Chapter Summaries

After securing rewards from Xiang Chuxiong, Chen Shi'an promised his subordinates armor and a fair path to obtain Marrow-Washing Pills through hard cultivation. He gave Zhu Neng ten pills to attempt Marrow-Washing, leaving the rest to compete under standards Chen Shi'an would later announce.

• Xiang Chuxiong agreed to provide Chen Shi'an fifty sets of Soft Porcupine Armor within three months and warned that Windrise Stronghold might soon battle Flowing Stone Stronghold over Blackwater Stronghold.
• Chen Shi'an visited Tian Wenguang, who praised him over tea but avoided giving him a reward.
• Chen Shi'an told his subordinates that Windrise Stronghold would provide twenty sets of Soft Porcupine Armor, while reminding them they would still owe the merit for their armor.
• Chen Shi'an announced that he would award twenty Marrow-Washing Pills to subordinates who demonstrated strong cultivation effort and determination.
• After dismissing the others, Chen Shi'an gave Zhu Neng ten Marrow-Washing Pills and said he would need to meet the same standards as the others if his attempt failed and he wanted more.

Chen Shi'an helped Zhu Neng complete marrow-washing and bone-tempering twice, then gave him Origin-Strength Pills to hasten his advance to Martial Dao entry-rank. Zhu Neng promised to keep his achievement secret and pledged his loyalty to Chen Shi'an.

• Zhu Neng claimed six Marrow-Washing Pills would be enough, and Chen Shi'an ordered him to begin taking them while he stood guard.
• Chen Shi'an gave Du Gang and Pi Hou Origin-Strength Pills and told them to attempt entry-rank breakthroughs immediately.
• After five pills, Zhu Neng completed marrow-washing and bone-tempering, and Chen Shi'an urged him to keep taking pills for another attempt.
• Zhu Neng underwent marrow-washing and bone-tempering a second time after taking the ninth pill, becoming the first in Windrise Stronghold to do so twice.
• Chen Shi'an told Zhu Neng to keep his achievement secret and gave him twenty Origin-Strength Pills to help him reach Martial Dao entry-rank.

Chen Shi'an gave Zhu Neng the Raging Tide Blade Technique and discussed his plans to deal with Fu Yingying, Bao Long, and Wang Tianye while building a force capable of taking a city. After Du Gang reached Martial Dao entry-rank, a woman surnamed Fang from Windrise Martial Academy came seeking Chen Shi'an, but he refused to meet her.

• Chen Shi'an gave Zhu Neng the Raging Tide Blade Technique and said Pi Hou and Du Gang would learn it too.
• Chen Shi'an told Mo Wuyang that he would wait before acting against Bao Long because Tian Wenguang and Fu Yingying's watchers made a rescue risky.
• Chen Shi'an said taking a city, rather than killing one particular person, was his goal, and he expected Pi Hou, Du Gang, and Zhu Neng to reach Martial Dao entry-rank soon.
• Du Gang reported that he had reached Martial Dao entry-rank and cultivated Origin Force, and Chen Shi'an gave him technique manuals to pass one to Pi Hou.
• Chen Shi'an refused to see a woman surnamed Fang from Windrise Martial Academy, even after she threatened to wait outside the City Guard Battalion gates.

Chen Shi'an learned that Hou Fang had been imprisoned by the City Guard Battalion on a rape charge and began seeking help to uncover the truth. He was left facing evidence that appeared conclusive, despite his certainty that Hou Fang was innocent.

• Hou Fang's mother told Chen Shi'an that the City Guard Battalion had arrested Hou Fang, and Chen promised to get him released.
• Chen Shi'an arranged for Zhu Neng to escort Hou Fang's mother home and find a female slave to care for her.
• Chen Shi'an rejected Fang Ruyu's invitation and told her to stop trying to rekindle their relationship.
• Chen Shi'an asked Qianshan Xue to investigate Hou Fang's arrest and asked Mo Wuyang to check on him in prison.
• Qianshan Xue reported that Hou Fang was charged with rape and that Xiang Li had verified the evidence and spoken with the victim, who had been romantically involved with Hou Fang.

Chen Shi'an suspected Wang Tianye had arranged for Hou Fang’s arrest and sought help finding the intelligence expert Iron Bull. Tao Yaoyao agreed to arrange Iron Bull’s release in exchange for a poem and first consideration when Chen Shi'an sold Demon Cores, while Chen Shi'an warned her that his remaining poems were limited.

• Chen Shi'an and Qianshan Xue suspected Hou Fang’s arrest was connected to his ties with Chen Shi'an, and Chen Shi'an decided to investigate the woman who accused him.
• Chen Shi'an asked Qianshan Xue about Iron Bull, who had once managed the Demon Hunting Team’s intelligence network and was serving a sentence in the Artisan Workshop.
• Chen Shi'an asked Qianshan Xue to watch over Hou Fang and try to get him out of the City Guard Battalion’s prison, then went to Hundred Flowers Pavilion to seek Tao Yaoyao’s help freeing Iron Bull.
• Tao Yaoyao agreed to arrange Iron Bull’s release that night in exchange for a poem and Chen Shi'an giving Hundred Flowers Pavilion first consideration when selling future Demon Cores.
• Chen Shi'an wrote Tao Yaoyao “Ode to the Early Sun,” and told her to cherish each poem because he had few left.

Chen Shi'an visited Iron Bull in the Artisan Workshop and tried to recruit him to gather intelligence, offering to help him avenge Commander Fu and restore his freedom. Iron Bull began weighing the offer, but revealed he had already taken eight Marrow-Washing Pills without reaching the next stage.

• Tao Yaoyao told Chen Shi'an that Iron Bull had refused to leave the Artisan Workshop.
• Chen Shi'an found Iron Bull working in the underground furnace chamber and offered to take him out to help gather intelligence.
• Iron Bull refused at first because Chen Shi'an served under Xiang Chuxiong, whom he blamed for Commander Fu's death.
• Chen Shi'an promised to help Iron Bull avenge Commander Fu, restore his freedom, and give him a higher position, and offered him a Marrow-Washing Pill.
• Iron Bull said Commander Fu had given him eight Marrow-Washing Pills over sixteen years, though he had never undergone marrow-washing and bone-tempering.

Chen Shi'an persuaded Iron Bull to leave the Artisan Workshop and join him, gaining access to Iron Bull’s hidden intelligence network. After Iron Bull identified Hou Fang’s accuser as Bai Shuang, Mo Wuyang reported that Hou Fang was badly injured but alive, and Chen Shi'an prepared to confront Wang Tianye.

• Chen Shi'an offered Iron Bull six Marrow-Washing Pills within a year and promised to help him deal with Xiang Chuxiong, and Iron Bull agreed to serve under him.
• Chen Shi'an settled Iron Bull in a secluded residence and asked him to investigate the woman who had accused Hou Fang.
• Iron Bull revealed that Fu Qingyang’s intelligence network had an inner network that Xiang Chuxiong had never discovered, and he placed it at Chen Shi'an’s disposal.
• Iron Bull’s spies identified the accuser as Bai Shuang, whom Hou Fang had planned to marry.
• Mo Wuyang told Chen Shi'an that Hou Fang had suffered several injuries but was still alive, and Chen Shi'an vowed that Wang Tianye would pay.

Chen Shi'an rescued Bai Shuang and her brother, then had Du Gang seize the City Guard Battalion men involved in Hou Fang's case. After the men were forced to write confessions, Qianshan Xue confirmed that Wang Tianye had fabricated charges against Hou Fang.

• Chen Shi'an took Bai Shuang and her brother to safety after she explained that she had been threatened into cooperating.
• Du Gang captured Jiang Daqing at a gambling house and seized City Guard Battalion men at several locations across Windrise Stronghold.
• Chen Shi'an, Qianshan Xue, and Ye Xicheng gathered with the captives in camp, where Du Gang demanded written confessions.
• When the men refused to write, Du Gang severed one man's arm and threatened the others until all six signed confessions.
• Chen Shi'an dried the confessions with Origin Force, and Qianshan Xue concluded that Wang Tianye had fabricated charges to frame Hou Fang.

Chen Shi'an decided to rescue Hou Fang from the City Guard Battalion's prison before Wang Tianye could harm him, despite the risk of sparking a major conflict. He left with his twenty-seven men, while Ye Xicheng and Qianshan Xue prepared for the consequences.

• Chen Shi'an rejected Ye Xicheng's plan to leave Hou Fang's fate to the City Lord and insisted on rescuing him immediately.
• Ye Xicheng agreed not to stop Chen Shi'an but limited the action to Chen Shi'an and his own men.
• Qianshan Xue offered to join Chen Shi'an, but he refused so the Demon Hunting Camp as a whole would not be implicated.
• Chen Shi'an's twenty-seven men assembled, and Pi Hou hurried to fetch his saber after learning they were going to rescue someone.
• Chen Shi'an ordered Zhu Neng to bring Jiang Daqing, the others, and Bai Shuang behind the group, then set off for the City Guard Battalion's prison.

Chen Shi'an led the Demon Hunting Camp in a direct assault on the City Guard Battalion compound, demanding that Hou Fang be released from prison. The compound’s defenders were overwhelmed, and Hu Wanli’s attempt to stop Chen Shi'an ended with his guards swiftly defeated.

• Chen Shi'an led his armed subordinates to the City Guard Battalion compound, where Pi Hou and Du Gang knocked down the four gate guards.
• The Demon Hunting Camp stormed the compound and fought through the City Guard Battalion soldiers while townspeople gathered outside.
• Hu Wanli arrived and confronted Chen Shi'an, who demanded that he bring Hou Fang out of prison in exchange for the Demon Hunting Camp’s departure.
• When Hu Wanli began to object, Pi Hou and Du Gang defeated the four guards who rushed to protect him.

Chen Shi'an forced Hu Wanli to let Du Gang retrieve the battered Hou Fang from the City Guard Battalion prison, then sent Hou Fang home for treatment. Chen Shi'an stayed behind, claiming he would settle the matter and protect Hu Wanli from Wang Tianye's blame.

• Pi Hou stopped his attack on Hu Wanli at Chen Shi'an's command, while Du Gang went to the prison to retrieve Hou Fang.
• Du Gang returned with the badly injured Hou Fang, and Chen Shi'an told him his mother was waiting at home.
• Chen Shi'an arranged a carriage and persuaded Hou Fang to leave, promising to visit him that night.
• Chen Shi'an had Hu Wanli order his guards to retreat, then argued that he had not broken his word because his men, rather than Hu Wanli, had brought Hou Fang out.
• Chen Shi'an said he would stay to settle the matter and asked Hu Wanli to bring him a chair while they waited for Wang Tianye.

Chen Shi'an confronted City Guard Battalion Commander Wang Tianye over his abuses and forced him to attack first. Chen overwhelmed Wang in their opening exchange and revealed he had known Wang was hiding his cultivation, leaving Wang shocked and on the defensive.

• Chen Shi'an waited outside the City Guard Battalion compound with Du Gang, Pi Hou, and Demon Hunting Camp men until Wang Tianye arrived.
• Chen Shi'an accused Wang of oppressing innocent people and presented records of his crimes, but Wang shredded them and denied the charges.
• Chen Shi'an provoked Wang into striking first, then dodged Wang's Cold Saber and countered with the Windbreaker Saber.
• Wang unleashed his concealed third grade perfection strength, but Chen met his attack with only second grade middle stage strength and forced him to stagger back.
• Chen Shi'an told Wang he had known about Wang's concealed cultivation and that it made no difference against him.

Chen Shi'an killed Wang Tianye with a single strike, then allowed the crowd to vent their grievances against the dying commander. The Demon Hunting Camp arrived as Wang Tianye's body lay in the street.

• Chen Shi'an defeated Wang Tianye with Leveling Mountain, leaving him mortally wounded.
• Pi Hou stopped one of Wang Tianye's subordinates from reaching him and revealed that he was a Ranked Martial Artist.
• Chen Shi'an rejected Wang Tianye's pleas for help and invited the crowd to avenge themselves.
• The crowd spat on Wang Tianye and threw shoes at him until he died, then continued to curse his corpse.
• Ye Xicheng and Qianshan Xue arrived with the Demon Hunting Camp and saw Wang Tianye's body.

Chen Shi'an defended killing Wang Tianye by presenting evidence of his crimes and testimony from the people, while Xiang Chuxiong investigated the incident. The group then entered the City Guard Battalion compound, where Xiang Chuxiong questioned how Chen Shi'an's small force had injured so many guards.

• Xiang Chuxiong arrived at the City Guard Battalion and ordered his guards to detain civilians who had insulted Wang Tianye, but Chen Shi'an admitted his own actions and described Wang Tianye's crimes.
• Chen Shi'an gave Xiang Chuxiong signed confessions from Jiang Daqing and others, while Bai Shuang admitted that Wang Tianye had forced her to frame Hou Fang.
• After Xiang Chuxiong invited witnesses to speak, the civilians testified that Wang Tianye had attacked Chen Shi'an first and defended Chen Shi'an's actions.
• Xiang Chuxiong dismissed the crowd and entered the City Guard Battalion compound with Chen Shi'an, Ye Xicheng, and Qianshan Xue.
• Xiang Chuxiong saw Hu Wanli and the other guards covered in bandages, and Chen Shi'an admitted that he had struck them too hard while rescuing the prisoners.
• Hu Wanli told Xiang Chuxiong that Chen Shi'an's small force had two Ranked Martial Artists under its command.

After Chen Shi'an killed Wang Tianye, Xiang Chuxiong lightly punished him and privately revealed that Wang Tianye had been part of a larger plan. Xiang told Chen Shi'an that he would have to take over Wang Tianye's role.

• Pi Hou and Du Gang revealed that they had attained Martial Dao entry-rank, and Xiang Chuxiong promoted them to squad leaders under Chen Shi'an.
• Xiang Chuxiong ordered Chen Shi'an to pay for the City Guard Battalion soldiers' treatment and confined him to the Demon Hunting Camp for one month.
• Xiang Chuxiong appointed Hu Wanli acting commander of the City Guard Battalion after Wang Tianye's death.
• Xiang Chuxiong took Chen Shi'an to the City Lord's Mansion and disclosed that Wang Tianye had secretly reached Third Grade Perfection and had been acting as part of Xiang's plan.
• Xiang Chuxiong told Chen Shi'an that the plan would continue and that Chen would take over what Wang Tianye had been meant to do.

Xiang Chuxiong told Chen Shi'an about a Martial Saint Treasury and argued that Elder Tian would seize control of Windrise Stronghold if his lifespan were extended. He proposed that they eliminate Elder Tian and divide the treasury, but Chen Shi'an remained hesitant.

• Xiang Chuxiong offered Chen Shi'an Bishan Little Dragon Robe and revealed clues to a Martial Saint Treasury filled with cultivation treasures.
• Xiang Chuxiong explained that Elder Tian had to enter the treasury first and would likely hoard its treasures, then warned that he would reclaim control of the Stronghold if his life were extended.
• Chen Shi'an said he wanted to attain sainthood in the Martial Dao and asked how they could obtain the treasury's treasures.
• Xiang Chuxiong asked whether Chen Shi'an would dare eliminate Elder Tian, and Chen Shi'an froze at the proposal.
• Xiang Chuxiong revealed that he had reached the fourth grade middle stage and proposed that they join forces against Elder Tian, promising to divide the treasury and rule Windrise Stronghold together.

Chen Shi'an accepted Xiang Chuxiong’s offer to help seize the Martial Saint Treasury, while secretly deciding to weaken Xiang before moving against Tian Wenguang. He left the City Lord’s Mansion and reassured Hou Fang’s family that Hou Fang would likely be promoted after recovering.

• Chen Shi'an agreed to Xiang Chuxiong’s plan after learning that Fu Nantian knew the location of the Martial Saint Treasury’s key.
• Xiang Chuxiong explained that Tian Wenguang might gain more years of life from the doubled rewards Chen Shi'an earned by placing fourth at the Gathering of Heroes.
• Chen Shi'an resolved to weaken Xiang Chuxiong before covertly eliminating Tian Wenguang, then told Xiang he was ready to act when summoned.
• After leaving the City Lord’s Mansion, Chen Shi'an visited Hou Fang, where Hou Fang told him Hu Wanli had brought gifts and hinted at a promotion.
• Chen Shi'an advised Hou Fang to recover before returning to the City Guard Battalion and predicted he would likely become a Centurion or Thousand-Man Commander.

Chen Shi'an secured approval to expand his Demon Hunting Camp forces to sixty men and gave Iron Bull five Marrow-Washing Pills. He asked Iron Bull to find former Demon Hunting Camp members driven out during the power struggle so he could arrange their return, and Iron Bull promised to gather them within three days.

• Chen Shi'an visited Hou Fang and Bai Shuang's family and felt relieved to see their warm relationship.
• Chen Shi'an asked Ye Xicheng to approve expanding his forces, and after Xiang Chuxiong's approval, Ye Xicheng authorized recruitment up to sixty men.
• Chen Shi'an praised Iron Bull for handling the matter with Wang Tianye and gave him five Marrow-Washing Pills.
• Chen Shi'an promised Iron Bull he could return openly to the Demon Hunting Camp and asked him to locate former members who had been driven out.
• Chen Shi'an said he would try to bring the former members back while they concealed their identities, and Iron Bull promised to gather them within three days.

Chen Shi'an formed three masked squads in the Demon Hunting Camp and secretly recruited veterans to strengthen them. When Ye Xicheng challenged him over exceeding his authorized headcount, Chen Shi'an offered to pay the extra wages, prompting Ye to question who the men would obey.

• Chen Shi'an ordered Pi Hou to commission three hundred iron masks and learned from Mo Wuyang that Tian Wenguang was behind Bao Long's approach to Fu Yingying.
• Chen Shi'an organized his men into the Ghost-Killing Squad, Tiger-Killing Squad, and Eagle Slaying Squad, led by Pi Hou, Lu Gang, and Zhu Neng.
• Chen Shi'an used the masked men coming and going from camp to conceal the arrival of forty-seven veterans recruited by Iron Bull.
• Chen Shi'an addressed the seventy-five squad members, ordering them to wear their masks and promising they would make their names known during Windrise Stronghold's coming upheaval.
• Chen Shi'an gave Ye Xicheng a roster showing twenty-five men in each squad and offered to pay for the fifteen beyond his authorized strength.
• Ye Xicheng asked Chen Shi'an whether the men would obey him or Chen Shi'an if Chen Shi'an paid their wages.

Chen Shi'an warned Ye Xicheng not to interfere with his plans, then agreed to Xiang Chuxiong's scheme to ambush Tian Wenguang in the Water Prison. As Xiang Chuxiong brought Tian Wenguang to meet the imprisoned Fu Nantian, Chen Shi'an's forces had already left Windrise Stronghold as part of the deception.

• Chen Shi'an told Ye Xicheng that he no longer needed Fire-Expelling Pills and warned him to stay out of his affairs.
• Xiang Chuxiong told Chen Shi'an that he would lure Tian Wenguang into the Water Prison and ambush him the night after next.
• Chen Shi'an left Windrise Stronghold with Zhu Neng and the Eagle Slaying Squad, while Qianshan Xue departed separately with three squads.
• Xiang Chuxiong led Tian Wenguang to the Water Prison, where Fu Nantian was imprisoned and had agreed to speak with him alone.
• Xiang Chuxiong dismissed the guards, sent Tian Wenguang's two men away, and unlocked Fu Nantian's cage.