Chapter Summaries

Fang Han fought Gao Xiao and Tu Gang, two late fourth-rank Nether Pavilion stewards, and killed Tu Gang with a precise counterattack. Gao Xiao fled in terror as Fang Han turned his attention toward him.

• Gao Xiao and Tu Gang attacked Fang Han together, but he evaded their strikes and countered with the Cloudsplitter Sword.
• Fang Han's swordsmanship overwhelmed the two stewards through several dozen exchanges, leaving them injured and increasingly afraid.
• Gao Xiao and Tu Gang risked everything in a coordinated attack, but Fang Han dodged Gao Xiao's blade and exploited Tu Gang's exposed defense.
• Fang Han knocked aside Tu Gang's claw and cut his throat, killing him.
• Gao Xiao saw Tu Gang fall, panicked, and fled as Fang Han turned to pursue him.

Fang Han killed Gao Xiao, recovered the Black Tortoise True Art, and learned it was a grandmaster-level body-tempering art. He fled toward the Azure Profound Sect with the wounded Zhao Jin, but Meng Xian of the Nether Pavilion caught up with them.

• Fang Han disarmed Gao Xiao and killed him with the Cloudsplitter Sword.
• Fang Han searched Tu Gang's corpse and found a hidden booklet containing an extraordinary body-tempering art.
• Fang Han treated Zhao Jin's wounds, and Zhao Jin identified the manual as the grandmaster-level Black Tortoise True Art, explaining that the Nether Pavilion had pursued him after he found it.
• Fang Han carried Zhao Jin toward the Azure Profound Sect, fearing that Nether Pavilion elders might be pursuing them.
• A powerful pursuer caught up with Fang Han, who stopped to face Meng Xian, the Nether Pavilion prodigy ranked seventeenth on the Prodigy Ranking.

Fang Han was overwhelmed by Meng Xian while protecting the injured Zhao Jin, but Yun Muyao arrived and intervened. As Yun Muyao and Meng Xian clashed, Fang Han pulled Zhao Jin to safety and recognized how far he still stood from the highest-ranked prodigies.

• Meng Xian confronted Fang Han and demanded the Black Tortoise True Art, threatening to kill him for Gong Xing's death.
• Fang Han used Void Sundering against Meng Xian's Nether Palm, but Meng Xian's strike shattered his attack and badly wounded him.
• As Fang Han prepared to use his Thunderbolt Pellet, Yun Muyao arrived and stood between him, Zhao Jin, and Meng Xian.
• Yun Muyao challenged Meng Xian, and the two exchanged a powerful Nether Palm strike and Frost Heaven Slash.
• Fang Han carried Zhao Jin away from the clash and took cover behind a boulder, reflecting on the gap between himself and the top prodigies.

Yun Muyao wounded Meng Xian before the arrival of Azure Profound Sect elder Liu Ying forced Nether Pavilion elder Sang Mutian to withdraw. Liu Ying recovered the Black Tortoise True Art, rewarded Fang Han, Yun Muyao, and Zhao Jin, and brought them back to Azure Profound Sect.

• Yun Muyao landed a freezing sword strike on Meng Xian's shoulder, slowing his movements and gaining the advantage.
• Sang Mutian and Liu Ying arrived, and their powerful auras clashed as Liu Ying challenged Sang Mutian over Nether Pavilion's attack and the Black Tortoise True Art.
• Sang Mutian took Meng Xian and withdrew, while Liu Ying treated Zhao Jin and accepted the Black Tortoise True Art from Fang Han.
• Liu Ying awarded Zhao Jin one major merit and Fang Han and Yun Muyao one minor merit each, and granted all three free cultivation access to the art.
• Three days later, Liu Ying brought Fang Han, Yun Muyao, and Zhao Jin back to Azure Profound Sect, then sent Zhao Jin to collect medicine and dismissed the others to rest.

Fang Han returned to the True Transmission Courtyard, recovered from his mission, and weighed the danger posed by the Nether Pavilion against the rewards he had earned. After deciding to begin cultivating the Grandmaster-level Black Tortoise True Art, he went to the Library Pavilion to obtain it.

• Yun Muyao told Fang Han that she had reached the limit of the Fourth Grade Late Stage, while Yue Lingtian, Liu Bai, and Mad Blade had broken into the Third Grade realm.
• Fang Han returned to No. 35 Annex, ordered his attendants not to disturb him, and counted his wealth at fifteen million, three hundred and seventy thousand taels.
• Fang Han restored his Internal Qi with True Spirit Pills but noted that his injuries from Meng Xian's palm strike would take several more days to heal.
• Fang Han considered the Nether Pavilion's threat and the rewards from his mission, including one Minor Merit and the Grandmaster-level Black Tortoise True Art.
• Fang Han chose to cultivate the Black Tortoise True Art directly, then went to the Library Pavilion several days later after his injuries healed.

Fang Han borrowed the Black Tortoise True Art and used his System Panel to amplify his body tempering talent until he could understand the Grandmaster-level manual. He returned the booklet to Elder Mo after grasping its principles, as Elder Mo asked whether its difficulty had made him reconsider.

• Fang Han told Elder Mo that he intended to try the Black Tortoise True Art despite having no experience with body tempering arts.
• Elder Mo retrieved a handwritten copy of the Black Tortoise True Art from the sixth floor and reminded Fang Han to read it only inside the Library Pavilion.
• Fang Han struggled to understand the manual, then activated successive levels of Body Tempering Talent Amplification on his System Panel, reaching 128x.
• Fang Han reread the manual and comprehended its principles, though he still needed to study and memorize its details.
• Fang Han returned the booklet to Elder Mo, who teased him about whether the art had proved more difficult than expected.

Fang Han studied the Black Tortoise True Art until he fully understood it, leaving Elder Mo astonished by his progress. After meeting Xiao Chen and discussing the upcoming Seven Sects Competition, Fang Han began cultivating the body-tempering art with a Blood Origin Pill.

• Fang Han told Elder Mo he had grasped the Black Tortoise True Art’s principles and would return to memorize it, making Elder Mo question his talent.
• Fang Han met Xiao Chen in the Library Pavilion, and they discussed the upcoming Seven Sects Competition and Zhao Lie’s cultivation.
• Fang Han returned to the Library Pavilion the next day and mastered the Black Tortoise True Art’s postures, circulation routes, and breathing methods.
• Fang Han began practicing the art in his courtyard, swallowed a Blood Origin Pill, and assumed its first Beginner-stage posture.

Fang Han mastered the Beginner-stage cultivation method of the Black Tortoise True Art and rose to sixth on the General Ranking. At the start of the new month, Deacon Zhou Heng arrived to deliver his resource allotment.

• Fang Han spent several days correcting his postures and Internal Qi circulation until he completed a Beginner-stage cycle of the Black Tortoise True Art.
• Elder Mo wondered whether Fang Han had given up on the difficult art, then dismissed the possibility that he could succeed without a foundation.
• Fang Han tested himself at the Martial Dao Stele and moved from eighth to sixth on the General Ranking.
• Disciples speculated that Fang Han might surpass Mo Chen on the Prodigy Ranking next month, and Fang Han wondered about it himself.
• After morning cultivation, Fang Han met Deacon Zhou Heng, who arrived with the new month's resource allotment.

Fang Han received 23,000 contribution points and Earth Spirit Pills, then saw his Prodigy Ranking rise to No. 68 after his battle with Meng Xian. As the sect reacted to his rise, he continued cultivating and came close to filling his Zhubin Acupoint, preparing to break through to the middle stage of the fourth grade.

• Deacon Zhou Heng transferred 23,000 contribution points to Fang Han and gave him three bottles of Earth Spirit Pills.
• Fang Han refined an Earth Spirit Pill, greatly increasing his internal qi and gaining confidence in an imminent breakthrough.
• Qui Lan brought Fang Han the latest rankings, where he discovered he had climbed from No. 81 to No. 68 on the Prodigy Ranking.
• The news spread across the Azure Profound Sect, drawing praise from Zhou Jin and regret from Tu Baichuan, while Yan Lu worried over Fang Han's growing strength.
• After several days of cultivation with Earth Spirit Pills, Fang Han filled his Zhubin Acupoint to more than ninety-five percent and neared his breakthrough to the middle stage of the fourth grade.

Fang Han broke through to mid Fourth Grade and gained the Injury Recovery Divine Treasury while the Azure Profound Sect reeled from placing sixth in the Seven Sects competition. After Elder Chen Xuan and Hai Courtyard head Xu Jing visited Fang Han, he welcomed them into his residence.

• Fang Han consumed Earth Spirit Pills, broke through the Taichong Acupoint barrier, and advanced to mid Fourth Grade with the Injury Recovery Divine Treasury.
• Fang Han emerged from the Quiet Room, ate a meal, and consolidated his new cultivation while the Azure Profound Sect learned its disciples had placed sixth in the competition.
• Fang Han practiced the Windcloud Escape and hoped the Hundred Treasures Pavilion could find Howling Moon Spirit Deer antlers to improve his Body Movement talent.
• Qui Lan told Fang Han that Elder Chen Xuan had arrived with Xu Jing, and Fang Han went to greet them.
• Fang Han recognized Xu Jing as the Hai Courtyard head under pressure after the competition results and invited both elders into his reception hall.

Fang Han agreed to visit Hai Courtyard and encourage its new disciples after their poor showing in the Seven Sects Competition. At the Instruction Day, he shared cultivation advice, answered questions, and prepared to spar with five standout disciples.

• Chen Xuan and Xu Jing asked Fang Han to share his cultivation insights with Hai Courtyard's new disciples, and Fang Han agreed to come on Instruction Day three days later.
• Fang Han arrived at Hai Courtyard, where excited disciples gathered to see him teach.
• Fang Han advised the disciples on temperament, perseverance, and sound cultivation methods, then answered their questions.
• Xu Jing asked Fang Han to guide the five standout disciples through sparring, and Fang Han invited Zhao Lie, Lin Xue, Sun Bufan, Wu Hao, and Wang Pojun to attack him together.

Fang Han defeated Hai Courtyard’s five strongest new disciples and resumed cultivating the Black Tortoise True Art. After Lan Yuexin told him that the Howling Moon Spirit Deer Horn would be auctioned in Jade Splendor City, he set out for East Foothills Prefecture with an invitation and travel map.

• Fang Han easily evaded and defeated Zhao Lie and four other Hai Courtyard disciples, then encouraged them to keep cultivating.
• Fang Han practiced the Black Tortoise True Art and estimated that reaching its Beginner stage would take several more months.
• Lan Yuexin sent word that the Howling Moon Spirit Deer Horn would be auctioned in Jade Splendor City on the first day of the next month.
• Lan Yuexin gave Fang Han a map of East Foothills Prefecture and a distinguished guest invitation to the Golden Scale Chamber of Commerce auction.
• Fang Han prepared money and provisions, left Golden Brilliance City, and hurried toward East Foothills Prefecture.

Fang Han reached Jade Splendor City in time for the Golden Scale Chamber of Commerce auction and secured a private box. As the auction began, he waited for the Howling Moon Spirit Deer antler while watching the other bidders for potential threats.

• Fang Han entered Jade Splendor City, rested and replenished his Internal Qi, then located the Golden Scale Chamber of Commerce.
• Fang Han presented his invitation and was escorted to a private box overlooking the auction hall.
• Jin Buyi opened the auction, and the Coldwater Sword sold for one million four hundred and eighty thousand taels.
• Fang Han watched several treasures sell without bidding, keeping his attention on the other box occupants and their potentially dangerous auras.

Fang Han won the Howling Moon Spirit Deer antler for eight million taels at the auction and left with it under the auction house’s escort. As he headed back to his inn, nine masked martial artists surrounded him and blocked every escape route.

• Fang Han outbid two rivals and bought the Howling Moon Spirit Deer antler for eight million taels, drawing several probing auras toward his private room.
• The auction sold the Heavenly Dipper Demon-Subduing Hand for twelve million taels and the Mountain-Breaker Saber for thirteen million five hundred thousand taels, while Fang Han did not bid.
• Fang Han paid for the antler, received a VIP Token, and left through a hidden side passage with a guard escort.
• Fang Han traveled toward his inn while concealing his aura and using the Spirit Sniffing Art to sense his surroundings.
• Nine masked figures ambushed Fang Han, surrounding him with two fourth-rank martial artists and seven fighters of the fifth and sixth ranks.

Fang Han defeated the nine masked attackers who ambushed him for the treasure on his back, but dozens more fighters from rival factions surrounded him and attacked. He fought back against their larger siege, leaving the battle unresolved as the chapter ended.

• Fang Han evaded the first ambush and used one fourth-rank attacker to smash two fifth-rank attackers, then wounded the masked man wielding the Ghost Head Blade.
• Fang Han killed several attackers and, after the remaining men charged together, killed the Ghost Head Blade wielder and executed the fleeing Emei Piercer wielder.
• After all nine attackers were dead, Fang Han tried to leave without searching their bodies, but dozens of fighters from different factions surrounded him.
• A fourth-rank old man with a Judge Pen proposed that the factions join forces to kill Fang Han before fighting over the treasure, and they attacked together.
• Fang Han unleashed his full cultivation and fought through the siege, killing one attacker, forcing a spearman back, disrupting the old man's attack, and cutting through three attackers' weapons while wounding one.

Fang Han killed the fourth-rank martial artists and dozens of other attackers, then fled through Jade Splendor City while concealing his aura. The city’s factions launched a coordinated manhunt as he headed for the city wall to escape.

• Fang Han used Windcloud Escape and Void-Sundering Nine Swords to kill the saber-wielding and axe-wielding fourth-rank martial artists, then killed the Judge Pen wielder and the two remaining fourth-rank fighters as they fled.
• Fang Han left the street without searching the bodies and escaped into the alleys as people hurried toward the scene.
• Fang Han used Spirit Sniffing Art to check for pursuers, activated Return to Ruin Essence Concealment Art, and decided to scale the city wall rather than approach the guarded gates.
• Han Tieshan ordered the Tiger Baleful Gang to find Fang Han after learning its ambush had been wiped out.
• Liu Sanniang ordered Drizzle Pavilion's informants to track Fang Han and summoned Ghost Nose Liu Laoqi; other factions also mobilized trackers and joined the hunt.

Fang Han escaped East Foothills Prefecture’s city by evading trackers and slipping past a patrol on the city wall. After reaching a secluded mountain cave, he consumed the Howling Moon Spirit Deer antler to improve his movement talent, and a new sense of clarity and lightness began to spread through his legs.

• Liu Laoqi’s tracking party lost Fang Han’s trail, and the major forces found his abandoned inn room and ordered the city gates watched.
• Fang Han used the Spirit Sniffing Art to avoid patrols and chose a poorly guarded section of the city wall as his escape route.
• Fang Han climbed the wall with Windcloud Escape, concealed himself from two passing soldiers, and slipped down beyond the city.
• Fang Han ran nearly a hundred li to a mountain cave, checked that no humans were nearby, and prepared to recover.
• Fang Han ate the Howling Moon Spirit Deer antler, and its cool energy gathered in his legs and movement-related meridians, giving him an unprecedented feeling of clarity and lightness.

After the Howling Moon Spirit Deer's horn greatly improved his Body Movement Talent, Fang Han fled East Foothills Prefecture and reached Qingyang Prefecture safely. He arrived in Plain Valley City and settled in to eat and recover after days of travel.

• Fang Han gained a flood of insights into Windcloud Escape and sensed that he was close to reaching mastery.
• Fang Han used Spirit Sniffing Art to leave his cave and traveled through the wilderness toward Qingyang Prefecture, finding that his movement had become more effective.
• After four days of avoiding people and roads, Fang Han crossed the prefectural boundary on the fifth day and felt safe from pursuit by East Foothills Prefecture's factions.
• Fang Han entered Plain Valley City and went to the Guest Welcome Pavilion for a meal and rest.
• Fang Han ordered seven dishes, wine, and rice, then removed his Cloudsplitter Sword and waited quietly as the food arrived.

Fang Han learned that someone was spreading false rumors portraying him as a tyrant who had destroyed the Gong Clan for its wealth, and he resolved to discover who was behind the smear campaign. Wan Yuntian was revealed as the one who ordered the rumors, seeking revenge because Fang Han had thwarted his plan and saved Lan Yuexin.

• While eating in a restaurant, Fang Han overheard patrons claim he had seized wealth by force and massacred the Gong Clan for its treasures.
• Fang Han recognized the stories as deliberate lies and considered the Nether Pavilion, Yan Lu, Tu Baichuan, and other possible suspects.
• Fang Han decided to uncover who was spreading the rumors, finished his meal, and rented a room at an inn, where he fell into a deep sleep.
• At the Myriad Treasures Tower, Wan Fu reported that he had spread the rumors through teahouses, taverns, and marketplaces in several major cities.
• Wan Yuntian admitted he had ordered the smear campaign to punish Fang Han for ruining his plan and saving Lan Yuexin.

Wan Yuntian secretly spread rumors to damage Fang Han’s reputation, while Fang Han returned to Golden Brilliance City and learned from Lan Yuexin that she suspected Wan Yuntian was behind the rumors and a previous attack. Fang Han left for the Azure Profound Sect determined to investigate and warned that whoever targeted him would face consequences.

• Wan Yuntian praised Wan Fu for concealing their role in spreading rumors that portrayed Fang Han as a bully.
• After recovering from his journey, Fang Han returned toward the Azure Profound Sect and stopped in Golden Brilliance City to warn Lan Yuexin that his auction troubles might implicate the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
• Fang Han told Lan Yuexin about the ambushes and killings in Jade Splendor City, and she reassured him that the pavilion could withstand any trouble caused by the invitation.
• Lan Yuexin told Fang Han that rumors accused him of seizing property by force and said she suspected Wan Yuntian, who resented Fang Han for foiling an attack on her.
• Lan Yuexin promised to investigate and counter the rumors, while Fang Han decided to use the sect’s intelligence to look into Wan Yuntian.
• Fang Han left Golden Brilliance City for the Azure Profound Sect, warning that anyone who attacked him from the shadows would bear the consequences.