Chapter Summaries

Shen Xiu hunted a Fire Cloud Deer in the Great Wu Mountain Range and stayed in a cave, using the wilderness to improve his strength. After training and hunting for several days, he set out to claim a Second-Order demonic beast he had spotted.

• Shen Xiu ambushed and killed a Fire Cloud Deer, then carried it to his cave and roasted it during a storm.
• Shen Xiu kept the White Python's demon core for warmth and let the Golden Cicada eat some of the deer.
• The next morning, Shen Xiu practiced the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Thirteen Stances and the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill.
• Shen Xiu hunted demonic beasts in Mount Da Wu and found that eating them improved him more than the Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School's medicinal meals.
• Shen Xiu headed into the forest to hunt a Second-Order demonic beast he had spotted the day before.

Shen Xiu encountered Yang Tiandong and his men in the woods and killed them after learning they had been sent to hunt him. He fled east along the outskirts of Mount Da Wu to find a new place to cultivate.

• Yang Tiandong invited Shen Xiu to his residence, but Shen Xiu noticed the middle-aged expert beside him and tried to pass them.
• The middle-aged expert attacked Shen Xiu, who killed him and asked Yang Tiandong whether the Suspended Sword Division had visited Yang Family Town.
• Yang Tiandong denied knowing about the visit, but Shen Xiu attacked and killed him.
• Yang Tiandong's attendants fled, and Shen Xiu caught and killed them, learning that Yang Tiandong had searched for him for several days on the Suspended Sword Division's orders.
• Shen Xiu found a few hundred taels of silver on the bodies and raced east along Mount Da Wu to find another place to cultivate.

Shen Xiu fed the White Python's demon core to the Golden Cicada, raising its satiety to 93.2% and revealing fine golden lines along its body. After seven more days of hunting in Mount Da Wu, he continued east to find another area.

• Shen Xiu found a stream, killed a Black Tiger that ambushed him, and followed the water to a waterfall pool.
• Shen Xiu roasted and ate the tiger before giving the White Python's demon core to the Golden Cicada.
• The Golden Cicada devoured the core, developed fine golden lines along its body, and reached 93.2% satiety without metamorphosing.
• Over the next seven days, Shen Xiu hunted beasts in Mount Da Wu, but his kills added little satiety to the Golden Cicada.
• Shen Xiu continued east to search for demonic beasts in another area.

Liu Family Village’s hunting party chased a Silver Fox into the woods, where Gangzi stumbled upon a Man-Eating Ape and warned the others to flee. Shen Xiu heard the commotion and headed toward it, eager to find a demon beast.

• Liu Bantian led the hunting party into the mountains to catch a Silver Fox, and Gangzi chased it ahead of the others.
• Gangzi caught the injured Silver Fox but sensed a sinister presence nearby.
• Gangzi found a giant Man-Eating Ape feeding in a hollow surrounded by bones and severed limbs.
• Gangzi shouted a warning, and Liu Bantian and the villagers saw the ape.
• Shen Xiu heard the shouting from nearby and turned toward the disturbance, wondering if a ranked demon beast had appeared.

Shen Xiu confronted a third-tier man-eating ape that had chased Liu Bantian and the hunters from Liu Family Village. After the ape broke his sword and its attacks failed to hurt him, it gave up and walked away, leaving Shen Xiu and Liu Bantian alive.

• Hunters fleeing a man-eating ape warned Shen Xiu to run, but he drew his broadsword and waited for the beast.
• Liu Bantian stayed behind to stand beside Shen Xiu as the man-eating ape emerged from the woods.
• Shen Xiu fought the ape and found its claws and hide strong enough to block his sword strikes.
• The ape attacked Liu Bantian, wounding him, then returned to charge Shen Xiu and crushed his broadsword with its jaws.
• Shen Xiu endured the ape's blows without injury, and the confused beast eventually turned and waddled away with its paws aching and numb.

Shen Xiu killed a man-eating ape that had slaughtered many people and fed its corpse to the Golden Cicada. The Golden Cicada completed its third transformation and gained the Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell talent.

• Shen Xiu used the man-eating ape to train his Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill while Liu Bantian watched.
• The man-eating ape fled to its lair, where Shen Xiu saw the remains of its victims and killed it with a powerful punch.
• Shen Xiu buried the remains, and Liu Bantian thanked him and invited him to visit Liu Family Village in Tianhe Town.
• Shen Xiu returned to his cave and fed the ape's corpse to the Golden Cicada.
• The Golden Cicada completed its third transformation, grew a pair of pale golden wings, and gained the Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell talent.

Shen Xiu learned that his new Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell talent could restore him and raise his cultivation after a dangerous escape, but using it would leave him weakened and in need of Blood Qi. After buying pills from Pill Master Gu, he returned to the waterfall and used the talent to teleport toward the man-eating ape’s lair.

• Shen Xiu considered the limits and cost of his new Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell talent, then postponed testing it while he gathered beasts for Blood Qi.
• Shen Xiu went to Liu Family Village and asked Liu Bantian for at least twenty Blood Qi Pills, but the town’s apothecaries had sold out.
• Liu Bantian directed Shen Xiu to Pill Master Gu, who lived south of town and would sell pills to a person only once.
• Shen Xiu paid Pill Master Gu one thousand taels for twenty high-quality Blood Qi Pills.
• Shen Xiu returned to the waterfall and used his talent to vanish, traveling toward the area near the man-eating ape’s lair.

Shen Xiu tested his temporary Fourth Realm Return to Hiding ability, then spent two months training beneath a waterfall. He broke through to the Fourth Realm after advancing his Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art to the seventh level.

• Shen Xiu teleported to the forest and used his temporary Fourth Realm cultivation to kill another man-eating ape with a single punch.
• Shen Xiu endured severe weakness after his talent expired and needed ten Blood Qi Pills before recovering the next day.
• Shen Xiu fed the ape to the Golden Cicada, assessed its new golden wings, and realized its next transformation would require far more energy.
• Shen Xiu trained near the waterfall for two months, gradually moving closer to the torrent as he improved his cultivation.
• Shen Xiu reached the seventh level of the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art and broke through to Fourth Realm Return to Hiding.

Shen Xiu trained beneath a waterfall for two months, advancing the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill to the Second Layer before the weakening flow made further progress difficult. Meanwhile, Qiu Xing and Zhou Xian'er arrived to seek a medicinal ingredient at the Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall, where Shen Xiu was still training.

• Shen Xiu discovered that the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art had reached its maximum level and began tempering the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill beneath the waterfall.
• Shen Xiu endured repeated blasts from the waterfall, gradually improving his skill and reaching the Second Layer over the next two months.
• Shen Xiu found that the weaker seasonal flow and reduced training gains made it difficult to continue, but he stayed at the waterfall.
• Qiu Xing and Zhou Xian'er arrived at Gu Hechuan's dilapidated house on a White Eagle to ask about the medicinal ingredient.
• Gu Hechuan directed Qiu Xing and Zhou Xian'er to Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall and warned them of danger.
• Qiu Xing told Zhou Xian'er that Gu Hechuan had chosen a gentler pill formula rather than treating mortals as medicinal ingredients, then flew south with her.

Shen Xiu confronted Qiu Xing and Zhou Xian'er after discovering they intended to use him as a medicinal ingredient. He killed their White Eagle and struck Qiu Xing with a hidden Mystic Talisman before fighting off his flying sword and knocking him into a tree, leaving the mystic cultivator injured.

• Qiu Xing and Zhou Xian'er arrived on a White Eagle and identified Shen Xiu as the medicinal ingredient Uncle-Master Gu had mentioned.
• Shen Xiu attacked, used a Mystic Talisman to stall Qiu Xing, and killed the White Eagle to cut off their escape.
• Qiu Xing launched his flying sword at Shen Xiu, who struck it aside with his fists despite suffering cuts.
• Shen Xiu attacked Zhou Xian'er, sent Qiu Xing's sword flying again, and used the rebound to land a heavy blow on Qiu Xing.
• Qiu Xing crashed into a tree and vomited blood, leaving Shen Xiu astonished by how vulnerable he seemed.

Shen Xiu defeated Qiu Xing and Zhou Xian'er, then captured Qiu Xing and began interrogating him. After Qiu Xing warned that his sect could track his death, Shen Xiu chose not to kill him and threatened to break every bone unless he answered.

• Zhou Xian'er attacked Shen Xiu with water arrows, but he shattered them and knocked her unconscious with a punch.
• Qiu Xing unleashed a barrage of water swords, but Shen Xiu endured the wounds and charged through his defenses.
• Shen Xiu battered Qiu Xing into the ground and seized him, then caught and smashed the sword Qiu Xing sent at him from behind.
• Shen Xiu pinned Qiu Xing against a tree and crushed both of his hands as Qiu Xing warned that the Qingxia Sect could trace his death.
• Shen Xiu said he would spare Qiu Xing but threatened to break every bone in his body unless he answered, and Qiu Xing demanded that he ask already.

Shen Xiu questioned two disciples of Qingxia Cave Heaven and learned they had targeted him as an ingredient for a Breakthrough Pill. Unable to release them or risk killing them himself, he fed them to a Fierce Beast and left after witnessing their deaths.

• Shen Xiu questioned Qiu Xing and Zhou Xian'er, learning about Qingxia Cave Heaven and its plan to use him as a medicinal ingredient.
• Shen Xiu beat Qiu Xing unconscious, questioned Zhou Xian'er, and discarded their belongings to avoid possible tracking.
• Shen Xiu decided to make a Fierce Beast kill the two disciples so their deaths could not be traced to him.
• Shen Xiu dragged Qiu Xing and Zhou Xian'er to the beast's cave and threw them inside.
• The Fierce Beast devoured both disciples, and Shen Xiu watched before leaving.

Shen Xiu sneaked back into Taixi City, where local memories of the Lishui River’s protector contradicted the Suspended Sword Division’s accusations. After meeting Instructor Duan and collecting his money, Shen Xiu set out for Shanglin City and learned the origin of his martial art.

• Shen Xiu disguised himself as a peddler and slipped past Taixi City’s guards in the rain.
• A boy recognized Shen Xiu near the city gate, and his grandfather recalled how the Lishui River’s Dragon King had protected Taixi City before the Suspended Sword Division claimed to have killed a demon.
• Shen Xiu entered the Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School and met Instructor Duan, who had kept his money safe for him.
• Shen Xiu told Instructor Duan that he had reached the Gui Cang Realm and was heading to Shanglin City.
• Instructor Duan explained that the Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School’s Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art came from the Yuanyang Gang’s Prison Suppressing Dragon Elephant Strength.

Shen Xiu left Taixi City for Shanglin City after Instructor Duan explained that the Yuanyang Gang could offer him a path to the Prison Suppressing Dragon Elephant Strength. On the journey, archers ambushed his carriage, and he discovered a hundred black-armored soldiers waiting beyond a slope.

• Instructor Duan told Shen Xiu about the Yuanyang Gang and warned him not to confront Jin Mu'er or Feng Haoran before reaching the fifth realm.
• Shen Xiu bought supplies, said farewell to Instructor Duan, and hired a carriage to travel north toward Shanglin City.
• Hidden archers shot at Shen Xiu's carriage, but he reacted in time and avoided being struck.
• Shen Xiu left the carriage and advanced toward the attackers as the driver fled to safety.
• Shen Xiu reached the slope and found a hundred elite soldiers in black armor waiting on the other side.

Shen Xiu was ambushed by Chen Yuanhua and a hundred armed soldiers, but he used his Fourth Realm strength to break through their formations and overwhelm them. As Chen Yuanhua led the retreat, Shen Xiu hurled a spear that pierced his armor and pinned him to the ground.

• Chen Yuanhua surrounded Shen Xiu with a hundred soldiers and ordered the archers to fire heavy crossbow bolts.
• Shen Xiu dodged and deflected the arrows, then hurled one into a guard and charged toward Chen Yuanhua.
• Shen Xiu broke through the soldiers’ shields and spears with his saber and close-range attacks.
• Chen Yuanhua ordered his troops to retreat as Shen Xiu cut through their ranks.
• Shen Xiu pursued the fleeing soldiers and hurled a spear that pierced Chen Yuanhua’s chest and pinned him to the ground.

After defeating the retreating soldiers, Shen Xiu exposed and killed a Chen Family retainer who had disguised himself as his carriage driver. He returned to the city at night with Chen Yuanhua’s head and the driver’s, intending to send the Chen Family a gift.

• Shen Xiu hurled spears at the fleeing soldiers, then returned to the carriage and asked the driver to take him to the town ahead.
• Shen Xiu confronted the driver, who revealed himself as a Chen Family retainer and attacked him.
• The Chen Family retainer used a Binding Talisman and struck Shen Xiu’s chest, but Shen Xiu’s Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill stopped the blow.
• Shen Xiu killed the retainer, searched the bodies, and realized the attack had been arranged by the Chen Family of Taixi City.
• Shen Xiu cut off Chen Yuanhua’s and the driver’s heads, rode back to the city at night, and planned to send them to the Chen Family.

Shen Xiu returned to Taixi City and killed Chen Yanming after discovering that the Chen Family had sent people after him. Chen Yu killed himself, but Shen Xiu realized he could fake his death and destroyed his head before leaving the city.

• Chen Yu warned Chen Yanming against making an enemy of Shen Xiu, but Chen Yanming dismissed his concerns and refused to change course.
• Shen Xiu entered Chen Yanming’s study carrying the severed heads of Chen Yuanhua and Elder Chen, then strangled Chen Yanming to death.
• Shen Xiu went to Chen Yu, who declared that he understood why Shen Xiu had come and stabbed himself in the heart.
• Shen Xiu suspected Chen Yu might be faking his death and smashed his head, discovering that Chen Yu had indeed survived his apparent suicide.
• Shen Xiu escaped the Chen residence as news spread that Chen Yanming and Chen Yu had been killed, and he continued on from Taixi City.

Shen Xiu reached Cangdong Town, learned that the Yuanyang Gang was recruiting core members, and continued gathering information about the gang. Two days later, he arrived at the imposing Shanglin City, where he intended to seek his next opportunity.

• Shen Xiu arrived in Cangdong Town and heard townspeople discuss how its prosperity compared with other towns.
• Yu Zhenshan invited Shen Xiu to try out for the Yuanyang Gang and offered him a job at the town yamen if he failed.
• Shen Xiu learned that the Yuanyang Gang worked with Shanglin City's yamen to guard against demons from Lesser Demon Mountain.
• Yu Zhenshan led men to destroy a demon that attacked outside Cangdong Town while Shen Xiu was staying there.
• Shen Xiu resumed his journey and arrived at Shanglin City two days later, marveling at its bustling streets and martial cultivators gliding through the air.

Shen Xiu arrived in Shanglin City and learned about the demons trapped in Lesser Demon Mountain and the Yuanyang Gang’s recruitment trial. After exploring the city with advice from Fang Xi Zhengyang, he entered the Hundred Peaks Merchant Guild to seek demon-hunting equipment.

• Shen Xiu entered Shanglin City, whose walls still bore bloodstains from a demonic attack a century earlier.
• Fang Xi Zhengyang approached Shen Xiu and offered him a guide to the Yuanyang Gang’s trial for five taels of silver.
• Fang Xi Zhengyang explained that trial participants would kill demons in Lesser Demon Mountain and could use a Demon Slaying Saber and Qi Gathering Bead to extract demon blood essence.
• Shen Xiu learned from Fang Xi Zhengyang about the distinction between yao and demons and that the White Bone Demon he had encountered was roughly fourth rank.
• Fang Xi Zhengyang led Shen Xiu to an inn, and Shen Xiu later explored Shanglin City before entering the Hundred Peaks Merchant Guild.

Shen Xiu bought a Demon Slaying Saber and a Qi Gathering Bead before going to the Yuanyang Gang’s recruitment trial. As the applicants gathered, the teleportation platform began forming a gate to the Lesser Demon Mountain forbidden ground.

• Shen Xiu bought a Demon Slaying Saber and a small Qi Gathering Bead from the Hundred Peaks Merchant Guild.
• After hearing the recruitment bell, Shen Xiu joined the crowd heading to the Yuanyang Gang headquarters.
• Yuanyang Gang staff screened applicants and directed those who qualified toward the practical trial in the Lesser Demon Mountain forbidden ground.
• Xi Zhengyang asked Shen Xiu to team up, but Shen Xiu declined because he expected to perform better alone.
• The square shook as a patterned stone platform rose and azure light began forming a great gate.