Chapter Summaries

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.

Chu Xisheng accepted his promotion in the Embroidery Guard while resolving to keep his conscience clear, then returned to peaceful study and cultivation at Zhengyang Martial Academy. After more than a month of seclusion, his character panel had changed.

• Cao Xuan left Chu Xisheng’s promotion token with him and told him to keep gathering clues about the God-Defying Banner, while Chu Yunyun was promoted to Chief Banner Officer.
• Chu Yunyun advised Chu Xisheng to accept benefits from Cao Xuan but resign if asked to act against his conscience, and Chu Xisheng agreed.
• Chu Xisheng noticed that his fellow disciples admired him from a distance, while Lu Luanli approached him as usual and traded barbs with him.
• With Lei Yuan’s permission, Chu Xisheng studied the fifth-level Origin-Nourishing Art visualization and the two Yazi pictures, gaining new insights into Yazi Saber Intent and advancing his Wind-Thunder Martial Intent.
• Chu Xisheng left the Library Tower and spent more than a month in secluded martial cultivation, during which his character panel changed.

Chu Xisheng reviewed his major martial arts improvements and joined Chu Yunyun on a nighttime mission to eliminate a dangerous obstacle to his becoming Chief True Disciple. The chapter left them racing across the rooftops toward their target at Pine and Bamboo Hall.

• Chu Xisheng found that his martial arts had advanced substantially and that Virtual Combat had improved his ability to use his strength, though his Martial Dao Points were accumulating slowly.
• Chu Xisheng watched Chu Yunyun attempt to condense a True Talisman, but she fell short of breaking through to the Eighth Rank.
• Chu Yunyun received Wu Meiniang's message identifying their target's location at Pine and Bamboo Hall in the Drunken Flower Tower.
• Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun discussed whether Wu Meiniang could be trusted and decided to proceed with their plan to kill the man threatening Chu Xisheng.
• Chu Yunyun and Chu Xisheng changed into Nightwalking Garments and silently crossed the rooftops toward the outskirts of the city.

Shangguan Longjian hired White Cloud Stronghold and arranged other measures to kill Chu Xisheng before the True Inheritance Trial. Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun attacked Pine and Bamboo Hall, and Chu Xisheng confronted Shangguan Longjian in his room.

• Shangguan Yuan told Shangguan Longjian that Ruan Qiu would arrange an ambush for eighteen thousand taels, and Shangguan Longjian authorized a ten-thousand-tael deposit.
• Shangguan Yuan reported that assassin Li Ya had accepted the bounty on Chu Xisheng and that Zhengyang Martial Academy's instructors would tamper with the trial formation to ban weapons.
• Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun arrived at Pine and Bamboo Hall, where Chu Yunyun took responsibility for the other guards while Chu Xisheng went after Shangguan Longjian.
• Chu Xisheng killed the courtyard guards and broke into Pine and Bamboo Hall, while Chu Yunyun killed two Seventh-Rank guards with bamboo twigs.
• Chu Xisheng fought his way to Shangguan Longjian's room, where Shangguan Longjian recognized him despite his mask.

Chu Xisheng broke into Pine and Bamboo Hall and killed Shangguan Longjian and his guards while Chu Yunyun dealt with threats outside. They burned the bodies and prepared to escape, as Shangguan Yuan spotted the fire and feared for the young master.

• Chu Xisheng entered Shangguan Longjian’s bedroom, killed the hidden guards, and turned the Locust Crossbow bolts back on their wielders with his saber.
• Shangguan Longjian tried to bargain with Chu Xisheng, then attacked when Chu hesitated; Chu Xisheng killed him and the guards who arrived.
• Chu Xisheng left Pine and Bamboo Hall after killing thirteen eighth-rank and twenty ninth-rank martial cultivators, while Chu Yunyun waited in the courtyard.
• Chu Xisheng burned his bloodstained clothes and applied perfume with Chu Yunyun to prevent the Shangguan Clan from tracking them.
• Chu Yunyun summoned a powerful Suanni that set the courtyard corpses ablaze, and Shangguan Yuan saw the fire and worried that something had happened to the young master.

After Shangguan Longjian and his followers were killed at Drunken Blossom House, investigators found similarities to the Long Household Freight Depot case, while Shangguan Shenhao ordered a search and tasked Shangguan Yuan with killing Chu Xisheng. Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun returned to the academy after disposing of evidence, and Chu Xisheng set out to find a way to gain more martial dao points.

• Shangguan Shenhao arrived at the burned Drunken Blossom House, where Shen Zhou, Cao Xuan, and Li Guangyu reported that Shangguan Longjian and the others had likely been killed in a swift attack.
• Cao Xuan noted similarities to the Long Household Freight Depot case, and Li Guangyu inferred that multiple killers with seventh- or eighth-rank cultivation might have been involved.
• Shangguan Shenhao ordered his guards to seal off Ancient Market Town, search for suspicious cultivators, and recruit the Iron-Crowned Rogue to track the killers.
• Shangguan Yuan revealed that he had hired White Cloud Stronghold to kill Chu Xisheng, and Shangguan Shenhao ordered him to carry out that killing as Shangguan Longjian's final wish.
• Chu Xisheng and Chu Yunyun disposed of their weapons and treasure in the Divine Splendor River, washed and changed, then returned to Zhengyang Martial Academy before dawn.
• Chu Yunyun resumed seclusion to condense her true talisman, while Chu Xisheng went to find Hu Lai and Hu Kan because his martial dao points were increasing too slowly.

Chu Xisheng paid Hu Kan and Hu Lai to help build his reputation, hoping to improve his chances of entering the Formless Divine Sect’s inner sect. Meanwhile, Wu Meiniang considered Chu Xisheng’s possible connection to Shangguan Longjian’s death and received a visit from Shangguan Shenhao and Chu Xuanjie.

• Chu Xisheng asked Hu Kan and Hu Lai to spread his name, and they explained that they were leaving for the Capital City to join the Heavenly Secret Hall as nominal disciples.
• Chu Xisheng gave the brothers two hundred taels and asked them to promote him through their new connections at the Heavenly Secret Martial Manual.
• Hu Lai suggested Chu Xisheng approach Dong Linshan, who was expected to take over Xiushui Commandery’s Martial Discourse Tower, and Hu Kan offered to introduce them.
• Wu Meiniang wondered whether Chu Xisheng or his allies had killed Shangguan Longjian and his guards at Pine and Bamboo Hall.
• Wu Meiniang received Shangguan Shenhao, head of the Shangguan Clan, and Chu Xuanjie, the Loyal and Martial General from the Capital City.

Shangguan Shenhao and Chu Xuanjie questioned Wu Meiniang about Shangguan Longjian’s death and other investigations, while Chu Xisheng prepared to meet Dong Linshan in Ancient Market Town. Chu Xisheng saw that Chu Yunyun was close to a breakthrough, then headed for the docks with Lu Luanli following him.

• Wu Meiniang gave Shangguan Shenhao information about experts in Xiushui Commandery but denied knowing who killed Shangguan Longjian.
• Wu Meiniang refused to discuss the remnants of Crown Prince Li’s faction, and Chu Xuanjie and Shangguan Shenhao realized she served the Heavenly Secret Hall.
• Hu Kan and his brother arranged for Chu Xisheng to meet Dong Linshan at Taste-Knowing Pavilion the following night.
• Chu Xisheng collected his monthly pay from the Embroidery Guard and continued on as usual despite the martial hall’s unease over Shangguan Longjian’s death.
• Chu Xisheng saw that Chu Yunyun’s five runes were beginning to fuse and judged that she was close to a breakthrough.
• Chu Xisheng left the martial hall for the docks, and Lu Luanli followed him.

Chu Xisheng took Lu Luanli to meet Dong Linshan at the Taste-Knowing Pavilion, unaware that assassins were watching for a chance to kill him. He learned his Azure Cloud Ranking had only risen to eighty-third and asked Dong Linshan to raise it.

• Chu Xisheng invited Lu Luanli to accompany him to Ancient Market Town, and she agreed.
• Spirit Eye watched Chu Xisheng board the ferry while Heart-Piercing Sword Li Ya waited for him to die so he could claim the Life-Reaping Tower bounty.
• Chu Xisheng felt uneasy on the journey but continued to the Taste-Knowing Pavilion, where he found Wu Meiniang waiting with Dong Linshan.
• Dong Linshan told Chu Xisheng that his Azure Cloud Ranking had risen from eighty-ninth to eighty-third and could no longer be changed before publication.
• Chu Xisheng told Dong Linshan that he wanted his ranking raised, leaving the others speechless.

Chu Xisheng paid Dong Linshan to raise his Azure Cloud Ranking and promote his reputation, then learned that White Cloud Stronghold had sent forces into Ancient Market Town. The chapter left him realizing the raiders were likely targeting him as his Yazi Saber Intent surged.

• Chu Xisheng paid Dong Linshan to raise his ranking to seventy-fifth and commission articles that would make others believe in his strength.
• Dong Linshan suggested Chu Xisheng write an explanation of the Wind-Chasing Blade for a future issue, and Chu Xisheng agreed to try.
• Wu Meiniang confronted Chu Xisheng about Shangguan Longjian, and he showed her his Embroidery Guard token without explaining further.
• Wu Meiniang told Chu Xisheng that Luo Liang and three hundred and fifty White Cloud Stronghold elites had entered Ancient Market Town.
• Chu Xisheng spotted figures filling the nearby alleys, realized they might be coming for him, and saw his Yazi Saber Intent rise to high intensity.

Chu Xisheng was trapped in the Taste-Knowing Pavilion by White Cloud Stronghold, whose attack had been arranged by the Shangguan Clan. With his second-tier Sorrow of the Gods activated, he struck down the first wave of attackers, drawing Luo Liang’s attention.

• Wu Meiniang revealed that Shangguan Longjian had arranged for White Cloud Stronghold to attack Chu Xisheng, and that Shangguan Shenhao had supported the plan.
• Wu Meiniang explained that help from the Iron Banner Gang and Zhengyang Martial Academy had been delayed, while the Shangguan Clan had also stationed water monsters in the river.
• Wu Meiniang led Lu Luanli and Dong Linshan away as the restaurant’s staff and patrons fled; Chu Xisheng prepared a makeshift barricade inside.
• Chu Xisheng’s character panel activated second-tier Sorrow of the Gods, boosting his abilities and giving his True Essence a spell-breaking effect.
• Luo Liang ordered White Cloud Stronghold’s men to attack the Taste-Knowing Pavilion, and thirty-seven outlaws charged inside.
• Chu Xisheng unleashed his Yazi Saber Intent, incapacitated most of the attackers, and killed the ones still standing, leaving Luo Liang astonished.