Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao tried to evade Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone's questions about Venerable Wenhuang and Venerable Yufeng. They staged a melodramatic reenactment that convinced the two venerables the conflict involved Wenhuang loving Hongku, and the venerables planned to report their interpretation to the Dao Lord.

• Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone gave Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao Grain Avoidance Pills and water, then pressed them for details about Wenhuang and Yufeng.
• Zhang Xuezhou warned that several days had passed and proposed reenacting what he and Wu Chao remembered.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao acted out a chase and a lovers' quarrel, with Wu Chao claiming that he loved Hongku.
• Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone concluded that Wenhuang had been Hongku's lover and that jealousy had sparked the conflict with Yufeng.
• Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone decided they could reenact the scene when reporting to the Dao Lord and leave the judgment to him.

Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao convinced Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone that Venerable Yufeng had died from his own spell, concealing what had happened. Jin Chang warned that Hongku would soon learn they survived and might expose them, so they began considering how to escape the Yedie River Holy Land’s territory.

• Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao told Venerable Black Mountain and Venerable White Bone that Yufeng had shaved himself to death, and the two venerables accepted their account and rode away.
• Zhang Xuezhou explained to Wu Chao that he had used clues about Yufeng and Wenhuang’s relationship to make their explanation convincing.
• Jin Chang emerged from hiding and praised Zhang Xuezhou and Wu Chao for passing the questioning, but warned that Hongku would discover they were alive.
• Jin Chang said Hongku might expose their involvement in Wenhuang and Yufeng’s deaths, leaving Jin Chang wanted and the others at risk of being implicated.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Jin Chang discussed leaving the Yedie River Holy Land’s territory, while Wu Chao resolved to gather more wealth before fleeing.

Zhang Xuezhou learned how the Xiong State depended on the Sacred Lands, while Wu Chao waited for an imperial supply caravan carrying resources for his cultivation. When Linna Shaji arrived to investigate Wu Chao’s demands and insulted him, Wu Chao turned to Ma Gaofa and implied that he should kill her.

• Wu Chao explained the Xiong State’s nomadic strength and its dependence on the Northern Kuru Continent’s Sacred Lands, while Jin Chang described the imperial family’s need for Sacred Land guardians.
• After three more days of travel, Wu Chao and Zhang Xuezhou saw a caravan of ten carriages approaching, with Linna Shaji and Ma Gaofa riding at its head.
• Linna Shaji tapped the demon horse, sending the carriage charging toward Wu Chao, but Ma Gaofa pulled it aside before it struck him.
• Wu Chao accused Ma Gaofa of failing to protect him, and Linna Shaji mocked Wu Chao’s appearance and refused to apologize.
• Wu Chao invoked the duty of a subject to defend a humiliated lord and looked to Ma Gaofa, signaling that he wanted Linna Shaji killed before she could investigate him.

Linna Shaji fought Ma Gaofa after Wu Chao’s killing intent convinced her that the fourth prince was targeting her. Zhang Xuezhou ordered the guards to join the attack, and Linna Shaji fled toward the Yedie River Holy Land before a sudden cold sensation stopped her.

• Ma Gaofa challenged Linna Shaji to a contest of skills to settle her collision with the fourth prince, but she sensed Wu Chao’s intent to kill her.
• Linna Shaji suspected Wu Chao was about to be expelled from the Yedie River Holy Land and believed he wanted resources before losing his status.
• Linna Shaji summoned Yin ghosts and fought Ma Gaofa, whose staff she trapped with Yin Qi.
• Zhang Xuezhou ordered the escort guards to attack Linna Shaji, and Wu Chao sent his Snake Head Incantation into the chaos.
• Linna Shaji used bone treasures and her flute to repel the guards, injuring several of them, including the fourth prince.
• Linna Shaji escaped with the Yin ghosts toward the Yedie River Holy Land, then felt a sudden chill and looked down in terror.

Wu Chao and Zhang Xuezhou overcame Linna Shaji’s intimidation and killed her with the help of the guards. After Jin Chang warned Wu Chao to burn her corpse, Wu Chao ordered the group to gather cultivation resources and head for the royal court at Monan instead of returning to the Sacred Land.

• Wu Chao resisted Linna Shaji’s intimidation and used the Snake Head Incantation to attack her while the guards’ arrows struck her and her Yin ghost.
• Wu Chao declared that Linna Shaji deserved to die, and an arrow pierced her head, killing her.
• After Jin Chang warned him that Linna Shaji might revive through ancient witchcraft, Wu Chao ordered the guards to burn her corpse and destroy her Law Treasures.
• Wu Chao changed into his princely robes and quietly told Zhang Xuezhou to collect materials for cultivating the Technique Within the Clouds.
• Wu Chao announced that he was returning to the royal court at Monan, rejected Ma Gaofa’s suggestion to stop at the Sacred Land, and ordered the group to take the supplies with them.

Zhang Xuezhou learned that he was progressing toward the iron-wing stage of the Technique Within the Clouds and used a solution of hundred-year iron essence and mithril to temper his arms. As Wu Chao helped him through the painful process, Wu Chao resolved to secure cultivation resources for himself before his own progress stalled.

• Zhang Xuezhou explained to Wu Chao that his wings could be refined through seven forms and that he was advancing from wood wings toward iron wings.
• Zhang Xuezhou dissolved hundred-year iron essence, mixed in mithril, and applied the solution to the lines where his wings were hidden.
• As numbness and itching spread through his arms, Zhang Xuezhou asked Wu Chao to apply the rest of the solution and fell asleep.
• Wu Chao continued applying the solution and considered how Zhang Xuezhou's shortage of bodhi fruit could stall his cultivation.
• Wu Chao resolved to obtain as many royal-family cultivation resources as he could and not spare anyone who obstructed him.

Zhang Xuezhou joined Zhang Manqian at Charm Entertainment City, where she was scheduled to fight in an underground sequencer arena. After entering, he realized they had been led to the fighters’ waiting area instead of the betting venue, and a door opened onto a noisy crowd.

• Zhang Xuezhou received Zhang Manqian’s message asking him to meet her at 8 Gubei Road for a chance to make money.
• Zhang Manqian explained that Zuo Teng had arranged her invitation to a sequencer arena fight.
• Zhang Manqian and Zhang Xuezhou arrived at Charm Entertainment City and followed signs to Hot Blood and Fiery Baptism.
• A staff member checked Zhang Manqian’s invitation code and directed her and Zhang Xuezhou through a corridor toward the arena.
• Zhang Xuezhou entered the brightly lit fighters’ area, where masked sequencers mistook his grumbling about finding the betting venue for a gambler’s complaint.
• A staff member opened a small door, and shouts and curses from the crowd poured through.

Zhang Xuezhou used Zhang Manqian’s defensive strategy in the first round to profit from live points betting at Charm Entertainment City. After a gambler warned him that suspicious winnings could expose a fixed match, Zhang Xuezhou followed the gambler’s bet on Zhang Manqian’s opponent in the second round.

• Zhang Xuezhou failed to find a betting machine in time to bet on the match outcome, then borrowed a gambler’s machine and wagered fifty thousand yuan on Zhang Manqian’s opponent, 308168.
• Zhang Manqian focused on defense in the first round, taking repeated blows while Zhang Xuezhou profited from points betting.
• The youthful-looking gambler switched his bets to Zhang Manqian’s opponent and earned a smaller gain, then praised Zhang Xuezhou’s nearly thirty percent profit.
• The gambler warned that large, suspicious betting gains could bring the casino’s attention to anyone involved in a fixed match, so Zhang Xuezhou resolved to keep a lower profile.
• After noticing Zhang Manqian’s injuries had disappeared before the second round, the gambler bet on her opponent, and Zhang Xuezhou followed his wager.

Zhang Xuezhou and a gambler bet on Zhang Manqian as she alternated between scoring points and taking damage in the second match. In the third round, Zhang Manqian revealed her Crane Form Fist, which countered her opponent's Snake Form Fist, while the arena battle's outcome had already been arranged.

• Zhang Xuezhou followed a gambler's lead and bet his profits on Zhang Manqian changing her fighting style.
• Zhang Manqian launched a scoring-focused assault, and the gambler bought more chips as their price rose.
• Zhang Xuezhou and the gambler sold their chips before Zhang Manqian slowed down and started taking a beating again.
• At the start of the third round, Zhang Manqian took more hits, driving her chip price down as Zhang Xuezhou bought in.
• Zhang Manqian erupted with Crane Form Fist against her opponent's Snake Form Fist, a matchup that favored her.
• The narration revealed that the result of the sequencers' arena battle had already been decided.

After winning three points bouts, Zhang Xuezhou befriended Wang Li, a disciplined gambler from a distinguished Lineage who offered to help him access blood-replacement treatment. The morning session ended, but Zhang Xuezhou left the casino worried because Zhang Manqian had not appeared or answered his messages.

• Wang Li introduced himself to Zhang Xuezhou and praised his successful bets, while Zhang Xuezhou concealed his real name and declined to bet again.
• Wang Li explained his rules for controlling gambling and told Zhang Xuezhou about his family, his hopes of returning to the Lineage's inner circle, and his savings for blood replacement.
• Wang Li offered to connect Zhang Xuezhou with his Lineage's doctors and help him get a lower price on treatment.
• Zhang Xuezhou and Wang Li exchanged communicator contacts and became online friends.
• When the morning session ended, Zhang Xuezhou searched for Zhang Manqian but found neither her at the venue nor any reply to his messages.

Zhang Xuezhou feared that Zhang Manqian had been taken for a forced blood exchange and confronted Zuo Teng, while Wang Li reconsidered his opinion of Zhang Xuezhou after learning he could contact Zuo Teng. Zuo Teng denied targeting Zhang Manqian and said he would investigate what had happened.

• Wang Li explained that Zhang Manqian might be undergoing genetic sequencing, dealing with the institution, or facing a forced blood exchange, and warned Zhang Xuezhou that someone might have acted against her.
• Zhang Xuezhou questioned whether his casino winnings had prompted anyone to target his sister, and Wang Li said Zuo Teng was undergoing a blood exchange with someone else.
• Zhang Xuezhou sent Zuo Teng a series of messages asking whether he had arranged for Zhang Manqian to enter the arena or was targeting her for a blood exchange.
• Wang Li saw that Zuo Teng replied to Zhang Xuezhou, denied exchanging blood with Zhang Manqian, identified Kong Liu as his current exchange partner, and promised to investigate.

Zhang Xuezhou learned that Zuo Denggao had likely taken Zhang Manqian to Phoenix Creek Medical Club for a blood-replacement surgery. With only six hours to save her, Zhang Xuezhou rushed to find Ren Yisheng for help.

• Wang Li assured Zhang Xuezhou that Zuo Teng's connections could help uncover what had happened to Zhang Manqian.
• Zuo Teng replied that his third uncle, Zuo Jin, had likely taken Zhang Manqian and that Zuo Denggao was having surgery at Phoenix Creek Medical Club.
• Zuo Teng warned Zhang Xuezhou that he had six hours to act and urged him to seek help from a mentor.
• Zhang Xuezhou ran toward Xuanshi Building to find Ren Yisheng, while Wang Li followed and asked who his mentor was.
• Wang Li realized that Zhang Xuezhou needed help from an influential figure in Western Capital to change Zhang Manqian's fate.

Zhang Xuezhou recognized that Zuo Teng was manipulating him into asking Ren Yisheng to intervene against Zuo Jin and Zuo Denggao, but he still hurried to seek Ren's help for Zhang Manqian. Wang Li drove him to Canglan Academy and agreed to wait for him before taking him to the Phoenix Creek Medical Club.

• Wang Li learned that Zhang Xuezhou's backer was Professor Ren Yisheng and realized Zuo Teng was using Zhang to strike at rivals within the Zuo Lineage.
• Zhang Xuezhou understood that Zuo Teng's apparent help was part of an open scheme, and he resolved to learn how to act legally while ensuring his actions benefited him.
• Zhang Xuezhou asked Wang Li about the Phoenix Creek Medical Club as they drove toward Canglan Academy.
• Wang Li drove Zhang Xuezhou into the Xuanshi Building area, where Zhang went upstairs to look for Ren Yisheng.
• Wang Li agreed to wait downstairs and drive Zhang Xuezhou to the Phoenix Creek Medical Club afterward.

Zhang Xuezhou sought Ren Yisheng at home while Ren Yisheng struggled to stop his Mental Strengthening from reaching a potentially fatal collapse. Ren Yisheng connected the Heart Incantation to his cultivation and called for Zhang to come in as he neared the brink.

• Zhang Xuezhou reached Ren Yisheng's home and repeatedly knocked, growing afraid when no one answered.
• Ren Yisheng realized his Mental Strengthening path could cause his mental sea to overflow, leaving him at grave risk of collapse.
• Ren Yisheng struggled to halt the cultivation his thoughts had set in motion and recalled Zhang Xuezhou's difficulty escaping his own dreamlike state.
• Ren Yisheng recognized the Heart Incantation might connect to Mental Strengthening and help correct his path, but feared he was running out of time.
• Ren Yisheng heard Zhang Xuezhou knocking, forced out a faint invitation to come in, and remained separated from him by the door.

Wang Li waited for Zhang Xuezhou outside the Xuanshi Building, then followed him upstairs when Zhang kept knocking on Ren Yisheng’s door. After security and Wang Haoran raised the alarm, Zhang forced the door open and found Ren Yisheng bleeding as he sat before a blank painting scroll.

• Wang Li waited in his car, wondering whether his grandfather Ren Yisheng would recognize him after more than ten years apart.
• Wang Li entered the Xuanshi Building stairwell to check on Zhang Xuezhou, prompting security to warn him that he lacked permission.
• Zhang Xuezhou told Wang Li that Ren Yisheng did not seem to be home, and security relayed Wang Haoran’s concern that Ren might have taken medicinal paste.
• Wang Haoran urged Zhang Xuezhou to break down the door because Ren might have taken too much medicine.
• Zhang Xuezhou shoved open the jammed, unlocked door and saw Ren Yisheng sitting before a blank painting scroll, blood seeping from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

Zhang Xuezhou tried to save Ren Yisheng with the Supreme Purity True Technique, but Ren Yisheng lost control and unleashed a devastating attack. Wang Haoran called for help and medicine as Zhang and Ren lay injured, leaving Ren Yisheng’s condition uncertain.

• Zhang Xuezhou used the Supreme Purity True Technique on Ren Yisheng, who suddenly roared, lost control, and shattered books with his Mental Psychic Power.
• Ren Yisheng’s attack threw Zhang Xuezhou across the room and sent Wang Li tumbling down the stairs.
• Wang Haoran arrived, recognized that Ren Yisheng had suffered Qi Deviation, and called Song Bu’er for protective equipment and assistance.
• Wang Haoran checked Zhang Xuezhou and found that he was conscious and had survived Ren Yisheng’s attack, though he was badly injured.
• Wang Haoran called Ren Wuyang to bring the Ren Household’s special medicine for Ren Yisheng and Zhang Xuezhou.

After Ren Yisheng lost control and attacked, Wang Haoran and Song Bu'er feared he would face the death sentence unless the Ren Household's miracle drug could restore him. Ren Wuyang tested the drug on Zhang Xuezhou, whose sudden angry outburst left the others worried about how Ren Yisheng might react.

• Wang Haoran and Song Bu'er entered the room wearing helmets, subdued Ren Yisheng with a stun gun, and emerged injured and shaken.
• Ren Wuyang arrived and learned that Ren Yisheng was inside, while Zhang Xuezhou lay unable to move outside the room.
• Ren Wuyang brought out one of the two old doses of the Ren Household's miracle drug, and Wang Haoran persuaded him to test it on Zhang Xuezhou first.
• Ren Wuyang injected Zhang Xuezhou, who soon cursed and cried out in pain, showing that he was alert.
• Wang Haoran and Song Bu'er worried that Ren Yisheng might react just as violently, even though he could not move his limbs.

Zhang Xuezhou recovered enough from Ren Yisheng’s Dragon Elephant Combat Technique to discover that Ren Yisheng and the others had collapsed after receiving a powerful injection. Ren Yisheng regained consciousness and urged Zhang Xuezhou to use the Mental Strengthening Chapter to help him survive, while Zhang Manqian remained in danger after being taken for a genetic blood transfusion.

• Ren Wuyang injected Zhang Xuezhou in the ear with a medicine meant to stimulate cultivation of the Mental Strengthening Chapter, leaving him in intense pain and unable to move.
• Zhang Xuezhou used the Supreme Purity True Technique to suppress the pain and gradually regained control of his body.
• Zhang Xuezhou saw Ren Yisheng, Ren Wuyang, Song Bu'er, and Wang Haoran convulsing on the floor, then asked Ren Yisheng to help save Zhang Manqian.
• Ren Yisheng regained consciousness and asked Zhang Xuezhou to help him endure the Luofu imperial family's secret medicine.
• Ren Yisheng told Zhang Xuezhou to circulate the Mental Strengthening Chapter to use the medicine's effects and ease the pain before Ren Yisheng lost control.

Ren Yisheng endured the secret medicine’s devastating effects until Zhang Xuezhou treated him with the Supreme Purity True Technique. After recovering, Ren Yisheng agreed to help rescue Zhang Manqian from the Phoenix Creek Medical Club, where Zuo Jin planned to use her blood for his son.

• Ren Yisheng suffered extreme pain from the secret medicine and began preparing Zhang Xuezhou and An Ran to leave the Western Capital.
• Zhang Xuezhou treated Ren Yisheng with the Supreme Purity True Technique and explained that Zuo Jin had taken Zhang Manqian to provide a blood transfusion for Zuo Denggao.
• Ren Yisheng learned that Zuo Teng had used Zhang Manqian’s sequencing arena match and a forced contract to justify taking her, then promised she would not die.
• Ren Yisheng confirmed Zhang Xuezhou had mastered the third chapter of the Mental Strengthening Chapter and called to arrange beds at the Phoenix Creek Medical Club.
• Ren Yisheng pointed Wang Haoran to Zhang Xuezhou for treatment, recognizing that his Technique worked better than Ren Yisheng’s mental healing method.

Zhang Xuezhou received lavish treatment at the Phoenix Creek Medical Club and realized that medical care could restore his physical health but not repair his brain damage. He refused Ren Yisheng’s offer to trade for the Supreme Purity True Technique, while Ren Yisheng continued considering how to obtain it until an unexpected visitor arrived.

• Ren Yisheng arranged an intensive three-day recovery treatment for Zhang Xuezhou at the Phoenix Creek Medical Club.
• Zhang Xuezhou recognized that the treatment was restoring his body, though the finest medical care could not repair his brain damage.
• Zhang Xuezhou refused to teach Ren Yisheng the Supreme Purity True Technique despite an offer of the fourth chapter of the Mental Strengthening Chapter.
• Ren Yisheng explained the benefits of mental strengthening and considered how to persuade Zhang Xuezhou to share the Technique.
• An unidentified visitor entered the medical room, and Ren Yisheng immediately stopped his persuasion and changed his expression.