Chapter Summaries

Gongsun Haoyue agreed to a marriage alliance with Jiang Liu to unite the Star Moon Sect and Flowing Cloud Sect against overseas forces, while Flowing Cloud Matriarch viewed it as a chance for the Flowing Cloud Sect to absorb its rival. Jiang Liu went to Ascension Tower in Qian City, leaving the two women to discuss the alliance with Murong Yin and Feng Yue.

• Gongsun Haoyue said she would explain the marriage alliance to Murong Yin and Feng Yue, and Jiang Liu asked Flowing Cloud Matriarch to accompany her.
• Jiang Liu left for Ascension Tower in Qian City while Gongsun Haoyue and Flowing Cloud Matriarch headed to the Flowing Cloud Sect.
• Gongsun Haoyue and Flowing Cloud Matriarch each realized the other viewed the marriage alliance as a way to resolve the two sects' conflict, though Flowing Cloud Matriarch considered it an absorption of the Star Moon Sect.
• Jiang Liu visited Old Man Luo at Ascension Tower, shared tea, and exchanged intelligence and views about the world.
• Old Man Luo reflected that Jiang Liu's visits and regard had helped protect the Luo Family in Qian Province.

Jiang Liu agreed to marry Gongsun Haoyue in a marriage alliance between the Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect. The women decided to have the sect elders arrange a wedding after the new year, delaying Jiang Liu’s plans to attack Blood Demon Island.

• Jiang Liu returned to his courtyard and learned that Murong Yin and Feng Yue had agreed to Gongsun Haoyue’s marriage-alliance proposal.
• Gongsun Haoyue explained that the marriage alliance would unite the two Sects against their enemies, while Murong Yin and Feng Yue supported it partly to protect Jiang Liu.
• Jiang Liu agreed to the proposal after both his wives approved it.
• The group decided to hold a wedding rather than a separate engagement ceremony, and chose to ask elders from both Sects to arrange it.
• Jiang Liu decided the wedding should take place after the new year, and Gongsun Haoyue returned to the Star Moon Sect to consult its elders.

Jiang Liu arranged a grand wedding with Murong Yin, Feng Yue, and Gongsun Haoyue, advancing plans to merge Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect. As the news spread worldwide, Tang Wanyu was left heartbroken, while hidden forces began to stir.

• Jiang Liu told Flowing Cloud Matriarch he would hold a wedding, and she assigned Nangong Yun to arrange it for his three brides.
• Jiang Liu and Flowing Cloud Matriarch decided to hold the wedding first, then join forces to destroy Blood Demon Island.
• Rumors of Jiang Liu's wedding spread through Flowing Cloud Sect, leaving Tang Wanyu miserable and prompting Qiao Jiao to comfort her.
• News that Jiang Liu would marry Murong Yin, Feng Yue, and Gongsun Haoyue spread across the world, prompting speculation about the two sects' merger.
• People hidden in the shadows began to stir after learning of the wedding.

Wei Jin and Jiang Lan planned to strengthen their forces by contacting imprisoned Haotian Sect members and former Martial Prohibition Hall Grandmasters, despite their poor odds against the Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect. Meanwhile, news of Jiang Liu’s impending marriage to Gongsun Haoyue unsettled elders who had opposed the alliance between the two sects.

• Wei Jin told Jiang Lan that the Haotian Sect’s released members had defected, while the remaining rebels in Mo Province demanded the Jade Diagram Manual and Yu Qi and He Baiyi had not responded.
• Jiang Lan agreed to give Sun Yunlu, Cheng Tian, and Tang Fei the manual’s first form, and Wei Jin left to carry out his orders.
• Wei Jin judged that their forces could not match the Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect, but continued trying to contact the guards of the imprisoned Haotian Sect members in hopes of rescuing Grandmasters and disrupting the alliance.
• Wei Jin recalled that Jiang Lan had refused to leave the Great Qian Continent and had only calmed down after Wei Jin stopped him from returning to Tian Province in response to the threat against his family.
• Elders in the Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect who opposed their alliance grew anxious after hearing that Jiang Liu planned to marry Gongsun Haoyue.

Six elders of the Star Moon Sect discussed how to stop their sect master’s marriage to Jiang Liu and the alliance with the Flowing Cloud Sect. They rejected a dangerous scheme involving the Heavenbound Sect prisoners, but Yun He secretly pursued it afterward.

• Yun Xian gathered five other elders to discuss whether to cooperate with the sect master’s plan to join the Star Moon Sect with the Flowing Cloud Sect.
• The elders feared the alliance would leave their descendants vulnerable and debated finding a way to cancel the engagement, but they lacked the strength to oppose it openly.
• Yun He revealed that someone who might be connected to the Great Qian Imperial Family had approached her about the imprisoned Grandmasters of the Heavenbound Sect.
• Yun He denied taking benefits, and the elders refused to help release the prisoners because doing so could make them traitors.
• The elders agreed to wait until after the New Year to seek another way to prevent the wedding, then dispersed without reporting the approach.
• A shadow later met with Yun He, who soon began associating closely with people Wei Jin had sent.

Five Flowing Cloud Sect elders discovered a possible attempt to free imprisoned Haotian Sect Grandmasters and planned to exploit it to disrupt Jiang Liu’s wedding and the alliance with the Star Moon Sect. Meanwhile, Sun Yunlu, Cheng Tian, and Tang Fei received word that Jiang Lan would hand over the Jade Diagram Manual and considered betraying him to Jiang Liu.

• Xinghui told the elders that Jiang Liu had been cultivating in his courtyard, and they agreed they could not safely oppose his wedding.
• Xingqian revealed that she had seen a eunuch-like visitor contact Xingbai, who guarded the imprisoned Haotian Sect Grandmasters.
• Xinghui proposed using the possible plot to obstruct Jiang Liu’s wedding, and the elders arranged to monitor events and expose the matter when it could cause a major crisis.
• Sun Yunlu told Cheng Tian and Tang Fei that Jiang Lan had agreed to hand over the Jade Diagram Manual and wanted them to keep serving him.
• Sun Yunlu proposed using Jiang Lan as a stepping stone and telling Jiang Liu about him, and Cheng Tian and Tang Fei agreed with sly chuckles.

Jiang Liu celebrated New Year's Eve with his wives and senior sisters, while Tang Wanyu's pointed question exposed her feelings for him. Afterward, Flowing Cloud Matriarch learned that Xingbai had been meeting a eunuch linked to the remnants of Great Qian and headed to the Discipline Hall to investigate.

• Jiang Liu and the women gathered for hotpot, and Tang Wanyu asked whether he thought Murong Yin, Feng Yue, or Gongsun Haoyue was prettier; he said they were all the same.
• Murong Yin and Feng Yue asked Jiang Liu if he had feelings for his senior sisters, and he said he focused on cultivation and rarely left his courtyard.
• Nangong Yun reported that Xinghui and the others had been taking turns watching Xingbai, who had been meeting a eunuch.
• Nangong Yun told Flowing Cloud Matriarch that the eunuch had been arrested and was being held in the secret dungeon beneath the Discipline Hall.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch went with Nangong Yun to the Discipline Hall to question the eunuch.

Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Nangong Yun interrogated a captured eunuch and uncovered Xingbai’s dealings with the Great Qian Imperial Family. They left Xingbai imprisoned pending further investigation and tightened security around the captive Haotian Sect elder.

• Flowing Cloud Matriarch ordered Nangong Yun to have the eunuch tortured, and he confessed that Xingbai had agreed to help free the Haotian Sect Grandmaster.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch ordered Xingbai’s capture and had the wounded eunuch kept alive for Jiang Liu to interrogate.
• Nangong Yun and the Discipline Hall Grandmasters brought Xingbai before Flowing Cloud Matriarch, who confronted her with the eunuch’s confession.
• Xingbai admitted she had sought the Great Qian Imperial Family’s cultivation methods, and Flowing Cloud Matriarch sealed her meridians and dantian.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch ordered Xingbai imprisoned and assigned the Discipline Hall to guard the Haotian Sect elder.

After Jiang Liu uncovered a corruption plot within Star Moon Sect, he set out alone for Jing County to capture Jiang Lan and recover the Great Qian Imperial Family’s cultivation arts. Flowing Cloud Matriarch hurried to Star Moon Sect to warn its sect master, worried that the crisis could disrupt Jiang Liu’s upcoming wedding.

• Jiang Liu used his mind-influencing technique to obtain a detailed confession from the eunuch, including where Jiang Lan’s group was hiding and who was carrying out a corruption plan within Star Moon Sect.
• Nangong Yun rushed to report the confession to Flowing Cloud Matriarch, while Jiang Liu decided to travel to Jing County alone to capture Jiang Lan and retrieve the cultivation arts.
• Jiang Liu told Murong Yin and Feng Yue he would return in two or three days, then departed for Jing County without the Fire-Winged Monkey.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch read the confession, feared the Star Moon Sect scandal might disrupt the wedding, and flew to the sect to meet its master.
• A Star Moon Sect elder greeted Flowing Cloud Matriarch, and the sect master emerged from Back Mountain.

Gongsun Haoyue investigated a confession implicating Yun He and Chen He in hidden dealings within the Star Moon Sect. After Yun He blamed Yun Xian, Gongsun Haoyue crippled her, leaving the others to face judgment.

• Gongsun Haoyue read the confession and ordered Yun Wu to bring Yun He and Chen He to the Council Great Hall.
• Yun Wu discovered Chen He was a Minor Grandmaster, sealed his qi, and took him into custody, but could not find Yun He in the Back Mountain.
• Gongsun Haoyue and Flowing Cloud Matriarch brought Yun He and five others to the Council Great Hall after encountering them on the way.
• Yun He claimed she had used Chen He to find the Great Qian Imperial Family, but Gongsun Haoyue rejected her excuse.
• Yun He accused Yun Xian of directing her actions, and Flowing Cloud Matriarch struck Yun Xian down.
• Gongsun Haoyue burned Yun He’s dantian and crippled her.

Gongsun Haoyue punished sect elders who had betrayed the Star Moon Sect and decided to overhaul the sect after the wedding. Meanwhile, Jiang Liu failed to find Jiang Lan and Wei Jin in Yanhsia City and left for Qian Prefecture.

• Gongsun Haoyue sealed Yun Ye, Yun Tian, Yun He, and Yun Fei's meridians and dantians, then ordered Yun Wu to imprison them and torture Yun He and Yun Xian.
• Gongsun Haoyue decided to investigate corruption across the Star Moon Sect after the wedding.
• Jiang Liu reached Yanhsia City, hid his identity, and waited until night to search the residence named in the eunuch's confession.
• Jiang Liu found only weak martial artists at the residence, and the lone Minor Grandmaster died when Jiang Liu invaded his sea of consciousness.
• Jiang Liu questioned several residents but learned nothing about Jiang Lan or Wei Jin, then left the city for Qian Prefecture.

Jiang Liu and Gongsun Haoyue’s wedding preparations transformed Qian City and the Flowing Cloud Sect as guests arrived from across the world. Jiang Liu’s relatives reached the sect, where Murong Yin and Feng Yue eagerly reunited with them.

• Jiang Lan and Wei Jin survived Jiang Liu’s attack by hiding in a secret chamber beneath their residence, and Jiang Liu returned to the Flowing Cloud Sect without finding them.
• The Star Moon Sect captured elders who had colluded with the Great Qian Imperial Family, and opposition to Gongsun Haoyue’s marriage to Jiang Liu faded.
• As the wedding approached, Qian City filled with guests and festivities while the two sects prepared to present the marriage as a union of their rule.
• Nangong Yun oversaw extensive wedding preparations at the Flowing Cloud Sect, while Jiang Liu continued cultivating and Murong Yin and Feng Yue tried ceremonial robes with Gongsun Haoyue.
• The Exotic Beast Valley group and members of the Feng and Murong families arrived at the Flowing Cloud Sect, where Murong Yin and Feng Yue hurried to greet their relatives.

Jiang Liu welcomed his family and friends to the Flowing Cloud Sect ahead of his wedding and hosted them at his residence. Seeing Elder Bai and Elder He nearing the end of their lives stirred Jiang Liu’s desire to defy the Heavenly Dao, and his aura suddenly surged out of control.

• Jiang Liu greeted Feng Yi, who said he had decided to stay in Cloud City and help the Feng Family.
• Jiang Liu led the guests through the decorated Flowing Cloud Sect, arranged their lodging, and introduced them to the Flowing Cloud Matriarch.
• Jiang Liu brought the group to his courtyard, where Feng Yue, her mother, and Murong Yin went to talk privately while he asked Mo Han about Exotic Beast Valley.
• Jiang Liu discussed the Feng Family and caught up with his guests, then noticed that Elder Bai and Elder He were growing frail and losing control of their vital energy.
• Jiang Liu thought about breaking free from the Heavenly Dao to save Elder Bai and Elder He, and his aura suddenly surged until everyone fled the hall.

Jiang Liu endured a violent advancement that threatened the minds of everyone nearby as Flowing Cloud Matriarch evacuated them from his courtyard. By midnight, the turmoil stopped and his aura vanished, leaving those outside unsure whether he had survived or reached the Saint Realm.

• Jiang Liu's uncontrolled aura drew mental Essence Particles toward the Back Mountain, and Flowing Cloud Matriarch recognized that he was advancing.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch ordered everyone away from Jiang Liu's courtyard as elders, disciples, and family members realized he might be reaching the Saint Realm.
• Jiang Liu's mental sea filled with stabbing pain and illusions, his aura destroyed the hall, and Flowing Cloud Matriarch shielded those nearby so they could escape.
• Jiang Liu's agonized advancement continued until sunset, with his aura shifting between terrifying strength and complete silence.
• At midnight, Jiang Liu's condition settled and his aura disappeared; Flowing Cloud Matriarch could only vaguely sense that he remained inside.

Jiang Liu’s mental power continued advancing into the Pseudo-Saint Realm, though he said he had only taken one step forward and had not completed his advancement. After two peaceful days spent preparing for the wedding, Jiang Liu’s wedding day arrived under the gaze of the entire world.

• Jiang Liu sensed that his Divine Sea was still advancing, then emerged from the ruins of his house and reassured Murong Yin and Feng Yue that he was unharmed.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch asked about Jiang Liu’s advancement, and he said he had taken one step forward; she was shaken by his progress and questioned her own prospects.
• Jiang Liu and the others moved to the cultivation grounds, where guests stayed overnight before most of them returned to Welcome Peak the next morning.
• Jiang Liu spent the next two days with Murong Yin and Feng Yue, preparing for their wedding.
• Jiang Liu’s wedding day arrived, watched by the entire world.

Jiang Liu married Murong Yin, Feng Yue, and Gongsun Haoyue in a grand ceremony in Qian City. As the newlyweds began their first bow to Heaven and Earth, a sudden bolt of thunder struck toward Jiang Liu.

• Jiang Liu reflected on his breakthrough and his resolve to remake Heaven and Earth while the sects prepared for the wedding.
• Three wedding carriages arrived at the imperial capital, and Jiang Liu led Murong Yin, Feng Yue, and Gongsun Haoyue through its gates and into the palace.
• Gongsun Haoyue’s state of mind advanced as she walked with Jiang Liu and the other brides.
• Yuchi Yue performed the Heaven-reporting ritual, and Nangong Yun called for the newlyweds to bow to Heaven and Earth.
• Jiang Liu, Murong Yin, Feng Yue, and Gongsun Haoyue raised their hands in salute as thunder suddenly struck toward Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu completed the wedding ceremony with Murong Yin, Feng Yue, and Gongsun Haoyue after a lightning bolt vanished into his Divine Sea, and the celebrations began across the imperial city. He left his brides in the rear hall to offer toasts, but Tang Wanyu blocked his way at the disciples’ banquet and refused to let him leave before drinking with them.

• A lightning bolt disappeared before reaching Jiang Liu and nourished his Divine Sea, so he told the guests that Heaven had come to congratulate the wedding.
• Jiang Liu, Murong Yin, Feng Yue, and Gongsun Haoyue bowed to their elders and to one another, completing the ceremony before heading to the rear hall.
• Jiang Liu removed the brides’ veils, shared nuptial wine and a meal with them, then left Cuier and Xiao He with the women while he went to offer toasts.
• Jiang Liu toasted the Flowing Cloud Matriarch and the sect elders, then visited the hall where the major powers and families were gathered and offered them a toast.
• Jiang Liu went to the hall of the Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect’s True Inheritor Disciples, where Tang Wanyu blocked the doors and insisted he drink with them.

After his wedding to Gongsun Haoyue, Murong Yin, and Feng Yue, Jiang Liu joined the elders of both Sects to discuss their merger. They agreed to form the Star Cloud Saint Sect, temporarily move into the former Haotian Sect’s mountain range, and build a new residence near Qian City before turning to the merger’s remaining details.

• Jiang Liu left the wedding celebration, returned to the sleeping quarters, and spent the night with his three brides.
• The next morning, Jiang Liu and Gongsun Haoyue went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where Flowing Cloud Matriarch and the elders of both Sects had gathered.
• Nangong Yun and Yuchi Yue outlined plans to combine the True Inheritor Disciples, close the branch residences, and bring the two Sects’ personnel together.
• Gongsun Haoyue proposed abolishing both Sect names, and Jiang Liu suggested calling the merged Sect the Star Cloud Saint Sect.
• Jiang Liu proposed temporarily moving everyone to the former Haotian Sect mountain range and building a permanent residence in the central mountain range near Qian City; Flowing Cloud Matriarch, Gongsun Haoyue, and the elders agreed.
• Gongsun Haoyue began the next discussion of the merger’s details, and the elders prepared to address matters affecting their interests.

Yuchi Yue, Jiang Liu, Flowing Cloud Matriarch, and Gongsun Haoyue restructured the merged sects to curb corruption and tighten oversight. Jiang Liu’s account of Blood Demon Island’s strength left the elders alarmed and ready to accelerate the merger.

• Yuchi Yue outlined plans to preserve the existing halls while placing two people in charge of each.
• Jiang Liu proposed transferring provincial affairs to the Hall of Governmental Affairs and establishing intelligence, supervisory, and inspection bodies under the Sect Masters.
• Flowing Cloud Matriarch approved Jiang Liu’s reforms and proposed separate Core and True Inheritor Pavilions; Gongsun Haoyue proposed a Disciples Assessment Hall.
• Gongsun Haoyue and Flowing Cloud Matriarch rebuked the Disciples Affairs Hall elders over lax assessments and Chen He’s case, silencing their objections.
• Jiang Liu described Blood Demon Island’s formidable strength and said he had fled wounded after barely escaping its threat.
• The elders approved the subsequent reforms and agreed the two sects had to complete their merger quickly to face Blood Demon Island.

After the Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect merged as the Star Cloud Saint Sect, Jiang Liu took charge of governing the world and reorganized its administration. By the end of Initial Era Year 1's fifth month, the world adopted the name Star Cloud Holy Dynasty, replacing the former Great Qian Dynasty.

• The Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect announced their merger as the Star Cloud Saint Sect, and Jiang Liu accepted responsibility for governing the world while Flowing Cloud Matriarch and Gongsun Haoyue became joint sect masters.
• Jiang Liu changed the era name to Initial Era Year 1 and divided the Hall of Governmental Affairs into five branches to oversee civil affairs, martial affairs, justice, surveillance, and logistics.
• Jiang Liu placed the internal branch of the Ministry of Surveillance under his direct control through Wind Hall and brought Qin Bailian, Lin Chi, and Chen Qiansong into their new roles.
• The Star Cloud Saint Sect opened recruitment for scholars and martial artists to help staff several branches of the Hall of Governmental Affairs.
• Jiang Liu proposed naming the entire world the Star Cloud Holy Dynasty, and the Hall of Governmental Affairs approved the name.