Chapter Summaries

Jiang Liu helped the Flowing Cloud Matriarch use the Star Cloud Saint Art to draw down starlight and strengthen her body for the first time. They cultivated until dawn, when impurities expelled from her body startled her into leaving abruptly.

• Jiang Liu finished cultivating Nebula Extinction, and Elder Xing Kong told him that the sect master wanted to see him.
• At the Flowing Cloud Matriarch's new cultivation site, Jiang Liu drew down abundant star power and guided some of it into her cultivation.
• The Flowing Cloud Matriarch absorbed Jiang Liu's star power, circulated it through her dantian, and began tempering her body despite the pain.
• Jiang Liu and the Flowing Cloud Matriarch cultivated together until near dawn, each drawing in star power to strengthen their bodies.
• The Flowing Cloud Matriarch noticed the foul odor from impurities expelled through her skin and hurried away, while Jiang Liu recognized what had happened and returned to his courtyard.

Jiang Liu learned that Flowing Cloud Matriarch had arranged protection for the Vast Righteous Sect and was asked to teach his senior sisters the Star Cloud Saint Art. Twelfth Senior Sister Tang Wanyu then returned with a gift and asked Jiang Liu about the revised cultivation art, leaving him worried that everyone who had learned the flawed version would seek his help.

• Flowing Cloud Matriarch thanked Jiang Liu for helping her guide Star Power and told him she had secretly sent people to receive the Vast Righteous Sect and watch Lu Tianheng.
• Jiang Liu considered luring Lu Tianheng into a trap, while Flowing Cloud Matriarch mistook his silence for concern about the Vast Righteous Sect.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch asked Jiang Liu to help his senior sisters learn the Star Cloud Saint Art and temper their bodies with Star Power, and Jiang Liu reluctantly agreed.
• Jiang Liu practiced Nebula Extinction in the square until Twelfth Senior Sister Tang Wanyu arrived with a brocade box.
• Tang Wanyu asked Jiang Liu whether he had reorganized the Star Cloud Saint Art and corrected errors in its previous version, making him fear that many disciples and elders would come to him for help.

Jiang Liu reunited with several senior sisters at the Flowing Cloud Sect, and they learned about his battle against the Dark Star Hall and the two Grandmasters. With more sisters returning, they planned to gather so Jiang Liu could teach them the correct Star Cloud Saint Art.

• Tang Wanyu watched Jiang Liu closely and stopped him from sneaking away while they waited for the other senior sisters.
• Chen Xiaoyun returned and caught Jiang Liu blaming her for a past prank, but Qiao Jiao arrived and defended him.
• Qiao Jiao proposed waiting for the eldest senior sister and the junior sisters to return before Jiang Liu explained the Star Cloud Saint Art to everyone.
• Jiang Liu told Tang Wanyu, Chen Xiaoyun, and Qiao Jiao about the Assassination List, Dark Star Hall, and how he killed Koinu Jun'ichirō after facing two Grandmasters.
• Li Shu returned and teased the others until Qiao Jiao twisted her ear, after which the group sat together and chatted.

Jiang Liu reunited with his returning senior sisters and taught them the revised Star Cloud Saint Art. As the sisters cultivated with remarkable speed, Flowing Cloud Matriarch watched and considered Yue Yue the likely future Sect Master, while Jiang Liu seemed unlikely to inherit the position.

• Wang Shulan, Kong Xue, Gongshu Yu, and Zhu Qianqian returned and crowded around Jiang Liu until the Grandmaster Elder sent them away so he could cultivate.
• After meditating through the night, Jiang Liu realized he had forged eleven bones, one more than the previous night, before Tang Wanyu brought the gathered senior sisters to him.
• Jiang Liu explained the revised Star Cloud Saint Art, and the senior sisters quickly corrected their methods and began cultivating it.
• The senior sisters' cultivation drew Essence Particles into powerful storms across the plaza, while Jiang Liu anticipated their pain when they later tempered their bodies with Star Power.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch observed the disciples cultivating, judged Yue Yue a suitable future Sect Master, and estimated that Jiang Liu might reach Peak Grandmaster first.

The Flowing Cloud Sect’s True Inheritor Disciples gathered to begin tempering their bodies with Star Power, while Jiang Liu continued training Nebula Extinction. All twelve senior sisters succeeded in drawing Star Power into their bodies, though the painful process left them with more trials ahead.

• The True Inheritor Disciples ate lunch together before returning to their courtyards to cultivate separately.
• Jiang Liu practiced the physical attack of Nebula Extinction, and Elder Xing Kong watched without prying into his martial secrets.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch enlarged her cultivation square, where Jiang Liu and the twelve senior sisters gathered to temper their bodies with Star Power.
• Tang Wanyu cried out from the pain, so Jiang Liu stopped guiding Star Power toward her while the others endured their own discomfort.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch examined the twelve senior sisters and confirmed that they had all successfully guided Star Power into their bodies.

Tang Wanyu learned that her body-tempering progress was slow because the Star Power method was intended for cultivators at higher realms, but she chose to keep training anyway. The group resumed cultivation, drawing Star Power above the plaza until it began to gather in the sky.

• Tang Wanyu told Jiang Liu and the others that drawing Star Power into her body had produced little progress.
• Jiang Liu explained that body tempering with Star Power was meant for Peak Grandmasters advancing to the Saint Realm, though it could still benefit those preparing to advance to Peak Grandmaster.
• Jiang Liu’s teasing chuckle prompted the senior sisters to beat him up, until Flowing Cloud Matriarch stopped them and explained the benefits of body tempering.
• Jiang Liu and the senior sisters advised Tang Wanyu to wait until she reached Grandmaster, but she decided to continue tempering her body immediately.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch, Jiang Liu, and the women resumed cultivating, drawing Star Power toward the plaza until it began to converge overhead.

Jiang Liu and the Star Cloud Saint Art cultivators discovered that cultivating together drew down more Star Power, accelerating body tempering. After agreeing to help Gongsun Haoyue at the Star Moon Sect, Jiang Liu set out for Qian City to visit Ascension Tower and learn about recent events.

• Jiang Liu and the others cultivated together through the night, drawing more Star Power and strengthening Jiang Liu's twelve bones.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch gathered the True Inheritor Disciples to cultivate together again, and Jiang Liu strengthened fourteen more bones that night.
• Gongsun Haoyue asked Jiang Liu to visit the Star Moon Sect and assist with cultivating the Star Cloud Saint Art, and Jiang Liu agreed.
• Jiang Liu packed his belongings and headed for Qian City to visit Old Man Luo and inquire about Great Qian, Yun Province, and the Vast Righteous Sect.

Jiang Liu visited Old Man Luo in Qian City and learned that Xun Province had become a battleground between the Lotus Sect alliance and the alliance of the Five Great Families. He considered how the conflict might affect Yun Province and recognized that the Lotus Sect alliance’s internal divisions and Corpse Valley’s hidden danger could turn the war against his interests.

• Jiang Liu met Old Man Luo at Ascension Tower and told him that Lu Tianheng had pursued him.
• Old Man Luo gave Jiang Liu dossiers showing that the Vast Righteous Sect was still traveling toward Qian Prefecture and that Murong Yin and Feng Yue had brought stability to Yun Province.
• Jiang Liu read that Kuang Qianzi attacked Ghost School forces in Kui County, triggering a battle in which a Grandmaster from the Ghost School and one from the Wang Family died.
• Jiang Liu learned that Ji Family reinforcements had arrived and that both factions in Xun Province were likely to resume fighting.
• Old Man Luo warned Jiang Liu that the Five Great Families could exploit tensions between Buddhism and the Daoist sects and expose Corpse Valley, potentially destroying the Lotus Sect.

Jiang Liu reviewed reports on the Confucian Sect’s control of Tian Province and the growing unrest in Dui Province. The Zheng Family’s conflict with local factions had drawn in the Moonfall Sect and attracted the Great Qian Imperial Family’s attention, while Jiang Liu remained focused on protecting Yun Province.

• Jiang Liu sent letters through Old Man Luo, telling Murong Yin and Qin Bailian to watch Xun Province and instructing Li Moran to monitor Lu Tianheng.
• Jiang Liu learned that the Confucian Sect had taken control of Tian Province with the National Preceptor’s Mansion’s support, while attacks on its academies harmed ordinary scholars and forced the Calligraphy Studio to refuse defectors.
• Jiang Liu read that the Zheng Family’s arrival in Dui Province had sparked battles with the Hundred Fists Gate and Sword Worship Villa, ending in a temporary balance among the three factions.
• Fu Yunyue brought the Moonfall Sect’s survivors into an alliance with the Hundred Fists Gate and Sword Worship Villa, forcing the Zheng Family to reveal that Zheng Jing was alive and bring him into the fighting.
• The Great Qian Imperial Family turned its attention toward the Zheng Family, while Jiang Lan remained constrained by the Imperial Family’s limited strength against Lu Tianheng and the Martial Prohibition Hall.

Jiang Liu arrived at the Star Moon Sect to help its members cultivate the Star Cloud Saint Art. After he was settled in, Gongsun Haoyue and the elders discussed how to win him over and persuade him to stay.

• Jiang Liu asked Old Man Luo to send any new information to the Flowing Cloud Sect and learned that Exotic Poison Valley had been secretly contacting other factions.
• Jiang Liu flew to the Star Moon Sect, where Yuchi Yue and two Grandmaster elders welcomed him and showed him the cultivation plaza and his temporary courtyard.
• Yuchi Yue told Gongsun Haoyue and the other elders that Jiang Liu had arrived and had been settled in, easing their fears that he might refuse to help them cultivate.
• Gongsun Haoyue and the elders discussed ways to strengthen Jiang Liu's ties to the Star Moon Sect, including giving him the treatment of a True Inheritor Disciple or better.

The Star Moon Sect elders discussed a marriage alliance to strengthen their ties with Jiang Liu and selected three young True Inheritor Disciples as possible candidates. That night, Jiang Liu joined Gongsun Haoyue, the elders, and the disciples to cultivate the Star Cloud Saint Art, which could help the elders overcome a physical barrier to advancing.

• An elder proposed that Jiang Liu marry into the Star Moon Sect, and Gongsun Haoyue agreed to pursue the alliance if Jiang Liu and the Flowing Cloud Matriarch consented.
• The elders considered the thirteen True Inheritor Disciples and settled on Zheng Yunxiu, Chen Yuwen, and Chu Heyu as possible candidates.
• Gongsun Haoyue reminded the elders to focus on cultivation and stay mindful of the sect's ties to the Great Qian Imperial Family and the Clear Sky Sect.
• Jiang Liu cultivated Nebula Extinction after lunch, then followed Yuchi Yue to the cultivation plaza at night.
• Jiang Liu joined Gongsun Haoyue, the Grandmaster elders, and the True Inheritor Disciples to cultivate the Star Cloud Saint Art, which could strengthen the elders' bodies and give them more time to pursue a breakthrough.

Jiang Liu led the Star Moon Sect in cultivating the Star Cloud Saint Art and using Star Power to temper their bodies. After they endured a night of painful strengthening, he left quickly, while the sect members were left embarrassed by the stench from their bodies.

• The Star Moon Sect members cultivated the Star Cloud Saint Art alongside Jiang Liu and drew Essence Particles into their dantians.
• Jiang Liu divided the Star Power he drew down and guided it into the sect members, causing them intense pain as it tempered their bodies.
• After Jiang Liu used up his Star Power, the others discovered they could draw down Star Power themselves and continued strengthening their bodies through the night.
• The Star Power grew more violent than it had been at the Flowing Cloud Sect, and Jiang Liu found that it made body strengthening faster.
• When cultivation ended at dawn, Jiang Liu flew back to his courtyard, and the Star Moon Sect members realized he had fled the odor coming from their bodies.
• Jiang Liu spent the day cultivating Nebula Extinction and the Saintly Sky Art, determined not to let anything slow his spiritual power cultivation.

Jiang Liu continued cultivating with the Star Moon Sect and impressed its Grandmasters with his talent. Convinced that he would become a Peak Grandmaster, Gongsun Haoyue and the elders began arranging for several True Inheritor Disciples to approach him as part of a marriage alliance.

• Jiang Liu cultivated the Star Cloud Saint Art while Gongsun Haoyue and Yuchi Yue helped two newly arrived Grandmasters draw in Star Power and temper their bodies.
• Jiang Liu examined his progress and continued practicing Nebula Extinction after wondering whether tempering more bones made the process faster.
• Yuchi Yue questioned Jiang Liu about the Star Moon Sect’s True Inheritor Disciples, and he praised them, leaving her pleased with his opinion.
• Yuchi Yue reported Jiang Liu’s favorable response to Gongsun Haoyue and the other Grandmasters, who planned to introduce the disciples to him one by one.
• Gongsun Haoyue summoned Chu Heyu, Chen Yuwen, and Zheng Yunxiu, leaving the three True Inheritor Disciples confused about why she had called them.

Gongsun Haoyue proposed a marriage alliance between the Star Moon Sect and the Flowing Cloud Sect, naming Jiang Liu as the intended match and presenting Chu Heyu, Chen Yuwen, and Zheng Yunxiu as candidates. The women reacted with varying degrees of surprise and reluctance, while the alliance’s deeper political purpose remained in view.

• Gongsun Haoyue told Chu Heyu, Chen Yuwen, and Zheng Yunxiu that completing a sect task could cancel their assessment missions.
• Gongsun Haoyue explained that the Star Moon Sect wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Flowing Cloud Sect through Jiang Liu.
• Zheng Yunxiu asked whether Jiang Liu was the intended match, and Gongsun Haoyue confirmed that he was the only suitable candidate.
• Chu Heyu worried that she was too old, while Chen Yuwen said she would not participate if Jiang Liu did not like her.
• Gongsun Haoyue considered Zheng Yunxiu’s family ties and explained that the marriage alliance would also strengthen unity between the sects.
• The narration noted that Jiang Liu’s spiritual power had advanced through the Jade Anomaly Tree, the Soul Art and Beast Mastery Art, and chiefly the Saintly Sky Art.

Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue planned to continue their campaign against the Martial Prohibition Hall and Great Qian’s ruling powers, relying on Jiang Liu’s growing strength. Gongsun Haoyue secured the three Star Moon Sect disciples’ agreement to take turns visiting Jiang Liu, while Yuchi Yue tried to persuade Chu Heyu to accept the marriage alliance.

• Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue weighed the risks of their alliance against the Martial Prohibition Hall, the National Preceptor’s Mansion, and Lu Tianheng after Duanmu Haotian disappeared.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch told Gongsun Haoyue that Jiang Liu had escaped Lu Tianheng unharmed, renewing their hope of completing their plan once Jiang Liu grew stronger.
• Gongsun Haoyue had Chu Heyu, Chen Yuwen, and Zheng Yunxiu agree to arrange turns visiting Jiang Liu, then instructed Yuchi Yue to oversee the matter.
• Gongsun Haoyue discussed cultivating the Star Cloud Saint Art with the Grandmaster elders and decided they should gather to cultivate together to improve their body tempering.
• Yuchi Yue found Chu Heyu staring blankly in her courtyard and urged her to speak up if she did not want to marry Jiang Liu.
• Chu Heyu said she was willing to contribute to the sect but felt uncomfortable because Jiang Liu was much younger, and Yuchi Yue tried to convince her the match could bring her happiness.

Yuchi Yue arranged for Chu Heyu, Chen Yuwen, and Zheng Yunxiu to meet Jiang Liu, though Zheng Yunxiu doubted he was interested in her. Gongsun Haoyue then visited the Flowing Cloud Matriarch to discuss deeper cooperation between their sects.

• Yuchi Yue arranged a time for Chu Heyu to meet Jiang Liu, then learned Chen Yuwen was willing to treat him like a younger brother and scheduled her meeting as well.
• Yuchi Yue saw Jiang Liu and Zheng Yunxiu eating together, but Zheng Yunxiu said they had only discussed cultivation insights.
• Yuchi Yue arranged a time for Zheng Yunxiu to get to know Jiang Liu better, while Zheng Yunxiu kept her doubts about his interest to herself.
• Gongsun Haoyue visited the Flowing Cloud Matriarch, who believed her Soul Art practice had improved her Divine Sense and planned to ask Mo Han about cultivating the Beast Mastery Art.
• Gongsun Haoyue told the Flowing Cloud Matriarch that she had come to discuss further cooperation between their sects.

Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue discussed bringing their sects closer through a marriage alliance between Jiang Liu and a Star Moon Sect True Inheritor Disciple. Flowing Cloud Matriarch secretly intended to conquer Star Moon Sect after reaching the Saint Realm, while Gongsun Haoyue returned to studying the Star Cloud Saint Art, suspecting it concealed a secret.

• Flowing Cloud Matriarch considered the history and tensions between the sects, concluding that merging them outright would be difficult.
• Gongsun Haoyue proposed that Jiang Liu marry a Star Moon Sect True Inheritor Disciple, and Flowing Cloud Matriarch readily agreed as long as Jiang Liu consented.
• The two discussed the alliance and acknowledged that they would not force Jiang Liu, whose strength and contributions made him too valuable to alienate.
• After Gongsun Haoyue left, Flowing Cloud Matriarch resolved to swallow Star Moon Sect once she reached the Saint Realm.
• Back in her courtyard, Gongsun Haoyue wondered whether Flowing Cloud Matriarch knew a secret about the Star Cloud Saint Art and began studying the art Jiang Liu had provided.

Gongsun Haoyue suspected Flowing Cloud Matriarch knew a hidden obstacle to reaching the Saint Realm and decided to use the marriage alliance to draw the truth from Jiang Liu. Meanwhile, Jiang Liu cultivated in Qian Province, where scarce Special Essence Particles slowed his progress in the Saintly Sky Art.

• Gongsun Haoyue considered the differences in the Star Cloud Saint Art and concluded that Flowing Cloud Matriarch had discovered a problem with advancing to the Saint Realm.
• Gongsun Haoyue realized Jiang Liu might know what Flowing Cloud Matriarch was hiding, but decided a direct approach could expose her suspicions.
• Gongsun Haoyue began devising a way to obtain information from Jiang Liu through the marriage alliance and summoned Yuchi Yue to discuss it.
• Jiang Liu cultivated the Saintly Sky Art but could not absorb enough Special Essence Particles in Qian Province.
• Jiang Liu continued using the Star Cloud Saint Art to strengthen his body while weighing the dangers of returning to Yun Province.

Jiang Liu met with Chu Heyu, who sought his help with cultivation, and patiently explained her questions. Afterward, Star Moon Sect elders mistook their interaction for mutual affection and decided Chu Heyu would marry Jiang Liu, leaving Chen Yuwen and Zheng Yunxiu out of the arrangement.

• Jiang Liu practiced Star Cloud Extinction when Chu Heyu arrived and was stunned by his elusive movements and aura.
• Chu Heyu asked Jiang Liu about basic cultivation problems, and he patiently guided her until she left looking pleased.
• Yuchi Yue and Gongsun Haoyue saw Chu Heyu leave Jiang Liu's courtyard happily and assumed the two were interested in each other.
• At the evening cultivation session, the Grandmaster Elders decided Chu Heyu would marry Jiang Liu and told Chen Yuwen and Zheng Yunxiu not to pursue him.

Jiang Liu discovered that his body had strengthened rapidly while cultivating at the Star Moon Sect, as Yuchi Yue urged Chu Heyu to advance her relationship with him. Chu Heyu asked Jiang Liu what he thought about their marriage, leaving him stunned and wondering how the misunderstanding had started.

• Jiang Liu found that more than half of his bones glowed faintly gold after less than ten days of body strengthening.
• Yuchi Yue questioned Chu Heyu about her relationship with Jiang Liu and urged her to make progress because the Sect Master feared circumstances might change on Flowing Cloud Matriarch's side.
• Chu Heyu went to Jiang Liu's courtyard, sensed the danger of his spiritual attack, and reconsidered whether she was worthy of him.
• Chu Heyu asked Jiang Liu what he truly thought about the marriage between them.
• Jiang Liu realized Chu Heyu was serious and wondered whether Yuchi Yue or the entire Star Moon Sect had misunderstood his intentions.