Chapter Summaries

Chu Xisheng faced He Chao in the final and used his speed and a calculated attack on He Chao’s belt to turn the stronger opponent’s strength against him. He Chao yielded, leaving Chu Xisheng poised to claim the Secret Move Totem.

• Chu Xisheng and He Chao began their final match, and He Chao gained confidence after judging Chu Xisheng’s abilities to be limited.
• Chu Xisheng revealed unexpectedly fast footwork, drew his saber around He Chao’s jade pendant cord, and broke He Chao’s belt.
• He Chao’s trousers began to fall, forcing him to hold them with one hand while Chu Xisheng pressed his attack.
• He Chao threw aside his sword and yielded, accusing Chu Xisheng of shamelessness.

Chu Xisheng won the practical combat assessment for the East Court, provoking resentment among the other courts and revealing that his Yazi Saber Intent had grown stronger. After Liu Xingruo confronted him, Chu Xisheng’s saber intent overwhelmed Liu’s mind, leaving Xiang Kui to recognize how powerful it was.

• Jian Zangfeng praised Chu Xisheng’s victory, while Ye Zhiqiu left the dais in anger over Jian’s interference in the tournament.
• Chu Yunyun asked Chu Xisheng about learning Light-Cloud Movement, and he concealed the system behind a claim of sudden insight.
• Chu Xisheng discovered that Yazi Saber Intent had strengthened as more people harbored malice toward him.
• After Lei Yuan dismissed the disciples, Liu Xingruo confronted Chu Xisheng, who was eager to reach the Dining Hall.
• Liu Xingruo’s mental attack failed when Chu Xisheng’s saber intent froze his thoughts, and Xiang Kui realized Chu had cultivated saber intent.

Chu Xisheng learned that the latest Martial Secrets Almanac had written about his recent exploits and possibly ranked him as the Zhengyang Martial Academy inner sect’s strongest fighter. Seeing his Martial Dao Points rise as Lu Luanli brought him the issue, he wondered what further attention the publication might bring.

• Chu Xisheng asked Chu Yunyun to teach him the Lightning-Pursuing Finger, but she told him to wait until his Origin-Nourishing Art reached the third stage.
• Chu Xisheng’s Martial Dao Points rose as Lu Luanli arrived with the latest Martial Secrets Almanac: Eastern Province Gazette.
• Lu Luanli introduced herself to Chu Yunyun, and Chu Yunyun politely greeted her and expressed interest in her family’s spellcraft texts.
• Chu Xisheng found an article describing his slaying of the Bloodwind Bandit spellcaster and his battle at Firebone Cavern, while noting that his rumored status as the inner sect’s strongest fighter was unverified.
• Lu Luanli explained that the Almanac was published at noon on the fifteenth of every even-numbered month, and Chu Xisheng’s Martial Dao Points rose to 10.

Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun traveled toward Ancient Market Town to sell weapons and buy supplies after running low on Demon Silver. As they boarded a ferry, Lu Luanli joined them, and another woman called for the boat to wait.

• Chu Xisheng practiced the Origin-Nourishing Art, Wind-Chasing Blade, and Light-Cloud Movement, then decided to save his Martial Dao Points until the treasury refreshed.
• Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun left Zhengyang Martial Academy with weapons from Firebone Cavern to sell at the black market in Ancient Market Town.
• Chu Xisheng saw the Iron Banner Gang's ships at the docks and felt reassured that it remained strong against the Long Household.
• Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun boarded a ferry across the Divine Splendor River, and Lu Luanli joined them.
• Another woman called for the boatman to wait as the ferry was preparing to leave.

Chu Xisheng, Chu Yunyun, and Lu Luanli crossed the Divine Splendor River when a Heluo Fish attacked their ferry. The boat was destroyed, leaving Chu Xisheng adrift while Chu Yunyun and Lu Luanli disappeared beneath the water.

• A woman named Xie Zhenqing challenged Lu Luanli’s claims that Emperor Jianyuan had arranged Qin Muge’s death.
• Chu Yunyun pulled Chu Xisheng and Lu Luanli away just before a Heluo Fish struck the ferry.
• The Heluo Fish battered the boat, and Chu Yunyun and Lu Luanli pretended to be helpless to avoid revealing their abilities.
• A huge wave shattered the ferry and swept its passengers underwater; Chu Xisheng landed on floating timber but could not see Chu Yunyun or Lu Luanli.
• Underwater, Lu Luanli swam toward the Heluo Fish with Chu Xisheng’s Demon-Forged Lightsteel Blade while Chu Yunyun watched.

Lu Luanli killed a Heluo Fish underwater while Chu Yunyun secretly stopped and destroyed a larger one. As Chu Xisheng rescued survivors from the wreck, he saved Xie Zhenqing from drowning but repeatedly used her head as a stepping stone to reach Chu Yunyun, leaving Xie furious.

• Lu Luanli used water control to slow a Heluo Fish and killed it with the Demon-Forged Lightsteel Blade before swimming for the surface.
• Chu Yunyun seized a larger seventh-rank Heluo Fish, tore it apart, and scattered its remains to attract other fish.
• Chu Xisheng and the Sand Ship's owner, boatmen, and passengers rescued people from the water and gathered them onto driftwood and planks.
• Chu Xisheng spotted Xie Zhenqing sinking and threw her a rope, which she caught and used to reach the surface.
• Xie Zhenqing heard Lu Luanli credit Chu Xisheng with killing the Heluo Fish and recognized him as the boy pulling her to safety.
• Chu Xisheng stepped on Xie Zhenqing's head to leap onto a plank and rescue Chu Yunyun, leaving Xie grateful but enraged.

After Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun were rescued from the river, passengers and Iron Banner Gang members credited him with slaying the Heluo Fish and saving their lives. The group reached Ancient Market Town, where Lu Luanli headed for the weapon market and Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun followed.

• Chu Xisheng boarded an Iron Banner Gang ship with Chu Yunyun and accepted the rescued passengers’ thanks while giving Lu Luanli partial credit for killing the Heluo Fish.
• Li Dehou thanked Chu Xisheng for saving the Iron Banner Gang’s deputy banner chief, and the resulting praise raised Chu Xisheng’s Martial Dao Points to 34.
• Li Dehou hosted Chu Xisheng and his companions, then dropped them at Ancient Market Town and offered Chu Xisheng free passage and help from the gang.
• Chu Xisheng asked Lu Luanli whether she had business in town, and she said she had come to sell a dagger before walking ahead.
• Lu Luanli was surprised when Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun followed her toward the weapon market, while Chu Yunyun continued acting weak.

Xie Zhenqing ordered Martial Discourse Tower to inflate its praise of Chu Xisheng, while Chu Xisheng sold weapons at Divine Weapon Hall to fund his and Chu Yunyun’s training. The shopkeeper secretly planned to offer the runic sword to Long Heng for a higher price, but delayed doing so out of respect for Ye Zhiqiu.

• Xie Zhenqing returned to Martial Discourse Tower and ordered Dong Linshan to portray Chu Xisheng as Xiushui Commandery’s most gifted young talent, estimating his combat strength at lower eighth rank.
• Chu Xisheng, Chu Yunyun, and Lu Luanli visited Tiger’s Mouth Street to sell weapons.
• Divine Weapon Hall’s shopkeeper offered ninety taels of demon silver for three sabers and, after Lu Luanli challenged his valuation, eight hundred taels for the runic sword.
• After Chu Xisheng and his companions left with the money, the shopkeeper told a young man to show the sword to Long Heng for twelve hundred taels after six hours, citing Ye Zhiqiu’s name as the reason for the delay.

Chu Yunyun sensed something unusual in a pawned flagpole, but left it behind when she learned it could not be sold. After spending heavily on medicine, Chu Xisheng worried about earning enough for the costly ingredient his cultivation required, until Lu Luanli suggested fighting in the South Street Temple Fair arena.

• Chu Yunyun found an eighteen-foot black iron flagpole in a pawnshop and sensed it was calling to her, but the shopkeeper said its pawn term had not expired.
• Chu Xisheng learned the flagpole could not be sold for six months, and he and Chu Yunyun continued to Yellowwood Street.
• Chu Yunyun bought spell materials, while Chu Xisheng purchased pills and supplementary ingredients but could not afford the Ice Silkworm Fire Cocoon.
• Chu Yunyun warned Chu Xisheng not to use a cheaper substitute that could harm his future cultivation.
• Chu Xisheng asked how he could earn money quickly and become famous, and Lu Luanli recommended fighting matches at the South Street Temple Fair Black Market Arena.

Chu Xisheng fought his way through the South Street Temple Fair arenas, earning money and a Martial Dao Point before Long Heng arrived and demanded that he identify who had killed Senior Brother Du. A young gentleman then confronted Long Heng, leaving the impending clash unresolved.

• Chu Xisheng registered for arena matches and easily won two ninth-rank lower bouts, prompting an organizer to direct him to a higher arena.
• Chu Xisheng fought a burly ninth-rank upper opponent, defeated him with Wind and Thunder Together, and increased his Martial Dao Points from 34 to 35.
• Chu Xisheng noticed Long Heng and Long Sheng arrive with armed men, while Chu Yunyun prepared to intervene and a Masked Heroine hurried from a nearby alley.
• Long Heng climbed into the arena, planted the treasured sword Chu Xisheng had sold, and demanded the identity of the person who killed Senior Brother Du.
• A young gentleman in a brocade robe emerged with armed followers and challenged Long Heng for causing trouble at the South Street Temple Fair.

Zuo Qingyun prevented Long Heng from killing Chu Xisheng outside the rules of the South Street Temple Fair and arranged a life-and-death match. Chu Xisheng killed Long Heng’s chosen fighter in one strike, leaving Long Heng’s plans thwarted for now.

• Long Heng attacked Chu Xisheng, but a red-haired woman blocked his strike as Zuo Qingyun called for the temple fair’s guards.
• Zuo Qingyun offered Long Heng a life-and-death match, setting a one-hour limit and requiring Long Heng’s fighters to be no stronger than ninth rank.
• Long Sheng refused Long Heng’s order to fight, so Long Heng sent Heng Fifteen into the arena with a promised reward.
• Chu Xisheng swallowed a Divine Strength Pill and, at the third drumbeat, beheaded Heng Fifteen with a single saber strike.
• Long Heng watched in surprise while Chu Yunyun relaxed at the arena’s edge.

After Chu Xisheng killed Heng Fifteen, he used Martial Dao Points to advance Light-Cloud Movement while Long Heng sent Heng Nineteen to test his blade. Chu Xisheng then killed Heng Nineteen with a single strike, leaving the arena and its spectators stunned.

• Chu Xisheng gained ten Martial Dao Points and discovered that malice around him had strengthened his Yazi saber intent.
• Chu Xisheng spent eight Martial Dao Points to advance Light-Cloud Movement to the second layer.
• Long Heng ordered Heng Nineteen to fight Chu Xisheng and test his blade speed.
• After the third drumbeat, Chu Xisheng used Light-Cloud Movement to get behind Heng Nineteen and beheaded him with Empty Cave Brings Wind.
• The crowd fell silent at Heng Nineteen's death.

Chu Xisheng used his growing reputation in the Life-and-Death Arena to strengthen himself before facing Long Heng’s next fighter. After upgrading his body and Yazi Saber Intent, he received a new saber and prepared to fight Heng Wei.

• Long Heng sent Heng Wei, armed with Du Hong’s Rune Eagle Sword and a high-grade Blood-Melting Pill, to challenge Chu Xisheng, while Zuo Qingyun supplied Chu Xisheng with a Blood Refinement Lightsteel Blade and a mid-grade pill.
• Chu Xisheng gained Martial Dao Points from the crowd’s hostility and spent them to redeem Pure Yang Wind Body and upgrade Yazi Saber Intent to its second level.
• Chu Xisheng bonded with the Blood Refinement Lightsteel Blade and tucked away the mid-grade Blood-Melting Pill rather than risk its hidden injuries.
• Heng Wei vaulted into the arena with Du Hong’s Rune Eagle Sword and introduced himself to Chu Xisheng as his next opponent.

Chu Xisheng faced Heng Wei in the Life-and-Death Arena while Xie Zhenqing, Dong Linshan, Lu Luanli, and Chu Yunyun watched. Chu Xisheng revealed his Yazi Saber Intent and killed Heng Wei with Wind and Thunder Together, leaving the crowd to witness the defeat of Long Heng’s champion.

• Xie Zhenqing and Dong Linshan watched Chu Xisheng face Heng Wei, and Dong Linshan recognized Chu Xisheng’s Yazi Saber Intent.
• Lu Luanli prepared to rescue Chu Xisheng, but Chu Yunyun identified her and told her that Chu Xisheng had inscribed the Wind and Thunder Together totem.
• Chu Xisheng signaled for Lu Luanli to stay back as Heng Wei taunted him and vowed to kill him.
• Heng Wei drew his Rune Eagle Sword before the third drumbeat, and Chu Xisheng met him with a saber strike that Heng Wei blocked.
• Chu Xisheng’s Saber Intent stunned Heng Wei, and Chu Xisheng followed with Wind and Thunder Together, beheading him.

Chu Xisheng killed Heng Wei in the Life-and-Death Arena and spent thirteen Martial Dao Points to raise his Wind-Chasing Saber Technique to the third layer. Long Heng then tried to send an eighth-rank guard against him, but Tie Xiaosheng intervened, and their battle wrecked the restaurant as Chu Xisheng left the arena with an injured hand.

• Chu Xisheng killed Heng Wei, claimed his Rune Sword, and saw his reputation rise and his Martial Dao Points increase to twenty-five.
• Chu Xisheng spent thirteen Martial Dao Points to raise his Wind-Chasing Saber Technique to the third layer, then watched Long Heng for his next move.
• Long Heng ordered Heng Wu, an eighth-rank guard, to enter the arena, but Zuo Qingyun forbade anyone above the ninth rank and threatened to kill violators.
• Tie Xiaosheng burst into the restaurant and fought Long Heng, destroying the building as their clash sent ice and dangerous sword force across the temple street.
• Chu Xisheng escaped the arena and joined Lu Luanli and Chu Yunyun, who bandaged his injured right hand.

Chu Xisheng recovered enough to accept Zuo Qingyun’s offer to fight more Life-and-Death Arena matches, while Tie Xiaosheng gained the upper hand against Long Heng. Zuo Qingyun’s men then fired thirty Runic Heavy Crossbows at both fighters, enforcing his rules at the South Street Temple Fair.

• Chu Yunyun bandaged Chu Xisheng’s injured arm and warned him not to fight while he recuperated.
• Lu Luanli questioned why Long Heng had challenged Tie Xiaosheng despite being weaker, and Zuo Qingyun suggested the Long Household was under pressure from the Iron Banner Gang’s blockade.
• Zuo Qingyun paid Chu Xisheng eight hundred and fifty taels for his arena matches and offered him more fights, which Chu Xisheng accepted.
• Tie Xiaosheng drove Long Heng back and taunted him about the Tianping Army and the Guerrilla General not appearing.
• Thirty men in red fired Runic Heavy Crossbows at Tie Xiaosheng and Long Heng, while Zuo Qingyun watched with a slight smile.

Tie Kuangren defeated Wei Lai and secured the Tianping Army’s promise to stay out of the Iron Banner Gang’s disputes, then hurried to Ancient Market Town to help kill Long Heng. Long Heng had taken refuge in the Maritime Trade Office, while Tie Xiaosheng captured and executed Long Sheng.

• Tie Kuangren’s ships showered Wei Lai’s hidden Tianping Army with arrows until Wei Lai challenged him, fought him, and conceded defeat in exchange for his troops’ safe return and a promise to withdraw from the dispute.
• A Seventh-Rank Spellcaster told Tie Kuangren that Chu Xisheng had killed Heng Wei in two saber strikes, and Tie Kuangren raced toward Ancient Market Town.
• Tie Kuangren arrived too late to capture Long Heng, who had escaped into the Maritime Trade Office with Long Shifei and other Seventh-Rank Martial Cultivators.
• Tie Kuangren decided to let Long Heng remain inside the guarded office and wait for him to attempt a return across the river.
• Tie Xiaosheng executed the captured Long Sheng, the Long Household’s second young master, after Long Sheng pleaded that his status should protect him.

Chu Xisheng left Ancient Market Town amid the chaos, sold Tie Xiaosheng the Rune Eagle Sword, and politely declined his invitation to join the Iron Banner Gang for now. Meanwhile, Xie Zhenqing decided to keep the Martial Secrets Almanac’s assessment of Chu’s strength unchanged, leaving Dong Linshan to write the article.

• Chu Xisheng and his companions left Ancient Market Town by ferry to avoid the looters and enemies watching them.
• Tie Xiaosheng caught up with the ferry, bought the Rune Eagle Sword for a thousand taels of demon silver, and invited Chu Xisheng to join the Iron Banner Gang.
• Chu Xisheng thanked Tie Xiaosheng but declined, saying he wanted to focus on martial training and might join the gang after becoming a true disciple of the martial academy.
• Xie Zhenqing returned to the Martial Discourse Tower and decided to keep the planned assessment of Chu Xisheng’s strength instead of praising him more highly.
• Dong Linshan accepted responsibility for drafting the article without showing it to Xie Zhenqing.

After the battle at Ancient Market Town, Chu Yunyun sought Corpse-Dissolving Water to conceal her planned attacks on the Inner City Long Clan, while Chu Xisheng arranged to spread news of his victories at the martial academy. The chapter ended with Hu Kan and Hu Lai deciding to embellish the story despite Chu Xisheng’s request for accuracy.

• Chu Yunyun quietly told Chu Xisheng to obtain Lu Luanli’s Corpse-Dissolving Water formula so she could conceal traces of her attacks on the Inner City Long Clan.
• Lu Luanli gave Chu Xisheng the formula and offered him some of the bottles she had already made.
• Lu Luanli bought ingredients and cooked dinner for Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun at the Storage Yard.
• Chu Xisheng paid Hu Kan twenty taels to spread word of his victories at Ancient Market Town, asking him and Hu Lai to keep the account accurate.
• After Chu Xisheng left, Hu Kan convinced Hu Lai that Chu Xisheng wanted fame despite his request for restraint, and Hu Lai accepted his share of the money.

Chu Xisheng trained with Chu Yunyun and concealed how he had advanced his Wind-Chasing Blade and gained strength in the arena. After the Martial Dao Treasury refreshed, he bought Five Senses Attunement and prepared to go out with Chu Yunyun.

• Chu Xisheng saw his Martial Dao Points rise from 12 to 20 as the Hu brothers' work began paying off.
• Chu Yunyun noticed Chu Xisheng's improved blade technique and unusual arena strength, and he attributed both to sudden enlightenment and Blood Force.
• The Martial Dao Treasury refreshed and offered a Qin Muge, Age 11 Character Card and stage two of Wind-Chasing, Lightning-Pursuing Hands, among other items.
• Chu Xisheng redeemed Five Senses Attunement for 20 Martial Dao Points, greatly sharpening his senses and granting him Heart-Sense Awareness.
• Chu Yunyun ended their training and told Chu Xisheng to change because they were going out that night.