Chapter Summaries

On New Year’s Eve, Jiang Ning’s cultivation surged after he refined the spiritual essence accumulated in his organs, while a Black Lotus Cult force prepared to breach Luoshui County’s gates. As the reunion dinner began, signal flares and war drums sounded, and Jiang Ning set out to investigate.

• Jiang Ning continued tempering his bones and let Lü Yi collect her feeding after she finished hanging the lanterns.
• On a clear day, Jiang Ning absorbed the great sun’s essence, gained 110 experience in the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, and increased his inner breath by about fifteen percent.
• Outside Luoshui County, the Black Lotus Cult’s Holy Maiden ordered Captain Jiang to follow the plan and attack the city gates during the reunion dinner.
• Jiang Ning, Jiang Li, Liu Wanwan, Lü Yi, Jiang Yiming, and Little Doubao gathered for their New Year’s Eve meal.
• Signal flares and war drums sounded over Luoshui County, and Jiang Ning left to check the city gates while Jiang Li stayed to protect the family.

Jiang Ning raced to the inner city after warning signals suggested the west gate was under attack, then discovered the Black Mountain Cavalry had breached the outer city. He identified a Black Lotus Cult woman with his Heavenly Eye and retreated toward the inner city, while she recognized him as a formidable observer.

• Jiang Ning reached the inner city wall, where Xiao Chen told him the signals indicated an army was attacking the west gate.
• Jiang Ning hurried toward the west gate and spotted more than thirty Black Mountain Cavalry riders charging through the outer city toward the inner gate.
• The Black Mountain Cavalry leader learned from the Holy Maiden that an expert was watching them and ordered her to locate him.
• Jiang Ning opened his Heavenly Eye and saw the veiled Black Lotus Cult woman, whose aura carried traces of divinity.
• Jiang Ning chose to retreat toward the inner city wall, and the woman noticed his speed and movement technique as he vanished from sight.

Jiang Ning warned Luoshui County’s defenders that the Black Mountain Cavalry had breached the outer city and was racing toward the inner wall. As the cavalry arrived, he used Silent Arrows to kill riders from the wall, while the defenders prepared for the assault.

• Jiang Ning reached the western wall and told Ge Zhengyuan that thirty-four Black Mountain Cavalry riders were approaching, likely followed by around a hundred Black Mountain Army soldiers.
• Ge Zhengyuan began organizing the city’s defenses as the Black Mountain Cavalry raced toward the inner city wall.
• The Black Mountain Cavalry leader prepared to send his strongest fighters over the wall and open the gates from within.
• Jiang Ning shot Tie Shan and another cavalryman with powerful arrows, prompting the leader to warn his riders about the master archer.
• Jiang Ning continued firing Silent Arrows as the defenders readied their crossbows and recognized the danger he posed to the attackers.

Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye and archery to devastate the Black Mountain Cavalry, then fired his strongest arrow at the hidden woman in black. She dodged the shot, revealed her face, and bewitched Jiang Ning and the others as she approached the city wall.

• Jiang Ning killed several Black Mountain Cavalrymen with explosive arrows, forcing the survivors to hide behind cover.
• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to see through the cover and shoot the hidden riders, killing the cavalry leader and reducing the force to about a dozen.
• Jiang Ning spotted the woman in black and fired his strongest arrow at her.
• The woman in black used her speed to dodge the arrow, though its gust tore away her veil and injured her cheek.
• The woman's beauty and illusion left the people on the wall dazed, and Jiang Ning became entranced as she flew toward him.

Jiang Ning captured a Black Lotus Cult candidate saintess who had bewitched the defenders of Luoshui County, then confronted the Black Lotus Matriarch’s descending consciousness when it took over her body. After the Matriarch yielded the woman to him, Jiang Ning killed her and absorbed two points of divinity and a fragment of Divine Scion’s Vassal authority.

• Jiang Ning broke free of the candidate saintess’s illusion, struck her down with fist intent, and captured her while the defenders awoke.
• Jiang Ning left Ge Zhengyuan to deal with the remaining Black Mountain Cavalry and army, then carried the candidate saintess away to the Luo River shore.
• When the woman tried to bewitch him again, Jiang Ning crushed her neck until the Black Lotus Matriarch’s consciousness descended into her body.
• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye, prompting the Matriarch to mistake him for an exalted god and plead for the woman’s life.
• After the Matriarch left the woman at his disposal, Jiang Ning killed her and absorbed two points of divinity and a Divine Scion’s Vassal authority fragment.

Jiang Ning feared the Black Lotus Matriarch’s eventual return, then eliminated the Black Mountain soldiers still loose in Luoshui County and went home to his family. News of his feat spread through the county, prompting the Xie Family to consider its survival and other factions to recognize his growing strength.

• Jiang Ning considered the Black Lotus Matriarch’s promise to return and wondered whether a Martial Saint could stand against her.
• Jiang Ning buried the Black Lotus Cult Saintess beneath the ice, then found Black Mountain forces still fighting in the outer city.
• Jiang Ning used his bow to kill the remaining Black Mountain Army soldiers and Black Mountain Cavalry, ending the New Year’s Eve unrest.
• Jiang Ning returned home, reassured Jiang Li, Liu Wanwan, and Little Doubao, and told them he had driven off the bad people.
• Wang Jin and Constable Wang praised Jiang Ning, while the Xie Family head called a meeting to discuss the danger he might pose to their clan.
• Lin Qingyi and the county’s factions learned that Jiang Ning had defended Luoshui County alone and were shocked by his archery and strength.

Jiang Ning trained to strengthen his body and worried about the source energy he needed for further breakthroughs, then received the Xie Family head’s New Year’s visit and a gift of twenty thousand taels. He rejected the family’s first attempt at self-investigation and gave Xie Zhengtian one final chance to punish its offending members.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist, tempered his bones until about thirty percent had become Jade Bone, and realized he needed more money to acquire source energy.
• Jiang Ning bathed in the frozen lake, changed into New Year’s clothes, and received Xie Zhengtian, who brought a report of the Xie Family’s self-investigation and two silver notes worth twenty thousand taels.
• Jiang Ning judged the Xie Family’s proposed punishments insufficient and warned that it would face the Liu Family’s fate if it failed to investigate and punish its members properly.
• Xie Zhengtian accepted Jiang Ning’s warning and offered the money, which Jiang Ning accepted because he was short of funds.
• Outside Jiang Ning’s residence, Xie Zhengtian told his brother that the family had to root out its wrongdoing to survive and noted that Jiang Ning needed money.

Jiang Ning absorbed two immortal treasures and used the resulting source energy to break the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique’s limit for the sixth time. He gained the upgraded Blade Like Thunder trait, increased his saber speed by thirty percent, and strengthened his saber momentum.

• Jiang Ning cultivated the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, then learned that Luoshui County’s factions had left New Year’s gifts to show goodwill after his recent battle.
• Lü Yi returned with Starfall Grass and Myriad Wood Treeheart, which Jiang Ning consumed; the treeheart filled him with vitality.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning saw that his source energy had reached 618.83 and broke the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique’s limit for the sixth time.
• Jiang Ning gained Blade Like Thunder in place of Blade Like Gale and discovered that his blade-drawing speed had increased by thirty percent.
• Jiang Ning tested his saber and found that his casual slashes now left deep marks in the stone tiles and released lethal saber light.

Jiang Ning spent half a month cultivating, bringing his bones close to becoming Jade Bone and improving his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique while weighing the dangers posed by powerful enemies. As Xie Zhengtian arrived with the Xie Family’s gathered gold, Jiang Ning realized the patriarch had made his choice.

• Jiang Ning decided to postpone searching Luo Water Lake for treasures until his spiritual power and aquatic skills improved, and noted that his Jade Bone was ninety percent complete.
• Jiang Ning anticipated collecting contribution points and gaining access to higher-level Martial Dao knowledge, while worrying about He Jinyun’s family, the God of Flesh, and the Black Lotus Matriarch.
• Lü Yi told Jiang Ning that her qi and blood had reached completion, and he instructed her to begin skin tempering with resources bought using his money.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist and cultivated his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, gaining 115 experience points during a two-hour session.
• Xie Zhengtian arrived with his dark-faced Second Brother and sixty-six taels of gold, hoping to secure the Xie Family’s future, and Jiang Ning recognized that he had made his choice.

Xie Zhengtian offered Jiang Ning a dossier of his clan’s crimes, gold, and a promise to open the Xie granaries to relieve hunger, while Jiang Ning accepted the gift and urged him to follow through. After Xie Zhengtian left, Lü Yi returned with word that Master Lin had a letter for Jiang Ning, who planned to visit her and buy Lü Yi skin-protecting ointment.

• Xie Zhengtian entered Jiang Ning’s courtyard and presented a dossier detailing crimes committed by members of the Xie Family, including nearly a hundred cases that could bring death sentences.
• Xie Zhengtian submitted the cases to the yamen, gave Jiang Ning sixty-six taels of gold in gratitude, and vowed to open the Xie granaries to feed the city; Jiang Ning accepted the gold and pressed him to keep his promise.
• After leaving, Xie Zhengtian explained to his dark-faced younger brother that Jiang Ning had advised mixing sand and dirt into relief porridge so only people truly in need would take it, preserving the Xie Family’s grain supplies.
• Jiang Ning realized the gold would let him buy Myriad Splendor Tower’s final immortal treasure and complete a fourth Five Animals Fist limit break.
• Lü Yi returned after buying skin-grinding sand, told Jiang Ning that Master Lin had a letter for him, and Jiang Ning arranged to visit Master Lin and buy Lü Yi skin-protecting ointment.

Jiang Ning received a letter from his fiancée, Ji Mingyue, but chose not to write back. He bought the Five-Elements Spirit Fruit and ate all five on his way to the Inspection Office, where their combined effect began enhancing his innate foundation.

• Lin Qingyi gave Jiang Ning a letter from Ji Mingyue, who wrote that she would try to send him a letter each month.
• Jiang Ning declined Lin Qingyi's offer to write back to Ji Mingyue.
• Jiang Ning bought the Five-Elements Spirit Fruit with money from the Xie Family and headed to the Inspection Office with Lü Yi.
• Jiang Ning opened the jade box in the carriage and ate the Profound Water Spirit Fruit and Flamefire Spirit Fruit, sensing changes in his kidneys and heart.
• Jiang Ning ate the remaining three spirit fruits and felt their combined effect transform and strengthen his five viscera and innate foundation.

Jiang Ning returned to the Inspection Office, discussed his decision to spare the Xie Family with Xie Xiaoj iu, and learned that his defense of Luoshui County would earn him a personal reward from higher-ups. Granny Bai then explained the four ranks of external refinement and the extraordinary power of golden-body methods, leaving Jiang Ning with a clearer understanding of the Martial Dao’s lower ranks.

• Jiang Ning told Xie Xiaoj iu that he had spared the Xie Family because their cooperation and food relief benefited the people, not because he had granted them a favor.
• Jiang Ning reviewed the quiet month in Luoshui County and learned that Hong Minghu had been looking for him about his defense of the city.
• Jiang Ning visited Granny Bai, caught his salary pouch, and asked whether his clearance prevented him from learning about the fifth-rank inner-strengthening realm.
• Granny Bai explained that the first four Martial Dao ranks refined the body externally and that golden-body methods could let a ninth-rank fighter challenge a sixth-rank opponent.
• Jiang Ning considered how skin, muscle, tendons, and bones each strengthened the body as a whole, and learned that jade bone made a sixth-rank martial artist exceptionally hard to kill.

Jiang Ning learned from Granny Bai about Divine Bone, Golden Bodies, and the diminished power of immortals and gods, then spent 100,000 contribution points to earn a nominal Principal Eighth Rank post. He accepted that the appointment might require a transfer and resolved to keep strengthening himself.

• Granny Bai explained that someone with both Divine Bone and a Golden Body could become nearly impossible to kill, and that Martial Saints had slain crippled immortals and lesser gods.
• Jiang Ning concluded that the Palace Master of the Water-Moon Sword Palace and the God-Worship Cult were manageable threats, and decided he needed higher rank and authority in the Inspection Office.
• Granny Bai told Jiang Ning that 100,000 contribution points would raise him half a rank, while martial examination honors could halve promotion costs.
• Jiang Ning chose to spend ten Gold-Inlaid Jade Tokens rather than wait for the spring examinations, and Granny Bai created a Principal Eighth Rank identity token for him.
• Granny Bai warned that Jiang Ning's post was nominal and might require a transfer; Jiang Ning accepted that he could not choose to remain in Luoshui County unless a Chief Commander was moved.

Jiang Ning studied a Martial Saint’s explanation of the Fifth-Rank Inner-Strengthening Realm, learned how inner breath developed, and demonstrated a technique that astonished the old woman. He then proved he had killed two Fifth-Rank God-Worship Cult martial artists, leaving his reward to be determined by the higher-ups.

• Jiang Ning received a booklet explaining the stages of the Fifth-Rank Inner-Strengthening Realm and learned how inner breath grew from mist to an abyss.
• Jiang Ning used the Heavenly Garment technique, and the old woman was surprised by his control; he also learned about the Fourth, Third, Second, and First Ranks.
• Jiang Ning told the old woman he had killed two Fifth-Rank God-Worship Cult martial artists, and she doubted him because his inner breath was gentle and had not condensed into astral force.
• Jiang Ning took the old woman to Luo Water Lake, where he uncovered the two frozen bodies and she confirmed they were Fifth-Rank cult martial artists.
• The old woman recognized Jiang Ning’s feat as meritorious but said the higher-ups would not increase the reward tenfold; Jiang Ning hoped to receive at least the usual sixth-rank bounty for each kill.

Jiang Ning earned praise for killing two Fifth-Rank God-Worship Cult martial artists and learned that Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu planned an operation that could bring him further merit. As the cold worsened, Jiang Ning assessed his soaring source energy and focused on breaking Five Animals Fist’s limits before completing his Jade Bone tempering.

• Granny Bai promised Jiang Ning a substantial reward for killing two Fifth-Rank God-Worship Cult martial artists and said she would report his achievement.
• Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu told Jiang Ning they would need his help with an operation against a major target, which could advance his rank and Hong Minghu’s standing.
• Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu discussed Jiang Ning’s archery, concluding that he had likely killed Cao Rong and that his recent merit would bring a significant reward.
• On Major Cold, Jiang Ning saw that his source energy had reached 2357.88 after eating five Five-Elements Spirit Fruits, and his panel showed that Five Animals Fist and Aquatic Adaptation could break their limits.
• Jiang Ning resolved to prioritize Five Animals Fist because it could strengthen his inner breath and nourish his five viscera, and he estimated that he would complete his Jade Bone tempering in three more days.

Jiang Ning broke the Five Animals Fist’s limit, painted the beast forms to preserve them, and gained a Bear-Tiger Physique that greatly increased his strength. Meanwhile, the Dongling Inspection Office awarded him one million contribution points for killing two fifth-rank God-Worship Cult martial artists, though he remained unaware of the reward.

• Jiang Ning spent Source Energy to break through the Five Animals Fist and formed vivid, detailed images of five strange beasts in his mind.
• Jiang Ning painted the five beasts with Lü Yi’s help, raising his Painting skill to Major Accomplishment.
• The Dongling Inspection Office recognized Jiang Ning’s deeds and awarded him one million contribution points for killing two fifth-rank God-Worship Cult martial artists.
• After painting through the day, Jiang Ning discussed a meal with Lü Yi and considered prioritizing his Jade Bone over training the Indestructible Vajra Body.
• Jiang Ning examined his panel and discovered that the Five Animals Fist breakthrough had granted him a Bear-Tiger Physique, giving him confidence that his strength exceeded ten thousand jin in one arm.

Jiang Ning’s Five Animals Fist Limit Break strengthened his internal training and gave his fist intent the power to affect reality, while his overnight Source Energy gain brought him closer to another breakthrough. At the Internal Affairs Office, Granny Bai awarded him one million contribution points and outlined several career paths, but Jiang Ning remained focused on improving his strength.

• Jiang Ning chose to save his Source Energy for the Five Animals Fist rather than Limit Break Aquatic Nature, then went outside to practice while Lü Yi ate.
• Jiang Ning’s fist intent manifested a fiery tiger whose heat dried the courtyard, and he realized his fist intent was beginning to turn illusion into reality.
• Jiang Ning drank wine steeped with Lunar Yin Stone fragments, practiced through the night, and woke to find his Source Energy had risen to 1488.76.
• Jiang Ning visited the Internal Affairs Office, where Granny Bai told him he had earned one million contribution points for killing a fifth-rank member of the God-Worship Cult.
• Granny Bai described promotion and leadership options, but Jiang Ning decided that status mattered less than securing a peaceful life in which he could improve his strength.

Jiang Ning agreed to receive incense offerings from a statue erected by Luoshui County’s people, hoping they might strengthen his divine authority. He completed his Jade Bone and continued improving his martial arts, leaving him confident he could contend with a fifth-rank peak martial artist despite his weaker internal breath.

• Jiang Ning learned that his million contribution points and rebellion-suppression merit would be awarded when the prefectural envoy arrived, and the old woman urged him to consider leaving Luoshui County.
• Jiang Ning asked Lü Yi why she followed him, and she said she stayed because he had treated her kindly.
• At Master Li’s request, Jiang Ning agreed to let the people erect a statue for him and offer incense, hoping to test whether it would benefit his divinity.
• Jiang Ning completed the jade transformation of his final chest bone, fully forging his Jade Bone and entering the fifth rank of Martial Dao.
• Jiang Ning cultivated with the sun’s essence and assessed how his Jade Bone, improved techniques, and enhanced physique had multiplied his combat strength.
• Jiang Ning concluded that his strength could let him contend with a fifth-rank peak martial artist, though he still lacked their astral force and vast internal-breath reserves.

Jiang Ning refined his Five Animals Fist, measured the speed he had gained from forging Jade Bone, and considered the rare materials needed to forge Divine Bone. In Dongling City, Xiao Emei asked Bai Luoyu to accompany her to Luoshui County so she could invite Jiang Ning to Water-Moon Sword Palace, but Bai Luoyu saw through her motives.

• Jiang Ning gained five Five Animals Fist experience from a round of practice as his refined fist technique produced visions of the five animals and a soaring roc.
• After two more days, Jiang Ning found his Jade Bone transformation had settled and tested his speed, finding it had improved by about twenty percent since the year's end.
• Jiang Ning concluded he still needed Heavenly Yang and Earthly Baleful Yin to forge Divine Bone and planned to seek leads through the Inspection Office and Martial Saint Manor.
• Xiao Emei met Bai Luoyu in Ten-Li Plum Blossom Grove and asked to accompany him to Luoshui County, where she intended to invite Commander Jiang to Water-Moon Sword Palace.
• Bai Luoyu recognized that Xiao Emei suspected Jiang Ning had killed He Jinyun and later dismissed her as overly scheming after she left.

Jiang Ning joined the Inspection Office’s commanders after Prefecture Lord Hong Minghu discovered that Luoshui County Magistrate Li Hong was the God-Worship Cult’s vice leader. The group set out to arrest Li Hong, while Jiang Ning learned Ye Qiu hoped he would take over Ye’s post and remain in Luoshui County.

• Jiang Ning arrived at the council hall, where Yuan Hua apologized for their past conflict and Jiang Ning accepted his apology.
• Hong Minghu revealed evidence that Li Hong was the God-Worship Cult’s vice leader and asked the commanders to help arrest him.
• Li Changkong urged the group to act immediately, and Hong Minghu agreed to lead the operation.
• Ye Qiu congratulated Jiang Ning on his promotion and offered to have him take over Ye’s post if Ye was transferred away.
• The commanders gathered three li from the county yamen, and Hong Minghu warned that Li Hong was likely a Sixth Rank martial artist.