Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning went to Myriad Splendor Tower to buy treasures that could strengthen him and hoped to ask Lin Qingyi about the previous night’s anomaly. While waiting for her to wake, he began refining a hundred-year-old Blood Lotus, discovering its leaves greatly boosted his qi and blood.

• Jiang Ning reviewed his growing source energy and decided to convert his wealth into treasures and strengthen himself after the previous night’s strange upheaval.
• At Myriad Splendor Tower, Jiang Ning asked to see Lin Qingyi, learned she was still asleep, and bought 42,300 liang of treasures after a discount.
• Jiang Ning tried cultivating the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique without water nearby, but the Great Sun’s essence burned his organs so badly that he stopped after two breaths.
• Jiang Ning ate a leaf from a hundred-year-old Blood Lotus and practiced Five Animals Fist to absorb its powerful medicinal strength.
• After feeling his qi and blood surge, Jiang Ning took another Blood Lotus leaf and continued refining treasures while waiting for Lin Qingyi to wake.

Jiang Ning learned from Lin Qingyi that a powerful Yellow Heaven Cult Earth King had marked him after he killed cultists, but that the Earth King was far away and badly injured. After leaving Myriad Splendor Tower, Jiang Ning resolved to focus on growing stronger while Lin Qingyi privately worried about her own marriage and decided to find him a wife.

• Jiang Ning thanked Lin Qingyi for saving him and gave her a jade hairpin, which she asked him to put in her hair.
• Lin Qingyi explained that the previous night's attack had been an Earth King's Yin spirit, equivalent to a fourth-rank martial artist, and that she had injured its spirit.
• Lin Qingyi told Jiang Ning that the Earth King had marked him for killing Yellow Heaven Cult followers, though the Earth King would not come to Luoshui County and local cultists were unlikely to risk attacking an eighth-rank official.
• Jiang Ning suspected the situation was more serious because the man he killed belonged to the God-Worship Cult, then decided to raise his strength and left Myriad Splendor Tower.
• Lin Qingyi wondered whether the old Prince had arranged her marriage to use her as a cultivation cauldron, then decided she needed to find Jiang Ning a wife before she made a mistake.

After using the century-old Blood Lotus’s gains to break Wind-Thunder Archery’s limit, Jiang Ning tested his new speed, thunder bursts, and stronger arrows. He then refined his remaining Blood Lotuses, practiced the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, and began inspecting other treasures he had bought.

• Jiang Ning spent Source Energy to break Wind-Thunder Archery’s limit and gained the Breath of Wind and Thunder trait, which let him sense wind and thunder and gather their power.
• Jiang Ning tested his new abilities, finding that Windstride made him fifty percent faster, moving like thunder enabled brief bursts of extra strength, and his arrows hit harder.
• Jiang Ning concluded that the limit break greatly increased his strength and consumed his remaining Blood Lotuses while practicing Five Animals Fist to refine their medicinal power.
• Jiang Ning breathed in the essence of the great sun and raised Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique to Minor Accomplishment.
• Jiang Ning examined a jade-like bamboo-shoot treasure that Han Hongmei said could improve his skeletal foundation and aid future bone forging.

Jiang Ning refined several rare treasures, strengthening his bones and spiritual power while testing their effects on his Source Points. The next morning, he discovered his Source Energy had risen to 687.33, confirming that the Scarlet Flame Vermilion Fruit had yielded an extraordinary amount.

• Jiang Ning refined an Emerald-Wave Bamboo Shoot, which strengthened his bones and supported his progress toward the sixth rank of Martial Dao.
• Jiang Ning consumed and refined four drops of Earth-Core Frost Marrow, increasing his spiritual power enough to sense and control things within one zhang.
• Jiang Ning ate a Scarlet Flame Vermilion Fruit, felt briefly refreshed, and found no noticeable physical improvement.
• Jiang Ning checked his status panel the next morning and saw that his Source Energy had reached 687.33.
• Jiang Ning concluded that Immortal Dao treasures contained far more energy than ordinary heavenly treasures.

Jiang Ning used 200 Source Energy to break the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique’s limit, advancing his saber intent enough to unleash devastating slashes that cut through stone. He decided to save his remaining Source Energy for Wind-Thunder Archery and began refining a Dragon-Tiger Tendon-Forging Pill to temper his tendons.

• Jiang Ning spent 200 Source Energy to break the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique’s fifth limit and gained the Innate Saber Bones trait.
• Jiang Ning tested his improved saber technique and found that his strikes could draw on the power of heaven and earth, cutting through trees, bamboo, and rock from a distance.
• Jiang Ning concluded that his saber intent had advanced, then decided to reserve Source Energy for Wind-Thunder Archery’s next limit break.
• Jiang Ning opened his brocade box, took a Dragon-Tiger Tendon-Forging Pill, and activated the Furnace Alchemy Art to refine it.

Jiang Ning refined a Dragon-Tiger Tendon-Forging Pill, strengthened his tendons, and ordered Xie Xiaoj iu to monitor the Yellow Heaven Cult and Liu Linmen. Because an Earth King’s mark made his own home unsafe, he arranged to lodge secretly at Xie Xiaoj iu’s home while he continued growing stronger.

• Jiang Ning completed his daily cultivation and told Xie Xiaoj iu to watch the Yellow Heaven Cult, especially Liu Linmen, with help from the Bamboo Gang.
• Jiang Ning refined a Dragon-Tiger Tendon-Forging Pill in the Inspection Office pool, felt his explosive strength improve, and swallowed another pill to continue tempering his tendons.
• Xie Xiaoj iu reported that the Yellow Heaven Cult had bought herbs for eye ailments and that Liu Linmen had not been seen outside; Jiang Ning ordered her to maintain close surveillance.
• Jiang Ning told Xie Xiaoj iu he would secretly lodge at her home for several days because the Earth King’s mark could let Liu Linmen find him at his own house.
• Xie Xiaoj iu returned to the Xie Residence, where Xie Zhengtian urged her to use Jiang Ning’s apparent interest in her to bind the Xie Family to his rising power.

Jiang Ning stayed overnight in Xie Xiaojiu’s courtyard, refining his pill while she bathed and prepared a bath for him. After soaking, he realized he had no spare clothes, so Xie Xiaojiu offered him an old set of her robes.

• Jiang Ning refused Xie Xiaojiu’s offer to give up her bed and cultivated in the courtyard while she bathed.
• Xie Xiaojiu carried out her bathwater, and Jiang Ning noticed her changing appearance before she hurried back inside.
• Xie Xiaojiu prepared a bath for Jiang Ning, who cooled the water with his Water-Controlling Divine Ability and soaked to restore his qi and blood.
• Xie Xiaojiu offered to wash Jiang Ning’s clothes and lent him a set of white robes because he had brought no spare clothes.
• Jiang Ning agreed to try on Xie Xiaojiu’s old robes, which she said might fit him tightly.

Jiang Ning let Xie Xiaojiu dress and groom him, then spent the night practicing beneath the eaves rather than sharing her room. At the Inspection Office, he learned that the Yellow Heaven Cult had begun operating in the eastern district and that Liu Linmen was recovering from an eye injury, giving him more time to grow stronger.

• Jiang Ning used his Water-Control Divine Ability to dry his trousers, then let Xie Xiaojiu dress him and comb his hair.
• Jiang Ning refused to sleep in Xie Xiaojiu's room and practiced in the courtyard through the night; the next morning, Xie Xiaojiu found him sleeping beneath the eaves and went inside, embarrassed after realizing she had opened the door without changing.
• Jiang Ning and Xie Xiaojiu went to the Inspection Office, where she reported throughout the day that Huang Tianjiao was treating people and spreading its doctrine in the eastern district.
• The Bamboo Gang reported that Liu Linmen had injured his eye and summoned a renowned physician, easing Jiang Ning's concern about being pursued immediately.
• Jiang Ning concluded that Liu Linmen remained his greatest threat, but the injury and his growing strength gave him more time; he also found that his source energy points had risen above five hundred again.

Jiang Ning advanced rapidly by refining Dragon-Tiger Tendon-Forging Pills, while the Yellow Heaven Cult expanded and Liu Linmen recovered. The next morning, Jiang Ning’s source energy passed 700, leaving him to decide which skill to improve next.

• Jiang Ning stayed in Xie Xiaoj iu’s room during the cold night, but slept on stools while she covered him with a quilt.
• Over the next three days, Jiang Ning refined Dragon-Tiger Tendon-Forging Pills and advanced from ox tendons to within one step of flood dragon sinew.
• Jiang Ning learned that Yellow Heaven Cult believers had reached thirty percent of East District residents and that a Heavenly King planned to visit Luoshui County next spring.
• Jiang Ning learned Liu Linmen’s eyes had healed and suspected Liu Linmen had visited Ye Qiu to use his Heavenly Eye.
• Jiang Ning’s source energy reached 717.88, and he considered whether to improve Wind-Thunder Archery, Wood-Chopping Saber Technique, or Swimming.

Jiang Ning investigated reports about the Yellow Heaven Cult, then went to Luo Water Lake to test his strength and practice Wind-Thunder Archery. Meanwhile, Liu Linmen met with Altar Master Sun, who said the God-Worship Cult was still considering joining the Yellow Heaven Cult and asked him to identify who had attacked their Incense Master.

• Xie Xiaojiu told Jiang Ning that a hooded figure had entered the Yellow Heaven Cult's stronghold the previous night, but neither of them could explain why the figure had revealed themself.
• Jiang Ning reviewed the Inspection Office's fruitless search for the God-Worship Cult and concluded that powerful families or officials might be helping the cult disappear.
• Jiang Ning ran across Luo Water Lake, felt the changes from his tendon-forging breakthrough, and practiced Wind-Thunder Archery on a deserted island, gaining experience with each shot.
• Liu Linmen met Altar Master Sun and said the Yellow Heaven Cult could remove the false god's influence from the God-Worship Cult's members if their cult joined.
• Altar Master Sun said the God-Worship Cult's leader was still considering the offer and asked Liu Linmen to identify who had attacked their Incense Master; Liu Linmen promised to investigate, then suspected the cult's god statue was still in Luoshui County.

Jiang Ning completed Wind-Thunder Archery’s second limit-breaking and gained Heart-Guided Archery, which let him steer arrows in flight and greatly increased their power. He continued hiding from Liu Linmen to protect his family, then returned to Xie Xiaoj iu’s residence, where she welcomed and cared for him.

• After three days of practice, Jiang Ning spent 200 source energy to advance Wind-Thunder Archery to its second limit-breaking and gained the Heart-Guided Archery trait.
• Jiang Ning tested the new trait by steering an arrow through the air and into a fish, then shot another arrow more than six li across the lake.
• Jiang Ning concluded that his archery had grown substantially stronger and returned toward shore, checking that his elder brother’s family was safe before leaving for Xie Xiaoj iu’s residence.
• Jiang Ning continued avoiding his home because he feared Liu Linmen would discover that he had attacked him and endanger his family.
• Xie Xiaoj iu welcomed Jiang Ning back, heard that he had made a breakthrough, and helped him settle in for the night.

Jiang Ning refused Liu Linmen’s visit while training his tendons and archery, and Liu Linmen remained unsure whether Jiang or Tang Miaomiao was the culprit he sought. Jiang’s arrows broke the sound barrier as Xie Xiaoj iu arrived, leaving her stunned by how far his skill exceeded Cao Rong’s.

• Jiang Ning refused to meet Liu Linmen, who decided to investigate the other commanders and return later if necessary.
• Jiang Ning absorbed Flood Dragon Sinew powder and considered hunting the Black Mountain Army to test his archery and earn contribution points toward an Ascending Dragon Pill.
• Jiang Ning spent several days practicing Wind-Thunder Archery, bringing its experience close to the third limit break.
• Liu Linmen and the middle-aged woman narrowed their suspects to Jiang Ning and Tang Miaomiao, while Liu feared provoking Jiang.
• Jiang Ning fired a supersonic arrow across the lake as Xie Xiaoj iu approached, and she was shocked by the power of his archery.

Jiang Ning raised Wind-Thunder Archery to its third limit break, gaining the power to send arrows surrounded by wind and lightning, then took Xie Xiaoj iu to North Qiu Mountain to find the Black Mountain Army. Using his enhanced hearing, he located the group and led Xie Xiaoj iu toward the sound of weapons clashing.

• Xie Xiaoj iu told Jiang Ning that the Black Mountain Army was hiding on North Qiu Mountain and that Inspection Office forces were headed there.
• Jiang Ning spent Source Energy to break Wind-Thunder Archery's limits a third time, then tested its new Wind-Thunder Arrow trait and saw it summon a storm and unleash lightning.
• Jiang Ning and Xie Xiaoj iu traveled upriver toward North Qiu Mountain aboard a boat propelled by his Water-Controlling Divine Ability.
• Liu Sansheng led Inspection Office martial artists through the mountain while the Black Mountain Army prepared to ambush and consume them.
• Jiang Ning used his hearing to locate the Black Mountain Army, brought the boat ashore, and followed the sounds of clashing weapons with Xie Xiaoj iu.

Jiang Ning watched Liu Sansheng and Liu Zhaonan’s teams fight the Black Mountain Army, then used his bow to kill several elite enemies and turn the battle. As the surviving Black Mountain Cavalry charged toward him, he killed two seventh-rank warriors, while their leader continued climbing toward the cliff.

• Jiang Ning and Xie Xiaojiu spotted Liu Sansheng and Liu Zhaonan’s teams fighting the Black Mountain Army, including five Black Mountain Cavalry who had yet to join the battle.
• The Black Mountain Cavalry leader ordered four men into the fight, and the Inspection Office teams began to lose ground; Zhao Hu lost an arm.
• Jiang Ning fired from the cliff and killed two armored Black Mountain Army soldiers, prompting Liu Zhaonan to order a retreat.
• The Black Mountain Cavalry leader sent two seventh-rank warriors to stop Jiang Ning while he climbed the cliff, but Jiang Ning shot both men dead.
• Xie Xiaojiu watched Jiang Ning kill his targets with every arrow as the Black Mountain Cavalry leader continued climbing toward him.

Jiang Ning killed the Black Mountain Army’s seventh-rank leader and cleared the valley, earning 19,550 contribution points toward an Ascending Dragon Pill. After Liu Linmen learned of Jiang Ning’s strength, he suspected that Jiang Ning had targeted the God-Worship Cult during a previous attack.

• Xie Xiaoj iu failed to stop the burly seventh-rank warrior, but Jiang Ning resisted his killing intent and killed him with Water-Fire True Force.
• Jiang Ning used his archery to slaughter the remaining Black Mountain Army soldiers in the valley, and Liu Zhaonan and Liu Sansheng thanked him and agreed to bring back the corpses.
• Ye Qiu verified Jiang Ning’s accomplishments and awarded him 19,550 contribution points for defeating three seventh-rank, seven eighth-rank, and twenty-one ninth-rank martial artists.
• Jiang Ning reviewed his skills and decided to focus on strengthening his Martial Dao foundation because he lacked the source energy needed for further breakthroughs.
• Liu Linmen received a report about Jiang Ning’s archery and concluded that Jiang Ning may have targeted a God-Worship Cult Incense Master during the earlier attack.

Jiang Ning reached the flood dragon sinew stage and faced Liu Linmen, who concluded that Jiang Ning had injured the Yellow Heaven Cult’s Earth King and treated him with respect. Liu Linmen allowed Altar Master Sun to pursue vengeance while planning to use her to test Jiang Ning, who returned to the Inspection Office believing he was safe for now.

• Jiang Ning broke through to the flood dragon sinew stage and planned to gather contribution points for an Ascending Dragon Pill.
• Liu Linmen and Altar Master Sun waited for Jiang Ning near the Inspection Office, and Jiang Ning agreed to meet Liu Linmen face-to-face.
• Jiang Ning bluffed that he had injured the Earth King’s yin spirit, causing Liu Linmen to become more respectful and avoid confronting him.
• Altar Master Sun asked Liu Linmen to let her avenge the incense master, and Liu Linmen agreed while intending to use her to test Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning concluded that Liu Linmen would not attack him for now, then told Xie Xiaoj iu he needed to go home rather than return with her that night.

Jiang Ning learned that Inspection Office members were earning contribution points by killing ordinary people tainted by evil-god aura and claiming them as God-Worship Cult followers. Refusing to join the scheme, he set out to meet the Prefect, while a cultist waited outside the Inspection Office to capture him as a sacrifice.

• Jiang Ning spent a snowy day reading while Xie Xiaoj iu brewed tea, and he considered strengthening his spiritual power after encountering the Earth King's yin spirit.
• Feng Ji told Jiang Ning that the other commanders had excluded him and were farming contribution points by claiming the heads of people tainted by evil-god aura.
• Feng Ji admitted she was tempted by the Martial Saint Treasury's rewards but could not bring herself to participate, and Jiang Ning said he had no intention of joining in.
• Xie Xiaoj iu confirmed that members were profiting from killing tainted commoners, and Jiang Ning said he would not do such a thing either.
• Jiang Ning left the Inspection Office to meet the Prefect, while a middle-aged woman concealed in the snow watched for him, hoping to offer him as a sacrifice to the Yellow Heaven Cult.

Jiang Ning confronted Hong Minghu about officials killing civilians for merit, but learned the Inspection Office’s leaders and powerful families benefited from the abuse. As Jiang Ning headed home, a middle-aged woman secretly followed him, intent on sacrificing him to reach the fifth-rank inner-strengthening realm.

• Jiang Ning accused Hong Minghu of knowing that officials were killing ordinary civilians and claiming them as God-Worship Cult followers, but Hong Minghu defended the practice and urged him to consider the interests of powerful families.
• Ye Qiu told Jiang Ning that Hong Minghu received a share of contribution points and warned him that influential figures such as He Jinyun and Yuan Hua were difficult to challenge.
• Jiang Ning returned to his residence, told Xie Xiaoj iu that his appeal had failed, and spent the day reading until she left for the Xie Residence.
• Jiang Ning walked home, reflected that he lacked the power to oppose the Inspection Office’s widespread abuses, and resolved to focus on protecting those close to him.
• A middle-aged woman watched Jiang Ning from a rooftop snow mound, decided his sacrifice could help her break through to the fifth rank, and quietly followed him.

Jiang Ning discovered that a middle-aged woman was secretly following him and tested his strongest Wind-Thunder Arrow on her, revealing her monstrous transformation. He killed her with a saber strike infused with blade force, then encountered an approaching constable.

• Jiang Ning sensed a hidden pursuer, lured her into an alley, and escaped to a loft without leaving tracks in the snow.
• Jiang Ning recognized the pursuer as the woman who had accompanied Liu Linmen and shot her with a lightning-fast arrow from several hundred meters away.
• The wounded woman regenerated into a three-meter-tall monster and charged Jiang Ning, who met her with a saber strike infused with blade force.
• Jiang Ning's strike cleaved through the monster and stopped her regeneration, and he beheaded her when she claimed she meant him no harm.
• A constable arrived after the fight and recognized Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning killed a sixth-rank God-Worship Cult fighter and planned to trade the body for an Ascending Dragon Pill to advance his Martial Dao. He returned home to reassure Jiang Li’s family, then prepared to visit the Inspection Office and pursue the breakthrough to Dragon Sinew.

• Jiang Ning asked the constables to clean up the battlefield, discovered the slain fighter was a sixth-rank practitioner, and secretly took a golden box and the corpse and head.
• Jiang Ning reflected on how his archery and saber intent had let him defeat the fighter, then returned home and reunited with Liu Wanwan, Jiang Li, Little Doubao, and Jiang Yiming.
• Jiang Ning told Jiang Li that his trouble was temporarily resolved and that he would stay home for now, then spent the night drinking and talking with his brother.
• Jiang Ning reviewed his skills the next morning and decided to focus on Literacy, Water-Fire True Force, and reaching Dragon Sinew.
• Jiang Ning waited for the Inspection Office to open so he could exchange the slain fighter for fifty thousand contribution points and buy an Ascending Dragon Pill.