Chapter Summaries

After Li Ping'an came to the Yikun Sect over Zhang Yuan’s killing of the Rat Demons, Qian He helped him press the complaint. The matter drew a crowd and reached Daoist Yunfeng, leaving the sect facing a dispute between its peaks.

• Zhang Yuan told his master that he had killed the Rat Demons, and his master ordered him to apologize and compensate Li Ping'an with Spirit Stones.
• Li Ping'an explained the Rat Demons’ deaths to Qian He, who agreed to help him seek justice.
• A disciple from Falling Chess Peak claimed Zhang Yuan was in secluded cultivation, but Qian He demanded that he come in person or face the Disciplinary Hall.
• Disciples spread word that Zhang Yuan had killed the Rat Demons, who had run a restaurant in Wu'an Town and harmed no one.
• Daoist Yunfeng arrived, heard Qian He’s account, and judged Zhang Yuan’s actions rash while recognizing that the dispute could pit Qian He against Falling Chess Peak.

Li Ping'an confronted the Yikun Sect over Zhang Yuan killing the field mice and burning their restaurant. After Zhang Yuan received a light punishment, Li Ping'an laid out evidence of his wrongdoing before the assembled witnesses.

• Daoist Yunfeng and the Disciplinary Hall elders gathered as a crowd of cultivators watched Li Ping'an wait for Zhang Yuan.
• True Person Yuyang arrived and praised Li Ping'an for standing up for the rat demons.
• Zhang Yuan arrived with his master Qi Qi and admitted he had mistaken his targets, while Qi Qi and Daoist Yunfeng defended him.
• The Disciplinary Hall elders fined Zhang Yuan two months' allowance and confined him to his quarters for a month.
• Li Ping'an recounted Zhang Yuan's attacks on the field mice and called on Qian He, other Yikun Sect members, and the Lord of the Land to confirm his account.

Li Ping'an demanded an immediate ruling from the Yikun Sect over Zhang Yuan’s killing of field mice, then threatened to take Zhang Yuan’s life if the sect failed to act within two days. As the dispute drew a larger crowd, the sect leader imposed light punishments and declared the matter closed.

• Li Ping'an rejected the Discipline Elders’ request to delay their decision and demanded a ruling while witnesses and evidence were present.
• After Li Ping'an’s frustration split Daoist Yunfeng’s table, he apologized and warned that he would personally kill Zhang Yuan in two days if the sect did not act.
• Li Ping'an left, and True Person Yuyang and the Discipline Elders were shocked; Qian He realized her effort to pressure the sect had let the affair spiral out of control.
• News of Li Ping'an’s threat spread through the Yikun Sect, prompting spectators to stay and watch what would happen.
• The sect leader heard the case from the head of Falling Chess Peak and Zhang Yuan, then ordered Zhang Yuan’s allowance docked for six months and Qian He’s for three, ending the matter.

Li Ping'an broke through the Yikun Sect’s defenses and defeated the peak heads who tried to stop him. He landed on Main Peak and demanded that the sect send out someone who could fight.

• After waiting two days, Li Ping'an appeared before the disciples guarding him and told them to report that he had come to test his fists at the Mountain Gate.
• Li Ping'an breached the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation, triggering the Seven Peaks Sword Formation and alarms throughout the Yikun Sect.
• The sect leader ordered the disciples to stay on their respective peaks as the sect’s leaders and visiting cultivators reacted to the attack.
• Qi Qi confronted Li Ping'an and was defeated almost instantly, while two more peak heads managed only to delay him briefly.
• Li Ping'an broke through the remaining blockades, landed on Main Peak with his fishing pole and erhu, and demanded that the Yikun Sect send out someone who could fight.

Li Ping'an challenged the Yikun Sect and overwhelmed its defenders before cutting through the Seven Peaks Sword Formation and splitting the Main Peak. The sect master halted the battle rather than risk destroying the sect.

• Li Ping'an entered the Main Peak square and defeated Martial Fool with a single punch.
• Li Ping'an advanced toward the sect master as Zhang Yuan watched the defenders fall.
• The sect master activated the Seven Peaks Sword Formation, drawing power from the seven peaks and the sect's ancestors.
• Li Ping'an drew the Fusang Saber and split the Main Peak with one slash, collapsing the formation's power.
• The Talisman Armor Generals tried to block the growing fissure, but all six were destroyed as Cloudmist Mountain split.
• The sect master stopped the formation after realizing continued fighting could ruin the Yikun Sect.

Li Ping'an defeated the Yikun Sect after it attacked him over the field mice, then left after compensating Daoist Yunfeng for the table he had broken. A month later, several notorious demons in Yong Province were wiped out, while Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and the little girl mourned the mice.

• The Yikun Sect leader pleaded for the sect's survival as Li Ping'an killed Zhang Yuan and left the sect's leaders and elders badly injured.
• Li Ping'an gave Daoist Yunfeng medicinal ingredients, pills, Spirit Stones, talismans, and other belongings to settle the debt for the broken table.
• True Person Yuyang assessed the Yikun Sect's losses and worried that its weakened state would leave Yong Province vulnerable to demons.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and the little girl burned offerings for the field mice, and the little girl said she hated parting.
• A month later, several great demons that had long plagued Yong Province were wiped out one after another.

A little girl among the children offered to the Tiger Demon secretly used a Talisman to locate the demon’s cave, then revealed herself by trying to attack it with a tiny ball of flame. The Tiger Demon laughed at her weak spell and prepared to choose a child to eat.

• The authorities sent more than fifty children to Walin Mountain as tribute to the great demon, and a Changgui led them into the woods.
• The little girl asked the Changgui about his nature and explained that Big Ping'an had told her what a Changgui was.
• As the children entered the cave, the little girl made them cry, used the distraction to activate a Talisman, and located the demon's cave with a streak of rainbow light.
• The Tiger Demon absorbed the Changgui, revealed its tiger form, and chose the calm little girl as its first intended meal.
• The little girl recited an incantation and spat a tiny ball of flame at the Tiger Demon, which laughed at her attack.

The little girl rescued children from a Tiger Demon with help from Li Ping'an’s Drizzle Sword, then spread the claim that eating mice gave her strength. As Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Cat Immortal left Jingxuan Town, Li Ping'an recalled that his wager with the master of the Shicha Sea was nearing its conclusion.

• The little girl summoned a Wooden Armor Puppet to fight the Tiger Demon, but the Drizzle Sword killed the demon before it could attack her.
• The little girl led the rescued children down the mountain and told them she had become strong by eating mice, inspiring them to demand mice at home.
• Two cultivators in Jingxuan Town recognized Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Cat Immortal from exaggerated rumors but were too afraid to approach them.
• The children's parents tried to stop their mouse-eating demands, and the little girl asked Li Ping'an what Cat Immortal had told them.
• Two days later, Li Ping'an said they had done enough to curb the great demons and told Old Ox he had sensed that his wager with the master of the Shicha Sea was nearly due.

Yan Shisan faced tribulation lightning while attempting to break through to the eighth realm, and Li Ping'an secretly gave him the power to endure it. Yan Shisan stood firm against the continuing thunder and challenged it to strike him down.

• A disciple worried that Yan Shisan had remained in seclusion, but the Octopus Swordsman told him not to disturb Yan Shisan during his breakthrough.
• Tribulation lightning struck Yan Shisan repeatedly, leaving him badly injured as he tried to remain standing.
• Li Ping'an sensed Yan Shisan's tribulation from Yong Province and used his divine arts to send power across the distance.
• Yan Shisan recognized Li Ping'an's presence and received the strength to withstand the lightning.
• Yan Shisan's aura changed as he planted his feet, pointed his arm at the sky, and challenged the thunder.

Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Kitten faced a coalition of demons in Yong Province, while Li Ping'an fought the greater demons and Kitten battled a wolf demon. After the group left the battlefield laden with spoils, Li Ping'an prepared to travel with Old Ox and Kitten to Shicha Sea.

• Li Ping'an told Kitten that greater demons were coming because his demon slaying had forced them to band together.
• As dark clouds and demonic energy gathered, Li Ping'an flew off to confront the greater demons and left Kitten with Old Ox.
• Kitten and her wooden-armored figure fought a wolf demon, and Kitten defeated it with fire and an earth-and-stone figure.
• Kitten gathered treasures from the fallen demons until Li Ping'an returned and gave her a Storage Ring.
• Cultivators found the battlefield covered in demon corpses and celebrated the end of the monsters' havoc across Yong Province.
• Li Ping'an set out with Old Ox and Kitten for Shicha Sea.

Li Ping'an arrived at Shicha Sea with Old Ox and Kitten to honor his old agreement with its master. After Gu Xizhou reunited with him, Li Ping'an told Heavenly Baleful Star that Yan Shisan would face Shicha Sea in a contest of fists, leaving the Mountain Lord wondering whether Yan Shisan had truly reached the Upper Third Realm.

• Li Ping'an landed near Shicha Sea with Old Ox and Kitten and waited for Gu Xizhou, bringing food for their reunion.
• Gu Xizhou arrived with a dead eagle, greeted Li Ping'an and Old Ox, and playfully rubbed Kitten's head.
• Heavenly Baleful Star recognized Li Ping'an and asked why he had come to Shicha Sea.
• Li Ping'an said he had come to honor the wager with Shicha Sea's master and clarified that Yan Shisan, not he, would challenge them to a contest of fists.
• Heavenly Baleful Star reported the news to the Mountain Lord, who recalled the agreement and wondered whether Yan Shisan had entered the Upper Third Realm.

Yan Shisan arrived at the Shicha Sea and fought his way through its defenses to challenge True Person Yunshan, while Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou watched. The chapter ended with Yan Shisan facing two Attendants as the Octopus Swordsman battled elsewhere on the mountain.

• Heavenly Baleful Star reported that Li Ping'an had brought Gu Xizhou, and True Person Yunshan recognized Gu Xizhou as the Martial Warrior.
• Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou shared a meal as Yan Shisan announced his challenge to the Shicha Sea.
• Yan Shisan broke through the Grand Array and defeated the disciples and Sword Cultivators blocking his way uphill.
• The Octopus Swordsman arrived at Sea-Viewing Peak and attacked the Shicha Sea's Sword Formation and its defenders.
• Yan Shisan struck the Main Peak, endured a counterattack from two Attendants, and faced them in a boxing stance while Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou watched.

Yan Shisan fought his way toward Shicha Sea’s Ancestral Hall, defeating Heavenly Baleful Star before confronting True Person Yunshan. As True Person Yunshan’s Dharma Body Golden Form began to shatter under a mysterious azure strike, the battle’s outcome remained unresolved.

• Yan Shisan advanced toward Shicha Sea’s main hall, crushing the surrounding defenses with his Fist Gang.
• Heavenly Baleful Star attacked Yan Shisan with the Milky Way Sword Formation, but Yan Shisan defeated him with a single punch.
• True Person Yunshan hesitated to intervene until Li Ping'an assured him that he and Gu Xizhou would honor their promise not to interfere.
• True Person Yunshan manifested his Dharma Body Golden Form and attacked Yan Shisan with an enormous golden sword.
• Yan Shisan endured the sword’s strike and shattered it with a punch, destroying the Ancestral Hall and forcing True Person Yunshan to realize Yan Shisan had come for revenge.
• A tiny azure streak struck True Person Yunshan’s Dharma Body Golden Form, cracking and breaking it apart.

Yan Shisan defeated and killed True Person Yunshan, settling their grudge, while Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou parted ways with their companions. Li Ping'an returned to Great Sui, where a border officer recognized the imperial jade seal on his travel document and let him pass.

• Yan Shisan overwhelmed True Person Yunshan in battle and killed him after declaring that Yunshan had survived the promised punch.
• Li Ping'an and Gu Xizhou shared wine, discussed their plans, and parted without arranging when to meet again.
• Li Ping'an left with Old Ox and Kitten, then traveled to Great Sui and descended before its border pass.
• A deputy rejected Li Ping'an's expired travel document, but the commanding officer saw the imperial jade seal and let him enter.
• The deputy asked why his godfather had made an exception, and the commanding officer explained that Li Ping'an's status was extraordinary.

Li Ping'an returned to the capital and reunited with Jing Yu, who had become a prominent official and a father. When Jing Yu summoned his son Jingyun home to meet the honored guest, the Great Confucian Master Zhong recognized Li Ping'an's name and went with him.

• Li Ping'an arrived in the capital with Old Ox and Kitten and went to Jing Yu's residence.
• Jing Yu rushed out to embrace Li Ping'an and Old Ox, then revealed that he had married and had a ten-year-old son.
• At the Imperial Academy, Jingyun secretly read an illustrated story about Li Ping'an instead of following Master Zhong's lesson.
• A guard told Jingyun that Jing Yu had summoned him home to meet Li Ping'an.
• Master Zhong heard Li Ping'an's name, put down his book, and decided to accompany Jingyun.

Jingyun learned that Li Ping'an had come to visit his father and hurried home to meet the legendary guest. Li Ping'an, Old Ox, Kitten, and Jing Yu stayed together through the winter, while Kitten and Jingyun became friends and Kitten revealed her peculiar idea of a place to eat.

• Jingyun encountered Liu Yun on his way home and told her that Li Ping'an had arrived at the Jing Residence, startling her despite her controlled expression.
• Jingyun returned home, met Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Kitten, and joined them as they talked about old friends and shared a meal.
• Li Ping'an, Jing Yu, and Old Ox spent the night drinking and reminiscing, while Jingyun and Kitten got acquainted.
• Li Ping'an stayed at the Jing Residence with Old Ox and Kitten, and Kitten and Jingyun played in the snow with help from a Wooden Armor Puppet.
• When Jingyun grew cold, Kitten gave him a talisman and then asked whether there was a pleasure house nearby because she wanted to eat there.

Li Ping'an enjoyed the snowfall with Old Ox while Jingyun accidentally knocked out Cat Immortal’s tooth during a test of his strength. Zhao Ling'er and Aliya arrived and healed Cat Immortal, then waited for Li Ping'an, who returned with Old Ox.

• Li Ping'an and Old Ox shared wine and food at a restaurant as snow fell over the Capital City.
• Jingyun punched Cat Immortal, knocking her down and making her bleed and lose a tooth.
• Zhao Ling'er and Aliya arrived, found Jingyun panicking, and went with him to check on Cat Immortal.
• Zhao Ling'er healed Cat Immortal’s tooth, and Cat Immortal insisted she was not a child.
• Aliya and Zhao Ling'er decided to wait for Li Ping'an, who arrived at the Jing Residence with Old Ox.

Li Ping'an reunited with Aliya and Zhao Ling'er in Capital City, where Zhao Ling'er voiced concern about Great Sui’s rapid expansion and unrest. The next day, Aliya took Jingyun and the little girl out, while a new visitor arrived to see Li Ping'an.

• Aliya and Zhao Ling'er visited Li Ping'an and Old Ox, and the group shared tea and roasted potatoes while catching up.
• Zhao Ling'er told Li Ping'an that Great Sui’s wars and peasant uprisings were creating hidden troubles, despite her memorials to the Female Emperor.
• The following morning, Zhao Ling'er left for court, and Aliya took Jingyun and the little girl out to buy candied hawthorn skewers.
• The little girl asked to visit a pleasure house because she had heard Big Ping'an and Jing Yu liked going there.
• The Flood Dragon asked Li Ping'an about their location, and Li Ping'an promised to bring it a history of Great Sui and local specialties.
• A visitor called out to Li Ping'an from outside as he tried to return to sleep.

Li Ping'an hosted Liu Yong, who confided his frustration at being recalled from the frontier and stripped of military authority. After Liu Yong left, Jingyun recognized him and realized the old stories linking him to Li Ping'an were true.

• Liu Yong visited Li Ping'an in the snow and brought him gifts, food, and wine.
• Liu Yong told Li Ping'an that the emperor had recalled him to the capital and left him with an idle post, and that he was reluctant to give up his power or abandon the people who depended on him.
• Liu Yong left when Aliya, Cat Immortal, and Jingyun returned from shopping.
• Jingyun recognized Liu Yong and connected his visit to the folk tales about his relationship with Li Ping'an.
• Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Jingyun ate Cat Immortal's untouched candied hawthorns while Aliya went to make hangover soup.

Zhao Ling'er met with Empress Liu Yun to discuss affairs of state and raised concerns on Li Ping'an's behalf, but the Empress postponed meeting him. Back at Jing Yu's residence, Cat Immortal worried about money and hurried out to earn some as a palace carriage arrived to announce a visit from Second Miss Liu.

• Empress Liu Yun praised Zhao Ling'er for her work in Nantong, and they discussed national policies and people's livelihoods.
• Zhao Ling'er told the Empress that Li Ping'an had returned, but the Empress postponed summoning him and secretly swallowed a pill after Zhao Ling'er left.
• Li Ping'an braided Cat Immortal's hair, and she worried that staying at Jing Yu's residence for free meant they needed to pay their way.
• Cat Immortal refused Jing Yun's invitation to play and ran off, determined to earn money.
• A palace maid arrived at Jing Yu's residence and asked to announce a visit from Second Miss Liu.