Chapter Summaries

Xu Qing trained Thomas and Se Lei in West Mountain, where they fought dangerous monsters whose remains released energy that could cleanse the soul. After half a year in Martial God City, Xu Qing’s batch of trainees prepared to leave and begin their deployments as core members of Martial God Hall.

• Xu Qing, Thomas, and Se Lei fought a West Mountain monster, and Xu Qing demonstrated how to overcome its crude use of force and laws.
• Xu Qing encouraged Thomas and Se Lei to practice their new domain-combat method against another monster while he watched.
• Xu Qing’s group met Qiao Si and Raven, then coaxed Qiao Si into explaining that West Mountain monsters released energy that helped cleanse and transform the soul.
• Xu Qing, Thomas, and Se Lei spent ten days in West Mountain before agreeing to meet again in the Martial God Statue area.
• Half a year later, Xu Qing’s batch of trainees prepared to leave Martial God City and begin their assignments across the universe.

After Xu Qing was assigned to the distant Minglan Cosmic Empire, he applied to transfer closer to his wife but was rejected twice. Thomas's father investigated and revealed that Flying Feather Saint Venerable was behind the obstruction.

• Hong Bai assigned Xu Qing to the Minglan Cosmic Empire, far from the Ten Stars Secret Sect, so Xu Qing asked to transfer to another region.
• Hong Bai agreed to submit Xu Qing's transfer request, and Xu Qing spent his remaining days in Martial God City with Thomas and Se Lei.
• Xu Qing learned his transfer request had been rejected twice, and Hong Bai said he was investigating the reason.
• Thomas contacted his father, who quickly discovered Flying Feather Saint Venerable was obstructing Xu Qing's transfer.
• Thomas cursed Flying Feather Saint Venerable for interfering with Xu Qing's request.

Xu Qing broke through to the Cosmic Rank and gained Qi Lin as his guard captain. After learning Flying Feather Saint Venerable had assigned him to a distant posting to keep him focused on cultivation, Xu Qing headed to the administration office to choose the dangerous Blood-colored Trial instead.

• Old Thomas promised to investigate why Flying Feather Saint Venerable had blocked Xu Qing’s application to change his assigned region.
• Xu Qing suspected Flying Feather Saint Venerable had sent him far away to keep him from worldly distractions, and his anger triggered a breakthrough.
• Xu Qing reached the Cosmic Rank eighth stage, and envoy Qi Lin offered to become his guard captain.
• Thomas told Xu Qing that Flying Feather Saint Venerable had assigned him to the Minglan Empire for his own good.
• Xu Qing decided to resist the assignment by choosing the Blood-colored Trial and walked toward the city gate administration office.

Xu Qing sought approval to enter the Blood-colored Trial, and Kuruo Elder permitted him after revealing that the trial had produced both deaths and future Saint Venerables. After Xu Qing departed, Kuruo Elder attacked Flying Feather Saint Venerable for meddling, and Purple Star Saint Venerable confronted Flying Feather over Xu Qing’s fate.

• Xu Qing asked to enter the Blood-colored Trial, and the envoy said Kuruo Elder had to approve because of Xu Qing’s exceptional standing.
• Xu Qing said goodbye to Thomas, Se Lei, and Qi Lin, and Qi Lin agreed to reconnect after the trial.
• Kuruo Elder approved Xu Qing’s choice and told him that four of eight legendary geniuses who entered the trial had died, while the survivors became Saint Venerables.
• After Xu Qing left, Kuruo Elder shed his old body, revealed his youthful form, and traveled to Flying Feather Saint Venerable’s hall.
• Kuruo Elder tore off Flying Feather Saint Venerable’s arm and warned him not to interfere with his disciple’s training.
• Purple Star Saint Venerable accused Flying Feather Saint Venerable of forcing Xu Qing into the trial, and the two began fighting as the hall shattered.

Xu Qing completed the preparations for his Blood-colored Trial and chose a Level 4 mission in the Great Xia civilization, despite its risks. After returning to the real world, he studied the mission requirements and learned the three objectives awaiting him in Great Xia.

• Xu Qing passed the required examination and selected a Level 4 Blood-colored Trial mission, which carried a stated 51% mortality rate.
• Xu Qing chose the Great Xia mission series from the Level 4 catalog and registered for the trial.
• The staff member knew that first-time Level 4 participants faced an actual mortality rate of 89.2%, but the Martial God Hall kept that figure hidden.
• Xu Qing received the preparation materials and began sorting out which items he could bring into Great Xia.
• Xu Qing read that he would enter as a mortal young man named Xu Qing in the Brocade-Clad Guard, with missions to seek the secret of becoming a True Immortal, obtain immortal jade, or become an Immortal Seed.

Xu Qing began his mission in Great Xia under the identity of a low-ranking Brocade-Clad Guard, carefully concealing his extraordinary strength while seeking a path to uncover the secret of becoming a True Immortal. After planning to rise through the Guard ranks and end his inherited engagement, he received an assignment that brought him into conflict with a colleague.

• Xu Qing left the deployment site in the capital and reviewed his new identity as a third-rate martial artist and Banner Commander in the Northern Garrison Office.
• Xu Qing tested the public’s fear of Brocade-Clad Guards and adjusted his punches to conceal his true strength.
• Xu Qing identified the search for the secret of becoming a True Immortal as his mission and set becoming a Battalion Commander as an initial goal.
• Xu Qing planned to provoke the Zhou Family into ending his inherited marriage contract by damaging his reputation.
• Xu Qing reported to Hundred Commander Yang Sen, received an assignment, and chose four Squad Leaders to accompany him while ordering eight strongmen to stay behind.
• Liu Tang, Yang Sen’s nephew, reacted to Xu Qing’s order with a provocative smile.

Xu Qing investigated the hanging death of Liu Cui'er and exposed her husband Zhang San as the killer through evidence at the scene. As Zhang San launched a sudden, supernatural attack, Xu Qing remained seated and did not move.

• Xu Qing arrived at the residence where Liu Cui'er had been found hanging and announced that Zhang San had killed her and staged the scene.
• Xu Qing pointed out the recent tears in Liu Cui'er's clothes and the fresh scratches on Zhang San's neck, suggesting they had struggled.
• Wang Meng found skin and blood beneath Liu Cui'er's fingernails, supporting Xu Qing's accusation.
• Xu Qing noted that Zhang San had neatly brought his shoulder pole and flatbreads indoors and that the stool was too short for Liu Cui'er to have hanged herself from it.
• As Wang Meng and the constables restrained Zhang San, Zhang San's arms swelled and he lunged at Xu Qing with a punch.

Xu Qing caught a hidden clue at the murder scene, learned that the suspect was a Giant Whale Gang envoy, and strengthened his standing among the Brocade-Clad Guard. After spending the night at the Imperial Brothel, he was caught leaving Xiao Xiang'er's room and exposed to his coworkers.

• Xu Qing had Zhang San arrested, searched the room, and found something hidden on a beam after the panel prompted him to look for a clue.
• Song Yi told Xu Qing that the suspect was likely a Giant Whale Gang envoy, and Xu Qing returned to the Northern Garrison Office with the officers.
• Interrogation revealed that the one-armed suspect was named Chen Lu and served as an envoy of the Giant Whale Gang.
• Xu Qing treated the officers at the Imperial Brothel, then went to Clear Moon Pavilion and agreed to cooperate with Xiao Xiang'er while borrowing her room to sleep.
• Xu Qing woke with Xiao Xiang'er beside him, left ten taels, and hurried out, where he ran into Song Yi and was mocked as the Brocade-Clad Guards gathered around them.

Xu Qing met with Zhou Xun and Zhou Qian to end his engagement with the Zhou Family, offering his own written dissolution and returning the engagement token. He left the terms of announcing the broken engagement to Zhou Xun, while the Zhou Family remained surprised by how easily he accepted it.

• After colleagues learned Xu Qing was engaged to Zhou Xun's family, they agreed not to spread word of his visit to the Imperial Brothel.
• Xu Qing investigated a corrupt Ministry of Revenue official and labeled him a rebel.
• A Zhou Family steward invited Xu Qing into a carriage where Zhou Xun and Zhou Qian were waiting.
• Xu Qing correctly guessed that Zhou Xun had come to cancel the engagement and presented a written dissolution of the marriage contract.
• Zhou Qian tore up Xu Qing's letter and insulted him, while Xu Qing ignored her and offered to return the original contract and engagement token.
• Zhou Xun asked what Xu Qing wanted in exchange, but Xu Qing said he wanted nothing and left the public announcement to the Zhou Family.

Xu Qing ended his engagement with the Zhou Family, then studied an informant’s ledger that suggested Liu Cui’er had fallen in love with Giant Whale Gang Son Whale Huang Shen before betraying him shortly before her murder. He burned the ledger and, the next morning, began settling into his neighborhood when Sister Chun brought him tofu.

• Xu Qing mocked Zhou Xun and Zhou Qian, then watched the Zhou Family carriage leave.
• Xu Qing considered his mission, his limited martial skills, and ways to learn about cultivators before reading the Impermanence Ledger.
• The ledger revealed that informant Liu Cui’er had become involved with Chen Lu, later known as Huang Shen, a Son Whale of the Giant Whale Gang.
• Xu Qing inferred that Liu Cui’er had loved Huang Shen, borne his child, and changed her mind shortly before the pair’s deaths, but he could not determine why.
• Xu Qing burned the ledger and went to sleep.
• The next morning, Sister Chun brought Xu Qing a bowl of tofu, and he welcomed the chance to blend into the neighborhood.

After solving the Giant Whale Gang case, Xu Qing gained a chance to study the Brocade-Clad Guard Secret Vault and used his exceptional memory to record manuals and other books. He returned to the duty hall planning how to improve his apparent strength, while remaining alert to the gang and Yang Sen’s hostility.

• Yang Sen praised Xu Qing for solving the case, urged him to call him Uncle Yang, and promised to report any news about the Giant Whale Gang.
• After Xu Qing left, he overheard Yang Sen admit that he had hoped Liu Tang would replace Xu Jun and resent Xu Qing’s success.
• Niu Ben let Xu Qing exchange his merit reward for a half-hour chance to study the first five floors of the Secret Vault.
• Xu Qing rapidly memorized martial arts manuals and Jianghu miscellany on the fifth floor before the gray-robed guardian called time.
• Xu Qing joined his subordinates in the duty hall and began planning how to improve his apparent strength without attracting suspicion.

Xu Qing chose new martial arts, practiced Clear Wind Saber, and began his Imperial Prison watch while investigating clues about supernatural incidents and the Giant Whale Gang. Left alone with Huang Shen, he caused the prisoner to freeze in shock.

• Xu Qing selected Qi Body Origin Flow, Refining God Nine Segments, Clear Wind Saber, and Ethereal Art, then connected reports of disasters and unrest to possible cultivator intervention.
• Xu Qing practiced Clear Wind Saber in the duty hall, and Song Yi watched with surprise before Xu Qing’s team prepared to guard the Imperial Prison.
• Xu Qing noticed Liu Tang was absent and ordered a strongman to bring him to the prison while the rest of the team went ahead.
• Song Yi explained the Imperial Prison’s prisoners and rules as Xu Qing learned that Great Xia had powerful neighboring nations and examined the captive Huang Shen.
• Xu Qing asked Song Yi to fetch Liu Cui’er’s information file, and Song Yi left Xu Qing alone with Huang Shen, who suddenly froze and stared at him in shock.

Xu Qing questioned Huang Shen about cultivators while secretly confirming that Huang Shen and Liu Cui'er had a child. That night, Xu Qing captured two assassins, learned they had killed the body’s original owner on an earlier visit, and killed the survivor after questioning him.

• Xu Qing tortured Huang Shen and used Inner Force Sound Transmission to ask about cultivators, after revealing that he knew about Huang Shen and Liu Cui'er's child.
• Huang Shen admitted that he knew about cultivators and how to become one, and Xu Qing left to question him again the next day.
• Two assassins entered Xu Qing's courtyard at night, but Xu Qing killed one and captured the other.
• Xu Qing questioned the captured assassin and learned that a tall, broad middle-aged official with thick eyebrows and a mole on his neck had hired them for three hundred taels each.
• The assassin revealed that the pair had previously entered the courtyard and killed its former resident, the original owner of Xu Qing's body.
• Xu Qing killed the assassin, buried both bodies beneath a tree, and returned to bed.

Xu Qing identified Yang Sen as the man behind the assassination attempt and suspected him of plotting to advance Liu Tang, while choosing to wait for a safer chance to retaliate. In the Imperial Palace, Li Zhibai met Zhao Gou after ten years away, ordered him to investigate the capital, and prepared to reunite with her father.

• Xu Qing spotted three cultivators battling over the capital, then decided not to pursue them after a powerful aura drove two away.
• Xu Qing recognized Yang Sen as the man who had hired the assassins and suspected he wanted to remove Xu Qing for Liu Tang’s sake.
• Li Zhibai, the vanished Long Princess, summoned Zhao Gou in Phoenix Perch Courtyard and questioned his claim that the capital was peaceful.
• Zhao Gou pleaded ignorance and boasted that the Brocade-Clad Guard controlled the capital and could change the ruler on Li Zhibai’s command.
• Li Zhibai ordered Zhao Gou to bring her the Brocade-Clad Guard’s personnel records and investigate the people and factions in the capital, then told her servants to invite her father.

Xu Qing tortured Huang Shen as a cover while offering to help rescue his son in exchange for information about cultivators, whom he believed were Great Xia’s true problem. Meanwhile, Li Zhibai noticed Xu Qing’s unusual circumstances, and Xu Qing discovered that Cao Dong planned to betray Huang Shen to the Brocade-Clad Guard, setting up a trade five days later.

• Xu Qing questioned Huang Shen under the guise of whipping him and offered to help his trapped son escape the capital in exchange for detailed information about cultivators.
• Li Zhibai reviewed reports on the Brocade-Clad Guard and Xu Qing, then asked Zhao Gou about the newly appointed Chief Banner before telling him to focus on other matters.
• Xu Qing watched Cao Dong, a Dali Temple official and Giant Whale Gang Protector, and discovered he was secretly meeting with a Brocade-Clad Guard member.
• After overhearing Cao Dong arrange to betray Huang Shen in exchange for leniency, Xu Qing decided to wait five days and see whether Huang Shen would cooperate.

Xu Qing tried to warn Huang Shen that Cao Dong planned to betray him, then arranged to investigate the deal between Cao Dong and Brocade-Clad Guard Centurion Yang Sen. The chapter ended with Yang Sen’s nephew returning to report that the child Cao Dong had promised to trade was missing.

• Xu Qing told Huang Shen that Cao Dong was planning to sell him out, but Huang Shen refused to believe his longtime friend would betray him.
• Xu Qing spent five days cultivating, quickly developing Inner Force while finding the Body Forging Technique useless against his already powerful body.
• Xu Qing arranged for an agent to follow Cao Dong and learned that Cao Dong had met a mysterious man in black at the Green Pine Inn.
• Cao Dong and Yang Sen negotiated a deal in which Yang Sen would protect Cao Dong in exchange for the child Cao Dong had hidden.
• Yang Sen sent his nephew Liu Tang to retrieve the child, but Liu Tang returned and said there was no child at the address, shocking both men.

Xu Qing left Huang Shen’s infant son with a former Brocade-Clad Guard informant couple, then persuaded Huang Shen to share what he knew about cultivators and teach him a cultivation chant. The chapter ended with Xu Qing revealing that Huang Shen’s child was safe and that Yang Sen had only bluffed about using him as leverage.

• Xu Qing entrusted Huang Shen’s son to a former Brocade-Clad Guard informant and gave her a hundred-tael silver note.
• At the Imperial Prison, Xu Qing confronted Huang Shen, who agreed to share information after Yang Sen threatened him with his child.
• Huang Shen explained the cultivation realms, the three major sects, and the rules that supposedly kept cultivators out of mortal affairs.
• Huang Shen recited a basic cultivation chant he had learned from a cultivator, and Xu Qing memorized it.
• Xu Qing revealed that he had already rescued Huang Shen’s son and that Yang Sen’s threat had been a bluff.
• Huang Shen accepted that his son was safe and wished for him to live well.

Xu Qing visited Huang Shen before his execution, then witnessed the Giant Whale Gang’s uprising in the capital a month later. The rebels were crushed after a golden sword from the imperial city killed their leader.

• Xu Qing brought Huang Shen a final meal and wine, and Huang Shen revealed his South Province origins and declared he had no regrets about joining the Giant Whale Gang.
• Huang Shen was executed, but the expected Giant Whale Gang raid never occurred, and Xu Qing returned to his duties.
• A month later, Song Yi told Xu Qing that the Giant Whale Gang had surrounded the Imperial Palace, and Xu Qing killed a hidden attacker before heading to the Northern Garrison Office.
• Xu Qing watched the City Guard Army battle the rebels and saw the Giant Whale Gang leader overwhelm its forces.
• A massive golden sword descended from the imperial city and killed the Giant Whale Gang leader, after which the City Guard Army defeated the remaining rebels.

Xu Qing secretly cooperated with Liao Feixue, a captured Giant Whale Gang protector, before Liao was executed and the gang’s rebellion was declared over. Half a month later, Xu Qing joined Yang Sen’s expedition to arrest a surviving gang member, but the village they reached appeared empty.

• Xu Qing learned that Liu Tang and Yang Sen were plotting against him, while he waited for a chance to act against Yang Sen with justification.
• Xu Qing secretly questioned Liao Feixue during staged torture, and the two agreed to exchange information about Liao’s master, Huang Shen.
• Liao Feixue was executed without revealing his resistance, and Liu Tang reported colleagues who had expressed sympathy for the Giant Whale Gang.
• Yang Sen ordered Xu Qing and three other Chief Banner Officers to pursue the wounded remnant Wind Chasing Blade near Gu Lang Village.
• After an informant reported that Gu Lang Village appeared empty, Yang Sen split the forces into four groups and told Xu Qing to stay close to him.

Xu Qing joined the Brocade-Clad Guards in an assault on Gu Lang Village, then killed Yang Sen and Heavenly Devil Hand Liu Qi in the forest. After Liu Tang attacked him, Xu Qing had his companions kill Liu Tang and persuaded them to support his account of what happened.

• Yang Sen led the Brocade-Clad Guards into Gu Lang Village, where bandits ambushed them and Xu Qing helped drive them back.
• Heavenly Devil Hand Liu Qi appeared and fought Yang Sen, eventually fleeing into the forest as Yang Sen ordered Xu Qing's unit to pursue.
• At a cliff, Xu Qing struck Yang Sen down with a punch, then killed Liu Qi before the others caught up.
• Xu Qing claimed Liu Qi had killed Yang Sen, and when Liu Tang drew his blade against him, Xu Qing severed Liu Tang's arm and ordered the others to kill him.
• Song Yi, Zhou Fei, and Chen Lian killed Liu Tang and agreed to report Xu Qing's version of events, while Xu Qing promised they would share the credit.