Chapter Summaries

Lian Youming survived Gu Xuantong’s Water Arrow and escaped the Old-Era Martial Artists with Divine Mobility, but the pursuit turned into a running battle through the Forbidden City. After killing several attackers and escaping their gunfire, he left the remaining pursuers to discover that his Blade Wheel had decapitated their swordswoman.

• Lian Youming redirected Gu Xuantong’s Water Arrow into an Old-Era Martial Artist, killing him, then retreated while wounded.
• Gu Xuantong sent the Bai family and the Gan Clan after Lian Youming while he and the others pursued the fallen Eagle Owl, hoping to reach Chen Baihu.
• Lian Youming used Divine Mobility to stay ahead of his pursuers, dodged their suppressed gunfire, and ran through the Forbidden City’s confusing corridors.
• Lian Youming reached Jingyang Palace’s roof, fought off the Bearded Man and the others, seized the man’s spear, and killed several attackers.
• The swordswoman fired at Lian Youming and her own companions as he escaped, then her head fell when his Blade Wheel severed her neck.

Lian Youming hurried through the Forbidden City as Gu Xuantong’s forces fought the sect disciples, determined to reach the battle at the Golden Throne Hall. He arrived just in time to stop a bronze cauldron and sword from striking Xu Baishi.

• White Bone Daoist and a balding figure watched Lian Youming’s approach and discussed Gu Xuantong’s hidden past as the moon neared its zenith.
• Lian Youming spotted Chen Baihu on the Golden Throne Hall roof, then continued toward the fighting after sensing blood in the air.
• Lian Youming found wounded disciples, treated Yang Wu, and learned that Yang Shuang and Xu Baishi were battling the Heavenly Principle Sect Leader.
• The Heavenly Principle Sect Leader attacked Xu Baishi while a burly fighter swung a bronze cauldron at her, and Yang Shuang could not reach her in time.
• Lian Youming rushed into the fight and stopped the cauldron with one palm while seizing the sword with the other.

Lian Youming arrived as Xu Baishi faced the Heavenly Principle Sect Leader and the Luo Sect's chief, and he fought alongside Xu Baishi and Yang Shuang to defeat the Luo Sect's chief. With the White Lotus Sect’s fighters taking Gu Feiyan’s miracle drugs, Lian Youming assembled his spear and prepared to face the coming battle.

• Lian Youming caught the Heavenly Principle Sect Leader’s sword and halted the Luo Sect’s chief’s charge with the bronze cauldron.
• Xu Baishi leaped onto Lian Youming’s shoulder and attacked the Heavenly Principle Sect Leader with her Kunlun Secret Sword, forcing him to retreat.
• Lian Youming struck through the cauldron and then overpowered the Luo Sect’s chief in a contest of strength, breaking his lower back against a stone lion.
• Yang Shuang joined Xu Baishi to fend off the Heavenly Principle Sect Leader while Lian Youming returned to their side.
• The Heavenly Principle Sect Leader and other White Lotus Sect experts took Gu Feiyan’s miracle drugs, and Lian Youming joined his broken spear sections and told everyone to fall back behind him.

Lian Youming led the exhausted sect fighters against the White Lotus Sect’s drug-enhanced experts while Situ Wudi, Gong Wuer, and Yu Feishuang engaged other enemy groups. A second man surnamed Chen arrived to face the Heavenly Principle Sect Leader, and the chapter ended as Lian Youming’s formation began a bloody fight for survival.

• Lian Youming gathered the wounded fighters and prepared to use his Joint Attack Method against the incoming Miracle Drug-enhanced experts.
• Yu Feishuang arrived with Baji Sect fighters, but Gu Feiyan, Gu Chan, and Mangus’s group appeared, prompting Situ Wudi, Gong Wuer, and Yu Feishuang to confront them.
• A young man surnamed Chen caught the Heavenly Principle Sect Leader’s saber and sword, then took him on while Lian Youming faced the remaining twelve experts.
• Lian Youming formed the fighters into an outward-facing circle, linking their qi dynamics as Gongyang Ming protected Li Yinhuan and the others.
• The battle erupted across the palace grounds, with Yu Feishuang’s group and Lian Youming’s formation suffering bloody casualties as Lian Youming fought on.

Lian Youming and his companions fought off the Western Mahayana Sect nun and eleven drug-enhanced martial artists, but Gongyang Ming was gravely wounded protecting Li Yinhuan. After the survivors fled, Lian Youming charged toward Mangus and his group.

• The Western Mahayana Sect nun attacked Yang Shuang, but Lian Youming blocked her strike and his companions surrounded her.
• Yang Shuang and Xu Baishi used the Six-Syllable Mantra to create an opening, and a hidden sword pierced the nun’s throat.
• Lian Youming swung the nun’s corpse on his spear and battled the eleven drug-enhanced martial artists as they charged.
• Yang Shuang and Xu Baishi combined their strength with Lian Youming’s, helping him kill most of the attackers and drive the survivors to flee.
• Li Yinhuan cried out as Gongyang Ming, who had shielded her from two killing moves, vomited blood in her arms.
• Lian Youming chose not to pursue the fleeing martial artists and charged toward Mangus and his group.

Lian Youming and his allies defeated Gu Xuantong’s remaining subordinates and hurried toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where they encountered the concealed Mystic Connection expert Hong Tiangui. Hong Tiangui revealed his formidable strength as the Mystic Connection War began to stir, and Chen Babai and Lian Youming stepped forward to face him.

• Lian Youming killed an Old-Era Martial Artist and drove Mangus to flee while Yu Feishuang said the enemies would not escape.
• Yang Shuang confirmed that Gongyang Ming’s severe internal injuries were not fatal, and Chen Babai introduced himself after bringing the Heavenly Principle Sect Leader’s severed head.
• Lian Youming warned the women that another Mystic Connection expert might be nearby, but a sudden attack knocked him back and killed an elder of the Baji Sect.
• The attacker identified himself as Hong Tiangui and said Gu Xuantong had saved him by arranging for someone else to take his place.
• Hong Tiangui enlarged his body and demonstrated a combination of martial techniques, prompting Lian Youming to recognize several of them.
• As two currents of Qi Dynamics rose over the Golden Throne Hall, Chen Babai and Lian Youming stepped forward to face Hong Tiangui.

Lian Youming and his allies fought Hong Tiangui, whose overwhelming martial skill left them badly injured and their group scattered. Lian Youming rose with his Supreme Killing Intent as Gong Wuer and Situ Wudi joined him and Chen Babai to attack Hong Tiangui together.

• Lian Youming and Chen Babai attacked Hong Tiangui from the front and flank, but he evaded their strikes and advanced on Yang Shuang and the others.
• Yu Feishuang intercepted Hong Tiangui with her twin sabers, but he struck her down, injuring Yang Shuang and Xu Baishi when they tried to catch her.
• Hong Tiangui seized Lian Youming and Chen Babai, hurled them away, cut down two armed men, and scattered concealed weapons among Feng Xiong's group.
• Lian Youming recovered on the high wall, recognized Hong Tiangui's Iron Wire Fist, and gathered his Supreme Killing Intent to attack again.
• Gong Wuer and Situ Wudi appeared as Lian Youming charged Hong Tiangui, while Gong Wuer, Situ Wudi, and Chen Babai moved in from three directions to join the fight.

Lian Youming and three allies attacked Hong Tiangui, who revealed the Hong Family’s supreme Iron Wire Fist and endured their combined assaults. Lian Youming kept meeting Hong Tiangui’s punches head-on, and their fourth clash left both sliding backward as Lian Youming vomited blood.

• Yang Shuang checked on Xu Baishi, saw that the other fighters were badly wounded, then took a rifle and aimed at Hong Tiangui, who moved beyond her scope.
• Hong Tiangui used Iron Wire Fist against Lian Youming, but Lian Youming’s second punch borrowed his force and shook the iron rings loose.
• Gong Wuer, Situ Wudi, and Chen Babai joined Lian Youming’s assault, targeting Hong Tiangui’s vital points with their signature techniques.
• Hong Tiangui steadied his body with Dragon’s Roar and Tiger’s Howl, then repelled Gong Wuer and Situ Wudi and struck Chen Babai’s thigh nerve.
• Hong Tiangui threw a fourth punch, and Lian Youming met it with a forceful counter; both men slid backward as Lian Youming vomited blood.

Lian Youming and his allies battled Hong Tiangui, using their combined attacks and a concealed golden needle to breach his Coccyx Acupoint. Though Hong Tiangui turned the fight with linked iron-ring weapons, Lian Youming caught one chain as Chen Babai and the others closed in to attack.

• Lian Youming, Gong Wuer, Situ Wudi, and Chen Babai coordinated their attacks and forced Hong Tiangui to the ground, but he nearly killed Gong Wuer before Lian Youming rescued her.
• Gong Wuer secretly pressed a golden needle near Hong Tiangui's tailbone, breaching his Coccyx Acupoint and breaking his Retracting the Yang into the Abdomen technique.
• Hong Tiangui unleashed two strings of linked iron rings, knocking Situ Wudi back and forcing Chen Babai to retreat while Lian Youming fought him head-on.
• Three gunshots startled Hong Tiangui; the third struck an iron ring, allowing Lian Youming to seize one end of its chain.
• Chen Babai thrust his iron spear through the rings toward Hong Tiangui's throat as Situ Wudi and Gong Wuer moved in to attack.

Lian Youming and the others fought desperately against Hong Tiangui, who overwhelmed them and nearly killed Lian. As Hong Tiangui moved to finish Chen Babai, Lian struck from concealment with the Cold Returning Horse and drove his spear into Hong Tiangui’s right eye, revealing Heavenly Dipper Strength.

• Hong Tiangui evaded Lian Youming, Chen Babai, Situ Wudi, and Gong Wuer, then wounded Gong Wuer and Chen Babai and struck Situ Wudi with One-Finger Zen.
• The White Lotus Sect Master used a Six-Syllable Mantra sound strike to halt Hong Tiangui briefly, giving Lian Youming an opening to attack.
• Hong Tiangui regained his monstrous strength, traded blows with Lian, and finally grabbed him by the neck.
• Chen Babai tried to rescue Lian, but Hong Tiangui used Lian as a shield and hurled him into Chen Babai’s arms.
• Lian Youming seized Chen Babai’s iron spear and thrust from concealment with the Cold Returning Horse, piercing Hong Tiangui’s right eye as Heavenly Dipper Strength surged through him.

Lian Youming, Situ Wudi, Gong Wuer, and Chen Babai fought Hong Tiangui, using teamwork to overcome the Mystic Connection master’s overwhelming strength. Lian Youming’s spear pierced Hong Tiangui’s throat, leaving the outcome of the battle at its decisive moment.

• Lian Youming staggered away from Hong Tiangui and vomited blood as Situ Wudi, Gong Wuer, and Chen Babai attacked the old master together.
• Situ Wudi confronted Hong Tiangui head-on while Gong Wuer and Chen Babai supported him, but Hong Tiangui wounded all three and nearly disemboweled Situ Wudi.
• Hong Tiangui weakened Chen Babai with One-Finger Zen, then seized him in the killing move Fierce Tiger Embraces the Rock.
• Gong Wuer struck Hong Tiangui’s Coccyx Acupoint, and Lian Youming prepared the Tiger-Shooting Form of the Kunlun Secret Sword.
• Situ Wudi struck Hong Tiangui in the crotch as Chen Babai escaped his grip, creating an opening for Lian Youming to hurl his iron spear through Hong Tiangui’s throat.

Lian Youming killed Hong Tiangui with Yang Shuang’s help, but a Mystic Connection Old Monster attacked him while the others prepared to enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The attack struck Lian Youming’s spine, and a cold voice declared that his Heavenly Dipper Strength was lost.

• Yang Shuang shot Hong Tiangui in the knee, allowing Lian Youming to drive his spear through Hong Tiangui’s throat and heart and kill him.
• Lian Youming and the wounded survivors recovered while waiting for Chen Baihu’s battle to end, and they learned that Gu Feiyan and Gu Chan had withdrawn after twenty-nine exchanges.
• A Mystic Connection Old Monster went toward Zhongnan Sea to distract Chen Baihu, so Lian Youming resolved to enter the Forbidden City, but Chen Babai offered to go alone.
• Gong Wuer reached Foresight Perfection, Situ Wudi completed his cultivation, and Li Da arrived with Gong Qitian, Tian Dayong, and armed veterans.
• A concealed attacker used the Taiji Hammer Method against Lian Youming, who pushed Xu Baishi and Yu Feishuang aside before the blow struck his lower back.
• A voice declared that Lian Youming’s Heavenly Dipper Strength was lost from that moment on.

A disguised Mystic Connection Grand Realm expert attacked Lian Youming, but Chen Baihu emerged and drove Gu Xuantong and his ally into retreat. Lian Youming lay gravely wounded, while White Bone Daoist and his companion realized Chen Baihu had noticed them and fled.

• A hidden attacker struck Lian Youming, but the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger intercepted the blow and badly injured the attacker’s hand.
• Li Da, Gong Wuer, Situ Wudi, and Chen Babai surrounded the disguised expert as Gu Xuantong staggered out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
• Chen Baihu appeared, and Gu Xuantong and his companion fled toward him before attacking together.
• Chen Baihu overwhelmed both men with the Heavenly Gang Stele-Splitting Hand, forcing them to cough blood and retreat into the night.
• White Bone Daoist and his companion watched from the Hall of Central Harmony and noticed Lian Youming lying on the ground.
• A cold, eerie eye turned toward White Bone Daoist and his companion, who sensed the threat and hurried to retreat.

Lian Youming suffered devastating injuries while Chen Baihu rescued him and brought him to Wang Wu's former residence for treatment. His friends gathered at dawn, but the old man warned that Lian Youming might never move again, leaving them to consider transferring him to a hospital and informing Yan Lingyun.

• Chen Baihu carried the unconscious Lian Youming to Wang Wu's former residence, where Elder Lin found his body and channels severely damaged.
• Chen Baihu argued that an imperfect body did not prevent someone from pursuing the Martial Way, then left to deal with the failed scheme.
• Elder Lin treated Lian Youming in a medicinal barrel while Gu Feiyan secretly searched for the Two Teachings Token, unaware that Lian Youming had entrusted it to Yan Lingyun.
• Xu Baishi, Yang Shuang, Xu Tian, Wu Jiu, Liu Wudi, and Shorty Xu arrived the next morning and learned that Lian Youming was alive but might never move again.
• Xu Tian told Yang Shuang to prepare to transfer Lian Youming to the Military District General Hospital and notify Yan Lingyun, while the group worried about Lian Youming's master and senior martial uncle.

After Lian Youming’s defeat left him badly injured, Xu Tian’s master comforted his disciples and revealed that he had foreseen his death in a hundred days. He decided to settle his affairs and confront old enemies, while Lian Youming woke in the hospital unable to move.

• Xu Tian’s master treated Lian Youming with aged ginseng and reassured the injured disciples, while Feng Xiong joked that the root tasted like fish mint.
• Xu Tian’s master told Xu Tian that he had foreseen his death in a hundred days and refused to cling to life with medicine.
• Xu Tian’s master recalled his past and declared he would leave Four-Nine City to confront his old enemies, taking Senior Martial Uncle Hao with him.
• Lian Youming dreamed of meeting a mysterious man with blade-like eyes, who smiled and said, “Good! You’ll do!”
• Lian Youming woke in the hospital after five days and discovered he could barely move, while Yang Shuang told him to recover slowly.

Lian Youming struggled to accept his paralysis, but the people around him kept caring for him and Li Jianwu discovered that a charge bugle could provoke a response from his body. Meanwhile, Gu Xuantong’s group retreated through the snow and decided to seek another White Lotus Sect Master before returning to take revenge on Four-Nine City.

• Lian Youming’s companions urged him to eat and reminded him of his family, and he regained some resolve when he saw they had stayed by his side.
• Lian Youming communicated with his eyes while Wu Jiu and the others joked with him, and he accepted porridge from Yang Shuang.
• Li Jianwu massaged Lian Youming daily as he remained unable to move, and more than half a month passed.
• Li Jianwu’s charge bugle startled Lian Youming into lifting his right hand, revealing that sound might help restore his movement, and he warned Lian Youming to hide any recovery.
• Gu Feiyan told Gu Xuantong that she had not found the Two Teachings Token, and the group learned that a powerful expert guarded Guangzhou.
• Gu Xuantong led his group to meet another White Lotus Sect Master and vowed to return for revenge against the people in Four-Nine City.

Lian Youming continued recovering as Old Li used his bugle calls to help restore him and urged him to travel and develop his Fists Suppress the Mountains and Rivers. Nearby, Lian Youming’s father, Lian Bin, arrived with Qin Yuhu and nearly recognized his injured son, while Tian Dayong appeared just as the secret risked being exposed.

• Old Li played his bugle beside Lian Youming and Xu Baishi, helping them train while Lian Youming reflected on a mysterious man from his dream.
• Old Li told Xu Baishi about Xue Dian and his own past campaign against criminals in the north, then advised Lian Youming to travel and forge his martial path.
• Lian Bin and Qin Yuhu arrived in Four-Nine City carrying gifts for their hospitalized former battalion commander, and Qin Yuhu spotted Lian Youming in his wheelchair.
• Lian Bin nearly recognized Lian Youming and Xu Baishi, but Qin Yuhu tried to divert him toward buying more gifts.
• Tian Dayong rode up on a motorcycle with a sidecar and saw Lian Youming, while Lian Bin was still examining the group.

Lian Youming was moved to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, where he learned Lin Fusheng’s identity and questioned him about Chen Baihu’s capture and possible survival. Chen Baihu revealed evidence of an earlier martial-world calamity and offered to pass on an art; Lian Youming ended the chapter plotting revenge as he recovered.

• Tian Dayong took Lian Youming’s parents away before they could discover his identity, and Wu Jiu moved him to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency.
• Lin Fusheng introduced himself as the adopted son of Lin Heier and explained that Chen Baihu had been captured after fighting the White Lotus Saint Son while badly wounded.
• Lian Youming speculated that Chen Baihu’s father might still be alive and connected to a past martial-world calamity, prompting Chen Baihu to reveal the skeletons and Sword Immortal evidence he had found in Outer Mongolia.
• Chen Baihu offered to teach Lian Youming half of an extraordinary art connected to Sword Immortals and asked him to bring wine and meat to the Martyrs' Cemetery in Guangzhou.
• Lian Youming resolved to take revenge on those who had crippled him, while Lin Fusheng wondered whether his injury had damaged his brain.

While recovering from his injuries, Lian Youming discovered that his body might be able to surpass its former limits as it rebuilt itself. Chen Baihu took him to Jingshan to teach him the Elixir Sword and pass on the incomplete Sword-Nurturing Chapter, while warning that Gu Xuantong was likely seeking the White Lotus Sect Master.

• Lian Youming sensed that his internal breath was drawing medicinal potency and vital essence into his injured body, possibly allowing him to rebuild his physical foundations beyond their former limits.
• Chen Baihu carried Lian Youming to Jingshan and told him that Gu Xuantong had probably gone to find the White Lotus Sect Master at the Kwantung Army Fortress on Changbai Mountain.
• Chen Baihu described the ancient tomb at Changbai Mountain and said veteran elders left behind by his mother could prevent Gu Xuantong from gaining the advantage there.
• At Jingshan, Chen Baihu demonstrated the soft and hard forms of the Daoist Sect Elixir Sword and explained how Lian Youming could sharpen his sword intent.
• Chen Baihu told Lian Youming he would pass on an incomplete sword-nurturing method called the Sword-Nurturing Chapter.

Lian Youming received Chen Baihu’s sword-nurturing instruction and discovered how to visualize the moon as a saber to condense Sword Intent. Chen Baihu began to teach him a further formula, but caretakers appeared and forced them to flee.

• Lian Youming told Chen Baihu about the remains of Yang Luchan and Dong Haichuan, Gan Danran, the Wenxiang Sect Master, and the search for the Sword Immortal Inheritance; Chen Baihu warned him to keep the matter secret.
• Chen Baihu explained the sword-nurturing method and demonstrated how he breathed internal qi while drawing on the moon’s light.
• After initially failing to discern the heart-to-heart transmission, Lian Youming realized Chen Baihu’s intent came from visualizing the moon as a saber and formed his own Sword Intent.
• Lian Youming correctly counted Chen Baihu’s forty-nine qi revolutions, and Chen Baihu prepared to teach him another formula.
• Two caretakers arrived with flashlights, and Lian Youming urged Chen Baihu to run.