Recaps

Cao Jinxing escaped the Opera House assassins and suspected Yan Shifan was behind their pursuit of the Fire Tortoise. After disguising the precious tortoise shell with a convincing cinnabar carving, he rode toward the capital.

• Cao Jinxing concluded that Yang Qiancheng might have revealed the Fire Tortoise’s secret to the Opera House and rode away through the storm.
• Dragon, Sheep, and Dog arrived at the relay station, found their target dead, and ordered an ambush on the routes to the capital.
• Cao Jinxing evaded pursuit by taking a remote route to the Good Fortune Inn, where Xuan Yuan Fourteen kept watch as he slept.
• The next morning, Cao Jinxing hired Jia to carve a convincing replica of the Fire Tortoise shell from cinnabar stone.
• Cao Jinxing paid Jia for the finished carving, took his provisions, and set off toward the capital.

Cao Jinxing ambushed and killed two of Yan Shaoting’s assassins, then learned who had sent them and what forces remained. Afterward, Lu Kunlun of the Beggars’ Sect offered to help Cao Jinxing against the Yan Family.

• Cao Jinxing lured Soul-Seeking Dog into the woods, defeated him, and tortured him until he named Yan Shaoting as the one who sent the assassins.
• Soul-Seeking Dog revealed that the Twelve Zodiac Killer Group had come after Cao Jinxing and began describing their skills.
• Burrowing Rat attacked Cao Jinxing from underground, but Cao Jinxing decapitated him with Snow Soul without turning around.
• Cao Jinxing forced Soul-Seeking Dog to disclose the remaining assassins’ martial arts, then killed him.
• Lu Kunlun of the Beggars’ Sect appeared and offered to help Cao Jinxing make trouble for the Yan Family.
• Lu Kunlun shared his Do Not Laugh wine with Cao Jinxing, and they compared it to Heavenly Fragrance Tower’s thirty-year-old huadiao.

Cao Jinxing teamed up with Lu Kunlun to draw the Yan Family’s Opera House assassins to the Sun-Moon Prosperity Restaurant, where they ate and discussed martial arts while waiting for the attackers. Lu Kunlun then hinted that he had come from Junshan for a reason involving a heavenly treasure.

• Lu Kunlun offered to help Cao Jinxing deal with the Yan Family’s remaining Opera House assassins, and Cao Jinxing agreed.
• Lu Kunlun suggested they fight at the Sun-Moon Prosperity Restaurant, a business partly owned by Zhao Wenhua, and Cao Jinxing went along with the plan.
• Cao Jinxing entered the restaurant in his Flying Fish Uniform and ordered food and wine in the bustling main hall while they waited for the assassins.
• Lu Kunlun asked Cao Jinxing about his martial arts, and Cao Jinxing offered to write him a copy of Cloud-Discharging Palm.
• Lu Kunlun realized Cao Jinxing had mastered the essence of his techniques, then hinted that he had traveled from Junshan because of a heavenly treasure.

The Zodiac operatives attacked Cao Jinxing at the Sun-Moon Prosperity Restaurant, using a swarm of venomous bees to cover their assault. Lu Kunlun revealed his Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and took on Drought Dragon, while Cao Jinxing fought off the remaining attackers as Chain Horse reached for the Cold Jade Box.

• The Zodiac operatives learned Cao Jinxing was at the Sun-Moon Prosperity Restaurant and decided to attack there, disguising themselves as notorious bandits.
• Snake sent a swarm of venomous bees into the restaurant, but Cao Jinxing used a Poison-Averting Pearl to keep them away.
• Nine masked operatives attacked Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun from all sides, and Lu Kunlun used the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms to defeat Rabbit and Goat and confront Drought Dragon.
• Cao Jinxing killed Molten-Iron Ox, Sound-Feather Rooster, and Fire-Beak Monkey in the first exchange.
• Smiling Tiger and Impermanence Pig attacked Cao Jinxing to create an opening, and Chain Horse used Twin Flying Swallows to reach for the Cold Jade Box.

Cao Jinxing defeated the attackers at the Sun-Moon Prosperity Restaurant and secured the real Millennium Fire Tortoise, while Five-Step Snake escaped with a fake. Yan Shaoting discovered the deception and blamed Cao Jinxing as the Yan family faced severe political losses.

• Cao Jinxing defeated Impermanent Pig, Smiling Tiger, Chain Horse, and Drought Dragon, while Five-Step Snake fled with the box.
• Cao Jinxing revealed that the stolen box was fake and recovered the real Fire Tortoise from beneath the table.
• Cao Jinxing criticized Zhao Siming for the restaurant guards' failure and left with Lu Kunlun, taking Smiling Tiger's black iron gloves.
• Five-Step Snake presented the fake Fire Tortoise to Yan Shaoting, who struck her and crushed the box.
• Yan Shaoting blamed Cao Jinxing for the disaster, confined Five-Step Snake to serve him, and carried her into the main room.

After delivering the Fire Tortoise, Cao Jinxing received Jiajing’s approval for a promotion and went with Lu Kunlun to the Ghost Market in search of a purchasable natural treasure. They discovered Peach Blossom Brew made from jade flat peach blossoms, and Cao Jinxing agreed to help Lu Kunlun trace its source.

• Liu Zhenyuan passed the Fire Tortoise and Cao Jinxing’s report to Lu Bing, who presented them to Jiajing; Jiajing approved Cao Jinxing’s promotion to Deputy Qianhu and planned to make the Yan family fund the Palace of Longevity renovation.
• Cao Jinxing accompanied Lu Kunlun to the Ghost Market, where Lu Kunlun led him to Happy Forest and bought the last jar of Peach Blossom Brew for ten taels of gold.
• Cao Jinxing drank the wine and felt it increase his internal energy, while Lu Kunlun explained that it cleansed the meridians and marrow because it was brewed from jade flat peach blossoms.
• Lu Kunlun told Cao Jinxing how he had traded bird eggs for a jade flat peach from an old beggar, who was his master’s master and the former leader of the Beggar Gang.
• Cao Jinxing agreed to join Lu Kunlun in pursuing the source of the Peach Blossom Brew.

Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun planned to trace the source of the wine leading to Peach Blossom Spring, while Cao Jinxing returned to work and received a temporary Imperial Prison assignment. He left to study a fifth-rank technique in the Secret Vault, with fifteen days to rest and practice.

• Lu Kunlun explained why Old Zhou was difficult to follow and revealed that he had marked him with luminous powder to track him after the Ghost Market closed.
• Cao Jinxing returned home, collected a package of sixth-rank heavenly treasures, and rested before reporting for duty the next morning.
• Officials at the Pacification Commission treated Cao Jinxing cautiously after hearing that he had killed nine of the Twelve Xiantian Assassins.
• Liu Zhenyuan warned Cao Jinxing to be careful about his associations, gave him a Deputy Qianhu uniform and permission to study one fifth-rank technique, and assigned him to the Imperial Prison for fifteen days.
• Cao Jinxing sent Su Yunsheng and Sun Lang to guard the Imperial Prison and headed to the Secret Vault to read.

Cao Jinxing learned that spiritual martial arts followed distinct Daos and chose the Ice-Controlling Art to strengthen his water-based techniques. As he studied the obscure manual, another Deputy Qianhu silently drew his saber behind him.

• Cao Jinxing asked the old Daoist to explain the difference between cultivation methods and techniques.
• The old Daoist explained that spiritual martial arts let practitioners command aspects of the world, such as lightning, water, fire, and beasts.
• Cao Jinxing chose the Ice-Controlling Art and borrowed the key to find it on the fourth floor.
• Cao Jinxing read the manual, which taught how to condense and control true qi as ice, and became deeply absorbed in it.
• Another Deputy Qianhu stood motionless behind Cao Jinxing and slowly drew his saber.

Cao Jinxing mastered the Ice-Controlling Art and used it to defeat Zhao Siyuan, who had secretly attacked him in the Secret Vault. Liu Zhenyuan arrested Zhao Siyuan for attempted murder, while Cao Jinxing left to guard the Imperial Prison.

• Cao Jinxing learned to harness surrounding moisture with the Ice-Controlling Art and sensed a concealed attacker gathering fire-based power nearby.
• Zhao Siyuan launched a lethal blade attack, and Cao Jinxing countered by freezing the floor and cutting off Zhao Siyuan’s sword arm.
• Cao Jinxing moved to finish Zhao Siyuan, but Liu Zhenyuan stopped him and summoned the vault keeper and two Qianhu.
• The vault keeper confirmed that Zhao Siyuan had attacked first, and Liu Zhenyuan ordered him imprisoned for attempting to murder an Embroidered Uniform Guard.
• Cao Jinxing said he had finished reading and hurried off to guard the Imperial Prison, leaving Liu Zhenyuan to lament the trouble he caused.

Zhao Wenhua pressured the Zhao Family to target Cao Jinxing by helping the Bright Sect’s Left Envoy of Light escape the Imperial Prison. Meanwhile, Cao Jinxing settled into his new post and offered to guide Su Yunsheng and Sun Lang in their martial arts.

• The Zhao Family considered abandoning revenge after Zhao Siyuan was crippled, but Zhao Wenhua arrived and demanded they continue.
• Zhao Wenhua proposed helping Xiang Qianli escape the Imperial Prison so Cao Jinxing would be blamed for neglecting his duties.
• The Zhao Family realized the plan meant colluding with the Bright Sect and feared the consequences, but felt unable to refuse Zhao Wenhua.
• Cao Jinxing went to the Imperial Prison, where he advised Su Yunsheng and Sun Lang to use their quiet fortnight to stabilize their cultivation.
• Su Yunsheng showed Cao Jinxing the Three-Fold Cloud Dragon manual, and Cao finished reading it in fewer than ten breaths before offering guidance.

Cao Jinxing refined his movement technique at the Imperial Prison and met Shen Xiang, who agreed to show him around. Meanwhile, Lu Kunlun tracked Old Zhou to a countryside tea stall, where a letter sent him rushing toward the capital and pointed Lu toward the Red Sleeve House.

• Cao Jinxing taught Su Yunsheng and Sun Lang the principles of Three-Fold Cloud Dragon, then combined it with Lightning Movement Step.
• Cao Jinxing met Shen Xiang, the Imperial Prison’s current guard, and agreed to tour the prison with him.
• Lu Kunlun secretly watched Old Zhou wait at a remote tea stall until a messenger delivered him a letter.
• Old Zhou read the letter and hurried toward the city, while Lu Kunlun’s cramped legs kept him from following at once.
• Lu Kunlun paid the messenger for details and learned that the letter’s sender had visited the Red Sleeve House, leading him to suspect it was connected to the trouble.

Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun traced the jade flat peach search to the Red Sleeve House, where both Old Zhou and the wine seller had vanished. Lu Kunlun created a disturbance so Cao Jinxing could sneak inside and investigate.

• Lu Kunlun reported that Old Zhou had followed the wine seller to the Red Sleeve House, where both men disappeared without any apparent fight.
• Cao Jinxing suspected that soul-seizing zither music had helped the brothel's people ambush Old Zhou and decided they needed to investigate before the captives revealed the Peach Blossom Spring's location.
• Cao Jinxing asked Lu Kunlun to distract the brothel while he searched inside, and Lu Kunlun agreed to pose as a spoiled young master.
• Lu Kunlun stormed into the Red Sleeve House, demanded Su Miaoyun, and claimed to be Zhao Wenhua's cousin and connected to Grand Secretary Yan.
• As the Red Sleeve House erupted into chaos, Cao Jinxing slipped inside unseen.

Cao Jinxing discovered that Su Miaoyun had left the Red Sleeve House and learned she was headed for Black Mud Marsh, where he and Lu Kunlun followed her. They spotted Su Miaoyun and her companions crossing the marsh, and Lu Kunlun charged ahead to confront them.

• Cao Jinxing found a young martial artist impersonating Su Miaoyun at the Red Sleeve House and forced her to reveal that Su Miaoyun had gone to Black Mud Marsh.
• Cao Jinxing froze several guards and escaped through a window while Lu Kunlun fought off the Red Sleeve House's attackers and fled.
• Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun traveled to Waterwheel Gorge and reasoned that Wei Wuyan used a special method to cross the marsh.
• Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun spotted Su Miaoyun crossing Black Mud Marsh with two men and several captives.
• Lu Kunlun identified the group as disciples of the Chess and Sword Music House and rushed down to confront them as Cao Jinxing followed.

Wei Wuyan opened the entrance to Peach Blossom Spring under threat, and the Red Sleeve House group entered to seize its Jade Flat Peaches. Lu Kunlun and Cao Jinxing followed, where Lu Kunlun was wounded by Wu Feng and Han Rong before Cao Jinxing counterattacked.

• Wei Wuyan revealed the hidden passage to Peach Blossom Spring after Su Miaoyun's group threatened Old Zhou.
• Old Zhou secretly dropped a porcelain bottle labeled "Antidote" as he and the others entered the secret realm.
• Cao Jinxing noticed the bottle and followed Lu Kunlun into the passage toward the peach grove.
• Lu Kunlun defeated three Chess and Sword Music House fighters with the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms.
• Wu Feng and Han Rong revealed their Bright Sect allegiance and wounded Lu Kunlun with their scimitars.
• Cao Jinxing intercepted the attack and shattered Wu Feng and Han Rong's hand bones with the Cloud-Discharging Palm.

Cao Jinxing fought the Bright Sect agents Han Rong, Wu Feng, and Su Miaoyun in the peach grove, then used the Starry Sea’s Power-Dissolving Powder to turn the battle in his favor. He killed Han Rong and Su Miaoyun, while Wei Wuyan promised the jade flat peaches to him and his companions.

• Cao Jinxing killed Wu Feng with a powerful Tyrant Saber strike after breaking his short saber.
• Su Miaoyun attacked Cao Jinxing with Wind-Blown Lotus Leaf Sha, and Han Rong used a Blazing Fire Pill before the two clashed with him using their Bright Sect techniques.
• Han Rong and Su Miaoyun revealed themselves as Bright Sect disciples and attacked Cao Jinxing together with Holy Flame Heaven-Burning Palm.
• Cao Jinxing resisted their palms with Cloud-Discharging Palm, while Han Rong and Su Miaoyun realized their internal energy was dissolving from the Starry Sea’s Power-Dissolving Powder hidden by Old Zhou.
• Wei Wuyan offered Cao Jinxing the jade flat peaches, and Cao Jinxing overpowered Han Rong and Su Miaoyun before killing both with sword strikes.

Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun recovered from the battle, reached the jade flat peach tree, and divided its three remaining fruits. They left Black Mud Marsh to absorb the peaches, while Su Miaoyun’s disappearance revealed that she had survived her wound.

• Cao Jinxing treated Lu Kunlun’s wounds with a Primordial Chaos Pill, and the two continued deeper into the peach grove.
• Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun released Wei Wuyan and Old Zhou, who agreed to let them take the jade flat peaches.
• Wei Wuyan showed them the tree and gave them its three remaining peaches; Lu Kunlun took one, while Cao Jinxing kept two and gave the smaller one to Fourteen.
• Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun left the grove and discovered that Su Miaoyun’s body had vanished, leaving only a pool of blood.
• Cao Jinxing chose not to pursue Su Miaoyun, and he and Lu Kunlun left Black Mud Marsh to absorb the peaches.

Cao Jinxing and Xuan Yuan Fourteen consumed their jade flat peaches in seclusion, greatly increasing their strength. At True Origin Temple, Jiang Lvxia treated the wounded Su Miaoyun, learned that Cao Jinxing had defeated their pursuers, and began planning a rescue and revenge.

• Cao Jinxing took Xuan Yuan Fourteen into his cellar to absorb their jade flat peaches in seclusion.
• Xuan Yuan Fourteen swallowed his peach and grew larger and stronger as its energy boosted his internal power.
• Cao Jinxing absorbed his peach’s energy, advanced to the fourth level of xiantian, and covered the cellar in frost.
• Zhang Yunqing found the bloodied Su Miaoyun at True Origin Temple and used a Life-Sustaining Elixir to save her.
• Jiang Lvxia revealed herself to Su Miaoyun and identified Cao Jinxing and Lu Kunlun as the men who defeated their pursuers.
• Jiang Lvxia ordered Madam Feng and the others to withdraw from Red Sleeve House and planned to rescue Uncle Xiang while killing Cao Jinxing.

After breaking through with a Jade Flat Peach, Cao Jinxing visited the Imperial Prison’s third level with Shen Xiang and learned about its defenses and prisoners. Shen Xiang ended by revealing that only Li Shengtian had ever escaped, from the ninth level.

• Cao Jinxing woke after his breakthrough, ate, and arrived late at the Imperial Prison.
• Su Yunsheng told Cao Jinxing that Shen Xiang wanted to see him on the third level.
• Shen Xiang introduced Cao Jinxing to prison guardian Xu Quan, whose family practiced the fifth-grade Dream-Maze Swordplay.
• Shen Xiang showed Cao Jinxing the third level’s defenses and explained that its notorious prisoners had their shoulder blades pierced and their cultivation sealed off from use.
• Cao Jinxing asked whether anyone had escaped, and Shen Xiang said Li Shengtian was the sole escapee, having fled from the ninth level.

Cao Jinxing and Shen Xiang inspected the Imperial Prison’s mechanism chamber and learned about its creator, Kuai Xiang. Their tour was interrupted when Jiang Aqi suddenly attacked Xiang Qianli’s cell, leaving them to investigate.

• Shen Xiang introduced guards Jiang Aqi and Tian Jinghu outside the chamber, then entered with Cao Jinxing.
• Shen Xiang showed Cao Jinxing the control hub and explained that Kuai Xiang had designed the Imperial Prison’s mechanisms.
• Tian Jinghu shouted as Jiang Aqi rushed toward Xiang Qianli’s cell and tried to hack its lock.
• Shen Xiang used Sword Control by Qi to wound Jiang Aqi, and the jailers restrained him.
• Shen Xiang left Xu Quan to watch the chamber and ordered Tian Jinghu to explain what had happened.

Cao Jinxing and Shen Xiang uncovered an attempted prison break involving mind-controlling Gu and Mechanical Beasts, but the attackers’ mechanisms threatened the secret chamber. Tie Xiongshi arrived on the third level to free Xiang Qianli as [Red Dragon] slipped inside to interfere with the prison’s mechanisms.

• Jiang Aqi was controlled by a Gu after hearing a flute, and a Mechanical Beast emerged from his throat and released poisonous smoke that killed him.
• Cao Jinxing froze the poison, while the first Earth Gecko escaped through the food hatch into the Cold Cell with Jiang Aqi’s short saber.
• Cao Jinxing accused Tian Jinghu of colluding with the Bright Sect and immobilized him, but another Earth Gecko burst from Tian Jinghu’s abdomen and killed him.
• The second Earth Gecko, identified by Shen Xiang as [Red Dragon], resisted Cao Jinxing’s sword and slipped into the secret chamber to delay its mechanisms.
• Tie Xiongshi, the Bright Cult’s Ape King, arrived on the third level and announced that he had come to get Xiang Qianli.

Xiang Qianli escaped his restraints but was blocked by Cao Jinxing, who wounded him with the Snow Soul Sword and Xuan Yuan Fourteen before blasting him back into his cell. Tie Xiongshi rescued him under cover of Soul-Seizing Zither Music, but a new musician emerged and changed the music into a heartrending lament as they tried to flee.

• The Earth Gecko freed Xiang Qianli from his hooks and gave him a pill that healed his back, though his right arm remained ruined.
• Cao Jinxing intercepted Xiang Qianli at the cell door, deflected his blade, and forced him back with swordsmanship and a palm strike.
• Cao Jinxing used Sword Control by Qi to attack Xiang Qianli, while Xuan Yuan Fourteen blinded Xiang Qianli in one eye with a claw strike.
• Cao Jinxing struck Xiang Qianli in the chest with Calamitous Clouds Descend and sent him crashing into the cell door.
• Tie Xiongshi knocked aside Shen Xiang's sword, carried the injured Xiang Qianli, and called for the Soul-Seizing Zither Music.
• A figure emerged from the secret chamber with a bowed fiddle and played a mournful note that shook Tie Xiongshi and disrupted the escape.

Tie Xiongshi’s rescue plan collapsed as Shen Xiang and Cao Jinxing fought back, while Su Miaoyun and Jiang Lvxia tried to cover the escape with music and a secret art. The chapter ended with Cao Jinxing striking Tie Xiongshi and Xiang Qianli with sword qi, bringing both men down.

• Tie Xiongshi used his staff to force Shen Xiang and Cao Jinxing back, then carried Xiang Qianli toward the prison exit while Xu Quan battled Su Miaoyun’s music.
• Jiang Lvxia empowered Su Miaoyun with the Sacred Fire Canon’s Great Radiance Aspect, but Xu Quan overwhelmed their music and injured them both.
• Jiang Lvxia called Chen Xiaotian into the prison to cover the escape, but Cao Jinxing beheaded him after he caught Shen Xiang’s sword.
• Shen Xiang and Cao Jinxing pursued Tie Xiongshi as he leaped over the prison walls with Xiang Qianli.
• Cao Jinxing struck Tie Xiongshi with Heavenly Sword-Linked Finger, and the sword qi pierced both him and Xiang Qianli, sending them crashing to the ground.

Cao Jinxing and Shen Xiang stopped the Bright Sect’s prison break, and Liu Zhenyuan arranged for the Eastern Depot to investigate the Zhao Family. Cao Jinxing received a rare Embroidered Spring Saber to use, then returned to the Imperial Prison as the wounded were treated and the aftermath continued.

• Cao Jinxing and the jailers captured the wounded Left Envoy of Light and Ape King after the prison break failed.
• Shen Xiang reported the escape attempt to Liu Zhenyuan, who decided to involve the Eastern Depot in investigating the Zhao Family.
• Liu Zhenyuan awarded Cao Jinxing the thirteenth Embroidered Spring Saber for his service, though he said it did not mean Cao Jinxing had been appointed to the vacant Thirteen Guardians position.
• Cao Jinxing inspected the saber and returned to the Imperial Prison, where an imperial physician treated the wounded wardens, Sun Lang, and Su Yunsheng.

Cao Jinxing inspected the Imperial Prison after the battle and began learning Sonic Wave Skill from Xu Quan to defend against mind-affecting music. Shen Xiang returned with the Ape King's staff and the Seven-Star Saber, which Cao Jinxing planned to sell at the Ghost Market while wearing his official uniform.

• Cao Jinxing took charge of the Imperial Prison again, checked the lower levels, and learned that the Divine Axe Sect disciples had repaired the central mechanism after Red Dragon was encased in resin.
• Cao Jinxing asked Xu Quan how to guard against sonic attacks, then began learning flute and the basics of Sonic Wave Skill.
• Shen Xiang returned and gave Cao Jinxing the Coiling Dragon Golden Staff and the short saber taken from the prison intruders.
• Xu Quan identified the staff as a treasure from Dharma Cave, while Shen Xiang identified the saber as the Seven-Star Saber and explained its history.
• Cao Jinxing decided to sell both weapons at the Ghost Market in his official uniform, despite Shen Xiang warning him about their owners.

Cao Jinxing went to the Ghost Market with Zhang Chengfeng to sell weapons and buy medicine, but learned that witnesses had already spread word of his fight with the Bright Sect throughout the capital. The chapter left him realizing his reputation had grown far beyond his control.

• Zhang Chengfeng invited Cao Jinxing to visit his recovering father, then offered to accompany him to the Ghost Market and help appraise goods.
• Cao Jinxing and Zhang Chengfeng arrived at Fish-Eye Cave, where Cao Jinxing's Embroidered Uniform Guard attire frightened the waiting crowd.
• Zhang Chengfeng led Cao Jinxing to the Huang Family's Green Jade Tower to sell his unusual weapons and buy pills.
• Xie An recognized the short saber as Tyrant Saber Manor's hereditary token and the gloves as Smiling Tiger's Darksteel Gloves, then invited Cao Jinxing into a private room.
• Xie An told Cao Jinxing that witnesses had already spread news of his fight with the Bright Sect, and Zhang Chengfeng revealed that he had known about it too.