Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xiaohua witnessed Qin Shiyue’s bloody pursuit of Ma Rulong and Qiu Xidao through Ma Manor. Qin Shiyue killed Qiu Xidao but failed to find Ma Rulong, then joined Ying Fei in cutting down the fleeing servants.

• Zhang Xiaohua entered the reception hall and saw Qin Shiyue killing his way through guests as Ma Rulong and Qiu Xidao used the crowd to escape.
• Qin Shiyue pursued Ma Rulong and Qiu Xidao into a corridor, where Qiu Xidao’s ambush failed and they fought.
• Qiu Xidao offered to reveal the location of ancient jade artifacts, but Qin Shiyue refused his bargain and beheaded him.
• Qin Shiyue searched the courtyard but found that Ma Rulong had escaped, then returned to the reception hall.
• Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei killed many of the servants who had attacked Ying Fei, while a few escaped.

Qin Shiyue pursued Ma Rulong through Ma Manor with Ying Fei and Zhang Xiaohua, using a maid’s directions to find a secret passage beneath a rockery. A poisoned-arrow trap wounded Ying Fei, and after Qin Shiyue gave him a Poison-Dispelling Pill, Ying Fei warned that Ma Rulong had likely escaped far away.

• Qin Shiyue threatened the servants and maids until one maid agreed to lead him to a hidden entrance Ma Rulong had used.
• The maid pointed out a mechanism in the pond’s rockery, and Qin Shiyue took Ying Fei and Zhang Xiaohua into the secret passage.
• Ying Fei opened a half-shut door and triggered a trap that fired three iron arrows; Qin Shiyue kicked him aside, but one arrow pierced Ying Fei’s arm.
• Zhang Xiaohua used his divine sense and Misty Steps to avoid the arrow aimed at him, though Qin Shiyue thought he had frozen in fear.
• Qin Shiyue gave Ying Fei a Poison-Dispelling Pill, and Ying Fei’s wound began bleeding bright red before Qin Shiyue stopped the bleeding.
• Ying Fei told Qin Shiyue that Ma Rulong had probably gotten far away while they were delayed.

Qin Shiyue pursued Ma Rulong with Zhang Xiaohua and confronted him at a strange patch of mist. Ma Rulong revealed why he had betrayed the Divine Cult and began explaining the secret behind the Ma family’s valuable dowry.

• Qin Shiyue led Zhang Xiaohua through a dry well’s passage and raced with him toward the mountain, where they caught up to Ma Rulong.
• Ma Rulong stood before a pale, qi-filled mist and told Qin Shiyue that his trap had failed because Qin had arrived too soon.
• Ma Rulong explained that he joined the Righteous Path Alliance because the Divine Cult had exploited his family and denied his descendants the status and respect they wanted.
• Qin Shiyue agreed not to hunt down the Ma family disciples in exchange for Ma Rulong revealing his secret.
• Ma Rulong said his granddaughter had pursued Qiu Xidao, and that her lavish dowry had persuaded Zhang San and the Righteous Path Alliance to force Qiu Xidao to marry her.

Ma Rulong revealed the ancient origins and uses of divine stones, explaining how the Immortal Path preceded the Martial Way and how its remnants related to the present martial world. He left Qin Shiyue questioning how Ma Rulong knew Primordial Qi was increasing.

• Ma Rulong explained that the Righteous Path Alliance sought his divine stone, also called a primordial stone, and obtained Qin Shiyue’s oath not to attack Ma family disciples unless they provoked him first.
• Ma Rulong told Qin Shiyue that divine stones powered formations and had once served as the foundation and currency of Immortal Path cultivation.
• Ma Rulong described how the Immortal Path ended ten thousand years earlier and said his Ma family descended from a minor branch of an ancient immortal cultivation sect.
• Ma Rulong explained that jade slips held cultivation knowledge, Immortal Path artifacts could take many forms, and the Heavenly Dao Alliance had collected ancient jade artifacts in response to rising Primordial Qi.
• Zhang Xiaohua recognized that his Carefree Heart Sutra belonged to the Immortal Path and wondered whether his jade rings were artifacts.
• Ma Rulong distinguished forbidden grounds from places protected by Immortal Path restrictions, and Qin Shiyue challenged him to explain how a Martial Way practitioner could sense Primordial Qi.

Ma Rulong explained to Qin Shiyue and Zhang Xiaohua that his family’s forbidden ground was protected by a restriction, then fled into its white mist as Qin attacked him. Qin returned with Zhang Xiaohua and Ying Fei, left the deserted Ma Manor, and rode toward town while Qiu Xidao’s steward watched them.

• Ma Rulong told Qin Shiyue that strengthening restrictions indicated Primordial Qi was recovering and revealed that the Ma family’s forbidden ground lay within the white mist behind him.
• Ma Rulong explained that he had come to the forbidden ground to fulfill his lifelong wish, then tried to retreat into the mist as Qin Shiyue attacked him with his flexible sword.
• Qin Shiyue refused to enter the mist and warned Zhang Xiaohua that he would report him and the missing cauldron to Di Shitian.
• Qin Shiyue and Zhang Xiaohua returned through the secret passage and found Ying Fei recovering from his arrow wound.
• Qin Shiyue, Zhang Xiaohua, and Ying Fei found Ma Manor deserted, took their horses, and left for town as Qiu Xidao’s old steward watched them from a teahouse.

Zhang Xiaohua found renewed resolve to pursue the Immortal Path while traveling as Qin Shiyue’s captive. The three arrived at a village inn where an unknown host had arranged a lavish dinner for them, and the innkeeper came to ask whether they had enjoyed it.

• Zhang Xiaohua reflected on the Immortal Path and his uncertain future, then regained his fighting spirit and advanced his cultivation.
• Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua heard riders galloping ahead but found no ambush as they continued toward a village town.
• The innkeeper of Four Seas Inn told Qin Shiyue that a lord had reserved a banquet and rooms for the three travelers.
• Qin Shiyue inspected the tea, recognized that the rare refreshments had been prepared in advance, and told Ying Fei and Zhang Xiaohua to eat.
• Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua enjoyed the lavish feast and wine until the moon rose.
• The innkeeper asked Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua whether they had liked the meal.

At the inn, Zhang Xiaohua practiced the first hand seal of the Art of Earth Evasion and finally succeeded, though he lost much of the true qi he used. Qin Shiyue prepared to send the collected ancient jade artifacts to the Cult Master while discussing Zhang Xiaohua and the unknown force behind him.

• The innkeeper told Qin Shiyue that an unnamed old acquaintance had arranged their meal and lodging before leaving town.
• Zhang Xiaohua practiced the Art of Earth Evasion’s first hand seal until it drew out all his true qi, then failed to form the second seal and recovered nearly sixty percent of the scattered qi.
• Zhang Xiaohua absorbed qi from two spirit stones as he slept, replenishing his lost true qi.
• Qin Shiyue ordered Ying Fei to deliver the collected ancient jade artifacts to the Cult Master, despite Ying Fei’s concern about the day’s unusual events.
• Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei discussed whether Zhang Xiaohua was connected to the force behind the cauldron and decided to leave that judgment to the Cult Master.

As Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua traveled onward, they received another lavish meal arranged by an unknown benefactor. A huge man recognized Qin Shiyue and revealed that rumors falsely credited him with massacring Ma Manor, leaving Qin and Zhang Xiaohua astonished.

• Zhang Xiaohua wondered why the Righteous Path Alliance had not retaliated, while Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei also remained wary of an attack.
• At Shangezhuang Town, a Four Seas Inn manager led Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua to a restaurant reserved for their meal.
• The three ate the elaborate dishes, and Qin Shiyue reprimanded Ying Fei for copying Zhang Xiaohua's greedy table manners.
• A burly man forced his way into the restaurant, then recognized Qin Shiyue and hurried to serve him wine.
• The man told Qin Shiyue that jianghu rumors claimed he had killed all 305 members of the Ma family, surprising Qin and Zhang Xiaohua.

Qin Shiyue and Zhang Xiaohua continued toward Jingyue City after hearing the latest jianghu reports, and Qin Shiyue showed both his capricious mercy and his fearsome reputation. Near the city, Xu Jiaotong arrived to welcome Qin on behalf of the Dragon Kings and Seven Waters, and Qin began to thank him.

• A wandering man told Qin Shiyue that the Righteous Path Alliance had protested the Ma family massacre while the Heavenly Dragon Divine Cult denied responsibility and mourned Qiu Xidao.
• Qin Shiyue stopped the man from cutting off his hand and demanded only his little finger; the man obeyed and left the inn.
• Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua resumed their journey, receiving food and lodging as they passed through towns before approaching Jingyue City.
• Ying Fei explained that Jingyue City was a famous city, and Qin Shiyue recalled visiting during the Divine Cult's campaign to subdue the Three Seas and Seven Waters.
• Xu Jiaotong rode up to welcome Qin Shiyue on behalf of his royal father, the other Dragon Kings, and the Seven Waters leaders, and Qin Shiyue began to thank him.

Qin Shiyue arrived at Jingyue City with Xu Jiaotong and met the Three Seas Dragon Kings and Seven Waters gang leaders at the gate. Their entrance was interrupted by Commander Murong, who abused his authority and pressed Xu Jiaotong about marrying him.

• Xu Jiaotong explained why her father had sent her to receive Qin Shiyue, and Zhang Xiaohua realized she was a woman.
• The Three Seas Dragon Kings and Seven Waters gang leaders welcomed Qin Shiyue and exchanged greetings with him and Ying Fei.
• Qin Shiyue and the others entered Jingyue City, with Ying Fei inviting Zhang Xiaohua to walk beside him.
• Commander Murong rode up claiming to carry urgent military intelligence, then admitted he had made it up and bragged about his uncle commanding the city defense.
• Commander Murong asked Xu Jiaotong whether her father had agreed to their marriage, and she put him off by citing her father's busy affairs.

Qin Shiyue reunited with the Three Seas and Seven Waters in Jingyue City, where he learned Xu Jiaotong had secretly arranged his safe passage and gathered everyone to hand over their prepared items. The items were still being transported by water, and Qin Shiyue expected them to arrive within one to three days.

• Dragon King Xu led Qin Shiyue and the others through his grand lakeside residence to a banquet hall, where Dragon King Sui’s crude jokes embarrassed Xu Jiaotong and confused Zhang Xiaohua.
• Dragon King Xu explained that Xu Jiaotong had scouted Qin Shiyue’s route and secretly arranged his food, lodging, and safety while the Three Seas and Seven Waters gathered to meet him.
• Qin Shiyue thanked the assembled groups and toasted them for coming to welcome him.
• Qin Shiyue praised Xu Jiaotong’s efforts and invited her to call him Xiao Yue, while she asked to be called A Jiao.
• Dragon King Xu told Qin Shiyue that the prepared items were being sent by water and would arrive within one to three days.

Qin Shiyue learned why Commander Murong had been pursuing Xu Jiaotong and promised that the Divine Cult would protect her if necessary. When Murong appeared outside the manor shouting his love for Jiaotong, Qin Shiyue and Dragon King Xu went to meet him, while Zhang Xiaohua watched from the banquet.

• Qin Shiyue toasted the Three Seas Dragon Kings and Seven Waters Gang Leader and won their favor at the banquet.
• Dragon King Xu explained that Commander Murong had persistently pursued Xu Jiaotong, despite her attempts to avoid him.
• Qin Shiyue offered the Divine Cult's support if Murong's pursuit caused trouble, reassuring Xu Jiaotong.
• Commander Murong shouted for Xu Jiaotong from outside the hall, and Qin Shiyue and Dragon King Xu went to receive him.
• Zhang Xiaohua privately judged Murong's pursuit hopeless and speculated that Xu Jiaotong liked Qin Shiyue because he had white hair.

Commander Murong visited Dragon King Xu and proposed to marry Xu Jiaotong as his secondary wife, but Dragon King Xu refused because she was already promised. Qin Shiyue hinted that her intended was nearby, and Murong Jian wrongly suspected Zhang Xiaohua and Ying Fei before asking who it was.

• Commander Murong arrived at Dragon King Xu’s residence with a gift box and entered the banquet hall, where he mistook Qin Shiyue for an honored relative and invited him to the seat of honor.
• Murong Jian told Dragon King Xu he wanted to marry Xu Jiaotong and presented one thousand taels in gold notes as a betrothal gift.
• Dragon King Xu rejected the proposal, saying Xu Jiaotong had already been promised to someone.
• Murong Jian insisted he could have the match broken off and offered to enlist the Lord Commandant’s help.
• Qin Shiyue said Xu Jiaotong’s intended was far away yet close at hand, prompting Murong Jian to accuse Zhang Xiaohua and Ying Fei of being unsuitable suitors.
• Qin Shiyue denied that Murong Jian had guessed correctly, leaving him asking who Xu Jiaotong’s intended was.

Murong Jian challenged Qin Shiyue to a duel over Xu Jiaotong, setting his guard against him. Qin Shiyue discovered the guard had poisoned him and concealed his true skill, leaving Qin Shiyue trapped in a fierce fight with the poison spreading through his body.

• Qin Shiyue told Murong Jian that Xu Jiaotong would follow him, and Xu Jiaotong publicly asked Murong Jian to let her go.
• Murong Jian demanded a contest and chose his guard as Qin Shiyue's opponent, promising to accept the outcome if Qin Shiyue defeated him.
• Qin Shiyue agreed to the contest and offered to yield the guard three moves, but the guard attacked with three ordinary saber strikes.
• The guard suddenly changed his saber's path, cut Qin Shiyue beneath the arm, and poisoned the wound.
• The guard revealed his true skill and pressed Qin Shiyue with powerful saber strikes, leaving him no chance to expel the poison or take an antidote.

Zhang Xiaohua was moved by Xu Jiaotong’s desperate gaze and intervened as the poisoned Qin Shiyue faced a fatal blow. He saved Qin Shiyue from the soldier’s saber, but the clash sent him flying through the air.

• The nameless soldier used poison and relentless attacks to gain the upper hand against Qin Shiyue, while Murong Jian pressured Dragon King Xu to accept the betrothal if Qin Shiyue surrendered.
• Xu Jiaotong remained composed, resolved to die rather than marry Murong Jian, as Dragon King Xu and Ying Fei watched anxiously.
• Qin Shiyue weakened and collapsed, and he and Xu Jiaotong exchanged a look as the soldier raised his curved saber for a final strike.
• Zhang Xiaohua’s memories of Meng stirred when he saw Xu Jiaotong’s eyes, and he decided to act.
• Zhang Xiaohua swooped into the arena and forced the soldier to block his sword, but the impact sent Zhang Xiaohua flying upward.

Zhang Xiaohua interrupted the duel to give Qin Shiyue time to take a Poison-Dispelling Pill, then evaded the masked soldier until Qin recovered. Qin identified the soldier as Situ Yueming of the Righteous Path Alliance, and their duel resumed with Qin fighting at full strength.

• Zhang Xiaohua returned to attack the nameless soldier, forcing him to stop Qin Shiyue from taking the Poison-Dispelling Pill.
• Qin Shiyue swallowed two pills and dispelled the poison while Zhang Xiaohua dodged the soldier’s attacks.
• Murong Jian objected to the interruption, but Ying Fei and Qin denied that Zhang Xiaohua was their servant or sect member.
• After Qin recovered, Zhang Xiaohua withdrew to the wine table, and Qin challenged the soldier’s claim that the duel was over.
• Qin Shiyue recognized the soldier as Situ Yueming by his Round Moon Saber Techniques, and Situ admitted his identity.
• Situ Yueming attacked again, but Qin met his curved saber with his flexible sword and showed that he had regained his strength.

Qin Shiyue defeated Situ Yueming and killed him, ending Murong Jian’s marriage proposal under the terms of their duel. As Murong Jian left with his box, a hidden mechanism sent a streak of black light toward his heart.

• Qin Shiyue’s restored strength overwhelmed Situ Yueming, who tried to flee but was pursued and beheaded by Qin Shiyue outside the hall.
• Murong Jian protested Situ Yueming’s death, but Dragon King Xu insisted that the duel’s result stood.
• Murong Jian agreed not to see Xu Jiaotong while Qin Shiyue lived and prepared to leave.
• Xu Jiaotong returned Murong Jian’s box, which he took with him as he passed Qin Shiyue.
• A mechanism in the box activated, firing a streak of black light toward Murong Jian’s heart.

Murong Jian revealed his plot to seize the South Sea Dragon Palace, shot Qin Shiyue, and took Xu Jiaotong hostage before Qin exposed his survival and killed him. With Murong Jian’s forces attacking the manor, Dragon King Xu led everyone out of Jingyue City, while Qin Shiyue brought Ren Xiaoyao along to answer for the missing cauldron furnace.

• Murong Jian shot Qin Shiyue with a concealed mechanism and declared that he would take control of the South Sea Dragon Palace.
• Murong Jian revealed that he had known Qin Shiyue’s identity, seized Xu Jiaotong, and threatened to kill her if anyone approached.
• A silver-haired figure killed Murong Jian, and Qin Shiyue revealed that a protective treasure had stopped the arrow in his heart.
• Dragon King Xu warned that Murong Jian’s troops were attacking the manor and led the group out of Jingyue City.
• Qin Shiyue thanked Ren Xiaoyao for his help and insisted that he accompany him to the Divine Cult to answer questions about the cauldron furnace.

Qin Shiyue, Zhang Xiaohua, and Dragon King Xu’s party escaped Jingyue City and set out by sea to meet the item required by the Cult Master of the Divine Cult. Zhang Xiaohua marveled at the ocean and boarded a colossal seagoing ship, while Qin Shiyue anticipated visiting the South Sea Dragon Palace.

• Dragon King Xu led Qin Shiyue and the others out of Jingyue City through a hidden waterway and then along secret paths to the South Sea Dragon Palace’s concealed harbor.
• Dragon King Xu told Qin Shiyue they would head out to sea to meet the item being transported for the Cult Master, and Zhang Xiaohua abandoned his plan to escape so he could see the ocean.
• The group boarded a riverboat, left the hidden harbor, and reached the sea, where Zhang Xiaohua admired the scenery and sensed his divine sense grow stronger.
• A giant seagoing ship approached, and Dragon King Xu explained that it would carry them farther out to sea after they were transferred aboard.

Aboard the giant ship, Zhang Xiaohua celebrated with the Three Seas and Seven Waters leaders before withdrawing to cultivate through the night. At sunrise, the rising sun stirred his True Qi into a sudden surge, leaving his cultivation at a mysterious turning point.

• The group boarded the giant ship, and the gang leaders expressed their gratitude and concern to Zhang Xiaohua.
• At the banquet, Xu Jiaotong worried about Qin Shiyue drinking until Ying Fei reassured her about the Poison-Dispelling Pill.
• Zhang Xiaohua left the feast, inspected his cabin, and considered his Immortal Dao techniques before practicing the Big Dipper Divine Fist.
• Zhang Xiaohua absorbed Primordial Qi from the sea and Yuan Stones through the night as the starlight around him grew denser and briefly glowed milky white.
• As the sun rose, Zhang Xiaohua opened his eyes, and his True Qi began circulating rapidly while he stared at the sun's flame.