Chapter Summaries

Fang Han examined his spoils, recharged a valuable saber, and continued practicing the Great Void Wind God Sword. After half a month of training, he reached Minor Accomplishment and brought his understanding of the wind concept to the threshold of a further breakthrough.

• Fang Han recharged the Superior Dharma Weapon Long Saber and increased his possessed wealth from 1.5 million gold to 2.7 million gold.
• Fang Han appraised the High-Grade Divine Speed Talisman and High-Grade Flame Talisman, finding that each was worth 8 million gold.
• Fang Han practiced the Great Void Wind God Sword in the Rain-Listening Pavilion's Cultivation Ground, using insights gained after his battle with Huang Rushan to improve his swordsmanship.
• Fang Han's wind concept underwent a qualitative transformation, and the Great Void Wind God Sword reached Minor Accomplishment after half a month.
• Fang Han rested and circulated the Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture to recover his True Qi, while sensing that his understanding of the wind concept was close to another breakthrough.

Fang Han focused on improving his movement technique to overcome his speed disadvantage against top grandmasters. Meanwhile, Iron Eagle Fortress recovered and joined Zhou Tai on a journey to eliminate Fang Han, while Huang Rushan arrived at Fang Han’s garrison.

• Fang Han assessed that his strength could rival top grandmasters but his movement speed still lagged behind, so he shifted his cultivation focus to movement techniques.
• Iron Eagle Fortress ordered his injuries declared healed and prepared to leave the imperial capital with Zhou Tai the next day to attack Fang Han.
• Word spread that Iron Eagle Fortress and Zhou Tai were joining forces, and observers feared Fang Han would not survive their assault.
• Yue Lingtian arrived at Fang Han’s garrison, and Fang Han set aside his training to receive him.
• Huang Rushan appeared at the cultivation ground, and Fang Han greeted him warmly.

Yue Lingtian warned Fang Han that Huang Rushan and Zhou Tai were heading to Qingyang Prefecture with hostile intentions. Fang Han trained in the forest until the Wind-Chasing Moon-Pursuing Steps reached the Proficiency Realm, then prepared to face the two Top Grandmasters.

• Yue Lingtian delivered the Third Prince’s warning that Huang Rushan and Zhou Tai were on their way to Qingyang Prefecture.
• Fang Han recognized the danger but decided he needed to improve his movement technique before the two Top Grandmasters arrived.
• Fang Han trained by racing through the forest and using its trees as obstacles to refine the Wind-Chasing Moon-Pursuing Steps.
• The Wind-Chasing Moon-Pursuing Steps broke through to the Proficiency Realm, greatly increasing Fang Han’s speed.
• Fang Han resolved to defeat Huang Rushan and Zhou Tai and prevent them from escaping.

After recovering from his breakthrough, Fang Han confronted Zhou Tai alongside Huang Rushan. Zhou Tai effortlessly repelled their joint assault, leaving the two grandmasters shocked by his strength.

• Fang Han judged that his speed now matched or surpassed Huang Rushan’s and rested to restore his strength before their arrival.
• Zhou Tai had already arranged for his parents, Yun Qianyue, and the Fang Clan members to be moved to safety before the battle.
• Huang Rushan and Fang Han arrived together, and Zhou Tai asked about the three missing Skyfire Sect grandmasters, saying they had already died.
• Huang Rushan and Fang Han attacked Zhou Tai simultaneously with a giant claw shadow and a scorching sword strike.
• Zhou Tai deflected both attacks with two swift sword strikes, astonishing Huang Rushan and Fang Han.

Fang Han fought Zhou Tai, Huang Rushan, and Juzhua amid a fierce exchange of sword, saber, and claw attacks. He wounded Huang Rushan and battered Juzhua’s defenses, but the three opponents continued to press him.

• Huang Rushan and Zhou Tai attacked Fang Han, who dodged the Flame Blade Qi and turned to fight back.
• Fang Han’s Sword Qi struck Huang Rushan and Juzhua, wounding Huang Rushan and forcing Juzhua to defend himself.
• Zhou Tai blocked Fang Han’s attack with his Eagle Claw Phantom, but the Sword Qi sliced through it and blasted pits into the ground.
• Huang Rushan attacked Zhou Tai from behind while Zhou Tai struck at Juzhua, forcing Zhou Tai to turn and block the saber.
• Fang Han’s Sword Qi shattered Juzhua’s talon shield and hit him in the chest, sending him sliding backward.
• Zhou Tai continued attacking as Fang Han turned to meet another incoming phantom claw.

Zhou Tai overwhelmed Fang Han, Huang Rushan, and Qing Jianguang despite their combined attack. After killing Huang Rushan and Qing Jianguang, Zhou Tai took their weapons and pouch, then pursued the escaping Fang Han.

• Zhou Tai and Huang Rushan attacked Fang Han together, but Zhou Tai broke away and killed Huang Rushan with a swift sword strike.
• Qing Jianguang called to Fang Han for help, but Zhou Tai defeated him and cut him down before Fang Han could intervene.
• Fang Han blocked the remaining sword qi and fled, realizing he could not defeat Zhou Tai alone.
• Zhou Tai searched Huang Rushan's body, took his pouch and saber, and chased after Fang Han.

Fang Han caught up with Zhou Tai and killed him after severing both his arms. He searched Zhou Tai’s and Huang Rushan’s pouches, appraised several valuable items, and found an unidentified black talisman among Huang Rushan’s possessions.

• Fang Han closed the gap on Zhou Tai and struck him with powerful Sword Qi, wounding his arms and forcing him to stop.
• Fang Han severed Zhou Tai’s right arm and then his left arm before stabbing him through the heart.
• Fang Han searched Zhou Tai’s Cloth Pouch and found banknotes, a High-grade Message Talisman, and two High-grade Healing Talismans.
• Fang Han appraised Huang Rushan’s Low-grade Blade-type Spirit Weapon and examined the contents of Huang Rushan’s Cloth Pouch.
• Fang Han found banknotes, a High-grade Message Talisman, two High-grade Healing Talismans, and an unidentified black talisman in Huang Rushan’s pouch.

After killing Huang Rushan and Zhou Tai, Fang Han prepared to plunder their sects and set out for the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures. At the Imperial Capital, the two sect leaders learned through their Soul Jades that both Supreme Elders had died.

• Fang Han recharged the Low-grade Blade-type Spirit Weapon, raising his wealth to 52.7 million gold.
• Fang Han sent messages to his father, Yun Qianyue, Lan Yuexin, and Clan Head Fang Lingyuan, then headed for the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures.
• Hong Guan discovered that the Soul Jade bound to Huang Rushan had shattered and rushed to Iron Eagle Fortress's residence.
• Zhou Jing initially found Zhou Tai's Soul Jade intact, but it cracked and shattered as he turned to leave.

After losing their Supreme Elders, Zhou Jing and Hong Guan sought protection from the First Prince or Second Prince to save their sects. Fang Han traveled toward the Skyfire Sect but encountered a terrifying Great Grandmaster who blocked his way.

• Zhou Jing and Hong Guan concluded that their sects could not survive by joining forces alone and decided to seek the First Prince's or Second Prince's protection.
• Hong Guan and Zhou Jing set out to visit both princes and choose whichever offered better terms.
• Fang Han arrived in Cloud Province and headed toward the Skyfire Sect at Scarlet Flame Mountain.
• Fang Han sensed a Great Grandmaster ahead and detoured to avoid him, but the silver-haired old man appeared in his path.
• Fang Han suppressed his unease and greeted the old man respectfully.

Fang Han refused Chu Yuanji’s offer to become his Attendant and agreed to stop pursuing the Skyfire Sect and Iron Eagle Fortress after learning they were under the First Prince’s protection. He returned to Azure Profound City, reunited with his family, and then headed to the Azure Profound Sect.

• Shen Qianqiu invited Fang Han to serve Chu Yuanji, but Fang Han declined and learned the Skyfire Sect and Iron Eagle Fortress had pledged themselves to the First Prince.
• Fang Han agreed to leave the two groups alone, and Shen Qianqiu departed after revealing his Great Grandmaster speed.
• Shen Qianqiu reported Fang Han’s refusal to Chu Yuanji, who explained that killing him would violate the princes’ unspoken understanding and invite retaliation.
• Fang Han returned to Qingyang Prefecture and visited the Fang Clan’s new residence in Azure Profound City.
• Fang Han reunited with Yun Qianyue, Lan Yuexin, Fang Zheng, Lin Wan, and Fang Ying, then left for the Azure Profound Sect.

Fang Han returned to the Azure Profound Sect, recovered his True Qi, and began deriving the missing stages of Wind-Chasing Moon-Pursuing Steps. He realized the work would take over a year and considered increasing his Footwork Talent amplification to speed it up.

• Fang Han told Chen Tianyuan how the Skyfire Sect and Iron Eagle Fortress had coveted his Starry Ink Jade, and Chen Tianyuan urged him to be cautious.
• Fang Han returned to the Supreme Elder Courtyard, praised Qui Lan for reaching the Seventh Rank, and replenished his True Qi on the Starry Ink Jade cushion.
• Fang Han reflected on the gap between his strength and Shen Qianqiu's, then resolved to focus on cultivation now that his enemies had suffered losses.
• Fang Han practiced Body Movement while deriving the missing stages of Wind-Chasing Moon-Pursuing Steps, and estimated that Greater Accomplishment would take at least a year.
• Fang Han decided that unlocking Level Ten Amplification for Footwork Talent could speed his progress, then checked his System Panel and saw that he possessed 52.7 million gold.

Fang Han sold several valuables to unlock Level Ten Footwork Talent Amplification, raising it to 1,024 times and accelerating his progress in Wind-Chasing Moon-Pursuing Steps. Half a month later, he broke through from Grandmaster Third Level to Grandmaster—Fourth Layer, strengthening and refining his True Qi.

• Fang Han converted talismans and a sword-type Dharma Weapon into gold, reaching 100.2 million gold and unlocking Level Ten Footwork Talent Amplification.
• Fang Han tested and refined his movement technique, estimating that he could reach Greater Accomplishment in Wind-Chasing Moon-Pursuing Steps within half a year.
• Fang Han left the Azure Profound Sect and returned to the new Fang Mansion to have dinner with his family.
• Half a month later, Fang Han used his amplified Root Bone Talent to break through the barrier from Grandmaster Third Level to Grandmaster—Fourth Layer.
• Fang Han's True Qi expanded in quantity and became denser and purer after his breakthrough.

After reaching the Grandmaster—Fourth Layer, Fang Han took a break from cultivation and accompanied Fang Ying shopping in Azure Profound City. While appraising curios at street stalls, he found a damaged gourd-shaped vessel valued at 40 million gold.

• Fang Han assessed his new strength and resolved to keep training because he still could not match a Great Grandmaster.
• Fang Han agreed to go shopping with Fang Ying and followed her to Crispy Fragrance Studio, where she bought pastries.
• Fang Han and Fang Ying wandered through the city, and Fang Han appraised unusual wares at roadside stalls.
• Fang Han spotted a damaged gourd-shaped vessel at a stall that the System Panel valued at 40 million gold.

Fang Han bought a damaged Metal Gourd for fifty taels, converted it into forty million gold, and advanced the Golden Body Formula to its seventh layer. He left cultivation with vastly increased strength and a body that was difficult for a Grandmaster Seventh Layer to injure.

• Fang Han bought the Metal Gourd from a stallholder for fifty taels after spotting its forty-million-gold value.
• Fang Han tested the Metal Gourd with True Qi and blood, found that it did not react, and converted it into forty million gold.
• Fang Han continued cultivating the Golden Body Formula at the Rain-Listening Pavilion, building on the foundation of his Perfection Realm Black Tortoise True Art.
• Fang Han broke through to the Golden Body Formula's seventh layer as a surge of heat transformed his body.
• Fang Han tested his newly strengthened arm and crushed the air with a light clench of his fist.

After strengthening his body, Fang Han was summoned to the Azure Profound Sect's Sect Master's Hall, where Chen Tianyuan reported that the Profound Heaven Sect had unexpectedly become an overlord-level faction. The sect leaders were left questioning how West Ridge Prefecture had produced a great grandmaster and such a powerful faction so suddenly.

• Fang Han assessed his new physical strength and concluded that he would likely need to reach the grandmaster seventh layer to contend with a great grandmaster.
• A disciple summoned Fang Han to the Sect Master's Hall, where Chen Tianyuan and the Supreme Elder and five hall masters gathered.
• Chen Tianyuan announced that the Profound Heaven Sect in West Ridge Prefecture had emerged as an overlord-level faction.
• Jiang Chu admitted that the Rain Listening Hall had failed to detect the Profound Heaven Sect's rise, while Situ Xuan questioned how the resource-poor prefecture could support a great grandmaster.
• Fang Han agreed that the Profound Heaven Sect's sudden rise was strange, and the gathered leaders considered how it had concealed its strength.

Fang Han and the Azure Profound Sect worried that the Profound Heaven Sect’s sudden rise could threaten Qingyang Prefecture, prompting Fang Han to intensify his cultivation. After half a month, the sect master urgently summoned him to the Sect Master’s Hall.

• Chen Tianyuan and Gu Changqing warned that the Profound Heaven Sect might expand into Qingyang Prefecture, and Jiang Chu was ordered to monitor it.
• Fang Han returned to the Fang Mansion and told Lan Yuexin about the Profound Heaven Sect’s rise and its destruction of the other two top factions in West Ridge Prefecture.
• Fang Han spent half a month cultivating and practicing the Great Void Wind God Sword, bringing it closer to the Perfection Realm.
• A disciple from the Sect Master's Hall arrived and told Fang Han that the sect master had summoned him to discuss urgent matters.

After the Profound Heaven Sect destroyed the four top factions in Nanchuan Prefecture, the Azure Profound Sect decided to relocate to escape its expansion. Fang Han persuaded the leaders to consider the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures, but he could not recommend a specific destination.

• Chen Tianyuan told the sect leaders that the Profound Heaven Sect had wiped out Nanchuan Prefecture's four top factions and taken control of the prefecture.
• Chen Wanjun, Shen Moyan, Situ Xuan, and Tie Qianjun discussed the danger to the Azure Profound Sect, and Chen Tianyuan proposed relocating to another prefecture.
• Gu Changqing approved the relocation, and the leaders considered Riverside Prefecture and Green Mountain Prefecture as possible destinations.
• Fang Han proposed moving to the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures, saying he could secure a foothold in any prefecture without an Overlord-Level Faction.
• Chen Tianyuan revealed that Fang Han's combat strength rivaled a Top Grandmaster, convincing the hall masters that the move was feasible.
• Fang Han said he did not know the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures well enough to recommend a particular prefecture.

After the Profound Heaven Sect destroyed the four sects of Nanchuan Prefecture, all seven top factions of Qingyang Prefecture decided to relocate before they could be attacked. Fang Han warned his family and arranged for the Yun Clan and Hundred Treasures Pavilion to leave with the Azure Profound Sect, then went to tell the Fang Clan Head to prepare the Lineage to depart.

• Supreme Elder Gu Changqing chose Cloud Province as the Azure Profound Sect's destination and ordered preparations to begin for a move in five days.
• After learning of Nanchuan Prefecture's destruction, the Nether Pavilion, Vajra Temple, Hundred Flower Valley, Tyrant Blade Sect, Lingyun Sword Sect, and Rain Listening Tower each decided to leave Qingyang Prefecture.
• Fang Han told Yun Qianyue, Lan Yuexin, Fang Zheng, and Lin Wan that the Azure Profound Sect was relocating because the Profound Heaven Sect might target Qingyang Prefecture next.
• Fang Han asked Yun Qianyue and Lan Yuexin to notify the Yun Clan and Hundred Treasures Pavilion and urge them to leave with the Azure Profound Sect in five days.
• Fang Han went to Clan Head Fang Lingyuan's residence to tell him to prepare the Fang Clan Lineage to leave.

The seven sects left Qingyang Prefecture to escape the Profound Heaven Sect, while Sun Wuji ordered troops to pursue them. As Fang Han’s group traveled through East Foothills Prefecture, he sensed hundreds of approaching martial artists, including seven grandmasters.

• The Azure Profound Sect, Vajra Temple, Nether Pavilion, Lingyun Sword Sect, Tyrant Blade Sect, Hundred Flower Valley, and Rain Listening Tower began relocating from Qingyang Prefecture.
• News of the seven sects’ departure spread, and Sun Wuji ordered seven groups of troops to pursue them.
• Fang Han’s procession left Qingyang Prefecture for East Foothills Prefecture, joined along the way by the Yun Clan and the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
• Fang Han reassured his family that he would protect them, though he said they were not yet safe.
• Fang Han sensed hundreds of powerful auras approaching from behind, including seven grandmasters.

The Profound Heaven Sect ambushed the fleeing Azure Profound Sect, and Fang Han and the others were forced into battle. As traitors attacked from within and the sect's leaders were surrounded by powerful enemies, Gu Changqing faced a four-Grandmaster assault.

• Fang Han warned Chen Tianyuan and Gu Changqing that several hundred pursuers, including seven Grandmasters, were closing in, and the Azure Profound Sect formed a defensive array.
• The Profound Heaven Sect arrived with three Top Grandmasters and charged the Azure Profound Sect after declaring its intention to annihilate the Seven Sects.
• Dozens of Azure Profound Sect members revealed themselves as traitors and attacked their former companions, while Chen Tianyuan killed a traitorous elder.
• Four Profound Heaven Sect Grandmasters surrounded Gu Changqing, and he blocked the eastern Grandmaster's finger strike before the western Grandmaster attacked his left side.