Chapter Summaries

Zhang Guangmu told Jiang Jiuxiao an invented tale about reincarnating from the era of the Buddha, the Dao Venerable, and the Martial Ancestor, but Jiang Jiuxiao believed he was hiding the truth. The chapter ended with Zhang Guangmu taking Jiang Jiuxiao’s Martial Way Diary and pencil to demonstrate how to use it.

• Kurt Chesterton considered Jiang Jiuxiao’s crippled cultivation part of his plan and turned his attention to Zhao Zhengrong and Zhang Guangmu.
• Jiang Jiuxiao asked Zhang Guangmu how he knew the Buddha, the Dao Venerable, and the Martial Ancestor had existed.
• Zhang Guangmu claimed he had lived in their era, reincarnated into the present, and witnessed the Martial Ancestor defeat the other two.
• Jiang Jiuxiao believed Zhang Guangmu’s explanation even after Zhang Guangmu admitted he had made it up.
• Jiang Jiuxiao speculated that Zhang Guangmu was an ancient powerhouse pursuing a hidden objective, while Zhang Guangmu added details to his story for the audience.
• Zhang Guangmu told Jiang Jiuxiao he was using the Martial Way Secret Manual incorrectly and asked him for the pencil.

Zhang Guangmu explained that the Martial Way Secret Manual rewarded cultivation based on the diary’s content and the Peeker’s emotional reactions, while hinting that a high-ranking official of the Country of Sakura was watching. In Qitian City, Oda Marina read the newly updated diary and realized the secret treasure had changed hands.

• Zhang Guangmu used Jiang Jiuxiao’s charcoal pencil to explain that diary length and truthfulness did not affect rewards, but the content and the Peeker’s emotional response did.
• Zhang Guangmu told Jiang Jiuxiao that a high-ranking official of the Country of Sakura was likely peeking at the diary, and he speculated that provocative writing could yield greater rewards.
• The Little White Balls rushed to read Zhang Guangmu’s new entry, but found a proper, plain story that still drew them in.
• Oda Marina read Jiang Jiuxiao’s synchronized diary in Qitian City and considered how Prince Xiao’s growing strength threatened her plans to seize the Heaven-Bestowed Secret Treasure.
• Oda Marina saw a new line appear in the diary and realized the secret treasure had changed hands.

Oda Marina read Zhang Guangmu’s new Martial Way Diary entry and struggled to decide whether his claims of ancient, overwhelming power were lies, while his real battle record made her doubt herself. She ordered a stronger campaign against the Country of Painting, as Zhang Guangmu advanced to the Internal Energy Flower realm and his Martial Way achievement rating rose to Iron.

• Oda Marina recognized Zhang Guangmu as the new host of the Martial Way Diary (Yang) and learned that Jiang Jiuxiao had been defeated and the treasure had changed hands.
• Oda Marina read Zhang Guangmu’s account of his birth, extraordinary cultivation, and legendary feats, but dismissed most of it as absurd.
• A scout reported that Great Colonel Gale and the Yanagi Brothers had died in the Country of Painting, killed by a white-haired swordsman accompanied by Jiang Jiuxiao.
• Oda Marina reconsidered Zhang Guangmu’s diary after comparing its claims with his actual victories, then ordered an intensified campaign against the Country of Painting and Zhang Guangmu.
• Zhang Guangmu reached the Internal Energy Flower realm as energy from the Martial Way Diary nourished his body, and his Martial Way achievement rating rose to Iron.

Zhang Guangmu tested the Martial Way Diary by writing a story that stirred Oda Marina’s emotions and gained him inner strength. Jiang Jiuxiao read the diary and was struck by its claim that the Martial Ancestor shared his surname.

• Zhang Guangmu used the Martial Way Diary to provoke Oda Marina’s emotions and confirmed that the feedback depended on the reader’s emotional response.
• Zhang Guangmu resolved to reach the Martial Way’s limits and create a fifth realm beyond Heavenly Meridian Connection.
• Jiang Jiuxiao watched Zhang Guangmu’s inner strength grow and wondered what he had written in the diary.
• Zhang Guangmu tossed the Martial Way Diary to Jiang Jiuxiao, then sat down to adapt to his new inner strength.
• Jiang Jiuxiao read the story and fixated on the revelation that the Martial Ancestor also had the surname Jiang.

Zhang Guangmu mastered his new Driving ability and received an Usable Ability Point after Jiang Jiuxiao read his Martial Way Diary. Jiang Jiuxiao’s praise triggered a sudden surge of energy that began improving Zhang Guangmu’s cultivation.

• Zhang Guangmu explained that he had invented the Martial Ancestor’s surname for his diary and reflected on the limits of his Driving ability.
• Zhang Guangmu used Driving to bring his internal force under control and found that the ability also complemented his weapon techniques.
• Jiang Jiuxiao’s Martial Way Diary transformed into a Crimson Light scene of Zhang Guangmu standing over Jiang Jiuxiao, granting Zhang Guangmu one Usable Ability Point.
• Zhang Guangmu saved the point, and Jiang Jiuxiao praised his control of internal force after his breakthrough to the second realm of the Martial Way.
• The Martial Way Diary grew hot, and pure energy surged into Zhang Guangmu, causing his cultivation to improve eerily.

Zhang Guangmu tested the Martial Way Diary and gained another cultivation reward through Jiang Jiuxiao, then chose the dangerous route to Jiatong Temple on his way back to Longbei Cliff. There, Snow Mountain Swordsaint Shiina Seira challenged him after defeating Lu Mohan.

• Zhang Guangmu concluded that Jiang Jiuxiao and Oda Marina were the intended readers who could unlock extra rewards from the Martial Way Diary, though his plan to build an assembly line of readers appeared to have failed.
• Zhang Guangmu decided to return to Longbei Cliff and chose the risky route through Jiatong Temple, confident in his combat strength.
• At Jiatong Temple, Shiina Seira explained that Lu Mohan had lost his fighting spirit and fallen from his former power before challenging him to a duel.
• Zhang Guangmu and Jiang Jiuxiao arrived at the temple, and Shiina Seira sensed Zhang Guangmu's sharp gaze and demanded that he dismount and fight.

Zhang Guangmu confronted Shiina Seira, a Country of Sakura swordmaster who coveted his Bone-Piercing Wulong Steed. After Shiina Seira challenged him, Zhang Guangmu launched a swift attack, and their fight began with Shiina Seira striking back.

• Jiang Jiuxiao found Lu Mohan grievously wounded and rushed to help him.
• Shiina Seira coveted Zhang Guangmu’s Bone-Piercing Wulong Steed and resolved to kill its owner.
• Lu Mohan identified Shiina Seira as Country of Sakura’s Snow Mountain Swordsaint and urged Zhang Guangmu to hold him off so Jiang Jiuxiao could escape.
• Shiina Seira recognized Zhang Guangmu as the White-Haired Swordsaint and challenged him to make the first move.
• Zhang Guangmu handed his weapon to Jiang Jiuxiao and charged Shiina Seira with explosive speed.
• Shiina Seira reacted with a returning slash, extending his Crimson Internal Force toward Zhang Guangmu.

Zhang Guangmu outmaneuvered and defeated Shiina Seira despite their difference in realm, then agreed to kill him. Shiina Seira’s fate was sealed as Zhang Guangmu closed in.

• Zhang Guangmu assessed Shiina Seira’s condensed, corrosive Crimson Internal Force and adapted to the higher-realm swordsman’s attacks.
• Shiina Seira grew angry at Zhang Guangmu’s taunts and unleashed a powerful sword technique, leaving an opening.
• Zhang Guangmu advanced into the attack and shattered Shiina Seira’s wrist with a punch, knocking his sword away.
• Shiina Seira feigned fearlessness and asked Zhang Guangmu to kill him, hoping to earn mercy.
• Zhang Guangmu calmly agreed and moved toward the disarmed Shiina Seira.

Zhang Guangmu defeated and killed Shiina Seira after the swordsman tried to beg for mercy and then seize Jiang Jiuxiao as a hostage. Jiang Jiuxiao began to worship Zhang Guangmu, who treated Lu Mohan’s wounds and recorded the encounter in his Martial Way Diary.

• Shiina Seira knelt before Zhang Guangmu and begged him to spare his life, but Zhang Guangmu threatened his family and dismissed his pleas.
• Shiina Seira suddenly attacked and tried to take Jiang Jiuxiao hostage, but Zhang Guangmu kicked him down before he could reach him.
• Pinned beneath Zhang Guangmu’s foot, Shiina Seira offered wealth and other rewards, while Zhang Guangmu condemned him for harming Lu Mohan and disgracing his swordsaint title.
• Zhang Guangmu crushed Shiina Seira’s head, and Jiang Jiuxiao concluded that Zhang had been holding back and began to worship him.
• Zhang Guangmu sealed Lu Mohan’s wounds, arranged for Jiang Jiuxiao to treat him, and wrote in his Martial Way Diary that he had killed Shiina Seira with one punch.

Zhang Guangmu killed Shiina Seira, gained his sword and intelligence, and broke through to the Fruit of Martial Way with Oda Marina’s help. As Oda Marina prepared to oppose him with wealth-funded technology and an army, Zhang Guangmu learned that a difficult battle was near.

• Oda Marina believed Zhang Guangmu had killed Shiina Seira with one move and resolved to eliminate him, trusting her wealth-backed army and new technologies to overcome martial power.
• Zhang Guangmu took Shiina Seira’s Supreme Great Fast Blade Fuji and learned that Shiina had planned to join Country of Sakura’s army against Zhao Zhengrong.
• Lu Mohan and Jiang Jiuxiao read Zhang Guangmu’s diary, and Lu Mohan regained hope while Jiang Jiuxiao remained composed.
• Zhang Guangmu confirmed that his AFK Cultivation Plan had failed with Lu Mohan, but Oda Marina’s help had raised his cultivation to the Fruit of Martial Way.
• Zhang Guangmu realized that a tough battle was approaching and that his breakthrough might keep him from being overwhelmed and captured.

Zhang Guangmu advanced to the Martial Way Third Realm and began adapting his knowledge of magic to the world’s martial arts. As the group continued toward the coming conflict, Lu Mohan warned him about powerful enemies, but Zhang Guangmu treated them as tests for his strength.

• Zhang Guangmu broke through to the Third Realm, while Jiang Jiuxiao recognized the vast gap between them and Lu Mohan accepted that the Martial Way Diary was safest in Zhang Guangmu’s hands.
• Lu Mohan resolved to support Zhang Guangmu and help clear a path for the Country of Painting’s younger generation.
• Zhang Guangmu took back the Martial Way Diary, saw his achievement change from Martial Way (Iron) to Martial Way (Steel), and set off with Jiang Jiuxiao and Lu Mohan.
• While riding, Zhang Guangmu considered how to adapt Magic Star’s magic patterns to the world and discovered that his golden Fruit of Martial Way suppressed weaker martial artists.
• Lu Mohan warned Zhang Guangmu about the battlefield’s innate experts and hidden trump cards, but Zhang Guangmu said he hoped they would make good whetstones.

Zhang Guangmu, Jiang Jiuxiao, and Lu Mohan rode toward the Lie Wu Battalion at Longbei Cliff, where Sakura forces had left a single escape route open. They encountered Morinaga Chizuru, the Hokkaido's First Spear, and learned of his renowned armor as they prepared to face him.

• Lu Mohan questioned why the Sakura forces had surrounded the Lie Wu Battalion on three sides, and Jiang Jiuxiao explained the siege tactic of leaving one route open.
• Zhang Guangmu charged up Dengquan Slope toward Longbei Cliff, while Jiang Jiuxiao recognized that the same narrow route would make escape extremely difficult.
• Lu Mohan recalled how he had reached the Martial Way Fourth Realm by anchoring his will with the Country of Painting's Imperial Dynasty Luck, and expressed confidence in Steel Fist Zhao Zhengrong.
• Morinaga Chizuru and Sakura soldiers emerged ahead and challenged the three riders; Lu Mohan assessed Morinaga as a formidable Third Realm martial artist.
• Lu Mohan identified Morinaga's armor as the famous Silver Dragon Beautiful Armor, and Zhang Guangmu considered ways its defenses could be overcome.

Zhang Guangmu fought Morinaga Chizuru, who relied on specialized armor designed to counter Country of Painting warriors. After learning the armor’s weakness, Zhang Guangmu struck through its defenses, leaving Morinaga screaming.

• Zhang Guangmu used one saber stroke to knock Morinaga Chizuru’s spear aside and dent his armor.
• Morinaga Chizuru recognized Zhang Guangmu as Zhao Zhengrong and boasted about his armor and Country of Sakura’s rise.
• Morinaga Chizuru urged Zhang Guangmu to surrender, but Zhang charged and broke through his spear defense.
• Zhang Guangmu used information from the Little White Balls to identify how Morinaga Chizuru’s Blood Armor countered internal force.
• Zhang Guangmu touched his saber to Morinaga Chizuru’s chest, causing him to scream despite the blade not piercing his outer armor.

Zhang Guangmu killed Morinaga Chizuru with his newly created Ice Internal Force technique, “Floating Jade Plate,” then used his Strongman Domain to crush the Country of Sakura soldiers who tried to stop him. He continued toward the main battlefield, conserving his strength for the coming fight.

• Zhang Guangmu froze Morinaga Chizuru inside his Blood Armor, turning the armor’s energy absorption against him.
• Zhang Guangmu named his killing technique “Floating Jade Plate” and shattered Morinaga Chizuru’s frozen body with a slash.
• Zhang Guangmu rode toward the main battlefield as the surviving Country of Sakura soldiers scattered or fell to his Strongman Domain.
• Zhang Guangmu ignored the larger ambush along the road to conserve his strength for the main battle.

After defeating Hokkaido's First Spear, Zhang Guangmu raced to Longbei Cliff, where the Lie Wu Battalion was surrounded and Zhao Zhengrong's corpse faced desecration. Zhang Guangmu arrived in time to stop the soldiers, and Feng Yunxian prepared to confront him.

• Zhang Guangmu rode toward Longbei Cliff as Jiang Jiuxiao and Lu Mohan followed, discussing his extraordinary techniques and the threat posed by the Country of Sakura's inner armor.
• On Longbei Cliff, Feng Yunxian explained that the Divine Fall Pill had enabled poisoned warriors to kill Zhao Zhengrong, whose corpse still stood amid the battlefield.
• Endo Yoshino ordered Zhao Zhengrong's remains destroyed, and Feng Yunxian commanded the ashigaru to chop up the body and feed it to dogs.
• A blazing fireball struck the ashigaru approaching Zhao Zhengrong, killing three and burning others.
• Feng Yunxian recognized Zhang Guangmu as he arrived on his black warhorse and declared that Zhang had come to die.

Zhang Guangmu fought through the Country of Sakura forces after Zhao Zhengrong’s death, while Jiang Jiuxiao, Lu Mohan, and the surviving Lie Wu Battalion soldiers joined the battle. As Zhang Guangmu pressed toward Feng Yunxian, his blades shattered, and he continued fighting with flames as he neared completion of a secret martial art.

• Zhang Guangmu’s fiery sparks burned approaching Country of Sakura soldiers, but he ignored his inner voice urging him to retreat after Zhao Zhengrong’s death.
• Feng Yunxian called for his soldiers to surround and kill Zhang Guangmu, who charged toward him with his battered twin blades.
• Jiang Jiuxiao and Lu Mohan entered the battlefield, and Lie Wu Battalion stragglers gathered around them for protection.
• Zhang Guangmu fought deeper into the enemy formation while deducing a battlefield secret martial art, one final step from completing it.
• Zhang Guangmu’s worn blades shattered, and Feng Yunxian expected to wear him down as flames burst from his hands.

Zhang Guangmu fought to survive as the Country of Sakura’s forces pressed him, until martial sects from the Country of Painting arrived to aid the Lie Wu Battalion. Armed with two heirloom sabers, he awakened their hidden identities and power, leaving the battle poised for a shift.

• Feng Yunxian ordered his forces to kill Zhang Guangmu at Endo Yoshino’s request, driven by his obsessive love for her.
• Zhang Guangmu slowed his advance and used Flame Internal Force to fight while conserving strength and deducing a battlefield technique.
• The martial sects of the Country of Painting arrived and joined the Lie Wu Battalion, disrupting the Country of Sakura’s formation.
• Feng Dexuan gave Zhang Guangmu the Golden Sun Saber, while Zuo Li delivered the Brahma Moon Blade and said it had once been Zhao Zhengrong’s.
• Zhang Guangmu recognized the sabers’ true names as Golden Neck and White Moon, awakening their dormant spirituality and power.

Zhang Guangmu used White Moon and Golden Neck to turn the tide against Country of Sakura’s forces, but Feng Yunxian countered by sending poison-infected soldiers after him. Zhang Guangmu unleashed his secret technique, Gluttonous Flames, and annihilated the surrounding attackers, then advanced toward Feng Yunxian.

• Zhang Guangmu discovered that White Moon replenished his internal force with each kill while Golden Neck made his body resistant to most battlefield attacks.
• Zhang Guangmu’s sudden surge in strength shook the morale of the Country of Sakura ashigaru, while the Film Set assistants debated whether Country of Painting could still lose.
• Feng Yunxian recognized the twin blades’ effects and used the God-Shattering Pill to drive more than nine hundred poisoned soldiers into a frenzy against Zhang Guangmu.
• Feng Yunxian insulted Zhang Guangmu and offered a reward for his head, while Zhang Guangmu mocked him and charged toward him on the Bone-Piercing Wulong Steed.
• Zhang Guangmu unleashed his secret martial technique, Gluttonous Flames, and its crimson fire lotus incinerated the poison-infected soldiers before condensing around him, his blades, and his steed.

Zhang Guangmu fought through the Country of Sakura's forces and baited Feng Yunxian into abandoning his cautious distance. He killed Endo Yoshino before Feng Yunxian could stop him, leaving Feng Yunxian devastated and enraged.

• Zhang Guangmu used the Gluttonous Flames to absorb energy from the poisoned enemies, heal his wounds, and restore his strength.
• Zhang Guangmu charged through the battlefield toward Feng Yunxian as the Lie Wu Battalion and the martial heroes of the Country of Painting rallied behind him.
• Feng Yunxian ordered his elite guards to block Zhang Guangmu and attacked him from a distance with arrows rather than face him directly.
• Zhang Guangmu told Feng Yunxian he would kill the woman he had been watching, then turned his horse toward Endo Yoshino.
• Feng Yunxian unleashed his internal force and rushed to stop Zhang Guangmu, but Zhang Guangmu killed Endo Yoshino with a single slash.
• Feng Yunxian screamed in anguish when he saw Endo Yoshino die.

After Zhang Guangmu killed Endo Yoshino, Feng Yunxian’s grief shattered the Martial Way Will embodied by the woman and drove him into a murderous frenzy. Feng Yunxian charged Zhang Guangmu, who stood his ground and prepared to defeat him in a direct clash.

• Feng Yunxian lost control after Endo Yoshino’s death, and Zhang Guangmu realized that the woman had been the object embodying Feng Yunxian’s Martial Way Will.
• Feng Yunxian abandoned his retreat and charged Zhang Guangmu, slaughtering soldiers from the Country of Sakura who crossed his path.
• As Feng Yunxian’s Ink Wash Flood Dragon phantom collapsed, he vowed to slaughter everyone under heaven and bury Endo Yoshino with them.
• Feng Yunxian reached Zhang Guangmu and thrust his spear, and Zhang Guangmu met it with his Golden Neck saber in a clash that cleared nearby soldiers from the battlefield.
• Zhang Guangmu endured the impact and judged that he could kill Feng Yunxian in three moves, relying on his Imperial Body Forging Technique.