Recaps

Kang Dabao rescued Jin Shilun, accepted him as his third disciple, and offered protection to the survivors of Niuli Stockade. The chapter ended with Kang Dabao and his disciples setting off for Gongxing Stockade while Kou Yunsheng prepared to lead the villagers toward the Chongming Sect.

• Kang Dabao woke Jin Shilun and learned that the young man was grateful for being saved from the bandits.
• Kang Dabao invited Jin Shilun to cultivate, tested him, and accepted him as his third disciple despite his Four Spirit Roots.
• Jin Shilun told Kang Dabao and his senior brothers about his prominent family in Gongxing Stockade, and Kang Dabao agreed to visit with them.
• Kou Yunsheng explained that the survivors of Niuli Stockade had nowhere safe to go, so Kang Dabao offered to let them settle near the Chongming Sect.
• Kang Dabao gave Kou Yunsheng three Talisman Artifacts for protection, then took his disciples toward Gongxing Stockade in the donkey cart.

You Er delivered vegetables to Gongxing Stockade and learned that ten village girls would be chosen to work there, while the village elder’s grandson privately planned to exploit the opportunity. Inside the stockade, Jin Huohua prepared to invite Immortal Master Zhang for protection and awaited news of Shilun, but an urgent report arrived before the chapter revealed what had happened.

• You Er carried vegetables to Gongxing Stockade and watched its servants take the loads while the village head deferred to a gray-clad elder.
• The village elder’s grandson announced that the stockade would take ten girls from the village, then privately resolved to favor his own family and keep the villagers’ rent high.
• The gray-clad elder tried to approach a slender-browed man in the inner stockade, but the man’s disciple blocked him before the slender-browed man entered Jin Huohua’s courtyard.
• The slender-browed man told Jin Huohua that arrangements with Immortal Master Zhang were complete, and Jin Huohua discussed seeking the cultivator’s protection and Shilun’s progress.
• A servant rushed into Jin Huohua’s courtyard, fell at the threshold, and cried that something terrible had happened.

Immortal Master Zhang attacked the Jin Household after Jin Qi refused to let him abuse his wife, and his talismans overwhelmed the household despite the Ten-Ox Crossbow wounding him. Jin Qi died and the Jin Household faced destruction until a silver hammer shattered Immortal Master Zhang’s Golden Armor Talismans and knocked him unconscious.

• Immortal Master Zhang attacked Jin Qi and his family with talismans after Jin Qi defended his wife, killing several fighters.
• Jin Qi and Jin Huohua rallied the household and used the Ten-Ox Crossbow to tear apart Immortal Master Zhang’s arm.
• Immortal Master Zhang destroyed the crossbow and unleashed more talismans, scattering the fighters and killing Jin Qi with a water arrow.
• Jin Huohua tried to flee, but Immortal Master Zhang targeted him and killed two younger members of the Jin Household.
• A silver hammer struck Immortal Master Zhang, shattered his Golden Armor Talismans, and knocked him unconscious.

Kang Dabao killed Zhang Gouneng after learning he had been released from Chen Yu’s service, then used the killing to teach his disciples caution and decisiveness. Han Yundao challenged Kang Dabao’s lesson by pointing out that he would protect those close to him, while Jin Shilun reconsidered his family’s pride and vulnerability.

• Kang Dabao spoke with Zhang Gouneng at Gongxing Stockade, and Jin Huohua killed Zhang Gouneng before he could finish speaking.
• Jin Huohua and Jin Shilun thanked Kang Dabao for avenging the Jin Household, and Kang Dabao agreed to take Gongxing Stockade’s people back to the sect.
• Kang Dabao told his three disciples about Zhang Gouneng’s years as Chen Yu’s pill slave and explained why he had decided Zhang could be killed.
• Kang Dabao questioned Jin Shilun’s admiration for Jin Qi and warned that Zhang Gouneng could have turned the stockade against the Jin Household with an offer of Immortal Methods.
• Han Yundao asked whether Kang Dabao would abandon his disciples and family if they were threatened, and Kang Dabao retreated into the inner room.
• Han Yundao and Duan Anle declared ambitions to become powerful cultivators, while Kang Dabao shouted at them to enter the Dao before boasting.

The Chongming Sect procession reached Chongming City after Han Yundao and Duan Anle drove off warriors from the Lu Household. Kang Dabao reunited with Kang Dahou, reviewed the city’s population and clan affairs, and urged him to treat newcomers fairly as he considered the sect’s need for more children and cultivators.

• Jin Huohua’s procession encountered Lu Household warriors riding Flower-Limbed Black Armor beetles, but Han Yundao and Duan Anle ordered them off Chongming Sect territory.
• Han Yundao told Jin Shilun that Third Martial Uncle had once defeated four of the Lu Household’s seven Qi Refinement cultivators, while Kang Dabao wondered why Lu Household servants had entered the sect’s territory.
• Kang Dahou and the city officials welcomed Kang Dabao at Chongming City, where Kang Dabao set aside formalities to speak privately with his clan brother.
• Kang Dahou reported the city’s births and upcoming Spirit Testing Ceremony, and Kang Dabao urged him to send some maids home and told him that the clan’s senior and junior branches were one family.
• Kang Dabao instructed Kang Dahou to settle Kou Yunsheng and Jin Huohua’s people fairly, then reflected on the shortage of cultivators and the need for more descendants.

The He Household caravan was ambushed by the Black Mountain Bandits, who sought revenge against the He Household. Jiang Qing killed several bandits and faced a summoned creature as the caravan's battle continued.

• He Degong stopped the caravan to rest, and Jiang Qing declined the betel slices he offered.
• The Black Mountain Bandits launched a surprise attack, killing guards and forcing the caravan to defend itself.
• A bandit chief attacked He Degong, while Wang Daoqiong organized a defensive array and warned the others to focus on survival.
• Jiang Qing assessed the attackers, killed the green-faced old man, and then cut down several more bandits who surrounded him.
• The horse-faced cultivator summoned a sinister creature, which roared and shot spikes at Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing fought off the Black Mountain Bandits while protecting He Degong, suffering serious injuries and losing several of his treasured artifacts. After killing the bandit chief with the Seven Luminaries Heart-Slaying Sword, he drove the survivors away and began gathering the spoils to take back to his sect.

• Jiang Qing killed the witch beast and several attackers, but the horse-faced cultivator’s exploding Law Artifact damaged his White Cloud Robe and Treasure Light Mirror, while the beast’s blood tainted his Three-Turn Azure Edge Sword.
• Jiang Qing killed the remaining bandits near him as Wang Daoqiong withdrew with his companions, leaving He Degong and Jiang Qing to face the bandit chief’s group.
• Jiang Qing used a sword net to kill five more bandits, then killed two others while his Treasure Light Mirror shattered and the pockmarked woman’s mystic needle was stopped by his Fire Spirit Pendant.
• The bandit chief, the pockmarked woman, and the horse-faced cultivator attacked together, shattering Jiang Qing’s Three-Turn Azure Edge Sword and leaving him badly injured.
• Jiang Qing unleashed the Seven Luminaries Heart-Slaying Sword and killed the bandit chief, forcing the horse-faced cultivator and the pockmarked woman to flee.
• Jiang Qing recovered enough to collect the scattered Law Artifacts and Storage Bags, intending to take them back to his sect leader senior brother.

Kang Dabao returned to the sect, prepared Spirit Awakening Powder, and guided Han Yundao and Duan Anle through drawing spirit into their bodies. Both succeeded, leaving Kang Dabao delighted that his disciples could carry on the sect’s legacy.

• Kang Dabao returned to the sect compound, restored the Lesser Cloud and Mist Formation, and told his disciples to cultivate there.
• Kang Dabao gave Jin Shilun a Daoist scripture and promised to prepare Spirit Awakening Powder for Han Yundao and Duan Anle.
• Kang Dabao studied the sect’s notes on the powder formula and made a batch using the inherited instructions.
• Han Yundao and Duan Anle took the powder with Black Snake Seed and began drawing spirit into their bodies.
• Han Yundao succeeded first, and Duan Anle followed; Kang Dabao sent them to bathe and told them to teach Jin Shilun how to braise pork knuckles.

Kang Dabao taught Han Yundao and Duan Anle cultivation methods and assigned them demanding lessons, then received an invitation to the Fish Mountain Treasure Fair. With twelve days until the fair, he began making plans while his disciples remained kneeling after punishment.

• Kang Dabao tested Han Yundao and Duan Anle's spiritual power and explained the Chongming Sect's inherited cultivation methods.
• Han Yundao chose the Three Yang Scripture, while Duan Anle chose the Azure Wood Treasured Light Guide.
• Kang Dabao gave the youngsters the Original Law Scripture and assigned them technique practice and books to memorize, with regular tests and punishments for poor progress.
• Three months later, Kang Dabao scolded and caned Han Yundao and Duan Anle for errors in their lessons.
• Xie Liusheng delivered Master Fish Mountain's invitation to the Fish Mountain Treasure Fair, and Kang Dabao noted that it would begin in twelve days.

Kang Dabao’s Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes reached minor mastery, and he took his three disciples to Fish Mountain Island to visit its market. He sent the disciples to explore with Wu Meng while he stayed behind, planning to give them a task later.

• Han Yundao, Jin Shilun, and Duan Anle discussed their surprise at Kang Dabao’s sudden decision to take them out.
• Kang Dabao mastered the basics of the Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes and realized the technique made him far more capable in combat and at seeing through illusions.
• Kang Dabao nurtured his Army-Breaking Hammer and Golden Armor Round Shield, then took his disciples by donkey cart to Fish Mountain Island.
• Kang Dabao hired Wu Meng to guide the disciples through the market and gave him a spirit shard for his help.
• Kang Dabao told Han Yundao and Duan Anle to explore with Wu Meng, gave Jin Shilun a yellow talisman for emergencies, and told them to return by the you hour.

Han Yundao, Duan Anle, and Jin Shilun learned about the hardships Rogue Cultivators faced in the market and helped Wu Meng buy medicine for an injured cultivator. They left after delivering the Fire-Dispelling Pills, while Wu Meng and Pei Que hoped the wounded man would recover.

• Wu Meng explained that many Rogue Cultivators struggled to earn Spirit Stones and described the dangers and costs of living in the market.
• Han Yundao, Duan Anle, and Jin Shilun accompanied Wu Meng to Abundant Elixir Hall to buy medicine for his friend’s injured elder.
• The three pooled their Spirit Stones with Wu Meng’s to buy two Fire-Dispelling Pills and gave them to him.
• On the way to the injured cultivator’s home, the group witnessed Immortal Master Lang die after testing medicine for a pharmacy.
• Wu Meng introduced Han Yundao, Duan Anle, and Jin Shilun to Pei Que, whose uncle lay gravely injured with a rotting burn.
• After the three disciples left, Pei Que questioned Wu Meng, who said he had helped them because Pei Que and his uncle had once aided the market’s errand runners.

Kang Dabao met Qin Sufu, who offered him a role in uniting Pingrong County's Rogue Cultivators in service to the court in exchange for a chance at a Foundation Establishment Pill. Kang Dabao challenged the plan's risks and the court's lack of resources, leaving Qin Sufu to reconsider.

• Kang Dabao arrived with his three disciples at the Fellow Cultivators Association and met Qin Sufu, who gave each disciple a high-quality Law Artifact.
• Qin Sufu asked Kang Dabao to help him unite the Rogue Cultivators of Pingrong County and explained that the court might reward him with a Foundation Establishment Pill and a deputy commander's post.
• Kang Dabao considered the low odds and dangers of Foundation Establishment, the court's decline, and the risk of antagonizing powerful sects by serving the court.
• Kang Dabao told Qin Sufu that Pingrong County had remitted no taxes for fifteen years and that even the county magistrate had gone unpaid.
• Qin Sufu admitted that the Fellow Cultivators Association lacked spare funds and agreed that he needed to consider the plan more carefully.

Kang Dabao attended the Fish Mountain Treasure Fair and sold a rare, damaged purple caltrop for 2,550 Spirit Stones. Flush with his earnings, he considered spending them at Mandarin Duck Hall or buying cultivation cauldrons.

• Kang Dabao watched the Fish Mountain Treasure Fair begin as Gui Xiang introduced the lots and the Spirit-Striking Chain sold to Carefree Grotto for 1,800 Spirit Stones.
• Mandarin Duck Hall bought a Mirror-Breaking Pill for 500 Spirit Stones, and Kang Dabao decided not to bid on it for his Second Brother.
• Gui Xiang presented a damaged second-tier purple caltrop, and Kang Dabao revealed that he had salvaged it from Second Sister Song's Venomous Bee Stinger.
• Kang Dabao's purple caltrop sold for 2,550 Spirit Stones after a heated bidding contest.
• Kang Dabao celebrated his earnings and considered visiting Mandarin Duck Hall or buying cultivation cauldrons.

Kang Dabao collected his auction proceeds and tried to keep his disciples away from Wu Meng, but they insisted on checking on him and Pei Que. When Kang Dabao brought them to the injured Pei, he offered medicine and recognized the man on the bed just as the chapter ended.

• Kang Dabao collected 2,430 Spirit Stones from Gui Xiang and left the Fish Mountain Treasure Fair.
• Kang Dabao scolded Han Yundao for wanting to visit Wu Meng, but Han Yundao and the other disciples remained concerned about him.
• Pei Que told his injured uncle that four days remained before their shelter-house stay expired, and his uncle warned him to remain with Wu Meng afterward.
• Kang Dabao and his disciples arrived at Pei's shelter after Wu Meng was thrown inside, and Kang Dabao accused the boys of tricking his disciple.
• Kang Dabao gave Pei's uncle a flask of Cold Cicada Wine, and the man identified its weakness before Kang Dabao recognized him.

Pei Yi reunited with Kang Dabao, who treated his wounds and learned that Pei Yi was pursuing Lü Wen to avenge Pei Que’s parents. When Lü Wen ambushed Pei Yi in the woods, an unseen attacker struck Lü Wen down, leaving Pei Yi alive but still intent on his revenge.

• Kang Dabao recognized Pei Yi, treated his injuries, and urged him to return to Double Brightness.
• Pei Yi told Kang Dabao that his master had died after failing to reach Foundation Establishment and that he had been stuck at the sixth layer of Qi refining for ten years.
• Pei Yi refused to return, explaining that he had to kill the man responsible for Pei Que’s parents’ deaths.
• Lü Wen ambushed Pei Yi near the docks and attacked him with Law Artifacts and talismans.
• Pei Yi used his Spirit-Animating Technique to seize Lü Wen’s weapons, but an unknown attacker broke through Lü Wen’s defenses with two golden beams.
• A distant Law Artifact killed the wounded Lü Wen as he begged Pei Yi for help.

Kang Dabao and Pei Yi discovered that Lü Wen’s strange illness may have come from swallowing a rare Lion Insect egg, and they agreed to investigate the cave abode together. Before they could return to the market, Gui Xiang and his companion ambushed them; Kang Dabao killed the woman and drove Gui Xiang off, though Gui Xiang escaped.

• Kang Dabao disposed of Lü Wen’s corpse, and Pei Yi explained that Lü Wen had swallowed a Grass Stone Pill after finding it in a cave abode.
• Kang Dabao and Pei Yi concluded that the supposed pill might have been a Lion Insect egg and agreed to explore the cave abode with Jiang Qing.
• Vines ensnared Kang Dabao and Pei Yi, and Gui Xiang and a palace-robed woman attacked them with flying swords and a silver mace.
• Kang Dabao freed himself and Pei Yi, then used his Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes to kill the woman while Gui Xiang’s small green snake held Pei Yi.
• Kang Dabao fought Gui Xiang with the Army-Breaking Hammer and shattered Gui Xiang’s jade-green inkstone, but Gui Xiang escaped into the woods.

After Kang Dabao and Pei Yi survived Gui Xiang’s ambush, they returned to the Chongming Sect, recovered, and welcomed Pei Que as a disciple. Their quiet days ended when Jiang Qing returned in terrible condition and collapsed after coughing up black blood.

• Kang Dabao and Pei Yi fled Lingyun Market with the youths and took shelter behind the Chongming Sect’s Red Light Formation.
• Kang Dabao and Pei Yi spent ten days healing, then Pei Que became Kang Dabao’s disciple and quickly began cultivating.
• Kang Dabao guided the disciples and discussed the return of Pei Yi’s and Li Household clansmen with Pei Yi and Wu Meng.
• Duan Anle announced that Jiang Qing had returned, and Kang Dabao and Pei Yi went out to meet him.
• Jiang Qing coughed up black blood and collapsed unconscious in the courtyard.

Cao Hesheng bullied a shopkeeper and his wife, then was whipped by the city lord’s eldest legitimate grandson for falsely claiming kinship with the Kang Household. The young rider arrived at the city lord’s residence, where Kang Dahou asked whether two families had nearly arrived.

• Wei Ni hurried to greet Master Hong, endured three slaps, and paid for his tea before returning to the restaurant.
• Cao Hesheng groped the rouge shop proprietress and ordered her to visit his room, then set off to buy a striped tiger’s penis for his great-grandfather.
• Cao Hesheng tried to claim kinship with the city lord’s eldest legitimate grandson, who whipped and warned him for invoking the Kang Household.
• The rouge shopkeeper watched Cao Hesheng suffer in the street and looked after the departing rider with a cold glint in his eyes.
• The rider reached the city lord’s residence, where Kang Dahou asked whether the two families were almost there.

The Li and Pei households returned to Chongming City, where the patriarchs of eight households were summoned to the Chongming Sect and warned by its Immortal Masters. The chapter ended with Kang Dabao, Pei Yi, Jiang Qing, and Yuan Jin drinking, singing, and dancing together.

• Kang Dahou learned that the Li and Pei households were approaching Chongming City and went out to welcome them.
• The Li and Pei patriarchs arrived with their people and attended a banquet with the other household heads before preparing to visit the immortals.
• Wu Meng brought the eight patriarchs by donkey cart to the Chongming Sect, where Kang Dabao warned Kang Dahou and Pei Yi admonished the Pei and Li patriarchs.
• Wu Meng sent the chastened patriarchs home with ginger soup and a pointed message from the sect master.
• Kang Dabao and his fellow disciples resumed their reunion banquet, and Yuan Jin led them in singing and dancing together.

Kang Dabao scolded Jiang Qing for risking his life on the caravan trip and arranged treatment for his hidden injuries while the brothers discussed the sect’s affairs. Lord Yin Shan visited to apologize for Gui Xiang’s actions, left a mysterious beast egg, and Kang Dabao explained how the revered elder had sacrificed his human form to protect a mortal settlement.

• Kang Dabao reprimanded Jiang Qing for confronting He Degong’s bandits and instructed Pei Yi to find medicine for Jiang Qing’s hidden injuries.
• Kang Dabao ordered the He Household’s goods returned and the remaining spoils inventoried for merit points, while Yuan Jin discussed Changsheng’s prospects and Jiang Qing’s future.
• Kang Dabao prepared to write to He Dezong about the incident before Han Yundao announced that a visitor had arrived.
• Lord Yin Shan came on Qin Sufu’s behalf to apologize for Gui Xiang and left Kang Dabao a mysterious beast egg he had found on Cold Crow Mountain.
• Kang Dabao told the juniors how Lord Yin Shan had endured a Golden Core demon slave’s attack to protect mortals and had lived for a century afterward as their guardian.

After Yuan Jin reported that Evil Cultivators were attacking the Ye Household on Heng Mountain, Kang Dabao organized aid from the Lu and Xue Households and led a group toward the besieged settlement. The Ye Household’s defenders were overwhelmed by the attackers’ forces and their cultivator commander, who ordered the Black Tiger Battalion to storm the ancestral hall.

• Yuan Jin returned to Kang Dabao after learning that several groups of Evil Cultivators were besieging Heng Mountain and destroying the settlement outside the Ye Household’s formation.
• Kang Dabao sent Jiang Qing to summon help from the Lu and Xue Households, then led the Lu cultivators toward the Ye Household while Jiang Qing and the Xue cultivator stayed behind to guard the sect.
• The Ye Household’s fighters used Ten-Ox Crossbows and spear formations to repel the attackers, while Evil Cultivators and their soldiers slaughtered and looted the settlement.
• The Ye Household’s old commander and his ox were killed by a wind blade, and two Ye Martial Ancestors were cut apart by the middle-aged cultivator’s silver strands.
• The middle-aged cultivator ordered the Black Tiger Battalion to advance on the Ye ancestral hall and promised the soldiers seven days of looting.

Kang Dabao, Yuan Jin, Pei Yi, and the Lu Household fighters intervened as the Ye Household’s defenders were being overwhelmed by the allied Evil Cultivators. After Yuan Jin killed the Fire Saber Stronghold master, the attackers’ relief party broke apart, leaving the group to turn back toward the remaining enemies outside the formation.

• Lu Zhen reported that the Ghost Horse Owls, Jia Mountain Bandits, and Fire Saber Stronghold had gathered their core members and recruited Evil Cultivators, including Zhao Gu, their only Late Qi Refinement cultivator.
• Kang Dabao rejected retreat and led the group into the Ye Household’s walled settlement, where the last defenders were being cut down.
• Yuan Jin ambushed the middle-aged cultivator, killed him after luring the Fire Saber Stronghold master and other reinforcements into range, and took the master’s Storage Bag.
• Pei Yi, Lu Zhen, Kang Dabao, and the Lu Household cultivators attacked the relief party, killing several Evil Cultivators and scattering the rest.
• Kang Dabao killed the ghost-faced female cultivator and asked Lu Zhen whether thirty enemies still remained outside the Ye Household’s formation.

The Ye Household’s formation collapsed under Zhao Gu’s assault, leaving the clan exposed to the Evil Cultivators. Kang Dabao’s group delayed its rescue, but Jiang Qing arrived and they set out to help.

• Zhao Gu summoned his refined corpse, which shattered the Ye Household’s formation after the old cultivator exhausted himself trying to hold it together.
• The Jia Mountain bandit chief attacked the thin Daoist with blazing azure flame while the Evil Cultivators killed several Ye Household cultivators.
• Kang Dabao rejected Lu Zhen’s plan to confront the Evil Cultivators immediately and told the group to recover while a messenger sought help from his sect.
• Jiang Qing arrived after arranging for the children and Brother Xue to reach the Lu Household, and Kang Dabao scolded him for leaving the sect on his own.
• Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing headed to rescue the Ye Household, though Kang Dabao feared they might arrive too late.

The gaunt Daoist defended three surviving Ye Household youngsters against the Jia Mountain Bandits and their Evil Cultivator allies, but he was overwhelmed and killed. Jiang Qing arrived, slew the bandit leader and the remaining attackers, then hurried back toward the main battlefield where Zhao Gu and his men threatened his senior brothers.

• The bandit leader’s men failed to find anything worth taking, while the gaunt Daoist held them off with the Ye Household youngsters behind him.
• The exhausted gaunt Daoist wounded the bandit leader with a blood arrow, but the bandit leader recovered and beheaded him.
• A blazing red sword net tore through the attackers as Jiang Qing entered the secret passage.
• Jiang Qing killed the bandit leader and ordered the three Ye Household youngsters to stay where they were.
• Jiang Qing finished off the surviving Evil Cultivators and left to help his senior brothers against Zhao Gu.

Kang Dabao and the Chongming Sect allies fought Zhao Gu’s outlaw cultivators and corpse puppet at the Ye Household compound. Jiang Qing killed Zhao Gu, Yuan Jin destroyed the corpse puppet, and the battle ended in their victory.

• Kang Dabao cut through the weaker outlaw cultivators while Yuan Jin and Pei Yi struggled against Zhao Gu and his corpse puppet.
• The corpse puppet wounded Lu Zhen and broke through Pei Yi’s grass and vine techniques, but Kang Dabao’s Golden Light attack blasted away half its head.
• Yuan Jin blocked Zhao Gu’s Tiger Sha Staff with his perfected Ape Demon Cannon Fist, while Kang Dabao’s support forced Zhao Gu to break off his attack.
• Jiang Qing’s red strike cut Zhao Gu in half as he turned to dodge Kang Dabao’s Golden Light.
• Yuan Jin punched the corpse puppet and snapped its spine, securing victory for the Chongming Sect allies.