Chapter Summaries

Shen Jingchuan persuaded Xu Jingting to take a cultivation pill, which restored Xu Jingting’s youth and health. He then asked Xu Jingting to serve as the matchmaker for his marriage to Yan Shuyao.

• Shen Jingchuan explained that the pill came from the cultivation world and asked Xu Jingting to take it to keep it from attracting trouble.
• Xu Mo and Zhou Tong vouched for Shen Jingchuan, and Xu Jingting swallowed the pill.
• The pill rejuvenated Xu Jingting, leaving him looking like a man in his early thirties and feeling strong and refreshed.
• Xu Jingting thanked Shen Jingchuan for the precious gift, and Shen Jingchuan said he had a request.
• Shen Jingchuan told Xu Jingting that Yan Shuyao had been betrothed to him and asked Xu Jingting to act as his matchmaker.

Shen Jingchuan persuaded Xu Jingting to act as matchmaker for his marriage to his master, then revealed his cultivation to Xu Mo and Zhou Tong. He gave Xu Mo and Zhou Tong Life-Extending Pills and promised to rescue Zhou Tong’s imprisoned family, leaving the friends reassured after the pills restored their vitality.

• Zhou Tong and Xu Mo teased Shen Jingchuan about marrying the famed talented woman, and Xu Jingting agreed to act as matchmaker.
• Shen Jingchuan promised Zhou Tong he would rescue his imprisoned family, despite Zhou Tong warning that an imperial prince was behind their arrest.
• Shen Jingchuan revealed his cultivation by conjuring a flame, then gave Xu Mo a Life-Extending Pill for his mother.
• Shen Jingchuan made Xu Mo and Zhou Tong swallow Life-Extending Pills, and both expelled black grime before washing and returning refreshed.
• Zhou Tong felt reassured that Shen Jingchuan could save his family, and the three drank together until late at night.

Shen Jingchuan sent Xu Mo to meet Yan Wenbin while he and Zhou Tong secretly left for Chang'an to rescue Zhou Tong’s imprisoned family. They reached the city after flying there on Shen Jingchuan’s winged spirit horses.

• Xu Mo thanked Shen Jingchuan on his mother’s behalf, then agreed to visit Yan Wenbin in Shen Jingchuan’s place.
• Shen Jingchuan told Zhou Tong to disguise himself and travel with him to Chang'an to free his imprisoned family.
• Shen Jingchuan released Big Black and Little Black from his space, and the two horses carried him and Zhou Tong out of the city.
• Zhou Tong was startled when the horses flew, then grew exhilarated as they passed over villages, roads, and rivers.
• Shen Jingchuan and Zhou Tong landed in a grove outside Chang'an, and Zhou Tong marveled that they had arrived so quickly.

Shen Jingchuan and Zhou Tong entered Chang'an, and Shen Jingchuan promised to break Zhou Tong’s family out of prison. After sneaking into the prefectural yamen’s prison, they found the Zhou family in a cell, and Zhou Tong revealed himself to them.

• Shen Jingchuan used a small flame to convince the Chang'an gate guards to let him and Zhou Tong enter without a travel permit.
• At an inn, Zhou Tong explained that his connections were uncertain, and Shen Jingchuan said he would rescue the Zhou Household’s people that night.
• Around four in the morning, Shen Jingchuan and Zhou Tong covered their faces and flew by sword to the prefectural yamen’s prison.
• Shen Jingchuan broke the prison’s chain, subdued one jailer, and forced another to lead them to the Zhou family.
• Zhou Tong saw his parents, wife, concubine, and children huddled in a cell; Shen Jingchuan knocked out the jailer, and Zhou Tong tore off his face covering and opened the cell.

Shen Jingchuan rescued Zhou Tong and his family from prison in Chang'an and carried them by flying horses to the Azure Cloud Stronghold. They arrived safely at a secluded courtyard, where Zhou Tong's family faced their new surroundings.

• Zhou Tong reunited with his parents, wife, concubine, and children in the prison while Shen Jingchuan began freeing the other prisoners.
• Shen Jingchuan instructed the freed prisoners to wait, then knocked out the guards at the prison's main gate and led Zhou Tong's family outside.
• Shen Jingchuan summoned Big Black, Little Black, and Treading Snow, and the group mounted the spirit horses to flee Chang'an by air.
• The horses carried everyone safely through the night beneath shields of Spiritual Power toward the Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• Guards recognized Shen Jingchuan as he returned, and he brought Zhou Tong's family to an empty courtyard inside the stronghold.

Shen Jingchuan brought Zhou Tong’s rescued family to Azure Cloud Stronghold and settled them in his empty courtyard, where Liu Zhong’s household and Lin Yue’s family helped provide food, baths, and clothes. After the family rested, Zhou Tong’s father explained how political rivals had imprisoned them over the Zhou Household’s businesses, leaving their case forgotten after the men behind it died.

• Shen Jingchuan stored the horses in his space and offered Zhou Tong’s family rooms in his courtyard near Yuxi Prefecture.
• Shen Jingchuan introduced Zhou Tong’s family to Liu Zhong and asked Liu Zhong’s household to prepare breakfast, hot water, and daily necessities.
• Lin Yue arrived after hearing Shen Jingchuan had returned, then brought clothes and supplies for Zhou Tong’s family.
• Liu Zhong’s family and Lin Yue’s wife helped the Zhou family wash, eat, change clothes, and settle into the rooms.
• Zhou Tong’s father told Shen Jingchuan, Lin Yue, and Zhou Tong that Prince Jing’s Heir and a prince had tried to seize the Zhou Household’s businesses, framed him, and left the family imprisoned after both men died.

Shen Jingchuan explained why Yuxi Prefecture had rebelled and asked Zhou Tong to decide what his family would do. Zhou Tong and Lin Yue chose to join the rebellion, while Shen Jingchuan claimed Azure Cloud Stronghold as his territory and promised to protect their families.

• Shen Jingchuan told Zhou Tong's father that the drought and the court's refusal to provide relief had driven the people of Yuxi Prefecture to revolt.
• Zhou Tong's father left the family's future in Zhou Tong's hands, then went to rest.
• Zhou Tong decided his family would stay at Azure Cloud Stronghold and join the rebellion after hearing that Lin Yue had killed government troops.
• Shen Jingchuan offered Zhou Tong a role in governing or managing army supplies and urged him to persuade his father to help.
• Lin Yue said he and his elder brother would head down the mountain to join the army, and asked Shen Jingchuan to look after Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• Shen Jingchuan declared Azure Cloud Stronghold his territory, called it an immortal's residence, and promised to protect both families.

Shen Jingchuan returned to the Capital, completed the betrothal arrangements with the Yan Household, and learned that the imperial army had set out for Yuxi Prefecture. After estimating the army at nearly three hundred thousand, he flew back to warn the people there.

• Shen Jingchuan flew back to the Capital and told Xu Mo that Zhou Tong's family was safe at Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• Xu Jingting brought the betrothal presents to the Yan residence and completed the proposal formalities on Shen Jingchuan's behalf.
• Shen Jingchuan monitored the imperial camp while speaking with Xu Jingting and Xu Mo about court affairs.
• The imperial army marched out toward Yuxi Prefecture, and Yan Chongli warned Shen Jingchuan to be careful.
• Shen Jingchuan surveyed the army from above, estimated it at nearly three hundred thousand, and flew toward Yuxi Prefecture.

Shen Jingchuan encountered refugees on the imperial road to Yuxi Prefecture and gave them grain, instructions, and weapons to help them survive the approaching imperial army. He continued toward Yuxi Prefecture as the refugees hailed him as the Black Horse Immortal Venerable.

• Shen Jingchuan landed beside the refugees, who knelt and called him the Black Horse Immortal Venerable.
• Shen Jingchuan warned the refugees that the imperial army was following them and distributed ten thousand sacks of grain.
• Shen Jingchuan appointed four elders to organize a congee station, distribute grain fairly, and move the refugees off the road after two days.
• Shen Jingchuan refused to attack the imperial army because it had not provoked him, but gave the refugees steel pipes to sharpen into spears and told them to defend themselves if soldiers attacked.
• Shen Jingchuan mounted Big Black and flew onward toward Yuxi Prefecture as the refugees called farewell to him.

Shen Jingchuan distributed grain to refugees heading for Yuxi Prefecture, then replenished his supplies and returned to the prefectural yamen to warn Hu Tieniu that imperial troops were coming. He found Lin Shan, Lin Yue, and Zhou Tong had joined the army, as more senior officers arrived to meet with him.

• Shen Jingchuan left grain along the refugees’ route and urged those near Yuxi Prefecture to hurry, but they refused to turn back and vowed to defend their last chance to live.
• When his grain ran low, Shen Jingchuan traveled to the modern world and took the newly purchased grain from Meng Ke’s warehouse.
• Shen Jingchuan told Meng Ke to buy another ten thousand tons of grain and returned to Big Black to finish setting up distribution points.
• Shen Jingchuan flew to the prefectural yamen to tell Hu Tieniu that imperial troops were coming, and the guards welcomed him back.
• Lin Shan, Lin Yue, and Zhou Tong told Shen Jingchuan they had joined the army, while Zhou Tong said his father was helping manage supplies.
• Several senior officers entered the hall as Shen Jingchuan and the others talked.

Shen Jingchuan informed the rebel generals that a 300,000-strong imperial army was marching from the Capital and exchanged captured valuables for supplies to feed the growing number of refugees. He gave Zhou Tong’s father a Life-Extending Pill, then flew back toward the Azure Cloud Stronghold.

• Shen Jingchuan told Hu Tieniu and the generals about the imperial army’s numbers, route preparations, and limited provisions.
• Hu Tieniu explained that tens of thousands of refugees were arriving and asked Shen Jingchuan for grain, so Shen took gold and jewels from the treasury while leaving the silver for troop pay.
• Shen Jingchuan promised to bring grain and weapons, then asked Zhou Tong to stay behind with him.
• Shen Jingchuan gave Zhou Tong a Life-Extending Pill for Father Zhou, who swallowed it and quickly regained his health.
• Zhou Tong thanked Shen Jingchuan on his father’s behalf, and Shen Jingchuan flew away on his sword before riding Big Black toward the Azure Cloud Stronghold.

Shen Jingchuan gathered grain and military supplies, strengthened Azure Cloud Stronghold, and prepared its defenders as the government army approached. The government army’s vanguard split off, and He Kui led five thousand troops to attack the stronghold while Qin Biao continued toward Yuxi Prefecture.

• Shen Jingchuan arranged for old reserve grain to be shipped to his warehouse and Yuxi Prefecture, and brought weapons supplies and houses to the other world.
• The army’s craftsmen made spears and crossbows, while the recruits drilled in their new equipment and the women settled into houses in the Heaven and Earth Ring.
• Shen Jingchuan scouted the approaching government army and, after learning it was near, stayed out of secluded cultivation to watch the defenses with Lin Weiyuan.
• Qin Biao and He Kui discussed Azure Cloud Stronghold’s defenses, and Qin Biao ordered He Kui to capture it while the cavalry advanced toward Yuxi Prefecture.
• He Kui marched five thousand troops and siege equipment to Azure Cloud Stronghold, where Lin Weiyuan and two hundred defenders waited on the wall.

Shen Jingchuan stopped the government army’s assault on Azure Cloud Stronghold by killing its commander, He Kui, and the troops retreated. After learning that the stronghold was an immortal master’s base, Duke Xiao Chenglie consulted the two cultivators hidden in his army, who chose not to intervene during the war.

• Lin Weiyuan warned the government troops to withdraw, but He Kui ordered them to continue attacking.
• Shen Jingchuan flew to He Kui, withstood his saber blows, and snapped his neck as a warning to the army.
• The government troops retreated with He Kui’s body, and the defenders cheered.
• Qin Biao heard the returning officer’s account and sent a messenger to Duke Xiao Chenglie.
• Xiao Chenglie learned that an immortal master had killed He Kui, while Xiao Xuan suggested confronting the cultivator and Xiao Zhen advised waiting until the war was over.

Shen Jingchuan’s supplies helped Hu Tieniu prepare Yuxi Prefecture’s rebel army to face Xiao Chenglie’s 210,000 government troops. After four days of siege preparations and taunts, Xiao Chenglie ordered an assault, and the government army began attacking the city walls.

• Xiao Chenglie ordered his army to bypass Azure Cloud Stronghold and continue toward Yuxi Prefecture.
• Shen Jingchuan supplied the rebels with food, armor, and weapons, bringing their forces to 350,000 men.
• Xiao Chenglie surrounded Yuxi Prefecture with his army and prepared siege equipment while Hu Tieniu refused to send his troops outside the reinforced walls.
• After three days of insults and delay, Xiao Chenglie assigned the government troops their tasks and ordered an attack on the fourth morning.
• Government shield bearers, ladder carts, siege towers, and catapults advanced as Hu Tieniu’s defenders fired crossbow bolts from the walls.

Shen Jingchuan watched the government army’s siege of Yuxi as Hu Tieniu, Lin Shan, Lin Yue, and Zhou Tong used firearms to destroy the attackers’ siege engines and hold the walls. The cultivators Xiao Xuan and Xiao Zhen recognized that the autocannon could threaten them as well.

• Shen Jingchuan watched the government troops attack Yuxi from a hill outside the city.
• Hu Tieniu ordered the autocannon at the south gate to destroy siege towers, ladder carts, and catapults, while the defenders repelled soldiers climbing the ladders.
• Lin Shan and Lin Yue used machine guns to smash siege engines at the east and west gates, and Zhou Tong learned to operate his machine gun at the north gate.
• The firearms and crossbow volleys devastated the attackers, while the city’s armored defenders suffered casualties as they fought to protect their families.
• Xiao Xuan and Xiao Zhen watched the autocannon’s destruction and Xiao Zhen warned that it could threaten cultivators like them.

Xiao Zhen and Xiao Xuan decided to seize the autocannon after watching the government troops suffer heavy casualties, then climbed the city wall to attack. Shen Jingchuan intervened just as Xiao Xuan neared the weapon and Xiao Zhen fought toward Hu Tieniu.

• Xiao Zhen and Xiao Xuan heard similar weapons firing from the other sides of the city and concluded that the defenders had only a few.
• After seeing the government troops lose men in repeated assaults, Xiao Zhen and Xiao Xuan resolved to seize the autocannon and kill the Rogue Cultivator at Azure Cloud Stronghold.
• The two cultivators blended in with the soldiers and climbed the wall, where Xiao Zhen charged through the defenders toward the weapon.
• Hu Tieniu fired his submachine gun at Xiao Zhen, whose Spiritual Power shield withstood the bullets, and Xiao Zhen rushed toward the gate tower.
• Xiao Xuan headed for the unattended autocannon while Shen Jingchuan rode Little Black toward the wall and shouted at the cultivators to draw them out.

Shen Jingchuan intervened when two Xiao Household cultivators attacked the defenders at Azure Cloud Stronghold, killing them with Little Black and the Five Elements Heaven and Earth Ring. The government army retreated, while Shen Jingchuan warned its commander to tell the Xiao Household that he would answer any attempt at revenge.

• Shen Jingchuan rode Little Black to the south gate and called the two Xiao Household cultivators out of the fighting.
• Xiao Xuan attacked Shen Jingchuan, but Little Black struck him down with lightning as Shen Jingchuan's Five Elements Heaven and Earth Ring overwhelmed Xiao Zhen.
• Little Black's second lightning bolt killed Xiao Zhen, and Shen Jingchuan collected the two bodies before flying to the government army's command banner.
• Hu Tieniu rallied the defenders, who resumed firing and hailed Shen Jingchuan as the Black Horse Immortal Venerable, while the government troops abandoned the siege and retreated.
• Shen Jingchuan told Xiao Chenglie that the Xiao Household could seek revenge directly, then returned to the mountaintop as Xiao Chenglie watched him leave in fear.

After Shen Jingchuan defeated the government’s immortal masters, the government troops withdrew, boosting rebel morale and strengthening worship of the Black Horse Immortal Venerable. Xiao Chenglie’s commanders debated whether the mysterious immortal would interfere again, while Hu Tieniu gathered the rebel generals to plan their next battle.

• Xiao Chenglie ordered the government troops to withdraw after Shen Jingchuan defeated their immortal masters, ending the siege by noon.
• Yuxi Prefecture’s recruits and disaster victims gained confidence, and more households began worshipping statues of the Black Horse Immortal Venerable.
• Xiao Chenglie’s advisers and generals discussed their low morale, dwindling supplies, and fear that Shen Jingchuan might attack them again.
• An adviser argued that Shen Jingchuan would stay out of the fighting unless the government sent more immortal masters, and Xiao Chenglie agreed the idea made sense.
• Hu Tieniu met with Lin Shan, Lin Yue, Zhou Tong, and the rebel generals, then asked them to discuss how to fight the next battle.

Hu Tieniu and his officers decided to defend Yuxi Prefecture while preparing to sortie, as a prolonged siege could leave nearby people vulnerable to looting. Xiao Chenglie’s government army rebuilt its siege equipment and launched another assault, and Hu Tieniu spotted Xiao Chenglie’s command banner within the autocannon’s range.

• Lin Shan urged Hu Tieniu to hold the city, while Zhou Tong warned that the enemy might plunder the countryside if the siege dragged on; Hu Tieniu agreed that they should prepare to fight.
• Xiao Chenglie’s generals reported that the army had only a month of provisions and that the city’s defenses had thwarted their siege equipment.
• Xiao Chenglie ordered his troops to build more siege engines and attack in three days, postponing plans to requisition grain from the locals.
• Three days later, Xiao Chenglie led tens of thousands of government troops and a huge force of siege equipment toward the city walls.
• Hu Tieniu used Shen Jingchuan’s telescope to spot the command banner and ordered a guard to fire the autocannon toward it.

Hu Tieniu used the cannon to kill the government army’s commander and destroy its siege equipment, leaving the attacking troops shaken. As their formation faltered, he ordered Zhang Qing to lead the reserve force through the south gate in a charge.

• Hu Tieniu took the cannon from the primary gunner and fired at the commander’s banner, killing Xiao Chenglie and the officers and guards around him.
• Shen Jingchuan recognized that the government army’s command center had been destroyed, while Hu Tieniu ordered the primary gunner to target the siege equipment.
• The cannon shattered siege towers, ladders, catapults, and shields, and the crossbowmen on the walls rained bolts on the exposed government soldiers.
• Hu Tieniu announced that the commander had been killed and ordered Zhang Qing to gather the reserve force behind the city gate.
• When the government troops became disorganized, Hu Tieniu ordered Zhang Qing to open the south gate and charge, and Zhang Qing led the reserves out to attack.