Chapter Summaries

Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Ping'an returns to Yujing, escorts Jiang Shuyue and others to Taiwu Academy, then meets Emperor Qian.
• Emperor Qian asks Jiang Ping'an to become the Zhennan Marquis's Young Lord, but Jiang Ping'an refuses.
• Emperor Qian gifts Jiang Ping'an a Dragon Transformation Pill and advises him to consider his decision.
• Jiang Ping'an returns to Taiwu Academy, tells Jiang Shuyue about Emperor Qian's request, and asks for her help.
• Jiang Ping'an sneaks into Princess Bailing's room using the Five-Colored Jade Disk and discusses his plans with her.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ping'an remains steadfast in his refusal to acknowledge Zhao Yingpeng as his father.
• Jiang Shuyue shows unwavering support for Jiang Ping'an.
• Princess Bailing demonstrates her affection for Jiang Ping'an and willingness to help him.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and filial piety: Jiang Ping'an's refusal to acknowledge Zhao Yingpeng highlights his loyalty to his true heritage and his unwillingness to compromise his principles.
• Power dynamics: The struggle between Emperor Qian and Pudu Mountain, as well as the internal power dynamics within the Zhennan Marquis Estate, drive the plot forward.
• Cultivation and growth: Jiang Ping'an's cultivation progress and his plans to support Jiang Shuyue's cultivation are central to his character development.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue: Their mother-son bond strengthens as they discuss Jiang Ping'an's future and plan to work together.
• Jiang Ping'an and Princess Bailing: Their relationship deepens as they discuss Jiang Ping'an's situation and Princess Bailing agrees to help him.
• Jiang Ping'an and Emperor Qian: Their interaction showcases Emperor Qian's benevolence and Jiang Ping'an's resolve, as well as the power dynamics between them.

Jiang Ping'an returned to Taiwu Academy, where Li Zaidao tried to persuade him to become the Zhennan Marquis Estate’s Young Lord, but Jiang Ping'an resolved to go south and guard against rebellion himself. After visiting Princess Bailing and Liu Xixu, he received fifty thousand Merit Points from the academy and exchanged some for two Mystic Grade spirit talisman manuals.

• Jiang Ping'an attended Literary Strategy Class, where veteran and new students crowded around him to greet the famed Chief Student.
• Li Zaidao explained the dangers and benefits of Jiang Ping'an becoming the Zhennan Marquis Estate’s Young Lord, but Jiang Ping'an insisted he would go to the Southern Border to prevent a rebellion.
• Jiang Ping'an gave Princess Bailing top-grade Mystic Artifact treasure armor and accepted two bottles of Spirit Cloud Brew from her.
• Jiang Ping'an visited Liu Xixu, gave her gifts including two perfect quality Five Elements Primordial Golden Light Jade Talismans, and told her he would soon return to the Southern Border.
• Qin Zhishui awarded Jiang Ping'an fifty thousand Merit Points on behalf of Taiwu Academy.
• Jiang Ping'an spent twenty thousand Merit Points at the Spirit Talisman Pavilion on the Heavenly Flame Meteor Jade Talisman Manual and the Golden Sword Jade Talisman Manual.

Jiang Ping'an learned that Shangguan Xue was being pursued by Bai Yuede, a powerful Law Manifestation Realm cultivator, and later found her frozen and apparently near death in the undersea cave abode. He realized that she might still be alive and rushed to help her.

• Jiang Ping'an comprehended the Heavenly Flame Meteor Jade Talisman and Golden Sword Jade Talisman, then had Chen Donglai buy materials to make them.
• At dinner, Li Tongya told Jiang Ping'an that Shangguan Xue had destroyed the Anwu Marquis Estate to avenge her family and was fleeing south while Bai Yuede hunted her.
• Jiang Ping'an refined both Mystic Grade talismans, then decided to visit the undersea cave abode to collect newly accumulated Liquified Worldly Energy.
• Jiang Ping'an found fresh footprints and an open chamber door marked with bloody handprints, then discovered Shangguan Xue encased in ice beside the pool.
• Jiang Ping'an recognized Shangguan Xue and realized she might still be alive because her body remained wrapped in ice.

Jiang Ping'an rescued Shangguan Xue from the ice and healed her, but she begged him to take her Yuan Yin to prevent the Ice Phoenix in her sword from reviving through her body. After she fled, Jiang Ping'an found her again in the cave abode, where the Ice Phoenix had taken control and attacked him.

• Jiang Ping'an melted the ice around Shangguan Xue, revived her, and used Heaven Returning Pills and True Essence to heal her severe injuries.
• Shangguan Xue urged Jiang Ping'an to take her Yuan Yin, explaining that the Ice Phoenix in the Phoenix Blood Sword planned to revive through her body.
• Jiang Ping'an hesitated, and Shangguan Xue left the cave abode after the Ice Phoenix awakened; he chased her to the sea but could not find her.
• Jiang Ping'an returned to the undersea cave abode and sensed a deadly threat as the Phoenix Blood Sword struck at his back.
• Jiang Ping'an blocked Shangguan Xue's attack and recognized that the Ice Phoenix had taken control of her body.

Jiang Ping'an subdued the Ice Phoenix controlling Shangguan Xue, and Shangguan Xue’s Taiyin Ice Phoenix energy greatly strengthened him. After the Ice Phoenix regained control, it cultivated in the chamber’s Liquified Worldly Energy before Shangguan Xue departed, leaving Jiang Ping'an behind as Bai Yuede’s threat loomed.

• Jiang Ping'an used Burning Essence Sword Qi and Mystic Water True Dragons to wear down the Ice Phoenix, then bound Shangguan Xue’s body with the Golden Serpent Binding Cord until the phoenix fell asleep.
• Shangguan Xue woke and embraced Jiang Ping'an, but the Ice Phoenix feigned sleep and ambushed him; Jiang Ping'an’s protection blocked the blow, and he captured the phoenix again.
• Jiang Ping'an forced the Ice Phoenix to sleep, and Shangguan Xue consented to intimacy; her Taiyin Ice Phoenix energy entered Jiang Ping'an and was refined into Dragon Transformation True Essence.
• Afterward, Shangguan Xue insisted Jiang Ping'an loved Princess Bailing and tried to leave because Bai Yuede was hunting her, while Jiang Ping'an promised to challenge him in nine days.
• The Ice Phoenix took control and cultivated in the chamber’s remaining Liquified Worldly Energy, then accepted pills and talismans from Jiang Ping'an before Shangguan Xue regained control and flew away.

Jiang Ping'an prepared talismans and cultivated until he reached the second level of the Dragon Transformation Realm, but he continued to refuse becoming the Zhennan Marquis's Young Lord. He left the palace after rejecting Emperor Qian's offer, intending to prove he could stabilize the Southern Border himself.

• Jiang Ping'an collected the remaining Liquified Worldly Energy, began nurturing Mystic Grade Spirit Talismans in it, and continued refining talismans for the Southern Border.
• Jiang Ping'an broke through to the second level of the Dragon Transformation Realm and found that his tempered skin resisted the Crimson Sky Sword and its Southern Li Fire.
• Li Zaidao urged Jiang Ping'an to become the Zhennan Marquis's Young Lord, but Jiang Ping'an refused and said he would suppress the Southern Border by another path.
• Jiang Ping'an recruited Li Tongya for the Southern Border and gave him three Mystic Grade Spirit Talismans for protection.
• Jiang Ping'an staged a brief Dragon Transformation breakthrough to make Taiwu Academy believe he had advanced, then returned the Dragon Transformation Pill when Emperor Qian summoned him.
• Emperor Qian offered Princess Bailing's hand in marriage if Jiang Ping'an became the Young Lord, but Jiang Ping'an refused, and Emperor Qian angrily sent him away.

Jiang Ping'an collected Princess Bailing’s gifts for Jiang Shuyue and asked Yan Ruyu to join his Southern Border campaign as a political commissar. Yan Ruyu agreed to consider the role, while Princess Bailing continued waiting for the poem Jiang Ping'an had promised.

• Jiang Ping'an collected the Wind Thunder Sword, top-grade wind-element Essence Stones, and Flowing Light Cloud Shoes from Princess Bailing, then gave them to Jiang Shuyue to help her cultivate.
• Jiang Shuyue teased Jiang Ping'an about the young woman who had gifted her the shoes, and Jiang Ping'an accepted his mother’s low-grade Mystic Treasure Sword to sell for Essence Stones.
• Princess Bailing waited for Jiang Ping'an’s poem, but he could not compose one; meanwhile, Yan Ruyu advanced to the Dragon Transformation Realm.
• Jiang Ping'an visited Yan Ruyu and invited her to travel to the Southern Border to reason with soldiers and common people who might support Pudu Mountain.
• Yan Ruyu praised Jiang Ping'an’s plan and said she would consider his invitation before he left for the Southern Border.

Jiang Ping'an completed his coming-of-age ceremony, unsealed and mastered his divine abilities, then learned Bai Yuede had entered the Great Zhou Kingdom. Old Black appeared at the celebration and demanded repayment of a debt Jiang Ping'an had owed for more than ten years.

• Jiang Ping'an completed the three-crown coming-of-age rites and thanked his family and instructors.
• Jiang Ping'an's divine abilities unsealed, and he used his Proficiency Points to master them.
• Jiang Ping'an learned from Chen Donglai that Bai Yuede had entered the Great Zhou Kingdom and worried that he could not help Shangguan Xue.
• Old Black appeared at Jiang Ping'an's celebration and said he had come to collect a debt.

Jiang Ping'an learned that Old Black had helped the first Zhennan Marquis rise to power, then accepted Emperor Qian's order to lead only two thousand Imperial Guards to the Southern Border. After preparing his family and soldiers for the dangerous campaign, he entered the Demon Realm and used jade talismans to crush the first demon beast assault.

• Old Black refused extra Golden Buns, urged Jiang Ping'an to become the Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis, revealed it had helped the first Zhennan Marquis rise to power, and left.
• Emperor Qian ordered Jiang Ping'an to take two thousand Imperial Guards to the Southern Border, and Jiang Ping'an accepted the decree despite the meager force.
• Jiang Ping'an persuaded Jiang Wen and the other relatives to relocate Jiang Manor from White Emperor City and gave them three hundred Superior Spirit Stones for the move.
• Jiang Ping'an left a poem beneath Princess Bailing's pillow, then departed Yujing with Jiang Shuyue, Yan Ruyu, Li Tongya, and the Imperial Guards.
• Yan Ruyu raised the soldiers' morale during the journey, and Jiang Ping'an led them through Sword Gate Pass into the Demon Realm.
• Jiang Ping'an, Jiang Shuyue, and Yan Ruyu used Heavenly Flame Meteor Jade Talismans to destroy a demon beast horde attacking their position, while Jiang Ping'an and Li Tongya worked to establish an array.

Jiang Ping'an and his forces annihilated more than a hundred thousand spirit beasts and birds outside Sword Gate Pass and killed the fifth-rank Mountain-Pulling Ape. Emperor Qian celebrated the victory, approved Jiang Ping'an's requests, and sent reinforcements, while Taiwu Academy prepared a voluntary expedition to the Southern Border.

• Jiang Ping'an and Li Tongya completed the Xuandu Vajra Grand Formation as Jiang Shuyue and Yan Ruyu organized the harvesting of spirit beast heads and meat.
• Jiang Ping'an, Jiang Shuyue, and Yan Ruyu repelled a massive beast attack, killing over a hundred thousand spirit beasts and birds and trapping the remaining third-rank attackers in the formation's mist.
• Jiang Ping'an used Heavenly Punishment Sacred Eye three times to kill the Mountain-Pulling Ape, while Zhao Yanshu watched from Sword Gate Pass and wondered what power Jiang Ping'an had used.
• Jiang Ping'an ordered his soldiers to collect the enemy remains, then meditated to recover his Divine Soul after Yan Ruyu left to report the victory.
• Emperor Qian approved Jiang Ping'an's requests for Liquified Worldly Energy and rewards for Jiang Shuyue, Yan Ruyu, and Li Tongya, and dispatched twenty thousand Imperial Guards to reinforce him.
• Li Zaidao proposed a voluntary Taiwu Academy expedition to help Jiang Ping'an in the Southern Border, and many students rushed to enroll.

Jiang Ping'an’s army drove the demon beasts back from the Southern Border while Jiang Shuyue reached the seventh level of the Dragon Transformation Realm and sought his help mastering a sword art. Meanwhile, the Buddha Lord ordered Zhao Yingpeng to bring Jiang Ping'an into the Zhennan Marquis Estate’s faction, leaving Su Yingluo furious and determined to push Zhao Zhenming to cultivate.

• Jiang Ping'an’s army defeated the demon beasts’ attempts to resist, forcing them to retreat more than a thousand li from Great Qian Kingdom’s Southern Border frontier.
• Jiang Shuyue told Jiang Ping'an that she had reached the seventh level of the Dragon Transformation Realm and returned some of his Top-Grade wind-element Spirit Stones, which he accepted.
• Jiang Shuyue demonstrated the Wind Breath Soul Severing Sword, and Jiang Ping'an used his panel to master it before guiding her.
• Master Xuan Ming ordered Zhao Yingpeng to persuade Jiang Ping'an to acknowledge his ancestry and join the Buddha Lord’s side, even if Zhao Yingpeng had to kneel and admit his wrongs.
• After Master Xuan Ming left, Zhao Yingpeng vented his hatred, then told Su Yingluo that the Buddha Lord wanted Jiang Ping'an invited back and promised the Young Lord position.
• Su Yingluo left the study in anger and resolved to make Zhao Zhenming cultivate desperately rather than let Jiang Ping'an take the estate’s future position.

Zhao Yingpeng visited Jiang Ping'an’s camp, claiming he had family business, but Jiang Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue rejected his attempts to reconcile and persuade his son to return to the Zhennan Marquis Estate. Under pressure to continue his appeal, Zhao Yingpeng knelt before Jiang Shuyue.

• Zhao Yingpeng arrived at Jiang Ping'an’s formation and was made to wait after a sentry rebuked him for addressing the Marquis of Guangling by name.
• Jiang Ping'an consulted Jiang Shuyue, who guessed Zhao Yingpeng had come to recruit him for Pudu Mountain; Jiang Ping'an agreed to receive him with precautions in place.
• Zhao Yingpeng asked to discuss a family matter, but Jiang Ping'an rejected the claim, and Jiang Shuyue confronted him over having sent people to kill their son.
• Zhao Yingpeng admitted he had been deceived by Su Yingluo and offered Jiang Ping'an the position of Young Lord if he returned and acknowledged his ancestry, but Jiang Ping'an refused.
• Jiang Ping'an told Zhao Yingpeng to kneel before Jiang Shuyue to repent, and Zhao Yingpeng finally knelt despite his humiliation.

Zhao Yingpeng tried to kill Jiang Ping'an after Jiang Shuyue refused to forgive him, but Jiang Ping'an overwhelmed him in a prolonged pursuit. The Pudu Mountain Buddha Lord appeared to save Zhao Yingpeng, and Jiang Ping'an fled after realizing he had fallen into a trap.

• Zhao Yingpeng knelt before Jiang Shuyue and begged her forgiveness, but she firmly refused; Jiang Ping'an mocked him, prompting Zhao Yingpeng to attack.
• Jiang Ping'an blocked Zhao Yingpeng's punch and disarmed him in their weapon clash, then pursued him as Zhao Yingpeng fled and attacked with his Law Manifestation.
• Jiang Ping'an repeatedly struck Zhao Yingpeng through his protective treasure, while Zhao Yingpeng's Law Manifestation intervened and Zhao Yingpeng fled toward Pudu Mountain.
• The Pudu Mountain Buddha Lord appeared, and Zhao Yingpeng accused Jiang Ping'an of trying to murder his father.
• Jiang Ping'an stopped pursuing Zhao Yingpeng and used Rainbow Escape to flee after realizing he had fallen into a trap.

Jiang Ping'an fought the Pudu Mountain Buddha Lord and Zhao Yingpeng, but Jiang Shuyue died after using a forbidden art to protect him. Surrounded by the Buddha Lord’s monks and driven by grief, Jiang Ping'an began cutting away his own flesh to fulfill Zhao Yingpeng’s demand that he return his father’s blood and flesh.

• The Pudu Mountain Buddha Lord pinned Jiang Ping'an beneath a divine mountain, then gave Zhao Yingpeng a golden hoop meant to control him.
• Jiang Shuyue attacked Zhao Yingpeng, but he used a forbidden escape art and unleashed his Law Manifestation, forcing her to use the fatal Soul Transformation Forbidden Art.
• The Black Emperor arrived and drew Jiang Shuyue’s Law Manifestation back into her body, but Jiang Ping'an believed she was dead and swore to kill Zhao Yingpeng.
• Xuan Ming, Xuan Zhen, and Xuan Hai blocked Jiang Ping'an from reaching Zhao Yingpeng, while the Black Emperor warned him that Jiang Shuyue still had one spirit remaining.
• Jiang Ping'an cut away his flesh piece by piece as Zhao Yingpeng demanded that he return all the flesh and blood he had inherited from his father.

Jiang Ping'an regenerated his body, rejected Zhao Yingpeng as his father, and killed him after the monks were prevented from interfering. After learning that his mother might be revived if he became a Great Emperor, Jiang Ping'an carried her body toward Yujing, where Senior Old Black asked whether the tragedies of the world would ever end.

• Jiang Ping'an used Blood Rebirth to restore his body after returning his flesh and blood to Zhao Yingpeng.
• Xuan Ming, Xuan Zhen, and Xuan Hai tried to protect Zhao Yingpeng, but the Black Emperor ordered Gao Xianzhi and two other Law Manifestation Realm cultivators to watch them.
• Jiang Ping'an caught Zhao Yingpeng as he fled and hacked him to pieces beside Jiang Shuyue's corpse.
• Senior Old Black told Jiang Ping'an that Jiang Shuyue retained one spirit fragment and that a Great Emperor might restore her by retrieving her scattered souls through the river of time and space.
• Jiang Ping'an placed Jiang Shuyue's body aboard the Flying Boat and headed for Yujing with Senior Old Black.
• Senior Old Black asked Jiang Ping'an whether the tragedies that had repeatedly unfolded across the land would ever end.

Jiang Ping'an sought Liu Xixu's help to enter Saint Lan Yu's Tomb and retrieve the Creation Furnace and a treasure that could preserve his mother's body. They reached the deep-sea entrance, where his protective qi shielded Liu Xixu from crushing water pressure as they continued downward.

• Jiang Ping'an mourned beside Jiang Shuyue's coffin, and Princess Bailing confessed her love while explaining that her duties to the Ji Clan kept her from marrying him.
• Jiang Ping'an asked Old Black for a way to evade the Pudu Mountain Buddha Lord, then said he would search for two items before returning to the Southern Border.
• Jiang Ping'an recruited Liu Xixu to explore Saint Lan Yu's Tomb, agreeing to give her half the treasures while keeping the two items he sought.
• Jiang Ping'an and Liu Xixu traveled by Flying Boat to the sea above the tomb and descended beneath the water with the help of his Mystic Water True Dragon.
• Liu Xixu's protective talismans began to fail beyond three thousand zhang, so Jiang Ping'an drew her into his Primal Chaos Body Protection True Qi as they continued toward the entrance about five thousand zhang below.

Jiang Ping'an and Liu Xixu entered Saint Lan Yu's Tomb and made their way to the tomb owner's chamber on the seventh level. As they paused outside its door, Jiang Ping'an heard a faint cry for help from within.

• Jiang Ping'an found the hidden entrance five thousand zhang beneath the sea and led Liu Xixu through the passage into the tomb.
• After learning it was a Saint's tomb, Liu Xixu asked to reduce her share to ten percent, and Jiang Ping'an agreed.
• Liu Xixu studied the tomb map, and Jiang Ping'an said they would head straight to the seventh-level chamber for the two items he needed.
• Over eight days, Liu Xixu broke the marked formations while Jiang Ping'an guarded her and killed the tomb's evil entities.
• As Liu Xixu rested outside the tomb owner's chamber, Jiang Ping'an heard a faint voice inside cry, "My lord, save me..."

Jiang Ping'an and Liu Xixu entered the Main Burial Chamber, where Jiang Ping'an freed Lan Yu from a possessing phantom and learned Saint Lan Yu's Corpse lay inside the Bronze Coffin. As the corpse began stirring, Jiang Ping'an sealed himself inside the chamber to face it while Lan Yu held Liu Xixu outside.

• Jiang Ping'an urged Liu Xixu to open the Main Burial Chamber after sensing something inside, and they found Lan Yu seated beside a Bronze Coffin.
• Jiang Ping'an struck Lan Yu and forced a foul phantom from her body into the Bronze Coffin, freeing her from possession.
• Lan Yu explained that a summons had drawn her back to the tomb and asked Jiang Ping'an to destroy Saint Lan Yu's Corpse and retrieve the alchemy furnace inside the coffin.
• Liu Xixu tried to speak with Jiang Ping'an privately, but strange sounds from the coffin interrupted them as the Saint's Corpse began to stir.
• Jiang Ping'an ordered Lan Yu to protect Liu Xixu, then shut the heavy stone door behind himself as he prepared to confront the Saint's Corpse.

Jiang Ping'an defeated the Saint's Corpse after a seven-day battle, then recovered in an Essence-Strengthening Array while Liu Xixu and Lan Yu waited. Once he recovered, the three began dividing Saint Lan Yu's treasures, with Liu Xixu taking ten percent and Jiang Ping'an and Lan Yu splitting the remainder.

• Lan Yu threatened Liu Xixu, but spared her after Liu Xixu swore to keep Lan Yu's origins secret and claimed she would become Jiang Ping'an's woman.
• Liu Xixu and Lan Yu waited anxiously for seven days and nights while Jiang Ping'an fought the Saint's Corpse inside the Main Burial Chamber.
• Jiang Ping'an emerged badly wounded, confirmed that the Nine-Colored Ice Soul Nurturing Pearl could help his Mother, and asked Liu Xixu to build an Essence-Strengthening Array.
• Jiang Ping'an cultivated for eight days, restored his strength, and returned to the second level of the Dragon Transformation Realm.
• Jiang Ping'an insisted that Liu Xixu take ten percent of the treasures, then agreed to split the rest evenly with Lan Yu.

After the treasures from Saint Lan Yu's Tomb were divided, Liu Xixu tried to set Jiang Ping'an up with her younger sister, then followed Lan Yu's advice and pursued him herself. Jiang Ping'an resisted her advances, suspecting she might have been possessed by an evil entity.

• Jiang Ping'an received spells, manuals, a Spirit Soul True Crystal, and five thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones before leaving Saint Lan Yu's Tomb with Liu Xixu and Lan Yu.
• Liu Xixu asked Jiang Ping'an to meet her younger sister, but he said he already had someone in his heart and was not considering marriage.
• Lan Yu urged Liu Xixu to confess her feelings directly, then left the Flying Boat so Liu Xixu and Jiang Ping'an would be alone.
• Liu Xixu pounced on Jiang Ping'an and tried to undress him, but he used his Primal Chaos Body Protection True Qi to push her away.
• Jiang Ping'an asked whether Liu Xixu had been possessed by an evil entity, and she told him to examine her and help exorcise it.