Chapter Summaries

After Zhao Changhe’s breakthrough unlocked a hidden star formation behind the waterfall, he and Luo Qi struggled to determine how to open it. Zhao Changhe learned from Instructor Sun about formation-breaking principles and suspected they could help reveal the formation’s core, while Instructor Sun promised to teach him the Blood Baleful Saber Technique.

• Zhao Changhe and Luo Qi found a star formation behind the waterfall after the blood dragon vanished, but Luo Qi’s attempt to activate the Azure Dragon Seven Stars failed.
• Zhao Changhe decided they needed to discover the formation’s crucial point within a few days and resolved to ask Instructor Sun indirectly.
• Instructor Sun noticed Zhao Changhe’s breakthrough, explained the Blood Baleful Art’s harmful effects, and promised to seek his formal admission to the cult when he returned to the main altar.
• Instructor Sun agreed to teach Zhao Changhe the Blood Baleful Saber Technique and explained that breaking formations required identifying their core and sequence.
• Zhao Changhe recalled Luo Qi’s attempt and reasoned that learning which Azure Dragon star was most important might reveal the formation’s core.

Zhao Changhe trained in the Blood Baleful Blade before rushing to rescue Luo Qi when he learned Yue Hongling was heading for the village Luo Qi planned to raid. Yue Hongling confronted Luo Qi and the bandits, and Zhao Changhe arrived as their clash was about to begin.

• Zhao Changhe studied the Blood Baleful Blade and reflected on his growing attachment to Luo Qi.
• Zhao Changhe learned that Luo Qi had gone to raid Zhang Village and that Yue Hongling was headed there, so he raced down the mountain.
• Luo Qi led bandits in raiding a local gentleman's estate and ordered them not to harm the women.
• Yue Hongling blocked Luo Qi and the fleeing bandits, and the two prepared to fight.
• Zhao Changhe charged into the scene, and Luo Qi welcomed his arrival.

Zhao Changhe reunited with Yue Hongling and stood by Luo Qi, making clear that he would choose his own path in the martial world. After Yue Hongling left, he learned that the Vermilion Bird Venerable had arrived in North Mang and decided to act that night.

• Zhao Changhe arrived at the stronghold and explained to Yue Hongling that he had joined the Blood God Cult to survive and would not hide his name or ambitions.
• Yue Hongling said she had searched for Zhao Changhe, but declared they were strangers and warned she would show him no mercy if he committed evil.
• Zhao Changhe defended Luo Qi and told Yue Hongling that Zhang Village’s crimes were backed by evidence, then recalled how she had shaped his first impression of the martial world.
• Yue Hongling noticed a fiery glow in the sky and wondered whether the Vermilion Bird Venerable had come to North Mang to investigate a hidden secret.
• Zhao Changhe asked where the core of an Azure Dragon Seven Stars array would be and learned it was usually at the Heart Mansion.
• After Yue Hongling rode away, Zhao Changhe told Luo Qi they had to act that night, and Luo Qi turned pale.

Zhao Changhe and Luo Qi opened the Azure Dragon Star Mansion and found the Azure Dragon Seal, which Luo Qi had sought since childhood. Luo Qi admitted he had considered killing Zhao Changhe to claim it, leaving their relationship strained as they faced the choice over the treasure.

• Zhao Changhe and Luo Qi slipped past the stronghold’s searchers and used the star chart to open the Azure Dragon Star Mansion.
• Zhao Changhe and Luo Qi entered the small chamber and discovered the Azure Dragon Seal.
• Zhao Changhe saw Luo Qi draw a dagger behind him and prepared to strike, but Luo Qi threw the dagger to the ground instead.
• Luo Qi admitted he had wanted to kill Zhao Changhe for the treasure but could not bring himself to do it.
• Luo Qi revealed he had come to North Mang for the seal, which had been his wish since childhood, while Zhao Changhe said he had thought it belonged to both of them.

Zhao Changhe learned that Luo Qi had wanted the Azure Dragon Seal for herself, gave it to her, and heard how she came to be raised under the Luo name. Luo Qi revealed that her real name was Xia Chichi and that she was the emperor Xia Longyuan’s daughter, leaving her bitterly opposed to the Xia family.

• Luo Qi explained that the Azure Dragon Seal could choose only one recipient and confronted Zhao Changhe for never considering her wish to obtain it.
• Zhao Changhe gave Luo Qi the Azure Dragon Seal, which began transmitting its power and stuck to her hand.
• Zhao Changhe asked about Luo Qi’s relationship with Master Luo, and she revealed that she was not born into the Luo family and that her original surname was Xia.
• Luo Qi explained that Xia Longyuan had fathered her after her mother, a former Four Symbols Cult holy maiden, abandoned an assassination attempt and became involved with him.
• Luo Qi said her mother waited in vain for Xia Longyuan, died after her health and cultivation deteriorated, and left her with hatred for the Xia family.

Luo Qi revealed that she was the emperor’s daughter and explained why she had wanted Zhao Changhe dead: he could have been mistaken for the missing prince and taken her identity. She gave him the recognition pendant, which began cleansing his meridians and revealed that it held Xia Longyuan’s legacy meant for a boy.

• Luo Qi recounted how Master Luo concealed her identity, raised her as a boy, and how she secretly practiced the Four Symbols White Tiger Divine Art.
• Luo Qi explained that she feared First Seat Tang would identify Zhao Changhe as the prince if the token was found missing from Luo Zhenwu’s body.
• Luo Qi gave Zhao Changhe the dragon-carved jade pendant and said she had chosen the Four Symbols Cult over her imperial identity.
• The pendant glowed and began cleansing Zhao Changhe’s meridians, prompting Luo Qi to realize that Xia Longyuan’s legacy was meant for a boy.

Zhao Changhe accepted Xia Longyuan’s jade pendant legacy and began learning its internal cultivation art, while Luo Qi gained the Azure Dragon Seal’s inheritance and advanced to the fifth level of the Profound Pass. After learning the seal came from an imperial tomb of a previous era, they reflected on their intertwined fortunes, and Zhao Changhe teased Luo Qi about making it up to him.

• Zhao Changhe discovered that Xia Longyuan’s jade pendant taught a unique internal cultivation art and chose to learn it despite its connection to his fate.
• Luo Qi explained that Xia Longyuan’s legacy likely identified its recipient through a bloodline test, and the two wondered why he had not come for his child after her mother died.
• The Azure Dragon Seal finished improving Luo Qi’s body, expanded his meridians, and raised him to the fifth level of the Profound Pass.
• Luo Qi revealed that the Azure Dragon Seal was an imperial legacy from a previous era, hidden in an emperor’s tomb and sought by the Four Symbols Cult.
• Luo Qi worried that Zhao Changhe had received the lesser windfall and been pulled into Imperial Family troubles, so Zhao Changhe stepped closer and teased him about dressing as a girl to repay him.

Zhao Changhe and Luo Qi shared a passionate farewell before Luo Qi accepted Vermilion Bird’s invitation to return to the Four Symbols Cult and enter the Saintess Trial. Zhao Changhe asked only to join the Blood God Cult, leaving their reunion and the four symbols fate for another day.

• Zhao Changhe kissed Luo Qi and removed his disguise as they confronted their impending separation.
• Luo Qi and Zhao Changhe reflected on their growing love before voices outside interrupted them.
• Luo Qi emerged as a woman, shocking the Mountain Stronghold bandits who recognized his face.
• Vermilion Bird invited Luo Qi, who gave his name as Xia Chichi, to return to the Main Altar and take part in the Saintess Trial.
• Zhao Changhe asked to join the Blood God Cult and said he would pursue the four symbols fate another day.

After Luo Qi left to become Saintess Xia, Zhao Changhe stayed in the Mountain Stronghold and became its stockade chief. He began handling the stronghold’s affairs, only to discover that Fang Buping had transferred most of its money and grain to the city.

• Vermilion Bird took Luo Qi to the Four Symbols Cult's Main Altar, while Zhao Changhe watched her go and returned to the Mountain Stronghold.
• Cult Master Xue kept the stronghold as a fallback lair, retained Fang Buping as helmsman, and appointed Zhao Changhe stockade chief.
• Instructor Sun finished teaching Zhao Changhe the Blood Baleful Saber Technique and urged him to return to the Main Altar, but Zhao Changhe chose to stay and rule the stronghold.
• After Instructor Sun departed, Zhao Changhe inspected the stronghold’s supplies and found that little money, grain, meat, oil, or salt remained.
• The storekeeper told Zhao Changhe that Fang Buping had transferred a batch of money and grain to the city, prompting Zhao Changhe to narrow his eyes.

Zhao Changhe discovered that Helmsman Fang had drained the mountain stronghold’s supplies and decided to confront him in the city. After slipping past the guards despite his wanted poster, Zhao Changhe entered Fang’s residence and gathered information about Fang’s injuries and the branch’s defenses.

• Zhao Changhe reviewed the supply books, found that Fang Buping had taken much of the stronghold’s money and food, and rejected Wang Dashan’s plan to raid Zhang Village again.
• Zhao Changhe decided to take men into the city and recover money from Fang Buping’s garrison so they could buy supplies.
• Zhao Changhe and his men entered the city after paying the indifferent guards, who failed to recognize him from the wanted poster.
• Zhao Changhe reached Fang Buping’s residence and asked the gate guards about Fang’s recovery and the strength of the branch’s remaining fighters.

Zhao Changhe visited Fang Buping to obtain books and lightness arts, then challenged Deputy Helmsman Huang for control over the branch’s money and provisions. The Book of Troubled Times announced Xia Chichi’s spectacular rise to thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and Zhao Changhe proposed Huang’s saber as the stake in their duel.

• Zhao Changhe visited the injured Fang Buping and secured scriptures, history books, and the lightness art Bloodflight Without a Trace.
• Fang Buping learned that Zhao Changhe’s stronghold lacked money and provisions, then hinted that Wang Dashan could replace him as stronghold chief.
• Zhao Changhe challenged Deputy Helmsman Huang for his position overseeing money and provisions, and Huang accepted.
• The Book of Troubled Times announced that Xia Chichi had shattered the Twenty-Eight Mansions Formation and risen to thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.
• Zhao Changhe refused Huang’s offer of three free moves and proposed wagering Huang’s saber on their duel.

Zhao Changhe defeated Deputy Helmsman Huang in three exchanges, claimed his position and supplies for the mountain stronghold, and was listed at rank 250 on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Xia Chichi and Yue Hongling both saw his rise, leaving the story with his ambitions newly visible to the martial world.

• Zhao Changhe challenged Deputy Helmsman Huang and defeated him with a swift saber technique and a powerful kick.
• Zhao Changhe claimed Huang's deputy helmsman duties, ordered supplies sent to the North Mang Mountain Stronghold, and returned Huang's health with a Blood-Stabilizing Pill before taking his saber.
• Fang Buping explained the branch's rules for the stronghold's revenue and captured enemies, and Zhao Changhe agreed while requesting support against outside attacks.
• The Book of Troubled Times ranked Zhao Changhe 250th on the Hidden Dragon Ranking after his victory.
• Xia Chichi saw Zhao Changhe's new ranking and reflected on their shared future, while Yue Hongling watched him lead the supplies away.

After making the Hidden Dragon Ranking, Zhao Changhe organized the Mountain Stronghold’s finances and defenses while putting off full-scale banditry. He ended the chapter enduring a painful medicinal bath to train the Blood Baleful Art and improve his chances of rising beyond rank two hundred fifty.

• Zhao Changhe complained about ranking two hundred fifty on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and receiving no verdict, while Wang Dashan and the others worried about the trouble his new fame could bring.
• The bandits stored the rice and silver they had won from Helmsman Fang, and Zhao Changhe recognized that the supplies would not sustain the Mountain Stronghold for long.
• Zhao Changhe ordered Wang Dashan to set up modest toll checkpoints on the mountain routes, hunt beasts, watch Helmsman Fang’s branch, and replace the stronghold’s flag and hall plaque.
• Zhao Changhe dismissed the meeting and went to prepare a medicinal bath, reflecting that he needed to keep training the Blood Baleful Art rather than rely on his victory over Deputy Helmsman Huang.
• Zhao Changhe endured the agonizing bath and circulated the Blood Baleful Art, gripping the tub so hard that he left shallow marks in its wood.

Zhao Changhe practiced with his new saber and used the Xia Family Heart Method to break through his first internal profound pass, discovering that his cultivation heightened the abilities of his eyes behind the head. He dreamed of the blind woman, who questioned whether he truly still wanted to return to his old world.

• Zhao Changhe trained with his new heavy saber in the snow and practiced Bloodflight Without a Trace, delighted by his improved lightness skills.
• Zhao Changhe reflected on how internal and external cultivation complemented each other, then guided his true qi toward his first internal profound pass.
• Zhao Changhe broke through the pass and found that his vision and hearing had sharpened, while his true qi now circulated entirely through his own cultivation.
• Zhao Changhe read the Blood God Cult scriptures and realized that his eyes behind the head might be a form of the heavenly eye ability that could grow stronger.
• Zhao Changhe dreamed that the blind woman praised how quickly he had advanced and asked whether he still wanted to return, and he demanded that she send him back.

Zhao Changhe spoke with the blind woman in a strange dreamlike encounter, where she challenged his beliefs about the world and explained how he might return home. After waking, he suspected someone had exposed his location, and went to confront outlaws threatening his stronghold.

• Zhao Changhe confronted the blind woman, who said that this heaven had no Dao and showed him scenes of violence and cruelty across the world.
• The blind woman said Zhao Changhe could return by killing the demoness or by mastering the Space-Time Barrier, and explained that his cultivation might let them sense each other.
• Zhao Changhe briefly caught the blind woman's hand before she vanished, then woke in his room and considered what their encounter meant.
• A cultist told Zhao Changhe that outlaws had threatened to wipe out the North Mang Mountain Stronghold after stopping travelers at a checkpoint.
• Zhao Changhe suspected a mole had revealed his location and took his Steel Saber outside to meet the outlaws.

Zhao Changhe stopped a group of bandits who had attacked his men, defeated their leader in one exchange, and challenged North Mang's fighters to face him for a hundred taels. Two travelers discussed his hidden strength and the Book of Troubled Times, while one revealed he had come to capture Zhao Changhe but decided to wait two months.

• Zhao Changhe descended the mountain and found burly bandits tormenting his men while mocking his ranking and fighting record.
• Zhao Changhe freed his men, cut down the burly leader's attack, and shaved the top of his head before slapping him.
• Zhao Changhe ordered Wang Dashan to strip and hang the bandits, then told him to release the two travelers and stop bullying innocents.
• Zhao Changhe carved a challenge on a tree, offering a place on the Hidden Dragon Ranking to anyone who paid a hundred taels to fight him.
• The two travelers recognized Zhao Changhe's impressive presence and discussed how he had concealed his internal energy.
• One traveler said he had come to capture Zhao Changhe, but the other advised him to wait until he broke through to the third level of the Profound Pass in two months.

Zhao Changhe spent half a month using underworld challengers to hone his martial arts and prepare the stronghold for future threats, while secretly keeping Wang Dashan under observation. On New Year’s Eve, Yue Hongling arrived at his room wounded and asked whether she could still trust the man he had become.

• Zhao Changhe defeated challengers who came without the required fee, using their attacks to improve his saber skills and cultivation while collecting silver and weapons.
• Zhao Changhe ordered the bandits to expand the stronghold’s traps, anticipating government troops, stronger challengers, and Fang Buping’s possible return.
• Zhao Changhe gave Wang Dashan money to buy wine and meat for New Year’s Eve, while privately recognizing him as a spy and choosing to keep using him.
• Feeling lonely as the bandits celebrated, Zhao Changhe returned to his room and found Yue Hongling there, reading the Blood God Cult’s scriptures with a bloodstain on her clothes.
• Yue Hongling revealed that she was injured and had come to Zhao Changhe for shelter, then asked whether she could still trust the man he was today.

Yue Hongling sought refuge in Zhao Changhe’s stronghold while recovering from her duel with Cui Yuanyong, and Zhao’s concern and jealousy surfaced as they talked. When she secretly left his room to relieve herself, she fell into a trap, and the bandits mistook her for Zhao’s hidden bride.

• Zhao Changhe left medicine for Yue Hongling and stood guard while she treated her wound, then learned that Cui Yuanyong had injured her in a duel.
• Yue Hongling explained that she had come to Zhao Changhe’s stronghold for safety while she recovered, and Zhao grew jealous when she praised Cui Yuanyong’s bearing.
• Zhao Changhe went to fetch Yue Hongling food and warned her not to wander because the stronghold was full of traps.
• Yue Hongling climbed out through the window to go into the hills, but her injury prevented her from avoiding a trap near the courtyard.
• Zhao Changhe chased away the bandits who gathered around the pit and called Yue Hongling his hidden bandit bride, while the men invited her to their New Year’s feast.

Yue Hongling recovered in Zhao Changhe’s room while he disguised her and celebrated New Year with his bandits. After discussing the risks and limits of his position, Zhao Changhe asked Yue Hongling to teach him martial arts, and she agreed.

• Zhao Changhe scolded Yue Hongling for falling into a pit and gave her clothes so she could disguise herself while recovering.
• Yue Hongling watched Zhao Changhe lead the Mountain Stronghold’s New Year revelry and overheard him and the bandits joking about her and his supposed hidden lover.
• Zhao Changhe returned to the house and found Yue Hongling waiting outside after she had heard the feast’s talk.
• Yue Hongling questioned why Zhao Changhe stayed in the Mountain Stronghold, and he explained that it was a safe place to train and that leaving the Blood God Cult would leave him vulnerable.
• Zhao Changhe asked Yue Hongling to teach him martial arts, and Yue Hongling agreed.

Yue Hongling discussed Zhao Changhe’s martial arts and the dangers of his Blood Baleful Art, then began teaching him the missing methods he needed to advance. The lesson ended with Yue Hongling calling him out for losing focus while she guided his breathing.

• Zhao Changhe reflected on how much he needed an experienced martial arts teacher, and Yue Hongling reassured him that his foundations and instincts were strong.
• Yue Hongling gave Zhao Changhe several saber manuals to study, while advising him to keep focusing on the Blood Baleful Saber Technique.
• Yue Hongling explained that the Blood Baleful Art grew stronger with killing but could also intensify its dangers, including the risk of losing his reason.
• Yue Hongling identified missing breathing and qi absorption methods in Zhao Changhe’s training and offered to teach him her mind method.
• Yue Hongling began guiding Zhao Changhe’s breathing with her hand on his lower abdomen, then accused him of letting his thoughts wander.