Chapter Summaries

After Literacy broke through, Jiang Ning gained the Transcendent Six Senses trait and tested his expanded perception by searching Luo Water Lake for treasures. He found valuable medicinal plants and a second Lunar Yin Stone, then decided to explore deeper into the lake.

• Jiang Ning discovered that his mental power reached a radius of 350 meters and that his eyesight and hearing had undergone a qualitative improvement.
• Jiang Ning checked his panel and gained the Transcendent Six Senses trait, which enhanced his senses and intuition.
• Jiang Ning entered Luo Water Lake and used his three-li underwater perception to find and eat a twenty-year Water Sunflower.
• Jiang Ning searched the lakebed throughout the day, gathering aged heavenly treasures and finding official silver that crumbled when exposed to air.
• Jiang Ning saw that his Source Energy had risen to 611.17 and resolved to search deeper into the lake for older treasures.
• Jiang Ning found that a second Lunar Yin Stone had begun producing diluted Emperor's Flowing Essence beside his first stone, giving him another reason to scour the lake.

Jiang Ning discovered the old turtle’s hidden pool of Emperor’s Flowing Essence, subdued the turtle, and absorbed a golden thread that transformed his body. He left with a Lunar Yin fragment and gained a new lead when the turtle suggested the Thunder Flood Dragon’s Thunderclap Fruit as another treasure.

• Jiang Ning found Blue Crystal Stone in Luo Water Lake, then sensed a pool of Emperor’s Flowing Essence and headed toward it.
• The old turtle used a golden thread of Emperor’s Flowing Essence to heal its lightning injuries, but Jiang Ning reached its nest and confronted it.
• Jiang Ning overpowered the old turtle and merged ten drops of his blood into its body, causing the turtle to acknowledge him as its master.
• Jiang Ning recovered a Lunar Yin fragment from the pool and took the remaining golden thread of Emperor’s Flowing Essence.
• Jiang Ning absorbed the Emperor’s Flowing Essence and underwent a rapid bodily transformation, while the old turtle resolved to lead him to the Thunder Flood Dragon’s Thunderclap Fruit.

Jiang Ning absorbed the pool of Emperor's Flowing Essence, then followed the old turtle to Thunder Flood Dragon's lair and discovered a Thunderclap Tree guarded by a powerful electric eel. As Thunder Flood Dragon attacked, Jiang Ning stirred the lake and triggered lightning throughout the terrain.

• Jiang Ning absorbed all the silver Emperor's Flowing Essence and noticed it had transformed his appearance.
• The old turtle told Jiang Ning about Thunder Flood Dragon and its Thunderclap Fruit tree, and Jiang Ning ordered it to lead him there.
• Jiang Ning and the old turtle crossed lightning-struck terrain and found Thunder Flood Dragon guarding a Thunderclap Tree with three fruits.
• Thunder Flood Dragon spotted Jiang Ning and the old turtle, recognized Jiang Ning as human, and attacked with a roar that spread lightning through the lake.
• Jiang Ning raised his hand and churned the water across a three-li radius, triggering lightning from the lakebed and stone pillars as the Thunderclap Tree began absorbing it.

Jiang Ning killed the electric eel, extracted its lightning Dao-pattern bone, and took the century-old Thunderclap Fruit from the Thunderclap Tree. He began refining a younger fruit with the Furnace Alchemy Art at the lake bottom, while Old Softshell ate the eel nearby.

• Jiang Ning controlled the lake water to crush the electric eel, which died regretting that it had been only ten days short of gaining five hundred years of cultivation.
• Jiang Ning dissected the electric eel, found lightning Dao patterns in its skull bone, and used them to unleash a lightning flood dragon.
• Jiang Ning noticed the Thunderclap Fruit had transformed into a century-old fruit, collected it along with the fifty- and twenty-year fruits, and left the tree with Old Softshell.
• Jiang Ning carried the electric eel away, gave its head to Old Softshell, and kept the remaining meat for himself.
• Jiang Ning ate the twenty-year Thunderclap Fruit and used the Furnace Alchemy Art to refine it, causing the lake water around him to churn from the heat.

Jiang Ning refined several Thunderclap Fruits beneath the lake, raising his cultivation to nearly 120 years, then returned home with a demonized electric eel and Old Softshell. He tested a piece of the eel’s meat and found it delicious, while his family discovered that Old Softshell could speak.

• Jiang Ning refined the twenty-year and fifty-year Thunderclap Fruits, gaining about fifteen years of cultivation.
• Jiang Ning ate a hundred-year Thunderclap Fruit and gained sixty years of cultivation, bringing his total to nearly 120 years.
• Jiang Ning questioned Old Softshell about its cultivation and learned that it had gained three years from his blood and the electric eel’s brain.
• Jiang Ning shrank Old Softshell, carried it and the electric eel’s corpse home, and amazed Jiang Li, Liu Wanwan, and Little Doubao.
• Little Doubao picked up Old Softshell, whose voice revealed that he could speak, while Jiang Ning grilled and tasted a piece of the demon eel.

Jiang Ning brought the old turtle home, fed it eel and Emperor's Flowing Essence, and asked it to protect his family. The next morning, his Source Energy had surged to 2793.67, and he discovered the Lunar Yin Stones had fused into a source of silver starlight.

• Jiang Ning explained to Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan that the talking turtle was a demon, then left it to play with Little Doubao while he examined three Lunar Yin Stones.
• Jiang Ning found that the stones were merging, put them together in his Sumeru Ring, and spent the day reading to improve his Literacy.
• At dinner, the old turtle recognized the Emperor's Flowing Essence in the wine, and Jiang Ning asked it to stay and guard his family.
• Jiang Ning fed the old turtle drops of his blood, which increased its cultivation, before reading through the night.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning found his Source Energy had risen to 2793.67 and saw that the three Lunar Yin Stones had fused into a black pebble that released silver threads into wine.
• Jiang Ning checked his skills and found that Wood-Chopping Saber Technique and Aquatic Prowess both met the requirements for a limit break.

Jiang Ning broke Water Nature through its seventh limit break and gained the Great Five-Element Water Escape, a powerful but costly ability to merge with water and travel rapidly. After testing it and discovering he had crossed thirty li in an instant, he decided to prioritize improving Water Nature further to expand his underwater search range.

• Jiang Ning spent Source Energy to break Water Affinity’s seventh limit and gained the Great Five-Element Water Escape innate divine ability.
• Jiang Ning tested the ability in a frozen lake, discovering he could merge with the water and vanish from perception, but each use severely drained his strength and inner breath.
• Jiang Ning used the escape art to cross the lake in an instant, then confirmed from the air that he had traveled about thirty li to Chaotic Era Shoal.
• Jiang Ning returned to the lake, found that Water Nature let his spiritual force field control water within five li, and resolved to pursue its eighth limit break instead of improving his saber technique.

Jiang Ning learned that a White Horned Dragon great demon dwelled in Luo Water Lake, but continued searching the lake for treasures and advanced Water Affinity to its eighth breakthrough. He gained the Lord of Rivers trait and tested its power in a river near North Qiu Mountain, discovering that it greatly amplified his strength, perception, water control, and recovery.

• Jiang Ning questioned Old Softshell about its cultivation and learned that a White Horned Dragon great demon with at least a thousand years of cultivation lived in Luo Water Lake.
• Jiang Ning decided to keep exploring the lake, relying on Great Five-Element Water Escape to protect himself, and gathered treasures while training the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.
• Jiang Ning merged a newly found Lunar Yin Stone fragment with his original stone and spent two thousand source energy points to advance Water Affinity to its eighth breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning gained the Lord of Rivers trait, which let him draw on the strength of rivers, and went to North Qiu Mountain to test it.
• Jiang Ning found that rivers vastly increased his power and perception, strengthened his water control, and rapidly replenished the energy he spent on Great Five-Element Water Escape.

Jiang Ning followed Old Softshell’s memory northeast through Luo Water Lake, searching for a gathering place of demon creatures and discovering evidence that the great demon White Horned Dragon had attacked a submerged palace. The chapter ended with Jiang Ning feeling the terrifying chill left by the White Horned Dragon’s battle and realizing how weak he was compared with it.

• Jiang Ning decided to investigate the northeast after Old Softshell recalled that a giant shrimp had once invited him to join a group of lake demons.
• Jiang Ning traveled across the lakebed, used the Great Five-Element Water Escape twice, and then resumed searching northeast while gathering treasures.
• Jiang Ning and Old Softshell found a fresh giant shrimp claw, and Old Softshell identified it as belonging to the shrimp he had met more than two hundred years earlier.
• Jiang Ning found a demon turtle’s shell, learned its former owner had about three hundred years of cultivation, and stored the unusually hard shell in his Sumeru Ring.
• Jiang Ning and Old Softshell discovered a collapsed palace, where Old Softshell recognized traces left by the great demon White Horned Dragon.
• Jiang Ning touched the ice left by the White Horned Dragon and felt its bone-deep chill, leaving him wary of confronting the demon.

Jiang Ning uncovered the surviving Dragon Carp Linglong in the ruins beneath Luo Water Lake, bound her to him with the Divine Scion’s Vassal mark, and learned that the White Horned Dragon had killed her guardian, Turtle Grandpa. After considering the demon’s threat, Jiang Ning decided to travel to the prefectural city with his family before the imperial examination.

• Jiang Ning found a hidden Dragon Carp beneath the ruins and fed her his blood, awakening her bloodline and making her feel trust and closeness toward him.
• The Dragon Carp told Jiang Ning that her guardian, Turtle Grandpa, had sent her into hiding before facing a huge white dragon; Jiang Ning identified the attacker as the White Horned Dragon and showed her Turtle Grandpa’s shell.
• Linglong vowed to avenge Turtle Grandpa, while Jiang Ning reflected on the White Horned Dragon’s slaughter of demon gathering places and the danger it might pose to people around Luo Water Lake.
• Jiang Ning counted his gains, including Linglong, treasures, and valuables, then decided to join his eldest brother and sister-in-law on their trip to the prefectural city before the imperial examination.

Jiang Ning prepared to travel to Dongling City with Lü Yi, while prioritizing Literacy training and relying on his powerful river-based abilities for safety. His niece Little Doubao visited, met the talking dragon carp Linglong, and invited both Linglong and Old Softshell to breakfast.

• Jiang Ning decided to save his Source Energy for Literacy and planned to leave for Dongling City with Lü Yi, warning that the Luo River area might soon become dangerous.
• Jiang Ning reviewed his Lord of Rivers trait and its overwhelming power, then continued reading while gaining Literacy experience.
• Little Doubao arrived to see Jiang Ning, reunited with him, and went to breakfast with him.
• Little Doubao met the talking dragon carp Linglong and invited her to join them for fish soup.
• Old Softshell woke up, asked to go along, and Little Doubao picked him up.

Jiang Ning visited his family and prepared to leave Luoshui County for Dongling City with Jiang Li’s family, while warning Wang Jin about a dangerous great demon in Luo Water Lake. After cultivating at the martial academy, he continued making farewell visits before setting out.

• Jiang Yiming told Jiang Ning he had entered the ranks of the Martial Dao, and Jiang Ning agreed with Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan to leave for Dongling City that afternoon so Yiming could enroll in the Martial Academy.
• Jiang Ning visited Blue-Wave Martial Academy, gave Wang Jin meat from a demon electric eel, and told him to leave Luoshui County because a great demon was slaughtering aquatic creatures and might come ashore.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique at the martial academy and reached 4,049 experience points toward Major Accomplishment.
• Jiang Ning sent Lü Yi home to pack, then visited the Inspection Office and headed to Myriad Splendor Tower to see Lin Qingyi.
• Lin Qingyi complained that Jiang Ning had disturbed her sleep in broad daylight.

Jiang Ning discussed the White Horned Dragon threat with Lin Qingyi, then left Luoshui City with his family for Dongling City while preparing to break through to fourth rank. Yu Manyun arrived in Luoshui City to seek Jiang Ning, unaware that he had already departed.

• Jiang Ning told Lin Qingyi about the great demon at Luo Water Lake, and she explained its cultivation paths and why it was unlikely to come ashore in an era ruled by humanity.
• Lin Qingyi drank heavily and invited Jiang Ning to help her to bed, but he tucked her in and left without taking advantage of the situation.
• Yu Manyun arrived at Luoshui City to invite Jiang Ning to Water-Moon Sword Palace and entered just as his carriages departed.
• Jiang Ning read in the carriage and considered how his Thunderclap Fruits had given him nearly two jiazi of cultivation and brought him close to transforming his inner breath and reaching fourth rank.

Yu Manyun searched Jiang Ning’s empty residence while he and his family camped on the road to Dongling City. After several days of travel, the convoy reached Twin Suns Mountain, where a seventh-rank martial artist led a bandit stockade, and Jiang Ning remained unconcerned about a possible clash.

• Yu Manyun found Jiang Ning’s residence empty and decided to ask about his martial hall master the next day.
• Jiang Ning cared for Little Doubao during the cold night, then stayed awake reading while Old Tortoise kept watch.
• During the following days, Jiang Ning continued cultivating and reading as his family traveled toward Dongling City.
• Jiang Ning joined Liu Guangqi’s merchant caravan to avoid trouble on the unsafe roads.
• Liu Guangqi warned Jiang Ning that a stockade chief collected tolls at Twin Suns Mountain, and Jiang Li explained that the chief was a seventh-rank Martial Dao practitioner from Vajra Temple.
• Jiang Ning reassured Jiang Li that a conflict at Twin Suns Mountain would not cause serious trouble.

At Twin Suns Mountain, a white-robed monk learned that his senior brother, Master Xu, had killed people he believed deserved it, then accompanied him to confront a caravan. Master Xu collected a toll from a veiled woman who praised his deeds and invited him to join the Su Family, an offer he rejected.

• The white-robed monk declined wine until Master Xu quoted a Buddhist saying, then asked whether Master Xu had broken the precept against killing.
• Master Xu admitted that he had killed people he judged guilty, including rapists and child traffickers, despite their not all deserving death under Great Xia's laws.
• Jiang Ning entered Twin Suns Mountain with his family's caravan and noticed that its bandits showed signs of martial training.
• Master Xu confronted the caravan and demanded tolls, while Head Escort Jin tensed at the sight of the powerful monk.
• A veiled woman offered five hundred taels for the caravan and invited Master Xu to become a Su Family retainer, but he refused.

Jiang Ning’s caravan reached Dongling City after he encountered a mysterious white-robed monk whose Heavenly Eye reacted to Jiang Ning’s own. Meanwhile, Yu Manyun learned Jiang Ning’s destination and set out after him, while Wang Jin’s disciple regretted betraying his whereabouts; the chapter ended with Jiang Ning arriving at the city as officials waited at its gates for him.

• Jiang Ning and the white-robed monk sensed each other’s powerful physiques and Heavenly Eyes, and the monk warned his senior brother that Jiang Ning was an expert who might match him.
• Yu Manyun learned from martial academy disciples that Jiang Ning had gone to Dongling City, chose not to kill Wang Jin, and rode after Jiang Ning.
• Wang Jin cursed the disciple who had revealed Jiang Ning’s destination, while the disciple briefly considered killing Wang Jin before backing down.
• The caravan reached Dongling City, where Jiang Ning admired its imposing walls and thanked Liu Guangqi for helping him during the journey.
• Two officials at the city gate waited for Jiang Ning so they could tell him that his master had encountered trouble in Luoshui County.

Jiang Ning reached Dongling City and learned that Wang Jin had been gravely injured in Luoshui County, likely by Yu Manyun. Before returning to get Wang Jin treated at Medicine King Valley, he arranged protection for his family by summoning Xiao Emei and seeking Bai Luoyu’s help.

• Two Dongling City Inspection Office personnel recognized Jiang Ning and greeted him with deference, surprising Liu Guangqi and the Su Family’s legitimate daughter.
• The Inspection Office personnel told Jiang Ning that Wang Jin had suffered devastating injuries in Luoshui County, and Jiang Ning suspected Yu Manyun was responsible.
• Jiang Ning entered Dongling City with Jiang Li and settled his family at Riverside Tower, deciding to return to Luoshui County after securing their safety.
• Jiang Ning sent a Skyborne Letterbird to summon Xiao Emei from Water-Moon Sword Palace to protect Jiang Li’s family.
• Jiang Ning planned to ask Bai Luoyu, the Commandery Inspector, for protection so he could leave for Luoshui County and take Wang Jin to Medicine King Valley.

Jiang Ning visited Bai Luoyu in Dongling City and asked him to protect his elder brother’s family from Yu Manyun. Bai Luoyu promised to handle the threat and helped Jiang Ning find a spacious riverside residence near his own, leaving Jiang Ning ready to arrange the purchase.

• Jiang Ning crossed into Dongling City's eastern district and paid a vendor five hundred copper coins for steamed cakes.
• Jiang Ning arrived at Bai Residence, where Bai Luoyu welcomed him and invited him to drink.
• Jiang Ning told Bai Luoyu about the danger facing his elder brother and their family, and Bai Luoyu vowed to protect them from Yu Manyun and Water-Moon Sword Palace.
• Jiang Ning told Bai Luoyu that his family was staying at Riverside Tower and that he wanted to buy a nearby home in the eastern district.
• Bai Luoyu summoned Wang Fugui, who presented a state-seized residence less than a li from Bai Residence that met Jiang Ning's requirements.
• Jiang Ning inspected the deed for the six-and-a-half-mu riverside residence and approved its location and size.

Jiang Ning settled his family into a residence in Dongling City, then used the Great Five-Element Water Escape to return quickly to Luoshui County after learning Yu Manyun might be responsible for Wang Jin’s injuries. He arrived at Blue-Wave Martial Academy and found Wang Jin bandaged in bed with Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu nearby.

• Jiang Ning thanked Bai Luoyu for arranging security, furniture, and servants for his new residence, while Bai Luoyu promised to watch for Yu Manyun.
• Jiang Ning jumped from the East District city wall into the Nu River and used the Great Five-Element Water Escape to travel toward Luoshui County.
• Zhao Yulong asked Bai Luoyu about Jiang Ning, learned that he had returned to Luoshui County because of a matter involving Yu Manyun, and requested to meet him when he came back to Dongling City.
• Jiang Ning arrived at Blue-Wave Martial Academy, surprising Zhou Xing and Cheng Ran, and asked where Wang Jin was.
• Jiang Ning entered Wang Jin’s room, greeted Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu, and saw Wang Jin lying in bed wrapped in bandages.

Jiang Ning learned that Wang Jin’s injuries were far worse than they appeared and carried him toward Medicine King Valley to seek Lu Qingshan’s help. After demonstrating his extraordinary strength and revealing his inner breath had reached two sixty-year cycles, Jiang Ning arrived at the valley and announced himself by striding through the air with Wang Jin on his back.

• Doctor Niu told Jiang Ning that Wang Jin’s meridians were destroyed, his legs were shattered, and he could not fully recover with ordinary treatment.
• Jiang Ning decided to take Wang Jin to Medicine King Valley, and Wang Jin agreed after hearing that Lu Qingshan had healed Jiang Li’s arm.
• Jiang Ning carried Wang Jin out of Luoshui County, and Wang Jin learned that Jiang Ning had gained the power of two sixty-year cycles from Thunderclap Fruits.
• Jiang Ning crossed forests and mountain ravines while rapidly recovering his strength in a stream, then continued toward Medicine King Valley.
• Lu Qingshan discussed an order for antidote pills from King Huai'an before Jiang Ning announced his arrival and appeared walking through the air with Wang Jin on his back.