Chapter Summaries

Meng Zhao explained how he staged attacks on his own forces with help from the Demon Venerable Hall to pressure Beitang He and Lingwu City’s other leaders into approving his expansion. He arranged to deliver twelve blood pools to the Demon Venerable Hall the next day, while Beitang He and Peach Blossom Scholar still suspected the truth but dismissed it.

• Meng Zhao told Gu Sinan that Beitang He had secretly colluded with a faction of the Demonic Path.
• Yun Fei asked when Meng Zhao would fulfill his promise, and Meng Zhao set the delivery of twelve blood pools for the next day.
• Meng Zhao revealed that he had planned the attacks on his own forces to exploit Lingwu City’s unrest and force the city’s leaders to agree to his expansion.
• Meng Zhao explained that he had used Demon Venerable Hall personnel to carry out the staged attacks and keep the plan secret.
• The burning of sixteen Dragon Tooth Great Ships caused real losses but made the staged attacks more convincing.
• Beitang He and Peach Blossom Scholar suspected Meng Zhao had staged the affair, but the Yellow Springs Sect and the burned ships led them to dismiss the idea.

Meng Zhao discussed the Yellow Springs Sect’s attack on the Dragon Tooth Great Ships with Gu Sinan and Yun Fei, then offered to eliminate an Innate Realm expert for the Demon Venerable Hall. They revealed that a Yellow Springs Sect Holy Son was in Lingwu City, where the sect planned to keep him from leaving alive.

• Yun Fei reported that the Yellow Springs Sect may have attacked the sixteen Dragon Tooth Great Ships to target the Demon Venerable Hall.
• Meng Zhao explained that he could not openly act against the Demonic Path because of his agreement with Beitang He, but offered to kill one Innate Realm expert for Gu Sinan and Yun Fei.
• Gu Sinan and Yun Fei accepted Meng Zhao’s offer, confident in his strength.
• The chapter revealed that Ye Huan had sent Gu Sinan and Yun Fei to Lingwu City on a mission involving the Yellow Springs Sect.
• The Yellow Springs Sect’s Holy Son was suspected of plotting in Lingwu City, and Ye Huan’s plan was to ensure he never left.

Gu Sinan and Yun Fei enlisted Meng Zhao to help kill the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect's Holy Son, whose Unmelting Bone Physique and two protectors made the mission perilous. Meng Zhao agreed to act when they received news, while the chapter ended at Shadow Mountain with an Azure Stone Great Coffin absorbing moonlight and purified essence.

• Gu Sinan and Yun Fei doubted they could kill the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect's Holy Son, whose powerful physique and protectors made him difficult to assassinate.
• Gu Sinan explained Ye Huan's plan to Meng Zhao and asked him to help eliminate the Holy Son.
• Meng Zhao agreed to be informed when they received news, seeing the mission as a way to support the Demon Venerable Hall and test his strength.
• At Shadow Mountain, an Azure Stone Great Coffin gathered the mass grave's Deathly Qi and absorbed moonlight that purified the surrounding filth into essence.

The Yellow Springs Demonic Sect Holy Son emerged from the Azure Stone Great Coffin after it absorbed the essence of a flock of red-eyed crows. Peach Blossom Scholar brought him news of Meng Zhao’s plan to annex eleven forces, stirring the Holy Son’s ambition to test himself against Meng Zhao.

• The Azure Stone Great Coffin drew the essence from several hundred red-eyed crows and then opened, releasing the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect Holy Son.
• The two old protectors addressed the gray-robed man as Holy Son, and he sensed Peach Blossom Scholar hiding nearby.
• Peach Blossom Scholar appeared and told the Holy Son that Meng Zhao planned to annex eleven forces, with Beitang He lending his reputation to the campaign.
• Peach Blossom Scholar explained that Meng Zhao intended to blame the attack on the Meng Family on those forces and demanded an explanation or the attackers from Beitang He.
• The Holy Son’s eyes lit up at Meng Zhao’s name as he considered testing himself against the celebrated young martial artist.

The Yellow Springs Holy Son wanted to provoke Meng Zhao into a fight, but Peach Blossom Scholar urged him to settle the dispute over the burned ships and seek a safer martial exchange through Beitang He. The Holy Son considered the advice, though whether Meng Zhao or Beitang He would agree remained uncertain.

• The Yellow Springs Holy Son dismissed Meng Zhao's demand and hoped to use the dispute to challenge him.
• Peach Blossom Scholar warned that fighting Meng Zhao could endanger the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect and interfere with Beitang He's effort to keep Lingwu City stable.
• The Yellow Springs Holy Son recalled his loyalty to the sect and fell silent rather than risk bringing it trouble.
• Peach Blossom Scholar suggested handing over the minor offenders and using Beitang He's connections to arrange an exchange of martial arts with Meng Zhao.
• The Yellow Springs Holy Son recognized that the proposal could let him fight Meng Zhao and retreat safely, but doubted Beitang He would help after the sect burned Meng Zhao's Dragon Tooth Great Ship.

The Peach Blossom Scholar persuaded the Yellow Springs Holy Son to hand over several people as gifts for Beitang He, while offering to arrange a meeting between him and Meng Zhao. After discussing Wu Huaien’s planned assassination of Meng Zhao, the Peach Blossom Scholar offered to connect the Holy Son with the newly advanced Grandmaster to discuss the Martial Dao.

• The Yellow Springs Holy Son doubted the Peach Blossom Scholar could secure the County King's Heir’s help, but agreed to give him several people for Beitang He.
• The Peach Blossom Scholar privately judged that the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect had withdrawn from its attack on Meng Zhao because it feared his retaliation.
• The Peach Blossom Scholar told the Yellow Springs Holy Son that Wu Huaien had been invited by the Hell Path to assassinate Meng Zhao.
• The Yellow Springs Holy Son praised Meng Zhao’s potential and argued that his Dragon Body might let him contend with a Grandmaster.
• The Peach Blossom Scholar offered to arrange a conversation between the Yellow Springs Holy Son and Wu Huaien about the Martial Dao.

Meng Zhao used the attacks on Meng Family properties as a pretext to seize power across Lingwu City, coordinating with Beitang He to suppress opposition and justify his annexations. After destroying and absorbing numerous factions, he left the city’s remaining powers too intimidated or self-interested to resist.

• Peach Blossom Scholar arranged for Yellow Springs Holy Son to speak with Wu Huaien of the Heartless Path, and Yellow Springs Holy Son accepted the rare opportunity.
• Meng Zhao sent agents to investigate eleven factions and spread rumors that the attacks on Meng Family properties were meant to foment unrest in Lingwu City.
• Five days after meeting Beitang He, Meng Zhao destroyed two minor families accused of attacking the Meng Family and seized their assets.
• Over the next seven days, Meng Zhao’s forces defeated and absorbed numerous factions, while Lü Yue, Han Pu, and Zhou Hu helped establish the Meng Family’s strength.
• Beitang He defended Meng Zhao’s actions as retaliation against factions tied to the rebels, using the County King’s Heir’s authority to deter opposition.
• Lingwu City’s other powers declined to resist Meng Zhao, intimidated by the Yangwu Army and by Meng Jizu’s feat of killing a Hell Path grandmaster with ten thousand troops.

After Meng Zhao's swift annexation of eleven forces, the Meng Family consolidated its gains while Lingwu City saw rising martial conflict and suspicious wealth transfers tied to the Demonic Path. Meanwhile, Peach Blossom Scholar brought the Yellow Springs Holy Son before Wu Huaien, a Grandmaster of the Heartless Path, but his introduction angered the Holy Son and cast doubt on Peach Blossom Scholar's intentions.

• Meng Zhao and the Meng Family worked to rebuild channels and repair connections after absorbing eleven forces, while outsiders flooded Lingwu City and local magnates sent wealth to unknown destinations.
• Beitang He and Meng Zhao discovered that the wealth transfers were tied to the Demonic Path, and Beitang He confronted Peach Blossom Scholar but left without answers and on bad terms.
• Meng Zhao dismissed the loss of wealth as minor compared with the strength of his army, while Beitang He regretted allowing the Demonic Path to grow stronger.
• Peach Blossom Scholar met the Yellow Springs Holy Son and his protectors in the wilderness alongside Wu Huaien, a Grandmaster representing the Hell Path, and Mad Fist of Sinful Valley.
• Peach Blossom Scholar presented the meeting as something the Yellow Springs Holy Son had requested, displeasing the Holy Son and making him suspect Peach Blossom Scholar had deceived them.

Wu Huaien demanded to know why the Peach Blossom Scholar had arranged for him to meet the Yellow Springs Holy Son, then threatened the scholar when the Holy Son exposed his role. The Peach Blossom Scholar connected the scheme to Wu Huaien’s planned assassination of Meng Zhao, but Wu Huaien dismissed Meng Zhao as an easy target despite the dangers surrounding him.

• Wu Huaien assessed the Yellow Springs Holy Son’s Unmelting Bone Physique and asked what benefit he would receive for offering guidance.
• The Yellow Springs Holy Son revealed that the Peach Blossom Scholar had lured him there with promises of Wu Huaien’s Martial Grandmaster insights and said he wanted nothing to do with Wu Huaien.
• Wu Huaien directed his killing pressure at the Peach Blossom Scholar and demanded an explanation, threatening to kill him if he could not provide one.
• The Peach Blossom Scholar admitted to using methods behind the scenes and asked Wu Huaien how likely he thought his assassination of Meng Zhao would succeed.
• Wu Huaien claimed killing Meng Zhao would be easy because Meng Zhao was only an Innate Realm Warrior, while the Yellow Springs Holy Son and Peach Blossom Scholar doubted his confidence given Meng Zhao’s reputation, allies, and command of sixty thousand soldiers.

Peach Blossom Scholar proposed that Wu Huaien use a handover of Yellow Springs Demonic Sect subordinates to get close to Meng Zhao and assassinate him, with the Yellow Springs Holy Son helping conceal the plan. The Holy Son rejected the scheme and turned his anger toward Peach Blossom Scholar.

• Peach Blossom Scholar warned Wu Huaien that Meng Zhao was heavily protected and that Meng Jizu had once destroyed a Martial Grandmaster, making the assassination dangerous.
• Peach Blossom Scholar revealed that the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect had agreed to hand over several attackers to Meng Zhao and suggested Wu Huaien pose as one of them to strike during the exchange.
• Peach Blossom Scholar asked the Yellow Springs Holy Son to conceal Wu Huaien's identity, arguing that the assassination could bring Wu Huaien fame and fulfill Hell Path's commission.
• The Yellow Springs Holy Son refused to endanger the sect's chance to reconcile with Meng Zhao and accused Peach Blossom Scholar of repeatedly scheming against him.
• The Holy Son's two protectors bristled with killing intent as they joined his anger toward Peach Blossom Scholar.

Peach Blossom Scholar tried to persuade Yellow Springs Holy Son to assassinate Meng Zhao by claiming he might be connected by marriage to Ye Huan’s illegitimate daughter. Yellow Springs Holy Son took the possibility seriously but questioned Peach Blossom Scholar’s intelligence and whether such a relationship could sway Meng Zhao.

• Peach Blossom Scholar told Yellow Springs Holy Son that Meng Zhao might have a marital alliance with the Demon Venerable Hall.
• Yellow Springs Holy Son demanded to know who Meng Zhao was connected to and when the alliance had formed.
• Peach Blossom Scholar claimed Meng Zhao was linked to Ye Huan’s illegitimate daughter and warned that Meng Zhao might support the Demon Venerable Hall in a future war.
• Yellow Springs Holy Son considered the strategic risks and benefits of assassinating Meng Zhao, while suspecting the attempt might fail.
• Yellow Springs Holy Son challenged Peach Blossom Scholar’s source and argued that Meng Zhao’s existing marital ties had not necessarily influenced his choices.

Peach Blossom Scholar tried to persuade the Yellow Springs Holy Son to cooperate with Wu Huaien in assassinating Meng Zhao, arguing that Meng Zhao could become a powerful ally of Demon Venerable Hall. The Holy Son refused, convinced the assassination would fail and leave his sect exposed to Meng Zhao’s retaliation.

• Peach Blossom Scholar argued that Ye Huan’s possible daughter might marry Meng Zhao, drawing Meng Zhao closer to Demon Venerable Hall and making him a future threat to the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect.
• Peach Blossom Scholar urged the Yellow Springs Holy Son to join Wu Huaien in killing Meng Zhao, claiming the rise of demonic forces made this a rare opportunity.
• The Yellow Springs Holy Son questioned whether Wu Huaien could kill Meng Zhao and warned that a failed attempt would make the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect bear the brunt of Meng Zhao’s revenge.
• Peach Blossom Scholar pressed the Holy Son to gamble on Wu Huaien’s strength, but the Holy Son refused, suspecting that Meng Zhao had hidden protection or had already reached the grandmaster realm.

Wu Huaien challenged the Yellow Springs Holy Son after taking his defense of Meng Zhao as an insult. The Holy Son unleashed his Unmelting Bone Physique and revealed his Silver Moon Dharma Form as Wu Huaien prepared to test its strength.

• The Yellow Springs Holy Son insisted that Meng Zhao could withstand Wu Huaien’s assassination and argued that Special Physiques could defy a Grandmaster’s power.
• Wu Huaien grew angry at the Holy Son’s words, while the Peach Blossom Scholar realized his effort to unite the factions against Meng Zhao had backfired.
• The Yellow Springs Holy Son called on his guardians and released his true force as Wu Huaien threatened to attack him.
• The Holy Son’s body transformed amid black smoke and gray mist, displaying the power of his Unmelting Bone Physique and bloodline.
• The guardians recognized the transformation as the Silver Moon Dharma Form, forged through the Lunar Nine-Turn True-Returning Mystical Art and the Holy Son’s innate abilities.

Yellow Springs Holy Son used his Silver Moon Dharma Form and bloodline power to tear apart Wu Huaien’s first grandmaster attack, then drew on his two Dharma protectors’ strength to survive Wu Huaien’s Heartless Path killing move. He remained standing with only superficial wounds, though his Dharma Form had shattered.

• Wu Huaien formed a giant hand from Worldly Power and his martial dao to seize Yellow Springs Holy Son.
• Yellow Springs Holy Son activated his Silver Moon Dharma Form and tore the azure hand apart with his bare hands.
• Wu Huaien, enraged, challenged Yellow Springs Holy Son to withstand a second attack and unleashed a ribbon-like Heartless Path technique.
• Yellow Springs Holy Son sensed the danger and received a surge of strength from his two Dharma protectors.
• Yellow Springs Holy Son deflected the ribbon, but his Dharma Form shattered and his arms were cut, leaving him with superficial injuries.

The Yellow Springs Holy Son and Wu Huaien both reconsidered how dangerous Meng Zhao would be after the Holy Son survived Wu Huaien’s attack. The Holy Son left, while Peach Blossom Scholar agreed to arrange the assassination without the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect’s help.

• The Yellow Springs Holy Son reflected on the limits of his Unyielding Bone Physique and doubted whether Meng Zhao could survive Wu Huaien’s assassination.
• Wu Huaien was frustrated that his Heartless Slash had only lightly wounded the Yellow Springs Holy Son, and he began to doubt his chances against Meng Zhao.
• The Yellow Springs Holy Son refused to involve the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect in the assassination and left with his two Dao Protectors.
• Peach Blossom Scholar feared Wu Huaien’s anger after the Holy Son shifted responsibility onto him, then asked whether his plan could work.
• Wu Huaien said the plan gave him a ninety percent chance of killing Meng Zhao, and Peach Blossom Scholar promised to arrange it without the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect.

During a harsh winter in Lingwu City, Beitang He discussed the aftermath of Meng Zhao’s Dragon Tooth Great Ship being burned and learned that the Yellow Springs Holy Son wanted to meet Meng Zhao. Beitang He agreed to arrange the meeting, unaware that Peach Blossom Scholar had deceived him.

• Beitang He surveyed Lingwu City's bustling streets and took pride in the relief his faction had provided during the heavy snowfall.
• Beitang He asked Peach Blossom Scholar whether the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect would hand over the people responsible for burning Meng Zhao’s Dragon Tooth Great Ship.
• Peach Blossom Scholar claimed the Yellow Springs Holy Son wanted to reconcile with Meng Zhao and meet him to discuss martial arts, Special Physiques, and bloodlines.
• Beitang He agreed to speak with Meng Zhao and have the Yellow Springs Holy Son bring the people to meet him.
• Peach Blossom Scholar left the city tower, secretly pleased that his deception had worked.

Meng Zhao met Beitang He in the wilderness to discuss the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect, and Beitang He tried to strengthen their alliance by suggesting a marriage. Meng Zhao declined and revealed that his granduncle Meng Yuanqiao had returned to protect the Meng Family, leaving Beitang He unaware of the elder’s true strength.

• Meng Zhao agreed to meet Beitang He about the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect and traveled with guards to a remote wilderness outside the city.
• Beitang He greeted Meng Zhao warmly and jokingly proposed a marriage alliance with his younger sister.
• Meng Zhao declined, saying the Meng Family elders handled his marriage and that his granduncle had recently raised the matter.
• Beitang He asked about the granduncle, and Meng Zhao explained that Meng Yuanqiao had left home to roam the martial world before secretly protecting the Meng Family.
• Beitang He praised Meng Yuanqiao but assumed the old man was only a top-tier Xiantian expert, then changed the subject.

Meng Zhao learned that the Yellow Springs Holy Son had come to challenge him, but he suspected the visitor was an impostor and that the meeting was a conspiracy. After seeing that Beitang He appeared unaware of the plot, Meng Zhao prepared to face the newcomers without concern for his own safety.

• Beitang He urged Meng Zhao to show mercy to the Yellow Springs Holy Son, and Meng Zhao agreed to keep their feud from escalating.
• A group from the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect arrived, led by a disguised man resembling the Holy Son and Peach Blossom Scholar, with three shackled disciples.
• Meng Zhao sensed that the supposed Holy Son lacked the special physique he claimed to possess and suspected the meeting was a trap aimed at him.
• Meng Zhao watched Beitang He and concluded that the County King's Heir was unaware of the conspiracy.
• Confident in his strength and equipment, Meng Zhao decided he could handle whatever the plotters had planned.

Meng Zhao saw through the Yellow Springs Holy Son’s impersonation and accused the Peach Blossom Scholar and his allies of plotting against him. He demanded to know where the real Yellow Springs Demonic Sect members were, leaving the planned assassination in jeopardy.

• Beitang He warmly introduced Meng Zhao to the Peach Blossom Scholar and the man posing as the Yellow Springs Holy Son.
• Meng Zhao challenged the Peach Blossom Scholar, saying the supposed Holy Son was an impostor and asking whether the scholar had arranged it.
• Beitang He tried to defend the visitors, but Meng Zhao insisted the impostor lacked the power of someone with a Special Physique or bloodline.
• Meng Zhao stomped the ground, making it quake, and demanded that the group reveal its conspiracy and the whereabouts of the real Yellow Springs Demonic Sect members.
• The Peach Blossom Scholar and the impostor grew alarmed as Meng Zhao’s suspicions threatened to disrupt Wu Huaien’s assassination plan.

Meng Zhao rejected the impostors’ excuses and attacked the fake Yellow Springs Holy Son. Mad Fist faced Meng Zhao’s overwhelming True Dragon Profound Dao Method, leaving his survival uncertain.

• Peach Blossom Scholar denied that the Yellow Springs Holy Son was an impostor and accused Meng Zhao of making the claim out of fear.
• Beitang He questioned whether Meng Zhao wanted to kill the Holy Son to vent his anger over the Dragon Tooth Great Ship.
• Meng Zhao ignored their arguments and sent a fire-laden punch toward the fake Yellow Springs Holy Son.
• Meng Zhao’s punch melted the ice and snow across a hundred meters and transformed the surroundings with heat and mist.
• Mad Fist recognized that Meng Zhao’s punch showed a martial realm far beyond anything he had ever encountered.