Chapter Summaries

Fang Qianyuan defeated the two Warrior experts who tried to stop him, then continued attacking the camp as Little White fought its spirit creatures. He left the camp’s defenses intact for the moment while surveying the fighting below.

• The female cultivator attacked Fang Qianyuan with a beast-claw manifestation, but he used Wind Transformation to evade her and reappear behind her.
• The male cultivator stabbed the female cultivator and Fang Qianyuan with his concealed blade, but Fang Qianyuan survived by invoking the Cosmic Serpent’s power.
• Miao Huan ambushed the male cultivator with her Spell-Breaking Blade and wounded him gravely.
• Fang Qianyuan killed the two Warriors with the Wind Blade Frost Sword after they refused to surrender.
• Fang Qianyuan flew over the camp and saw Little White injuring a Five-Colored Giant Tiger, demon wolves, and demon hounds while freezing nearby Spirit Tamers.

Fang Qianyuan unveiled his new divine ability, Seven Killings, Breaking Army, Greedy Wolf, by having Little White swallow Black Moon. Little White shattered the camp’s grand formation and wiped out its defenders, then returned to her white form after exhausting her strength.

• Fang Qianyuan reached the camp’s inner area as the elite defenders summoned Earth Rank spirit creatures to stop him.
• Fang Qianyuan formed Black Moon, then had Little White swallow it instead of driving it into the enemy formation.
• Fang Qianyuan named the transformed black wolf’s new divine ability Seven Killings, Breaking Army, Greedy Wolf, and used Borrowing Art to empower her.
• Little White grew to nearly a hundred zhang and tore through the grand formation with storms and powerful attacks.
• Little White’s claw razed the inner camp and destroyed the defenders’ spirit creatures.
• Little White exhausted her strength, shrank, and returned to her white form.

Fang Qianyuan and Little White devastated the camp, killing many defenders before Wei Huan returned to confront them. Fang Qianyuan explained that destroying the Allied Army’s nobles and gifted elites would leave its forces unable to advance freely.

• Little White smashed through the camp’s defenses while Fang Qianyuan faced Warriors who stood in his way, unmoved by the nobles’ threats and promises.
• Fang Qianyuan killed several Warriors with a Wind Blade, and Little White broke their formation and sent their commander flying.
• Fang Qianyuan unleashed Wind Blade Frost Sword, killing many camp defenders and nearly wiping out the ordinary retainers and Inner Court disciples.
• An arrow forced Fang Qianyuan to evade, and he saw Wei Huan returning with guards, azure birds, and his Bone Earth Dragon.
• Wei Huan rebuked Fang Qianyuan for killing the camp’s people, and Fang Qianyuan argued that their deaths would shackle the Allied Army by forcing it to stop and regroup.

Fang Qianyuan explained that he had deliberately attacked the Central Province Coalition Army’s elites, refusing to let worldly ties constrain him, while Wei Huan tried to stop him and threaten Shangyang City. Wei Huan projected the battle at the city so Fang Qianyuan could watch its defenders face defeat, then sent the Bone Earth Dragon to attack.

• Fang Qianyuan recalled his past encounters with Wei Huan and said he had attacked because a conventional rise to power would bore him.
• Wei Huan accused Fang Qianyuan of risking public outrage, but Fang argued that his enemies were Central Province foes and that he had no reason to fear the sects and aristocratic clans.
• Wei Huan recognized that Fang Qianyuan’s attack could throw the Allied Army into chaos and vowed to keep him there while Shangyang City fell into disorder.
• Fang Qianyuan claimed he could leave whenever he wished and that defeating Wei Huan would make the Central Province Coalition Army collapse.
• Wei Huan projected the battle above the camp through a formation array on the gigantic Rhinoceros Ox, then sent the Bone Earth Dragon charging at Fang Qianyuan.

Fang Qianyuan reflected on the limits of cultivation in the Dharma-Ending Age as he faced Wei Huan, then revealed a new use of his Black Moon technique. Little White transformed into a colossal black wolf and struck Wei Huan with a devastating claw, leaving most of his body nearly torn apart.

• Fang Qianyuan considered what Wei Huan was fighting for and concluded that he wanted to strengthen his convictions and temper his will.
• Wei Huan used the Wind-Settling Pearl and Earth-Sinking Art to suppress Fang Qianyuan and Little White.
• Fang Qianyuan formed a Black Moon and had Little White swallow it, triggering her Seven Killings, Breaking Army, Greedy Wolf transformation.
• Little White broke through Wei Huan's restraints and feinted with a beam before striking him with a powerful claw.
• Little White's claw tore through the space around Wei Huan and left most of his body nearly ripped apart.

Fang Qianyuan defeated Wei Huan, whose wounds and lost vitality left him unable to survive. After seeing Shangyang City’s defenses falter under attack, Fang Qianyuan unleashed the Divine Wind Treasure Fan and killed Wei Huan.

• Fang Qianyuan acknowledged that Wei Huan’s distraction had helped decide their battle, while Wei Huan accepted his defeat and asked Fang Qianyuan to finish him.
• The Bone Earth Dragon attacked to protect Wei Huan, but Little White wounded it, and Fang Qianyuan seized the Wind-Settling Pearl.
• The light screen showed the Rhinoceros Ox Behemoth breaching Shangyang City’s wall as elite fighters attacked the defenders, including Severed Karma Hall’s members and Li Yan.
• Fang Qianyuan attacked the camp, the grand formation, and the Bone Earth Dragon with the Divine Wind Treasure Fan.
• Fang Qianyuan’s black winds tore apart Wei Huan’s remaining flesh and extinguished his life.

Fang Qianyuan destroyed the Central Province camp and killed Wei Huan, then returned to find Shangyang City devastated and Shang Longhua dead. As he arranged aid and promised recognition for the defenders, Wen Qingfei warned that the deaths among sect families and local powers could bring serious consequences.

• Fang Qianyuan pursued fleeing Central Province soldiers, killed a group led by a young nobleman, and left the camp’s survivors scattered.
• Fang Qianyuan returned to Shangyang City and found the Central Province Coalition Army gone, the city badly damaged, and evidence that the Rhinoceros Ox Behemoth had fought there.
• Shang Yi told Fang Qianyuan that Shang Longhua had died defending the grand formation and that Commander Ma Su had been gravely wounded but survived.
• Fang Qianyuan thanked the defenders, promised to report the Shang Household’s contribution, and urged support for rebuilding Shangyang City.
• Ink Fairy, Music Fairy, and Wu Longjie reported that their people were mostly safe, while Wen Qingfei warned Fang Qianyuan that the deaths and losses could have serious repercussions.

Fang Qianyuan’s slaughter at the front caused outrage across the Righteous Path and threatened to bring severe consequences upon him and the Azure Cloud Sect. The Azure Cloud Sect moved to recall him, while Spirit Taming Sect allies vowed to eliminate him.

• Wen Qingfei warned Fang Qianyuan that his actions had provoked the Righteous Path, but he remained confident he could face the consequences.
• News of the battle spread, and factions across the region reacted to Fang Qianyuan’s killing of Wei Huan and numerous powerful families’ members.
• Yu Shixian and an adviser decided to revoke Fang Qianyuan’s command and summon him back to Headquarters under the pretext that he was wounded.
• Representatives of Spirit Taming Sect-aligned families and factions gathered in Reed City and condemned Fang Qianyuan’s slaughter.
• A grieving Lin Family man demanded justice for his son, and the gathered representatives called for Fang Qianyuan to be eliminated.

Fang Qianyuan explained to Wen Qingfei why he had targeted powerful nobles and sect figures, then resigned as commander and left to investigate the war from the shadows. His departure left Ink Fairy and Music Fairy to decide whether to remain involved in the conflict or return home.

• Fang Qianyuan told Wen Qingfei that he had deliberately tested the Righteous Path’s reaction to the deaths of nobles and powerful cultivators, and said he had found the answer he sought.
• Fang Qianyuan told Wen Qingfei he would resign and travel in disguise to learn how rogue cultivators, Demonic Path cultivators, and Warriors lived while investigating the war’s hidden forces.
• Fang Qianyuan hung up his seal and quietly departed, leaving his Personal Guards behind to continue recruiting and training.
• Wen Qingfei explained Fang Qianyuan’s arrangements to Ink Fairy and Music Fairy, then gave them his letter advising them whether to join the next commander or withdraw from the war.
• Ink Fairy decided to return to the Flowing Cloud Grotto, while Wen Qingfei planned to travel around the area.

Fang Qianyuan enjoyed a carefree outing in the Southern Wilds with Little White until nearby explosions and a pursuit drew them to a group of rogue cultivators. When the fleeing man called Fang Qianyuan “Old Lin” to mislead his pursuers, Fang Qianyuan recognized the ploy.

• Fang Qianyuan camped with Little White, summoned the Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle and Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc to hunt, and prepared their meal.
• Explosions sounded in the mountains, and Fang Qianyuan guessed that rogue cultivators were fighting nearby.
• Fang Qianyuan and Little White left their campsite to investigate as two groups of Human Rank Spirit Tamers ran toward them.
• A wounded rogue cultivator fleeing three pursuers greeted Fang Qianyuan as “Old Lin,” and Fang Qianyuan realized he was trying to mislead them.

Fang Qianyuan helped Old Nine defeat the Spirit Tamers pursuing him, then agreed to travel with him toward Mo City. He planned to use the journey to learn about the wandering cultivators and judge whether Old Nine was truly a law-abiding man.

• The fleeing Spirit Tamer tried to draw Fang Qianyuan into the fight, and the three pursuers mistook them for accomplices.
• Fang Qianyuan held back his strength and killed one pursuer, while Little White killed another; Old Nine defeated the last with a poisoned dart.
• Old Nine introduced himself as Jiu Qilin, a rogue cultivator and itinerant merchant, while Fang Qianyuan gave the false name Lin Yuan.
• Fang Qianyuan initially planned to leave, but changed his mind when Old Nine offered to travel together to Mo City.
• Fang Qianyuan agreed to accompany Old Nine so he could learn about the lawless world of wandering cultivators and assess his intentions.

Fang Qianyuan and Old Nine reached Mo City, where they discussed the coming war and the weakening Azure Cloud Sect. Old Nine then proposed that they escort a young lady from the Baili Household north to Shangyang City and enlist for military pay.

• Fang Qianyuan and Old Nine arrived in Mo City and parted ways after discussing their plans to stay there for about two weeks.
• Old Nine predicted that the Central Province Coalition Army would push the front toward Mo City and told Fang Qianyuan that Warrior Hall had mutinied against the Azure Cloud Sect.
• Fang Qianyuan asked Old Nine to help him find work, and Old Nine agreed to look for a way to earn money.
• Old Nine returned the next day and told Fang Qianyuan that a young lady from the Baili Household in Cloudview City needed escorts to Shangyang City.
• Old Nine suggested that they take the escort job, enlist in Shangyang City, and seek opportunities to earn military pay and battlefield spoils.

Fang Qianyuan and Old Nine sought work as escort guards for the Baili Household, which was preparing to travel north. After Old Nine passed a combat test, Fang revealed he owned a rare flying mount, and Commander Huang offered to accept him without testing him.

• Old Nine brought Fang Qianyuan to the Baili Household's residence to apply for escort work, and bribed Steward Qian to let them meet Commander Huang.
• Baili Hongyan agreed to let Commander Huang assess the applicants, despite her reluctance to hire more guards.
• Old Nine introduced himself as a Ninth Transformation cultivator and defeated a Baili Household elite soldier in a sparring match.
• Fang introduced himself as Lin Yuan, claimed Ninth Transformation cultivation, and revealed his Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc flying mount.
• Commander Huang, impressed by Fang's rare flying mount, said he could authorize Fang's acceptance without a test.

Fang Qianyuan, traveling under the identity Lin Yuan, joined a caravan escort and spent the day scouting ahead with Jiu Qilin. After reaching camp, Commander Huang asked him to search farther into the night than seemed necessary, leaving Fang Qianyuan curious about the reason.

• Jiu Qilin complained to Fang Qianyuan about being cheated out of twenty spirit jade, while Wild Crane Daoist criticized their conversation.
• Fang Qianyuan and Jiu Qilin met two incoming guards, including a young admirer dressed like Fang Qianyuan, and heard about the Southern Wilds Wolf Craze.
• Fang Qianyuan rode the Golden-Plumed Splitfeather Roc several miles ahead to scout, and the caravan traveled without incident until dusk.
• Commander Huang asked Fang Qianyuan to use his night-seeing eagle to patrol near the camp, then insisted they extend the search more than ten miles out.
• Fang Qianyuan warned that the extended flight could strain his spirit essence and divine sense, but followed Commander Huang's instructions.

Fang Qianyuan traveled with the Baili Household’s convoy while learning more about the precarious lives of rogue cultivators and the people excluded from orthodox cultivation. The camp came under attack by dwarf demons, whose emergence seemed connected to upheavals across the Southern Wilds.

• Jiu Qilin privately told Fang Qianyuan that the Baili Household’s people seemed unusually wary, but Fang said he had noticed nothing.
• Fang Qianyuan listened to rogue cultivators and Baili Household servants discuss their lives and cultivation, prompting him to question his views on orthodox spirit tamers and the Warrior Hall’s aims.
• A scream and warnings of an attack came from the front of the camp, and Commander Huang ordered rogue cultivators from squads one, three, and five to support the front.
• Fang Qianyuan recognized the attackers as dwarf demons, and Old Nine and another cultivator explained that demon caves were opening amid upheavals in the Southern Wilds.

Han Tianzuo arrived with the enormous Crimson Flame Thousand-Legged Dragon-Lord Red Radiance and declared the Baili Household’s party chosen as blood offerings. Fang Qianyuan recognized that Han was only a tenth-turn Human Rank cultivator, though the party still faced a terrifying Heaven Tier spirit creature.

• Han Tianzuo spotted the Baili Household’s party and urged Red Radiance to set out and devour them.
• The defenders easily defeated the dwarf demons, but Fang Qianyuan sensed a powerful, scorching presence approaching.
• Red Radiance emerged from dark-red clouds, and the party feared it was the Centipede True Lord’s Heaven Tier spirit creature.
• Han Tianzuo introduced himself as the Centipede True Lord’s Spirit-Herding Envoy and ordered everyone to remain as blood offerings.
• Fang Qianyuan saw through Han Tianzuo’s imposing display and recognized that Han had only Human Rank cultivation.

Han Tianzuo and the Crimson Flame Thousand-Legged Dragon slaughtered the procession, while Fang Qianyuan reflected on the helplessness of ordinary cultivators. A woman riding a mutated azure bird arrived and attacked the monster with a radiant arrow.

• The Crimson Flame Thousand-Legged Dragon ignored Han Tianzuo's initial command to wait, then attacked the procession and began devouring people and spirit creatures.
• Baili Hongyan disguised herself as a maid, and Commander Huang led her and Steward Qian's group away from the monster.
• Jiu Qilin urged Fang Qianyuan to flee, while Lu Mingying tried to save Old Lin and both were killed by the Crimson Flame Thousand-Legged Dragon.
• Old Nine fled with Fang Qianyuan following on Little White as Fang pondered the unfairness of weak cultivators having no chance to advance or resist the strong.
• A woman in white descended on a seven-colored-tailed azure bird and fired a radiant arrow at the Crimson Flame Thousand-Legged Dragon.

Gushe Qingyao attacked Han Tianzuo and the Crimson Flame Thousand-Legged Dragon, revealing that her mother had defeated Centipede True Lord. Han Tianzuo fled with the dragon, while Jiu Qilin and Fang Qianyuan watched from hiding, relieved that Qingyao had intervened.

• Gushe Qingyao wounded the Crimson Flame Thousand-Legged Dragon with an arrow but could not seriously injure it.
• Han Tianzuo challenged Qingyao, who declared that Centipede True Lord was her mother's defeated foe.
• Jiu Qilin recognized Qingyao and told Fang Qianyuan that the famous Immortal Maiden had likely come to save them.
• Gushe Qingyao fired lightning arrows at Han Tianzuo, and one struck him as the Crimson Flame Thousand-Legged Dragon forced her back.
• Han Tianzuo put away the Gold-Armored Demon Centipede, merged into the dragon's fiery glow, and fled with it.

After surviving the Spirit Herder’s attack, Baili Hongyan dealt with the surviving hired cultivators while Gushe Qingyao joined the party as an escort. Qingyao grew suspicious of Fang Qianyuan, who concealed his identity and left her questions unanswered.

• Baili Hongyan thanked Gushe Qingyao for rescuing the group and discovered their households were connected by marriage.
• Baili Hongyan scolded the surviving rogue cultivators and threatened to dock their wages, but they protested until she promised fair rewards for future service.
• Gushe Qingyao noticed Fang Qianyuan and, after questioning Baili Hongyan, suspected he had tipped off the Spirit Herder.
• Gushe Qingyao confronted Fang Qianyuan about his identity and his suspicious presence among the party, but he refused to explain himself.
• Gushe Qingyao sensed Fang Qianyuan’s unusual confidence and familiar aura, then left without getting answers.

Gushe Qingyao stayed with Baili Hongyan’s caravan and learned that routes through the Northern Frontier had grown increasingly dangerous. As the caravan crossed into the mountains of Yinshan Kingdom, Fang Qianyuan reflected on the restraints that shaped people and recognized heart refining as key to his cultivation; ahead, Han Tianzuo faced a group of trembling outlaw experts.

• Gushe Qingyao decided to accompany Baili Hongyan north and asked Commander Huang about the caravan’s route and the growing dangers along the roads.
• The caravan set out again, and Gushe Qingyao rode near the rear to keep watch on Fang Qianyuan, who wondered why she was wary of him.
• Fang Qianyuan reflected on the obligations and beliefs that constrained people and concluded that heart refining was crucial to advancing his cultivation.
• After three days, the caravan crossed Zeshan Kingdom and reached the winding mountain road into Yinshan Kingdom.
• In a fortified bandit camp ahead, outlaw experts prostrated themselves before Han Tianzuo.