Chapter Summaries

Ding Ling negotiated with Zhang Feiyan and demonstrated his overwhelming strength by defeating Lei Gong in a single exchange. Zhao Yun then defeated Yu Du, and Zhang Feiyan recognized Zhao Yun as the disciple of the spear god Tong Yuan.

• Ding Ling agreed to spar with the Black Mountain Army after Zhang Feiyan promised to release his captured men and requested a display of their forces' strength.
• Ding Ling knocked Lei Gong's saber away and held his Fangtian Halberd to Lei Gong's neck, earning the awe of the Black Mountain Army's leaders and elite unit.
• Ding Ling invited another challenger, then stepped aside so Zhao Yun could take his place.
• Zhao Yun defeated Yu Du with the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear, sending Yu Du back to the Black Mountain Army's formation in humiliation.
• Zhang Feiyan recognized Zhao Yun's spear technique as Tong Yuan's and respectfully acknowledged him as the spear god's disciple.

Zhang Feiyan withdrew his forces after Ding Ling returned Li Da Mu and the others, but accepted Ding Ling’s challenge to a barehanded contest. Ding Ling fought Zhang Feiyan with Mantis Fist and Kongmen Fist, holding back to gain combat experience.

• Zhang Feiyan recognized Zhao Zilong as Tong Yuan's top disciple and, fearing Ding Ling and Zhao Zilong, agreed to leave if Ding Ling returned Li Da Mu and the others.
• Ding Ling returned Li Da Mu and the others, warned Zhang Feiyan not to raid Changshan Commandery again, and challenged him to a contest of fist and foot techniques.
• Zhang Feiyan accepted the challenge and faced Ding Ling in the field, using the Raging Bull Skill he had inherited from Zhang Niujiao.
• Ding Ling and Zhang Feiyan exchanged blows with Mantis Fist and the Raging Bull Skill as both armies watched.
• Ding Ling switched to Kongmen Fist and continued fighting while holding back, using Zhang Feiyan as a sparring partner to improve his practical experience.

Ding Ling defeated Zhang Feiyan in a bout of boxing and kicking, earning an Achievement Medal and advancing his War God progression. He then challenged the Black Mountain Army’s other generals together, and Zuo Zizhangba and Yu Digen stepped forward to fight him.

• Ding Ling overwhelmed Zhang Feiyan with a succession of mastered fist and palm techniques until Zhang Feiyan surrendered.
• Ding Ling received an Achievement Medal for defeating Zhang Feiyan, and his count of defeated realm powerhouses rose to five.
• Zhang Feiyan admitted Ding Ling’s superiority and prepared to leave with his men, recognizing that Ding Ling had held back and used him to sharpen his skills.
• Ding Ling stopped Zhang Feiyan and asked to fight the other Black Mountain Army generals together to test his strength.
• Lei Gong challenged Ding Ling’s confidence, then Zuo Zizhangba and Yu Digen stepped forward to fight him.

Ding Ling faced dozens of Black Mountain Army leaders in a mounted spar and defeated them all with overwhelming strength and skill. The field was left stunned, and Zhang Feiyan struggled to believe what he had witnessed.

• Ping Han, Fu Yun, Bai Que, and dozens of other Black Mountain Army leaders rode out to challenge Ding Ling.
• Zhang Feiyan announced the start of the spar as players and the Black Mountain Army leaders expected Ding Ling to lose.
• Yang Feng, Huang Long, Zuo Zizhang, and several others attacked Ding Ling together, but Ding Ling disarmed them with the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear Technique.
• Ding Ling swept Yang Feng, Zuo Zizhang, and the other attackers from their horses with his Fangtian Halberd.
• Bai Que and the remaining leaders charged Ding Ling, who knocked dozens of them from their horses with the Tiangang Axe Technique.
• Zhang Feiyan stared in disbelief as Ding Ling stood victorious over the Black Mountain Army leaders.

Ding Ling defeated dozens of Black Mountain Army chiefs, increasing his fame and progress toward spreading his God of War Title. Zhang Feiyan admitted defeat, and Ding Ling asked him for powerful medicinal herbs.

• Ding Ling's victory terrified Zhang Feiyan, the players, and the Black Mountain Army, while his own soldiers celebrated and Zhao Feng admired him.
• Bai Que and Zuo Zizhang earned Ding Ling's respect-related Achievement Medals, and a notification described how the defeated chiefs now feared and respected him.
• Ding Ling saw his God of War Title progress rise to 2% after his victory and realized extraordinary feats could spread his reputation without pledging allegiance to a warlord.
• Zhang Feiyan asked to leave after admitting defeat, and Ding Ling asked whether he had any great medicines.

After forcing Zhang Feiyan and the Black Mountain Army to back down, Ding Ling returned to Zhending City and prepared to travel to Luoyang with Zhao Yun. On the road, Zhao Yun asked whether the Han Dynasty would collapse and how peace could be restored, while the suffering of the people grew increasingly visible.

• Ding Ling learned Zhang Feiyan had no miracle medicine and sent him and his companions away after intimidating them.
• Zhang Feiyan met Zhang Baiqi, recounted Ding Ling's strength, and forbade the Black Mountain leaders from approaching Zhending City without his order.
• Ding Ling's reputation as the world's number-one martial general spread throughout the Black Mountain Army.
• Ding Ling returned to Zhending City, entrusted its army to Zhao Feng, and prepared to travel to Luoyang with Zhao Yun.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun saw the chaos and suffering along the road, and Zhao Yun asked whether the Han Dynasty would collapse and how peace could return.

Ding Ling and Zhao Yun encountered soldiers abusing and robbing civilians near Gong County, then learned they belonged to Hu Zhen. As more than a hundred elite soldiers approached, Ding Ling hid his identity and prepared to deal with them at night.

• Zhao Yun wanted to attack soldiers looting civilians, but Ding Ling warned that rescuing the people could bring retaliation against them.
• When soldiers tried to seize their horses, Ding Ling wounded one and Zhao Yun injured the others; Ding Ling then killed the group after deciding to eliminate future trouble.
• Ding Ling interrogated the last soldier and learned that the troops belonged to Hu Zhen.
• Hearing more soldiers approach, Ding Ling and Zhao Yun withdrew and hid behind a tree.
• Ding Ling removed his General's Armor, covered his face, and set out with a bow and saber while Zhao Yun followed his plan.

Ding Ling and Zhao Yun disguised themselves as Hu Zhen’s soldiers and slaughtered three hundred elite cavalrymen. They continued toward a nearby camp, where they discovered soldiers massacring civilians.

• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun removed their armor, masked themselves, and prepared to ambush the approaching search party.
• Ding Ling shot down the elite soldiers with his bow while Zhao Yun supplied him with arrows, killing or wounding the entire party.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun took weapons, horses, and armor from the fallen soldiers and disguised themselves as Hu Zhen’s men.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun charged into hundreds of enemy soldiers, killed their officers, and pursued the fleeing cavalry with spears and arrows.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun killed three hundred elite cavalrymen before riding on to a camp where they found soldiers executing civilians.

Ding Ling and Zhao Yun stormed Hu Zhen’s camp to stop the slaughter of civilians, cutting through the soldiers and killing Hu Zhen. The remaining troops fled in confusion after their general fell.

• Ding Ling shot down the soldiers executing civilians while Zhao Yun supplied him with arrows.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun charged into the camp, deflected hidden arrows, and fought their way toward the central command tent.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun broke through Hu Zhen’s elite archers and cavalry with coordinated spear attacks.
• Hu Zhen attacked Ding Ling, but Ding Ling blocked his spear, knocked him from his horse, and killed him.
• The soldiers panicked and scattered after someone announced Hu Zhen’s death.

Ding Ling and Zhao Yun escaped Hu Zhen’s camp after rescuing the commoners, and Ding Ling earned the Horse Trampling the Enemy Camp Achievement Medal. He ate the ginseng taken from Hu Zhen’s tent, greatly increasing his Strength and Defense.

• Ding Ling searched Hu Zhen’s tent, took its gold and ginseng, and earned the Horse Trampling the Enemy Camp Achievement Medal.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun left the camp after he used a disguised voice to direct the commoners to flee south or into the mountains.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun discarded their disguises and distinctive captured gear, freed the Xiliang war horses, and kept the gold.
• Ding Ling ate the ginseng raw, and his Spirit Phoenix Breathing Method refined its medicinal power into increases of 1.2 Strength and 1.2 Defense.

After gaining strength from a precious medicinal herb, Ding Ling taught Zhao Yun voice-changing techniques and rode with him to Yanshi City. Warned that Li Jue was searching for Hu Zhen’s killers, they left before the city was sealed and continued toward Luoyang.

• Ding Ling’s strength and defense rose after he ate a great medicinal herb, and he resolved to search treasure vaults thoroughly in the future.
• Ding Ling explained the voice-changing technique to Zhao Yun, who struggled to master it and became more grateful and determined to follow him.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun heard Li Jue’s cavalry passing through Yanshi City and learned that Hu Zhen’s death had prompted a search for the two Nameless experts.
• Ding Ling bought provisions and left Yanshi City with Zhao Yun, avoiding Li Jue’s forces to protect his plans to learn martial arts.
• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun heard from travelers that Yanshi City was sealed less than half an hour after they departed.

Ding Ling and Zhao Yun entered Luoyang and followed Tong Yuan’s map to the Wang Residence, where they delivered his letter. Master Wang welcomed them and recognized Ding Ling as the famed genius Tong Yuan had described, leaving Ding Ling wondering whether his host was the Sword God, Wang Yue.

• Ding Ling and Zhao Yun arrived at Luoyang, entered by paying the corrupt gate guards, and rode east through the city.
• Ding Ling pulled Zhao Yun away from a killing by Guo Si’s men and continued toward the dilapidated eastern district.
• Ding Ling used his geography skill and Tong Yuan’s map to find the Wang Residence, then gave Shi A Tong Yuan’s letter for Master Wang.
• Master Wang came out, identified Zhao Yun, and greeted Ding Ling as the peerless genius praised in Tong Yuan’s letter.
• Master Wang invited them inside and told Shi A to care for their horses and prepare guest rooms, while Ding Ling suspected he was Wang Yue.

Ding Ling and Zhao Yun arrived at Wang Yue’s declining residence in Luoyang, where Wang Yue agreed to assess them before deciding whether to teach them. The chapter ended after Wang Yue examined their physiques and showed much greater appreciation for Zhao Yun than for Ding Ling.

• Ding Ling realized Shi A was Wang Yue’s disciple and grew excited at the prospect of learning from the Sword God.
• Shi A confirmed that his master was Wang Yue and led Ding Ling and Zhao Yun to the study.
• Wang Yue warned that he would send them away if their aptitude or conduct disappointed him, but promised to teach them if they met his lowered standards.
• Wang Yue examined Ding Ling’s physique, frowned, then examined Zhao Yun and regarded him with admiration.

Wang Yue judged Zhao Yun a prodigy and Ding Ling mediocre because of their differing bone structure, but agreed to teach them swordplay. After demonstrating High-Level Swordplay, he watched Ding Ling master it instantly through the Library, though he mistook this for good memory.

• Wang Yue praised Zhao Yun's exceptional bone structure and dismissed Ding Ling's as ordinary, despite Zhao Yun's defense of his friend.
• Wang Yue explained the five factors in martial arts training and allowed Ding Ling to study alongside Zhao Yun for Tong Yuan's sake.
• Wang Yue took the Cheng Ying Sword to the practice field and demonstrated High-Level Swordplay while explaining its principles.
• Ding Ling's Library instantly recorded High-Level Swordplay at maximum level and increased his Defense by 0.3.
• Wang Yue praised Ding Ling's memory, while Zhao Yun recognized that Ding Ling had learned the swordplay after watching it once.

Zhao Yun persuaded Wang Yue to let Ding Ling prove he could learn High-Level Swordplay in an hour. Ding Ling performed the entire swordplay flawlessly, leaving Wang Yue and Shi A stunned as Wang Yue prepared to respond.

• Zhao Yun defended Ding Ling and insisted that he could learn High-Level Swordplay in an hour.
• Wang Yue promised to pass on everything he had learned, including his breathing technique, if someone mastered the swordplay within an hour.
• Zhao Yun clarified that he meant Ding Ling, not himself, and Ding Ling agreed to demonstrate the swordplay.
• Ding Ling picked up a piece of broken wood and performed the complete High-Level Swordplay with effortless precision.
• Shi A and Wang Yue stood stunned, and Wang Yue recovered first before examining Ding Ling and beginning to speak.

Ding Ling mastered Wang Yue’s Twin Flowers Swordplay after seeing it once, convincing Wang Yue that his extraordinary talent was real. Wang Yue gave Ding Ling the Shuo Yue Sword, and the chapter ended with him explaining that his secret techniques grew more difficult and were less widely known.

• Wang Yue taught Ding Ling the Twin Flowers Swordplay and watched him master it after a single demonstration.
• Wang Yue recognized Ding Ling’s sword aura and had Shi A fetch him a sword, while Zhao Yun celebrated Ding Ling’s achievement.
• Wang Yue gave Ding Ling the Shuo Yue Sword, which Ding Ling drew and praised.
• Ding Ling demonstrated Twin Flowers Swordplay at great completion, leaving Wang Yue stunned and Shi A shaken.
• Wang Yue asked whether Ding Ling had learned Twin Flowers Swordplay before, and Ding Ling denied it.
• Wang Yue explained that his secret arts advanced in stages and that the later techniques were less widely known.

Wang Yue taught Ding Ling Thousand Flowers Swordplay and Myriad Flowers Swordplay, but Ding Ling mastered both after a single demonstration and performed them at their perfected stages. His astonishing skill left Wang Yue and Shi A stunned, while Wang Yue continued to suspect that someone had secretly taught him the techniques.

• Wang Yue demonstrated Thousand Flowers Swordplay, and Ding Ling mastered it instantly.
• Ding Ling performed perfected Thousand Flowers Swordplay, earning Wang Yue’s praise as a great swordsman.
• Wang Yue demonstrated the high-level Myriad Flowers Swordplay and suspected an Inner Sect Disciple had taught it to Ding Ling.
• Ding Ling mastered Myriad Flowers Swordplay after one demonstration and performed its perfected Myriad Flowers Picture.
• Shi A stared in disbelief because he had studied Myriad Flowers Swordplay for years without reaching Ding Ling’s level.

After Ding Ling mastered Myriad Flowers Swordplay, Wang Yue recognized him as a candidate to inherit the Sword Sect and offered to teach him the Sword God Art. Wang Yue explained that the sect’s ancient oral traditions were nearly lost, and Ding Ling became its best hope for preserving them.

• Ding Ling’s mastery of Myriad Flowers Swordplay earned Shi A’s profound admiration and Wang Yue’s high recognition.
• Wang Yue praised Ding Ling’s swordsmanship and said he could finally pass on the Sword Sect’s supreme arts.
• Wang Yue told Zhao Yun, Ding Ling, and Shi A that the Sword Sect traced its history to the Yellow Emperor and had lost many arts through oral transmission and war.
• Wang Yue explained that Ding Ling’s Myriad Flowers Swordplay met the minimum requirement for learning the Sword God Art, and he agreed to teach him.
• Wang Yue said he alone knew the Sword God Art and that Ding Ling offered hope of preserving it after his death.

Wang Yue taught Ding Ling, Zhao Yun, and Shi A the first part of the Sword God Art, Dawn Swordplay. Ding Ling mastered it instantly and demonstrated it, leaving Wang Yue stunned and the others amazed.

• Wang Yue demonstrated Dawn Swordplay and explained its significance as the first part of the Sword God Art.
• Ding Ling's Library formed a book for Dawn Swordplay, and he mastered it at max level, boosting his attributes.
• Wang Yue sensed Ding Ling's new sword aura and was shocked when Ding Ling confirmed he had learned Dawn Swordplay after hearing it once.
• At Wang Yue's request, Ding Ling demonstrated Dawn Swordplay with the Shuo Yue Sword, astonishing Zhao Yun and Shi A and overwhelming Wang Yue.

After seeing Ding Ling master Dawn Swordplay, Wang Yue apologized for underestimating him and began teaching him Sunset Swordplay. The chapter ended as Ding Ling recalled the demonstration and a book titled "Sunset Swordplay" appeared in his Library.

• Wang Yue realized Ding Ling had cultivated Dawn Swordplay to the Instinctive Realm and apologized to Zhao Yun and Ding Ling for doubting them.
• Wang Yue explained that later Sword Sect techniques, including Daybreak Swordplay and Midday Swordplay, had been lost amid wars and that the sect had left no manuals behind.
• Zhao Yun challenged Wang Yue to demonstrate Sunset Swordplay so Ding Ling could learn it, and Ding Ling calmly agreed to try.
• Wang Yue demonstrated Sunset Swordplay with its moves and mnemonic verses while Ding Ling watched.
• Ding Ling reviewed the demonstration in his mind, and a book titled "Sunset Swordplay" condensed on a shelf in his Library.