Chapter Summaries

Chu Qing broke up the gray-mist fighters’ assault, rescued Liu Jinghan and Yi Zhishang, and identified the attackers as Heavenly Evil Cult agents. The wounded leaf-player revealed that he was one of the Twelve Sacred Kings under Smiling Prince and offered to share information because he wanted revenge on his master.

• Liu Jinghan used the Hundred Blood Thousand Kill Melody against the Heavenly Evil Cult, but the leaf-player’s gray mist swallowed his attacks and trapped him with Yi Zhishang.
• A silver-speared fighter attacked Liu Jinghan, and Yi Zhishang intervened before the mist engulfed them both.
• Chu Qing arrived, burned away the gray mist, wounded the leaf-player and spearman, and seized control of their spear.
• Yi Zhishang addressed Chu Qing as “Young Master,” leaving Liu Jinghan confused, while Chu Qing explained that the leaf-player’s mist came from his internal force.
• Chu Qing identified the spearman as one of the Weapon Master’s men and questioned the leaf-player about his allegiance.
• The leaf-player revealed he served Smiling Prince as one of the Twelve Sacred Kings and offered information, claiming he wanted revenge rather than glory.

Chu Qing defeated the two attackers at Clear Spring Gorge, gathered the survivors to expose the plot against Heavenly Sound Manor, and returned to find Liu Jinghan confronting Liu Zhaonian. Liu Jinghan’s accusation left Liu Zhaonian confused as Chu Qing’s plans for the coming confrontation remained underway.

• The leaf-blower attacked Chu Qing, then revealed how the Smiling Prince’s Misty Sorrowful Clouds worked before killing himself; Chu Qing captured the spear-wielder.
• Chu Qing explained that the Clear Spring Gorge incident had been staged to frame Heavenly Sound Manor, and Han Yiren agreed to help him expose the plot.
• Yi Zhishang arranged for the survivors to leave the gorge disguised as Heavenly Sound Manor disciples, while Chu Qing prepared the captured Heavenly Evil Cult members for the scheme.
• Chu Qing parted from Ouyang Tianxu, who returned to the procession and promised to conceal what had happened in the gorge.
• At Heavenly Sound Manor, Liu Zhaonian told Chu Qing that Ning Wufang had left prison without Gongsun Zongheng; Liu Jinghan then burst into Five Sounds Hall and accused his father of leaving him no place in the manor.

After Liu Jinghan learned that Chu Qing was his cousin, he welcomed him and reported evidence tying the Han Family and some Liu branches to the massacre of Xiang Mountain Sea. Chu Qing returned to Wu Qianhuan before the coming battle, but Liu Qingyan and Wen Rou interrupted their private moment as Su Ningzhen’s absence raised a question.

• Liu Zhaonian clarified that Chu Qing was Liu Jinghan’s cousin, and Liu Jinghan apologized for mistaking him for a rival and peppered him with questions about his martial arts.
• Liu Jinghan gave Liu Zhaonian a thumb ring marked “Rain” as evidence against Han Qiuyu and reported that Liu branch members had colluded with the Han Family; Liu Zhaonian ordered the traitors dealt with.
• Chu Qing returned to his room, where Wu Qianhuan helped him dress and promised to protect herself while he faced the coming battle.
• Chu Qing and Wu Qianhuan began kissing, but Liu Qingyan and Wen Rou arrived, interrupting them and embarrassing the couple.
• Chu Qing asked Liu Qingyan where Su Ningzhen was and why she had not come.

Chu Qing attended a meeting at Five Sounds Hall where Liu Zhaonian exposed an insider’s collusion with the Han Family. Liu Yucheng confessed and was captured just as the two manors announced their arrival.

• Liu Jinghan returned and reunited with Liu Qingyan and Chu Qing, then the group went to Five Sounds Hall after Liu Zhaonian summoned them.
• Liu Qingyan introduced Chu Qing to the heads of Heavenly Sound Manor’s six branch families, and Liu Zhaohua invited him to sit beside her.
• Liu Zhaonian accused an insider of helping the Han Family frame Heavenly Sound Manor and gave the culprit time to confess.
• Liu Yucheng stepped forward and admitted that he had colluded with the Han Family because he resented Liu Zhaonian and wanted to take his position.
• Liu Yucheng tried to flee, but Liu Zhaonian broke his legs and ordered him and his companions imprisoned.
• Landsplitter and Prairiefire Manors announced their arrival and requested an audience with Liu Zhaonian.

Liu Zhaonian and Chu Qing turned the two Manors’ accusations against Heavenly Sound Manor back on Han Qiujun, presenting evidence that Star Splitting Manor had massacred Xiang Mountain Sea and plotted with the Heavenly Evil Cult. The chapter ended with Liu Zhaonian confronting Han Qiujun over Han Qiuze’s blood letter.

• Liu Zhaonian welcomed Han Qiujun and Ouyang Tianxu, but Han Qiujun accused Heavenly Sound Manor of slaughtering Han Yiren’s party at Clear Spring Gorge in league with the Heavenly Evil Cult.
• Liu Zhaonian raised the Xiang Mountain Sea massacre and presented a thumb ring bearing the character “Rain,” which he identified as Han Qiuyu’s.
• Liu Jinghan argued that Han Qiuyu could not explain how his thumb ring had appeared at Xiang Mountain Sea and accused Star Splitting Manor of exterminating the household.
• Han Qiujun threatened Liu Jinghan, but Chu Qing stepped in, identified himself as Han San, and accused Han Qiujun of framing Heavenly Sound Manor and plotting with the Heavenly Evil Cult.
• Chu Qing said Han Qiuyuan and Han Qiuze had both testified against Han Qiujun, and Liu Zhaonian displayed Han Qiuze’s blood letter before asking Han Qiujun if he knew his crime.

Liu Zhaonian and Chu Qing exposed Star Splitting Manor’s role in the attacks on the Duan Family and Han Yiren’s group, prompting Han Qiujun to launch an assault against the allied forces. As the battle raged, hidden assassins targeted Chu Qing, but their volley stopped just short of him.

• Han Yiren appeared on the city wall and testified about his ties to the Han Family and the truth behind Little Cold Valley, while Chu Qing presented evidence that the blood-letter bearer had only pretended to be dead.
• Chu Qing revealed Duan Qinghe’s true final letter, which accused Han Qiujun and Star Splitting Manor of murdering Xiang Mountain Sea and exterminating the Duan Family.
• Han Qiujun denied colluding with the Heavenly Evil Cult, but Ouyang Tianxu explained that he had witnessed Heavenly Sound Manor rescue Han Yiren’s group and had seen Han Qiujun blame Heavenly Sound Manor.
• Han Qiujun ordered Star Splitting Manor to attack and fought Ouyang Tianxu, while Liu Zhaonian and Liu Zhaohua joined the battle against him and the Han Family’s forces.
• Experts from the Mirror of Sin’s Evil Execution List launched a surprise attack on Chu Qing, but their silver projectiles stopped an inch from his body as golden light covered him.

Chu Qing defeated the assassins attacking him while speaking with Chu Tian, whom he urged to return to his pregnant wife. As the battle outside Heavenly Sound City continued, nine thunderous beats suddenly shook heaven and earth.

• Chu Qing caught Shadow and redirected Mad Demon Fist’s blows into him, then dragged Mad Demon Fist back when he tried to flee.
• A black-clad saber wielder attacked the Bone Shatterer, but Chu Qing blocked the assassins’ escape as they recognized one another.
• Chu Qing spoke with Chu Tian about Ghost Lamp Wuchan and urged him to return home to his pregnant wife, Yuqi.
• Chu Qing asked Li Shengxing about his Heart Transformation Demonic Art, shattered his saber, and killed him by hurling him onto Mad Demon Fist.
• Nine thunderous beats rang out and shook heaven and earth.

Han Qiujun broke through to the ninth grade of the Nine Transformations of Star Splitting, but Chu Qing matched him and began to suppress him in battle. As Chu Qing fought, a mysterious figure appeared on the city wall, and Ouyang Tianxu sensed a new danger.

• Ouyang Tianxu ambushed Han Qiujun, and the gathered fighters unleashed their strongest techniques against him.
• Han Qiujun emerged from the dust after breaking through to the ninth grade, while Chu Qing rescued Wu Qianhuan and repelled Han Qiujun's attack.
• Han Qiujun shattered the Liu family's zither attack and declared that he could destroy Heavenly Sound Manor.
• Chu Qing killed Han Qiuyu, tossed his head to Su Ningzhen, and challenged Han Qiujun to fight.
• Chu Qing matched Han Qiujun's Star Splitting Hand and then suppressed him with a rapid, continuous palm technique.
• Ouyang Tianxu sensed danger and saw an unknown person appear atop the city wall.

The Lord of War’s army arrived as Chu Qing fought Han Qiujun, who reached Nine Stars Aligned and launched a powerful strike. Two more enemies joined the attack, but Chu Qing caught and redirected their forces, leaving all three opponents trapped in a clash of inner strength.

• The sky turned blood-red, and Liu Zhaonian identified the approaching army as the Heavenly Evil Cult.
• Han Qiujun broke away from Chu Qing and, after reaching enlightenment, unleashed the Nine Stars Aligned strike against him.
• Chu Qing reduced the force of Overturning Mountains and Seas as Han Qiujun’s punch surged toward him.
• A gray-mist man attacked from above while a tall woman struck Chu Qing from behind with plum blossom true energy.
• Chu Qing caught Han Qiujun’s force and used it with the woman’s attack to break the gray-mist man’s palm strike.
• The gray-mist man, the woman, and Han Qiujun remained connected to Chu Qing’s inner force as he fought the gray-mist man.

Chu Qing held Han Qiujun, Plum King, and Smiling Prince in a deadly stalemate while waiting for the Weapon Lord, but Ning Wufang and four powerful fighters arrived instead. After they shattered the protective force ring and attacked, Chu Qing survived and prepared to face them, disappointed that the Weapon Lord had not come.

• Chu Qing redirected Han Qiujun's and Plum King's forces against Smiling Prince, who struggled to resist while the others refused to stop their attacks.
• Liu Zhaohua urged Wu Qianhuan to trust Chu Qing, while Wen Rou recognized Ning Wufang as the man who had impersonated Bai Yushu.
• Ning Wufang appeared beside the force ring, and Chu Qing asked Smiling Prince where the Ghost Emperor was; Smiling Prince accused Chu Qing of being Third Young Master and called him the Heavenly Evil Cult's great enemy.
• Four fighters arrived overhead as Ning Wufang summoned an Asura Ghost King; the five attackers broke the force ring and struck at Chu Qing together.
• Chu Qing emerged protected by yin-and-yang astral force, lamented that the Weapon Lord had not arrived, and summoned Injury Concealed to his side.

Chu Qing fought eight experts outside Heavenly Sound City after they demanded that he hand over a mysterious object. He broke through their encirclement and battled on, while Ouyang Tianxu noticed that a mysterious man who had stood on the city wall had vanished.

• Ning Wufang confirmed that the experts believed Chu Qing had the object and urged him to surrender it, while Chu Qing asked where Ghost Emperor was.
• A swordsman attacked Chu Qing with the Hundred Battles Killing Sword, but Chu Qing trapped him within a simple sword circle and defeated him.
• A second expert struck from behind with the Pawn Path Killing Fist, and Chu Qing’s Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms killed him and tore through the enemy ranks.
• The other experts attacked together, forcing Chu Qing to abandon his chance to finish off the swordsman and escape the encirclement as explosions shook Heavenly Sound City.
• Ouyang Tianxu looked for the silent stranger he had seen on the city wall and realized the man had disappeared.

Chu Qing fought off the assembled experts as they attacked him in waves, using his swordsmanship and unexpected techniques to wound them while moving through the crowd. When Han Qiujun tried to threaten the defenders of Heavenly Sound City, Chu Qing intercepted him and slammed him into the ground.

• After the dust cleared, Chu Qing appeared standing in midair and asked the surviving late arrivals how to address them.
• A swordsman, a spearman, and a hidden saber expert attacked Chu Qing, who redirected the spear, evaded the swordsman, and used his Indestructible Golden Body and flying sword to wound the saber wielder.
• The experts continued taking turns against Chu Qing, and Liu Zhaonian berated Han Qiujun for joining the group attack.
• Chu Qing led the pursuing experts through Star Splitting Manor's disciples, causing heavy casualties among Han Qiujun's own people.
• Han Qiujun broke away and charged toward Heavenly Sound City's wall, but Chu Qing appeared behind him and struck him into a deep crater.

Chu Qing crippled Han Qiujun, then fought the Lord of Soldiers' generals and Smiling Prince, overcoming their coordinated attacks and gray mist with his swordsmanship and fire-infused palms. As the battered survivors faced him, Plum King flirted with Chu Qing, who asked what the Twelve Sacred Kings were within the Heavenly Evil Cult.

• Chu Qing struck Han Qiujun's acupoints and Ren and Du Meridians, crippling his martial arts, then ordered Wu Qianhuan to keep him alive for questioning about the Golden Goblet.
• A spear-wielding general attacked Chu Qing, who blocked the spear shadow and countered as the Hundred Battles Killing Sword and Mysterious Path Demonic Saber joined the assault.
• Chu Qing avoided the generals' trap, wounded the Mysterious Path Demonic Saber wielder, and defended himself against Smiling Prince's attacks inside the gray mist.
• Chu Qing unleashed eighteen fire dragons, dispelled Smiling Prince's mist, and forced the five remaining experts to retreat, leaving Smiling Prince badly scorched.
• Plum King praised and flirted with Chu Qing, who asked what the Twelve Sacred Kings were within the Heavenly Evil Cult.

Chu Qing fought Plum King after rejecting her offer to join the Heavenly Evil Cult, and he eventually overwhelmed her with a series of powerful attacks. He emerged from the battle to face Smiling Prince and the Weapon Lord's two great generals, who had waited for their chance to kill him.

• Plum King explained that the Twelve Sacred Kings outranked the Warlord and invited Chu Qing to join the Heavenly Evil Cult, but he refused and insulted her.
• Plum King unleashed the Cloud and Rain Decree, and Chu Qing fought back with Shangyin and his martial arts, drawing amazement from Smiling Prince and the others.
• Plum King battered Chu Qing into a hill, but he recovered, struck her with a flaming palm, and sent her flying.
• Chu Qing caught Plum King off guard and pummeled her into a deep, frozen pit until she stopped fighting.
• Chu Qing emerged from the pit and challenged Smiling Prince and the Weapon Lord's two great generals as they watched nearby.

Chu Qing defeated the experts who ambushed him, killing Smiling Prince and two more fighters while revealing that his inner strength could not be depleted. Plum King tried to ambush him but fell victim to the Art of Absolute Wisdom, leaving her mind and martial knowledge erased as Chu Qing kept her alive to learn the Ghost Emperor's whereabouts.

• The spear-wielder and swordsman attacked Chu Qing, but he seized Smiling Prince and slammed him into a boulder before snapping his neck.
• Chu Qing defeated the spear-wielder and swordsman, killing them and lamenting that the Weapon Master had not appeared.
• Plum King launched a surprise attack, but she forgot how to perform her techniques and then lost her memories under Chu Qing's Art of Absolute Wisdom.
• Chu Qing revealed he had spared Plum King because he needed her to disclose the Ghost Emperor's whereabouts, and he had reserved his strongest methods for the absent Weapon Master.

Chu Qing defeated the Han Family’s remaining fighters and helped Heavenly Sound Manor and Prairie Fire Manor rout the Heavenly Evil Cult, while learning that the mysterious Xingshan had appeared at the city wall. After the battle, an urgent report revealed that Autumn Water Sect had fallen to the Heavenly Evil Cult, foreshadowing further turmoil north of the ridge.

• Chu Qing captured Plum King, ordered her guarded, and turned to face the fighting forces of the Heavenly Evil Cult, Prairie Fire Manor, and Heavenly Sound Manor.
• Chu Qing crushed the Twenty-One Constellations’ array, killed Han Qiushuang and the remaining members of the formation, then joined the battle and broke the Heavenly Evil Cult’s formation.
• Chu Qing searched for the missing Ning Wufang as the fighting continued, and the battle ended after an hour with the Han Family and Heavenly Evil Cult defeated.
• Ouyang Tianxu told Chu Qing and Liu Zhaonian that a gray-clad, slightly hunched old man had appeared on the city wall, and Chu Qing recognized the description as Xingshan.
• Liu Zhaonian agreed to split Star Splitting Manor between Heavenly Sound Manor and Prairie Fire Manor, then received word that Autumn Water Sect had been wiped out and its survivors had submitted to the Heavenly Evil Cult.

After learning that the Warlord had taken Autumn Water Sect and the Ghost Emperor had disappeared, Chu Qing agreed to unite the northern martial world against the Heavenly Evil Cult. Ouyang Tianxu gave Chu Qing Prairie Fire Manor’s Jade Token, and Chu Qing used his new authority to ban slave trading.

• Chu Qing read a secret report describing the Warlord’s overwhelming strength and his capture of Autumn Water Sect.
• Chu Qing revealed that Ghost Emperor Moduo had been missing for some time, and Liu Zhaonian laid out the Heavenly Evil Cult’s plan to attack from north and south.
• Ouyang Tianxu proposed uniting the northern factions, while Liu Zhaonian objected to putting Chu Qing at the front; Chu Qing agreed to fight the Warlord’s forces.
• Ouyang Tianxu presented Chu Qing with the Prairie Fire Jade Token and pledged Prairie Fire Manor’s obedience.
• Chu Qing ordered Prairie Fire Manor to end slave trading, free enslaved people, and punish anyone who defied the order.

Chu Qing and Liu Zhaonian weighed the risks of holding a Martial Arts Gathering against the Heavenly Evil Cult, then Chu Qing reunited Chu Tian with Liu Zhaohua and explained why she had stayed away. After Chu Qing and his family exposed and executed Li Shengxing, his system awarded him a Random Martial Arts Treasure Chest and listed him as Nameless.

• Liu Zhaonian questioned whether the Martial Arts Gathering was necessary, but Chu Qing said they had already accepted the Prairie Fire Jade Token and agreed to prepare a way to retreat if the fight against the Weapon Master went badly.
• Chu Qing found Liu Zhaohua weeping with Chu Tian and explained that Gongsun Zongheng's pursuit and her injuries had kept her from returning home.
• Chu Tian forgave Liu Zhaohua and vowed to kill Gongsun Zongheng, learning that Chu Qing had already captured and crippled him.
• Chu Qing told Liu Zhaohua and Chu Tian about Li Shengxing's crimes, and they agreed to punish him publicly as a Mirror of Sin assassin.
• Chu Qing tortured Li Shengxing and hung him on Heavenly Sound Manor's city wall with a banner describing his crimes; after Li Shengxing died, Chu Qing received a Random Martial Arts Treasure Chest and the status Nameless on the List.

In the Heavenly Sound Manor dungeon, Chu Qing tortured Plum King until she revealed that the Heavenly Evil Cult had trapped the Ghost Emperor and that its Lapis Lazuli Saintess had killed his wives and taken the second wife's place. After Plum King described the cult's formidable forces, Chu Qing left with You Zong, unaware that she had recovered enough strength to break free before he reappeared to confront her.

• Chu Qing questioned Plum King about the Ghost Emperor, then used the Mysterious Heaven Black Gold Palm to torture her when she demanded he sleep with her and refused to answer.
• Plum King said Grave King, Blood King, Chess King, and others had lured the Ghost Emperor into the Heavenly Origin Chess Formation, which exploited his concern for his second wife to trap him in Forsaken God Valley.
• Plum King revealed that the Lapis Lazuli Saintess had killed both of the Ghost Emperor's wives, taken the second wife's skin, and impersonated her; she said the second wife's corpse remained in Huaquan Well.
• Plum King told Chu Qing about the Heavenly Evil Cult's powerful Cult Master, Weapon Masters, armies, Saintesses, Holy Mothers, and Sword Bearers Hall, leaving both Chu Qing and You Zong shaken.
• After Chu Qing and You Zong left, Plum King recovered part of her martial arts, shattered her shackles, and prepared to escape, but she saw Chu Qing watching her.

Chu Qing discovered that Plum King had killed herself after partially recovering her memories, then returned to his room and opened several martial arts treasure chests. He obtained Nine Solitary Swords, Eight Sounds of the Heavenly Dragon, and Wind God Leg, leaving him with the prospect of combining the Three Supreme Arts.

• Chu Qing found Plum King dead in her cell after she chose suicide rather than face capture, and he made sure her death was final before ordering her body disposed of.
• Chu Qing counted his nine treasure chests and decided not to wait for Han Qiujun before opening them.
• Chu Qing opened a Sword Technique Treasure Chest and obtained Nine Solitary Swords, which he began adapting to his other sword arts.
• Chu Qing opened a Sound Technique Treasure Chest and obtained Eight Sounds of the Heavenly Dragon, which strengthened his Divine Jade Nine Chapters and added a powerful zither-based technique.
• Chu Qing opened a Leg Technique Treasure Chest and obtained Wind God Leg, completing the Three Supreme Arts alongside Heavenly Frost Fist and Cloud Dispelling Palm.