Recaps

Lu Fan evaded the Thunder Martial Hall’s surveillance, gathered Qi-Replenishing Pills from Shen Yuniang, and learned that both the Feng Household and Li Xiao were searching for him. He refused the Feng Household’s invitation and its offer to help him reach Transformation Force, then swallowed the powerful pill its attendant had given him.

• Lu Fan captured a Thunder Martial Hall disciple and learned that Li Xiao and the Feng Household were investigating him.
• Lu Fan paid Shen Yuniang for two bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills and told her to bring her daughter home and stay inside.
• Ma Sheng, an Attendant of the Feng Household, invited Lu Fan to meet Master Feng and gave him a powerful pill as an apology.
• Lu Fan refused the invitation and the offer to help him reach Transformation Force, while Ma Sheng privately coveted the same opportunity.
• After making sure Ma Sheng was no longer following him, Lu Fan returned home and swallowed the pill.

Lu Fan used the pill’s overwhelming vitality to break his Force Core and form a Force Vortex, successfully advancing to Transformation Force. After demonstrating Force Projection, he sensed a Late Dark Force martial artist nearby.

• Lu Fan refined the pill’s vitality into force, but his Force Core neared its limit and threatened to burst.
• Lu Fan activated the Evergreen Formula and pushed the Force Core until it cracked and exploded inside his Qi Sea.
• The force formed a Force Vortex that refined it into liquid force and stored it throughout Lu Fan’s Qi Sea.
• Lu Fan reached Transformation Force and projected force from his fingertip, shattering an earthenware jar and denting the wall behind it.
• Lu Fan sensed the surging vitality of a Late Dark Force martial artist.

Lu Fan followed Ma Sheng to the Qin Estate, where Feng Jiaqi confronted Qin Yuan and revealed that the Qin Household had been betrayed from within. Qin Yuan was left in despair after learning Chen Liu had rejected his invitation, while a hidden figure watched from the eaves.

• Lu Fan secretly followed Ma Sheng to the crowded Qin Estate, where Ma Sheng joined Feng Jiaqi and broke down the estate gates.
• Qin Yaxin urged her sick father, Qin Yuan, to withdraw from Chi City, but Qin Yuan refused to abandon the foundation he had built.
• Feng Jiaqi entered the hall and demanded to know whether Qin Yuan would surrender the Qin Household's business and territory.
• Qin Yuan claimed the Qin Household had three Dark Force Attendants and that Chen Liu had joined them, but Liu Attendant sided with Feng Jiaqi.
• Ma Sheng revealed that Liu Attendant had been bought over and had personally dealt with Zhang Attendant and the other loyal attendant.
• Feng Jiaqi taunted Qin Yuan that Chen Liu had rejected his invitation, while a black shadow silently watched from above the hall.

The Feng Household took control of the Qin Household after Qin Yuan died, and Qin Yaxin was left vulnerable to Ma Sheng. Lu Fan rescued her and led her to Shen Yuniang's shop.

• Qin Yuan died after coughing up blood during his confrontation with the Feng Household.
• Feng Jiaqi left Qin Yaxin in Liu Attendant and Ma Sheng's hands, and Liu Attendant let Ma Sheng deal with her.
• Ma Sheng threatened to torture Qin Yaxin, but Lu Fan knocked him unconscious before he could harm her.
• Qin Yaxin vowed to avenge her father and followed Lu Fan out of the hall.
• Ma Sheng woke, assumed Li Xiao had rescued Qin Yaxin, and left without reporting what happened.
• Lu Fan led Qin Yaxin to Shen Yuniang's shop.

After the Qin Household fell, Lu Fan told Shen Yuniang and Zhang Zhi to wait while he left, and Zhang Yao failed to break through to Transformation Force. At the Feng Household, Feng Wanqian warned Feng Jiaqi to distrust their allies, but Feng Jiaqi secretly planned to use them to bring all of Li Prefecture under his control.

• Lu Fan told Shen Yuniang that the Qin Household had been destroyed, and Zhang Zhi comforted the grieving Qin Yaxin before Lu Fan told them to wait and left.
• Zhang Yao failed to break through to Transformation Force and resolved to find a way to send Zhang Zhi, her mother, Lu Fan, and his daughters out of Chi City.
• Li Xiao recovered from his injuries and vowed to kill Chen Liu at their next meeting.
• Feng Wanqian warned Feng Jiaqi that poison might not control Li Xiao, cautioned him against trusting their powerful backers, and urged him to balance the forces around him.
• Feng Jiaqi dismissed his father's caution and resolved to exploit their allies and bring all of Li Prefecture under the Feng Household's control.

Lu Fan entered Blackstone Martial Hall to check on Zhang Yao as Thunder Martial Hall’s fighters surrounded it, but Zhang Yao fought them alone and was ultimately defeated by Li Xiao. As Zhang Yao lay helpless outside, he sensed another terrifying Transformation Grandmaster approaching.

• Lu Fan found Zhang Yao calmly waiting at Blackstone Martial Hall and resolved to keep him from dying.
• Zhang Yao killed the first three Dark Force martial artists who came for him, then defeated the five others who attacked together.
• Li Xiao arrived and taunted Zhang Yao about his wife and daughter before overpowering him with Transformation Force.
• Li Xiao’s strike sent Zhang Yao through the courtyard wall and left him unable to stand.
• Zhang Yao waited for Li Xiao to appear, then sensed another terrifying aura from the courtyard.

Lu Fan confronted Li Xiao in the martial arts school courtyard and used his newly acquired Transformation Force to overwhelm him. After Li Xiao begged for his life, he offered to reveal the pill that the Feng Household had given him to enter Transformation Force, leaving Lu Fan to consider the offer.

• Lu Fan revealed that he had entered Transformation Force and told Li Xiao he deserved to die.
• Lu Fan shattered Li Xiao's force barrier with Force Projection, then pursued him into the room and broke his arms with a kick.
• Li Xiao begged Lu Fan to stop and claimed they had no reason to fight to the death.
• Li Xiao offered to explain how he had entered Transformation Force, and Lu Fan paused to hear him out.
• Li Xiao said the Feng Household had given him a pill, that he had taken one, and that another remained at his home.

Lu Fan killed Li Xiao, recovered a mysterious pill, and found Zhang Yao badly injured but alive. With the Feng Household likely to hunt them down, Lu Fan brought Zhang Yao to Shen Yuniang’s shop and told the women they had to leave Chi City that night.

• Lu Fan killed Li Xiao, confirmed he was dead, and found a crystal-clear pill with scarlet threads and several banknotes on his body.
• Lu Fan discovered Zhang Yao unconscious and gravely injured, then decided they needed to escape Chi City before the Feng Household could find them.
• Lu Fan hid Li Xiao’s corpse, carried Zhang Yao to Shen Yuniang’s shop, and considered seeking Zhou Haiyan through Qin Yaxin’s connections.
• Shen Yuniang, Zhang Zhi, and Qin Yaxin feared the Feng Household or Thunder Martial Hall would come for them while they waited for Chen Liu to return.
• Lu Fan arrived with Zhang Yao and told the three women that they had to leave Chi City that night.

Lu Fan arranged for Zhou Haiyan to escort Zhang Yao, Qin Yaxin, and others out of Chi City, then joined them in disguise as Old Lu while choosing to stay behind. At Feng Household, Feng Jiaqi grew suspicious when Li Xiao failed to return and ordered Ma Sheng to investigate.

• Lu Fan told Zhou Haiyan to escort several people out of Chi City that night, and she agreed to arrange their departure.
• Lu Fan packed his clothes and cooking pot, then met Zhou Haiyan and the carriages at the city gate.
• Lu Fan boarded the carriage disguised as Old Lu and reunited with Zhang Yao, Qin Yaxin, Zhang Zhi, and Shen Yuniang.
• Qin Yaxin briefly suspected that Old Lu was the masked Elder Chen Liu but dismissed the possibility and focused on avenging Qin Household.
• Feng Jiaqi learned that Li Xiao had not returned from Blackstone Martial Hall and ordered Ma Sheng to investigate.

After Li Xiao’s corpse returned to the Feng Household, Feng Jiaqi realized Chen Liu had taken the Blood Embryo Pills and ordered a search for him. Feng Wanqian feared the pills’ disappearance would bring powerful people down on the household, but Feng Jiaqi remained confident that an ally would arrive the next day.

• Feng Jiaqi learned Li Xiao was dead and suspected Chen Liu had killed him and taken the Blood Embryo Pill.
• Feng Jiaqi explained to Ma Sheng that the pill forced breakthroughs by consuming a martial artist’s lifespan and could kill those who failed.
• Feng Jiaqi sent Ma Sheng to search Chi City for Chen Liu, then told Feng Wanqian that Li Xiao was dead and the pills were stolen.
• Feng Wanqian discovered the vial was empty and erupted when Feng Jiaqi admitted he had given all three pills to Li Xiao.
• Feng Jiaqi said he had contacted an ally who would arrive the next day, while Feng Wanqian left in despair and Feng Jiaqi insisted the Feng Household would not decline.

As the group escaped Chi City for Lidu, Zhang Yao awoke and learned that Chen Liu had saved his family and arranged their departure. Lu Fan worried the Feng Household would pursue them and decided to return to Chi City to investigate and confront any pursuers.

• The group stopped to rest, and Lu Fan stayed with the unconscious Zhang Yao while Shen Yuniang, Zhang Zhi, and Qin Yaxin left the carriage.
• Zhang Yao awoke, asked for water, and learned that Chen Liu had rescued him, his family, and Qin Yaxin and arranged their escape from Chi City.
• Zhang Yao worried about Lu Fan, then thanked him after Lu Fan returned with meat soup and insisted on still calling him Hall Master.
• Qin Yaxin suggested that the group seek refuge with her older brother in Lidu, and Zhang Yao agreed despite his serious injuries.
• Lu Fan left the carriage, fearing the Feng Household would send powerful pursuers, and planned to return to Chi City to investigate and protect the group.

Shang Qi and Ghost Ape arrived at the Feng Household to demand the Blood Embryo Pills, and Shang Qi brutally punished everyone who displeased him. As Feng Jiaqi swallowed a dangerous experimental pill, Feng Wanqian prepared to pass his secret research notes to someone who might oppose the organization.

• Feng Jiaqi welcomed Shang Qi and Ghost Ape, then revealed that the Blood Embryo Pills had been taken and explained where the remaining pills went.
• Shang Qi choked Feng Jiaqi, killed Liu Attendant for asking for a pill, and made Ma Sheng and Feng Jiaqi kneel.
• Shang Qi ordered Ghost Ape to destroy Thunder Martial Hall and killed Ma Sheng when he tried to escape.
• Shang Qi offered Feng Jiaqi a chance to live if he swallowed a new experimental pill, and Feng Jiaqi accepted.
• Shang Qi resolved to find and kill Chen Liu, while Feng Wanqian prepared to hand his secret Blood Embryo Pill research notes to someone who would oppose the organization.

Lu Fan discovered that Thunder Martial Hall had been burned and its disciples massacred by Ghost Ape, a powerful Transformation Force martial artist. After Ghost Ape attacked him, Lu Fan realized he was badly outmatched and decided to respond to the fight.

• Lu Fan saw Thunder Martial Hall ablaze and entered the hall, where he found its disciples’ corpses and concluded that one powerful attacker had killed them.
• Lu Fan identified the attacker as likely a Transformation Grandmaster and suspected the Feng Household might be involved.
• Ghost Ape emerged from the flames carrying a corpse and revealed his Force Projection, then attacked Lu Fan.
• Lu Fan exchanged blows with Ghost Ape, who proved stronger and possessed several times more Force than him.
• After dodging Ghost Ape’s punch, which left a large crater, Lu Fan considered retreating but decided to act when Ghost Ape attacked again.

Lu Fan fled the destruction of Thunder Martial Hall, then found the Feng Household burning as well. After Feng Wanqian gave him records about the Blood Embryo Pill and warned that the Blood Furnace would pursue him, Shang Qi attacked, forcing Lu Fan to flee again as Ghost Ape arrived.

• Lu Fan escaped Ghost Ape after their clash at the burning Thunder Martial Hall and headed toward the Feng residence.
• Lu Fan found the Feng Household engulfed in flames and followed Feng Wanqian when he fled through its rear gate.
• Feng Wanqian told Lu Fan that the Blood Furnace would not let him go and handed him research records on the Blood Embryo Pill.
• Shang Qi killed Feng Wanqian and demanded the pill, the manuscript, and one of Lu Fan's arms.
• Lu Fan sensed danger, fled toward the city gates, and left Shang Qi as Ghost Ape arrived.

Shang Qi used Blood-Tracking Incense to pursue the aura-concealing fugitive after ordering Ghost Ape to take away two corpses. In Chi City, Haotian Sect disciple Luo Qingshuang linked the recent fires to the group she was tracking and set off northwest after learning where people had left the city.

• Shang Qi lit Blood-Tracking Incense, followed its direction, and vowed to capture the fugitive, while Ghost Ape took Li Xiao's corpse and the young master of the Feng Household's corpse away.
• Luo Qingshuang entered Chi City and found the remains of a recently burned residence.
• Luo Qingshuang presented her Haotian Sect token to the city lord, who recounted the recent events involving Li Xiao, the Feng Household, and the fires.
• Luo Qingshuang concluded that the fires matched the methods of the group she was pursuing and decided to capture one of its members so she could report her mission complete.
• The city guards told Luo Qingshuang that two people had left northwest and a burly man had gone southeast, so she chose to pursue the northwest route.

Zhang Yao left the convoy to search for Old Lu, but returned at dawn without finding him. Meanwhile, Lu Fan stopped fleeing Shang Qi and attacked, but Shang Qi evaded the blow, and Lu Fan’s mask shattered, exposing his face.

• Zhang Yao learned that Old Lu was missing and got Zhou Haiyan’s permission to search for him until dawn.
• Shen Yuniang challenged Zhang Yao’s decision to leave, but he departed after promising Zhang Zhi he would return before dawn.
• Zhang Yao searched the road and nearby villages through the night, found no trace of Old Lu, and returned as dawn broke.
• Lu Fan realized Shang Qi was still tracking him and decided to stop running and fight.
• Lu Fan struck at Shang Qi with a powerful punch, but Shang Qi evaded it and appeared unharmed behind him.
• Lu Fan turned toward Shang Qi as his mask cracked and shattered, revealing his face.

Lu Fan faced Shang Qi’s Blood Force Threads, which let Shang Qi evade attacks and shred Lu Fan from a distance. As his injuries and dwindling Force left him with few options, Lu Fan unleashed everything in a direct charge, and Shang Qi was stunned by what he did next.

• Shang Qi showed Lu Fan that his Blood Force Threads filled the space around him and could ensnare and cut anyone who approached.
• Shang Qi sent waves of Blood Force Threads at Lu Fan, draining his Force and covering his body in bloody marks.
• Lu Fan decided to stop competing with Shang Qi’s technique and gathered all his Force into his right fist, amplifying it with the Evergreen Formula.
• Shang Qi formed the threads into a massive net and dropped it toward Lu Fan, but Lu Fan charged through it and shattered the threads blocking his fist.
• Shang Qi tried to pull himself away with the threads, but Lu Fan’s next move stunned him and filled him with fear.

Lu Fan defeated Shang Qi with a final punch, but was left too injured to defend himself. Luo Qingshuang arrived and forced Shang Qi to flee with a blood-colored jade talisman, then turned her attention to Lu Fan.

• Lu Fan spotted Shang Qi's blood-stained Blood Force Threads, pulled him in, and shattered his defenses with a punch.
• Shang Qi rose despite his injuries and threatened to cripple Lu Fan and kill everyone connected to him.
• Luo Qingshuang cut through Shang Qi's Blood Force Threads and recognized him as the Blood Furnace member behind the Sun Family massacre.
• Shang Qi crushed a blood-colored jade talisman and escaped after its blast clashed with Luo Qingshuang's strongest sword strike.
• Luo Qingshuang spotted Lu Fan trying to slip away and ordered him not to move.

Lu Fan traded the Blood Embryo Pill manuscript and sample to Luo Qingshuang in exchange for help repairing Zhang Yao’s meridians and received Clear Spirit Pills for his own injuries. After Luo Qingshuang left for the Haotian Sect, Lu Fan took a pill and its effects were amplified a hundredfold.

• Luo Qingshuang questioned Lu Fan about the Blood Furnace and warned that its members would target him and anyone connected to him.
• Lu Fan showed Luo Qingshuang the Blood Embryo Pill manuscript and a bottle of pills, which she recognized as a valuable sample.
• Lu Fan revealed his real name and asked Luo Qingshuang for something to repair Zhang Yao’s damaged meridians.
• Luo Qingshuang gave Lu Fan a token and a bottle of Clear Spirit Pills, and told him to find her in Lidu after she returned to the Haotian Sect.
• After Luo Qingshuang left, Lu Fan swallowed a Clear Spirit Pill, triggering its healing and cultivation effects along with his hundredfold amplification.

Lu Fan recovered from his injuries, advanced to the Late Transformation Force Stage, and joined a merchant caravan bound for Lidu. Meanwhile, Zhang Yao and the others reached the capital, where Zhang Zhi hoped to join the Haotian Sect after a Li Family youth humiliated them at the city gate.

• Lu Fan absorbed the Clear Spirit Pill through the night, healed completely, and advanced to the Late Transformation Force Stage.
• Lu Fan decided to retrieve an item from Luo Qingshuang for Zhang Yao and seek a combat-focused cultivation method in Lidu, then concealed his aura and joined a merchant caravan.
• Shen Yuniang, Qin Yaxin, Zhou Haiyan, Zhang Zhi, and Zhang Yao arrived at Lidu and marveled at its towering walls and crowded entrance.
• Zhou Haiyan and Qin Yaxin told Zhang Zhi she had the talent to compete in Lidu and might enter the Haotian Sect, which Zhang Zhi longed to join.
• A young man wearing the Li Family crest mocked the group and cut ahead in line, while Zhou Haiyan and Qin Yaxin persuaded Shen Yuniang and Zhang Zhi not to confront him.
• The group entered Lidu after waiting in line, and Zhang Zhi noticed that Zhang Yao remained distracted and hoped joining the Haotian Sect would help their family settle there.

Qin Yaxin brought Shen Yuniang, Zhang Yao, and Zhang Zhi to the Qin Estate in Lidu, where her brother Qin Zhao agreed to shelter them after recognizing Zhang Zhi’s martial talent. Their welcome came with a condition: Zhang Zhi had to enter the Haotian Sect, or the support would be withdrawn.

• Zhou Haiyan parted ways with Qin Yaxin and the others after escorting them to Lidu.
• Qin Yaxin led Shen Yuniang, Zhang Yao, and Zhang Zhi to the Qin Estate and told gatekeeper Sun Lianshan that their father had died.
• Sun Lianshan brought the group to Qin Zhao, who welcomed Qin Yaxin and agreed to let them stay at the estate.
• Qin Zhao examined Zhang Yao’s injured condition and discovered that Zhang Zhi had reached Late Bright Force at sixteen.
• Qin Zhao promised Qin Yaxin a shop to manage and resources for the group, but warned that their support depended on Zhang Zhi entering the Haotian Sect.

Lu Fan reached Lidu, settled into work at Fortune Hall near the Qin Estate, and learned that the Qin Household was in danger because its Core-Embracing ancestor was nearing death. After Lu Fan delivered a meal to the estate and left, Qin Yaxin came out to ask about the food.

• Lu Fan entered Lidu and decided to work near the Qin Estate before arranging an apparently accidental meeting with Qin Yaxin and the others.
• Lu Fan learned the layout of Lidu, found Fortune Hall on Green Willow Street, and was hired as a kitchen hand.
• Lu Fan learned that the Qin Household controlled much of Lidu’s pill trade but faced a crisis because its Core-Embracing ancestor was nearing the end of his life.
• The Fortune Hall steward sent Lu Fan to deliver a table of dishes to the Qin Estate, where the gatekeepers allowed only the food inside.
• After Lu Fan returned to Fortune Hall, Qin Yaxin came out of the estate and asked Sun Lianshan whether the meal had arrived.

Qin Yaxin brought food to the despondent Zhang Yao, hoping he would eat and eventually help protect her shop. The meat soup revived him when he recognized it as Old Lu’s cooking, and he asked Qin Yaxin where the food came from.

• Sun Lianshan pitied Zhang Yao’s damaged meridians and the loss of his potential to advance to Transformation Force.
• Qin Yaxin overheard relatives gossiping about her background and doubting she could enter the Haotian Sect, but continued to Zhang Yao’s courtyard.
• Shen Yuniang told Qin Yaxin that Zhang Yao refused to eat while Zhi'er’s cultivation was improving with pills from Qin Zhao.
• Qin Yaxin offered Zhang Yao food from Fortune Mansion, hoping to restore his will and gain his help guarding her shop.
• Zhang Yao eagerly drank the meat soup, recognized Old Lu’s cooking, and asked Qin Yaxin where the food basket came from.

Qin Yaxin brought Zhang Yao to Fortune Mansion, where he reunited with Lu Fan and invited him to work for the Qin Household. Meanwhile, Qin Zhao weighed the threats facing the Qin Household as its Core-Embracing Realm ancestor’s birthday approached and wondered how much longer the ancestor could hold on.

• Qin Yaxin realized that Lu Fan was alive and told Zhang Yao, who hurried to Fortune Mansion with her.
• Zhang Yao embraced Lu Fan in relief, and Qin Yaxin invited him to join the Qin Household’s kitchen.
• Lu Fan accepted after Fortune Mansion’s manager agreed to let him go, and Zhang Yao prepared to return with him.
• Qin Zhao ordered his observer to withdraw after monitoring Yaxin’s new recruit for a few more days.
• Qin Zhao considered the threats to the Qin Household’s medicinal pill trade and went to visit the ancestor.

Li Chenghao met with the envoy Shang Qi, who ordered him to destroy the Qin Household and gave him a Blood Calamity Pill that could help create a second Core-Embracing Realm martial artist. Li Chenghao agreed to investigate the Qin ancestor within a month, while Shang Qi revealed that the Haotian Sect and the Qin Household’s pill formula were central to his plans.

• At a banquet, Song Kui told Lidu’s powerful figures that they would divide the Qin Household’s territory when its old ancestor died, with Li Chenghao silently allowing him to speak for the Li Family.
• After the guests left, Li Chenghao met Shang Qi and the towering Ghost Ape in the inner courtyard.
• Shang Qi ordered Li Chenghao to take down the Qin Household within three months, but Li Chenghao warned that its old ancestor might still be alive and could retaliate.
• Shang Qi gave Li Chenghao a Blood Calamity Pill, explaining that it could let a Late Transformation Force Stage martial artist break through to the Core-Embracing Realm, though the incomplete pill had severe side effects.
• Shang Qi said the Qin Household likely possessed the formula to complete the pill, and Li Chenghao promised to investigate its ancestor within one month.
• After Li Chenghao left, Shang Qi said he intended to obtain the formula and destroy the Haotian Sect, then disappeared into the darkness with the Ghost Ape.