Chapter Summaries

After returning from Bomi, Xu Yue used an enhanced pill and a modified Demonic Seed to turn Life-Taking Yaksha into a controlled servant. He renamed him Ah Da and gave him a powerful demonic art, leaving Ah Da to reshape his foundation under Xu Yue’s control.

• Xu Yue returned from Bomi with firsthand information and parted from the caravan after declining Cao Chong’s invitation.
• Xu Yue reflected on the Nine Nethers and considered visiting the Su Nu Immortal Realm to gather information about the Nine Heavens.
• Life-Taking Yaksha appeared and bowed to Xu Yue, who revealed that the enhanced Ice Heart Pill and Demonic Seed had made him controllable.
• Xu Yue renamed Life-Taking Yaksha Ah Da and imparted a quick-training demonic art directly into his mind.
• Ah Da began reshaping his foundation with the demonic art and his accumulated Nine Nether Aura, while remaining completely under Xu Yue’s control.

Meng Qi and Gu Changqing went undercover among Fish Sea’s gathered bandits to find a chance to rescue Meng Qi’s captured junior brother. As Meng Qi planned their next move, he spotted Xu Yue in the city.

• Bandits flocked to Fish Sea after Yuan Mengzhi captured Meng Qi’s junior brother and used him to lure the monk wanted for killing An Guoxie.
• Meng Qi and Gu Changqing disguised themselves as bandits and joined Zhong Yashi’s group.
• Meng Qi decided they needed an escape route and told Gu Changqing to pose as a cunning strategist and seek information from Zhong Yashi.
• Meng Qi spotted Xu Yue on the street outside and realized he had come to Fish Sea as well.

Meng Qi and Gu Changqing prepared to rescue their captured junior brother in Fish Sea, where numerous horse bandits and two Nine Apertures experts made escape difficult. Xu Yue joined them, and after Gu Changqing secured a contact to arrange a retreat route, Meng Qi planned to exploit Yuan Mengzhi’s upcoming feast for the bandits.

• Meng Qi told Gu Changqing that Xu Yue, his stronger Shaolin lay disciple junior brother, had arrived in Fish Sea and could help with the rescue.
• Xu Yue appeared at the window, declared they would seize their target by force, and told Gu Changqing to obtain Zhong Yashi’s local contacts.
• Gu Changqing received Zhong Yashi’s token and learned that Xie Jiugui could help arrange a retreat route.
• Meng Qi explained that Xu Yue was following them from the shadows and said Yuan Mengzhi would soon invite Fish Sea’s horse bandits to a feast.
• Meng Qi proposed using the gathering of bandits and powerful outlaws to create an opportunity for their operation.

Xu Yue used his Shaolin identity to challenge Fish Sea City Lord Bai Bazheng at Yuan Mengzhi’s banquet, forcing Meng Qi to abandon his quieter plan. Bai Bazheng accepted the challenge and prepared to fight, while Meng Qi and Gu Changqing watched from the crowd.

• Xu Yue and Meng Qi suspected Xie Jiugui and Qu Jiuniang belonged to a large Reincarnator organization, and Xu Yue said he would find another way into Yuan Mengzhi’s banquet.
• Meng Qi and Gu Changqing learned of the banquet and entered it, intending to rescue Zhen Hui.
• Xu Yue dramatically announced himself as a Shaolin lay disciple and challenged Bai Bazheng in front of the assembled bandits.
• Meng Qi signaled Gu Changqing to withdraw from danger, and Gu Changqing moved to the edge of the banquet to watch.
• Bai Bazheng accepted Xu Yue’s challenge and took up his sharp weapon, intending to defend his authority while observing Martial World Rules.

Meng Qi ambushed and mortally wounded Yuan Mengzhi, then fought off a swarm of bandits while Xu Yue waited for him to draw their attention. When Xu Yue finally entered the battle, his Aerial Sword Qi tore through the clustered attackers.

• Meng Qi charged Yuan Mengzhi and used a sword feint to create an opening for a saber strike that severed half of Yuan Mengzhi’s neck.
• Yuan Mengzhi’s bandits rushed Meng Qi, who smashed the Baisu Qingfeng bottle and relied on Hardening Kung Fu to withstand their attacks.
• Xu Yue watched Meng Qi’s fight from the pavilion roof while eating watermelon, prompting Meng Qi to curse at him for delaying.
• Several bandit leaders charged Xu Yue, who descended from the pavilion and unleashed Aerial Sword Qi, killing and maiming the attackers.

After Xu Yue and Meng Qi escaped the horse bandits and boarded a boat across Fish Sea, Ninth Lady appeared through a strange fog and invited them to join her organization as probationary members. Xu Yue immediately accepted, but Ninth Lady gave them talismans to consider the offer, and they continued their journey with the invitation unresolved.

• Xu Yue cleared the remaining horse bandits with a sweeping burst of sword qi, then left with Meng Qi and Zhen Hui.
• Meng Qi, Xu Yue, and Gu Changqing met Xie Jiugui at Lao Cao Hotel, where Xie arranged a boat to carry them across Fish Sea.
• While Meng Qi and Xu Yue recovered aboard the boat, a strange fog separated them from Gu Changqing and Zhen Hui.
• Ninth Lady offered Xu Yue and Meng Qi probationary membership in her organization, and Xu Yue agreed before she could finish explaining.
• Ninth Lady gave them talismans to consider the offer, and Xu Yue later told Meng Qi he had recognized her by her figure beneath her loose robes.

Xu Yue, Meng Qi, and Gu Changqing left the horse bandits behind, while Xu Yue warned Gu Changqing that his chivalry could endanger his family. The reappearance of Life-Taking Yaksha in Fish Sea City shifted the balance of power in the Vast Desert, though Xu Yue expected mutual restraint rather than an immediate assault on Evil Ridge.

• Meng Qi persuaded Xu Yue to put away his talisman and leave before the horse bandits could track them down.
• Xu Yue warned Gu Changqing that acting chivalrously without enough strength could bring disaster upon Gu Family Fort, but Gu Changqing said the fort had a powerful backer.
• A booming voice announced that Life-Taking Yaksha had returned and claimed Fish Sea City as his territory.
• Gu Changqing explained that Life-Taking Yaksha had once offended Ze Luoju and Shen Du Liao, and guessed that he had grown powerful enough to reemerge.
• Xu Yue reasoned that Life-Taking Yaksha would likely restrain Ze Luoju and the other horse bandit chiefs rather than immediately attack Evil Ridge.

Xu Yue's group took shelter from a sandstorm in Hong Neng's temple, where they encountered Zhen Guan and the heir to the Demon Saint. The chapter ended with Xu Yue approaching Qingqiu and asking her personal questions.

• Xu Yue's group followed a flickering light through the sandstorm and entered Hong Neng's temple for shelter.
• Xu Yue recognized the temple as one built by Hong Neng, a Lanke Temple disciple who had vowed to build forty-nine shelters for travelers.
• Xu Yue greeted Zhen Guan, who had become a half-demon and was avenging his family by killing the bandits who had murdered them.
• Xu Yue identified the young woman Qingqiu as the heir to the Demon Saint and suspected that her meeting with Meng Qi might involve a Mandate of Heaven.
• Xu Yue approached Qingqiu and asked her name, age, and whether she was married, leaving her staring at him in surprise.

Xu Yue, Meng Qi, and their companions were caught between Qingqiu’s order to kill Ananda’s saber-art successor and the approaching Sky Sea Source. As Hong Neng protected them with Near Yet Far, they entered the grotto-heaven and faced fox demons’ enchantments.

• Wen Bo attacked Xu Yue after Xu Yue challenged Qingqiu’s party, but Hong Neng shielded everyone with Near Yet Far.
• Xu Yue questioned Hong Neng’s objection to Zhen Guan’s revenge, and Gu Changqing condemned You Huanduo’s crimes.
• Qingqiu learned that Meng Qi practiced Ananda’s Precept-Breaking Saber Art and attacked him under the Demon Saint’s Edict, but Hong Neng blocked her again.
• Qingqiu and Wen Bo left, and Hong Neng hurried the group away as Sky Sea Source began enveloping them.
• Fox demons used enchantments to disrupt the group inside Sky Sea Source, but Xu Yue remained unaffected while Meng Qi struggled to suppress himself and steady Gu Changqing.

After leaving Sky Sea Source, Meng Qi and his companions learned that Gu Family Fort had surrendered Gu Changqing’s family to Evil Ridge, and they set out to take revenge. At Evil Ridge, Evil Scholar confidently planned to use the family’s fate to intimidate others, unaware that the group was coming.

• Meng Qi, Xu Yue, and their companions left Sky Sea Source after a day inside, which had equaled a month in the outside world, and Hong Neng guided them to Tanhan Oasis.
• At an inn, Gu Changqing learned that Gu Family Fort had handed his relatives over to Evil Ridge, and Xu Yue urged the group to attack while Evil Ridge’s strongest bandits were away.
• Gu Changqing agreed to go to Evil Ridge with Meng Qi and the others to avenge his family.
• At Evil Ridge, Evil Scholar ordered the bandits to spread the story of Gu Changqing’s family to deter anyone from opposing them.
• Evil Scholar explained that he had written to Life-Taking Yaksha to have the captives killed and believed the Yaksha would comply rather than risk a conflict.

Xu Yue abandoned Meng Qi’s cautious plan and openly challenged the Evil Scholar, prompting Meng Qi to lead a charge through the bandits at Evil Ridge. As the horse bandits recognized Meng Qi and gave him a new insulting nickname, they scattered in fear of Xu Yue’s overwhelming sword energy.

• Zhen Hui worried that Evil Ridge still held many horse bandits, and Xu Yue reassured him that they could kill the ringleader by infiltrating the camp.
• Xu Yue loudly called out the Evil Scholar, alerting the bandits and drawing torches and curses from across the mountain.
• Xu Yue pointed Meng Qi toward the enemy, and Meng Qi charged ahead with sword and saber, cutting down the horse bandits who met him.
• The bandits recognized Meng Qi as the Muscular Evil Monk and fled, fearing that Xu Yue would unleash his battlefield-clearing sword Qi.

Xu Yue and Meng Qi attacked Evil Ridge, killed its mounted bandit leaders, and captured Evil Scholar. They left Evil Scholar to Gu Changqing, who began taking revenge for his family, while Xu Yue headed deeper into Evil Ridge to loot it.

• Evil Scholar fled with three mounted bandit leaders when he learned that Xu Yue and Meng Qi had come to kill them.
• Meng Qi used Severing Purity to kill a Seven Apertures bandit and captured Evil Scholar while Xu Yue’s sword qi killed another bandit and crippled the Eight Apertures leader.
• Xu Yue told Meng Qi to leave Evil Scholar to Gu Changqing, then went deeper into Evil Ridge to collect spoils.
• Meng Qi crippled Evil Scholar’s dantian and handed him over to Gu Changqing, who began torturing him for his family’s suffering.
• Zhen Hui objected to Gu Changqing’s vengeance, but Meng Qi told him to let Gu Changqing vent.

After the group looted Evil Ridge, Xu Yue’s revelations about Gu Changqing’s family repeatedly shook him between despair and hope. Xuan Bei arrived and confirmed that Gu Changqing’s family was alive and safe, while Meng Qi reunited with his master and explained his recent adventures.

• Xu Yue, Meng Qi, and Zhen Hui looted Evil Ridge, rescued the abducted women, and joined Gu Changqing after his revenge.
• Xu Yue told Gu Changqing that his parents might still be alive, then warned that the Life-Taking Yaksha might have killed them after all.
• Xu Yue argued that Shaolin’s presence in the Vast Desert made it likely the Life-Taking Yaksha would surrender Gu Changqing’s family, and Meng Qi set out for Fish Sea.
• Xuan Bei found the group, and Meng Qi told him about encountering Gu Xiaosang and traveling to the Demon Tomb while showing him the Thunder Mark.
• Xuan Bei revealed that he had recovered Gu Changqing’s family from the Fish Sea City Lord and settled them in Liusha Town, causing Gu Changqing to faint.

Xuan Bei guided the group back toward Shaolin, while Xu Yue arranged for evidence of Gu Changqing’s torture to reach the Discipline Hall. Wu Jing expelled Meng Qi from Shaolin and ordered Xu Yue to escort him somewhere safe, leaving Meng Qi facing danger outside the mountain gate.

• Xuan Bei settled most of the rescued women in Fish Sea City and taught the disciples as they traveled toward Liusha Town.
• Xuan Bei advised Xu Yue about his future, his blood feud, and the responsibilities that came with his Shaolin skills.
• After Gu Changqing moved his family toward the Central Plains, Xu Yue secretly sent Wu Jing footage of the torture on Evil Ridge.
• Wu Jing punished Xuan Bei and Zhen Hui with periods of facing the wall and expelled Meng Qi, ordering him to swear not to pass on the Yi Jin Jing.
• Wu Jing assigned Xu Yue to escort Meng Qi to safety, and Meng Qi accepted the decision.

Xuan Bei sent Meng Qi away with Xu Yue after appearing to cripple Meng Qi’s martial arts, then confessed that he had secretly protected him because Meng Qi was his nephew. As Xu Yue and Meng Qi traveled together, Meng Qi’s cultivation returned on its own, and Xu Yue suggested investigating the Su Family and checking the next Human Ranking.

• Xuan Bei gave Xu Yue a Shaolin token and sent him to escort the seemingly crippled Meng Qi away from Liusha Town.
• After Xu Yue and Meng Qi left, Xuan Bei confessed to Kong Jian and Wu Jing that he had not crippled Meng Qi and revealed Meng Qi was the son of his younger sister and a member of the Su Family.
• Xu Yue offered to bring Meng Qi into the reincarnation organization, but Meng Qi chose to wait until he regained some value and spent time reflecting instead.
• Xu Yue and Meng Qi traveled through the martial world, sharing meals and scenery as Meng Qi gained new insights into his martial arts.
• When Meng Qi tried to cultivate again on a riverboat, he discovered that his cultivation had returned by itself.
• Xu Yue suspected Xuan Bei was connected to Meng Qi’s original family and suggested investigating the Su Family and visiting a nearby city to see the next Human Ranking.

Xu Yue and Meng Qi visited Six Doors in Qinshan City to see the newly posted rankings, where Xu Yue made the Human Ranking’s top ten and Meng Qi discovered his own embarrassing epithets. The chapter left Meng Qi despairing over the official labels and his unflattering portrait.

• Xu Yue and Meng Qi arrived in Qinshan City on the day Six Doors posted the latest rankings.
• Meng Qi pushed through the crowd to read the lists and saw Xuan Bei’s improved Earth Ranking position.
• The Human Ranking placed Xu Yue tenth, citing his Four Apertures cultivation, formidable sword energy, and victories over powerful opponents.
• Meng Qi found Jiang Zhiwei ranked fifteenth and himself ranked thirty-third as the “Muscular Ascetic” and “Reckless Vajra.”
• Xu Yue teased Meng Qi that Six Doors had softened the bandits’ “Muscular Evil Monk” epithet, while Meng Qi sank into despair over his portrait.

Meng Qi and Xu Yue traveled to Zengxian Gate for its birthday feast and a contest with Qinshan Sword Sect, while Meng Qi endured being associated with Xu Yue’s fame and the nickname “Muscular Ascetic.” When Zengxian Gate’s champion Hua Lun failed to appear, Qinshan Sword Sect postponed the match, and Zhang Zhifan insulted the local sect.

• Meng Qi and Xu Yue heard that Zengxian Gate’s birthday celebration would include a contest over a Heavenly Meteorite, so they headed to the feast without revealing their reputations.
• On the road, martial artists repeatedly discussed Xu Yue’s Human Ranking placement and mentioned Meng Qi as the “Muscular Ascetic,” prompting Meng Qi to hurry ahead.
• Meng Qi criticized the food at Zengxian Gate’s flowing feast while the guests around him looked at him strangely.
• Hua Tiange appeared looking haggard, and Qinshan Sword Sect arrived to challenge Zengxian Gate, but Hua Lun was unexpectedly absent.
• Huang Yun proposed rescheduling the contest for three days later, and Zhang Zhifan accused Zengxian Gate of fearing defeat and mocked the region as a backwater.

Xu Yue killed the masked Luo Cult thief who stole the Heavenly Meteorite, foiling a plot to frame the Zengxian Gate. His dramatic intervention revealed his identity, and Meng Qi was recognized as the Human Ranking prodigy “Muscular Ascetic” when his wig fell off.

• Zhang Zhifan mocked the Zengxian Gate while the chapter revealed that the Qinshan Sword Sect, the Zhang Family Branch, and the Luo Cult had conspired to take the Heavenly Meteorite and frame Hua Tiange’s sect.
• A masked man in black smashed through the rooftop, seized the Heavenly Meteorite, and escaped as Qinshan Sword Sect elders accused Hua Tiange of staging the theft.
• Hua Tiange and Ning Jidao pursued the thief, but Xu Yue raced after him and killed him with a distant sword strike, recovering the genuine Heavenly Meteorite.
• The martial artists recognized Xu Yue as “Sword Immortal Descends,” and Meng Qi realized his own identity might also be exposed.
• Meng Qi was recognized as “Muscular Ascetic” after Xu Yue’s sudden movement sent his wig drifting to the ground.

Xu Yue stopped the Qinshan Sword Sect and Zhang Family Branch from blaming Zengxian Gate for the Heavenly Meteorite’s theft, using his strength to silence their accusations. The gathered martial artists were left wary of him, while Zhang Zhifan realized the gap between himself and Xu Yue was greater than he had thought.

• Xu Yue identified the dead black-clad Void Envoy as a member of the Luo Cult, alarming the gathered sect leaders and martial artists.
• Ning Jidao and the Qinshan Sword Sect’s representatives accused Hua Tiange and Zengxian Gate of colluding with the Luo Cult and losing the Heavenly Meteorite.
• Xu Yue urged the crowd to keep the peace, then slapped Ning Jidao when he continued to argue.
• A Qinshan Sword Sect elder accused Xu Yue of coveting the Heavenly Meteorite, and Zhang Zhifan began to speak on behalf of the Zhang Family.
• Xu Yue stopped Zhang Zhifan with a glance carrying Sword Intent, leaving him shocked by Xu Yue’s power.

Xu Yue exposed Ning Jidao’s alleged collusion with the Demon Cult and forced him to choose between facing a grandmaster’s inquiry and confessing. Ning Jidao killed himself, while Meng Qi came to recognize Xu Yue’s genuine chivalry.

• Xu Yue explained how the Demon Cult thief had coordinated with Ning Jidao’s group and challenged their accusation against Zengxian Gate.
• Xu Yue broke Ning Jidao’s legs and threatened to cripple his martial arts and take him and Zhang Zhifan to the True Martial Sect for interrogation.
• Xu Yue asked Zhang Zhifan to serve as a witness, and Zhang Zhifan backed Xu Yue while warning Ning Jidao with a murderous look.
• Ning Jidao admitted fault, claimed sole responsibility, and killed himself by severing his meridians.
• Meng Qi watched Xu Yue’s actions and decided that, despite his flaws, Xu Yue deserved to be called chivalrous.