Hu as a witness, then struck Captain Lin with a kicked stone when he challenged the accusation.
• Xu Zhengnan confronted Liu Zhaonan, and the two began fighting as Jiang Ning watched and exchanged a greeting with Ye Qiu, who invited him upstairs for a chat.
• Jiang Ning leaped toward Ye Qiu while Liu Zhaonan and Xu Zhengnan continued battling.

Ye Qiu used the Patrol Office’s authority to overpower the County Office and Jiang Ning intervened to spare an old man from arrest. Jiang Ning then learned he could recruit his own subordinates and reviewed the Patrol Office’s benefits and exchange system.

• On the tower terrace, Ye Qiu explained to Jiang Ning that the Patrol Office would sacrifice right and wrong to enforce its patrons’ will and establish authority.
• Shan Xiangxiong confronted Ye Qiu over the beating and the arrest, but accepted Prefect Hong’s will and let the Patrol Office proceed against the old man.
• Jiang Ning asked Ye Qiu to release the old man, and Ye Qiu ordered Zhao Hu to let him go; the old man carried his son’s body away to bury him.
• Ye Qiu told Jiang Ning that each Deputy Commander could recruit four Patrol Guards and appoint one Captain, then showed him around the Patrol Office.
• At the Internal Affairs Office, Jiang Ning engraved his Deputy Commander token and collected one Captain token and four Patrol Guard tokens.
• Jiang Ning learned about Contribution Points and reviewed the martial arts, medicines, and cultivation methods he could access, including the costly Five Qi Unification Breathing Technique.