Chapter Summaries

Key events

• Zhao Er’s cultivation breakthrough completes: five-element inner force forms in his organs, and its circulating vitality repairs old injuries and strengthens his entire body. He reaches the Primordial Unity Realm.
• He understands how the Five-Element Origin-Returning Poison Art differs from his previous method. It draws in five-element toxins without requiring him to swallow them, stores and refines them in his organs, and can absorb toxins from his surroundings—including during combat.
• The breakthrough removes the toxic residue that had made Zhao Er’s entire body dangerous to others. At the same time, his inner force retains and strengthens the effects of his five signature poisons, while his cultivation methods allow him to refine stronger toxins and continually regenerate their effects.
• His strength rises dramatically, and his poison resistance advances to level three. After discovering that two days have passed, Zhao Er takes Primordial Unity-grade Qi-Blood Pills and begins cultivating the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art to improve his defenses.
• A disciple summons him to the Criminal Law Branch’s main hall for the academy head’s monthly guidance session. Zhao Er realizes his old twin halberds feel too light and will eventually need spirit-ore weapons.
• At the assembly, Deacon Wu Xing explains that the Martial Academy rewards strength with status and resources, earned through advancement, challenging deacons, or killing enemies for merit. Academy Head Lu Zhi then appears to begin the session.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er gains a major realm and power increase, along with a more practical, less hazardous way to cultivate poison. Though focused on martial progress, he is relieved that his former inability to safely be close to others is resolved. He remains disciplined, continuing to cultivate before leaving and even taking a pill on the way.
• Wu Xing presents the academy’s competitive hierarchy and encourages the newcomers to rise through its ranks; several respond with visible excitement.
• Zhao Er and the messenger exchange a brief summons, while Zhao Er checks in with his captain, Jiang Zhi, before heading to the academy.
• White Marten, sleeping through the cold, is carried along by Zhao Er. The chapter ends with Zhao Er straightening his clothes as Academy Head Lu Zhi arrives.

Significant themes

• Cultivation as transformation: Zhao Er’s breakthrough improves both his body and his technique, not merely his realm.
• Strength through adaptation: A method once dependent on swallowing poison evolves to exploit environmental toxins and reinforce his combat abilities.
• Power and social standing: The academy openly ties rank, resources, and respect to strength and merit.
• Control replacing danger: Zhao Er’s power remains poisonous, but he can now contain and harness it without endangering those around him.

Key plot points and events

• Academy Head Lu Zhi opens the new disciples’ first lecture by naming seven underperforming senior disciples and reassigning them, demonstrating the Discipline Law Branch’s strict standards.
• He teaches the fundamentals of cultivation, emphasizing how a solid early foundation supports the transition to Primordial Unity and how inner force and its later use determine strength.
• After the lecture, Lu Zhi summons steward Wu Xing and newcomer Zhao Er to his cultivation chamber.
• Lu tells Wu Xing that the Criminal Law Lineage needs a Meridian Opening Realm steward. He gives Wu Xing Earth Element Essence and a Vein-Protecting Pill to support his breakthrough, offers to guard him during it, and promises him the lineage’s full allocation of Meridian Opening Pills if he succeeds.
• Lu then reveals that he expected Zhao Er to reach Great Accomplishment of Sinew Transformation and attempt his breakthrough after the lecture—but Zhao Er has already reached Primordial Unity on his own.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Zhi establishes himself as a formidable, exacting leader who combines discipline with practical support for promising disciples. His attention to Zhao Er suggests he is closely monitoring the newcomer’s progress.
• Zhao Er remains calm under scrutiny and dismisses the other disciples’ curiosity, believing strength will eventually silence gossip. His remarkably rapid breakthrough astonishes both Lu Zhi and Wu Xing.
• Wu Xing shows concern for Zhao Er, warning him to be cautious at the profit-driven Southern Mountain Mine and inviting him to his courtyard. At the same time, he receives substantial support for his own risky breakthrough and is stunned by Zhao Er’s progress.
• The dismissed disciples’ reassignment reinforces that poor performance has consequences, while still allowing capable cultivators opportunities elsewhere.

Significant themes

• Strength, discipline, and merit: Status and resources in the academy depend on performance and the ability to prove oneself.
• The risks of cultivation: Breakthroughs can cause injury, death, or lasting damage, making preparation and protection essential.
• Mentorship and advancement: Lu Zhi invests resources in Wu Xing and appears to be taking a special interest in Zhao Er.
• Exceptional talent and rivalry: Zhao Er’s unusually fast progress sets him apart and is likely to reshape how others view him.

Plot points and events

• Zhao Er reveals that he has already broken through to the Primordial Unity Realm, surprising both Lu Zhi and Wu Xing. Lu Zhi had prepared a breakthrough pill for Wu Xing and intended a similar gift for Zhao Er, but gives Zhao Er a different reward instead.
• The reward is a fifteen-year-old Black Mist Lotus, whose poisonous mist can help variant beasts purify their essence blood and evolve. Zhao Er absorbs the mist without harm, then lets the awakened white marten eat the lotus. Lu Zhi believes it may help the marten reach Primordial Unity.
• Lu Zhi praises Zhao Er’s earlier gift of Tranquilizing Giant Bee poison, which has benefited academy disciples. Zhao Er credits Wu Xing with providing the information that led him to it, sharing the recognition. Lu Zhi promises further academy rewards and says Wu Xing can arrange for more poison if needed.
• Zhao Er and Wu Xing leave Lu Zhi’s residence. Disciples greet Wu Xing as steward and Zhao Er as a senior brother; the senior disciples regard the new powerhouse warily and resolve to train harder.
• At Wu Xing’s courtyard, he gives Zhao Er two bottles of Qi-Gathering Pills and explains that Zhao may need to undertake his first off-campus mission alone because Wu Xing expects to attempt his own breakthrough.
• Wu Xing outlines the academy’s structure and duties: cultivation, missions, suppressing sects, protecting Ningjin Prefecture, and eliminating evil-path martial artists. He identifies the Clear Source Sect as the sect the academy is meant to suppress, but says the subject cannot yet be discussed in detail. Zhao Er asks instead about the Ten Great Stewards.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er remains modest about his breakthrough, accepts gifts readily, and shows consideration by sharing credit with Wu Xing. He also intends to keep the marten’s existence concealed, treating it as a potential hidden asset.
• Lu Zhi moves from being impressed partly by Zhao Er’s reputation to genuinely appreciating his talent, judgment, disposition, and potential. His rare smile at the marten reveals a softer side.
• Wu Xing is surprised by Zhao Er’s rapid progress but acts supportively, offering pills, guidance, and a future mission opportunity. Zhao Er’s gesture of sharing credit earns his goodwill.
• The white marten shows intelligence and trust in Zhao Er, eagerly eating the Lotus while remaining alert to Lu Zhi and Wu Xing.

Significant themes

• Talent and unexpected advancement: Zhao Er’s effortless breakthrough exceeds even his teacher’s expectations.
• Mentorship and mutual support: Lu Zhi rewards Zhao Er, while Zhao Er and Wu Xing strengthen their relationship through gifts, guidance, and shared credit.
• Companionship and loyalty: Lu Zhi recognizes the value of having a companion on the arduous Martial Path.
• Power, responsibility, and rivalry: Zhao Er’s status raises expectations for him and motivates other disciples to improve.
• Secrets and institutional politics: The academy’s conflict with the Clear Source Sect is hinted at but deliberately kept hidden.

Key plot points and events

• Wu Xing explains that academy disciples serve a five-year term. Most are then assigned to local posts, while the strongest—those who become the Ten Great Stewards—receive the best opportunities: managing academy resources, training as successors, taking powerful prefectural posts, or joining the Capital Martial Academy.
• He warns Zhao Er that Ningjin Prefecture’s relative peace is unusual. The Clear Radiance Mountains conceal a grave threat, and conditions elsewhere are likely more turbulent. Wu Xing, nearing a breakthrough, prepares to enter seclusion.
• Zhao Er meets Tan Shuo, who plans to return to his lineage and attempt a breakthrough to Primordial Unity using protective pills. Zhao Er keeps his own recent breakthrough quiet and encourages Tan Shuo.
• After clearing the traces of toxins from his room, Zhao Er returns to the Southern Mountain Mine, eager to cultivate amid its fine-gold energy. He takes one of Wu Xing’s Qi-Gathering Pills and cultivates the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art and Five-Element Origin-Returning Poison Art.
• The pill greatly accelerates his cultivation. With the Settlement Panel effectively doubling the pill’s benefit again, Zhao Er estimates his progress is nearly four times his usual rate. He wants more pills, but has little money left, so he prioritizes reaching the Golden Body stage—the fourth layer of his art—and goes to begin his guard shift.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er gains a clearer sense of the academy’s hierarchy and realizes that becoming a steward could open a much wider future. He also recognizes that the academy’s peaceful setting may hide larger political and martial conflicts.
• Wu Xing acts as both mentor and realist: he shares the academy’s career structure, cautions Zhao Er against complacency, and prepares to pursue his own breakthrough.
• Tan Shuo remains friendly and considerate, inviting Zhao Er to a celebratory meal after his planned breakthrough. Zhao Er responds warmly but conceals that he has already reached Primordial Unity, avoiding needless boasting or disrupting Tan Shuo’s confidence.

Significant themes

• Ambition and advancement: Rank within the academy determines access to resources, authority, and future opportunities.
• Unequal opportunity and risk: Disciples make different choices based on their backgrounds and available resources, while breakthroughs demand careful preparation.
• Hidden instability: Ningjin’s peace is fragile, shaped by the threat in the Clear Radiance Mountains and the strained balance between major powers.
• Practical cultivation: Zhao Er weighs rapid progress against limited finances and focuses on the breakthrough most important to his combat strength.

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Er spends two days cultivating while on watch at the Third Squad’s mining area, preparing to improve his Nine-Turn Golden Body Art before his first Off-Campus Mission.
• When a Gold-Devouring Beast attacks a miner, Zhao Er kills it from the platform by throwing his short halberd. He rescues the miner, leaves the beast for the other students to handle, and delivers the newly uncovered spirit ore to the Logistics Office.
• Back on watch, Zhao Er draws pure fine-gold energy from his arms and attempts a Greater Celestial Circuit, using four powerful Qi-Blood Pills to supply the energy he needs.
• His control falters, but instead of an expected destructive surge, his body and the fine-gold energy begin resonating. The vibration purges impurities and strengthens his bones, muscles, fascia, skin, and vitality. His body changes from silver-white to pale gold.
• Zhao Er completes the Golden Body. He tests his newfound strength by pressing his bare hand through hard rock and crushing it to powder. His cultivation panel confirms both gold-quality arts have reached level five.

Character development

• Zhao Er demonstrates growing combat skill and confidence, dispatching the beast efficiently without leaving his post for long.
• His breakthrough reflects both determination and judgment: when unexpected changes begin, he observes them rather than panicking, but afterward recognizes the danger of attempting such a breakthrough somewhere unsafe.
• Completing the Golden Body eases his concern about surviving his coming Off-Campus Missions.

Character interactions

• Zhao Er protects a miner from the Gold-Devouring Beast and directs the students on duty to dispose of its remains.
• The little white marten is startled awake by Zhao Er’s bodily vibrations, briefly witnessing his transformation; otherwise, the breakthrough goes unnoticed.

Significant themes

• Strength through hardship: Zhao Er’s body is strengthened through a process of destruction, repair, and endurance.
• Risk and preparation: His breakthrough succeeds, but the loss of control reveals how vulnerable cultivation can make him.
• Growth and self-reliance: His new Golden Body marks a major advance toward facing future dangers on his own.

Plot points and events

• After reaching the Primordial Unity Realm, Zhao Er strengthens his Nine-Turn Golden Body Art and consolidates his new power while guarding the Southern Mountain Mine.
• Cao Jun fails to arrive at the end of his watch shift. Zhao Er stays on duty and eats the usual meal of Variant Beast meat and wine, noticing that the wine has a faint, unpleasant odor.
• During a snowy night, Cao Jun finally appears and pretends to apologize. A smell of decay alerts Zhao Er to danger just as Cao Jun draws his saber for a sneak attack.
• Zhao Er blocks Cao Jun’s strike and secretly poisons him with gold-eater toxin and Tranquilizing Giant Bee venom. Cao Jun collapses in agony, and Zhao Er kills him with a halberd.
• Zhao Er realizes Cao Jun’s scent was a trigger for a toxin already present in the wine, suggesting the attack was planned and involved others. He finds a porcelain bottle on Cao Jun but no further clues.
• Instead of raising the mine alarm, Zhao Er heads toward the Logistics Office. On the way, he discovers Third Squad students removing goods from a storehouse, apparently under orders from a powerful Primordial Unity Realm fighter.
• The man attacks Zhao Er with a dangerous saber strike. Zhao activates his golden defense, channels his inner force into his twin halberds, and begins a Sky-Rending Halberd counterattack.

Character developments

• Zhao Er demonstrates how much he has grown: his heightened senses detect the trap, and his defensive art, poison knowledge, and quick judgment let him defeat Cao Jun. He also becomes more decisive, pursuing the apparent conspiracy rather than seeking help.
• Cao Jun is revealed as a deliberate traitor who used the poisoned wine and a trigger scent to set up Zhao Er’s death. His confidence turns to shock when Zhao anticipates the attack.
• The unnamed Third Squad commander emerges as a second, more formidable threat, apparently connected to the theft at the storehouse.

Themes and interactions

• Deception and conspiracy: A routine meal and a friendly apology conceal a coordinated assassination attempt and possible theft.
• Preparedness and perception: Zhao Er survives because he notices subtle clues and acts before the trap can take effect.
• Escalating danger: Cao Jun’s attack appears to be only one part of a broader plot involving others at the mine.
• Zhao Er and Cao Jun’s brief, deceptive exchange becomes a sudden duel; afterward, Zhao’s investigation leads directly into a second confrontation.

Key plot points

• Zhao Er confronts a metal-aligned Primordial Unity Realm fighter allied with Cao Jun. Their opening exchanges show the opponent’s powerful saber radiance, while Zhao Er’s Golden Body withstands the attacks.
• Zhao Er wins by combining toxins: he openly uses conspicuous Gold-Devouring Toxin to make the opponent wary, while dust conceals Earth-Vein Miasma Mother Toxin. The latter briefly slows the man’s Inner Force at a crucial moment, letting Zhao Er sever his arm and chest, then finish him.
• The fight teaches Zhao Er that toxins need not kill outright to be useful; a small disruption can decide a battle.
• At the mine, Martial Academy students plead that they followed Senior Brother Gao’s orders to empty the fine-iron warehouse. They reveal that another senior, Sun, left half an hour earlier. Zhao Er orders them back to guard the miners and watch one another, then heads toward the Logistics Office, expecting the unrest to bring contribution points.
• Hearing fighting nearby, Zhao Er approaches cautiously. He finds the Logistics Office partly destroyed and sees five people attacking two others, with several dead Martial Guards nearby. One of the defenders is Jiang Zhi, captain of First Squad. Unsure who is loyal, Zhao Er withdraws to a high platform, where he finds another dead guard beneath a large bronze bell.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er shows growing tactical skill: he uses his toughness to withstand pressure, deliberately exploits his opponent’s fear of one toxin, and hides another in the dusty surroundings. He also remains cautious rather than rushing into an unclear fight.
• His opponent proves skilled and powerful, but overconfidence in his ability to avoid the visible toxin leaves him vulnerable to the concealed one.
• The mine students respond to Zhao Er’s authority with fear and blame their absent superior, Gao. Zhao Er does not accept their excuses at face value, instead ordering them to remain under scrutiny.
• Zhao Er recognizes Jiang Zhi but cannot yet tell whether Jiang or the attackers are on the traitorous side, leaving him to observe before choosing whom to help.

Significant themes

• Tactical adaptability: Preparation, deception, and environmental awareness can overcome a stronger or more experienced opponent.
• Small advantages decide battles: A toxin that merely delays an enemy’s response can be lethal when timed well.
• Uncertainty and mistrust: The mine’s conspiracy remains unresolved, and familiar uniforms and rank do not make anyone’s allegiance clear.
• Pragmatism and ambition: Zhao Er prioritizes containing the crisis while also recognizing its potential rewards in contribution points and cultivation resources.

Plot points and events

• Zhao Er rings the mine’s bronze alarm bell, alerting nearby squads to trouble at the Logistics Office. The intruders abandon their attack on Jiang Zhi and Luo Sheng to steal spirit ore and flee.
• Zhao Er launches a devastating aerial strike, killing a Martial Guard who tries to defend himself with a shield. The blow exhausts most of Zhao Er’s Five-Element Inner Force and destroys his halberd blades.
• Jiang Zhi and Luo Sheng explain that the bell summons help from across the area. They hold their position rather than chase the fleeing thieves, trusting reinforcements to arrive.
• Commander Xiang Zhou appears, flying through the sky in scarlet fire, and pursues the fugitives. His intervention quickly ends the remaining fights; two escaped guards are brought back as prisoners.
• Xiang orders the mine secured and everyone confined to their quarters pending an investigation by the Inspection Lineage. Zhao Er returns with Jiang Zhi and checks his Settlement Panel, eager to see his rewards for the battle.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er reveals far greater combat power than his official Sinew Transformation ranking suggests. His success shocks Jiang Zhi and Luo Sheng, but he recognizes his depleted strength and keeps his remaining trump cards concealed.
• Jiang Zhi, Zhao Er’s captain, and Luo Sheng, captain of the Fifth Squad, watch over Zhao Er and discuss his abilities, each showing interest in keeping him associated with their side. Jiang teases Luo over their rivalry.
• Commander Xiang Zhou demonstrates the power of a Meridian Opening Realm expert and takes firm control of the aftermath.
• Zhao Er accepts Jiang’s guidance to stay in his quarters and await questioning.

Significant themes

• Power and concealed ability: Zhao Er’s official rank understates his real strength, while he carefully avoids revealing everything he can do.
• Loyalty and self-interest: The thieves abandon their fight to loot and escape, while Jiang and Luo protect Zhao Er and maneuver over his affiliation.
• Order and accountability: The alarm brings the mine’s forces together, and Xiang’s lockdown and investigation establish that the incident will have consequences.

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Er’s post-battle settlement grants unusually large gains in cultivation experience, skill points, and a small increase in poison resistance. He immediately uses the energy to replenish himself and continue cultivating.
• An Inspection Lineage disciple, Han Zhong, arrives to question Zhao. Zhao refuses a Truth-Inducing Pill, citing his resistance to poison and strong will, and invokes his teacher, Academy Head Lu Zhi. Squad Captain Jiang Zhi interrupts to warn Han not to overstep.
• Zhao gives an account of the night’s events but conceals his own use of poison. He explains his defeat of Senior Brother Gao by claiming he used a secret art taught by Lu Zhi.
• Commander Xiang Zhou convenes the squad captains. He announces that the mine lost a quarter of its spirit ore and suffered other losses, though Zhao suspects this account is a cover-up.
• Xiang names Zhao the new captain of the vacant Third Squad, citing his vigilance, his defeat of three Primordial Unity martial artists, and his timely ringing of the bronze bell. Zhao also receives merit credit and one hundred jin of unrecorded spirit ore.
• After the meeting, Jiang takes Zhao aside and explains that the Third Squad captain conspired with outsiders to steal spirit ore. Jiang’s account leaves Zhao doubtful about how he and Fifth Squad captain Luo Sheng happened to be at the Logistics Office that night. Jiang hints that the spirit ore is hush money and advises Zhao not to ask further questions.

Character developments

• Zhao Er shows growing confidence and political awareness. He guards his secrets, recognizes attempts to manipulate him, and learns when to be assertive and when to stay quiet.
• Jiang Zhi acts as Zhao’s protector during the questioning and later offers guidance, but his evasiveness suggests he is entangled in the mine’s cover-up.
• Han Zhong initially approaches Zhao with coercive questioning methods, then backs down when Zhao invokes his powerful teacher and Jiang challenges him.
• Xiang Zhou rewards Zhao and accepts responsibility publicly, while the account of the mine’s losses appears designed to conceal what really happened.
• Luo Sheng and the other captains quickly welcome Zhao into their ranks, recognizing his new authority and influence.

Significant themes

• Power and institutional politics: Authority within the academy is contested, and even an investigation can become a display of influence.
• Secrecy and self-preservation: Zhao conceals his methods, while senior figures obscure the truth behind official reports.
• Rewards and complicity: Zhao’s promotion and unrecorded spirit ore may be both recognition and a payment to secure his silence.
• Pragmatism and trust: Zhao must judge carefully whom to trust and when asking questions could be dangerous.

Character interactions

• Zhao resists Han Zhong’s proposed interrogation, and Jiang intervenes on his behalf.
• Zhao and Han exchange a guarded account of the battle, with Zhao withholding crucial details.
• Xiang publicly honors Zhao’s achievements and appoints him captain; the other captains accept the decision and offer congratulations.
• Jiang guides Zhao afterward, explaining the conspiracy while implicitly warning him that the official story and the spirit-ore reward are connected.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Er questions why Cao Jun’s group targeted him. Jiang Zhi explains that the conspirators needed a scapegoat after an outsider infiltrated the mine, and Zhao Er was a convenient choice: he was new, had displaced someone from their position, and came from the County Town.
• Zhao Er accepts that his survival and new status came down to his own ability. After the purge of Third Squad, he is made its captain and becomes eligible for a share of the benefits.
• Jiang Zhi explains the captain’s privileges, especially the right to distribute part of the squad’s monthly hundred-forged fine iron allocation. Zhao Er sees this as a way to support and build up his lineage.
• Since Third Squad’s former members are dead or arrested, Zhao Er temporarily commands almost no guards. Jiang Zhi arranges for First Squad guards to cover the area while new personnel are awaited. Mining continues, and Zhao Er resumes cultivation.
• Meanwhile, He Yan visits a senior Martial Arts Hall Alliance member, bringing wine and gifting him three valuable Qi-Blood Pills to seek help changing his undesirable horse-watching assignment.
• The senior brother points him toward student openings at the lucrative Southern Mountain Mine. A slot costs at least 1,500 taels. Though this will consume most of the 1,800 taels raised by his martial arts hall and lineage, He Yan agrees to pursue it.

Character developments

• Zhao Er becomes more pragmatic and alert. He does not dwell on the attempt on his life, but resolves to be more watchful and focuses on turning his promotion into long-term advantage.
• Jiang Zhi acts as a helpful guide, offering practical explanations and arranging temporary guards. He also recognizes that the mine conspiracy is more complicated than the arrests suggest.
• He Yan has shed his former County Town arrogance and learns to navigate the Academy through favors and money. He is willing to risk nearly all his resources for a chance at a better post.
• He Yan’s senior brother is helpful but transactional: he accepts the gifts and offers a recommendation, while making clear that access to desirable positions has a price.

Significant themes

• Power and survival: In a harsh system, ability determines whether someone is prey or beneficiary.
• Corruption and patronage: Official opportunities may be governed by informal payments, connections, and competition.
• Opportunity as investment: Zhao Er and He Yan both view lucrative positions as ways to build future influence, though He Yan’s gamble carries substantial financial risk.
• Unresolved intrigue: The mine conspiracy appears broader than the captured Third Squad members, with unanswered questions about the outsider and the stolen spirit ore.

Character interactions

• Zhao Er and Jiang Zhi discuss the attempted ambush, the captain’s benefits, and the mine’s staffing; Jiang Zhi’s practical support helps Zhao Er settle into his new role.
• He Yan uses gifts and humility to secure his senior brother’s attention. The senior brother’s recommendation offers a possible path to the mine, but He Yan must pay heavily and act quickly.

Key plot points and events

• He Yan’s senior brother arranges his transfer to the Southern Mountain Mine through a deacon’s maid. He refuses He Yan’s last two Qi-Blood Pills, urging him instead to cultivate and remember him if He Yan succeeds.
• He Yan is sent to the mine with five martial guards and ten academy students. The group is cheerful about the mine’s prospects, easing his worries.
• Their new captain is Zhao Er, whom He Yan remembers as someone who abandoned the Dragon Ascension Tournament. Zhao’s unexpected rank leaves He Yan stunned.
• Senior guard Ning Jin offers Zhao a large payment on behalf of the deacons, then tries to give him a personal bribe. Zhao accepts the first but returns the second, effortlessly restraining Ning Jin when he persists. He assigns Ning Jin responsibility for the duty roster.
• After Zhao leaves, Zhang reveals that the Third Squad’s previous guards were executed and that Zhao killed three powerful opponents—two at mid-stage Primordial Unity and one at its great accomplishment—in four moves. The newcomers are shaken.
• Zhao considers whether to spend his newly acquired spirit ore on cultivation or weapons. He decides to seek enough additional ore to forge a pair of spirit-metal halberds, then plans to return briefly to the academy.
• Before he can leave, Commander Xiang summons him. An elderly woman with a jade “Dian” waist token is waiting. She says she carries the token for the Dian Family Matriarch, and Zhao realizes it signals high status. He asks whether she brings instructions from the matriarch.

Character developments and interactions

• He Yan moves from anxious anticipation to relief about the mine, then to astonishment at Zhao’s rise and ability. His earlier assumptions about Zhao are overturned.
• Zhao Er demonstrates strength, authority, and restraint: he refuses Ning Jin’s personal bribe, but gives him responsibility based on practical need. He remains focused on his own priorities—his squad, cultivation, and weapons.
• Ning Jin begins by testing and trying to ingratiate himself with Zhao; Zhao’s physical dominance makes him deferential. He is then entrusted with a practical administrative role.
• Zhang warns the newcomers against underestimating Zhao and explains the grim history of the squad.
• The elderly woman reveals her connection to the Dian Family Matriarch, raising questions about the matriarch’s power and Zhao’s broader obligations.

Significant themes

• Reputation versus reality: Zhao’s past decision to withdraw from the tournament led others to underestimate him, but his present rank and combat record contradict their assumptions.
• Power and authority: Zhao’s position is validated by demonstrated strength, while the jade token hints at a still higher level of influence.
• Pragmatism and ambition: He Yan weighs money and advancement; Zhao weighs the value of cultivation materials against the need for suitable weapons.
• Uncertainty and danger: The unexplained execution of the former Third Squad and the mysterious Golden-Winged Flood Tiger suggest larger threats beyond the newcomers’ immediate duties.

Key plot points and events

• After Zhao Er reaches the Primordial Unity Realm, a Dian Family elder visits on behalf of the Old Matriarch and gifts him a pair of heavy spirit halberds once used by her late husband. The weapons suit Zhao Er’s martial arts and metal-aspected energy, and their power lets him cut the air with a ranged strike before his technique has fully reached that level.
• With the halberds and nearby spirit ore, Zhao Er continues cultivating at the mine while overseeing Third Squad. The squad’s guards respect his authority, and he keeps up with inspections and records.
• Zhao Er perfects the Light Swallow Art, learning to move silently, land without leaving tracks in snow, and change direction in midair—even while carrying the nearly six-hundred-jin halberds.
• A messenger delivers urgent orders: Zhao Er must report to Nameless Town that evening for a confidential off-campus mission. He checks the mine, asks Captain Jiang to look in on Third Squad, buys healing pills, and rides out.
• At the city gate, Jing Wei assumes Zhao Er is heading to the Ghost Market, which is opening that night. Zhao Er lets the misunderstanding stand and continues toward Nameless Town, unable to browse the market because of his mission.

Character developments

• Zhao Er gains weapons suited to his strength and develops greater confidence in both combat and movement. He also continues balancing cultivation with his responsibilities as squad captain.
• The Dian Family elder shows personal sentiment toward her late husband’s weapons, but is relieved to see them in the hands of someone who can use them well.
• Third Squad remains orderly under Zhao Er, with its members showing respect rather than resistance.
• The White Marten remains asleep after eating a poisonous herb given by Zhao Er’s teacher.

Significant themes

• Aptitude rewarded with support: Zhao Er’s rapid breakthrough earns the Dian Family’s investment and trust.
• The bond between weapon and wielder: Spirit weapons gain value through compatibility and use, not merely their cost or pedigree.
• Duty alongside advancement: Zhao Er pursues cultivation while maintaining his responsibilities to the squad and mine.
• Progress amid uncertainty: His new abilities are immediately put in the context of an urgent mission whose details remain unknown.

Character interactions

• The Dian Family elder explains the halberds’ history and spirit-weapon properties, while Zhao Er responds with gratitude and enthusiasm.
• Zhao Er’s authority with Third Squad is reinforced by the guards’ respectful conduct; he also asks Captain Jiang to check on the squad before departing.
• The messenger gives Zhao Er sealed deployment orders without revealing the mission.
• Jing Wei casually advises Zhao Er on the route to the Ghost Market, unaware that Zhao Er is traveling there on assignment.

Plot points and events

• Zhao Er sets out on his first Off-Campus Mission, choosing to postpone exploring the Black Market until later.
• In Nameless Town, Sun Yuanying, Qian Hao, and He Yan wait for Li Baili and Lü Yi, their former peers from the Clear Source Sect. They discuss the advantages of academy life and mock Zhao Er for supposedly giving up his future when he surrendered his Dragon Ascension place.
• Li Baili and Lü Yi arrive, bringing manuals and weapons to trade. Their blood-marked goods and Lü Yi’s killing intent suggest the Clear Source Sect has been harsher on them than the others’ lives at the Martial Academy.
• After dark, Zhao Er enters the busy, Martial Artist-only marketplace and visits Treasure Pavilion to meet his mission contact. The contact reveals himself to be Han Zhong of the Inspection Lineage, whom Zhao Er previously encountered after the mine rebellion.
• Han Zhong explains that the rebellion’s mastermind—a former mine squad captain tied to Tyrant Blade Martial Hall—and an outsider both died when their Inner Force suddenly ran wild. The Inspection Lineage traced their connections to Great Year Mountain and wants to investigate whether the mountain’s bandits acted alone or were backed by another faction.
• Great Year Mountain has five Primordial Unity Realm fighters, including a leader at Great Accomplishment, and many followers. Han Zhong says only he and Zhao Er will go: they will disguise themselves as rogue Martial Artists and infiltrate the group, with Han Zhong investigating and Zhao Er providing support.
• Han Zhong expects the investigation to take ten days to a month. Zhao Er objects to the time commitment and says he has his own way of gathering information, but keeps his method to himself.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er is cautious and practical, assessing his surroundings and the mission’s risks. He is reluctant to sacrifice time needed for cultivation and other responsibilities, and does not simply accept Han Zhong’s plan.
• Han Zhong is experienced, composed, and focused on intelligence-gathering. His earlier awkward encounter with Zhao Er does not prevent him from working with him, and he lightly teases Zhao Er about why he was assigned.
• Qian Hao has become smug about his prospects and assumes Zhao Er is far behind. Sun Yuanying shares his outward amusement but remembers Zhao Er’s standing; He Yan knows the truth but stays silent, expecting Qian Hao would not believe him.
• Li Baili and Lü Yi’s weapons, manuals, and demeanor hint at the rough, dangerous competition within the Clear Source Sect.

Significant themes

• Appearances and mistaken assumptions: Qian Hao misjudges Zhao Er’s future, while the true circumstances of the rebellion’s deaths remain uncertain.
• Competition and opportunity: Academy and sect life offer access to resources and advancement, but demand merit, caution, and resilience.
• Risk versus efficiency: The mission pits Han Zhong’s slow infiltration strategy against Zhao Er’s preference for a faster, personal approach.
• Hidden alliances and suspicion: The investigation may implicate Great Year Mountain, martial factions, or even the Clear Source Sect, leaving the larger conspiracy unresolved.

Plot points and events

• Zhao Er and Han Zhong leave the Black Market at night to travel to Great Year Mountain. Han Zhong explains that the Treasure Pavilion is owned by their Martial Academy, but Zhao Er prefers to leave quickly rather than stay alert in the dangerous market.
• On the way, they pass numerous fights. The road toward the Clear Source Sect is especially lawless, reflecting its harsh system of tradable contribution points and limited oversight.
• Zhao Er recognizes the saber style of a masked fighter being attacked by two others. The fighter uses the Mad Wind Swift Saber, then breaks through with the Tiger’s Roar Thirteen Slashes, confirming that he is Lü Yi, formerly of the Red Tiger Gang.
• Zhao Er kills Lü Yi and the two other Sinew Transformation fighters before they can react. The system grants him only minimal experience for killing opponents below his realm. He searches the bodies, keeps the spoils, and gives Han Zhong a share of Qi-Blood Pills.
• After traveling through the night and then riding hard through the day, they reach a village at the foot of Great Year Mountain. Han Zhong explains that it serves as a lookout for the mountain’s bandits and that a local Tai Sui Variant Beast’s vision-obscuring black mist helps the bandits escape.
• The pair plan to infiltrate Great Year Mountain using the Inspection Lineage’s scouting contacts. Han Zhong releases a trained mouse carrying a scent signal to summon an associate.

Character developments and interactions

• Han Zhong treats Zhao Er increasingly as a partner rather than a subordinate, and Zhao Er’s speed and stamina reassure him that Zhao will be a capable ally.
• Zhao Er remains pragmatic and eager to return to cultivation. He intervenes in Lü Yi’s fight not out of compassion, but to eliminate a possible future threat linked to the Red Tiger Gang.
• Zhao Er and Han Zhong cooperate smoothly: Han Zhong accepts Zhao’s share of the loot without probing his motives, and they continue toward the mission together.

Significant themes

• Survival and opportunism: The Black Market and Clear Source Sect’s environs reward vigilance and ruthlessness.
• Power and hierarchy: Zhao Er easily overcomes lower-realm fighters, while the experience system offers little reward for doing so.
• Trust and teamwork: Han Zhong’s growing confidence in Zhao and their uncomplicated sharing of spoils strengthen their partnership.
• Planning over force: Great Year Mountain’s lookout system and escape route make infiltration and intelligence-gathering preferable to a direct assault.

Plot points and events

• Han Zhong and Zhao Er wait for a messenger from the Martial Academy’s Inspection Lineage. The messenger uses a Disguise Technique, prompting Zhao Er to wonder how widespread the skill is and whether disguises make people difficult to trust.
• The messenger reports that Great Year Mountain now has eight Primordial Unity martial artists: its five chiefs and three recent arrivals. The newcomers are practitioners of the costly Ginseng Spirit and Lingzhi Arts, suggesting a powerful faction is backing the stronghold.
• Han Zhong worries that eight opponents make his original plan—gradually gathering intelligence and exploiting an opening—dangerous. Zhao Er instead proposes a direct assault, asking whether Han Zhong is willing to join him.
• The next morning, Zhao Er smashes through the stronghold’s gate, claiming he has come to recover his abducted sister. He cuts down attackers on his way toward three newly advanced Primordial Unity instructors.
• Zhao Er disables one instructor with a single blow, then holds off the other two. His twin halberds can destroy their weapons, while his dark-golden body armor or defense prevents their attacks from injuring him.
• Two messengers race to the summit to alert the five chiefs. They report that Zhao Er is overwhelming the instructors, setting up the chiefs’ response.

Character development

• Zhao Er proves far more confident and formidable than Han Zhong’s cautious plan assumes. He is willing to risk a frontal assault and trusts his weapons, poison arts, and exceptional defense against stronger opponents.
• Han Zhong is cautious and concerned about both the odds and the potential cost of calling in reinforcements. Zhao Er’s confidence gives him a possible alternative, though the chapter leaves his decision to follow Zhao Er’s plan unresolved.
• The three new instructors begin self-assured, letting a subordinate challenge Zhao Er, but quickly recognize the threat and are forced onto the defensive.

Character interactions

• Han Zhong explains the Spirit-Sensing Rat and exchanges intelligence with the disguised messenger.
• Zhao Er hears the report but dismisses the added danger of three inexperienced Primordial Unity fighters, challenging Han Zhong to trust his approach.
• At the stronghold, Zhao Er’s claim about his sister draws questions from the defenders, but he attacks before the confrontation can become a discussion.
• The instructors fight Zhao Er together, while other stronghold members flee to warn the chiefs.

Significant themes

• Information and uncertainty: Disguises and incomplete intelligence complicate trust and planning.
• Risk versus reward: Han Zhong weighs safety against the enormous merit potentially gained from uncovering the faction behind the stronghold.
• Resource inequality and exploitation: The specialist practitioners’ advancement depends on vast resources and the sacrifice of many less successful trainees.
• Power revealed through action: Zhao Er’s direct assault overturns the defenders’ assumptions about his strength.

Plot points and events

• After hearing that Zhao Er’s twin halberds had cut through fine-iron weapons and that his armor could withstand powerful attacks, Great Year Mountain’s chiefs suspect the equipment may be Spirit Weapons and spirit armor. Though the head chief worries the report could be a trap, he and Second and Third descend to attack together.
• Han Zhong and his companion—disguised as the messengers—remain behind. They have delivered Zhao Er’s deliberately enticing report as part of his risky plan, hoping to draw the chiefs into the fight.
• Below, Zhao Er dominates the saber-wielding instructor, while two other Primordial Unity fighters lie gravely wounded. The chiefs watch until Zhao Er presses his advantage, then spring their trap: all five chiefs attack him simultaneously from three directions.
• Zhao Er’s halberds lock against the head chief’s iron whip, and the other four weapons strike his body. His clothing and seemingly precious armor shatter, and the chiefs assume he has been mortally wounded.
• As the four attackers prepare to strike again, poison takes effect. Their weapons fall, and they collapse in agony. The head chief discovers his inner force has weakened, so his whip cannot penetrate Zhao Er’s Golden Body.
• Zhao Er reveals that he released Gold-Eater Toxin, mixed with fine-gold energy, at the instant the five attacked. While the other four are disabled by the toxin and the Tranquilizing Giant Bee’s venom, Zhao Er cuts off the head chief’s legs. Wounded himself, he remains on the ground and begins absorbing the scattered poison.

Character developments

• Zhao Er proves his apparent recklessness is calculated: he uses his armor and weapons to draw out the chiefs, then turns their coordinated attack into an opportunity to poison them. He survives, though the combined assault leaves him seriously injured.
• The head chief is cautious enough to wait and observe, but confident in his plan once he sees Zhao Er cornered. His confidence collapses when the poison weakens his inner force.
• Second and Third are driven by greed for Zhao Er’s equipment and eagerness to support the attack, underestimating the danger.
• Han Zhong remains uneasy about Zhao Er’s plan but follows it because the potential rewards are high and the risk to him is limited.

Character interactions

• Second and Third pressure the head chief to act, appealing both to the need to save their instructors and the chance to seize valuable equipment.
• The head chief restrains them at first, then coordinates a five-man ambush with Fourth and Fifth arriving from behind.
• Han Zhong’s subordinate urges action, but Han Zhong insists they wait and trust the plan.
• Zhao Er’s encounter with the chiefs turns their teamwork against them: their simultaneous strike delivers the moment he needs to spread the poison.

Significant themes

• Deception and strategy: Zhao Er’s apparent vulnerability and the report about his treasures are part of a trap.
• Greed and overconfidence: The chiefs’ fixation on his weapons and armor helps distract them from the real threat.
• Hidden costs of victory: Zhao Er survives the ambush, but sustaining five coordinated attacks leaves him badly hurt.
• Power beyond brute force: Poison, timing, and preparation overcome the chiefs’ superior numbers.

Plot points and events

• Zhao Er discovers that the Five-Element Origin-Returning Poison Art cannot absorb toxins while they remain inside another person, but he can extract them by placing his hand over a victim’s wound.
• After pulling the toxins from one of the poisoned chiefs, Zhao Er kills him and the other incapacitated enemies with his halberd. Seven and a half of Great Year Mountain’s eight Primordial Unity martial artists are dead; the last chief is left rigid by Zhao Er’s refined toxin and earth-vein miasma.
• The battle settlement grants Zhao Er substantial cultivation experience, healing his injuries and strengthening him. His power is now close to that of a mid-stage Primordial Unity martial artist.
• His status panel reveals a new resource: one advanced skill point, earned after accumulating enough regular points. Advanced points allow a second fusion of previously fused skills, prompting Zhao Er to consider visiting the Martial Academy’s Scripture Pavilion for suitable methods.
• Han Zhong arrives and finds the aftermath. Zhao Er pretends to be badly injured, while Han offers him a healing pill. Zhao Er checks for poison, finds none, and takes it.
• Han and his Inspection Lineage subordinate collect Great Year Mountain’s weapons, medicinal plants, supplies, and other valuables. Han also preserves the surviving half-chief for interrogation.
• Zhao Er divides the spoils fairly, recognizing the value of Han and his subordinate’s intelligence. He keeps the chief’s spirit weapon and gives them the rest to manage, then prepares to return to the Martial Academy with an intelligence report.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er demonstrates growing mastery of his poison art and tactical caution. Despite being fully healed, he feigns weakness to avoid further involvement and tests Han’s pill before accepting it. He also shows fairness by acknowledging the others’ contribution.
• Han Zhong shifts from calling Zhao Er “Junior Brother” to treating him as “Senior Brother” after witnessing his victory. He is deferential, offers medicine, and honestly argues that Zhao Er should not take an excessive share of the spoils.
• The Inspection Lineage subordinate assists by gathering the captured goods, while Han handles logistics and prepares the surviving enemy chief for questioning.

Significant themes

• Strength reshapes relationships: Han’s respectful change of address reflects the Martial Academy’s hierarchy, where status follows power.
• Power and cultivation through conflict: The settlement system turns dangerous battles into rapid healing and advancement.
• Caution and trust: Zhao Er remains alert to possible betrayal but lowers his guard once he confirms Han’s pill is safe.
• Fairness and shared credit: Zhao Er rewards the men who supplied intelligence, recognizing that preparation contributed to his victory as much as combat did.

Chapter summary

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Er departs after handing over mission intelligence to Han Zhong, who confirms privately that Zhao Er was never seriously injured. Impressed by his concealed strength and wary of probing too deeply, Han Zhong tells the Inspection Lineage to treat Zhao Er with the respect given a deacon.
• Zhao Er reflects on the unusually valuable mission haul—worth more than fifty thousand taels—and plans to turn the gains into greater strength. His heavy body and weapons overwhelm his horse, so he travels the rest of the way to the Martial Academy on foot.
• Back at the academy, he submits his mission report and intelligence. The Mission Office says the report will be verified before his merit points are awarded and grants him the standard three-day rest period.
• Zhao Er meets Tan Shuo, whose attempt to break through to the Primordial Unity Realm failed. Tan invites him to join a group on future missions, but Zhao declines, revealing that he has already reached Primordial Unity.
• Tan is shocked and embarrassed, then resolves to stop hesitating and work harder rather than fall further behind.
• The next morning, Zhao Er is summoned by his teacher, Academy Head Lu Zhi. Lu has reviewed Zhao Er’s report and the Inspection Lineage’s account, praises his performance, and invites him to ask questions about anything he is unsure of.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er remains modest about his success, crediting Lu Zhi’s teaching while privately hoping to learn more. He is also practical: after the mission, he prioritizes rest and intends to invest his spoils in his cultivation.
• Han Zhong shifts from caution to respect. He recognizes Zhao Er’s exceptional ability and decides that interfering or investigating him would be unwise.
• Tan Shuo is discouraged by his failed breakthrough, but Zhao Er’s quiet advancement spurs him to renew his efforts. Their exchange highlights Zhao Er’s reluctance to offer false comfort and Tan’s competitive determination.
• Lu Zhi shows rare approval of Zhao Er, while insisting that Zhao’s strength comes primarily from his own effort rather than the cultivation method Lu taught him.
• Wu Qian, the gatekeeper, sees Zhao Er’s speed and composure and is reminded that even seemingly ordinary academy students may be exceptional.

Significant themes

• Effort and self-reliance: Lu Zhi credits Zhao Er’s progress to his own discipline, and Tan responds to his disappointment by choosing renewed effort.
• Restraint and discretion: Han Zhong warns against prying into Zhao Er’s methods, suggesting that survival sometimes means respecting what one does not know.
• Status and merit: The mission’s rewards, merit points, and Zhao Er’s growing reputation show how achievement translates into resources and standing.
• Different paths to progress: Zhao Er advances rapidly, while Tan’s failed breakthrough illustrates that cultivation is uncertain and that setbacks can provoke either hesitation or resolve.

Key plot points and events

• Academy Head Lu Zhi is pleased with Zhao Er for completing the Great Year Mountain mission brilliantly, defeating eight Primordial Unity martial artists, and supplying Tranquilizing Giant Bee toxin that eased a colleague’s suffering.
• During a private audience, Zhao Er asks about Han Zhong’s disguise abilities. Lu Zhi explains that the Inspection Lineage’s signature Formless Art can alter one’s face, build, and—at high mastery—aura, but weakens inner-force development and combat ability. Zhao Er decides it is not worth abandoning his current training.
• Zhao Er learns that the Criminal Law Lineage’s signature art is the Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art, a rare method that lets its user discern an opponent’s realm, cultivation methods, and inner force. Though ordinarily reserved for lineage stewards, Lu Zhi gives Zhao Er the manual as a reward for his toxin and mission intelligence, while warning him not to share it with outsiders.
• Zhao Er offers to help treat Lu Zhi’s injured junior martial brother, whose condition involves an unusual poison. Lu Zhi refuses because Zhao Er is not strong enough and might be harmed, prompting Zhao Er to say he will pursue the Meridian Opening Realm quickly.
• Zhao Er then asks for advice on strengthening his inner force. He explains that his early unorthodox training left weaknesses despite later methods and rare materials improving his physique and inner-force depth. Lu Zhi considers his situation and begins thinking over what could help.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhao Er shows ambition, strategic thinking, and a practical interest in knowledge that can improve his survival and fighting prospects. He also looks for ways to earn resources by offering help, while remaining willing to accept Lu Zhi’s judgment.
• Lu Zhi shifts from rewarding Zhao Er to acting as a mentor, sharing specialized knowledge and considering how to address Zhao Er’s remaining weaknesses. His trust is evident in giving Zhao Er a restricted lineage manual.
• Their relationship grows warmer: Zhao Er’s gratitude becomes more sincere, and Lu Zhi responds with confidence in his potential, though he remains protective when Zhao Er proposes treating a dangerous injury.

Significant themes

• Power has trade-offs: the Formless Art offers exceptional disguise but sacrifices combat strength.
• Knowledge and intelligence are weapons: the Thousand Mechanisms Eye Art can reveal an enemy’s capabilities before a fight.
• Ambition and self-improvement: Zhao Er aims beyond local success, seeking to become a world-class prodigy by addressing every weakness.
• Mentorship, trust, and responsibility: Lu Zhi rewards Zhao Er while entrusting him with a method he must keep secret, and limits his risks for his own protection.

Plot points and events

• Lu Zhi advises Zhao Er to strengthen his inner force by fusing the five elements and recommends the Five-Element Primordial Unity Art. Though concerned that an extra cultivation method might slow Zhao Er’s progress, he agrees to let Zhao Er decide.
• Zhao Er accepts, confident that he can fuse the art with his existing methods rather than cultivate it separately. Lu Zhi tells him to exchange for it at the Scripture Repository.
• Before leaving, Zhao Er asks Lu Zhi for help finding a buyer for a spirit weapon and advice on travel. Lu Zhi directs him to ask Wu Xing about the weapon once he emerges from seclusion, and suggests the academy’s expensive dragonblood horses or the Beast Taming Lineage.
• Lu Zhi privately reflects that Zhao Er has secrets but does not intend to pry, believing that a living, loyal genius could benefit the Criminal Law Lineage and the academy.
• Zhao Er goes to the Scripture Repository, where Qian Hao recognizes him. He Qin, the attendant on duty, checks whether he has enough merit points to obtain the art.
• When Zhao Er reveals that he is captain of the Third Squad at the Southern Mountain Mine and that he won a spirit weapon by killing an enemy during an off-campus mission, He Qin is visibly astonished. His identity and merit points are verified, and she sends Qian Hao to fetch the manual.

Character development and interactions

• Zhao Er is confident in his ability to manage cultivation and increasingly comfortable asking Lu Zhi for practical help. He answers He Qin’s questions openly, while remaining modest about his promotion and accomplishments.
• Lu Zhi shows a protective but nonintrusive attitude toward Zhao Er: he offers guidance, respects his choices, and values his potential without demanding answers about his past.
• He Qin shifts from politely treating Zhao Er as a newcomer to addressing him as a senior after learning of his captaincy, combat record, and substantial merit points.
• Qian Hao is startled by Zhao Er’s presence and accomplishments, which sharply contradict his earlier dismissive impression of him. He begins to realize Zhao Er’s status has changed.

Significant themes

• Power through synthesis: Combining complementary cultivation methods may produce greater strength than practicing them independently.
• Potential and survival: Lu Zhi recognizes that talent matters only if its possessor survives, and sees Zhao Er’s rise from humble origins as evidence of unusual character and fortune.
• Reputation and status: Zhao Er’s achievements rapidly alter how others perceive and address him.
• Trust and restraint: Lu Zhi acknowledges Zhao Er’s secrets but chooses to judge him by his loyalty and future contributions rather than investigate them.