Chapter Summaries

Xie Songnian agreed to help the Shadow Prison Sect frame the You Family in exchange for powerful fighters and a life-extending pill. As rumors spread and the You Family sought the three great sects’ protection, Xie Songnian killed You Longji during their meeting, pushing Cang Prefecture toward open chaos.

• A cloaked Shadow Prison Sect figure offered Xie Songnian ten Organ-Refining Realm experts and a Gold Spirit Pill if he helped direct blame for the Demon Sect’s crimes toward the You Family, and Xie Songnian agreed.
• Jiang Che read reports of attacks, massacres, and abductions, including rumors linking the You Family to the Sinful Desire Sect, and feared a storm was gathering in Cang Prefecture.
• You Longji told You Honglang that the Shadow Prison Sect was framing their family to seize the Rebirth Bell, but he planned to clear their name before the three great sects.
• You Longji met representatives of the three great sects and explained that his family had left the Sinful Desire Sect decades earlier, but Xie Songnian denounced him and attacked.
• Xie Songnian struck You Longji with a powerful palm, killing him as the other sect representatives hesitated.

After Xie Songnian killed You Longji and persuaded the sects to attack the You Family, Jiang Che suspected the campaign concealed a plot but was forcibly conscripted. He prepared for the expedition by seeking a stronger weapon and found Silk-Entwining Gauntlets at Linlang Pavilion, where he offered rare goods to cover their price.

• Xie Songnian presented evidence against the You Family, and representatives of the Taiyuan Sect and Mystic Sound Sect agreed to join an extermination campaign.
• Jiang Che bought Blood-Qi Realm manuals and heard disciples repeat the official account of You Longji’s death, leaving him suspicious of Xie Songnian’s motives.
• Jiang Che refused to volunteer for the campaign, but the Internal Affairs Hall conscripted him; he suspected Xie Xingwen had arranged it to target him outside the sect.
• Jiang Che decided to stay out of the fighting as much as possible and went to Linlang Pavilion to replace his damaged Kunji Blade with better equipment.
• Jiang Che tried on the costly Silk-Entwining Gauntlets and offered the shopkeeper his rare ores and pills in exchange.

Jiang Che exchanged rare ores for new equipment, then accepted Ye Lianzhen’s request to protect Tang Qiaoqiao during the campaign against You Family Manor. As the allied forces stormed the manor, the You Family prepared to fight to the death and preserve You Honglang as its last hope.

• Jiang Che sold six rare ores at Linlang Pavilion, bought gauntlets and stretchy Flowing Cloud Toughness, and returned safely to the sect.
• Ye Lianzhen told Jiang Che that Tang Qiaoqiao was on the campaign roster and asked him to protect her and watch Xie Xingwen, giving him armor, medicines, and Corpse Dissolving Water.
• You Honglang learned that the Qilin Army and the three great sects had surrounded You Family Manor, leaving the family with no clear escape route.
• You Bojun ordered You Honglang to take the Rebirth Bell and flee while the elders and remaining fighters drew the enemy’s attention; You Honglang swore revenge before leaving to prepare.
• Xie Songnian led the allied forces in a breach of You Family Manor’s gates, and the You Family’s Supreme Elders confronted them before the battle erupted.

As the three great sects attacked the You Family Manor, You Honglang and You Zhong used the Rebirth Bell to escape Mo Wuhen by entering the terrifying Reality Realm. At the manor, Jiang Che chose to keep his group out of the battle and patrol the forest, leaving Tang Qiaoqiao angry at his decision.

• You Bojun fought Xie Songnian and the two courtyard deans before burning his life essence to cover the surviving You Family members’ escape.
• You Honglang and You Zhong fled through a secret passage with the Rebirth Bell, but Mo Wuhen blocked their path and demanded the treasure.
• You Honglang activated the Rebirth Bell, transporting himself and You Zhong into the Reality Realm and eluding Mo Wuhen.
• You Honglang recognized that the Rebirth Bell had taken them into the deeper Reality Realm, where its light shield protected them from a bizarre creature as they hurried away.
• Jiang Che asked Elder Fang to let him, Tang Qiaoqiao, Liu Qing, and Su Wan patrol outside the manor, and Tang Qiaoqiao angrily called him a coward.

Jiang Che kept Tang Qiaoqiao, Liu Qing, and Su Wan away from the battle at the You Family manor, while Lin Bihe died confronting the wounded Grand Elder You Bojun. Afterward, Xie Xingwen planted forged evidence against the You Family and planned to target Tang Qiaoqiao and Jiang Che next.

• Jiang Che led Tang Qiaoqiao, Liu Qing, and Su Wan to a distant slope and refused to let them join the looting, while Azure Cloud Sect disciples Xie and Yan Hanpeng passed by with their spoils.
• Lin Bihe’s team searched the manor’s Alchemy Room, where the wounded You Bojun emerged and killed Lin Bihe and two disciples before Yue Lingfeng and Xu Qingshan intervened.
• Xu Qingshan killed You Bojun, while Yun Weiwei escaped and began doubting whether the You Family had been wrongly accused and whether the looted resources were worth the deaths.
• Xie Xingwen planted a forged account book in the Accounts Office to make the You Family appear connected to the Demon Sect, then arranged for other sect disciples to discover it.
• Xie Xingwen left with Liu Cang and named Tang Qiaoqiao and Jiang Che as his next targets.

Jiang Che used Xu Qingshan’s attack jade talisman to kill Liu Cang, then discovered Tang Qiaoqiao had disappeared and tracked her to Xie Xingwen. Meanwhile, You Honglang and You Zhong escaped the Reality Realm, and You Honglang killed Yan Hanpeng before the pair came upon Xie Xingwen assaulting Tang Qiaoqiao.

• Xie Xingwen sent Liu Cang to ambush Jiang Che, but Jiang Che lured Liu Cang into the forest and killed him with Xu Qingshan’s attack jade talisman.
• Jiang Che searched Liu Cang’s belongings, took an ancient-script manual, and dissolved the corpse to hide the evidence.
• Jiang Che returned to find Tang Qiaoqiao missing, sent Liu Qing and Su Wan to alert Dean Xu, then followed her tracks toward Xie Xingwen.
• Xie Xingwen led Tang Qiaoqiao into the forest and tried to pressure her into intimacy; when she refused, he forcibly dragged her into his arms.
• You Honglang and You Zhong escaped the Reality Realm, and You Honglang killed Yan Hanpeng after recognizing his family’s stolen belongings.
• You Honglang and You Zhong followed cries through the forest and found Xie Xingwen gripping Tang Qiaoqiao as she struggled.

You Honglang captured Tang Qiaoqiao after Xie Xingwen abandoned her, but Jiang Che killed Xie Xingwen and tracked her down. Outmatched by You Honglang and You Zhong, Jiang Che attacked with a poison ball, which burst into thick white smoke.

• You Honglang confronted Xie Xingwen, who shoved Tang Qiaoqiao toward him and fled.
• You Zhong pursued Xie Xingwen, but Xie Xingwen escaped after using a Cyan Jade Talisman to destroy a tree and force You Zhong to dodge.
• Jiang Che stopped Xie Xingwen, defeated him, killed him, and found high-quality Snow Crystal Milk on his body.
• Jiang Che followed footprints to You Honglang, You Zhong, and the bound Tang Qiaoqiao, then hid and assessed their strength.
• Jiang Che blocked You Honglang from leaving with Tang Qiaoqiao, and when You Honglang attacked, Jiang Che threw a little poison ball that erupted into dense white smoke.

Jiang Che used the Illusion Mist Bead to rescue Tang Qiaoqiao from You Honglang, then returned to the Azure Cloud Sect as casualties from the You Family operation came to light. After Ye Lianzhen offered him a steady supply of pills and questioned him about missing people, Jiang Che rented a Grade B Cultivation Room to pursue a breakthrough to the Organ-Refining Realm.

• Jiang Che escaped with Tang Qiaoqiao while You Honglang and You Zhong were trapped in the Illusion Mist Bead’s effects, then the two recovered and fled when experts approached.
• Jiang Che told Xu Qingshan and the others that he had rescued Tang Qiaoqiao from You Honglang, while Tang Qiaoqiao revealed that Xie Xingwen had abandoned her.
• The Azure Cloud Sect forces returned from the You Family Manor, where Jiang Che learned that Lin Bihe and Yan Hanpeng had died; You Honglang and You Zhong later escaped pursuit.
• Ye Lianzhen thanked Jiang Che for saving Tang Qiaoqiao, promised him monthly pills, and asked whether he knew why Xie Xingwen and Liu Cang had disappeared; Jiang Che denied knowing anything.
• Jiang Che reviewed the Snow Crystal Milk and beast-hide manual he had acquired, worried about the danger posed by Xie Songnian, and rented a Grade B Cultivation Room to cultivate toward the Organ-Refining Realm.

After Xie Songnian questioned Jiang Che about Xie Xingwen’s disappearance, Jiang Che survived the confrontation and spent three months cultivating, advancing to Late-Stage Bone-Forging and awakening the active skill Pupil Seal. He tested the new ability on animals, killing a hornet before turning to a snake.

• Xie Songnian questioned Tang Qiaoqiao and Jiang Che about Xie Xingwen’s disappearance, and Jiang Che blamed the You Family while denying that he had seen Xie Xingwen or Liu Cang.
• Xie Songnian considered killing Jiang Che but let him leave, then met Mo Wuhen, received the promised Gold Spirit Pill, and asked him to investigate Xie Xingwen’s disappearance.
• Jiang Che spent three months cultivating with pills and Snow Crystal Milk, reached Late-Stage Bone-Forging, perfected the second layer of the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Art, and strengthened several talents.
• Jiang Che’s True Eye of Myriad Phenomena advanced to True Myriad Phenomena Eye and gained the Pupil Seal skill, which could control a weaker target and access its senses and memories.
• Jiang Che tried Pupil Seal on a hornet, which died, then activated the skill on a mottled snake.

Jiang Che used [Pupil Seal] to make a crow his scout and learned that Xie Songnian had ordered men to capture him. He fled the sect with Jiang Ling, then lured a Demon Sect expert into the wilderness and killed him with a surprise attack.

• Jiang Che tested [Pupil Seal] on a snake, crow, and dog, discovering he could maintain only one imprint at a time and choosing the crow as his scout.
• Xie Songnian grew suspicious of Jiang Che and ordered a trusted disciple to bring him in for questioning.
• Jiang Che learned of the order through the crow, left the sect with Jiang Ling, and took her to Cang Prefecture Capital.
• Xie Songnian sent Shadow Sha and nine other Demon Sect experts to search for Jiang Che, while the crow secretly followed them.
• Jiang Che detected a Demon Sect expert near East Market Street, sent Jiang Ling to the Yin Family Cloth Shop, and used [Shadow Evasion] to lure the pursuer into the wilderness.
• Jiang Che emerged from concealment and killed the Demon Sect expert with a single punch to the head.

Jiang Che hunted down the Demon Sect trackers, then returned to Azure Cloud Sect with Jiang Ling while Xie Songnian left for the Capital City. With a brief chance to grow stronger, Jiang Che planned to earn protection by distinguishing himself at the Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly.

• Jiang Che used crow, Shadow Evasion, and Fifteenfold Strike to kill nine Demon Sect experts, then transformed into the Black-Armored Giant and killed their leader, Shadow Sha.
• Xie Songnian learned that his ten trackers had vanished and suspected Jiang Che had a powerful ally, but Xu Zhouzi ordered him to represent Azure Cloud Sect in the Capital City.
• Jiang Che waited until Xie Songnian had departed, then collected Jiang Ling from the Yin Family Cloth Shop and returned with her to Azure Cloud Sect.
• Jiang Che rented a Grade B Cultivation Room and resolved to shine at the Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly so Xu Zhouzi and the sect leadership would see him as worth protecting.

Jiang Che impressed Xu Qingshan with his rapid cultivation progress and received Origin Marrow Pills and a token granting access to a Grade A Cultivation Room. After Jiang Che revealed that Xie Songnian might target him, Xu Qingshan vowed to protect him, and Jiang Che presented the token to Uncle-Master Shen to enter the Grade A room.

• Jiang Che worried that he could not reach the Organ-Refining Realm before the Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly without access to a Grade A Cultivation Room.
• At Xu Qingshan's monthly inspection, Jiang Che revealed that he was close to the Peak Bone-Forging Realm, astonishing the disciples and cheering Xu Qingshan.
• Xu Qingshan privately gave Jiang Che a bottle of Origin Marrow Pills and a token for a Grade A Cultivation Room, urging him to compete for Cloud Sea Courtyard at the assembly.
• Jiang Che told Xu Qingshan that Xie Songnian might harm him after he had been pursued by Demon Sect members, and Xu Qingshan promised to protect him.
• Jiang Che took Xu Qingshan's token to Uncle-Master Shen and requested a Grade A Cultivation Room, prompting Shen to ask how he had obtained it.

After eight days of cultivation in a Grade A room, Jiang Che broke through to the Organ-Refining Realm. He was named Cloud Sea Courtyard’s Chief Senior Disciple and received new privileges and resources, including access to the Scripture Repository’s fifth and sixth floors.

• Jiang Che used the Origin Marrow Pill and top-grade Snow Crystal Milk to cultivate in a Grade A room, reached the peak of the Bone-Forging Realm, and broke through to the Organ-Refining Realm.
• Uncle-Master Shen witnessed Jiang Che’s breakthrough, while Xiao Mingqian overheard news of a young disciple’s achievement and wrongly dismissed the possibility that it was Jiang Che.
• At Cloud Sea Courtyard’s chief disciple selection, Jiang Che revealed his new realm, and Xu Qingshan appointed him Chief Senior Disciple instead of Xiao Mingqian.
• Xiao Mingqian congratulated Jiang Che, and Jiang Che reassured him that he would always regard him as a senior brother.
• Jiang Che and Xiao Mingqian visited the Internal Affairs Hall, where Elder Jin issued Jiang Che his chief disciple identity token, monthly supplies, and a stipend of one thousand taels in gold notes.
• Jiang Che learned that his new token granted him authority to deploy disciples and access to the Scripture Repository’s fifth and sixth floors, where the Heaven-Mending Art was kept.

After becoming Cloud Sea Courtyard’s Chief Senior Disciple and reaching the Organ-Refining Realm, Jiang Che studied the Scripture Repository’s manuals, learned how martial artists advanced toward the True Person Realm, and began training for the Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly. He remained wary of True Person Realm experts and could not yet cultivate the Heaven-Mending Art because he lacked its key medicinal catalyst.

• Jiang Che visited the Scripture Repository, showed Uncle Zhang his Chief Senior Disciple token, and gained access to the sixth floor.
• Jiang Che selected the Heaven-Mending Art, the third layer of the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Art, martial arts manuals, and books on ancient writing.
• Jiang Che learned that opening twelve major acupoints and refining the spirit allowed a martial artist to sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism and transform force into true qi.
• Jiang Che discovered that the Heaven-Mending Art required a Bone-Eroding Ghost Orchid from the vanished Abyss of Ten Thousand Poisons, then struggled to decipher the beast-hide manual from Liu Cang.
• Jiang Che rented a Grade A Cultivation Room, consolidated the third layer of his art, and tested his increased strength, including unleashing his Fifteenfold Strike five times in succession.
• News that Jiang Che had become Cloud Sea Courtyard’s new Chief Senior Disciple spread throughout Azure Cloud Sect.

Jiang Che’s breakthrough to the Organ-Refining Realm and appointment as Cloud Sea Courtyard’s chief senior disciple drew congratulations, gifts, and gossip throughout Azure Cloud Sect. As the Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly began, powerful guests and young geniuses gathered, and Vice Sect Master Xie Songnian returned from the Capital City.

• Ye Lianzhen celebrated Jiang Che’s news by sending him spirit medicine, while Tang Qiaoqiao was stunned to learn of his breakthrough and new position.
• Mu Jun brought Jiang Che a gift, Yun Weiwei offered him pills and condolences for Lin Bihe, and the Yin family celebrated his success by increasing his share in their cloth shop.
• Jiang Che received many visitors and gifts, hoping his growing reputation would make Xie Songnian hesitate to move against him; Jiang Ling recorded the gifts.
• Sect disciples debated whether Jiang Che could perform well at the Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly, which drew extra attention as Azure Cloud Sect marked its four-hundredth anniversary.
• The assembly began with sect leaders, guests, and prominent young disciples in attendance, including Qin Wuya, Xiao Qingge, and Chen Jiayu.
• Vice Sect Master Xie Songnian returned from the Capital City as the guests took their seats.

Jiang Che fought in the Azure Cloud Sect’s Dao-Seeking Assembly and revealed strength far beyond the crowd’s expectations, defeating several Organ-Refining Realm opponents. He defeated Shi Poyue, the Startling Thunder Courtyard’s Chief Senior Disciple, while Xie Songnian continued to regard him as a threat.

• Xie Songnian learned that Jiang Che had become the Cloud Sea Courtyard’s Chief Senior Disciple and vowed to kill him after the assembly.
• Xiao Mingqian placed second in the Bone-Forging Realm tournament, and Jiang Che entered the Organ-Refining Realm matches.
• Jiang Che defeated an Early Organ-Refining Realm opponent and a Mid Organ-Refining Realm opponent from the High Heaven Courtyard with single punches.
• Gu Qingxuan, Fang Muye, and Shi Poyue each displayed their prowess in the tournament before Jiang Che faced Shi Poyue.
• Jiang Che blocked Shi Poyue’s attacks, then struck the spine of his greatsaber and knocked it away, leaving Shi Poyue defeated.

Jiang Che stunned the Azure Cloud Sect by defeating Shi Poyue and then enduring Gu Qingxuan’s full-powered sword strike before conceding. His talent won him recognition from Sect Master Xu Zhouzi and the gathered young elites, while Xie Songnian’s desire to kill him grew stronger.

• Jiang Che defeated Shi Poyue, thrilling Xu Qingshan and alarming Xie Songnian, while spectators and guests reassessed his strength.
• Fang Muye defeated Wang Zhenhai and advanced to the finals.
• Jiang Che evaded Gu Qingxuan’s initial Sword Qi, then endured her drawn-sword assault and forced her to unleash her full strength.
• Jiang Che met Gu Qingxuan’s High Heaven: Sky Collapse head-on with Fifteenfold Strike and survived, astonishing the crowd and Sect Master Xu Zhouzi.
• Jiang Che conceded the match, and Gu Qingxuan warned him not to hold back next time as the crowd made way for him with awe.
• Fang Muye wondered whether Jiang Che had surpassed him, while Xie Songnian’s hatred intensified.

After placing third in the Dao-Seeking Assembly, Jiang Che received a Sect Master Seal that made it far harder for Xie Songnian to target him. He settled into his new residence and discovered that the Hidden Dragon Ranking placed him ninth among Cang Prefecture Capital’s young talents.

• Jiang Che defeated Wang Zhenhai to claim third place, while Gu Qingxuan overwhelmed Fang Muye in the final.
• Xu Zhouzi awarded Jiang Che, Gu Qingxuan, Fang Muye, and Wang Zhenhai Sect Master Seals that could block fatal attacks and summon the sect’s leaders.
• Jiang Che celebrated with Cloud Sea Courtyard, toasted Xiao Qingge, and accepted Chen Jiayu’s invitation to a martial arts gathering.
• Chen Boyan scolded Chen Jiayu for pursuing friendships with jianghu figures, while Chen Jiayu defended the value of making connections.
• Jiang Che moved into a private residence, encountered Gu Qingxuan and Fang Muye, and sparred with Wang Zhenhai in the following days.
• Jiang Che read the Hidden Dragon Ranking, saw Qin Xuange, Qin Wuya, and Gu Qingxuan at the top, and froze when he found himself ranked ninth.

After Jiang Che’s ninth-place ranking on the Hidden Dragon Ranking spread, Zhu Shichang and Wang Xiufen were punished for insulting him, while Jiang Che claimed his Cloud Stair Dao Inquiry Assembly reward at Treasure Pavilion. The chapter ended with Jiang Che learning through a crow’s vision that Xie Songnian was furious but unable to openly harm him for now.

• Jiang Che saw that the Hidden Dragon Ranking placed him ninth and Fang Muye tenth, while Fang Muye raged over being ranked below him.
• Wealthy merchants sought Jiang Che as a patron, and Zhu Shichang and Wang Xiufen panicked when they learned of his reputation.
• Zhu Yongrui brought Zhu Shichang and Wang Xiufen to the Yin Family to beg forgiveness, but Yin Rong refused and Zhu Yongrui expelled them from the Zhu Family.
• Jiang Che, Gu Qingxuan, Fang Muye, and Wang Zhenhai visited Treasure Pavilion and chose their rewards; Jiang Che selected the Star Chaser Bow.
• Xie Songnian destroyed an artificial mountain and vowed revenge against Jiang Che, while Jiang Che watched him through a black-feathered crow and confirmed that Xie Songnian could not act openly against him.

Jiang Che attended the Chen Estate’s martial exchange, where he defeated Qing Ling with a single punch and then accepted Xiao Qingge’s challenge. The chapter ended as Xiao Qingge’s heavy suona crashed against Jiang Che’s raised fists.

• Jiang Che told Xu Qingshan that he planned to attend Chen Jiayu’s martial exchange, and Xu Qingshan approved.
• Jiang Che arrived at the Chen Estate and met Chen Jiayu, Xiao Qingge, Lin Qingyun, and other young fighters.
• Chen Jiayu announced that the martial exchange’s most victorious fighter would receive a bottle of Snow Crystal Milk.
• Qing Ling challenged Jiang Che, but Jiang Che stopped his spear attacks and knocked the weapon from his grasp with one punch.
• Xiao Qingge challenged Jiang Che with a Mystic Iron Suona and struck his crossed fists, cracking the bluestone beneath him.