Chapter Summaries

Mad Monk Kong Yu fled with his men toward the garrison fortress, but a powerful black-clad fighter ambushed them and nearly killed him. Kong Ding intervened and fought the fighter while Kong Yu escaped, only to be intercepted in the forest by another masked figure.

• Mad Monk Kong Yu led Golden Wing Tower fighters toward the garrison fortress, deciding it was safer than Sea Gazing Temple and hoping to mobilize troops against the threats in Citong.
• A group of black-clad fighters confronted Kong Yu’s party, and their leader overwhelmed Kong Yu with a series of powerful attacks.
• Kong Ding arrived and stopped the black-clad leader from killing Kong Yu, then urged Kong Yu to flee while he held the enemy back.
• Kong Ding and the black-clad fighter exchanged blows, and Kong Ding struggled to reach the distant Kong Yu as the fighter blocked his path.
• Kong Yu fled into the mountain forest, where a burly figure wearing a Black Mask intercepted him.

Zhang Rongfang killed Mad Demon Kong Yu, then fought the Western Sect Grandmaster Jin Yuan and was forced to flee after their clash. Jin Yuan and Kong Ding discovered that Kong Yu was gone, leaving their ambush in disarray.

• Kong Yu attacked Zhang Rongfang with Heart Like Bodhi, but Zuo intervened and struck Kong Yu through the chest, killing him.
• Jin Yuan dove at Zhang Rongfang, who evaded the attack and recognized the Western Sect's trap involving Kong Ding and two Grandmasters.
• Zhang Rongfang and Jin Yuan exchanged powerful blows, and Jin Yuan proved stronger than Zhang Rongfang's three Limit States and Tenfold Heavy Mountain.
• Zhang Rongfang fled into the mountain forest after the clash, while Jin Yuan was left shocked that Zhang Rongfang had forced him back.
• Kong Ding arrived and asked where Zhang Rongfang had gone; Jin Yuan said he had fled, and the two realized Kong Yu had disappeared.

After recovering from his clash with a Western Sect Grandmaster, Zhang Rongfang tested his growing strength and considered how to prepare for the threats ahead. At Sea Gazing Temple, Jin Yuan and Kong Ding received news from Kong Wu that something they sought had been found, while a mysterious messenger reported success to the occupant of a sedan chair.

• Zhang Rongfang told Zuo Han that a Western Sect Grandmaster had injured him, and they agreed to lie low after their plan failed; Zhang then killed Kong Yu with a palm strike.
• The next morning, Zhang Rongfang tested his strength with a Two Thousand Jin Iron Lock and concluded that he still needed more material to complete his Second Talent.
• Zhang Rongfang reasoned that Worship God martial artists must face restrictions, resolved to investigate the Blood God Statue, and considered Sea Gazing Temple as a source of material.
• At Sea Gazing Temple, Jin Yuan wanted to leave, but Kong Ding urged him to stay together; a flying dagger delivered a letter from Kong Wu, and both men rejoiced that their target had been found.
• A nimble figure reported to the occupant of an ash-gray sedan chair that the task was done and the figure's trail had not been discovered.

Zhang Rongfang learned that a mysterious sedan chair was heading out to sea, possibly to uncover White Island, and prepared for a potential attack. He then tested prisoners from Thousand Stone Sect, killed a woman whose flesh increased his Blood Flesh Completion, and turned his attention toward the Western Sect for more suitable targets.

• A mysterious passenger sent Sun Yong and four bearers toward an outskirts dock, while a hat mender watched them leave.
• Zhang Zhenhai told Zhang Rongfang that the sedan chair might be pursuing White Island, and he ordered her to track the ship and Sea Gazing Temple.
• Zhang Rongfang went to a cave holding Thousand Stone Sect prisoners and searched them for someone whose flesh could strengthen him.
• Zhang Rongfang released a woman imprisoned for eating newborns, then caught her outside and drained her blood and life.
• Zhang Rongfang's Blood Flesh Completion rose from 56 to 61, and he decided to seek new targets through the Western Sect.

Kong Wu lured his pursuers toward White Island, but Cheng Hui sensed danger and left before the ambush began. Zuo Han led the attack on Kong Wu’s ship, while Zhang Rongfang spotted a second ship carrying Kong Ding and Jin Yuan.

• Kong Wu and Cheng Hui sailed toward White Island, hoping to use the island and its hidden people as leverage against their enemies.
• Cheng Hui grew uneasy and returned toward shore with two Golden Wing Tower experts, while Kong Wu’s scouts reported a fast ship pursuing them.
• Kong Wu’s ship was struck by a firebomb and later began taking on water as small boats converged around it.
• Zuo Han led the Thousand Stone Sect’s assault, boarded the ship, and confronted Kong Wu, who transformed his body for battle.
• Zhang Rongfang watched from a small boat and noticed a second matching sea ship approaching with Kong Ding and Jin Yuan aboard.

Zhang Rongfang joined Zuo Han against Sea Dragon King Kong Wu, then pursued Kong Wu underwater when he fled. As Kong Wu unleashed his Final Form, Zhang Rongfang refused to retreat and met his attack with a tenfold Heavy Mountain strike.

• Zhang Yunqi urged Zhang Rongfang to withdraw as the Rebel Sect and Thousand Stone Sect's ambush turned against them.
• Zhang Rongfang struck Kong Wu with Heavy Mountain, sending him crashing through a mast as Zuo Han joined the attack.
• Kong Wu escaped over the rail into the sea, and Zhang Rongfang followed him into the water.
• Zhang Rongfang and Kong Wu exchanged blows underwater as Zhang Rongfang adapted his attacks and Kong Wu used the currents to defend himself.
• Kong Wu activated Final Form - Tathagata and lunged at Zhang Rongfang, who resisted the urge to dodge and countered with Heavy Mountain Tenfold Consecutive Strike.

Zhang Rongfang defeated Kong Wu, the Sea Dragon King, in an underwater battle, and the victory raised his Blood Flesh Completion to 73 while triggering a strange bodily change. He surfaced to rejoin Zuo Han as the Second Sea Ship approached.

• Zuo Han ordered the Thousand Stone Sect members to withdraw from the deck and sent three skilled swimmers to aid Zhang Rongfang underwater.
• Zhang Rongfang and Kong Wu fought in their transformed states until Kong Wu’s need to surface gave Zhang Rongfang an opening.
• Zhang Rongfang pierced Kong Wu’s back and drained his blood and qi, ending Kong Wu’s Final Form and defeating him.
• Zhang Rongfang’s Blood Flesh Completion rose to 73, and a purple-red tumor formed on his back as his wounds began to heal.
• Zhang Rongfang surfaced and headed toward Zuo Han’s small boat while the three swimmers discovered Kong Wu floating motionless nearby.

After defeating Kong Wu at sea, Zhang Rongfang directed Zuo Han toward the remaining enemy ship, whose leaders chose to retreat rather than risk a costly battle. Meanwhile, Cheng Hui infiltrated Aloeswood Palace to investigate Zhang Rongfang and headed for the Palace Master's Residence.

• Zhang Rongfang told Zuo Han he had defeated Kong Wu and ordered him to deal with the Second Sea Ship.
• Jin Yuan persuaded Kong Ding and the other fighters to turn back, abandoning the battle and planning to leave Citong.
• Cheng Hui disguised himself as an Incense Guest and entered Aloeswood Palace to investigate whether Zhang Ying was a Human Seed.
• Cheng Hui slipped past the guards and moved toward the Palace Master's Residence, where Zhang Rongfang kept his belongings and pills.

Cheng Hui infiltrated Crane Dwelling and stole Zhang Rongfang’s stored documents and Golden Toad Skill pills before escaping under heavy fire. After Zhang Rongfang returned to Aloeswood Palace, Zhang Zhenhai took responsibility for the breach and stabbed herself as punishment.

• Cheng Hui broke into Sincere Heart Residence, smashed the furniture silently, and took the bundles of documents and Medicine Pills hidden inside.
• Cheng Hui fought off a Daoist, evaded gunfire and crossbow bolts, and escaped the Dao Palace with a wound to his waist.
• Zhang Zhenhai told Chen Han that the stolen documents and pills were decoys and that she had secured the real documents and another batch of pills.
• Zhang Zhenhai recognized Cheng Hui’s movement technique as the Golden Roc Secret Record and organized patrols while the experts were away.
• Zhang Rongfang returned to Ci Tong Port, heard Zhang Zhenhai’s account, and accepted that she could not have stopped a Super Grade intruder.
• Zhang Zhenhai insisted on being punished, stabbed herself in the abdomen, and offered Zhang Rongfang the dagger.

Zhang Rongfang treated Zhang Zhenhai's wound and considered her a trusted choice to manage his shadowy alliances. Meanwhile, Cheng Hui infiltrated Aloeswood Palace in disguise and decided to capture Zhang Ying, leaving the two men on the verge of a confrontation.

• Zhang Rongfang stopped Zhang Zhenhai's bleeding and applied medicine, while deciding that her loyalty and martial talent made her his first choice to manage the Rebel Sect and Thousand Stone Sect.
• Cheng Hui examined the papers and pills he had taken, concluded Zhang Ying was likely the Third Human Seed, and chose to infiltrate Aloeswood Palace again despite the danger.
• Cheng Hui disguised himself as an Aloeswood Palace Daoist, knocked out a Greeting Daoist, and blended into the palace before taking the identity of a patrol Daoist.
• Cheng Hui changed into Fu Xiang's maid's uniform and learned that Zhang Ying was practicing inside Endless Yard.
• Cheng Hui decided to seize Zhang Ying directly and walked toward Endless Yard pretending to be an innocent young girl.

Zhang Rongfang trained the Gold Stone Skill before Cheng Hui, disguised as Fu Xiang, attacked him. Zhang Rongfang easily defeated Cheng Hui and learned that the injured Heavenly Maiden Tong Zhang was hiding in Ze Province after reaching the Extreme Realm Grandmaster level.

• Zhang Rongfang reflected on the Gold Stone Skill’s method of hardening the flesh around the body’s openings and sensed his vitality and blood had grown substantially.
• Cheng Hui disguised himself as Fu Xiang and launched a surprise attack on Zhang Rongfang with the Great Silence Palm.
• Zhang Rongfang evaded every strike, exposed Cheng Hui’s escape plan, and smashed him into the ground until Cheng Hui begged him to stop.
• Cheng Hui revealed that Heavenly Maiden Tong Zhang had reached the Extreme Realm Grandmaster level and was recovering from her injuries in Ze Province.
• Cheng Hui said Tong Zhang sought revenge after Chief Seat Yuan Han of the Western Sect’s True Buddha Temple had injured her.

Zhang Rongfang interrogated Cheng Hui about the Worship God powers, the Eastern Sect’s downfall, and the strength of Spirit Generals. After Cheng Hui guessed that Zhang Rongfang was tied to the Eastern Sect, Zhang Rongfang killed him, leaving the secrets he had revealed to weigh on the question of who truly ruled Great Ling.

• Zhang Rongfang took the injured Cheng Hui to the Quiet Room and demanded information about the Eastern Sect’s collapse and Imperial Tutor Damir.
• Cheng Hui said the Ling Emperor had withdrawn support from the Eastern Sect and revealed that Damir’s power had depended on the divine weapon Emperor Earth, a set of arm gauntlets.
• Cheng Hui described Spirit Generals as forces beyond Great Grandmasters and speculated that Damir had died in a failed challenge to divine authority.
• Cheng Hui told Zhang Rongfang about an unknown Daoist Great Grandmaster who had defeated two opponents thirty years earlier, and speculated that Worship God followers’ numbers were tied to their Gods and Buddhas’ strength.
• Zhang Rongfang asked whether Cheng Hui knew his identity, and Cheng Hui identified him as Zhang Ying, the Great Dao Sect’s Dao Child.
• Cheng Hui tried to escape and claimed he had protected Ye Bai and the Heavenly Maiden, but Zhang Rongfang snapped his neck and killed him.

After killing Cheng Hui, Zhang Rongfang prepared to withdraw his people from Citong before the Western Sect retaliated, while continuing to cultivate the Golden Toad Skill. Meanwhile, Yan Shuang, Miao Yu, and Zheng Shuyang suspected that Zhang Ying’s growing health and Thousand Stone Sect’s presence were connected, and considered reporting their suspicions to their sect.

• Zhang Rongfang looted Cheng Hui’s body, gained four points of Blood Flesh Completion, and ordered Daoists to burn the corpse.
• Zhang Rongfang worried that the Western Sect would seek revenge and began arranging for Thousand Stone Sect and Rebel Sect members to leave Citong and scatter into remote places.
• Zhang Rongfang raised his Life Force from 200 to 207, took his Golden Toad Skill medicine, and suffered only brief pain and a two-point loss.
• Yan Shuang, Miao Yu, and Zheng Shuyang discussed Zhang Ying’s improving health and Thousand Stone Sect’s presence in Citong, suspecting that the sect had come for him.
• The three Sensing Gate visitors decided they should alert their sect’s experts and considered contacting Thousand Stone Sect acquaintances to confirm their suspicions.

Zhang Rongfang received an imperial decree praising his success in increasing Citong’s commerce, and General Zhou Yan ordered him to return to Great Capital. He left aboard a royal human palanquin, only to learn that it would take him straight to the imperial palace for an audience with the emperor before he could visit Heavenly Treasure Palace.

• Zhou Yan delivered the Ling Emperor’s secret decree, which praised Zhang Rongfang’s diligent work and Citong’s increased trade revenue.
• Zhang Rongfang learned that a Western Sect monk was expected to replace him as Citong Guardian and agreed to depart within three days.
• Zhou Yan revealed that Zhang Rongfang would travel alone in a heavy metal palanquin carried by four Walkers, while his entourage followed separately.
• Zhang Rongfang said farewell to his companions, entered the palanquin, and set off at great speed toward Great Capital.
• Zhou Yan told Zhang Rongfang that the Walkers would take him directly to Great Capital Palace for an audience with the emperor before he could return to Heavenly Treasure Palace.

Zhang Rongfang traveled to the Great Capital in a black palanquin and learned more about Snow Rainbow Pavilion from Zhou Yan. After reaching the Imperial Palace, he entered Word Dao Palace, changed clothes, and went to Esteem Virtue Hall to await the Ling Emperor’s summons.

• Zhang Rongfang rode through the mountains while Zhou Yan explained the ranks of Snow Rainbow Pavilion and offered him a chance to choose a partner.
• Zhang Rongfang spent five days traveling with Zhou Yan before the black palanquin entered the Great Capital and passed into the Imperial Palace.
• Zhou Yan told Zhang Rongfang about the palace recreation district and explained that he would be taken to Word Dao Palace to prepare for the Ling Emperor’s summons.
• Zhang Rongfang met Imperial Guard Lin Zhao at Word Dao Palace and parted from Zhou Yan.
• Zhang Rongfang bathed, changed clothes, and went to Esteem Virtue Hall to await the summons.

Zhang Rongfang met the Ling Emperor, who praised his work in Ci Tong Port and appointed him Magistrate of Candlelight Port in Ze Province. Yue Dewen intervened before Zhang Rongfang could accept a dangerous Spirit Flight Feather Talisman, then revealed that a Grandmaster Uncle wanted to meet him in Ze Province.

• Zhang Rongfang entered Esteem Virtue Hall and paid respects to the Ling Emperor, who commended his achievements in Ci Tong Port.
• The Ling Emperor appointed Zhang Rongfang Magistrate of Candlelight Port in Ze Province and offered him a Flying Spirit Feather Talisman.
• Zhang Rongfang sensed danger from the talisman and reached for it, but Yue Dewen appeared and snatched it away.
• Yue Dewen explained that accepting the talisman could turn Zhang Rongfang into the Spirit Flight Teaching's Holy Spirit and compromise his freedom and cultivation.
• Yue Dewen told Zhang Rongfang that a Grandmaster Uncle wanted to meet him in Ze Province, and Zhang Rongfang was surprised.

Zhang Rongfang learned that Ze Province was the Great Dao Sect’s true base and that its Grandmaster Uncle and Startling Goose Daoist could pose dangers. After receiving an imperial decree, he prepared to leave Great Capital for Ze Province, while Zhang Qingzhi stayed behind.

• Yue Dewen told Zhang Rongfang to persuade Zhang Qingzhi to return and joked instead of answering questions about the Flying Spirit Feather Talisman.
• Zhang Rongfang found Zhang Qingzhi drunk and helped him sober up, then asked him about Ze Province and their Grandmaster Uncle.
• Zhang Qingzhi warned Zhang Rongfang that Ze Province held much of the Great Dao Sect’s strength and advised him to avoid getting involved with the Grandmaster Uncle’s side and to beware of Startling Goose Daoist.
• Zhang Qingzhi admitted that he had caught Xiao He with three other people, but then said he believed she still loved him and would give her another chance.
• A Fire Messenger delivered an imperial decree ordering Zhang Rongfang to prepare to take up his post in Ze Province within half a month.
• Zhang Rongfang packed supplies, left messages for Zhang Yunqi and the others, and set out for Ze Province with a Heavenly Treasure Palace convoy.

Zhang Rongfang traveled secretly toward Ze Province with Ding Zhong while learning that Yue Dewen had engineered a conflict between True One Sect and the Western Sect. The chapter left Zhang Rongfang horrified to discover that Jade Void Palace planned to eliminate the weakened factions and let the Great Dao Sect dominate Great Ling.

• Zhang Rongfang left the Great Capital for Ze Province in disguise with Ding Zhong, while a stand-in led the public convoy.
• At True Buddha Temple, the Chief Seat learned that several experts and the Golden Wing Tower Master had vanished in Citong, blamed Yue Dewen, and ordered Kong Ming to challenge the Daozi and Zhang Ying to return for questioning.
• Zhang Rongfang and Ding Zhong reached Ning Mountain Town and arranged to wait for a boat across the Yuan River.
• Zhang Rongfang pressed Ding Zhong about Yue Dewen's haste, and Ding Zhong revealed that True One Sect and the Western Sect had each lost a top figure and had fought for over a year.
• Ding Zhong explained that Jade Void Palace was preparing to wipe out the wounded remnants of both factions, leaving Zhang Rongfang shocked by Yue Dewen's plan.

After returning to Great Capital, Zhang Rongfang learned that his achievements in Citong had raised the Grand Master’s expectations, then resolved to travel to Ze Province and build a safe base of his own. At an inn, Western Sect monks led by Kong Ming harassed a woman from the Kuning Sect, and Ding Zhong intervened by claiming to be Zhen Xu of the True One Sect.

• Ding Zhong told Zhang Rongfang that the Grand Master praised him as his only disciple and hoped he would make good use of himself in Ze Province.
• Zhang Rongfang considered the threats he had sensed in Great Capital and decided to lie low in Ze Province, grow stronger, and establish a headquarters independent of Heavenly Treasure Palace.
• Kong Ming and his monks entered the inn and ordered Warriors from the Kuning Sect to give up their table.
• Kong Ming threatened the Kuning Sect, knocked down two of its young men, and tried to seize one of its women.
• Ding Zhong deflected Kong Ming’s hand and challenged the monks’ conduct, then revealed a token and identified himself as Zhen Xu of the True One Sect.

Ding Zhong’s cover was exposed when Kong Ming and Prince Yan Yan Xi confronted him at the dock, forcing him to fight while Zhang Rongfang fled. As Kong Ming cornered Zhang Rongfang in the woods, Ding Rui arrived and intervened with a Wish Wheel.

• After the inn incident, Ding Zhong investigated and warned Zhang Rongfang that they might be watched, but insisted they travel onward to Ze Province.
• Kong Ming and the monks arrived at the dock with Prince Yan Yan Xi, who recognized Ding Zhong and challenged him to fight.
• Ding Zhong hurled Zhang Rongfang away from the boat and held off Yan Xi, while Kong Ming and two monks pursued Zhang Rongfang into the woods.
• Zhang Rongfang welcomed the chance to be alone and prepared to face the pursuers, but a Wish Wheel struck Kong Ming and disrupted the attack.
• Ding Rui appeared before Zhang Rongfang and declared that he could not stand by while three martial artists bullied a civilian practitioner.