Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong tames a white tiger and uses it as transportation, covering around 200 li in three days.
• He encounters three martial artists, one at blood aura and two at internal force, who claim to be from the Judge's Office.
• They lead him to a valley where he sees a human skin hanging from a tree, belonging to the Skinning Cult.
• The three men reveal they are from the Skinning Cult, not the Judge's Office, and plan to capture Zhao Hong for his skin.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong demonstrates his ability to tame and ride a powerful white tiger, showcasing his courage and adaptability.
• He remains vigilant and cautious when encountering the three martial artists, revealing his wisdom and prudence.
• The three men from the Skinning Cult display their cruelty and deceitfulness, enjoying Zhao Hong's shock and fear.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Trust: The Skinning Cult members deceive Zhao Hong, exploiting his trust in the Judge's Office to lead him into a trap.
• Power and Vulnerability: Despite Zhao Hong's newfound ability to ride a white tiger, he is still vulnerable when faced with stronger opponents, highlighting the importance of cultivation level in this world.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong interacts with the white tiger, showing kindness and understanding, which leads to the tiger's loyalty and obedience.
• He encounters the three martial artists, initially believing them to be from the Judge's Office, but their true intentions are revealed to be malicious.
• The Skinning Cult members interact with each other, displaying their cruel and sadistic nature, finding amusement in Zhao Hong's distress.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong encounters three men who want to skin him alive for their lord, who only collects human skin.
• Zhao Hong provokes the leading young man into attacking, revealing his true strength in a single, powerful strike.
• He defeats all three men, severely injuring the young man and leaving him at Zhao Hong's mercy.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong: Demonstrates immense physical strength and strategic thinking, proving himself a formidable opponent despite his youth and initial appearance of weakness.
• The Young Man: Reveals his true nature as cruel and brutal, seeking to skin Zhao Hong alive. His overconfidence leads to his defeat.

Significant Themes

• The dangers of underestimating one's opponent.
• The consequences of cruelty and brutality.
• The importance of strategic thinking and patience in combat.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong provokes the young man, exploiting his arrogance and leading to his defeat.
• The young man and his companions reveal their true intentions, leading to a confrontation with Zhao Hong.
• Zhao Hong's victory over the young man demonstrates his dominance and leaves the latter at his mercy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong encounters three bandits who reveal they're part of a group that hunts martial artists or demons to nourish a skin given by an Evil Skin Cult demon.
• Zhao Hong interrogates and kills the three bandits, learning about the Judge's Office's presence and the bandits' plan to target them.
• Eldest Brother and Second Brother return, and Eldest Brother attempts to kill Second Brother, suspecting he's a spy. Second Brother reveals he's Zhou Baishan of the Judge's Office Silver Bell Guard.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong shows his ruthlessness and determination to find the Judge's Office.
• Eldest Brother shows his impatience and ruthlessness, attempting to kill Second Brother to nourish the Jade Hide.
• Second Brother (Zhou Baishan) reveals his true identity as an undercover Judge's Office agent, showing his cunning and patience.

Significant Themes

• Ruthlessness and betrayal among bandits and criminals.
• The power struggle and chaos caused by the Evil Skin Cult's interference.
• The Judge's Office's presence and their mission to maintain order.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong interacts with the three bandits, interrogating them and ultimately killing them.
• Eldest Brother and Second Brother's interaction reveals their hidden intentions and the tension between them.
• Second Brother's revelation to Eldest Brother highlights the betrayal and deception within their group.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Baishan, a Silver Bell Guard from the Judge's Office, confronts and kills the Boss, a local bandit leader.
• Zhao Hong, a young man from Stone Valley County, reveals himself after Zhou Baishan's fight and expresses his desire to join the Judge's Office.
• Zhao Hong ingests a Blood Gang Pill, demonstrating his incredible inner force, and breaks through to the middle stage of inner force.

Character Developments

• Zhou Baishan: Initially disguised as a bandit, Zhou Baishan reveals his true identity as a Silver Bell Guard. He shows concern for Zhao Hong's safety and warns him about the dangers of joining the Judge's Office.
• Zhao Hong: Zhao Hong proves his strength and determination by swallowing a Blood Gang Pill and breaking through his cultivation. He remains steadfast in his desire to join the Judge's Office despite Zhou Baishan's warnings.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and Service: Both Zhou Baishan and Zhao Hong display loyalty to their respective causes. Zhou Baishan is dedicated to his role as a Silver Bell Guard, while Zhao Hong is determined to serve the imperial court.
• Danger and Risk: The Judge's Office and the surrounding area face significant dangers, including bandits and the Evil Skin Cult. Both characters acknowledge these risks but choose to proceed with their goals.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Baishan and Zhao Hong: Zhou Baishan initially suspects Zhao Hong but eventually accepts his desire to join the Judge's Office. He warns Zhao Hong about the dangers and complexities of the Judge's Office. Zhao Hong, in turn, demonstrates his strength and commitment to his goal.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Baishan reveals the location of the Judge's Office to Zhao Hong.
• Zhao Hong decides to accompany Zhou Baishan despite the dangers.
• Zhou Baishan shares details about the Judge's Office, its hierarchy, and cultivation resources.
• Zhou Baishan plans to lure and capture the Evil Skin Cult demon to earn merit and advance to Gold Bell Guard.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong: Shows determination and resolve to join the Judge's Office despite its dangers and internal politics. He also demonstrates loyalty and concern for Zhou Baishan's well-being.
• Zhou Baishan: Reveals his bitterness towards the internal politics of the Judge's Office and his desire to earn merit to advance his cultivation. He shows understanding and acceptance of Zhao Hong's decision to accompany him.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and camaraderie: Zhao Hong's decision to accompany Zhou Baishan despite the risks highlights his loyalty and trust in the older martial artist.
• Internal politics and corruption: The Judge's Office is portrayed as having internal power struggles and corruption, with aristocratic children reaping rewards and retreating from danger.
• Cultivation and advancement: Zhou Baishan's desire to earn merit to advance his cultivation and Zhao Hong's eagerness to join the Judge's Office for its resources emphasize the importance of cultivation and advancement in the martial world.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Baishan and Zhao Hong: Their interaction reveals their mutual respect and understanding. Zhou Baishan is initially reluctant to bring Zhao Hong along but eventually accepts his decision. Zhao Hong, in turn, shows concern for Zhou Baishan's safety and offers to stay out of the way during the battle with the Evil Skin Cult demon.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Baishan and Zhao Hong venture deeper into Clawfang Mountain to hunt down remnants of the Evil Skin Cult and other threats.
• Zhou Baishan collects demon-men corpses to evolve his Evil Skin, aiming to reach the Profound Embryo realm.
• Zhao Hong encounters a perfected Blood Gang dog demon and is rescued by Zhou Baishan.
• Zhou Baishan reveals that a shattered Profound Embryo is incurable and fatal, with survivors living at most a few years.

Character Developments

• Zhou Baishan: Shows his prowess and determination in hunting down demon-men and improving his Evil Skin.
• Zhao Hong: Demonstrates his growth and resilience by facing and escaping from a perfected Blood Gang dog demon.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of the Evil Skin Cult and their demon-men.
• The harsh reality of martial artists with shattered Profound Embryos.
• The value of life and the struggle for survival in the martial world.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Baishan and Zhao Hong work together to hunt down threats in the mountains, showcasing their growing partnership and mutual reliance.
• Zhao Hong seeks information from Zhou Baishan about Profound Embryo restoration, revealing his concern for a friend with a shattered Profound Embryo.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong, understanding the inevitability of death, empathizes with the helplessness he's never experienced before.
• Zhou Baishan returns with treasures from the Judge's Office, including three bells and an Evil Skin Cult demon, aiming to earn merits.
• After a month, Zhao Hong's cultivation advances significantly, reaching late Inner Force stage and minor mastery in several techniques.
• Zhou Baishan prepares a hidden spot for Zhao Hong and gives him a weaponized cylinder containing poisoned silver needles.
• The Evil Skin Cult leader arrives, and Zhou Baishan ambushes him, aiming to capture or kill him.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong's cultivation improves rapidly, but he's still not at Inner Force completion.
• Zhou Baishan demonstrates his resolve to help Zhao Hong, showing a level of loyalty and determination.

Significant Themes

• The inevitability of death and the helplessness it brings.
• The pursuit of power and strength, as seen in Zhao Hong's cultivation and Zhou Baishan's quest for merits.
• The corrupting influence of power, as seen in the Evil Skin Cult leader's actions and methods.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong and Zhou Baishan work together to prepare for the Evil Skin Cult leader's arrival, showing a level of trust and cooperation.
• Zhou Baishan's ambush on the Evil Skin Cult leader highlights their enmity and the danger posed by the cult.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Baishan and the gray-robed man engage in a brutal, life-threatening fight.
• Zhou Baishan uses a disposable bone blade, a Profound Embryo martial artist's strike, to severely injure the gray-robed man.
• The gray-robed man, fused with Evil Skin, rapidly heals and counterattacks.
• Zhao Hong joins the fight, using a cylinder to shoot silver needles into the gray-robed man's back, interrupting his healing.
• Zhou Baishan and the gray-robed man continue to fight, each suffering severe injuries.
• Zhao Hong attempts to kill the gray-robed man from behind but is injured and fails.
• The gray-robed man, despite his injuries, uses a blood arrow to wound Zhao Hong.
• Zhao Hong uses the Mighty Vajra Finger to attack the gray-robed man's heart.

Character Developments

• Zhou Baishan demonstrates his decisiveness, madness, and determination to win at any cost.
• The gray-robed man shows his terrifying vitality and healing abilities, as well as his ruthlessness in pursuing survival.
• Zhao Hong reveals his cunning and opportunistic nature, attempting to kill the gray-robed man when he sees an opening.

Significant Themes

• The power of determination and will to survive.
• The brutal nature of combat between powerful martial artists.
• The theme of opportunity and seizing the moment to gain an advantage.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Baishan and the gray-robed man engage in a fierce, life-threatening battle, each trying to kill the other.
• Zhao Hong initially watches the fight but later joins in, attempting to kill the gray-robed man from behind.
• There is no interaction between Zhou Baishan and Zhao Hong in this chapter; they both focus on fighting the gray-robed man.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong and Zhou Baishan defeat the gray-robed man, who is revealed to be a member of the Evil Skin Cult and a manager of a merchant caravan.
• They find valuable items on the gray-robed man's body, including a storage pouch, banknotes, Bloodforce Pills, precious ginseng roots, and a Tiger-Leopard-Bear Essence Pill.
• Zhao Hong takes all the items, as Zhou Baishan has no use for them and considers the information gained from the gray-robed man's defeat to be his greatest reward.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong: Shows resilience and determination in battle, and gains valuable items to aid his cultivation.
• Zhou Baishan: Reveals his knowledge of the Evil Skin Cult and its techniques, and demonstrates his selflessness by giving all the valuable items to Zhao Hong.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of power and desperation, as seen in the gray-robed man's turn to the Evil Skin Cult.
• The value of information and knowledge, as demonstrated by Zhou Baishan's recognition of the gray-robed man and his understanding of the Evil Skin Cult's techniques.
• Selflessness and camaraderie, as shown by Zhou Baishan's decision to give all the valuable items to Zhao Hong.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong and Zhou Baishan work together to defeat the gray-robed man, demonstrating their teamwork and mutual respect.
• After the battle, they share healing pills and divide the spoils, showing their trust and understanding of each other's needs and capabilities.
• Zhou Baishan's selfless act of giving all the valuable items to Zhao Hong strengthens their bond and solidifies their partnership.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong successfully breaks through to inner force completion with the help of Ten-Refined Bloodforce Qi Pills and precious ginseng roots.
• Zhou Baishan decides to return to the Judge's Office, using his injuries and the recovered bells as an excuse for his month-long absence.
• They arrive at a temporary Judge's Office garrison, where they encounter several Silver Bell Guards who warn Zhou Baishan about potential trouble.
• Yang Feng, a noble family scion, confronts Zhou Baishan and Zhao Hong, displaying his arrogance and disdain for Zhao Hong's presence.
• Zhao Hong and Zhou Baishan meet a Silver Bell Guard who registers Zhao Hong as a new recruit, testing his strength.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong: Successfully breaks through to inner force completion, demonstrating his combat prowess to a Silver Bell Guard.
• Zhou Baishan: Returns to the Judge's Office with a plan to avoid trouble and secure a better position for Zhao Hong, showing his protective nature and strategic thinking.
• Yang Feng: Exhibits his arrogance and disdain for those beneath him, revealing his privileged background and lack of respect for rules.

Significant Themes

• The influence of noble families and their scions in the Judge's Office.
• The importance of following rules and procedures in the Judge's Office.
• The value of cultivating one's strength and demonstrating it to gain respect and recognition.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Baishan and Zhao Hong: Zhou Baishan continues to look out for Zhao Hong, introducing him to a Silver Bell Guard for registration and making arrangements for his future.
• Zhou Baishan and Yang Feng: Their interaction highlights the tension between Zhou Baishan's humble background and Yang Feng's noble family status.
• Zhao Hong and the Silver Bell Guard: The Silver Bell Guard tests Zhao Hong's strength, acknowledging his cultivation level and potential as a new recruit.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong registers as a Copper Bell Guard, demonstrating his strength to Zhou Baishan.
• Zhou Baishan sends skylarks to inform Liu Zheng and the Stone Valley County Inspection Bureau about Zhao Hong.
• Zhao Hong is officially recognized as a Copper Bell Guard the next day and receives his bell, token, and other items.
• Zhao Hong encounters Yang Feng, who is hostile towards him.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong shows maturity and calmness in handling Liu Zheng's sudden attack and Yang Feng's hostility.
• Zhou Baishan is revealed to be involved in a potentially serious matter, causing concern among his colleagues.
• Yang Feng is shown to be arrogant and disrespectful towards Zhao Hong, hinting at potential future conflicts.

Significant Themes

• Strength and Status: Zhao Hong's strength and talent earn him respect and better treatment as a Copper Bell Guard.
• Respect and Hierarchy: Yang Feng's disrespectful behavior towards Zhao Hong highlights the importance of status and hierarchy in their society.
• Loyalty and Friendship: Zhou Baishan's actions and Liu Zheng's concern for him emphasize the importance of loyalty and friendship among colleagues.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong and Zhou Baishan: Zhou Baishan continues to help and guide Zhao Hong, showing him kindness and trust.
• Zhao Hong and Liu Zheng: Liu Zheng, Zhou Baishan's friend, takes an interest in Zhao Hong and offers to guide him.
• Zhao Hong and Yang Feng: Yang Feng's hostile behavior towards Zhao Hong sets a tense tone for their future interactions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Feng, a scion of an aristocratic family, visits the outpost to inquire about Zhou Baishan's whereabouts.
• Zhao Hong buys resources (Hundred-Forged Bloodforce Pill and Tiger-Leopard-Bear Essence Pill) from the Judge's Office using silver.
• Zhao Hong joins the Judge's Office and is assigned to the second section of the Clawfang Mountain region.
• Zhao Hong begins cultivating using the Tiger-Leopard-Bear Essence Pill.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong demonstrates resourcefulness and strategic thinking in buying pills and joining the Judge's Office.
• Yang Feng shows arrogance and entitlement as a scion of an aristocratic family.

Significant Themes

• The cost and difficulty of martial cultivation.
• The power dynamics and class differences in society, as seen through Yang Feng's and Zhao Hong's interactions.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong interacts with Yang Feng, showing neither fear nor respect, unlike the other guards.
• Zhao Hong meets Liu Zheng, his new superior, who shows him around and provides guidance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong consumes the Tiger-Leopard-Bear Essence Pill, experiencing a significant increase in vitality and strength.
• He meets several colleagues: Li Haogang, Zhong Yuan, Sun Tao, and Wu Lingxian. The Golden Bell Guard, Li Tai, is not present.
• Zhao Hong learns the Demon-Subduing Saber Art from Sun Tao but does not practice it afterward.
• The next day, led by Liu Zheng, the group patrols the Cloud Ridge Trade Route. Zhao Hong and Sun Tao encounter a merchant caravan and receive a bribe.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong's cultivation improves after taking the Tiger-Leopard-Bear Essence Pill.
• Sun Tao shows kindness and willingness to share knowledge with Zhao Hong, demonstrating his friendly nature.
• Zhao Hong displays adaptability and quick learning, understanding the Judge's Office's procedures and accepting bribes without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and Growth: Zhao Hong's cultivation improves through the use of pills, and he learns new skills, reflecting the theme of personal growth.
• Corruption and Bribery: The Judge's Office personnel accept bribes from merchant caravans, highlighting the theme of corruption in power structures.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong and Sun Tao form a friendly bond, with Sun Tao acting as a mentor figure to Zhao Hong.
• The merchant caravan steward and Zhao Hong/Sun Tao interact professionally, with the steward showing respect and offering a bribe to ensure safe passage.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong joins a trade caravan for protection and to earn money.
• He cultivates and improves his skills during the journey, with no major incidents occurring.
• One day, during a break, Zhao Hong experiences a profound cultivation breakthrough in the forest, mastering the Six Harmonies Saber Art, Stele-Splitting Hand, and reaching the Blood Fiend stage in cultivation.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong: He demonstrates dedication to his cultivation, improving his skills and reaching significant milestones. He also shows adaptability by joining the trade caravan for personal growth and safety.
• Sun Tao: Though not the focus, Sun Tao shows wisdom and caution in dealing with potential issues, advising Zhao Hong to stay out of trouble and act according to the situation.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and personal growth: Zhao Hong's journey emphasizes the importance of continuous cultivation and improvement, leading to his breakthroughs.
• Adaptability: Zhao Hong's decision to join the trade caravan shows his ability to adapt to new situations for his benefit.
• Interconnectedness: The mention of unspoken rules and webs of relationships in the world hints at the theme of interconnectedness and the importance of understanding these dynamics.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong and Sun Tao: Though they don't interact much, Sun Tao's advice to Zhao Hong shows a mentoring or senior-junior dynamic, with Sun Tao acting as a guide in the world of martial arts and its unspoken rules.
• Zhao Hong and the environment: Zhao Hong's interaction with the forest and the elements during his cultivation breakthrough highlights his connection with nature and the world around him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong discovers the interrelation and synergy of the four martial arts he has mastered.
• He experiences a breakthrough, enhancing his strength and control over his saber arts.
• He hears distress signals from the Judge's Office and rushes to their aid.
• He finds the Judge's Office members under attack by a large force of Evil Skin Cult members, who have fused with cult hide, enhancing their strength and blood gang.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong: He gains a deeper understanding of the martial arts he's mastered and experiences a significant breakthrough, increasing his confidence and strength. He also shows concern for his fellow Judge's Office members, demonstrating his loyalty and bravery.
• Wang Yunshan: He is introduced as a Silver Bell Guard leading the Copper Bell Guards on patrol. He shows courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds, and recognizes Zhao Hong's strength and importance in their desperate situation.

Significant Themes

• The synergy and interrelation of martial arts: Zhao Hong discovers that the four martial arts he has mastered complement each other, enhancing their power when used together.
• Loyalty and bravery: Both Zhao Hong and Wang Yunshan display these qualities in the face of danger, fighting to protect their fellow Judge's Office members.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong and Wang Yunshan: They fight side by side against the Evil Skin Cult members, with Zhao Hong's strength inspiring Wang Yunshan and the other Judge's Office members to fight back.
• Zhao Hong and the Evil Skin Cult members: Zhao Hong's fierce and powerful saber strikes instill fear in the cult members, who are driven to fight even more savagely in response.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong, a Copper Bell Guard, reveals his true strength, single-handedly defeating over half of the forty beast-men attackers, including peak Blood Astral cultivators.
• The team discovers that a Golden Bell Guard, their boss, is missing, potentially killed by a Profound Embryo cultivator.
• They suspect that the enemy's main target might be the nearby garrison.
• Zhao Hong decides to lead the team to the garrison for safety.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong: Demonstrates extraordinary strength, surpassing even Silver Bell Guards, and takes charge in a crisis.
• Liu Zheng: Realizes Zhao Hong's hidden strength and accepts his leadership.
• Wang Yunshan: Recognizes Zhao Hong's prowess and accepts his authority.

Significant Themes

• Strength commands respect: Zhao Hong's actions earn him the respect and obedience of his peers.
• Abandonment: The missing Golden Bell Guard suggests that the team has been abandoned by their superiors.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong and Liu Zheng: Their relationship evolves as Liu Zheng accepts Zhao Hong's leadership.
• Zhao Hong and Wang Yunshan: Wang Yunshan acknowledges Zhao Hong's strength and agrees with his decisions.
• The team: They unite under Zhao Hong's leadership, recognizing his strength and making collective decisions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong and the Silver Bell Guards encounter a black-robed man from the Evil Skin Cult who threatens them, revealing that the cult has plans for the Azure Cloud Mountains.
• Zhao Hong decides to face the black-robed man alone to give his companions a chance to escape, ordering them to leave despite their protests.
• Zhao Hong uses his Cloud-Breaking Flash technique and blade intent to wound the black-robed man, then follows up with his Mighty Vajra Finger, severely injuring him.
• The black-robed man attempts to save himself by stuffing beast hides and Jade Hides into his chest wound.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong demonstrates his bravery, strategic thinking, and powerful combat skills, choosing to face the enemy alone to protect his companions.
• The Silver Bell Guards show loyalty and concern for Zhao Hong, initially refusing to leave him but ultimately obeying his order.
• The black-robed man reveals his ruthlessness and desperation, prioritizing his own survival even in the face of severe injury.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice for the greater good: Zhao Hong's decision to face the enemy alone to give his companions a chance to escape highlights his selflessness and commitment to protecting others.
• Power dynamics: The encounter with the black-robed man showcases the power imbalance between Zhao Hong and his companions, as well as the threat posed by the Evil Skin Cult.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong and the Silver Bell Guards: Zhao Hong's order to leave causes tension and disagreement among the Silver Bell Guards, but they ultimately obey out of respect and concern for him.
• Zhao Hong and the black-robed man: Their confrontation highlights the power gap between them, with Zhao Hong's skill and determination surprising the black-robed man, who initially underestimates him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Hong fights and kills the black-robed man, who is the leader of the Evil Skin Cult attackers.
• Zhao Hong finds and takes the black-robed man's storage pouch containing Evil Skin and healing pills.
• Liu Zheng's group encounters Yang Feng's group, who are deserting the battle at the garrison. Liu Zheng's group is unsure whether to follow Yang Feng or continue to the garrison.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong demonstrates his combat prowess and strategic thinking by defeating the black-robed man and securing the storage pouch.
• Liu Zheng shows leadership and concern for his group's safety, but is conflicted about whether to follow Yang Feng or continue to the garrison.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty vs. Self-Preservation: Liu Zheng's group must decide between loyalty to their duty and self-preservation by following Yang Feng, who is deserting.
• Power and Influence: Yang Feng's group, consisting of scions of great families, has more influence and power, allowing them to make decisions that may prioritize their own safety.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong vs. Black-robed man: A fierce and deadly fight between two powerful cultivators.
• Liu Zheng vs. Yang Feng: A tense standoff between two groups of guards, with Liu Zheng questioning Yang Feng's loyalty and intentions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter begins with a tense standoff between Yang Feng and his group (four scions of noble families) and Liu Zheng's group (six Copper Bell Guards) in a forest.
• The purpose of Liu Zheng's group being brought along is revealed: to prevent information leakage and serve as cannon fodder.
• An explosion is heard from the direction of their camp, indicating an attack by the Evil Skin Cult.
• Yang Feng's group decides to flee, but Liu Zheng advises against it, suggesting they wait nearby for an opportunity.
• Zhao Hong, a late-stage inner force Copper Bell Guard, appears and reveals he has killed a Profound Embryo realm demonic man from the Evil Skin Cult.
• Zhao Hong's appearance changes the dynamics, as Liu Zheng's group now sees him as their savior and potential leader.

Character Developments

• Yang Feng: Shows arrogance and disregard for the safety of others, fleeing before battle and trying to force Liu Zheng's group to follow. Reveals he has improved his cultivation but is still not at the Profound Embryo realm.
• Liu Zheng: Initially submissive to Yang Feng, but later shows concern for the safety of his group and advises against fleeing. Recognizes Zhao Hong's achievement and supports him.
• Zhao Hong: Proves himself to be a capable and brave warrior by killing a Profound Embryo realm demonic man. Shows leadership potential and is respected by Liu Zheng's group.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The chapter explores the power dynamics between the scions of noble families (Yang Feng's group) and the Copper Bell Guards (Liu Zheng's group). Zhao Hong's actions disrupt the existing power balance.
• Bravery vs. Cowardice: The contrast between Yang Feng's group fleeing before battle and Zhao Hong's actions highlights the theme of bravery versus cowardice.
• Leadership: Zhao Hong's actions inspire respect and loyalty from Liu Zheng's group, demonstrating his potential as a leader.

Character Interactions

• Yang Feng vs. Liu Zheng: Yang Feng tries to assert his authority over Liu Zheng's group, but Liu Zheng questions his decisions and shows concern for his group's safety.
• Zhao Hong vs. Yang Feng's group: Zhao Hong's appearance and revelation of killing a Profound Embryo realm demonic man cause Yang Feng's group to lose their composure and show fear.
• Liu Zheng's group vs. Zhao Hong: Liu Zheng's group initially doubts Zhao Hong's claim but later accepts it and shows him deep respect and gratitude, seeing him as their savior.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group led by Zhao Hong discovers that the garrison is under attack by at least ten Profound Embryo realm cultivators from the Evil Skin Cult.
• They decide to observe the situation from a distance, waiting for an opportunity to act.
• The garrison's Banner Bells are on the verge of exhaustion, and the defenders are preparing for a counterattack.
• An inspector from the Judge's Office arrives, providing much-needed reinforcement.

Character Developments

• Zhao Hong demonstrates strong leadership and strategic thinking, prioritizing the safety of his group and waiting for the right moment to act.
• Liu Zheng shows knowledge about the Banner Bells and provides valuable insights to Zhao Hong.
• Zhou Baishan, a Golden Bell Guard, is revealed to have recently reached the Profound Embryo realm but has not yet been promoted. He is desperate to survive the attack.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The strength of the Evil Skin Cult's forces and the Banner Bells' power highlight the importance of cultivation level and resources in combat.
• Strategic Thinking: Zhao Hong's decision to observe from a distance before acting showcases the value of careful planning and adaptability in the face of overwhelming odds.
• Leadership: Zhao Hong's leadership is tested and proven as he makes decisions that prioritize the safety of his group.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Hong consults with Liu Zheng to make strategic decisions, demonstrating respect for his knowledge and experience.
• The Golden Bell Guards inside the garrison work together to defend against the attackers, showing unity and cooperation in the face of danger.
• The arrival of the inspector changes the dynamics of the battle, providing hope and relief to the defenders.