Chapter Summaries

Xu Yang faced suspicion from Luo Xin over the Earthvein Fire Valley deaths, while the Disciplinary Hall dismissed the accusation based on Elder Firecloud’s statement. He learned the Ten Elites Ranking had been released, then joined the crowd at Heavenly Wind Valley as it opened for cultivation.

• Luo Xin accused Xu Yang of being a Blood Lotus Cult sleeper agent, and Xu Yang challenged him to check the Task Hall records.
• Shen Lin explained that Luo Xin’s younger cousin had died in Earthvein Fire Valley, giving Luo Xin reason to suspect Xu Yang; the Disciplinary Hall later ignored Luo Xin’s report because of Elder Firecloud’s statement.
• Shen Lin revealed the Ten Elites Ranking, which placed Jiang Fan first and Xiong Kun tenth, with Qi Xuancheng’s sudden appearance leaving Xu Yang outside the list.
• Shen Lin described the ranking’s rewards and explained that disciples under thirty could challenge those above them after a year.
• Three days later, Xu Yang went to Heavenly Wind Valley to use his free month of cultivation as the valley opened.

Xu Yang was targeted by Li Chuyang over his cultivation art, and Jiang Fan intervened before the dispute escalated into a fight. After the Sect Master punished Li Chuyang, Jiang Fan identified Xu Yang’s Golden Astral Skill as a source of danger because it had been stolen from the Qin Family and might draw the attention of Jade Butterfly’s father, Flying Centipede.

• Xu Yang congratulated Jiang Fan on taking first place among the Ten Elites, while Li Chuyang challenged Jiang Fan and demanded to know what cultivation art Xu Yang practiced.
• Li Chuyang attacked Xu Yang, but Jiang Fan blocked him and fought him until Elder Liu Qingyuan stopped the clash and tried to blame Xu Yang.
• Zhang Jingyuan appeared and ordered Li Chuyang to receive three months of confinement for attacking a fellow disciple.
• Xu Yang thanked Jiang Fan, then privately revealed that he had obtained the Golden Astral Skill after killing Jade Butterfly.
• Jiang Fan explained that Jade Butterfly’s father had stolen the Golden Astral Skill from the Qin Family and warned that both the Qin Family and Flying Centipede might pursue Xu Yang.

Xu Yang cultivated in Heavenly Wind Valley, improving his marrow-cleansing progress while Zhang Yong and other disciples made breakthroughs. After a month, Gao Lin recruited Xu Yang for a secret mission to destroy a Blood Lotus Cult stronghold, and the group left the Violet Sun Gate under cover of darkness.

• Jiang Yan warned Xu Yang that Flying Centipede, a notorious thief, might trace the Golden Astral Skill to him if he learned Xu Yang had killed Jade Butterfly.
• Xu Yang entered Heavenly Wind Valley with Jiang Fan and Zhang Yong, advanced farther than many veteran disciples, and cultivated there each day to strengthen his body.
• During the month in the valley, Chen Yu, Du Chuan, and Zhang Yong achieved marrow cleansing, while Xu Yang raised his Mountain-Bearing Bear Canon and Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture progress.
• Gao Lin told Xu Yang that Elder Firecloud had assigned them to destroy a Blood Lotus Cult stronghold and ordered him to keep the mission secret.
• Elder Firecloud instructed Gao Lin to continue watching Xu Yang, and Gao Lin later led Xu Yang and several others away from the Violet Sun Gate at night.

Xu Yang and the Violet Sun Gate disciples reached Autumnwater Manor to attack the Blood Lotus Cult stronghold, but their covert approach was exposed and battle erupted. Xu Yang revealed his minor marrow cleansing cultivation by killing Zhang Sai in one blow as the fighting continued around him.

• Gao Lin led Xu Yang and the other Violet Sun Gate disciples to a mountain hollow, where they joined Cui Mingchong and learned their target was Autumnwater Manor.
• Cui Mingchong offered contribution-point rewards for the mission, and Gao Lin led his group toward the manor’s northern side under orders to stay concealed.
• An alarm sounded as the disciples climbed the hill, and Gao Lin’s group rushed toward the battle at Autumnwater Manor.
• A wild-haired Blood Lotus Cult fighter struck Gao Lin through a wall, then led his followers in an attack while Zhang Sai tried to flee.
• Xu Yang intercepted Zhang Sai, crushed his arm with the Mountain-Bearing Bear King Palm, and killed him with a finger strike, revealing his minor marrow cleansing cultivation.

Xu Yang helped the Violet Sun Gate disciples overwhelm the Blood Lotus Cult fighters at Autumnwater Manor, revealing combat strength that shocked his allies and defeated even a powerful marrow-cleansing expert. After the cultists were nearly wiped out, he found a sealed metal building and broke inside, discovering a room full of boxes.

• Gao Lin approved Xu Yang joining the fight, and Xu Yang shattered a Blood Lotus Cult disciple's arm with one palm strike before Hong Lei finished him.
• Li Ye ordered the surviving cultists to retreat, while Xu Yang and the Violet Sun Gate disciples killed the remaining fighters outside Autumnwater Manor and charged inside.
• At the Martial Training Ground, Xu Yang killed several Blood Lotus Cult disciples, including an expert nearing major marrow cleansing, with his palm and Pure Origin Gold-Rending Finger.
• Yan Guiyun and Lu Chuping killed one major marrow-cleansing expert and joined the fight against the last one, leaving the Blood Lotus Cult's defeat assured.
• Xu Yang searched Autumnwater Manor, found a sealed building made entirely of metal, punched through its thick door, and revealed a room piled with boxes.

Xu Yang reached minor marrow cleansing and defeated Yun Heng after Yun Heng attacked him in the treasury at Autumnwater Manor. The disciples settled the dispute over the spoils, recorded their contributions, and returned to the Violet Sun Gate with Xu Yang earning the most points.

• Xu Yang took martial manuals from the treasury before Yun Heng and two companions entered and challenged him.
• Yun Heng attacked Xu Yang, who revealed his minor marrow cleansing cultivation and broke Yun Heng's arm with one punch.
• Yan Guiyun questioned Xu Yang, but Gao Lin established that Yun Heng had attacked first, and Cui Mingchong ruled that collected items belonged to their finders while the remaining treasury goods went to the sect.
• Cui Mingchong recorded the disciples' kills and contribution points, giving Xu Yang first place with 750 points including the guaranteed reward.
• Cui Yongming led the disciples back to the Violet Sun Gate with the treasury goods and severed heads.

Xu Yang returned to Blazing Fire Peak after helping destroy a Blood Lotus Cult stronghold, and his allies confirmed that he had reached minor marrow cleansing. His revelation stunned Lu Ren and Xiong Kun, while Luo Xin feared the consequences of having falsely accused him; Xu Yang and Gao Lin then went to meet Elder Firecloud.

• Lu Ren and Xiong Kun discussed Lu Ren’s forging progress and worried about Xu Yang’s dangerous mission against the Blood Lotus Cult.
• A returning messenger announced that Gao Lin and Lu Chuping’s group had wiped out a stronghold, and Xu Yang had reached minor marrow cleansing and earned the most contribution points.
• Xu Yang arrived and confirmed his breakthrough, while Gao Lin and Lu Chuping verified the news, shocking the disciples and devastating Lu Ren and Xiong Kun.
• Xu Yang explained that he had advanced before the Outer Sect Grand Competition and had placed third because he did not want to fight for empty fame.
• An Elder Firecloud disciple summoned Xu Yang and Gao Lin, while other disciples regretted dismissing Xu Yang and Luo Xin panicked over his past false accusation.

After Xu Yang reached Minor Marrow Cleansing, Elder Firecloud made him his Personal Disciple and promised him regular pills and the benefits of a higher ranking. The news sparked regret among those who had rejected Xu Yang, while his younger sister Xu Qing faced pressure from a senior disciple in the herb garden.

• Elder Firecloud praised Gao Lin for avenging his fallen junior brothers and questioned Xu Yang about hiding his strength; Xu Yang explained that he feared being targeted and killed.
• Elder Firecloud named Xu Yang his Personal Disciple, promised him a Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pill every three months, and vowed to secure the benefits he had missed on the Ten Elites Ranking.
• Sun Tao celebrated Xu Yang's rise, while Qin Ze and Liu Qian regretted expelling him after their failed Qualification Task left him crippled and her disfigured.
• Li Songhe, Ding Yuan, Yuan Qiang, Cao Jin, and Elder Changchun regretted underestimating or offending Xu Yang; Elder Changchun ordered Sun Jian to help Xu Qing and consider her for alchemy training.
• Xu Qing continued tending medicinal plants and refused Zhang Juan's demand to do her work, saying she needed to finish early and seek news of Xu Yang.

Xu Qing was approved to study alchemy after Xu Yang’s breakthrough made the sect treat their family with deference. Xu Yang rejected Luo Xin’s apology, accepted gifts from people seeking to mend ties, and threatened Zhang Juan and Wang Jianxing after learning Zhang Juan had bullied Xu Qing; he then headed down Blazing Fire Peak to see his sister.

• Sun Jian told Xu Qing that Elder Iron Float had approved her request to study alchemy, then had Zhang Juan dismissed from Medicine King Peak for bullying her.
• Sun Jian told Xu Qing that Xu Yang had reached minor marrow cleansing and returned safely from the expedition against the Blood Lotus Cult.
• Luo Xin apologized to Xu Yang for accusing him of being a Blood Lotus Cult agent, but Xu Yang ignored him and shut him out of his courtyard.
• The Ding Family, the Yuan Family, and Violet Sun Gate disciples brought Xu Yang gifts and apologies, which he accepted while remaining wary of their intentions.
• Wang Jianxing and Zhang Juan came to Xu Yang’s courtyard to beg for mercy, and Wang Jianxing explained how Zhang Juan had mistreated Xu Qing.
• Xu Yang threatened Zhang Juan and warned Wang Jianxing that he would investigate his involvement, then headed down Blazing Fire Peak to see Xu Qing.

Xu Yang reunited with Xu Qing, encouraged her alchemy studies, and promised to protect her from further bullying. He learned the Blood Slave Seal and began cultivating the Immovable King Body, then found himself ranked fifth on the revised Ten Elites Ranking.

• Xu Qing told Xu Yang she had begun studying alchemy, and he gave her Origin-Returning Pills while advising her to keep up her cultivation.
• Xu Yang comforted Xu Qing about Zhang Juan’s bullying, promised to deal with Zhang Juan, and reviewed Xu Qing’s martial techniques and training plans.
• Xu Yang visited Sun Tao, Qiu Wenjie, and Tian Li, learning that Wan Hai and Wang Weihua had died on a mission against the Blood Lotus Cult.
• Xu Yang studied the manuals from Autumnwater Manor, learned the Blood Slave Seal, and began cultivating the Immovable King Body.
• Xu Yang cultivated in seclusion, and Li Songhe’s revised Ten Elites Ranking placed him fifth, pushing Ye Qiuling to sixth and Xiong Kun off the list.

After rising to fifth on the Ten Elites Ranking, Xu Yang received his rewards and decided the Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pill’s mind-nourishing effects made its recipe worth buying. His purchase sparked ridicule throughout the Four Peaks, while Lu Ren suspected Xu Yang had a hidden reason for pursuing alchemy.

• Yun Heng warned Yan Guiyun that Xu Yang might become a threat, and Yan Guiyun told him to stay inside the sect while secretly considering how to kill Xu Yang and silence Yun Heng.
• Gao Lin delivered Xu Yang eight hundred and fifty contribution points, two Mystic Origin Qi-Transforming Pills, and a Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pill; Xu Yang took the pill and found that it aided both marrow cleansing and mental cultivation.
• Xu Yang counted his contribution points, went to the Inheritance Tower, and spent twelve hundred points on the Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pill recipe despite Wei Zhihе’s warning to focus on martial cultivation.
• A disciple spread news of Xu Yang’s purchase, and disciples across the Four Peaks mocked him for wasting his resources on alchemy.
• Yan Guiyun dismissed Xu Yang as an unworthy rival, Elder Changchun regretted rejecting him, and Lu Ren wondered whether Xu Yang had already learned alchemy.

Xu Yang mastered the Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pill recipe, obtained the missing spirit herb, and successfully refined his first batch. Elder Firecloud, furious that Xu Yang had spent his contribution points on the recipe, ordered him to guard Moon Lake next month, while Xu Yang prepared to use his pills to strengthen his cultivation and trade for scarce resources.

• Elder Firecloud learned Xu Yang had spent 1,200 contribution points on the Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pill recipe and ordered Gao Lin to send him to guard Moon Lake next month.
• Xu Yang traded crimson gold essence and contribution points for a tiger-soul scarlet sun fruit at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
• Gao Lin told Xu Yang that Elder Firecloud was sending him to Moon Lake as punishment, and Xu Yang accepted the assignment.
• Xu Yang bought the remaining ingredients at Myriad Treasures Pavilion and began refining the Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pill in his underground alchemy room.
• Xu Yang successfully produced ten Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pills and stored them in a jade box.

Xu Yang refined superior Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pills, cultivated until he manifested saber intent, and gained a dramatic boost in strength. As he prepared to leave for Moon Lake, Gao Lin agreed to protect Xu Qing, and Xu Yang hurried to see Elder Firecloud at his request.

• Xu Yang refined Dragon-Tiger Great Golden Pills and found they lasted longer and worked better than Elder Firecloud's pills.
• Xu Yang retrieved the hidden spirit iron and Semi-Spirit Weapon, then focused on cultivating the Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture.
• Xu Yang used his points to advance the scripture to minor accomplishment and manifested saber intent, transforming his astral qi and strengthening his martial arts.
• Jiang Fan and Jiang Yan met Xu Yang, and Jiang Fan's Mystic Treasure warned him that Xu Yang could threaten his life.
• Gao Lin told Xu Yang to leave for Moon Lake by the next day, and Xu Yang asked him to protect Xu Qing while he was away.
• Gao Lin said Elder Firecloud wanted to see Xu Yang before his departure, so Xu Yang went to Elder Firecloud's Hall.

Xu Yang left the Violet Sun Gate for Moon Lake, where he was assigned to guard a mine, while Luo Xin recruited allies to ambush him. Xu Yang arrived at the mine and met Guan Du, who prepared to show him around.

• Elder Firecloud gave Xu Yang the semi-spirit weapon Scarlet Blood and arranged for him to collect three months of rewards before leaving for Moon Lake.
• After Xu Yang departed, Luo Xin recruited Cao Jin to help kill him, and they planned to enlist Yun Heng, Wang Jianxing, and Liu Qing while avoiding Li Chuyang.
• Xu Yang traveled for three days through the Cloud Ridge Mountains and reached the Violet Sun Gate's mine near Moon Lake.
• Xu Yang met his fifth senior brother Guan Du at the mine, where Guan Du finished forging a saber and sent Zhou Jiang to fetch Steward Chen Yong.

Xu Yang took over his post at the Mine, learned about its dangers, and began cultivating with his changed astral qi. The next morning, he wounded a Green-Scaled Eagle that attacked the miners and saved Zhou Jiang, but the beast escaped and might return.

• Guan Du showed Xu Yang the Black Iron storeroom, introduced him to the stationed disciples, and warned him about the Mine's dangers, including an Alligator Dragon in Moon Lake.
• Guan Du gave Xu Yang Five Poisons Water and an enhanced Signal Firework before leaving, and Xu Yang cultivated and endured a poor dinner at the Mine.
• A Green-Scaled Eagle attacked the miners, and Zhou Jiang's saber qi failed to stop it as Guo Yun rescued its first target.
• Xu Yang struck the Green-Scaled Eagle with golden saber qi, wounding it and saving Zhou Jiang, but the beast flew away after circling the Mine.
• Xu Yang warned the disciples to stay alert for the eagle's return and examined one of its metallic feathers.

Xu Yang spent months cultivating and practicing weapon forging at Moon Lake before Cao Jin, Luo Xin, and three others attacked the mine to kill him. Xu Yang revealed Scarlet Blood was a Semi-Spirit Weapon, wounded Luo Xin and Liu Qing, and killed Wang Jianxing, while the other attackers remained nearby.

• Xu Yang settled into a routine of cultivation and weapon forging while waiting for the Green-Scaled Eagle to return.
• Cao Jin, Luo Xin, Yun Heng, Liu Qing, and Wang Jianxing planned to disguise their attack on Moon Lake as a raid by bandits.
• The five masked attackers charged the mine, and Zhou Jiang sounded the alarm as the guards fled toward the tunnels.
• Xu Yang confronted the attackers and recognized Luo Xin and Yun Heng among the five minor marrow cleansing experts.
• Xu Yang drew Scarlet Blood and used its Semi-Spirit Weapon power to strike Luo Xin and Liu Qing in the chest.
• Xu Yang rushed forward and split Wang Jianxing in two with a saber strike.

Xu Yang killed five Violet Sun Gate disciples who attacked him at Moon Lake, then continued cultivating and smithing while guarding the mine. A month later, two Green-Scaled Eagles arrived seeking revenge, and Xu Yang rushed away from the mine to confront them.

• Xu Yang used Scarlet Blood to kill Cao Jin, Yun Heng, Liu Qing, Luo Xin, and their accomplices after they attacked the mine.
• Xu Yang ordered the corpses burned so their blood would not attract exotic beasts, and Chen Yong and Guo Yun privately discussed the danger he posed to their plans.
• Over the next month, Xu Yang advanced his cultivation and forging while Chen Yong’s group continued managing the mine.
• Guan Du and other Blazing Fire Peak disciples brought supplies, learned that Xu Yang had killed Luo Xin and his companions, and collected the mined black iron.
• Two Green-Scaled Eagles appeared at the mine, and Xu Yang left to draw them away while Chen Yong told everyone to hide in the tunnels.

Xu Yang fought and killed two Green-Scaled Eagles outside the mine, suffering internal injuries that he healed by evening. He ate their meat afterward and told Chen Yong to share some with the miners, while Chen Yong saved the valuable talons and beaks for him.

• Xu Yang drew on his saber intent and Golden Astral Skill to injure one Green-Scaled Eagle, then killed the other with a strike that split its beak.
• Xu Yang evaded the injured eagle’s attacks, wounded its back, and severed its neck after it crashed to the ground.
• Zhou Jiang, Chen Yong, Guo Yun, and the others came out of the mine and found both eagles dead; Xu Yang left Chen Yong to salvage their valuable parts.
• Xu Yang healed his blocked meridians and internal injuries, then ate Green-Scaled Eagle meat Chen Yong brought him.
• Xu Yang told Chen Yong to share the remaining meat with the miners, and Chen Yong said he had saved the eagles’ talons and beaks for him.

Xu Yang confronted the alligator dragon that Guo Yun had lured to the mine while the miners fled for shelter. He wounded the beast, but its powerful tail forced him to retreat before he could strike again.

• Chen Yong told Guo Yun that Xu Yang expected to recover within ten days or half a month, and Guo Yun decided to use the alligator dragon to cover their scheme to remove their hidden goods.
• Guo Yun drugged green-scaled eagle meat and threw it into Moon Lake, where the alligator dragon ate it and became enraged.
• The alligator dragon emerged from Moon Lake and charged toward the mine, prompting Zhou Jiang to sound the warning gong and evacuate the miners.
• Xu Yang suspected Guo Yun and Chen Yong had lured the beast, and secretly told Zhou Jiang to keep watch on them while he went to fight it.
• Xu Yang cut the alligator dragon's snout and wounded it again, but its heavy tail forced him to withdraw before his saber could penetrate deeply.

Xu Yang killed the Alligator Dragon and discovered that Guan Du had been using it to try to kill him. Guan Du revealed he was a Blood Lotus Cult agent, but Xu Yang defeated him with saber intent and the Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture; Guan Du died without revealing other agents in the sect.

• Xu Yang used the Earthly Baleful Six Harmonies Saber to mortally wound the frenzied Alligator Dragon, which fled toward Moon Lake before collapsing and dying.
• Guan Du emerged from the woods carrying Chen Yong's severed head and a large piece of fish-pattern steel, then admitted he had drugged the Alligator Dragon to target Xu Yang.
• Guan Du revealed that he served the Blood Lotus Cult and had been ordered to kill Xu Yang, while Xu Yang recognized that the Five Poisons Water had been useless against the Alligator Dragon.
• Xu Yang restored his astral qi with Mystic Origin Qi-Transforming Pills as Guan Du attacked, then released saber intent and revealed that he had mastered the Blood Prison Heart Saber Scripture.
• Xu Yang cut Guan Du open with Scarlet Blood, and Guan Du died after saying he knew of no other Blood Lotus Cult agents because each agent had only one contact.