Chapter Summaries

Zhao Xing reviewed the gains from climbing East Lake Spirit Mountain, including a major increase in lifespan and luck, powerful spell advances, and valuable treasures. The officials announced that he had ranked first with forty-two portions of spiritual elegance, leaving him celebrated and marked for the county’s Winter Assessment.

• Zhao Xing discovered that his luck had risen to Derivation Three, his additional lifespan had reached fifty-three years, and his cultivation and spells had advanced substantially.
• Zhao Xing assessed the treasures he had gathered and estimated that his mountain climb had earned him a fortune worth more than two thousand taels.
• Two bells announced the end of the climb, and Ji Ming arrived to receive the lists of spiritual elegance ownership on behalf of the Azure Cloud Matriarch.
• Ji Ming praised Gucheng’s results and told Li Wenzheng that its top candidate had collected forty-two portions and should receive a Grade A rating.
• Li Wenzheng announced Zhao Xing as the first-place candidate, with two portions of High-Grade Spiritual Elegance, and officials congratulated him as Zhao followed Chen Shijie in returning their salutes.

After the mountain trial, Zhao Xing reunited with his family and learned that the Profound Heaven Sect had made him its top abduction target. An Evil-Averting Warning helped him avoid the ambush, and he ended the chapter attempting to enter Great Dream Academy for a way to protect himself.

• Zhao Xing welcomed Zhao Ruide, Zhao Zheng, and Madam Cai, then gave them a five-hundred-tael banknote to keep for the family.
• The Three Bays Hall Master reported Zhao Xing's rise and his forty-two portions of Luck Spiritual Elegance to Falcon Protector, who placed Zhao Xing first on the capture list and moved Li Chengfeng to fifth.
• Zhao Xing received a warning that the Profound Heaven Sect would try to abduct him if he left East Lake Mountain with his companions, so he refused the clerks' invitations and stayed behind.
• Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie boarded the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat with their families and reached the city safely, while the Three Bays Hall Master and his deputy abandoned their planned ambush.
• Zhao Xing made a Guiding Talisman and a Soul-Soothing Talisman, then called on Great Dream Academy to open its gates of learning.

Zhao Xing entered the Mysterious Machine Hall and used his knowledge from a previous life to clear its first mechanism trial and claim a Fourth Order pill. He advanced through the next trial and entered the Mechanical Maze, where the greatest reward was a Grade Six treasure.

• Zhao Xing met the guardian Xie Zhi, learned that the Mysterious Machine Hall tested students through mechanisms, and began the first stage.
• Zhao Xing opened the three locks of the Mysterious Machine Gate and received a Fourth Order Five Viscera Evil Purging Pill.
• Zhao Xing tried to break open the Grade A Heavenly Mystery Box with lightning but failed, then opened the Grade B, C-grade, and Grade D boxes and obtained three treasures.
• Zhao Xing qualified for the third trial after opening the Grade B box and learned that completing the Mechanical Maze within an hour could earn him a Grade Six treasure.
• Zhao Xing entered the Mechanical Maze as Xie Zhi set it in motion.

Zhao Xing cleared the Mechanical Maze, claimed the Sixth Level Soul Armor and its secret art, Great Dream Spring and Autumn, then began cultivating the dream technique at home. The chapter left him studying its Dream Entry Chapter after absorbing a Giant Whale Pill and strengthening his body.

• Zhao Xing overcame the Mechanical Maze’s traps and illusions, using an Illusion Bead to summon a figure based on Chen Shijie to help clear the way.
• Zhao Xing solved the maze’s chamber of shifting doors and passed the trial in under two hours.
• Xiezhi awarded Zhao Xing the Sixth Level Soul Armor and explained that it contained the state religion’s secret art, Great Dream Spring and Autumn.
• Zhao Xing returned home with the Soul Armor merged into his sea of consciousness, along with pendants and pills, and spent the following day absorbing the Giant Whale Pill.
• Zhao Xing began practicing Great Dream Spring and Autumn and studied its teachings on souls, dreams, and the stages of dream cultivation.

Zhao Xing learned and practiced spells from Great Dream Spring and Autumn before discovering that Chen Shijie was preparing to bait the Profound Heaven Sect into a trap. Chen Shijie asked Zhao Xing to join him in the army, but Zhao Xing withheld his answer as Chen explained the danger of his plan.

• Zhao Xing studied Great Dream Spring and Autumn, learned Sleepy Bug and Dream Storage, and practiced combining sleepy bugs to intensify their effects.
• Zhao Xing helped Zhao Ruide wake Zhao Zheng and make him face punishment for oversleeping his martial practice.
• Zhao Xing caught Gui Niang outside Chen Shijie's residence, but Chen Shijie confirmed she was not a Profound Heaven Sect follower and explained that they had stopped meeting because of danger.
• Chen Shijie invited Zhao Xing to join him in the army and revealed that his Evil Aversion Almanac had repeatedly warned him of misfortune tied to the Profound Heaven Sect.
• Chen Shijie told Zhao Xing he planned to risk himself as bait so the army could trap the Profound Heaven Sect in Nanyang County, while Zhao Xing questioned the plan's danger.

Zhao Xing joined Chen Shijie in analyzing how the Profound Heaven Sect might abduct him, using intelligence and a military sandtable to identify likely timing, targets, and methods. Zhao Xing suggested Agricultural Officials could be the sect’s primary targets, leaving Chen Shijie to reconsider the scale of the threat.

• Zhao Xing told Chen Shijie that the Evil Aversion Almanac had warned him of misfortunes and explained why he had not reported them earlier.
• Zhao Xing revealed that the Profound Heaven Sect might now target him because he had claimed forty-two shares of spiritual essence, and he proposed destroying its base near Gucheng.
• Chen Shijie led Zhao Xing to his Military Hall, where Zhao Xing reviewed records of the Profound Heaven Sect’s past activities and studied Nanyang County’s forces and terrain.
• Zhao Xing used the Illustrated Sandtable to outline when and where the sect could abduct Chen Shijie, focusing on the eleventh month and grain-producing areas outside Gucheng.
• Zhao Xing warned that Agricultural Officials might be the sect’s main targets, and Chen Shijie grew concerned that he had underestimated the threat.

Zhao Xing visited Zong Shichang to arrange a purchase of fourth-grade Preaching Paintings that could help improve his spells, and he appraised several treasures to raise the money. Zong Shichang revealed that Lu Qian wanted to meet Zhao Xing over her Peacock Feather Magic Garment, and Zhao Xing agreed to attend the Moon Gazing Tower banquet after offering Zong Shichang a poem to help court Miss Liu in exchange for a Preaching Painting.

• After discussing preparations against the Profound Heaven Sect with Chen Shijie, Zhao Xing went to Locust Willow Courtyard to consider improving his spells and decided he needed to spend money to advance them.
• Zhao Xing visited Zong Shichang and asked him to find fourth-grade Preaching Paintings related to Cloud Art, Rain Art, and specified Earthly Advantage spells.
• Zhao Xing showed Zong Shichang his treasures for appraisal, and Zong Shichang explained that the Peacock Feather Magic Garment had belonged to Lu Qian, who wanted to meet Zhao Xing.
• Zong Shichang revealed that he hoped Zhao Xing would attend the Moon Gazing Tower banquet because Lu Qian would be there, and Zhao Xing agreed after realizing she would seek another chance to meet him.
• Zhao Xing offered Zong Shichang a poem to give Miss Liu, proposing it in exchange for a fourth-rank Preaching Painting, and Zong Shichang accepted.

At Zong Shichang's Moon Worship Festival banquet, Zhao Xing helped him impress Liu Muqing with a love poem, then offered Lu Qian a more powerful ritual song to sell. Just as Zhao Xing and Lu Qian prepared to discuss it, someone interrupted them.

• Zong Shichang followed Zhao Xing's advice and dressed more plainly before greeting the guests at Moon Gazing Tower.
• Lu Qian and the musicians performed the sacrificial dance Cloud Gate, and Zhao Xing offered Lu Qian only a respectful salute instead of a gift.
• Zong Shichang gave Liu Muqing the poem Phoenix Seeks its Mate, which she began setting to music and singing until Zhao Xing stopped her and suggested she and Zong Shichang talk privately.
• Lu Qian asked Zhao Xing about the poem and her dancing, and he identified how she could improve her Cloud Gate performance.
• Lu Qian explained that she had not come to reclaim the Peacock Feather Magic Garment, and Zhao Xing offered to sell her the lyrics and music for Rite of Souls.
• As Zhao Xing and Lu Qian prepared to discuss Rite of Souls, an unknown speaker interrupted them.

Zhao Xing proved the authenticity of his war music to Lu Qian’s companions, then returned home and prepared for the harvest inspection in Anping Town. As Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui surveyed the fields, disguised agents discussed a planned move in November and watched the town’s harvest preparations.

• Jiang Jiuxian accused Zhao Xing of deceiving Lu Qian, but Lu Qian showed the original Water-Patterned Paper manuscript for “Rite of Souls,” silencing the musicians and proving it was genuine.
• Lu Qian played the song for Liu Muqing, who recognized it as a work derived from Six Songs; Zhao Xing later reflected that he could trade his compositions for Preaching Paintings and cultivated Sleep Bug spells.
• Zhao Xing visited Chen Shijie, ate with him, and received a Dharma Protector Straw Figure containing two strands of sword qi before setting out for Anping Town with Shen Zhui.
• Zhao Xing used the fourth-rank East Lake Pearl to disperse approaching rain clouds over Anping Town’s golden Yuan Rice fields.
• At the Niu Family fields, disguised agents posing as Rice Guests discussed delaying their operation until November and watched the harvest as the family’s master arrived to pay the workers.

Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui inspected Anping Town, forced Huang Silang to help his elderly parents harvest Yuan Rice, and broke up Niu Gui’s gambling gathering. After meeting two suspicious Rice Guests, Zhao Xing felt an unexplained unease and began Entering the Dream to investigate the stirring of his Earth Soul.

• The village chief told Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui that Huang Silang neglected his parents and refused to help harvest their Yuan Rice.
• Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui found Huang Silang gambling, then Zhao Xing used straw figures to force him to work in his family’s fields.
• The next day, Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui found Huang Silang gambling again at Niu Gui’s home, where Shen Zhui destroyed the gambling table and ordered Niu Gui to accept punishment.
• Zhao Xing questioned the unfamiliar Rice Guests Chen Deshun and Wu Chenshi, who secretly discussed capturing him and returning home.
• Zhao Xing felt uneasy despite finding nothing abnormal and began Entering the Dream to investigate the feeling.

Zhao Xing used the Dream Storage Method to trace an unsettling resonance to two suspected Profound Heaven Sect agents in Anping Town, then reported them to Chen Shijie. After returning to the city, he collected four Preaching Paintings from Zong Shichang and prepared to study the first one.

• Zhao Xing replayed his memories of Anping Town and discovered that his earth soul's unease grew strongest when he met Chen Deshun and Wu Chenshi at the Niu Family Courtyard.
• Zhao Xing used Dream Deduction to confront the couple in a dream, where they revealed a monstrous bloody form before the dream shattered and he awoke shaken.
• Chen Deshun and Wu Chenshi sensed a warning, performed a blood ritual beneath a locust tree, and decided to leave Anping Town.
• Zhao Xing returned to Gucheng and told Chen Shijie he suspected two Profound Heaven Sect agents, providing portraits while agreeing to keep the matter private.
• Zong Shichang gave Zhao Xing four Preaching Paintings, including one he had to buy for 3,200 taels, and Zhao Xing went to study them at the Zong Residence.
• Zhao Xing opened the first painting and hoped it would help him break through.

Zhao Xing comprehended Boundless Earth Palace and Earth Treasury Return to Origin - Human Path from two Preaching Paintings, destroying a room and learning the risks of practicing the latter in secret. After spending the night with Zong Shichang, Zhao Xing woke to find a fourth-rank top-quality Ten Thousand Arts Cloud Chart waiting for him.

• Zhao Xing comprehended Boundless Earth Palace, whose crushing force collapsed the side room at Listening Water Pavilion and injured a servant who approached the ruins.
• Zhao Xing explained the Earth Palace Art to Zong Shichang, who questioned his plans to become a Military Sima Nong, but Zhao Xing said that path suited him.
• Zhao Xing comprehended Earth Treasury Return to Origin - Human Path and decided to practice the prohibited spell in secret until he could use it openly as a Military Sima Nong.
• Zhao Xing stayed overnight at Zong Shichang's residence, where they recited the Agriculture Encouragement Song and drank together.
• Zhao Xing fed Mountain Cat the next morning, then discovered a fourth-rank top-quality Ten Thousand Arts Cloud Chart and began studying it.

Zhao Xing comprehended the Seventh-Turn Devouring Cloud Art and the luck-based Five Elements Earth Splitting Art from two Preaching Paintings. At the Chen Residence, he met Long Xiao of the Divine Might Army, whose arrival suggested Zhao Xing might soon be involved in a plan to destroy a Profound Heaven Sect stronghold.

• Zhao Xing used the Ten Thousand Arts Cloud Chart to comprehend the Devouring Cloud Art at the Seventh-Turn level, then watched the painting burn to ash.
• Zhao Xing comprehended the Five Elements Earth Splitting Art from the Earth Rift painting and learned that its effects depended on luck and the local Earth Veins.
• Zhao Xing visited Chen Shijie's residence, where Long Xiao arrived secretly and reunited with his old brother.
• Chen Shijie introduced Zhao Xing to Long Xiao, and Zhao Xing recognized him as the future Divine Firmament Marquis while hiding his knowledge.
• Zhao Xing explained how Long Xiao had traveled using the Li Fire Divine Altar, and Long Xiao invited him to call him Brother Long.
• Long Xiao told Chen Shijie that he had arrived twenty days early without anyone knowing and offered to help wipe out a Profound Heaven Sect stronghold.

Zhao Xing prepared for the Beginning of Winter assessment while weighing whether to join the newly reactivated Divine Might Army. As winter began, officials announced a joint examination in Anping Town, while Chen Shijie and Long Xiao prepared to confront the Profound Heaven Society.

• Zhao Xing considered Chen Shijie's offer to join the Divine Might Army and decided to gather more information before choosing.
• Hunting Falcon learned that Chen Deshun and Wu Mei had been exposed, sent them into the Blood Spirit Pool, and assigned followers their identities.
• Zhao Xing studied the Cold Dew Solar Terms Decree with Xue Wenzhong, examined Chen Shijie and Long Xiao's preparations, and continued improving his spells, including perfecting Sleep Bug.
• Zhao Xing obtained an Upper Third Tier Sandalwood Soul Box from Zong Shichang and prepared for the Beginning of Winter assessment.
• Officials announced that several professions would take part in a joint examination at a disused forge in Anping Town, and bells rang to mark winter's arrival.

During the Beginning of Winter assessment, Zhao Xing prepared a fortified courtyard on the abandoned forge grounds while Chen Shijie secretly strengthened the land’s earth vein and established a Fire Hell Earth Palace. After the other divisions’ assessments ended, Zhao Xing’s quiet vigil was interrupted when his lamp went out and the Evil Aversion Almanac warned of great misfortune from yin souls.

• Zong Shichang explained how Chen Shijie had restored Anping Town’s scorched land and earned the Ministry of Agriculture’s support.
• Zhao Xing entered the assessment grounds, rejected Zong Shichang’s company, and prepared a courtyard with the Mountain Cat, protective items, and bamboo tubes.
• Zhao Xing discovered that Chen Shijie had strengthened the earth vein and created a Fire Hell Earth Palace beneath the abandoned factories.
• Zhao Xing planted his assessment crops and declined a high-grade True Yuan Magic Robe that Lin Baiwei left at his gate.
• After the Martial Office and Divine Temple assessments ended, Zhao Xing kept watch in his courtyard as Mountain Cat sensed danger and the Evil Aversion Almanac displayed, “Dreaming of Yin Souls, Great Misfortune!”

Zhao Xing resisted Blood Spirit Venerable’s dream temptation and plundered enough soul power to advance his Life Soul to mid ninth rank. As the Profound Heaven Sect’s abductors moved in, Zhao Xing saw through Wu Mei’s disguise and triggered a violent trap, leaving her badly injured.

• Blood Spirit Venerable tried to tempt Zhao Xing in a dream, but Zhao Xing resisted and absorbed two streams of the Yin God’s soul power, advancing his Life Soul to mid ninth rank.
• In a separate dream, Chen Shijie rejected Blood Spirit Venerable’s offer and shattered the illusion with his own resolve.
• Profound Heaven Sect operatives entered the ruins during the Hour of the Pig, with Wu Mei assigned to capture Zhao Xing and Hunting Falcon’s group moving toward Chen Shijie.
• Wu Mei disguised herself as Zong Shichang and asked Zhao Xing to let her in, but Zhao Xing recognized the deception and directed her to a trapped section of the fence.
• A blast hurled Wu Mei into the ruins and badly mangled her legs.

Zhao Xing defeated Wu Mei with traps and lightning, while Chen Shijie’s team and Long Xiao eliminated the Profound Heaven Sect attackers. Blood Spirit Venerable learned that the operation had failed and saw Zhao Xing in the memories of a drained returning soul.

• Zhao Xing used Firecracker Bamboo, Yin Wind, Icy Rain, and lightning to interrupt Wu Mei’s transformation and defeat her after her World Piercing Needle struck only his projection.
• Chen Shijie revealed that the hillside was an Earth Palace, and the Ministry of Agriculture officials used spells to slow the Profound Heaven Sect members.
• Falcon Protector and six others formed the Big Dipper Ascending Dragon Formation, weakening the hillside’s restraints and preparing to advance.
• Long Xiao emerged from an underground pit and killed all seven attackers with his golden sword, then went after the remaining target.
• Blood Spirit Venerable recognized that the operation had failed as the East Lake Army closed in, then saw Zhao Xing in the memories of a severely drained returning soul.

Blood Spirit Venerable discovered that Zhao Xing had controlled their dream and suspected he had obtained the Dream God Sect’s Great Dream Spring and Autumn. After surviving a night of attacks and deception, Zhao Xing saw Blood Spirit Venerable’s split soul disperse and reunited with the real Chen Shijie.

• Blood Spirit Venerable reviewed his dream with Zhao Xing, recognized Zhao Xing’s voluntary control of it, and suspected he had acquired part of the Dream God Sect’s inheritance.
• Earl of East Lake confronted Blood Spirit Venerable, who summoned nine blood shadows to fight him and fled through the soil.
• Zhao Xing’s straw puppet looted Wu Mei’s remains, revealing a Fourth Level Blood Fiend Pearl after her soul scattered and her Mystic Concealment Jade Pendant shattered.
• Zhao Xing recognized that Chen Deshun was taking Li Chengfeng away under the influence of a Blood Spirit Needle and warned Li Chengfeng before they vanished.
• Zhao Xing distrusted a false Chen Shijie who came to his courtyard, and Blood Spirit Venerable admitted his identity before dispersing his own yin-soul body.
• The real Chen Shijie arrived, confirmed Blood Spirit Venerable had been there, and assured Zhao Xing that the danger had passed.

After the Profound Heaven Sect’s attack on Nanyang County, Zhao Xing reviewed why the Blood Spirit Venerable had targeted him and discussed the aftermath with Chen Shijie and Long Xiao. He learned that he would skip the Winter Assessment and prepare for the Temple Examination before joining the Divine Might Army, whose future and resources remained uncertain.

• Zhao Xing reviewed the recent events in a dream and concluded that the Blood Spirit Venerable likely wanted to seize his Great Dream Spring and Autumn technique and soul armor.
• Chen Shijie told Zhao Xing that the Profound Heaven Sect’s attack had been suppressed, several clerks had been abducted and declared dead, and Li Chengfeng had not been rescued.
• Chen Shijie said Zhao Xing had been recommended directly for the Temple Examination, while Long Xiao took the Blood Fiend Pearl and Chen Shijie kept the Blood Spirit Needle for him.
• Long Xiao explained that the Divine Might Army ranked in the five hundreds among thousands of armies but had no Grotto-Heaven of its own, and Chen Shijie said its training arrangements would be confirmed by spring.
• Zhao Xing learned that Boping Marquis Yang An led the Divine Might Army and decided the army suited his plans, while Long Xiao praised Zhao Xing’s judgment and resolve after he left.

Zhao Xing prepared for the Temple Examination while Gucheng and the surrounding counties endured a severe ice disaster caused by officials’ reckless weather alterations. After the Winter Assessment secured him an examination slot, the story left him stepping out to take the annual Temple Examination as spring arrived.

• Zhao Xing helped clear heavy snow, visited Xue Wenzhong, and studied after Xue Wenzhong urged him to prepare for the Winter Assessment and Temple Examination.
• Xue Wenzhong explained how officials in twelve counties had disrupted the balance of the Five Elements, triggering an ice disaster across Nanyang County.
• Gucheng used the ice disaster as the Winter Assessment question, and Zhao Xing saw that he had secured one of the fifteen Temple Examination slots.
• Chen Shijie returned from helping neighboring counties and described how Shuihe County’s Agriculture Official had worsened the crisis by repeatedly altering the seasons and damaging the earth veins.
• Zhao Zheng asked Zhao Xing for stronger Firecracker Bamboo, just as an angry neighbor came to the door accusing him of throwing something into the outhouse.
• As spring began on February 3rd, Zhao Xing left home for the annual Temple Examination.