Chapter Summaries

Jiang Hao returned to the Tie residence with Tie Yuxiang and spent his stay reading its extensive library, quickly mastering many Confucian and Daoist texts through his Eidetic Memory. His questions about Daoist mysteries led him to seek guidance from Daoist Tie, who was astonished by how much Jiang Hao had memorized.

• Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang visited the Tie residence for their Return Visit, where Daoist Tie welcomed them and urged Jiang Hao to study for the xiucai examination.
• Daoist Tie showed Jiang Hao his library of more than ten thousand books and let him use the study.
• Jiang Hao read rapidly, and he and Tie Yuxiang shared a playful, affectionate moment when she brought him tea.
• After reading nearly all the Confucian classics that interested him, Jiang Hao turned to Daoist texts and struggled to understand their accounts of supernatural arts.
• Jiang Hao recited a long list of Daoist books to Daoist Tie and asked why they described powers he had never witnessed.
• Daoist Tie marveled that Jiang Hao had memorized so many Daoist classics in such a short time.

Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang settled into a secluded mountain courtyard, where a prowler named Sang Chong entered at night intending to assault them. Jiang Hao feigned sleep, then cut Sang Chong’s wrist and ankle as he tried to bind him.

• Daoist Tie told Jiang Hao that he had never seen ghosts and explained that Maoshan’s demon-subduing arts were reserved for the sect leader’s lineage and required cultivating Primordial Qi.
• Jiang Hao returned to his residence with Tie Yuxiang, who showed him the property deeds her father had given them for a storefront and a secluded courtyard.
• Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang moved with their household to the courtyard outside the city and enjoyed its cool, tranquil surroundings.
• Sang Chong crept into the courtyard, blew sleeping smoke into the occupied rooms, and entered Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang’s bedroom with a rope and dagger.
• Jiang Hao suddenly attacked Sang Chong, cutting his wrist and severing the tendon in his ankle as Sang Chong tried to flee.

Jiang Hao captured and crippled Sang Chong after the rapist tried to attack him and Tie Yuxiang, then learned that Sang Chong had hidden his stolen wealth in an underground palace at West Gorge Mountain. The next morning, Jiang Hao took the badly wounded captive there to find the treasure.

• Jiang Hao severed Sang Chong’s remaining tendons, secured him, and carried him into the woods after ensuring Tie Yuxiang was safe.
• Jiang Hao threatened Sang Chong with torture, then agreed to delay killing him after Sang Chong offered information about his savings.
• Sang Chong revealed that his wealth was hidden in an underground palace at West Gorge Mountain, fifty li away.
• Jiang Hao left Sang Chong tied to a tree overnight and asked Little Eagle to watch him.
• The next morning, Jiang Hao found Sang Chong still alive, tied him across his horse, and rode toward West Gorge Mountain.

Jiang Hao found the entrance to Zhao Ting’s tomb with Sang Chong and used his ability to send rabbits inside, exposing Sang Chong’s deadly trap. Sang Chong admitted he had planned to kill Jiang Hao, but Jiang Hao remained outside the passage and survived.

• Jiang Hao carried the injured Sang Chong up West Gorge Mountain, where Sang Chong led him to a cliffside tomb entrance.
• Jiang Hao opened the stone door by thrusting a wooden pole into a hole a hundred times.
• Suspicious of Sang Chong’s assurances, Jiang Hao used Animal Communication Ability to summon rabbits and sent them into the passage.
• The rabbits triggered hidden mechanisms and arrows inside the tomb, revealing Sang Chong’s plan to kill Jiang Hao.
• Sang Chong admitted he had wanted to die alongside Jiang Hao, but Jiang Hao had avoided the trap.

Jiang Hao discovered that Sang Chong had found a golden cultivation manual in an ancient cultivator’s cave and used it to enhance his strength. After learning everything Sang Chong knew, Jiang Hao fed him to the rats, leaving Sang Chong to accuse him of breaking his promise.

• Jiang Hao summoned rats to frighten Sang Chong, who offered to reveal a valuable secret in exchange for a quick death.
• Sang Chong told Jiang Hao about the Golden Booklet and its cultivation technique, the Supreme Bliss Ode.
• Jiang Hao carried Sang Chong into the cave, found the Golden Booklet, and discovered Sang Chong’s hidden trove of gold, silver, and jewelry.
• Sang Chong explained how he had cultivated spiritual power through the technique and used it to improve his lightness Kung Fu.
• Jiang Hao tossed Sang Chong into a rocky hollow and commanded the rats to bite him to death, prompting Sang Chong to protest that Jiang Hao had broken his word.

Jiang Hao killed Sang Chong, explored the cave, and took the Golden Booklet, the Supreme Bliss Ode, home. He introduced the cultivation method to Tie Yuxiang, and they began reading it together before she suggested they return to their room.

• Jiang Hao let the rats devour Sang Chong, then buried the rabbits that had died in the cave.
• Jiang Hao studied the Golden Booklet, found books in the cave, and learned that the system would not accept a jade pendant as a collection item.
• Jiang Hao rode home and told Tie Yuxiang he had fled a leopard in the mountains; she arranged food, warm water, and clean clothes for him.
• Jiang Hao studied the Supreme Bliss Ode in his study, and Tie Yuxiang brought him chrysanthemum soup.
• Jiang Hao showed Tie Yuxiang the Golden Booklet and said its cultivation method could benefit them and preserve their youth.
• Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang read the Supreme Bliss Ode together, and she suggested they continue in their room.

Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang finally cultivated their first wisp of spiritual power after reaching a state of unintentional practice, then continued cultivating together at home. In winter, their spiritual power currents collided and fused, leaving Jiang Hao startled by the connection between their Dantians.

• After failing to sense spiritual energy for days, Jiang Hao returned to the Tie Family and continued studying Daoist books and cultivating with Tie Yuxiang.
• On the Double Ninth Festival, Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang sensed spiritual energy while admiring the moon and realized their practiced breathing had become instinctive.
• Jiang Hao guided the thin wisp through his twelve regular meridians into his Dantian, and Tie Yuxiang refined and stored her own wisp as well.
• Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang cultivated together through autumn and winter while he studied spiritual power and kept their progress from Daoist Tie.
• As Jiang Hao circulated his spiritual power in winter, he sensed Tie Yuxiang's current, and the two currents collided and fused.

Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang discovered that their spiritual cultivation had improved their abilities, and Jiang Hao later placed first in the Nanchang Prefecture Imperial Examination. Prince Ning invited him to Jueshi Lou to view rare treasures, and Jiang Hao set out with Zhang Jiansheng to seize the opportunity he had awaited for a year.

• Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang circulated their spiritual power together, strengthening their cultivation and improving their bodies and minds.
• Jiang Hao told Tie Yuxiang how he had killed Sang Chong, and they resolved to keep cultivating together.
• Jiang Hao took the Imperial Examination and placed first, while Jian Yuheng and Wen Ziran also passed.
• Zhang Jiansheng told Jiang Hao that Prince Ning had invited him to Jueshi Lou, and Jiang Hao accepted.
• Jiang Hao celebrated his success with his family and guests, then joined Zhang Jiansheng to visit Jueshi Lou.

Jiang Hao impressed Prince Ning with a portrait of Ziyan and earned a Bronze Token granting him free access to Jueshi Lou. Prince Ning began showing Jiang Hao and Zhang Jiansheng his collection, including a hall of weapons and martial artists.

• Zhang Jiansheng brought Jiang Hao into Jueshi Lou to meet Prince Ning.
• Prince Ning tested Jiang Hao's painting skills by asking him to paint Ziyan.
• Jiang Hao painted a portrait that Prince Ning and the gathered guests praised.
• Prince Ning awarded Jiang Hao a Bronze Token and invited him to tour Jueshi Lou.
• Prince Ning showed Jiang Hao and Zhang Jiansheng a weapons hall and introduced Wang Laoshi as a renowned flying-knife master.

Prince Ning showed Jiang Hao his fighters and Jile Pavilion, then explained the contribution-based ranks that granted access to its courtesans. He next took Jiang Hao to his treasury, where he displayed famous paintings and praised Jiang Hao’s talent, leaving their meeting on friendly terms.

• Prince Ning introduced Wang Laoshi, Bai Moxiang, and Zhongyuan to Jiang Hao, who quietly considered Wang Laoshi a potential enemy and wondered whether Prince Ning had ties to Japanese pirates.
• Prince Ning brought Jiang Hao to Jile Pavilion, where Jiang Hao found Wei Yangsheng and Shangguan Shen enjoying the company of women and declined an offer to join them.
• Prince Ning explained that valuable contributions could raise Jiang Hao from bronze to silver or gold rank, granting access to the Eight Great Beauties or Ziyan.
• Prince Ning unlocked his treasury and showed Jiang Hao a collection of renowned paintings, including works by Wu Daozi, Gu Kaizhi, and Tang Bohu.
• Prince Ning praised Jiang Hao’s painting skill and recounted how Tang Bohu had fled after being invited as a silver-rank guest.

Jiang Hao toured Prince Ning’s vast treasure vault and discovered that the prince also owned a hidden horse ranch. When Jiang Hao offered to handle an untamable Blood-Sweating Horse, he calmed it with his Animal Communication Ability and reached out to touch its head.

• Prince Ning showed Jiang Hao calligraphy, bronze artifacts, and jade carvings, revealing that his vault held more than ten thousand treasures.
• Jiang Hao realized Prince Ning had never counted the treasures and privately began forming a plan to set someone up.
• Prince Ning led Jiang Hao and Zhang Jiansheng through a passage to a hidden horse ranch, where the horse keepers reported they could not tame a fierce Blood-Sweating Horse.
• Prince Ning lashed the horse keepers for injuring his prized horse, then narrowly avoided being bitten when he approached it.
• Jiang Hao offered to try taming the horse and used his Animal Communication Ability to calm it before gently touching its head.

Jiang Hao calmed and tamed Prince Ning’s Blood-Sweating Horse, earning a Silver Token and the right to choose one of the Eight Great Beauties. He chose Min’er, whose face reminded him of a famous actress.

• Jiang Hao used his Animal Communication Ability to persuade the Blood-Sweating Horse to accept food and stay, then had the horse keepers untie it.
• Prince Ning rewarded Jiang Hao with a Silver Token and assigned him to train the horse.
• Zhang Jiansheng told Jiang Hao that the Eight Great Beauties served as rewards for Prince Ning’s favored subordinates and that women who left could disappear.
• Prince Ning publicly announced Jiang Hao’s reward and presented the Eight Great Beauties for him to choose from.
• Jiang Hao recognized Min’er’s resemblance to a legendary actress and chose her.

Jiang Hao learned about the guests and customs of Jueshi Lou, then left Min'er there and returned home. The next day, he bought a live Diao'er and used his Animal Communication Ability to make it his exclusive pet.

• Wei Yangsheng introduced Jiang Hao to the distinguished guests at Jueshi Lou and explained how Shangguan Shen had earned Prince Ning's favor.
• After Prince Ning and the other guests left, Min'er told Jiang Hao about being sold during a famine and begged him not to abandon her; Jiang Hao reassured her and left for home.
• The next day, Jiang Hao visited Sang Chong's cave abode at West Gorge Mountain and took several pieces of jewelry and jade from a treasure chest.
• On his way back, Jiang Hao bought a live Diao'er from a hunter for five taels of silver.
• Jiang Hao used his Animal Communication Ability to calm the Diao'er and make it his exclusive pet.

Jiang Hao told Tie Yuxiang and Daoist Tie Fei that he planned to infiltrate Prince Ning’s circle and gather evidence of his rebellion so the court could remove him. He also revealed to Daoist Tie Fei that he had cultivated Primordial Qi, leaving his father-in-law astonished.

• Jiang Hao returned home with Diao'er concealed in his sleeve, and Tie Yuxiang changed his torn clothes.
• Jiang Hao told Tie Yuxiang that he intended to enter Prince Ning’s circle and gather proof of the prince’s plans to rebel.
• Tie Yuxiang accepted Jiang Hao’s decision and said she trusted him, despite fearing for his safety.
• Jiang Hao and Tie Yuxiang went to the Tie residence, where Jiang Hao explained his plan to Daoist Tie Fei.
• Jiang Hao told Daoist Tie Fei that he had cultivated Primordial Qi, and Daoist Tie Fei reacted with shock.

Jiang Hao told Daoist Tie Fei about the Golden Booklet and his cultivation with Tie Yuxiang, while Daoist Tie Fei proposed taking her to Huguang for safety as Jiang Hao prepared to deal with Prince Ning. After arranging a way to stay in touch, Jiang Hao returned to Jueshi Lou and spotted the Blood-Sweating Horse in the valley.

• Jiang Hao told Daoist Tie Fei how he and Tie Yuxiang had cultivated spiritual power using the Golden Booklet, and Daoist Tie Fei read the Supreme Bliss Ode.
• Daoist Tie Fei explained that his age prevented him from cultivating the method and suggested taking Tie Yuxiang to Anlu Prefecture while Jiang Hao planned against Prince Ning.
• Jiang Hao told Tie Yuxiang that she would have to leave for Huguang, and the two lamented their coming separation.
• Jiang Hao bought and tamed fifty carrier pigeons so he and Tie Yuxiang could exchange letters while apart.
• Jiang Hao returned to Jueshi Lou, went through the mountain passage into the valley, and saw the Blood-Sweating Horse leading the wild horses.

Jiang Hao arranged for Diao'er to hide near Jueshi Lou and gave Prince Ning a plausible explanation for his wife's departure, while keeping his suspicions about the prince's surveillance to himself. After Tie Yuxiang left for Huguang, Prince Ning questioned Jiang Hao about her departure and teased him about Min'er.

• Jiang Hao confirmed that the Blood-Sweating Horse had recovered, then hid Diao'er near Jueshi Lou to watch the area.
• Jiang Hao surveyed Jueshi Lou and suspected Prince Ning was preparing for rebellion and using the women there to monitor guests.
• Jiang Hao told Min'er that Tie Yuxiang was leaving on a long journey, expecting the information might reach Prince Ning.
• Tie Yuxiang and Daoist Tie Fei departed for Anlu Prefecture, and Tie Yuxiang promised to exchange letters with Jiang Hao.
• Prince Ning summoned Jiang Hao to ask about the Blood-Sweating Horse and learned that Tie Yuxiang had left Nanchang.
• Jiang Hao explained that Tie Yuxiang was seeking treatment for infertility, and Prince Ning accepted his explanation before teasing him about Min'er.

Jiang Hao gained Prince Ning’s trust by training the Blood-Sweating Horse, then secretly sent Diao'er to hide a cloth bundle in a young woman’s room. The chapter ended with Diao'er returning to her hiding place without being detected.

• Prince Ning visited the Blood-Sweating Horse and watched it respond affectionately to Jiang Hao, though Jiang Hao said it was not ready to be ridden.
• Jiang Hao pretended to become drunk at Prince Ning’s gathering, then learned the prince had returned to Nanchang City the next morning.
• Jiang Hao summoned Diao'er and secretly instructed her to carry out a task.
• Diao'er entered a young woman’s room while a maid brought in lunch and hid the cloth bundle beneath a bed partition.
• Diao'er slipped out of the room and returned to her hiding place without being noticed.

Jiang Hao stole Prince Ning’s treasure vault keys during a banquet and hid them, but the theft was soon discovered and jewels were planted in Wang Laoshi’s room. Prince Ning confronted Wang Laoshi and Shi Yan, while Jiang Hao’s involvement remained undiscovered.

• Jiang Hao attended Prince Ning’s banquet and secretly took the keys from Prince Ning while helping him stay upright.
• Jiang Hao hid the keys among rocks near the horse grounds the next day.
• Prince Ning ordered Jueshi Lou searched after discovering that his treasure vault keys were missing.
• A guard reported that jewels had been found beneath the bed in Wang Laoshi’s room.
• Prince Ning questioned Shi Yan and Wang Laoshi, who both denied knowing how the treasures got there.

After Wang Laoshi was punished for the jewels found in his room, Jiang Hao persuaded Prince Ning to have the treasury inventoried. Locked inside to do the work, Jiang Hao secretly collected one hundred treasures and gained the option to return to the modern world, but chose to stay and continued the inventory.

• Prince Ning punished Wang Laoshi with thirty lashes for supposedly stealing jewels and ordered Duan Shenji to inspect the treasury.
• Jiang Hao suggested that Prince Ning create a ledger of the treasury’s treasures, and Prince Ning assigned him to inventory them.
• Prince Ning’s guards locked Jiang Hao alone inside the treasury, where he identified neglected bronze vessels and discreetly collected treasures with his system.
• Jiang Hao collected one hundred treasures in a morning, completing his task and gaining the option to return to the modern world.
• Jiang Hao decided to stay, then asked the guards to let him leave the treasury to eat and rest, agreeing to be searched.

Jiang Hao gained Prince Ning's favor by completing the treasury inventory and presenting him with the trained Akhal-Teke Horse, while preparing for the Juren examination and receiving a letter from Tie Yuxiang. He secretly arranged for a stolen Jade Disc to appear in Wang Laoshi's bed, prompting Shi Yan to decide to report him to Prince Ning.

• Jiang Hao learned that Wang Laoshi had beaten Shi Yan and Xiao Man, while Prince Ning had ordered only that their wounds be treated before they returned to serve him.
• Jiang Hao finished cataloging 32,193 treasures and impressed Prince Ning by presenting the trained Akhal-Teke Horse, which Prince Ning rode and celebrated with a party.
• Jiang Hao returned to Nanchang City, read Tie Yuxiang's letter about their new home in Anlu City, and resumed studying for the Juren examination.
• Jiang Hao secretly gave Diao'er detailed instructions and sent him away with a dragon-patterned Jade Disc before spending the night with Min'er.
• Xiao Man found the Jade Disc in Wang Laoshi's bed, and Shi Yan decided to give it to Prince Ning as proof that Wang Laoshi had stolen another treasure.