Chapter Summaries

Gu Shaoshang reached the Chen Capital during its fall, clashed with Zhu Yuyan, and fought to protect the city’s civilians from the ensuing chaos. Yang Guang entered the capital and ordered his troops to advance on the imperial city, promising them a day of unrestricted plunder.

• Gu Shaoshang approached the Chen Capital and fought Zhu Yuyan after she attacked him for looking beneath her skirt; she retreated when her techniques failed to restrain him.
• Gu Shaoshang dodged a cauldron of boiling liquid, entered the city, and killed rioters who were murdering, looting, and setting fires.
• Gu Shaoshang abandoned his plan to search the imperial palace and returned to the streets to suppress those harming the people.
• Yang Guang entered the Chen Capital with his army, ordered the capture of Chen Shubao, and promised his soldiers one day without restraint.
• Chen Fu condemned Yang Guang for the suffering of the people, but Yang Guang dismissed his warnings and marched toward the imperial city.

Gu Shaoshang confronted Yang Guang’s forces in Chen Capital after killing one of their hidden agents, then fought Yang Su when the general attacked him. The chapter ended with Yang Su forced to retreat after their clash, while both sides remained poised to continue fighting.

• Yang Guang considered massacring Chen Capital as his troops fought through the city, while Yuwen Tuo and Yang Su stood beside him.
• A bloodied agent crawled to Yang Guang for help, but a black-robed Gu Shaoshang arrived and killed him.
• Gu Shaoshang recognized Yang Guang and the Xuanyuan Sword, then said that those who committed atrocities deserved death.
• Yang Su stepped forward to defend Yang Guang and unleashed his Divine Fire Ascending the Path technique against Gu Shaoshang.
• Gu Shaoshang met Yang Su’s attack with his golden Blood Qi, and the two exchanged dozens of blows that devastated the street.
• Yang Su retreated several steps and admitted that he had underestimated Gu Shaoshang.

Gu Shaoshang defeated Yang Su in a clash, then killed Yang Guang and took his golden armor. He escaped Yuwen Tuo by disguising himself as Yang Guang, leaving Yuwen Tuo kneeling before the real Yang Guang’s apparent replacement.

• Yang Su attacked Gu Shaoshang with his Divine Fire True Qi, and the two collided in a devastating exchange that sent Gu Shaoshang crashing into a crater.
• Yang Guang ordered Yuwen Tuo to draw the Xuanyuan Sword and kill Gu Shaoshang if he survived.
• Gu Shaoshang burst from the earth, seized Yang Guang, and killed him by forcing Yang Su’s remaining Divine Fire True Qi into Yang Guang’s chest.
• Gu Shaoshang took Yang Guang’s golden armor as Yuwen Tuo pursued him and cut down a black-robed figure he mistook for Gu Shaoshang.
• Gu Shaoshang appeared as Yang Guang and let Yuwen Tuo kneel before him, while the real Yang Guang lay dead.

Gu Shaoshang, disguised as Yang Guang, survived his clash with Yang Su and reached the Southern Chen palace as the Sui assault continued. He ordered Yuwen Tuo to protect the city’s civilians, then watched Yang Xuangan present the captured Chen Shubao.

• Gu Shaoshang impersonated Yang Guang before Yuwen Tuo and Yang Su, concealing his injuries with Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom.
• Yuwen Tuo reported that Chen Fu had died, and Yang Su departed after confirming traces of his Divine Fire true qi on the corpse.
• Gu Shaoshang and Yuwen Tuo went to the Southern Chen imperial palace as Sui forces attacked it.
• Gu Shaoshang ordered Yuwen Tuo to patrol the city and execute anyone committing arson, murder, looting, or rape.
• Yang Xuangan knelt before Gu Shaoshang and presented the captured Chen Shubao.

Gu Shaoshang captured Chen Shubao and examined Chen State’s records, learning how martial cultivation had shaped the world’s history. He resolved to surpass Yang Guang and become a Heavenly Emperor who ended the Han people’s oppression.

• Yang Xuangan praised Gu Shaoshang and reported that one of Chen Shubao’s sons remained missing as soldiers took Chen Shubao away.
• Gu Shaoshang entered the imperial palace with Yang Xuangan and ordered the soldiers to bring him Chen State’s books.
• Gu Shaoshang read the records and learned that Da Yu had established martial cultivation, which later flourished among the Hundred Schools.
• Gu Shaoshang read how Ying Zheng unified the realm, martial cultivation declined under the Han, and Yang Jian later founded Great Sui after centuries of turmoil.
• Gu Shaoshang felt the burden of his ambitions and resolved to become a true Heavenly Emperor.

Gu Shaoshang returned to Daxing City after conquering Southern Chen and faced the challenge of continuing to impersonate Yang Guang before his wife, Xiao Meiniang. The chapter ended as Xiao Meiniang urged him to retire with her, while he remained uneasy about the role he had taken on.

• On the journey to Daxing City, Yuwen Tuo asked Gu Shaoshang to rescue his mother from Yang Su, and Gu Shaoshang questioned him for information before postponing a decision.
• In the ninth year of Kaihuang, Gu Shaoshang and the victorious army reached Daxing City, where Yang Jian and the people welcomed them and Yang Guang's reputation rose above Yang Yong's.
• After returning to Prince Jin's residence, Gu Shaoshang learned that Yang Guang had a wife and children and met Xiao Meiniang, greeting her more coolly than she expected.
• At the banquet, Xiao Meiniang asked whether Gu Shaoshang had encountered Zhang Lihua, and he replied that Chen Shubao had killed her.
• After the banquet, Xiao Meiniang rested her wrist on Gu Shaoshang's shoulder and suggested that they retire early.

Gu Shaoshang left Daxing to lead a campaign against Lingnan, where the Song Clan had defeated Sui forces nine times. As the Song family debated who would face him while Song Que remained in seclusion, a saber rang out in their hall.

• Gu Shaoshang searched Xiao Meiniang's memories and planted false memories before spending several months training and studying the Great Sui's power structure.
• Yang Jian appointed Gu Shaoshang General of Pacification and ordered him to march on Lingnan; Yang Xuangan and three thousand Black Armored Cavalry greeted him outside Daxing.
• Yang Xuangan told Gu Shaoshang that the Song Clan had defeated Sui forces in nine battles, and that Crown Prince Yang Yong was leading the campaign.
• At the Song Clan's fortress, the elders worried about facing Gu Shaoshang while Song Que remained in Blade Honing Hall, and Song Zhi offered to lead the army.
• A clear saber cry sounded through the Song Clan's hall.

Song Que emerged from seclusion ready to face Yang Guang’s invasion, while Gu Shaoshang led the Black Armored Cavalry toward Lingnan and prepared for an approaching force. The chapter ended as hoofbeats shook the plain and the soldiers readied for battle.

• Song Que emerged from Blade Honing Hall, told Song Zhi and the elders that Yang Su was too badly injured to attack, and declared that the Lingnan Disciples feared no one.
• Song Cheng warned Song Que that Yang Guang was approaching with the Black Armored Cavalry, and Song Que set out to take the initiative.
• Gu Shaoshang rejected Yang Xuangan’s suggestion to join the Crown Prince’s hundred thousand troops and chose to ride directly toward Song Family Fortress.
• Yang Xuangan explained that Yuwen Tuo could not use the Xuanyuan Sword again without years of recovery, and Gu Shaoshang learned of the weapon’s cost.
• Gu Shaoshang ordered the cavalry to rest on a plain, then sensed an approaching force and commanded the soldiers to armor up and prepare for battle.

Gu Shaoshang sent a false body disguised as Yang Guang to lead Song Que away, while Yang Xuangan prepared to attack the Song army with the Black Armored Cavalry. Song Que confronted Gu Shaoshang in the forest, and their duel began as the armies clashed behind them.

• Gu Shaoshang asked Yang Xuangan to destroy Song Que’s soldiers if Song Que left the battlefield, and Yang Xuangan pledged to win.
• Gu Shaoshang ordered the Black Armored Cavalry to charge the Song army, then revealed that his earlier Yang Guang disguise had been a false body created with One Person Three Transformations.
• Gu Shaoshang unleashed his fist intent to challenge Song Que, who entrusted the battle to Song Zhi and rushed toward the challenge.
• The Black Armored Cavalry and the Song army collided in a fierce battle while Song Que crossed the forest to meet Gu Shaoshang.
• Gu Shaoshang charged Song Que with a powerful fist, and Song Que drew his saber, Narcissus, to face him.

Gu Shaoshang and Song Que fought a fierce duel, with Song Que’s Heavenly Saber Art wounding Gu Shaoshang before Gu Shaoshang overwhelmed him with his strength. Song Que was defeated but remained defiant, and Gu Shaoshang asked him to continue.

• Song Que opened with flowing Blade Light, and Gu Shaoshang met his saber strikes with powerful fists as they exchanged over a hundred blows.
• Song Que unleashed a towering Heavenly Saber Art strike that cut through Gu Shaoshang’s robe and wounded him, but could not pierce his skin.
• Gu Shaoshang charged through Song Que’s Blade Qi and countered with Buzhou Break and a palm strike, shattering Song Que’s left arm and sending him flying.
• Gu Shaoshang’s saber wound began healing rapidly as he asked Song Que the name of his strike.
• Song Que identified the technique as the Heavenly Saber Art’s first form and said he had two more forms, then stood ready to continue.

Gu Shaoshang defeated Song Que but spared him, then returned to Daxing after the battle and prepared to break through to the peak of the Life Establishment realm. Lingnan was pacified, and Song Zhi was kept in Daxing as a hostage.

• Gu Shaoshang defeated Song Que, praised his blade technique, and left him alive to challenge again when his Heavenly Blade was complete.
• Gu Shaoshang returned to the battlefield disguised as Yang Guang and learned that the Black Armored Cavalry had suffered heavy losses while killing more than 4,700 enemies.
• Gu Shaoshang promised compensation for the fallen soldiers’ families and rewards for the survivors, earning the Black Armored Cavalry’s gratitude.
• Gu Shaoshang ordered his troops back to Daxing instead of joining the Crown Prince, leaving Lingnan’s elite forces crippled.
• Yang Jian granted Song Que the title of Duke Zhennan and required Song Zhi to remain in Daxing as a hostage; three nights after returning, Gu Shaoshang neared the peak of the Life Establishment realm.

After reaching the peak of Life Establishment, Gu Shaoshang left Daxing for Yangzhou with his family and the children of fallen soldiers. In Daxing, a mysterious black-robed man offered to help Crown Prince Yang Yong seize the throne and revealed that he knew of Yang Yong’s attempt to assassinate Yang Guang.

• Gu Shaoshang absorbed his golden blood energy and reached the peak of Life Establishment, with only condensing a true qi seed left before the Qi Sect Realm.
• After taking in 950 children of fallen soldiers and teaching several as disciples, Gu Shaoshang received Yang Jian’s order to govern Yangzhou and departed Daxing with his household.
• At a banquet in Daxing, Yang Yong raged at Yang Su for refusing his invitation and killed a guard who had witnessed his anger.
• A black-robed man appeared in Yang Yong’s chamber and offered to help him ascend the throne, arguing that Yang Guang was favored as the next Crown Prince.
• The black-robed man vaporized Yang Yong’s sword, exposed his plan to assassinate Yang Guang, and said he had sent experts to assist against Yuwen Tuo and the Xuanyuan Sword before vanishing.

Gu Shaoshang traveled from Daxing toward Yangzhou after Yang Su sent Yuwen Tuo to join him, and he prepared for an impending assassination. Yuwen Tuo drove off a group of attackers, but You Niaojuan and a companion then approached the camp to target Yang Guang.

• Yuwen Tuo thanked Gu Shaoshang for rescuing his mother, and Gu Shaoshang explained that Yang Su had handed him over to protect himself.
• Gu Shaoshang struggled to wield the Xuanyuan Sword and later sensed danger as the convoy camped for the night.
• Gu Shaoshang created a false body of Yang Guang, hid nearby, and ordered his guards to prepare for an attack.
• Yuwen Tuo confronted black-clad assassins sent by Yang Yong and cut down several with a powerful strike from the Xuanyuan Sword.
• You Niaojuan and a dark, muscular man used the assassins to draw Yuwen Tuo away, then headed toward the camp to kill Yang Guang.

You Niaojuan and Ding Jiuchong attacked Yang Guang’s camp on orders from Xiang Yutian, but Gu Shaoshang confronted them and revealed overwhelming power. He killed Ding Jiuchong with a roar and left You Niaojuan badly wounded.

• You Niaojuan charged into Yang Guang’s apparently empty camp with Ding Jiuchong following him.
• You Niaojuan hurled his one-legged bronze man at the central tent, and Gu Shaoshang caught it effortlessly.
• Gu Shaoshang identified the attackers as members of the Evil Extreme Sect and dismissed their threat of Xiang Yutian.
• Ding Jiuchong stabbed at Gu Shaoshang while You Niaojuan attacked with a palm strike and a piercing sound technique.
• Gu Shaoshang unleashed a thunderous roar that blasted You Niaojuan away and reduced Ding Jiuchong to bone dust.

Gu Shaoshang fought Xiang Yutian after the Evil Emperor took over You Niaojuan’s body, then learned that Yang Yong had arranged the assassination attempt. The chapter left Gu Shaoshang aware that Xiang Yutian’s true body could be a formidable opponent.

• Xiang Yutian seized You Niaojuan’s body and revealed that he had made his disciples into Demon Seed Incarnations.
• Gu Shaoshang challenged Xiang Yutian and exchanged a punch with his incarnation, which dispersed into black qi.
• Yuwen Tuo returned with a captured assassin and apologized for failing to protect Gu Shaoshang.
• Gu Shaoshang used the Heavenly Annihilation Great Soul Searching Hand on the assassin, learned Yang Yong was behind the attack, and killed him.

After discovering that Yang Yong had plotted against him, Gu Shaoshang flew to Daxing City and killed the Crown Prince. He then returned to the convoy as it continued toward Yangzhou.

• Gu Shaoshang told Xiao Meiniang that Yang Yong was behind the plot and said he had plans to deal with it.
• After the battle destroyed most of the tents, the convoy set off for Yangzhou at dawn.
• Gu Shaoshang left the convoy and flew toward Daxing City, determined not to wait to take revenge on Yang Yong.
• Yang Yong practiced swordsmanship and asked his retainers about the world’s four God-level Secret Manuals.
• Gu Shaoshang arrived at the Crown Prince's Estate, defeated Yang Yong’s four retainers with one punch, and killed Yang Yong with a flick to the forehead.
• Gu Shaoshang flew back toward the convoy as Daxing City receded below him.

After Yang Yong’s assassination, Gu Shaoshang returned to Daxing at Yang Jian’s summons and steered suspicion toward the Evil Extreme Sect. He met a mysterious blue-robed scholar on the street, while the scholar’s companions began to connect Gu Shaoshang to the Crown Prince’s murder.

• An armored messenger delivered Yang Jian’s order for Yang Guang to return to the capital, and Gu Shaoshang’s convoy turned back toward Daxing.
• Yang Jian summoned Gu Shaoshang, learned that the convoy had been attacked by the Evil Extreme Sect, and ordered the Four Great Holy Monks to appear before him.
• Gu Shaoshang left the palace and reflected that his subtle influence had adjusted Yang Jian’s thoughts as he hoped the conflict among the demonic sects, Daoism, and Buddhism would intensify.
• A blue-robed scholar stopped Gu Shaoshang to paint his portrait, praised him as a hero, and departed for a tavern after being called Brother Shi.
• From the tavern, Lu Miazi and the others discussed Gu Shaoshang’s name and noted that the black-robed man who assassinated Yang Yong matched reports of him.

Gu Shaoshang stayed in the Prince of Jin's Estate while cultivating and was visited by Jiaxiang, who tested his account of the Crown Prince's assassination on Yang Jian's orders. Convinced that Xiang Yutian and the Evil Extreme Sect were involved, Yang Jian promised Buddhism thirty temples and three thousand ordination certificates in exchange for its full effort against the sect.

• Gu Shaoshang continued training in the estate as he prepared to condense a true qi seed and advance into the Qi Sect Realm.
• Jiaxiang visited Gu Shaoshang and used a mind-probing technique to question him about the attacks on him and the Crown Prince.
• Gu Shaoshang gave a misleading account that omitted his fight with Xiang Yutian's incarnation and portrayed Yuwen Tuo as the one who turned the battle around.
• After Jiaxiang left, Gu Shaoshang ordered Yuwen Tuo not to leave the estate without permission.
• Jiaxiang reported to Yang Jian, who accepted that Gu Shaoshang had largely told the truth and concluded Xiang Yutian was involved.
• Yang Jian pledged thirty temples and three thousand ordination certificates, and Jiaxiang agreed that Buddhism would use its full strength against the Evil Extreme Sect.

Yang Jian dealt with political and religious pressures while Gu Shaoshang trained his young followers and strengthened Yuwen Tuo. Master Jiaxiang then joined the four holy monks and Fan Qinghui in planning a Buddhist campaign against Xiang Yutian and the Evil Extreme Sect.

• Yang Jian brooded over the power of the aristocratic clans and Buddhist sects, then summoned Yang Su, Yuwen Shang, and other veteran ministers to discuss Crown Prince Yang Yong.
• Gu Shaoshang showed Yuwen Tuo the more than nine hundred children training at the Prince of Jin's residence and explained how their fist technique and medicinal broths were building their foundations.
• Gu Shaoshang gave Yuwen Tuo the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill to cultivate alongside his inherited art for wielding the Xuanyuan Sword.
• Master Jiaxiang told the four holy monks and Fan Qinghui that the Emperor of Sui had offered temples and monk certificates in exchange for an assault on Xiang Yutian and the Evil Extreme Sect.
• Fan Qinghui learned that the monks expected Xiang Yutian to avoid a fight so he could seek the War God's Catalog at Jingyan Palace, and she pledged support from Jingnian Zen Temple and Cihang Jingzhai.

The Buddhist masters led by the Four Great Holy Monks attacked the Evil Extreme Sect while Xiang Yutian was absent, overwhelming its defenders. Xiang Yutian arrived and turned the tide, then confronted the five monks in a clash of sound-based powers.

• Daoxin and the Four Great Holy Monks led Buddhist forces to the Evil Extreme Sect and demanded an audience with Xiang Yutian.
• When Zhou Laotan and Jinhuan Zhen could not produce Xiang Yutian, Daoxin declared that the Buddhists had come to subdue demons, and both sides began fighting.
• The Buddhist forces gained the advantage while Daoxin, Jiaxiang, Kong, and Dixin held back in case Xiang Yutian appeared.
• Xiang Yutian arrived, used his sinister soundwaves to kill Buddhist masters, and rallied the Evil Extreme Sect's fighters.
• Xiang Yutian's soundwaves clashed with the combined Buddhist power of Daoxin and the other four monks, forcing them to retreat with slight injuries.