Chapter Summaries

Shen Fei used the Turks’ attack to promote rule by law and announced the creation of the Six Doors, alarming the Song Clan with the prospect of separating military and civil authority. After Bai Qing’er reported that Xu Xingzhi was in Luoyang, Shen Fei set out to recruit the strategist.

• Shen Fei approved a Great Tang Daily article declaring that Great Tang law applied equally to locals and foreigners, and newsboys began selling the paper two days later.
• Song Shidao recognized that the announced Six Doors could strip great clans of their control over local military power, while Song Yuzhi did not grasp the implication.
• Wan Wan warned Shen Fei that the Six Doors would offend the great clans, but he said he did not care and she left to cultivate.
• Bai Qing’er reported on the Yin Kui Sect’s work establishing orphanages, paper mills, and glass factories, then revealed that Xu Xingzhi was in Luoyang.
• Shen Fei learned that Xu Xingzhi had been a strategist for Tyrant Villa and immediately went to meet him.

Shen Fei recruited Xu Xingzhi in Luoyang by demonstrating his supernatural powers and assigned him civil administration work. In Chang’an, Li Yuan and his sons debated how to respond to Shen Fei’s rise and the Buddhist faction’s plan to use He's Jade in Luoyang.

• Shen Fei met Xu Xingzhi in Luoyang and asked him to help unify the realm.
• Shen Fei demonstrated his unmatched martial arts, summoned rain, and created ten Headless Walkers, convincing Xu Xingzhi to join him.
• Shen Fei assigned Xu Xingzhi relief, resettlement, and record-keeping tasks, then began creating elite soldiers with the Self-Cultivation Furnace.
• Li Yuan raged over Shen Fei claiming the title King Tang, and summoned Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin to discuss their response.
• Li Shimin urged an attack on Luoyang and warned that Song Que had gone there, while Li Jiancheng recommended waiting for Shen Fei and the Buddhist faction to clash.
• Li Yuan asked Li Jiancheng whom the Li Clan should send to Luoyang over He's Jade.

Li Shimin proposed sending Li Xiuning to Luoyang and secretly arranged for Hong Fu to contact the Buddhist sect, while Shen Fei assessed the wealth of Luoyang’s temples and prepared to attack the Buddhist sect through another target. The chapter ended with Shen Fei confronting Xie Hui outside Duzun Fort and accusing him of helping Fan Qinghui establish the Buddhist sect in Sichuan.

• Li Shimin rejected Li Jiancheng’s suggestion that Li Yuanji go to Luoyang and proposed sending Li Xiuning instead, which Li Yuan agreed to consider.
• Li Shimin read the Great Tang Daily, learned that Dugu Ce and the others had left Chang’an, and instructed Hong Fu to contact Master Liaokong and Sect Leader Fan in Luoyang.
• Shen Fei examined the scale and wealth of Luoyang’s Buddhist temples and considered exposing the Buddhist sect’s riches through the newspaper.
• An Long showed Duan Lang information about Great Stone Temple, and Duan Lang said he intended to target An Long’s sworn elder brother, Xie Hui, first.
• Shen Fei confronted Xie Hui outside Duzun Fort and accused him of helping Fan Qinghui establish the Buddhist sect in Sichuan.

Duan Lang confronted Xie Hui at Duzun Fort, exposed his ties to Fan Qinghui and his plans against the Song Clan, and fought him until Xie Hui lost an arm. After Xie Hui ordered his men to attack, he rushed back into the fort to destroy the letters that could expose him.

• Duan Lang revealed Xie Hui's connection to Fan Qinghui and provoked him into attacking at Duzun Fort's gates.
• Duan Lang and Xie Hui clashed, and Duan Lang taunted Xie Hui about his devotion to Fan Qinghui and his betrayal of the Song Clan.
• Duan Lang accused Xie Hui of preparing Duzun Fort to withstand a siege and of keeping Fan Qinghui's letters, causing Xie Hui to falter.
• Duan Lang severed Xie Hui's left arm and Judge's Brush with a strike from the Fire Scale Sword.
• Xie Hui ordered his guards and steward to attack Duan Lang, then ran toward the fort to destroy the letters.

Duan Lang attacked Duzun Fort, killed Xie Wenlong, and pursued Xie Hui to an underground chamber containing Fan Qinghui’s letters. After escaping Xie Hui’s trap and killing him, Duan Lang learned from his memories that Xie Hui had served Fan Qinghui out of jealousy over Song Que.

• Duan Lang used the Fire Scale Solar Eclipse to defeat seven guards and rushed into Duzun Fort after Xie Hui.
• Xie Wenlong tried to stop Duan Lang, but Duan Lang killed him and continued after Xie Hui as the fort’s guards fired arrows and crossbow bolts.
• Duan Lang set fires around Duzun Fort, then found Xie Hui in an underground chamber with letters from Fan Qinghui and cut off his remaining hand.
• Xie Hui sealed the passage, released poison gas, and triggered explosives and falling rocks, but Duan Lang used a Shadow Clone’s escape ability to get them out.
• Duan Lang enraged Xie Hui with a taunt about Fan Qinghui, and Xie Hui died before Duan Lang searched his memories.
• Duan Lang learned that Fan Qinghui had used Xie Hui as a piece in Sichuan and that his loyalty stemmed from jealousy of Song Que.

Duan Lang seized Duzun Fort’s supplies, destroyed the fort with a landslide, and left Fan Qinghui’s scheme against the Song Clan in ruins. The next day he attacked Great Stone Temple, where he killed abbot Monk Dahui with a single blow.

• Duan Lang took Duzun Fort’s weapons, provisions, medicine, gold, and jewels, then used an earth-element technique to collapse the mountain behind the fort.
• Duan Lang warned the fort’s people to flee, killed those who pursued him, and escaped as the landslide buried Duzun Fort.
• Duan Lang told An Long that Xie Hui had plotted against Song Que, while An Long worried that the Song Clan would blame him and left to hide.
• Duan Lang burned Fan Qinghui’s letters to Xie Hui and concluded that the Song Clan would retaliate against Fan Qinghui’s ruined plans.
• Duan Lang arrived at Great Stone Temple and attacked its abbot, Monk Dahui, smashing his staff and killing him with his spiked mace.

Duan Lang destroyed Great Stone Temple, distributed its wealth and supplies to Chengdu’s poor, and killed Monk Zhenyan when the hidden Grandmaster confronted him. He then took He's Jade from the Jingnian Zen Sect, deciding not to leave it with Cihang Monastery.

• Duan Lang slaughtered the defenders of Great Stone Temple and searched its Arhat Hall for insight into the Nine Syllable Mantra, but learned nothing.
• Duan Lang took the temple’s supplies and burned it, then distributed its grain, wealth, and land deeds to Chengdu’s poor while condemning Buddhism’s tax exemptions.
• Duan Lang handed the distribution effort to Song Clan members and waited for Monk Zhenyan to appear among the ruins.
• Monk Zhenyan used the Nine Syllable Mantra and called Duan Lang a demon, but Duan Lang killed him with the Fire Scale Sword.
• Duan Lang entered the Jingnian Zen Sect’s bronze hall and took He's Jade, deciding that Cihang Monastery could not be trusted to keep it.

Shen Fei stole He's Jade from Jingnian Zen Sect and learned that its pure power of faith could disrupt martial artists’ true qi. He then used the Great Tang Daily to publish Sun Simiao-backed medical information exposing a corrupt Buddhist child-seeking practice, leaving the sect scrambling to respond as its treasure remained missing.

• Shen Fei took He's Jade from Jingnian Zen Sect and stored it in his spatial ring after realizing its power of faith made it a rare vessel.
• Jingnian Zen Sect monks discovered He's Jade was missing and began moving, while Shen Fei’s subordinates investigated their activity.
• Shen Fei planned to promote childbirth and pregnancy knowledge through the Great Tang Daily, using Sun Simiao’s name to lend the article credibility.
• The newspaper exposed the truth behind Guanyin Who Bestows Sons, provoking anger among readers and alarming Song Shidao, Song Yuzhi, and Song Lu about the damage to Buddhism.
• Liao Kong learned of the article and ordered a message sent to Abbey Master Fan, but an arrow struck the carrier pigeon as it took flight.

Shen Fei and Xu Xingzhi concluded that Buddhism was backing Li Mi’s coming attack on Luoyang, while Shen Fei prepared his forces and assigned Ouyang Xiyi to lead Six Doors. Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Ba Feng Han arrived in Luoyang, toured the palace, and learned that Shen Fei had resettled its dismissed eunuchs at an estate where they taught orphans and worked.

• Xu Xingzhi warned Shen Fei that Li Mi’s rapid victories and access to veteran martial artists suggested outside support and an impending attack on Luoyang, and Shen Fei suspected Fan Qinghui and Buddhism.
• Shen Fei told his subordinates to follow the existing plan and placed Six Doors under Ouyang Xiyi’s leadership.
• Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Ba Feng Han arrived in Luoyang after escaping Qu Ao, who had lost an arm while fleeing their combined attack.
• Shen Fei welcomed the three visitors and showed them the imperial palace, where Kou Zhong briefly sat on the dragon throne and Xu Ziling declined.
• Shen Fei explained that he had dismissed the palace eunuchs and settled them at an estate, where they taught orphans to read and practice martial arts and did agricultural work.

Shen Fei took Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Ba Feng Han to Dong Family Tavern, where they discussed Li Mi’s impending attack on Luoyang and met Song Shidao and Song Yuzhi. As they left, a large group of assassins ambushed them on a stone bridge, and the fight continued when hidden attackers burst through the frozen river.

• Shen Fei brought Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Ba Feng Han to Dong Family Tavern and reflected on the restrictions of being emperor.
• Kou Zhong recounted events after leaving Flying Horse Ranch, and Shen Fei warned that Li Mi would soon attack Luoyang with Buddhist support.
• Song Shidao and Song Yuzhi joined the group, and Xu Ziling explained how he and Kou Zhong had killed Ren Shaoming and survived Qu Ao’s pursuit.
• After the group left the tavern, assassins disguised as bridgegoers and men in black diving suits attacked Shen Fei and his companions.
• Xu Ziling used Tai Chi force to repel the attackers, while Kou Zhong froze the river; hidden experts shattered the ice and emerged.

Shen Fei’s forces crushed an assassination attempt in Luoyang, and the Twin Dragons strengthened their ties to him as his reforms and military preparations continued. Song Que defeated Ning Daoqi on the road to Luoyang, while Shen Luoyan activated Shen Fei’s talisman after Wang Bodang and his allies cornered her.

• Shen Fei watched Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Ba Feng Han defeat four master-level assassins, then assigned Xu Xingzhi to investigate their ties to Luoyang’s clans and nobles.
• Shen Fei gave Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling Gathering Immortal Pills and Blood Bodhi, and Kou Zhong challenged Ba Feng Han after three days of cultivation.
• Lu Miaozhi, Shi Qingxuan, and the Flying Horse Ranch forces arrived in Luoyang, while the Dongming Sect delivered weapons; Shen Fei placed the ranch forces and a thousand soldiers under Kou Zhong’s command.
• Ning Daoqi tried to stop Song Que and deliver him a letter, but Song Que destroyed the letter and defeated him, sparing him because of a woman’s sake.
• Wang Bodang confronted the surrounded Shen Luoyan in Xingyang and threatened her, so she activated the talisman Shen Fei had left her before an elderly fighter attacked.

Shen Luoyan escaped Li Mi’s forces with a mysterious golden protection, while Shen Fei prepared mechanical beasts and expanded his influence in Luoyang. The chapter ended with the Great Tang Daily exposing Fan Qinghui and Xie Hui’s plot against Song Que, stirring public anger over the Buddhist temples’ tax exemptions.

• Shen Luoyan killed Mei Tian and Wang Bodang, broke through the western city gate, and declared that her ties with Li Mi were severed.
• Li Mi failed to stop Shen Luoyan with an arrow and asked Chao Gongcuo about the golden light that protected her.
• Shen Fei assigned Lu Elder and Kou Zhong to organize the mechanical beast unit and showed Kou Zhong and Wan Wan how to fly the Mechanical Vermillion Bird.
• Shen Fei arranged for Shi Qingxuan to help run the Great Tang Daily workshop and reviewed Duan Lang’s experiences and recovered treasures.
• Shen Fei ordered action against the Great Ming Cult and the Xiang Family, then published a report exposing Fan Qinghui and Xie Hui’s scheme against Song Que.
• Readers in a Luoyang tavern discussed the newspaper’s revelations and condemned Jingnian Chan Temple for occupying land without paying taxes.

Shen Fei showed Shen Luoyan his military strength and gave her authority over military affairs and a new intelligence agency as enemies gathered around Luoyang. On a ship bound for Luoyang, Xu Ziling confronted Shi Feixuan about the Buddhist sects’ actions and left her speechless before racing away.

• Shen Luoyan warned Shen Fei that Buddhist sects had allied with Li Mi and Dou Jiande and that hostile experts had infiltrated Luoyang.
• Shen Fei showed Shen Luoyan the Mohist Four Spirit Mechanism Beasts, his Wei Warriors, and his White Armor Soldiers, then placed her in charge of military affairs and establishing the Net of the Underworld.
• Shen Fei monitored infiltrators from the aristocratic clans and Buddhist sects, whose alliance had been arranged by Fan Qinghui.
• Xu Ziling encountered Shi Feixuan aboard a ship traveling to Luoyang and recognized her as Cihang Monastery’s representative.
• Xu Ziling challenged Shi Feixuan over the Buddhist sects’ wealth, land seizures, and the conduct of Jingnian Chan Temple, leaving her unable to answer.
• Xu Ziling accused Shi Feixuan of possibly planning to use herself against Shen Fei, then ran across the water and disappeared.

Xu Ziling left Shi Feixuan and reached Luoyang, where Jingnian Zen Sect resisted Six Doors’ attempt to arrest a murderer. Shen Fei’s campaign against Buddhist influence gained momentum, while Song Que met him and challenged him over the consequences of his reforms.

• Xu Ziling reflected on Cihang Monastery’s conduct and avoided staying with Shi Feixuan as he arrived at the Luo River.
• Zhen Ming attacked Constable Zhang and the Six Doors constables when they tried to arrest Zhen Xin, forcing the injured officers to withdraw from Jingnian Zen Sect.
• Shen Fei learned that the Four Guardian Vajras had committed crimes before becoming monks, and the Great Tang Daily published exposés that damaged Buddhism’s reputation in Luoyang.
• Song Que read Shen Fei’s newspapers and practical books, learned Song Yuhua had returned home, and told Song Yuzhi she could visit her sister.
• Shen Fei examined the Longevity Scroll and met Song Que at a barbecue gathering, where he said he would suppress anyone who resisted his rule.

Shen Fei sparred with Song Que, demonstrated overwhelming strength, and discussed the Song Clan’s place in his plans for unifying the realm. Song Que agreed to pledge allegiance to Great Tang, while Li Mi accelerated his preparations to attack Luoyang.

• Shen Fei matched Song Que’s Grandmaster aura and withstood his ninth Heavenly Saber strike without injury.
• Song Que asked Shen Fei about Shattering the Void, then accepted that the Song Clan would retain its title of Duke of the South without independent authority.
• Shen Fei said he had a way to deal with the Buddhist sects and offered to show Song Que the next day.
• Three days later, newspaper boys announced that Song Que and the Song Clan had formally pledged allegiance to Great Tang.
• Li Xiuning reviewed Shen Fei’s policies and learned that Li Mi was preparing to attack Luoyang sooner than expected.

Shen Fei left the campaign against Li Mi to Xu Xingzhi and Shen Luoyan while preparing for Wang Bo’s banquet in Luoyang. At Manqing House, the Twin Dragons encountered Fu Qian, who challenged them and Ba Feng Han, unaware that Ba Feng Han had already left.

• Shen Fei delegated military authority to Xu Xingzhi and Shen Luoyan, who discussed the threats from Li Mi, Dou Jiande, and Zhu Jie.
• Xu Xingzhi warned Shen Luoyan not to betray Shen Fei’s trust, and Shen Luoyan then summoned Bu Tianzhi to discuss the Jukun Gang’s reorganization.
• Shen Fei accepted Wang Bo’s invitation to Manqing House after learning Shang Xiufang would perform, and he attended with the Twin Dragons, Wan Wan, Dugu Feng, and Shan Wanjing.
• Kou Zhong explained that the Twin Dragons’ visits to brothels always brought trouble, while the gathering included rivals such as Tuli and Fu Qian.
• Xu Ziling reminded Kou Zhong that Li Xiuning was also present in Luoyang, and Fu Qian then challenged Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling to demonstrate their strength alongside Ba Feng Han.

Kou Zhong challenged Fu Qian after Fu Qian dismissed Ba Feng Han’s absence, and he defeated Xing Yifei with a single saber strike before fighting Fu Qian to a draw. The two stopped after their clash wrecked Manqing House’s courtyard, leaving their contest unresolved but Kou Zhong’s strength evident to the watching martial artists.

• Kou Zhong rejected Fu Qian’s offer to fight Ba Feng Han and stepped into the courtyard to face him instead.
• Xing Yifei challenged Kou Zhong, but Kou Zhong defeated him with one strike, sending him crashing into the ground with ice crystals forming around him.
• Fu Qian helped Xing Yifei recover and learned about Kou Zhong’s cold, spiraling true energy before agreeing to fight Kou Zhong himself.
• Kou Zhong and Fu Qian exchanged saber and fist strikes, destroying the wooden bridge and much of the courtyard as the spectators watched.
• After one final collision sent them both retreating five steps, Fu Qian suggested they stop, and Kou Zhong agreed.

Shen Fei confronted Shi Feixuan and Hou Xibai, rejecting their challenge to his rule and arguing that the Buddhist factions had harmed the realm more than the Demon Sect. He revealed that Cihang Monastery shared its martial arts origins with the Demon Sect, leaving Shi Feixuan shaken by the claim that her sect’s sword canon had been altered and could no longer lead to the Grandmaster realm.

• After Shang Xiufang performed, Shi Feixuan requested an audience with Shen Fei, and Wan Wan greeted her with amusement.
• Shen Fei mocked Shi Feixuan and Hou Xibai, rejected negotiations with Cihang Monastery, and briefly let his killing intent rise before restraining himself.
• Shen Fei defended the Demon Sect by pointing to its tax payments and commerce, while accusing Buddhist factions of evading taxes and taking the people’s land.
• Shen Fei told the gathering that Dini and the first Evil Emperor, Xie Bo, had founded Cihang Monastery and the Holy Sect, and that Dini based the Other Shore Sword Art on Xie Bo’s Demonic Path Musings.
• Shen Fei claimed Cihang Monastery’s abbesses had altered the sword art, preventing its disciples from reaching the Grandmaster realm, and Shi Feixuan turned pale at the revelation.

Shen Fei humiliated Shi Feixuan, discussed the War God Catalogue, and then attacked Zhu Jie's palace to punish the cannibalistic ruler and his daughter. He left Zhu Jie and Zhu Mei crippled before the people they had persecuted, letting them decide their fate.

• Shen Fei condemned Cihang Monastery's pursuit of Shattering the Void, kicked Hou Xibai aside, and shaved Shi Feixuan's head before leaving Manqing House.
• Shen Fei told Wan Wan that the War God Catalogue was the source of the Longevity Scroll and Demonic Path Musings, and that it lay inside Wild Goose Palace.
• Liao Kong comforted the dispirited Shi Feixuan at Jingnian Zen Sect and began doubting the origins of the sect's martial arts.
• Shen Fei saw the corpses outside Champion City and stormed Zhu Jie's palace, killing its guards and soldiers with his bamboo spear and Wood Release.
• Shen Fei blinded Zhu Jie and Zhu Mei, crippled them, and delivered them to the people of Champion City whom they had persecuted.

Shen Fei destroyed Zhu Jie's regime, took control of his territory, and prepared for Li Mi's coming attack. Zhai Jiao brought intelligence about Dou Jiande's plans and joined Shen Tang's side, while an old Taoist decided to travel to Luoyang despite Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng's concerns.

• Shen Fei seized Zhu Jie's wealth, burned his palace, and took over his territory after Zhu Jie's army collapsed into infighting.
• Li Mi grew alarmed at Shen Fei's rapid conquest but continued preparing to attack Luoyang because retreat would damage his reputation and army's morale.
• Kou Zhong introduced Zhai Jiao and Xuan Yong to Shen Fei, and Zhai Jiao offered her remaining forces while seeking revenge on Li Mi.
• Zhai Jiao told Shen Fei that Dou Jiande planned to seize Luoyang during the conflict, and Shen Fei welcomed her forces and assigned Kou Zhong to maintain contact with them.
• An old Taoist resolved to visit Luoyang after reading the newspaper, despite Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng warning him about the dangers of getting involved.