Chapter Summaries

Yan Yuqing, Celestial Crane Daoist, Dong Shan, and Xiao Wei discovered Huo Liuyin’s Spirit Child Tower and escaped the Huo Family estate as he unleashed the yin spirits across Jin City’s Outer City. Amid the chaos, Yu Jiren attacked Zhang Lingshan at Hongying Martial Hall, and Wu Lian threw himself in front of the sword.

• Celestial Crane Daoist found a child’s remains beneath Xiao Wei’s foot and gave the group talismans to help them avoid the bones as they crossed the Huo Family grounds.
• Yan Yuqing saw the Spirit Child Tower’s white-cloth dolls, whose trapped young souls noticed her, and Celestial Crane Daoist led the group into a retreat.
• Huo Family guards surrounded the group, but Celestial Crane Daoist raised a turtle-shell barrier and found a path through the Nine-Nine Yin Spirit Grand Formation.
• Celestial Crane Daoist and Yan Yuqing escaped the estate, but Huo Liuyin unleashed yin spirits across the Outer City, sending ghosts to attack its residents.
• At Hongying Martial Hall, Hong Zhengdao repelled a ghost while Yu Jiren lunged at Zhang Lingshan, and Wu Lian threw himself onto the sword’s tip to protect him.

Zhang Lingshan killed Yu Jiren, heard Wu Lian’s final request to protect his family, and then ventured into the city’s Yin-filled streets to absorb and refine evil spirits into Energy Points. After rescuing no one else and consuming the spirits of former acquaintances, he encountered a Daoist priest who believed he could lead survivors to safety.

• Yu Jiren wounded Wu Lian, but Zhang Lingshan disarmed and killed him with a Blood Claw Hand attack and Hong Zhengdao’s Eight Directions Divine Palm.
• As he lay dying, Wu Lian asked Zhang Lingshan to protect his family when he eventually left the Jiang Family, then revealed a secret before he died.
• Zhang Lingshan changed into night clothes and left the martial arts school alone, while Zhao Hongying gathered the others in the Main Hall to resist the Yin energy.
• Zhang Lingshan absorbed black-mist evil spirits into the Nether Palace and refined them with the Qi and Blood Furnace, gaining thousands of Energy Points.
• Zhang Lingshan absorbed the yin spirits of Liu Feng, Hao Yun, and Hao Lei, who had died while on night duty.
• A disheveled Daoist priest in a Yellow Daoist Robe rushed toward Zhang Lingshan, while a burly man warned him not to provoke the spirit-absorbing warrior.

Zhang Lingshan absorbed the yin spirits Huo Liuyin sent after Yan Yuqing and her companions, then learned that Golden Light Temple was a deadly formation cultivating four powerful Vajras. He agreed to meet Yan Yuqing and Celestial Crane Daoist in Jade City while they searched for a way to rescue the people inside the temple.

• Zhang Lingshan absorbed the Black Mist chasing Yan Yuqing, Xiao Wei, and Celestial Crane Daoist, and Celestial Crane Daoist used an incense burner to attract more yin spirits for him.
• Huo Liuyin recalled his yin spirits after many of them disappeared, and Zhang Lingshan refined the remaining spirits while Yan Yuqing and Celestial Crane Daoist abandoned plans to enter the Inner City.
• Zhang Lingshan returned and questioned Celestial Crane Daoist about his claim that Huo Liuyin had killed one of Zhang Lingshan's blood relatives, then asked about Golden Light Temple.
• Celestial Crane Daoist explained that Golden Light Temple's formation sacrificed people and Bronze Men to cultivate four peak Bone Forging Vajras, and offered to seek a Buddhist monk who could find the formation's life gate.
• Yan Yuqing invited Zhang Lingshan to meet them in Jade City, and Celestial Crane Daoist urged her to reach Bone Forging before they attempted to break the formation.

Zhang Lingshan perfected the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique and underwent an unprecedented fifth round of Flesh Refining, then returned to the Jiang Family. Jiang Bie learned of his strength and secretly planned to use the Tendon Nourishing Soup to help him attain the Vajra position.

• Yan Yuqing and Celestial Crane Daoist left for Jade City, while Zhang Lingshan returned to Hongying Martial Hall and rested in a cellar.
• Zhang Lingshan spent 40,000 Energy Points to perfect the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique, then used another 120,000 points and the cellar’s food to complete a fifth round of Flesh Refining.
• Zhang Lingshan demonstrated that his transformed muscles could withstand a dagger and crush it, then left Hongying Martial Hall when a giant messenger ordered him back to the Jiang Family.
• Zhao Hongying found the cellar completely emptied after Zhang Lingshan left and went to prepare for Hong Zhengdao’s attempt to advance.
• Zhang Lingshan told Jiang Bie that Wu Lian had died protecting him and asked to bring Wu Lian’s wife and daughter to his courtyard; Jiang Bie agreed.
• After Zhang Lingshan left, Jiang Bie arranged for Wu Lian’s and Yu Jiren’s bodies to be taken away, then decided to add ingredients to Zhang Lingshan’s Tendon Nourishing Soup to help him attain the Vajra position.

Zhang Lingshan perfected three leg techniques, comprehended four kinds of martial momentum, and considered Wu Lian’s secrets about escaping the Jiang Family. After drinking Tendon Nourishing Soup, he persuaded Jiang Bie to arrange combat practice and prepared to fight Gao Yang.

• Zhang Lingshan raised Gale Wind Leg, Red Crane Leg Technique, and Red Crane Movement Technique to Perfection, increasing his strength and agility.
• Zhang Lingshan comprehended Axe Momentum, Wind Blade, Crane Claw, and Crane Shadow, then saw the martial arts and momentum reflected on his Panel.
• Zhang Lingshan reviewed Wu Lian’s advice about escaping during the ox hour and the secret map remembered by Wu Lian’s daughter.
• Zhang Lingshan drank Tendon Nourishing Soup, gained more than 1,200 Energy Points, and decided to hone his combat skills instead of spending the day cultivating.
• Zhang Lingshan convinced Jiang Bie to arrange sparring with Tendon Transformation Realm fighters, and Jiang Bie promised a future match with Vajra Arhat if Zhang Lingshan advanced.
• Zhang Lingshan asked about Wu Lian’s wife and daughter, then chose Gao Yang, who resembled Yu Jiren, as his first opponent.

Zhang Lingshan used the Jiang Family’s Tendon Nourishing Soup to accumulate Energy Points while secretly probing the family and helping Wu Fangfang recover from the effects of its strange fragrance. After reaching Perfection in several martial arts and breaking through to Tendon Transformation Realm Perfection, he memorized Wu Fangfang’s map of secret passages and prepared to explore the Jiang Family at night.

• Zhang Lingshan sparred with Gao Yang, impressed Jiang Bie, and received an increased dose of Tendon Nourishing Soup while concealing his strength.
• Yuan Lingjun dismissed Zhang Lingshan as a threat, discussed Yuan Qiu’s imminent breakthrough, and learned that the Huo and Sha Families were active in the Outer City.
• Zhang Lingshan used his blood qi to calm Wu Fangfang and gradually helped her communicate with Zhang Lingyu, then had her draw a map of the Jiang Family’s secret passages.
• After secretly mapping nearby routes and accumulating Energy Points, Zhang Lingshan brought several martial arts to Perfection and gained new forms of Momentum.
• Zhang Lingshan advanced the Demon Subduing Saber Technique and other arts to Perfection, then used the map and his Energy Points to reach Tendon Transformation Realm Perfection.
• Zhang Lingshan memorized Wu Fangfang’s map and waited for ox hour to explore the Jiang Family’s secret passages.

Zhang Lingshan explored the Jiang Family’s secret passages, discovering poisonous Strange Grasses and Strange Flowers that fed on victims and increased his Energy Points. In the eighth passage, he found the still-living Du'e Zen Master trapped among the plants.

• Zhang Lingshan studied his martial arts, practiced the Bear Body Refining Technique, and absorbed the Golden-haired Mad Bear’s strength-focused ability.
• Zhang Lingshan sneaked into Wei Young Master’s courtyard and found that his method of knocking out Zhan Ming briefly broke through the brainwashing control.
• Zhang Lingshan used the same method on Tendon Transformation guards in nearby courtyards while searching for secret passages.
• Zhang Lingshan entered several passages and found Strange Grasses and Strange Flowers that recoiled from torchlight and released toxins that raised his Energy Points.
• Zhang Lingshan found Wu Lian’s corpse wrapped in Strange Grass in the fourth passage.
• Zhang Lingshan heard coughing in the eighth passage and discovered Du'e Zen Master alive, trapped among the Strange Grasses.

Zhang Lingshan learned that Du'e Zen Master knew of a Wordless True Scripture beneath the Merit Buddha and planned to investigate the Jiang Family's secrets. After preparing awakened guards to escape, he found 21 Wordless True Scripture slabs and discovered that collecting them could grant the Heavenly Eye Mystical Power.

• Zhang Lingshan questioned Du'e Zen Master, learned Jiang Bie was using Buddha's Foot Grass to refine him into a Dharma Protector Vajra, and agreed to help the monk escape in exchange for the Wordless True Scripture's location.
• Du'e Zen Master said the treasure lay beneath the Merit Buddha and warned that the Jiang Family Old Ancestor's soul power was linked to the Formation, but rested during ox hour.
• Zhang Lingshan found that Jiang Shaobai had left the city after reaching Tendon Changing, then drank the Tendon Nourishing Soup and gained more than 10,000 Energy Points.
• During ox hour, Zhang Lingshan reverse-brainwashed Four Fragrances and arranged with Zhan Ming for the awakened guards to fight their way out when he broke the Formation.
• Zhang Lingshan found Vajra Arhat guarding Jiang Bie's courtyard and turned away rather than alert Jiang Bie.
• Zhang Lingshan entered the passage beneath the Merit Buddha and discovered 21 Wordless True Scripture slabs, which his Panel identified as part of the collection needed to obtain the Heavenly Eye Mystical Power.

Zhang Lingshan discovered the Wordless True Scripture in a Jiang Family secret chamber, but an ambush forced him to fight two Bone Forging experts. He killed both and waited nearby, leaving the Red-robed Figure dead but his plea for the Ancestor to save him unanswered.

• Zhang Lingshan found twenty-one Stone Slab scriptures containing the Wordless True Scripture, then encountered a White-haired Old Man blocking the cave exit.
• Zhang Lingshan used his martial arts and Killing Momentum to break the White-haired Old Man’s saber, then transformed with the Bear Body Refining Technique and crushed the Bone Forging expert to death.
• Zhang Lingshan searched the secret chamber for pills and food, then hid in a tree to watch who came after the fight.
• A Red-robed Figure arrived carrying a Buddhist staff, and Zhang Lingshan ambushed him with Crane Form momentum and countered the staff’s demonic music with the Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound Technique.
• Zhang Lingshan knocked the Buddhist staff aside, stomped the Red-robed Figure’s stomach, and left him badly wounded as he cried out for the Ancestor.

Zhang Lingshan raided Jiang Bie's secret chamber, recovered Du'e Zen Master's ritual artifacts, and helped him begin breaking the Jiang Family's Magic Array. When the array resisted and the Jiang Family's Vajra Arhat attacked, Zhang Lingshan charged to confront him.

• Zhang Lingshan killed the Red Robed Man, took his pills, and evaded the Jiang Family's alarm by changing clothes, eating, and moving through the estate.
• Zhang Lingshan broke into Jiang Bie's secret passage and stole its ritual artifacts, then brought them to Du'e Zen Master.
• Du'e Zen Master retrieved his own ritual artifacts, explained that the full moon weakened the Magic Array, and began searching for its Array Eye.
• Zhang Lingshan rallied the Tendon Changing guards to protect Du'e Zen Master and killed one man who refused to join them.
• Du'e Zen Master struck the Magic Array with the Vajra Pestle, but the attempt failed and injured him, so he began searching for the Array Eye again.
• When the guards reported that the Vajra Arhat was coming, Zhang Lingshan leaped forward and attacked it with the Buddhist Staff.

Zhang Lingshan killed Jiang Bie and the Jiang Family elders, rallied the guards against the family, and subdued the Vajra Arhat. As Du'e Zen Master used the Arhat’s Essence Blood to break the Magic Array, the fake moon appeared to twist and the way out seemed close.

• Zhang Lingshan used the Buddhist Staff to kill a Jiang Family elder and then pinned Jiang Bie to a wall, where he finished him with a palm strike.
• Zhang Lingshan announced Jiang Bie’s death, killed the remaining Jiang Family elders, and knocked down the Vajra Arhat before using his Qi and Blood Furnace to restore the Arhat’s speech.
• Zhang Lingshan ordered the guards to eliminate the Jiang Family without harming innocents, then asked Zhan Ming to escort his family to safety and revealed his identity.
• Zhang Lingshan returned to Du'e Zen Master, who asked to use the Vajra Arhat’s Essence Blood to break the Magic Array.
• Du'e Zen Master explained that the array had projected a false moon and shouted as he began to break it.

Zhang Lingshan led the Jiang family’s freed servants and his companions out of Dongyang Gathering after Du'e Zen Master broke the Magic Array. The Yuan, Zhu, and Sha Families looted the Jiang estate and discovered the Jiang Family Old Ancestor, while Jiang-lang sensed disaster and prepared to return.

• Du'e Zen Master broke the Jiang Family’s Magic Array, and Zhang Lingshan led his family and the fleeing servants out of the Inner City.
• Zhang Lingshan’s group gathered people from the Jiang family’s shops, mounted horses, and escaped through the city gate as the guards let them pass.
• Yuan Lingjun, Yuan Zhou, Zhu Hao, and Sha Chifeng entered the Jiang estate and split twenty-one scripture stone slabs among their families.
• Zhu Hao, Yuan Zhou, and Sha Chifeng destroyed the Merit Buddha statue, exposed the Jiang Family Old Ancestor, and watched him crumble into wood shavings after he warned them of their own doom.
• Jiang-lang heard the commotion, stopped his encounter in the Huo Family, and summoned Xiao Feng and Uncle Zuo to return to the Jiang Family.

Zhang Lingshan organized the Jiang Family survivors into Du'e Gate and used the Black Robe figure's strength to crush opposition and appoint its leaders. After returning to Hong Zhengdao, he asked to learn the Shattered Jade Bone Forging Art, and Hong Zhengdao warned him that its training was painfully destructive.

• Du'e Zen Master mistook Jiang Shaobai for Jiang Bie and killed him, while Zhang Lingshan rescued Zhang Lingfeng and led the survivors to Hong Clan Martial Hall.
• Zhang Lingshan proposed forming Du'e Gate, with Du'e Zen Master as sect master and Vajra Arhat as protector, and the group agreed.
• When a burly man challenged Zhan Ming's appointment as grand elder, the Black Robe figure killed him, and the others accepted Zhang Lingshan's authority.
• Zhang Lingshan agreed to escort Du'e Zen Master to his sect if he took Zhang Lingfeng as a disciple, intending to keep the monk nearby for future help.
• Zhang Lingshan returned to Hong Zhengdao, described the Jiang Family's fall, and asked to learn the Shattered Jade Bone Forging Art; Hong Zhengdao explained that it broke bones before rebuilding them and caused severe pain.

Zhang Lingshan learned the Shattered Jade Bone Forging Art required breaking a bone, snapped his little finger, and used the Panel to reach Entry Level despite the agony. After dealing with Zuo Chao’s arrival, he learned Hong Zhengdao had broken both legs to begin cultivating the art and prepared to push his own training further.

• Hong Zhengdao explained how he obtained the Shattered Jade Bone Forging Art and told Zhang Lingshan that breaking bones was necessary to comprehend it.
• Zhang Lingshan broke his left little finger, circulated the art, and spent 500 Energy Points to advance it to Entry Level, enduring a painful full-body transformation.
• Zhang Lingshan ordered Vajra Arhat to strike Zuo Chao, who survived long enough to kneel beside Jiang Shaobai’s body and declare his loyalty.
• Zhang Lingyu urged Zhang Lingfeng not to grieve for Jiang Shaobai, and Zhang Lingshan arranged for Jiang Shaobai and Zuo Chao to be buried.
• Zhao Hongying told Zhang Lingshan that Hong Zhengdao had broken both his legs, and Zhang Lingshan praised his master before resolving to advance his own cultivation further.

Zhang Lingshan organized Du'e Gate to seize the Jiang Family’s Outer City businesses and assigned Sun Xian and Zhan Ming to lead the operation. Huo Zhenzhen learned Jiang Shaobai had been killed and wanted revenge, while Zhang weighed his next move against the Huo Family and worried about the Yuan Family’s response to Hong Zhengdao’s defection.

• Zhan Ming presented Du'e Gate’s rules to Zhang Lingshan, who adopted a masked appearance and told the members to take over Jiang Family businesses.
• Sun Xian advised Du'e Gate to avoid businesses claimed by the Huo Family, strike against the Yuan, Zhu, and Sha Families, and ally with the Huo Family; Zhang put Sun Xian and Zhan Ming in charge of the operation.
• Huo Zhenzhen learned Jiang Shaobai had been killed by Du'e Zen Master and, despite her anger, decided to visit Sha Mingyue to seek support against Du'e Gate.
• Zhang Lingshan considered how to raise his Energy Points and enter the Huo Family’s Spirit Child Tower, but decided he would need Master Hong’s help rather than bring Vajra Arhat.
• Hong Zhengdao asked Zhang Lingshan what troubled him, and Zhang worried that the Yuan Family would retaliate after Hong Zhengdao joined Du'e Gate.

Zhang Lingshan helped establish Du'e Gate’s strength against probing factions, recruited Feng Ji’s support, and received invitations from Huo Zhenzhen and Sha Mingyue. He refused Huo Zhenzhen’s invitation, while Sun Xian urged him to accept Sha Mingyue’s, leaving Zhang Lingshan considering the unusual appeal of her summons.

• Hong Zhengdao explained that the Huo and Sha families might seek alliances with Du'e Gate as the inner-city families competed for power.
• Zhang Lingshan rescued Zhan Ming from a Great River Gang rebel, killed the attacker, and watched a red-haired hunchback flee after testing his strength.
• Sha Mingyue discussed Du'e Gate with Huo Zhenzhen, then heard Sha Chifeng describe his encounter with Zhang Lingshan and decided to meet him herself.
• After several factions tested Du'e Gate without attacking, Hong Zhengdao concluded that the sect had established its power, while Zhang Lingshan worried about covert threats.
• Zhang Lingshan met Feng Ji, obtained Demon Beast Medicinal Wine, and agreed to bring Wang Dun and the others back to support Du'e Gate.
• Zhang Lingshan rejected Huo Zhenzhen’s invitation but hesitated over Sha Mingyue’s after Sun Xian insisted she was incomparable.

Zhang Lingshan met Sha Mingyue, discovered her beauty depended on a strange aura and tea, and heard her propose joining forces against the Yuan Family. After forming an alliance with Huo Jun and ordering a treasured saber forged, he learned the Yuan Family had identified him as Du'e Gate’s vice sect leader.

• Zhang Lingshan visited Sha Mingyue at Bright Moon Tower, resisted the effects of her aura and tea, and heard her propose killing Yuan Zhou with her help.
• After Zhang Lingshan left, Sha Mingyue recovered by inhaling pink gas and decided he was her greatest enemy, then summoned Grandpa Feng.
• Zhang Lingshan asked his allies about the Yuan Family’s Bone Forging experts, but they knew little beyond Yuan Zhou’s role as its representative in outside affairs.
• Huo Jun brought apology gifts and formed an alliance between the Huo Family and Du'e Gate, while warning Zhang Lingshan not to trust Sha Mingyue.
• Zhang Lingshan ate the Huo Family’s pills for energy, then ordered a blacksmith to forge a treasured saber from weapons taken from the Jiang Family.
• A subordinate reported that the Yuan Family had identified Zhang Lingshan as the former Hong Clan Martial Hall disciple now serving as Du'e Gate’s vice sect leader.

Yuan Lingjun learned that Zhang Lingshan had reached Bone Forging and arranged with Yuan Zhou, Zhu Hao, and Sha Chifeng to lure him into an ambush, with Yuan Tianfang joining the hunt. At the blacksmith shop, Zhang Lingshan tested a newly forged black saber and found it strong enough to improve his combat power.

• Yuan Qiu rejected the report that Zhang Lingshan had reached Bone Forging, but Yuan Lingjun and Yuan Zhou agreed that he had to be killed before he grew stronger.
• Yuan Lingjun visited Yuan Tianfang, learned about his Flowing Cloud Art, and secured his agreement to capture Zhang Lingshan so he could practice his moves on him.
• Yuan Zhou reported that Sha Chifeng and Zhu Hao planned to use the Song Family Blacksmith Shop to draw Zhang Lingshan into an ambush while Yuan Zhou distracted the Du'e Gate elders.
• Zhang Lingshan tested a thick, black great chopping saber against Zhan Ming's Buddhist Staff and found that the blade remained sharp and unchipped.
• Zhang Lingshan ordered a reward for the blacksmith who forged the saber.

Zhang Lingshan discovered the Yuan Family’s ambush plans and went to confront them at the Song Family Blacksmith Shop. After killing Yuan Zhou and breaking through the Song Family’s trap, he faced Zhu Hao and Sha Chifeng, ending the chapter with a saber strike aimed at the two Bone Forging Realm enemies.

• Zhang Lingshan received a warning that Yuan Zhou would attack the Song Family, but he continued practicing until Song Dazhuang and Wang Dun’s four companions came to ask for help.
• Zhang Lingshan learned that a Bone Forging Realm expert was spying near his home and asked Du'e Zen Master to locate him.
• Zhang Lingshan ambushed and killed Yuan Zhou before the veteran could make a move.
• At the Song Family Blacksmith Shop, Zhang Lingshan broke free of the Zhu Family’s arrows and blade net, then charged Zhu Hao and disarmed him.
• Sha Chifeng appeared and attacked Zhang Lingshan with black mist and phantom skulls, but Zhang Lingshan unleashed a powerful saber strike against him and Zhu Hao.

Zhang Lingshan killed Sha Chifeng and Yuan Tianfang, drove Zhu Hao from the Outer City, and seized control of most of it for Du'e Gate. Back in the Inner City, a terrified Zhu Hao warned the Zhu Family that Zhang Lingshan had reached the Tendon Transformation Realm and urged them to summon Thousand Hands Honored One.

• Zhang Lingshan killed Sha Chifeng as Zhu Hao fled, then faced Yuan Tianfang, who revealed his Ape Lord Swordplay and wounded him with his flexible sword.
• Zhang Lingshan feigned exhaustion, used Demonization to catch Yuan Tianfang off guard, and killed him after surviving his desperate final charge.
• The Song Family pledged allegiance to Du'e Gate, while Zhang Lingshan searched Bright Moon Tower for Sha Mingyue and found she had stayed away.
• Zhang Lingshan ordered Du'e Gate to eliminate the Three Families Remnants and take over their businesses, bringing most of the Outer City under its control.
• Zhu Hao returned to the Inner City and told Zhu Lin that Zhang Lingshan was in the Tendon Transformation Realm, urging him to seal the Zhu Family and invite Thousand Hands Honored One.