Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning completed marrow tempering and considered how to become a Grandmaster, setting his sights on the nine blood exchanges needed to approach Martial Saint. After strengthening the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and returning to Dongling City, he learned Bai Luoyu had gone to Baisha County to confront the God-Worship Cult and warned him about its evil god.

• Jiang Ning completed Fourth Rank marrow tempering and reviewed the paths to Human Dao, Earth-Bearing, and Heaven-Man Grandmasterhood.
• Jiang Ning resolved to pursue the highest possible blood-exchange path, hoping to complete nine transformations and become the strongest Grandmaster.
• Jiang Ning absorbed the sun's vital essence until the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique reached Mastery, then left Wang Jin's carriage and returned to Dongling City.
• Zhou Xing told Jiang Ning that Bai Luoyu had taken a team to Baisha County to deal with the God-Worship Cult.
• Jiang Ning checked the Heavenly Secrets Register, found no news of trouble, and messaged Bai Luoyu to warn him about the cult's evil god and offer help.

Jiang Ning focused on strengthening his qi and blood while Bai Luoyu investigated the growing crisis in Baisha County. When Deng Fei tried to keep Bai Luoyu from leaving, Jiang Ning received a call for help and prepared to go to Baisha County.

• Bai Luoyu rode toward Baisha County after receiving Jiang Ning's message of support, bringing several powerful members of the Commissioner Office.
• Jiang Ning reviewed his skills, chose to train the Five Animals Fist, and spent three days increasing his qi and blood.
• The Heavenly Secrets Register sent Jiang Ning a call for help, and he learned that Baisha County was in serious trouble.
• Bai Luoyu found Baisha County deserted and its residents behaving like deranged followers of the God-Worship Cult.
• Deng Fei confronted Bai Luoyu at his lodging and tried to keep him in Baisha County by claiming he knew where Bai Luoyu's missing subordinates were.

Bai Luoyu stalled County Magistrate Deng Fei while waiting for help, and Jiang Ning arrived in Baisha County to uncover the God-Worship Cult’s influence. After learning the cult planned to sacrifice the county, Jiang Ning agreed to follow Bai Luoyu into Deng Fei’s trap and protect him.

• Bai Luoyu recognized that Deng Fei was bewitched and told his subordinates to delay while help from Zhao Yulong and Jiang Ning was on the way.
• Jiang Ning reached Baisha County, used his Heavenly Eye to see the God of Flesh’s aura blanketing the city, and located Bai Luoyu.
• The three Divine Envoys planned to kill Bai Luoyu before Zhao Yulong arrived, fearing he would ruin their sacrifice of Baisha County.
• Jiang Ning appeared in Bai Luoyu’s courtyard, proved his identity by absorbing the sun’s essence, and heard Bai Luoyu explain the situation.
• Jiang Ning told Bai Luoyu to go along with Deng Fei’s invitation while he followed, and Bai Luoyu agreed as Deng Fei arrived to lead them away.

Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu uncovered a God-Worship Cult stronghold beneath Green Willow Pavilion, where Jiang Ning effortlessly killed the Divine Envoys and cultists lying in wait. The blood pool began to boil, leaving a new threat before them.

• Bai Luoyu and Jiang Ning arrived at Green Willow Pavilion with County Magistrate Deng and his unusually massive constables.
• Deng Fei revealed a suspected God-Worship Cult stronghold beneath the pavilion, and Jiang Ning led the group to its entrance.
• Bai Luoyu found Lin Xiao's token near the underground passage and chose to follow Jiang Ning below.
• The Lin Divine Envoy and two other Divine Envoys ambushed Jiang Ning, but he killed all three with his fists and eliminated the surrounding cultists with blade intent.
• Jiang Ning told Bai Luoyu to fall back as the blood pool churned and began to boil.

Jiang Ning confronted the God of Flesh’s blood incarnation, opened his Heavenly Eye, and seized the idol that served as its medium, gaining divinity and progress in Flesh Regeneration. After the god’s manifestation collapsed, Jiang Ning began burning away the blood pool and exposing the bones beneath it.

• The God of Flesh descended through the blood pool, recognized Jiang Ning’s shared authority, and attacked him with divine might.
• Jiang Ning activated his perfected Indestructible Vajra Body and opened his Heavenly Eye, revealing the idol at the center of the blood incarnation and seeing the God of Flesh’s true form in another dimension.
• The God of Flesh’s incarnation collapsed, and Jiang Ning took the idol, absorbing divinity and increasing his Flesh Regeneration authority to 2.5%.
• Jiang Ning restored the damaged basement and told Bai Luoyu that the god’s manifestation had abruptly disintegrated; Bai Luoyu guessed that heaven and earth had suppressed it.
• Jiang Ning summoned the Fire-Trapping Tiger to evaporate the blood pool and unleashed his Blade Bone, splitting the earth overhead as Bai Luoyu retreated from the saber intent.

Jiang Ning destroyed all five God-Worship Cult blood-pool strongholds in Baisha County, freed Deng Fei and the constables from the cult’s control, and gained enough Divinity to complete Divine Scion's Vassal. As Bai Luoyu urged him to claim the full merit toward obtaining a Heaven-Man Grandmaster method, Jiang Ning accepted, while the threat of the God of Flesh and other hidden enemies remained.

• Jiang Ning removed the gu worms controlling Deng Fei and the constables, and Deng Fei remembered the crimes he had committed under their influence.
• Jiang Ning rapidly destroyed the four remaining blood-pool strongholds, collected the statues of the God of Flesh, and gained 89 Divinity points.
• Bai Luoyu took charge of Baisha County’s aftermath as Deng Fei and his constables faced the consequences of their deep corruption.
• Jiang Ning spent 33 Divinity points to complete Divine Scion's Vassal, hoping to make his subordinates strong enough to act independently.
• Bai Luoyu urged Jiang Ning to take all the credit for resolving the crisis so he could advance toward obtaining a Heaven-Man Grandmaster method, and Jiang Ning thanked him.

Zhao Yulong investigated the blood pools in Baisha County and concluded that the God-Worship Cult may have planned a formation to sacrifice the city’s inhabitants and aid the God of Flesh’s return. He summoned Grandmaster Shen Wenyuan, who arrived in person, leaving Jiang Ning and the others greeting him on the city wall.

• Zhao Yulong examined the blood pool and learned that its water could corrode flesh, blood, and true essence.
• Jiang Ning handed Zhao Yulong five statues from the blood pools, and Zhao Yulong said he would report them as Jiang Ning’s merits.
• Zhao Yulong identified a possible formation intended to sacrifice Baisha County’s people and called Shen Wenyuan to assess it.
• Zhao Yulong brought Jiang Ning, Bai Luoyu, and Deng Fei to the city wall to await Shen Wenyuan, who was expected to decide Deng Fei’s punishment.
• Shen Wenyuan broke the sound barrier while flying to Baisha County, landed on the city wall, and was greeted by Zhao Yulong, Jiang Ning, and Bai Luoyu.

Shen Wenyuan arrived in Baisha County, exposed the God-Worship Cult’s Ten-Thousand-Spirit Blood-Soul Array, and destroyed its blood pools before leaving the county’s recovery to Zhao Yulong. Jiang Ning earned a Class-D great merit and learned Shen Wenyuan was Shen Congyun’s uncle; seven days later, as talisman water cured townspeople, a Su Family legitimate daughter regretted missing her chance to befriend him.

• Shen Wenyuan heard Zhao Yulong’s account, identified the Ten-Thousand-Spirit Blood-Soul Array, and ordered a campaign against the God-Worship Cult.
• Shen Wenyuan revealed he was Marquis Shen, confirmed Shen Congyun was his nephew, and promised Jiang Ning a Class-D great merit for his leading role in the Baisha County case.
• Shen Wenyuan used Summer’s Thunderclap and his Martial Dao True Intent to destroy the blood pools, then assigned Zhao Yulong to handle Baisha County and Deng Fei according to the rules.
• Shen Wenyuan left for the prefectural city, while Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu reflected on his power and the Xichuan Shen Family’s rising influence.
• Seven days later, Jiang Ning watched Yellow Heaven Cult talisman water dispel the God of Flesh’s influence as officials distributed it to Baisha County’s commoners.
• A Su Family legitimate daughter recognized Jiang Ning as the Dongling Commandery inspector and regretted not befriending him when they had traveled together.

Jiang Ning supervised the final distribution of talisman water in Baisha County while cultivating and reading, bringing his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique closer to perfection. After the victory banquet, he learned more about He Zhongchun and the Yellow Heaven Cult, and left focused on reaching Heaven-Man Grandmaster within a month.

• Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu oversaw the orderly distribution of talisman water and discussed Magistrate Deng's fate and the arrangements for his family.
• Jiang Ning read throughout the four-day watch, raising his Literacy experience, and absorbed the noon sun's essence to advance his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.
• He Zhongchun recognized Jiang Ning as the cultivator who had injured his yin spirit, but abandoned his plan for revenge after realizing Jiang Ning was now a commandery inspector.
• Jiang Ning's Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique reached 7563/10000, and he estimated he could perfect it and become a Heaven-Man Grandmaster within a month.
• At the victory banquet, Bai Luoyu identified the Yellow Heaven Cult Earth King as He Zhongchun and explained the cult's influence and the Yellow Heaven Daoist's extraordinary standing.
• Jiang Ning learned that the Martial Saint had not appeared for years and that his two disciples were handling the Capital Inspection Office, then decided to keep an eye on the Yellow Heaven Cult.

Jiang Ning returned home, tested his transformed blood’s effect on Linglong, and learned that Xiao Qiushui’s Grandmaster Banquet was nine days away. He strengthened Jiang Li with a drop of essence blood while Wang Qingtan worried over a debt collection that might require a grandmaster’s intervention.

• Jiang Ning gave Linglong his blood, and she reported gaining about eleven years of cultivation from it.
• Jiang Ning read Ji Mingyue’s letter about drought, famine, and rebellion in Great Li Prefecture, then learned from Ye Zhengqi’s letter that Xiao Qiushui’s Grandmaster Banquet would take place on the tenth day of the fifth month.
• Jiang Ning reunited with Jiang Li, learned that his brother had reached the eighth rank, and gave him a drop of essence blood to strengthen him.
• Jiang Ning checked his Five Animals Fist progress and source energy, then decided not to borrow more money from Wang Qingtan.
• Wang Qingtan took Wang Qinghan to collect a debt and worried that resolving the matter might require a grandmaster’s backing.

Jiang Ning asked Wang Qingtan for money to support his martial cultivation, and she lent him five hundred taels plus her jewelry in exchange for two favors. As Wang Qingtan left, she reflected on her past life as the Phoenix Heavenly Maiden and feared that death or returning memories could replace her own will.

• Jiang Ning finished practicing Five Animals Fist and welcomed Wang Qingtan and Wang Qinghan into his pavilion.
• Wang Qingtan reminded Jiang Ning that she had helped save him from Xiao Qiushui, then agreed to support his attempt to become a Heaven-Man Grandmaster.
• Jiang Ning asked Wang Qingtan for one thousand taels, and she offered five hundred taels plus her jewelry in exchange for two favors.
• Wang Qingtan gave Jiang Ning her bracelet, earrings, necklace, and hairpin, while promising to have the remaining money delivered later.
• After leaving with Wang Qinghan, Wang Qingtan recalled that she was the reincarnation of the Phoenix Heavenly Maiden and feared losing her own identity to her past life's will.

Wang Qingtan sent Jiang Ning five hundred taels of gold, and he spent nearly all of it at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion on rare Primordial Era treasures to strengthen himself without consuming more pills. He left with Dragonblood Bodhi, three-hundred-year Vermilion Fruits, and Profound Ice Jade Marrow, hoping they would aid his cultivation before blood transformation.

• Wang Qinghan teased Wang Qingtan about being kind to Jiang Ning, while Wang Qingtan reflected on her awakened memories and her suspicion that Jiang Ning might share her secret.
• Jiang Ning resumed practicing Five Animals Fist, then received five gold notes from a servant sent by Wang Qingtan.
• Jiang Ning visited the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and told manager Mei Jiangyun that he wanted immortal treasures from the Primordial Era.
• After reviewing the pavilion's catalog, Jiang Ning bought three Dragonblood Bodhi fruits, five three-hundred-year Vermilion Fruits, and ten drops of Profound Ice Jade Marrow for 495 taels of gold.
• Mei Jiangyun presented the treasures, and Jiang Ning accepted them, gave Lü Yi the five-tael change, and departed.

Jiang Ning refined three Dragonblood Bodhi, strengthening and harmonizing his blood and qi, then consumed other treasures that helped advance his Water Nature and Water-Fire True Force skills. He ended the evening practicing Five Animals Fist, just short of the experience needed for its next limit break.

• Jiang Ning refined three Dragonblood Bodhi, increasing his blood and qi and making it respond more smoothly to his will.
• Jiang Ning swallowed five three-hundred-year Vermilion Fruits, which produced no noticeable direct change.
• Jiang Ning refined ten drops of Profound Ice Jade Marrow, gaining experience in Water Nature and Water-Fire True Force.
• Jiang Ning checked his skills and found Five Animals Fist just short of the experience needed for another limit break.
• Jiang Ning continued practicing Five Animals Fist to earn the remaining experience before his planned breakthrough the next morning.

Jiang Ning broke the Five Animals Fist’s limits for the sixth time, raising his fist-art talent and dramatically improving his training efficiency. He began strengthening his Commissioner Office’s subordinates with a blood-infused tonic, while Xie Xiaoj iu quietly struggled with the growing distance between them.

• Jiang Ning spent 5,000 Source Energy to break the Five Animals Fist’s limits for the sixth time, gaining the Fist Grandmaster (First Break) trait and reaching 83 experience.
• Jiang Ning discovered that his improved talent made each set of Five Animals Fist grant more experience and greatly increased his qi and blood gains.
• Jiang Ning told Lü Yi to summon Xie Xiaoj iu, Zhou Xing, and Feng Jiเก, then decided to develop his staff and prepare to oppose the God-Worship Cult.
• Jiang Ning gave Xie Xiaoj iu, Zhou Xing, and Feng Jiเก wine mixed with Emperor’s Flowing Essence and his blood, and instructed them to dilute the remaining tonic for their subordinates.
• Feng Jiเก thanked Jiang Ning on behalf of the others, while Xie Xiaoj iu left feeling that she and Jiang Ning were growing farther apart.

Jiang Ning asked Ye Zhengqi about the path to becoming a Heaven-Man Grandmaster and learned that powerful true intent could connect one with the Heavenly Dao. Ye Zhengqi revealed his Fourfold Heaven-Man strength and departed with Jiang Ning for Xiao Qiushui's Grandmaster banquet, but his lingering injuries slowed their journey.

• Jiang Ning met Ye Zhengqi at Bai Luoyu's estate and asked how true intent could lead to the third rank.
• Ye Zhengqi explained that sufficiently powerful true intent could commune with Heaven and man, and revealed that the Heavenly Dao had consciousness while the current ruler preferred the title Human Emperor.
• Ye Zhengqi said he would take Jiang Ning to Xiao Qiushui's Grandmaster banquet in five days and settle their enmity, noting his Fourfold Heaven-Man cultivation.
• Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi left Bai Luoyu and traveled toward Water-Moon Sword Palace, with Jiang Ning keeping pace as his Wind-Thunder Steps gained experience.
• Ye Zhengqi's lingering cold injuries flared when he accelerated, so he and Jiang Ning stopped and agreed to continue at a slower pace.

Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi arrived at the Water-Moon Sword Palace for Xiao Qiushui’s Grandmaster banquet, where Jiang Ning reunited with Xiao Emei and revealed that he might kill Xiao Qiushui if she pursued revenge. Xiao Qiushui learned that Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi had come and reacted with murderous anger.

• Jiang Ning finished cultivating the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, bringing it close to perfection, and continued traveling with Ye Zhengqi.
• Ye Zhengqi explained the Water-Moon Sword Palace’s new standing and the Immortal Crossing Sect’s ancient heritage as they approached the palace.
• Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi crossed Moon-Reflection Lake to the Water-Moon Sword Palace, where the disciples recognized Ye Zhengqi and arranged rooms for them.
• Xiao Emei learned Jiang Ning had arrived, visited him, and promised to persuade Xiao Qiushui to abandon revenge after Jiang Ning warned he would kill her if necessary.
• A disciple reported Jiang Ning’s arrival and Ye Zhengqi’s presence to Xiao Qiushui, who reacted with killing intent before dismissing her.

Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist and met Old Zhong and his great-granddaughter Zhong Ling at the mountain pavilion. Zhong Ling revealed that Jiang Ning’s Immortal root aptitude shone like a great sun, leaving Ye Zhengqi and Old Zhong astonished and regretful.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist, gained experience, and noted that he was saving his source energy points for the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique.
• Ye Zhengqi summoned Jiang Ning to the peak, where Jiang Ning used his divine consciousness to locate him and briefly drew the attention of a silver-haired elder elsewhere.
• Ye Zhengqi introduced Jiang Ning to Old Zhong, the inspector of Five Peaks Prefecture, and they discussed Xiao Qiushui’s Grandmaster status and their own paths toward higher realms.
• Jiang Ning considered the risks of choosing a more ambitious cultivation path while listening to Ye Zhengqi and Old Zhong compare their martial achievements.
• Old Zhong asked Zhong Ling to examine Jiang Ning’s Immortal root aptitude, and she said its light was like a great sun hanging in the sky.

Jiang Ning learned that Li Sixiang of the Immortal Crossing Sect had become a second-rank grandmaster, then refused Ye Zhengqi’s suggestion that he marry Zhong Yue’s great-granddaughter to advance his cultivation. Xiao Emei told Jiang Ning she had failed to persuade Xiao Qiushui, while Xiao Qiushui chose Xiao Emei as her successor and prepared to face Jiang Ning in a deadly battle.

• Ye Zhengqi and Zhong Yue told Jiang Ning that Li Sixiang had reached the second-rank grandmaster realm, making the Immortal Crossing Sect a formidable force.
• Ye Zhengqi explained Li Sixiang’s mastery of earth, wind, water, and fire, then proposed that Jiang Ning marry Zhong Yue’s great-granddaughter to help him comprehend the unity of heaven and man; Jiang Ning refused.
• Ye Zhengqi told Jiang Ning that Prefectural Inspector Zhao had emerged from seclusion and might arrive that afternoon.
• Xiao Emei told Jiang Ning that she had failed to persuade Xiao Qiushui, and Jiang Ning said he would fight her if she chose to proceed.
• A disciple reported that Xiao Emei was with Jiang Ning, and Xiao Qiushui declared Xiao Emei her sole heir so she could fight Jiang Ning without concern.

Jiang Ning welcomed Zhao Yulong after he became a Heaven-Man Grandmaster, then prepared to kill Xiao Qiushui after her Grandmaster Banquet. At the banquet, Jiang Ning and his companions learned that Li Sixiang had become a second-rank Grandmaster and surveyed the gathered guests as the event began.

• Jiang Ning welcomed Zhao Yulong, who revealed that he had become a Heaven-Man Grandmaster and celebrated with Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning practiced through the night and resolved to kill Xiao Qiushui after the banquet, while preparing to enter the third rank once his contribution reward arrived.
• Ye Zhengqi joined Jiang Ning and Zhao Yulong, and they discussed the Immortal Crossing Sect's guests, including Li Sixiang, who had reached the second rank.
• Ye Zhengqi led Jiang Ning and Zhao Yulong to meet Zhong Yue before Xiao Qiushui's Grandmaster Banquet.
• Jiang Ning surveyed the guests at the banquet and noticed that the old beggar speaking with Zhong Yue seemed unusually formidable.

At the Grandmaster Banquet, Jiang Ning learned that Zhong Ling’s constitution could pass extraordinary talents to her children, but urged her not to rush into choosing a partner. Xiao Qiushui and Li Sixiang arrived, and the banquet began with Li Sixiang’s new Divine Intent Realm status and his plans to use Xiao Qiushui against the Great Xia Court and Inspection Office hanging over the gathering.

• Jiang Ning listened to the Grandmasters exchange Martial Dao insights while Zhao Yulong and Zhong Yue joined discussions elsewhere.
• Zhong Ling told Jiang Ning her constitution could help their children inherit her traits and exceptional immortal root aptitude, but Jiang Ning advised her to have children only with someone she loved.
• Jiang Ning noticed Zhong Ling could conceal her presence completely, then thought of Lin Qingyi and Prince Qi’s marriage.
• Xiao Qiushui arrived with Xiao Emei, followed by Li Sixiang, whose entrance revealed his command of heaven and earth and prompted guests to recognize him as a Divine Intent Realm Grandmaster.
• Li Sixiang and Xiao Qiushui opened the banquet, while Ye Zhengqi and Zhong Yue remarked that Immortal Crossing Sect might no longer remain content with its position.
• Li Sixiang and the other guests toasted Xiao Qiushui as the banquet began.