Chapter Summaries

Huo Zhi breached the Turbid River embankment to escape Zhao Hongming, flooding nearby villages, but Zhao used National Destiny to stop the waters and killed Huo Zhi. With the breach controlled, Zhao ordered Chen Mou to lead the soldiers and villagers in repairing the embankment.

• Zhao Hongming and the Wei Elite Soldiers attacked Huo Zhi's men as they dug through the embankment, and Huo repeatedly struck the weakened wall to breach it.
• The Turbid River burst through the embankment and flooded nearby villages, while Huo Zhi escaped across the breach using a protective golden token.
• Zhao Hongming used National Destiny to block the floodwaters, then caught Huo Zhi and killed him after the Golden Light Shield failed.
• Zhao ordered Chen Mou to lead the soldiers in sealing the breach and repairing the embankment, and nearby villagers joined the work.

Zhao Hongming helped contain the flood, learned that the Huo Family’s breach could have isolated Daliang, and led his troops west to investigate. At night, he spotted the Huo Family’s ten-thousand-man force marching toward Murong Li’s Central Army and prepared to act.

• Zhao Hongming used Mountain Moving to hold back the National Destiny while Chen Mou and the villagers repaired the embankment, stopping the flood.
• The villagers thanked Zhao Hongming, who revealed that he was the Crown Prince of Great Wei and promised the court would reinforce the embankment.
• Chen Mou explained that flooding Daliang would require more than the breach Huo Zhi had made, and Zhao Hongming ordered him to report the danger while he led three thousand Wei Elite Soldiers west.
• The Huo Family Old Ancestor learned Huo Zhi had not returned and ordered a surprise attack on Murong Li’s Central Army with ten thousand men, accompanied by Zuo Jian.
• Zhao Hongming sensed the approaching army from a nearby woodland and spotted the Huo Family troops marching through Li Mountain toward the Central Army.

Zhao Hongming ambushed the Huo Family Old Ancestor’s army and fought him, leaving the old ancestor badly injured and his forces nearly destroyed. The Huo Family Old Ancestor then agreed to worship the gods using the soldiers around them as blood food, just as a pair of eyes appeared in the distorted space behind him.

• Zhao Hongming led the Wei Elite Soldiers in a surprise attack on the Huo Family army, killing and scattering its ten thousand soldiers.
• Zhao Hongming confronted the Huo Family Old Ancestor and identified him after the old ancestor demanded to know who had attacked.
• Zhao Hongming and the Huo Family Old Ancestor exchanged powerful attacks, and Zhao Hongming’s saber shattered as the old ancestor was badly injured.
• The Huo Family Old Ancestor asked Zuo Jian to help, but Zuo Jian refused to join the fight until the old ancestor chose to worship the gods.
• The Huo Family Old Ancestor offered the nearby soldiers as blood food, and Zhao Hongming tried to stop them before a pair of eyes appeared in the distorted space behind the old ancestor.

Zhao Hongming stopped the Huo Family Old Ancestor’s god-worship ritual and killed him with a single National Destiny saber strike, while Zuo Jian escaped. After recovering and claiming the Dragon Scale Spear, Zhao Hongming ordered the Wei Elite Soldiers to scout toward the Huo Family army’s camp, hoping to destroy the remaining rebels.

• Zuo Jian sacrificed soldiers from both armies to summon a god, which empowered the Huo Family Old Ancestor as the Wei Elite Soldiers withdrew.
• Zhao Hongming blocked Zuo Jian’s sword strip from reaching the Wei Elite Soldiers, but the god consumed nearly the entire Huo Family army as sacrifices.
• The Huo Family Old Ancestor advanced on Zhao Hongming, who killed him with a National Destiny Heaven Opening strike.
• Zuo Jian fled after Zhao Hongming wounded his arm with a spear of lightning, and Zhao Hongming rested while the Wei Elite Soldiers gathered the battlefield’s equipment.
• Zhao Hongming took the Dragon Scale Spear, saw its bull demon phantom, and sent soldiers to retrieve their warhorses and scout toward the Huo Family camp.

Zhao Hongming used disguised Wei Elite Soldiers to infiltrate the Huo Army camp, then led a surprise assault that shattered Huo Yu’s hundred-thousand-strong force. Huo Yu fled toward another country but encountered another organized army of Wei Elite Soldiers near Daliang.

• Zhao Hongming sent Ma Chuanping and Le Yang with disguised Wei Elite Soldiers into the Huo Army camp to create chaos.
• Ma Chuanping and Le Yang’s men killed the guards, set fires, and released horses, throwing the camp into confusion.
• Zhao Hongming led his soldiers into the camp, killed Huo Army generals, and drove Huo Yu to flee.
• Huo Yu turned the Huo Army against Zhao Hongming’s outnumbered force, but Zhao Hongming broke through the encirclement and rescued his soldiers.
• Zhao Hongming pursued Huo Yu, who found his escape blocked by one hundred thousand Wei Elite Soldiers near Daliang.

Zhao Hongming defeated Huo Yu’s army, captured its leader, and ordered Wu Qi to handle the remaining troops. At court, Emperor Zhao Yongxu and the ministers learned that Zhao Hongming had already crushed the rebellion and was returning with Huo Yu as a prisoner.

• Huo Yu surrendered after Wang charged the Wei Elite Soldiers and was killed by their arrows.
• Zhao Hongming met Wu Qi, captured Huo Yu and his followers, and rejected Huo Yu’s offer of information about the Secret of Longevity in exchange for sparing the Huo clan.
• Zhao Hongming ordered Wu Qi to take control of the remaining Huo Family army and led the captives toward Great Liang City.
• Huo Xianshui escaped Great Liang City with her infant nephew after learning that the Second Young Master was dead and Huo Yu’s position was in danger.
• At morning court, Zhao Yongxu ordered the Central Army to suppress Huo Yu’s forces and learned that the Huo Army had breached the Turbid River dike, which Zhao Hongming had helped repair.
• A guard announced that Zhao Hongming had defeated the Huo Family’s hundred thousand troops with two thousand subordinates and captured Huo Yu alive, shocking the court.

Zhao Hongming returned to Great Liang City after defeating Huo Yu’s hundred-thousand-strong army and killing the Huo Family Old Ancestor. The Jian'an Emperor ordered the rebels executed, then appointed Zhao Hongming to govern the realm, while Huo Xianshui learned that her family had been destroyed.

• A guard reported that Zhao Hongming and two thousand Wei Elite Soldiers had routed Huo Yu’s army and that Zhao Hongming had slain the Huo Family Old Ancestor.
• Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu welcomed Zhao Hongming to Great Liang City, where Zhao Hongming presented Huo Yu and the other captured rebels.
• Huo Yu accused Zhao Yongxu of targeting the Huo Family, and Zhao Yongxu sentenced him to death and ordered the execution of the rebels and punishment of their families.
• Zhao Yongxu announced that Zhao Hongming would govern the realm in his stead, despite the ministers’ surprise and objections.
• Huo Yu and the other convicted rebels were executed, and Huo Xianshui learned from Uncle He that the Huo Family had been destroyed.

After Zhao Hongming took power as Crown Prince, the Zhengyi Sect and other Martial Arts Forces organized resistance against him, spreading accusations across the Five Nations. When Zhao Hongming learned the Zhengyi Sect was behind the campaign, he decided to confront it personally and ordered General Wu Qi to bring the army.

• Huo Xianshui fled Wei Country as the court hunted the Huo Family remnants, while Zhengyi Sect elders concluded that Zhao Hongming had killed the Huo Family Old Ancestor and might possess the demon core.
• Ai Jing, Han Shi, and Lan Zhonglai plotted to unite Martial Arts Forces against Wei Country, then forced their way into Bi Lingjun's cave and were driven out by her roar.
• Bi Lingjun realized her Heaven and Earth United Dao Method was nearing collapse and feared she would soon perish if she could not break through.
• Zhao Hongming took control of Wei Country's affairs, appointed Chang Wubing, Gao Yanshi, and Zhang Yi to key posts, and rewarded his followers.
• Zhou Dingyi and other leaders of the world's Martial Arts Forces reacted to Zhao Hongming's rise by helping form a Five Nations alliance and spreading accusations against him.
• After Gao Yanshi traced the campaign to the Zhengyi Sect, Zhao Hongming ordered a carriage and sent for General Wu Qi to accompany him to the sect.

Zhao Hongming rejected the ministers’ pleas and led one hundred thousand Wei Elite Soldiers to attack the Zhengyi Sect, determined to break the sect’s influence. As the Zhengyi Sect activated its defenses and Bi Lingjun struggled through a dangerous cultivation crisis, Zhao Hongming ordered the assault at the Mountain Gate.

• Gao Yanshi urged Zhao Hongming to consult the court before attacking, but Zhao Hongming insisted that the Zhengyi Sect had to be destroyed.
• Hong Daowen, Yin Zifu, Zhang Qian, and other officials knelt to remonstrate, while Zhang Yi and Wu Qi supported the attack; Zhao Hongming ordered Wu Qi to prepare the expedition.
• Wu Qi mobilized one hundred thousand Wei Elite Soldiers, and Zhao Hongming led them toward the Zhengyi Sect’s Mountain Gate.
• Ai Jing, Han Shi, and Lan Zhonglai mobilized the sect’s disciples, opened the armory, and activated the protective formation as Bi Lingjun struggled near cultivation deviation in her cave.
• At the Mountain Gate, Han Shi challenged Zhao Hongming, who ordered the Wei Elite Soldiers to attack the Zhengyi Sect.

Zhao Hongming used the Array Dao Scripture and National Destiny to break through Zhengyi Sect’s Dragon Scale Frost Array, then led the Wei Elite Soldiers in an assault on the sect. After killing Lan Zhonglai, he encountered Han Shi as the Dragon Steed charged toward the Mountain Gate.

• Zhao Hongming’s arrows and soldiers’ attacks failed to break the Dragon Scale Frost Array, so he studied its runes with the Array Dao Scripture and tore open a breach with his bare hands.
• Zhao Hongming held the breach open with pillars of National Destiny and ordered Wu Qi and the Wei Elite Soldiers to bloodbath Zhengyi Sect.
• Zhao Hongming struck Lan Zhonglai with the Dragon Scale Spear, then killed him with a spear thrust through the forehead.
• Zhao Hongming advanced through Zhengyi Sect as National Destiny crushed the disciples who approached him, while the Dragon Steed rushed toward the Mountain Gate.
• Han Shi arrived to support Zhengyi Sect, recognized Zhao Hongming, and felt reassured when he saw the Dragon Steed approaching.

Zhao Hongming conquered Zhengyi Sect after its Dragon Steed recognized him as its master and helped him kill Han Shi. With the sect defeated and Ai Jing dead, he spared the surrendering disciples and headed to the Back Mountain to find Bi Lingjun and her final disciple.

• The Dragon Steed charged through Zhengyi Sect, struck Han Shi from behind, and then recognized Zhao Hongming as its master.
• Zhao Hongming mounted the Dragon Steed, killed the wounded Han Shi, and led the Wei Elite Soldiers to seize Zhengyi Sect.
• At the main hall, Zhao Hongming offered to spare those who surrendered, and Ai Jing took her own life to save the others.
• Princess Wu Yin asked Zhao Hongming to spare Lan Tianjiao, and he agreed before setting out for the Back Mountain with Zhang Yi.

Zhao Hongming went to the Zhengyi Sect's Back Mountain and learned from Yan Tingting that Bi Lingjun was near death from a cultivation deviation. Zhang Yi proposed using Royal Family National Destiny to suppress her cultivation and gain her support, and Zhao Hongming entered the cave to meet her.

• Zhao Hongming and Zhang Yi reached Bi Lingjun's cave, where they met Yan Tingting waiting outside.
• Yan Tingting refused to let Zhao Hongming see her master until Zhang Yi learned that the Zhengyi Sect had fallen and its Ten Great Elders were dead.
• Yan Tingting revealed that Bi Lingjun's cultivation deviation had worsened until she was at death's door.
• Zhang Yi told Zhao Hongming about Bi Lingjun's condition and proposed having her publicly support his actions to deprive other Martial Arts Forces of a pretext to oppose him.
• Zhang Yi suggested using Royal Family National Destiny to suppress Bi Lingjun's cultivation, and Zhao Hongming entered the cave to meet her before deciding whether to make a deal.

Zhao Hongming entered the Zhengyi Sect’s cave dwelling and killed Bi Lingjun rather than follow Zhang Yi’s self-serving plan to save her. He then forced Zhang Yi to devise a way to conceal her death and control the sect, leaving Zhang Yi chastened and Yan Tingting grieving.

• Zhao Hongming discovered Bi Lingjun in the cave, realized restoring her might create a dangerous enemy, and decided to eliminate her.
• Zhao Hongming attacked Bi Lingjun while her cultivation was unstable, killing her as her uncontrolled icy aura froze her body.
• Zhao Hongming returned and confronted Zhang Yi, warning that he would abandon Zhang Yi’s ambition to become Chancellor unless he produced a plan within seven steps.
• Zhang Yi proposed concealing Bi Lingjun’s death as a period of seclusion and using Yan Tingting to issue orders in her name while they prepared for the fallout.
• Zhao Hongming assigned Zhang Yi responsibility for carrying out the plan and threatened him if he failed, while Zhang Yi told Yan Tingting to keep others out of the cave.

After killing Zhengyi Sect's sect master and breaking the sect's resistance, Zhao Hongming secured the sect's submission and moved to claim its Treasure Vault. Zhengyi Sect's disciples began abandoning it, while Lan Tianjiao tried to defend the sect and distanced himself from his murdered father.

• Zhao Hongming rode away from Zhengyi Sect's back mountain as the Dragon Scale Frost Array was dismantled.
• Zhao Hongming told Zhengyi Sect's remaining core figures that Elder Han and the others had been executed and promised to pursue the matter no further with the rest.
• Zhao Hongming left to search for Zhengyi Sect's Treasure Vault, and disciples began declaring that they would leave the sect.
• Lan Tianjiao urged the disciples not to lose heart, but they accused him of siding with Zhao Hongming and reminded him that Zhao Hongming had killed his father.
• Lan Tianjiao said he had already severed his father-son bond with his father and that the enmity no longer concerned him.

Zhao Hongming reached Zhengyi Sect's Treasure Vault and broke its defenses to seize the sect's vast stores of wealth and cultivation resources. He ordered the goods transferred to the Great Wei treasury and the vault turned into a cultivation ground for the Wei Army.

• Lan Tianjiao abandoned thoughts of revenge after considering the danger to his wife and son, then hurried to answer the Sect Master's summons.
• Zhang Yi and Yan Tingting planned to recruit Lan Tianjiao to help stabilize Zhengyi Sect and strengthen ties with Wei Country.
• Zhao Hongming arrived at Zhengyi Sect's Treasure Vault with Gao Yanshi, and the Dragon Steed killed the two guards who tried to stop them.
• Zhao Hongming broke the vault's array restriction and, with the Dragon Steed's help, forced open its heavy doors.
• Zhao Hongming found enormous stores of Wish Stones, weapons, Pills, and other goods inside the vault.
• Zhao Hongming ordered General Wu to transfer the treasures to the Great Wei treasury and sent ten thousand Wei Elite Soldiers to garrison the vault as an army cultivation ground.

Zhao Hongming seized the Zhengyi Sect, placed Lan Tianjiao in charge under military protection, and brought its treasure and founding technique back to Great Liang. He reported the sect’s destruction and its immense wealth to the Jian'an Emperor, who struggled to contain his joy and astonishment.

• Zhao Hongming searched the Zhengyi Sect's Treasure Vault but found no cultivation techniques among its Wish Stones, pills, and gold and silver.
• Yan Tingting and Zhang Yi persuaded Lan Tianjiao to take temporary control of the Zhengyi Sect, while Zhang Yi warned that Zhao Hongming would place it under military protection.
• Yan Tingting appointed Lan Tianjiao to manage the sect, and Zhao Hongming's supporters eliminated dissenters as Lan Tianjiao purged opposition and consolidated control.
• Zhao Hongming returned to Great Liang with the Treasure Vault's wealth and the Heaven and Earth United Dao Method, which taught him about phenomena in the Creation Realm.
• Zhao Hongming discreetly returned to the Imperial Palace and told the Jian'an Emperor that he had killed the Zhengyi Sect Master and executed the elders.
• Zhao Hongming reported that he had stationed ten thousand soldiers at the sect and intended to deposit its Wish Stones, worth ten or twenty years of national revenue, in the treasury.

After Zhao Hongming’s victory over the Zhengyi Sect, Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu announced that he intended to abdicate and set Zhao Hongming’s coronation for New Year if it proved auspicious. At court, Hong Daowen urged Zhao Hongming to retreat from the sect, but Zhao Hongming’s treasury contribution and a conciliatory message from Bi Sect Master undermined his warnings.

• Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu praised Zhao Hongming for seizing the Zhengyi Sect’s treasure and announced that he intended to abdicate so Zhao Hongming could ascend the throne at New Year if the date was auspicious.
• Zhao Hongming told Gao Yanshi to keep the Zhengyi Sect’s defeat secret and confirmed that one-third of the spoils had gone to the national treasury while two-thirds went to his private treasury.
• Hong Daowen and several ministers warned Zhao Hongming that attacking the Zhengyi Sect endangered Wei Country and urged him to withdraw his army and appease the sect.
• Zhao Hongming declared that he could eventually stand against the world, and Minister of Revenue Gu Qitai revealed that Zhao Hongming had already given the treasury wealth worth more than a decade of tax revenue.
• A guard announced that Bi Sect Master thanked Zhao Hongming for removing unworthy scoundrels and permitted ten thousand Wei Elite Soldiers to enter the Zhengyi Sect each month to cultivate, leaving Hong Daowen speechless.

Zhao Hongming defended his attack on Zhengyi Sect as a targeted intervention, leading Hong Daowen to resign and leaving the court to prepare for a policy shift. After rumors spread to obscure what happened at the sect, the story ended with Han Xuanhui Emperor Han Wei asking whether Wei Country had truly taken Zhengyi Sect.

• Zhao Hongming presented Zhengyi Sect’s jade token and explained that he had targeted its elders amid the sect’s internal conflict, prompting Hong Daowen to admit defeat and request resignation.
• Zhao Hongming approved Hong Daowen’s resignation and ordered Gao Yanshi to summon Li Li from Ying Commandery to Daliang.
• Zhao Hongming reviewed his cultivation progress and resolved to focus on advancing the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique.
• Zhang Yi and Lan Tianjiao spread lurid rumors about Zhengyi Sect and its internal strife, helping Zhao Hongming obscure his intervention and withdraw smoothly.
• Half a month later in Yangdi, Han Wei asked the gathered Martial Warriors whether Wei Country had already taken Zhengyi Sect.

Xuanhui Emperor Han Wei and Han Country’s three Martial Arts leaders agreed that Zhao Hongming threatened their nation and discussed assassinating him. After learning Zhao would soon ascend the throne, Wu Daitian accepted Zuo Jian’s offer to help organize an attack with the other nations.

• Han Wei heard from the three Martial Arts leaders that Zhao Hongming’s rise threatened Han Country, and they agreed to seek an alliance to assassinate him.
• Han Wei privately lamented that he lacked the power to rule as Zhao did, then the leaders left the palace.
• Zuo Jian stopped Wu Daitian’s carriage and followed him to a secluded mountain outside Yangdi to speak privately.
• Zuo Jian told Wu Daitian that Zhao would ascend the throne in about half a month and urged Han Country to strike during the coronation.
• Zuo Jian offered a replicated treasure comparable to a God-Demon Weapon, and Wu Daitian agreed to enlist the other two sects and join the other nations in the assassination plot.

Wu Daitian, Min Zong, and Lin Bo agreed to join forces to assassinate Zhao Hongming during his upcoming enthronement, while Zhao Hongming continued cultivating in Great Liang. Remembering the Silver Spirit Fish in the Imperial Garden’s old well, he used Eternal Youth True Intent to fish up a second one.

• Wu Daitian told Min Zong and Lin Bo that Sword Casting Villa had made a magical artifact for an assassination attempt on Zhao Hongming, and Lin Bo volunteered to lead it.
• Lin Bo urged Han Country’s factions to coordinate with the other nations, and agents rode out from Yangdi City to spread the plan.
• Zhao Hongming trained in the Imperial Palace and discussed preparations for two locations with Gao Yanshi, dismissing officials’ complaints about the expense.
• Zhao Hongming remembered the Silver Spirit Fish in the Imperial Garden’s old well and had Gao Yanshi bring him fishing gear.
• After ordinary fishing failed, Zhao Hongming sent Eternal Youth True Intent down the line and pulled a second Silver Spirit Fish from the well.