Chapter Summaries

Jiang Liu captured two eunuch Grandmasters from the City Lord's Mansion and interrogated them about the mysterious site in Lei County. He learned that the imperial family had taken a qi-gathering pearl to Eunuch Wei Jin and abandoned the site, then left one captive crippled and killed the other.

• Jiang Liu questioned two men in the study with his mental power, got the information he wanted, and knocked them unconscious.
• Jiang Liu surprised and subdued the two eunuch Grandmasters, then carried them out of the City Lord's Mansion and beyond the city walls.
• Jiang Liu tortured one eunuch until he revealed that the imperial family had found a pearl that gathered primal qi and sent it to Wei Jin, the chief Eunuch Wei.
• The eunuch explained that the imperial family had withdrawn everyone from the Lei County site after taking the pearl, and Jiang Liu learned more about the Eunuch Bureau's strength.
• Jiang Liu shattered the first eunuch's dantian and froze the second eunuch before destroying his body.

Jiang Liu explored a sinister mysterious land in Di County to learn how it related to the Cultivation Pearls, but the place nearly clouded his mind before he escaped without answers. After he left, its evil vital energy began spreading outward.

• Jiang Liu warned the eunuch to tell the Great Qian Imperial Family not to provoke him again, then hurried toward the mysterious land in Di County.
• Jiang Liu found a vast, unbalanced Yin-Yang Fish pattern and entered the land, where sinister energy grew stronger as he approached its center.
• Jiang Liu discovered a large hole releasing chilling energy and felt repulsive forces that made it difficult to think clearly.
• Jiang Liu retreated from the hole and used the Saintly Sky Art to clear his mind, realizing the place had likely become too dangerous for the eunuchs to cultivate in.
• Jiang Liu left without being able to suppress the land, and its evil vital energy began gathering and spreading outward.

Jiang Liu learned that rumors about Tianwu Army commanders practicing the Bloodfiend Art were spreading and that the army was massing near Feng Province. After traveling with the Fire-Winged Monkey to Qian Province, he learned the Flowing Cloud Sect’s master had urgently ordered him to return.

• Jiang Liu visited the Ascension Tower in Lei City and heard martial artists whisper that Chen Qianliu and Liu Changxing practiced the Bloodfiend Art.
• Jiang Liu read the tower’s report, which confirmed the rumors were spreading and noted unrest in Dui Province and Tianwu Army troops gathering near Feng Province.
• Jiang Liu rested in the mountains with the exhausted Fire-Winged Monkey, then traveled with it through Qi Province to Dong County in Qian Province.
• Jiang Liu met three sect disciples above Dong City and learned that the Flowing Cloud Sect’s master had ordered him to return as quickly as possible.
• Jiang Liu flew toward the Flowing Cloud Sect’s outpost to meet Elder Yuehe.

Jiang Liu returned to the Flowing Cloud Sect, where Elder Yuehe told him the sect’s plan was about to begin and sought his guidance on the Star Cloud Saint Art. As Jiang Liu traveled toward Qian Prefecture, revelations that Chen Qianliu and Liu Changxing were using martial artists to cultivate the Bloodfiend Art caused the Tianwu Army to collapse and public fury to spread across Great Qian.

• Jiang Liu met Elder Yuehe, learned that the sect’s preparations were about to begin, and answered her questions about the Star Cloud Saint Art.
• Elder Yuehe praised Jiang Liu’s willingness to share his cultivation knowledge, raising his reputation among the Flowing Cloud Sect elders.
• Jiang Liu left for Qian Prefecture on the Fire-Winged Monkey after spending the night at the sect’s residence.
• Evidence emerged that Chen Qianliu and Liu Changxing were capturing ordinary martial artists to cultivate the Bloodfiend Art and planned to conquer Feng Province to seize more victims.
• Martial artists destroyed Tianwu Army recruitment sites, fled its ranks, and eventually left only Chen Qianliu and Liu Changxing’s direct followers.
• By the time Jiang Liu reached Qian Prefecture, the backlash against Chen Qianliu and Liu Changxing had nearly reached its climax.

Jiang Lan struggled to decide whether to protect Chen Qianliu and Liu Changxing as rumors tied them to the Bloodfiend Art, while fearing the Three Sects would use the scandal against the Great Qian Imperial Family. Jiang Liu returned to the Flowing Cloud Sect, where Tang Wanyu greeted him and reproached him for leaving without her.

• Jiang Lan recognized the Bloodfiend Art rumors as a conspiracy and weighed abandoning Chen Qianliu and Liu Changxing against risking the imperial family’s safety.
• Jiang Lan told Wei Jin to monitor events and report if the situation became impossible to salvage, choosing to delay a decision.
• Two days later, Jiang Liu rode the Fire-Winged Monkey to the Flowing Cloud Sect and reported his return to Flowing Cloud Matriarch.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch told Jiang Liu to rest and avoid going out for the next few days.
• Tang Wanyu visited Jiang Liu, asked when he had returned, and reproached him for leaving on his previous trip without taking her along.

Jiang Liu reunited with his senior sisters at Flowing Cloud Sect before visiting Old Man Luo in Qian City to discuss the spreading Bloodfiend Sect crisis. On his return, Flowing Cloud Matriarch ordered him to go to Tian Province and hold Jiang Lan accountable.

• Jiang Liu welcomed eleven senior sisters to his courtyard, and they celebrated their reunion by sharing wine and singing and dancing.
• Jiang Liu traveled to Ascension Tower and asked Old Man Luo to send letters to Yun Province and Murong Lie.
• Jiang Liu told Old Man Luo what had happened to Murong Lie and learned that rumors about the Bloodfiend Sect had spread rapidly, scattering the Tianwu Army.
• Jiang Liu returned to Flowing Cloud Sect, where Flowing Cloud Matriarch told him to bring the Fire-Winged Monkey to Tian Province and call Jiang Lan to account.

Jiang Liu accompanied the three Sect Masters to Sky City, where their arrival alarmed the imperial court. As the Sect Masters summoned their hidden Grandmasters, Jiang Lan prepared for a possible confrontation, believing his side could hold them to a draw.

• Jiang Liu gathered his weapons and travel pack, then rode the Fire-Winged Monkey to join Duanmu Haotian, Flowing Cloud Matriarch, and Gongsun Haoyue.
• The group flew across the Abyssal Canyon without encountering the three Beast Emperors and reached Sky City two days later.
• Dao Fan Shangren sensed their arrival and hurried to the imperial palace to tell Jiang Lan that the three Sect Masters had come together.
• Jiang Lan worried that the Sect Masters planned to demand an explanation, but gained confidence after Dao Fan Shangren indicated his side could avoid defeat.
• The three Sect Masters returned to their residences and summoned the Grandmasters their sects had secretly sent to Sky City.

Flowing Cloud Matriarch tested Jiang Liu’s strength and judged that he could help hold off a Peak Grandmaster, while Jiang Liu worried about the Fire-Winged Monkey’s growing abilities. The three sects confronted the imperial forces at the Imperial City gate, where Duanmu Haotian demanded that Jiang Lan answer for colluding with the Bloodfiend Sect.

• Flowing Cloud Matriarch ordered the Grandmasters to keep the imperial family’s Grandmasters from escaping and tested Jiang Liu with attacks of increasing strength.
• Jiang Liu withstood Flowing Cloud Matriarch’s five- or six-tenths-strength attack, but his Essence Particles barrier broke when she used eighty percent of her strength.
• Jiang Liu saw the Fire-Winged Monkey cultivating and worried that its advancement might free it from the Beast Mastery Art’s control.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch led Jiang Liu and the gathered sect members toward the Imperial City, where the Star Moon Sect and Haotian Sect joined them.
• Dao Fan Shangren and Jiang Zongquan’s forces blocked the Imperial City gate as Jiang He watched from the city wall, while the Confucian sect stayed away.
• Duanmu Haotian demanded that Jiang Lan explain the imperial family’s alleged collusion with the Bloodfiend Sect, and Jiang Zongquan angrily challenged him.

Jiang Lan refused to yield to the three sects over accusations that the Tianwu Army had used the Bloodfiend Art, but Duanmu Haotian’s forces turned the confrontation into an assault on the Imperial City. The battle began, and rival forces rushed toward Sky City hoping to gain power if the imperial family fell.

• Jiang Lan told Duanmu Haotian that the Tianwu Army had not used a martial practitioner to cultivate the Bloodfiend Art, and stood firm in defense of the imperial family.
• Duanmu Haotian ordered the gathered martial practitioners to surround the Imperial City, and the crowd surged against its gates and walls.
• Jiang Zongquan killed the martial practitioners at the front with his Peak Grandmaster aura, prompting Duanmu Haotian to attack him and the crowd to storm the walls.
• Jiang He, Chen Qianliu, and Liu Changxing led their forces against the attackers as Wei Jin escorted Jiang Lan away and the Eunuch Bureau’s Grandmasters defended the gates.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue attacked Dao Fan Shangren, while Jiang Liu sent the Fire-Winged Monkey after him and searched for an opening to strike.
• Other forces hurried toward Sky City, hoping to win influence or replace the Great Qian Imperial Family if the three sects prevailed.

The White Saint Society, Lotus Sect, and Moonfall Sect entered Tian County to exploit the conflict between the three sects and the Great Qian Imperial Family. Fu Yunyue tried to rescue Tian Zhu, while the Lotus Sect and White Saint Society joined the fighting, leaving the imperial city’s defenders outnumbered.

• The White Saint Society, Lotus Sect, and Moonfall Sect hurried to Tian County after the Great Qian Imperial Family refused to yield to the three sects.
• Fu Yunyue led the Moonfall Sect toward the prison to free Tian Zhu, but Yu He and the Prison Oversight Bureau blocked her.
• Fu Yunyue and Yu He fought as their followers clashed around the prison.
• Kuang Qianzi and Qi Shengyuan led the Lotus Sect and White Saint Society into battle, but ended up attacking the three sects’ weaker opponents rather than their Grandmasters.
• Other factions followed behind and launched cautious sneak attacks while prioritizing their own survival.

As the battle over the Imperial City raged, Jiang He was surrounded by three Haotian Sect Grandmasters and killed himself to take one of them with him. The two surviving Grandmasters flew away to aid the other fights.

• Jiang Liu watched the Peak Grandmasters battle and waited for a chance to strike with his mental power, while Jiang Zongquan and Dao Fan Shangren kept wary eyes on him.
• Jiang He fought three Haotian Sect Grandmasters, who intended to exhaust him and capture him alive under orders to eliminate the Great Qian Imperial Family.
• The Haotian Sect Grandmasters mocked Jiang He by threatening his wife, and their words drove his anger beyond restraint.
• Jiang He self-detonated while holding the Grandmaster who had insulted him, and the blast killed them both.
• The two surviving Haotian Sect Grandmasters flew off to support the other battles.

Jiang Lan regretted provoking the Three Sects as the Great Qian Imperial Family faced possible annihilation after Jiang He’s self-detonation. While Jiang Zongquan remained locked in battle with Duanmu Haotian, Jiang Liu and his allies steadily pressured Dao Fan Shangren.

• Jiang He’s self-detonation killed him and another Grandmaster, but the nearby fighters continued battling without pause.
• Jiang Lan watched from the palace walls and regretted resisting the Three Sects, while Wei Jin prepared to take him away if the Imperial Family’s defeat became inevitable.
• Jiang Liu and his allies kept Dao Fan Shangren from supporting Duanmu Haotian as Jiang Zongquan fought him.
• Jiang Liu noticed that Dao Fan Shangren relied on unpredictable talismans and suspected that Daoist arts depended on mental power.
• Fire-Winged Monkey’s relentless staff attacks wore Dao Fan Shangren down, and Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue intensified their assault.

Dao Fan Shangren fought off Flowing Cloud Matriarch, Gongsun Haoyue, Jiang Liu, and the Fire-Winged Monkey while Duanmu Haotian prepared to use the Haotian Three Styles against Jiang Zongquan. As Dao Fan Shangren struggled to reach Jiang Zongquan, Jiang Liu sensed the immense power gathering around Duanmu Haotian.

• Flowing Cloud Matriarch, Gongsun Haoyue, Jiang Liu, and the Fire-Winged Monkey attacked Dao Fan Shangren, who endured heavenly fire and blocked their strikes with talismans.
• Dao Fan Shangren asked to negotiate, but Flowing Cloud Matriarch said they would spare him if he withdrew from Tian Province with the people of the National Preceptor's Mansion.
• Duanmu Haotian decided to kill Jiang Zongquan and gathered surrounding primal qi to prepare the Haotian Sect's ultimate technique, the Haotian Three Styles.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue intensified their attacks to stop Dao Fan Shangren from aiding Jiang Zongquan.
• Dao Fan Shangren repeatedly used talismans and sought an opening to support Jiang Zongquan, while Jiang Liu watched Duanmu Haotian's growing power.

Wei Chang tricked the Star Moon Sect Grandmasters by pretending to prepare for self-destruction, then escaped and triggered a wave of Eunuch Bureau Grandmasters fleeing the siege. The three sects regrouped to pursue them and overwhelm the Imperial Family Grandmasters; Chen Qianliu was left with his dantian pierced, and Liu Changxing was killed.

• Wei Chang raised his aura as though he would self-destruct, then feinted toward a Star Moon Sect Grandmaster and escaped in another direction.
• Several Eunuch Bureau Grandmasters copied Wei Chang’s feint and fled, but the three sects reorganized, assigned pursuers, and sent four Grandmasters against each remaining Imperial Family Grandmaster.
• Chen Qianliu endured the Flowing Cloud Sect Grandmasters’ attacks until they used a combined sword technique to pierce his dantian.
• Liu Changxing struggled against four Grandmasters while burdened by his injured leg, and a Haotian Sect Grandmaster beheaded him.

The Imperial Family’s forces continued to collapse as Qi Shengyuan and Kuang Qianzi routed their Minor Grandmasters and fighters. Jiang Lan considered how to protect the Imperial Family, but Fu Yunyue arrived with Tian Zhu and Moonfall Sect reinforcements, further shifting the battle against him.

• The Imperial Family’s Grandmasters dwindled as two died, one was crippled, and four fled, leaving the National Preceptor’s Mansion and Eunuch Bureau fighters still engaged.
• Qi Shengyuan and Kuang Qianzi led their allies in killing the Imperial forces’ Minor Grandmasters and throwing their ranks into disarray.
• Wei Jin warned Jiang Lan that defeat could bring the Three Sects’ retaliation and urged him to prepare, while Jiang Lan struggled to find a countermeasure.
• Fu Yunyue arrived with Tian Zhu and Moonfall Sect subordinates, while Yu He kept the Prison Oversight Bureau guarding the prison.
• Jiang Lan saw Fu Yunyue and Tian Zhu arrive and grew more resentful of those who had betrayed him.

Duanmu Haotian used the Haotian Three Styles to overwhelm Jiang Zongquan, while Jiang Liu joined the fight and helped ensure Jiang Zongquan’s death. The battle on the city wall continued with the Great Qian Imperial Family at a disadvantage.

• Tian Zhu hunted down and killed martial artists from the Eunuch Bureau despite his injuries.
• Duanmu Haotian used Yin-Yang Interweaving to absorb Jiang Zongquan’s essence energy and injure him.
• Duanmu Haotian struck Jiang Zongquan from behind with Distant Shadow Fleeting Light, worsening his injuries.
• Duanmu Haotian summoned the Haotian phantom and launched Haotian Splits the Heavens as Jiang Zongquan prepared to defend himself.
• Jiang Liu attacked with Eight Steps of Trampling, stopping Jiang Zongquan long enough for the Haotian phantom to split him in two.

Duanmu Haotian killed Jiang Zongquan, and the three sects tightened their assault on the remaining Eunuch Bureau fighters. Wei Jin fled with Jiang Lan while Fu Yunyue and Tian Zhu pursued them, and the trapped Eunuch Bureau Grandmasters prepared to die rather than surrender.

• Duanmu Haotian cleaved Jiang Zongquan in half, triggering a Primal Qi Storm, while Jiang Liu escaped the storm and drew Duanmu Haotian's suspicion.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue intensified their assault on Dao Fan Shangren after Jiang Zongquan's death.
• Wei Jin knocked Jiang Lan unconscious and carried him away from the Imperial City wall, while Fu Yunyue and Tian Zhu pursued them toward the inner palace.
• Duanmu Haotian's two followers tracked Wei Jin and Jiang Lan as the Eunuch Bureau Grandmasters remained trapped by the three sects.
• Wei Qi and the other three Eunuch Bureau Grandmasters chose self-detonation rather than face defeat and humiliation.

The four Grandmasters of the Eunuch Bureau and Dao Fan Shangren chose to self-detonate, while the three sects’ Grandmasters contained the resulting chaotic vital energy. Dao Fan Shangren gravely wounded Duanmu Haotian before dying, and the chapter ended with the three sects’ leaders still fighting above the Imperial City.

• The Eunuch Bureau’s four Grandmasters self-detonated, but the surrounding Grandmasters contained the blasts and then headed toward the Imperial City.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue urged Dao Fan Shangren to surrender while the Fire-Winged Monkey drove him out of their encirclement.
• Duanmu Haotian attacked Dao Fan Shangren, who self-detonated and destroyed Duanmu Haotian’s hands while leaving him gravely wounded.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue moved to attack Duanmu Haotian, and Flowing Cloud Matriarch ordered Jiang Liu to have the Fire-Winged Monkey assist them.
• Dao Fan Shangren’s four disciples self-detonated, and the three sects’ Grandmasters suppressed the blasts, destroying the National Preceptor’s Mansion’s power.
• The three sects’ Grandmasters looked toward the higher skies and saw their leaders fighting one another.

Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue turned on Duanmu Haotian, triggering a war between the three sects while the Great Qian Imperial Family’s forces were being finished off. Jiang Liu joined the attack on Duanmu Haotian and killed a Haotian Sect Grandmaster who ambushed him, as the battle between the sects continued.

• Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect Grandmasters began joining forces to attack Haotian Sect Grandmasters, while the slaughter of the Great Qian Imperial Family continued.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue coordinated their attacks on the injured Duanmu Haotian, and Jiang Liu ordered the Fire-Winged Monkey to join them.
• Jiang Liu dodged an ambush by a Haotian Sect Grandmaster, then immobilized and cleaved him in two with his saber.
• Jiang Liu saw that the Haotian Sect was losing ground and focused on the battle between the three sect masters, while Qi Shengyuan continued hunting the imperial family’s remnants.

Wei Jin brought the unconscious Jiang Lan to the imperial palace, where they escaped pursuing Grandmasters through a secret passage beneath the sleeping palace. They reached the Great Qian Imperial Family’s hidden treasury, took supplies, and destroyed its mechanism before continuing their flight.

• Wei Jin carried Jiang Lan over the palace wall as Tian Zhu, Fu Yunyue, and two Haotian Sect Grandmasters followed them into the imperial palace.
• Wei Jin awakened Jiang Lan in the sleeping palace, activated its defenses, and helped him enter a secret passage beneath the bed.
• Wei Jin killed the palace maids who tried to follow Jiang Lan, then sealed the passage entrance as pursuers attacked the sleeping palace.
• The Haotian Sect Grandmasters and other intruders broke through the palace defenses, but Jiang Lan and Wei Jin had already fled through the passage.
• Jiang Lan and Wei Jin reached the imperial family’s hidden treasury, gathered essential supplies, and destroyed the mechanism before leaving.