Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu discovers that the Dark Star Hall has posted information about intercepting him.
• He confronts a Dark Star Hall member, who reveals that the client who posted the message used Tongqian Bank to transfer money.
• Jiang Liu visits Tongqian Bank in Lin City, learns about the money transfer, and knocks out the shopkeeper.
• He returns to the dense forest, retrieves the Dark Star Hall member, and feeds him to the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger, rationalizing that he didn't break his promise.
• Jiang Liu decides to fly to Lin City on the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his growth as a Grandmaster, using his power to intimidate and extract information from the Dark Star Hall member.
• He shows cunning by not following the usual routine of asking for the password, instead directly asking for the bank's location.
• Jiang Liu's moral ambiguity is highlighted as he feeds the Dark Star Hall member to the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger, justifying it as not breaking his promise.

Significant Themes

• Power and its use: Jiang Liu uses his power as a Grandmaster to intimidate and extract information, showcasing the influence of power dynamics.
• Moral ambiguity: Jiang Liu's actions raise questions about his morality, as he feeds the Dark Star Hall member to the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger while claiming to keep his promise.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu interacts with the Dark Star Hall member, using intimidation and threats to extract information.
• He interacts with the Tongqian Bank shopkeeper, knocking him out to learn about the money transfer.
• Jiang Liu interacts with the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger, using it to dispose of the Dark Star Hall member and as transportation to Lin City.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu arrives in Lin City on the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger.
• He meets the heads of the Three Sects, who greet him due to his status as a True Inheritor Disciple.
• Jiang Liu visits the Tongqian Bank and mentally invades the chief manager, but the manager's strength as a minor Grandmaster causes the attempt to fail.
• Jiang Liu interrogates the manager and learns that the mastermind behind the assassination attempt is likely Koinu Jun'ichirō, a short Grandmaster with a strange accent.
• Jiang Liu decides to find Koinu Jun'ichirō by inquiring at the Ascension Tower.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his status and power, causing the sect heads to treat him with respect and caution.
• The Tongqian Bank manager shows greed and fear, revealing information about Koinu Jun'ichirō under pressure from Jiang Liu.

Significant Themes

• Power and status: Jiang Liu's position as a True Inheritor Disciple grants him authority and respect.
• Greed and fear: The Tongqian Bank manager's actions are driven by his desire for wealth and fear of both Jiang Liu and the unknown assailant.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu interacts with the sect heads, showing respect but not engaging in lengthy conversation.
• Jiang Liu interrogates the Tongqian Bank manager, using mental techniques and threats to extract information.

Chapter Summary: Traces of Corpse Valley

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu visits the Qilin City branch of Ascension Tower and presents his specially marked identity token.
• The tower’s master, Luo Qingtian, personally receives him. Jiang Liu explains that he was recently ambushed and has been tracing the people responsible.
• Jiang Liu asks Luo Qingtian to alert nearby Ascension Towers and have them search for the distinctive individual who placed the contract against him. He deliberately withholds his suspicion that Koinu Jun’ichirō is behind the plot.
• Luo Qingtian agrees to organize the search and assures Jiang Liu that the man will be found if he remains within Great Qian.
• Luo Qingtian persuades Jiang Liu to stay for a banquet, inviting representatives from the three major sects in Qilin City. The guests flatter Jiang Liu and use the opportunity to strengthen their ties with him.
• No information about the suspected assassin arrives during the feast. Jiang Liu eventually leaves Qilin City and travels toward Qi City with the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger and the Frostwing Dragon.
• While crossing the border between Qian Province and Qi Province, Jiang Liu notices an Ascension Tower caravan being attacked by bandits.
• The bandits, led by a Rank 9 Martial Practitioner, attempt to warn Jiang Liu away. He kills the entire group instantly with ice needles.
• The caravan steward reveals that the attackers were members of Black Mountain Stronghold, a former bandit gang recently brought under the control of Corpse Valley.
• Alarmed by Corpse Valley’s expanding influence and increasing boldness, Jiang Liu decides to investigate Black Mountain Stronghold.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his growing status and influence. Ascension Tower branches recognize him as an important figure, while Luo Qingtian and the sect representatives treat him with respect and seek his friendship.
• He remains cautious and strategic, revealing only part of what he knows about the assassination attempt.
• Jiang Liu’s power is emphasized when he effortlessly annihilates more than twenty bandits, including their Rank 9 leader.
• Despite his strength, Jiang Liu is portrayed as approachable and willing to cooperate with others rather than arrogant or domineering.
• Luo Qingtian is shown as politically astute and eager to cultivate a relationship with Jiang Liu. He uses Jiang Liu’s visit to gather influential local figures and strengthen his own standing.
• The leaders of the three sects recognize Jiang Liu’s immense potential and conclude that he should be befriended rather than opposed.

Significant Themes

• Power and influence: Jiang Liu’s reputation has spread widely, allowing him to command assistance and attract respect wherever he goes.
• Personal connections and political networking: Luo Qingtian’s banquet illustrates how alliances and favors function within the cultivation world.
• Rising threat of Corpse Valley: Corpse Valley’s ability to absorb local forces suggests that its influence is expanding rapidly and becoming increasingly aggressive.
• Justice and intervention: Jiang Liu initially intends to ignore the conflict but intervenes after realizing that Ascension Tower is being attacked.
• Secrecy and investigation: Jiang Liu carefully withholds his theory about Koinu Jun’ichirō while gathering information through Ascension Tower’s extensive network.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu and Luo Qingtian establish a cordial uncle-and-nephew-style relationship based on mutual benefit and respect.
• Luo Qingtian invites the three Qilin City sect representatives to meet Jiang Liu, allowing them to flatter him and build connections.
• During the banquet, Jiang Liu remains mostly quiet while the others converse and boast, showing his restraint and lack of interest in empty socializing.
• Jiang Liu’s encounter with the Ascension Tower caravan shifts from rescue to investigation when he questions the steward about the attackers.
• The steward initially hesitates out of concern that revealing Corpse Valley’s involvement could endanger Jiang Liu, but Jiang Liu’s identity and confidence persuade him to speak.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu flies to the Black Mountain Stronghold on the Frostwing Dragon, where he encounters Koinu Jun'ichirō and a Corpse Valley Grandmaster.
• A fierce battle ensues, with Jiang Liu's Frostwing Dragon and Three-Eyed Flying Tiger sustaining injuries, while the opponents are suppressed by Jiang Liu's aura and Divine Sense attack.
• Meanwhile, in the Ten Thousand Mountains, a mysterious figure in black is cultivating on a giant rock that absorbs blood Essence Particles from the air, speeding up his cultivation process.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his strength as a Grandmaster, easily overpowering two opponents with his aura and Divine Sense attack.
• The mysterious figure in black, later revealed to be Lu Tianheng, shows his cunning and manipulative nature, orchestrating the chaos in the Great Qian Dynasty for his own gain.

Significant Themes

• Power and strength: Jiang Liu's Grandmaster status and his beasts' abilities allow him to dominate the battle.
• Manipulation and deceit: Lu Tianheng's actions highlight the theme of using others for personal gain, with the Three Sects and the Great Qian Dynasty's forces being manipulated without their knowledge.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu vs. Koinu Jun'ichirō and the Corpse Valley Grandmaster: Jiang Liu's initial clash with the two Grandmasters results in a stalemate, with both sides sustaining injuries.
• Lu Tianheng and the giant rock: Lu Tianheng's interaction with the giant rock reveals his secret cultivation method, which relies on absorbing blood Essence Particles from the air, accelerated by the deaths of Martial Practitioners across the Great Qian Dynasty.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu attempts to sneak attack Koinu Jun'ichirō but fails.
• Both engage in a battle using Primal Qi constructs, Jiang Liu's being lifelike and wielding a broadsword, while Koinu Jun'ichirō's is a scantily clad woman with four swords.
• The Corpse Valley Grandmaster fights the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger and Frostwing Dragon elsewhere, allowing Jiang Liu and Koinu Jun'ichirō to battle undisturbed.
• Jiang Liu gains the upper hand, seriously injuring Koinu Jun'ichirō, who eventually dies in a desperate struggle.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu: Demonstrates improved combat skills, using construct techniques for the first time, and shows significant growth in his cultivation speed, having advanced to Grandmaster in just over two years.
• Koinu Jun'ichirō: Realizes the threat Jiang Liu poses and becomes determined to kill him, but ultimately falls to Jiang Liu's power.

Significant Themes

• The power of Primal Qi constructs and their role in combat.
• The importance of cultivation speed and growth in determining a cultivator's strength.
• The ruthlessness and desperation of battle, as seen in Koinu Jun'ichirō's final struggles.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu vs. Koinu Jun'ichirō: A intense and evenly matched battle, with both cultivators using their unique skills and constructs. Jiang Liu's superior cultivation speed and adaptability ultimately lead to his victory.
• Jiang Liu and the Frostwing Dragon: Jiang Liu's concern for the Frostwing Dragon is evident when he hears its cry of anguish, suggesting a bond between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu arrives to assist the Frostwing Dragon and the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger against a Corpse Valley Grandmaster.
• The Grandmaster is revealed to absorb blood for Primal Qi recovery, making him formidable against the two beasts.
• Jiang Liu uses his Divine Sense and Ice Blades against the Grandmaster, followed by a barrage of Cloudfall Strike attacks.
• The Grandmaster, revealed to be Bai Kui, is severely injured and eventually killed by Jiang Liu.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his prowess in battle, using Nebula Shrunken Earth and Cloudfall Strike effectively.
• Bai Kui, the Corpse Valley Grandmaster, is shown to be powerful but ultimately falls to Jiang Liu's relentless attacks.

Significant Themes

• The strange and formidable techniques of Corpse Valley.
• The importance of Primal Qi recovery and management in battle.
• The exhilaration and addictiveness of powerful combat techniques (Cloudfall Strike).

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu and the Frostwing Dragon/Three-Eyed Flying Tiger: Jiang Liu checks their injuries and orders them to retreat.
• Jiang Liu and Bai Kui: Jiang Liu relentlessly attacks Bai Kui, who struggles to defend against Jiang Liu's speed and techniques.
• Bai Kui and Koinu Jun'ichirō: Bai Kui expresses frustration at Koinu's absence and lack of support.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu defeats the White Golem and sends his Exotic Beast Kings to heal.
• He searches the corpses of the White Golem and Koinu Jun'ichirō, finding miscellaneous items and letters.
• Jiang Liu finds and kills the three small Grandmasters and their Corpse Golems.
• He discovers a secret chamber in Black Mountain Stronghold, revealing Corpse Valley's plans to raise powerful Corpse Golems.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his strength and strategic thinking, defeating powerful opponents and uncovering Corpse Valley's secrets.
• His Exotic Beast Kings show loyalty and protectiveness, aiding him in battle.

Significant Themes

• The importance of strength and power in survival and control.
• The dark nature of Corpse Valley's practices and their disregard for life.
• The hidden dangers and secrets within the world, often concealed beneath the surface.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu interacts with his Exotic Beast Kings, showing concern for their well-being and reliance on their strength.
• He has no interaction with other characters in this chapter, as he is alone in his exploration and battles.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu discovers a secret chamber filled with corpses in Corpse Valley, totaling several dozen.
• He uses his Frost Nether Palm to freeze the corpses, significantly weakening Corpse Valley's strength.
• Jiang Liu finds strange Essence Particles around the secret chamber and decides to investigate inside.
• He slices off the upper layer of the secret chamber, causing the Essence Particles to spread and dissipate.
• Jiang Liu cleans the secret chamber using Wind Attribute Qi and enters to find it paved with stone blocks, indicating Corpse Valley's long-term plans.
• He decides to use the secret chamber as a trap to lure and eliminate Corpse Valley members, then covers it up to avoid suspicion.
• Jiang Liu travels to Mountain City to request reinforcements from Exotic Beast Valley.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his power and strategic thinking, showing growth in his ability to handle complex situations.
• Li Chunyang, a Core Disciple of Exotic Beast Valley, shows loyalty and eagerness to assist Jiang Liu.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between Exotic Beast Valley and Corpse Valley for control and dominance.
• Jiang Liu's growing responsibility and strategic mindset in protecting his territory and allies.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu interacts with Exotic Beast Valley disciples, showing his status as a senior figure and True Inheritor Disciple.
• Li Chunyang greets Jiang Liu warmly and offers his assistance, demonstrating their friendly relationship within Exotic Beast Valley.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu discovers that Li Chunyang, a Core Disciple of the Exotic Beast Valley, is secretly a member of Corpse Valley.
• Jiang Liu kills a Grandmaster and three other Grandmasters from Corpse Valley.
• Jiang Liu plans to encircle and annihilate the remaining Corpse Valley personnel in Mountain City.
• A secret cave is revealed in the City Lord's Mansion, where Li Chunyang communicates with Corpse Valley.
• Jiang Liu follows a Corpse Valley disciple to a secret passage in a mountain range, where he captures two middlemen responsible for contacting the Corpse Valley moles in the Exotic Beast Valley.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu: Advances to the Grandmaster realm, demonstrating his formidable strength and strategic thinking.
• Li Chunyang: Revealed as a mole for Corpse Valley, showing his deception and loyalty to his true allegiance.
• The two captured Corpse Valley disciples: Reveal the extent of Corpse Valley's infiltration in the Exotic Beast Valley and their patient long-term strategy.

Significant Themes

• Deception and trust: Li Chunyang's deception highlights the theme of trust and betrayal within the Exotic Beast Valley.
• Patience and perseverance: Corpse Valley's long-term infiltration strategy emphasizes patience and perseverance in achieving their goals.
• Strength and power: Jiang Liu's advancement to the Grandmaster realm underscores the importance of strength and power in the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu and Li Chunyang: Jiang Liu suspects Li Chunyang's loyalty and eventually confirms his betrayal.
• Jiang Liu and the two captured Corpse Valley disciples: Jiang Liu captures and interrogates them, revealing the extent of Corpse Valley's infiltration.
• Li Chunyang and the secret cave: Li Chunyang communicates with Corpse Valley through the secret cave, showing his allegiance to them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu discovers all Corpse Valley strongholds in the area.
• He captures two Corpse Valley members and takes them to Ascension Tower.
• Jiang Liu sends a message to Exotic Beast Valley for support.
• After eight days, Elder Bai and others arrive outside Mountain City.
• Jiang Liu shares his findings about Corpse Valley's infiltration.
• Exotic Beast Valley elders plan to wipe out Corpse Valley strongholds.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu advances to Grandmaster, earning respect from Bai Zongyu and Exotic Beast Valley elders.
• Bai Zongyu, the Tower Master of Ascension Tower, shows hospitality and cooperation towards Jiang Liu.
• Elder Bai and Elder He, along with other Exotic Beast Valley elders, display determination and urgency in dealing with the Corpse Valley threat.

Significant Themes

• The power struggle between Exotic Beast Valley and Corpse Valley.
• The importance of information and intelligence gathering in warfare.
• The responsibility of the younger generation in protecting their sect/clan.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu and Bai Zongyu: They maintain a polite and cooperative relationship, with Bai Zongyu showing deference to Jiang Liu's new Grandmaster status.
• Jiang Liu and Exotic Beast Valley elders: They share information and plan their next course of action against Corpse Valley.
• Elder Bai, Elder He, and other Exotic Beast Valley elders: They work together to strategize and assign tasks for the upcoming operation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu and Exotic Beast Valley elders capture Corpse Valley Martial Practitioners in Mountain City's strongholds.
• Jiang Liu discovers Li Chunyang and a Grandmaster from the Lotus Sect among the fleeing figures.
• Jiang Liu captures Li Chunyang and the Lotus Sect Grandmaster, while Elder Bai and Elder He capture the remaining fleeing figures.
• Jiang Liu interrogates Li Chunyang and the Corpse Valley Martial Practitioner using his mental power, revealing the Lotus Sect's ambitious plans.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his powerful combat skills and the ability to interrogate enemies using his mental power.
• Li Chunyang and the Corpse Valley Martial Practitioner reveal their fears and desperation when captured.
• The Lotus Sect Grandmaster shows no fear, indicating a high level of composure and training.

Significant Themes

• The struggle against evil forces, represented by Corpse Valley and the Lotus Sect.
• The importance of vigilance and caution in the face of potential threats.
• The use of mental power as a weapon, highlighting Jiang Liu's unique abilities.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu works alongside Elder Bai and Elder He, showcasing teamwork and coordination.
• Jiang Liu and the captured enemies engage in mental battles, demonstrating Jiang Liu's dominance.
• The captured enemies interact with each other, revealing their fears and desperation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu learns from a Corpse Valley Rank 9 Martial Practitioner that the Lotus Sect Grandmaster is in Mountain City but hasn't been found yet.
• Jiang Liu, Elder Bai, and Elder He devise a plan to lure the Lotus Sect Grandmaster to the City Lord's Mansion by pretending to hide the captured Lotus Sect members and Corpse Valley practitioner there.
• Mo Baitian, the Lotus Sect Grandmaster, arrives at the City Lord's Mansion and is ambushed by Jiang Liu, leading to a fierce battle.
• Jiang Liu defeats Mo Baitian, leaving him barely alive.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his formidable strength and ability to conceal his presence, even from Grandmasters.
• Mo Baitian shows his concern for the Lotus Sect's reputation and their collaboration with Corpse Valley.

Significant Themes

• The theme of deception and strategy is prominent, with Jiang Liu using a ruse to lure Mo Baitian.
• The power dynamics between the Lotus Sect, Corpse Valley, and Exotic Beast Valley are explored.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu interacts with Elder Bai and Elder He, showing trust in their abilities and including them in his plan.
• Mo Baitian interacts with A'po Duan and the others (off-page), showing concern for their safety and the progress of their discussion.
• Jiang Liu and Mo Baitian engage in a fierce battle, showcasing their power and skill.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu defeats Mo Baitian and leaves him behind.
• Jiang Liu's improved Cloudfall Strike causes significant damage, surprising Elder Bai and Elder He.
• All captured Corpse Valley members are gathered and interrogated, revealing a map of Corpse Valley's power strongholds in Qi Province.
• Jiang Liu retrieves two contacts and their packages from the Ascension Tower.
• Jiang Liu discovers a newly promoted Corpse Valley Grandmaster's weapon and belongings.
• Elder Bai and Elder He purge the Mountain City guard team and screen the remaining forces, arresting suspected Corpse Valley members.
• Mo Han investigates Exotic Beast Valley disciples, revealing remaining Corpse Valley spies.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu's combat skills improve, as seen in his defeat of Mo Baitian and the damage caused by his Cloudfall Strike.
• Jiang Liu becomes more strategic, planning to use Koinu Jun'ichirō's belongings to lure out East Wo Country spies.
• Jiang Liu learns about the drawbacks of cultivating multiple techniques from Li Chunyang's case.
• Mo Han demonstrates his diligence in investigating Exotic Beast Valley disciples.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of cultivating multiple, opposing techniques (Li Chunyang's case).
• The importance of vigilance against hidden enemies (Corpse Valley spies in Qi Province and Exotic Beast Valley).
• The value of strategic planning (Jiang Liu's plan to lure out East Wo Country spies).

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu interacts positively with Elder Bai and Elder He, who acknowledge his skills and work together with him.
• Jiang Liu learns from Li Chunyang's case, gaining insight into the dangers of cultivating multiple techniques.
• Mo Han and Jiang Liu work together to root out Corpse Valley spies, showing trust and cooperation.

Key Plot Points

• Jiang Liu sells Koinu Jun'ichirō's longsword to send a message about his predicament.
• Jiang Liu recovers the Frostwing Dragon and Three-Eyed Flying Tiger.
• Exotic Beast Valley clears out Corpse Valley spies, except for some elders.
• Jiang Liu identifies Li Chunyang's Yuan Qi mutation as a sign of Corpse Valley techniques conflict.
• Ouyang Xiong, an elder, is exposed as a Corpse Valley spy.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his strategic thinking and investigative skills.
• Ouyang Xiong's true allegiance is revealed, showing the depth of Corpse Valley's infiltration.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of cultivating conflicting techniques (Yuan Qi mutation).
• The lengths Corpse Valley will go to for infiltration and manipulation.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu works with Valley Master Mo Han, Elder Bai, and Elder He to expose Ouyang Xiong.
• Ouyang Xiong's fellow elders are shocked and dismayed by his betrayal.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter reveals the sinister practices of Corpse Valley, using Blood Essence of martial practitioners to refine pills (Blood Suppression Pill, Blood Rush Pill) and create Corpse Golems.
• Corpse Valley controls its disciples with Blood Suppression Pills, and those who take Blood Rush Pills need Blood Suppression Pills to counteract their effects, falling under Corpse Valley's control.
• Corpse Valley's power lies in its Grandmaster Corpse Golems, but it's currently in decline, trading lower-level Corpse Golems to survive.
• Ouyang Xiong, a captured Corpse Valley disciple, reveals that Corpse Valley has three Grandmasters: Corpse King, White Golem, and another Grandmaster. He also confirms Han Tong's death and soul dissipation.
• Jiang Liu kills Ouyang Xiong, and the Exotic Beast Valley leaders discuss Corpse Valley's remaining power.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu advances to the Grandmaster realm.
• Ouyang Xiong, a Corpse Valley disciple, is captured and reveals crucial information before being killed by Mo Han.
• Han Tong, an Exotic Beast Valley elder, is confirmed dead and his soul dissipated, downgraded to a Ranked Corpse Golem.

Significant Themes

• The sinister practices of Corpse Valley and their control over disciples.
• The decline of Corpse Valley and its impact on the balance of power.
• The struggle between Exotic Beast Valley and Corpse Valley, with the loss of Han Tong highlighting the seriousness of the conflict.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu interacts with Ouyang Xiong, questioning him about Corpse Valley's Grandmasters and Han Tong's whereabouts.
• Mo Han, Elder Bai, and Elder He discuss the implications of Ouyang Xiong's revelations and the remaining power of Corpse Valley.
• Jiang Liu shares his experience of subduing the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger with the Exotic Beast Valley leaders, highlighting his unique abilities.
• Bai Wusong, the Ascension Tower's manager, greets Jiang Liu and expresses surprise at his advancement to the Grandmaster realm.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Jiang Liu visits the Ascension Tower in Qi City to gather information about the Dark Star Hall.
• Bai Wusong, the patriarch, shares recent news and treats Jiang Liu as an equal due to his strength.
• Jiang Liu returns to the Exotic Beast Valley, finding it bustling with activity due to the integration of Qi Province's affairs.
• Jiang Liu requests support for the women's faction in Yun Province from the Exotic Beast Valley, which is granted.

Character Developments

• Bai Wusong: Realizes Jiang Liu's rapid advancement and regrets underestimating him.
• Jiang Liu: Gains recognition and equal treatment from Bai Wusong, demonstrating his growth in strength and status.

Significant Themes

• Strength and Status: Jiang Liu's increased strength leads to improved treatment and recognition from others.
• Loyalty and Support: Jiang Liu's concern for the women's faction in Yun Province showcases his loyalty and desire to support them.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu and Bai Wusong: Their interaction highlights Bai Wusong's change in attitude towards Jiang Liu, treating him as an equal due to his strength.
• Jiang Liu and the Exotic Beast Valley Elders: Jiang Liu's interaction with the elders demonstrates his connection to the Exotic Beast Valley and his request for support for the women's faction in Yun Province.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu returns to his courtyard, examines the brocade box from the Saint Heaven Sect, and decides to take it with him.
• He flies to the Exotic Beast Plaza, takes the Frostwing Dragon and Three-Eyed Flying Tiger, and sets off towards Yun Province.
• In Zhen Province, the Ye Family hosts a grand banquet to celebrate their dominion over six counties, inviting various forces, including the Ji, Wang, Li, and Liu Families, as well as the Lotus Sect and other powers.
• After the banquet, the heads of the Ji, Wang, Li, and Liu Families secretly meet with Ye Bolun to discuss their plans for Zhen Province.
• Kuang Qianzi, the Lotus Sect Leader, returns to her inn and discusses strategies with Xu Kuangsheng, deciding to invite the Buddhist School Master and Sun Moon Sect Guardian to form an alliance against the Ye Family.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu: Shows curiosity and caution regarding the brocade box, demonstrating his careful nature.
• Ye Bolun: Reveals his ambition and manipulative side, aiming to dominate Zhen Province.
• Kuang Qianzi: Shows strategic thinking and adaptability, seeking alliances to counter the Ye Family's growing power.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and power struggles among families and sects.
• Alliances and strategic planning in the face of growing threats.
• The mystery of the brocade box, hinting at a potential secret or hidden power.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu interacts with the Servant Disciple at the Exotic Beast Plaza, showing his authority and command over the Frostwing Dragon and Three-Eyed Flying Tiger.
• Ye Bolun interacts with the various family heads and sect leaders, displaying his politeness and manipulation skills.
• Kuang Qianzi interacts with Xu Kuangsheng, Master Xuanzhi, and Guardian Xuanming, demonstrating her ability to form alliances and make strategic decisions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu arrives in Luo County, Qi Province, after fleeing Yun Province.
• He observes many people from Yun Province in Luo City, suggesting a mass exodus due to harsh conditions.
• Jiang Liu visits the Ascension Tower, where he meets Bai Luohe, the owner, who provides information about Yun Province's dire situation.
• Bai Luohe reveals that the Sun Moon Sect, governing Xia County, is heavily exploiting the common people, leading to a refugee crisis.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu shows concern for the people of Yun Province and a desire to understand the current situation.
• Bai Luohe demonstrates his knowledge of the political landscape and his willingness to share information with Jiang Liu.

Significant Themes

• The exploitation of common people by Martial Practitioner forces governing territories.
• The instability and chaos caused by multiple forces governing a single region.
• The refugee crisis resulting from unbearable living conditions.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu and Bai Luohe reunite, with Bai Luohe expressing admiration for Jiang Liu's rapid advancement.
• Jiang Liu and Bai Luohe discuss the situation in Yun Province, with Bai Luohe providing crucial information to Jiang Liu.

Chapter Summary: Corpse Valley Remnants from Yun Province

Key Plot Points and Events

• After speaking with Bai Luohe, Jiang Liu returns toward the City Lord’s Mansion in Luo City.
• He learns from Qi Yi that He Guo is currently managing the city and goes to meet him.
• He Guo reports that Corpse Valley members have been detected in nearby Luo Yun County, roughly seventy li away.
• Jiang Liu decides to investigate personally and summons both of his Exotic Beast Kings—the Frostwing Dragon and the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger—to transport them there.
• Upon reaching the City Lord’s Mansion in Luo Yun County, Jiang Liu senses something wrong and uses his Divine Sense to inspect the area.
• He discovers three Corpse Valley practitioners attacking people with three Corpse Golems.
• Jiang Liu instantly destroys the Golems by shattering their skulls with his spiritual power, then uses the Nebula Shrunken Earth technique to incapacitate the three attackers before they can escape.
• The surviving Exotic Beast Valley disciples thank Jiang Liu for saving them. He assigns He Guo to handle the aftermath while he interrogates the Corpse Valley members.
• Through spiritual mind invasion, Jiang Liu learns that all three attackers came from Yun Province and had only recently arrived in Qi Province.
• Jiang Liu concludes that Corpse Valley’s forces in Yun Province may be extensive and could continue sending members into Qi Province.
• He resolves to eliminate Corpse Valley’s remaining forces in Xia County and also destroy the Sun Moon Sect’s forces there, believing they are unlikely to receive help from their main forces in Kun Province.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu continues to demonstrate overwhelming strength, confidence, and responsibility. Although he is powerful enough to act alone, he takes the threat seriously and brings both Exotic Beast Kings as a precaution.
• His status as a celebrated True Inheritor Disciple is emphasized through the admiration of the Exotic Beast Valley disciples, who regard him as an ideal figure.
• Jiang Liu shows growing strategic awareness by recognizing that the three attackers are probably only low- or mid-ranking Corpse Valley members and that the larger threat may come from Yun Province.
• He Guo is shown as a responsible but worried leader handling Luo City. He trusts Jiang Liu’s judgment and willingly assists in the investigation.
• The rescued disciples view Jiang Liu with awe and gratitude, reinforcing his reputation as a powerful protector.
• The three Corpse Valley practitioners are revealed to be reckless and overconfident, assuming they can establish their influence in Qi Province without resistance.

Significant Themes

• Power and authority: Jiang Liu’s strength allows him to resolve a crisis almost instantly, reinforcing the gap between him and ordinary Seventh Grade martial artists.
• Heroic responsibility: Despite his elevated status, Jiang Liu still identifies himself as an Exotic Beast Valley disciple and intervenes to protect its people.
• Hidden threats and expanding conflict: The attack is not an isolated incident; it suggests that Corpse Valley’s influence in Yun Province remains active and may threaten Qi Province.
• Reputation and aspiration: The younger disciples idolize Jiang Liu because of his rapid rise and exceptional achievements, making him a symbol of ambition within the sect.
• Strategic escalation: Jiang Liu shifts from simply responding to attacks toward actively planning the destruction of hostile organizations in the region.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu and Bai Luohe: Their earlier conversation ends amicably, with Bai Luohe repeatedly inviting Jiang Liu to drink, though Jiang Liu declines after their previous experience.
• Jiang Liu and Qi Yi: Qi Yi respectfully reports He Guo’s whereabouts and escorts Jiang Liu to the council hall.
• Jiang Liu and He Guo: Jiang Liu notices He Guo’s distress, listens to the report, and volunteers to accompany him. Their cooperation reflects Jiang Liu’s seniority and He Guo’s trust in him.
• Jiang Liu and the Exotic Beast Kings: The Frostwing Dragon and Three-Eyed Flying Tiger respond immediately to his commands. Their obedience impresses He Guo, highlighting Jiang Liu’s exceptional bond with his beasts.
• Jiang Liu and the rescued disciples: The disciples kneel and kowtow in gratitude, while Jiang Liu responds modestly and helps them stand.
• Jiang Liu and the Corpse Valley members: Jiang Liu overwhelms, interrogates, and extracts information from them, using his superior cultivation to uncover the broader threat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Liu leaves Falling Cloud City, heading towards the Exotic Beast Plaza.
• He encounters a battle between the Ancestor of the Yun Family and the Ghost Lord of the Sun Moon Sect in a dense forest.
• Jiang Liu uses Starfall to provoke them, causing them to resume their fight.
• After the battle, Jiang Liu pursues the Ghost Lord, while the Ancestor of the Yun Family encounters Jiang Liu's Exotic Beast Kings.

Character Developments

• Jiang Liu demonstrates his strategic thinking and combat prowess by manipulating the situation to his advantage.
• The Ancestor of the Yun Family and the Ghost Lord show their resilience and determination, continuing to fight despite injuries.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and strategy in combat.
• Resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Liu manipulates the Ancestor of the Yun Family and the Ghost Lord into fighting each other, showcasing his ability to control the situation.
• The Ancestor of the Yun Family and the Ghost Lord interact through their intense battle, revealing their competitive nature and unwillingness to back down.