Chapter Summaries

Yang Ling reunited with his former online dating partner Zhang Yan and her boyfriend, Li Jun, at the Red Gold Mine, then continued his preparations in Changhe Prefecture. He bought a powerful new hoe and spent heavily on Spirit Nurturing Pills.

• Zhang Yan excitedly recognized Yang Ling at the mine and asked him to arrange easier work for her and Li Jun, but Yang Ling told them mining would help them level up and left to handle other matters.
• After Yang Ling rode away, Zhang Yan urged Li Jun to be more polite so they could seek his help transferring classes, and Li Jun reluctantly agreed.
• Yang Ling visited the Blacksmith Shop and bought a Hundred Refined Red Gold Crane Beak Hoe that added 20 Strength and had a half-hour Berserk State skill.
• Yang Ling bought Spirit Nurturing Pills at the Chu Family Medicine Store, where Chu Huatian ordered the shop to gather its stock from across the Prefecture.

Wen You brought Yang Ling and Shizi Gang members to Dragon Subduing Gang Headquarters to confront He Xiang and rescue Wen You's Fifth Brother. He Xiang challenged Wen You's gang to submit, and Yang Ling was left to face the hired fighter Liu Wu.

• On the way to Dragon Subduing Gang Headquarters, Wen You explained Mine Gang's influence and Liang Yue's standing within it to Yang Ling.
• He Xiang welcomed Wen You at the headquarters and had Wen You's beaten Fifth Brother brought out.
• He Xiang demanded that Shizi Gang submit to Dragon Subduing Gang, while Wen You refused.
• He Xiang introduced Liu Wu, a hired Ninth-rank expert, who chose Yang Ling as his first opponent.
• Wen You led Shizi Gang back and left Liu Wu to Yang Ling.

Yang Ling helped Wen You’s Shizi Gang take control of the Dragon Subduing Gang’s territory, then learned that the Iron Clothes Department required anyone entering the Water Qilin Cave to surrender any scales shed by the Water Qilin. The chapter ended with Shi Xin explaining that the scales could be made into armor powerful enough to withstand even a West-Rank Grandmaster.

• Yang Ling recognized that He Xiang, Liu Wu, and others were connected to the Rong Tribe’s spy network, then declared himself Grand Elder of the Shizi Gang and ordered the Dragon Subduing Gang to disband.
• He Xiang offered Yang Ling ten Spirit Nurturing Pills and one more each month to join his gang, but Yang Ling left with Wen You and the Shizi Gang members.
• After Yang Ling left, He Xiang dismissed him as an ordinary constable and said he would wait for his father to return before deciding what to do.
• Yang Ling told Shi Xin about Wen You’s visit and the five Peiyuan Pills, and Shi Xin suspected Wen You was connected to the Medicine Gang and hoped to buy herbs from the Water Qilin Cave.
• Shi Xin told Yang Ling that Water Qilin scales had to be handed over to Zhao State because they could be made into armor even a West-Rank Grandmaster could not break.

Yang Ling went to the Anti-Theft Division Third Branch to see Wen Kongxuan, then joined Wen Xiaoba and the other Iron Clothes Constables after learning Wen Kongxuan was trapped by bandits in the West Suburbs. They found Wen Kongxuan surrounded by fire and learned the bandits had set an ambush with Hand Crossbows.

• Yang Ling arrived at the Anti-Theft Division Third Branch looking for Wen Kongxuan, but learned he had gone to the West Suburbs to hunt bandits.
• A wounded Iron Clothes Constable reported that the bandits had used Fire Oil to trap Wen Kongxuan, so Wen Xiaoba and dozens of constables rushed to the West Suburbs with Yang Ling.
• Wen Kongxuan and his subordinates searched for an escape from the spreading flames while the bandit leader taunted him and revealed the attack had been planned to lure in reinforcements.
• Wen Kongxuan recognized that the bandits were targeting him and ordered Wen Xiaoba and the others to retreat and alert the Public Security Division.
• The bandit leader and his men revealed more than a dozen Hand Crossbows and prepared to shoot Wen Xiaoba and the arriving constables.

Yang Ling rescued Wen Kongxuan from bandits, then accepted the Medicine Gang’s request to give them first pick of herbs he found in Water Qilin Cave in exchange for the Peiyuan Pills Wen Kongxuan had given him. The bandits had not revealed who sent them, and Yang Ling learned that Peiyuan Pills were scarce and became less effective as cultivation advanced.

• Yang Ling questioned the captured bandit leader and found no evidence that the bandits belonged to the Giant Spirit Sect.
• Wen Kongxuan thanked Yang Ling for saving him and invited him to dinner at Wen Manor.
• Wen Kongxuan told Yang Ling that the captured bandits had not revealed who sent them, then explained the Medicine Gang wanted first pick of herbs Yang Ling found in Water Qilin Cave.
• Yang Ling agreed to the Medicine Gang’s request because he had accepted its five Peiyuan Pills, and he considered how to grow stronger without attracting Water Qilin’s attention.
• Wen Kongxuan explained that Peiyuan Pills were in short supply and that cultivators needed more of them for diminishing gains as they advanced.

Yang Ling discovered that Cui Tao had secretly transported Fire Oil, suggesting the attack on Wen Kongxuan might be part of a power struggle. After returning to his lodgings, Yang Ling used Spirit Nurturing Pills to improve his Twelve-Style Vajra Leg, reaching a new milestone in its proficiency.

• Cui Tao met Wen Kongxuan and Yang Ling, then asked about the bandits who had attacked Wen Kongxuan.
• Yang Ling detected the smell of Fire Oil on Cui Tao and used Insight Technique to learn that Cui Tao had secretly delivered a batch to his sworn brother, Zeng Quan.
• Yang Ling realized the bandits were likely involved in a power struggle rather than being Rong Tribe spies, but kept his discovery to himself.
• Yang Ling returned to his lodgings, where Lin Yan explained that Cui Tao could temporarily succeed Wen Kongxuan if anything happened to him.
• Yang Ling swallowed Spirit Nurturing Pills to raise his Twelve-Style Vajra Leg proficiency, and a message appeared after he had taken ten.

Yang Ling met Dai Huaijin of the Medicine Gang, who tested his footwork before giving him ten Peiyuan Pills as an investment and promising to seek him a place at Water Qilin Cave. After Dai mentioned Cui Tao meeting Mad Saber Liu Wu, news arrived that Dai had been found dead nearby.

• Yang Ling met Dai Huaijin, a Seventh-rank Expert affiliated with the Valley of the Dead and Medicine Gang, at Wen Manor.
• Dai Huaijin attacked Yang Ling with two needles to test his footwork, and Yang Ling dodged them.
• Dai Huaijin gave Yang Ling ten Peiyuan Pills as an investment and said he would try to secure him a place at Water Qilin Cave.
• Dai Huaijin mentioned seeing Cui Tao having tea with Mad Saber Liu Wu, whom Wen Kongxuan identified as Cui Tao's childhood friend and a former follower of He Dongfeng.
• Wen Xiaoba reported that Dai Huaijin had been found dead at the end of the street, and Yang Ling and Wen Kongxuan hurried to investigate.

Yang Ling recognized He Dongfeng as a powerful Mine Gang elder affiliated with the Giant Spirit Sect and grew suspicious that he might be behind Dai Huaijin’s murder. After reporting the killing to Shi Xin, Yang Ling connected He Dongfeng and Cui Tao to the Rong Tribe spies’ influence over the Anti-Theft Division.

• Yang Ling saw He Dongfeng speaking with Shi Xin and discovered from his Attribute Panel that He Dongfeng was an exceptionally powerful martial artist affiliated with the Mine Gang and Giant Spirit Sect.
• Shi Xin introduced Yang Ling to He Dongfeng and praised Yang Ling’s strength, making Yang Ling worry that He Dongfeng could attack them and might have killed Dai Huaijin.
• Yang Ling told Shi Xin that Dai Huaijin had been murdered after visiting Wen Kongxuan, and Shi Xin sent Lü Zhan to notify Yun Ruo and Sun Biao before taking Yang Ling to the crime scene.
• Shi Xin explained that He Dongfeng had returned to Changhe Prefecture as a Ninth-rank Martial Artist and was now a registered Eighth Rank Expert favored by the Mine Gang Leader.
• Yang Ling concluded that Liu Wu, He Dongfeng, and other Rong Tribe spies had gained indirect control of the Anti-Theft Division Third Branch, with Cui Tao potentially helping them by seeking Wen Kongxuan’s position.

After Dai Huaijin’s murder, Yang Ling realized that the killer might be targeting Sun Biao’s position and could still be nearby. Zhang Tie challenged Sun Biao to solve the case, while Yang Ling began to suspect constables in both the Public Security Division and the Patrol Division.

• Yun Ruo asked Yang Ling to look for clues, but he said he had found none while sensing He Dongfeng secretly watching him.
• Sun Biao ordered Dai Huaijin’s body collected and investigators sent to question locals, agreeing that the killer might still be at the scene.
• Lin Yan arrived with Zhang Tie and constables from the Patrol Division, and Shi Xin warned Yang Ling that Zhang Tie often targeted the Iron Clothes Department.
• Zhang Tie criticized Sun Biao’s handling of Dai Huaijin’s murder and threatened his position as Master of the Public Security Division First Branch.
• Yang Ling reasoned that the murder was meant to damage Sun Biao’s standing and concluded that constables under both Sun Biao and Yun Ruo could be suspects.
• Sun Biao said the case would take time, and Zhang Tie pressed him to solve it within three days.

Yang Ling told Yun Ruo why he suspected Cui Tao and Liu Wu were connected to the Rong Tribe spies and argued that they should capture the Seventh-rank Expert behind Dai Huaijin’s murder. He identified that expert as He Dongfeng, leaving Yun Ruo to weigh the risks of moving against a powerful Mine Gang elder.

• Yang Ling told Yun Ruo about his fight with Liu Wu, Cui Tao’s suspicious visit to Wen Kongxuan, and Dai Huaijin seeing Cui Tao and Liu Wu together.
• Yang Ling reasoned that Cui Tao and Liu Wu might be Rong Tribe spies preparing to attack Wen Kongxuan and said the Seventh-rank Expert who killed Dai Huaijin might strike soon.
• Yun Ruo understood that Yang Ling wanted to arrest the Seventh-rank Expert rather than start with Cui Tao and Liu Wu.
• Yang Ling revealed that he could sense Yun Ruo’s rank and urged her to help capture the killer, since she was the Public Security Division’s only suitable Seventh-rank Expert.
• Yang Ling named He Dongfeng as the killer and said he was a powerful elder of the Mine Gang whom Minister Shi mistakenly believed to be only Eighth Rank.

Yang Ling demonstrated his strength and movement skills to Yun Ruo, who agreed he could help capture He Dongfeng and lent him a powerful hand crossbow. That night, they overheard He Dongfeng and Cui Tao discussing plans to deal with Yang Ling and Wen Kongxuan before the room went dark.

• Yang Ling increased his attributes with his techniques and weapons, and Yun Ruo judged him strong enough to qualify as Lower Seventh Rank.
• Yun Ruo lent Yang Ling a metal hand crossbow and proposed that they capture He Dongfeng alive that night.
• Yang Ling and Yun Ruo slipped into He Manor and overheard He Dongfeng and Cui Tao discussing their plans and promised positions.
• Cui Tao left after checking the surroundings, and Yang Ling and Yun Ruo waited until the lights in He Dongfeng's room went out.

Yang Ling helped Yun Ruo capture He Dongfeng, the Giant Spirit Sect Master, after sensing his identity and disrupting his fight with a crossbow. He Dongfeng revealed that his son He Xiang had already fled Changhe Prefecture, while Yun Ruo and the Iron Clothes Department prepared to deal with the captured sect leader and the Rong Clan’s network.

• Yang Ling arrived during Yun Ruo’s fight with He Dongfeng and killed two Eighth Rank Experts who rushed to attack her.
• Yang Ling repeatedly fired at He Dongfeng, preventing him from escaping Yun Ruo and eventually shooting him in the kneecap.
• Yun Ruo subdued He Dongfeng and ordered Yang Ling to search the manor, but He Xiang was nowhere to be found.
• He Dongfeng admitted that He Xiang had left Changhe Prefecture and accused Yang Ling of having a dog’s nose for discovering his identity.
• The Iron Clothes Department and Anti-Theft Division officers arrived at He Manor, where Yun Ruo explained how Yang Ling’s instincts had helped capture He Dongfeng.
• Yun Ruo said the capture would cut off the Rong Clan’s planted line in Changhe Prefecture.

Sun Biao launched a sweep of He Dongfeng’s network after Yang Ling and Yun Ruo exposed the Rong Tribe spy. Cui Tao and the captured bandits confessed to their roles in the conspiracy, while the Patrol Division Masters arrived and recognized Yang Ling and Yun Ruo’s achievement.

• Sun Biao ordered the Anti-Theft and Public Security Divisions to seize He Dongfeng’s businesses and arrest everyone connected to him.
• Sun Biao interrogated He Dongfeng and cut his tendons, prompting Cui Tao to offer a confession.
• Cui Tao blamed Liu Wu for drawing him into the plot and admitted that he helped arrange the West Suburbs ambush against Wen Kongxuan.
• The captured bandits corroborated Cui Tao’s account when they were brought before the officials.
• Zhang Tie, Lin Yan, and Huo Dong arrived, and Lin Yan and Huo Dong praised Yang Ling and Yun Ruo and agreed to submit a formal commendation.

Yang Ling went to Mountain River Sect to arrest He Qiubai after He Dongfeng identified him as a Rong Tribe spy. Liang Yue allowed the arrest, while He Qiubai protested that Yang Ling was framing him.

• Yun Ruo told Yang Ling to arrest He Qiubai and advised him to bring more people, but Yang Ling decided to visit Liang Yue alone.
• Yang Ling met Liang Yue at Mountain River Sect and asked him to gather the Second Generation Disciples.
• Yang Ling announced that He Dongfeng was the master of the Rong Tribe's Giant Spirit Sect and had provided a roster of spies and Zhao State traitors.
• Yang Ling named He Qiubai as the spy He Dongfeng had identified and ordered him to come along.
• He Qiubai accused Yang Ling of using a false charge to target him, but Liang Yue let Yang Ling take him into custody.

Yang Ling trained and mined in the Dark River while building Experience Points for his Vajra Mingwang Technique. After reaching Level 34 and exhausting his Peiyuan Pills, he advanced the technique to Perfected Skill and received the Indestructible Vajra Body.

• Yang Ling checked the Divine Realm Rank List, noted he had reached Level 33, and resolved to keep leveling while training his technique.
• Yang Ling combined Berserk State with Furious Ten Consecutive Strikes and mined Red Gold, breaking his ordinary hoe before continuing with the Hundred Refined Red Gold Crane Beak Hoe.
• Yang Ling alternated mining and martial arts practice, taking Peiyuan Pills to increase his Vajra Mingwang Technique Experience Points.
• Yang Ling reached Level 34, assigned his Attribute Point to Agility, and paused his leveling efforts to focus on perfecting his technique.
• Yang Ling took his tenth Peiyuan Pill, then advanced Vajra Mingwang Technique to Perfected Skill and gained the Indestructible Vajra Body.

Yang Ling tested the defense of his Indestructible Vajra Body and gained three levels after the case involving He Dongfeng was closed, reaching level 37. Meanwhile, monks from Warrior Monk Hall arrived at his residence in Miner's Village and demanded to see him, but Chen Xu said Yang Ling was not there.

• Yang Ling activated Indestructible Vajra Body and let Little White strike his arm, confirming that it greatly increased his defense while consuming qi and blood.
• Yang Ling shot his palm with a hand crossbow and found that the bolt only caused a minor wound and reduced his Health Points by five.
• Yang Ling received enough experience from the closed He Dongfeng case to gain three levels and reach level 37.
• Yang Ling checked the Divine Realm Rank List and saw that he remained in first place, seven levels ahead of Lin Caiyi.
• A group of monks arrived outside Yang Ling's residence, and their leader demanded that Chen Xu let him see Yang Ling.
• Chen Xu refused to let the monks enter, saying that Yang Ling was not in the courtyard.

Warrior Monk Jue Ming confronted Yang Ling at the Red Gold Mine, demanding Hui Wu after learning that Hui Wu had gone missing. Yang Ling denied knowing what happened and ordered Jue Ming to accompany him to the Iron Clothes Department; Jue Ming began powering up to fight.

• Jue Ming demanded that Yang Ling hand over Hui Wu and threatened the Red Gold Mine after one of its managers was injured.
• Yang Ling asserted his authority as an Eighth Rank Iron Clothes and demanded compensation from Jue Ming.
• A Ku Jue Temple monk said Hui Wu had gone to find Yang Ling and had predicted Yang Ling would kill him if he failed to return.
• Yang Ling called Hui Wu’s disappearance grounds to investigate Jue Ming and accused Ku Jue Temple and the Mine Gang of wrongdoing.
• Jue Ming denied being a Rong Tribe spy, strode toward Yang Ling, and activated his martial arts and cudgel to increase his strength.

Yang Ling defeated Warrior Monk Jue Ming and accused him and the Player who had accompanied him of being Rong Tribe spies. He ordered both men taken to the Iron Clothes Department for investigation.

• Yang Ling used his superior Agility to batter Jue Ming until he dropped his staff and could no longer defend himself.
• Yang Ling beat Jue Ming back a hundred meters, leaving him badly bruised and bewildered.
• Yang Ling accused Jue Ming of being a Rong Tribe spy, citing his suspicious arrival after the capture of the Giant Spirit Sect Master.
• Jue Ming denied knowing about the capture and turned on the Player, accusing him of framing him.
• Yang Ling ordered Jue Ming and the Player to come with him to the Iron Clothes Department.

At the Iron Clothes Department Yamen, Shi Xin had Warrior Monk Jue Ming and his disciples detained on suspicion of Rong Tribe ties. Yang Ling received rewards for the spy investigation, including the Heavenly Will Divine Saber, and learned that he and Yun Ruo would head to Water Qilin Cave.

• Shi Xin accused Warrior Monk Jue Ming of helping the Rong Tribe and ordered him and his disciples, including a Player, locked up.
• Sun Biao gave Yang Ling five Peiyuan Pills and praised the investigation for uncovering more than three hundred Rong Tribe Spies.
• Shi Xin announced that Sun Biao would transfer to the Capital next month and that Shi Xin would become acting supervisor of the First Branch.
• Sun Biao awarded Yang Ling the Heavenly Will Divine Saber, a flying-dagger secret art once practiced by the Heavenly Will Sect.
• Yun Ruo explained the art’s origins and showed Yang Ling its first two stages and the Ice Blade skill unlocked at mastery.

Yang Ling learned the demanding cultivation requirements of the Heavenly Will Divine Saber and bought flying daggers to practice it. After its proficiency reached First Glimpse of the Door, he took a Spirit Nurturing Pill, but the technique was absent from the list of skills he could improve.

• Yun Ruo told Yang Ling, Sun Biao, and Shi Xin that they had secured places in Water Qilin Cave and that their team would mainly protect the Western Prince.
• Yang Ling comprehended the Heavenly Will Divine Saber and discovered that its later levels required harsh conditions such as ice, fire, and lightning.
• Yang Ling bought ten Hundred Refined Red Gold Flying Daggers, a hundred ordinary daggers, and a belt to carry them.
• Yang Ling practiced the Heavenly Will Divine Saber until its proficiency advanced to First Glimpse of the Door.
• Yang Ling took a Spirit Nurturing Pill, saw that the Heavenly Will Divine Saber was not among the listed skills, and chose it anyway.