Chapter Summaries

Chu Qing received Ji Yexue’s See and Prosper Token, which could lead him to the Myriad Treasure Tower, then set out with his companions for Immortal Cloud Mountain. On the way, they learned that the Weapon Lord had destroyed the Great Azure Sect and begun massacring cities, leaving Chu Qing troubled by the growing war and his earlier decision not to stop him.

• Ji Yexue gave Chu Qing the Myriad Treasure Tower’s See and Prosper Token in exchange for his promise to protect the Jade Terrace Sect’s inheritance.
• Chu Qing returned to Jade Palace Pavilion, where Su Ningzhen bid farewell and planned to return to Xiang Mountain Sea to mourn her master.
• Chu Qing and his companions departed for Immortal Cloud Mountain with Wenren Qianluo and their captive, Jiang Qianliu.
• The Weapon Lord destroyed the Great Azure Sect after its sect master, Zheng Yiming, refused to submit, prompting martial factions to gather at Immortal Cloud Mountain.
• News spread that the Weapon Lord was slaughtering cities under the Great Azure Sect’s and Autumn Water Sect’s control.
• Chu Qing feared the massacres were strengthening the Heavenly Evil Cult’s Killing Sutra practitioners, while Wu Qianhuan asked whether he blamed himself for not intervening earlier.

Chu Qing reassured Wu Qianhuan that he did not regret choosing to protect the Jade Terrace Sect instead of confronting the Weapon Master, despite the Heavenly Evil Cult’s massacre of a city. While resting on the road to Immortal Cloud Mountain, his group encountered an Azure Cloud Sect master and disciple, and Xingshan appeared just as Jiang Qianliu poisoned the young man; the chapter ended with a bloodied stranger rushing toward them for help.

• Chu Qing explained to Wu Qianhuan why killing the Weapon Master earlier could have plunged the northern Ridge martial world into greater chaos, and she urged him to end the tragedy by defeating the Weapon Master.
• Chu Qing’s group stopped at a roadside pavilion, where they met an Azure Cloud Sect master and his disciple, Zheng'er.
• Zheng'er offered Jiang Qianliu braised meat, but Jiang Qianliu poisoned his face and refused to provide an antidote when the master drew his sword.
• Xingshan stopped the master’s sword with two fingers and exchanged greetings with Chu Qing, who said Jiang Qianliu had brought trouble upon himself.
• A bloodied man ran toward the pavilion and cried out for help.

Mu Chunyu fled to Chu Qing’s group while being pursued by the Three Uglies, and Xingshan challenged their claim to be great villains with an account of a far more monstrous man. After Xingshan departed, Mu Chunyu tried to kill himself rather than be captured, but Chu Qing stopped him and Mu Chunyu begged for help.

• The wounded newcomer recognized Jiang Qianliu, while Mu Chunyu arrived and asked the group to save him from the villains pursuing him.
• A grotesquely ugly Young Master emerged from the woods and accused Mu Chunyu and Tong Jinglai of betraying Liao Qingcheng after the Three Uglies captured them.
• Xingshan dismissed the Young Master's villainy as commonplace and described a man who murdered his infant son and tortured his wife.
• Chu Qing asked who the monstrous man was, and Xingshan warned that Chu Qing would meet him someday before leaving with astonishing speed.
• Mu Chunyu tried to strike himself dead, but Chu Qing stopped his hand with an invisible force, prompting Mu Chunyu to kneel and beg for rescue.

Chu Qing rescued Mu Chunyu from the Three Uglies, then left him behind as his group continued toward Immortal Cloud Mountain. When the Three Uglies found Mu Chunyu in the rain, a mysterious man in black appeared and accepted a deal to kill someone, leaving the confrontation poised to erupt.

• Chu Qing sent the Young Master flying with a single word, explained that the thorn-grass sap on the middle-aged man's disciple would wear off, and departed with Jiang Qianliu and his companions.
• Chu Qing's group stopped in a town, where he asked a Myriad Treasure Bank about the Myriad Treasure Tower but received no information, then rented rooms to rest.
• Mu Chunyu failed to keep up with Chu Qing's party and spent the night alone in the rain before the Three Uglies found him and seized him.
• The Young Master and the fat man revealed that Tong Jinglai and Liao Qingcheng were dead and said they intended to experiment on Mu Chunyu.
• A masked man in black appeared, agreed to Mu Chunyu's offer in exchange for killing someone, and halted the hail as the Young Master attacked.

Chu Qing, posing as the Night Emperor, killed the Three Uglies, collected a reward from Mu Chunyu, and gained Tianshan Six Yang Palm from a treasure chest. The next morning, he reached Immortal Cloud Mountain with his companions, where a sudden attack greeted them.

• The Night Emperor killed two of the Three Uglies instantly, then struck down the fleeing hairy-faced man as Mu Chunyu watched.
• The Night Emperor arranged for Mu Chunyu to deliver the promised payment at Immortal Cloud Mountain and revealed his title before vanishing.
• Mu Chunyu mourned Tong Jinglai and Liao Qingcheng and set off to settle his debt, while Chu Qing returned to the inn and revealed himself.
• Chu Qing opened a Random Martial Arts Treasure Chest and obtained Tianshan Six Yang Palm, including the Life and Death Talisman technique.
• Chu Qing rode to Immortal Cloud Mountain with Wu Qianhuan, Wen Rou, Wenren Qianluo, and Jiang Qianliu, then deflected every silver ray from three flying shuttles into his sleeve.

Chu Qing fought the Mystic Mechanism Sect after its disciples attacked his group and captured Jiang Qianliu. After Zuo Zhongtang’s conflict with Cheng Xiao ended with her leaving alongside A Shu, Zuo ordered his disciples to kill Chu Qing’s group, but Liu Jinghan and Liu Qingyan arrived to confront him.

• Chu Qing repelled the Mystic Mechanism Sect attackers, killed one disciple, and faced the Azure-Robed man who accused him of seizing Jiang Qianliu.
• Zuo Zhongtang tried to stop Cheng Xiao from attacking him, but Chu Qing secretly helped her evade his grasp.
• Cheng Xiao revealed that Zuo had forced her toward marriage and that he had supposedly killed A Shu; she struck Zuo, then learned A Shu was alive and left with him.
• Zuo Zhongtang ordered his disciples to kill Chu Qing’s group and take Jiang Qianliu back.
• Liu Jinghan and Liu Qingyan arrived and angrily confronted Zuo Zhongtang.

Chu Qing accused the Mystic Mechanism Sect of colluding with the Mirror of Sin and demanded that its members submit to an investigation. After Zuo Zhongtang attacked, Chu Qing froze and subdued the sect, leaving Zuo Zhongtang sealed and unable to learn his name.

• Heavenly Sound Manor disciples surrounded the Mystic Mechanism Sect, and Liu Jinghan ordered them taken into custody until Chu Qing told them to wait.
• Chu Qing explained that Jiang Qianliu had been captured while attempting an assassination at the Jade Terrace Sect and accused the Mystic Mechanism Sect of collaborating with the Mirror of Sin.
• Zuo Zhongtang rejected Chu Qing’s accusations and demanded that Jiang Qianliu be handed over for the sect to investigate.
• Chu Qing demanded that the Mystic Mechanism Sect surrender and cooperate, but Zuo Zhongtang refused.
• Chu Qing spread frost across the arena, defeated Zuo Zhongtang’s iron umbrella attack with overwhelming pressure, and sealed his eight extraordinary meridians.

Chu Qing reached Immortal Cloud Manor for the Heroes' Gathering after dismissing Zuo Zhongtang's threat and learning the gathering was nearly ready. There, Sikong Yijian challenged him to test his sword, and Chu Qing calmly judged the opening strike utterly unremarkable.

• Ouyang Tianxu refused to help Zuo Zhongtang, and Liu Jinghan ordered the Heavenly Sound Manor disciples to take the Mystic Mechanism Sect group away.
• Ouyang Tianxu told Chu Qing that Li Xianyi had offered Immortal Cloud Manor as the venue for the Heroes' Gathering, and the group met Li at the manor gates.
• Li Xianyi welcomed Chu Qing and his companions into Cloud Viewing Hall, where they learned the Supreme Sword Sect's Sikong Yijian had arrived.
• Sikong Yijian questioned Chu Qing about his past victories, then drew his sword and launched an all-encompassing strike at him.
• Chu Qing remained seated beneath Sikong Yijian's sword intent and called the sword utterly unremarkable.

Chu Qing stopped Sikong Yijian’s sword challenge, secured his support for becoming Martial Arts Alliance Leader, and examined the Four Directions Vessel of Heaven and Earth with Wu Qianhuan and Wen Rou. He suspected the vessel’s supposed benefits concealed a plot by the Heavenly Evil Cult and advised against drinking from it until its effects were verified.

• Chu Qing shattered Sikong Yijian’s sword intent and caught his blade between two fingers, then Sikong accepted that Chu Qing could defeat the Weapon Master.
• Chu Qing explained why Liu Zhaonian was angry, and Sikong endorsed Chu Qing as the candidate for Martial Arts Alliance Leader.
• Chu Qing, Wu Qianhuan, and Wen Rou poured Immortal Toppling Nectar into the Four Directions Vessel of Heaven and Earth, but it showed no visible change.
• Chu Qing stopped Wu Qianhuan and Wen Rou from drinking, questioning the Heavenly Evil Cult’s claims about the vessel and how Han Qiujun had learned of it.
• Chu Qing concluded that the vessel might conceal another mystery and recommended testing its effects on someone suitable before using it.

Zuo Zhongtang was rescued from Immortal Cloud Manor by a Mirror of Sin assassin, who took him to a secluded spot where he witnessed Cheng Xiao and A Shu together. When A Shu stabbed Cheng Xiao, Zuo Zhongtang revealed that he had been the one who saved her three years earlier, and Chu Qing unmasked himself after capturing A Shu.

• Zuo Zhongtang was fed in his iron cell, then tried to escape but fell because Chu Qing had sealed his meridians.
• A black-clad Mirror of Sin assassin freed Zuo Zhongtang and revealed that someone had paid three thousand taels for his head.
• The assassin hid with Zuo Zhongtang in a tree as Cheng Xiao and A Shu arrived at a cliff and spoke of their future together.
• A Shu stabbed Cheng Xiao, and Zuo Zhongtang rushed to her side as she asked when they had first met.
• Zuo Zhongtang told Cheng Xiao that he had saved her at Iron Peak Ridge three years earlier, and Chu Qing appeared with A Shu captured and revealed his identity.

Chu Qing saved Cheng Xiao after Zuo Zhongtang offered his life in exchange, then uncovered how A Shu had deceived her and plotted to steal the Mystic Mechanism Sect’s arts. With Cheng Xiao out of danger and A Shu’s scheme exposed, Zuo Zhongtang and Cheng Xiao faced the truth of their relationship.

• Zuo Zhongtang offered his life to save Cheng Xiao, but Chu Qing stopped him and treated her grave wound.
• Chu Qing stabilized Cheng Xiao, and she recognized that Zuo Zhongtang had been the man who saved her years earlier.
• A Shu confessed that he had falsely accepted credit for saving Cheng Xiao, then manipulated her to obtain the Mystic Mechanism Sect’s secret arts.
• A Shu revealed that he had planned to kill Cheng Xiao and abandon her after taking the sect’s techniques, but Zuo Zhongtang’s intervention disrupted his scheme.
• Chu Qing heard the full account as Cheng Xiao and Zuo Zhongtang realized the extent of A Shu’s betrayal.

Chu Qing saved Cheng Xiao, forced Zuo Zhongtang to investigate the Mystic Mechanism Sect’s connection to the Mirror of Sin, and planted a Life and Death Talisman on her as leverage. As the Heroes' Gathering approached amid fears of a Heavenly Evil Cult attack, news spread that the Night Emperor had arrived in Immortal Cloud Manor.

• Zuo Zhongtang killed A Shu after Chu Qing freed him from the cold qi and trapped him in a net.
• Chu Qing demanded that Zuo Zhongtang investigate the Mystic Mechanism Sect’s connection to the Mirror of Sin and planted a Life and Death Talisman on Cheng Xiao to ensure his cooperation.
• Chu Qing released the Mystic Mechanism Sect members from prison and found that Jiang Qianliu’s inner strength had returned despite his destroyed dantian and qi sea.
• During the next two days, Chu Qing had Liu Zhaonian prepare for a possible Heavenly Evil Cult assault as more sects arrived for the Heroes' Gathering.
• News spread that the Night Emperor, an assassin said to rival Third Young Master, had arrived to attend the Heroes' Gathering.

Chu Qing met Mu Chunyu at Immortal Cloud Mountain, collected his fortune, and confronted representatives of three sects who had gathered to test him. After demonstrating his swordsmanship and demanding payment to kill the Weapon Master, he left the sect leaders to consider his price of one hundred thousand taels of gold.

• Mu Chunyu waited at Immortal Cloud Mountain, and Chu Qing arrived to collect the documents containing his entire fortune and conclude their transaction.
• When disciples from the Thousand Flowers Sect, the Jade Terrace Sect, and the Supreme Sword Sect surrounded Mu Chunyu’s courtyard, Chu Qing disarmed them with his swift swordsmanship.
• Chu Qing cut off the Thousand Flowers Sect First Elder’s ear after the elder called him a reckless, arrogant brat, then warned him against careless speech.
• The representatives asked Chu Qing to kill the Weapon Master, and he clarified that they wanted his help without making him Martial Arts Alliance Leader.
• Chu Qing demanded one hundred thousand taels of gold to risk his life against the Weapon Master, leaving the sect leaders to respond.

Chu Qing agreed to assassinate the Heavenly Evil Cult’s Heavenly Kill Weapon Master for one hundred thousand taels of gold, regardless of whether the Third Young Master killed him first. On the morning of the Heroes’ Gathering, Wu Qianhuan prepared Chu Qing for the event, and Liu Zhaonian, Ouyang Tianxu, and Ji Yexue arrived to take him there.

• Chu Qing agreed to give the sect representatives three months to pay one hundred thousand taels of gold for his intervention against the Weapon Master, and warned that the full price would be owed even if the Third Young Master killed the Weapon Master first.
• Chu Qing accepted the system commission to assassinate the Heavenly Evil Cult’s Heavenly Kill Weapon Master, then rested for the Heroes’ Gathering.
• Wu Qianhuan helped Chu Qing choose and put on a white outfit, then arranged his hair while they recalled their childhood.
• Chu Qing and Wu Qianhuan invited Wen Rou and Wenren Qianluo to breakfast in his room.
• Liu Zhaonian, Ouyang Tianxu, and Ji Yexue arrived and told Chu Qing it was time to set off.

At the Heroes' Gathering, Chu Qing prepared to demonstrate his strength and secure the martial world's obedience while secretly countering the Mystic Mechanism Sect's plot against Jiang Qianliu. The martial contest began, and an unexpected change occurred onstage.

• Ouyang Tianxu realized Chu Qing had subdued the Jade Terrace Sect, while Liu Zhaonian explained the gathering's arrangements to Chu Qing.
• Chu Qing arrived at the gathering, where Sikong Yijian's sword heart faltered under Chu Qing's gaze and Chu Qing observed Dai Zongming and the absent Mystic Mechanism Sect.
• Zuo Huaifeng arrived late, and after Li Xianyi welcomed the guests, Liu Zhaonian opened the gathering and proposed choosing a Martial Arts Alliance Leader through martial skill.
• Zuo Zhongtang told Chu Qing that the Mystic Mechanism Sect planned to seize or kill Jiang Qianliu, and Chu Qing sent him to call Cheng Xiao back while questioning whether he could take control of the sect if his father died.
• As the martial contest continued, Zuo Huaifeng learned that the assassins he had sent after Jiang Qianliu had been wiped out, and an unexpected change occurred onstage.

At the Heroes' Gathering, the Life-Splitting Old Oddity killed a challenger before a young man with immense internal force confronted him to avenge his murdered master. Sikong Yijian killed the attacking Five Oddities and took the ring, then challenged Sect Master Zuo to test swords.

• The Life-Splitting Old Oddity arrived at the Heroes' Gathering, killed a martial artist, and declared he would become Martial Arts Alliance Leader.
• A young man who had once given Jiang Qianliu braised beef charged the Life-Splitting Old Oddity, revealing profound internal force and declaring that the oddity had killed his master.
• Liu Zhaonian, Ouyang Tianxu, and Chu Qing guided the young man through the fight, helping him injure the Life-Splitting Old Oddity and counter the Marrow-Eating Old Oddity.
• The Marrow-Eating Old Oddity tried to trap the young man with help from the Life-Splitting Old Oddity, but Sikong Yijian appeared and beheaded the Life-Splitting Old Oddity.
• Sikong Yijian killed Iron Bone and two more attackers as the remaining Oddities tried to flee, then announced that he would defend the ring.
• Sikong Yijian challenged Zuo Huaifeng to come up and test swords with him.

Chu Qing recognized Zuo Huaifeng’s Mystic Mechanism Armor as matching armor worn by people connected to the Mirror of Sin, and he questioned Zuo Zhongtang about its origins. After Zuo Huaifeng nearly killed Sikong Yijian, Chu Qing intervened and challenged him to a fight, leaving the Heroes' Gathering on the verge of another battle.

• Sikong Yijian forced Zuo Huaifeng to mount the stage and fought him, but Zuo Huaifeng revealed his Mystic Mechanism Armor and used its weapons to turn the battle around.
• Chu Qing called the young man who had fought the Five Freaks over and learned that he had killed one of them.
• Zuo Zhongtang told Chu Qing that the Mystic Mechanism Armor was a rare creation of the Mystic Mechanism Sect that could not be replicated without the original process being lost.
• Zuo Huaifeng used the armor’s hidden mechanisms to wound Sikong Yijian and disrupt his inner qi, then closed in for a lethal attack.
• Chu Qing seized Zuo Huaifeng’s wrist and stopped him from killing Sikong Yijian, who thanked Chu Qing and left the stage.
• After the crowd recognized Chu Qing as Young Master Mad Blade, Zuo Huaifeng challenged him to fight.

Chu Qing defeated Zuo Huaifeng and publicly accused the Mirror of Sin of abusing its reputation to murder innocents. He linked the organization to the Mystic Mechanism Sect and demanded that Zuo Huaifeng explain his actions.

• Zuo Huaifeng attacked Chu Qing with the Mystic Mechanism Armor, but Chu Qing overwhelmed him and pierced his armor with One Yang Finger, leaving him badly injured.
• Chu Qing told the gathering that the Mirror of Sin had tried to assassinate him and had also targeted Tie Lingyun and Cao Qiupu.
• Chu Qing described rescuing a young woman whose family the Mirror of Sin had slaughtered, prompting a witness to accuse the organization of fabricating crimes and murdering his family.
• Chu Qing revealed that Jiang Qianliu, a steward of the Mystic Mechanism Sect, had joined the Mirror of Sin and that Zuo Huaifeng had sent experts to break into Immortal Cloud Manor's dungeon and silence him.
• Chu Qing had Ren Weifeng, Zhang Zhuo, Dong Cheng, and other captives brought before the gathering, then demanded to know what Zuo Huaifeng was plotting.

Chu Qing exposed Zuo Huaifeng’s collusion with the Mirror of Sin, protected Zuo Zhongtang from punishment, and defeated the assembled martial arts masters to become Martial Arts Alliance Leader. The chapter ended with word that the Heavenly Evil Cult had surrounded Immortal Cloud Mountain and challenged the martial world of Ridge North.

• Chu Qing confronted Zuo Huaifeng with witnesses and Zuo Zhongtang’s testimony, and Zuo Huaifeng admitted he had colluded with the Mirror of Sin for money.
• Chu Qing argued that Zuo Zhongtang and the uninvolved members of the Mystic Mechanism Sect should not be punished for Zuo Huaifeng’s crimes, and the gathered powers agreed to take Zuo Huaifeng away for interrogation.
• Chu Qing invited challengers onto the platform and effortlessly defeated more than ten fighters before Liu Zhaonian and Ouyang Tianxu challenged him together.
• Ji Yexue joined Liu Zhaonian and Ouyang Tianxu against Chu Qing, and Dai Zongming leaped into the fight before Chu Qing knocked all four masters down.
• Liu Zhaonian, Ouyang Tianxu, Ji Yexue, Sikong Yijian, and Dai Zongming acknowledged Chu Qing as Alliance Leader.
• A messenger reported that the Military Lord of the Heavenly Evil Cult had surrounded Immortal Cloud Mountain and was challenging the martial world of Ridge North.

Chu Qing led the martial artists gathered at Immortal Cloud Mountain down to confront the Heavenly Evil Cult, where he met Weapon Master and the Opera King. The two sides faced off, and the Opera King declared that he intended to take righteous martial artists down with him.

• After news spread that the Heavenly Evil Cult had arrived, Liu Zhaonian called on Chu Qing to lead the gathered martial artists down the mountain, and they agreed.
• Chu Qing and the martial artists descended to face the Cult's thousands of fighters, while Weapon Master learned of their approach and discussed Chu Qing with a subordinate.
• When the subordinate flattered Weapon Master instead of honestly assessing the danger, Weapon Master killed him using the Evernight Valley Skinning Technique.
• Opera King joined Weapon Master, and he revealed that the Cult could use the Killing Sutra to produce many successive groups of eight great generals.
• Chu Qing arrived before the Cult's formation and recognized Opera King, who recalled their meeting at Qingxi Village.
• Chu Qing and Opera King traded taunts, and Opera King said he planned to take several righteous martial artists with him when he died.