Recaps

The Li Family welcomed Old Man Fengshan and revealed that they wanted him to forge a Divine Mansion Jade Bone. After he agreed, the First Elder arranged for Li Xingzong to stay nearby, hoping Old Man Fengshan might take him as a disciple.

• The First Elder welcomed Old Man Fengshan and explained that the Patriarch was in seclusion, while Old Man Fengshan noticed the Li Family’s rare talents, formations, and Spirit Gathering Arrays.
• The First Elder showed Old Man Fengshan the Divine Mansion Jade Bone, which he recognized and confirmed was genuine.
• The First Elder asked Old Man Fengshan to forge the bone, and Old Man Fengshan agreed while warning that the Li Family would need to supply rare materials and that success was not guaranteed.
• The First Elder sent people to obtain the materials and arranged a residence for Old Man Fengshan in Green Maple Valley.
• The First Elder placed Li Xingzong across from Old Man Fengshan, hoping the craftsman would take him as a disciple.

Old Man Fengshan reconsidered his years of neglecting cultivation after Li Xingzong argued that only personal strength mattered. He learned that Li Xinge, the Li Family Patriarch he had just praised, was only eighteen.

• Li Xingzong brought spiritual fruits to Old Man Fengshan, who offered them to him.
• Old Man Fengshan asked Li Xingzong if he wanted to become a Weapon Forger, but Xingzong said he wanted real strength instead.
• Li Xingzong's words made Old Man Fengshan reflect on his stagnant cultivation and limited remaining years, and he bowed to thank him.
• Li Xingzong explained that he wanted strength to serve the family and praised Patriarch Li Xinge for defeating demonic beasts and saving Baihe County.
• Old Man Fengshan asked Li Xingzong how old the Patriarch was, and Xingzong answered that Li Xinge was eighteen.

Li Xingzong agreed to become Old Man Fengshan’s disciple and pursue weapon forging to support the Li Family. Meanwhile, a Liu Family member began an Innate Realm breakthrough, threatening Zhang Xingyi’s bid to become Prefect.

• Old Man Fengshan judged the Li Family Patriarch’s extraordinary strength to indicate talent far beyond eighth grade and urged Li Xingzong to become a weapon forger.
• Li Xingzong sought the elders’ approval, and two days later he formally became the disciple of third-order weapon forger Old Man Fengshan.
• As Old Man Fengshan began preparing to refine the Divine Mansion Jade Bone, he assigned Anian to guide Li Xingzong in cultivation and weapon forging.
• A huge spiritual-energy vortex appeared above the Liu Family territory as a Purple Robe Old Man began breaking through to the Innate Realm.
• The Zhang Family’s First Elder warned Zhang Xingyi about the breakthrough, and Zhang Xingyi panicked that the Liu Family’s rise could endanger his chances of becoming Prefect.

Zhang Xingyi sought the Zhang Family Old Ancestor’s help against the Liu Family, but the Old Ancestor urged him to focus on cultivation and prepare to inherit the family’s burden. At the Liu Family, the purple-robed old man broke through to the Innate Realm and regained his youth.

• The Zhang Family Old Ancestor rejected Zhang Xingyi’s suggestion to stop the Liu Family Second Ancestor from advancing, warning that it could provoke a deadly feud.
• The Zhang Family Old Ancestor explained that the Liu Family Great Ancestor was nearing the end of his lifespan and criticized Zhang Xingyi for neglecting cultivation in pursuit of power.
• The Zhang Family Old Ancestor told Zhang Xingyi to pass family responsibilities to his promising sons and devote himself to cultivation.
• An old man protected the Liu Family from the spiritual-energy storm while several observers withdrew their divine senses.
• The purple-robed old man emerged from his stone chamber and endured the storm’s assault until he broke through to the Innate Realm and returned to his middle-aged prime.

After the Liu Family Second Ancestor broke through to the Innate Realm, the Liu Family regained its strength and planned to kill Li Xinge. The Great Ancestor insisted that he and the newly ascended Second Ancestor go together, while the Li Family prepared an escape route and awaited Old Man Fengshan’s Divine Mansion Jade Bone.

• The Liu Family Great Ancestor congratulated the Second Ancestor on reaching the Innate Realm, and Liu Jizu celebrated the family’s renewed protection.
• Liu Jizu explained that he had been competing with Zhang Xingyi for Prefect and blamed Li Xinge for the Liu Family’s recent humiliation.
• Liu Jizu proposed killing Li Xinge and his entire family, and the Second Ancestor supported him.
• The Great Ancestor warned that Li Xinge was too dangerous to underestimate and decided to join the Second Ancestor in killing him after the Second Ancestor consolidated his realm.
• News of the Second Ancestor’s breakthrough spread, boosting the Liu Family’s prestige as the Li Family prepared an escape route and waited for Old Man Fengshan to finish refining the Divine Mansion Jade Bone.

The Liu Family’s two innate ancestors set out to destroy the Baihe Li Clan and kill Li Xinge, but the Zhang Family Old Ancestor intervened to delay them. The Liu Family Second Ancestor reached Green Maple Valley and unleashed a massive attack on the Li Family’s ancestral grounds.

• The Liu Family Second Ancestor emerged from seclusion with his footing in the innate realm firmly established, and he and the Liu Family Great Ancestor headed toward Baihe County.
• Zhang Xingyi told the Zhang Family Old Ancestor that the Liu ancestors were likely targeting Li Xinge, whose conflict with the Liu Family had begun over the Prefect position and a lost attendant.
• The Zhang Family Old Ancestor realized Li Xinge had offended the Liu Family on the Zhang Family’s behalf and went to confront the Liu ancestors.
• The Zhang Family Old Ancestor blocked the Liu ancestors’ path, fought the Liu Family Great Ancestor, and let the Liu Family Second Ancestor continue toward Baihe County.
• The Liu Family Second Ancestor arrived over Green Maple Valley and sent a colossal spiritual handprint crashing toward the Li Family’s residences as the cultivators inside looked up in alarm.

The Li Family’s Clan Protection Array fell to Liu Family Second Ancestor, but a black-robed stranger suddenly appeared and subdued him before he could destroy Green Maple Valley. The stranger left with Liu Family Second Ancestor, while Liu Family Great Ancestor grew alarmed and flew to investigate.

• The Li Family’s Clan Protection Array blocked Liu Family Second Ancestor’s first strike before collapsing, and Li Xinge prepared to intervene as another attack threatened Green Maple Valley.
• A five-colored pillar of light appeared, bringing a wounded black-robed figure into the sky above the Li Family.
• The black-robed figure bound Liu Family Second Ancestor, learned about the unfamiliar world by extracting his memories, and took him away.
• Li Xuantong, the Second Elder, and Li Xinge realized the immediate threat to the Li Family had ended and wondered at the stranger’s overwhelming strength.
• Liu Family Great Ancestor grew worried when Liu Family Second Ancestor failed to return and flew out, while Zhang Family Old Ancestor followed him and suspected Liu Family Second Ancestor had been defeated.

After Liu Yuheng disappeared following his attack on the Baihe Li Clan, the Li Family let the rumors of its hidden strength spread. First Elder broke through to the Qi and Blood Minor Accomplishment Realm, and Old Man Fengshan finished forging the Divine Mansion Jade Bone before leaving with Li Xingzong to train him as a weapon forger.

• Liu Family Great Ancestor saw that Green Maple Valley remained intact and left rather than risk losing another Innate Cultivator.
• Zhang Family Old Ancestor told Zhang Xingyi that Liu Family Second Ancestor had gone missing and warned him to be cautious of the Li Family.
• News of Liu Yuheng's disappearance spread through Ascending Dragon Prefecture, and the Li Family chose not to correct the rumors that it possessed a powerful Innate combatant.
• First Elder entered seclusion and broke through to the Qi and Blood Minor Accomplishment Realm half a month later.
• Old Man Fengshan presented the Li Family with the Divine Mansion Jade Bone, explaining that it could kill cultivators below the Divine Mansion Realm three times before shattering.
• First Elder gave Old Man Fengshan three Demonic Cores and entrusted Li Xingzong to him for training, then the Li Family saw them off as Li Xingzong wept while Green Maple Valley faded from view.

The Li Family grew stronger while Ascending Dragon Prefecture welcomed a new Prefect. The Supervisor delivered the Prefect’s invitation to the Li Family, then reported back that the clan might be won over with substantial benefits.

• The Li Family’s Third, Fifth, and Sixth Elders broke through to the Qi and Blood Realm, and Cheng Zhao and Zhang He joined the clan.
• A new Prefect arrived from the provincial seat after Fu Yu’s promotion left the post vacant and the Zhang and Liu Families fought over it.
• The Supervisor visited Green Maple Valley and invited the Li Family to the Prefect’s seal-taking ceremony on the fifteenth of the fifth month.
• The First Elder accepted the invitation and welcomed the Supervisor more warmly after learning the new Prefect was close to Fu Yu.
• The Supervisor reported that Li Xinge was in seclusion attempting a breakthrough, and advised the Prefect that substantial benefits could bring the Li Family to his side.

The Prefect prepared to use the Li Family’s expansion to draw it into an alliance, while the Li Family’s Grand Elder led a delegation to the Prefect’s seal-receiving ceremony. As the Li party arrived, onlookers credited its hidden patriarch with killing a Liu Family Innate True Person with one slap, though the Li Family knew nothing of the rumors.

• The Prefect recognized that the Li Family’s growing power could bring it into conflict with the Zhang or Liu Family and saw an opportunity to secure its support.
• The Grand Elder, accompanied by Li Yanzhao, Cheng Zhao, and more than thirty cultivators, left Green Maple Valley for the prefectural city.
• The Li delegation reached the city and headed to the Prefect’s official residence for the seal-receiving ceremony.
• Wang Tongming arrived on behalf of the Wang Family, received a respectful welcome, and presented a third-tier Nine Treasures Spirit Pill.
• After the Zhang, Liu, Ge, and Deng Families arrived, the Li party’s banners appeared and the crowd discussed its reputation.
• A man claimed he had seen the Li Family patriarch kill the Liu Family’s Innate True Person with one slap, and the crowd speculated about the patriarch’s strength.

Li Xuantong and Li Yanzhao attended the Prefect’s appointment banquet, where a man provoked the Li Family on Liu Jizu’s behalf. Li Xuantong struck the challenger with Tiger Roar Collapsing Cloud Palm, leaving him smashed against the hall wall.

• Li Xuantong and Li Yanzhao arrived at the government residence with a Profound Tier beginner martial skill as a gift for the Prefect.
• Li Xuantong and Li Yanzhao took their seats at the front of the banquet hall, drawing attention from the other guests.
• Liu Jizu signaled a blue-robed middle-aged man to challenge Li Xuantong and insult the Li Family.
• Li Xuantong identified himself as the Baihe Li Clan’s First Elder and realized Liu Jizu had arranged the provocation.
• Li Xuantong struck the middle-aged man with Tiger Roar Collapsing Cloud Palm, sending him crashing into the banquet hall wall.

At Prefect An’s seal-receiving ceremony, the Li Family First Elder crippled the Ren Family head, provoking a confrontation with Liu Jizu. Prefect An arrived with a powerful stranger whose support for the First Elder left Liu Jizu reeling under the pressure of an Innate True Person.

• The Li Family First Elder shattered the Ren Family head’s dantian after the man provoked the Li Family.
• Liu Jizu accused the First Elder of disrespecting Prefect An and drew his sword, but Li Xuantong refused to back down.
• Prefect An entered with a bronze-skinned middle-aged man and a boy, and the stranger’s position beside the Prefect startled the guests.
• Liu Jizu blamed Li Xuantong for the altercation, while the First Elder said the Prefectural Assistant had provoked the Li Family first.
• The middle-aged man vouched for the First Elder and unleashed a terrifying pressure on Liu Jizu when he questioned his judgment.
• Liu Jizu realized the middle-aged man was an Innate True Person.

Old Man Fengshan intervened when Liu Jizu clashed with Li Xuantong, then reunited Li Xingzong with the Li Family elder at Prefect An’s appointment ceremony. An Chengyu received the prefectural seal and began his tenure in Ascending Dragon Prefecture as the banquet opened.

• Prefect An persuaded Old Man Fengshan to restrain his pressure, and Fengshan spared Liu Jizu before greeting Li Xuantong.
• Li Xingzong greeted Li Xuantong and explained that Fengshan had supported his cultivation and weapon-forging training.
• Old Man Fengshan and Li Xuantong exchanged thanks, while Liu Jizu grew more uneasy as the guests learned of their connection.
• Zhang Huaiming arrived on the State Governor’s orders and presented An Chengyu with the prefectural seal.
• An Chengyu accepted congratulations, asked the prominent figures to support his governance, and opened the banquet.

After the banquet, Li Xuantong met privately with Prefect An Chengyu, who proposed an alliance against the Zhang and Liu families. Li Xuantong left without accepting, deciding that the family head would have to judge the offer.

• Zhang Xingyi and Dou Changgeng praised Li Xuantong and asked about the Li Family head, while Li Xuantong said the head was in seclusion and denied having an Innate Realm ancestor.
• Faction leaders approached Li Xuantong warmly, and Liu Jizu watched in anger as his wine cup crumbled in his hand.
• An Chengyu summoned Li Xuantong and revealed that Sima Fu had praised the Li Family head and sent his regards.
• An Chengyu asked the Li Family to help him reclaim control of Ascending Dragon Prefecture's military and government, offering it authority over three counties and a high-ranking prefectural post.
• Li Xuantong said the family head would have to decide, then left thinking that the Li Family was also one of the nation's parasites.

The Li Family’s elders discussed Prefect An’s offer and the family’s expansion, then agreed to take Stone County by turning the Qi and Wei Families against Magistrate Jiang Mao. Li Yanzhao volunteered to persuade the two families.

• The Grand Elder reported Prefect An’s proposal to work with the Li Family against the Zhang and Liu Families, and the elders opposed it.
• Li Xuanqi reported that East County’s magistrate, garrison, and medicinal herb market were under the Li Family’s control.
• Li Yanjing described Stone County’s Wei and Qi Families, Magistrate Jiang Mao, and the Liu Family’s influence there.
• The Grand Elder proposed that the Li Family pressure the Qi and Wei Families to strip Jiang Mao of his authority instead of attacking Stone County directly.
• The elders unanimously approved the plan, and Li Yanzhao agreed to go to Stone County to persuade the Qi and Wei Families.

Li Yanzhao visited the Qi Family to persuade it to oppose County Magistrate Jiang with the Li Family’s backing. After Qi Zhengyuan refused to risk angering the Prefectural Assistant, Li Yanzhao began to leave, but the Qi Family’s ancestor called him back and accepted.

• Li Yanzhao traveled to Stone County and presented his calling card to the Qi Family guards, who reported his arrival to Qi Zhengyuan and the ancestor.
• Qi Zhengyuan welcomed Li Yanzhao into the Qi Family grounds, where they spoke privately over tea.
• Li Yanzhao asked Qi Zhengyuan about County Magistrate Jiang, and Qi Zhengyuan described Jiang as arrogant and tyrannical.
• Li Yanzhao offered to hold back the Prefectural Assistant if the Qi Family helped oppose Jiang, but Qi Zhengyuan declined to avoid risking conflict.
• Li Yanzhao gave Qi Zhengyuan a choice between the Liu Family and the Li Family and started to leave after Qi Zhengyuan hesitated.
• The Qi Family ancestor called out and said the Qi Family accepted the matter.

Li Yanzhao secured the Qi Family’s support through a marriage alliance, but the Wei Family refused to join the Li Family. The Li elders ordered the Azure Wolf Cavalry to destroy the Wei Clan, and the cavalry set out for Stone County.

• Old Woman Zhou agreed to have the Qi Family support the Li Family in exchange for a marriage alliance, then told Qi Zhengyuan to inform Stone County’s great clans that they could act without restraint.
• The Wei Family Head firmly rejected Li Yanzhao’s proposal, so Li Yanzhao returned to Green Maple Valley and reported his mission’s outcome.
• After learning of the Wei Family’s refusal, the First Elder ordered Li Yanxiao to wipe out the Wei Clan.
• Li Yanxiao gathered the Azure Wolf Cavalry, ordered them to leave no one alive, and led them toward Stone County.

Li Yanxiao led the Azure Wolf Cavalry in destroying the Wei Family after it refused to help the Li Family target County Magistrate Jiang. The massacre left Qi Zhengyuan grateful that Madam Qi had aligned the Qi Family with the Baihe Li Clan, while the chapter ended as spiritual energy surged in Green Maple Valley.

• Wei Lingfeng dismissed Wei Lingyue’s fears, but Li Yanxiao and the Azure Wolf King crashed into their study and attacked them.
• Wei Lingyue escaped while Wei Lingfeng tried to hold off the Azure Wolf King, which killed and devoured him.
• The Azure Wolf Cavalry slaughtered more than two thousand members of the Wei Clan, and Li Yanxiao ordered the treasury searched.
• Qi Zhengyuan told Madam Qi that the Wei Family had been destroyed, and she identified the Li Family as responsible for its refusal to obey.
• Qi Zhengyuan reported that the Qi Family had gained control over Stone County’s prominent families, and Madam Qi reminded him that they served the Baihe Li Clan.
• Spiritual energy began flowing faster in Green Maple Valley.

Li Xinge emerged from a year of seclusion at the Half-step Innate Realm and learned how the Li Family had strengthened its position during his absence. He planned to protect the Qi Family from the Liu Family and summoned Zheng Cangfeng to help, while considering the future of the Baihe County Great Family Alliance.

• Li Xinge absorbed the spiritual energy in his stone chamber, reached the Half-step Innate Realm, and emerged to welcome the Li Family Elders.
• The First Elder told Li Xinge about Carefree obtaining a Divine Mansion Jade Bone, the Li Family's plans for Stone County, and its conflicts with Prefectural Assistant Liu and the Wei Family.
• Li Xinge decided the Li Family needed to protect the Qi Family from the Liu Family to secure Stone County and preserve the Li Family's reputation.
• Li Xinge summoned Zheng Cangfeng to help deal with possible Liu Family attacks on the Qi Family.
• Zheng Cangfeng addressed Li Xinge as Alliance Leader, prompting Li Xinge to consider expanding the Baihe County Great Family Alliance.

Li Xinge revealed his Half-step Innate Realm breakthrough and sent Zheng Cangfeng to protect the Qi Family in Stone County. After Li Wuyou gave him an ancient ring, Li Xinge suspected it contained a powerful old man and hurried after her.

• Li Xinge told Zheng Cangfeng he had reached the Half-step Innate Realm, stunning the elder.
• Li Xinge asked Zheng Cangfeng to protect the Qi Family in Stone County and offered the Zheng Family thirty percent of the Li Family's interests there.
• Li Wuyou visited Li Xinge, reacted coldly when he joked about her marrying, and handed him an ancient ring before leaving.
• Li Xinge examined the ring, suspected it contained an old man who served as Li Wuyou's cheat, and hurried after her.

Li Xinge returned Li Wuyou’s ring after learning it was a vast Void Ring, then discovered her extraordinary cultivation. Two days later, Stone County’s great families defied County Magistrate Jiang Mao, prompting him to warn the Liu Family, whose elders gathered to discuss the threat.

• Li Xinge learned that Li Wuyou had taken the ring from the Divine Mansion Jade Bone and returned it to her before accepting it as a Void Ring.
• Li Wuyou told Li Xinge that the ring held a huge space and a mountain, and he noticed she had reached Body Cultivation Grand Perfection at ten years old.
• Li Wuyou withheld the Blood Demon True Technique because it seemed dangerous for anyone else to cultivate and she could not reproduce it.
• Jiang Mao learned that the Qi Family had united Stone County’s great families to block his orders, and his adviser warned him that someone might be backing them.
• Jiang Mao sent a letter describing the families’ defiance and his suspicions to the Prefectural Assistant.
• Liu Jizu summoned the Liu Family’s seven core elders, and they read Jiang Mao’s letter in a tense council meeting.

Liu Jizu decided to target the Qi Family to keep Stone County under Liu Family influence, while Li Xinge received a new system mission to make his Lineage Ascending Dragon Prefecture’s foremost within three years. The Baihe Li Clan sent Zheng Cangfeng and Azure Wolf Cavalry to protect the Qi Family as the Liu Family prepared to strike.

• Liu Jizu rejected a direct attack on the Li Family and chose to eliminate the Qi Family, which he saw as the leader of Stone County’s rebellious noble families.
• Liu Jizu ordered the Sixth Elder and Seventh Elder to lead elite men to wipe out the Qi Family.
• Li Xinge received a system mission to make his bound Lineage the number one Lineage in Ascending Dragon Prefecture within three years, with progress at 17%.
• Zheng Cangfeng told Qi Zhengyuan and Madam Qi that the Baihe Li Clan had sent him to protect their family.
• Qi Zhengyuan and Madam Qi saw that Zheng Cangfeng’s squad included twenty Azure Wolf Cavalry, most of whom had reached the Body Realm.

The Liu Family attacked the Qi Family, but Zheng Cangfeng intervened and revealed overwhelming strength. After he defeated the Liu Family's Sixth and Seventh Elders, they recognized him as a Qi and Blood Great Perfection expert and demanded to know who he was.

• The Liu Family's Sixth Elder led the attack on the Qi Family's ancestral grounds, and Qi Zhengyuan asked Zheng Cangfeng for help.
• Zheng Cangfeng promised to protect the Qi Family, while the Liu Family's fighters overwhelmed its defenders.
• Zheng Cangfeng killed a Liu Family elder with a streak of light as the man prepared to strike down Qi Family cultivators.
• The Liu Family's Seventh Elder charged Zheng Cangfeng, who crushed the elder's attack with one palm strike and sent both him and the Sixth Elder flying into a cliff.
• The injured Sixth and Seventh Elders recognized Zheng Cangfeng as a Qi and Blood Great Perfection expert and asked who he was.

Zheng Cangfeng drove off the Liu Family elders who had attacked the Qi Family, revealing that he served the Baihe Li Clan. Liu Jizu learned that a Qi and Blood Great Perfection expert was protecting the Qi Family and postponed the Liu Family’s plans for Stone County.

• Zheng Cangfeng spared the Liu Family’s Sixth and Seventh Elders, and they retreated with their forces from the Qi Family Territory.
• The Sixth Elder told Liu Jizu that Zheng Cangfeng was a Qi and Blood Great Perfection expert under the Baihe Li Clan.
• Liu Jizu struggled to believe that such a powerful cultivator would serve the Li Family, whose patriarch Li Xinge was only at Qi and Blood Great Accomplishment.
• Liu Jizu decided the Liu Family could not destroy the Qi Family without risking its ancestor or its accumulated resources, so he ordered Jiang Mao to hold Stone County for now.
• Liu Jizu sent the injured elders to the medicine hall and promised to avenge them.

Li Xinge’s council decided to strengthen the Li Family’s hold over Dong and Shi Counties by expanding childbirth rewards and relocating collateral branches there. A Main Branch envoy arrived at Little Min Mountain, leaving its patriarch impressed by the Main Branch’s growing strength.

• Li Xinge proposed increasing childbirth and marriage rewards and admitting outstanding collateral-branch youths into the Main Branch, and the elders approved.
• The First Elder proposed moving collateral branches to Dong and Shi Counties, and Li Xinge approved the plan, assigning the elders to devise support policies.
• The Li Family leadership announced the new policies to its collateral branches after drafting them in a day.
• Main Branch envoys arrived at Little Min Mountain, where Li Yansong introduced himself as a steward of the Internal Affairs Hall.
• Li Nanshan greeted Li Yansong and realized that even a Main Branch steward was far beyond what he could fathom.