Chapter Summaries

Wang Chen used Flowing Needle Piercing Meridians to clear Princess Qingyun’s blocked meridians, leaving her healthy but costing him more spiritual energy and resources than he expected. After she recovered, Princess Qingyun asked him to become her master, and Wang Chen sensed fate shifting.

• Uncle Sun stopped resisting Wang Chen after realizing he could not overpower him, and Wang Chen focused on treating Princess Qingyun.
• Wang Chen used Flowing Needle Piercing Meridians to clear Princess Qingyun’s meridians while she endured the pain without crying out.
• Wang Chen had the maidservants take Princess Qingyun to bathe and change, then told Uncle Sun that treating her had cost him more than he gained.
• Princess Qingyun returned looking healthy and radiant, thanked Wang Chen, and asked him to become her master.
• Wang Chen sensed a shift in the unseen currents of fate after Princess Qingyun’s request.

Princess Qingyun asked Wang Chen to take her as his master, but he refused and instead taught her a Qi-guiding technique pending Emperor Shaowu’s approval. After a failed divination warned Wang Chen of the risks surrounding her fate, Qingyun returned to the palace and sought her brother.

• Princess Qingyun asked Wang Chen to become her master, but he declined unless Emperor Shaowu approved.
• Wang Chen taught Princess Qingyun the Qi-guiding technique, and she quickly learned to circulate Innate Qi through her meridians.
• Uncle Sun urged Princess Qingyun to return to the palace, and she thanked Wang Chen before leaving.
• Wang Chen attempted divination with three copper coins, but the art of the Six Lines failed and cost him one point of fortune.
• Princess Qingyun returned to the palace and asked Emperor Shaowu for something.

Emperor Shaowu learned that Princess Qingyun had asked Wang Chen to clear her meridians and wanted him to teach her Daoist magic. He told her she must marry the Third Prince of Great Yan after the new year, but agreed to let her study with Wang Chen outside the palace beforehand.

• Princess Qingyun told Emperor Shaowu that Wang Chen had cleared her meridians and taught her the Qi-guiding technique.
• Emperor Shaowu refused Qingyun’s request to take Wang Chen as her master, then explained that her marriage to the Third Prince of Great Yan had been arranged as a political alliance.
• Emperor Shaowu said Qingyun would travel to Great Yan after the new year, and she reluctantly agreed to the marriage.
• Qingyun asked to learn Daoist magic from Wang Chen before she left so she could protect herself, and Emperor Shaowu agreed.
• Qingyun asked to study with Wang Chen outside the palace without the Empress Dowager learning of it, and Emperor Shaowu finally consented.

Princess Qingyun became Wang Chen’s disciple by imperial decree and gave him an extravagant tuition gift, increasing his fortune. Later, Wang Chen attended a feast hosted by Prince Jing, Liang Shijie, and was shocked by the prince’s gluttonous appearance.

• Princess Qingyun presented Emperor Shaowu’s decree appointing Wang Chen as her master, then gave him rare medicinal herbs and a gold note worth one hundred thousand taels.
• Wang Chen accepted Qingyun as his disciple and gained one hundred fortune points, though he feared the future backlash.
• Wang Chen told Qingyun to keep practicing her Qi-guiding technique until he could help open her Upper Dantian.
• A maidservant delivered Prince Jing Liang Shijie’s invitation for a gathering at Spring Moon Tower, and Wang Chen decided to attend.
• Wang Chen arrived at the tower’s twelfth floor and found Liang Shijie gorging himself on roast chicken and pork hock.

Wang Chen attended a lavish dinner with Prince Jing, Liang Shijie, who tried to recruit him into the Huben Army while warning him about political strife. After Wang Chen left, Liang Shijie ordered an investigation and consulted Daoist Master Shen, who found no demonic taint but warned that Wang Chen’s fate was impossible to read.

• Liang Shijie welcomed Wang Chen to Spring Moon Tower and challenged him to eat and drink alongside him.
• Wang Chen consumed a vast feast, impressing Liang Shijie with his appetite.
• Liang Shijie offered to recommend Wang Chen for a post in the Huben Army and warned him about dangers in the Imperial Procession Department, but Wang Chen gave no commitment.
• After Wang Chen departed, Liang Shijie ordered a man in gray to investigate Wang Chen and his recent past thoroughly.
• Daoist Master Shen said Wang Chen showed no demonic taint, but his fate was obscure, and advised Liang Shijie to befriend him or strike decisively if he became an enemy.

Wang Chen met Qin Qingxuan, who asked him to borrow a demon-slaying spear shaft from the Imperial Procession Department for their planned hunt. After she gave him the final Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels teachings, he sought leave and asked Liu Chaozong for help borrowing the weapon.

• Wang Chen demonstrated his Daoist magic and reflected that martial cultivation remained his main path.
• Qin Qingxuan visited Wang Chen and explained that they needed a divine spear shaft to destroy a powerful demon and its soul.
• Qin Qingxuan gave Wang Chen the seventh-level method and core mantra of the Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels, trusting him to keep his promise.
• Wang Chen went to the Imperial Procession Department, requested half a month of leave from Liu Chaozong, and asked to borrow a demon-punishing spear shaft.

Wang Chen sought the Demon Character Spear Shaft and offered proof that he had killed the Azure Peak Bandits' leaders to earn the merit needed to borrow it. After Liu Chaozong agreed to submit the claim, Wang Chen resumed cultivating, helped Princess Qingyun advance her practice, and received good news from the Imperial Procession Department.

• Wang Chen told Liu Chaozong that he wanted to borrow the Demon Character Spear Shaft to comprehend Daoist magic, and Liu explained that he needed substantial merit.
• Wang Chen revealed that he had killed the Azure Peak Bandits' two leaders and destroyed their stronghold, then brought their preserved heads to Liu as proof.
• Liu verified the heads and promised to submit Wang Chen's merit claim and try to exchange it for the spear shaft; Wang Chen left him a silver note.
• Wang Chen stayed home cultivating martial skills and Daoist magic, while Liu decided to devote extra effort to securing the spear shaft.
• Princess Qingyun returned, and Wang Chen opened her Upper Dantian and taught her a Qi Condensation and Refinement formula.
• Two days later, Wang Chen received good news and hurried back to the Imperial Procession Department Outer Division to meet Liu Chaozong.

Wang Chen received Spear King Zhao Changping's Demon Character Spear Shaft in exchange for all his merits and subdued it, joining it with the spearhead to complete the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear. The next morning, he went to the Pharmacist Palace and met Qin Qingxuan.

• Liu Chaozong gave Wang Chen the Demon Character Spear Shaft in exchange for his merits and assigned him to the Imperial Procession Department Outer Division as Demon Suppressing Commander.
• Wang Chen suppressed the spear shaft's Killing Intent, refined its spirit with his Mana, and joined it with the spearhead to form the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear.
• Wang Chen controlled the weapon's urge to fight and became its true master.
• Wang Chen visited the Pharmacist Palace, offered incense to the Glass Medicine Master, and followed a Daoist nun to meet Qin Qingxuan.

Wang Chen and Qin Qingxuan infiltrated Zi Xiao Temple to kill its Temple Master, Zhang Shuocheng, whom Qin suspected of being a great demon. Wang Chen pierced Zhang Shuocheng with the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear, leaving the demon wounded and bleeding.

• Qin Qingxuan told Wang Chen that Zhang Shuocheng was suspected of being a demon but had powerful connections, including the Empress Dowager.
• Wang Chen revealed the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear, and Qin Qingxuan drew attention to herself at Zi Xiao Temple while he infiltrated the rear courtyard.
• Zhang Shuocheng sensed Wang Chen and revealed his demonic features when Wang Chen attacked him with the spear.
• Zhang Shuocheng spat out a purple pearl that burst into black mist, then transformed and leaped away.
• Wang Chen dispelled the black mist and pierced Zhang Shuocheng's transformed body with the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear.

Wang Chen killed Zhang Shuocheng, destroyed the great demon possessing him, and left Zi Xiao Temple as its demonized cultivators erupted into a fight. After months of peaceful cultivation in Great Ye City, Wang Chen prepared to advance his Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels, but Princess Qingyun unexpectedly came to see him.

• Wang Chen killed Zhang Shuocheng with the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear, gained 75 Luck, and burned the demon's corpse.
• Zi Xiao Temple cultivators discovered their Temple Master’s corpse and several of their companions’ demonic transformations, triggering a fierce melee.
• Wang Chen refined the tainted power absorbed by the spear, then told Qin Qingxuan that the mission was accomplished.
• Wang Chen and Qin Qingxuan returned to Great Ye City, where she thanked him and he asked her to tell him about future demons.
• Wang Chen explored Great Ye City and the capital region, then reported for duty and spent his free time cultivating and teaching Princess Qingyun.
• After months of cultivation, Wang Chen prepared to challenge the final level of the Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels, but Princess Qingyun visited him one night.

Princess Qingyun told Wang Chen she had to marry Great Yan’s Third Prince and asked him to escort her to Luoyuan. After Emperor Shaowu appointed Wang Chen as her protector and marriage envoy, Wang Chen secluded himself in Qingmu Mountain and successfully broke through to the Seventh Tier, becoming a Martial Saint.

• Princess Qingyun visited Wang Chen at night, told him of her arranged marriage to Great Yan’s Third Prince, and asked him to escort her to Luoyuan.
• Wang Chen agreed to escort Princess Qingyun if Emperor Shaowu approved, and found her handmade pastries and stolen Daoist Canon books after she left.
• Emperor Shaowu appointed Wang Chen Crown Prince’s Grand Protector and Imperial Envoy of Marriage, ordering him to protect Princess Qingyun and complete the alliance.
• Wang Chen left the city for Qingmu Mountain and began breaking through the final Stinking Lung Wheel of the Mysterious Heaven Seven Fiend Wheels.
• Wang Chen overcame the bottleneck and reached the Seventh Tier, becoming a Martial Saint.

Wang Chen reached the Heavenly Human Realm in Cangqing Realm and continued seeking its world origin while preparing to escort Princess Qingyun to Great Yan. As the procession departed Great Ye City, Sun Zhengheng warned that the journey might be dangerous.

• Wang Chen entered the Heavenly Human Realm, sensed the Haotian Realm, and chose to continue exploring Cangqing Realm for a wisp of its world origin.
• Wang Chen reunited with Xi Jun in Great Ye City and crafted protective talismans before his journey with Princess Qingyun.
• Great Qi breached Yan Yun Pass and overran much of Northern Commandery as Great Liang struggled with threats on several fronts.
• Wang Chen joined Princess Qingyun's lavish wedding escort as Imperial Envoy of Marriage, with Sun Zhengheng commanding the Imperial Forest Guards.
• Sun Zhengheng told Wang Chen he feared the journey to Great Yan would not be easy.

Wang Chen accompanied Princess Qingyun’s marriage procession west and taught her Daoist magic during the journey. As the procession entered the dangerous West Sea Great Grassland, Sun Zhengheng warned that the White Wolf Bandits might have ties to Great Yan, and a wolf howl sounded as the guards camped for the night.

• Princess Qingyun asked Wang Chen to visit her carriage, then continued studying Daoist magic by sending him questions during the journey.
• A month later, the procession reached the West Sea Great Grassland, where Sun Zhengheng warned Wang Chen about the mounted bandits, especially the powerful White Wolf Bandits.
• Sun Zhengheng said the White Wolf Bandits were rumored to have connections to Great Yan and asked Wang Chen to take Princess Qingyun to safety if the procession fell into danger.
• The procession stopped to camp in the open, and a distant wolf howl startled several Imperial Forest Guards.

Wang Chen took action against the horse bandits who had harassed the marriage alliance procession for days. He slaughtered more than a hundred of them overnight, restoring the procession’s morale and raising his prestige.

• Sun Zhengheng told Wang Chen that the wolf howls and mounted scouts indicated the procession had been marked by horse bandits.
• After three days of harassment weakened the Imperial Forest Guard, Wang Chen ordered the soldiers to stay in camp and said he would handle the bandits.
• Wang Chen and the procession prepared a fortified camp as the horse bandits gathered in the darkness.
• Wang Chen shot down the attacking horse bandits, killing more than a hundred and driving the survivors into flight.
• The Imperial Forest Guard found the bandits’ bodies the next morning, and Wang Chen’s prestige rose throughout the procession.

Wang Chen insisted the marriage alliance convoy continue toward Lianyun Mountain, promising to face the bandits' main force alone. As the convoy reached the mountains, scouts confirmed thousands of bandits were gathering, and one returned gravely wounded.

• Sun Zhengheng warned that the bandits might concentrate near Lianyun Mountain, but the officers rejected detouring or splitting the convoy's forces.
• Wang Chen said the convoy should follow its route while he fought the bandits alone if their main force appeared.
• The marriage alliance convoy reached Lianyun Mountain, where Sun Zhengheng sent riders to scout ahead.
• A trained eagle and a warning whistle-arrow signaled that enemies were nearby, so Sun Zhengheng ordered the convoy into a defensive wagon formation.
• Scouts reported at least five groups of bandits, totaling three to four thousand, were converging, and the last scout returned riddled with arrows and covered in blood.

After a wounded scout warned that more than ten thousand White Wolf Bandits were approaching, Wang Chen prepared the convoy for battle. He killed the bandit sent to demand a ransom and then charged alone into the enemy ranks, while Princess Qingyun watched in awe.

• Wang Chen rescued the wounded Imperial Forest cavalryman, healed him with a Blade Soldier Talisman, and learned that over ten thousand mounted bandits were nearby.
• Sun Zhengheng sounded the battle horn, and the Imperial Forest Guards readied their crossbows as the White Wolf Bandits surrounded the convoy.
• A bandit envoy demanded half the convoy’s goods and fifty women, but Wang Chen ordered him killed, and crossbow bolts pierced him as Wang Chen’s force prevented his escape.
• Wang Chen seized the Great Hao Demon Punishing Spear and rode alone toward the mounted bandits, while Princess Qingyun watched him from her carriage in admiration.

Wang Chen charged alone at the White Wolf Bandits, deflecting their arrow volleys and shattering a powerful shot with his spear. White Wolf recognized him as a sixth-tier Martial Venerable and led the bandits into a desperate fight as Wang Chen closed in.

• White Wolf rebuked his subordinate for treating the bandits like mere thieves, then ordered his men to kill Wang Chen when he rode toward them alone.
• The bandits fired repeated volleys, but an invisible gale swept their arrows away from Wang Chen.
• A fierce bandit shot Wang Chen with the Purple Mist Bow, but Wang Chen struck the Armor Piercing arrowhead apart with his spear.
• White Wolf identified Wang Chen as a sixth-tier Martial Venerable, ordered the bandits to form up, and resolved to fight rather than retreat.
• White Wolf unleashed a full-strength halberd strike to stop Wang Chen long enough for the bandits to surround him.

Wang Chen killed White Wolf with one spear strike and routed the bandit army, earning 150 Luck for the first time by killing an enemy. As the Imperial Forest Guards joined the pursuit, Princess Qingyun watched Wang Chen's victory from her carriage.

• White Wolf burned his life potential and attacked Wang Chen, but Wang Chen shattered his halberd and killed him with a single strike.
• Wang Chen gained 150 Luck for killing White Wolf, then charged into the bandits and cut down their forces with his spear.
• The bandits lost their formation, panicked, and fled as Wang Chen continued his slaughter, causing their army of more than ten thousand to collapse.
• Sun Zhengheng rallied the Imperial Forest Guards and led them out to intercept and kill the fleeing bandits.
• Princess Qingyun watched the battle from her carriage and saw Wang Chen break the bandit army alone.

After Wang Chen helped the Imperial Forest Guard defeat the mounted bandits, Princess Qingyun asked him to take her away rather than marry into Great Yan. He promised to help after the delegation completed its mission, but she reconsidered for the sake of the alliance and thanked him.

• The Imperial Forest Guard finished defeating the mounted bandits, and Sun Zhengheng presented Wang Chen with the heads of three White Wolf Bandit leaders.
• Sun Zhengheng led a thousand guards to Lianyun Mountain to destroy the bandits' lair while Wang Chen stayed to protect Princess Qingyun.
• Princess Qingyun summoned Wang Chen and praised his victory before asking him to take her away so she would not have to marry the Third Prince of Great Yan.
• Wang Chen agreed to take Princess Qingyun away after delivering her safely to Great Yan, explaining that leaving immediately would endanger Sun Zhengheng and the guards.
• Princess Qingyun reconsidered because her disappearance could ruin the alliance and benefit Great Qi, then thanked Wang Chen for his kindness.

After destroying the White Wolf Bandits, Wang Chen’s marriage convoy crossed West Sea Prefecture and reached Hanhai City, where it settled in Mingyu Palace. The convoy prepared to rest before crossing Baili Gorge into Great Yan.

• Sun Zhengheng reported the spoils from the White Wolf Bandits’ lair, and Wang Chen accepted his share of the treasure.
• The convoy reached West Sea’s prefectural capital, where the bandit leaders’ heads were displayed and Wang Chen received more than a million taels in rewards.
• The convoy crossed into Hanhai Prefecture and traveled through its desolate frontier lands to Hanhai City.
• Hanhai City welcomed the convoy, which settled in Mingyu Palace to rest before crossing Baili Gorge.
• A merchant delivered sheep, wine, and kitchen staff, and the Imperial Forest Guards began a feast with roasted meat.