Chapter Summaries

The Barbarians and Demons stormed Mystic Sun City, where Zhou Xingzhan and the defenders struggled against their overwhelming attacks. As Jiang Tianqi fled the Azure Wolf great demon, a thousand-strong Peace Prefecture Army appeared and sent the demon running, leaving Jiang Tianqi doubtful that the small force could save the city.

• Wu Xiaotian promised the Barbarian army three days of plunder, and the Barbarians and Demonic Beasts charged Mystic Sun City’s walls.
• The Faceless Demon and Three-Eyed Demon slaughtered Human Race soldiers with their powers, while Zhou Xingzhan led Zhao Jianhai and the others against them.
• The Three-Eyed Demon’s soul attacks weakened Zhou Xingzhan, and Tuoba Shou joined the fight, putting Zhou Xingzhan in grave danger.
• Jiang Tianqi fled Mystic Sun City with the Azure Wolf great demon pursuing him, until the demon suddenly turned and ran from a fast-moving figure.
• Jiang Tianqi recognized the approaching force as the thousand-strong Peace Prefecture Army, dismissed its chances of saving the city, and continued fleeing.

Li Xuancang tore apart the Great Azure Wolf Demon, then led a thousand Battle Soldiers into the battle at Profound Sun Commandery. He broke through the Barbarian forces and collapsed part of the city wall, but Wu Xiaotian and the others attacked as he tried to seize the Faceless Demon.

• Li Xuancang grabbed the fleeing Great Azure Wolf Demon, blocked its energy blast, and tore it in half.
• Li Xuancang ordered the thousand Battle Soldiers to charge toward the battlefield, where Liu Qingyun and Cao Hua led them into battle.
• The Human defenders, including Zhou Xingzhan and Zhao Jianhai, despaired when they saw the small size of the reinforcements, while Wu Xiaotian ordered them wiped out.
• Li Xuancang charged through the Barbarian forces, smashed apart enemies in his path, and punched down part of the city wall beneath Wu Xiaotian and the others.
• Li Xuancang seized the Faceless Demon by the throat as it tried to escape with demonic qi, while Wu Xiaotian and the others attacked him.

Li Xuancang joined Zhou Xingzhan and the other battered fighters against Wu Xiaotian's group, overwhelming the Faceless Demon and forcing it to sever an arm to escape. He then fought the enemy forces in a fierce battle, ending with both sides withdrawing from the destruction around them.

• Li Xuancang endured the group's attacks, grabbed the Faceless Demon, and nearly killed it before it cut off its own arm and escaped.
• Zhou Xingzhan, Zhao Jianhai, and the others regrouped with Li Xuancang, who faced Wu Xiaotian, Tuoba Shou, the Three-Eyed Demon, the Snake Demon, and the Barbarian experts.
• Li Xuancang and his allies charged into battle, with Zhou Xingzhan and two Astral Qi Realm fighters holding off three enemies while Li Xuancang fought the rest.
• Li Xuancang blocked the Three-Eyed Demon's soul attack and stopped Tuoba Shou's axe light with his arm, astonishing Wu Xiaotian and the others.
• Li Xuancang tried to pursue the Faceless Demon, but Wu Xiaotian's group attacked him and forced him to abandon the chase.
• Li Xuancang fought the surrounding enemies as their clashes destroyed nearby buildings, and both sides withdrew to avoid the destruction.

Li Xuancang turned the battle against the Barbarians by killing the Snake Demon and driving off the Three-Eyed Demon. Wu Xiaotian ordered a retreat, and the exhausted Human Race defenders survived the assault.

• Cao Hua and Liu Qingyun led the remaining Battle Soldiers onto the city wall and helped stabilize the Human Race's defensive line.
• Li Xuancang used the Snake Demon as a weapon, endured its venomous bite, and twisted its neck until it died.
• Li Xuancang attacked the Three-Eyed Demon while withstanding Wu Xiaotian and Tuoba Shou's blows, forcing the demon to flee.
• Wu Xiaotian ordered the Barbarian army to retreat after losing the Three-Eyed Demon, and Li Xuancang let them withdraw.
• Zhou Xingzhan and the other defenders collapsed from exhaustion after the Barbarians left.

After the defenders repelled the barbarian attack at Mystic Sun City, Li Xuancang divided the Snake Demon's remains among Zhou Xingzhan, Zhao Jianhai, and Hu Chenfeng. He then left to infiltrate the barbarian camp and seek a chance to ambush its Astral Qi Realm experts, while the enemy leaders decided to ask Prince Fu to send reinforcements to deal with him.

• Li Xuancang received praise from Zhou Xingzhan, Zhao Jianhai, and Hu Chenfeng for helping save Mystic Sun City.
• Li Xuancang allotted one-third of the Snake Demon's body to Zhou Xingzhan, half to himself, and the remainder to Zhao Jianhai and Hu Chenfeng.
• Li Xuancang told Zhou Xingzhan he would infiltrate the barbarian camp to ambush its Astral Qi Realm experts, then left despite Zhou's protests.
• Wu Xiaotian and the other barbarian and Demon Race leaders agreed that Li Xuancang had to be eliminated before they could advance.
• Wu Xiaotian proposed asking Prince Fu to send forces to help kill Li Xuancang, and the others agreed.

Li Xuancang infiltrated the Barbarian camp and nearly killed Tuoba Shou before fleeing when Wu Xiaotian and the other experts attacked. He returned unexpectedly and killed Tuoba Shou, then vanished into the night.

• Li Xuancang slipped into the Barbarian main camp and ambushed Tuoba Shou, gravely injuring him.
• Wu Xiaotian, the Three-Eyed Demon, and the other experts arrived, forcing Li Xuancang to retreat before he could kill Tuoba Shou.
• Li Xuancang stopped outside the camp and returned to strike again while the Barbarians tended to Tuoba Shou.
• Li Xuancang seized Tuoba Shou from his tent and killed him with a punch before escaping into the night.

Li Xuancang harassed the Barbarian army until Wu Xiaotian ordered a retreat, saving Profound Sun Commandery. Back in Mystic Sun City, Zhou Xingzhan promised to use his influence to secure Li Xuancang’s promotion to Captain, while news of the victory reached Peace Prefecture City and astonished its people.

• Li Xuancang repeatedly raided the Barbarian camp over five days, killing more than twenty Blood Condensation Realm cultivators and over seven hundred soldiers.
• Wu Xiaotian ordered the Barbarian army to withdraw, and Li Xuancang followed it until it had left the border before returning to Mystic Sun City.
• Zhou Xingzhan learned how Li Xuancang had forced the retreat and promised to recommend him for promotion to Captain with the Zhou Family’s support.
• Zhou Xingzhan sent a trusted clansman to ask the Zhou Family to use its influence on Li Xuancang’s behalf.
• News of the victory and the Barbarian withdrawal reached Peace Prefecture City, where the frightened people celebrated and wondered how Li Xuancang had won against such overwhelming odds.

Peace Prefecture celebrated after Li Xuancang drove back the Barbarian army and ended the crisis, earning widespread acclaim and the prospect of promotion. The victory left rebellious forces in hiding and the Pei Family consumed by regret over rejecting him.

• The people of Peace Prefecture confirmed the Barbarian army had withdrawn and celebrated the victory, praising Li Xuancang for turning the battle around.
• Secret factions that had plotted rebellion abandoned their plans and went into hiding, while the Iron Fist Sect worried about Li Xuancang's growing power.
• Du Tianfeng and the army's officers recognized Li Xuancang's achievement, and Du Tianfeng said he would seek a promotion for him to Colonel.
• The Pei Family elders regretted rejecting Li Xuancang and blamed Pei Qingyuan for privately exchanging pledges with Lin Jingtan.
• Pei Hongwen faced the elders' accusations and struggled to contain his anger toward Pei Qingyuan.

Li Xuancang returned to Peace Prefecture in triumph after the Barbarian invasion ended, while the Marquis of Peace Prefecture grew wary of his rising power. Li Xuancang reached the military camp with valuable Demonic Beast corpses and went to meet Du Tianfeng, leaving Yang Tiangang to guard the spoils.

• Lin Zhenyue read the frontier victory report and feared that Li Xuancang's growing prestige and strength would make him a threat to the Marquis Estate.
• Father Li, Mother Li, Li Xiu, and Li Ling'er worried over Li Xuancang's safety despite the city's celebration of his victory.
• After half a month, Li Xuancang received orders to return to Peace Prefecture and said farewell to Zhou Xingzhan and the officials of Profound Sun Commandery.
• Li Xuancang entered Peace Prefecture to a crowd's cheers, dismissed his battle companions with their share of Demonic Beast meat, and went to meet Du Tianfeng.
• Li Xuancang left Yang Tiangang to guard the carriages of Demonic Beast corpses as soldiers gathered around them covetously.

Li Xuancang received an exceptional promotion to Colonel after his victories at Mystic Sun City and returned home to his worried family. He reassured his mother that he could not avoid the battlefield, despite her wish for him to stay safe.

• Du Tianfeng told Li Xuancang that he had been promoted to Colonel and asked him to hand over half of the two Astral Qi Realm great demons he had killed.
• Li Xuancang declined the officers’ attempts to ask for his Demonic Beast corpses and left with Yang Tiangang and the others.
• Li Xuancang kept some of the Demonic Beast corpses, handed in the rest, and left Yang Tiangang in charge before returning home.
• Father Li, Mother Li, his sisters, and Zhang Erzhu’s family welcomed Li Xuancang home, and Mother Li tearfully embraced him.
• Mother Li asked Li Xuancang to stop going to the battlefield, but he told her that he was a soldier and reassured her that he had returned safely.

Li Xuancang prepared his companions for his coming command and invited Shen Qingshan to his promotion ceremony before Shen returned to his sect. At the ceremony, Li Xuancang officially became a Colonel, gaining command of three thousand Battle Soldiers and rising in status before Peace Prefecture’s powerful factions.

• Li Xuancang sent Nangong Zhan, Wang Xiaoniu, and the others back to the military camp to strengthen themselves for his future command.
• Li Xuancang visited Shen Qingshan, learned that the Prison Tiger Bureau would soon take him back to his sect, and invited him to attend the promotion ceremony.
• Three days later, Li Xuancang arrived at a grand ceremony attended by the Peace Prefecture garrison, government officials, and prominent families.
• Du Tianfeng announced Li Xuancang’s promotion and presented him with the Colonel’s military tally, command banner, and armor decree.
• Li Xuancang took command of three thousand Battle Soldiers as the assembled soldiers congratulated him, while the Pei Residence and other old powers watched with regret and wariness.

Li Xuancang was appointed to command his own army and prepared to leave for Flowing Cloud Commandery after recruiting troops. Before Shen Qingshan departed, he urged Li Xuancang to seek an opportunity for his younger sister to join the Profound Heart Sect.

• Li Xuancang received praise for his strength and accomplishments as he was recognized as a rising star of the army.
• Du Tianfeng told Li Xuancang to recruit and train three thousand Battle Soldiers within two months before taking up his post in Flowing Cloud Commandery.
• Li Xuancang ordered Wang Xiaoniu and Zhang Yuanxiong to recruit soldiers from nearby towns and villages.
• Li Xuancang visited Shen Qingshan and learned that Shen would return to his sect in hopes of recovering his destroyed meridians.
• Shen Qingshan told Li Xuancang that the Profound Heart Sect would soon recruit in Peace Prefecture and that Li Xuancang's younger sister might qualify to join.

Li Xuancang asked Li Ling'er to join the Profound Heart Sect so she could gain the strength to protect herself, and she agreed despite her parents’ worries. Meanwhile, Wang Xiaoniu recruited over a thousand soldiers by offering pay and supplies, and the chapter ended with villagers eagerly signing up.

• Li Xuancang told Li Ling'er that the Profound Heart Sect would soon recruit disciples in Peace Prefecture and asked whether she wanted to join.
• Li Ling'er agreed to cultivate, and Li Xuancang warned her that sect life would bring hardship before accepting her resolve.
• Li Xuancang told his parents about Li Ling'er's decision, and Father Li persuaded Mother Li to accept it.
• Li Xuancang explained cultivation to Li Ling'er and gathered resources for her while Wang Xiaoniu and his companions recruited over a thousand soldiers in seven days.
• Wang Xiaoniu assured the villagers of Little River Village that recruits would receive monthly pay, food, and supplies, then offered advance silver and grain to dispel their doubts.
• The villagers rushed to enlist, and Wang Xiaoniu registered eligible recruits and gave them their silver and grain.

Wang Xiaoniu discovered that the frail Bai Meng possessed extraordinary strength and recruited him into the army. After Bai Meng astonished the new recruits with his enormous appetite, Wang Xiaoniu arranged for the recruits to settle in and decided to report Bai Meng to Li Xuancang.

• Wang Xiaoniu initially rejected Bai Meng because he looked too weak for the battlefield, but realized Bai Meng had unusual strength when he could not pull his leg free.
• Bai Meng told Wang Xiaoniu his name, and Wang Xiaoniu accepted him into the army and provided grain and silver for his family.
• Wang Xiaoniu completed the recruitment drive, bringing the total number of new recruits to seventy-five, and led them back to camp for a meal.
• Bai Meng ate enough food for ten people, and Wang Xiaoniu reassured him and ordered more dishes brought out.
• Wang Xiaoniu arranged uniforms, weapons, and lodging for the recruits, then decided to report Bai Meng's strength to Li Xuancang.

Li Xuancang recruited Bai Meng, a man born with divine strength, into his personal guard and began cultivating him. As the Profound Heart Sect announced it would recruit disciples in Peace Prefecture, the city and its young people prepared feverishly for the selection.

• Wang Xiaoniu told Li Xuancang about Bai Meng, and Li Xuancang tested Bai Meng's strength by catching his full-force punch.
• Li Xuancang made Bai Meng his personal guard and chose the Iron Body Technique for him.
• Bai Meng quickly advanced in the Iron Body Technique and recovered strength after eating beast meat, prompting Li Xuancang to give him more.
• Li Xuancang's army completed recruitment of three thousand troops and trained under Wang Xiaoniu and the other leaders.
• The Profound Heart Sect announced it would recruit disciples in Peace Prefecture, sparking a citywide rush as families trained and supplied their young descendants.

The Profound Heart Sect arrived in Peace Prefecture to recruit disciples, and Elder Qingxuan announced that trials would be held over ten days. As the selection ceremony began, Li Ling'er stood beside Li Xuancang at the Drill Ground, ready to take part.

• Li Xuancang reassured Li Ling'er that she need not worry about whether she could join the Profound Heart Sect.
• Elder Qingxuan arrived in Peace Prefecture aboard a flying ship and announced the sect's ten-day disciple-selection trials.
• Li Xuancang welcomed the sect delegation alongside Huang Tianyun and escorted them to their lodgings.
• Huang Tianyun considered arranging a marriage between Li Xuancang and a daughter of the Huang Lineage.
• The Profound Heart Sect began its recruitment ceremony at the Drill Ground, where Li Ling'er stood beside Li Xuancang.

The Profound Heart Sect tested thousands of youths and eventually accepted Li Ling'er and Zhang Cuier, despite Li Ling'er's borderline aptitude. After they returned home, Li Xuancang warned them to be cautious before they left for the sect.

• Elder Qingxuan explained that the Profound Heart Sect judged candidates by aptitude and character, and the stewards rejected batches of disciples from noble families.
• After more than two thousand candidates failed, a commoner youth passed, drawing the attention of officials and faction leaders.
• Li Xuancang brought Li Ling'er and Zhang Cuier to be tested; the stewards found Zhang Cuier's aptitude exceptional and Li Ling'er's barely sufficient, then accepted both after Elder Qingxuan nodded.
• Li Xuancang considered how to keep Zhang Cuier from slipping beyond his control after she entered the sect, while onlookers marveled that two members of the Li Family had passed.
• After returning home, Li Xuancang privately warned Zhang Cuier and Li Ling'er to be careful, telling Li Ling'er not to trust anyone completely, including Zhang Cuier.

Li Xuancang prepared to leave his family and travel to Flowing Cloud Commandery, where he was tasked with restoring the imperial court’s control. He departed with his family remaining in Peace Prefecture City under Du Tianfeng’s protection, while preparations for war against Prince Fu continued.

• Li Xuancang gave Li Ling'er money, pills, and spirit stones before she left with Zhang Cuier to join the Profound Heart Sect, and Elder Qingxuan promised to look after her.
• Li Xuancang trained his recruits and watched Bai Meng grow stronger until he reached the Late Body Tempering Stage and neared the Bone Forging Realm.
• Du Tianfeng warned Li Xuancang that Flowing Cloud Commandery was lawless and may have sided with Prince Fu, and tasked him with bringing it back under imperial control.
• Du Tianfeng promised to protect Li Xuancang's family and revealed that the imperial court was gathering forces to attack Prince Fu in Cloud Prefecture.
• Li Xuancang told his family he would soon leave for Flowing Cloud Commandery, asked Li Xiu and Zhang Erzhu to care for them, and accepted the clothes Mother Li had sewn before departing.

Li Xuancang marched toward Flowing Cloud Commandery with three thousand Battle Soldiers to take up his post, while the commandery’s powerful martial factions debated how to respond. They decided to kill local officials and imperial runners before he arrived, using their deaths to intimidate him and demonstrate that they would not submit to the court.

• Li Xuancang set out with his troops for Flowing Cloud Commandery as factions in the city speculated about the court’s plans.
• News of Li Xuancang’s appointment stirred the commandery’s martial factions, who gathered for an urgent secret meeting at Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
• The Second Stronghold Master of Twin Dragon Mountain urged the factions to kill Li Xuancang, while cautious leaders warned that his record made him a dangerous opponent.
• A scholar proposed luring Li Xuancang with wealth and favors, but others rejected the idea of submitting to an imperial official.
• The master of Heavenly Fragrance Tower proposed killing serving commandery officials and imperial runners before Li Xuancang arrived, and the assembled leaders approved the plan.

Martial world factions assassinated court officials in Flowing Cloud Commandery to intimidate Li Xuancang as he approached with his army. After entering the city, Li Xuancang learned of the killings and promised the officials he would restore order, winning their full support.

• Martial world death warriors killed several civil officials, yamen stewards, and constables, then displayed their bodies around Flowing Cloud Commandery City.
• Sun Shouyi and other officials welcomed Li Xuancang and his three thousand Battle Soldiers as the city's residents cheered their arrival.
• Li Xuancang entered the city while martial world factions dismissed him and anticipated the effect of their bloody show of force.
• At a banquet, Sun Shouyi told Li Xuancang that martial world people had murdered officials and left their bodies in the streets.
• Li Xuancang promised to punish lawbreakers and restore order, and Sun Shouyi and the other officials pledged their support.