Chapter Summaries

Qin Yao subdued the Flame Lion Army’s troublemakers by leaving controlled palm prints on their armor without injuring them. The soldiers recognized his overwhelming strength and knelt to apologize and accept punishment.

• The Flame Lion Army soldiers realized Qin Yao had struck more than two hundred men in moments, damaging their armor without hurting them.
• The soldiers praised Qin Yao’s strength and control, speculating that he had reached the legendary Innate Realm.
• The scar-faced soldier knelt and apologized to Qin Yao for his insults.
• Zhou Qing and the other nine captains knelt and accepted responsibility for failing to discipline their men.
• The two hundred-odd soldiers knelt and begged Qin Yao to pass judgment, afraid they would be expelled from the Flame Lion Legion.

Qin Yao won over the Flame Lion Legion after explaining that he would never use his comrades’ lives to claim military merit. He punished the insubordinate soldiers lightly, and the army prepared to set out with its morale transformed.

• Qin Yao ordered the kneeling Flame Lion Legion to rise and acknowledged why the scar-faced soldier had mistrusted him.
• Qin Yao declared that he would never rely on comrades to take blades for him or use their lives to earn military achievements, winning the soldiers’ respect.
• Qin Yao sentenced the two hundred troublemakers to twenty strokes and Zhou Qing and the other ten captains to thirty strokes for lax discipline.
• The soldiers took their punishment, and the troublemakers jokingly treated the palm prints Qin Yao left on their armor as medals of martial valor.
• Ke Leiyong and his deputy general remarked that Qin Yao had turned the proud soldiers into devoted followers.

Qin Yao subdued the Flame Lion Legion through a restrained, close-quarters fight while keeping his true cultivation secret. Three days later, Nine Suns Commandery was holding out against a major Golden Frost Barbarian invasion after two neighboring commanderies had fallen.

• Qin Yao’s captains joked about their bruises after his fight with the Flame Lion Legion, whose soldiers had become more eager to follow him.
• Ke Leiyong praised Qin Yao for winning the legion’s respect through a fighting style its soldiers could understand, while Qin Yao kept his third-level Innate Realm cultivation secret.
• Thirty thousand cavalrymen rode north beneath the Northern Expedition banner.
• At Nine Suns Commandery, soldiers defended the battered city walls and Mystic Crystal War Cannons after a Golden Frost Barbarian attack.
• Ma Xianlong explained that the invasion differed from the usual spring raids because the barbarians had captured Border Peace Commandery and Prosperous Peace Commandery and had nearly taken Nine Suns Commandery as well.

As Nine Suns Commandery City prepared for another siege by the Golden Frost Barbarians, Ma Xianlong learned that the city’s defenses were running low on talismans and that suspicious figures had been seen near the western wall. The Six Doors investigators revealed that witnesses had placed two versions of City Lord Sima Zhongshi in different locations at the same time, and Ma Xianlong went to meet Chief Judge Yan about city defense.

• Ma Xianlong told the soldiers that the city’s talisman reserves could last only another round and a half, though they resolved to keep defending.
• Qi Longchu and Qi Long'er warned Ma Xianlong that three groups had entered an abandoned manor near the western wall, including one carrying pale green torches.
• Ma Xianlong agreed to repair ten talismans in exchange for details about the City Lord Clan Massacre Case.
• Qi Longchu said witnesses had placed Sima Zhongshi at Yu Residence and in the City Lord's Mansion at the same time, with evidence supporting both accounts.
• Qi Longchu directed Ma Xianlong to Chief Judge Yan, who wanted to discuss his use of Fire Thunder Talismans and Fire Lizard Crystal Core shells against the catapults.

Yan Yiqing learned that Nine Suns Commandery’s cannon crews had too few talismans to sustain another major siege, then examined Frost-Cold Snake Oil found outside the western wall. The discovery suggested that Golden Frost shamans had used sorcery to bypass the city’s defensive formation, and Yan Yiqing and the Qi brothers began to suspect how the attack had penetrated the city.

• Ma Xianlong told Yan Yiqing that he had only sixty-three usable cannon talismans left and could not make more quickly.
• Yan Yiqing learned that the other three surviving gunners had only about forty talismans each, while Yang Wenkai and two cannons had been lost in the dawn siege.
• Yan Yiqing urged the gunners to keep defending the city until reinforcements arrived and pledged to live or die with them.
• Yan Yiqing and the other commanders reviewed the city’s defenses and assigned experts to hold its different sides.
• Qi Longchu and Qi Long'er showed Yan Yiqing Frost-Cold Snake Oil they had found outside the western wall.
• Qi Longchu suggested that Golden Frost shamans had used the oil for witchcraft to disable the City Defense Grand Formation and infiltrate the city.

Yan Yiqing organized the investigation and defenses as Nine Suns Commandery faced an imminent assault by the Golden Frost Barbarians. She reassured the Qi brothers with a fallback plan and supplies, but privately hoped for a miracle.

• Yan Yiqing ordered Qi Longchu and Qi Long'er to watch the western wall, Yan Taiyi to search the cliffside, and Zhong Yichi to question the night guards about the Frost-Chill Snake Oil.
• Qi Long'er questioned whether defending Nine Suns Commandery distracted them from investigating the Yu Family massacre, and Yan Yiqing explained that letting the city fall would doom the living and end their duty.
• Yan Yiqing revealed that the newly opened barbican tunnel could serve as a fallback position and gave the Qi brothers qi-restoring brews for their exhausted efforts.
• Yan Yiqing told the Qi brothers she planned carefully and would not send them to their deaths through poor deployment.
• After leaving the brothers, Yan Yiqing admitted to herself that she was uncertain and hoped for a miracle.

Golden Frost vanguard general Adu Xikang learned that his assassins had failed to kill the Yan Dog City Lord after encountering eight powerful gray-clad fighters. He ordered another attack in three days, while privately recovering from poison and awaiting the Golden Frost main army.

• Tuerxuan reported that a woman with a slender blade and seven other gray-clad fighters had driven the assassins from the City Lord's Mansion.
• Adu Xikang kicked Tuerxuan out of the tent and ordered Luhuman to become a human-blood weapon.
• Adu Xikang told a messenger to prepare for another attack on the city in three days.
• Luhuman left the tent vowing to take revenge after the shaman transformed him.
• Adu Xikang revealed that poison had left him unable to move freely and expected the Golden Frost main army to arrive within five days.

Great Yan learned that Prosperous Peace and Border Peace Commanderies had fallen to the Golden Frost Barbarians, leaving Nine Suns Commandery in danger. The court debated an urgent relief force, but the chapter ended with Minister of Revenue Zheng Huai'an warning that the treasury might not have enough grain to sustain one.

• Two groups of messengers brought Yan Qinyu a northern-border battle report and an urgent secret memorial from Yan Yiqing.
• Yan Qinyu learned that Prosperous Peace and Border Peace Commanderies had fallen and Nine Suns Commandery was still resisting.
• He Zhangping questioned how the city-defense formations had failed, and Yan Qinyu confirmed that reports from the army and Six Doors agreed.
• Wei Zhen and Qiao Chongyue both offered to lead troops north, then argued over who could reach the border and command the relief force.
• Zheng Huai'an warned that a new expedition would consume a large share of the remaining treasury grain, and Wei Zhen challenged him for focusing on supplies while the commanderies were under attack.

Yan Qinyu weighed the risks of sending Qin Yao’s army into a Northern Frontier cut off from its grain supplies and ordered him to act as circumstances demanded. Two days later, Qin Yao reached the empty Clear River Post Road and sensed trouble.

• Wei Zhen and Zheng Huai'an argued until Yan Qinyu silenced the court and asked where Qin Yao’s Northern Expedition Army had reached.
• Eunuch Nur reported that Qin Yao had passed Bluestone Slope and would need at least two more days to reach the Northern Frontier.
• Yan Qinyu and the officials debated the lack of grain, the fallen commanderies, and the danger of sending troops or supplies north.
• Yan Qinyu ordered Qin Yao to act according to circumstances, told him to hold back the Golden Frost Barbarians for two months, and placed Great Yan’s garrisons on combat readiness.
• Two days later, Qin Yao rode along the deserted Clear River Post Road, voiced his unease, and received a scout’s report.

Qin Yao’s army encountered more than two thousand wounded refugees fleeing south from Prosperous Peace Commandery and Border Peace Commandery. After confirming the refugees posed no immediate threat, he learned that both commanderies had fallen to the barbarians, leaving the story with news of a devastating invasion.

• A scout reported that over two thousand bloodied civilians were approaching, and Qin Yao ordered the Flame Lion Legion to advance cautiously.
• Qin Yao left Ke Leiyong with the main army on alert and rode forward with Zhou Qing and the Left Camp’s First Company to inspect the refugees.
• The refugees recognized the army’s banners, gathered together, and begged Qin Yao to save them.
• Qin Yao used his Spirit Sense to check the crowd, then lifted a kneeling old man and asked where the refugees had come from.
• The old man said Prosperous Peace Commandery and Border Peace Commandery had fallen after barbarians secretly entered Prosperous Peace City and slaughtered its people.
• A woman told Qin Yao that her husband and brother-in-law had died defending Border Peace City and begged him for food for her three-year-old child.

Qin Yao learned that Prosperous Peace and Border Peace Commanderies had fallen and received orders to hold the Golden Frost Barbarians south of Nine Suns Commandery for at least two months. After giving refugees food, he led the Flame Lion Legion at full speed toward the northern border, determined to surprise the enemy.

• A Crimson Feather Three-Tailed Eagle delivered an urgent dispatch to Qin Yao confirming the commanderies’ fall and granting him authority to act as circumstances demanded.
• Qin Yao ordered Zhou Qing to distribute provisions to the refugees and make sure they had food and water for the journey to the nearest rear town.
• Qin Yao ordered the thirty thousand troops to advance at full speed toward the northern border.
• Ke Leiyong warned Qin Yao that the forced march could exhaust the men and horses, but Qin Yao said they would surprise the Golden Frost Barbarians.
• Ke Leiyong was reassured by Qin Yao’s resolve and urged his horse onward with the army.

Golden Frost Barbarians slaughtered the people of Twin Leaf County, and Ferza’s squad heard an approaching force and spotted a Great Yan army outside the southern gate. Ferza rushed to warn Lord Gala as the barbarians realized the Yan reinforcements had arrived far sooner than expected.

• Golden Frost Barbarians tormented a blindfolded father by forcing him to throw a knife at an apple balanced on his son’s head.
• The father attacked Ferza’s squad, but a barbarian kicked him down and Ferza killed the boy with a flying knife.
• Ferza heard hoofbeats, silenced the other barbarians, and climbed onto a roof to investigate.
• Ferza saw an enormous army approaching Twin Leaf County from the south and recognized it as the Great Yan army.
• Ferza ran to report the unexpected arrival to Lord Gala, while the other barbarians wondered how the Yan reinforcements had reached them so quickly.

Gala learned that a Flame Kingdom army was approaching Twin Leaf County and ordered his Golden Frost troops to kill the captives, burn the grain, and retreat north. Before Ferza could sound the alarm, an unknown attacker began cutting down Golden Frost soldiers, while Qin Yao charged into the county.

• Gala killed a Flame Kingdom woman after Ferza reported that an army of at least ten thousand was approaching Twin Leaf County.
• Gala ordered the Golden Frost troops to kill the remaining captives, burn the grain, and withdraw through the north gate.
• Ferza relayed Gala’s order to two Golden Frost Barbarians, who killed two Flame Kingdom women beside the bodies of an old man and a boy.
• Ferza heard Golden Frost soldiers being attacked before he had rung the alarm bell and hurried toward the bell tower.
• Qin Yao rode into Twin Leaf County on a black steed, carrying the Red Dragon Cloud-Swallowing Spear and wearing Mystic Scale Armor.

Qin Yao charged alone into Twin Leaf County and slaughtered the Golden Frost Barbarians while avoiding attacks that could harm the surviving Yan citizens. As the barbarians began preparing to retreat, he killed Ferza from three streets away with a thrown curved blade.

• Qin Yao rode into Twin Leaf County and swept aside the barbarians guarding its gate with a spear aura.
• Qin Yao fought through the streets at close range, killing the barbarians while keeping his true qi from endangering Yan citizens nearby.
• Qin Yao attacked a group of barbarians gathered in an alley with a fiery spear strike, scattering them in a bloody heap.
• Ferza climbed the bell tower, rang the bell, and shouted orders for the barbarians to kill Yan soldiers, burn their supplies, and retreat.
• Qin Yao threw a curved blade across three streets and decapitated Ferza as he rang the bell.

Qin Yao rampaged through the streets, killing Golden Frost Barbarians who were attacking Great Yan’s people and supplies. When they retreated into houses and used hostages, he killed them with finger-flicked blasts of Innate true qi and continued rescuing survivors.

• The barbarians stopped to see Ferza’s severed corpse atop the bell tower, and Qin Yao killed an officer who was holding a Great Yan girl captive.
• Qin Yao killed dozens of barbarians on horseback, forcing them to flee into alleys and houses to escape his mounted attacks.
• Qin Yao dismounted and entered a house where three barbarians were threatening two Great Yan women, then killed the soldiers with blasts from his fingers after discarding his blade.
• Qin Yao crossed the rooftops to another courtyard and killed four barbarians surrounding an old woman and two children with more finger-flicked blasts.

Qin Yao hunted down the fleeing Golden Frost Barbarians in Twin Leaf County, killing them with his Innate True Qi and testing his newly learned Heaven-Burning Cloud-Sundering Palm. He left the alley destroyed and the surviving barbarians terrified.

• Qin Yao used Spirit Sense and Nine Skies Thunder Step to track and kill Golden Frost Barbarians as they fled through Twin Leaf County.
• Qin Yao hurled a short blade and flicked Innate True Qi at fleeing soldiers, then killed mounted archers whose arrows could not pierce his Mystic Scale Armor.
• Qin Yao found more than thirty Golden Frost Barbarians crowded with their horses in Zuoluo Alley and unleashed Heaven-Burning Cloud-Sundering Palm.
• Qin Yao's enormous fiery palm demolished the alley and incinerated the barbarians and horses, leaving him stunned by the destruction.

Qin Yao slaughtered the Golden Frost Barbarians across Twin Leaf County while the Flamefire Black Steed killed two would-be horse thieves. Gala learned that the captive Yan Dog whelp was in a nearby stable and ordered Durdonka to lead him there.

• Qin Yao hunted down fleeing Golden Frost Barbarians, killing those who tried to escape or organize a counterattack while leaving the hidden ones for later.
• The Flamefire Black Steed crushed two Golden Frost Barbarians who tried to steal it and flee.
• Durdonka, disguised as a civilian, found Gala hiding in a courtyard.
• Gala demanded to know where the captive Yan Dog whelp was, and Durdonka said he was tied up in the cellar behind the No. 3 stable.
• Gala ordered Durdonka to lead him to the stable across the street.

Gala and Durdonka hid in a cellar with Zhao Wuji, whom the Golden Frost Barbarians planned to transform into a Human-Blood Weapon. When Durdonka described the mysterious warrior who had routed their forces as a Snow Demon, Zhao Wuji realized he was likely Qin Yao, the Foreign Repelling Spearhead.

• Gala disguised himself in Yan clothing and followed Durdonka to a cellar where Zhao Wuji was bound.
• The chapter revealed that Zhao Wuji had failed the Imperial Capital Academy examination and returned to Prosperous Peace Commandery before the Golden Frost Barbarians captured him.
• A Frost warlock had ordered Zhao Wuji fed secret medicine and human blood for twenty-one days so he could be turned into a Human-Blood Weapon.
• Gala silenced Zhao Wuji and threatened him while the captive struggled against his restraints and sealed inner force.
• Durdonka told Gala that a black shadow had slaughtered their warriors, and Zhao Wuji recognized the Snow Demon as Qin Yao, the Foreign Repelling Spearhead.

Qin Yao hunted down the Golden Frost Barbarians throughout Twin Leaf County, while Zhao Wuji, hiding in a stable cellar, hoped the Qi Activation expert would find them. Qin Yao reached Stable Number Three after killing the hidden invaders, bringing hope closer to Zhao Wuji.

• Zhao Wuji recognized that the Snow Demon might be Qin Yao, then reasoned Qin Yao could not yet have reached the Qi Activation Realm.
• Qin Yao pursued fleeing barbarian cavalry, killed them with finger strikes, and gained proficiency in the Army-Breaking Wild Wave Saber.
• Qin Yao cut down more fleeing riders with the Lone Swan Falling Snow Sword and killed the Golden Frost Barbarians across Twin Leaf County.
• Qin Yao used his Soul Perception to find and kill the barbarians hiding throughout the city.
• Qin Yao arrived at Stable Number Three, where Zhao Wuji and the others were hiding.

Qin Yao’s pursuers passed close to the cellar where Gala and Durdonka were hiding Zhao Wuji, but they escaped discovery. Qin Yao met the Flame Lion Legion as it entered Twin Leaf County, helped two civilians, and was praised by the arriving officers for defeating the enemies alone.

• Qin Yao walked past the stable cellar, and Gala and Durdonka kept Zhao Wuji quiet until his footsteps faded.
• Qin Yao watched the Flame Lion Legion enter Twin Leaf County and found an elderly woman and her young grandson hiding nearby.
• Qin Yao gave the boy a sugar cube and stopped the woman from kneeling to thank him.
• Zhou Qing identified Qin Yao as Great Yan’s Northern Expedition General and carved his name into the ground for the woman.
• Ke Leiyong and the army arrived, and the officers praised Qin Yao for defeating the enemies alone.