Recaps

Chu Xisheng killed Mu Ling after identifying him as the likely culprit behind the blood mist, but Ying Haobai demanded proof and the others began to suspect Mu Ling’s role. Situ Li appeared and restored Mu Ling, who escaped Chu Xisheng’s second strike as Ying Haobai and several Ninth Rank Martial Cultivators attacked Chu Xisheng.

• Chu Xisheng wounded Ying Haobai and explained that he had killed Mu Ling to eliminate the culprit behind the blood mist.
• Chu Xisheng questioned Zhuo Baiyun and the others about Mu Ling’s suspicious actions, and Lu Chen recalled that Mu Ling had stood near Zhuo Baiyun when the Blood Beads were thrown.
• Ying Haobai rejected Chu Xisheng’s accusations, while Chu Xisheng pointed out that Mu Ling could have drained the victims’ blood energy, vital essence, and spiritual substance.
• The White Jade Plaza shook, and Situ Li appeared above the Medicine Pool and restored Mu Ling’s body.
• Chu Xisheng struck at Mu Ling again, but Mu Ling healed and fled as Ying Haobai and several Ninth Rank Martial Cultivators attacked Chu Xisheng.

Chu Xisheng battled Mu Ling and the Heart-Entangling Gu-controlled fighters while Mu Ling and Situ Li prepared a blood-origin rebirth in the Medicine Pool. The ritual began with Bai Xiao Zhao, Li Manshan, and Si Huangquan as offerings, while Chu Xisheng’s Martial Dao Points suddenly surged past three hundred.

• Chu Xisheng repeatedly dismembered Mu Ling while Zhou Liangchen and the Zhou family held back attackers, but Si Huangquan and Bai Xiao Zhao forced Chu Xisheng to retreat.
• Mu Ling restored his body and told Situ Li that Chu Xisheng had disrupted his plan; Situ Li ordered him to begin the ritual immediately.
• Si Huangquan, Bai Xiao Zhao, and Li Manshan were compelled to take positions on the altars, and Mu Ling used blood to intensify the Heart-Entangling Gu’s control over Chu Xisheng and the Zhou family.
• Bai Xiao Zhao and Li Manshan slit their wrists to supply blood for the rebirth, while Mu Ling revealed that Si Huangquan was intended as a sacrifice for Demon God Zangtian.
• As the Zhou family’s position worsened, Chu Xisheng saw fireworks on his illusory screen and his Martial Dao Points rapidly climbed past three hundred.

Xie Zhenqing oversaw the release of the Martial Secrets Almanac, which ranked Chu Xisheng eighty-ninth on the Eastern Province Azure Cloud Ranking. As readers reacted to the news, Ye Zhiqiu set out for Ancient Market Town, convinced the ranking was a scheme against her disciple.

• Xie Zhenqing reviewed the new issue, including Zhang Yu’s martial arts instruction and an article praising Chu Xisheng’s Yazi Saber Intent, and regretted ranking him so highly in anger.
• Xie Zhenqing reassured herself that a Seventh-Rank retainer could protect Chu Xisheng and ordered the Martial Discourse Tower’s doors opened for the release.
• The Martial Secrets Almanac sold out quickly, and readers discussed Chu Xisheng’s eighty-ninth-place ranking and his Yazi Saber Intent.
• Ye Zhiqiu discovered Chu Xisheng’s ranking above the Linhai Twin Tigers, suspected he was being schemed against, and headed for Ancient Market Town to demand justice.

Chu Xisheng spent his rapidly increasing Martial Dao Points on powerful talents, preparing to confront Situ Li and Mu Ling. As Situ Li’s new body took shape, Cloudsea Sword Puppets attacked him, and he summoned Zangtian Venerable to intervene.

• Chu Xisheng redeemed second-stage Pure Yang, weakening the Heart-Entangling Gu and strengthening his body.
• Chu Xisheng acquired second-stage Body of Light-Speed Shadow and Six Senses Attunement to the Divine, then continued refreshing the treasury for stronger talents.
• Chu Xisheng found the Divine Sorrow talent and waited for his Martial Dao Points to rise enough to redeem it.
• Situ Li watched his new body’s bones form in the Medicine Pool and sensed their powerful blood energy.
• Two Cloudsea Sword Puppets appeared and attacked Situ Li, who summoned Zangtian Venerable to seize them.
• Black flames began blazing across Si Huangquan’s body.

As Situ Li advanced his Blood-Origin Rebirth ritual, Demon God Zangtian overwhelmed the Cloudsea Sword Puppets and Mu Ling stabbed Bai Xiao Zhao and Li Manshan to hasten their bleeding. Outside the Secret Realm, Zhou Xiongba and Si Wufa sensed a sudden change in Chu Xisheng, while Mu Ling turned toward Chu with a feeling of extreme danger.

• Si Wufa revealed that he had brought Si Huangquan to the Secret Realm hoping he could recover his missing organs, and suspected Situ Li had lured them there.
• Zhou Xiongba demanded the Secret Realm and Cloudsea Secret Key for the Zhou Family, and Si Wufa agreed to protect the family if he survived.
• Zhou Xiongba and Si Wufa sensed Qin Muge's Divine Sorrow coming from Chu Xisheng, while Chu Yunyun felt a bloodline resonance.
• Demon God Zangtian restored his severed hand and continued pressing his power into the Secret Realm as the Cloudsea Sword Puppets fought him.
• Situ Li ordered Mu Ling to speed up the ritual, and Mu Ling stabbed Bai Xiao Zhao and Li Manshan in the chest to release their blood essence.
• Mu Ling sensed extreme danger and discovered that it came from Chu Xisheng.

Chu Xisheng endured the awakening of Divine Sorrow, expelled the Heart-Entangling Gu from his body, and overwhelmed the Ninth Rank fighters surrounding him. He left the White Jade Plaza stunned as Mu Ling’s attack faltered and Zhuo Baiyun fell unconscious.

• Mu Ling summoned two Ninth Rank Dragonbone Dao Soldiers and ordered them to kill Chu Xisheng.
• Chu Xisheng stopped fleeing and began knocking aside the fighters attacking him, while Lu Chen was blasted away.
• After enduring thirty breaths of agony from redeeming Divine Sorrow, Chu Xisheng vomited out the Heart-Entangling Gu from his body.
• Chu Xisheng accused Mu Ling of using the gu to sacrifice more than four hundred people to rebuild his master’s body.
• Chu Xisheng unleashed his Yazi Saber Intent, forcing the Ninth Rank cultivators around him to their knees or knocking them unconscious.
• Zhuo Baiyun attacked Chu Xisheng under the gu’s control, but Chu Xisheng struck him with his saber and sent him unconscious across the plaza.

Chu Xisheng used his full strength to defeat the Heart-Entangling Gu-controlled fighters and kill Mu Ling, then rescued Li Manshan and Bai Xiao Zhao from the sacrificial altar. The chapter ended with Bai Xiao Zhao transformed into a snow-white marten and clinging to Chu Xisheng's arm.

• Zhou Liangqiu and the Zhou Family warriors watched Chu Xisheng defeat Zhuo Baiyun and the other fighters, while Zhou Liangchen remained confident in his strength.
• Chu Xisheng knocked Ying Haobai unconscious and pinned the Silver-Patterned Tiger down with his Saber Intent as Mu Ling retreated toward the altar.
• Mu Ling empowered the Dragonbone Dao Soldiers with his vital blood, but Chu Xisheng cut them both down with Wind and Thunder Together.
• Mu Ling transformed into a black-flamed skeleton with help from Situ Li, but Chu Xisheng severed his hand and destroyed his body and soul with Empty Cave Brings Wind and Ultimate Move: Trace of Wind.
• Chu Xisheng kicked Li Manshan off the altar and rescued Bai Xiao Zhao, who transformed into a snow-white marten and wrapped her tail around his arm.

Chu Xisheng dragged Si Huangquan off the altar, disrupting Situ Li’s sacrifice to Zangtian, but Situ Li chose to become a demon and continued reconstructing his body. Chu Xisheng knocked out Si Huangquan, took his spell-breaking Twin Butterfly Sabers, and struck the Medicine Pool’s restraints.

• Chu Xisheng pulled the unconscious Bai Xiao Zhao from the altar’s vicinity and tucked her into his robes, then ignored Si Huangquan’s warning and reached through the Zangtian Divine Flame.
• Chu Xisheng endured the flames’ damage and dragged Si Huangquan off the altar, causing Zangtian to halt and Situ Li to suffer backlash from the failed sacrifice.
• Situ Li pledged himself to Zangtian and transformed into a demon, then glared at Chu Xisheng in fury as he continued reconstructing his body.
• Si Huangquan explained that his Twin Butterfly Sabers could break spells, but the Heart-Entangling Gu forced him to attack Chu Xisheng, who knocked him unconscious with his saber.
• Chu Xisheng took the Twin Butterfly Sabers to the Medicine Pool and struck its restrictive spells, which began to crack.

Chu Xisheng fought through Situ Li’s attacks to break the Medicine Pool’s warding barrier, his Yazi Martial Intent rising to its limit as he refused to yield. He breached the barrier and released the pool’s medicinal essence, leaving Situ Li shocked and terrified.

• Chu Xisheng drove his sabers into the Medicine Pool’s warding spells, advancing through the barrier one thrust at a time.
• Situ Li attacked Chu Xisheng with his Divine Sense and Deer-Crane Sword Intent, but Chu Xisheng’s Yazi Saber Intent grew stronger in response.
• Situ Li poured more of his Divine Sense into attacking Chu Xisheng, pinning him down and slashing him with countless feathers.
• Chu Xisheng forced himself to stand as his Yazi Martial Intent advanced to the Fifth Level and his Saber Intent reached its limit.
• Chu Xisheng struck three times with the Twin Butterfly Sabers, breaching the warding barrier and releasing the Medicine Pool’s medicinal essence, while Situ Li stared in shock and despair.

Chu Xisheng ruptured the medicine pool’s barrier and absorbed its medicinal power while Bai Xiao Zhao drained his blood, but Situ Li’s failed rebirth ended when the Cloudsea Sword Puppets destroyed him. As Chu Xisheng left the pool, Zangtian’s attention awakened the Zangtian bloodline in him.

• Chu Xisheng pierced the barrier, and the medicine spirit flooded into his body, nearly overwhelming him.
• Bai Xiao Zhao bit Chu Xisheng and drank his blood, easing the pressure inside him as she grew additional tails.
• Situ Li attacked Chu Xisheng, but his palm struck the pool’s remaining barrier, and the four Cloudsea Sword Puppets destroyed him.
• The Cloudsea Sword Puppets repaired the barrier while Chu Xisheng and Bai Xiao Zhao continued absorbing the medicine spirit until the breach was sealed.
• As Chu Xisheng turned to leave, Zangtian watched him, black flames ignited around him, and he awakened the Zangtian bloodline.

Chu Xisheng survived Zangtian’s divine fire, discovered that his talents had greatly improved, and claimed the top rewards in the Secret Realm contest. He left the realm with its command tally and the bound Cloudsea Secret Key.

• After Zangtian vanished, Chu Xisheng checked his status and found his reputation had exceeded what his Origin-Nourishing Art could support, so he decided to delay advancing his cultivation until he left the Secret Realm.
• Chu Xisheng saw that his Yazi Saber Intent and several talents had risen in tier, including Supreme Communication with the Divine and Zangtian, whose strength increased as he was injured.
• The Divine Ao Rogue Person canceled the dream trial because nobody entered a dream and distributed rewards according to the point rankings, with Chu Xisheng leading at 214 points.
• Chu Xisheng received demon silver, pills, Primordial God Blood, a Divine Origin Rejuvenation Pill, and the Seventh-Rank Upper Cloud-Rising Boots.
• Chu Xisheng received the transferable Secret Realm Tally and the Primordial Spirit-bound Cloudsea Secret Key, then the Divine Ao Rogue Person sent everyone out of the realm.

After emerging from the Secret Realm, Chu Xisheng received the Zhou Family’s gratitude and asked them to prepare medicine for his imminent breakthrough. Si Wufa praised him and offered his protection, while Chu Xisheng secured Si Huangquan’s Divine Origin Rejuvenation Pill for Chu Yunyun.

• Zhou Xiongba and Du Lingxian thanked Chu Xisheng for saving the Zhou Family’s disciples and praised his resistance to Situ Li.
• Chu Xisheng realized that the observers outside the valley had watched the Secret Realm trials and contributed to his Martial Dao Points.
• As armed Embroidery Guards and City Guard soldiers arrived, Chu Xisheng asked Zhou Xiongba to obtain secret medicine for the fourth level of the Origin-Nourishing Art.
• Zhou Xiongba sent Zhou Xiangshan to find the medicine, and Si Wufa arrived to praise Chu Xisheng and offer help in the capital and the provinces of He and Luo.
• Chu Xisheng asked Si Huangquan for his Divine Origin Rejuvenation Pill, and Si Wufa tossed him the pill bottle.

After Chu Xisheng stopped Situ Li and saved many cultivators, local factions rewarded him with offers of help and valuable tokens. Chu Yunyun spotted Chu Zhengyang watching Chu Xisheng and left the mountain wary that their hidden identities might soon be exposed.

• Survivors and faction elders thanked Chu Xisheng, and Lu Ze invited him to Lu Family Fort while Ying Feilong offered Haiyan Gang support and a token.
• Zhou Xia promised that Zhuo Baiyun would help Chu Xisheng, and Shi Jiuming sent him a Corpse Mountain Token that allowed him to borrow powerful corpses.
• Lu Luanli marveled at Chu Xisheng's strength and remembered his courage, while Chu Yunyun decided against entering the secret realm's medicine pool.
• Chu Yunyun recognized Chu Zhengyang, an Embroidered Guard commander, watching Chu Xisheng and worried that their concealed identities could be discovered.
• Chu Yunyun told Lu Luanli she might stay with Chu Xisheng, then watched Lu Luanli leave and turned a cold gaze toward the valley entrance.

Bai Xiao Zhao left the Secret Realm with Sister Yu, insisting she owed Chu Xisheng a debt and would repay him after growing stronger. Meanwhile, Chu Zhengyang began investigating Chu Xisheng’s identity, but an attacker using Qin Muge’s Myriad Gods Tribulation killed him before he could act.

• Bai Xiao Zhao called Sister Yu her mother and insisted she must repay Chu Xisheng for saving her life.
• Sister Yu took Bai Xiao Zhao toward Li Mountain, promising to arrange for the demons in the Secret Realm to be sent there and to watch over Chu Xisheng.
• Jian Zhongliu ordered Chu Zhengyang to suppress the scandal over Situ Li’s crimes to protect Lord Zhang’s political prospects.
• Chu Zhengyang suspected Chu Xisheng might be the living legitimate heir to the Chu Family’s two inherited supreme treasures and ordered an investigation.
• A masked attacker smashed into Chu Zhengyang’s carriage with Qin Muge’s Myriad Gods Tribulation and blew his head apart.

Chu Xisheng advanced his Origin-Nourishing Art to the Fourth Layer, becoming an Eighth-Rank Lower martial artist and greatly increasing his strength and mental power. After testing his new abilities, he found Chu Yunyun waiting for him and gave her three Divine Origin Rejuvenation Pills, then mentioned the two drops of Primordial God Blood he had acquired.

• Chu Xisheng swallowed the flaming fourth-layer secret medicine and advanced his Origin-Nourishing Art to Eighth-Rank Lower.
• Chu Xisheng checked his character panel and tested his abilities, finding that his True Essence, physical strength, speed, and mental power had increased substantially.
• Chu Xisheng left the practice chamber and discovered Chu Yunyun seated in the guest room.
• Chu Yunyun said she had come to see Linhai's tides and watched Chu Xisheng at the Secret Realm.
• Chu Xisheng gave Chu Yunyun three Divine Origin Rejuvenation Pills and told her he had also obtained two drops of Primordial God Blood.

Chu Yunyun advised Chu Xisheng to trade the secret realm for a valuable Divine-Intent Diagram and concealment medicine, while news arrived that Chu Zhengyang had been murdered. Meanwhile, Ye Zhiqiu punished Xie Zhenqing over Chu Xisheng’s ranking until Dong Linshan revealed that Chu Xisheng had won the secret-realm contest and defeated renowned fighters with a single saber stroke.

• Chu Yunyun accepted Chu Xisheng’s Divine Origin Rejuvenation Pills and advised him to ask Zhou Xiongba for a Divine-Intent Diagram and concealment medicine instead of demon silver.
• Zhou Xiangshan invited Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun to a banquet and told them that an unidentified attacker had killed Chu Zhengyang.
• Ye Zhiqiu chased and lashed Xie Zhenqing through the Martial Discourse Tower for ranking Chu Xisheng too highly.
• Lei Yuan intervened and took Ye Zhiqiu’s willow branch, but Ye Zhiqiu refused to apologize to Xie Zhenqing.
• Dong Linshan revealed that Chu Xisheng had won the secret-realm contest, defeated Zhuo Baiyun with one stroke, and wounded Si Huangquan; Xie Zhenqing, Lei Yuan, and Ye Zhiqiu reacted with disbelief.

After learning that Chu Xisheng had defeated the Eastern Province’s Azure Cloud Prodigies, Ye Zhiqiu apologized to Xie Zhenqing for her misunderstanding. She then joined Lei Yuan in confronting Long Heng at the Maritime Trade Office, where Ye began overpowering him.

• Dong Linshan told Lei Yuan, Ye Zhiqiu, and Xie Zhenqing that Chu Xisheng had swept aside the Eastern Province’s Azure Cloud Prodigies.
• Ye Zhiqiu apologized to Xie Zhenqing, but the willow switch shattered when Xie struck her, and Xie stormed upstairs in anger.
• Ye Zhiqiu decided to confront Long Heng over his role in targeting Chu Xisheng, and Lei Yuan gave her a True-Meaning Diagram as a pretext for their attack.
• Ye Zhiqiu smashed through the Maritime Trade Office’s gate and attacked Long Heng, while Lei Yuan immobilized the armored soldiers with stone.
• Ye Zhiqiu drove Long Heng back with powerful sword strikes, leaving him bloodied as Lei Yuan watched.

Lu Luanli learned that her father, Lu Chen, had led a raid in the Capital City that killed Peng Jin and recovered belongings of the late crown prince, while her undercover search at Zhengyang Martial Academy had yielded no clues about the God-Defying Banner. Meanwhile, Zhou Xiongba agreed to obtain a Battle Diagram for Chu Xisheng and let him choose two seventh-rank items from the Zhou Family treasury, where Chu found a saber and a miniature altar.

• Lu Luanli visited Uncle Dong at an abandoned estate and found the secret medicines she needed for advancement to sixth grade.
• Uncle Dong told Lu Luanli that Lu Chen had led a trap in the Capital City, killed Peng Jin, and retrieved belongings left by the crown prince.
• Lu Luanli reported that she had copied Qin Muge's materials but found no useful clues, and said Jian Zangfeng's arrival had restrained the factions at Zhengyang Martial Academy.
• Zhou Xiongba agreed to exchange Chu Xisheng's Secret Realm token for Heavenly Questions Pavilion's Divine-Intent Diagram and some pattern-concealing medicine, warning him to handle the diagram carefully.
• After the banquet, Zhou Xiongba sent Chu Xisheng to the Zhou Family treasury to choose two seventh-rank items, where Chu noticed the Startling Thunder saber and a miniature Deity-Summoning altar.

Chu Yunyun explained the Divine-Intent Diagram's benefits and revealed a way for Chu Xisheng to gain the aptitude to cultivate the Divine-Intent Death-Touching Saber. They planned to become True Inheritance disciples and enter the Divine Weapon Institute to obtain two baleful spirits, though bonding with one would double Chu Xisheng's future secret medicine requirements.

• Chu Yunyun successfully used the Seventh-Rank God-Sacrificing Altar to disguise her manifested Suanni as a summoned deity aboard their ship home.
• Chu Yunyun explained that the Divine-Intent Diagram could strengthen Chu Xisheng's Yazi Saber Intent and increase his divine sense as his cultivation advanced.
• Chu Yunyun revealed that the Blood-Yazi Saber Lord's incomplete legacy required special aptitude that ordinary cultivators lacked.
• Chu Yunyun described Yazi and Suanni baleful spirits forming beneath two ancient divine weapons in the Zhengyang Martial Academy's Divine Weapon Institute.
• Chu Yunyun planned to reach Eighth-Rank Lower and enter the Divine Weapon Institute with Chu Xisheng after they became True Inheritance disciples.
• Chu Xisheng learned that gaining the Yazi's recognition and forming a symbiotic bond could remove his cultivation obstacles but would require two portions of secret medicine for every future advancement.

Chu Xisheng returned to Ancient Market Town and proved to Zuo Qingyun that his saber skills were strong enough to face Tao Yuan in a Life-and-Death Arena match. Zuo scheduled the fight for the next day, and Chu learned that Ye Zhiqiu had recently stormed the Maritime Trade Office and severed Long Heng’s arm.

• Chu Xisheng met Zuo Qingyun at Ancient Market Town, where Zuo questioned the reports of his Azure Cloud Ranking and victory in the Ninth-Rank Secret Realm.
• Zuo explained that Tao Yuan had challenged Chu Xisheng and said he would approve the match only if Chu could cut thirty coins before they landed.
• Chu Xisheng swiftly split all thirty coins in half, convincing Zuo Qingyun to arrange the Life-and-Death Arena match for noon the next day.
• Zuo Qingyun said the match’s betting pool could exceed three hundred thousand taels and that Chu’s opponents would likely be deterred afterward.
• Chu Xisheng asked about the ruined Maritime Trade Office, and Zuo Qingyun explained that Ye Zhiqiu had fought Long Heng there seven days earlier and severed one of his arms.

Chu Xisheng trained against a simulated version of Tao Yuan, improving his martial skills before the highly anticipated Life-and-Death Arena match. As the crowd gathered and the betting pool swelled, he headed downstairs to face Tao Yuan while Xie Zhenqing watched and hoped her wager on him would pay off.

• Chu Xisheng used a Virtual Combat Card to fight a simulated Tao Yuan, finally winning after twenty-nine attempts and improving his Wind-Chasing Blade and Light-Cloud Movement.
• Chu Xisheng woke to find thousands of people surrounding the Victory and Defeat Building, while his martial dao points had fallen from 354 to 336.
• Zuo Qingyun told Chu Xisheng that the betting pool had reached three hundred and fifty thousand taels of demon silver and urged him to silence those who doubted his ranking.
• Chu Xisheng took his saber downstairs at noon as the crowd shouted for or against him, and Xie Zhenqing watched after betting three thousand taels of demon silver on him.

Chu Xisheng defeated Tao Yuan with a single strike of saber intent, shocking the crowd and prompting Zuo Qingyun to strengthen security. Meanwhile, Chu Xuanjie investigated Chu Zhengyang’s murder and ordered inquiries into Crown Prince Li’s followers and everyone who entered the Ninth-Rank Secret Realm.

• Chu Xisheng declined a massage, reflected on his training, and prepared to face Tao Yuan in the arena.
• At the third drumbeat, Chu Xisheng’s saber intent overwhelmed Tao Yuan, and Chu Xisheng killed him with one stroke before leaving the stage.
• The crowd erupted over the fight, while Li Cang and Xie Zhenqing reacted with shock; Zuo Qingyun ordered more guards and stronger transport for himself and Chu Xisheng.
• Chu Xuanjie inspected the preserved site where Chu Zhengyang had been murdered and learned that the bodies had been dissolved with a formula commonly used by Crown Prince Li’s remaining followers.
• Chu Xuanjie ordered the Embroidery Guard to investigate those followers, review Chu Zhengyang’s work, and compile detailed records of everyone who entered the Ninth-Rank Secret Realm.

After Chu Xisheng defeated Tao Yuan, he collected his prize money and asked Zuo Qingyun to sell Tao Yuan’s magic artifacts and search for items suited to Chu Yunyun. Meanwhile, Shangguan Longjian planned to have Chu Xisheng killed before the True Inheritance trial by raising a bounty and meeting with Li Cang.

• Chu Xisheng’s decisive victory sparked outrage among losing gamblers, and Zuo Qingyun used martial masters and government troops to suppress the crowd.
• Zuo Qingyun paid Chu Xisheng ten thousand taels of demon silver and presented Tao Yuan’s magic artifacts and saber.
• Chu Xisheng asked Zuo Qingyun to sell Tao Yuan’s spoils and find magic artifacts suited to spell cultivation, attack speed, and other abilities.
• The Female Guard noticed Chu Yunyun was missing, but Chu Xisheng believed she had gone to a pawnshop to look for a strange military banner pole.
• Shangguan Yuan warned Shangguan Longjian that Chu Xisheng was too strong and too well protected to confront directly.
• Shangguan Longjian ordered Shangguan Yuan to raise the Bloodwind Bandits’ bounty on Chu Xisheng to fifteen thousand taels and invite Li Cang to discuss a business deal.

Chu Yunyun discovered that the mysterious black iron flagpole at the pawnshop stirred her blood and qi, and learned its owner’s name and address. After escaping the gamblers and returning to Zhengyang Martial Academy, Chu Xisheng visited his instructors and elders, then found Cao Xuan waiting outside the Storage Yard.

• Chu Yunyun examined the flagpole and found it unusually durable, then paid the pawnshop proprietor for the address of its owner, Liu Pu, in Jingli Lane.
• Young Master Zuo escaped the angry gamblers by taking Chu Xisheng’s party and their winnings aboard a ship bound for the West Bank.
• Chu Yunyun told Chu Xisheng she had found the object he sought but would need to go through some trouble to obtain it.
• Ye Zhiqiu praised Chu Xisheng’s progress, advised him to strengthen his foundations, and instructed him in the Wind-Chasing Blade.
• Chu Xisheng visited Lei Yuan and the other academy instructors and elders, then returned to find Cao Xuan waiting outside the Storage Yard.

Chu Xisheng rejected Cao Xuan’s demand that he infiltrate the Iron Banner Gang, resigned from the Embroidery Guard, and showed that Cao’s leverage over him had faded. Outside, Tie Kuangren learned Cao had offered Chu a deputy commander’s post to spy on the Tie Brothers and decided their own recruitment offer was not sincere enough.

• Cao Xuan praised Chu Xisheng’s rise to eighth rank and offered him a Deputy Hundred-Household Commander post to infiltrate the Iron Banner Gang and watch the Tie Brothers.
• Chu Xisheng refused to betray Tie Xiaosheng and submitted his and Chu Yunyun’s resignations from the Embroidery Guard.
• Cao Xuan threatened them by raising the unsettled status of their household registrations, but Chu Xisheng countered with a Luminous Pearl and claimed Academy Master Lei would handle the matter.
• Tie Xiaosheng arrived at the Storage Yard with wine and food, but Tie Kuangren stopped him after discovering Cao Xuan was inside.
• Tie Kuangren told Tie Xiaosheng that Cao had offered Chu a deputy commander’s post to spy on them, so their prepared offer of an Incense Master position was not enough.