Chapter Summaries

After Created Being Xiao Wu escaped the ancestors of the Thirteen Noble Families, Yan Xianshi and Feng Tianhuan plotted to use the imperial examinations to advance Young Master toward the vacant True King throne. Meanwhile, Chen Shi and his companions sheltered traveling scholars in an ancient temple in Nanfeng Province, where Hongyi Cannons suddenly targeted them.

• The ancestors of the Thirteen Noble Families admitted that Created Being Xiao Wu had exposed their strength and agreed to stay together to plan their next move.
• Created Being Xiao Wu retrieved his umbrella from the child, reflected on failing to prevent a bystander’s death, and went to drink soy milk despite his injuries.
• Feng Tianhuan urged Yan Xianshi to reclaim the Grand Scholar post, and Yan revealed that the Yan family would support Young Master as a candidate for the top scholar and a future True King.
• Chen Shi and his companions sheltered dozens of traveling examination candidates from Nanfeng Province’s fierce winds and warned them that a voice outside the temple belonged to an evil entity.
• After the wind stopped, the scholars spotted Hongyi Cannon shells approaching the ancient temple, and Chen Shi recognized the attack.

Chen Shi and the recommended scholars survived an artillery ambush, while Sun Yisheng was badly wounded protecting them. After reaching safety, Chen Shi taught the scholars a new cultivation method and left into the night to settle a score with their attackers.

• Great Five Thunder Talisman shells struck the group, and Chen Shi’s Luo Tian Grand Ceremony umbrella shielded them from the final blast.
• Sun Yisheng discovered scouts in the clouds and killed three Divine Machine Battalion attackers, but a shell wounded his primordial spirit.
• Chen Shi and the scholars escaped the artillery range, and the lantern kept approaching evil spirits away as they sheltered overnight.
• Huang Fengnian and other scholars prepared medicine that stabilized Sun Yisheng, while Black Pot took him into the netherworld to recover.
• The recommended scholars shared their struggles, and Chen Shi taught them the Seven Refinements of the Big Dipper and promised to teach them cultivation techniques.
• Chen Shi left the carriage to attack the artillery force, saying he would wipe them out that night.

Chen Shi hunted down the Divine Machine Battalion’s camps in the storm after learning they had targeted him and the traveling scholars. He killed one camp’s crew, then surrounded Cao Chuting’s camp with stolen projectiles and detonated them, leaving Cao Chuting’s fate uncertain.

• Chen Shi crossed the storm to find a camp where Divine Machine Battalion soldiers guarded a Hongyi Cannon and discussed their orders to kill him.
• Chen Shi killed the soldiers and seized their projectiles, sparing the black dog beneath their cart.
• Chen Shi headed for the next camp after hearing that Lord Cao was a Void Refining Realm expert and resolving to eliminate the remaining threats.
• Cao Chuting prepared to attack Chen Shi’s party once the storm passed, confident that Sun Yisheng was badly injured.
• After the wind stopped, Cao Chuting discovered projectiles surrounding his camp, and one projectile triggered a chain of explosions that engulfed his fleeing Primordial Spirit as Chen Shi watched from afar.

Chen Shi led a growing company of imperial scholars toward Western Capital, sharing cultivation techniques that helped many of them break through and survive the Huangyan Mountain Range. The group reached the capital under attack, but a protective umbrella shielded them as Chen Shi led them inside.

• Chen Shi returned to the scholars after destroying Cao Chuting’s camp with artillery, and he told the injured Sun Yisheng that Cao had died in a gunpowder accident.
• Chen Shi taught the scholars cultivation methods from the True King’s Tomb, and their ranks and strength grew as more examinees joined them.
• Chen Shi organized the scholars into the Ten Absolute Array, whose terrifying power drove away hidden ambushers before the group crossed the Huangyan Mountain Range.
• Chen Shi discovered that teaching and discussing cultivation had helped him understand the Xiao Lang Emperor Chapter Art, and he began practicing it cautiously.
• As Chen Shi led more than two hundred and sixty scholars toward Western Capital, attackers struck with lightning, but a giant silk umbrella shielded the group and they entered the city.

Chen Shi arrived in the Western Capital and reunited with Chen Tang, who welcomed him but refused to acknowledge him as his son. As Chen Shi prepared to leave, he saw his mother Ayu, whose mind had long since faded.

• Chen Shi entered the Western Capital with Sun Yisheng and drew attention as the Child Scholar who had returned from the dead.
• Prefect Xia Jiuge warned Chen Shi to avoid trouble in the capital, and Chen Shi went with Sun Yisheng to Chen Tang's residence.
• While waiting in the main hall, Chen Shi examined a painting of Huangpo Village and spotted a scholar speaking to the hanged ghost.
• Chen Tang arrived and thanked Sun Yisheng for bringing Chen Shi safely to the capital.
• Chen Tang told Chen Shi he could stay but would not acknowledge him as his son, and the two argued until Chen Shi smashed the table and tried to leave.
• Chen Shi saw his mother Ayu in a wheelchair, and Chen Tang gently told her their son had come home.

Chen Shi reunited with Chen Tang and his catatonic mother, moved into the Chen Mansion with Black Pot and the wooden cart, and clashed with Chen Tang over family rules and expenses. As Chen Shi’s return stirred the capital and officials discussed how to control him, Created Being Xiao Wu asked Chen Tang to treat Chen Shi well, prompting Chen Tang to accuse him of taking everything from him.

• Chen Shi met his catatonic mother, learned that grief had driven her soul far from her body, and moved into the Chen Mansion with Black Pot and the wooden cart.
• Chen Tang objected to Black Pot sitting at the dinner table, but relented and warned Chen Shi not to reveal his extraordinary nature or rely on Chen Tang to support the wooden cart.
• Chen Shi offered money to help with household expenses, and Chen Tang urged him to accept an official post rather than behave like a dissolute young master.
• News of Chen Shi’s arrival spread through Xijing, and Yan Xianshi advised cabinet ministers to control him by giving him status, family ties, and personal attachments.
• After court, Chen Tang met Created Being Xiao Wu, who said the Li Family ancestor had promised information about the person who obtained Chen Shi’s Divine Embryo.
• Created Being Xiao Wu asked Chen Tang to treat Chen Shi well and offered to take him in, and Chen Tang angrily accused Xiao Wu of stealing his father, teacher, paternal affection, and son.

Chen Shi sought help from two underworld messengers to retrieve his mother's lost soul, only to learn she had followed him into the Underworld and been imprisoned as his accomplice. The boatman and his daughter agreed to help if Chen Shi first captured the reincarnated fugitive Zhong Kui.

• Chen Tang taught Chen Shi how to care for his unconscious mother and warned him to avoid Xiao Wu and Qiao Zhuo.
• Chen Shi brought several juren to examine his mother, and they made spiritual pills that greatly increased Chen Tang's lifespan.
• Chen Shi went to Qu Shang River to find two soul-seeking underworld messengers, while Chen Tang learned he had gone to a pleasure house.
• Chen Shi offered the messengers his Ram Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp, but the boatman refused and revealed that Chen Shi's mother had entered the Underworld to find him and was imprisoned there as his accomplice.
• The boatman and his daughter agreed to help rescue Chen Shi's mother if he captured the reincarnated underworld fugitive Zhong Kui.

Chen Shi agreed to hunt down the escaped Yin messenger Zhong Kui in exchange for help reclaiming his mother's soul, then took up his post overseeing the Guangji Treasury. After Ma Zongzhou and other officials tried to humiliate him, Chen Shi beat them and threatened to launch them on dragon-headed fire-arrows unless Gongtian Prefecture apologized.

• Chen Shi agreed to find and capture Zhong Kui in Duxian County so the boatman and boat girl would help retrieve his mother's soul.
• Chen Tang told Chen Shi that his Guangji Treasury appointment was a trap and urged him to act cautiously and meticulously.
• Chen Shi took office and inspected the treasury's weapons, becoming eager to test its powerful firearms and talisman weapons.
• Ma Zongzhou arrived with Zhou Qianying, Wang Ping, and other officials, demanded that Chen Shi kowtow, and claimed authority to inspect the weapons.
• Chen Shi knocked Ma Zongzhou and the others down, tied them to dragon-headed fire-arrows, and ordered Sun Yisheng to demand an apology from Gongtian Prefecture.

Xia Jiuge tried to force Chen Tang to surrender his post by using Chen Shi’s confrontation at the Guangji Treasury as leverage, but senior ministers intervened and the political pressure shifted onto Xia Jiuge. Chen Tang was left wondering how his son had drawn such powerful support, while Xia Jiuge was ordered to retire.

• Sun Yisheng hurried to warn Chen Tang that Chen Shi had beaten and detained Gongtian Prefecture officials, while Xia Jiuge prepared to use the incident to trap Chen Shi.
• Chen Tang sent Sun Yisheng to seek help from someone in Tingyu Tower, but the person refused to come; Chen Tang then intercepted Xia Jiuge and heard his demand that Chen Tang resign or lose his son.
• Xia Jiuge’s party arrived at the Guangji Treasury, where Chen Shi confronted the officials and refused to submit as they demanded his arrest.
• Xia Canghai arrived and stopped the confrontation, then rebuked Xia Jiuge and ordered him to resign; Gao Quan and Yan Shuhe also congratulated Chen Shi.
• Sun Yisheng told Chen Tang that the person in Tingyu Tower had refused to help, while Chen Tang and Sun Yisheng wondered why the Grand Secretariat ministers supported Chen Shi.
• Xia Canghai told Xia Jiuge that the Xia family would not support him at the cost of offending a taboo, and Xia Jiuge lowered his head with tears in his eyes.

Chen Shi uncovered the political fallout from the Gongtian Prefecture purge and gathered his allies in the Western Capital to pursue Zhong Kui. The chapter ended with Chen Shi preparing to confront Zhong Kui, backed by Heavenly Court veterans and Guangji Treasury’s weapons.

• Zhang Fuzheng publicly signaled his support for Chen Tang, while Gongtian Prefecture’s officials were arrested and Xia Jiuge resigned.
• Chen Shi and Chen Tang discussed why the noble families feared Chen Shi, including the corpse cloud and the demons possibly hidden within his body.
• Chen Shi met Situ Wen, who revealed that Luban Gate, Red Mountain Hall, and several Heavenly Court figures had established themselves near the Western Capital.
• Chen Shi gave Situ Wen the Mysterious Mechanism Myriad Changes Furnace and asked him to apply its techniques to Luban Gate treasures.
• Chen Shi summoned Granny Sha, Green Goat, and Hu Xiaoliang to Guangji Treasury, where Black Dog concealed their removal of weapons and supplies.

Chen Shi cultivated the Xiao Lang Emperor Chapter Art and discovered that placing his Nascent Soul in his shrine let him safely open a sixth heaven and greatly accelerate his progress. After realizing his soul was too solid to merge with his Nascent Soul, he decided to enlarge the Nascent Soul to match it, then returned to the Western Capital as news spread that the Young Master had arrived.

• Granny Sha and the others took firearms from the Guangji Treasury, while Situ Wen collected weapons to study and reproduce.
• Chen Shi told Granny Sha that he planned to capture the reincarnated nether bailiff Zhong Kui, and then cultivated the Xiao Lang Emperor Chapter Art in an empty warehouse.
• When Chen Shi tried to close his sixth heaven, his vital blood surged out of control, but his divine embryos helped him draw it back safely.
• Chen Shi realized he could use his own Nascent Soul as a divine embryo; from the shrine, he opened six heavens without danger and advanced his cultivation.
• Chen Shi found that his soul had become too solid to merge with his Nascent Soul, so he decided to cultivate the Nascent Soul until it matched his body's size.
• As Chen Shi returned to the Western Capital, people at the city gates cried out that the Young Master had arrived.

Chen Shi watched the Young Master kill Du Wanshu and heard Chen Tang warn that the killing was a calculated show of righteousness. After arguing with his father, Chen Shi traveled to Death Valley with Black Pot, Granny Sha, Qingyang, and Hu Xiaoliang to investigate a possible reincarnation of the underworld official Zhong Kui.

• The Young Master arrived in Western Capital on a fire Qilin and executed Du Wanshu, accusing him of keeping evil spirits and pursuing immortality.
• Chen Tang told Chen Shi he believed Du Wanshu had been framed and killed so the Young Master could build political momentum.
• Chen Shi argued with Chen Tang about his upcoming journey and his companions, then left the next day with Black Pot to meet Granny Sha, Qingyang, and Hu Xiaoliang.
• The group traveled to Du County, where Zhuge Jian said he had found a possible reincarnated minor underworld official named Tie Chi, born in Shennan Village in Death Valley.
• Zhuge Jian described Tie Chi's birth and childhood rumors as the group passed a school where Chen Shi briefly suspected the leopard-headed teacher, Yong Nan.

Chen Shi and his companions subdued Tie Chi, only to discover that the private school teacher Yong Nan was the true reincarnation of Zhong Kui. Zhong Kui overwhelmed Granny Sha, Hu Xiaoliang, and Green Goat, forcing Chen Shi to send them into the underworld, where Black Pot carried everyone away as Zhong Kui pursued them.

• Zhuge Jian brought a corrupted monk from Huaguang Temple to Shennan Village, and Tie Chi emerged, swallowed the monk, and ate his chain.
• Green Goat challenged Tie Chi to repeated headbutts before Hu Xiaoliang and Granny Sha joined forces to bind and seal him.
• Chen Shi recognized the fleeing private school teacher Yong Nan as Zhong Kui, and Zhong Kui struck Green Goat, Hu Xiaoliang, and Granny Sha with overwhelming force.
• Granny Sha attacked Zhong Kui with iron caltrops, but he emerged from the thunder-fire and swallowed one of them.
• Chen Shi used the Youquan Swimming Dragon Sword to send Granny Sha and the others into the underworld, then followed with Zhuge Jian, Black Pot, and the wooden cart.
• Black Pot caught the others on its back and fled as Zhong Kui reached into the underworld after them.

Chen Shi and his companions escaped Zhong Kui’s pursuit with help from the Underworld’s Fire and Earth Judges, then reached Western Capital and learned about its powerful treasures and the Six Paths of Reincarnation. As they headed toward Gaoshan County, Chen Shi spotted an ambush near the Guangji Treasury and realized he had found a way to deal with Zhong Kui.

• Granny Sha, Hu Xiaoliang, and the Green Goat fought Zhong Kui while the Black Pot fled, until the Fire and Earth Judges attacked Zhong Kui and tried to drag him into the Underworld.
• Chen Shi summoned Empress Shi Ji to shatter and absorb a wave of skeletons, while he and Zhuge Jian fought off the surrounding lava goblins and bones.
• The group discovered that the Green Goat had died, but Granny Sha explained that he would revive after basking in moonlight.
• Near Western Capital, Granny Sha explained the city’s nine palace treasures, powerful Void Realm Primordial Spirits, and the Six Paths of Reincarnation.
• Chen Shi and Granny Sha identified a cluster of reincarnation halos as an ambush near the Guangji Treasury, and the Black Pot carried them toward Gaoshan County.
• After Zhong Kui stopped pursuing them, Chen Shi thought of someone who could help deal with him.

Chen Shi brought Nannan to Death Valley and found Zhong Kui, who recognized her as the Benevolent Lord and agreed to help. Chen Shi then enlisted Zhong Kui to force a boatman and his daughter to help save his mother.

• Granny Sha showed Chen Shi how to use the Youquan Flowing Dragon Sword to travel between the Underworld and the Yang World, and Chen Shi left Gaoshan County for Xijing.
• Chen Shi avoided the Guangji Treasury, where Shen Hongniang and her allies waited to ambush him, and instead traveled with Nannan and Black Pot toward Death Valley.
• At Yong Nan's home, Nannan's presence caused the group to enter the Underworld, where Zhong Kui recognized her as the Benevolent Lord and agreed to assist Chen Shi.
• Zhong Kui explained that he and Tie Chi had been reincarnated as Yong Nan and another mortal, with their ghostly forms emerging at night.
• Chen Shi brought Zhong Kui to a pleasure boat in Xijing and asked him to beat the boatman and his daughter until they agreed to help save Chen Shi's mother.

Chen Shi brought the horse-headed father and daughter to Nannan, securing their promise to help find his mother’s soul, then returned home and sparred with Chen Tang as he prepared for the metropolitan examination. Chen Tang subdued him with a chopstick and carried him to bed, while Shen Hongniang’s ambush at the Guangji Treasury waited in vain for Chen Shi.

• The boatman and his daughter were defeated by Tie Chi, and the boat girl knelt to Chen Shi and agreed to help find his mother’s soul.
• Chen Shi brought the father and daughter to Nannan, then learned from Hu Feifei that the Palace Examination was only days away and promised to study for it.
• Chen Shi returned home and told Chen Tang that his two friends would go to the Underworld after recovering from their injuries.
• Chen Shi and Chen Tang sparred in the room, but Chen Tang defeated him with a chopstick before he could force his father to stand.
• Chen Tang carried the exhausted Chen Shi to bed, while Shen Hongniang and the Hongniang Association waited at the Guangji Treasury for him to arrive.

Chen Shi trained to improve his combat skills after Chen Tang repeatedly defeated him, then set out for the Guangji Treasury. On the road, he killed Shen Hongniang and used a silk umbrella to dispose of her companions.

• Chen Shi analyzed his loss to Chen Tang, practiced spells, and challenged him again, but Chen Tang defeated him with chopsticks and sent him to bed.
• After another failed challenge, Chen Shi realized he should rely on his combat instinct, speed, and timing rather than trying to master every spell or sword technique.
• Chen Shi left for the Guangji Treasury with Heigou while Shen Hongniang and her group waited nearby to ambush him.
• As Chen Shi's carriage passed Shen Hongniang's sedan, he struck first, killing her with a sword and the Five Thunder Spell.
• Chen Shi used a silk umbrella to suck up Shen Hongniang's companions, then shook their blood and shattered bones out of it.

Young Master and the Western Capital factions weighed the fallout from Shen Hongniang’s death while Chan Master Rumeng accused Young Master of engineering it. Abbess Chanyue sent Saintess Xuan to dissuade Chen Shi from competing for top scholar, but Xuan found him training with overwhelming power at Guangji Treasury.

• Cao Yunning told Young Master that Chen Shi had killed Shen Hongniang and seven Hongniang Association hall masters, and Young Master ordered his people not to retaliate or act without permission.
• Abbess Chanyue and Saintess Xuan discussed Shen Hongniang’s secrets until Chan Master Rumeng arrived and argued that Young Master had used Chen Shi to eliminate Shen Hongniang.
• Chan Master Rumeng challenged Abbess Chanyue over the use of Consort Ming Meditation at Little Golden Flower Temple, then left after Chanyue denied the accusation.
• Abbess Chanyue ordered Saintess Xuan to persuade Chen Shi to stop competing for top scholar, authorizing her to use force or bring him to the temple if necessary.
• Saintess Xuan heard thunderous sounds at Guangji Treasury and realized they came from Chen Shi’s movements rather than a thunder technique.
• Saintess Xuan entered the rear courtyard and saw Chen Shi training within six layers of Nascent Soul force fields; he refined them into his body and approached her.

Chen Shi continued refining his body and rejected Saintess Xuan’s plea to abandon the top scholar contest, unaware that she had confessed her feelings. On the road back to the Western Capital, he refused Yulingzi’s attempt to recruit him for the Young Master and vowed to kill the Young Master as well as Shen Hongniang.

• Saintess Xuan warned Chen Shi that the Li family would punish anyone who practiced its secret Minor Tribulation Fortune Dispelling Art, but Chen Shi said his more advanced version was a family heirloom.
• Saintess Xuan asked Chen Shi to give up the top scholar contest for the Young Master, then offered to marry him; Chen Shi rejected the offer and insisted he would compete.
• Saintess Xuan left for the Bodhi Dojo in tears, while Chen Shi resumed practicing body-refinement techniques from the True King's Tomb.
• Chen Shi met Yulingzi on the road and agreed to travel with him to Taihua Qing Palace after the provincial and Palace Examinations, refusing to leave immediately.
• Yulingzi argued that the Young Master was needed to become the True King and restore the realm, but Chen Shi challenged his claim and refused to withdraw from the contest.
• Chen Shi told Yulingzi that he had needed to kill Shen Hongniang and would kill the Young Master too, leaving no room for compromise.

Chen Shi fought Yulingzi after the Daoist tried to stop him from competing for the top scholar, while Black Dog dragged the plum blossom deer into the Underworld. Chen Shi defeated and humiliated Yulingzi, then returned to Western Capital with Black Dog and the wooden cart, leaving Yulingzi and the battered deer alive.

• Yulingzi used his auspicious clouds to trap Chen Shi’s wooden cart in the air, while the plum blossom deer knocked Black Dog away.
• Black Dog dragged the plum blossom deer into the Underworld, and Chen Shi beat Yulingzi before the Ten Absolute Array shattered Yulingzi’s auspicious clouds.
• Black Dog defeated the deer in the Underworld and returned with its antlers as Chen Shi forced Yulingzi to repeat his boastful words through tears.
• The wooden cart attached the antlers to itself, and Chen Shi returned to Western Capital with Black Dog, leaving Yulingzi behind.
• The plum blossom deer crawled back into the Yang World with its antlers gone, and Yulingzi embraced it in relief.