Recaps

Zhao Er withdrew from the Grand Exam, traveled to the Martial Academy, and joined the Criminal Law Lineage as a guard at the Southern Mountain Mine. There he gathered toxins, broke through to the Primordial Unity Realm, and completed the Golden Body, while a crisis in the Clear Radiance Mountains loomed.

• Zhao Er won his matches in the Hidden Dragon Tournament, then accepted the Four Great Factions’ payment to withdraw from the Grand Exam and secure admission to the Martial Academy.
• After arranging a residence for his family, Zhao Er crossed the Clear Radiance Mountains and arrived in the Academy city, where Lu Zhi accepted him as a disciple.
• Zhao Er studied the Five Elements Refining Truth Method, acquired Earth-Vein Miasma Mother and Gold-Eater Toxin, and joined the Southern Mountain Mine’s guard squad.
• Zhao Er killed several Gold-Devouring Beasts at the mine and used five-element poisons to break through to the Primordial Unity Realm.
• Lu Zhi rewarded Zhao Er with a Black Mist Lotus, while Wu Xing warned him that a crisis in the Clear Radiance Mountains threatened Ningjin Prefecture.
• Zhao Er continued cultivating at the mine, killed another Gold-Devouring Beast, and used fine-gold energy to complete the Golden Body, raising both martial arts to level five.

Zhao Er rose to captain of the Third Squad, completed a dangerous investigation at Great Year Mountain, and strengthened his skills, resources, and equipment. The stretch ends with him joining Wu Xing and Wu Yao in an attack on the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall.

• Zhao Er uncovered Cao Jun’s plot to steal mine supplies, killed the attackers he encountered, and was appointed captain of the Third Squad.
• Zhao Er and Han Zhong infiltrated Great Year Mountain, where Zhao Er defeated its chiefs and returned with intelligence and a spirit weapon.
• Lu Zhi rewarded Zhao Er with the Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art and advised him to cultivate the Five-Element Primordial Unity Art.
• Zhao Er fused his poison and cultivation arts, improved the Third Squad’s operations, and received his share of the Great Year Mountain spoils from Han Zhong.
• Zhao Er arranged to sell his spirit weapon, acquired Qi-Gathering Pills and poison records, and tamed a Dragonblood Horse.
• Lu Zhi told his injured junior brother that Zhao Er might eventually draw out the reincarnation true astral force, while Zhao Er continued cultivating and received Wu Xing’s mission summons.
• Wu Xing explained that the academy planned to destroy the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall, and Zhao Er joined the force led by Wu Yao.
• Wu Yao and Wu Xing charged into the hall while Zhao Er volunteered to handle its other fighters.

Zhao Er became the Eighth Steward and joined an expedition to Myriad Scenery Prefecture after the Gu Cult’s puppets and rebellion came to light. There, he discovered the cult was cultivating gu worms by draining captives and attacked the guarded compound where it was happening.

• Zhao Er helped Wu Xing and Wu Yao destroy the Tyrant Blade Martial Hall, then used his battle rewards to strengthen his cultivation and refine his control over toxins.
• Zhao Er accepted an off-campus mission to investigate highway bandits near Three Harmonies County, where he and Wu Yao fought a powerful swordsman controlled by a Gu Worm until Lu Zhi captured the Gu Cult leader.
• Zhao Er fused the Myriad Poisons Tempering Body Art with the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art, then defeated Yuan Mi in one move and became the Martial Academy’s Eighth Steward.
• Zhao Er learned that the captured woman was Hua Man and volunteered for a mission to Myriad Scenery Prefecture, where disciples and attendants had rebelled.
• Zhao Er traveled to Myriad Scenery Prefecture with Li Qi’s expedition, then separated from the group to hunt gu worm puppets and pursue a breakthrough.
• Zhao Er found the Gu Cult using Heaven-Piercing Pills on captives and gray gu worms to drain martial artists, then charged the guarded compound and met attacks from its fighters.