Chapter Summaries

Zhao Feng defeated Gu Rong with his mastery of the True Yang Cotton Palm and claimed the promised techniques from Gu He. Xie Yungui then challenged him, and their fierce fight began with Zhao Feng struggling to keep up with Xie Yungui’s swift palm attacks.

• Zhao Feng read Gu Rong’s True Yang Cotton Palm variations, struck through his defenses, and knocked him out of the ring.
• Mu Xuanzhou collected the Nine Yang True Spirit Art and Nine Yang Sword Technique rubbings from Gu He after Zhao Feng’s victory.
• Qin Guanyue and Xie Yungui recognized Zhao Feng’s strength, and Xie Yungui secured the next challenge.
• Zhao Feng returned to the ring and agreed to fight Xie Yungui without resting.
• Xie Yungui attacked with the fast, elusive Carefree Divine Palm, and Zhao Feng countered one exchange before being pressed onto the defensive.

Zhao Feng defeated Xie Yungui in a challenge round, revealing his mastery of multiple martial arts and fused true qi. He retained his arena ranking as the Martial Examination’s challenge period ended, with the official results due in three days.

• Zhao Feng combined True Yang Cotton Palm with Eight Extremes Fist to break through Xie Yungui’s defense and force him to use both kinds of fused true qi.
• Zhao Feng revealed that he too had fused two kinds of late-stage true qi, then used Yang Extreme Break to shatter Xie Yungui’s protection and knock him off the arena.
• Xie Yungui recovered, thanked Zhao Feng for the lesson, and exchanged respectful greetings with him.
• Yu Zhiyong announced that Zhao Feng had defended his arena and would face no further challenges.
• The challenge period ended, and Qingzhou officials began reviewing the candidates before posting the official results three days later.

After Zhao Feng won first place on the A-rank list, Mu Xuanzhou advised him to join the Martial Suppression Bureau and remain in the capital for protection. The examination results were posted, while Zhao Feng’s family and villagers waited anxiously in Jiazi Ravine Village for officials to bring the news.

• At a feast in Qingzhou Prefecture, Mu Xuanzhou warned Zhao Feng that his victory would attract enemies and urged him to serve openly in the Martial Suppression Bureau.
• Lin Ziwei and Mu Xuanzhou advised Zhao Feng to stay in the capital, where the Imperial Court’s protection could deter sect experts; Zhao Feng accepted their advice.
• Three days later, the Martial Examination results were posted, confirming Zhao Feng in first place on the A-rank list, followed by Qin Guanyue and Xie Yungui.
• Zhao Youlin, Yang Shi, Zhao Youfang, and Qiao'er waited at the family home in Jiazi Ravine Village for officials to announce Zhao Feng’s result, while Zhao Shuo and Tian Cuihua watched the family’s Inner City house.

Zhao Feng placed first on the A List in the provincial Martial Examination, and County Magistrate Lu and Xu Commandant brought the news and Imperial Court rewards to Jiazi Ravine Village. His family celebrated with the villagers as Zhao Youlin considered how to allocate Zhao Feng’s two hundred mu of tax-exempt farmland.

• The villagers waited anxiously for news of Zhao Feng’s examination, hoping to benefit from his expanded farmland tax exemption.
• County Magistrate Lu and Xu Commandant arrived in Jiazi Ravine Village and announced that Zhao Feng had placed first on the A List.
• The officials presented Zhao Feng’s family with Imperial Court rewards, hung a Martial Laureate plaque above their gate, and confirmed his household’s tax and corvée exemptions and maximum two-hundred-mu land exemption.
• Zhao Youlin and Yang Shi accepted congratulations from the villagers, many of whom hoped to transfer their land to the Zhao Family.
• Zhao Youlin asked Qiao'er to have his eldest cousin and his wife bring food and supplies, and the village held a three-day feast.

After passing the Martial Examination, Zhao Feng weighed how to advance his cultivation and chose to balance and fuse all five kinds of true qi before pursuing Astral Force. He accepted Su Qingwan’s invitation to a tea gathering about the Demonic Sect and arrived to find many familiar graduates already there.

• Zhao Feng reviewed his cultivation progress and decided to perfect his thick-earth and Geng Metal true qi before attempting to fuse all five kinds.
• Zhao Feng received Su Qingwan’s invitation to a tea gathering and agreed to attend to meet other talents and learn about the Demonic Sect.
• Zhao Feng traveled to Moon Lake Retreat and noticed that the area’s ambient primordial qi seemed unusual.
• Zhao Feng entered the gathering hall, where Qin Guanyue, Xie Yungui, Mu Xingze, Gao Yu, Luo Xiong, and other familiar graduates were present.

Zhao Feng attended Su Qingwan’s tea gathering, where he challenged Fei Yuanzhong and Liao Kuan’s talk of fate before the guests discussed Great Yan’s troubles. Fei proposed giving Confucian Principles supremacy to revive the nation, prompting objections from those who feared a return to the Former Dynasty’s mistakes.

• Xie Yungui introduced Fei Yuanzhong of the Cloud Crane Academy and Liao Kuan, a top martial examination graduate from Bing Province, to Zhao Feng.
• Liao Kuan implied Zhao Feng’s first-place finish on Qingzhou’s A List had been due to fate, but Zhao declared that people should command their own fates.
• Su Qingwan praised Zhao’s words, welcomed the guests, and hosted a tea gathering to hear their views on the state of the world.
• Fei Yuanzhong blamed Great Yan’s decline on the missing Martial Saint Ji and argued that the nation needed a new source of strength.
• Fei proposed using Confucian Principles to unite the people and revive national fortunes, while Bao Zhanchun warned that abandoning martial strength could plunge the realm into chaos again.

At a gathering of Martial Examination candidates, Zhao Feng challenged Fei Yuanzhong’s Confucian doctrine and argued that the people’s needs, not any one school’s teachings, should guide the world. His declaration that “The World Belongs to All” left the hall stunned and Fei Yuanzhong shaken as he departed.

• Fei Yuanzhong advocated governing through Confucian principles and laws under a wise sovereign, prompting Su Qingwan and others to suspect the doctrine sought influence over imperial power.
• When Fei Yuanzhong asked Zhao Feng’s opinion, Zhao Feng dismissed the debate at first, then summarized the doctrine as preserving heavenly principle and extinguishing human desires.
• Zhao Feng challenged Fei Yuanzhong to address the Demonic Sect, the rebels, and the Northern Barbarians with practical measures, drawing laughter from the gathering.
• After Fei Yuanzhong questioned Zhao Feng’s knowledge, Zhao Feng argued that laws could serve selfish interests and that peace depended on fulfilling the people’s needs rather than suppressing human desires or exalting one school.
• Zhao Feng declared that the world belonged to all its people, and his words deeply affected Xie Yungui, Qin Guanyue, Mu Xingze, Gao Yu, Su Qingwan, and Fei Yuanzhong.
• Fei Yuanzhong left the hall in distress and nearly spat blood as he went.

At Su Qingwan’s tea gathering, Zhao Feng defended his belief that the world belonged to everyone, then agreed to spar with Liao Kuan after charging him twenty thousand taels. Zhao Feng redirected Liao Kuan’s first attacks with ease, leaving the match unresolved.

• Zhao Feng argued that the world belonged to all, while Liao Kuan dismissed his view as an impossible dream.
• Xie Yungui redirected the gathering toward present concerns, and Liao Kuan challenged Zhao Feng to a sparring match.
• Zhao Feng demanded a fee of twenty thousand taels, and Liao Kuan paid to accept the challenge.
• Su Qingwan led the guests outside, where Zhao Feng and Liao Kuan took their positions on the garden’s stone paving.
• Zhao Feng redirected two of Liao Kuan’s powerful punches, making Liao Kuan stagger and suffer the backlash.

Zhao Feng defeated Liao Kuan in a martial contest and won the other candidates’ recognition. Su Qingwan then warned that the Blood Lotus Sect might be restoring the Nine Netherworld Divine Lantern and seeking allies, including rebels in Bing Province.

• Liao Kuan intensified his attacks with two fused streams of true qi, but Zhao Feng deflected his punches with the True Yang Cotton Palm.
• Zhao Feng seized an opening and struck Liao Kuan with an Iron Mountain Lean layered with Tai Chi Toad-Fishing Force and Golden Bell Shield, sending him flying and forcing him to concede.
• The candidates accepted Zhao Feng as their foremost member, while Qin Guanyue remained eager to challenge him.
• Su Qingwan said the Blood Lotus Sect’s headquarters had been dormant but might be rebuilding its strength and seeking alliances.
• Su Qingwan revealed that the sect suspected the Blood Lotus Sect’s sacred relic was the Nine Netherworld Divine Lantern, which could awaken evil gods if repaired.

Zhao Feng joined the Qingzhou Martial Suppression Bureau as a Hundred-Household Officer and was tasked with helping locate and destroy the Blood Lotus Sect's headquarters. He continued cultivating in Qingzhou, where he considered ways to merge his different types of true qi.

• Su Qingwan warned Zhao Feng that his claim that “the world belongs to all” had drawn him into a political struggle involving the Cloud Crane Academy and the Empress Dowager's faction.
• Seven days later, Zhao Feng reported to the Qingzhou Martial Suppression Bureau and met Fu Fengxing and Shao Kai.
• Fu Fengxing promoted Zhao Feng to Hundred-Household Officer and assured him that the Bureau would protect him from the Cloud Crane Academy and the Maternal Relatives' Faction.
• Fu Fengxing and Shao Kai assigned Zhao Feng to search for traces of the Demonic Sect and help destroy its hidden headquarters, giving him his token, appointment document, and case files.
• Zhao Feng studied Bureau records and cultivated with pills in the Four Seas Trading House's courtyard for half a month.
• Zhao Feng checked his cultivation panel and considered merging his Everlasting Spring True Qi with his other types of true qi.

After learning that origin-returning spirit milk would soon be auctioned, Zhao Feng sought a way to raise the silver and led his new subordinates on a mission against the Black Wind Sect. The chapter left him at the Min River, preparing to attack the sect alone.

• Lin Ziwei wrote to Zhao Feng that three drops of origin-returning spirit milk would likely be auctioned at the Hundred Treasures House next month, and Zhao realized he lacked the silver to buy them.
• Zhao Feng arrived at the 21st Hundred-Household Office and heard that his subordinates resented his appointment and their lack of missions.
• Zhao Feng ordered Yue Lang to bring him a mission brief, selected the Grade-B mission to eradicate the Black Wind Sect, and refused to request support.
• Zhao Feng led more than fifty Martial Suppression Guards to Hongshan County, where Yue Lang suggested coordinating with the imperial army for boats.
• Zhao Feng declared that he would enter the Black Wind Sect's river lair alone and kill its members.

Zhao Feng infiltrated the Black Wind Sect’s island stronghold and fought his way through its defenders. After killing the Black Wind Three Fiends, he left the sect’s disciples in chaos as Yue Lang and the others landed to attack.

• Zhao Feng swam to the island, killed the watchtower guards, and entered the Mountain Gate after firing a signal arrow.
• Zhao Feng cut through a patrol and shot down Black Wind Sect disciples as they rushed to defend the mountain.
• Zhao Feng killed the Third Fiend with Condensed Edge, then fought First Fiend and Second Fiend.
• Zhao Feng pierced Second Fiend with his spear and killed First Fiend after defeating his final attack.
• Yue Lang, Fatty Huang, Skinny Monkey, and their men landed and began attacking the panicked Black Wind Sect disciples.

Zhao Feng wiped out the Black Wind Sect, divided its spoils, and prepared to bid on origin-returning spirit milk at the Hundred Treasures House auction. Disguised at the auction, he spotted Yu Shi, who had come seeking a Realm-Breaking Pill.

• Zhao Feng defeated the Black Wind Sect, then divided its plunder among the bureau and his men while keeping a share for himself.
• Shao Kai criticized Zhao Feng for withholding half the spoils, but Fu Fengxing defended his achievement in defeating the sect alone.
• Zhao Feng sold some treasure materials and medicines and planned to use his silver to bid for origin-returning spirit milk.
• Lin Ziwei brought Zhao Feng an auction catalog and advised him that he still had a chance to win the spirit milk.
• Zhao Feng wore a Human Skin Mask and entered the Hundred Treasures House auction with Lin Ziwei, where she identified several influential guests.
• Zhao Feng recognized Yu Shi, who had traveled to the capital to bid for a Realm-Breaking Pill.

At the Hundred Treasures House auction, Zhao Feng and the others watched as cultivation methods and rare materials drew fierce bidding. The auction ended this chapter with Shi Jinghong securing a valuable three-colored jade dew lingzhi for Medicine King Valley.

• Yu Shi entered a private box, brooding over his losses and reduced standing in the sect, while Zhao Feng noticed him and grew wary.
• An independent martial artist bought the Nameless Cultivation Method Fragment, and a young family scion won a three-hundred-year-old stalk of astral qi grass.
• Lin Ziwei gave up bidding against Liu Fang for a five-hundred-year-old moon-soul flower after its price reached fifty thousand taels.
• Luo Wuya secured the complete astral force cultivation method Heaven-Burning Art for one hundred and ten thousand taels.
• Shi Jinghong asked the other bidders to yield the three-colored jade dew lingzhi to Medicine King Valley, then won it for two hundred thousand taels.

Zhao Feng won a drop of origin-returning spirit milk at auction and later used it to fuse his everlasting spring true qi with his yin-yang true qi. The fusion succeeded, giving him a powerful new three-colored true qi, and he began looking ahead to fusing the remaining phases.

• Zhao Feng outbid Pan Changshan for the first drop of origin-returning spirit milk, while Li Qiushui and Bao Xuan won the other two drops for higher prices.
• Zhao Feng tried to buy mithril for refining his metal element true qi, but withdrew when Yu Shi raised the price to two hundred and fifty thousand taels.
• Zhao Feng left the auction with Lin Ziwei and spent the next two months cultivating while wondering whether Yu Shi had recognized him.
• Zhao Feng drank the origin-returning spirit milk and used its energy to fuse his everlasting spring true qi with his yin-yang true qi.
• Zhao Feng tested his new three-colored true qi by cutting a stone stool in half and realized his strength had greatly increased.

Zhao Feng perfected the Rock-Steadfast Thick Earth Art, then fused its true qi with his other three strands to form four-colored primordial true qi. As the Martial Suppression Bureau traced the Demonic Sect to rebels in Bing Province, Zhao Feng returned home feeling watched.

• Zhao Feng perfected the Rock-Steadfast Thick Earth Art after consuming a Thick Earth Pill.
• Zhao Feng advised Qiao'er to remain at the Imperial Court's Martial Academy and pursue her Martial Scholar qualification.
• Zhao Feng led a raid on the Peaceful Horse Ranch, subdued Head Steward Pang with one spear thrust, and seized evidence of the ranch's ties to the Demonic Sect.
• Zhao Feng requested an advance of origin-returning spirit milk from Shao Kai and later used it to fuse his thick earth true qi with his yang, water, and everlasting spring true qi.
• Shao Kai reported that the Demonic Sect had likely contacted Liang Qian's rebels in Bing Province, and Zhao Feng returned to his courtyard feeling watched.

Zhao Feng was ambushed by Yu Shi, who sought the treasure he believed Zhao Feng possessed, and fought him before fleeing into Mist Valley. After using a Bloodburst Pill to break through to early-stage astral force, Zhao Feng launched a decisive attack that shattered Yu Shi’s defense and sent him flying.

• Zhao Feng recognized Yu Shi as the attacker and fought him with his spear, forcing Yu Shi to draw the Golden Meteor Sword.
• Zhao Feng fled toward Mist Valley, using Wind-Controlling Escape to evade Yu Shi’s pursuit.
• Zhao Feng hid in the fog with a Turtle Breath Pill while his true qi recovered, then took a Bloodburst Pill as Yu Shi closed in.
• Zhao Feng’s cultivation surged to early-stage astral force, and he struck Yu Shi with Thousandfold Shatter.
• Yu Shi’s hidden injuries disrupted his defense, and Zhao Feng’s spear attack shattered his barrier and sent him flying.

After recovering from his fight with Yu Shi, Zhao Feng opened the elder’s Mustard Seed Pouch and found mithril and the Primordial Unity One-Qi Art among its contents. He used the mithril to purify his Geng Metal true qi, leaving him ready to pursue its fusion and consider repairing his broken spear.

• Zhao Feng killed the badly wounded Yu Shi, then used pills to recover from the severe injuries and cultivation backlash caused by his trump cards.
• After returning to Qingzhou City, Zhao Feng asked Lin Ziwei how to use the Mustard Seed Pouch and learned that it would open once Yu Shi’s spiritual sense faded.
• Zhao Feng opened the pouch and found mithril and the Primordial Unity One-Qi Art, which could guide his cultivation toward fusing the five elements into primordial unity.
• Zhao Feng studied the art and decided to perfect his Geng Metal Sharp Qi Formula before beginning the fusion.
• Zhao Feng drew metal element primal qi from the mithril to purify his Geng Metal true qi, then looked at his broken Mountain Burner Spear and began forming an idea.

Zhao Feng led a raid on White Dragon Temple, a Blood Lotus Sect stronghold, and defeated its abbot and several powerful disciples. After a fierce fight with an Astral Force expert, Zhao Feng drove him into the mountain forest and pursued him.

• Zhao Feng arranged for Meng Youwei to forge a heavy treasure bow as a test before entrusting him with the Mountain Burner Spear.
• Shao Kai assigned Zhao Feng and Luo Xiong to lead a force against White Dragon Temple during the coordinated assault on Blood Lotus Sect strongholds.
• Zhao Feng broke through the temple gates and led his men into battle, killing two Embracing Elixir Force monks and subduing the abbot.
• A gray-robed Guardian Dharma Protector with Astral Force appeared and struck down several Martial Suppression Guards.
• Zhao Feng fought the gray-robed man, forced him to flee into the mountain forest, and pursued him.

Zhao Feng killed a Blood Lotus Sect Astral Force practitioner, discovered a locked Thousand Mechanisms Casket, and later received a new bow while arranging to reforge his spear. After three months of cultivation, he prepared to fuse his true qi and advance toward Astral Force, intending to borrow more spirit milk from the bureau.

• Zhao Feng pursued the gray-robed man from the White Dragon Temple and killed him with his spear, then took a jade casket from the corpse.
• Zhao Feng returned to the temple, where his forces had defeated the stronghold, and ordered a search before leading the prisoners and spoils back to the city.
• Zhao Feng recognized the casket as a Thousand Mechanisms Casket and realized he would need its Golden Key, likely by tracking down the Blood Lotus Dharma King.
• Su Qingwan gave Zhao Feng a Tranquility Talisman before returning to her sect, and Zhao Feng gave her his storybook of Legend of the White Snake.
• Meng Youwei completed Zhao Feng's Tiger-Subduing Bow, then agreed to reforge the broken Mountain Burner Spear with mithril.
• After three months cultivating the Geng Metal Sharp Qi Formula, Zhao Feng planned to fuse its true qi and borrow another drop of origin-returning spirit milk.