Chapter Summaries

Li Xuancang seized control of Sweet Spring Commandery by purging its military leadership, accepting gifts, and organizing recruitment and warhorse procurement. As he strengthened his position, the Cool Prefecture Army grew furious, but Shen Chongyuan held back after learning the imperial court was dissatisfied with him.

• Li Xuancang executed more than seven hundred Battle Soldiers, five Thousand-Man Commanders, and ten Battalion Commanders, then spared Colonel Wang Tianlin and ordered the camp rebuilt.
• Wang Xiaoniu and the others took charge of the camp as factions offered Li Xuancang gifts, and he accepted Yang Yunhui's payment while declaring their dispute settled.
• Li Xuancang praised Kong Ronghua's civil administration, delegated governance to him, and ordered merchants to obtain warhorses.
• Recruitment filled all five thousand Battle Soldier positions within three days, while merchant caravans prepared to acquire warhorses.
• Cool Prefecture Army officers demanded action against Li Xuancang, but Shen Chongyuan chose restraint after receiving word that the imperial court was displeased with him.

Li Xuancang established the Martial Champion Camp and announced a commandery-wide recruitment drive with ranks and rewards based on martial skill. The notice inspired people across the city to consider enlisting, and a youth in the southern slums told his mother he wanted to join.

• Li Xuancang ordered notices posted to recruit skilled soldiers for the newly established Martial Champion Camp.
• The generous pay, appointments, and rewards drew crowds to the commandery yamen, where Sun Tietou resolved to enlist and avenge his family.
• Rogue Cultivators debated the military’s strict rules, then decided to go to the Drill Ground together and seek a more secure future.
• A skeletal youth in the southern slums heard the notice read aloud, returned home, and told his mother he wanted to enlist.

Li Xuancang began recruiting cultivators into his army and discovered that two Astral Qi Realm brothers seeking enlistment had steppe blood and were fleeing persecution. After hearing their story, he was left to decide how to receive the powerful brothers.

• A young cultivator enlisted to support his mother and sister, despite his mother's fears for his safety.
• More than two thousand cultivators gathered at the military camp, and Li Xuancang ordered them sorted by cultivation realm for assessment.
• Ouyang De and his towering younger brother Ouyang Meng remained behind because they had reached the Astral Qi Realm, so Li Xuancang summoned them to his command tent.
• Ouyang De told Li Xuancang that their mother had been violated by steppe people and that the brothers had been ostracized after their heritage was exposed.
• Ouyang De explained that the brothers had offended the Cool Prefecture Army and had come to seek refuge with Li Xuancang.

Li Xuancang tested and recruited the Ouyang brothers, then established the Martial Champion Camp from thousands of selection survivors. As the Cool Prefecture Army moved to undermine him, Shen Chongyuan secretly ordered the grassland tribes to attack.

• Li Xuancang tested the Ouyang brothers, defeated them easily, and appointed them Thousand-Man Commanders under his command.
• Li Xuancang offered to let the brothers bring their mother to the Garrison Protector's Office for safety, and they left to settle their affairs.
• After the selection ended, Wang Xiaoniu reported that 3,500 people had passed, and Li Xuancang established the Martial Champion Camp for those without army posts.
• Generals in the Cool Prefecture Army condemned Li Xuancang's new force and called for him to be impeached.
• Shen Chongyuan dismissed concerns that Li Xuancang posed a serious threat, then ordered his subordinates to contact the grassland tribes and attack him.
• Shen Chongyuan's subordinates accepted the order, as the Cool Prefecture Army had secretly colluded with the grassland tribes for decades.

Li Xuancang investigated the Demons killing people in Sweet Spring Commandery and discovered Wood Flood Dragon emerging from a well. He killed it, but an ordinary-looking old man vowed to test Li Xuancang’s strength himself.

• Yang Tiangang reported that Demons had killed more than a hundred people in Sweet Spring Commandery, leaving only their skins behind.
• Li Xuancang waited through the night, spotted Wood Flood Dragon crawling out of a well, and followed it to a household.
• Wood Flood Dragon attacked a man keeping watch, but Li Xuancang intervened and pursued the Demon through the city.
• Li Xuancang trapped Wood Flood Dragon in a Blood Qi Force cage and crushed it, then ordered patrols to check for victims.
• After five days without further attacks, the commoners celebrated Li Xuancang, while an old man vowed to challenge him.

After the Blackbird Merchant Association warned Li Xuancang that the Black Wolf Tribe was mobilizing to attack Sweet Spring Commandery, he verified the report and led an army beyond the city to confront them. The chapter ends as Li Xuancang’s forces charge toward more than ten thousand Black Wolf Tribe cavalry, while onlookers expect his defeat.

• Dong Linghui reported that the Black Wolf Tribe was preparing to attack Sweet Spring Commandery, and Li Xuancang rewarded the Blackbird Merchant Association with passage and tax privileges.
• Li Xuancang sent Ouyang De to investigate, and Ouyang De confirmed that the Black Wolf Tribe was mobilizing its troops.
• Li Xuancang ordered the First and Third Battalions to remain behind and led the rest of his army out of the city to meet the enemy.
• The army marched for five days to Mystic Spirit Relay Station as local factions and the Cool Prefecture Army criticized Li Xuancang’s decision to fight beyond the city walls.
• More than ten thousand Black Wolf Tribe cavalry advanced toward the pass, and Li Xuancang led his army to charge at them.

Li Xuancang faced the Black Wolf Tribe’s invasion alone and devastated its cavalry, turning the Great Yan soldiers’ fear into resolve. As Ouyang De and Ouyang Meng led Blacksteel Camp to cut off the enemy’s retreat, Li Xuancang confronted the tribe’s experts and seized two of them by the neck.

• The Black Wolf Tribe charged across the border wasteland while many Great Yan soldiers feared they would be defeated.
• Li Xuancang stepped out alone, killed and scattered thousands of cavalrymen with his punches, and split the ground with a stomp.
• Inspired by Li Xuancang’s strength, Ouyang De led Blacksteel Camp in a counterattack, and Li Xuancang leaped into the enemy army to unleash another devastating strike.
• Five Astral Qi Realm experts and the Black Wolf Tribe’s totem attacked Li Xuancang, while Ouyang De and Ouyang Meng followed his orders and led Blacksteel Camp to block the enemy’s retreat.
• Li Xuancang killed two of the attackers and grabbed an Early Astral Qi Realm expert and a Mid Astral Qi Realm expert by their necks.

Li Xuancang killed Black Wolf and pursued the Black Wolf Tribe’s chieftain while Ouyang De, Ouyang Meng, and their troops routed the grassland army. He returned at sunset carrying the chieftain’s corpse, and the exhausted victors revered him.

• Li Xuancang killed the two remaining Astral Qi Realm experts, then chased Black Wolf after the chieftain and wolf split up to flee.
• Li Xuancang let Black Wolf bite and claw him, tested his tough body, and snapped the wolf’s neck before striking its spine to finish it off.
• Li Xuancang pursued the Black Wolf Tribe’s chieftain as Ouyang Meng’s brothers led the army in encircling and defeating the grasslanders.
• A young boy kept fighting and muttering about marquisate and command while qi and blood from his victims entered his body.
• The last Black Wolf Tribe fighter fell, and the army treated its wounded as the battle ended.
• Li Xuancang returned at sunset carrying the Black Wolf Tribe chieftain’s corpse, and the survivors greeted him with reverence.

Li Xuancang returned to Sweet Spring Commandery in triumph after annihilating the invading Black Wolf Tribe, earning the people’s cheers and alarming Shen Chongyuan. After resting, Li Xuancang drafted a memorial to report the victory and request rewards from the Imperial Court.

• Li Xuancang’s army counted its dead, burned the fallen soldiers’ bodies, and returned toward Sweet Spring Commandery City.
• News of the victory spread through Cool Prefecture, where commoners celebrated and those who knew the battle’s true details marveled at Li Xuancang’s strength.
• Shen Chongyuan realized Li Xuancang threatened his position and resolved to eliminate him, while his confidants discussed how to claim a share of the victory’s merit.
• Crowds welcomed Li Xuancang and his army into Sweet Spring Commandery, and Kong Ronghua and the officials greeted him at the city gates.
• Li Xuancang ordered the exhausted soldiers to wash, eat, and rest before rewards were distributed the next day.
• After returning home and spending time with his family, Li Xuancang drafted a memorial truthfully reporting the battle’s gains and requesting rewards from the Imperial Court.

Li Xuancang rewarded the army for its deeds in the border battle and promised support for the families of the dead and injured. Su Xinghai returned home with rewards for his mother and little sister, leaving them relieved and grateful.

• Li Xuancang awarded soldiers for their combat merits, giving Zhao Hu three Mirror-Breaking Pills and Zhou Meng a Mirror-Breaking Pill and a spear.
• Li Xuancang announced compensation for fallen soldiers and support and work for wounded or disabled soldiers.
• Li Xuancang gave wolf meat to officers ranked Battalion Commander and above, and the satisfied soldiers left the ceremony.
• Su Xinghai returned to his mother and little sister with meat, fine rice, fifty taels of silver, and cloth he had received as rewards.
• Mother Su urged Su Xinghai to hide the silver and hurried him inside, worried that others might discover their new wealth.

Su Xinghai told his mother that their family would move near the Commander's Manor, where soldiers' families could live safely, while Li Xuancang arranged support for fallen soldiers' families and prepared a new cavalry camp. Li Xuancang displayed thousands of Grassland Barbarian heads as Victory Mounds, leaving the city impressed and the Cool Prefecture Army fearing retaliation.

• Su Xinghai promised Su Xiaomei that he would fight bravely so she could eat meat and rice every day, then told Mother Su they would move near the Commander's Manor in three days.
• Mother Su urged Su Xinghai to repay Li Xuancang's kindness, and Su Xinghai pledged to kill more enemies for him.
• Li Xuancang ordered Wang Xiaoniu to deliver compensation to fallen soldiers' families and settle them in the city, then ordered the Grassland Barbarian heads displayed at the execution ground.
• Li Xuancang learned from Yang Tiangang that the army had 8,600 warhorses and ordered two thousand men recruited to establish the Tiger Guard Camp.
• Nangong Zhan arranged more than seven thousand Grassland Barbarian heads into three Victory Mounds, drawing a large crowd that saw proof of the army's victory.
• The common people celebrated the display, while worried onlookers and the Cool Prefecture Army feared that the Grassland People would retaliate against Li Xuancang.

After Zhang Dashan died in battle, Li Xuancang’s soldiers protected his family, delivered compensation, and arranged for them to live near the Governor’s residence. Li Xuancang expanded his forces and, buoyed by news of his victory spreading through Great Yan, prepared to accelerate his plans.

• The Five-Man Leader warned Great Stone Village that the Zhang Family was under Imperial Court protection and would be moved to the commandery city in seven days.
• Zhang Shi told the villagers that the government would arrange work and free lodging for her family, prompting the villagers to offer help with Zhang Dashan’s funeral.
• Wang Xiaoniu oversaw the return of fallen soldiers’ remains and the delivery of compensation as the news spread throughout Sweet Spring Commandery.
• Half a month later, the soldiers’ families moved into Li Xuancang’s residences, recruitment of two thousand cavalrymen was completed, and Li Xuancang’s forces exceeded ten thousand troops.
• The Imperial Court publicized Li Xuancang’s victory, and news spread across Great Yan, where many commoners celebrated while others remained preoccupied with survival.

Li Xuancang’s victory in Sweet Spring Commandery stirred regret among the Liu Family and alarm among the grassland tribes, while he planned to expose Shen Chongyuan and the Cool Prefecture Army. He accepted Shen Chongyuan’s invitation to a banquet, and the chapter ended as the estate’s gates closed behind him.

• Liu Wenyuan and the Liu elders regretted opposing Liu Qingyuan’s plan to marry his daughter to Li Xuancang, while Du Tianfeng celebrated Li’s success.
• Pei Hongwen reflected on Li Xuancang’s rise and vowed to make the Peace Prefecture Marquis Estate pay for the Pei Family’s decline.
• Grassland tribes blamed Shen Chongyuan for the Black Wolf Tribe’s destruction and called for an invasion of Sweet Spring Commandery.
• Li Xuancang planned to gather evidence against Shen Chongyuan and the Cool Prefecture Army, then received an invitation to Shen Chongyuan’s daughter’s coming-of-age banquet.
• Li Xuancang arrived at the Guard Commander’s Estate, exchanged wary remarks with Shen Chongyuan, and entered as the estate gates closed behind him.

Li Xuancang rejected Shen Chongyuan’s demand to share Sweet Spring Camp’s victory rewards, then learned that the grasslands had sent tens of thousands of cavalry toward Sweet Spring Commandery. He returned from confronting Shen Chongyuan, confident he could defeat him, and prepared to face the approaching invasion.

• At Shen Chongyuan’s banquet, a guard killed an attendant who had failed to persuade Li Xuancang to drink, and Li Xuancang mocked Shen Chongyuan’s cruel hospitality.
• Shen Chongyuan demanded a share of Sweet Spring Camp’s spoils, but Li Xuancang refused, claiming the victory belonged to the soldiers who had won it.
• Li Xuancang left the banquet after trading threats with Shen Chongyuan, who told his followers that Li Xuancang had reached the Profound Connection Realm and ordered them not to act rashly.
• After returning to Sweet Spring Commandery City, Li Xuancang learned from Nangong Zhan that tens of thousands of grassland cavalry were about to invade.

Li Xuancang led Sweet Spring Commandery’s forces against a massive prairie invasion and revealed that he had reached the Profound Connection Realm. After routing the enemy, he returned to the city in triumph.

• Li Xuancang marched out with Sweet Spring Camp, the Tiger Braves Army, and Blacksteel Camp to meet the united prairie tribes at the border.
• More than twenty Astral Qi Realm warriors and three great demons attacked Li Xuancang, but he emerged unharmed.
• Li Xuancang killed five Astral Qi Realm experts with a single move and revealed his Profound Connection Realm strength by flying through the air.
• The prairie army fled as Li Xuancang pursued and killed enemy warriors, while Ouyang De and the Tiger Braves Army attacked the retreating cavalry.
• Li Xuancang ended the pursuit, ordered the battlefield cleared, and returned to a city celebrating the army’s victory.

After Li Xuancang reached the Profound Connection Realm, the Imperial Court sent him a lavish reward convoy and sought to secure his loyalty. He shared some rewards with his soldiers and planned to send most of the treasures to Li Ling'er, while recognizing that the Emperor's favor came with obligations.

• Li Xuancang ordered the camp to prepare to receive the Imperial Court's reward convoy, led by Liu Jin.
• Liu Jin read the Emperor's decrees, which praised Li Xuancang and bestowed rare treasures, spirit stones, pills, and goods on him and his soldiers.
• Liu Jin urged Li Xuancang not to betray the Emperor's trust, and Li Xuancang declared himself the Emperor's sword.
• Li Xuancang ordered one-tenth of the spirit stones and pills set aside for the soldiers and gave gifts to Liu Jin and the Imperial Guards.
• Li Xuancang examined the treasures and ordered that most be sent to Li Ling'er at the Profound Heart Sect.
• Nangong Zhan reported that the soldiers were grateful for their rewards, while Li Xuancang reflected that imperial favor also brought responsibility.

Li Xuancang sent Ouyang De to deliver cultivation resources to the Profound Heart Sect while Shen Chongyuan recruited Dugu Sha and prairie allies to assassinate him. News of Li Xuancang’s breakthrough into the Profound Connection Realm spread across Great Yan, leaving rivals and powerful families scrambling to react.

• Li Xuancang sent Ouyang De to deliver cultivation resources to his younger sister at the Profound Heart Sect and seek Elder Qingxuan’s help.
• Shen Chongyuan pressured Dugu Sha to join a plot to kill Li Xuancang, revealing that prairie allies would help them attack Sweet Spring Commandery City in twenty days.
• Li Xuancang remained unaware of the plot and spent time with his family as Sweet Spring Commandery enjoyed a brief respite from the prairie threat.
• News of Li Xuancang’s breakthrough into the Profound Connection Realm spread across Great Yan, stunning cultivators and Wenxin Academy students.
• Lin Jingtan grew furious upon hearing of Li Xuancang’s breakthrough and vowed never to lose to him.
• The Liu Family regretted having obstructed Li Xuancang and considered proposing a marriage alliance with him.

The Du Family decided to pursue a marriage alliance between Du Ruomei and Li Xuancang, and Du Tianfeng volunteered to visit the Li Family. Meanwhile, masked attackers raided Li Xuancang's manor, but he stood unharmed against the Bronze-Armored Corpse's blows as the assault continued.

• Du Tianyuan proposed forming a marriage alliance with Li Xuancang, and Du Tianfeng urged the family to act quickly and seek the chosen woman's consent.
• The Du Family selected Du Tianyuan's youngest daughter, Du Ruomei, and Du Tianfeng offered to travel to Sweet Spring Commandery.
• Several masked figures attacked Li Xuancang at night in the Commander's Manor.
• Ghost Hand Venerable unleashed his Bronze-Armored Corpse, which struck Li Xuancang in the chest without harming or moving him.
• Ghost Hand Venerable repeatedly ordered the Bronze-Armored Corpse to attack while Li Xuancang remained motionless.

Li Xuancang repelled an assassination attempt by Ghost Hand Venerable, Shen Chongyuan, Murong Chong, and Dugu Sha, revealing overwhelming strength. The attackers fled, and Li Xuancang returned to the military camp while planning to deal with Shen Chongyuan when the Imperial Court issued its order.

• Li Xuancang destroyed the Bronze-Armored Corpse's arm and prepared to attack Ghost Hand Venerable, but Murong Chong, Shen Chongyuan, and Dugu Sha attacked from three sides.
• Li Xuancang caught Murong Chong's saber barehanded, scattered Shen Chongyuan's sword attack, and shrugged off Dugu Sha's soul technique.
• Shen Chongyuan ordered a retreat, and Li Xuancang let the attackers flee rather than leave his residence unguarded.
• Outside Sweet Spring Commandery City, Murong Chong and Dugu Sha departed, leaving Shen Chongyuan to retreat alone.
• Li Xuancang went to the military camp the next morning and resolved to seize Shen Chongyuan when the Imperial Court issued its order.

Du Tianfeng brought his niece Du Ruomei to Sweet Spring Commandery and proposed that she marry Li Xuancang. After seeing his family welcome her warmly, Li Xuancang agreed, provided Du Ruomei did not object and his parents were satisfied.

• Li Xuancang went to the city gate to welcome Du Tianfeng, who had arrived with his family.
• Du Tianfeng introduced his niece Du Ruomei to Li Xuancang and brought her to the Li residence.
• Du Ruomei greeted Li Xuancang's parents and sister, who welcomed her warmly.
• Du Tianfeng told Li Xuancang he hoped to arrange a marriage between him and Du Ruomei.
• Li Xuancang agreed to the proposal if Du Ruomei accepted and his parents approved.