Recaps

Yi Yang killed Qin Wuli in a fierce battle at White Dragon Marsh, though Qin Wuli left him with a severe shoulder wound. Yi Yang hid the corpse and fled toward White Fish City with his mission complete, while an unknown figure rose from the blood-colored vortex beneath the marsh.

• Qin Wuli attacked Yi Yang with iron beads and sword strikes, but Yi Yang countered with his saber and wounded Qin Wuli with the Gold-Patterned Black Serpent's venomous fangs.
• Qin Wuli used a forbidden art to burn his life force and gained greater speed, but Yi Yang endured a deep wound to his left shoulder and drove Tiger Roar through Qin Wuli's heart.
• Yi Yang searched Qin Wuli's body, took pills and silver notes, and sank the corpse beneath White Dragon Marsh.
• Yi Yang retreated toward White Fish City, intending to treat his wounds, consume the Netherwater Orchid, and report his findings to Yan Wuyuan.
• A figure rose from the blood-colored vortex beneath the marsh and watched the direction Yi Yang had gone.

After returning wounded from White Dragon Marsh, Yi Yang sent the Nether Spring Office a report about a powerful Nine Evil Sect Incense Master, then used a netherwater orchid to advance his mental cultivation. Rumors that he was gravely injured spread through White Fish City, while Yi Yang secretly recovered and let the factions underestimate him.

• Yi Yang returned to the Heaven Patrol Office with a wounded shoulder, noticed a likely faction spy among the Patrol Guards, and told Xu Pei he would recover behind closed doors.
• Yi Yang sent the Nether Spring Office a message describing the Nine Evil Sect Incense Master, the drained corpses, and Qin Wuli's death.
• Yi Yang consumed the netherwater orchid and advanced the Heart Ape Mind Guarding Art, strengthening his perception and increasing his combat ability.
• Patrol Guards leaked news of Yi Yang's apparent grave injury, and Xu Pei failed to stop it from spreading.
• Wei Zhao, the Xue Family head, the Green Snake Gang leader, the White Fish Merchant Association scholar, and Song Liangcheng chose to watch rather than act immediately.
• Yi Yang continued healing and cultivating in private while allowing White Fish City's factions to believe he was near death.

After the Three Lakes Gang returned from White Dragon Marsh without Chen Tao, White Fish City assumed Yi Yang had killed him and was gravely wounded. The city’s powerful families agreed to divide the gang’s assets and suspend payments to the Heaven Patrol Office, while Yi Yang secretly recovered and waited for them to act.

• The Three Lakes Gang’s surviving men found scraps of clothing from Chen Tao, Qian Yue, and the gang’s elites, confirming they had all died in White Dragon Marsh.
• White Fish City residents concluded that Yi Yang had fought Chen Tao, killed him and the gang’s fighters, and returned badly wounded.
• Mo Qianhe, Wei Zhao, Zhou Xiong, and Song Liangcheng agreed to divide the Three Lakes Gang’s holdings among four powers and suspend payments to the Heaven Patrol Office until Yi Yang recovered.
• Song Liangcheng left the meeting knowing his letter had led Yi Yang to White Dragon Marsh, where Chen Tao died.
• Yi Yang’s shoulder continued healing, and he waited for the city’s powers to seize the Three Lakes Gang’s assets so he could see who would expose themselves.

After Chen Tao’s death left the Three Lakes Gang leaderless, rival factions descended on its funeral and seized its properties. Their fighting spread across White Fish City, where Green Snake Gang men also assaulted Heaven Patrol Office guards.

• At Chen Tao’s hastily arranged funeral, Leng Sheng forced his way into the Three Lakes Gang headquarters and demanded 536,000 taels on a purported debt, threatening to take its southern docks.
• When Zhang San and Liu protested, Leng Sheng’s men attacked, killed or injured many Three Lakes Gang members, and looted the headquarters; afterward, Zhang San privately asked Leng Sheng if he had done well.
• The Wei Family, Mo Family, and White Fish Merchant Association quickly took over Three Lakes Gang shops and properties, while rival groups fought over an alley and the southern docks.
• During the citywide turmoil, Han San and Green Snake Gang members assaulted an old gatekeeper at a Three Lakes Gang warehouse.
• Two Heaven Patrol Office guards tried to stop the beating, but Han San struck them down and mocked their nearly dead director.

While Yi Yang cultivated, he ordered the Green Snake Gang to answer for attacking Heaven Patrol Guards, but Zhou Xiong secretly retaliated against their families. Meanwhile, Wei Zhao and Ye Jin learned that Rampage Killer would arrive in White Fish City, bringing their plan to collect blood essence into the open.

• Yi Yang told Xu Pei to demand Han San's arm, compensation for Zhao Liang and Sun Xu, and warned Zhou Xiong that he could destroy the Green Snake Gang.
• Zhou Xiong outwardly agreed to compensate the guards but ordered his men to attack their families instead.
• Masked men severed Zhao Liang's wife's arms, and an attacker killed Sun Xu's elderly mother; Xu Pei vowed to report the crimes to Yi Yang.
• Wei Zhao and Ye Jin received a letter saying their operation had been discovered and Rampage Killer would arrive in one day.
• Wei Zhao and Ye Jin decided to stop hiding, finish collecting blood essence, and use Rampage Killer to kill the man who had ruined Ye Jin's plans.

After discovering that the Beastskin Paper contained the Four Symbols Six Directions Saber, Yi Yang learned that the Green Snake Gang had attacked his subordinates’ families. He led the Heaven Patrol Office to the gang’s headquarters, maimed Zhou Xiong, and ordered him to summon White Fish City’s other gang and lineage heads.

• Yi Yang used his mental power to decipher Wang Gongqin’s Beastskin Paper and learned the beginner-level Four Symbols Six Directions Saber.
• Xu Pei reported that masked men had severed Zhao Liang’s wife’s arms and killed Sun Xu’s elderly mother after warning the Patrol Guards to stay out of the Green Snake Gang’s affairs.
• Yi Yang ordered Xu Pei to gather the Heaven Patrol Office and led the Patrol Guards to surround the Green Snake Gang’s headquarters.
• Yi Yang accused the gang of colluding with an evil sect and brutalizing the people, then cut off Zhou Xiong’s right arm when Zhou denied responsibility.
• Yi Yang ordered Zhou Xiong to summon every lineage and gang head in White Fish City within the time it took an incense stick to burn.

The city’s major powers received invitations to meet at the Green Snake Gang’s headquarters, but found the gang deserted and Zhou Xiong severely injured. Yi Yang appeared with Zhou Xiong in tow and said he had called everyone together to settle a few matters.

• Mo Qianhe received an invitation from the Green Snake Gang and set out with several guards.
• Song Liangcheng learned that the Heaven Patrol Office had mobilized toward the Green Snake Gang and decided to go alone.
• Wei Zhao and Ye Jin suspected the gathering was not Zhou Xiong’s idea and headed to the Green Snake Gang with four guards.
• Mo Qianhe, Song Liangcheng, Wei Zhao, and Ye Jin arrived to find the headquarters empty, with drag marks and spilled wine inside.
• Yi Yang emerged dragging the badly wounded Zhou Xiong and told the assembled powers he had called them together to clear up a few things.

Yi Yang confronted White Fish City's factions and killed Mo Qianhe, Wei Zhao, and Ye Jin after they resisted him. He claimed the city's rules for the Heaven Patrol Office as a mounted figure approached White Fish City in the darkness.

• Yi Yang demanded that the factions triple their annual tribute, return the Three Lakes Gang's properties, and hand those properties over to the Heaven Patrol Office.
• Chen Ping attacked Yi Yang and was killed by a single palm strike, revealing Yi Yang's third inner qi completion cultivation.
• Mo Qianhe, Ye Jin, and Wei Zhao attacked together, but Yi Yang killed Mo Qianhe with a saber strike while Song Liangcheng left the courtyard.
• Wei Zhao and Ye Jin tried to attack Yi Yang after he exposed their ties to the Nine Evil Sect; Yi Yang killed them both, while Ye Jin offered to reveal the sect's plans.
• Yi Yang ordered Xu Pei to clean up the courtyard and declared that he would set White Fish City's rules starting tomorrow, as a mounted figure rode toward the city.

Rampage Killer arrived in White Fish City to rendezvous with Wei Zhao and Ye Jin, but learned that Yi Yang had killed them and destroyed the Nine Evil Sect’s local strongholds. He went to attack the Heaven Patrol Office, where two hidden true astral realm fighters ambushed him and revealed they had been waiting for him.

• Rampage Killer entered White Fish City and found that the Wei Family estate and Ye Jin’s residence had been sealed by the Heaven Patrol Office.
• Rampage Killer overheard vendors say that Yi Yang had killed Wei Zhao, Ye Jin, and other leaders of White Fish City’s major powers.
• Rampage Killer decided to avenge his allies and headed alone to the Heaven Patrol Office to kill Yi Yang.
• Rampage Killer entered the office’s rear courtyard and was confronted by a masked man and woman, both of whom had true astral realm auras.
• Rampage Killer fought the pair, but their coordinated sword attacks wounded him and revealed that they had set an ambush for the Nine Evil Sect.

Rampage Killer fell into Yi Yang’s trap and was slain by two True Astral Realm Shadow Guards after attempting to break through to the room where Yi Yang waited. With White Fish City’s threats largely dealt with, Yi Yang worried about Yan Wuyuan’s dangerous confrontation with the Nine Evil Sect Incense Master in White Dragon Marsh.

• Rampage Killer realized the Wei Family had exposed him and tried to escape the Heaven Patrol Office courtyard, but the two Shadow Guards blocked him.
• Rampage Killer abandoned escape and charged toward Yi Yang’s door, hoping to kill him before dying, but the Shadow Guards impaled him with their sabers.
• Yi Yang sensed the entire fight from inside and opened the door after Rampage Killer’s aura disappeared.
• The male Shadow Guard told Yi Yang that Yan Wuyuan had gone to White Dragon Marsh to confront the Incense Master and had left the two guards to assist him.
• Yi Yang thanked the Shadow Guards and reflected that the real danger remained in White Dragon Marsh, where Yan Wuyuan might be gravely wounded.

Yi Yang seized the wealth and assets of White Fish City’s major powers, but found their cultivation manuals held no advanced techniques. As he began searching Mo Qianhe’s old books for clues about Pineclear Daoist, Shadow Four and Shadow Six went to deal with the remaining Inner Qi Realm threats.

• Xu Pei reported that the Wei Family, Mo Family, Green Snake Gang, and Three Lakes Gang’s assets were seized, worth more than eight hundred and twenty thousand taels in silver and property.
• Yi Yang examined fifty-four cultivation manuals and found no true arts, True Astral Realm techniques, or method beyond third inner qi.
• Xu Pei told Yi Yang that Mo Qianhe’s study contained three chests of old books, prompting Yi Yang to hope they might hold clues about Pineclear Daoist.
• When Xu Pei worried about the surviving Inner Qi Realm experts, Shadow Four agreed to help and took Shadow Six with her to hunt them down.
• Shadow Four told Shadow Six that she acted proactively because Lord Yan’s favor toward Yi Yang suggested he was no ordinary Director and might rise further.

Yi Yang searched Mo Qianhe’s books for clues about Pineclear Daoist and found a record of a Daoist who entered White Dragon Marsh three hundred years ago and returned with a Bronze Casket after the White Dragon died. He suspected the Daoist was Pineclear Daoist and planned to investigate further in the Prefectural City, then sensed Yan Wuyuan returning from the marsh.

• Yi Yang searched the first two chests of Mo Qianhe’s books but found no clues about Pineclear Daoist or the Wood-Nurturing Longevity Art.
• Yi Yang found Chronicle of the Sunken Depths of White Dragon Marsh, which described a Daoist entering the marsh in year 672 of the Yu calendar.
• The chronicle said the Daoist returned with a Bronze Casket after a long cry sounded from the marsh and declared that the dragon’s death would enrich the marsh.
• Yi Yang suspected the Daoist was Pineclear Daoist and decided to investigate the Bronze Casket and the Daoist’s trail after returning to the Prefectural City.
• Yi Yang assessed the cultivation manuals for Xu Pei and the Patrol Guards, then sensed Yan Wuyuan approaching from White Dragon Marsh.

Yi Yang concealed his breakthrough before Yan Wuyuan returned and reported that Rampage Killer had been killed, while she revealed that the Nine Evil Sect's Incense Master had escaped after reaching outer astral power. Yan Wuyuan credited Yi Yang with uncovering the cult's plot to sacrifice White Fish City, and the chapter ended with him questioning whether the Incense Master could truly consume an entire city.

• Yi Yang hid the White Dragon Marsh Deep Abyss Record and concealed his true astral cultivation before Yan Wuyuan arrived.
• Yan Wuyuan saw the damaged courtyard, and Yi Yang explained that Shadow Four and Shadow Six had helped him kill Rampage Killer.
• Yan Wuyuan told Yi Yang that the Nine Evil Sect's Incense Master had escaped after using a forbidden art to reach outer astral power.
• Yan Wuyuan explained the true astral realm's stages and said the Incense Master had fled into the depths beneath the marsh after she overwhelmed him.
• Yan Wuyuan revealed that Wei Zhao held a list of White Fish City's martial artists for a planned sacrifice that could have killed tens of thousands.
• Yi Yang asked whether the Incense Master could really use the people of an entire city as a sacrifice.

Yan Wuyuan told Yi Yang about a Nine Evil Sect fiend who had sacrificed hundreds of thousands of people, then discussed the White Fish City plot and recommended Yi Yang for promotion. As Yi Yang prepared to strengthen himself before returning to the prefectural city, Yan Wuyuan investigated a bloodstained bead and suspected he had cultivated a soul art.

• Yan Wuyuan recounted how a Nine Evil Sect prodigy sacrificed more than three hundred thousand people, escaped a Grandmaster's pursuit, and was never seen again.
• Yan Wuyuan said she had injured the Incense Master at White Dragon Marsh, but he had escaped, and she planned to kill him; she also recommended Yi Yang for Candidate Chief Inspector.
• Yi Yang reported the Wei Family's and Ye Jin's Blood Pool scheme, the factions' crimes, their executions, and more than eight hundred and twenty thousand taels in confiscated property.
• Yan Wuyuan ordered Yi Yang to keep a quarter of the silver, remain in White Fish City until his appointment arrived, and said she would investigate the Profound Sword Pavilion's possible ties to the Nine Evil Sect.
• Yan Wuyuan left Yi Yang an unexplained surprise in the prefectural city, while Yi Yang arranged his treasure medicines and pills to prepare for strengthening himself.
• Yan Wuyuan examined a bloodstained bead bearing the Incense Master's aura and realized Yi Yang's soul cultivation art had prevented her from probing him.

Pei Zongyue received Yan Wuyuan’s report on the White Fish City case and was astonished by Yi Yang’s achievements and her recommendation to promote him to Candidate Chief Inspector. Liu Qing also learned of Yi Yang’s success and went to share the news with someone.

• Pei Zongyue read Yan Wuyuan’s report that she had wounded the Nine Evil Sect Incense Master, who fled beneath White Dragon Marsh after the sacrifice was disrupted.
• Pei Zongyue learned that Yi Yang had helped execute the city’s conspirators and Rampage Killer, clear out local forces, and confiscate more than eight hundred and twenty thousand taels.
• Pei Zongyue examined Yi Yang’s file and marveled that a sixty-year-old with Grade C aptitude had advanced so quickly in six months.
• Pei Zongyue sent Yan Wuyuan’s recommendation of Yi Yang for Candidate Chief Inspector to the Chief Inspector for judgment.
• Liu Qing read Yan Wuyuan’s letter, reconsidered her earlier doubts about Yi Yang, and left to share the news with someone.

News of Yi Yang’s destruction of White Fish City’s major powers spread through Suining Prefecture, drawing scrutiny and offers of favor from sects and families. The Chief Inspector approved Yan Wuyuan’s recommendation to appoint Yi Yang Candidate Chief Inspector, and the document was set to be sent to White Fish City.

• Caravan workers confirmed that Yi Yang had destroyed White Fish City’s major powers, and the story made him a subject of attention across Suining Prefecture.
• Golden Sun Temple ordered an investigation into Yi Yang’s past, Cangwu Mountain ordered its accounts involving White Fish City reviewed, and the Profound Sword Pavilion Branch questioned who stood behind him.
• The Liu Family offered the Evening Glow Merchant Guild two trade routes to curry favor with Yi Yang, while the Wu Family prepared treasure medicines and a letter for him.
• After learning that Yi Yang had killed Ye Jin, Xue Muci fled the Mountain-Walking Martial Hall, and the Evil Punishment Office later found him gone.
• The Chief Inspector approved Yan Wuyuan’s recommendation to make Yi Yang Candidate Chief Inspector, and Pei Zongyue prepared the appointment document for delivery to White Fish City.

Yi Yang received an appointment as Candidate Chief Inspector of the Suining Prefecture Heaven Patrol Office and left White Fish City under Pacification Guard escort. As he rode toward the prefectural city, he considered the armory, records, and clues his new position would let him pursue.

• Xu Min delivered Yi Yang's appointment document, naming him Candidate Chief Inspector and ordering him to report to Suining Prefecture within seven days.
• Yi Yang asked Xu Pei to arrange hospitality for the Pacification Guards and delayed departure while he settled remaining matters in White Fish City.
• Three days later, Yi Yang refused to take the city's great seal from Xu Pei, gave him instructions, and rode out with the twelve Pacification Guards.
• White Fish City residents gathered to see Yi Yang off, and the newly carved Tax Reduction Order remained on the city wall.
• On the road, Yi Yang considered using his new rank to investigate the Wood-Nurturing Longevity Art, Pineclear Daoist's journey, and the Bronze Casket.

Yunlin County officials and Zhao Gang learned that Yi Yang had become Candidate Chief Inspector of the Suining Prefecture Heaven Patrol Office, far surpassing their expectations. Zhao Gang decided to send Yi Yang a modest gift and a message inviting him to share a drink when he returned.

• Clerk Fang Xi delivered Yi Yang’s appointment notice to Qi Shujian, who was stunned that Yi Yang had advanced beyond him in half a year.
• Qi Shujian reflected on recommending Yi Yang and accepted his rapid rise without jealousy, though he felt wistful.
• Song Tiecheng learned of Yi Yang’s promotion and discussed with Chen Wuya how their Eldest Brother had recognized Yi Yang’s potential early.
• Zhao Gang heard that Yi Yang had become Candidate Chief Inspector and recalled once trying to recruit him as a hired fist.
• Zhao Gang told Ren Hao to prepare a suitable gift and include an invitation for Yi Yang to have a drink when he returned.

Yi Yang and the Pacification Guard stopped at the Long Willow Inn after two days on the road, where their arrival silenced the hall. When a drunken man threw a chicken bone at Yi Yang’s boot, Xu Min moved to confront him.

• Yi Yang agreed to stop at the Long Willow Inn so the exhausted Mutant Beast Horses could rest.
• Yi Yang entered the inn with Xu Min and the eleven other Pacification Guards, and the hall fell silent at the sight of their black armor.
• Xu Min displayed his Heaven Patrol Office Command Token and ordered tables, food, wine, tea, horse feed, and rooms for the party.
• A drunken, bearded man threw a chicken bone that stopped by Yi Yang’s boot and splashed grease onto it.
• Xu Min walked toward the four drunk men, intent on dealing with the man who had offended Yi Yang.

Xu Min intimidated a drunken group at the inn before Yi Yang stopped him and the Pacification Guard continued their journey’s overnight stay. After securing his room and finding no immediate threat, Yi Yang began cultivating the Four Symbols Six Directions Saber as the inn settled into the night.

• Xu Min ground chicken bones into powder with his inner qi and subdued the bearded man’s group until Yi Yang told him to return to the table.
• Yi Yang ate with the Pacification Guards while two escort guards recognized their black armor and left the inn in haste.
• Xu Min arranged the night watch, and Yi Yang secured his room with Tiger Roar and kept his Black Black-Iron Soft Armor on.
• Yi Yang surveyed the inn with his mental power, found no threat, and began practicing the first form of the Four Symbols Six Directions Saber as the panel’s numbers slowly rose.

Yi Yang cultivated the Four Symbols Six Directions Saber at the Long Willow Inn before an assassin attacked him in his room. He pursued the attacker into the hills, where the figure slowed and turned to face him near a hidden hollow.

• Yi Yang used the Golden-Furred Ape's guidance to practice the Azure Dragon saber momentum, gradually improving his Four Symbols Six Directions Saber.
• An assassin slipped beneath the inn's eaves and thrust a narrow blade at Yi Yang, but Yi Yang dodged and countered with Tiger Roar.
• Yi Yang and the assassin exchanged three saber strikes and a palm attack before the assassin escaped through the window.
• Xu Min rushed into Yi Yang's room and offered to pursue the assassin, but Yi Yang ordered him to protect the inn and everyone inside.
• Yi Yang followed the assassin across the hills using his mental perception and realized the figure was luring him away from the inn.
• The assassin crossed a third ridge, slowed down, and turned to face Yi Yang.

Xue Muci revealed himself as the former master of the Mountain-Walking Martial Hall and blamed Yi Yang for the loss of his livelihood after Ye Jin’s exposure. Their fight began with Xue Muci revealing his true astral realm, and the chapter ended as he launched a full-strength punch at Yi Yang.

• Xue Muci identified himself and explained that Yi Yang’s killing of Ye Jin had led the Evil Punishment Office to seal his martial hall and scatter his disciples.
• Yi Yang attacked Xue Muci with Tiger Roar to test his strength and force him to reveal his abilities.
• Xue Muci blocked Yi Yang’s heavy saber strike with a punch powered by true astral energy, but Yi Yang endured the force without revealing his own true strength.
• Xue Muci mistook Yi Yang’s resilience for the protection of armor and decided to kill him, take his appointment document and Official Token, and flee before dawn.
• Xue Muci drove all his astral energy into one punch and charged at Yi Yang’s chest.

Yi Yang revealed his true astral realm cultivation and killed Xue Muci with an imperfect Azure Dragon Saber Stance strike. He took Xue Muci’s true art and valuables, concealed the evidence, and returned toward the inn with his cultivation hidden again.

• Yi Yang revealed his true astral force and evaded Xue Muci’s punch, surprising him with his breakthrough.
• Yi Yang forced the Azure Dragon Saber Stance’s seventy-two nodes together with mental power while Xue Muci prepared his Mountain-Guarding Fist.
• Yi Yang slipped through a gap caused by Xue Muci’s old injury and beheaded him with Azure Dragon Emerges from the Abyss.
• Yi Yang searched Xue Muci’s corpse and took the Mountain-Walking Heroic Peak Art, silver notes, pills, and a Hall Master’s Token.
• Yi Yang buried Xue Muci’s corpse and weapon, erased the traces of the fight, and returned toward the inn while concealing his true astral force.

Yi Yang returned to the inn after killing the assassin, then continued toward Suining Prefecture while studying his saber art and the Mountain-Walking Heroic Peak Art. He reached the city with his Candidate Chief Inspector’s badge and twelve Pacification Guards.

• Yi Yang confirmed the area was clear, concealed his True Astral Realm cultivation, and returned to the Long Willow Inn after killing Xue Muci.
• Xu Min asked about Yi Yang’s injuries and the assassin, then followed his instructions to record the guests’ identities and destinations.
• Yi Yang paid the innkeeper for the damage, while Qian Wu destroyed his horse-sedative powder and decided to quit stealing horses.
• Yi Yang and the twelve Pacification Guards departed before daybreak in a tighter formation and rode for two days toward the Prefectural City.
• Yi Yang practiced the Four Symbols Six Directions Saber and compared the Mountain-Walking Heroic Peak Art with his existing body-refinement method.
• Yi Yang arrived at Suining Prefecture with his Candidate Chief Inspector’s bronze badge and twelve Pacification Guards.

Yi Yang returned to the Prefectural City as a Candidate Chief Inspector, prompting the city’s powerful families and Heaven Patrol Office officials to reassess him. After reporting to the Judgment Hall and receiving his new benefits, he sensed two unfamiliar auras inside his courtyard and stopped before entering.

• Yi Yang entered the Prefectural City with the Pacification Guard escort, and Xu Min gave him a calling card before the squad departed.
• The Liu Family prepared a gift and banquet invitation, the Wu Family planned to send a calling card and property register, and Li Yuzhao ordered the Evening Glow Merchant Guild to clear stalled trade routes.
• Xiao Zhengyan reconsidered his earlier judgment of Yi Yang, while Ji Yunzhang and Wen Shiheng ordered their offices to take note of him.
• Yi Yang reported to Pei Zongyue, signed the White Fish City case documents, and received three True Pills along with details of his Candidate Chief Inspector benefits.
• As Yi Yang approached his courtyard, his Heart Ape Mind Guarding Art detected two distinct auras inside, and he gripped the hilt of his Tiger Roar Saber without opening the door.