Chapter Summaries

Gu Chenfeng injured Huangfu Yun and revealed that he had taken Huangfu Yun’s Storage Ring, then gained the upper hand with his superior movement technique. Huangfu Yun struck back with a soul attack, but Gu Chenfeng’s eyes suddenly cleared as he unleashed a surge of spiritual power.

• Gu Chenfeng’s River-Cutting axe strike broke Huangfu Yun’s chain-blade defense, injured him, and tore away his cloak.
• Huangfu Yun used Nether Shadow Steps to press his attack, but Gu Chenfeng countered with Blood Shadow Illusory Body Steps and revealed he had taken Huangfu Yun’s Storage Ring.
• Gu Chenfeng’s superior footwork and axe strikes left Huangfu Yun badly wounded and disheveled.
• Huangfu Yun used Soul Thorn, Spirit-Severing to stun Gu Chenfeng and rushed in with a chain blade aimed at his throat.
• Gu Chenfeng’s gaze suddenly sharpened, and he released a violent surge of spiritual power.

Gu Chenfeng nearly killed Huangfu Yun, but Black Dragon intervened and Big Bear arrived to hold him off. With Huangfu Yun still alive and his eldest sister in danger, Gu Chenfeng rushed west toward the mountains.

• Huangfu Yun’s Soul Thorn Art failed against Gu Chenfeng’s Divine Sense, and Gu Chenfeng’s axe shattered Huangfu Yun’s protective barrier and grievously wounded him.
• Gu Chenfeng attacked Huangfu Yun again, but Black Dragon arrived and stopped the strike with a water-blue blade ray.
• Huangfu Yun ordered Black Dragon to kill Gu Chenfeng, and Black Dragon attacked with a powerful water-attribute blade strike.
• Big Bear emerged from the forest and engaged Black Dragon, holding the eight-star Source Core Realm expert in a fierce battle.
• Gu Chenfeng sensed his eldest sister’s Profound Baleful True Fire weakening and rushed toward the mountains to the west.

Gu Yanshuang was captured and gravely wounded after fighting off the attackers, who tried to force her into a blood pact by threatening Gu Chenfeng. As Zhang Ce moved to maim her, a mysterious figure arrived and pulled her away from the attack.

• Gu Yanshuang fought six opponents, killing three, before Xu Yun intervened and left her severely injured.
• Xu Yun tried to make Gu Yanshuang sign a blood pact and confess to colluding with the Barbarian Tribe, threatening Gu Chenfeng's life.
• Xu Yun revealed that Gu Chenfeng had left the Imperial Capital to rescue her and that Black Dragon had been sent to confront him.
• A distant roar and clash of powerful auras suggested something had gone wrong with the operation, but Zhang Ce pinned Gu Yanshuang down and threatened to cut off her arm.
• A spinning battle-axe struck Zhang Ce's saber, and another figure appeared beside Gu Yanshuang after she was moved away.

Gu Chenfeng arrived to rescue his gravely wounded sister Gu Yanshuang and faced the four enemies pursuing her. After protecting her and refusing to retreat, he unleashed a Blood-Detonating Talisman and struck back, ending the chapter as he prepared another axe attack from the air.

• Gu Chenfeng found Gu Yanshuang badly wounded, sealed her acupoints, gave her pills, and placed her inside a defensive formation despite her protests.
• Gu Chenfeng told Gu Yanshuang to listen to him and approached Guest Elder Xu, Zhang Ce, and the other two enemies with the Mountain-Splitting Great Axe.
• Guest Elder Xu ordered Zhang Ce and the other two to capture Gu Chenfeng and cripple him, while he stayed behind to watch Gu Yanshuang.
• The Barbarian Tribe expert and Commander Chen attacked Gu Chenfeng together and drove him backward, but Gu Chenfeng activated a Blood-Detonating Talisman and forced them back with his Mountain-Splitting First Form.
• Gu Chenfeng leapt into the air and raised his blazing axe to unleash the Mountain-Splitting Second Form, River-Cutting.

Gu Chenfeng used four Blood-Detonating Talismans to overwhelm Zhang Ce and his two allies, killing the Barbarian Tribe expert and Commander Chen. Guest Elder Xu saved Zhang Ce from Gu Chenfeng’s final strike and then attacked Gu Chenfeng himself.

• Gu Chenfeng fought Zhang Ce, the Barbarian Tribe expert, and Commander Chen, while Gu Yanshuang watched from inside the formation barrier.
• Zhang Ce warned the others that Gu Chenfeng’s Blood-Detonating Talismans would eventually leave him weakened.
• Gu Chenfeng activated two more Blood-Detonating Talismans and unleashed a stronger barrage of axe strikes.
• Gu Chenfeng killed the Barbarian Tribe expert and Commander Chen, then broke through Zhang Ce’s defenses and nearly killed him.
• Guest Elder Xu intervened, blocked Gu Chenfeng’s axe strike, ordered Zhang Ce to watch over Gu Yanshuang, and charged at Gu Chenfeng.

Gu Chenfeng was overwhelmed by Guest Elder Xu’s Nine-Star Source Core Realm attacks, while Gu Yanshuang struggled to reach him past Zhang Ce. As his axe phantom neared collapse, Gu Chenfeng detonated three more Blood-Detonating Talismans, unleashing a savage aura that restored the phantom and held the sword torrent in a stalemate.

• Guest Elder Xu battered Gu Chenfeng with sword light, but Gu Chenfeng endured with only superficial wounds despite being suppressed.
• Guest Elder Xu projected his source core and unleashed Azure Edge Turns to Rain, driving Gu Chenfeng backward with a torrent of sword light.
• Gu Yanshuang broke free of the defensive formation and rushed to help Gu Chenfeng, but Zhang Ce intercepted her and fought her off.
• Guest Elder Xu’s sword torrent shattered Gu Chenfeng’s Flow-Severing Form and threatened to engulf him.
• Gu Chenfeng detonated three more Blood-Detonating Talismans, enduring immense pain as a frenzied aura enveloped him.
• The blood-red light restored and enlarged Gu Chenfeng’s axe phantom, allowing it to hold Guest Elder Xu’s sword torrent at bay.

Gu Chenfeng used seven Blood-Detonating Talismans to overpower Xu Yun, but the backlash left him gravely weakened. Just as Xu Yun’s golden defense repelled Gu Chenfeng’s finishing blow, a middle-aged man in gray appeared, and Gu Yanshuang recognized him as the Grand Commander.

• Gu Chenfeng and Xu Yun clashed in a fierce battle while Gu Yanshuang struggled against Zhang Ce, hoping to reach Gu Chenfeng.
• Gu Chenfeng struck Xu Yun with a concentrated Spiritual Power attack, then wounded him deeply with the Mountain-Splitting Great Axe.
• As Gu Chenfeng charged at the injured Xu Yun for a final strike, a thin golden barrier repelled the axe and sent Gu Chenfeng flying.
• Gu Yanshuang broke past Zhang Ce and rushed to help the bloodied Gu Chenfeng.
• A middle-aged man in gray descended from the mountain, rebuked Xu Yun, and was greeted by Gu Yanshuang as the Grand Commander.

Gu Yanshuang and Gu Chenfeng confronted Qin Yi, who had agreed to kill them for the Huangfu Lineage. After Gu Chenfeng saved his sister from Qin Yi’s first attack, Qin Yi prepared a second strike as the siblings faced death, while Gu Chenfeng’s other body called on the black mist inside the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins for help.

• Gu Yanshuang recognized Qin Yi as her former mentor and learned he had promised the Huangfu Lineage to act against the Gu siblings.
• Qin Yi rejected Gu Yanshuang’s plea to spare Gu Chenfeng and attacked them with a golden arrow empowered by his Source Spirit Realm strength.
• Gu Chenfeng and Gu Yanshuang joined forces to attack Qin Yi, but his arrow overwhelmed their techniques and injured them.
• Gu Chenfeng used a Spiritual Power attack and the Blood Shadow Illusory Body Steps to save Gu Yanshuang, taking the brunt of Qin Yi’s strike and losing his ability to fight.
• Qin Yi summoned another golden arrow as Gu Yanshuang held the fainting Gu Chenfeng and promised to protect him; Gu Chenfeng joked that he had not married yet.
• Gu Chenfeng’s other body appeared at the edge of the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins and challenged the black mist to prove its fighting ability.

Gu Beiwu arrived as a Source Manifestation Realm Grandmaster and protected Gu Chenfeng and Gu Yanshuang from Qin Yi’s attack. He condemned Qin Yi for abusing his authority and letting the Barbarian Tribe ravage Great Li, then gave him three moves before passing judgment.

• Qin Yi unleashed a devastating attack on Gu Chenfeng and Gu Yanshuang, but a cyan barrier shielded them and healed their wounds.
• Gu Yanshuang recognized the aura within the barrier and told Gu Chenfeng that their enemies were finished.
• Gu Beiwu arrived in the sky, revealing himself as a Grandmaster and shocking Qin Yi, Xu Yun, and Zhang Ce.
• Gu Yanshuang joyfully greeted her grandfather, and Gu Beiwu comforted her and Gu Chenfeng before confronting Qin Yi.
• Qin Yi explained that he had come to repay a life-saving debt to the Huangfu Lineage, but Gu Beiwu condemned his abuse of authority and granted him three moves as his final chance.

Qin Yi launched three increasingly powerful archery techniques at Gu Beiwu, but none could penetrate the Grandmaster’s protective Source Qi. After Gu Beiwu promised to spare Qin Yi’s family, he killed Qin Yi with a single finger.

• Qin Yi summoned Falling Star and fired Golden Rainbow Pierces the Sun at Gu Beiwu, but the arrow shattered against his protective Source Qi.
• Qin Yi used Heavenly Net to attack Gu Beiwu from every direction, but all seven arrows dissolved against the same barrier.
• Qin Yi burned his source power and blood essence to unleash Nine-Armed Divine Crossbow, Ten Thousand Arrows Fired Together, yet the torrent of arrows could not touch Gu Beiwu.
• Qin Yi collapsed from exhaustion and asked Gu Beiwu to spare his wife, children, and elders.
• Gu Beiwu agreed to protect Qin Yi’s family, then pierced Qin Yi’s brow with an invisible force and killed him.

Gu Beiwu saved Gu Chenfeng and Gu Yanshuang, then taught Gu Chenfeng the first level of the Nameless Formula, which triggered a rapid transformation of his body. He left the Blood Tiger Guard to protect the siblings and flew toward the Imperial Capital.

• Gu Beiwu killed Qin Yi with a single finger and healed Gu Yanshuang, while dismissing Gu Chenfeng's injuries as survivable.
• Gu Chenfeng realized that Gu Beiwu's voice had taught him the Nameless Formula in the Ice Soul Illusion Heart Lotus's illusion.
• Gu Beiwu passed the first level of the cultivation method to Gu Chenfeng, who used it to draw power from heaven and earth and rapidly transform his body.
• Gu Yanshuang asked about the remaining enemies, and Gu Beiwu said they had already been dealt with.
• The Blood Tiger Guard reported that all enemies had been executed, and Gu Beiwu ordered them to protect Gu Chenfeng and Gu Yanshuang before flying toward the Imperial Capital.

During the Late Emperor’s memorial ceremony, Yan Chang accused Gu Lingxiao of colluding with the Barbarian Tribe, but Emperor Xuan sealed the evidence and postponed action. An urgent report then revealed that Gu Yanshuang had allegedly joined Barbarian Tribe rebels in an attack near the Imperial Capital.

• At Dragon Ascension Hall, Yan Chang interrupted the memorial ceremony and accused Gu Lingxiao of plotting with the Barbarian Tribe, presenting a jade slip as evidence.
• Ouyang De and Huang Quan denounced Yan Chang’s accusation, while Zhang Yancheng and other ministers called for the letter to be investigated.
• Emperor Xuan ordered the jade slip sealed and said he would investigate after the ceremony, frustrating ministers aligned with the Gu Lineage.
• An Imperial Guard delivered Qin Yi’s urgent report that Gu Yanshuang and Barbarian Tribe rebels had tried to attack the Imperial Capital and free imprisoned Barbarian experts.
• Qin Yi discovered the plot and personally fought the rebels.

After Qin Yi reported that Gu Lingxiao had colluded with the Barbarian Tribe to free a prisoner, Huangfu Hong urged Emperor Xuan to strip the Gu Lineage of its power while preserving its reputation. Emperor Xuan ordered Qin Yi to bring Gu Yanshuang back alive, but Qin Yi’s corpse appeared in the hall, and an unseen speaker announced that the criminal had already been executed.

• Qin Yi sent an urgent report accusing Gu Lingxiao of colluding with the Barbarian Tribe and freeing a prisoner.
• Huangfu Hong claimed the crisis was a Barbarian Tribe plot and recommended relieving Gu Lingxiao of his post and confining him in the Imperial Capital.
• Officials of the Gu Lineage Faction objected, and Emperor Xuan ordered Qin Yi to bring Gu Yanshuang back alive for questioning.
• Qin Yi’s corpse was thrown into Dragon Ascension Hall, shocking Emperor Xuan and the assembled officials.
• An unseen speaker announced that the criminal had already been executed.

Gu Beiwu appeared alive at the imperial ceremony, admitted to killing Grand Commander Qin Yi, and announced that he would execute the treacherous villains despite the court’s objections. After offering incense, he asked the Founding Emperor and the Late Emperor for the divine weapon, and the Human Emperor Sword emerged from the underground palace.

• Gu Beiwu entered Dragon Ascension Hall, stunning the court and alarming Huangfu Hong and his faction.
• Emperor Xuan welcomed Gu Beiwu and helped him rise, and Gu Beiwu admitted that he had killed Qin Yi to protect his descendants.
• Gu Beiwu clarified that he pleaded guilty to affronting the emperor and overstepping his authority, then declared his intent to execute the chief culprits.
• Huangfu Hong and other officials accused Gu Beiwu of defying imperial authority, while Emperor Xuan urged him to wait for an investigation.
• Gu Beiwu offered incense and asked the Founding Emperor and the Late Emperor for the divine weapon, and the Human Emperor Sword flew out of the underground palace.

Gu Beiwu reunited with Gu Yanshuang and Gu Chenfeng over dinner after returning from the Imperial Palace, where he had used the Human Emperor Sword to execute corrupt officials. As Gu Beiwu and Gu Chenfeng drank, Gu Beiwu suddenly questioned whether his grandson was really who he claimed to be.

• Gu Beiwu, Gu Yanshuang, and Gu Chenfeng shared a lavish reunion dinner at the Gu Residence.
• Gu Yanshuang recalled that Gu Beiwu had beheaded dozens of officials in Dragon Ascension Hall and crippled Huangfu Yun before leaving the palace.
• Gu Yanshuang concluded that the Gu Lineage would remain powerful while the Huangfu Lineage had suffered a major blow.
• Gu Beiwu taught Gu Chenfeng his forceful version of the sages’ rules, and Gu Chenfeng declared that his own rules were the rules.
• After Gu Yanshuang left and the two men continued drinking, Gu Beiwu asked Gu Chenfeng whether he was really his eldest grandson.

Gu Beiwu discovered Gu Chenfeng’s rapid cultivation and warned him that his talent had attracted suspicion in the Imperial Capital. After Gu Chenfeng advanced with the Azure Dragon Transformation, Gu Beiwu planned to move him somewhere safer and promised to explain the technique’s origins after he reached its third level.

• Gu Chenfeng reassured Gu Beiwu that he was still his grandson, and Gu Beiwu praised his hidden martial and literary talent while warning that powerful figures might suspect him.
• Gu Chenfeng told Gu Beiwu about Gu Lingxiao’s recent actions, and Gu Beiwu angrily condemned his son and revealed that his supposed seclusion had been a deliberate scheme to lure out enemies of the Gu Lineage.
• Gu Beiwu asked about the Nameless Formula, and Gu Chenfeng circulated it, healing most of his injuries and advancing to the late Warrior Realm.
• Gu Beiwu named the cultivation method Azure Dragon Transformation, warned Gu Chenfeng to keep it secret, and promised to teach him its first three levels before revealing its origins.
• Gu Beiwu said the Imperial Capital was no longer safe for Gu Chenfeng and left to visit old acquaintances, promising to find him a safer place to cultivate.

Emperor Xuan considered the court’s reaction to Gu Beiwu’s actions and learned how formidable the Chancellor was, while Huangfu Hong vowed to seek the Azure Sky Sect’s help for Huangfu Yun. At the Gu Lineage’s mineral vein, Gu Beiwu confronted three sect elders and the Female Imperial Preceptor over a treasure merged into the Illusory Heart Lotus, then struck the Sacred Fire Sect’s Supreme Elder when he demanded it.

• Emperor Xuan told Hongxi that the Huangfu Lineage had crossed his limits, then asked him to assess Gu Beiwu’s strength.
• Hongxi said he had less than a one-in-ten chance against Gu Beiwu and believed only the Sea-Calming King could match him if the Azure Sky Sect stayed out of the matter.
• Huangfu Hong told Huangfu Yun that he had sought the Azure Sky Sect’s help and planned to send him there to recover and cultivate.
• Gu Beiwu met the Supreme Elders of the Tianxuan Sword Sect, Sacred Fire Sect, and Gu God Sect, along with the Female Imperial Preceptor, at the mineral vein.
• Gu Beiwu said the treasure had been merged into the Illusory Heart Lotus and declared that both belonged to the Gu Lineage.
• When the Sacred Fire Sect’s Supreme Elder demanded the treasure, Gu Beiwu blasted him backward and challenged the three sect elders to attack together.

A Barbarian Tribe prince planned to reclaim southern Yan Province while Gu Chenfeng advanced his cultivation and learned that Gu Beiwu had been censured but placed on paid leave. After Su Wanyue and Shangguan Bingxin announced they were leaving the Imperial Capital, Gu Beiwu startled Gu Chenfeng by saying he was sending him away.

• A Barbarian Tribe general reported that the mission involving the Huangfu Lineage had failed after Gu Beiwu emerged from seclusion and killed their agents in the Imperial Capital.
• The Barbarian Tribe prince said his father was seeking support from major Yan Province sects and that he intended to earn merit toward becoming the tribe's heir.
• Gu Chenfeng advanced to eight-star Source Sea Realm, became a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, and learned that Emperor Xuan had suspended Gu Beiwu and confined him to his residence for a month.
• Gu Beiwu accepted the censure cheerfully, spent his leave guiding Gu Chenfeng and Gu Yanshuang, and occasionally urged Gu Chenfeng to find a place to cultivate outside the Imperial Capital.
• Su Wanyue and Shangguan Bingxin told Gu Chenfeng they would soon return to their sects, and the three shared a farewell dinner.
• When Gu Chenfeng returned to the Gu residence, Gu Beiwu told him he was sending him away, shocking him.

Gu Chenfeng learned that Gu Beiwu had arranged for him to serve at the Northern Territory Border Pass, supposedly as punishment but mainly to shield him from political enemies. As he prepared to leave the Imperial Capital, he bid farewell to friends and visited Liu Fuyan, whose farewell invitation left him uneasy.

• Gu Beiwu told Gu Chenfeng that a secret decree required him to join the army at the Northern Territory Border Pass in three days, and Gu Chenfeng reluctantly agreed.
• Gu Chenfeng saw Su Wanyue and Shangguan Bingxin off, reminding them of their agreement to pursue a Thousand-Year Spirit Medicine together in a year.
• Gu Chenfeng returned to the Imperial Capital and disguised himself as Alchemist Ge Hong to visit Liu Fuyan at the Myriad Treasures House.
• Liu Fuyan, newly promoted to head of the Imperial Capital's Myriad Treasures House, promised to keep Ge Hong's Chief Alchemist position open while he was away.
• Liu Fuyan invited Gu Chenfeng to share wine and conversation before his departure, and he accepted despite feeling uneasy.

Liu Fuyan confessed her feelings to Gu Chenfeng while they shared a private dinner, but he rejected her advances to protect his Ge Hong disguise. When she revealed she had also invited the Gu family's third young master, Gu Chenfeng worried their identities would be exposed, and he drank a final cup of wine without noticing its unusual taste.

• Liu Fuyan toasted Gu Chenfeng and grew tipsy as they dined together in her private quarters.
• Liu Fuyan asked about Gu Chenfeng's family and marriage, then hinted that she admired him and wanted to be with him.
• Gu Chenfeng realized Liu Fuyan had fallen for his Ge Hong identity and evaded her confession to avoid exposing his disguise.
• Liu Fuyan revealed she had invited the Gu family's third young master, leaving Gu Chenfeng anxious that she would discover he was both men.
• Liu Fuyan poured a final cup of wine for Gu Chenfeng, who drank it without detecting its unusual taste.