Chapter Summaries

Li Changfeng survived his fall from Shaolin's Back Mountain Cliff because Xiao Yuanfeng's remnant consciousness blocked the fatal strike and stabilized his injuries. After Qu Qingsheng's attempt to drain Li Changfeng backfired and forced him to flee, Li Changfeng woke and prepared to suppress the demonic energy in his body.

• Xiao Yuanfeng's remnant consciousness slowed Li Changfeng's fall and spent an hour stabilizing his life-threatening injuries.
• Qu Qingsheng found Li Changfeng at the cliff bottom and tried to drain his cultivation with the Northern Darkness Divine Art, but Li Changfeng's greater Inner Force made the technique backfire.
• Xiao Yuanfeng redirected Qu Qingsheng's technique toward Li Changfeng's demonic energy, forcing Qu Qingsheng to sever his arm's meridians and flee before he lost his mind.
• Li Changfeng woke, learned from Xiao Yuanfeng how he had survived, and promised to act more cautiously after his master warned that he would not protect him again.
• Li Changfeng took out Demonbane Pills and Du'nan's Buddhist Beads and prepared to suppress the demonic energy while Xiao Yuanfeng stood guard.

Li Changfeng expelled most of the demonic energy from his body, recovered with a Blood Spirit Fruit, and greatly increased his strength, though Tusked Demon’s origin remained inside him. Qu Qingsheng escaped the area, and Li Changfeng decided to stay hidden until the sects stopped hunting him.

• Li Changfeng used Demonbane Pills and Buddhist Beads to expel most of the demonic energy, but Xiao Yuanfeng identified a remnant of Tusked Demon’s origin that only his true body could remove.
• Li Changfeng found a Blood Spirit Fruit and waited three days for it to ripen before consuming it to heal his injuries.
• Following Xiao Yuanfeng’s instructions, Li Changfeng absorbed the fruit’s medicinal power, gained ten thousand jin of force, and demonstrated a punch with fifty thousand jin of strength.
• Qu Qingsheng spoke with the voice inside him, learned that it could help him obtain a more powerful arm, and fled before Li Changfeng could find him.
• Xiao Yuanfeng sensed Qu Qingsheng’s escape, and Li Changfeng chose to remain hidden until the major sects stopped hunting him.

Li Changfeng received the first five cycles of the Muscle/Tendon Change Classic from Abbot Xuan Nan, who died helping him inherit the scriptures and urged him to confront Northern Buddha. After training with Xiao Yuanfeng, Li Changfeng learned he had to temper his state of mind before attempting a breakthrough, then strengthened his staff techniques and prepared to rely on himself.

• Li Changfeng discovered scriptures hidden in a wall, and Abbot Xuan Nan appeared to explain that he had been guiding him as the destined person.
• Abbot Xuan Nan confirmed that Li Changfeng was the person his master had awaited and helped him endure the transmission of the first five cycles of the Muscle/Tendon Change Classic before vanishing.
• Abbot Xuan Nan revealed that Northern Buddha had stolen the remaining two cycles and established Northern Shaolin, and Li Changfeng swore to kill him and cleanse the sect of traitors.
• Li Changfeng asked Xiao Yuanfeng how to grow stronger, and Xiao Yuanfeng warned him not to attempt a Grandmaster breakthrough until he had tempered his mind and expelled the demonic source within him.
• After Xiao Yuanfeng's lingering thought vanished, Li Changfeng spent Experience Points to perfect both Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Staff techniques and reflected that power determined who had the right to speak.

Three months after hiding in a cave, Li Changfeng returned to Golden Spring Town and saw that the authorities had tightened control and posted bounties on him and other criminals. He decided to take revenge on the major factions and hunt wanted criminals for merit and money, then followed the Young Manor Lord of Heavenly Spring Sword Manor out of town and confronted him.

• Li Changfeng left his cave in disguise after waiting three months for the danger to subside.
• At Golden Spring Town’s bounty board, Li Changfeng read the warrants against notorious criminals and saw that the major factions had placed a five hundred thousand tael bounty on him.
• Li Changfeng vowed to repay the major factions and planned to kill wanted criminals for merit and the money he needed to cultivate.
• Li Changfeng waited outside Heavenly Spring Sword Manor, then followed the Young Manor Lord as he set off for the imperial capital.
• At the outskirts, the Young Manor Lord stopped his carriage and called out the follower, and Li Changfeng revealed himself.

Li Changfeng, calling himself Fung Yu-sau, confronted Zhang Chen and killed him after defeating his driver and overpowering him in combat. A streak of white light escaped Zhang Chen’s body, and Li Changfeng ignored it as he continued to signal his coming vengeance.

• Li Changfeng introduced himself as Fung Yu-sau and challenged Zhang Chen to decide who was superior and whether they would live or die.
• Zhang Chen ordered his driver to attack Li Changfeng, but Li Changfeng shattered the driver’s sword, tore off his head, and tossed it into the carriage.
• Zhang Chen attacked Li Changfeng with sword qi and Heavenly Spring Swordplay, but Li Changfeng caught and bent his sword with Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand.
• Li Changfeng blocked Zhang Chen’s kicks, advanced on him, and chased him when he tried to flee.
• Li Changfeng killed Zhang Chen with a palm strike to the head, and a streak of white light shot from Zhang Chen’s body.

After killing Zhang Chen, Li Changfeng traveled toward the Imperial Capital and settled a conflict between the authorities and the Black Tiger Gang to protect Tie Niu. He reunited briefly with Tie Niu from a distance, then entered the Imperial Capital using Zhang Chen’s auction invitation.

• Li Changfeng found Zhang Chen’s money, sword, and an invitation to an Imperial Capital auction house.
• Li Changfeng learned that the authorities planned to attack the Black Tiger Gang, then persuaded Constable Yu’s group to make peace by giving them three thousand taels.
• Li Changfeng left Tie Niu a letter before departing, and Tie Niu burned it after reading it.
• Constable Yu warned a greedy young constable that Li Changfeng was too strong for them to fight.
• Tie Niu and the Three Fools waited at the town gate, but Li Changfeng sent them a message and continued toward the Imperial Capital.
• Li Changfeng showed his auction invitation to the soldiers at the Imperial Capital gate and was allowed to enter without paying the toll.

Li Changfeng attended the Imperial City Auction, where he saw several prominent young martial artists and learned that Li Wuyai had survived and regained his strength. The auction began with Li Changfeng’s sword, Morning Light, and Zuo Kangcheng sought his friends’ help to buy it.

• Li Changfeng entered the auction house and took a private room on the second level.
• Zuo Kangcheng, Sun Hongwen, and Yue Hanhai arrived, followed by Zhou Zhiruo and Hua Xinglian, who passed by the young men as they headed to the top floor.
• Li Changfeng spotted Li Wuyai, who had survived his injuries, recovered his cultivation, and returned with much of his memory lost.
• Li Changfeng and Li Wuyai each vowed to kill the other, while Li Wuyai resolved to obtain a precious pill at the auction.
• The auction opened with Morning Light, a sword Li Changfeng had supplied, and Zuo Kangcheng asked Sun Hongwen and Yue Hanhai to help him buy it.

At the Imperial City Auction, Li Changfeng secured a rare Yellow Yang Blood Ginseng after outbidding Old Man Black Xuan, drawing threats and greedy attention. Commander Murong warned Li Changfeng not to leave the city, but Li Changfeng accepted the danger.

• Zuo Kangcheng outbid Yu Yutang for a sharp sword, winning it for two hundred thousand taels after Yu Yutang provoked him into raising the price.
• A black-clad man bought High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills for twenty thousand taels and hurried away as several guests pursued him.
• The host presented a hundred-year-old Yellow Yang Blood Ginseng, and Yue Hanhai and other bidders drove its price upward.
• Li Changfeng bid two hundred and ten thousand taels for the ginseng, and Old Man Black Xuan stopped bidding after threatening him.
• Commander Murong warned Old Man Black Xuan against intimidating bidders and later cautioned Li Changfeng not to leave the city.
• Li Changfeng sensed that other guests were plotting against him and told Commander Murong he understood the warning.

Commander Murong auctioned the Meteor Stone, the Surging Wave Palm, and the Meridian Expansion Pill as sect elders competed for the rare items. The Flower Shifting Palace elder won the martial skill and then resolved to stop the Free and Unfettered Sect elder from returning to his sect.

• The Ironclad Gate elder outbid the Meteor Sect elder and bought the Meteor Stone for eight hundred thousand taels.
• The Free and Unfettered Sect elder and the Flower Shifting Palace elder traded insults while bidding on the Surging Wave Palm, which the Flower Shifting Palace elder won for one million five hundred thousand taels.
• Commander Murong presented the Meridian Expansion Pill, and the Free and Unfettered Sect elder bid two million taels after other sects competed for it.
• The Flower Shifting Palace elder decided that she could not let the Free and Unfettered Sect elder return to his sect.

Li Changfeng lured nine masked attackers outside the city and killed them, then confronted the hidden Old Man Black Xuan. Meanwhile, Li Wuyai tricked Elder Wang into drawing off the other sects and swallowed the Meridian Expansion Pill, setting up a future clash with Li Changfeng.

• Li Wuyai convinced Elder Wang to take the Meridian Expansion Pill’s pursuers away from the suite while he stayed behind to take the pill.
• Elder Wang left to draw the other sects away, and Li Wuyai swallowed the Meridian Expansion Pill and vowed to come for Li Changfeng.
• Li Changfeng recognized that Li Wuyai might become a threat, then led the greedy men following him toward the outskirts of the city.
• Li Changfeng killed the leader of the nine masked men with Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand and killed the other seven with Vajra Legs of Immense Power.
• Li Changfeng collected twenty thousand silver notes and confronted Old Man Black Xuan, who had been watching from hiding.

Li Changfeng and Old Man Black Xuan fought fiercely, trading powerful palm, leg, sword, and staff techniques without either gaining the upper hand. After both were injured by their weapons’ collision, Li Changfeng launched another devastating greatsword strike at Old Man Black Xuan.

• Old Man Black Xuan recognized Li Changfeng as Demon Monk Jue Kong and vowed to take his inheritance and treasures.
• Li Changfeng and Old Man Black Xuan clashed with their palm techniques, and their attacks shook the battlefield.
• Li Changfeng used Vajra’s Wrath while Old Man Black Xuan countered with Black Rock, and they exchanged more than a hundred midair blows without gaining the advantage.
• Li Changfeng unleashed Eighteen Swords as One, while Old Man Black Xuan answered with Dragon Transformation Staff; the collision sent both men crashing into boulders and spitting blood.
• Li Changfeng recovered, drew his black greatsword, and attacked Old Man Black Xuan with Mountain-Splitting Strike.

Li Changfeng killed Old Man Black Xuan and found a Storage Ring containing a secret art for unlocking hidden strength. He learned the art, then went to investigate a nearby battle, where Elder Wang was trapped by sect elders demanding a Meridian Expansion Pill.

• Old Man Black Xuan used steel needles to stimulate his potential, but Li Changfeng shattered his iron staff and killed him with a sword-qi storm.
• Li Changfeng found Old Man Black Xuan's Storage Ring and discovered money, pills, spiritual herbs, and a fragmentary scroll describing the strength-stimulating secret art.
• Li Changfeng studied and learned the secret art, then heard an explosion and went to investigate.
• Elder Wang told the besieging sect elders that Li Wuyai had taken the Meridian Expansion Pill to the imperial capital, and they searched him and found no pill.
• Elder Wang asked to leave, but the elders surrounded him and refused to let him go.

Elder Wang was killed after the Flower Shifting Palace and Mount Song Sect elders attacked him, and he realized Li Wuyai had used him as a scapegoat. The elders discussed Li Wuyai’s escape and agreed to maintain their alliance despite the risk of conflict with the Free and Unfettered Sect.

• The Flower Shifting Palace elder attacked Elder Wang with Flower Shifting Jade, and Elder Wang countered with the Tianshan Six Yang Palm.
• The Mount Song Sect elder joined the attack with Myriad Mountains Pay Homage, leaving Elder Wang gravely injured.
• Elder Zhou killed Elder Wang with his spear as Elder Wang cursed Li Wuyai for using him as a scapegoat.
• The elders concluded that Li Wuyai had escaped and could not be tracked across the sea.
• The Flower Shifting Palace elder reaffirmed his alliance with Elder Zhou and the Mount Song Sect elder against possible trouble from the Free and Unfettered Sect.

Li Changfeng watched the aftermath of two deaths, then encountered a mysterious Old Beggar who saw through his intent and the condition of his body. The next morning, Li Changfeng spotted Zhou Honghua meeting Wu Xiuyuan and followed their movements as they left the Imperial City.

• A Flower Shifting Palace elder left after Elder Wang was buried, and Li Changfeng revealed he had watched the battle and vowed to kill Li Wuyai.
• Brocade-Clad Guards identified Old Man Black Xuan and Elder Wang among the dead, then reported the killings to Commander Murong.
• Li Changfeng waited near the Zhou and Wu family residences, where the Old Beggar appeared, shared his food, and recognized his killing intent and hidden demonic energy.
• The Old Beggar vanished after promising to repay Li Changfeng for their karmic ties, leaving Li Changfeng unable to discern who he was.
• The next morning, Li Changfeng saw Zhou Honghua meet Wu Xiuyuan, and the two young men left together for the outskirts of the Imperial City.

Li Changfeng followed a group of sect disciples to Medicine King Valley, where they split into teams to search for treasures. After secretly trailing Yu Yutang’s team, he revealed himself and challenged them to a fight to the death, leaving the group attacking him.

• The system gave Li Changfeng a quest to search Medicine King Valley for ingredients for the Draconic Elephant Prajna and return alive.
• Yue Hanhai gathered young disciples for the expedition, and the participants formed separate teams after Yu Yutang questioned the group’s motives.
• Zhou Zhiruo and Hua Xinglian formed a team, while Li Changfeng secretly watched and decided to keep an eye on Zhou Zhiruo.
• The group entered Medicine King Valley, agreed to meet again in half a month, and split up to explore.
• Li Changfeng followed Yu Yutang’s team, then stepped out and challenged them as Fung Yu-sau.
• Yu Yutang attacked with Azure City Swordplay and Sha Tongtian struck with Iron Palm Divine Skill as Li Changfeng prepared to fight back.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Changfeng, using the [Subduing Tiger Coiling Dragon Staff], defeats two opponents with a single strike, injuring them severely.
• Wu Xiuyuan and Zhou Honghua join the fight, using the [Wu Family Swordplay] and [Dragon Riding Spear Technique] respectively, but Li Changfeng counters with the [Coiling Dragon Stir] stance, nullifying their attacks.
• Yu Yutang and Sha Tongtian attempt a surprise attack with the [Azure City Swordplay] and [Iron Palm Divine Skill], but Li Changfeng uses the [Raging Dragon Surges the Sea] stance to defeat them, leaving them seriously injured.

Character Developments

• Li Changfeng demonstrates his formidable skills and power, easily defeating four powerful opponents.
• The four opponents show their skills but are no match for Li Changfeng, revealing their limitations.

Significant Themes

• Power and Dominance: Li Changfeng's True Qi and staff techniques are portrayed as overwhelming and dominant, reflecting his character's strength and confidence.
• Underestimation: The opponents underestimate Li Changfeng, leading to their defeat, highlighting the theme of overconfidence leading to downfall.

Character Interactions

• Li Changfeng faces off against four opponents, showcasing his combat skills and strategy.
• The opponents interact through their combined attacks and attempts to outmaneuver Li Changfeng, but their teamwork is ultimately ineffective against him.

Li Changfeng fought a gigantic monster that emerged from underground and devoured Wu Xiuyuan and Zhou Honghua. He identified it as a Giant Centipede and struck its head with a powerful Vajra Palm, but its corrosive blood began to pierce his defense.

• A massive black creature burst from the ground, swallowed Wu Xiuyuan and Zhou Honghua, and attacked Li Changfeng.
• Sha Tongtian stopped Yu Yutang from ambushing Li Changfeng, and the two men fled.
• Li Changfeng halted the monster's charge, lifted it, and kicked its head to reveal a colossal Giant Centipede.
• The Giant Centipede attacked again, but Li Changfeng activated the Indestructible Divine Skill and forced its fangs apart.
• Li Changfeng unleashed Vajra Body Empowerment and drove the Giant Centipede's head into the ground with a golden palm strike.
• The Giant Centipede's blackish-purple blood splashed onto Li Changfeng and began to break through his defense.

Li Changfeng fought the Two-Headed Giant Centipede while struggling against its poisonous blood. After destroying one head, he killed the remaining head with Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, then collapsed from exhaustion and poison.

• Li Changfeng expelled some of the centipede's poisonous blood with the Indestructible Divine Skill, but the venom continued to affect him.
• The Two-Headed Giant Centipede attacked, and Li Changfeng struck it with Dragon Soars, Tiger Leaps, cracking its shell and sending it crashing to the ground.
• The centipede circled Li Changfeng, but he smashed the ground with Knocking Mountain Shocking Tiger, trapping its legs in the fissures.
• Li Changfeng struck the trapped centipede's head with Rampaging Dragon Dance, destroying it and breaking his iron staff.
• The centipede's remaining head bit Li Changfeng, who endured the attack and shattered it with Soaring Dragon Ascends before collapsing.

Li Changfeng recovered from the centipede’s poison, collected its corpse and two inner cores, and hurried to check on Zhou Zhiruo. In the misty forest, Zhou Zhiruo and Hua Xinglian agreed to help each other, then fought together to kill a crocodile that attacked them.

• Li Changfeng purged the poison from his body and stored the giant centipede’s corpse in his Storage Ring.
• Li Changfeng found two poisonous beads he suspected were the Two-Headed Giant Centipede’s inner cores and put them in his ring before leaving to find Zhou Zhiruo.
• Zhou Zhiruo told Hua Xinglian she wanted to grow stronger to help someone, while Hua Xinglian explained she sought inner cores to treat her sister’s Latent Injury and wanted revenge on Li Wuyai.
• Zhou Zhiruo promised to help Hua Xinglian, and the two entered the misty forest together.
• A crocodile attacked, so Hua Xinglian struck it with Three Points into the Wood and Zhou Zhiruo finished it with Trickling Stream.

Li Changfeng encountered a pack of giant azure wolves in Medicine King Valley and fought his way through them. After the Azure Wolf King wounded him, Li Changfeng unleashed a massive Vajra palm, but the king leaped clear of the attack.

• Hua Xinglian told Zhou Zhiruo she had come to Medicine King Valley without researching it, and Zhou Zhiruo warned her to be careful as they continued onward.
• Li Changfeng followed the path he believed the girl had taken and was surrounded by dozens of giant azure wolves.
• Li Changfeng killed or crippled several wolves with his Vajra techniques, driving the rest back until the Azure Wolf King struck him and sent him crashing through a boulder.
• Li Changfeng countered the Azure Wolf King's bite with a double-legged kick, then activated Draconic Elephant Prajna and formed the Vajra Body Empowerment technique.
• The Azure Wolf King leaped away from Li Changfeng's fifty-zhang golden palm, which slammed into the ground and left a deep print amid spreading cracks.