Chapter Summaries

Jiang Liu learned how the war had devastated Xun Province and arranged for Listening Wind Pavilion and Gentle Rain Pavilion to manage refugees and prepare for his absence. After a warm breakfast with Murong Yin and Feng Yue, he departed for Mo Province to support the Vast Righteous Sect.

• Jiang Liu summoned Yi Yue to accompany him on the trip, and Yi Yue said he needed three days to prepare.
• Murong Yin explained that the war between Ghost School and the Lotus Sect had driven civilians from Xun Province, and Jiang Liu ordered Listening Wind Pavilion to prioritize safety and evacuate as many people as possible into Yun Province.
• Jiang Liu told Murong Yin and Feng Yue that Ghost School had joined the five great clans' alliance and Dao School had joined the Lotus Sect alliance, then instructed them to monitor Xun Province and Dark Star Hall.
• Jiang Liu, Murong Yin, Feng Yue, Yin Yunting, He Chuyue, Li Yueping, and Hao Jiao discussed the pavilions' restructuring and plans for managing Dark Star Hall and the Assassination List.
• Jiang Liu ate breakfast with Murong Yin and Feng Yue, then flew toward Mo Province on the Fire-Winged Monkey to support the Vast Righteous Sect.

Jiang Liu tried to fly over the Abyssal Canyon but was confronted by three Beast Emperors and forced into battle. He struggled to injure the Dragon Beast Emperor while Fire-Winged Monkey fought the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger and the Bird Beast Emperor, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• Jiang Liu ordered Fire-Winged Monkey to fly through the Abyssal Canyon, where a Dragon Beast Emperor, a Three-Eyed Flying Tiger, and a Bird Beast Emperor appeared.
• Jiang Liu asked Fire-Winged Monkey to negotiate passage, but the three Beast Emperors attacked as soon as it called out to them.
• Jiang Liu and Fire-Winged Monkey retreated from the Beast Emperors' breath, storms, and flames before Jiang Liu decided to fight rather than take a detour.
• Jiang Liu dodged the Dragon Beast Emperor's breath and shot an Ice Blade into its mouth, but it chewed and swallowed the blade.
• Jiang Liu struck the Dragon Beast Emperor's horn with Cloudfall Strike, then narrowly avoided falling when its roar left him unable to control his body.
• Jiang Liu realized he could not defeat the Dragon Beast Emperor and began considering how to escape.

Jiang Liu and the Fire-Winged Monkey fought the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger, Bird Beast Emperor, and Dragon Beast Emperor before fleeing across the Abyssal Canyon. In a forest, Jiang Liu woke from unconsciousness and began treating the severe internal injuries caused by the destruction of his Primal Qi apparition.

• Jiang Liu joined the Fire-Winged Monkey's battle and attacked the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger while distracting the Bird Beast Emperor and Dragon Beast Emperor with his manifested warrior.
• The Fire-Winged Monkey struck the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger with its cudgel, and Jiang Liu and the monkey fled as the three Beast Emperors pursued them.
• The Bird Beast Emperor's hurricane swept Jiang Liu away, but a burst of mental power from his spiritual sea woke him before he crashed.
• Jiang Liu's manifested warrior was destroyed, leaving him severely injured, and the Fire-Winged Monkey carried him away while fending off the pursuing Beast Emperors with Primal Qi Cudgels.
• The Fire-Winged Monkey brought Jiang Liu to a forest beside the Abyssal Canyon, where Jiang Liu passed out and later woke as the monkey channeled Primal Qi toward him.
• Jiang Liu took a Qi Replenishment Pill and circulated the Star Cloud Saint Art to repair his internal injuries.

After surviving a fierce battle with three Beast Emperors, Jiang Liu recovered while traveling with the Fire-Winged Monkey and reached Li Prefecture in Mo Province. He went to the Ascension Tower to learn how the war between the Vast Righteous Sect and the Ji Family was unfolding, where Mo Qian came out to greet him.

• Jiang Liu suppressed his injuries and ordered the Fire-Winged Monkey to carry him away from the Abyssal Canyon, reflecting on the Beast Emperors’ strength and the monkey’s resilience.
• The Fire-Winged Monkey hunted exotic beasts for their meals while Jiang Liu cultivated to heal his injuries; after staying an extra day to repair his spiritual sea, he felt refreshed and somewhat stronger.
• Jiang Liu and the Fire-Winged Monkey flew through Dragon Prefecture and Serpent Prefecture into Li Prefecture, where Jiang Liu chose to seek news about Mo Province’s conflict before entering territory governed by the Vast Righteous Sect.
• Jiang Liu dismissed the Fire-Winged Monkey outside Li City and flew to the Ascension Tower, where Mo Qian, a Minor Grandmaster from the Mo Family, sensed his arrival and came out to welcome him.

Jiang Liu gathered intelligence on the worsening conflicts in Mo Province and Tian Province, then traveled to He Prefecture to meet the Vast Righteous Sect's master. He identified himself to the sect's city patrol after they stopped him outside the prefecture.

• Jiang Liu visited Ascension Tower and asked Mo Qian for intelligence on the forces in Mo Province and Tian Province.
• Mo Qian recognized Jiang Liu and secretly sent word of his appearance in Mo Province to Mo Prefecture.
• Jiang Liu learned that the Ji Family had taken three of the Vast Righteous Sect's five prefectures, while the Moonfall Sect and Zheng Family faced growing pressure from the Confucian Sect and the National Preceptor's Mansion.
• After resting overnight, Jiang Liu summoned the Fire-Winged Monkey and flew to He Prefecture over three days.
• Vast Righteous Sect city patrol members stopped Jiang Liu outside He Prefecture, and he said he had come to see their sect master.

Jiang Liu arrived in River City to support the Vast Righteous Sect and heard how the Ji Family and Liu Family had driven it back through three prefectures. As Li Moran weighed a counterattack against withdrawing from Mo Province, Jiang Liu revealed that he had already sent Yi Yue to bring aid from Yun Province, leaving Li Moran astonished.

• Jiang Liu flew to River City on the Fire-Winged Monkey and entered the City Lord's Mansion with Elder Quan.
• Li Moran and Elder He dismissed the other elders, and Li Moran explained the Vast Righteous Sect's war against the Ji Family and Liu Family.
• Li Moran described the sect's heavy losses, its dwindling forces, and its need to decide whether to counterattack or withdraw from Mo Province.
• Jiang Liu told Li Moran that he had sent Yi Yue to provide support from Yun Province, and Li Moran stared at him in surprise.

Jiang Liu explained how he had pacified Yun Province and persuaded Li Moran to keep fighting the Ji Family by targeting its Grandmasters. After revealing that he had subdued a Beast Emperor, Jiang Liu helped finalize a plan to lure Ji Xingyun into an ambush, then joined the Vast Righteous Sect’s welcoming feast.

• Jiang Liu told Li Moran how he had defeated the Sun Moon Sect and Deity Summoning Society, after which Qin Bailian and Yi Yue had surrendered to him.
• Li Moran chose to remain in Mo Province and asked Jiang Liu how the Vast Righteous Sect should respond to the Ji Family.
• Jiang Liu proposed eliminating a Ji Family Grandmaster, then revealed that he had subdued the Fire-Winged Monkey and that Murong Lie had reached Grandmaster Realm.
• Jiang Liu, Li Moran, and Elder He planned to challenge Ji Xingfeng and use the opportunity to besiege him, with a direct assault as a last resort.
• Li Moran welcomed Jiang Liu with a banquet, where Li Qiaoyun eagerly questioned him and challenged him to drinking contests.

Jiang Liu and Li Moran set out to carry out their plan against the Ji Family, with Jiang Liu concealed nearby to strike when an opportunity arose. Li Qiaoyun secretly followed them, but returned to He Prefecture after Jiang Liu promised her father would be safe.

• After the banquet, Li Moran arranged for his drunk daughter Li Qiaoyun to be taken back to her courtyard and decided he would support her choices.
• The next morning, Jiang Liu met Li Moran and the elders in the council hall, where they finalized their plan to challenge the Ji Family.
• Li Moran led six Minor Grandmaster elders out of He Prefecture while Jiang Liu waited nearby on the Fire-Winged Monkey.
• Li Qiaoyun secretly left the city and flew after her father, prompting Jiang Liu to intercept her and tell her to return.
• Li Qiaoyun asked Jiang Liu to keep Li Moran safe, and he promised she would see her father return before pursuing the group.

The Moonfall Sect and Zheng Family launched a nighttime attack on Xiao Xuezhu, while Zheng Xueyi used the operation to help his family escape Sky City. The attack turned into an ambush, leaving Wei Wei and the invading forces surrounded inside the empty Xiao Estate.

• Zheng Xueyi told Fu Yunyue that he would lead the Zheng Family’s elites, while secretly planning to use the attack as cover for his family’s withdrawal from Sky City.
• Fu Yunyue mobilized the Moonfall Sect’s senior members, and Zheng Xueyi selected four Minor Grandmaster elders to join the operation.
• Fu Yunyue led the combined forces to Xiao Xuezhu’s residence and sent Wei Wei and the Minor Grandmasters inside as she, Zheng Xueyi, and Tian Zhu attacked Xiao Xuezhu.
• Xiao Xuezhu defended herself against the three Grandmasters with circles drawn by her calligraphy brush.
• Wei Wei found the Xiao Estate empty and discovered that Confucian Sect members and other fighters had surrounded his group, then reported the trap to Fu Yunyue while fighting.

Xiao Xuezhu was gravely wounded when the Moonfall Sect and Zheng Family attacked, but their leaders fled as Grandmasters arrived. Meanwhile, Zheng Jing and Zheng Xuan killed Jiang Heng and escaped Sky City with the Zheng Family, leaving two figures from the National Preceptor's Mansion at the city wall.

• Fu Yunyue, Zheng Xueyi, and Tian Zhu struck Xiao Xuezhu from several directions, leaving her badly wounded.
• Fu Yunyue and Zheng Xueyi fled when Grandmasters approached, while Tian Zhu escaped under pursuit and another Grandmaster went to inspect Xiao Xuezhu.
• Jiang Lan learned that fighting had begun at Xiao Estate and relied on Jiang Heng's patrols to prevent anyone from escaping Sky City.
• Jiang Heng intercepted Zheng Xuan and the Zheng Family at the city wall, but Zheng Jing ambushed him and pierced his dantian.
• Zheng Jing and Zheng Xuan killed Jiang Heng's men, joined Zheng Xueyi and the remaining Minor Grandmasters, and led the Zheng Family out of Sky City.
• Two figures from the National Preceptor's Mansion arrived at the city wall after the Zheng Family had escaped.

After the Zheng Family and Moonfall Sect escaped the citywide raid, the Confucian School and National Preceptor's Mansion captured the remaining sect members and cornered Tian Zhu, who agreed to swear allegiance. Fu Yunyue fled toward Dui Province, while Jiang Lan persuaded Jiang Zongquan to hold off on acting for now.

• The two Grandmasters from the National Preceptor's Mansion found Jiang Heng dead and rushed to attack the Moonfall Sect's headquarters.
• Fu Yunyue fled toward the city wall as Gongyang Zhuang's forces found Xiao Xuezhu severely injured and her attackers mostly dead.
• Wei Wei escaped the Moonfall Sect's headquarters with his son, while the surrounded sect members surrendered or were killed.
• The forces sent to the Zheng Family residence found that its important members had fled and took the remaining servants into custody.
• Four Grandmasters surrounded Tian Zhu, and Tang Yilun persuaded him to surrender by promising to stake his life on securing the emperor's mercy; Tian Zhu bound Tang Yilun and demanded to be led away.
• Jiang Lan explained his plan to Jiang Zongquan, who agreed not to act for now.

Jiang Liu and Li Moran ambushed Ji Xingyun and the Ji Family’s Minor Grandmasters outside Du City, capturing Ji Xingyun and defeating their opponents. The Vast Righteous Sect entered the city to hunt down the remaining Ji Family forces, while Jiang Liu accepted that his strength would no longer remain secret.

• Li Moran challenged Ji Xingyun outside Du City, then attacked with Jiang Liu and Fire-Winged Monkey when Ji Xingyun turned away.
• Fire-Winged Monkey and Jiang Liu battered Ji Xingyun into the city wall and rendered him unconscious, after which Jiang Liu sealed his dantian and handed him to Fire-Winged Monkey.
• Li Moran and the six Vast Righteous Sect Minor Grandmasters fought the Ji Family’s Minor Grandmasters as Jiang Liu disabled the fleeing enemies with ice needles and crippled their dantians.
• Li Moran ordered the elders to enter Du City and eliminate the remaining Ji Family forces, while he followed to guard against surprises.
• Jiang Liu realized the Ji Family would learn about his presence and strength, but he no longer cared about keeping them secret.

Jiang Liu’s capture of Ji Xingyun exposed his formidable strength and forced the Ji Family to seek help while the Vast Righteous Sect debated its next move. As news spread across Great Qian, Jiang Liu became a feared figure whom other forces no longer dared provoke.

• Li Moran arranged patrols and defenses in Du City while Jiang Liu waited outside the city for Ji Family reinforcements that never came.
• Elder He and Li Qiaoyun arrived, learned Jiang Liu had defeated Ji Xingyun, and joined Jiang Liu and Li Moran to discuss the Vast Righteous Sect’s future.
• The Ji Family learned Jiang Liu was responsible for Ji Xingyun’s capture and, after confirming the three sects would not intervene, sought support from the other four families.
• Reports of Jiang Liu capturing a Grandmaster alive spread among Great Qian’s Grandmasters, who became wary of challenging him.
• Other forces concluded Jiang Liu was the true power behind Yun Province and stopped seeking to provoke him or interfere there.

Ji Xingfeng sought help from the Ji Family’s hidden ancestor, Ji Qiang, who promised to deal with Jiang Liu and encouraged the family to resume its campaign against the Vast Righteous Sect. As reinforcements gathered on both sides, another war loomed over Mo Province.

• Ji Qiang told Ji Xingfeng that he would personally handle Jiang Liu and instructed him to lure Jiang Liu out.
• Ji Xingfeng told Ji Xingyu about Ji Qiang’s promise, and they discussed coordinating the Ji Family’s next moves against the Vast Righteous Sect.
• Jiang Liu welcomed Yi Yue and six Minor Grandmasters from the Five Poisons Sect, along with its venomous creatures, to reinforce the Vast Righteous Sect.
• Li Moran held a banquet for the Five Poisons Sect’s reinforcements, boosting the Vast Righteous Sect’s confidence.
• The Ji Family welcomed Grandmasters from the Ye and Li Families, then Ji Xingfeng met with the allied Grandmasters to plan another campaign against the Vast Righteous Sect.

News of the Tian Province incident spread across Great Qian, leaving Jianghu forces wary of the Imperial Family and uncertain about the Martial Prohibition Hall’s intentions. In Mo Province, Jiang Liu prepared for the Ji Family’s expected attack while privately worrying about the three sects’ ability to oppose the Imperial Family.

• Jianghu leaders learned that the Great Qian Imperial Family had destroyed the Moonfall Sect and gained the National Preceptor’s Mansion’s support, and they feared the Imperial Family would move against them.
• Great Qian’s Jianghu forces slowed their conflicts while waiting to see whether Lu Tianheng and the Martial Prohibition Hall would reconcile with the Imperial Family.
• Jiang Liu and Li Moran discussed the Li and Ye families sending Grandmasters to support the Ji Family, then agreed to prepare to repel any attack.
• Jiang Liu returned to his courtyard and considered the Flowing Cloud Sect’s situation, the absent Peak Grandmasters, and whether the three sects could counter the Imperial Family.

Jiang Liu avoided Li Qiaoyun and focused on cultivation while the Buddhist Sect’s leaders met to plan how to exploit a growing alliance and provoke conflict among their rivals. The meeting ended with the Buddhist Sect committed to weakening the Three Sects and Great Qian Imperial Family, though whether its scheme would succeed remained uncertain.

• Jiang Liu brushed off Li Qiaoyun’s invitation to go for a walk and cultivated at the practice grounds instead.
• Xuan Kong questioned Xuan Jian about Jiekong’s misconduct and the Yun Province branch temple’s ties to Corpse Valley and the White Saint Society.
• Xuan Kong explained that he had joined alliances to strengthen them, seize control, and provoke the Three Sects into conflict.
• Xuan Kong revealed his plan to turn the Great Qian Imperial Family against the Three Sects so both could be weakened.
• The five Buddhist leaders agreed to restrain their branch temples, strengthen the Buddhist Sect, and advance its strategy during their meeting.

Dao Fan Shangren confronted Lu Tianheng over the Martial Prohibition Hall’s failure to control the Jianghu forces, and their dispute escalated into a battle. The fight lasted several days and nights, and Lu Tianheng later appeared to accept the National Preceptor’s Mansion intervening in Jianghu affairs.

• Dao Fan Shangren met Lu Tianheng in a canyon and demanded that the Martial Prohibition Hall take responsibility for the unchecked Jianghu forces.
• Lu Tianheng refused to let Dao Fan interfere, citing their agreement that the National Preceptor’s Mansion would stay out of Martial Prohibition Hall affairs.
• Lu Tianheng attacked with corrosive, blood-colored vital energy, and Dao Fan countered with heavenly might from his whisk.
• Dao Fan accused Lu Tianheng of practicing a demonic art and summoned a talisman, while Lu Tianheng denied the accusation and formed a blood-colored vital-energy palm to oppose it.
• Dao Fan and Lu Tianheng fought for several days and nights, and Lu Tianheng later appeared to tacitly accept the National Preceptor’s Mansion’s intervention in Jianghu affairs.

The Ji Family attacked Du Prefecture in force, and Vast Righteous Sect met them in battle outside Du City. As the fighting spread across the battlefield, Ji Xingyu called for the Ji Family’s Old Ancestor to save him.

• Ji Xingfeng led seven Grandmasters and a large force toward Du Prefecture, prompting Li Moran to prepare Vast Righteous Sect’s defenses and warn of the possibly living Ji Qiang.
• Ji Xingfeng confronted Li Moran and Elder He outside Du City, and the Ji Family’s Grandmasters began fighting Vast Righteous Sect’s allies.
• The Fire-Winged Monkey struck Ji Xingyu down, while the other Grandmasters engaged their opponents and Yi Yue summoned swarms of venomous insects.
• The Ji Family attacked Du City’s walls, but the Five Poisons Sect’s poisonous creatures caused heavy casualties among its Ranked Martial Practitioners.
• Ji Xingyu pleaded for help after being badly wounded, and a figure with an even more powerful aura appeared in midair.

Jiang Liu overwhelmed Ye Guhe in battle and killed him, prompting the Ji Family forces to retreat. The Fire-Winged Monkey remained locked in a fierce fight with Ji Qiang and Ji Xingyu.

• Ji Qiang intervened to protect Ji Xingyu from the Fire-Winged Monkey, but the beast knocked him back and kept attacking.
• Jiang Liu used rapid movements and Divine Sense attacks to damage Ye Guhe, then struck him repeatedly with his manifested figure and great saber.
• Jiang Liu cut Ye Guhe in two with Heaven and Earth One Blade Chop, and the resulting primal-qi turbulence revealed that a Grandmaster had fallen.
• Ye Guyun glared at Jiang Liu but held back, while Ji Xingfeng ordered the Ji Family forces to retreat.
• The Grandmasters stopped fighting, but the Fire-Winged Monkey continued battling Ji Qiang and Ji Xingyu.

Jiang Liu halted the fighting after the Fire-Winged Monkey forced Ji Qiang and Ji Xingyu to retreat, and the Ji Family’s forces withdrew from the battlefield. The next day, Li Moran gathered the elders to decide whether the weakened Vast Righteous Sect should stay in Mo Province or leave.

• Jiang Liu ordered the Fire-Winged Monkey to stop attacking as both sides were exhausted and the Vast Righteous Sect’s forces faced heavy losses.
• Ji Xingfeng chose to retreat after assessing his side’s morale and strength, and Ji Xingyu led the Minor Grandmasters and Ranked Martial Practitioners away first.
• Li Moran let the Ji Family withdraw, then arranged treatment for the wounded as the remaining Grandmasters also left the battlefield.
• Yi Yue reported the Five Poisons Sect’s depleted creatures and injured members, and Li Moran handed him the sect’s compensation and reward.
• Jiang Liu returned to his courtyard to recover, while Li Moran summoned the elders the next day to discuss whether the Vast Righteous Sect should remain in Mo Province.