Chapter Summaries

Chen Shi'an returned to Windrise Stronghold after helping Fu Nantian open the Martial Saint Treasury, then discussed Desolate Suppression City's demands and the Hundred Miasma Forest's relocation with Xiang Li. He proposed a cautious response to their enemies and suspected that Flowing Stone Stronghold would soon attack Blackwater Stronghold, possibly with Windrise Stronghold ordered to join in.

• Liu Qingyi pledged to follow Chen Shi'an after he declared his ambition to raise Windrise Stronghold from humble beginnings.
• Chen Shi'an presented Xiang Li with treasures and pills from the Martial Saint Treasury and showed him the Thunderclap Saber.
• Chen Shi'an advised Xiang Li to reinstate Song Yuan, Xiao Yi, and the others, then have the Three-Killing Battalion strip them of their followers and influence.
• Chen Shi'an told Xiang Li that Fu Nantian and the Hundred Miasma Forest's people planned to settle in the Outer City, and that they would arrive in small groups to avoid drawing attention.
• Chen Shi'an warned that Flowing Stone Stronghold might soon attack Blackwater Stronghold and that Desolate Suppression City could demand Windrise Stronghold's cooperation.

Chen Shi'an discussed Hundred Miasma Forest joining the Outer City, rewarded Ye Xicheng with pills, and went to face Qianshan Xue over a past matter. The chapter ended with Qianshan Xue confronting him about avoiding responsibility.

• Xiang Li and Chen Shi'an agreed that Hundred Miasma Forest joining the Outer City would benefit them, and Xiang Li offered to help with the move.
• Xiang Li told Chen Shi'an that Qianshan Xue had received the Mysterious Edge Sword and an explanation, but Chen Shi'an decided to visit her himself.
• Chen Shi'an gave Ye Xicheng twenty Saint Origin Pills and twenty Blood-Activating Pills, urging him to focus on cultivation and reach the third grade.
• Guan Tiehua told Qianshan Xue that Chen Shi'an was at the Demon Hunting Camp, and Qianshan Xue agreed to proceed with their plan.
• Chen Shi'an entered Qianshan Xue's tent, dodged two female soldiers' sabers and deflected eight crossbow bolts, then apologized to Qianshan Xue.
• Qianshan Xue rebuked Chen Shi'an for having Xiang Li explain the matter for him, and Chen Shi'an said he had been occupied elsewhere.

Chen Shi'an accepted Qianshan Xue’s forgiveness and was kept at her camp for a meal that ended with him waking beside Fang Ruyu. He learned he had slept for three days and three nights, with Fang Ruyu at his side the whole time, and was told to see Commander Qian.

• Qianshan Xue forgave Chen Shi'an after he apologized and gave her six bottles of pills.
• Qianshan Xue had ten female soldiers apologize to Chen Shi'an with a prepared feast, and he stayed to drink despite trying to leave.
• Chen Shi'an passed out from the wine, and the soldiers carried him into the rear room.
• Chen Shi'an woke beside Fang Ruyu, both of them naked, and asked what had happened.
• Fang Ruyu told Chen Shi'an he had slept for three days and three nights and that Commander Qian wanted to see him.

Chen Shi'an learned that Qianshan Xue and Windrise Stronghold's leaders had arranged for Fang Ruyu to sleep with him to bind him to the stronghold, then ordered protection for her and gifts sent to her. Meanwhile, the Three-Killing Battalion dismantled Song Yuan and Xiao Yi's power, but Song Yuming mistook his family's apparent recovery for a real resurgence and marched toward the battalion seeking revenge.

• Qianshan Xue explained that the stronghold's leaders had arranged for Fang Ruyu to become Chen Shi'an's attachment to Windrise Stronghold, and Chen Shi'an left after she threatened to make him sleep with her again.
• Chen Shi'an recovered at the Three-Killing Battalion headquarters, ordered Iron Bull to watch Fang Ruyu for three months, and sent her four porcelain bottles.
• Song Yuan, Xiao Yi, and their allies celebrated their restored positions, unaware that the Three-Killing Battalion was moving against their forces.
• On Chen Shi'an's orders, the Three-Killing Battalion seized the remaining forces of Song Yuan and Xiao Yi, monitored them, and took control of their communications with Liu Mu.
• Song Yuming, encouraged by his father's apparent return to power, gathered more than a dozen followers and headed for the Three-Killing Battalion to avenge his humiliation, with Xu Yun accompanying him.

Song Yuming and his followers attacked the Three-Killing Battalion while relying on Desolate Suppression City's backing, and Chen Shi'an's men let them proceed as ordered. Song Yuming turned on Windrise Stronghold's protesting residents, and Xu Yun's group charged toward them as the crowd began to retreat.

• Song Yuming led his followers past the City Lord's Mansion and into the Three-Killing Battalion's garrison, where Chen Shi'an had ordered his men to let him in.
• Song Yuming demanded that Chen Shi'an appear, then ordered his followers to smash the garrison while the masked soldiers watched without intervening.
• Song Yuming mocked Chen Shi'an and the Three-Killing Battalion, prompting residents outside to condemn him as a traitor and lackey.
• Song Yuming left the garrison and claimed Desolate Suppression City would bring Windrise Stronghold prosperity under his father's leadership.
• When a resident called Song Yuming a dog, he ordered Xu Yun and his followers to beat a group of townspeople, and they charged toward the crowd.

Chen Shi'an confronted Song Yuming after the Three-Killing Battalion beat Song’s followers, then ordered their deaths instead of apologizing. The chapter ended with Xu Yun and the others slaughtered outside the Garrison.

• The Three-Killing Battalion rushed out of the Garrison and beat Song Yuming’s followers as the townspeople cheered.
• Song Yuming threatened the battalion, and Chen Shi'an appeared with Iron Bull, Du Gang, Pi Hou, and Zhu Neng.
• Chen Shi'an gauged the townspeople’s support and let Song Yuming demand a public apology.
• Chen Shi'an told Song Yuming and Xu Yun to train their eyes if they wanted to be dogs again in their next lives.
• Pi Hou signaled the Three-Killing Battalion to draw their sabers, and they slaughtered Xu Yun and the others.

Chen Shi'an used the Three-Killing Battalion to crush Song Yuming and Song Yuan's influence in Windrise Stronghold, winning the townspeople's support. After learning that the people from Hundred Miasma Forest had arrived, he was summoned by Cui Zhu, who said she and the Pavilion Master were leaving soon.

• Chen Shi'an ordered the Three-Killing Battalion to kill Xu Yun and his followers, then had Song Yuming beaten and taken to the Grand Square.
• Chen Shi'an declared that the Three-Killing Battalion would defend Windrise Stronghold, while the townspeople cheered and the corpses of Xu Yun's group and the still-living Song Yuming were displayed as traitors.
• Song Yuan threatened Chen Shi'an, but Pi Hou shot Song Yuming dead, and Three-Killing Battalion guards beat Song Yuan and sent him back to the Song Family.
• Chen Shi'an learned that Fu Nantian, Fu Qianfan, Fu Yingying, and the others from Hundred Miasma Forest had arrived in the Outer City and planned to visit them with Xiang Li.
• Cui Zhu invited Chen Shi'an to Hundred Flowers Pavilion on the Pavilion Master's orders and explained that she and the Pavilion Master would leave Windrise Stronghold after their meeting.

Chen Shi'an saw Tao Yaoyao off after she left Windrise Stronghold, while Xiang Li and Fu Nantian agreed to make their groups allies. Tao Yaoyao asked Chen Shi'an to speak with her privately beside the road.

• Cui Zhu told Chen Shi'an that Ye Xicheng had visited her and that she had let go of her feelings for him.
• Xiang Li apologized to Fu Nantian for Windrise Stronghold's past persecution of Azure Sun Stronghold, and they agreed to become allies.
• Chen Shi'an asked Iron Bull to help the people from Hundred Miasma Forest settle into the Outer City.
• Tao Yaoyao admitted to Cui Zhu that Chen Shi'an had come to occupy a place in her heart, though she believed he would not visit her.
• Chen Shi'an rode after Tao Yaoyao's departing carriage, apologized for arriving late, and followed her aside for a private conversation.

Tao Yaoyao warned Chen Shi'an that Desolate Suppression City planned to use Flowing Stone Stronghold to absorb the surrounding strongholds, putting Windrise Stronghold in grave danger. After Tao Yaoyao departed, Chen Shi'an stayed determined to face the crisis and headed for Flowing Stone Stronghold.

• Chen Shi'an asked Tao Yaoyao why she was leaving Windrise Stronghold, and she explained that headquarters had ordered her departure while promising their cooperation would continue.
• Tao Yaoyao warned Chen Shi'an that antagonizing Desolate Suppression City was dangerous and urged him to consider joining the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
• Tao Yaoyao revealed that Desolate Suppression City planned to back a stronghold to absorb the region and that Flowing Stone Stronghold was the likely choice.
• Chen Shi'an refused to abandon Windrise Stronghold, saying he would take things one step at a time despite the danger.
• Tao Yaoyao departed after Chen Shi'an gave her a farewell poem, and Chen Shi'an headed toward Flowing Stone Stronghold.

Chen Shi'an met Gu Qingyao in Flowing Stone Stronghold and gave her the Sacred Arm Dragon Fist, then learned that Desolate Suppression City was pressuring her father to pledge allegiance while Wu Dongchuang backed her claim to power. Gu Qingyao wanted to protect both her father and the stronghold, but Chen Shi'an pointed out that her obligations and limited influence left her facing a formidable choice.

• Chen Shi'an used a black token to arrange a meeting with Gu Qingyao in Flowing Stone Stronghold.
• Chen Shi'an gave Gu Qingyao the Sacred Arm Dragon Fist, explaining that he had chosen it from Bai Qitian's Daoist Field.
• Gu Qingyao told Chen Shi'an that Liu Mu was urging her father to pledge Flowing Stone Stronghold's allegiance to Desolate Suppression City, though her father was stalling.
• Gu Qingyao said Wu Tian had secretly offered Wu Dongchuang's support for her to take charge of Flowing Stone Stronghold.
• Gu Qingyao said she wanted to save both her father and the stronghold, and Chen Shi'an warned that she could not avoid repaying Wu Dongchuang or Qiu Shuang.

Chen Shi'an urged Gu Qingyao to take charge of Flowing Stone Stronghold so it could ally with Windrise Stronghold against Desolate Suppression City's plans. Gu Qingyao brought him to meet her father, Gu Xiaotian, who responded to Chen Shi'an's defiance with anger.

• Gu Qingyao asked Chen Shi'an to help Flowing Stone Stronghold, and he said she first had to decide whether to take charge of it.
• Chen Shi'an explained that Flowing Stone Stronghold and Windrise Stronghold could exploit Desolate Suppression City's internal divisions and form an alliance to buy time for their development.
• Gu Qingyao told Chen Shi'an that her father planned to attack Blackwater Stronghold and that Liu Mu would pressure Windrise Stronghold to join in.
• Chen Shi'an urged Gu Qingyao to take her father's position before the attack, and she agreed to arrange a meeting with him.
• The following night, Gu Qingyao introduced Chen Shi'an to her father, Gu Xiaotian, who threatened him after Chen Shi'an said Flowing Stone Stronghold could not seize him.

Chen Shi'an demonstrated his superior cultivation to Gu Xiaotian and proposed that Gu Qingyao take over Flowing Stone Stronghold to exploit divisions in Desolate Suppression City. When Gu Xiaotian explained that Zhang Qingfeng's strength made the plan difficult, Chen Shi'an suggested Huang Dao could be involved in killing him.

• Chen Shi'an stopped Gu Xiaotian's attack and revealed that he had reached third grade perfection before the age of twenty.
• Chen Shi'an proposed that Gu Xiaotian relinquish his position to Gu Qingyao so Flowing Stone Stronghold could gain breathing room amid divisions in Desolate Suppression City.
• Gu Xiaotian explained that Zhang Qingfeng's fourth grade late stage cultivation made it unlikely that Wu Tian could stir up infighting.
• Chen Shi'an said Zhang Qingfeng had to die, but none of the three strongholds should kill him themselves.
• Chen Shi'an asked whether Gu Xiaotian had heard of Huang Dao, and Gu Xiaotian angrily recalled that Huang Dao had swindled Flowing Stone Stronghold out of pills and silver.

Chen Shi'an and Gu Xiaotian agreed to provoke Zhang Qingfeng into threatening Huang Dao, hoping to lure the elusive killer into attacking him. After Zhang Qingfeng made the threat, Chen Shi'an left Flowing Stone Stronghold and resumed hunting demons with Mo Wuyang, insisting they find a Fire-Tailed Fox for Ye Zhengxiong.

• Chen Shi'an persuaded Gu Xiaotian and Gu Qingyao to use Zhang Qingfeng's arrogance to provoke Huang Dao into appearing.
• Gu Qingyao told Chen Shi'an she was glad she had pledged loyalty to him, and he sent her away to plan against Zhang Qingfeng.
• Flowing Stone Stronghold declared Huang Dao wanted and searched for him, while rumors portrayed him as unbeatable.
• At a City Lord's banquet, Zhang Qingfeng vowed to capture Huang Dao and torture him to death.
• Chen Shi'an left Flowing Stone Stronghold that night, and Mo Wuyang later found him in a mountain forest and urged him to hunt another third-level Demon Beast.
• Chen Shi'an told Mo Wuyang to find a Fire-Tailed Fox first so he could fulfill his promise to Ye Zhengxiong.

Chen Shi'an and Mo Wuyang searched the Desolate Ruins for the Fire-Tailed Fox while Chen Shi'an refined demon cores and neared a breakthrough to fourth grade. Mo Wuyang led him to a valley where the fox was caught in a fight with three third-level demon beasts, and Chen Shi'an decided to face them.

• Chen Shi'an hunted demon beasts with Mo Wuyang, using the Saintly Dao Stele to refine their cores and advance to the brink of fourth grade.
• Chen Shi'an killed a large green snake and refined its demon core, but still fell short of breaking through.
• Mo Wuyang promised to find the Fire-Tailed Fox and led Chen Shi'an to a valley three hours later.
• Mo Wuyang revealed that the Fire-Tailed Fox was fighting three third-level demon beasts inside the valley.
• Chen Shi'an resolved to enter the valley, saying a cultivator seeking strength could not retreat at the first sign of danger.

Chen Shi'an and Mo Wuyang set a trap for three Ironback Wolves, using Mo Wuyang as bait so Chen Shi'an could strike their weak waists. Chen Shi'an killed one wolf, while Mo Wuyang went after the Fire-Tailed Fox and the remaining two wolves confronted Chen Shi'an.

• Chen Shi'an learned that three Ironback Wolves were pursuing a Fire-Tailed Fox and planned to separate them with Mo Wuyang's help.
• Mo Wuyang lured one Ironback Wolf toward Chen Shi'an, who hid in a tree and ambushed it with eight saber strikes to its waist before killing it.
• Mo Wuyang emerged, but Chen Shi'an told him to pursue the Fire-Tailed Fox while he dealt with the other wolves.
• The remaining two Ironback Wolves arrived, saw their companion's corpse, and faced Chen Shi'an, who kicked the dead wolf toward them.

Chen Shi'an killed three Ironback Wolves and a Fire-Tailed Fox, then kept the fox pelt to make a gift for someone from his past. He left the valley with Mo Wuyang after storing the carcasses and pelt in the Eerie Graveyard.

• Chen Shi'an killed two Ironback Wolves with his sabers and chased down the third, extracting all three Demon Cores.
• Chen Shi'an stored the Ironback Wolf carcasses in the Eerie Graveyard, surprising Mo Wuyang, then asked him to lead the way to the Fire-Tailed Fox.
• Mo Wuyang led Chen Shi'an to a hidden hole near the fox's den, where Chen Shi'an killed the Fire-Tailed Fox and extracted its Demon Core.
• Chen Shi'an kept the Fire-Tailed Fox's pelt, prepared it with Origin Force, and gave the remaining flesh and bones to Mo Wuyang.
• Chen Shi'an stored the pelt in the Eerie Graveyard, intending to make it a gift for a woman from his past.

Chen Shi'an refined three Ironback Wolf Demon Cores and broke through, then discussed the Eerie Graveyard inside the Saintly Dao Stele with Mo Wuyang before setting off for Flowing Stone Stronghold. There, Gu Qingyao trusted Chen Shi'an’s plan to bring Huang Dao, while acknowledging that his ambitions reached far beyond her and the strongholds.

• Chen Shi'an refined three Demon Cores, broke through, and roasted an Ironback Wolf for himself and Mo Wuyang.
• Mo Wuyang asked about the Eerie Graveyard, but Chen Shi'an failed to send him inside; they speculated that the Saintly Dao Stele was incomplete or Chen Shi'an could not yet control it.
• Chen Shi'an and Mo Wuyang decided to leave for Flowing Stone Stronghold after discussing the graveyard.
• Gu Xiaotian worried that Huang Dao had not responded to Chen Shi'an's plan, while Gu Qingyao urged him to wait longer because she trusted Chen Shi'an.
• Gu Xiaotian teased Gu Qingyao about her feelings for Chen Shi'an and proposed a match that could unite their strongholds, but she said Chen Shi'an's ambitions lay far beyond them.

Gu Qingyao persuaded Gu Xiaotian not to interfere with her feelings for Chen Shi'an, while Chen Shi'an entered Flowing Stone Stronghold disguised as Huang Dao and challenged Zhang Qingfeng to a duel. At Green Pine Ridge, Gu Xiaotian's party and a large crowd waited, but Huang Dao failed to appear by noon.

• Gu Qingyao told Gu Xiaotian not to interfere in her relationship with Chen Shi'an, and Gu Xiaotian said he would judge Chen Shi'an by whether Huang Dao could kill Zhang Qingfeng.
• Chen Shi'an entered the Outer City disguised beneath a bamboo hat, killed one thug, and forced another to spread Huang Dao's challenge to Zhang Qingfeng.
• Chen Shi'an announced that Zhang Qingfeng should meet him at Green Pine Ridge at noon the next day, then checked into an inn.
• News of Huang Dao's challenge spread through Flowing Stone Stronghold, and crowds gathered at Green Pine Ridge to witness the duel.
• Gu Xiaotian, Gu Qingyao, Zhang Qingfeng, and their companions arrived with Flowing Stone Stronghold's experts, but noon passed without Huang Dao appearing.

Zhang Qingfeng went alone to confront Huang Dao at Falling Geese Slope after dismissing warnings from Gu Xiaotian and Liu Mu. As the others waited at the Rest Pavilion, Gu Qingyao and Wu Tian speculated that Huang Dao might be powerful enough to kill Zhang Qingfeng.

• Zhang Qingfeng and Gu Xiaotian argued over the crowd accompanying them to Green Pine Ridge, with Zhang insisting he could handle Huang Dao alone.
• A scout found a challenge carved into a pine tree, directing Zhang Qingfeng to come alone to Falling Geese Slope ten li away.
• Zhang Qingfeng ignored Gu Xiaotian and Liu Mu's warnings and sped off to capture Huang Dao, while Liu Mu reassured the others that Zhang could protect himself.
• Gu Xiaotian and Gu Qingyao waited with Liu Mu at the Rest Pavilion as Gu Qingyao sent the gathered crowd away.
• Wu Tian asked whether Huang Dao might have killed Elder Ye, and he and Gu Qingyao discussed the possibility that Huang Dao could defeat Zhang Qingfeng.

Chen Shi'an lured Zhang Qingfeng to Falling Geese Slope and killed him after revealing that he had posed as Huang Dao. He left Zhang Qingfeng’s clothes bearing a warning for Desolate Suppression City, while Mo Wuyang had eaten the body.

• Zhang Qingfeng reached Falling Geese Slope, cursed Huang Dao, and smashed several trees when no one answered.
• Chen Shi'an approached disguised as Huang Dao, revealed his identity, and rejected Zhang Qingfeng’s offer to serve the Commander-in-Chief.
• Zhang Qingfeng attacked Chen Shi'an, but Chen Shi'an shattered his fingers with the Thunderclap Saber and slit his throat with the Windbreaker Saber.
• Mo Wuyang appeared, and Chen Shi'an searched Zhang Qingfeng’s belongings before asking Mo Wuyang to leave something behind as a message.
• After Mo Wuyang ate the corpse, Chen Shi'an hung Zhang Qingfeng’s clothes on a tree and carved a warning identifying the killer as Huang Dao.