Chapter Summaries

Fang Han had the Starry Ink Jade fashioned into a comfortable meditation cushion while the princes discussed his rapid rise and the danger posed by four powerful factions. That night, he sensed Zhou Tai of Iron Eagle Fortress sneaking into his residence and launched a surprise attack through the wall.

• Fang Han paid an old craftsman to shape the Starry Ink Jade into a round cushion, then used it to cultivate more comfortably at the inn.
• Chu Yuanchen, Chu Yuanhao, and Chu Qingyi discussed Fang Han's achievements and the threat posed by Iron Eagle Fortress, Skyfire Sect, Mysterious Ice Sect, and Azure Wolf Valley.
• Chu Yuanchen decided to watch Fang Han for now and consider helping him if he proved his value.
• Fang Han sensed Zhou Tai approaching his courtyard at night and decided to strike first while Zhou Tai remained unaware.
• Zhou Tai entered the courtyard and approached the main hall, but Fang Han burst through the wall with his Plain Longsword and attacked him.

Fang Han fought Zhou Tai of Iron Eagle Fortress after Zhou Tai attacked him in the Imperial Capital, but the top grandmaster overwhelmed and badly injured him. An authorities' grandmaster arrived and drove Zhou Tai to flee, then left to investigate Fang Han's accusation.

• Fang Han struck first, but Zhou Tai blocked his sword and counterattacked with a powerful claw.
• Zhou Tai battered Fang Han with repeated claw strikes, leaving him heavily injured despite his swordsmanship, movement skills, and Black Tortoise True Art.
• An authorities' grandmaster arrived, and Zhou Tai abandoned the fight and fled.
• Fang Han explained that Zhou Tai had attacked him, but the authorities' grandmaster dismissed his account as unverified and said he would investigate.
• Fang Han reflected on the authorities' grandmaster's impartial dislike of Jianghu factions and tended to his injuries.

After Fang Han’s battle wrecked an inn courtyard, the innkeeper asked him to leave, and Iron Eagle Fortress used its influence to block him from finding lodging elsewhere in the Imperial Capital. Fang Han tried inns and housing agencies, but each turned him away, so he continued searching for another agency.

• Fang Han compensated the innkeeper for the destroyed courtyard and agreed to leave the next morning.
• Fang Han found that several inns refused him, and he suspected Iron Eagle Fortress had warned them against housing him.
• The Golden Moon Inn also turned Fang Han away despite its Top Grandmaster backing.
• Fang Han hired a guide to take him to Anzai Agency, where the middle-aged clerk claimed no housing was available.
• Fang Han suspected Iron Eagle Fortress had warned the agencies too and asked the guide to take him to others.

After the Imperial Capital’s inns and agencies refused him lodging, Fang Han accepted the Third Prince’s offer of a detached courtyard. Zhou Tai learned that Fang Han had found shelter, disrupting Iron Eagle Fortress’s plan to drive him out of the city.

• Fang Han realized Iron Eagle Fortress and other top-tier powers were coordinating to deny him lodging because he possessed the Starry Ink Jade.
• The Third Prince’s head eunuch offered Fang Han a detached courtyard in the east of the city, and Fang Han accepted.
• Fang Han settled into the courtyard and decided to heal his injuries before returning to cultivation, then vowed to settle accounts with Zhou Tai.
• Zhou Tai learned that the Third Prince had given Fang Han a place to stay and became angry that their plan had failed.

Fang Han cultivated in the Third Prince’s residence and broke through to Grandmaster Third Level after just over a month. He expected to challenge Zhou Tai soon, once his Black Tortoise True Art reached perfection.

• Zhou Tai decided not to abandon his plan to eliminate Fang Han, despite Fang Han’s connection to the Third Prince, because he wanted the Starry Ink Jade and feared Fang Han’s future growth.
• Fang Han cultivated with the Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture and Starry Ink Jade for more than a month, breaking through the bottleneck to Grandmaster Third Level.
• Fang Han judged that his combat power had increased more than tenfold but still remained below Zhou Tai’s strength as a Top Grandmaster.
• Fang Han noted that the Dragon Elephant Fruit had greatly accelerated his body-refining progress and estimated that the Black Tortoise True Art would reach perfection within five to ten days.

Fang Han received an invitation to the Third Prince Chu Yuanchen’s Grandmaster Banquet and attended to repay Chu Yuanchen for lending him a residence. At the banquet, Fang Han greeted Chu Yuanchen and spotted Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Zhen Feixuan sitting together.

• Fang Han continued training the Black Tortoise True Art for three hours each afternoon as it neared the Perfection Realm.
• A maidservant delivered Chu Yuanchen’s invitation, and Fang Han decided to attend the banquet three days later.
• Fang Han traveled to the Third Prince’s Residence and presented his invitation to a steward.
• Chu Yuanchen welcomed Fang Han, accepted his congratulatory gift, and spoke warmly with him about his stay in the detached courtyard.
• Fang Han noticed Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Zhen Feixuan seated together at a table in the garden.

At the Third Prince’s banquet, Fang Han noticed several factions coveting his Starry Ink Jade but returned to his residence without incident. The next day, the Black Tortoise True Art reached Perfection Realm, giving Fang Han the strength to contend with Top Grandmasters such as Zhou Tai.

• Fang Han joined Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Zhen Feixuan at the banquet, where they discussed cultivation and exchanged insights.
• Fang Han spotted Zhou Tai and several other guests watching him greedily, apparently coveting his Starry Ink Jade.
• Fang Han and the others bid farewell to the Third Prince and left the estate as the banquet ended.
• Fang Han returned to his Cultivation Ground the next day and broke through to the Black Tortoise True Art’s Perfection Realm.
• Fang Han tested his newly enhanced body and swordsmanship, then concluded he could contend against Top Grandmasters like Zhou Tai.

Fang Han studied the incomplete Golden Body Formula and planned to use his body-tempering talent to complete it. After a morning of sword practice, he calculated that advancing his sword art would take months unless he unlocked a higher talent level, and the chapter ended with a maid delivering him an invitation.

• Fang Han read and memorized the first nine layers of the incomplete Golden Body Formula, intending to deduce its final three layers.
• Fang Han postponed switching body-tempering techniques and practiced the Great Void Wind God Sword the next morning.
• Fang Han estimated that reaching Greater Accomplishment in the sword art would take at least four months at his current cultivation speed.
• Fang Han checked his System Panel and saw that he had 71 million gold, short of the 100 million needed for Level Ten Sword Art Talent Amplification.
• A maidservant brought Fang Han a deep purple invitation letter as he ate lunch.

Fang Han accepted an invitation to the Tianbao Pavilion auction and quickly cultivated the first two stages of the Golden Body Formula. At the auction, after watching two expensive items sell, he saw a mysterious rusted blade tip presented as the third lot.

• Fang Han learned that Tianbao Pavilion belonged to Dragon Abyss Pavilion and decided to attend its auction after receiving an invitation.
• Fang Han cultivated the first two stages of the Golden Body Formula in an afternoon, though they added little to his already formidable physique.
• Fang Han arrived at Tianbao Pavilion the next day and was escorted to a private room overlooking the auction stage.
• Fang Han observed that more than ten grandmasters had gathered for the auction before bidding began.
• The first two lots, a medium-grade Dharma Weapon sword and rare body-refinement pills, sold for eight million and 6.5 million liang, respectively.
• The auctioneer presented a heavily rusted, two-foot section of blade tip as the third lot.

Fang Han used the system panel to identify an auctioned half ancient saber as a valuable bargain and won it for 4.5 million taels. After the auction, he recharged the blade tip, raising his possessed wealth above one billion gold and meeting the conditions to unlock Level Ten Amplification.

• Fang Han appraised the half blade tip and saw that the system valued it at 30 million gold.
• Fang Han outbid the other guests and won the half ancient saber for 4.5 million taels.
• A wealthy merchant-like middle-aged man won the fourth lot, and other guests bid on the auction's remaining lots.
• The Green Spirit Grass sold for 37 Low-Grade Heavenly Treasures, bringing the auction to a close.
• Fang Han returned home and recharged the half blade tip, increasing his possessed wealth from 0.71 billion gold to 1.01 billion gold.

Fang Han used his wealth to raise his Sword Art Amplification to 1024x and estimated that the Great Void Wind God Sword would soon reach Greater Accomplishment. Huang Rushan of the Skyfire Sect then threatened Fang Han's family and sect in Qingyang Prefecture, leaving Fang Han facing an urgent need to respond.

• Fang Han activated the tenth-grade Sword Art Amplification, raising his sword art talent from 512x to 1024x.
• Fang Han practiced the Great Void Wind God Sword and estimated that it would reach Greater Accomplishment in a little over a month, after which he planned to leave the Imperial Capital for Qingyang Prefecture.
• Huang Rushan visited Fang Han and offered twenty Low-Grade Heavenly Treasures for the Starry Ink Jade, but Fang Han refused and challenged the offer as too low.
• Huang Rushan warned that the Skyfire Sect could target Fang Han's family and sect, while Fang Han threatened retaliation against Huang Rushan's kin and sect.
• Huang Rushan revealed that he had sent three grandmasters to Qingyang Prefecture and warned Fang Han that delaying his return could prevent him from saving his family and sect.

Fang Han left the Imperial Capital after Huang Rushan threatened his family and sect, then confronted Huang on the road. Their first clash ended with both fighters pushed back, and Huang was shocked that Fang Han had withstood his full-strength attack.

• Huang Rushan told Fang Han that he had sent three Grandmasters to Qingyang Prefecture to target the Fang Clan and the Azure Profound Sect unless Fang Han handed over the Starry Ink Jade.
• Fang Han left the Imperial Capital and hurried toward Qingyang Prefecture, intending to face Huang Rushan rather than risk his family and sect being attacked.
• Fang Han detected Huang Rushan following him and met him outside the city.
• Huang Rushan demanded the Starry Ink Jade and attacked Fang Han with his low-grade Spirit Weapon Crimson Longsaber.
• Fang Han countered with the Windshock Sword and Great Void God-Sealing Sword, and the collision sent both fighters flying backward.
• Huang Rushan realized Fang Han had withstood his full-strength strike without being injured and was far stronger than the intelligence had suggested.

Fang Han fought Huang Rushan in a fierce battle that leveled the surrounding forest, and his swordsmanship continued to improve under pressure. After both fighters wounded each other, Huang Rushan saw that Fang Han’s chest injury was only an inch deep.

• Huang Rushan attacked Fang Han with a charged blade strike, but Fang Han held his ground and countered with the Windshock Sword.
• Fang Han and Huang Rushan exchanged dozens of blows across the scorched battlefield, and Fang Han’s sword rhythm grew faster as the fight continued.
• Fang Han knocked aside Huang Rushan’s saber and slashed his left shoulder, becoming the first to wound the veteran top grandmaster.
• Huang Rushan resumed the fight and then abandoned defense to trade injuries with Fang Han.
• Fang Han’s sword pierced Huang Rushan’s right abdomen while Huang Rushan cut Fang Han’s chest, but Huang Rushan saw that Fang Han’s wound was shallow.

Fang Han fought Huang Rushan, whose attack on the Fang Clan and Azure Profound Sect had made him a target, but Huang Rushan escaped into the Imperial Capital. Fang Han abandoned the pursuit and hurried back to Qingyang Prefecture to stop the three Skyfire Sect grandmasters.

• Fang Han and Huang Rushan traded serious wounds in a fierce sword-and-saber fight, but Fang Han’s stronger physical defense gave him the advantage.
• Huang Rushan abandoned his attempt to seize the Starry Ink Jade and fled after forcing Fang Han backward with a powerful saber strike.
• Fang Han pursued Huang Rushan, using the Soul-Chasing Art to follow his trail after Huang Rushan outran him.
• Fang Han stopped when Huang Rushan reached the Imperial Capital, where Fang Han could not attack him, and vowed to claim his life later.
• Fang Han headed for Qingyang Prefecture to deal with the three Skyfire Sect grandmasters threatening the Fang Clan and Azure Profound Sect.

After Fang Han defeated Huang Rushan, news of his strength spread through the Imperial Capital, alarming the factions seeking the Starry Ink Jade. The Mysterious Ice Sect and Azure Wolf Valley withdrew from the contest, while Zhou Tai decided Iron Eagle Fortress had to eliminate Fang Han and considered an alliance with Huang Rushan.

• Word spread through the Imperial Capital that Fang Han had defeated Huang Rushan, a Top Grandmaster.
• Liu Hanshan ordered the Mysterious Ice Sect to abandon the Starry Ink Jade and stop targeting Fang Han and his allies.
• Cang Yunshuo ordered Azure Wolf Valley to withdraw from the contest for the Starry Ink Jade.
• Zhou Tai doubted the reports of Fang Han's strength, then concluded Iron Eagle Fortress could not wait for Fang Han to grow stronger.
• A disciple reported that Huang Rushan had summoned Zhou Tai to discuss an urgent matter, and Zhou Tai saw an opportunity to join forces against Fang Han.

Zhou Tai and Huang Rushan agreed to join forces to kill Fang Han and divide the Starry Ink Jade, while two other sects refused to help. Racing back to Qingyang Prefecture, Fang Han caught up with three Skyfire Sect Grandmasters intent on attacking the Fang Clan and Azure Profound Sect, and they surrounded him.

• Zhou Tai confirmed that Fang Han had badly injured Huang Rushan and agreed with him to kill Fang Han and split the Starry Ink Jade.
• Huang Rushan said the Mysterious Ice Sect and Azure Wolf Valley Grandmasters had refused to join them.
• Fang Han reached Qingyang Prefecture after traveling day and night, then detected and pursued three Grandmasters.
• Liu Fenyang, Huang Yan, and Huo Lieshan discussed attacking the Fang Clan first and then Azure Profound Sect.
• The three Grandmasters recognized Fang Han and surrounded him, planning to kill him and take the Starry Ink Jade.

Huang Yan overwhelmed Liu Fenyang, Huo Lieshan, and Fang Han with sword strikes, killing Liu Fenyang and gravely injuring the others. Huo Lieshan and Fang Han escaped with Divine Speed Talismans, leaving Huang Yan to pursue them.

• Liu Fenyang and Huang Yan attacked Fang Han with fire-infused sword and saber strikes, while Huo Lieshan launched a flaming palm.
• Huang Yan countered with two powerful sword strikes that destroyed the attacks and sent Huo Lieshan and Fang Han flying backward.
• Huo Lieshan and Fang Han activated Flame and Lightning Talismans, but Huang Yan's sword strikes shattered their attacks and severely wounded both men.
• Yuan Juan'ai's sword pierced Liu Fenyang's chest, killing him as Huo Lieshan and Fang Han watched.
• Huo Lieshan and Fang Han used Divine Speed Talismans to flee, and Huang Yan pursued them.

Huang Yan pursued Liu Fenyang and Fang Han after they split up, catching and killing Fang Han despite his desperate resistance. He then followed Liu Fenyang’s trail toward Liangshui City, suspecting he planned to use the Fang Clan as leverage.

• Fang Han used the Soul-Chasing Art to track Liu Fenyang and Huang Yan after their talisman-fueled escape, then discovered they had split up.
• Huang Yan chose to pursue Fang Han, whose Divine Speed Talisman expired and whose speed fell sharply.
• Fang Han threatened Huang Yan with the Skyfire Sect’s Grand Elder, but Huang Yan revealed that he had defeated the Grand Elder.
• Fang Han unleashed his strongest saber strike, but Huang Yan shattered it, wounded him, and killed him with a sword thrust.
• Huang Yan searched Fang Han’s corpse, found a bulging cloth pouch, and pursued Liu Fenyang toward Liangshui City.

Fang Han caught and killed Liu Fenyang before he could take the Fang lineage hostage, then returned to Liangshui City and told Fang Jiqian and Yun Qianyue about his recent battles. Yun Qianyue proposed relocating the Azure Profound City to Liu Fenyang, leaving Fang Han to consider the plan and discuss it with the Clan Head.

• Fang Han pursued Liu Fenyang toward Liangshui City and intercepted him less than a hundred miles from the city.
• Fang Han killed Liu Fenyang and searched his body, taking a cloth pouch and sword.
• Fang Han returned to the Fang Mansion, where Fang Jiqian and Yun Qianyue welcomed him and asked about his injuries.
• Fang Han recounted his recent encounters, including his battles with Zhou Tai and Huang Rushan, shocking Fang Jiqian and Yun Qianyue.
• Yun Qianyue proposed moving the Azure Profound City to Liu Fenyang, and Fang Han said the Clan Head would need to discuss the decision.

Fang Han proposed moving the Fang Clan to Azure Profound City, and Fang Lingyuan agreed to convene the elders and hold a vote. Meanwhile, Danyao examined the three Grandmasters’ spoils, deposited a valuable teleportation talisman, and began restoring his True Qi.

• Fang Han told Fang Lingyuan that Lan Yuexin had proposed relocating the Fang Clan to Azure Profound City.
• Fang Lingyuan said he would summon the elders to discuss the move and put it to a vote, and Fang Han declined to participate.
• Danyao searched the three pouches and found banknotes, teleportation and combat talismans, two Low-grade Dharma Weapons, and broken medicinal powder.
• Danyao deposited a Medium Grade teleportation talisman, raising his wealth from 1 million to 1.5 million gold.
• Danyao ate, entered the Quiet Room, and chose to meditate to restore his depleted True Qi before resting.