Chapter Summaries

Loa learned that Balk’s map led to the lost legacy of the Thunder Prison Sword Saint, collected the Black Fang squad’s valuables, and left Peng Ernst to die after maiming him. After nearly two months of cultivation in the bear cave, Loa set out for Fenlai City on January 5, Yulan Calendar year 9993.

• Peng Ernst confessed that Balk had acquired the map and a diary in an ancient chamber, along with the Thunder Prison Sword Manual and a chest of Magic Crystal Cores.
• Loa learned that Balk’s squad had entered the mountains searching for the Thunder Prison Sword Saint’s legacy, but had lost their way and followed the scent of Loa’s refining.
• Loa collected the squad’s Magic Crystal Cores, gems, and map, then severed Peng Ernst’s limbs and left him among scavenging beasts.
• Loa planned to strengthen his Battle-qi and meridians before switching to the Wind-Thunder Two Forms Transformation Scripture, and spent the winter cultivating in the bear cave.
• After spending New Year alone and finding only Peng Ernst’s remains, Loa packed his supplies and left the cave on January 5, Yulan Calendar year 9993.

Loa reached Windhowl Cliff and sought permission to study its violent winds, only to find the area controlled by the Iron Wolf Mercenary Group. After an initial refusal and a recruitment offer, he secured permission to go up the mountain with an escort and entered their camp.

• Loa arrived at Windhowl Cliff, where he hoped to study the compressed, turbulent winds despite having already obtained the earth vein spinal fluid he had sought.
• Loa discovered that the Iron Wolf Mercenary Group controlled the wind-containing iron mines and operated a guarded camp with armed mercenaries and mages.
• A scout challenged Loa, and Loa offered a Rank 6 Magic Crystal Core while explaining that he wanted only to observe the winds.
• Captain Raymond and Mage Edwin refused Loa's request at first and suggested he join their group, but Loa declined and started to leave.
• Raymond reconsidered and offered to let Loa go up the mountain with an escort, and Loa agreed and gave the Magic Crystal Core to the camp's men for drinks.

Loa climbed Windhowl Cliff and spent three days studying its violent sound-wave vibrations. He left with a clearer understanding of how to improve the Wind-Thunder Heavenly Pillar Method and returned toward Fenlai City.

• Raymond sent Carlo to guide Loa up the mountain and told him to stop at the viewing platform, but Carlo turned back when the vibrations became too much to bear.
• Loa continued alone to the clifftop, found shelter, and meditated on the wind’s vibrations for three days.
• Loa realized that the Wind-Thunder Heavenly Pillar Method could be improved by finding a simpler, more efficient vibration frequency suited to the bones’ resonance.
• Loa descended the mountain and told Raymond and Edwin that the trip had been worthwhile.
• Loa said goodbye to Raymond and Edwin and set off for Fenlai City.

Loa traveled across the spring plains on his way home to Fenlai City, continuing his training as he went. He escaped a migrating herd of Ironblood Yaks, killed an injured young yak for meat, and carried its carcass onward toward the far side of the plains.

• Loa crossed the newly thawed plains, making steady progress with his Battle-qi and vertebra-tempering training.
• Loa camped beneath the stars and used his Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force to keep low-ranking magical beasts away.
• Loa woke to the rumble of a migrating herd of Ironblood Yaks and sprinted clear of its charge.
• After the herd flattened the ground around his campsite, Loa spotted an injured young yak lagging behind.
• Loa killed the yak with his longsword, then lifted its carcass onto his shoulders and continued across the plains.

Loa was ambushed in the forest by a silent assassin, countered his attacks, and chased him toward a merchant caravan. As the injured assassin fled toward the camp, six more attackers closed in around it.

• Loa detected a shadowy assassin’s attack and blocked the short blade before driving him back with thunder battle-qi.
• Loa used Unpredictable Thunder Shadow Step to outmaneuver the assassin, who activated a secret technique and fled.
• Loa pursued the assassin and severed his right arm, but the assassin pushed himself to Mid-Seventh-Rank speed to escape.
• Wot Lucas told Steward Hika that he had taken the caravan through the Magical Beast Mountain Range to deliver birthday gifts on time.
• Six assassins surrounded the caravan while Loa and the wounded assassin raced toward its camp.

Loa arrived during a black-clad attack on Wot Lucas’s caravan and fought the Rank 7 leader, saving Wot and the surviving guards. The leader escaped after using two subordinates as shields, while Loa returned to the camp and faced the survivors’ fearful reverence.

• Six black-clad attackers killed many of Wot Lucas’s guards, and their Rank 7 leader ordered the survivors to be finished.
• Loa pursued and killed a fleeing one-armed shadow, then arrived at the camp as the leader attacked him.
• Loa and the leader exchanged blows, while the leader sent five men after Wot Lucas.
• Loa slowed the attackers with the Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force and disintegrated three of them with Wind Threads Turn to Dust.
• The leader tried to flee by using two subordinates as shields, but Loa killed them before the leader escaped into the forest.
• Loa returned to the camp, where Wot Lucas and the survivors gathered the dead and watched him with fear.

Loa returned to Fenlai City after helping Wot Lucas’s caravan, then reunited with Uncle Bob at home. Bob discovered Loa had reached Rank 6 and welcomed him back with gruff affection.

• Wot Lucas offered Loa a place with the Lucas Clan and gave him a silver badge, but Loa declined and said he was going home.
• Loa left the caravan in Fenlai City, bought Bob a jug of Fierce Fire Scorching Throat, and headed to Cast Iron Alley.
• Loa playfully spread his Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force over the courtyard, startling Bob awake.
• Bob rushed out with his hammer, recognized Loa, and realized the fourteen-year-old had reached Rank 6.
• Bob threw his hammer at Loa, then invited him inside and demanded to see the wine he had brought.
• Loa and Bob spent the day together at home, drinking and catching up through Bob’s gruff questions.

After returning home, Loa sold his expedition’s spoils and bought century-old stone milk. He used it with spinal marrow fluid to expand his meridians and temper his coccyx, then continued cultivating.

• Loa sold his expedition’s supplies, including a Level Seven Magic Crystal Core and Redflame Gem, for sixty-five thousand gold coins.
• Loa spent eighteen thousand gold coins on high-quality century-old stone milk.
• Loa combined a drop of earth vein spinal marrow fluid with the stone milk and drank it before activating both of his cultivation methods.
• Loa expanded and strengthened his meridians while completing the tempering of his third coccygeal vertebra and beginning work on his fourth.
• Loa ate after his cultivation session, then returned to his room to continue cultivating.

Loa completed tempering and opening the sacrococcygeal region, gaining an internal energy circulation and much sharper balance and perception. After deciding to rest from the natural treasures, he traveled to the Ernst Institute to visit Linley, who had been wondering how Loa was doing.

• Loa opened the fifth sacral vertebra, completing the sacrococcygeal region and forming an internal energy circulation through its five bones.
• Loa tested his improved balance and perception, then noted that his battle-qi had reached the threshold of the late sixth rank and his meridians no longer caused problems.
• Loa decided to pause his use of the natural treasures and visit Linley at the Ernst Institute.
• Loa left Fenlai City and asked a guard at the institute gates to deliver a message to Linley.
• Linley sat through an earth element magic lesson while thinking about Loa, who had been away for half a year.

Linley reunited with Loa at the Ernst Institute after Loa returned from training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, where he had killed a Seventh-Level Magical Beast and begun to develop Presence. They shared a feast with Linley’s roommates before parting for the night, each resolved to keep moving forward.

• Linley learned that Loa had returned and hurried to meet him at the institute’s gate, where Bebe eagerly claimed the roast chicken Loa had brought.
• Loa told Linley about surviving the dangers of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, while Doehring Cowart sensed that Loa had mid-stage Rank 6 strength and the beginnings of Presence.
• Linley introduced Loa to Yale, George, and Reynolds, and the group went to the Wadley Hotel for dinner.
• Loa recounted parts of his expedition as the friends ate and drank, and Linley relaxed in their company.
• Linley and Loa escorted the drunken Yale, George, and Reynolds back to the dormitory before Loa departed at high speed.
• Loa returned to Cast Iron Alley and reflected on Linley’s progress and his own long path ahead before falling asleep.

After half a month of cultivation, Loa broke through to the late sixth rank and successfully switched to the Wind-Thunder Two Forms Transformation Scripture, greatly improving his battle-qi. He planned to investigate Black Fang through the Lucas Clan and seek resources to continue tempering his lumbar vertebrae.

• Loa used medicinal potency to widen his meridians and break through to the late sixth rank.
• Loa fused his wind, lightning, and weapon combat battle-qi into a single azure-violet vortex by circulating the Wind-Thunder Two Forms Transformation Scripture.
• Loa tested his new battle-qi by cutting a deep, smooth hole into the courtyard paving and judged that he could face a peak seventh-rank opponent.
• Loa decided to seek information about Black Fang and the Thunder Prison Sword Saint’s Legacy Map through the Lucas Clan, using the badge bearing Wot Lucas’s name.
• Loa assessed his slow lumbar-vertebra tempering progress and concluded that he needed new resources.
• Loa changed into clean clothes and set out to visit Bob at the Blacksmith Shop before visiting his friend Lucas.

Loa visited Wot at the Lucas Clan estate and revealed that he had killed Peng Ernst. Wot agreed to investigate the Black Fang Mercenary Group and search for stariron, while Loa left to prepare for the threat of Balk.

• Loa presented his silver badge at the Lucas Clan gates, and Hika escorted him to meet Wot.
• Wot complained about his duties as a noble, then hosted Loa for dinner and discussed Fenlai City gossip.
• Loa asked Wot about the Black Fang Mercenary Group, and Wot described its leader Balk and Balk's son Peng Ernst.
• Loa told Wot that he had killed Peng Ernst, and Wot agreed to gather detailed information about the mercenary group.
• Loa asked Wot to search for stariron to reforge his sword, and Wot promised to use the Lucas Clan's mineral connections.
• After Loa left, Wot ordered Hika to investigate Black Fang and decided to keep the matter from his father and grandfather for now.

Loa sought information about Black Fang from Old Dao, then learned that Balk had offered a bounty for clues about his son’s killer and was searching near Blackstone Canyon. Wot invited Loa to dinner at Lucas Manor, where he expected to receive information about Black Fang and news of Stariron.

• Loa paid Old Dao for information about Black Fang and asked him to watch for Stariron and other rare ores.
• Loa revealed enough of his aura to convince Old Dao that he was far stronger than his apparent rank, and Old Dao promised to keep his secret.
• Old Dao sent Loa a letter saying Balk had posted a five-thousand-gold bounty for leads about his son’s death and was searching around Blackstone Canyon.
• Loa connected Blackstone Canyon to a marker on the map of the Thunder Prison Sword Saint’s legacy and suspected Balk was searching for the legacy as well as the killer.
• Eri Dewin delivered Wot’s invitation to dinner at Lucas Manor, where Wot promised Loa information about Black Fang and news about Stariron.

Loa attended the Lucas Clan banquet, where he identified Balk and uncovered a possible opening against him. He secured a bargain for star iron ore in exchange for obtaining a Flamewalking Dragon’s heart and Magical Core, then left planning his next steps.

• Loa arrived at the Lucas estate with Wot, met Marquis Jeb Lucas and Kailai Lucas, and learned that Balk and his backer Earl Els were attending.
• Loa observed Balk and learned from Wot that Balk kept a secret estate outside the city, then overheard Balk having an affair with Els’s woman and considered her a possible opening.
• Loa asked Earl Tibu to sell him star iron ore and agreed to obtain the heart and Magical Core of a Level Eight Flamewalking Dragon for Tibu’s granddaughter Tiya’s breakthrough.
• Marquis Jeb offered Loa an additional item from his collection if he succeeded, and Loa gave Jeb and Tibu Earth Vein Spinal Marrow Fluid.
• After the banquet, Loa left intending to identify Balk’s lover and pursue the materials needed to forge his sword and hunt the Flamewalking Dragon.

Loa received Stariron ore from Wot and helped Bob begin the lengthy, costly process of smelting it into a sword. As the work continued, Loa trained his lumbar vertebrae and learned that Lilian Ferguson’s relationship with Earl Ellis would not help him drive a wedge between Ellis and Balk, so he planned to seek another opportunity to use force.

• Hika delivered raw Stariron ore from Wot, and Bob estimated it could yield material for a powerful weapon, possibly even a Saint-level one.
• Bob began smelting the ore and told Loa that the process could take a month and required costly supplementary metals.
• Loa bought more than eleven thousand gold coins’ worth of Cloud-Pattern Copper, Star Sand Iron, and Earth Vein Adamantine for Bob’s composite smelting formula.
• Loa used his remaining Earth Vein Spinal Marrow Fluid and advanced the tempering of his third lumbar vertebra to more than halfway.
• Old Dao’s letter identified Lilian Ferguson as Earl Ellis’s mistress and revealed that Ellis knew about her other partners.
• Loa decided that Lilian could not help him turn Ellis against Balk, and he asked Old Dao to keep watching for an opportunity to act at her secluded estate.

After Bob finished smelting the Stariron, Loa followed Lillian to the Manor and discovered that Balk’s hidden estate lay beneath her pleasure house. Loa launched a surprise attack on Balk, ending the chapter as Balk braced himself against Loa’s Wind Threads Turn to Dust strike.

• Bob poured the finished Composite Molten Metal into a mold, and Loa forced the exhausted blacksmith to rest.
• Loa watched Lillian leave her residence and reached the Manor ahead of her to lie in wait.
• Loa discovered a secret staircase beneath the bathing pool and realized Balk’s lair was hidden under Lillian’s pleasure house.
• Loa killed Lillian’s driver and horse, then gathered his battle-qi while Balk and Lillian were inside with the young men.
• Loa unleashed the Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force and invoked Wind Threads Turn to Dust as Balk raised his lightning armor.

Loa fought Commander Balk after killing Lillian and the nine male consorts with his sword qi, then defeated and killed Balk in a brutal battle. Wounded and exhausted, Loa headed back into the house to find the secret chamber entrance.

• Loa unleashed Wind Threads Turn to Dust, destroying the room and killing Lillian and the nine male consorts while Balk charged for his weapon.
• Loa and Balk exchanged attacks as Balk tried to reach the secret chamber, and Loa injured him with Startling Thunder.
• Balk trapped Loa’s sword in his shoulder and broke it, forcing both fighters to continue barehanded after their remaining blades shattered.
• Loa gained the advantage in close combat, disorienting Balk and killing him with a concentrated sword-qi thrust to the throat.
• Loa struck Balk’s body with three more sword-light attacks to ensure he was dead, then went back inside to search for the secret chamber entrance.

Loa searched Balk’s secret chamber, found the map to the Thunder Prison legacy, and destroyed the estate and evidence before returning to Fenlai City. After discovering that Earl Els served the Radiant Church, Loa planned to forge his sword, pursue a breakthrough, and investigate the legacy.

• Loa searched Balk’s secret chamber, took a heavy sword and an iron box, and found the map marked “Thunder Prison.”
• Loa demolished the main house to bury the chamber, reduced Balk’s corpse to a skeleton, and left the estate with his traces concealed.
• Loa hid the heavy sword in a river, climbed into Fenlai City, and returned to his courtyard before dawn.
• Loa opened the iron box and collected Balk’s maps, more than 1.1 million gold coins’ worth of cards, and three Level Seven lightning-attribute Magic Crystal Cores.
• Loa read letters revealing that Earl Els collected women pure of heart for people above him, connected the scheme to the Radiant Church, and destroyed the letters.
• Loa planned to forge his sword, seek a breakthrough in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, hunt a Flamewalking Dragon, and investigate the Thunder Prison legacy before falling asleep.

Loa learned that the Church had blamed Balk’s death on a necromancer, while the real necromancer Sessler was pursued by the Religious Tribunal. Back in Fenlai City, Loa reconciled with Bob and gave him a sword design to forge from the Stariron.

• Loa overheard that the Church had confirmed a necromancer destroyed a manor near Fenlai City and suspected the accusation concealed its own plans.
• Sessler fought off the Religious Tribunal’s knights with summoned skeletons and escaped, while the Church’s pursuers blamed him for the manor’s skeletons.
• Loa brought wine and food to Bob, reassured him about forging the Stariron, and eased his worries.
• Loa paid Old Dao the remaining ten thousand gold coins and heard Wot warn that the Church was organizing a purge.
• In July, Loa showed Bob his custom sword design, and Bob eagerly took it to the Blacksmith Shop to study it.

Loa visited the elders in Wushan Town and paid his respects at Old Jack’s grave before returning to Fenlai City to forge a sword with Bob. After nearly half a month of folding Stariron with his Battle-qi and Sword Force, Loa completed the blade and found that it resonated smoothly with his power.

• Loa brought gifts to the elders in Wushan Town, then visited Old Jack’s grave and poured wine before his headstone.
• Loa and Bob began forging the Stariron, with Loa folding and hammering it while infusing it with Two Forms Battle-qi and Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force.
• Over nearly half a month, Loa completed thirteen layers of folding and stopped before attempting a fourteenth, which he feared could ruin the work.
• Bob found the billet too dense to shape, so Loa hammered it into the sword blank under Bob’s guidance.
• Bob quenched and sharpened the blade, revealing a dark, eight-faceted sword with starlight and blue-violet gleams.
• Loa infused the completed sword with Two Forms Battle-qi and felt it resonate as an extension of his body.