Chapter Summaries

Lin Lang tested Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque, taught them the Heaven and Earth Great Shift, and returned to Capital City, where he learned the young emperor had begun taking martial arts medicines. Meanwhile, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling faced repeated capture attempts, and Song Que prepared for the Song Clan's campaign against Dali.

• Lin Lang tested Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque, criticized their fighting styles, and taught them the Heaven and Earth Great Shift.
• Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling endured repeated attempts to capture them, while Song Yuzhi urged Song Que to rescue Kou Zhong; Song Que sent her second uncle and ordered intelligence gathered on Dali.
• Lin Lang returned to his residence in Capital City and learned from Five Poisons Child that the Eastern Depot had bought cultivation medicines for the young emperor.
• Lin Lang heard someone approach the back courtyard, went there, and told the visitor he had thought they would not come see him.

Lin Lang discussed the Yin Kui Sect's plans with Wanwan, then directed his Jinyiwei subordinates and visited the young emperor. The chapter ended with Lin Lang asking how the emperor's martial arts training was progressing.

• Wanwan asked Lin Lang for the Heavenly Sword and tried to recruit him to support the Yin Kui Sect, but Lin Lang refused to pursue the throne or kill Zhang Wuji without cause.
• Lin Lang warned Wanwan that Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling might know the locations of Duke Yang's Treasure Vault and the Evil King's Tomb, prompting her to hurry back and alert Zhu Yuyan.
• Lin Lang decided that the Yin Kui Sect might target Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling and hoped the conflict would draw out Heavenly Saber Song Que.
• Lin Lang ordered Wang Wu and the others to sell Buddhist statues abroad, rewarded and promoted his Jinyiwei subordinates, and directed them to train their men.
• The Emperor of Great Ming worried that Lin Lang's influence surpassed his own, then welcomed him into the Imperial Study, where Lin Lang asked about his martial arts training.

Lin Lang visited the Emperor of Great Ming, then secretly continued his relationship with Yunluo while teaching her the Marrow-Cleansing Scripture. The emperor grew more suspicious and resentful of Lin Lang, while Wei Jinzhong quietly began to plot against him.

• The Emperor of Great Ming lied to Lin Lang about mastering the basics of a martial art and planned to reorganize his military to fight Mongol Yuan.
• Lin Lang criticized Yunluo's swordplay, secretly continued their relationship, and taught her the Marrow-Cleansing Scripture, which purified her true qi.
• Lin Lang learned that Consort Yan was pregnant and considered the emperor's martial arts progress suspicious.
• The Emperor of Great Ming ordered Wei Jinzhong to bring him more secret medicine, then struck him with a teacup when he cautioned against taking too much.
• Wei Jinzhong obeyed the emperor but privately vowed to make him and everyone under heaven pay for treating him like a slave.

Lin Lang learned that Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque had gone to Great Sui, where they became embroiled in a fight over the Evil King's Tomb and the Song Clan's ambitions. After Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were killed and the two Sun Moon Holy Cult disciples fled injured, Lin Lang received a summons to the Imperial Study about a message from Dali.

• Lin Lang read reports about Zhang Wuji's attacks on Southern Shaolin and ordered Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque to gain experience in Great Sui.
• Shi Feixuan tried to persuade Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling to abandon the Evil King's Tomb and their ambitions, but Kou Zhong refused.
• Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque confronted Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling in the Young Marshal Army camp, and Shi Feixuan joined the fight before Wanwan arrived.
• Song Zhi reached the camp and learned from a fleeing soldier that Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling had been killed.
• Shangguan Haitang told Lin Lang that Shi Feixuan had escaped seriously injured, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were dead, and Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque had fled injured after losing to Song Zhi.
• The Housekeeper summoned Lin Lang to the Imperial Study after a pigeon message arrived from Dali.

Lin Lang traveled to Dali as the Song Clan threatened to seize the country, while the Dali Duan Clan pinned its hopes on Great Ming’s help. After the Song Clan forced Dali to agree to three duels, Lin Lang rejected a marriage alliance but agreed to accept the Duan Clan’s martial arts as a dowry.

• The Emperor of Great Ming sent Lin Lang to Dali and secretly arranged for an envoy to follow him and discuss trade.
• Duan Zhengming and Master Ku Rong feared the approaching Song Clan army and hoped Lin Lang would arrive before Dali fell.
• Song Que proposed three duels between the Song and Duan families, with the winner taking control of both countries’ fate.
• Lin Lang entered Dali, learned of the duels from White Scorpion, and told the Five Immortals Sect to watch for arriving experts.
• Master Ku Rong asked Lin Lang to fight Song Que and offered him a Dali princess, but Lin Lang refused the princess and demanded her ten top-tier martial arts as dowry.

Lin Lang bargained with the Dali Duan Clan to intervene in its coming contest against the Song Clan, securing copies of the Six Meridians Divine Sword, the Xiantian Skill, and the Nine Yin Manual’s general principles. After studying the manuals, he considered how to improve the Six Meridians Divine Sword, while an unknown figure appeared near his courtyard.

• Lin Lang demanded copies of Tianlong Temple’s martial arts in return for fighting Song Zhi, and Master Ku Rong left to seek Reverend Yideng’s approval.
• Reverend Yideng visited Lin Lang, who agreed to help against Song Zhi and promised not to stand aside if Song Que broke his word.
• Reverend Yideng recited the Xiantian Skill and gave Lin Lang booklets containing the Six Meridians Divine Sword and the Nine Yin Manual’s general principles.
• Lin Lang learned that the Xiantian Skill could harm practitioners’ meridians, then studied the Six Meridians Divine Sword and considered combining it with other finger techniques.
• An unknown figure appeared near Lin Lang’s courtyard.

Yang Xuyan tried to poison and assassinate Lin Lang to prevent him from helping Dali, but Lin Lang wounded him and prepared to attend the wagered matches with Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque. As the Song Clan and Dali’s allies gathered, Song Que vowed to kill Lin Lang and everyone else in the arena.

• Yang Xuyan waited for Lin Lang to fall asleep, then fled when he realized Lin Lang had detected him; Lin Lang struck him with an ice sliver and explained that he wanted chaos so he could claim the throne.
• Lin Lang invited Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque to accompany him to the border, where Huang Yaoshi arrived and exchanged more than a hundred moves with Lin Lang before leaving impressed.
• Shi Feixuan worried that the Song Clan’s advance would derail Cihang Jingzhai’s plans for Li Shimin, while Wanwan decided to hurry to Dali and protect Lin Lang from Song Que.
• Song Zhi told Song Que that Lin Lang would represent the Dali Duan Clan in the wagered matches, and Song Que vowed to kill Lin Lang and the rest of their opponents.

Song Que killed Reverend Yideng and six other Dali Duan Clan experts in three strikes, then the second arena fight ended in a draw when Huang Yaoshi and Song Lu injured each other. Lin Lang challenged Song Que directly to decide the wager, and the two prepared to fight.

• Song Que entered the arena first and killed Reverend Yideng, Qiu Qianren, Master Ku Rong, and four others with three saber strikes.
• Huang Yaoshi fought Song Lu and used a fragment of his shattered jade flute to injure him as Song Lu struck him, leaving both fighters seriously wounded and the bout a draw.
• Song Zhi challenged Lin Lang for the third fight, but Lin Lang refused and proposed that he and Song Que settle the contest directly.
• Lin Lang took Moon in the Well from Jiang Xiaoyu and faced Song Que on the platform, while Song Yuzhi recognized Kou Zhong's weapon.

Lin Lang and Song Que fought a fierce saber duel that ended with both their weapons broken and neither man claiming victory. Song Que withdrew from Dali after revealing that he was gravely injured, while Lin Lang’s condition remained uncertain.

• Lin Lang imitated Song Que’s saber forms, then countered his eighth slash and forced him to unveil a powerful ninth slash.
• Lin Lang reversed his meridians and combined the resulting strength with his Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill to withstand Song Que’s ninth slash, shattering the Moon in the Well.
• Song Que and Lin Lang each declared that the other had not won, and Song Que’s saber broke, ending the duel without a victor.
• Song Que withdrew his troops and vowed that the Song Family would attack Dali again in half a year.
• Song Que told Song Yuzhi that fighting Lin Lang again would cost him his life, then revealed that the duel had left him gravely injured and poisoned.

Shi Feixuan and Wanwan each misread Lin Lang’s injuries as they left the battlefield, while Lin Lang secretly recovered and began digesting what he had learned from Song Que. An ambush by Cheng Kun and Chen Youliang exposed Lin Lang’s intact power, and the chapter ended with him confronting Cheng Kun.

• Shi Feixuan concluded that Lin Lang’s meridians had shattered and planned to spread the news, while Wanwan hurried back to seek a cure for him.
• Song Que departed, and Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque carried Lin Lang away; Duan Yu thanked Lin Lang, while Huang Yaoshi sent him healing pills.
• Lin Lang revealed privately that reversing his meridians had strengthened him, then told Jiang Xiaoyu to leave him alone while he studied his insights from Song Que’s saber techniques.
• Yuan Zhen, Chen Youliang, and Southern Beggars’ Gang members ambushed the group with poison and tried to seize Lin Lang, while Yuan Zhen held Hua Wuque back.
• Lin Lang caught Chen Youliang’s attack, killed Chen Youliang and his men with a flicked stone, then demanded that Cheng Kun submit or die.

Lin Lang subdued Cheng Kun, exposed and punished Tang Wenliang, and learned that Prince of Ruyang's Manor was searching for Bi Xuan. As Bai Yu'er set out to find him, the Heavenly Sect ambushed his carriage and invited him to Doll Manor.

• Lin Lang forced Cheng Kun to take a Three Corpse Brain Spirit Pill, ordered him to send intelligence from Southern Shaolin, Mongol Yuan, and the Southern Beggars' Gang, and took his supreme arts.
• Cheng Kun told Lin Lang that Prince of Ruyang's Manor was searching for the missing Martial Venerable Bi Xuan, then left while secretly plotting to seek help from Southern Shaolin's Holy Monk.
• Jiang Xiaoyu brought Tang Wenliang to Lin Lang, and Jiang Xiaoyu killed him after Lin Lang rejected his excuses and Tang Wenliang offered information Cheng Kun had already provided.
• Bai Yu'er ordered her subordinate to kill those who had hired the Green Robe Tower to target Lin Lang, then left to find and protect him.
• The Young Master led Heavenly Sect members to ambush Jiang Xiaoyu's carriage on the way to the Five Poisons Sect, and Lin Lang answered from inside after they surrounded it.

Lin Lang defeated the Heavenly Sect’s ambush, captured Young Master, and learned about Goshu Tian and Doll Manor before continuing his journey with Jiang Xiaoyu. Meanwhile, Lan Fenghuang left seclusion as a Great Grandmaster and learned that Lin Lang was reportedly gravely injured and nearing her stockade.

• Young Master lured Lin Lang toward the Heavenly Sect, but Lin Lang sent Jiang Xiaoyu to fight while he watched, and Jiang Xiaoyu killed most of her group.
• Lin Lang captured Young Master and questioned her about Goshu Tian and Doll Manor, but she severed her heart meridian and died rather than reveal their secrets.
• Lin Lang warned Jiang Xiaoyu about Goshu Tian and ordered him to investigate Doll Manor and Lian Family Fortress before they continued on with Jiang Xiaoyu pulling the carriage.
• Lan Fenghuang emerged from seclusion having comprehended Martial Dao True Intent and reached the early Great Grandmaster realm.
• Elder Wu told Lan Fenghuang that Lin Lang had been badly injured fighting Song Que and had faced repeated assassination attempts, so she rushed out to meet him.

Lin Lang revealed to Lan Fenghuang that he had faked his crippling and shared his insights into Song Que’s saber and the union of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. As others celebrated his supposed defeat and made plans around it, Lin Lang sensed that an infiltrator had entered the Five Immortals Sect.

• Lin Lang woke and told Lan Fenghuang he was unharmed, explaining that he had pretended to be crippled to draw out those seeking to attack him.
• Lin Lang described Song Que’s saber mastery and shared his Reverse Five Poisons True Scripture insights with Lan Fenghuang, then said he had found a method to unite Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
• Zhang Sanfeng heard that Lin Lang was crippled, refused to let Wudang join the conflict, and urged Yu Lianzhou to persuade Zhang Wuji to abandon his plans against the Ming Cult.
• Master Miaodi and the Southern Shaolin monks celebrated Lin Lang’s supposed injury, though Yuan Zhen and Master Miaodi doubted the reports.
• Wanwan entered seclusion to master Heavenly Demon Reincarnation and sought Yue Shan’s Saber Manual, while Zhu Yuyan planned to exploit Lin Lang’s supposed crippling and destabilize the Li Clan.
• Lin Lang practiced the Reverse Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill and sensed that someone had infiltrated the rapidly growing Five Immortals Sect.

Lan Fenghuang and Lin Lang exposed and eliminated a rebellion within the Five Immortals Sect, while Ren Yingying left Blackwood Cliff to bring Lin Lang back. As the Great Ming Emperor plotted to exploit reports that Lin Lang was crippled, Lin Lang perfected the thirteenth layer of Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.

• The Five Immortal Envoys tried to infect Lin Lang with Iron Corpse Gu and seize control of the Five Immortals Sect, but Lan Fenghuang killed them and their supporters.
• Lan Fenghuang told Lin Lang that Elder Ai had been preparing Gu insects to help the sect members improve, and Lin Lang wondered whether Blackwood Cliff would remain secure.
• Ren Yingying rode to the Five Immortals Sect with Elders Qu Yang and Shangguan Yun, leaving Xiang Wentian in charge and warning him to put her safety above the cult's possessions.
• Yin Ku and Yin Yeku resolved to remain loyal to the Sun Moon Holy Cult, while Jiumozhi rejected elders' suggestions that he take control of the cult.
• The Emperor of Great Ming planned to destabilize the Sun Moon Holy Cult and ordered Wei Jinzhong to have Thunderbolt Bombs mass-produced within three months.
• Lin Lang cultivated the Reverse Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, overcame a near bout of cultivation deviation, and perfected its thirteenth layer with enough force to punch through a stone wall.

Lin Lang adjusted to his breakthrough into the late Heaven-Man Realm and learned that Yang Xiao had tried to sneak into the Five Immortals Sect’s stockade. Ren Yingying arrived to take him back to Blackwood Cliff, while a bearded stranger entered the poison miasma looking for Jiang Xiaoyu.

• Lin Lang tested his new strength, considered how to unite essence, qi, and spirit, and emerged with his aura concealed and his body at Hunyuan Flawlessness.
• Jiang Xiaoyu told Lin Lang that intruders had targeted the Five Immortals Sect and that Yang Xiao had escaped; Lin Lang let Jiang Xiaoyu decide how to respond.
• Lan Fenghuang told Lin Lang that the Ten-Fragrance Softening Tendon Powder formula was still missing three ingredients and that Ren Yingying was coming to escort him back.
• After two days of adjusting to his strength, Lin Lang reassured Ren Yingying that he was healthy and explained that he had used his supposed injury to draw out restless enemies.
• Ren Yingying offered to pursue the sects that had attacked Lin Lang, but he told her to leave the lesser targets to their allies and said he would handle the Ming Cult himself.
• A bearded man entered the poison miasma outside the Five Immortals Sect, saying he had mastered his divine skill and had come to bring Jiang Xiaoyu home.

Yan Nantian arrived at the Five Immortals Sect to take Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque under his wing, but he challenged Lin Lang after learning the boys already had a master. Their duel left Yan Nantian struggling to match Lin Lang, and Yan unleashed the final strike of his Divine Sword Art.

• Yan Nantian reached Lin Lang at the Five Immortals Sect and revealed he had come to escort Lin Lang back and teach Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque.
• Lin Lang rebuked Yan Nantian for judging his teaching, listing the brothers’ progress and the dangers he had helped them overcome.
• Jiang Xiaoyu arrived and declined Yan Nantian’s offer to take him away, saying he already had a master and a suitable martial inheritance.
• Yan Nantian challenged Lin Lang, and the two exchanged punches as they debated their approaches to fist techniques.
• Yan Nantian and Lin Lang continued their contest with swords, and Yan Nantian launched his Divine Sword Art’s final strike.

Lin Lang and Yan Nantian ended their sword contest in a draw of claims, then Yan Nantian taught Jiang Xiaoyu his martial arts and left to guide Hua Wuque. Rumors that Lin Lang had been crippled prompted Zhang Wuji to head for the Five Poisons Sect and Ximen Chuixue to leave his pregnant wife and investigate.

• Lin Lang and Yan Nantian traded a final sword strike, praised each other's skill, and agreed that Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque would study under Yan Nantian while their progress was compared.
• Yan Nantian demonstrated the Divine Sword Art and taught Jiang Xiaoyu its principles, while Lin Lang grasped the Southern Heaven Divine Fist's essence and reassured Ren Yingying that he would survive a fight to the death.
• Yan Nantian left to find Hua Wuque, and Lin Lang told Jiang Xiaoyu to help clean the forest before he and Ren Yingying returned to Blackwood Cliff.
• Yang Xiao told Zhang Wuji that rumors claimed Lin Lang had been crippled and admitted he had tried to capture him at the Five Poisons Sect; Zhang Wuji decided to investigate in person.
• Sun Xiuqing told Ximen Chuixue that Lin Lang was rumored to be crippled, and Ximen Chuixue left Ten-Thousand Plum Manor to help his friend.

Zhuge Zhengwo sent the Four Great Constables to escort Ren Yingying’s procession, while Lin Lang traveled hidden in a sedan chair and secretly remained unharmed. After Zhang Wuji tried to attack the procession and fled when Lin Lang intervened, Lin Lang learned that Jiumozhi had captured those plotting against the Sun Moon Holy Cult, and Zhang Wuji hurried toward Southern Shaolin to strike before Lin Lang retaliated.

• Zhuge Zhengwo rejected Cold Blood’s offer to test whether Lin Lang had been crippled and ordered the Four Great Constables to escort the Sun Moon Holy Cult’s procession out of Great Song.
• Lin Lang teased Ren Yingying inside the sedan chair, but she left it when the Four Great Constables arrived and declined their escort.
• Zhang Wuji ambushed the procession, but Lin Lang intervened and forced him to flee; Yu'er also departed without speaking to Lin Lang.
• Ren Yingying told Lin Lang that Jiumozhi had captured the elders and altar leaders who plotted to seize the Sun Moon Holy Cult’s throne.
• Zhang Wuji abandoned his plan to visit Wudang Mountain and rushed toward Southern Shaolin, fearing Lin Lang would retaliate against the Ming Cult.

Lin Lang returned to Blackwood Cliff unharmed and defeated Ximen Chuixue in a sword contest through overwhelming strength. Ximen Chuixue gained new insight into swordsmanship, while Lin Lang prepared to return to the Capital City and confront anyone who had taken advantage of rumors about his injury.

• Wei Jinzhong reported that the court's plots against the Sun Moon Holy Cult had failed, and the Emperor of Great Ming ordered the Eastern Depot to resume surveillance of court officials.
• Ren Yingying and Lin Lang returned to Blackwood Cliff, where Lin Lang revealed to Xiang Wentian that his injuries had healed and told him to keep it secret.
• Lin Lang let Jiumozhi return to Tubo and instructed him to wipe out the Ming Cult's Bright Peak along the way.
• Ximen Chuixue visited Lin Lang, challenged him to a sword contest, and lost after Lin Lang broke through his attacks with overwhelming force.
• Ximen Chuixue reconsidered his reliance on elaborate sword moves, put aside his sword, and resolved to pursue a higher sword realm.
• After discussing swordsmanship with Ximen Chuixue, Lin Lang planned to return to the Capital City and investigate whether anyone had plotted against him while believing him crippled.

Lin Lang returned to the capital and found that Imperial Guard officers were trying to seize the Fragrant Pavilion, so he ordered Cheng Shifei to protect his businesses and promised him the Jinyiwei command. Cheng Shifei arrested officials across the guard units, prompting the Emperor of Great Ming to suspect that Lin Lang had returned and was directing events.

• The madam told Lin Lang that nine Imperial Guard units had offered ninety thousand taels for ninety percent of the Fragrant Pavilion, and that Wang Wu, Jia Liu, Liu Zhengfeng, and Cheng Shifei had struggled to protect it.
• Cheng Shifei arrested Lord Sun and other officials for coveting Lin Lang's property, then met Lin Lang, who promised him the Jinyiwei command and the madam as a partner.
• The madam welcomed Lin Lang's arrangement with Cheng Shifei, and Cheng Shifei left considering taking her into his household.
• Wei Jinzhong reported that Cheng Shifei had arrested officials from the Twelve Imperial Guard Units and confiscated their estates, while the Emperor of Great Ming angrily demanded his arrest.
• After Cheng Shifei refused the Emperor's summons, Wei Jinzhong suggested Lin Lang was behind his actions, and the Emperor wondered whether Lin Lang had returned.