Chapter Summaries

Lin Lang and his allies defeated Northern Shaolin’s monks, killed Fang Zheng, and began looting the monastery while Jiumozhi restored his strength by absorbing Buddhist true qi. Lin Lang headed to the Sutra Depository to claim its martial arts manuals, but found most of the Seventy-Two Supreme Skills missing.

• Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque rushed ahead to help Lin Lang, while Blue Scorpion escorted the weakened Jiumozhi toward Northern Shaolin.
• Lin Lang broke the Vajra Demon-Subduing Formation, killed Du'e, defeated Dunan, and drove the Southern Shaolin monks into retreat.
• Tang Wenliang helped the Sun Moon Holy Cult ambush the Kunlun disciples, while Lin Lang and his allies overwhelmed Northern Shaolin and killed Fang Zheng.
• Blue Scorpion and Jiumozhi arrived; she helped slaughter the monks, and Jiumozhi absorbed the true qi of five Great Grandmasters to recover his strength.
• Lin Lang ordered his allies to gather Northern Shaolin’s valuables and went with Jiumozhi to the Sutra Depository, where he discovered most of the Seventy-Two Supreme Skills were gone.

Zhao Min’s attempt to seize martial artists after the destruction of Northern Shaolin ended with Qiu Chuji dying from poison, while she planned to use Mongol Yuan’s Imperial Preceptor against Lin Lang. News of the massacre spread through the Jianghu, prompting Lu Xiaofeng and Ximen Chuixue to consider what had happened as A'Fei rode to Mount Song seeking a challenge.

• Guo Jing and Huang Rong escaped Mount Song with the Southern Beggars' Gang, while Qiu Chuji ordered the Quanzhen Sect to retreat and later died when Zhao Min’s men tried to capture him.
• Zhao Min’s forces took the injured Kunlun and Wudang disciples, while Tang Wenliang delivered Shaolin manuals and Cheng Kun reported that Lin Lang had destroyed Northern Shaolin.
• Zhao Min sent Cheng Kun to Southern Shaolin and planned to rely on Mongol Yuan’s Imperial Preceptor to kill Lin Lang, then withdrew with her captives and spoils.
• Lu Xiaofeng heard reports of Northern Shaolin’s destruction and decided to find Lin Lang, while Ximen Chuixue rejected rumors that the Sun Moon Holy Cult had abducted the missing sect members and asked Lu Xiaofeng to investigate Emei.
• A'Fei arrived at Mount Song after the assembly had ended and decided to challenge the Sun Moon Demon Cult’s Right Envoy.

After destroying Northern Shaolin, Lin Lang returned to Blackwood Cliff with its wealth and martial arts manuals, strengthening the Sun Moon Holy Cult and improving his own skills. He prepared to return to the Capital City, but a challenger appeared at the foot of the mountain.

• Lin Lang reunited with Ren Yingying at Blackwood Cliff, reassured her that Wudang would not attack, and explained the enormous wealth and manuals taken from Northern Shaolin.
• Lin Lang examined Ren Yingying's martial arts progress, advised her to stabilize her realm, and entered secluded cultivation to integrate Northern Shaolin's skills.
• Lin Lang advanced his Reverse Primordial Vajra Child Skill and Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill, then considered how to fuse his essence, qi, and spirit to strengthen his Heaven-Man Realm cultivation.
• Lin Lang told Jiang Xiaoyu to guard Blackwood Cliff and agreed that Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque could travel the Jianghu after Ren Yingying emerged from seclusion.
• An Elder reported that someone at the foot of Blackwood Cliff was demanding to challenge Lin Lang.

A'Fei challenged Lin Lang on Blackwood Cliff and lost after Lin Lang blocked his attacks, then studied sword manuals before continuing his training. At Wudang Mountain, Zhang Sanfeng learned that the Mongol Yuan's Prince of Ruyang's Manor had captured Yu Lianzhou and sent word for Zhang Wuji to rescue the captives.

• A'Fei challenged Lin Lang, and Lin Lang defeated him after blocking his sword strikes and revealing his identity as the Sun Moon Holy Cult's Right Envoy and Commander of the Jinyiwei.
• Lin Lang invited A'Fei to stay, but A'Fei declined and spent a day and a night studying sword manuals at Blackwood Cliff's Martial Arts Pavilion.
• Lin Lang urged Jiang Xiaoyu to train harder after he failed to stop A'Fei, then left Blackwood Cliff for the Capital City.
• At Wudang Mountain, Five Poisons Child delivered Lin Lang's letter to Zhang Sanfeng, who thanked Lin Lang for the information and taught Five Poisons Child a method of nourishing qi.
• Zhang Sanfeng told Yu Daiyan that the Mongol Yuan's Prince of Ruyang's Manor had captured Yu Lianzhou and ordered him to send Zhang Wuji a message asking him to rescue the captives.

After Northern Shaolin’s destruction, Lin Lang persuaded the Emperor of Great Ming to tolerate the Sun Moon Holy Cult and ordered the Jinyiwei to seize temples, unregistered land, and wanted fugitives. As Lin Lang considered the emperor’s plans against the frontier commanders, he learned that the Prince of Pingnan’s Residence had expelled his planted agents and wondered what secret the prince was protecting.

• The Emperor of Great Ming worried that the Sun Moon Holy Cult would destroy Wudang next, while Zhang Banban suggested the court could divide the cult by tempting its Right Envoy with rank and marriage prospects.
• Five Poisons Child told Lin Lang that Zhang Sanfeng had offered to help him through a future martial cultivation bottleneck and had taught him a vital-energy practice.
• The Emperor of Great Ming summoned Lin Lang over Northern Shaolin’s destruction, but Lin Lang argued that the court could gain temples, farmland, tax revenue, and wanted fugitives while the Sun Moon Holy Cult kept foreign martial forces at bay.
• The Emperor of Great Ming asked Lin Lang to persuade the cult’s Right Envoy to serve the court, offering him leadership and a noble title, but Lin Lang rejected the idea of being tempted away from Ren Yingying.
• Lin Lang ordered Wang Wu and the Jinyiwei to investigate monasteries, arrest wanted monks, confiscate unregistered temple land, and kill anyone who resisted.
• Jia Liu reported that the Prince of Pingnan’s Residence had replaced its guards and driven out the Jinyiwei’s planted agents, prompting Lin Lang to suspect the prince was hiding a valuable treasure or another secret.

The Prince of Pingnan enlisted Ye Gucheng and Tang Tianyi in a conspiracy to replace the Young Emperor with his own son, while arranging a duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue. Ximen Chuixue left to face Ye Gucheng despite Sun Xiuqing’s pregnancy, and Lin Lang learned that their announced fight at the Forbidden City threatened to throw Great Ming into chaos.

• The Prince of Pingnan secured Ye Gucheng’s agreement to challenge Ximen Chuixue and promised him the title of Imperial Preceptor and the right to establish a state religion.
• The Prince of Pingnan told his son to study the Young Emperor’s mannerisms and ordered Tang Tianyi to fight Ye Gucheng as part of the scheme to seize the throne.
• Ye Gucheng sent Ximen Chuixue a challenge for a duel at the Summit of the Forbidden City on the night of the full moon, and Ximen Chuixue learned that Sun Xiuqing was expecting.
• Ximen Chuixue decided to accept the duel and left the next morning, promising Sun Xiuqing he would return before the end of the month.
• Shangguan Haitang told Lin Lang that Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue’s public duel was drawing Jianghu fighters toward Capital City, and Lin Lang considered how to stop it.

Lu Xiaofeng sought Lin Lang’s help over the coming duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue, while Lin Lang turned the duel into a high-stakes betting opportunity at the Silver Hook Gambling House. After Ye Gucheng demonstrated his swordsmanship at the Imperial Palace, gamblers flocked to bet on him, and Lin Lang prepared to lure them in further.

• Lu Xiaofeng visited the Fragrant Pavilion and asked Lin Lang for money and advice about stopping Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue’s duel.
• Lin Lang explained that neither swordsman would abandon the duel and said Ximen Chuixue might be weaker after marrying Sun Xiuqing while pursuing a new path in swordsmanship.
• Lu Xiaofeng suspected the Forbidden City duel might be part of a scheme to destabilize Great Ming and decided to investigate the swordsmen’s whereabouts.
• Lin Lang ordered Manager Liu to raise the Silver Hook Gambling House’s payouts and spread news about Ximen Chuixue’s strength, while claiming he would kill one of the duelists.
• Ye Gucheng struck the palace wall with a powerful sword attack, and news of his display sent gamblers rushing to the Silver Hook Gambling House to bet on him.
• Lin Lang told Manager Liu to spread another piece of good news to draw even more gamblers into betting.

Lin Lang prepared to use the Jianghu masters gathering in the Capital City to assert Great Ming's authority, while Lu Xiaofeng investigated the sword duel and the Emperor assigned Lin Lang to handle it. After Tang Tianyi staged a fight with Ye Gucheng, Lin Lang captured him with one finger, and the watching Tang Clan members vowed revenge.

• Shopkeeper Liu warned Lin Lang that bets on Ye Gucheng could cost the Silver Hook Gambling House three million taels, and Lin Lang told him to accept all bets and adjust the odds as he saw fit.
• Lu Xiaofeng heard gamblers discussing Ximen Chuixue's marriage and Ye Gucheng's rising odds, grew suspicious of Lin Lang's motives, and decided to investigate.
• The Emperor asked Lin Lang to stop Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue, and Lin Lang proposed letting the duel happen before dealing with the wounded survivors and other Jianghu visitors.
• Five Poisons Child reported that Tang Tianyi of the Tang Clan had arrived in the Capital City and likely reached Great Grandmaster strength, so Lin Lang went to confront him.
• Tang Tianyi attacked Ye Gucheng with poisoned weapons as part of a staged encounter; Ye Gucheng wounded him and fled, leaving Tang Tianyi to believe their plan was complete.
• Lin Lang intercepted Tang Tianyi, caught his poisoned needles, and knocked him unconscious with one finger, while two Tang Clan members watching nearby vowed revenge.

Lin Lang interrogated Tang Tianyi, extracted the Tang Clan’s martial inheritance and poison formulas, and used rumors about Ye Gucheng’s supposed injury to draw more bets to the Silver Hook Gambling House. Meanwhile, conspirators prepared to exploit the duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue to attack the Forbidden City, while Lu Xiaofeng began searching for the real Ye Gucheng.

• Lin Lang exposed Tang Tianyi’s connection to the Prince of Pingnan’s plot, pressured him for the Tang Clan’s martial inheritance and poison formulas, and ordered Five Poisons Child to dispose of his corpse.
• Rumors that Tang Tianyi had poisoned Ye Gucheng drove Jianghu people to bet heavily at the Silver Hook Gambling House, while Lu Xiaofeng grew suspicious and set out to find Ye Gucheng.
• Du Tongxuan treated Ye Gucheng’s disguised disciple, and they discussed using Gongsun Daniang and others to misdirect Lu Xiaofeng and conceal the Prince of Pingnan’s plan.
• Wei Ziyun prepared six ribbons to restrict entry to the Forbidden City on the night of the duel, hoping the Golden Guards would control the Jianghu visitors.
• Chief Eunuch Wang secretly supplied the Prince of Pingnan’s household with extra color-changing silk for more ribbons and planned to keep Lin Lang occupied during the attack.

Lin Lang discussed the coming duel and the turmoil in Capital City as Ximen Chuixue regained his confidence in the Sword of Affection. On the night of the fifteenth, Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng set out for the Forbidden City, where their duel and the Prince of Pingnan’s plot were about to unfold.

• Shangguan Haitang told Lin Lang that a color-changing sash had been stolen, and Lin Lang said she could watch the duel without one.
• Shangguan Haitang reported that Tang Tianrong had died after ambushing Ye Gucheng, and Lin Lang ordered her to monitor the Jianghu experts in Capital City.
• Lu Xiaofeng visited the Fragrant Pavilion and found Ximen Chuixue there; he noticed that Ximen Chuixue’s sword intent had weakened since his marriage.
• Lin Lang advised Ximen Chuixue to turn the Sword of Affection into the Sword of Extreme Affection, restoring his confidence and resolve to face Ye Gucheng.
• Ye Gucheng told the Heir of the Prince of Pingnan that palace allies would draw the Golden Guards and court experts away from the emperor, while Lin Lang sensed someone watching him near He Fang Zhai.
• On the night of the duel, Ximen Chuixue left for the Forbidden City, and Ye Gucheng also set out.

Wei Ziyun struggled to contain the unexpected crowd of masked Jianghu experts gathering in the Forbidden City for Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue’s duel, while Lin Lang remained absent. In the Imperial Study, Ye Gucheng and the Heir of the Prince of Pingnan attempted to seize the throne, but Lin Lang finally appeared and revealed his Heaven-Man Realm power.

• Wei Ziyun found that more than a dozen ribbon holders had arrived, far exceeding the six he expected, and ordered extra Golden Guards to reinforce the palace defenses.
• Lu Xiaofeng met Sikong Zhaixing at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where Sikong Zhaixing spotted eight disguised people and Lu Xiaofeng wondered whether they were connected to Lin Lang.
• Yunluo disguised herself as a eunuch to leave Jingyang Palace, then saw two people in dragon robes enter the Imperial Study and went to investigate.
• Eunuch Wang revealed the Heir of the Prince of Pingnan’s plan to replace the Emperor of Great Ming, while Ye Gucheng fought off Zhang Banban and supported the heir’s rebellion.
• Yunluo intervened to protect the Emperor of Great Ming and fought the Heir of the Prince of Pingnan, but Ye Gucheng moved to attack her.
• Lin Lang appeared before Yunluo and the Emperor of Great Ming, declared himself her master, and revealed his Heaven-Man Realm aura.

Lin Lang confronted Ye Gucheng in the Imperial Study and fought him while the Emperor’s guards prepared for the rebellion. At the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a masked double was exposed, and Ximen Chuixue and Lu Xiaofeng rushed to the Imperial Study as the real Ye Gucheng tried to unleash Heavenly Flying Immortal against Lin Lang.

• Lin Lang identified Ye Gucheng’s plan to replace the Emperor and rejected the Heir of the Prince of Pingnan’s offer to join the rebellion.
• Ye Gucheng explained that he wanted to draw out powerful experts, then fought Lin Lang after Lin Lang challenged his claim to pure swordsmanship.
• Lin Lang used the Heavenly Sword and the Reverse Star-Sucking Great Skill to withstand Ye Gucheng’s attacks, alarming the onlookers and prompting Yunluo to defend him.
• At the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Ximen Chuixue and Lu Xiaofeng attacked the masked rebels, while Tang Tianzong struck down a disguised Ye Gucheng who was revealed to be a double.
• Jiang Xiaoyu unmasked the double, and Lu Xiaofeng and Ximen Chuixue hurried toward the Imperial Study after sensing Ye Gucheng’s sword intent.
• In the Imperial Study, Ye Gucheng tried to force Lin Lang back so he could use Heavenly Flying Immortal, but Lin Lang struck at his vital points to stop him from taking flight.

Lin Lang defeated and killed Ye Gucheng by breaking his golden body and striking first during Ye Gucheng’s Heavenly Flying Immortal. After the duel, the other swordsmen departed, while Lin Lang and Yunluo entered the Imperial Study to help capture the remaining conspirators.

• Ximen Chuixue and the others watched as Lin Lang and Ye Gucheng fought, and Ximen realized Ye Gucheng was building momentum for a decisive strike.
• Ye Gucheng unleashed Heavenly Flying Immortal, but Lin Lang turned golden, caught the Flying Rainbow Sword with his left hand, and pierced Ye Gucheng’s heart with his own sword.
• Ye Gucheng gave the Flying Rainbow Sword to Lu Xiaofeng and died, while Ximen Chuixue conceded that Ye Gucheng had won their imagined duel and promised to challenge Lin Lang later.
• The Emperor of Great Ming tried to recruit the assembled martial artists, but Ximen Chuixue and the others left; Yunluo then joined Lin Lang in the Imperial Study.
• Eunuch Zhang used needle techniques to defeat Chief Eunuch Wang and capture him alive, while Yunluo suppressed the Heir of the Prince of Pingnan.

After killing Ye Gucheng, Lin Lang secured the title of Imperial Preceptor and permission to study the Imperial Armory’s manuals. He then led the Jinyiwei in arresting the conspirators in the capital, while the Prince of Pingnan prepared to march on the throne, unaware that his son’s plot had failed.

• The Heir of the Prince of Pingnan tried to recruit Lin Lang by promising him the Imperial Preceptor position, but Yunluo killed the heir after the old eunuch distracted him.
• The Emperor of Great Ming appointed Lin Lang Imperial Preceptor, gave him access to the Imperial Armory, and asked him to teach martial arts.
• Lin Lang left the palace with Yunluo, reunited with Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque, and discussed what they had learned from his duel with Ye Gucheng.
• The Prince of Pingnan learned no news had arrived from the capital and ordered his troops to march, intending to claim the throne himself.
• Lin Lang confronted Du Tongxuan, crippled him when he attacked, and ordered the Jinyiwei to seize his residence and arrest the other conspirators in the capital.
• After the Jinyiwei captured the remaining associates of Ye Gucheng and the Prince of Pingnan, Lin Lang hurried by carriage toward the Imperial Palace.

Lin Lang secured the Sunflower Manual and palace medicines, then arranged for the Green Robe Tower to eliminate the Ten Frontier Garrison Commanders. In seclusion, he advanced his martial arts and left poised for another breakthrough as news of the commanders’ deaths began to shake the capital and the wider world.

• The Emperor of Great Ming appointed Yuhuatian to oversee the Western Depot and sent Lin Lang with Zhang Banban to the Imperial Armory.
• Lin Lang studied the Sunflower Manual and other martial arts, collected the palace’s medicines, and found a path to advance his Reverse Sunflower Manual.
• Lin Lang agreed to have the Green Robe Tower assassinate the Ten Frontier Garrison Commanders, and the Emperor of Great Ming paid him two million taels.
• Lin Lang told Yu'er to poison the ten commanders and make their deaths look like suicides; she promised to finish within three days.
• Lin Lang merged the Reverse Sunflower Manual with the Reverse Evil-Warding Sword Technique, reached the Transcendent level, and broke through the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill.
• News began to shock Capital City and the wider world while Lin Lang remained in seclusion.

Lin Lang’s rise to the Heaven-Man Realm and appointment as imperial tutor reshaped events across several realms, while Mongol Yuan prepared to invade Great Ming. The chapter ended with Shangguan Haitang reporting that Jinlun Fawang and three hundred thousand Mongol cavalry aimed to capture the capital within a month.

• Shopkeeper Liu announced that Lin Lang, not Ximen Chuixue, had killed Ye Gucheng, and Jia Liu used Jinyiwei authority to disperse angry gamblers.
• Wanwan celebrated Lin Lang’s breakthrough and planned to join him in opening Duke Yang’s Treasure Vault, while deciding to kill Zhang Wuji’s allies from the Twin Dragons Gang.
• Yu Daiyan told Zhang Sanfeng that Lin Lang had reached the Heaven-Man Realm and was the Sun Moon Demon Cult’s Right Envoy; Zhang Sanfeng remained confident Wudang could withstand him.
• Zhang Wuji rescued prisoners from the Prince of Ruyang’s Manor, escaping Zhao Min and Lu Zhangke with the Ming Cult’s help.
• Lin Lang ordered Jia Liu to delay investigating officials who opposed his appointment, then learned from Shangguan Haitang that Jinlun Fawang and three hundred thousand Mongol cavalry planned to take Great Ming’s capital within a month.

Jinlun Fawang emerged from seclusion, crushed Fan Yao with one move, and led the Mongol Yuan army through Western Xia into Great Ming. As Great Ming prepared for his invasion and Wanwan considered going to Lin Lang, Lin Lang remained in seclusion, nearing a crucial breakthrough.

• Zhao Min briefed Jinlun Fawang on Lin Lang’s killing of Ye Gucheng, and Jinlun Fawang marked Lin Lang as a target for a life-or-death fight.
• Jinlun Fawang exposed Fan Yao outside the command tent and killed him with a single attack before ordering the army to invade Western Xia.
• Jinlun Fawang destroyed Western Xia’s border camp and capital, then demanded the city’s surrender and killed the experts who opposed him.
• Yuhuatian reported Western Xia’s fall to the Emperor of Great Ming, who ordered Wei Ziyun to seek Zhang Sanfeng and sent the Western Depot and Jinyiwei to find Lin Lang.
• Wanwan asked Zhu Yuyan to let her help Lin Lang, but Zhu Yuyan refused, and Wanwan decided she might leave on her own.
• The Mongol Yuan army captured a Great Ming frontier city, and Jinlun Fawang announced he would challenge Lin Lang at the Forbidden City in five days while Lin Lang continued his critical breakthrough in seclusion.

After five days in seclusion, Lin Lang broke through to the middle stage of the Heaven-Man Realm and learned that Mongol Yuan forces had surrounded the Capital City. Jinlun Fawang invaded the Forbidden City to draw him out, and Lin Lang appeared before him as he threatened to massacre the city.

• Lin Lang strengthened his spirit, mastered the fusion of Essence with Qi and Qi with spirit, and left seclusion after nearly five days.
• Lin Lang learned that the Mongol Yuan army had reached the Capital City and that Jinlun Fawang had killed Jianghu fighters who tried to stop him.
• Members of the Sun Moon Holy Cult gathered at the Fragrant Pavilion to protect its women as Mongol Yuan experts broke into the city.
• Jinlun Fawang entered the Forbidden City, defeated Zhang Banban, and threatened the Emperor of Great Ming while Yunluo tried to lead him to safety.
• Jinlun Fawang demanded that Lin Lang appear, and Lin Lang arrived before him in a purple python robe.

Lin Lang fought Jinlun Fawang, the Mongol Yuan Imperial Preceptor, in a wager for the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill and the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill. After struggling against Jinlun Fawang’s overwhelming strength, Lin Lang defeated him with a final palm strike, leaving Jinlun Fawang buried to the knees in the ground.

• Lin Lang arrived at the Capital City and sealed the acupoints of Prince of Ruyang's Manor's experts, then faced Jinlun Fawang.
• Lin Lang and Jinlun Fawang wagered their supreme martial arts, and Jinlun Fawang agreed to give Lin Lang the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill if he lost.
• Jinlun Fawang pressed Lin Lang with his flying wheels and powerful palms, forcing Lin Lang to abandon a direct contest of strength and use his speed to counterattack.
• Lin Lang put aside the Heavenly Sword and used Shifting Flowers, Connecting Jade and his body-hardening skills to match Jinlun Fawang's palm attacks.
• Jinlun Fawang unleashed his strongest palm technique, and Lin Lang met it with a golden, indestructible body and a descending palm strike.
• The clash drove Jinlun Fawang's legs into the ground up to his knees while Lin Lang remained unharmed, confirming Lin Lang's victory.

Lin Lang defeated and killed Jinlun Fawang, then forced Mongol Yuan to withdraw from the Capital City. After securing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, he used his reversed cultivation method and unusual constitution to begin mastering it far faster than expected.

• Lin Lang defeated Jinlun Fawang, revealed that he had adapted Ye Gucheng’s Heavenly Flying Immortal into his palm strike, and demanded the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.
• Jinlun Fawang gave Lin Lang the skill and asked him to spare Zhao Min; Lin Lang agreed not to kill her if Mongol Yuan withdrew its troops, and Zhao Min fled to the army’s camp.
• Jinlun Fawang tried to ambush Lin Lang with a forbidden final strike, but Lin Lang evaded him and killed him with Sword Aura.
• Lin Lang announced Jinlun Fawang’s death, while Sun Moon Holy Cult members and Great Ming forces routed Mongol Yuan’s experts in the city and drove its cavalry to retreat.
• Lin Lang inspected the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, reversed its flaw with the system, and began cultivating it, discovering that he could progress in months rather than years.