Chapter Summaries

Hao Shuai protected Shi Qingxuan from the Four Fiends of the Demonic Sect and defeated all four with a single attack. After Shi Qingxuan left the temple, he prepared to question the wounded masters.

• Ding Jiuchong tried to seize Shi Qingxuan, but Hao Shuai shielded her and forced him back with sword aura.
• Hao Shuai revealed himself as the Demon God and claimed Shi Qingxuan was his wife; she did not deny it.
• You Niaojuan secretly urged the others to attack Hao Shuai, then fled when the three launched their signature techniques.
• Hao Shuai struck all four fiends with four beams of finger force, leaving them gravely wounded on the temple floor.
• Shi Qingxuan left while Hao Shuai said he would force information from the four, and he reached toward Jin Huanzhen.

Hao Shuai extracted the complete Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Method from the Four Fiends of the Demonic Sect and killed them, then returned to Yangzhou with Shi Qingxuan after learning Yuwen Huaji planned to assassinate the emperor. There, he learned Zhao Min and the others had built a powerful network of allies and controlled nearly half the Elite Guards Army.

• Hao Shuai hypnotized Jin Huanzhen and the other three fiends, learned the complete Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Method, and killed them.
• Hao Shuai invited Shi Qingxuan to return with him to Yangzhou after learning Yuwen Huaji planned to assassinate the emperor, and she agreed.
• Hao Shuai and Shi Qingxuan arrived in Yangzhou, where the women welcomed Shi Qingxuan and Hao Shuai met with Zhao Min, Dongfang Bai, and the others.
• Zhao Min and the others recruited twenty thousand men and used the Life and Death Talisman to win over Yangzhou governor Yuchi Sheng.
• With Yuchi Sheng's help, Zhao Min and the others recruited Sima Dekan and gained control of nearly half the Elite Guards Army before pausing their efforts.

Hao Shuai revealed himself to Yuchi Sheng and Sima Dekan, then laid out his plan for the emperor’s assassination and the aftermath. He arranged for Tong Piaoyun and the other Grandmasters to support their forces while keeping the Yuwen faction alive to stir up trouble in the north.

• Hao Shuai used his aura to force Yuchi Sheng and Sima Dekan to recognize his strength, and they pledged themselves to him after learning he was the Demon God Hao Shuai.
• Yuchi Sheng told Hao Shuai that the Yuwen faction planned to assassinate the emperor the following afternoon, and Hao Shuai decided to enter the palace disguised as a guard to watch.
• Hao Shuai ordered Yuchi Sheng and Sima Dekan to counterattack after the assassination and drive the Yuwen faction out of Yangzhou without destroying it.
• Hao Shuai introduced Tong Piaoyun as his First Wife, and she promised to handle the Yuwen faction’s experts alongside the other Grandmasters.
• Hao Shuai explained that he wanted Yuwen Huaji and his faction to return north and cause trouble, while expecting the emperor-killers to become public enemies.

Hao Shuai disguised himself and followed Sima Dekan to Linjiang Palace, where Yuwen Huaji launched a coup against Yang Guang. As the palace guards were attacked and Yang Guang’s supporters were cornered, Yuwen Huaji denounced the emperor’s rule.

• Sima Dekan told Hao Shuai that Yuwen Huaji had ordered him to bring troops into the palace, and Hao Shuai disguised himself before setting out.
• Hao Shuai admired Linjiang Palace and told Sima Dekan to secure it for him.
• Yuwen Huaji entered the palace with his forces and accused Fei Yun of lying about the rebels.
• Yuwen Huaji demanded Fei Yun and Yu Shiji’s execution, but Yang Guang refused and ordered the guards to seize the conspirators.
• Yuwen Huaji’s men killed the guards at the palace doors, while Dugu Sheng defended Yang Guang and Sima Dekan claimed he had come to protect the palace.
• Yuwen Huaji listed Yang Guang’s alleged crimes as his coup unfolded.

Hao Shuai left Yang Guang to die when Yuwen Huaji launched his coup, then helped Zhao Min’s forces take control of Yangzhou and surround the rebels. Zhao Min’s group revealed their new identity as Hundred Flowers Palace and declared their challenge to Cihang Jingzhai and the Yinkui Demonic Sect.

• Yuwen Huaji attacked Yang Guang, while Sima Dekan kept Dugu Sheng from protecting the emperor.
• Hao Shuai teleported away and ordered Yuchi Sheng to patrol Yangzhou and kill anyone who looted or caused trouble.
• Yuwen Huaji seized the palace and killed Yang Guang’s relatives, but Zhao Min’s forces surrounded Linjiang Palace.
• Zhao Min’s forces let Yuwen Huaji escape to the Elite Guards Army camp, where Sima Dekan turned against him.
• Zhao Min appeared on the city wall with her sisters and unfurled banners announcing Hundred Flowers Palace and its challenge to Cihang Jingzhai and the Yinkui Demonic Sect.

Zhao Min secured Yangzhou by negotiating Yuwen Huaji’s withdrawal, while Hao Shuai arranged for Shi Zhixuan to recruit capable officials to support her rule. After Yang Guang’s death was confirmed, Hao Shuai told Sima Dekan how to distribute the late emperor’s consorts.

• Zhao Min persuaded Yuwen Huaji to leave Yangzhou with nearly eighty thousand Elite Guards Army soldiers in exchange for funds and a face-saving explanation, while Sima Dekan took command of the remaining troops.
• Hao Shuai returned to Linjiang Palace and told Zhao Min to recruit officials to handle government affairs; he ordered Shi Zhixuan to bring Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Li Jing, Xu Xingzhi, and others to Yangzhou.
• After spending time with Zhao Min, Hao Shuai encountered Sima Dekan in the imperial garden and learned that Yang Guang was dead.
• Hao Shuai told Sima Dekan that he and Yuchi could each choose some of Yang Guang’s consorts, with the rest distributed among meritorious subordinates according to their wishes.

After Yang Guang’s death, Zhao Min’s forces defeated Li Zitong and absorbed his territory. Hao Shuai then flew to Song Family Mountain City to recruit Song Que and the Song Clan, with Zhao Min and the others also hoping he would marry Song Yuzhi.

• Hao Shuai ordered Empress Xiao buried with Yang Guang in a burial befitting an emperor and empress.
• News of Yang Guang’s death spread, and warlords across the land raised their banners as the Sui Dynasty ended.
• Li Zitong led thirty thousand soldiers to attack Yangzhou, but Zhao Min’s rested Elite Guards Army routed them and killed him.
• Zhao Min took over Li Zitong’s territory, then focused her forces on recuperating and consolidating their holdings.
• Hao Shuai flew to Song Family Mountain City to persuade Song Que and the Song Clan to join Zhao Min’s cause.
• Hao Shuai learned that Zhao Min and the others had approved his marrying Song Yuzhi to help secure the Song Clan’s allegiance.

Hao Shuai visited Song Family Mountain City to recruit Song Que and asked him to become his subordinate. Song Que was surprised by the proposal, especially after learning that Shi Zhixuan already served Hao Shuai.

• Hao Shuai arrived at Song Family Mountain City on Xuan Yu and was welcomed by Song Zhi.
• Song Zhi escorted Hao Shuai through the city to Blade Sharpening Hall, where Song Que came out to greet him.
• Hao Shuai and Song Que exchanged praise, and Hao Shuai said Shi Zhixuan had returned to the Great Grandmaster realm with his help.
• Inside Blade Sharpening Hall, Hao Shuai told Song Que he had come to recruit him as a subordinate.
• Song Que froze in surprise when Hao Shuai added that Shi Zhixuan was already his subordinate.

Hao Shuai persuaded Song Que to consider joining him by revealing his strength, his holdings, and his plan to unite the realm. Song Que was intrigued but questioned whether the south could overcome the north, leaving Hao Shuai poised to answer his doubts.

• Song Que was astonished to learn that Shi Zhixuan had joined Hao Shuai, and Hao Shuai revealed that he controlled Hundred Flowers Palace, Dongming Sect, Fei Ma Ranch, and Duke Yang's Treasury.
• Hao Shuai told Song Que that several Great Grandmasters supported him and claimed to be Han Chinese, showing Song Que an identity card as proof.
• Hao Shuai explained why he had chosen the Song Clan over other powers and argued that the Li Clan would never accept taking second place.
• Hao Shuai appealed to Song Que's ambition to unite the realm by marching north from the south, reminding him of his past defeat and resentment toward Yang Jian.
• Song Que described how history had favored the north and asked whether Hao Shuai was confident the south could unite the realm.

Hao Shuai persuaded Song Que to let the Song Clan submit to him, agreeing to spend time with Song Yuzhi before making their marriage official. Song Que then insisted on sparring with Hao Shuai, and they headed to a nearby mountain while the Song Clan prepared a banquet and reconsidered its next move.

• Hao Shuai explained why unifying the north from the south seemed possible in the altered timeline and urged Song Que to join him.
• Song Que agreed to submit the Song Clan if Hao Shuai married Song Yuzhi and promised her at least the rank of Imperial Consort.
• Hao Shuai proposed staying at Song Family Mountain City so he and Song Yuzhi could spend time together before deciding, and Song Que accepted.
• Song Que declared that he wanted to fight Hao Shuai and drew the Heavenly Saber to demonstrate his Nine Heavenly Saber Questions.
• Hao Shuai led Song Que to a nearby mountain for their spar, and Song Que told Song Zhi and the others to prepare a banquet.
• After Song Que left, Song Zhi and the others recalled his assessment of Hao Shuai's strength and considered that the Song Clan should begin making its move.

Hao Shuai fought Song Que through all nine moves of the Heavenly Saber Nine Questions and overwhelmed him, though Song Que’s final strike broke through the void. Song Que recovered with his confidence shaken, then learned from Hao Shuai that he had nearly left the world by shattering the void.

• Song Que opened their duel with the first move of the Heavenly Saber Nine Questions, and Hao Shuai endured it with his Invincible Golden Body Art.
• Song Que unleashed the second through eighth moves, while Hao Shuai countered each attack with different techniques and greater power.
• Song Que’s ninth strike split open a Black Hole, and Hao Shuai stopped the fight before Song Que could vanish through the void.
• Hao Shuai struck Song Que with 108 Dragon Subduing Palms, leaving him unconscious on a devastated mountaintop, then photographed his disheveled state.
• Song Que woke with internal injuries and thanked Hao Shuai for holding back, while Hao Shuai tried to console him by pointing out their difference in realms.
• Song Que asked whether his final strike had shattered the void, and Hao Shuai confirmed that he might have left the world if they had continued fighting.

After their battle, Song Que pledged loyalty to Hao Shuai, who explained a new path of martial cultivation and strengthened Song Que with an injection. Song Que returned to Blade Sharpening Hall looking decades younger and prepared to welcome Hao Shuai with a feast, leaving his family stunned by his new allegiance.

• Song Que accepted Hao Shuai as his lord after realizing he still needed to pledge loyalty.
• Hao Shuai told Song Que to refine his true essence and pursue a Martial Dao Golden Core instead of shattering the void.
• Hao Shuai injected Song Que with a blue liquid, and Song Que felt his cells begin to boil.
• Song Que returned to Blade Sharpening Hall looking much younger, with black hair and a calmer bearing.
• Song Que addressed Hao Shuai as his lord and arranged for them to wash up before the welcoming feast, while Song Zhi and Song Shidao wondered what had happened.

After Song Que pledged the Song Clan’s support to Hao Shuai, Hao Shuai left with Song Yuzhi for Fei Ma Ranch after learning the Four Great Bandits were attacking it. He reunited with Shang Xiuxun and prepared to confront the bandits surrounding the ranch.

• Song Que resolved to follow Hao Shuai, and Hao Shuai joined the Song Clan’s banquet with Song Yuzhi.
• Song Que gathered the clan’s senior members to discuss pledging allegiance to Hao Shuai, who sent Song Zhi to negotiate with Zhao Min and the others.
• Hao Shuai spent time with Song Yuzhi in the mountain city, and their relationship grew closer.
• After receiving word that the Four Great Bandits were attacking Fei Ma Ranch, Hao Shuai left with Song Yuzhi on Xuan Yu.
• Hao Shuai and Song Yuzhi arrived at Fei Ma Ranch, where Shang Xiuxun stood with the ranch officials as tens of thousands of bandits surrounded the walls.
• Hao Shuai reunited with Shang Xiuxun and turned his attention to the Four Great Bandits below.

Hao Shuai captured Cao Yinglong and learned that Li Mi had backed the Four Great Bandits’ attack on Fei Ma Ranch, with steward Tao Shusheng acting as an inside traitor. Tao Shusheng took Shang Xiuxun hostage to secure his escape, while Hao Shuai tried to turn the crisis into a chance to impress her.

• Hao Shuai captured Cao Yinglong from among the Four Great Bandits and used his Psychic Power to make him reveal that Li Mi had funded the attack.
• Shang Xiuxun told Hao Shuai that Li Mi was at a standoff with Yuwen Huaji and Cao Yinglong revealed that a high-ranking ranch official had promised to help the bandits from within.
• Cao Yinglong named steward Tao Shusheng as the traitor, and Tao Shusheng immediately seized Shang Xiuxun and held a sword to her throat.
• Hao Shuai pretended to threaten Tao Shusheng while hoping to stage a heroic rescue, but Tao Shusheng only demanded safe passage out of the ranch and rejected Hao Shuai’s offers of money and a horse.

Hao Shuai exposed Tao Shusheng’s betrayal and helped Fei Ma Ranch overcome Li Mi’s plot and the Four Great Bandits. That night, Shang Xiuxun worried about future threats to the ranch while Hao Shuai reassured her and tried to court her.

• Hao Shuai pretended to sacrifice his martial arts for Shang Xiuxun, but she called out his act and told him to deal with Tao Shusheng.
• Hao Shuai questioned Tao Shusheng, who confessed that Li Mi had promised him a marquisate and later blackmailed him into continuing the betrayal.
• Hao Shuai left Shang Xiuxun and the ranch leaders to deal with Tao Shusheng, then flew down to defeat the attackers outside the city.
• Hao Shuai returned to the wall after slaughtering the enemy troops, then took Song Yuzhi and Shang Xiuxun back to eat.
• That night, Shang Xiuxun thanked Hao Shuai for protecting Fei Ma Ranch and voiced concern about future threats.
• Hao Shuai assured Shang Xiuxun that no one would dare target the ranch, while she defended its strength and challenged his womanizing ways.

Hao Shuai and Shang Xiuxun became lovers after he comforted her at the ranch, and the next morning he cared for her while she recovered. He left to confront Li Mi at Wagang Fortress and demand compensation, despite Shang Xiuxun’s concern for his safety.

• Shang Xiuxun confronted Hao Shuai about bringing Song Yuzhi to the ranch, but his affection won her over and she kissed him.
• The next morning, Fuxiang'er found Hao Shuai leaving Shang Xiuxun’s bedroom, and he asked her to let Shang Xiuxun rest and prepare nourishing food.
• Hao Shuai joined Song Yuzhi for breakfast and told her he would treat her and Shang Xiuxun equally, embarrassing her enough to make her leave.
• Hao Shuai fed Shang Xiuxun congee and told her to rest while Shang Zhen and the others handled the ranch’s affairs.
• Hao Shuai announced that he would go to Wagang Fortress to demand compensation from Li Mi, and Shang Xiuxun urged him to be careful.

Hao Shuai arrived at Li Mi’s headquarters in Liyang after destroying the Four Great Bandits and confronted Li Mi over his role in their attack on Fei Ma Ranch. Li Mi ordered his men to attack Hao Shuai, and the hall filled with flashing weapons.

• Li Mi and Yuwen Huaji remained locked in a standoff as Li Mi struggled to decide how to let Yuwen pass safely.
• Hao Shuai flew into Li Mi’s headquarters while Shen Luoyan was advising Li Mi to find someone influential to mediate.
• Hao Shuai identified himself and said he had come to settle a score over the Four Great Bandits’ attack on Fei Ma Ranch.
• Hao Shuai named Li Mi as the mastermind, citing Cao Yinglong’s testimony.
• Li Mi shouted for his men to attack Hao Shuai, and he and several generals charged with their weapons.

Hao Shuai defeated Li Mi and the Wagang Fortress leaders, then demanded gold to compensate Fei Ma Ranch and ransom his prisoners. The chapter left Li Mi and the others agreeing to pay while Hao Shuai held their lives in his hands.

• Hao Shuai endured the Wagang leaders' attacks unharmed, then used a mental assault to incapacitate them and injure Li Mi and the others.
• Hao Shuai demanded compensation for Fei Ma Ranch, and Li Mi agreed to pay one hundred thousand taels of gold after Hao Shuai rejected Shen Luoyan's lower offers.
• Hao Shuai invited Qin Qiong to join him, but Qin Qiong refused and went to fetch the gold from the treasury.
• Hao Shuai demanded a separate ransom for the prisoners and killed Bing Yuanzhen when he questioned the demand.
• Li Mi and the other Wagang leaders agreed to pay the ransom after Hao Shuai threatened to kill them.

Hao Shuai extorted ransom from Li Mi and the Wagang Fortress officers, then forced Li Mi to negotiate safe passage for Yuwen Huaji’s army. He ended by publicly humiliating Li Mi at Liyang’s city gate, where Shen Luoyan and the others rescued him.

• Hao Shuai set ransom prices for Li Mi and the Wagang Fortress officers, killing one who objected and assigning Wang Bodang only a hundred taels.
• Li Mi accepted Hao Shuai’s ransom demand, and Qin Qiong and Cheng Zhijie brought the gold, which Hao Shuai stored away.
• Hao Shuai demanded that Li Mi let Yuwen Huaji’s forces pass, then tied him up and flew him to Yuwen Huaji’s camp.
• Li Mi and Yuwen Huaji agreed that Wagang Fortress would allow the army through and Yuwen Huaji would not seize Luoyang.
• Hao Shuai hung Li Mi over Liyang’s city gate, stripped him down to his shorts, and photographed him until he fainted.
• Shen Luoyan and the others arrived, drove off the crowd, and rescued Li Mi.

Hao Shuai publicized Li Mi’s humiliation to warn Great Sui’s factions against opposing Fei Ma Ranch, then returned to the ranch and told Shang Xiuxun and Song Yuzhi how he had avenged her. He gave Shang Xiuxun the compensation gold and revealed that the extra ransom money was intended as a betrothal gift for Lu Miazi.

• Hao Shuai printed and scattered a million photos of Li Mi across major faction centers, making Li Mi notorious and prompting the factions to warn their followers not to provoke Hao Shuai or Fei Ma Ranch.
• Shang Xiuxun and Song Yuzhi learned that Li Mi had been publicly humiliated and that he had paid compensation and ransom totaling two hundred thousand taels of gold.
• Hao Shuai gave Shang Xiuxun one hundred thousand taels of gold as compensation for Fei Ma Ranch and said he would give the other hundred thousand to Lu Miazi as a betrothal gift.