Chapter Summaries

After the victory celebrations, Lin Heng and Meng Yutong returned to Prince Qi’s Mansion and learned that Dugu Zixuan had been summoned back to Ten Directions Hall by clan elders. They suspected the dispute was really about Lin Heng’s growing influence, leaving the group concerned about the clan’s internal divisions.

• He Qingcang regained his title as Prince of Southern Mountain, while White Plum Hall, Thousand-Li Tower, and thirteen noble families received rewards for their service.
• Lin Heng and Meng Yutong returned to Prince Qi’s Mansion, where Yun Yao, Duan Shuyun, Mu Liuxi, and Zhao Wanqing greeted them.
• Meng Yutong read Dugu Zixuan’s letter and learned that elders at Ten Directions Hall had denounced her, prompting her to return there.
• Lin Heng and Meng Yutong explained that the Dugu Clan’s divisions ran deeper than the elders’ complaints about Ten Directions Hall being left understaffed.
• Duan Shuyun concluded that the elders’ apparent grievance against Dugu Zixuan was likely aimed at Lin Heng and his ties to the imperial clan.

Lin Heng assigned his companions to approach Literary Path forces, Wei Yan's Family, and the Northern Continent's Star God Temple as he prepared to build alliances. That night, the Human Emperor Banner reacted just as Lin Heng was about to speak with Saint Ye, who asked to enter it.

• Lin Heng showed his Heavenly Mystery Imperial Office token and asked Duan Shuyun to identify reliable Literary Path forces to recruit.
• Lin Heng tasked Mu Liuxi and Zhao Wanqing with sounding out Wei Yan's Family about cooperation, and Zhao Wanqing eagerly agreed because she knew Wei Yanxianlan.
• After Mu Liuxi and Yun Yao asked for assignments and rewards, Lin Heng told Yun Yao to contact the Northern Continent's Star God Temple and discussed his unfulfilled engagement to Su Qiubai.
• At night, the Human Emperor Banner reacted while Lin Heng prepared to drink with Saint Ye, and Saint Ye asked to enter the banner.

Lin Heng discovered that Ye Tian’s soul had been exhausted by the Human Emperor Banner and erased what remained. After discussing the banner’s power and the burden of evil karma with Saint Ye, they argued over whether Hua Qi should become its next main soul.

• Lin Heng found Ye Tian’s nearly extinguished soul inside the Human Emperor Banner and shattered it completely.
• Lin Heng confined a peak Return to Void cultivator’s soul in the altar as a replacement main soul.
• Saint Ye explained the rumors about the Demon Soul Banner and warned Lin Heng that refining souls could bring evil karma.
• Lin Heng proposed that the Human Emperor Banner’s main soul might absorb the evil karma and observed that a stronger main soul produced black qi faster.
• Saint Ye suggested making Hua Qi the main soul, and Hua Qi angrily threatened that Saint Ye would make a good one too.

After absorbing Prison Ye’s fortune in the Human Emperor Banner, Lin Heng gained enough fortune to unleash seven dragons. Jiang Yan recruited him to capture five Medical Alliance targets, claimed him as a brother, then asked him for money.

• Saint Ye and Hua Qi argued over who should serve as the Human Emperor Banner’s main soul, and Lin Heng mediated before staying behind to absorb Prison Ye’s fortune.
• Duan Shuyun realized Lin Heng had broken another promise when he did not meet her that night.
• The next day, Lin Heng emerged with Ye Tian’s fortune and two dragon-seal runes, giving him enough fortune to unleash seven dragons.
• Jiang Yan handed Lin Heng a list of five Medical Alliance targets to capture and offered to split any gains with him.
• Jiang Yan told Lin Heng to call him brother, and Lin Heng accepted the task and the new form of address.
• Jiang Yan revealed he knew Lin Heng had taken two million Spirit Stones from Jiang Jingyi and asked him for several hundred thousand.

Lin Heng lent Jiang Yan three hundred thousand Spirit Stones and watched his allies make progress with their plans. At a tavern, he overheard Young Master Tan ask the Xu brothers to target Sun Hao, and Xu Xiaobai showed interest in the man’s betrothed.

• Jiang Yan told Lin Heng he had lost money pursuing a business deal to impress a girl, and Lin Heng lent him three hundred thousand Spirit Stones after getting an IOU.
• Su Moxie declared his wish to stand with the Dugu Clan, while Su Qiubai had no say in the matter.
• Yun Yao found Lin Heng at a tavern, where they saw a powerful-looking man riding a huge black bear through the street.
• Lin Heng and Yun Yao secretly listened as Young Master Tan asked the Xu brothers for help with the Medical Alliance’s troubles and requested that they deal with Sun Hao.
• Young Master Tan mentioned Sun Hao’s betrothed, and Xu Xiaobai became interested in her despite claiming to be an upright gentleman.

Lin Heng and Yun Yao discussed the clans on Prince Qi’s list and the risks of investigating them, while Lin Heng grew curious about why the Tan Family was targeting Sun Hao. At Ten Directions Hall, Dugu Zixuan confronted Dugu Qingyang about her son’s claim to the heir-apparent position and learned that the Dugu Clan’s plan had originally centered on her.

• Lin Heng and Yun Yao discussed Dragon Manor and the clans on Prince Qi’s list, and Lin Heng resolved to ask the Female Emperor for authority to investigate them.
• Lin Heng suspected the Tan Family of Heavenly River City was targeting Sun Hao for his fortune and decided he needed to meet him.
• Dugu Zixuan privately confronted Dugu Qingyang about the Murong Clan, her son’s eligibility as heir-apparent, and a supposedly favored younger Dugu clansman.
• Dugu Qingyang revealed that the Dugu Clan’s plan for the Heavenly Action Continent had once centered on Dugu Zixuan, but her union with the Lin Family disrupted its fortune layout and forced the clan to seek another successor.

Dugu Zixuan demanded that Dugu Qingyang support Lin Heng, then confronted relatives who challenged her authority at Ten Directions Hall. Qingyang headed to Great Mountain to argue for Lin Heng, while Zixuan and her allies prepared to mobilize their own connections.

• Dugu Zixuan told Dugu Qingyang that he must support Lin Heng and threatened to leave the Dugu Clan with her people if he refused.
• Dugu Qingyang left Ten Directions Hall for Great Mountain, deciding to fight for Lin Heng to receive a fair chance.
• Dugu Zixuan drove Dugu Tao and another uncle out of Ten Directions Hall after they criticized her and Lin Heng.
• Dugu Zixuan explained her dispute with the Female Emperor to Dugu Feng and Shen Yeting, who then voiced their support for Lin Heng.
• Dugu Zixuan said she would speak with her eldest uncle and use her connections to help Lin Heng.

Lin Heng secured Wei Yan's Family's pledge to join the Heavenly Mystery Imperial Office and warned Sun Hao that Dragon Manor was plotting against him. He gave Sun Hao his Imperial Token and ordered him to seize everyone within ten days, whether loyal or traitorous.

• Lin Heng told Wei Yan Changliang that Sun Hao had helped raise Wei Yanxianlan's standing and urged the family to recognize his contributions.
• Wei Yan Changliang stamped the Tianxuan Eternal Book with his family seal, pledging Wei Yan's Family to the Heavenly Mystery Imperial Office.
• Lin Heng asked Wei Yan Changliang about the Tan Family, then went to the rear garden and reunited with Sun Hao.
• Lin Heng told Sun Hao about overhearing the young master of Dragon Manor discussing a plot, and Sun Hao revealed he had investigated the Medical Alliance for Wei Yan's Family.
• Lin Heng gave Sun Hao his Imperial Token and ordered him to seize everyone within ten days without distinguishing between loyal and traitorous people.

Lin Heng explained the imperial clan’s strategy against corrupt medical clans and persuaded Sun Hao to follow his guidance. He gave Wei Yanxianlan an expensive jade artifact as a greeting gift, then left while Sun Hao and his wife discussed its cost.

• Lin Heng showed Sun Hao the Female Emperor Supreme’s Imperial Token and explained why the dynasty was using Wei Yan's Family to set an example for medical clans.
• Wei Yanxianlan joined Lin Heng and Sun Hao, praising his analysis as similar to her eldest brother’s.
• Lin Heng invited Sun Hao to follow him, and Sun Hao agreed to rely on his guidance.
• Lin Heng gave Wei Yanxianlan a large jade ruyi that Zhao Wanqing had helped choose, and Wei Yanxianlan happily tested it in the sunlight.
• Lin Heng left before Wei Yanxianlan could serve him food, and Sun Hao learned the gift had cost two hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Lin Heng dealt with Dragon Manor’s spies, then returned to Tranquil Heart Hall and discussed Sun Hao, First Senior Sister, and Meng Yutong’s hidden Rain Pavilion ties with his senior sisters. That night, Meng Yutong was summoned to the palace, where Jiang Jingyi learned Lin Heng had been assigned a task involving medical-path families and angrily called for Jiang Yan.

• Lin Heng captured and soul-searched two Dragon Manor servants who had been watching Wei Yan's Family, then incapacitated them as a warning to Xu Xiaobai.
• At Tranquil Heart Hall, Lin Heng explained his plan to draw Sun Hao closer through Wei Yanxianlan and said First Senior Sister was likely safe despite being missing.
• Lin Heng hinted that Meng Yutong held a powerful secret identity, leading Mu Liuxi and Yun Yao to realize she was connected to Rain Pavilion.
• Lin Heng visited Mu Liuxi's residence that night, and they spent time together discussing the Dao and tasting tea.
• Palace Inner Guards summoned Meng Yutong to Nourishing Harmony Hall, while Murong Ziyan told Jiang Jingyi that Jiang Yan had sent Lin Heng to handle the medical-path families.
• Jiang Jingyi worried that the assignment would offend Dugu Zixuan and summoned Jiang Yan to explain himself.

Meng Yutong met Jiang Jingyi in the palace, where the Female Emperor confronted her about Rain Pavilion and Shadow One. Jiang Jingyi offered Rain Pavilion a business deal involving routes to Heavenly Action Continent, and Meng Yutong reconsidered leaving.

• Meng Yutong arrived at Nourishing Harmony Hall, tried to leave when Jiang Jingyi ignored her, and found the doors blocked by a barrier.
• Jiang Jingyi asked Meng Yutong whether she was the Pavilion Master of Rain Pavilion and brought up Shadow One's connection to the Shadow Alliance.
• Meng Yutong accused Jiang Jingyi of targeting her associates and threatened to whisper poison about her to Lin Heng.
• Jiang Jingyi described three routes to Heavenly Action Continent and asked Meng Yutong about artifacts that could help cultivators travel through the Immortal Island Secret Realm.
• Meng Yutong recognized the proposed deal's value and told Jiang Jingyi they could still discuss it.

Jiang Jingyi negotiated with Meng Yutong to let Rain Pavilion compete for transit-artifact work in exchange for Meng not slandering her. She then confronted Jiang Yan for giving Lin Heng the Medical Alliance arrests, accepted his reasons for doing so, and became suspicious when he asked her for more money.

• Jiang Jingyi offered Meng Yutong the chance to discuss Rain Pavilion’s contract with the Heavenly Works Institute, provided Meng stopped badmouthing her to Dugu Zixuan and outsiders.
• After Meng Yutong left, Jiang Jingyi summoned Jiang Yan and scolded him for handing Lin Heng the task of arresting people exposed by the Medical Alliance.
• Jiang Yan argued that the arrests would strengthen Lin Heng’s authority and that Lin Heng was already at odds with the Medical Alliance, persuading Jiang Jingyi to let him handle the matter.
• Jiang Jingyi apologized for interrupting Jiang Yan and gave him another two hundred thousand Spirit Stones after he asked for pocket money.
• Jiang Jingyi ordered Murong Ziyan to investigate Jiang Yan’s recent behavior and report back within three days.

Duan Shuyun reported her talks with the Literary Path academies and Lin Jinren’s claim about a Heaven Heart Seed, while Lin Heng and his group considered the Female Emperor’s offer to Rain Pavilion. In the imperial palace, Jiang Jingyi learned that Jiang Yan had been cheated by the Tian Clan and had borrowed 300,000 Spirit Stones from Lin Heng.

• Duan Shuyun told Lin Heng that Lin Jinren claimed a Heaven Heart Seed must be paired with Lin Heng’s Earth Heart Seed to produce a Dao Fruit, and Lin Heng agreed to meet him later.
• Duan Shuyun reported that Begonia Academy and Bright Moon Academy were interested in joining the Heavenly Mystery Imperial Office, while Lin Heng warned Long San and the others against further private dealings.
• Meng Yutong worried that the Female Emperor’s offer to Rain Pavilion might conceal a scheme, but Mu Liuxi and Lin Heng urged her not to overthink it.
• Jiang Jingyi learned that Jiang Yan had lost a million Spirit Stones in a business trap set by the Tian Clan, but she refused to retaliate and said he should learn from the experience.
• Murong Ziyan told Jiang Jingyi that Jiang Yan had become sworn brothers with Lin Heng, made Lin Heng call him elder brother, and borrowed 300,000 Spirit Stones from him, leaving Jiang Jingyi furious.

Dugu Qingyang demanded that the Dugu Ancestors support Lin Heng, but Dugu Gui and Taoist Nun refused to give him the clan’s destiny. Qingyang left after declaring he would protect Lin Heng, while Dugu Yueli vowed to surpass him.

• Dugu Tao and Dugu Xin complained to Taoist Nun about Dugu Zixuan, but she dismissed them and told them to wait for news about Dugu Yueli.
• Dugu Qingyang met with Dugu Gui and Taoist Nun and argued that Lin Heng deserved the resources and standing to be nurtured by the clan.
• Dugu Gui offered Lin Heng resources and a reserve-heir position but refused to give him the Heavenly Action Continent’s destiny.
• Dugu Qingyang accused the Ancestors of favoring Dugu Yueli and rejecting Lin Heng because of his Lin surname, then declared he would protect Lin Heng.
• Dugu Qingyang straightened his damaged back and left on his immortal crane, shocking Dugu Gui and Taoist Nun.
• Dugu Yueli watched Lin Heng’s image and vowed that she would trample him and lead the Dugu Clan’s future.

Dugu Yueli told Dugu Gui she would accept Lin Heng's appointment as heir apparent but would challenge him for power, while Dugu Gui warned her about the Female Emperor's support for Lin Heng. Meanwhile, the Ye Family debated seeking ties with Lin Heng's Heavenly Mystery Imperial Office, and a Dugu Clan visitor arrived at their estate.

• Dugu Gui questioned Dugu Yueli about the heir apparent, and she declared she was not afraid of Lin Heng and intended to defeat him if he challenged her.
• Dugu Gui told Dugu Yueli to leave for the Nine Dust Hall in three days, and she decided against visiting the Ten Directions Hall so she could plan early.
• Ye Nantian hesitated to contact Lin Heng through Wei Yan's Family because Lin Heng had killed his son, Ye Tian, and Wei Yan's Family had recently seized several estates.
• Ye Nantian's main wife urged him to pursue a connection with the Heavenly Mystery Imperial Office as the Ye Family's westward expansion had failed.
• A steward reported that someone from the Dugu Clan had arrived at the Ye Family estate and requested an audience.

Dugu Tao tried to win over the Ye Family for Nine Dust Hall, but Ye Nantian and his wife remained wary of choosing sides. Lin Heng learned that Dugu Yueli had emerged from seclusion and asked Jiang Jingyi whether they should intercept her, leaving her startled by his proposal to kill Dugu Yueli.

• Dugu Tao visited Ye Nantian to seek the Ye Family’s cooperation, but Ye Nantian deferred his decision after consulting his wife.
• Lin Heng and his companions dismissed the idea of winning over the Ye Family, and Lin Heng revealed that Dugu Yueli had emerged from seclusion.
• Lin Heng went to the imperial palace to speak with Jiang Jingyi and learned that Prince Qi had been scolded after losing a large sum of money.
• Lin Heng told Jiang Jingyi that Dugu Yueli was likely heading for Nine Dust Hall and asked whether they could intercept her.
• Jiang Jingyi asked Lin Heng in surprise whether he wanted to intercept and kill Dugu Yueli.

Lin Heng asked Jiang Jingyi to help track Dugu Yueli so he could test her strength, but she warned him to stay in Prince Qi's Mansion because Prince Jing had come to Dingyang over rumors about their relationship. Jiang Zhenqing confronted Jiang Jingyi after Lin Heng left Nourishing Harmony Hall, and their strained sibling rivalry surfaced.

• Jiang Jingyi warned Lin Heng that he could not secretly kill Dugu Yueli and estimated that she had reached the Return to Void stage.
• Lin Heng asked Jiang Jingyi to use the Beauty Record and fortune to trace Dugu Yueli's route so he could test her strength.
• Jiang Jingyi told Lin Heng to stay in Prince Qi's Mansion and avoid meeting Jiang Qian because Prince Jing had come to Dingyang amid rumors that Lin Heng was her illegitimate son or dao companion.
• Lin Heng agreed to stay put and left Nourishing Harmony Hall, while Jiang Zhenqing watched him from the Dao Palace.
• Jiang Zhenqing challenged Jiang Jingyi over his visit to Dingyang, and she openly told him that his presence made her unhappy.

Jiang Zhenqing confronted Jiang Jingyi over her relationship with Lin Heng and her decision to support him, but she insisted he could not die because he cultivated the Human Path line. Days later, Lin Heng prepared for his breakthrough and learned that the Ancient Buddha Lineage had entered Dingyang City and might be tracking him and Hua Qi.

• Jiang Zhenqing accused Jiang Jingyi of borrowing Lin Heng's fortune and supporting him to placate the Dugu Clan, then urged her to kill him for the Jiang Clan's sake.
• Jiang Jingyi revealed that Lin Heng cultivated the Human Path line and declared that he could not die; she also admitted his intimate status in her life before Jiang Zhenqing left angrily.
• Lin Heng stayed in Prince Qi's Mansion and asked Saint Ye for the cultivation method he had promised, but Saint Ye refused to teach the Divine Sense Phenomenon Method before Lin Heng's breakthrough.
• Lin Heng told Saint Ye that he planned to break through on the Heavenly Action Continent, and Saint Ye warned him about the danger of provoking a powerful heavenly tribulation.
• Hua Qi told Lin Heng that the Ancient Buddha Lineage had entered Dingyang City and could track him through her divine seal, urging him to follow her instructions when they confronted the group.

Lin Heng learned about Divine Seals, the Divine Path hierarchy, and the threat posed by the Ancient Buddha Lineage from Hua Qi. She taught him the Great Void Divine Image, and the chapter left him investigating movement beneath a mound in the System Space.

• Lin Heng questioned Hua Qi about the Divine Seal and learned that the Ancient Buddha Lineage had sent a God Lord who was likely an Innate God.
• Hua Qi explained how Innate Gods differed from Acquired Gods and why Acquired Gods could have greater potential.
• Hua Qi passed the Great Void Divine Image—Boundless Heavenly Stele to Lin Heng, who glimpsed a Demon Beast image on the stele.
• Hua Qi warned Lin Heng to comprehend the Boundless Heavenly Stele during his Return to Void Heavenly Tribulation and asked him not to ignore her if Saint Ye targeted her.
• Lin Heng heard soil shifting near a small mound two kilometers away and stopped to listen.

Lin Heng discovered that a fire-type Qilin Beast had hatched in his Small World, then learned that Dugu Yueli had defeated Long San and Long Si and badly injured Long Wu. After hearing her insult, Lin Heng decided he needed a way to control her.

• Lin Heng pulled a newly hatched fire-type Qilin Beast from a burrow in his Small World and brought it out, where Saint Ye joked about feeding it to Little Black.
• Lin Heng told Saint Ye that Hua Qi had bestowed a divine art on him, and Saint Ye left him to decide what to do.
• Five days later, Long San, Long Si, and the badly injured Long Wu returned to Prince Qi's Mansion, and Zhao Wanqing gave Long Wu medicine.
• Long San told Lin Heng that Dugu Yueli had used a strange artifact and a mirror-image divine ability to defeat them and escape.
• Long San revealed that Dugu Yueli was a member of the Dugu Clan and had called Lin Heng a sewer rat who lived off women.
• Lin Heng resolved to find a way to control Dugu Yueli.