Chapter Summaries

Cheng Shifei arrested powerful nobles on Lin Lang’s orders, while the Emperor of Great Ming summoned Lin Lang to strip him of his authority and martial arts. The Emperor’s threats ended when Lin Lang revealed that his strength had returned and enveloped the Imperial Study and the surrounding ambush.

• Cheng Shifei enlisted Wang Wu and Jia Liu to verify the evidence against the nobles he had arrested, explaining that Lin Lang had ordered the crackdown.
• The nobles and their allies submitted memorials accusing Cheng Shifei and Lin Lang, and the Emperor of Great Ming summoned Lin Lang, planning to take control of the Jinyiwei and demand Lin Lang’s martial inheritance.
• Shangguan Haitang met Lin Lang, reported intelligence about the Ming Cult, Duke Yang’s Treasure Vault, and the Eastern Depot’s medicinal ingredients, and reaffirmed the Number One Manor’s loyalty.
• Lin Lang went to the Imperial Study, where the Imperial Physicians declared him gravely injured and the Emperor of Great Ming demanded that he surrender his authority and martial arts.
• Cheng Shifei defended Lin Lang, but the Emperor threatened him as armed guards and hidden Grandmasters prepared to attack.
• Lin Lang laughed and released an aura that enveloped the Imperial Study and thousands of people lying in ambush outside.

Lin Lang confronted the Emperor of Great Ming, forced him to yield and grant Lin Lang authority over the Jinyiwei and the court, then discovered True Dragon Qi within the Dragon Throne. He returned to the Imperial Preceptor's Residence and began trying to refine the stored Dragon Qi.

• Lin Lang revealed his strength in the Imperial Study, tormented the officials and eunuchs with Life-and-Death Talismans, and forced the Emperor of Great Ming to acknowledge his authority as teacher and Imperial Preceptor.
• Lin Lang sat on the Dragon Throne, sensed its True Dragon Qi, and stored some of it after finding that he could not refine it normally.
• The Emperor of Great Ming ordered that Lin Lang oversee the Jinyiwei and rank above the Grand Secretariat, while Cheng Shifei accepted responsibility for the Jinyiwei.
• After Lin Lang left, the Emperor of Great Ming ordered Wei Jinzhong to silence the officials who had encouraged him to oppose Lin Lang, then privately vowed to grow stronger and conceal what had happened.
• Lin Lang returned to the Imperial Preceptor's Residence and began forcibly refining the True Dragon Qi.

Lin Lang tempered his body with true dragon qi, beginning to fuse his divine skills and opening the way toward the Heavenly Realm Peak while investigating the qi’s link to national fortune. Elsewhere, Fan Qinghui learned Lin Lang had survived his battle with Song Que, while Carefree Marquis ordered the Heavenly Sect to join the attack on Southern Shaolin.

• Lin Lang merged true dragon qi into his body, endured visions by circulating the Reverse Sunflower Manual, and began fusing the Reverse Primordial Vajra Child Skill with the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill.
• Lin Lang gave Five Poisons Child a claw technique, ordered an internal purge of the Jinyiwei, and discovered records suggesting true dragon qi was tied to national fortune.
• Fan Qinghui learned Lin Lang was unharmed after fighting Song Que and sent disciples to aid the Li Clan while reaffirming her support for Li Shimin.
• Carefree Marquis learned Young Master had been killed by Great Compassion Palm and discovered that Yuan Zhen had secretly left Southern Shaolin.
• Carefree Marquis ordered his followers to disguise themselves as Ming Cult disciples and help Zhang Wuji attack Southern Shaolin.

The Ming Cult attacked Southern Shaolin, but the battle left both sides devastated and Zhang Wuji badly injured and on the run. Lin Lang visited Zhang Sanfeng on Wudang Mountain and urged him to protect Zhang Wuji, laying out three possible courses of action.

• Zhang Wuji led the Ming Cult in an assault on Southern Shaolin, while the Sweeping Monk pursued him and the Five Elements Flags and Thunderbolt Hall reinforcements fought the monks.
• Shangguan Haitang told Lin Lang that Yin Tianzheng, Yang Xiao, Yin Yewang, and many Southern Shaolin leaders had died, while Zhang Wuji escaped gravely injured and Master Miaodi was badly hurt and poisoned.
• Lin Lang ordered Shangguan Haitang to investigate the mysterious allies, the Heavenly Sect, Doll Manor, and Zhang Wuji, and to expose Southern Shaolin's wrongdoings.
• Yu Lianzhou urged Zhang Sanfeng to help Zhang Wuji, but Zhang Sanfeng said he could protect him only if he came to Wudang; Lin Lang then arrived to visit Zhang Sanfeng.
• Lin Lang challenged Zhang Sanfeng's concern for Wudang's reputation and offered upper, middle, and lower strategies for protecting Zhang Wuji, including confronting Southern Shaolin or inviting Zhang Wuji to become a Taoist.

Lin Lang persuaded Zhang Sanfeng to protect Zhang Wuji, then helped turn other sects against Southern Shaolin by spreading rumors about the Dragon-Slaying Saber’s hidden treasure. Southern Shaolin backed away from confronting Wudang directly, so Lin Lang set out for Wudang Mountain to settle his score with Zhang Wuji.

• Lin Lang argued that Wudang should bring Zhang Wuji home, and Zhang Sanfeng ordered Yu Lianzhou to find him and declared that Wudang would not hand him over.
• Jiang Xiaoyu reported that Zhang Wuji had returned to Wudang and that Southern Shaolin planned to pressure Zhang Sanfeng, while other sects offered only verbal support.
• Jiang Xiaoyu proposed spreading rumors that Southern Shaolin had stolen a powerful secret from the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and Lin Lang approved the plan.
• Master Miaodi learned that other sects were backing Wudang and repeating damaging rumors about Southern Shaolin, then consulted the Sweeping Monk and ordered his disciples to endure the setback.
• Master Miaodi assigned Xuzhu to lead the Discipline Hall and planned to enter seclusion after recovering from his injuries.
• Lin Lang saw that Southern Shaolin had stopped pressing Wudang directly, then ordered Xiaoyu to prepare his sedan chair so he could go to Wudang Mountain and confront Zhang Wuji.

Lin Lang forced Zhang Wuji to surrender the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Dragon Saber as compensation, then studied the skill while Southern Shaolin prepared to march on Wudang Mountain. Zhang Wuji left Wudang to keep the conflict from endangering his grandmaster, but Lin Lang intercepted him with an offer of help.

• Lin Lang confronted Zhang Wuji on Wudang Mountain over his attempts to exploit Lin Lang's injuries, then accepted the Nine Yang Divine Skill and took the Dragon Saber as compensation.
• Zhang Sanfeng warned Zhang Wuji that Lin Lang was more dangerous than Southern Shaolin's Holy Monk, and Zhang Wuji regretted provoking Lin Lang before leaving to heal.
• Master Miaodi failed to stop Southern Shaolin's Holy Monk and a hundred experts from setting out for Wudang Mountain to demand Zhang Wuji.
• Lin Lang studied the Nine Yang Divine Skill at a nearby Sun Moon Holy Cult branch altar, then sent Jiang Xiaoyu to Southern Shaolin while he headed toward Wudang Mountain.
• After hearing Southern Shaolin was coming, Zhang Wuji left a letter for Zhang Sanfeng and quietly departed Wudang Mountain, but Lin Lang intercepted him and said he had come to help.

Lin Lang persuaded Zhang Wuji to attack Southern Shaolin while its Holy Monk marched on Wudang, then secretly helped him break the Eighteen Bronze Men Formation. With Zhang Wuji free to attack Master Miaodi, Lin Lang ordered his companions to prevent the monks from escaping.

• Lin Lang told Zhang Wuji that an unidentified force had destroyed Bright Peak and urged him to avenge the Ming Cult by attacking Southern Shaolin's weakened defenses.
• Lin Lang displayed a Holy Flame Tablet from the Persian Ming Cult and challenged Zhang Wuji's resolve, prompting him to set out for Southern Shaolin.
• Zhang Sanfeng read Zhang Wuji's farewell letter and prepared to confront Southern Shaolin's Holy Monk rather than retreat.
• Zhuge Zhengwo suspected Southern Shaolin faced danger and ordered one of the Four Great Constables to investigate.
• Zhang Wuji attacked Master Miaodi but became trapped in the Eighteen Bronze Men Formation, which suppressed his strength and prevented him from replenishing his true qi.
• Lin Lang guided Yin Ku in weakening the formation with poison and advised Zhang Wuji to attack the monks' internal organs; after Zhang Wuji broke the formation, Lin Lang ordered his companions to stop the monks from fleeing.

Lin Lang and his allies looted Southern Shaolin while Zhang Wuji slaughtered its monks, then Lin Lang calmed Zhang Wuji’s cultivation deviation and sent him into hiding. As the Holy Monk led Southern Shaolin toward Wudang, Zhang Sanfeng prepared to defend the sect, and Lin Lang arrived as Great Ming’s Imperial Preceptor to block the invaders.

• Zhang Wuji killed Master Miaodi and attacked Southern Shaolin while Jiang Xiaoyu and others blocked the temple gates.
• Lin Lang collected Shaolin martial arts manuals and valuables, while Cheng Kun faked severe injuries and set fire to the Sutra Depository.
• Lin Lang subdued Zhang Wuji during a cultivation deviation, gave him medicine and instructions, and sent him to hide before quietly returning to Wudang.
• The Holy Monk learned that Southern Shaolin had been burned and ordered his party to destroy Wudang, while rumors blamed Zhang Wuji and warned that Wudang was in danger.
• Yu Lianzhou prepared Wudang’s disciples for battle, and Zhang Sanfeng declared that the sect would not fear Southern Shaolin.
• Lin Lang confronted the approaching monks near Wudang as Great Ming’s Imperial Preceptor, and the Holy Monk asked him to clear the way.

Lin Lang fought the Holy Monk of Southern Shaolin, who had come to Wudang Mountain, and killed him after thwarting his escape. Zhang Sanfeng arrived to find the Holy Monk dead and realized he could no longer judge Lin Lang’s strength.

• The Holy Monk of Southern Shaolin challenged Lin Lang, but Lin Lang matched his Shaolin techniques and strength, then suppressed him with the Star-Sucking Great Skill.
• Southern Shaolin’s monks began fleeing as Lin Lang gained the upper hand, and the Holy Monk used disciples as a diversion while attempting to escape.
• Yu Lianzhou waited with Wudang’s disciples while Zhang Sanfeng sensed the battle and went to investigate.
• Lin Lang intercepted the fleeing Holy Monk, overcame his attacks, and shattered his bones, meridians, and organs with a final exchange.
• Zhang Sanfeng arrived and found the Holy Monk’s corpse at Lin Lang’s feet, then met Lin Lang’s gaze.

Lin Lang defeated Southern Shaolin’s Holy Monk, secured Zhang Sanfeng’s promise to discuss the martial path, and forced Great Song to compensate Great Ming for Southern Shaolin’s crimes. He then planned to use the rice compensation to support a campaign against Mongol Yuan and increase his true dragon qi.

• Lin Lang sealed the fleeing Southern Shaolin monks, and Zhang Sanfeng revealed his formidable aura before agreeing to discuss the martial path with Lin Lang after his breakthrough.
• Zhang Sanfeng announced that the Imperial Preceptor of Great Ming had destroyed Southern Shaolin, while Cheng Shifei ordered the captured monks taken for interrogation.
• Zhuge Zhengwo learned Lin Lang had killed Southern Shaolin’s Holy Monk and ordered Southern Shaolin’s assets seized for flood relief.
• Jia Liu demanded one million taels in compensation from Great Song, and Zhuge Zhengwo agreed to provide rice after Lin Lang’s letter warned him to pay.
• Yuan Shisanxian boasted that his disciples would master the Six Harmonies Azure Dragon Formation and challenge Lin Lang’s strength.
• Lin Lang told Jia Liu he planned to use the provisions to strike back at Mongol Yuan and gain more true dragon qi.

Lin Lang persuaded the Emperor of Great Ming to attack Mongol Yuan and absorbed true dragon qi from the Dragon Throne and imperial jade seal. After cultivating, he brought his essence, qi, and spirit fusion to ninety percent and prepared to leave as Great Ming mobilized its forces.

• The Emperor of Great Ming worried about Lin Lang's strength until Lin Lang proposed attacking Mongol Yuan, citing Great Song's provisions and promises of support from Great Liao and other neighbors.
• The Emperor agreed to prepare for war, and Lin Lang absorbed true dragon qi from the Dragon Throne and the imperial jade seal before leaving the Imperial Study.
• Lin Lang visited Yunluo, refused to take her on the campaign, and tested her Martial Arts before returning to his residence.
• Lin Lang refined the true dragon qi in seclusion, bringing the fusion of his essence, qi, and spirit to ninety percent and resolving to seek Zhang Sanfeng's insight after reaching the Heavenly Realm Peak.
• Five Poisons Child cultivated under the pressure of Lin Lang's aura, while many of his gu insects died.
• Lin Lang learned that Great Ming had begun mobilizing troops under Cheng Shifei and decided it was time to set out.

Zhuge Zhengwo defended his decision to send Great Ming rice, while Yuwen Huaji and Zhao Min maneuvered to exploit Great Ming’s planned invasion of Mongol Yuan. Lin Lang met Xiao Feng in Great Liao to secure his cooperation, then watched Jiang Xiaoyu spar with him, where Xiao Feng’s palm strike sent Jiang Xiaoyu flying.

• Zhuge Zhengwo convinced the Great Song emperor that sending grain to Great Ming would prevent war and steer its army toward Mongol Yuan.
• Yuwen Huaji ordered his cavalry to prepare to attack Mongol Yuan and seize territory for the Yuwen Clan.
• Zhao Min proposed handing Western Xia to Prince of Liang’s Manor so its troops would bear the brunt of Great Ming’s advance, while she set out to find Bi Xuan.
• Lin Lang reached Great Liao and asked Xiao Feng to keep its southern troops from attacking Great Ming and to tie down Mongol Yuan forces; Xiao Feng agreed.
• Jiang Xiaoyu challenged Xiao Feng to a palm-technique spar, but Xiao Feng’s Divine Dragon Swings Its Tail struck him and sent him flying.

Jiang Xiaoyu lost a sparring match to Xiao Feng, and Lin Lang exchanged martial arts with Xiao Feng before setting out for Great Ming’s military camp. As Great Ming prepared to attack Mongol Yuan, Lin Lang went to Western Xia, where Commander Yun discovered that the Great Ming Imperial Preceptor had reached his palace.

• Xiao Feng defeated Jiang Xiaoyu and explained the strengths and limits of his palm techniques, giving Jiang Xiaoyu and Lin Lang insight into their own martial arts.
• Lin Lang offered Xiao Feng a hardness-and-softness palm technique and fist principles in exchange for the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and Dog-Beating Staff Technique, and Xiao Feng agreed.
• Jiang Xiaoyu traveled with Lin Lang toward Great Ming’s military camp, where he told Cheng Shifei that Lin Lang would support the attack and that Great Liao would cooperate against Mongol Yuan.
• Wei Ziyun proposed a three-army strategy, but Jiang Xiaoyu dismissed it and sent Cheng Shifei and Liu Zhengfeng out to attack while Wei Ziyun stayed behind to support them.
• Commander Yun planned to exploit Great Ming’s attack and expand Prince of Liang’s Manor’s power, but Lin Lang appeared in his palace and startled him.

Lin Lang captured Commander Yun, seized the Mongol Yuan imperial city, and began refining its remaining true dragon qi while Great Ming’s armies advanced on Mongol Yuan. Zhao Min found Martial Venerable Bi Xuan in the desert and persuaded him to confront Lin Lang and the invading army.

• Lin Lang defeated Commander Yun, rejected his resistance, and took over the Mongol Yuan imperial city, then studied Commander Yun’s martial arts and absorbed the palace’s remaining true dragon qi.
• The Prince of Ruyang learned that Yuwen Huaji and Great Liao were attacking Mongol Yuan, and Zhao Deyan set out to defend the eastern cities.
• Zhao Min’s men turned on her in the desert over their dwindling water, so she killed them and continued searching for Martial Venerable Bi Xuan.
• Zhao Min found Bi Xuan, told him Jinlun Fawang had been killed and Great Ming had invaded, and asked him to avenge Mongol Yuan.
• Bi Xuan agreed to confront the invasion and ordered Zhao Min to lead him to Great Ming’s army camp.

Mongol Yuan’s counteroffensive began when Zhao Deyan and Bi Xuan appeared against Great Ming and Great Liao, while Lin Lang cultivated in Western Xia. Bi Xuan confronted Cheng Shifei and unleashed his Flaming Sun Extraordinary Skill, drawing Lin Lang toward the battle.

• Liu Zhengfeng challenged a Mongol Yuan city, but Zhao Deyan arrived and the gates opened for a cavalry charge; a Great Ming fighter rushed out to face Zhao Deyan.
• Xiao Feng withdrew Great Liao’s forces with their captured cattle and sheep, leaving three cities garrisoned after learning Fu Cailin had appeared again.
• Cheng Shifei’s advance through Western Xia continued smoothly until Bi Xuan entered Great Ming’s camp and demanded a withdrawal and supplies worth five million taels.
• Bi Xuan killed several Golden Guards and overwhelmed Cheng Shifei with a blazing aura as Zhao Min watched.
• Lin Lang finished refining Western Xia’s true dragon qi but failed to reach the heavenly realm peak; sensing Bi Xuan’s aura, he rushed toward him.

Lin Lang fought Bi Xuan, the Martial Venerable of Mongol Yuan, and killed him after revealing the full power of his merged martial arts. He survived absorbing Bi Xuan’s Flaming Sun true qi, leaving Zhao Min to reconsider Mongol Yuan’s future without its strongest expert.

• Bi Xuan broke Cheng Shifei’s Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill, but Lin Lang rescued him and faced Bi Xuan himself.
• Lin Lang and Bi Xuan exchanged attacks as their battle set the surrounding grass ablaze, while Cheng Shifei and Zhao Min ordered their forces back.
• Bi Xuan gained the upper hand with his Flaming Sun Extraordinary Skill, but Lin Lang activated his Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill and trapped him.
• Lin Lang broke Bi Xuan’s arms and defeated him, then used the Reverse Star-Sucking Great Skill to absorb his flaming sun true qi.
• Bi Xuan believed Lin Lang would be crippled by the absorbed true qi, but Lin Lang stood unharmed as Bi Xuan died.

Lin Lang defeated Martial Venerable Bi Xuan, captured Zhao Min, and survived her attempt to kill him with poison, while Jiang Xiaoyu killed Zhao Deyan after defeating him. The Mongol Yuan forces were left in retreat, and Lin Lang began refining the poison as Jiang Xiaoyu headed into seclusion.

• After Bi Xuan died, Cheng Shifei rallied the Great Ming soldiers to charge the Mongol Yuan troops, while Zhao Min fled through the chaos.
• Lin Lang stopped Zhao Min at the city gate, took her to a bedchamber, and demanded information about her agents and controlled Jianghu sects.
• Zhao Min offered to become Lin Lang's woman in exchange for protection for her family, but Lin Lang explained that he wanted her agents for intelligence, not a throne.
• Zhao Min released a deadly poison hidden in her mouth, but Lin Lang refined it with the Reverse Five Poisons True Scripture; Zhao Min died, and Lin Lang decided Mongol Yuan would fall within a year.
• Jiang Xiaoyu pursued the wounded Zhao Deyan, killed him after he claimed the Demonic Appearance Sect supported Lin Lang, and then went into seclusion to advance his cultivation.

Lin Lang completed Heaven-Man Unity, fused two body-conditioning arts into the Vajra Indestructible Child Skill, and ordered Great Ming’s forces to halt their advance and consolidate their gains. Meanwhile, Fu Cailin reconsidered his plans after learning Lin Lang had killed Bi Xuan, and Wanwan reached the eighteenth layer of the Heavenly Demon Art before setting out to retrieve the Sacred Sarira.

• Lin Lang fused Essence, Qi, and Spirit, reached Heavenly Realm Peak, and created the Vajra Indestructible Child Skill from two divine skills.
• An old eunuch told Lin Lang that Great Ming had occupied Western Xia and advanced into Mongol Yuan territory, while Jiang Xiaoyu had wounded Zhao Deyan and Xiao Feng’s forces had withdrawn to deter Fu Cailin.
• Lin Lang ordered Cheng Shifei and the other commanders to stop advancing, hold their conquests, and let the soldiers return home before he left the palace.
• Fu Cailin learned that Lin Lang had killed Bi Xuan and retreated to his training sanctuary, expecting the Yin Kui Sect to release Shi Zhixuan and create an opportunity to act later.
• Wanwan completed the eighteenth layer of the Heavenly Demon Art, and Zhu Yuyan told her that Lin Lang had killed Bi Xuan and the Southern Shaolin Holy Monk.
• Wanwan left to prepare to retrieve the Sacred Sarira and promised to return within a month so the sect could open the Evil King's Tomb.

Zhang Wuji returned to Wudang, Song Que reached the Heavenly Realm Peak, and powerful factions reacted to Lin Lang’s killing of Bi Xuan. Wanwan reunited with Lin Lang and revealed she had reached the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Art, leaving him to wonder whether she could now find herself a man.

• Zhang Wuji returned to Wudang, where Zhang Sanfeng ordered him to remain on the mountain and cultivate until he reached the Heavenly Realm Peak.
• Song Que recovered from his injuries, entered the Heavenly Realm Peak, and vowed to kill Lin Lang with his perfected Ninth Saber.
• Yuwen Huaji learned that Lin Lang had slain Bi Xuan and ordered more supplies while planning to cultivate and pursue Ba Fenghan.
• Fan Qinghui summoned Ning Daoqi and urged him to kill Lin Lang, while Shi Feixuan comprehended Sword Heart Clarity in seclusion.
• Wanwan intercepted Lin Lang’s carriage, confirmed he was uninjured, and told him she had reached the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Art.
• Lin Lang asked Wanwan about the Yin Kui Sect’s pursuit of True Dragon Qi, then privately wondered whether her new level meant she could find herself a man.

Lin Lang guided Wanwan’s cultivation as she advanced to peak Great Grandmaster, then learned and reversed the fatal flaws of the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art, giving him a new combat trump card. Meanwhile, Ning Daoqi waited on the road to Blackwood Cliff, and Lin Lang continued toward Goguryeo to settle accounts with Fu Cailin.

• Lin Lang urged Wanwan to perfect the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Art before risking intimacy, then invited her to watch his coming battle with Fu Cailin.
• Lin Lang explained the Heaven-Man Realm to Wanwan, while Jiang Xiaoyu reached peak Great Grandmaster and endured his master’s pressure to strengthen his divine intent.
• Ning Daoqi failed to find Lin Lang on the road toward the Capital City and waited for him on the route to Blackwood Cliff, intending to challenge him.
• Wanwan reached peak Great Grandmaster and told Lin Lang about the Heavenly Demon Disintegration secret art and the Holy Sect’s plans concerning the Sacred Sarira.
• Wanwan transmitted the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art to Lin Lang, who used his system to reverse its flaws so it could be stopped and its energies could recover without damaging his foundations.