Chapter Summaries

After his master died and his senior brothers divided the Three Purities Temple’s martial arts, Zhang Qingyuan prepared to leave with a Zhang Sanfeng template granted by a system that had immediately disbanded. He realized his new talent might let him improve his master’s techniques and got up to train.

• Zhang Qingyuan recalled how his master had devoted his life to developing martial arts and had died of natural causes seven days earlier.
• Zhang Qingyuan persuaded his six senior brothers to copy and divide their master’s martial arts peacefully, and Zhao Qingyin inherited the temple.
• Zhang Qingyuan remembered that the Great Wuxia System had disbanded as soon as he selected Zhang Sanfeng’s template, leaving him with the template but none of its other options.
• Zhang Qingyuan felt his understanding of Daoist texts, martial arts, and internal power improve dramatically because of the Zhang Sanfeng template.
• Zhang Qingyuan packed his meager belongings and decided to improve his master’s martial arts, then got up to train instead of sleeping.

Zhang Qingyuan developed the Yin-Yang Limitless Art and found himself nearly penniless after ten days of traveling the jianghu. He took shelter from the rain in a ruined temple, where an injured young swordswoman arrived and watched him warily.

• Zhang Qingyuan created the Yin-Yang Limitless Art, refined his internal power into True Qi, and tested its strength.
• Zhang Qingyuan reflected on how his old spending habits had left him with only fifteen copper coins and little food.
• Zhang Qingyuan heard someone approaching the ruined temple during the downpour and prepared himself for a possible threat.
• An injured young girl carrying a jeweled sword entered the temple and cautiously sat by Zhang Qingyuan's fire.
• Zhang Qingyuan continued reading while the girl kept her sword ready, then teased her by asking whether she wanted his money or his body.

Zhang Qingyuan treated the wounded Chen Ling'er, who explained that she was searching for her missing father after he went to Nanyang Commandery to buy a peerless sword. When she revealed that a Black Lotus Sect fiend had injured her and carried a hundred-tael bounty, Zhang Qingyuan immediately set out to find him.

• Chen Ling'er mistook Zhang Qingyuan’s teasing and attempt to retrieve his bundle for a threat, then attacked him with her sword.
• Zhang Qingyuan disarmed Chen Ling'er and gave her wound medicine, and she introduced herself as a member of the Chen Household in Songjiang Prefecture.
• Chen Ling'er explained that her father had gone to Nanyang Commandery two months earlier to buy a peerless sword and had not returned.
• Chen Ling'er admitted that she had been wounded while trying to capture a Black Lotus Sect fiend for the hundred-tael bounty.
• Zhang Qingyuan sprang up and declared that he would slay the fiend and defend the Dao.

Zhang Qingyuan learned how jianghu wanderers made money as he and the injured Chen Ling'er traveled to Qinghe County. After hearing that Cloud Dust Manor was searching for Li Qiuran but that she had no official bounty, Zhang Qingyuan focused on finding the person who had injured Chen Ling'er so he could earn money.

• Zhang Qingyuan asked Chen Ling'er how people in the jianghu earned a living, and she explained bounties, bodyguard work, assassinations, and other options.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Chen Ling'er entered Qinghe County, where he spent most of his remaining copper coins on ten meat buns for them to share.
• Zhang Qingyuan saw white-robed swordsmen from Cloud Dust Manor searching for Li Qiuran, whom Chen Ling'er said had crippled their young lord but had no imperial warrant against her.
• After Chen Ling'er finished eating, Zhang Qingyuan declared that he would avenge her and asked her to take him to the person who had injured her.

Zhang Qingyuan and Chen Ling'er investigated a Black Lotus Sect compound in Qingfeng County, where Zhang Qingyuan discovered seven abducted young women and learned the sect's leaders had abused others. He promised to rescue the captives and prepared to confront the people responsible.

• Chen Ling'er explained that the Black Lotus Sect was a violent cult whose surviving members had spread across the land and plotted rebellion.
• Zhang Qingyuan scouted the compound while Chen Ling'er waited outside, finding disciples guarding its inner courtyard.
• Zhang Qingyuan killed two guards and unlocked a room where seven abducted young women were imprisoned.
• The captives told Zhang Qingyuan that a Black Lotus Holy Envoy and a Black Lotus Dharma Protector held them as cultivation furnaces, and that two other girls had been abused to death.
• Zhang Qingyuan promised to get the women out and resolved to kill the Black Lotus Sect members responsible.

Zhang Qingyuan killed the Black Lotus Dharma Protector and defeated the Black Lotus Holy Envoy after discovering their abuse of captive girls. He left the Holy Envoy alive to torture him in revenge, then briefly regretted his own brutality.

• The Black Lotus Holy Envoy and Black Lotus Dharma Protector discussed harvesting unmarried girls and torturing their captives.
• Zhang Qingyuan entered the courtyard and killed the Black Lotus Dharma Protector with one sword strike.
• Zhang Qingyuan refused the Holy Envoy's invitation to join the Black Lotus Sect and fought him.
• Zhang Qingyuan used the Jade Purity Lotus Step to stab the Holy Envoy through the chest, deliberately leaving him alive.
• Zhang Qingyuan crushed the Holy Envoy's testicles with a chopstick and struck him with a stool leg, then regretted his actions.

After helping Chen Ling'er destroy the Black Lotus Sect branch, Zhang Qingyuan declined to travel with her to Nanyang Commandery, though he arranged for her to accompany Li Xiaodong of Hidden Sword Manor. He left the city alone to continue his travels, setting out for Taiyin Dao Palace.

• Zhang Qingyuan gave Chen Ling'er three hundred taels from the government reward and feasted with her at an inn.
• Chen Ling'er tried to persuade Zhang Qingyuan to accompany her to Nanyang Commandery, but he declined and described his five realms of swordsmanship.
• Li Xiaodong, the young master of Hidden Sword Manor, introduced himself and asked Zhang Qingyuan to explain the sword realms; Zhang Qingyuan regaled him and the others with martial-arts stories over wine.
• Zhang Qingyuan suggested that Chen Ling'er travel to Nanyang Commandery with Li Xiaodong, while he visited Daoist holy sites instead.
• After drinking with Chen Ling'er and Li Xiaodong, Zhang Qingyuan slipped away alone before dawn and headed toward Taiyin Dao Palace.

Zhang Qingyuan traveled toward the Taiyin Dao Palace, recording his martial arts insights and enjoying the countryside. By a river, he met a beautiful female Daoist, who ignored his greeting and rode past him.

• Zhang Qingyuan rode Baolai through the countryside and recorded the martial arts he had developed.
• Zhang Qingyuan contemplated swordsmanship while traveling toward the Taiyin Dao Palace, which lay at least half a month away.
• Zhang Qingyuan stopped by a river to wash ink from his lips after absentmindedly chewing on his brush.
• A female Daoist in an apricot-yellow robe approached on horseback, and Zhang Qingyuan introduced himself as a Daoist of the Three Purities Dao Lineage.
• The female Daoist recognized Zhang Qingyuan's admiring gaze, ignored his greeting, and rode past him.

Zhang Qingyuan rode alongside Li Qiuran and tried to charm the famously dangerous Bamboo Green Fairy, suspecting that his feelings for her came from Old Zhang’s influence. His poetic attempt to reach her vulnerable side instead enraged her, and she drew her sword to attack him.

• Zhang Qingyuan let Baolai follow Li Qiuran’s mare and privately wondered why he felt so strongly drawn to her.
• Li Qiuran grew angry when Zhang Qingyuan teased her about their horses and ate flatbread without washing his hands.
• Zhang Qingyuan guessed that the woman was Bamboo Green Fairy, Li Qiuran, and dismissed her threat to kill him.
• Zhang Qingyuan recited a poem and told Li Qiuran she could let down her guard and lean on him.
• Li Qiuran mistook Zhang Qingyuan’s words as pity and flirtation, drew her sword, and shouted that he deserved to die.

Zhang Qingyuan fought Li Qiuran as she tried to kill him, using her attacks to hone his swordsmanship until he reached a deeper state. After he dodged her killing thrust and touched her cheek, he apologized for angering her, then shielded her when something came whistling toward them.

• Li Qiuran attacked Zhang Qingyuan with Cold Ice Palm and her sword, but he dodged and blocked her strikes.
• Zhang Qingyuan defended with Jade Purity Golden Immortal Swordsmanship and used Li Qiuran’s attacks to practice his own swordsmanship.
• After dozens of exchanges, Zhang Qingyuan entered a state of enlightenment while Li Qiuran searched for an opening.
• Li Qiuran thrust her sword at the motionless Zhang Qingyuan, but he dodged and touched her cheek with his fingers.
• Zhang Qingyuan apologized for being too forward, then sprang forward and wrapped an arm around Li Qiuran’s waist as something whistled toward them.

Zhang Qingyuan and Li Qiuran were surrounded by Cloud Dust Manor, whose lord demanded the Heavenly Yin Mysterious Maiden Art and attacked them. Zhang Qingyuan slaughtered the manor’s disciples with the Twelve Immortal-Slaying Forms, and Li Qiuran killed the manor lord as the two overcame their pursuers.

• Cloud Dust Manor Lord Yun confronted Li Qiuran, accused her of crippling his son, and demanded the Heavenly Yin Mysterious Maiden Art before ordering his disciples to attack her and Zhang Qingyuan.
• Zhang Qingyuan joined the battle and killed three Cloud Dust disciples with his sword.
• Zhang Qingyuan evaded the manor’s sword formation with the Jade Purity Lotus Step and defeated the surrounding disciples using the Twelve Immortal-Slaying Forms.
• Cloud Dust Manor Lord Yun tried to flee, but Li Qiuran wounded him and Zhang Qingyuan blocked his way.
• Li Qiuran struck down Cloud Dust Manor Lord Yun while Zhang Qingyuan mocked him for being an idiot.

After helping Li Qiuran survive a fight, Zhang Qingyuan learned how her sect was destroyed and why the jianghu coveted her martial arts. Though Li Qiuran expected him to leave, he declared that he would pursue his rise to the top without abandoning her, and she was moved by his confession.

• Zhang Qingyuan shared braised pork hock with Li Qiuran and asked about the Heavenly Yin Mysterious Maiden Art.
• Li Qiuran explained that Zhao Huaixin founded the Heavenly Yin Mysterious Maiden Pavilion and that Righteous Qi Manor arose from a scholar who learned part of its art.
• Li Qiuran recounted how martial artists attacked her sect thirty years earlier, leaving her master as the only survivor, and how her master later died avenging the pavilion.
• Zhang Qingyuan recognized that staying beside Li Qiuran would make him a target and involve him in her quest for revenge.
• Zhang Qingyuan declared his confidence that he would reach the summit and asked Li Qiuran to keep his sincere heart until he returned, leaving her moved.

After Li Qiuran left without a goodbye, Zhang Qingyuan continued toward the Taiyin Dao Palace and heard news about the jianghu’s rising powers and her recent victory. When others joked about winning her and the Heavenly Yin Mysterious Maiden Art, Zhang Qingyuan claimed he was her future fiancé, and the inn guests laughed at him.

• Li Qiuran slipped away during the night, and Zhang Qingyuan set out for the Taiyin Dao Palace after reflecting on her departure.
• Zhang Qingyuan reached Jing'an City, where he listened to martial artists discuss Yang Chen, the Starlight Sword, and the jianghu’s top powers.
• Zhang Qingyuan learned that Li Qiuran had single-handedly killed Cloud Dust Manor’s master and more than thirty disciples who tried to ambush her.
• When guests joked about capturing Li Qiuran to obtain the Heavenly Yin Mysterious Maiden Art, Zhang Qingyuan told them to stop and announced that he was her future fiancé.
• The inn guests laughed at Zhang Qingyuan and dismissed his claim as an absurd boast.

Zhang Qingyuan encountered Ling Yanqiu, sect leader of the Seven Luminaries Sword Sect, who confronted him over the deaths of the Cloud Dust Manor disciples and their lord. Zhang Qingyuan admitted killing them and defended himself as Ling Yanqiu and five disciples drew their swords and attacked.

• After a late-night outing, Zhang Qingyuan met Ling Yanqiu and five Seven Luminaries Sword Sect disciples near the inn.
• Ling Yanqiu questioned Zhang Qingyuan about Li Qiuran and the Cloud Dust Manor deaths, explaining that he had investigated the massacre.
• Zhang Qingyuan admitted he had killed the Cloud Dust Manor disciples and said Bamboo Green Fairy had killed the manor lord.
• Ling Yanqiu accused Zhang Qingyuan of helping a demoness and vowed to avenge his brother-in-law.
• Zhang Qingyuan argued that the Cloud Dust Manor Lord had attacked him first, then dodged Ling Yanqiu's sword strike with Lotus Steps.

Zhang Qingyuan killed Ling Yanqiu and five others in self-defense, then explained the incident to the witnesses and asked them to spread the truth. As he continued toward Taiyin Dao Palace, he heard the jianghu had given him the nickname “Sincere Daoist.”

• Zhang Qingyuan told the frightened witnesses that Ling Yanqiu and his men had attacked him first and asked them to report the facts.
• Zhang Qingyuan introduced himself as a wandering Daoist and asked the witnesses to help deal with the bodies.
• Zhang Qingyuan returned to his room, reflected on why he had allowed the witnesses to spread news of the fight, and recorded his martial insights in his sword manual.
• Zhang Qingyuan set out the next morning and survived three assassination attempts in five days.
• Zhang Qingyuan reached the town at the foot of Taiyin Dao Palace and heard people call him the “Sincere Daoist.”

Zhang Qingyuan traveled to Taiyin Dao Palace to study Daoist scriptures and methods, hoping to deepen his understanding and improve his cultivation. Li Guangye welcomed him as a fellow Daoist and led him inside to meet his master.

• Zhang Qingyuan stayed at an inn below Taiyin Mountain before climbing to Taiyin Dao Palace the next morning.
• Zhang Qingyuan reached the mountain gate and met Li Guangye, who had been meditating nearby.
• Zhang Qingyuan introduced himself as a wandering Daoist from Three Purities Temple and asked to lodge at the palace to exchange knowledge.
• Li Guangye welcomed Zhang Qingyuan, had a Daoist boy take his horse, and showed him around the sect grounds.
• Li Guangye led Zhang Qingyuan along a covered walkway to meet his master.

Zhang Qingyuan visited Taiyin Dao Palace and won Daoist Master Bright Moon’s approval to help Li Qiuran. After meeting the sect’s elders, he was invited to demonstrate his martial arts against Wu Guanghui.

• Li Guangye escorted Zhang Qingyuan to meet Taiyin Dao Palace sect leader Zheng Xin, Daoist Master Bright Moon.
• Zhang Qingyuan asked Zheng Xin whether he should help Li Qiuran despite criticism from the martial world, and Zheng Xin encouraged him to act without worry.
• Zheng Xin asked Zhang Qingyuan to help Taiyin disciples in return if they faced danger, and Zhang Qingyuan agreed.
• Li Guangye took Zhang Qingyuan to meet Zheng Xin’s junior brothers, and Zhang Qingyuan won over Daoist Master Bright Mountain with flattery.
• Daoist Master Bright Mountain arranged for his disciple Wu Guanghui to test Zhang Qingyuan’s martial arts before the gathered Taiyin disciples.

Zhang Qingyuan fought Wu Guanghui to a draw at the Taiyin Dao Palace, impressing its elders and disciples with his swordsmanship. After settling into a guest room, he went to explore the palace’s enormous scripture library.

• Zhang Qingyuan and Wu Guanghui exchanged more than a hundred sword moves, with Daoist Bright Mountain observing that neither had revealed his trump cards.
• Daoist Bright Candle stopped the duel, and Wu Guanghui declared himself the loser because he was ten years older than Zhang Qingyuan; Bright Candle ordered him to reflect on his faults.
• Daoist Bright Candle and Daoist Bright Heart welcomed Zhang Qingyuan and invited him to seek their guidance, while Bright Heart told him about her upcoming discourse on the Dao.
• Li Guangye showed Zhang Qingyuan to a guest room in the rear mountain and admitted that Zhang’s talent impressed him.
• After dinner, Zhang Qingyuan visited the seven-story scripture library and entered, eager to study its books.

Zhang Qingyuan spent half a month studying the Taiyin Dao Palace’s scriptures and martial arts, then told Li Guangye he planned to enter seclusion to complete his Yin-Yang Limitless Art and create a Mysterious Yin cultivation method. Li Guangye was stunned by his talent and felt crushed by the effortless boast.

• Zhang Qingyuan read scriptures through the night, performed morning devotions, and studied the Taiyin Dao Palace’s teachings.
• Daoist Master Bright Moon and his junior brothers discussed Zhang Qingyuan’s past killings and agreed to shelter him despite possible criticism from the jianghu.
• Zhang Qingyuan spent half a month reading scriptures, reflecting on their principles, and asking Li Guangye and the Daoist masters to explain passages.
• Zhang Qingyuan invited Li Guangye to drink and said he wanted to enter seclusion to improve his internal art and create a Mysterious Yin cultivation method.
• Li Guangye learned Zhang Qingyuan had already created the Yin-Yang Limitless Art and was so astonished that he began to resent his junior brother’s talent.

After three months in seclusion, Zhang Qingyuan emerged with several martial arts he had created and showed Li Guangye his Mystic Yin Manual. As Li Guangye rushed him to meet the sect leader, two returning disciples recognized Zhang Qingyuan’s name from rumors accusing him of aiding a tyrant and committing atrocities.

• Zhang Qingyuan completed the Yin-Yang Limitless Art and created the Taiji Fist, Yin-Yang Unrivaled Palm, and Mystic Yin Manual.
• Li Guangye told Zhang Qingyuan he had been in seclusion for three months and examined the Mystic Yin Manual, finding it comparable to the sect’s Taiyin Radiant Light Cultivation Method.
• Li Guangye hurried Zhang Qingyuan toward the sect leader, and they encountered disciples discussing Zhang Qingyuan’s emergence from seclusion.
• Sixth Senior Brother and Seventh Senior Brother heard about Zhang Qingyuan and his time at the Taiyin Dao Palace.
• Seventh Junior Brother connected Zhang Qingyuan to rumors accusing him of helping a tyrant, aiding the Green Bamboo Demoness, and killing the sect leader of the Seven Luminaries Sword Sect, and the two returning disciples cried that this was bad.