Chapter Summaries

Ding Ling killed Li Jue, forced the defenders to surrender, and entered the Imperial Palace. He encountered Lu Bu and Chen Gong, who made no move to stop him and directed him toward Dong Zhuo.

• A player identified Li Jue at the Imperial Palace's inner-city gate, and Li Jue ordered his soldiers to shoot Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling charged through the arrows and killed Li Jue with Breeze Swordplay.
• Ding Ling demanded the soldiers surrender, killed hundreds who resisted, and ordered the players to open the gate.
• Liu Bei and the others arrived after Ding Ling had taken the inner city, while Cao Mengde admired his power.
• Ding Ling continued through the Imperial Palace and met Lu Bu, but Chen Gong stepped between them and told Ding Ling to proceed toward Dong Zhuo.

Ding Ling defeated Lu Bu and spared him, then fought his way through the imperial palace and killed Dong Zhuo. Lu Bu was left yearning to gain power like Ding Ling, while Dong Zhuo’s rule ended with his death.

• Lu Bu challenged Ding Ling, who broke Lu Bu’s wrist with a single sword strike and left him alive.
• Chen Gong urged Lu Bu to thank Ding Ling and avoid provoking him again, and Lu Bu resolved to become as powerful as him.
• Ding Ling continued through the palace, killing the soldiers and generals who tried to stop him.
• Ding Ling found Dong Zhuo in the Empress’s palace and refused his offer of power and wealth.
• Ding Ling killed Dong Zhuo with a sword strike and watched his head roll to his feet.

Ding Ling killed Dong Zhuo, enabling Cao Mengde to take the throne and establish Great Wei, while Ding Ling’s fame and mission progress continued to rise. After Cao Mengde named him Great Wei’s Great General and sent him secret manuals, Ding Ling began learning them, starting with Warm Jade Swordplay.

• Ding Ling had a player retrieve Dong Zhuo’s head and left the palace, where Liu Bei, Cao Mengde, and the others praised his victory and abandoned thoughts of opposing him.
• Han Sui, Gongsun Zan, Liu Biao, and others joined Cao Mengde’s faction, and Ding Ling made Cao Mengde emperor in Chang’an despite the living Emperor Liu Xie.
• Cao Mengde removed ministers who supported the Han emperor, promoted capable officials, and later recommended Ding Ling for a series of Great Wei titles, earning Ding Ling an E-Rank Achievement Medal.
• Ding Ling noted that he had exceeded his expert-defeat mission and brought his God of War title’s recognition to 89%, then settled into Guo Si’s residence in Chang’an.
• Cao Mengde sent Ding Ling secret manuals and other spoils before anyone else could choose, and Ding Ling read Warm Jade Swordplay, which immediately reached maximum level.

Ding Ling maxed out hundreds of martial arts and scholarly manuals, strengthening his foundation and slightly increasing his Wisdom and Charisma. After learning that Duanmu Qing had incited Li Meng against him, he ordered Li Meng to hunt Duanmu Qing down, and Duanmu Qing was eventually reduced to level zero and stopped logging in.

• Ding Ling maxed out hundreds of secret manuals, including top-tier martial arts, and found that his control over his Heavenly Human Realm power had improved.
• Ding Ling mastered more than a thousand scholarly texts, gaining 0.2 Wisdom and 0.8 Charisma.
• Zhao Yun presented the captured Li Meng, and Ding Ling questioned him about leaking information to Hu Feng.
• Li Meng named the Imperial Court's Yellow Gate Attendant Duanmu Qing as the person who had bribed and incited him, and Ding Ling ordered Li Meng to hunt Duanmu Qing down.
• Li Meng repeatedly killed Duanmu Qing until his skill levels reached zero, after which Duanmu Qing stopped logging in and cursed Ding Ling in the Real World.

Ding Ling swept across Ji Province, breaking through a hundred cities and forcing its defenders to surrender or flee. As Guan Yu followed him, he yearned to reach the Heavenly Human Realm but hesitated to exchange his ancestral method for Ding Ling’s breathing technique.

• Ding Ling told Cao Mengde about taking Ji Province, and Cao Mengde prepared to govern it while remaining wary of the old powers.
• Ding Ling advanced through Ji Province alone, causing defenders and their armies to flee, and earned the One Man Breaks Hundred Cities Achievement Medal.
• Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Le Jin, Zhang Fei, Han Sui, Guan Yu, and the others followed Ding Ling for days, exhausted by his relentless pace.
• Guan Yu asked Ding Ling how to reach the Heavenly Human Realm, learned that Yu Ji taught the Inner Refining Breathing Method, and sent Liu Bei to seek him.
• After Yu Ji ignored Liu Bei, Guan Yu asked Ding Ling for the method, but hesitated when Ding Ling offered to trade it for Guan Yu’s ancestral technique.
• Guan Yu’s desire for the Heavenly Human Realm intensified after Ding Ling broke through Yuan Shao’s fifty thousand troops and captured Zhang He and Ju Yi, while Guan Yu remained bound by his family rules.

Ding Ling captured Yecheng with ease, while Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Ju Yi were stunned by how much stronger he had become. Yuan Shao realized too late that the reports of Ding Ling’s power were true, and Ding Ling killed him after reaching the City Lord’s Mansion.

• Ding Ling arrived in Yecheng with Zhang He, Gao Lan, Ju Yi, and the others, who marveled at his overwhelming strength.
• Ding Ling crossed Yecheng’s walls and killed soldiers who stood in his way until the defending general Lu Kuang surrendered.
• Ding Ling ordered Lu Kuang to organize the troops for Guan Yu, then flew toward the City Lord’s Mansion.
• Yuan Shao saw Ding Ling survive a volley of arrows and regretted dismissing the warnings about him.
• Ding Ling swept his sword through Yuan Shao’s guards and killed Yuan Shao.

After Ding Ling defeated Yuan Shao and took Ji Province, he rescued Cheng Huan, whose loyalty and early support had helped him begin his martial path. Back in Chang'an, Ding Ling absorbed Ji Province's manuals and medicines, strengthening his foundations as he continued to refine his power.

• Ju Shou, Xun Chen, Tian Feng, and other former Yuan Shao subordinates submitted to Cao after Yuan Shao fell to Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling rescued Cheng Huan from the death cell, and Cheng Huan rejoiced at his success and future connection to the National Preceptor.
• Ding Ling returned to Chang'an and received secret manuals and Great Medicine from Ji Province's clans, soldiers, and the Yuan Clan Treasury.
• Ding Ling read the martial manuals, which reached maximum level, and found that his growing foundation helped him control his immense power more steadily.
• Ding Ling mastered academic texts across many schools, increasing his wisdom and charm, and wondered how his memory compared with Diao Chan's.

Ding Ling completed his campaign to establish the God of War title and returned to Chang'an, where Cao Mengde welcomed him and praised his role in uniting the Nine Provinces. Cao Mengde described how the rapidly expanding Great Wei remained vulnerable to frontier attacks and assassination attempts, leaving its court short of defenders.

• Ding Ling gained Achievement Medals for subduing Yuan Shao and Sui Yuanjin, and his God of War Title progress reached 93%.
• Ding Ling campaigned across the Nine Provinces and surrounding lands for several months, defeating warlords until his God of War Title reached 100%.
• Diao Chan advanced to Transcendent First-Class General, Zhao Yun reached the peak of Ultra-First-Rate, Du Qingcheng reached the peak of First-Rate, and Xiao Qiao and Big Qiao reached early First-Rate.
• Ding Ling returned to Chang'an with Diao Chan, Zhao Yun, Xiao Qiao, Big Qiao, Du Qingcheng, Chen Dao, and elite warriors, where Cao Mengde and officials welcomed him.
• Cao Mengde told Ding Ling that Great Wei owed its rapid rise to him and recounted how Yuan Shu and allied tribes had invaded You Province, defeating Lu Bu and threatening the frontier.
• Cao Mengde explained that most of Great Wei's generals were deployed to guard conquered territories, while Xu Chu and Dian Wei had to protect him from assassins.

Cao Mengde announced Ding Ling as the One-Worded Equal Rank King, recognizing his authority over the Great Wei Empire. After the court session, Ding Ling prepared to hand his elite troops to Cao Mengde and head to Mount Penglai to challenge Tong Yuan and Wang Yue, while Cao Mengde promised to search for Zuo Ci and Old Immortal Nanhua.

• Cao Mengde faced repeated assassination attempts and credited Ding Ling with protecting the Great Wei Empire and expanding its territory.
• Ding Ling’s fame in the Three Kingdoms World spread through the Real World, causing many would-be attackers to abandon plans to confront him.
• Cao Mengde declared Ding Ling the One-Worded Equal Rank King, and Ding Ling received an E-Rank Achievement Medal for reaching the peak of authority in the Three Kingdoms World.
• Ding Ling told Cao Mengde he planned to hand over his elite troops and challenge Tong Yuan and Wang Yue at Mount Penglai.
• Cao Mengde agreed to search the Nine Provinces for Zuo Ci and Old Immortal Nanhua and send Ding Ling a message if they were found.

Ding Ling finished reading a new collection of secret manuals, strengthening his foundation before setting out for Mount Penglai with his companions. There, Wang Yue and Tong Yuan welcomed him and explained how persistent players had led them to establish a community of disciples on the mountain.

• Cao Mengde thanked Ding Ling for his help and continued supplying him with weapons, horses, books, and secret manuals.
• Ding Ling read more than two thousand unfamiliar manuals, increasing his Wisdom and Charm and refining his ability to wield his power.
• Ten days later, Ding Ling left for Mount Penglai with Diao Chan, Zhao Yun, Xiao Qiao, Da Qiao, Du Qingcheng, and Chen Dao, all equipped with fine steeds and weapons.
• Ding Ling's party arrived at Mount Penglai, where Wang Yue and Tong Yuan came to welcome him.
• Tong Yuan explained that persistent players had repeatedly sought them out, so he and Wang Yue had stayed on Mount Penglai and accepted disciples.

Ding Ling returned to Mount Penglai, where Tong Yuan and Wang Yue had established trials to teach martial arts to players, and met old acquaintances who marveled at his status. After dinner, Ding Ling agreed to spar with Tong Yuan, and their battle began in a spectacular clash of spear techniques.

• Tong Yuan and Wang Yue explained that they had created Mount Penglai’s trials to teach the Breathing Method to worthy players, who greeted Ding Ling with excited adoration when he arrived.
• Ding Ling told Tong Yuan and Wang Yue that he wanted to spar with them, and they invited him to eat before the match.
• Ding Ling reunited with Shi A, who congratulated him on reaching the Heavenly Human Realm and bitterly compared himself with Ding Ling and Zhao Yun.
• After the meal, Tong Yuan challenged Ding Ling in hopes of gaining insight into the Heavenly Human Realm, and Ding Ling accepted.
• Tong Yuan and Ding Ling exchanged the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear Technique at incredible speed, shaking the ground and sending explosive waves through the air.

Ding Ling sparred with Tong Yuan and Wang Yue on Mount Penglai, demonstrating overwhelming strength in both combat and swordsmanship. After three days of practice and companionship, he still had not received a notification that Mission 2 was complete.

• Ding Ling defeated Tong Yuan in a spar, and Tong Yuan admitted that Ding Ling’s strength and stamina far surpassed his own.
• Wang Yue challenged Ding Ling to a swordsmanship match, but Ding Ling won and was praised as the new-generation Sword God.
• Ding Ling credited Wang Yue and Tong Yuan for guiding him, and the group celebrated with drinks.
• Ding Ling stayed on Mount Penglai for three days, sparring repeatedly with Wang Yue, Tong Yuan, and the others while holding back his strength.
• Ding Ling left the three days without receiving a notification that Mission 2 was complete.

Ding Ling learned that Zuo Ci might be the strongest figure in the world, then left Mount Penglai and encountered Zhen Jiang in Quyang City. Their reunion revealed how Zhen Jiang still felt about him, while Ding Ling no longer saw her as he once had.

• Ding Ling learned that Zuo Ci might be stronger than Wang Yue and Tong Yuan and said he wanted to witness Zuo Ci’s Dao and arts.
• Tong Yuan and Wang Yue decided to enter seclusion after discussing the Heavenly Human Realm and learning Ding Ling’s Inner Refining Breathing Method.
• Ding Ling left Mount Penglai without inviting Shi A, whom he believed needed to stay and guard the mountain.
• Ding Ling and his companions stopped at an inn in Quyang City, where he met Zhen Jiang after nearly two years apart.
• Ding Ling invited Zhen Jiang to sit and asked about her and her father, while Diao Chan noticed Zhen Jiang’s nervous affection for him.

Ding Ling accepted Zhen Jiang into his group after Diao Chan and Du Qingcheng helped her overcome her nervousness, while the Zhen Family celebrated the prospect of becoming his in-laws. The chapter ended with Zhen Mi and Zhen Tuo hoping to meet their celebrated brother-in-law in Chang'an.

• Diao Chan and Du Qingcheng befriended Zhen Jiang and helped her join Ding Ling's group.
• Zhen Jiang sent word to her family, and Zhen Yi announced a three-hundred-table feast to celebrate the match.
• Zhen Mi asked Zhen Tuo whether Ding Ling was her brother-in-law and pleaded to visit him in Chang'an.
• Ding Ling returned to Chang'an, where Zhen Jiang had grown close to Diao Chan and the others.

Ding Ling waited in Chang'an while seeking Zuo Ci, and the empire continued developing under his rule. After notices spread across the Nine Provinces, Zuo Ci appeared as a talking crow and agreed to meet Ding Ling for a contest in spellcraft outside Chang'an.

• Ding Ling remained in Chang'an for a month, keeping Beguilers and Sprites from appearing while the Great Wei Empire developed and players entered the imperial examinations.
• Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing settled in Chang'an to serve as medical officials and teach medicine at the Medical Academy.
• Ding Ling asked Cao Mengde to spread notices throughout the Nine Provinces in search of Zuo Ci.
• Zuo Ci appeared as a talking crow in Ding Ling's courtyard and confirmed his identity, startling Ding Ling, Diao Chan, Xiao Qiao, Du Qingcheng, and Zhen Jiang.
• Ding Ling challenged Zuo Ci to a spar, and Zuo Ci arranged to meet him at a pavilion ten li outside Chang'an in three days.

After Zuo Ci vanished, Ding Ling reassured the women and met Zhuge Xuan, who presented six Zhuge Clan manuals. Ding Ling instantly mastered the formation and star-observation texts, leaving Zhuge Xuan and the young Zhuge Liang astonished by his power.

• Zuo Ci flew away at astonishing speed, and Ding Ling admitted he could not see through his Daoist techniques.
• Ding Ling reassured Du Qingcheng, Diao Chan, Xiao Qiao, and Zhen Jiang that he could face Zuo Ci, then they went to practice martial arts.
• Cao Mengde introduced Zhuge Xuan and his four children, and Zhuge Xuan gave Ding Ling six original secret manuals.
• Ding Ling instantly mastered the Star Observation Technique and several formation texts, while the Crouching Dragon Breathing Method remained unreadable to the Library.
• Ding Ling reached the pinnacle of the Eight Trigrams Formation and released a terrifying formation aura, stunning Zhuge Xuan and the eleven-year-old Zhuge Liang.

Ding Ling mastered the Zhuge Clan’s Eight Trigrams Formation and several rare manuals, including a fragment of the Dragon Riding Art, while Zhuge Liang and Cao Mengde were astonished by his abilities. He left for the Royal Library’s secret chamber after hinting that he might soon be gone, and discovered the Dragon Riding Art could command true dragons.

• Ding Ling confirmed he had just learned the Eight Trigrams Formation, leaving Zhuge Xuan and Zhuge Liang stunned by his talent.
• Ding Ling mastered the Sleeping Dragon Health Cultivation Art and returned the manuals to Zhuge Xuan.
• Cao Mengde offered to take Ding Ling to the Royal Library’s secret chamber, but Ding Ling asked for a palace maid to escort him instead.
• Zhuge Liang asked to visit Ding Ling to discuss the Eight Trigrams Formation, and Ding Ling welcomed him while warning he might soon be unavailable.
• Ding Ling mastered the People Observation Technique and a fragment of the Dragon Riding Art in the secret chamber.
• Ding Ling realized the Dragon Riding Art could command true dragons and likely required the Human Emperor Breathing Method.

Ding Ling finished studying more than a thousand ancient secret manuals, gaining Wisdom and Charisma, then agreed to teach Zhuge Liang the Eight Trigrams Formation. After demonstrating its power, he brought Zhuge Liang inside to test his comprehension.

• Ding Ling completed the secret manuals in the chamber and raised his Wisdom to 3 and Charisma to 10.2.
• Diao Chan told Ding Ling that Zhuge Liang was waiting to visit him, and Ding Ling asked to meet him at the training ground.
• Zhuge Liang asked Ding Ling to teach him the Eight Trigrams Formation, and Ding Ling agreed after securing his promise to use it to protect the Great Wei Empire.
• Ding Ling shattered a boulder and used his martial arts to set up several Eight Trigrams Formations, leaving Zhuge Liang stunned.
• Ding Ling carried Zhuge Liang into one formation, where Zhuge Liang saw its dangers and urged Ding Ling to teach him.

Ding Ling finished teaching Zhuge Liang the Eight Trigrams Formation and set out to meet Zuo Ci, while Zhuge Liang and his companions followed. Ding Ling waited at their agreed meeting place as a crowd watched from afar, but Zuo Ci still had not arrived after another day.

• Ding Ling taught Zhuge Liang the Eight Trigrams Formation, and Zhuge Liang resolved to keep learning from him.
• Ding Ling told Zhuge Liang he would recommend him to the Great Wei Emperor for study at the Royal Academy, then set out to meet Zuo Ci.
• Zhuge Liang rode with Zhao Yun, who warned him that Zuo Ci's powers and transformations made him difficult to face.
• Ding Ling and his companions reached the agreed place, where onlookers gathered at a distance to watch.
• Ding Ling waited in the pavilion past the appointed time, and Diao Chan made several trips to Chang'an to bring him meals.
• After another day of waiting, Zuo Ci had still not appeared.

After waiting nearly a week for Zuo Ci, Ding Ling attacked when the Daoist finally appeared and mocked him. Ding Ling trapped Zuo Ci in eight Eight Trigrams Formations and unleashed a barrage of sword techniques, leaving Zuo Ci unable to escape.

• Zhao Yun and the others urged Ding Ling to stop waiting, but Ding Ling waited another half day before preparing to leave.
• Zuo Ci appeared and mocked Ding Ling for losing patience; Ding Ling accused him of breaking his promise and attacked with the Sword God Art.
• Zuo Ci let Ding Ling's sword strikes cut him apart, then reappeared unharmed a hundred meters away and taunted him.
• Ding Ling shattered nearby boulders and arranged the rubble into eight Eight Trigrams Formations, challenging Zuo Ci to enter.
• Zuo Ci walked into the formations, and Ding Ling activated them all, trapping him in a transformed battlefield.
• Ding Ling attacked Zuo Ci with several powerful sword techniques, while Zuo Ci struggled to find a way out.