Recaps

Deng Qing, serving as Xie Xuan, began the Grade-A Qualification Test by defeating two Martial Exam Students with precise strikes that disarmed them. After Ma Zhong’s defeat, the arena’s attention turned to Xie Xuan, while Zhuo Lin remained unimpressed.

• Elder Wei announced the Grade-A test rules, and an exam proctor verified Deng Qing’s qualification as a Sword Examiner.
• Zhuo Lin questioned why the previous Grade-A Sword Examiners had been replaced, but the exam proctors defended the selection rules.
• Yuan Chong attacked Deng Qing with a gathering sword technique, but Deng Qing struck his hilt and disarmed him.
• Ma Zhong used the Burning Sun Method and built momentum with the Wave-Stacking Sword, but Deng Qing cut through his attack and sent his sword flying.
• Zhuo Lin watched Deng Qing’s victory without being impressed.

Deng Qing faced Zhuo Lin after defeating five challengers in a row, and the two began a fierce sword duel. Zhuo Lin’s Sword Python Art failed to break through Deng Qing’s defenses, leaving their clash unresolved.

• Zhao Jia called Zhuo Lin to challenge Deng Qing, while the waiting students hoped Zhuo Lin would defeat him.
• Zhuo Lin dismissed Deng Qing’s earlier victories and demanded a one-on-one fight, prompting Elder Wei to order him to attack.
• Zhuo Lin struck first with a fast, seamless sword technique, but Deng Qing redirected the blow and suffered only a small tear in his shoulder’s clothing.
• Zhuo Lin unleashed his Sword Python Art, changing its attack three times, but Deng Qing anticipated each turn and repeatedly intercepted it.
• Deng Qing formed an unbroken defensive ring with his sword as the two blades clashed, preventing Zhuo Lin’s Sword Python from fully unfolding.

Deng Qing used seamless swordsmanship to withstand Zhuo Lin’s Sword Python Transformation, leaving Zhuo Lin unable to find an opening. Refusing to accept his defeat, Zhuo Lin empowered his sword with blood and surged his Qi-Blood for another attack.

• Zhao Jia and Elder Wei wondered how Xie Xuan could anticipate the changes in Zhuo Lin’s Sword Python.
• Deng Qing blocked Zhuo Lin’s Sword Python and forced him to question how an unknown opponent could counter his signature technique.
• Zhuo Lin unleashed Sword Python Transformation, surrounding Deng Qing with relentless attacks from every direction.
• Deng Qing’s Seven Forms of Settling Solitude formed a seamless defense, and Zhuo Lin could not find an opening despite repeated strikes.
• Zhuo Lin recalled his grandfather’s words about swordsmanship becoming instinct, then refused to accept defeat and spat blood onto his Iron Sword to strengthen himself.

Deng Qing defeated Zhuo Lin by finding the weakness in his Second Sword Python Transformation, but Zhuo Lin accused him of cheating and demanded a retest. The White-Clad Woman silenced Zhuo Lin by hurling him into the wall, leaving the Martial Arena stunned.

• Zhuo Lin unleashed his Second Sword Python Transformation and drove Deng Qing to the edge of the white circle.
• Deng Qing found a narrow opening in Zhuo Lin’s Sword Momentum and broke through it, causing Zhuo Lin to spit blood and lose his sword.
• Zhuo Lin refused to accept defeat and demanded that Deng Qing’s Qi-Blood be tested again, prompting the Martial Exam Students to join his protest.
• A White Robe-clad Exam Proctor rebuked Zhuo Lin, and the White-Clad Woman dismissed his accusations and warned that they would settle his account later.
• The White-Clad Woman swept Zhuo Lin into the wall, where he slid down motionless as the hall fell silent.

Deng Qing finished the Grade-A test disguised as Xie Xuan, then learned how to remove and keep the Mongqi Hide and received advice about advancing his swordsmanship. After collecting his belongings from the Sword Grove, he met Xu Ming and Xue Lin and headed to the east gate to collect his pay.

• After Deng Qing defeated Zhuo Lin, the remaining Martial Exam Students withdrew, and Elder Wei announced that none of the twenty-two had earned Grade A.
• Deng Qing returned the Black Token, learned to remove the Mongqi Hide with clean water, and was told he could keep it as a reward.
• The White-Clad Woman advised Deng Qing to pursue a higher-level sword technique in the Bone-Forging Realm if he wanted to become a top Sword Examiner.
• Deng Qing changed back into his original appearance, collected his belongings from the Sword Grove, and ran into Xu Ming and Xue Lin as they packed to leave.
• Xu Ming and Xue Lin told Deng Qing about Xie Xuan's victories and said their pay was being handed out at the east gate, so Deng Qing went there to collect his.

Deng Qing collected his pay as a Sword Examiner, then waited at Zhang Bo’s camp for Li Cheng to finish the Martial Dao Trial. Li Cheng completed his exams and left with the eldest master, while Deng Qing stayed behind to be cared for before their planned return to Everjoy County.

• Deng Qing received his hundred taels of Silver Notes and ate a final meal at the Martial Arts Hall before leaving.
• Deng Qing met Zhang Bo outside the hall, learned Li Cheng had passed the Grade B Sword Dao test, and agreed to wait with him.
• Zhang Bo gave Deng Qing a place to rest in Li Cheng’s luxurious tent, where Deng Qing slept until the next afternoon.
• Zhang Bo told Deng Qing that Li Cheng had finished his exams and gone with the eldest master to meet elders in the prefectural city.
• Deng Qing accepted Zhang Bo’s offer to stay another night and travel back to Everjoy County with Li Cheng the next morning.

Deng Qing enjoyed the Li Family’s lavish hospitality, then realized Zhang Bo might be disguising him as Li Cheng to draw out someone seeking revenge. He was left alarmed in Li Cheng’s tent, dressed in Li Cheng’s robe and surrounded by servants who called him young master.

• Deng Qing ate and bathed while two maids attended him, then dressed in a Brocade Robe provided by the Li Family.
• Zhang Bo mistakenly—or deliberately—greeted Deng Qing as young master and encouraged him to walk around the market.
• Deng Qing spotted Zhuo Lin with Martial Exam Students who had failed the swordsmanship assessment, and Zhuo Lin glared at him.
• Deng Qing returned to the encampment, ate another lavish meal, and circulated the Violet Palace Method.
• Deng Qing realized Zhang Bo might be making him look like Li Cheng so a revenge-seeker would mistake him for the young master.

Deng Qing suspected Zhang Bo was using him as bait and went into the crowded streets to check whether anyone was following him. He spotted the Blue-Robed Guest twice in different places and concluded the man was tailing him, though he did not know whether the stranger was Zhang Bo’s target.

• Deng Qing weighed fleeing the Li Family Camp against the danger of leaving without its guards, then decided to first find out whether Zhang Bo was using him as bait and whether anyone was watching him.
• Deng Qing left the camp and used a bronze mirror at a street stall to spot Zhang Bo secretly watching him from a nearby tent, confirming his suspicion.
• Deng Qing wandered through the streets and saw the Blue-Robed Guest reading at a bookstall in the mirror’s reflection.
• Deng Qing returned to the stall and saw the Blue-Robed Guest at a medicinal herb shop, leading him to conclude that the man was following him.

Deng Qing tried to use Zhuo Lin and the other Martial Exam Students to distract the Blue-Robed Guest who had followed him into the Joyous Arrival Inn. He convinced them that Xie Xuan was hiding downstairs, and Zhuo Lin held Deng Qing until they could move together.

• Deng Qing entered the Joyous Arrival Inn, hoping the crowd would help him escape the Blue-Robed Guest.
• The Blue-Robed Guest followed Deng Qing inside and sat in a secluded corner, leaving Deng Qing's escape plan in jeopardy.
• Deng Qing approached Zhuo Lin and the other Martial Exam Students, then stirred up their anger toward Xie Xuan.
• Deng Qing claimed a disguised man downstairs was likely Xie Xuan and suggested the students leave in groups to surround him.
• Zhuo Lin grabbed Deng Qing and warned him not to try any tricks, insisting they would move together.

Deng Qing tried to keep the Blue-Robed Guest from mistaking him for Li Cheng while Zhuo Lin led an attack at the Inn. Zhuo Lin revealed the guest as the wanted Blood Butcher Xiong Zhen, who fought off the students and escaped through the doors.

• Deng Qing and Zhuo Lin waited at the Inn as twenty or thirty Martial Exam Students arrived and surrounded the Blue-Robed Guest.
• Deng Qing denounced the guest as Xie and insisted that he was not Li Cheng, then the students attacked.
• The Blue-Robed Guest deflected the assault with flying Chopsticks and his saber, broke through the encirclement, and headed for the doors.
• Zhuo Lin struck the Blue-Robed Guest’s hat off with Sword Python: First Transformation and identified him as Blood Butcher Xiong Zhen, a Donghuang Cult remnant with a thousand-tael bounty.
• Xiong Zhen unleashed a powerful saber strike that knocked Zhuo Lin into a pillar, then charged out of the Inn.

Deng Qing suspected Xiong Zhen had targeted him for Zhou Fei’s belongings, especially the Black Jade, and left the Li Family Camp to return to Everjoy County. He reached the county seat after the gates had closed and was admitted by Li Biao.

• Xiong Zhen fought Zhang Bo and two middle-aged men, then escaped by using a blood-red smoke technique.
• Deng Qing questioned Zhang Bo and learned that Zhou Fei had been Xiong Zhen’s disciple; he concealed the Black Jade when Zhang Bo asked about Zhou Fei’s valuables.
• Deng Qing changed out of Li Cheng’s brocade robe, claimed he had arranged to meet friends, and left the camp without Zhang Bo stopping him.
• Deng Qing hurried through the night toward Everjoy County, fearing Li Cheng would reveal the Black Jade to Zhang Bo.
• Deng Qing reached the closed city gates, showed his Celebration Hall Number Token, and Li Biao had him brought inside.

Deng Qing moved into the Celebration Hall to guard the Black Jade and avoid Zhang Bo, then learned that Zhang Yan had reached the Bone-Forging Realm. He settled into new quarters but decided to check whether Zhang Bo had searched his home for the Black Jade.

• Deng Qing retrieved the Black Jade and Blood-Burning Pill from hiding, sewed them into his clothes, and resolved to grow stronger before confronting Zhang Bo.
• Deng Qing joined the Celebration Hall’s apprentices for morning practice, then told Fan Sheng about his trip while withholding details about Xie Xuan, the White-Clad Woman, the Black Jade, and Xiong Zhen.
• Deng Qing visited Zhang Yan and discovered that he had broken through to the Bone-Forging Realm; Zhang Yan arranged a room for him after hearing that Xiong Zhen might target him.
• Deng Qing began training in his new quarters but decided to return home and see whether Zhang Bo had searched for the Black Jade.

Deng Qing confronted Zhang Bo over the Black Jade and negotiated a future sale for eight hundred taels, keeping Zhou Tie and other Constables nearby as protection. After Zhang Bo left, Deng Qing returned to the Celebration Hall and asked Fan Sheng who had the best information sources in Everjoy County.

• Deng Qing discovered that someone had disturbed the hidden Black Jade’s hiding place, then found Zhang Bo waiting inside his Main Hall.
• Deng Qing summoned Zhou Tie and the Constables outside, preventing Zhang Bo from pressuring him without witnesses.
• Deng Qing refused Zhang Bo’s initial offers and negotiated the Black Jade’s price up to eight hundred taels, with the exchange planned for the Martial Market in Yanshan Prefecture.
• Zhang Bo warned Deng Qing to stop associating with Li Cheng, but Deng Qing rejected his demand and Zhang Bo left.
• Deng Qing thanked Zhou Tie and the Constables with silver, then returned to the Celebration Hall and asked Fan Sheng who had the best information sources in Everjoy County.

Deng Qing asked Fan Sheng to investigate Zhang Bo and received records about the Personal Disciples, which eased his concerns about Li Dashan. He continued training and refining his resources, then swallowed his last Ginseng Pill as he prepared to grow stronger before facing Zhang Bo again.

• Deng Qing asked Fan Sheng to learn about Zhang Bo, and Fan Sheng agreed to ask local Information Brokers while accepting Deng Qing's Silver Note.
• Fan Sheng gave Deng Qing a copied booklet of records about eight Personal Disciples, and Deng Qing found that most had come from poor backgrounds and been helped by Li Dashan.
• Deng Qing concluded that Li Dashan cared for the poor and vulnerable, easing some of his concerns about his master.
• Deng Qing followed a daily routine of martial practice, eating meat, circulating the Violet Palace Method, and refining Ginseng Pills as his Qi-Blood grew richer.
• Deng Qing expected another trip to the Medicinal Pool to help him reach the Skin Tempering Fourth Layer and better face Zhang Bo.
• Deng Qing swallowed his last Ginseng Pill in his closed room and began circulating the Violet Palace Method.

Deng Qing learned more about Zhang Quan and heard that a major operation at Liangshan was approaching. Li Dashan then told Deng Qing he and Zhang Yan would accompany him as personal guards, leaving Deng Qing headed for the coming campaign.

• Fan Sheng gave Deng Qing records revealing that Zhang Quan had once been a frontier army cook and had risen to the Bone-Forging Realm after beginning martial arts in his thirties.
• Deng Qing learned that Zhang Quan practiced Copper Wall Mountain and had won two disputes over martial arts resources, while Fan Sheng warned him to reconcile if possible.
• Fan Sheng explained that the Martial Market opened before major operations and said tensions around Liangshan suggested Yanshan Prefecture might soon hold one.
• Li Dashan praised Deng Qing's swordsmanship and announced that he had accepted the Command Center's summons for a major operation at Liangshan.
• Li Dashan said Deng Qing and Zhang Yan would go directly to Liangshan as his personal guards instead of answering the County Yamen's call.

Deng Qing broke through to Skin Tempering Fourth Layer and grew wary of Li Dashan, Zhang Quan, and the coming Battle of Liangshan, deciding he needed to leave Everjoy County. At the Martial Market, he refused to travel with Zhang Quan and insisted they trade the Black Jade at Celebration Hall, ending by invoking Xiong Zhen.

• Li Dashan refined a potent batch of medicine, then sent Deng Qing into the Medicinal Pool to refine the Residual Medicine.
• Deng Qing broke through to Skin Tempering Fourth Layer and raised the Violet Palace Method to Grand Mastery, then found a hollowed fang in the pool.
• After Zhang Yan warned him about the approaching Battle of Liangshan, Deng Qing weighed his risks and decided to leave Celebration Hall and Everjoy County.
• Deng Qing concluded Zhang Quan might cheat or endanger him over the Black Jade, and decided to demand the agreed eight hundred taels before handing it over.
• At the Official Martial Market, Deng Qing challenged Zhang Quan's threats and refused to go with him, demanding that the trade happen at Celebration Hall.
• When Zhang Quan demanded proof that the Black Jade was genuine, Deng Qing answered, "Because of Xiong Zhen."

Deng Qing sold Zhang Quan a worthless stone as Black Jade, then fled Everjoy County with the money and left a letter explaining Zhang Quan’s coercion to the Celebration Hall. When Zhang Quan confronted Li Dashan, Deng Qing’s letter exposed his actions while concealing the fake stone.

• Deng Qing refused Zhang Quan’s demand for an appraisal before the sale and accepted eight hundred taels for the Black Jade.
• Deng Qing exchanged the Black Jade for a worthless stone, then used the money to obtain a new identity and travel permit from Song Que and set out for Fertile Water County.
• Zhang Quan learned from an appraiser and a jade-shop owner that the stone was ordinary, then stormed into the Celebration Hall to demand Deng Qing answer for the sale.
• Li Dashan summoned Deng Qing, but Fan Sheng returned with a letter saying Deng Qing had left the county and explaining Zhang Quan’s threats and use of him as bait.
• Fan Sheng read Deng Qing’s letter aloud, and Zhang Quan realized its account was mostly true even though it concealed the fake Black Jade.

Li Dashan confronted Zhang Quan over his scheme to frame Deng Qing, forced him to confess, and confirmed the plot through records at the County Yamen. After Zhang Quan left, Li Dashan and his disciples worried about Deng Qing’s safety, but Li Dashan believed Deng Qing had not gone far.

• Zhang Quan accused Deng Qing of swindling him, but Li Dashan and Zhang Yan connected his claims to Zhang Quan’s earlier actions and suspected he had taken the real Black Jade and plotted to frame Deng Qing.
• Zhang Quan threatened to report Li Dashan to the Li Family, so Li Dashan struck him, restrained him, and ordered Zhang Yan to retrieve the County Yamen records.
• Zhang Quan wrote a confession admitting his scheme, and Zhang Yan returned with evidence that Cao Bao had arranged a false complaint, fabricated witnesses, and a summons against Deng Qing.
• Li Dashan dismissed Zhang Quan after securing the confession and records, while Fan Sheng explained that Deng Qing had investigated Zhang Quan and gone into hiding to avoid trouble for the hall.
• Zhang Yan and Fan Sheng urged Li Dashan to find Deng Qing before danger caught up with him, and Li Dashan said he believed Deng Qing had not gone far.

Deng Qing fled to Cloudwater County but Li Dashan found him through the Wasteland Blood in his body, and the two reconciled before returning to Celebration Hall. With the Battle of Liangshan approaching, Deng Qing went to the Martial Market to spend his remaining money on resources that might help him survive.

• Deng Qing recognized Li Dashan in Cloudwater County, met him at a tea stall, and explained why he had fled Everjoy County.
• Deng Qing confessed that he had sold Zhang Quan fake jade, returned the silver notes, and offered Li Dashan the genuine Black Jade, which Li identified as a Wasteland Bone and agreed to trade for two Martial Origin Pills later.
• Li Dashan scolded Deng Qing for running away without seeking help, then took him back to Celebration Hall, where Zhang Yan and Fan Sheng welcomed him home.
• Deng Qing shared a meal and wine with Zhang Yan and Fan Sheng, and they discussed the dangers of the coming Battle of Liangshan.
• Deng Qing accompanied Fan Sheng and other Celebration Hall disciples to the Martial Market at the foot of Yanping Mountain to buy resources for the operation.

Deng Qing visited the Martial Market, reunited with Li Cheng, and chose not to reveal Zhang Quan’s past schemes to preserve his friendship with Li Cheng. When Zhang Quan later offered to make peace, Deng Qing disclosed that the disputed treasure was Wasteland Bone, and Zhang Quan concealed his fury while deciding not to retaliate because of Li Dashan’s protection.

• Deng Qing toured the Martial Market, greeted Fan Sheng, and respected Song Que’s silent request not to approach him in front of Golden Saber Sect disciples.
• Deng Qing met Li Cheng and Zhang Quan, learned that the Prefecture Examination’s remaining assessments would take place in Liangshan, and decided not to expose Zhang Quan to Li Cheng.
• Li Cheng left with Zhang Quan and a guard after arranging to meet Deng Qing for a drink after the combat Retest.
• Zhang Quan privately apologized to Deng Qing and offered eight hundred taels of silver as an apology; Deng Qing told him the treasure was Wasteland Bone.
• Zhang Quan privately cursed the lost opportunity but refused Cao Bao’s suggestion to kill Deng Qing, judging retaliation too risky with Li Dashan involved.

Deng Qing avoided confronting Zhang Quan and went looking for supplies at the Martial Market, where he recognized the White-Clad Woman and decided to approach her. He offered to serve as her Sword Examiner in the future, and she tested his cultivation, confirming that he had reached the Skin Tempering Fourth Layer.

• Zhang Quan admitted to Cao Bao that Deng Qing had reached the Skin Tempering Fourth Layer and decided they could not safely move against him.
• Deng Qing chose to postpone dealing with Zhang Quan and searched the Martial Market for equipment, learning that Mongqi Hide required skilled treatment to make effective masks.
• Deng Qing saw the White-Clad Woman, bought ingredients for iced fruit tea and an oiled-paper umbrella, and hurried after her.
• Deng Qing greeted the White-Clad Woman and told her he had reached the Skin Tempering Fourth Layer and would serve as her Sword Examiner after advancing further in Sword Dao.
• The White-Clad Woman seized Deng Qing's arm and sent inner energy through his body to test him, then confirmed that his cultivation progress was not slow.

Deng Qing sought the White-Clad Woman’s guidance before leaving for Liangshan, offering his future favor and demonstrating his swordsmanship to earn her help. She judged his talent exceptional but warned that defensive purchases would not save him from a Bone-Forging opponent, then advised him to strengthen himself quickly and pursue a Martial Origin Pill to reach Aperture Condensation.

• Deng Qing offered the White-Clad Woman Peach and Plum Spring Breeze and asked her to advise him about the dangers awaiting him at Liangshan.
• The White-Clad Woman agreed to consider helping if Deng Qing proved his talent, so he demonstrated the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude and revealed a hint of Sword Intent.
• Impressed by Deng Qing’s cultivation and swordsmanship, the White-Clad Woman agreed to hear about his circumstances and plans.
• Deng Qing explained that he had over seven hundred taels of silver, planned to spend it on defensive resources, and feared an enemy at the Bone-Forging First Layer.
• The White-Clad Woman warned that defensive purchases would only delay his death against a Bone-Forging opponent and advised him to increase his strength and obtain a Martial Origin Pill to achieve Aperture Condensation.
• Deng Qing asked how he could raise his strength quickly.

Deng Qing bought thirty Blood-Burning Pills to strengthen his Qi-Blood and prepare for the Liangshan campaign, then asked Li Dashan for a Bone-Forging Realm technique. Li Dashan warned that the pills could trigger the Wasteland Blood in Deng Qing’s body, but Deng Qing claimed his Violet Palace Method was powerful enough to control the danger.

• The White-Clad Woman advised Deng Qing to use heavy medicine to widen his meridians and build strength before heading to Liangshan, warning that he would need a Martial Origin Pill within a month to avoid lasting damage.
• Deng Qing consulted Elder Hua, then bought twenty-nine Blood-Burning Pills to add to the one he already had and returned to Celebration Hall with Fan Sheng and the other disciples.
• Deng Qing gave Chef Zhao silver for tea, then went to report to Li Dashan, who said the second battle of Liangshan would begin within five days.
• Deng Qing asked Li Dashan for a Bone-Forging Realm technique after explaining his plan to take Blood-Burning Pills, and Li Dashan revealed that Wasteland Blood in Deng Qing’s body could erupt alongside the pills’ effects and crush his meridians and flesh.
• Deng Qing said his Violet Palace Method could refine twenty catties of meat in one meal, startling Li Dashan, who doubted the method could have such power.

Li Cheng visited Deng Qing to discuss the upcoming Liangshan test and mediate the dispute with Zhang Bo, while Deng Qing secretly resolved to settle matters with Zhang Quan himself. Later, Li Dashan began teaching Deng Qing the Pure Jade Method, and Deng Qing successfully controlled the dangerous Qi-Blood Storm; as he refined Wasteland Blood, a strange flash appeared before his eyes.

• Deng Qing convinced Li Dashan that his progress with the Violet Palace Method came from diligent cultivation, and Li Dashan invited him to a test in the Cultivation Room.
• Li Cheng visited Deng Qing, explained the conflict over the new Desolate Soil entrance at Liangshan, and asked him to accept Zhang Bo's apology.
• Deng Qing agreed to Li Cheng's request but privately maintained his intention to settle his score with Zhang Quan.
• Li Dashan taught Deng Qing the Pure Jade Method and had him swallow a Blood-Burning Pill to begin refining the Wasteland Blood in his body.
• Deng Qing used the Violet Palace Method to control the Qi-Blood Storm, then resumed the Pure Jade Method and began absorbing the Wasteland Blood's power.
• Deng Qing saw Clear Radiance flash before his eyes twice and wondered whether his panel was breaking.

Deng Qing’s panel stabilized after his dangerous cultivation, revealing progress for his realm and a method labeled the Devour Heaven Scripture. As Li Dashan explained how Martial Origin Pills could strengthen a breakthrough, Deng Qing asked him to teach him another cultivation method.

• Deng Qing saw his panel display Skin Tempering Fourth Layer at 98% and the Devour Heaven Scripture at 1%, then watched the realm progress fall to 13% as the Blood-Burning Pill’s effects faded.
• Deng Qing concluded the panel tracked his temporarily elevated Qi-Blood and realized its realm progress bar could help him measure his cultivation.
• Deng Qing asked Li Dashan whether a Martial Origin Pill was required to reach Bone-Forging, and Li Dashan explained that one pill was enough for most martial artists but more could yield greater benefits during the breakthrough.
• Li Dashan said Deng Qing’s strong internal cultivation and widened meridians might let him endure six or seven Martial Origin Pills, though the limit varied by person and required the pills to be used during the breakthrough.
• Li Dashan explained that Martial Origin Pills were difficult to preserve and tied to meritorious service, then Deng Qing thanked him and requested another cultivation method.