Chapter Summaries

Li Rui concealed his cultivation and met Little White Flood Dragon, which had traveled to Clear River hoping to bond with the human who bore Yinglong traits. Too old to form a companion bond, Li Rui instead contracted Little White Flood Dragon, then learned that someone who understood beast language had been investigating them.

• Lady Lingluo showed Yuan Gao her illusion art and proposed traveling to Qinghe City to investigate Zhuang Renhe's death.
• Li Rui mastered a method to conceal and disguise his true qi, making himself appear to be a newly advanced Sixth Rank Martial Artist.
• Xia Xiaotang told Li Rui that Little White Flood Dragon had come to Clear River to see him.
• Little White Flood Dragon asked Li Rui to form a bond, but learned he was too old for one and agreed to Li Rui's contract instead.
• Li Rui infused Little White Flood Dragon with Immortal Profound Qi, and Little White Flood Dragon accepted him as its big brother.
• As Li Rui and Xia Xiaotang returned to Clear River, Little White Flood Dragon warned that someone who understood beast language had been asking about their earlier encounter.

Lady Lingluo used her leverage over Yuan Gao to secure his agreement to let her meet the Immortal Venerable, then investigated Zhuang Renhe’s abandoned residence and uncovered a hidden chamber. Li Rui learned that the Qi Clan had been investigating him and suspected Lady Lingluo had arranged the Demon Tide to weaken the guards.

• Lady Lingluo revealed that she had discovered Yuan Gao’s secret about the Immortal Venerable and coerced him into agreeing to arrange a meeting with the Immortal Venerable.
• The Little White Flood Dragon told Li Rui that a treasure had lured it to the military camp, leading Li Rui to suspect the Qi Clan had engineered the Demon Tide to weaken the Anning Guard and Cloud Province Guard.
• Li Rui let the Little White Flood Dragon stay in his room, then returned to cultivating in the Entering the Sea stage of Ocean Gazing.
• Lady Lingluo brought Yuan Gao to Zhuang Renhe’s abandoned residence and explained that Zhuang Da had followed Li Rui before disappearing.
• Lady Lingluo found a hidden passage in the eastern wing and led Yuan Gao into a secret chamber filled with torture instruments.
• Lady Lingluo suggested that Zhuang Renhe had learned the Immortal Venerable’s secret and tried to capture Jiang Linxian and Li Rui, while Yuan Gao agreed and blamed Zhuang for the failed plan.

Li Rui’s cultivation of Dragon Elephant True Yuan Strength advanced with the Little White Flood Dragon’s draconic qi, while Lady Lingluo and Yuan Gao maneuvered to resume the weapons trade and prepare a move before the Yu Kingdom withdrew its troops. After receiving Immortal Profound Qi from Li Rui, the Little White Flood Dragon transformed ahead of its rank and emerged as a tiny white snake, then bit Li Rui and gave him Dragon Yuan.

• Li Rui discussed the flood dragon’s nine transformations with the Little White Flood Dragon and realized that its transformation method and human martial arts both pursued a return to the innate body.
• Lady Lingluo arranged a weapons-trade deal with County Magistrate Zhong Zheng, while Yuan Gao pressed her to fulfill her promise to the Blood Shadow Old Ancestor before the Yu Kingdom withdrew its troops.
• Jiang Linxian told Li Rui that he had deduced Li Rui’s breakthrough to Fifth Rank, praised his rapid progress, and invited him to share wine.
• Two months later, the Little White Flood Dragon revealed its true form and fell into a deep sleep after Li Rui infused it with Immortal Profound Qi.
• The Little White Flood Dragon shed its scales and shrank into a tiny white snake, successfully transforming before the fourth rank, then bit Li Rui and delivered Dragon Yuan.

Li Rui completed Dragon Strength after Little White Flood Dragon gave him its remaining Yinglong blood, then learned that his disciple Wang Zhao had broken through through his bond with the Three-Eyed White Tiger. Daoist Xu visited Clear River seeking answers about Qu Chengfeng and concluded that Qu Chengfeng’s soul had been replaced.

• Little White Flood Dragon gave Li Rui its remaining Yinglong blood, completing his Dragon Strength and leaving the dragon weakened, so it stayed with him in his secret chamber.
• Li Rui reassured Wang Zhao, Yang Yong, and Liang He, then discovered Wang Zhao had reached Eighth Rank through his bonded companion relationship with the Three-Eyed White Tiger.
• Half a month later, Jiang Yan brought Li Rui to meet Daoist Xu, who explained the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion’s search for the immortal realm and revealed that he had once been a Land Immortal.
• Daoist Xu asked Li Rui about Qu Chengfeng, then explained that he had seen his grandnephew and discovered that Qu Chengfeng’s soul had been replaced.

Li Rui learned that Qu Chengfeng’s ordeal had awakened his mind, while Xu Xuan came to Clear River intending to avenge him but postponed his attack on the Nine Souls Law King. After the Heaven and Earth Alliance’s goods were seized, Li Rui faced three sect elders demanding a share of its trade and ended by promising to introduce them to his connections.

• Xu Xuan explained that the Nine Souls Law King’s soul-swapping art had inadvertently awakened Qu Chengfeng’s intelligence, then said he had come to kill the Law King but would stay in Clear River for now.
• Li Rui defeated Zhuang Renhe’s apparition in forty-seven moves during training on the Dream Cloud Platform.
• Liang He told Li Rui that Zhong Zheng had seized the Heaven and Earth Alliance’s goods, and Li Rui went to the County Office to meet him.
• Shi Zhou, Zhou Ting, and Bai Jing demanded access to the Heaven and Earth Alliance’s Witch Kingdom trade, with Zhong Zheng supporting their pressure.
• Li Rui mentioned that he could obtain a Red Scale Fish for Zhong Zheng’s son, easing Zhong Zheng’s resistance, then said he would personally introduce the elders to his connections.

Li Rui conceded part of the demon beast trade to the three great sects while planning to regain leverage through information and their elders’ personal ties. Meanwhile, Xu Xuan revealed that Gu Changsheng intended him to help Jiang Linxian ascend to immortality, as Lady Lingluo prepared a demonic-beast assault on Clear River.

• Zhou Ting suspected Li Rui was stalling, but Shi Zhou concluded that Li Rui had no choice and left to claim the trade.
• Li Rui told Liang He to introduce Divine Weapon Manor, the Dao Xuan Sect, and the Hundred Battles Sect to Pu Da, then ordered him to investigate Elder Bai and Elder Zhou through Heaven's Secret Pavilion.
• Zhong Zheng returned the Heaven and Earth Alliance's goods and sent an apology, while Li Rui recognized that the sect elders’ needs could give him leverage.
• Xu Xuan told Jiang Linxian that the Nine Souls Law King had left Man Bone City and was heading toward Clear River, then revealed that he would serve as Jiang Linxian's whetstone to help him ascend to immortality.
• Lady Lingluo learned that the Nine Souls Law King had arrived near Clear River and led Yuan Gao to a mass of demonic beasts, announcing that she intended to attack the city.

Lady Lingluo opened Qinghe City's gates to a demonic beast horde, killed County Assistant Zhong Zheng, and tried to keep the Eight Great Sects from intervening while pursuing Jiang Linxian. As Li Rui fought to save people in the burning outer city, Lady Lingluo abruptly left after receiving news of an unexpected development.

• Lady Lingluo used an illusion to make Zhong Zheng open the city gate, then killed him and set out with Yuan Gao to catch their targets.
• Demonic beasts poured into Qinghe's outer city and set it ablaze; Li Rui hid Wang Zhao and Yang Yong in his underground passage before going to find Liang He and rescue survivors.
• At the County Office, Liu Quan killed himself under demonic influence, and Lady Lingluo arrived with an Innate Realm man, overpowering the gathered elders and revealing her identity as the city lord of Man Bone City.
• Lady Lingluo secured the elders' agreement to keep their disciples under control, but hurried out after a man in black delivered urgent news.
• Shi Zhou argued that he had agreed only to buy time, and the elders decided to act against Lady Lingluo.

Li Rui reached the Heaven and Earth Alliance and helped its members hold off the demon beasts, then discovered that the attack was also a trap targeting him. He killed the two Little Grandmasters who ambushed him and erased their bodies, while a blazing radiance appeared beyond Clear River to the east.

• Li Rui arrived at the Heaven and Earth Alliance, promised that reinforcements would come by dawn, and helped its members fight off the demon beasts.
• Yuan Gao emerged from the demon beast horde and revealed that Lingluo had expected Li Rui to come, then pursued him into an alley.
• Li Rui revealed his fifth-rank strength and Immortal Form as Yuan Gao and Qi Rui attacked him together.
• Li Rui killed Yuan Gao and Qi Rui, dissolved their bodies, and left the alley.
• A brilliant radiance appeared beyond the city to the east, shining like a sun in the night sky.

Jiang Linxian revealed that she had entered the Earth Immortal realm and killed the Nine Souls Law King, ending the demon-beast assault on Qinghe City. Li Rui returned alive after killing Yuan Gao and another Fifth Rank, and he joined Jiang Linxian as she opened a hidden door to show him Senior Xu.

• Jiang Linxian revealed her Earth Immortal strength and killed the Nine Souls Law King outside Qinghe City.
• The demon beasts retreated, and Lady Lingluo fled into the mountains after learning Jiang Linxian had become a Sword Immortal.
• Li Rui returned to the Heaven and Earth Alliance wounded, revealed that he had killed Yuan Gao, and said he had broken through to Fifth Rank.
• Li Rui reassured Wang Zhao and Yang Yong that the danger had passed, then went to the Military Advisor's Residence.
• Jiang Linxian told Li Rui that Lady Lingluo had used the Eye of Illusion to bewitch Zhong Zheng and open the city gates.
• Jiang Linxian told Li Rui she had killed the Nine Souls Law King, then opened a hidden door and invited him to see Senior Xu.

Xu Xuan passed his remaining Yellow Court Qi to Li Rui, leaving himself only one year to live, while Jiang Linxian reported the siege and his victory over the Nine Souls Law King to Xue Gui. After Yu Country's Army captured Man Bone City, Xue Gui praised Li Rui and offered him the position of military advisor for Anning Guard.

• Jiang Linxian told Xu Xuan and Jiang Yan that the crisis had been resolved, and Xu Xuan praised him for reaching the Earth Immortal realm.
• Xu Xuan used Immortal Stroking the Crown to pass his Yellow Court Qi to Li Rui, reducing his remaining lifespan from five years to one.
• Xue Gui arrived in Qinghe with the Black Armor Army, heard Jiang Linxian's account, and learned that Jiang Linxian had slain the Nine Souls Law King.
• Yu Country's Army captured Man Bone City in three days, while Lingluo escaped before the soldiers reached her mansion.
• Xue Gui met Li Rui, praised his skill, and offered him the position of military advisor for Anning Guard.

Li Rui received an enhanced Marrow Cleansing reward that became Foundation Establishment, greatly strengthening his Immortal Profound Qi and expanding his Qi Sea. As Jiang Linxian and Iron Madman prepared to leave for the capital for the World Martial Evaluation, Iron Madman predicted Jiang Linxian could place in the top hundred.

• Xue Gui recruited Li Rui, promised to support him, and left Clear River with the Black Armor Army after Jiang Linxian recommended him.
• Li Rui completed the Make Good Connections mission and received an opportunity for Marrow Cleansing, which the system enhanced into Foundation Establishment.
• Li Rui entered closed-door cultivation, and after three days the process absorbed Xu Xuan's Yellow Court Qi, strengthened his Immortal Profound Qi, and expanded his Qi Sea more than tenfold.
• Lady Lingluo sent the Qi Clan's people to Nanman City, abandoned Man Bone City, and decided to go to the capital to meet the Immortal Venerable.
• Jiang Linxian arrived at Li Rui's home with Jiang Yan and Iron Madman, and told Li Rui he had been summoned to the capital for the World Martial Evaluation.
• Iron Madman said he would travel north with Jiang Linxian because the Blood Shadow Old Ancestor had appeared near the capital, and predicted Jiang Linxian might place in the top hundred.

Jiang Linxian, Iron Madman, and Jiang Yan left for the capital, but they and Li Rui intercepted Lady Lingluo on the way. Jiang Linxian killed Lingluo and her bodyguard, then continued north while Li Rui remained behind.

• Iron Madman and Li Rui discussed Jiang Linxian's hidden strength and the approaching World Martial Evaluation, where Jiang Linxian expected Yuan Gao and Gu to rank well.
• Five days later, Jiang Linxian, Jiang Yan, and Iron Madman set out for the capital, with Li Rui seeing them off.
• At the Cloud Province–Jiangzhou border, the group encountered Lady Lingluo and her burly bodyguard, and Jiang Linxian challenged her to settle their score.
• Li Rui revealed that he had alerted Jiang Linxian and the Yu Kingdom authorities, who had tracked Lingluo after her attack on a city.
• Jiang Linxian sent nine flying swords at Lingluo and her bodyguard; the bodyguard died shielding her, and Lingluo was killed.
• Jiang Linxian asked Li Rui to handle what came next, then continued toward the capital with Jiang Yan and Iron Madman.

After Li Rui brought back Lingluo’s corpse, Cao Wei praised him and treated him as an equal, while Qinghe’s people celebrated his victory. Li Rui then used his new standing to reconcile with Shi Zhou, Zhou Ting, and Bai Jing, securing their cooperation in the Golden Road caravan trade.

• Cao Wei recognized Lingluo’s corpse, praised Li Rui for killing her, and agreed to report the matter to Xue Gui.
• Cao Wei ordered Lingluo’s corpse hung from Qinghe’s walls, and Li Rui’s reputation among the people soared.
• Li Rui refused Yang Yong’s request to accompany him in public and continued serving as Trade Commandant until his official appointment arrived.
• Shi Zhou, Zhou Ting, and Bai Jing visited Li Rui, apologized for their past conflict, and promised not to interfere with the Heaven and Earth Alliance’s business.
• Li Rui proposed restarting caravan trade on the Golden Road, and the four men agreed to split the profits forty percent to Li Rui and sixty percent to the three sects.

Li Rui learned that Governor-General Yuan would be invested as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households in Cloud Province and that Xue Gui hoped he would become a retainer of the new Marquis Manor. That night, Li Rui began advancing toward Listening to Waves.

• Ning Zhongtian complained that Li Rui’s Military Counselor appointment had not arrived, while Li Rui remained relaxed about the delay.
• Han Zhen arrived in Clear River on Xue Gui’s behalf and told Li Rui that the World Martial Evaluation had provisionally placed Governor-General Yuan in the top ten, earning him a marquisate and a fief in Cloud Province.
• Han Zhen relayed Xue Gui’s advice that Li Rui prepare to join Marquis Yuan’s retainers, and Li Rui thanked them for the opportunity.
• Li Rui encouraged Ning Zhongtian to prepare as well, then returned to his cultivation that night.
• Li Rui circulated his Immortal Profound Qi until his Qi Sea surged with waves, and he declared that he sought Listening to Waves.

Li Rui entered the Listening to Waves Realm and learned to control his saber, then reviewed the new Martial Ranking and negotiated demon beast trade with three sect elders. As Governor-General Yuan’s elevation to marquis drew near, news spread that he would recruit retainers and might choose a disciple in Cloud Province.

• Li Rui broke through to the Listening to Waves Realm, used blade control to fly briefly, and began his morning training.
• Ning Zhongtian brought Li Rui and the others a copy of the Martial Ranking, which listed Yuan Dingting ninth and Jiang Linxian four hundred and twenty-first.
• Shi Zhou, Zhou Ting, and Bai Jing congratulated Li Rui and agreed to work with the Heaven and Earth Alliance on demon beast trade.
• Li Rui told Huang Chui to maintain close ties with the three sects and considered loyalty when deciding who could rise within the alliance.
• Shi Zhou told Li Rui that Marquis Yuan planned to recruit retainers and might take a talented young martial artist as his disciple.

Marquis Yuan arrived in Clear River to hold the final retainer selection, where Xu Chuan impressed the crowd by earning Grade A in the martial trial. Li Rui then stepped forward to test the immortal spear, leaving his result unknown.

• Ning Zhongtian explained that Marquis Yuan would hold civil and martial retainer trials in Clear River, the final stop on his inspection tour.
• Han Zhen told Li Rui that Marquis Yuan had arrived a day ahead of schedule, and Yuan Dingting’s ship reached Clear River soon afterward.
• Cao Wei welcomed Yuan Dingting and opened the trials, while Li Rui’s Eye of Wisdom failed to reveal anything about the Marquis.
• Candidates tried to draw Yuan Dingting’s spear, with several earning Grade B and Innate Martial Artists achieving Grade A.
• Xu Chuan used the White Tiger Sky Rending Diagram to draw the spear more than three feet and earn Grade A.
• Li Rui stepped forward to test the immortal weapon.

Li Rui took part in the martial examination on Marquis Yuan's docks, earning a Grade A result and nearly reaching Grade A Top before holding back. His performance strengthened his chances of becoming a retainer, and the chapter ended when a valiant-looking man arrived at his gate and addressed him.

• Han Zhen and others expected Li Rui to earn Grade A, hoping his reputation as a Marquis Yuan retainer would help erase the stigma of his groom background.
• Li Rui pulled the silver spear from the ground and advanced from Grade C to Grade B and then Grade A, impressing the people of Clear River.
• Li Rui used Dragon Form true qi to withstand Yuan Dingting's Hundred Battles Killing Intent and nearly pulled the spear far enough to earn Grade A Top.
• Li Rui stopped short of Grade A Top, and Cao Wei announced his Grade A result.
• After the examination ended, Li Rui returned home with Ning Zhongtian and the others, then answered a knock at his courtyard gate from a valiant-looking man.

Marquis Yuan visited Li Rui and appointed him as a retainer, with plans for him to tutor his young son in the future. After the appointment became public, Li Rui met with Dao Mo and Xia Xiaotang, who told him the Witch Kingdom faced a dire crisis.

• Marquis Yuan questioned Li Rui about hiding his strength, then appointed him as a retainer and invited him to become his son Tiger's future tutor.
• Li Rui thanked Han Zhen for bringing Marquis Yuan to see him, and the system awarded him 30 Achievement Points for gaining the Marquis's attention.
• The next day, Marquis Yuan departed with Xu Chuan, while Li Rui stayed in Clear River as a military adviser and became known as Teacher Li.
• Little White Flood Dragon told Li Rui it had recovered to sixth-tier cultivation, and Li Rui left it at home before visiting Dao Mo and Xia Xiaotang.
• Dao Mo and Xia Xiaotang praised Li Rui for his new position, and Xia Xiaotang offered to ask her master to take him as a disciple.
• Dao Mo told Li Rui that he and Xia Xiaotang would return to the Witch Kingdom because Lingluo had joined forces with eight Demon Lords, leaving the country in a critical situation.

Li Rui strengthened his combat ability in dream battles while preparing Clear River for trouble from the Witch Kingdom. He received an imperial decree appointing him Military Adviser of the Anning Guard, as Jiang Linxian learned more about the Heavenly Gate and Fallen Immortals.

• Cao Wei warned Li Rui that the Witch Kingdom’s demonic-beast riots could threaten Cloud Province, and Li Rui offered to seek help through his connections.
• Li Rui defeated three fifth-rank opponents in a dream and fought Jiang Linxian’s seven flying swords before losing by one move.
• Gu Changsheng told Jiang Linxian that a former Imperial Astronomical Bureau director died after divining, “The Heavenly Gate shall open, and immortals shall emerge,” and mentioned the Bureau’s discoveries about Fallen Immortals.
• Han Zhen and Lord Liu arrived at the Anning Guard, where Lord Liu read an imperial edict appointing Li Rui Military Adviser of the Anning Guard, Annan Garrison.

Li Rui received a fifth-rank promotion, moved into the Military Advisor’s Residence, and continued managing Clear River’s affairs. Qu Chengfeng advanced his plans in Ten Thousand Swamps, while Xu Chuan arrived with a gift from Marquis Yuan.

• Scholar Liu delivered Li Rui’s fifth-rank imperial decree and reported that Jiang Linxian had entered the Earth Immortal realm and might become Deputy Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
• Li Rui completed the initial Promotion mission and earned 20 Achievement Points; Scholar Liu later returned to the capital after a pleasant stay in Clear River.
• Li Rui moved into the Military Advisor’s Residence with Yang Yong, Wang Zhao, Liang He, and Liu Tiezhu, then celebrated with hotpot.
• Qu Chengfeng canceled plans to invite Jiang Linxian and learned that the Qi Clan elder and eight Demon Lords had agreed to act, with further leads coming from the Witch Kingdom.
• Li Rui returned to the Anning Guard and received Xu Chuan, who brought an Apprentice Ceremony Gift on Marquis Yuan’s behalf.