Chapter Summaries

Zhao Feng defeated Lu Changfeng at the Wind and Cloud Gathering, revealing his mastery of five-element primordial unity astral qi and taking the top position on the Dragon Rankings. After the gathering, he learned from Shen Ci’s information slip that the Empress Dowager was not the real Empress Dowager.

• Lu Changfeng challenged Zhao Feng, and Zhao Feng calmly accepted as the guests gathered to watch.
• Lu Changfeng unleashed four late-stage streams of Astral Qi, but Zhao Feng blocked his attacks and revealed five-element primordial unity astral qi.
• Lu Changfeng used Four Extremes Return to One, but Zhao Feng struck him down, breaking his arm and establishing himself as the new leader of the Dragon Rankings.
• Ye Wuya told Murong Fu that Zhao Feng had fifth-grade root bone and was unlikely to reach the Innate Realm, easing Murong Fu’s concerns about Su Qingwan.
• Shen Ci gave the guests gifts and information, and Zhao Feng later read that the Empress Dowager was not the real Empress Dowager before burning the message.

Zhao Feng set aside the Empress Dowager’s assassination attempt and traveled with Su Qingwan to investigate Lin Ziwei’s abduction near White Spring Pass. After learning the caravan’s disappearance pointed toward smaller Northern Barbarian tribes, they planned to seek information at Quicksand Market.

• Zhao Feng met Emperor Jing, agreed to postpone dealing with the Empress Dowager, and spoke privately with him for four hours.
• Su Qingwan invited Zhao Feng to search for the Barbarian God's hidden legacy, but an urgent report revealed that Lin Ziwei had been abducted at White Spring Pass.
• Zhao Feng ordered Tang Jiyuan to mobilize troops toward the Great Wan border, then traveled with Su Qingwan to Bing Province to investigate.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan entered Great Wan in disguise and met Dark Guard leader Zhou Meng, who reported that the caravan had vanished amid traces of blood and hoofprints.
• Zhou Meng identified the Hadajin Tribe and Nayale Tribe as possible perpetrators and told Zhao Feng about the Longwind Innkeeper at Quicksand Market.
• Zhao Feng decided to visit Quicksand Market the next morning, and he and Su Qingwan recognized the Longwind Innkeeper's methods as resembling those of the Wind and Cloud Tower.

Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan traveled to Quicksand Market to investigate the Long Wind Inn and encountered a suspicious caravan carrying grain. Conversations at the inn connected Yan grain shipments to the Wolf Tribe and possibly to Lin Ziwei’s missing caravan, while Fourth Madam emerged to check the inn’s accounts.

• Zhao Feng decided to observe the Long Wind Inn before acting, then left White Spring Pass with Su Qingwan and Zhou Meng in disguise.
• Zhao Feng noticed a caravan carrying what appeared to be grain and overheard its guards discuss protecting the cargo near Quicksand Market.
• Zhao Feng sent Zhou Meng to investigate the caravan’s origins, destination, and backers without alerting anyone.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan reached the Long Wind Inn, where they saw the caravan’s guards and listened as Northern Barbarians discussed the Wolf Tribe obtaining grain from Yan caravans.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan suspected the grain trade might relate to Lin Ziwei’s missing caravan, and Fourth Madam came out to check the inn’s ledger.

Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan visited Longwind Inn, where Fourth Madam recognized Shen Ci’s jade token and revealed that the inn served as Wind and Cloud Tower’s eye beyond the frontier. She asked Zhao Feng to help kill Wo Lie, chief of the Wolf Tribe, claiming she had guessed why the pair had come to Quicksand Market.

• Zhao Feng watched Fourth Madam use her silver scissors and kitchen workers to punish three drunken merchants who harassed her.
• After noticing the jade token Shen Ci had given Zhao Feng, Fourth Madam invited Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan to meet her privately in the courtyard.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan concluded that Longwind Inn was connected to Wind and Cloud Tower, and Fourth Madam confirmed it was the Tower’s eye beyond the frontier.
• Fourth Madam refused Zhao Feng’s offered payment and asked him to help kill Wo Lie, chief of the Wolf Tribe.
• When Su Qingwan questioned why they would accept the dangerous mission, Fourth Madam said she had already guessed why they had come.

Zhao Feng learned that the missing Great Yan caravan was held by the Nayale Tribe and arranged to meet its chief, Ba Tu. Meanwhile, Ba Tu faced pressure from neighboring chiefs over Wo Lie’s demands for grain, and his adviser warned him that Wo Lie might discover the caravan before he could decide what to do.

• Fourth Madam told Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan that the Nayale Tribe held the caravan and offered to arrange negotiations with Ba Tu.
• Zhao Feng agreed to meet Ba Tu and said he would present himself as Zhao, a decision-maker from the Upper Capital.
• Neighboring chiefs told Ba Tu that Wo Lie’s grain demands would leave their tribes starving, and Ba Tu dismissed them without a solution.
• After the chiefs left, Ha Dan warned Ba Tu that Wo Lie would soon arrive and might already know about the caravan.
• Ha Dan asked whether Ba Tu would surrender the caravan or destroy the evidence, and Ba Tu reacted sharply.

Ba Tu faced the choice of killing Lin Ziwei and her caravan or risking Wo Lie’s punishment, while Lin urged him to wait for help. Zhao Feng arrived at the Nayale Tribe, revealed his identity, and offered grain and border trade, leaving Ba Tu to ask what conditions he must accept.

• Ba Tu told Ha Dan that Wo Lie would punish the Hadajin Tribe whether they killed the captives or returned them, and Lin Ziwei urged Ba Tu to wait for someone able to authorize grain sales.
• Zhou Meng reported to Zhao Feng that the caravan was likely carrying grain for the Hadajin Tribe and was connected to the Shi family of You Province.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan rode with Fourth Madam to the Nayale Tribe, where Zhao insisted on seeing Lin Ziwei before negotiations began.
• Zhao Feng revealed his identity as Commandant of the Martial Suppression Bureau, and Ba Tu explained that he had seized Lin Ziwei’s caravan to prevent Wo Lie’s planned attack.
• Zhao Feng offered to sell grain and bring Ba Tu’s tribe and nearby tribes into the border trade system, and Ba Tu asked what conditions Zhao required.

Zhao Feng persuaded Ba Tu to help kill Wo Lie, and three days later Wo Lie arrived at the Nayale camp to demand grain and accuse Ba Tu of treason. Wo Lie revealed that Chao Ge'er had surrounded the camp and ordered Ba Tu to surrender his tribe; Ba Tu stood trapped as Wo Lie taunted him.

• Zhao Feng asked Ba Tu and Ha Dan to help kill Wo Lie, and Ba Tu agreed to the plan.
• Three days later, Ba Tu and Ha Dan prepared the Nayale camp for Wo Lie's arrival.
• Wo Lie arrived with Hongji, Su Chi, Chao Ge'er, and more than a hundred Wolf Guards.
• Wo Lie demanded the overdue grain, and Chao Ge'er accused Ba Tu of seizing Lin Ziwei's caravan and plotting to defect to Great Yan.
• Ha Dan returned with news that Chao Ge'er had brought over two thousand cavalry to surround the camp, and Wo Lie demanded Ba Tu surrender the caravan, grain, weapons, livestock, and tribe to Chao Ge'er.

Ba Tu’s revolt against Wo Lie began with the arrival of Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan, who helped turn the Wolf Tribe camp into a battlefield. Zhao Feng chased down and killed Wo Lie and Su Chi, leaving the Wolf Tribe chief dead on the Gobi.

• Ba Tu revealed that he had invited Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan, and Hongji and Wo Lie recognized the two newcomers.
• Ba Tu’s allied tribes attacked the Hadajin cavalry while Hongji fought Su Qingwan and Zhao Feng cut through the Wolf Guards.
• Su Chi escorted Wo Lie from the camp as Zhao Feng mounted Fourth Madam’s horse and pursued them.
• Zhao Feng used Five Stars Aligned to kill Wo Lie’s guards and bring down both fleeing men’s horses.
• Zhao Feng defeated Su Chi and killed him with the Golden Flame Sword.
• Wo Lie charged Zhao Feng with a knife, but Zhao Feng cut his throat and killed him.

After killing Wo Lie and defeating Chao Ge’er’s forces, Zhao Feng helped the allied tribes relocate into Great Wan territory before setting out with Su Qingwan for the Kentra Mountains to seek the Barbarian God’s Legacy. The Wolf Tribe ambushed them with more than a thousand cavalry, and the two fought their way toward the mountains.

• Zhao Feng displayed Wo Lie’s head at the battlefield, breaking Chao Ge’er’s morale, and Ba Tu killed Chao Ge’er as his cavalry fled.
• Su Qingwan returned after killing Hongji, and Ba Tu hosted a feast to celebrate Wo Lie’s death and asked Zhao Feng what the tribes should do next.
• Zhao Feng arranged for the tribes to move into White Spring Pass, organized border trade, sent reports to the emperor and Military Supervisor Sun, and then rode toward the Kentra Mountains with Su Qingwan.
• A golden eagle tracked Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan, and they spotted more than a thousand Wolf Tribe cavalry closing around them near the mountains.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan charged the cavalry, killing many riders with his bow, spear, and her sword as the Wolf Tribe shifted to a coordinated barrage of arrows.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan continued fighting through the encirclement and drew close to the Kentra Mountains.

Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan escaped the Wolf Tribe cavalry into the Kentra Mountains, then spent a month searching for the Barbarian God's hidden legacy. As their partnership grew closer, Zhao Feng broke through the limits of two techniques and gained powerful new traits.

• Zhao Feng used his last three Eaglefeather Arrows to kill two Wolf Tribe commanders and wound a third, briefly disrupting the pursuit.
• Su Qingwan leapt from her failing horse, cut through the cavalry, and killed its remaining commander before she and Zhao Feng fled into the mountains on foot.
• Wo Le ordered the Wolf Tribe cavalry to withdraw rather than enter the forest, while Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan began exploring the Kentra Mountains for the Barbarian God's hidden legacy.
• Over the next month, Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan crossed dangerous terrain and killed more than a hundred exotic beasts, growing into a highly coordinated pair.
• Zhao Feng broke through the limit of the Breath-Concealing Technique and gained the Turtle-Breathing Great Art, which severed his presence even while he moved.
• Zhao Feng also broke through the limit of the Blood Soul Secret Art, gaining Blood Soul Return to Origin, which let him regenerate grievous injuries as long as his Divine Soul remained intact.

Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan uncovered a Star Map Formation in the Kentra Mountains and entered an ancient, independent space containing the ruins of the Ancient Barbarians. They opened the enormous palace door with the Ancient Barbarian Finger Bone and stepped into the darkness beyond.

• Su Qingwan identified the scattered stones and trees as a Star Map Formation and calculated that its array eye would open at midnight.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan activated the formation and traveled through its light-filled vortex into an independent space.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan crossed the ruins, recognized the Ancient Barbarians' civilization, and saw a totem of the Barbarian God.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan reached a ruined palace, but their attempts to force open its black door failed.
• Su Qingwan found a recess in the doorframe, and Zhao Feng fitted the Ancient Barbarian Finger Bone into it, opening the door.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan entered the palace side by side with their swords drawn.

Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan discovered the Ancient Barbarian Tribe’s history and treasures in the sealed hall, then took the Heaven Bone Wall and activated an array that awakened its stone army. After fighting off the warriors, they realized the shattered statues could reassemble themselves.

• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan studied the hall’s totems, and Su Qingwan interpreted them as a history of the Ancient Barbarian Tribe and its catastrophe.
• Su Qingwan found the Heaven Bone Wall and explained that taking it could drain away at least half the Barbarian Tribe’s fortune.
• Zhao Feng found the Barbarian God Saber and two hide scrolls, while Su Qingwan asked to keep the Heaven Bone Wall and he agreed.
• When Su Qingwan removed the Heaven Bone Wall, an array lit across the floor and awakened the stone warriors.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan smashed dozens of attacking warriors, but the broken stones began to crawl together and reassemble.

Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan broke the formation sustaining the Stone Carved Warriors, but the awakened Ancient Barbarian Noble forced them to flee through a hole into an underground cave. They survived the fall and regrouped in the cave with the Heaven Bone Wall and their other belongings intact.

• Su Qingwan identified the floor formation as the source of the Stone Carved Warriors’ regeneration and used her Formation-Breaking Compass while Zhao Feng held them back.
• The Ancient Barbarian Noble awakened in the profound mastery realm, and Su Qingwan broke the formation as the hall began collapsing.
• Su Qingwan fought the Ancient Barbarian Noble while Zhao Feng tried to escape, but the noble broke Zhao Feng’s saber and injured him.
• The collapsing hall revealed a shaft beneath the platform, and Zhao Feng carried the severely injured Su Qingwan into it as they fled the noble.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan tumbled into underground water, reached shore, and confirmed that the Heaven Bone Wall and their other belongings were safe.
• Su Qingwan changed into dry clothes in the cave and returned to sit beside Zhao Feng.

Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan hid from the ancient barbarian noble in an underground cavern, then began living there while Zhao Feng prepared to break through and refine the Barbarian God's finger bone. After more than twenty days together, Zhao Feng found Su Qingwan collapsed and bleeding.

• Zhao Feng concealed himself and Su Qingwan with the Turtle-Breathing Great Art until the ancient barbarian noble searched the cavern and left.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan treated their injuries and discussed escaping the cavern by having Zhao Feng reach the innate realm and refine the Barbarian God's finger bone.
• Su Qingwan translated the opening mental cultivation method of the Yin-Yang Body Tempering True Scripture, and they agreed to stay in the cavern while Zhao Feng trained.
• Over twenty days, Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan followed separate cultivation routines, shared stories, and grew more familiar with each other.
• When Su Qingwan did not answer him, Zhao Feng approached and found her collapsed on the ground with blood at her lips.

Zhao Feng treated Su Qingwan’s lingering shamanic injuries while she translated the Ancient Barbarian cultivation texts, and he broke through to the Innate realm after nearly fifty days in the Underground Cave. He eradicated the last of her shamanic power, and Su Qingwan fell asleep against his shoulder.

• Zhao Feng found that purplish-black shamanic power was damaging Su Qingwan’s meridians and began treating her with Everlasting Spring Astral Qi.
• Su Qingwan agreed to translate the Yin-Yang Body Tempering True Scripture and Saber Manual in exchange for Zhao Feng’s continued treatment, and she gave him her Astral Force elixirs.
• Su Qingwan translated the texts over the following weeks while Zhao Feng treated her injuries and cultivated in the Underground Cave.
• Zhao Feng studied the translated scripture, recognized it as an Ancient Barbarian dual cultivation method, and began attempting to break through to the Innate realm.
• Zhao Feng broke through to the Innate realm, then used his transformed true origin to eradicate the last shamanic power in Su Qingwan’s body and repair the damage.
• Su Qingwan fell asleep with her head against Zhao Feng’s shoulder, and he stayed still to let her rest.

Zhao Feng mastered the Yin-Yang Body Tempering True Scripture, made the Nine Yang Divine Sword acknowledge him, and refined the Barbarian God's finger bone. He survived the Barbarian God's lingering will and emerged with an ancient aura, leaving him ready to depart the Underground Cave with Su Qingwan.

• Zhao Feng began studying the Yin-Yang Body Tempering True Scripture so he could safely refine the Barbarian God's finger bone.
• Zhao Feng used his blood essence to make the Nine Yang Divine Sword acknowledge him, then tested its four forms with greatly increased power.
• After twenty more days of cultivation, Zhao Feng reached minor mastery in the Yin-Yang Body Tempering True Scripture and prepared to refine the finger bone.
• Su Qingwan placed three Daoist Talismans around Zhao Feng and warned him that the Barbarian God's will could destroy his consciousness.
• Zhao Feng endured the Barbarian God's will, absorbed its memory fragments, and successfully refined the finger bone.
• Zhao Feng noticed Su Qingwan's concern, while she sensed the ancient, untamed aura he had gained as the Barbarian God's inheritor.

Zhao Feng refined the Barbarian God Saber and used the Barbarian God's will to make the Ancient Barbarian Noble kneel, allowing him and Su Qingwan to leave the legacy site. After they returned to the mountains, Ying Yang and other Barbarian God Hall disciples confronted them, and Zhao Feng killed two of Ying Yang's men before the fight could begin in earnest.

• Zhao Feng refined the Barbarian God Saber, then demonstrated its power by slicing through a stone pillar.
• Zhao Feng released the Barbarian God's aura, causing the Ancient Barbarian Noble to kneel and submit as Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan left the collapsing hall.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan returned through the water curtain to the Star Map Formation of Rocks and Trees, where they sensed Barbarian God Hall disciples approaching.
• Ying Yang recognized Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan, accused them of taking the Barbarian God's Legacy, and ordered Hu Da and two disciples to keep Su Qingwan occupied while he fought Zhao Feng.
• Zhao Feng moved before Ying Yang could attack and cut down two Astral Force experts with the Nine Yang Divine Sword.

Zhao Feng defeated Ying Yang and Hu Da, then parted from Su Qingwan after kissing her, while the Barbarian God Hall became his enemy. He returned to Bing Province to learn that the campaign was progressing as predicted, but thoughts of Su Qingwan unsettled him as he prepared to practice the Seven Heaven-Cleaving Forms.

• Zhao Feng killed Ying Yang's two junior brothers, overwhelmed Ying Yang, and severed his arm, but Ying Yang escaped using a secret art.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan killed Hu Da after she used her Bright Moon Sword to prevent him from escaping.
• Zhao Feng and Su Qingwan parted; he kissed her, she slapped him, and she rode away in tears.
• Zhao Feng returned to White Spring Pass, where Zhou Meng reported that the Wolf Tribe had split, Changyu Pass had fallen, and the enemy had retreated.
• Zhao Feng traveled to Bing Province, met Tang Jiyuan, Shao Kai, and Lin Ziwei, and arranged for the Four Seas Trading House to procure supplies in You Province.
• Zhao Feng brooded over Su Qingwan and drew the Barbarian God Saber to practice the Seven Heaven-Cleaving Forms.

Zhao Feng returned to Upper Capital after consolidating his innate cultivation and helping rebuild Bing Province. Emperor Jing praised his work, gave him a grand residence, and urged him to bring his family from Qingzhou, leaving Zhao Feng aware that the emperor intended to keep them under watch.

• Zhao Feng practiced the Seven Heaven-Cleaving Forms and cultivated the Primordial Unity Innate True Canon, reaching entry level in both.
• Zhao Feng worked with Lin Ziwei on reconstruction in Bing Province, then returned to Upper Capital under imperial decree.
• Yue Lang briefed Zhao Feng on the Martial Suppression Bureau’s affairs, and Zhao Feng reported to Emperor Jing about White Spring Pass and his border-trade arrangements.
• Zhao Feng told Emperor Jing that he had reached the innate realm, and Emperor Jing reviewed his financial gains and identified his greed for money as a manageable weakness.
• Emperor Jing gave Zhao Feng deeds to a residence in Dongping Ward and instructed him to bring his family from Qingzhou; he also mentioned Su Qingwan before Zhao Feng left the palace.
• Zhao Feng inspected the grand residence in Dongping Ward.

After settling his family in Upper Capital, Zhao Feng focused on his cultivation and the ongoing war before investigating a series of victims whose blood had been mysteriously drained. As murders mounted and rumors blamed the emperor for inviting demons into the city, Zhao Feng concluded that someone was using the killings to spread panic and undermine His Majesty.

• Zhao Feng's family gathered at his residence, where Zhao Shuo said former grand preceptor Qin Yan admired his essays and might take him as a student.
• Zhao Feng reviewed his cultivation progress and worried that the Yin-Yang Body Tempering True Scripture could not advance without a dual-cultivation partner.
• Yue Lang reported an eighth victim in East Market, and Zhao Feng examined the body's drained blood and tiny marks on its neck.
• Zhao Feng ordered the Martial Suppression Bureau to investigate the victim and watch for suspicious people and recent arrivals to Upper Capital.
• More than a dozen people were found dead in the same manner, and rumors spread that monsters had entered the city because the emperor had lost his virtue.
• Zhao Feng told Yue Lang, Jiang Chen, and Mu Xingze that the murders and rumors formed a conspiracy to sow panic and target His Majesty.