Recaps

Chen Cheng moved Madam Li into a residence in the Inner City, then returned to the Inner Hall to collect his cultivation supplies and stay the night because Blood-Robed Cultists made traveling dangerous. The chapter ended with Chen Cheng recalling the mysterious man’s mention of Moon Marrow.

• Chen Cheng and Madam Li left Peaceful Lane after Shen Chun warned them to detour around danger, while Li Shun and Cao Zhao learned that powerful Blood-Robed Ones were hunting in the area.
• Chen Cheng brought Madam Li into the Inner City and showed her the residence where they would live, telling her that his senior sister had offered it at a cheap rate.
• Chen Cheng left Madam Li with money and a key, then hid a bundle behind a bookshelf in the rear study before returning to the Inner Hall.
• Chen Cheng gathered Strange Tiger Jerky, Golden Ring Treasure Snake Medicinal Wine, pills, and poison-resistance ingredients to support his training.
• Chen Cheng stayed overnight in the Inner Hall rather than risk traveling after dark, and recalled the strange man’s warning about Moon Marrow.

Chen Cheng learned why Han Tianqi held a grudge against Longshan Middle Academy and continued preparing for the year-end martial match. The match between Yuntai Hall and Dragon Mountain Hall began, but an interruption from Dragon Mountain Hall drew Han Tianqi’s anger before the first bout could start.

• Zhu Mingyuan returned drunk and injured after confronting Han Tianqi’s group for insulting Ye Qiluo, and he told Chen Cheng about the old rivalry between their academies and Han Tianqi’s grudge against Ye Yang.
• Over the following month, Chen Cheng trained intensively, strengthened his Four Gods Profound Body, and sparred regularly with Zhu Mingyuan.
• Chen Cheng arrived at the year-end martial match, where Yuntai Hall and Dragon Mountain Hall faced each other before witnesses Wu Shannan and Pang Shixun.
• Han Tianqi announced the rules and introduced Yuntai Hall’s One-Incense Blood Qi fighter, Fang Haokun, as the first contestant.
• An unidentified voice from Dragon Mountain Hall’s side called Han Tianqi’s rules needless nonsense, and Han Tianqi turned angrily toward the speaker.

Shi Lei fought Fang Haokun to a draw by risking his life, earning praise and offers while Yuntai Hall seethed over the result. After the match, Chen Cheng discussed his rapidly improving aptitude with Zhu Mingyuan and planned to have Ye Yang examine his bones after the tournament.

• Shi Lei traded injuries with Fang Haokun and forced a draw by locking him in a potentially crippling hold before they both fell unconscious off the platform.
• Chen Cheng carried Shi Lei away, and Ye Yang gave him healing pills; Shi Lei soon woke to cheers and offers from people seeking to recruit him.
• Han Tianqi berated Fang Haokun for ruining Yuntai Hall's plan for five straight victories, while Han Chuo sat in silence.
• Cao Zhao said he would personally provide Shi Lei with cultivation resources, and Ye Yang reprimanded Ye Qiluo for disparaging him.
• Zhu Mingyuan asked Chen Cheng about his rapid improvement, and Chen Cheng agreed to have Ye Yang examine his bones after the tournament.

Chen Cheng reflected on his rapid progress and watched the tournament, where Lin Fengxiao brutally defeated Zhang Yu. As Lu Changning fought in the fourth match, a sudden explosion from the arena left Chen Cheng and the crowd stunned.

• Chen Cheng reviewed his skills, noted that Foundation Establishment Taiji had reached Minor Mastery and granted him Loose-Penetrating, and told Zhu Mingyuan that he had condensed his fifth incense of Blood Qi.
• Qiao Qiao defeated her opponent in three moves, drawing attention from Ye Yang, Pang Shixun, and Wu Shannan; Ye Qiluo then praised her and urged her to choose her friends carefully.
• Lin Fengxiao overwhelmed Zhang Yu with repeated strikes and a final knee that shattered her jaw, prompting arguments among spectators over his ruthlessness.
• Chen Cheng noticed that Han Tianqi remained silent after the loss, unlike after the earlier matches, while Zhu Mingyuan speculated that he was simply humiliated.
• Lu Changning fought an opponent to a standstill in the fourth match, but a sudden explosive sound from the arena silenced the venue before the crowd erupted.

Chen Cheng volunteered to fight Yuntai Hall’s bald disciple after the man gravely injured Ye Qiluo and Dragon Mountain Hall faced pressure to concede the deciding bout. Chen Cheng stepped onto the arena to challenge him, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• A Yuntai Hall disciple defeated Lu Changning, while Han Chuo and Han Tianqi watched a scarred, bald young man sitting nearby.
• Chen Cheng revealed that he had reached Five-Incense Blood Qi, but Ye Qiluo refused to yield her match to him and challenged the bald young man herself.
• The bald young man struck Ye Qiluo before she could react, leaving her critically injured until Wu Shannan supplied a life-saving pill.
• Zhu Mingyuan attacked the bald young man, but Han Tianqi intercepted him and shattered his arm with a single punch.
• Wu Shannan declared that the tied matches required another bout, and Ye Yang prepared to concede when Chen Cheng stepped forward to challenge the bald young man.

Chen Cheng accepted Yu Shi’s challenge and surprised Yu Shi by matching his explosive punch and injuring him with penetrating Dark Force. Yu Shi escalated his assault, and the chapter ended as Chen Cheng blocked a powerful hook punch before Yu Shi’s second fist struck toward his chest.

• Han Chuo and Han Tianqi discussed Yu Shi’s strength, and Han Tianqi insisted Yu Shi would cripple Chen Cheng in one move.
• Chen Cheng stepped forward despite the Dragon Mountain Hall disciples’ concern, and Ye Yang warned him not to face Yu Shi’s explosive attack head-on.
• Yu Shi charged Chen Cheng with the same punch that had defeated Ye Qiluo, but Chen Cheng met it with his own fist and forced Yu Shi back with an injured hand.
• Chen Cheng dodged Yu Shi’s afterimage feint and countered with a punch that injured Yu Shi’s left arm as well.
• Yu Shi unleashed an even faster attack, and Chen Cheng blocked his hook punch before Yu Shi immediately aimed a second fist at Chen Cheng’s chest.

Chen Cheng turned Yu Shi’s heart strike back on him, crippled him, and won the duel, drawing fierce attention from the Han family and major factions. Wu Shannan recruited Chen Cheng to escort Treasure Fish from Black Cloud Marsh, while Pang Shixun asked to feel his bones.

• Yu Shi’s second punch struck Chen Cheng’s chest, but Chen Cheng’s defenses absorbed and dispersed most of its force before he counterattacked with Dark Force, badly crippling Yu Shi’s arm.
• Chen Cheng followed with a punch to Yu Shi’s face, leaving him alive but severely brain-damaged, while Han Chuo and Han Tianqi silently resolved to kill Chen Cheng.
• Chen Cheng returned to Longshan Hall, where Ye Yang and the others celebrated him as faction informants crowded forward to recruit him.
• Wu Shannan offered Chen Cheng a South District Chamber of Commerce post escorting Treasure Fish from Black Cloud Marsh, and Chen Cheng agreed to try it for a month.
• Pang Shixun said he had considered arranging Chen Cheng a position in the Commandant’s Mansion, then asked to feel Chen Cheng’s bones.

After Pang Shixun discovered that Chen Cheng’s constitution was slowly changing and his tendons showed unusual potential, he offered to assess him again in three months and possibly recommend him to a sect. Chen Cheng handled the crowd seeking his favor, returned home, and learned that Senior Sister Zhuang had come to visit.

• Pang Shixun read Chen Cheng’s bones and found his physique was lower grade but constantly developing, while his tendons resembled those of a sect genius.
• Pang Shixun praised Chen Cheng’s self-created technique and offered to assess his talents in three months, with a possible recommendation to join a sect.
• Chen Cheng accepted gifts only from people who showed sincerity, declined invitations, and said he would rest at home.
• Ye Yang gave Chen Cheng his coat, expressed concern, and asked him to visit the Middle Academy before entering the Upper Academy.
• Chen Cheng returned home, changed clothes, and secured his banknotes and coins before Madam Li announced Senior Sister Zhuang’s arrival.

Zhuang Zhuang thanked Chen Cheng for helping her master the Four Gods Profound Body, then left on an Evil-Slaying Office mission. As Chen Cheng headed to Fuchang Firm, Han Chuo and Han Tianqi sought Fu Yunchen’s help, while a Whistling Arrow sounded nearby and the chapter left Fu Yunchen demanding an explanation.

• Zhuang Zhuang gave Chen Cheng six Three Treasures Bone-Casting Pills as thanks for his guidance and told him she had mastered the Four Gods Profound Body.
• Zhuang Zhuang left for a mission despite Madam Li’s worried plea, and Chen Cheng gave Madam Li money to cover household expenses and buy more meat.
• Han Chuo asked Fu Yunchen to arrange a Dark Blade to kill someone later, then secured Fu Yunchen’s promise to recommend Han Tianqi to the Nine Altars Sect before next year’s Martial Selection.
• Lin Fengxiao found Chen Cheng watching Fuchang Firm and agreed to help him without asking why.
• A Whistling Arrow sounded near Fuchang Firm, and Fu Yunchen’s guard reported that something had happened.

Lin Fengxiao led a raid on Fuchang Firm after claiming the Han family possessed the Red Moon Original Vow Sutra, and Han Chuo and Fu Yunchen were arrested. The Blood-Robed One killed Han Tianqi and left his head behind, leading Lin Fengxiao to realize that Chen Cheng’s plan had another step.

• Fu Yunchen learned that armored soldiers had surrounded the Han family carriage, and Han Chuo accompanied him to investigate while Han Tianqi slipped out through the back gate.
• Lin Fengxiao arrested Han Chuo after revealing half of the Red Moon Original Vow Sutra in the carriage, then sent soldiers rushing into Fuchang Firm to search for the other half.
• Lin Fengxiao had Fu Yunchen beaten and restrained as the soldiers ransacked the firm, while Han Tianqi wandered into dark alleys to escape.
• The Blood-Robed One ambushed Han Tianqi in the alleys, beheaded him, and took his money pouch.
• Shen Chun’s squad found Han Tianqi’s head outside a residence, and she reported the killing to Lin Fengxiao at Fuchang Firm.
• Lin Fengxiao learned that the Blood-Robed One had killed Han Tianqi and realized the other half of the sutra had been on him, then inferred that Chen Cheng’s plan was continuing.

Lin Fengxiao and Shen Chun pursued Han Chuo to investigate the scripture, while news that Fuchang Firm had been exposed for supplying the Northern Territory Rebel Army forced Shen Mi to abandon the Northern Route Merchant Charter. Chen Cheng received increased support and a powerful bow from his allies, then Wang Chuang told him he needed an answer on an important matter.

• Lin Fengxiao led Shen Chun and their soldiers toward the Han Family with Han Chuo in custody, suspecting the family held the other half of the scripture.
• Ye Qiluo learned Chen Cheng had defeated Yu Shi after her collapse, but she insisted she would only thank Chen Cheng if he dealt with the Han father and son.
• Mother Ding reported that armored soldiers had raided Fuchang Firm and discovered weapons and supplies intended for the Northern Territory Rebel Army.
• Shen Mi and Shen Xingguo decided to return the Northern Route Merchant Charter and turned away people seeking work at their firm.
• Zheng Songtao delivered two hundred taels from the Changfeng Escort Agency, and Wang Chuang brought Chen Cheng doubled support, hunting goods, and a thousand-jin Tiger-Sinew Hard Bow.
• Wang Chuang told Chen Cheng he needed an answer that day about an important matter.

Chen Cheng accepted Wang Chuang’s invitation to hunt a Strange Tiger and learned that Red Moon Nunnery was searching for the lost Moon Marrow, while Cao Zhao delivered his Longshan Upper Academy token. After a Black Falcon brought Bai Fangshuo news of A-Shi’s death, Chen Cheng caught a man tailing him and learned the Bai Family’s Yu An had sent him.

• Chen Cheng agreed to join Wang Chuang’s Strange Tiger hunt, while Cao Zhao explained that he could not go because of his Commandant’s Mansion patrol duties.
• Cao Zhao revealed that Red Moon Nunnery was searching for its lost holy relic, Moon Marrow, and warned that violence could spread into the Inner City.
• Cao Zhao gave Chen Cheng his Longshan Upper Academy waist token and explained the benefits and conditions of his discipleship.
• A Black Falcon delivered an urgent letter to Bai Fangshuo, who learned that Fuchang Firm’s plans had been destroyed and A-Shi had died; the bald man vowed revenge on the Han Family.
• Chen Cheng left the Inner City for Longshan Middle Academy and caught a young man following him in an alley.
• The captured man told Chen Cheng that Yu An of Cangying Hunting Manor, Yu Shi’s biological elder brother, had sent him.

Chen Cheng killed the Yuntai Middle Academy disciple who had followed him and took a concealed powder pouch, then accepted Ye Yang’s Red Heart Ganoderma as a potential bargaining chip for Pang Shixun’s recommendation. After Yu Feng stopped another stalker and invited Chen Cheng to dinner, Chen Cheng continued toward Longshan Upper Academy, where someone called out to him.

• Chen Cheng identified the disciple who had followed him, snapped his neck, and took the silver and concealed powder pouch from the body.
• Ye Yang gave Chen Cheng a Red Heart Ganoderma to use in seeking Pang Shixun’s support for a sect recommendation after the three-month trial.
• Chen Cheng noticed another person following him, but Yu Feng’s Patrol Office officers captured the stalker, Bai Qian, before Chen Cheng intervened.
• Yu Feng warned Chen Cheng to learn more about the martial world, told Bai Qian to keep the Bai Family’s second branch out of the matter, and invited Chen Cheng to dinner with his wife.
• Chen Cheng headed to Longshan Upper Academy, where someone behind him addressed him as Junior Brother Chen.

Chen Cheng entered Dragon Mountain Hall’s Upper Academy, received his supplies and a one-year deadline to reach six-wick blood qi, then dined with Yu Feng and Zhuang Huixian, where the Nine-Treasure Wine caused Yu Feng an embarrassing reaction. The next day, Chen Cheng stood beside a loaded boat at Wu Family Fishing Manor as a woman approached him.

• Zhou Ping and Zhou An led Chen Cheng through the Upper Academy and showed him the available villas and the rules for entering its inner courtyards.
• Cao Miao welcomed Chen Cheng, gave him his Upper Academy supplies and the key to No. 3 Villa, and warned him to form his sixth wick of blood qi within a year.
• Zhuang Zhuang told Chen Cheng that Yu Feng had invited him to dinner, and Chen Cheng agreed to visit and brought pastries and Nine-Treasure Wine.
• Chen Cheng spoke openly about his humble background over dinner, and Yu Feng drank the wine and suffered a sudden, fiery reaction as Chen Cheng took his leave.
• The next day, Chen Cheng examined the live cargo in a boat’s water hold at Wu Family Fishing Manor, and a woman came to stand beside him.

Chen Cheng accepted Wu Ziyu’s free Green-Silver Dragon and bought more body-strengthening Treasure Fish before Zhou Yonglu challenged Wu Ziyu’s claim to Ten-Mile Marsh. When Wu Ziyu’s chosen fighter backed out after recognizing Zhou’s champion, she refused to risk Chen Cheng and prepared to concede the marsh instead.

• Wu Ziyu offered Chen Cheng a Green-Silver Dragon worth five hundred taels, and he accepted after deciding he could trust her motives.
• Chen Cheng declined Wu Ziyu’s invitation to a gathering and asked her to recommend Treasure Fish that would strengthen his body.
• Zhou Yonglu arrived with armed boats and demanded that Wu Ziyu surrender Ten-Mile Marsh, proposing a fight between their affiliated Martial Artists to settle the dispute.
• Wu Ziyu offered Zhang Dun five hundred taels to fight, but he cited an old injury; Li Kuangyi agreed after she offered him a Treasure Medicine.
• Li Kuangyi recognized Zhou Yonglu’s fighter as the man who had defeated him in just over twenty moves and withdrew from the match.
• Zhang Dun suggested Chen Cheng fight, but Wu Ziyu refused to endanger him and said she would concede Ten-Mile Marsh until he was strong enough to reclaim it.

Wu Ziyu gave up Ten-Mile Marsh rather than make Chen Cheng fight Zhou Yonglu, and Zhou An’s connections convinced the Zhou Family to retreat and seek Chen Cheng’s favor. Back in Zhao City, Chen Cheng received five Treasure Fish and began preparing their powerful nourishment, ending the chapter as he opened the pot of Green-Silver Dragon soup the next morning.

• Wu Ziyu chose to give up Ten-Mile Marsh, but Chen Cheng recognized Zhou An and asked whether the dispute could be settled peacefully.
• Zhou An invoked Chen Cheng’s ties to Cao Zhao, Fang Wenhou, Zhuang Zhuang, and other powerful figures, then privately advised Zhou Yonglu to concede.
• Zhou Yonglu agreed to send Chen Cheng a generous gift and told Zhou An to build a good relationship with him.
• Chen Cheng returned to Zhao City with five Treasure Fish, and Wu Ziyu explained how to prepare the Green-Silver Dragon and warned him about its strength.
• Madam Li cooked the fish while Chen Cheng trained, and she agreed to obtain ingredients from Shen Family Pharmacy for future medicinal cuisine.
• The next morning, Chen Cheng opened the pot of Green-Silver Dragon soup, and its overwhelming rusty stench drove him back.

After learning Yongsheng Firm was collapsing, Chen Cheng tried to help Shen Mi save it by entering a Merchant Charter contest. Wu Ziyu welcomed them at the Commerce Inspection Bureau, while Gu Lan'an and a young man named Liu dismissed Chen Cheng’s abilities.

• Chen Cheng ate Green-Silver Dragon soup, felt its nourishing power, and trained with the Four Gods Profound Body.
• At Yongsheng Trading Firm, Mother Ding told Chen Cheng that Shen Mi had returned the Merchant Charter and was trying to sell the compound after the firm’s finances collapsed.
• Shen Mi gave Chen Cheng the Thunder-Stepping Technique that Elder Wen had left for him, and Chen Cheng offered her one thousand taels before learning a contest could win a new Merchant Charter.
• Chen Cheng took Shen Mi to the Commerce Inspection Bureau, where Wu Ziyu greeted him warmly and promised to help Yongsheng Firm.
• Gu Lan'an and Gu Heng watched Chen Cheng arrive, and Gu Lan'an’s companion Liu declared that Chen Cheng was not worthy of polishing his shoes.

Chen Cheng and Shen Mi sought a Merchant Charter for Yongsheng Firm, and Shen Mi offered the firm’s deeds and a residence as stakes to arrange a last-minute bout. After Liu Yufeng provoked them, Chen Cheng chose Wantong Firm’s route and signed a life-and-death contract to fight him.

• Wu Zhan explained that Yongsheng Firm could enter a Merchant Charter fight only by offering a valuable prize, so Shen Mi pledged the deeds to the firm, its warehouse, and a residence.
• Chen Cheng mastered the beginner level of the Thunder-Stepping Technique while the first three bouts took place.
• Shen Mi and Wu Ziyu told Chen Cheng that Liu Yufeng had abused and exploited women and had harassed Yongsheng Firm after Shen Mi rejected him.
• Wu Zhan invited the eight trading firms to stake routes, allowing Shen Mi to choose a Merchant Charter, and Shen Mi selected Wantong Firm’s profitable Southern Route.
• Liu Yufeng tried to secure Yongsheng Firm’s property for Gu Heng by provoking Chen Cheng, and Chen Cheng accepted the fight against him.
• Chen Cheng and Liu Yufeng signed the life-and-death contract and stepped onto the arena to begin their bout.

Chen Cheng killed Liu Yufeng with a thunderous kick, securing Shen Mi the Merchant Charter and drawing attention to his strength. Afterward, he developed a Silent Thunder-Stepping Technique by combining the art with Hidden Vitality and Moon Breath of Avici, while news of Shen Mi’s success spread through merchant circles.

• Liu Yufeng taunted Chen Cheng about Elder Wen and Shen Mi, but Chen Cheng killed him with a single Thunder-Stepping Technique kick.
• Shen Mi received the Merchant Charter and official documents from Gu Heng, while Wu Zhan offered her interest-free working capital in the Wu Family’s name.
• Chen Cheng explained the Thunder-Stepping Technique to Wu Ziyu, and Shen Mi realized his farewell had been meant for Elder Wen.
• Chen Cheng returned home, replaced Crouching Dragon Fist practice with Thunder-Stepping Technique training, and combined it with Hidden Vitality and Moon Breath of Avici to create the Silent Thunder-Stepping Technique.
• News of Shen Mi’s new Merchant Charter and Chen Cheng’s powerful connections spread, and Shen Mi and Wu Ziyu found a crowd fighting to pay their restaurant bill.

Shen Mi’s new Merchant Charter and Chen Cheng’s influence revived the Shen Family Third Branch, while the Gu Family’s attempt to recruit Chen Cheng failed and Gu Lan’an was confined. Three days later, Chen Cheng joined Wang Chuang and Yun Shuangling on a snowy hunt, where a signal announced that the Strange Tiger had been found.

• Shen Chongnian learned that bulk orders had revived the Third Branch’s medicine and fur businesses, credited Chen Cheng with saving the family, and vowed that its descendants would repay him.
• Gu Heng demanded that Gu Lan’an use Cao Zhao and Wang Chuang to approach Chen Cheng, but she admitted they had cut ties with her, so Gu Heng confined her to her room.
• On Blind Huang Ridge, Chen Cheng shot down a fast Snow Falcon with a Silver Pellet after two elite hunters missed it.
• Wang Chuang praised Chen Cheng’s archery, and Yun Shuangling showed interest in his pellet shooting.
• A Whistling Arrow signaled that the Strange Tiger had been found, and Yun Shuangling hurried toward its location.

After a strange poisonous miasma incapacitated two hunting squads, Chen Cheng entered the forest to rescue Wang Chuang’s uncle, Wang Peng, relying on his poison resistance. As Chen Cheng raced deeper into the woods, the other hunters suspected the miasma and Strange Tiger’s movements had been arranged by someone.

• Wang Chuang and Chen Cheng reached the forest and found Wang Sun and more than a dozen hunters incapacitated by poisonous miasma.
• Wang Sun told Wang Chuang that Wang Peng had gone back into the poisoned forest to rescue the others and had not returned.
• Wang Chuang prepared to investigate the miasma, but Chen Cheng volunteered and entered the forest after assuring him that his poison resistance would protect him.
• Chen Cheng detected the poison, adapted to it, and gained immunity before rushing deeper into the forest toward Wang Peng.
• Zhu Kang and another hunting squad leader suspected that someone had deliberately created the poisonous miasma and lured the hunters with Strange Tiger traces.

Jiuan Hunting Manor realized the poisonous gas and Strange Tiger traces were a deliberate trap, but the retreating group was ambushed by archers and suffered heavy casualties. Chen Cheng rescued Wang Peng and a guard, then turned back to search for Miss Yun, while Bai Fangshuo and Chu Biao watched the attack unfold.

• Zhu Kang ordered the surviving Jiuan Hunting Manor members to retreat after Wang Chuang recognized that the poisonous gas and Strange Tiger traces had been arranged to lure in reinforcements.
• Chen Cheng found Wang Peng and a wounded manor guard, carried them out of the forest, and agreed to search for Miss Yun after learning she was an Inner Sect disciple of the Shanhai Sect.
• Chen Cheng left Wang Peng and the guard in a safe place and headed back into the forest to look for Miss Yun.
• Archers ambushed Zhu Kang's retreating group, killing the scar-faced man and many others before Meng Tang and the survivors took cover.
• Meng Tang killed two enemy archers with a double shot, and the fighting settled into a tense standoff as the attackers repositioned.
• Bai Fangshuo and Chief Chu Biao approached the ambush site, and Chu Biao praised Bai Fangshuo's plan while confirming his intent to eliminate Jiuan Hunting Manor.

Chen Cheng rescued Yun Shuangling from the poisonous forest, then learned that the Jiuan Hunting Manor’s people were under attack by Bai Fangshuo. As Bai Fangshuo’s iron arrows threatened Wang Chuang and Zhu Kang, an unknown projectile broke one arrow and killed Chu Biao, leaving Bai Fangshuo holding the projectile.

• Chen Cheng found Yun Shuangling beneath an old pine, carried her out of the poisonous miasma, and brought her to Wang Peng.
• Chen Cheng and Yun Shuangling heard a scream near the forest exit, while Wang Peng warned that something had happened there.
• Bai Fangshuo shot Meng Tang through the heart with an iron arrow and ordered Chu Biao’s men to advance on the Jiuan people.
• Wang Chuang woke and cried out, revealing his position; Zhu Kang shielded him as Bai Fangshuo’s arrow pierced their tree, but an unknown blow snapped the arrow in two.
• Bai Fangshuo heard a faint sound, and a silver projectile struck Chu Biao’s head, killing him before Bai Fangshuo caught the projectile in his hand.

A hidden master pellet shooter devastated Chu Biao’s ambush, forcing the bandits to flee while Bai Fangshuo and Yu An struggled to survive. As Jiuan’s survivors counterattacked, Bai Fangshuo tried to make Yu An retrieve arrows so they could resist, but Yu An stayed hidden and Bai Fangshuo warned that his death would ruin the Immortal Bone Sect’s plans in Zhao City.

• Bai Fangshuo knocked Yu An aside, saving him from a silver pellet that tore off his ear, and identified their attacker as a concealed master pellet shooter.
• The shooter killed Chu Biao and several bandit leaders and men with precise shots, terrifying Bai Fangshuo and driving the remaining bandits to flee.
• Zhu Kang ordered Jiuan’s surviving hunters to pursue the fleeing bandits, while Wang Peng and Yun Shuangling worried that Chen had been exposed and was in danger.
• The shooter killed Bai Fangshuo’s attendants, including two men with one pellet, while Bai Fangshuo kept moving and tried to persuade Yu An to retrieve arrows.
• Yu An refused to leave cover, so Bai Fangshuo warned him that the shooter was the greatest divine archer below Transformation Force and that Bai’s death would destroy the Immortal Bone Sect’s arrangements in Zhao City.

Bai Fangshuo and Yu An tried to survive the unseen archer by working together, but the opponent overwhelmed them with relentless Silver Pellet shots. Yu An fled after Bai Fangshuo was crippled, only to be caught and killed by the youth, whose identity remained unknown.

• Yu An retrieved iron arrows and joined Bai Fangshuo, who prepared to counterattack while listening for the enemy’s footsteps.
• Bai Fangshuo intercepted a Silver Pellet with an iron arrow, then traded several more volleys with the unseen archer as both men strained their bodies.
• The archer fired four Silver Pellets in succession, severing Bai Fangshuo’s limbs and leaving him bleeding on the ground.
• Yu An sprinted through the forest, but the youth caught up with him and appeared inches from his face.
• The youth struck Yu An in the chest and throat, killing him with a devastating aerial attack.