Chapter Summaries

Ji Xiu completed another stage of the Silver Carp Transformation, rebuilding his bones with Duan Chenzhou’s medicinal treatment and growing excited about his rising strength. Duan Chenzhou took him into the Five Hundred Li Mountain Road at night to hunt creatures whose Essence Blood could further temper his bones.

• Ji Xiu emerged from the medicinal broth after undergoing another bone reconstruction through the Silver Carp Transformation.
• Ji Xiu reflected that the method might let him reach Iron Bone with its first volume and felt his strength surpassing ordinary expectations.
• Duan Chenzhou admired Ji Xiu’s refined physique and thought about how he would support his disciple’s cultivation.
• Duan Chenzhou told Ji Xiu to dress and join him on a nighttime mountain hunt for the Essence Blood of awakened creatures.
• Duan Chenzhou explained that the mountain’s nocturnal beasts made it an excellent hunting ground, and Ji Xiu agreed despite feeling uneasy.

Duan Chenzhou and Ji Xiu got lost hunting in the Five Hundred Li Mountain Road, where they used a Jade Horned Deer as bait to hunt awakened demons. Back at the Duan Residence, Ji Xiu refined their blood and completed the Spinal Column Great Dragon stage, while Duan Chenzhou turned his attention to the deer again.

• Duan Chenzhou and Ji Xiu wandered the foggy mountains, failed to find their way back, and stopped at a cold spring to rest.
• A Jade Horned Deer approached Ji Xiu and offered a spirit herb, but Duan Chenzhou caught it and planned to use its blood for Ji Xiu's cultivation.
• Ji Xiu understood the deer's plea, and Duan Chenzhou let it lead them deeper into the mountains to lure out awakened demons.
• Duan Chenzhou ambushed the demons drawn to the deer and refined their Essence Blood before taking the deer back to the Duan Residence.
• Ji Xiu refined demon blood in a cauldron as Duan Chenzhou tempered his spine, completing Silver Carp Transformation and the Bone Tempering stage's Spinal Column Great Dragon.
• After Ji Xiu passed out, Duan Chenzhou considered using the Jade Horned Deer for an even fiercer treatment, and the deer feared its life was still in danger.

After Ji Xiu woke from completing a blood replacement and three bone-breakings, Duan Chenzhou gave him the Nurturing Momentum saber art Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance instead of the secret Full Moon Sky Saber. Ji Xiu advanced it to entry in an instant, leaving Duan Chenzhou astonished at his saber talent.

• Ji Xiu woke with transformed sinews and bones after Duan Chenzhou used the blood of more than a dozen minor demons to help him complete a blood replacement and three bone-breakings.
• Duan Chenzhou explained that Ji Xiu’s iron bones could let him kill powerful opponents with a single punch, then gave him the Full Moon Sky Saber to examine but said he was not yet capable of cultivating it.
• Duan Chenzhou described the stages of martial arts and gave Ji Xiu the Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance, a Nurturing Momentum saber art suited to developing his combat prowess.
• Ji Xiu used the Primordial Dao Talisman to advance the Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance to entry in a single thought.
• Duan Chenzhou watched a wisp of Blade Intent rise from Ji Xiu and wondered whether his disciple had talent like the Saber Champion.

Zhang Qing returned home to find his family courtyard draped in funeral white, while Ji Xiu trained his saber, brought the Jade Deer to the Medicine Hall, and secured Huang Xuan’s promise to prepare a Bone Tempering medicinal bath. The chapter ended with Hong Jiang reporting that Zhang Liu Zi was in trouble, prompting Ji Xiu to grip his saber.

• Zhang Qing arrived at his home and saw its courtyard dressed for a funeral, leaving him deathly pale.
• Ji Xiu practiced the Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance and fed the Jade Deer a Tiger Leopard Pill.
• Ji Xiu rode the Jade Deer to the Medicine Hall, where it devoured Huang Xuan’s drying spirit herbs and enraged him.
• Ji Xiu asked Huang Xuan for Bone Tempering medicine, and Huang Xuan offered to prepare an Essence Blood Medicinal Bath if Ji Xiu supplied the ingredients.
• Hong Jiang rushed in and told Ji Xiu that Zhang Liu Zi was in trouble, and Ji Xiu reached for his saber.

Zhang Qing learned that Yang Yan had driven his sister to suicide and left to confront him, refusing Han Ying’s offer of help. Han Ying was left questioning whether his plans to spread martial arts and summon a God were truly right.

• Zhang Qing learned that his sister’s husband had gambled her away to Yang Yan, leading her to hang herself, and slashed the husband with his knife.
• Zhang Qing’s family warned him not to challenge Tiger Leopard Hall, but he left the funeral shed and headed out with his blade.
• Han Ying stopped Zhang Qing and warned that Yang Yan was far stronger than him, then explained that killing Yang Yan could provoke Yang Daohan.
• Zhang Qing rejected Han Ying’s help, arguing that the strong oppressed the weak and that only force could change the world.
• After Zhang Qing left, Han Ying questioned the justice of his plans and began to move.

Ji Xiu rescued Zhang Qing from Yang Yan, defeated Yang Yan and the Tiger Leopard Hall fighters, and reached Minor Accomplishment in the Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance. As he prepared to leave, the Primordial Dao Talisman detected an item on the second floor that could raise its rank.

• Yang Yan beat Zhang Qing after Zhang Qing attacked him, then prepared to take revenge on him despite Zhang Shi Yao identifying him as a member of the Wind and Cloud Association.
• Ji Xiu burst into the gambling den on his Jade Deer, stopped Yang Yan, and invoked their written life-and-death agreement.
• Ji Xiu used his saber and momentum to defeat Yang Yan, then forced Yang Yan to sign the agreement.
• When Yang Yan's guards and fighters attacked, Ji Xiu defeated them as well, advancing the Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance to Minor Accomplishment and comprehending the Knife Mountain Stance.
• Ji Xiu prepared to finish Yang Yan and leave with Zhang Qing, but the Primordial Dao Talisman detected an item on the second floor that could raise its rank.

Ji Xiu killed Yang Yan while protecting Zhang Qing, then brought his injured brother to the Medicine Hall and warned Huang Xuan of what he had done. He returned to the Duan Residence and told Duan Chenzhou that he had killed someone.

• Han Ying noticed that his Immortal Jade Scroll reacted to Ji Xiu and recalled stealing it from his master.
• Han Ying introduced himself as Zhang Qing’s martial arts teacher, said he had come to save him, and warned Ji Xiu that following Duan Chenzhou might not be a good path.
• Ji Xiu took the wounded Zhang Qing to the Medicine Hall and told Huang Xuan that he had killed someone.
• Huang Xuan warned Ji Xiu that Yang Daohan’s father and the county office could retaliate because Ji Xiu had killed Yang Yan in public.
• Ji Xiu insisted he did not regret drawing his blade, left Zhang Qing with Huang Xuan, and told Duan Chenzhou that he had killed someone.

Duan Chenzhou backed Ji Xiu after he killed Yang Daohan’s son, revealing that he had mastered the Purple Haze Secret Manual. Though Yang Daohan planned to seek help against them, Duan Chenzhou sent Ji Xiu to challenge the Four Great Halls’ true disciples under his name.

• Duan Chenzhou praised Ji Xiu for killing Tiger Leopard Hall’s boss’s son and promised to protect him from the consequences.
• Duan Chenzhou revealed his Purple Haze Secret Manual cultivation to Gu Baichuan, who offered Ji Xiu a future with him if Duan Chenzhou could no longer protect him.
• Duan Chenzhou explained that Han Ying was Luo Daocheng’s disciple, who had joined the Central Yellow Sect after stealing a gift meant for someone else.
• Yang Daohan rejected advice to accept his losses and decided to seek his elder brother’s help against Ji Xiu and Duan Chenzhou.
• Duan Chenzhou told Ji Xiu to challenge the Four Great Halls’ true disciples the next day under Duan Chenzhou’s name.

He Shouyi learned that Duan Chenzhou had returned to Anning County after hearing that Ji Xiu killed Yang Yan, while County Magistrate Zhao Jiu received word of the street killing. The chapter ended as Zhao Jiu reacted to the report and the martial hall masters prepared to intervene.

• He Shouyi visited Liao Yuanhua and questioned him about his injuries and a promising martial artist, but Liao refused to explain.
• A disciple reported that Ji Xiu had killed Yang Yan in a gambling house, and that Ji Xiu had learned his skills from Duan Chenzhou.
• Liao Yuanhua recognized Duan Chenzhou's name and abruptly withdrew from the planned response, while He Shouyi recalled how Duan had once defeated him and robbed the Jade Stone Cai Family's shipment.
• He Shouyi gathered Qin Ming and his disciples, intending to seize Ji Xiu and confront Duan Chenzhou.
• County Magistrate Zhao Jiu complained about his post until a yamen runner reported that someone had been killed in the street.

Zhao Jiu learned that Ji Xiu’s master was Duan Chenzhou and abandoned plans to avenge his brother, instead declaring Yang Yan’s death a righteous act. At Lu Manor, He Shouyi arrived with county soldiers and demanded Ji Xiu, just as Ji prepared to confront him and an angry voice challenged He Shouyi for mobilizing the troops.

• Zhao Jiu learned that Ji Xiu was Duan Chenzhou’s disciple and feared the consequences of provoking the one-armed martial artist.
• Zhao Jiu declared Yang Yan a great evil and called Ji Xiu’s killing of him a righteous deed, then set out with county soldiers.
• Gu Baichuan arrived, and Zhao Jiu urged him to help save Ji Xiu from danger.
• He Shouyi brought county soldiers and fighters to Lu Manor, demanding that Lu Chengfeng surrender Ji Xiu.
• Ji Xiu returned to find He Shouyi’s forces at the manor and prepared to confront him, but someone shouted at He Shouyi for mobilizing county private soldiers.

County Magistrate Zhao tried to prevent He Shouyi from taking Ji Xiu, but He Shouyi revealed that he had reached the immortal garment stage and challenged Duan Chenzhou’s disciple. Ji Xiu demanded a fight against Divine Fist Gate’s entire school, while Duan Chenzhou prepared to watch from nearby.

• County Magistrate Zhao arrived with soldiers and tried to stop He Shouyi from acting against Ji Xiu.
• He Shouyi revealed his breakthrough to the immortal garment stage and declared that he would take Ji Xiu to confront Duan Chenzhou.
• Ji Xiu stood against He Shouyi’s attack, condemned his conduct, and challenged him to choose a True Inheritance disciple for a fight.
• Ji Xiu proposed that if he won, Divine Fist Hall would have to close, and declared he would face the entire school with one blade.
• He Shouyi accepted the challenge and threatened that Ji Xiu would crawl out of Divine Fist Gate if he lost.
• Duan Chenzhou told Gu Baichuan that Ji Xiu had finally shown the courage he had trained him to develop, then set out to watch the fight.

Ji Xiu defeated Qin Ming and the Divine Fist Gate disciples, advancing his Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance and comprehending the Fire Sea Stance. As He Shouyi attacked, a one-armed martial artist killed him with a single saber strike, then asked County Magistrate Zhao whether the killing violated Anning Law.

• Qin Ming challenged Ji Xiu to defend the Divine Fist Gate’s signboard and attacked with his hardened fists.
• Ji Xiu broke through Qin Ming’s blade-resistant defense, crippled his hands, and sent him flying.
• Ji Xiu defeated the Divine Fist Gate’s disciples and comprehended the Fire Sea Stance as his technique advanced.
• He Shouyi lunged at Ji Xiu, but a one-armed martial artist killed him with a saber strike.
• The one-armed martial artist asked County Magistrate Zhao whether his action violated Anning Law, leaving the magistrate sweating in fear.

Duan Chenzhou killed He Shouyi after Ji Xiu defeated Divine Fist Gate, and Ji Xiu declared he would face any future revenge without fear. Afterward, Ji Xiu asked Liao Yuanhua to arrange friendly exchanges with the other martial halls, leaving the instructors uneasy about his challenge.

• Duan Chenzhou refused to take Divine Fist Gate's Golden Inscription Plaque, then split it in two with an unseen force as he left.
• Lu Yu and Xu Heng realized Duan Chenzhou was far stronger than they had believed, while Wei Zhi worried that he had heard her earlier remarks about him.
• Wang Jun and Liao Yuanhua explained that He Shouyi's feud with Duan Chenzhou began years earlier and asked Ji Xiu to spare Divine Fist Gate's followers.
• Ji Xiu said he would accept any future revenge as a matter of life and death, and Liao Yuanhua recognized his exceptional promise.
• Ji Xiu asked Liao Yuanhua to arrange friendly exchanges with the other martial halls, and Liao Yuanhua's smile stiffened.

After recovering from his injuries, Zhang Qing learned how Ji Xiu had saved his life and went to find him, but Han Ying instead entrusted him with a jade talisman meant for the Garrison General in Jiangyin Prefecture. The chapter ended with Zhang Qing deciding to take the talisman to Ji Xiu rather than keep the opportunity for himself.

• Huang Xuan told Zhang Qing that Ji Xiu had arranged for his injuries and medicine to be covered, and Zhang Qing learned from his father how Ji Xiu had saved his life.
• Han Ying summoned Zhang Qing and led him to a dark room, where he gave him a jade talisman and explained that it could gain him entry to the Garrison Manor in Jiangyin Prefecture.
• County Magistrate Zhao Jiu failed to lure Yang Daohan to his banquet, and Zhang Liechen came in Yang Daohan's place to settle the grudge with Ji Xiu.
• Ji Xiu thanked Zhao Jiu for his help and left the government office without meeting Zhang Liechen.
• Han Ying told Zhang Qing to go to Jiangyin Prefecture with the talisman if he did not return within three days, then disappeared.
• Zhang Qing recalled Ji Xiu's kindness and decided to take the jade talisman to him.

Ji Xiu perfected Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance after defeating the Whale Severing Blade’s heir, then returned to find Zhang Qing carrying a jade talisman that upgraded the Primordial Dao Talisman. The talisman revealed the Immortal Array Art Path Searching Mountains and Expelling Seas, and left Ji Xiu able to prepay for two arts or martial techniques.

• Ji Xiu defeated Xu Qiong in an exchange at the Whale Severing Blade Hall and perfected Knife Mountain Fire Sea Stance, comprehending the Blade Intent Dancing Shadows Shattering Prison.
• Liao Yuanhua acknowledged Ji Xiu’s strength and ordered the hall to cultivate ties with him, while Ji Xiu left after Hong Jiang told him Zhang Liu Zi had awakened and wished to see him.
• Ji Xiu arrived at Lu Manor and sensed that an item capable of upgrading the Primordial Dao Talisman was nearby.
• Zhang Qing secretly gave Ji Xiu a glowing jade talisman, which the Primordial Dao Talisman identified as carrying an Art Path.
• Ji Xiu refined the talisman and glimpsed the Immortal Array Art Path Searching Mountains and Expelling Seas, while the Primordial Dao Talisman gained two available prepayments and the ability to reveal true essences.

Ji Xiu gained Spirit Sense from the Primordial Dao Talisman after absorbing the jade talisman, then used his new resources to advance Fish Dragon Transformation. He left ready to continue cultivating and learn archery, while Zhang Qing still planned to carry out Han Ying’s message to General Luo Daocheng.

• The Primordial Dao Talisman granted Ji Xiu Spirit Sense, letting him see clearly through obstacles within a hundred zhang and raising his hopes of finding mountain treasures.
• Ji Xiu asked Zhang Qing where the jade talisman came from, and Zhang Qing explained that Han Ying had entrusted it to him for delivery to Luo Daocheng if Han failed to return.
• Zhang Qing said he would still go to the prefecture city and honor Han Ying’s instructions, while Ji Xiu resolved to keep the jade talisman despite its connection to the powerful General Luo.
• Duan Chenzhou showed Ji Xiu gifts from the Wind and Cloud Association, the Three Great Halls, and County Magistrate Zhao, along with the Jade Horned Deer prepared for Ji Xiu’s blood replacement.
• Ji Xiu entered the cauldron and used the Primordial Dao Talisman to successfully advance Fish Dragon Transformation.

Ji Xiu entered perfect enlightenment while cultivating the Fish Dragon Transformation and advanced two blood exchanges, while Duan Chenzhou lamented that he lacked the dragon blood needed to complete the method. Elsewhere, Yang Daohan sought revenge for his son and learned that Wei Changjiao planned to use Ghost Hand Judge Wang Hongzu against Ji Xiu; the chapter ended as Duan Chenzhou began explaining their lineage and grandmaster.

• Ji Xiu deduced the true form of the Fish Dragon Transformation in a state of perfect enlightenment, advancing its progress to two of six blood exchanges.
• Duan Chenzhou recognized Ji Xiu's extraordinary cultivation state but regretted that he lacked the dragon-lineage blood required for the final stages.
• Yang Daohan recounted his son's death to Wei Changjiao and urged him to avenge the Huantian Righteous Band's old grudge against Duan Chenzhou's lineage.
• Wei Changjiao explained that Duan Chenzhou was powerful enough to make direct revenge dangerous, then proposed having Wang Hongzu capture Ji Xiu.
• Ji Xiu asked Duan Chenzhou about their sect and grandmaster, and Duan Chenzhou began to tell him about their lineage.

Chen He worried that Duan Chenzhou’s return would bring more enemies to the weakened Sky Saber Sect, while Ye Ningzhi vowed to defeat Duan’s new disciple to restore Ye Luan’s pride. In Anning County, Ji Xiu sought further training after hearing of Duan’s exploits, and Duan reflected on his past and the Purple Haze Secret Manual that had helped him recover.

• Chen He read Duan Chenzhou’s letter and sent Qin Zhuo to bring Ji Xiu back, fearing the danger of teaching him the Full Moon Sky Saber in Anning County.
• Ye Luan rejected Ye Ningzhi’s demand for the secret art Startling Goose From Sleeve and said she would not seek an easy victory over the weakened Duan Chenzhou.
• Ye Ningzhi decided to beat Ji Xiu forty-eight times and become the leading sword prodigy worthy of inheriting her master’s secret art.
• Ji Xiu asked Duan Chenzhou whether Centurion Gu Baichuan could teach him archery after hearing about Duan’s fierce reputation across Jiangyin Prefecture.
• Duan Chenzhou explained that he and his master had saved Gu Baichuan from the Huantian Bandits, then wondered whether Gu resented being used as a human shield.
• Duan Chenzhou recalled that the Purple Haze Secret Manual had dissolved the corrosion in his sinews and bones, though it had ended his chance to cultivate top-tier Qi Path True Achievement.

Ji Xiu learned Gu Baichuan’s archery technique and used it to slay demon apes while rescuing Cai Ling’er, who had dug up a great demon’s ancestral grave. After spotting the demon core hidden at her chest and learning she belonged to the Cai Family, Ji Xiu recognized her as an enemy from Duan Chenzhou’s list.

• Zhao Jiu welcomed Ji Xiu at the county office and directed him to Gu Baichuan, whom Ji Xiu wanted to learn archery from.
• Gu Baichuan gave Ji Xiu the Iron Arm Divine Mechanism bow and taught him the Arrow Stance: Exhausted Crows during a mountain hunt.
• Cai Ling’er fled dozens of demon apes after accidentally digging up a great demon’s ancestral grave and stealing its two-Blood-Mark demon core.
• Ji Xiu used Exhausted Crows and his Spirit Sense to kill the pursuing apes, rapidly advancing his archery and Dao refinement while Gu Baichuan protested about the costly arrows.
• Ji Xiu noticed the demon core glowing beneath Cai Ling’er’s clothes, then learned she was the legitimate daughter of the Cai Family of the Jade Stone Trade and marked her as an enemy.

Ji Xiu defeated Cai Ling'er in a wager after she attacked him, winning her two-Blood-Mark demon core and securing her promise to forge him an eighth-rank great bow. Cai Ling'er accepted the loss and became his maid, while Ji Xiu examined the ancient demon core and recognized its value for making powerful seventh-rank medicines.

• Cai Ling'er ambushed Ji Xiu with nine needles and a palm strike, but he cut the needles apart and stopped his saber before taking her demon core as interest.
• Gu Baichuan recognized Cai Ling'er as the favored granddaughter of the Jade Stone Cai Family and a disciple of the great craftsman Feng Zhaoyuan, then asked Ji Xiu to spare her.
• Cai Ling'er boasted of her forging skills and challenged Ji Xiu, wagering that she would serve as his maid for three months if he defeated her; Ji Xiu demanded a free Fifty Shi eighth-rank bow if he won.
• Ji Xiu defeated Cai Ling'er after a prolonged fight, and she accepted her wager, promising to serve him while vowing to make him her servant after tempering Golden Bones.
• Ji Xiu examined the two-Blood-Mark Ancient Ape Demon Core and learned that it could still produce potent seventh-rank medicines despite having lost its qi essence.