Chapter Summaries

Yang Ling explained how he increased Red Gold Mine output and exposed Fang Qingyang's role in the miners' deaths, then recounted his fight against Giant Spirit Sect attackers. Sect Master Liang Yue rewarded his service by offering him a Peiyuan Pill, despite objections from the other elders.

• Yang Ling told Liang Yue that resolving the trouble caused by Fang Qingyang had raised the Red Gold Mine's output, and revealed that Fang had lured Red Gold Mantises into the tunnels, killing ten miners.
• Liang Yue confronted He Qiubai about Fang Qingyang, his distant relative, and warned him to be more careful about whom he brought into the sect.
• Liang Yue praised Yang Ling for defeating more than ten Giant Spirit Sect bandits and said he would have made a worthy disciple, but could not recruit him because Yang Ling held an Official Position.
• Liang Yue offered Yang Ling his remaining Peiyuan Pill as a reward, while He Qiubai and the other elders urged him not to give away the precious pill.

Yang Ling took a Peiyuan Pill in seclusion and advanced the Vajra Mingwang Technique to its Second Layer. After gaining permanent attribute and health boosts along with Qi and Blood, he considered how to raise his Mental Power enough to reach the technique’s higher layers.

• Hong Ying brought Yang Ling to a quiet room and told him to take the Peiyuan Pill.
• Yang Ling examined the pill and calculated how long it would take to advance the Vajra Mingwang Technique, resolving to find a Mental Power cultivation method.
• Yang Ling swallowed the pill and circulated the technique while Little White guarded the door during the three-day Stiff Head effect.
• After three days, the Vajra Mingwang Technique reached its Second Layer, granting Yang Ling 10 Free Attribute Points, 200 Health Points, and Qi and Blood.
• Yang Ling put all 10 Free Attribute Points into Agility, raising it to 19, and compared his attributes with Yang Zhiwen’s.

Yang Ling asked Xu Qing about martial ranks and sects, learning that the Mountain River Sect’s cultivation method limited its prospects while higher-ranked sects were anchored by powerful experts. He was left wondering whether his own cultivation method was incomplete as he learned the titles for the highest ranks.

• Yang Ling told Xu Qing that he had reached a rank, and Xu Qing welcomed his strength as protection against Yang Zhiwen interfering with the Red Gold Mine.
• Xu Qing accepted Yang Ling’s insistence on calling him Senior Brother and explained that Sect Master Liang was a Seventh-rank Expert.
• Xu Qing said Second-rate Sects such as Ku Jue Temple were anchored by West-Rank Grandmasters, while First-rate Sects had First Rank Land Immortals.
• Yang Ling wondered why the four-layer Vajra Mingwang Technique seemed to offer a greater ceiling than the five-layer Mountain River Heart Method, and considered whether his method was incomplete.
• Xu Qing explained that Third Rank was called Grandmaster and Second Rank was honored as Human Immortal.

Yang Ling explained the Divine Domain’s dangers and economy to Wu Xiaochen, including why his three thousand liang spent joining the Mountain River Sect was valuable. The two discussed Wu Xiaochen’s strong position among Players, and Yang Ling learned that chopping Vajra Bamboo earned him Experience Points.

• Wu Xiaochen told Yang Ling that he had entered the Mountain River Sect with help from his wealthy godfather, who paid about three thousand liang.
• Yang Ling explained that silver had substantial purchasing power in the Divine Domain, and Wu Xiaochen realized he might have traded it for millions of yuan in the real world.
• Yang Ling warned Wu Xiaochen that Players might be unable to return and could truly die in the Divine Domain, making silver more useful than cash.
• Yang Ling told Wu Xiaochen that the Mountain River Heart Method was a valuable Third-rate Inner Cultivation and that only a small fraction of Players had learned Martial Skills or Internal Skills.
• Wu Xiaochen learned that his daily Vajra Bamboo chopping practice gave him Experience Points, and Yang Ling concluded that physical labor could earn Players experience.

Yang Ling took charge of the Red Gold Mine’s stewards, dismissed the eleven who had obstructed its output, and appointed Wu Xiaochen and four Players as replacements. He then introduced Wu Xiaochen to the gathered Players as a top-ranked Divine Realm player and Mountain River Sect disciple.

• Yang Ling welcomed Old Zhao and the refugees from Qingshan City, then gave Old Zhao silver to share with his men.
• Yang Ling said Xu Qing had put him in charge of appointing stewards and ordered the eleven current stewards to leave.
• Yang Ling appointed Wu Xiaochen, Chen Xu, Chen Guoqing, Li Tianye, and Wang Haodong as stewards, each with a monthly salary of eight taels of silver.
• Yang Ling had Chen Guoqing and the others house the new Players in Miner's Village, then gathered veteran Players at his courtyard.
• Yang Ling introduced Wu Xiaochen as the ninth-ranked player on the Divine Realm Rank List and an official disciple of Mountain River Sect, surprising the Players.

Yang Ling learned from Chen Guoqing and Emergency Department inspectors that millions of Players had entered the Divine Domain and that nobody had found a way back. When the inspectors asked to take over the Red Gold Mine, Yang Ling refused and warned them to focus on surviving and growing stronger.

• Wu Xiaochen mined Red Gold as nearly two thousand people worked in Mine Tunnel No. 1, and Yang Ling estimated the mine could yield at least 3,500 jin each month.
• Chen Guoqing told Yang Ling that at least two million Players had entered the Divine Domain and brought his coworkers, including Senior Inspector Luo Yu, to meet him.
• Luo Yu said the country could not shut down the game's website, no Player had returned, and dying in the Divine Domain meant death.
• A female Emergency Department officer asked Yang Ling to hand over management of the Red Gold Mine, but he argued that only someone strong enough could keep control of it.
• Yang Ling told the inspectors to mine, earn money, and Level Up, then asked what would happen if nobody could return and everyone gradually entered the Divine Domain.

Yang Ling investigated reports of Iron Thorn Spiders in Mine Tunnel No. 2 and discovered a Dark River beneath it, raising the possibility that it connected to the Overlord Ghost Spider’s route. The chapter ended with him finding Iron Thorn Spiders floating in the underground river.

• Yang Ling focused on leveling up, mined Red Gold Ore, and put his new Free Attribute Point into Agility.
• Chen Xu brought Yang Ling an Iron Thorn Spider corpse and reported that the spiders’ poisonous iron thorns could paralyze their victims.
• Yang Ling entered Mine Tunnel No. 2 and killed thousands of Iron Thorn Spiders while using the Vajra Mingwang Technique, Lingxu Step, and Thief-Catching Saber Technique.
• Yang Ling noticed his Ninth-Rank Official Saber had been badly damaged and decided he needed a better weapon.
• Yang Ling searched deeper into the tunnel and found a hidden entrance to a churning Dark River, where he saw Iron Thorn Spiders floating on the water.

Yang Ling obtained Fire Oil from Lin Yan to prepare for killing the Overlord Ghost Spider beneath the Red Gold Mine. He gathered the mine’s five managers and outlined a plan to lure the monster out and burn it, but admitted he could not match it in a direct fight.

• Lin Yan told Yang Ling he had been assigned to lead Patrol Department Three and explained the division’s duties.
• Yang Ling asked Lin Yan for Fire Oil to deal with the Mine Worms, and Lin Yan gave him the city’s stored supply while promising to account for it.
• Yang Ling returned to the Red Gold Mine with more than a hundred pounds of Fire Oil and summoned Wu Xiaochen, Chen Xu, Chen Guoqing, Li Tianye, and Wang Haodong.
• Yang Ling revealed his plan to lure the Overlord Ghost Spider from the Dark River, ignite the Fire Oil, and seal both ends of the passage.
• Wu Xiaochen asked how strong the Ghost Spider was, and Yang Ling said he felt pressured by it and did not think he could defeat it head-on.

Yang Ling’s plan to trap the Overlord Ghost Spider with Fire Oil failed when the spider sealed the exit, leaving him trapped underground and fighting for his life. The spider’s speed suddenly surpassed his, and it slammed him into a stone wall.

• Yang Ling escaped through the water and signaled Wu Xiaochen, Chen Xu, and Li Tianye to block the first passage behind the Overlord Ghost Spider.
• Wu Xiaochen, Chen Xu, and Li Tianye sealed the passage with nets and falling rocks while Chen Guoqing and Wang Haodong prepared to block the other exit with Fire Oil.
• The Overlord Ghost Spider webbed the second exit and triggered its collapse, trapping Yang Ling inside before he could escape.
• Yang Ling dodged the spider’s steel-sharp webs and attacks, but his Official Saber broke against its shell and his Red Gold Crane Beak Hoe could not pierce it.
• The Overlord Ghost Spider suddenly accelerated past Yang Ling’s speed and struck him into a stone wall.

Yang Ling killed the level 101 Overlord Ghost Spider, gained three levels, and received an Invisibility Talisman from the Silver Treasure Chest it dropped. He reunited with the team and explained that the spider had collapsed the exit before they could use the Fire Oil.

• Yang Ling endured the spider's attack until its death granted him and the others experience, restoring his strength and raising him to level 27.
• Yang Ling spent his free attribute points on Agility and reclaimed first place on the Divine Realm Rank List.
• The Overlord Ghost Spider's corpse vanished and left a Silver Treasure Chest, which gave Yang Ling an Invisibility Talisman that lasted five minutes when activated with Qi and Blood.
• Yang Ling connected the tunnels and rejoined Wu Xiaochen and the others, who were confused about the missing spider and unused Fire Oil.
• Yang Ling told the team that the spider had collapsed the exit early, preventing Chen Guoqing from igniting the Fire Oil, and confirmed that he had killed it.

Yang Ling returned to Qingshan City after Lin Yan was promoted and was asked to take over as Constable. He accepted after learning he could keep mining while overseeing the city, and Lin Yan arranged for him to receive a new uniform.

• Old Zhao told Yang Ling that Lin Yan had been promoted and was calling him back to take over as Constable.
• Yang Ling left Wu Xiaochen in charge of the Red Gold Mine and went to Qingshan City with Chen Xu and the others.
• Lin Yan explained that he would leave for Changhe Prefecture the next day and wanted Yang Ling to succeed him as Constable.
• Yang Ling worried that the duties would keep him from mining, but Lin Yan assured him he could spend his free time at the Red Gold Mine.
• Lin Yan, Old Zhao, and the other constables urged Yang Ling to accept, and Yang Ling agreed to take the position.
• Lin Yan had Old Zhao change Yang Ling into a new uniform.

Lin Yan introduced Yang Ling to Qingshan City’s influential merchants and gang leaders before leaving him in charge of the local Iron Clothes Department Yamen. After learning that Qi Dalong had plotted against him with a Rong Tribe spy, Yang Ling met privately with Huang Xihai, who offered him a gift.

• Lin Yan introduced Yang Ling as the new head of the Iron Clothes Department Yamen in Qingshan City and presented him to local business leaders.
• Lin Yan introduced Qi Dalong of the Snake Gang, and Yang Ling’s Insight Technique revealed that Qi had plotted against him with a Rong Tribe spy.
• Yang Ling asked Huang Xihai about Spirit Nurturing Pills and learned that martial cultivation medicines were tightly controlled.
• Lin Yan explained that the Snake Gang and White Horse Pharmacy belonged to larger factions, while Yang Ling wondered about Qi’s background.
• Huang Xihai invited Yang Ling to a private tea meeting and presented him with a wooden box as a token of respect.

Yang Ling bought nine defective Spirit Nurturing Pills from Huang Xihai and used them to greatly increase his Lingxu Step Proficiency. After four companions became Martial Artists, Yang Ling assigned Chen Guoqing to oversee the Iron Clothes Department in Qingshan City and received an invitation to dine with Qi Dalong.

• Huang Xihai offered Yang Ling defective Spirit Nurturing Pills for five hundred taels each, and Yang Ling tested one to find it increased his Lingxu Step Proficiency by 291 points.
• Yang Ling exchanged his money for nine more pills from White Horse Pharmacy and later consumed all nine at the Iron Clothes Department Prefectural Office, raising his Lingxu Step Proficiency to 4,132.
• Chen Guoqing and three others told Yang Ling they had become Martial Artists.
• Yang Ling asked Chen Guoqing to stay in Qingshan City and oversee the Iron Clothes Department, and Chen Guoqing agreed.
• A Constable delivered an invitation from Qi Dalong asking Yang Ling to dinner at his residence that evening.

Yang Ling attended a banquet hosted by Snake Gang leader Qi Dalong, where he learned Qi was investigating the missing Rong Tribe spy Wu Que. Tie Xinghu of the Giant Spirit Sect appeared and confronted Yang Ling over Wu Man’s death, while Blade Hands surrounded the hall.

• Qi Dalong welcomed Yang Ling to the Snake Gang residence and asked Zhang Wei to accompany him at the banquet.
• Yang Ling refused Zhang Wei’s toast because he was on official duty, and Qi Dalong sent Zhang Wei to brew tea.
• Qi Dalong asked Yang Ling about Wu Que, and Yang Ling revealed that Wu Que had been confirmed as a Rong Tribe spy.
• Tie Xinghu emerged from behind the hall, identified himself as the one interested in Wu Que, and judged Yang Ling’s strength to be near Eighth Rank.
• Zhang Wei realized the hall had been surrounded by Qi Dalong’s Blade Hands and feared he was doomed.

Yang Ling killed Tie Xinghu and the Snake Gang’s Blade Hands at the banquet, then confronted Gang Leader Qi Dalong. Qi mistook Yang Ling for an Upper Eighth Rank agent from the Capital and offered silver to save his life, while Zhang Wei searched Tie Xinghu’s corpse and found twelve Spirit Nurturing Pills.

• Yang Ling leveled up, put his free Attribute Point into Agility, and killed Tie Xinghu, leaving Qi Dalong and the Blade Hands stunned.
• Qi Dalong ordered his men to kill Yang Ling and fled, but Yang Ling appeared before him after killing the Blade Hands.
• Yang Ling explained that his Ninth-Rank Official Saber had broken in the Red Gold Mine and invited Qi Dalong to sit and talk.
• Qi Dalong concluded Yang Ling was an Upper Eighth Rank Expert sent from the Capital, while Zhang Wei realized Qi had misunderstood Yang Ling’s origins.
• Qi Dalong offered five thousand Liang Silver to settle matters, but Yang Ling ordered Zhang Wei to search Tie Xinghu’s body.
• Zhang Wei found a Leather Pouch containing silver and a Copper Tube filled with twelve Spirit Nurturing Pills.

Yang Ling killed Qi Dalong, exposed him as a Rong Tribe spy, and enlisted Snake Gang members to help investigate the gang. After Lin Yan arrived with over a hundred Constables, Yang Ling revealed he was an Eighth Rank Martial Artist, and Lin Yan said the resulting merit was too great to claim for himself.

• Yang Ling offered Zhang Wei a chance to become a Constable in exchange for serving as his informant inside the Snake Gang.
• Zhang Wei summoned the Snake Gang’s two deputy leaders and four Hall Masters, and Yang Ling told them Qi Dalong had been a Rong Tribe spy.
• Chen Long revealed that Qi Dalong had secretly transported unrecorded Fire Crystal Rock and offered to guide the investigation to his private residence.
• Lin Yan arrived with over a hundred Constables, while Old Zhao and the others subdued the Snake Gang’s ordinary members.
• Yang Ling told Lin Yan he was an Eighth Rank Martial Artist, and Lin Yan insisted that Yang Ling’s great merit could not be claimed by him alone.

Yang Ling used Spirit Nurturing Pills to perfect Lingxu Step and advance his Thief-Catching Saber Technique, then discovered the Dragon Bone Saber greatly boosted his attributes. Meanwhile, Huang Xihai learned Yang Ling had raided the Snake Gang and suspected Qi Dalong had been a Rong Tribe spy.

• Yang Ling swallowed ten Spirit Nurturing Pills and raised Lingxu Step to Perfected Skill.
• Yang Ling used another ten pills to raise his Thief-Catching Saber Technique’s Proficiency toward Perfected Skill.
• Yang Ling examined the Dragon Bone Saber, found its powerful attribute boosts raised his Agility above a hundred, and began cultivating the Vajra Mingwang Technique.
• A servant told Huang Xihai that Qi Dalong had been killed and Snake Gang leaders were being questioned at the Iron Clothes Department Yamen over suspected Rong Tribe ties.
• Huang Xihai reported the news to a middle-aged man, who recalled suspecting Qi Dalong after his father-in-law and wife had died.

Yang Ling reflected on his rapid rise and told Lin Yan he would be content to retire in Qingshan City, but Shi Xin arrived with news of the Snake Gang case and explained how advancement in the Iron Clothes Department worked. Shi Xin praised Yang Ling’s strength and began addressing why he had concealed it.

• Yang Ling considered returning to the Red Gold Mine to level up and focused on reaching level 30.
• Lin Yan told Yang Ling he was leaving for the Prefecture, and Yang Ling said he would be happy to retire in Qingshan City.
• Shi Xin arrived with dozens of men, ate breakfast with Yang Ling and Lin Yan, and reported that the Snake Gang case had shocked the Iron Clothes Department and been reported to the Capital.
• Lin Yan explained that the case could secure his position as head of Division Two and might eventually let him replace the head of Division One.
• Shi Xin explained that the Public Security Division controlled most of the Iron Clothes Department’s military strength and offered higher ranks than the Patrol Division.
• Shi Xin praised Yang Ling for defeating Tie Xinghu and began explaining that Yang Ling no longer needed to hide his strength now that he was a Ninth Rank constable.

Yang Ling arrived in Changhe Prefecture with Shi Xin and went to the Iron Clothes Department to turn over the captured bandits and seek a martial rank. As he watched a registration test, a powerful old examiner defeated a giant who failed to qualify as a Ninth Rank.

• Yang Ling left Qingshan City with Shi Xin and Lin Yan, while Chen Xu and the others returned to the Red Gold Mine and Chen Guoqing stayed behind to work with Old Zhao.
• Yang Ling and Shi Xin reached Changhe Prefecture and turned over Tie Xinghu and Qi Dalong's bodies and seized valuables to the Iron Clothes Department.
• Shi Xin took Yang Ling to the registration yard, where many Martial Artists had gathered hoping to earn a rank and make a name for themselves.
• Yang Ling watched a scrawny old examiner knock down a giant Martial Artist, who failed to withstand ten moves and was denied Ninth Rank status.

Yang Ling demonstrated his speed and skill during an Iron Clothes Department rank assessment, defeating the Upper Eighth Rank Sun Biao with a surprise attack. Sun Biao registered Yang Ling as Upper Eighth Rank, while suggesting he would need to beat him head-on to reach Lower Seventh Rank.

• Sun Biao revealed that Tie Xinghu had been a Lower Eighth Rank Martial Artist and assessed Yang Ling as at least Upper Eighth Rank for killing him.
• Sun Biao activated his Iron Clothes Art and attacked Yang Ling with his official saber and Tiger Catching Saber Technique.
• Yang Ling used his superior speed to get behind Sun Biao and place his saber at Sun Biao's neck.
• Sun Biao accepted the result, praised Yang Ling's movement technique, and said a head-on victory over him would demonstrate Lower Seventh Rank ability.
• Sun Biao told his clerks to bring paper and ink, then registered Yang Ling as Upper Eighth Rank.