Chapter Summaries

Lu Changsheng mined Moon-Patterned Stone in a mountain until a Blazing Fire Ant swarm drove him out. He decided to flood their nest with water from a nearby lake and headed there to put his plan into action.

• Lu Changsheng dug through the mountain and absorbed Low-Grade Moon-Patterned Stones, gaining 27 Source Energy Points.
• He discovered and absorbed a Mid-Grade Moon-Patterned Stone, which gave him 5 Source Energy Points.
• A swarm of Blazing Fire Ants attacked after he disturbed their nest, and Lu Changsheng fought his way back to the cave entrance.
• Lu Changsheng considered how to reclaim the remaining ore and devised a plan to divert lake water into the low basin and flood the ant nest.
• He set off for the lake and arrived at its familiar shore.

Lu Changsheng flooded the Blazing Fire Ants’ mountain to hunt the Ant Queen and mine its spirit ores. After gathering enough Source Energy Points, he evolved into a third-tier Mountain Spirit with a newly awakened divine bloodline and two innate abilities.

• Lu Changsheng spent more than ten days digging a channel from the lake, then breached the embankment and flooded the land around the mountain.
• Five days later, Lu Changsheng saw the Ant Queen lead her colony toward higher ground and swam into the flooded mountain while the ants struggled in the water.
• Lu Changsheng excavated the mountain for six days, collected spirit ores, and raised his Source Energy Points to 295.
• Lu Changsheng spent points to transform into a third-tier Mountain Spirit, awakening the Soul Strike and Domination abilities.

Lu Changsheng subdued the Ant Queen by weakening it until its resistance faltered, then restored it and brought it under his control. He settled it near a volcanic area, where it laid a hundred unusual eggs, giving him the beginnings of an ant army to gather resources.

• Lu Changsheng used his Dominion Talent on the Ant Queen, but its will and the colony's mental connection resisted his attempt to enslave it.
• Lu Changsheng hollowed out the Ant Queen's mountain, collapsed it into the lake, and repeatedly held the queen underwater until it was near death.
• Lu Changsheng contracted the weakened Ant Queen and spent ten Source Energy Points to restore it.
• Lu Changsheng rescued surviving Blazing Fire Ants and took them with the Ant Queen to a sulfurous mountain near a volcanic crater.
• Lu Changsheng spent ten Source Energy Points to make the Ant Queen lay one hundred unusual ant eggs.

Lu Changsheng raised Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, Overlord Blade, and Nine Spiral Transformations to greater mastery, then prepared to target the Three Rivers Gang. Meanwhile, Black Mountain Stronghold and a secret cult advanced plans against the county, and Lu Changsheng discovered a Muscle Refining martial artist following him as he traveled outside the city.

• Lu Changsheng spent Source Energy Points to raise Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, Overlord Blade, and Nine Spiral Transformations to greater mastery, improving his strength and confidence.
• Lu Changsheng tested his enhanced blade technique, then decided to seek cultivation manuals from the Three Rivers Gang and nearby factions.
• Su Qilong and Liu Shiqi discussed proceeding with Black Mountain Stronghold’s plan to breach the county city and cooperate with cultists.
• A red-robed Protector ordered a masked subordinate to begin the first step of the Holy Cult’s plan.
• Lu Changsheng spent several days adapting to his breakthrough and gathering information about the Three Rivers Gang before setting out from the city.
• Lu Changsheng noticed a likely Muscle Refining martial artist following him through a small forest and slowed down.

Lu Changsheng killed Li Family elder Li Yunpeng, then ambushed Three Rivers Gang and Li Family convoys across the forests. After Wang Yong confronted him from a convoy, Lu Changsheng used the Blood Burning Secret Art and unleashed his strongest strike, leaving their clash unresolved.

• Lu Changsheng killed Li Yunpeng with one slash and took his silver notes and the Spirit Crane Fist and Mountain Breaking Blade manuals.
• Lu Changsheng ambushed a Three Rivers Gang convoy, killed Ke Hongyu and the other escorts, and continued attacking Three Rivers Gang and Li Family convoys over the following days.
• Wang Yong learned that none of the Three Rivers Gang’s Muscle Refining martial artists could withstand the unknown attacker and suspected he was a Bone Forging expert.
• Wang Yong revealed himself from a Three Rivers Gang convoy and attacked Lu Changsheng, who activated the Blood Burning Secret Art and countered with his strongest slash.

Lu Changsheng escaped a clash with Wang Yong, then returned to the city with manuals and prepared to grow stronger. At the Demon Suppression Department, he accepted a solo mission to investigate a missing Demon Suppressor and learned that traitors within the department might serve the Heavenly Demon Sect.

• Lu Changsheng retreated from Wang Yong after their clash, and Wang Yong ordered his men to report the matter to the gang leader.
• Lu Changsheng returned home, reviewed the manuals he had acquired, and found four advanced cultivation methods among them.
• Deputy Hall Master Qin Ruobing ordered the Demon Suppression Department to focus on the Scent Worship Cult and announced a new purge with missions for its personnel.
• Lu Changsheng chose to investigate the missing Demon Suppressor in Luohe Village and accepted the mission token.
• Yue Shulan warned Lu Changsheng not to reveal mission details and told him that some officials had joined the Heavenly Demon Sect, which sought the Heart of the Demonic Spirit.

Lu Changsheng celebrated his new home with Fang Qing and Fang Tao before traveling to Luohe Village to investigate reports of strange happenings. He learned that a rumor about treasure in a nearby valley had drawn martial artists there, and decided to investigate its origins.

• Fang Qing prepared a lavish housewarming feast for Lu Changsheng, and he told her to stock up on supplies as refugees and unrest increased.
• That night, Lu Changsheng read a book about strange people and events in Changping County.
• Lu Changsheng arrived in Luohe Village and asked a Yuelai Inn waiter about unusual events, paying him a tael of silver for information.
• The waiter told Lu Changsheng that martial artists had searched a nearby valley after lights appeared there half a year earlier and rumors of treasure spread.
• Lu Changsheng grew suspicious of the treasure rumor and decided to investigate who had started it and why.

Lu Changsheng investigated the valley’s Corpse Puppets, then followed a lead to Matron Cao’s wedding feast and discovered the bride was a missing Li Family Woman. He confronted Matron Cao at her home and attacked her, suspecting she had made the Corpse Puppets.

• Lu Changsheng found four Corpse Puppets in the valley, killed them, and left without discovering any useful clues.
• After days of questioning villagers, Lu Changsheng heard that Matron Cao was marrying off her foolish son again and went to the wedding feast.
• Lu Changsheng saw the motionless bride and later sneaked into the Cao Family home, where he recognized her as the missing Li Family Woman.
• Lu Changsheng found nothing unusual about Matron Cao’s foolish son and suspected Matron Cao was behind the village’s strange events.
• Matron Cao confronted Lu Changsheng in the rear courtyard, and he accused her of creating the Corpse Puppets before slashing at her with the Pig-Slaughtering Blade.

Lu Changsheng defeated Matron Cao after using the Blood Burning Secret Art and replenishing his strength with Source Energy Points, but Matron Cao and her foolish son died together. He then killed the Li Family Woman after suspecting her intentions, and prepared to investigate Matron Cao’s lair amid growing fears about the Venerable Master and the turmoil in Changping County.

• Lu Changsheng and Matron Cao fought to a standstill until she summoned powerful Corpse Puppets from underground.
• Lu Changsheng activated the Blood Burning Secret Art and cut down the Corpse Puppets, prompting Matron Cao to swallow a blood-red bead and reach the Bone Forging stage.
• Lu Changsheng used Source Energy Points to restore his strength during their prolonged battle, then seized Matron Cao’s lapse and cut her in half.
• Matron Cao killed her foolish son before dying, and Lu Changsheng wondered who the Venerable Master was and resolved to investigate her lair.
• The Li Family Woman appeared and thanked Lu Changsheng, but he killed her after noticing her hostile intentions.

Lu Changsheng found Soul Stones in Matron Cao’s lair and used their energy to raise Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt and Overlord Blade to mastery. After earning five minor merits for slaying the demon, he exchanged them for two defensive manuals and returned to his courtyard.

• Lu Changsheng searched Matron Cao’s lair, found five Soul Stones in a well, and absorbed them for Source Energy Points.
• Lu Changsheng used Source Energy Points to raise Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt to mastery, increasing his strength to roughly twenty-five thousand jin.
• Lu Changsheng raised Overlord Blade to mastery, then returned to the inn with only five Source Energy Points remaining.
• Lu Changsheng handed in proof of slaying the demon and received five minor merits.
• Lu Changsheng visited Xing Zhaolin at the Scripture Repository and exchanged all five minor merits for Golden Bell Shield and Thirteen Grand Protectors Horizontal Refining Art.

Lu Changsheng stayed home during his leave, trained Fang Qing and Fang Tao, and waited for his Source Energy Points to accumulate. He used 40 points to perfect Nine Spiral Transformations, greatly improving his speed and leaving the Golden Bell Shield as his next goal.

• Lu Changsheng invited Fang Qing to practice martial arts and gave her a Spirit Ape Fist manual after telling her it could help preserve her youth.
• Fang Qing quickly memorized and practiced the Spirit Ape Fist, showing an unexpected talent for martial arts.
• Over two months at home, Lu Changsheng trained Fang Qing and Fang Tao while the exotic beast helped hatch Blazing Fire Ants.
• Lu Changsheng used 40 Source Energy Points to raise Nine Spiral Transformations to perfection.
• Lu Changsheng tested the perfected footwork and produced nine silent afterimages, then planned to focus on mastering the Golden Bell Shield.

Lu Changsheng was promoted to Yellow-rank Demon Suppressor and moved with Fang Qing and her brother into an inner-city residence. As his rise drew attention across Changping County, a mysterious woman prepared a year-end scheme involving the Black Mountain Bandits and recalled the County Magistrate.

• A masked man reported that preparations were complete, and the mysterious woman ordered him to notify the Black Mountain Bandits and wait until the end of the year.
• Lu Changsheng received an exceptional promotion to Yellow-rank Demon Suppressor, along with official robes, a seal, and a deed to an inner-city residence.
• Lu Changsheng, Fang Qing, and her brother moved their belongings to the new residence while former neighbors crowded around to congratulate him and claim connections.
• Lu Changsheng settled into the inner city and bought another residence outside the city as a foothold for his affairs there.
• News of Lu Changsheng's promotion spread through Changping County, bringing him to public attention as a former commoner who had become an official Demon Suppressor.

Lu Changsheng moved the Blazing Fire Ant colony to a volcanic crater, where he found Fire Crystals and fought off Fire Armored Scorpions. After four days of exploring and collecting crystals, he had 102 Source Energy Points and prepared to venture deeper, where Scorpion Kings might be waiting.

• Lu Changsheng moved the Ant Queen and her eggs to a volcanic crater after suspecting the cave was too cool for them to hatch.
• The Ant Queen scouted the crater, where Lu Changsheng discovered Fire Armored Scorpions and energy-bearing Fire Crystals.
• Lu Changsheng established a foothold near the crater and absorbed crystals, raising his Source Energy Points to 56.
• Dozens of Fire Armored Scorpions attacked Lu Changsheng, and he killed them with his third-tier strength.
• Over four days, Lu Changsheng collected more crystals and killed attacking scorpions, bringing his Source Energy Points to 102 before considering an expedition deeper into the crater.

Lu Changsheng led his Variant Blazing Fire Ants through the volcano, defeated a third-tier Scorpion King, and established a breeding outpost. Back in Changping County, he fused and perfected a new defensive martial art, bringing his offense, defense, and speed to the limits of Muscle Refining.

• Lu Changsheng led the newly hatched Variant Blazing Fire Ants into the volcano and absorbed six Intermediate Fire Crystals.
• Lu Changsheng ordered the ants to attack a vast Fire Armored Scorpion swarm, then killed its third-tier Scorpion King with Soul Strike and a claw strike.
• Lu Changsheng drove off the remaining scorpions, cleared their larvae from a nest, and made it a breeding outpost for the ants.
• Lu Changsheng returned to Changping County and used his Source Energy Points to perfect Golden Bell Shield and fuse it with other body-refining martial arts.
• Lu Changsheng named the resulting Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, raised it to completion, and tested its formidable defense.

Lu Changsheng raided the Three Rivers Gang's Wind Thunder Hall, killing eight martial artists and taking their money and manuals, then waited on the road to the prefectural city to find the Zhenyuan Escort Agency. He finally blocked its convoy, leaving the reason for his confrontation unresolved.

• Lu Changsheng disguised himself and launched surprise attacks on Wind Thunder Hall residences, killing eight Muscle Refining martial artists and stealing banknotes and secret manuals.
• Gang Leader Huang Tianba ordered an investigation after the gang discovered the eight headless corpses, but the attackers left no useful clues.
• Lu Changsheng waited several days before heading to the official road to search for the Zhenyuan Escort Agency that had employed his father.
• When the Zhenyuan convoy appeared, Lu Changsheng rushed from the forest and blocked its path, and an escort master offered him ten taels of silver to avoid trouble.

Lu Changsheng learned that the missing escort hands had been taken by the Black Mountain Bandits to work in their mines, then searched the mines for his father. He found no sign of him and feared the worst, while the bandits’ massive mining operation raised suspicions of a larger plan.

• Lu Changsheng killed the Zhenyuan Escort Agency escorts who concealed the missing men’s fate and learned that the Black Mountain Bandits had taken them to mine.
• Lu Changsheng looted the escort agency’s cargo, gaining medicinal herbs and other valuables, then traveled toward Black Mountain.
• Lu Changsheng attacked a mine, killed its overseers and guards, and freed the enslaved workers.
• Lu Changsheng searched nearby mines for his father over the next few days, rescuing captives and killing more bandits without finding him.
• Lu Changsheng suspected the Black Mountain Bandits were stockpiling ore for a major operation, possibly against the county seat.

Lu Changsheng evaded a Black Mountain Stronghold fighter, then cultivated in seclusion until his Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt reached its pinnacle and brought him to the strength of an early-stage Bone Forging expert. As tensions gathered around Changping County, Magistrate Du’s daughter vanished, and Lu Changsheng joined an emergency assembly at the Demon Suppression Department.

• A late-stage Bone Forging fighter confronted Lu Changsheng near a mine, but Lu used Nine Spiral Transformations to escape, prompting the fighter to report back to Su Qilong and Liu Shiqi at Black Mountain Stronghold.
• Lu returned to his residence and spent a month in seclusion, directing his Exotic Beast clone and raising the strength of the Blazing Fire Ants.
• Lu spent 160 Source Energy Points to bring Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt to the pinnacle, gaining enough strength to contend with an early-stage Bone Forging expert.
• Lu concluded that the Scent Worship Cult, the Venerable Master, the Black Mountain Bandits, and possibly the Three Rivers Gang formed a threat around Changping County, while the county office and Demon Suppression Department remained powerful.
• Lu learned that Magistrate Du’s daughter, Du Ling, had vanished while offering incense at White Cloud Temple despite her Black Armored Army escort.
• Lu arrived at the Demon Suppression Department for an emergency assembly and stood quietly near the back of the crowded hall.

Lu Changsheng and the other Demon Suppression Department investigators discovered a hidden passage beneath the Buddha statue where Du Ling had vanished, and the search led the county forces to target the Scent Worship Cult. As the cult’s Venerable Master secretly ordered Du Ling hidden for half a month, Qin Ruobing assigned a large-scale purge of cult strongholds.

• Qin Ruobing selected Lu Changsheng, Yue Shulan, and others to investigate Du Ling’s disappearance alongside the county yamen.
• Lu Changsheng moved the Buddha statue at White Cloud Temple and uncovered a passage leading beyond the temple grounds.
• Lu Changsheng and the others reported their discovery, and Du Wentao ordered the Black Armored Army and Demon Suppression Department to help rescue Du Ling.
• The county forces traced the kidnapping to the Scent Worship Cult, while the Venerable Master ordered Du Ling hidden and unharmed for half a month.
• Qin Ruobing ordered every full Demon Suppressor to lead four Apprentice Demon Suppressors in a purge of Scent Worship Cult strongholds outside the city.

Lu Changsheng led four Apprentice Demon Suppressors to investigate suspicious activity at Qiu Family Manor and uncovered the manor lord’s deception. After Qiu Qingyuan and his men ambushed them at midnight, Lu Changsheng killed them with swift sword strikes.

• Lu Changsheng formed a team with Lu Changkun, Wei Rong, and two other Apprentice Demon Suppressors, then traveled to Qiu Family Manor.
• Lu Changsheng questioned manor lord Qiu Qingyuan, suspected him of lying, and ordered his team to search the grounds.
• Lu Changsheng and his team hid near the guest rooms and waited until midnight.
• Qiu Qingyuan led men in black to attack the empty guest room, and Lu Changsheng confronted them.
• Lu Changsheng killed Qiu Qingyuan and cut down the attacking men with his pig-slaughtering knife.

Lu Changsheng led Wei Rong and the others into a hidden chamber, where they encountered the wanted Bone Forging expert Blood Soul Hand Zheng Tu. After Zheng Tu trapped the group and incapacitated the others with a roar, Lu Changsheng fought him to a standstill, leaving both men shocked by the other's strength.

• Lu Changsheng killed an enemy with one strike, then led Wei Rong and the others to search the man's house.
• Lu Changsheng found a hidden passage behind a bookshelf and led the group into an underground chamber.
• Blood Soul Hand Zheng Tu appeared, dropped a stone door to trap them, and used a sound-wave martial art to knock Wei Rong and the others unconscious.
• Zheng Tu invited Lu Changsheng to join his Holy Cult, but Lu Changsheng refused.
• Lu Changsheng and Zheng Tu clashed with their blades, each forcing the other back more than ten meters without gaining an advantage.