Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• In the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, Qin An uses the Replication Jade and burns Demon Souls to repeatedly unleash powerful Secret Arts against the protected earth. His blows gradually shake it and chip away stone, proving his attacks can damage it where the group’s combined earlier strike could not.
• Watching Qin An fight, Green Luo reflects on how far he has risen since she once rescued him. She believes he has outgrown Xunyang Prefecture and will eventually leave to pursue a greater destiny. Jin Fengyu comes to recognize that Qin An’s ambitions and potential exceed the local political contest he had hoped to involve him in.
• Outside the ruins, the Black-Robed False God overwhelms Gu Yi, the Third Dragon Princess, and Long Tianxing with relentless Divine Soul attacks. He reveals that he anticipated their attempt to destroy the ruins’ core and reinforced it with an impenetrable defense.
• Long Tianxing and then the Third Dragon Princess are badly wounded. The False God focuses his full strength on Gu Yi, breaks through the barrier Gu Yi struggles to maintain, and knocks him down.
• As the False God prepares to kill the three and threatens to hunt down Qin An and the others, a sudden, unexpected development makes him exclaim, “How is this possible?”

Character developments

• Qin An demonstrates immense strength and endurance, calmly sustaining a prolonged assault by spending Demon Souls without hesitation.
• Green Luo shifts from remembering Qin An as someone she once saved to acknowledging that he may surpass even the limits of their region.
• Jin Fengyu reassesses Qin An: he is no longer merely a useful political ally but a figure on a path beyond Jin’s own concerns.
• Gu Yi, the Third Dragon Princess, and Long Tianxing show resolve under near-certain defeat, continuing to fight despite severe injuries and dwindling strength.
• The Black-Robed False God reveals both careful strategic preparation and a volatile temper, especially when Gu Yi insults his appearance.

Significant themes

• Power and destiny: Qin An’s growing abilities suggest that his future extends far beyond Xunyang Prefecture.
• Endurance and resourcefulness: Qin An patiently wears down a formidable obstacle, while the defenders outside the ruins resist through distinct skills and sheer determination.
• Different scales of ambition: Jin Fengyu’s local political goals contrast with Qin An’s apparent potential for a much wider journey.
• Defiance in defeat: Gu Yi and his companions refuse to surrender even when survival seems impossible.

Character interactions

• The Mountain Patrol Generals watch Qin An with awe, while Green Luo and Jin Fengyu discuss his rise and likely future.
• The False God’s insult-driven anger toward Gu Yi escalates their confrontation; Gu Yi answers his threats with defiance.
• The Third Dragon Princess and Long Tianxing are too injured to help Gu Yi when the False God concentrates his attack on him.

Plot and key events

• As Qin An and his allies destroy the remaining half of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins’ core, the Black-Robed False God’s attack dissolves into harmless wind. The backlash strips away his power and leaves him in agony.
• Qin An emerges with his companions, who are awed by his relentless assault on the core and the hill-sized Demon Soul he helped defeat. The weakened False God admits his careful plan failed because he never accounted for Qin An.
• Gu Yi restrains the False God while Long Tianxing prepares to kill him. Before they can act, the False God warns that powerful figures behind the scheme remain in hiding and will continue targeting Qin An. He then chooses to dissolve himself, rather than be killed by his enemies.
• Gu Yi explains that the False God was only an experiment and lacked a true False God’s core, which allowed him to absorb the Ruins’ other half. With his death, nothing remains of him.
• The surviving Mountain Patrol Generals celebrate their victory. After the others depart, Gu Yi privately asks Qin An about the force that took him elsewhere during the final battle. Qin An recounts meeting Bai Lingfeng, prompting Gu Yi to ask him to return to that place in hopes of finding two missing Shattered Void Stones and restoring his strength.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An emerges as the decisive factor in the battle. Though exhausted and aware he survived only through a combination of preparation, abilities, and fortunate circumstances, he has the strength to turn those advantages into victory. He remains composed when the False God blames him and accepts Gu Yi’s private request.
• The Black-Robed False God shifts from disbelief and blame to resignation. His anger at Qin An reveals his personal longing to live happily with Zi Lian, but his final warning suggests the larger conspiracy still threatens Qin An.
• Gu Yi moves from near-despair to relief, then curiosity and hope. His knowledge of the False God clarifies why the enemy could absorb the Ruins’ core, and his interest in Bai Lingfeng creates a new purpose after the battle.
• The Third Dragon Princess and Long Tianxing celebrate the enemy’s downfall and recognize Qin An as the overlooked flaw in the False God’s plan. Long Tianxing is ready to execute the enemy, but stops when the False God signals he has something to say.
• Jin Fengyu and the Mountain Patrol Generals show deep respect—and some fear—of Qin An after witnessing his power. They leave the cleanup to others and depart once the battle is over.

Significant themes

• Preparation versus the unforeseen: The False God’s elaborate scheme collapses because he cannot account for Qin An.
• Power built on foundation and perseverance: Qin An’s victory is not presented as mere luck; his abilities and preparation let him capitalize on the opportunities that arise.
• The cost and aftermath of victory: The battle ends in relief and celebration, but the dead, exhaustion, and threat of hidden enemies remain.
• A larger conflict continues: The False God’s warning and Gu Yi’s search for the Shattered Void Stones point toward unresolved dangers and new goals.

Key plot points and events

• After the battle, Gu Yi explains that he has lost control of much of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Restoring that control would protect the ruins from future threats and return him to his former strength.
• Qin An asks whether the lost territory might contain two more Shattered Void Stones. Gu Yi says he can sense that the stones were forming there, though he cannot be certain they have matured.
• Qin An agrees to help regardless of whether the stones exist, honoring Gu Yi’s past kindness. Gu Yi transports them to a river where Bai Lingfeng once left behind power.
• Gu Yi absorbs the river’s cold White Mist and uses Bai Lingfeng’s power to create a new core, reconnecting the two halves of the ruins. After an hour, the river dries up and Gu Yi regains his peak strength: Great Completion of the Shattered Void Realm.
• Gu Yi retrieves two Shattered Void Stones from the riverbed and gives them to Qin An. Qin An absorbs their power, opening every path to a Peerless Foundation.
• Qin An prepares to return to Xunyang Prefecture, where he plans to advance his Scholar Profession, devise a cultivation method to enter the Shattered Void Realm, and eventually seek a wider world. Gu Yi warns him to be cautious and invites him to return someday.

Character development and interactions

• Qin An shows loyalty, gratitude, and directness: he helps Gu Yi out of principle, not merely for the stones. Receiving them gives him a major step toward his long-term ambitions, and Gu Yi’s restored power makes Qin An more conscious of how far he still has to grow.
• Gu Yi is candid about his motives and openly respects Qin An’s straightforward nature. Having regained his strength, he repays Qin An’s help by giving him the stones and offering sincere encouragement and advice.
• Their relationship is marked by mutual trust and respect: Qin An waits patiently while Gu Yi works, and they part warmly, with Qin An promising not to forget Gu Yi’s kindness.

Significant themes

• Reciprocity and gratitude: Qin An helps Gu Yi because he remembers past kindness; Gu Yi responds generously.
• Power and security: Gu Yi seeks full control to protect the ruins, while Qin An needs greater strength to survive beyond Xunyang Prefecture.
• Ambition and preparation: The stones give Qin An the foundation for future advancement, but reaching the wider world will require further training and resources.
• Trust and sincerity: Gu Yi values Qin An’s directness over hypocrisy, underscoring the importance of honest relationships.

Plot points and events

• After Qin An leaves the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, Gu Yi reflects on their encounter and realizes that although he is currently much stronger, Qin An’s potential may soon leave him far behind. Gu Yi disappears, and the ruins gain a new master.
• Xunyang Prefecture enjoys peace after the Final Battle. The Chief Prefecture Head is reviewing local martial factions to prevent future unrest while allowing them to develop.
• Qin An visits him to learn what it takes to leave Xunyang Prefecture. The requirements are reaching the Shattered Void Realm, receiving a recommendation from someone influential, and accumulating substantial Merits.
• The Chief Prefecture Head says Qin An is well positioned to meet the latter two requirements, thanks to Li Moyun’s influence and Qin An’s contributions in the Final Battle. Qin An believes reaching the required realm is the remaining obstacle.
• Before Qin An leaves, the Chief Prefecture Head warns him that the Dragon Palace is caught in a succession struggle. The Old Dragon King’s nine children are competing to become crown prince.
• The Third Dragon Princess, whom Qin An once saved, is the weakest because someone crippled her strength. She has limited influence and resources, and helping her could bring Qin An trouble.
• Qin An remains calm and decides to proceed. That night, he plans to advance his Scholar Profession, exchange Merits for Demon Souls, reach the Shattered Void Realm, and then explore the wider world.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Yi recognizes Qin An’s extraordinary potential and feels their paths are likely to diverge, despite his own current superiority.
• Qin An is direct, ambitious, and practical. He listens to the political warning about the Dragon Palace without becoming dependent on its support; he intends to rely on connections only if necessary.
• The Chief Prefecture Head acts as both adviser and guardian of the prefecture’s stability. He is surprised by Qin An’s confidence about advancing, and openly shares what he can about the Dragon Palace.
• Their conversation shows mutual respect: Qin An asks focused questions, while the Chief Prefecture Head provides candid guidance but withholds information about the higher powers.

Significant themes

• Potential and changing power: Present strength matters less than the future Qin An may reach.
• Ambition and self-reliance: Qin An treats leaving the prefecture as a personal goal and prefers to build his own strength rather than depend on patrons.
• Power and succession: The Dragon Palace’s outward calm conceals a fierce struggle over inheritance and influence.
• Peace and responsibility: With the major threats defeated, the prefecture must now preserve stability by carefully overseeing its factions.

Key plot points

• Xunyang Prefecture is enjoying the peaceful life Jin Fengyu and Green Luo fought to secure. Walking incognito through the streets, they reflect on how strange it feels to have achieved their long-standing goal.
• Green Luo credits the peace chiefly to Qin An. Jin Fengyu agrees that Qin An was decisive, but insists that the sacrifices of their comrades—and their own efforts—must not be forgotten.
• Jin Fengyu reveals that Qin An has just emerged from the Confidential Archives. With no enemies left in the prefecture, he suspects Qin An is preparing to attempt a major breakthrough. The pair choose not to interrupt him, instead lingering to remember the peaceful scene.
• Qin An reaches Scholar level 17, bringing all his Scholar Talents to Unity Realm Perfection. Though he could train further, he decides not to wait: the threat from above, and the possibility that others may change their minds, make reaching the city above urgent.
• He studies the supplementary Essence-Unification Mind Method, masters it almost instantly, and tries to merge it with his Nine-Turn Bodhi Golden Dragon Art. His first attempt fails for lack of Talent.
• Qin An uses the more than a thousand Demon Souls he acquired with his accumulated Merits to support another attempt. The system’s text describes him burning Blood Essence to force the fusion. He gets close but falls just short, and chooses to burn more.

Character developments and interactions

• Jin Fengyu and Green Luo show a relaxed, teasing intimacy as they stroll in plain clothes. Their conversation also reveals their different views of credit: Jin Fengyu emphasizes shared sacrifice, while Green Luo resists measuring their contributions against Qin An’s.
• Qin An is focused, impatient, and willing to risk his Vital Blood to break through. The possibility of future political or personal shifts weighs on him more than the comfort of waiting for further advancement.
• The watching officers respect Qin An’s importance and deliberately leave him undisturbed. Jin Fengyu and Green Luo likewise choose not to seek him out.

Significant themes

• Peace and sacrifice: The calm of Xunyang Prefecture is the hard-won result of many people’s efforts and losses.
• Recognition and comparison: Jin Fengyu argues that Qin An’s achievements should not erase the contributions of others; Green Luo suggests comparison can become painful.
• Urgency and risk: Qin An’s fear that circumstances may change drives him toward a dangerous breakthrough rather than a safer, slower path.
• Private life amid public power: The leaders’ ordinary pleasures—candied hawthorn, rouge, and a peaceful walk—contrast with their fearsome reputations and past violence.

Chapter Summary: “Before Departure”

• Qin An breaks through to the Shattered Void Realm. After burning nearly all the Demon Souls he had collected, Qin An finally fuses his two Mind Methods into the Nine-Turn Bodhi Golden Essence Art. The breakthrough merges his True Essence and Divine Consciousness into Void Essence, vastly more powerful than True Essence. He realizes he can now defeat Unity Realm opponents with a single strike.
• Xunyang Prefecture prepares for a transition. While Qin An advances, Chief Prefecture Head Chen Liuyun receives reports that the remaining Demons and False Gods have been eliminated or driven out. The Martial World factions, shaken by the recent battles and the Evil Extermination Division’s crackdowns, are seeking friendly ties. Chen’s measures aim to keep the prefecture stable after he leaves; Jin Fengyu is set to become acting Chief Prefecture Head.
• Qin An announces his departure plans. He visits Chen and reveals that he has reached the Shattered Void Realm. The Golden Prefecture Generals are awed by his rapid progress and defer to him. Qin asks how to proceed to the higher authorities, and Chen explains that he must wait for official orders, expected in about three days.
• Chen and Qin establish a more equal relationship. Chen offers to travel with Qin and introduces himself by name, inviting Qin to call him “Brother Chen.” Since both will hold posts under the higher authorities, he considers them peers. Chen privately recognizes Qin’s extraordinary potential and hopes to build a friendship with him.
• Qin plans to say goodbye. With three days before departure, Qin decides to spend the time reconnecting with friends—including Zhou Yuanfeng, Jin Fengyu, Liu Yi, and Green Luo—rather than continuing to train. The chapter ends with a large group of Mountain Patrol and Prefecture Generals gathered outside the Evil Extermination Division.

Character Development and Themes

Qin’s breakthrough marks his transition from a formidable local figure to a Shattered Void expert poised for service at a higher level. His calm confidence contrasts with the awe his achievement inspires. Chen Liuyun shifts from superior to prospective colleague, responding pragmatically to Qin’s rapid rise.
The chapter emphasizes ambition and advancement, the loyalty and friendships that accompany change, and the effort to preserve order amid wider turmoil. Xunyang Prefecture’s apparent calm is fragile, so both its administrative preparations and Qin’s departure carry a sense of transition.

Key events

• As Chen Liuyun and Qin An prepare to leave Xunyang Prefecture, local officials and Mountain Patrol Generals gather to see them off. Chen initially urges everyone back to work, but agrees to let them accompany the pair to the city gate.
• Liu Yi promises Qin An she will someday leave Xunyang and find him. Zhou Yuanfeng praises Qin as the prefecture’s hero; Qin modestly says he was simply doing his duty.
• Tang Zizhen apologizes for having misjudged Qin. He refuses to accept the apology, citing her own sacrifices for the people. Her resentment gives way to respect.
• Qin entrusts Xunyang’s future to those remaining. He and Chen depart for Skycloud Circuit, the prosperous city above the prefecture, hoping to see what lies beyond their familiar world.
• During their rain-soaked approach, they spot three men pursuing two badly wounded women in white. The chapter ends as they rein in to confront the unexpected scene.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An reveals that, despite his aloof manner, he has earned broad loyalty through his actions. He values freedom and discovery over rank, and looks forward to a wider journey.
• Chen Liuyun is moved by the farewell and recognizes the respect Qin has won. He admits he might have made Qin Chief Prefecture Head had Qin been willing to stay.
• Liu Yi expresses her ambition to follow Qin into the wider world; Qin encourages her and promises to wait.
• Tang Zizhen acknowledges her past mistake and makes peace with Qin.
• The officials and generals show their gratitude and affection for both departing men, while Qin and Chen leave them with mutual respect and good wishes.

Significant themes

• Duty versus freedom: Qin has served faithfully but refuses a leadership post that would bind him.
• Respect earned through action: Qin’s humility contrasts with the loyalty and admiration his deeds have inspired.
• Parting and aspiration: The farewell closes one chapter of the characters’ lives while Liu Yi and Qin look toward future horizons.
• Human complexity: Chen observes that every place contains both honest and dishonest people, and Qin’s departure reflects genuine bonds amid political intrigue.

Key plot points and events

• On a rainy night along the Imperial Road, Qin An and Chen Liuyun encounter two wounded women fighting three men. Chen advises against intervening, and Qin agrees that the Martial World is too dangerous and tangled to involve themselves in.
• The women deliberately draw the travelers toward the fight, hoping to use them as a distraction. Qin warns that he will kill anyone who comes closer, and the group stops, wary of his killing intent and Chen’s strength.
• The taller woman traps everyone with the Spirit Cloud Sword, a legendary weapon that divides into many flying blades. Chen identifies her as a survivor of the disgraced Spirit Sword Sect, once a major faction that colluded with demons and False Gods.
• The pursuers’ leader, Wu Rang, says he belongs to the respectable First Cloud Sect and claims the women killed his fellow disciples and stole their resources. The taller woman threatens to use the sword despite its cost to her lifespan.
• Before the fight resumes, Qin suddenly kills the shorter woman, then attacks the taller one. He breaks the Spirit Cloud Sword’s wooden blade with his powerful Three-Blade Fusion technique and kills its wielder.
• The sword’s barrier collapses. Wu Rang thanks Qin, but remains shaken by how formidable he is despite his relatively low realm.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains pragmatic and initially refuses to risk entanglement in others’ conflicts. When the women threaten him and Chen, however, he responds decisively and reveals the gap between his apparent cultivation level and his actual combat power.
• Chen Liuyun acts as Qin’s guide to the Skycloud Circuit, explaining its brutal environment, the factions, and the Spirit Cloud Sword. He supports Qin’s firm boundary without provoking the group himself.
• The taller woman shifts from desperate survival to open hostility, trying to force the travelers into the conflict. She dies after Qin overcomes her weapon.
• The shorter woman is killed by Qin before she can act, ending the sisters’ attempt to use the travelers as leverage.
• Wu Rang begins politely and respectfully, but Qin’s effortless violence leaves him frightened and humbled.

Significant themes

• Survival and moral detachment: In a violent world, neither Qin nor Chen believes they can save everyone; involvement can create further danger.
• Power beyond appearances: Qin’s Initial Proficiency does not reflect his true threat, while the Spirit Cloud Sword’s reputation also proves insufficient against him.
• Distrust and self-preservation: The women’s attempt to drag outsiders into their fight demonstrates how desperation turns others into tools.
• The dangers of factional conflict: The encounter hints at the Skycloud Circuit’s complicated history and competing groups, making even a chance meeting politically risky.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An and Chen Liuyun defeat their attackers on the rain-soaked Imperial Road. Qin An’s power at the Initial Proficiency stage of the Shattered Void Realm leaves Wu Rang and the other First Cloud Sect disciples shaken.
• Chen Liuyun retrieves the Spirit Cloud Sword and gives it to Qin An. The sword contains more than ten thousand formations, but Qin An cannot use it yet, so he keeps it for future use.
• Wu Rang tries to learn the travelers’ names, but they ride away without answering. One disciple recognizes the Evil Extermination Division’s mark on their horses and suspects Qin An may be the man recently credited with ending the demonic crisis in Xunyang Prefecture. Wu Rang decides that their identity does not matter and takes the bodies back to the sect.
• Qin An and Chen Liuyun reach the imposing city of Skycloud Circuit. After presenting a sealed letter at the gates, they pass through its crowded streets and enter the restricted compound of the Evil Extermination Division.
• Chen Liuyun brings Qin An to meet Lord Li. Li Moyun is tending flowers in an elegant courtyard when they arrive, and greets Qin An as though he has been expecting him.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains focused on reaching Skycloud Circuit, treating the road fight as a minor interruption. He is impressed by the city and its bustling ordinary life, and curious about Li Moyun’s identity.
• Chen Liuyun acts as Qin An’s guide, handles the formalities with his sealed letter, and leads him through the Division to meet Lord Li.
• Wu Rang shifts from respectful curiosity about the two strangers to accepting that they may be powerful Evil Extermination Division members. He chooses to prioritize reporting his mission over pursuing their identities.
• Li Moyun is introduced as calm and cultivated, quietly tending flowers. His welcoming greeting hints that the meeting with Qin An is important.
• The brief encounter with Wu Rang underscores the contrast between the travelers’ indifference to status and the sect disciples’ eagerness to build connections with powerful figures.

Significant themes

• Power and status: Qin An’s strength is extraordinary, while Skycloud Circuit’s soldiers and Division members reveal how much more powerful this center is than Xunyang Prefecture.
• Duty and violence: The Evil Extermination Division’s forbidding grounds and motto emphasize a life devoted to fighting demons and preserving peace.
• Ordinary life amid danger: Qin An finds warmth in the city’s bustling streets, a contrast to the violence and killing associated with his work.
• Mystery and anticipation: The Spirit Cloud Sword’s unknown purpose and the impending conversation with Li Moyun set up questions about what lies ahead.

Concise Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• In a carefully maintained courtyard, Gold Circuit Marshal Li Moyun sends Chen Liuyun away so he can speak privately with Qin An.
• Li Moyun explains the Skycloud Circuit’s Evil Extermination Division. Circuit Marshals handle affairs both inside the circuit and in the surrounding wilderness, while Mountain Patrol Marshals focus on the Ancient Battlefield Ruins.
• The ruins are vast and contain major resources, drawing powerful human, demonic, and False God factions. Their main bases are concentrated there, and the Mountain Patrol Marshals take assignments and monitor those forces.
• Qin An presses Li Moyun about his true identity. Li reveals that he serves the Third Prince of Da Gan as an informant within the division. Another of the prince’s agents oversees the ruins; the First and Second Princes also have people in the circuit.
• Li Moyun warns Qin An not to probe too deeply into the princes’ political networks. He says he paid attention to Qin only after seeing his exceptional talent and resolve.
• Qin An learns that he will enter the division as a Bronze Dao Marshal, serve under Li Moyun, and choose whether to work within the division or take assignments farther afield. Li stresses that Qin must not treat him as a patron and will ultimately have to rely on himself.
• Qin An reports to Internal Affairs, receives his black uniform, token, and assigned lodging, and plans to rest before taking an assignment. As he leaves the Confidential Archives, another Bronze Dao Marshal approaches him.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An asks direct, practical questions, showing both curiosity about his new post and caution about political entanglements. He accepts his low starting rank and Li Moyun’s limits without resentment.
• Li Moyun presents himself as a calm, cultivated official, but reveals that he is also a political operative. He admires Qin An’s intelligence and strength, while making clear that his help is not ongoing.
• Chen Liuyun recognizes Li Moyun’s need for privacy and leaves promptly, demonstrating political tact and respect for Li’s authority.
• The conversation between Qin An and Li Moyun is frank but carefully bounded: Li explains the organization, discloses what he is willing to reveal, and warns Qin against asking questions that could endanger him.

Significant themes

• Power and self-reliance: Qin An must prove his worth in a harsh institution rather than depend on influential allies.
• Political maneuvering: The princes are quietly building networks of influence, and even official appointments intersect with court politics.
• Knowledge and caution: Understanding the division is essential, but probing sensitive matters too far can invite danger.
• Order amid conflict: Li’s gardening reflects his belief that calm and discipline can temper the violence surrounding the Evil Extermination Division.

Plot points and events

• Qin An, newly arrived at the Skycloud Circuit’s Evil Extermination Division, is confronted by Zhao Yang, a veteran Bronze Dao Marshal acting on orders from a higher-ranking official.
• Zhao Yang demands that Qin An accompany him to meet his superior. Qin An refuses, saying he answers to Lord Li Moyun and will not obey another faction’s summons unless they approach Li Moyun first.
• When Zhao Yang tries to seize him by force, Qin An defeats him with a single exchange, breaking Zhao’s hand despite Zhao’s higher cultivation level.
• Qin An then pins Zhao down and deliberately crushes his remaining limbs, warning that political connections cannot protect someone who provokes him. Zhao finally begs him to stop.
• The watching Bronze Dao Marshals are shocked by both Qin An’s strength and his willingness to injure Zhao inside the Division.
• Zhao calls for help. Lord Yang, a black-clad official with a Silver Token, arrives and confronts Qin An, accusing him of gravely injuring a colleague. The chapter ends before Qin An responds.

Character developments

• Qin An establishes himself as fiercely independent, confident in his abilities, and unwilling to be intimidated by rank or political pressure. His calm manner contrasts with the brutality of his actions.
• Zhao Yang shifts from smug, authoritative bully to frightened and humiliated victim after discovering that Qin An vastly outmatches him.
• The onlookers move from amusement and anticipation to awe and caution as Qin An overturns their assumptions about him.

Significant themes

• Strength versus status: Qin An’s superior foundation and combat ability outweigh Zhao Yang’s seniority and official authority.
• Political allegiance and factional conflict: Qin An refuses to be drawn into the local faction’s demands, asserting his ties to Li Moyun.
• Power and intimidation: Zhao Yang relies on backing from above, while Qin An argues that connections do not guarantee safety when someone has the strength to resist.
• Reputation and reversal: The spectators’ expectations collapse as the apparent underdog decisively dominates the supposed veteran.

Character interactions

• Qin An and Zhao Yang clash over whether Qin An must obey an order from an unnamed superior; their verbal dispute escalates into violence when Zhao attempts to force compliance.
• Qin An uses Zhao’s pleas and pain to make his warning unmistakable, while Zhao’s repeated threats give way to desperate submission.
• The surrounding marshals observe without intervening, then reconsider Qin An after witnessing the fight.
• Zhao appeals to Lord Yang for protection, setting up a new confrontation between Qin An and a higher-ranking official.

Key plot points and events

• At the Evil Extermination Division, Silver Dao Marshal Yang Tian confronts Qin An for injuring Zhao Yang and attacks him. Qin An meets Yang’s first blow with his blade and a powerful secret technique, surprising the onlookers.
• As Yang Tian prepares a much stronger strike, Zhu Xueshuang arrives and blocks him with her spear. She argues that Qin An violated no Division orders and that Zhao Yang was the aggressor. Yang backs down, but warns Qin An that their conflict is not over.
• Zhu dismisses the watching Bronze Dao Marshals, confirms Qin An will serve under her, and advises him to learn the Division’s duties and build strength. She mentions an upcoming operation that could earn him substantial merits. Qin returns to his new quarters and plans to take a mission the next day.
• The scene shifts to an underwater Dragon Palace. The Third Dragon Princess and Long Tianxing arrive, surprising the guards, who had believed she might never return. They learn that her Ninth Highness brother has taken over her palace in her absence, suggesting an imminent confrontation. The chapter ends as the princess approaches a hall where laughter is coming from inside.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An shows composure and considerable strength, but recognizes that he cannot safely challenge every superior without support. He remains independent and uninterested in flattering Zhu Xueshuang.
• Zhu Xueshuang is stern and aloof but fiercely protective of her subordinates. She openly challenges Yang Tian’s abuse of rank and offers Qin An practical guidance.
• Yang Tian is humiliated by Qin An’s resistance and Zhu’s intervention. Though he retreats, his threat signals continuing hostility.
• The Third Dragon Princess returns with Long Tianxing after a presumed disaster and appears poised to reclaim her position. The guards’ fearful reaction underscores her former standing and the danger her brother may face.

Significant themes

• Rank versus justice: Zhu challenges the idea that authority gives Yang the right to punish a subordinate arbitrarily.
• Strength and independence: Qin An believes genuine power matters more than ingratiation, while his encounter shows the limits of strength without allies.
• Loyalty and protection: Zhu’s defense of Qin An establishes her as a commander who stands by her people.
• Return and impending conflict: The princess’s reappearance disrupts the Dragon Palace’s new order and foreshadows a struggle over power and ownership.

Key plot points and events

• The Third Dragon Princess returns to her side palace with Long Tianxing and discovers that her younger half-brother, Ninth Prince Long Jiu, has turned it into a debauched pleasure den.
• Long Jiu initially defies her, relying on his strength and her recent loss of power. The Princess summons her Dragon Guards; their superior authority—and the hesitation of Long Jiu’s guards—forces him to back down. She orders him out and demands he clean the palace by the next day.
• The Dragon King summons the Princess. After speaking with him through the night, she tells Long Tianxing that the Dragon Crown Prince will be selected within six months, based on achievements.
• Having fallen behind during her absence, she plans to build her standing by securing Qin An’s ongoing pill production for the Dragon Palace. The Dragon Palace will pay for materials and offer him less than the Alchemist Alliance, while giving him other benefits. The Dragon King has approved the plan.
• Long Tianxing agrees to approach Qin An, though he warns that Qin An may refuse because the arrangement could antagonize the Alchemist Alliance.

Character developments and interactions

• Third Dragon Princess: Her authority remains formidable despite her reduced strength. She handles Long Jiu’s provocation decisively, then shifts her focus to rebuilding her political position and competing for the crown-prince succession.
• Long Jiu: His arrogance gives way when he realizes his guards will not challenge the Princess’s authority. He apologizes and leaves, though resentment remains.
• Long Tianxing: He stays cautious during the family confrontation, then accepts the Dragon Palace’s mission despite recognizing the risks. He also reflects on the limited resources available to collateral-branch members and the importance of effort.
• The Dragon King: Though absent from the confrontation, his favor and approval shape events: his backing reinforces the Princess’s power and authorizes her plan.

Significant themes

• Power and legitimacy: Strength matters, but royal favor and command authority can outweigh individual force.
• Family rivalry and succession: The Princess and Long Jiu’s conflict reflects the larger contest for influence within the Dragon Palace.
• Ambition and recovery: The Princess must make up for lost time by producing visible achievements.
• Unequal opportunity and agency: Long Tianxing recognizes the advantages of royal birth but emphasizes persistence; the Princess’s plan also offers potential benefits to his collateral branch.
• Political trade-offs: Recruiting Qin An could save the Dragon Palace resources but risks conflict with the Alchemist Alliance.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• The morning after arriving in the Skycloud Circuit, Qin An visits the Confidential Archives to accept a mission. He chooses a nearby but unusually difficult assignment: investigate a mountain where a subordinate faction and the villages under its protection were massacred.
• Qin An accepts the risk for the substantial Merits the mission offers, which would let him focus on advancing his Butcher and Blacksmith professions. He also keeps his Death Substitution Needle as a last-resort escape tool.
• At the mountain, he searches an abandoned village but finds no clues among the bloodstained, empty houses.
• He detects a hidden presence underground and intercepts a bulky, six-armed demon. When questioned, the demon proclaims loyalty to the “Gu King” and triggers a self-destructive attack, releasing a swarm of insects. Qin An destroys the swarm, but the demon’s body and Demon Soul disappear.
• Suspecting the ruined sect higher on the mountain may offer answers, Qin An heads there. The chapter ends as he enters the sect’s wrecked compound.

Character developments

• Qin An shows himself to be deliberate and goal-oriented: he weighs the danger of the mission but judges its rewards worth pursuing.
• He is confident in his abilities and resourceful, relying on his strength while retaining the Death Substitution Needle as a contingency.
• In combat, he stays calm and decisive, quickly adapting when the demon’s body begins to crack and eliminating the ensuing swarm.

Significant themes

• Risk and reward: Qin An knowingly takes a dangerous mission because its Merits could accelerate his growth.
• Isolation and ambition: The Skycloud Circuit feels colder and less welcoming than Qin An’s former home; he accepts that distance because advancement is his priority.
• Mystery and fanaticism: The demon’s devotion to the Gu King and its self-destruction hint at a larger, unfamiliar threat.
• Practical resilience: Qin An balances confidence with preparation, treating an escape tool as insurance rather than relying on it outright.

Character interactions

• Qin An and the archive clerk: The clerk warns that the mission is unusually dangerous, especially for a newcomer. Qin An acknowledges the warning but proceeds, leaving the clerk convinced he is reckless.
• Qin An and the demon: Qin An attempts to interrogate the demon after pinning it down. The demon refuses to cooperate, instead proclaiming loyalty to the Gu King and attacking in a final act of self-destruction.
• Qin An and the Evil Extermination Division: His mission is formally assigned through the division’s centralized system; because he serves under Zhu Xueshuang, a small portion of his Merits will go to her.

Key plot points

• Qin An searches the ruined Mysterious Armor Sect for traces of the demons or False Gods that destroyed it, but initially finds only lingering killing intent.
• With no clues, he decides to return to the Evil Extermination Division and investigate the Gu King in its archives. Before he can leave, he senses someone watching him and quickly captures a fleeing man.
• The man, Zhu Ming, identifies himself as a surviving Mysterious Armor Sect disciple. He says the Gu Sect—whose members are insect demons—massacred the sect and many villages. Its leader, the Gu King, is a sentient Golden Silkworm whose gu poison overcame the Mysterious Armor Sect’s famed defenses.
• Zhu Ming also reveals that a Bronze Dao Marshal from the Evil Extermination Division was at the sect during the attack, then vanished. He suspects the officer may have been involved, which explains why he feared Qin An.
• Zhu Ming knows the Gu Sect’s location because the Mysterious Armor Sect’s leader marked the Gu King with the sect’s Black Armor Tracking Art. Qin An orders him to lead the way, intending to confront the Gu King.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains pragmatic and self-assured. He prefers direct action over investigation, but pursues Zhu Ming because the man’s fear suggests he has useful information. Though he recognizes the possible corruption within the Evil Extermination Division, he postpones that question to focus on the Gu Sect.
• Zhu Ming shifts from panic and suspicion to cautious resolve. He wants justice for his sect but fears Qin An may be connected to the missing officer. Under pressure, he shares the full story and agrees to guide Qin An.
• Their interaction is tense and unequal: Qin An uses threats to compel Zhu Ming to speak and lead him, while Zhu Ming’s testimony gives Qin An a new target and raises the possibility of a conspiracy within the Division.

Significant themes

• Justice versus distrust: Zhu Ming seeks official help but suspects the authorities may be compromised.
• Vulnerability beneath strength: The Mysterious Armor Sect’s exceptional defense proves useless against specialized poison.
• Corruption and complicity: The missing officer suggests that demons may have allies within the institution meant to fight them.
• Confidence and risk: Qin An’s faith in his own abilities drives him toward a dangerous enemy despite warnings about its numbers and poisons.

Plot points

• Lord Li, a bronze-ranked Evil Extermination Division commander, meets with the Gu King after they jointly destroy the Mysterious Armor Sect. The Gu Sect gets the cultivators’ bodies; Lord Li takes the sect’s treasures to sell through the Black Market.
• Lord Li warns the Gu King to hide because investigators may come. Their conversation is interrupted by news that Qin An and Zhu Ming—a survivor of the sect—are approaching.
• Fearing exposure, Lord Li and the Gu King decide to ambush and kill them, then conceal the truth.
• Qin An enters the valley with Zhu Ming, correctly recognizing that the apparently empty valley is a trap. A swarm of powerful insect demons emerges.
• Qin An cuts down the attackers with Cold Star, demonstrating overwhelming skill. The Gu King confronts him, but is shocked when Qin An withstands his strike despite being at only Initial Proficiency in the Shattered Void Realm.
• As Qin An presses his attack, the Gu King calls for Li Gan’s help. Li Gan emerges and attacks Qin An from behind; Qin An prepares to face both men.

Character developments

• Qin An is calm, perceptive, and devastatingly capable. He sees through the ambush before it springs and dispatches the insect demons with ease. His power appears to exceed what his realm ranking suggests.
• Zhu Ming, still shaken by the sect’s destruction, places hope in Qin An and witnesses his strength firsthand. Qin An’s performance leaves a lasting impression on him.
• Lord Li/Li Gan is revealed as a corrupt opportunist who has secretly partnered with the Gu Sect for personal advancement. When threatened with exposure, he quickly turns to murder.
• The Gu King is ruthless and confident in his alliance with Li Gan, but Qin An’s strength unnerves him.

Significant themes

• Corruption and complicity: Lord Li abuses his authority, turning the suppression of evil into a cover for plunder and advancement.
• Betrayal and concealed crimes: The partnership benefits both villains, but depends on silencing anyone who might reveal it.
• Justice and vengeance: Zhu Ming’s hope that the Mysterious Armor Sect’s destruction will be avenged contrasts with the villains’ efforts to bury the truth.
• Power beyond appearances: Qin An’s modest cultivation rank misleads the Gu King about the danger he poses.

Character interactions

• Lord Li and the Gu King maintain a mutually beneficial but morally vile partnership, each understanding the other’s motives.
• Lord Li angrily confronts the Gu King when he learns a sect survivor escaped, then joins him in planning the ambush.
• Zhu Ming follows Qin An with fear and admiration, trusting him to pursue justice.
• Qin An calmly exposes the demons’ hiding place, then battles the Gu King before Li Gan intervenes.

Plot points and events

• Zhu Ming faces more than a hundred Unity Realm insect demons and expects to die, but Qin An charges into them and kills over half with Cold Star.
• The Gu King attacks Qin An, who holds his own. Li Gan then joins in with Void-Essence-controlled throwing knives, briefly making Zhu Ming fear Qin An is outmatched.
• Li Gan offers Qin An a place in a corrupt alliance with the Gu Sect: they would exploit the chaos to seize resources while avoiding dangerous assignments. Qin An rejects the offer and declares Li Gan as good as dead.
• Li Gan and the Gu King attack together. Qin An evades their combined assault, kills the Gu King with Cold Star, and absorbs his Demon Spirit.
• Qin An shatters Li Gan’s knives with a Blood-and-Qi-powered technique, leaving Li Gan injured and helpless. Li Gan begs for his life, offering his possessions and Black Market resources in exchange for serving as Qin An’s informant.
• Qin An recognizes that Li Gan has been laundering stolen resources through the Black Market, but kills him rather than trust his promises. He takes and absorbs Li Gan’s Demon Spirit.
• With the two leaders dead, Qin An turns his attention to the remaining insect demons.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An is revealed as overwhelmingly capable: he fights multiple powerful opponents while managing the surrounding demons, and remains calm throughout. His refusal to join the corrupt scheme—and his decision to kill Li Gan despite the promised wealth—show his distrust, pragmatism, and commitment to eliminating future threats.
• Zhu Ming swings between terror and hope as Qin An repeatedly defies his expectations. He begins ready to risk his life to help Qin An, but is left stunned by Qin An’s victories.
• Li Gan shifts from confident recruiter to defeated, desperate survivor. His proposal exposes his greed and complicity in exploiting the Sect Factions, while his bargaining reveals that he values survival above loyalty or status.
• The Gu King wants Qin An dead and urges Li Gan to abandon recruitment. He fights alongside Li Gan but is killed before he can respond to Qin An’s strength.
• The confrontation between Qin An and Li Gan centers on a rejected bargain: Li Gan offers wealth and influence, but Qin An chooses certainty and safety over cooperation.

Significant themes

• Integrity versus corruption: Qin An refuses to profit from the Gu Sect’s exploitation, while Li Gan treats other people’s lives and resources as acceptable costs.
• Trust and self-preservation: Li Gan’s promises cannot overcome Qin An’s suspicion; Qin An sees eliminating a dangerous accomplice as safer than accepting uncertain rewards.
• Power and reversal: Zhu Ming repeatedly assumes Qin An is doomed, only to witness him turn seemingly impossible odds into decisive victories.
• The cost of complicity: Li Gan’s alliance with the Gu Sect and his role in laundering stolen resources ultimately make him a target Qin An will not spare.

Key plot points and events

• Qin An wipes out the remaining Insect Demons in the valley, avenging the Mysterious Armor Sect. He collects their Demon Souls, bringing his total to the equivalent of three Demon Spirits.
• Zhu Ming thanks Qin An, kneeling and swearing loyalty out of gratitude. Qin An says the revenge was simply part of his Evil Extermination Division assignment, warns Zhu Ming to stay cautious, and leaves. Zhu Ming believes their paths will not cross again, but remembers Qin An as a fearsome, almost godlike figure.
• Qin An returns to Skycloud Circuit and reports the completed assignment. The Circuit Clerk is astonished that he succeeded, though Qin An’s report draws little notice from the other Bronze Dao Marshals. He receives his Merits and plans to use them and his Demon Souls to advance his professions and Blade Technique.
• Later, Zhu Xueshuang visits Qin An. She explains that the assignment exposed a connection between the traitorous Li Gan and Skycloud Circuit’s Black Market.
• Zhu Xueshuang cannot target the Black Market as a whole: it was jointly established by human, demon, and False God factions, as well as members of the Evil Extermination Division, making any broad action politically dangerous.
• She offers Qin An an official assignment, giving him first chance before posting it publicly: investigate which faction accepted goods from a traitor to the Division.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An demonstrates overwhelming combat skill and a practical, efficiency-minded attitude. He accepts Zhu Ming’s gratitude without claiming personal credit, then turns immediately to collecting rewards and planning his advancement.
• Zhu Ming finds emotional closure after witnessing the revenge he could never have achieved himself. His gratitude toward Qin An is profound, though he expects their lives to diverge.
• Zhu Xueshuang shows that she has been monitoring Qin An because of his unusual background and reputation. She is candid about her motives and, satisfied with his work, offers him a place working under her.
• Qin An and Zhu Xueshuang speak directly and pragmatically. He welcomes her openness, while she tests his judgment by explaining the Black Market’s political complexity before presenting the new assignment.

Significant themes

• Justice and vengeance: Qin An’s official work delivers the revenge Zhu Ming longed for, raising the distinction between personal vengeance and duty.
• Power and gratitude: Qin An’s strength makes him a decisive force in others’ lives, while Zhu Ming’s reaction shows how profoundly such power can affect witnesses.
• Law versus political reality: The Black Market is technically lawless yet protected by the cooperation of powerful factions, limiting the Division’s ability to act openly.
• Ambition and advancement: Qin An treats assignments as both service and a means to gain Merits and resources, steadily planning his rise.
• Trust and candor: Zhu Xueshuang’s straightforwardness earns Qin An’s respect and sets the stage for their cooperation.

Plot points and events

• Silver Dao Marshal Zhu Xueshuang explains that Qin An is being recruited for a future operation against a Black Market faction that accepted stolen goods from an Evil Extermination Division traitor. The Division tolerates the Black Market but will punish violations of its rules. The operation will involve others and is not yet starting.
• Zhu urges Qin An to strengthen himself before the major task arrives. He agrees to take part, then focuses on training: he spends the day slaughtering livestock to improve his Butcher Profession and plans to advance his other Cultivation Methods.
• Long Tianxing visits Qin An and proposes a deal on behalf of the Dragon Palace’s Third Princess. The Palace wants to replace the costly Alchemist Alliance as its supplier of Compound Pills, with Qin An refining pills from materials the Palace provides.
• Long warns that the Alchemist Alliance may retaliate, especially its narrow-minded Pill King, Zhang Tianyi. Qin An accepts the possibility of risk but negotiates for better terms: 500 pills per Demon Spirit rather than the proposed 1,000. Long says this is still more favorable than the Alliance’s rate and will take the offer back for approval.
• The chapter ends with Long returning to the Dragon Palace, where the Third Princess is cultivating to recover strength after being targeted in a plot.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An remains pragmatic and ambitious. He asks for clarity before accepting assignments, prioritizes strengthening himself, and treats the pill arrangement as a negotiation rather than a favor. He is willing to risk conflict if the rewards justify it.
• Zhu Xueshuang shows interest in Qin An’s unusual, unflattering manner, though she doubts character alone can help him rise without strength. She gives him a serious future assignment and urges him to prepare.
• Long Tianxing shifts from addressing Qin An as a senior to treating him as an equal after Qin reaches the Shattered Void Realm. He is candid about the danger of the proposed deal and acts as an intermediary for the Third Princess.
• The Third Dragon Princess is introduced indirectly as ambitious and determined: she seeks Merits by replacing the Alchemist Alliance, while steadily recovering from her weakened state.

Significant themes

• Power and advancement: Qin An sees strength, cultivation, and resources as things that must be actively pursued.
• Risk versus reward: He weighs potential retaliation against the gains from the Dragon Palace contract.
• Authority and rules: The Evil Extermination Division permits the Black Market to operate but insists that its rules remain binding.
• Competition and self-interest: The Dragon Palace’s supply deal is tied to the Princess’s political ambitions, while Qin An’s response is guided by fair compensation and opportunity.

Key plot points

• The Third Dragon Princess accepts Qin An’s offer to exchange 500 pills for one Demon Spirit, a better rate than the Alchemist Alliance’s. The Dragon Palace supplies an alchemy furnace and materials, and arranges a discreet shop where Qin An can work.
• While waiting for the shop to open, Qin An continues training his Butcher Profession.
• The Alchemist Alliance learns that the Dragon Palace has ended its business with them. Pill King Zhang Tianyi is furious at the proposed price and refuses to compromise, while the Alliance Master suspects the Dragon Palace has found another supplier and orders an investigation.
• Qin An begins refining pills at the new shop, producing a thousand in one session. The Dragon Demon overseeing him confirms that their quality matches Zhang Tianyi’s. Qin An asks that his role remain secret.
• After several days of refining and butcher training, Qin An leaves the shop and returns to the Evil Extermination Division. As he closes his door, lines of Smoke appear before him.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin An proves efficient and practical: he agrees to the Dragon Palace’s arrangement, produces the pills easily, and prefers to avoid unnecessary conflict by keeping his involvement quiet. The work also supports his longer-term goal of advancing his cultivation methods.
• The Third Dragon Princess shows satisfaction with the favorable deal and takes the lead in organizing the Dragon Palace’s supply plan. Her confidence in Qin An is reflected in the Dragon Demon’s belief that he is dependable.
• Zhang Tianyi is skilled but proud and protective of his exclusive refining technique. He treats the Dragon Palace’s offer as an insult and vows not to work with them.
• The Alliance Master is more strategic than Zhang: despite disliking Zhang’s arrogance, he placates him because the Alliance depends on his unique skill, and investigates who is supplying the Dragon Palace.
• Long Tianxing serves as the go-between, carrying the Dragon Palace’s decision and equipment to Qin An.

Significant themes

• Power and leverage: The Dragon Palace’s ability to switch suppliers challenges the Alchemist Alliance’s control of pill trade.
• Skill versus arrogance: Qin An’s quiet, effective work contrasts with Zhang Tianyi’s pride and belief that no one can match him.
• Pragmatism and secrecy: Qin An seeks a mutually useful arrangement while avoiding attention that could invite conflict.
• Progress through routine: Pill-making and butcher training both serve Qin An’s steady pursuit of cultivation advancement.