Chapter Summaries

Gu Shao'an brought Bright Jade Pills to Mount Emei, where Abbess Miejue used one to break through into the Condensing Essence into Gang realm. He warned the Emei elders that the Azure Dragon Society’s return could bring a violent campaign to subdue the martial world, leaving them to consider how the sect might be targeted.

• Gu Shao'an gave Bright Jade Pills to Abbess Miejue and the others, and the pill helped Miejue break through into the Condensing Essence into Gang realm.
• Abbess Miejue celebrated her breakthrough and thanked Gu Shao'an, who said he had not taken a pill because Huang Xuemei’s absorbed cultivation remained unrefined.
• Shitai Jueyuan suggested that Emei display Miejue’s new strength, but Gu Shao'an said the timing was wrong because the Azure Dragon Society was about to return to the martial world.
• Gu Shao'an and the elders discussed which first-rate factions the Azure Dragon Society might target, and he predicted Zhu Houzhao intended to bring the martial world under imperial control through extreme measures.
• Gu Shao'an warned that the Azure Dragon Society might act according to the principle, “Those who follow me prosper; those who oppose me perish,” and recalled how its campaign would weaken the Great Wei Kingdom’s factions before Li Tang’s invasion.

Gu Shao'an arranged secret meetings with Zhang Zhenren and Gongzi Yu to interfere in the Azure Dragon Society crisis, while continuing to strengthen himself. Lang Fanyun arrived at Emei sooner than expected, bringing his gravely ill wife, Ji Xixi.

• Gu Shao'an asked Abbess Miejue to secretly invite Zhang Zhenren to Emei and sent Abbot Juechen to summon Gongzi Yu for a meeting.
• Gu Shao'an explained that he intended to oppose Zhu Houzhao and Bai Xiaosheng's plans, and Abbess Miejue and Abbot Juechen agreed to help.
• Abbess Miejue departed in disguise, while Gu Shao'an hoped to delay Bai Xiaosheng's scheme and gain more time to grow stronger.
• Gu Shao'an cultivated the Diamond Body Divine Skill until it reached the eleventh level.
• Gu Shao'an saw Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan cultivating with He Shi Bi fragments, then Bei Jinyi informed him that Lang Fanyun had arrived at Emei.
• Gu Shao'an entered the Golden Summit Hall and saw Lang Fanyun supporting his pale, weakened wife, Ji Xixi.

Gu Shao'an treated Ji Xixi’s poisoning and discovered that she had been poisoned over time by someone close to her. Lang Fanyun left his wife to recover at Emei while preparing to investigate the Raging Dragon Gang, and Gu Shao'an agreed to discuss Lang Fanyun’s sword intent later.

• Gu Shao'an calmed Lang Fanyun, whose Gang Yuan had become chaotic, then restored the flow of his power.
• Gu Shao'an used medicine and precisely controlled water needles to draw the poison from Ji Xixi, leaving her stable and expected to wake in six hours.
• Gu Shao'an told Lang Fanyun that Ji Xixi had been poisoned with Soul Returning Powder and the accumulated toxin One Thread Connection, suggesting her poisoner was someone close to her.
• Lang Fanyun asked to leave Ji Xixi at Emei while he returned to the Raging Dragon Gang to find the poisoner, and Gu Shao'an agreed.
• Lang Fanyun asked whether Gu Shao'an had reached the third realm of the sword path, and Gu Shao'an agreed to discuss Lang Fanyun’s sword intent when he returned to examine Ji Xixi.

Huang Xuemei delivered Round Moon Gate’s movable assets to the Emei Sect, then met Abbess Miejue and Zhang Sanfeng. Zhang Sanfeng tested Gu Shao'an’s newly reached Heavenly Sword Realm and calmly deflected his opening attack.

• Huang Xuemei brought the Round Moon Gate’s money, medicines, and other assets to the Emei Sect, explaining that its martial arts manuals had been returned to the Heavenly Dragon Gate.
• Gu Shao'an introduced Huang Xuemei to Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo, then took Huang to meet Abbess Miejue and Zhang Sanfeng at the rear mountain.
• Zhang Sanfeng sensed Gu Shao'an’s sword aura and learned that he had reached the Heavenly Sword Realm beyond unity of man and sword.
• Zhang Sanfeng moved Gu Shao'an outside and challenged him to demonstrate his new realm.
• Gu Shao'an spread his sword intent and Gang Yuan across the rear mountain, then used Sword One: Spring Willow against Zhang Sanfeng.
• Zhang Sanfeng redirected and dispersed Gu Shao'an’s sword qi with a slow sweep of his sleeve.

Gu Shao'an used his Sword Domain to maneuver Zhang Sanfeng into a sword prison, but Zhang Sanfeng dispersed it with Taiji before they began a serious exchange. Gu Shao'an’s Flying Immortal strike wounded Zhang Sanfeng’s palm, and Zhang Sanfeng acknowledged the depth of Gu Shao'an’s Heavenly Sword Realm.

• Gu Shao'an formed sword qi from Heaven and Earth Power and Momentum, gradually enclosing Zhang Sanfeng in a sword prison.
• Zhang Sanfeng recognized Gu Shao'an’s chess-inspired technique and dispersed the surrounding sword qi with a Taiji diagram.
• Gu Shao'an drew the Heavenly Sword and attacked Zhang Sanfeng with Sword Eleven: Flying Immortal.
• Zhang Sanfeng used his palm to deflect the strike and send Gu Shao'an flying, but the sword tip left a wound in his palm.
• Zhang Sanfeng praised Gu Shao'an’s Heavenly Sword Realm and said his swordsmanship had surpassed his own.

Gu Shao'an watched Abbess Miejue and Zhang Sanfeng trade barbs before asking Zhang Sanfeng to assess the imperial court’s Heavenly Human Realm fighters. After learning he had a chance against the two acting together and that his Sword Eleven: Flying Immortal could surpass Zhu Qiyang’s strongest move, Gu Shao'an felt reassured about the strength he might need to reveal next.

• Zhang Sanfeng praised Gu Shao'an’s swordsmanship, and Abbess Miejue defended Emei while teasing Zhang Sanfeng about Wudang’s disciples.
• Huang Xuemei learned through Gu Shao'an that the elders’ bickering reflected their close relationship and came to appreciate Emei.
• Gu Shao'an asked about the imperial court’s Zhu Qiyang and Wang Yizhao, and Zhang Sanfeng judged Gu Shao'an stronger than either one alone but gave him only an even chance against both together.
• Zhang Sanfeng explained that Zhu Qiyang’s strongest move likely could not surpass Gu Shao'an’s Sword Eleven: Flying Immortal, and revealed he had observed Zhu Qiyang at the imperial palace last year.
• Gu Shao'an felt reassured after confirming the opponents’ strength and considered his [Diamond Body] and [Immovable as a Mountain] traits among his key advantages.

Gu Shao'an told Zhang Sanfeng, Huang Xuemei, and Abbess Miejue that Bai Xiaosheng was a Great Sui agent manipulating Zhu Houzhao’s plans to turn Great Wei and the Great Yuan Kingdom against each other. As they waited for Zhu Houzhao to arrive, Abbess Miejue accepted Huang Xuemei’s wish to marry Gu Shao'an and gave the couple guidance, leaving Gu Shao'an and Huang Xuemei together in West Garden.

• Gu Shao'an revealed that Bai Xiaosheng of Bai Xiaoge was a Great Sui agent seeking to draw Great Wei and the Great Yuan Kingdom into conflict.
• Gu Shao'an said he had sent a message to Zhu Houzhao and planned to raise Bai Xiaosheng’s allegiance with him, while Zhang Sanfeng agreed to wait at Emei Sect.
• Zhang Sanfeng went to stay in Gu Shao'an’s former room, and Abbess Miejue teased him about his lack of worthy heirs.
• Abbess Miejue asked Huang Xuemei whether she intended to marry Gu Shao'an, and Huang Xuemei said she was willing.
• Abbess Miejue advised Huang Xuemei to wait until the political crisis passed before marrying and let her decide whether to continue leading Heavenly Dragon Gate or join Emei Sect.
• Gu Shao'an and Huang Xuemei walked to West Garden, where they shared tea and spoke about finding peace with the right person by one’s side.

Gu Shao'an discussed Huang Xuemei’s musical breakthrough and treated her lingering injuries before meeting Zhu Houzhao on the Golden Summit. He warned Zhu Houzhao that Bai Xiaosheng was advancing Great Sui Kingdom’s plan to destroy Great Wei and Great Yuan, but Zhu Houzhao claimed he already knew Bai Xiaosheng’s origin and believed he could control him.

• Huang Xuemei told Gu Shao'an that playing the Clear Heart Benevolent Melody had advanced her Eight Sounds of the Heavenly Dragon, and Gu Shao'an explained that medicinal wine would heal her hidden injuries.
• Gu Shao'an stopped Yang Yan from playing the Sky Demon Qin before she had learned the Eight Sounds of the Heavenly Dragon.
• Shitai Jueyuan informed Gu Shao'an that Zhu Houzhao had arrived, and Gu Shao'an went alone to meet him at the Golden Summit main hall.
• Gu Shao'an described Zhu Houzhao’s plans to use the Azure Dragon Society against Great Wei’s factions and target Great Yuan’s martial world, then warned that Bai Xiaosheng was secretly serving Great Sui Kingdom.
• Zhu Houzhao said he had always known Bai Xiaosheng was from Sui and insisted that, as the Son of Heaven, he could make Bai Xiaosheng submit.

Gu Shao'an discovered that the masked man posing as Zhu Houzhao was actually King Zhen, Zhu Qiyang, who explained his confidence in confronting Bai Xiaosheng and Great Yuan. Zhu Qiyang agreed that the Azure Dragon Society would leave Heavenly Dragon Gate alone if it obeyed the court, then raised another matter to discuss.

• Zhu Qiyang, disguised as Zhu Houzhao, described his plan to unite Great Wei's martial world under the court and force Great Yuan's Heavenly Human Realm experts to act.
• Gu Shao'an tested Zhu Qiyang with a sudden sword qi attack and recognized that his Gang Yuan was not Zhu Houzhao's.
• Zhu Qiyang removed his mask, and Cao Zhengchun identified him as King Zhen while the veiled woman reacted with shock.
• Zhu Qiyang said he had come to assess Gu Shao'an and invited him to state what he wanted.
• Gu Shao'an asked the Azure Dragon Society to spare Heavenly Dragon Gate, and Zhu Qiyang agreed on condition that the sect obeyed the court.
• Zhu Qiyang said their discussion about Heavenly Dragon Gate was over and introduced another matter.

Gu Shao'an confronted King Zhen Zhu Qiyang, who tried to kill him to prevent him from treating Zhu Houzhao. On a plain beyond Mount Emei, Gu Shao'an overwhelmed Zhu Qiyang with sword qi infused with Heaven and Earth Power, and Zhu Qiyang recognized the Swordplay of Chess before asking how Gu Shao'an knew Fu Cailin's technique.

• Zhu Qiyang demanded that Gu Shao'an cut off his own right foot, but Gu Shao'an refused and neutralized Zhu Qiyang's attack with a single step.
• Gu Shao'an revealed that Tu Baichuan had died because he had come looking for trouble, then vanished from the hall and challenged Zhu Qiyang to fight elsewhere.
• On a plain beyond Mount Emei, Zhu Qiyang said he considered Gu Shao'an a greater threat than Zhu Houzhao's wasting illness and launched a killing strike.
• Gu Shao'an countered Zhu Qiyang's palm with sword qi carrying Heaven and Earth Power, forcing Zhu Qiyang to retreat and wonder how Gu Shao'an could wield such power.
• Gu Shao'an trapped Zhu Qiyang with his Sword Domain and successive strands of sword qi, prompting Zhu Qiyang to recognize the Swordplay of Chess and ask about Gu Shao'an's connection to Fu Cailin.

Gu Shao'an fought Zhu Qiyang, a Greater Three Harmonies Heavenly Human Realm expert, and killed him after Zhu tried to break through his sword domain. With Zhu dead, Gu Shao'an accepted that his hostility had made killing him necessary, despite the consequences for relations with the imperial court.

• Gu Shao'an kept Zhu Qiyang at bay with his sword domain, anticipating his movements and preventing him from closing the distance.
• Zhu Qiyang unleashed a shockwave and ordered Cao Zhengchun and the snow-veiled woman to help him, but they hesitated.
• Zhu Qiyang sent a massive crimson palm print through Gu Shao'an's sword domain and charged behind it, shielding himself from the remaining sword qi.
• Gu Shao'an drew the plain's grass into a dragon-shaped tide of sword qi, which shattered Zhu Qiyang's palm and broke through his bronze-bell defense.
• A golden blade of grass pierced Zhu Qiyang's brow and killed him before he could finish invoking his royal status.
• Gu Shao'an reflected that Zhu Qiyang's hostility and power had left him no choice but to kill him.

Gu Shao'an killed Zhu Qiyang, a powerful imperial court martial artist, and sent Cao Zhengchun back to Zhu Houzhao with a demand for an explanation. He then told Zhang Sanfeng and Abbess Miejue that Emei Sect had become a force the court must reckon with, leaving the sect secure within the Great Wei Kingdom.

• Gu Shao'an killed Zhu Qiyang and ordered Cao Zhengchun to take the body to Zhu Houzhao and demand a satisfactory explanation.
• Cao Zhengchun and the veiled woman discussed how Zhu Qiyang's death endangered the court's plans against the Great Yuan Kingdom, then left with his body.
• Gu Shao'an met Zhang Sanfeng and Abbess Miejue at Da E's rear mountain and explained that Tu Baichuan had also come looking for trouble before he killed him.
• Zhang Sanfeng explained that Zhu Qiyang had been unable to flee Gu Shao'an's Sword Domain and chess-and-sword method.
• Gu Shao'an declared that the court needed to learn what it could and could not do, and Abbess Miejue recognized that Emei Sect had become a power the imperial court would fear.

After Zhu Qiyang’s death, Gu Shao'an discussed the Emei Sect’s future relationship with the court and revealed his plan to use Zhu Houzhao to draw out Bai Xiaosheng. He then opened a system reward chest and discovered a drop of Dragon Yuan Liquid that could strengthen a martial artist’s body and cultivation.

• Gu Shao'an argued to Zhang Sanfeng and Abbess Miejue that the Emei Sect might need to intervene in court affairs if the imperial family threatened the martial world.
• Gu Shao'an explained that he wanted Zhu Houzhao’s help finding Bai Xiaosheng, a powerful enemy who had escaped him before, and Zhang Sanfeng agreed to keep watch at Emei.
• Abbess Miejue teased Zhang Sanfeng about Gu Shao'an being her disciple, and Zhang Sanfeng departed from the pavilion.
• Gu Shao'an checked the system reward for killing Zhu Qiyang and opened a Special Achievement Treasure Chest.
• Gu Shao'an received an Evil Emperor's Relic Fragment, nine Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom Seeds, and a drop of Dragon Yuan Liquid, whose description promised increased lifespan and cultivation and strengthened qi, blood, and body.

Gu Shao'an consumed a drop of Dragon Yuan Liquid, which strengthened his cultivation and vital blood while helping his essence seed bloom into a flower. After testing his newly empowered sword Qi, he noticed Zhang Sanfeng watching him.

• Gu Shao'an drank Dragon Yuan Liquid and circulated his Gang Yuan as its energy surged through his body.
• The Dragon Yuan Liquid strengthened Gu Shao'an's vital blood and transformed his essence seed into a crimson-gold flower in his lower dantian.
• Gu Shao'an gained ten years of cultivation, refined the remaining Brocade Skill from Huang Xuemei, and tested his blood-infused sword Qi on a boulder.
• Gu Shao'an crushed the boulder into powder with a single strike and realized his vital blood could carry the force of Lifting the Light as if Heavy.
• Gu Shao'an turned toward a tree and saw Zhang Sanfeng standing beneath it with a candied hawthorn skewer.

Zhang Sanfeng explained why Gu Shao'an’s powerful Essence Flower made ordinary Greater Three Harmonies risky and warned him to balance his future Qi and Spirit Flowers before attempting Three Essences United. He then offered Gu Shao'an his alternative Martial Dao Golden Elixir method, which refined Essence, Qi, and Spirit separately before combining them, leaving Gu Shao'an astonished by the idea.

• Gu Shao'an asked Zhang Sanfeng about the quality and benefits of his newly condensed Essence Flower, and Zhang Sanfeng demonstrated how qi and blood could stabilize an injury and aid recovery.
• Gu Shao'an asked why Zhu Qiyang’s attacks had seemed ordinary, and Zhang Sanfeng explained that Gu Shao'an’s Heavenly Sword Realm and sword qi empowered by Heaven and Earth Power had countered Zhu Qiyang’s close-combat techniques.
• Zhang Sanfeng explained that true Greater Three Harmonies required Essence, Qi, and Spirit to be balanced, and warned Gu Shao'an that his unusually powerful Essence Flower would make that difficult.
• Zhang Sanfeng advised Gu Shao'an to cultivate stable, pure Qi and Spirit Flowers and wait until all three Flowers could match before attempting Three Essences United.
• Zhang Sanfeng introduced his Martial Dao Golden Elixir method, which refined Essence, Qi, and Spirit into separate, stable elixirs before combining them within the Qihai Acupoint.
• Gu Shao'an listened as Zhang Sanfeng described how the three elixirs would interlock into a flawless Martial Dao Golden Elixir, and he was astonished by the method.

Gu Shao'an learned Zhang Sanfeng’s Martial Dao Golden Elixir method and discovered that Zhang’s former jade fragment was another He Shi Bi fragment. After demonstrating his Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art, Gu Shao'an considered whether his Evil Emperor's Relic Fragment could help him find the full relic before Bai Xiaosheng.

• Zhang Sanfeng explained how yin and yang, the power of heaven and earth, and martial momentum shaped the Essence, Qi, and Spirit elixirs, then taught Gu Shao'an the Martial Dao Golden Elixir method.
• Gu Shao'an showed Zhang Sanfeng the He Shi Bi fragment he had obtained from the Five Poisons Saint Child, and Zhang confirmed it matched a fragment he had once found while suppressing bandits with Guo Xiang.
• Gu Shao'an demonstrated his Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art, and Zhang Sanfeng dispersed its Wind God manifestation with the redirecting force of his Taiji Fist Manual.
• Gu Shao'an taught Zhang Sanfeng the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art, and Zhang went off to study it.
• Gu Shao'an examined his Evil Emperor's Relic Fragment and considered using it with the He Shi Bi fragment to locate the full relic before Bai Xiaosheng could obtain it.

Gu Shao'an refined his essence flower into an essence pill, strengthening his control of qi and blood and transforming how he wielded his martial arts. After learning that Zhu Houzhao had arrived at Emei’s Golden Summit, Gu Shao'an invited him to West Garden, where their meeting began.

• Gu Shao'an condensed his essence flower into an essence pill and discovered that it let him infuse his qi and blood with martial momentum.
• Gu Shao'an tested his transformed power by crushing a massive boulder with a palm strike and reflected on Zhang Sanfeng's Martial Dao Golden Elixir method.
• Gu Shao'an assessed the progress of his qi and spirit seeds and considered seeking the He Shi Bi in Cihang Jingzhai's possession to improve his cultivation.
• Huang Xuemei told Gu Shao'an that Zhu Houzhao had reached the Golden Summit, and Abbess Miejue and Zhang Sanfeng arrived shortly afterward.
• Gu Shao'an returned to West Garden and asked Shitai Jueyuan to bring Zhu Houzhao to meet him there.
• Zhu Houzhao arrived with Cao Zhengchun and a veiled woman, looked at Gu Shao'an, and felt a faint melancholy.

Gu Shao'an learned that Bai Xiaosheng was manipulating tensions between the Great Wei and Great Yuan Kingdoms to target him and the Emei Sect, and agreed to join Zhu Houzhao’s plan to ambush the Great Yuan forces. He arranged for Zhang Sanfeng to guard Emei before departing for the border, while Abbess Miejue and Zhang Sanfeng emerged looking grim.

• Zhu Houzhao explained that Zhu Qiyang had learned of Gu Shao'an’s healing ability through the dead traitor Patriarch Sunflower, and warned that the Great Yuan Kingdom might exploit the court’s weakened strength.
• Zhu Houzhao asked Gu Shao'an to join him, Old General Wang, and two Shaolin experts in an ambush against Ba Shibaba and Si Hanfei at One Line Sky.
• Gu Shao'an recognized Bai Xiaosheng’s scheme to provoke conflict between the kingdoms and shift blame for any defeat onto him and the Emei Sect.
• Gu Shao'an agreed to travel to the border after Zhang Zhenren arrived to guard Emei, and warned Zhu Houzhao against the court overstepping again.
• After Zhu Houzhao left, Zhang Sanfeng and Abbess Miejue emerged from the training forest, both looking grim.

Gu Shao'an decided to travel to Great Yuan alone to draw Bai Xiaosheng out, while Zhang Sanfeng stayed behind to protect Emei and the people he cared about. As Gu Shao'an set out, Bai Xiaosheng learned of his departure and prepared to act on his prediction that Zhang Sanfeng would remain at Emei.

• Abbess Miejue, Zhang Sanfeng, and Gu Shao'an discussed Bai Xiaosheng's scheme to provoke conflict between Great Wei and Great Yuan and put Emei's reputation at risk.
• Gu Shao'an rejected Zhang Sanfeng's offer to accompany him, arguing that Bai Xiaosheng might hide if Zhang Sanfeng went instead, and asked him to guard Emei.
• Gu Shao'an revealed that his Diamond Body Divine Skill had reached the Glimpse the Path stage of the twelfth level and resolved to kill Bai Xiaosheng before seeking the He Shi Bi and the Evil Emperor's Relic.
• The next morning, Gu Shao'an left Emei for Wudang before continuing toward Great Yuan.
• At an inn north of Great Wei, Bai Xiaosheng received a report that Gu Shao'an had left Emei and told Yan Jing'an that Zhang Sanfeng would likely stay behind to protect Emei.

Gu Shao'an reached Beiwang Prefecture and reunited with Zhu Houzhao and the others as they prepared to confront Great Yuan’s forces at One Line Sky. Zhu Houzhao assigned Gu Shao'an to face Ba Shibaba, and the group planned to depart the next day.

• Gu Shao'an traveled through Shuoyang Prefecture and continued toward the borderlands while cultivating the Diamond Body Divine Skill.
• A messenger led Gu Shao'an to a courtyard in Beiwang Prefecture, where he reunited with Zhu Houzhao, Wang Yizhao, Xuan Mie, Du Shan, Cao Zhengchun, Shangguan Jinhong, and the veiled woman.
• Zhu Houzhao reported that Bai Xiaosheng had entered Great Yuan’s palace and that forces were gathering for an expedition into Great Wei.
• Zhu Houzhao said Si Hanfei and Ba Shibaba would lead nearly ten first-rate experts toward Great Wei in five days, and proposed that the group leave for One Line Sky the next day.
• Zhu Houzhao assigned Wang Yizhao and himself to face Great Yuan’s first-rate experts, Xuan Mie and Du Shan to face Si Hanfei, and Gu Shao'an to face Ba Shibaba.
• Gu Shao'an accepted the assignment, and Zhu Houzhao urged the group to help secure Great Wei’s safety from Great Yuan.