Chapter Summaries

Jiang Wang confronted Hu Shaomeng and his companions while investigating the Hu Family Mine, then asserted his authority by knocking out Chongxuan Laifu. He stopped Zhu Biqiong from leaving with Hu Shaomeng and demanded that Hu Shaomeng choose between defending her and obeying the Chongxuan Family’s rules.

• Zhu Biqiong revealed that she had secretly followed Hu Shaomeng, believing he had hurt her sister Zhu Suyao, but Hu Shaomeng persuaded her that she had misunderstood him.
• Chongxuan Laifu arrived and challenged Jiang Wang’s decision to keep the Hu Family Mine open, claiming authority over the Chongxuan Family’s resources in Jia City.
• Jiang Wang dismissed Chongxuan Laifu’s status and struck him unconscious with a single slap.
• Jiang Wang told Hu Shaomeng to take Chongxuan Laifu away, and Hu Shaomeng calmly agreed before inviting Zhu Biqiong to Green Sheep Town.
• Jiang Wang ordered Zhu Biqiong to stay and demanded that Hu Shaomeng choose whether to oppose him for her or obey the Chongxuan Family’s rules.

Jiang Wang left Zhu Biqiong bound in the mine after Hu Shaomeng chose not to challenge him, while Hu Shaomeng weighed the risk against his plans for the Hu Family Mine. Outside, Hu Shaomeng attacked his father Hu You over his plans to remarry, and Hu You was left on the ground mourning the wife he had abandoned.

• Hu Shaomeng chose to leave Zhu Biqiong with Jiang Wang, promising to seek an explanation from the Chongxuan Family, and Hu You carried Chongxuan Laifu out of the mine.
• Hu Shaomeng recalled how he had betrayed Zhu Suyao, sabotaged her cultivation, and feared her return from the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm.
• Hu Shaomeng blamed Hu You for spreading rumors about the Hu Family Mine and ordered him to sell the woman he planned to marry.
• Hu You angrily declared that the woman would be his wife and Hu Shaomeng’s mother, prompting Hu Shaomeng to choke and throw him down.
• Hu You lay crying as he remembered abandoning his first wife, who had frozen to death.

Jiang Wang kept Zhu Biqiong from being deceived by Hu Shaomeng, then explained why he had intervened and sent her to stay with Xiao Xiao. He returned to his cultivation, determined to grow stronger so Jiang An'an would not be left unprepared if he died.

• After Hu Shaomeng and his father left, Jiang Wang released Zhu Biqiong, who mistook him for a lecher and tried to kick him.
• Jiang Wang restrained Zhu Biqiong again, then freed her and explained that he had kept her there so she could see Hu Shaomeng's true character.
• Zhu Biqiong offered Jiang Wang her Mirage Pearl in exchange for his secret art, but he refused and asked Xiao Xiao to settle her in.
• Zhu Biqiong asked why Jiang Wang had helped her, and he said it was because he had a younger sister too.
• Jiang Wang thought of writing to An'an, then resumed cultivating and resolved to become stronger.

Jiang Wang learned that Hell’s Gate had assassinated a Qu State general and discussed its leader, Yin Guan, with Chongxuan Sheng. After an intruder attacked Jiang Wang in his room, Jiang Wang overcame the man’s countermeasures and held him at swordpoint.

• Chongxuan Sheng told Jiang Wang that Hell’s Gate had killed Qu State’s frontier general and that its leader was Yin Guan.
• Jiang Wang recalled meeting Yin Guan, and Chongxuan Sheng advised him not to rush his own cultivation despite Yin Guan’s talent.
• Chongxuan Sheng revealed that he had already exchanged Tiger Binding for Merit, and Jiang Wang left the Great Void Illusion Realm.
• An intruder attacked Jiang Wang late at night, using a talisman to seal Longing and prepared methods to counter Tiger Binding.
• Jiang Wang used Sea of Flowers, hidden Flame Flowers, and Crown of Thorns layered with Tiger Binding to immobilize the intruder, then held his sword against the man’s spine.

Jiang Wang captured the assassin Su Xiuxing, who revealed his weak organization and paid for his life with his possessions and cultivation knowledge. Jiang Wang sent Zhang Hai to investigate the assassin’s employer in Jia City while Su finished writing down his techniques.

• Su Xiuxing begged Jiang Wang for mercy and revealed that he belonged to the Heavenly Pavilion, which had been hired by Old Li from Li's Pie Shop in Jia City's western district.
• Jiang Wang took Su Xiuxing's Dao Essence Stones, talismans, and dagger, then ordered him to write down all the cultivation techniques he could share.
• Jiang Wang woke Xiao Xiao and sent her to fetch Zhang Hai while keeping watch over Su Xiuxing.
• Jiang Wang ordered Zhang Hai to investigate Old Li in Jia City and offered him three Dao Essence Stones a month to work for him.
• Zhu Biqiong offered to investigate in exchange for the Tiger Binding Daoist Art, but Jiang Wang did not answer her.
• Su Xiuxing finished writing a thick stack of pages and handed them to Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang forced the assassin Su Xiuxing into his service with a fake poison, then decided to stay at the Hu Family Mine rather than chase the missing Old Li or pursue Heavenly Pavilion. When Mo Zichu arrived with several minor lineage leaders in bonds to beg forgiveness, Jiang Wang went out to see what was happening.

• Jiang Wang gave Su Xiuxing a Dao Essence pellet and claimed it was a deadly imperial poison, compelling him to obey for a month.
• Jiang Wang sent Su Xiuxing to stay with Steward Hu, then entered the Great Void Illusion Realm and earned twenty-five Merit by submitting Su Xiuxing's techniques to the Dao Evolution Platform.
• Zhang Hai reported that Old Li's pie shop had closed and its owner had disappeared.
• Jiang Wang learned that Heavenly Pavilion's headquarters was in Cangfeng City, but chose to remain at the Hu Family Mine and hold his ground.
• Shuanzi told Jiang Wang that Mo Zichu had arrived with several minor lineage leaders in bonds, claiming he had come to beg forgiveness.
• Jiang Wang led the way outside to meet Mo Zichu and the captives.

Jiang Wang questioned five Jia City family heads after Mo Zichu handed them over and offered the Chongxuan Family compensation for their scheme against the mine. Su Xiuxing’s investigation confirmed Mo Zichu’s account, but the story’s perfect coherence left Jiang Wang suspicious.

• Mo Zichu brought five Jia City family heads to the mine and said they had bribed a steward and arranged an attack on Jiang Wang to provoke conflict between the Mo and Chongxuan families.
• Jiang Wang accepted the Mo Family’s offer to compensate the Chongxuan Family for one-tenth of its losses but insisted that the five men remain for questioning.
• Xiang Qian asked each prisoner whether Mo Zichu’s account was true, then reported that it was; Jiang Wang sent him away and assigned Su Xiuxing to investigate.
• Su Xiuxing’s detailed report confirmed that the five families had conspired to frame the Mo Family, while Hu Shaomeng had likely helped nudge events along.
• Jiang Wang found the evidence and account convincing but became more suspicious because every part of the story fit together too neatly.

Mo Zichu confronted Hu Shaomeng over his failed scheme to drive Jiang Wang away from the Hu Family Mine and revealed that he had used Dream-Returning Incense to alter the small families’ memories. They agreed to cooperate against the Chongxuan Family, while Mo Zichu concealed his wider plan to use the families’ deaths to protect the Mo Family’s interests.

• Mo Zichu met Hu Shaomeng on the road and challenged him about hiring assassins to kill Jiang Wang and frame the Mo Family.
• Hu Shaomeng recalled how he had arranged the assassination attempt to lure Jiang Wang away from the mine, but Jiang Wang had captured the assassin and stayed put.
• Mo Zichu told Hu Shaomeng that he knew what had happened in Jia City and proposed they work together to make the Chongxuan Family leave.
• Mo Zichu explained that Dream-Returning Incense had altered the small families’ memories, then showed Hu Shaomeng the burned remainder of the incense.
• Mo Zichu left with his disguised maid, privately intending to let the Chongxuan Family take the blame for killing the small families.

Jiang Wang took control of the Hu Family Mine and settled the fate of the small-family leaders who had plotted against him. After arranging for Xiao Xiao’s safety and trading Tiger Binding to Zhu Biqiong for her Mirage Pearl, he prepared to test the pearl with Sea of Flowers.

• Jiang Wang asked Steward Hu for his opinion, then went to confront the five small-family leaders imprisoned at the mine.
• Jiang Wang spared the five men but demanded thirty percent of their families’ assets and a unique secret art from each, then told Su Xiuxing to release them and collect the payment.
• Jiang Wang urged Xiao Xiao to find somewhere safer to stay, but she refused to leave, and Zhu Biqiong promised to protect her.
• Jiang Wang offered Zhu Biqiong Tiger Binding for her Mirage Pearl, and they completed the exchange.
• Jiang Wang planned to use the Mirage Pearl to enhance the power of Sea of Flowers.

Jiang Wang allowed Xiao Xiao to take the Dugu surname and suggested Zhu Biqiong teach her self-defense, while Chongxuan Xin ordered an apology after learning Jiang Wang was close to Chongxuan Sheng. Chongxuan Sheng investigated alarming reports as a ravenously hungry fat man caused trouble in a Jia City restaurant.

• Xiao Xiao asked to take the Dugu surname, and Jiang Wang agreed; he told her to ask Zhu Biqiong to teach her how to defend herself.
• A servant from Chongxuan Xin's household complained that Jiang Wang had struck him, but Chongxuan Xin scolded him and ordered him to apologize to Chongxuan Sheng.
• Chongxuan Sheng questioned a Shadow Guard about reports from several locations and ordered a thorough investigation without sending the shadow himself.
• A fat man devoured seven seatings of food at a Jia City restaurant and warned the shopkeeper that he was still starving.

Mo Munan warned Mo Zichu not to underestimate Jiang Wang, whose connections to Chongxuan Sheng made confronting him dangerous, but insisted he still had to be driven away from the Hu Family Mine. Mo Zichu went to investigate a tavern incident and found a horrific scene of mutilated corpses hanging above a boiling pot.

• Mo Munan told Mo Zichu that Jiang Wang was unlikely to leave the Hu Family Mine and recounted the disasters and battles Jiang Wang had survived.
• Mo Zichu realized the Chongxuan Family had supplied Jiang Wang’s background and concluded that the Mo Family must avoid taking sides in the Chongxuan family struggle.
• Mo Munan said they still had to drive Jiang Wang away, though someone else might be able to kill him.
• Master Liu reported an incident at a tavern, and Mo Munan sent Mo Zichu to handle it.
• Mo Zichu entered the ruined tavern and saw mutilated human corpses hanging upside down above a boiling iron pot.

Jiang Wang accepted the Blessed Land Challenge and became Lord of Lanke Mountain, but left the battle after Zhu Biqiong warned him of an approaching calamity. As Mo Zichu and Hu Shaomeng plotted to attack the mine, a masked, fat figure arrived at its entrance to see an old friend.

• Jiang Wang fought a far stronger monk in the Blessed Land Challenge, then conceded after Zhu Biqiong urgently called to him and received notice that he had become Lord of Lanke Mountain.
• Zhu Biqiong showed Jiang Wang her Fortune and Misfortune Orb as its black calamity spread, and Jiang Wang sensed a threatening presence near the mine entrance.
• Jiang Wang told Zhu Biqiong to summon Su Xiuxing, Zhang Hai, and Xiang Qian, then went to meet the approaching danger.
• Hu Shaomeng urged Mo Zichu to gather the Mo Family's experts and kill Jiang Wang at the mine, while Mo Zichu questioned what Hu was waiting for.
• A fat figure wearing a Pig Bone Mask arrived at the mine entrance to meet an old friend.

Jiang Wang confronted the Pig Bone Masked One of the White Bone Sect at the Hu Family Mine and rallied other cultivators to fight him. The masked man revealed his fixation on Jiang Wang’s hatred, and the battle remained unresolved.

• Mo Zichu attacked Hu Shaomeng, only to discover that he had struck an illusion, and recognized the Sea Fishing Tower’s skill in illusion arts.
• Jiang Wang met the Pig Bone Masked One outside the Hu Family Mine and learned that the masked man had come because Jiang Wang was from the Zhuang Kingdom.
• The Pig Bone Masked One lunged at Jiang Wang, but Jiang Wang blocked his bite with Longing and forced him back with a sword strike.
• Jiang Wang ordered Zhang Hai and Xiang Qian to help defend the mine and promised Su Xiuxing he could cure his poison, prompting Su Xiuxing to attack the masked man.
• The Pig Bone Masked One brushed off Su Xiuxing’s attack and urged Jiang Wang to reveal how much he hated him.

Jiang Wang and his allies attacked the Pig Bone Masked One, who went berserk and became a huge threat to everyone at the mine. As a treasure emerged from underground, Mo Zichu and the Mo Family moved to claim it, but a hidden attacker struck down the Mo Family’s Family Elder.

• Jiang Wang attacked the Pig Bone Masked One, and Zhu Biqiong blinded him with Leaf Obscures Vision so Jiang Wang and the others could wound him.
• The Pig Bone Masked One grew into a giant, devoured Su Xiuxing’s dagger, and frightened the miners gathered near the mine.
• The Azure Stone vein rumbled and collapsed as a pillar of blue light announced the emergence of a treasure.
• Mo Zichu spotted the light, realized Hu Shaomeng had misled him, and hurried toward the Hu Family Mine while the Mo Family’s Family Elder revealed himself there.
• A disguised miner ambushed the Family Elder with Leaf Obscures Vision, an Essence-Binding Awl, and Water Dragon Wave, knocking him to the ground.

Hu Shaomeng revealed how he had manipulated events to claim the Azure Cloud Sheep, a rare spirit of Azure Cloud Stone, and attacked the Mo Family elder before the treasure emerged. As Jiang Wang battled the Pig Bone Masked One, Su Xiuxing and Zhu Biqiong pursued Hu Shaomeng, but Su Xiuxing failed to seize the treasure after Hu Shaomeng tricked him with an illusion.

• Hu Shaomeng killed the Mo Family's Family Elder and recalled how he had stolen ore, framed Xie Hao, and used Mo Zichu to create an opening to claim the hidden treasure.
• Jiang Wang spotted Hu Shaomeng's attack and sent Su Xiuxing and Zhu Biqiong after him while he faced the charging Pig Bone Masked One.
• The Pig Bone Masked One broke through Jiang Wang's defenses and unleashed Gluttony Power, shattering the Sea of Flowers and pulling at Zhang Hai.
• The Azure Cloud Sheep emerged from the mine tunnel, and Shuanzi realized it was the treasure Hu Shaomeng had been hiding.
• Su Xiuxing cut Hu Shaomeng's water cord and reached for the Azure Cloud Sheep, but Hu Shaomeng created three illusions and made him grab empty air.

Jiang Wang intervened to save Zhu Biqiong from Hu Shaomeng, then defeated the Pig Bone Masked One after the Azure Cloud Sheep emerged and Jiang Wang no longer needed to hold back. The chapter ended with Jiang Wang leaving after telling his opponent, “As you can see.”

• Hu Shaomeng provoked Zhu Biqiong by admitting he had harmed Zhu Suyao, and Zhu Biqiong abandoned her illusion to attack him.
• Hu Shaomeng overpowered Zhu Biqiong’s attack and shot water needles at her, but Jiang Wang arrived and severed five of Hu Shaomeng’s fingers.
• Outside the mine gates, the Pig Bone Masked One unleashed Gluttony Power and tried to suck Jiang Wang toward him.
• Jiang Wang used the suction to close the distance and struck the Pig Bone Masked One with three swords, destroying him.
• Jiang Wang turned away and said, “As you can see.”

Jiang Wang killed the Pig Bone Masked One, defeated Hu Shaomeng, and claimed the Azure Cloud Sheep. After Mo Zichu chose to leave rather than challenge him, Jiang Wang released Su Xiuxing from his supposed poison, and Su Xiuxing fled after threatening him.

• Jiang Wang killed the Pig Bone Masked One and cut off five of Hu Shaomeng's fingers, forcing Hu Shaomeng to escape when Zhu Biqiong detected his illusion.
• Su Xiuxing retrieved the Azure Cloud Sheep and handed it to Jiang Wang.
• Mo Zichu arrived with Jia City's City Guard, but he declined to fight Jiang Wang and left after asking for the bounty to be delivered to the mine.
• Jiang Wang told Su Xiuxing he could go and pretended to give him an antidote for the nonexistent poison.
• Su Xiuxing realized he was free, threatened Jiang Wang, and ran off.

After promising Zhu Biqiong he would kill Hu Shaomeng for harming her sister, Jiang Wang left the mine and tracked Hu to his family mansion. He cornered Hu there, but Hu hid behind a powerful array of illusions, and Jiang Wang began searching for his true body by attacking the room.

• Zhu Biqiong asked Jiang Wang to kill Hu Shaomeng, and Jiang Wang agreed to bring back Hu’s head.
• Jiang Wang assigned Dugu Xiao, Zhang Hai, and Xiang Qian roles at the mine before leaving alone.
• Using Remembrance, Jiang Wang followed Hu Shaomeng’s trail to Hu Mansion, where the family was preparing to flee.
• Jiang Wang entered the mansion and cut down an illusion of Hu Shaomeng, then realized Hu was hiding nearby.
• Hu Shaomeng created shifting illusions and threatened Jiang Wang, who suspected Hu could not leave the courtyard.
• Jiang Wang unleashed a whirlwind of sword strikes, slashing every corner of the room to expose Hu’s real body.

Jiang Wang hunted Hu Shaomeng through the courtyard until Hu You revealed that Hu Shaomeng was hiding in a mirror inside a carriage. After defeating and crippling him, Jiang Wang heard his final request and killed him, leaving Hu You to receive a recording.

• Jiang Wang repeatedly attacked Hu Shaomeng’s illusions while refusing to threaten Hu You to force him out.
• Hu You revealed that Hu Shaomeng’s real body was hiding in a small mirror inside a carriage, and Hu Shaomeng tried to flee in it.
• Jiang Wang destroyed the carriage with the Sword of Sun Moon and Stars, defeated Hu Shaomeng’s Snake Surge Tide Swim, and pinned him down.
• Jiang Wang crippled Hu Shaomeng’s cultivation, then agreed to show Hu You an Image-Recording Stone after Hu Shaomeng recited the Treasure Light Art.
• Hu Shaomeng recalled the people from his past and his parents before Jiang Wang pierced his heart with Sword Qi.

Jiang Wang discovered the truth behind Hu You’s beloved and witnessed the final ruin of the Hu family. He then left Hu You to die and the story shifted to an underground palace where Wang Changji sat upon a dragon throne.

• Jiang Wang took Hu Shaomeng’s origin stones, mirror, purse, and Image-Recording Stone, then brought the Treasure Light Art to the Hu Family courtyard.
• Hu You asked whether Hu Shaomeng was dead, and Jiang Wang showed him the Image-Recording Stone.
• The recording revealed that Mo Zichu had planted Hu You’s beloved as a pawn and that Hu Shaomeng had killed her and her lover.
• Jiang Wang left Hu You, who smashed himself against a wall, and chose not to stop him.
• A scene shifted to an underground palace, where Wang Changji sat alone on a dragon throne.