Chapter Summaries

Wang Qingtan visited Jiang Ning and gave him a Phoenix Down Feather that could restore him from grave injuries and even help him advance. After she left, Jiang Ning treasured her gift and her kindness.

• Jiang Ning finished training while Wang Qingtan waited in the courtyard and watched him.
• Wang Qingtan told Jiang Ning that the Phoenix Down Feather could restore him to peak condition after severe injuries and might help him advance.
• Wang Qingtan implanted the feather in Jiang Ning's hair, then asked him to put her jade hairpin back in place.
• Jiang Ning thanked Wang Qingtan as she left, and she joked that she needed him alive to repay his debt.
• Jiang Ning regarded the feather as another life and silently remembered Wang Qingtan's kindness.

Jiang Ning completed the transformation of his skin into Silver-Silk Iron Armor after breaking through the Indestructible Vajra Body to Major Mastery. He began testing his new defenses, while Lin Qingyi revealed that she would leave for somewhere far away in a few days.

• Lin Qingyi recognized that Jiang Ning was tempering Silver-Silk Iron Armor and watched as he continued his practice.
• Jiang Ning trained through the night and reached Major Mastery in the Indestructible Vajra Body, beginning the final transformation of his skin membrane.
• Lü Yi brought Jiang Ning food after he slept through the morning, and he confirmed that his membrane had fully transformed into Silver Skin.
• Jiang Ning took out daggers made from different grades of refined iron to test his defense, and a forceful slash made a strand of silver light leak from his arm.

Jiang Ning tested the defenses of his Silver-Silk Iron Armor, then continued training as he sought a way to improve his martial foundation. He went with Zhao Yulong to meet Jin Chan, learned of the monk’s origins and reincarnation, and realized Zhao Yulong suspected that Jiang Ning himself had been reincarnated.

• Jiang Ning tested his Silver-Silk Iron Armor with daggers forged from tenfold-, hundredfold-, and thousandfold-refined iron, finding that only the thousandfold blade could pierce it and that even then it reduced the injury.
• Jiang Ning trained in the rain, gained seventeen Indestructible Vajra Body experience, and considered the Golden Body, Dragon Sinew, Divine Bone, and Heaven-Man as possible foundations for becoming a Martial Saint.
• Jiang Ning asked Zhao Yulong to arrange a meeting with Jin Chan, and Zhao Yulong led him through the rain toward the mountains where the monk was cultivating.
• As they hurried onward, Jiang Ning asked about Jin Chan’s origins, and Zhao Yulong said the monk was born with Buddha-nature and was the reincarnation of a great Buddhist figure.
• Zhao Yulong’s glance led Jiang Ning to realize that Zhao suspected he was reincarnated as well, an explanation Jiang Ning considered plausible given his two lives and familiar appearance.

Jiang Ning obtained the complete Indestructible Vajra Body method from Jin Chan and discovered that its final movements increased his cultivation efficiency dramatically. After practicing through the day, he reached 6,137 mastery experience and remained on track to temper his Golden Body.

• Jiang Ning and Zhao Yulong found Jin Chan meditating at Lotus Cave, where Jin Chan agreed to pass on the Indestructible Vajra Body method.
• Jin Chan transmitted the technique to Jiang Ning and asked him not to teach it to anyone else, which Jiang Ning promised to respect.
• Back in his courtyard, Jiang Ning practiced all eighteen movements and gained 167 experience, nearly ten times his previous increase.
• Jiang Ning focused on the final three movements, confirmed their high efficiency, and continued practicing through the day while recovering in the rain.
• By nightfall, Jiang Ning had reached 6,137 mastery experience, while Lü Yi watched him from the pavilion with a hot meal.

Jiang Ning completed the Indestructible Vajra Body and reached perfection as his golden-body transformation began. Ye Zhengqi arrived to formalize Jiang Ning’s appointment as Dongling Commandery’s inspector, bonded his Heavenly Secrets Register to him, and prepared to investigate the demon at Luo Water Lake.

• Jiang Ning completed the eighteenth stance and brought the Indestructible Vajra Body to perfection, beginning his skin membrane’s final transformation.
• Ye Zhengqi reviewed Jiang Ning’s qualifications and the Temple of Literature records with Bai Luoyu, then agreed to make Jiang Ning Dongling Commandery’s third circuit inspector.
• Ye Zhengqi examined the reports of 160 deaths at Luo Water Lake, concluded the culprit was likely a python, and said he would investigate it.
• Bai Luoyu summoned Jiang Ning, and Ye Zhengqi confirmed that Jiang Ning’s strength qualified him to serve as an inspector.
• Ye Zhengqi used jade liquid to activate Jiang Ning’s Heavenly Secrets Register, and Jiang Ning bound it with his blood and exchanged contact methods with Bai Luoyu.

Jiang Ning completed the Indestructible Vajra Body, tested its extraordinary defenses, and resolved to build more experience toward breaking its limit. Meanwhile, Xiao Qiushui arrived at Clear Spring Temple to visit Xiao Qiuyue’s grave, prompting the monks to alert Qinghe Count.

• Ye Zhengqi departed after displaying his mastery of the unity between man and heaven, and Bai Luoyu congratulated Jiang Ning on his coming appointment as inspector.
• Bai Luoyu told Jiang Ning that a mysterious python- or dragon-like demon had killed people around Luo Water Lake and gave him 250,000 contribution points for helping destroy the demon cultists.
• Jiang Ning discovered that his skin membrane had turned gold, then demonstrated that his golden body could withstand a thousand-forged dagger and shatter it with his bare hands.
• Jiang Ning saw that the perfected Indestructible Vajra Body had reached 55/10000 and resolved to gain another ten thousand experience points.
• Xiao Qiushui visited Xiao Qiuyue’s grave at Clear Spring Temple, and two young monks hurried to notify Qinghe Count.

Xiao Qiushui broke through to become a Heaven-Man Grandmaster and decided to take her sister Xiao Qiuyue’s and nephew He Jinyun’s remains. Meanwhile, Jiang Ning trained in Dongling City until he sensed a Grandmaster approaching.

• Xiao Qiushui mourned at Xiao Qiuyue’s grave and regretted leaving her sister to die alone.
• Qinghe Count arrived at the grave and recognized Xiao Qiushui’s mastery of the unity between man and heaven; she warned him and left to break through.
• Xiao Qiushui returned as a Third Rank Heaven-Man Grandmaster, declared that she would take Xiao Qiuyue’s and He Jinyun’s remains, and Qinghe Count agreed to lead her to He Jinyun’s grave.
• Jiang Ning continued tempering his body, gained experience in the Indestructible Vajra Body, and expected Xiao Qiushui to reach Dongling City soon.
• Lin Qingyi and Jiang Ning sensed a powerful aura approaching, and Jiang Ning used Spirit Sight to identify a Grandmaster outside the residence.

Xiao Qiushui arrived in Dongling City as a Heaven-Man Grandmaster to avenge her sister and nephew by killing Jiang Ning. Lin Qingyi stepped in to protect him, but Xiao Qiushui badly wounded her, leaving Jiang Ning to face the threat beside her.

• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to identify Xiao Qiushui approaching his residence and recognized that she had become a Heaven-Man Grandmaster.
• Xiao Qiushui confronted Jiang Ning, and Lin Qingyi placed herself between them and attacked her.
• Xiao Qiushui's first sword strike failed to bring Lin Qingyi down, but Lin Qingyi stayed in front of Jiang Ning despite his offer to fight.
• Xiao Qiushui unleashed a river filled with sword intent, swept Lin Qingyi aside, and sent the river crashing toward Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning caught the badly wounded Lin Qingyi, covered her with a robe, and refused to flee without her.

Xiao Qiushui nearly killed Jiang Ning after reaching the Heaven-Man realm, but Zhao Yulong and Wang Shouyi intervened and forced her to retreat. Jiang Ning then cared for the badly wounded Lin Qingyi, whose injuries still held Xiao Qiushui’s sword intent.

• Xiao Qiushui unleashed her Heaven-Man power and prepared to kill Jiang Ning, while he gathered his blade intent to resist.
• Zhao Yulong arrived and challenged Xiao Qiushui, who defended her attack as revenge for her sister and nephew.
• Wang Shouyi sent a divine statue from the Sacred Temple to order Xiao Qiushui to leave, and she retreated as Zhao Yulong approached.
• Jiang Ning thanked the Commandery Governor and spoke with Zhao Yulong, who asked him to visit Inspector Bai’s residence afterward.
• Jiang Ning carried Lin Qingyi to her room and learned that Xiao Qiushui’s lingering sword intent kept her wound from healing.
• Jiang Ning cleaned Lin Qingyi’s shoulder wound while she endured the pain and teased him for learning to care for people.

Jiang Ning treated Lin Qingyi’s wounds and learned that her identity as the Qi Prince’s Princess Consort placed her at the center of the One-Character Side-by-Side King’s plans. Zhao Yulong also warned Jiang Ning to reconcile with Xiao Qiushui, leaving Jiang Ning to consider the advice without revealing his intentions.

• Jiang Ning used his artistic conception to dissolve the sword intent in Lin Qingyi’s wounds, then treated her while she rested.
• Jiang Ning went to Bai Luoyu’s residence, where Zhao Yulong confirmed Lin Qingyi was the Qi Prince’s Princess Consort and warned Jiang Ning not to cross a red line with her.
• Zhao Yulong explained that the Qi Prince was the One-Character Side-by-Side King’s son and that Lin Qingyi had long been selected for the old prince’s purposes.
• Zhao Yulong advised Jiang Ning to resolve his enmity with Xiao Qiushui, possibly by using the Ye Residence Envoy’s influence at her Grandmaster’s banquet.
• Jiang Ning thanked Zhao Yulong but kept his true thoughts about Xiao Qiushui to himself.

After witnessing Xiao Qiushui’s Heaven-Man Grandmaster power, Jiang Ning prepared to strengthen his defenses and set out to investigate the True Dragon Hall. Lin Qingyi left Dongling City to avoid bringing him trouble, and Jiang Ning began traveling east toward the hall.

• Jiang Ning sent letters to the Zhou Clan Apothecary, Xie Xiaoj iu, and Feng Ji, then considered how to prepare for a possible fight with Xiao Qiushui.
• Jiang Ning activated Long Xingyun’s jade token, sensed the True Dragon Hall to the east, and decided to seek it for three days before returning to his duties.
• Lin Qingyi told Jiang Ning she had to leave Dongling City because people had seen her fight Xiao Qiushui, then departed without letting him see her off.
• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to memorize the people secretly watching Lin Qingyi, then left for the Dongling Mountain Range with the True Dragon Hall token.
• Jiang Ning reached the Cloud-Dream River, recognized that he had crossed beyond Dongling Commandery, and used Great Five-Element Water Escape to travel east through its waters.

Jiang Ning followed the True Dragon Hall token to a hidden hall and refused its offer to become Dragonkin, choosing to keep his human body. He received a drop of ordinary dragon blood and was returned to a valley, where he concluded that the Secret King and the Eighteen Dragon Heads had become Dragonkin.

• Jiang Ning used the Great Five-Element Water Escape to travel along the Cloud-Dream River, then followed the token's changing pull across the wilderness toward the True Dragon Hall.
• Jiang Ning dove beneath a waterfall, where the token revealed a dragon-head relief that drew him into a hidden hall before a colossal purple-gold gate.
• A dragon-shaped pillar offered Jiang Ning a place among the Dragonkin and a baptism in the Dragon Transformation Pool, but Jiang Ning refused to abandon his human body.
• The dragon-shaped pillar gave Jiang Ning a drop of ordinary dragon blood and sent him back to a valley.
• Jiang Ning put away the dragon blood and reasoned that the Secret King and the Eighteen Dragon Heads had become Dragonkin to gain the dragon race's inheritance.

Jiang Ning returned to Dongling City, recruited Zhou Xing for his new office, and used his blood to help Zhou Xing grow stronger. He then broke Wind-Thunder Steps through its fourth limit break and tested its increased speed, leaving him eager to reach the speed of sound.

• Jiang Ning returned home exhausted, ate the food Liu Wanwan prepared, and learned that Zhou Xing had been waiting to see him.
• Jiang Ning welcomed Zhou Xing into his plans for a new office, judged his strength inadequate, and gave him blood to strengthen him.
• Jiang Ning considered whether to help Cheng Ran and decided to let Cheng Ran choose his own path.
• Jiang Ning told Lü Yi to inform Inspector Bai that he preferred heavenly treasures and rare materials as gifts for the Inspector's Banquet.
• Jiang Ning spent 1,000 Source Energy to break Wind-Thunder Steps through its fourth limit break and gained the Wind's Rhythm trait.
• Jiang Ning tested the improved technique in the Dongling Mountain Range, found his maximum speed had risen by about twenty percent, and resolved to pursue the speed of sound.

Jiang Ning broke Wind-Thunder Steps through its fifth limit break and gained the spatial divine ability Shrinking Earth to Inches. After training his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, he visited Bai Luoyu, who invited him to the Ye Residence and explained the commandery’s inspector arrangement.

• Jiang Ning spent 2,000 Source Energy points to break Wind-Thunder Steps through its fifth limit break and gained Shrinking Earth to Inches.
• Jiang Ning tested the spatial ability, finding that it let him cross more than ten yards instantly but rapidly drained his essence, energy, and spirit.
• Jiang Ning chose to focus on improving Indestructible Vajra Body, then trained the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique until its mastery reached 3,477/10,000.
• Jiang Ning visited Bai Luoyu, who invited him to accompany him to the Ye Residence and explained that Dongling Commandery had one inspector in the open and another in secret.
• Bai Luoyu said Jiang Ning’s appointment as an inspector broke the usual arrangement, while Jiang Ning privately suspected it might relate to the Sacred Temple.

After learning that the White Horned Dragon had driven Ye Zhengqi back, Jiang Ning visited the recovering envoy and returned home to rest. He then refined a drop of dragon blood, greatly strengthening his body and Indestructible Vajra Body, and wondered how much Source Energy it would yield.

• Bai Luoyu told Jiang Ning that the White Horned Dragon had forced Ye Zhengqi back and injured him, and Jiang Ning agreed to visit Ye Zhengqi at Orchid Heart Garden.
• Jiang Ning returned home, slept, and later coaxed Little Doubao with candied hawthorn.
• Jiang Ning swallowed a drop of dragon blood and used the eighteenth stance of the Indestructible Vajra Body to expend its energy and temper his body.
• After the dragon blood's effects subsided, Jiang Ning saw his Indestructible Vajra Body experience rise to 6173/10000 and felt his strength and qi and blood had increased.
• Jiang Ning rejected the idea of becoming dragonkin despite the power it offered, then returned to shore and anticipated the Source Energy the dragon blood might provide.

Jiang Ning received his Dongling Inspector's official seal and robes, then focused on improving the Indestructible Vajra Body as he prepared for the coming turmoil. He reached its mastery limit but discovered that 4,778 source energy points were not enough to break through, and he began soaking Lunar Yin Stones in wine to pursue more points.

• Ye Zhengqi presented Jiang Ning with the Dongling Inspector's seal and official robes at the Bai Residence.
• Jiang Ning tried on the robes, then trained the Indestructible Vajra Body and decided that survival mattered more than offensive strength.
• Officials, merchants, and gentry prepared gifts for Jiang Ning's upcoming inspector's banquet while he devoted himself to training.
• Jiang Ning raised the Indestructible Vajra Body to 10,000 mastery, but no limit-breaking option appeared with his 4,778 source energy points.
• Jiang Ning took out the wine flask soaking Lunar Yin Stones, intending to gain enough source energy to test whether 5,000 points would suffice.

Jiang Ning refined Emperor's Flowing Essence, raised his Source Energy to 6374, and concluded that he needed ten thousand points to break the limit of his Indestructible Vajra Body. Xie Xiaojiu and Feng Jiuge arrived in Dongling City, and Jiang Ning entrusted Xie Xiaojiu with his official seal as they prepared to establish his inspector's office.

• Jiang Ning fed Linglong a wisp of Emperor's Flowing Essence, drank from the flask, and refined enough wine to raise his Source Energy to 6374.
• Jiang Ning saw that breaking the limit of his Indestructible Vajra Body required ten thousand Source Energy and planned to seek heavenly treasures at the Inspector's Banquet.
• Jiang Ning resumed marrow refinement, prompting Bai Luoyu to resolve to work harder so he would not fall too far behind.
• Xie Xiaojiu and Feng Jiuge arrived with a letter from Cheng Ran, whose message confirmed that he had chosen to stay in Luoshui County with his father.
• Jiang Ning learned that Xie Xiaojiu and Feng Jiuge had chosen to serve under him, then gave Xie Xiaojiu his Circuit Inspector's official seal and assigned Feng Jiuge to assist her in establishing the office.

Jiang Ning tested a wine mixture of tea, Emperor's Flowing Essence, and his blood on Feng Ji and Xie Xiaoj iu, then gave more essence to Linglong and Old Softshell. At his Inspector's banquet, Wang Shouyi and Zhao Yulong arrived late and found Ye Zhengqi visibly displeased.

• Jiang Ning gave Feng Ji and Xie Xiaoj iu the infused wine, and both became drowsy; Feng Ji helped Xie Xiaoj iu onto Jiang Ning's bed before joining her beneath the blankets.
• Linglong told Jiang Ning that Emperor's Flowing Essence had raised her cultivation by twenty-five years, bringing her total to one hundred and five years.
• Jiang Ning summoned Old Softshell and Linglong and gave each a strand of Emperor's Flowing Essence to refine.
• Jiang Ning arrived at Star-Picking Tower with Ye Zhengqi and Bai Luoyu, where the guests greeted him as Dongling Commandery Inspector and praised his standing on the Earth Ranking.
• Wang Shouyi and Zhao Yulong arrived after Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi; Zhao Yulong used voice transmission, and Wang Shouyi noticed Ye Zhengqi's displeasure as they hurried toward the seats of honor.

Jiang Ning collected lavish gifts, raised his Source Energy above ten thousand, and finally broke the limit of his Indestructible Vajra Body. As the transformation began, his body underwent rapid cellular division and intense pain.

• At the inspector's banquet, Ye Zhengqi praised Zhao Yulong's progress toward the unity of man and heaven, and the guests later dispersed.
• Jiang Ning reviewed the valuable gifts from the factions, reunited with Jiang Li, Liu Wanwan, and Little Doubao, and evaded Liu Wanwan's attempt to arrange a marriage for him.
• Jiang Ning refined the gifts overnight, increasing his Source Energy to 8964, then continued training his marrow.
• Before leaving, Ye Zhengqi offered to bring Jiang Ning to Xiao Qiushui's Grandmaster banquet to settle their grudge and warned Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu to avoid the wounded White Horned Dragon; he also ordered them to investigate the God-Worship Cult in Baisha County.
• By the following morning, Jiang Ning's Source Energy had reached 11677, allowing him to spend 10000 points to break the limit of the Indestructible Vajra Body.
• Jiang Ning felt a tremendous power surge through him as his cells divided rapidly and waves of searing pain tore through his body.

Jiang Ning gained Dragon-Elephant Strength after breaking through the limit of his Indestructible Vajra Body, then kept a low profile while serving as Dongling Commandery Inspector. He visited Medicine King Valley to bring his recovered master Wang Jin home, and Wang Jin learned that Jiang Ning held a sixth-rank official post and practiced the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.

• Jiang Ning discovered that his limit break granted Dragon-Elephant Strength and strengthened his golden protective layers, then tested his power and crushed a thousand-fold refined iron dagger.
• Jiang Ning spent half a month quietly in Dongling City after arresting members of the Liu Family for their crimes.
• Jiang Ning visited Medicine King Valley, where Lu Qingshan confirmed that Wang Jin had fully recovered.
• Jiang Ning invited Wang Jin to return to the martial hall, and Wang Jin was astonished to learn that his disciple had become a sixth-rank Dongling Commandery Inspector.
• Jiang Ning began practicing the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique at noon during the carriage ride, impressing Wang Jin with his talent.