Chapter Summaries

Huang Qian succeeded in drawing in qi, prompting Huang Xunjiu to announce a congratulatory banquet as the Huang Family struggled under pressure from those seeking favor with Huang Tian. Huang Tian remained focused on his own cultivation, nearing a breakthrough to the middle three ranks.

• Huang Xunjiu and He Yunrou waited anxiously as Huang Qian spent two days in seclusion taking a Qi-Gathering Pill and drawing in qi.
• Huang Qian emerged and confirmed that he had succeeded, having formed his first wisp of true qi.
• Huang Xunjiu decided to hold a banquet in five days to steady the Huang Family and its allies amid pressure from powerful figures.
• News of Huang Qian's success and the upcoming banquet spread through the county city, reaching Huang Tian.
• Huang Tian continued cultivating at the Baoqing Ward Centurion Office, believing he was only four to six days from breaking through to the middle three ranks.

Nie Kun and Tie Qi discussed Huang Tian’s prospects and the legendary martial artist Yin Fenghai. Meanwhile, Zhang Yu and two Flying Swan Sect stewards decided to ambush Huang Tian on his way home from the Centurion Office.

• Tie Qi and Nie Kun discussed Huang Qian’s success in drawing qi and attributed the Huang Family’s troubles to Huang Xunjiu’s past treatment of Huang Tian and his mother.
• Tie Qi praised Huang Tian’s temperament, talent, and potential to reach the pinnacle of the first grade.
• Nie Kun and Tie Qi spoke admiringly of Yin Fenghai’s unmatched strength and his withdrawal to study the Illusory Realm.
• Four days later, Zhang Yu met with Stewards Wu and Liu and four sixth-grade martial artists to plan Huang Tian’s assassination.
• Zhang Yu described two possible opportunities, and Wu and Liu chose to ambush Huang Tian on his way home from the Centurion Office.

Huang Tian broke through to the sixth rank of the Martial Path and demonstrated the strength of his perfected Cloud Dragon Freehand. Deciding that his new power made continued secrecy unnecessary, he planned to use the Flying Swan Sect’s assassination attempt to gain influence and access to more martial techniques.

• Huang Tian swallowed five Blood-Condensing Pills and cultivated until his qi and blood and true qi broke through to the sixth rank.
• Huang Tian summoned five cloud dragons with his perfected Cloud Dragon Freehand and judged that their combined power could briefly contend with a Dao Foundation realm, third-rank Grandmaster.
• Huang Tian considered advancing in secret but decided that accumulating true qi would take too long and that his strength made hiding unnecessary.
• Huang Tian chose to use the Flying Swan Sect’s assassination attempt to demonstrate his abilities and gain leverage to borrow martial techniques from the Six Gates, the Prefecture Office, and the Black Armor Army.

Huang Tian ignored the Huang Family’s banquet and continued cultivating at the Centurion Office while preparing for the Flying Swan Sect’s ambush. As he walked toward Qinghui Garden at dusk, Zhang Yu and the others attacked, but two figures rushed out to intercept them.

• Huang Xunjiu lamented that most powerful guests had shunned the Huang Family’s banquet, then urged Huang Qian to cultivate and restore their lineage.
• Huang Tian practiced at the Centurion Office and confirmed through observation that Zhang Yu and the others would ambush him that day.
• After work, Huang Tian left the office and walked alone into an alley while Nie Kun and Tie Qi followed him.
• Steward Wu, Steward Liu, Zhang Yu, and five sixth-rank martial artists leapt from the walls and attacked Huang Tian.
• Two figures burst out from behind Huang Tian and charged at the Flying Swan Sect attackers.

Huang Tian used a devastating Lion's Roar Technique to overwhelm the seven attackers and leave the alley in ruins. As Steward Liu tried to escape, Huang Tian struck him down into a deep pit, while the others watched in fear.

• Nie Kun and Tie Qi rushed to Huang Tian's side, unleashing a wall of true qi and a golden bell shield as the attackers closed in.
• Huang Tian drew in the surrounding air, sound, and force, then unleashed a thunderous roar that shattered weapons and sent all seven attackers flying.
• Zhang Yu and the others stared in disbelief as Huang Tian remained standing unharmed and Steward Wu recognized the power of his Lion's Roar Technique.
• Steward Liu tried to flee, but Huang Tian caught him with a palm strike and launched him into the air.
• Huang Tian followed Steward Liu and drove him into the ground with a powerful descending palm, leaving him broken and unable to move.

Huang Tian stunned Steward Wu with his gaze as Wu tried to escape, allowing Nie Kun to strike him down. As a distant fire and explosions revealed the attackers had accomplices, Bai Yuanfu rushed toward the group.

• Tie Qi and Nie Kun stared in disbelief after Huang Tian incapacitated Zhang Yu and the others with a single breath.
• Nie Kun attacked Steward Wu as Wu tried to flee over the wall.
• Huang Tian’s gaze overwhelmed Steward Wu with the vision of a Divine Mountain and five dragons, freezing him in midair.
• Nie Kun struck Steward Wu in the back, breaking his bones and knocking him unconscious.
• Nie Kun noticed a fire in the distance and suspected the attackers had accomplices, but stayed to protect Huang Tian.
• Bai Yuanfu arrived in a scarlet robe as explosions sounded in the distance.

Bai Yuanfu arrived after Huang Tian survived an assassination attempt and learned that Huang Tian had defeated several powerful martial artists. He warned Huang Tian that his revealed strength would attract more enemies, while Huang Tian accepted the danger and chose not to hide his power.

• Bai Yuanfu reached the alley and found Huang Tian unharmed, while Nie Kun and Tie Qi had subdued Zhang Yu and the other attackers.
• Xia Hong and Martial Guard forces arrived, and Bai Yuanfu ordered the assailants taken to prison while the others searched for accomplices and fought the fires.
• Bai Yuanfu escorted Huang Tian, Nie Kun, and Tie Qi to headquarters and asked them to explain what had happened.
• Tie Qi and Nie Kun told Bai Yuanfu that Huang Tian had defeated two Fifth Rank martial artists and several Sixth Rank ones, astonishing him.
• Bai Yuanfu learned that witnesses had seen Huang Tian fight and warned him that the Flying Swan Sect and other factions might target him again.
• Huang Tian accepted the risk, deciding that revealing his strength was preferable to hiding it.

Bai Yuanfu planned to protect Huang Tian from further assassination attempts and alert his Lineage to the powerful factions watching Kunyun Prefecture. Huang Tian returned home safely, while celebrations at Huang Manor were interrupted by news of outlaws in the city.

• Bai Yuanfu decided to bring Yu Jingcheng out of seclusion and write to his Lineage ancestor about Huang Tian and the provincial capital’s reaction.
• Huang Tian returned to Qinghui Garden, reassured Heng'er that the Martial Guard had caught the outlaws, and told her to rest.
• Huang Xunjiu celebrated Huang Tian’s good news with Huang Qian, Huang Jian, Huang Rui, and their guests at Huang Manor.
• Huang Qian sent the steward to investigate a commotion outside and learned that officials were patrolling the city for outlaws.
• Huang Qian questioned what kind of outlaws would dare cause trouble in the prefectural city.

At Huang Manor, Huang Xunjiu and his sons learned that Huang Tian had been targeted by assassins and hoped he would die. The steward later reported that Huang Tian had escaped unharmed, broken through to the sixth rank, and captured the assassins, leaving Huang Xunjiu and Huang Qian stunned.

• Huang Xunjiu sent the steward to investigate reports of a disturbance in the city.
• The steward reported that assassins had targeted Huang Tian, and Huang Xunjiu, Huang Qian, Huang Rui, and Huang Jian eagerly awaited confirmation of his death.
• The steward returned and announced that Huang Tian had not been injured, disappointing Huang Xunjiu, Huang Qian, and Huang Jian.
• Huang Xunjiu ordered the steward to investigate whether the assassins had been captured and to report further news about Huang Tian.
• The steward reported that Huang Tian had broken through to the sixth rank, defeated multiple martial artists, captured every assassin, and prompted constables to arrest their accomplices.
• Huang Xunjiu lost control of his true qi and overturned a table as he and Huang Qian reacted in disbelief.

After learning Huang Tian had survived an attack and reached the sixth rank, Huang Xunjiu saw the Huang Family’s allies abandon them and feared the family’s decline. He blamed Huang Rui and Huang Jian for bullying Huang Tian, while Huang Qian wondered what would become of Huang Manor.

• Huang Xunjiu learned that Huang Tian had survived an attack and reached the sixth rank, with rumors claiming strength on par with a fourth- or fifth-rank martial artist.
• The guests left Huang Manor’s banquet, deciding to reconsider their ties to the family now that Huang Tian’s rise threatened its future.
• He Yunrou returned and learned that Huang Tian had reached the sixth rank and remained unharmed after the attack.
• Huang Jian warned that people would court Huang Tian by attacking the Huang Family, prompting Huang Xunjiu to blame him and Huang Rui for their past bullying.
• Huang Xunjiu berated Huang Rui, Huang Jian, and He Yunrou, while Huang Qian sat in confusion about Huang Manor’s future.

Huang Tian learned that the arsonists had been hired anonymously and that Fang He had escaped, while resolving to attack the Flying Swan Sect once he was strong enough. Assistant Commissioner Yu Jingcheng emerged from seclusion, heard about Huang Tian’s extraordinary talent, and arranged for him to access several martial libraries.

• Qi Hong reported that the city’s arsonists had been caught, while Luo Chan revealed that Fang He had fled after being named as Zhang Yu’s accomplice.
• Huang Tian dismissed Fang He’s escape and planned to destroy the Flying Swan Sect after gaining enough strength to defeat its grandmasters.
• Bai Yuanfu asked Yu Jingcheng to leave seclusion and recounted Huang Tian’s rapid breakthroughs, exceptional combat ability, and instant mastery of martial techniques.
• Yu Jingcheng agreed to protect Huang Tian, provide him with resources, and arrange access to the Library Pavilions of the Six Gates, the Black Armor Army, and the Prefecture Office.

After capturing Zhang Yu, Huang Tian received a promotion and several rewards from the Martial Guard, including access to multiple Library Pavilions, a Spirit Jade Ganoderma, and a divine bow. The chapter left him newly appointed as a chiliarch, preparing to make use of his rewards and half-month leave.

• Huang Tian met Bai Yuanfu and Assistant Commander Yu Jingcheng, who praised his work capturing Zhang Yu.
• Yu Jingcheng gave Huang Tian a golden token granting him access to the Six Gates, the Black Armor Army, and the Prefecture Office Library Pavilions, along with a Spirit Jade Ganoderma.
• Huang Tian chose a bow as his divine weapon, and Bai Yuanfu presented him with the grandmaster-level Crimson Dawn Bow.
• Bai Yuanfu promoted Huang Tian from acting centurion to full chiliarch, kept him overseeing the Centurion Office in Baoqing Ward, and granted him half a month's leave.
• Huang Tian updated his records, collected his chiliarch robe and waist badge, and tried on the crimson Kirin Robe.

Huang Tian rejected Huang Manor’s gift and used the Spirit Jade Ganoderma to accelerate his cultivation. Meanwhile, the Flying Swan Sect discussed a new assassination attempt and decided to recruit the Thousand Faces Old Ghost by offering him a precious pill.

• Huang Tian told Aunt Qin to return all congratulatory gifts, including the one from Huang Manor.
• Huang Tian consumed a small piece of the Spirit Jade Ganoderma and found that it greatly sped up his cultivation.
• Qian Shan and the Flying Swan Sect elders learned that Huang Tian had reached the sixth rank and captured Wu and Liu.
• The one-eyed elder proposed hiring the Thousand Faces Old Ghost with a Treasure Elephant Sacred Fetus Pill.
• Qian Shan agreed to offer the pill and proposed that the other four major sects share the cost.

Powerful families and the Demon Cult sent people toward Kunyun Prefecture to investigate Huang Tian, while a provincial general’s daughter traveled there with her grandmother, who hoped to learn the cause of his rapid advancement. After studying the Six Gates Library’s martial manuals, Huang Tian felt the inspiration that had accompanied his creation of Cloud Dragon Freehand and began cultivating in Qinghui Garden.

• Third Miss complained about being sent to meet Huang Tian, while the old woman explained that her father wanted both to consider a match and to investigate Huang Tian’s breakthroughs.
• The old woman noted that nobles, government forces, and the Demon Cult had all taken an interest in Huang Tian and were sending people to Kunyun Prefecture.
• Huang Tian entered the Six Gates Library with Yu Jingcheng’s token and spent five days reading the first-floor martial manuals.
• Huang Tian finished the second-floor techniques in half a day, then read the pinnacle techniques and Martial Path notes on the third floor.
• Huang Tian felt the inspiration he had experienced when creating Cloud Dragon Freehand, returned to Qinghui Garden, swallowed Spirit Jade Ganoderma, and entered a mysterious state.

Huang Tian deduced a powerful fire-based palm technique called Doushuai Heaven, then refused an invitation from Xiao Qing of the provincial Xiao Family. The chapter ended with Xiao Qing learning that he would not attend her garden party.

• Huang Tian used his insight into the Doushuai Palace to create Doushuai Heaven, a technique that let him confront a Grandmaster head-on.
• A servant of the Xiao Family invited Huang Tian to Xiao Qing's garden party, but Huang Tian declined and walked away.
• The servant returned to Xiao Qing and Zhou Miaosu at Moon Cloud Garden and reported Huang Tian's refusal.
• Xiao Qing cried out in disbelief when she learned Huang Tian had rejected her invitation.

Xiao Qing was angered when Huang Tian refused her invitation, while Xue Ting decided to use Huang Tian’s former roommate He Xu to investigate his rise. After He Xu was expelled from the Guard Academy and set out to seek Huang Tian’s help, Uncle Li attacked him from behind.

• Xiao Qing learned that Huang Tian had refused to attend her garden party and decided to stay in Kunyun Prefecture a few more days with Zhou Miaosu.
• Xue Ting concluded that He Xu might know how Huang Tian had gained his power and ordered Uncle Li to capture him after his expulsion.
• He Xu was expelled from the Guard Academy for failing to cultivate inner force and resolved to ask Huang Tian for help.
• He Xu left the academy and headed toward Qinghui Garden, but a chill gust struck him and he collapsed.

Xue Ting tortured He Xu to learn whether Huang Tian possessed a secret treasure, but He Xu knew nothing and was killed. Xue Ting decided to remain nearby, hoping to befriend Huang Tian while watching others investigate him.

• Xue Ting questioned He Xu about Huang Tian’s habits and belongings, suspecting Huang Tian’s rapid progress came from a hidden treasure.
• Uncle Li burned He Xu with a poisonous palm, then briefly eased his pain so Xue Ting could question him again.
• He Xu insisted he had never seen Huang Tian do anything unusual or possess a strange treasure, and Uncle Li killed him and burned his corpse to ash.
• Xue Ting concluded Huang Tian might simply be a genius, but he chose to stay and try to befriend him while observing others who sought his secrets.

The Thousand Faces Old Ghost infiltrated Qinghui Garden to assassinate Huang Tian, hoping to earn a pill that could help him become a Grandmaster. Huang Tian killed him with his new technique, Tusita Heaven, and planned to retrieve the assassin’s hidden possessions.

• The Thousand Faces Old Ghost disguised himself as a servant and slipped over Qinghui Garden’s wall to kill Huang Tian.
• Huang Tian called out to the assassin and struck him with a palm technique that left him gravely wounded.
• Huang Tian used Tusita Heaven to deliver a second palm strike that crushed the Thousand Faces Old Ghost’s chest and killed him.
• Huang Tian left the corpse’s possessions untouched, knowing the Thousand Faces Old Ghost had hidden them in the woods outside the prefectural capital.

Huang Tian killed Thousand Faces Old Ghost in a brief fight, astonishing Yu Jingcheng and Bai Yuanfu, who learned he had done it while still at the sixth grade. After warning that his growing fame would attract more enemies, they left him at Qinghui Garden, where he reassured his household as news of the battle spread through Kunyun Prefecture.

• Yu Jingcheng and Bai Yuanfu arrived at Qinghui Garden and found Huang Tian unharmed beside Thousand Faces Old Ghost's body.
• Bai Yuanfu and Yu Jingcheng recognized Thousand Faces Old Ghost and were shocked that Huang Tian had killed him while still at the sixth grade.
• Martial Guard men struggled to remove Thousand Faces Old Ghost's shattered remains, while Bai Yuanfu and Yu Jingcheng warned Huang Tian that his strength would draw more attention.
• Huang Tian resolved to go to the provincial capital as a powerhouse rather than rely on protection, and he told Yu Jingcheng he would be careful.
• Huang Tian returned inside, reassured Aunt Qin, Heng'er, and the servants, and the household settled down as the city remained unsettled.

After Huang Tian killed the Thousand Faces Old Ghost, Xiao Qing reconsidered approaching him while prominent families sent gifts to Qinghui Garden. As Huang Manor’s losses mounted, Huang Xunjiu went to seek Huang Tian’s forgiveness and arrived at a lane crowded with other visitors’ carriages.

• Granny Weng told Xiao Qing that Huang Tian had killed the Thousand Faces Old Ghost with one palm strike and judged him capable of reaching first rank.
• Xiao Qing heard that Zhou Miaosu had sent Huang Tian a gift, grew jealous, and decided to send one herself before inviting him to meet.
• Prominent families across the prefectural city sent gifts to Qinghui Garden, while Huang Manor continued to hesitate.
• Huang Qian urged Huang Xunjiu to seek Huang Tian’s forgiveness as Huang Manor lost nearly a fifth of its holdings in half a month.
• Huang Xunjiu set out for Qinghui Garden with a gift, but his carriage stopped at a lane blocked by dozens of other carriages.