Chapter Summaries

Jiang Liu established plans for Listening Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion in Cloud City, then questioned Murong Aotian about the Deity Summoning Society. Murong Aotian revealed that the National Preceptor's Mansion had backed the society to undermine the Martial Prohibition Hall, whose apparent collapse might actually be a deliberate purge.

• Jiang Liu and Feng Yue chose separate locations in Cloud City for Listening Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion, while construction began on Jiang Liu's mountain residence.
• Jiang Liu walked through a district controlled by the Deity Summoning Society and wondered who supported Han Li and how the society had grown so powerful.
• Jiang Liu visited Murong Aotian at Ascension Tower and asked why the Martial Prohibition Hall had not eliminated the Deity Summoning Society.
• Murong Aotian told Jiang Liu that the National Preceptor's Mansion had promoted the Deity Summoning Society to trouble the Martial Prohibition Hall after Lu Tianheng refused to obey its orders.
• Murong Aotian explained that the Martial Prohibition Hall's retreats and losses could be part of a plan to purge its ranks, prompting Jiang Liu to reconsider what he had seen in the provinces.

Jiang Liu planned to eliminate Han Li and worked with Qin Bailian to lure him out, while Han Li and Qin Bailian secretly plotted to kill Jiang Liu. The chapter ended with both sides believing the other had fallen for their scheme.

• Jiang Liu asked Murong Aotian about destroying the Deity Summoning Society, and Murong advised him to hide his methods and let Exotic Weapon Valley handle the Society after Han Li was killed.
• Jiang Liu contacted Qin Bailian, but learned Han Li had left Yun Province, so he put the matter aside while Murong Yin and the Listening Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion arrived and began preparing to operate across the province.
• Qin Bailian later arranged a meeting with Han Li at the Deity Summoning Society's headquarters and told Jiang Liu its location.
• Jiang Liu and Qin Bailian devised a plan to draw Han Li out by spreading word that Jiang Liu was cultivating alone in the mountains.
• Qin Bailian secretly met Han Li and claimed Jiang Liu had agreed to enter the mountains alone, while Han Li planned to kill Jiang Liu for the National Preceptor.

Jiang Liu lured Han Li and Qin Bailian into attacking him in the Ten Thousand Mountains, then used the Fire-Winged Monkey to defeat them and force Qin Bailian to destroy the Deity Summoning Society. The society’s forces were being wiped out as Jiang Liu returned to Cloud City and waited for Qin Bailian’s report.

• Jiang Liu flew alone into the Ten Thousand Mountains to cultivate, drawing Han Li and Qin Bailian after him.
• Han Li and Qin Bailian ambushed Jiang Liu with several Minor Grandmasters, but Jiang Liu summoned the Fire-Winged Monkey and defeated Han Li.
• Qin Bailian begged for his life, and Jiang Liu made him kill the unconscious Minor Grandmasters and lead an attack on the Deity Summoning Society.
• Jiang Liu sent the Fire-Winged Monkey to watch Qin Bailian, who led the raid on the society’s headquarters while the Exotic Weapon Valley sent forces against its branches in Lu County and Yu County.
• Jiang Liu returned to Cloud City and waited in his courtyard for Qin Bailian to report the results.

Qin Bailian reported that the Deity Summoning Society’s forces in Cloud City had been wiped out and warned Jiang Liu that the Five Poisons Sect was difficult to deal with. Jiang Liu considered the sect’s poisons and rampaging venomous creatures while cultivating, and Murong Yin and Feng Yue returned with Qin Bailian’s assets.

• Qin Bailian told Jiang Liu that the Deity Summoning Society’s Cloud City forces had been eliminated and described the Five Poisons Sect’s hidden headquarters, poisons, and venomous creatures as major obstacles.
• Jiang Liu sent Qin Bailian to clear the Deity Summoning Society’s remnants in Rain County and Lu County, while Murong Yin and Feng Yue arranged to claim its wealth.
• After leaving, Qin Bailian feared Jiang Liu’s strength and flew back to Exotic Weapon Valley to continue his assignment.
• Jiang Liu planned to search Ascension Tower’s records for information on the Five Poisons Sect and cultivated the Saintly Sky Art in his secluded courtyard.
• Murong Yin told Jiang Liu that Qin Bailian had handed over all his assets, and Jiang Liu decided to give him more tasks.

Jiang Liu went to the Haotian Sect’s Cloud City outpost after Bo Ye summoned him and warned him against meddling in the sects’ tacit arrangement. Jiang Liu denied responsibility for the Deity Summoning Society’s destruction and left to ask Elder Liuxing what was behind the warning.

• Jiang Liu learned that Bo Ye of the Haotian Sect wanted to see him and went to the sect’s Cloud City outpost.
• Bo Ye explained that the three sects had long allowed lower-level factions to compete as long as they paid their share.
• Bo Ye questioned Jiang Liu about the Deity Summoning Society, but Jiang Liu blamed its destruction and the defeat of the Sun Moon Sect remnants on Exotic Weapon Valley.
• Bo Ye warned Jiang Liu not to meddle recklessly in the factions’ struggles, then let him leave.
• Jiang Liu headed to Flowing Cloud Sect’s outpost to ask Elder Liuxing why the Haotian Sect had summoned him.

Jiang Liu visited the Flowing Cloud Sect and learned that both it and the Star Moon Sect supported him despite the Haotian Sect dispute. After he left, Elder Liuxing and Yun Yue discussed his growing strength and suspected he had subdued the Beast Emperor.

• Jiang Liu arrived at the Flowing Cloud Sect residence and met Elder Liuxing and Yun Yue, who asked about his visit to the Haotian Sect.
• Elder Liuxing explained that Bo Ye had been prompted by Haotian Sect insiders to confront Jiang Liu, and both elders assured Jiang Liu that he had done nothing seriously wrong.
• Yun Yue and Elder Liuxing said their sects valued Jiang Liu, urged him to focus on cultivation, and discussed their possible merger if one of them mastered the Star Cloud Saint Art.
• After Jiang Liu left, Yun Yue and Elder Liuxing sensed that his spiritual power surpassed theirs and concluded that his breakthrough was likely.
• Elder Liuxing suspected Jiang Liu had subdued the Beast Emperor in Wind City, and Yun Yue wondered whether to report his strength to the sect master.

Jiang Liu learned that Murong Aotian had found the Five Poisons Sect’s base and discussed the dangers of attacking it. Later, he discovered powerful, difficult-to-control Special Essence Particles while cultivating the Saintly Sky Art, but their purpose remained unknown.

• Jiang Liu visited Murong Aotian and explained that Exotic Weapon Valley wanted to move against the Five Poisons Sect, giving him a justification for his actions.
• Murong Aotian revealed that he had found the Five Poisons Sect’s base and warned Jiang Liu to think carefully before attacking.
• Jiang Liu returned home, entered cultivation, and noticed unusual Essence Particles gathering separately as he practiced the Saintly Sky Art.
• Jiang Liu tested the Special Essence Particles on his fist and found them stronger than ordinary particles but harder to control.
• Jiang Liu set aside his investigation of the particles and considered the need to eradicate the Five Poisons Sect to pacify Cloud Province.

Jiang Liu reflected on the paths to the Saint Realm and focused on pacifying Yunzhou to cultivate the Saintly Sky Art. By New Year’s Eve, Exotic Weapon Valley had secured Yu County and Lu County, leaving only Qi County outside Jiang Liu’s control.

• Jiang Liu reasoned that peace-produced Special Essence Particles and the Saintly Sky Art might be necessary to reach the Saint Realm, while the Star Cloud Saint Art relied on external forces to temper his body.
• Jiang Liu concluded that the Three Sects’ conflicts and the imperial family’s and National Preceptor’s schemes were likely tied to the pursuit of greater power, though he remained focused on his own cultivation.
• Qin Bailian led Exotic Weapon Valley through Yu County and toward Lu County, defeating the Deity Summoning Society’s forces and taking control of both counties.
• Jiang Liu handed the administration of Yu County and Lu County to Exotic Weapon Valley and sent Wind Division members to establish branches there, while Murong Yin and Feng Yue oversaw Listening Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion’s expansion.
• On New Year’s Eve in the eighth year of Chengping, Qin Bailian reported that the Deity Summoning Society had been driven from Yu County and Lu County, and Jiang Liu sensed the unusual Essence Particles increasing as most of Yunzhou returned to peace.

On New Year's Eve, Jiang Liu assigned the Exotic Weapon Valley responsibility for governing Yunzhou while setting rules for its resources and conduct. After Qin Bailian left, Jiang Liu spent the evening celebrating with Murong Yin, Feng Yue, Cuier, and Xiao He.

• Jiang Liu warned Qin Bailian against mistreating innocents and ordered the Exotic Weapon Valley to split its duties between governing Yunzhou and preserving its inheritance.
• Jiang Liu ordered Yunzhou's taxes, income, and resources divided among the Three Sects, the Exotic Weapon Valley, and Murong Yin, then told Qin Bailian to take over Xia County and Kan County after the New Year.
• Qin Bailian left Jiang Liu's courtyard, frightened by the Fire-Winged Monkey, while Jiang Liu chose to let the prank serve as a warning.
• Murong Yin and Feng Yue joined Jiang Liu in the courtyard, where Jiang Liu praised Feng Yue's dish before she discovered it tasted awful.
• Jiang Liu, Murong Yin, Feng Yue, Cuier, and Xiao He ate dinner and spent New Year's Eve chatting together before Jiang Liu took Murong Yin and Feng Yue to play Fighting the Landlord.

Jiang Liu planned a staged campaign to destroy the Five Poisons Sect and ordered preparations for an assault in three months. As he made plans to reclaim Xia County and Kan County, Exotic Weapon Valley embraced its new benefits and committed itself to following him.

• Jiang Liu decided to draw the Five Poisons Sect out of its lair and ordered Murong Yin and Feng Yue to prepare poison-resisting and detoxifying medicines.
• Murong Yin estimated that gathering enough supplies would take three months, so Jiang Liu scheduled the attack for then and told Qin Bailian to take over Xia County and Kan County.
• Murong Yin warned that Murong Mo might resist giving up Kan County, but Jiang Liu insisted that Qin Bailian could handle him.
• Feng Yue asked Jiang Liu to take her and Murong Yin sightseeing, and he agreed to visit the Feng Family the next day.
• Qin Bailian announced improved benefits at Exotic Weapon Valley and hinted at greater rewards, leaving the elders and peak leaders satisfied with following Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu visited the Feng Family with Feng Yue, then investigated the strange forest in the mountain range and discovered it formed a Yin-Yang Fish pattern. After returning home without solving the mystery, he received news about his search for a traitor within East Wo Country.

• Jiang Liu took Feng Yue to the Feng Family and discussed the family’s cooperation with Exotic Weapon Valley and its supervision of the valley’s operations with Old Master Feng.
• Old Master Feng warned Jiang Liu about unusual events in the mountain range, and Jiang Liu decided to investigate the place the next day.
• Jiang Liu and the Fire-Winged Monkey explored the forest, where he found unusually dense Essence but no hidden cavern or clear explanation for the energy barrier.
• Jiang Liu spotted that the forest’s tall and short trees formed a Yin-Yang Fish pattern and realized he could enter only near the cliff where its sections converged.
• Murong Yin told Jiang Liu that news had arrived about finding the traitor within East Wo Country.

Jiang Liu learned that East Wo Country was using spies to build influence in Qi Province and sent the intelligence to Mo Han. After Qin Bailian took over Xia County and Kan County, Jiang Liu returned his attention to the Five Poisons Sect and the arriving anti-poison medicine.

• Murong Yin told Jiang Liu that Ascension Tower had detected a suspected Dark Star Hall agent and an East Wo Country spy asking about Koinu Jun'ichirō in Qi Province.
• Jiang Liu told Murong Yin to keep monitoring the East Wo Country spy and discussed preparations for anti-poison medicine.
• After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Qin Bailian asked when he could take over Xia County and Kan County, and Jiang Liu authorized him to proceed.
• Qin Bailian reported that he had taken over both counties and that Ascension Tower personnel had withdrawn, while Murong Mo had taken the collected silver and tax revenue.
• Jiang Liu received a report that East Wo Country planned to use minor gangs to expand through Qi Province and ordered Murong Yin to pass the intelligence to Mo Han.
• Jiang Liu continued planning against the Five Poisons Sect as supplies of anti-poison medicine began to arrive.

Jiang Liu ordered Qin Bailian and Exotic Weapon Valley to dismantle the Five Poisons Sect’s spy network in Cloud City and prepare for a larger campaign against the sect. After Exotic Weapon Valley captured its targets, Jiang Liu interrogated Gong Xun and uncovered the secrets he knew, leaving Qin Bailian ready to use the information to reduce losses in the coming conflict.

• Jiang Liu gave Qin Bailian a detailed list of the Five Poisons Sect’s informants in Cloud City and ordered him to eliminate them within two days.
• He Chuyue reported that the Listening Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion’s sisters were in position to watch events.
• Qin Bailian and Exotic Weapon Valley’s Elders assigned forces to capture spies, investigate the sect’s antidotes and poison methods, and leave survivors to spread false information.
• Exotic Weapon Valley captured the Five Poisons Sect’s Cloud City forces overnight, including their overseer, Gong Xun.
• Jiang Liu used his interrogation method on Gong Xun, who revealed every secret he knew about the Five Poisons Sect.

Jiang Liu coordinated the campaign against the Five Poisons Sect and learned that Exotic Beast Valley had dismantled an East Wo Country spy network in Qi Province. He then turned his attention to investigating the Yun City Pang Family and planning to deal with the Yun Family after the Five Poisons Sect was defeated.

• Jiang Liu left Qin Bailian and He Chuyue to use the Five Poisons Sect's contact methods and gradually weaken its forces.
• Jiang Liu met the Yun Family Head outside Murong Aotian's secret chamber and confirmed that the Ascension Tower had melted the Yun Family Ancestor's unusual weapon.
• Murong Aotian told Jiang Liu that Elder He and Exotic Beast Valley had arrested the East Wo Country spies and uprooted their network in Qi Province.
• Jiang Liu considered the Feng, Yun, and Pang Families and decided that the Yun Family would be dealt with after the Five Poisons Sect.
• Jiang Liu ordered He Chuyue to investigate the Yun City Pang Family, then Cuier invited him to dinner featuring Feng Yue's new dishes.

Jiang Liu and his companions discussed plans for controlling Cloud City’s forces after the Five Poisons Sect was destroyed, while Exotic Weapon Valley secretly tightened its attack on the sect. Yi Yue and Gong Heqian traced the danger to Exotic Weapon Valley and confronted one of its disciples, just as Qin Bailian arrived with reinforcements and a terrifying presence approached.

• Jiang Liu enjoyed Feng Yue’s unexpectedly delicious cooking and discussed the Five Poisons Sect and Cloud City’s local forces with Murong Yin and Feng Yue.
• Exotic Weapon Valley gradually surrounded the Five Poisons Sect’s territory in Qi County, causing its disciples to disappear or die.
• Yi Yue suspected the Heaven One Sect, while Chen Bo remained unaware that his sect had been blamed for the attacks.
• Yi Yue sent elders to investigate, then led one search team himself after a Minor Grandmaster elder disappeared.
• Yi Yue and Gong Heqian discovered that Exotic Weapon Valley martial artists had entered Qi County and confronted a captured disciple in Qiyun City.
• Qin Bailian arrived in the sky with ten Minor Grandmasters as Yi Yue sensed a terrifying fluctuation approaching.

Jiang Liu defeated Yi Yue and forced the Five Poisons Sect leader to surrender, ending the fighting between the sect and Exotic Weapon Valley. He left Yi Yue and the sect alive after Yi Yue swore to serve him for thirty years, creating a mysterious bond between them.

• Gong Heqian revealed he had advanced to Grandmaster, but Jiang Liu and the Fire-Winged Monkey arrived to reinforce the Five Poisons Sect’s opponents.
• Yi Yue summoned swarms of poisonous insects, which the Fire-Winged Monkey fought while Jiang Liu attacked Yi Yue.
• Jiang Liu relentlessly beat Yi Yue unconscious, and the battles between the Grandmasters and Minor Grandmasters stopped.
• Jiang Liu sealed Yi Yue’s dantian and offered to spare the Five Poisons Sect if Yi Yue served him for thirty years.
• Yi Yue swore allegiance to Jiang Liu, who sensed that the oath had created a cause-and-effect bond between them.

Jiang Liu brought the Five Poisons Sect under his control and traveled to Xun Province to speak with Chen Bo about the Ghost School’s rule. Chen Bo acknowledged the suffering in the province but said Heaven One Sect lacked the strength to challenge the Ghost School.

• Jiang Liu ordered Yi Yue to reorganize the Five Poisons Sect with Qin Bailian’s help, then travel to Cloud City for further instructions.
• Yi Yue told Gong Heqian and Qin Bailian that he had sworn loyalty to Jiang Liu, and Qin Bailian resolved to offer his own oath.
• Jiang Liu flew to Yin County and visited Heaven One Sect, where Chen Bo received him in the council hall.
• Jiang Liu told Chen Bo what he knew about the Ghost School’s control of Xun Province and its abuses in the other counties.
• Chen Bo said he knew the situation was worsening but lacked the strength to oppose the Ghost School.

Jiang Liu revealed his plan to use the Five Poisons Sect to expand into Xun Province and seek the Heaven One Sect’s cooperation in ending the chaos. Chen Bo agreed to provide assistance but declined to take part beyond that, and Jiang Liu left without telling him about the turmoil in the Haotian Sect.

• Jiang Liu demonstrated that he had reached the Grandmaster realm and asked Chen Bo to support him against the Ghost School.
• Jiang Liu told Chen Bo that he planned to subdue the Five Poisons Sect and send it to slowly invade Xun Province, asking the Heaven One Sect to provide convenience.
• Chen Bo agreed to help with the arrangement but refused to participate further, and he and Jiang Liu discussed where to station the Five Poisons Sect.
• Chen Bo asked about Chen Yuke, and Jiang Liu reassured him without revealing the Haotian Sect’s internal divisions.
• Chen Bo hosted a banquet where Jiang Liu met his eight sons, then Jiang Liu said farewell and departed.

Jiang Liu returned to Yun City and arranged to begin reorganizing its local forces, with Qin Bailian and Yi Yue leading the main effort and the Gentle Rain Pavilion gaining field experience. After setting the plan in motion, he returned home and joined Murong Yin and Feng Yue for a cheerful dinner.

• Jiang Liu ordered Yi Yue and Qin Bailian to send people to Yun City to target the Yun Family and the Pang Family, and Qin Bailian swore allegiance to him for thirty years.
• Jiang Liu returned to Yun City, told Murong Yin and He Chuyue about his recent dealings, and decided to prioritize gathering intelligence and acting against Yun City's local forces.
• Jiang Liu assigned Qin Bailian and Yi Yue to lead the operation, while the Listening Wind Pavilion and Gentle Rain Pavilion would send people to supervise and gain experience.
• Jiang Liu told Hao Jiao and Li Yueping that the Gentle Rain Pavilion would participate in missions, then returned to his residence.
• At dinner, Jiang Liu revealed Cuier's attempt to trick Xiao He, and Murong Yin and Feng Yue joined in teasing Cuier.

Jiang Liu ordered Qin Bailian and Yi Yue to investigate the Yun and Pang Families, then directed them to destroy the Pang Family while he hosted Yun Province’s Grandmasters. The Pang Family was wiped out, but Qin Bailian and Yi Yue were both badly wounded after killing its hidden Ancestor.

• Jiang Liu assigned Qin Bailian to investigate the Yun Family and Yi Yue to investigate the Pang Family, while considering the spreading conflict across four provinces.
• Qin Bailian reported that the Yun Family relied on its patriarch and four elders, while Yi Yue discovered suppressed origin energy in the Pang Family’s ancestral grounds.
• Jiang Liu ordered Qin Bailian and Yi Yue to attack the Pang Family that night and invited five Grandmasters to a banquet at his residence.
• While Jiang Liu hosted the banquet with Murong Yin and Feng Yue, Qin Bailian and Yi Yue led their forces in an assault on the Pang Family.
• Qin Bailian and Yi Yue killed the Pang Family’s hidden Ancestor, and seventeen Minor Grandmasters helped slaughter the remaining family members; both leaders suffered serious injuries.