Chapter Summaries

Lin Su reassured Qi Yao that he had no intention of ending their engagement, and she eagerly prepared to accompany him around Ningzhou. As they traveled toward Cangshan, she explained her family’s circumstances and revealed that the Red Kingdom had crossed the Qingpan River, alarming Lin Su.

• Lin Su declined Prince Nan’s banquet, and Qi Yao intervened to keep him from being pressured into another drinking session.
• Lin Su told Qi Yao he was apologizing for leaving without saying goodbye and did not intend to break off their engagement; she joyfully embraced him.
• Lin Su revealed that he knew Qi Yao had secretly visited and kissed him the previous night, and she fled in embarrassment before changing into traveling clothes.
• The Princess Consort allowed Qi Yao to accompany Lin Su to Ningzhou after setting rules and placing a Red Dot on her arm, but the pair left before she could explain its purpose further.
• Lin Su and Qi Yao encountered Great Confucian Zhang Yangzhong, then discussed Prince Nan’s family and learned that the Red Kingdom had crossed the Qingpan River and built cities inside Great Cang’s territory.

Lin Su and Qi Yao toured Cang Mountain, where Qi Yao explained the Seventy-Two Tribes’ unusual bloodlines and the Head Tribe’s betrayal of Great Cang. Their journey ended at Yuan Ji’s cottage, where Yuan Ji secretly kissed Lin Su before inviting them inside.

• Lin Su carried Qi Yao through Cang Mountain, and she showed him the Xiang Tribe’s old village and introduced him to Granny, who had an Everlasting Spring bloodline.
• Qi Yao described the special abilities of the Seventy-Two Tribes and revealed that the Head Tribe had defected to the Chi Kingdom and helped seize the Qingpan River.
• Qi Yao explained that the Yuan Tribe was known for its extraordinary fertility, then suggested visiting Cangshan Army City instead.
• Yuan Ji appeared on a mountain peak, teased Qi Yao about her relationship with Lin Su, and secretly kissed him as she led them to her cottage.
• Lin Su and Qi Yao entered Yuan Ji’s elegant cottage, where they saw verses written on an open book and a purple clay teapot.

Lin Su accompanied Qi Yao to the Cangshan Army’s mountain stronghold, where he met her brother Qi Dong and saw the army’s strength and shortages. The chapter ended as Qi Yao brought Lin Su to a camp of female soldiers overlooking the battlefield between Great Cang and the Crimson Nation.

• Yuan Ji served Lin Su and Qi Yao tea, and Lin Su felt her finger brush his palm.
• Lin Su and Qi Yao flew to the Cangshan Army’s front-line stronghold, where Lin Su learned that Prince Nan held military command but no local governing authority.
• A trained patrol recognized Qi Yao and escorted her and Lin Su through the camps; Lin Su observed the soldiers’ discipline, damaged equipment, and poor condition.
• Qi Dong welcomed Lin Su, praised his loyalty and achievements, and called him Brother Su before returning to military business.
• Qi Yao told Lin Su that Qi Dong had praised him to his young sons and beaten them after comparing them unfavorably with Lin Su.
• Lin Su and Qi Yao saw signs of a recent battle and Crimson Nation banners beyond Great Cang Mountain, then reached a camp staffed entirely by women.

Lin Su and Qi Yao discovered that the enemy had lured Qi Dong’s rescue force into an ambush at Butian Cliff, and Qi Yao rushed to help him. Lin Su reached the enemy-held peak and used a military art to make the Crimson Kingdom troops mistake one another for Cangshan soldiers, buying time to save Qi Dong.

• Lin Su learned about the Cangshan Army’s renowned women’s units while he and Qi Yao waited for You Du and Qi Dong to return.
• Two soldiers reported that You Du’s Red Lotus Squad was trapped after suffering heavy losses, and Qi Dong had taken three thousand elite guards to rescue them.
• At the central command tent, Lin Su recognized that the enemy’s apparent attempt to destroy the Red Lotus Squad was a trap aimed at Qi Dong’s reinforcements, but Qi Dong had already entered Butian Cliff.
• The enemy’s military formation ambushed Qi Dong’s force on the cliff, and Qi Yao arrived to attack the troops atop the peak before Qi Dong caught her with his banner.
• Lin Su evaded Qi Yao, reached the peak, and used a military art to disguise the two sides as Cangshan Army and Crimson Kingdom troops, causing the Crimson Kingdom soldiers to fight one another.
• Lin Su told Qi Yao to get Qi Dong out of danger while his military art lasted for half an hour.

Lin Su used three military stratagems to lead Qi Dong’s two thousand soldiers through the enemy forces with almost no losses, then gave Qi Dong the stratagems to study. The chapter ended with You Du and the wounded Red Lotus Squad trapped between twenty thousand Scarlet Kingdom troops in Li Feng Canyon.

• Lin Su persuaded Qi Dong to continue through Butian Cliff and attack the army camp at Seven Lady Mountain.
• Lin Su disguised the Cangshan soldiers as Scarlet Kingdom troops, allowing them to infiltrate the camp and destroy its military banners before routing the ten thousand defenders.
• General Sinan discovered that his troops had slaughtered one another on Butian Cliff, then pursued what he believed was the fleeing Cangshan Army and was killed in Lin Su’s ambush.
• Lin Su gave Qi Dong golden pages explaining the three stratagems, and Qi Dong eagerly began studying them.
• You Du and the wounded Red Lotus Squad remained surrounded by twenty thousand enemy troops in Li Feng Canyon and prepared for the coming attack.

You Du and the Red Lotus Squad prepared to make a final stand at Seven Lady Mountain, but Qi Dong, Qi Yao, and Lin Su arrived with reinforcements. Lin Su used a war illusion and a surprise assault to defeat the enemy force, leaving the Red Lotus Squad and Cangshan Army victorious.

• You Du and You Wen refused to abandon the besieged Red Lotus Squad, even as their warriors begged them to escape.
• Qi Dong, Qi Yao, and Lin Su arrived at Seven Lady Mountain, where You Du explained that forty thousand enemy troops had trapped the Cangshan forces under a strategist surnamed Du.
• Lin Su created an illusion of battle at the valley entrance, persuading General Chi Feng’s troops that Lieyang’s army had entered the valley.
• Qi Dong led the disguised Red Lotus Squad and Cangshan soldiers into Chi Feng’s camp, where You Du and You Wen killed the deputy generals and Lin Su cut down the command banner.
• The infiltrating forces shattered the enemy’s formations and routed the ten thousand troops; Qi Yao defeated Chi Feng with a single punch while Lin Su watched in alarm.

Qi Dong’s army used Lin Su’s new military strategies to seize Dinggu City, while Qi Yao killed Commander Ding Han and Lin Su pursued the enemy strategist. Lin Su discovered that the strategist used a dangerous Spiritual Power technique and learned that Great Cang’s immortal sects were aiding the invaders.

• After learning that the Red Lotus Squad could keep fighting, Qi Dong ordered the army to take Dinggu City before dawn.
• Ding Han and his military adviser learned that three armies had been wiped out, then rushed to South City to face what they believed was a massive Cangshan Army assault.
• Lin Su used “Secretly Cross the Chencang Pass” to get five thousand soldiers into Dinggu City while his illusory siege drew the defenders away.
• Qi Dong’s troops revealed themselves inside South City and routed the defenders, while Qi Yao killed Ding Han with a single punch.
• Lin Su pursued and killed the large-headed military adviser, enduring a Spiritual Power attack before Qi Yao warned him about the head tribe’s secret techniques.
• Qi Yao told Lin Su that Great Cang’s immortal sects were assisting the invaders, then claimed Ding Han had exploded because of a flaw in his cultivation technique.

After the Cangshan Army captured Dinggu City, Lin Su urged Qi Dong to keep advancing toward the Qingpan River rather than surrender their gains, and Qi Dong led the army south. At Li City, Du Tiange arrived as its strategist and prepared to face the approaching Cangshan Army.

• You Du and You Wen wondered whether the Deputy Commander planned to continue the campaign after the fall of Dinggu City.
• Lin Su told Qi Dong that the Cangshan Army must keep advancing, arguing that the Chi Kingdom’s foothold at Qi City had to be eliminated and that invaders crossing the Qingpan River should be killed.
• Du Jin’s defeat was discussed by the Chi Kingdom commanders, and Tiange arrived from Wenxin Pavilion, declared his intention to take the Qi family’s heads, and departed for the front.
• Qi Dong rallied the five thousand Cangshan troops to attack and led them out of the pass toward Li City with Lin Su and Qi Yao.
• Yang Fei received reinforcements from Pojun City and welcomed Du Tiange as Li City’s strategist as the Cangshan Army approached.
• Du Tiange dismissed Yang Fei’s concerns and said he had countless answers to the enemy’s tactics as the Cangshan Army emerged from the mountain pass.

Lin Su helped Qi Dong’s Cangshan Army capture nine cities in a day, but their advance stalled when an Enemy Repelling Formation protected Qi City. After recognizing the formation, Lin Su called for ten thousand soldiers to assemble thirty-six military-banner formations and challenge it.

• Lin Su used the Borrowing a Knife to Kill stratagem to make Yang Fei kill Du Tiange, throwing the defenders into chaos as the Cangshan Army entered Li City and captured it.
• Qi Dong realized the nearby Pojun City and other cities were left undefended, and his army went on to take nine cities in succession.
• Marshal Ding withdrew the remaining garrisons to Qi City, where a formation destroyed Qi Dong’s golden military-strategy paper and forced Qi Dong, Lin Su, and Qi Yao to flee.
• Lin Su recognized the Enemy Repelling Formation as the work of Bishui Sect and explained that his incomplete military stratagems could not overcome the complete formation.
• Lin Su asked Qi Dong to gather ten thousand soldiers, explaining that he intended to use thirty-six military-banner formations as a formation of their own.

Lin Su learned the Spiritual Power Secret Technique and discovered his Spiritual Power was level twenty-eight as Cangshan’s army marched on Qi City. The defenders prepared to exploit their formation and superior numbers, but the Cangshan forces unexpectedly spread out to surround the city, leaving Strategist Du wary of a hidden plan.

• Lin Su studied Du Tiange’s Jade Pendant, learned about the Soul Annihilation Strike, and tested his Spiritual Power at level twenty-eight.
• Du Jin told a Wenxin Pavilion elder that Du Tiange had died and warned him that the young man beside Qi Dong might be the enemy’s true core.
• Qi Dong led four elite forces toward Qi City, while Lin Su took Qi Yao to a mountain overlooking the city and said the troops might only watch the battle.
• Ding Zi and Strategist Du prepared to use Qi City’s protective formation, hidden armies, and Bishui Sect elders to break Cangshan’s morale and kill Qi Dong and Qi Yao.
• The Cangshan Army divided and spread out along both sides of Qi City, surprising Ding Zi and prompting Strategist Du to suspect a hidden plan.

Lin Su’s Great Killing Formation destroyed Qi City and wiped out the Red Nation army, ending the Southern Territory war. He left without revealing his role, while Qi Yao returned to her family; on his way home, Lin Su remembered Yuan Ji’s uncanny movements and kiss.

• Strategist Du activated Qi City’s Defensive Formation, but Lin Su and Qi Yao watched from a distant mountain as Lin Su arranged thirty-six military formations into a Great Killing Formation.
• The Great Killing Formation destroyed Elder Qingyun’s Rejecting Formation, killed Elder Qingyun and Du Xin, and turned Qi City’s soldiers and inhabitants into blood mist.
• Ding Zi surrendered, but Qi Dong rejected the surrender and declared that anyone who had crossed the Qingpan River would be killed; ships on the Qing River turned back after witnessing the destruction.
• Lin Su left the Southern Territory to keep his involvement in the war secret, while Qi Yao returned to Prince Nan’s Manor and softened the Princess Consort with a dish from Lin Su’s grandmother.
• Lin Su crossed Great Cang Mountain and, while passing Yuan Ji’s valley, recalled her mysterious movements and the kiss she had given him.

Lin Su visited Yuan Ji, returned her earlier kiss, and learned that she needed intimacy to break the Yuan Tribe bloodline’s shackles on her cultivation. Afterward, he found and memorized the Nine Steps of the Heavenly Cycle before flying toward Dongting Lake, practicing the newly learned footwork along the way.

• Lin Su visited Yuan Ji by moonlight and asked to learn the footwork she had shown him.
• Yuan Ji explained that she needed to break free of her bloodline’s shackles and asked Lin Su to be with her once, with both agreeing to forget each other afterward.
• After they were together, Yuan Ji directed Lin Su to a cave, where he discovered the Nine Steps of the Heavenly Cycle and recognized it as the condensed form of his Thirty-Six Steps of the Lesser Heavenly Cycle.
• Lin Su memorized the footwork and found a second formation, but withdrew when trying to activate it nearly destabilized the nine wheels in his dantian.
• Lin Su left for Dongting Lake and practiced the Nine Steps of the Heavenly Cycle for a day and a night, completing all nine steps as he arrived.

Lin Su reunited with Qiu Shui Hua Ping on Dongting Lake, where they shared a quiet night and discussed his political enemies. Hua Ping painted a vivid Starry Night Dongting scene that gave her a clearer path toward opening a Painting Realm.

• Lin Su mastered the practical use of the Nine Steps of the Heavenly Cycle and found Qiu Shui Hua Ping at Qiu Shui Mountain Villa.
• Lin Su invited Hua Ping to tour Dongting Lake, and she secretly left Moon Lake Tower with him in a Swallow Boat.
• Lin Su told Hua Ping he had come to warn Lei Zheng and Zhu Shiyun against plotting against him, and they discussed the many forces arrayed against him.
• Lin Su rested as Hua Ping comforted him, and the two stayed together on the boat through the night.
• Hua Ping painted the Starry Night Dongting scene, and Lin Su suggested it could serve as the foundation for her future Painting Realm.

Qiu Shui Hua Ping attended her mother's birthday celebration and reunited with her sisters, while the county magistrate's wife tried to arrange a match between her and Mao Pi. The Painting Sage Sacred Family then arrived with its direct disciple Wu Yulang, leaving him seated beside Mao Pi as a rival suitor.

• Qiu Shui Hua Ping reunited with her three boastful elder sisters and her quiet fifth sister, Qiu Shui Hongshang, at Moon Lake Tower.
• The county magistrate and his wife arrived, and Madam Lu introduced Mao Pi as a prestigious match for Qiu Shui Hua Ping.
• Madam Lu and Second Sister urged Qiu Shui Hua Ping to consider marrying Mao Pi, but she grew irritated.
• Elder Wu of the Painting Sage Sacred Family arrived with Wu Yulang, a Great Confucian of Literary Heart, to celebrate the birthday.
• Wu Yulang took a seat at Mao Pi's table, where his presence pressured the scholars but did not affect Mao Pi.

Lin Su challenged Mao Pi and Wu Yulang as they sought Qiu Shui Hua Ping’s hand, then inscribed a poem on her painting that revealed his extraordinary talent. The poem became a Legacy Azure Poem, and the guests recognized him as Top Scholar Lin Su.

• Wu Yulang became enamored with Qiu Shui Hua Ping when he saw her, but she left to welcome Lin Su and seated him beside her.
• Mao Pi recited a poem to impress Qiu Shui Hua Ping, and Lin Su exposed his history of slandering Xie Xiaoyan after she outperformed him.
• Wu Yulang painted a fragrant peony for Qiu Shui Hua Ping, but Lin Su pointed out that she could paint better herself.
• Qiu Shui Hua Ping gave Lin Su her painting of Dongting Lake, and he wrote a poem on it that became a Legacy Azure Poem.
• The guests saw the azure poem spread across Dongting Lake and realized Lin Su was Top Scholar Lin Su.

Lin Su gave Qiu Shui Hua Ping a World-Passing Azure Poem at her mother's birthday banquet, then flirted with her at Moon Lake Tower. Meanwhile, Great Cang celebrated a decisive victory in the Southern Territory, and the Bishui Immortal Sect suspected Lin Su had supplied the formation that killed its elders.

• Lin Su presented Qiu Shui Hua Ping with a painting and a World-Passing Azure Poem, earning her a treasured Painting Brush from the Holy Hall.
• The Painting Sage Sacred Family's marriage proposal faltered as Qiu Shui Hua Ping left the banquet with Lin Su, while her father silently withdrew to his room.
• At Moon Lake Tower, Qiu Shui Hua Ping warned Lin Su that her father might break his legs if he learned how far their relationship had gone.
• Zhang Wenyuan and Lu Tiancong received news that the Cangshan Army had annihilated the Red Kingdom's invading force and recovered the Southern Territory, prompting the emperor to issue rewards.
• Lu Tiancong investigated Lin Su's whereabouts, and Zhang Wenyuan confirmed that Lin Su was at Dongting Lake Shore composing poetry.
• After eighty-one Bishui Immortal Sect elders died in a Peerless Killing Formation, the sect's leaders suspected Lin Su had given the formation to the Qingqiu Fox Clan and retained a stronger one for use against them.

After learning Qiu Shui Hongshang’s husband had been imprisoned over a poem, Lin Su agreed to investigate and traveled with her and Qiu Shui Hua Ping to Xiling City. The chapter ended as Lin Su confronted the Prefect’s Mansion in his official capacity and Prefect Cao Fang came out to receive him.

• Wenxin Pavilion’s elders ordered Du Jin to confirm whether Lin Su was the key to the Southern Territory’s defeat, while Du Jin kept secret his failed Soul Annihilation Strike.
• Qiu Shui Hongshang told Lin Su that her husband, Sun Linbu, had been imprisoned for a poem said to allude to the Emperor, and Lin Su promised to look into the case.
• Madam Zhang argued with Qiu Shui Changkong about whether Qiu Shui Hua Ping should be allowed to pursue Lin Su.
• Lin Su traveled with Qiu Shui Hongshang and Qiu Shui Hua Ping to Xiling City, rejecting Hua Ping’s suggestion to offer Prefect Cao Fang a painting.
• Lin Su ordered the guards to summon Cao Fang, who came out with officials to welcome the capital inspector.

Lin Su secured Sun Linbu’s release by showing that the Pact of Luocheng had been abandoned, then left Central Prefecture with Qiu Shui Hua Ping. During their journey, he studied the Spiritual Power Secret Technique and discovered that the head people had inherited only a small part of its potential.

• Lin Su challenged Cao Fang and the Academic Administrator over Sun Linbu’s imprisonment, arguing that punishing criticism of the Pact of Luocheng contradicted Great Cang’s current policy.
• Cao Fang released Sun Linbu, and Qiu Shui Hua Ping gave her younger sister a thousand-tael banknote with Lin Su’s support.
• Sun Linbu learned that Lin Su had secured his freedom and became an admirer after hearing about Lin Su’s poetry and achievements.
• Cao Fang reported Lin Su’s departure to Lei Zheng, who told him to focus on keeping Lin Su from discovering anything about Mount Sifang.
• Lin Su and Qiu Shui Hua Ping traveled toward Quzhou, spending four days together as Lin Su studied the Spiritual Power Secret Technique.
• Lin Su realized the head people had not created the secret technique but had inherited it and developed only a fraction of its capabilities.

After returning to Haining, Lin Su advanced his studies and his new accounting method transformed the capital, while Deng Qiushan’s victory over Xie Yun helped secure Lin Su a place at the Azure Lotus Dao Discussion. Zhang Juzheng and Qu Wendong suspected the court had selected Lin Su as part of a dangerous scheme, leaving his journey to the gathering ominously uncertain.

• Lin Su returned to Haining, where Sister Chen reflected on how his actions had stopped Princess Yufeng from being forced to marry the Prince of Jin.
• Lin Su continued refining his stratagems, studying formations and spiritual techniques, and practicing the Nine Steps of the Heavenly Cycle.
• Deng Hongbo used Lin Su’s new accounting method to review the Ministry of Personnel’s accounts in fourteen days, and the method spread through the capital.
• Deng Qiushan defeated Xie Yun in an arithmetic contest and asked him to recommend Lin Su for the Azure Lotus Dao Discussion.
• The Current Majesty’s official list named Lin Su among Great Cang’s seven participants, prompting speculation across the capital and concern among Lin Su’s associates.
• Qu Wendong and Zhang Juzheng concluded that Lin Su’s selection likely concealed a conspiracy resembling the trap in Western Province.

Lin Su was selected to attend the Azure Lotus Dao Discussion, where he would face dangers from rival nations and factions. After learning that Li Guihan would attend too and that the Edict of Spreading Favor had stirred conflict within the Dao Saint Sacred Family, he considered what topic to discuss and was advised to choose mathematics.

• Zhang Juzheng and Qu Wendong identified the Poet Sage Sacred Family, Great Corner, the Red Kingdom, and Great Cang's own faction as dangers Lin Su could face at the Azure Lotus Dao Discussion.
• A Young Lady of Yinfeng Pavilion learned that Lin Su would attend the gathering and decided to watch the Four Great Talented Women's performance of The Tale of the White Snake.
• Lei Zheng ordered Lin Su to represent Great Cang at the Azure Lotus Dao Discussion, and Lin Su's household celebrated his selection as a future literary grandmaster.
• A Jade Cicada lured Lin Su to Yichuan Lake Reservoir, where Li Guihan told him she would attend the gathering and promised that no one would harm him there.
• Li Guihan explained that the Edict of Spreading Favor had distributed recommendation power among Sacred Family members and fueled factional struggles within her clan.
• Li Guihan urged Lin Su to discuss mathematics rather than poetry and ci, since the Poet Sage Sacred Family would be present.