Chapter Summaries

Lian Youming practiced White Bone Contemplation by visualizing his body rotting, but the meditation nearly trapped him in a death-like state. Little Stone’s sudden cry jolted him back to awareness, leaving him pale and drenched in sweat.

• Lian Youming and Yan Lingyun discussed Little Stone and Xiao Shuang before going to bed together.
• After Yan Lingyun fell asleep, Lian Youming sat before a mirror and began contemplating the impurity of his body.
• Lian Youming visualized his flesh and organs rotting, and the sensations overwhelmed his senses and silenced his abilities.
• Lian Youming lost control of his body and felt his vitality drain away as despair overtook him.
• Little Stone crawled off the bed and cried out, jolting Lian Youming awake from the dangerous meditation.

After nearly suffering a fatal cultivation deviation from White Bone Contemplation, Lian Youming learned why visualization was dangerous and kept the incident from Yan Lingyun. As they went shopping with their child, a Daoist in Shanghai discussed Lian Youming and Chen Baihu with an associate and planned to wait for a chance to take revenge.

• Yan Beitong warned Lian Youming that meditation and visualization could cause martial artists to go mad or die, and Lian Youming realized how close he had come to disaster.
• Yan Lingyun questioned Lian Youming about the previous night, but he concealed what had happened and changed the subject.
• Lian Youming noticed Yan Lingyun's progress in cultivation, checked that her modified dietary supplementation was safe, and brushed her hair.
• Lian Youming saw a skeletal vision of the White Lotus Sect Master in the mirror, then studied the Lüzu Slaying the Flood Dragon Painting and recalled Junk King's advice to subdue demons with the sword.
• A Sallow-Faced Old Daoist in Shanghai learned that Lian Youming had trained under Daoist Xuanming and gained powerful allies, then ordered his associate to wait while they investigated Chen Baihu's condition.

Lian Youming comforted his siblings, then moved his family to a fortified old mansion in Guangzhou because he feared an unseen threat. After seeing its secret passages and weapons, he agreed to let Sun Duhe and Yan Tao’s family move in too.

• Lian Youming reassured Lian Shuang and Lian Lei after they told him about her disagreement with their father over studying foreign languages.
• Yan Lingyun told Lian Youming she was studying Western medicine and wanted another child, saying she hoped to help him explore medicine and martial arts.
• A week later, Lian Youming and Sun Duhe moved the family’s belongings from their rented room to an old Western-style mansion left by Du Xinwu.
• The caretaker showed Lian Youming, Yan Lingyun, Sun Duhe, and Yan Tao the mansion’s secret passages, concealed mechanisms, firearms, and other weapons.
• Yan Lingyun asked whether danger was coming, and Lian Youming said it was better to be prepared.
• Sun Duhe and Yan Tao proposed moving in with Lian Youming’s family, and Lian Youming agreed.

The White Lotus Sect Master learned that Lian Youming had invited the Green and Hong Gangs to his September ceremony, and martial artists across the country began heading south. In the west, the Ascetic Monk awakened the God of Tai Sui and told him that Eyeless Monk and Mr. Corpse were dead and Chen Baihu had returned.

• The White Lotus Sect Master received the Green Gang’s invitation and said she would travel south when the ceremony came.
• Yang Shuang and martial artists from across the Northern and Southern Martial Arts World reacted to Lian Youming’s invitations and the return of the Green and Hong Gang tokens.
• The Ascetic Monk reached a crude stone temple in the western wilderness and awakened the God of Tai Sui with his chanting.
• The Ascetic Monk told the God of Tai Sui that Du Xinwu had died thirty-one years earlier and that Eyeless Monk and Mr. Corpse were dead.
• The God of Tai Sui learned that Chen Baihu had returned in Four-Nine City, then unleashed a roar and shouted, “Kill!”

Lian Youming recovered his mind by spending time at the Martyrs' Cemetery, but a premonition warned him that a new, unfamiliar threat was approaching. The chapter ended as the Lüzu Slaying the Flood Dragon Painting stirred and he voiced an idea about drawing his sword to slay the dragon.

• Lian Youming learned from his double’s diary that he had helped Song and earned numerous academic and extracurricular honors.
• Lian Youming began seeing classmates and strangers as skeletons, and realized White Bone Contemplation was clashing with his Fists Suppress the Mountains and Rivers.
• Lian Youming went to the Martyrs' Cemetery, where he found calm, and spent the following half-month recovering while Yan Lingyun treated him.
• Lian Youming sensed an unseen killing intent stirring and prepared himself for the coming fight.
• Lian Youming drank Yan Lingyun’s bitter herbal tea, then watched the flood dragon in the Lüzu Slaying the Flood Dragon Painting surge into motion and wondered, “See the Buddha open his mouth? Draw the sword and slay the dragon?”

Lian Youming struggled to understand how to use the Lüzu Slaying the Flood Dragon Painting to temper his sword intent, then welcomed his younger sister Lian Shuang after she secretly traveled to Guangzhou. That night, he awakened the painting’s hidden divine intent and fought the imagined flood dragon, while Sun Duhe watched in alarm.

• Lian Youming studied the antique painting for nearly half a day but failed to grasp its mysteries.
• Lian Youming hurried to the train station and found Lian Shuang there with Zhao Xiaozhi, who had helped her on the journey.
• Lian Youming brought Lian Shuang home, where she ate and rested after admitting she had traveled without their parents’ permission.
• Lian Youming meditated on the painting late into the night until moonlight revealed the flood dragon’s hidden divine intent.
• Lian Youming drew a steel sword and attacked the flood dragon as the painting shattered, while Sun Duhe witnessed him fighting empty air.

Lian Youming misread the Lüzu Slaying the Flood Dragon Painting and injured himself while fighting its vision, then realized the flood dragon represented his own agitated heart. He sank beneath the Pearl River to forge the Wisdom Sword and face the danger of losing control of his thoughts.

• Sun Duhe entered Lian Youming's room and saw an evil flood dragon appear in the swordplay, but the vision vanished when he fell back outside.
• Lian Youming stabbed at the flood dragon, aggravating his internal injuries and causing the forces of Golden Bell Cover and Iron Shirt to clash.
• After hearing a child cry, Lian Youming fled to the Pearl River, recognized the flood dragon as his own true heart, and understood that slaying it meant subduing it.
• Lian Youming sank to the riverbed and began forging the Wisdom Sword while confronting visions of a flood dragon and a tiger.
• Yang Qing arrived with skilled fighters, and Youying warned her that Lian Youming's character remained unstable as he faced the Wisdom Sword.

Lian Youming struggled to control the clashing forces of Dragon Roaring Iron Shirt and Tiger Roaring Golden Bell Cover as they rampaged through his body. He formed the formless Wisdom Sword to subdue them, emerged from the river, and resolved to guard against arrogance and frenzy.

• Lian Youming submerged himself in the river and used his spiritual intent to try to restrain the dragon and tiger forces surging through his body.
• When fear and thoughts of his enemies disrupted his focus, the forces twisted his body, and the Dzi Bead's coolness only partly eased the damage.
• Lian Youming drew in the river's water momentum and waited for his breath and strength to weaken the two forces, while seeking to form the Wisdom Sword.
• Remembering the Martyrs' Cemetery and his conviction to make peace reign throughout the world, Lian Youming focused his resolve as the forces converged in his chest.
• Lian Youming used the Wisdom Sword to drive the water momentum through his inner landscape, dissolving the dragon and tiger forces, then shot out of the river.
• Yang Qing and the others came to help, and Lian Youming stood by the river, saw his reflection, and vowed to guard against arrogance and frenzy.

Lian Youming tempered his wisdom sword through ordinary life, cared for Sun Duhe after his frightening encounter, and learned Lian Shuang's exam results were good enough for university. After painting a new image of the dragon and tiger and naming his sword art Human Extremity, he learned that someone from Taiwan had come seeking his master.

• Lian Youming practiced Military Boxing and the Five-Animal Exercise, then found Sun Duhe terrified after the younger man entered the area around him and was overwhelmed by his presence.
• Lian Youming calmed Sun Duhe with massage and bitter herbal tea, then warned him to take calming medicine and abstain from sex for two days.
• Lian Shuang received her college entrance exam results and learned she had done well enough to attend university; Zhao Lanxiang scolded her and revealed how worried the family had been.
• Lian Youming spent the following days honing his concentration through daily life, then painted the dragon and tiger in combat and named his sword art Human Extremity.
• Wang Mazi told Lian Youming that Mr. Yang had sent him because someone from Taiwan had come looking for Lian Youming's master.

Lian Youming met Situ, an elderly Hongmen leader who had once known the Junk King, and agreed to deliver her letter to him. After her relatives challenged him over the gang tokens, Lian Youming demonstrated his strength and warned them away as he prepared to establish an Incense Hall.

• Lian Youming saw an imposing group arrive at Green Gang Headquarters and met Situ, who revealed that she oversaw Hongmen in Taiwan and had once known the Junk King.
• Situ gave Lian Youming a letter for the Junk King and warned him that factions from the Qing and Hong Teachings would challenge his claim to Du Xinwu's tokens.
• Situ's relative Situ Changhen and his wife, Helian Rou, questioned Lian Youming about his strength and his relationship with Situ Wudi before leaving the reception room.
• Situ went with Yang Lian to offer incense to the martial arts elders, while Situ Changhen and Helian Rou returned to confront Lian Youming.
• Lian Youming split a teacup with his finger and used his gaze and command to force Situ Changhen and Helian Rou to retreat.

Lian Youming prepared his allies for the struggle over the Two Teachings’ legacy, developing a joint attack method and learning that dangerous old-era martial artists were emerging. The chapter ended with his Iron Shirt advancing as his allies realized he might reach the mystic connection realm before thirty.

• Yang Qing reported that Situ Changhen and the others had left, while Ghost Monk explained Changhen’s feud with Situ Wudi’s Line.
• Lian Youming said he would defend his position and unveiled a planned thirteen-person joint attack formation based on the Golden Bell Cover.
• Yang Lian and Yang Qing revealed that they had entered the realm of foresight after learning a technique from Master Liu.
• Yang Qing reported that old-era martial artists in the Northeast were secretly killing wild beasts to replenish their vital essence.
• Hua Linglong revealed that two Heavenly Principle Sect experts were among the Ten Demons and used a Shape-Nourishing Skill to eat people; Lian Youming ordered his allies to prepare and keep the formation secret.
• Lian Youming displayed a breakthrough in his Iron Shirt, and Hua Linglong said he might reach the mystic connection realm before thirty.

Gu Feiyan judged Lian Youming’s decision to establish an Incense Hall and reveal himself, then sent him the Gall-Illuminating Sword as a gesture of support. In the western wilderness, Xue Hen fought Heart Demon, one of the Ten Demons, who demanded what the Eyeless Monk had left behind.

• Gu Feiyan discussed Lian Youming’s bold move with the masters hidden in five coffins and considered the approaching martial upheaval.
• Gu Feiyan ordered a black-clad figure to deliver the Gall-Illuminating Sword to Lian Youming.
• Gu Feiyan learned that Second Miss had left and allowed her to go.
• Xue Hen confronted Heart Demon after the monk followed him for three days and demanded what the Eyeless Monk had left behind.
• Xue Hen and Heart Demon exchanged techniques, with Heart Demon briefly catching Xue Hen by the throat before Xue Hen struck him in the heart.
• Xue Hen strengthened his internal breath and prepared to fight Heart Demon again before continuing south.

Lian Youming broke through the coccyx gate and advanced toward opening the triple burner meridian, then glimpsed a mysterious expert in the Martyrs' Cemetery. Later, he continued training Sun Duhe and recognized that his heart-refining tribulation was likely overcome.

• Lian Youming meditated at the Martyrs' Cemetery after breaking through the coccyx gate, and his inner qi began stirring the eighth barrier of Golden Bell Cover.
• Lian Youming sensed the five qi rising toward the Yellow Court, but stopped when he heard someone sweeping nearby.
• Lian Youming pursued a mysterious figure in a blue Zhongshan Suit but could not catch up, then saluted the unseen senior and left.
• The hidden figure emerged after Lian Youming had gone and praised him as a worthy successor.
• Lian Youming coached Sun Duhe in his horse stance and used the Wisdom Sword to dispel the vision of Sun Duhe as a luminous skeleton, concluding that he had likely overcome his heart-refining tribulation.

Situ Changhen challenged Wu Jiu at the Baji Boxing School, and a rigged fight left Wu Jiu gravely wounded while A Xing was also hurt. At the Green Gang Headquarters, Lian Youming learned that the Gall-Illuminating Sword had arrived from Hong Kong and that Mr. Corpse might still be alive, then prepared to leave for Hong Kong.

• Situ Changhen smashed through the Baji Boxing School's entrance and challenged Wu Jiu, while two old men stood guard outside.
• Wu Jiu fought Situ Changhen, but the two old men distracted him and attacked A Xing as the disciples tried to intervene.
• Situ Changhen slammed Wu Jiu to the ground, and Yang Shuang arrived in time to catch the punch aimed at Wu Jiu's head.
• Lian Youming examined the Gall-Illuminating Sword sent from Hong Kong and concluded that Mr. Corpse might still be alive.
• Zhu Wu reported that Situ Changhen had gravely wounded Wu Jiu and that A Xing was hurt, so Lian Youming prepared to go to Hong Kong.

After Situ Changhen crippled Wu Jiu and injured the Baji Boxing School, Lian Youming set out for Hong Kong to confront him. As Lian arrived at the Situ mansion alone with Yang Qing, Situ Changhen began a plot against Old Madam Situ and summoned the Hongmen hall masters.

• Lian Youming found Wu Jiu unconscious and the Baji Boxing School's disciples injured, then learned Situ Changhen had returned to Hong Kong.
• Lian Youming put on the Green Gang and Hongmen jadeite tokens, told Yan Lingyun he would return by morning, and chose to visit Situ Changhen's stronghold with only Yang Qing.
• At Boss Chen's Medical Hall, Lian Youming heard Shen San's warning that Hong Kong's factions were waiting for the tokens, but he sent a visiting card announcing his arrival.
• Situ Changhen told Helian Rou he planned to oppose Situ Wudi and hinted at his role in the murder of Situ Wudi's parents.
• Old Madam Situ received Lian Youming's visiting card, but Situ Changhen's longtime servant struck her from behind, and Situ Changhen ordered the Hongmen hall masters summoned.

Lian Youming visited the Situ manor to confront Situ Changhen and the Hongmen fighters, killing several attackers as he advanced. As observers watched the fight, Situ Wudi and Gu Feiyan sensed that the White Lotus Sect Master was cultivating Divine Knowledge.

• A Green Gang disciple told Yang Qing and Lian Youming that Situ Changhen had gathered Hongmen hall masters and something had happened to Old Madam Situ.
• Lian Youming entered the Situ manor carrying the Two Teachings tokens while Yang Qing withdrew to watch from the entrance.
• Situ Changhen rallied the gathered fighters, and Lian Youming killed two attackers with swift, devastating blows.
• Lian Youming continued forward, killing several more men who attacked him or harbored murderous intent within seven paces.
• Situ Wudi and Situ Qingqing watched from the rain as Situ Wudi praised Lian Youming's improvement and noticed Gu Feiyan and the White Lotus Sect Master nearby.
• Situ Wudi and Gu Feiyan recognized the White Lotus Sect Master's shifting qi dynamics as Divine Knowledge.

Lian Youming used his accumulated momentum to kill thirty-nine attackers at Situ Changhen’s manor and confronted the hidden expert backing him. As the old man attacked, Lian Youming struck toward the space between his brows.

• Situ Wudi recognized that the White Lotus Sect Master had only begun to comprehend Divine Knowledge and vowed to face him without hesitation.
• Lian Youming gathered the force of Human Extremity as he walked through the rain toward Situ Changhen.
• Situ Changhen offered gold for Lian Youming’s death, and an armed formation attacked with sabers, shields, and grappling claws.
• Lian Youming evaded the attacks and killed thirty-nine men in about a minute, leaving several bodies standing where they fell.
• Lian Youming called out the expert backing Situ Changhen, and a sinister old man appeared and praised his martial skills.
• Lian Youming mocked the old man as a eunuch, then struck toward the space between his brows, sending force rippling through the flagstones, wind, and rain.

Lian Youming defeated a eunuch guardian and gained the upper hand against Situ Changhen, while the White Lotus Sect Master discussed the Three Teachings’ tokens and martial fortune. The confrontation ended with Helian Rou bringing the Old Madam forward and threatening Lian Youming as he tightened his grip on Situ Changhen.

• Lian Youming struck the eunuch guardian with a finger, then killed him with a palm after breaking his hand and defeating his attacks.
• Situ Wudi explained that the eunuch had developed an unusual force of his own, while the White Lotus Sect Master revealed that the Three Teachings’ tokens together read “Number One Under Heaven.”
• Lian Youming evaded Situ Changhen’s attacks and tore his sleeve with a single clash before catching him by the neck.
• Situ Changhen taunted Lian Youming about killing his Third Aunt Grandmother, alarming the gathered hall masters, then struck Lian Youming in the chest before being choked.
• Helian Rou brought the Old Madam into the living room in a wheelchair with explosives strapped to her body and warned Lian Youming not to force her.

Lian Youming faced Situ Changhen and his armed accomplices, who threatened to kill everyone with explosives. He killed them during a sudden blackout, rescued Old Madam Situ, and left the Hongmen hall masters alive as the old woman declared Situ Changhen’s death deserved.

• Situ Changhen revealed that his men and an attendant were wearing explosives, threatening to kill everyone if Lian Youming killed him.
• Lian Youming told Old Madam Situ he would deliver her letter to his master and explained that he wanted Hongmen’s accumulated heritage, not its power.
• The manor went dark, and Lian Youming used the confusion to kill Situ Changhen’s bomb-wearing men and stop the attendant from pulling the fuse.
• Lian Youming severed Situ Changhen’s head, disarmed Helian Rou, and freed Old Madam Situ before the lights came back on.
• Old Madam Situ said Situ Changhen deserved death under Hongmen’s rules for betraying his word, loyalty, masters, and forebears.

After killing Situ Changhen, Lian Youming considered Old Madam Situ’s appeal to lead the martial world and prepared to leave. The Hongmen revealed a hidden heir, a youth under twenty who was already a Foresight Martial Artist, while the old madam judged that Situ Wudi might still have the advantage over Lian Youming.

• Old Madam Situ urged Lian Youming to raise the banner and give the scattered martial world more time to unite, and he agreed to consider it at the Incense Hall meeting.
• A dark-skinned youth retrieved the Gall-Illuminating Sword while Lian Youming observed the Hongmen leaders and prepared to depart.
• Huo Yuntian arrived with two other Foresight Martial Artists, explained that he had been assigned to protect Old Madam Situ, and found Lian Youming at the scene.
• A tall, lean man brought in the captured servant who had attacked Old Madam Situ, and Lian Youming left the hall.
• The youth revealed himself as Old Madam Situ’s relative and took charge of the hall’s affairs after she ordered Situ Changhen’s body burned.
• Huo Yuntian and Helian Rou realized the youth was a Foresight Martial Artist not yet twenty, and Old Madam Situ said Situ Wudi probably had the better chance against Lian Youming.