Chapter Summaries

Shen Fei launched a coordinated assault on Luoyang’s Buddhist sects and aristocratic forces, then personally attacked Jingnian Zen Sect. After defeating Liao Kong and the Four Guardian Vajras, he ordered the sect destroyed and a small town built in its place.

• Shen Fei summoned the demonic sect experts and deployed his guards, Six Doors experts, and ten thousand soldiers to suppress his enemies in Luoyang.
• Zhu Yuyan led the demonic experts to attack their targets as Shen Fei surrounded Jingnian Zen Sect and announced its alleged crimes.
• Liao Kong broke his Silent Zen and emerged with the Four Guardian Vajras to confront Shen Fei, who refused to spare the temple or promise them anything.
• Liao Kong and the Four Guardian Vajras attacked Shen Fei, but he swiftly defeated them and had them captured alive.
• Shen Fei ordered the soldiers to bombard Jingnian Zen Sect, then commanded that its wealth be inventoried and its buildings destroyed so a small town could be built there.

Shen Fei crushed the forces opposing him in Luoyang, secured White Horse Temple’s submission, and used the seized wealth and land to strengthen his rule. As he prepared public trials for Buddhist leaders, Fan Qinghui and Li Shimin considered how to respond to Shen Tang’s growing power.

• Xu Ziling overcame his hesitation and fought beside Kou Zhong as Shen Fei’s forces battled the infiltrators in Luoyang.
• You Chuhong defeated the aristocrats who had tried to recruit the Dugu Clan, revealing that she had pretended to cooperate with them before betraying them to Shen Fei.
• Fahai agreed to Shen Fei’s terms at White Horse Temple, allowing Shen Fei to pursue a division between the northern and southern Buddhist factions.
• After Luoyang’s unrest ended, Shen Fei published the Jingnian Zen Sect’s vast wealth and distributed its land to refugees, then chose the site for Great Tang’s first academy.
• Shen Fei announced public trials for Liao Kong, Fan Qinghui, and Ning Daoqi, prompting Fan Qinghui to consider abandoning the south and Li Shimin to lament the Li Clan’s inability to attack Luoyang.

Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and their allies located Li Mi’s hidden army and attacked it at dawn with mechanical weapons and aerial fire. Li Mi was driven into battle against the Twin Dragons as Zhai Jiao led a charge to avenge her father.

• Kou Zhong and Shen Luoyan investigated Li Mi’s missing forty thousand troops, while Xu Ziling discovered that the camp in Emerald Cloud Valley was a decoy.
• Shen Luoyan proposed searching Mount Mang for signs of missing hunters, and the Mechanical Vermillion Birds and village inquiries helped locate Li Mi’s main force.
• Kou Zhong’s group deployed ten thousand soldiers and mechanical weapons, then attacked Li Mi’s camp with Black Fire Oil, smoke bombs, and mechanical beasts.
• Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong fought Li Mi, forcing him back with their spear and Well Moon.
• Zhai Jiao charged Li Mi with Xuan Yong and the others, determined to avenge Zhai Rang.

Zhai Jiao, Xu Ziling, and their allies killed Li Mi and secured the surrender of most of the Wagang Army. After the victors divided the surrendered troops and some Wagang leaders refused recruitment, Huang Gongcuo led the South Sea School toward Chang'an to join the Li Clan.

• Li Mi tried to break through the rear by killing Zhai Jiao, but she fought him fiercely until Xu Ziling arrived and drove him back.
• Xu Ziling weakened Li Mi, and Zhai Jiao killed him with her Great Guan Blade, fulfilling her vengeance for her father.
• After Li Mi's death was announced, most of the resisting Wagang Army surrendered, and Zhai Jiao agreed to let Shen Luoyan bury Li Mi's head.
• Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling learned that Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, and Wei Zheng had refused Shen Tang's recruitment, while Shan Xiongxin had surrendered.
• Shen Luoyan and Xuan Yong divided the surrendered Wagang soldiers, while the army screened them for military and civilian roles.
• Huang Gongcuo led the South Sea School to Chang'an to join the Li Clan, and Shen Fei reflected that Li Mi would have caused trouble for them had he survived.

Shen Fei planned to absorb Li Mi’s former territory, prepare to defeat Dou Jiande, and expand his influence through trade and new officials. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling visited Du Fuwei to persuade him to surrender, and Du agreed after testing Kou Zhong’s strength.

• Shen Fei planned to recruit political talent from the Song Clan and use new officials to govern the territories he expected to take.
• Shen Fei and Zhai Jiao agreed to trade glass, giving the Central Plains a lucrative new Silk Road commodity.
• Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling asked Shen Fei for talismans before setting out to persuade Du Fuwei to surrender, and Shen Fei agreed to delay his attack on Yuwen Huaji until they returned.
• Du Fuwei welcomed Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling in Liyang, then accepted their proposal to surrender after Kou Zhong fought him to a standstill.
• Du Fuwei said he trusted his two sons and agreed to submit without conditions.

After Du Fuwei agreed to surrender to Shen Tang, he set out with Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling for Luoyang. On the way, they found Liang City threatened by the East Blue Alliance, and Kou Zhong led a plan to ambush its invading force.

• Du Fuwei explained that Shen Tang and the Song Clan had settled the south, then formally prepared to surrender and travel to Luoyang with Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling.
• Du Fuwei learned about Kou Zhong and Song Yuzhi's relationship, and the three discussed Cihang Monastery and the Buddhist sects' schemes.
• In Liang City, Kou Zhong learned that the East Blue Alliance was approaching, and he and Du Fuwei agreed to help defend the city.
• Ren Meimei told them that Ghost Claw Nie Jing had died and that the Pengliang Society had only a small force left, so Kou Zhong devised an ambush against Ku Ge's several hundred men.
• Ku Ge led the East Blue Alliance through Liang City's open gates, and Kou Zhong caught and returned three arrows as Pengliang Society fighters ignited the prepared combustibles and raised the drawbridge.

Kou Zhong and his allies crushed Ku Ge’s attack on Liang City, while Shen Fei strengthened Shen Tang and confronted the Buddhist establishment. As Li Shimin studied Shen Tang’s mechanical beasts and searched for a weakness, Xu Xingzhi was suddenly attacked in Champion City.

• Kou Zhong killed Ku Ge, and Xu Ziling and Du Fuwei used their bows to help defeat the Khitan forces inside Liang City.
• Kou Zhong left Ren Meimei to restore order, then brought the East Blue Alliance and Luo Ma Gang to Shen Fei’s attention; Shen Fei sent Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling to deal with them.
• Shen Fei began executing the Four Guardian Vajras and introduced new regulations that placed Buddhism under official administration, while presenting He's Jade as Shen Tang’s imperial seal.
• Li Shimin’s advisers examined intelligence about Shen Tang’s mechanical beasts, and Li Jing recommended learning their capabilities and obtaining samples.
• An attacker engulfed Xu Xingzhi in sword light and sent a black longsword toward his forehead, but golden radiance appeared around him.

Yang Xuyan failed to assassinate Xu Xingzhi, while Shen Fei’s forces expanded their control by defeating Dou Jiande and advancing against Yuwen Huaji. The Twin Dragons confronted Yuwen Huaji at Xucheng, where he surrendered his guards and began fighting Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling.

• Yang Xuyan attacked Xu Xingzhi, but Shen Fei’s guards and protective Mystic Items thwarted the assassination and forced the assassin to escape.
• Shen Fei learned of the attempted assassinations and sent Mechanical White Tigers to defeat Dou Jiande, whose forces were routed before Shen Tang’s experts killed him.
• The Song Clan joined Du Fuwei’s surrendered Jianghuai Army to attack Li Zitong, while Shen Fei began his campaign against Yuwen Huaji.
• Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling reached Xucheng with their army, whose soldiers met little resistance until the attack on Yuwen Huaji’s palace.
• Yuwen Huaji ordered his Imperial Guards to surrender, then faced the Twin Dragons; Kou Zhong struck first, and Xu Ziling followed with a punch that heated the air.

The Twin Dragons spared Yuwen Huaji after discovering that Consort Zhen was their beloved Sister Zhen, and they saved her and her unborn child with help from Shen Fei. Yuwen Huaji and Sister Zhen began a new life in Luoyang, while Shen Fei learned that Celestial Lord Xi Ying had challenged Song Que and been killed.

• Yuwen Huaji fled the Twin Dragons to see Consort Zhen, and Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling recognized her as Sister Zhen.
• Sister Zhen took poison and asked to die alongside Yuwen Huaji, but Kou Zhong gave her an antidote while Xu Ziling rushed her to Shen Fei for help with the child.
• Shen Fei saved Sister Zhen and her unborn child, and Yuwen Huaji and Sister Zhen later settled in Luoyang under new names and opened a bun shop.
• Shen Fei read a report claiming Yuwen Huaji and Consort Zhen had died in a fire, though he had arranged for them to live anonymously.
• Celestial Lord Xi Ying challenged Song Que after returning from seclusion, and Song Que killed him in two strikes.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling prepared to help Shen Tang take Yangzhou while Shen Fei pursued his plans against the Li Clan and foreign threats. Duan Lang destroyed Buddhism’s four hidden sects and reached Shanhai County, where he recognized Du Xing’s exploitation and discrimination against the Han.

• Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling met their childhood friends Gui Xiliang and another Zhuhua Gang incense master, then urged them to seize the chance to become gang leaders and help take Yangzhou.
• Shen Fei experimented with the Time Stone and Space Stone, then used a golden portal to assassinate Li Yuan and each of his three sons before returning to Luoyang.
• Shen Fei learned that Fu Cailin was making a move and ordered the Great Tang Daily to publish the threat, putting Ning Daoqi under scrutiny.
• Duan Lang burned down the Tiantai Sect, Sanlun Sect, Huayan Sect, and Zen Sect, prompting the Four Holy Monks and Fan Qinghui to hunt him.
• Duan Lang arrived in Shanhai County and learned that Du Xing’s Northern Tyrant Gang controlled the area and exploited merchants while favoring foreigners over Han people.

Duan Lang confronted Du Xing and Xu Kaishan in Shanhai County, exposed their collusion with the Wolf Raiders, and defeated their ambush. After extracting their secrets, he claimed the county and dragged the two captives toward the Northern Tyrant Gang headquarters.

• Du Xing confronted Duan Lang in a tavern, while Xu Kaishan stood beside him and warned him to behave in Shanhai County.
• Duan Lang identified Xu Kaishan as the leader of the Northern Horse Gang, the Wolf Raiders, and the Great Ming Cult, then accused Du Xing of colluding with bandits.
• Du Xing and Xu Kaishan attacked Duan Lang, but he cut off both their arms and destroyed their meridians before defeating the men who rushed into the tavern and the archers on a nearby rooftop.
• Duan Lang used Dual Mastery to learn that Xu Kaishan planned to use him as a token of allegiance to gain the Buddhist sects' support for the Great Ming Cult in the Central Plains.
• Duan Lang learned the locations of the Wolf Raiders' strongholds, claimed Shanhai County, and dragged Du Xing and Xu Kaishan toward the Northern Tyrant Gang headquarters.

Duan Lang exposed Du Xing and Xu Kaishan as the Wolf Raiders, seized control of Shanhai County, and prepared to publicly try them. As the trial approached, the Great Ming Cult and the Three Bandit Groups moved against him, giving him a chance to confront his enemies at once.

• Duan Lang revealed Du Xing and Xu Kaishan's crimes, controlled Northern Tyrant Gang members to confirm the evidence, and scheduled a public trial for seven days later.
• Duan Lang learned about the Great Ming Cult's branches and its Persian origins, sent intelligence and seized wealth to Shen Fei, and Shen Fei began painting Ning Daoqi, Fan Qinghui, and Liao Kong.
• News that Du Xing and Xu Kaishan were the Wolf Raiders linked them to the Anle massacre, prompting northern frontier martial artists to gather in Shanhai County.
• Holy Mother Shafang ordered the Five Luminaries and Fivefold Fiends to rescue Xu Kaishan and told her followers to watch Jieli's response.
• Duan Lang wiped out Xiang Family strongholds connected to Du Xing, posted a recruitment notice, and identified Lie Xia among those arriving in Shanhai County.
• On the eve of the public trial, all three Bandit Groups appeared near Shanhai County, and Duan Lang prepared to settle matters in one battle.

Duan Lang prepared Shanhai County for an attack by the Three Bandit Groups, learned that Yin Xiaoji had escaped to the Central Plains, and captured Lie Xia and the Great Ming Cult operatives. He left Yin Xianhe to search for his sister and planned to use the captured cultists as pawns against the Turks.

• Duan Lang heard that many merchants had fled Shanhai County and accepted Young Master Die’s warning to watch for spies as the Three Bandit Groups gathered nearby.
• Duan Lang told Yin Xianhe that his sister, Yin Xiaoji, had escaped and was likely in the Central Plains, then advised him to seek Shen Fei and place a notice in the Great Tang Daily.
• Yin Xianhe left for the Central Plains to search for Yin Xiaoji.
• Duan Lang confronted Lie Xia, exposed him as Miao Kongmingzi of the Great Ming Cult, and trapped him in the Mirror Dimension.
• Duan Lang learned from Lie Xia that the Great Ming Cult planned to rescue Xu Kaishan and seize Shanhai County, with Jieli likely behind the bandits’ alliance.
• Duan Lang captured the Great Ming Cult’s hidden operatives and decided to use them as pawns, though he intended to kill Lie Xia.

Duan Lang defeated the Three Bandit Groups attacking Shanhai County, exposed the Buddhist sect and Jieli’s role in the assault, and used the victory to strengthen his reforms. As he prepared to target the Goguryeo pirates, Ning Daoqi arrived to confront him.

• Duan Lang left Sha Fang and the others to their instructions, then faced the Three Bandit Groups alone outside Shanhai County.
• Duan Lang killed Shen Mohuan and Mu Ling, routed the bandits, and let the county’s people pursue their fleeing enemies.
• Duan Lang discovered that the Buddhist sect and Jieli had helped arrange the attack, handed Xu Kaishan and Du Xing over for public punishment, and used the bandits’ wealth to support Shanhai County’s military reforms.
• Jieli reported Duan Lang’s feat to Martial Venerable Bi Xuan, who sent disciples to investigate, while Duan Lang planned to deal with the Goguryeo bandits and pirates.
• Ning Daoqi confronted Duan Lang, who mocked him about Fan Qinghui and Liao Kong, provoking a flash of killing intent.

Duan Lang defeated Ning Daoqi in Shanhai County and dragged him away, while Shen Fei arranged the public execution of Ning Daoqi and Liao Kong in Yangzhou. The execution shook the martial world and the Li Clan, and Bi Xuan decided to confront Shen Fei himself.

• Duan Lang faced Ning Daoqi outside the former Northern Tyrant Gang headquarters, then overwhelmed him with his speed, broke his arms, destroyed his meridians, and dragged him away.
• Ba Feng Han witnessed Duan Lang's fight and recognized that his victory came from astonishing speed.
• After Duan Lang extracted the Scattered Hand Eight Strikes and sent it to Shen Fei, news spread that Ning Daoqi would be publicly executed with Liao Kong in Yangzhou.
• Kou Zhong killed Li Zitong as Yangzhou's forces took the city, and Shen Fei ordered Ning Daoqi and Liao Kong beheaded before Yang Guang's ceremonial tomb.
• Fan Qinghui reeled at Ning Daoqi's execution as voices for surrender arose within the Li Clan.
• Bi Xuan decided to meet Shen Fei himself and warned Chunyu Wei and Tuoba Yu to leave the Turks if he did not return.

Duan Lang defeated Bi Xuan after Ba Feng Han challenged him and was beaten, then carried both men away from Shanhai County. Jieli and Tuli allied and marched on the county, leaving Duan Lang considering whether to enlist the Western Turks to hold them back.

• Bi Xuan left Tuoba Yu and Chunyu Wei and hurried to confront Duan Lang, seeking a chance to advance toward Shattering the Void.
• Ba Feng Han challenged Bi Xuan to settle his grudge, but Bi Xuan shattered his sword and sent him flying.
• Bi Xuan attacked Duan Lang with the Moon Wolf Spear, but Duan Lang overcame him after testing the Blazing Sun Skill.
• Duan Lang checked Ba Feng Han, found him alive, and carried him and Bi Xuan away.
• Jieli and Tuli allied and gathered an army to advance on Shanhai County after Bi Xuan's defeat.
• Duan Lang considered asking the Western Turks to hold the invading forces back.

Duan Lang failed to locate the desert temple, while Shen Fei prepared to take the fight north after pacifying the south and capturing Bi Xuan. As Shen Tang advanced toward Chang'an, its enemies struggled to find a way to stop Duan Lang, and Shen Fei ended the chapter by striking Shi Feixuan.

• Duan Lang searched the desert temple's location but found no trace of it, so he planned to wait for the Demon Sect or Song Clan to uncover information about Wild Goose Palace.
• Shen Fei decided not to release the captured Bi Xuan and said he would kill Jieli, Tuli, and the other Turkic leaders if necessary; Shen Faxing surrendered, while Zhu Yuyan killed Lin Shihong and Bian Shouxuan.
• Shi Zhixuan became a Grandmaster, killed the Four Holy Monks, and agreed with Shen Fei that Fu Cailin would be his next opponent.
• Fan Qinghui and Li Yuan's allies gathered in Chang'an to discuss Shen Tang's advance, but they could find no way to counter Duan Lang or prevent the coming attack.
• Li Shiji and Li Jing prepared to defend Tong Pass against Shen Luoyan's army, while Shen Luoyan recognized Xu Shiji among the defenders and resolved to face him without mercy.
• Shen Fei slapped Shi Feixuan and sent her flying after she came to see him in Luoyang.

Shen Fei planned to use Li Shimin and the aristocratic clans to expand beyond the Central Plains, while Song Que and Shi Zhixuan tested their strength in a fierce spar. After sharing the Relic of the Evil Emperor and exchanging martial arts insights, Shen Fei prepared to begin the final war to unify the realm.

• Shen Fei considered exiling Li Shimin and resistant aristocratic clans beyond the Central Plains to conquer neighboring lands and spread Chinese culture.
• Song Que and Shi Zhixuan fought in the training ground, testing their Grandmaster abilities until neither could gain the upper hand.
• Shen Fei gave the Twin Dragons the Relic of the Evil Emperor, then arranged for Wan Wan to share its vital essence with Zhu Yuyan.
• Shen Fei reviewed Shi Zhixuan's martial arts and arranged an exchange led by Song Que, Shi Zhixuan, and Shi Qingxuan, during which Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling advanced under their teachers.
• Shen Fei ordered the final war to begin and assigned Duan Lang to deal with Jieli and Tuli.

Duan Lang killed Gai Suwen and Han Chaoan, then crippled Funan Tuo and proposed that Bai Ziting create chaos on the grasslands while he killed the Turk leaders. Meanwhile, Shen Tang's forces breached Tong Pass and Chang'an, and Shen Fei sat on the imperial throne as the battle for the city reached its end.

• Duan Lang killed Gai Suwen, Han Chaoan, and their men at Bohai Little Dragon Spring, then brought their wealth and intelligence to Bai Ziting.
• Duan Lang crippled Funan Tuo and offered Bai Ziting a deal: Duan Lang would kill Jieli and Tuli, while Bai Ziting threw the grasslands into chaos.
• Shen Tang's mechanical forces captured Tong Pass in a day, and an elite unit entered Chang'an through Yang Gong's Treasure as the main army attacked from outside.
• The Li Clan withdrew from Chang'an, while Shen Fei's forces surrounded the imperial palace and Shi Zhixuan stepped in to fight Fu Cailin instead of Song Que.
• Shen Fei entered the imperial hall, sat on the dragon throne, and observed that He's Jade had gained energy as Shen Tang's territory expanded.

After capturing Chang'an, Shen Fei rejected demands to make it his capital, planned reforms and a coronation in Luoyang, and tasked Zhu Yuyan with eliminating Cihang Monastery. Duan Lang then destroyed the allied Turkic forces, captured and wounded Zhao Deyi for a public execution, and prepared to negotiate with the defeated Li Clan.

• Shen Fei reflected on He's Jade, while Chang'an settled under his rule after Shi Zhixuan and Fu Cailin fought to mutual destruction, killing Fu Cailin and leaving Shi Zhixuan critically wounded.
• Shen Fei burned a petition from ministers, rejected their hopes of making Chang'an the capital, and planned to turn its imperial palace into a tourist attraction while preparing to rule from Luoyang.
• Shen Fei ordered Zhu Yuyan to deal with Cihang Monastery, then returned to Luoyang to prepare for his coronation and considered entertainment and sports for the coming peace.
• Duan Lang confronted Zhao Deyi at Jieli and Tuli's camp, killed the guards who attacked him, and crippled Zhao Deyi with the Skull Blood Handprint so he could be publicly executed.
• Duan Lang incinerated the Golden Wolf Army and Black Wolf Army, subdued and killed Jieli and Tuli, then impersonated them and provoked their forces into fighting each other.
• Duan Lang turned his attention to negotiating with the retreating Li Tang Dynasty and noted that Shadow Clones could take the blame.