Chapter Summaries

Xu Yang killed two astral qi mastery attackers, collected supplies from the Yuan Family, and refined more Origin-Gathering Pills. On his way back to the Violet Sun Gate, he confronted Tian W ens han, who had tried to rob him, and left him begging for mercy after one punch.

• Xu Yang pursued and killed the spear-wielding man after decapitating the monkey-masked stallholder, then returned to the Violet Sun Gate.
• Xu Yang visited the Yuan Family, received a stalk of pure yang grass, and learned that Yuan Gang expected him to marry Yuan Sujie as part of their alliance.
• Xu Yang bought medicinal ingredients, refined eleven Origin-Gathering Pills, and refused Tian W ens han's attempt to befriend him.
• Tian W ens han ambushed Xu Yang outside Azure Sun City to seize his pills, but Xu Yang revealed his astral qi mastery and golden astral qi.
• Xu Yang shattered Tian W ens han's astral qi wall and broke his hand with one punch, then demanded to know who had failed to recognize what was good for him.

Xu Yang killed Tian W ens han and spent months strengthening his skills while gathering ingredients and trading techniques. After bringing the Golden Astral Skill to major accomplishment, he naturally broke through into the marrow cleansing realm and began cultivating its chapter.

• Xu Yang severed Tian W ens han's arm, killed him, and took his money pouch.
• Xu Yang continued patrolling and cultivating, traded the Drizzling Rain Startling Wind Sword manual to Sun Tao for Pure Yang Grass, and watched his martial skills advance.
• Lu Ren announced that he had attained astral qi mastery, then challenged Xu Yang's prospects of dragon ascension at the Qingyuan Association gathering.
• Xu Yang completed the Golden Astral Skill and unexpectedly entered the marrow cleansing realm as his sinews, bones, and marrow began to transform.
• Xu Yang started cultivating the Mountain-Bearing Bear Canon's Marrow-Cleansing Chapter, and his remaining lifespan rose to 92.

Xu Yang broke through to marrow cleansing, ended his resource agreement with the Yuan Family by refusing to marry Yuan Sujie, and prepared to pursue pill ingredients at an auction. Li Tieying and Wang Lun returned to Azure Sun City as Heaven-Burning Sect disciples and attacked Xu Yang in the mountains for revenge.

• Xu Yang completed his marrow-cleansing breakthrough and spent several days consolidating his cultivation before visiting Azure Sun City.
• Yuan Gang offered Xu Yang a marriage alliance with Yuan Sujie, but Xu Yang refused and repaid the Yuan Family’s support, ending their agreement.
• Li Tieying and Wang Lun arrived in Azure Sun City, with Li Tieying vowing to kill Xu Yang for destroying the Iron Eagle Gang.
• Xu Yang refined ten Origin-Gathering Pills, bought a Tenfold Great Tonic Pill, and learned that the Myriad Treasures Pavilion auction would take place in seven days.
• Li Tieying and Wang Lun followed Xu Yang out of the city, and Wang Lun attacked him in a deserted mountain stretch.

Xu Yang killed Wang Lun and Li Tieying, then returned to the Violet Sun Gate and continued cultivating. Seven days later, he attended the Myriad Treasures Pavilion auction, where Guo Huai asked to borrow his money to bid on a semi-spirit weapon.

• Xu Yang killed Wang Lun with a single punch, then defeated Li Tieying and destroyed him with the Earthly Fiend Six Harmonies saber technique.
• Xu Yang searched Wang Lun's corpse, returned to the Violet Sun Gate, and refined a Tenfold Great Tonic Pill before meeting Sun Tao and Jiang Ping again.
• Sun Tao and Jiang Ping described their gains from the Cloud Ridge Mountains and tried to persuade Xu Yang to join them on future trips, but he refused.
• After seven days, Xu Yang left for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion auction, where he told An Ping that he expected to reach astral qi mastery within a month or two.
• Tao Huaijin presented Blue Edge, a semi-spirit weapon, and Guo Huai urgently asked Xu Yang to lend him all the money he had brought.

Xu Yang bought pure yang grass at auction, then killed Su Che when Su Che tried to murder him, discovering a book about pills on the corpse. On his way back to the Violet Sun Gate, he encountered Gu Haoming, Li Shun, and Gao Peng fighting a black-clad martial artist, and Li Shun asked him for help.

• Xu Yang refused to lend Guo Huai money for Blue Edge, which another bidder eventually bought for five thousand nine hundred taels.
• Xu Yang won two stalks of pure yang grass for three hundred fifty taels, despite Su Che's efforts to outbid him.
• Su Che followed Xu Yang outside the city and attacked him in the woods, but Xu Yang revealed his marrow-cleansing strength and killed him with the Blazing Sun Gang Saber.
• Xu Yang searched Su Che's body, found the book Introduction to Pills, and continued toward the Violet Sun Gate.
• Xu Yang came upon Gu Haoming, Li Shun, and Gao Peng battling a black-clad martial artist, and Li Shun called on him to help defeat their opponent.

Xu Yang returned to the Violet Sun Gate after identifying Lu Ren as the masked ambusher and helping Jiang Fan and Jiang Yan rescue disciples, while Jiang Fan’s public denunciation of the Dynasty nearly provoked Jiang Yan to silence the witnesses. Elsewhere, Su Qiming suspected Xu Yang was involved in Su Che’s disappearance, and the Su Family’s search ended with a corpse brought before him.

• Xu Yang recognized Lu Ren attacking Gu Haoming, Li Shun, and Gao Peng, but Lu Ren fled when Jiang Fan and Jiang Yan arrived.
• Jiang Fan and Jiang Yan defeated ambushers who were Violet Sun Gate disciples, and Jiang Fan condemned the Dynasty before Jiang Yan threatened the witnesses into silence.
• Xu Yang stored the Pure Yang Grass and studied Introduction to Pills, registering Blood-Boiling Powder on his panel.
• An Ping learned that Xu Yang had returned safely with Jiang Fan and Jiang Yan, while Su Qiming investigated Su Che’s disappearance and focused suspicion on Xu Yang.
• Su Qiming ordered scouts to search toward the Violet Sun Gate, and a corpse wrapped in white cloth was brought before him.

After Su Che’s death, Su Qiming offered a bounty for the Blazing Blade Swordsman while Xu Yang learned An Ping had considered accusing him of a connection to the killer. The Violet Sun Gate assigned Xu Yang and other disciples to protect the upcoming Martial Examination Metropolitan Examination in their hometowns, and Xu Yang returned to Qingyuan with Li Qiang and the others.

• Su Qiming learned that the Blazing Blade Swordsman had killed Su Che and offered three thousand taels, five Origin-Returning Pills, and a favor for information about the killer.
• An Ping considered linking Xu Yang to the Blazing Blade Swordsman, but Shen Liang warned Xu Yang and cautioned An Ping against pursuing the accusation.
• Steward Sun Ke assigned Xu Yang and other disciples to return to their hometowns and protect the Martial Examination Metropolitan Examination from possible Demon Sect trouble.
• Li Qiang led Xu Yang, Sun Tao, and Gu Haoming toward Qingyuan, intending to deal with Xu Yang and Sun Tao after the examination.
• At Qingyuan’s city gate, the guards ordered Li Qiang and Gu Haoming to dismount, and the two reluctantly obeyed when the guards refused to recognize their Violet Sun Gate token.

Xu Yang and Sun Tao returned to Qingyuan County and visited Lin Cheng, where they revealed that Lin Wei had died nearly a year earlier. Lin Cheng learned that Xiao Hua and his son were responsible and, after struggling to contain his grief and rage, demanded the full account of what happened.

• Li He welcomed Xu Yang, Sun Tao, and their companions, then let them leave the barracks to visit their families before the examination.
• Xu Yang and Sun Tao returned to the Mighty Far Hall, where An Ye and the disciples greeted them and Lin Cheng praised their cultivation.
• Lin Cheng asked about Lin Wei after learning she had not written for nearly a year, and Sun Tao admitted that she had died almost a year earlier.
• Xu Yang explained that Lin Wei had ignored their advice, and Sun Tao said the culprit had also tried to silence him and Xu Yang.
• Sun Tao revealed that Xiao Hua and his son had killed Lin Wei, causing Lin Cheng's Astral Qi to destroy furniture as he erupted in grief and anger.
• Lin Cheng regained control and demanded that Xu Yang and Sun Tao explain in detail what had happened to Lin Wei.

Xu Yang learned that Lin Wei’s death had been avenged by his secret killing of Xiao Chen, then returned home and discovered his uncle Zhou Shunchang had been injured over the family’s business. He treated Zhou Shunchang and learned that powerful rivals were threatening the family, leaving Xu Yang ready to confront the trouble.

• Sun Tao recounted Lin Wei’s fate to Lin Cheng, who blamed himself but said Xu Yang and Sun Tao had done all they could.
• Sun Tao revealed that Xiao Chen had died, and Lin Cheng deduced that Xu Yang had killed him; Xu Yang confirmed it and asked Lin Cheng and Sun Tao to keep his strength and deed secret.
• Xu Yang told Lin Cheng that he knew where Lin Wei’s remains were but would wait until Xiao Hua was dead before retrieving them.
• Tian Li warned Xu Yang that something had happened at Zhou Shunchang’s home, so Xu Yang hurried there and reunited with Xu Qing and his family.
• Xu Yang found Zhou Shunchang injured, treated him with an Origin-Gathering Pill and astral qi, and learned that rivals had threatened their tea business and beaten him.
• Xu Yang questioned why the rivals dared to target the family despite Qiu Wenjie’s strength and asked what backing they had.

Xu Yang returned to Qingyuan County and confronted the Green Snake Gang after its men injured Zhou Shunchang and demanded half the family business. He let Xu Qing and Qiu Wenjie fight to sharpen their martial skills, then stopped Yan Qingqiu’s attack with his bare hand.

• Xu Yang told Qiu Wenjie to invite Yan Qingqiu to negotiate, and the Green Snake Gang gathered at the Fortune Gathering House to demand half the Qiu and Zhou families’ profits.
• Xu Yang, Xu Qing, and Qiu Wenjie entered the restaurant, where Xu Qing and Qiu Wenjie began fighting the gang’s men after learning its members had hurt Zhou Shunchang.
• Xu Yang severed Zhang Xu’s arm with a finger strike, then ordered Xu Qing and Qiu Wenjie to keep fighting while he watched over them.
• Xu Qing followed Xu Yang’s advice and killed an opponent, while Qiu Wenjie fought Zhang Xu and the Green Snake Gang’s other martial artists.
• Yan Qingqiu attacked Xu Yang, but Xu Yang shattered his astral qi and stopped his palm by catching his wrist with his bare hand.

Xu Yang returned to Qingyuan County, killed Yan Qingqiu and the Green Snake Gang members who had attacked his family, and seized the gang’s wealth. He rewarded Qiu Wenjie and Zhou Shunchang with martial arts manuals and urged the Zhou Family to build its strength, while news of his return spread and the Huang Family regretted losing his support.

• Xu Yang crushed Yan Qingqiu’s wrist and killed him after Qiu Wenjie defeated Zhang Xu; Xu Qing and Qiu Wenjie killed the gang members who begged for mercy.
• Xu Yang led Xu Qing and Qiu Wenjie to the Green Snake Gang headquarters, where they killed its remaining members and buried the bodies.
• The group found nearly seven hundred taels of silver, Qi Gathering Pills, and two martial arts manuals; Xu Yang gave Qiu Wenjie a manual and a share of the spoils, and kept a hundred taels for Zhou Shunchang’s medical expenses.
• Xu Yang gave Zhou Shunchang several martial arts manuals as family heirlooms and advised him to hire martial artists or send suitable relatives to the Mighty Far Hall.
• News spread that Xu Yang had returned and wiped out the Green Snake Gang, causing those who coveted the Qiu Family’s business to abandon their schemes.
• Huang Jin and Huang Ping regretted that the Huang Family had failed to support Xu Yang, while Qiu Yongqiang visited Zhou Shunchang’s home with gifts to thank him.

Xu Yang lured Ji Yun into a bamboo grove and killed him, then spent the next day helping Xu Qing learn Wind-Thunder Force. As the county prepared for a possible Demon Cult threat to the martial examination, Xu Yang was assigned to protect the talented Qiao Yong.

• Ji Yun went out at night to kill Xu Yang, but Xu Yang revealed himself, admitted killing Kong Yu, Ji Jincheng, and Li Xu, and defeated Ji Yun with his marrow-cleansing cultivation.
• Xu Yang killed Ji Yun and hung his corpse on a bamboo stalk, prompting Li He to suspect that a Demon Cult expert was responsible.
• Xu Yang guided Xu Qing until she could use Wind-Thunder Force, though she still lacked practice with it.
• Sun Tao told Xu Yang that Ji Yun had been killed and that Li Qiang had assigned them to protect Qingyuan County's talented examination candidates.
• Xu Yang met Qiao Yong at the Long-Arm Boxing Hall, where Qiao Yong practiced, invited Xu Yang to dinner, and promised to protect him after entering the Violet Sun Gate.

Xu Yang guarded Qiao Yong through the Martial Examination Metropolitan Examination and warned him that Han Xing and Kong Yu had died. Xu Qing demonstrated Wind-Thunder Force, achieved Dragon Ascension alongside Qiu Wenjie and Tian Li, and left with Xu Yang, while Qiao Yong resented being abandoned after the examination.

• Xu Yang told Qiao Yong that Han Xing and Kong Yu were dead, alarming Qiao Yong and ending his boasts about surpassing the previous cohort's geniuses.
• At the examination, Xu Qing lifted the iron weight and earned a C-grade upper result, while Xu Yang rejected Li Qiang and Gu Haoming's offers to look after or recruit her.
• Xu Yang encouraged Xu Qing to pursue Dragon Ascension without risking herself for a high rank, and she advanced through the early combat rounds.
• Xu Qing used Wind-Thunder Force to defeat a powerful opponent, astonishing the audience and drawing praise from the hall masters.
• Xu Qing, Qiu Wenjie, Tian Li, and two other Mighty Far Hall disciples achieved Dragon Ascension, and Xu Yang departed with Xu Qing after arranging to meet Sun Tao and the others later.
• Qiao Yong resented Xu Yang for leaving without escorting him home or saying goodbye.

Xu Lao'er tried to exploit Xu Qing’s Dragon Ascension achievement to regain her support, but Xu Qing and Xu Yang rejected him. As Xu Qing departed for the Violet Sun Gate, Li Qiang and Gu Haoming ambushed her and Xu Yang at a canyon, where Li Qiang admitted his grudge against Xu Yang.

• Xu Lan told Xu Lao'er and the neighbors that Xu Qing had achieved Dragon Ascension, leaving Xu Lao'er bitterly regretful over abandoning his children.
• Xu Lao'er left Zhang Cuiting and went to seek Xu Qing’s forgiveness, but Xu Yang destroyed his cheap hairpin gift and both siblings refused to acknowledge him.
• Xu Yang warned Xu Qing to avoid organizations and Demon Cult approaches, then she set off toward the Violet Sun Gate with Li Qiang, Gu Haoming, and Sun Tao.
• At a canyon, Li Qiang and Gu Haoming stopped their horses and turned to confront Xu Yang and Sun Tao.
• Xu Yang recognized the spot as a place to bury bones, and Li Qiang admitted he resented Xu Yang for refusing to help him pursue advancement.

Xu Yang revealed his marrow-cleansing cultivation while defeating Li Qiang and Gu Haoming, who had turned on him and Sun Tao. After the group continued toward the Violet Sun Gate, Blood Lotus Cult disciples prepared an ambush, unaware of Xu Yang’s true strength.

• Li Qiang and Gu Haoming attacked Xu Yang and Sun Tao, but Xu Yang’s marrow-cleansing pressure overwhelmed them.
• Xu Yang crippled Li Qiang and Gu Haoming, then killed them after Li Qiang took his own life and Gu Haoming begged for a quick death.
• Xu Yang shared five hundred taels with Sun Tao, disposed of the bodies, and asked him to conceal his cultivation and report that demonic cultists had killed the two men.
• Xu Yang and Sun Tao recovered their horses and continued toward the Violet Sun Gate.
• Luo Tong, Ma Ming, Yang Chao, and He Kuan prepared to ambush the party, believing Xu Yang was only at astral qi minor accomplishment.
• Yang Chao spotted the approaching travelers.

Xu Yang and Sun Tao defeated a Blood Lotus Cult ambush and returned to the Violet Sun Gate, where Xu Yang concealed the truth about Li Qiang and Gu Haoming. After claiming mission rewards, Xu Yang bribed Sun Ke to arrange a safe long-term mission for his younger sister, Xu Qing.

• Xu Yang sensed the ambush and warned Sun Tao before four Blood Lotus Cult disciples attacked them on the road.
• Xu Yang revealed his marrow-cleansing strength and killed He Kuan, Luo Tong, and Ma Ming, while Sun Tao and Xu Yang killed Yang Chao.
• Xu Yang and Sun Tao collected the cult disciples' heads and tokens, then returned to the Violet Sun Gate and reported that Li Qiang and Gu Haoming had died fighting the cult.
• Sun Ke confirmed the identities of the dead disciples and awarded Xu Yang and Sun Tao 260 contribution points.
• Xu Yang secretly gave Sun Ke 300 taels to request an easy, safe long-term mission for Xu Qing, and explained her martial arts background when Sun Ke asked about her talent.

Xu Yang returned to the Violet Sun Gate after surviving a Blood Lotus Cult ambush and reached astral qi mastery, drawing attention from the Outer Sect and Azure Sun City lineages. The Ding Family offered him an Attendant position with substantial benefits, but Xu Yang balked at the required marriage alliance, leaving Ding Xu to consult his elders.

• Xu Yang paid Sun Ke to help arrange a safe mission for Xu Qing once she arrived, then split the contribution points from the ambush mission with Sun Tao.
• Xu Yang returned to the courtyard with Sun Tao, where Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong learned he had reached astral qi mastery and celebrated the deaths of Li Qiang and Gu Haoming.
• News of Xu Yang's breakthrough spread through the Violet Sun Gate and Azure Sun City, prompting major lineages to seek recruits while Lu Ren's reputation suffered over rumors about his betrayal of the Huang Family.
• Ding Xu offered Xu Yang an Attendant position with a stipend, pills, martial arts, and future support, but explained that the offer required either marrying into the Ding Family or entering a marriage alliance.
• Xu Yang said he did not want to marry someone he had no feelings for, so Ding Xu agreed to ask the elders whether they would waive the marriage condition.

Xu Yang refused the Ding family's marriage condition and spent his Contribution Points on the Mountain-Bearing Bear King Palm despite Liu Jinghe's advice to prioritize cultivation resources. After studying the art, he realized he needed to begin practicing it.

• Su Jie told Su Qiming that Xu Yang had reached Astral Qi Mastery and that the Ding family was trying to recruit him; Su Qiming ordered him to keep watch.
• Ding Yuan told Ding Xu to leave Xu Yang waiting after Xu Yang refused a marriage alliance, and Xu Yang turned down other Lineages while continuing to cultivate and study pill-making.
• Sun Tao, Jiang Ping, and Zhang Yong invited Xu Yang to the Dining Hall and told him they planned to enter the Cloud Ridge Mountains with Zhang Hong; there, they heard that Li Chuyang had reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm.
• Xu Yang exchanged three hundred Contribution Points for the Mountain-Bearing Bear King Palm, dismissing Liu Jinghe's warning to spend them on cultivation resources.
• Xu Yang studied the palm art in the Peach Grove, learned that its perfection stage could lead to a Martial Dao Phenomenon, and decided to begin practicing it.

Xu Yang practiced the Mountain-Bearing Bear King Palm, strengthened his spirit, and bought a courtyard in Azure Sun City to use for safer pill refining. As he returned to the Violet Sun Gate with Origin-Gathering Pills, Su Qiming and Su Jie waited along the road to ambush him.

• Xu Yang practiced the Mountain-Bearing Bear King Palm and found that it drained his mind but improved his spirit, senses, and cultivation.
• Li Chuyang, Du Chuan, and Jiang Fan announced that they had reached marrow cleansing, while the other Ten Elites still lagged behind.
• Tian Jing sent word that Xu Yang had left the mountain, and Su Qiming set out with Su Jie to avenge his son by killing him.
• Xu Yang bought more ingredients, refined two batches of Origin-Gathering Pills, and purchased a courtyard whose basement could be remodeled into a quiet chamber.
• Su Qiming and Su Jie waited for Xu Yang along the mountain road, and they finally saw him approaching the Violet Sun Gate.

Su Qiming and Su Jie ambushed Xu Yang to avenge Su Che, but Xu Yang subdued Su Jie and forced Su Qiming to break his own arm. After Su Jie revealed that Xu Yang had reached marrow cleansing, Xu Yang killed him and launched an all-out attack on Su Qiming.

• Su Jie attacked Xu Yang under Su Qiming's watch, and Xu Yang evaded him and fled into the forest.
• Xu Yang quickly crippled Su Jie and held him hostage, then demanded Su Qiming break one arm and retreat in exchange for his disciple's life.
• Su Qiming broke his arm, but Xu Yang demanded that he cut it off; when Su Qiming refused, Xu Yang prepared to kill Su Jie.
• Su Jie warned Su Qiming that Xu Yang had reached marrow cleansing, and Xu Yang killed Su Jie before Su Qiming could react.
• Xu Yang activated his Golden Astral Skill and Treading Astral Qi, Chasing the Wind, then charged at the injured Su Qiming with a powerful strike.