Chapter Summaries

Han Zixun asked Zhang Yuan to kill Yan Wushuang in exchange for a lightness movement art and other rewards, and Zhang Yuan accepted. Afterward, Zhang Yuan placed his Treasure Map over his Qi Sea to guard against the Seal Origin Talisman that had crippled Yan Wushuang.

• Han Zixun revealed that Yan Wushuang had murdered Wan Yun and fled to the Great Dream Marsh after his crimes outraged the public.
• Han Zixun offered Zhang Yuan five hundred Dao Merit for killing Yan Wushuang, explaining that Xuan Cheng had recommended him and that Han had sealed Yan's dantian with a Seal Origin Talisman.
• Han Zixun offered Zhang Yuan three thousand taels of gold and a manor, but Zhang Yuan asked instead for an Entry Qi Realm lightness movement art and one month to prepare.
• Han Zixun agreed and told Zhang Yuan that completing the task would also erase the favor he owed Xuan Cheng.
• After Han Zixun escorted him home, Zhang Yuan moved his Treasure Map from his chest to cover his Qi Sea.

Zhang Yuan studied the Carefree Roaming movement technique while hunting across Taiwu Mountain to raise the Golden Grasshopper to Level 4. After cleansing the Blood Fiend Qi that had built up from his slaughter, he set off alone by boat and reached Great Dream Marsh.

• Han Zixun visited Zhang Yuan and gave him the Carefree Roaming manual and intelligence about Great Dream Marsh.
• Zhang Yuan hunted fierce beasts and low-level anomalies across Taiwu Mountain, feeding their Source Essence to the Golden Grasshopper until it evolved to Level 4.
• Xuan Cheng Daoren sensed Zhang Yuan's heavy Blood Fiend Qi and drew spiritual light from the Heavenly King statue to cleanse him.
• Zhang Yuan told Xuan Cheng that he would head to Great Dream Marsh in seven days, then stayed home to study Carefree Roaming.
• Zhang Yuan left Ruins City alone in a fast boat and used his Water Profound Understanding to travel down the Long Sky River.
• Two days later, Zhang Yuan reached a vast marshland.

Zhang Yuan traveled into Great Dream Marsh, where he paid off a waterway guard and hired a teenage boy to guide him. The boy led him through the marsh toward Great Chen Island.

• Zhang Yuan navigated the misty waterways of Great Dream Marsh with the Red-Eyed Crow’s help and saw its sprawling Stilt Boat Houses.
• A bare-chested man demanded a toll, but Zhang Yuan embedded a silver fragment in the man’s fish spear and made him yield the passage.
• Zhang Yuan recalled that the Hongmin, Great River Gang, Gold Sand Gang, and Flying Fish Alliance were the marsh’s four major powers.
• A teenage boy surfaced with a snapping turtle and offered to sell it to Zhang Yuan.
• Zhang Yuan agreed to buy the turtle if the boy guided him to Great Chen Island, and the boy led his boat toward a Land Island.

Zhang Yuan arrived at Great Chen Island and saw how lawless and dangerous the settlement was. At Good Fortune Inn, where he had come to meet Han Zixun’s spy, an ordinary-looking man approached and asked whether he was from Xia Ruins.

• Zhang Yuan paid Shui Sheng to guide him from the pier to Good Fortune Inn and asked him to watch his boat.
• Shui Sheng warned Zhang Yuan that the Great River Gang was vicious after he witnessed one of its members beat a man to unconsciousness.
• Zhang Yuan checked into Good Fortune Inn, ordered food and wine, and drew covetous looks by paying with a silver ingot.
• After Zhang Yuan waited in the inn, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man sat across from him and asked whether he was from Xia Ruins.
• Zhang Yuan set down his teacup and replied that his surname was Zhang.

Zhang Yuan learned from Chen Qi that Yan Wushuang had been missing in Great Dream Marsh for a year, so he settled near Great Chen Island to wait for news. As midsummer arrived with no leads, Zhang Yuan continued cultivating and exploring while Shui Sheng regularly brought him freshwater delicacies.

• Chen Qi told Zhang Yuan that Yan Wushuang had vanished without a trace, and Zhang Yuan decided to wait in Great Dream Marsh for him to reappear.
• Zhang Yuan asked Chen Qi to find him a place to stay, and Chen Qi secured him a waterside stilt house near Great Chen Island.
• Zhang Yuan settled into the house, cultivated the Righteous Qi Art, and explored the nearby waters at night.
• Midsummer arrived without any news of Yan Wushuang, and Zhang Yuan decided to stay until the end of the year before returning to Xia Ruins.
• Shui Sheng repeatedly brought Zhang Yuan fish, shrimp, turtles, and eels, refusing payment and escaping into the water.

Shui Sheng asked Zhang Yuan to teach him martial arts so he could stop being bullied, and Zhang Yuan agreed to teach him in exchange for gathering important news from Great Dream Marsh. After training Shui Sheng and treating his injuries, Zhang Yuan accepted the boy’s offer to show him a secret fishing spot, sensing it might hold an opportunity.

• Shui Sheng brought Zhang Yuan a carp, then knelt and asked to learn martial arts because he did not want people to bully him.
• Zhang Yuan agreed to teach Shui Sheng as a transaction, requiring him to gather important news from Great Dream Marsh and telling him to call him Brother Zhang.
• Zhang Yuan taught Shui Sheng the Boulder Foundation Skill and Subduing Tiger Fist, then gave him medicinal herbs after the boy injured himself through overtraining.
• Shui Sheng continued bringing Zhang Yuan river delicacies, and Zhang Yuan asked where he caught them.
• Shui Sheng offered to take Zhang Yuan to the secret place where he caught the fish, and Zhang Yuan agreed, sensing it might be an opportunity.

Zhang Yuan followed Shui Sheng through a dangerous Water Forest after learning the youth’s stone ring supposedly kept Water Ghouls away. They reached Shui Sheng’s hidden lake, where the Divine Nest had detected a containable genetic entity lurking underwater.

• Shui Sheng guided Zhang Yuan by swimming through a winding creek toward the Water Forest.
• Shui Sheng explained that he had lost his boat to theft and gave Zhang Yuan his mother’s stone ring, which he said protected him from Water Ghouls.
• Zhang Yuan returned the ring, and Shui Sheng led him into the misty forest, where the way back disappeared.
• The Divine Nest detected a containable genetic entity underwater as Zhang Yuan continued through the forest without fear.
• Shui Sheng brought Zhang Yuan to a beautiful lake hidden within the forest and called it his secret treasure.

Zhang Yuan repaid Shui Sheng for leading him to the hidden lake by giving him tonic medicine and helping him begin his cultivation. He returned alone to the Water Forest, where the White Dragon Loach's ability let him reach the lake and prepare to investigate the opportunity there.

• Shui Sheng collected a rich catch from the lake and shared nearly all of it with Zhang Yuan.
• Zhang Yuan gave Shui Sheng tonic medicine, and Shui Sheng found practicing the Boulder Foundation Skill much easier afterward.
• Zhang Yuan left Shui Sheng training and rowed back toward the Water Forest to repay the opportunity Shui Sheng had brought him.
• Zhang Yuan used the White Dragon Loach's extraordinary ability to resist the forest's cold aura and pass through its mist.
• Zhang Yuan reached the central lake, removed his outer garments, and activated the Dragon Carp Armor.

Zhang Yuan dove into the lake at the heart of the Forest Above Water and discovered an ancient city and a large gathering of White Dragon Loaches. When he tried to sacrifice one to strengthen his Divine Nest host, the host pleaded for its kin, and Zhang Yuan released it, following the loaches as they swam away.

• Zhang Yuan used his Black Scale Armor to dive deep into the lake and felt an uncanny resonance with the water.
• Zhang Yuan reached the lakebed and found the ruins of an ancient city buried beneath silt.
• Zhang Yuan spotted several White Dragon Loaches and used Tenfold Agility and Water Control to trap one.
• Zhang Yuan prepared to sacrifice the trapped loach, but his White Dragon Loach host resisted and pleaded for its kin.
• Dozens of White Dragon Loaches gathered around Zhang Yuan without hostility, so he released the trapped one.
• The freed loach rubbed against Zhang Yuan's Dragon Carp Armor and swam away, followed by the others.

Zhang Yuan followed the White Dragon Loaches to a Giant Crab that had occupied their ancient city ruins. After his attacks failed to pierce its armor, he struck it with the Crimson Blood Divine Weapon, and the crab collapsed onto the lakebed.

• Zhang Yuan followed the White Dragon Loaches to a crude pile of rubble that blocked their way, where they sprayed water arrows into a dark hole.
• A Giant Crab emerged from the hole and shrugged off the White Dragon Loaches' attacks.
• Zhang Yuan collapsed the rubble over the hole to block the Giant Crab's retreat, then fought it with repeated palm strikes that failed to break its defenses.
• When the Giant Crab tried to leave, Zhang Yuan blocked its path and launched the Crimson Blood Divine Weapon into its mouthparts.
• The Crimson Blood Divine Weapon pierced through the Giant Crab, which convulsed and collapsed onto the lakebed.

Zhang Yuan killed a Giant Crab with the Divine Treasury Art and brought it ashore, where its shell cracked under reduced water pressure. After sharing its meat with the White Dragon Loaches, he ate some pincer meat and discovered it greatly increased his qi and blood, leaving him delighted by the gains.

• Zhang Yuan used the Divine Treasury Art to kill the Giant Crab with the Crimson Blood Blade.
• Zhang Yuan carried the Giant Crab to shore, where its shell cracked apart as the water pressure decreased.
• Zhang Yuan fed the White Dragon Loaches the crab legs and ate half a pincer himself.
• Zhang Yuan circulated his true qi to settle the surging qi and blood caused by the crab meat.
• Zhang Yuan checked the Divine Nest Panel and found his qi and blood had risen to 901, leaving him pleased with the gains.

Zhang Yuan ate the Giant Crab’s meat and roe, gaining vitality and cultivation before sacrificing its remains for Source Essence. When danger stirred in the Water Forest, he escaped with the White Dragon Loaches’ help and returned to the Stilt Boat House, where Shui Sheng greeted him with relief.

• Zhang Yuan ate the Giant Crab’s claw and roe, fed some to the White Dragon Loaches, and gained vitality while the roe forced him to cultivate.
• Zhang Yuan sacrificed the crab’s remains and gained 238 Source Essence.
• Zhang Yuan cultivated until the Red-Eyed Crow warned him that mist and danger were spreading across the lake.
• Zhang Yuan fled through the darkening Water Forest as the White Dragon Loaches guided his boat and eerie voices tried to disturb him.
• Zhang Yuan escaped the forest, promised to visit the loaches again, and returned to the Stilt Boat House, where Shui Sheng welcomed him with relief.

Shui Sheng broke through into Bright Force while Zhang Yuan continued his cultivation and returned to Lake in the Woods. There, the White Dragon Loaches led him to a hidden hole, where a Giant Eel attacked him, and Zhang Yuan turned to counter it.

• Shui Sheng told Zhang Yuan he had entered Force, and Zhang Yuan congratulated him.
• Zhang Yuan taught Shui Sheng about martial artists and the Jianghu while his vitality and blood settled at 958 points and he fed the Giant Crab's Source Essence to the Red-Eyed Crow.
• Zhang Yuan returned to Lake in the Woods, where the White Dragon Loaches led him to a concealed hole at the edge of the Ancient City at the Bottom of the Lake.
• A Giant Eel burst from the hole and attacked Zhang Yuan, who struck its head before dodging its tail and racing toward the surface.
• Zhang Yuan abruptly changed direction and accelerated toward the pursuing Giant Eel.

Zhang Yuan fought the Giant Eel underwater with his Edge Piercing Dagger, relying on speed and patience rather than risking the Crimson Blood Blade. After bleeding the creature until it could no longer flee, he killed it near the black hole by the ruins of the Ancient City at the Bottom of the Lake.

• Zhang Yuan repeatedly stabbed the Giant Eel while evading its bites, taking care not to rely on the Crimson Blood Blade because of its dangers and the Divine Treasury Art’s cooldown.
• As the Giant Eel weakened from blood loss, it sprayed poisonous ink and fled toward the lakebed, but Zhang Yuan dodged the poison and continued attacking.
• The wounded Giant Eel lost its strength near its lair by the black hole at the ruins of the Ancient City at the Bottom of the Lake.
• Zhang Yuan stabbed the Giant Eel until he confirmed it was dead, then the White Dragon Loaches returned and he asked if they wanted to eat it.

After discovering that Shui Sheng had been kidnapped, Zhang Yuan followed the ransom note to a small island and found the youth beaten unconscious. Zhang Yuan stood inside the gang’s hall, facing the men who had taken him.

• Zhang Yuan sacrificed the Giant Eel’s corpse, gained 248 Source Essence, and found a glowing pearl inside it.
• Zhang Yuan explored the lake ruins, returned home, and noticed Shui Sheng was missing, his house ransacked, and watchers nearby.
• Zhang Yuan found a note saying Shui Sheng had been kidnapped and demanding ransom at a designated location.
• Zhang Yuan retrieved his General-Slaying Saber and traveled to the island named in the note, where he was surrounded and led to a gang hall.
• Zhang Yuan saw Shui Sheng kneeling unconscious, covered in blood, after being tortured.

Zhang Yuan confronted Pang Xiong and the Brothers Gang after they captured Shui Sheng, only to discover that they had plotted to weaken him with Gu Poison. Having learned of the ambush in advance and protected himself, Zhang Yuan faced the gang as one of its men threatened Shui Sheng with a saber.

• Zhang Yuan offered Pang Xiong his remaining silver to secure Shui Sheng's release, but Pang Xiong demanded more and set his sights on Zhang Yuan's General-Slaying Saber.
• Pang Xiong identified himself as the Brothers Gang's leader and mocked Zhang Yuan's warning about attacking a Fourth Order Martial Artist.
• Zhang Yuan revealed that he knew Pang Xiong had mixed Gu Poison into the Fish Lamp to dissipate his true qi.
• Zhang Yuan explained that the Red-Eyed Crow had tracked the gang and overheard their plan, allowing him to guard against the poison before entering the house.
• One of Pang Xiong's men pressed a saber to Shui Sheng's neck and threatened to kill him.

Zhang Yuan slaughtered the Brothers Gang after discovering their plot to use Shui Sheng against him, then forced Pang Xiong to reveal who had ordered the attack. As Zhang Yuan carried the injured Shui Sheng from the house, an armed crowd surrounded them.

• Zhang Yuan killed the Brothers Gang members inside the house and knocked Pang Xiong unconscious as he tried to escape.
• Zhang Yuan checked on the badly beaten Shui Sheng, then revived Pang Xiong and broke both his legs while demanding to know who had sent him.
• Pang Xiong revealed the truth and identified the person behind the attack, and Zhang Yuan killed him.
• Zhang Yuan carried Shui Sheng out of the house and found a huge armed crowd waiting outside.

Zhang Yuan rescued Shui Sheng from the Brothers Gang and hid him in a secluded boat house before confronting Chen Qi on Great Chen Island. After crippling Chen Qi, Zhang Yuan demanded to know where Yan Wushuang was.

• Zhang Yuan treated Shui Sheng’s injuries and learned that Shui Sheng knew a safe place to hide.
• Zhang Yuan left the Brothers Gang’s island burning after killing everyone there, then used the slaughter’s Source Essence to advance the Red-Eyed Crow toward Level Four.
• Zhang Yuan brought Shui Sheng to a hidden boat house in the Reed Marshes and went to Great Chen Island to buy medicine.
• Zhang Yuan waited for Chen Qi, Han Zixun’s intelligence chief, and demanded to know Yan Wushuang’s location.
• Chen Qi denied knowing where Yan Wushuang was, so Zhang Yuan struck him down and broke both his legs.
• Chen Qi asked how Zhang Yuan had discovered his scheme, and Zhang Yuan said he had guessed and tested him.

Zhang Yuan exposed Chen Qi as a traitor working for Yan Wushuang, but Chen Qi died before revealing Yan Wushuang’s whereabouts. Zhang Yuan considered leaving Great Dream Marsh, then chose to continue and returned to Shui Sheng’s hideout with a glowing pearl.

• Chen Qi admitted he had betrayed his side after Yan Wushuang forced him to choose between serving him and dying.
• Chen Qi’s hidden Blood Centipede attacked Zhang Yuan, but Zhang Yuan cut it apart; the poison killed Chen Qi and destroyed his corpse.
• Zhang Yuan realized Chen Qi’s death left him without Yan Wushuang’s location and considered abandoning the mission.
• Zhang Yuan bought medicine and salves on Great Chen Island, returned to Shui Sheng’s hideout, and examined the glowing pearl from the Giant Eel in Lake in the Woods.

Zhang Yuan discovered more of the Eel Pearl’s protective power and tested the Red-Eyed Crow’s new abilities after it evolved into a Beginner Profound Spirit. After helping Shui Sheng recover and teaching him martial arts, Zhang Yuan parted ways with him while remaining in Great Dream Marsh to pursue Yan Wushuang.

• Zhang Yuan suspected Yan Wushuang had allied with the Hongmin and resolved to rely on the Eel Pearl to guard against venomous Gu.
• Zhang Yuan returned to Shui Sheng, treated his injuries, and stayed with him while the Red-Eyed Crow evolved to the Fourth Level and became a Beginner Profound Spirit.
• Zhang Yuan tested the Red-Eyed Crow’s enhanced scouting and Life Aura vision, which revealed living beings’ strength and cultivation but consumed qi and blood.
• Zhang Yuan bought supplies and medicine on Great Chen Island, and Shui Sheng’s injuries healed as Zhang Yuan taught him martial knowledge and Jianghu experience.
• Zhang Yuan gave Shui Sheng the Jianghu Records and said he would remain in Great Dream Marsh but could no longer accompany him; Shui Sheng kowtowed to him.