Chapter Summaries

After saving South City Prison during the riot, Yi Yang cultivated while news of his strength and meeting with Director Qi spread across Yunlin County. At the Peaceful Inn, Yi Xun heard that Yi Yang had risen in prominence as he worried over the crippled Yi Zhanzhi and the Yi Family’s ruined prospects.

• Yi Yang returned to South City Prison, received the injured jailers’ gratitude, restored their guard rotations, and cultivated the Horizontal Refinement Martial Extremity Body in his duty room.
• Yi Yang considered why Qi Shujian had recommended him for the Deputy Director assessment in Suining Prefecture, then set aside his doubts to focus on cultivation.
• News spread that Yi Yang had met privately with Director Qi and killed Feng Haiyuan during the prison riot, drawing visitors with gifts whom Yi Yang declined to meet.
• Yi Yang told Huang Yushu that Sunbright Tower was running smoothly and that he might soon be transferred, promising not to leave Huang Yushu empty-handed.
• Yi Xun brooded over Yi Zhanzhi’s crippling and the Yi Family’s prospects, then overheard townspeople discussing Yi Yang’s meeting with Director Qi and sixth-level strength.

After Yi Zhanzhi’s defeat left him badly injured, news that Yi Yang had become a powerful and respected figure shocked Yi Xun. Realizing Yi Yang might be the only person able to obtain the medicine Yi Zhanzhi needed, Yi Xun decided to visit him, while Yi Zhanzhi reluctantly accepted the plan.

• Yi Zhanzhi learned that his injuries could permanently ruin his martial foundation unless he received a Treasure Pill-grade restorative medicine.
• Liu Fu told Yi Xun that Yi Yang had defended South City Prison, killed Feng Haiyuan, and earned Director Qi’s personal attention.
• Yi Xun recalled how he had neglected and mistreated Yi Yang, then feared the consequences of his elder brother’s newfound standing.
• Yi Xun resolved to bring gifts and visit Yi Yang the next morning to seek help for Yi Zhanzhi.
• Yi Zhanzhi overheard the plan and, fearing he would never wield a sword again, let his grandfather go despite his resentment.

Jingyuan and Jingming of the Golden Sun Temple visited the Heaven Patrol Office to question Qi Shujian about Wang Gongqin’s death and examine his remains. Qi Shujian challenged Jingyuan’s insistence on answers, and Jingming spoke as tensions rose.

• Jingyuan presented the Golden Sun Temple’s Command Token at the Heaven Patrol Office and requested a meeting with Director Qi.
• Chen Wuya informed Qi Shujian of the monks’ arrival, and Qi Shujian ordered that they be admitted.
• Yi Yang checked his cultivation progress and resolved to strengthen himself before leaving Yunlin County.
• Jingyuan asked Qi Shujian who killed Wang Gongqin, where his body was, and whether the monks could examine it.
• Qi Shujian questioned why the Golden Sun Temple cared so much about Wang Gongqin’s possessions, and Jingyuan gave a guarded explanation.
• Qi Shujian rebuked Jingyuan for telling him how to do his job, and Jingming addressed him.

Jingming challenged Qi Shujian at the Heaven Patrol Office, but Qi’s superior cultivation forced the monks to back down and pay him Treasure Pills. Jingyuan and Jingming left to examine Wang Gongqin’s body and planned to investigate whoever had contact with him.

• Jingming declared that the Golden Sun Temple had ordered Qi Shujian to cooperate and released his Second Inner Qi aura.
• Qi Shujian countered with his Third Inner Qi power, forcing Jingming back as Chen Wuya and Song Tiecheng readied their weapons.
• Jingyuan apologized for Jingming and offered Treasure Pills, and Qi Shujian agreed to let the monks examine Wang Gongqin’s body in exchange for more pills.
• Qi Shujian sent one of the four Treasure Pills to Yi Yang and told the monks to leave Yunlin County promptly after their examination.
• Jingming told Jingyuan that Mysterious Abyss, a Golden Sun Temple guardian treasure, had to be recovered, and Jingyuan decided they should investigate whoever had contact with Wang Gongqin.

Yi Xun visited Yi Yang to apologize for his past mistreatment and beg him to find Treasure Pill-grade medicine for Zhan Zhi, whose muscles and bones had been ruined. Yi Yang had not answered when another visitor knocked at the courtyard gate.

• Yi Yang cultivated the Horizontal Refinement Martial Extremity Body and shared a quiet breakfast with Jiang Yuexin.
• Yi Xun arrived with Liu Fu bearing wine and food, and Yi Yang let them into the courtyard without returning his greeting.
• Jiang Yuexin withdrew to her room after realizing Yi Xun was the visitor.
• Yi Xun praised Yi Yang, admitted his past wrongs, and knelt to beg for medicine to save Zhan Zhi.
• As Yi Yang considered Yi Xun's plea, someone knocked on the courtyard gate again.

Mu Fenghai visited Yi Yang to ask him to obtain a restorative Treasure Pill for Yi Zhanzhi, offering a rare purple spirit flower and the Thundercloud Martial Arts Hall’s secret Thunderous Sound Mantra in payment. Yi Yang agreed to try, then sensed an unknown fifth-level martial artist waiting near his courtyard.

• Mu Fenghai arrived at Yi Yang’s courtyard, where Yi Xun recognized him as Yi Zhanzhi’s master.
• Mu Fenghai asked Yi Yang to use the Heaven Patrol Office’s channels to obtain a restorative Treasure Pill for Yi Zhanzhi.
• Mu Fenghai offered a thirteen-year-old purple spirit flower and the complete Thunderous Sound Mantra, explaining that Zhanzhi had been injured because of Mu Fenghai’s feud with Liu An.
• Yi Yang agreed to try to secure the Treasure Pill, and Mu Fenghai left the offerings with him.
• Yi Xun bowed deeply to Yi Yang before leaving with Mu Fenghai.
• After the courtyard grew quiet, Yi Yang sensed a fifth-level martial artist waiting in an alley nearby.

Yi Yang accepted five thousand taels from Qin Ju in exchange for offering to speak to the director on behalf of the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Hall. After weighing the gains from Mu Fenghai’s visit and Qi Shujian’s gift, he prepared to cultivate before leaving for Suining Prefecture.

• Qin Ju asked Yi Yang to speak to the director on behalf of the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Hall and offered him five thousand taels.
• Yi Yang accepted the money and agreed to mention the hall’s case without promising an outcome.
• Qin Ju asked whether Yi Yang had killed Feng Haiyuan at South City Prison, and Yi Yang’s response convinced him that it was true.
• Yi Yang examined the Purple Spirit Flower from Mu Fenghai and the restorative Treasure Pill from Qi Shujian, then inferred that Qi Shujian had anticipated Mu Fenghai’s request for help for Yi Zhanzhi.
• Yi Yang concluded that he had gained the Purple Spirit Flower and the Thunderous Sound Mantra without spending his own money, stored his valuables, and resumed cultivation ahead of his move to Suining Prefecture.

Yi Yang recovered the Wood-Nurturing Longevity Art, settled his exchange with Mu Fenghai, and prepared to leave for Suining Prefecture with Jiang Yuexin. As they set out, Jingyuan and Jingming suspected Yi Yang had the Mysterious Abyss blade and planned to attack him on the road.

• Qi Shujian gave Yi Yang the Wood-Nurturing Longevity Art manuscript and agreed to handle the case involving the innocent Azure Cloud Martial Arts Hall disciples.
• Qi Shujian arranged for Yi Yang to travel to Suining Prefecture with Song Tiecheng in two days and warned him that the prefecture was dangerous.
• Yi Yang gave Mu Fenghai a pill in exchange for the continuation of the Thunderous Sound Mantra.
• Yi Yang agreed to take Jiang Yuexin with him to Suining Prefecture, then began cultivating the Inner Qi Chapter.
• Jingyuan and Jingming identified Yi Yang as a suspect in the Mysterious Abyss blade’s disappearance and planned to attack him during his journey.

Yi Yang reached minor mastery in the Horizontal Refinement Martial Extremity Body and left Yunlin County with Jiang Yuexin for Suining Prefecture. After handing over his responsibilities and receiving parting gifts, he began cultivating during the journey.

• Yi Yang broke through to minor mastery in the Horizontal Refinement Martial Extremity Body and prepared to depart for Suining Prefecture.
• Yi Yang gave Huang Yushu the Qianyang Tower Command Token and advised him to consult Zhao Gang, while Zhao Gang bid him farewell.
• Qin Ju told Yi Yang that the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Hall would remain intact and gave him three poisoned throwing darts from Master Liu.
• Yi Yang and Jiang Yuexin met Song Tiecheng at the north gate and boarded a carriage bound for Suining Prefecture.
• As the carriage left Yunlin County, Yi Yang cultivated and increased his Wood-Nurturing Longevity Art progress.

Yi Yang sensed Jingyuan and Jingming approaching the inn to seize the Mysterious Abyss Saber, so he lured them away and confronted them in a dead grove. He survived Jingming’s opening strike and revealed the saber’s devastating power, but its first attack consumed much of his inner qi as the battle continued.

• Yi Yang detected two powerful intruders approaching the inn and deduced they were Jingyuan and Jingming of the Golden Sun Temple.
• Yi Yang took the Black-Patterned Long Saber, left the inn, and lured the monks to a dead grove away from Song Tiecheng and Jiang Yuexin.
• Jingming attacked Yi Yang from above, but Yi Yang blocked the full-powered Vajra Palm and revealed that he was in the Inner Qi Realm.
• Jingyuan and Jingming demanded the Mysterious Abyss Saber, and Yi Yang attacked Jingming with Perfection Peak.
• The saber drained Yi Yang’s inner qi and unleashed black saber qi that narrowly missed Jingming but cleaved a massive boulder in two.

Yi Yang defeated and killed Jingming and Jingyuan in a desperate fight, then learned that Mysterious Abyss required a matching heart method to unlock its true power. After hiding the monks’ bodies and returning to the inn, he heard Song Tiecheng open his door.

• Jingming and Jingyuan warned that Mysterious Abyss’s black blade qi could devour Yi Yang’s inner qi, while Yi Yang realized he could unleash only a few more powerful attacks.
• Jingming and Jingyuan attacked Yi Yang together, and Jingyuan struck his back before Yi Yang countered with a direct clash that left him badly weakened.
• Yi Yang used Thunderous Sound Mantra to stun Jingming, then killed him with the ninth form of Nine Peaks Saber.
• Jingyuan unleashed the Great Sun Vajra Palm, but Yi Yang evaded its strongest force and cut Jingyuan’s throat with the fifth form of Nine Peaks Saber.
• Jingyuan revealed that Mysterious Abyss was Golden Sun Temple’s guardian treasure and needed a matching heart method; he then died before Yi Yang could learn more.
• Yi Yang searched the bodies, hid the corpses, and returned to the inn just as Song Tiecheng opened his door.

Yi Yang and Jiang Yuexin reached Suining Prefecture, where Yi Yang saw how powerful and resource-rich the city was compared with Yunlin County. He passed the Heaven Patrol Office’s strength test but received a mediocre aptitude rating, then settled into temporary lodging and focused on recovering and cultivating toward the second inner qi level.

• Song Tiecheng warned Yi Yang that Suining Prefecture’s Heaven Patrol Office, martial forces, and ordinary fighters were far stronger than those in Yunlin County.
• Yi Yang and Jiang Yuexin arrived in Suining Prefecture, where Yi Yang surveyed the formidable city guards, abundant pills, and powerful residents.
• At the Heaven Patrol Office, Yi Yang presented Qi Shujian’s recommendation letter and tested at first inner qi level with Grade C, middle-tier aptitude.
• The examiner told Yi Yang to await the four offices’ decision at the Ten Thousand Suns Inn, and Jiang Yuexin comforted him about his aptitude rating.
• Yi Yang treated his lingering injuries, reflected on his narrow victory over Jingyuan and Jingming, and used his resources and Heavenly Mandate to continue cultivating.

Yi Yang waited in the prefectural city as the Evil Punishment Office and Knowledge Office passed him over for younger candidates. Song Tiecheng brought him a lead on the still-undecided Nether Spring Office appointment, leaving Yi Yang with one last option: meet Yan Wuyuan.

• Xiao Zhengyan shortlisted Feng Fei for the Evil Punishment Office post and rejected Yi Yang because of his age and aptitude.
• Wen Shiheng chose Wei He over Yi Yang for the Knowledge Office, honoring Wei He's father's service and considering him a better investment.
• Yi Yang waited at the Ten Thousand Suns Inn while other candidates received appointments and Jiang Yuexin worried that he had heard nothing.
• Song Tiecheng told Yi Yang that the Evil Punishment Office had chosen Feng Fei, the Knowledge Office had chosen Wei He, and the Evil-Breaking Office would not take him.
• Song Tiecheng gave Yi Yang a Temporary Passage Token and advised him to take his record to the Nether Spring Office and ask to see Yan Wuyuan.

Yi Yang sought Yan Wuyuan’s help to secure a promotion at the Nether Spring Office, and she accepted Qi Shujian’s recommendation. He entered service as deputy patrol director, with three months to master the office’s required cultivation art.

• After eight days without a suitable appointment, Yi Yang went to the Nether Spring Office to ask Yan Wuyuan for help.
• The powerful guards and Liu Qing let Yi Yang enter after he showed his credentials and Qi Shujian’s recommendation letter.
• Yan Wuyuan accepted Yi Yang’s recommendation for promotion to deputy patrol director and ordered him to master the office’s mandatory cultivation art within three months.
• Liu Qing gave Yi Yang his Command Token and led him toward his residence with a scroll titled “Concealed Breath Formless Art.”

Yi Yang moved into his new courtyard at the Nether Spring Office, studied the Concealed Breath Formless Art, and used Treasure Pills to advance his cultivation. After a clash with Shen Yue Bai, Yan Wuyuan revealed that Qi Shujian had recommended Yi Yang and hinted that he was more interesting than Liu Qing realized.

• Liu Qing explained the Nether Spring Office’s duties, gave Yi Yang his Deputy Patrol Director remuneration booklet, and set a three-month deadline for mastering Hidden Abyss.
• Yi Yang moved into the courtyard with Jiang Yuexin, studied the Concealed Breath Formless Art, and learned that its later levels could disguise and temporarily raise cultivation.
• Yi Yang refined two Treasure Pills, raising his cultivation progress by nearly thirty thousand points, and resolved to focus on reaching second inner qi.
• Three days later, Shen Yue Bai mocked Yi Yang and warned that he would be dismissed if he failed to master Hidden Abyss, while Yi Yang ignored him and continued cultivating.
• Liu Qing asked Yan Wuyuan whether Yi Yang could master Hidden Abyss, and Yan Wuyuan explained that Qi Shujian had recommended him to repay a favor and called Yi Yang more interesting than Liu Qing realized.

Yi Yang broke through to Second Inner Qi after two months of secluded cultivation, then planned to improve his combat skills before the Hidden Abyss assessment. The next morning, he left for Gold-Iron Hall to buy a heavier saber.

• Yi Yang completed Pure and Turbid Return to Origin, reaching Second Inner Qi and expelling impurities from his body.
• Yi Yang tested his increased strength and perception, then planned to advance his hard-body art and Thunderous Sound Mantra before cultivating Hidden Abyss.
• Yi Yang discovered that his standard-issue saber could not withstand his new strength and decided to buy a heavy saber with his remaining silver.
• Jiang Yuexin noticed Yi Yang looked younger when he joined her for a meal, but he attributed it to the firelight.
• Yi Yang left home the next morning and headed through the busy Prefectural City toward Gold-Iron Hall.

Yi Yang bought a custom seventy-jin blackfire iron saber and negotiated the price of rare flexible armor down to eight thousand taels, leaving himself nearly broke but better protected. Meanwhile, Yan Wuyuan told Liu Qing to wait for Yi Yang to finish his cultivation before judging him or giving up on him.

• Yi Yang visited the Gold-Iron Hall and ordered a seventy-jin saber from Tie Chongshan, paying fifteen hundred taels for a custom blackfire iron weapon.
• Tie Chongshan showed Yi Yang rare black dark iron flexible armor that could withstand attacks from powerful Inner Qi experts.
• Yi Yang bargained Tie Chongshan down from fifteen thousand taels to eight thousand and bought the armor, spending nine thousand five hundred taels in total.
• Yi Yang put on the armor and headed back to his lodgings, planning to master the first level of the Concealed Breath Formless Art before entering the Office.
• Liu Qing questioned Yan Wuyuan about Yi Yang's two months of seclusion, but Yan Wuyuan said his three-month deadline had not passed and told her to wait longer.

Yi Yang mastered the Concealed Breath Formless Art, reported to Yan Wuyuan, and accepted an assignment to hunt Steward Huang in the Beast Ridge Mountains. After collecting his new saber, Tiger Roar, he entered the sealed mountains and tracked Huang to a hidden cave, where he waited for a safer chance to act.

• Yi Yang reached initial mastery of the Concealed Breath Formless Art and demonstrated his ability to Yan Wuyuan.
• Yan Wuyuan approved Yi Yang's progress and offered him three field assignments, and Yi Yang chose to hunt the fugitive Steward Huang.
• Yi Yang collected his seventy-two-jin saber from Tie Chongshan and named it Tiger Roar.
• Yi Yang entered the Beast Ridge Mountains despite the Evil-Breaking Office's mountain seal after Wang Dong warned him about Mutant Beast activity.
• Yi Yang tracked Steward Huang's footprints to a concealed cave and found him inside at qi-blood sixth level perfection.
• Yi Yang decided to wait for Steward Huang to leave the cave rather than risk entering it.

Yi Yang killed Steward Huang during his first mission, but discovered the fugitive had been disguised as Zhao Hu and that a young Red Boar had also been killed. Han Yan’s team took control of the scene just as three adult Red Boars arrived, including one at third inner qi, leaving everyone facing an imminent attack.

• Yi Yang ambushed Steward Huang, but the wounded fugitive fired a signal arrow before Yi Yang killed him with Tiger Roar.
• Han Yan and two Evil-Breaking Office Deputy Directors arrived, and Yi Yang identified himself as a Nether Spring Office Deputy Patrol Director carrying out a pursuit-and-kill order.
• While searching the scene, Yi Yang found a dead young Red Boar, and Han Yan claimed it as evidence in her office’s operation.
• Yi Yang peeled the face from Steward Huang’s severed head, revealing a different man whom Zhu Wei identified as Zhao Hu.
• Three adult Red Boars charged into the valley, and the largest roared over the body of their dead young.

Yi Yang killed a Red Boar with a single strike, but fled when the Boar King overwhelmed Han Yan’s group. Han Yan marked him with the scent of the Red Boar piglet, turning the Boar King’s attention toward him.

• Han Yan assigned Yi Yang to stay behind while she, Zhu Wei, and Zhao Qin faced the Boars, and Yi Yang concealed his true strength.
• The Red Boars attacked, and Yi Yang killed the one charging Zhu Wei by striking its exposed neck.
• The Boar King routed Han Yan, Zhu Wei, and Zhao Qin, leaving them injured as Yi Yang prepared to escape.
• Han Yan ordered Yi Yang to cover the retreat, but he refused and fled into the woods.
• Han Yan threw the piglet’s glandular secretions onto Yi Yang, causing the Boar King to turn toward him.