Chapter Summaries

Huang Shaojie fought Great Mage Ashu, resisting his powerful Buddhist spells and surviving the India Buddha Finger. He struck back with the Three Points Divine Finger, piercing Ashu’s chest and leaving him gravely wounded.

• Huang Shaojie battered Great Mage Ashu with Divine Wind's Furious Howl, breaking through his Arhat Golden Body and knocking him back.
• Huang Shaojie attacked with Accumulated Frost Marks, freezing and killing over a thousand Indian soldiers when Ashu dodged.
• Great Mage Ashu unleashed All Beings Turn Towards Buddha, compelling most soldiers and some Grandmasters to kneel while Huang Shaojie struggled against its influence.
• Great Mage Ashu struck Huang Shaojie with the India Buddha Finger, but golden light from Huang Shaojie's chest nullified the attack and left him unharmed.
• Huang Shaojie countered with the Three Points Divine Finger, piercing the right side of Great Mage Ashu's chest despite his attempt to teleport away.

Huang Shaojie killed Great Mage Ashu, causing the India Army to collapse and be almost entirely wiped out. After returning to Annan’s capital, Xiang Qingyang asked her generals how Great Chu should deal with Annan Kingdom, and Huang Shaojie was called on to give his view.

• Huang Shaojie killed Great Mage Ashu, and the India Army fled in panic.
• Huang Shaojie, Tang Feng, and the allied troops pursued the India soldiers and slaughtered nearly all of them, then recovered Ashu’s prayer beads.
• Nguyen Dan grieved over the deaths of his royal family, while Xiang Qingyang moved into the restored palace.
• Huang Shaojie and Tang Feng returned to Annan’s capital with Chu troops, and Li Chengbiao and Zhang Xian camped with the Annan Army in the outer city.
• Xiang Qingyang called a council to discuss Annan’s future, and Tang Feng proposed conquering the kingdom.
• Xiang Qingyang asked Huang Shaojie for his opinion on how Great Chu should deal with Annan Kingdom.

Huang Shaojie proposed annexing the Annan Kingdom through a voluntary surrender and went to persuade Nguyen Dan. He warned Nguyen Dan that Great Chu could destroy Annan by force, leaving the king to face the threat of conquest.

• Huang Shaojie supported Princess Pingyang's plan to incorporate the Annan Kingdom into Great Chu through civil means rather than military conquest.
• Huang Shaojie offered to persuade Nguyen Dan to surrender, and Xiang Qingyang approved his mission.
• Huang Shaojie visited Cian Palace, where Nguyen Dan learned that he was a Great Chu Imperial Guard Commander.
• Huang Shaojie said Great Chu had saved Annan from the India Army and avenged Nguyen Dan's family, then warned that Great Chu could level Annan and kill its officers and soldiers.

Nguyen Dan surrendered Annan Kingdom to Princess Pingyang, and Great Chu absorbed the territory as Annan Commandery. After the incorporation was completed, Huang Shaojie received system rewards that advanced him to the Great Accomplishment stage of the Ninth Rank Grandmaster realm.

• Huang Shaojie offered Nguyen Dan the choice to submit to Great Chu or face conquest, and Nguyen Dan agreed to surrender.
• Nguyen Dan presented Annan Kingdom’s Imperial Seal and letter of surrender to Princess Pingyang, who accepted the submission and announced administrative changes.
• Nguyen Dan and Princess Pingyang issued proclamations, while people across Annan discussed the annexation and compared Great Chu’s disciplined army with India’s atrocities.
• Huang Shaojie received the Daoist Earth Evasion Technique, one hundred years of internal energy, and a Lifespan Fruit from the system.
• Huang Shaojie used the internal energy to reach the Great Accomplishment stage of the Ninth Rank Grandmaster realm.

Huang Shaojie tested the system-rewarded Earth Evasion Technique and found he could travel several li underground without being detected. He then confronted Chou Sihai about the Imperial Uncle’s murder and exposed him as Ye Chen, who confessed that he killed the Imperial Uncle to avenge his family.

• Huang Shaojie tested the Earth Evasion Technique, traveling underground at varying depths and speeds before returning to the palace.
• Huang Shaojie summoned Chou Sihai and questioned him about his hometown, family, and whereabouts on July fifth.
• Huang Shaojie accused Chou Sihai of going to the Capital City to kill someone and revealed that he knew Chou Sihai was actually Ye Chen.
• Ye Chen admitted that the Imperial Uncle had framed his father for embezzlement, leading to his execution and the deaths of his mother and sisters.
• Ye Chen declared that he had killed the Imperial Uncle to avenge his family.

Ye Chen recounted how he learned martial arts, avenged his family by killing the Imperial Uncle, and rose through the military ranks. Huang Shaojie chose to let him go and offered to help restore the Ye Family’s name and advance Ye Chen’s career, ending by promising to teach him a Peerless Divine Skill.

• Ye Chen told Huang Shaojie that Master Liao Chen saved him from an assassination attempt and taught him Buddhist martial arts during five years of cultivation.
• Ye Chen described returning to the Capital City, learning that his mother and sisters had died, and postponing his revenge until he had grown stronger.
• Ye Chen explained how he rose from centurion to Brigade General and killed the Imperial Uncle, though he regretted not killing the Imperial Uncle’s sons as well.
• Huang Shaojie decided not to arrest Ye Chen and promised to find another culprit to take the blame, then clear Physician Ye’s name when possible.
• Ye Chen thanked Huang Shaojie, who offered to recommend him for promotion and teach him a Peerless Divine Skill to help him reach the Ninth Rank Grandmaster Stage.

Ye Chen learned the Nine Yang Divine Skill from Huang Shaojie and rapidly advanced his cultivation. Huang Shaojie then reviewed Princess Pingyang Xiang Qingyang’s victory report, advised her to downplay his achievements, and asked whom she planned to send to guard Annan.

• Huang Shaojie taught Ye Chen the Nine Yang Divine Skill, and Ye Chen reached the peak of the Eighth Rank Grandmaster realm after an hour.
• Ye Chen thanked Huang Shaojie and left, while Huang Shaojie went to meet Xiang Qingyang.
• Xiang Qingyang showed Huang Shaojie her victory report, which detailed his key role in defeating India and bringing Annan into alliance with Great Chu.
• Huang Shaojie advised Xiang Qingyang to praise the other troops more and reduce the reported number of enemies he had killed to avoid suspicion.
• Huang Shaojie asked Xiang Qingyang whom she would send to guard Annan, and she guessed he had someone to recommend.

Xiang Qingyang appointed Chou Sihai as acting Commander-in-Chief of Annan and arranged the remaining troops before returning to Chang'an. In India, King Suma learned that his million-strong army had been annihilated and demanded to know what had happened to Annan's forces.

• Huang Shaojie recommended Chou Sihai to Xiang Qingyang as a capable candidate to defend Annan.
• Xiang Qingyang ordered Chou Sihai to lead one hundred thousand troops in Annan and serve as acting Commander-in-Chief.
• Xiang Qingyang ordered Meng Xing to return to Yong Prefecture with troops and expand its forces, then led the rest of her army back to Chang'an.
• King Suma heard that only several dozen soldiers had returned from India's annihilated million-strong army and angrily condemned the defeated forces.
• The surviving Indian commandant reported that Prince Ning had led five hundred thousand Chu soldiers, and King Suma asked whether Annan's army had also been annihilated.

King Suma abandoned plans to attack Annan after hearing that Prince Ning had destroyed the India Army. In Chang'an, Emperor Xuande celebrated Xiang Qingyang's victory and announced that she would enter the center of government, while Miyajima Ayaka resolved to eliminate her.

• King Suma learned that Annan's troops had joined the Chu Army and that Prince Ning had killed Great General Azim and Great Mage Ashu, so he gave up thoughts of revenge.
• Emperor Xuande read the victory report and praised Princess Pingyang for annihilating India's million-strong army with only two hundred and fifty thousand troops.
• An Fu flattered Emperor Xuande by crediting Qingyang's accomplishments to her father's teachings and praising her as a blessing to Great Chu.
• Emperor Xuande announced that Annan had surrendered and that he would let Qingyang establish her own office and participate in major military and state affairs.
• Miyajima Ayaka recognized Qingyang as a threat to Great Wa and resolved to find a way to get rid of her.
• Emperor Xuande credited Huang Shaojie with helping secure the victory and promised to reward him when Pingyang returned to the capital.

Princess Pingyang returned to Chang'an after defeating India's million-strong army and annexing Annan, while Japan's emperor learned that Huang Shaojie had helped secure the victory and ordered powerful warriors to eliminate him. Emperor Xuande welcomed the victorious army, and Huang Shaojie considered visiting Prince Ning to learn whether he knew Qiuyue had faked her death.

• After hearing that Huang Shaojie had killed Imperial Consort and helped Princess Pingyang defeat India, the Wa Emperor summoned Tangze Cangda and Yagyu Muneyoshi to deal with him.
• A month later, Xiang Qingyang and Huang Shaojie returned to Chang'an with the Western Expedition Army, and Emperor Xuande welcomed them outside the city.
• Prince Qi and Prince Han congratulated Xiang Qingyang but privately regretted missing the chance to claim credit for the victory.
• Prince Ning praised Xiang Qingyang's command, and Huang Shaojie resolved to visit him and investigate whether he knew Qiuyue's whereabouts.

Huang Shaojie returned to the Capital City with the victorious Western Expedition Army and reunited with Xiao He, Wu Zhen, and his parents at Huang Manor. The chapter ended with him greeting Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang in the main hall.

• The people of Chang'an celebrated Princess Pingyang's victory over India's million-strong army and the destruction of the Annan Kingdom as the Western Expedition Army entered the city.
• Xiao He and Wu Zhen spotted Huang Shaojie riding beside Princess Pingyang and later returned to Huang Manor to announce his arrival.
• Emperor Xuande held a victory banquet for the returning army, and Huang Shaojie sat beside Princess Pingyang before riding back to the manor.
• Xiao He, Ah Gui, and Wu Zhen welcomed Huang Shaojie at Huang Manor, where he praised Xiao He and assessed Wu Zhen's progress in the Wind God Leg.
• Wu Zhen told Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang that Huang Shaojie had returned, and Huang Shaojie entered the main hall to greet his parents.

Huang Shaojie returned to Huang Manor and reunited with his family and Xiao He, then welcomed Vermilion Bird and spent the night with both women. The next morning, he learned that Japanese spies and Western Shu Remnants might be active in the Capital City, while the Japanese Imperial Consort remained unlocated.

• Huang Shaojie reunited with Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang, then praised Lu Changkong's progress and allowed him and Wu Zhen to exchange their ultimate arts.
• After dinner, Huang Shaojie returned to his courtyard with Xiao He, where Vermilion Bird arrived and asked Xiao He to call her Sister.
• Huang Shaojie kissed Vermilion Bird and took her and Xiao He to the bathhouse.
• The next morning, Vermilion Bird said Japanese spies and Western Shu Remnants seemed active, but she had not found the Japanese Imperial Consort.
• Huang Shaojie told Vermilion Bird that the assassin who attacked the Imperial Uncle had died by suicide after Huang Shaojie wounded him.

After returning from Yong Prefecture, Huang Shaojie used his sign-in reward to break through to the Great Grandmaster realm and received a new Pacification Commissioner post. He visited Prince Ning to seek answers about Xiao Qiuyue’s disappearance and was admitted to the prince’s estate.

• Huang Shaojie checked in at the Eastern Pacification Office and absorbed 108 years of inner power, breaking through to the Great Grandmaster realm.
• Huang Shaojie reported to Azure Dragon and described Ye Chen’s disappearance after a centurion was killed in Yong Prefecture.
• Huang Shaojie told Ling Xiaotian that Ye Chen might be the assassin who attacked Imperial Uncle, and Ling Xiaotian appointed him Pacification Commissioner of a newly established Central Pacification Office under the nickname Qilin.
• Huang Shaojie rode to Prince Pacifying the West’s Estate, hoping to learn whether Prince Ning knew that Xiao Qiuyue had faked her death and where she had gone.
• A guard captain escorted Huang Shaojie into the hall, where Prince Ning stood waiting.

Huang Shaojie learned from Prince Ning that Xiao Qiuyue was the former Western Shu princess and had likely been taken away by Western Shu remnants. The next morning, Huang Shaojie and the court officials gathered for Emperor Xuande’s second court session in five years.

• Huang Shaojie asked Prince Ning whether Xiao Qiuyue was still alive, and Prince Ning revealed that she was the former Western Shu princess, Princess Mingyue.
• Prince Ning said Xuan Wuji and former Western Shu officials may have taken Xiao Qiuyue away after proving her identity with her birthmark and resemblance to her mother.
• Huang Shaojie realized Xiao Qiuyue might be returning with the Western Shu remnants to restore their kingdom, leaving him unsure whether to arrest, save, or support her.
• Prince Ning invited Huang Shaojie to dinner, and Huang Shaojie later returned to Huang Manor and spent the night with Vermilion Bird and Xiao He.
• The next morning, Huang Shaojie and officials of the fifth rank and above gathered at the Hall of Supreme Harmony for Emperor Xuande’s second court session in five years.
• Prince Qi, Prince Han, and Princess Pingyang arrived and took their places at the head of the officials.

At court, Emperor Xuande appointed Xiang Qingyang Minister of the Secretariat after praising her conquest of Annan and victory over India. Prince Qi and Prince Han realized that their father was giving Pingyang substantial political power, leaving them wary of her claim to influence the succession.

• Minister of War Gao Feng warned Emperor Xuande that Japan had gathered a fleet near Ryukyu, and Xiang Qingyang advised against invading Japan unless its forces attacked Great Chu.
• Emperor Xuande ordered Gao Feng to have He Zhenxiong monitor Japan's fleet while the ministers reported on state affairs.
• Emperor Xuande praised Xiang Qingyang's military achievements in Annan and India and appointed her Minister of the Secretariat, granting her authority over the Six Ministries and permission to establish her own office and residence.
• Prince Qi and Prince Han felt threatened by Xiang Qingyang's new power, while her followers celebrated and Zhuge Qingyun approved of the appointment.

Emperor Xuande rewarded Huang Shaojie for his service in the Annan campaign, naming him Earl of Gusu County and promoting him to Pacification Commissioner with the title Qilin. After court, Xiang Qingyang faced jealous congratulations from Prince Qi and Prince Han, while Huang Shaojie began transferring to his new post and an imperial eunuch arrived at his manor with the Emperor’s gifts.

• Emperor Xuande bestowed on Huang Shaojie the title Earl of Gusu County, land, gold, silver, the honorary rank General Who Guards the Army, and the office of Imperial Guard Pacification Commissioner with the title Qilin.
• Prince Qi and Prince Han congratulated Xiang Qingyang on becoming Minister of the Secretariat, while she answered them with polite remarks that rebuked their earlier reluctance to lead the campaign.
• Ling Xiaotian ordered Huang Shaojie to hand over the Eastern Pacification Office and report to Imperial Guard Headquarters as Qilin the next day.
• The Azure Dragon announced Huang Shaojie's promotion to the Imperial Guard officers, who saluted him as Lord Pacification Commissioner and Lord Qilin.
• An Edict-Delivering Eunuch arrived at Huang Manor with the Emperor's gold and silver and requested that Huang Shaojie come receive the edict.

Huang Shaojie was awarded an earldom, military titles, and great wealth for his merit in the Annam campaign. He returned to Huang Manor, where his family celebrated his promotion and planned to visit their ancestral graves in Suzhou at the end of the year.

• A palace eunuch delivered an Imperial Decree granting Huang Shaojie the title Earl of Gusu County, a fief, gold, silver, and fertile fields, as well as military titles and a promotion.
• Huang Baiwan and Madam Huang gratefully received the decree, and Huang Baiwan gave the eunuch three hundred taels of silver.
• The eunuch's entourage unloaded the reward, and Huang Manor's servants carried more than one hundred chests of gold and silver into the storeroom.
• Huang Shaojie returned to Huang Manor and told the servants they could still call him Young Master.
• Huang Shaojie told his parents they could return to Suzhou together at the end of the year, and Huang Baiwan ordered firecrackers and fireworks to celebrate.

Huang Shaojie refused invitations from both Prince Qi and Prince Han, choosing to remain neutral in court politics. In Xuanwu Manor, Xuan Wuji learned of Huang Shaojie's extraordinary power and planned to bring him to Western Shu to meet Xiao Qiuyue.

• Xiao Wu and Ah Gui set off firecrackers before a guard from Prince Qi's Residence arrived to invite Huang Shaojie to a banquet.
• Huang Shaojie declined Prince Qi's invitation, saying he had already agreed to attend Prince Han's banquet.
• Huang Shaojie gave Prince Han's messenger the same excuse and sent him away.
• Black Tortoise reported Huang Shaojie's achievements and strength to Xuan Wuji, including his killing of India's Great General and Great Mage and freezing thousands of soldiers.
• Xuan Wuji revealed that Xiao Qiuyue missed Huang Shaojie and that he intended to bring Huang Shaojie to Western Shu to meet her.

Black Tortoise revealed that Xiao Qiuyue was in Western Shu and wanted to see Huang Shaojie, so Huang Shaojie agreed to visit her. After discovering Black Tortoise was a Western Shu Remnant, Huang Shaojie considered the risks of the trip and left Black Tortoise asking what he would do with him.

• Black Tortoise warned Xuan Wuji that Huang Shaojie might refuse to help restore Western Shu, and Xuan Wuji ordered Chief Steward Xie to lure him there.
• A mysterious Ninth Rank Grandmaster sent Huang Shaojie a note saying Xiao Qiuyue was in Western Shu and missed him, then fled from Huang Manor.
• Huang Shaojie pursued and struck down the masked figure, discovering that he was Black Tortoise.
• Black Tortoise confirmed Xiao Qiuyue was the former Western Shu princess and said she had willingly gone with the cult leader.
• Huang Shaojie agreed to travel to Western Shu to see Xiao Qiuyue, while suspecting Xuan Wuji might use her to recruit him or pursue his own ambitions.

Huang Shaojie exposed Black Tortoise as a suspected Western Shu Remnant after secretly letting him escape, then volunteered to investigate the Witch God Sect in Western Shu. He prepared to leave the Capital City alone, keeping his true reason—to see Xiao Qiuyue—secret.

• Huang Shaojie freed Black Tortoise and warned him that he would capture him if they met again.
• Huang Shaojie told Ling Xiaotian that Black Tortoise was likely a Western Shu Remnant, citing his suspected attack and earlier rescue of the Shenghe Merchant Association's president.
• Ling Xiaotian and Huang Shaojie found Black Tortoise absent from the Northern Pacification Office and his residence, then sealed the residence and interrogated its staff without finding clues.
• Huang Shaojie volunteered to investigate the Witch God Sect's headquarters in Western Shu, and Ling Xiaotian approved his mission.
• Huang Shaojie told his parents he was leaving the Capital City again and spent the night with Vermilion Bird before departing.