Chapter Summaries

A remnant of Li Musheng’s martial aura emerged from Shangguan Qingqing’s Heavenly Brocade Guard Token and suppressed the Tianhe Blade Sect. Linghu Yue resisted the warning and tried to strike the aura, leaving the sect’s elders and hall masters scrambling to stop him.

• The martial will from the cracked token immobilized Bai Zihua and everyone across the Tianhe Blade Sect.
• Linghu Yue recovered beneath the protection of the Tianhe blade intent, then realized the aura had suppressed even the blade shadow.
• Linghu Yue tried to flee, but the aura held him in place and kept the Tianhe blade intent from moving.
• Shangguan Qingqing warned Linghu Yue that the aura was a safeguard left by His Highness, whose martial strength was beyond measure.
• Linghu Yue rejected Shangguan Qingqing’s warning and directed the Tianhe blade intent to attack the aura as the elders and hall masters shouted for him to stop.

Linghu Yue’s attack triggered Li Musheng’s aura, which destroyed the Tianhe Blade Intent and left him suppressed. The Tianhe Blade Sect chose to join the Heavenly Brocade Guard, while Li Musheng’s group continued toward the imperial capital as news of his power spread.

• Linghu Yue tried to strike Li Musheng’s aura, but it extinguished the Tianhe Blade Intent and forced him to his knees.
• The Tianhe Blade Sect Master condemned Linghu Yue and ordered the sect to watch him until the aura faded, then punish him for betraying the sect.
• The Tianhe Blade Sect Master asked Shangguan Qingqing to relay the sect’s request to join the Heavenly Brocade Guard, and she agreed to pass it on without promising approval.
• The Tianhe Blade Sect Master and Bai Zihua found no trace of the Tianhe Blade Intent in the Tianhe Blade Stele, and the Sect Master urged Bai Zihua to treat Qingqing well.
• Li Musheng and his group traveled closer to Shangyang City as news of their destruction of Falling God Peak spread through Great Li’s martial world.

Li Musheng and his companions stopped in Cloud City, where the big black cat prompted him to pay for Ji Qingcheng’s meal after an innkeeper tried to drive her away. They learned that the martial world’s three great sects were preparing to unite against Great Li and might seek aid from the other four nations.

• Shen Anran explained that Martial Saint Mu Tianxing had shut himself away and had not appeared in nearly ten years.
• Li Musheng and his companions arrived at Cloud Arrival Inn, where Ji Qingcheng was being thrown out for lacking enough money to pay for food.
• The big black cat drew Li Musheng’s attention to Ji Qingcheng, and he told the inn to put her expenses on his tab.
• A martial wanderer boasted that the Eighth Prince and the Heavenly Brocade Guard had destroyed Falling God Peak, while the inn waiter said the three great sects were planning to oppose the Great Li Court and might seek help from the other four nations.
• Cao Gaoshan warned Li Musheng that the sects’ plans were serious, but Li Musheng dismissed the concern.

Li Musheng reassured Cao Gaoshan while dealing with the large black cat and Shen Anran’s rivalry over sharing a room. In the inn, Ji Qingcheng rejected an attendant’s advances, then became the target of Second Young Master Wang after the attendant sold her out.

• Li Musheng told Cao Gaoshan not to worry, then invited the large black cat to share his room for the night.
• Shen Anran suggested the cat stay in her room while she sought martial arts instruction from Li Musheng, but the cat refused.
• Ji Qingcheng cleaned herself up, rejected the inn attendant’s marriage proposal, and sat down to eat.
• Second Young Master Wang arrived with his entourage and declared himself pleased with Ji Qingcheng’s appearance.
• The inn attendant accepted a silver ingot from Second Young Master Wang and left Ji Qingcheng in his hands.

Ji Qingcheng escaped Second Young Master Wang’s attempt to seize her and demanded gold from him and his companions, then waited near Cloud Arrival Inn. Reflecting on Falling God Peak’s destruction, she acknowledged that Li Musheng had seemed terrifyingly powerful when she saw him.

• Second Young Master Wang and his companions mocked Ji Qingcheng and sent Elder Zhu to grab her, but she vanished after finishing her meal.
• Ji Qingcheng threatened the group for ten thousand taels of gold and demonstrated her power by making a piece of the bowl disappear.
• Elder Zhu could not trace Ji Qingcheng and advised Second Young Master Wang to tell his mother about the encounter; Wang left with him, still hoping to capture her.
• Ji Qingcheng waited on the roof of Cloud Arrival Inn and reflected on how she had watched Li Musheng kill the sect master of Falling God Peak and the Four Great Venerables without intervening.
• Ji Qingcheng recalled her limited connection to Falling God Peak and concluded that Li Musheng had seemed frighteningly powerful when she saw him.

Ji Qingcheng reflected on her inability to avenge Falling God Peak and planned how to spend money she hoped to obtain. Li Musheng approached her after his black cat investigated, and she concealed her connection to Falling God Peak while trying to leave.

• Ji Qingcheng decided to keep traveling and help the poor rather than seek revenge, and she examined the money pouch she had stolen from a waiter.
• The black cat stole a steamed fish from Shen Anran and Li Musheng, then watched Ji Qingcheng from a rooftop.
• The cat beckoned Ji Qingcheng over, but they both refused to approach until Li Musheng appeared.
• Li Musheng scolded the cat for failing to investigate Ji Qingcheng and asked her whether she was a Divine-Natured Person.
• Ji Qingcheng admitted she was a Divine-Natured Person but falsely claimed she had no forces behind her and was self-taught.
• Ji Qingcheng tried to leave Li Musheng, uneasy because he had destroyed Falling God Peak.

Ji Qingcheng escaped Li Musheng, then discovered the Wang Residence had been massacred alongside the Ye and Xiao families as part of an attack on Martial Saint Mu Tianxing. After news arrived that Mu Tianxing was dying from an ambush, Cloud City’s authorities held back from intervening, while Li Musheng and his companions prepared to leave the city.

• The big black cat accused Ji Qingcheng of being from Falling God Peak, but Li Musheng let her go after she used her Void Riding ability to vanish.
• Ji Qingcheng went to the Wang Residence to collect gold from Second Young Master Wang, found everyone there dead, and reported the massacre to the Cloud City Prefectural Office.
• Ji Qingcheng learned that the Ye and Xiao families had also been slaughtered and that their heads had been disciples of Martial Saint Mu Tianxing.
• A yamen runner returned with news that Mu Tianxing had been ambushed while in seclusion on Jadebright Mountain and was gravely wounded and near death.
• Officials from the prefectural office, Imperial Secret Police, and Heavenly Brocade Guard agreed to seal off the three residences, report the matter upward, and avoid rash action.
• The next morning, Li Musheng and his companions prepared to leave Cloud City as martial artists rushed through the streets and bound the inn waiter who had troubled Ji Qingcheng.

Li Musheng and his companions learned that Jadebright Mountain’s Martial Saint, Mu Tianxing, had died after being ambushed with a finger-based martial art. The attacker’s technique resembled Li Musheng’s Six Meridians Divine Sword, leaving Shen Anran and Cao Gaoshan wondering whether the coincidence was suspicious as they reached Shangyang City.

• At a tavern, Li Musheng’s group overheard that the Ye, Xiao, and Wang families had been slaughtered and that the Martial Saint had been attacked.
• Li Musheng told Shen Anran that he was not curious about the attack and that the news would spread in time.
• Two days after they left Cloud City, Cao Gaoshan reported that Mu Tianxing had died from his wounds and that the attacker had used a deadly Finger-Killing Divine Art.
• Li Musheng said the attacker’s finger technique resembled his Six Meridians Divine Sword, and Shen Anran and Cao Gaoshan noted the suspicious timing.
• Li Musheng’s group arrived in Shangyang City without incident.

Li Musheng returned to the Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters in Shangyang City and kept his arrival quiet while planning his next moves. Right Chancellor Ji Song learned of his return and, as he grieved beside Li Zhu’s coffin, was asked whether he still wanted revenge.

• Yu Jin welcomed Li Musheng at the Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters, where the guards recognized him as the Eighth Prince and covert agents reported his return to their masters.
• Li Musheng had Yu Jin arrange a courtyard for Shen Anran and planned to seek two Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury keys and search for extraordinary items.
• Li Musheng told Yu Jin not to report his return to the imperial palace, but asked him to inform his sworn younger sister.
• Ji Song learned that Li Musheng had returned and reflected on how Li Musheng’s victory over Falling God Peak had left him unable to avenge Li Zhu.
• As Ji Song coughed blood beside Li Zhu’s coffin, an ethereal voice asked whether he still wished to take revenge.

Ji Song accepted an unknown ally’s offer to help bring down Li Musheng, while Li Que’s faction decided to avoid confronting the returned Eighth Prince for now. In the palace, the Queen considered Li Musheng’s growing power and pressed Li Tianyi about evidence linking him to Imperial Concubine Ji’s death, but Li Tianyi urged her to wait for the Emperor.

• An unseen voice approached Ji Song at Li Zhu’s coffin, proposed that they work together against Li Musheng, and promised Ji Song an opportunity for revenge.
• Li Que learned that Li Musheng had returned to the Imperial Capital and was at the Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters, and his martial-world allies feared the Eighth Prince’s strength.
• Li Que and Elder Zhe agreed that Li Que should lie low and wait for a chance to contend for the throne.
• The Queen learned that Li Musheng had returned and predicted that his merit and strength could lead the Emperor to name him Crown Prince.
• The Queen asked Li Tianyi whether evidence could link Li Musheng to Imperial Concubine Ji’s murder, but Li Tianyi advised her to wait until the Emperor left seclusion.

Li Yuanling visited Li Musheng at the Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters, where they discussed his destruction of Falling God Peak, the search for the Fire Qilin, and a threat from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. Li Musheng then asked her to accompany him to the Second Prince’s residence.

• Li Yuanling hurried to the Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters and teased Li Musheng about destroying Falling God Peak and returning with Shen Anran.
• Li Musheng introduced Shen Anran to Li Yuanling, while the big black cat demanded an introduction and later strutted away proudly.
• Li Musheng asked Li Yuanling about the search for the Fire Qilin, and she said her sister had found no leads yet.
• Li Yuanling told Li Musheng that the master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had once ordered action against him, but the order was withdrawn after he destroyed Falling God Peak.
• Li Musheng asked Li Yuanling to go with him to the Second Prince’s residence to take care of something.

Li Musheng went to the Second Prince’s residence to take the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury key and confront Li Que, who had once sent assassins after him. Li Que and Elder Zhe prepared to meet him, while Li Musheng, Li Yuanling, and a black cat waited in the residence’s reception hall.

• Li Musheng told Li Yuanling that Li Que had tried to assassinate him and possessed something he wanted.
• Li Yuanling angrily took Li Musheng to the Second Prince’s residence, and the black cat followed them.
• Secret observers in Shangyang City tracked Li Musheng’s carriage as it headed to the residence.
• Li Que learned Li Musheng had arrived and sought Elder Zhe’s protection.
• Elder Zhe chose to accompany Li Que to meet Li Musheng, and servants led Li Musheng, Li Yuanling, and the black cat into the residence.

Li Musheng confronted Second Prince Li Que over the attempt on his life, but came to retrieve the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury Key rather than kill him. Li Que returned with the key and begged for mercy, and Li Musheng noticed something as he examined it.

• The guests at Li Que's residence panicked when Li Musheng arrived, while Li Yuanling ordered the steward to summon Li Que.
• Li Musheng asked Li Que whether he had sent Old Man Wuxiang to kill him, and Li Yuanling threatened to report or punish Li Que for the plot.
• Li Que and Elder Zhe knelt and confessed, and Li Musheng demanded the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury Key.
• Li Que left to retrieve the key, rejected a qinggong master's offer to help him flee, and returned to the hall with an ancient wooden box.
• Li Que presented the key and explained that a wandering monk from Coldlight Temple had given it to him; Li Musheng confirmed the silver sphere was genuine and raised his brow as he inspected it.

Li Musheng discovered that Li Que had poisoned the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury Key, but his Indestructible Golden Body rendered the poison ineffective. After forcing Li Que to reveal the poison’s source, Li Musheng had him killed and returned to the Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters, while news of the Second Prince’s death stirred the imperial capital.

• Li Musheng told Li Que that the poison on the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury Key had no effect on him, and asked where it came from.
• Li Que insisted Li Musheng was poisoned, while Elder Zhe protected him from Li Yuanling and the big black cat.
• Li Musheng killed Elder Zhe with a finger strike, then used the Life-Death Seal to force Li Que to reveal that the strange poison came from the Hidden Spy Bureau.
• The big black cat slashed Li Que’s throat, and Li Musheng left the Second Prince’s residence with Shen Anran, the cat, and Li Yuanling.
• A lightness master spread news of Li Que and Elder Zhe’s deaths, prompting the Second Prince’s martial artists to flee and throwing the imperial capital into an uproar.

After Li Musheng killed Li Que, the Imperial Secret Police and Hidden Spy Bureau investigated the prince’s death while trying to avoid provoking Li Musheng. The sole witness was found dead, and Fu Yu revealed that he had killed the witness to sow chaos in Great Li and advance his own cause.

• Li Musheng dismissed Li Yuanling’s concerns about the consequences of Li Que’s death, while the big black cat celebrated having killed a prince.
• Guan Tianqian and Wugou heard the steward’s account of Li Que’s failed assassination and poisoning attempts, then ordered the testimony recorded without alteration.
• Guan Tianqian warned Wugou that Li Musheng might retaliate against the Hidden Spy Bureau over the poison Li Que had used.
• Fu Yu, Ji Feiyun, and Gong Lishan discovered that the steward had hanged himself, leaving the investigation without its only eyewitness.
• Fu Yu met a black-dressed woman in the room and admitted that he had killed the steward to create internal chaos and find an opportunity to destroy Great Li.

Fu Yu vowed to keep pursuing Cang Yinyue despite recognizing Li Musheng’s strength, while Li Musheng went to the Huo Family Old Residence after learning Cang Yinyue had last been seen near the Champion Marquis Residence. He arrived with Li Yuanling, Shen Anran, and the black cat, and was welcomed by the Huo family without revealing who he was.

• Fu Yu watched the woman in black escape, then resolved to continue pursuing Cang Yinyue and spoke of Li Musheng as a rival who could eventually be overcome.
• Yu Jin reported that the Heavenly Brocade Guard had found no trace of Cang Yinyue but had learned she was last seen near the Champion Marquis Residence.
• Li Musheng ordered a carriage and left for the residence with Li Yuanling, Shen Anran, and the large black cat, prompting spies to alert the capital’s factions and several princes to flee toward the imperial palace.
• Li Yuanling explained that the Huo Family had moved from its granted residence to the old estate after the Champion Marquis’s downfall.
• Uncle Zhang welcomed Li Yuanling at the gate, and she introduced Li Musheng and Shen Anran as friends before greeting the children Xiao Yi and Xiao Qing.

Li Yuanling visited the Huo Family with Li Musheng and learned that the Dugu Family was pressuring them over the Huo Family Spear Manual. The Dugu party trapped Huo Xiaoyi and Huo Xiaoqing in a sword prison, and the chapter ended with the white-clad girl demanding that the Huo Family surrender the manual or have a younger member defeat her.

• Li Yuanling arrived at the Huo residence with Li Musheng and met Huo Xiaoqing and Huo Xiaoyi, who admired Li Musheng's big black cat.
• Huo Mu returned from a spear contest with the Dugu Family, and the white-clad girl challenged her again before Huo Shan stopped them with a true qi barrier.
• Dugu Yan restrained Huo Xiaoyi and Huo Xiaoqing, while Li Yuanling and Huo Shan demanded that he release them.
• Dugu Yan's party trapped the children in a Dugu Sword Prison and taunted the Huo Family over its inability to free them.
• Huo Qifeng tried to break the sword prison but stopped when Li Yuanling and Huo Shan warned him about his old injuries and the children's safety.
• The white-clad girl offered to remove the sword prison if the Huo Family surrendered the spear manual or one of its younger members defeated her.

Huo Mu received secret guidance during a rematch and defeated the girl in white, but Dugu Yan intervened and injured her. The unseen voice then urged Huo Mu to challenge all four Dugu Family members, and she did so despite her family’s alarm.

• Huo Mu accepted an unseen expert’s offer to teach her moves and attacked the girl in white while Huo Shan left to summon his eldest uncle.
• Following the voice’s instructions, Huo Mu dodged and blocked the girl in white’s attacks, then struck back and claimed victory before Dugu Yan stopped her spear and sent her flying into a pillar.
• Dugu Yan accused a hidden expert of helping Huo Mu and declared the duel invalid, while the unseen voice told Huo Mu to challenge all four Dugu Family members.
• Huo Mu repeated the challenge, refusing Huo Shan’s attempts to take her away, as the Dugu Family members questioned her sudden improvement and dismissed her threat.

Huo Mu overwhelmed the Dugu Family’s fighters with inexplicable strength, while the blue-robed elder escaped wounded. Li Yuanling revealed that Li Musheng was the Eighth Prince to the Huo Family, whose elders welcomed him and recalled his resemblance to his mother.

• Huo Mu struck down a Dugu Family youth, destroying his arm, meridians, and dantian, then launched Dugu Yan through the roof with another spear thrust.
• Huo Mu chased the blue-robed elder after he offered to surrender, wounded him with her spear, and returned carrying the unconscious youth while Huo Shan carried Dugu Yan.
• Li Musheng ignored the big black cat’s plea to grant it power as Li Yuanling welcomed Huo Xian and Huo Zhen to the courtyard.
• Li Yuanling introduced Li Musheng as her sworn brother, the current Eighth Prince, to the Huo Family.
• Huo Xian and Huo Zhen spoke of Li Musheng’s resemblance to his mother and explained why the Huo Family had not sought him out; Huo Zhen then made the white-skirted girl faint to keep their conversation secret.

Li Musheng demanded that the Huo Family reveal Miss Cang’s whereabouts immediately, warning them not to mistake his restraint for weakness. When Huo Zhen tried to insist on more time, Li Musheng’s invisible pressure forced him to struggle for breath.

• Li Musheng told Huo Xian and the others that he had no interest in the throne, while Huo Mu recognized him as the one who had granted her overwhelming strength.
• Li Yuanling asked the Huo Family whether they knew where Miss Cang was, and Huo Zhen and Huo Xian requested one day to investigate.
• Li Musheng refused to wait, identified Miss Cang as one of his most capable people, and warned the Huo Family that he would use force if necessary.
• Huo Zhen tried to ask Li Musheng for more time, but an invisible force descended on him as he summoned his spear intent to resist.
• Li Musheng calmly drank his tea while Huo Zhen trembled under the crushing pressure.