Chapter Summaries

After earning substantial merit for the Sky Patrol Guard, Zhang Chu traveled with Hong Yue to headquarters to claim his rewards and choose two supreme arts. He selected a powerful area-effect palm technique and, with the pavilion guardian’s help, found a rare spiritual art called Tiger Brake.

• Hong Yue told Zhang Chu that his fellow disciples had been rescued and were safe at the Lingnan Circuit Sky Patrol Guard offices.
• Hong Yue brought Zhang Chu and the others to the Southern Regions Sky Patrol Guard headquarters, where Zhang Chu was allowed to choose two supreme arts.
• Zhang Chu searched the Secret Technique Pavilion and chose Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand for its powerful group attacks.
• Zhang Chu searched for a spiritual-type art, and the pavilion guardian recognized him and led him to an obscure manual.
• The guardian showed Zhang Chu the Tiger Brake manual and warned that it was difficult to cultivate and had serious drawbacks.

Zhang Chu acquired the supreme arts Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand and Tiger Brake, then used Merit Points to strengthen the first form of Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand. He left the Secret Technique Pavilion able to unleash the completed palm technique.

• The old man explained that Tiger Brake inflicted equal backlash on its user and described its creator’s defeat by True Man Heavenly Sage.
• Zhang Chu exchanged for complete manuals of Tiger Brake and Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand, then achieved entry into both after reading them.
• The old man marveled at Zhang Chu’s comprehension after discovering he had understood Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand at a glance.
• Zhang Chu chose to strengthen Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand because he lacked the Merit Points required for Tiger Brake.
• Zhang Chu spent 100 Merit Points to strengthen the palm technique’s first form and demonstrated it by releasing a massive hand-shaped phantom of Gang Qi.

Zhang Chu perfected Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand and tested it in a fight with the Secret Technique Pavilion’s old guardian, Senior Sun. Zhang Chu defeated him with one palm, leaving the Southern Regions Sky Patrol Guard headquarters in ruins.

• Zhang Chu spent 20,000 Merit Points to perfect Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand and tested its power on a distant hill.
• The Secret Technique Pavilion’s old guardian arrived, marveled at Zhang Chu’s talent, and challenged him to exchange moves while suppressing his cultivation.
• Zhang Chu and Senior Sun clashed as Hong Yue, Wen Xing, Si Chen, and the Town Generals arrived to watch.
• Zhang Chu unleashed the final move, Samsara, and sent Senior Sun crashing through five buildings.
• Senior Sun emerged from the ruins and praised Zhang Chu for defeating him in one move, the first such opponent in three hundred years.

After Zhang Chu demonstrated his mastery of the Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand, Senior Sun and the others agreed he was qualified to represent the Sky Patrol Guard at the Southern Border's Three Worlds Well assembly. Hong Yue explained that the assembly concerned the cursed Three Worlds Well and a contest to find a husband for the Southern Border Saintess, whose Carefree Heart could overcome its curse.

• Senior Sun praised Zhang Chu's talent, agreed to join the Sky Patrol Guard's banquet, and Wen Xing and Si Chen endorsed Zhang Chu for the assembly.
• At the banquet, Hong Yue explained that the Three Worlds Well could open the Secret Treasure of Emotion, one of the Nine Apertures needed to enter the Daoist Scripture Realm.
• Hong Yue recounted how the Gu God cursed the Three Worlds Well with the Heartbreak Infatuation Gu, creating a deadlock in which lovers who opened it would die.
• Hong Yue revealed that a Southern Border Saintess born with the Carefree Heart could resist the curse and that the Three Tribes had invited suitors to seek a husband for her and recover the Insect Scripture.

Zhang Chu learned that Southern Border might seize the Insect Scripture and agreed to travel there to disrupt the gathering. In Wanshan City, the Northern Land Saber King recruited Ruan Tongchen to kill Zhang Chu, offering the whereabouts of an ancient Divine Sword in exchange.

• Wen Xing explained that Southern Border could use the Insect Scripture to grow powerful and threaten the Southern Regions, and Hong Yue confirmed that the Demonic Cult and other Jianghu forces would also gather there.
• Zhang Chu accepted the mission to go to Southern Border, and the pavilion's old guardian shared taboos he knew about the region.
• In Wanshan City, the Northern Land Saber King sought Ruan Tongchen's help in killing Zhang Chu to avenge his adopted son.
• Ruan Tongchen demanded more than the Northern Blade Sect's wealth and territory, so the Northern Land Saber King offered to reveal the location of an ancient Divine Sword.
• Ruan Tongchen ordered the Northern Land Saber King to watch for Zhang Chu while he stayed in Wanshan City for one day.

Zhang Chu arrived in Wanshan City amid rumors about the Southern Border Saintess's husband selection and was confronted by the Northern Land Saber King and Snowy City's Young City Lord, Ruan Tongchen. He killed both men instantly, earning merit points as the Jianghu watched.

• Jianghu people in Wanshan City discussed the Southern Border Saintess's husband selection and the powerful young contenders traveling there.
• Zhang Chu arrived in Wanshan City and drew the attention of the Jianghu people who recognized him.
• The Northern Land Saber King challenged Zhang Chu over the death of his adopted son, Yuan Haotian, then called on Ruan Tongchen to help him.
• Ruan Tongchen, the Heaven Ranking's fifteenth-ranked Cold Light Sword, joined the confrontation as onlookers and visiting sect experts assessed the two sides.
• Zhang Chu struck both the Northern Land Saber King and Ruan Tongchen with one palm, killing them and gaining merit points.

Zhang Chu killed Ruan Tongchen and the Northern Land Saber King with ease, then confronted and slew Broken Saber Old Man, a Red-rank assassin sent after him. The chapter ended with Zhang Chu turning his gaze toward the stunned Jianghu crowd.

• Zhang Chu killed Ruan Tongchen and the Northern Land Saber King with single strikes, leaving the crowd terrified by his strength.
• Zhang Chu sensed a concealed killing intent in a nearby tower and called its hiding owner out.
• Broken Saber Old Man, a Red-rank Killer from Spring Wind Fine Rain Tower, appeared and revealed that someone had paid a high price for Zhang Chu's life.
• Broken Saber Old Man attacked with his broken saber and sinister Saber Momentum, but Zhang Chu's Samsara palm tore through the darkness and killed him.
• Zhang Chu received 150,000 Merit Points and turned to face everyone present.

After killing several powerful opponents with a single palm, Zhang Chu revealed a wanted poster and confronted the criminals hiding in Wanshan City. As Ge Xuan and the wanted men joined forces and accused him of defying the Jianghu, Zhang Chu declared he feared neither them nor the entire Martial World.

• Zhang Chu unfolded a wanted poster and announced that he would capture the criminals gathered in Wanshan City.
• Zhang Chu named Blood Hand Han Bao, Poison Scorpion Zhou Yuanli, and River-Overturning Flood Dragon Pang Hai, prompting them to step out and challenge him.
• Han Bao, Zhou Yuanli, and Pang Hai warned Zhang Chu that pursuing them meant making an enemy of the Jianghu.
• Ge Xuan, Great Elder of Wuji Temple, arrived and joined the criminals in condemning Zhang Chu for bringing the Sky Patrol Guard into Jianghu affairs.
• Zhang Chu laughed and declared that he would not fear even the entire Martial World if it stood with criminals who preyed on ordinary people.

Zhang Chu unleashed the Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand, killing four Jade Liquid Grandmasters who attacked him together. As their followers fled, he strengthened Tiger Brake and prepared to strike them with its completed spiritual sound technique.

• Ge Xuan, Han Bao, Zhou Yuanli, and another Grandmaster attacked Zhang Chu together after his words provoked them.
• Zhang Chu used the Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand to kill all four Grandmasters in one strike.
• An experienced Jianghu veteran recognized Zhang Chu's technique, while the Wuji Temple, Han Bao's, and Azure Flood Dragon Society forces fled.
• Zhang Chu strengthened Tiger Brake with 120,000 Merit Points, bringing the spiritual sound technique to completion.
• Zhang Chu turned toward the fleeing accomplices and uttered “Cha!”

Zhang Chu killed more than thirty pursuers with a single syllable, looted their bodies, and discovered a cryptic letter that he suspected concerned the Three Worlds Well. He left Wanshan City for the Southern Border as locals fled, while a richly guarded youth and a Bone Law Realm expert watched him depart.

• Zhang Chu used Tiger Brake to kill more than thirty pursuers with a single syllable, earning over sixty thousand Merit Points.
• Zhang Chu searched the corpses, collected more than a thousand taels, and found a secret letter containing a cryptic verse about three lives, three worlds, and Fate.
• Zhang Chu put the letter away, ate at a tavern, and left Wanshan City to reach the Southern Border before the Three Worlds Well emerged.
• After Zhang Chu departed, frightened residents and people with shady businesses began fleeing Wanshan City.
• A handsome youth watched Zhang Chu leave alongside a squad of True Gang Realm guards and a strange middle-aged man who was an Upper Three Realms Bone Law Realm expert.

A disguised County Princess decided to recruit Zhang Chu and planned to wait for him in the Southern Border, where the Imperial Court could not protect him. Zhang Chu traveled to the Hundred Li Azalea Mountain Range and fused his completed martial arts into the West Pole Myriad Annihilation Divine Palm.

• The County Princess discussed Zhang Chu’s talent and enemies with Third Master, then resolved to recruit him in the Southern Border.
• The County Princess and her guards left the pavilion, expecting Zhang Chu to face ambushes after leaving Wanshan City.
• Zhang Chu reached the Hundred Li Azalea Mountain Range to strengthen himself before the Three Worlds Well emerged.
• Zhang Chu spent 200,000 Merit Points to fuse the Sixteen Paths Cloud Concealing Hand and Tiger Brake.
• The fusion produced the West Pole Myriad Annihilation Divine Palm, filling Zhang Chu with a destructive power associated with the White Tiger, wind, and clouds.

Zhang Chu perfected the West Pole Myriad Annihilation Divine Palm, greatly increasing his strength and sensing that it lacked a Divine Dragon phenomenon. With too few Merit Points to strengthen Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations, he resolved to hunt evil people and wicked cultivators, just as a nearby battle approached.

• Zhang Chu tested the fused palm art and found its Geng Metal Gang Qi could slice through stone with ease.
• Zhang Chu spent Merit Points to perfect the palm art’s Myriad Blades and Heaven Covering forms, demonstrating Heaven Covering’s devastating range.
• Zhang Chu sensed that the palm art was missing a Divine Dragon and recognized a resonance with Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations.
• Zhang Chu saw that he had only 84,100 Merit Points and decided to seek more by killing those who deserved it.
• A clash of weapons and furious shouts sounded nearby and rapidly approached Zhang Chu.

Zhang Chu rescued the wounded Lei Potian from the Heavenly Evil Cult and learned that the cult was attacking Bodhi Institute to seize its Fire Bodhi. He rushed toward Qingfeng Gorge to intervene, leaving Lei Potian with medicine and instructions to recover in the Southern Regions.

• Zhang Chu killed the black-clad pursuers who had cornered Lei Potian, earning Merit Points and saving his life.
• Lei Potian told Zhang Chu that the Heavenly Evil Cult had attacked Bodhi Institute near Qingfeng Gorge and that Chan Master Fanneng had died helping him escape.
• Lei Potian explained that the cult wanted Bodhi Institute's Fire Bodhi, a fruit that repelled Gu insects, and Zhang Chu suspected they were preparing for the Three Worlds Well.
• Zhang Chu gave Lei Potian healing medicine and told him to recover in the Southern Regions.
• Zhang Chu vanished toward Bodhi Institute, leaving Lei Potian astonished by his power.

The Heavenly Evil Cult leader tortured Zen Master Fajing and the monks of Bodhi Institute, demanding to know where the stolen Fire Bodhi was. As the cult slaughtered monks and villagers to break Fajing’s resolve, an unknown voice laughed from the sky and declared that the weak should kneel and die.

• The Heavenly Evil Cult leader accused Fajing of hiding the Fire Bodhi, and Fajing insisted it had been stolen.
• The leader killed the young monk Jue Shi, but the surviving monks stood firm and chanted the Sutra of Rebirth.
• The leader brought captured villagers into the temple and killed an old man, a woman, her child, and another monk when Fajing refused to reveal the Fire Bodhi’s whereabouts.
• The leader ordered his followers to kill everyone, while Fajing stared into emptiness and the villagers pleaded for their lives.
• An unidentified voice laughed from the distant sky and agreed that the weak should kneel before being killed.

Zhang Chu arrived at Bodhi Institute and massacred the Heavenly Evil Cult members who had slaughtered monks and commoners. He rejected their threats and offers to withdraw, then killed one of the three remaining Grandmasters and challenged the last two to run.

• Zhang Chu arrived at Bodhi Institute, saw the corpses, and vowed to avenge the dead child.
• Zhang Chu killed the Heavenly Evil Cult’s Dark Strength Realm disciples and destroyed its eight-swordsman True Gang Realm formation.
• The Heavenly Evil Cult leader offered to let Zhang Chu leave in peace, but Zhang Chu refused and condemned the cult for murdering commoners.
• A Heavenly Evil Cult member dismissed the victims as lowly ants, and Zhang Chu declared that the cultists would be hunted.
• Zhang Chu smashed one of the three remaining Grandmasters with a slap and asked the last two who agreed to run and who objected.

Zhang Chu wiped out the Heavenly Evil Cult attackers at Bodhi Institute and saved the surviving monks and commoners. He found Zen Master Fajing alive but left in a living-corpse-like state, then gave the commoners money and urged them to flee before the cult could retaliate.

• Zhang Chu killed the remaining Heavenly Evil Cult Grandmaster and leader, annihilating all the cult members who had come to Bodhi Institute.
• The surviving monks and commoners rejoiced and thanked Zhang Chu for saving them.
• Zhang Chu examined Zen Master Fajing and found that his Gang Qi and meridians were in disarray and his senses sealed, leaving him alive but unresponsive.
• Zhang Chu gave the surviving commoners money and warned them to leave Qingfeng Gorge and settle far away from the Heavenly Evil Cult.
• The commoners departed with their families and belongings as the sun set.

After the Bodhi Institute’s surviving monks agreed to flee south, they told Zhang Chu how to identify the thief who stole the Fire Bodhi. Zhang Chu stayed among the ruins to prepare for a breakthrough, while the County Princess learned he had slaughtered a Heavenly Evil Cult squad and ordered reinforcements sent to Qingfeng Gorge.

• Zhang Chu urged the Bodhi Institute’s surviving monks to leave for the Southern Regions, and they accepted his offer of protection.
• An elderly monk told Zhang Chu that the Fire Bodhi had been stolen and that its thief would carry the scent of Bodhi Sandalwood Incense for a hundred days.
• The monks cremated their fallen companions and civilians, then departed the ruined temple while Zhang Chu stayed behind with 932,100 Merit Points to prepare for a breakthrough.
• At a manor west of Qingfeng Gorge, the County Princess received news that Zhang Chu had slaughtered a Heavenly Evil Cult squad.
• The County Princess rejected her Third Master’s advice to abandon Zhang Chu and ordered men to send reinforcements to Qingfeng Gorge.

Zhang Chu strengthened Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations, awakening the Archaic True Spirit Manifestation and gaining extraordinary movement speed. He fused it with the Chaos phenomenon and broke through to the Bone Law Realm.

• Zhang Chu spent 500,000 Merit Points to strengthen Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations, awakening Azure Dragon and White Tiger phantoms.
• Zhang Chu realized that a fused divine art and a comparable Divine Ability could give birth to a phenomenon.
• Zhang Chu tested his new movement ability, silently appearing a hundred zhang away and leaving nine afterimages.
• Zhang Chu spent 400,000 Merit Points to fuse the Archaic True Spirit Manifestation with the Chaos phenomenon.
• Zhang Chu's Spiritual Power spread across the Bodhi Institute and reached a radius of one li as he entered the Bone Law Realm.

Zhang Chu entered the Bone Law Realm and discovered that his attribute could erase anything, then used it to kill Demon Buddha, a powerful assassin sent by the Heavenly Evil Cult. The County Princess and her group arrived afterward, unaware that Zhang Chu had already defeated him.

• Zhang Chu entered the Bone Law Realm after merging phenomena but could not sense his attribute until a casual wave erased everything within thirty feet.
• Demon Buddha arrived and threatened to send Zhang Chu into Samsara for killing Heavenly Evil Cult disciples.
• Zhang Chu challenged Demon Buddha, whose instincts warned him of mortal danger, and Demon Buddha fled in panic.
• The County Princess and Third Master recognized Demon Buddha as a top Heavenly Evil Cult assassin and feared Zhang Chu was doomed.
• Zhang Chu erased Demon Buddha, took his cloak and blade, and admired his new outfit as the County Princess and her group arrived.

After Zhang Chu killed Demon Buddha, the County Princess and her companions arrived at Bodhi Institute and mistook his display for a threat. Once Yichen proved they served King Zhao, she explained that they had come to help him and discuss cooperation.

• Yichen and Fu Guanshan found Zhang Chu wearing Demon Buddha’s cloak and holding his precept blade, and concluded that Demon Buddha had been killed.
• Fu Guanshan and Third Master feared Zhang Chu’s unknown strength as he sat silently in the ruined temple.
• Zhang Chu drew the precept blade toward the newcomers, and Yichen hurriedly insisted they were not from the Heavenly Evil Cult.
• Yichen showed Zhang Chu Marshal Hong Yue’s authentic letter, and Zhang Chu lowered his blade and apologized for his old habit.
• Yichen identified herself and said she served King Zhao, then offered help against the Heavenly Evil Cult and proposed cooperation.