Recaps

Jiang Jingnian followed a trail of withered trees and a salty scent to find the Flickerflash Flower Tree in Dongdi Lake’s marshes. He attacked the Demon Wraith with his ultimate technique and Psychic Whip, but the battle continued as he hammered it with punches while his body endured its scorching heat.

• Jiang Jingnian tracked footprints through the forest while avoiding the Lotus Intent Sect and searching for Demon Wraiths.
• He noticed a salty scent and withered yellow trees, recognized them as clues to the Flickerflash Flower Tree, and followed them with raw pork.
• Jiang Jingnian found the Flickerflash Flower Tree in the marsh and saw flames rise beneath his feet.
• He threw the raw pork, activated Transforming Splendor Copper-Flame Body, and used Psychic Whip to stun the tree briefly.
• Jiang Jingnian struck the Flickerflash Flower Tree with heavy blows, enduring its intense heat as he tried to kill it quickly.

Jiang Jingnian defeated the Flickerflash Flower Tree, fused his techniques into the Unyielding Transforming Splendor Ultimate Bronze Scripture, and tested its healing and speed-enhancing ultimate technique. After recovering and eating beside the tree’s remains, he heard hurried footsteps approaching from the forest.

• Jiang Jingnian beat the Flickerflash Flower Tree into pieces and found its Spiritual Essence Core among the remains.
• Jiang Jingnian fused the Transforming Splendor Ultimate Bronze Scripture with the Giant Ayeli Technique, creating the Unyielding Transforming Splendor Ultimate Bronze Scripture and increasing his Marrow Tempering progress.
• Jiang Jingnian activated the Unyielding Transforming Splendor Copperflame Body, discovered it rapidly healed his injuries without slowing him, and found that it made him faster than before.
• Jiang Jingnian changed clothes, grilled the remaining pork over the fire tree’s embers, and ate with canned fish and ration cakes while recovering.
• Jiang Jingnian prepared to take some of the fire tree’s remains when hurried footsteps sounded from the forest behind him.

Jiang Jingnian finished collecting the Flickerflash Flower Tree’s remains and met a group of Severing Blade Dock disciples who demanded its core. After Meng Shengbai let him leave, Junior Brother Xu and the others attacked him, and Jiang Jingnian turned to fight.

• Jiang Jingnian introduced himself to Meng Shengbai as Ye Changting, an Inner Disciple of the Mountain Cloud School, and learned that Severing Blade Dock had clashed with the Lotus Intent Sect.
• Meng Shengbai offered money and secret medicine for the Flickerflash Flower Tree’s remains, and Jiang Jingnian agreed to let the disciples take most of them.
• The disciples discovered that the Demon Wraith Core was missing and accused Jiang Jingnian of taking it; he said he had already used it and refused to be searched.
• Junior Brother Xu and the other disciples blocked Jiang Jingnian, but Meng Shengbai pushed them aside and opened a path for him to leave.
• Junior Brother Xu and several disciples knocked Meng Shengbai aside and attacked Jiang Jingnian, who turned around and fought back.

Jiang Jingnian escaped the Dongdi Lake region after fighting off Severing Blade Dock disciples and evading the Lotus Intent Sect’s poisonous illusions. He returned to the sect and reported the Lotus Intent Sect’s activity and blood sacrifices to Protector Gao.

• Jiang Jingnian defeated Xu and the other Severing Blade Dock disciples, then fled before Lotus Intent Sect fiends could appear.
• He crossed the forests east of Dongdi Lake, using the Jade Heart Method to resist the illusion array and suppress the poison.
• After escaping the lake region, Jiang Jingnian cleaned the poisonous residue from himself, bought a horse, and traveled toward the sect.
• Jiang Jingnian reached the sect’s mountain and told Protector Gao about everything he had encountered, urging him to report the Lotus Intent Sect’s activities to the sect.

After Jiang Jingnian reported the Lotus Intent Sect’s activity near Dongdi Lake, the elders debated whether to send help. Elder Lan tried to send the injured Jiang back there, but Elder Chen dismissed him to rest, leaving Jiang aware that the Mysterious Mountain Lineage still targeted him.

• Gao Xian brought Jiang Jingnian to Phosphorfire Hall to report the Lotus Intent Sect’s attack near Dongdi Lake.
• Elder Chen described reports of Lotus Intent Sect blood sacrifices across the region, while Elder Lin argued that major cities such as Peace City were not in immediate danger.
• Elder Lan proposed that Jiang lead a mission back to Dongdi Lake, despite Jiang’s injuries, and Gao Xian objected.
• Gao Xian showed the elders Jiang’s wounds and poison residue, but Elder Lan continued pressing for the mission.
• Elder Chen ordered Jiang to return and rest until the sect’s higher-ups decided what to do, and Gao Xian led him out of the hall.

Jiang Jingnian returned to the sect, received Protector Gao’s advice about building connections, and rested at home with Duan Xiaodie. The next morning, he visited Qian Ningning to seek her business advice and said he wanted to open a flour mill.

• Protector Gao warned Jiang Jingnian to watch for Mysterious Mountain disciples and advised him to build relationships with senior figures and fellow disciples.
• Jiang Jingnian returned to his residence with Duan Xiaodie, bathed, and helped her cook while explaining that ordinary life helped preserve his humanity.
• Jiang Jingnian completed his nightly Butterfly Wingbeat routine, then left for morning training while Duan Xiaodie slept.
• Jiang Jingnian visited Qian Ningning’s shop and asked her for advice about starting a business.
• Jiang Jingnian told Qian Ningning that his first business idea was to open a flour mill.

Jiang Jingnian proposed that he and Qian Ningning open a flour mill in Peace City while foreign imports were scarce and domestic demand was high. He planned to finance rapid growth by borrowing and selling at the peak before foreign competitors returned.

• Jiang Jingnian explained how the overseas war had reduced imports and created a brief opportunity for local flour and textile businesses.
• Qian Ningning recognized the business implications of his analysis and was surprised by his knowledge of industry and finance.
• Jiang Jingnian told Qian Ningning that he had come from the Northern Lands as a refugee and entered the Mountain Cloud School through Master’s help and Xiaodie’s Duan Household quota.
• Jiang Jingnian said he could raise ten or twenty thousand silver dollars, partly through foreign bank loans, to establish a flour mill.
• Jiang Jingnian planned to expand through multiple rounds of financing and business models, then sell at the peak before foreign companies returned to the Chen State market.

Jiang Jingnian and Qian Ningning planned to establish a mechanized flour factory using secondhand equipment and an old factory site, with Qian agreeing to invest and help manage the venture. After two days, she found a cheap abandoned factory, but it was reportedly haunted by Demon Wraiths following a murder.

• Qian Ningning estimated that a new medium-sized or large flour factory would cost at least one hundred thousand silver dollars, beyond what she could readily provide.
• Jiang Jingnian proposed buying discarded foreign machinery and using an existing factory building to reduce costs, and offered Qian thirty percent of the shares for helping find equipment, a site, and workers.
• Qian Ningning agreed to invest two thousand silver dollars and help, while Jiang Jingnian promised to retain her thirty percent share and seek her help managing the factory.
• Jiang Jingnian told Duan Xiaodie about his business plans, then spent the following days cultivating, seeking a bank loan, and waiting for news.
• Qian Ningning brought Jiang Jingnian news of a very cheap abandoned factory where a murder had occurred and Demon Wraiths might be appearing.

Jiang Jingnian considered buying a cheap abandoned factory where more than a dozen people had died in mysterious incidents, believing someone was likely orchestrating the deaths. He decided to investigate and use the factory to expand his resources as dangers mounted inside and outside the sect, then arrived there with Qian Ningning.

• Qian Ningning showed Jiang Jingnian newspaper reports about the abandoned factory’s deaths, including the deaths of its original owners and buyers.
• Jiang Jingnian suspected someone was behind the incidents and chose to inspect the factory despite its dangers and his wife Duan Xiaodie’s concerns.
• Jiang Jingnian explained to Duan Xiaodie that growing threats from Demon Wraiths and the Mysterious Mountain Dao Lineage made it necessary to seize opportunities and strengthen himself.
• Jiang Jingnian and Qian Ningning traveled to the factory in West Sand District, discussing its crowded industrial surroundings and damaged railways.
• Jiang Jingnian and Qian Ningning entered the abandoned factory.

Jiang Jingnian and Qian Ningning investigated the old factory’s deaths and negotiated to buy it in installments. As they inspected the factory, Jiang Jingnian spotted a scrap of red gauze tucked among the bricks near a wall corner.

• Bai Zhiyong welcomed Jiang Jingnian and Qian Ningning and explained that rumors about the factory had driven away potential buyers.
• Qian Ningning asked about the Red Gauze Woman and the deaths of Bai Zhiyong’s elder brother and sister-in-law; Bai Zhiyong confirmed the factory incidents but said the couple had died after a long illness.
• Jiang Jingnian offered to pay one-third of the factory’s price upfront and the rest over six months, and Bai Zhiyong agreed to show them around.
• Jiang Jingnian and Qian Ningning examined the factory and its machinery, which they considered suitable for a flour mill.
• Jiang Jingnian noticed a scrap of red gauze among the bricks and tiles at the upper corner of a wall.

Jiang Jingnian found evidence of a haunting at Bai Zhiyong’s old factory but bought it anyway after negotiating a lower price. He moved in to investigate the culprit, and the chapter ended as a sudden chill made him sense someone nearby.

• Jiang Jingnian removed a fresh scrap of expensive red gauze from the factory ceiling, and he and Qian Ningning suspected someone was behind the strange incidents.
• Jiang Jingnian chose the factory despite the danger and bargained Bai Zhiyong down to 15,500 silver dollars; Bai Zhiyong accepted the deal.
• Several days later, the authorities approved the factory transfer, and Jiang Jingnian began living there to catch whoever was causing trouble.
• Jiang Jingnian trained in the factory and reviewed his growing strength, reaching 26% of the Marrow Tempering Stage.
• A sudden chill entered the factory, and Jiang Jingnian called out to whoever was there.

Jiang Jingnian fought a Red-Gauze Wraith in the Bai Family's factory and recognized that it resembled Su Wanzhi. After finding shell fragments and connecting them to the Purple Clay Goldline Pot, he concluded that Old Master Su Ze had raised the wraith and suspected the Su Family had secretly served a Demon Sect.

• Jiang Jingnian detected poisonous smoke and used its scent to locate and seize the seemingly invisible Red-Gauze Wraith.
• The wraith wrapped Jiang Jingnian in red gauze, but he activated his Unyielding Transforming Splendor Copperflame Body and scorched it.
• Jiang Jingnian saw that the wraith resembled Su Wanzhi and struck it apart, though he suspected it had escaped using a secret technique.
• Jiang Jingnian found spiral-patterned shell fragments among the red gauze and connected them to the Purple Clay Goldline Pot he had bought from Su Wanzhi.
• Jiang Jingnian recalled that Su Ze had raised the Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden and suspected the Su Family had been a hidden pawn of the Lotus Intent Sect or another Demon Sect.

Jiang Jingnian reported his encounter with the Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden and his suspicions about the Su Family to the Tongda Escort Agency’s chief escort. The chief escort confirmed the Demon Wraith’s traits but revealed that the original Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden had been killed decades earlier and the Su Family’s old master was dead, leaving the connection uncertain.

• Jiang Jingnian decided to consult the Tongda Escort Agency before reporting the matter to the Mountain Cloud School.
• Jiang Jingnian found the chief escort at the agency and described his fight with the Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden and his suspicions about the Su Family.
• The chief escort examined Jiang Jingnian’s red gauze and shell fragments and said the agency had killed the Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden more than twenty years earlier.
• The chief escort said the old master of the Su Family had died years ago, undermining Jiang Jingnian’s theory that he was behind the Demon Wraith.
• The chief escort declined to act against the Su Family without evidence but proposed joining Jiang Jingnian to destroy the Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden after his master returned.

Jiang Jingnian ignored the Chief Escort’s warning and returned to the old factory, hoping to draw out the Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden and uncover the Su Family’s involvement. He later asked Qian Ningning to investigate the Su Family, but she warned him about a local chamber of commerce seeking a meeting over their factory.

• The Chief Escort advised Jiang Jingnian to avoid the old factory until Duan Escort Chief returned and they could confront the Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden together.
• Jiang Jingnian moved back into the factory anyway, but the Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden did not appear that night.
• Jiang Jingnian decided to ask Qian Ningning to investigate the Su Family and preserve evidence that could justify action with the Tongda Escort Agency.
• Qian Ningning met Jiang Jingnian in Nanpu District, agreed to investigate the Su Family, and urged him to stop risking himself at the factory.
• Qian Ningning told Jiang Jingnian that a local chamber of commerce wanted to meet about their factory, explaining that new businesses had to build ties with powerful local interests.

Jiang Jingnian and Qian Ningning prepared to negotiate with the Chamber of Commerce over their flour mill, while he struggled to contain his anger at the Red Gang’s influence and the disrespect shown toward Chen State people. At Bright Dusk Tower, they met the Chamber’s representatives, and Jiang Jingnian took his seat as the tense banquet began.

• Jiang Jingnian asked Qian Ningning about the Chamber of Commerce, and she explained that the Red Gang’s Wenli Hall was the main power they needed to watch.
• Qian Ningning urged Jiang Jingnian to avoid fighting at the negotiations, but he insisted on attending because he was opening the factory with her.
• Qian Ningning, Qian Xinming, and Jiang Jingnian arrived at Bright Dusk Tower and found a room full of Chamber of Commerce members and armed bodyguards.
• The Chamber’s representatives greeted Qian Xinming warmly, while Jiang Jingnian noticed the group’s earlier disdain toward him.
• Qian Ningning linked arms with Jiang Jingnian to calm him, and he reassured her before taking his seat.

At a South City Chamber of Commerce dinner, Jin Zhihao used Jiang Jingnian’s humble origins to turn Qian Xinming against him and belittle his place in the Mountain Cloud School. Jiang defended his record and challenged Jin to spar, leaving Jin’s smile frozen.

• The South City Chamber of Commerce representatives hosted Jiang Jingnian and Qian Ningning, but focused their attention on Qian Xinming while the flour mill was still only planned.
• Jin Zhihao brought up Jiang Jingnian’s past as a refugee and rickshaw puller, prompting the business figures to look down on him and Qian Xinming to reproach Qian Ningning.
• Qian Ningning defended Jiang, explaining that he was an Inner Disciple and that she had chosen to befriend him.
• Jin Zhihao suggested Jiang had entered the inner sect through the Qian Household’s influence.
• Jiang rejected Jin’s insinuations, affirmed that he was proud of his journey, and challenged him to spar; Jin’s smile froze.

Jiang Jingnian faced Jin Zhihao’s insults and accepted a spar with Wenli Hall’s Mr. Miao, whom he defeated with one punch. The business figures were left stunned, while Jiang Jingnian believed Jin Zhihao would not survive the night.

• Jin Zhihao mocked Jiang Jingnian’s origins and challenged him to fight his guard, Mr. Miao, a Late Marrow Tempering Stage Orange Blossom Deacon.
• Qian Ningning worried that a clash with Wenli Hall would endanger the flour mill, but Qian Xinming remained indifferent.
• Jiang Jingnian entered the cleared space and politely faced Mr. Miao, who expected the Bone Tempering Stage disciple to last only a few moves.
• Jiang Jingnian lunged at Mr. Miao and knocked him unconscious with one punch.
• Jiang Jingnian returned to his seat and toasted Jin Zhihao as the gathered business figures stared in disbelief.

Jiang Jingnian defeated Mr. Miao at the banquet, disrupting Wenli Hall’s attempt to intimidate him and ending the business talks. Jin Zhihao left planning to use commercial pressure to ruin Jiang’s flour mill, while Jiang stayed behind eating rouge fungus as bronze-red light appeared in his eyes.

• Jiang Jingnian knocked Mr. Miao unconscious, and the guard confirmed that he was still alive.
• Jin Zhihao abandoned the banquet and planned to bankrupt Jiang’s flour mill rather than attack him openly.
• Qian Xinming took Qian Ningning back to the Qian Household, and Jiang reassured her that she need not worry about him.
• After the others left, Jiang Jingnian ate rouge fungus as the bronze gleam in his eyes turned faintly red.
• In the car, Jin Zhihao rejected Tang Ran’s suggestion to confront the Mysterious Mountain Dao Lineage and resolved to use commercial means against Jiang.

Jiang Jingnian ambushed Jin Zhihao’s cars, killed Tang Ran and the Red Gang guards, and beat Jin Zhihao into submission. He left Jin Zhihao trapped in a sack and continued striking him, while the consequences of defying the Jianghu Rules remained ahead.

• Mr. Miao woke in the car and warned the Red Gang guards that Jiang Jingnian was far stronger than the intelligence had claimed.
• Gunmen burst the tires of both sedans, sending them crashing off course, and the guards searched for the ambushers near the park.
• Jiang Jingnian appeared behind the cars, killed Mr. Miao and the fleeing guards, then killed the driver and guard in Jin Zhihao’s car.
• Jiang Jingnian snapped Tang Ran’s neck and defeated Jin Zhihao after interrupting his attempt to use his ultimate technique.
• Jiang Jingnian stuffed the badly injured Jin Zhihao into a burlap sack and kept pounding him until his calf shattered.

Jiang Jingnian killed Jin Zhihao and his men, hid the evidence, and anticipated retaliation from the Hong Gang and other factions. After failing to reach Li Lisi, he left his factory and returned to the Mountain Cloud School, while Zeng Zhihong learned that Jin Zhihao had disappeared and expected Jiang Jingnian to face enemies from many factions.

• Jiang Jingnian beat Jin Zhihao to death, disposed of the bodies in the river, and used the rain to wash away traces of the killing.
• Jiang Jingnian returned to his factory, burned his bloodstained clothes, and weighed the risk that the Hong Gang and other forces would retaliate with Inner Qi Realm assassins.
• Jiang Jingnian went to the Li Family residence intending to kill Li Lisi, but its heavy security and foreign guards forced him to leave without acting.
• After a quiet night at the factory, Jiang Jingnian decided to leave, focus on breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm, and keep the Duan Household out of his troubles.
• The Red-Gauze Spiral Maiden entered the factory after Jiang Jingnian had left, revealing that she had been secretly watching him.
• At Cloudpool Cliff, Mysterious Mountain disciples told Zeng Zhihong that Jin Zhihao had disappeared, and they predicted that more than ten factions would target Jiang Jingnian.

Zeng Zhihong and the Mysterious Mountain disciples discussed Jiang Jingnian’s vulnerability while Du Haichen was away, and Jiang warned Duan Xiaodie that enemies were closing in. After arranging for her family to flee to Cloud Harmony City, Jiang resolved to risk everything and reach the Inner Qi Realm within the month.

• Zeng Zhihong dismissed Jiang Jingnian’s talent as limited by his origins and criticized his conduct, while Xie Miao and the other disciples called him reckless.
• Xie Miao said the Ye Household’s Inner Qi Realm expert, the Red Gang, and other forces were ready to strike Jiang if he descended the mountain again.
• Zeng Zhihong warned that Du Haichen’s return could protect Jiang, but the disciples believed Du Haichen would remain away while pursuing Bai Wuming in the South Sea.
• Duan Xiaodie told Jiang Jingnian that her family was preparing to relocate to Cloud Harmony City and join Duan Deshun.
• Jiang Jingnian said he was ready to face enemies on all sides and resolved to advance to the Inner Qi Realm within the month.

Jiang Jingnian revealed that he had reached the Early Marrow Tempering Stage and declared that he would not endure the forces targeting him, awakening the beginnings of Martial Momentum. Meanwhile, Wenli Hall investigated Jin Zhihao and Tang Ran’s disappearance and its leader set out to have Jiang Jingnian killed.

• Jiang Jingnian told Duan Xiaodie he had reached the Early Marrow Tempering Stage and might enter the Inner Qi Realm by early September.
• Jiang Jingnian suspected the Mysterious Mountain Dao Lineage was provoking the South City Chamber of Commerce and Red Gang, and said he refused to bow his head again.
• Jiang Jingnian voiced his Bloodfire Martial Path, forming the embryonic shape of Martial Momentum, and moved closer to breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm.
• A Wenli Hall group visited Jiang Jingnian’s factory and discussed how an attempted arson had been thwarted by a yin wind and red gauze.
• Wenli Hall and the Tang Household investigated the disappearance of Jin Zhihao, Tang Ran, and their companions, identifying Jiang Jingnian as a prime suspect but lacking evidence.
• The middle-aged Wenli Hall man in the mandarin jacket said he wanted to see Jiang Jingnian’s corpse as soon as possible.

Mr. Yan and Li Tiankun agreed to pursue Jiang Jingnian’s death through a carefully planned ambush, while Jiang Jingnian tried to borrow Merit Points from disciples at Life Bloom Hall. His offer of twenty percent monthly interest drew a crowd, and a female disciple stepped forward to offer collateral.

• Mr. Yan rejected Li Tiankun’s calls for evidence and said he would seek Black Warriors to guarantee Jiang Jingnian’s death.
• The disappearance of Jin Zhihao and Tang Ran drew newspaper attention and an investigation from the foreign Patrol Bureau.
• Jiang Jingnian set up a banner near Life Bloom Hall offering to borrow Merit Points at twenty percent monthly interest.
• An Outer Disciple questioned whether Jiang Jingnian had collateral, and Jiang Jingnian said an Inner Sect elder would witness the lending.
• A female disciple offered her two shops and resources from the Qian Household as collateral for Jiang Jingnian.

Qian Ningning backed Jiang Jingnian’s request for borrowed Merit Points, guaranteeing the loans with her shops and Qian Household status. More than a dozen disciples lent to him, while most onlookers remained wary; as dusk fell, one Outer Disciple set out to lend despite his companions’ warnings.

• Qian Ningning vouched for Jiang Jingnian, praised his strength, and promised to guarantee his loans with her shops and Qian Household standing.
• Qian Ningning told Jiang Jingnian she had negotiated at the factory and moved its machines somewhere safe.
• Jiang Jingnian promised to repay Qian Ningning’s kindness, and an Outer Disciple offered him all seventy-six of his Merit Points.
• More than a dozen disciples lent Jiang Jingnian Merit Points over less than half a day, though most people watched without joining in.
• As dusk approached, a brawny Outer Disciple brushed off Junior Brother Zhao’s warnings and went to lend Merit Points to Jiang Jingnian.

Jiang Jingnian continued seeking Merit Points while secretly acquiring a jade bracelet whose hidden history linked it to an ancient war and the blood of Killing Intent. As he advanced toward the Inner Qi Realm, he considered whether Duan Xiaodie could provide the beloved’s tears needed to cleanse the bracelet.

• Jiang Jingnian borrowed Merit Points across Cloudpool Cliff and bought a cracked jade bracelet containing a jade-like trait that required three days of his beloved’s tears to cleanse.
• Jiang Jingnian confronted Xie Miao for Merit Points, mocked her with a threat about the Deathmatch Arena, and learned that Mysterious Mountain was discouraging lenders.
• Jiang Jingnian practiced his fist techniques and reflected on how his late-stage Marrow Tempering body was approaching the leakless state of the Inner Qi Realm.
• Duan Xiaodie watched Jiang Jingnian practice and wished for his martial path to flourish.
• Jiang Jingnian wondered whether Duan Xiaodie counted as his beloved and could supply the tears needed for the bracelet.