Chapter Summaries

Jiang Wang negotiated a position at Hu Family Mine and sparred with Master Ge to prove he was a Wandering Vein Realm cultivator. After Steward Hu arranged his lodging, Master Ge disparaged mortals, leaving Jiang Wang quietly disgusted with him.

• Steward Hu offered Jiang Wang one and a half Dao Essence Stones per month, and Jiang Wang accepted despite suspecting the steward was hiding the mine's past conflict and embezzling funds.
• Steward Hu summoned Master Ge, who fought Jiang Wang in a spar and then claimed Jiang Wang's strength would have forced him to use his sect's ultimate art.
• Master Ge boasted that the Greenwood Immortal Sect was a subsidiary of East King Valley, and Jiang Wang concealed his disappointment at the sect's modest standing.
• Steward Hu offered Jiang Wang the previous cultivator's courtyard, and Jiang Wang asked him to call him A'an instead of Master.
• After Steward Hu left, Master Ge questioned why Jiang Wang had treated a mortal respectfully, and Jiang Wang sat down while hiding his disgust.

Jiang Wang settled into the Hu Family Mine and clashed with Master Ge over the maid he had mistreated. Jiang Wang let the maid, Xiao Xiao, stay in his courtyard and directed her to her own room.

• Master Ge asked Jiang Wang how many Dao Essence Stones he received, but Jiang Wang stayed silent and Ge left in a huff.
• Steward Hu showed Jiang Wang his courtyard and explained that he could not provide a maid until the end of the month.
• Master Ge returned with the bruised maid and tried to leave her with Jiang Wang while belittling her.
• Jiang Wang changed his mind and allowed the maid to stay after seeing her silent plea for help.
• Master Ge threw the maid toward Jiang Wang, who caught her and rebuked Ge before Steward Hu escorted Ge away.
• Jiang Wang learned the maid was called Xiao Xiao and pointed her toward her own room.

Ge Heng plotted to teach a young cultivator a lesson, while Li Jianqiu led Qinghe Prefecture Daoist Academy disciples into Mo State to hunt the White Bone Sect and secretly assess the Twin Dragon Society’s territory. Li Jianqiu was ambushed in the dark and confronted a masked enemy after finding a junior sister’s severed head.

• Ge Heng decided to tamper with a wine jar intended for a young cultivator, and Steward Hu warned him against provoking a cultivator.
• Li Jianqiu led Qinghe Prefecture Daoist Academy disciples across the border into Mo State to pursue White Bone Sect fugitives.
• Li Jianqiu secretly used the pursuit to survey the Twin Dragon Society’s outskirts as part of the Zhuang Kingdom’s preparations.
• Li Jianqiu reflected on his family’s deaths in Maple Forest Territory and his grief over not being there to protect them.
• Li Jianqiu realized his fellow disciples and the Twin Dragon Society patrol had vanished, then saw a Tiger Bone Masked man toss a junior sister’s severed head before him.

Li Jianqiu confronted the Tiger Bone Mask Wearer and forced open his Heaven and Earth Gate, breaking through to the Soaring Dragon Realm in the middle of battle. Though his new power began to steady, the Tiger Bone Mask Wearer summoned his White Bone Tiger divine aspect to overwhelm him.

• Li Jianqiu recognized the Tiger Bone Mask Wearer hiding in the Twin Dragon Society’s outer territory and drew Peach Branch against him.
• Li Jianqiu pierced his Heaven and Earth Gate and broke through to the Soaring Dragon Realm, despite risking a weaker foundation.
• The Tiger Bone Mask Wearer struck Li Jianqiu backward, but Li Jianqiu established his Heaven and Earth Isolated Island and returned to the fight.
• Li Jianqiu’s sword grew steadier as the two clashed, and the Tiger Bone Mask Wearer chose to unleash his full power.
• The Tiger Bone Mask Wearer summoned a White Bone Tiger that absorbed the moonlight and roared over the mountains and forests.

Li Jianqiu killed the Tiger Bone Mask Wearer by breaking through the Heaven and Earth Gate during their fight, then fled to avenge the White Bone Sect’s slaughter of his loved ones. At the Hu Family Mine, Jiang Wang found the Azure Stone vein was nearly exhausted and, after Xiao Xiao tried to please him, told her she only needed to handle ordinary household duties.

• Li Jianqiu merged with his sword and shattered the Tiger Bone Divine Aspect, killing the Tiger Bone Mask Wearer before the Twin Dragon Society could arrive.
• Li Jianqiu fled, driven by the deaths of his family, friends, and fellow disciples and his desire to avenge them against the White Bone Sect.
• Jiang Wang inspected the Hu Family Mine and learned from the miners that the Azure Stone vein was nearly depleted, though he suspected Hu You’s embezzlement did not explain everything.
• Jiang Wang returned to his quarters and exchanged a brief, cryptic conversation with the despondent middle-aged man surnamed Xiang.
• Xiao Xiao prepared a bath and clothes for Jiang Wang, then began undressing to serve him; Jiang Wang stopped her and said she only needed to keep the room tidy and serve tea to guests.

Jiang Wang investigated a warning not to drink the Tiger Bone Wine and questioned Xiao Xiao about strange events at the Hu Family Mine. He learned of a glowing sheep sighting and a former cultivator who had promised to protect Xiao Xiao before leaving; dark clouds gathered over the mine.

• Jiang Wang found a note warning him not to drink the Tiger Bone Wine, tested it with upgraded poison-detection arts, then buried a sample in the earth.
• Jiang Wang used the Sea of Flowers to question Xiao Xiao about strange occurrences at the mine.
• Xiao Xiao told Jiang Wang that a miner had reported seeing a glowing sheep in a tunnel before leaving the mine.
• Jiang Wang connected the miner’s departure with a later intruder and an extraordinary cultivator who had also left.
• Xiao Xiao revealed that her former master had promised to protect and take her with him, but left without telling her.
• Jiang Wang dismissed Xiao Xiao to collect her allowance and noticed that the sky had darkened before the rain.

The chapter described Luo Kingdom’s hostility toward the Aquatic Race and introduced the lawless City of No Redemption, where residents paid Life Gold for protection under the rule enforced by Huang Jinmo. Zhu Weiwu entered the city after paying only one Zhuang Knife Coin, leaving his life open to anyone willing to pay the required redemption money.

• Luo Kingdom’s waterways and slave trade fueled its hostility toward the Aquatic Race and strained relations with Zhuang Kingdom and Yong Kingdom.
• The chapter explained that City of No Redemption stood in the unclaimed buffer zone between the three kingdoms and enforced order through Life Gold and redemption money.
• Huang Jinmo, known as the Monarch of Sin, upheld the city’s rules while calling herself its greatest sinner.
• A Sin Guard at the eastern gate asked the arriving spear-carrying stranger whether he knew the rules.
• Zhu Weiwu paid one Zhuang Knife Coin as Life Gold and strode into the city, giving his name as he went.

Zhu Weiwu confronted Chicken Mask at the Great Passage Gambling Den and defeated him with a single spear thrust. As a Sin Guard commander warned Zhu Weiwu about the City of No Redemption’s killing rules, Zhu Weiwu declared that those rules did not bind him and continued toward Chicken Mask.

• Zhu Weiwu arrived at the Great Passage Gambling Den and challenged Chicken Mask, who mocked him from the pai gow table.
• When a gambler told Zhu Weiwu to leave, Zhu Weiwu pinned him to the ground with his spear and announced that his reminiscing was over.
• Zhu Weiwu attacked Chicken Mask, whose Rooster Crows technique and White Bone Dharma Aspect could not withstand Zhu Weiwu’s Firewood Exhausted Spear.
• Zhu Weiwu promised to pay for the damage to the gambling den and walked out through the hole he had made in its wall.
• Chicken Mask begged the Sin Guards to let him increase his Life Gold, while a Sin Guard commander warned Zhu Weiwu that killing him would incur a huge ransom.
• Zhu Weiwu told the commander that the City of No Redemption’s rule was not his and kept advancing on Chicken Mask.

Zhu Weiwu faced four White Bone Sect Bone Masks in City of No Redemption and killed them all with a single spear strike. The story then shifted to Huang Jinmo, who questioned Du Ruhui about his confidence that Zhu Weiwu would survive.

• Zhu Weiwu told Lian Heng that he would kill anyone who got in his way as he pursued the Chicken Bone Masked One.
• A Sheep Bone Masked One revived the Chicken Bone Masked One with a forbidden pill, while the Ox Bone Masked One and Horse Bone Masked One joined them to surround Zhu Weiwu.
• Zhu Weiwu stopped the Chicken Bone Masked One from using Rooster Crows and repelled the Sheep Bone Masked One's attack.
• Zhu Weiwu swept his Firewood Exhausted Spear across the street, killing all four Bone Masks, and Lian Heng accepted that he could not defeat him.
• Huang Jinmo asked Du Ruhui whether he was confident Zhu Weiwu would survive, and Du Ruhui replied that a dead genius was no genius.

Zhu Weiwu fought Kuishan in the City of No Redemption after refusing to pay ransom for four White Bone Sect bone-masks. Though Kuishan survived his three-punch challenge, the Monarch of Sin ordered him to kill Zhu Weiwu, and the two prepared to fight at full strength; meanwhile, rain finally began at a mine where Jiang Wang waited.

• Kuishan offered to let Zhu Weiwu leave if he paid the ransom, but Zhu Weiwu refused.
• Kuishan struck Zhu Weiwu twice, breaking his ribs and sending him soaring into the sky.
• Zhu Weiwu returned as a blazing spear attack, survived Kuishan's third punch, and completed the three-punch challenge.
• The Monarch of Sin ordered Kuishan to kill Zhu Weiwu, and Kuishan chose to break his promise.
• Kuishan had Lian Heng clear the street, then told Zhu Weiwu he would face him at full strength.
• At a mine thousands of miles away, Jiang Wang waited in a courtyard as the long-awaited downpour began.

Jiang Wang cultivated at the Hu Family Mine while investigating the rapidly depleting Azure Stone vein, then traveled to Jia City to learn more about the Mo Family. He left with a new lead involving Hu Shaomeng, while Ge Heng’s failed attempt to poison him remained concealed.

• Jiang Wang won seven of ten Heaven-Connecting Realm matching battles and earned enough Merit to bring his total to 4,080.
• Jiang Wang spent several days cultivating at the mine, then asked Steward Hu for leave to visit Jia City with Xiao Xiao and Shuanzi.
• Ge Heng confronted Steward Hu about the poisoned wine he had arranged for Jiang Wang, then learned Xiao Xiao had gone to the city too.
• Jiang Wang used Sea of Flowers to question Shuanzi, who said he feared Hu Shaomeng because he had seen him kill someone.
• Shuanzi told Jiang Wang he had heard the mine’s depletion might be connected to the Mo Family, and Jiang Wang continued toward Jia City.

Jiang Wang traveled to Jia City with Shuanzi and Xiao Xiao to investigate the Mo Family and assess his plans for Green Sheep Town. He learned that the Mo Family’s celebrated young master, Zichu, cultivated at East King Valley.

• Jiang Wang explored Jia City and considered the strength of its lord and the Mo Family before acting in Green Sheep Town.
• Jiang Wang invited Xiao Xiao and Shuanzi into a cloth shop, then bought several bolts of fabric for them.
• Jiang Wang overheard women discussing Young Master Mo, who was cultivating at an unnamed Immortal Valley.
• The women rushed out when Young Master Zichu returned, and Jiang Wang saw the Soaring Dragon cultivator riding through the city.
• Jiang Wang asked the shopkeeper where Zichu cultivated and learned that he attended East King Valley.

Jiang Wang met Mo Zichu, the City Lord’s son and an East King Valley cultivator, to investigate the Azure Stone vein’s depletion. Mo Zichu denied the Mo Family’s involvement and hinted that Jiang Wang should uncover the rest himself, leaving Jiang Wang to provisionally rule the family out.

• Jiang Wang watched Jia City’s people celebrate Mo Zichu and realized the young man’s cultivated public image helped secure the Mo Family’s rule.
• Mo Zichu’s guard invited Jiang Wang to meet him privately, and Jiang Wang went after sending Xiao Xiao and Shuanzi back to the inn.
• Mo Zichu deduced that Jiang Wang represented the Chongxuan Family and identified him despite his altered hair.
• Mo Zichu said the Mo Family had nothing to do with the Hu Family Mine’s Azure Stone vein and warned that the Chongxuan Family was too close for him to risk provoking.
• Mo Zichu mentioned his friend Ji Xiu, a failed participant in the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm, but Jiang Wang left without pursuing the topic.

Jiang Wang realized Chongxuan Sheng expected him to take charge of the Chongxuan Clan’s operations in Yang State, so he returned to the Hu Family Mine to investigate the Azure Stone vein. After secretly visiting Hu You’s residence, he learned Hu Shaomeng would soon return and wondered whether his return and Mo Zichu’s were connected.

• Jiang Wang recognized that his assignment at the Hu Family Mine was part of Chongxuan Sheng’s plan to entrust him with the Chongxuan Clan’s resources in Yang State.
• Jiang Wang returned to the mine with Shuanzi and Xiao Xiao, then reviewed the possible leads behind the Azure Stone vein incident.
• Jiang Wang sneaked into Hu You’s residence and overheard that Hu Shaomeng would return within the next few days.
• Jiang Wang learned Hu You was secretly involved with a woman who feared Hu Shaomeng’s temper, but found no clues about the mine.
• Jiang Wang wondered why Mo Zichu and Hu Shaomeng had both returned from cultivation away from home around the same time, then encountered Brother Xiang lamenting that life was meaningless.

Jiang Wang learned that Hu Shaomeng planned to close the mine early, then discovered that Ge Heng’s maid Xiao Cui had died by suicide after enduring his abuse. The miners sought justice, but the chapter left the decision in the hands of the powerful cultivators.

• Hu Shaomeng told Jiang Wang and the other cultivators that the mine would close at the end of the month, and dismissed them.
• Steward Hu paid Jiang Wang two Hundred-Origin Stones, half a stone more than they had agreed on.
• Shuanzi reported that Xiao Cui had jumped into a well, and the cultivators went to Ge Heng’s courtyard.
• The miners described Xiao Cui’s abuse and pleaded with Hu Shaomeng to give her justice, while Ge Heng silenced them with a glare.

After Xiao Cui died by suicide, Jiang Wang challenged the mine’s leaders over their attempt to dismiss her death and bury her without investigation. Xiao Xiao exposed Ge Heng’s abuse, and Jiang Wang decided to judge him at the mine.

• Hu Shaomeng ordered Xiao Cui’s body buried as a suicide, but Jiang Wang objected and demanded an investigation.
• Xiao Xiao accused Ge Heng of abusing Xiao Cui and said she herself might have died if Jiang Wang had not helped her.
• Shuanzi begged Hu Shaomeng for justice as Ge Heng threatened Xiao Xiao and the gathered miners turned against him.
• Xiao Xiao revealed the bruises on her body as proof of Ge Heng’s abuse, and Jiang Wang covered her with his robe.
• Hu Shaomeng refused to handle the matter at the mine and told Jiang Wang to settle his grudge with Ge Heng elsewhere.
• Jiang Wang rejected Ge Heng’s offer to leave the mine and announced that he would judge him there.

Jiang Wang revealed himself as the Chongxuan Family's envoy and took charge of the mine, condemning Ge Heng for abusing and killing ordinary people. He crippled Ge Heng and led Hu Shaomeng, Zhang Hai, and Xiang Qian away, leaving Ge Heng to face the crowd.

• Jiang Wang identified himself as the Chongxuan Family's envoy from Qi State and assumed authority over the mine.
• Ge Heng tried to excuse his crimes by calling ordinary people ants and offering to make things right.
• Jiang Wang condemned Ge Heng's contempt for ordinary people and denounced Hu Shaomeng, Zhang Hai, and Xiang Qian for neglecting their responsibilities.
• Ge Heng tried to attack Jiang Wang, but Jiang Wang immobilized him with Tiger Binding.
• Jiang Wang used Longing to sever Ge Heng's spine and cripple him, collapsing his Heaven-Connecting Palace.
• Jiang Wang led Hu Shaomeng, Zhang Hai, and Xiang Qian to the meeting room and left Ge Heng with the enraged crowd.

Jiang Wang took control of the Hu Family Mine and questioned its cultivators about Xie Hao’s death. Hu Shaomeng confessed to killing Xie Hao and blamed him for stealing Azure Cloud Stone, while Jiang Wang grew suspicious of Hu Shaomeng’s eagerness to close the mine and send him away.

• After Jiang Wang left Ge Heng beaten and stripped of his strength, the miners gathered nervously around Zhang Hai, Xiang Qian, and Hu Shaomeng.
• Jiang Wang questioned the mine’s cultivators about Xie Hao’s death, pressured Zhang Hai to speak, and Hu Shaomeng confessed that he had killed Xie Hao.
• Hu Shaomeng claimed Xie Hao had stolen Azure Cloud Stone and exhausted the vein, then pointed to the Mo Family of Jia City as a possible accomplice.
• Jiang Wang rejected Hu Shaomeng’s proposal to close the mine, deciding to keep it open because miners still needed work.
• Hu Shaomeng urged Jiang Wang to leave for Green Sheep Town, but Jiang Wang sent him back to monitor Jia City and wondered why Hu Shaomeng wanted him gone.

Jiang Wang took charge of the mine, learned how Steward Hu had protected him from Ge Heng’s poisoned wine, and questioned Shuanzi about a killing connected to a sheep sighting. Suspecting the incident pointed to something hidden in Green Sheep Town, Jiang Wang entered the mine and waited for Hu Shaomeng to react.

• Jiang Wang ordered the mine to stay open for six months and told Steward Hu to keep running its daily affairs.
• Xiao Xiao revealed that she had warned Jiang Wang about the wine, and Steward Hu admitted he had secretly replaced the poisoned jar Ge Heng sent.
• Jiang Wang learned that Hu Shaomeng had killed Xie Hao, while Xiao Xiao struggled with her mixed feelings about Xie Hao’s death.
• Jiang Wang burned Ge Heng’s body and questioned Shuanzi, who said he had seen Hu Shaomeng kill a miner with one slap.
• Shuanzi recalled that the slain miner may have been the one who reported seeing a sheep underground, prompting Jiang Wang to investigate the mine and await Hu Shaomeng’s response.

Xiao Xiao rejected Shuanzi’s hopes for their future and planned to scatter Hu Shaomeng’s ashes in a latrine. After days of cultivation and waiting, Jiang Wang received Hu Shaomeng, who spun a tale about his missing senior sister before a hidden woman appeared and Hu Shaomeng called her Bi Qiong.

• Xiao Xiao told Shuanzi that ordinary people had no future and said she would scatter Hu Shaomeng’s ashes in a latrine.
• Jiang Wang found nothing in the mine tunnels and continued cultivating while Hu Shaomeng made no move.
• Chongxuan Sheng told Jiang Wang that he had opened his Heaven and Earth Gate and sensed a Divine Ability Seed, but planned to develop his Torso Sea first.
• Jiang Wang sparred with Chongxuan Sheng in the Great Void Illusion Realm, then returned to his courtyard and received Hu Shaomeng.
• Hu Shaomeng told Jiang Wang that his senior sister Zhu Suyao had entered the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm and disappeared after they had fallen in love.
• Jiang Wang detected a concealed woman and revealed her with a Flame Flower; Hu Shaomeng stepped between them and called her Bi Qiong.