Chapter Summaries

Hong Qigong was astonished by Ding Ling’s martial arts talent and asked him to help Guo Jing defend Xiangyang. Ding Ling agreed, learned the Dog Beating Staff Technique at once, and left Hong Qigong marveling at his abilities.

• Hong Qigong realized Little Dragon Girl had been telling the truth about Ding Ling’s extraordinary learning speed and admitted that Ding Ling surpassed him.
• Hong Qigong asked Ding Ling to go to Xiangyang and help Guo Jing defend the city, and Ding Ling agreed without hesitation.
• Hong Qigong offered to teach Ding Ling the Dog Beating Staff Technique and suggested he try to become the next Beggar Clan chief.
• Ding Ling mastered the Dog Beating Staff Technique immediately and demonstrated its moves, leaving Hong Qigong speechless with admiration.

Ding Ling mastered Hong Qigong’s martial arts, rapidly increasing his strength and earning Hong’s admiration. Hong gave him a letter to take to Guo Jing in Xiangyang so he could learn the complete Nine Yin Manual, then departed with Ding Ling’s Chef God’s Skill Manual.

• Ding Ling mastered the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and Dog Beating Staff Technique, increasing his attributes and True Force Value.
• Hong Qigong taught Ding Ling more than a dozen martial arts, which Ding Ling mastered instantly and used to strengthen his foundation.
• Hong Qigong offered to teach Ding Ling his incomplete Nine Yin Manual, and Ding Ling asked to see the complete version.
• Hong Qigong wrote Ding Ling a letter of introduction to Guo Jing in Xiangyang, who could teach him the complete Nine Yin Manual.
• Ding Ling gave Hong Qigong a handwritten Chef God’s Skill Manual, and Hong Qigong departed satisfied.

Ding Ling and Little Dragon Girl traveled south toward Xiangyang after Hong Qigong departed, and Ding Ling considered how his deeds might affect his chance to learn the Nine Yin Manual. They reached the city as the Heroes Assembly was being called to defend it from Kublai Khan’s advancing forces, and players saw Ding Ling’s arrival as a possible turning point.

• Hong Qigong praised Ding Ling’s talents, then rode away to pursue the Five Villains of Tibet without knowing Ding Ling had killed Qiu Chuji and fought Shaolin’s eminent monks.
• Ding Ling reviewed his attributes and missions, noting that he had already defeated more than twenty powerful figures and had made progress toward becoming known as the World’s Finest.
• Ding Ling and Little Dragon Girl set out for Xiangyang, and he began teaching her the Dog Beating Staff Technique while dismissing any interest in becoming Beggar Clan leader.
• Near Xiangyang, Ding Ling and Little Dragon Girl stopped at a roadside tea stall and saw many riders heading toward the city.
• Players discussed the impending siege and believed Ding Ling’s presence might give Xiangyang’s defenders a chance against Kublai Khan’s forces.

Ding Ling traveled to Xiangyang to aid Guo Jing and arrived at the Guo Family Estate with Little Dragon Girl. After Wu Xiuwen tore Hong Qigong’s letter, Ding Ling injured him and Wu Dunru, prompting a furious middle-aged man to attack.

• Ding Ling decided to use Kublai Khan’s execution order as an opportunity to defend Xiangyang and advance his mission, then rode there with Little Dragon Girl.
• Ding Ling entered Xiangyang and found the Guo Family Estate, where Wu Xiuwen refused to let him visit Guo Jing privately.
• Ding Ling handed Wu Xiuwen Hong Qigong’s letter, but Wu Xiuwen accused him of lying and tore it.
• Ding Ling struck Wu Xiuwen and then knocked Wu Dunru down when he rushed out to attack.
• A middle-aged man charged out and fired a powerful finger attack at Ding Ling.

Ding Ling fought Wu Santong and the Wu brothers at the Guo Residence, then faced Guo Jing when he intervened. The confrontation remained unresolved as Guo Jing’s family gathered and Guo Jing and Huang Rong turned to assess Ding Ling.

• Ding Ling dodged Wu Santong’s One Finger Shooting Zen and broke his middle finger with Dragon Regrets.
• A newcomer attacked Ding Ling with Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, and Ding Ling recognized him as Guo Jing.
• Guo Jing confirmed his identity and questioned why Ding Ling had injured his disciples, while Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen accused Ding Ling and demanded revenge.
• Wu Santong attacked again with his left hand, but Ding Ling evaded him and Guo Jing restrained him.
• Guo Jing’s daughter Guo Fu criticized Ding Ling, and her mother Huang Rong silenced her before joining Guo Jing to face Ding Ling.

Guo Jing confronted Ding Ling after recognizing his superior Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, while Huang Rong and the others learned that he was the famed warrior who had crushed Kublai Khan's army. Guo Jing asked what grievance had led Ding Ling to injure the Wu Brothers, leaving the cause of the conflict unresolved.

• Guo Jing questioned Ding Ling's identity after their palm clash and acknowledged that Ding Ling's Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms surpassed his own.
• Guo Fu protested that Guo Jing was praising the man who had injured the Wu Brothers, and Huang Rong rebuked her.
• Ke Zhen'e demanded that Guo Jing show no mercy, but Huang Rong quietly explained Ding Ling's strength and Ke Zhen'e fell silent.
• Guo Jing introduced Huang Rong, Guo Fu, Ke Zhen'e, Zhu Ziliu, Lu Youjiao, and the others to Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling gave his name, and Huang Rong identified him as the hero who had crushed Kublai Khan's army; the gathered martial artists grew fearful.
• Guo Jing asked Ding Ling what grievance had led him to deal a vicious blow to the Wu Brothers, while Wu Xiuwen felt ashamed and apprehensive.

Ding Ling presented Hong Qigong’s letter, convincing Guo Jing to teach him the Nine Yin Manual. While Guo Jing led Ding Ling inside, Wu Santong attacked Little Dragon Girl, and Huang Rong tried to keep the incident from escalating.

• Ding Ling showed Guo Jing and Huang Rong Hong Qigong’s torn letter, and they confirmed its praise of Ding Ling and Little Dragon Girl was genuine.
• Guo Jing agreed to teach Ding Ling the Nine Yin Manual, and Ding Ling refused to stay for a meal before following him into the inner courtyard.
• Wu Santong attacked Little Dragon Girl with One Finger Shooting Zen while she watched Ding Ling leave, but she dodged the strike.
• Huang Rong warned Wu Santong against provoking Ding Ling, and Zhu Ziliu knocked Wu Santong unconscious when he tried to attack again.
• Huang Rong had the injured Wu Brothers taken away and asked Little Dragon Girl not to tell Ding Ling about Wu Santong’s attack.

Huang Rong questioned Little Dragon Girl about the Shaolin incident and concluded Ding Ling had acted from a sense of justice, though his bloodlust made him dangerous. She warned Guo Fu and the others not to provoke him, leaving Guo Fu frightened and Ke Zhen'e angry enough to storm off.

• Little Dragon Girl told Huang Rong that Shaolin monks had accused Ding Ling of stealing their scripture even though they had not gone up Mount Song.
• Huang Rong questioned Little Dragon Girl and decided that Ding Ling was principled and upright, but dangerously ruthless.
• Huang Rong warned Guo Fu, Ke Zhen'e, and the others that Ding Ling could kill even powerful opponents and should not be provoked.
• Huang Rong recounted how Ding Ling killed Ke Bi Neng and his forces, frightening Guo Fu and the Wu Brothers.
• Guo Fu promised to avoid Ding Ling and his wife, while Huang Rong continued reprimanding her and Ke Zhen'e angrily walked away.

Ding Ling learned the Nine Yin Manual and several of its techniques from Guo Jing, mastering each instantly and astonishing him with his talent. After absorbing the manual’s inner force, Ding Ling found that its true qi formed a separate cluster in his dantian, where it remained balanced alongside his other energies.

• Guo Jing demonstrated Serpentine Movement, and Ding Ling mastered it instantly, producing nine convincing phantom figures.
• Guo Jing taught Ding Ling Ghostly Yin Wind Howl, which Ding Ling perfected and demonstrated with a roar that left Guo Jing dizzy.
• Ding Ling mastered Hand Waving Five Strings, Golden Bell Shield, and several other techniques as Guo Jing continued teaching him.
• Guo Jing taught Ding Ling the Nine Yin Manual’s general principles and inner cultivation methods, and Ding Ling mastered the manual at once.
• Ding Ling absorbed the surging primordial qi and discovered that the Nine Yin Manual’s true qi formed its own cluster alongside his Innate True Qi and Nine Yang True Water.

After mastering the Nine Yin Manual, Ding Ling discovered a nascent Martial Furnace in the Library that could combine martial arts into new skills, though it was not yet ready to use. He gained Guo Jing’s admiration and secured the promise of further instruction by agreeing to defend the Song Dynasty and Xiangyang.

• Ding Ling sensed that the Martial Furnace had begun to manifest and realized it could smelt martial arts and skills into a new divine art once fully unlocked.
• Ding Ling asked Guo Jing to teach him more martial arts, and Guo Jing said he needed his wife’s permission for some of the inherited techniques.
• Guo Jing asked Ding Ling to stand with the Song Dynasty and never join the Mongol Empire, and Ding Ling agreed.
• Ding Ling’s broad knowledge impressed Guo Jing, earning him an E-Rank Achievement Medal for Guo Jing’s profound admiration.
• Ding Ling realized Guo Jing would likely teach him Peach Blossom Island and other ultimate arts if he helped defend Xiangyang.

Guo Fu defied her parents’ warnings and went to confront Ding Ling, but fled when Huang Rong arrived. As the Mongol army approached Xiangyang, Guo Jing invited Ding Ling to meet General Lü and help defend the city.

• Guo Jing left Ding Ling and Little Dragon Girl together and went to find Huang Rong, who was scolding Guo Fu.
• Guo Jing sided with Huang Rong and warned Guo Fu not to provoke Ding Ling, prompting Guo Fu to run off in anger.
• Guo Fu went to confront Ding Ling and Little Dragon Girl, but fled when Huang Rong shouted at her.
• Huang Rong apologized to Ding Ling for Guo Fu, and Guo Jing promised to discipline his daughter.
• Guo Jing told Ding Ling that Kublai Khan’s Mongol Army was likely approaching Xiangyang and invited him to meet General Lü.

Ding Ling joined Guo Jing on Xiangyang’s walls as a Mongol army advanced, while Guo Jing introduced him to the defenders and prepared the heroes for battle. Ding Ling recognized Yuwen Chengdu among the enemy forces, leaving the approaching clash poised to begin.

• Ding Ling declined to meet Xiangyang’s commanders and rode with Guo Jing and the others to inspect the city walls.
• Guo Jing praised Ding Ling to the soldiers as Xiangyang’s hope, while Ding Ling observed the approaching signs of war from the walls.
• Lu Wende briefly greeted Ding Ling, then left Guo Jing to handle the defenses and the arriving martial heroes.
• Guo Jing assigned the martial heroes to positions as the sound of enemy cavalry drew closer.
• Ding Ling saw an army of at least a hundred thousand approaching, led by a towering spear-wielding man and Yuwen Chengdu.

Yuwen Chengdu recognized Ding Ling among the Mongol forces and resolved to avoid the coming battle, while Aobai challenged Xiangyang’s defenders and killed three heroes with ease. Huang Rong promised Ding Ling Peach Blossom Island’s secret techniques if he repelled the attack, and Ding Ling stepped forward to face Aobai.

• Yuwen Chengdu saw Ding Ling, decided to escape the Mongol Army at the first opportunity, and exchanged a faint smile with him.
• Aobai challenged the defenders of Xiangyang, and three heroes who fought him were killed by his spear.
• Guo Jing prepared to fight Aobai, but Huang Rong stopped him and offered Ding Ling Peach Blossom Island’s secret techniques if he drove back the Mongol attack.
• Ding Ling accepted Huang Rong’s offer and went to meet Aobai.

Ding Ling confronted Aobai and overwhelmed him with Yuchi Jingde’s Divine Whips and the Dog Beating Staff Technique. As Mongol cavalry swarmed the battlefield, Ding Ling fought through their ranks and continued pursuing Aobai, while Guo Jing and Huang Rong watched from the city wall and prepared to intervene if needed.

• Ding Ling rode out with Little Dragon Girl and faced Aobai, who mocked his appearance before attacking with a whip.
• Ding Ling used the Dog Beating Staff Technique to disarm Aobai, break through his protective Gang Qi, and smash his horse beneath him.
• Aobai activated the Thirteen Taibao Golden Bell Shield, fled, and called for his cavalry to protect him.
• Ding Ling attacked the cavalry with a Divine Whip in each hand, cutting through the formation with No Dogs Under Heaven.
• Guo Jing worried that Ding Ling’s small force could not stop the Mongol army, while Huang Rong proposed waiting nearby and helping if necessary.
• Ding Ling dismounted, fought through the army on foot, and rapidly pursued the fleeing Aobai.

Ding Ling killed Aobai and routed the Mongol army, earning Xiangyang’s admiration before gaining strength from banquet gifts and instantly mastering Huang Rong’s Fallen Blossom Sword Palm. Huang Rong then witnessed the gulf between their martial arts talent firsthand.

• Ding Ling killed Aobai and tore through the Mongol army while Little Dragon Girl followed him, and Yuwen Chengdu fled.
• Ding Ling’s assault drove the Mongol soldiers back, allowing Guo Jing and the others to pursue them and establish Ding Ling as Xiangyang’s celebrated war god.
• Guo Fu became afraid to confront Ding Ling, and Wu Santong abandoned thoughts of revenge after his sons begged him to stop.
• Lu Wende hosted a banquet for Ding Ling and gave him martial arts manuals and Great Medicine, which Ding Ling consumed to increase his attributes.
• Huang Rong taught Ding Ling the Fallen Blossom Sword Palm, and he mastered it instantly, leaving her stunned by his talent.

Huang Rong taught Ding Ling a series of powerful martial arts, and he mastered each one instantly, deepening her awe and respect. After demonstrating the terrifying effects of his new techniques, Ding Ling continued learning more arts from her.

• Huang Rong taught Ding Ling Orchid Finger Flick, which he mastered instantly and demonstrated with graceful, cutting force.
• Huang Rong taught him Void Palm, and Ding Ling struck a deep palm print into a wall with a single blow.
• Ding Ling received Huang Rong’s Achievement Medal and gained dozens of other medals from witnesses impressed by his battlefield feats.
• Huang Rong taught Ding Ling Fingertip Divine Skill, and he flicked a stone through a wall from a distance.
• Huang Rong taught Ding Ling more than a dozen techniques, including Jade Flute Swordplay and Spiritual Sea Tide Song, and he mastered them all instantly.
• Ding Ling played Spiritual Sea Tide Song on Huang Rong’s jade flute until she could no longer endure it and asked him to stop.

After defeating the Mongol army at Xiangyang, Ding Ling considered how to protect Little Dragon Girl and advance his tasks. Huo Dou, a Mongol prince and disciple of the Golden Wheel Monk, arrived to invite Ding Ling to serve as Mongol Empire’s National Preceptor.

• Ding Ling received Huang Rong’s priceless jade flute and immediately mastered its related martial arts techniques.
• Ding Ling considered killing Kublai Khan to advance Task 3 and making arrangements for Little Dragon Girl’s future.
• Ding Ling asked Huang Rong about Peach Blossom Island’s other arts, but learned her father was rarely there and difficult to find.
• Ding Ling’s victory at Xiangyang spread his fame throughout the Nine Provinces, reaching players and people in power.
• Huo Dou visited the Guo Family residence and insisted on speaking with Ding Ling in person.
• Huo Dou identified himself as a Mongol prince and the Golden Wheel Monk’s third disciple, then invited Ding Ling to serve as Mongol Empire’s National Preceptor.

Huo Dou offered Ding Ling the Mongol Empire’s National Preceptor title, gold, medicines, and two women, hoping to win him over. Ding Ling remained committed to defending Xiangyang, while Huang Rong promised to seek support from the Song court and Guo Jing urged him to reject the offer.

• Huo Dou offered Ding Ling the National Preceptor title and insisted the Mongol Khan’s invitation was sincere.
• Huo Dou presented Ding Ling with chests of gold, ancient medicines, and two young women as gifts.
• Ding Ling recalled his promise to Hong Qigong and Guo Jing and suspected Kublai Khan might be plotting against him.
• Huang Rong challenged Huo Dou and promised Ding Ling that she would obtain a satisfactory response from the Song court.
• Guo Jing warned Ding Ling that accepting the Mongol offer would play into the empire’s ambitions.

Ding Ling rejected the Mongol Empire’s attempt to recruit him, and Huang Rong’s allies captured Huo Dou for questioning. After accepting the gold and Great Medicine while sending the twin girls home, Ding Ling consumed the medicine and increased his attributes.

• Huo Dou offered Ding Ling gifts and a position as National Preceptor of the Mongol Empire, while Huang Rong and other heroes urged Ding Ling not to accept.
• Ding Ling told the heroes to capture Huo Dou and interrogate him about the Mongol Empire’s plot, so Huang Rong and Guo Jing subdued him and had him taken away.
• Huang Rong reassured Ding Ling that she would honor their agreement, and Ding Ling asked her to call him by his name.
• Ding Ling accepted the gold and Great Medicine and sent the twin girls back where they came from.
• Ding Ling ate the Great Medicine, gaining attributes that brought his final Strength to 59.3, Agility and Constitution to 60, and Defense to 52.2.

Ding Ling increased his inner force, then learned that Kublai Khan had prepared numerous schemes to kill him if he refused to serve the Mongol Empire. After healing Huo Dou, Ding Ling set out alone with him to meet the Golden Wheel Monk.

• Ding Ling reached the maximum values for Agility and Constitution, raised his Strength close to its maximum, and refined fifty stalks of Great Medicine to gain thirty Inner Force points.
• Huang Rong told Ding Ling that Kublai Khan planned to make him Left National Preceptor while secretly preparing more than a dozen ways to kill him if he refused.
• Ding Ling learned that Huo Dou could lead him to the Golden Wheel Monk and decided to go see him.
• Ding Ling healed Huo Dou after several days and chose to travel with him alone, despite Little Dragon Girl's concern.
• Ding Ling promised Little Dragon Girl he would return within seven days, then carried Huo Dou away using his movement skills.