Chapter Summaries

Zhang Rongfang planned to take command of the Golden Wing Tower forces across Dinghe Road as the main tower was distracted by a looming struggle with Sea Dragon. Meanwhile, Xue Chengyu traveled toward Wushan Prefecture, where Sweeping Mountain Tiger had defeated every local Ninth Grade and was left hungry for stronger opponents.

• Wei Li explained that Golden Wing Tower was divided into sections and warned Zhang Rongfang that the main tower could not spare help amid a coming struggle over religious authority.
• Zhang Rongfang decided to use his authority as Dinghe Road’s Spirit Envoy to gather the branch forces and summon Bao Ning for information about potential recruits.
• Xue Chengyu traveled toward Wushan Prefecture to investigate what had happened to Sea Dragon’s local leader and threatened to destroy Golden Wing Tower’s upper ranks if they were responsible.
• Sweeping Mountain Tiger defeated Shangguan Hao and Shangguan Qingrong, leaving Wushan Prefecture without a Ninth Grade capable of challenging him.
• Ding Yu dismissed the defeated martial artists as weak and admitted that only fighting stronger opponents could satisfy him.

Ding Yu planned to leave Wushan Prefecture with his brothers after challenging Zhang Rongfang, who accepted the duel at Containing Mountain Pool. Before the fight, Zhang Rongfang received warnings that a Sea Dragon Jiaoren had attacked Ten Thousand Mile Villa and rushed to defend it, leaving Ding Yu waiting.

• Ding Yu decided to settle his affairs in Wushan Prefecture and travel elsewhere with Sun Xiaohui and Xu Xin in search of stronger opponents.
• After learning that Zhang Rongfang was a Golden Wing Tower Spirit Envoy, Ding Yu sent him a challenge, and Zhang Rongfang agreed to fight at Containing Mountain Pool with the loser owing the winner one demand.
• Zhang Rongfang reviewed Bao Ning's list of young experts to recruit and instructed him to offer suitable candidates Pigeon Grade treatment and judge refusals according to their conduct.
• As Zhang Rongfang approached the duel site, an unknown person warned him that the Jiaoren had arrived, and Xiao Hong Bird delivered news that a Sea Dragon Jiaoren had attacked Ten Thousand Mile Villa.
• Zhang Rongfang abandoned the duel and rushed to Ten Thousand Mile Villa, while Ding Yu waited until near noon and concluded that the Golden Wing Tower Spirit Envoy would not come.

Ding Yu dismissed Golden Wing Tower’s message and initially refused to investigate explosions outside Wushan Prefecture, but he changed his mind after a second blast. At Ten Thousand Mile Villa, Sea Dragon’s attack devastated Golden Wing Tower’s forces, and Xue Chengyu confronted Zhang Rongfang, who had watched the assault from the forest.

• Ding Yu waited for Golden Wing Tower’s challenge, dismissed its message as a trick, and prepared to leave Wushan Prefecture with Xu Xin and Sun Xiaohui.
• After two explosions sent smoke rising outside the prefecture, Ding Yu agreed to go investigate.
• Sea Dragon’s masked fighters attacked Ten Thousand Mile Villa with explosives, overwhelmed Bao Ning’s defenders, and set the villa ablaze.
• Xue Chengyu stood outside the burning villa and revealed that he had sensed Zhang Rongfang watching from the forest.
• Xue Chengyu questioned why Zhang Rongfang, a Ninth Grade Spirit Envoy, had not fled from a Super Grade opponent.

Zhang Rongfang fought Xue Chengyu through the woods and into Wushan City, where their battle left both badly wounded. Xue Chengyu escaped, killed Sweeping Mountain Tiger Ding Yu and his two companions, and vanished into the mountains.

• Zhang Rongfang confronted Xue Chengyu, who revealed that he knew Zhang had killed Qing Jiao and attacked with superior speed and power.
• Zhang Rongfang used a wire trap and entered Critical State with Heavy Mountain, gaining the advantage by evading Xue Chengyu and cutting him with poisoned claws.
• Xue Chengyu fled toward Wushan City as Zhang Rongfang pursued, and the two fought through the city while Spirit Army guards held their fire.
• Xue Chengyu entered Second Level Limit as Zhang Rongfang launched Fivefold Heavy Mountain, and Xue Chengyu later escaped the city badly wounded.
• Sweeping Mountain Tiger Ding Yu and his two companions blocked Xue Chengyu outside the city, but Xue Chengyu killed all three with Three Lives Willing and fled into the mountains.

Zhang Rongfang drove off Xue Chengyu but suffered severe internal injuries from his final attack, then returned to Golden Wing Tower headquarters. There, Ding Yu recovered from his wounds, learned that his brothers had died and that Zhang Rongfang had saved him, and discovered that Zhang Rongfang had also severely injured the formidable Sea Dragon Jiaoren.

• Zhang Rongfang ordered Qing Su to save Ding Yu, then pursued Xue Chengyu before his injuries forced him to stop and recover.
• Ding Yu awoke, learned that Zhang Rongfang had spared his life, and asked to see his dead brothers, Xu Xin and Sun Xiaohui.
• Qing Su led Ding Yu to the bodies and told him that Golden Wing Tower had just repelled a powerful attack.
• Bao Ning told Ding Yu that Zhang Rongfang had severely injured the Sea Dragon Jiaoren before Ding Yu and his brothers challenged him.
• Ding Yu realized he had been defeated by an already injured opponent and that his brothers had died because of his recklessness.

After recovering from his fight with Sweeping Mountain Tiger’s forces, Zhang Rongfang resumed his studies and learned that Gong Shuyin was leaving. Her mysterious farewell note pointed him toward a possible way to break through to Super Grade, while he considered seeking a secret art in the Great Capital.

• Zhang Rongfang overheard a storyteller exaggerating his battle with Sea Dragon and Sweeping Mountain Tiger, then left for the Zen Heart Literary Society.
• Zhang Rongfang reflected on his recovery, the disappearance of Wei Li, and Golden Wing Tower headquarters’ continued silence as he traveled to Gong Shuyin’s room.
• Gong Shuyin noticed Zhang Rongfang’s injuries, told him she planned to leave with a stage troupe, and gave him his final Locked Script lesson.
• After the lesson, Zhang Rongfang discovered Gong Shuyin had vanished and found a silk cloth naming Yin Huai Forest, Great Heavy Temple, and Shadow in the Forest.
• Zhang Rongfang connected the message to his need for a Super Grade breakthrough and considered seeking a secret art at Heavenly Treasure Palace in the Great Capital.

Zhang Rongfang rejected Suda Heqi’s offer of a Water Transport Manager post and continued using Jin Xiu as a companion. He invited her to Yin Huai Forest, intending to scout the site of the Shadow in the Forest case before investigating it more thoroughly.

• Suda Heqi offered Zhang Rongfang a vacant Water Transport Manager post, but Zhang Rongfang refused because he did not want to abandon his existing plans.
• Suda Heqi warned Zhang Rongfang about Jin Xiu and suggested exploiting her and her family, leaving Zhang Rongfang speechless.
• Jin Xiu visited Zhang Rongfang, hoping to win his interest, and agreed to go with him to admire pear blossoms near Yin Huai Forest.
• Zhang Rongfang chose Yin Huai Forest because he planned to inspect the terrain around the site of the Shadow in the Forest case before returning with others.

At a picnic near Yin Huai Forest, Zhang Rongfang and Jin Xiu discussed reports of women disappearing there again as a wounded Chen Miaoxiang fled a mysterious armored Daoist. Meanwhile, Lu Mei Sha suspected Jin Xiu was pursuing Zhang Rongfang for a hidden advantage and broke into his residence to investigate.

• Chen Miaoxiang escaped a ruined Daoist Temple and found corpses nailed to trees in Yin Huai Forest.
• After Chen Miaoxiang called for Ming Ge, the armored Daoist caught up with her and swung his iron sword.
• Zhang Rongfang and Jin Xiu picnicked near the forest and discussed recent disappearances and the Zhengming Society's supervision.
• Lu Mei Sha learned that Zhang Rongfang and Jin Xiu had gone out together and concluded Jin Xiu must be after something he possessed.
• Lu Mei Sha disguised herself, used a key to enter Zhang Rongfang's residence, and found a Xiao Hong Bird carrying a bamboo tube in his study.

Lu Mei Sha secretly searched Zhang Rongfang’s home, but Xiao Hong and a series of traps thwarted and injured her. After she left the room in order, Zhang Rongfang noticed the intrusion and reviewed Golden Wing Tower’s intelligence about Shadow in the Forest.

• A tofu-selling couple spotted Lu Mei Sha entering Zhang Rongfang’s residence and sent word to let their lord decide how to respond.
• Lu Mei Sha searched Zhang Rongfang’s room, repeatedly failed to catch Xiao Hong, and hurt herself while chasing the bird.
• Lu Mei Sha found poisoned letters that led her through a series of taunts before she drank water from the desk’s Water Vessel to ease the itching.
• Zhang Rongfang returned, burned a message from the Golden Wing Tower guards, and noticed signs that someone had searched the room.
• Xiao Hong returned to Zhang Rongfang, who examined intelligence about Shadow in the Forest gathered by Bao Ning and the newly joined Golden Wing Tower members.

Zhang Rongfang used four Attribute Points to break the Soul Fixing Talisman into Super Grade, but found the improvement modest because he was still using a martial art not suited to his exceptional physique. Believing Yin Huai Forest might hold clues to a suitable secret art, he entered the forest and found others gathering to search for a missing woman.

• Zhang Rongfang read intelligence describing the Black-robed Mysterious Figure, the failed expeditions into Yin Huai Forest, and the forest’s practice of taking women unless one was regularly sent inside.
• After recovering and accumulating four Attribute Points, Zhang Rongfang broke the Soul Fixing Talisman’s limit and entered Super Grade, but the resulting physical improvement was small.
• Zhang Rongfang concluded that ordinary martial arts could no longer develop his already exceptional body and that he needed a martial art suited to his own peak Ninth Grade foundation.
• Zhang Rongfang ordered his people to prepare for his entry into Yin Huai Forest, believing it might contain clues to a secret art for breaking into Super Grade.
• Two days later, Zhang Rongfang entered the forest’s outer region and learned that Abyssal Constant Saber Chen Xiping’s only daughter had gone missing, drawing searchers and Zhengming Society investigators.

Zhang Rongfang followed the Zhengming Society into Yin Huai Forest to hunt Shadow in the Forest, while other searchers pursued clues about missing people and Senior Chen’s daughter. The Iron Taoist attacked a bounty team, and Zhao Dihu and two survivors fled toward Wen Shaodong’s group as Zhang Rongfang prepared to fight.

• Wen Shaodong announced the Zhengming Society’s search goals and led more than fifty people into Yin Huai Forest.
• Zhang Rongfang disguised himself and followed the Zhengming Society, intending to find Shadow in the Forest and seek clues about a Super Grade secret art.
• Zhao Dihu’s team split from the main group, but the Iron Taoist ambushed them and killed most of the team and nearby Loose Cultivators.
• Wen Shaodong formed the Zhengming Society into battle ranks and led them toward the screams as Zhang Rongfang readied the Wish Wheel.
• Zhao Dihu and two survivors ran back toward the group with the Iron Taoist pursuing them.

Wen Shaodong and the Zhengming Society encountered Iron Taoist, who repeatedly fled after fixing his attention on Zhang Rongfang. As Wen organized the survivors to hunt Iron Taoist, Zhang refused to join and left the forest.

• Iron Taoist spotted Zhang Rongfang among the group and retreated before Wen Shaodong could catch him.
• Wen Shaodong explained that the Zhengming Society had come to find their missing members and Chen Ya, while the survivors thanked him for saving them.
• The group found Lin Huan’s team amid a bloody clearing, where Iron Taoist killed another fleeing warrior before noticing Zhang and escaping again.
• Chen Miaotong revealed her purpose through the narration: she had secretly entered Yin Huai Forest to investigate her younger sister Chen Miaoxiang’s disappearance.
• Wen Shaodong organized the survivors to search for and kill Iron Taoist, but Zhang warned him that weaker fighters would become casualties and declined to join.
• Wen Shaodong ordered Zhang to leave the forest, and Zhang turned and left.

Zhang Rongfang searched the abandoned Great Heavy Temple, discovered a component linked to a Statue, and fought the Iron Taoist, whose armor and body seemed impervious to his powerful attacks. As Zhang Rongfang pursued the Iron Taoist through the forest, Wen Shaodong’s party arrived at the temple and began searching for captives, with Chen Miaotong urgently looking for her younger sister.

• Chen Miaotong questioned Wen Shaodong about why the Iron Taoist seemed to avoid Zhang Rongfang, but Wen Shaodong urged the group onward to the Daoist temple.
• Zhang Rongfang reached the abandoned Great Heavy Temple, found a bronze Statue component and the book Great Heavy Record, and wondered whether Gong Shuyin and the Heavenly Maiden belonged to different factions.
• The Iron Taoist attacked Zhang Rongfang, who recognized his Ninth Grade abilities and knocked him out of the temple with a powerful palm strike.
• Zhang Rongfang pursued the seemingly unharmed Iron Taoist and fought him through the forest, but repeated blows failed to weaken him.
• Wen Shaodong led the Zhengming Society members and other survivors into the Great Heavy Temple to search for captives, while Chen Miaotong entered first to look for her younger sister.

Wen Shaodong found a hidden booklet and bottle in the Daoist temple, but the rescue party discovered the Zhengming Society members had been slaughtered by Iron Taoist. Zhang Rongfang killed two Iron Taoists, only to realize they could apparently return to life.

• Wen Shaodong found a concealed compartment in the Four Symbols Celestial Venerable statue and secretly took a booklet and a black bottle.
• The group rescued Chen Ya and prepared to leave Yin Huai Forest, but they discovered the Zhengming Society members nailed or discarded among the trees.
• Iron Taoist attacked the group and killed many members despite their Poison Water and other secret weapons; Wen Shaodong fled, while Chen Miaotong carried her sister's corpse away.
• Zhang Rongfang arrived, killed the pursuing Iron Taoist, and then killed a second Iron Taoist that attacked him from behind.
• Zhang Rongfang recognized the two dead Iron Taoists and wondered how one could have returned to life.

Wen Shaodong killed the survivors who could expose him, but the Golden Wing Tower captured him at the forest exit. Inside Yin Huai Forest, Zhang Rongfang repeatedly defeated the regenerating Iron Taoists, found a metal plate on one of them, and headed for Great Heavy Temple as several survivors followed him.

• Wen Shaodong turned back and killed the fleeing survivors, then wounded himself to disguise what he had done.
• Red Tiger and the Golden Wing Tower surrounded the forest exit, seized Wen Shaodong, and knocked him unconscious after he recognized them.
• Zhang Rongfang repeatedly knocked down the regenerating Iron Taoists, then found a bronze part and a written metal plate among their belongings.
• Zhang Rongfang warned the hidden survivors to leave and headed toward Great Heavy Temple to search it.
• Lin Huan led some survivors toward the forest exit, while Chen Miaotong, Chen Ya, and another Loose Cultivator followed Zhang Rongfang.

Zhang Rongfang searched Great Heavy Temple, uncovered records linking it to the Great Dao Sect, and forced the forest survivors to join Golden Wing Tower. After finding that the moldy Bewildering Jade Marrow could not help him advance, he decided to leave Wushan Prefecture for the Great Capital and pursue the secrets of Super Grade.

• Zhang Rongfang found Locked Script carved into the temple wall describing the Great Heavy lineage’s survival after the Red Calamity and its founding of the temple.
• Iron Taoist fled when Zhang Rongfang spotted him, and Zhang Rongfang destroyed the inscription after memorizing it.
• At Ten Thousand Mile Villa, Zhang Rongfang told the survivors they must join Golden Wing Tower and had Wen Shaodong taken away.
• Zhang Rongfang read the Illusory Image Talisman Method and Great Heavy Record, learning about Bewildering Jade Marrow, Spirit Guards, Spirit Veins, and True Persons.
• Zhang Rongfang found mold on the Black Pellet Pill and concluded he needed another route to Super Grade, so he planned to go to the Great Capital.

Shuangshuang received orders to recruit Zhang Rongfang or destroy him if he could not be won over. After leaving Wushan Prefecture for the Great Capital and wounding Xue Chengyu in an ambush, Zhang Rongfang stopped at Egret Inn, where he spotted two suspicious youths after a snake appeared.

• Shuangshuang’s father told her to recruit Zhang Rongfang as a Spirit Vein seed, or kill him if all attempts failed.
• Zhang Rongfang left Wushan Prefecture for the Great Capital, arranging support for Jin Xiu and accepting a thousand taels of silver from Suda Heqi.
• Zhang Rongfang used a caravan as a decoy, ambushed Xue Chengyu, and grievously injured him before continuing toward the Great Capital.
• At Egret Inn, Zhang Rongfang listened to caravan members discuss strange seasons and agricultural regulations as he ate cautiously.
• When a Bamboo Pit Viper emerged beneath a table, Zhang Rongfang heard a faint laugh and noticed a teenage boy and girl holding open Bamboo Tubes.

Zhang Rongfang discovered that someone had poisoned his bathwater, but his precautions exposed the attempt before it could harm him. Feng Lu and Feng Xin then tried a new plan to poison his food as the caravan prepared to depart.

• Zhang Rongfang crushed a black snake at the inn, not realizing that Feng Lu and Feng Xin blamed him for killing their pet.
• Feng Lu secretly added poison to Zhang Rongfang's bathwater, but he tested it with a rooster and caught the poisoning.
• Zhang Rongfang questioned the water workers and inspected the courtyard, but found no culprit and went to sleep after replacing the water.
• Feng Lu decided to poison Zhang Rongfang with Red Apricot Powder and camellia fragrance, and the twins put powder in his food and dry rations.

Zhang Rongfang exposed Feng Lu and Feng Xin’s attempts to poison him and violently crippled them when they accused him of conspiring with bandits. He left the inn with their food and valuables, while Feng Keqin feared the consequences of the feud with the powerful Zhang He.

• Zhang Rongfang offered to trade his large food bag for Feng Lu and Feng Xin’s smaller portions, but Feng Lu refused and accused him of poisoning their food.
• Zhang Rongfang revealed that he knew the children had released snakes and tampered with his bathwater and food, then seized Feng Lu and slammed her into the ground.
• Zhang Rongfang knocked Feng Xin unconscious and broke the wrists of Feng Keqin and two other caravan leaders when they attacked him.
• Zhang Rongfang declared that he would cripple the children and beat Feng Lu and Feng Xin until their limbs suffered severe fractures.
• Zhang Rongfang took the children’s money and food bags before leaving, and Feng Keqin inspected their injuries and worried about the feud.

Zhang Rongfang traveled toward the Great Capital under a forged identity, but a mysterious woman named Yan Shuang repeatedly tracked him down. She revealed her connection to Gong Shuyin and Heavenly Maiden, then warned Zhang Rongfang that his current training would not let him reach their level.

• Zhang Rongfang left the Feng Family caravan, took Feng Lu's waist pouch, and continued toward the Great Capital under the identity of Zhang He.
• At Qianxi Town and Shuangye Town, Zhang Rongfang avoided an unknown benefactor's paid meals and horse, but Yan Shuang caught up with him.
• Yan Shuang told Zhang Rongfang that she had seen him at Yin Huai Forest and that the two Daoists there were discarded failures.
• Yan Shuang identified herself as Gong Shuyin's daughter and said her mother had gone to Wushan Prefecture to protect Zhang Rongfang at Heavenly Maiden's request.
• Yan Shuang described the Three Paths and warned that Zhang Rongfang's aptitude and current training would not let him match Heavenly Maiden or Silver Masked Cicada.