Chapter Summaries

Key events

• Qin An masters the Shadow Demon Clone, a movement technique that leaves behind a shadow capable of taking an attack for him. His Dancer Talent instantly raises it to Perfection.
• He attempts to fuse it with the Seven-Star Dragon’s Roar Shadow Steps. His Talent alone is insufficient, so he burns a large amount of Vital Blood to gain the insight needed. The fusion succeeds, producing the Eight Extremes Dragon-Cry Shadow Steps at Initial Proficiency. Its shadow can both absorb attacks and strike alongside him.
• Qin An decides to improve his Alchemist and Formation Master Professions to Level Fifteen before taking another mission. He also keeps four Demon Souls in reserve for his Eight Extremes Blood-Burning Demon-Sealing Hand.
• Before he can visit the Alchemist Alliance, Zhou Yuanfeng summons him with urgent news: the Chief Prefecture Head will return within three days. Zhou and Tang Zizhen worry that she may know about the Divine Soul Refinement Technique and what she intends to do.
• Qin An advises them not to speculate and to wait for her arrival. He leaves to continue his own plans.
• Three days later, a carriage approaches Xunyang Prefecture. Its passenger, the returning Chief Prefecture Head, says the prefecture remains corrupt but expresses interest in meeting Qin An. She gives the coachman, Lin Zhaoyao, a Golden Mountain Patrol Token, restoring his identity as a Mountain Patrol Golden General.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An demonstrates rapid mastery and ingenuity, but the fusion’s success comes at the cost of substantial Vital Blood. He remains practical and focused, showing little interest in guessing at the Chief Prefecture Head’s motives.
• Zhou Yuanfeng and Tang Zizhen are tense about the Chief Prefecture Head’s return and seek Qin An’s judgment. Though they find his brief response frustrating, they recognize the soundness of his advice.
• The Chief Prefecture Head is established as a powerful, observant figure with ties to Xunyang Prefecture and knowledge of Qin An’s growing reputation. Lin Zhaoyao, revealed to possess Unity Realm strength, resumes his Golden General role at her command.

Significant themes

• Adaptation and sacrifice: Qin An combines techniques into a more versatile method, but must burn Vital Blood to achieve the breakthrough.
• Preparation and balanced strength: He aims to improve across multiple professions rather than relying only on combat techniques.
• Pragmatism amid uncertainty: Qin An favors waiting for facts over speculation.
• Power and hidden influence: The Chief Prefecture Head’s return, her connection to the Divine Soul Refinement Technique, and Lin Zhaoyao’s concealed strength foreshadow new developments.

Key events

• The Chief Prefecture Head pardons Lin Zhaoyao for his past crime and appoints him a Mountain Patrol Golden General. Lin pledges absolute loyalty, but is told to save his promises and hurry to Xunyang Prefecture.
• Qin An spends three days refining pills at the Alchemist Alliance, where the Alliance Master eagerly studies his technique. Qin leaves at night to return to the Evil Extermination Division.
• On the way, Qin encounters Lin, who challenges him to a fight. Qin initially refuses, but deduces that Lin is acting on the Chief Prefecture Head’s behalf.
• The Chief Prefecture Head reveals that the duel will determine whether Qin is strong enough to join an important, secret plan. If he qualifies, the Chief’s backing may also help protect him from enemies such as Situ Shen and the master of Vermilion Bird Tower.
• Qin accepts because the fight now serves his interests. He wants to take part in the plan and eliminate the forces threatening his peace in Xunyang.
• Qin and Lin clash using their powerful techniques and Secret Arts. After a fierce exchange, the Chief Prefecture Head stops them and declares Lin the loser.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains practical and self-directed: he will not fight merely for pride or sport, but readily acts when a contest offers tangible benefits. His clear reasoning impresses the Chief.
• Lin Zhaoyao is introduced as a blunt, enthusiastic fighter with a troubled past. Though he misunderstands the strategic conversation between Qin and the Chief, he eagerly welcomes the duel.
• The Chief Prefecture Head emerges as shrewd and pragmatic. He frames the Evil Extermination Division as an exchange of value rather than an institution driven by lofty ideals, and tests Qin before bringing him into a dangerous undertaking.
• The Alliance Master admires Qin’s alchemy, while Lin and Qin’s meeting shifts from a personal challenge to an official assessment of Qin’s strength.

Significant themes

• Pragmatism over idealism: The Chief argues that service in the Division is a transaction: members receive rewards in exchange for carrying out missions and protecting people.
• Strength and worthiness: Qin must demonstrate his ability before being trusted with the Chief’s plan.
• Loyalty and self-interest: Lin offers unwavering loyalty, while Qin openly pursues involvement because it may help him defeat his enemies and secure his future.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lin Zhaoyao refuses to accept his defeat, arguing that he still had secret techniques left. The Chief Prefecture Head explains that Qin An’s strength—including his Three-Blade Fusion and especially his repeatedly usable Blood Burning technique—would likely have overwhelmed him. Lin concedes and respectfully acknowledges Qin An.
• The Chief Prefecture Head brings Qin An and Lin to the Evil Extermination Division, where more than a hundred Prefecture Generals greet him with great deference. Their interest in Qin An hints at the division’s political maneuvering.
• In private, the Chief Prefecture Head confirms that he returned to oversee the coming final battle and prevent it from devastating Xunyang Prefecture. He cannot openly join the conflict because his role is to maintain stability.
• Qin An correctly deduces that the Chief Prefecture Head favors Jin Fengyu and arranged their meeting because he wants Qin to support Jin. Qin agrees, saying his enmity with Situ Shen is too deep for him to defect; the Divine Soul Refinement Technique holds no appeal for him.
• The Chief Prefecture Head reveals that the final battle will take place in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, where Situ Shen’s side already controls half the territory and will deploy the False Gods under its control. The battle will begin once both sides are ready.
• He then warns Qin An that powerful factions above Xunyang Prefecture are watching events closely. The faction backing Situ Shen hates Qin and wants him dead. Qin asks what the Chief Prefecture Head can do to protect him, but the chapter ends before he answers.

Character developments

• Qin An demonstrates both formidable combat ability and political insight. He reads the Chief Prefecture Head’s intentions quickly, speaks frankly, and remains loyal to Jin Fengyu. His confidence in his own path makes him immune to the temptation of the Divine Soul Refinement Technique.
• Lin Zhaoyao moves from stubborn denial to grudging acceptance of Qin An’s superiority, admitting that he could not endure Qin’s full power.
• The Chief Prefecture Head emerges as an upright but constrained figure: he opposes Xunyang’s corruption and favors Jin Fengyu, yet must avoid openly challenging the powerful interests above him.

Significant themes

• Power and restraint: Qin’s strength is established, but using it fully could turn a test into a deadly fight.
• Political corruption and limited agency: Even an honorable leader may be unable to reform a system controlled by higher powers.
• Loyalty versus temptation: Qin’s personal grudge and firm convictions outweigh the allure of a powerful forbidden technique.
• Hidden power structures: The conflict in Xunyang is part of a larger struggle, and Qin’s actions have attracted dangerous attention from above.

Character interactions

• Lin challenges the verdict, but the Chief Prefecture Head explains why Qin would ultimately prevail; Lin then pays Qin his respects.
• At the division, the Prefecture Generals show formal obedience to the Chief Prefecture Head while quietly speculating about Qin’s growing influence.
• In private, Qin and the Chief Prefecture Head speak candidly: Qin probes his motives, and the Chief Prefecture Head asks for Qin’s continued support of Jin Fengyu.
• Their discussion shifts from alliance and battle plans to Qin’s personal danger, setting up the unresolved question of how he can survive the attention of Situ Shen’s backers.

Plot points and events

• The Chief Prefecture Head tells Qin An that powerful figures above Xunyang Prefecture are split over him. To survive the coming decisive battle, Qin An must impress the faction that supports him; an ally from that faction will arrive before the battle, and the Chief Prefecture Head promises to speak on Qin An’s behalf.
• During a lull in demonic activity, Qin An trains until both his Alchemist and Formation Master professions reach Level Fifteen.
• The advances significantly improve his abilities: he can produce purer pills with fewer toxins, fuse multiple pill effects, strengthen formation materials, and combine multiple formation effects into a single array.
• Qin An needs Merits to obtain Demon Souls and a Unity Realm Mind Method, but the approaching battle has driven enemies into hiding, leaving few worthwhile missions. Rather than struggle alone, he asks the Chief Prefecture Head for help.
• The Chief Prefecture Head offers him an unusual mission, leaving its details—and Qin An’s decision—for the next chapter.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains practical and ambitious. He accepts that his survival depends on proving his worth, trains patiently, and makes deliberate use of his political connections when ordinary opportunities dry up.
• The Chief Prefecture Head acts as Qin An’s sponsor and ally, balancing official duties with a willingness to help him. Their relationship is based on mutual trust and an earlier agreement involving Jin Fengyu.
• Their conversations are direct and cooperative: the Chief Prefecture Head explains the political danger, while Qin An openly raises his shortage of missions and Merits.

Significant themes

• Power and political favor: Qin An’s survival depends not only on strength but also on winning support within a divided leadership.
• Preparation through persistence: Tedious training yields major gains that may help him survive the decisive battle.
• Using available resources: Qin An rejects needless self-reliance and turns to a powerful ally when he reaches an impasse.
• Calm before the storm: The quiet in Xunyang Prefecture is temporary; the coming battle hangs over the characters and shapes Qin An’s choices.

Key plot points and events

• The Chief Prefecture Head assigns Qin An and Lin Zhaoyao to destroy Wild Boar Mountain, an upper-tier demon faction with four Unity Realm leaders. He promises them an equal share of his personal Merits.
• Lin explains that the boars’ strength comes partly from the Divine Soul Refinement Technique and their unique Devouring Art. By eating, they heal and grow stronger, storing power—and even captured divine souls—in Blood Pellets.
• Eliminating them would weaken the enemy before the coming decisive battle. The assignment is discreet because the False Gods monitor the Evil Extermination Division’s Golden Generals; Qin and Lin are less likely to attract notice.
• At Wild Boar Mountain, the four leaders learn that two Golden Generals are approaching. Rather than flee, Zhu Da rallies the demons and plans an ambush, eager to kill and eat the intruders.

Character developments

• Qin An is cautious about risking his life for Merits, but accepts after hearing the assignment. He quickly understands the strategic purpose and why the mission requires secrecy.
• Lin Zhaoyao acts as Qin’s informed partner, explaining the demons’ abilities and the enemy’s surveillance. He also praises Qin’s perceptiveness.
• Zhu Da emerges as the confident, domineering leader of the four boars; he dismisses his brothers’ fear and turns the threat into an opportunity to attack.

Character interactions

• The Chief Prefecture Head gives Qin and Lin the mission but leaves Lin to explain its rationale on the road.
• Qin and Lin question and clarify the mission while traveling, then ride on together toward the mountain.
• At the mountain, a frightened subordinate warns the four demon leaders. The brothers debate the danger until Zhu Da takes charge and orders an ambush.

Significant themes

• Strategic secrecy: Both sides monitor powerful fighters, making an unexpected approach essential.
• Power and preparation: The boars’ ability to store divine souls could make them especially dangerous in the coming war, so the mission is preventive as well as tactical.
• Confidence versus caution: Qin weighs the risk before accepting, while Zhu Da’s boldness inspires his brothers—but may also lead them into overconfidence.

Plot points and events

• On Wild Boar Mountain, Zhu Da gathers more than a hundred Inner God Realm Wild Boar Demons and prepares to kill the two Mountain Patrol Golden Generals sent against them.
• Though his three Unity Realm brothers question the need, Zhu Da chooses a cautious strategy: the four leaders use a secret art from the Divine Soul Refinement Technique to draw the demons’ Divine Soul Power into themselves. The power leaves their followers collapsed but greatly strengthens the four fighters.
• Qin An and Lin Zhaoyao climb the mountain, alert to danger. Qin An senses the approaching demons before Lin Zhaoyao does, reinforcing Lin’s understanding of why the Chief Prefecture Head considers Qin An superior.
• The four Wild Boar Demon leaders confront them. Qin An and Lin Zhaoyao calmly divide the opponents between them, insulting Zhu Da and provoking his anger.
• Qin An blocks Zhu Da’s and Zhu Er’s twin-blade attacks, recognizing that their weapons were made from their own tusks. Lin Zhaoyao, empowered by several secret arts, wounds Zhu San and Zhu Si.
• Qin An uses the Eight Extremes Blood-Burning Demon-Sealing Hand to kill Zhu Er, shattering his tusk blades and absorbing his Demon Soul. He turns on Zhu Da, who responds by summoning a huge Phantom Image of a Wild Boar Demon.

Character developments

• Zhu Da is shown to be deeply cautious and survival-minded, willing to weaken his followers to ensure victory. The insult of being casually assigned to an opponent enrages him, but Zhu Er’s death quickly gives way to fear.
• Qin An displays exceptional danger-sensing, confidence, and tactical restraint. Once the fight begins, he reveals overwhelming strength and chooses to use a Demon Soul-powered technique to end it quickly and gain Merits.
• Lin Zhaoyao proves that his confidence is backed by skill. His Peerless Foundation and secret arts allow him to fight fiercely against two Unity Realm opponents and wound them.
• Zhu Er is badly injured in the opening exchange and then killed by Qin An’s fist. His death shifts the balance and terrifies Zhu Da.

Significant themes

• Caution versus confidence: Zhu Da’s defensive preparation contrasts with Qin An and Lin Zhaoyao’s composure and directness.
• Strength and reputation: Qin An’s ability to sense danger and his decisive combat power validate the Chief Prefecture Head’s judgment of him.
• Costs of power: Zhu Da’s secret art draws strength from his followers, while Qin An burns Demon Souls to unleash a powerful technique.
• Pride and insecurity: The demons’ humble origins remain a wound for them; Qin An and Lin’s dismissive division of their opponents provokes Zhu Da’s rage.

Character interactions

• Zhu Da overrules his subordinates’ doubts, persuading them that sacrificing some Divine Soul Power is worthwhile to protect Wild Boar Mountain.
• Qin An and Lin Zhaoyao briefly assess one another before splitting the four demons between them; their exchange shows Lin’s confidence and Qin An’s trust in his ability.
• Zhu Da angrily challenges the pair after their casual assignment of opponents, while Qin An remains focused and largely ignores his taunts.
• Qin An notices Lin’s strong performance, then turns back to finish Zhu Er and confront Zhu Da.

Key plot points and events

• Zhu Da reveals his hidden Divine Soul Secret Art, burning the souls of his brothers Zhu San and Zhu Si to absorb their power. He grows into a towering Wild Boar Demon whose strength nears Perfection in the Unity Realm.
• Lin Zhaoyao warns Qin An of the danger. The two join forces: Lin turns his Iron Whip into a formation-enhanced net, while Qin creates a powerful formation that boosts them both and burns his remaining Demon Souls for strength.
• Qin’s punches send Zhu Da crashing through trees and leave deep wounds, but the demon survives and continues attacking.
• At Qin’s request, Lin repeatedly uses his Iron Whip technique to bind Zhu Da’s forelegs. The effort severely exhausts Lin, and Zhu eventually breaks free.
• Zhu Da pins Qin in a strength contest, believing Qin cannot draw his saber while holding him back. As Lin’s attacks prove insufficient and their prospects seem bleak, Qin reveals his hidden advantage: he can draw his sword without using his hands.
• Cold Star awakens through Qin’s True Essence, rises from its sheath, and unleashes the Eight Extremes Ruthless Blood-Transforming Blade toward Zhu Da’s heart. The chapter ends as the sword strikes.

Character developments

• Zhu Da abandons his brothers to save himself, absorbing their souls and becoming vastly stronger. His confidence turns to fear when Qin reveals an unexpected weapon.
• Qin An demonstrates strategic composure, combining formations, physical power, and sword control. Even when apparently trapped, he has kept a decisive move in reserve.
• Lin Zhaoyao shows courage and complete trust in Qin. He repeatedly risks himself and endures the heavy cost of his Secret Art to create openings.

Significant themes

• Self-preservation versus loyalty: Zhu Da sacrifices his own brothers, while Qin and Lin rely on mutual trust.
• Resourcefulness and hidden capabilities: Qin’s varied skills and Cold Star’s spirit overturn what appears to be a hopeless situation.
• Cost of power: Zhu Da gains strength through the destruction of his brothers’ souls; Lin’s powerful technique, meanwhile, leaves him physically depleted.
• Teamwork under pressure: Their combined formations and coordinated attacks keep them alive against a stronger opponent.

Character interactions

• Zhu San and Zhu Si confront Zhu Da, but he consumes their souls and leaves them dead.
• Lin warns Qin about Zhu Da’s strength, then supports him with his whip and trusts his tactical requests without hesitation.
• Zhu Da targets Lin as the seemingly weaker opponent, but Qin intervenes and later uses Lin’s binding technique to set up his attack.
• In the final exchange, Zhu Da taunts Qin for being unable to draw his saber; Qin answers by awakening Cold Star remotely.

Plot points and events

• Qin An kills the enormous Pig Demon Zhu Da with Cold Star, whose self-directed strike pierces Zhu Da’s heart. He gathers the Demon Souls from Zhu Da, Zhu San, and Zhu Si.
• Qin An and Lin Zhaoyao clear the rest of Wild Boar Mountain, killing over a hundred unconscious Wild Boar Demons and dividing their Demon Consciousness. The effortless cleanup completes their assignment.
• In the demons’ cave, they find and destroy Blood Pellets containing Divine Soul Power, which were likely being gathered for the Black-Robed False God.
• Qin An also discovers a heavy bronze box holding an unidentifiable black Ironstone. Unable to learn what it is, he and Lin take it back to the Evil Extermination Division.
• The False God learns that Qin An destroyed Wild Boar Mountain. Though the Tower Master wants to kill Qin An, the False God forbids an immediate attack because the Chief Prefecture Head has returned and favors Qin An. Instead, he orders their plans accelerated, potentially bringing the final battle forward.
• The Chief Prefecture Head reveals that he expected Qin An to find the box. When Qin asks about the Ironstone, the Chief calls it a gift for him.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Zhaoyao is deeply impressed by Qin An’s abilities, especially his advanced techniques and the power of his blade and formation. He increasingly defers to Qin, addressing him as “Lord Qin.”
• Qin An remains calm and focused: he completes the mission, destroys resources that could aid the enemy, and intends to use his rewards to strengthen himself.
• The Tower Master’s hatred of Qin An grows because Qin has repeatedly disrupted their schemes, but he obeys the False God’s order not to attack.
• The Chief Prefecture Head’s “gift” suggests he has deliberately guided Qin An toward the Ironstone, though its purpose remains unexplained.

Significant themes

• Power and hierarchy: Qin An’s demonstrated strength changes Lin Zhaoyao’s attitude and establishes Qin as the dominant figure between them.
• Strategic conflict: Destroying the Blood Pellets weakens the False God’s forces, but also prompts the enemy to hasten its plans.
• Hidden knowledge and foreshadowing: The Ironstone’s mysterious nature and the Chief’s prior knowledge hint at a larger purpose yet to be revealed.

Key plot points and events

• After Qin An destroys Wild Boar Mountain, the Chief Prefecture Head privately reveals a realm above Unity: the Shattered Void Realm.
• The Chief explains that the realm’s existence is deliberately concealed in Xunyang Prefecture by higher authorities. Anyone who learns of it without authorization has historically been killed; the Chief was responsible for eliminating demon factions that discovered the secret.
• Qin An learns that reaching Shattered Void requires breaking apart the fused True Essence and Divine Consciousness of Unity, then rebuilding them throughout the body as Void Essence—a far more powerful force.
• The ironstone the Chief gives Qin An is a Shattered Void Stone. It can link scattered Void Essence into a Peerless Foundation, greatly surpassing an ordinary Shattered Void cultivator’s strength.
• Wild Boar Mountain possessed a stone to connect the Divine Soul Power in its Blood Pellets, creating a vast entity for the False God behind the faction to use.
• A complete Peerless Foundation requires six stones, but the Chief’s gift can establish only one part. Qin An accepts it gratefully.
• The Chief then reveals he has an important task for Qin An, though its nature is not yet disclosed.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains calm and inquisitive, prioritizing the Chief’s revelations over claiming Merits. He quickly grasps the political implications and the stone’s potential, and accepts the gift without false modesty.
• The Chief Prefecture Head recognizes Qin An’s exceptional talent and composure. He shares forbidden knowledge because Qin An is already known to the powers above and may be capable of advancing beyond Xunyang Prefecture.
• Lin Zhaoyao is ordered to leave because the information would harm him if he heard it; he complies without argument.
• Qin An and the Chief speak with mutual respect: the Chief tests and evaluates Qin An, while Qin An asks pointed questions and reasons through the answers.

Significant themes

• Knowledge as power and control: Higher authorities suppress information about Shattered Void to keep Xunyang Prefecture manageable.
• Ambition and advancement: Qin An seeks not merely to reach a higher realm but to build a foundation that maximizes his strength.
• Reconstruction through destruction: The path to Shattered Void requires shattering what was previously unified, then rebuilding it into something stronger.
• Political uncertainty: Qin An understands the motives behind the secrecy but remains detached from the larger struggle, focusing on his own path.

Key plot points

• The Chief Prefecture Head asks Qin An to deliver an unsealed letter to Gu Yi in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins within three months. In exchange, Qin An will receive a Shattered Void Stone.
• The letter instructs Gu Yi to find Long Tianxing and join forces to stabilize the ruins, preparing them to resist the Black-Robed False God and his allies. The Chief Prefecture Head keeps political distance from the plan, leaving no clear evidence of his involvement.
• Qin An accepts, crushes the stone as instructed, and absorbs its power into his right arm. It can lend his techniques a weaker, Void Essence-like force.
• Rather than travel immediately, Qin An spends the three-month deadline studying in the Confidential Archives. He raises his Scholar Profession to Level Sixteen, bringing his Unity Realm Mind Method talents to Great Completion.
• Having exchanged Merits for a Mind Method and enough Demon Souls to support its advancement, Qin An begins working toward Unity Realm Great Completion.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An shows caution and political awareness: he asks what the Chief Prefecture Head wants before agreeing, reads the letter openly, and understands why its sender must remain deniable. He also chooses to strengthen himself before entering the ruins.
• The Chief Prefecture Head reveals his distrustful, pragmatic outlook. He monitors Gu Yi through a hidden connection and says he would eliminate him if he joined the opposing forces, while carefully avoiding direct involvement in the coming conflict.
• Gu Yi and Long Tianxing do not appear, but the letter positions them as potential allies tasked with securing the Ancient Battlefield Ruins.
• The Prefecture Generals speculate about Qin An’s long stay in the archives and assume his next departure will bring a major upheaval. Their deference is clear when he emerges.

Significant themes

• Power and preparation: Qin An uses the deadline to improve his abilities before taking on a dangerous mission.
• Trust and political neutrality: The Chief Prefecture Head trusts no faction completely and carefully protects himself from being implicated.
• Patient, disciplined growth: Qin An endures months of routine study, encouraged by steady progress and the promise of mastery.
• Rumor and reputation: Qin An’s mere presence and movements stir anticipation among the Division’s members, even when they know little about his plans.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An studies the Light Sacred Method and, thanks to his Scholar Profession, immediately reaches Great Completion in the Unity Realm.
• He then attempts to combine it with the Eight Extremes Bodhi Golden Dragon Art. His Talent initially proves insufficient, but burning ten Demon Souls and a great deal of Blood Essence sparks the insight needed to create the Nine-Turn Bodhi Golden Dragon Art, also at Great Completion.
• The new art combines nine True Essence attributes with the original method’s strengths. Qin An’s power reaches a new peak, and he believes his Supreme Foundation may let him contend with a Unity Realm cultivator at Perfection.
• His resources are dwindling: only five Demon Souls remain, while developing his four other methods would require forty more. Qin An concludes that Xunyang Prefecture cannot supply them easily and postpones the problem.
• He sets out to fulfill his bargain with the Chief Prefecture Head: travel to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, meet Gu Yi, and deliver a letter. As a Mountain Patrol Golden General, he enters the ruins without difficulty.
• Qin An reaches the Mirage and waits for it to open. The following morning, he enters—but immediately feels a force pulling him as the landscape races backward. The chapter ends before its effects are revealed.

Character developments

• Qin An’s cultivation advances dramatically, and his Divine Consciousness and True Essence become closely linked, giving him exceptional control.
• His new rank and growing reputation make him an imposing figure: others treat him with deference, though this also isolates him from casual interaction.
• He remains practical and focused, setting aside the resource problem to honor his obligation to the Chief Prefecture Head.

Significant themes

• Power and scarcity: Qin An’s advancement depends on costly, limited resources, making further growth increasingly difficult.
• Talent and sacrifice: His Scholar Talent enables rapid mastery, but combining the methods still demands Blood Essence and Demon Souls.
• Status and isolation: Qin An’s promotion brings authority and respect, but people keep their distance.
• Duty and consequences: He leaves immediately to fulfill his bargain, only to encounter an unexplained force upon entering the Mirage.

Character interactions

• Qin An briefly demonstrates the Light Sacred Method’s radiant, protective True Essence to himself, then tests his new nine-attribute cultivation.
• Prefecture Generals and Mountain Patrol Generals treat him with awe and avoid approaching him. A Silver General grants him access to the ruins, then regrets not recognizing and speaking with him sooner.
• At the Mirage entrance, everyone waits for Qin An to enter first because of his rank; he proceeds without comment.

Plot points

• Qin An is drawn to a desolate sea by Mirage, an enemy he previously encountered when he was much weaker. Now at Great Completion of the Unity Realm, Qin An overwhelms Mirage with a full-force blade attack, combining his nine-attribute true essence, the Three-Blade Fusion, and the powerful energy in his right arm.
• Qin An leaves the badly injured Mirage alive and immobilized, knowing Mirage is his link to Gu Yi. Gu Yi directs him to a gate two hundred li east, which takes him back to the isolated island.
• Qin An gives Gu Yi a confidential letter from the Chief Prefecture Head, revealing that the Head has returned and taken a position related to the coming final battle. Gu Yi agrees to keep the information secret.
• Gu Yi explains that Long Tianxing is hiding in the half of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins controlled by the Black-Robed False God, making him difficult to reach. Gu Yi asks Qin An to find Long Tianxing, though Qin An worries about the danger and the time it will cost.
• Gu Yi proposes a deal and shows Qin An a wooden box. After seeing its contents, Qin An immediately agrees, saying the matter concerns Xunyang Prefecture’s survival.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An demonstrates how far he has advanced since his last encounter with Mirage: he remains calm under threat and defeats Mirage decisively. He is practical about his limited time, but his sense of responsibility ultimately outweighs his reluctance.
• Mirage remains consumed by hatred and attacks Qin An without hesitation. Though defeated and restrained, he survives, preserving Qin An’s route to Gu Yi.
• Gu Yi is impressed by Qin An’s rapid progress and combat ability. He is candid about the obstacles to contacting Long Tianxing and tries to secure Qin An’s help through a bargain.
• Qin An and Gu Yi maintain a direct, trusting relationship: Qin An delivers sensitive information, and Gu Yi entrusts him with a dangerous mission.

Significant themes

• Growth and reversal: Qin An’s former predator is now no match for him.
• Duty versus personal priorities: Qin An fears losing valuable preparation time, but the stakes for Xunyang Prefecture persuade him to act.
• Trust and secrecy: The confidential letter and Gu Yi’s reliance on Qin An establish the importance of discretion and cooperation.
• Risk in the approaching conflict: The Black-Robed False God’s influence and the search for Long Tianxing show how difficult the preparations for the final battle will be.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An accepts Gu Yi’s offer of a Shattered Void Stone in exchange for finding Long Tianxing. The stone will help him forge a Peerless Foundation.
• Gu Yi gives Qin An a map showing Long Tianxing’s hiding place at the center of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins—a dangerous region controlled by the Black-Robed False God. Qin An agrees to go despite the risks.
• Gu Yi sends Qin An through a doorway to the nearest point he can reach. Qin An crosses a vast chasm into the False God’s territory, where intense Killing Intent fills the air, and races toward his destination.
• The Black-Robed False God senses Qin An’s arrival and sees a chance both to kill him and revive his wife, Zi Lian.
• Zi Lian, whose remaining soul was preserved by her husband, blames Qin An for her ruined state and demands revenge. The Black-Robed False God proposes using her to possess the powerful, unstable False God formed from a brothel. He plans to temporarily move it and place it between Qin An and Long Tianxing.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An shows decisiveness and commitment: once he accepts the bargain, he immediately undertakes a perilous mission, undeterred by the dangers or the possibility of being isolated.
• Gu Yi helps Qin An with a map and portal, but his influence is limited because he has lost control of half the ruins. He privately hopes Qin An can turn a seemingly hopeless situation around.
• The Black-Robed False God combines affection for Zi Lian with ruthless planning. He wants Qin An dead, but also intends to use Qin An’s Formation expertise to restore Zi Lian.
• Zi Lian moves from confusion to intense hatred and then hope as she learns of the proposed plan. She agrees that possessing the brothel False God could give her a path to revival.
• The husband and wife discuss the plan together, while Qin An remains unaware that they are preparing an ambush in his path to Long Tianxing.

Significant themes

• Bargains and duty: Qin An accepts a valuable reward and treats the agreed task as an obligation to fulfill.
• Risk and resolve: The journey into hostile territory underscores Qin An’s willingness to face overwhelming danger.
• Revenge and resurrection: Zi Lian’s desire for vengeance is intertwined with her longing to return to life.
• Power and control: The False God’s plan depends on manipulating a dangerous entity that even he cannot fully control.
• Rising conflict: Qin An’s straightforward mission becomes a trap, setting up a confrontation shaped by schemes and hidden motives.

Plot points and events

• Zi Lian realizes the Ancient Battlefield Ruins’ Gu Yi plans to cooperate with Long Tianxing against the Black-Robed False God. Her husband confirms the scheme, explaining that he intends to use her to protect them and disrupt it.
• The Black-Robed False God sends Zi Lian’s remnant soul into the Brothel False God. Using the brothel as a formation base, she expects to reach Perfection-stage Unity Realm power and kill Qin An before he can reach Long Tianxing.
• Qin An travels through a lawless, blood-soaked region of the ruins, where Martial World fighters and Mountain Patrol Generals battle over opportunities. His Gold Token keeps most from challenging him.
• He passes a deep pool that appears to conceal a True Dragon, but recognizes it as one of Long Tianxing’s decoys, thanks to Gu Yi’s map.
• Qin An encounters Mountain Patrol Silver Generals and learns the Brothel False God has appeared unexpectedly, blocking the route. He rushes toward it; the Silver Generals later realize he is the notorious Qin An, “Blade and Fist Dual Mastery.”
• At the brothel, seductive music and attendants try to draw Qin An inside. He resists the enchantment with his Nine-Colored True Essence and threatens the women, warning them not to obstruct him.

Character developments and interactions

• Zi Lian is devoted to her husband and determined to kill Qin An, confident in her power and the brothel’s formations.
• The Black-Robed False God shows tenderness toward Zi Lian but is increasingly anxious about the approaching decisive battle and Gu Yi’s growing influence.
• Qin An remains focused and pragmatic, refusing detours or distractions because he must reach Long Tianxing and strengthen himself before greater threats arrive.
• Qin An treats the Silver Generals courteously, but his reputation frightens them once they identify him. At the brothel, he confronts the seductive attendants without hesitation.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and sacrifice: Zi Lian accepts being bound to the Brothel False God to protect her husband’s interests.
• Deception and strategy: Long Tianxing uses false lairs, while the Black-Robed False God attempts to counter Gu Yi’s plan through an ambush.
• Power and reputation: Qin An’s rank and fearsome reputation shape how others behave around him.
• Temptation versus discipline: The brothel’s supernatural allure tests Qin An, but he overcomes it through control and resolve.

Plot points and events

• Qin An arrives at the Brothel False God while searching for Long Tianxing. Two guards invite him inside, but their murderous intent makes clear that the welcome is a trap.
• Inside, the lavish brothel—and its guests and entertainers—are revealed as illusions formed from the False God’s killing intent. Qin An kills the Turtle Groom who tries to guide him to the host.
• The figures identify Qin An as the Evil Extermination Division’s Mountain Patrol Golden General and recall their earlier encounter in a coffin. Qin An recognizes the enemy as Zi Lian, the Black-Robed False God’s lover, who survived and became the Brothel False God.
• Zi Lian reveals that she was once a Shattered Void Realm False God, but her injuries reduced her to Unity Realm. She now challenges Qin An at Unity Realm Perfection, backed by her powerful formations.
• Qin An opens with a Three-Blade Fusion slash. It destroys Zi Lian’s arm, but she regenerates it; her counterattack shatters his Eight Extremes Dharma Form but fails to injure him because of his Soft Armor.
• Zi Lian explains that the brothel’s countless former guests give her effectively endless lives while she remains inside it. Qin An would have to destroy them all to defeat her permanently.
• Qin An remains composed and counters her strongest formation-based attack with the Eight Extremes Blood-Burning Demon-Sealing Hand, burning a Demon Soul to empower his fist. The chapter ends as their attacks collide.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An stays focused on finding Long Tianxing and refuses to be intimidated by Zi Lian’s threats. His calmness frustrates her, while the clash excites him because he has finally met a worthy opponent.
• Zi Lian is revealed as vindictive and sadistic, intent on revenge for their earlier fight. Though impressed by Qin An’s strength, she believes the brothel’s regenerative power guarantees her victory.
• Their encounter shifts from recognition and taunting to a serious battle, with each testing the other’s defenses and capabilities.

Significant themes

• Illusion and hidden danger: The brothel’s seductive spectacle masks an environment made entirely of killing intent.
• Persistence versus attrition: Zi Lian relies on endless regeneration, while Qin An must find a way to overcome an apparently inexhaustible enemy.
• Composure under threat: Qin An’s restraint contrasts with Zi Lian’s growing rage, shaping their psychological struggle as much as their physical one.
• Power and resilience: Both fighters demonstrate formidable abilities, but each discovers limits in the other’s defenses and recovery.

Key plot points

• Qin An and Zi Lian clash at close range. Zi Lian’s layered Formations and fused Secret Arts give her a seemingly inexhaustible attack, and Qin An is forced to retreat.
• Qin An activates the Replication Jade, summoning a powerful duplicate. Zi Lian destroys it with Secret Arts she had deliberately saved, then presses her attack, convinced she has anticipated all of Qin An’s methods.
• Qin An reveals another tactic: his saber, Cold Star, can strike through the air. He and his duplicate launch coordinated saber attacks; the duplicate’s Black Blade also unleashes the Three-Blade Fusion. The strikes destroy half the Green House and kill Zi Lian—though she reforms.
• Zi Lian sacrifices the Green House’s remaining half to gather her last reserves into a massive black sphere. Its power threatens Qin An, but he retreats beyond her reach. Because the Brothel False God is confined to one location, she cannot pursue or attack him there.
• Qin An waits out the sphere’s power by calmly eating his rations. When it dissipates, Zi Lian is left barely visible and defeated. She dies after asking her husband to avenge her. Qin An absorbs her Demon Soul and heads off to find Long Tianxing, intending to leave the Ancient Battlefield Ruins.
• The chapter ends on a cliffhanger: something unusual appears just as Qin An takes his second step.

Character developments

• Qin An remains composed and resourceful, revealing that Zi Lian’s knowledge of his earlier abilities is outdated. He acknowledges the danger honestly but relies on patience and strategy rather than panic.
• Zi Lian shifts from confident superiority to unease, then fear and despair. Despite her formidable strength and final all-or-nothing attack, she is undone by Qin An’s tactics and her inability to leave her fixed position.

Significant themes

• Adaptation and ingenuity: Qin An wins by adding new tactics to his repertoire, not by relying on the same tricks Zi Lian expects.
• Patience over brute force: He survives her final attack by withdrawing and waiting rather than confronting it directly.
• Victory and defeat: Qin An frames the outcome as decisive regardless of the means used.
• Overconfidence: Zi Lian’s certainty that she understands Qin An leaves her vulnerable to what she has not anticipated.

Character interactions

• Qin An taunts Zi Lian about her faltering attack and challenges her assumptions about his abilities.
• Zi Lian responds with escalating threats and curses, but becomes increasingly unsettled as Qin An remains calm.
• At the end, Zi Lian’s final words focus on her absent husband, while Qin An gives no reply and moves on.

Plot points and events

• The Black-Robed False God ambushes Qin An in the ruins, using a phantom formed from the killing intent released when Zi Lian died. He has sealed the surrounding space and believes he has countered Qin An’s known escape tools and techniques.
• Qin An reveals that Gu Yi gave him a gray-white bead containing the power of one of Gu Yi’s strikes. He activates it, overcoming the ambush and destroying the Black-Robed False God’s phantom.
• Before disappearing, the False God vows revenge and blames Qin An for Zi Lian’s death and the collapse of his plans. Qin An counters that Zi Lian died because of the False God’s own schemes.
• Back in his cave abode, the False God rages over his defeat and orders the Tower Master to bring Situ Shen so they can plan to kill Qin An first in the coming final battle. He believes Qin An has now used up his life-saving treasure.
• Qin An continues his mission, heading toward Long Tianxing. On a desolate grassland, Long Tianxing senses his arrival and is astonished that Qin An has reached Unity Realm Great Completion and possesses a Peerless Foundation.

Character development and interactions

• Qin An remains composed under pressure, relying on an unexpected resource rather than panic. He treats the bead’s loss as worthwhile if it lets him survive and keeps the mission first.
• The Black-Robed False God admits he betrayed Zi Lian, his wife, because he feared the consequences of failure. His grief and humiliation curdle into renewed hatred and a more focused plan to kill Qin An.
• The Tower Master witnesses the gap between his own peak Unity Realm strength and the False God’s Shattered Void Realm power. He obeys the False God and agrees to help organize the attack.
• Long Tianxing is introduced through his reaction to Qin An’s arrival, revealing surprise at Qin An’s rapid advancement.

Significant themes

• Survival and sacrifice: The False God sacrifices Zi Lian for his own survival, while Qin An willingly spends a rare treasure to stay alive and continue his mission.
• Self-deception and blame: The False God presents himself as wronged, but Qin An exposes how he disguises ambition as love and shifts responsibility for Zi Lian’s death.
• Escalating conflict: Qin An’s escape deepens the False God’s vendetta and sets up a deliberate attempt on Qin An’s life in the final battle.
• Unpredictability and preparation: The False God’s detailed knowledge of Qin An’s abilities is not enough to account for Gu Yi’s gift, underscoring how a single hidden advantage can overturn a seemingly certain victory.

Plot and Events

Qin An follows Long Tianxing’s invitation into a vast underground river beneath the grassland, where the True Dragon has been hiding. Long explains that he knows the Black-Robed False God is watching him, but uses the river’s many branches—including a route to Gu Yi’s ruins—as an escape route and a way to mislead his enemy.
Qin An delivers a message from Gu Yi and the Chief Prefecture Head: Long and Gu Yi may need to help turn the tide in the coming battle at the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. The Chief Prefecture Head’s involvement must remain secret. With the message delivered, Qin An tries to leave, but Long asks him to refine a Soul-Restoring Golden Pill for a woman whose divine soul was partly extracted by the Black-Robed False God.
Long reveals that the woman is an influential figure from “above,” whom he once summoned to rescue him. Saving her could earn Qin An a valuable favor. Long also offers him a pitch-black Jade Stone containing spiritual awareness. Infused into Qin An’s Straight Saber, it could provide a second awareness, potentially doubling the power of his Blade Technique and enabling it to use the Three-Blade Fusion Secret Art. Qin An eagerly accepts the bargain.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Qin An remains composed and practical, but recognizes Long’s strategic cunning. He weighs the value of helping the injured woman and readily agrees once Long offers a worthwhile reward.
• Long Tianxing is revealed as a shrewd survivor who uses the Black-Robed False God’s surveillance against him. He trusts Qin An with sensitive information and bargains openly, offering both a powerful artifact and the woman’s future gratitude.
• Qin An and Long interact as cautious but increasingly cooperative allies: Qin An delivers the political message, while Long seeks his medical skill and gives him a potentially game-changing weapon enhancement.
• The red-clad woman, though unconscious and unnamed, becomes central to the bargain. Her damaged soul links her to Long’s past and to the False God’s schemes.

Significant Themes

• Cunning and counterstrategy: Long turns apparent captivity into a tactical advantage.
• Alliances and trust: Political cooperation depends on secrecy, while personal favors may matter beyond immediate battles.
• Power through healing and cultivation: Qin An’s medical expertise and the saber’s developing awareness offer ways to gain strength beyond direct combat.
• Transactional cooperation: Qin An is willing to help, but considers the practical value of what he will receive in return.

Plot points and events

• Qin An leaves Long Tianxing after agreeing to make him a Soul-Restoring Golden Pill. Their exchange ends with Qin An playfully defending his acceptance of Long’s “transaction,” while Long finds him irritating but recognizes the value of maintaining their connection.
• Back in Xunyang Prefecture, Qin An gives the Alchemist Alliance Master the pill formula and asks him to gather its rare ingredients. The Alliance Master is eager to see Qin An’s refining skill.
• Qin An decides to raise his Blacksmith and Butcher professions so he can develop stronger combat techniques. After several months of training, both reach Level Sixteen, bringing their Talents to Unity Realm Great Completion.
• Qin An reforges his armor, improving it enough to withstand some attacks from a peak Unity Realm fighter. He also transfers the spirituality from Long Tianxing’s jade pendant into his saber, Cold Star, then reforges the blade. Its two spiritualities greatly enhance his Blade Techniques and make the Three-Blade Fusion Secret Art exceptionally powerful.
• At the Confidential Archives, Qin An exchanges Merits for two cultivation methods and spends the rest on Demon Souls, bringing his total to twenty.
• He practices the Crimson Light Blade Technique, and his Butcher Talent instantly raises it to Great Completion. He then tries to fuse it with the Eight Extremes Ruthless Blood-Transforming Blade. His Talent is insufficient, so he begins burning Vital Blood for insight; the passage ends just as his understanding finally dawns.
• Meanwhile, demons and False Gods have disappeared from public view and seem to be acting in concert under an unknown influence. Their absence leaves the Evil Extermination Division short of Merits, while rumors suggest a major conflict may be brewing beneath Xunyang Prefecture’s calm surface.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An grows more powerful through sustained training, weapon forging, and rapid technique mastery. He remains practical and confident, focused on preparing for future danger and eventually leaving Xunyang Prefecture.
• Long Tianxing is exasperated by Qin An’s cleverness but considers him worth cultivating as an ally. He prepares for the coming final battle.
• The Alchemist Alliance Master admires Qin An’s rare expertise and hopes to learn by observing him refine the pill.
• Prefecture Generals regard Qin An with admiration, though he ignores their attention.

Significant themes

• Preparation amid uncertainty: Qin An strengthens himself while a hidden threat gathers in the background.
• Power through mastery and ingenuity: Professional Talents improve Qin An’s crafting and combat abilities, while spirituality and technique fusion push his weapons further.
• Pragmatic alliances: Even a contentious exchange can benefit both Qin An and Long Tianxing.
• The cost of advancement: Qin An’s attempt to fuse techniques requires burning Vital Blood, hinting that greater power may demand personal sacrifice.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Qin An uses his unusual talent and resources to master several techniques at Great Completion:
  • He names a fused blade art the Nine-Turn Heartless Blood-Transforming Blade.
  • He quickly masters the Light-Hunting Fist Technique.
  • After an initial failed attempt, he burns Blood Essence and many Demon Souls to fuse it with the Eight Extremes Blood-Burning Demon-Sealing Hand, creating the Nine-Turn Blood-Burning Demon-Sealing Hand.
• Confident that his offensive abilities and Mind Method are where he wants them, Qin An decides to obtain a defensive art and Movement Technique later. First, he will honor his promise to Long Tianxing by refining a Soul-Restoring Golden Pill and reviving the woman in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins.
• Meanwhile, the mysterious Li Moyun arrives in Xunyang Prefecture. He conceals his true identity, but the Chief Prefecture Head treats him with great deference. Li Moyun says the prefecture is a suitable place for an experiment and asks to meet Qin An.
• The Chief Prefecture Head warns Li Moyun that Qin An has gone to the Alchemist Alliance. Li Moyun decides to seek him out himself, despite the Chief Prefecture Head’s concern. Two powerful elders accompany him.
• At the Alchemist Alliance, Qin An checks that the Soul-Restoring Golden Pill’s ingredients are ready and prepares to begin refining it. An Elder interrupts to report that a young visitor wants to watch. The Alliance Master initially objects, but the visitor’s token changes his expression—the chapter ends before its significance is revealed.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An demonstrates the extraordinary speed and cost of his advancement, willingly spending Blood Essence and Demon Souls to complete his technique fusion. His skill is matched by a strong sense of duty: he prioritizes the promise he made to Long Tianxing.
• Li Moyun is confident, charismatic, and accustomed to deference. His praise influences the guards despite their not understanding why, hinting at an unusual presence or power. He also expresses concern for ordinary people while referencing a mysterious experiment.
• The Chief Prefecture Head is respectful and cautious around Li Moyun. He fears Qin An’s blunt temperament might provoke the powerful visitor, but cannot follow due to Li Moyun’s formidable escorts.
• The Alchemist Alliance Master shows deep respect for Qin An, willingly acting as his attendant because Qin An can refine a pill he cannot. He is protective of Qin An’s work and resents the interruption, until he sees the visitor’s token.

Significant themes

• Power has a price: Qin An’s progress requires major sacrifices of Blood Essence and Demon Souls.
• Duty and promises: Qin An’s cultivation goals do not distract him from his commitment to help Long Tianxing.
• Hidden authority and hierarchy: Li Moyun’s concealed status commands respect, while the Alliance Master’s reaction to the token signals that unseen powers may soon intersect with Qin An’s plans.
• Imminent tension: Qin An’s peaceful preparation for alchemy is disrupted just as a powerful, mysterious visitor approaches.