Chapter Summaries

Zhao Feng fused his five elemental true qi into primordial true qi, collected his reforged Mountain Burner Great Spear, and learned that the Northern Barbarians and rebels had joined forces against the empire. As Qingzhou faced growing danger, he entered seclusion and broke through to the Astral Force realm by refining his yang qi into fire element true essence.

• Zhao Feng fused his five elemental true qi into primordial true qi and traveled to Jinyang Prefecture to collect his reforged Mountain Burner Great Spear from Meng Youwei.
• Zhao Feng tested the spear's power, paid Meng Youwei for his work, and warned him about the tense situation in Jinyang Prefecture.
• Shao Kai told the Hundred-Household Officers that the Northern Barbarians and rebels had invaded You Province and ordered them to prepare for war; Lin Ziwei later warned Zhao Feng that powerful lineages had aided the invasion.
• Zhao Feng delegated bureau duties and entered seclusion to cultivate the Nine Yang Orthodox Meridian Formula.
• Zhao Feng refined his yang qi into fire element true essence and broke through to the Astral Force realm.

As the rebellion spread through You and Bing Provinces, Zhao Feng advanced his cultivation, awakened spiritual sense, and gained control of a Mustard Seed Pouch. After Bingzhou City fell, he correctly predicted that rebels would also attack Qingzhou and volunteered to return to Big Stone County with his men to recruit defenders.

• You Province fell, and Military Supervisor Sun Chenzong and his officers discussed the worsening crisis and the need to defend Qingzhou.
• Zhao Feng transformed his everlasting spring true qi into wood element true essence, then awakened spiritual sense and imprinted it on the Mustard Seed Pouch.
• Zhao Feng learned that Guerrilla General Jiang Hu had opened Bingzhou City's gates to the rebels, and that Grand Commander Xu had retreated to Anbo Prefecture.
• At the Garrison Commander's Office, Zhao Feng predicted that the rebels would attack Qingzhou to seize its strategic routes and resources; an urgent dispatch confirmed that one rebel force was marching south.
• Sun Chenzong authorized Zhao Feng to return to Big Stone County with his own men and recruit local troops, then ordered prefectures and counties to organize militia and defend their homes.

Zhao Feng returned to Big Stone County as refugees fled the rebels and organized the county’s defense by raising morale, recruiting volunteers, and gathering supplies. After the city mobilized for battle, a scout reported that rebel forces had been spotted fifty li to the north.

• Zhao Feng learned that the rebels had captured Three Yang County but split their forces, then hurried to Big Stone County with his Martial Suppression Guards.
• Zhao Feng met Xu Commandant and County Magistrate Lu, learned that the county lacked grain, and promised to take charge of recruiting troops and securing supplies.
• Zhao Feng returned to the Zhao Residence, reassured his family, and asked them to contribute their grain to the defense.
• Zhao Feng rallied the townspeople, executed merchants who hoarded supplies and raised prices, and persuaded local families, martial arts schools, and escort agencies to donate resources.
• Zhao Feng organized volunteers and assigned residents to training, defense, and supply work as Big Stone County prepared for battle.
• A militia scout reported that rebels had been spotted fifty li north of the city.

Zhao Feng defended Big Stone County against Wu Liang’s approaching rebel army and killed Vanguard Commander Hou Jian with five arrows, restoring the defenders’ morale. Wu Liang sent Commandant Hu and Ma Yuan to capture the county, and Ma Yuan revealed that Zhao Feng was his enemy.

• Wu Liang ordered Hou Jian to take Big Stone County within two hours, and Hou Jian led three thousand vanguard troops toward its walls.
• Hou Jian demanded the defenders surrender, but Zhao Feng raised the Tiger-Subduing Bow and fired five Inkfeather Arrows.
• Zhao Feng’s arrows killed Hou Jian, and the rebel vanguard fell into chaos as the defenders and civilians cheered.
• Wu Liang ordered Commandant Hu to remain with five thousand troops and destroy Big Stone County while the main army continued south.
• Ma Yuan volunteered to help capture the county and revealed that Zhao Feng was the commander defending it and his enemy.

Zhao Feng led Big Stone County’s defenders through a rebel siege and revealed his astral force breakthrough to Huo Shan. As the assault raged, Zhao Feng slaughtered more than a dozen rebel officers and martial artists, but he sensed a dangerous presence watching him.

• Wu Liang sent Ma Yuan and a rebel battalion to attack Big Stone County while the main army detoured south.
• Zhao Feng assigned the county’s defenders to the walls, then advanced his thick earth and geng metal true qi to true essence during the siege.
• Huo Shan learned that Zhao Feng had reached astral force and stood with him when the rebels launched their assault.
• The defenders repelled waves of rebel troops with arrows, boiling Golden Dross, logs, and stones while Huo Shan fought a rebel martial artist.
• Zhao Feng fought on and below the wall with the Mountain Burner Spear, killing more than a dozen rebel officers and martial artists.
• Zhao Feng sensed a dangerous presence watching him from behind.

Zhao Feng helped defend the city against the rebel assault, while Qiao'er and Luo Xiong killed enemy officers at their gates. That night Ma Yuan ambushed Zhao Feng, but Zhao wounded him with Yang Extreme Break and killed him with an arrow as he fled.

• Zhao Feng repelled the rebels at the main gate and sensed that a hidden threat, not the siege crossbows, had caused his danger.
• Qiao'er killed two rebel generals at the southern gate, and Luo Xiong slew two colonels and their deputy general at the eastern gate.
• The rebels withdrew, ending the first day's fighting, while Ma Yuan told Hu Shahu that he still intended to kill Zhao Feng.
• Zhao Feng reviewed his cultivation panel and began to test whether the Thunderclap Saber Technique had a limit-breaking skill.
• Ma Yuan ambushed Zhao Feng in the County Yamen, but Zhao Feng matched his Blood-Transforming Divine Palm and struck him with Yang Extreme Break.
• Ma Yuan fled across the rooftops, but Zhao Feng shot him through the heart with an Eaglefeather Arrow.

Zhao Feng revealed he had survived Ma Yuan’s assassination, killed Hu Shahu, and routed the rebel army attacking Big Stone County. After arranging for his family to move to the provincial capital and deciding to seek news of Huo Yao in Ever-Peace Prefecture, he gained a new Thunderclap Saber limit-breaking skill.

• Zhao Feng restored his strength after killing Ma Yuan and kept the assassination secret from his allies.
• Hu Shahu launched a full assault on Big Stone County, but Zhao Feng appeared on the wall, shot him, and led a counterattack that killed him and broke the rebel army.
• Zhao Feng ordered the battlefield cleared and arranged to take his family to the provincial capital, while Huo Shan declined to move his martial arts school and asked about Huo Yao.
• Zhao Feng told Huo Shan he planned to travel to Ever-Peace Prefecture, where Huo Yao and Lin Ziwei were trapped.
• Zhao Feng perfected the Thunderclap Saber Technique and gained the limit-breaking skill Thunderclap One-Saber Slash.

Zhao Feng led two thousand disguised troops to join reinforcements from Min Prefecture in a pincer attack on the rebels besieging Changning. As the rebels fell into chaos, Zhao Feng cut through their officers and charged toward Wu Liang’s command tent.

• Zhao Feng received Sun Chenzong’s order to march on Changning, disguised his troops in captured rebel uniforms, and set out with two thousand men.
• After reaching Changning, Zhao Feng sent Yue Lang to coordinate with the river reinforcements while his troops waited as the city’s outer wall fell.
• Yue Lang returned with news that General Li’s force of over ten thousand men had landed, and Zhao Feng prepared to attack when they gave the signal.
• Wu Liang ordered his army to press forward after the river reinforcements attacked from the south, while Zhao Feng’s disguised troops struck the rebels’ rear from the north and the city defenders sallied forth.
• Zhao Feng killed more than ten rebel officers and colonels, then charged toward Wu Liang’s command tent as the rebels tried to enter the city.

Zhao Feng fought through the rebels and reached the Inner City, where he rescued the Five Sects Alliance experts and learned the Nine Yang Gate had been devastated. As the battle for Changning reached its turning point, Mu Xuanzhou returned and revealed that he had broken through to the Innate Realm.

• Zhao Feng wounded a demonic astral force swordsman, helped scatter the rebels’ rear army, and ordered Yue Lang and Luo Xiong to cut off the enemy’s central army.
• Zhao Feng rescued Yin Zheng by killing a demonic astral force swordsman, and Yin Zheng killed the hammer wielder while the demonic experts withdrew.
• Zhao Feng reached the ruined Nine Yang Gate, learned from Li Yong that Mu Xuanzhou had been missing and several senior disciples had died, then left to search for Huo Yao.
• Zhao Feng joined the Five Sects Alliance’s fight against the demonic experts as Wu Liang’s forces pressed their attack on Changning.
• Mu Xuanzhou returned to the battlefield and killed a perfected astral force expert with one sword strike, revealing that he had reached the Innate Realm.

After the Imperial Court and righteous factions defeated the rebels, Mu Xuanzhou revealed that he came from beyond the continent and entrusted Zhao Feng with the Nine Yang Gate’s legacy before leaving to fight the demons. Zhao Feng was promoted to Deputy Thousand-Household Officer, given command of the prefecture’s Martial Suppression Guards, and resumed cultivating as the campaign against the remaining rebels approached.

• Mu Xuanzhou drove back Wu Liang’s central army, and the defenders pursued the retreating rebels to a crushing defeat.
• Zhao Feng found Huo Yao alive and learned that Lin Ziwei had safely evacuated the Four Seas Trading House’s important goods before the siege.
• At the ruined Nine Yang Gate, Mu Xuanzhou revealed he was not from the continent, gave Zhao Feng the sect’s core manuals and Nine Yang Divine Sword, and said he would help oppose the Nine Nether Demon Sect.
• Zhao Feng visited the Eight Extremes Gate and Huo Yao, then received a promotion to Deputy Thousand-Household Officer and command of all Martial Suppression Guards in Ever-Peace Prefecture.
• Zhao Feng cultivated the Primordial Unity One-Qi Art, made progress with his primordial true essence, and began exploring the Tai Chi Golden Body Art.
• Qianhu Fan told Zhao Feng that reinforcements would soon join an assault on rebel strongholds near Huaiyuan and Jinyang Prefectures.

Zhao Feng cultivated the Tai Chi Golden Body Art, tested it against Luo Xiong, and trained in the Nine Yang Divine Fist and Nine Yang Sword Technique. He reached the introductory level in both Nine Yang arts, while continuing to seek ways to improve his body-tempering practice.

• Zhao Feng used the Tai Chi Golden Body Art to temper his body, but gained only one experience point before his meridians reached their limit.
• Zhao Feng sparred with Luo Xiong using only their bodies and gained three experience points as he became more proficient in the Tai Chi Golden Body Art.
• Zhao Feng studied the Nine Yang Divine Fist and, after three days of practice, reached its introductory level.
• Zhao Feng practiced the Nine Yang Sword Technique for three days and reached its introductory level.

Zhao Feng cultivated the Blood Soul Secret Art and devised a plan to attack the rebels trapped on Crouching Tiger Mountain. During the general assault, he led nearly four hundred Martial Suppression Guards through a hidden passage and launched a surprise attack on Wu Liang’s headquarters, where he defeated the Yinshan Two Demons.

• Zhao Feng reached the introductory stage of the Blood Soul Secret Art after several days of cultivation.
• Zhao Feng told Wang Ling to block river transport and gather troops and martial masters for an assault on Crouching Tiger Mountain.
• Zhao Feng briefed the Martial Suppression Bureau officers, including Xia Qing, on his tactics for the attack.
• Seven days later, Zhao Feng led nearly four hundred guards through a hidden passage behind Crouching Tiger Mountain and stormed Wu Liang’s headquarters.
• Wu Liang sent the Yinshan Two Demons to stop Zhao Feng, but Zhao Feng killed the younger demon and hurled the wounded elder into the command tent.

Zhao Feng killed rebel leader Wu Liang, helping rout the rebellion in Qingzhou, then returned to Qingzhou City and reunited with his family and Lin Ziwei. As court scrutiny gathered around him, Lin Ziwei warned that Liang Qian would focus on Bing Province, while Zhao Feng sought elixirs to cultivate Primordial Unity Astral Force.

• Zhao Feng killed Wu Liang and announced his death, causing the rebels to lose morale and the Imperial Court's forces to rout them.
• Old Devil Shi escaped Yu Ruoyun and Wei Tieyi, then decided to report Zhao Feng to the young master of the Nine Nether Demon Sect.
• Zhao Feng collected blood essence from fallen cultivators as the remaining rebels were defeated and Qingzhou was gradually pacified.
• Li Yong and Zhang Hao asked to join Zhao Feng, who agreed; he then returned to Qingzhou City, where Shao Kai gave him a residence and told him his family had been brought there.
• Zhao Feng visited Lin Ziwei, who mourned Wu Yue and Tang Yunshu and warned him that powerful figures at court were watching him.
• Lin Ziwei predicted Liang Qian would turn his attention to Bing Province and told Zhao Feng about elixirs for Astral Force cultivation, including the rare Ninefold Radiant Jade Pill.

Zhao Feng sought a body-tempering formula and learned that Medicine King Valley needed someone with both wood and fire true essence to treat Fan Tong’s lingering poison. After demonstrating that he could help, Zhao Feng left Qu Sheng ready to deliver his offer to the valley master.

• Zhao Feng defeated Luo Xiong in a sparring match and obtained the medicinal bath formula for the Demon-Subduing Vajra Art.
• Zhao Feng practiced the Blood Soul Secret Art outside the city, nearly suffered cultivation deviation, and was saved by the jade talisman Su Qingwan had given him.
• Yue Lang told Zhao Feng that Medicine King Valley was secretly seeking an expert to help treat Fan Tong’s injuries.
• Zhao Feng learned from Qu Sheng that Nine-Extremes Baleful Poison remained in Fan Tong’s heart meridians and required both wood and fire true essence to remove.
• Zhao Feng demonstrated his emerald-green and crimson true essence to Qu Sheng and offered to help Fan Tong.
• Qu Sheng praised Zhao Feng and promised to convey his offer to the valley master.

Medicine King Valley recruited Zhao Feng to purge the nine-extremes baleful poison in Valley Master Fan Tong, and Zhao Feng began the treatment in exchange for pills and a body-refining medicinal bath formula. After several days of helping Fan Tong, Zhao Feng used the formula to endure an intense Tai Chi Vajra Art body-tempering bath.

• Fan Tong and Medicine King Valley's elders decided to seek outside help for the poison threatening his ability to fight, and Qu Sheng reported that Zhao Feng possessed both fire and wood element true essence.
• Zhao Feng demonstrated his true essence to Fan Tong and negotiated for Ninefold Radiant Jade Pills and a medicinal bath formula before beginning treatment.
• Zhao Feng carefully burned away much of Fan Tong's poison while using his wood element true essence to restore the damaged meridians, then stopped before exhausting his power.
• Fan Tong said three more treatment sessions should clear the remaining poison and rewarded Zhao Feng with pills, a medicinal bath formula, and other benefits.
• Zhao Feng returned to Medicine King Valley over the following days to continue treating Fan Tong and began cultivating in the prescribed medicinal bath.
• Zhao Feng endured severe pain as the Tai Chi Vajra Art refined and widened his meridians, sinews, bones, flesh, and skin, until the medicinal liquid was absorbed.

After three months of cultivation, Zhao Feng learned that the Liao Family and other powerful lineages had aided the rebels, then confronted Gu He, Gu Rong, and Wan Chengliang, who threatened to expose his secret demonic art. Zhao Feng killed all three and ended the chapter with Gu He dead before he could reach Qingzhou City.

• Zhao Feng reviewed his improved cultivation after three months of dedicated training as Bing Province fell to Liang Qian’s forces.
• Shao Kai told Zhao Feng that the Liao Family and other lineages had secretly supported the rebels, and Zhao Feng resolved that they must answer for it.
• Gu He, Gu Rong, and Wan Chengliang confronted Zhao Feng in the mountains, revealed that they knew about his Blood Soul Secret Art, and tried to blackmail him into surrendering the Nine Yang Divine Sword.
• Zhao Feng killed Gu Rong with the Mountain Burner Spear, then overwhelmed Wan Chengliang and killed him.
• Gu He fled toward Qingzhou City, but Zhao Feng pursued him and shot him through the neck with an Inkfeather Arrow before finishing him with his spear.

Zhao Feng prepared to infiltrate Bingzhou City and eliminate Liao Tianlong and Liao Kuan for their treasonous ties to the rebels. Disguised as a Bohai merchant, he entered the city with Yue Lang and Luo Xiong, leaving the mission poised to begin.

• Zhao Feng killed Gu He, Gu Rong, and Wan Chengliang, took their valuables, and learned the Breath-Concealing Technique from Gu He's manual.
• Zhao Feng asked Meng Youwei to reforge Gu He's sword, and Meng crafted the Golden Flame Sword, which Zhao Feng tested with his Nine Yang Sword Technique.
• Shao Kai told Zhao Feng that the Imperial Court had ordered the Qingzhou Martial Suppression Bureau to kill Liao Tianlong and Liao Kuan, and Zhao Feng volunteered for the mission.
• Zhao Feng trained until he reached minor mastery in the Breath-Concealing Technique, then collected the Golden Flame Sword from Meng Youwei.
• Zhao Feng secretly left Qingzhou with Yue Lang and Luo Xiong, traveled to Bing Province, and adopted the identity of a Bohai merchant.
• Zhao Feng and his companions passed the rebel inspection and entered Bingzhou City.

Zhao Feng and his companions waited in Bingzhou City for Liao Tianlong and Liao Kuan to reunite, then attacked during Old Madam Liao’s birthday banquet. Zhao Feng killed both men and escaped amid fires and citywide chaos, but a dangerous pursuer forced him away from his rendezvous with Yue Lang and Luo Xiong.

• Zhao Feng, Yue Lang, and Luo Xiong learned that Liao Tianlong and Liao Kuan would attend Old Madam Liao’s eightieth birthday banquet and planned their attack and escape.
• Zhao Feng shot Liao Tianlong and Liao Kuan as they returned from seeing off the last guests, wounding the father and gravely injuring the son.
• Zhao Feng fought through the Liao Residence’s guards and killed Liao Tianlong in a duel inside the house.
• Zhao Feng killed the wounded Liao Kuan, took both heads, and fled as fires at the armory and grain and fodder Cargo Yard plunged Bingzhou City into chaos.
• Zhao Feng escaped over the city wall, but when a deadly pursuer’s presence returned, he abandoned his rendezvous with Yue Lang and Luo Xiong and fled in another direction.

Zhao Feng escaped the Blood Lotus Cult Master, returned safely to Qingzhou, and reunited with his worried comrades and family. After honing his Nine Yang Sword Technique, he received an imperial decree promoting him and rewarding his service.

• Zhao Feng hid beneath a river and evaded the Blood Lotus Cult Master, who ordered his men to capture Zhao Feng alive and discussed the missing Thousand Mechanisms Casket.
• Yue Lang and Luo Xiong returned to Qingzhou without Zhao Feng, while officials and Zhao Feng’s comrades worried about his disappearance.
• Qiao'er visited the Hundred-Household Office to ask about Zhao Feng, who arrived just as she was leaving and reassured everyone.
• Zhao Feng practiced the Nine Yang Sword Technique with his Golden Flame Sword and gained confidence in their combined power.
• Shao Kai read an imperial decree promoting Zhao Feng to Thousand-Household Officer and Distant-Reaching General and granting him gold and silk.

After Liang Qian founded Great Liang in Bing Province, Zhao Feng expanded his Martial Suppression Bureau forces and cultivated ahead of the Imperial Court’s planned counteroffensive. The chapter ended with Zhao Feng meeting military leaders who were preparing to retake Bing Province.

• Shao Kai accepted an appointment in Bing Province but remained in Qingzhou for the time being, while Zhao Feng agreed to let some of Shao Kai’s Hundred-Household Officers serve with him.
• Zhao Feng’s family celebrated his promotion and other martial breakthroughs at New Year’s, and Qiao'er said she wanted to join the Martial Suppression Bureau.
• Liang Qian ascended the throne in Bing Province and named his nation Great Liang; Zhao Feng then expanded his forces and accepted Jiang Chen, Xie Qiu, and Mu Xingze as officers serving under him.
• Lin Ziwei warned Zhao Feng about the enemy’s Innate Realm experts and said the Imperial Court planned a counteroffensive to recover the lost territories.
• Zhao Feng cultivated the Nine Yang Divine Fist, Tai Chi Golden Body Art, and Primordial Unity One-Qi Art, improving his understanding and progress in each.
• Yue Lang summoned Zhao Feng to the Garrison Commander’s Office, where Sun Chenzong introduced Xu Shan, Grand Commander of Bing Province, and the leaders discussed the order to retake the province.