Chapter Summaries

Li Rui sent Little White Flood Dragon to the Annan Marquis Residence for protection, where it became favored and was designated the Clear River God, earning Li Rui a post as Inner Courtyard Instructor. The system rewarded him with the Spirit Ascension Manual, while the Big Flood Dragon learned that Little White was under Yuan Dingting’s protection and vowed revenge.

• Li Rui persuaded Little White Flood Dragon to travel to Cloud Province with a Heaven and Earth Alliance caravan so the Annan Marquis Residence could protect it from the Giant Stone City Lord and a Demon Lord.
• Hou Tian told Li Rui that Marquis Yuan had reported Little White Flood Dragon as an Auspicious Omen and that it would receive the title of Clear River God; he also offered Li Rui the position of Marquis Residence Inner Courtyard Instructor.
• After completing the Inner Courtyard achievement, Li Rui received the Spirit Ascension Manual and an improved Spirit Ascension Method, which described nine ways to enhance Spiritual Roots.
• Li Rui began nourishing his Spirit Root Testing Stone with Immortal Profound Qi to try one of the Spirit Ascension methods.
• The Big Flood Dragon learned that Little White Flood Dragon had become the Annan Marquis Residence’s guardian divine beast, flew into a rage, and resolved to punish whoever had thwarted its plans.

Li Rui learned that Nie Siming had taken most of the Anning Guard to the Yu-Witch border and agreed to investigate attacks on merchant caravans. Meanwhile, three wanted deserters plotted to kill him for the Qi Clan, and Li Rui finished nurturing and swallowed the powdered Spirit Root Testing Stone.

• Ning Zhongtian told Li Rui that Nie Siming had led eight hundred soldiers out of camp, and Li Rui said he would follow the inspector’s authority.
• Yan Zhongxing asked Li Rui to investigate demon beasts attacking caravans that transported captured beasts, and Li Rui agreed.
• Ke Qi, He Yang, and Ma Lie accepted Qi Feng’s offer to become vice city lords if they killed Li Rui.
• Li Rui discovered that the Spirit Root Testing Stone had been nurtured, crushed it with the Immortal Blade Flood Dragon Slayer, and swallowed the powder.

Li Rui’s spirit root improved, strengthening his cultivation, before he rode out to rescue Ning Zhongtian and Huang Chui from the Wind Sand Three Wolves. Ke Qi revealed his Xiantian strength and attacked Li Rui, who faced him with reinforcements arriving in flames.

• Li Rui improved his spirit root, expanded his Qi Sea, and estimated that he could reach Rising Bright Moon within two or three years.
• Li Rui told Wang Zhao that he had arranged for him to undergo the Demon Tamer testing method from the Witch Kingdom.
• Liang He reported that a Beast Tide had scattered the merchant caravan and that Ning Zhongtian and Huang Chui were missing, so Li Rui rode out with Tan Hu and several Tiger Sprint Riders.
• Ning Zhongtian and Huang Chui were cornered by Ke Qi, Ma Lie, and He Yang, who planned to use them to lure Li Rui into a trap.
• Li Rui arrived and offered the Wind Sand Three Wolves a chance to leave, but Ke Qi attacked after He Yang urged him to kill Li Rui and claim the reward.
• Ke Qi’s Xiantian palm strike forced Li Rui back, but Li Rui declared that strength in numbers mattered as flames spread across the mountaintop and a powerful voice threatened Ke Qi.

Nie Siming rescued Li Rui and his brothers by killing Ke Qi and the other deserters, while Li Rui treated Huang Chui and planned to help Ning Zhongtian grow stronger. Meanwhile, Qi Feng discovered Li Rui’s True Dragon Physique and plotted to use Big Flood Dragon and the Crimson Gold Divine Tiger to kill him and seize his True Dragon Qi.

• Nie Siming arrived with nearly a thousand soldiers and killed Ke Qi in three spear strikes, ordering the Wind Sand Three Wolves’ bodies hung on the city walls.
• Li Rui healed Huang Chui and explained that Tan Hu had sought Nie Siming’s help because Ke Qi was targeting an Imperial Court official; Qi Feng watched the encounter through a demon beast’s eyes and recognized Li Rui’s True Dragon Physique.
• After returning to Qinghe City, Li Rui arranged for Alliance Leader Ge to oversee the trading caravan, offered Ning Zhongtian a Profound Origin Pill, and planned to strengthen him with Immortal Profound Qi.
• Qi He brought Flood Dragon Blood to Big Flood Dragon, whose wounds improved only superficially because Yuan Dingting’s Martial Saint True Intent still afflicted it.
• Qi Feng told Big Flood Dragon that Dragon Ambergris could be found in Clear River, prompting it to send the Crimson Gold Divine Tiger with him; Qi Feng secretly planned to use the mission to kill Li Rui and claim his True Dragon Qi.

Li Rui discovered that Flood Dragon Slayer’s newly formed weapon spirit carried evil qi, then learned from Nie Siming that the Witch Kingdom or the Big Flood Dragon had arranged the attempts on his life. Nie Siming revealed Yuan Dingting wanted Li Rui to help slay the injured Evil Flood Dragon.

• Li Rui watched the Wind Sand Three Wolves’ bodies displayed in Clear River and privately discussed his cultivation with Ning Zhongtian.
• Li Rui stayed inside for a month as attacks ceased, then sensed Flood Dragon Slayer’s weapon spirit emerge while he nurtured the immortal weapon.
• The weapon spirit’s evil qi invaded Li Rui’s mind, but he recovered and considered how to use the evil qi’s increase to the weapon’s killing power.
• Nie Siming visited Li Rui privately and said the Witch Kingdom or the Big Flood Dragon had wanted him dead because the Little White Flood Dragon carried Yinglong blood.
• Nie Siming told Li Rui that Yuan Dingting had ordered him to join Li Rui in slaying the Evil Flood Dragon.

Li Rui received Yuan Dingting’s Soldier Character Note and began comprehending the Martial Saint’s killing intent, while Qi Feng waited outside Qinghe City for a chance to seize Li Rui’s True Dragon Qi. The chapter ended as Li Rui’s Qi Sea cleared and a bright moon appeared within it.

• Nie Siming gave Li Rui a tiny strip of calligraphy bearing the character “Soldier,” which Li Rui recognized as part of Yuan Dingting’s nine-character secret art.
• Qi Feng kept his demon beasts waiting outside Qinghe City, hoping Li Rui would eventually leave and expose himself to an ambush.
• Ning Zhongtian told Li Rui that he had opened his Qi Sea, and Li Rui congratulated him and urged him to stabilize his foundation.
• Li Rui comprehended the Soldier Character Note in his secret chamber and saw a divine spear sweep away the clouds over his Qi Sea.
• A bright moon emerged beyond the cleared clouds, and Li Rui recognized the vision as “Rising Bright Moon.”

Li Rui broke through to the Rising Bright Moon Realm and reviewed the growing martial and political strength under the Anning Guard. After delaying Liu Tong’s proposed dealings with the Heaven Origin Commerce Association, Li Rui stood on the Dream Cloud Platform and summoned Jiang Linxian.

• Li Rui absorbed the Martial Saint True Intent from the Soldier Character Note, reached the Rising Bright Moon Realm, and gained far greater control over his true qi and blade.
• Iron Madman sensed Li Rui’s breakthrough and asked him to go easy on the disciples of Divine Weapon Manor if they provoked him.
• Lu Jun presented Li Rui with a roster detailing the martial strength under the Anning Guard’s jurisdiction, which Li Rui studied closely.
• Liang He delivered Liu Tong’s letter about his progress in Cloud Province and his potential alliance with the Heaven Origin Commerce Association.
• Li Rui told Liang He to inform Liu Tong that the time was not yet ripe and that he should continue making preparations.
• Li Rui stood on the Dream Cloud Platform with the Immortal Blade Flood Dragon Slayer and summoned Jiang Linxian.

Li Rui defeated the simulated Jiang Linxian in the Dream Cloud Platform and gained confidence in his strength. After refusing Yan Zhongxing’s request to hunt down an escaped monster, Li Rui left the Anning Guard at night to meet a Seven-Colored Sparrow and ask where someone was.

• Li Rui used Flood Dragon Slayer and the power of his evil weapon to defeat the simulated Jiang Linxian.
• Yan Zhongxing asked Li Rui to retrieve a sixth-tier Scarlet-Eyed Black Tiger that had escaped from the Monster Enclosure, but Li Rui claimed he could not leave Clear River because the Wind Sand Three Wolves had targeted him.
• Li Rui warned Yan Zhongxing that the Heaven and Earth Alliance would hold the Trade Affairs Department accountable if its missing monsters were not found.
• Li Rui left the Military Advisor's Residence alone at night, walked through a deserted alley, and waited for a Seven-Colored Sparrow.
• Li Rui asked the Seven-Colored Sparrow where he was.

Li Rui ambushed and killed Qi Feng in the forest, then learned that the Innate great demons guarding him chose to leave rather than avenge him. After hiding until they had gone, Li Rui erased the evidence and received notice that he had completed the intermediate “Strike First” storyline of the Famous Throughout Jianghu achievement.

• Qi Feng waited outside Qinghe City for Li Rui, intending to seize the True Dragon Qi within him and break through to the Innate Realm.
• Li Rui attacked Qi Feng, revealed his immortal saber, and killed him and the surrounding demon beasts with a single strike.
• The Wind Fiend Wolf Spider and Purple Azure Flying Locust decided not to pursue Li Rui and returned toward the Witch Kingdom with the remaining demon beasts.
• Li Rui emerged after an hour, identified the dead man as Qi Feng, and reflected on how he had used demon beasts to track his enemies and arranged the ambush.
• Li Rui destroyed the corpses with true qi and received a notification that he had completed the intermediate “Strike First” achievement storyline.

After killing Qi Feng, Li Rui saw Flood Dragon Slayer grow stronger by absorbing Qi Feng’s spirit of hatred, then purged its resentment and discussed how to keep the evil blade under control. Iron Madman urged him to stay alive and forge an Immortal Weapon, while Li Rui resolved to avoid the dangerous flood-dragon hunt.

• Li Rui returned to the Anning Guard camp after killing Qi Feng and treated the gate guards to a meal.
• A month later, Li Rui finished eradicating Qi Feng’s resentment from Flood Dragon Slayer, whose blade had grown more powerful and evil by absorbing his spirit.
• Li Rui smoked with Iron Madman and told him he had cleaned the blade; Iron Madman praised his progress and warned him to restrain its evil power.
• Iron Madman suggested that slaying a second-rank Big Flood Dragon undergoing dragon transformation could further elevate the blade, but Li Rui said he would leave the hunt to Yuan Dingting, Nie Siming, and others.
• Iron Madman told Li Rui not to die before forging an Immortal Weapon, then went to forge iron with Liu Tiezhu.

Li Rui traced the Big Flood Dragon to Giant Stone City and learned it had targeted him for the Immortal Profound Qi in his Dragon Form. As Nie Siming prepared to strike, Li Rui recognized that Yuan Dingting’s Hundred Battles Killing Intent had been planted as a hidden weapon against the dragon, and returned it for the attack.

• Li Rui told Nie Siming that the Big Flood Dragon was likely in Giant Stone City, based on Qi Feng’s movements and his attempt to kill Li Rui.
• Li Rui learned from Qi Feng’s absorbed memories that Qi Feng had targeted the Dragon Form condensed from Li Rui’s Immortal Profound Qi, and resolved to kill the Big Flood Dragon before it discovered his secret.
• In Giant Stone City, Qi He blamed the dead Qi Feng for failing to find Dragon Ambergris, while the injured Big Flood Dragon ordered Qi He to retrieve the Dragon Ambergris from Southern Wu.
• Nie Siming sent Li Rui a letter announcing that the Big Flood Dragon had appeared and it was time to slay it, then requested the excess Hundred Battles Killing Intent Yuan Dingting had given Li Rui.
• Li Rui realized the Hundred Battles Killing Intent was a concealed weapon intended for the dragon, returned it to Nie Siming’s guard, and Yuan Dingting sensed the delivery and said, “Sever.”

Yuan Dingting slew the Big Flood Dragon from tens of thousands of miles away, exposing the Qi Clan Ancestor’s involvement and drawing attention across Yu Kingdom. While Jiang Linxian pursued vengeance connected to her wife’s death, Li Rui kept a low profile in Qinghe until Nie Siming arrived to repay him with a wisp of the flood dragon’s lingering soul.

• Yuan Dingting killed the Big Flood Dragon with a distant strike that destroyed Giant Stone City’s City Lord’s Mansion and killed City Lord Qi He.
• The Qi Clan Ancestor revealed that he had secretly protected and directed the Big Flood Dragon, then vanished after lamenting its death.
• At the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Gu Changsheng and Jiang Linxian discussed the flood dragon’s death and the curse that had killed Jiang Linxian’s wife.
• Li Rui continued avoiding public affairs in Qinghe while Nie Siming settled into the Anning Guard and prepared to take command of the prefecture’s military affairs.
• Nie Siming visited Li Rui and offered him a wisp of the Big Flood Dragon’s lingering soul in repayment for his help.

Li Rui used a Great Flood Dragon remnant soul to complete Flood Dragon Slayer, awakening a humanoid weapon spirit through the unity of man and weapon. A month later, Nie Siming’s appointment as a Principal Fourth Rank Commander was finalized, while Li Rui and Cao Wei reflected on Clear River’s growing importance.

• Nie Siming delivered Marquis Yuan’s gift of a Second Rank Great Flood Dragon remnant soul to Li Rui.
• Iron Madman recognized that the remnant soul could complete Flood Dragon Slayer, and Li Rui cut it apart and tempered the blade with the Hammer Qi Method for an hour.
• Flood Dragon Slayer became a fully realized Immortal Weapon with a humanoid weapon spirit, which Iron Madman identified as Li Rui’s own spirit through the unity of man and weapon.
• Iron Madman urged Li Rui to live long enough to make the blade famous, and a month later Nie Siming’s appointment ceremony was arranged in Cloud Province.
• Li Rui and Cao Wei discussed the Imperial Court’s show of trust in Marquis Annan and Clear River’s growing prominence as the wheat season approached.

Li Rui warned Liu Tong that the Heaven Origin Commerce Association was backed by Marquis Dingyuan, then encouraged him to pursue a friendship with Miss Qiao now that he understood the stakes. Later, Li Rui taught Yang Yong health-preserving boxing before Nie Siming took him to Thousand Crane Martial Hall to meet He Qiannian.

• Liu Tong urged Li Rui to seize a chance to cooperate with the Heaven Origin Commerce Association, and Li Rui revealed that Marquis Dingyuan stood behind it.
• Li Rui explained that Liu Tong had been misled by unequal information and advised him to make friends with Miss Qiao; Liu Tong eagerly set off to return to Cloud Province.
• Li Rui taught Yang Yong boxing that he said could help him live longer, and Yang Yong began practicing it.
• Nie Siming arrived and took Li Rui to Thousand Crane Martial Hall, where he asked Xiao Yu to lead them to Hall Master He for an important discussion.

Nie Siming arranged for He Qiannian to protect the Yu–Witch Kingdom marriage alliance and assigned Li Rui to coordinate it. Meanwhile, Li Rui learned of possible Heavenly Spirit Purple Marrow in Cloud Province, while Qu Chengfeng ordered Blood Shadow Old Ancestor to stop the alliance from undermining the immortal sect’s plans in the Witch Kingdom.

• Nie Siming told He Qiannian that the Witch Kingdom's Third Princess would marry the Yu Kingdom's Fourth Prince, and He Qiannian agreed to protect their route from Eastern Wu's interference.
• Nie Siming put Li Rui in charge of coordinating the marriage alliance, and Li Rui calmly prepared while sending Heaven and Earth Alliance disciples to investigate the Witch Kingdom.
• Liang He reported that Liu Tong had found a lead on Heavenly Spirit Purple Marrow at the Heaven Origin Commerce Association, and Li Rui warned him to proceed cautiously.
• Qu Chengfeng raised his Spiritual Root to High Grade and resolved to keep improving it so he could contend with powerful opponents.
• Blood Shadow Old Ancestor warned Qu Chengfeng that the marriage alliance threatened the immortal sect's influence in the Witch Kingdom, and Qu Chengfeng ordered him to stop it.

After mastering Nine Hidden Heavenly Secrets to conceal his True Dragon Qi, Li Rui went to Clear River when an apparent Evil Flood Dragon caused a commotion. He discovered that Little White Flood Dragon had returned as Clear River’s officially appointed River God, and the chapter ended with Li Rui encouraging him to rise further.

• Li Rui mastered Nine Hidden Heavenly Secrets, allowing him to conceal his True Dragon Qi.
• Tan Hu told Li Rui that an Evil Flood Dragon had appeared in Clear River, so Li Rui and the others went to investigate.
• A whirlpool formed before the gathered residents, and Little White Flood Dragon emerged from the river.
• Little White Flood Dragon bowed before Li Rui, who introduced him to the crowd as Clear River’s officially appointed River God.
• After the crowd dispersed, Little White Flood Dragon told Li Rui that he had returned to patrol Clear River, and Li Rui urged him to strive for greater status.

Li Rui completed the Reverence as a God achievement after the people of Qinghe mistook him for an immortal, then learned that Little White Flood Dragon was patrolling the river for the Witch Kingdom princess's upcoming journey. The chapter ended with a blood-robed old man and his hooked-nosed companion slaughtering a water bandit stronghold.

• Little White Flood Dragon noticed that Li Rui had concealed his True Dragon Qi, and Li Rui realized the concealment kept demon beasts from coveting it.
• Li Rui received 40 Achievement Points for completing the Reverence as a God mission and worried that Qinghe residents might build temples or statues for him.
• Little White Flood Dragon told Li Rui that Yuan Dingting had sent him to patrol the river ahead of the Witch Kingdom Third Princess's passage through Qinghe.
• Little White Flood Dragon reported that he had found no major threats and had killed the chief of a band of water bandits; Li Rui asked him to report any further discoveries.
• The water bandits chose their Second Chief to replace their slain leader, but a hooked-nosed middle-aged man killed him, and a blood-robed old man slaughtered everyone in the stronghold.

Li Rui learned that the Wu Country Third Princess would stop in Clear River and had been asked to meet her because the Great Shaman had personally requested it. After inspecting the riverway and returning home, he received the Heavenly Spirit Purple Marrow from Liang He, bringing him closer to a High Grade Spiritual Root.

• Nie Siming assigned Li Rui and three other officials duties for the Third Princess’s arrival, then told Li Rui she wished to meet him at the Great Shaman’s request.
• Li Rui agreed to receive the Third Princess alongside Nie Siming and continued his usual training and reading.
• Li Rui returned to Clear River with Tan Hu after inspecting the riverway, then teased Tan Hu about the soldiers’ betting pool and demanded a share of his winnings.
• Li Rui met Liang He, who delivered the Heavenly Spirit Purple Marrow that Liu Tong had obtained and sent through him.
• Li Rui approved sending Heaven and Earth Alliance members to Cloud Province and found the Heavenly Spirit Purple Marrow inside the box.

After consuming Heavenly Spirit Purple Marrow, Li Rui’s Spiritual Root and cultivation improved, and he helped escort the Witch Kingdom’s Third Princess to Qinghe City. The princess invited him to become her retainer and promised a high-ranking post, but Li Rui challenged her envoy to speak plainly, leaving his answer unresolved.

• Li Rui swallowed the Heavenly Spirit Purple Marrow and gained a more spiritual Immortal Profound Qi, bringing him closer to the Innate Realm.
• Li Rui and Nie Siming escorted the Witch Kingdom convoy carrying the Third Princess into Qinghe City, where she stayed for three days before traveling north.
• Xia Xiaotang visited Li Rui with Xiao Cui, who relayed the Third Princess’s request for him to accompany her into the palace as her retainer.
• Xia Xiaotang explained that the Great Shaman’s divination had identified Li Rui as one favored by fate and that the Third Princess could help him become a Third Rank Vice Minister.
• Li Rui told Xiao Cui that his eyes had not dimmed with age and urged her to speak plainly, prompting her to praise him as interesting.

Li Rui rejected Third Princess Xia Yun’s offer to recruit him, then boarded her ship with the Anning Guard to escort her toward the capital. Aboard the ship, He Qiannian praised Li Rui’s External Skill and revealed that its practitioners could enter the Dao and cultivate an Innate Dao Embryo.

• Li Rui saw through Xiao Cui’s disguise as Third Princess Xia Yun, but declined her offer of a Third Rank Vice Minister post because he wanted to avoid the capital’s political turmoil.
• Xia Yun left without pressing Li Rui for an answer, and three days later she boarded a massive ship to travel toward the capital.
• Li Rui, Nie Siming, more than a hundred Anning Guard soldiers, and He Qiannian boarded the ship to escort Xia Yun out of Anning Prefecture.
• He Qiannian told Li Rui that his External Skill was impressive and shared his understanding of its cultivation.
• He Qiannian explained that those who mastered External Skill could enter the Dao and cultivate an Innate Dao Embryo, the true Innate realm.