Chapter Summaries

Pei Yangchun explained the history and danger of Snow Soul after its blade emerged from the rust, then rushed to repel a snake attack on Black Tortoise Cave. As the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave renewed its threat, a fast-moving guest from the capital arrived, bringing Pei Yangchun relief.

• A patch of rust fell from the sword embedded in the Sword Enlightenment Stone, revealing its intact ice-blue blade, and Pei Yangchun identified it as Snow Soul, a powerful fifth-grade weapon once wielded by Li Mingyuan.
• Pei Yangchun told Xia Zheng that Snow Soul's yin energy had injured anyone unable to wield it, and that the Taiyi Gate had failed to master its sword legacy for three hundred years.
• A disciple reported that Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave was sending venomous snakes into Black Tortoise Cave, so Pei Yangchun and Xia Zheng hurried to defend it.
• Pei Yangchun froze and killed hundreds of snakes with the Dark Yin Sword Technique, while Yang Wanli taunted the Taiyi Gate and recalled the remaining snakes with his flute.
• A guest in a Flying Fish Uniform raced up the mountain using the Lightning Movement Step, and Pei Yangchun welcomed him by ordering a feast.

Cao Jinxing retrieved the thousand-year-old Fire Tortoise from the Black Tortoise Cave while learning that Yang Wanli possessed a powerful White Dragon Gu. As Cao Jinxing and Pei Yangchun tried to leave, the White Dragon Gu burst through the frozen pool.

• Cao Jinxing arrived at the Taiyi Gate and accompanied Pei Yangchun into the Black Tortoise Cave to secure the Fire Tortoise.
• Pei Yangchun told Cao Jinxing that Yang Wanli controlled a huge flying white snake, which Cao Jinxing suspected was the Five Poisons Cult's White Dragon Gu.
• Pei Yangchun explained that the White Dragon Gu was shedding its skin and might finish within a day or two, so Cao Jinxing resolved to cripple Yang Wanli quickly.
• Cao Jinxing used cold sword energy to subdue the Fire Tortoise and sealed it in a cold jade box.
• Cao Jinxing sensed movement beneath the pool, froze its surface, and fled as the White Dragon Gu burst through the ice.

Cao Jinxing fought Yang Wanli and the White Dragon Gu after discovering the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave had captured Taiyi Gate disciples. With Yang Wanli dead and the White Dragon Gu still pursuing him, Cao Jinxing raced toward the summit to find a fifth-rank sword.

• Cao Jinxing escaped the cave and struck down Yang Wanli, then discovered the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave had captured Pei Yangchun’s disciples and used a Soul-Bewitching Gu on Xia Zheng.
• Yang Wanli tried to attack Cao Jinxing with his flute, but Cao shattered it and severed six of his fingers; Cao then killed the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave disciples in a single strike.
• The White Dragon Gu struck Cao Jinxing and broke his saber and eight ribs, but Cao healed himself with a Fortune Creation Pill and fought back with Cloud-Discharging Palm.
• The White Dragon Gu killed Yang Wanli after he ordered it to attack Cao Jinxing, then turned its attention back to Cao.
• Pei Yangchun told Cao Jinxing that a fifth-rank sword lay at the summit, and Cao raced there with the White Dragon Gu in pursuit.

Cao Jinxing drew Snow Soul from the Sword Comprehension Stone, mastered the Dark Yin Sword’s supreme move, and fought the White Dragon Gu before Bai Yunxiu intervened. Bai Yunxiu revealed that her missing uncle, whose Cold Toad Art Cao Jinxing had learned, was Song Chengxi, the former Five Poisons Cult leader believed dead for over forty years.

• Snow Soul emerged from the Sword Comprehension Stone, and Cao Jinxing drew it and quickly grasped the sword moves carved there.
• Cao Jinxing froze the White Dragon Gu with Draw Water, Carve Ice and moved to strike it, but Bai Yunxiu blocked his attack with her gold-thread gloves.
• Bai Yunxiu apologized for the White Dragon Gu and offered Cao Jinxing Holy Origin Pills and a Poison-Averting Pearl.
• Bai Yunxiu recognized Cao Jinxing’s Cold Toad Art as her uncle’s technique and learned that he had last seen the man on Crouching Tiger Mountain.
• Bai Yunxiu hurried to the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains to search for her uncle and identified him as Song Chengxi, whom Cao Jinxing realized had supposedly been dead for over forty years.

After Bai Yunxiu left, Cao Jinxing helped the Taiyi Gate restore its Dark Yin Sword and rode toward Lu'an Prefecture. At a relay station, he killed an assassin disguised as an attendant and found evidence linking him to the Actors' Tower.

• Cao Jinxing put aside his questions about Bai Yunxiu and demonstrated the complete Dark Yin Sword for Pei Yangchun and the Taiyi Gate disciples.
• Yang Qiancheng, grieving his son's death and the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave's defeat, ordered his men to clear the western peak and prepared to send a letter to the capital targeting Cao Jinxing.
• Pei Yangchun gave Cao Jinxing the scabbard made from North Sea Frost Dragon hide, and Cao Jinxing departed with Snow Soul.
• Cao Jinxing reached a relay station in Lu'an Prefecture during a downpour and accepted a room from an attendant who claimed to be alone on duty.
• Cao Jinxing recognized the attendant's disguise and killed him before he could use Storm Pear Blossom Needles, then found a token marked with Xuanba and a demon mask, which pointed to the Actors' Tower.

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.