Recaps

Zhao Er killed Cao Jun after recognizing that the wine he had drunk was poisoned, then discovered an apparent theft underway in the Third Squad’s area. When a powerful Martial Artist attacked him, Zhao Er countered with the Sky-Rending Halberd.

• Zhao Er noticed Cao Jun’s lateness but continued cultivating and drank the wine and ate the venison delivered for his watch.
• Cao Jun arrived without food or wine, and Zhao Er detected a smell of decay that revealed a poison trigger in his body; they clashed as Cao Jun attempted an ambush.
• Zhao Er’s toxins incapacitated Cao Jun, and Zhao Er beheaded him with a short halberd, then found a porcelain bottle on his corpse.
• Zhao Er realized Cao Jun’s plan involved the poisoned wine and likely had accomplices, so he headed toward the Logistics Office instead of sounding the mine’s alarm.
• Zhao Er spotted Martial Academy Students carrying goods from the Third Squad’s iron storehouse, and their commander attacked him with a saber.
• Zhao Er activated the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art and channeled his inner force into his twin halberds, unleashing the Sky-Rending Halberd.

Zhao Er defeated Senior Brother Gao by using the Earth-Vein Miasma Mother Toxin to slow his Inner Force, then ordered the mine students to watch the miners and hurried toward the Logistics Office. There, he found Jiang Zhi and another fighter surrounded by apparent Martial Academy allies, and climbed to a bell platform to decide what to do.

• Zhao Er used the Earth-Vein Miasma Mother Toxin to slow Senior Brother Gao's Inner Force, then killed him with his twin halberds.
• Zhao Er learned that Senior Brother Sun had left the mine and ordered the Martial Academy Students to guard the miners while he went to the Logistics Office.
• Zhao Er followed the sound of explosions and found Jiang Zhi and another person fighting five attackers near the partially collapsed Logistics Office.
• Zhao Er hid rather than choosing a side, then climbed a nearby platform where he found a dead guard beneath a large bronze bell.

Zhao Er rang the Logistics Office bell, interrupted the theft of spirit ore, and killed a fleeing Martial Guard with a powerful aerial strike. Commander Xiang Zhou captured the remaining suspects and ordered the mine sealed for an investigation, while Zhao Er returned to his quarters to check his rewards.

• Zhao Er rang the bronze bell, drawing the attention of the looters, who abandoned Jiang Zhi and Luo Sheng to seize spirit ore and flee.
• Zhao Er combined his Golden Body and Five-Element Inner Force in a diving attack that killed a Martial Guard carrying a sack of spirit ore.
• Jiang Zhi and Luo Sheng recognized Zhao Er's strength, explained that the bell had summoned nearby squads, and introduced Luo Sheng as captain of the Fifth Squad.
• Commander Xiang Zhou flew across the Mountain Range and stopped the fleeing suspects as other squads gathered at the Logistics Office.
• Xiang Zhou returned with captured suspects and ordered everyone at the mine to remain in their quarters for questioning by the Inspection Lineage.
• Jiang Zhi escorted Zhao Er back to his quarters, where Zhao Er opened the Settlement Panel to review the incident's rewards.

After receiving a major settlement for his battles, Zhao Er resisted Han Zhong’s coercive interrogation and recounted the incident while concealing his use of poison. Xiang Zhou made him captain of the Third Squad and awarded him spirit ore, and Jiang Zhi hinted that the mine’s official account concealed the commanders’ involvement.

• Zhao Er received substantial experience and skill-point rewards, replenished his strength, and continued cultivating through the night.
• Han Zhong tried to question Zhao Er with a Truth-Inducing Pill and the Soul-Bewildering Method, but Zhao Er refused and invoked his teacher Lu Zhi; after Jiang Zhi intervened, Zhao Er recounted the night while hiding his use of poison.
• Xiang Zhou told the squad captains that the mine had lost spirit ore and iron, then appointed Zhao Er captain of the vacant Third Squad and awarded him one hundred jin of unrecorded spirit ore.
• Jiang Zhi explained that the Third Squad captain had planned to steal spirit ore with outside allies, then hinted that the commanders’ presence at the Logistics Office and the official account were not as coincidental or complete as they seemed.

After learning why Cao Jun had targeted him, Zhao Er took charge of Third Squad and prepared to rebuild its depleted ranks while cultivating. Meanwhile, He Yan paid a senior fellow disciple for help securing a Southern Mountain Mine student post and agreed to gamble most of his remaining money on the opportunity.

• Jiang Zhi explained that Cao Jun's group had targeted Zhao Er as a convenient scapegoat, and Zhao Er accepted the danger as part of the world’s rules.
• Jiang Zhi described the benefits of captaining Third Squad, including control over part of its hundred-forged fine iron quota, and promised guards for the mining area.
• Zhao Er took charge of Third Squad, kept production running with help from First Squad's Martial Guards, and waited for new personnel while resuming cultivation.
• He Yan brought wine and Primordial Unity Realm Qi-Blood Pills to a senior fellow disciple, then asked for help leaving his horse-watching assignment.
• The senior fellow disciple offered to recommend He Yan for a Southern Mountain Mine student slot costing fifteen hundred taels, and He Yan agreed to raise the money.

He Yan arrived at the Southern Mountain Mine and discovered that Zhao Er had become captain of the Third Squad, while Zhao Er established his authority and considered how to obtain suitable weapons. Zhao Er then met an elderly woman carrying the Dian Family Matriarch’s jade Martial token, who hinted at the matriarch’s continued involvement.

• He Yan’s senior brother helped secure his transfer, and He Yan joined the group traveling to the Southern Mountain Mine.
• Zhao Er appeared as captain of the Third Squad, accepted the deacons’ silver, refused Ning Jin’s personal bribe, and assigned him responsibility for the duty roster.
• Junior Brother Zhang told the newcomers that Zhao Er had killed three former Third Squad guards in four moves, including two at primordial unity mid-stage and one at great accomplishment of primordial unity.
• Zhao Er weighed whether to use his spirit ore for cultivation or weapons, then decided to seek more ore and have a pair of halberds forged.
• Commander Xiang Zhou summoned Zhao Er, who found an elderly woman carrying a jade-colored Martial token and learned it had belonged to the Dian Family Matriarch.

The Dian Family matriarch’s attendant gave Zhao Er a pair of spirit Twin Halberds that greatly enhanced his attacks, and he continued cultivating while overseeing Third Squad’s mine. A sudden off-campus mission ordered him to reach Nameless Town that evening, so he prepared and rode out, passing the Ghost Market without time to visit it.

• The Dian Family attendant gave Zhao Er her late husband’s heavy spirit Twin Halberds, and he used them to unleash a Rift-Splitting attack.
• Zhao Er cultivated at the mine, managed Third Squad’s duties, and perfected his Light Swallow Art while carrying the heavy halberds.
• A messenger delivered orders for Zhao Er to report to Nameless Town during the hour of the Dog, without revealing the mission details.
• Zhao Er checked the mine, asked Captain Jiang to oversee Third Squad, and bought healing pills at the Exchange Office.
• Zhao Er rode out of the Martial Academy after speaking with Jing Wei, recognizing that the Ghost Market was open but having no time to browse.

Zhao Er arrived at the Nameless Town Black Market for his first Off-Campus Mission and met Han Zhong of the Inspection Lineage. After learning they were to investigate Great Year Mountain, Zhao Er balked at the month-long plan and said he had his own ways of gathering intelligence.

• Sun Yuanying, Qian Hao, and He Yan waited in a restaurant for Li Baili and Lü Yi, then traded stories and goods with the Clear Source Sect disciples when they arrived.
• Zhao Er entered the bustling Nameless Town Black Market and went to Treasure Pavilion to meet his mission contact.
• Han Zhong revealed his identity to Zhao Er and explained that their mission was connected to the mine rebellion and the dead Third Squad captain.
• Han Zhong said the investigation led to Great Year Mountain, where five Primordial Unity Realm rogue Martial Artists operated, and explained that the two of them would infiltrate the group.
• Zhao Er questioned the plan to spend up to a month investigating and told Han Zhong he had his own methods of gathering intelligence.

Zhao Er and Han Zhong traveled from the Black Market toward Great Year Mountain, where their mission was to infiltrate the bandits’ stronghold. After Zhao Er killed Lü Yi and two other martial artists on the road, they reached the village below the mountain and Han Zhong sent a mouse to signal their contacts.

• Han Zhong and Zhao Er left the Black Market at night and passed several fights on the way toward the Clear Source Sect.
• Zhao Er recognized Lü Yi fighting two martial artists, then rushed in and killed Lü Yi and both attackers before sharing some of the spoils with Han Zhong.
• Zhao Er and Han Zhong rode through the next day and reached the village at the foot of Great Year Mountain.
• Han Zhong explained that the village watched for strangers and that Great Year Mountain’s five Primordial Unity martial artists could escape into the range using the Tai Sui Variant Beast’s black mist.
• Han Zhong released a mouse carrying a scent signal toward the mountain so their contacts could help them infiltrate and investigate the stronghold.

Zhao Er learned that Great Year Mountain had eight Primordial Unity Realm martial artists, then rejected Han Zhong’s cautious plan and launched a frontal assault. He overwhelmed the three newly advanced martial artists guarding the foot of the mountain, while messengers warned the five chiefs at the summit that the fight might soon turn against them.

• Han Zhong received intelligence that three new Primordial Unity Realm martial artists had joined Great Year Mountain’s five chiefs, and Zhao Er said he was willing to attack directly.
• Zhao Er asked Han Zhong whether Great Year Mountain’s chief held the intelligence they wanted, then charged the stronghold the next morning and smashed its gate.
• Zhao Er claimed that Great Year Mountain had abducted his sister and attacked the three instructors guarding the foot of the mountain.
• Zhao Er cut down the surrounding martial artists, disabled Instructor Zhang with his twin halberds, and held the other two instructors at bay with his golden armor and sharp weapons.
• Two messengers reached the summit and told the five chiefs that Zhao Er was fighting the instructors and might soon defeat them.

Zhao Er lured the chiefs of Great Year Mountain into a coordinated attack, then used toxin hidden in his armor to cripple four of them and sever the head chief’s legs. Though badly injured himself, he began absorbing the dispersed poison as the surviving chiefs lay incapacitated.

• The head chief was persuaded by Second and Third to descend the mountain with them, while Han Zhong stayed behind in disguise and waited for events to unfold.
• Zhao Er overwhelmed the saber-wielding instructor until the head chief and the other chiefs arrived and launched a coordinated attack from three directions.
• Zhao Er abandoned his attack on the instructor and met the head chief’s iron whip with his twin halberds, while four other chiefs struck his body and shattered his armor.
• The four chiefs who attacked Zhao Er collapsed in agony after the Gold-Devouring Toxin and the Tranquilizing Giant Bee’s toxin entered their wounds.
• Zhao Er revealed that he had released the toxins when the five men struck him, severed the head chief’s legs with his halberds, and began absorbing the dispersed poison despite his injuries.

Zhao Er killed Great Year Mountain’s martial artists and gained enough strength to discover that Advanced Skill Points enabled a second fusion of previously fused skills. After Han Zhong gathered the spoils and gave Zhao Er an intelligence report, Zhao Er prepared to return to the Martial Academy.

• Zhao Er extracted toxins from one attacker, then killed the remaining Great Year Mountain fighters, leaving only half of the chief alive.
• Zhao Er received settlement energy that healed his injuries and strengthened his cultivation, then discovered an Advanced Skill Point could be used for a second skill fusion.
• Zhao Er pretended to be badly injured when Han Zhong arrived, accepted Han Zhong’s healing pill, and let him and his subordinate collect the supplies.
• Zhao Er agreed to let Han Zhong manage the spoils, took the chief’s spirit weapon, and gave Han Zhong and his subordinate thirty percent as payment.
• Han Zhong gave Zhao Er an intelligence report to take back to the Martial Academy.

After returning from a lucrative off-campus mission, Zhao Er rested at the Martial Academy and told Tan Shuo he had already reached the Primordial Unity Realm. Academy Head Lu Zhi summoned Zhao Er the next morning, praised his mission report, and invited him to ask questions about cultivation.

• Han Zhong told his subordinate to cooperate with Zhao Er in future missions and treat him like a deacon.
• Zhao Er returned to the Martial Academy on foot after his horse struggled beneath the weight of his weapons, then submitted his mission report.
• Zhao Er met Tan Shuo, who revealed that his Primordial Unity breakthrough had failed, and disclosed that he had already reached the realm himself.
• Tan Shuo, encouraged by Zhao Er's progress, left to pursue more work instead of continuing to hesitate over joining an off-campus mission.
• An envoy summoned Zhao Er to Academy Head Lu Zhi, who praised his performance and invited him to ask about anything he was uncertain about.

After Zhao Er’s success at Great Year Mountain, Lu Zhi rewarded him with the Criminal Law Lineage’s Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art and answered his questions about cultivation. Zhao Er asked for a way to strengthen his inner force, and Lu Zhi began considering what could address his needs.

• Lu Zhi praised Zhao Er for completing the Great Year Mountain mission and explained that the Inspection Lineage’s Formless Art improved disguises at the cost of combat strength.
• Lu Zhi revealed that the Criminal Law Lineage’s signature art was the Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art, then gave Zhao Er its manual as a reward for supplying Tranquilizing Giant Bee Venom and obtaining important intelligence.
• Zhao Er offered to help treat Lu Zhi’s injured junior brother, but Lu Zhi refused because the evil-path method that injured him was too dangerous for Zhao Er’s current realm.
• Zhao Er described his cultivation background and asked Lu Zhi for a method to strengthen his inner force, and Lu Zhi began thinking over the request.

Lu Zhi taught Zhao Er about the Five-Element Primordial Unity Art and advised him to exchange for it, then directed him to Wu Xing for help selling his spirit weapon and suggested ways to travel. At the Scripture Repository, He Qin verified Zhao Er’s ample merit points and sent Qian Hao to fetch the manual, while Qian Hao struggled to process Zhao Er’s rise in status.

• Lu Zhi recommended the Five-Element Primordial Unity Art to Zhao Er, who accepted the advice and asked him about selling his spirit weapon and finding a way to travel.
• Lu Zhi told Zhao Er to consult Wu Xing about finding a buyer and suggested checking the Exchange Office or Beast Taming Lineage for a dragonblood horse.
• Zhao Er went to the Scripture Repository to exchange for the Five-Element Primordial Unity Art and ran into Qian Hao and He Qin.
• He Qin learned that Zhao Er was captain of the Third Squad at the Southern Mountain Mine and had seized a spirit weapon by killing an enemy on an Off-Campus Mission.
• He Qin checked Zhao Er’s token, confirmed he had enough merit points, and sent Qian Hao to fetch the manual; Qian Hao noticed she had addressed Zhao Er as Senior Brother Zhao.

Zhao Er returned to the Southern Mountain Mine with two manuals and began learning them, initiating a fusion of the Five-Element Primordial Unity Art and the Five-Element Origin-Returning Poison Art. He also learned the red-grade Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art, whose cultivation began affecting his eyes as black inner force flowed toward them.

• Qian Hao recognized Zhao Er at the Scripture Pavilion, while He Qin asked Zhao Er for two spirit ore purchase quotas and explained that the mine's shares were scarce.
• Zhao Er left the Scripture Pavilion and returned to the Southern Mountain Mine, where guards greeted him and reported that all was normal.
• Zhao Er read the Five-Element Primordial Unity Art and spent one Advanced Skill Point to begin fusing it with the Five-Element Origin-Returning Poison Art over thirty days.
• Zhao Er studied the Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art and discovered that it was red grade, with a starting proficiency requirement of 500.
• A faint strand of black inner force flowed from Zhao Er's kidneys, through his five viscera, and toward his eyes.

Zhao Er tested the Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art and discovered it let him see clearly in the dark. He inspected the Third Squad’s mine, recruited He Yan as a trusted informant, and resumed cultivation, where the Settlement Panel recorded gains in three arts.

• Zhao Er cultivated the Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art and found that it sharpened his vision, especially when he focused Inner Force on a particular spot.
• Zhao Er toured the Third Squad’s mining area and heard from Ning Jin that the mine had remained peaceful while he was away.
• Zhao Er gave He Yan Qi-Blood Pills and learned that Senior Brother Song had been replaced on duty by Ning Jin after a single day.
• Zhao Er asked He Yan to report any trouble and arranged for the Wan Family Martial Arts School to escort shipments of hundred-forged fine iron in exchange for a share of the sales.
• Zhao Er returned to his quarters and cultivated until the next day, gaining experience in the Five-Element Origin-Returning Poison Art, Nine-Turn Golden Body Art, and Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art.

While waiting at the mine, Zhao Er advanced his cultivation and discovered that Little White Marten had broken through to Primordial Unity and could produce a potent, controllable poison. Han Zhong then brought him the accounts and proceeds from the Great Year Mountain spoils, leaving Zhao Er with a substantial share of the silver.

• Zhao Er checked the mining ledger, found the Third Squad had caught up on its quota, and spent the next seven days cultivating while waiting for Wu Xing and his payment.
• Little White Marten emerged from Zhao Er’s clothes, demonstrated his increased speed and black poisonous mist, and Zhao Er caught him and absorbed a strand of the mist.
• Zhao Er used the Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art to read Little White Marten’s movements and learned that his controllable poison was more potent than Blackwater Strange Serpent toxin.
• Zhao Er reviewed his Settlement Panel, noted his progress and exhausted Qi-Gathering Pills, and decided it was time to return to the Martial Academy.
• Han Zhong arrived with the ledger and silver from Great Year Mountain, reporting a total haul of 134,600 taels and delivering the remaining 132,000 taels to Zhao Er.

After learning that Steward Wu Xing had broken through to the Meridian Opening Realm, Zhao Er congratulated him and asked him to sell an iron whip Spirit Weapon in exchange for Qi-Gathering Pills. Wu Xing agreed to help and explained the academy stewards’ rankings, while the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall investigated Zhao Er and reconsidered its plans.

• Han Zhong told Zhao Er that his mission haul was unusually valuable, and Zhao Er divided 132,000 taels of silver notes with him as agreed.
• Han Zhong reported that Wu Xing had broken through, so Zhao Er went to the Martial Academy and congratulated him.
• Zhao Er asked Wu Xing to find a buyer for his iron whip Spirit Weapon and exchange part of its value for Qi-Gathering Pills.
• Wu Xing agreed to split the payment between silver and pills and allocated Zhao Er forty percent of the Criminal Law Lineage’s Qi-Gathering Pills for two months.
• Wu Xing described the academy’s Ten Great Stewards, while members of the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall identified Zhao Er as the newcomer carrying A-Da’s iron whip and decided to wait for word from the Clear Source Sect.

After completing his Off-Campus Mission, Zhao Er went to the Exchange Office to spend his rewards on pills and poisons. He redeemed Qi-Gathering Pills and a poison reference book, whose descriptions of toxins cultivated through true qi left him eager but unable to use them yet.

• Zhao Er reflected on Wu Xing's warning that the Ten Great Stewards possessed powerful inner force attributes and kept their specific abilities secret.
• Zhao Er visited the Exchange Office and met Sun Yuanying, who told a student that Tortoiseshell Stone Grass had recently risen in price.
• Zhao Er asked Sun Yuanying to check his Qi-Gathering Pill allocation and bring him information about redeemable poisons, and she discovered his merit balance had six digits.
• Sun Yuanying brought Zhao Er two bottles of Qi-Gathering Pills and a book about poisons connected to the Clear Radiance Mountains, which he bought for five thousand merit.
• Zhao Er found descriptions of Reincarnation True Qi and Essence-Eroding True Qi, but realized that both toxins required martial artists to cultivate true qi.

Zhao Er spent his resources on cultivation supplies and visited the Beast Taming Lineage to ask about identification tags and a Dragonblood Horse. Steward Li Qi showed him an untamed adult Dragonblood Horse, and Zhao Er unexpectedly absorbed a trace of toxin from her.

• Zhao Er decided to spend his silver on a higher-grade halberd art, a lightness skill, and a mount, then collected the Qi-Gathering Pills he had redeemed.
• Sun Yuanying watched Zhao Er leave the Exchange Office and resolved to seek off-campus missions so she could gather resources and advance.
• Zhao Er reached the Beast Taming Lineage and asked about beast identification tags and the Dragonblood Horse his teacher, Lu Zhi, had mentioned.
• Steward Li Qi appeared, recognized Zhao Er, and led him to an untamed adult Dragonblood Horse in a valley.
• Zhao Er sensed and absorbed a wisp of toxin from Li Qi, and they both turned to each other in surprise.

Zhao Er visited Beast Taming Lineage steward Li Qi and showed that he could absorb the venom of her Fire-Element Heavenly Dragon centipede. After Li Qi explained the unruly Dragonblood Horse’s qualities and price, Zhao Er tried to tame it and took its fiery stomp head-on before appearing on its back.

• Li Qi’s scarlet centipede released venom, which Zhao Er drew from her hand and absorbed while identifying its properties.
• Li Qi recognized Zhao Er’s unusual ability and introduced the untamed Dragonblood Horse, explaining its strength, endurance, and high upkeep.
• Zhao Er agreed to Li Qi’s conditions and approached the Dragonblood Horse, intending to tame it.
• The Dragonblood Horse reared and struck Zhao Er with a fiery stomp, but he took the attack in his golden body and assessed its strength.
• Zhao Er flashed onto the Dragonblood Horse’s back while its red flames and his golden defense remained locked in a stalemate.

Zhao Er tamed a Dragonblood Horse and rode it back to Southern Mountain Mine, making his strength known throughout the Martial Academy. Academy Head Lu Zhi then visited his ailing junior brother, whose pain the Tranquilizing Honey only eased, and told him Zhao Er had taken the horse.

• Zhao Er endured the Dragonblood Horse’s attempts to throw him off and bite him until it accepted Qi-Blood Pills and followed him.
• Zhao Er paid for the horse’s tack and Identity Token, then rode the Dragonblood Horse back to Southern Mountain Mine.
• The other squad captains admired the horse, and word of Zhao Er’s feat spread through the Martial Academy, encouraging new disciples to take on off-campus missions.
• Lu Zhi heard Criminal Law Lineage disciples discussing Zhao Er and reflected that the new steward rankings would be decided in a month.
• Lu Zhi visited his emaciated junior brother, who said Tranquilizing Honey eased his pain but could not counter the reincarnation true astral force in his body.
• Lu Zhi told his junior brother that his disciple Zhao Er had ridden the Dragonblood Horse away.

Lu Zhi visited his poisoned junior brother and discussed the slim chance that Zhao Er could eventually cure him, while the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall planned to cut ties with its exposed allies. Zhao Er’s family received his latest letter and Zhao Da prepared to travel to see him; at the mine, Zhao Er was then summoned by Steward Wu Xing for an off-campus mission.

• Lu Zhi told his junior brother that Zhao Er might be able to draw out the poison once he reached the Meridian Opening Realm, but warned that a year’s wait might be too long.
• The Tyrant Blade Martial Hall’s Hall Master ordered his people to sever ties with Yao'er and secretly send a letter to his youngest son in the Clear Source Sect.
• Zhang Xuan'e and Zhao Dazhu read Zhao Er’s letter, and Zhao Da agreed to travel with the Wan Family Martial Arts School to bring back his allotment of hundred-forged fine iron and visit his brother.
• Zhao Er absorbed black mist from the Little White Marten and rewarded it with poisonous spirit grass.
• A messenger arrived and told Zhao Er that Steward Wu Xing had invited him to join an off-campus mission.

Zhao Er joined Wu Xing and Wu Yao on a mission to destroy the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall, and volunteered to handle its fighters below the meridian opening realm. The academy’s group reached the hall and began its attack, leaving Zhao Er to direct the remaining fighters.

• Wu Xing told Zhao Er that the academy planned to destroy the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall because it had ties to attacks on the academy’s mines and plantations.
• Zhao Er learned that Wu Yao, a former member of the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall and the academy’s foremost Steward, would lead the mission, and joined the group waiting outside Ningjin Prefecture.
• Wu Yao ordered the group to kill everyone in the hall, assigning himself and Wu Xing to fight its two meridian opening realm martial artists.
• Zhao Er volunteered to deal with the hall’s other fighters, and Wu Yao approved before leading the group toward the hall.
• Wu Yao and Wu Xing charged into the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall, and a Martial Guard asked Zhao Er for orders.