Chapter Summaries

Ji Shu launched a nighttime assault on the Mount Song Sect, killing his way through its courtyards with concealed weapons and his sword. Zuo Lengchan rushed to meet the attack and sent Tang Ying'e to seek help from Shaolin Temple, then watched Ji Shu kill several fleeing disciples before his group.

• Ji Shu arrived at Mount Song at night, resolved to attack the sect and condemning Shaolin Temple for tolerating it.
• Ji Shu entered the Mount Song Sect grounds and killed the night watchmen and other disciples with darts and concealed weapons.
• After running out of concealed weapons, Ji Shu drew his sword and attacked the sleeping disciples, alerting the sect.
• Zuo Lengchan learned Ji Shu had infiltrated the sect, gathered Zhong Zhen, Zhao Sihai, and others, and ordered Tang Ying'e to fetch Master Fangzheng from Shaolin Temple.
• Ji Shu hurled swords through several fleeing Inner Sect disciples, killing them in front of Zuo Lengchan's group.

Ji Shu annihilated the Mount Song Sect and killed Zuo Lengchan, then confronted Master Fangzheng and the Shaolin monks. The chapter ended as Ji Shu attacked Fangzheng with the Righteous Qi Sword and Fangzheng countered with the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Palm.

• Ji Shu killed Zuo Lengchan, Zhong Zhen, Zhao Sihai, Zhang Jingchao, and the other Mount Song disciples, leaving no survivors in the sect.
• Ji Shu noticed Tang Ying'e was missing and set out to search the rear courtyard.
• Master Fangzheng arrived with Shaolin monks and accused Ji Shu of annihilating the Mount Song Sect, then struck at him.
• Ji Shu repelled Fangzheng with a punch, and Fangzheng recognized the move as Wudang's Tai Chi Fist.
• Ji Shu rejected Fangzheng's demand to surrender and attacked him with the Righteous Qi Sword as Fangzheng unleashed the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Palm.

Ji Shu defeated Master Fangzheng and the Eighteen Arhats at the Mount Song Sect, then searched the compound and gathered its manuals, medicines, and riches. He left with secret volumes and Great Medicine, planning for Lu Dayou and the others to transport the buried treasure to the Mount Hua Sect.

• Master Fangzheng called the Eighteen Arhats into battle, but Ji Shu broke their staff array and killed all eighteen.
• Tang Ying'e fled while Ji Shu fought the Arhats, and Ji Shu let him escape.
• Ji Shu killed Master Fangzheng with a sword strike, and the monk died seated in meditation.
• Ji Shu searched the Mount Song Sect, buried its gold, silver, and treasures, and found medicines and martial arts manuals in a hidden training chamber.
• Ji Shu cultivated with the Treasure Medicine and the manuals, strengthening his Righteous Qi Sword.
• Ji Shu left with secret volumes and Great Medicine, intending for Lu Dayou and the others to carry the buried wealth back to the Mount Hua Sect.

Ji Shu left Shaolin Temple after sensing danger, unaware that the Mount Song Sect had been massacred. Kong Ji investigated the deaths and brought Senior Zhang to examine the scene, where Zhang identified traces of several martial arts in the killer’s swordsmanship.

• Ji Shu abandoned his visit to Shaolin Temple, returned to his horse, and rode toward Mount Hua.
• Kong Ji arrived at the Mount Song Sect and found Master Fangzheng, the Eighteen Arhats, and many others dead.
• Kong Ji concluded that a formidable swordsman had killed the victims and asked Shaolin’s hall heads to seek Senior Zhang’s help.
• Kong Ji visited Senior Zhang, who agreed to inspect the massacre site.
• Senior Zhang examined the bodies and recognized traces of the Five Peaks Sword Sect, the Thousand Leaf Sword Technique, Xiyi Swordplay, the Nurturing My Sword Style, and Tai Chi Fist.

Senior Zhang revealed himself as Zhang Wuji, left Shaolin Temple the Nine Yang Divine Skill, and departed to visit old friends. Ji Shu returned to Mount Hua, reunited with Yue Lingshan, and began cultivating the Ice True Skill.

• Senior Zhang gave Master Kongji the Nine Yang Divine Skill and urged Shaolin Temple to uphold its duties on the righteous path before leaving Mount Song.
• Master Kongji and the other monks discussed whether Senior Zhang was Zhang Wuji and vowed to investigate the murder of Master Fangzheng.
• Ji Shu arrived at Mount Hua before dawn, where Yue Lingshan welcomed him and led him up the mountain.
• Ji Shu and Yue Lingshan passed Lin Pingzhi practicing swordsmanship at the training ground.
• After breakfast, Ji Shu read the Ice True Skill and rapidly generated Ice True Qi with the support of his talents and other martial arts.

Ji Shu completed the Ice True Skill and began mastering the Great Songyang Divine Palm while Yue Lingshan practiced swordsmanship with him. Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze arrived after hearing that the Mount Song Sect had been wiped out, and seeing Ji Shu perform its signature palm art convinced them he was responsible.

• Yue Lingshan asked Ji Shu to teach her swordsmanship hand in hand, and he practiced with her beneath the Old Sophora Tree.
• Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze saw the pair together and discussed their hope that Yue Lingshan and Ji Shu would marry.
• Ji Shu's Ice True Skill reached perfection, strengthening his Tai Chi Diagram and giving his Tai Chi Fist greater power.
• Ji Shu quickly mastered the Great Songyang Divine Palm, and its scorching internal energy strengthened his Righteous Qi Sword.
• After hearing that the Mount Song Sect had been wiped out, Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze saw Ji Shu practicing its inherited palm art and concluded he had destroyed the sect.

Ji Shu confirmed that he had destroyed the Mount Song Sect and killed Master Fangzheng, shocking Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze. He then mastered several martial arts and created a sword technique that made the Righteous Qi Sword’s Sword Qi curve back, while Yue Lingshan grew closer to him.

• Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze asked Ji Shu about the Mount Song Sect, and he revealed that he had destroyed it in half a night and killed Master Fangzheng.
• Ji Shu mastered the Ice God Palm and Nine Bends Swordplay, adding icy and circling-returning qualities to the Righteous Qi Sword.
• Ji Shu practiced the Spirit Net Whip Technique and fused its traits with other martial arts while developing his own sword art.
• Ji Shu completed the Righteous Qi Sword Art, whose Sword Qi curved outward and then returned toward its target.
• Yue Lingshan brought Ji Shu dinner and asked him to teach her swordsmanship, while Lin Pingzhi watched enviously.

Ji Shu gained a deeper understanding of swordsmanship from Feng Qingyang’s inscription and carved his own name beside it, prompting Feng Qingyang to consider teaching him the Nine Swords of Dugu. Later, Ren Yingying secretly approached Mount Hua, where Ji Shu confronted her.

• Ji Shu spent several days studying Feng Qingyang’s inscription while Yue Lingshan brought him food and practiced nearby.
• In a storm, Ji Shu comprehended the inscription’s sword principles, demonstrated his skill by cutting apart the rain, and carved “Ji Shu” into the stone wall.
• Feng Qingyang watched Ji Shu leave with Yue Lingshan and recognized that he had grasped part of the essence of the Nine Swords of Dugu, though he decided to observe him longer before teaching him.
• Ji Shu fused Feng Qingyang’s sword intent with the intent of his Righteous Qi Sword and later contemplated how to combine internal cultivation methods beneath the Old Sophora Tree.
• Ji Shu sensed an unfamiliar visitor approaching and appeared behind Ren Yingying, then questioned why she was sneaking around Mount Hua Sect.

Ren Yingying warned Ji Shu that Shaolin Temple had named him a wanted target and offered him a bargain for his help. After inspecting her gifts, including treasures and a Nine Yin Manual technique, Ji Shu agreed to go to West Lake Plum Manor and help rescue someone.

• Ren Yingying told Ji Shu that Shaolin Temple suspected him of destroying the Mount Song Sect and killing Master Fangzheng, and that he had reached the top of its Must-Kill Ranking List.
• Ren Yingying offered Ji Shu supplies and protection for Mount Hua in exchange for cooperation, and he asked her to prove her sincerity with gifts.
• Ren Yingying returned at daybreak with two sacks of treasures, including the Zhanlu Sword, medicinal treasures, and the Nine Shadow Spiral Lightness Skill from the Nine Yin Manual.
• Ren Yingying asked Ji Shu to work with Uncle Xiang at West Lake Plum Manor to rescue a prisoner, promising more Nine Yin Manual techniques and another treasure.
• Ji Shu agreed to leave for West Lake Plum Manor after breakfast, while Ren Yingying promised to protect Mount Hua and departed.

Ji Shu mastered the Nine Shadow Spiral, warned the Mount Hua Sect that Shaolin might target them, and left Mount Hua. Outside Lin'an, he crippled a burly man who had spat at him and was about to kill him when the chapter ended.

• Ji Shu mastered the Nine Shadow Spiral and generated nine strands of spiral force while Yue Lingshan watched.
• Ji Shu told Yue Lingshan and Yue Buqun that Shaolin suspected him and warned them to stay vigilant.
• Ji Shu left Mount Hua and noticed carrier pigeons carrying reports of his departure.
• Outside Lin'an, Ji Shu encountered a burly man carrying a beautiful girl who silently begged him for help.
• After the burly man spat at him, Ji Shu struck him with a Dart, crippling him, and prepared to finish him off.

Ji Shu freed Qu Feiyan from Tian Boguang, then killed Tian despite his claims that he had reformed. After reaching Lin'an City, Ji Shu tried to part ways with Qu Feiyan, but she stayed close and asked to share a cup of wine with him.

• Ji Shu cut Qu Feiyan free from her bindings, and she identified her captor as Tian Boguang.
• Tian Boguang claimed he had been castrated, reformed, and abducted Qu Feiyan to find a wife for Linghu, but Qu Feiyan rejected his excuses.
• Tian Boguang offered Ji Shu martial arts manuals and lessons in exchange for being spared, but Ji Shu cut his throat and rode away with Qu Feiyan following.
• Ji Shu entered an inn in Lin'an City, where Qu Feiyan served him food and asked to drink wine with him before they parted.

Ji Shu learned the Lone Wanderer Lightness Skill, used it to improve his swordsmanship, and traveled toward West Lake Plum Manor while Qu Feiyan followed him. At the Tea Stall, a mysterious person suddenly took the swords from their table.

• Qu Feiyan shared a meal and wine with Ji Shu, then secretly pursued him after he rode away.
• Ji Shu studied the Lone Wanderer Lightness Skill manual, formed Ethereal Internal Force, and fused the technique with the Nine Shadow Spiral to create a new sword art.
• Ji Shu rested for two days while developing a new internal cultivation method, then discovered Qu Feiyan had paid his inn bill and was still following him.
• Qu Feiyan followed Ji Shu on the road, paid for his meal, and continued accompanying him despite his refusal.
• Ji Shu arrived at the Tea Stall opposite West Lake Plum Manor, where a gust of wind swept away the swords from the table and revealed someone standing nearby.

Ji Shu killed Chen Miaoshou, who had attacked him with three swords using the Sword Control Technique, and wondered whether the man had been a Player. After leaving the tea stall with Qu Feiyan, Ji Shu encountered an armed martial-world group that accused him of atrocities and demanded his surrender.

• Chen Miaoshou introduced himself as Ji Shu’s assassin and attacked by sending three swords at him.
• Ji Shu dodged Chen Miaoshou’s sword strikes, seized the flying swords, and killed him by severing his neck.
• Qu Feiyan reassured herself that Ji Shu was unharmed and resolved to stay by her benefactor’s side.
• Qu Feiyan searched Chen Miaoshou’s body and found a Player Kill List bearing Ji Shu’s name at the top, prompting Ji Shu to suspect Chen had been a Player.
• Ji Shu and Qu Feiyan left the tea stall and met an armed group led by an old Shaolin monk, who accused Ji Shu of slaughtering the Mount Song Sect and Shaolin figures and demanded that he surrender.

Ji Shu defeated Master Kongji and slaughtered the alliance of more than two hundred righteous martial artists. He then pursued Yu Jizi, who had fled when the Shaolin staff formation fell.

• Ji Shu protected Qu Feiyan from Master Kongji’s Lion’s Roar and killed a pursuer with a dart.
• Ji Shu severed two of Master Kongji’s fingers with the Righteous Qi Sword and fought the assembled martial artists.
• Ji Shu broke through the Shaolin staff formation and killed its monks.
• Master Kongji unleashed a mutually destructive technique, but Ji Shu blocked his attacks and beheaded him.
• Ji Shu slaughtered the alliance of more than two hundred martial artists and pursued the fleeing Yu Jizi.

Ji Shu killed the fleeing Yu Jizi and took the Mount Tai Sect leader’s Supreme Sensing Art, then set out for West Lake Plum Manor with Qu Feiyan. Along the way, he mastered numerous weapon skills, while the Righteous Qi Sword grew more powerful and Qu Feiyan wondered if he was an immortal.

• Ji Shu caught Yu Jizi fleeing, killed him with a dart, and found the Supreme Sensing Art hidden beneath his robe.
• Ji Shu studied the manual and realized it could strengthen his mental power, then returned to Qu Feiyan, who had gathered manuals and valuables from the battlefield.
• Ji Shu and Qu Feiyan packed their spoils and headed west toward West Lake Plum Manor.
• As they traveled, Ji Shu mastered many spear, saber, staff, and halberd techniques, exhausting his Treasure Medicines and further refining the Righteous Qi Sword.
• Qu Feiyan watched Ji Shu master skills with astonishing speed and asked whether he was an immortal.

Ji Shu and Qu Feiyan met Xiang Wentian, who asked Ji Shu to help rescue an old friend imprisoned beneath West Lake Plum Manor. After Qu Feiyan warned Ji Shu that Xiang Wentian was ruthless and might have hidden motives, the group went to scout the manor that night.

• Qu Feiyan teased Ji Shu about being an immortal and praised his strength after he defeated the Shaolin monks.
• Xiang Wentian introduced himself as the Sun Moon Holy Cult’s Left Emissary of Light and reminded Ji Shu of his agreement with Ren Yingying.
• Xiang Wentian asked Ji Shu to help rescue an old friend from West Lake Prison and explained why they needed to search the manor carefully.
• Qu Feiyan warned Ji Shu that Xiang Wentian was cruel, losing influence in the cult, and might be pursuing an ulterior motive.
• Ji Shu agreed to scout West Lake Plum Manor with Xiang Wentian, who knocked at its entrance and was told that it did not receive outside guests.

Xiang Wentian brought Ji Shu and Qu Feiyan into West Lake Plum Manor by claiming to represent a surviving branch of the Mount Song Sect and demanding an audience with all four manor lords. After gathering the Four Friends of Jiangnan, he revealed that they had come to capture them, and Ji Shu faced Ding Jian’s attack.

• Xiang Wentian claimed to be Tong Huajin, a surviving Mount Song disciple, and warned Ding Jian that Ji Shu threatened West Lake Plum Manor.
• Ding Jian escorted Xiang Wentian, Ji Shu, and Qu Feiyan inside, where they met Dan Qingsheng and Heibaizi.
• Xiang Wentian insisted that all four manor lords hear his important news, and Dan Qingsheng led the group to Huang Zhonggong and Tu Biweng.
• Xiang Wentian announced that his group had come to capture the Four Friends of Jiangnan.
• Ding Jian drew his sword and attacked Xiang Wentian, who retreated behind Ji Shu and told him to handle the fight.

Ji Shu defeated the Four Friends of Jiangnan in succession, while Xiang Wentian tried to use the fight to force them into submission. When Xiang Wentian attacked Dan Qingsheng, Ji Shu intervened and exposed Xiang Wentian by name.

• Ji Shu disarmed Ding Jian with the Mount Song Sword Style and warned the group to surrender.
• Dan Qingsheng challenged Ji Shu but was swiftly disarmed and held at swordpoint.
• Heibaizi attacked Ji Shu with a chess piece, but Ji Shu returned it and grievously wounded him.
• Ji Shu defeated Tu Biweng, knocking out several of his teeth, then approached Huang Zhonggong.
• Xiang Wentian attacked the injured Dan Qingsheng, but Ji Shu blocked his palm with a sword and confronted him by name.

Ji Shu drove Xiang Wentian away after rejecting his schemes, then demanded that Huang Zhonggong and the others reveal where Ren Woxing was imprisoned. Huang Zhonggong refused, warning that releasing Ren Woxing would bring chaos and expose the Four Friends of Jiangnan to Dongfang Bubai's wrath.

• Ji Shu revealed Xiang Wentian's identity, and Huang Zhonggong and the others recognized Ji Shu as the powerful swordsman who had destroyed the Mount Song Sect.
• Ji Shu rebuked Xiang Wentian and ordered him to leave, and Xiang Wentian departed while threatening to damage Ji Shu's reputation if he failed.
• Qu Feiyan speculated about Xiang Wentian's motives, and Ji Shu considered whether Xiang Wentian hoped to weaken him or bind him to Ren Woxing's plans.
• Ji Shu announced that he intended to free Ren Woxing and demanded the location of his imprisonment.
• Huang Zhonggong refused to reveal the location, arguing that Ren Woxing was dangerous and that Dongfang Bubai would punish the Four Friends of Jiangnan if Ren escaped.

Ji Shu persuaded the Four Friends of Jiangnan to follow him as Personal Attendants, then spent several days studying Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting at West Lake Plum Manor. After impressing them with his mastery, he gained their trust and approval, and they agreed to take him to see Ren Woxing.

• Ji Shu offered Huang Zhonggong and the others protection as his Personal Attendants, and Dan Qingsheng and Tu Biweng agreed to follow him.
• Huang Zhonggong agreed to follow Ji Shu and asked whether Ji Shu still intended to rescue Ren Woxing, whom Ji Shu had promised Ren Yingying to save.
• Ji Shu spent the night discussing the Sun Moon Holy Cult and other sects with the Four Friends while Qu Feiyan served him tea.
• Ji Shu studied the manor’s books and mastered Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting within a few days, astonishing Huang Zhonggong and the others with his skill.
• The Four Friends’ admiration and loyalty toward Ji Shu grew, and they led him to Huang Zhonggong’s bedroom to see Ren Woxing.