Chapter Summaries

Lu Fan returned home injured after fighting Li Xiao and realized he needed Qi-Replenishing Pills and a breakthrough to Transformation Force. Meanwhile, Li Xiao’s recruitment campaign drained Blackstone Martial Hall of students, leaving Zhang Yao too wounded to resist and the hall’s reputation in decline.

• Shen Yuniang invited Lu Fan to her residence for tea, but he refused and left.
• Lu Fan returned home, treated his injuries with the Evergreen Formula, and found that his supplies were insufficient for recovery.
• At Blackstone Martial Hall, Lu Fan learned that Li Xiao had declared himself a Transformation Grandmaster and offered students incentives to transfer to Thunder Martial Hall.
• Zhang Zhi told Zhang Yao that many students had stopped attending, and he concealed how badly his injuries had weakened him.
• Blackstone Martial Hall remained silent as its reputation fell and Thunder Martial Hall became the favored hall among Chi City’s younger generation.

Shen Yuniang returned to the Shen Household seeking help, but Old Madam Shen ordered her to divorce Zhang Yao and threatened to disown her. After Shen Yuniang humiliated Lu Fan at Blackstone Martial Hall, Zhang Yao struck her and declared they would divorce the next day, while Zhang Zhi watched in distress.

• Old Madam Shen ordered Shen Yuniang to divorce Zhang Yao within three days and return Zhang Zhi, or be cast out of the Shen Household.
• Shen Yuniang returned to Blackstone Martial Hall and berated Lu Fan for drinking broth made from leftover meat scraps.
• Zhang Yao arrived, sent the trainees away, and apologized to Lu Fan for Shen Yuniang's behavior.
• After Lu Fan left, Zhang Yao slapped Shen Yuniang and said they would divorce the next day; Shen Yuniang agreed angrily.
• Zhang Zhi stood outside the gates in sorrow and apologized to Lu Fan as he passed.

Lu Fan visited Shen Yuniang's shop for Qi-Replenishing Pills while preparing to recover and break through to the Transformation Force Stage. Facing threats to herself and her daughter, Shen Yuniang begged the masked Chen Liu for protection and offered her connections, shop, and herself; Lu Fan agreed to help.

• With the Qin Household's and Feng Household's shops closed, Lu Fan wore the Cracked Mask and went to Shen Yuniang's shop for Qi-Replenishing Pills.
• Shen Yuniang waited for Chen Liu, hoping he would protect her and Zhang Zhi from the Shen Household, Thunder Martial Hall, and the Feng Household.
• When Lu Fan asked only for Qi-Replenishing Pills, Shen Yuniang knelt and pleaded for his help, explaining that Zhang Yao wanted a divorce and her maternal family planned to erase her from the family register.
• Shen Yuniang offered her pill connections, shop, and herself in exchange for protection, and said Zhang Zhi could become a useful martial artist.
• Lu Fan agreed to help Shen Yuniang and her daughter.

Lu Fan secured a promise from Shen Yuniang and recovered from his injuries while the Feng Household tightened its pressure on the Qin Household and searched for Chen Liu. As the conflict in Chi City neared a climax, Lu Fan continued cultivating and prepared to face Li Xiao again.

• Lu Fan left Shen Yuniang's shop after she wagered everything on his promise as her hope for survival.
• Li Xiao ordered his disciple to investigate Chen Liu, the masked martial artist who had injured him.
• Feng Wanqian learned Shen Yuniang had been expelled from the Shen Household and demanded further concessions while directing a squeeze on the Qin Household's business.
• Feng Wanqian ordered his informants to uncover Chen Liu's identity and reflected on the mysterious pill and the people behind it.
• Lu Fan took a Qi-Replenishing Pill, healed his injuries, and advanced to within one step of Transformation Force.
• Lu Fan resumed cultivating, determined that the next time he wore the mask would be Li Xiao's day of death.

Lu Fan cultivated in the nearly empty Blackstone Martial Hall as Thunder Martial Hall students came to provoke its remaining students. After the students left, Zhang Zhi told Lu Fan not to return, hoping to keep him out of the conflict, while he decided to focus on reaching Transformation Force.

• Lu Fan cultivated in the kitchen while using the Tortoise Breath Formula to conceal his strength, bringing himself within half a step of the next threshold.
• Thunder Martial Hall students surrounded Blackstone Martial Hall students and demanded an apology, but Zhang Zhi confronted them and forced them to leave.
• Two injured Blackstone Martial Hall students quit, and the other female student followed them, leaving Zhang Zhi as the hall's only student.
• Zhang Zhi told Lu Fan not to come back so he would not be caught up in the conflict, and Lu Fan headed home to focus on entering Transformation Force.

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.