Chapter Summaries

After fleeing an attack, Zhou Changqing sought shelter at the Mittel Auction House and met Ya Fei, who discovered his injured elbow. The chapter ended with Ya Fei demanding to know what had happened to him.

• Zhou Changqing escaped his pursuers by using Thunderclap Flash and hurried to the Mittel Auction House for safety.
• A guard recognized Zhou Changqing and arranged for a maid to escort him to a second-floor waiting room.
• Zhou Changqing examined his bruised elbow and reflected that, despite reaching Nine-Star Dou Zhe, he was still outmatched by a Dou Shi.
• Ya Fei arrived, greeted Zhou Changqing, and discussed the goods he had brought and his request for a place to stay.
• Ya Fei noticed Zhou Changqing guarding his left arm, rolled up his sleeve, and saw his bleeding bruise.
• Ya Fei asked Zhou Changqing what had happened and told him not to claim he had simply fallen.

Ya Fei sheltered the injured Zhou Changqing at the Mittel Auction House and secretly investigated his street fight. After learning he had killed a Dou Shi despite being a fifteen-year-old high-rank Dou Zhe, she publicly warned the city’s factions not to harm him.

• Zhou Changqing told Ya Fei he had been injured in a fight and asked to stay at the auction house, and she arranged a place for him.
• Ya Fei ordered a manager to investigate the day’s events and check whether Zhou Changqing had been involved.
• News spread through Wutan City that a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old high-rank Dou Zhe had killed a powerful Dou Shi with a treasure weapon.
• Ya Fei read the investigation report, learned Zhou Changqing was the prodigy behind the story, and marveled at his strength.
• Ya Fei ordered the Mittel Auction House to warn the city’s factions that harming Zhou Changqing would make them enemies of the auction house.

Che'erluo abandoned his plan to seize Zhou Changqing’s weapon-making craft and focused on finding a way to kill him without provoking the Mittel Auction House. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan neared Seventh-Stage Dou Qi, and Xiao Zhan came to tell him news about Zhou Changqing.

• Che'erluo learned that the Mittel Auction House had declared Zhou Changqing its honored guest and ordered his subordinates to withdraw.
• Che'erluo decided to avoid a direct conflict with Mittel while seeking a way to eliminate Zhou Changqing, whom he feared would soon surpass him.
• Xiao Yan absorbed the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and asked his teacher how long it would take to reach Seventh-Stage Dou Qi.
• The old man estimated that Xiao Yan would need about two more months and warned him that Zhou Changqing was more talented than he was.
• Xiao Zhan visited Xiao Yan late at night and asked whether he remembered his friend Zhou Changqing.

Xiao Zhan told Xiao Yan that Old Zhou had become famous in Wutan City after killing a Five-Star Dou Master who tried to capture him. Xiao Yan was shocked by his friend’s rapid cultivation and strength, but remained determined to prove himself at the coming-of-age ceremony.

• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Zhan what had happened to Old Zhou, and Xiao Zhan assured him that Old Zhou was safe and famous throughout Wutan City.
• Xiao Zhan explained that Old Zhou had forged the Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapons, drawing the attention of powerful factions that spent a month investigating him.
• A Five-Star Dou Master tried to capture Old Zhou, but Old Zhou killed him in the street despite being only a High-Rank Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Yan was stunned that Old Zhou had advanced so quickly since receiving a cultivation technique from him, then felt both stung by the comparison and happy for his friend.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Zhan he would surprise him at the coming-of-age ceremony, then asked his teacher whether Old Zhou was the genius whose talent surpassed his; the teacher teased him instead of answering.

After recovering at the Mittel Auction House, Zhou Changqing thanked Ya Fei for protecting him and promised to forge her a weapon better than a Treasure Weapon. He returned to his courtyard, where the remaining watchers seemed to be there to protect him, and Xiao Zhan’s reasons for the Xiao Clan’s support were revealed.

• Zhou Changqing finished cultivating and found that his elbow injury had nearly healed.
• Ya Fei brought Zhou Changqing breakfast, and he thanked her for helping protect him in Wutan City.
• Zhou Changqing promised to forge Ya Fei a Magic Core Weapon once he succeeded in developing them.
• Zhou Changqing decided to leave the Mittel Auction House and return to his courtyard to work on new weapons.
• Zhou Changqing found that the watchers around his courtyard now seemed to be protecting him, while the narration explained that Xiao Zhan had arranged the Xiao Clan’s public support to build goodwill with him.

Zhou Changqing used his new forging method to produce a higher-quality Iron-Cleaving Horizontal Saber while improving his Dou Qi control, cultivation, and soul perception. Xiao Yan visited and learned that Zhou Changqing had reached the peak of Nine-Star Dou Zhe after becoming a Dou Zhe at age nine, shocking both him and Yao Lao.

• Zhou Changqing forged an Iron-Cleaving Horizontal Saber by alternating metal and lightning attribute Dou Qi, using the heated iron blank to improve the weapon's quality.
• Zhou Changqing reflected that the risky method strengthened his control over Dou Qi, cultivation, and soul perception while doubling his weapon production and income.
• Xiao Yan visited Zhou Changqing and questioned his rapid rise to High-Rank Dou Zhe.
• Zhou Changqing corrected Xiao Yan, explaining that he had reached the peak of Nine-Star Dou Zhe and become a Dou Zhe at age nine.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were stunned by Zhou Changqing's exceptional talent.

Zhou Changqing broke through to the Dou Shi realm and formed a golden Dou Qi Veil, then focused on studying Magic Core Weapon Refining to prepare for his conflict with Che'erluo. Nearly half a month later, he was forging an iron blank flecked with dark gold.

• Xiao Yan left after visiting Zhou Changqing, who returned to cultivation.
• Zhou Changqing absorbed Heaven and Earth energy and liquefied his Dou Qi vortex, reaching the Dou Shi realm.
• Zhou Changqing formed a golden Dou Qi Veil and resolved to kill Che'erluo, whom Ya Fei had identified as the enemy behind the attack on him.
• Zhou Changqing took a Magic Core Weapon Refining Manual from his Storage Ring and studied it to improve his strength against Che'erluo.
• Nearly half a month later, Zhou Changqing hammered a red-hot iron blank marked with dark-gold flecks in his courtyard.

Zhou Changqing completed and tested the first Magic Core Heavy Sword, then recorded how he had made it. He left the weapon-refining method as a workable but imperfect process that he hoped to improve after reaching Da Dou Shi.

• Zhou Changqing fitted the sword core into its heavy-gold casing and locked the two parts together by hammering them at the guard.
• Zhou Changqing embedded gold and silver magic cores in the guard and fed Dou Qi into the golden core, activating the sword’s formation patterns.
• Zhou Changqing swung the sword and sent a golden crescent of energy into the sky, cutting a passing bird in two and confirming the weapon worked.
• Zhou Changqing celebrated the birth of his first true Magic Core Weapon and wrote down his crafting experience.
• Zhou Changqing explained that the weapon used a jade-steel core, a heavy-gold casing, and magic cores as its power source, while noting that his method remained imperfect until he could reach Da Dou Shi.

Xiao Yan invited Zhou Changqing to the Xiao Clan’s coming-of-age ceremony, where Zhou met Xiao Xun'er. Zhou’s teasing about Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er being sweethearts left both of them blushing as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

• Xiao Yan invited Zhou Changqing to the Xiao Clan’s coming-of-age ceremony, and Zhou agreed to attend.
• Xiao Yan brought Zhou Changqing to the Xiao Clan grounds, where guests gathered around the testing platform before the ceremony.
• Xiao Yan introduced Zhou Changqing to Xiao Xun'er, and the two greeted each other as friends.
• Zhou Changqing teased Xiao Yan that Xiao Xun'er was his sweetheart, and Xiao Yan protested that he only saw her as a little sister.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er blushed and fell silent, stealing glances at each other while Zhou Changqing watched.

Zhou Changqing saw Xiao Yu return from Jia Nan Academy and reflected on why his circumstances and lack of connections had kept him from joining the academy or another faction. The chapter ended as Xiao Zhan approached, while an author’s note asked readers to vote on whether Yun Yun should be a female lead.

• Xiao Xun'er spotted Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yan and Zhou Changqing looked over at her.
• Zhou Changqing recognized Xiao Yu's Jia Nan Academy uniform and recalled why he had never been able to join the academy or a powerful faction.
• Xiao Yan called Zhou Changqing back to the present and told him his father had arrived.
• Zhou Changqing saw Xiao Zhan approaching with several others.
• The author asked readers to comment whether they wanted Yun Yun included as a female lead.

Zhou Changqing attended Xiao Yan’s coming-of-age ceremony with Ya Fei, where Xiao Yan stunned the crowd by revealing eighth-stage Dou Qi. Ya Fei teased Zhou Changqing about his own hidden talent as Xiao Yan began a fight with Xiao Ning.

• Xiao Zhan introduced Ya Fei and Zhou Changqing, who greeted each other as old acquaintances and joined the distinguished guest seats.
• Zhou Changqing told Ya Fei he had finished making the item he had promised her and proposed discussing its auction after the ceremony.
• Xiao Yan’s ceremony test revealed that he had reached the eighth stage of Dou Qi, shocking the crowd.
• Ya Fei envied Xiao Yan’s talent and suggested Zhou Changqing was even more talented than he let on.
• Xiao Yan began fighting Xiao Ning, who had taken Qi-Enhancing Powder, and beat him viciously.

Zhou Changqing showed Ya Fei his new Magic Core Armament, whose inner armor and Flexible Sword granted extraordinary defensive and offensive abilities. After the Mittel Auction House auctioned the armaments, news of their power swept through Wutan City and drew a crowd of factions and mercenaries.

• Zhou Changqing gave Ya Fei a Magic Core inner armor and Flexible Sword to test at the Mittel Auction House.
• Ya Fei channeled Dou Qi into the inner armor, which formed a defensive film comparable to a seven-star Dou Shi's Dou Qi Veil.
• Zhou Changqing explained the armament's capabilities and limitations, and Ya Fei tested the Flexible Sword's sharpness, controllable flexibility, and ranged Sword Qi.
• Zhou Changqing offered to forge Magic Core Weapons for Mittel at a thirty-percent discount and asked Ya Fei to auction three more pieces alongside the Treasure Weapons.
• Several days later, the Mittel Auction House auctioned Magic Core Armament, and reports of its power spread through Wutan City.
• Mercenaries and powerful factions, including the Three Great Families, converged on the Mittel Auction House, which became surrounded by a massive crowd.

Xiao Zhan asked Zhou Changqing to help the Xiao Clan compete with the Jia Lie Family's popular rejuvenation powder, and Zhou Changqing proposed a broader partnership supplying affordable Treasure Weapons and Magic Core Armaments. The Xiao Family Market's new stock drew Mercenaries and forces from across Wutan City, while the Xiao Clan regained customers.

• Xiao Zhan told Zhou Changqing that the Jia Lie Family's rejuvenation powder had cost the Xiao Clan more than half its marketplace customers.
• Xiao Zhan asked Zhou Changqing to supply ten Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapons, offering to pay above the highest auction price.
• Zhou Changqing offered to provide the Xiao Clan with large quantities of cheaper Subordinate Treasure Weapons and two Magic Core Armaments.
• Xiao Zhan accepted the partnership, and Zhou Changqing said he would have ten Subordinate Treasure Weapons ready in three days.
• The Xiao Family Market began selling Treasure Weapons, drawing Mercenaries away from the Jia Lie Family Marketplace.
• The Xiao Family Market announced Magic Core Armaments for sale, prompting nearly every force in Wutan City to send buyers.

Jia Lie Bi plotted with Che'erluo and other factions to kill Zhou Changqing and seize his treasure-weapon craftsmanship. Days later, masked attackers surrounded Zhou Changqing’s courtyard, and he charged at their weakest leader with his heavy sword.

• Jia Lie Bi learned that the Xiao Clan’s cheap iron-cleaving treasure weapons had drawn customers away from the Jia Lie Family marketplace.
• Jia Lie Bi decided to join forces with the Ao Ba Family, Che'erluo, and other factions to eliminate Zhou Changqing and acquire his weapon-making craft.
• Several days later, Zhou Changqing sensed that his courtyard was surrounded and prepared to face the attackers rather than flee.
• Six masked leaders and more than a dozen other black-clad men rushed into the courtyard after Zhou Changqing revealed that he had spotted them.
• Zhou Changqing summoned his heavy sword and attacked the weakest black-clad leader with Forcefully Cleave Mount Hua.

Zhou Changqing used his magic core heavy sword and powerful inner armor to overwhelm the black-clad attackers who had come to capture him. He killed several of their leaders, while the remaining men continued fighting him.

• Zhou Changqing cleaved the black-clad leader in two with his heavy sword, shocking the attackers.
• A veteran leader warned the men not to clash with Zhou Changqing head-on, but another leader offered rewards for capturing or killing him and led the charge.
• Zhou Changqing formed a pale golden Dou Qi Veil and blocked the black-clad leaders’ attacks, slicing through several of their treasure weapons.
• Steward Xun kicked Zhou Changqing’s waist, but Zhou Changqing’s armor stopped the blow and his counterattack severed Steward Xun’s leg.
• Two attackers struck Zhou Changqing’s inner armor with broken weapons, but it held; Zhou Changqing then cut down one of them with a sweep of his heavy sword.

Zhou Changqing defeated the black-clad force sent to capture him, but an unseen attacker struck him from behind just as he approached a wounded leader. He was hurled through the courtyard wall, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Zhou Changqing used his Heavy Sword and Magic Core Weapon to kill several black-clad men and drive the remaining Dou Zhe into flight.
• The one-armed Eight-Star Dou Shi, Manager Pu, threw another leader at Zhou Changqing and tried to escape, but Zhou Changqing killed him.
• Zhou Changqing reflected that the attackers may have been sent by Che'erluo and considered asking Sister Ya Fei to handle the aftermath.
• As Zhou Changqing approached a wounded black-clad leader, an unseen attacker struck his back, sending him through the courtyard wall.

Zhou Changqing survived a masked Da Dou Shi’s sneak attack when Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni arrived in time to drive the attacker away. They prepared to take Zhou Changqing to safety, but he revealed that he had kept one of the attackers alive to question him about who ordered the ambush.

• A masked Da Dou Shi prepared to finish off Zhou Changqing with a powerful Dou Technique, but Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni intervened with their attacks.
• Gu Ni struck the masked man with the Flame Glimmer Seal, and the wounded attacker fled before Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni could catch him.
• Gu Ni gave Zhou Changqing a pill that stabilized his injuries, and offered to take him back to Mittel for protection.
• Zhou Changqing agreed to leave with Gu Ni but said he had spared one attacker for questioning.
• Zhou Changqing led Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni to the surviving black-clad Dou Shi, whose legs he had severed before knocking him unconscious.

After being brought to the Mittel auction house, Zhou Changqing recovered from his injuries and examined the third-tier Magic Core Inner Armor that had saved him from a masked Da Dou Shi’s attack. The story left him blushing in a bath while Ya Fei teased him and insisted on washing him.

• Ya Fei rushed to Zhou Changqing at the auction house and helped him to a guest room while Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni went inside.
• After Ya Fei left to prepare hot water, Zhou Changqing circulated his Dou Qi to improve his injuries.
• Zhou Changqing removed his cracked third-tier Magic Core Inner Armor and recalled how it had shielded him from most of the masked Da Dou Shi’s attack.
• Ya Fei returned with servants carrying hot water, then sent them away and teased Zhou Changqing as he prepared to bathe.
• Ya Fei persuaded Zhou Changqing to let her wash him, leaving him flustered in the tub as he protested.

Gu Ni revealed that the Jia Lie Family, the Ao Ba Family, Che'erluo, and more than a dozen other Wutan City factions had tried to kill Zhou Changqing over the Treasure Weapon business. Ya Fei offered to bring powerful Mittel Family reinforcements, but Zhou Changqing refused and said he had a plan to retaliate with a grand gift.

• Gu Ni told Zhou Changqing, Ya Fei, and Xiao Zhan that the Jia Lie Family had led an attack involving the Ao Ba Family, Che'erluo, and more than a dozen other factions.
• Zhou Changqing explained that Treasure Weapons could not be forged merely by obtaining the method, and Xiao Zhan apologized for the trouble Zhou had suffered through their business partnership.
• Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni offered to fight alongside Zhou Changqing, but he warned that the Xiao Clan could not defeat so many factions alone without suffering heavy losses.
• Ya Fei offered to fetch one Dou Ling and ten Da Dou Shi from the Mittel Family to wipe out the hostile factions, but Zhou Changqing refused to let her take that risk.
• Zhou Changqing declared that he would not let the attack go unanswered and promised to send the Jia Lie Family and the other factions a grand gift.

Zhou Changqing said goodbye to Ya Fei and Xiao Yan as he prepared to leave Wutan City for his own plans. Before departing, he asked Xiao Yan to find the whereabouts of Jia Lie Ao, Aoba Le, and Qieqie'er Xu so he could target their sons in revenge.

• Zhou Changqing gave Ya Fei Magic Core Armaments and told her he was leaving Wutan City, while she reluctantly accepted his decision and asked him to visit her in the Imperial Capital someday.
• After Zhou Changqing left, Gu Ni teased Ya Fei about her reluctance, and she said the Mittel Family would not risk offending the Mu Family for his sake.
• Zhou Changqing visited Xiao Yan, explained that the Jia Lie Family and other factions had attacked him, and refused Xiao Yan's offer to have the Xiao Clan retaliate.
• Zhou Changqing told Xiao Yan he was leaving and asked him to find Jia Lie Ao, Aoba Le, and Qieqie'er Xu.
• Zhou Changqing said he planned to target their sons because he could not reach them, and Xiao Yan called him ruthless.