Chapter Summaries

Zhang Yuan fought Hall Master Shen underwater and overcame the Fourth Order powerhouse with the Crimson Blood Divine Weapon. After Hall Master Shen died, Zhang Yuan sent his withered corpse onward using the power of the Divine Nest.

• Zhang Yuan and Hall Master Shen fought beneath the water, with Zhang Yuan's strength and water affinity keeping the two evenly matched.
• Dharma Master Sun ordered the warship to shore after seeing the river churn from their battle.
• As the Spirit Talisman Spell faded and his underwater breath ran short, Hall Master Shen tried to retreat, but Zhang Yuan seized his ankle.
• The Crimson Blood Divine Weapon pierced Hall Master Shen's protective true qi and began draining his blood, qi, and strength.
• Zhang Yuan dragged Hall Master Shen deeper until he died, then withdrew the weapon and sent the withered corpse onward with the Divine Nest.

After defeating Hall Master Shen underwater, Zhang Yuan salvaged his belongings, scuttled the warship, and escaped to shore. Disguised and under the Red-Eyed Crow’s watch, he headed toward a nearby County Town to recover and learn where he was.

• Zhang Yuan recalled the sleeping Crimson Blood Divine Weapon and took Hall Master Shen’s pouch and Edge Piercing Dagger.
• Zhang Yuan dragged the floating warrior corpses underwater and laid them to rest, gaining Source Essence from each.
• Zhang Yuan used the Edge Piercing Dagger to cut holes in the warship until it flooded, capsized, and sank as Dharma Master Sun watched.
• Zhang Yuan retrieved his luggage and Iron Womb Bow from the ship, then swam dozens of li before coming ashore.
• Zhang Yuan summoned a Red-Eyed Crow to scout, changed clothes, disguised himself, and headed west along an official road toward a County Town twenty li away.

At Azure Cloud Temple, Murong Zihao angrily demanded Zhang Yuan after the youth escaped, but Xuan Yuan persuaded him to choose another vessel and offered the temple compensation. Xuan Yuan then ordered a bounty for Zhang Yuan, intending to have him brought to Xuan Yuan Residence for research.

• Murong Zihao berated Azure Cloud Temple's Daoists and Dharma Masters for letting Zhang Yuan escape and demanded that Dharma Master Sun capture him.
• Dharma Master Sun admitted the failure and offered Murong Zihao one of the six remaining candidates for Soul Exchange Body Transformation.
• Xuan Yuan told Murong Zihao to choose another candidate and promised he would reach the Fifth Order within three years after returning to Qian Capital.
• Xuan Yuan gave Azure Cloud Temple five drops of Ten Thousand Year Stone Marrow as compensation.
• Xuan Yuan asked Azure Cloud Temple to issue a bounty for Zhang Yuan and send him to Xuan Yuan Residence for research.

After fleeing Azure Cloud Temple, Zhang Yuan inspected the pouch taken from a fourth-rank expert and discovered that the Red-Eyed Crow had evolved into an Intermediate Spirit Command. He resumed his journey south toward the Xia Ruins, following Liu Qi Niang’s map and keeping his ten-year pact with Seventh Sister in mind.

• Zhang Yuan sacrificed his exhausted horse, fed the Red-Eyed Crow, and spent Source Essence to strengthen its nest chamber.
• Zhang Yuan reached a county town, inspected the pouch, took its five thousand taels, crushed the expert’s seal, and kept the puzzling Jade Token.
• Zhang Yuan discovered that the Red-Eyed Crow had reached level two and gained an Intermediate Spirit Command.
• Zhang Yuan tested the Red-Eyed Crow’s improved flight, surveillance range, and night vision over the town.
• Zhang Yuan bought a new mount the next morning and headed south toward the Xia Ruins.

Zhang Yuan discovered a merchant caravan besieged by Wild Wolves on his way to the Xia Ruins and used his bow to attack the pack. The Wolf King rallied the wolves to charge both Zhang Yuan and the caravan, and Zhang Yuan dismounted as one leaped at his throat.

• Zhang Yuan crossed the wilderness on horseback, taking shelter from a brief rain before continuing toward the Xia Ruins.
• Zhang Yuan spotted a merchant caravan surrounded by hundreds of Wild Wolves and rode closer to investigate.
• Zhang Yuan assembled his Iron Womb Bow and shot down Wild Wolves from behind the pack.
• The Wolf King sent dozens of wolves charging at Zhang Yuan, who killed many with a rapid volley of arrows.
• The Wolf King directed another group of wolves to attack the caravan, and Zhang Yuan dismounted as a Wild Wolf leaped at him.

Zhang Yuan drove off a pack of Wild Wolves and saved Mu Guangcheng’s merchant caravan, but the Wolf King escaped. After giving the false name Zhao Yun, Zhang Yuan agreed to travel with Mu Guangcheng’s caravan to the Xia Ruins.

• Zhang Yuan used his Iron Womb Bow and Iron Shirt techniques to kill or injure most of the Wild Wolves attacking him.
• Zhang Yuan aimed a Fine Iron Arrow at the Wolf King, but it dodged the shot and rallied the pack to flee north.
• Zhang Yuan recovered the arrow and went to the merchant caravan, where Mu Guangcheng thanked him for saving them.
• Zhang Yuan introduced himself as Zhao Yun and accepted Mu Guangcheng’s invitation to travel together to the Xia Ruins.

Zhang Yuan celebrated with Mu Guangcheng’s caravan after helping it survive a wolf attack, then learned about Xia Ruins and the dangers of traveling through the wilderness. As the caravan continued toward the ruins, a suona horn sounded on the fourth night.

• The caravan toasted Zhang Yuan and feasted on roasted wolf meat and Burning Blade Liquor.
• Mu Guangcheng told Zhang Yuan about Xia Ruins’ history, population, rules, and major powers, and offered to guide him.
• The caravan set out for Xia Ruins on a journey expected to take nearly ten days.
• Mu Guangcheng explained that a covered wagon carried the Earth Wanderer God, which protected caravans from strange entities in the wilderness.
• After three peaceful days of travel, everyone heard a suona horn just after settling into camp on the fourth night.

Zhang Yuan and Mu Guangcheng’s caravan survived an encounter with the eerie Groom-Snatching Spirit by praying to the Earth Wanderer God. After five more days on the road, they reached the mountains near the Xia Ruins, though Zhang Yuan sensed that the wilderness’s dangers still lingered.

• Zhang Yuan woke to strange suona music, and Mu Guangcheng ordered the caravan to extinguish its fires and pray to the Earth Wanderer God.
• A glowing wedding procession appeared in the wilderness, and Mu Guangcheng warned Zhang Yuan that the Groom-Snatching Spirit could force its chosen victim into the bridal sedan chair.
• The Earth Wanderer God’s light weakened the music, and the procession passed without taking anyone from the camp.
• Mu Guangcheng told Zhang Yuan about his past encounter with the spirit and the dangers of anomalies in the wilderness.
• After five more days of travel, the caravan saw Taiwu Mountain and cheered as the Xia Ruins drew near.

Zhang Yuan arrived at Xia Ruins, learned about its factions and strict local rules, and entered the city alone. He began exploring its crowded streets, where hustlers and pickpockets quickly tried to take advantage of him.

• Mu Guangcheng explained Xia Ruins' rules and advised Zhang Yuan to join a major faction, but Zhang Yuan declined and parted ways with him.
• Zhang Yuan entered Xia Ruins through the eastern gate, dismounted as local custom required, and checked the notices for any bounty on himself.
• Zhang Yuan walked through the crowded streets and watched a youth flee from a burly man.
• A middle-aged woman tried to lure Zhang Yuan to lodging, but he ignored her until she gave up and left.
• A group of beggars surrounded Zhang Yuan and reached for his pouch, so he shouted at them and sent them scattering.

Zhang Yuan investigated Xia Ruins and chose to settle beyond the city, where he built a home by the river. After moving in, he received a visit from Qu Hong, the steward of West Mountain Village.

• Zhang Yuan examined his Treasure Map and found a new marker for a moving treasure deep underground in East Ruins.
• Zhang Yuan explored Ruins City and part of the Outer Ruins, then chose a site near Taiwu Mountain and the Long Sky River for his home.
• Zhang Yuan hired Master Lu and his craftsmen to build three stone houses and a walled courtyard ten li west of Ruins City.
• Zhang Yuan moved into the completed home and welcomed Qu Hong, the steward of West Mountain Village, at his gate.

Zhang Yuan cultivated the Crimson Blood Palm in seclusion, then bought rare medicinal ingredients in the Xia Ruins to improve his martial training. After he left the apothecary, the shopkeeper ordered Old Seven to follow him and prepare an ambush if he proved difficult to handle.

• Zhang Yuan caught a large fish in the Long Sky River and returned to his hidden home through an underwater passage.
• Zhang Yuan drained the fish's blood, sacrificed it to feed the Divine Nest's main body, and used the blood to cultivate the Crimson Blood Palm.
• Zhang Yuan recalled that Qu Hong's recognition of his Third Order Transformed Strength had kept West Mountain Village's scoundrels from troubling him.
• Zhang Yuan purchased scarce medicinal ingredients at the largest apothecary in the Xia Ruins to aid his Boulder Foundation Skill and Iron Shirt cultivation.
• The apothecary shopkeeper revealed that Zhang Yuan had been marked and told Old Seven to follow him, gathering enough men to attack if needed.

Zhang Yuan used the Red-Eyed Crow to spot three intruders targeting his home and killed two before terrifying the survivor into revealing what he knew. After dealing with all three, he put on Seventh Brother’s clothes and stepped outside, where a furry creature fell in front of him.

• Seventh Brother and two companions followed a spotted marten to Zhang Yuan’s residence, unaware that the Red-Eyed Crow was watching them.
• Zhang Yuan saw the intruders use sleeping smoke, then ambushed them when they entered his room.
• Zhang Yuan killed Seventh Brother with a palm strike and killed another intruder with a dagger, leaving the third badly injured.
• Zhang Yuan used the Divine Nest on Seventh Brother’s corpse, frightening the survivor into confessing before killing him and disposing of the bodies.
• Zhang Yuan changed into Seventh Brother’s night clothes and went outside, where a furry thing dropped in front of him.

After discovering that Ji'an Pharmacy had arranged an ambush using a flower marten, Zhang Yuan infiltrated the shop and killed its martial artist, manager, and two clerks. He knew the pharmacy was backed by the powerful Six Harmonies Gang, but left no witnesses behind.

• Zhang Yuan learned that Seventh Brother had used a flower marten to track him after Ji'an Pharmacy tampered with his medicine packet, then killed the marten and fed it to the Red-Eyed Crow.
• Zhang Yuan decided to eliminate everyone behind the ambush and traveled under cover of night to the Xia Ruins, avoiding patrols with the Red-Eyed Crow's help.
• At Ji'an Pharmacy, the manager worried that Old Seven had not returned while a middle-aged Third Order martial artist dismissed the danger.
• When the middle-aged man opened the door, Zhang Yuan struck him down with a swift saber slash and entered the pharmacy.
• Zhang Yuan killed the pharmacy manager and the two clerks, despite learning that Ji'an Pharmacy was backed by the Six Harmonies Gang.

Zhang Yuan robbed and burned Ji'an Pharmacy, then returned home safely with its valuables. Two days later, his Divine Nest reached Level 4 and granted him Fine Control, before Qu Hong came to visit and asked to speak with him.

• Zhang Yuan killed the men at Ji'an Pharmacy, took its money and medicinal herbs, and set the medicine vault ablaze to hide his tracks.
• Zhang Yuan evaded the night patrols, returned to West Mountain Village, burned his Nightwalker Outfit, and hid his spoils in his secret chamber.
• Zhang Yuan's Divine Nest advanced to Level 4, giving him finer control over his hosts' abilities and reducing their vitality consumption.
• Zhang Yuan tested Fine Control over several days and found that it strengthened his Profound Saber Technique.
• Qu Hong arrived at Zhang Yuan's gate and asked to speak with him.

Qu Hong explained that the Flood Rain Season would isolate Xia Ruins and bring dangerous beasts and aberrations, advising Zhang Yuan to buy Town Talismans if he planned to stay. When Zhang Yuan went to Heavenly King Hall, he found a detailed bounty notice for himself at the city gate but remained confident his disguise would keep him safe.

• Qu Hong told Zhang Yuan about the annual Flood Rain Season, the threat it posed to West Mountain Village, and the need to buy Town Talismans from Heavenly King Hall.
• After Qu Hong left, Zhang Yuan headed toward Ruins City to procure the talismans.
• At the city gate, Zhang Yuan spotted a Raging Whale Gang bounty notice accusing him of betrayal and murder and offering five thousand taels of silver.
• Zhang Yuan suspected Azure Cloud Temple had arranged the notice and trusted the disguise techniques he had learned from the Jianghu Records.
• Zhang Yuan entered Ruins City and went straight to Heavenly King Hall in the Central Ruins.

Zhang Yuan visited the Primal Heavenly King Hall in Xia Ruins, where the statue’s power transformed his Town Talismans and drew the attention of Xuan Cheng Daoren. He declined an invitation to become an Outer Guardian and left as the Flood Rain approached.

• Zhang Yuan bought five Town Talismans and entered the Primal Heavenly King Hall to offer incense.
• The Primal Heavenly King statue’s vertical eye seemed to meet Zhang Yuan’s gaze, and a golden glow appeared on his chest as his incense burned rapidly.
• Xuan Cheng Daoren shielded Zhang Yuan from the crowd and invited him to become an Outer Guardian of the hall.
• Zhang Yuan saw that the Runes on his five Town Talismans had turned golden and learned that the statue had blessed him.
• Zhang Yuan declined Xuan Cheng Daoren’s invitation, and the Daoist escorted him out while warning that the Flood Rain was approaching.

Zhang Yuan ignored a dangerous discovery inside the Heavenly King Hall and prepared his home for the approaching Flood Rain Season. After sending away a shameless neighbor who wanted to trade grain for an introduction to a vulnerable woman, he demonstrated his Water Control ability as the rain began.

• Zhang Yuan received repeated Divine Nest notifications about a containable genetic entity in the Heavenly King Hall but decided the risks of searching for it were too great.
• Zhang Yuan bought an ox cart and supplies in Ruins City, then brought them home to West Mountain Village despite sensing people watching him.
• Kou Tai asked Zhang Yuan for a hundred jin of grain and offered to introduce him to the wife of a gravely injured man as collateral.
• Zhang Yuan slammed the gate on Kou Tai and threatened to throw him into the Long Sky River if he kept talking.
• Rain began to fall, and Zhang Yuan used Water Control from his Level Four White Dragon Loach ability to deflect the drops.

During the Flood Rain Season, Zhang Yuan stayed home and trained while the Long Sky River flooded and a danger from Taiwu Mountain approached. After hiding underwater during violent tremors, he returned to the secret passage, where he fought a giant spider and stabbed it in the head.

• Zhang Yuan endured the relentless rain in West Mountain Village and continued training his martial skills while avoiding the Raging Whale Gang's bounty hunters.
• Zhang Yuan sensed danger from Taiwu Mountain, recalled the Red-Eyed Crow, and escaped through a secret passage into the Long Sky River.
• Zhang Yuan hid in a riverbed crevice until the danger eased, then returned toward the secret passage entrance.
• A giant spider attacked Zhang Yuan with sticky silk, but he cut through it with the Crimson Blood Divine Weapon and charged.
• Zhang Yuan used Fourfold Strength and fourfold agility to stab the giant spider in the head.

Zhang Yuan survived the Giant Mountain Ghoul’s attack on West Mountain Village and learned from Qu Hong what had caused the devastation. As evening approached, an armed group led by a burly, bearded man arrived at Zhang Yuan’s home and demanded that he come out.

• Zhang Yuan used the Crimson Blood Blade to slaughter the giant spiders in the underground passage and returned safely to the surface.
• He saw that West Mountain Village had been devastated, though his supplies and medicinal herbs remained safe.
• Qu Hong told Zhang Yuan that the Giant Mountain Ghoul had attacked the village, devoured people, and might not return for years.
• Zhang Yuan considered moving to Ruins City but decided that West Mountain Village better suited his cultivation and offered ways to evade danger.
• A dozen armed men arrived at Zhang Yuan’s home, and their bearded leader strode into the courtyard and called for him to come out.

Zhang Yuan refused Wei Zhong’s demand to join the hunt for Hairy Spider Ghouls or pay tribute, and used his strength to deter the West Mountain Village steward and his men. Wei Zhong withdrew, though he remained wary of Zhang Yuan’s apparent heretical Dao Merit.

• Wei Zhong ordered Zhang Yuan to help exterminate the Hairy Spider Ghouls left behind after the Giant Mountain Ghoul’s attack on West Mountain Village.
• Zhang Yuan refused both conscription and Wei Zhong’s demand for money and provisions.
• Zhang Yuan activated Black Giant Ant Power and revealed crimson blood-light on his hands, making Wei Zhong hesitate.
• Wei Zhong apologized and led his men away from Zhang Yuan’s home.
• When his men questioned his retreat, Wei Zhong said Zhang Yuan might cultivate a heretical Dao Merit and could kill many of them before falling.