Chapter Summaries

Chen Shi'an left a blood-written warning at Falling Geese Slope after killing Zhang Qingfeng, then returned to Windrise Stronghold as rumors about the mysterious Huang Dao spread. He met Iron Bull in a teahouse, where Iron Bull told him that major news had come from Flowing Stone Stronghold.

• Chen Shi'an joked with Mo Wuyang about Fang Ruyu possibly conceiving and said he would accept the responsibility if she became pregnant.
• Gu Xiaotian, Liu Mu, and the others found Zhang Qingfeng's bloodstained clothes and Huang Dao's writing at Falling Geese Slope, then ordered searches for him.
• Wu Tian doubted Zhang Qingfeng had survived, but Liu Mu insisted that the search continue until they found him or his body.
• News of Zhang Qingfeng's death spread to Windrise Stronghold, Blackwater Stronghold, and Desolate Suppression City, and rumors about Huang Dao eclipsed Chen Shi'an's fame.
• Chen Shi'an returned to Windrise Stronghold, heard the rumors about Huang Dao, and summoned Iron Bull to a teahouse, where Iron Bull said a major event had occurred at Flowing Stone Stronghold.

Chen Shi'an learned that Huang Dao had killed Zhang Qingfeng and told Iron Bull not to investigate the elusive killer further. After addressing the security risk caused by Fu Yingying’s repeated visits, Chen Shi'an went to the Four-Way Treasure Pavilion to sell demon cores.

• Iron Bull confirmed Zhang Qingfeng's death at Huang Dao's hands, and Chen Shi'an told him to stop investigating Huang Dao.
• Iron Bull reported that Fu Yingying kept visiting the Three-Killing Battalion and asking for Chen Shi'an, raising the risk of exposing Fu Nantian's relocation.
• Chen Shi'an decided to resolve the problem and went to Windrise Stronghold's Four-Way Treasure Pavilion.
• Zhang Gui welcomed Chen Shi'an and congratulated him on placing fourth in the Gathering of Heroes.
• Chen Shi'an showed Zhang Gui eight first-grade demon cores, impressing the shopkeeper with his unusually large haul.

Chen Shi'an sold demon cores to Zhang Gui and asked about alchemists in Desolate Suppression City. He then learned from Xiang Li that Gu Qingyao had taken over as City Lord of Flowing Stone Stronghold, creating a potential threat to Windrise Stronghold.

• Chen Shi'an negotiated a price of four Marrow-Washing Pills per Level One Demon Core and traded eight cores to Zhang Gui for twenty-two pills upfront, with ten more to be delivered to Liu Qingyi within half a month.
• Chen Shi'an asked Zhang Gui about alchemists in the Desolate Ruins and learned that Desolate Suppression City had many who refined Marrow-Washing Pills.
• Chen Shi'an went to the City Lord's Mansion, where Xiang Li complained that he was often absent from the Three-Killing Battalion.
• Chen Shi'an confronted Xiang Li about Fang Ruyu, but Xiang Li said he could not act because of opposition from others.
• Xiang Li told Chen Shi'an that Gu Xiaotian had handed the City Lord position of Flowing Stone Stronghold to his daughter, Gu Qingyao.
• Xiang Li suspected Wu Dongchuang had helped Gu Qingyao take power and warned that her ambition and methods could threaten Windrise Stronghold.

Chen Shi'an proposed expanding Windrise Stronghold into a major fortified city and explained how it could secure labor, management, and funding. He argued that Windrise Stronghold could finance the project by taking Blackwater Stronghold, whose leaders were dissatisfied with Fang Ao and his family.

• Chen Shi'an told Xiang Li that Gu Qingyao might seek Windrise Stronghold's help to resist Desolate Suppression City, though she could also target Windrise Stronghold.
• Chen Shi'an urged Xiang Li to enlarge and fortify Windrise Stronghold as its population grew, and proposed recruiting displaced people as laborers.
• Chen Shi'an suggested having Fu Nantian and Azure Sun Stronghold manage the displaced people, drawing on their experience.
• Chen Shi'an proposed taking Blackwater Stronghold to seize its wealth and resources and fund the construction.
• Chen Shi'an explained that Fang Ao's greed and the Fang family's control of Blackwater Stronghold's wealth had angered its people and higher-ups.
• Chen Shi'an revealed that Iron Bull had infiltrated Blackwater Stronghold's upper ranks and gathered intelligence.

Chen Shi'an proposed a covert plan to seize the Fang family's wealth in Blackwater Stronghold and introduced potatoes as a way to ease the food shortage. After Liu Qingyi reported her rapid cultivation progress, the chapter left Chen Shi'an preparing to deal with Blackwater Stronghold.

• Chen Shi'an told Xiang Li he planned to infiltrate Blackwater Stronghold with the Three-Killing Battalion, take the Fang family's wealth, and withdraw before Desolate Suppression City and Flowing Stone Stronghold could respond.
• Chen Shi'an showed Xiang Li potatoes and explained they were safe and abundant food, then roasted one and persuaded Xiang Li to try it.
• Chen Shi'an left the City Lord's Mansion after giving Xiang Li the potato-growing method and saying he would focus on Blackwater Stronghold.
• A Shadow-Killing Squad member reported that Fu Yingying had left the outer city for Windrise Stronghold.
• Liu Qingyi visited Chen Shi'an and told him she had advanced to late second grade after cultivating the Great Sun Heaven-Burning Palm.

Chen Shi'an enlisted Liu Qingyi's help with a scheme involving Fu Yingying, then staged an apparent assault on Liu to provoke Fu Yingying. Fu Yingying burst in, believed Chen Shi'an was abusing Liu, and denounced him as shameless.

• Chen Shi'an praised Liu Qingyi's rapid cultivation, gave her Marrow-Washing Pills to distribute to the Three-Killing Battalion, and said he planned to kill Fang Ao.
• Chen Shi'an asked Liu Qingyi to help with Fu Yingying, and Liu agreed after he explained his plan in private.
• A Ghost Mask guard brought Fu Yingying to a secluded courtyard, where she overheard Liu Qingyi pleading with Chen Shi'an to let her go.
• Chen Shi'an threatened Liu Qingyi, and a ripping sound and her scream prompted Fu Yingying to force open the door.
• Fu Yingying saw Liu Qingyi's torn clothes and Chen Shi'an pinning her down, then condemned Chen Shi'an and compared him unfavorably to Lu Chenyang.

Chen Shi'an drove Fu Yingying away with a staged scene, then devoted himself to mastering the Hundred Transformations Bone-Shedding Art. After twenty-four days of painful cultivation, he transformed into Pi Hou, and Liu Qingyi explained the technique’s history and why others had failed to master it.

• Chen Shi'an told Liu Qingyi that his harsh act toward Fu Yingying was meant to discourage her without rejecting her outright, and she warned him that Fu Yingying might see through it.
• Chen Shi'an spent his spare time cultivating the Great Evolution Saintly Art and the Hundred Transformations Bone-Shedding Art, enduring severe pain as he practiced.
• Liu Qingyi guarded Chen Shi'an’s courtyard for twenty-four days while his screams of pain became familiar to the Three-Killing Battalion’s men.
• Chen Shi'an showed Liu Qingyi that he had mastered the technique by transforming into Pi Hou and imitating his voice and manner.
• Liu Qingyi recognized the technique and told Chen Shi'an that Wang Lin had found it, Xu Liang had given up on it, and she herself had failed to reach the Face Alteration realm after three months of practice.

Chen Shi'an mastered the Hundred Transformations Bone-Shedding Art and prepared to move against Blackwater Stronghold. Iron Bull then reported that Fang Ruyu might be pregnant, leaving Chen Shi'an shocked as Iron Bull vowed to punish the man responsible.

• Chen Shi'an explained that his azure Origin Force had eased the pain of using the Hundred Transformations Bone-Shedding Art, while Liu Qingyi declined to practice it again.
• Chen Shi'an told Liu Qingyi to prepare for a trip to Blackwater Stronghold.
• Iron Bull reported that preparations were complete, and Chen Shi'an ordered a quiet expedition of thirty elite men to set out the morning after tomorrow.
• Iron Bull said his agents had seen Fang Ruyu retching and sleeping more, leading them to suspect she was pregnant.
• Chen Shi'an was stunned by the news, while Iron Bull condemned the man who had impregnated Fang Ruyu and threatened to cut off his third leg.

Chen Shi'an learned that Fang Ruyu was carrying his child and ordered Iron Bull to keep the secret and protect her. He visited Ye Zhengxiong, who admitted to arranging matters between them, then left and encountered Pi Hou's Ghost Mask squad in the street.

• Iron Bull told Chen Shi'an that Fang Ruyu was pregnant, and Chen Shi'an warned him to keep the news secret and protect her.
• Chen Shi'an decided to visit Windrise Martial Academy after training, bringing Ye Zhengxiong the promised Fire-Tailed Fox Demon Core.
• Ye Zhengxiong revealed that Fang Ruyu had gone home to recuperate and congratulated Chen Shi'an, admitting he had acted to bring them together.
• Chen Shi'an rebuked Ye Zhengxiong, then left the academy and drew a crowd as he wandered through the streets.
• Pi Hou and a squad of men wearing Ghost Masks suddenly appeared on the street.

Chen Shi'an struggled with his feelings about Fang Ruyu, and Pi Hou tried to cheer him up before Chen went to visit Hou Fang. There, he learned Hou Fang and Bai Shuang were planning their wedding and was asked when he could attend.

• Pi Hou cleared the crowd and told Chen Shi'an that he did not need to dwell on what had happened with Fang Ruyu.
• Pi Hou repeated Du Gang's teasing remark, and Chen Shi'an kicked him into the street as the bystanders laughed.
• Seeing Pi Hou joke easily with the crowd lifted Chen Shi'an's mood, and he headed to Hou Fang's home.
• Old Madam Hou urged Hou Fang and Bai Shuang to marry soon, while Hou Fang said he wanted to speak with Chen Shi'an before setting a date.
• Chen Shi'an arrived at the courtyard, reassured Old Madam Hou that his pale appearance came from a technique's side effect, and was asked when he would be free for the wedding.

Chen Shi'an sought Hou Fang's advice about Fang Ruyu's pregnancy and decided to sever ties with her through an agreement. He visited Fang Ruyu and demanded that she give him the child after birth and that she and her family have no further contact with it.

• Chen Shi'an congratulated Hou Fang and Bai Shuang on their engagement and agreed to attend their wedding after returning from his trip.
• Chen Shi'an told Hou Fang that Fang Ruyu was pregnant, and Hou Fang advised him to negotiate terms with her and sever their ties.
• Chen Shi'an went to the Fang residence and found Fang Ruyu sewing tiny tiger-head shoes in her room.
• Chen Shi'an told Fang Ruyu to hand over the child after giving birth and demanded that she and her family have no further contact with it.

Chen Shi'an asked Fang Ruyu to give him their unborn child, but she refused, insisting she would raise the child herself. After he left, Fang Ruyu told her father that she had turned down his offer because she believed his future extended far beyond Windrise Stronghold.

• Chen Shi'an offered Fang Ruyu anything within his power if she would let him take their child after birth.
• Fang Ruyu refused to give up the child and promised to raise him without troubling Chen Shi'an or using his name for the Fang family's benefit.
• Chen Shi'an warned Fang Ruyu that he would only ask once, then left after she insisted she would never hand over the child.
• Fang Ming arrived and praised the chance for the Fang family to rise through Chen Shi'an's connection to his grandson.
• Fang Ruyu told Fang Ming she had refused Chen Shi'an's offer because she believed his ambitions reached beyond Windrise Stronghold.

Fang Ruyu resolved to win back Chen Shi'an by sincerely caring for their child, while Chen Shi'an led the Three-Killing Battalion toward Blackwater Stronghold to attack the City Lord's Mansion. After two days of waiting, he met An Qian, praised his intelligence network, and rewarded him with Marrow-Washing Pills.

• Fang Ruyu told Fang Ming that she would care for her child to create a chance to win back Chen Shi'an.
• Chen Shi'an led Liu Qingyi and thirty Three-Killing Battalion elites to Blackwater Stronghold, where he ordered them to infiltrate the city and cause chaos when he made his move.
• Chen Shi'an warned Pi Hou and Du Gang to avoid recklessness, drink, and women, and insisted that every man return alive.
• Chen Shi'an and Liu Qingyi waited in a valley while their men entered Blackwater Stronghold, and Chen Shi'an cultivated the Great Evolution Saintly Art.
• An Qian arrived and reported to Chen Shi'an, who praised his intelligence work and gave him two Marrow-Washing Pills.

Chen Shi'an secretly investigated Blackwater Stronghold and captured Zhou Biliang, a trusted confidant of Liu Sanyuan, to guard against betrayal and question him. Zhou Biliang agreed to answer Chen Shi'an honestly after being threatened with the Windbreaker Saber.

• Chen Shi'an declined An Qian's offer to compile information and said he would explore Blackwater Stronghold himself.
• Chen Shi'an told An Qian to focus on Pi Hou and Du Gang and prepare for their safe withdrawal if an attack began.
• Over two days, Chen Shi'an used the Hundred Transformations Bone-Shedding Art to investigate Blackwater Stronghold in disguise.
• Chen Shi'an returned with Zhou Biliang, whom he had captured while the old man was visiting a brothel, and explained that he wanted to guard against Liu Sanyuan betraying them.
• Chen Shi'an identified himself and threatened Zhou Biliang into answering his questions, then used the Windbreaker Saber to frighten him into promising to tell everything.

Chen Shi'an learned that Liu Sanyuan planned to betray him after using his men to eliminate Fang Ao and the Fang family, then sought a way to turn Liu’s secret family against him. The chapter ended with Chen Shi'an discovering that he could move an unconscious person into the Graveyard Space, where Zhou Biliang began emitting blood-colored mist.

• Chen Shi'an threatened Zhou Biliang until he revealed Liu Sanyuan's plan to drug Chen and his men at a victory banquet or ambush them in Blackwater Stronghold's Outer City.
• Zhou Biliang told Chen Shi'an that Liu Sanyuan secretly kept a woman and their son, and gave him their address.
• Chen Shi'an knocked Zhou Biliang unconscious and told Liu Qingyi he intended to use the mother and son, though he would try to keep them safe.
• Chen Shi'an used his Mind Power on Zhou Biliang and unexpectedly sent him into the Graveyard Space.
• Chen Shi'an found Zhou Biliang floating unconscious in the Graveyard Space as blood-colored mist rose from his body and gathered into fine strands.

After Zhou Biliang was drained to ashes inside the Eerie Graveyard, Chen Shi'an realized the Saintly Dao Stele could kill living people sent there and that his connection to the graveyard had strengthened. He and Liu Qingyi later brought a sleeping mother and child back, and the frightened woman begged them not to harm her baby.

• The Saintly Dao Stele drained Zhou Biliang's blood, turned him into ashes, and sent blood-colored rays into the graveyard's headstones.
• Chen Shi'an discovered that he could now enter the Eerie Graveyard instantly and feared what would happen if he sent the Three-Killing Battalion inside.
• Liu Qingyi questioned Chen Shi'an about Zhou Biliang's disappearance, and he told her to focus on cultivating before he explained his ability.
• Chen Shi'an entered a guarded courtyard to abduct a mother and her baby, but retreated after finding the young mother uncovered.
• Chen Shi'an asked Liu Qingyi to help him, and they returned about an hour later with the unconscious mother and her sleeping baby.
• After Liu Qingyi woke the young mother, she panicked over her missing child and begged Chen Shi'an and Liu Qingyi not to hurt him.

Chen Shi'an took Liu Sanyuan’s son and used the boy’s mother’s bracelet to confront Liu Sanyuan at the Registrar’s Residence. After revealing his identity and accusing Liu Sanyuan of plotting to poison and ambush his group, Chen Shi'an unleashed his origin force, leaving Liu Sanyuan facing him alone.

• Chen Shi'an borrowed the bracelet from Liu Sanyuan’s son’s mother and told Liu Qingyi to watch over her and the child.
• Chen Shi'an disguised himself as Zhou Biliang and entered the Registrar’s Residence, where he asked to see Liu Sanyuan.
• Liu Sanyuan recognized the bracelet and demanded to know why Chen Shi'an had it, while Chen Shi'an warned him not to attack because his son was in Chen Shi'an’s hands.
• Chen Shi'an revealed his true identity and accused Liu Sanyuan of planning to poison his group at a banquet and ambush them afterward.
• Liu Sanyuan retreated and challenged Chen Shi'an to fight, but Chen Shi'an released a powerful surge of origin force that overwhelmed him.

Chen Shi'an forced Liu Sanyuan to swear loyalty by threatening his family, then agreed to help him overthrow Fang Ao and seize Blackwater Stronghold. The uprising was set for the following night, and Liu asked Chen to eliminate Fang Bingtian, the Fang family's strongest fighter.

• Chen Shi'an held Liu Sanyuan at swordpoint and demanded that he swear loyalty or face death alongside his concubine and infant son.
• Liu Sanyuan submitted and swore upon his Martial Dao Heart to serve Chen Shi'an without betrayal.
• Chen Shi'an learned that Liu's forces had less than a twenty percent chance of defeating Fang Ao without outside help.
• Chen Shi'an planned for his subordinates to create distractions the next night while Liu's forces attacked, and claimed the City Lord's Mansion treasury for himself.
• Liu Sanyuan asked Chen Shi'an to kill Fang Bingtian, who had secretly reached the fourth grade middle stage.

Chen Shi'an secured Liu Sanyuan's submission and planned a coordinated strike against the Fang family, while Liu Qingyi warned him about the risks of Martial Dao Oaths. As the operation approached, Chen Shi'an headed up the mountain to confront Fang Bingtian with Mo Wuyang following him.

• Chen Shi'an learned where Fang Bingtian lived and ordered Liu Sanyuan to prepare an attack on the Fang family, reserving Fang Bingtian for himself.
• Liu Qingyi warned Chen Shi'an that loyalty oaths could entangle him in Heavenly Dao karma, and he resolved to avoid being involved in future oaths.
• Chen Shi'an told Liu Qingyi to have An Qian arrange a meeting with Liu Sanyuan and keep the operation secret from An Qian for the moment.
• The next day, Chen Shi'an met Liu Sanyuan through An Qian, and Blackwater Stronghold's forces began mobilizing in secret.
• At night, Chen Shi'an walked toward Fang Bingtian's mountain residence while Mo Wuyang followed, hoping to benefit from the power of a fourth grade middle stage Martial Artist.

Chen Shi'an confronted and killed Fang Bingtian, the feared Ghost Dread of Blackwater Stronghold, then looted his courtyard for a substantial haul. Mo Wuyang ate Fang Bingtian’s remains and iron claws, leaving Chen Shi'an to rue the loss of the valuable materials.

• Chen Shi'an tried to persuade Mo Wuyang to stop eating humans, but Mo Wuyang argued that Demon Beasts should be able to eat humans too.
• Chen Shi'an followed Mo Wuyang to a courtyard, where they encountered Fang Bingtian, who confirmed his identity as Ghost Dread.
• Fang Bingtian attacked Chen Shi'an, but Chen Shi'an used the Thunderclap Saber and nine strikes of the First Star-Chasing Form to kill him.
• Chen Shi'an searched Fang Bingtian's courtyard and found over a hundred thousand taels, more than two hundred Origin-Strength Pills, and over sixty Marrow-Washing Pills.
• Mo Wuyang ate Fang Bingtian and his iron claws, prompting Chen Shi'an to complain that the claws had been valuable materials.