Chapter Summaries

Shen Zhui arrived in the capital’s welcoming fleet and reunited with Wei Wenhe, whose fortunes had declined after the Wei Family lost influence at court. After Wei Wenhe lamented the harsh punishment of King Lunnan’s descendants and blamed Left Chancellor Fan Wenhan, an official burst in and accused him of neglecting Marquis Champion’s ceremonial arrangements.

• After King Lunnan’s death, King Zhao’s forces and the Inspection Division dismantled his regime and killed or imprisoned his royal relatives and officials.
• Shen Zhui learned that Wei Wenhe worked as a Subordinate Fifth Rank Director in the Ministry of Rites’ Department of Hospitality and went to find him.
• Shen Zhui and Wei Wenhe reunited aboard the Guest Reception Tower Ship and exchanged news over wine.
• Wei Wenhe said the Left Chancellor had helped force his ancestor from office after the policy of Destroying Sects and Temples was withdrawn, leaving him with a low-ranking post.
• A young official interrupted their meeting, accused Wei Wenhe of neglecting Marquis Champion’s arrangements, and ordered him to finish them and plead guilty to the Director.

Shen Zhui defended Wei Wenhe from a subordinate official’s disrespect and accompanied him to the Ministry of Rites, where Director Li Wenqing mistook Shen Zhui’s arrival for a complaint. The officials learned that Shen Zhui regarded Wei Wenhe as a close elder brother, leaving Li Wenqing scrambling to repair their strained relationship.

• A minor clerk barged in on Wei Wenhe and insulted him and his guest, so Shen Zhui revealed his identity and frightened the clerk into begging for mercy.
• Shen Zhui let the clerk go at Wei Wenhe’s request, then agreed to accompany Wei Wenhe to meet Director Li Wenqing and Mr. Yushan.
• Li Wenqing heard that Wei Wenhe had arrived with Marquis Champion and assumed Shen Zhui had come to complain about the Department of Hospitality.
• Kong Yangzhou greeted Shen Zhui and Wei Wenhe before Li Wenqing arrived and apologized for the department’s supposed slight to Shen Zhui.
• Shen Zhui called Wei Wenhe his elder brother and praised his kindness, stunning Li Wenqing and the other officials.
• Li Wenqing quickly changed his attitude toward Wei Wenhe, while Wei Wenhe accepted his flattering explanation without escalating the matter.

Shen Zhui completed extensive tests with the Ministry of Works and received a Qilin Battle Robe capable of supporting his immense strength. King Zhao then introduced him to Sword King Huang, a powerful True God who invited Shen Zhui to seek his guidance in the True God Secret Realm.

• Shen Zhui said farewell to Wei Wenhe, who chose to remain in the Department of Hospitality and endure the challenges of his post.
• During the journey to the capital, Shen Zhui worked with Ministry of Works officials to test and refine his Qilin Battle Robe, demonstrating strength that shocked Chen Gong and Yan Shan.
• After more than ten thousand tests, Shen Zhui received a final Qilin Battle Robe that could withstand his nine-thousand-fold strength increase and was estimated to have a ten-thousand-fold limit.
• King Zhao summoned Shen Zhui and introduced him to Sword King Huang, who praised Shen Zhui and invited him to visit Sword King Hall in the True God Secret Realm for guidance.

Shen Zhui learned about the Outer Heavens and Ciyun Venerable’s death at Yinfeng Holy Land, then traveled to meet Seventh Prince Ji Chen at King Jianhuang’s fief. Ji Chen welcomed Shen Zhui, leaving their first meeting just beginning.

• King Zhao introduced Shen Zhui to King Jianhuang, who shared his knowledge of the Outer Heavens and his work defending Great Zhou from extraterrestrial forces.
• Chanxin told Shen Zhui that Ciyun Venerable had fled to Pingyu Heaven, where Yinfeng Holy Land’s young master killed her, and asked him to avenge her when he was strong enough.
• King Jianhuang revealed that Seventh Prince Ji Chen wanted to meet Shen Zhui, and Shen Zhui agreed to go after deferring to King Zhao.
• Kong Yangzhou told Shen Zhui about Ji Chen’s military reputation, support for scholars, and family ties to Yang Lin.
• Shen Zhui met Ji Chen aboard a small Jade Exquisite, bowed to him, and received a warm welcome.

Shen Zhui met with the Seventh Prince Ji Chen, who proposed that Shen Zhui take Jiaodong as his future fief, but Shen Zhui withheld his agreement because of his unresolved plans to marry Princess Anle. As Shen Zhui prepared to enter the capital, Kong Yangzhou brought startling news: the Ministry of Revenue had found Shen Zhui’s birth father.

• Ji Chen hosted Shen Zhui and tested his composure before discussing their backgrounds and cultivation.
• Ji Chen suggested Jiaodong as Shen Zhui’s future fief and offered support for developing the territory, but Shen Zhui declined to decide before leaving the Martial Marquis Secret Realm.
• Ji Chen concluded that Shen Zhui could not be won over by wealth, status, or threats, and ordered Yin Pu to investigate who was making things difficult for him.
• Shen Zhui returned to his fleet, discussed the risks of cooperating with Ji Chen with Chan Xin, and focused on cultivation and preparations for entering the capital.
• Kong Yangzhou told Shen Zhui that the Ministry of Revenue had found his birth father.

Shen Zhui learned that his biological father, Shen Kangwei, was a Venerable and that he descended from Protector Duke Shen Yin, whose clan had been falsely accused of treason and exterminated. King Zhao revealed that King Lunnan had helped frame the Shen Clan, leaving Shen Zhui newly aware of his family’s history and enemies.

• Kong Yangzhou told Shen Zhui that the Ministry of Revenue had found his biological father, Shen Kangwei, a Venerable Realm expert.
• Shen Zhui went to Zhao Xing, fearing King Liang had arranged the discovery as a scheme against him.
• Zhao Xing explained that Shen Zhui’s appointment as Marquis Champion had faced little opposition because the court owed his ancestor, Protector Duke Shen Yin.
• Zhao Xing recounted Shen Yin’s service to Great Zhou, his wrongful conviction for treason, and the destruction of his clan.
• Zhao Xing revealed that Shen Zhui was Shen Yin’s fifth-generation descendant and the son of Shen Kangwei, then named King Lunnan as one of those who framed the Shen Clan.

Shen Zhui learned that Shen Kangwei was his biological father and chose to pursue the people who framed the Shen Clan, despite the dangers. As his party reached the capital, a hidden Protector revealed himself by twisting Shen Zhui’s neck after Shen Zhui jokingly asked Tan Lang to curse King Zhao.

• Shen Zhui met Shen Kangwei, whose years in flight had damaged his mind and spirit, and learned that his father had sent him back to the Great Thousand World as a child.
• Shen Zhui asked Zhao Xing for the names of those who framed the Shen Clan and accepted that he would have to pursue them without the court’s help.
• Shen Zhui returned to his adoptive family, reassured Shen Shan that he was fine, and went to see Shen Kangwei.
• Shen Zhui and his party approached the Great Zhou capital, and he asked Tan Lang whether his True God Protector could enter the city.
• After Tan Lang suggested that Shen Zhui curse to summon the Protector, Shen Zhui jokingly told him to curse King Zhao; an unseen figure then twisted Shen Zhui’s neck and appeared behind him.

Shen Zhui entered the capital and learned about its layered districts, the Heaven-Connecting Drum, and the city’s extraordinary formations. After witnessing all Thirty-three Heavens at once, he left Kong Yangzhou in Moon Crossing Heaven and continued toward his own residence, teasing Kong about Shen Xinlan.

• Lu Yuanwei taught Shen Zhui about the capital and advised him to stay cautious until the Grand Sacrifice Ceremony.
• Shen Zhui entered the capital with King Zhao’s procession and passed through a formation that moved them to the Twenty-fifth Heaven, Moon Crossing Heaven.
• Kong Yangzhou explained the capital’s Thirty-three Heavens and recounted how Great Scholars used the Heaven-Connecting Drum and Criminal Code to punish a murderous Prince.
• Shen Zhui, Kong Yangzhou, and Shen Xinlan witnessed the Thirty-three Heavens appear together, and Shen Zhui teased Kong about his interest in Shen Xinlan.
• Shen Zhui said goodbye to Kong Yangzhou and left in a Celestial Horse Chariot, teasing Shen Xinlan as she watched Moon Crossing Heaven.

Shen Zhui settled into his new Marquis’s Mansion in Moonlight Heaven and accepted invitations to the Moonlight Tail Banquet, hoping to see Princess Anle. At the banquet, he learned that only scholars who distinguished themselves in the Halls of Talents could meet the princesses.

• Shen Zhui inspected the five hundred Divine Ability soldiers assigned to his residence, put Tan Lang in charge, and met Huang Jing, the steward sent by the Imperial Clan Court.
• Shen Zhui gathered Bi Ying, Yu Ziqi, Niu Tian, and Lucio in the mansion and ordered them to remain inside and cultivate until his Ritual of Sacrificing to Heaven.
• Fan Hongyi met Xia Feihu, who showed him images from a Mirage Pearl, and Fan Hongyi watched with a brief change in his composure.
• Shen Zhui accepted invitations from Fourth Prince Ji Dan and Seventh Prince Ji Chen after seeing Princess Anle on the Moonlight Banquet guest list.
• Shen Zhui attended the Moonlight Tail Banquet with Lu Yuanwei and learned from Kong Yangzhou that the princesses were in the opposite palace and that guests had to excel in the Halls of Talents to meet them.

At the Moonlight Banquet, Shen Zhui learned about the Hall of Excellence examinations and watched Lu Yuanwei accept Liu Haoran’s invitation to participate. After Fan Hongyi’s ally Zhang Wengu publicly challenged him to enter the Hall, Shen Zhui agreed and called on Fan Hongyi to join them.

• Kong Yangzhou explained the poetry, classics interpretation, and policy essay examinations and introduced the prominent scholars and princes at the banquet.
• Liu Haoran praised Lu Yuanwei and invited him into the Hall of Excellence, prompting other young talents to follow.
• Kong Yangzhou told Shen Zhui that the court could grant Sacred Word power to talented participants, and Shen Zhui decided to enter.
• Shen Zhui recognized Fan Hongyi, the Fan Family’s candidate to marry Princess Anle Ji Zixuan, and sensed hostility between them.
• Zhang Wengu publicly invited Shen Zhui to exchange pointers in the Hall of Excellence, putting him under the officials’ scrutiny.
• Shen Zhui accepted Zhang Wengu’s invitation and challenged Fan Hongyi to join them.

Shen Zhui challenged Fan Hongyi to a poetry contest at the Moonlight Banquet and entered the Sacred Text Realm, where contestants had to use poetry to fight a powerful Sacred Text Beast. As the first attack struck, Shen Zhui moved toward the beast, ready to test the poem he had composed.

• Fan Hongyi agreed to face Shen Zhui for amusement but declined to count their contest toward the Moonlight Banquet rankings.
• Shen Zhui chose the poetry hall and learned that contestants would use poems to survive and attack a Sacred Text Beast whose power increased over time.
• Zi Xuan watched Shen Zhui challenge Fan Hongyi and worried about him, while she silenced Princess Qinghui's criticism.
• The Moonlight Banquet competition began, and the policy essay prompt was announced as "Destroying Sects and Temples."
• In the Sacred Text Realm, Shen Zhui saw contestants strengthen themselves and attack the hundred-zhang Sacred Text Beast with poems.
• After the beast's first shock-wave attack, Shen Zhui put away his writing tools and approached it to test his poem.

Shen Zhui’s exhausted Literary Qi left him unable to activate the four Sacred Pages he had composed, but the first revealed poem, “Ode to the General,” wounded the Sacred Text Beast and was recognized as a True God Sacred Word Poem. The gathering turned its attention from Xu Qingzhi’s challenge to the three remaining pages.

• Xu Qingzhi unleashed “Night Snow,” whose heavy snowfall bent the Sacred Text Beast’s horn-like whiskers but failed to break through its defenses.
• Shen Zhui dropped his four exhausted Sacred Pages, and their weight sank them deep into the ground, leading the onlookers to suspect they held True God Sacred Word Poems.
• Wang Shixin volunteered to activate Shen Zhui’s first page and unfurled “Ode to the General.”
• “Ode to the General” manifested a golden-armored general whose arrow pierced the Sacred Text Beast and left a massive wound in its body.
• The scholars recognized the poem as a True God Sacred Word Poem, while Zhang Wengu stared at Shen Zhui in disbelief.

Shen Zhui composed a True God poem and then paired two more Sacred Word Poems to amplify his generals’ attacks, overwhelming the Sacred Text Beast and defeating Fan Hongyi. The banquet erupted in celebration, while the Mountain Master challenged readers to guess Shen Zhui’s fourth poem.

• Shen Zhui’s “Ode to the General” reached the True God level, earning praise from scholars, officials, and Princess Anping, while Princess Qinghui struggled to accept his achievement.
• Fan Hongyi composed the True God poem “Prosperous Age March,” which manifested Purple Clarity Heaven and forced the Sacred Text Beast to its knees.
• Shen Zhui had Wang Shixin infuse literary qi into “Entering the Capital,” summoning a black-armored general whose poem reached the Peak Venerable Realm.
• Xu Qingzhi helped Shen Zhui present “Capture the King,” an Amplification Sacred Word Poem that raised the black-armored general to the True God level and strengthened both generals.
• The generals pierced through Fan Hongyi’s Purple Clarity Heaven and shattered the Sacred Text Beast before it could launch its third round of attacks, leaving Fan Hongyi humiliated and the banquet stunned.
• The Mountain Master ended by asking readers to guess what Shen Zhui’s fourth poem would be.

Shen Zhui unveiled his fourth poem, “The Fallen Warriors,” and secured first place in the Hall of Excellence poetry examination with four True God poems. After the banquet, officials crowded around to arrange marriages with him, while Liu Haoran invited Shen Zhui and Lu Yuanwei to visit the Liu Household.

• At Ji Chen’s request, Liu Haoran had the Sacred Text Beast reappear so Shen Zhui could reveal his fourth poem.
• Liu Haoran recited “The Fallen Warriors,” which depicted Great Zhou soldiers fighting the Outer Sects and honored those who died defending their country.
• Xu Qingzhi and Wang Shixin admitted Shen Zhui’s superiority, while Fan Hongyi left the True Text Realm and vowed to treat Shen Zhui as his rival.
• Liu Haoran announced Shen Zhui as the poetry examination’s first-place winner, and the scholars returned to the Hall of Observing Culture amid congratulations.
• Qin Ming and other officials pressed Shen Zhui to consider their daughters and relatives as marriage prospects, until Ji Dan stepped in to give him room to rest.
• Liu Haoran invited Shen Zhui and Lu Yuanwei to visit the Liu Household after the Heaven-Offering Ceremony.

At Seventh Prince Ji Chen’s private banquet, Princess Anle (Ji Zixuan) played the Jiaowei Qin, helping Shen Zhui reach the perfect third layer of his state of mind. After she performed music for his poem, Shen Zhui presented her with the opening lines of “Guan Ju,” and Ji Chen quietly sent a secret transmission.

• Ji Chen invited Shen Zhui and other high-ranked talents to a lavish private banquet and unveiled the Jiaowei Qin.
• Ji Zixuan appeared and played the Jiaowei Qin, allowing Shen Zhui to touch the perfect third layer of his state of mind.
• Ji Zixuan played a musical passage accompanying Shen Zhui’s “The Fallen Warriors,” and Shen Zhui openly admired her performance.
• At Wang Shixin’s prompting, Shen Zhui asked for writing materials and wrote the opening lines of “Guan Ju” for Ji Zixuan.
• Ji Zixuan received Shen Zhui’s poem, exchanged a meaningful look with him, and Ji Chen sent a secret transmission.

After Shen Zhui impressed the Moonlight Banquet, Seventh Prince Ji Chen revealed that he knew of Shen Zhui and Ji Zixuan’s relationship and offered to help secure their marriage. Shen Zhui’s title of Marquis Champion was formally established at the ceremony in Lingxiao Heaven, leaving the story poised for the Emperor’s birthday banquet and the marriage proposal.

• Shen Zhui declined the princesses’ requests for more poems and stayed behind after the banquet to speak privately with Ji Chen.
• Ji Chen offered to help Shen Zhui’s family by petitioning for him to marry the Princess of the South Sea, and explained that he hoped Shen Zhui would support his ambitions.
• Ji Zixuan emerged from behind the curtain and confirmed that she and Shen Zhui were in love; Shen Zhui thanked Ji Chen for helping them.
• Shen Zhui’s poems brought him invitations and admirers across the Thirty-three Heavens as Ji Chen helped build support for the marriage proposal.
• At Lingxiao Heaven, the Human Emperor’s decree granted Shen Zhui the title of Marquis Champion, bestowed honors on his adoptive family, and appointed him Commander of the Imperial Guards.

Shen Zhui lobbied influential officials and nobles to support his wish to marry Princess Anle, while the Fan Family grew alarmed and sought to advance Fan Hongyi’s proposal. After the court overturned the case against the Shen Clan and restored Shen Yin’s title, Shen Zhui gained further support; he ended the chapter facing Kou Xun, who asked to see his Invincible Saber Technique.

• Ji Chen advised Shen Zhui to visit influential families and officials, while King Zhao and other enfeoffed kings prepared to lobby the Ministry of War on his behalf.
• Liu Haoran agreed to act as Shen Zhui’s matchmaker, and Old Madam Yang warmly received him; the Fan Family renewed its effort to arrange Princess Anle’s marriage to Fan Hongyi.
• Fan Hongyi warned Fourth Prince Ji Dan that Shen Zhui was working with Seventh Prince Ji Chen to marry a princess, but the Inspection Division and Ministry of Justice soon executed four enfeoffed kings over the wrongful case against the Protector Duke.
• The court declared the Shen Clan innocent, restored Shen Yin’s title, and announced that Shen Zhui was his fifth-generation descendant, prompting the Wei and Kou families to treat him more favorably.
• Wei Xuancheng revealed that Shen Yin had been his teacher and agreed to support Shen Zhui’s marriage proposal at the imperial birthday banquet.
• Kou Xun asked Shen Zhui whether he had learned the Invincible Saber Technique and told him to demonstrate it.

Shen Zhui demonstrated Yang An’s Demon Subduing Style to Kou Xun, who refused to openly act as his matchmaker but secretly made plans that suggested he would help. Meanwhile, Fan Hongyi and Ji Dan learned that the Emperor had likely changed his mind about their marriage proposal and turned their hopes toward the Martial Marquis Secret Realm.

• Shen Zhui unleashed the Demon Subduing Style in Kou Mansion, destroying the main hall’s roof before the mansion’s formation contained the saber qi.
• Kou Xun questioned Shen Zhui about the three saber intents and rejected his poems as a gift when Shen Zhui asked him to act as a matchmaker.
• Kou Xun sent Shen Zhui away, then ordered his mansion closed and arranged to visit Purple Clarity Heaven with medicines and birthday gifts.
• Fan Hongyi and Ji Dan learned that Kou Xun would not support their plans and that Fan Wenhan believed the Emperor had changed his mind.
• Fan Hongyi and Ji Dan accepted that they had lost the marriage contest and hoped Shen Zhui would die in the Martial Marquis Secret Realm before his wedding.

Shen Zhui’s plans weakened the Fan Family’s marriage proposal, while Ji Chen explained Duke Yong Kou Xun’s influence and the hierarchy of Great Zhou’s secret realms. Shen Zhui and Ji Chen attended the Human Emperor’s birthday banquet in Lingxiao Heaven, where the chapter ended with the gathered officials and people offering their congratulations.

• Ji Chen told Shen Zhui that the Fan Family had yielded after Duke Yong Kou Xun fell ill and could no longer serve as its matchmaker.
• Ji Chen explained Kou Xun’s loyalty to the Human Emperor and described how Shen Zhui could enter the Martial Marquis Secret Realm after the banquet.
• Shen Zhui traveled with Ji Chen to Lingxiao Heaven as the Thirty-three Heavens opened for the Human Emperor’s birthday celebration.
• Ji Chen explained the South Sea Islands’ importance and outlined the privileges and entry requirements of Great Zhou’s four secret realms.
• The Human Emperor arrived at the imperial birthday feast, and the ministers and people of the Thirty-three Heavens bowed and congratulated him on eternal longevity.

During the Human Emperor’s month-long birthday celebrations, Shen Zhui learned that Lu Yuanwei had perfected his state of mind and watched the court’s marriage customs unfold. Old Madam Yang proposed Princess Anle, Ji Zixuan, as Shen Zhui’s bride, and the Human Emperor approved the match.

• At the birthday banquet, Lu Yuanwei told Shen Zhui that he had reached the third-layer Perfection Realm of the state of mind.
• As the Human Emperor toured the Thirty-three Heavens, Lu Yuanwei explained why different people perceived different aspects of the emperor.
• Great Scholar Liu Haoran and then Wei Xuancheng each proposed an imperial marriage for Shen Zhui, and Empress Derong rejected both proposals as part of the customary process.
• After the Old Men’s Banquet and the charitable homes’ reception, Old Madam Yang appeared as the third matchmaker for Shen Zhui.
• Old Madam Yang proposed Princess Anle, Ji Zixuan, for Shen Zhui, and the Human Emperor approved the marriage.