Chapter Summaries

Wei Sheng became the Fish-Dragon Gang’s External Affairs Envoy, secured help for his parents, and prepared to escort black iron ore from the Caishi Shoal mine. As he reached the mine, the White Lotus Cult and Hong Family began plotting against him and seeking hosts for mutated Flesh-and-Blood Gu.

• Yu Qianji appointed Wei Sheng External Affairs Envoy and gave him ten days to prepare for a mission to the Caishi Shoal mine.
• Wei Sheng asked Yu Qianji to help his parents, then chose the Nine Gates Golden Bell Shield and two Sinew Refinement Methods from the Fish Scale Pavilion.
• Wen Tailai learned that Wei Sheng had won the tournament by mastering the Tiger-Howling Saber Technique to Perfection and entered secluded training.
• Hong Chengyuan agreed to cooperate with Xu Longxiang in exchange for Profound Organ Spirit Liquid, named Wei Sheng and Fang Heting in connection with the White Lotus Envoy’s death, and heard Xu’s request for martial artists to host mutated Flesh-and-Blood Gu.
• Wei Sheng spent three days cultivating, then left Black Mountain City with Li Fenghua, Wang Zhong, and a party of gang members for the Caishi Shoal mine.
• At the mine, Wei Sheng met Ninth Master Ji and asked whether the black iron ore shipment was ready.

Wei Sheng visited the Fish-Dragon Gang’s black iron mine, learned that Black Wind Stronghold’s Thirty-Six Bandits posed a serious threat, and strengthened his movement technique and cultivation while waiting for the ore to be prepared. After helping Li Fenghua improve his saber skills, Wei Sheng set out with the ore shipment and reached the edge of Wild Boar Forest, where he heard an approaching group.

• Ninth Master Ji criticized Wei Sheng’s seven-refinement cultivation, and Steward Xu explained that Ji compared every External Affairs Envoy to his late younger brother, a renowned former envoy.
• Steward Xu showed Wei Sheng the mine and revealed that Black Wind Stronghold had united more than twenty bandit strongholds, including thirty-six powerful leaders.
• Wei Sheng perfected Eight Steps Chasing the Cicada, discovered that it sharpened his senses, and used his speed in sparring to help Li Fenghua approach great accomplishment in the Tiger-Howling Saber Technique.
• During the seven-day wait for the ore, Wei Sheng perfected the Black Wind Tendon Refinement Method and advanced to late nine refinements, reaching fifty-five thousand jin of strength.
• Wei Sheng and his party loaded the black iron ore and traveled toward the city, preparing to cross Wild Boar Forest after resting at a pavilion.
• Wei Sheng heard wagon wheels and voices approaching, and more than a dozen figures appeared at the junction.

Wei Sheng joined Wu Qingman’s caravan through Wild Boar Forest, where bandits ambushed the party and a Ten Refinements leader threatened them. After an Azure-Scaled Eagle drove the leader away, Wei Sheng slaughtered the bandits and pursued a peak Nine Refinements fighter deeper into the forest.

• Wei Sheng met Wu Qingman and her guest retainer Li Meifeng, then agreed to travel with the Wu Household’s caravan.
• The party entered Wild Boar Forest, found the remains of murdered travelers, and Li Fenghua killed a bandit who had ambushed him and Wang Zhong.
• A Ten Refinements bandit leader and more than a hundred bandits surrounded the party, but an Azure-Scaled Eagle wounded the leader and chased him into the forest.
• Wei Sheng ordered Wu Qingman, Li Fenghua, Wang Zhong, and Li Meifeng to engage the remaining experts, then killed bandits with rapid saber strikes.
• Wei Sheng drew a peak Nine Refinements fighter away from the battlefield, cut him in half, and continued deeper into the forest.

Wei Sheng defeated Scarface Ten Refinements and learned that Black Wind Stronghold was preparing to forge weapons and armor, while the convoy escaped Wild Boar Forest safely. As the group reached Black Mountain City, they found the county officials gathered to welcome a newly appointed County Commandant, but the approaching procession did not match expectations.

• Wei Sheng found Scarface Ten Refinements in the woods, overpowered him, and killed him after learning that Black Wind Stronghold's Second Boss planned to forge weapons and armor in imitation of Changliu Mountain.
• Wu Qingman killed the Nineteenth Boss and drove off the remaining bandits, then joined Li Fenghua to search for Wei Sheng.
• Wei Sheng returned safely and admitted that he had killed the Twelfth Boss; he also reported that the Azure-Scaled Eagle had killed the Eleventh Chieftain, and asked Li Fenghua and Wu Qingman to keep his strength secret.
• The ore convoy left Wild Boar Forest and continued toward Black Mountain City, while Wei Sheng decided to report Black Wind Stronghold's plans to the Gang Leader.
• At the Inner City gate, Wei Sheng and his companions found the county officials assembled to welcome County Commandant Huang, but Liu Delu noticed the approaching procession did not resemble the expected arrival.

Wei Sheng returned to Black Mountain with the ore transport team, learned that the Huang Family’s County Commandant had arrived with an elite force, and prepared to strengthen himself amid the city’s growing instability. He also learned that his mother had left the Corvée Office, while his father remained missing.

• Wei Sheng and Wu Qingman reached the Inner City with bodies from an encounter with the Black Mountain Bandits, and County Deputy Liu Delu made them wait for County Commandant Huang.
• Huang Wenpeng arrived with three hundred Winter Slaughter Soldiers, and Wu Qingman explained the Huang Family’s power and the force’s origins to Wei Sheng.
• Wei Sheng returned to the Yu Residence, warned Black Tiger that Black Wind Stronghold had grown formidable, and learned that the gang’s other leaders were welcoming Huang Wenpeng.
• Black Tiger told Wei Sheng that his mother had left the Corvée Office, and Wei Sheng decided she should wait in the prefectural capital until his father was found.
• Wei Sheng reunited with Wei He, praised his progress to the Second Refinement, and told him their mother had been found.
• After resting at Su Garden, Wei Sheng resolved to train the Yi Wood and Earth Dragon Sinew Refinement Methods and pursue Nine Refinements Perfection.

Wei Sheng learned that the White Lotus Cult had retaliated against the martial artists who killed its envoy and that Weiyuan Hall faced pressure from rival factions and the Winter Pacification Army. He perfected his Sinew Refinement Methods into the Flood Dragon Tendon Refinement Method, strengthened his Nine Gates Golden Bell Shield, and set out toward Fish-Dragon Street disguised as Sang Qi.

• Wei Sheng returned to White Crane Martial Arts Hall, where Wu Qingman told him that a White Lotus Cult attacker had severely wounded Jiang Liuchuan and killed many martial artists involved in the envoy's defeat.
• Fang Heting warned his disciples to keep a low profile amid the county commandant's arrival and the White Lotus Cult's return, then advised Wei Sheng to stay out of Fish-Dragon Gang affairs.
• Wei Sheng visited the unconscious Jiang Liuchuan and sensed mutated flesh-and-blood gu in his wounded arm; he recalled that Red Lotus Flame Force might counter it and resolved to cultivate that force.
• Wu Qingman told Wei Sheng that Weiyuan Hall could lose Fish-Dragon Street while Black Tiger recovered, and that the Hong Family had aligned itself with Huang Wenpeng and the Military Preparations Camp.
• Wei Sheng spent Dao Origin Points to perfect five Sinew Refinement Methods into the Flood Dragon Tendon Refinement Method, then brought all nine gates of his Golden Bell Shield to perfection.
• Wei Sheng disguised himself as Sang Qi and headed toward Fish-Dragon Street after deciding his current strength was still insufficient to confront Azure Dragon Hall and the Winter Pacification Army.

Wei Sheng intervened when White Lotus Cult fighters attacked Black Tiger and the Fish-Dragon Gang, then confronted their Ten Refinements Yaksha leader. He revealed overwhelming strength and used the White Lotus Cult’s own perfected palm technique to smash the Yaksha into the ground.

• Black Tiger fought Hong Chengchun for Fish-Dragon Street until Qin Hui’s arrival forced Hong to withdraw, and Black Tiger collapsed from his injuries.
• White Lotus Cult fighters ambushed the gang, forcing Fire Ox to carry Black Tiger away while Qin Hui held off the attackers.
• Wei Sheng hurled roof tiles into the White Lotus Cult fighters, then pursued the Yaksha as he chased Black Tiger and the others.
• Wei Sheng appeared behind the Yaksha, exchanged blows with him, and revealed that he could suppress a peak Ten Refinements fighter with his Jin Force and physical strength.
• The Yaksha activated his Flesh-and-Blood Gu to reach late Eleven Refinements and attacked with the Old Mother Thinks of You Palm.
• Wei Sheng countered with a perfected Old Mother Thinks of You Palm and smashed the Yaksha deep into the ground.

Wei Sheng killed the Ten Refinements Yaksha and learned that a stronger White Lotus Cult expert called the Dragon Elephant Envoy was in Black Mountain City. At the Fish-Dragon Gang meeting, Wei Sheng urged retaliation against Azure Dragon Hall, and Yu Qianji assigned him to lead the response while promising to discuss the Red Lotus Cultivation Method afterward.

• The Ten Refinements Yaksha fled after Wei Sheng struck him, but Wei Sheng caught and killed him; Wang Wu later found the corpse and recognized the Old Mother Thinks of You Palm as the work of an expert beyond Ten Refinements.
• Wei Sheng examined the Yaksha’s spoils and tried to cultivate Red Lotus flame force, but discovered he needed the Red Lotus Cultivation Method.
• Wei Sheng arrived at the Fish-Dragon Gang meeting, where the leaders debated whether to retaliate against Azure Dragon Hall and risk a wider conflict.
• Wei Sheng argued that the gang should fight and use suspicions of Azure Dragon Hall’s collusion with White Lotus cultists as justification.
• Yu Qianji assigned Wei Sheng to take Azure Dragon Hall down a peg, with Chen Yuanli as backup; Wei Sheng asked Yu Qianji for the Red Lotus Cultivation Method, and Yu agreed to discuss it after the job.

Wei Sheng led Fish-Dragon Gang forces to seize Azure Dragon Hall, defeating its first deputy hall master and driving off its hall master. The Hong Family sought allies and called in a favor, while Huang Wenpeng saw the gang conflict as an opportunity to manipulate Black Mountain’s factions.

• Hong Chengchun ordered River-Turning Mirage to visit Black Tiger, but Wei Sheng arrived at Azure Dragon Hall with Li Fenghua, Wang Zhong, and over a hundred Fish-Dragon Gang elites, accusing the hall of harboring White Lotus Demonic Cultivators.
• River-Turning Mirage’s attack failed to harm Wei Sheng, who gravely wounded him with one saber strike; Chen Yuanli then drove Hong Chengchun away while Wei Sheng’s men captured Azure Dragon Hall.
• Wei Sheng ordered a search of Azure Dragon Hall, and Chen Yuanli returned after wounding Hong Chengchun; news of Wei Sheng’s victory spread through Black Mountain.
• Hong Chengyuan became enraged when Hong Chengchun reported the defeat and planned to visit the Liu Family and the Lin Family, while asking Hong Chengchun to tell Xu Longxiang that he wanted someone killed.
• Huang Wenpeng heard that Wei Sheng had seized Azure Dragon Hall and injured River-Turning Mirage, and decided to let the local factions continue fighting rather than intervene directly.

After taking Azure Dragon Hall, Wei Sheng obtained the Red Lotus Cultivation Method from Fang Heting and condensed Red Lotus Flame Force at great cost to his vital blood. He strengthened it by refining the Flesh-and-Blood Gu in Jiang Liuchuan, then learned the White Lotus fiend who attacked Jiang may have served the Dragon Elephant Envoy; that night, a terrifying figure appeared outside Wei Sheng’s room.

• Wei Sheng returned from Azure Dragon Hall with its spoils, and Qin Hui gave him Fang Heting’s name as a clue to the Red Lotus Cultivation Method.
• Wei Sheng asked Fang Heting for the method, revealed that he had reached nine refinements, and received the booklet along with medicinal ingredients to support its dangerous cultivation.
• Wei Sheng condensed a strand of Red Lotus Flame Force, nearly exhausting his vital blood, then discovered that it could burn the Flesh-and-Blood Gu power in Jiang Liuchuan and grow stronger by absorbing it.
• Wei Sheng spent half a month refining the gu from Jiang Liuchuan, nearly doubling his flame force; Jiang then described a masked Ten Refinements attacker and a powerful Twelve Refinements figure beside him.
• Wei Sheng recognized the powerful figure as the Dragon Elephant Envoy, but later that night a terrifying presence appeared outside his door and someone roared, “Xu Longxiang, how dare you!!”

Xu Longxiang attacked Wei Sheng but was driven off by Yu Qianji and Fang Heting, while Wei Sheng strengthened his techniques and planned to seek a bone-refining martial art. The next morning, Huang Wenpeng learned that the Fish-Dragon Gang and White Crane Martial Arts Hall had crippled his plan to pressure the gang, and Huang Abing proposed a new scheme.

• Xu Longxiang burst into Su Garden to kill Wei Sheng, but Yu Qianji revealed himself as a Martial Arts Master and struck Xu Longxiang with a white spear and palm.
• Xu Longxiang fled toward the White Crane Martial Arts Hall, where Fang Heting wounded him severely and tore off one arm before he escaped using Evil Gu Power.
• Fang Heting told Yu Qianji that Xu Longxiang was only a weapon and that the true culprit remained hidden, then Wei Sheng returned to Su Garden and arranged for Wei He to stay at the martial arts hall.
• Wei Sheng spent his Dao Origin Points to comprehend White Crane Fist Intent and bring Crane Shadow Floating in the Sky to great accomplishment, then resolved to seek a bone-refining martial art and improve his cultivation.
• Huang Wenpeng learned that Yu Qianji and Fang Heting had severely wounded Xu Longxiang and that a mysterious expert had injured Hong Chengyuan, undermining his plan to pressure the Fish-Dragon Gang.
• Huang Abing told Huang Wenpeng he had a plan to eliminate Black Mountain City's factions and earn him merit.

Huang Wenpeng and Huang Abing planned to use a bandit-suppression campaign to hunt Sang Qi and seize his Grandmaster Secret Cache. Wei Sheng learned that Red Lotus Flame Force was draining his vitality, began training in Penglai Misty Steps, and was ordered to join the campaign, where Fish-Dragon Gang leaders maneuvered to place him in charge.

• Huang Abing persuaded Huang Wenpeng to organize a campaign against the Black Mountain Bandits as cover for pursuing Sang Qi and his Grandmaster Secret Cache.
• Wei Sheng learned from Fang Heting that Red Lotus Flame Force consumed vitality and that a rare health-nourishing art could counter it; Fang Heting promised to seek one when Wei Sheng reached Twelve Refinements.
• Wei Sheng revealed his Eight Refinements peak cultivation and Great Accomplishment in Crane Shadow Floating in the Sky, but Fang Heting refused to teach him bone-refining martial arts and instead taught him Penglai Misty Steps.
• The County Commandant called on the city’s factions to send fighters for a bandit-suppression expedition, and Fang Heting told Wei Sheng he would have to go because Sang Qi had come from the Academy.
• At the Fish-Dragon Gang meeting, Hu Rong and Dapeng urged that Wei Sheng lead the mission with Nine Refinements deputies under his command, and Yu Qianji asked Wei Sheng what he thought.

Wei Sheng agreed to represent the Fish-Dragon Gang in the expedition after Yu Qianji offered him a treasure from the Fish Scale Pavilion, where he chose the Tiger-Demon Bone-Refining Fist. Before leaving, Fang Heting gave him a Returning Crane Pill, and Wu Qingman brought him a Hundred Refinements Silver Carp Inner Armor, leaving him better equipped for the dangerous journey.

• Wei Sheng resisted Hu Rong’s pressure to join the expedition until Yu Qianji offered him a treasure and Black Tiger defended his past contributions to the gang.
• Wei Sheng agreed to represent the Fish-Dragon Gang, then chose the Tiger-Demon Bone-Refining Fist from the Fish Scale Pavilion’s third floor instead of a Hundred Refinements weapon.
• Yu Qianji warned Wei Sheng to distrust the Hong Family and the authorities, avoid fighting powerful enemies head-on, and prioritize survival.
• Fang Heting agreed to let Wei Sheng lead the White Crane Martial Arts Hall’s disciples on the expedition and gave him his last Returning Crane Pill.
• Wu Qingman visited Wei Sheng and presented him with Hundred Refinements Silver Carp Inner Armor made from scales he had once sold.

Wei Sheng joined the bandit-suppression expedition to Black Mountain and grew suspicious of Commander Dong Wuhou’s slow march and hidden plans. After the factions split up to search Maiden Mountain, Wei Sheng withdrew his weaker group, but a sudden cry about Sang Qi and the bandits drew him and Du Zhongxing toward a shocking scene.

• Wei Sheng tested the Silver Carp Inner Armor in his Flesh Divine Palace form, then began the painful Tiger-Demon Bone-Refining Fist and used Bone-Refining Pills to continue training.
• Wei Sheng led twenty Fish-Dragon Gang elites to join the four-hundred-strong expedition, where Dong Wuhou and deputy captain Dong Qi took command.
• After several days of slow travel, Dong Wuhou revealed a plan to lure the Black Mountain Bandits out by heading for Maiden Mountain, where Sang Qi had reportedly been seen.
• At Maiden Mountain, Dong Wuhou split the factions into separate search parties and secretly ordered someone to notify Dong Qi that the hunt had begun.
• Wei Sheng’s group found no trace of Sang Qi and withdrew rather than risk meeting the bandits; after hearing an angry shout accusing Sang Qi of colluding with them, Wei Sheng and Du Zhongxing hurried toward the sound and were shocked by what they found.

Wei Sheng’s group discovered that the Black Wind bandits were surrounding Maiden Mountain, and Wei Sheng warned his allies not to trust the Winter Pacification Army. As they tried to retreat, Wen Tailai led the pursuing One-Ear toward them, and Du Zhongxing forced Wen Tailai to stay and help fight.

• One-Ear attacked Lin Qing’s party, but an unseen expert struck him with a pebble and sent him flying; Wei Sheng concealed that he was responsible.
• Lin Qing and the others fled, while One-Ear ordered his bandits to pursue them toward their comrades; Wei Sheng’s group stayed behind.
• Signal arrows from the Liu and Hong Families revealed that bandits were closing in from several directions, so Wei Sheng ordered Li Fenghua and the White Crane Martial Arts Hall disciples to retreat without trusting other factions, especially the Winter Pacification Army.
• Wen Tailai fled toward Wei Sheng and Du Zhongxing with One-Ear pursuing him, and Du Zhongxing struck Wen Tailai back, ordering him to help hold off the wounded bandit chief.

Wei Sheng killed Wen Tailai and took his appearance and Thunderbolt Hand to conceal his identity while displaying greater strength. Disguised as Wen Tailai, he saved Du Zhongxing, drove One-Ear into flight, and slaughtered dozens of bandits and two chiefs before Hong Chengchun stopped him.

• Wen Tailai tricked Du Zhongxing into facing One-Ear, then pursued Wei Sheng and attacked him, but Wei Sheng dodged the ambush and killed him with two punches.
• Wei Sheng learned Thunderbolt Hand, used Dao Origin to master it, and disguised himself as Wen Tailai.
• Wei Sheng rescued the gravely wounded Du Zhongxing by striking One-Ear, then shattered One-Ear's Thunderclap Thousand-Wolf Slash and pursued him with perfected Eight Steps Chasing the Cicada.
• One-Ear summoned the seventh and ninth chiefs and their bandits to block Wei Sheng, but Wei Sheng killed the bandits and both chiefs, forcing One-Ear to flee again.
• The Liu Family and Golden Cauldron Martial Arts School witnessed Wei Sheng's slaughter, and Hong Chengchun appeared and stopped him in the forest.

Wei Sheng killed Hong Chengchun, then pursued One-Ear to a valley and defeated Sang Qi, a peak Eleven Refinements expert secretly serving the Winter Pacification Army. After killing One-Ear and escaping with the spoils, Wei Sheng left the Liu Family and Golden Cauldron Martial Arts School to discover the bodies and wonder who had killed Sang Qi.

• Wei Sheng surprised Hong Chengchun and killed him with one punch, shocking the onlookers before pursuing One-Ear.
• One-Ear led Wei Sheng to a valley, where Sang Qi revealed his identity as a Winter Pacification Army infiltrator and attacked Wei Sheng.
• Wei Sheng fought Sang Qi through dozens of exchanges, then used Great Accomplishment Crane Shadow Floating in the Sky to pierce his chest and kill him.
• One-Ear recognized Wei Sheng as the mysterious expert who had killed four bandits and stolen the Spirit Flood Dragon Ganoderma, and Wei Sheng killed him with Old Mother Thinks of You Palm.
• Liu Zi'e, Jin Wuyi, and the others found the corpses and suspected a White Lotus Cult expert had killed Sang Qi.
• Wei Sheng hid in a secluded cave, emptied his spoils onto the ground, and celebrated his haul.

Wei Sheng divided the spoils from Maiden Mountain and discovered that Sang Qi’s green silkwood bark contained the incomplete Greenwood Longevity Art, a method that could lead to the Grandmaster Realm. He rejoined the Dragon-Crane Squad and returned to Black Mountain with the Winter Pacification Army, where he learned that Gaolin County had fallen.

• Wei Sheng distributed the spoils among his allies, then used Jin Force to reveal the Greenwood Longevity Art on Sang Qi’s green silkwood bark.
• Du Zhongxing and the Dragon-Crane Squad searched for Wei Sheng, who returned unharmed and led them down the mountain.
• Wei Sheng and the Dragon-Crane Squad fought fleeing bandits, then learned that Wen Tailai had killed Hong Chengchun, One-Ear, and Dong Qi before disappearing.
• Liu Zi'e suspected Wen Tailai had joined the White Lotus Cult, and Dong Wuhou ordered the battered Winter Pacification Army to return to Black Mountain City.
• After seven days on the road, Wei Sheng heard from Li Fenghua that Gaolin County had fallen.

Wei Sheng faced worsening unrest in Black Mountain City, where refugees and the Flesh-and-Blood Gu threatened to repeat Gao Lin’s fall, while the Fish-Dragon Gang reassigned him as First External Affairs Envoy. He returned to cultivation and perfected Crane Shadow Floating in the Sky, comprehending the White Crane True Intention.

• Su Chan brought Wei Sheng a message from the Yu Residence after witnessing his fearsome Tiger Demon Bone-Refining practice damage a water vat.
• Wei Sheng reflected on the growing disorder in Black Mountain City, the spread of Flesh-and-Blood Gu, and Huang Wenpeng’s violent takeover of the Thunderbolt Martial Arts School.
• At a Fish-Dragon Gang meeting, Dapeng urged the gang to recruit experts and Yu Qianji appointed Wei Sheng First External Affairs Envoy, opening the way for other envoys to share his duties.
• Wei Sheng searched the Fish Scale Pavilion for a way to remove the Flesh-and-Blood Gu but found no solution in its books.
• Wei Sheng spent 26 Dao Origin points to cultivate Crane Shadow Floating in the Sky to perfection and comprehend the White Crane True Intention.

Wei Sheng perfected Crane Shadow Floating in the Sky, developed a powerful movement art, and strengthened his defenses while Wei He grew close to Han Suniang. When Wei He disappeared, Wei Sheng learned the Firewood-Fisher Gang had taken him and went to the Han Family Grain Shop, where Pu Jinsheng’s search party had been badly wounded by an unseen attacker.

• Wei Sheng perfected Crane Shadow Floating in the Sky, fused several movement arts into Wild Goose Shadow Flying Cicada Art, and raised Iron Crotch Art to perfection.
• Wei Sheng learned that Wei He was escorting Han Suniang and later investigated the Han Family Grain Shop, whose proprietor Han Donglai was known as a generous benefactor.
• Pu Jinsheng’s Gaolin faction grumbled that Wei Sheng held the First External Affairs Envoy position, but Pu Jinsheng ordered them to stay cautious.
• Wei Sheng focused on Tiger-Demon Bone-Refining Fist, refined Flesh-and-Blood Gu, and began learning Penglai Misty Steps while saving Dao Origin points for cultivation.
• Two White Crane Martial Arts Hall disciples told Wei Sheng that the Firewood-Fisher Gang had taken Wei He.
• Pu Jinsheng led men to investigate the Han Family Grain Shop, where an unseen foe overwhelmed them, and Wei Sheng entered the dark shop.