Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi used the Hidden Edge Style to defeat Jiang Nanxun in the martial contest, then held him hostage as the Jiang family demanded his release. The chapter revealed how Xu Yi had developed the technique from Guanglingzi’s idea of five circles passing through a fixed point.

• Xu Yi entered the formation and pretended to prepare a secret technique by taking pills, causing Jiang Nanxun to lower his guard.
• Xu Yi struck Jiang Nanxun with the Hidden Edge Style, shattering his arm and shoulder and leaving him badly injured.
• Xu Yi seized Jiang Nanxun’s Dazhui Acupoint before he could recover, and the arena erupted as the crowd realized Xu Yi had won.
• Second Master Jiang broke the barrier and demanded that Xu Yi release Jiang Nanxun, but Xu Yi kept hold of him while Old Ancestor Shui defended the wager’s outcome.
• Xu Yi’s thoughts explained that the Hidden Edge Style stored and combined five attacks at one point, drawing on Guanglingzi’s concept of five circles passing through a fixed point.

Xu Yi defeated Jiang Nanxun with the Hidden Edge Style, then used him as a hostage to stop the Jiang family from attacking. He refused Second Master Jiang’s offer to let him go alone and pledged to retreat alongside the Three Sects and Four Families, winning their support.

• Xu Yi struck Jiang Nanxun with a Hidden Edge Style blow that shattered his collarbone, though the recoil left Xu Yi coughing blood.
• After recovering enough to speak, Xu Yi restrained Jiang Nanxun with the Dragon Binding Rope and held a Sonic Flying Dagger to his heart.
• When Old Yun approached to attack, Xu Yi threatened Jiang Nanxun, forcing Old Yun to retreat and Second Master Jiang to offer terms.
• Xu Yi claimed he had acted because the Jiang family had humiliated him, and Second Master Jiang promised not to pursue him if he released Jiang Nanxun.
• Xu Yi rejected the offer to leave alone and declared that he would retreat with the others, earning cheers and gratitude from the assembled martial heroes.

Xu Yi forced Second Master Jiang to agree to let the captives leave, while the Jiang family confirmed Jiang Hentian’s remains were still inside the tomb. Xu Yi then demanded that everyone depart before he released Jiang Nanxun, keeping the Condensing Liquid Stage seniors behind to guard against betrayal.

• Second Master Jiang used a Sound-Transmitting Treasure to consult the Jiang family patriarch, who ordered him to recover Jiang Hentian’s remains and punished him with ten years in the Ghost Abyss.
• Old Yun used the Star-Fixing Technique and found that Jiang Hentian’s remains were still in the tomb, near the limit of the technique’s range.
• Second Master Jiang agreed to Xu Yi’s demands and told him to release Jiang Nanxun.
• Xu Yi refused to release Jiang Nanxun until everyone else had left, and asked the Condensing Liquid Stage seniors to stay behind and cover him.
• Xu Yi privately intended to ensure Xue Zihan could leave first and to protect himself from Old Ancestor Shui and the others.

Xu Yi secured the others’ withdrawal and got Xue Zihan out of the Jiang family’s hands, then fled to a cliff with Jiang Nanxun as a hostage. Surrounded by eight Liquid Condensation Realm elders, he pretended to seek Old Ancestor Shui’s tutelage while preparing his escape.

• Xu Yi persuaded Old Ancestor Shui and the other elders to remain behind as the martial heroes and the Three Sects and Four Families withdrew.
• Fairy Yuqing sent two disciples to retrieve Xue Zihan, who recognized Xu Yi as he held Jiang Nanxun but was led away without speaking to him.
• Xu Yi tested Second Master Jiang’s sincerity, sensed his murderous intent, and fled toward a cliff with Jiang Nanxun as a hostage.
• Old Ancestor Shui, Fairy Yuqing, Feng Xinglie, Qiu Changtian, and Jiang family elders pursued Xu Yi, keeping their distance from his Sonic Flying Daggers.
• At the cliff, the elders offered Xu Yi safety and recruitment, and he claimed he wanted to join Old Ancestor Shui’s tutelage.

Xu Yi used Jiang Nanxun to keep the Jiang family elder from attacking him as a jade skeleton emerged and drew the experts’ attention. Xu Yi escaped into the river while the elder rushed to save the gravely wounded Jiang Nanxun.

• Jiang Hentian’s remains emerged from the forest as a jade skeleton, its hollow cries coming from fragments of several spirits that had fought within its Yin Body.
• The experts rushed toward the jade bones, and Xu Yi used the distraction to drag Jiang Nanxun over the cliff.
• The tall-hatted elder pursued Xu Yi, but Xu Yi hurled Jiang Nanxun toward the cliff wall and forced the elder to turn aside to catch him.
• Xu Yi drove his iron essence toward Jiang Nanxun’s head, then plunged into the river and escaped underwater.
• The tall-hatted elder focused on saving Jiang Nanxun, stuffing life-saving pills into his mouth instead of chasing Xu Yi.

After escaping the formation, Jiang Nanxun discovered that Xu Yi had stolen his Sumeru Ring, while the white jade skeleton slaughtered attackers on the cliff. The skeleton tore through the Jiang family’s defenses and continued toward the Nielong River as the surviving Liquid Condensation Realm experts followed at a distance.

• The old man with the high crown restored Jiang Nanxun with pills, and Jiang Nanxun erupted in fury when he realized Xu Yi had taken his Sumeru Ring.
• The white jade skeleton struck down seven or eight Jiang family disciples with Pure Yin Qi, and Old Ancestor Shui failed to harm it with his Qi spears.
• Feng Xinglie attacked the skeleton’s joints, but it tore him in half and devoured his Yin Soul.
• Second Master Jiang used the Dragon Trapping Net to bind the skeleton, but it ripped the net apart and unleashed a howl that overwhelmed those nearby.
• The skeleton walked away, crushing rocks and sweeping aside trees, while the surviving Liquid Condensation Realm experts followed it to the banks of the Nielong River.

After escaping the tomb expedition, Xu Yi returned to Guang'an City to find Yuan Qinghua and learn what had happened during his absence. He learned that the West City Li Family had nearly killed Yuan Qinghua, and set out to confront them.

• The white jade skeleton entered the Nielong River, and the exhausted tomb expedition survivors dispersed.
• Xu Yi escaped downstream, then built a small boat and rowed upriver toward Guang'an City, thinking of Qiu Wa and his plans to return her from the Tianshan Sect.
• Xu Yi reached his home in Iron Cat Ear Alley and found it empty, then went to Hongbin Tower to ask about Yuan Qinghua.
• Xu Yi met Qingzi, who told him the West City Li Family had seized Yuan Qinghua, branded him a thief, and exposed him to the sun for three days and nights.
• Xu Yi asked Qingzi to take him to the West City Li Family, and Qingzi realized Xu Yi intended to confront the powerful household.

Xu Yi went to the West City Li Family’s celebration of Old Master Li’s ninetieth birthday carrying a coffin, intending to confront the family. After breaking through the guards, he sent the coffin hurtling toward the crowded main hall, where five Body Tempering Peak experts moved to stop it.

• Skinny Monkey told Xu Yi that Old Master Li’s birthday celebration had drawn Guang'an City’s prominent guests and that the Li Family was notorious for bringing young women to him.
• Xu Yi bought a Heavy Iron Coffin and carried it toward the Li Family gate as a birthday gift.
• Steward Li offered Xu Yi a chance to enter peacefully, but Xu Yi ignored him and advanced, so Steward Li ordered twelve Red-Clad Guards to attack.
• Xu Yi struck the coffin with his Hidden Edge Style, sending the Red-Clad Guards flying and driving the coffin through the gate toward the main hall.
• The coffin sped toward the hall where Old Master Li and his guests were celebrating, and five Body Tempering Peak experts leaped forward to intercept it.

Xu Yi stormed the Li family gathering and used an iron coffin and a brazen challenge to intimidate First Master Li and Second Master into negotiating. He demanded that the brothers remember their promise not to protest, leaving the dispute unresolved but firmly in his hands.

• Xu Yi’s iron coffin knocked out five men before First Master Li and Second Master stopped it, breaking their arms and injuring themselves in the process.
• Xu Yi entered the courtyard with Skinny Monkey and demanded that Eldest Brother Li and Second Brother Li step forward.
• First Master Li and Second Master gathered themselves as guests surrounded Xu Yi, then First Master Li asked what grievance had brought him there.
• Xu Yi refused to explain and challenged both Li brothers to fight him together, making them fear the consequences of losing.
• First Master Li pleaded to settle the matter peacefully, and Xu Yi warned him not to waste another word after promising not to protest.

Xu Yi used the masked Hat Man identity to intimidate the Li family, injure Second Master Li, and force First Master Li to release the abducted women and make amends. After publicly demonstrating overwhelming strength to separate the Hat Man from Xu Yi, he returned home injured and planned to stay hidden for several more days.

• Xu Yi insulted the Li family and struck Second Master Li with Hidden Edge Style, shattering his breastbone and frightening the crowd.
• First Master Li yielded to Xu Yi and ordered Manager Li to free the abducted women.
• Xu Yi demanded that the Li family release everyone in its private prison, pay them, apologize to its enemies, and provide three months of free food.
• Xu Yi smashed the martial arts ground’s copper pillar, tore down the banner, and left as the crowd parted before him.
• Xu Yi carried Skinny Monkey home, spat blood from overexerting himself, and decided to keep Skinny Monkey confined while he stayed hidden for two or three days.

Xu Yi reunited with Yuan Qinghua and then found Qi Ming and the Yin Mountain Bandits safe in Guang'an. After hearing how the Space Gate had carried them to Zhongzhou, Xu Yi learned that Xia Zimo had followed them through it after taking his prize.

• Yuan Qinghua returned to Xu Yi after the Li family released him, and Xu Yi gave him three hundred gold notes and told him to watch over Qingzi while he recovered.
• Xu Yi went to the agreed rendezvous courtyard and found Xia Zimo, Qi Ming, Xiong Kui, and the other Yin Mountain Bandits there.
• Xu Yi and Qi Ming clasped hands and caught up after their separation, while Xu Yi thanked Xiong Kui and the bandits for helping Qi Ming return safely.
• Xiong Kui explained that the Space Gate had carried Qi Ming and the bandits to Little East Mountain in Zhongzhou, where they made a raft and traveled downriver to find people.
• Xia Zimo had entered the Space Gate after taking Xu Yi's prize because she was worried about Xiong Kui and the others.

Xia Zimo reunited with Xiong Kui’s group, and they escorted Qi Ming back to Xu Yi. After the groups parted, Xu Yi gave Qi Ming the Myriad Transformation Cauldron, and they agreed to keep in touch before separating once Qi Ming recovered.

• Xia Zimo found Xiong Kui and his companions fighting outlaws and helped defeat them, then told them how she had recovered more than a hundred thousand gold in goods from the tomb.
• Xiong Kui’s group escorted the injured Qi Ming to meet Xu Yi, and Xu Yi let Xia Zimo keep the gold notes before Xiong Kui led his brothers home to rebuild their sect.
• Xia Zimo reminded Xu Yi that he owed her a Blood Flame Fruit, then fled after her brothers teased her about liking him.
• Xu Yi and Qi Ming apologized to each other, and Xu Yi gave Qi Ming the Myriad Transformation Cauldron so he could refine a Divine Essence Pill.
• After two days, Qi Ming recovered, and he and Xu Yi agreed on a way to stay in touch before going their separate ways.

Xu Yi returned to the Patrol Division, reassured Gao Junmo that he would remain available while continuing his private work, and then went to Linglong Pavilion to seek out a brown-haired woman. The chapter ended as a fat guest tried to grab her.

• Xu Yi returned to the Patrol Division, where the constables welcomed him and Gao Junmo scolded him for disappearing.
• Xu Yi reminded Gao Junmo that he had granted him leave, then gave him five Qi Replenishing Pills.
• Gao Junmo told Xu Yi that Steward Qi, Steward Song, and other constables had been conscripted to guard the palace for Princess Xuanxuan's wedding.
• Xu Yi checked in with his subordinates, handled several documents, and left the office to continue his private affairs.
• Xu Yi went to Linglong Pavilion and saw a fat guest harassing the brown-haired woman he had come to find.

Xu Yi intervened when Third Young Master Feng tried to abduct a Linglong Pavilion attendant, then used his authority as Head Official of the Patrol Division to have him arrested. The Feng family retainers were left helpless as the constables arrived and prepared to take Third Young Master Feng to the death cell.

• Third Young Master Feng tried to take the brown-haired woman by force, and the elder in green robes hesitated to oppose him because of his Feng family connections.
• Xu Yi pretended to seek medicinal ingredients so the brown-haired woman could approach him, then confronted Third Young Master Feng when he blocked their way.
• Third Young Master Feng openly dismissed the Great Yue Royal Court's Criminal Law, and Xu Yi struck him into a pillar, knocking out his teeth.
• Xu Yi slammed Feng Long to the ground when he tried to stop them, while the brown-haired woman urged Xu Yi to flee and the elder warned him about the Feng family.
• Two squads of constables arrived after Xu Yi summoned them, and their officer addressed him as Head Official of the Patrol Division.
• Xu Yi ordered the constables to arrest Third Young Master Feng for attempted abduction and contempt for the laws, and to lock him in the death cell.

Xu Yi enforced the law against Third Young Master Feng despite Head Steward Feng’s attempt to interfere, then agreed to take Yan Zi in after Linglong Pavilion could no longer protect her. The chapter left Yan Zi under Xu Yi’s care, with her indenture papers in hand.

• Xu Yi ordered the soldiers to take Third Young Master Feng to the death cell, and Head Steward Feng backed down rather than risk resisting the Royal Court.
• Pavilion Master Fang asked Xu Yi to take Yan Zi in because the Feng family might retaliate against her and Linglong Pavilion could not protect her.
• Yan Zi offered to serve Xu Yi, and he agreed to take her with him for the time being.
• Pavilion Master Fang gave Xu Yi Yan Zi’s indenture papers, and Xu Yi passed them directly to Yan Zi.

Xu Yi brought a vast collection of loot to Linglong Pavilion to sell and trade for useful cultivation equipment, while Pavilion Master Fang honored his promise to give him favorable terms. Yan Zi appraised the goods at the pavilion’s highest buying prices, and Fang reluctantly agreed to accept them.

• Pavilion Master Fang settled Yan Zi’s wages and promised Xu Yi a twenty-percent discount on purchases and a twenty-percent increase on sales at Linglong Pavilion.
• Xu Yi asked Fang to appraise his loot personally and revealed a huge pile of pills, Precious Medicines, and crafting materials.
• Fang recognized the goods’ value and agreed to buy them, while Xu Yi kept his most valuable and conspicuous possessions out of the sale.
• Yan Zi used an abacus to quote the highest prices Linglong Pavilion paid for the goods.
• Fang questioned Yan Zi’s generous prices, but she defended them, and he reluctantly agreed to tally the items on her terms.

Xu Yi completed a major sale to Linglong Pavilion, receiving 320,400 gold, and agreed to spend some of it there. Pavilion Master Fang led him and Yan Zi to the underground treasure vault, where Xu Yi recognized a small flag as a possible Five Elements Flag.

• Yan Zi calculated the value of Xu Yi's goods, and Pavilion Master Fang honored his promise to pay a twenty percent profit.
• Pavilion Master Fang paid Xu Yi 320,400 gold and invited him and Yan Zi to a private room for tea.
• Xu Yi asked about buying high-grade treasures, and Yan Zi explained that Linglong Pavilion rarely handled such items.
• Pavilion Master Fang led Xu Yi and Yan Zi to the underground treasure vault to show him its wares.
• Xu Yi picked up a small flag and asked whether it was one of the Five Elements Flags.

Xu Yi visited Linglong Pavilion’s treasure vault, bought an exceptional set of Five Elements Flags, and learned that blood weapons could be reworked for new owners. He considered a crimson bow as a long-range weapon, but its limits became clear when he drew it with his strength.

• Xu Yi examined the three-thousand-year-old Five Elements Flags, watched Yan Zi wield one, and bought the set from Pavilion Master Fang for eight thousand gold.
• Pavilion Master Fang explained that a blood weapon could be dismantled and reforged with a new owner’s bloodline, prompting Xu Yi to recall the blood weapons he already possessed.
• Xu Yi declined to buy the displayed blood weapons and picked up a crimson bow that Pavilion Master Fang said was made from strong materials.
• Xu Yi recognized his need for a ranged weapon, drew the bow with two circles’ worth of force, and heard it crack before he quickly eased the strain.

Xu Yi learned about the secret Youzhou Ullambana Festival, a treasure exchange held in seven days, and eagerly asked to attend despite its costly deposit. Pavilion Master Fang explained that Xu Yi would need to bring at least three qualifying treasures to gain entry and purchase opportunities.

• Xu Yi tested the Crimson Bow and learned that its Cloud Burst Arrow could threaten Qi Sea Realm experts, but he refused to buy the set because it was too expensive.
• Xu Yi asked Pavilion Master Fang where he could find high-grade treasures, and Fang explained that Linglong Pavilion's next auction was still some time away.
• Yan Zi hinted that Pavilion Master Fang knew of another place to find treasures, prompting Fang to reveal the secret Ullambana Festival.
• Xu Yi offered to pay the festival's two-hundred-thousand-gold deposit, but Fang said he could not secure him a place among Linglong Pavilion's five guests.
• Fang explained that attendees had to submit at least three qualifying treasures, with each treasure sold earning one purchase opportunity.

Xu Yi showed Pavilion Master Fang two Sumeru Rings and a mid-grade blood weapon, earning an invitation to attend the Ullambana Festival and an appointment as Linglong Pavilion’s honorary guest elder. Afterward, he took Yan Zi to a late-night restaurant, where his hearty meal prompted her to reflect on her confined life.

• Xu Yi offered Pavilion Master Fang two Sumeru Rings and a mid-grade blood weapon as proof that he deserved to attend the Ullambana Festival.
• Pavilion Master Fang approved Xu Yi’s attendance, invited him to become an honorary guest elder, and paid him ten thousand gold in advance.
• Pavilion Master Fang arranged to meet Xu Yi in seven days to attend the festival together.
• Xu Yi left Linglong Pavilion with Yan Zi and stopped at Little Belly Vegetarian Restaurant for a late-night meal.
• Xu Yi devoured his food while Yan Zi watched, then she ate as memories of her life at Linglong Pavilion brought tears to her soup.