Chapter Summaries

Mu Xingze’s emergence and planned Sword-Challenging Journey stirred tensions between Huaiyuan and Ever-Peace Prefectures, while the sect leaders debated their rivals’ motives and the Martial Suppression Bureau’s growing influence. At the Great Wild Marsh, Zhao Feng planned to advance his cultivation and began studying the Thunderclap Saber Technique, considering how to adapt its dual-saber tactics.

• Mu Xingze emerged from seclusion after breaking through to late Pill Embracement and announced a Sword-Challenging Journey targeting Ever-Peace Prefecture’s experts.
• The five sect masters discussed Huaiyuan Prefecture’s proposal to jointly allocate Lancang River resources and Mu Xingze’s challenge, which Mu Xuanzhou said could sway public opinion and the Martial Suppression Bureau.
• Zhao Feng decided to master the first part of the Eight Extremes Everlasting Spring Art before pursuing additional elemental manuals because cultivating multiple techniques already consumed substantial resources.
• Zhao Feng practiced the Thunderclap Saber Technique in private and considered using its dual-saber tactics when his Condensed Edge spear was taken apart.

Zhao Feng practiced the Thunderclap Saber Technique and went to watch Mu Xingze challenge Jiang Chen at the Mad Blade Sect. Their fierce duel continued as Zhao studied Jiang Chen’s saber technique.

• Zhao Feng practiced the Thunderclap Saber Technique until he reached beginner level.
• Li Yong told Zhao Feng that Mu Xingze had left the Lone Mountain School on a Sword-Challenging Journey and had defeated Xue Yang, Liu Tai, and Chai Wenbo.
• Zhao Feng went to the Mad Blade Sect with Fang Han and Hong Changzhi and learned that Mu Xingze cultivated two internal arts simultaneously.
• Mu Xingze challenged Jiang Chen, and the two began a fierce sword-and-saber duel before the assembled crowd.
• Zhao Feng carefully observed Jiang Chen’s saber work and true qi circulation as the fight continued beyond ten exchanges.

Mu Xingze defeated Jiang Chen at the Mad Blade Sect and continued to the Divine Martial Manor to challenge Xie Qiu. After Xie Qiu trained beneath a waterfall and prepared for the duel, the two began fighting, and Xie Qiu’s unexpected second spear technique forced Mu Xingze to retreat.

• Jiang Chen switched to paired sabers and unleashed Thunderclap Cloud-Splitting Slash, but Mu Xingze broke his attack and stopped the Falling Star Sword at Jiang Chen’s throat.
• Jiang Chen admitted defeat, and Mu Xingze challenged the Mad Blade Sect’s other disciples before leaving for the Divine Martial Manor.
• Xie Qiu practiced his spear techniques beneath a waterfall while Wei Tieyi watched, then agreed to face Mu Xingze and received advice to keep him at range.
• Mu Xingze arrived at the Divine Martial Manor, rested for an hour, and then began his challenge match against Xie Qiu.
• Xie Qiu first used the Storm-Pear Blossom Spear Technique, then abruptly changed to a second spear technique that drove Mu Xingze backward.

Mu Xingze defeated Xie Qiu and drew widespread attention to his challenge against Zhao Feng, who continued practicing at the Fishing Ground rather than avoiding the fight. Huo Yao urged Zhao Feng to stay out of the challenge, but he questioned whether he should avoid Mu Xingze’s edge.

• Mu Xingze used his two sword arts and stronger reserves of true qi to defeat Xie Qiu, who conceded after their fierce match.
• Zhao Feng watched Mu Xingze’s fight, then left after Mu Xingze acknowledged him with a nod.
• Word spread that Mu Xingze had defeated Jiang Chen and Xie Qiu and would challenge the Nine Yang Gate, with many expecting him to beat Zhao Feng.
• Huo Yao found Zhao Feng fishing and warned that the challenge could affect the Nine Yang Gate, the Five Sects Alliance, and Ever-Peace Prefecture.
• Huo Yao suggested Zhao Feng avoid the challenge, and Zhao Feng asked, “Me, avoid his edge?”

Zhao Feng arrived at the Nine Yang Gate to face Mu Xingze in the final bout of his Sword-Challenging Journey and seized the initiative with powerful spear attacks. Mu Xingze endured the assault and prepared to test whose true qi would last longer.

• Huo Yao told Zhao Feng that the Demonic Sect was gaining believers in Big Stone County, and Zhao Feng agreed they could not ignore the threat.
• Hundreds gathered at the Nine Yang Gate to watch Mu Xingze’s challenge, while Yan Yunkun claimed Zhao Feng would avoid the fight.
• Zhao Feng arrived at the agreed time and exchanged formal greetings with Mu Xingze before they began their duel.
• Mu Xingze opened with Star-Web Trickery, but Zhao Feng countered with Sweep Across the Six Directions and forced him to retreat with a powerful thrust.
• Zhao Feng pressed Mu Xingze with a rapid series of domineering spear techniques, while Mu Xingze parried and resolved to outlast Zhao Feng’s true qi.

Zhao Feng defeated Mu Xingze in the final battle of Mu Xingze's Sword-Challenging Journey, revealing that he had cultivated and fused two streams of true qi. News of Zhao Feng's achievement spread among the Five Great Sects, leaving the Eight Extremes Gate regretting that it had missed the chance to recruit him.

• Mu Xingze shifted between his sword arts before using Lone Phantom Devours Stars and deliberately releasing his sword to attack Zhao Feng with the Lone Mountain Tyrant Fist.
• Zhao Feng deflected Mu Xingze's fist with Cotton Palm, then used the technique to withstand Mu Xingze's prolonged assault.
• As Mu Xingze launched a powerful final strike, Zhao Feng revealed a second stream of true qi and struck him down with a fused Cotton Palm.
• Mu Xingze admitted defeat and left, while spectators praised the battle and news of Zhao Feng's two streams of true qi spread to the Five Great Sects.
• Yu Ruoyun and others at the Eight Extremes Gate regretted missing Zhao Feng, while Chen Hong reminded Yu Ruoyun that Zhao Feng's root bone might limit his future.

After Zhao Feng defeated Mu Xingze, most people dismissed his prospects because of his poor Root Bone, while Mu Xingze vowed to use the loss as motivation to reach Astral Force. When the Blood Lotus Sect established a Hall in Zhao Feng’s home region, Zhao Feng accepted a mission to destroy it and prepared to return home.

• Xiong Tiansheng and Xiao Li agreed that cultivating two strands of True Qi would make Zhao Feng’s path to Astral Force unlikely, and people from the Eight Extremes Gate expected his progress to stall.
• At the Peace and Harmony Tower, Wen Yanzhou recognized that Mu Xingze planned to use his defeat as a spur to pursue Astral Force and dual True Essence, and Mu Xingze agreed.
• Yan Yunkun decided to use his own humiliation by Zhao Feng as motivation to seek revenge once he attained Astral Force.
• The Martial Suppression Bureau took the lead in the prefectures and began reclaiming sect territories and profits, while Zhao Feng learned the Blood Lotus Sect had established a Hall across three northern counties.
• Zhao Feng accepted a mission to eradicate the Hall, and Xia Commandant gave him authority to mobilize local forces in the counties.
• Zhao Feng asked Mu Xuanzhou to let him return home; Mu Xuanzhou approved and assigned him to investigate the Demonic Sect on behalf of the Nine Yang Gate.

After perfecting Tai Chi Toad-Fishing Force, Zhao Feng left the Great Wild Marsh Fishing Ground and prepared to return to Big Stone County on a mission to investigate the Blood Lotus Sect. He traveled with Huo Yao and learned that the sect had spread deeply through the Northern Three Counties, while he suspected Chu Fan had returned.

• Zhao Feng perfected Tai Chi Toad-Fishing Force and considered how its strengthened defense might let him withstand astral force.
• Zhao Feng departed the Great Wild Marsh Fishing Ground, packed his belongings in Beautiful Water Alley, and received a Subordinate Seventh Rank appointment from Wang Ling.
• Aboard a Four Seas Trading House ship, Zhao Feng impressed Lin Ziwei and Huo Yao with his remark about the suffering of the people under rising and falling dynasties.
• Huo Yao explained that she had joined Zhao Feng’s mission as an Eight Extremes Gate disciple, and the two asked Lin Ziwei about the Northern Three Counties.
• Lin Ziwei warned that the Blood Lotus Sect had recruited fanatics and members of local groups, and Zhao Feng suspected Chu Fan had returned.

Zhao Feng returned to Big Stone County and reunited with his family after noticing the Red Lotus Holy Mother’s followers openly parading through the Outer City. He stayed with his parents and learned that his brother was preparing for the County Trial, while the story left him home for a longer visit before returning to the Sect.

• Zhao Feng traveled north by tower ship toward Big Stone County and saw that the number of refugees along the Lancang River had dwindled.
• Zhao Feng, Lin Ziwei, and Huo Yao encountered a Red Lotus Holy Mother procession in the Outer City, and Lin Ziwei warned Zhao Feng that confronting its ordinary believers could provoke a riot.
• Zhao Feng parted ways with Lin Ziwei and Huo Yao, then went to the Zhao Residence in Nine Virtues Ward.
• Tian Cuihua welcomed Zhao Feng home, and Zhao Youlin and Yang Shi embraced him with tears of joy.
• Zhao Feng learned that Zhao Shuo was preparing for the County Trial and that Qiao'er, Zihuai, and Bao'er were at the County Martial Academy.
• Zhao Feng told his family about his life in the Prefecture City and assured Yang Shi that he could stay home a little longer before returning to the Sect.

Zhao Feng reunited with his family after a year and a half away and learned that bandits had raided their former village and the Blood Lotus Sect was spreading among the common people. He returned to a joyful family gathering and began checking the younger generation’s martial arts.

• Zhao Feng gave gifts to Zhao Youlin, Yang Shi, and Tian Cuihua, then learned that a bandit raid had injured villagers and killed Old Feng and the Zhang family grandmother.
• Zhao Feng heard preachers promoting the Red Lotus Holy Mother and learned that Auntie Yuan had joined the cult; he told Zhao Youlin to stop giving them money and promised to drive them away.
• Zhao Bao'er, Zhao Zihuai, and Qiao'er welcomed Zhao Feng home, and he gave them gifts from Prefecture City.
• Zhao Youfang and Zhao Shuo returned and joyfully reunited with Zhao Feng before the family shared a meal together.
• Zhao Feng asked Zhao Bao'er and Zhao Zihuai to demonstrate their Five-Animal Fist routines, then asked Qiao'er to show him one of her own.

Zhao Feng spent time with his family, then visited his former master Huo Shan and learned that the Red Lotus Cult was hurting the martial arts schools’ business. The chapter ended with Zhao Feng at the Huo Family Martial Arts School, where Huo Shan explained the worsening situation.

• Zhao Feng watched Qiao'er practice Dragon Form Fist and praised her skill, then told Zhao Bao'er and Zhao Zihuai to develop their own approaches.
• Zhao Feng saw his Eldest Uncle, Zhao Youfu, and Eldest Aunt, Qian Shi, fervently following a Red Lotus Cult procession on his way to the Huo Family Martial Arts School.
• Huo Shan welcomed Zhao Feng, who bowed respectfully and gave him a bottle of superior-grade Solid Foundation Pills.
• Huo Shan told Zhao Feng that his wife and Huo Yao had gone to pray at Clear Profound Temple, and that several former disciples were busy with their own affairs.
• Huo Shan explained that the martial arts schools were struggling because of the Red Lotus Cult.

Zhao Feng returned to Three Yang County, where he learned that the Red Lotus Sect was gaining followers and warned his fellow disciples to prepare for trouble. Meanwhile, Chu Fan spotted Han Dong at Clear Profound Temple and set out to pursue him, while Zhao Feng went to meet Xu Commandant at the Militia Camp.

• Huo Shan told Zhao Feng that the Red Lotus Sect was attracting commoners and even Martial Masters, and said he planned to move the Martial Arts School into the Inner City.
• Shi Mao and Sun Qing returned, welcomed Zhao Feng, and accepted his gifts after he thanked them for watching over his family.
• At Clear Profound Temple, Chu Fan watched Huo Yao through hidden mechanisms, then recognized Han Dong and followed him after changing his appearance.
• Zhao Feng shared exotic beast meat with Shi Mao and Sun Qing, warned them about the Demonic Sect, and said he would be staying in Big Stone County.
• Zhao Feng rode to the Militia Camp in his official robes, where Xu Commandant came out to greet him.

Zhao Feng challenged Xu Commandant over the Demonic Sect’s preaching and urged him to investigate Clear Profound Temple. After reuniting with Wei Yuan and giving him a Force-Fusing Pill, Zhao Feng learned that Han Dong and more than ten members of his party had been murdered after visiting the temple.

• Zhao Feng questioned Xu Commandant about the Demonic Sect’s preaching, and Xu revealed that donations were flowing to Clear Profound Temple.
• Zhao Feng returned home, revealed to his parents that he was a Subordinate Seventh Rank military officer, and went drinking with Wei Yuan.
• Zhao Feng gave Wei Yuan a Force-Fusing Pill to help him break through to Transformation Force and warned him that the region would remain dangerous.
• Wei Yuan’s steward reported that Han Dong, his wife, the old madam, and more than ten others had been killed near Cripple Slope.
• Zhao Feng learned that Han Dong’s party had been returning from worship at Clear Profound Temple, which had repeatedly come to his attention.

Zhao Feng identified the Han Family massacre as the Demonic Sect’s work and suspected Chu Fan, while Clear Profound Temple’s leaders tried to contain the fallout and the Han Family failed to find the killer. As the county’s watchers uncovered nothing, Zhao Feng reunited with his family and continued training his saber arts.

• Zhao Feng told County Magistrate Lu and Xu Commandant that the killer had extracted the Han Family victims’ hearts for the Demonic Sect’s Blood Refining Method and likely skinned Han Dong out of personal hatred.
• Zhao Feng told Xu Commandant that Chu Fan had rebuilt his Dantian, reached Embracing Elixir Force, and was likely responsible for the massacre; they decided to watch Clear Profound Temple cautiously.
• Abbess Pure Mystery reprimanded Chu Fan for killing the Han Family members, and Chu Fan agreed to keep a low profile while the sect prepared to receive the Northern Barbarians’ envoys and Shaman.
• The Han Family searched the Northern Three Counties without finding the killer, while rumors blamed the massacre on divine punishment and the County Yamen provisionally closed the case as a demonic atrocity.
• Zhao Feng’s family enjoyed their reunion as he practiced the thirty-six moves of his saber technique in the courtyard.

Zhao Feng gathered fellow Martial Scholars to help investigate the Red Lotus Holy Cult and learned that Clear Profound Temple had ties to suspicious officials and visitors. He followed a young Daoist nun from the temple and blocked her path, only to find that she seemed unsurprised by him.

• Zhao Feng promised Qiao'er, Zhao Bao'er, and Zhao Zihuai that he would choose secret techniques for them and gave them Vitality Powder.
• Zhao Feng recruited Lu Ye, He Mingchuan, Shen Yan, Wu Peng, and Jiang Chuan to watch for the Red Lotus Holy Cult and report suspicious activity to him and Huo Yao.
• Huo Yao told Zhao Feng that ten groups across Pine River County and Three Yang County supported the cult, and that Three Yang County Magistrate Yang Xingquan had aided Clear Profound Temple and sent Daoists and ritual implements there.
• Zhao Feng disguised himself and watched Clear Profound Temple, then followed a young Daoist nun down the mountain after she left the temple.
• Zhao Feng blocked the young nun's path, and she calmly asked why he had stopped her.

Zhao Feng mistook a young Daoist nun for a Demonic Sect expert and fought her before escaping into the Lancang River. Beneath Clear Profound Temple, Pure Mystery revealed that she had impersonated the pursued nun and helped two foreign Daoists evade their pursuer.

• Zhao Feng attacked the young Daoist nun, but her Astral Force broke through his defenses and trapped him with her palm force.
• Zhao Feng broke free with Iron Mountain Lean, fled toward the Lancang River, and used three arrows to delay the nun before diving into the water.
• The young Daoist nun examined Zhao Feng's arrow and unusual techniques, then left without pursuing him into the river.
• Zhao Feng emerged, recovered, and wondered whether the nun had truly been passing through Yangming Mountain.
• Pure Mystery told Chu Fan and two Daoists that she had fooled the woman pursuing them by discussing Daoist scriptures with her.
• The middle-aged Daoist said the woman had chased them from the Northern Borderlands into Great Yan and vowed to sacrifice her to Eternal Heaven.

Zhao Feng met Su Qingwan, a Pure Moon Convent disciple investigating Northern Barbarian envoys hidden at Clear Profound Temple, and she proposed they work together against a likely plot at the River God Festival. Afterward, Lin Ziwei explained the Pure Moon Convent’s history and standing, leaving Zhao Feng to consider Su Qingwan’s offer.

• Wugutai and Su Chi discussed Su Qingwan’s swordsmanship and learned that Pure Mystery planned to use Wugutai’s help at the River God Festival.
• Pure Mystery told Chu Fan that the festival would provide blood food for Little Black’s advancement and help the cult seize control of three counties.
• Zhao Feng returned to Big Stone County and, three days later, met Su Qingwan, who revealed her identity and said Northern Barbarian envoys were likely hiding at Clear Profound Temple.
• Su Qingwan proposed that she and Zhao Feng work together because the envoys might disrupt the River God Festival, and Zhao Feng said he would answer in a few days.
• Zhao Feng asked Lin Ziwei about the Pure Moon Convent and learned that it was a powerful righteous sect whose disciples had helped restore the dynasty more than two hundred years earlier.

As the Clear Profound Temple’s popularity grew, Zhao Feng and Huo Yao decided they had to expose the Red Lotus Holy Cult’s claims themselves. During the River God Festival, Pure Mystery performed a river sacrifice before thousands as Wugutai secretly used a ritual to whip up the wind and waves.

• A folk song spread the claim that Pure Mystery was the Red Lotus Holy Mother’s disciple, drawing more worshippers to the Clear Profound Temple and its morning devotions.
• Zhao Feng told Huo Yao that the people credited divine protection for improvements brought by the emperor’s policies, and said they would have to rely on themselves to expose the cult’s lies.
• More than ten thousand people gathered by the Lancang River for the grand sacrifice, hoping Pure Mystery could summon or subdue the River God.
• Yang Xingquan and the county officials offered incense and prayed for the River God to calm the waters.
• Pure Mystery began the ceremony with a sword dance, and the wind over the river strengthened as the gathered crowd watched.
• Wugutai appeared behind the altar and chanted with his beast-bone staff, causing the wind to intensify and the waves to rise.

Abbess Pure Mystery staged the Red Lotus Holy Mother's manifestation, calming the river and persuading the crowd that she was a divine emissary. She then urged believers to sacrifice themselves to the River God for immortality, and more than a hundred people jumped into the river.

• Wugutai scattered medicinal powder into the river, intensifying its waves as the crowd panicked and Abbess Pure Mystery performed her ritual.
• Abbess Pure Mystery claimed to be possessed by the Red Lotus Holy Mother and calmed the river with a gesture.
• Abbess Pure Mystery promised safety and prosperity to those who followed her, and magistrate Yang Xingquan and the crowd knelt to worship her.
• Abbess Pure Mystery declared that believers could attain immortality by sacrificing themselves to the River God, which she said had become her Guardian Dharma Protector.
• A fervent believer jumped into the river after receiving her blessing, and more than a hundred others followed.

Zhao Feng and Commandant Xu arrived with an army to stop the River God sacrifice and search for northern barbarian spies and Demonic Sect members. When Magistrate Yang Xingquan rallied the crowd against them, Zhao Feng killed him and revealed his authority as a banner officer of the Martial Suppression Bureau.

• Zhao Youfu and Qian Shi entered the river for the sacrifice but were dragged underwater by a giant python.
• Commandant Xu surrounded the sacrificial grounds with three thousand militia soldiers and ordered the sacrifices stopped.
• Yang Xingquan accused Zhao Feng and Commandant Xu of disrupting the ceremony, turning the crowd against them and blocking the search.
• As the crowd grew violent, Zhao Feng drew his saber and beheaded Yang Xingquan.
• Zhao Feng displayed his golden command token, declared Yang Xingquan had colluded with an enemy nation and the Demonic Sect, and warned everyone not to obstruct him.