Chapter Summaries

Gu Chenfeng discovered the Marrow Washing Pool in the second layer of the Divine Ruins Space and used it to cleanse his body and primordial spirit. He then bought cultivation supplies, returned to his cave abode, and began secluded cultivation to raise his combat strength.

• Gu Chenfeng passed through the curtain into the second layer of the Divine Ruins Space and found the Marrow Washing Pool.
• Gu Chenfeng injected Chaos Qi into the pool’s pearl, then entered the pool and had the dragon and phoenix phantoms cleanse his body and primordial spirit.
• Gu Chenfeng realized the pool consumed Chaos Qi quickly but could be valuable for healing injuries or overcoming a bottleneck, and he worried briefly about Leng Xingye.
• Gu Chenfeng visited Azure Cloud Pavilion in disguise and bought spirit medicine, talisman-making materials, and puppet materials.
• Gu Chenfeng returned to his cave abode, reinforced its defensive and concealment restrictions, and began secluded cultivation.

After five years of rapid growth, Black Iron City had become the Southwest's foremost city, and Gu Chenfeng returned to reward its leaders and inspect its progress. He then set out for Azure Cloud Market after learning that his information network had uncovered news of the Peerless Abyss Pavilion.

• Liu Youfang admired Black Iron City's prosperity and rushed to the City Lord's Manor when Gu Chenfeng summoned him.
• Gu Chenfeng revealed that he had reached the Saint Warrior realm and praised Liu Youfang for his work developing the city.
• Gu Chenfeng gave Liu Youfang a Profound Pill that could help him reach the peak of the True Saint Realm.
• Liu Youfang reported on Black Iron City's growth, and Gu Chenfeng summoned Tongtong, the Three Kings, and Zhang Xiaoyun before rewarding them with cultivation resources.
• Gu Chenfeng left for Azure Cloud Market after learning his information channels had found news of the Peerless Abyss Pavilion, and he wondered whether its members had abandoned their assassination attempt.

Gu Chenfeng reflected on five years of cultivation and his growing strength as he traveled toward Azure Cloud Market, while worrying about the Peerless Abyss Pavilion and longing to reunite with his family on the Seven Star Continent. He entered the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins and continued refining his body with the Nine Deaths Profound Baleful Art.

• Gu Chenfeng reviewed his progress in cultivation, pill refining, puppet crafting, talisman making, and secret arts, noting that he had reached the peak of the early Saint Warrior realm.
• Gu Chenfeng remained wary that the Peerless Abyss Pavilion had tracked him and worried about the passage of time and his family on the Seven Star Continent.
• Gu Chenfeng recalled that Taiching Daoist, the Barbarian God, and the Dragon Emperor still reported that the Seven Star Continent was safe under Yuqing and the Dragon-Controlling Guard.
• Gu Chenfeng entered the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins and used spirit stones to activate the Marrow Washing Pool with the Dragon-Phoenix Precious Pearl.
• Gu Chenfeng absorbed yin baleful qi from a Yin Marrow Crystal, enduring its pain as the pool's natural energy balanced it, then meditated while refining his body.

Gu Chenfeng, posing as Wang Zhong, bought a large quantity of supplies at Azure Cloud Market and learned that the Peerless Abyss Pavilion had ties to the Dingbo and Changning Marquisates. Lu Qingzhou then warned him that unrest was coming and that Azure Cloud Market would soon relocate.

• Gu Chenfeng gave Lu Qingzhou and Withered Glory Old Freak a list for a major purchase, and Lu promised to gather the supplies within three days at a thirty-percent discount.
• Lu Qingzhou told Gu Chenfeng that the Peerless Abyss Pavilion kept its headquarters secret, accepted missions only through trusted intermediaries, and might have ties to the upper ranks of the Dingbo and Changning Marquisates.
• Gu Chenfeng suspected the four clans that had betrayed Marquis Yu were behind the assassination mission targeting him, possibly through the Peerless Abyss Pavilion.
• Lu Qingzhou said Azure Cloud Market would relocate in a few days and warned Gu Chenfeng to leave the borderlands because unrest was coming.

Gu Chenfeng learned that danger was brewing on Xilin Commandery’s borders, stocked up on supplies, and returned to Black Iron City. As he approached his cave abode late at night, he sensed someone waiting for him.

• Lu Qingzhou warned Gu Chenfeng that unrest threatened the borders and said Azure Cloud Market was relocating.
• Withered Glory Old Freak suggested robbing Gu Chenfeng, but Lu Qingzhou suspected he had powerful backing and told him to leave Gu Chenfeng alone.
• Gu Chenfeng realized Lu Qingzhou and Withered Glory Old Freak had been watching him and considered the warning about trouble in Xilin Commandery.
• Gu Chenfeng bought extra supplies during his three-day stay, collected the resources he had ordered, and hurried back to Black Iron City.
• Gu Chenfeng sensed someone near his cave abode and declared that they had finally come to him.

Gu Chenfeng confronted two late-stage Saint Warrior killers from the Peerless Abyss Pavilion and defeated them with his overwhelming strength. The killers were left surrounded by hidden cultivators, and their fate was sealed by a combined attack.

• Gu Chenfeng questioned the two Peerless Abyss Pavilion killers about their employer, then summoned his new battle axe when they said they had come to kill him.
• The male and female killers attacked together, but Gu Chenfeng parried their strikes and held off their signature techniques.
• Gu Chenfeng activated the Eighteen Profound Apertures and unleashed Limitless Strike, gravely wounding both killers.
• The killers fled in opposite directions, but Gu Chenfeng revealed that they were surrounded by hidden cultivators.
• The hidden cultivators and Gu Chenfeng attacked the two killers, and their screams rang out as the forest fell silent.

Gu Chenfeng defeated the Peerless Abyss Pavilion’s third wave of killers and discovered that their baleful resentment qi strengthened his cultivation. After returning to Black Iron City, he fortified defenses and resumed preparing for danger, but an unexpected development arrived ten days later.

• Gu Chenfeng used his puppet army to help kill the two Peerless Abyss Pavilion assassins, then absorbed the baleful resentment qi from their corpses and realized it aided the Nine Deaths Profound Baleful Art.
• Gu Chenfeng collected the assassins’ Storage Rings, destroyed their corpses, and left his exposed cave abode with his belongings and puppet army.
• Gu Chenfeng returned to Black Iron City and ordered Liu Youfang to investigate unusual activity throughout the territory and along its borders.
• Gu Chenfeng asked Ling Wanshuang, Daoist Qingxuan, and Lei Qianjun to coordinate border defenses and increase vigilance across the four cities.
• Gu Chenfeng continued cultivating and used resources from the Azure Cloud Market to refine pills, puppets, and talismans until an unexpected turn came ten days later.

Gu Chenfeng learned that the Heroes Alliance had rebelled and seized three cities in southwestern Xilin Commandery. He united the four border cities under Black Iron City's command and prepared for the conflict to escalate.

• Liu Youfang reported that bandit raids along Xilin Commandery's borders were spreading, and captured leaders revealed the Heroes Alliance had ordered them to cause trouble.
• Ling Wanshuang, Daoist Qingxuan, and Lei Qianjun told Gu Chenfeng that the Heroes Alliance had risen in revolt, captured three southwestern cities, and was preparing to attack more.
• Gu Chenfeng proposed coordinating the four border cities' defenses, combining their armies under one command, and clearing bandits near their territories; the three City Lords agreed to his leadership.
• Black Iron City took command of the four cities' forces and dispatched detachments to deal with nearby bandits.
• Gu Chenfeng sent messages to Taiching Daoist, the Barbarian God, the Dragon Emperor, and others, then increased his production of pills, talismans, and puppets.

As the Heroes Alliance seized more cities in southwestern Xilin Commandery, Gu Chenfeng chose to hold Black Iron City and its three allied cities rather than act hastily. Commandery Governor Lu Chongyue recognized their resilience but feared they would eventually fall, and decided to seek help from His Highness the Fourth Prince.

• Ling Wanshuang reported that the Heroes Alliance had stalled the Commandery Governor and the Three Great Fortresses, captured more Main Cities, and left the four border cities isolated.
• Daoist Qingxuan said the four cities had wiped out the nearby bandits, while Ling Wanshuang reported rebellions in the neighboring Dingbo Marquisate and Changning Marquisate and the Commandery Governor's harsh orders.
• Gu Chenfeng told Lei Qianjun and the others to hold their cities and wait for the situation to change.
• The Heroes Alliance continued capturing cities across the southwest as Xilin Commandery's main forces remained pinned down.
• Lu Chongyue learned that Sea Moon City, Ning'an City, and Sishui City had fallen and their populations had been slaughtered.
• Lu Chongyue heard that Black Iron City, Biting Wind City, Red Gold City, and Nether Shadow City had formed an alliance under Gu Chenfeng, then resolved to seek help from His Highness the Fourth Prince.

As the Heroes Alliance’s forces closed in on the last four cities in southwestern Xilin Commandery, Gu Chenfeng learned to cultivate the Nine Deaths Profound Baleful Art from captured bandits’ resentment qi. When a group of powerful cultivators arrived near Black Iron City, Gu Chenfeng recognized them as allies and went to welcome them.

• Gu Chenfeng questioned captured bandit leaders, killed them when they attacked, and refined the baleful resentment qi from their corpses.
• Gu Chenfeng discovered that the resentment qi’s density depended on a person’s evil deeds and victims, and that the bandits’ qi had substantially strengthened his cultivation.
• Ling Wanshuang told Gu Chenfeng, Daoist Qingxuan, and Lei Qianjun that three more cities had fallen and the Heroes Alliance was preparing to encircle the four remaining border cities.
• Daoist Qingxuan suggested abandoning the cities, but Ling Wanshuang warned that fleeing would bring severe punishment upon them and their families.
• Several late-stage Saint Warrior-level auras appeared northwest of Black Iron City, and Gu Chenfeng said they belonged to allies and led the others to greet them.

The Dragon Emperor, the Barbarian God, and Taiching Daoist arrived at Black Iron City and urged Gu Chenfeng and Tongtong to flee after explaining that the Second Prince had engineered the bandit crisis to destabilize the Feather Transformation Marquisate. Gu Chenfeng refused to leave, despite the danger to the four remaining border cities.

• Gu Chenfeng and Tongtong welcomed the Dragon Emperor, the Barbarian God, and Taiching Daoist, all of whom had reached the peak Saint Warrior realm.
• At a banquet, Taiching Daoist and the others learned about the danger facing the four border cities, then privately explained that the Second Prince and two allied marquisates were behind the bandit crisis.
• The Dragon Emperor explained that Senior Marquis Yu's disciples were divided, the Fourth Prince had gone to Xilin Commandery's Commandery City, and the fallen parts of the commandery would be difficult to recover.
• The Barbarian God told Gu Chenfeng that the enemy would soon attack the four remaining border cities and urged him and Tongtong to leave with them.
• Gu Chenfeng thanked his three friends but refused to leave Black Iron City.

Gu Chenfeng rejected the plan to fake his death and flee, deciding instead to defend Black Iron City and gamble on another way to survive. When the Blood-Seeking Hall’s forces approached, he led the others to the northern gate to meet them.

• Gu Chenfeng explained that abandoning Black Iron City could endanger the Seven Star Continent and implicate the Dragon-Controlling Guard, so Taiching Daoist proposed faking his death to help him escape.
• Taiching Daoist revealed that the Great Jin Divine Dynasty was limiting the conflict to two commanderies and that nine Saint Master level experts had been deployed.
• Gu Chenfeng refused to leave, asked the Dragon Emperor, Barbarian God, and Taiching Daoist to take Tongtong and the Three Kings away, and declared that he would keep the enemy from capturing Black Iron City.
• Ling Wanshuang, Daoist Qingxuan, and Lei Qianjun returned with news that the Blood-Seeking Hall was advancing and would reach Black Iron City in less than two hours.
• Gu Chenfeng welcomed the chance to test his strength and led the group toward the northern city gate.

Gu Chenfeng faced the Blood-Seeking Hall's army as it arrived to attack Black Iron City, but dismissed the threat and handed command to Liu Youfang. Xing Hu ordered an assault after Liu Youfang provoked him from the gate tower.

• Gu Chenfeng told the Dragon Emperor, the Barbarian God, and Taiqing to conceal themselves and watch as the Heroes Alliance's forces approached Black Iron City.
• Xing Hu and Bai Yinfang learned from the chief of Blazing Cloud Stronghold how Gu Chenfeng had transformed Black Iron City, then Xing Hu dismissed the city's defenders as useless.
• Xing Hu recognized Gu Chenfeng from the Immortal Tomb, demanded the four figures surrender, and threatened to destroy the four border cities.
• Gu Chenfeng asked whether the attacking force was only a feint, then left Liu Youfang in command and went to have tea with Ling Wanshuang and the others.
• Liu Youfang insulted Xing Hu from the gate tower until Xing Hu lost his temper and ordered the army to attack Black Iron City.

Blood-Seeking Hall breached Black Iron City's Nine Palace Trapping and Killing Formation with Mystic Ice Formation-Breaking Bows and fire talismans, then charged into the city. Black Iron City revealed hundreds of Thunderfire Divine Mechanism Crossbows and eight Heavenly Thunder Prison Cannons, devastating the invading forces as Xing Hu and Bai Yinfang recognized the cannons.

• Xing Hu ordered Blood-Seeking Hall to bombard Black Iron City's defensive formation, while Bai Yinfang identified it as a top-tier level-four formation.
• Blood-Seeking Hall used Mystic Ice Formation-Breaking Bows and fire talismans to freeze and shatter a section of the formation.
• Xing Hu ordered the army to charge through the breach, and Liu Youfang waited until most of the attackers entered before ordering Black Iron City's defenses to fire.
• Liu Youfang's City Guards unleashed hundreds of Thunderfire Divine Mechanism Crossbows, devastating the charging elites despite their defensive formations.
• Bai Yinfang spotted eight Steel Behemoths on the lookout towers, and their Heavenly Thunder Prison Cannons released lightning that annihilated and crippled Blood-Seeking Hall's troops.

Black Iron City used its powerful weapons and formations to devastate the Blood-Seeking Hall's invading army. With the surviving forces trapped between the city's bombardment and the Heaven-Burning Li Fire Formation, Gu Chenfeng and the three City Lords launched out to face the enemy leaders.

• Xing Hu, Bai Yinfang, and the others recognized eight Heavenly Thunder Prison Cannons among Black Iron City's defenses, while Gu Chenfeng's wealth and dealings with Lu Qingzhou explained how the city had acquired them.
• Black Iron City's cannons and crossbows inflicted heavy casualties on the Blood-Seeking Hall army inside the Nine Palace Trapping and Killing Formation, prompting Xing Hu to order a retreat.
• The Heaven-Burning Li Fire Formation ignited outside the formation and nearly annihilated the retreating troops, leaving the survivors trapped between the flames and the city's weapons.
• Xing Hu, Bai Yinfang, and the chief of Blazing Cloud Stronghold led separate forces toward the city, relying on defensive Magic Treasures to push through the barrage.
• Gu Chenfeng ordered the City Lords to engage the enemy leaders, then flew out to fight Xing Hu as Ling Wanshuang, Daoist Qingxuan, and Lei Qianjun charged after Bai Yinfang and the chief.

Gu Chenfeng overwhelmed and killed Xing Hu, then joined Ling Wanshuang and the others to defeat the remaining Blood-Seeking Hall leaders and wipe out the invading army. Black Iron City celebrated its victory as Gu Chenfeng absorbed the battlefield’s Baleful Resentment Qi to strengthen himself.

• Gu Chenfeng used the Limitless Raging Tide Slash to split Xing Hu’s body, then captured and destroyed Xing Hu’s fleeing Primordial Spirit with the Guixu Cauldron.
• Gu Chenfeng joined Ling Wanshuang and the other two, and they killed Bai Yinfang and the Blazing Cloud Stronghold’s chief.
• Liu Youfang led the elites of the four cities in eliminating the remaining Blood-Seeking Hall forces after the city’s weapons had broken their ranks.
• The Lihuo Heaven-Burning Formation receded, revealing the battlefield, and Black Iron City’s defenders cheered their victory.
• Gu Chenfeng hovered above the battlefield as Yin Baleful Qi gathered into his body and nourished the Nine Deaths Profound Baleful Art.

After Black Iron City repelled Blood-Seeking Hall, Gu Chenfeng decided to fight beyond the city walls to force the Fourth Prince and Commandery Governor Lu Chongyue to commit to the conflict. He cultivated through the night, while Lu Chongyue learned that Black Iron City had annihilated the enemy army.

• At the celebration, Ling Wanshuang, Daoist Qingxuan, and Lei Qianjun toasted Gu Chenfeng as Black Iron City’s battle gains were reported.
• Gu Chenfeng told the Dragon Emperor, the Barbarian God, and Taiching Daoist that he planned to fight to change the conflict’s balance, while they agreed to help defend Black Iron City.
• Gu Chenfeng entered the Training Room and used the Nine Deaths Profound Baleful Art to absorb the baleful resentment qi from the defeated army.
• When the qi stirred violent energy in his mind, Gu Chenfeng entered the Divine Ruins Space and used the Marrow Washing Pool and Dragon-Phoenix Precious Pearl to cleanse the impurities.
• Commandery Governor Lu Chongyue received a report that Black Iron City had annihilated Blood-Seeking Hall’s force before sunset.

Lu Chongyue learned that Gu Chenfeng and Black Iron City had annihilated Blood-Seeking Hall’s army without losses, then discovered Gu Chenfeng had been appointed by Cao Meng. The Fourth Prince arrived expecting the southwestern border to have fallen, but Lu Chongyue’s praise left him confused about Gu Chenfeng’s unexpected victory.

• A messenger told Lu Chongyue that Black Iron City had destroyed Blood-Seeking Hall’s force without casualties, and Gu Chenfeng had slain its Second Boss.
• Lu Chongyue asked Adviser Zhong about Gu Chenfeng and learned he had been appointed directly by the Great Jin Divine Dynasty at Cao Meng’s request.
• Lu Chongyue and Zhong Huai discussed Qi Ling’s wish to find the cultivator who had once saved her before a soldier announced Cao Meng’s arrival.
• Cao Meng worried that the war would ruin his standing and accidentally damaged a Puppet while carving it aboard his Airship.
• Lu Chongyue entered Cao Meng’s cabin and praised his supposed foresight and secret support for Gu Chenfeng, leaving Cao Meng stunned to hear that Black Iron City had won.

Cao Meng learned that Gu Chenfeng had defended Black Iron City and retaken Black Rock City, while Lu Chongyue mistook Gu’s actions for the Fourth Highness’s careful plans. With Xilin Commandery still short of reinforcements, Cao Meng decided to use Marquis Yu’s Command to pressure Feather Transformation City.

• Cao Meng recalled Gu Chenfeng after seeing the art album and listened as Lu Chongyue praised Gu’s defense of Black Iron City and his victory over a Late-Stage Saint Warrior.
• Cao Meng accepted Lu Chongyue’s assumption that Gu was his hidden chess piece and claimed he had stationed Gu in Black Iron City in anticipation of trouble.
• Lu Chongyue explained that Xilin Commandery lacked troops and experts, while Cao Meng said he had requested reinforcements but could not intervene directly.
• A messenger reported that Gu Chenfeng had retaken Black Rock City that morning, prompting Lu Chongyue to praise Cao Meng for supposedly arranging the move.
• Cao Meng resolved to pressure Feather Transformation City into sending aid and revealed Marquis Yu’s Command.

Gu Chenfeng captured Black Rock City, absorbed its baleful resentment qi to strengthen the Nine Deaths Profound Baleful Art, and uncovered the atrocities committed by its bandits. After leaving resources and the city’s defenses intact for nearby cultivators, he set off to attack another fallen city.

• Gu Chenfeng and his puppet army swiftly defeated the garrison of Black Rock City, and he ordered the puppets to seal the city and search for treasures.
• Gu Chenfeng absorbed the battlefield’s baleful resentment qi, attaining minor accomplishment in the art’s first layer and manifesting the Profound Baleful Armor.
• Gu Chenfeng saw the civilians and young women tortured and killed by the bandits, and resolved to avenge the victims while clearing the fallen cities.
• Gu Chenfeng gathered resources from Black Rock City, left some behind, and announced that nearby cultivators could enter and hold the city.
• Gu Chenfeng put away his puppet army and flew toward Flowing Sand City, his next target.