Recaps

Wang Qingtan lent Jiang Ning five hundred taels and gave him her jewelry to pawn in exchange for two favors, after he said he needed resources to advance in the Martial Path. As she left with Wang Qinghan, she reflected on her past-life memories and feared that death or using them could replace her humanity with the Phoenix Celestial Woman’s will.

• Jiang Ning finished practicing Five Animal Frolics Fist and welcomed Wang Qingtan and Wang Qinghan into his pavilion.
• Wang Qingtan reminded Jiang Ning that he owed her money and agreed to help him prepare for his upcoming advancement, while he praised her views on the Martial Path.
• Jiang Ning asked to borrow one thousand taels, and Wang Qingtan offered five hundred taels plus her jewelry in exchange for two favors.
• Wang Qingtan gave Jiang Ning her bracelet, earrings, necklace, and hairpin, then promised to have the remaining money delivered later.
• As Wang Qingtan walked away with Wang Qinghan, she privately admitted she had given Jiang Ning the jewelry to secure his help and worried that her past-life will might eventually replace her.

Wang Qingtan sent Jiang Ning five hundred taels of gold, and he spent nearly all of it at Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion on Ancient Immortal Treasures to support his cultivation. After buying Dragon Blood Bodhis, Three-Hundred-Year Vermilion Fruits, and Mystic Ice Jade Marrow, Jiang Ning left with his purchases.

• Wang Qingtan admitted to Wang Qinghan that she felt lonely, then hurried home with her sister.
• Jiang Ning received five gold notes from a maid sent by Wang Qingtan and decided to buy Ancient Immortal Treasures instead of more Elixir Pills.
• At Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Jiang Ning reviewed the catalog of twenty-three Ancient Times Immortal Treasures.
• Jiang Ning bought three Dragon Blood Bodhis, five Three-Hundred-Year Vermilion Fruits, and ten drops of Mystic Ice Jade Marrow for 495 gold after the discount.
• Jiang Ning accepted the five-tael refund, entrusted it to Luyi, and left the pavilion with his purchases.

Jiang Ning refined Dragon Blood Bodhi, Vermilion Fruits, and Mystic Ice Jade Marrow, improving his qi and blood and advancing his Swimming and Water Fire True Force skills. He practiced Five Animal Frolics Fist to finish filling its experience bar, preparing to attempt its sixth limit break the next morning.

• Jiang Ning refined three Dragon Blood Bodhi and transformed his qi and blood into a more cohesive force that roared like a dragon.
• Jiang Ning practiced Five Animal Frolics Fist, increasing its experience and confirming that the Bodhi had also slightly improved his strength.
• Jiang Ning refined five three-hundred-year-old Vermilion Fruits but noticed no direct change in his strength.
• Jiang Ning refined ten drops of Mystic Ice Jade Marrow, gaining experience in Swimming and Water Fire True Force as the Water Fire Grindstone absorbed its energy.
• Jiang Ning checked his panel, judged that his Source Energy would be sufficient for Five Animal Frolics Fist’s sixth limit break, and practiced until only a few dozen experience points remained.

After breaking through the Five Animal Frolics Fist’s sixth limit, Jiang Ning gained exceptional fist-art talent and practiced with greatly increased efficiency. He then gave Xie Xiaojiu, Zhou Xing, and Feng Jiuge a strengthening tonic to share with their subordinates as he prepared to build strength against the God Worshipping Sect.

• Jiang Ning spent 5,000 Source Energy to break through the Five Animal Frolics Fist’s sixth limit, improving his fist-art talent and gaining his own Fist Intent.
• Jiang Ning found that each set of Five Animal Frolics Fist practice gave him far more experience and Qi and Blood Power than before.
• Jiang Ning told Luyi to summon Xie Xiaojiu, Zhou Xing, and the others, intending to strengthen his understaffed Patrol Envoy Office ahead of conflict with the God Worshipping Sect.
• Jiang Ning gave Xie Xiaojiu, Zhou Xing, and Feng Jiuge bottles of Taiyin Jade Liquid mixed with his blood and instructed them to dilute more of it for their subordinates.
• Xie Xiaojiu left feeling the growing distance between herself and Jiang Ning, and Feng Jiuge asked whether she still could not let go of her feelings.

Jiang Ning asked Ye Zhengqi how true intent could lead to the Heavenly Human realm and learned that the Heavenly Dao had awakened a consciousness, while Ye revealed his progress toward becoming a Six Harmonies Heavenly Human. Ye then set out with Jiang Ning for Xiao Qiushui’s Grandmaster Banquet, intending to resolve their grudge, but his lingering injuries flared during their journey.

• Jiang Ning arrived at Bai Luoyu’s residence and asked Ye Zhengqi about the paths to becoming a Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
• Ye Zhengqi explained that powerful true intent could connect with the Heavenly Dao, which had developed consciousness, and warned Jiang Ning not to call the emperor the Son of Heaven.
• Ye Zhengqi said he would mediate Jiang Ning’s grudge with Xiao Qiushui at her Grandmaster Banquet in five days, and revealed that he had completed the four directional harmonies but not the harmonies of heaven and earth.
• Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi left Bai Luoyu and traveled toward the Water Moon Sword Palace, with Jiang Ning keeping pace and gaining Wind Thunder Step experience.
• Ye Zhengqi’s lingering Icy True Intent injury triggered a coughing fit when he accelerated, so Jiang Ning suggested they continue at a slower pace.

Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi arrived at Water Moon Sword Palace for Xiao Qiushui’s Grandmaster Banquet, where Jiang Ning reunited with Xiao Emei and revealed he might kill Xiao Qiushui if she pursued revenge. Xiao Qiushui learned that Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi had arrived, and the chapter ended with her weighing the news.

• Jiang Ning completed another session of the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, bringing it close to perfection, then continued toward Water Moon Sword Palace with Ye Zhengqi.
• Ye Zhengqi explained that Xiao Qiushui’s breakthrough had made Water Moon Sword Palace a first-rate faction, while Crossing Immortal Gate was Guangning Prefecture’s super first-class faction.
• Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi crossed Reflecting Moon Lake, arrived at Water Moon Sword Palace, and were shown to guest rooms after Ye Zhengqi presented his Patrol Envoy Token.
• Xiao Emei learned Jiang Ning had arrived and went to see him in his room.
• Jiang Ning told Xiao Emei he had come to settle grudges and would kill Xiao Qiushui if she remained a threat; Xiao Emei offered to persuade the Palace Master to abandon revenge.
• A disciple informed Xiao Qiushui of Jiang Ning’s arrival with Ye Zhengqi, and Xiao Qiushui reacted with killing intent before dismissing her.

Jiang Ning visited Ye Zhengqi and met Old Zhong and his great-granddaughter Zhong Ling, whose special constitution let her see Immortal Root aptitude. Zhong Ling judged Jiang Ning’s Immortal Root Light to be like a Great Sun hanging in the sky, astonishing Ye Zhengqi and Old Zhong and leaving the chapter with Jiang Ning’s true potential revealed.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animal Frolics Fist, gained experience, and noted that his Wind Thunder Step was ready for a breakthrough but lacked Source Energy Points.
• Ye Zhengqi summoned Jiang Ning to a peak, while a silver-haired Daoist noticed someone had briefly used Divine Sense nearby.
• Jiang Ning met Old Zhong, the Five Mountains Prefecture Patrol Envoy, and heard him and Ye Zhengqi discuss their cultivation paths and the difficulty of reaching the Second Rank.
• Old Zhong asked Zhong Ling to assess Jiang Ning’s Immortal Root aptitude, and she said its light was like a Great Sun hanging in the sky.
• Ye Zhengqi and Old Zhong reacted with astonishment and explained that Zhong Ling could perceive Immortal Root potential, while their own aptitude appeared far dimmer to her.

At Water Moon Sword Palace’s Grandmaster Banquet, Jiang Ning learned that Crossing Immortal Gate’s Li Sixiang had reached Second Rank, while Ye Zhengqi revealed Zhong Yue’s great-granddaughter could help Jiang Ning comprehend the Heaven and Man United Realm. Xiao Emei failed to dissuade Xiao Qiushui from fighting Jiang Ning, and Xiao Qiushui prepared to risk everything, naming Xiao Emei her successor in case she lost.

• Jiang Ning met Patrol Envoys Huang and Wang in the pavilion and learned that Li Sixiang of Crossing Immortal Gate had advanced to Second Rank Great Grandmaster.
• Ye Zhengqi explained Li Sixiang’s Earth, Wind, Water, Fire path and told Jiang Ning that Zhong Yue’s great-granddaughter could help him comprehend the Heaven and Man United Realm, but Jiang Ning refused to marry her for that advantage.
• Ye Zhengqi told Jiang Ning that Prefect Zhao had emerged from seclusion and would arrive that afternoon, then asked Jiang Ning to receive him if Ye Zhengqi was cultivating.
• Xiao Emei told Jiang Ning that she had failed to persuade Xiao Qiushui to give up fighting him, and Jiang Ning said he would go all out if Xiao Qiushui chose to fight.
• A disciple reported Xiao Emei’s relationship with Jiang Ning to Xiao Qiushui, who revealed that she had made Xiao Emei her successor and resolved that either Jiang Ning or she would die.

Jiang Ning welcomed Zhao Yulong to Reflecting Moon Island and learned that he had become a Heavenly Human Grandmaster. As Xiao Qiushui’s Grandmaster Banquet began, Jiang Ning resolved to kill her afterward, while the arrival of powerful guests raised the stakes.

• Jiang Ning spotted Zhao Yulong crossing Reflecting Moon Lake on a bamboo pole and welcomed him to the island.
• Zhao Yulong confirmed that he had become a Heavenly Human Grandmaster and celebrated the breakthrough with Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning practiced through the night, resolved to kill Xiao Qiushui after her banquet, and planned to pursue his own advancement once he returned home.
• Ye Zhengqi joined Jiang Ning and Zhao Yulong the next morning, and told them that Li Sixiang had become a Second Rank Divine Intent Great Grandmaster.
• Jiang Ning and the others attended Xiao Qiushui’s banquet, where Zhong Yue exchanged drinks with the Old Beggar as the guests gathered.

At Xiao Qiushui’s Grandmaster Banquet, Jiang Ning learned about Zhong Ling’s unusual constitution and discouraged her from choosing a partner just to produce a gifted child. Xiao Qiushui and Li Sixiang arrived together, and Li Sixiang’s new status as a Divine Intent Realm Great Grandmaster set the banquet’s political tensions in motion.

• Jiang Ning listened to the gathered grandmasters exchange martial insights as Zhao Yulong and Zhong Yue left to join other discussions.
• Zhong Ling sat beside Jiang Ning, explained that her special physique could pass on both her constitution and strong Immortal Root aptitude to a child, and revealed she had no one she loved.
• Jiang Ning urged Zhong Ling not to rush into having children for talent’s sake, offered to help her if she encountered trouble, and saw her vanish from his senses through her miraculous physique.
• Jiang Ning thought of Qingyi and the Prince of Qi’s apparent interest in her before Xiao Qiushui arrived with Xiao Emei, who watched Jiang Ning with a troubled expression.
• Li Sixiang arrived with two disciples, and the guests learned he had reached the Second Grade Divine Intent Realm; he and Xiao Qiushui entered the banquet together after agreeing on a plan that involved challenging the Imperial Court and Patrol Office.
• Li Sixiang toasted Xiao Qiushui and praised the martial path, while Ye Zhengqi and Zhong Yue pointedly declined to join the toast before the other guests raised their cups to her.

At Xiao Qiushui’s banquet, Ye Zhengqi challenged her over her feud with Jiang Ning, but Li Sixiang intervened and defeated Ye Zhengqi in a clash of grandmasters. Ye Zhengqi escaped with Jiang Ning and Zhong Ling into Reflecting Moon Lake, where they hid while he recovered.

• Ye Zhengqi congratulated Xiao Qiushui on reaching the Third Grade, then demanded that she end her grudge with Jiang Ning, but she refused and reaffirmed her intent to kill him.
• Ye Zhengqi’s Sword Intent suppressed Xiao Qiushui until Li Sixiang stepped in to defend her and challenged Ye Zhengqi.
• Li Sixiang struck Ye Zhengqi down in their first exchange, shocking the banquet guests with the gap between a Second Rank Great Grandmaster and a Six Harmonies Heavenly Human.
• Ye Zhengqi rose from the pit, trapped Li Sixiang in a sword cage, and escaped with Jiang Ning and Zhong Ling using an unseen technique.
• Li Sixiang chose not to pursue them, while Zhong Yue stayed at the ruined banquet and Xiao Qiushui watched in anger.
• In Reflecting Moon Lake, Jiang Ning helped Zhong Ling breathe and watched Ye Zhengqi take an elixir to heal; Ye Zhengqi then recognized Zhong Yue’s plan might come true.

Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to learn that Li Sixiang had left Water Moon Sword Palace, then brought Zhong Ling ashore and reunited her with Zhong Yue. The chapter ended with Zhong Yue and the Old Beggar discussing Li Sixiang’s strength and greeting Jiang Ning and Zhong Ling.

• Jiang Ning revealed his Heavenly Eye to see that Li Sixiang had left Water Moon Sword Palace and that Xiao Qiushui and Xiao Emei had returned to the island.
• Xiao Qiushui told Xiao Emei to keep the palace lord’s sword with her at all times before they went back to Lake Heart Island.
• Jiang Ning took Zhong Ling ashore, dried their clothes with his power, and told her he would bring her to Zhong Yue.
• Zhong Yue and the Old Beggar discussed Li Sixiang’s formidable Martial Dao True Intent as Jiang Ning and Zhong Ling approached.
• Zhong Ling hid behind Jiang Ning when she saw Zhong Yue, and Jiang Ning respectfully greeted Zhong Yue and the Old Beggar.

Jiang Ning returned Zhong Ling to Zhong Yue, trained while waiting for night, and then infiltrated Water Moon Sword Palace to reach Xiao Qiushui. He entered her bedchamber as she meditated, while Xiao Emei discovered a letter hidden in the palace lord’s sword.

• Jiang Ning returned Zhong Ling safely to Zhong Yue and left to settle his grudge with Xiao Qiushui.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animal Frolics Fist and discovered that each round now yielded three experience points.
• Ye Zhengqi told Zhao Yulong that Li Sixiang had become a Second Rank Great Grandmaster, prompting them to return with the news.
• Jiang Ning cultivated under the midday sun, then used his Heavenly Eye to confirm Xiao Qiushui remained inside Water Moon Sword Palace.
• Jiang Ning crossed Reflecting Moon Lake at night and entered Xiao Qiushui’s palace, while Xiao Emei found a letter hidden in the silver sword.
• Jiang Ning arrived in Xiao Qiushui’s bedchamber and saw her meditating.

Jiang Ning infiltrated Water Moon Sword Palace and killed Xiao Qiushui after overpowering her with his physical strength. He looted her hidden treasury and set her body alight before leaving, concealing his role in her death.

• Jiang Ning entered Xiao Qiushui's sleeping palace and revealed a golden aura as he unleashed strength beyond her ability to match.
• Jiang Ning deflected Xiao Qiushui's small silver sword, caught her as she tried to fly away, and repeatedly smashed her into the ground.
• Jiang Ning killed Xiao Qiushui with a strike to the head and retrieved the silver sword.
• Jiang Ning opened the tunnel beneath the white jade statue, broke through the stone vault door, and looted Water Moon Sword Palace's treasured vault.
• Jiang Ning returned to the hall, covered Xiao Qiushui's body with a curtain, set it on fire, and disappeared.

Jiang Ning escaped Water Moon Sword Palace after killing Xiao Qiushui, then refined the ancient Sword Pellet and consumed some of the treasures he had looted. He increased his Source Energy Points to 7,863 and filled his Five Animal Frolics Fist experience, but still lacked the points needed for its next limit break.

• Xiao Emei arrived at Xiao Qiushui's palace and was told that the burning corpse was believed to be Xiao Qiushui, leaving her suspecting Jiang Ning might have been involved.
• Jiang Ning left Reflecting Moon Lake, examined Xiao Qiushui's Silver Small Sword, and used his Divine Sense to refine it as a five-restriction Sword Pellet containing ancient Sword Intent.
• Jiang Ning swallowed three Seven Orifices Enlightenment Pills and refined a bottle of Thousand Spirits Blood, increasing his Source Energy Points.
• Jiang Ning practiced fist art through the night to digest the blood's effects and raise his Five Animal Frolics Fist experience to 7,000/7,000.
• Jiang Ning saw that he had 7,863 Source Energy Points, still short of the 10,000 needed for the next limit break, and decided to keep digesting his looted resources.

Jiang Ning stayed in the forest to digest the Water Moon Sword Palace’s spirit blood, practicing the Five Animal Frolics Fist and Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill while considering the dangers posed by powerful forces and higher martial realms. By dawn, his Source Energy had reached 14877, and the Five Animal Frolics Fist was ready to break through again.

• Jiang Ning reflected on the growing threats in Guangning Prefecture and resolved to build his strength step by step.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animal Frolics Fist and swallowed Hundred Spirits Blood and Thousand Spirits Blood to replenish and strengthen his body.
• Jiang Ning absorbed the noon Great Sun Essence Qi, raising his Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill to 8811/10000 toward the Perfected Realm.
• Jiang Ning opened the jade box holding thirteen drops of Ten Thousand Spirits Blood, consumed them, and practiced his fist art through the night to digest their energy.
• Jiang Ning saw that the Five Animal Frolics Fist had maxed out its experience and that his Source Energy had risen to 14877, enough to meet its breakthrough requirement.

Jiang Ning considered which Skill to improve for his coming Third Grade blood exchanges, then examined treasures plundered from the Water Moon Sword Palace and began absorbing Hundred-Year Spirit Milk. After reviewing two top-tier cultivation methods, he found only three items left in his Summoning Ring, including one whose unusual qualities had caught his eye.

• Jiang Ning chose to prioritize the Firewood Chopping Blade Technique for a future limit break, planning to digest more treasures first and raise his Source Energy Points.
• Jiang Ning identified a palm-sized Blood Jade and two unusual Long Swords, then put them away to sell or give away.
• Jiang Ning drank most of the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, felt its energy settle into his body, and decided to save a few drops for Jiang Yuanyuan and Liu Wanwan.
• Jiang Ning read the Azure Wave Sword Art and Desire Severing Heart Sutra, but decided not to cultivate either one.
• Jiang Ning searched the Summoning Ring and found three remaining items, one of which interested him because of what he had seen with the Heavenly Eye.

Jiang Ning uncovered the Weapon Refining Art hidden in a white bone and used it to refine the evil dragon spirit in his saber, binding the weapon to himself. After replenishing his blood with the thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng and cultivating through noon, he woke the next day to find 35,433 Source Energy, with half the ginseng and one Water Moon Sword Palace treasure still unused.

• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to read the white bone’s hidden Weapon Refining Art, gaining more than seven thousand Literacy Experience Points.
• Jiang Ning blood-refined his Spirit Weapon saber, subdued and erased the evil dragon spirit within it, then shrank the saber and tied it to his hair to carry close to his body.
• Jiang Ning ate pieces of the thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng to restore the blood he had lost, then absorbed Great Sun Essence Qi and advanced his Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill toward the Perfected Realm.
• Jiang Ning rested overnight and recovered to his peak with the Blood Ginseng’s aid.
• Jiang Ning discovered that his Source Energy had risen to 35,433, while half the Blood Ginseng and the final Water Moon Sword Palace treasure remained unused.

Jiang Ning returned to Dongling City, learned that Shen Wenyuan had taken office and his Class D Great Merit had been issued, and requested a Grandmaster cultivation method. He also learned that the martial examinations had moved to an annual schedule, while Ye Zhengqi investigated Xiao Qiushui’s death and wondered whether Jiang Ning had been involved.

• Jiang Ning returned home, reunited with Liu Wanwan, and learned that Shen Wenyuan had taken office and the Patrol Office had summoned him.
• Jiang Ning visited Zhao Yulong, confirmed his Class D Great Merit had been issued, and requested a Dharma Gate for becoming a Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
• Zhao Yulong told Jiang Ning that the martial examinations would now be held annually and urged him to compete in the July exam and October Metropolitan Examination.
• Ye Zhengqi learned that Xiao Qiushui was dead and that rumors blamed him for her death.
• Ye Zhengqi heard that Xiao Emei had become Water Moon Sword Palace’s Palace Master and considered whether Jiang Ning had played a part in Xiao Qiushui’s death, then dismissed the possibility.

Jiang Ning gave Xiao Doubao Hundred-Year Spirit Milk for her and Liu Wanwan’s health, then prepared to leave for Guangning to take the Martial Examination Provincial Exam and seek a Grandmaster method. Before departing, he discovered a mysterious woman inside an ice coffin and threw it into the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range; the chapter ended with him receiving a handmade birthday robe from Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan.

• Jiang Ning gave Xiao Doubao Tanghulu and fed her a little Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, then entrusted the remaining spirit milk to Jiang Li for Liu Wanwan and Xiao Doubao.
• Jiang Ning told Jiang Li he would leave Dongling County for Guangning to take the Martial Examination Provincial Exam and bring back a Martial Graduate title.
• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to see a sleeping woman inside the ice coffin, then hurled it toward the depths of the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range without noticing her eyelids tremble.
• Jiang Ning refined the remaining Millennial Blood Ginseng, bringing his Source Energy to 46,177, and decided to save the points until he obtained a Grandmaster method.
• Jiang Ning promised Xiao Doubao a treat when he returned and pinky-swore with her before preparing to leave.
• Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan gave Jiang Ning a handmade black brocade robe for his upcoming birthday, and Jiang Ning took it to his room to try on.

Jiang Ning prepared to leave Dongling City for Guangning Prefecture City and visited Wang Qingtan to give her a gift before departing. Wang Qingtan accepted the Ice Silk soft armor and gave him one thousand taels in Gold Notes to support his journey.

• Jiang Ning put on the fine clothes supplied by the Liu Family and said goodbye to Jiang Li, Liu Wanwan, and the children before setting out.
• Jiang Ning visited Wang Qingtan at the Prefect Residence and waited while she washed and dressed.
• Jiang Ning gave Wang Qingtan a piece of Ice Silk soft armor, which she accepted after teasing him about its intimate nature.
• Jiang Ning told Wang Qingtan he was going to Guangning Prefecture City to report for duty, exchange items, and take the Martial Examination Provincial Exam.
• Wang Qingtan gave Jiang Ning one thousand taels in Gold Notes and joked that he should marry her after he accepted her dowry.

Jiang Ning traveled by carriage toward Guangning Prefecture City with Bai Luoyu, Zhao Yulong, and Luyi, using the journey to improve his Literacy and Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill. After filling his Literacy Experience Points, he discovered that the Ice Coffin he had thrown into the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range had mysteriously reappeared in his carriage.

• Jiang Ning told Bai Luoyu and Zhao Yulong that he planned to find the Seventeenth Princess, Ji Mingyue, and chose to travel with them by carriage to Guangning Prefecture City.
• Jiang Ning read the Daoist Canon during the journey and filled Literacy's Experience Points, while Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu speculated that he was seeking to comprehend Heaven and Man as One.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill at noon as the carriages traveled, and Luyi caught and roasted fish for him during a rest stop.
• Jiang Ning saw that the Ice Coffin he had thrown into the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range had appeared inside his carriage, and Luyi said she did not know when it had arrived.

Jiang Ning broke through Literacy to strengthen his Spirit Soul and Divine Sense, gaining the Dao Follows Nature trait and nearing Heaven and Man as One. The next morning, he practiced sensing heaven and earth, then invited Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu to celebrate his birthday.

• Jiang Ning threw the Ice Coffin out of his carriage again, then used 20,000 Source Energy to break through Literacy and strengthen his Spirit Soul and Divine Sense.
• Jiang Ning experienced a state of merging with and observing heaven and earth, realizing he had reached the threshold of Heaven and Man as One.
• Jiang Ning discovered that Literacy’s new Dao Follows Nature trait greatly improved his talent for sensing heaven and earth, then continued reading the Daoist Canon to gain experience.
• Zhao Yulong told Bai Luoyu that a powerful spiritual fluctuation had enveloped their surroundings, though he could no longer sense it.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning practiced sensing heaven and earth by the stream, and Bai Luoyu briefly wondered if he had witnessed something unusual.
• Jiang Ning told Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu that it was his birthday and invited them to drink instead of continuing to read.

Jiang Ning reached Guangning City with Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu, and settled into a courtyard before preparing to meet Shen Wenyuan the next day. The Ice Coffin returned once more, while Jiang Ning’s training continued to advance.

• Jiang Ning celebrated his birthday with Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu before their carriages continued toward Guangning City.
• The Ice Coffin reappeared beside Jiang Ning; he used his Heavenly Eye to confirm the woman was still inside, then kept the coffin in his carriage rather than throwing it away again.
• Jiang Ning, Zhao Yulong, and Bai Luoyu arrived in Guangning City and agreed to report to Shen Wenyuan the next day; Bai Luoyu offered to travel with Jiang Ning to the Royal Capital for the Martial Examination Metropolitan Examination.
• Jiang Ning and Luyi settled into Listening Bamboo Pavilion, where he reviewed his progress in Literacy and Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill and stored the Ice Coffin in a separate room.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animal Frolics Fist and gained experience by moving freely instead of following the manual step by step; afterward, he prepared to bathe before meeting Shen Wenyuan.

Jiang Ning met Shen Wenyuan at the Patrol Office and received two methods for reaching Heavenly Human Grandmaster, sent by Xiao Wuque. After studying Seven Stars Fate Determination, Jiang Ning began reading True Spirit Nine Transformations, the Ninth Blood Exchange method his strength had long required.

• Jiang Ning discovered that the Ice Coffin had silently moved beside his bed, then trained before setting out with Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu to meet Shen Wenyuan.
• Shen Wenyuan told Jiang Ning that Xiao Wuque had responded to his report and request by sending two Grandmaster methods.
• Jiang Ning opened the box and read Xiao Wuque's message, which offered Seven Stars Fate Determination and True Spirit Nine Transformations.
• Jiang Ning finished studying Seven Stars Fate Determination and learned that its seven blood exchanges could grant an extraordinary Divine Ability.
• Jiang Ning picked up True Spirit Nine Transformations, the Ninth Blood Exchange path once followed by the Martial Saint, and immersed himself in reading it.