Chapter Summaries

Chu Ming discovered that the dead An Ying had returned as a Blood Guard controlled by the Blood-Colored Bell, while the Blood Fiend Cult prepared to unleash its Blood West Plan. As West Rong Prefecture descended into disorder after Blood Vine Fortress fell, Chu Ming detected the Blood Cloth's aura among three people in the prefectural government hall.

• Chu Ming used the Blood-Colored Bell to summon An Ying, who had killed the An Estate's Eldest Young Master and his stepmother before standing before Chu Ming like a Blood Guard.
• Pei Yan reported the destruction of Blood Vine Fortress and the Blood Vine to the Sect Master, who ordered the Blood West Plan to begin in Jingyan County and asked about Chu Ming.
• The Fifth and Seventh Princes discussed the Jing Salt deposit, the deaths of An Hengying and Teng Zong, and the possibility of rewarding Chu Ming for his work.
• Xiao Wen returned to help his father Xiao He manage West Rong Prefecture's turmoil and said his eldest brother had sent someone to assist.
• Xiao He convened the prefecture's officials to discuss restoring the Inspectorate, while Chu Ming sensed the Blood Cloth's aura from one of three people at the back of the hall.

Xiao He restored the Inspectorate’s authority amid West Rong Prefecture’s turmoil, while Chu Ming chose a post in the Water Transport Bureau that could bring him closer to Tang Xuan and the private salt trade. Xiao He then learned that the Tiger Armor Army’s supplies would last only a month as it advanced toward Yangjia City, forcing him to seek provisions locally and from Pingzhong Prefecture.

• Xiao He consulted West Rong Prefecture’s officials about restoring the Inspectorate, and Baili Xinghua urged him to fill the vacant Governor-General and Inspector posts.
• Xiao Wen arrived with Tang Xuan and General Han Ji, while Chu Ming recognized Tang Xuan as the man connected to the Blood Cloth and suspected his role in the private salt trade or Blood Fiend Cult.
• Xiao He announced that Chu Ming had received five thousand taels and a one-rank promotion for discovering the Jing Salt Mine, then let him choose between Rite Supervisor and the Water Transport Bureau.
• Chu Ming chose the Water Transport Bureau, which fell under Tang Xuan’s authority.
• Xiao He told Xiao Jianxin that the Tiger Armor Army had defeated one hundred thousand enemy troops and was advancing toward Yangjia City, but its provisions would last less than a month.
• Xiao He and Xiao Jianxin agreed to requisition provisions in West Rong Prefecture and borrow supplies from neighboring Pingzhong Prefecture while awaiting aid from Qi Capital.

Chu Ming studied the Blood-Colored Bells to improve his Artifact Refining skill, then visited the Medicine Pavilion to check on the Medicine Madman and the Jiang sisters. He noticed that one of Zhou Hao’s guards had a beastlike aura and suspected a connection to the Blood Fiend Cult, leaving him intent on investigating after dark.

• Chu Ming gave Meng Zhen precious herbs and exotic beast meat, and entrusted him with gifts and martial arts manuals for Steward Fang and his master.
• Chu Ming dismantled two Blood-Colored Bells and raised his Artifact Refining progress to 87 before turning to the black Origin Artifact material.
• Jin Yu asked Bai You about the Origin Artifact material from the Jingyan County mine, but Bai You seemed not to know what he meant.
• Chu Ming went to the Medicine Pavilion, where the Medicine Madman intimidated Zhou Hao into paying for medicine and warned him to avoid alcohol and women.
• Chu Ming sensed a beastlike, bloodstained aura from one of Zhou Hao’s guards and suspected the man was connected to the Blood Fiend Cult.
• Chu Ming visited the Medicine Pavilion, greeted the Jiang sisters and the Medicine Madman, and told Jiang Jing to keep her veil on.

Chu Ming sought Hong Ying, the true artifact-refining master of West Rong Prefecture, and asked to learn from her by offering paintings attributed to Tang Bai. While copying one of Tang Bai’s originals, he advanced his calligraphy and painting ability, leaving Hong Ying awed by a strange white radiance around him.

• Chu Ming asked Medicine Madman to bring Shen Yi from a cave near Sangou Village and train him, then learned that Hong Ying in the prefectural city was the region’s only true artifact-refining master.
• Chu Ming surveyed thirteen blacksmith shops in East City, found their smiths unworthy of the title of master, and went to Hong Ying’s deserted shop with a copy of a Tang Bai painting.
• Hong Ying recognized Chu Ming’s painting as a copy but mistook him for Tang Bai’s disguised disciple, and agreed to teach him artifact refining if he copied another painting to her satisfaction.
• Hong Ying showed Chu Ming Tang Bai’s original painting of a white-clad swordsman standing on a rainbow, and Chu Ming’s artistic insight advanced his Calligraphy and Painting ability to Natural Charm.
• Chu Ming copied the painting with ease, raising his progress to 77/100, while a faint white radiance surrounded him and made Hong Ying feel reverence.

Chu Ming completed his artifact-refining apprenticeship with Hong Ying, forged an Origin Artifact Black Blade, and learned enough in a day to surpass her skill. After leaving, he discovered the Zhou Family was being forced to submit to Lang Jin and a group connected to the supposedly extinct Wolf Totem Tribe, whose survival appeared tied to the Blood Fiend Cult.

• Chu Ming’s copied painting impressed Hong Ying, who agreed to teach him artifact refining in exchange for his help challenging calligraphy and painting masters in Qi Capital within six months to a year.
• Hong Ying taught Chu Ming to forge weapons, and he quickly mastered the craft, creating a long saber whose workmanship surpassed hers.
• Chu Ming secretly forged the dark stone left by Evil Ticket into an Origin Artifact Black Blade, then left Hong Ying silver notes and unusual ores before departing.
• Chu Ming reached the Zhou Family’s ancestral hall and saw Lang Jin and his armed followers kill clan members and force the family to submit.
• Chu Ming recognized Lang Jin and his partly wolf-like companions as members of the Wolf Totem Tribe, and noticed that many of their allies practiced the Blood Fiend Art.

Chu Ming uncovered the Blood Fiend Cult’s assault on West Rong Prefecture and learned its leaders planned to target Xiao Jianxin and Chu Ming. As Xiao Jianxin prepared to act against the cult, Chu Ming received a provision-transport assignment that could draw him into its trap.

• Lang Jin forced Zhou Family elders and members to slaughter and eat Zhou Hao, while Chu Ming watched from the rooftop and later looted the family treasury.
• Chu Ming collected a scrap of cloth from a Wolf Totem Tribe member and used the Trace Seeking Bead to track the tribe, then asked Yao Qi to investigate Hundred Transport Wharf.
• Shen Yu warned Xiao He that the Blood Fiend Cult was taking control of West Rong Prefecture’s great families, and Xiao He gave him an order for Chu Ming to oversee a shipment of provisions.
• Xiao He told Xiao Jianxin about the cult’s infiltration, and Xiao Jianxin revealed he had reached the Lower Realm of the Meridian Opening Realm and would act without involving General Han Ji.
• Pei Yan and Baili Xinghua discussed using four Bloodthirsty Guards to lure Xiao Jianxin into a Blood Fiend Grand Formation, while Pei Yan planned to target Chu Ming during an upcoming provision shipment.
• Chu Ming created Primordial Nature and Primordial Fierce items to practice controlling Primordial energy, then began forming rings above his palm.

Chu Ming reached the Void Liquid Realm and created the Primordial Technique Ten Polar Star Rings, then learned the Tiger Armor Army was short on provisions while fighting deep in Nine Rong Kingdom. He prepared to leave for Pingzhong Prefecture and warned Yao Qi that West Rong Prefecture faced a crisis from the Blood Fiend Cult.

• Chu Ming condensed three drops of Void Liquid and fused Primordial Nature Ten Rings with Pole Starfall to create Ten Polar Star Rings, though he could not form a second ring.
• Shen Yu told Chu Ming that the Tiger Armor Army needed provisions after a sandstorm disrupted its supply lines during the campaign against Nine Rong Kingdom, and Chu Ming decided to go to Pingzhong Prefecture.
• Chu Ming left Xiao Shan in Shen Yu's care and took the Wind Vine with him before heading to Southwest City to speak with Medicine Madman.
• Yao Qi reported that the Blood Fiend Cult controlled Hundred Transport Wharf and that some infiltrators appeared to be members of the supposedly extinct Wolf Totem Tribe.
• Chu Ming told Yao Qi that the cult had also taken control of several great clans and asked him to help protect the Prefecture Government Office while keeping himself safe.

Chu Ming secretly gathered grain and supplies for the Tiger Armor Army while An Guang led a shipment into a trap at West Wind Valley. As the Nine Rong Kingdom prepared to ambush the convoy and the Blood Fiend Cult planned to exploit the ensuing battle, Chu Ming approached the valley during a sandstorm.

• Chu Ming gave Shen Yi a place as Yao Qi’s third disciple and left Jiang Jing, Jiang Yan, and Shen Yi medicinal treasures and prescriptions.
• Chu Ming planted Wind Vine in the mountains, collected hidden wealth, and raided grain stores to fill the Golden Fragment with supplies for the Tiger Armor Army.
• An Guang agreed to deliver supplies under threat to his family, while Meng Ting learned the convoy’s route had been exposed and sent a thousand cavalrymen to reinforce it.
• Rong Luo prepared to trap An Guang’s ten thousand soldiers in West Wind Valley, while the Blood Envoy and four followers planned to harvest organs from the casualties.
• An Guang led his troops into West Wind Valley to escape the sandstorm and ordered them to camp as Chu Ming hurried toward the valley.

The Nine Rong Kingdom ambushed the Tiger Armor Army in West Wind Valley, inflicting heavy losses before Meng Ting arrived with a thousand cavalry and turned the fight into a standoff. As Chu Ming raced toward the valley to protect the provisions, Blood Envoy Chi Jue sent his men into the battle, and screams erupted from both armies.

• An Guang realized the Blood Fiend Cult had lured the Tiger Armor Army into a clash with the Nine Rong Kingdom, whose arrows and boulders killed thousands before their soldiers charged.
• An Guang saved Jie Yuan from Rong Luo’s arrow, but Jie Yuan was later shot in the chest, and an arrow killed Meng Zhen’s Blazing Tiger Horse.
• Meng Ting arrived with a thousand Tiger Cavalry, attacked the Nine Rong Kingdom from behind, and helped the Tiger Armor Army break the encirclement before both sides regrouped.
• Chu Ming sensed blood in the wind, deduced that the provisions were in danger at West Wind Valley, and raced toward it.
• Blood Envoy Chi Jue accused An Guang of revealing the rescue plan, then sent four subordinates into the valley; screams broke out among both armies as they attacked.

Chu Ming arrived in West Wind Valley and saved the Tiger Armor Army from the Blood Fiend Cult and the Nine Rong Kingdom. After the battle, he learned of An Guang’s role in the ambush and found several items on the dead Blood Envoy Chi Jue.

• The Blood Fiend Cult’s Chi Jue attacked the battlefield, killed Jie Yuan, and mortally wounded An Guang while overpowering Meng Ting.
• Chu Ming appeared, killed Chi Jue and the Blood Fiend Cult’s other Organ Refining Realm warriors, then helped rout the Nine Rong Army after Rong Luo was shot dead.
• Meng Ting thanked Chu Ming as the surviving Tiger Armor Army returned to the valley, where the soldiers mourned their losses.
• An Guang confessed that he had leaked the army’s route and schedule to set a trap for the Nine Rong Kingdom and the Blood Fiend Cult, but he died before finishing his explanation.
• Chu Ming found Chi Jue still alive in the pit, killed him with a spear shard, and searched his body for an identity token, a letter, a cultivation manual, and armor.

Chu Ming discovered that the Blood Fiend Cult planned to lure Xiang Yue’s Tiger Armor Army into a trap at Yangjia City and capture Shao Rong, so he rushed west to warn them. Xiang Yue recognized the danger and prepared a counterambush, while Chi Zhen and Chi Hong’s competing scheme remained in motion.

• Chu Ming read a letter revealing the Blood Fiend Cult’s plan to seize the grain convoy, lure Xiang Yue into Yangjia City, and capture Shao Rong, then left Meng Zhen with medicine and hurried west.
• Meng Zhen told Meng Ting and the other commanders that the mysterious hero had destroyed Black Wind Stronghold and Blood Vine Fortress and might have a personal grudge against the Blood Fiend Cult.
• Rong Yan told Shao Rong that Chi Zhen and Chi Hong could only be trusted halfway and had arranged for Rong Xi and three hundred Thunder Rong soldiers to surround them.
• Chi Zhen and Chi Hong revealed that they planned to make the Kui Rong Branch and Tiger Armor Army destroy each other, then capture Shao Rong and seize both territories for the Blood Fiend Cult.
• Xiang Yue’s scouts reported only five thousand defenders in Yangjia City, and Xiang Yue sent Huo Buyan and Fang Xiao into the city with fifty thousand soldiers while Guan Zhen and Jiang Zhan waited outside to ambush the Kui Rong army.

Xiang Yue’s army captured Yangjia City while the Kui Rong Branch prepared an attack and a coup unfolded in its camp. Chu Ming reached Xiang Yue with provisions, revealed that he had opened his meridians, and shared a cultivation technique and powerful armor; Xiang Yue gave him the Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique to develop further.

• Xiang Yue led the Tiger Armor Army in capturing Yangjia City, discovered the enemy provisions were poisoned, and prepared to defend against the advancing Kui Rong Branch army.
• The Kui Rong Branch’s young lord sent Rong Ye to find Qi Kingdom heretics, while Chi Zhen and Chi Hong attacked the camp and abducted Rong Ye, who was disguised as the young lord.
• Chu Ming investigated the Tiger Armor Army camp, learned Jiang Zhan was leading ten thousand cavalry around the enemy’s rear, and then slipped into Yangjia City to find Xiang Yue.
• Chu Ming revealed that he had opened his meridians and showed Xiang Yue the cultivation method he had derived, along with Silver Moon Bracers and Silver Moon Armor taken from Blood Fiend Cult enemies.
• Chu Ming told Xiang Yue that the Blood Fiend Cult had ambushed the provisions and killed Commander An, then produced the provisions he had brought from his Mustard Seed Space.
• Xiang Yue gave Chu Ming the Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique and asked him to improve its incomplete Lower Realm method, which had allowed Xiang Yue to open only two of the eight extraordinary meridians.

Chu Ming learned that Lower Realm Meridian Opening techniques existed beyond the Imperial Observatory, then pursued the Blood Fiend Cult’s kidnapping plot and discovered it had taken an impostor. He infiltrated the weakened Kui Rong Branch camp, captured the real Shao Rong, and escaped as the armies clashed at Yangjia City.

• Xiang Yue explained that Lower Realm Meridian Opening and Marrow Cleansing techniques could exist outside the Imperial Observatory, though they were difficult to find.
• Chu Ming told Xiang Yue that the Blood Fiend Cult planned to kidnap Kui Rong Branch Shao Rong, then left Yangjia City to intercept them.
• Chu Ming tracked the Blood Fiend Cult’s fleeing kidnappers and realized their captive was an impostor sent by the Kui Rong Branch.
• Chu Ming returned to the weakened camp, killed Shao Rong’s guard Rong Ji, captured the real Shao Rong, seized treasures, and fought his way out.
• The Hushen Army and Tiger Armor Army attacked the Kui Rong Branch army, and Rong Yan ordered his forces into formation and sent in the Savage Ox Cavalry.

Chu Ming rescued Fang Xiao, killed six Kui Rong Branch experts, and captured Shao Rong, forcing Rong Yan to order a retreat. He then tracked the Blood Fiend Cult to a settlement, where its members were secretly poisoning sick people with so-called Blessing Water.

• Chu Ming carried the unconscious Shao Rong to Yangjia City's wall, killed six Kui Rong Branch cultivators, and handed the captive to Fang Xiao before heading southeast.
• Fang Xiao brought Shao Rong and Rong Ji's head to Xiang Yue, who informed Rong Yan that Shao Rong had been captured.
• Rong Yan confirmed the captive was Shao Rong and ordered the Kui Rong Branch army to retreat.
• Chu Ming followed the Trace Seeking Bead to a settlement and found Blood Fiend Cult members gathered in its Round Tower.
• Blood Fiend Cult members gave twenty-five sick people dark green Blessing Water and discussed completing their mission to convert them with Fiend Blood.

Chu Ming destroyed a Blood Fiend Cult stronghold, recovered the Silver Moon Shoulder Armor, and followed a trail to Zhengxi Town. There, Rong Ye fought two Blood Fiend Cult experts while Chu Ming watched and discovered that one enemy wielded an Origin Artifact and manipulated Primordial Void.

• Chu Ming entered the Round Tower, killed its Blood Fiend Cult members and their Blood Envoy Chi Hong, and recovered letters, a token, and the Silver Moon Shoulder Armor.
• Chu Ming used the Trace Seeking Bead to follow the cult's trail to Zhengxi Town.
• At the black market, Rong Ye revealed that he was not Kui Rong Branch Young Rong and broke free of his disguise, then fought Chi Yan.
• Chi Zhen joined Chi Yan, and the two Blood Fiend Cult experts battled Rong Ye through the black market and into Zhengxi Town, wrecking buildings and endangering bystanders.
• Chu Ming arrived in town, sensed Rong Ye fighting the two cultists, and noticed that Chi Yan used Primordial Void and a crimson Origin Artifact.

After raiding the Blood Fiend Cult’s hidden chambers in Zhengxi Town, Chu Ming escaped when a powerful enemy arrived and returned to West Rong Prefecture. Resting in Willow Town, he examined the treasures he had taken and used Green Ancient Nectar to recover.

• Chu Ming used [Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense] to locate and kill Blood Fiend Cult members in Zhengxi Town, then discovered their underground chambers and a furnace where an Origin Artifact was being forged.
• Chu Ming collected hundreds of precious herbs, a bottle of Green Ancient Nectar, a trove of valuables, and the furnace, its materials, and books using the Golden Fragment.
• Chi Zhen attacked Chu Ming, but Chu Ming killed him and took his belongings.
• Chi Lie arrived to aid Chi Yan against Rong Ye, and Chu Ming fled rather than risk fighting an expert at the Lower Realm of the Meridian Opening Realm.
• The Blood Fiend Cult survivors blamed the Kui Rong Branch for their losses, while their Young Master discussed moving their plans to another Rong branch.
• Chu Ming returned to Willow Town, rested in his old courtyard, and swallowed three drops of Green Ancient Nectar to restore his strength.

Chu Ming examined his spoils, advanced his Mountain-Sea Origin Body Technique and Primordial Void cultivation, and learned how to forge true Origin Artifacts. After leaving gifts for Hou Wuchun and the people who had helped him, he set off for West Rong Prefecture.

• Chu Ming studied the Kui Rong Body-Forging Technique and refined his Mountain-Sea Origin Body Technique, reaching the Fifth Meridian Realm.
• Chu Ming discovered that channeling qi and blood into the Bronze Fragment summoned a protective Kui Ox manifestation.
• Chu Ming examined the Silver Moon armor pieces and the Primordial Void materials, then used a complete Primordial Void Guarding Technique manual to advance to the Void Lake Realm.
• Chu Ming studied the Origin Artifact Forging Method and brought his Artifact Refining skill to the edge of Great Mastery.
• Chu Ming left banknotes, precious herbs, and a note for Hou Wuchun's family in Willow Town, then left a cultivation technique and herbs in Baiyuan County before setting off for West Rong Prefecture.

Baili Xinghua and Pei Yan planned to kill the gravely wounded Xiao Jianxin and seize control of West Rong Prefecture, while Xiao Jianxin rushed to a trap after learning his son Xiao Wu was alive and controlled by the Blood Fiend Cult. At Chu Residence, Chu Ming confronted Lang Xian and two Blood Fiend Cult experts who had been watching for him.

• Baili Xinghua warned Pei Yan that Qi Capital might intervene, but Pei Yan said the Imperial Observatory would ignore the Bloodthirsty Guards and prepared another trap with Lang Xian and Lang Jin.
• Baili Xinghua gave Young Master Yan a large piece of Origin Ore in exchange for one move at the Prefecture Government Office that night.
• Xiao Jianxin told Xiao He he would rescue Xiao Wu, then followed a bloodstained letter to the abandoned lumberyard despite Xiao He's warning that it was a trap.
• Xiao Wen asked Han Ji for help, and Han Ji went to the lumberyard; Yao Qi remained on watch near the Prefecture Government Office while the Blood Fiend Cult planned to attack it and Chu Residence.
• Chu Ming returned to Chu Residence, sensed Lang Xian and two Organ Refining experts outside, ate before leaving the house, and appeared before them in the darkness.

Chu Ming killed Lang Xian after testing his strength against the Wolf Totem Tribe fighter, then rushed to the Prefecture Government Office when he learned it was under attack. There, Han Jin confronted Lang Jin while the officials and guards fought off the Blood Fiend Cult attackers.

• Chu Ming fought Lang Xian, forced him to use the Wolf Transformation Method, shattered his claws, and killed him after learning the Prefecture Government Office was in danger.
• More than thirty masked attackers stormed the Prefecture Government Office, where Ye Hong and the guards struggled to hold them back as Medicine Madman watched a powerful Meridian Opening Realm expert from outside.
• Baili Xinghua and the Censorate constables arrived to assist Xiao He, Xiao Wen, and the officials, but the attackers' leader killed the acting Chief Inspector and charged Ye Hong.
• Han Jin appeared and drove back the attackers' leader, while Lang Jin revealed himself and challenged him with the Wolf Transformation Method.
• Han Jin and Lang Jin clashed with spear and claws, and Han Jin grew increasingly concerned that he could not defeat Lang Jin before the officials behind him were endangered.

Medicine Madman rescued Xiao Wen and the officials from Lang Xin, but a hidden Qi Master wounded him before fleeing after sensing Chu Ming. Chu Ming arrived at the Prefecture Government Office, defeated Lang Jin with one palm, and prepared to leave with Medicine Madman as Xiao He stopped him with a request.

• Lang Xin attacked the officials, poisoned Baili Xinghua with a Blood Bone Pill, and nearly forced one into Xiao Wen before Medicine Madman intervened.
• A hidden Qi Master struck Medicine Madman with an ocher Origin Artifact, then fled when Chu Ming sensed him from afar.
• Medicine Madman poisoned the attacking men in black, while Lang Jin fled from Han Jin and returned to the Prefecture Government Office.
• Lang Jin tried to seize Xiao He as a hostage, but Chu Ming appeared and felled him with a single palm strike.
• Xiao He and Xiao Wen thanked Chu Ming, who gave them calming pills and then prepared to leave with Medicine Madman.
• Xiao He stopped Chu Ming and said he had a request.