Chapter Summaries

Xu Xiao drained the Internal Energy of Dali's captured martial artists and refined it into Northern Darkness True Qi, achieving minor mastery of the art. After agreeing to help Dali face Tubo's State Preceptor, he looked forward to Jiumozhi's arrival as a powerful source of Internal Energy.

• Xu Xiao drained the Internal Energy of captured martial artists while Dali's soldiers arrested and interrogated them.
• Ye Erniang and Yue Laosan were brought to Xu Xiao, who drained their Internal Energy and ordered the soldiers to keep them alive for punishment.
• Xu Xiao refined the accumulated Internal Energy into pure Northern Darkness True Qi and found that the art had strengthened and nourished his body.
• Xu Xiao decided he needed stronger martial artists and resolved to head for the Central Plains, while wondering when Jiumozhi would arrive.
• An attendant told Xu Xiao that Dali's emperor and prince wanted his help against Tubo's State Preceptor, and Xu Xiao agreed to act.

Xu Xiao waited at Heavenly Dragon Temple for Jiumozhi, who had come to Dali seeking the Six Meridian Divine Sword. When Jiumozhi arrived, Xu Xiao immediately attacked him with iron slivers, leaving the monks alarmed and the confrontation underway.

• Jiumozhi left the Dali imperial palace for Heavenly Dragon Temple, intending to claim the Dali Duan Clan's martial inheritance under the guise of exchanging Buddhist teachings.
• Xu Xiao waited at Heavenly Dragon Temple while Master Kurong tried to calm the tense monks.
• Jiumozhi entered the temple and bowed to Master Kurong, but Xu Xiao interrupted him.
• Xu Xiao launched five iron slivers at Jiumozhi, who dodged as the projectiles pursued him.
• The monks protested that Xu Xiao had broken martial-world etiquette, but he said he had no time for pleasantries.

Xu Xiao defeated Jiumozhi at the Heavenly Dragon Temple with his Telekinesis and crippled his limbs. He took Jiumozhi away, leaving the monks stunned and warning them to keep Duan Yu out of the martial world.

• Xu Xiao increased the speed of his iron pieces until Jiumozhi could no longer evade them with footwork.
• Jiumozhi used the Flower-Plucking Finger and Great Vajra Fist to counter two iron pieces, but one sliced through his right hand and forearm.
• Xu Xiao's remaining iron pieces severed the major tendons in Jiumozhi's limbs, and the Ben-generation monks treated his wounds at Xu Xiao's request.
• Xu Xiao told Jiumozhi that he knew why he had come to Dali, then lifted him with Telekinesis and departed.
• Xu Xiao told the monks to inform Emperor Baoding that he was leaving and to keep Duan Yu from wandering outside.

Xu Xiao brought the subdued Jiumozhi to Swallow Dock, the Murong Family’s island stronghold, seeking the family’s help or resources. After the pair arrived by flying onto the island, A Zhu disguised herself as Murong Fu while A Bi went to warn Third Brother Bao.

• Xu Xiao forced Jiumozhi to guide him toward Swallow Dock after breaking his resistance and draining most of his Internal Energy.
• Jiumozhi identified the route across the lake, and Xu Xiao flew with him to Swallow Dock.
• A Zhu and A Bi saw the two men descend from the sky and realized the island had unexpected visitors.
• A Zhu told A Bi to alert Third Brother Bao while she disguised herself as Murong Fu to question and stall the newcomers.

Xu Xiao arrived at the Murong Family’s island with Jiumozhi and demanded A Zhu and A Bi as maids. He discovered that the supposed Murong Fu was A Zhu in disguise and pulled her into his arms.

• Xu Xiao and Jiumozhi reached the Murong Family’s island, where A Zhu appeared disguised as Murong Fu.
• Xu Xiao bluntly demanded that A Zhu, whom he believed to be Murong Fu, give him A Zhu and A Bi as maids, leaving Jiumozhi furious.
• A Zhu invoked the Murong Family’s reputation, and Xu Xiao fired an iron shard at her.
• Xu Xiao stopped the shard with Telekinesis, pulled A Zhu toward him, and recognized her as a woman.
• Xu Xiao removed A Zhu’s disguise mask and identified her by name.

Xu Xiao captured A Zhu and forcibly kissed her, then immobilized her when she tried to resist. He released Jiumozhi on Swallow Dock and turned back to A Zhu, intending to continue.

• Xu Xiao caught A Zhu, removed her disguise, and recognized her.
• Xu Xiao kissed A Zhu despite her protests, and she bit his lip.
• A Zhu tried to escape and then attempted to bite her tongue, but Xu Xiao stopped her and tapped her Tiantu acupoint to immobilize her.
• Jiumozhi advised Xu Xiao on striking the acupoint, then praised his Telekinesis.
• Xu Xiao freed Jiumozhi, who hurried away across Swallow Dock.
• With Jiumozhi gone, Xu Xiao reached for the immobilized A Zhu again.

Xu Xiao killed Bao Butong after he interrupted him with A Zhu, then captured A Bi and took both women to Swallow Dock. The next morning, A Bi accepted her fate, but A Zhu repeatedly tried to kill herself, leaving Xu Xiao struggling to restrain and comfort her.

• Xu Xiao stopped Bao Butong’s attack with Telekinesis, then killed him when he rushed to intervene.
• A Bi arrived, mourned Bao Butong, and Xu Xiao drew her to him and sealed her acupoints.
• Xu Xiao took A Zhu and A Bi to a room at Swallow Dock, where he spent the night with them.
• A Bi made breakfast the next morning and accepted what had happened, while A Zhu resisted and tried to kill herself.
• Xu Xiao unsealed A Zhu’s acupoints, stopped her attack with Telekinesis, and tried to comfort her as she continued to resist.

Xu Xiao tried to convince A Zhu that the heroes she admired were flawed, revealing her parentage and criticizing Murong Fu and Qiao Feng. He declared his intention to build power across worlds and told A Zhu he would take her traveling to witness his rise.

• A Zhu cursed Xu Xiao and condemned him for forcing himself on her, while Xu Xiao defended his actions and dismissed her admiration for Qiao Feng and Murong Fu.
• Xu Xiao revealed that A Zhu's father was Duan Zhengchun and her mother was Ruan Xingzhu, citing the Duan tattoo and gold lock as proof.
• Xu Xiao criticized Murong Fu's restoration ambitions and told A Zhu that Qiao Feng was Khitan.
• Xu Xiao said he planned to accomplish great feats and develop the martial world as a source of power for his travels between worlds.
• Xu Xiao urged A Zhu not to kill herself and promised to take her across the land to witness the rise of a new power.

Xu Xiao took A Zhu and A Bi to Mantuo Manor, where he planned to take Wang Yuyan for himself. After revealing that A Zhu and Wang Yuyan shared a father, he reached the flower bushes where Wang Yuyan and her maids were gathered.

• A Zhu stopped resisting Xu Xiao and ate with him, while A Bi served the meal and listened to his promises of wealth.
• Xu Xiao announced that he would go to Mantuo Manor and take Wang Yuyan, and A Zhu and A Bi privately worried about what would happen to their young mistress.
• Xu Xiao flew with A Zhu and A Bi to Mantuo Manor, where he said Madam Wang's camellias reflected her feelings for Duan Zhengchun.
• Xu Xiao told A Zhu that Wang Yuyan was her younger half-sister, then pulled A Zhu back when she angrily walked away.
• Xu Xiao strolled through the manor with A Zhu and A Bi and headed toward the flower bushes after hearing women giggle nearby.

Xu Xiao entered Mantuo Manor, overpowered its maidservants, and forcibly took Wang Yuyan with him. He then lifted A Zhu and A Bi into the air and carried all three women toward Gusu City.

• The Wang family maidservants attacked Xu Xiao after finding him in the camellia grove, but he restrained and flung them away with Telekinesis.
• Wang Yuyan called out, and Xu Xiao found her in a pavilion among the camellias.
• Wang Yuyan urged Xu Xiao to leave, but he seized her and carried her in his arms despite her protests.
• Xu Xiao dismissed Wang Yuyan's defense of Murong Fu and declared that no one could oppose him.
• A Zhu and A Bi arrived, and Xu Xiao lifted them with Telekinesis before taking all three women toward Gusu City.

Xu Xiao abducted Wang Yuyan and flew away from Mantuo Manor with her, A Zhu, and A Bi. When Wang Yuyan spotted her mother’s boats on the lake and appealed to her family’s influence, Xu Xiao descended toward them to confront Li Qingluo.

• Xu Xiao carried Wang Yuyan, A Zhu, and A Bi through the air while telling Wang Yuyan she would not return home soon.
• Xu Xiao declared that Wang Yuyan, A Zhu, and A Bi were all his women, and Wang Yuyan panicked when she realized he had abducted her.
• Xu Xiao threatened Wang Yuyan into silence and flew with the three women toward Gusu City.
• Wang Yuyan spotted boats bearing the Wang name and shouted that her mother, Li Qingluo, had returned.
• Wang Yuyan warned Xu Xiao that the Wang Clan would make trouble for him, so he descended toward Li Qingluo’s boats to challenge her.

Xu Xiao confronted Li Qingluo aboard her boat and declared that Wang Yuyan would be his woman. After Li Qingluo and her attendants attacked him, he immobilized them and crushed five escort boats with Telekinesis, leaving the survivors terrified.

• Li Qingluo heard what seemed to be Wang Yuyan calling to her while crossing Lake Tai, then dismissed it as an illusion.
• Xu Xiao appeared with Wang Yuyan, prompting Li Qingluo to rush onto the deck and threaten him while her servants and escort boats closed in.
• Li Qingluo and two attendants attacked Xu Xiao despite Wang Yuyan being in his grasp.
• Xu Xiao immobilized Li Qingluo and her attendants, then used Telekinesis to crush five boats and the people aboard them.
• Xu Xiao introduced himself to Li Qingluo and declared that he had taken a liking to Wang Yuyan and intended to make her his woman.

Xu Xiao defeated the warships on Lake Tai, took Wang Yuyan with him, and promised to marry her alongside A Zhu and A Bi. He flew toward Kaifeng, planning to hold a wedding in the Great Song imperial palace and confront the emperor, while Li Qingluo began plotting to rescue her daughter.

• Xu Xiao used Telekinesis to destroy five warships on Lake Tai and rejected Li Qingluo's plea to release Wang Yuyan.
• Xu Xiao took Wang Yuyan, A Zhu, and A Bi into the sky, while Li Qingluo vowed to seek help from Dali and the imperial court.
• Xu Xiao passed over Gusu City and told the women he intended to hold a wedding for them in Kaifeng.
• Xu Xiao learned the direction to Kaifeng from a merchant caravan and set out north, intending to enter the imperial palace and hold a wedding feast there.

Xu Xiao brought A Zhu, A Bi, and the third woman to Kaifeng and declared that they would become brides in the imperial palace. After General Gao ordered the guards to attack, Xu Xiao stormed into the palace, where Emperor Zhao Xu prepared to flee as reports claimed the imperial forces had been nearly defeated.

• Xu Xiao flew with the three women toward Kaifeng, and they marveled at the capital from the sky.
• Xu Xiao announced that the women would become brides in the imperial palace and carried them toward the palace.
• Emperor Zhao Xu heard Xu Xiao call for him and learned that an intruder had entered the palace.
• Xu Xiao asked the guards to arrange an audience with Zhao Xu, but General Gao dismissed him as a threat and ordered the imperial city guards to attack.
• Xu Xiao retaliated against the guards, and Zhao Xu withdrew from the imperial study after hearing that his army was nearly defeated.

Xu Xiao slaughtered the soldiers at Xuande Gate and carved a bloody path into the imperial palace, where five retainers of the Zhao-Song Imperial Family set out to stop him. As the retainers reached Daqing Hall, Xu Xiao deflected the old general’s arrows and sent his iron weapons after him.

• Xu Xiao stopped the arrows aimed at him, then used Telekinesis to send them back and kill the soldiers at Xuande Gate.
• Xu Xiao unleashed five alloy iron pieces, killed the remaining soldiers there, and flew into the imperial city with A Zhu and the other two women.
• Xu Xiao threatened to slaughter the palace unless the emperor came out and continued killing Palace Front Army soldiers on his way to Daqing Hall.
• Two old eunuchs, a monk, a Daoist, and an elderly general set out to confront Xu Xiao as the five retainers of the Zhao-Song Imperial Family.
• The old general attacked Xu Xiao with a spear and then three arrows, but Xu Xiao shattered the spear, redirected the arrows, and sent his iron pieces at the general.

Xu Xiao fought the imperial retainers from the sky, killing Elder Qin and thwarting the two eunuchs’ ranged attacks with Telekinesis. He then unleashed a crushing force against the eunuchs, leaving their fate unresolved.

• Xu Xiao used Telekinesis to disrupt Elder Qin’s defenses and killed him with five iron shards aimed at his vital points.
• The monk, Daoist, and two eunuchs rushed toward Xu Xiao after Elder Qin fell, but the monk and Daoist hesitated.
• One eunuch attacked Xu Xiao with golden needles while the other launched more than twenty spears and lances at him.
• Xu Xiao stopped the needles with a Telekinesis shield and deflected the weapons, alarming the two eunuchs.
• Xu Xiao squeezed the two eunuchs with ten tons of Telekinesis, overwhelming their protective True Qi.

Xu Xiao defeated the two old eunuchs and caught the monk and Daoist as they fled. He demanded their help finding the emperor of Zhao Song, and the monk claimed he knew a way.

• Daoist Xuanxiao and Master Fakong chose to wait and watch rather than risk fighting Xu Xiao.
• Xu Xiao used the iron sheet and Telekinesis to fatally wound Old Eunuch A Guang and Old Eunuch A Lin, leaving them alive for the moment.
• Xu Xiao chased down Daoist Xuanxiao and Master Fakong and forced them to stop.
• Xu Xiao offered to spare the pair if they helped him locate the emperor of Zhao Song.
• Master Fakong agreed and said he knew a way to find the emperor.

Xu Xiao used a mind-bewitching sound attack to locate Zhao Xu, who was fleeing through the palace, while Daoist Xuanxiao offered to treat Xu Xiao’s frail body to save his own life. Xu Xiao flew off to confront the emperor, leaving Xuanxiao waiting in the palace.

• Xu Xiao’s sound attack reached Zhao Xu and the soldiers escorting him, making them answer aloud until Eunuch Huang broke the enchantment and hurried the emperor onward.
• Xu Xiao heard Zhao Xu’s reply, and Fakong praised him for quickly learning the Brahma Sound Formless Consciousness-Seeking Sutra before taking his leave.
• Xu Xiao prepared to drain Daoist Xuanxiao’s internal energy, but Xuanxiao persuaded him that his knowledge of medicine and Daoist texts could help restore Xu Xiao’s health.
• Xu Xiao agreed to spare Xuanxiao if he treated him, warned him not to run, and flew off to meet Zhao Xu.

Xu Xiao searched the palace for Zhao Xu while promising Wang Yuyan, A Zhu, and A Bi that he would stop killing anyone who did not resist. Zhao Xu and Eunuch Huang tried to escape through a hidden tunnel, but Xu Xiao uncovered it and confronted them.

• Xu Xiao freed Wang Yuyan, A Zhu, and A Bi from the ceremonial pillar and promised not to kill anyone else unless they resisted.
• Xu Xiao used the Brahma Sound Formless Consciousness-Seeking Sutra to search the palace and call for Zhao Xu.
• Eunuch Huang found a hidden passage beneath a floor tile in Zichen Hall and went down to inspect it.
• When Zhao Xu nearly answered Xu Xiao's call, Eunuch Huang pulled him into the tunnel and led him onward.
• The tunnel shook as Xu Xiao tore away its covering and lifted Zhao Xu and Eunuch Huang into the open.
• Xu Xiao confronted Zhao Xu, who asked whether he was the villain who had entered the palace.

Xu Xiao captured Zhao Xu after tearing apart the palace, then forced the young emperor to summon Kaifeng’s officials for an emergency court session. Xu Xiao planned to seize control of the court while leaving Zhao Xu on the throne as a puppet, and the officials gathered unaware of the upheaval awaiting them.

• Xu Xiao pursued Zhao Xu through the palace, used telekinesis to expose the tunnel, and captured the emperor hiding underground.
• Xu Xiao told Zhao Xu he had come to take control, not kill him, and hurled him into the ruins when Zhao Xu spoke to him with an air of authority.
• Xu Xiao threatened Zhao Xu and promised to keep him emperor if he obeyed, then demanded that he summon Kaifeng’s officials to court.
• Zhao Xu agreed to issue the summons, hoping to reclaim power from the empress dowager and the court’s aristocratic families.
• Xu Xiao and Zhao Xu gathered palace soldiers and eunuchs to summon the officials to a late-night emergency court session.