Chapter Summaries

After Fang Han comprehended Sword Intent, Chen Tianyuan and Supreme Elder Gu Changqing recognized his achievement and Gu revealed that Fang Han had already reached Third Grade. Fang Han left his damaged courtyard to celebrate with a meal in Azure Profound City, where the owner of Drunken Guest Tower greeted him warmly.

• Chen Tianyuan sensed Sword Intent coming from Fang Han's courtyard and realized Fang Han had comprehended it.
• Gu Changqing arrived, identified Fang Han as the courtyard's resident, and told Chen Tianyuan that Fang Han was already Third Grade.
• Chen Tianyuan and Gu Changqing left without disturbing Fang Han, who emerged from the Quiet Room pleased with his progress in sword cultivation.
• Fang Han noticed the sect had fewer disciples than usual and suspected they had taken missions amid the conflict with Nether Pavilion.
• Fang Han traveled to Azure Profound City and entered Drunken Guest Tower, where its owner hurried out to welcome him.

Fang Han took a leisurely meal at Drunken Guest Tower, where diners learned of his reputation, then returned to Azure Profound Sect and resumed cultivating the Black Tortoise True Art. After two hours of body tempering, he felt his blood and qi grow more active and his sinews and bones slightly tougher.

• Manager Chen personally welcomed Fang Han to Drunken Guest Tower and seated him in an upstairs private room.
• An attendant told diners that Fang Han ranked sixth on the Prodigy Ranking and had killed You Xin of Nether Pavilion, earning their awe.
• Fang Han savored a large meal, paid Manager Chen a hundred-tael silver note, and left the restaurant.
• Fang Han returned to No. 35 Annex and began cultivating the Black Tortoise True Art in the Quiet Room.
• After two hours, Fang Han ended his practice with more active blood and qi and slightly tougher sinews and bones.

Fang Han used his Wind Sword Intent to improve his Windcloud Escape and estimated he could reach Perfection within a month, but he needed merit to obtain a stronger Body Movement technique. After receiving an urgent request for aid from Sky Swallow City, Chen Tianyuan considered sending Fang Han to face the Nether Pavilion elder Yuan Zhan.

• Fang Han discovered that his Wind Sword Intent made cultivating Windcloud Escape far smoother and increased his speed.
• Fang Han estimated that Windcloud Escape would reach Perfection within a month and decided to visit the Mission Hall to seek merit.
• Zhao Mu delivered Chen Tianyuan an urgent letter from Wu Zheng, who reported that Yuan Zhan had defeated him and threatened the Azure Profound Sect's properties in Sky Swallow City.
• Chen Tianyuan considered sending Fang Han to contend with Yuan Zhan, despite the danger.

Chen Tianyuan sent Fang Han to reinforce Sky Swallow City and confront Nether Pavilion Elder Yuan Zhan, and Fang Han set out the next morning. On the way, he answered an Azure Profound Sect distress signal and arrived in time to save Deacon Shen from a fatal attack.

• Chen Tianyuan ordered Zhao Mu to assign Fang Han the Sky Swallow City mission, revealing that Fang Han had reached Third Grade and warning him that Yuan Zhan was at Third Grade Late Stage.
• Zhao Mu delivered the mission to Fang Han, who accepted it and agreed to depart the next morning.
• Fang Han left Azure Profound Mountain at dawn and raced toward Sky Swallow City, but turned aside when he saw an Azure Profound Sect distress signal.
• Fang Han found Azure Profound Sect deacons and disciples surrounded by Nether Pavilion fighters, with Deacon Shen near death.
• Fang Han cut down the saber-wielding Nether Pavilion steward with a sudden strike of azure Sword Qi.

Fang Han arrived at the battlefield and overwhelmed the Nether Pavilion forces with his sword, rescuing the beleaguered Azure Profound Sect disciples. He killed the fleeing deacons, leaving the battlefield under Azure Profound Sect’s control.

• Fang Han reached the battlefield, where the Azure Profound Sect deacons and disciples recognized him as reinforcements.
• Fang Han killed two Nether Pavilion deacons with four sword strikes, shocking the remaining fighters.
• The three surviving Nether Pavilion deacons fled as the Azure Profound Sect deacons tried to hinder them.
• Fang Han caught and killed the fleeing deacons one by one, including the final steward, with his Cloudsplitter Sword.

Fang Han wiped out the Nether Pavilion forces, replenished his Internal Qi, and reached the Azure Profound Mine near Sky Swallow City. He met the injured Elder Wu Zheng, who was disappointed that the sect had sent a young true disciple rather than an experienced elder.

• Fang Han and the Azure Profound Sect disciples killed all six Nether Pavilion deacons and more than twenty fleeing disciples, and Shen Qingzhu thanked Fang Han for saving them.
• Fang Han rested in a secluded hollow and used an Earth Spirit Pill to restore his Internal Qi before continuing toward Sky Swallow City.
• Fang Han bypassed Sky Swallow City and traveled to the Azure Profound Mine, where disciples escorted him to Elder Wu Zheng.
• Wu Zheng, recovering from his fight with Yuan Zhan, emerged to meet Fang Han and concealed his disappointment that the sect had sent a young true disciple instead of an experienced elder.

Fang Han arrived at Azure Profound Sect’s mining camp as Nether Pavilion Elder Yuan Zhan launched an attack to seize its gold mine. After Yuan Zhan wounded Wu Zheng, Fang Han intervened, and Yuan Zhan recognized him as a target worth a major merit bounty.

• Wu Zheng told Fang Han that his injuries had weakened him and asked him to help fight Yuan Zhan if the elder returned.
• Yuan Zhan recovered from his injuries, gathered more than thirty Nether Pavilion fighters, and led them toward Azure Profound Sect’s mining camp.
• Fang Han trained his Windcloud Escape until a disciple on duty warned him that Yuan Zhan’s forces were attacking.
• Wu Zheng and more than twenty Azure Profound Sect disciples fought the invaders, but Yuan Zhan struck Wu Zheng down.
• Fang Han blocked Yuan Zhan’s saber before it could reach Wu Zheng and identified himself.
• Yuan Zhan recognized Fang Han and declared that killing him would earn Nether Pavilion’s major merit bounty.

Fang Han fought Yuan Zhan, a Third Grade Late Stage Nether Pavilion elder who sought the bounty on his head, and revealed his Sword Intent to defeat him. The chapter ended with Fang Han killing Yuan Zhan before he could escape.

• Yuan Zhan attacked Fang Han for the Major Merit bounty, but Fang Han held his ground with his sword, strength, and movement.
• Fang Han and Yuan Zhan exchanged dozens of blows, while Wu Zheng realized Fang Han had reached the Third Grade.
• Yuan Zhan used his strongest strike and a burst technique, but Fang Han met it and neither gained a decisive advantage.
• Fang Han unleashed Wind Sword Intent and wounded Yuan Zhan with a thrust that broke his saber and pierced his armor.
• Yuan Zhan tried to flee, but Fang Han struck again and beheaded him.

Fang Han helped the Azure Profound Sect defeat the Nether Pavilion forces, then joined Wu Zheng in seizing their gold mine. After recovering in the captured mine, Fang Han reflected on how he had killed Yuan Zhan despite the gap in their cultivation.

• After Fang Han killed Yuan Zhan, Wu Zheng and the Azure Profound Sect stewards led a pursuit that wiped out the fleeing Nether Pavilion stewards and disciples.
• Wu Zheng proposed seizing the Nether Pavilion mine site while its defenders were away, and Fang Han agreed.
• Fang Han and Wu Zheng led their group to the mine, where Fang Han killed the two gate guards and the Azure Profound Sect forces eliminated the remaining Nether Pavilion disciples.
• Fang Han found thousands of gold bricks in the storeroom and used the System Panel to increase his wealth to 101,000 gold.
• Wu Zheng left three stewards and ten disciples with Fang Han to guard the captured mine, then returned to the Azure Profound Sect Mining Site.
• Fang Han recovered his Internal Qi with an Earth Spirit Pill and considered how he had slain Yuan Zhan despite Yuan Zhan's higher cultivation.

Fang Han cultivated Thousand-Mile Soul Lock to Mastery so he could detect any Nether Pavilion attack on the gold mine. After learning Yuan Zhan had died, Li Wushang ordered Elder Yuan Ye to take a High Grade Realm-Breaking Pill, break through to the Second Grade, and kill Fang Han; the chapter ended as an excited Azure Profound Sect disciple brought Fang Han news.

• Fang Han reflected on killing Yuan Zhan and decided to cultivate Thousand-Mile Soul Lock to guard against Nether Pavilion retaliation.
• Li Wushang learned that Fang Han had killed Yuan Zhan and taken the gold mine, but found that all Nether Pavilion's Second Grade elders were occupied.
• Li Wushang gave Liu Jin his token and ordered him to deliver a High Grade Realm-Breaking Pill to Yuan Ye so Yuan Ye could break through and kill Fang Han.
• Fang Han devoted several days to cultivation and reached Mastery in Thousand-Mile Soul Lock, greatly improving his senses while reducing its Internal Qi consumption.
• An excited Azure Profound Sect disciple hurried to Fang Han and announced that he had wonderful news.

Fang Han learned that the new Prodigy Ranking had placed him first, surpassing Yue Lingtian. The other top-ranked prodigies saw the update and began reacting to Fang Han’s rise.

• A disciple brought Fang Han the new ranking, and Fang Han accepted first place while remaining focused on cultivation.
• Yue Lingtian saw that Fang Han had taken the top spot and reflected on the young man surpassing him before he left the ranking.
• Liu Bai learned that Fang Han had pushed Yue Lingtian down and resolved to challenge him for first place.
• Mad Blade discovered he had fallen to fourth and welcomed the prospect of competing with Fang Han.
• Wuxiang read that Fang Han was first and quietly returned to meditation.

Li Wushang sent newly promoted Second Grade Elder Yuan Ye to Sky Swallow City to kill Fang Han and reclaim Nether Pavilion’s gold mine. At the former mine site, Fang Han cultivated the Void-Sundering Sword Manual with Wind Sword Intent until something suddenly changed his expression.

• Li Wushang learned that Fang Han had killed Yuan Zhan, taken the gold mine, and claimed first place on the Prodigy Ranking.
• Yuan Ye arrived and told Li Wushang that he had broken through to Second Grade after taking the pill Li Wushang gave him.
• Li Wushang ordered Yuan Ye to kill Fang Han and recover the mine, and Yuan Ye accepted the mission, vowing to avenge Yuan Zhan.
• Fang Han practiced the Void-Sundering Sword Manual at the former gold mine, using Wind Sword Intent to carve deep gashes into the ground and kill field mice with its spiritual impact.
• Fang Han continued cultivating, feeling his mastery deepen gradually, until his expression suddenly changed.

Fang Han faced Yuan Ye, a Second Grade Nether Pavilion elder who had come to avenge Yuan Zhan and reclaim the gold mine. After Yuan Ye’s ambush nearly struck him, Fang Han’s sword and spiritual attack forced the elder back, but Yuan Ye recovered and opened their distance.

• Fang Han sensed a dangerous unfamiliar aura approaching the mine and concealed himself in the forest.
• Yuan Ye spotted Fang Han despite his concealment and blasted his hiding place with a powerful black fist, which Fang Han narrowly dodged.
• Yuan Ye identified Fang Han as Yuan Zhan’s killer and charged him with a stronger attack.
• Fang Han met Yuan Ye’s fist with the Cloudsplitter Sword, and a spiritual impact disrupted Yuan Ye long enough for Fang Han to break through and wound him.
• Fang Han pursued with a sword strike aimed at Yuan Ye’s heart, but Yuan Ye recovered and swiftly retreated beyond his reach.

Fang Han fought Yuan Ye, a Second Grade martial artist, to a draw with his Wind Sword Intent and formidable strength. After Wu Zheng arrived to help, the two Azure Profound Sect cultivators gained the advantage and forced Yuan Ye to flee.

• Yuan Ye recovered from Fang Han's Sword Intent and launched a fierce assault, but Fang Han matched him with his swordsmanship and physical strength.
• Fang Han and Yuan Ye exchanged wounds in a close-range clash, leaving both injured without either gaining an advantage.
• Wu Zheng arrived from the Azure Profound Sect Mining Site after seeing Fang Han's signal for aid and joined the battle.
• Fang Han and Wu Zheng attacked Yuan Ye from both sides, combining Sword Intent with icy Internal Qi to push him into a disadvantage.
• Yuan Ye realized he could not win, struck Wu Zheng back, and turned to flee.

Fang Han and Wu Zheng withdrew from the contested gold mine after Yuan Ye escaped, then Fang Han tracked Yuan Ye to a nearby estate. A sect elder, Zhao Mai, arrived at the Azure Profound Sect Mining Site, giving Fang Han and Wu Zheng hope of gathering enough strength to kill Yuan Ye.

• Fang Han and Wu Zheng drove Yuan Ye away but agreed to abandon the gold mine and regroup rather than risk being attacked separately.
• Fang Han led the stewards and their mined gold ore to Wu Zheng's site, where he treated his wound and restored his Internal Qi.
• The next day, Fang Han tracked Yuan Ye to a large estate, memorized its location, and reported it to Wu Zheng.
• Fang Han sensed a familiar elder approaching, and he and Wu Zheng went to welcome Zhao Mai, a Second Grade sect elder.
• Wu Zheng told Zhao Mai they needed his judgment, while Fang Han saw a chance to join forces against Yuan Ye.

Fang Han, Zhao Mai, and Wu Zheng pursued Yuan Ye after he fled his hiding place, but could not catch him. Fang Han returned to the sect, while Li Wushang learned of his growing threat and chose to leave him alone until the Nether Pavilion could spare a Second Grade elder.

• Wu Zheng told Zhao Mai how Fang Han had fought Yuan Ye, and Zhao Mai agreed to help capture the Nether Pavilion elder.
• Fang Han led Zhao Mai and Wu Zheng to Yuan Ye's estate, where they discovered he had fled north, then abandoned the chase after failing to catch him.
• Zhao Mai relayed the Sect Master's order allowing Fang Han to return to the Azure Profound Sect, and Fang Han bid farewell to the mining-site disciples before leaving.
• Yuan Ye returned to the Nether Pavilion and told Li Wushang that Fang Han had resisted him and escaped after Zhao Mai arrived.
• Li Wushang decided not to target Fang Han until the Nether Pavilion could free a Second Grade elder from guarding its other strongholds.

Fang Han returned to the Azure Profound Sect, received recognition and two Minor Merits for his achievements in Sky Swallow City, and reunited with Yun Qianyue. After she visited him, they walked together until nightfall and headed back side by side.

• Fang Han returned to the Azure Profound Sect, where disciples congratulated him for taking first place on the Prodigy Ranking.
• Chen Tianyuan praised Fang Han for protecting the sect’s mine, killing Yuan Zhan, and taking the Nether Pavilion’s mine, then awarded him two Minor Merits.
• Fang Han returned to No. 35 Annex, where Qui Lan and the maidservants welcomed him and helped him prepare a bath.
• Yun Qianyue heard Fang Han had returned and went to visit him after leaving Yun Muyao’s residence.
• Fang Han and Yun Qianyue walked together to Listening Wind Terrace, watched dusk turn to night, and then started back together.

Fang Han spent 100,000 gold to amplify his Secret Art Talent, then steadily cultivated the Return to Ruin Essence Concealment Art until it reached the Greater Accomplishment Realm. He continued training his other skills, but remained one Minor Merit short of exchanging for a grandmaster-level movement technique.

• Fang Han used an Earth Spirit Pill to recover and inspected his System Panel, then spent 100,000 gold to raise his Secret Art Talent Amplification from 64x to 128x.
• Fang Han cultivated the Return to Ruin Essence Concealment Art each day alongside his Internal Qi, sword, body-tempering, and movement training.
• On the tenth day, Fang Han advanced the Return to Ruin Essence Concealment Art to the Greater Accomplishment Realm and tested how well it concealed him from Qui Lan and passing disciples.
• Fang Han concluded that the Greater Accomplishment Realm might hide him from a Second Grade martial artist's Spiritual Perception, but that only the Perfection Realm could ensure it.
• Fang Han found that the Windcloud Escape was close to the Perfection Realm, but he still lacked one Minor Merit to exchange for a grandmaster-level movement technique and could find no suitable short-term mission.

Fang Han reached the Perfection Realm in Windcloud Escape, then was summoned by Chen Tianyuan for a mission to intercept Nether Pavilion supplies. Elder Jin doubted that Fang Han could help her kill the Second Grade escort, despite Chen Tianyuan citing his fight with Yuan Ye.

• Fang Han fused the Wind Concept with Windcloud Escape and reached the Perfection Realm, gaining greater speed and stealth.
• Fang Han realized he needed one more Minor Merit to exchange for a Grandmaster-level Body Movement technique.
• A duty disciple summoned Fang Han to the Sect Master's Hall, where Chen Tianyuan introduced him to Elder Jin.
• Chen Tianyuan assigned Elder Jin to lead an operation against Nether Pavilion and ordered Fang Han to help kill the Second Grade escort for one Minor Merit.
• Elder Jin questioned whether Fang Han could contribute, and Chen Tianyuan said Fang Han had fought Yuan Ye without falling behind.
• Elder Jin remained doubtful and told Fang Han she could not easily believe a newly promoted Third Grade martial artist could contend with a Second Grade opponent.

Fang Han followed Azure Profound Sect’s order to retrieve intelligence about Nether Pavilion’s secret supply purchases in Plain Valley City. He learned that Lan Yuexin and Hundred Treasures Pavilion had provided the information, and she handed him details about Nether Pavilion’s merchant caravan.

• Fang Han and Jin Han led several dozen Azure Profound Sect members out of the sect at night, traveling by remote routes toward East Foothills Prefecture.
• A sect messenger hawk delivered a letter instructing Fang Han to enter Plain Valley City after nightfall and retrieve secret intelligence.
• Fang Han used Thousand-Mile Soul Lock and Windcloud Escape to enter the city undetected and reach the designated courtyard.
• Fang Han discovered that Lan Yuexin was waiting at the rendezvous and asked why she was involved.
• Lan Yuexin explained that Hundred Treasures Pavilion had uncovered Nether Pavilion’s purchases through its merchant connections beyond the prefecture.
• Lan Yuexin gave Fang Han a sealed letter containing the caravan’s route, personnel arrangements, and information about its accompanying elder.