Chapter Summaries

Song Ankang’s verses praising the beauties of Shengyun Tower spread through Kyoto and Xia Kingdom, making him celebrated as a literary talent under the name Zhao Xiyu. After Shengyun Tower’s proprietor Li Xiaoqing thanked him with a gift, she offered to let him redeem Peng Xuan'er for a reduced price of fifty thousand taels of gold.

• Song Ankang recited four famous lines praising beauty, leaving the women of Shengyun Tower stunned before they rushed to thank him.
• The beauties circulated his poem, which soon spread throughout Kyoto and Xia Kingdom and earned Song Ankang a reputation as a romantic literary talent.
• Song Ankang regretted that the poem might expose his ties to the women but reassured himself that any scandal would fall on Zhao Xiyu.
• Li Xiaoqing visited Song Ankang with several managers, thanked him for writing the poem, and presented him with a gift.
• Li Xiaoqing offered to reduce Peng Xuan'er's redemption price from one hundred and fifty thousand taels of gold to fifty thousand, and Peng Xuan'er reacted with delight.

Song Ankang received a steeply discounted price for redeeming Peng Xuan'er’s freedom, though he still hesitated over the enormous cost. After spending the night with her, he broke through to the Qi Nourishing Fifth Layer and began consolidating his new cultivation.

• Song Ankang learned that Li Xiaoqing had sent him one hundred thousand taels of silver and reduced the price of redeeming Peng Xuan'er to fifty thousand taels of gold.
• Song Ankang considered whether his growing feelings for Peng Xuan'er justified the expense, then offered her the banknotes for her future needs.
• Peng Xuan'er refused the money and explained that her sisters had contributed silver for Song Ankang’s daily nourishment.
• Song Ankang reflected on how much wealth and food he had received while staying at Shengyun Tower, then spent several hours accompanying Peng Xuan'er.
• Song Ankang used the Heavenly Book of Fate Defiance’s side-effect feedback to break through his bottleneck and reach the Qi Nourishing Fifth Layer.
• Song Ankang consolidated his new cultivation before continuing to strengthen himself.

Song Ankang improved his Qi Refining and Body Refining cultivation by turning the Seven Injuries Demonic Scripture’s side effects into benefits, then spent the evening playing with the beauties at Bamboo Forest Small Pavilion. Meanwhile, two wealthy sisters disguised themselves as men and entered Shengyun Tower to meet Zhao Xiyu, whose poems had captivated the elder sister.

• Song Ankang’s Childhood Purity True Qi feedback expanded his dantian, opened more meridians, and improved his talent and aptitude.
• Song Ankang cultivated the Seven Injuries Demonic Scripture, using its transformed side effects to strengthen his body, foundation, and mental will.
• Song Ankang drank and played eagle catches chicks with thirty-six beauties at Bamboo Forest Small Pavilion.
• Younger Sister in Green questioned whether she and Second Sister in White should enter Shengyun Tower to meet Zhao Xiyu.
• Second Sister in White praised Zhao Xiyu’s two poems about women and convinced Younger Sister in Green to go inside with her.

The two sisters in disguise watched Song Ankang play drinking games with the beauties at Shengyun Tower, and the Second Sister in White decided to befriend him for his poetic talent. After losing the game, Song Ankang composed three poems about Peng Xuan'er, impressing the Second Sister in White.

• The two sisters entered Shengyun Tower in disguise and found Song Ankang playing games with the beauties in the Bamboo Forest Small Pavilion.
• The Second Sister in White insisted on waiting to meet Song Ankang, while the Younger Sister in Green reluctantly watched with her.
• Song Ankang lost the game when one Beauty evaded him, and the beauties asked him to write poems as their prize.
• Song Ankang recited three poems about Peng Xuan'er, and the Second Sister in White admired his poetic skill.

Song Ankang won acclaim after composing three daylily poems for Peng Xuan'er, strengthening her standing at Shengyun Tower. Tang Mingyue and Tang Liuli arrived disguised as men and praised him, unaware that Young Master Zhao Xiyu was Song Ankang; he feared they had witnessed his debauchery and that exposure would ruin both their reputations.

• The women at Shengyun Tower praised Song Ankang's three poems and celebrated Peng Xuan'er's growing fame.
• Song Ankang reflected that he had written the poems to comfort Peng Xuan'er and answer gossip about their relationship.
• Tang Mingyue and Tang Liuli entered the courtyard disguised as men and praised Song Ankang's poetry.
• Song Ankang recognized his sisters-in-law beneath their disguises and worried that they had seen his earlier behavior at the brothel.
• Tang Mingyue explained that she had come to meet Song Ankang and befriend him, still unaware of his identity.

Song Ankang reluctantly agreed to let Tang Mingyue visit him occasionally to discuss poetry, while keeping his true identity hidden. After leaving Shengyun Tower, Tang Mingyue told Tang Liuli that Zhao Xiyu had reached the Qi Nourishing Stage, and wondered why he seemed familiar.

• Song Ankang rejected Tang Mingyue’s requests for friendship and poetry lessons, then agreed to meet her occasionally to avoid raising suspicion.
• Song Ankang returned to the bedroom with Peng Xuan’er and the others after Tang Mingyue and Tang Liuli left Shengyun Tower.
• Tang Liuli complained about Zhao Xiyu’s airs, but Tang Mingyue scolded her and revealed that Zhao Xiyu was a powerful Qi Nourishing Stage cultivator.
• Tang Liuli assumed Zhao Xiyu was an old monster using secret techniques to look young, while Tang Mingyue wondered why his face seemed familiar.

Song Ankang received the latest feedback from his cultivation setbacks and broke through to Qi Cultivation Layer Six. With his strength now comparable to Tang Quanli’s, he continued stabilizing his realm as his talent and aptitude improved further.

• Song Ankang received feedback that healed and strengthened him, greatly improving his cultivation foundation and Childhood Purity True Qi.
• Song Ankang compressed his True Qi and repeatedly struck his bottleneck until the dam collapsed, advancing to Qi Cultivation Layer Six.
• Song Ankang assessed that he could now defeat Tang Quanli, even if Tang Quanli used a spirit artifact.
• Song Ankang absorbed more True Qi to stabilize his new realm, while feedback raised his talent and aptitude to upper-middle grade and pushed it toward upper-upper grade.

Song Ankang improved his talent through the Heavenly Book of Fate Defiance and continued cultivating while his poetry fame brought more courtesans to him. As he approached Qi Cultivation Layer Seven, he compressed his Childhood Purity True Qi and began forming clouds of true qi.

• Song Ankang raised his talent and aptitude from lower-middle grade to upper-middle grade with the Heavenly Book of Fate Defiance, then continued cultivating the Seven Injuries Demonic Scripture.
• News of Song Ankang’s three assigned-theme poems spread, earning him the reputation of Capital’s Top Poetry Master while Peng Xuan’er became known as Capital’s Top Courtesan.
• Song Ankang’s cultivation reached the limit of Qi Cultivation Layer Six, and he prepared to break through to Qi Cultivation Layer Seven.
• After recovering from his injuries, Song Ankang received feedback that strengthened his foundation and began compressing his Childhood Purity True Qi.
• Song Ankang compressed the true-qi fog from nine meters across to three, forming the rudimentary shape of clouds and more than doubling his true qi’s power.

Song Ankang broke through to Qi Cultivation Layer Seven, strengthened his foundation, and continued improving his cultivation and physique. After returning to Huanxiang Residence, he found Qiushi waiting outside his Training Room and decided to give her a Heart-Writing Jade, though he intended to keep visiting Shengyun Tower.

• Song Ankang advanced to Qi Cultivation Layer Seven and used the feedback from his Childhood Purity True Qi to stabilize his foundation and improve his talent.
• Song Ankang adapted to his increased strength and continued cultivating while visiting courtesans, including the former courtesan queen.
• Song Ankang slipped away from Peng Xuan'er at night and returned to the White Jade Mulberry Forest after several days in secluded cultivation.
• Song Ankang found Qiushi waiting outside the Training Room at Huanxiang Residence and felt guilty about neglecting her.
• Song Ankang took out a Heart-Writing Jade for Qiushi, though he planned to keep visiting Shengyun Tower for the sake of cultivation.

Song Ankang reunited with Qiushi after his cultivation seclusion and gave her a Heart-Writing Jade inscribed with poetry. He learned that White Jade Mulberry Forest had received five hundred thousand taels of silver from Tang Quanli’s compensation and began reviewing requests to spend it.

• Song Ankang found Qiushi waiting outside the Training Room and told her not to wait there during his future seclusions.
• Song Ankang gave Qiushi a heart-shaped Heart-Writing Jade inscribed with two lines of poetry, moving her to tears.
• Qiushi told Song Ankang that White Jade Mulberry Forest had received five hundred thousand taels of silver from Tang Quanli’s compensation.
• Song Ankang agreed to review the stewards’ funding requests to repair and upgrade White Jade Mulberry Forest.
• Song Ankang examined the applications, found Dong Xinjie’s detailed request for two hundred thousand taels convincing, and decided to investigate the other stewards’ less-detailed requests before approving them.

Song Ankang returned to White Jade Mulberry Forest to handle its affairs, spend time with Qiushi, and train his body with the Seven Injuries Demonic Scripture. He inspected White Jade Tower and Song's Workshop, where his workers welcomed him and the business was thriving.

• Song Ankang reviewed requests for silver and told Qiushi to summon Dong Xinjie while Hao Jiyong and Wang Yuliang verified the other stewards’ requests.
• Song Ankang decided to stay at White Jade Mulberry Forest for several days, told Peng Xuan'er he would return after handling matters at home, and began training with the Seven Injuries Demonic Scripture.
• Qiushi prepared a lavish breakfast for Song Ankang, who ate it despite feeling guilty about his recent indulgent days.
• Song Ankang visited White Jade Tower, where the weavers and stewards welcomed him and praised his generosity and reputation.
• Song Ankang saw that the tenant farmers had moved into new homes and that Wang Yuliang and Hao Jiyong had helped Song's Workshop more than double its output.

Song Ankang reviewed the White Jade Mulberry Forest’s operations with Dong Xinjie and learned that upgrading and maintaining its equipment could more than double its net profits over time. He recognized Dong Xinjie’s ability and decided he could rely on her, while still needing to build her loyalty.

• Song Ankang considered improving the White Jade Mulberry Forest’s organization and finding ways to expand beyond its limited mulberry and silkworm resources.
• Song Ankang summoned Dong Xinjie to his study and asked about her request to replace and maintain the forest’s equipment.
• Dong Xinjie explained that the work would raise profits by about forty percent the following month and lead to at least a doubling of net profits over time.
• Song Ankang recognized that Dong Xinjie had carefully planned the upgrades and that Tang Quanli’s short-sightedness had held back the forest’s growth.
• Song Ankang concluded he could rely on Dong Xinjie to manage the forest’s core operations, though he would still need to cultivate her loyalty.

Song Ankang approved Dong Xinjie's plans to modernize White Jade Mulberry Forest and suggested experimenting with water-powered textile machines. That night, he found Dong Xinjie disoriented in the mulberry forest after she said her husband had drugged her, and he began examining her condition.

• Song Ankang approved funding for Dong Xinjie to replace and upgrade equipment throughout White Jade Mulberry Forest.
• Song Ankang described water-powered textile machines to Dong Xinjie, who agreed to try building them.
• Song Ankang reviewed other stewards' proposals, then cultivated the Seven Injuries Demonic Scripture late into the night.
• Song Ankang heard strange sounds in White Jade Mulberry Forest and found Dong Xinjie stumbling through the trees in torn clothing.
• Dong Xinjie clung to Song Ankang and said her husband had drugged her, so Song Ankang examined her condition.

Song Ankang discovered that Dong Xinjie had been poisoned with a powerful aphrodisiac, and after she refused to return to her husband, the two had sex to save her life. Meanwhile, Kong Sheng beat Bai Jingyue and dragged her to Scarface’s house to sell her for money.

• Song Ankang recognized the poison in Dong Xinjie as a powerful Spring Medicine but could not treat it with his limited Medical Arts.
• Dong Xinjie refused to go home to her husband and told Song Ankang that sex could cure the poison.
• Song Ankang gave in, and he and Dong Xinjie had sex in the mulberry forest.
• Kong Sheng accused Bai Jingyue of coming home late, beat her, and demanded that she get an advance on her wages.
• Bai Jingyue pleaded for money to buy clothes for Jingjing and Yanyan, but Kong Sheng said he would take her to Scarface and the others in exchange for two taels of silver.
• Kong Sheng dragged Bai Jingyue to Scarface’s house despite her resistance.

Song Ankang learned that Dong Xinjie had been drugged by her husband, Wang Kun, who wanted her to conceive a child with another man, and realized that he might have unknowingly provided the seed. He doubted she was likely to become pregnant and left Dong Xinjie offering to take responsibility for the consequences.

• Song Ankang brought Dong Xinjie back to Huanxiang Residence after saving her from the poison, and she apologized and thanked him.
• Dong Xinjie explained that Wang Kun had been left impotent by a vicious beast after their wedding and that she had endured years of blame for their childlessness.
• After Wang Kun accidentally revealed the truth, he tried to persuade Dong Xinjie to conceive with another man, but she refused.
• Wang Kun drugged Dong Xinjie and summoned his paternal cousin, but she escaped into the White Jade Mulberry Forest and encountered Song Ankang.
• Song Ankang realized Dong Xinjie had unknowingly borrowed seed from him, then reassured himself that pregnancy was unlikely because of his cultivation.
• Dong Xinjie offered to confess to Tang Yelan or leave if Song Ankang wanted to avoid trouble.

After Song Ankang offered Bai Jingyue shelter following her escape from a brutal night, he received feedback from the Heavenly Book of Fate Defiance that healed him and transformed his cultivation and yang talent. The chapter ended with a fourth sun emerging within him, making his presence warm and comforting.

• Song Ankang reassured Dong Xinjie, offered her a place to stay in the White Jade Tower, and told her to oversee the White Jade Mulberry Forest.
• Song Ankang heard another woman crying and found Bai Jingyue bruised and disheveled; she claimed she had quarreled with her husband and fallen while fleeing.
• Song Ankang brought Bai Jingyue to Huanxiang Residence and asked Qiushi to care for her, unaware that she had nearly taken her own life the previous night.
• Song Ankang returned to cultivation, and the Heavenly Book of Fate Defiance healed his injuries and improved his foundation, true qi, talent, and aptitude.
• Song Ankang's yang talent transformed as a fourth sun emerged within him, giving him an increasingly warm presence.

After reaching the Four Yang Body, Song Ankang reviewed a report that the Imperial Merchant Fang Family had obtained White Jade Mulberry Forest’s clothing designs and summoned Dong Xinjie to discuss the leak. He arranged an investigation and began sketching new styles for her to develop, leaving their collaboration underway.

• Song Ankang absorbed the feedback that advanced him to the Four Yang Body and then went to the White Jade Tower to handle documents.
• Song Ankang read Dong Xinjie’s report accusing Tang Yuan of leaking the Clothing Workshop’s designs to the Imperial Merchant Fang Family.
• Song Ankang summoned Dong Xinjie, who confirmed that Tang Yuan was very likely responsible and explained she had secretly prepared replacement designs.
• Song Ankang reviewed Dong Xinjie’s new designs and began sketching clothing styles from his memories for her to consider.

Song Ankang drew women’s clothing designs for White Jade Mulberry Forest, then embraced Dong Xinjie after she accidentally grabbed the wrong thing. Meanwhile, a demonic beast killed Liu Shizhu and drained Liu Ruyi before heading toward Shengyun Tower.

• Song Ankang drew dozens of women’s clothing designs, and Dong Xinjie praised them as a way to help White Jade Mulberry Forest.
• Song Ankang pulled Dong Xinjie into his arms after she failed to grasp a brush and accidentally grabbed him, and they spent three hours together.
• At the Ruyi Convention, Liu Shizhu paid four thousand taels of gold to become Liu Ruyi’s temporary husband for three months.
• A demonic beast killed Liu Shizhu and drained Liu Ruyi of her yin energy while she waited beneath her bridal veil.
• The demonic beast vanished into the shadows and moved toward Shengyun Tower, passing through an area filled with brothels.

Song Ankang persuaded Dong Xinjie to leave Wang Kun and promised to arrange a cure for his chronic ailment. When Wang Kun confronted Dong Xinjie about the previous night, she defended Song Ankang and warned that his status could destroy the Wang family, leaving Wang Kun afraid and demanding to know who he was.

• Song Ankang told Dong Xinjie to separate from Wang Kun and offered to find a Transcendence Cultivator to cure Wang Kun's chronic ailment.
• Dong Xinjie agreed to leave Wang Kun and gave Song Ankang the key to her room before they parted that evening.
• Wang Kun confronted Dong Xinjie, accused her of being with another man, and admitted he had poisoned her to force her to conceive a child for the Wang family.
• Dong Xinjie said Wang Kun had caused the situation by drugging her and reminded him of the years she had supported his family.
• Wang Kun threatened to find Song Ankang and punish him, but Dong Xinjie warned that Song Ankang could ruin the Wang family with a single word.
• Wang Kun became frightened and asked Dong Xinjie who had taken her purity.

Dong Xinjie warned Wang Kun that Young Master was powerful and promised to arrange treatment for his chronic ailment, while refusing to divorce him until it was cured. Song Ankang returned home, discovered Lin An'an's talent for learning and alchemy, and continued weighing whether he could safely reveal his strength to Dong Xinjie.

• Dong Xinjie told Wang Kun that Young Master intended to find a Transcendence Cultivator to treat him, but Wang Kun refused to divorce her before his ailment was cured.
• Song Ankang returned to Huanxiang Residence and found Lin An'an playing with Little Green Hair, whose strength had nearly reached Ninth-Rank High-Tier.
• Song Ankang learned that Lin An'an had excelled at school and showed remarkable talent for processing medicinal herbs, so he encouraged her to study alchemy without neglecting cultivation.
• Song Ankang tested Lin An'an's lessons and found she had mastered them, then sent her to rest with Little Green Hair guarding her and Qiushi nearby.
• Song Ankang continued to withhold his true strength from Dong Xinjie until he was sure she would not reveal it to anyone.