Recaps

Jiang Liu investigated the disappearances in Kan Cloud City and confirmed that the Yun family had ties to Corpse Valley. He withdrew without alerting them and told Tang Hui to help lure Bai Lei into a plan to eliminate Corpse Valley’s remaining forces.

• Jiang Liu read the dossier on the missing people, then took Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun toward Kan Cloud City on the Fire-Winged Monkey.
• Jiang Liu and his companions reached the city at night and secretly investigated the Yun family residence, where he detected several practitioners using Corpse Valley’s cultivation technique.
• Jiang Liu decided to conceal his discovery and use the opportunity to lure Bai Lei into a plan to wipe out Corpse Valley’s remaining forces.
• Jiang Liu withdrew with Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun, then waited in the woods for Tang Hui and the Exotic Weapon Valley disciples.
• Jiang Liu told Tang Hui that Corpse Valley was behind the disappearances and explained his plan, and Tang Hui began dispatching people to carry it out.

Jiang Liu used a decoy to expose Corpse Valley’s Kanyun City base, then uncovered its wider operations in Kan and Lu Counties. After ordering the Lu County base eliminated, he continued pursuing Corpse Valley’s remaining members and its Corpse Nurturing Ground.

• Jiang Liu waited in the wilderness with Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun for the Yun family or Corpse Valley to take the bait, and Tang Hui reported that the decoy Martial Practitioner had gone missing.
• Tang Hui found the decoy and captured the Corpse Valley member coordinating with the Yun family, and Jiang Liu used Divine Sense to learn about the Kanyun City base and the family’s dealings with Corpse Valley.
• Jiang Liu ordered Tang Hui to raid the Yun family and the Kanyun City base, while Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun joined the outing; Tang Hui returned with the five Corpse Valley members, and Exotic Weapon Valley took custody of the Yun family.
• Jiang Liu questioned the Kanyun City leader and learned that Corpse Valley had restarted its Corpse Nurturing Ground plan two months earlier and had bases in Kan and Lu Counties.
• Jiang Liu ordered Tang Hui to have the Lu County base wiped out, and Tang Hui accepted the command and departed.

Jiang Liu brought Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun to the Corpse Nurturing Ground to kill Bai Lei and the remaining Corpse Valley experts. After finding the chamber strangely sealed from Divine Sense and receiving no response from inside, Jiang Liu hesitated over destroying it, but Chen Xiaoyun split it open with one strike.

• Jiang Liu froze the five Corpse Valley disciples and learned that Bai Lei was staying at the Corpse Nurturing Ground with the remaining Minor Grandmasters.
• Jiang Liu flew with Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun to Xia City, where they briefly rested at Listening Wind Pavilion's station.
• Jiang Liu led the group to the mountain range near Qi Province and found that his Divine Sense could not penetrate the secret chamber.
• Jiang Liu wondered whether Bai Lei and the others were inside or had fled, and hesitated to destroy the reinforced chamber.
• Chen Xiaoyun struck the secret chamber with an Essence Particle saber and cleaved it in half.

Jiang Liu and his allies attacked Bai Lei and the Corpse Valley fighters, capturing Bai Lei’s secrets before killing him. With the Corpse Valley’s knowledge in hand, Jiang Liu planned to destroy its remaining forces in Xun Province.

• Chen Xiaoyun opened the secret chamber, revealing Bai Lei and the Corpse Valley fighters hiding inside.
• Jiang Liu, Chen Xiaoyun, the Fire-Winged Monkey, and Tang Wanyu attacked Bai Lei’s group, killing many of them.
• Tang Wanyu pinched Jiang Liu while he watched Chen Xiaoyun fight, and Jiang Liu’s instinctive power sent her flying.
• Jiang Liu pinned Bai Lei with Eight Steps of Trampling and crippled him by disrupting the vital energy inside his body.
• Jiang Liu questioned Bai Lei, learned the secrets of the Corpse Valley, and shattered him with Frost Nether Palm.

Jiang Liu killed the remaining Corpse Valley disciples and ordered the Fire-Winged Monkey to destroy their secret chamber. As he and his companions prepared to leave, a powerful, corpse-like figure rose from the ruins, apparently a Grandmaster-level Corpse Golem.

• Jiang Liu killed the remaining Corpse Valley disciples after learning everything he needed to know about Corpse Valley.
• Jiang Liu ordered the Fire-Winged Monkey to smash the secret chamber and destroy the corpses and Corpse Golems inside.
• Jiang Liu inspected the ruins but found nothing unusual, then started to leave with Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun.
• The ruined chamber rumbled, and a pale, skeletal figure emerged from beneath it.
• Jiang Liu recognized the figure as a likely evolved Corpse Golem and sensed that it had reached the Grandmaster realm.

Jiang Liu, Chen Xiaoyun, and the Fire-Winged Monkey battled a powerful Corpse Golem, with Jiang Liu using Starfall to weaken its soul fire. As the fight continued, the Fire-Winged Monkey began comprehending a battle method, while Chen Xiaoyun used the encounter to hone her combat skills.

• The Corpse Golem attacked Jiang Liu and his companions, and the Fire-Winged Monkey struck it back with its staff.
• Chen Xiaoyun and Jiang Liu joined the assault, but the Corpse Golem blocked their attacks with its powerful body.
• Jiang Liu used Starfall against the Corpse Golem's Heaven's Gate Acupoint and weakened the sparks in its eyes.
• The Fire-Winged Monkey's repeated staff strikes began forming a pattern as it entered a state of insight and comprehended a battle method.
• Chen Xiaoyun kept attacking the Corpse Golem to improve her practical combat ability.

Jiang Liu, Chen Xiaoyun, and the Fire-Winged Monkey wore down a Grandmaster Realm Corpse Golem as Jiang Liu considered how souls might shape its evolving consciousness. The Corpse Golem’s soul fire went out, and Jiang Liu confirmed that it had been destroyed.

• Jiang Liu, Chen Xiaoyun, and the Fire-Winged Monkey attacked the slow Corpse Golem while avoiding its strikes.
• As the Corpse Golem prepared to fight desperately, Jiang Liu reflected on souls and suspected its consciousness had changed through its evolution.
• Jiang Liu reasoned that the Corpse Golem might become a major threat if Corpse Valley gained control of it.
• The trio continued attacking until the Corpse Golem’s aura weakened and its soul fire dimmed.
• After another quarter-hour, the Corpse Golem’s soul fire went out and icy primal qi storms formed around it.
• Jiang Liu concluded that the Grandmaster Realm Corpse Golem had been destroyed.

After defeating the Corpse Golem, Jiang Liu discovered a statue of King Chujiang that produced the Special Essence Particles used by Corpse Valley. When he probed the unbreakable statue with his Divine Sense, a voice suddenly cried out from inside it.

• Jiang Liu, Chen Xiaoyun, and the Fire-Winged Monkey recovered after working together to defeat the Corpse Golem while Tang Wanyu kept watch.
• Jiang Liu searched the collapsed secret chamber and found that a corner produced increasingly dense Special Essence Particles when he struck it.
• Jiang Liu uncovered a small statue resembling King Chujiang and realized it was producing the Essence Particles used by Corpse Valley's cultivation methods.
• Jiang Liu ordered the Fire-Winged Monkey to smash the statue, but its blow left it unharmed.
• Jiang Liu examined the statue with his Divine Sense, and a voice suddenly came from inside it.

Jiang Liu devoured the resentment-born soul inside the statue, learned how Corpse Valley’s special Essence Particles were made, and destroyed the statue before leaving with Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun. Nearly ten days later, a tall figure searched the ruined site for the missing King Yama Statue but found no trace of it.

• Jiang Liu discovered and devoured the feeble soul body inside the statue, strengthening his Divine Sense and learning that the statue condensed resentment into special Essence Particles for Corpse Valley cultivators.
• Jiang Liu froze the statue, shattered it with Wind Attribute Qi, and leveled the damaged mountain range to hide the site.
• Jiang Liu left for Cloud City in Yunzhou with Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun aboard the Fire-Winged Monkey.
• Nearly ten days later, a tall figure arrived, sensed for the King Yama Statue, and found no trace of it.
• The tall figure split the mountain range with a saber-shaped gale, searched the exposed area, and left without discovering what had happened.

Jiang Liu returned to Cloud City with Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun, who chose to stay at the Flowing Cloud Sect's residence. There, Elder Liuxing and Elder Yun Yue confirmed that neither sect would hold Jiang Liu's departure over the marriage alliance against him, then questioned the two Senior Sisters about leaving the Sect.

• After three days of flight, Jiang Liu, Tang Wanyu, and Chen Xiaoyun arrived at Cloud City, and the two women decided to stay at the Flowing Cloud Sect's residence rather than Jiang Liu's home.
• Qin Bailian greeted Jiang Liu outside the city and deferred a discussion until later when Jiang Liu said he was taking his Senior Sisters to the Sect's residence.
• Elder Liuxing and Elder Yun Yue welcomed the three into the council hall and asked Jiang Liu whether he had left the Sect without permission.
• Jiang Liu admitted he had acted rashly, and Elder Yun Yue said the Star Moon Sect would not pursue the matter; Elder Liuxing said the Flowing Cloud Sect had nothing more to say about it either.
• Elder Liuxing questioned Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun for leaving the Sect, and Chen Xiaoyun claimed they had only gone out for a stroll.

Jiang Liu returned to Yunzhou, reunited with Murong Yin, and helped the Gentle Rain Pavilion members with their cultivation questions. The chapter ended with him bringing Murong Yin and Feng Yue back to the mountainside residence, where Cuier and Xiao He welcomed him.

• Elder Liuxing told Tang Wanyu and Chen Xiaoyun that the Sect Master would not pursue their matter, and they suspected Jiang Liu had helped them.
• Jiang Liu left the Flowing Cloud Sect's residence and went to the Listening Wind Pavilion, where Murong Yin joyfully embraced him.
• Jiang Liu and Murong Yin went to the Gentle Rain Pavilion and answered its members' cultivation questions until sunset.
• Jiang Liu brought Murong Yin and Feng Yue back to the mountainside residence, where Cuier and Xiao He greeted him with delight.

Jiang Liu discussed Qin Bailian’s proposal to prolong the conflict in Xun Province and considered using the Dark Star Hall to exploit the warring alliances. He also decided to settle the Vast Righteous Sect in Xia County and have Qin Bailian help them integrate into Yun Province.

• Jiang Liu cultivated the Saintly Sky Art before meeting Qin Bailian over tea.
• Qin Bailian proposed using the Five Poisons Sect’s venomous creatures to secretly poison the five-clan alliance and blame the Lotus Sect’s alliance.
• Jiang Liu approved Qin Bailian’s proposal but privately planned to use the Dark Star Hall to take action against both alliances.
• Jiang Liu told Qin Bailian he planned to settle the Vast Righteous Sect in Xia County and asked him to help them settle in Yun Province.
• Jiang Liu explained that the Vast Righteous Sect’s two Grandmasters would strengthen their forces, reassuring Qin Bailian that he still trusted him.

Jiang Liu protected the Dark Star Hall’s secrecy, considered the Vast Righteous Sect’s slow relocation, and resumed cultivating. At the Martial Prohibition Hall, Lu Tianheng summoned his deputy commanders, learned that Mo Province was weakly defended, and decided to reclaim it first.

• Jiang Liu resolved to keep the Dark Star Hall hidden and relied on Murong Yin and Feng Yue’s growing control of its operations and intelligence network.
• Jiang Liu estimated that the Vast Righteous Sect’s relocation of commoners from Mo Province would take months, then resumed cultivating the Saintly Sky Art.
• Lu Tianheng appeared at the Martial Prohibition Hall headquarters and summoned the deputy commanders to discuss the loss of territory.
• Lu Tianheng questioned the deputy commanders about their failure to counterattack, then asked them to report conditions across the provinces and counties.
• Ming Chengyun reported that the Vast Righteous Sect had left Mo Province and that the Ji Family was its only remaining major power, with several of its Grandmasters away in Xun Province.
• Lu Tianheng decided that the Martial Prohibition Hall would take Mo Province first.

Lu Tianheng sent five Grandmasters to help Ming Chengyun reclaim Mo Province, while secretly hoping to use the ensuing war to hunt Grandmasters and advance his strange technique. The Five Great Clans' alliance sent reinforcements to the Ji Family, but its rivals watched for opportunities, leaving the coming conflict unresolved.

• Lu Tianheng ordered five Grandmasters to help Ming Chengyun reclaim Mo Province and looked forward to hunting Grandmasters for their qi and blood.
• The Martial Prohibition Hall assembled its forces in Serpent Prefecture, and Jianghu powers identified Mo Province as its target.
• The Five Great Clans' alliance and the Ghost School failed to agree on a response, so the Liu Family and Wang Family sent Grandmasters and warriors to reinforce the Ji Family.
• The Lotus Sect's alliance prepared to exploit the Ji Family's expected departure, but the Five Great Clans' alliance instead attacked its territory and inflicted losses.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue focused on Lu Tianheng's purpose, while Jiang Liu welcomed the attack on the Ji Family and felt safer in Yun Province.

Emperor Jiang Lan planned to secretly use the Confucian Sect and the National Preceptor's Mansion to destroy the Ji Family and provoke a war between the Three Sects and the Martial Prohibition Hall. He secured Jiang Zongquan's help, but Tian Zhu refused to cooperate, and Jiang Lan set his forces in motion while hoping to reunify Great Qian.

• Jiang Lan summoned Gongyang Zhuang and the National Preceptor's Mansion's four Grandmaster Protectors to plan the Ji Family's destruction and escalate the conflict with Lu Tianheng's Martial Prohibition Hall.
• Gongyang Zhuang and the four Protectors agreed to act secretly, and Jiang Lan told Jiang Zongquan to ensure the Ji Family was completely exterminated.
• Jiang Lan visited the imprisoned Tian Zhu and offered him a chance to serve, but Tian Zhu ignored him, so Jiang Lan left in anger.
• Jiang Lan ordered the Eunuch Bureau and other imperial forces to cooperate with the Confucian Sect and the National Preceptor's Mansion, confident that he could eventually restore Great Qian's unity.

Jiang Liu began cultivating with the Flowing Cloud Sect at night to strengthen his body faster while continuing his training at the Listening Wind Pavilion by day. In Xun Province, the Dao Sect’s leaders discussed their strength and feared that a lack of younger successors would leave the sect vulnerable.

• Jiang Liu told Murong Yin and Feng Yue that he would cultivate at the Flowing Cloud Sect’s residence at night, and they supported his efforts to grow stronger.
• Jiang Liu joined Tang Wanyu, Chen Xiaoyun, Elder Liuxing, and Elder Yun Yue to cultivate the Star Cloud Saint Art, and all five found their body-strengthening progress faster.
• Jiang Liu began returning to the Flowing Cloud Sect’s residence each evening and training at the Listening Wind Pavilion during the day, leaving Tang Wanyu frustrated when he departed without greeting her.
• Dao Xing, Dao Sheng, and Dao Hai discussed the Dao Sect’s situation in its temporary residence in Gan County and recognized that the sect lacked a younger generation capable of succeeding its older Grandmasters.
• The Dao Sect’s leaders remained committed to fighting the Ghost School despite knowing that members of the Lotus Sect alliance might be colluding with Corpse Valley.

The Dao Sect discovered proof that the Lotus Sect, Buddhist Sect, and White Saint Society were colluding with Corpse Valley, but chose to remain in the alliance until the Ghost School was eliminated. Fighting intensified across Xun Province after the Martial Prohibition Hall destroyed the Ji Family, and the two alliances eventually reached another deadlock.

• The Dao Sect's three Grandmaster Vice Sect Leaders decided to keep the Corpse Valley evidence quiet, destroy the Ghost School's forces, and then leave the alliance.
• The Lotus Sect, Buddhist Sect, White Saint Society, and Sun Moon Sect planned to seize territory from the Five Great Families and Ghost School alliance before parting ways with the Dao Sect.
• Both alliances escalated their fighting in Xun Province, while the Lotus Sect, Buddhist Sect, White Saint Society, and Dao Sect concealed where missing corpses and injured martial practitioners had gone.
• News arrived that the Martial Prohibition Hall had exterminated the Ji Family, killing Ji Qiang and Ji Xingfeng and driving Liu Yihang and Wang Dali to flee.
• The Five Great Families and Ghost School alliance checked its retreat and reclaimed some territory amid Ji Xingyu's attacks, but both alliances soon returned to a deadlock.

Zheng Xueyi used the Zheng Family’s strength to bring Dui Province’s factions under an alliance led by his family. Meanwhile, Jiang Liu completed strengthening every bone in his body and prepared to begin strengthening his blood vessels.

• Zheng Xueyi schemed to divide the Moonfall Sect, Hundred Fists Gate, and Sword Worship Villa by separately approaching the latter two factions.
• Hundred Fists Gate, Sword Worship Villa, and the Moonfall Sect each sought an alliance with the Zheng Family, bringing Dui Province under its factional alliance.
• Jiang Liu completed strengthening all the bones in his body, startling Elder Liuxing, Yun Yue, Tang Wanyu, and the others with his rapid progress.
• Jiang Liu discovered that his strengthened bones were several times stronger and could hold more essence, increasing his reserves and cultivation potential.
• Jiang Liu decided to draw in Star Power and begin strengthening the blood vessels throughout his body.

Jiang Liu endured the bloody process of strengthening his blood vessels after completing the tempering of his bones, then returned to the Listening Wind Pavilion to meditate. On New Year's Eve, he prepared to move back to the family estate and visit the Feng Family, and went to the Flowing Cloud Sect's residence to discuss the evening's cultivation arrangements.

• Jiang Liu began strengthening his blood vessels, which ruptured and bled before Star Power repaired them, forcing him to stop and rest.
• Elder Liuxing and the others realized Jiang Liu was tempering his blood vessels, and his dedication inspired the four women to cultivate more diligently.
• Jiang Liu washed away the blood, returned to the Listening Wind Pavilion, and meditated through the night.
• On New Year's Eve, Jiang Liu told Murong Yin and Feng Yue that they would move back to the large estate and attend dinner at the Feng Family, while he went to handle other matters.
• Jiang Liu visited the Flowing Cloud Sect's residence and told Elder Liuxing, Elder Yun Yue, Tang Wanyu, and Chen Xiaoyun that he had finished strengthening all his bones.

On New Year's Eve, Jiang Liu told the Flowing Cloud Sect elders he would stop cultivating with them and explained how to strengthen their blood vessels. He visited Murong Aotian, then returned home and carefully examined his body before beginning blood-vessel strengthening.

• Jiang Liu told the four elders he would no longer cultivate with them and explained the precautions for strengthening blood vessels.
• The four asked Jiang Liu about cultivation, especially Bone Tempering, before he left the Flowing Cloud Sect's base.
• Jiang Liu visited Murong Aotian at Ascension Tower, discussed events across Great Qian, and asked about his condition.
• Jiang Liu returned to his residence, where Murong Yin and Feng Yue prepared New Year's supplies and gifts with Cuier and Xiao He.
• Jiang Liu examined his meridians and entire body with origin qi and mental power, finding nothing unusual.

Jiang Liu visited the Feng Family for a New Year's Eve banquet, where Old Master Feng decided Feng Boxing should give way to Feng Boyun if he would not draw closer to Jiang Liu. After returning home, Jiang Liu put off having children with Murong Yin and Feng Yue until the turmoil had passed, while the Feng Family later supported his two pavilions.

• Jiang Liu arrived at the Feng Family with Murong Yin, Feng Yue, Cuier, and Xiao He, and Feng Yunshi and Tang Xiaorou welcomed them.
• Old Master Feng hosted Jiang Liu at the banquet and signaled his displeasure with Feng Boxing, who feared losing his position as family head.
• After the banquet, Jiang Liu visited Feng Boyun's courtyard before leaving with Murong Yin and Feng Yue, while Old Master Feng resolved to replace Feng Boxing if he would not approach Jiang Liu.
• After the first lunar month, Old Master Feng removed Feng Boxing as family head and appointed Feng Boyun, whose family then helped Listening Wind Pavilion and Gentle Rain Pavilion grow.
• Feng Yue told Jiang Liu that Tang Xiaorou had asked when they would have children, and Jiang Liu said they should wait a few years because the situation was too chaotic.

The Martial Prohibition Hall destroyed the Ji Family on New Year’s Eve, leaving four Grandmasters alive and throwing Great Qian’s Jianghu forces into alarm. Jiang Liu suspected Lu Tianheng was hunting Grandmasters to cultivate an evil art, unaware that Lu had deliberately spared the four survivors because too many people were present.

• News reached Jiang Liu that the Martial Prohibition Hall had wiped out the Ji Family, with Ji Xingfeng, Ji Qiang, Liu Yihang, and Wang Dali escaping.
• The Confucian Sect praised the attack and faced harsher crackdowns, while the National Preceptor's Mansion declared support for the Martial Prohibition Hall.
• The Wang Family and Liu Family retreated as rival forces seized territory, while the Three Sects stayed focused on cultivation and did not respond.
• Other Jianghu forces grew wary of the Three Sects’ silence and began tightening defenses and forming alliances.
• Jiang Liu wondered why Lu Tianheng had spared four Grandmasters and concluded that Lu was likely cultivating an evil art by hunting Grandmasters.
• Lu Tianheng had deliberately allowed the four Grandmasters to escape because the large crowd made it inconvenient to act.

Lu Tianheng pursued Ji Qiang, Ji Xingfeng, Liu Yihang, and Wang Dali as they fled through a forest, forcing them to split up. He caught up with Ji Xingfeng and then Ji Qiang, leaving Ji Qiang trapped beneath his attack.

• Ji Qiang proposed splitting into two groups, and he fled with Ji Xingfeng while Liu Yihang and Wang Dali took another route.
• Lu Tianheng divided his pursuers, then raced after Ji Qiang and Ji Xingfeng while Chen Qiansong pursued Liu Yihang and Wang Dali.
• Lu Tianheng struck Ji Xingfeng and continued after Ji Qiang, while two Martial Prohibition Hall Grandmasters arrived to fight Ji Xingfeng.
• Ji Qiang mistook the battle behind him for a chance to escape, but Lu Tianheng caught up and sent towering trees crashing into him.
• Lu Tianheng appeared above Ji Qiang and challenged him to escape.

Lu Tianheng defeated and captured Ji Qiang, then sealed Ji Xingfeng’s dantian after his subordinates wore him down. With Yu Qi and He Baiyi, Lu Tianheng resumed following Chen Qiansong’s trail, intent on capturing all four Grandmasters.

• Lu Tianheng overwhelmed Ji Qiang and used his Crimson Greatsword to damage Ji Qiang’s dantian and spiritual sea.
• Lu Tianheng wore Ji Qiang down, sealed his dantian to prevent self-detonation, and carried him to Ji Xingfeng’s battlefield.
• Lu Tianheng found Ji Xingfeng exhausted from fighting Yu Qi and He Baiyi, then sealed Ji Xingfeng’s dantian.
• Lu Tianheng praised Yu Qi and He Baiyi, and the three restored their vital energy for about an hour.
• Yu Qi and He Baiyi carried Ji Qiang and Ji Xingfeng as Lu Tianheng led them onward along Chen Qiansong’s trail.

Liu Yihang and Wang Dali fled into the desert to escape Chen Qiansong’s pursuit and were forced to fight a horde of Sand Devouring Serpents. Chen Qiansong and his companions followed, suffered severe injuries, and retreated into the forest, still unable to catch their targets.

• Liu Yihang and Wang Dali entered the desert, hoping to use its terrain to escape their pursuers.
• Liu Yihang and Wang Dali encountered a horde of Sand Devouring Serpents and fought them with their weapons and essence-qi barriers.
• Chen Qiansong and the other three followed the combat fluctuations into the desert and were attacked by another horde of Sand Devouring Serpents.
• He Chu cut off his bitten left arm, while Chen Qiansong cut off Liu Changxing’s bitten right foot and carried him toward the forest.
• Chen Qiansong and his companions escaped into the forest, where the serpents eventually withdrew, leaving He Chu and Liu Changxing gravely injured and Liu Yihang and Wang Dali uncaught.