Chapter Summaries

Jiang Zhongtian announced a Qingzhou Army expedition against Tooth-Copper City and offered contribution points and True Essence Lotus Heart Seeds to attract volunteers. Yi Yang declined to join and planned to cultivate at Crossing Peak Stronghold, but Chu Tiankuo revealed that Heavenly Heart Sect elder Han Ji had been murdered and fixed his gaze on Yi Yang.

• Jiang Zhongtian said the army would march against Tooth-Copper City in ten days to arrest its lord, Qi He, and that Chu Tiankuo and Lu Zui would accompany it.
• Jiang Zhongtian offered contribution points for killing Shaman Kingdom martial artists and promised True Essence Lotus Heart Seeds to the expedition's three highest achievers.
• Yi Yang declined Luo Kaishan's implied invitation to join the expedition, then politely refused Xie Yungui's offer to look after him.
• Yi Yang decided that staying behind to cultivate while others left would give him a quiet opportunity to train.
• Chu Tiankuo said Heavenly Heart Sect elder Han Ji had been killed in the South District and offered a handsome reward for information.
• Chu Tiankuo's scrutiny stopped on Yi Yang, making Yi Yang tense without changing his expression.

Chu Tiankuo saw through Yi Yang's concealed cultivation and publicly exposed that he had reached the Profound Connection Realm, drawing the attention of everyone in Crossing Peak Stronghold. As the group headed to the Qingzhou Army camp, someone quietly asked Yi Yang whether he had killed Han Ji.

• Chu Tiankuo sensed that Yi Yang was hiding cultivation, but Jiang Zhongtian warned him to stop investigating because Yi Yang was his friend's disciple and belonged to the Heaven Patrol Office.
• Chu Tiankuo publicly called Yi Yang forward as a Heroes Ranking prodigy with Profound Connection Realm cultivation, forcing Yi Yang into the spotlight.
• Yi Yang admitted that he had recently broken through, and Chu Tiankuo invited him to sit near the front before returning to the expedition arrangements.
• Lu Qinglan studied Yi Yang with curiosity as the group left the command tent, while Yi Yang resolved to find a stronger method for concealing his cultivation.
• As Yi Yang followed the others toward the Qingzhou Army camp, an unseen speaker quietly asked whether he had something to do with Han Ji's death.

Yi Yang evaded Jiang Zhongtian’s question about Han Ji’s death and accepted pills while considering Jiang’s offer of a powerful concealment method in exchange for future help. After researching Dharma Bodies, Yi Yang learned how visualization shaped their power and decided to visualize himself as he continued refining his bones.

• Jiang Zhongtian warned Yi Yang that powerful Profound Connection Realm experts could see through his aura concealment and offered him a superior method in exchange for a future favor.
• Jiang Zhongtian gave Yi Yang Blood-Replenishing Pills to support his cultivation of Divine Bone Blood Refining.
• Yi Yang bought books on the Profound Connection Realm and Dharma Bodies from the Rare Treasures Pavilion.
• Yi Yang learned that Dharma Bodies could be formed by visualizing mutant beasts, weapons, or gods, and recognized Han Ji’s and the Blood Illusion Venerable’s forms as divine manifestations.
• Yi Yang decided to visualize himself when forming his Profound Light Seed and returned to Divine Bone Blood Refining to strengthen his body.

Xia Haoyun asked Gu Zhaohuang to arrange another death trap for Shang Yu, hoping to use himself as bait. He believed Shang Yu was the only lead to the Martial Saint and the truth about the battle at Dingfeng Mountain.

• Xia Haoyun told Gu Zhaohuang that Shang Yu would be drawn to him once his royal dragon qi manifested, and asked him to prepare another trap.
• Gu Zhaohuang warned Xia Haoyun about the danger, but Xia Haoyun argued that Great Yu had no safer option against Shang Yu’s growing power.
• After Xia Haoyun left, Gu Zhaohuang told Gu Yanjin that Great Yu was already rotting and that the young prodigies would compete for Shang Yu’s qi after the planned attack at Ten Thousand Demon Stronghold.
• On the streets, Xia Haoyun told his younger sister that killing Shang Yu would not solve everything, but Shang Yu might know what happened at Dingfeng Mountain and where the Martial Saint was.
• Xia Haoyun said he needed to find the Martial Saint because only he could save Great Yu.

Yi Yang completed the initiation stage of Iron Bone after consuming Blood-Replenishing Pills, Waterside Spirit Drops, and Blood-Qi Treasure Medicine, and tested his newly strengthened body. He resumed cultivating to reach Manifestation and decided he would accept Jiang Zhongtian’s dangerous offer if it was not a death sentence, hoping to obtain the Breath-Concealing Method.

• Yi Yang reviewed how Blood-Replenishing Pills and Waterside Spirit Drops had advanced his Divine Bone Blood Refining, then ordered Xu Min to buy the oldest Blood-Qi Treasure Medicine available.
• After more than half a month of training and taking the medicine Xu Min purchased, Yi Yang completed Iron Bone initiation, though the next stage required far more progress.
• Yi Yang tested his bones with a treasure-artifact saber and found that even a qi-infused strike only caused a shallow cut that quickly stopped bleeding.
• Yi Yang resolved to reach Manifestation and obtain Jiang Zhongtian’s Breath-Concealing Method, deciding to accept the Deputy Garrison Commissioner’s request unless it meant certain death.
• Yi Yang took a Profound Essence Pill and continued cultivating as snow and wind intensified outside.

Yi Yang accepted Jiang Zhongtian’s mission to hunt three escaped members of the Spirit-Blood God in exchange for the Grand Void Breath-Hiding Art. Jiang Zhongtian revealed that the hunt was a final test before they partnered to enter a secret realm, and Yi Yang left to prepare for the pursuit.

• Yi Yang reached the third level of the Profound Intent Calamity-Extinguishing Finger, gaining the Organ-Burning technique.
• Jiang Zhongtian summoned Yi Yang and offered him the Grand Void Breath-Hiding Art for hunting three escaped Spirit-Blood God followers.
• Jiang Zhongtian explained that Shen Biluo, a wounded Dharma Body Realm leader, and the Manifestation Realm elders Zhongli Qing and Zhao Fengxian had fled toward the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains.
• Jiang Zhongtian revealed that he needed a partner below the Dharma Body Realm to enter a secret realm and promised Yi Yang the remaining treasures and a promotion if he passed this final test.
• Yi Yang accepted the mission, learned the three targets’ names, and returned home to plan his pursuit.

Yi Yang tracked the Nine Evil Sect to an abandoned Land God Temple in Qinggang County and prepared to draw its members out without alerting them. After discovering a starving family and learning that Zhang Laosan had visited the temple, he ordered Xu Min to watch him and waited for Zhang Laosan to make his next move.

• Yi Yang studied the Grand Void Breath-Hiding Art while Xu Min reported suspicious sites, including the abandoned Land God Temple in the western slums.
• Yi Yang traced thick yin baleful energy to the temple but chose to wait for a chance to confirm whether Shen Biluo and the other targets were there.
• Yi Yang disguised himself and visited a starving family, gave them food and money, and asked about people in the west who offered a way to survive.
• Xu Min reported that Zhang Laosan, whose family was facing starvation, had gone to the Land God Temple three nights earlier.
• Yi Yang ordered Xu Min to keep Zhang Laosan under watch and waited for him to seek help from the Nine Evil Sect.

Yi Yang infiltrated a Nine Evil Sect stronghold in the Land God Temple but found no sign of Shen Biluo, Zhongli Qing, or Zhao Fengxian. He learned that an important figure would arrive in seven days and decided to wait for that opportunity.

• Xu Min followed Zhang Laosan to the Land God Temple and saw him receive a bloodied cloth bag from someone inside.
• Yi Yang disguised himself as a destitute, sick man and persuaded Zhang Laosan to take him to the people in the west of town.
• Yi Yang entered the Land God Temple with Zhang Laosan, secretly destroyed the offered dried meat, and learned to return in seven days to meet an important figure.
• Yi Yang sensed two True Astral Realm cultivators in the cellar but found no sign of his three targets.
• Yi Yang told Xu Min the temple was a Nine Evil Sect stronghold and that they would wait for the important figure to arrive.

Yi Yang disguised himself and monitored a Nine Evil Sect gathering at the Land God Temple, where the cultists prepared a blood-pool ritual and Qinggang County’s powerful factions arrived to confront them. The cult leader revealed that Wei Qingfeng’s family had driven him out when he was known as Zhang Yuan, the Wei Family’s groom.

• Yi Yang disguised himself and sent Xu Min and the Pacification Guards to mingle with the crowd and watch for suspicious people.
• Yi Yang discovered a vast blood pool, a Spiritblood True God Statue, and signs that the Nine Evil Sect intended to sacrifice people.
• The Nine Evil Sect leader announced that hidden intruders were present, and Yi Yang told Xu Min not to react because the warning was meant for others.
• Su Lie, Wei Qingfeng, Gu Changfeng, Lin Tian, and Head Shopkeeper Zhao arrived with armed forces to confront the cultists.
• The cult leader accused Qinggang County’s leaders of stealing disaster-relief grain, then revealed himself to Wei Qingfeng as Zhang Yuan, the groom the Wei Family had driven away.

Zhang Yuan summoned the Nine Evil Sect Incense Masters to sacrifice Qinggang County’s martial artists, but Wei Xinyuan and Miss Wang arrived and Xinyuan killed one attacker. As Xinyuan approached his father, a mysterious hand seized the back of his neck, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Wei Qingfeng insulted Zhang Yuan, who called on four Nine Evil Sect Incense Masters to offer Qinggang County’s martial artists as sacrifices.
• The Incense Masters attacked the crowd, while Yi Yang and the Pacification Guards watched from hiding.
• One Incense Master attacked Wei Qingfeng, but Wei Xinyuan arrived and killed him with the Nine-Bend Long River Sword.
• Wei Xinyuan and Miss Wang revealed themselves as powerful Nine Rivers Sect disciples, and Yi Yang recognized them while keeping his own identity concealed.
• As Wei Xinyuan approached Wei Qingfeng, a pale hand appeared behind him and paralyzed him by the neck.

Yi Yang discovered that Shen Biluo had been hiding in the Blood Pool and watched her and the other Nine Evil Sect elders overwhelm the gathered warriors. As Shen Biluo began draining their vital blood to heal herself, Yi Yang launched a concealed, all-or-nothing attack, leaving its outcome unknown.

• Shen Biluo appeared behind Wei Xinyuan and immobilized him, while Yi Yang recognized her as the gravely injured Dharma Body Realm elder he had been hunting.
• Zhongli Qing and Zhao Fengxian emerged from the Blood Pool and helped Shen Biluo defeat the local warriors, including Wei Qingfeng and Miss Wang.
• Shen Biluo placed a Blood Bead in the Spiritblood True God Statue, activating a Blood Array that began draining the captives' vital blood to heal her injuries.
• Yi Yang decided to strike before Shen Biluo could recover and approached the altar under the concealment of the snowfall.
• Yi Yang unleashed White Tiger Howls at the Moon with the Mysterious Abyss Saber, sending a black tiger-shaped blade gleam toward Shen Biluo's heart.

Yi Yang killed Zhao Fengxian with a surprise saber strike, then fought Shen Biluo after she transformed into an incomplete Dharma Body and used a Divine Power to disable his right arm. He wounded her serpent tail and tried to retreat, but Zhongli Qing ambushed him from behind.

• Shen Biluo used her power to drag Zhao Fengxian into Yi Yang's black saber strike, and Zhao died as the attack devoured his vitality.
• Yi Yang revealed himself and advanced on Shen Biluo, who transformed into an incomplete Dharma Body and attacked him with blood swords.
• Shen Biluo's Divine Power severed Yi Yang's sensation in his right arm, but he caught the Mysterious Abyss Saber with his left hand and blocked her strike.
• Yi Yang used his Profound Intent Calamity-Extinguishing Finger to punch a hole through Shen Biluo's serpent tail, then caught his saber and retreated.
• Zhongli Qing burst from the ground in a wormlike monster form and lunged at Yi Yang from behind.

Yi Yang used a divine sense attack to incapacitate Zhongli Qing, then killed him while evading Shen Biluo’s assaults. Shen Biluo retreated toward the Blood Pool and began drawing power from the Spiritblood True God Statue, leaving Yi Yang to prepare to stop its activation.

• Yi Yang escaped Shen Biluo’s sword strike and the blood worm’s attack, then identified Zhongli Qing as the first target he needed to eliminate.
• Yi Yang struck Zhongli Qing’s Sea of Consciousness with Heart Prison, Body Incineration, leaving him trapped in terror while Shen Biluo attacked with blood threads and blood mist.
• Yi Yang evaded Shen Biluo’s attacks, broke the blood threads, and killed Zhongli Qing with a punch as the blood worm vanished.
• Shen Biluo retreated toward the Blood Pool behind a wall of blood and began drawing power from the Spiritblood True God Statue.
• Yi Yang felt his right hand recover, gripped the Mysterious Abyss Saber, and prepared to end the fight before the statue fully awakened.

Yi Yang killed Shen Biluo after she drained the Qinggang County martial artists to restore her strength, completing Jiang Zhongtian’s mission. As he prepared to recover, Shen Biluo’s severed head opened its eyes and released a terrifying pressure beyond the Dharma Body Realm.

• Yi Yang pierced Shen Biluo’s blood wall with Astral-Breaking and charged through the opening.
• Shen Biluo drained Su Lie, Wei Qingfeng, Gu Changfeng, Lin Tian, Zhao, and dozens of other martial artists to heal her injuries.
• Shen Biluo attacked Yi Yang with Blood Sea Severance, but he redirected the blood lines with his divine sense at the cost of his left hand and sight.
• Yi Yang struck Shen Biluo’s back with Vermilion Bird Burns the Flame, then burned her organs with Organ-Burning and beheaded her with the Mysterious Abyss Saber.
• Yi Yang realized he had killed all three targets and completed his mission, but Shen Biluo’s severed head opened its eyes and unleashed pressure beyond the Dharma Body Realm.

After killing the three Profound Connection Realm cultivators, Yi Yang was attacked by Spiritblood True God's divine will, but the Heart Ape Divine Venerable's power forced it to retreat and offer its essence. Yi Yang returned to his body with new questions about the gods, spared two surviving Nine Rivers Sect disciples, and destroyed the Spiritblood True God Statue.

• Shen Biluo's head awakened with Spiritblood True God's power and sent a strand of divine will into Yi Yang's consciousness.
• Yi Yang's Heart Ape Mind Guarding Art manifested as a Golden Giant Ape, whose golden flames burned away Spiritblood True God's attacks.
• Yi Yang pretended to be the Heart Ape Divine Venerable, causing Spiritblood True God's divine will to retreat and leave behind its essence.
• Yi Yang returned to his body, collected the dead cultivators' belongings, and found the unconscious Wei Xinyuan and Miss Wang beneath the ruins.
• Yi Yang gave Wei Xinyuan and Miss Wang Hemostatic Pills and ordered Xu Min to guard them.
• Yi Yang shattered the Spiritblood True God Statue with a strike.