Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi joined the Furong Town Patrol Office, read the Great Yue Royal Court Edict, and brought dinner for Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa. At the docks, he saw a Black-robed youth seize Uncle Mu’s Great Green Carp while Fishery Head Yaya ordered Uncle Mu to hand it over.

• Gu Jianming introduced Xu Yi to the five other members of the Furong Town Patrol Office and completed his appointment as a constable.
• Xu Yi received his uniform and waist badge, learned his salary was fifty taels a month, and read the Great Yue Royal Court Edict.
• Xu Yi bought two meal boxes and walked through Furong Town toward the docks to meet Uncle Mu.
• Uncle Mu’s net brought ashore a Great Green Carp, drawing a crowd of amazed fishermen.
• A Black-robed youth cut through the net and claimed the fish, while Fishery Head Yaya told Uncle Mu to put it in the hold.
• The Black-robed youth flicked his hand and stopped Uncle Mu and two fishermen from taking the fish.

Uncle Mu defied the Black-robed youth after he seized Uncle Mu’s Great Green Carp for two taels, and the youth’s men beat the old fisherman nearly to death. The chapter ended as Uncle Mu’s crying granddaughter rushed to his side.

• The Black-robed youth took Uncle Mu’s Great Green Carp and tossed him two taels, while Zhou Yaya silenced the fishermen who protested.
• The Black-robed youth struck the long-faced fisherman, and Zhou Yaya slapped Uncle Mu when he challenged the abuse.
• Uncle Mu hurled his fork through the fish’s head, ruining it, and refused to back down when the Black-robed youth ordered his men to beat him.
• The Black-robed youth threatened to sink Uncle Mu in the river, while Zhou Yaya warned that killing him publicly could cause trouble.
• Zhou Yaya revealed that the Black-robed youth was the Young Hall Master of Black Dragon Hall’s Baima Branch Hall, and the frightened fishermen fell silent.
• Uncle Mu’s little granddaughter rushed in, crying and throwing herself beside him.

Xu Yi arrived at the dock and rescued Qiu Wa and Uncle Mu from the Black-robed youth and Zhou Yaya. He revealed his new position as constable, then fought Zhou Yaya’s thugs and struck down their bald leader with a copper hammer.

• The Black-robed youth tormented Uncle Mu by tossing Qiu Wa into the air and forcing the old man to kneel.
• Xu Yi caught Qiu Wa, helped Uncle Mu to his feet, and identified himself as the town’s newly appointed constable.
• The Black-robed youth admitted to his actions and mocked Xu Yi, while Zhou Yaya ordered him to leave.
• Xu Yi grabbed Zhou Yaya by the neck, provoking seven or eight of his thugs to attack.
• Xu Yi used Zhou Yaya to disrupt the bald man’s hammer strike, then caught a copper hammer and sent the man flying with a blow to the chest.

Xu Yi defeated Zhou Yaya and his thugs after they attacked Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa, then invoked Great Yue law to challenge the Black Dragon Hall’s constables. The Black-robed youth ordered his men to attack and charged Xu Yi himself.

• Xu Yi used the bald man’s copper hammer to defeat Zhou Yaya’s hired thugs and send them flying into the Dragon Whisker River.
• Xu Yi accused Zhou Yaya of seizing the Great Green Carp and violating the law, then smashed him to death with one hammer blow.
• Xu Yi told Qiu Wa to watch as he avenged her, while the Black-robed youth offered him a position in Baima County.
• Xu Yi rejected the Black-robed youth’s offer and accused his uniformed constables of assaulting Uncle Mu and the town’s weak.
• The Black-robed youth ordered his constables to attack and charged Xu Yi with a short blade and an iron gall.

Xu Yi defeated the Black-robed youth and seized his magical iron gall, then forced the Young Hall Master to apologize to Uncle Mu. The youth survived the encounter but was left kneeling and kowtowing as Xu Yi watched.

• Xu Yi slaughtered the blue-clad men and evaded the Black-robed youth’s green blade before capturing him.
• The Black-robed youth used the iron gall to stab Xu Yi, but Xu Yi narrowly avoided a fatal wound and crushed his wrist, causing the weapon to retract.
• Xu Yi took the iron gall, pinned the Black-robed youth, and accused him of rallying men to attack an official.
• Xu Yi cut off the youth’s fingers until the Young Hall Master agreed to kowtow to Uncle Mu.
• The Young Hall Master knelt before Uncle Mu and repeatedly struck his head against the flagstones.

Xu Yi killed the black-robed youth after invoking the Great Yue Royal Court Edict, then learned from Gu Jianming that the Black Dragon Hall could still threaten Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa. Gu Jianming arranged for Xu Yi to take over Furong Town's office in Guang'an City, where the family would be safer but Xu Yi might face new dangers.

• Xu Yi executed the black-robed youth after the youth finished kowtowing, then helped Uncle Mu leave the scene.
• Gu Jianming found Xu Yi at a clinic and realized Xu Yi had invoked the Great Yue Royal Court Edict to discourage retaliation.
• Gu Jianming warned that the Black Dragon Hall might target Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa, and Xu Yi agreed to serve as a lifelong honorary adviser to Furong Town's Constabulary Office.
• Gu Jianming advised Xu Yi to take Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa to Guang'an City, where strict laws would protect them.
• Gu Jianming arranged for Xu Yi to take over the Furong Town office in Guang'an City using his official status.

Xu Yi traveled to Guang'an after obtaining the iron essence, while Jiang Shaohuan learned his son had stolen it and resolved to kill anyone who knew the secret. In Guang'an, Xu Yi prepared for the danger he expected from Black Dragon Hall and headed to Iron Cat Ear Alley.

• Gu Jianming arranged a carriage for Xu Yi, who set off for Guang'an at once.
• Clerk Xing told Jiang Shaohuan that the iron essence was missing, and Jiang destroyed the meeting hall in fury.
• Jiang Shaohuan recalled how he had stolen the iron essence from a tribute caravan and secretly kept it, then killed Clerk Xing to protect the secret.
• Xu Yi tended to Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa, handled documents at the Furong Town Constabulary Office, and left for the market district.
• Xu Yi bought a jar of ten-year-old Bamboo Leaf Green, asked for directions to Iron Cat Ear Alley, and hurried there, expecting Black Dragon Hall to pursue him.

Xu Yi visited Master Zhou to learn about the danger posed by Black Dragon Hall and the rules governing duels in Guang'an City. Master Zhou explained that the authorities would not protect Xu Yi, but that challengers could not target someone of a lower cultivation realm, and he revealed how he had deduced Xu Yi’s exceptional Soul Power.

• Xu Yi tested the iron gall and found that it could instantly transform into any shape he imagined, then went to find Master Zhou in Iron Cat Ear Alley.
• Master Zhou happily accepted Xu Yi’s wine and told him that the Prefect’s Office knew about his actions in Furong Town but would not shield him from Black Dragon Hall.
• Xu Yi asked whether the city’s duel rules let powerful martial artists force weaker opponents to fight, and Master Zhou explained that challengers could not have a higher realm than their opponents.
• Master Zhou warned Xu Yi that Black Dragon Hall could hire experts and that Xu Yi needed to become the strongest at Body Tempering Peak to survive.
• Master Zhou revealed that he had deduced Xu Yi’s extraordinary Soul Power from his questions about the soul and his rapid cultivation.

Master Zhou gave Xu Yi the Overlord Strength Art in exchange for wine for the rest of his life, then sent him to explore East City. Xu Yi entered the bustling city built for martial cultivators and was amazed by its extraordinary people and mounts.

• Master Zhou assured Xu Yi he would keep his secrets and explained that their past exchanges had been fair.
• Master Zhou gave Xu Yi the Overlord Strength Art and explained that it could repeatedly unleash the Strength of three oxen but required rare medicinal ingredients.
• Master Zhou said he and his late master had failed to cultivate the art because of its painful meridian reversal, but believed Xu Yi's exceptional Soul Power might let him succeed.
• Xu Yi agreed to provide Master Zhou with wine for the rest of his life in exchange for the art.
• Master Zhou urged Xu Yi to prepare for battle and look around East City, so Xu Yi headed there.
• Xu Yi entered East City and saw its vast crowds, unusual residents, and remarkable mounts, including a White Eagle that carried its rider into the clouds.

Xu Yi hired Yuan Qinghua to guide him through the eastern part of Guang'an City and help him shop and bargain. As they approached a public duel, Yuan explained the arena’s betting customs and the colored flags that marked fighters’ realms, while Xu Yi asked how the system prevented concealed fighters from exploiting the wagers.

• Xu Yi rejected Yuan Qinghua’s five-gold-coin fee and offered him one-tenth of the money he saved through bargaining.
• Yuan Qinghua accepted the deal and introduced himself as an experienced guide who had worked in the city for seven or eight years.
• Yuan Qinghua showed Xu Yi around and entertained him with stories as they walked through the city.
• Xu Yi spotted two men fighting on a platform and realized he was watching Guang'an City’s life-and-death duels.
• Yuan Qinghua explained the arena’s betting customs and how colored flags indicated the fighters’ realms.
• Xu Yi asked how duel organizers prevented fighters from hiding their realms and betting on themselves.

Xu Yi and Yuan Qinghua visited Linglong Pavilion to buy medicinal ingredients for the Overlord Strength Art. The shop lacked two of the seven requested ingredients, and the chapter ended with the attendant offering to sell the other five and notify them when the missing items arrived.

• Yuan Qinghua explained how the duel’s Realm Tester verified both fighters’ cultivation, reassuring Xu Yi that the rules prevented a stronger opponent from entering the ring.
• Yuan Qinghua learned that Xu Yi had reached Body Tempering Peak and praised him, but Xu Yi urged him to focus on their errand.
• Yuan Qinghua led Xu Yi to Linglong Pavilion and explained that its animated sign was a formation made with jade, Law Patterns, and three Green-Gold Snake Demons.
• At the VIP room, Yuan Qinghua ordered seven medicinal ingredients needed for the Overlord Strength Art, while Xu Yi sampled the tea and pastries.
• The attendant reported that Linglong Pavilion was out of century-old Crimson Gold Snake Eye and Bear King Gallbladder and offered to sell the other five ingredients.

Xu Yi and Yuan Qinghua arranged for Linglong Pavilion to gather the seven ingredients needed for the Overlord Strength Art, then paid with Xu Yi’s thousand-gold Gold Cake. After exchanging it for notes and coins, Xu Yi noticed Linglong Pavilion had given him too much change.

• Xu Yi learned that Linglong Pavilion lacked a hundred-year-old Crimson Gold Snake Eye and a Bear King Gallbladder, but could procure them by order.
• Yuan Qinghua bargained the price down to one hundred and twenty gold, secured a two-month deadline, and reduced the deposit to thirty gold.
• Xu Yi surprised Yuan Qinghua and the brown-haired woman by paying with a Gold Cake worth a thousand gold.
• Steward Wu brought Xu Yi the requested gold notes and coins, but Xu Yi noticed the total amounted to one thousand gold instead of the expected nine hundred and seventy.

Xu Yi arranged to attend Linglong Pavilion’s private auction to find armor and a heavy weapon for his coming duel, while Yuan Qinghua took the green blade to sell. The auction began with a carved Ginseng Baby, and the gathered guests reacted with surprise.

• Steward Wu waived Xu Yi’s deposit and invited him to Linglong Pavilion’s auction, where Xu Yi planned to buy equipment for his duel.
• A brown-haired woman gave Xu Yi a cloak and numbered plate to conceal his identity at the auction.
• Xu Yi gave Yuan Qinghua the green blade he had taken from the Black-robed youth to sell.
• Xu Yi entered the private auction room and sensed several powerful guests among the crowd.
• An old man in silver robes presented the first item, a wooden carving that the guests recognized as a Ginseng Baby.

Xu Yi watched the auction as Qi Ming won the Ginseng Baby, then waited for the dragon crocodile hide he wanted to appear. After the hide's durability was challenged, Gao Junmo revealed himself to test it.

• Qi Ming identified himself as a Pill Cauldron Sect Pill King, won the Ginseng Baby, and promised to sell Divine Essence Pills publicly if he succeeded in making them.
• Three people followed Qi Ming after he left, while Xu Yi resisted the temptation to pursue him for a chance at a Divine Essence Pill.
• After thirteen auction items, the silver-robed elder presented dragon crocodile hide and demonstrated its resistance to stretching, weapons, and fire.
• A guest questioned whether the hide could withstand attacks from martial arts experts or absorb the impact of punches and kicks.
• The silver-robed elder invited a Qi Sea Realm expert to test the hide, and the black-robed figure removed his mask to reveal Gao Junmo.

At an auction, Gao Junmo demonstrated that the Dragon Crocodile Hide could withstand his sword and a devastating punch, driving its price sharply upward. Elder Shui revealed his identity and persuaded Gao Junmo to withdraw, leaving the hide’s bidding contest unresolved.

• Gao Junmo tested the Dragon Crocodile Hide with his sword and a powerful punch, proving it resisted both piercing and impact.
• The crowd became eager to buy the hide, and the silver-robed elder opened bidding at five hundred gold.
• Number Seven, Gao Junmo, and Number Twenty-Nine competed as the price rose above one thousand gold.
• Number Twenty-Nine revealed himself as Elder Shui of the Shui family and asked Gao Junmo to stop bidding in exchange for a favor.
• Gao Junmo accepted Elder Shui’s offer and left the auction, leaving Number Seven and Elder Shui to compete for the hide.

Xu Yi challenged Elder Shui’s attempt to control the auction and kept bidding against him for the Dragon Crocodile Hide. Elder Shui was determined to win the hide but had limited funds available because he was saving for the auction’s grand finale.

• Elder Shui pressured Number Seven to withdraw, then bid 1,150 gold for the Dragon Crocodile Hide.
• Xu Yi bid 1,200 gold and rebuked Elder Shui for trying to take control of the Linglong Pavilion auction.
• The silver-robed elder continued the bidding, and Xu Yi raised his offer to 1,350 gold as Elder Shui countered with 1,400.
• Elder Shui offered to overlook Xu Yi’s earlier insult, but Xu Yi bid 1,450 gold, prompting Elder Shui to raise the price to 1,500.
• Elder Shui recalled the dragon crocodile’s formidable defense and realized the hide was far more valuable than the auctioneers seemed to know.

Xu Yi won the Dragon Crocodile Hide for eighteen hundred gold, then learned that Linglong Pavilion’s grand finale was an iron essence resembling the White Iron Gall he already carried. As the auctioneer demonstrated its transformations and weapon power, Xu Yi kept his doubts about its true effectiveness to himself.

• Xu Yi raised his bid to eighteen hundred gold, causing Elder Shui to withdraw rather than risk money needed for the final auction item.
• The silver-robed elder sold the Dragon Crocodile Hide to Xu Yi, who grieved over spending most of his gold.
• The silver-robed elder revealed the auction’s grand finale: a white, egg-sized iron essence that Xu Yi recognized as the same kind of object as the one in his pouch.
• The silver-robed elder explained that iron essence could change shape and demonstrated its forms to the excited crowd.
• Xu Yi asked about its other uses, watched it become a sword, and silently judged that its combat power was limited against strong opponents.

Xu Yi watched iron essence spark a fierce bidding war at Linglong Pavilion after learning it could produce weapons that advanced in rank. Elder Shui won the iron essence with a Divine Essence Pill, and Xu Yi left with Dragon Crocodile Hide before Yuan Qinghua met him outside.

• Steward Li explained that the Divine Intent Sword had been forged from iron essence and changed from white to red over time.
• Xu Yi questioned why the owner would sell such a rare treasure, and Steward Li said they had failed to forge it.
• Bidding for the iron essence surged after Steward Li set the starting price at two thousand gold.
• Elder Shui won the iron essence by offering a Divine Essence Pill, silencing the other bidders.
• Xu Yi collected the Dragon Crocodile Hide and left Linglong Pavilion, where Yuan Qinghua asked whether he had acquired anything.

Xu Yi agreed to hire Yuan Qinghua after learning about the Blood Curse and deciding he could use Yuan Qinghua’s help with betting on arena fights. They sealed their employment agreement with the curse, and Xu Yi left after telling Yuan Qinghua where he lived.

• Yuan Qinghua told Xu Yi he had sold the green blade for one hundred and fifty gold and handed over the proceeds, and Xu Yi gave him ten gold as thanks.
• Yuan Qinghua asked Xu Yi to hire him and offered to bind himself with a Blood Curse, which would punish either party for breaking their vows.
• Xu Yi noticed the bets beneath the arena and decided to hire Yuan Qinghua to help him make money betting on fights.
• Yuan Qinghua and Xu Yi recited their respective vows and sealed them with blood, sending bloody light into both their chests.
• Xu Yi told Yuan Qinghua where he lived and left.

Xu Yi welcomed recovering Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa back into a peaceful courtyard, but Jiang Shaohuan arrived with armed men and a giant tiger, accusing Xu Yi of killing his son. Xu Yi dismissed the show of force and began dictating terms, leaving Jiang Shaohuan enraged.

• Xu Yi brought Qiu Wa pastries and helped Uncle Mu sit in the courtyard while they traded stories.
• Qiu Wa proposed a storytelling contest, and Xu Yi began telling her the story of the Princess and the Pea.
• Jiang Shaohuan's black-armored soldiers surrounded the courtyard, and he arrived astride a giant white tiger to confront Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi struck the tiger, pulled out its whiskers, and mocked Jiang Shaohuan, recognizing that he wanted the valuable iron essence.
• Xu Yi remained calm and told Jiang Shaohuan to remove his soldiers and tiger from the courtyard.