Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yun repaired and concealed the Wooden House, then disguised Sheng Minglan and their carriage so they could travel without attracting notice. As they headed toward Zhongshan Town, Sheng Minglan explained why she feared for Xiao Lian and Uncle Chen, who had escaped separately toward Snow Spirit City.

• Xiao Yun used Wood Release: Repair to restore the Wooden House and an illusion technique to hide it.
• Xiao Yun prepared mushroom soup and flatbread for breakfast, then disguised Sheng Minglan and weathered the carriage to look like a grain cart.
• Xiao Yun drove with Sheng Minglan along a small path and told her to act like an ordinary traveler and avoid drawing attention.
• Xiao Yun asked where Sheng Minglan and Uncle Chen would meet if separated, and she named Zhongshan Town as their rendezvous point.
• Sheng Minglan explained that Xiao Lian was Uncle Chen’s granddaughter and her close friend, and that they had escaped together using their flying Martial Souls.

Xiao Yun and Sheng Minglan reached Zhongshan Town ahead of the larger groups pursuing the same route. After Xiao Yun intimidated a lecherous gate captain without revealing his strength, they checked into Ping An Inn, where Xiao Yun haggled over their room.

• Xiao Yun and Sheng Minglan traveled into the basin and approached Zhongshan Town, where suspicious locals watched arriving travelers.
• Whiskered Captain stopped their cart and tried to lift Sheng Minglan’s headscarf, but Xiao Yun struck his arm with his whip and made him back down.
• Xiao Yun entered town and overheard that the major academy caravan and Prosperous Dynasty Merchant Guild convoy had not arrived, while Yuanfeng Merchant Guild forces had been active nearby.
• Xiao Yun ignored Sheng Minglan’s hopeful looks about finding her family’s outpost and took her to Ping An Inn.
• Xiao Yun paid to have their cart and horses looked after, then bargained with the innkeeper over the price of a superior room.

Xiao Yun left Sheng Minglan safe at an inn and secretly went to the Sheng Family Grocery Store stronghold, where he found Chen Yin and Xiao Lian under guard. Chen Yin planned to sacrifice himself and his men to protect Sheng Minglan’s escape, but Xiao Yun learned that Xiao Lian would remain with them.

• Xiao Yun rented a room for himself and Sheng Minglan, then used an illusion to leave her bathing while he slipped out into the night.
• Xiao Yun sensed Soul Elder watchers around the stronghold and found Chen Yin and Xiao Lian inside, with Chen Yin seriously injured.
• Xiao Yun silently knocked out the watchers and entered the courtyard, where Chen Yin recognized him and asked about Sheng Minglan.
• Xiao Yun assured Chen Yin that Sheng Minglan was safe and warned that the stronghold was too exposed to withstand another attack.
• Chen Yin said he and the guards would draw the pursuers away so Sheng Minglan could reach Snow Spirit City, while Xiao Lian insisted on staying with them.

Xiao Yun helped Chen Yin move most of Sheng Minglan’s loyal guards to a secret courtyard, then left Zhongshan Town with Sheng Minglan. On the road north, he gave her his real name, and she joked that he shared it with the famous leader of the Imperial Fighting Team.

• Xiao Yun persuaded Chen Yin to hide most of the household’s people in a secret courtyard while a few stayed behind to mislead the Yuan Family’s watchers.
• Chen Yin and the others left through the back door, and Xiao Yun returned to Ping An Inn without killing the unconscious watchers.
• Xiao Yun and Sheng Minglan spent the night at the inn, then prepared their disguises and left Zhongshan Town at daybreak.
• After they had traveled north, Sheng Minglan asked Xiao Yun what to call him, and he told her his real name.
• Sheng Minglan recognized the name Xiao Yun as that of the famous Imperial Fighting Team leader and teased him about working as her guard and coachman.

Xiao Yun reassured Sheng Minglan that her companions had escaped danger, then used spells and expert driving to rush them out of the Ancient Scar Hills before the Yuan Family could catch up. They reached the plains in a day, leaving Sheng Minglan amazed by Xiao Yun’s abilities.

• Xiao Yun told Sheng Minglan he had visited the Zhongshan Town outpost, rescued Consecrator Chen and Xiao Lian from their watchers, and helped them escape.
• Xiao Yun warned Sheng Minglan that the Yuan Family would soon discover the false trail, so they needed to reach Snow Spirit City quickly.
• Xiao Yun enchanted the horses and cart and drove at extreme speed, weaving through traffic as Sheng Minglan held on and gradually grew excited.
• Xiao Yun and Sheng Minglan changed horses once along the way while keeping the cart moving.
• Xiao Yun drove Sheng Minglan out of the Ancient Scar Hills and onto the plains in a single day, leaving her wondering who he really was.

Xiao Yun and Sheng Minglan arrived in Os City and were welcomed at the Prosperous Dynasty Inn after its staff recognized her. Sheng Minglan reunited with Chen Mao and explained that they had found a medicine that might help her grandmother, though its effectiveness remained uncertain.

• Sheng Minglan identified Os City as an important Prosperous Dynasty Merchant Guild base as Xiao Yun drove their carriage there.
• An attendant recognized Sheng Minglan by her earring, and the innkeeper assigned her and Xiao Yun a private courtyard.
• Chen Mao and A Fu greeted Sheng Minglan and learned that Xiao Yun had helped her escape the Yuan Family's pursuers.
• Sheng Minglan told Chen Mao that Uncle Chen and Xiao Lian remained in Zhongshan Town as bait, and she insisted that Xiao Yun could hear their discussion.
• Sheng Minglan said they had found a pill that might treat her grandmother's illness, but she could not confirm its effects.

Sheng Minglan learned that the Yuan Family was pressuring her family and decided to lure their forces away by announcing her return to Snow Spirit City. After reaching the inn, Xiao Yun planned to prepare for the dangers ahead, but his Spiritual Sense unexpectedly intruded on Sheng Minglan’s bath next door.

• Chen Mao told Sheng Minglan that the Yuan Family’s aggression was increasing, while support from Old Madam’s prestige and the Shui Family kept the conflict from becoming open war.
• Sheng Minglan ordered Chen Mao to spread news of her return so the Yuan Family would focus its forces on intercepting her instead of attacking the merchant guild’s other strongholds.
• Sheng Minglan arranged separate rooms and baths for herself and Xiao Yun after they reached the inn.
• Xiao Yun decided to reach Snow Spirit City early, investigate the situation, and use the Prosperous Dynasty Merchant Guild’s channels to gather materials and prepare supplies for his allies.
• Xiao Yun’s Spiritual Sense scanned the inn and unexpectedly perceived Sheng Minglan bathing in the room next door.

Xiao Yun surveyed the Yuan Family spies watching Prosperous Dynasty Inn, then secretly visited the Ancient Desolate Pagoda and the Vast Wilderness World. After tending to Ah Yin and handling territorial affairs, he returned to Os City and slept ahead of the journey the next day.

• Xiao Yun detected Yuan Family spies monitoring Prosperous Dynasty Inn and planned to use the Sheng Family’s departure to draw the Yuan Family’s pursuit away from Zhongshan Town.
• Xiao Yun faked going to bed, slipped into the Ancient Desolate Pagoda, and found Ah Yin thriving as her age approached fifty thousand years.
• Xiao Yun taught Ah Yin about China on Blue Star and encouraged her to think independently and value herself.
• Xiao Yun inspected the flourishing spirit herbs and immortal herbs in the Pagoda Space, estimating their first major harvest would come in about ten years.
• Xiao Yun handled reports and orders in the Vast Wilderness World and reviewed the slow progress of development in the Coastal Exotic Region.
• Xiao Yun restored his Spiritual Power, returned to the inn, and went to sleep before the journey ahead.

Sheng Minglan and Xiao Yun traveled openly toward Snow Spirit City to draw attention away from Zhongshan Town, then sought shelter at Kang Family Village. Kang Lie welcomed Sheng Minglan but slighted Xiao Yun, whose quiet Spiritual Sense warning kept the village guards at bay.

• Sheng Minglan and Xiao Yun left Os City openly, and Xiao Yun noticed hidden watchers rushing to report their departure.
• Over the next five days, Xiao Yun drove them toward Snow Spirit City, and Sheng Minglan directed him to Kang Family Village instead of Linxue City.
• Kang Lie warmly welcomed Sheng Minglan but dismissed Xiao Yun as an insignificant coachman and sent him to shabby huts near the village entrance.
• Xiao Yun ignored the poor lodging and rested in the carriage, prompting several guards to surround it and threaten him.
• The guards froze in fear when they approached the carriage, and Xiao Yun continued resting after using his Spiritual Sense to deter them.

Xiao Yun rescued Sheng Minglan from Kang Jing’s plot, looted the Kang Family’s vault and the Prosperous Dynasty Merchant Guild’s medicinal warehouse, and escaped Kang Family Village with her. He slipped through the approaching attackers’ encirclement just as fighting and fires erupted behind him.

• Sheng Minglan sensed Bewitching Incense in her room and crushed Xiao Yun’s Jade Token to call for help.
• Xiao Yun infiltrated Kang Estate, knocked out Kang Jing and his accomplices with a Spiritual Impact, and found Sheng Minglan unharmed but asleep.
• Xiao Yun disguised Kang Jing as Sheng Minglan, restrained the servants, and planted concealed sword energy in them.
• Xiao Yun emptied the Kang Family’s treasure vault and the Prosperous Dynasty Merchant Guild’s Medicinal Herb Warehouse, then carried Sheng Minglan to a hidden grain transport cart.
• Xiao Yun drove through a gap in the attackers’ encirclement as a fierce battle broke out in Kang Family Village.

Xiao Yun learned through his Spiritual Sense that Yuan Family pursuers annihilated Kang Family Estate with a fire-type Martial Soul Fusion Skill, then continued escorting Sheng Minglan to Snow Spirit City. Sheng Minglan reached Sheng Garden and was recognized by its guards.

• Xiao Yun left Kang Family Estate as a Soul Saint and five Soul Emperors attacked it with the Martial Soul Fusion Skill Skyfire Meteor Shower, engulfing the estate in flames.
• After waking in the carriage, Sheng Minglan asked Xiao Yun what had happened to Kang Lie and the others, and he told her the Yuan Family had destroyed Kang Family Estate.
• Xiao Yun gave Sheng Minglan food and water as they traveled across Snow Spirit Plain toward Snow Spirit City.
• Sheng Minglan showed a Sheng Family internal token at Snow Spirit City's gate, allowing the carriage to pass without further questions.
• Sheng Minglan arrived at Sheng Garden, where A-Zhong and A-Yong recognized her through her peasant disguise and welcomed her back.

Sheng Minglan returned safely to Sheng Garden with Xiao Yun, where she reunited with her family and credited him with protecting her. At the Yuan Family residence, Yuan Tai worried that her return could strengthen the Sheng Family, while the elders remained confident that the family would soon collapse.

• A-Zhong recognized Sheng Minglan and sent word to the Sheng Family as Xiao Yun drove her into the estate.
• Sheng Minglan changed out of her disguise and tearfully reunited with Sheng Hong, Lady Wei, and her younger siblings.
• Sheng Minglan thanked Xiao Yun for protecting her, and Sheng Hong arranged for him to rest at Bamboo Rhyme Pavilion.
• Yuan Tai berated the elders for failing to stop Sheng Minglan from reaching Sheng Garden.
• Grand Elder Yuan Song argued that the Sheng Family would fall once the Old Madam died, especially with Bishop Douglas secretly supporting the Yuan Family.
• After the elders left, Yuan Tai privately feared Sheng Minglan could reunite the Sheng Family and thwart the Yuan Family's plans.

Sheng Minglan returned to Sheng Garden and reunited with her family, then brought a rare healing pill to her gravely ill grandmother, Old Madam Xu Huiyin. As the family gathered around the old woman, she suddenly coughed up blood, leaving Sheng Minglan reaching for the medicine.

• Sheng Minglan reunited with her younger siblings, asked about their lives, and advised them on their studies, cultivation, and safety.
• Sheng Hong asked whether Sheng Minglan had found allies in Heaven Dou City, and she explained that securing a powerful patron was difficult.
• Sheng Minglan showed Sheng Hong a costly healing pill and said she wanted Old Madam Xu Huiyin to try it.
• Sheng Minglan, Sheng Hong, and Lady Wei hurried to Old Madam Xu Huiyin’s courtyard, where Sheng Minglan reunited warmly with her grandmother.
• Old Madam Xu Huiyin suddenly turned pale and coughed blood, and Sheng Minglan remembered the pill in her robes.

Sheng Minglan gave Old Madam a rare Healing Pill and described how Xiao Yun had saved her during the journey home. The Sheng family learned that Chen Yin and Xiao Lian had escaped, while Kang Family Village had been destroyed, and Old Madam wanted to meet Xiao Yun.

• Sheng Minglan gave Old Madam a Healing Pill, which quickly eased her injuries, and explained that she had no more.
• Sheng Minglan recounted how Xiao Yun had protected her on the journey, prompting Old Madam to ask where he was and express interest in meeting him.
• Sheng Minglan asked Sheng Hong about Chen Yin and Xiao Lian, and Sheng Hong confirmed they had escaped using Xiao Yun's plan.
• Sheng Hong told Sheng Minglan that Kang Family Village had burned down with no survivors.
• Old Madam condemned Kang Lie's greed and scheming, while lamenting the innocent villagers who had died.

After returning to the Sheng Family, Sheng Minglan reunited with her grandmother and spoke privately about her ordeal and her feelings toward Xiao Yun. The next morning, Yuan Tai forced his way into a Sheng Family meeting to demand Sheng Minglan marry Yuan Beier, while Sheng Hong and the family elders faced the Yuan Family’s show of strength and growing internal dissent.

• Old Madam thanked Sheng Minglan for her safe return, ordered Sheng Hong to treat Xiao Yun as an honored guest, and arranged to meet him the next morning.
• Alone with Old Madam, Sheng Minglan recounted the dangers she had faced and her complicated feelings toward Xiao Yun.
• Yuan Tai and Yuan Beier invaded the Sheng Family council hall with three Soul Saint Seniors and more than a dozen Soul Emperors, demanding a marriage alliance with Sheng Minglan.
• Sheng Minglan rejected Yuan Beier and declared that she would decide her own marriage, refusing to trade it for peace.
• Yuan Tai threatened the Sheng Family, and his Soul Saint Seniors released their pressure as several Sheng elders urged Sheng Hong to accept the marriage proposal.

Old Madam Xu Huiyin arrived at the Sheng Family council hall, drove Yuan Tai and his people away, and punished clansmen who had sided with them. Afterward, her strength faltered, while Xiao Yun watched unseen from the beams.

• Sheng Changbai, Sheng Hong, and Sheng Minglan faced pressure from Sheng Family clansmen who wanted Minglan to marry Yuan Beier.
• Old Madam Xu Huiyin entered with eight Soul Emperor guards and ordered Yuan Tai to leave the Sheng Family.
• A gaunt Soul Saint tested Old Madam Xu Huiyin, but she deflected his attack and forced him back.
• Yuan Tai led Yuan Beier and the other Yuan Family members out of the council hall.
• Old Madam Xu Huiyin stripped the clansmen who had pressured Minglan of their trading firm positions and stipends, and ordered their assets investigated and returned.
• Sheng Minglan supported the weakened Old Madam Xu Huiyin as Xiao Yun watched unseen from the shadows.

Xiao Yun went with Sheng Minglan to see the injured Old Madam Xu Huiyin. Old Madam saw through his disguise, and Xiao Yun revealed his true appearance before the Sheng Family.

• Sheng Minglan asked Xiao Yun to save Old Madam Xu Huiyin, whose condition had worsened after she used her Soul Power to intimidate the Yuan Family.
• Xiao Yun followed Sheng Minglan to Old Madam Xu Huiyin’s courtyard, where her younger siblings and Soul Emperor retainers waited.
• Old Madam Xu Huiyin thanked Xiao Yun for protecting Sheng Minglan, then challenged him to reveal his true face.
• Xiao Yun admitted that he had concealed his appearance and brushed away his disguise in front of Old Madam Xu Huiyin and Sheng Minglan.
• Old Madam Xu Huiyin was amazed by Xiao Yun’s striking appearance and unusual bearing.

Xiao Yun offered Sheng Minglan’s ailing grandmother a Brocade Breakthrough Pill to help her overcome the Martial Soul limitation blocking her from reaching the Soul Douluo realm. After Old Madam swallowed it, she began meditating as the pill’s power loosened her bottleneck.

• Sheng Minglan saw Xiao Yun’s true face and was stunned by his appearance.
• Xiao Yun assessed Old Madam’s injuries and explained that reaching the Soul Douluo realm could repair her ailments, but Old Madam said her Martial Soul and frailty had kept her trapped at level seventy-nine.
• Xiao Yun revealed a Brocade Breakthrough Pill that could temper a Martial Soul and help overcome bottlenecks caused by Martial Soul Quality.
• Xiao Yun offered the pill in exchange for the Sheng Family collecting rare materials through its channels in Snow Spirit Province, and Old Madam agreed.
• Sheng Minglan gave Old Madam the pill, and Old Madam swallowed it before beginning to meditate as her Soul Power surged and her bottleneck began to crack.

While Old Madam Xu Huiyin absorbed the Brocade Breakthrough Pill and entered a breakthrough, Sheng Minglan announced a three-day recovery deadline to calm the Sheng Family and mislead the Yuan Family. Xiao Yun understood that her false timeline could buy time for the family and Old Madam, who remained under his watch.

• Old Madam Xu Huiyin entered a breakthrough state as Xiao Yun and Sheng Minglan watched over her.
• Sheng Minglan felt drawn to Xiao Yun's true appearance, but he resumed his disguise and calmly read while Old Madam's condition stabilized.
• Xiao Yun estimated that Old Madam's breakthrough could take between two hours and half a day, and Sheng Minglan decided to inform her family.
• Sheng Minglan told Sheng Hong and the others that Old Madam would recover most of her strength within three days, reassuring them and prompting them to spread the news.
• Xiao Yun realized Sheng Minglan intended the false deadline to tempt the Yuan Family into preparing an attack, buying the Sheng Family time to prepare.

Xiao Yun tried to discourage Sheng Minglan’s growing interest by telling her he already had a family and several female confidantes, but she took his words as a possible path to a freer future and grew more determined. He fled the Inner Chamber, then turned his attention back to his work as news of Old Madam’s three-day recovery spread to the Yuan Family.

• Xiao Yun agreed to remain with Old Madam until her aura stabilized after Sheng Minglan asked him to stay.
• When Sheng Minglan probed into his background, Xiao Yun said he had a family and several female confidantes and that his escort was only the fulfillment of a promise.
• Sheng Minglan decided his existing relationships did not rule out her becoming another confidante and offered to help him in Snow Spirit City.
• Xiao Yun declared Old Madam stable and hurried out of the Inner Chamber, leaving Sheng Minglan watching him with renewed resolve.
• Xiao Yun returned to Bamboo Rhyme Pavilion, suppressed his thoughts about Sheng Minglan, and spread his Spiritual Sense across Sheng Garden and Snow Spirit City.
• News that Old Madam would need three days to recover most of her strength reached Yuan Tai’s desk through the Yuan Family’s spies.