Chapter Summaries

Zhou Wuji interrupted a Yin Yang Dao operation after killing Li Sanjin, who had murdered a believer and was about to kill a woman. He questioned Fang Dashan about the captured red-haired apes, and Fang lied that the group had hunted them to protect villagers.

• Fang Dashan drove the laborers carrying drugged red-haired apes down the mountain and bragged to Li Sanjin about the Yin Yang Dao’s plans to conquer Siming County.
• Li Sanjin tried to assault a woman, then beheaded a man who pleaded for her; Fang Dashan told him only to clean up the blood.
• When Li Sanjin raised his saber against the sobbing woman, Zhou Wuji deflected the blade and killed him with a steel pellet.
• Zhou Wuji confronted Fang Dashan and asked why the Yin Yang Dao had captured the apes.
• Fang Dashan claimed the apes had threatened villagers, and Zhou Wuji sneered at his false explanation.

Zhou Wuji killed Fang Dashan and the captured demon monkeys, then refined the Five Yin Pouch using the monkeys as Yin Spirits. By daybreak, he had tested the pouch’s ability to store a massive rock and considered its usefulness against the Golden-Ringed Poison Bees.

• Zhou Wuji killed Fang Dashan with a palm strike and judged that his unarmed attack would not threaten a seventh-grade martial artist.
• The Yin Yang Dao believers prayed over Fang Dashan’s body, while Zhou Wuji killed the monkey king and the other four drugged demon monkeys.
• Zhou Wuji searched Fang Dashan’s corpse, left the money for the believers, and went uphill to refine the Five Yin Pouch.
• Zhou Wuji used the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment to turn the five demon monkeys into Yin Spirits and bind them into the pouch.
• Before sunrise, Zhou Wuji used the Five Yin Pouch to store a large rock and assessed its carrying capacity, upkeep, and potential against the Golden-Ringed Poison Bees.

Fang Jing refined Golden-Ringed Poison Bees’ venom while preparing to kill Zhou Wuji at Wu Di’s request. Zhou Wuji arrived at Red Leaf Ridge, strengthened himself with the Northern Emperor’s Book of Heavenly Punishment, and used the Six Yang Dharma Eye to spot a sinister presence on the ridge.

• Fang Jing continued refining bee venom to cultivate the Thousand Poisons and Ten Thousand Baleful Intents Arrow, using believers to lure Golden-Ringed Poison Bees from their hives.
• Jin Chuan told Fang Jing that Wu Di wanted Zhou Wuji killed, and Fang Jing left the request unanswered while deciding he might act if Zhou Wuji appeared.
• Fang Jing declined Jiang Sangu’s suggestion to watch the ridge entrance and planned to send the hundred spirits to patrol at night.
• Zhou Wuji reached Qingming Peak at dusk, admired Red Leaf Ridge, then rested and circulated his Qi before entering the ridge.
• Zhou Wuji converted the black panther in the Northern Emperor’s Book of Heavenly Punishment into Origin Mystic Essence, raising his body stat to 175 and extending his lifespan by two years.
• Zhou Wuji activated the Six Yang Dharma Eye and saw Sha Qi, resentment Qi, and a conspicuous eerie presence on Red Leaf Ridge.

Zhou Wuji discovered a Yin Yang Dao ritual at Red Leaf Ridge and upgraded his Six Yang Dharma Eye and Heart-Purifying Divine Incantation before approaching the group. He watched as Fang Jing released ghosts to attack a swarm of Golden-Ringed Poison Bees, creating an opening for Zhou Wuji to strike.

• Zhou Wuji used fates to raise his Six Yang Dharma Eye to perfection and his Heart-Purifying Divine Incantation to major attainment.
• Zhou Wuji identified a Yin Yang Dao ritual on Red Leaf Ridge and prepared to confront the group before stealing a hive of Golden-Ringed Poison Bees.
• Zhou Wuji approached the altar and saw Fang Jing, a woman, an attendant, and more than twenty followers gathered around the Yin-Yang Hundred Spirits Banner.
• Fang Jing sent two followers into the woods, and they returned with a swarm of Golden-Ringed Poison Bees chasing them.
• Fang Jing shook the Yin-Yang Hundred Spirits Banner and released ghosts to attack the bees, and Zhou Wuji saw his chance to strike.

Fang Jing tried to gather Golden-Ringed Poison Bees for his weapon, but Zhou Wuji attacked his ritual altar and swiftly killed Jiang Sangu and another follower. Zhou Wuji cut apart Fang Jing’s hundred ghosts, then confronted him on the altar as Fang Jing used the Yin Yang Mirror to meet Zhou Wuji’s sword with his reflection.

• Fang Jing used the Yin-Yang Hundred Spirits Banner to overwhelm a swarm of Golden-Ringed Poison Bees and ordered his followers to collect them.
• Zhou Wuji rushed toward Fang Jing, who summoned the banner’s hundred ghosts to attack him.
• Zhou Wuji’s Sunset Sword shredded the ghosts and forced Fang Jing to plead for a chance to talk.
• Jiang Sangu threw knives at Zhou Wuji, but he killed her and another follower with White Eyebrow Needles.
• Fang Jing caught Zhou Wuji’s needles with his Yin-Yang Dharma Robe, then held his ground on the ritual altar.
• Fang Jing turned the banner into a black mirror with the Yin Yang Mirror technique, and Zhou Wuji’s sword struck his reflection’s blade.

Zhou Wuji fought Fang Jing and his Hundred Spirits Banner, surviving the Devil Cultivator’s attacks and killing him. He destroyed the escaped Ghost Soldier with a Yin Thunder Pearl and confirmed that both Fang Jing and the Ghost Soldier had been executed.

• Zhou Wuji shattered Fang Jing’s illusion, but was driven back by the banner’s surge of Yin-Yang True Qi.
• Fang Jing released his hundred ghosts on the worshippers, who were drained of their Qi, Blood, and souls.
• Zhou Wuji rejected Fang Jing’s attempt to blame him for the deaths and declared that he would kill him.
• Fang Jing recognized Zhou Wuji and formed a sixth-grade Ghost Soldier from the hundred ghosts, while Zhou Wuji suppressed it with the Five Yin Pouch.
• Zhou Wuji defended against Fang Jing’s poisonous arrows, located him through the banner’s concealment, and beheaded him.
• Zhou Wuji destroyed the escaping Ghost Soldier with the Yin Thunder Pearl and confirmed both executions in the Northern Emperor’s Book of Heavenly Punishment.

After defeating Fang Jing, Zhou Wuji converted the ghosts and two yao creatures, advancing his cultivation to the seventh rank and greatly strengthening his body. He buried the dead followers and decided to wait until the new year before seeking formal recognition of his promotion.

• Zhou Wuji examined Fang Jing and Jiang Sangu's possessions, then found that the followers had all been drained of their Essence Blood.
• Zhou Wuji converted the ghosts into origin profound spirit, opened his seventh aperture, and reached the seventh rank in Qi-refining.
• Zhou Wuji decided to delay applying for seventh-rank recognition until the new year, despite being eligible to seek an ordination certificate and register reception.
• Zhou Wuji converted the giant python and golden toad into origin mystic essence, raising his body stat to two hundred and fifty and his lifespan to ninety-five years.
• Zhou Wuji dug a large pit, buried the followers and other corpses, and recited the Supreme Rebirth Incantation for them.

Zhou Wuji returned to Hidden Dragon Temple with the red flower honey and several Law Artifacts, then asked Abbot Wuzheng to teach him pill refining. With the lower monastery’s experts still absent, Zhou Wuji asked Wuzheng to ransom the prisoners from the Ironclad Guard.

• Zhou Wuji returned to Hidden Dragon Temple carrying the red flower honey and recovered items from Red Leaf Ridge.
• Wuzheng examined the Law Artifacts, identified the Yin-Yang Hundred Spirits Banner and the poisoned-arrow ring, and warned Zhou Wuji about Fang Boxiong of the Yin Yang Dao.
• Zhou Wuji gave Wuzheng a jar of red flower honey in exchange for pill-refining lessons, and Wuzheng explained the basics of controlling Qi, water, fire, Yin, and Yang.
• Zhou Wuji learned that a kitchen servant had been the first person to leave the temple after his departure, but he told Wuzheng to leave the servant alone for now.
• Since the lower monastery’s experts had not arrived and Zhou Wuji feared confronting Wu Di, he asked Wuzheng to ransom the prisoners from the Ironclad Guard, and Wuzheng agreed.

Wu Di learned that Zhang Yunfeng was bringing troops to Siming County to eliminate the rogue troops. Meanwhile, Zhang Xinhu persuaded Wang Qi to attack Zhou Wuji at Hidden Dragon Temple, promising a route into Chubei Commandery as the story left them preparing to strike that night.

• Wu Di agreed to release the villagers, then received a dispatch saying Zhang Yunfeng was bringing a force to Siming County to wipe out the rogue troops.
• Wang Qi surveyed Siming County from Huamei Mountain and confronted Zhang Xinhu over the deaths of his men and younger brother.
• Zhang Xinhu warned Wang Qi that the Ironclad Guard would soon encircle the rogue troops and urged him to flee after killing Zhou Wuji.
• Zhang Xinhu offered to help Wang Qi reach Chubei Commandery through his merchant caravans, and Wang Qi agreed to attack Hidden Dragon Temple.
• Zhang Xinhu said he would keep the county's experts occupied at a banquet and suggested striking during the second watch.

Zhou Wuji shared a moonlit evening with Wuming, kissed her, then prepared defenses against possible attackers and waited alertly for the lower temple’s experts. A muffled thud suddenly roused him from meditation.

• Wuming played Zhou Wuji a flute piece in the osmanthus grove, and he praised her music with a poem that delighted her.
• Wuming taught Zhou Wuji how to play the flute, and he kissed her cheek; she blushed and hurried back to her daily practice.
• Zhou Wuji practiced on the jade flute, removed a large boulder with his Five Yin Pouch, and strung Ice Silkworm Silk trip lines around the temple grounds.
• Zhou Wuji decided to save the fate weight from the seventh-rank Devil Cultivator until he could use it to improve his swordsmanship.
• Zhou Wuji stayed dressed and armed while meditating for the expected arrival of the lower temple’s experts, then woke at the sound of a muffled thud.

Zhou Wuji sensed mutinous soldiers approaching Hidden Dragon Temple and prepared to defend it while Wuzheng set up a ritual altar. After advancing his Flowing Cloud Sword and Falling Goose Sword to sublime mastery, Zhou Wuji revealed himself and challenged the attackers, led by Wang Qi.

• Zhou Wuji detected an armed squad led by a powerful Seventh-Rank expert and woke Wuming, Wuye, and Wuzheng.
• Zhou Wuji sent Wuming and Wuye into the secret tunnel while Wuzheng went to the main hall to establish a ritual altar.
• Zhou Wuji judged that the mutineers would target the shrine and used fate weight to improve his Flowing Cloud Sword and Falling Goose Sword to sublime mastery.
• Zhou Wuji saw soldiers enter through the main gate and climb over the eastern wall, then announced himself and called for a fight.
• Wang Qi stopped concealing his squad's advance and vowed to offer Zhou Wuji's head to his brother's spirit.

Wang Qi’s marauders attacked Hidden Dragon Temple, but Wuzheng used the Northern Emperor’s power to defend the shrine hall while Zhou Wuji fought the advancing soldiers. The attackers pressed forward despite heavy losses, and the chapter ended with Zhou Wuji shattering their spear thrusts with the Heavenly Pivot Hand.

• Wang Qi led his elite marauders into the temple courtyard and ordered archers and crossbowmen to fire at Zhou Wuji.
• Zhou Wuji deflected the arrows and took cover from the heavy crossbow bolts, which Wuzheng stopped with Big Dipper Heavenly Gang.
• Wang Qi ordered armored spearmen to advance, and Wuzheng struck their formation with Tianpeng Ruler’s Yin Thunder.
• Wang Qi urged the surviving soldiers forward, and Wuzheng’s next lightning attack felled several more.
• Zhou Wuji killed three soldiers with White Eyebrow Needles, then blasted six spears aside with the Heavenly Pivot Hand and crushed the chests of two attackers.

Zhou Wuji and Wuzheng fought Wang Qi and the mutinous soldiers as the Seven Star Formation collapsed under Wang Qi’s Blood Baleful Intent Instruction. With the hall plunged into darkness, Wang Qi focused on killing Zhou Wuji, who faced his saber strike without retreating.

• Zhou Wuji killed two spear fighters with White Eyebrow Needles, but stopped when Wang Qi charged into the hall and soldiers attacked from the rear.
• Wuzheng struck Wang Qi with Yin Thunder, but Wang Qi shredded the lightning and burned his Qi and Blood to unleash a powerful roar that disrupted the Daoists and their formation.
• Zhou Wuji ignited flour with the Fire Bell Incantation, blasting the archers and breaking the azure light screen as the hall plunged into darkness and chaos.
• Wang Qi realized the Seven Star Formation had fallen and slashed at Zhou Wuji, who swept his sleeve toward the descending saber with surging True Qi.

Zhou Wuji killed Wang Qi but was gravely wounded when Wang Qi struck him with a hidden palm. Using the Northern Dipper Heavenly Gang Divine Talisman and the fate weight he gained from Wang Qi, Zhou Wuji awakened Sword Intent and turned to face the mutinous soldiers.

• Zhou Wuji used the Five Yin Pouch and a stored boulder to break Wang Qi’s saber, then trapped him in black gauze.
• Wang Qi pierced Zhou Wuji’s chest with a hidden palm before Zhou Wuji beheaded him with the Seven Star Sword.
• Zhou Wuji restored his True Qi and Divine Sense, then used White Eyebrow Needles to kill the eight blinded bowmen and crossbowmen.
• Zhou Wuji activated the Northern Dipper Heavenly Gang Divine Talisman to protect himself and draw the mutinous soldiers’ attention away from Wuzheng and the others.
• Zhou Wuji converted Wang Qi’s fate weight into origin profound spirit, perfected the Xiaoxiang Sword, and reached Sword Intent.
• Wuzheng struck the mutinous soldiers with Yin Thunder while Zhou Wuji swept through them with his sword.

After Zhou Wuji and Wuzheng defeated the marauding soldiers, Zhou Wuji tended to his injuries while Wuming cared for him and gave him an Origin Restoration Pill. The next morning, Wuming warned him that her father had arrived with officials and experts from the Ironclad Guard.

• Zhou Wuji confirmed that he and Wuzheng had survived the battle, then accepted a Purple Gold Pill from Wuzheng for his broken ribs.
• Wuzheng checked the others, found two seriously injured, and organized help while Zhou Wuji was taken back to his room.
• Wuming brought Zhou Wuji an Origin Restoration Pill, then fetched hot water and wiped the blood from his face while he rested.
• Zhou Wuji secretly left his room and dealt with the servant who had tipped off the enemy.
• The next morning, Wuming told Zhou Wuji that people from the lower monastery and the Ironclad Guard had arrived, including her father, and warned him to be careful.

At Hidden Dragon Temple, Daoist Yizhen and local officials assessed the defeat of Wang Qi’s rebel force and Zhou Wuji’s severe injuries. Yang Shuling set Zhou Wuji’s broken chest bones, while Yizhen confronted Zhang Xinhu over the judgment involving his son.

• Zhang Yunfeng praised Daoist Yizhen and the temple after examining the corpses of more than fifty slain rebels.
• Wuzheng credited Zhou Wuji with killing the bandit leader and told Yizhen that Zhou’s chest bones were shattered.
• Yang Shuling offered to treat Zhou Wuji, and Yizhen agreed to let him set the bones.
• Yang Shuling reset Zhou Wuji’s broken bones as Zhou endured the pain without a sound.
• Zhang Xinhu watched Zhou Wuji with concealed murderous intent, and Yizhen challenged him over the lower court’s verdict in his son’s case.

After Daoist Yizhen negotiated a settlement with Zhang Yunfeng over Zhang Xinhu’s attacks, he warned Wuming to keep her distance from Zhou Wuji. Yizhen then offered Zhou Wuji a path to a Daoist register and higher cultivation, urging him to prepare for next year’s scripture debate with Golden Leaf Temple.

• Daoist Yizhen rebuked Zhang Xinhu, who left without retaliating, and then negotiated with Zhang Yunfeng to end the dispute in exchange for Zhang Xinhu paying ten thousand taels and repenting.
• Yang Shuling set Zhou Wuji’s broken bones, and Daoist Yizhen thanked him before attending to the temple’s aftermath.
• Daoist Yizhen questioned Wuming about her closeness to Zhou Wuji, cautioned her, and ordered her to accompany him and Wuye into the mountains the next day.
• Daoist Yizhen visited Zhou Wuji and offered to help him receive his Daoist register if he opened all seven apertures before next July.
• Daoist Yizhen urged Zhou Wuji to reach seventh rank before next August’s scripture debate with Golden Leaf Temple and said exceptional performance could earn him a recommendation to the upper monastery.

After Daoist Yizhen urged Zhou Wuji to pursue greater cultivation, Zhou Wuji improved his techniques and prepared to deal with Zhang Xinhu while recovering from his injuries. Wuming left with her father for the Lower Court, and Zhou Wuji played a remarkable farewell tune that unsettled Yizhen with its killing intent.

• Daoist Yizhen advised Zhou Wuji to look beyond his rivalry with Zhang Xinhu and focus on advancing his cultivation.
• Zhou Wuji raised the Five Yin Pouch to greater attainment and the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword to lesser attainment, then resolved to wait for a chance to deal with Zhang Xinhu.
• Wuming told Zhou Wuji she was leaving with Yizhen to eliminate rebel troops and would return to the Lower Court afterward; she left him her flute and a book of flute techniques.
• Zhou Wuji used fate weight to master flute playing and played a farewell tune as Wuming's group rode away from Hidden Dragon Temple.
• Yizhen asked whether Wuming had taught Zhou Wuji the tune, and Wuming praised his skill; Yizhen then remarked on the music's intense killing intent.

While recovering from his injuries, Zhou Wuji received gifts from the Li and Fang Households and learned that Zhang Xinhu was shielded by ties to the powerful Zhang Household of Chunan. After healing himself with the tiger demon’s essence, Zhou Wuji armed himself in disguise and left the temple to kill Zhang Xinhu.

• Shangxin brought Zhou Wuji his meal, and Li Cheng'an and Li Ruyi visited to give him gold in gratitude for saving Old Cang Village.
• Li Ruyi warned Zhou Wuji that Zhang Xinhu had not gone into the mountains, and Wuzheng explained that the Zhang Household of Chunan made it difficult for his master to act against him.
• Fang Yue apologized for Fang Wuzhen and gave Zhou Wuji a hundred taels of gold, which Zhou Wuji accepted.
• Zhou Wuji used the Rejuvenation Technique and the tiger demon’s essence to heal his broken bones and strengthen his body.
• Zhou Wuji changed into a disguise, chose a different sword, and left the Daoist temple under dark clouds with killing intent toward Zhang Xinhu.

Zhou Wuji infiltrated the Zhang Household disguised as a Yin Yang Dao fiend and killed Zhang Xinhu before he could reach his saber. As Zhang Xinhu died, Zhou Wuji declared his vengeance fulfilled and recited a poem about the night’s rain and swords.

• Zhang Xinhu brooded over his inability to reach the Sixth Rank and sensed danger during a torrential autumn rain.
• Zhou Wuji entered Zhang Xinhu’s sealed training room in disguise, and Zhang Xinhu recognized him and reached for the Tiger Wing Saber.
• Zhou Wuji used the Five Yin Pouch to envelop Zhang Xinhu and cut off his senses.
• Zhou Wuji’s Evening Bell Sword disrupted Zhang Xinhu’s Tiger Roar Thunder Sound, then his Night Rain Sword pierced Zhang Xinhu’s chest, throat, and head.
• Zhou Wuji told Zhang Xinhu to wipe away their past grievances and said his vengeance against Zhang Xinhu and his son was complete.
• As Zhang Xinhu died, Zhou Wuji recited a poem about killing intent, night rain, and the swordsman’s solitary journey.