Recaps

After reaching peak An Jin, Jiang Fa learned that the Blood Wolf Gang had tried to abduct his family and arranged to move them to safety. He then decided to confront the gang’s headquarters alone that night, despite Lin Feng’s warning.

• Jiang Fa completed a day of cultivation and realized he had advanced to peak An Jin, making him confident he could defeat Liu Mang or Li Kunlun within a few moves.
• Lin Feng told Jiang Fa that three Blood Wolf Gang men had tried to enter his family’s courtyard in Yellow Earth Town and were captured by Old Zhao and Escort Chief Sun.
• Lin Feng revealed that the gang’s second-in-command, Chai Wenyuan, had ordered the men to abduct Jiang Fa’s parents and younger brother.
• Lin Feng arranged to bring Jiang Fa’s family to a secluded courtyard in the city and guard them there.
• Jiang Fa asked where the Blood Wolf Gang’s headquarters was and declared that he would make them pay for targeting his family.
• Lin Feng warned Jiang Fa that the gang’s headquarters was heavily guarded, but Jiang Fa insisted on going alone that night.

Jiang Fa stormed the Blood Wolf Gang headquarters alone after learning its men had failed to capture Jiang Fa's family, and confronted Ding Wanshan and Chai Wenyuan. He crippled Ding Wanshan with one punch and stopped Chai Wenyuan's poisoned attack between two fingers.

• Ding Wanshan learned that his men had failed to capture Jiang Fa's family, who had been moved away in secret.
• Jiang Fa appeared at the Blood Wolf Gang headquarters and revealed that he had already dealt with its guards and other men.
• Ding Wanshan attacked Jiang Fa with his Iron Arm Art, but Jiang Fa shattered his left arm with one punch.
• Chai Wenyuan lunged at Jiang Fa's throat with a poisoned short spike, but Jiang Fa caught its tip between two fingers.

Jiang Fa defeated the Blood Wolf Gang’s leaders and learned that the Li Clan’s Li Canghai had hired the gang to kill him. Meanwhile, Lin Dingyuan ordered Lin Feng to watch the Li Clan and prepare to protect the mine, leaving the conflict with Li Canghai poised to escalate.

• Jiang Fa killed Chai Wenyuan and crippled Ding Wanshan, then demanded to know why the Blood Wolf Gang had targeted him.
• Ding Wanshan revealed that Li Canghai of the Li Clan had paid three thousand taels and sent a secret letter to arrange Jiang Fa’s assassination.
• Jiang Fa killed Ding Wanshan despite having sworn to spare him, and declared that the Blood Wolf Gang would cease to exist.
• Lin Dingyuan realized Li Canghai had uncovered the location and defenses of the Dark Iron Essence Gold mine.
• Lin Dingyuan ordered Lin Feng to secretly watch the Li Clan and gather men to protect the mine from another attack.

After learning that Jiang Fa had gone alone to the Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters, Lin Dingyuan feared for him, only to discover that Jiang Fa had killed the gang's leaders and more than thirty members. Lin Dingyuan decided to personally support Jiang Fa's family and prepare them a house and gifts.

• Lin Dingyuan praised Lin Feng's judgment in recommending Attendant Jiang and said Lin Feng should begin learning to lead the family.
• Lin Feng revealed that Jiang Fa had gone alone to the Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters more than two hours earlier.
• A guard reported that Jiang Fa had wiped out the headquarters, killing Ding Wanshan, Chai Wenyuan, and more than thirty others.
• Lin Dingyuan and Lin Feng realized Jiang Fa was far stronger than they had thought.
• Lin Dingyuan ordered gifts, money, and a property deed prepared so he could visit Jiang Fa's family and provide them a home.

Jiang Dashan and Lady Chen were brought to a city herb shop, where Lin Dingyuan apologized and presented them with valuables, money, and a home. He told them their son Jiang Fa had won first place at the Qingshan Martial Meet.

• Jiang Dashan and Lady Chen wondered why they had been brought from Yellow Earth Town to the city in the middle of the night.
• Lin Dingyuan visited them and introduced himself as patriarch of the Lin Lineage.
• Lin Dingyuan gave the couple wild ginseng, cloud brocade, jade bangles, two thousand taels, and the deed to a courtyard residence.
• Jiang Dashan feared something had happened to Jiang Fa, but Lin Dingyuan assured him his son was well.
• Lin Dingyuan told Jiang Dashan and Lady Chen that Jiang Fa had defeated more than a hundred competitors and taken first place at the Qingshan Martial Meet.

Jiang Dashan and Lady Chen learned that Jiang Fa had won first place at the martial meet, then agreed to stay hidden in a courtyard residence after Lin Dingyuan warned them of danger. Jiang Fa traced the Blood Wolf Gang’s attack to the Li Clan, while Li Canghai heard that the gang had been wiped out and wondered if Jiang Fa was responsible.

• Lin Dingyuan told Jiang Dashan and Lady Chen that Jiang Fa had won the martial meet and warned them that someone intended to harm them, so they agreed to remain in the courtyard residence.
• Jiang Fa recalled that the Li Clan had likely hired the Blood Wolf Gang after he disrupted its plans involving the stolen mine shipment and the Black Wind Stronghold.
• Li Canghai reflected on Jiang Fa’s victory and dismissed the idea that the young martial artist could defeat the Blood Wolf Gang’s headquarters.
• A guard reported that Ding Wanshan and more than thirty Blood Wolf Gang members had been killed overnight.
• Li Canghai wondered if Jiang Fa had wiped out the gang, but the guard suspected the Great Saber Gang instead.

Li Canghai set his plan to seize the mineral vein in motion by coercing Lin Zhengtang, while Jiang Fa confirmed to Lin Feng that he had destroyed the Blood Wolf Gang. Lin Feng revealed that Li Canghai had arranged the gang’s attempt on Jiang Fa, but Jiang Fa said he already knew.

• Li Canghai suspected a transforming force expert backed Zhou Xiongtu and ordered his clan to stay out of the Blood Wolf Gang matter for now.
• Li Canghai learned that three recruits had accepted the Li Clan’s offer and planned to exploit the chaos around the Blood Wolf Gang to seize the mineral vein.
• Li Canghai sent a letter to Lin Zhengtang offering him the Lin Lineage leadership and ten percent of the mineral vein’s profits in exchange for helping the Li Clan.
• Lin Feng visited Jiang Fa and asked whether he had destroyed the Blood Wolf Gang’s headquarters alone, and Jiang Fa confirmed that he had.
• Lin Feng told Jiang Fa that Li Canghai had secretly worked against the Li Clan and bribed the Blood Wolf Gang to assassinate him, and Jiang Fa replied that he already knew.

Jiang Fa visited his parents and younger brother at the Lin Lineage’s guarded residence after learning they were safe. His mother then told him that Master Lin had brought them valuable gifts and a deed, leaving Jiang Fa to decide how to respond.

• Jiang Fa and Lin Feng discussed Li Canghai’s likely underestimation of Jiang Fa and the danger posed by the Li Clan.
• Lin Feng assured Jiang Fa that his family was safe and led him to a secluded residence guarded by Old Zhao and Escort Chief Sun.
• Jiang Fa reunited with Jiang Dashan, Lady Chen, and Jiang Xiaohe, reassuring his mother that their attackers would not return.
• Lady Chen told Jiang Fa that Master Lin had brought them herbs, cloth, banknotes, and a courtyard deed, which his parents had not accepted yet.

Jiang Fa persuaded his parents to settle in the city, where they could live safely and Jiang Xiaohe could attend school. He told them he had won first place at the Qingshan Martial Meet, then left to return to the martial hall while his family began settling in.

• Jiang Fa urged his parents to accept Master Lin’s gifts and repay the favor in the future.
• Jiang Fa persuaded Jiang Dashan and Lady Chen to stay in the city by promising their security and explaining that Jiang Xiaohe could attend school there.
• Jiang Dashan agreed to settle in the city, and Jiang Xiaohe rejoiced at the prospect of going to school.
• Jiang Fa confirmed that he had won first place at the Qingshan Martial Meet, surprising and delighting his family.
• Jiang Fa reassured his parents, then left the house to return to the martial hall.

After the Qingshan Martial Meet, Jiang Fa trained steadily at the Zhao Clan Martial Hall and perfected the second level of the Origin-Returning Breath-Concealing Art. He began learning its third level, Origin-Returning, but found its progress slow and exhausting.

• Lin Feng warned Jiang Fa that Li Canghai might respond to the Blood Wolf Gang’s destruction by bringing greater forces against him.
• Jiang Fa bought cultivation pills at the Precious Ganoderma Hall, where the shop assistant recognized him as the martial meet champion.
• Jiang Fa practiced the Surging Billows and Layered Waves Slash as the disciples watched in awe.
• Jiang Fa spent the next few days cultivating while the Zhao Clan Martial Hall grew busier after the martial meet.
• Jiang Fa perfected Form Concealment, then began practicing Origin-Returning and gained only one point of progress after a grueling circuit.

At Azure Wave Lake, Shen Guhong delivered Pei Zhaoyuan a letter from Ding Wanshan reporting that Lu Jiu had been killed in Qingshan County. Pei Zhaoyuan recognized Ding Wanshan’s attempt to enlist him for revenge but began considering what should be done because Lu Jiu had studied under him.

• A messenger named Sun Qi brought a sealed letter from Blood Wolf Gang leader Ding Wanshan to Mister Autumn Water at Azure Wave Lake.
• Shen Guhong delivered the letter to Pei Zhaoyuan, who learned that Lu Jiu had been killed.
• Shen Guhong doubted the letter’s claim that a Late Dark Force fighter had killed a Half-Step Transforming Force fighter and said Ding Wanshan wanted to use Pei Zhaoyuan as a weapon.
• Pei Zhaoyuan said Lu Jiu had studied under him for three years and had been one of their people at Azure Wave Lake.

Pei Zhaoyuan and Shen Guhong discussed how to eliminate Jiang Fa after he joined one of the three sects, then turned their attention to the Azure Peaks Secret Realm, which would open in a year. Pei Zhaoyuan ordered Shen Guhong to reach the Innate realm before entering and promised to teach him Autumn Water Leaves No Trace if he succeeded.

• Pei Zhaoyuan explained that he planned to use his connections to target Jiang Fa after the young man joined a sect, avoiding suspicion by having others act against him.
• Pei Zhaoyuan told Shen Guhong that the Azure Peaks Secret Realm would open in one year and warned him of the dangers posed by beasts and rival disciples.
• Pei Zhaoyuan pointed out that Shen Guhong lacked martial true intent and had not sufficiently consolidated his force.
• Pei Zhaoyuan challenged Shen Guhong to reach the Innate realm and ignite the seed flame of True Qi within a year, promising him half the spoils and instruction in Autumn Water Leaves No Trace.
• Shen Guhong vowed to meet the challenge, and Pei Zhaoyuan ordered him to cultivate in seclusion on the island at the heart of the lake.

Lin Feng told Jiang Fa that Li Canghai had taken the bait and planned to seize the Lin Lineage’s ore mines, and asked Jiang Fa to help ambush the Li Clan. Jiang Fa agreed, and they prepared to leave within an hour to destroy the Li Clan’s assembled forces.

• Lin Feng told Jiang Fa that false information about weak mine defenses had prompted Li Canghai to gather more than twenty experts for an attack after nightfall.
• Lin Feng explained that Li Canghai would personally lead the raid and that the Lin Lineage intended to use the ambush to uproot the Li Clan.
• Lin Feng asked Jiang Fa to attack the Li Clan’s flank and disrupt its experts, and Jiang Fa agreed because of his feud with the clan.
• Lin Feng revealed that the Lin Lineage had blocked the mine’s exits and planned to ambush Li Canghai’s likely escape route along a concealed sheep trail.
• Lin Feng told Jiang Fa to prepare to leave in an hour and rendezvous with the others in small groups.

Jiang Fa joined Lin Feng’s ambush against Li Canghai’s forces at Black Wind Ridge, while Wang Chengde spread rumors to draw the county’s factions toward the same area. Wang Chengde reported to the Shadow Envoy that the trap was ready and awaited its prey.

• Jiang Fa concealed his presence, slipped out of Qingshan County, and met Lin Feng and the Lin Lineage fighters at Black Wind Ridge.
• Lin Feng told Jiang Fa that his father’s forces were positioned to ambush Li Canghai’s twenty-four An Jin fighters, who were approaching the mining area.
• Wang Chengde dismissed the belief that Zhou Xiongtu had destroyed the Blood Wolf Gang and learned that his agents had spread rumors about Black Wind Ridge.
• Wang Chengde’s rumors drew the Great Saber Gang, Blood Wolf Gang remnants, other clan martial artists, and veteran rogues toward Black Wind Ridge.
• The Shadow Envoy appeared in Wang Chengde’s study, and Wang Chengde told him the arrangement was complete and the prey would soon enter the trap.

Wang Chengde received the Heavenly Demon Art and Heavenly Demon Token from a Heavenly Demon Sect secret envoy in exchange for serving him. The envoy revealed that the sect planned to exploit the coming battle at Black Wind Ridge to gather blood essence for Blood God Pills, and Wang Chengde said his preparations were complete.

• The gray-robed secret envoy told Wang Chengde his injuries had healed and credited him for supplying victims whose blood essence helped him recover.
• The envoy gave Wang Chengde the first half of the Heavenly Demon Art and the promised Heavenly Demon Token for Wang Yanzhi.
• Wang Chengde agreed with the envoy’s condemnation of the righteous path and affirmed his devotion to the Heavenly Demon Sect.
• The envoy explained that the sect needed martial artists’ blood essence to refine Blood God Pills and planned to take advantage of the battle at Black Wind Ridge.
• The envoy said several dozen Heavenly Demon Sect elites were headed for Black Wind Ridge, and Wang Chengde reported that his family was ready.

Wang Chengde agreed to serve the Sacred Sect in exchange for a Blood God Pill that could help him break through to Innate. Meanwhile, Li Canghai grew suspicious of a seemingly easy opportunity to seize the Lin Lineage’s mine and warned that it might be a trap.

• The gray-robed man promised Wang Chengde one of five high-grade Blood God Pills for helping refine them, and Wang pledged loyalty to the Sacred Sect.
• The gray-robed man warned Wang that the pill could force a breakthrough but would not guarantee progress beyond Innate.
• Li Canghai led twenty-four Li Clan elites and three guest retainers to prepare a surprise attack on the Black Wind Ridge mineral vein.
• A scout reported that the mine’s defenses were sparse, while Li Yunteng and others urged Li Canghai to attack after dark.
• Li Canghai suspected Lin Zhengtang had unknowingly supplied false information and reasoned that Lin Dingyuan might be using the mine as bait for a deadly ambush.

Li Canghai revealed that the Li Clan had secretly allied with Black Wind Stronghold and led their combined force toward the mining area. In the forest, Jiang Fa and Lin Feng realized the attackers had unexpected reinforcements, including Tu Lie.

• The Li Clan panicked after Li Canghai warned that advancing or retreating could both be deadly, but he explained that he had suspected Lin Dingyuan was luring them into a trap.
• Li Canghai waited for an ally, and Tu Lie arrived with more than a dozen fighters from Black Wind Stronghold.
• Tu Lie reported that their other collaborator had agreed to cooperate, and Li Canghai predicted that the person they called “that brat” would come to the mining area.
• Li Canghai revealed that Black Wind Stronghold had secretly allied with the Li Clan, then led twenty-four Li Clan elites and twelve of Tu Lie’s men toward the mining area.
• Jiang Fa noticed the approaching group was too brazen to be launching a surprise attack, and Lin Feng recognized Tu Lie among them.

Lin Dingyuan ambushed Li Canghai’s party at the mining area, and the two lineages clashed in a fierce battle. Jiang Fa entered the fight and killed a late dark force guest retainer in one strike, leaving the battlefield stunned.

• Jiang Fa restrained his hatred of Tu Lie as Lin Feng told him to wait and watch what happened.
• Li Canghai led his men to the mining area, where Lin Dingyuan’s forces surrounded them and launched an ambush.
• Lin Dingyuan’s poisoned bolts and phosphorus-fire bombs wounded Li Clan members, prompting Li Canghai to order an attack.
• The Li Clan and Lin Lineage fought around the mine as Lin Feng and Jiang Fa joined the battle from the flank.
• Jiang Fa killed a late dark force Li Clan guest retainer with one saber strike, and the battlefield fell silent.

Jiang Fa arrived at the battle for the mine and overwhelmed the Li Clan and Black Wind Stronghold fighters, killing a peak An Jin retainer before turning on Tu Lie. After disabling Tu Lie, he left the bandit chief pleading with Li Canghai to explain why their hidden ally had not intervened.

• Jiang Fa rushed through the battlefield, killed two Li Clan elites, and defeated and killed a peak An Jin guest retainer in two strikes.
• Lin Dingyuan rallied the Lin Lineage, whose fighters exploited the Li Clan’s faltering formation to surround and kill its elites.
• Li Canghai called on Tu Lie to stop Jiang Fa, but Tu Lie hesitated as Jiang Fa cut down two Black Wind Stronghold men on his way toward him.
• Tu Lie used a subordinate as a shield and attacked Jiang Fa with his Soul-Severing Saber, but Jiang Fa caught the blade barehanded and snapped it in two.
• Tu Lie released Gut-Severing Smoke and tried to escape, but Jiang Fa pursued him and severed his right leg below the knee.
• Tu Lie, lying injured on the ground, screamed at Li Canghai and demanded to know why their hidden ally had not acted.

Jiang Fa killed Tu Lie and Li Yunteng, then charged Li Canghai, but a mysterious gray-white figure intervened and blasted him backward. Jiang Fa ended the chapter wounded and facing the newcomer.

• Jiang Fa killed Tu Lie, causing the remaining Black Wind Stronghold fighters to panic and flee.
• A Lin Lineage deathsworn fighter wounded Li Yunteng, and Jiang Fa rushed over after hearing him call for his father.
• Jiang Fa killed one of Li Yunteng’s guards, ignored the other as he fled, and cut Li Yunteng down with his ghost-head saber.
• Li Canghai rushed toward his son but arrived too late, then vowed revenge as Jiang Fa attacked him.
• A gray-white figure emerged from the woods and struck Jiang Fa’s saber aside, sending him crashing through a boulder and spitting blood.

Shi Chongshan arrived and struck Jiang Fa down, revealing that he had come only to kill him and would not help Li Canghai or answer to the Lin Lineage. Jiang Fa was left badly injured after Shi Chongshan’s overwhelming attack.

• Shi Chongshan appeared and wounded Jiang Fa with one punch, while Li Canghai angrily accused him of arriving too late.
• Shi Chongshan told Li Canghai that he had never promised to help him beyond dealing with Jiang Fa.
• Lin Dingyuan tried to negotiate with Shi Chongshan, but Shi dismissed the Lin Lineage and ordered him out of the way.
• Shi Chongshan vanished and reappeared before Jiang Fa, striking at his chest as Jiang Fa struggled to evade him.
• Jiang Fa crossed his arms and activated the Seven-Colored Glazed Glass Art, but Shi Chongshan’s palm sent him crashing through several trees.

Zhao Zhong arrived at the mining area and fought Shi Chongshan to protect Jiang Fa, but Shi Chongshan’s greater cultivation kept him at a disadvantage. Just as Shi Chongshan nearly struck Zhao Zhong’s throat, another attacker emerged from the woods and challenged him.

• Shi Chongshan struck Jiang Fa again, but Zhao Zhong rushed from the woods and stopped the attack with a punch.
• Zhao Zhong revealed that he had reached late Transforming Force and ordered Jiang Fa to stand behind him.
• Shi Chongshan and Zhao Zhong fought, with Shi Chongshan repeatedly overpowering Zhao Zhong despite his Mountain-Breaking Fist.
• As Shi Chongshan clawed toward Zhao Zhong’s throat, a punch from the woods forced him to halt and defend.
• The newcomer mocked Shi Chongshan for bullying a junior and said he was going backward with age.

Zhao Zhong and Lie Changkong joined forces against Shi Chongshan, while Zhao Zhong warned that news of the ore vein and a third tier fierce beast egg had spread across Qingshan County. Li Canghai realized that someone may have manipulated both the Li Clan and the Lin Lineage, and Black Wind Ridge was about to descend into chaos as many forces converged.

• Lie Changkong arrived and sided with Zhao Zhong against Shi Chongshan, who prepared to fight them both.
• Zhao Zhong told Lin Dingyuan that rumors of the ore vein and a third tier fierce beast egg had spread, drawing forces from across Qingshan County.
• Li Canghai rejected the news at first, then suspected that someone had deliberately lured his clan into the conflict and manipulated the Lin Lineage as well.
• Lin Dingyuan recognized that the ore vein's discovery had involved suspicious circumstances, but neither he nor Li Canghai knew who was behind the scheme.
• Zhao Zhong and Lie Changkong confirmed that numerous martial halls, gangs, clans, rogue cultivators, and county officials were heading to Black Wind Ridge, with the first group expected soon.

The Lin Lineage withdrew from the mining grounds while Zhao Zhong and Lie Changkong held Shi Chongshan back so Jiang Fa could escape. As the three experts fought, a dark figure suddenly lunged toward Li Canghai and the remaining Li Clan guards.

• Lin Dingyuan agreed to withdraw with the surviving Lin Lineage members after Zhao Zhong warned that they could no longer hold the ore vein.
• Zhao Zhong and Lie Changkong attacked Shi Chongshan together while Jiang Fa escaped into the forest with his demon-head saber.
• Shi Chongshan tried to pursue Jiang Fa, but Zhao Zhong and Lie Changkong kept him occupied in a fierce fight.
• A dark figure rushed toward Li Canghai and the remaining Li Clan guards, and Shi Chongshan shouted a warning.

Jiang Fa returned to kill Li Canghai, then was nearly struck down by Shi Chongshan before Liu Bochong intervened. Shi Chongshan backed off when Zhao Zhong, Lie Changkong, and Liu Bochong stood against him, but another voice called out to him from the woods as he prepared to leave.

• Jiang Fa ambushed Li Canghai and killed him after disabling his two guards.
• Shi Chongshan knocked Zhao Zhong and Lie Changkong aside and attacked Jiang Fa with a full-powered palm strike.
• Liu Bochong appeared and blocked Shi Chongshan's attack, saving Jiang Fa.
• Shi Chongshan recognized that he could not overcome the three men together and threatened them before preparing to leave.
• An unseen speaker from the woods asked Shi Chongshan why he was leaving in such a hurry.