Recaps

Jiang Jingnian rescued Qian Ningning from Qian Xuan and defeated the Panshan Martial Academy master who intervened, taking his weapon. When Qian Household reinforcements arrived with Qian Zhenghong, a Western Earth-Element Hero, Jiang Jingnian broke through his defenses and attacked them.

• Qian Xuan brutally beat Qian Ningning until Jiang Jingnian appeared and struck her into a corridor wall.
• Jiang Jingnian shielded Qian Ningning from the gray-jacketed Panshan Martial Academy master’s staff attack, then beat him and seized his weapon.
• Jiang Jingnian shattered the Martial Momentum in the staff, worsening the master’s injuries, while A-Lin used a venomous beetle to treat him.
• Qian Ningning worried that Jiang Jingnian’s retaliation could provoke the Qian Household, but he gave her a healing pill and dismissed the attackers’ injuries as a slight punishment.
• Qian Zhenghong arrived with Qian Household reinforcements and challenged Jiang Jingnian, who broke through Qian Zhenghong’s earth-element defense and charged at the group.

Jiang Jingnian defeated Qian Zhenghong and the Qian Household elder, then confronted the family leaders over their treatment of Qian Ningning and took her with him. After they left, the Qian Household leaders discussed replacing her proposed marriage alliance with Jiang Jingnian.

• Jiang Jingnian overwhelmed Qian Zhenghong with his barehanded attacks, shattered his Bright-Silver Soft Armor, and knocked him unconscious alongside the Qian Household elder.
• The Qian Household's Third Great-Uncle arrived with Qian Wanli and Qian Xinyu, extinguished the fires, and treated the injured.
• Jiang Jingnian defended Qian Ningning from Qian Wanli and Qian Xinyu, then declared that he was requisitioning her as support personnel and took her away.
• Qian Wanli questioned why the Third Great-Uncle let Jiang Jingnian leave, and the elder said he saw promise in Jiang Jingnian and his closeness to Ningning.
• Qian Xinyu proposed replacing Ningning's planned marriage to the Red Gang hall master with a marriage alliance with Jiang Jingnian, and the Third Great-Uncle approved the idea.

Jiang Jingnian escorted Qian Ningning back to Cloudpool Cliff, then returned to Peace City and entered the Stockade to investigate its dangerous inner district. After a trap poisoned his horse, he killed the attackers and drew the attention of the Silk Powder Gang.

• Jiang Jingnian told Qian Ningning that she could not safely remain with the Qian Household and escorted her back to Cloudpool Cliff to stay with Duan Xiaodie.
• Jiang Jingnian returned to Peace City and observed the growing influx of martial artists drawn by the Baobai Mountain Ruins.
• Jiang Jingnian rode through the Stockade’s impoverished outskirts, gave food to several children, and entered the walled inner district after paying a guard.
• Jiang Jingnian recognized that Grandmaster Momentum restricted the Stockade and assessed which powerful opponents might intervene if he caused trouble.
• Jiang Jingnian avoided a phosphorescent powder trap that corroded his horse, killed several beggars who had set it, and learned that they belonged to the Silk Powder Gang.

Jiang Jingnian investigated Bi Fang’s Fire at Halfway Pavilion and learned that many people connected to the Hongfeng Mountain incident had died, vanished, or gone missing. He concluded that the escort mission may have been part of a ritual, then found Chai Li digging beneath the ruins of Tongda Escort Agency as blue flames burned in her eyes.

• Jiang Jingnian avoided a staged ambush in the Stockade, killed the two attackers, and escaped the ensuing street slaughter while suppressing the Blood Baleful Intent he absorbed.
• Jiang Jingnian visited Halfway Pavilion, learned that Bi Fang’s Fire had recently roamed Peace City and its surrounding counties, and asked the pavilion to investigate a list of people from the Hongfeng Mountain incident.
• The pavilion returned the list with many people marked dead, missing, or alive, and Jiang Jingnian realized that nearly all the confirmed witnesses to Bi Fang’s Fire had died or disappeared.
• Jiang Jingnian left the Stockade and suspected that the escort mission had been part of a bloody ritual in which he had been used as a sacrifice.
• Jiang Jingnian found Chai Li digging beneath the ruins of Tongda Escort Agency, and she turned toward him with fierce blue flames burning in her eyes.

Jiang Jingnian confronted Bi Fang’s Fire and Tao Xiangsheng, discovering that the Demon Wraith had cultivated his Signfire as nourishment while he prepared to use it to complete his advancement ritual. The chapter left Jiang Jingnian activating the Python Swallowing Technique against Bi Fang’s parasitized offspring, while Liu Qingzhi learned that he had become bait in a struggle between powerful sects and families.

• Bi Fang’s Fire revealed that it had altered Jiang Jingnian’s Martial Momentum into Signfire and kept him alive as a future Human Pill.
• Jiang Jingnian recognized that his simplified advancement ritual required him to swallow Bi Fang’s lingering Signfire and construct the killing move True Fire Within Wood.
• Tao Xiangsheng arrived to claim Bi Fang’s Fire and kill Jiang Jingnian, while admitting he wanted to keep Jiang Jingnian alive to maximize the benefits for the Tao Family and Dou’a Sect.
• Jiang Jingnian activated the Python Swallowing Technique, summoned a blue-flamed python, and burned through Tao Xiangsheng’s Azure Wood Flower Martial Soul while linking the parasitized offspring to Bi Fang’s Fire.
• Liu Qingzhi learned from her clan elders that Jiang Jingnian had been targeted by the Tao Family and Dou’a Sect and was being used as bait in a larger power struggle.

Bi Fang's Fire was devoured inside its crystal prison as a new Wood-Fire Momentum ignited the Thousand-Rock Grottoes, while Liu Qingzhi, Duan Deshun, and Gao Xian set out to aid Jiang Jingnian. Li Xuanji's plan to refine Jiang Jingnian and use Bi Fang's Fire was thrown into doubt when she sensed the Demon Wraith's aura vanish.

• Jiang Jingnian's True Fire Within Wood emerged in the crystal prison and devoured Bi Fang's Fire, transforming its flames into a force that burned the crystal vein.
• The Dou'a Sect's guards saw the blue flames spread through the Thousand-Rock Grottoes, and the bearded elder left to summon Mountain Lords Tiemu and Xunshui.
• Liu Qingzhi escaped her family's encirclement to rescue Jiang Jingnian, and Duan Deshun followed to protect his final disciple.
• Gao Xian left the wounded Burning Cloud Dao Lineage group to help Jiang Jingnian, despite knowing he might face Grandmasters.
• Li Xuanji continued her ritual in the ruined temple near Hongfeng Mountain, then realized Bi Fang's Fire had disappeared.

Li Xuanji sensed the destruction of her plan to capture Jiang Jingnian and confronted Zhou Shaowen as her Momentum collapsed. Meanwhile, Jiang Jingnian fought Tao Xiangsheng, seized his sword, and joined Liu Qingzhi in a final clash that engulfed them in Blazing Snow of Yangming.

• Li Xuanji discovered that Jiang Jingnian's Fire Within Wood had devoured Bi Fang's Fire and that her Momentum had lost twenty percent of its strength.
• Zhou Shaowen arrived to challenge Li Xuanji, who attacked him with frost-white moonlight despite her weakened state.
• Jiang Jingnian's Fire Within Wood suppressed Tao Xiangsheng's Azure Wood Flower, letting Jiang endure his sword attacks and gradually wear him down.
• Jiang Jingnian used Mind Plague to exploit Tao Xiangsheng's wavering resolve, shattered his Inner Qi Crystals for a burst of power, tore off his arm, and seized the Azure Wood Sword.
• Liu Qingzhi arrived to aid Jiang Jingnian with Frost-Snow Millennium, and Jiang combined his fire with her snow to create Blazing Snow of Yangming.
• Jiang Jingnian charged Tao Xiangsheng and held him in a bear hug as Blazing Snow of Yangming swallowed them both.

Jiang Jingnian and Liu Qingzhi drove Tao Xiangsheng away after combining their killing moves, but both were left badly injured. Jiang Jingnian revealed that he had devoured Bi Fang's Fire and advanced to the Mid Inner Qi Realm, leaving Liu Qingzhi and Protector Gao Xian stunned.

• Jiang Jingnian and Liu Qingzhi unleashed [Blazing Snow of Yangming] and followed with their killing moves, forcing the wounded Tao Xiangsheng to retreat.
• Liu Qingzhi collapsed into a violent cough, and Jiang Jingnian used the life-giving power of his transformed Inner Qi to heal her.
• Jiang Jingnian told Liu Qingzhi that he had devoured Bi Fang's Fire, then reflected on the friends and colleagues lost in the destruction of the Tongda Escort Agency.
• Duan Deshun arrived and asked Jiang Jingnian how strong he had become; Jiang Jingnian said he had only reached the Mid Inner Qi Realm.
• Jiang Jingnian picked up Tao Xiangsheng's Azure Wood Sword and suppressed its spirituality, while Liu Qingzhi and Protector Gao Xian reacted in shock to his rapid advancement.

Jiang Jingnian settled into the Mid Inner Qi Realm and assessed how his growing strength might help him survive future dangers. Meanwhile, Li Xuanji was ambushed by Xie Wuchen and Zhou Shaowen, who forced a dangerous transformation of her Grand Force.

• Liu Qingzhi and Gao Xian were shocked when Jiang Jingnian revealed he had advanced to the Mid Inner Qi Realm in less than two months.
• Li Xuanji continued wearing down Zhou Shaowen near Hongfeng Mountain while watching for Xie Wuchen and an unknown threat.
• Zhou Shaowen’s fire clouds formed an Undying Pure Lotus, and Xie Wuchen appeared behind Li Xuanji and struck her with a Cinnabar Cloud Fire Lotus.
• The yin-and-yang lotuses transformed Li Xuanji’s Deep Abyss Fire Lotus into Moon Abyss Splendor Lotus, while contamination from the Greater Yin Furnace erupted across her body.
• Jiang Jingnian finished familiarizing himself with his new realm, counted eleven Inner Qi Crystals, and prepared to consume the special items he had received.

Jiang Jingnian refined the Suihua Greenwood Sword, gaining a limited lifespan-stealing trait after glimpsing a vast Jianmu and an abyssal maw. He learned that the Mountain Cloud School planned to elevate his status, but suspected the Dao Lords intended to use him as bait in a larger scheme.

• Jiang Jingnian refined special items to raise his Inner Qi Realm progress and assessed his growing strength.
• He unsealed and refined the degraded Suihua Greenwood Sword despite sensing that it was dangerous bait tied to the Tao Family, the Dou'a Sect, and a hidden Purple Sword.
• Refining the sword showed Jiang Jingnian a vision of the Jianmu Divine Tree and an abyssal maw, then granted him the Lifespan Theft trait.
• Jiang Jingnian stopped Liu Qingzhi from treating Duan Xiaodie according to aristocratic household rules and asked about the Dao Lords.
• Liu Qingzhi told Jiang Jingnian that the sect would hold a private meeting in three days and planned to raise his status and treatment nearly to Xie Shanhai's level.
• Jiang Jingnian suspected the Dao Lords were promoting him to draw stronger enemies' attention, though he resolved that he might eventually cease to be their controllable bait.

Jiang Jingnian discussed the dangers facing Cloud Mountain with Liu Qingzhi, then cultivated the Waterborne Fire Method with her while Duan Xiaodie stayed behind. Tao Xiangsheng suffered a catastrophic backlash when his Azure Wood Sword vanished, and Xu Baijing and Zeng Zhihong met with Lotus Saintess Xue Xiuxiu in the Blackwind Mountains.

• Jiang Jingnian and Liu Qingzhi discussed the missing Mysterious Mountain True Disciples, the weakened Dou'a Sect, and the threats posed by the Tao Family and its Black Flood Dragon Army.
• Liu Qingzhi proposed that Duan Xiaodie watch her and Jiang Jingnian cultivate, but Jiang Jingnian rejected the idea and took Liu Qingzhi to his cultivation room.
• Tao Xiangsheng recovered from his injuries, then discovered that the Azure Wood Sword's aura had vanished and suffered a severe backlash that withered half of his Azure Wood Flower Martial Soul.
• Xue Xiuxiu met Xu Baijing and Zeng Zhihong in the Blackwind Mountains and asked whether the lotus sent by their Right Envoy had been useful.

Xue Xiuxiu negotiated with Xu Baijing and Zeng Zhihong over the Undying Pure Lotus and hinted at a hidden Earth-Virtue Ruins, while Jiang Jingnian continued cultivating with Liu Qingzhi and weighed the benefits of his rising status. In Miqiao District, White Rainbow Gang members searched Old Madam Chai’s home over Chai Li’s debt until a gentle stranger arrived.

• Xue Xiuxiu told Xu Baijing and Zeng Zhihong about the Lotus Intent Sect’s plans concerning the Dongjiang Prefecture branch and Demon Blade Bai Wuming, then brought up an Earth-Virtue Ruins in the Blackwind Mountains.
• Jiang Jingnian left the cultivation chamber after using the Waterborne Fire Method with Liu Qingzhi, warned Duan Xiaodie to stay away from the training room, and considered how his growing standing in Cloud Mountain could help him secure resources.
• Jiang Jingnian reflected that Liu Qingzhi was nearing the Waterborne Fire Martial Soul and suspected that the Mysterious Mountain Dao Lord and True Disciples were pursuing a hidden scheme.
• White Rainbow Gang debt collectors entered Old Madam Chai’s home, demanded repayment of Chai Li’s debt or her secret medicines, and threatened her grandchildren.
• The gang members began ransacking Old Madam Chai’s house as she stood helplessly by, until a gentle stranger asked whether it was Chai Li’s grandmother’s home.

Jiang Jingnian protected Chai Li’s family from the White Rainbow Gang and promised to shelter other Tongda Escort Agency families. He then visited Qu Household to see his uncle, where Qu Lanlan knelt and begged him to forgive her past insults.

• Jiang Jingnian announced his name at Granny Chai’s home, and the White Rainbow Gang members cut off their own hands in terror before fleeing at his command.
• Jiang Jingnian promised to protect the families of Tongda Escort Agency’s escort masters, runners, and apprentices, and told Chai Erhua that Chai Li was working far away for him.
• Jiang Jingnian arrived at the Qu Household, where Qu Chuanheng welcomed him and Qu Qiaoyun and Qu Lanlan learned that he had come to visit his uncle rather than discuss Xingming Bank.
• Jiang Jingnian ignored Qu Lanlan and discussed martial arts with Qu Chuanheng while Qu Qiaoyun tried to reconcile with him.
• Qu Lanlan knelt before Jiang Jingnian, kowtowed, and sobbed as she begged him to forgive her past arrogance.

Jiang Jingnian visited Qu Yuzhi and learned that his uncle refused to return to the Jiang Household because he wanted to stay with Qu Qiaoyun and their daughter. After uncovering the nearly six thousand silver dollars Qu Yuzhi had spent trying to ease pressure over Xingming Bank’s shares, Jiang Jingnian explained that the gifts had accomplished nothing and left the family facing pressure from the Qian Household and others.

• Qu Lanlan and Qu Qiaoyun tried to plead with Jiang Jingnian, but he rejected their advances and sent them back to the sofa with his Inner Qi.
• Qu Chuanheng arrived, found Jiang Jingnian with the Qu family, and left after explaining that he valued Jiang Jingnian because a Grandmaster might back him.
• Jiang Jingnian took Qu Yuzhi aside and asked him to return to the Jiang Household, but Qu Yuzhi chose to remain with his wife and daughter.
• Qu Yuzhi said he would persuade Qu Qiaoyun to give up the Xingming Bank shares and move the family into a smaller home, while admitting he had spent Jiang Jingnian’s earlier money trying to secure help.
• Jiang Jingnian reviewed Qu Yuzhi’s accounts and found nearly six thousand silver dollars in gifts to people tied to the Qian Household, the Li Family, and the Red Gang.
• Jiang Jingnian told Qu Yuzhi that the gifts were wasted because the recipients had no influence or were backed by powerful interests.

Jiang Jingnian refused to involve himself in the Qu Family Fifth Branch’s bank shares, though he planned to recover the six thousand silver dollars that had been wasted. As he prepared to leave, Qian Shanyue and Panshan Martial Academy’s masters confronted him at the Qu residence, and Jiang dismissed their demands with contempt.

• Qu Yuzhi decided that the Fifth Branch would surrender its Xingming Bank shares, sell its residence, and start over elsewhere, while Qu Lanlan accepted her parents’ decision and tried to reconnect with Jiang Jingnian.
• Jiang Jingnian resolved to collect the six thousand silver dollars from the people who had taken it, then return the principal to Qu Yuzhi.
• Qian Shanyue and five Inner Qi Realm experts from Panshan Martial Academy stopped Qu Chuanheng and forced him to lead them to Jiang Jingnian.
• Qu Lanlan asked Jiang Jingnian for another chance, but he ignored her and left the hall.
• Qian Shanyue and the Panshan Martial Academy group entered the Qu residence, demanded Xingming Bank’s shares and the return of a weapon, and told Jiang Jingnian to apologize.
• Jiang Jingnian mocked the group, questioned what Qian Shanyue knew about the dispute, and told them to leave before he dealt with them separately.

Jiang Jingnian slaughtered the Qian Household and Panshan Martial Academy experts who had come to Fifth Uncle’s home, revealing the deadly power of his abilities. Afterward, he turned his attention to Qu Chuanheng and the Qu Household.

• Jiang Jingnian defied Qian Shanyue and the Panshan Martial Academy experts, refusing to return with them or apologize.
• A-Kui attacked Jiang Jingnian with Snowfall Spring, but Jiang Jingnian used Lifespan Theft and killed him with a single sword strike.
• Jiang Jingnian killed the bamboo-hatted swordsman with True Fire Within Wood and pursued the fleeing martial artists, slaughtering them.
• Jiang Jingnian killed Qian Shanyue and the other Qian family members after Qian Shanyue tried to invoke his relationship with Qian Ningning.
• Jiang Jingnian turned his gaze toward Qu Chuanheng, leaving him terrified for the Qu Household.

Jiang Jingnian forced Qu Chuanheng to help make the Qian Household massacre appear justified, then used the tangled conflict over Xingming Bank to demand compensation and assert his authority. He left Qu Chuanheng stunned by his claim that Cloud Mountain’s five Dao Lords backed him.

• Qu Chuanheng accepted Jiang Jingnian’s sword and repeatedly stabbed the Qian Household and martial academy corpses to demonstrate his allegiance.
• Jiang Jingnian urged Qu Yuzhi’s family to move to the Qu ancestral residence, while Qu Lanlan watched him with sudden fascination.
• Jiang Jingnian searched the corpses for treasures and told Qu Chuanheng he wanted the money returned, Xingming Bank shares, and additional shares from the Qian Household as an apology.
• Qu Chuanheng questioned whether Cloud Mountain’s five Dao Lords were truly united, and Jiang Jingnian claimed that his arrival had brought order to the school and that his standing matched Xie Shanhai’s.
• Jiang Jingnian departed without making arrangements for Qu Yuzhi, leaving Qu Chuanheng wondering whether all five Dao Lords really supported him.

After Jiang Jingnian killed Qian Shanyue and the Panshan Martial Academy men, the Qu Household examined the bodies and chose to side with him, while Qian Ningning mourned the loss of her home and asked him to spare her father’s life. The Qian Household began debating how to answer Jiang Jingnian’s killing of one of their own.

• Qu Chuanheng told Qu Beijiang that Qian Shanyue and the Panshan Martial Academy men had died at Qu Qiaoyun’s home, then described Jiang Jingnian’s power and the events behind their deaths.
• Qu Beijiang and Qu Yingshui examined the corpses, found that the victims had been killed with overwhelming skill, and decided to discuss the matter with the clan elders.
• Jiang Jingnian told Qian Ningning that he had killed Qian Shanyue and would not spare him again; Qian Ningning said she had nowhere left to return and asked Jiang to cripple her father but spare his life.
• After weighing the consequences, the Qu Household chose to side with Jiang Jingnian against the Qian Household.
• Qian Household elders condemned Jiang Jingnian for killing Qian Shanyue and returning the bodies, calling it an insult to their family’s dignity.

The Qian Household debated how to respond to Jiang Jingnian’s killings and the threat of losing its alliance with Panshan Martial Academy, while Qian Xinyu urged caution rather than open war. Jiang Jingnian ignored the authorities’ inquiry, returned to Cloudpool Cliff, and advanced his cultivation, ending with nineteen Inner Qi Crystals and 45% progress in the Mid Inner Qi Realm.

• Third Great-Uncle argued that the Qian Household had to stand with Panshan Martial Academy to protect its business interests, while Qian Xinyu warned that war with the Mountain Cloud School could bring heavy losses.
• Qian Xinyu proposed letting the conflict cool while making the Qian Household’s dissatisfaction clear and allowing Panshan Martial Academy’s Half-Step Grandmaster prodigy at the Baobai Mountain Ruins to shape events.
• The Qian Household sent Qian Ningning to tell the Qu Household it would not apologize or compensate Jiang Jingnian, and it reported him to the Patrol Bureau and sought legal orders against him.
• Jiang Jingnian ignored the Patrol Bureau’s letter of inquiry and continued shopping around Peace City, with people from the Duan Household helping him find shops.
• Jiang Jingnian returned to Blazing Splendor Residence with two special items and went alone to cultivate after turning down Liu Qingzhi’s invitation to train together.
• Jiang Jingnian refined the special items and found that he had nineteen Inner Qi Crystals and had reached 45% progress in the Mid Inner Qi Realm.

Jiang Jingnian tested his replica Dao Armament bracers and revealed that he had condensed nineteen Inner Qi Crystals, while Liu Qingzhi completed her breakthrough and formed the Waterborne Fire Martial Soul. The chapter then shifted to the Wu Kingdom Ruins, where Yun Yuanchi refused to leave his claim on the ruins to settle a grievance in Peace City.

• Jiang Jingnian practiced with his replica Dao Armament bracers and judged that they boosted his strength despite being poorly matched to his Inner Qi and Martial Momentum.
• Liu Qingzhi learned that Jiang Jingnian had condensed nineteen Inner Qi Crystals and admitted she could no longer see through his strength.
• Liu Qingzhi used the Waterborne Fire Method to complete her breakthrough, and Jiang Jingnian blocked Elder Lan and two Mysterious Mountain elders from interfering with her.
• Liu Qingzhi solidified her Waterborne Fire Martial Soul and advanced to the Late Inner Qi Realm, bringing the Grandmaster Path within sight.
• The chapter described the sealed Wu Kingdom Ruins beneath Baobai Mountain and the factions gathering to explore them.
• Yun Yuanchi refused his junior brothers and sisters’ pleas to leave the Wu Kingdom Ruins and take revenge in Peace City.

Panshan Martial Academy’s Yun Yuanchi focused on exploring the Gouwu ruins and planned to ambush Jiang Jingnian afterward, while Jiang Jingnian discussed his Samadhi True Fire Martial Soul and his relationship with Liu Qingzhi. After Liu Qingzhi’s advancement strengthened the Burning Cloud Dao Lineage, Phosphorfire Wanderer summoned Jiang Jingnian to his Dao Palace.

• Yun Yuanchi demanded a larger share of the Qian Household’s bank stock and ordered the Household to track Jiang Jingnian while Panshan Martial Academy explored the Gouwu ruins.
• Jiang Jingnian told Liu Qingzhi that he was pursuing the Samadhi True Fire Martial Soul and still needed Skyfire and Stonefire.
• Liu Qingzhi complained that Jiang Jingnian had taken her treasure bag and Merit Points and planned a wedding banquet with Duan Xiaodie, then bargained with him over cultivating Waterborne Fire.
• Liu Qingzhi’s advancement to the Late Inner Qi Realm strengthened the Burning Cloud Dao Lineage, and Jiang Jingnian noticed that the Mysterious Mountain Dao Lineage’s disciples and elders treated him warily.
• Phosphorfire Wanderer summoned Jiang Jingnian to the Phosphor Fire Dao Palace.

Jiang Jingnian met with Xie Wuchen, who explained the Phosphorfire Dao Lords’ binding Great Vow and admitted he had used Jiang Jingnian’s connection to Bi Fang’s Fire. Xie Wuchen named Jiang Jingnian a potential future Phosphorfire Dao Lord and gave him a mission to support Hong Yufang, leaving Jiang Jingnian wary of the schemes around him as he stayed with Duan Xiaodie and postponed their wedding banquet again.

• Jiang Jingnian entered the Phosphor Fire Dao Palace and spoke with Xie Wuchen, who described his austere condition and explained that Phosphorfire Sea Crag held the souls of past Phosphorfire Dao Lords bound by their Great Vow.
• Xie Wuchen admitted he had used Jiang Jingnian’s connection to Bi Fang’s Fire to target the Ice Mystic Mountain Lord and said he intended to cultivate Jiang Jingnian as a future Phosphorfire Dao Lord because Xie Shanhai was unfit to rule Cloud Mountain.
• Xie Wuchen handed Jiang Jingnian an ancient scroll instructing him to support Hong Yufang, and Jiang Jingnian returned to his cave abode wondering what schemes lay behind the assignment.
• Jiang Jingnian decided to remain with Duan Xiaodie instead of visiting Senior Sister Liu and apologized that the Duan Household wedding banquet would have to be delayed again.

Jiang Jingnian refined special items to repair his Hanging Needle Black Scale trait and greatly advanced his cultivation. He prepared to leave the mountain to reinforce Senior Sister Hong and the others, while Liu Qingzhi joined him in discussing her hunt for Bai Xuerou, whose return to Peace City seemed likely.

• Jiang Jingnian refined the Bronze Barricade plate armor and repaired Hanging Needle Black Scale (Incomplete) into Hanging Needle Black Scale (Bronze), which could dissolve and rebound half of nearby physical force.
• Jiang Jingnian consumed the remaining special items, raising his Inner Qi Realm progress to 69% and increasing his Inner Qi Crystals from nineteen to twenty-nine.
• Jiang Jingnian reinforced his cave abode, said goodbye to Duan Xiaodie, and went to tell Liu Qingzhi he planned to descend the mountain to help Senior Sister Hong and the others.
• Liu Qingzhi asked to accompany Jiang Jingnian and explained that the Blazing Cloud Dao Lord had ordered her to hunt Lotus Saintess Bai Xuerou, who had slaughtered villages and government soldiers in Dongjiang Prefecture.
• Liu Qingzhi recalled repeatedly fighting Bai Xuerou and said she believed the fugitive would eventually return to Peace City; she vowed to kill her for her many murders.

Jiang Jingnian sent Liu Qingzhi to handle Bai Xuerou while he led reinforcements toward the Baobai Mountain Ruins, then used the Sect Master's decree and a public display of loyalty to force reluctant sect members to obey. In Peace City, Bai Xuerou prepared to perform at Noden Grand Theater before an overly familiar woman approached her backstage.

• Jiang Jingnian refused Liu Qingzhi's offer to accompany him to the Baobai Mountain Ruins, and the two parted after promising to avenge each other if either died.
• Jiang Jingnian summoned reinforcements from other Dao Lineages, struck Lan Tingbai when he protested, and threatened him with sect discipline.
• Jiang Jingnian praised the Mountain Cloud School and vowed to risk his life for it, winning applause from the gathered disciples while Xie Miao and other opponents forced themselves to join in.
• Bai Xuerou prepared backstage at Noden Grand Theater, where a woman called her Honghong, put an arm around her waist, and took her face powder.

Bai Xuerou restrained herself at Noden Grand Theater while the Tao Family elder assessed the weakening Cloud Mountain momentum and helped Tao Xiangsheng recover from Azure Wood Residual Poison. At Baobai Mountain, Hong Yufang fought the Corpse Venom Sect and later received Jiang Jingnian and other reinforcements, whom she warned about the dangers of the approaching inner ruins.

• Bai Xuerou suppressed her anger at Yang Zhen'er in Noden Grand Theater to avoid triggering the contingencies left by Migallon's third prince.
• The Tao Family elder concluded that Xie Wuchen might be attempting the Grandmaster Path as Cloud Mountain's momentum gathered, then used Nirvana Fuel to restore a withered plane tree.
• Tao Xiangsheng awoke as the elder's flame purged his Azure Wood Residual Poison, learned his Grandmaster path had been badly damaged, and vowed revenge on Jiang Jingnian.
• Yun Yuanchi watched Hong Yufang battle two Corpse Venom Sect fighters and refused to intervene, judging that Panshan Martial Academy should wait for the ruins' inner region to open.
• Hong Yufang returned to camp and found Jiang Jingnian and the Mountain Cloud School reinforcements, then warned them that the inner ruins would be dangerous and that their presence might burden her.