Chapter Summaries

Yan Wuyuan told Yi Yang that the Heaven Patrol Office would hold an assessment during the tercentennial celebration to appoint a Pacification Guard Commander and Deputy Commander, while investigating who had betrayed the previous Commander. Yi Yang decided to pursue the Commander post openly and had one month to prepare for the competition.

• Yan Wuyuan explained that Commander Ding Xiang had been killed by a Nine Evil Sect Incense Master, and Chief Inspector Lu Quanan had recalled the Candidate Chief Inspectors to compete for the vacant command posts.
• Yan Wuyuan said candidates from outside factions could join the assessment, which Lu Quanan might use to uncover who had helped the Nine Evil Sect target Ding Xiang.
• Yan Wuyuan told Yi Yang the assessment would take place in one month and offer a top-tier body-tempering true art as a reward.
• Yi Yang weighed the resources, intelligence, protection, and access to Chief Inspector Lu Quanan that the Commander post could bring him, along with the chance to use Mysterious Abyss openly.
• Yi Yang decided to reveal his strength if necessary to win the Commander post and planned to spend the month mastering the Azure Dragon Form and advancing his cultivation.

At the Heaven Patrol Office’s three-hundredth-anniversary celebration, Yi Yang surveyed powerful representatives from the offices and outside factions before Chief Inspector Lu Quanan opened the competition. After the Patrol Director bouts ended, the Candidate Chief Inspector assessment began, with Lu Quanan’s attention lingering on Yi Yang and several other formidable contenders.

• Yi Yang attended the celebration in the Nether Spring Office’s ranks, concealing his true astral aura as representatives from the offices and outside factions gathered.
• Two Candidate Chief Inspectors revealed true astral realm cultivation, and the Pacification Guard arrived with fifty coordinated inner qi realm martial artists.
• Lu Quanan descended through the air, urged the factions to cooperate against the evil cults, and declared the competition open.
• The Patrol Director assessment ended with the Evil Punishment Office and Evil-Breaking Office each winning eight bouts, while the Nether Spring Office won three and the Knowledge Office won two.
• Pei Zongyue began the Candidate Chief Inspector assessment as Lu Quanan scrutinized Yi Yang and other contenders.

At the Heaven Patrol Office assessment, Wang Hechang and Gu Zhang defended the platform long enough to claim two Command Tokens. Xiao Yunhe then took the platform, leaving Yi Yang to assess her unclear strength as the contest continued.

• Pei Zongyue explained that candidates had to defend the platform for one incense stick to win one of eight Command Tokens and advance to the second round.
• Wang Hechang took the platform, and no one challenged the True Astral Realm expert before the incense burned out, so he received the first Command Token.
• Gu Zhang followed Wang Hechang onto the platform and also won a Command Token without facing a challenge.
• Xiao Yunhe took the platform and invited the others to challenge her rather than waiting quietly.
• Yi Yang probed Xiao Yunhe's aura but could not tell whether her strength was closer to third inner qi completion or the True Astral Realm.

Xiao Yunhe revealed that she had reached the true astral realm and defeated Zhou Fangyu with one punch, securing a command token. Yi Yang then stepped onto the platform and invited the remaining candidates to challenge him.

• Zhou Fangyu challenged Xiao Yunhe, believing she was only at third inner qi completion.
• Xiao Yunhe revealed her true astral realm strength and struck Zhou Fangyu off the platform with one punch.
• Xiao Yunhe waited out an incense stick and secured her command token while the crowd stayed silent.
• Zhou Fangyu warned Yi Yang to wait until fewer command tokens remained, but Yi Yang decided to reveal his strength.
• Yi Yang took Tiger Roar onto the platform and introduced himself as a candidate chief inspector of the Nether Spring Office.

Yi Yang entered the Command Token arena and defeated Zhang Ran with one strike of Tiger Roar’s scabbard, revealing strength far beyond his apparent Inner Qi Realm cultivation. A True Astral Realm monk named Jingchen then challenged him, and Yi Yang prepared to face him while wondering why the Golden Sun Temple had intervened.

• Yi Yang stood in the arena as onlookers discussed his record, and Zhang Ran challenged him to a fight.
• Zhang Ran attacked with his cudgel, but Yi Yang dodged and struck him with Tiger Roar’s scabbard, sending him out of the arena in one move.
• The crowd and other Candidate Chief Inspectors reacted with alarm, while Yi Yang kept his true astral strength and saber techniques concealed.
• Jingchen of the Golden Sun Temple stepped into the arena and challenged Yi Yang, who gripped Tiger Roar and considered the temple’s motives.

Yi Yang faced Jingchen of the Golden Sun Temple, suspecting the monk had come to investigate his connection to the Mysterious Abyss Saber. He kept his True Astral Realm strength hidden and survived Jingchen’s powerful saber strike, though he was injured.

• Yi Yang recognized Jingchen’s Golden Sun Temple affiliation and suspected the monk was probing him over the deaths of Jingyuan and Jingming.
• Yi Yang decided to conceal his True Astral Realm cultivation and meet Jingchen’s attack with his third inner qi completion strength.
• Jingchen unleashed the Great Compassion Barrier-Breaking Saber, and Ji Yunzhang identified it as a true art saber technique.
• Yi Yang used Tiger Roar, his tempered body, internal force, and armor to withstand the strike, staggering back and bleeding but keeping hold of his saber.
• Onlookers marveled that Yi Yang had survived, while the bushy-bearded man warned that he would not withstand a second strike.

Yi Yang stopped hiding his true astral realm cultivation during his fight with Jingchen, shocking the Drill Ground crowd and drawing Lu Quanan’s attention. The match remained unresolved as Yi Yang prepared to reveal his strength.

• Ji Yunzhang, Xiao Zhengyan, Wang Hechang, and Jingchen noticed that Yi Yang had taken Jingchen’s blow without the signs of serious injury.
• Jingchen warned Yi Yang that he would use his full strength in the next strike.
• Yi Yang released the Concealed Breath Formless Art’s suppression and revealed his true astral realm cultivation.
• The crowd, Zhou Fangyu, Xiao Yunhe, and Wang Hechang reacted with shock or fresh respect to Yi Yang’s hidden strength.
• Lu Quanan put down his teacup as he watched Yi Yang.

Yi Yang fought Jingchen through all four levels of the Great Compassion Barrier-Breaking Saber and defeated him with the Four Symbols Six Directions Saber. Yi Yang remained standing on the platform as the gathering fell silent, while a young man from the Profound Sword Pavilion reached for his sword.

• Jingchen unleashed the first three levels of his saber technique, but Yi Yang broke through each attack and stood firm against the third.
• Jingchen used the fourth level, Breaking the Illusion of Time and Space, and Yi Yang tracked its shifting speed and course with his Mental Power.
• Yi Yang countered with Azure Dragon Emerges from the Abyss, whose sustained force overwhelmed Jingchen's saber energy and blasted him off the platform.
• Jingchen landed beyond the platform, injured and unable to rise, while Yi Yang remained standing with Tiger Roar in hand.
• The stout Golden Sun Temple monk saluted Yi Yang, and the young man from the Profound Sword Pavilion reached for the sword on his back.

Yi Yang won the fourth Command Token, while the remaining tokens went to other true astral realm fighters. The eight winners drew lots for the next round, and Xu Yu faced Wang Hechang in the opening match.

• Xiao Zhengyan and Ji Yunzhang recognized Yi Yang’s true astral cultivation and powerful saber art, and regretted passing him over when recruiting.
• Yi Yang accepted the fourth Command Token after defeating Jingchen, then returned to the Nether Spring Office’s ranks.
• Qi Zhi won his first bout but was eliminated by the Evil Punishment Office’s bearded fighter, then sought to build a connection with Yi Yang.
• Wu Dingshan, Kongwu, Xu Yu, and Zheng Yan claimed the fifth through eighth Command Tokens, joining Yi Yang and three other office candidates in the next round.
• The eight winners drew lots, and Pei Zongyue announced that Xu Yu and Wang Hechang would fight first.
• Xu Yu drew his sword opposite Wang Hechang as Yi Yang watched their match begin.

The last four matches of the Pacification Guard selection tournament determined the semifinalists, with Yi Yang defeating Xiao Yunhe to secure a place for the Heaven Patrol Office. The chapter ended with the final four set and Lu Quanan watching Yi Yang as the draw for the next day’s matches was announced.

• Xu Yu wore down Wang Hechang’s defenses with precise sword strikes, then broke through his Mountain-Guarding Fist and won the first match.
• Kongwu overwhelmed Gu Zhang with the Great Strength Vajra Palm and advanced, while Zheng Yan restrained Wu Dingshan with his Dragon-Binding Rope and secured the next place.
• Pei Zongyue paired Xiao Yunhe against Yi Yang, and Yi Yang forced her to concede after breaking through her Net of a Thousand Threads Force and disarming her.
• Pei Zongyue announced that Xu Yu, Kongwu, Zheng Yan, and Yi Yang had reached the final four, with the draw for the Commander and Deputy Commander matches scheduled for the next day.
• Lu Quanan watched the three outsiders before settling his gaze on Yi Yang.

After reaching the tournament’s final four, Yi Yang learned that the Heaven Patrol Office needed him to keep the Commander position from outsiders and received resources to prepare for the next match. He showed Yan Wuyuan the Mysterious Abyss saber, and she identified it as a Spirit Weapon.

• Wen Shiheng and Ji Yunzhang congratulated Yi Yang on his tournament performance, and Yan Wuyuan told him to meet her at the Nether Spring Office’s main hall at Xu Hour.
• Yi Yang suspected Jingchen had entered the tournament to investigate whether Yi Yang’s saber techniques matched those of the person who killed Jingyuan and Jingming.
• Yi Yang returned home, retrieved the Mysterious Abyss saber, and told Jiang Yuexin he had reached the final four.
• Yan Wuyuan told Yi Yang that Pei Zongyue had warned the Commander position must not go to outsiders, then gave him a booklet from Lu Quanan, ten True Pills, and exclusive access to Room A at the Pure Heart Pavilion.
• Yi Yang asked Yan Wuyuan to examine the Mysterious Abyss saber, and she touched its glowing patterns and identified it as a Spirit Weapon.

Yi Yang learned that Mysterious Abyss was a Spirit Weapon, gained its acknowledgment, and learned that Kongwu was his most dangerous opponent in the Commander contest. He entered Room A of the Pure Heart Pavilion to cultivate through the night and prepare to face Kongwu.

• Yan Wuyuan explained that Mysterious Abyss was a Spirit Weapon and warned Yi Yang that using it before it acknowledged him could destroy his spiritual altar.
• Yi Yang used the Heart Ape Mind Guarding Art to withstand Mysterious Abyss's probe, then bound it with his blood and successfully channeled true qi through it.
• Yan Wuyuan warned Yi Yang that Kongwu had reached mid true astral and gave him a jade token to enter Room A of the Pure Heart Pavilion.
• Yi Yang read Lu Quanan's cultivation notes on the Wood-Nurturing Longevity Art and suspected a connection between Lu Quanan and Pineclear Daoist.
• Yi Yang swallowed the True Pills and used Room A's water-wood essence to temper his body, continuing his cultivation through the night.

Yi Yang completed the hundred-forged body and advanced to the mid true astral realm before entering the semifinals of the Martial Drill Ground tournament. He faced Kongwu of Golden Sun Temple in the first match and opened with a powerful saber strike.

• Yi Yang completed the hundred-forged body, advanced to the mid true astral realm, and sensed his astral force strengthening his body and meridians.
• Liu Qing delivered Yan Wuyuan's message, a clean official uniform, and breakfast to Yi Yang before the tournament.
• At the Martial Drill Ground, Pei Zongyue announced that Yi Yang would face Kongwu and that Xu Yu would face Zheng Yan.
• Yi Yang and Kongwu entered the platform, where Kongwu revealed his golden astral force and declared he would not hold back.
• Yi Yang attacked Kongwu with the perfected Nine Peaks Saber technique, sending blue-green saber qi toward his chest.

Yi Yang revealed the spirit weapon Mysterious Abyss and defeated Kongwu, advancing to the final. Xu Yu then swiftly defeated Zheng Yan, leaving Yi Yang to spend a half-hour preparing to face him.

• Kongwu's golden defenses stopped Yi Yang's attacks, and Yi Yang drew Mysterious Abyss after realizing he could not outlast him.
• Yi Yang used Azure Dragon Emerges from the Abyss to break Kongwu's Indestructible Vajra Body and knock him out of the ring.
• Pei Zongyue declared Yi Yang the winner, while Jingchen recognized Mysterious Abyss and Lu Quanan remarked that the result was interesting.
• Xu Yu defeated Zheng Yan with One Sword Returns to Truth, shattering the Daoist's whisk and sending him out of the ring.
• Pei Zongyue scheduled the final after a half-hour rest, and Yi Yang restored his true qi while studying Xu Yu's sword strike.

Yi Yang and Xu Yu began their contest for Commander and Deputy Commander, with Xu Yu using Sword Intent Wedges to target Yi Yang’s meridians and Yi Yang countering with sweeping saber strikes. Xu Yu then withdrew and began preparing the Profound Sword Pavilion’s ultimate secret art, Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source.

• Yi Yang analyzed Xu Yu’s one-strike sword technique and decided he had to prevent Xu Yu from unleashing it.
• Pei Zongyue ended the rest period, and Yi Yang entered the arena carrying Mysterious Abyss while Xu Yu drew his narrow sword.
• Xu Yu attacked with sword qi and rapid strikes, planting six Sword Intent Wedges beside the meridian nodes in Yi Yang’s right arm.
• Yi Yang recognized Xu Yu’s strategy and used broad Azure Dragon Saber Stance sweeps to force him back and prevent him from placing more wedges.
• Xu Yu withdrew beyond engagement range, poured his true astral force into his sword, and began Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source.

Yi Yang defeated Xu Yu and secured the Commander’s post, receiving the command token as Xu Yu was appointed Deputy Commander. A confidential letter arrived, and Lu Quanan’s reaction left Yi Yang tense as the Chief Inspector fixed his gaze on him.

• Xu Yu’s Sword Intent Wedges disrupted Yi Yang’s right arm, but Yi Yang used the Heart Ape Mind Guarding Art to destroy them and restore his strength.
• Yi Yang disrupted Xu Yu’s Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source with the Thunderous Sound Mantra, then shattered Xu Yu’s sword and forced him to yield.
• Pei Zongyue declared Yi Yang the winner, and Lu Quanan gave him the Commander’s token.
• Pei Zongyue announced Xu Yu as Deputy Commander, while Jingchen and Kongwu considered how difficult it would be to reclaim Mysterious Abyss from Yi Yang.
• A gray eagle delivered a confidential letter to Lu Quanan, who read it twice and then looked directly at Yi Yang.

After Yi Yang won the Pacification Guard commander's seat, Lu Quanan summoned him and the Deputy Chief Inspectors to respond to a beast crisis in Donglai County and prepare for a possible attack by the Nine Evil Sect. Lu Quanan rewarded Yi Yang with a body-refinement art, and Pei Zongyue began explaining the Pacification Guard as Yi Yang asked why Xu Yu was not serving as Deputy Commander.

• Lu Quanan ended the celebration, and the assembled factions left after Yi Yang's victory over Kongwu and Xu Yu.
• Pei Zongyue summoned the Deputy Chief Inspectors and Yi Yang to a secret meeting, where he read a report describing mutant beasts and two demon beasts attacking Donglai County.
• Lu Quanan ordered Ji Yunzhang and Wen Shiheng to lead the response in Donglai County and investigate the beasts' origins, while Xiao Zhengyan and Yan Wuyuan secured the Prefectural City against trouble from the Nine Evil Sect.
• After the Deputy Chief Inspectors left, Lu Quanan praised Yi Yang and gave him the Martial Extreme Dragon Elephant Body, a superior body-refinement art.
• Pei Zongyue offered to introduce Yi Yang to Deputy Commander Ning Xiong, and Yi Yang asked why Xu Yu was not the deputy commander.

Yi Yang learned that his victory had let the Heaven Patrol Office keep control of the Pacification Guard while making the vacant deputy position too risky for outside factions to claim. He entered the camp to meet Deputy Commander Ning Xiong and introduced himself, while Pei Zongyue agreed to investigate who had leaked Yi Yang’s movements to bandits.

• Pei Zongyue explained that an outside faction’s Deputy Commander would be isolated and that taking the position could make the faction look complicit in the unresolved leak that led to Ding Xiang’s assassination.
• Yi Yang realized the assessment had been a wager between Lu Quanan and the major factions, with his victory preventing outside interference in the Pacification Guard.
• Pei Zongyue described Ning Xiong’s strength, experience, and role in maintaining the Pacification Guard, then brought Yi Yang to the camp and left him to meet the troops.
• Yi Yang asked Pei Zongyue to investigate who had sold his route and departure time to the Rampage Six Bandits, and Pei agreed.
• Yi Yang entered the camp, faced Ning Xiong before the assembled Patrol Guards, and introduced himself as their Commander.

Yi Yang took command of the Pacification Guard after proving his strength, and Ning Xiong agreed to follow him if he solved former commander Ding Xiang’s mysterious death. Yi Yang took Ning Xiong’s investigation files and prepared to pursue leads among three powerful factions.

• Ning Xiong and the Pacification Guard formally recognized Yi Yang as their commander, then Ning Xiong said they needed someone who could get results, not merely fight.
• Ning Xiong told Yi Yang that Ding Xiang had been murdered a year earlier and promised the Pacification Guard’s loyalty if Yi Yang uncovered the truth and identified the traitor.
• Yi Yang agreed to investigate and examined Ning Xiong’s files, which described Ding Xiang’s ambush at Clearwind Ridge and named the Golden Light Sect, Sword Transformation Alliance, and Moon-Winding Manor as leads.
• Ning Xiong explained that he had lacked the authority to investigate the three factions, while Yi Yang’s new rank allowed him to act without seeking approval from the Judgment Hall.
• Yi Yang took the files and said he would visit the factions, then stayed at the Pacification Guard barracks and began reading the Martial Extreme Dragon Elephant Body manual.

Yi Yang advanced his body-tempering and mental arts, then observed Ning Xiong training the Twelve-Link Spear Formation. He headed to the Sword Transformation Alliance, intending to confront the organization he had been unable to reach the previous year.

• Yi Yang began cultivating the Martial Extreme Dragon Elephant Body, using the Wood-Nurturing Longevity Art's true qi to ease the strain on his muscles and bones.
• Yi Yang broke through to major mastery in the Heart Ape Mind Guarding Art, expanding his perception range to two hundred and thirty zhang.
• Yi Yang watched Ning Xiong lead twelve Pacification Guard members through the Twelve-Link Spear Formation and learned that Ding Xiang had passed it down.
• Yi Yang told Ning Xiong he was going to the Sword Transformation Alliance and left the camp with his Commander's token.
• Yi Yang reached the Sword Transformation Alliance's gate, where its guards noticed the Pacification Guard emblem and his rank.