Chapter Summaries

Jiang Che failed to find a merchant willing to hire him as a resident expert because he was only at the Force-Entering Realm, so he considered investigating suspected Demon Sect activity for money. After Yin Yingying recommended him to her family, Steward Wang confirmed Jiang Che was an Inner Court disciple and invited him to become the Yin Family Cloth Shop’s resident expert.

• Jiang Che asked Cheng Yuzhi how to earn money quickly, and Cheng Yuzhi directed him to the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.
• The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce receptionist took Jiang Che’s processing fee but dismissed his application because merchants preferred Bone-Forging Realm experts.
• Yin Yingying told Yin Rong that Jiang Che had killed two powerful Formless Alliance experts while escorting her, and Yin Rong sent Uncle Wang to check Jiang Che’s cultivation and sect standing.
• Jiang Che read reports about the Black Sha Gang, strange activity at an abandoned graveyard, and desiccated corpses, then considered investigating them for Demon Sect clues.
• Steward Wang visited Jiang Che, confirmed he had entered the Force-Entering Realm and become an Inner Court disciple, and invited him to serve as the Yin Family Cloth Shop’s resident expert.

Jiang Che accepted a retainer position with the Yin Family Cloth Shop and received three thousand taels of gold in advance. To protect the shop without revealing his identity, he secretly wiped out eight gangs near East Market Street, collected their loot, and left the alias Meng Hao at the crime scenes.

• Jiang Che agreed to guard the Yin Family Cloth Shop for three thousand taels of gold a year, with the understanding that he would only respond when the shop faced harassment.
• Yin Rong approved Jiang Che's terms and paid him three thousand taels in advance, while Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang criticized the choice and Yin Yingying defended him.
• Jiang Che contacted Four Seas Pavilion and bought detailed information about eight notorious gangs near East Market Street.
• After receiving the dossier, Jiang Che raided the Black Wolf Gang, killed its members, took its valuables, and left a message signed by Meng Hao.
• Over the following nights, Jiang Che secretly eliminated the other seven gangs and gathered more than four thousand taels of gold in loot.

Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang failed to persuade the Yin family to replace Jiang Che, but a new gang later kidnapped Yin Rong and Steward Wang. As Jiang Che set out to rescue them, Zhu Shichang pressured Madam Li into accepting Lord Zhao’s costly intervention and a forty percent share of the cloth shop.

• Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang told the Yin family that the gang leaders in East Market Street had been killed by a wandering hero named Meng Hao, then urged them to hire a new Attendant, but Yin Rong said he trusted Jiang Che.
• A month later, Yin Yingying rushed to Jiang Che and told him the Iron Bone Gang had kidnapped Yin Rong and Steward Wang and demanded another ten thousand taels in ransom.
• Jiang Che promised Yin Yingying he would rescue them and set out for Old Locust Slope, where the Iron Bone Gang was waiting.
• Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang arrived at the Yin home and warned Madam Li that Jiang Che could not defeat the gang, then offered to seek help from Lord Zhao of the Taiyuan Sect.
• Zhu Shichang demanded twenty thousand taels and a forty percent stake in the cloth shop for Lord Zhao’s intervention, and Madam Li agreed under pressure.

Jiang Che rescued Yin Rong and Steward Wang by killing Ba Hui and the Iron Bone Gang, while Yin Yingying resisted pressure to hire Deacon Zhao and give up the cloth shop’s shares. The chapter ended with news that Yin Rong and Steward Wang had returned safely.

• Mother Yin insisted on waiting for Yin Yingying before deciding whether to hire Deacon Zhao and surrender forty percent of the cloth shop’s shares.
• Ba Hui and his men discussed ransoming Yin Rong and Steward Wang, then planned to seize Yin Yingying as well.
• Jiang Che attacked the Iron Bone Gang’s hideout, killed the five underlings, and defeated and killed Ba Hui in a fierce fight.
• Jiang Che freed Yin Rong and Steward Wang, looted the bandits’ valuables, burned their bodies, and led the two men away.
• Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang pressured Yin Yingying to hire Deacon Zhao, but she hesitated and stood by Jiang Che.
• A servant rushed into the reception hall and announced that Yin Rong and Steward Wang had returned.

Jiang Che returned to the Yin Mansion with Yin Rong after killing Ba Hui and received ten thousand taels from the grateful Yin Family. On his way back to the Azure Cloud Sect, a Demon Sect fighter ambushed him, and after nearly being killed, Jiang Che transformed into Black Armor Form.

• Yin Rong told the Yin Family that Jiang Che had rescued him and slain Ba Hui and the Iron Bone Gang, while Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang fled after Yin Yingying confronted them about their earlier threats.
• Yin Rong returned the ten thousand taels Jiang Che had recovered, but Jiang Che accepted the money as the Yin Family’s gift before leaving for the Azure Cloud Sect.
• Jiang Che sensed a powerful pursuer in a secluded alley and recognized the gray-clothed man as a Demon Sect remnant connected to the infiltrators at Golden Leaf Forest.
• Jiang Che fought the late-stage Bone-Forging Realm man, recovered from severe injuries, and cut his throat with the Kunji Blade, forcing him to use Blood-Burning Withered Bone, Demon Descent.
• The gray-clothed man’s boosted attack crushed Jiang Che’s chest and left him buried in rubble, but Jiang Che transformed into a towering figure covered in black armor.

Jiang Che killed the gray-clad Demon Sect pursuer after transforming into the Black-Armored Giant, then returned to Azure Cloud Sect with a strange green stone and a fortune in gold. He reported his other killings to Xu Qingshan, who dismissed the political concerns but noticed that Jiang Che had dispersed his cultivation.

• The gray-clad man attacked Jiang Che, but the Black-Armored Giant overwhelmed him, killed him, and continued smashing his body until Jiang Che regained control.
• Jiang Che searched the remains, found an unusually hard green stone, and escaped toward Azure Cloud Sect while worrying about being marked by the Demon Sect and the Formless Alliance.
• Back in his courtyard, Jiang Che counted 22,500 taels of gold, reviewed his other gains, and decided to keep the stone until he could investigate it safely.
• Jiang Che told Xu Qingshan that he had killed the gangs and Iron Bone Gang while protecting Yin Family Cloth Shop, concealed his transformation, and offered five thousand taels to settle any trouble with Taiyuan Sect.
• Xu Qingshan refused the gold and said the killings posed no concern, then asked Jiang Che whether he had dispersed his cultivation.

Jiang Che received Xu Qingshan’s reassurance and a Communication Talisman, then focused on improving his cultivation as the Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly began. The Four Great Prodigies dominated their opening matches, and the long-awaited showdown between them was about to begin.

• Xu Qingshan gave Jiang Che a Foundation-Solidifying Pill and explained how the Formless Alliance and Demon Sect could track marked killers, then promised the sect would protect him and gave him a Communication Talisman.
• Jiang Che resolved to reach the Bone-Forging Realm quickly, while news of his victory over Ba Hui and his dispersed cultivation spread through the Azure Cloud Sect.
• The Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly began, drawing the sect’s leaders and disciples to the Martial Arts Plaza for lectures and competitions.
• The Bone-Forging Realm competition concluded with Xiao Mingqian in third place, Yun Weiwei in fifth, and Mu Jun in eighth.
• The Four Great Prodigies—Gu Qingxuan, Fang Muye, Shi Poyue, and Lin Bihe—won their opening Organ-Refining Realm matches decisively.
• The assembly prepared for the awaited internal showdown between the Four Great Prodigies.

Jiang Che watched Gu Qingxuan win the sect competition, then struggled to advance his own cultivation and tested a costly cultivation room. After finding it unaffordable, he pinned his hopes on the Cloud Mist Ridge trial and Withered Soul Grass as registration day arrived.

• Gu Qingxuan defeated Lin Bihe in three moves, and Fang Muye beat Shi Poyue before losing to Gu Qingxuan in the final.
• Jiang Che listened to the sect elders' lectures and heard fellow disciples discuss leaving the sect, then declined Mu Jun's offer of work and Yun Weiwei's cultivation advice.
• Jiang Che spent two months cultivating but made little progress toward the Bone-Forging Realm without Withered Soul Grass.
• Jiang Che entered a Grade B cultivation room and discovered that its effects combined with his Flow State talent to greatly accelerate his cultivation, but the cost was too high to sustain.
• Jiang Che left the cultivation room and waited for the Cloud Mist Ridge trial registration day to arrive.

Jiang Che secured a place in Cloud Mist Ridge by agreeing to protect Tang Qiaoqiao and keep watch on Xie Xingwen. After the group entered the ridge, Demon Sect members ambushed them, and Jiang Che began to suspect Xie Xingwen had arranged the attack.

• Jiang Che failed to draw a slot for Cloud Mist Ridge, so Ye Lianzhen offered him one in exchange for protecting Tang Qiaoqiao and gathering Withered Soul Grass.
• Ye Lianzhen revealed that she knew Jiang Che had defeated a late-stage Bone-Forging Realm Demon Sect deacon and warned him to conceal his ability to use the Sun-Eroding Scripture safely.
• Tang Qiaoqiao met Jiang Che at the valley entrance and demanded that he keep his distance, then eagerly reunited with Xie Xingwen as their group entered Cloud Mist Ridge.
• Xie Xingwen went to pick Blood Amber Flowers, and four Demon Sect fighters ambushed the remaining group while his three guards appeared to be defeated.
• Jiang Che fought off the attackers and protected Tang Qiaoqiao and Liu Qing, while noticing that Xie Xingwen's guards were feigning injury.
• Xie Xingwen returned, struck one Demon Sect fighter in a suspiciously staged manner, and stopped Liu Qing from pursuing the fleeing attackers, deepening Jiang Che's suspicion of him.

Jiang Che followed Tang Qiaoqiao into the forest after she sneaked away to meet Xie Xingwen, whose feigned confession coaxed her into agreeing to marry him. Jiang Che tried to interrupt their meeting, but his [Omen] talent warned him that a mysterious figure in black was attacking him from behind.

• Xie Xingwen blocked Jiang Che from examining the guards and aroused Jiang Che's suspicion by showing killing intent.
• Jiang Che told Liu Qing that Xie Xingwen might have colluded with the Demon Sect, but Tang Qiaoqiao dismissed the warning and trusted Xie Xingwen.
• Tang Qiaoqiao sneaked out of camp at night to meet Xie Xingwen, and Jiang Che followed her using [Shape Shifting].
• Xie Xingwen lied that excessive Yang energy could only be cured by joining with a woman, then persuaded Tang Qiaoqiao to agree to marry him so her mother would be pressured to accept their alliance.
• Jiang Che threw a stone to interrupt Xie Xingwen and Tang Qiaoqiao, then [Omen] warned him of a black-clad figure swinging a blade at him from behind.

Jiang Che transformed into the Black-Armored Giant and killed the four Demon Sect members, then fought an overlord-class Giant Ape that retreated after showing signs of intelligence. He returned to camp and found Xie Xingwen and Tang Qiaoqiao arriving, leaving Xie Xingwen alarmed that his assassins may have been killed.

• Jiang Che lured the four Demon Sect members away from camp, transformed into the Black-Armored Giant, and killed all four.
• A powerful Giant Ape attacked Jiang Che, but it withdrew after noticing his rapid healing and hearing voices from the camp.
• Jiang Che returned to human form, found a faintly glowing green stone on a corpse, and hurried after Xie Xingwen and Tang Qiaoqiao.
• Xie Xingwen heard the battle and the Giant Ape's roars, abandoned his plans with Tang Qiaoqiao, and rushed back to camp with her.
• Jiang Che pretended to have just awakened, while Xie Xingwen realized the three guards were unharmed and Liu Qing questioned why he and Tang Qiaoqiao had come from outside.

Jiang Che returned from Cloud Mist Ridge with Withered Soul Grass and warned Ye Lianzhen that Xie Xingwen might be colluding with the Demon Sect. He entered seclusion to build his strength, then unlocked a new system function after activating twenty talents.

• Xie Xingwen found the bodies of four Demon Sect members and suspected Jiang Che had disrupted his plans, then concealed his killing intent while probing Tang Qiaoqiao about Jiang Che.
• Jiang Che gathered more than a hundred stalks of Withered Soul Grass, and his group left Cloud Mist Ridge without further trouble.
• Jiang Che reported Xie Xingwen's suspicious conduct to Ye Lianzhen, who warned him to keep the matter secret and promised him protection and access to more Withered Soul Grass.
• Jiang Che bought martial arts manuals and cultivation supplies, then repeatedly perfected Qi-Blood Realm martial arts and dispersed their cultivation to increase his strength and activate talents.
• After Jiang Che activated twenty talents, his system unlocked Variant Talent Synthesis, and he began trying to combine different talents.

Jiang Che fused his scattered talents into four core abilities, broke through to the Bone-Forging Realm, and applied to become a sect deacon. The Internal Affairs Hall elder accidentally swapped his and Zhao Kui’s assignments, sending Jiang Che to the Mine District, where Xie Xingwen had arranged to place Zhao Kui.

• Jiang Che fused ten combat talents into the True-grade [True Infinite Battle Aura], then consolidated his other talents into three core abilities, and spent months training toward the Bone-Forging Realm.
• After reaching Perfection Realm in the first layer of the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Art, Jiang Che broke through to the Bone-Forging Realm and gained [Yin-Yang Force Conversion].
• Jiang Che reported his breakthrough to Xu Qingshan, received Foundation-Solidifying Pills, and followed Xiao Mingqian to apply for a deacon post, requesting sect patrol duty.
• Xie Xingwen ordered Zhao Kui to take a deacon position in the Mine District and arranged to have Jiang Che killed if he left the mountain gate.
• The white-bearded elder mixed up Jiang Che’s and Zhao Kui’s transfer orders, assigning Jiang Che to the Mine District and Zhao Kui to sect patrols.

Jiang Che learned he had been appointed steward of the Black Stone Mining Area and received congratulations and gifts from allies, while Xie Xingwen plotted to have him disgraced rather than attack him directly. After discovering that the rare stones he possessed could help cultivate an art that might improve his innate foundation, Jiang Che set out for his new post.

• Jiang Che received his appointment as Black Stone Mining Area steward, and Mr. Wu persuaded Xie Xingwen to undermine him through staged losses and accidents instead of arranging his assassination.
• Yun Weiwei and Mu Jun learned Jiang Che had reached the Bone-Forging Realm; Mu Jun offered to help him profit from the Mine District and invited him to a gathering, but Jiang Che declined both offers.
• Yin Rong sent Jiang Che ten thousand taels in gold notes and a thirty-percent share in the Yin Family Cloth Shop, while Ye Lianzhen and other acquaintances sent him gifts and pills.
• Ye Lianzhen ordered Liu Qing to keep Tang Qiaoqiao away from Xie Xingwen, and Tang Qiaoqiao blamed Jiang Che for her confinement after learning of his breakthrough and appointment.
• Jiang Che found in the Scripture Repository that his green stones were Fluorescent Stone, a catalyst for the Heaven-Mending Art, which could improve his innate foundation; he learned he needed enough points to access its first volume on the sixth floor.
• Jiang Che exchanged for the second level of the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Art, told Jiang Ling to seek Xiao Mingqian's help if needed, and left for the Black Stone Mining Area.

Jiang Che discovered a hidden cave near the Black Stone Mining Area and cultivated in its Snow Crystal Jade storeroom while Sun Qihong, Chen Ze, and Gong Yi plotted to cause a deadly collapse and frame him. When the Eagle Beak Rock tunnel began collapsing, Jiang Che rushed in and caught the falling boulder, leaving the miners’ fate unresolved.

• Jiang Che arrived at the Black Stone Mining Area, met Sun Qihong, Chen Ze, Gong Yi, and Cheng Ming, and inspected its operations.
• Sun Qihong gave Jiang Che access to a storeroom full of Snow Crystal Jade, where Jiang Che began cultivating.
• Sun Qihong, Chen Ze, and Gong Yi planned to sabotage the Eagle Beak Rock tunnel, kill Cheng Ming and the miners, and make Jiang Che take the blame.
• Jiang Che found a concealed karst cave that could serve as a refuge, then spent several days cultivating and observing the Mine District.
• Cheng Ming noticed the Eagle Beak Rock tunnel was about to collapse and warned the miners to retreat.
• Jiang Che sensed the disaster, rushed to the tunnel, and caught the massive boulder before it fell on the miners.

After saving the miners from a cave-in, Jiang Che discovered that someone had sabotaged the supports, while Sun Qihong and his accomplices reported his strength to Xie Xingwen. Xie Xingwen arranged a Demon Sect raid on the mine, and Jiang Che recognized Sun Qihong, Chen Ze, and Gong Yi as traitors as they fled toward the Snow Crystal Jade warehouse.

• Jiang Che held up a ten-thousand-jin boulder long enough for the miners to escape, then organized the rescue and discovered signs that someone had tampered with the mine supports.
• Sun Qihong, Chen Ze, and Gong Yi reported Jiang Che's strength and failed sabotage to Xie Xingwen, who ordered Mr. Wu to arrange a Demon Sect attack and promised to kill Jiang Che himself if needed.
• Jiang Che considered who had caused the cave-in, resolved to catch the mastermind, and continued cultivating in the Snow Crystal Jade warehouse.
• Three days later, Jiang Che's True Eye of Myriad Phenomena warned him of an attack, and he rushed out to confront the Demon Sect raiders led by a Bone-Forging Late-Stage fighter called Scarface.
• While fighting Scarface, Jiang Che saw Sun Qihong, Chen Ze, and Gong Yi feign resistance before fleeing toward the warehouse with several Demon Sect members, realizing they intended to steal the ore.
• Jiang Che unleashed the active skill of True Infinite Battle Aura and swung the Kunji Blade at Scarface with tenfold strength.

Jiang Che tracked the stolen ore to Mine Overseer Sun Qihong and defeated the traitors, but Mr. Wu killed Sun Qihong before he could reveal their superior. Mr. Wu revealed his Organ-Refining Realm strength and threatened Jiang Che’s sister, Jiang Ling, as Jiang Che prepared to fight him to the death.

• Jiang Che killed Scarface, routed the remaining Demon Sect members, and rescued Cheng Ming during the attack on the Mine District.
• Jiang Che followed cart tracks to a mountain hollow and found Sun Qihong, Chen Ze, Gong Yi, and Demon Sect members transporting the stolen ore.
• Jiang Che rejected Sun Qihong’s offer to share the ore and defeated the group, but Mr. Wu killed Sun Qihong before he could identify the figure behind the theft.
• Mr. Wu revealed his Organ-Refining Realm power, overwhelmed Jiang Che in their exchange, and offered to recruit him to serve his master.
• Jiang Che refused Mr. Wu’s offer, and Mr. Wu threatened Jiang Ling before Jiang Che challenged him to fight.

Jiang Che killed Mr. Wu, returned the ore, and concealed the evidence of Sun Qihong and his associates’ crimes while looting their hidden wealth. After discovering a ledger that implicated the dead overseers but not their suspected patron, Vice Sect Master Xie Songnian, Jiang Che headed back to the Azure Cloud Sect to find a backer.

• Jiang Che transformed into a Black-Armored Giant and killed Mr. Wu with a tenfold-powered punch, then returned to normal after exhausting his Force Energy.
• Jiang Che searched the corpses, altered the scene to make it look as though the Demon Sect had killed Sun Qihong and the others, and returned the ore cart to the warehouse.
• Jiang Che examined Sun Qihong’s true ledger and learned that the overseers had secretly sold large quantities of ore to the Demon Sect, though it did not identify their suspected patron, Xie Songnian.
• Jiang Che searched Sun Qihong, Chen Ze, and Gong Yi’s residences and found gold notes, valuable ores, and two bottles of Snow Crystal Milk.
• Jiang Che hid the ores in a secluded karst cave and set out for the Azure Cloud Sect to find himself a backer.

Jiang Che secured protection and life-saving treasures from Xu Qingshan and Ye Lianzhen after the Demon Sect attack, while Xie Songnian investigated Mr. Wu’s death and held off on targeting him. The sect rewarded Jiang Che for defending the Mine District but dismissed him as its steward, leaving his position uncertain.

• Jiang Che told Xu Qingshan about the attack and Xie Songnian’s suspected collusion, offered gold and Snow Crystal Milk, and received a powerful Cyan Jade Talisman and a promise of protection.
• Jiang Che sought Ye Lianzhen’s help and received an Illusion Mist Bead, its antidote, Withered Soul Grass, and her promise to oppose Xie Songnian if needed.
• Jiang Che returned to the Mine District, helped collect the remains, and sent the sect a report blaming the attack on the Demon Sect.
• After learning Jiang Che had survived and Mr. Wu had disappeared, Xie Songnian sent Liu Cang to investigate; Liu Cang found evidence that Mr. Wu had died and that a powerful helper had been involved.
• Elder Xiao investigated the Mine District, confirmed its ore was intact, and later returned with a reward for Jiang Che’s resistance to the Demon Sect.
• Elder Xiao gave Jiang Che fifty jin of High-Grade Exotic Beast Meat, a bottle of High-Grade Qi-Replenishing Pills, and ten sect contribution points, then announced that the sect had dismissed him as steward of the Black Stone Mining Area.

After being dismissed as Mine District steward, Jiang Che returned to the Azure Cloud Sect and focused on cultivation while supporters reassured him and rumors spread about his deeds. Four months later, he had reached Bone-Forging Mid-Stage, evolved [Shadowless Evasion Flow] into [True Shadowless Evasion Flow], and committed to advancing through the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Art.

• Jiang Che handed the Mine District over to Cheng Ming, retrieved his hidden ore, and returned to the Azure Cloud Sect with his savings and Snow Crystal Milk.
• Jiang Che thanked Xu Qingshan and Ye Lianzhen for their protection, then trained in a Grade B Cultivation Room as news of his dismissal and battle against the Demon Sect spread.
• Mu Jun, Shu Yaxin, and Yan Hanpeng mocked Jiang Che, while Yun Weiwei offered him a place on her expedition team and he declined.
• The Yin Family sent Jiang Che gifts and a supportive letter, while Xiao Mingqian and Cheng Yuzhi also visited him.
• Over four months of intensive training, Jiang Che reached Bone-Forging Mid-Stage, strengthened his talents, and gained the active concealment skill Shadow Evasion after [Shadowless Evasion Flow] evolved into [True Shadowless Evasion Flow].
• Jiang Che reached Major Accomplishment in the second layer of the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Art and resolved to use it as the core of his cultivation while accumulating Qi-Blood by mastering and dispersing Blood-Qi Realm martial arts.