Chapter Summaries

Li Rui spent a quiet month building his reputation in the Anning Guard while studying ancient texts and cultivating. During a sudden enlightenment, he transformed the White Ape Mantle Blade into his own Evergreen Art, a cultivation method focused on nourishing qi and longevity.

• Ge Hong praised Li Rui for defeating Zhang Yi but warned him to be cautious of the Zhang Family and its allies.
• Li Rui kept a low profile over the next month, working at the armory and reading its ancient books.
• Li Rui studied Daoist teachings on qi and reflected on the longevity that higher martial ranks could bring.
• While circulating Profound Clear Qi, Li Rui entered sudden enlightenment and envisioned an Old Ape beside the legendary Great Evergreen.
• Li Rui created the Evergreen Art by transforming the White Ape Mantle Blade and resumed cultivating after considering its promise of longevity.

Jiang Linxian revealed that the Ghost Underworld Sect’s Immortal Treasure was a Spirit Guide made from ordinary Taisui, and ordered Ning Zhongtian to keep watching Cao Wei. Meanwhile, Li Rui joined the Anning Army’s response to a demon outbreak in the eastern suburbs, where Wei Ming and Liu Chuan’s troops found the remains of unknown outsiders in the mountains.

• Jiang Linxian told Ning Zhongtian that someone in the Ghost Underworld Sect could turn ordinary Taisui into Spirit Guides, and she ordered him to monitor Cao Wei for clues about the Immortal Technique.
• Li Rui met Wei Ming’s summons and joined the soldiers sent to suppress the demon outbreak in the eastern suburbs.
• Zhang Hao fled a cave full of demon beasts, encountered a three-headed Ghost Demon, and was consumed after it struck him down.
• Wei Ming and Liu Chuan’s forces defeated several demonic beasts and then searched the mountains for those that had escaped.
• Li Rui and Ge Hong found a corpse torn apart by demonic beasts, and Wei Ming ordered a coroner to identify the dead.

Wei Ming and Feng Yu uncovered the Zhang Family’s involvement in the demon chaos, while Cao Wei ordered Feng Yu to capture the Ghost Demon and considered the Zhang Family expendable. In the swamp, Zhang Hao’s consciousness took control of the Ghost Demon, but a black-robed man enslaved him and renamed him Ghost Three.

• Old Ma identified the corpses as members of the Zhang Family, and Wei Ming learned that Zhang Hao had taken men out of the city before disappearing.
• Wei Ming told Li Rui and Ge Hong that Feng Yu had stopped his investigation, then warned them to stay clear of the matter and promised them Middle Merit.
• Feng Yu confirmed that a Ghost Demon had killed Zhang Hao, and Cao Wei ordered him to bring the demon back while threatening to remove the Zhang Family if they proved useless.
• Feng Yu found Zhang Hao’s remains after searching the mountains, and the Zhang Family withdrew from Clear River after his death.
• Zhang Hao’s consciousness seized control of the Ghost Demon, but the black-robed man used black mist true qi to subdue him and rename him Ghost Three.

Li Rui cultivated the self-created Evergreen Art, which made the dragon in his dantian more lifelike and brought him newfound confidence about his lifespan. He rewarded Liang He with a Nurture Bone Pill on the condition that Liang repay him, then received a visit from Han Qin.

• Li Rui refined the Evergreen Art and saw black dots appear where the dragon in his dantian's eyes should be.
• Li Rui heard firecrackers and reflected that the Evergreen Art might let him live far beyond an ordinary Seventh Rank.
• Yang Yong told Li Rui that he and Wang Zhao would handle the New Year customs and prepare dumplings.
• Li Rui noticed that Liang He was close to a breakthrough and gave him a Nurture Bone Pill, requiring him to repay its cost.
• Han Qin arrived at the armory and announced that he had come to visit Elder Li.

Han Qin visited Li Rui and received advice to stop drawing his sword for a year, while Li Rui spent New Year’s Eve with Yang Yong and Wang Zhao. After Liang He broke through to Entering Rank, Li Rui went to visit Wei Ming and presented him with a giant Spirit Medicine ganoderma.

• Han Qin told Li Rui that Huaqing Sect disciples had joined the Anning Guard and asked for advice about his stalled swordsmanship, so Li Rui suggested that he try nurturing his sword by not drawing it for a year.
• Li Rui invited He Shan to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but He Shan declined, and Li Rui returned home to keep the holiday vigil with Yang Yong and Wang Zhao.
• Li Rui went to the Ding Character Armory on New Year’s Day, where Liang He announced that he had broken through to Entering Rank, and Li Rui promised to arrange a promotion for him.
• Li Rui visited Wei Ming after noon on the second day of the month and gave him a huge Spirit Medicine ganoderma, prompting Wei Ming to welcome him inside and order tea served.

Li Rui used his relationship with Wei Ming to obtain Flood Dragon Blood and secure Liang He a position in the Night Watch. After consuming the blood and circulating his qi, Li Rui reached minor mastery in the Dragon Form.

• Li Rui gave Wei Ming a valuable lingzhi, then asked him to help obtain Flood Dragon Blood and arrange a post for Liang He.
• Wei Ming agreed to lend Li Rui a major merit for the Flood Dragon Blood and promised to find Liang He a suitable position.
• Wei Ming arranged for Liang He to join the Night Watch, and Li Rui persuaded him to accept the transfer.
• Wei Ming brought Li Rui a Small Jade Bottle of Flood Dragon Blood, which Li Rui drank before practicing the Flying Dragon in the Sky Diagram.
• The Flood Dragon Blood let Li Rui complete seventy-two Celestial Cycles, increased his strength, and brought his Dragon Form to minor mastery.

Li Rui demonstrated the strength of his newly cultivated true qi, then heard that incoming county magistrate Zhuang Renhe intended to remeasure land and redistribute fields. As Zhuang Renhe arrived in Qinghe to popular acclaim, Li Rui remained skeptical of his reputation, while the magistrate revealed himself to be a powerful martial artist traveling with an old man named Qi.

• Li Rui struck a boulder from a distance with true qi, leaving two deep palm prints and astonishing Yang Yong and Wang Zhao.
• A subordinate told Li Rui that the new county magistrate planned to verify landholdings and redistribute fields, and Li Rui allowed him to take a day off.
• Li Rui suspected the land reforms were intended to break Qinghe's entrenched relationships as powerful new factions entered the county.
• Zhuang Renhe arrived in Qinghe in a grand carriage pulled by five Demon Horses, and townspeople hailed him as a just official.
• Inside the carriage, Zhuang Renhe sat with an old man in black robes and remarked that Old Qi's Demon Taming Art had improved.

Qi Cheng and Zhuang Renhe discussed the missing Immortal Treasure in Clear River, while Li Rui noticed another person in the magistrate’s carriage and continued his cultivation. Zhang Hao, turned into a Ghost Demon and sent to track the treasure, attacked the Anning Guard camp but was driven off, leaving Li Rui curious about the unusual intrusion.

• Qi Cheng told Zhuang Renhe that the missing Immortal Treasure might still be in Clear River and said he had methods to find it.
• Li Rui spotted another person in Zhuang Renhe’s carriage, then returned to the armory to practice his cultivation.
• Zhang Hao, now a Ghost Demon controlled by Qi Cheng, tracked the Spirit Guide’s scent to the Anning Guard camp and plotted to kill those tied to the Zhang Family’s ruin.
• At the fourth watch, Zhang Hao trespassed into the Anning Guard camp, but Ning Zhongtian struck him and drove him away.
• The next morning, Li Rui learned from Ge Hong that an intruder had escaped after Ning Zhongtian led a pursuit.

Li Rui lured the Ghost Demon Zhang Hao into a hidden chamber and killed him with a blade strike empowered by his Immortal Dragon Dual Form. He recognized Zhang Hao’s remains and realized the Ghost Underworld Sect had targeted him because of an Immortal Treasure.

• Wei Ming told Li Rui that a Ghost Demon had escaped after attacking the military camp and fighting Ning Zhongtian.
• Zhang Hao recovered from his wounds, resolved to find the Spirit Guide, and planned to strike again before Jiang Linxian and Cao Wei returned.
• Zhang Hao entered the military camp in a small altered form and waited outside Li Rui’s room before breaking in during the third watch.
• Li Rui triggered a hidden mechanism that dropped Zhang Hao into a secret chamber, then revealed his Willow Sinew Realm strength and Immortal Dragon Dual Form.
• Li Rui split Zhang Hao in two, recognized him, and realized the Ghost Underworld Sect had pursued him for an Immortal Treasure.

Li Rui killed the Ghost Demon Zhang Hao without alerting the garrison, then received a reward that merged his two cultivation forms into the Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens Diagram. The next day, he tested the new method and learned that Jiang Linxian and Cao Wei had returned to Anning Guard.

• Qi Cheng told Zhuang Renhe that his Ghost Demon had been killed, and they worried that the killer might trace their collusion with the Ghost Underworld Sect.
• Li Rui examined the remains of Zhang Hao, destroyed a Body Control Worm, and explained how he had lured the Ghost Demon into his soundproof chamber before killing him.
• Li Rui returned to bed and received an A-rated mission reward that gave him 40 Achievement Points and merged his two forms into the Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens Diagram.
• Li Rui practiced the new cultivation method the next morning and found that circulating qi took much less time than before.
• Li Rui went to the armory, confirmed with Ge Hong that nothing unusual had happened overnight, and recognized the returning horses of Jiang Linxian and Cao Wei.

Cao Wei searched unsuccessfully for the Ghost Demon that Li Rui had already killed, while political pressure from the military assessment weakened Cao Wei’s position. As powerful outsiders gathered in Clear River, Li Rui and his friends saw new opportunities for local martial artists.

• Cao Wei questioned Feng Yu and Guan Xinrong about the Ghost Demon and took charge of the search, while Jiang Linxian told Ning Zhongtian to leave the matter to him.
• Li Rui and Ge Hong watched Cao Wei’s soldiers search the mountains; Li Rui kept secret that he had slain the Ghost Demon underground.
• Ge Hong told Li Rui that studying the Hundred Saber Demon Slaying Diagram had loosened his bottleneck, and the two joked about who would break through first.
• After half a month, Cao Wei failed to find the Ghost Demon, and Jiang Linxian and Duan Qian returned to Clear River after Cao Wei’s efforts to limit the fallout.
• Wei Ming and Ge Hong discussed the powerful factions gathering in Clear River, and Li Rui said the city’s growing resources created an opportunity for them to strengthen themselves.

Li Rui visited the grieving Zhu Family after Zhu Ping's death and helped Zhu Yue arrange the funeral. He then celebrated Ge Hong's breakthrough with friends and learned that the Anning Guard's military and administrative assessment would be held in three months, leaving Ge Hong and Wei Ming with a chance to compete for Seventh Rank posts.

• Li Rui ate noodle porridge at Zhou's stall, remembered its former owner, and continued on to the Zhu Residence.
• Li Rui found the Zhu Family mourning Zhu Ping, offered condolences to Zhu Yue, and helped him arrange the mourning hall.
• Li Rui returned home and congratulated Ge Hong on breaking through to Willow Sinew after years of effort.
• Li Rui, Ge Hong, Wei Ming, and Ning Zhongtian celebrated Ge Hong's breakthrough at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
• Ning Zhongtian told Ge Hong and Wei Ming that the guard post's assessment would take place in three months and that several Seventh Rank positions were available.

As the military and administrative assessment approached, Li Rui revealed to Ning Zhongtian that he had cultivated true qi and reached Seventh Rank. Ning Zhongtian promised to find postings for Li Rui and Ge Hong, while Li Rui’s breakthrough left his colleagues expecting promotions.

• Ning Zhongtian reviewed the assessment standards and received Li Rui, who thanked him for the Flying Dragon in the Sky Diagram and Flood Dragon Blood.
• Li Rui showed Ning Zhongtian the true qi he had cultivated, and Ning Zhongtian promised to find good postings for Li Rui and Ge Hong.
• Li Rui returned to the armory and explained his breakthrough to Ge Hong and Wei Ming, who praised his talent and perseverance.
• Ge Hong told Li Rui that Ning Zhongtian would likely inform Jiang Linxian and that Li Rui could expect a promotion.
• Li Rui invited Ning Zhongtian, Ge Hong, and Wei Ming to celebrate at Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Li Rui was promoted to Patrol Guard and joined Ning Zhongtian’s Tiger Sprint Riders, where he was tasked with keeping the hot-headed Tan Hu in check. He welcomed the posting as a chance to earn more achievement points and work with the Night Watch.

• The garrison commanders debated promotions, and Ning Zhongtian secured posts for Ge Hong and Li Rui while rejecting Chang Feng’s nomination.
• The results named Ge Hong a Banner Commander and Li Rui a Patrol Guard, and Li Rui received 30 Achievement Points for completing his promotion mission.
• Ning Zhongtian introduced Li Rui to Tan Hu, the Tiger Sprint Riders’ Hundred Commander, and ordered Tan Hu to listen to Li Rui before deploying troops.
• Li Rui reunited with Liang He at the Night Watch camp and asked to review the patrol records while Tan Hu ordered the others to train.

Li Rui reviewed Tan Hu’s past clashes with powerful groups and decided to repair only the relationships Tan Hu could not handle by force. He visited Qingfeng Mountain Manor to address an old dispute, where its master welcomed him.

• Li Rui read Tan Hu’s patrol records, sorted his past conflicts by whether Tan Hu could defeat those involved, and decided not to tell Tan Hu about his plans.
• Li Rui ate and rested, then practiced his saber the next morning and decided he needed a new weapon.
• Li Rui watched Tan Hu train the Tiger Sprint Riders and recognized how Tan Hu’s true qi let him coordinate their battle formation.
• Li Rui took Liang He through Qinghe’s expanded new city to Qingfeng Mountain Manor and identified himself at the gate.
• A man inside Qingfeng Mountain Manor greeted Li Rui with congratulations.

Li Rui relied on age and tact to smooth tensions with Qingfeng Mountain Manor, then returned home and arranged a lighter saber suited to his rank. After ten ordinary days of training and reading, he found Blood Tiger Gang Vice Gang Leader Peng Hu waiting at his gate with a gift.

• Li Rui exchanged courtesies with He Nian at Qingfeng Mountain Manor and offered to bring Tan Hu for a drink, giving the manor a chance to let their grievance go.
• Li Rui explained to Liang He that their visit had tested Qingfeng Mountain Manor's intentions without forcing an apology, then returned home.
• Li Rui told Wang Zhao to spend less time sweeping and more time studying and training before returning to his room to cultivate.
• Li Rui visited the blacksmith shop and ordered a lighter, simpler saber suited to a Seventh Rank martial artist, charging it to his account as an Anning Guard Inspector.
• Li Rui spent the next ten days supervising morning drills at Tiger Sprint Camp and cultivating and reading at home.
• Peng Hu visited Li Rui's residence bearing a large wooden gift box, and Li Rui greeted the Blood Tiger Gang Vice Gang Leader.

Li Rui used his position as an Anning Guard patrol inspector to calm Clear River’s factions after Tan Hu’s trouble and brought their gifts to Ning Zhongtian. Ning Zhongtian praised Li Rui, cleared his debt to Wei Ming, and suggested he become a deputy alliance leader.

• Peng Hu visited Li Rui with a gift to seek reconciliation, and Li Rui accepted his apology after a long conversation.
• Clear River’s factions visited Li Rui over the next half month, and he forgave them while keeping their gifts recorded.
• Li Rui brought Ning Zhongtian the gift register, and Ning Zhongtian told him to hold the items until he decided what to do with them.
• Ning Zhongtian praised Li Rui’s work and used the matter to settle Li Rui’s outstanding major merit owed to Wei Ming.
• Ning Zhongtian warned Li Rui not to accept offers from other garrison commanders, and Li Rui said he remained the Heaven and Earth Alliance’s deputy branch leader.
• Ning Zhongtian proposed that Li Rui become a deputy alliance leader.

Li Rui celebrated becoming a deputy alliance leader and completing an achievement, then calmed Tan Hu’s anger over the sects and collected his newly forged blade. He privately paid the burly blacksmith who had made it and left him grateful.

• Li Rui became a deputy alliance leader, completed the introductory achievement, and received 20 Achievement Points.
• Tan Hu confronted Li Rui about dealing with the sects, but Li Rui advised him to use strategy rather than challenge powerful opponents directly.
• Li Rui privately acknowledged the danger posed by Tan Hu and revealed he had kept a blade hidden in his chair in case Tan Hu lost his temper.
• Li Rui visited the blacksmith shop and bought a 23-jin Barrier Blade for 3,000 gold.
• Li Rui escorted the burly blacksmith away from the shop and gave him a 100-tael banknote as extra wages.

Li Rui visited Mingguang Sect and invoked Yu Kingdom law over the criminal who had assaulted a citizen, while Sect Master Yang Fusong had refused to approach him. After Li Rui brought the Tiger Sprint Riders to the sect’s gate and met with Elder Qiu Pu, new information forced Qiu Pu to order the criminal brought out.

• Li Rui secretly gave the blacksmith a hundred taels, then Yang Fusong dismissed Elder Qiu Pu’s concerns and decided to wait for Li Rui to visit Mingguang Sect.
• After training with the Tiger Sprint Riders, Li Rui told Tan Hu and the others to accompany him to Mingguang Sect at the hour of Wei.
• Li Rui brought the Tiger Sprint Riders to Mingguang Sect’s gate, then entered alone when Qiu Pu invited him in.
• Li Rui reminded Qiu Pu that Yu Kingdom law required the criminal hiding in Mingguang Sect to be executed and punished those who sheltered him.
• A Mingguang Sect disciple whispered news to Qiu Pu, who ordered the criminal brought to Li Rui.

Li Rui used Jiang Yan and Jiang Linxian’s backing to force Mingguang Sect to surrender a criminal without open conflict, earning a hidden mission reward that transformed his Spirit Eye into the Eye of Wisdom. After sensing a blood-red danger nearby on the way back to the military camp, he realized powerful figures had begun arriving in Clear River.

• Li Rui marched a captured criminal through the streets while Jiang Linxian’s presence forced Yang Fusong and Mingguang Sect to accept the arrest.
• Li Rui explained to Liang He that the procession obscured Jiang Linxian’s involvement and built public support for the Anning Guard.
• The hidden plot awarded Li Rui an S+ rating and 50 Achievement Points, transforming his Spirit Eye into the Eye of Wisdom.
• Li Rui tested the Eye of Wisdom and learned that its mist changed color to indicate nearby danger.
• As Li Rui’s group passed an alley, the mist turned blood red before fading to pale red after they had gone a hundred zhang.
• Li Rui concluded that a powerful figure had quietly arrived in Clear River, though he did not know who it was.