Chapter Summaries

Monk Yankong and Master Juekong realized Zhang Junbao was a prodigy and planned to claim his martial arts for Shaolin, while Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao prepared for the threat. Zhang Qingyuan decided they would wait and let the martial world grow more chaotic while he wrote a letter.

• Monk Yankong and Master Juekong discussed Zhang Junbao’s martial arts and concluded he was an extraordinary genius, despite having no proof that he had learned Shaolin techniques.
• Master Juekong blamed himself for driving Zhang Junbao out of Shaolin, and Monk Yankong proposed inviting him back and claiming his martial arts for Shaolin’s Scripture Pavilion.
• Zhang Junbao told Zhang Qingyuan that Master Yankong, Master Juekong, Shaolin disciples, and the Wang Family’s fighters threatened them.
• Zhang Qingyuan judged that they could handle the Wang Family’s fighters but could not defeat the Shaolin masters, so he chose to wait several days and write a letter before putting their plan into action.

Old Wang learned that Zhang Qingyuan was not affiliated with the Daoists and agreed to the public duel Zhang Qingyuan had arranged for the fifth day of the fifth month. As Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao trained for the confrontation, Zhang Qingyuan realized their martial insights seemed mysteriously linked.

• Zhou Haojie told Old Wang that Zhang Qingyuan was a refugee fortune-teller, Zhang Junbao had refused Shaolin's offer to return, and the two had invited their enemies to settle matters in a duel.
• Old Wang accepted Zhang Qingyuan's challenge on behalf of the Wang Family and vowed to avenge his son, knowing the feud would be settled under jianghu rules.
• At the inn in Xia County, Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao continued training their True Qi, Nine Yang Palm, sword techniques, and movement techniques ahead of the duel.
• Zhang Qingyuan noticed that whenever either he or Zhang Junbao gained an insight into a martial realm, the other seemed to gain the same insight moments later.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao arrived at the clearing for their decisive battle against the Wang Family, where the martial world had gathered to watch. Old Wang began to accuse them, but Zhang Qingyuan cut him off, ready to take the stage.

• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao prepared for battle and walked through the city as crowds followed and discussed their chances.
• The martial-world factions gathered outside the city, while Shaolin’s Yankong and other experts expressed confidence that the brothers would win.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao arrived at the clearing and surveyed the gathered sects, including Shaolin and the Joyous Union Sect.
• Old Wang began accusing Zhang Junbao of killing his son and guards, but Zhang Qingyuan interrupted him with a cough.

Zhang Qingyuan took control of the confrontation with the Wang family by exposing the injustice behind the dog sale and rallying the martial heroes against them. He and Zhang Junbao then killed Old Wang, Zhou Haojie, and their guards, while the remaining fighters surrendered.

• Zhang Qingyuan apologized to the gathered heroes, then challenged Old Wang over his son’s attempt to shortchange a poor mother and daughter for a hunting dog.
• Zhang Qingyuan condemned the Wang family for forcing the sale and beating the mother and daughter to death, turning the crowd against them.
• Zhang Qingyuan announced that he and Zhang Junbao would settle the appointment to the death, and Zhang Junbao leaped forward and killed Old Wang.
• Zhang Junbao fought Zhou Haojie and the eight great guards while Zhang Qingyuan cut through the other fighters.
• Zhang Junbao killed Zhou Haojie and Zhang Qingyuan killed the remaining guards, prompting the surviving hired fighters to surrender.

After defeating the Wang Family, Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao faced the Shaolin abbots as Zhang Junbao refused to return and argued that cultivating the Dao suited him better than Buddhism. The debate faltered when Juekong demanded an explanation for Zhang Junbao’s martial arts, and Yankong wondered why his junior brother had undermined Shaolin’s position.

• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao defeated the Wang Family’s forces, won the spectators’ admiration, and sent the surviving guards away.
• The two approached Shaolin, where Yankong asked Zhang Junbao whether he still resented the temple and urged him to return.
• Zhang Junbao said he had severed ties with Shaolin and preferred Daoist scriptures, then argued that Buddhism ultimately led to the Dao.
• Juekong accused Zhang Junbao of secretly learning Shaolin martial arts, while Yankong regretted his junior brother’s interruption.
• Zhang Junbao denied using Shaolin techniques since leaving the temple, and Juekong demanded to know where his internal strength and martial arts came from.

Zhang Junbao explained how he and Zhang Qingyuan created their martial arts, then shared their manuals to disprove Juekong’s accusations of stealing from Shaolin. Juekong succumbed to his inner demon and attacked them, but Chen Xugu arrived to protect his junior brothers.

• Zhang Junbao described how he and Zhang Qingyuan combined martial arts principles and their own ideas to create their techniques, impressing the gathered martial artists.
• Juekong rejected Zhang Junbao’s explanation and accused him of stealing Shaolin martial arts, but Zhang Junbao handed Zhong Qishan the Purple Firmament Thunder Ultimate Sword Technique and Nine Yang Palm manuals for inspection.
• Chu Tianxing declared that the manuals had nothing to do with Shaolin, while Luo Binghe praised Zhang Junbao’s talent.
• Juekong’s inner demon overwhelmed him, and he attacked Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao with the Formless Tribulation Finger and Nine Yang Palm.
• Chen Xugu descended between Juekong and the two brothers, declaring that he would see who dared bully his junior brothers.

Chen Xugu arrived at the Shaolin confrontation, defeated Juekong with a single sword stroke, and asserted the Daoist claim to Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao. After the other sects left, he fled from Qin Shuangjiang’s heartfelt reunion and chased after the two younger men.

• Chen Xugu held off Juekong’s attacks with his sword and mocked him until Juekong spat blood.
• Yankong greeted Chen Xugu as Perfected Tianxu, revealing that they were old acquaintances, while Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao realized their senior brother had summoned him.
• Chen Xugu announced that Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao would enter the Taiqing Sage’s lineage as disciples of the late Li Xuanxin, and dared anyone to object.
• Yankong led Juekong and the Shaolin group away, and the other sects followed without challenging Chen Xugu.
• Qin Shuangjiang approached Chen Xugu and recalled their past, while Chen Xugu told her to live well with Luo Binghe.
• Chen Xugu mouthed for Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao to run, then chased them as they fled.

Chen Xugu explained how Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao had been made disciples of the late Taiqing Palace master, Li Xuanxin, after Daoist Xuanzhen summoned him to help them. He told the brothers to pack for Mount Laojun, while they ended the chapter still curious about his connection to Qin Shuangjiang and the Joyous Union Sect.

• Chen Xugu caught Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao in Xia County, and they thanked him for intervening.
• Zhang Qingyuan asked why Chen Xugu had come, and Chen explained that Daoist Xuanzhen had summoned him after receiving the brothers' letter.
• Chen Xugu revealed that the Daoist sects had made the brothers disciples of Li Xuanxin, the previous palace master of Taiqing Palace, to avoid giving them seniority over an entire generation.
• Chen Xugu told Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao to pack and accompany him to Mount Laojun before Daoist Xuanzhen's impending ascension.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao asked Chen Xugu about Qin Shuangjiang, then whispered about visiting the Joyous Union Sect.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao returned to Mount Laojun, where Li Xuanzhen formally inducted them as disciples and declared that they had missions of their own. After Li Xuanzhen ascended and Wu Miaoxin became head of Taiqing Palace, the gathered Daoist leaders scrutinized the pair, prompting Zhang Junbao to present his martial arts manuals and insights.

• Chen Xugu brought Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao to Taiqing Palace and introduced them to Li Xuanzhen and the gathered sect heads.
• Li Xuanzhen inducted Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao as disciples of Daoist Li Xuanxin and gave them metal register plaques.
• Li Xuanzhen declared that the pair were free to pursue their own missions, then died and ascended to heaven.
• Wu Miaoxin succeeded Li Xuanzhen as head of Taiqing Palace, and the Daoist leaders surrounded Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao to assess them.
• Zhang Junbao presented his martial arts manuals, annotations, and insights to prove the pair's abilities, while Zhang Qingyuan seemed distracted.

After a year studying Taoist scriptures and cultivating at Taiqing Palace, Zhang Qingyuan finally understood Li Xuanzhen’s words about Profound Comprehension and how it differed from perceiving the universe. He realized the path might be open to him too, though its door had not yet opened.

• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao spent a year at Taiqing Palace reading, practicing, and attending devotions while Wu Miaoxin left them undisturbed.
• Zhang Junbao created the Primordial Unity Finger, the Yellow Court Qi-Refining Art, and the Taiqing Cave Profundity Skill, while continuing to refine his other martial arts.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao cultivated the Supreme Yin Meridian-Concentrating Divine Skill and Supreme Yang Meridian-Concentrating Divine Skill to the seventh level, and each cautiously cultivated tiny strands of two other kinds of True Qi.
• As Zhang Qingyuan watched disciples practice, falling leaves formed a divinatory pattern and inspired him to understand Li Xuanzhen’s distinction between observing the principles of one world and perceiving the universe.
• Zhang Qingyuan concluded that Profound Comprehension could let a human glimpse mysterious truths without becoming immortal, and believed he might attain it himself.

After leaving Taiqing Palace, Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao heard how the jianghu’s balance of power had changed following a disastrous campaign against Netherworld City. As they continued toward Bingzhou, Zhang Qingyuan argued that the supposed righteous campaign was really an attempt to seize Situ Qingluan’s treasure.

• Zhang Junbao left the Taiqing Cave Profundity Skill with Taiqing Palace, and Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao said goodbye to Senior Brother Miaoxin before leaving the mountain.
• At a teahouse, Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao heard about the Water-Parting Sword, Pei Wuya’s failed bid to unite the Five Mountains Sword Sects, and Situ Qingluan’s rise to power after defeating Jinshan Temple and six sects at the Ancient City of Guixu.
• The travelers learned that the Great Luo Sect and Great Void Sect had been destroyed, other factions had seized the weakened sects’ holdings, and the Joyous Union Sect had joined the seven great sects.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao resumed their journey toward Bingzhou, where they planned to visit Chen Xugu, and discussed whether Situ Qingluan was a bad person.
• Zhang Qingyuan told Zhang Junbao that Jinshan Temple and the other factions had attacked Netherworld City to seize its treasure, then warned that orthodox sects would brand anyone a villain if it served their interests.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao arrived in Thousand Dragon City, where Mount Song Sword Sect disciples were killing people accused of colluding with Netherworld City. After buying fine swords, they heard cries in the city, and Zhang Qingyuan agreed to investigate with Zhang Junbao.

• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao crossed the Yellow River and reached Thousand Dragon City in Bingzhou, where the brothers discussed buying swords with their remaining forty-four taels.
• Mount Song Sword Sect disciples killed three men they accused of secretly colluding with Netherworld City, and an inn waiter explained that the sect had been harassing locals while Six Doors lacked a head constable.
• Zhang Junbao considered intervening, but Zhang Qingyuan persuaded him not to get involved in the killings outside the inn.
• Zhang Qingyuan bought two fine swords at Yinghui Sword Pavilion for fifteen taels each, and Zhang Junbao eagerly drew and sheathed his new sword.
• When the brothers heard cries in the center of the city, Zhang Junbao sought Zhang Qingyuan's support, and Zhang Qingyuan agreed to go with him.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao intervened when Mount Song Sword Sect disciples blocked a scholar from taking Doctor Wang to his wife, who was hemorrhaging during childbirth. Zhang Qingyuan escorted the scholar away while Zhang Junbao stayed behind to confront the sect disciples, and the chapter ended as he unleashed his sword against their formation.

• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao found Mount Song Sword Sect disciples stopping a scholar and Doctor Wang from leaving Thousand Dragon City.
• Jiang Yi explained that the sect was searching for a wounded Netherworld City fiend, but Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao helped the scholar and doctor head for the city gate.
• At the gate, Mount Song Sword Sect disciples tried to stop the travelers and demand silver, so Zhang Junbao escorted the scholar outside while Zhang Qingyuan protected Doctor Wang.
• Zhang Junbao stayed behind to hold off the disciples as Zhang Qingyuan drove the scholar and doctor toward the scholar's home.
• The disciples surrounded Zhang Junbao with a sword formation, and he shattered their huge sword with a move he called “Thunderbolt” before attacking them.

Zhang Qingyuan returned to find Zhang Junbao facing Pei Wuya after the Mount Song Sword Sect leader’s disciples had been killed at the city gates. Once Zhang Qingyuan confirmed the rescued mother and baby were safe, the two entered the city, while Pei Wuya left with his depleted sect.

• Pei Wuya explained that he had fought Zhang Junbao until Jiang Yi identified the Daoist, then apologized but remained trapped by Zhang Junbao’s killing intent.
• Zhang Qingyuan asked Pei Wuya to let the townspeople leave, and Pei Wuya quickly cleared the gate and promised not to oppress decent folk.
• Zhang Qingyuan told Zhang Junbao that the mother and baby had survived, so Zhang Junbao sheathed his sword and entered the city with him.
• Zhang Junbao realized his jade hairpin from Senior Brother Miaoxin was missing, but he and Zhang Qingyuan could not find it outside the gates.
• Pei Wuya left Thousand Dragon City with his surviving disciples and admitted he could not take revenge on Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao recovered the lost hairpin, left Thousand Dragon City, and continued north toward Pure Yang Palace. At the palace, they were welcomed by Shen Qianhua, whose attempt to tell them about his master’s youthful romance was cut short by Chen Xugu.

• Qiao Tianci redeemed Zhang Junbao’s hairpin and explained how he had settled into running his inn after squandering his family fortune.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao resumed their journey, and Zhang Qingyuan sensed that Qiao Tianci would someday prosper again.
• The two traveled through towns where word of their deeds had encouraged members of the jianghu to treat commoners well, then reached Flying Crane Mountain.
• Shen Qianhua and Fang Ming welcomed Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao, and Shen Qianhua described the Pure Yang Daoist Sect’s numbers and ranks.
• Zhang Qingyuan asked Shen Qianhua about his master’s youthful love story, but Chen Xugu struck Shen’s mute acupoint and warned them that anyone who asked about it would die.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao visited Chen Xugu, who tried to send them away and keep them from meeting his wife. After they gave him the Taiqing Dongting Technique, he welcomed them to stay, but privately decided not to let them meet her.

• Chen Xugu tried to drive Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao away by claiming the palace had no food or empty rooms.
• Zhang Junbao said they wanted to pay their respects to Chen Xugu's wife, and Chen Xugu claimed she was ill and contagious.
• Zhang Qingyuan gave Zhang Junbao the Taiqing Dongting Technique, which impressed Chen Xugu and changed his mind about hosting them.
• Chen Xugu ordered Fang Ming to prepare dinner and rooms for his two junior brothers.
• After reading the manual, Chen Xugu appreciated their gift and decided he still would not let them meet his wife.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao toured Pure Yang Palace, discussed the popularity of the Wealth God, and learned how ruthlessly Chen Xugu dealt with those who offended him. After Jiang Qinyue summoned the disciples to hear about a new cultivation manual, the brothers decided to explore the back mountain.

• Zhang Qingyuan told Zhang Junbao that the Wealth God Hall earned Pure Yang Palace a large share of its offerings.
• Fang Ming explained that Chen Xugu had forced Zhao Nianzhi, the Phoenix Sect master's son, to become a Daoist after Zhao offended him.
• Fang Ming refused to discuss Chen Xugu's wife, saying that his second senior brother had gone down the mountain for asking about her.
• Jiang Qinyue told Fang Ming that Chen Xugu had summoned his direct disciples to the rear hall to hear about an internal cultivation manual.
• Fang Ming went to search for his missing granduncle and Fourth Senior Brother, while Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao chose to explore the back mountain.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao explored the countryside near Pure Yang Palace and encountered a village woman whose stunning figure and strangely incongruous face left them baffled. After repeatedly checking from different angles, they confirmed that her front and back seemed to belong to entirely different levels of beauty.

• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao watched Pure Yang Palace disciples train, then followed a stream downhill to a river.
• Zhang Qingyuan enjoyed the river while Zhang Junbao practiced his lightness skill by crossing over its surface.
• The two met five village women washing clothes and noticed one woman seemed extraordinarily striking.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao repeatedly circled around to inspect the woman, uncertain whether her breathtaking silhouette belonged to the woman with the peculiar face.
• The woman turned back with a glance, confirming that her beautiful figure and unusually mismatched features belonged to the same person.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao suspected that the beautiful village woman was Chen Xugu’s hidden wife and imagined how she might have been forced into a marriage alliance before Chen rescued her. They condemned Chen for keeping her secluded and resolved to correct his behavior, though Zhang Qingyuan suggested investigating their suspicions first.

• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao agreed to pretend they knew nothing about the woman they suspected was Chen Xugu’s wife.
• Zhang Junbao wondered whether Great Feng’s palace had deliberately let Chen Xugu steal the bride, and Zhang Qingyuan agreed it was possible.
• The two imagined that the third princess had been hidden away because of her unusual appearance and that Chen had rescued her from a political marriage.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao accused Chen of confining and neglecting his wife, then decided they should correct his mistake.
• Zhang Qingyuan proposed investigating before acting, but Zhang Junbao teased him for pretending not to understand.

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao confronted Chen Xugu about why he had left his wife in a village, suspecting that he was ashamed of her appearance. Chen Xugu admitted she was his wife, but the chapter ended with him bewildered by their accusations and Zhang Junbao demanding a confession.

• Chen Xugu and the Pure Yang Palace elders discussed who should cultivate the Taiqing Cave Profundity Skill, while several disciples doubted their suitability.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao agreed to ask Chen Xugu why he treated his wife as they believed he did.
• The Pure Yang Palace elders warmly welcomed the two men and thanked them for giving the sect the cultivation method, delaying their confrontation with Chen Xugu.
• Chen Xugu invited Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao into his room and asked why they had come to see him.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao accused Chen Xugu of leaving his wife in the village because he despised her appearance, and Chen Xugu denied the accusation and offered to fight.
• Zhang Junbao told Chen Xugu to confess what he had done before they considered sparring.