Chapter Summaries

Chen Ping'an and his companions reached Golden Osmanthus Nunnery, where he observed the temple’s defenses, met its people, and attended Zhang Guo’s disciple-taking ceremony. Zhu Ziyang and Liu Qingcheng became disciples, while Chen Ping'an prepared to refine the Golden Literary Core and the chapter ended with new figures and plans emerging around Qingluan Kingdom.

• Chen Ping'an warned the factions sheltering in the cave that Golden Osmanthus Nunnery had yet to act, and the groups decided not to provoke the mountain cultivators.
• Xu Borui escorted Chen Ping'an, Pei Qian, Zhang Shanfeng, and Xu Yuanxia up Qingyao Mountain, where they saw the temple and its ancient osmanthus trees.
• Zhang Guo, Wei Liang, and Jiang Yun discussed the attackers, Chen Ping'an’s party, the yellow ox, and the candidates for discipleship.
• Chen Ping'an chose to prepare the Golden Literary Core as his second Destiny Item and gave Xu Yuanxia his travel notes to consider for a book.
• Zhou Juran and Hou Zheng discussed Qingluan Kingdom’s Buddhist-Daoist Debate, while the abbot of White Cloud Temple continued reading in his small temple.
• Zhang Guo accepted nine disciples, including Zhu Ziyang and Liu Qingcheng, and Golden Osmanthus Nunnery gave valuable umbrellas to the visiting party leaders.

Chen Ping'an said farewell to Xu Yuanxia, who decided to return to his hometown, and gave him three sips of medicinal wine before they parted. The next morning, as Chen Ping'an and his companions prepared to leave the village, Cui Dongshan appeared and claimed to be Chen Ping'an's disciple.

• Chen Ping'an told Xu Yuanxia that Zhang Shanfeng had been taken away by his master, and Xu Yuanxia admitted that he wanted to return home to face his former fiancée and family.
• Chen Ping'an let Xu Yuanxia drink three sips from the Sword Nurturing Gourd, and Xu Yuanxia resolved to save any more until he reached the sixth realm.
• Xu Yuanxia left the village alone, and Chen Ping'an comforted Pei Qian by telling her they could visit him someday.
• Chen Ping'an and his companions ate breakfast and prepared to leave for Qingluan Kingdom Capital City before continuing toward Book Scroll Lake.
• Cui Dongshan arrived at the courtyard, called himself Chen Ping'an's disciple, and rushed to embrace him before Chen Ping'an kicked him away.

Cui Dongshan joined Chen Ping'an on the road and explained the Immortal Remains, then helped him uncover a scheme stealing fortune from a county's civil and martial temples. He revealed Great Li's proposed bargain over the four attendants' household registration, while Chen Ping'an remained unsure why Cui Dongshan had truly left the Cliff Academy.

• Cui Dongshan joined Chen Ping'an's group, declined Lu Baixiang's offer to play Go, and discussed Du Mao's Immortal Remains with Chen Ping'an.
• Cui Dongshan accompanied Chen Ping'an to a county's Civil and Military Temple, where they found signs that a cultivator was stealing fortune through the temples.
• Cui Dongshan made the martial fortune visible to Chen Ping'an and described the far greater martial fortune of Great Li and Great Duan, including Cao Ci's impact on Great Duan.
• Cui Dongshan told Chen Ping'an that Cui Chan would offer five-colored earth from Great Li's planned Five Mountains if Wei Xian, Sui Youbian, and the other attendants registered as Great Li subjects.
• Cui Dongshan promised to investigate the temple's troubles and asked permission to teach Chen Ping'an's attendants to behave, while Chen Ping'an returned to the inn wondering why Cui Dongshan had left the Cliff Academy.

Chen Ping'an learned that Cui Dongshan had resolved the trouble at the Civil and Military Temple and explained the wider purge of illicit shrines across Treasure Bottle Continent. The group settled in for the night, while Chen Ping'an warned Cui Dongshan not to meddle in Qingluan Kingdom’s Buddhist-Daoist Debate.

• Chen Ping'an told the Scroll Painting Four that Cui Dongshan was his student and described the influence and reach of Cui Chan’s chess game across Treasure Bottle Continent.
• Cui Dongshan returned and said he had settled the dispute at the Civil and Military Temple, which had been caused by a wealthy man and his descendant’s attempt to manipulate regional fortune for longer life.
• Cui Dongshan told the group that Great Li and Guanhu Academy had joined forces to destroy thousands of illicit shrines, leaving Chen Ping'an troubled by the news.
• After the others left, Chen Ping'an warned Cui Dongshan not to secretly interfere in the Buddhist-Daoist Debate, and Cui Dongshan protested before Chen Ping'an shut the door on him.
• Cui Dongshan frightened Pei Qian with ghost stories, invited Lu Baixiang to play Go the next day, and two golden divine persons guarded the inn.

Chen Ping'an returned to the inn to find Pei Qian upset after Cui Dongshan had tricked her in a series of wagers, while Lu Baixiang studied the Cloudy Chess Manual and prepared to test Cui Dongshan's Go skill. Cui Dongshan then appeared and told Lu Baixiang that he should learn chess from him instead.

• Chen Ping'an let Pei Qian sleep in his room, then sent her back with breakfast while he explored the county town alone.
• Cui Dongshan tricked Pei Qian into losing seven copper coins at five in a row, then frightened her with threats and a silver ingot that transformed into a grasshopper.
• Chen Ping'an returned, allowed Pei Qian to borrow Cui Dongshan's bug silver, and tried to make her take responsibility for the Multi-Treasure Box; Pei Qian threw the silver away and later hid behind her bolted door with the box.
• Lu Baixiang studied the Cloudy Chess Manual and resolved to play Cui Dongshan, but learned that Cui Dongshan had left town to spar with Zhu Lian and had defeated him using Magic Treasures without moving.
• Sui Youbian told Lu Baixiang that Cui Dongshan seemed unlikely to lose a wager, and Cui Dongshan later entered Lu Baixiang's room and insisted that Lu Baixiang should learn chess from him.

Cui Dongshan defeated Lu Baixiang in two Go games and then went to ask Sui Youbian to teach him swordsmanship. Chen Ping'an toured the county, spoke with its Martial Saint and Shi Rou, and reflected on family life before returning to the inn, where Pei Qian waited after finishing her copying.

• Cui Dongshan beat Lu Baixiang in two games, refused to play a third, and left to ask Sui Youbian for swordsmanship lessons.
• Chen Ping'an visited the Civil and Military Temple, where the Martial Saint thanked him for his student's help and answered his questions.
• Chen Ping'an summoned Shi Rou and asked whether she knew how to establish household rules for children, but she said she did not.
• Chen Ping'an watched a poor family struggle with small grievances and considered how their child might come to understand his parents' hardships.
• Pei Qian finished copying her books and waited at her door until Chen Ping'an asked if she had completed them.

Cui Dongshan tested Shi Rou and proposed helping her inhabit Du Mao’s Immortal Remains, while Chen Ping'an entrusted the transformation to him. After four days in the county, Cui Dongshan returned with Shi Rou inhabiting a body that looked like Du Mao.

• Sui Youbian refused to open her door to Cui Dongshan and continued sharpening the Obsessed Heart Sword with Dragon Slaying Platform.
• A Land Goddess told Cui Dongshan that Chen Ping'an had met Shi Rou in an alley, and Cui Dongshan rewarded her while concealing his earlier threat.
• Cui Dongshan examined Shi Rou and confirmed that she could likely enter Du Mao’s Immortal Remains; Chen Ping'an agreed and provided the remains and Golden Essence copper coins.
• Cui Dongshan spent three days working on Shi Rou while Chen Ping'an read Legalist books and learned chess from him.
• On the fourth night, Cui Dongshan brought Shi Rou to Chen Ping'an in a body resembling Du Mao, and she greeted him as her master.

Chen Ping'an’s party traveled toward Qingluan Kingdom Capital City while Cui Dongshan settled Shi Rou into Du Mao’s Glazed Golden Body and confronted Wei Xian about his intentions toward Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian. At the Hundred Flowers Garden inn, Chen Ping'an reflected on another spring’s passing, while Cai Jinjian remembered Qi Jingchun’s request that Ning treat Chen Ping'an kindly.

• Cui Dongshan told Chen Ping'an that Shi Rou had successfully made Du Mao’s Glazed Golden Body her Blessed Land, then threatened and disciplined Shi Rou in private to keep her loyal and protect Chen Ping'an.
• Cui Dongshan encountered a Rogue Cultivator stealing from a poor family and improved the cultivator’s Little Ghost so it could steal gold from a wealthy household.
• Chen Ping'an continued learning Go and Legalist thought from Cui Dongshan as the party journeyed to the Hundred Flowers Garden inn, where Pei Qian collected its spiritual trinkets and Cui Dongshan teased her.
• Cui Dongshan questioned Sui Youbian about her origins, then confronted Wei Xian and deduced that Wei Xian’s plans involved Pei Qian and his dead daughter; he offered to help Wei Xian pursue his goal and revealed that he was Cui Chan.
• Chen Ping'an watched the spring draw to a close, while Cai Jinjian reread Qi Jingchun’s scrolls and remembered his request that Ning treat Chen Ping'an kindly.

Chen Ping'an spent a day in Qingluan Kingdom with Pei Qian before Sui Youbian, Lu Baixiang, and Cui Dongshan prepared to leave. As Cui Dongshan departed with Wei Xian, he showed Pei Qian Chen Ping'an’s childhood and urged her to value and support her master.

• Chen Ping'an bought Pei Qian an expensive wooden sparrowhawk kite, took her sightseeing and to lunch, and watched her fly it at the inn.
• Sui Youbian told Chen Ping'an she would leave early for the Jade Guizong; he reminded her to return the Obsessed Heart Sword, settle her Great Li household registration, travel cautiously, and take money for the road before seeing her off.
• Lu Baixiang announced he would travel alone through Qingluan, Qingshan, and Yunxiao Kingdoms, and Pei Qian gave him a Snowflake Coin as a parting gift.
• Cui Dongshan advised Chen Ping'an to visit Cliff Academy and refine his Golden Literary Core before traveling to Book Scroll Lake, then reviewed the strengths and risks of the Scroll Painting Four and described the varied disciples Chen Ping'an would need around him.
• Cui Dongshan showed Pei Qian scenes from Chen Ping'an’s childhood in the Flowing Time Scroll, explained how hardship shaped him, and taught her the Swift Joy Sword and Refreshing Saber while entrusting her with a folded paper crane.
• Cui Dongshan left with Wei Xian after asking Zhu Lian and Shi Rou to care for Chen Ping'an, and Chen Ping'an secretly gave him a thumbs-up in thanks.

Chen Ping'an’s party left for the Qingluan Kingdom capital, while Zhu Lian revealed how he had advanced in martial arts and Lu Tai’s life in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land unfolded. The chapter ended with Chen Ping'an buying river incense and choosing a detour because he wanted to see more.

• A Great Li spy delivered Cui Dongshan’s message that the yellow ox would travel with him, along with a purse of copper coins for Chen Ping'an.
• Zhu Lian explained how he had reached the Far Travel Realm and demonstrated how he had adapted Huang Ting’s sword and saber techniques into his fist style.
• Chen Ping'an set out on foot with Pei Qian, Zhu Lian, and Shi Rou, and told Zhu Lian to stop teasing Shi Rou.
• Lu Tai learned that the Top Ten Under Heaven list included four newcomers, while Cao Qinglang remained modest and refused to wish to surpass Chen Ping'an.
• Zhong Qiu reprimanded Lu Tai for burdening Cao Qinglang with overly complicated lessons, and Lu Tai admitted he was wrong.
• Chen Ping'an bought three sets of water incense from an incense peddler and led his companions toward the River God Shrine, saying he wanted to see more.

Chen Ping'an and his companions visited a River God Shrine, where Pei Qian and Zhu Lian wrote on its walls and Chen Ping'an left two lines that delighted the River God. As they continued toward Qingluan Kingdom Capital City, they learned of a fox demon tormenting Old Attendant Official Liu’s daughter at Lion Garden, hinting at a new trouble ahead.

• Chen Ping'an explained the status of River Gods to Pei Qian as the group visited the shrine and offered incense.
• Chen Ping'an paid for a wall where he and Pei Qian could write, and Pei Qian nervously inscribed a short sentence about coming there with her master.
• Zhu Lian wrote an impressive poem in cursive script, then Chen Ping'an wrote two neat lines that the River God later praised as invigorating.
• The Shrine Keeper told Chen Ping'an’s group that a powerful fox demon had bewitched Old Attendant Official Liu’s daughter and defeated the cultivators hired to drive it away.
• Chen Ping'an and his companions left the shrine for Qingluan Kingdom Capital City, while the River God recognized the depth of Chen Ping'an’s writing.

Chen Ping'an’s party reached Lion Garden to investigate the fox demon tormenting the Liu family, while he explained how the Great Li Dynasty had maneuvered to draw powerful families into Qingluan Kingdom. The fox demon appeared in the courtyard, but a saber-wielding Master Knife Room Daoist cut through its illusion and claimed the demon as her prey; Chen Ping'an chose to wait.

• The River God Shrine’s incense bearer persuaded Chen Ping'an to visit Lion Garden, where a fox demon had been harassing the Liu family, and Chen Ping'an agreed only to observe.
• On the way, Chen Ping'an told Zhu Lian that Great Li had long planned to draw displaced families into Qingluan Kingdom as part of its expansion strategy.
• The Liu family steward described how the fox demon, Old Master Qing, had trapped the family and repeatedly defeated cultivators who came to help.
• Chen Ping'an’s party met other cultivators staying at Lion Garden, including a solitary saber-wielding female Daoist whom Chen Ping'an suspected belonged to Master Knife Room.
• The fox demon appeared as a handsome youth and insulted Shi Rou, but the female Daoist severed its head with her saber, revealing the youth as an illusion.
• The female Daoist declared that the fox demon was hers to capture and left; Chen Ping'an stopped Zhu Lian from pursuing her and decided they would wait.

Chen Ping'an investigated the fox demon’s threat to Lion Garden and learned that Liu Qingqing was under its influence, then agreed to rescue her while the Master Knife Room female Daoist dealt with the demon. He led Pei Qian and Shi Rou into Liu Qingqing’s tower, leaving the earth god’s plea unanswered beyond a promise that he would help.

• Chen Ping'an refused to sell the fox hair, taught Pei Qian about guarding her sincerity, and cultivated in his Water Mansion while Shi Rou refined Du Mao's Immortal Remains.
• The fox demon visited Liu Qingqing, promised they could remain together, and claimed he would protect Lion Garden if her father approved their marriage.
• After waking from two days of cultivation, Chen Ping'an questioned Shi Rou, who summoned the bound local earth god; the earth god warned that the fox demon had bewitched Liu Qingqing and was draining the Liu family's fortune.
• Chen Ping'an freed the earth god from the Monster Binding Ropes, and the Master Knife Room female Daoist agreed to kill the fox demon while Chen Ping'an saved Liu Qingqing.
• Chen Ping'an sent Zhu Lian to inform Liu Jingting and Shi Rou to wake Pei Qian, then climbed the embroidered tower with Pei Qian and Shi Rou to rescue Liu Qingqing.

Chen Ping'an discovered that Liu Qingqing’s lover had given her pills used to turn people into ghost vessels, then fortified her chamber with talismans as a fox demon’s attack seemed imminent. Elsewhere, Liu Jingting and Liu Qingshan prepared to support the defense, while the Master Knife Room female Daoist confronted the black-robed young man.

• Chen Ping'an searched Liu Qingqing’s chamber, found that her sachet attracted the fox demon, and had Shi Rou examine her pulse.
• Shi Rou identified Liu Qingqing’s supposed Heart-Calming Pills as a heterodox method for making living people into vessels, prompting Chen Ping'an to order gold lacquer for talismans.
• The Willow Tree Goddess urged Liu Jingting to secure the fox demon’s death, but Liu Qingshan defended the Liu Lineage’s principles and volunteered to carry gold lacquer.
• Chen Ping'an covered Liu Qingqing’s chamber and the embroidered tower with demon-suppressing and other talismans, then sent Shi Rou to enlist Young Master Dugu’s group as guards.
• The Master Knife Room female Daoist confronted the black-robed young man at a bridge and declared that she intended to kill him and take his treasure.

Liu Boqi identified Old Master Qing as a treasure-transforming slug demon and used Jing Shen to disrupt Lion Garden’s feng shui while Chen Ping'an prepared his own countermeasures. The chapter ended as his talismans lit up around Lion Garden like a golden Flood Dragon.

• Liu Boqi revealed Old Master Qing’s slug true form and refused his pleas to leave, while he boasted that she could not reach him underground.
• Liu Boqi slashed apart Old Master Qing’s illusion and began cutting through Lion Garden’s Mountain Roots and Water Veins to help Chen Ping'an find the demon.
• Old Master Qing searched Liu Qingshan’s study for the inherited Treasure for Touring the Realm, discovered a small box that burned his hand, and realized Liu Qingshan had set a trap.
• Liu Qingshan returned safely to the ancestral hall, while Meng Long and Young Master Dugu watched from the library tower and discussed powerful sword cultivators.
• Chen Ping'an and Shi Rou drew Pagoda Suppressing Demon Talismans around Lion Garden’s gates and walls, then activated them in a golden ring around the estate.

Chen Ping'an and his allies trapped the treasure-transforming demon in Lion Garden, where Liu Boqi captured it and later shared its value with him. Before leaving, Chen Ping'an refused the Imperial Inspection Treasure, choosing to preserve Liu Qingshan’s family fortune, and set out for the capital with Pei Qian, Zhu Lian, and Shi Rou.

• Chen Ping'an’s talisman formation trapped the demon inside Lion Garden, and Liu Boqi’s Night Roaming God and the other cultivators fought off its many illusions as they tried to escape.
• The demon revealed its enormous true form and broke through the wall, but Liu Boqi split its Golden Dharma Appearance and pinned its tiny real body beneath her saber.
• Liu Boqi captured the demon, agreed to divide its value with Chen Ping'an, and the Liu family thanked their helpers at a celebratory banquet.
• Pei Qian showed Fu Sheng her Bamboo Slips and explained Chen Ping'an’s teaching that people should reason first and use force only when necessary.
• Liu Boqi paid Chen Ping'an his share in Valley Rain Coins and offered him the Imperial Inspection Treasure, but Chen Ping'an returned it so Liu Qingshan could keep the Liu family’s cultural fortune.
• Chen Ping'an left Lion Garden with Pei Qian, Zhu Lian, and Shi Rou, explaining that he had refused the treasure because Liu Qingshan needed it.

Chen Ping'an and his companions reached Qingluan Kingdom’s capital after an accidental ox-cart plunge and a farewell from Liu Qingfeng, whose counsel helped Liu Qingshan and Liu Boqi choose a path together. As the Buddhist-Daoist Debate neared its end, Chen Ping'an listened to the capital’s arguments and visited its shops, while a strange golden wind stirred the books at White Cloud Temple.

• Pei Qian avoided Liu Qingfeng’s runaway ox cart, but Zhu Lian and Shi Rou rescued Liu Qingfeng, his attendant, and the ox from the lake; Chen Ping'an apologized and then continued toward the capital.
• Liu Qingfeng advised Liu Qingshan to consider the challenges of marrying Liu Boqi, spoke with Liu Qingqing until she recovered her resolve, and urged Liu Boqi to respect Liu Qingshan’s choices; Liu Qingshan decided to travel with her and study across Treasure Bottle Continent.
• Liu Qingfeng asked Liu Boqi to protect Liu Qingshan’s scholarly journey if family troubles drew him home, and bowed with her to the Liu clan’s ancestral hall.
• Chen Ping'an entered the capital with Pei Qian, Zhu Lian, and Shi Rou, bought celadon go-stone jars and a small gourd for Pei Qian, and listened to diners discuss the Buddhist-Daoist Debate.
• At White Cloud Temple, the middle-aged temple master discussed his reading and uncertainty with his young disciple, then sensed a golden clear wind turn the books in his study; Chen Ping'an looked toward the temple’s direction.

Chen Ping'an and his companions settled into Qingluan Kingdom’s capital while Emperor Tang Li and the Yunlin Jiang clan maneuvered over the Buddhist-Daoist Debate and its political consequences. Cui Chan arrived to direct Liu Qingfeng and Li Baozhen, while Cui Dongshan reflected on old memories beneath the moon and wondered about a future painting with Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian.

• Chen Ping'an found an inn for his group, sparred with Zhu Lian inside a circle, and told them they would soon travel to Great Sui Cliff Academy.
• Emperor Tang Li hosted Jiang Mao, who judged Liu Qingfeng’s Legalist annotations promising and arranged for the White Cloud Temple Daoist to encounter the book.
• Jiang Yun spoke with his sister about his estrangement from the Jiang clan, while Wei Liang and the matron discussed Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven and the Green God Empress.
• Liu Qingfeng escorted Liu Qingqing to an immortal sect, then met Cui Chan and Li Baozhen, who were assigned to manage major affairs in the region.
• Cui Dongshan carried river water in a bamboo basket without spilling it and studied two paintings of his former companions as he wondered about making a future painting with Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian.

Chen Ping'an visited the gravely injured Zhu Fengxian and gave him medicinal pills, while the capital’s turmoil was revealed as part of a scheme involving Liu Qingfeng and Li Baozhen. As Li Baozhen waited near Lion Garden, he came face to face with an old acquaintance.

• Chen Ping'an heard about Zhu Fengxian’s defeat by Yuan Ye and visited him at the Daoist temple, bringing pills and warning him to be careful when leaving the capital.
• Zhu Fengxian’s old strategist examined the pills and later admitted he had helped set Zhu Fengxian up, while Zhu Fengxian told him not to involve Zhu Ziyang.
• Liu Qingfeng and Li Baozhen discussed the scheme that had stirred conflict between Qingluan Kingdom and Qingshan Kingdom, and Li Baozhen said he had hoped to meet Chen Ping'an.
• Cui Dongshan confronted Cui Chan over sending Li Baozhen to Qingluan Kingdom, then learned Cui Chan had arranged the danger to make Li Baozhen suffer and mature.
• Li Baozhen waited in a carriage near Lion Garden, and the old driver stopped when someone appeared, leaving Li Baozhen stunned to see an old acquaintance.

Chen Ping'an confronted Li Baozhen on the road outside Lion Garden, defeated him, and spared his life while taking two treasures. As Chen Ping'an’s group traveled toward Cliff Academy, Pei Qian worried he would favor Little Baoping, but he reassured her and protected her from a bully aboard the ferry.

• Chen Ping'an arrived at Lion Garden and Zhu Lian fought the old driver while Chen Ping'an used Flying Swords Chuyi and Fifteen to stop Liu Qingfeng and Li Baozhen from interfering.
• Chen Ping'an beat Li Baozhen, took his Dragon Palace jade pendant and Day and Night Roaming God True Body Talisman, then spared him because he had promised someone he would do so.
• Liu Qingfeng arranged for Li Baozhen to be rescued, and Chen Ping'an left with Zhu Lian, Shi Rou, and Pei Qian for the Immortal Ferry Crossing.
• Pei Qian asked Chen Ping'an whether he would stop liking her when they reached Cliff Academy, and Chen Ping'an reassured her.
• A saber-wielding man shoved Pei Qian aboard the ferry, so Chen Ping'an subdued him and drove off his companions.