Chapter Summaries

Zhang Rongfang executed three batches of Rebel Alliance prisoners at Wild Goose Pagoda while Shang Dingye watched for signs of sympathy. After the executions ended without Master or his companions among the prisoners, Zhang Rongfang left disgusted with Shang Dingye.

• Zhang Rongfang executed the first batch of Rebel Alliance captives, who faced death without fear or pleas for mercy.
• Shang Dingye introduced the merchant-alliance prisoners and watched Zhang Rongfang for an emotional reaction.
• Zhang Rongfang beheaded a young boy who calmly asked him to make the execution quick, then killed the rest of the second batch.
• Shangguan Feihe argued with a white-haired prisoner about Ling Ting's oppression and the Rebel Alliance before Zhang Rongfang executed the third batch.
• Shang Dingye ordered three additional captives executed, and Zhang Rongfang confirmed none were Master or his companions.
• Zhang Rongfang completed the executions, gave Shang Dingye a hard look, and left after the suppression operation concluded.

On his twenty-second birthday, Zhang Rongfang resolved to kill Shang Dingye and investigate the mysterious Rebel Alliance. After contacting his advancing Thousand Stone Sect forces, he discovered a spy tailing him and killed him, then prepared for Shang Dingye’s arrival.

• Zhang Rongfang learned that the Shangguan, Xiao, Ding, and Shang families controlled nearly all farmland in Ning An Prefecture, while Man People and laborers were treated as lowly outsiders.
• Zhang Rongfang decided that Shang Dingye had to die and planned to wait for Uncle Zuo before attacking him.
• Zhang Rongfang used a hidden fragrance to contact Thousand Stone Sect’s Bald Eagle, who reported that the Sect Master would arrive in two days after surviving an attack.
• Zhang Rongfang ordered Bald Eagle to investigate the Rebel Alliance, whose purpose and strength remained unknown.
• A Hidden Hand sent by Shang Dingye overheard Zhang Rongfang meeting Bald Eagle and hurried to report that he was colluding with Thousand Stone Sect.
• Zhang Rongfang intercepted and killed the Hidden Hand, then began preparing contingencies in case Shang Dingye hid inside Jade Void Palace.

Zhang Rongfang welcomed Zuo Han and the returning Thousand Stone Sect and Rebel Sect members to Qingchuan Prefecture, then recruited Zuo Han to help deal with Shang Dingye. As Shang Dingye investigated people connected to Zhang Rongfang, an unknown attacker killed one of his experts and lured him toward the outskirts.

• Zhang Rongfang greeted Zuo Han and the arriving followers, arranged lodgings and a feast, and welcomed them into Aloeswood Palace.
• Zhang Rongfang told Zuo Han about his conflict with Shang Dingye and proposed framing the Rebel Alliance for Shang Dingye’s death; Zuo Han devised a plan that Zhang Rongfang accepted.
• A woman from the Shang Family told Shang Dingye that his people had located survivors from the previous cleanup operation, including Zhao Yunfei, Qi Xiang, Zhang Xuan, and Xiao Qingying.
• An unknown attacker killed a Ninth Grade expert in the room beside Shang Dingye, then fled; Shang Dingye pursued the attacker out of the city, recognizing the chase as a possible trap but trusting his hidden strength.

Zuo Han confronted Shang Dingye in Red Leaf Forest, but Zhang Rongfang joined the fight and helped break Shang Dingye’s defenses. The two killed Shang Dingye, whose last words were that he regretted it.

• Zuo Han revealed his grudge against Jade Void Palace and attacked Shang Dingye in Red Leaf Forest.
• Shang Dingye activated his Limit State and surrounded the fighters with mist, while Zuo Han activated Stone Guard and then his Vajra Final Form.
• Shang Dingye transformed into his Giant Spirit Final Form, but Zuo Han struck him and disrupted his attempt to stall for reinforcements.
• Zhang Rongfang arrived and attacked Shang Dingye from behind, joining Zuo Han in a two-sided assault.
• Zuo Han broke Shang Dingye’s Absolute Defense Circle, and Zhang Rongfang wounded him with three simultaneous strikes.
• Zuo Han beheaded Shang Dingye, who turned to black ash after saying, “I regret it.”

The Great Dao Sect lost Heavenly Treasure Palace, and Zhang Qingzhi’s disappearance deepened the crisis as Jin Yuyan was detained at Tai Yi Gorge. In Qingchuan, Zhang Rongfang investigated the strange power behind his final attack and began building a secure base while urgently seeking new ways to strengthen himself.

• Lin Qinghong, Fang Zhiyun, and Xie Ling watched True One and Western Sect forces occupy Heavenly Treasure Palace, then learned that Zhang Qingzhi had vanished.
• Jin Yuyan remained at Tai Yi Gorge as Yuan Li and Daoist Chun Rong blocked her from leaving, though the two wondered why she refused to retreat.
• Zhang Rongfang told Zuo Han he would stay in Ze Province, asked about the strange force in his final attack, and planned to establish a secure stronghold.
• Zhang Rongfang and his allies organized Qingchuan’s affairs while searching for resources, refining Grain Avoidance Pills, and seeking people for Blood Flesh Completion.

Zhang Rongfang discovered that tiny amounts of blood from people with special constitutions could raise his Blood Flesh Completion, while the tumor on his back continued to change. After learning of a frail, gifted young woman whose blood carried a powerful aroma, he set out to find her.

• Shang Yinjv and Shang Jinxiu failed to find Shang Dingye and planned to pressure Shangguan Feihe into helping them investigate Zhang Ying.
• Zhang Rongfang tested taking a tiny amount of blood from a pale young gentleman and raised his Blood Flesh Completion from 78 to 80.
• Over half a month, Zhang Rongfang gathered blood from more than ten people with special constitutions, raising Blood Flesh Completion to 85 as his tumor grew larger and flatter.
• Zhang Yunqi reported that the True One Sect had occupied Heavenly Treasure Palace and that Zhang Qingzhi had disappeared, while the Shang Family seemed to be making moves.
• Zhang Yunqi brought Zhang Rongfang a blood sample from a frail young woman at Bright Phoenix Garden, and Zhang Rongfang set out to find her.

Zhang Rongfang visited Ping Residence to investigate Chang Yuqing’s extraordinary talent and discovered that her fresh blood dramatically advanced his Blood Flesh Completion. The chapter ended as he sensed the mysterious tumor on his back crack open.

• Zhang Rongfang arrived at Ping Residence disguised as an ordinary guest and smelled an extraordinary Flesh and Blood Aroma from Chang Yuqing.
• Zhang Rongfang tested Chang Yuqing’s memory and comprehension with a Daoist classic, and she recalled and explained its annotations with exceptional speed and clarity.
• Zhang Rongfang offered to diagnose Chang Yuqing, who gave him several fresh drops of blood from her injured finger.
• Zhang Rongfang drank the diluted blood, and his Blood Flesh Completion rose from eighty-five to ninety-five.
• Zhang Rongfang heard a cracking sound from the tumor on his back and realized it had split open.

A Bronze Ghost Masked Man attacked the True One Sect guards at Heavenly Treasure Palace, while Jin Yuyan faced her returning masked sister and two Spirit Generals at Tai Yi Canyon. Zhang Rongfang discovered that the tumor on his back had become an eighty-one-petaled Blood Lotus woven from blood vessels.

• The Copper Masked Man entered the abandoned Heavenly Treasure Palace and turned the guards and Daoist Tai Chang into silver threads that flowed into his sleeve.
• At Tai Yi Canyon, Jin Yuyan prepared to face True One Chunrong and Western Sect’s Yuan Li, but their reinforcement arrived: a Silver Masked Woman who called Jin Yuyan her elder sister and vowed to kill her.
• Jin Yuyan and the three opponents transformed into giant, silver-armored forms as their confrontation began.
• Zhang Rongfang felt bone-piercing cold spread from the tumor on his back, then left Chang Yuqing after examining her condition.
• Zhang Rongfang used bronze mirrors to inspect his back and saw an eighty-one-petaled Blood Lotus woven from blood vessels beneath his skin.

Shangguan Feihe considered Ming Consort Hengyu’s offer to help him reestablish Heavenly Treasure Palace in exchange for three forms of cooperation. Meanwhile, Zhang Rongfang sought Zuo Han to test the Blood Lotus growing from his back, but learned that Zuo Han had been summoned away and would return in several days.

• Han Xinghe introduced Ming Consort Hengyu to Shangguan Feihe, who heard her proposal to reestablish Heavenly Treasure Palace with him as its leader.
• Hengyu offered Shangguan Feihe a place in the Assembled Sages Institute and support for reclaiming Heavenly Treasure Palace, while asking him to cover the withdrawal of Grandmasters in Ze Province, place her side’s people among his Great Capital personnel, and help investigate Zhang Rongfang.
• Shangguan Feihe weighed the offer, reflecting on his inability to surpass Jin Yuyan, but hesitated over Hengyu’s conditions.
• Zhang Rongfang used a strange fragrance to summon a masked subordinate in a mountain forest and asked where Zuo Han was.
• The subordinate told Zhang Rongfang that the Holy Gate had summoned Zuo Han and that the Sect Master would return in several days.

Zhang Rongfang tested the Blood Lotus State, discovered it transformed him into a powerful four-meter-tall monster, and devised a plan to present the form as a righteous Daoist path to immortality. After returning to Ping Residence, he sensed Flesh and Blood Aroma from Chang Yuqing and announced that he could treat her condition.

• A Thousand Stone Sect Black-Clad Man told Zhang Rongfang that Zuo Han would handle an urgent matter himself, and Zhang Rongfang continued into the mountains alone.
• Zhang Rongfang activated the Blood Lotus and grew into a four-meter-tall form covered in blood-colored armor, then tested its immense strength.
• Zhang Rongfang worried that his transformed appearance would make others mistake him for a villain, so he planned to promote the Blood Lotus as a righteous Daoist path to immortality.
• Zhang Rongfang returned to Aloeswood Manor, changed clothes, and went to Ping Residence to meet Chang Yuqing.
• Zhang Rongfang detected Flesh and Blood Aroma from Chang Yuqing and told her he had found a way to treat her condition.

Zhang Rongfang offered to tailor martial arts for Chang Yuqing and absorbed more of her blood, raising his Blood Flesh Completion to 97 before preparing to investigate whether Lao Yue was alive. In Fuchuan City, Shangguan Feihe remembered his late wife and refused Ming Consort Hengyu's request as the Western Sect prepared to return to the Great Capital.

• Zhang Rongfang told Chang Yuqing that a tailored martial art might strengthen her body, and she asked for time to decide whether to become his disciple.
• Zhang Rongfang gave Chang Yuqing medicinal powder for her slow-healing wound, collected more of her blood, and left to drink it.
• Zhang Rongfang's Blood Flesh Completion rose from 95 to 97, and he planned to prepare for a journey to the Great Capital to check whether Lao Yue was dead.
• Shangguan Feihe visited Horizon Pavilion and remembered his late wife, Wan'er, whose words renewed his resolve.
• Shangguan Feihe told Ming Consort Hengyu that he refused her request.

Shangguan Feihe killed Heng Yu after the Great Dao Sect's victory in the Great Capital unrest became apparent. Zhang Rongfang decoded a hidden message in Zhang Qingzhi's letter and decided to leave his post to investigate his master's fate and pursue the resources needed to advance his cultivation.

• Shangguan Feihe declared Heng Yu his enemy, killed her with a single strike, and watched her body turn to ashes.
• Zhang Rongfang learned that True One and the Western Sect had suffered losses in the Great Capital and that Shangguan Feihe might attack their forces in Ze Province.
• Zhang Rongfang received a letter from Zhang Qingzhi saying he had gone into seclusion in Dan Province with Xiao He, then discovered that the paragraphs' first characters formed a warning not to go to the Great Capital.
• Zhang Rongfang concluded that his master might still be alive and decided to leave the Prefectural Office, staging a journey to the Great Capital while secretly investigating elsewhere.
• Zhang Rongfang planned to seek the Five Cauldrons Sect for medicinal ingredients and devote himself to completing his Blood Flesh Completion.

Ning Hongli refused Ning Yanfei’s demand that she apologize to the Shang Family over Shang Dingye’s disappearance, while Ning Yanfei and the Black Veil Man discussed their plans and the Great Dao Sect’s political maneuvering. Zhang Rongfang secretly left Qingchuan Prefecture under a new identity, headed toward Wushan Prefecture, and advanced his Supreme Bright Void Skill to Early Refining Spirit.

• Ning Yanfei urged Ning Hongli to apologize to the Shang Family to keep the Ning Family out of trouble, but Ning Hongli refused and left in anger.
• The Black Veil Man appeared to Ning Yanfei, and they discussed recruiting Ning Hongli, the Great Dao Sect’s scheme, and a coming opportunity.
• Zhang Rongfang disguised himself, left Qingchuan Prefecture by ship as Zhang Jing, and planned to visit Wushan Prefecture before traveling to Dan Province to investigate Master Yue and the Moon King.
• Zhang Rongfang examined the Blood God Statue aboard the Flying Cloud but found it too durable to damage and received no new information from his Attribute Panel.
• Zhang Rongfang spent three Attribute Points to raise his Supreme Bright Void Skill from Nascent Soul Late Stage to Early Refining Spirit, sensing a fine stream of qi move toward his mind.

Zhang Rongfang advanced the Civilian Skill to the late stage of Refining Spirit, discovered that it let him hear the Blood God, and resisted the urge to Worship God. Meanwhile, Kong Chi’s monks planned to ambush Zhang Ying at sea to redeem their losses.

• Zhang Rongfang spent his Attribute Points to raise the Civilian Skill through the middle stage and into the late stage of Refining Spirit, forming a pulsing spherical net in his brain marrow.
• The sphere transmitted the Blood God’s voice, and the Attribute Panel warned Zhang Rongfang that a Strange Being was trying to communicate with him.
• Zhang Rongfang suppressed the Blood God’s call with the Supreme Bright Void Skill, put away the statue, and resisted the temptation to Worship God.
• Kong Chi lamented the Western Sect’s losses after Shangguan Feihe attacked them and the True One Sect.
• The Spectacled Monk proposed that Kong Chi’s group capture Zhang Ying to redeem their crimes, and Kong Chi agreed to seek him at Liao Zhou Port.

Zhang Rongfang watched the Flying Cloud evade the White Pirates, then saw the pursuing ship return after the port stop and attack. The Flying Cloud’s hidden cannons drove the pirates away, while Zhang Rongfang returned to cultivating without revealing his strength.

• Ni Ni brought Zhang Rongfang food and warned him that ships were following the Flying Cloud.
• Yan Zheng steered the Flying Cloud away from the White Pirates, and Zhang Rongfang overheard Kong Yuhui’s family discussing the pursuit.
• After the Flying Cloud stopped at Liao Zhou Port, Kong Chi and the Western Sect pursued it again and prepared to board.
• Yan Zheng ordered the Flying Cloud to fire its concealed cannons, damaging the White Ship and forcing it farther away.
• Zhang Rongfang decided not to intervene and returned to his cabin to cultivate, while Kong Chi vented his rage and struck a sailor.

Zhang Rongfang boarded the ship carrying Kong Chi and the Western Sect, then defeated its crew and fought Kong Chi. After Zhang Rongfang challenged Kong Chi’s faith, Kong Chi’s body suddenly exploded, leaving his fate unclear.

• Hui Cheng suggested that Kong Chi pursue Zhang Ying to Jiuzhou Port and seize his associates in Wushan Prefecture.
• Zhang Rongfang emerged from the mist and swiftly subdued the sailors and Western Sect members aboard the ship.
• Kong Chi attacked Zhang Rongfang, but Zhang Rongfang overpowered him and shattered his mask, revealing his face.
• Kong Chi entered two Limit States and fought Zhang Rongfang, who activated three of his own Limit States and gained the advantage through greater strength and speed.
• Zhang Rongfang revealed the blood lotus on his back and told Kong Chi that Worship God Grandmasters had strayed from the true path.
• Kong Chi began doubting the Gods and Buddhas he Worshiped, then his upper body suddenly exploded into silver threads.

Zhang Rongfang battled Kong Chi aboard the White Ship as the monk transformed and entered his Final Style, but Zhang Rongfang survived their clash and returned unharmed. Kong Chi tried to use Spirit Thread to turn the fight around, while Zhang Rongfang dodged and waited for him to weaken.

• Kong Chi transformed into a Strange Man and struck Zhang Rongfang through several decks of the White Ship.
• Zhang Rongfang recovered from his wounds and fought Kong Chi, gradually suppressing him with Heavy Mountain.
• Kong Chi entered the Yaksa King Final Style, and their clash sent Zhang Rongfang into the sea while Kong Chi crashed back onto the ship.
• Kong Chi regained awareness, realized Zhang Rongfang might have survived, and watched him burst back through the ship’s hull without a scar.
• Kong Chi snapped off the fingers of his left hand to release Spirit Threads, but Zhang Rongfang dodged them and waited for Kong Chi to weaken.

Zhang Rongfang survived Kong Chi’s explosion, killed Kong Chi and Hui Cheng, and continued to Jiuzhou Port. There, he agreed to travel with the Kong Family toward Wu Mountain while concealing his strength by claiming to be a healer.

• Kong Chi detonated explosives aboard the White Ship, but Zhang Rongfang emerged unharmed and killed him by draining his vitality.
• Hui Cheng surfaced after the fight and realized Zhang Ying’s strength could help the Rebel Alliance provoke conflict between the Western Sect and the Great Dao Sect, but Zhang Rongfang killed him before he could escape.
• Three days later, Zhang Rongfang arrived at Jiuzhou Port aboard the Flying Cloud and spoke with Yan Zheng and the Kong Family.
• After Zhang Rongfang declined to join them at first, the Kong Family persuaded him to travel with them toward Wu Mountain and offered to help with his troubles.
• Zhang Rongfang accepted the invitation and told the group that he was a healer whose martial arts were only superficial.

Zhang Rongfang traveled with the Kong Family convoy toward Wushan Prefecture and discussed strategy through a game of black-and-white stones with Kong Yuhui and Kong Siyan. When masked attackers ambushed the convoy, Zhang Rongfang stayed with Siyan, who assured him the Kong Family could handle the danger; the fighting eventually stopped, but the chapter left the outcome unclear.

• Zhang Rongfang joined the Kong Family convoy at Jiuzhou Port and lost repeatedly to Kong Yuhui and Kong Siyan at black-and-white stones.
• A log blocked the road, and Kong Yuhui identified the obstruction as a delay arranged by the Tan Family before ordering the convoy to press on.
• The Red Blade Leader and thirty masked Martial Practitioners planned to attack Kong Yuhui, counting on at least two of his three Super Grade guards not to intervene.
• As fighting broke out outside the ox carts, Zhang Rongfang reassured Kong Siyan and offered to help, while she insisted the Kong Family could protect him.
• The sounds of fighting eventually faded, and Zhang Rongfang and Kong Siyan remained inside the carriage.

Zhang Rongfang encountered a Western Sect force led by Jueying, whose members feared him but invited him to Kongming Temple. Meanwhile, Zhang Rongyu prepared for her own plans in Wushan Prefecture as she awaited her younger brother.

• Kong Yuhui celebrated turning Tan Song's scheme against him and offered Zhang Rongfang work as a Daoist Scripture lecturer.
• Jueying and two other monks arrived with over two hundred armed men to intercept Zhang Rongfang, but they recoiled in fear and invited him to Kongming Temple.
• Zhang Rongfang agreed to go to Kongming Temple to confront the Western Sect and settle their ongoing troubles.
• In Wushan Prefecture, pregnant Zhang Rongyu welcomed news that her younger brother would visit while Suda Heqi urged her to keep him there.
• Zhang Rongyu planned to advance her position and avenge old grievances, believing she and Suda Heqi could protect Rong Fang.