Chapter Summaries

Su Chen grew intimate with Yang Lan and offered Sanyang Street as a betrothal gift to the An Yun Merchant Association. At the auction, Yang Xizhi and his party arrived to face the Four Great Merchant Associations, who expected to claim the street and mocked the An Yun Merchant Association’s chances.

• Su Chen and Yang Lan grew closer, and Su Chen told her he would ask her father for her hand and give Sanyang Street to the An Yun Merchant Association as a betrothal gift.
• The Sanyang Street auction began under the supervision of an Imperial Family representative at the Early Immortal King realm.
• The Four Great Merchant Association presidents agreed to pool their Immortal Crystals and divide Sanyang Street among their associations.
• Yang Xizhi, the chief steward, Yang Lan, and Su Chen entered the auction hall as onlookers doubted the An Yun Merchant Association could compete.
• President Liu Heng greeted Yang Xizhi with false warmth and sarcastically called him a possible future fifth great association president.

Yang Xizhi attended the auction for Sanyang Street with the An Yun Merchant Association, while the Four Great Merchant Associations mocked his chances. As Liu Heng raised the bidding beyond Yang Xizhi’s means, Su Chen suddenly bid five hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals.

• Yang Xizhi accepted a seat beside the Four Great Merchant Associations despite his doubts about winning Sanyang Street.
• Liu Heng and President Wangyue mocked Yang Xizhi and the An Yun Merchant Association before the auction began.
• The auctioneer explained that the Imperial Family would protect the winner and opened bidding at one hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals.
• Liu Heng raised his bid to three hundred and fifty million top-grade Immortal Crystals, while Yang Xizhi could not afford to compete.
• Su Chen bid five hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals.

Su Chen challenged the Four Great Merchant Associations for Sanyang Street, repeatedly raising the bid and proving he could pay. He left the auction with the price at one billion top-grade Immortal Crystals, far above the street’s value, as the four presidents weighed whether to continue.

• Su Chen bid five hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals for Sanyang Street, and the auction host verified his payment through five spatial rings.
• President Liu Heng raised the bid to five hundred and fifty million, while President Wangyue mocked Su Chen and boasted of the Four Great Merchant Associations’ wealth.
• Su Chen raised the bid to seven hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals, stunning the auction hall and prompting the four presidents to confer.
• The Four Great Merchant Associations bid seven hundred and fifty million, and Su Chen taunted them before raising the bid to one billion top-grade Immortal Crystals.
• President Wangyue grew furious as the four presidents faced the choice of paying far more than Sanyang Street was worth.

Su Chen outbid the Four Great Merchant Associations for Sanyang Street by offering two billion top-grade Immortal Crystals, securing it for the An Yun Merchant Association. He then took Yang Xizhi and Yang Lan to the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce and challenged the staff to see whether his Immortal Crystals could buy everything there.

• The Four Great Merchant Associations agreed to raise their bid to one billion five hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals to keep the An Yun Merchant Association from acquiring Sanyang Street.
• Su Chen responded to President Wangyue's taunt by bidding two billion top-grade Immortal Crystals, and the auction officials verified his payment.
• The Four Great Merchant Associations stopped bidding, and Su Chen won Sanyang Street for the An Yun Merchant Association.
• After Yang Xizhi received the management certificate, Su Chen took him and Yang Lan to the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce and offered twenty spatial rings to buy everything in the branch.
• The attendant's confident reply faltered when she saw how many Immortal Crystals filled the rings.

Su Chen offered enough top-grade Immortal Crystals to buy out the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce, astonishing its leaders and Yang Xizhi. The three branches gathered their goods, and Li Ruoxin presented the available stock and its total price.

• The maid estimated that Su Chen's spatial rings contained nearly one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals and summoned Li Ruoxin.
• Li Ruoxin met Su Chen, but he repeated his request to buy everything in the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce.
• Li Ruoxin closed the three Imperial City branches to customers and ordered them to gather their goods.
• The presidents of the other two branches joined Li Ruoxin after learning Su Chen had prepaid one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals.
• Li Ruoxin told Su Chen the collected goods included practical items and rare treasures, totaling 170 billion top-grade Immortal Crystals, or 110 billion without the rare treasures.
• Yang Xizhi and Yang Lan stood stunned as Li Ruoxin announced the figures.

Su Chen bought out the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce with more than one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals, leaving its owners eager to build a relationship with him. That night, he created the One Inch Sky world and filled it with heavenly treasures and Immortal Crystals to cultivate a vast medicine garden.

• Su Chen paid the remaining Immortal Crystals for the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce and declared that he had bought it out.
• Li Ruoxin realized how powerful Su Chen might be and told the others to treat Yang Xizhi well and maintain a good relationship with Su Chen.
• Su Chen returned to the courtyard with Yang Lan, and the two became intimate after he concealed the courtyard with a formation.
• Su Chen created the One Inch Sky world within his body, and copying his Great Dao caused it to expand to roughly three-quarters the size of the Cangyun Empire.
• Su Chen shaped the world’s landscape, scattered his purchased heavenly treasures across it, and added three hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals, reviving the treasures as the world absorbed their energy.

Su Chen developed the One Inch Sky into a world fit to serve as a medicine garden and spent several days growing closer to Yang Lan at the An Yun Merchant Association. He prepared to leave, but promised Yang Lan he would return soon.

• Su Chen scattered diluted Profound Yellow Earth throughout the One Inch Sky to improve its soil and support the growth of heavenly treasures.
• Yang Lan's maid entered the courtyard with tea, realized what Su Chen and Yang Lan were doing, and hurried away in embarrassment.
• Su Chen checked on Yelan and Bai Yulan living in the One Inch Sky, then stayed at the An Yun Merchant Association and grew closer to Yang Lan.
• As Su Chen prepared to leave, he put a sock on Yang Lan's bare foot and promised he would return soon.
• Yang Lan asked Su Chen suspiciously whether he was fooling around with many women outside.

Su Chen left Yang Lan and wandered through the Imperial City, turning away women who did not interest him. He discovered that a beautiful woman in white had staged a rescue scene to approach him, and he offered to let her repay him by giving herself to him.

• Yang Lan asked Su Chen to remember her and return someday, and Su Chen promised he would before leaving the An Yun Merchant Association.
• Su Chen wandered around the Imperial City, helped resolve minor troubles, and rejected women who tried to approach him.
• Su Chen noticed a beautiful woman in white whose charm seemed to affect him, then heard staged thugs harass her.
• The woman in white ran toward Su Chen, and her bamboo hat fell to reveal her face.
• Su Chen recognized Li Ruoxin's familiar aura and realized the woman and the thugs had arranged the encounter.
• The woman thanked Su Chen for rescuing her, and he interrupted to ask why she did not offer herself to him.

Li Qingyue tried to get close to Su Chen on Li Ruoxin’s advice, hoping he would help her claim the Imperial Throne. Su Chen uncovered her purpose and took liberties with her, leaving her unable to resist as she confessed what her aunt had told her.

• Li Qingyue considered offering herself to Su Chen but agreed to repay him by treating him to a meal.
• Li Qingyue took Su Chen to a restaurant and tried to draw his interest by asking what kind of girl he liked.
• Su Chen sat beside Li Qingyue, put an arm around her, and asked whether Li Ruoxin had sent her.
• Li Qingyue admitted that Li Ruoxin wanted her to get close to Su Chen because he might help her seize the Imperial Throne.
• Su Chen touched Li Qingyue beneath her clothes, and she confessed Li Ruoxin had praised his strength and promised benefits from following him.

Su Chen swore a Great Dao oath to help Li Qingyue claim the Imperial Throne, and she trusted him despite Li Ruoxin's concern. Three days later, Li Qingyue asked him to help her obtain the administrative rights over the Three Western Commanderies, and he agreed to give them to her.

• Su Chen swore a Great Dao oath to help Li Qingyue seize the Imperial Throne, then the two became intimate.
• Li Ruoxin warned Su Chen not to deceive Li Qingyue, and Su Chen promised to keep his word.
• Three days later, Li Qingyue asked Su Chen to help her acquire the administrative rights over the Three Western Commanderies at the Empress's upcoming auction.
• Su Chen offered to give Li Qingyue the rights and asked why she wanted the throne.
• Li Qingyue said she wanted to become an Empress admired by everyone, like her mother, and Su Chen encouraged her.

Li Qingyue told Su Chen that he would have to pass the Imperial Family’s trials to marry her, then brought him to the auction where the Princes and Princesses would compete for control of the Three Great Commanderies. At the auction, the Third Prince challenged her right to participate, and Li Qingyue calmly rejected his interference.

• Li Qingyue explained that Su Chen had to defeat her or pass the Imperial Family’s trials to become her man, and she said the trials required at least Immortal Lord strength.
• Li Qingyue told Su Chen that the Empress had no man and that her children were formed from the power of heaven and earth using her flesh and blood.
• Three days later, Li Qingyue entered the Imperial Palace auction with masked Su Chen to bid for authority over the Three Great Commanderies.
• The Third Prince questioned Li Qingyue’s participation and warned that the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce could not interfere in internal affairs.
• Li Qingyue told the Third Prince to stop worrying about her.

The princes gathered to bid for the right to govern three counties, while Li Qingyue hoped to secure one with Su Chen’s backing. The auction began with Liuyun County, and Su Chen stunned the room with a bid of one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals.

• Li Qingyue asked Su Chen whether he could afford the counties, and he told her to watch.
• The Fourth Prince warned Li Qingyue to stay out of the imperial struggle, but she insisted on competing.
• The Third Elder announced the auction for Liuyun County, setting its starting price at two billion top-grade Immortal Crystals.
• Su Chen opened the bidding for Liuyun County at one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals.

Su Chen shocked the Nine Stars Empire’s auction by paying one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals for Li Qingyue to obtain Liuyun County. He immediately made the same enormous bid for Tianya County, leaving the other attendees stunned.

• The Third Prince accused Su Chen of causing trouble, while the Fourth Prince defended Li Qingyue and urged the Third Elder to overlook her bid.
• Li Qingyue anxiously asked Su Chen whether he truly had one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals, and the Third Prince threatened to punish him for deceiving the Imperial Family.
• Su Chen tossed ten spatial rings to the Third Elder, who confirmed they contained one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals.
• The Third Elder awarded Liuyun County to Li Qingyue, and the Third Prince mocked her for paying so much.
• When the Third Elder opened bidding for Tianya County, Su Chen again bid one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals and handed over another spatial ring.

Su Chen spent vast sums to secure Tianya County and Changqing County for Li Qingyue, leaving her with three counties and a growing claim to the Imperial Throne. He then offered to buy all the Nine Stars Empire’s remaining counties, and the Third Elder sought the emperor’s approval.

• The Third Elder verified Su Chen’s one hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals and awarded Tianya County to Li Qingyue after no one could outbid him.
• Su Chen bid one hundred billion for Changqing County, prompting the First Prince and Third Prince to join forces against Li Qingyue.
• The First Prince bid one hundred five billion, but Su Chen raised the offer to one hundred fifty billion and then added another fifty billion in support of Li Qingyue.
• Su Chen handed the Third Elder two hundred billion Immortal Crystals, astounding the princes and the gathered nobles with his wealth.
• Su Chen offered one thousand five hundred billion top-grade Immortal Crystals for the empire’s ten remaining counties, and the Third Elder said he needed the emperor’s approval.

After Su Chen secured the jurisdiction over all thirteen commanderies for Li Qingyue, the Third Elder received the Emperor’s approval and Li Qingyue’s path to the throne was effectively cleared. Li Qingyue accepted Su Chen’s protection and intimacy, while Su Chen urged her to consolidate her power and prepare to become Empress.

• The Third Elder sent the Emperor word about Su Chen’s offer, and the Emperor replied, “Approved!”
• The Third Elder accepted Su Chen’s 150 billion top-grade Immortal Crystals, while the princes and Princesses realized Li Qingyue had gained control of every commandery outside the Imperial City.
• The Third Elder hurried to the Imperial Palace, and Li Qingyue brought Su Chen to her bedchamber and told him he could become her man without following the usual process or taking the trials.
• Su Chen and Li Qingyue became intimate, and afterward she asked what he saw in her; Su Chen said that liking someone did not need a practical basis.
• Su Chen urged Li Qingyue to consolidate her power ahead of her expected rise to the throne, and she said she no longer cared about relying on a man to compete for it.

After centuries in the Nine Stars Empire, Su Chen watched Li Qingyue rise to Immortal King while his disciples advanced in the Haoran Sect. Elsewhere, the wounded Zhou Yao fled two pursuers after they sabotaged her attempt to break through, and her escape began to falter.

• Li Qingyue took control of the Nine Stars Empire and advanced rapidly through dual cultivation with Su Chen.
• Li Qingyue confronted Su Chen about his other women, then later asked him to protect Yang Lan after he left the Imperial City.
• Li Qingyue broke through to the Immortal King realm, while Su Chen sensed the Haoran Sect's Great Elder preparing to break through to the Immortal Lord realm and reflected on his disciples' progress.
• Zhou Yao fled two pursuers after they disrupted her breakthrough to the Mid Immortal King realm and left her badly injured.
• Zhou Yao used a blood-fueled secret technique to escape, but her speed soon slowed as her pursuers continued after her.

Zhou Yao fought Yang Hui and Liu Biran while badly wounded, and, seeing no way to survive, tried to detonate herself. An unknown force stopped her self-destruction and began healing her injuries, leaving the source of the intervention unclear.

• Yang Hui caught up with Zhou Yao and joined Liu Biran in attacking her for the treasures she carried.
• Zhou Yao used the Mysterious Yin Thread and fled, but Yang Hui’s spatial technique let him catch her and knock her down.
• With her injuries worsening and her opponents nearly unharmed, Zhou Yao charged at them to detonate herself.
• An irresistible force enveloped Zhou Yao, suppressed her violent power, and began healing her wounds.

Su Chen rescued Zhou Yao from Yang Hui and his ally, then reunited with her and stayed by her side in the Nine Stars Empire. Zhou Yao clung to Su Chen and, while retaining her youthful appearance, returned to a lively, childlike manner.

• Su Chen appeared before Zhou Yao, healed her, and refused Yang Hui's demand that he leave.
• Yang Hui and his ally attacked Su Chen, but his spatial power shredded them and scattered their souls.
• Zhou Yao kissed Su Chen and admitted through her actions that she regretted leaving him; he took her to a mountain forest.
• The next morning, Su Chen asked Zhou Yao whether she would leave without saying goodbye again, and she asked him to be with her again.
• Su Chen stayed with Zhou Yao and traveled around the Nine Stars Empire with her.
• Zhou Yao sat on Su Chen's neck in the forest and ordered him to charge, drawing strange looks from passersby.

Li Qingyue and the elders decided to destroy Nine Demon Mountain before its demonic threat grew, despite the risk of provoking the Demon Race. With the Empress's approval, Imperial Family experts launched a sudden attack, and the battle began.

• Su Chen and Zhou Yao spent time together and went out to eat during their honeymoon.
• Li Qingyue learned that Nine Demon Mountain was connected to the Demon Domain and that attacking it could trigger a war with the Demon Race.
• Li Qingyue proposed destroying Nine Demon Mountain, and the elders agreed to seek the Empress's approval.
• The Empress approved the plan, and the Third and Fifth Elders led five Immortal Kings toward Nine Demon Mountain while the Second Elder followed secretly.
• The Imperial Family launched a sudden assault on Nine Demon Mountain, and cultivators across the empire sensed an Immortal Lord's attack.

Taotie revealed that Nine Demon Mountain was a diversion for a larger Demon Race conspiracy, which had already infiltrated the Nine Stars Empire. As the Empire’s elders faced two Perfected Immortal Lords, a masked human cultivator sealed the area and declared that they would not escape.

• Taotie dismissed the seven Great Demon Kings and challenged the Nine Stars Empire’s Third Elder and Fifth Elder.
• Taotie fought the two elders while revealing that the Demon Race had defectors inside the Nine Stars Empire, including someone from the Imperial Family.
• The Second Elder joined the battle and tore off Taotie’s arm, but Taotie transformed into his true form and regenerated it.
• A second Perfected Immortal Lord emerged from Nine Demon Mountain, alarming the Second Elder as he realized the Demon Race had prepared for the Empire’s attack.
• A masked human cultivator sealed the surrounding space and told the Second Elder that he would not be able to leave.