Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning visited the Imperial Advisor’s Residence, reunited with his family, and sparred with Jiang Yiming while Ji Mingyue learned Liu Wanwan’s cooking. He reassured Zhong Ling that he would escort her home and was startled by Su Qingying’s frank ideas about intimacy before Xiao Doubao pulled him toward Linglong.

• Jiang Ning arrived at the Imperial Advisor’s Residence with Ji Mingyue and greeted Qing He and Jiang Li.
• Xiao Doubao welcomed Jiang Ning, and Ji Mingyue gave her a sachet before joining Liu Wanwan in the kitchen to learn how to make braised beef noodles.
• Jiang Yiming sparred with Jiang Ning, who praised his progress and urged him to reflect on why he practiced martial arts.
• Su Qingying questioned Zhong Ling about her feelings for Jiang Ning, and Zhong Ling later told Jiang Ning she wanted to return to Five Peaks Prefecture; he offered to escort her after a few weeks.
• Su Qingying told Jiang Ning she understood that intimacy required them to undress and embrace, leaving Zhong Ling stunned.
• Xiao Doubao pulled Jiang Ning toward Linglong, prompting him to consider the costs and need for continuing her cultivation.

Third Prince Ji Mingyu visited Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue, shared breakfast with the household, and urged Jiang Ning to support his bid for the throne in exchange for help curing Jiang Ning’s curse and arranging his wedding to Ji Mingyue. Jiang Ning declined for the time being, while Ji Mingyu warned that backing Eighth Prince Ji Minghao would leave them exposed amid the succession struggle.

• Jiang Li brought Third Prince Ji Mingyu to Jiang Ning’s home, where Liu Wanwan served them Braised Beef Noodles.
• Ji Mingyu asked Jiang Ning about his health and return from Guangning Prefecture, then revealed that the emperor’s condition was poor and warned that the Royal Capital was filled with political tension.
• Ji Mingyu said the emperor had left the Heir Apparent Position unresolved and declared that Great Xia needed a strong ruler to stabilize the realm.
• Ji Mingyu asked Jiang Ning to support him, promising to use the Imperial Treasury and the empire’s resources to help him escape the Death Trap of Curse Killing Art and to arrange his wedding to Ji Mingyue.
• Jiang Ning declined Ji Mingyu’s offer, and Ji Mingyu warned that supporting Ji Minghao would be dangerous because he lacked powerful backing.
• Ji Mingyu said he did not want a conflict with Ji Minghao but argued that a powerful ruler was needed to prevent the realm from descending into greater chaos.

Ji Mingyue returned to the palace with Jiang Ning and Su Qingying to see the ailing Emperor Changning. Jiang Ning briefly revived the emperor’s awareness with the Power of Wither and Flourish, and the chapter ended as Ji Mingyuan offered a Thousand-Year Shouyang Ginseng.

• Ji Mingyu urged Jiang Ning to support him in the Struggle for the Heir, but Jiang Ning refused, and Ji Mingyue said she still hoped her brothers would avoid fighting.
• Jiang Ning advised Ji Mingyue to see her father, and Su Qingying agreed to accompany them to the palace.
• At Yangxin Hall, Steward Fu initially blocked Ji Mingyue, but Su Qingying’s killing intent forced him to let them enter and revealed that Fifth Prince Ji Mingyuan was inside.
• Ji Mingyuan tried to stop Jiang Ning from approaching Emperor Changning, but Su Qingying held him back while Jiang Ning examined the emperor and found his curse had nearly consumed his vitality.
• Jiang Ning used the Power of Wither and Flourish to suppress the curse briefly, allowing Emperor Changning to wake and speak to Ji Mingyue and Jiang Ning.
• Ji Mingyuan presented a Thousand-Year Shouyang Ginseng to sustain Emperor Changning.

Emperor Changning used the Shouyang Ginseng to regain enough strength to speak with Ji Mingyue and Jiang Ning, then gave Jiang Ning the Longxiang Order and promised him three Saint King Pills. The King Beicang arrived at the palace and challenged the circumstances surrounding the emperor’s illness, leaving after urging him to settle the Crown Prince matter.

• Emperor Changning ordered Ji Mingyuan to guard the door, told Ji Mingyue he had only a day and night left, and insisted that his sons would have to fight over succession.
• Emperor Changning gave Jiang Ning the Longxiang Order to protect Ji Mingyue and promised him three Saint King Pills for awakening him.
• Emperor Changning sent a Shadow Guard to deal with Fu Dayu and then ordered another to find Hai Dahe and bring the pills.
• Ji Mingyuan announced that the King Beicang had come to request an audience, and the king entered with his son and accused Ji Mingyuan of keeping Emperor Changning from visitors.
• The King Beicang offered to examine Emperor Changning, announced he would remain in the capital, and urged him to settle the Crown Prince matter before leaving with his son.
• Steward Hai arrived carrying a wooden box, but refused to tell the King Beicang what it contained.

After King Beicang’s defiance prompts Emperor Changning to summon Ji Xuan from seclusion, Jiang Ning receives the Longxiang Order and is entrusted with protecting Ji Mingyue. Jiang Ning returns to the Imperial Advisor's Residence expecting Ji Xuan to come for him and prepares to use the Saint King Pills to strengthen himself.

• Emperor Changning gave Jiang Ning three Saint King Pills and ordered Steward Hai to summon his Imperial Uncle, Ji Xuan, while entrusting Ji Mingyue to Jiang Ning’s protection.
• Emperor Changning told Elder Ji that he had placed the secret guards under his command and had given Jiang Ning the Longxiang Order to protect Ji Mingyue and preserve hope for Eighth Prince Minghao.
• Ji Mingyuan tried to learn Emperor Changning’s plans from Ji Mingyue and Jiang Ning, but both refused to reveal anything.
• Jiang Ning told Ji Mingyue that Emperor Changning’s awakening was temporary and that he might never wake again; she thanked him as they left the palace.
• Jiang Ning returned to the Imperial Advisor's Residence, worried that Ji Xuan would confront him over Qingyi, and examined the Saint King Pills, hoping they would increase his strength.

After swallowing three Saint King Pills, Jiang Ning entered a Transcendent Saint state and rapidly advanced his Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword, reaching the Perfected Realm. He gained powerful yin-yang and spatial abilities and looked out from beyond the courtyard, observing Liu Wanwan, Jiang Li, and Su Qingying.

• Jiang Ning swallowed the first Saint King Pill and entered a Transcendent Saint state, then practiced the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword in an Enlightenment state and gained a huge amount of experience.
• Jiang Ning swallowed the second Saint King Pill and continued practicing, raising his Origin Points above the amount needed for an Indestructible Vajra Body breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning swallowed the final Saint King Pill and advanced the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword to the Perfected Realm.
• Jiang Ning realized the perfected sword art let him wield Yin Yang One Qi and transform space, then vanished from the courtyard and observed Liu Wanwan, Jiang Li, and Su Qingying.

Jiang Ning perfected the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword, removed Su Qingying’s accumulated divinity, and used the Saint King Pills to strengthen his cultivation before breaking through the Indestructible Vajra Body. As the succession struggle in the Royal Capital approached, he ended the chapter more confident in his ability to face Ji Xuan and discovered that his new Qi and Blood Furnace could refine even ordinary food into strength.

• Jiang Ning used his perfected Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword to appear before Su Qingying and remove the 103 points of divinity in her body, telling her that the Immortal Slaying Sword’s Authority could still cause divinity to return.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method until the three Saint King Pills were fully consumed, gaining enough Origin Points to break through another cultivation method.
• Jiang Ning spent fifty Origin Points to advance the Indestructible Vajra Body to the Sixth Limit Break and gained the deep-purple Qi and Blood Furnace Trait.
• Su Qingying contained the disturbance from Jiang Ning’s breakthrough, and Jiang Ning realized that his new Trait could keep his qi and blood burning and refine ordinary food into nourishment.
• Jiang Ning learned that Ji Mingyue had gone to remain beside Emperor Changning on his final day of consciousness, then considered the approaching succession struggle and his growing confidence against Ji Xuan.

Jiang Ning met the Great Xia Martial Saint, who confirmed Jiang Ning had reached the first-grade Unity Realm and explained why Ji Xuan was a formidable rival. The Martial Saint also recounted his clash with an Upper Three Heavens immortal and left Jiang Ning with more questions about the powers beyond his world.

• Jiang Ning left the Imperial Advisor's Residence and traveled to the Martial Saint's grotto-heaven after the Martial Saint summoned him.
• The Martial Saint sensed Jiang Ning's Unity Realm cultivation and said only a handful of powerful figures could see through his concealed aura.
• Jiang Ning asked about Ji Xuan, and the Martial Saint explained that Ji Xuan had forged his own Dao through the Imperial Supremacy Art and was close to forming a nascent soul.
• The Martial Saint placed Jiang Ning among the top three prodigies he had seen, citing the prodigies of the Upper Three Heavens.
• The Martial Saint described fighting an Upper Three Heavens immortal who had formed a Flower of the Great Dao, then abandoning his plan to attack the Upper Three Heavens after learning they possessed Dao Weapons.

Jiang Ning spoke with the old man about the Martial Saint realm and learned of his journey to the ruined Li Yan Heaven and his theories about the ancient upheaval. The old man could not explain what happened to the Immortal Path’s greatest figures, leaving Jiang Ning with more evidence that the world’s history and realms held secrets beyond his understanding.

• The old man confirmed Jiang Ning had forged his own path and explained that reaching the Martial Saint realm required boundless growth of the body and spirit.
• Jiang Ning said he sought to explore wider worlds and understand the ancient transformation, prompting the old man to recount his travels across the northern wastes, eastern seas, and Southern Ridge.
• The old man described activating an ancient array in Southern Ridge and spending three days in Li Yan Heaven, a realm where life and spiritual energy had vanished.
• Jiang Ning asked why the Immortal Path had declined, and the old man said the ancient upheaval involved figures above True Immortal whose presence erased memories.
• The old man theorized that the exhaustion of heaven and earth’s origin and Immortal Path Blessed Grotto-heavens might have contributed to the upheaval, but admitted he did not know where the greatest Immortal Path figures had gone.

Jiang Ning raised his Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill to its fifth limit break, gaining the golden Longevity Species Trait and restoring his organs despite the lingering Curse. Meanwhile, Ji Xuan learned Qingyi was at the Imperial Advisor's Residence and set out, while Jiang Ning prepared to test his mental strength in the Shangyang Inner Scenery Ground.

• Jiang Ning reflected on Ji Xuan's power and decided to visit the Shangyang Inner Scenery Ground after further training.
• Jiang Ning broke through the Inner Alchemy Nourishing Life Skill, restoring his organs and upgrading Longevity Species to a golden Trait that granted a lifespan exceeding a thousand years and eternal youth.
• Ji Xuan visited the Old Blind Man at the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau and demanded to know where Qingyi was; the Old Blind Man refused to tell him.
• Ji Xuan unleashed his Imperial Extreme World-Suppressing Domain, but the Old Blind Man vanished after warning that he had foreseen Ji Xuan's intentions.
• Ji Xuan discovered Qingyi was at the Imperial Advisor's Residence and left the Bureau, while Jiang Ning realized his mental strength surpassed Ji Xuan's and resolved to test it in the inner scenery.

Jiang Ning returned to the Shangyang Inner Scenery Ground, gained deeper insight into the Way of Wither and Flourish, and climbed the Ascending Heaven Stair to confirm that his Spirit Soul had reached the Nascent Soul Immortal realm. He left his own declaration on the two-hundredth step.

• Jiang Ning found the Yang Pool had little effect on him and triggered a past sermon at the Sermon Platform, where Elder Ouyang explained the Way of Wither and Flourish and revealed the Wither and Flourish Rebirth Art.
• A woman who sat beside Jiang Ning during the vision explained that the secret art was kept on the Sutra Pavilion Third Floor and required further qualifications to study.
• Jiang Ning left the Sermon Platform and climbed the Ascending Heaven Stair, passing his previous limit at the 188th step and reaching the 200th step.
• Jiang Ning heard Bai Li's voice among the declarations left by those who had reached the 200th step and realized Bai Li was female and a Nine-tailed Celestial Fox.
• Jiang Ning declared, "I, Jiang Ning, have today reached the realm of a Nascent Soul Immortal!"

Jiang Ning reached the 200th layer of the Ascending Heaven Stair and received the Yin Yang Dao Fetus method for cultivating a top-grade Nascent Soul foundation, then continued until he chose to stop at the 205th layer. Back in his courtyard, he advanced the Four Seasons Reincarnation Scripture and demonstrated its newly strengthened Power of Wither and Flourish by making an old tree bloom and wither.

• Jiang Ning reached the 200th layer, learned that it marked the Nascent Soul Immortal realm, and received the Yin Yang Dao Fetus inheritance, a method for attaining a top-grade Immortal Path Foundation.
• Jiang Ning considered gathering pure Yin and Yang energies in Shangyang Cave Heaven, then climbed from the 201st to the 205th step before choosing to give up and returning to his courtyard.
• Jiang Ning reflected on his Nascent Soul-level spiritual strength and the time he still needed to gather the materials and cultivate the Yin Yang Dao Fetus, then wondered what Ji Xuan would do.
• Jiang Ning noticed that the Four Seasons Reincarnation Scripture had reached its breakthrough limit and spent two Origin Points to advance its Wither and Flourish trait to Shallow Gold.
• Jiang Ning used the Power of Wither and Flourish to make a bare tree bloom, then rapidly wither back into a lifeless state.

Jiang Ning broke through the Four Seasons Reincarnation Scripture and gained the Heaven and Man Interacting trait, then weighed pursuing the Yin Yang Dao Fetus to form a top-tier Nascent Soul foundation. A royal invitation summoned him and Su Qingying to a court assembly at 3:15 a.m., and he went to wake her.

• Jiang Ning spent five Origin Points to break through the Four Seasons Reincarnation Scripture and gained the Heaven and Man Interacting trait, which let him alter the local weather by drawing on heaven and earth.
• Jiang Ning assessed his Divine Power growth, credited the Saint King Pills for its increased pace, and concluded that reaching Great Completion of the Unity Realm would still take time.
• Jiang Ning considered forming a Yin Yang Dao Fetus to achieve a top-tier Nascent Soul foundation and revised his assessment of the differing strength of Nascent Soul Immortals.
• An Imperial Guard delivered invitations for Jiang Ning and Su Qingying, announcing that Emperor Changning would convene a Court Assembly at 3:15 a.m.
• Jiang Ning took both invitations and went to Su Qingying's Bamboo House to notify her.

Jiang Ning prepared for his first Court Assembly, practiced the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword, and arrived at Taiji Hall with Su Qingying. The officials gathered before the assembly began, and Jiang Ning took his place in the Military Officer column.

• Jiang Ning showed Su Qingying the invitation to the Court Assembly, and she said she would accompany him because Ji Xuan had emerged from seclusion.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword in his courtyard, gaining experience as sword light warped the space around him.
• Su Qingying, Qing He, and Hongmian arrived, and Hongmian and Qing He helped Jiang Ning bathe and dress in his Provincial Patrol Envoy Uniform.
• Jiang Ning and Su Qingying traveled to Vermilion Bird Gate, where Imperial Guards escorted them toward Taiji Hall.
• Jiang Ning entered the square before Taiji Hall, recognized princes and other prominent officials, and took his place near the front-middle of the Military Officer column.

At Taiji Hall, Emperor Changning named Ji Xuan regent while he recuperated, prompting Li Xiang and many ministers to demand a Crown Prince. Ji Xuan rejected their challenge with overwhelming pressure and warned the King Beicang, who held back, leaving the court tense.

• Jiang Ning and Su Qingying joined the officials at Court Assembly, where Ji Xuan appeared beside Emperor Changning after emerging from seclusion.
• Emperor Changning announced that Ji Xuan would govern Great Xia as Regent King while he recuperated in Yangxin Hall.
• Li Xiang objected to Ji Xuan's regency and demanded that Emperor Changning establish a Crown Prince, joined by many civil and military officials.
• Emperor Changning refused to agree to the demand and said the Crown Prince matter would be discussed later.
• Ji Xuan used his aura to intimidate Li Xiang, and the King Beicang defended him before Ji Xuan warned the King Beicang to remember his place.

Jiang Ning watched Ji Xuan take charge of the court, then escorted Ji Mingyue home while learning that Ji Minghao had deliberately avoided meeting him. After spending the night with Qingyi, Jiang Ning resolved to keep cultivating and wait to see how the Ji Clan’s coming conflict unfolded.

• Ji Xuan announced that he would handle court affairs in the Emperor’s stead and declared that it was not yet time to establish a Crown Prince.
• An Imperial Guard told Jiang Ning that Ji Minghao had asked him to wait at Vermilion Bird Gate so Ji Mingyue could meet him.
• Ji Mingya brought Ji Mingyue to Jiang Ning and explained that Ji Minghao had avoided meeting him to prevent gossip and protect his sister.
• From the city tower, Ji Minghao said he would not exploit his bond with Ji Mingyue and expected Shen Xiao to become an ally.
• Jiang Ning returned to the Imperial Advisor’s Residence and told Qingyi that Ji Xuan had ignored him at Court Assembly; Qingyi stayed with him overnight.
• After waking beside Qingyi, Jiang Ning decided to continue cultivating and handle the Ji Clan’s coming conflict as circumstances required.

Ji Xuan sent his House Retainer to bring Qi Consort back from the Imperial Advisor’s Residence, while Jiang Ning left for Yang Lake to strengthen himself before a conflict with Ji Xuan. The retainer followed Jiang Ning beyond the capital and attacked, but Jiang Ning shattered his spatial seal with his physical strength.

• Ji Xuan told the Withered Old Man to discreetly invite Qi Consort back from the Imperial Advisor’s Residence and reflected on Li Yuan’s formidable power.
• Jiang Ning left for Yang Lake after asking Su Qingying to help while he pursued the Dao Embryo and prepared for a possible clash with Ji Xuan.
• The Withered Old Man confronted Jiang Ning outside the Imperial Advisor’s Residence, but Su Qingying declared Qi Consort was her friend and refused to yield her.
• The Withered Old Man secretly followed Jiang Ning out of the capital and attacked him in a mountain forest, trying to imprison him with a spatial seal.
• Jiang Ning broke the seal with a step, startling the Withered Old Man and forcing him to retreat from close combat.

Jiang Ning defeated and killed the Grey-robed Old Man from Shoulder-to-Shoulder King's Manor, then traveled to Yang Lake and entered its Grotto-heaven. The Grotto-heaven’s Majestic Will recognized him as a True Disciple of the High Sect.

• Jiang Ning overwhelmed the Grey-robed Old Man’s spatial barriers with a punch and broke both his arms.
• The Grey-robed Old Man tried to flee, but Jiang Ning struck him with a towering wave of condensed force and reduced him to dust.
• Jiang Ning assessed his strength, then flew to Yang Lake and walked across its surface toward the lake’s center.
• A fisherman and his grandson watched Jiang Ning cross the lake, and the child declared that he wanted to become an important figure like him.
• Jiang Ning found the Golden Rift above Yang Lake, entered the Grotto-heaven, and saw its ten suns and boundless sea.
• The Grotto-heaven’s Majestic Will descended and identified Jiang Ning as a True Disciple of the High Sect.

Jiang Ning entered Yang Lake Grotto-heaven to gather the purest Yin Yang Two Qi for his Dao Fetus. After collecting nine strands of each, he flew toward the islands to find a secluded place to begin cultivation.

• Jiang Ning received permission from the Grotto-heaven Will to gather Yin Yang Two Qi as a Direct Disciple of the Shangyang Immortal Sect.
• Jiang Ning caught and ate Silver Spear Fish in the sea, raising his Origin Points to 41.2 before stopping to avoid taking too much from the Cave Heaven World.
• Jiang Ning descended to the seabed and collected nine strands of Extremely Pure Yin Qi from the purple rivers of Earthly Fiend Yin Stones.
• Jiang Ning flew toward the Ten Great Suns and extracted nine wisps of Pure Yang Golden Ray despite the heat and strain on his mind and spirit.
• Jiang Ning sealed the Yin and Yang Qi in jade bottles and flew toward the distant islands to find a secluded place to condense his Dao Fetus.

Jiang Ning secluded himself on an island in Yang Lake Grotto-heaven and successfully forged the Yin Yang Dao Fetus through the Nine Profound Transformation, greatly strengthening his Spirit Soul. His Nascent Soul still needed time to mature, but he discovered the island’s treasures and Great Sun Essence Qi with his expanded perception.

• Jiang Ning concealed himself in a cave on an island and prepared to forge his Yin Yang Dao Fetus using Pure Yin Qi and Pure Yang Qi.
• He merged the two streams of qi into a Dao Embryo, drew it into his Spiritual Platform, and endured the Nine Profound Transformation of his Spirit Soul.
• Jiang Ning completed the ninth transformation and stabilized the Dao Fetus, realizing that his Nascent Soul would form once the fetus had been nourished long enough.
• His perception expanded across the island and surrounding sea, allowing him to sense its treasures, Great Sun Essence Qi, and the Grotto-heaven Will.
• Jiang Ning eagerly considered collecting the island’s treasures and refining its Great Sun Essence Qi to strengthen his cultivation.