Chapter Summaries

Cao Jinxing turned Yao Hongli’s attempt to steal his Qiankun Bag against her, killed Liu Cangyan, and planted her as a mole inside the God of Wealth Gang. After resting at the Post Station, he received an unexpected visit from Lei Zongliang, who brought him a newly developed firearm called the Peacock Plume.

• Yao Hongli used the Fire Charm Technique to weaken Cao Jinxing’s defenses while Liu Cangyan demanded the Qiankun Bag, but Cao Jinxing secretly regained control of the situation.
• Cao Jinxing used Yao Hongli to lure Liu Cangyan close, then killed him with Fish Intestine and the Sleeve Sword.
• Cao Jinxing made Yao Hongli reveal that Liu Cangyan had acted without Wan Heqing’s knowledge and ordered her to kill Wei Shaohua and Chu Jingtao before returning to the God of Wealth Gang as his mole.
• Cao Jinxing stayed at the Post Station for two days to comfort Xuan Yuan Fourteen, while Beggar Gang disciples confirmed that two more bodies had appeared at Guanyin Temple.
• Lei Zongliang visited Cao Jinxing and presented the Peacock Plume, a firearm he had made using Yanling Eagle feathers.

Cao Jinxing went to West Lake to fish for Golden Babies and met a disguised young woman who had caught several. After revealing his identity as an Embroidered Uniform Guard, he agreed to leave with her, and she introduced herself as Qin Xuanji of Mist-Flow Island.

• Lei Zongliang gave Cao Jinxing the Peacock Plume and told him about Golden Babies in West Lake.
• Cao Jinxing went fishing with Fourteen and found Xiao Shitou drawing a crowd after catching three Golden Babies.
• Han Tang and Du Wei argued over the fish, while Cao Jinxing suspected Xiao Shitou was disguising her appearance.
• Xiao Shitou caught a fourth Golden Baby and chose Cao Jinxing to help her leave, recognizing him as an Embroidered Uniform Guard.
• Cao Jinxing gave his name, prompting Du Wei and Han Tang to depart, then learned the beggar was Qin Xuanji of Mist-Flow Island.

Cao Jinxing met Qin Xuanji of Mist-Flow Island at West Lake, where her effortless fishing and interest in a possible lakebed treasure led them to plan a nighttime search. Meanwhile, Li Yuchen of the Chess and Sword Music House watched them from shore, angered that Qin’s family had sent a young visitor to a contest over the Nine Heavens Circlet-Pendant Qin.

• Qin Xuanji identified Cao Jinxing as an Embroidered Uniform Guard from his Bashé Bag, then revealed her true face and helped prepare their fish.
• Qin Xuanji caught fish on bare hooks in seconds, while Cao Jinxing failed to catch anything; they ate Golden Baby and discussed legends of dragons and divine beasts.
• Cao Jinxing wondered whether a treasure lay beneath West Lake, and Qin Xuanji proposed using the Sea-Gathering Secret Art to search for it.
• Li Yuchen learned that a young visitor from Mist-Flow Island had used the Sea-Gathering Secret Art to catch four Golden Babies, and ordered his disciple to keep watch rather than attack.
• Cao Jinxing agreed to search the lake with Qin Xuanji that night, and warned her to be wary of people who might exploit her generosity.
• Qin Xuanji teased Cao Jinxing for still having caught no fish, then laughed at his frustration.

After failing to catch any fish, Cao Jinxing followed Qin Xuanji into West Lake, where she led a school of Golden Dollfish to a hidden cavern. They found the lost [Wine God Stone], and Qin Xuanji offered to sell it to Cao Jinxing, leaving him stunned by its value.

• Cao Jinxing gave up fishing after six hours without a catch, and Qin Xuanji used the Sea-Gathering Secret Art to draw Golden Dollfish with her golden blood.
• Qin Xuanji commanded the Golden Dollfish to lead them through an underwater passage, and Cao Jinxing followed her into a hidden cavern beneath West Lake.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji found a glowing spring and the scattered skeleton of a turtle in the cavern.
• Qin Xuanji identified a blue stone as the lost [Wine God Stone], which could gather spiritual substances and refine them into spirit elixir.
• Qin Xuanji offered to sell the [Wine God Stone] to Cao Jinxing, who realized he could not afford it.

Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji discovered a hidden cave beneath West Lake containing the Wine God Stone and the Demon Cult’s Absorbing Power Great Method. A powerful prisoner captured them and offered Cao Jinxing a deal, leaving their fate uncertain.

• Qin Xuanji gave Cao Jinxing her share of the Wine God Stone in exchange for him helping cover her expenses during her travels through the Central Plains.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji found the Absorbing Power Great Method carved behind vines in a concealed cave, and Cao Jinxing tried to leave before trouble began.
• An old man hidden in the cave attacked them with chains and vines; Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji fought back but were wounded and dragged inside.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji saw that the old man had lost his forearms and lower legs and was chained to a huge iron ball.
• The old man noticed Cao Jinxing’s Embroidered Spring Saber and offered him wealth and honor in exchange for a deal.

Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji met a chained man claiming to be Shangguan Tong, who blamed Li Yuzhou for his imprisonment and asked them to retrieve a key. Cao Jinxing saw through the man’s attempt to hypnotize them and use a Soul-Seducing Needle, then stopped Qin Xuanji before she could approach.

• Shangguan Tong claimed Li Yuzhou had poisoned him, severed his limbs, and imprisoned him to obtain the Absorbing Power Great Method.
• Qin Xuanji believed Shangguan Tong’s account, while Cao Jinxing stayed suspicious and prepared poisons.
• Shangguan Tong offered them the Absorbing Power Great Method and asked Cao Jinxing to retrieve the key to his Dragon-Binding Rope from a secret chamber.
• Shangguan Tong used the Mind-Seizing Technique and aimed a Soul-Seducing Needle at Cao Jinxing, revealing that he was not the real Shangguan Tong.
• Cao Jinxing shouted to interrupt the attack and jolt the dazed Qin Xuanji back to her senses.

Cao Jinxing exposed Shangguan Sheng as a murderous Maitreya Sect master imprisoned by Li Yuzhou and fought him alongside Qin Xuanji. After forcing Shangguan Sheng to reveal the Absorbing Power Great Method, they escaped, leaving Li Yuzhou to find the prisoner dead.

• Cao Jinxing recognized Shangguan Sheng’s disguise and deduced that Li Yuzhou had secretly kept him alive to exploit the Mahayana Rebirth Sutra.
• Cao Jinxing exposed Shangguan Sheng’s crimes and poisoned him, while Qin Xuanji joined the fight against the vines he controlled.
• Shangguan Sheng used the Absorbing Power Great Method against Qin Xuanji, but Cao Jinxing blinded him with the Peacock Plume and struck him with the Eight Desolations Punishment Sword Palm.
• Cao Jinxing persuaded Shangguan Sheng to recite the Absorbing Power Great Method, and Qin Xuanji killed him with a stone to the throat.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji escaped the cave, and Li Yuzhou arrived to find Shangguan Sheng dead.

Cao Jinxing tested the Wine God Stone, helped Qin Xuanji settle in, and devised a way to combine the Absorbing Power Great Method with his Cold Toad Art. Meanwhile, a woman from the Murong Family identified Cao Jinxing as one of Shangguan Sheng’s killers and warned Li Yuzhou not to pursue him, then sent a Jade-Clawed Sea-Eagle to report his location.

• Cao Jinxing drove off Chess and Sword Music House disciples who had been watching him and Qin Xuanji, then arranged for Qin Xuanji to stay at the Post Station on Bluestone Street.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji used the Wine God Stone to turn ordinary herbs into fragrant Spirit Liquid that boosted their true qi, and Qin Xuanji examined the guardian qin she had brought to Hangzhou.
• Qin Xuanji recalled how her father, Qin Zhaonan, had won Nine Skies Ringing Jade from the Chess and Sword Music House and worried that returning it to Li Yuzhou would aid a hypocrite.
• Cao Jinxing studied the Absorbing Power Great Method and spent six hours adapting it to refine absorbed true qi through the Cold Toad Art.
• A veiled woman from the Murong Family examined Shangguan Sheng’s body and told Li Yuzhou that Cao Jinxing was one of the killers, warning him that pursuing Cao could destroy the Chess and Sword Music House.
• The Murong woman advised Li Yuzhou to conceal Shangguan Sheng’s death and prepare for the Famous Qin Gathering, then sent a Jade-Clawed Sea-Eagle to tell someone that Cao Jinxing was staying at the Bluestone Street Post Station.

Cao Jinxing traded the Primordial Chaos Sword for rare spiritual materials and used them with the Wine God Stone to prepare for a breakthrough into Tongyou. Outside Hangzhou, Qin Xuanji confronted Aiyixiamu, the former Bright Sect Holy Maiden, who attacked her with the Holy Flame Heaven-Burning Palm.

• Cao Jinxing visited Thousand Autumn House, solved a mechanism puzzle, and revealed the Mohists' Ink Classic inside it.
• Han Tang rewarded Cao Jinxing with a Jade Marrow Ganoderma and traded him a nine-hundred-year-old Ice Chi Grass and one hundred Ice Spirit Fruits for the Primordial Chaos Sword.
• Cao Jinxing noticed pursuers following him, combined his new spiritual materials with the Wine God Stone, and headed out of Hangzhou to attempt a Tongyou breakthrough.
• At Feilai Peak, Qin Xuanji found Aiyixiamu standing among the bodies of men she had killed.
• Qin Xuanji recognized Aiyixiamu as the former Bright Sect Holy Maiden, and Aiyixiamu attacked her with the Holy Flame Heaven-Burning Palm.

Cao Jinxing broke through to Tongyou while the Bright Sect’s pursuers attacked, killed or drained most of them, and rescued Qin Xuanji from Aiyixiamu. After learning the Bright Sect had come to Hangzhou and Li Yuzhou might be tied to disappearances, Cao Jinxing agreed to attend the Famous Qin Gathering in disguise while Zhao Yeting investigated.

• Cao Jinxing reached Tongyou during the Three Friends of Winter and six Bright Sect experts’ ambush, then used Heaven and Earth Great Shift to turn their attacks against them.
• Cao Jinxing killed Green Pine and the six blade-wielding Xiantian experts, then drained Frost Plum and Green Bamboo, advancing to Tongyou Second Layer.
• Aiyixiamu nearly killed Qin Xuanji, but an unseen rescuer shot five arrows and carried her away; Cao Jinxing found her, treated her wounds, and took her back to the Post Station.
• Qin Xuanji told Cao Jinxing she had intervened to save people and intended to attend the Famous Qin Gathering rather than return the qin.
• Zhao Yeting warned Cao Jinxing that Bright Sect forces had reached Hangzhou, and Cao Jinxing revealed that Li Yuzhou might be responsible for disappearances and for sustaining Shangguan Sheng.
• Zhao Yeting asked Cao Jinxing to investigate Li Yuzhou’s allies at the Famous Qin Gathering, gave him a Zither Invitation, and Cao Jinxing agreed to attend in disguise.

Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji attended the Chess and Sword Music House gathering, where Qin prepared to compete on behalf of Mist-Flow Island. As they explored the manor, they learned that Young Master Ouyang had solved Zhang Ruoxu’s famous treasure riddle and hurried to see what he had found.

• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji left the Right Guard garrison and traveled to the Chess and Sword Music House at Thousand Island Lake.
• Qin Xuanji presented her invitation as Mist-Flow Island’s representative, introducing Cao Jinxing as her elder brother, Qin Xuan Shu.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji entered the manor and discussed its gathering, prizes, and hidden riddles while exploring the gardens.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji reached Moon Embracing Tower, where other guests stared at them and Qin Xuanji grew uncomfortable.
• A messenger announced that Young Master Ouyang had solved Zhang Ruoxu’s treasure riddle, and Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji went to investigate.

Cao Jinxing deciphered the hidden mechanism in Zhang Ruoxu’s painting and found a broken blue stone, then left Bright Moon Residence with Qin Xuanji after she defeated Ouyang Chuan. Heavenly Sound Pavilion’s leaders learned that Mist-Flow Island had found another stone and set out for Deer Gate Residence.

• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji reached Bright Moon Residence, where Ouyang Chuan had discovered Zhang Ruoxu’s Moonlit Spring River painting.
• Cao Jinxing recognized the stars in the painting as an acupuncture-point diagram, learned the Profound Moon Mental Method, and found a concealed compartment in a roof beam.
• Cao Jinxing retrieved a broken blue stone marked with the seal-script character “Qian,” prompting Ouyang Chuan to demand it and attack him.
• Qin Xuanji kicked Ouyang Chuan into a wall, breaking his ribs, and then left Bright Moon Residence with Cao Jinxing and the stone.
• A disciple told Li Yuzhou and the others at Heavenly Sound Pavilion that Mist-Flow Island had solved Zhang Ruoxu’s puzzle and obtained a stone.
• Li Yuzhou, Daoist Master Qianhe, Master Mingchan, Zhang Chong, and Pei Sheng headed to Deer Gate Residence.

Cao Jinxing comprehended Meng Haoran’s Vast Righteousness Sword at Deer Gate Residence and uncovered another mysterious stone. As he and Qin Xuanji left for Luo Binwang’s former home, Wan Heqing took an interest in Cao Jinxing and offered the Chess and Sword Music House a condition.

• Cao Jinxing arrived at Deer Gate Residence with Qin Xuanji and studied Meng Haoran’s sword riddle while Han Tang and Du Wei traded insults nearby.
• Cao Jinxing swiftly comprehended the Vast Righteousness Sword, stunning the crowd with its immense righteous sword intent.
• Li Yuzhou and four others watched Cao Jinxing practice, recognized Qin Xuanji as a Mist-Flow Island expert, and met Wan Heqing, who offered to improve their chances of reclaiming the [Nine Skies Ringing Jade Qin] in exchange for a condition.
• Cao Jinxing followed the sword’s final stroke to a hidden mechanism beneath the eaves and found another strange stone that fit the piece from Zhang Ruoxu’s room.
• Cao Jinxing silenced the crowd by burying a dead branch in stone, then left with Qin Xuanji for Mayfly Residence; Du Wei considered seizing the stone for his society head.

Cao Jinxing comprehended Luo Binwang’s Binwang Force, claimed the jade fragment hidden in the great bell, and left Mayfly Residence with Qin Xuanji. Wan Heqing watched him and planned to handle him herself, while Li Yufeng’s attempt to stop the siblings ended when Li Yuzhou ordered him to stand down.

• Cao Jinxing studied the symbols on Luo Binwang’s bell and used Qin Xuanji’s Nine Heavens Ringing Pendants to strike it with Binwang Force.
• The bell’s mechanism opened, and Cao Jinxing took another jade fragment, which joined the pieces he had already collected.
• Wan Heqing rejected Du Wei’s suggestion to kill Cao Jinxing and told him she would deal with Cao Jinxing herself.
• Cao Jinxing reminded Li Yuzhou that the riddles’ treasures belonged to their solvers and warned the onlookers not to pry into his belongings.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji left, ignoring Li Yufeng when he challenged their manners.
• Li Yufeng drew his sword to attack, but Li Yuzhou stopped him, and the siblings continued on their way.

Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji discovered that the jade fragment was the Heaven-Covering Formation, which led them to the Fire Phoenix at Changbai Heavenly Lake. At the Famous Qin Gathering, Qin Xuanji challenged the Chess and Sword Music House, while Shan Qingcheng used Self-Sacrifice Needles to face her and Wan Heqing approached Cao Jinxing to ask about three stones.

• Qin Xuanji identified Cao Jinxing’s jade fragment as the Heaven-Covering Formation, part of the Eight Formation Diagram, and explained its link to the He Shi Bi and the eight forces of nature.
• Cao Jinxing activated the formation and received a vision pointing to the Fire Phoenix at Changbai Heavenly Lake, though the effort drained his internal energy and Qin Xuanji had to replenish it.
• Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji attended the Famous Qin Gathering, where Li Yuchen introduced the Nian Nu Jiao zither as the prize for the contest.
• Qin Xuanji took the platform to challenge the Chess and Sword Music House, and Shan Qingcheng used five Self-Sacrifice Needles to raise his cultivation before facing her.
• Wan Heqing approached Cao Jinxing and asked him what the three stones were.

Cao Jinxing resisted Wan Heqing’s Fire Charm Technique as Qin Xuanji defeated Shan Qingcheng in the qin contest and exposed the Chess and Sword Music House’s deception with Heart-Replenishing Needles. The gathering collapsed in disgrace, Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji departed with the Nine Heavens Ringing Pendants, and Li Yuzhou realized the broken wine gourd might have contained the Wine God Stone.

• Cao Jinxing rebuffed Wan Heqing’s seduction and insulted her while Qin Xuanji and Shan Qingcheng began their musical duel.
• Qin Xuanji overpowered Shan Qingcheng’s Ambush from Ten Sides with Dragon Soaring Melody, severely injuring him and damaging the platform.
• Qin Xuanji revealed that Shan Qingcheng had used Heart-Replenishing Needles, then exposed his feigned collapse by stamping on his arm.
• Cao Jinxing mocked the Chess and Sword Music House, and Li Yufeng attacked him before Song Xian and the Sword-Wielding Elder intervened.
• The guests condemned and abandoned the Chess and Sword Music House as Cao Jinxing and Qin Xuanji left with the Nine Heavens Ringing Pendants.
• Li Yuzhou noticed the distinctive aroma from a broken wine gourd and suspected it had held the Wine God Stone.

After the Chess and Sword Music House exposed its own scandal, Li Yuzhou’s group discovered a fragment of the Wine God Stone and decided to seize it from Qin Xuan Shu. They ambushed his room at the Apricot Blossom Tower, where Cao Jinxing and the Embroidered Uniform Guards had prepared a trap.

• Li Yuzhou rebuked the other leaders for their part in the scandal and urged them to prioritize the Chess and Sword Music House’s power.
• Li Yuzhou recognized the fragrance from a gourd fragment as Wine God Stone Spirit Liquid and suspected Qin Xuan Shu had the missing treasure.
• Li Yuzhou wondered whether Qin Xuan Shu might be Cao Jinxing, but the group dismissed the possibility and agreed to attack the Qin siblings.
• Li Yuchen, Li Yufeng, Pei Sheng, and Zhang Chong tracked the siblings to the Apricot Blossom Tower and chose to target Qin Xuan Shu.
• The four leaders entered Heaven Room One and attacked the figure on the bed, but Zhao Yeting, Wang Yingyang, Han Tang, and Shen’s fighters surrounded them.
• Cao Jinxing revealed himself in the room and confronted the trapped attackers.

Cao Jinxing exposed Li Yuzhou’s crimes and arrested Li Yuchen and Li Yufeng, but Li Yuzhou sent a vast flock of birds to disrupt the capture. As the birds overwhelmed the defenders and Qin Xuanji was wounded, Cao Jinxing prepared to counter them with his bone flute.

• Cao Jinxing revealed that Li Yuzhou had imprisoned Shangguan Sheng and fed him refugees’ vital essence, then ordered Li Yuchen, Li Yufeng, Pei Sheng, and Zhang Chong to surrender.
• Li Yuchen and Li Yufeng attacked Wang Yingyang and Zhao Yeting, while Pei Sheng and Zhang Chong stayed out of the fight.
• Smiling Buddha and Shan Maozi guarded Apricot Blossom Tower as a huge flock led by the Jade-Clawed Sea-Eagle descended on them.
• Qin Xuanji used her zither to kill attacking birds, but a returning throwing knife cut her shoulder and interrupted her music.
• Cao Jinxing and his allies subdued Li Yuchen and Li Yufeng, pierced their shoulder blades with hooks, and forced them to swallow poison as birds flooded Heaven Room One.
• Cao Jinxing took out his bone flute and prepared to counter Li Yuzhou’s bird-taming attack.

Cao Jinxing and his allies repelled the bird assault at Apricot Blossom Tower and exposed Li Yuzhou and Murong Yan’s attack. With Wu Xuan’s help, Cao Jinxing killed the Jade-Clawed Sea-Eagle and defeated the attackers, leaving Li Yuzhou and Murong Yan dying on the ground.

• Cao Jinxing played the Snowbound Siege Song, slowing the birds while Han Tang and the others fought them off.
• A servant warned Shan Maozi and Smiling Buddha that Shen Mingqiu was under attack at Huating Garden, so they withdrew with their men.
• Two masked attackers stormed Heaven Room One, drove its defenders outside, and moved to seize Cao Jinxing.
• Wu Xuan emerged from the wardrobe and struck Li Yuzhou with Bone-Melting Cotton Palm, allowing Cao Jinxing to sever Li Yuzhou’s arm.
• Murong Yan carried Li Yuzhou toward the Jade-Clawed Sea-Eagle, but Xuan Yuan Fourteen’s roar and Cao Jinxing’s arrows killed the bird.
• Wu Xuan blocked Murong Yan’s escape, and Cao Jinxing’s arrow and Wu Xuan’s palms left Murong Yan and Li Yuzhou collapsing with ruptured meridians and organs.

Cao Jinxing’s plan brought down Li Yuzhou and Murong Yan, while the Bright Sect’s rescue effort failed and its leaders prepared to flee. In the dungeon, Murong Yan’s confession confirmed Li Yuzhou had raised a demon, and Cao Jinxing examined a mysterious maple-leaf jade pendant found on him.

• Wu Xuan helped Cao Jinxing capture Li Yuzhou, Murong Yan, and the other Chess and Sword Music House conspirators, and Cao thanked Han Tang by giving him the Mystic Moon Heart Art.
• Cao Jinxing gave Qin Xuanji a metal flask, then discussed interrogating Li Yuzhou to uncover the Demon Cult’s hiding place.
• Wan Heqing watched the capture from afar and put her plan involving Cao Jinxing on hold, while the attackers at Shen Mingqiu’s residence withdrew after learning their mission had failed.
• Xu Shicheng learned that Wu Xuan had defeated Li Yuzhou and Murong Yan, and Aiyixiamu ordered the Bright Sect to evacuate and contact the Murong Family.
• A dungeon officer reported that Murong Yan had confessed to knowing Li Yuzhou raised a demon beneath West Lake, and Cao Jinxing began examining the maple-leaf jade pendant found on Li Yuzhou.