Chapter Summaries

Starting from the Dao Fruit
541 summaries

Ch. 141Sweeping Across Thirteen Provinces, Bound for Coiling Dragon Mountain!

Chapter Summary: “Sweeping Across Thirteen Provinces, Bound for Coiling Dragon Mountain!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Chen Jichuan spends 400,000 Origin Force to condense four Subsidiary Dao Fruits representing Qingsongzi, Gan Shisi, Wu Yuan, and Situ Kong. These Dao Fruits will allow him to directly comprehend their lifelong cultivation and alchemy insights.
  • A third Dao Fruit World begins forming in the Azure Lotus Jade Pendant. Opening it will require one million Origin Force, reflecting the sharply increasing cost of creating new worlds.
  • Chen decides to first consolidate the knowledge from his existing Dao Fruits and settle affairs in Great Chu before opening the new world.
  • At Little Sun Slope, Chen meets Han Jin, who has recovered an Azure Flame Banner and the Cloud Mountain Sect’s cultivation method, the Nine Illusions True Formula. They divide their gains fairly, with Chen compensating Han Jin for the more valuable Mysterious Frost Armor he previously obtained.
  • Over the past year and two months, Chen and Han Jin have swept through all 148 commanderies across Great Chu’s thirteen provinces, exploring eighty-two secret realms and obtaining:
    • Eighty-six magical treasures
    • Sixty-four cultivation methods
    • More than three thousand Spirit Stones
    • Numerous pills and talismans
  • Chen secretly gains far more than Han Jin because he uses Dream Fox to locate inheritances and covertly sends Five Ghosts and paper figures to collect unclaimed treasures.
  • While using Han Jin’s reputation as a powerful enforcer, Chen also recruits 287 cultivators into White Jade Capital, greatly expanding its Yan, Liang, and Jade Towers.
  • Chen concludes that White Jade Capital has served its original purpose—organizing cultivators and opposing the Wusheng Sect, Li River Gang, and Golden Sun Sect—and decides to leave it in Great Chu rather than bring it to Coiling Dragon Mountain.
  • Chen announces his intention to travel to Coiling Dragon Mountain and attempt a breakthrough into the Qi Refinement Realm. Han Jin reluctantly agrees to return with him after realizing that cultivation is more important than continuing to gather treasures.
  • They arrange to meet at the Li River Water Mansion in one month, where they will use the teleportation array together to save Spirit Stones.
  • Chen also plans to return briefly to Shian Commandery to see his relative, Chen Shaohe, whom he has not met for over a year.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan becomes increasingly powerful and organized. He now possesses extensive cultivation knowledge, wealth, intelligence networks, and influence across Great Chu.
  • He recognizes the limits of managing White Jade Capital personally and begins shifting his attention toward higher-level cultivation and the opportunities at Coiling Dragon Mountain.
  • Chen’s ability to use Dao Fruits demonstrates his growing advantage over ordinary cultivators: he can directly absorb the insights of others rather than relying on imperfect discussions.
  • Han Jin proves to be a straightforward and formidable partner, willing to fight openly for inheritances. His partnership with Chen allows him to accumulate wealth that would otherwise have taken him countless years to obtain.
  • Although Han Jin is reluctant to leave Great Chu’s easy opportunities, he ultimately accepts Chen’s reminder that cultivation—not material wealth—is the true foundation of progress.

Significant Themes

  • Knowledge as a form of power: Dao Fruits provide Chen with direct access to another person’s complete realizations, making them vastly superior to ordinary verbal exchanges.
  • The escalating cost of advancement: Each new Dao Fruit World requires dramatically more Origin Force, forcing Chen to balance world creation against the creation of Subsidiary Dao Fruits.
  • Cultivation versus material wealth: Han Jin’s hesitation about leaving Great Chu highlights the temptation of treasures, while Chen emphasizes that lasting strength comes from improving one’s cultivation.
  • The limits of institutions: White Jade Capital was useful for gathering intelligence and allies, but Chen realizes that an organization cannot develop as quickly as his own cultivation.
  • Partnership and fair exchange: Chen and Han Jin maintain their successful alliance through transparent division of spoils, compensation for unequal treasures, and mutual respect for each other’s contributions.
  • Transition to a higher stage: The chapter marks the end of Chen’s Great Chu expedition and prepares for his next phase of cultivation at Coiling Dragon Mountain.

Character Interactions

  • Chen and Han Jin maintain a practical, mutually beneficial partnership. Chen supplies intelligence and strategic direction, while Han Jin handles direct confrontations and secures guarded inheritances.
  • Their discussion over the Azure Flame Banner and Mysterious Frost Armor shows their commitment to fair division rather than allowing minor disparities to damage their trust.
  • Chen encourages Han Jin to abandon his attachment to easy treasures and focus on breaking through in cultivation.
  • Chen’s thoughts about Chen Shaohe reveal a more personal and familial side, contrasting with his increasingly detached focus on power, organizations, and Dao Fruit cultivation.
Read chapter

Ch. 142New World: I'm a Savage, and Quite Handsome! [Request

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • In Mingtang Mountain, Chen Jichuan asks his younger brother, Chen Shaohe, whether he wants to accompany him to Coiling Dragon Mountain in twenty days.
  • Chen Shaohe decides to remain in Great Chu rather than become a burden in the dangerous Coiling Dragon Mountain. He plans to cultivate safely until reaching the Innate Zenith, then reunite with Chen Jichuan.
  • Chen Jichuan agrees and promises to leave him a paper-man puppet for protection, along with manuals on alchemy, medicinal-herb cultivation, talisman-making, and artifact forging.
  • The brothers spend the night discussing Chen Shaohe’s future. Chen Jichuan is reassured that his brother has become independent and has chosen a path suited to his abilities.
  • Chen Jichuan enters his sea of consciousness and uses one million Origin Force to activate the third stalk of the Azure Lotus Jade Pendant, traveling to another world.
  • The new world has a time-flow ratio of 400:1 compared with the Dharma Lord World. It is a martial-arts civilization with no apparent immortal cultivators.
  • In White Elephant City, Chen Jichuan learns that the Central Land has a long history of powerful emperors, shattered realms, and sects that control the government and secular world.
  • He later visits Pengshan City and encounters Wang Ji, the Azure Mountain Swordsman and fifth elder of the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect.
  • Wang Ji brings home a wild young man whom he discovered in White Elephant City. The youth has never practiced martial arts but possesses extraordinary physical strength and movements resembling those of a tiger.
  • Wang Ji accepts the youth as his disciple, believing he is an exceptional martial-arts prodigy. Wang Ji’s wife tests the youth’s strength, easily overpowering him, then amusingly remarks that he is handsome.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan: Demonstrates strong responsibility and affection toward Chen Shaohe. Although he would prefer to keep his brother safe, he respects his decision and prepares carefully for his protection and education. He also begins investigating the new world before entering Coiling Dragon Mountain, showing strategic caution.
  • Chen Shaohe: Has grown from a timid, dependent youth into a thoughtful and self-aware adult. He recognizes his own limitations, values survival over glory, and chooses a peaceful path centered on alchemy and medicinal cultivation. His ambition is to become a “Ten-Mile Slope Sword God”-like figure through long-term cultivation rather than reckless adventure.
  • The wild young man: Is introduced as feral, instinctive, and physically powerful. Having lived alongside tigers, he possesses fierce survival instincts and tiger-like movements despite lacking formal training or internal force. His cautious aggression suggests both vulnerability and immense potential.
  • Wang Ji: Reveals insecurity about his reputation as a poor teacher. His discovery of the wild youth gives him hope that he can finally produce an outstanding disciple, making him unusually enthusiastic and protective.
  • Madam Wang: Appears sharp, strong, and playful. She immediately tests the wild youth’s character and strength but quickly becomes sympathetic toward him.

Significant Themes

  • Safety versus ambition: Chen Shaohe chooses survival and steady progress over following Chen Jichuan into danger, emphasizing that restraint can be wiser than pursuing adventure.
  • Brotherly responsibility: Chen Jichuan’s extensive preparations show how deeply he cares for his younger brother and feels responsible for his future.
  • Nature versus civilization: The wild youth’s tiger-influenced instincts contrast with the formal structures of sects, martial arts, and urban society.
  • Hidden potential: Both Chen Shaohe’s interest in alchemy and the wild youth’s natural abilities demonstrate that strength can take many forms and may emerge outside conventional paths.
  • Sect dominance: The new world resembles a society where powerful martial sects control governments and public life, paralleling the political influence of powerful organizations in Great Chu.
  • Teaching and cultivation: The chapter emphasizes the importance of guidance—Chen Jichuan mentors Chen Shaohe, while Wang Ji hopes to shape the wild youth into a martial master.

Character Interactions

  • Chen Jichuan scolds the Double-Pupil Mouse for frightening the Dream Fox, showing his authority over both creatures and their comical rivalry.
  • Chen Jichuan and Chen Shaohe have a sincere conversation about whether to travel together. Their exchange highlights mutual trust, affection, and Chen Shaohe’s growing independence.
  • Chen Jichuan offers practical support while Chen Shaohe enthusiastically explains his plans to study alchemy and medicinal cultivation.
  • Wang Ji introduces the wild youth to Madam Wang and defends him when the youth reacts aggressively to her teasing.
  • Madam Wang tests the youth with one hand, effortlessly forcing him down despite his great strength. Afterward, she inspects him like a curious family member and declares him handsome, marking his first humorous interaction with his new household.
Read chapter

Ch. 143Wang Shan!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Chen Jichuan successfully deceives Wang Ji into believing he is a wild genius from the Qinling Mountains with extraordinary strength. His plan allows him to enter Wang Ji’s tutelage and gain a path into the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect.
  • He learns that there are two main ways to join the sect: entering as a young outer disciple with a clean background, or joining the Blood-Robed Army. Since Chen’s true identity prevents him from meeting the background requirement, he adopts the identity of a mountain-born “wild man.”
  • Chen’s long-term goal is to rise within the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect, obtain access to its deeper inheritance, and eventually reach the realm of shattering the void, following in the footsteps of the Grand Vacuity Emperor.
  • Madam Wang teaches him literacy, etiquette, and civilized behavior. After a year, Chen has learned thousands of characters and is no longer completely ignorant or wild.
  • Madam Wang names him Wang Shan, replacing Wang Ji’s earlier name, “Wang Hu.” The name reflects her hope that he will abandon his rough nature and become refined and virtuous.
  • Wang Ji finally begins teaching him martial arts, explaining the distinction between:
    • Internal arts, which refine qi and are represented by the Grand Vacuity Emperor.
    • External arts, which refine the body and are represented by the Yong Emperor and Form-Intent Fist.
  • Because Chen has cultivated a “tiger-like” nature and possesses the copied Great Strength talent, Wang Ji chooses Tiger-Form Fist as his foundation. He plans for Chen to master external arts first and later transition to the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s internal arts and sword techniques.
  • Wang Ji admits that his own knowledge of external arts is limited and directs Chen to seek further guidance from his second disciple, Ma Zhengsong, known as “Tiger Descending the Mountain.”
  • Chen displays exceptional martial talent, quickly mastering the form and spirit of Tiger-Form Fist.
  • Over four years, he reaches the peak of Hidden Force in Tiger-Form Fist. He then practices the dragon, leopard, snake, and crane forms, spending two additional years obtaining their divine essence.
  • By the end of the chapter, Chen has fully mastered five animal forms and stands just one step away from reaching Transformative Force.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan / Wang Shan: Continues carefully maintaining his false identity while advancing toward his hidden ambitions. He changes from an illiterate, seemingly savage mountain youth into a highly intelligent and increasingly refined martial disciple. His extraordinary learning speed and martial comprehension become evident.
  • Wang Ji: Becomes Chen’s official master and begins guiding his martial development. He recognizes Chen’s potential but understands the limits of his own expertise in external arts.
  • Madam Wang: Takes a major role in civilizing Chen. She teaches him reading, etiquette, and proper conduct, gives him the name Wang Shan, and exercises considerable authority within the household.
  • Ma Zhengsong: Although he does not appear directly, he is established as an important future mentor in external arts, especially Tiger-Form Fist and related techniques.

Significant Themes

  • Identity and deception: Chen’s advancement depends on concealing his true origins and constructing a believable identity as a wild man.
  • Talent versus cultivation: Chen possesses unusual innate advantages, but he must still transform raw ability into disciplined technique through years of practice.
  • Internal and external martial paths: The chapter establishes the two major cultivation systems and suggests that both can ultimately lead to supreme power and the shattering of the void.
  • Inheritance and ambition: The Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s ancient legacy motivates Chen’s desire to become a core disciple and uncover the Grand Vacuity Emperor’s teachings.
  • Civilization versus wildness: Madam Wang’s efforts symbolize Chen’s transition from beast-like survival and instinct toward literacy, etiquette, and controlled martial mastery.
  • Building a foundation: Chen begins with external arts to strengthen his body before eventually pursuing internal cultivation and swordsmanship.

Character Interactions

  • Chen and Madam Wang: Their relationship is humorous but influential. She aggressively scrubs and disciplines him, teaches him civilized behavior, and overrides Wang Ji by renaming him Wang Shan.
  • Chen and Wang Ji: Wang Ji believes he has discovered a rare genius and accepts Chen as a disciple. He explains the martial world’s cultivation systems and personally introduces Chen to Tiger-Form Fist.
  • Wang Ji and Madam Wang: Madam Wang holds significant authority over Chen’s upbringing, even determining his name and deciding when Wang Ji may begin teaching him martial arts.
  • Chen and Ma Zhengsong: Their direct interaction has not yet occurred, but Wang Ji positions Ma Zhengsong as Chen’s future specialist instructor in external arts.
Read chapter

Ch. 144“Little Whirlwind” Wang Shan!

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Autumn arrives, and the Blood-Robed Army begins its annual recruitment season in Pengshan City. Because the city hosts the prestigious Centurion Arena, martial artists from across the commandery gather there.
  • Chen Jichuan returns to Pengshan City on horseback after killing Twin-Spear General Zhu Ning, an Earth Rankings expert ranked one hundredth.
  • At the Wang family residence, Wang Yan and several Grand Vacuity Sword Sect disciples eagerly await Chen Jichuan’s return. They are thrilled when he confirms that he killed Zhu Ning.
  • Chen visits his master, Wang Ji, and his mistress, Madam Wang. They question him about Zhu Ning’s death and warn him that defeating an Earth Rankings expert will attract countless challengers seeking fame by defeating him.
  • Madam Wang gives Chen the movement technique End-of-the-World Step, an extremely fast but energy-consuming lightness skill obtained by her father, the formidable “Twin-Tailed Scorpion.”
  • Chen finally reveals the real reason for his return: he believes he is ready to break through into the Transformative Force Realm, shocking both Wang Ji and Madam Wang.

2. Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan has advanced dramatically. At only twenty-five, he has risen to forty-sixth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and has now killed an Earth Rankings expert, making his entry into the Earth Rankings highly likely.
  • His title, “Little Whirlwind,” reflects the fierce speed and power of his Tiger-Form Fist. His growing reputation is beginning to attract admiration, attention, and future danger.
  • Chen demonstrates loyalty and gratitude toward Wang Ji and Madam Wang, treating them sincerely despite originally entering the Wang family with ulterior motives.
  • Wang Yan remains energetic, affectionate, and openly admiring of Chen. She sees him as both a respected senior and a beloved family member.
  • Wang Ji is proud of Chen’s achievements but recognizes the risks of rising fame. He warns that Chen must continue improving or risk being defeated by challengers.
  • Madam Wang shows her practical and ruthless outlook. She urges Chen to stop being excessively merciful, kill decisively when necessary, and prioritize survival over reputation.

3. Significant Themes

  • Fame brings danger: Chen’s victory over Zhu Ning elevates his status but guarantees that ambitious martial artists will challenge him to gain recognition.
  • Strength and survival: The chapter emphasizes that martial artists must constantly improve, defend their reputation, and know when to fight or flee.
  • Mentorship and familial affection: Chen’s relationship with Wang Ji, Madam Wang, and Wang Yan is warm and sincere. Their pride in him balances their concern for the dangers ahead.
  • Kindness versus ruthlessness: Madam Wang’s advice highlights the tension between retaining compassion and becoming decisive enough to survive in a violent martial world.
  • Rapid advancement: Chen’s progress from a relatively new martial artist to a potential Earth Rankings expert underscores his exceptional talent and the accelerating pace of his journey.

4. Character Interactions

  • Wang Yan enthusiastically greets Chen, questions him repeatedly about Zhu Ning, and receives a bottle of “A Spot of Red” to share with the other disciples.
  • The younger disciples react with excitement and admiration, speculating that Chen may soon rise from “Little Whirlwind” to “Great Whirlwind.”
  • Chen reunites warmly with Wang Ji and Madam Wang while they practice swordsmanship together.
  • Wang Ji proudly discusses Chen’s victory and warns him about future challengers.
  • Madam Wang reinforces the warning, gives Chen the End-of-the-World Step technique, and advises him to be ruthless when necessary and flee when outmatched.
  • The chapter ends with both elders stunned by Chen’s announcement that he is preparing to enter the Transformative Force Realm.
Read chapter

Ch. 145Five-Form Eight-Method Fist!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Chen Jichuan tests the End-of-the-World Step, a lost low-grade movement technique of the ancient Divine Thief Sect. He finds it exceptionally fast and believes it ranks among the best movement arts available at the Innate Realm.
  • Reflecting on the Qinling World, Chen realizes that although it lacks the pills, artifacts, talismans, and Immortal Dao techniques of the Jade Spring World, its martial artists possess an unusually deep understanding of martial arts.
  • After years of study, Chen completes a comprehensive version of Five Forms Fist, integrating the Seventy-Two Chen Sect Arts into its five forms:
    • Tiger Form: trains bones and bodily structure.
    • Leopard Form: trains strength, speed, and explosive force.
    • Snake Form: trains breathing, circulation, and qi.
    • Crane Form: trains essence, organs, and vitality.
    • Dragon Form: trains spirit, intent, and mental focus.
  • The system also incorporates eight methods: breathing, mental concentration, body conditioning, fists, legs, grappling and throwing, movement and footwork, and vocalization. It is therefore designated Five Forms Eight Methods Fist, a complete mid-grade martial art.
  • With his foundation perfected, Chen begins cultivating toward the Transformative Force Realm, circulating Hidden Force through his entire body and training every internal and external organ.
  • After only three days of focused practice, he successfully breaks through from Hidden Force to Transformative Force, reaching the state where force extends throughout the body and even to the hair, teeth, tongue, and fingernails.
  • Four days later, Wang Ji brings the Transformative Force grandmaster Meng Tianshou, the “White-Faced Tiger,” to meet and advise his disciple. Meng unexpectedly hears Chen practicing and bursts into the courtyard to test him.
  • The two exchange several powerful moves. Chen is forced back but withstands the attack, prompting Wang Ji to realize that his disciple has truly reached the Transformative Force Realm.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan/Wang Shan: Demonstrates exceptional talent, discipline, and insight. He transforms a collection of scattered techniques into a unified martial system and rapidly achieves a major breakthrough after perfecting its foundation.
  • Wang Ji: Reveals intense pride and emotional investment in his disciple’s success. He is willing to sacrifice his dignity to obtain Meng Tianshou’s guidance because he believes Chen’s breakthrough could greatly elevate both Chen’s future and his own standing.
  • Meng Tianshou: Initially doubts that Chen could break through in only a few days, but his skepticism turns into strong interest and excitement once he senses the quality of Chen’s practice. His direct attack serves as an immediate test of Chen’s new realm.
  • Chen’s reputation: His previous accomplishments—including killing the Twin-Spear General Zhu Ning and defeating elite opponents below the Innate and Transformative Force realms—are shown to have already made him one of the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s most promising young talents.

Significant Themes

  • Systematizing knowledge: Chen’s greatest achievement is not merely learning more techniques, but organizing them into a coherent and efficient martial system.
  • Foundation before advancement: The chapter emphasizes that perfecting one’s method and fundamentals makes later breakthroughs faster and more reliable.
  • Martial arts as a path to enlightenment: The Qinling World’s focus on technique and comprehension makes it especially suitable for Chen’s pursuit of deeper cultivation.
  • Talent combined with effort: Chen’s extraordinary progress results from both natural aptitude and years of concentrated study, experimentation, and repeated cultivation.
  • Recognition through strength: Chen’s breakthrough begins to validate the confidence placed in him and establishes him as an even more exceptional figure within the sect.

Character Interactions

  • Wang Ji and Meng Tianshou: Their bantering friendship is evident. Wang Ji drags Meng to help Chen, while Meng mocks Wang Ji’s desperation and Wang Ji promises extravagant repayment if Chen succeeds.
  • Meng Tianshou and Chen: Rather than formally offering instruction, Meng immediately tests Chen through combat after hearing his movements. Their brief exchange confirms Chen’s breakthrough.
  • Wang Ji and Chen: Though Chen is not directly shown speaking with Wang Ji in the chapter, Wang Ji’s actions show deep concern, pride, and faith in his disciple.
  • Wang Ji and Meng’s view of Chen: Both recognize that Chen’s past achievements and unusual martial talent make his claimed breakthrough plausible, though Meng only becomes convinced after personally exchanging blows with him.
Read chapter

Ch. 146“Poison Dragon” Li Qingshan!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Chen Jichuan reveals that he broke through to the Transformative Force Realm three days earlier and has been consolidating his cultivation.
  • Elder Meng Tianshou confirms the breakthrough after personally exchanging blows with him. He is impressed that Chen already possesses a deep understanding of the realm despite having only recently advanced.
  • Chen’s master, Wang Ji, is overjoyed and immediately brings him to the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s Azure Steel Hall to report the news to Sect Master Yang Xiong.
  • During the meeting, Yang Xiong initially praises Chen as one of the strongest disciples below the Innate Realm for killing Twin-Spear General Zhu Ning. Meng then reveals that Chen has already reached Transformative Force, shocking everyone.
  • The hall compares Chen’s achievement with that of Li Qingshan, the sect’s famous “Poison Dragon” and former greatest genius. Li reached the Innate Realm at twenty-nine, while Chen has reached Transformative Force at only twenty-five.
  • Yang Xiong and the Blood-Robed Army commanders celebrate Chen’s breakthrough and acknowledge his enormous value to the sect.
  • Li Qingshan offers Chen a precious external martial arts secret technique, Tiger Form Divine Mastery, which strengthens the sinews, bones, and physical body.
  • Yang Xiong also gives Chen access to the sect’s Bear Form Primal Force, another body-tempering secret technique, while warning him not to pass it to outsiders.
  • The Sect Master advises Chen to study the insights of past Transformative Force Grandmasters and not rush to switch to internal cultivation.
  • Since all Innate and Transformative Force experts in the sect hold official positions, Yang Xiong instructs Chen to choose between a civil or military post after consulting Wang Ji.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan: Successfully enters the Transformative Force Realm at twenty-five. He maintains his deliberately dull and savage persona, hiding his true intelligence and calmly accepting praise. His breakthrough gives him access to higher-level cultivation resources and greater influence within the sect.
  • Wang Ji: Becomes extremely proud and excited over his disciple’s achievement. His exaggerated smugness provides comic relief, and he now views Chen as a genius who may surpass even Li Qingshan.
  • Meng Tianshou: Personally verifies Chen’s strength and gains greater respect for him. He helps reveal Chen’s breakthrough to the sect leadership.
  • Li Qingshan: Established as the sect’s former supreme genius, an Innate Realm expert, and an accomplished external martial artist. Rather than feeling threatened by Chen, he welcomes him warmly and shares a valuable secret technique.
  • Yang Xiong: Takes a strong personal interest in Chen’s development, offering him rare resources and encouraging him to cultivate carefully. He recognizes Chen as a major asset to the sect.
  • Yuan Chang and Tang Yuanhong: React with surprise and approval, accepting Chen as a promising fellow external martial artist and offering future guidance.

Significant Themes

  • Genius and comparison: Chen’s breakthrough challenges Li Qingshan’s former status as the sect’s greatest young talent, establishing a new generation of exceptional martial artists.
  • Recognition and institutional value: The sect distinguishes between ordinary Earth Rankings experts and genuine Transformative Force Grandmasters, whose battlefield power can influence entire wars.
  • Mentorship and opportunity: Chen’s advancement attracts support from senior figures, showing how talent can unlock access to secret techniques, guidance, and authority.
  • Hidden identity and restraint: Chen continues acting dull and savage despite his extraordinary intelligence and strength, emphasizing his strategy of concealing his true nature.
  • External martial arts development: The chapter highlights the limitations of basic techniques such as Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound and introduces advanced secret methods for further strengthening the body.
  • Sect unity and camaraderie: The elders’ celebration, Wang Ji’s pride, and Li Qingshan’s generosity create a warm atmosphere of cooperation rather than rivalry.

Character Interactions

  • Chen and Meng Tianshou: Meng tests Chen’s strength and confirms that his Transformative Force is genuine and highly refined.
  • Chen and Wang Ji: Wang Ji proudly drags Chen before the Sect Master, openly celebrating his disciple’s achievement while Chen remains reserved.
  • Chen and Yang Xiong: Yang praises Chen, offers him cultivation resources, and entrusts him with access to secret techniques and historical insights.
  • Chen and Li Qingshan: Li identifies Chen’s breakthrough, welcomes him as a fellow martial artist, and gifts him Tiger Form Divine Mastery. Chen develops increased respect and goodwill toward him.
  • Wang Ji and the other elders: Wang Ji repeatedly minimizes his own role while visibly boasting about Chen, amusing the entire hall.
  • The sect leadership and Chen: The commanders and elders recognize Chen as a valuable new Transformative Force expert and invite him to seek their advice in external martial arts.
Read chapter

Ch. 147“Black Whirlwind” Wang Shan!

Chapter Summary: “Black Whirlwind” Wang Shan

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After Chen Jichuan leaves, Yang Xiong and Wang Ji discuss his future cultivation path. Yang believes Chen’s exceptional talent in external martial arts should not be wasted, even though the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect traditionally encourages disciples to transition toward internal cultivation.
  • Yang proposes that Chen follow Meng Tianshou’s example by specializing in external martial arts. He offers to seek a method that could lead Chen to the Great Grandmaster realm, though the sect lacks an external-martial-arts expert capable of guiding him beyond the Transformative Force Peak Realm.
  • Yang also suggests sending Chen to serve as commandant of Drizzle City. The post would give him practical experience and allow him to temper himself through military duties and real combat.
  • Yang reveals that Chen may eventually become the fourth commander of the Blood-Robed Army. Since the army plans to expand, Chen will first be tested in the City Guard Army to determine whether he possesses military leadership ability.
  • In his courtyard, Chen practices the newly acquired Tiger Form Divine Mastery. Through precise coordination of posture, breathing, Hidden Force, muscles, sinews, bones, and internal organs, he achieves a tiger-like state that strengthens and tempers his body.
  • After only a month of cultivation, Tiger Form Divine Mastery increases his strength by roughly seventy to eighty percent and brings him close to the second layer of Transformative Force.
  • Chen estimates that, thanks to his previous foundations, Five Forms Eight Methods Fist, Tiger Form Divine Mastery, and insights from the Jade Spring Dao Fruit, he can reach the Transformative Force Peak Realm in four or five years instead of the usual decade.
  • He plans to expand Five Forms Eight Methods Fist into the Twelve Forms by studying additional animal-based boxing arts, while eventually resuming Qi Refinement and Dao Arts.
  • Before leaving for Drizzle City, Chen obtains the Taixu Sword Canon, a powerful heaven-tier internal cultivation and swordsmanship manual derived from the Taixu Ten Swords. Although Wang Ji and Yang Xiong urge him not to divide his attention, Chen remains determined to pursue multiple paths.
  • Upon arriving near Drizzle City, Chen overhears a storyteller recounting his achievements under the identity of “Wang Shan.” After killing the Earth Rankings expert Zhu Ning, he has risen from the Hidden Dragon Ranking to the Earth Rankings and earned the title “Black Whirlwind.”
  • The storyteller exaggerates Chen’s appearance and personality, portraying him as a dark, reckless, fierce, and brawny martial artist. Embarrassed and furious at the distorted depiction, Chen covers his face and quickly leaves.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan/Wang Shan: His external martial arts talent becomes increasingly apparent. He gains confidence in specializing in external cultivation while still secretly intending to develop internal cultivation and Dao Arts. His rapid progress and victory over Zhu Ning establish him as a rising Earth Rankings expert.
  • Wang Ji: Though initially intending for Chen to transition from external to internal cultivation, he becomes uncertain after witnessing Chen’s extraordinary external-martial-arts talent. He respects Chen’s autonomy and agrees to let him decide his own path.
  • Yang Xiong: Takes a long-term interest in Chen’s development and views him as a potential future Blood-Robed Army commander. He balances concern for Chen’s cultivation with the need to give him real-world responsibility.
  • Meng Tianshou: Serves as the example of a successful external-martial-arts specialist, demonstrating that focusing on one path may be better than dividing one’s efforts.
  • Yuan Chang, Li Qingshan, and Tang Yuanhong: Recognize the possibility that Chen could eventually join their ranks as a Blood-Robed Army commander.

Significant Themes

  • Choosing one’s own cultivation path: The chapter contrasts specialization with pursuing multiple disciplines. Chen’s elders favor external-martial-arts specialization, but he refuses to abandon internal cultivation and Dao Arts.
  • Talent versus institutional limitations: The sect can provide methods and resources but lacks an external Great Grandmaster to guide Chen beyond the highest level available within the sect.
  • Foundation and steady progress: Chen’s previous cultivation, martial insights, and accumulated experience allow him to advance far faster than an ordinary practitioner.
  • Public reputation versus personal identity: The “Black Whirlwind” legend bears little resemblance to Chen’s true personality, showing how fame transforms real achievements into exaggerated stories.
  • Cultivation through experience: Military service is presented as an important way for powerful martial artists to develop judgment, discipline, leadership, and practical combat ability.

Important Character Interactions

  • Yang Xiong and Wang Ji: Debate whether Chen should specialize in external martial arts and agree to let him choose his own future.
  • Yang Xiong and the Blood-Robed Army commanders: Yang reveals his intention to evaluate Chen as a possible fourth commander by first assigning him to Drizzle City.
  • Chen and Wang Ji: Chen seeks his master after improving his external cultivation and ultimately receives the Taixu Sword Canon despite repeated warnings not to neglect external martial arts.
  • Chen and the storyteller: Their interaction is indirect but humorous. The storyteller glorifies Chen as the fierce “Black Whirlwind,” while Chen reacts with embarrassment and anger at the inaccurate portrayal.
Read chapter

Ch. 148Taking Up the Post!

Chapter Summary: “Taking Office! [Monthly Ticket Request!]”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Chen Jichuan arrives at the Deputy General’s Residence in Drizzle City under the alias Wang Shan, presenting his appointment letter as the new Captain of the city’s northern district.
  • The guards recognize his name and speculate that he might be the famous Black Whirlwind Wang Shan, but dismiss the possibility because Chen appears refined rather than rough and imposing.
  • Deputy General Han Shichang, known as the “Mad Arhat,” personally welcomes Chen and reveals that he already knows Chen is Black Whirlwind.
  • Han explains that Chen’s advancement to the Transformative Force Realm at age twenty-five is being kept secret. The Grand Vacuity Sword Sect fears that the rival Spring Silkworm Sect and Five Clouds Sect may target him through covert schemes.
  • Chen accepts the need for secrecy, wishing to avoid distractions while focusing on cultivation and future breakthroughs.
  • Han escorts Chen to the North City Camp, where he assumes command of two thousand soldiers and meets the four battalion commanders: Zhu Biao, Cai Yun, Gu Kaida, and Ding Dajian.
  • At a welcoming banquet, Ding Dajian directly asks whether Chen is the Black Whirlwind listed on the Earth Rankings. Chen confirms his identity.
  • The officers become excited and enthusiastic, viewing Chen’s presence as both an honor and a source of security. Because several of them practice forms of Five Forms Fist, they also hope to receive his guidance.
  • Chen builds goodwill by accepting their toasts and ends his first day in office with the officers supporting him.

2. Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan: Demonstrates composure, restraint, and political awareness. He ignores the guards’ gossip, accepts the need to conceal his true cultivation, and deliberately cultivates good relationships with his subordinates despite having little personal interest in military administration.
  • Han Shichang: Shows considerable respect toward Chen, treating him as an equal rather than merely a newly appointed Captain. His warning reveals that he is protective of Chen and understands the political dangers surrounding his talent.
  • The northern division officers: Initially cautious because Chen’s background and abilities are unknown, they quickly become loyal and enthusiastic once they learn he is the famed Black Whirlwind. Their attitude shifts from formal uncertainty to admiration and confidence.
  • Ding Dajian: His straightforward personality is highlighted when he openly asks Chen about his identity instead of relying on rumors.
  • Zhu Biao, Cai Yun, Gu Kaida, and Ding Dajian: They are established as capable but comparatively ordinary military commanders, all respectful and careful not to antagonize their new superior.

3. Significant Themes

  • Hidden strength and strategic secrecy: Chen’s extraordinary cultivation must remain concealed to protect him from assassination and political retaliation.
  • Reputation versus appearance: The guards initially fail to recognize Chen because his scholarly appearance conflicts with the brutal image associated with Black Whirlwind.
  • Power and political balance: The rival sects maintain informal rules against assassinating figures of lower realms, but Chen’s unusually young advancement makes him a dangerous exception who may provoke greater hostility.
  • Leadership and loyalty: Chen understands that effective command requires earning the cooperation of his subordinates. His calm behavior and willingness to socialize help establish authority without intimidation.
  • Fame and influence: Chen’s reputation as an Earth Rankings expert immediately improves the morale of the northern division and makes the officers feel safer under his command.
  • Martial inheritance: His mastery of Five Forms Fist gives him a natural connection with the officers, who practice related techniques and hope to learn from him.

4. Character Interactions

  • Chen formally presents himself to the residence guards, who discuss his identity and speculate about his connection to Black Whirlwind.
  • Han Shichang warmly welcomes Chen, informs him of the danger posed by rival sects, and escorts him to his new post.
  • Chen meets the four battalion commanders, who greet him respectfully and arrange bathing facilities and a welcoming banquet.
  • During the banquet, Ding Dajian’s question prompts Chen to reveal that he is indeed Black Whirlwind.
  • The officers immediately praise Chen for defeating Twin-Spear General Zhu Ning, toast him repeatedly, and express confidence that his presence will protect them in future battles.
  • Chen reciprocates their goodwill by participating in the celebration, laying the foundation for a cooperative relationship with the northern division.
Read chapter

Ch. 149Half a Year!

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Chen Jichuan studies the Innate Realm portion of the Taixu Sword Canon, the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s supreme sword art. The manual contains thirty-two sword-form sets at this stage, progressing from simple techniques toward increasingly complex forms.
  • He practices the techniques repeatedly in his courtyard. Because of his centuries of accumulated sword experience and mastery of the Sword Diagram, he advances at an extraordinary speed:
    • After a few repetitions, the techniques become second nature.
    • After ten repetitions, he masters thirteen sets to consummate proficiency.
    • After fifteen repetitions, he has comprehended fifteen sets and estimates that he can master all thirty-two within a month.
  • Chen resumes practicing other sword arts, including the Four-Line Poetry Sword and Ink-Splash Hemp-Draped Sword Method, while also studying fist techniques such as the Bear Form Fist.
  • He continues cultivating the Grand Yin Body-Refining Method and advances his Sixth Qi-Refining Layer cultivation by drawing on the Dao Fruits and insights of figures such as Wu Yuan, Situ Kong, Qingsongzi, and Gan Shisi.
  • He largely leaves military administration to others but regularly advises Zhu Biao, Cai Yun, Gu Kaida, and other martial artists on cultivation. Their strength improves considerably, making Chen’s position in Drizzle City easier to manage.
  • More than a year passes as Chen remains in Drizzle City, briefly returning to Pengshan City to visit his master and mistress before resuming his cultivation.
  • Zhu Biao and Gu Kaida later arrive with exciting news: Gu Kaida has been placed on the Earth Rankings, a major honor that brings fame, promotion prospects, and elevated status within the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect.
  • Chen congratulates Gu Kaida but notices that Gu Kaida’s attitude has subtly changed. Having entered the Earth Rankings, Gu Kaida now regards himself as Chen’s equal rather than as a subordinate.

2. Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan: His overwhelming sword talent becomes clear. Although others believe his greatest gift lies in external martial arts, his true strength is his profound swordsmanship. He plans to reveal this aptitude gradually so that the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect will invest more heavily in him and perhaps grant him access to the Grand Vacuity Emperor’s legacy.
  • Chen’s cultivation: He advances steadily in swordsmanship, fist techniques, body refinement, and Qi refinement. His mastery allows him to understand low-level techniques almost instantly and to guide others with ease.
  • Zhu Biao and the other commanders: They become increasingly respectful and dependent on Chen’s advice as their cultivation improves under his instruction.
  • Gu Kaida: His successful entry onto the Earth Rankings marks a major rise in status. He remains grateful to Chen, but his confidence and ambitions have grown, causing him to unconsciously place himself on equal footing with Chen.

3. Significant Themes

  • Genius versus ordinary effort: Chen accomplishes in days what ordinary Innate cultivators might need decades to achieve, emphasizing the vast difference created by accumulated experience and exceptional insight.
  • Hidden strength and strategic concealment: Chen deliberately withholds the full extent of his sword talent, intending to reveal it at the right moment to gain greater support and resources.
  • The importance of institutional backing: Advancement within the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect is not only about personal strength; fame, rankings, appointments, and sect recognition determine access to power and opportunity.
  • Changing status and human relationships: Gu Kaida’s altered behavior shows how quickly recognition and increased rank can change a person’s self-perception and relationships.
  • Cultivation as mutual benefit: Chen’s guidance strengthens his subordinates, which in turn reduces the burdens he must personally handle and makes his position more secure.

4. Character Interactions

  • Chen privately reflects on the difference between being valued for external martial arts and being recognized as a true sword genius.
  • He instructs Zhu Biao, Cai Yun, Gu Kaida, and other commanders and centurions, resolving their long-standing cultivation problems and earning their respect.
  • He visits his master and mistress in Pengshan City during a brief leave period.
  • Zhu Biao and Gu Kaida interrupt Chen’s sword practice to announce Gu Kaida’s ranking achievement.
  • Gu Kaida openly credits Chen’s guidance and promises lifelong loyalty, but Chen recognizes that Gu Kaida’s deep bow is less submissive than it would have been before his promotion. This subtly reveals the beginning of a changed relationship between them.
Read chapter

Ch. 150Sinister and Cunning!

Chapter Summary: “Sinister and Cunning!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gu Kaida celebrates entering the Earth Rankings at number 106, while Chen Jichuan discovers that his own former title, “Black Whirlwind” Wang Shan, has fallen off the list.
  • Zhu Biao explains that Gu Kaida earned his ranking after defeating the challengers Tong Chun and Du Sheng, who later defeated other ranked experts. The Divine Mechanism Sect therefore ranked Gu above them, while also mentioning Wang Shan as a point of comparison.
  • Chen Jichuan offers to recommend Zhu Biao for promotion, but Zhu firmly chooses to remain under Chen’s command. Chen respects his loyalty and asks him to determine whether Commanders Cai Yun and Ding Dajian also wish to stay or transfer.
  • Zhu Biao sparr​​s with Chen while discussing his concerns, receiving further instruction and demonstrating his perceptiveness about Gu Kaida’s arrogance.
  • News of Gu Kaida’s promotion creates widespread speculation about the relationship between him and Wang Shan. People debate whether Wang Shan is secretly stronger, has weakened, or was an oppressive superior who provoked Gu Kaida into revealing his abilities.
  • Gu Kaida is summoned by the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect and transferred to become commandant of Golden Wind City. He takes several capable subordinates with him, leaving vacancies in the Third Battalion.
  • Chen arranges recommendations for new officers. Instead of the expected candidates, Wang Yan—his master’s granddaughter and junior martial niece—is appointed commander of the Third Battalion.
  • Wang Yan arrives excited to command five hundred soldiers. Chen warns her to obey military discipline, then secretly orders several powerful centurions to humble her through controlled challenges.
  • Zhang Chi defeats Wang Yan almost instantly, and three centurions from the Fourth Battalion also defeat her easily. Embarrassed and discouraged, she returns to Chen’s office pretending that she only came back for lunch.
  • By afternoon, Wang Yan begins training intensely, turning her humiliation into motivation. Chen is relieved to see that the experience has encouraged her to work harder.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan: Continues to guide and cultivate his subordinates while carefully managing their ambitions. He appears outwardly supportive of Gu Kaida but recognizes Gu’s inflated ego and quietly prepares for future consequences. His treatment of Wang Yan shows both affection and a “tough love” approach.
  • Gu Kaida: His entry into the Earth Rankings greatly increases his pride and ambition. He accepts a promotion away from Chen’s command, contrasting with Zhu Biao’s loyalty.
  • Zhu Biao: Demonstrates loyalty, patience, and sound judgment. He understands Chen’s greater potential and refuses promotion because he values continuing to serve under him.
  • Wang Yan: Arrives confident in her martial ability and eager to prove herself as a commander. After being decisively defeated by experienced centurions, she suffers a blow to her pride but responds by training harder.
  • Wang Shan/Chen Jichuan’s public identity: Though he has fallen off the Earth Rankings, rumors suggest that his apparent decline may be deliberate. His reputation remains tied to Gu Kaida’s rise.
  • The Northern Command officers: Zhang Chi and the Fourth Battalion centurions are revealed to be much stronger than ordinary officers, thanks in part to Chen’s instruction.

Significant Themes

  • True loyalty versus short-sighted ambition: Zhu Biao’s decision to remain with Chen contrasts sharply with Gu Kaida’s eagerness to advance after gaining recognition.
  • Reputation and public perception: The rankings generate rumors and conflicting interpretations, showing how little outsiders understand the real strength and motives of the characters.
  • Humility through defeat: Wang Yan’s experience illustrates that confidence based only on talent can be shattered by practical experience, but humiliation can also become the foundation for improvement.
  • Mentorship and cultivation: Chen’s influence has elevated multiple commanders and centurions, suggesting that his greatest strength may lie not only in personal combat but also in developing others.
  • Hidden cunning beneath a benevolent exterior: Chen appears kind toward Wang Yan but deliberately arranges for her to be humbled. His actions reveal a strategic, almost mischievous side—hence the chapter’s title.

Character Interactions

  • Chen Jichuan and Gu Kaida: Chen congratulates Gu and suggests celebrating, but privately remains cautious about Gu’s pride and changing attitude.
  • Chen Jichuan and Zhu Biao: Their relationship is built on trust and mutual respect. Chen offers Zhu advancement, while Zhu chooses to remain by his side. Their sparring session combines combat with mentorship.
  • Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan: Chen treats Wang Yan as a beloved but undisciplined junior relative. He warns her seriously, then secretly arranges for her to be tested so she will understand the gap between personal martial talent and military command.
  • Wang Yan and the centurions: Her eager attempt to establish authority is immediately challenged by Zhang Chi and the Fourth Battalion officers, whose effortless victories expose her lack of battlefield experience.
  • Chen Jichuan and his officers: Chen uses his subordinates strategically, assigning them to test Wang Yan while ensuring they do not seriously injure her.
Read chapter

Ch. 151Encounter!

Chapter Summary: “Encounter!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Gu Kaida rises onto the Earth Rankings and becomes Commandant of Golden Wind City, while Wang Yan joins Chen Jichuan’s Northern Command as commander of the Third Battalion.
  • Chen Jichuan remains largely detached from these promotions, focusing on cultivation and command administration. As he falls off the Earth Rankings, fewer martial artists come to challenge him.
  • Zhu Biao, Cai Yun, and Ding Dajian remain in the Northern Command despite opportunities for promotion. Under Chen Jichuan’s guidance, they become increasingly capable and keep the command running smoothly.
  • Wang Yan spends a year cultivating under Chen Jichuan’s direct instruction. She improves rapidly in swordsmanship, gains battlefield experience, and becomes more independent and battle-hardened.
  • Chen Jichuan continues developing his external martial arts, internal cultivation, Dao Arts, pill refinement, and artifact forging. He frequently leaves Drizzle City under various identities to find worthy opponents and improve through actual combat.
  • His strength advances so far that ordinary Transformative Force and Innate Realm martial artists can barely withstand several exchanges. Only exceptional Grandmasters or experts cultivating both internal and external arts can challenge him.
  • During a merchant-caravan escort led by Wang Yan’s Third Battalion, roughly three hundred mounted bandits from Ram-Horn Mountain approach.
  • Zhu Biao identifies Ram-Horn Mountain as a dangerous bandit organization with several Earth Rankings experts among its five strongholds. He orders the convoy into a defensive formation and prepares the soldiers for battle.
  • The chapter ends with Wang Yan anxiously awaiting the confrontation, aware that she may be facing opponents far stronger than anyone she has previously fought.

2. Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan: Becomes increasingly powerful and versatile while remaining modest and cautious about revealing his true strength. He values practical combat experience and seeks opponents beyond Drizzle City. He also takes on a mentoring and protective role toward Wang Yan.
  • Wang Yan: Develops from a sheltered, competitive young woman into a disciplined commander and capable swordswoman. Her year of hard training, military service, and repeated defeats strengthens both her skill and resilience, though she still lacks confidence against top-tier experts.
  • Zhu Biao: Continues serving as a reliable commander and becomes especially protective of Wang Yan. He understands that the rule requiring new commanders to be accompanied for a year was created by Chen Jichuan specifically to safeguard her.
  • Cai Yun and Ding Dajian: Demonstrate renewed loyalty by resisting promotion elsewhere and remaining in the Northern Command. Their competence and improvement help stabilize the organization.
  • The Northern Command: Grows stronger under Chen Jichuan’s leadership, developing an atmosphere of disciplined cultivation, mutual improvement, and efficient military service.

3. Significant Themes

  • Cultivation through experience: Chen Jichuan believes closed-door cultivation is insufficient and deliberately seeks real opponents to sharpen his martial techniques.
  • Growth through hardship: Wang Yan’s progress comes from repeated defeats, demanding military work, and persistent practice rather than effortless talent.
  • Protection versus independence: Chen Jichuan and Zhu Biao protect Wang Yan while gradually preparing her to operate independently as a commander.
  • Loyalty and trust: Cai Yun, Ding Dajian, and the other officers choose to remain with Chen Jichuan, showing the strength of loyalty built through shared growth.
  • The limits of reputation: Chen Jichuan’s former fame attracts fewer challengers after his fall from the rankings, but his actual strength continues to rise far beyond what others realize.
  • Foreshadowing and danger: The approaching Ram-Horn Mountain bandits introduce a serious threat that may test Wang Yan’s development and the Northern Command’s battlefield capabilities.

4. Character Interactions

  • Chen Jichuan personally guides Wang Yan’s swordsmanship and designs her cultivation plan, creating a close teacher-and-guardian relationship.
  • Wang Yan frequently consults Chen Jichuan when confused and challenges Zhang Chi and other centurions to test her progress, accepting defeat as motivation to train harder.
  • Zhu Biao and the other commanders support Wang Yan in the field, though their presence during her first year is secretly an arrangement made by Chen Jichuan.
  • Zhu Biao explains Ram-Horn Mountain’s dangerous reputation to Wang Yan and takes command of the convoy’s defenses.
  • Wang Yan’s nervousness contrasts with Zhu Biao’s experience, emphasizing both her growth and her continued awareness of the gap between herself and true Earth Rankings experts.
Read chapter

Ch. 152Am I That Strong? I Really Am Strong! [Thanks

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Zhu Biao estimates his own strength conservatively, believing he might rank around the lower end of the Earth Rankings, while fearing that Ram-Horn Mountain’s chief, Gongyang Shun, is far stronger.
  • Ram-Horn Mountain’s three hundred mounted bandits arrive, making a direct clash unavoidable.
  • Zhu Biao orders Zhang Chi, Deng Xuan, Jiang Zhen, and Lü Fangquan to protect Wang Yan, then leads the two hundred Northern Command soldiers in a frontal charge.
  • A fierce cavalry battle erupts. Zhu Biao cuts through the enemy ranks with his Tiger-Leopard Spear, while Wang Yan fights with her Nine Lightning Swords and Soft Cloud Sword Technique.
  • Wang Yan battles and kills the scar-faced saber wielder Yang Heng after adapting defensively, disrupting his momentum, and finishing him with the ninth strike of the Nine Lightning Swords.
  • The bandits suddenly lose morale when reports spread that their chiefs have been killed. They collapse and flee, while the Northern Command stops pursuing once Zhu Biao orders them not to chase desperate enemies.
  • The Northern Command wins, but suffers significant losses: thirty-five dead, twenty-two seriously wounded, and 107 lightly wounded. The bandits leave 112 dead, four gravely wounded, and fifteen captured.
  • The identities of the fallen leaders are confirmed:
    • Zhu Biao killed Gongyang Shun, ranked sixty-seventh on the Earth Rankings.
    • Deng Xuan killed Xue Pengju, ranked ninety-second.
    • Wang Yan killed Yang Heng, ranked ninety-sixth.
    • Zhang Chi killed Ruan Xiaoqing, ranked ninety-ninth.

Character Developments

  • Zhu Biao discovers that his strength is much greater than he believed. He had assumed Gongyang Shun was merely an ordinary bandit leader, but realizes he effortlessly defeated a renowned Earth Rankings expert.
  • Wang Yan overcomes her initial fear and nervousness in battle. Her year of training is demonstrated through the coordinated use of her offensive and defensive sword techniques. Killing Yang Heng proves that she is stronger than even her junior grand-uncle’s former achievement.
  • Deng Xuan, Zhang Chi, Jiang Zhen, and Lü Fangquan demonstrate that they are capable commanders and elite fighters. Deng Xuan and Zhang Chi also kill Earth Rankings experts.
  • The Northern Command soldiers lose their earlier skepticism toward Wang Yan. Her performance earns their respect and admiration, especially after she kills Yang Heng personally.
  • The commanders and soldiers alike gain a new understanding of the Northern Command’s true military strength.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden strength and self-discovery: Zhu Biao and Wang Yan both underestimate themselves until battle reveals how powerful they have become.
  • Reputation versus reality: The Earth Rankings initially appear to be an objective measure of strength, but the ease with which the Northern Command defeats highly ranked opponents causes the characters to question whether the rankings—or the bandits’ reputations—are accurate.
  • Transformation through combat: Wang Yan’s fear disappears as she fights, showing how experience and training turn anxiety into confidence.
  • Leadership and discipline: Zhu Biao protects Wang Yan, organizes the formation effectively, and prevents the soldiers from pursuing fleeing enemies recklessly.
  • Victory mixed with grief: The triumph is tempered by the deaths and injuries suffered by the Northern Command. Wang Yan especially feels both pride in her achievement and sorrow for the fallen soldiers.

Character Interactions

  • Zhu Biao warns Wang Yan to stay close to him and explicitly orders the others to prioritize her safety.
  • Wang Yan fights independently but benefits from the training and techniques passed down by her junior grand-uncle.
  • Wang Yan and Yang Heng engage in a tense duel in which her defensive Soft Cloud Sword Technique counters his escalating saber attacks before she finishes him with the Nine Lightning Swords.
  • Zhu Biao checks on Wang Yan after the battle, showing concern for her safety.
  • The soldiers and nearby merchants react with astonishment when they learn that four Northern Command fighters have defeated Earth Rankings experts, dramatically increasing the commanders’ prestige.
Read chapter

Ch. 153New Issue of the Earth Rankings! [Combined Chapter!]

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • A month after the battle with Ram-Horn Mountain, rumors spread throughout Drizzle City about the Northern Command’s victory. Exaggerated stories claim that two hundred soldiers destroyed all seven thousand bandits, though the truth is that the Northern Command encountered Ram-Horn Mountain’s fleeing leaders and killed four of its five Earth Rankings experts.
  • The new Earth Rankings issue confirms the Northern Command’s achievement: Zhu Biao, Deng Xuan, Wang Yan, and Zhang Chi all enter the rankings. Along with Gu Kaida, who entered earlier, five Earth Rankings experts have emerged from the Northern Command in just over a year.
  • At the Deputy General’s Residence, City Lord Tao Wenyu and Deputy General Han Shichang praise the four newly ranked officers and credit Commandant Wang Shan—secretly Chen Jichuan—with their success.
  • Han and Tao ask Chen to accept their descendants as disciples. Chen initially refuses modestly but agrees to take their sons, Han Yu and Tao Zongyuan, into the Northern Command as junior officers so he can observe and train them before deciding whether to accept them formally.
  • Back at the Northern Command, Chen is welcomed by the soldiers, who now greatly respect him and hope to receive his guidance.
  • Chen’s master, Wang Ji, and Wang Yan’s family arrive unexpectedly. Wang Ji is astonished by the number of powerful martial artists Chen has trained.
  • Wang Yan excitedly recounts how she killed Ram-Horn Mountain’s Third Chief, Yang Heng, realizing for the first time that she is far stronger than she had believed.
  • The chapter ends with Wang Yan suddenly connecting Chen’s age and cultivation: he became a Transformative Force Grandmaster at twenty-five, making his achievements even more astonishing.

2. Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan/Wang Shan: His reputation grows dramatically. He deliberately cultivates the image of a modest instructor while planning to use his disciples and connections to gain influence within the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect. His ability to train Earth Rankings experts attracts the attention of powerful figures and their families.
  • Zhu Biao, Deng Xuan, Wang Yan, and Zhang Chi: Their success is publicly recognized as they enter the Earth Rankings. They remain humble and attribute their achievements to Chen’s guidance rather than their own talent.
  • Wang Yan: She gains confidence after defeating a genuine Earth Rankings expert. Her previous self-doubt is replaced by an awareness of her own strength, though she remains intimidated by Chen’s strict instruction.
  • Wang Ji: He is shocked and impressed by Chen’s progress and by the strength of the Northern Command. His admiration reinforces Chen’s growing status within the sect.
  • Han Shichang and Tao Wenyu: Both abandon their usual dignity to seek Chen’s guidance for their descendants, revealing how valuable they consider his teaching ability.
  • Han Yu and Tao Zongyuan: They are introduced as potential future disciples and are placed under Chen’s supervision.

3. Significant Themes

  • Reputation versus reality: Public stories about the Ram-Horn Mountain battle become increasingly exaggerated, showing how martial-world rumors distort the truth.
  • Talent and guidance: The chapter emphasizes that extraordinary results come not only from innate talent but also from expert instruction. Chen’s guidance transforms capable soldiers into ranking experts.
  • Humility and hidden strength: Chen pretends that his achievements are minor and that his students succeeded mainly through their own talent, while secretly orchestrating their development.
  • Power as influence: Chen seeks more than personal strength. By training disciples connected to major figures, he hopes to build prestige, social networks, and access to the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s core inheritance.
  • Self-perception: Wang Yan and the other Northern Command officers underestimate themselves because they lack experience against true experts. Their victory forces them to reassess their abilities.
  • The value of discipleship: Powerful families view becoming Chen’s disciple as a path to glory, demonstrating how martial instruction can create political and social influence.

4. Character Interactions

  • A master corrects his stubborn young student’s misunderstanding about the distribution and significance of Earth Rankings experts, while another patron points out the Northern Command’s even more remarkable achievement.
  • Chen praises and dismisses the accomplishments of Zhu Biao, Deng Xuan, Wang Yan, and Zhang Chi, who respectfully credit him in return.
  • Han Shichang and Tao Wenyu flatter Chen and compete to have their descendants accepted as his disciples. Chen compromises by bringing their sons into the Northern Command for evaluation.
  • Chen reprimands Wang Yan for failing to inform him of Wang Ji’s arrival, reflecting their strict but close master-disciple relationship.
  • Wang Ji humorously compares Chen and Wang Yan to “monsters,” praising Chen’s ability to produce so many powerful subordinates.
  • Wang Yan enthusiastically recounts her victory to Wang Ji, then realizes that Chen’s age and cultivation make his accomplishments far more extraordinary than she had understood.
Read chapter

Ch. 154The Blood-Robed Army’s Fourth Commander!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Madam Wang reveals that Chen Jichuan had already reached the Transformative Force Grandmaster realm before his battle with Wang Yan. Wang Yan realizes that her earlier assumptions about his strength—and her attempts to challenge him—were misguided.
  • Wang Yan’s recent achievements are celebrated: at only twenty, she has entered the Earth Rankings, surpassing even her grandparents and Chen Jichuan. Her growth is attributed largely to Chen Jichuan’s instruction and her year of training in the Northern Command.
  • After the banquet, Wang Ji explains that the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect is establishing a Fourth Division of the Blood-Robed Army. Elite soldiers and commanders will be selected from the City Guard Armies and existing Blood-Robed Army divisions.
  • Chen Jichuan is appointed commander of the Fourth Division and given responsibility for building it from the ground up. This represents a major promotion from his current position as commander of the Northern Command.
  • Wang Ji explains that both the Blood-Robed Army and the Martial Instruction Hall wanted Chen Jichuan. The Martial Instruction Hall even offered him a deanship, but the Blood-Robed Army was chosen because its expansion was already planned and would provide him with greater military influence and future connections.
  • Chen Jichuan agrees to return to Pengshan City the following morning to begin forming the new division.
  • He gives Madam Wang a Blackfire Spirit Fruit, a rare treasure that can strengthen the spiritual aspect of a Later-Heaven martial artist and greatly increase the chance of entering the Innate Realm.
  • Madam Wang initially wants to save the fruit for Wang Yan, but Chen Jichuan assures her that Wang Yan should be able to reach the Innate Realm naturally by age twenty-five under his guidance. The older couple are overjoyed by this revelation.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan is formally recognized as an exceptional talent within the sect. His promotion confirms his growing status, authority, and influence. He also demonstrates his affection and gratitude toward his former mentors by offering Madam Wang a life-changing treasure.
  • Wang Yan has matured significantly through her year in the Northern Command. She has become a ranked genius of the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect while retaining a lively and easily embarrassed personality.
  • Madam Wang is shown as knowledgeable, affectionate, and selfless. Despite desperately needing the spirit fruit herself, she first considers giving it to Wang Yan.
  • Wang Ji takes immense pride in Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan. He enjoys the prestige brought by his disciple’s success, though he is comically reprimanded when he tries to take the spirit fruit.
  • Chen Jichuan’s position within the sect rises sharply, shifting him from a local commander to a major military leader with the potential to cultivate a powerful personal network.

Significant Themes

  • Recognition and advancement: Talent and achievement are rewarded with greater responsibility, status, and opportunities for influence.
  • Mentorship and cultivation: Chen Jichuan’s success reflects the value of recognizing talent and guiding younger disciples, especially Wang Yan.
  • Family affection and gratitude: The chapter emphasizes the emotional bonds between Chen Jichuan, his master and mistress, and Wang Yan. Gifts and praise express mutual care rather than mere material exchange.
  • Selflessness versus personal advancement: Madam Wang’s willingness to give up a rare treasure for Wang Yan contrasts with Chen Jichuan’s insistence that she use it to extend her own martial path.
  • The importance of networks and leadership: Becoming a Blood-Robed Army commander will allow Chen Jichuan to form lasting relationships with talented subordinates, strengthening his future position in the sect.

Character Interactions

  • Wang Yan reacts with embarrassment and indignation after learning that Chen Jichuan had concealed his true realm from her.
  • Madam Wang proudly praises Wang Yan, successfully distracting her from the revelation and restoring the warm family atmosphere.
  • Wang Ji and Chen Jichuan discuss the Fourth Division appointment in a respectful but strategic conversation, with Chen Jichuan pretending surprise despite anticipating the promotion.
  • Madam Wang and Wang Ji display a close grandmother-granddaughter relationship, while Wang Ji’s teasing eagerness to inspect the spirit fruit provides comic relief.
  • Chen Jichuan and Madam Wang share a deep mentor-disciple bond, highlighted by his carefully chosen gift and her concern that he not waste such a precious treasure on her.
Read chapter

Ch. 155Holding a Grudge

Chapter Summary: “Holding a Grudge”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • News spreads that Wang Shan—publicly known as the Black Whirlwind and Midas Touch—has been transferred from Northern Command in Drizzle City to become commander of the newly formed Fourth Division of the Blood-Robed Army.
  • Because all Blood-Robed Army commanders are dual-cultivating grandmasters, the public assumes that Wang Shan has also reached the grandmaster realm. This greatly enhances his reputation, especially since he had previously ranked only 108th on the Earth Rankings before disappearing.
  • The chapter clarifies that “Wang Shan” is actually Chen Jichuan, whose astonishing advancement has made him a sensation throughout the martial world.
  • Chen focuses on building the Fourth Division in Pengshan Commandery. A full division requires roughly 3,000 soldiers, but he initially plans to recruit 1,000:
    • 200 elite soldiers from Pengshan City,
    • 100 from each of the commanderies’ other seven cities,
    • 100 veteran soldiers transferred from the existing three Blood-Robed Army divisions.
  • Chen’s existing subordinates already give the new division exceptional upper-level combat strength. The main challenge is recruiting enough first-rate martial artists for centurion positions and outstanding second-rate martial artists for squad-leader roles.
  • Chen’s reputation as the “Midas Touch,” someone capable of guiding martial artists toward the Earth Rankings, attracts large numbers of applicants and influential people seeking favors for relatives and disciples.
  • Gu Kaida, a former subordinate who abandoned Chen’s command after rising to the Earth Rankings, asks to return. His former colleagues resent him because those who followed him stagnated, while Zhang Chi—who stayed—advanced onto the Earth Rankings.
  • Chen orders Zhang Chi to take over Ding Dajian’s recruitment assignment in Golden Wind City and explicitly forbids him from recruiting anyone from Gu Kaida’s Eastern Commandant Office. This is a deliberate act of retaliation designed to embarrass and isolate Gu Kaida.
  • After the others leave, Chen and Wang Yan discuss her recent success, her cultivation, and the upcoming trials for the Fourth Division’s leadership positions.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan: His rise to grandmaster and Blood-Robed Army commander establishes him as one of the martial world’s most influential figures. Despite his calm and usually generous reputation, he reveals that he remembers slights and is willing to retaliate when given the opportunity. He also remains a demanding mentor, warning Wang Yan not to become complacent after entering the Earth Rankings.
  • Wang Yan: She has risen dramatically from a junior martial artist to the 104th-ranked “Lightning Sword” on the Earth Rankings. She enjoys her newfound prestige and the attention of former seniors who now seek her help, but Chen worries that praise may make her complacent. She is provisionally assigned as one of the Fourth Division’s six regional commanders.
  • Gu Kaida: His earlier arrogance and abandonment of Chen have turned into regret and fear. Seeing Chen’s transformation into a grandmaster and Blood-Robed Army commander, he attempts to curry favor and return to his former superior’s command.
  • Zhang Chi: His continued loyalty to Chen has paid off; he has surpassed the former centurions who left with Gu Kaida and entered the Earth Rankings. His success serves as a living reminder of the consequences of Gu Kaida’s decision.
  • The Fourth Division’s officers: Chen’s veteran subordinates, including Zhu Biao, Cai Yun, Wang Yan, Ding Dajian, and the new centurions, are shown as loyal, highly capable, and instrumental in establishing the new division.

Significant Themes

  • Loyalty versus opportunism: Those who remained loyal to Chen prospered, while Gu Kaida and his followers now regret abandoning him.
  • Consequences of arrogance: Gu Kaida’s rise made him proud, but his failure to maintain old relationships leaves him vulnerable when circumstances change.
  • The burden of reputation: Chen’s fame as Midas Touch attracts talent and influence, making recruitment easier but also bringing constant requests, favors, and political pressure.
  • Mentorship and discipline: Chen supports the advancement of his subordinates but insists that success must be backed by continued cultivation and actual strength.
  • Resentment and retaliation: The chapter emphasizes that even powerful and composed figures may retain personal grudges. Chen’s treatment of Gu Kaida shows that past disrespect can have lasting consequences.

Character Interactions

  • Chen’s officers discuss Gu Kaida’s return with open skepticism and mockery, particularly Wang Yan and Deng Xuan.
  • Zhang Chi reacts modestly to comparisons between his success and Gu Kaida’s stagnation, showing respect for their former superior despite the tension.
  • Chen and Wang Yan share a familiar mentor-student relationship: she jokes provocatively, while he responds with dry humor and stern advice.
  • Chen challenges Wang Yan to defend her provisional command position during the October trials. If she cannot defeat the centurions who challenge her, she will lose her command and become an ordinary centurion.
  • Wang Yan boldly accepts the challenge despite her private uncertainty, ending the chapter by asking what reward Chen has prepared if she succeeds.
Read chapter

Ch. 156Emulating Nature, Heaven-Born Sword Seed!

Chapter Summary: “Emulating Nature, Heaven-Born Sword Seed!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Chen Jichuan informs Sect Master Yang Xiong that he has mastered all thirty-two sword techniques from the first section of the Taixu Sword Canon.
  • Yang Xiong initially doubts him and challenges him to a sword duel. Chen demonstrates all thirty-two techniques with complete fluidity, proving that he has reached the Divine Mastery Realm in each one.
  • Impressed, Yang Xiong grants Chen access to the remaining sword techniques and investigates his background to determine whether his achievements are genuine.
  • Yang Xiong consults the mysterious Seventh Martial Granduncle, an ancient elder who guards the sect’s Ten-Thousand Scrolls Grotto. The elder orders that Chen be given ten additional sword techniques and secretly observes him once he leaves the city.
  • Chen spends two months in the Qinling Mountains studying nature, practicing swordsmanship, and attempting to deepen his comprehension. His swordsmanship improves rapidly, and he fully masters two of the ten new techniques.
  • Chen deliberately claims that an unseen presence repeatedly disturbed his cultivation. In reality, he has sensed the elder’s surveillance and uses the situation to create an excuse for spending more time in remote wilderness.
  • The Seventh Martial Granduncle concludes that Chen is a rare “Heaven-Born Sword Seed,” whose sword talent becomes especially powerful when he imitates and observes nature.
  • Believing Chen’s talent to be extraordinary, the elder orders the sect to stop restricting him, cease surveillance, and grant him access to all of the sect’s sword arts.
  • Chen returns to the Fourth Division, secretly pleased. His performance has made the sect more willing to let him travel into the wilderness, giving him greater freedom to refine pills, forge artifacts, and use his other hidden abilities without attracting suspicion.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan/Wang Shan: Presents himself as an astonishing but believable sword genius. He carefully reveals his abilities in stages so that his rapid progress appears to be the result of natural talent rather than hidden powers or unexplained opportunities. He also demonstrates strong foresight and manipulation by turning the elder’s surveillance into an advantage.
  • Sect Master Yang Xiong: Changes from disbelief to admiration after personally witnessing Chen’s swordsmanship. He becomes convinced that Chen is a rare genius and supports his further development.
  • Seventh Martial Granduncle: Initially cautious and interested in verifying Chen’s reliability, he becomes deeply impressed after observing him. He identifies Chen as a “Heaven-Born Sword Seed” and decides to nurture him without interference.
  • Chen’s relationship with the sect: Chen succeeds in building trust and gaining greater freedom. The sect now views him as a valuable prodigy rather than a potential threat.

Significant Themes

  • Talent versus suspicion: Chen uses extraordinary talent as a plausible explanation for his otherwise suspiciously rapid cultivation progress.
  • Strategic self-presentation: The chapter emphasizes the importance of revealing strength gradually and managing how others interpret one’s abilities.
  • Learning from nature: Chen’s swordsmanship improves by observing the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, plants, and animals, reinforcing the idea that true mastery comes from harmony with the natural world.
  • Trust and cultivation: The sect’s willingness to invest in Chen grows as his abilities are verified, showing how demonstrated talent can overcome uncertainty.
  • Freedom through reputation: By cultivating a public identity as an obsessed sword genius, Chen gains the freedom to pursue his secret activities.

Character Interactions

  • Chen and Yang Xiong: Their confrontation begins with Yang Xiong’s skepticism but ends with his admiration after Chen demonstrates all thirty-two sword techniques.
  • Yang Xiong and the Seventh Martial Granduncle: Yang Xiong reports Chen’s background and accomplishments, seeking guidance about whether Chen can be trusted. The elder responds by expanding Chen’s access to sword techniques and ordering that he be allowed to act freely.
  • Chen and the hidden observer: Though they never directly confront one another, Chen senses the elder’s surveillance and deliberately manipulates what the elder observes.
  • The Seventh Martial Granduncle and Chen: The elder’s secret observation confirms Chen’s exceptional sensitivity and sword talent, leading him to give Chen the highest level of support.
Read chapter

Ch. 157Ten Years Later: Red-Scaled Beast, Iron-Armed Monkeys! [Monthly Pass Request]

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Ten years pass while Chen Jichuan remains in the Qinling World, bringing his total time there to roughly eighteen or nineteen years.
  • He spends this period studying artifact refinement using the Dao Fruit of Situ Kong, an accomplished artifact-refining master.
  • After years of practice, Chen can forge low- and middle-grade magical artifacts, but he has not yet mastered the creation of formations or magical treasures.
  • In a lava cave on Soaring Eagle Mountain, he finishes forging another sword blank and prepares to leave after exhausting most of the available refining materials.
  • Chen summons the Red-Scaled Beast, which he subdued over seven or eight years through a combination of the Tightening Hoop Curse Method and a steady supply of pills. The beast has grown much stronger and can now shrink from a massive monster to the size of an ordinary horse.
  • Chen rides to Pengshan City, where Sect Master Yang Xiong summons him before he can return to the Blood-Robed Army garrison.
  • Yang explains that a powerful Iron-Armed Monkey Clan has been discovered deep in the Qinling Mountains. The Grand Vacuity Sword Sect has confirmed its location, prompting major sects and martial artists to converge on the area.
  • Rumors falsely claim that the Yong Emperor’s Treasure or Sword Ancestor’s Treasure has been found. The actual attraction involves the Iron-Armed Monkeys, demonic beasts, and possibly rare immortal herbs.
  • The chapter ends as Chen begins learning about the Iron-Armed Monkey Clan’s extraordinary combat abilities and another important power they possess is about to be revealed.

2. Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan: Shows immense patience and steady progress. Rather than seeking quick results, he methodically studies artifact refinement, relying on Situ Kong’s inherited knowledge to overcome the discipline’s complex foundations. He has also become a capable tamer, alchemist, and cultivator, with enough power and resources to subdue and nurture a formidable demonic beast.
  • Red-Scaled Beast: Has transformed from a savage, hostile guardian into Chen’s obedient mount. Its loyalty is based less on coercion than on the benefits of Chen’s pills and the enormous increase in strength they provide. It can now alter its size and accompany Chen discreetly.
  • Yang Xiong: Acts as an informed authority and intermediary, providing Chen with reliable information about the developing crisis in the Qinling Mountains.
  • Iron-Armed Monkey King and clan: Though not yet directly encountered, they are established as a major threat capable of challenging even the strongest human martial artists.

3. Significant Themes

  • The passage of time and patient cultivation: The chapter emphasizes that true mastery requires years of continuous effort. Chen’s progress is slow but stable, reflecting the value of longevity and perseverance.
  • Knowledge as a foundation for power: Artifact refinement is presented as a complex discipline requiring mastery of materials, runes, formations, and the principles connecting them—not mere memorization.
  • Control versus cooperation: Chen’s relationship with the Red-Scaled Beast evolves from forced submission to practical loyalty, showing how power, rewards, and trust can work together.
  • Rumor versus truth: Widespread speculation about legendary treasures contrasts with the more complicated reality of the Iron-Armed Monkey discovery.
  • Collective strength: The Iron-Armed Monkeys’ greatest advantage is not only individual power but also their coordination and overwhelming numbers, highlighting the danger of organized groups.

4. Character Interactions

  • Chen interacts primarily with the Red-Scaled Beast, commanding it, feeding it a Fire Sun Pill, and riding it to Pengshan City.
  • His past relationship with the beast is explained: he defeated and restrained it after taking its treasured spirit fruit and root, then gradually won its obedience through pills and cultivation benefits.
  • Chen and Yang Xiong discuss the rumors spreading through the region. Yang corrects Chen’s incomplete information and reveals the confirmed existence and location of the Iron-Armed Monkey Clan.
  • The coming conflict is implied to involve Chen, the major sects, martial wanderers, and the dangerous demonic-beast clan.
Read chapter

Ch. 158Deep in the Qinling Mountains: Vermilion Fruit Spirit Wine!

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Yang Xiong reveals to Chen Jichuan that the Iron-Armed Monkey Clan produces Vermilion Fruit Wine, an exceptionally valuable spirit wine that strengthens the body, increases true essence, and benefits both Innate Realm practitioners and Transformative Force Grandmasters.
  • The wine’s value comes from its use of the rare Vermilion Fruit, which also explains the Iron-Armed Monkeys’ immense strength and iron-like arms.
  • Yang Xiong proposes that the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect help control the clan and secure a long-term supply of the wine. The Iron-Armed Monkey Clan numbers at least five thousand and lives deep within the dangerous Qinling Mountains.
  • The Grand Vacuity Sword Sect has formed an alliance with the Five Clouds Sect and Spring Silkworm Sect. Their forces will guard the mountain passes, prevent the monkeys—especially the Monkey King—from escaping, and keep unauthorized outsiders away.
  • To prevent other Yue Prefecture powers from interfering, the three sects are also recruiting stronger sects from the surrounding commanderies, offering them a share of the wine in exchange for cooperation.
  • The Fourth Division of the Blood-Robed Army, which contains the greatest concentration of experts, will be stationed at the northern pass of Iron Arm Monkey Mountain. Wang Yan will oversee the division while Chen Jichuan remains absent.
  • Yang Xiong intends for Chen Jichuan to use his public identity as Gentleman Sword, a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster, to negotiate with the three sects and secure a larger share of the benefits. Chen agrees to participate.
  • At the Fourth Division’s garrison, Chen reunites with Wang Yan and gives her extensive guidance on cultivating the Forty-Nine Tribulation Sword.

2. Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan demonstrates caution and strategic judgment. He immediately recognizes the logistical and military difficulties of controlling Iron Arm Monkey Mountain, but accepts the plan once Yang Xiong explains the alliance and political arrangements.
  • Chen’s status has grown considerably: as Gentleman Sword, ranked tenth on the Heaven Ranking, he is regarded as one of the strongest active Grandmasters. His reputation gives him negotiating power beyond his formal position in the sect.
  • Yang Xiong appears highly capable politically and strategically. He has already coordinated the three great sects, anticipated interference from other commanderies, and devised a system of shared benefits to unite Yue Prefecture’s scattered powers.
  • Wang Yan has matured into a disciplined, capable military commander. At thirty, she manages the Fourth Division in all but name and has reached the Innate Realm. Her continued progress is partly due to Chen’s careful instruction.
  • Wang Yan’s relationship with Chen remains close and affectionate. Although she is serious and authoritative before her troops, she becomes lively and somewhat playful around Chen, whom she calls “Little Martial Uncle.”
  • Chen’s role as a mentor is emphasized. He does not merely teach techniques but adjusts Wang Yan’s training according to her current foundation, temperament, and level of swordsmanship.

3. Significant Themes

  • Power, resources, and cooperation: Vermilion Fruit Wine is not merely a cultivation treasure; it becomes the basis for alliances, political bargaining, and the possible unification of Yue Prefecture’s martial forces.
  • Strategic control versus direct conquest: The sects recognize that the Iron-Armed Monkey Clan cannot easily be swallowed by one faction. Instead, they rely on containment, negotiation, shared profits, and coordinated military action.
  • The value of reputation and identity: Chen’s Gentleman Sword identity is a political asset. His public prestige allows the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect to claim influence and resources that it could not obtain through military strength alone.
  • Mentorship and gradual cultivation: Wang Yan’s sword training shows that martial advancement requires balancing different approaches rather than blindly pursuing power. Chen emphasizes building a stable foundation before adding the opposing qualities of speed and force.
  • Swordsmanship as harmony between opposites: The Forty-Nine Tribulation Sword combines lightning’s swiftness with heavenly thunder’s overwhelming might. Wang Yan, having mastered the swift path, is now encouraged to study the forceful Great Might Heavenly Thunder Sword to deepen her understanding.
  • Hidden personal affection: The admiration and envy of Wang Yan’s subordinates hint at the special bond between her and Chen, while also suggesting that Chen himself may be slow to recognize emotional implications.

4. Character Interactions

  • Yang Xiong and Chen Jichuan: Yang explains the importance of Vermilion Fruit Wine, outlines the political and military plan, and recruits Chen to negotiate as Gentleman Sword. Chen respects Yang’s thorough preparation and agrees to serve the sect.
  • Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan: Their reunion is warm and familiar. Wang Yan openly complains about the difficulty of the Forty-Nine Tribulation Sword, and Chen responds by analyzing her progress, demonstrating techniques, and correcting her mistakes.
  • Chen’s teaching approach: He explains why he previously forbade Wang Yan from studying the Great Might Heavenly Thunder Sword and why it is now appropriate. He shows that his earlier decision was based on protecting her foundation, not restricting her unnecessarily.
  • Wang Yan and her subordinates: Her attendants and soldiers regard her with respect, while privately envying the extraordinary personal attention she receives from Chen. Her advancement is seen as evidence of the benefits of his guidance.
Read chapter

Ch. 159'Gentleman Sword' Chen Jichuan!

Chapter Summary: “‘Gentleman Sword’ Chen Jichuan!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Chen Jichuan returns to the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect after being informed about Iron Arm Monkey Mountain and the upcoming expedition into the Qinling Mountains.
  • Wang Yan reports that the Fourth Division of the Blood-Robed Army is fully prepared: three thousand soldiers across six battalions are ready to depart.
  • Chen announces that Wang Yan will command the Fourth Division during the mission, while he will not accompany them openly.
  • Wang Yan understands that Chen intends to act under his famous alternate identity, “Gentleman Sword” Chen Jichuan, rather than remain with the army as Little Martial Uncle.
  • Three days later, the Fourth Division leaves Pengshan City and travels toward the Qinling Mountains. Their movement attracts widespread attention because of rumors concerning the Yong Emperor’s Treasure and other legendary inheritances.
  • Wang Yan briefs her commanders, explaining that the army’s main duties are to contain lesser martial artists, establish defensive lines, and provide support rather than directly fight Grandmasters.
  • She emphasizes that poisonous insects and snakes in the Qinling Mountains pose an even greater danger than enemy martial artists. The troops must carefully secure their camps and eliminate venomous creatures.
  • After traveling to White Elephant City and then proceeding on foot for six more days, the Fourth Division reaches Camel Peak, which becomes its assigned garrison.
  • The chapter provides background on the Qinling Mountains, their strategic importance, their trade routes, and the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s control over White Elephant City.
  • Iron Arm Monkey Mountain was discovered by wandering martial artists, who sold the information to several sects. The news spread widely, becoming mixed with rumors of the Yong Emperor’s Treasure and the Sword Ancestor’s Treasure, drawing countless martial artists and numerous Grandmasters into the region.

Character Developments

  • Chen Jichuan is revealed to have become extraordinarily powerful over the past decade. His mastery of many sword arts has allowed him to create the renowned Four-Line Poetry Sword.
  • Under the identity of “Gentleman Sword,” Chen ranks tenth on the Heaven Ranking and is widely regarded as nearly unmatched among Grandmasters.
  • Chen’s open honesty with Sect Master Yang Xiong regarding his dual identity has strengthened the sect’s trust in him. He is viewed as sincere, reliable, and noble.
  • Chen demonstrates strategic maturity by choosing not to accompany the Fourth Division. His presence would limit his ability to act freely and display the full strength of “Gentleman Sword.”
  • Wang Yan has grown into a capable and authoritative military commander. Once merely one of the younger generation’s promising figures, she is now the benchmark among them and commands the respected Fourth Division.
  • Wang Yan’s competence is paired with strong personal loyalty. She is determined to protect the soldiers and avoid any failure that might harm Chen’s trust in her.
  • Qin Sheng and Yang Pu are introduced as particularly capable commanders. Qin Sheng, known as “Cloud-Piercing Hand,” ranks eighteenth on the Earth Ranking, while Yang Pu, the “Eight-Direction Sword,” ranks eleventh.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden identity and reputation: Chen’s public identity as Little Martial Uncle contrasts with his secret fame as “Gentleman Sword,” allowing him to operate with both institutional authority and personal freedom.
  • Trust and sincerity: Chen’s willingness to reveal his identity to the sect reinforces the idea that genuine openness can build deeper loyalty and confidence.
  • Duty and leadership: Wang Yan’s command reflects the responsibilities that accompany rank. Her careful preparations show that effective leadership involves preventing unnecessary danger rather than seeking glory.
  • Power and restraint: Although the Blood-Robed Army possesses enough strength to threaten even a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster, doing so would incur terrible losses. The chapter emphasizes disciplined strategy over reckless force.
  • Nature as an enemy: The Qinling Mountains are dangerous not only because of rival martial artists but also because of poisonous animals, harsh terrain, and isolation.
  • Rumor and greed: The original discovery of the Iron-Armed Monkeys is quickly magnified by rumors of legendary treasures, turning a localized opportunity into a massive martial-world conflict.

Character Interactions

  • Wang Yan playfully teases Chen about his improved appearance, while Chen responds with amused confidence, showing their familiar and relaxed relationship.
  • Their conversation shifts smoothly from banter to military planning, demonstrating mutual trust and respect.
  • Wang Yan is eager to see Chen appear in his white-robed “Gentleman Sword” persona and jokes about finally witnessing the legendary Four-Line Poetry Sword.
  • Chen remains modestly detached from her enthusiasm, responding only with a faint smile.
  • Wang Yan gives Zhu Biao, Cai Yun, Ding Dajian, Qin Sheng, and Yang Pu clear instructions about their mission and limitations, establishing her authority over the division.
  • Her repeated warnings about poison and battlefield risks reveal her concern for the soldiers and her determination to fulfill Chen’s expectations.
  • Chen’s prior guidance helped Yang Pu improve dramatically, illustrating his influence as a mentor even when he is not directly commanding the expedition.
Read chapter

Ch. 160Golden Horn Mountain Deliberations, the Gentleman Sword Arrives!

Chapter Summary: Golden Horn Mountain Deliberations, the Gentleman Sword Arrives!

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Rumors spread throughout Yue Prefecture that either the Yong Emperor’s Treasure or the Sword Ancestor’s Treasure had appeared in the Qinling Mountains. These rumors attract large numbers of martial artists, Grandmasters, and elite forces.
  • The Grand Vacuity Sword Sect, Five Clouds Sect, and Spring Silkworm Sect mobilize their forces, while many rogue cultivators travel toward the mountains hoping to obtain treasures or the legendary Form-Intent inheritance.
  • White Elephant City, an important route into the Qinling Mountains, is sealed by the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect. Martial artists are allowed to enter but forbidden to leave through the eastern and western gates, forcing them to pay expensive lodging and food costs.
  • Despite the restrictions, the expert archer Fang Chuang secretly escapes White Elephant City by vaulting over its walls and enters the mountains. The city authorities record his departure.
  • At Golden Horn Mountain, the three major Yue Prefecture sects and thirteen other sects gather more than forty peak Grandmasters. They have surrounded Iron Arm Monkey Mountain, home of the Iron-Armed Monkey Clan and its valuable Vermilion Fruit Wine.
  • The assembled sect leaders begin negotiating how the Vermilion Fruit Wine will be divided. Although they cooperate against outside threats, each sect tries to secure the largest possible share without breaking the alliance.
  • The alliance recruits powerful rogue Grandmasters to strengthen its forces. Chai Yingrong, ranked forty-second on the Heaven Ranking, joins first, followed by Fang Chuang, ranked nineteenth. Several other famous peak Grandmasters also join.
  • Many additional Grandmasters attempt to infiltrate Iron Arm Monkey Mountain, either to investigate the rumored treasures or steal Vermilion Fruit Wine. The Spring Silkworm Sect’s Azure-Fang Hounds detect Grandmaster-level intruders, resulting in nearly ten battles a day.
  • On the seventh day of deliberations, the sect alliance decides to stop recruiting outsiders. At that moment, a young man in white riding a savage black beast approaches Golden Horn Mountain. The assembled experts recognize him as “Gentleman Sword” Chen Jichuan, shocking the Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s master, Yang Xiong.

Character Developments

  • Chai Yingrong is introduced as a one-eyed saber expert and Heaven Ranking fighter. Though independent, he accepts the alliance’s invitation because of the potential danger posed by the Vermilion Fruit Wine conflict.
  • Fang Chuang is revealed to be a highly capable and cautious archer. He remains polite toward ordinary martial artists but easily bypasses White Elephant City’s defenses, demonstrating his strength and resourcefulness.
  • The sect leaders show their political and negotiating skills. Although united in principle, they aggressively bargain over the division of the wine, revealing their competing interests and reluctance to sacrifice profits.
  • Chen Jichuan’s arrival immediately changes the atmosphere. His reputation is so significant that even powerful sect leaders react with alarm, suggesting that his true strength greatly exceeds what outsiders understand.
  • The chapter reinforces that Heaven Ranking positions are incomplete indicators of strength. Hidden experts such as Chen Jichuan may be far stronger than their public reputations suggest.

Significant Themes

  • Rumor and manipulation: Conflicting stories about the Yong Emperor’s and Sword Ancestor’s treasures draw powerful figures into the Qinling Mountains. The rumors appear deliberately fueled, hinting at a hidden force manipulating events.
  • Greed versus cooperation: The sects must cooperate to control Iron Arm Monkey Mountain, yet their negotiations are dominated by self-interest and the desire for greater rewards.
  • Hidden strength and reputation: Public rankings do not reveal the full power of martial experts. True ability may remain concealed until a decisive moment.
  • Control of information and territory: The Grand Vacuity Sword Sect’s blockade of White Elephant City demonstrates how powerful sects control routes, suppress outsiders, and monopolize opportunities.
  • Escalating conflict: The growing concentration of Grandmasters, repeated infiltrations, and frequent battles indicate that the situation is nearing a major confrontation.

Character Interactions

  • Chai Yingrong listens to the tea-stall rumors but remains detached, leaving alone after gathering information.
  • Fang Chuang questions a young swordsman about White Elephant City. The young man initially reacts angrily but becomes respectful after recognizing Fang Chuang’s formidable bow.
  • The three major sect leaders negotiate with the thirteen allied sects, with Zhang Zhishen openly demanding a clear and fair distribution of the Vermilion Fruit Wine.
  • Chai Yingrong and Fang Chuang are recruited by the alliance because their abilities will help resist later-arriving Grandmasters.
  • The alliance’s forces repeatedly clash with infiltrating experts detected by the Azure-Fang Hounds.
  • Yang Xiong and the assembled Grandmasters react with surprise and unease when Chen Jichuan arrives, marking the chapter’s cliffhanger and signaling that the balance of power may soon change.
Read chapter
Show
Page 8 of 28