Chapter Summaries

Fang Yue found the Dragon Blood Spirit Ginseng, defeated its guardian beast, and was pulled into an abyss that led to a buried city connected to the Hidden Soldier Scroll. He reached the Hidden Soldier Pavilion but could not enter because a restriction blocked its gates.

• Fang Yue traveled to a dangerous valley and found the Dragon Blood Spirit Ginseng guarded by a scaled beast.
• Fang Yue fought the guardian beast for two hours, killed it, and reached for the ginseng, triggering a powerful suction force from the soil.
• Chen Tiangang and his companion waited outside the valley, having bought Fang Yue's whereabouts from the Hundred Inquiries Pavilion, while Fang Yue fell into an abyss.
• Fang Yue witnessed phantoms of soldiers attacking a Demon Dragon, then discovered an ancient underground city that matched the Hidden Soldier Scroll's legends.
• Fang Yue entered the city, found weapons lining its streets, and reached the Hidden Soldier Pavilion at its center.
• Fang Yue found an invisible restriction blocking the pavilion entrance and began studying how to undo it.

Fang Yue strengthened his Dark Radiance Golden Body, then broke through the air restriction barring his way into the Hidden Soldier Pavilion. Meanwhile, Qing'er and her younger sister opened the Pavilion's Stone Gate, and Chen Tiangang and King Wu headed toward the sound of Fang Yue's breakthrough.

• Fang Yue failed to break the restriction with brute force and cultivated the Dark Radiance Golden Body with Dragon Blood Spirit Ginseng and the aura of weapons until he reached the second level.
• Chen Tiangang and King Wu entered the underground cavern, encountered a dragon-shaped vital energy projection, and followed the dense aura of weapons and warfare deeper inside.
• Qing'er and her younger sister found the hidden Stone Gate, used the Hidden Soldier Scroll to trigger its mechanism, and opened the entrance to the Hidden Soldier Pavilion.
• Fang Yue used his newly strengthened body and vital energy to withstand the restriction's force and break through the wall of air.
• Chen Tiangang heard the boom, suspected someone else was nearby, and rushed toward its source with King Wu.

Fang Yue defeated Chen Tiangang and King Wu, but a green-robed archer intervened before Fang Yue could kill King Wu. Fang Yue entered Hidden Soldier City's core chamber and touched a glowing ancient book, which blasted him into a wall as information flooded his mind.

• Fang Yue used the Dark Radiance Vajra Body to repel Chen Tiangang and King Wu's attacks, then struck both men and severely injured them.
• Fang Yue pinned King Wu, but Chen Tiangang fled and a green-robed archer shot at Fang Yue, allowing King Wu to escape.
• Fang Yue chose not to pursue the fleeing enemies and entered the depths of Hidden Soldier City.
• Qing'er and Yu'er followed the Hidden Soldier Scroll to Hidden Soldier City and hurried toward its central building after seeing its gates open.
• Fang Yue approached a glowing ancient book in the city's secret chamber, touched its cover, and was hurled into a wall as a torrent of information entered his mind.

Fang Yue gained the Soldier God Art’s divine intent inheritance, defeated and killed the Man in Green, and left Hidden Soldier City. Ten days later, he arrived as the new Observatory Director in Gunzhou Prefecture, where officials resented his appointment and the report that had led to their penalties.

• Fang Yue received the Soldier God Art’s inheritance and hid when Qing'er and Yu'er entered the secret chamber to retrieve the manual.
• The Man in Green seized the manual, evaded the sisters, and left, while Fang Yue remained concealed because he had already obtained the inheritance.
• After Qing'er and Yu'er chased the Man in Green away, he returned, discovered Fang Yue, and attacked him.
• Fang Yue activated the Dark Radiance Vajra Body, overwhelmed the Man in Green, and killed him before leaving the secret chamber.
• Ten days later, Gunzhou Prefecture Imperial Observatory officials discussed Fang Yue’s arrival as their new Observatory Director and privately resented him.

Fang Yue returned to Gunzhou Prefecture and discovered that Black Wind Hall had sent men to test his strength. He followed a captured decoy to the Hall Master, who attacked him, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Fang Yue entered Gunzhou Prefecture, where Wang Tong and Li Xi discussed ways to bring the newly appointed Director under their control.
• A beggar approached Fang Yue as a decoy while an accomplice launched a surprise attack, but Fang Yue dodged and knocked the ambusher unconscious.
• The beggar confessed that he belonged to Black Wind Hall and had been ordered by its Hall Master to test Fang Yue, so Fang Yue forced him to lead the way.
• Fang Yue followed the beggar to a secluded courtyard and confronted the masked Hall Master of Black Wind Hall.
• The Hall Master lunged at Fang Yue after they exchanged taunts.

Fang Yue defeated the Black Wind Hall Master, uncovered a plot involving the Imperial Observatory and the City Guard, and forced the soldiers to retreat after revealing his official identity. He then confronted Wang Tong and Li Xi at a Wine House, leaving them wary as they awaited his reason for coming.

• Fang Yue defeated the black-clothed Hall Master, who first blamed the Li Family and then admitted the Imperial Observatory had sent him to test Fang Yue; Fang Yue killed him.
• City Guards surrounded the courtyard and shot arrows at Fang Yue, but he deflected them and struck down their junior officer.
• Fang Yue revealed that he was Director of the Gunzhou Prefecture Imperial Observatory, examined the Prefect's warrant, and ordered the soldiers to withdraw.
• Fang Yue suspected a powerful mastermind linked to a mysterious organization and resolved to investigate the conspiracy.
• At a Wine House, Wang Tong and Li Xi discussed Fang Yue's conflict with the City Guard, then saw him arrive and approach their table.

Fang Yue forced Wang Tong and Li Xi to reveal that Liu Yun had sent them to test him, then tracked Liu Yun to his estate and fought his way inside. He confronted Liu Yun about the plot, leaving Liu Yun frightened and exposed.

• Fang Yue threatened Wang Tong and Li Xi until Wang Tong began to name their mastermind, but an attacker sent a Sword Light through the window to silence him.
• Fang Yue caught and crushed the Sword Light, and Wang Tong and Li Xi revealed that Lord Liu Yun had ordered them to test Fang Yue's strength.
• Fang Yue let Wang Tong and Li Xi go, learned Liu Yun's address, and went to his estate to confront him.
• Fang Yue killed the guards who blocked his way and forced his way through the estate toward Liu Yun's room.
• Fang Yue kicked open Liu Yun's door and demanded to know why Liu Yun had tested him and wanted him dead.

Fang Yue killed Liu Yun and disguised the death as an assassination, then ordered an investigation while navigating suspicion and factional tensions within the Imperial Observatory. The chapter left Fang Yue presiding over a tense meeting as its leaders debated how to find Liu Yun’s killer.

• Liu Yun warned Fang Yue about the Imperial Observatory’s allies and offered to obey him, but Fang Yue killed him over his left-eye blink and planned to blame Tian Bolight, the Blinking Maniac.
• Fang Yue dismissed the threat from the forces behind Liu Yun and walked through the Imperial Observatory, where staff gossiped about his appointment and possible enemies.
• Deputy Director Li Hao warned Fang Yue about the Observatory’s factions, and Fang Yue said he would resist anyone who tried to involve him in their struggles.
• An Imperial Inspector reported Liu Yun’s death, and Fang Yue feigned surprise, ordered a citywide search, and went to inspect the courtyard.
• Fang Yue described the scene as a premeditated assassination, called for security measures, and summoned the Observatory’s Deputy Directors and elders.
• Fang Yue led a tense meeting about avenging Liu Yun, while the gathered officials noted that his killer must have been exceptionally powerful.

Fang Yue pretended to consider joining Shadow Society after a middle-aged man tried to recruit him and accused him of killing Deputy Director Liu. He tracked the man to a hidden stronghold in Gunzhou Prefecture and discovered that Shadow Society had infiltrated the Guard Army and was preparing to act against him.

• Fang Yue ordered the Imperial Observatory to strengthen its defenses and investigate Deputy Director Liu's murder, then met a middle-aged man claiming to have evidence against him.
• The middle-aged man accused Fang Yue of killing Deputy Director Liu and offered to reveal the evidence if Fang Yue joined Shadow Society; Fang Yue pretended to consider the offer.
• The middle-aged man reported to a black-clothed man, and they discussed pressuring Fang Yue through his enemies in the Imperial Court.
• Fang Yue followed the middle-aged man to a secluded courtyard, concealed himself when a powerful black-clothed man left, and infiltrated the residence.
• Fang Yue overheard Shadow Society members say they had infiltrated the Guard Army in Gunzhou Prefecture and planned to act when the time was right.

Fang Yue raided a Shadow Society residence, extracted the location of a stronghold, and alerted the Imperial Observatory to investigate. The next morning, Observatory officials accused him of killing Vice Director Liu Yun and tried to seize him, but Fang Yue struck down their leader.

• Fang Yue killed the Shadow Society members in a pavilion, then fought and defeated a powerful black-clothed swordsman who attacked him.
• Fang Yue tortured the swordsman until he revealed that the Shadow Society had a stronghold in an abandoned warehouse in the eastern district, then killed him.
• Fang Yue reported the intelligence to a secret Jade Capital Imperial Observatory contact, who promised to investigate the stronghold and monitor the city’s powerful factions.
• The next morning, several Vice Directors and elders summoned Fang Yue to a secret chamber and accused him of murdering Vice Director Liu Yun.
• When the officials ordered their men to capture him, Fang Yue vanished and struck the leading Vice Director, sending him crashing into the chamber wall.

Fang Yue crushed the Gunzhou Prefecture Imperial Observatory elders opposing him, seized their allies’ resources, and cultivated the Soldier God Art by absorbing the power of weapons. While he remained in seclusion, the Shadow Society spread news of a Divine Weapon to lure him out of the city for an ambush.

• Fang Yue defeated the rebellious elders and ordered soldiers to arrest them, taking full control of the Gunzhou Prefecture Imperial Observatory.
• Fang Yue sent soldiers to confiscate the estates and treasures of families tied to the captured elders.
• Fang Yue cultivated the Soldier God Art and absorbed the power of a Mysterious Iron Sword, strengthening his body.
• Chen Tiangang and King Wu met with a Shadow Society agent, who promised to lure Fang Yue out of the city and bring two battle generals to help kill him.
• The Shadow Society spread rumors that a Divine Weapon had appeared in Gunzhou Prefecture while Fang Yue continued cultivating in seclusion.

Fang Yue was lured out of Gunzhou Prefecture by rumors of a Divine Weapon and fought off an ambush by Chen Tiangang, King Wu, and two Shadow Society war generals. He found a powerful but fake Divine Weapon in an ancient temple, then encountered the Imperial Guard, sent by the Prefecture Lord to protect him.

• Fang Yue ordered an investigation into reports of a Divine Weapon and then led Imperial Observatory elites to the village where strange phenomena had appeared.
• Chen Tiangang, King Wu, and two Shadow Society war generals ambushed Fang Yue, revealing that the Shadow Society and Blood Dragon Platform had joined forces against him.
• Fang Yue defeated Chen Tiangang and drove King Wu and the two war generals into retreat.
• Fang Yue entered the ancient temple, found a fake Divine Weapon embedded in a stone wall, and took the sword for himself.
• The Imperial Guard arrived and told Fang Yue that the Prefecture Lord had sent them to ensure his safety.

Fang Yue followed the Imperial Guards to a secluded residence, where Wanyin tried to recruit him into a plot against the Great Wei court and then ambushed him. He defeated her black-clothed assassin and confronted Wanyin, demanding to know who she was.

• Fang Yue suspected the Imperial Guards had hidden motives but followed them to their stronghold in Gunzhou Prefecture.
• Wanyin hosted Fang Yue at a lavish banquet and urged him to join a plan against the Great Wei court, claiming the Shadow Society and Blood Dragon Platform were stirring unrest.
• Fang Yue rejected Wanyin's proposal and tried to leave, but a black-clothed man attacked him.
• Fang Yue dodged the assassin's strikes and killed him with a sword.
• Wanyin revealed that she had filled the hall with Dark God Incense, but Fang Yue said the poison had no effect on him.
• Fang Yue advanced on the frightened Wanyin and demanded to know her identity.

Fang Yue learned that Lord Liu and Lord Li had ordered an attempt on his life, then killed them before investigating who had directed them. The evidence pointed to Duke Dingguo Wei Chenliang, and Fang Yue wondered whether the conspiracy was connected to Zhu Linlang.

• Wanyin confessed that Lord Liu of the Imperial Observatory and Lord Li of the Hall of Worship had ordered Fang Yue's assassination and revealed that they had further plans.
• Fang Yue left Wanyin alive but used vital energy to give her temporary amnesia, then traveled to a military camp east of Gunzhou Prefectural City.
• Fang Yue overheard Lord Liu and Lord Li discussing their plan to kill him, burst into their tent, and killed both men while sparing the soldiers.
• Fang Yue disguised himself and returned to Gunzhou Prefectural City, where he searched the Imperial Observatory's secret dossiers for the people behind the plot.
• Fang Yue found evidence linking Lord Liu and Lord Li to Duke Dingguo Wei Chenliang and wondered whether Wei Chenliang targeted him because of Zhu Linlang.

Fang Yue learned that a Wei Family elder had entered Gunzhou Prefecture and prepared for the family’s planned attack, while the Shadow Society seized Luoshui City in an uprising. Wei Qianxing arranged to use the rebellion as cover to eliminate Fang Yue, and both sides waited for an opening.

• Fang Yue questioned his subordinate about Duke Wei’s recent movements and learned that a Wei Family elder had secretly left Yujing City.
• Wei Chenliang ordered his followers to prepare to strike Fang Yue once the family elder arrived in Gunzhou Prefecture.
• The Shadow Society rose against the Imperial Court, seized Luoshui City, and routed its City Guard.
• Fang Yue received a report that a Wei Family elder had entered Gunzhou Prefecture and told his officials to monitor the rebellion.
• Wei Qianxing met with Wei Family agents and planned to use the Shadow Society’s uprising as cover to kill Fang Yue.
• Wei Qianxing and Fang Yue separately made preparations and watched for the other side to act.

Wei Qianxing tried to recruit the Shadow Society to help eliminate Fang Yue, but the Society’s experts secretly decided to turn against both the Wei Family and Fang Yue. As a hundred-thousand-strong rebel army neared Gunzhou’s Prefectural City, Fang Yue recognized that the city’s scant defenders and delayed reinforcements left it vulnerable to a coordinated attack.

• Wei Qianxing met with the Shadow Society’s experts and offered them one hundred thousand taels of gold and weapons and armor to equip fifty thousand men in exchange for helping kill Fang Yue.
• The Blood-robed Expert agreed to consider the deal and demanded half the reward in advance, which Wei Qianxing accepted.
• After Wei Qianxing departed, the Shadow Society’s experts decided to take the Wei Family’s resources and then kill both Fang Yue and the Wei Family.
• The Shadow Society’s experts began preparing their attacks while Wei Qianxing left believing that cooperation was likely.
• Fang Yue learned that the Shadow Society’s hundred-thousand-strong rebel army had captured more than a dozen County Towns and would reach Gunzhou’s Prefectural City in less than three days.
• Fang Yue assessed that the city had only twenty thousand defenders and that Imperial Court reinforcements were ten days away, while the Wei Family, Shadow Society, and Blood Dragon Platform waited to strike.

Fang Yue learned he might be appointed Prefect of Gunzhou Prefecture and left the city to intercept the appointment letter before it could bind him to the besieged city. He ambushed Special Envoy Wei Jinzhong, but another masked swordsman attacked first, and General Li arrived as the confrontation escalated.

• Fang Yue received Hui Hengwu's warning that he might be appointed Prefect of Gunzhou Prefecture and decided to intercept the appointment letter.
• Wei Jinzhong hurried toward Gunzhou Prefecture with the appointment letter, intending to force Fang Yue to defend the city.
• Fang Yue hid beside the road, but a masked swordsman attacked Wei Jinzhong before Fang Yue could act.
• The masked swordsman demanded the appointment letter and defeated Wei Jinzhong without killing him.
• General Li arrived with cavalry, and Wei Jinzhong called for his help as the masked swordsman faced the new arrival.

Fang Yue exposed the scheme against him, defeated Lord Wei and General Li, and left Gunzhou Prefecture as the city reeled from the killings. He later appeared in a Shadow Society manor to confront Xue Cheng and Wei Qianxing, who had plotted to lure him out and kill him.

• General Li defeated and bound the black-clothed man, then accused Fang Yue of colluding with the Shadow Society and ordered Fang Yue’s arrest.
• Fang Yue confronted Lord Wei, struck him down, killed General Li and the elite soldiers, and left the scene.
• News of the Special Envoy’s assassination and the deaths spread through Gunzhou Prefecture as the Shadow Society’s rebel army approached.
• Xue Cheng and Wei Qianxing met to plan Fang Yue’s death, but Fang Yue failed to appear at their expected time and vanished from the city.
• Fang Yue suddenly appeared in the Shadow Society manor, startling Xue Cheng and Wei Qianxing, and declared that he would send them where they belonged.

Fang Yue killed Wei Qianxing and severely wounded Xue Cheng, then left Gunzhou Prefecture for Yujing City while the Wei Family sought revenge. After returning near the capital and secretly entering Wutu City to check on his family, he learned Duke Wei had been reprimanded by the Emperor and asked for more details.

• Fang Yue killed Wei Qianxing and cut down Xue Cheng during the battle at the manor.
• Fang Yue traveled toward Yujing City, mistook two travelers’ conversation for a plot against him, and continued on safely the next morning.
• Duke Wei learned that Fang Yue had survived and ordered his shadow guards to find and seize him.
• A month later, Fang Yue disguised himself and entered Wutu City to check on his family and gather news.
• The teahouse owner confirmed Fang Yue’s identity through their secret signals and said Duke Wei had been rebuked and docked three years’ salary.
• Fang Yue asked the teahouse owner for more specific information about Duke Wei and the situation in Wutu City.

Fang Yue returned home, where Chen Shi gave him a letter from Anu expressing her longing for him. He hurried to see Widow Yu and Anu, but they had already left Yujing City on a long journey, and Widow Yu had deliberately avoided meeting him.

• Fang Yue heard that Duke Wei had been reprimanded and docked three years’ salary, and he suspected the duke’s dealings with the Shadow Society had been exposed.
• Widow Yu visited Chen Shi and asked her to pass Anu’s letter to Fang Yue before she and Anu departed Yujing City.
• Fang Yue returned home, reunited with Chen Shi, and received Anu’s letter describing her studies and how much she missed him.
• Fang Yue went to the Wen Family residence to find Widow Yu and Anu, but an Old Servant told him they had left that morning on a long journey.
• Anu asked Widow Yu why she had not let Fang Yue meet them, and Widow Yu said they had important matters to handle before returning.