Chapter Summaries

Chu He arrived at the Third Battalion’s Company Commander selection and challenged all the other Squad Commanders at once. He defeated Zhou Ye in a single breath, then warned the remaining contestants that fighting together was their only chance.

• Zhang Wei presided over the selection while Hundred Household Commander Sun mocked him over Yuanbao’s death.
• Chu He arrived at the arena, where Zhang Wei explained the rules and began the competition.
• Chu He leaped into the arena and challenged all the other Squad Commanders to fight him together.
• Zhou Ye attacked Chu He with Tiger Explosion Fist, but Chu He broke his momentum, knocked his saber back into its sheath, and kicked him out of the arena.
• Chu He declared that the contestants’ only chance was to come at him together.

Chu He defeated Zhou Ye and four other squad leaders, earning the Third Battalion company commander position. Just as Zhang Wei appointed him, a Divine Sword Sect disciple arrived demanding that the Demon Suppression Bureau hand Chu He over for allegedly killing sect disciples.

• Chu He crippled Zhou Ye in a single breath, and the officers recognized his talent in the Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Art.
• Several squad leaders attacked Chu He together, but he hurled them from the platform, including a second-rank middle-stage fighter whom he blasted away with a shout.
• The squad leaders conceded, and Zhang Wei appointed Chu He company commander of the Third Battalion and presented him with his token.
• A Demon Suppression Guard reported that a Divine Sword Sect disciple had come to the Bureau’s gates, accusing Chu He of murdering sect disciples and demanding his surrender.

Chu He confronted a Divine Sword Sect disciple who had demanded that the Demon Suppression Bureau hand him over, and killed the man at the bureau’s entrance. He returned inside after warning the gathered spectators not to challenge him, while rumors spread about his backing.

• Zhang Wei ordered the Third Battalion to let the Divine Sword Sect disciple into the camp, but Chu He went outside to handle the dispute himself.
• The bald disciple accused the Demon Suppression Bureau of killing his junior brother and junior sister unjustly and demanded that Chu He be handed over.
• Chu He asked Lu Feng about the penalty for provoking the bureau, then drew his saber and killed the bald man with one strike.
• A brocade-robed Second Rank expert challenged Chu He, who threatened him with death and dared anyone else to complain.
• Chu He ordered Lu Feng to clean up the entrance and returned inside as onlookers speculated about his powerful connections.

Chu He killed a Divine Sword Sect disciple to resolve a disturbance, and Zhang Wei promoted him to Company Commander despite the political risk. Back at his residence, Chu He learned that two hundred of his infiltrators had joined the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau and received eighty merit points.

• Chu He returned to Zhang Wei after killing the bald burly man, and a guard reported that he had slain a Divine Sword Sect disciple at the bureau entrance.
• Hundred Household Commander Sun mocked Zhang Wei over Chu He's actions, but Zhang Wei said he would speak to the Thousand Household Commander himself.
• Zhang Wei appointed Chu He Company Commander of the Third Battalion, and Chu He urged Lu Feng and four others to cultivate diligently.
• Chu He reviewed his attributes and considered how many demon points he needed to advance his cultivation.
• Di Yiqi reported that two hundred of Chu He's people had joined the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau and entered the Martial Artist Realm, and Chu He learned that his merit award totaled eighty points.

Qian Hao explained why Chu He’s killing of the Divine Sword Sect disciples had served the Demon Suppression Bureau’s larger aims, then organized a joint operation in Nine Nether Town. The six battalions set out, with Zhang Wei’s Third Battalion assigned to enter openly while the other five infiltrated covertly.

• Qian Hao rebuked Zhang Wei for offering to take the blame and explained that Chu He’s decisive actions could deter forces from exploiting the Demon Suppression Bureau’s apparent weakness.
• Qian Hao assigned Zhang Wei and Sun Shang to represent the Third Army in a joint operation at Nine Nether Town and ordered Zhang Wei to compile a dossier on Chu He for a superior who had taken an interest in him.
• Three days later, rumors that Chu He had escaped punishment unsettled Yun Province’s forces, prompting several leaders to warn their followers against provoking the Demon Suppression Bureau.
• Chu He spent the intervening days consolidating his cultivation but complained that his progress toward second-rank middle stage was too slow.
• Qian Hao announced that the Third Army’s Third Battalion would enter Nine Nether Town openly and act overbearingly, while five other battalions infiltrated in batches.
• Qian Hao ordered the six battalions to move out, and they departed separately.

Chu He led fifty Demon Suppression Guards toward Nine Nether Town for an operation connected to the Heavenly Pride Grand Competition. After rescuing five Green Mountain Sect disciples from bandits, he attacked one disciple and ordered his men to strip all five of their treasures, claiming the sects owed taxes.

• Chu He gathered ten squad leaders and departed for Nine Nether Town with fifty Demon Suppression Guards.
• Zhao Yuan explained that Nine Nether Town was the seat of the Heavenly Origin Sect and hosted a grand competition attended by Yun Province's sects and schools.
• Chu He ordered his guards to kill the bandits pursuing five Green Mountain Sect disciples, and the guards slaughtered them.
• When a young disciple offered Chu He an embroidered handkerchief, Chu He kicked a gray-robed disciple away and ordered his men to take every treasure from the group.
• Chu He justified the seizure by citing the sects' unpaid taxes and left the five disciples stranded in the wilderness.

Chu He received orders to enter Nine Nether Town with absolute arrogance and draw the sects’ attention, then used the inn’s lack of rooms to force its guests to make space for his guards. The diners began offering rooms as his ten-breath countdown continued.

• Chu He received Qian Hao’s order to act boldly in Nine Nether Town and decided to use the mission to gain benefits.
• Inn guests discussed the grand competition and condemned Chu He for killing Wu Yan, unaware that Chu He had arrived.
• Chu He entered the inn with his Demon Suppression Guards, intimidated the diners, and destroyed a table when they fell silent.
• The innkeeper and waiter said they could provide only ten rooms, so Chu ordered the diners to arrange ten superior rooms within ten breaths.
• As Chu He’s countdown continued, the Green Mountain Gang, Nine Origins Sect, and other groups began offering rooms.

Chu He provoked Jian Wu into a dice wager, then raised the stakes with his salary and a Sacred Blood Pill. Sect disciples pooled treasures for Jian Wu and demanded Zhao Yizhi shake the dice, while Chu He inwardly welcomed the wager.

• Chu He confronted the Divine Sword Sect disciples and taunted Jian Wu into accepting a dice wager.
• Chu He proposed that Jian Wu hand over his treasures and crawl out if he lost, while Chu He would apologize to the Divine Sword Sect if he lost.
• Zhao Yizhi offered his Heaven and Earth Dice Cup, and the crowd learned of his grudge against the Demon Suppression Bureau.
• Chu He added ten years of salary and a Sacred Blood Pill to his stake, leaving Jian Wu unable to match it alone.
• Sect disciples contributed treasures to Jian Wu's wager and demanded that Zhao Yizhi shake the dice on Jian Wu's behalf.
• Chu He reluctantly agreed to the demand while thinking that the others had taken his bait.

Chu He defeated Zhao Yizhi in a dice contest, winning the gathered treasures and forcing Jian Wu to crawl out of the inn. After Jian Wu vowed revenge, Chu He ordered an investigation into his possible ties to the White Lotus Cult.

• Chu He accepted Zhao Yizhi's gambling challenge and rolled a total of four with a single shake of the Heaven and Earth Dice Cup.
• Zhao Yizhi shook the cup repeatedly and rolled three points, prompting the sect disciples to accuse him of deliberately helping Chu He.
• Chu He dismissed the disciples' demands for a rematch and ordered Zhao Yuan and the guards to collect the stakes, including the Heaven and Earth Dice Cup.
• Chu He made Jian Wu crawl to the inn's exit to honor their wager, and Jian Wu vowed to repay the humiliation.
• Chu He ordered an investigation into Jian Wu's past, saying he suspected him of colluding with the White Lotus Cult.

Chu He investigated the demons hidden in Nine Nether Town and suspected the Heavenly Origin Sect had gathered them for a scheme targeting the visiting geniuses. He forced Zhao Yizhi to bargain for Blood Spider's life, but made no promise to save her.

• Chu He’s subordinate gave him a dossier listing dozens of demons hidden throughout Nine Nether Town, and Chu He suspected the Heavenly Origin Sect was connected to them.
• Chu He reasoned that the demons and the coming genius competition might be part of a plan to target the competitors or serve another hidden purpose.
• Zhao Yizhi confronted Chu He about Blood Spider, but Chu He knocked him down and revealed that she was imprisoned in the Blood Prison.
• Chu He demanded a tempting treasure from Zhao Yizhi within a month, threatening to have Blood Spider whipped for each day he was late.
• Zhao Yizhi left after agreeing to the terms, while Chu He privately admitted he had never promised to save Blood Spider.

Chu He and the Demon Suppression Guards rode toward Nine Nether Town to begin a dangerous mission, leaving onlookers struck by their resolve. At the town gates, sect disciples registered for the Prodigy Assembly, and rumors spread that Chu He had humiliated Jian Wu after killing his senior brother.

• Chu He gathered Zhao Yuan and the Demon Suppression Guards and set out for Nine Nether Town, warning that the real conflict would begin there.
• A fair-skinned woman asked Chu He to speak privately, but he refused and led the guards away shouting, “Suppress demons!”
• The imposing man praised the Demon Suppression Guards as protectors of Great Qian, while he and his companion agreed to leave Yun Province after the prodigy tournament.
• At Nine Nether Town, Heavenly Origin Sect outer disciples opened the gates and registered arriving sects, including Jian Wu of the Divine Sword Sect.
• Onlookers discussed Jian Wu’s anger and learned that Chu He had killed his senior brother, taken his treasures, and forced him to crawl out of the inn.

Chu He forced his way into Nine Nether Town, making his arrogance and reputation the talk of the town. At the Heavenly Origin Sect’s quarters, Tian Liu and cloaked demons discussed a plan to kill Qian Hao and carry out their wider scheme in Yun Province.

• Chu He and his Demon Suppression Guards reached Nine Nether Town, where the patrol captain tried to stop them from entering without registering.
• Chu He wrote “Order” on a sheet of paper, declared anyone who obstructed them a demon, and led his guards into town.
• Word of Chu He’s forceful entry and his reputation as a powerful prodigy spread throughout Nine Nether Town.
• Tian Liu ordered his disciples not to interfere with Chu He, while telling cloaked figures that Qian Hao was arriving with six Demon Suppression Guard camps.
• Tian Liu agreed to handle Qian Hao personally as the cloaked demons planned to deal with the guards and other sects, then revealed their nonhuman bodies as they left.

Chu He took the seat of honor at the Heavenly Pride Grand Competition and ordered Tian Yuan to begin, while suspecting the Heavenly Origin Sect was concealing a plot. As the contestants fought below, Chu He dismissed their matches as children fighting.

• Tian Yun welcomed the faction leaders to the arena, and Chu He arrived with fifty Demon Suppression Guards.
• Chu He sat in the seat reserved for Tian Yuan and claimed he was watching on behalf of the Battalion Commander.
• Tian Yuan accepted Chu He's claim and announced the competition's prizes, while privately resolving to kill him later.
• Chu He suspected the Heavenly Origin Sect was waiting for its scheme to unfold during the matches and decided to use the situation to kill demons and grow stronger.
• Bai Hao and Gou Dongxi began the fights, which continued as Heavenly Origin Sect disciples scored the competitors.
• Dao Buer asked whether Chu He found the fights dull, and Chu He called them a bunch of children fighting.

Chu He recognized that the bouts in Nine Nether Town were meant to exhaust the third-rank fighters, then dodged an assassination attempt as Tian Yuan and Dao Buer revealed their alliance with hundreds of demons. As the town descended into chaos, Chu He sent Zhao Yuan’s guards toward their base and began hunting demons.

• The competition ended with Dao Feng, Liu Ju, and Wu Kai as the top three, while Tian Yun persuaded the remaining third-rank experts to fight until they were exhausted.
• Tian Yuan attacked two fighters after their bout, and Dao Buer threw a dagger at Chu He, who dodged and wounded Dao Buer with a coin.
• Dao Buer summoned hundreds of demons, and Tian Yuan admitted that the Heavenly Origin Sect had colluded with them.
• Demons attacked Nine Nether Town, killing many martial artists and at least ten guards from another Demon Suppression Banner, while Chu He’s warned unit suffered few losses.
• Chu He ordered Zhao Yuan to lead the guards east to their base, then leaped onto a rooftop and prepared to hunt the demons.

Chu He killed a wounded second-rank peak demon and rescued a group of disciples after Wang Mengde abandoned them to escape. When the young woman blamed him for Uncle Lan’s death, Chu He rejected her moral appeal and warned the group not to challenge him again.

• Wang Mengde tricked the disciples into buying him time, then escaped on a paper bird and left them surrounded by demons.
• Uncle Lan wounded the leading dog-headed demon with a desperate punch, but the demon mortally injured him and lunged at him and the young woman.
• Chu He ambushed and killed the wounded demon, earning 50 Demon Points.
• The young woman begged Chu He to save Uncle Lan, but he said only a fifth-rank pill could help and refused to provide one.
• The young woman accused Chu He of failing his duty, and he said the sects were elements of disorder before warning the disciples he would kill them if they challenged him again.

Chu He punished Meng Chuan, broke through to the Second Rank Middle Stage by spending Demon Points, and headed north to hunt more demons. At the city gate, he watched sect disciples struggle against two Third Rank wolf demons and waited for the battle to intensify.

• Chu He used soul power to inflict pain on Meng Chuan, then left her and the others to face Uncle Lan’s death.
• Chu He killed a wounded Second Rank Peak Stage demon and spent two hundred Demon Points to advance the Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Art and reach the Second Rank Middle Stage.
• Chu He killed another demon, realized he needed many more Demon Points, and chose to head north toward the city gate in search of Third Rank demons.
• Several hundred sect disciples tried to escape through the city gate while Sect Master Zhang fought two Third Rank wolf demons.
• Chu He watched from a rooftop and urged the slaughter below to grow fiercer.

Chu He rescued a third rank martial artist by killing two third rank demons, then used the demon points he earned to advance to second rank late stage. He headed toward more fighting, still dissatisfied with his progress.

• Chu He watched the sect disciples battle the demons and suspected the Demon Suppression Guard had delayed its intervention to weaken the sects.
• A third rank martial artist wounded one demon but lost an arm, and Chu He killed the demon holding him with a copper-coin soul attack before finishing the wounded demon with a broken sword.
• The rescued white-robed old man thanked Chu He, while Chu He warned the woman who had offered to marry him to stop making eyes at him.
• Chu He gained demon points for killing the two third rank demons and rushed toward nearby fighting to earn enough points for an upgrade.
• Chu He spent four hundred demon points to advance his Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Art and break through to second rank late stage.

Chu He decided to join the battle east of Nine Nether Town, where the Demon Suppression Guards fought the White Lotus Cult and its demons. Qian Hao confronted the traitor Tian Liu above the town, and Tian Liu revealed that their plan included delaying Commander Zhou.

• Chu He assessed his strength and resolved to fight alongside the Demon Suppression Guards to earn more Demon Points.
• Zhang Wei battled Bai Sha as the Demon Suppression Guards pushed back the demons, and Bai Sha warned that a greater crisis was approaching.
• Qian Hao confronted Tian Liu, who admitted collaborating with the White Lotus Cult and threatened the six battalions' survival.
• Qian Hao's Demon-Suppressing Sword wounded Tian Liu, and the two continued fighting amid the collapsing buildings below.
• Tian Liu said he was stalling Qian Hao and called for someone to come out, claiming Commander Zhou could be delayed.

A fourth rank late stage tiger-headed demon joined the battle and threatened the Demon Suppression Guards, while Chu He revealed his increased strength by killing three third rank demons in quick succession. The battle continued with the Guards stunned by Chu He's sudden breakthrough and the system chiming in his mind.

• Tian Liu sent the tiger-headed demon to slaughter the Demon Suppression Guards, while Qian Hao failed to stop him.
• The tiger-headed demon attacked Zhang Wei, who survived his strike but suffered grievous injuries; the demon accidentally crushed Bai Sha and ate him.
• Chu He killed a third rank demon attacking a hundred-household commander and swiftly killed two more demons with his saber and copper coin.
• The Demon Suppression Guards recognized Chu He and reacted in disbelief at his second rank late stage cultivation and combat strength.
• Chu He ignored their astonishment as the system's voice rang in his mind.

Sun Shang saved Zhang Wei from the tiger-headed demon and fought alongside him, but died protecting him when the demon struck. As Qian Hao and Tian Liu arrived at the battlefield, Chu He reflected on the danger of assuming his enemies would wait for him to act.

• Sun Shang rescued Zhang Wei from the tiger-headed demon, then joined him in a coordinated attack.
• A Demon Suppression Hundred Household Commander told Chu He that Sun Shang and Zhang Wei had once been close friends, but Sun Nai'er's death had made them enemies.
• Chu He resumed hunting wounded demons for Demon Points and refused Hundred Household Commander Ji's accusation that he was stealing credit.
• Qian Hao and Tian Liu arrived above the battlefield and urged the fighters to end the battle quickly.
• The tiger-headed demon attacked Zhang Wei, and Sun Shang shoved him aside before being torn in half.