Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi returned to Empty Island, learned that Qiu Wa had transformed into a ginseng plant while absorbing the Spiritual Plant Garden’s energy, and went back to work at Vast Sea Northern Court. He later arrived at the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way’s Mansion to seek an audience, where the Left General went to report his request.

• A Li told Xu Yi that Qiu Wa had become a ginseng plant, and Huang Mei explained that the Spiritual Plant Garden had given her a rare opportunity to absorb pure wood-plant energy.
• Xu Yi set up two defensive arrays around the garden, then went to Vast Sea Northern Court, where He Beiyi welcomed him and asked about Ning Wuyou’s painting.
• Xu Yi told He Beiyi that he had sold the painting to Suijie for five hundred Profound Yellow Essences, and He Beiyi agreed to cover for him while asking to see another painting.
• Xu Yi handled a few matters at the Middle Traveler’s Office and then went to Wang Rongrong’s Shaoqing Mansion, where Old Sui said Wang Rongrong had gone to the Heavenly King’s Mansion for news of the next challenge.
• Xu Yi hurried to the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way’s Mansion and requested an audience, while Old Sui and Gu Beiting followed and Gu Beiting defended his decision to go.

Suijie defended himself before the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way after Su Bingjun and the other candidates accused him of skipping the Tassel Gathering. He revealed Saintess Ning’s authentic painting and claimed Xu Yi had obtained it for him, then began explaining how Xu Yi had won her favor.

• Su Bingjun tried to turn away Suijie, but Wang Rongrong persuaded the Heavenly King to grant him an audience.
• Suijie refused to bow because his Sui clan’s ancestral precepts allowed them to bow only to Ancestor Witch Zhurong.
• Su Bingjun, Xing De, and the other candidates accused Suijie of missing the Tassel Gathering and lying to the Heavenly King.
• Suijie accused Su Bingjun of maligning him and revealed a spiritual painting that the Heavenly King confirmed was Wuyou’s work.
• Suijie said Xu Yi had obtained the painting and that he had bought it from him, then claimed Xu Yi was skilled at winning Saintess Ning’s favor.

Suijie explained how he had hired Xu Yi to obtain Saintess Ning’s painting, earning the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way’s approval and a deputy hall master position. After Gu Beiting and Old Sui joined Wuji Hall, Wang Rongrong began to suspect Suijie’s relationship with Xu Yi and urged them to keep their people in hand.

• Suijie said he had paid Xu Yi two hundred Profound Yellow Essence up front and another two hundred after Xu Yi secured Saintess Ning’s painting, and the Heavenly King praised Suijie and appointed him deputy hall master.
• Wang Rongrong privately questioned Suijie about trusting Xu Yi, and Suijie said he understood Xu Yi’s greed from their past encounters.
• Wang Rongrong told Gu Beiting and Old Sui that Suijie was now their immediate superior, and Xu Yi recounted how the painting had been obtained.
• Gu Beiting hosted a gathering where Wang Rongrong accepted responsibility for assigning Gu Beiting and Old Sui positions in Wuji Hall, while Suijie deferred to him.
• After Xu Yi left, Wang Rongrong voiced doubts about Suijie’s dealings with Xu Yi, but Gu Beiting and Old Sui argued that Suijie had simply sought the quickest way to secure his post.

Xu Yi took office as Wuji Hall’s Deputy Hall Master and won the assembled leaders’ goodwill by refusing their congratulatory gifts. After explaining his caution to Gu Beiting and Old Sui, he revealed to Desolate Charm Old Ancestor that he intended to pursue the main hall master position and use it to gather the Profound Yellow Essence needed to reach the Domain Realm.

• Wang Rongrong read the Heavenly King’s decree, handed Xu Yi the Deputy Hall Master’s seal, and Xu Yi promised to keep Wuji Hall’s affairs unchanged.
• Xu Yi hosted a banquet where Gu Beiting offered him more than a hundred pieces of Profound Yellow Essence, prompting attendees to prepare their own gifts.
• Xu Yi refused everyone’s gifts, citing the turmoil in Wuji Hall and the need to avoid trouble under Su Bingjun’s watch.
• Xu Yi told Gu Beiting and Old Sui that he had refused the gifts to protect himself and avoid putting their new appointments at risk.
• After Gu Beiting and Old Sui left, Xu Yi told Desolate Charm Old Ancestor that he planned to aim for the main hall master post and acquire enough Profound Yellow Essence to break through to the Domain Realm.

Xu Yi learned that reaching the Domain Realm would require an enormous supply of Profound Yellow Essence and hoped to secure Wuji Hall's hall master position for access to its resources. Hu Sifeng took office with a domineering banquet and demanded gifts, while Xu Yi complied and Hu Sifeng revealed that Yiwen Pavilion was pressing him for money.

• Huang Mei told Xu Yi that his breakthrough to the Domain Realm might require around three hundred thousand Profound Yellow Essence, and Xu Yi saw the hall master position as a way to obtain resources.
• Xu Yi refined the Dao Source awarded by the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way at the Evil Court's central office and returned to find Hu Sifeng appointed Wuji Hall master.
• Hu Sifeng demanded set amounts of Profound Yellow Essence from Wuji Hall's officials, and Xu Yi gave him eight hundred despite resenting the payment.
• After the officials left, Uncle Long said Hu Sifeng had collected less than ten thousand and warned him not to rush; Hu Sifeng replied that Yiwen Pavilion was in a hurry.

Hu Sifeng tried to consolidate his control of Wuji Hall, while Xu Yi let Gu Beiting and Old Sui bear the first clash with him. Hu Sifeng then discovered the Prefectural Treasury was nearly empty and that accessing its funds required the cooperation of the Treasury Envoy.

• Hu Sifeng told Uncle Long he would keep Xu Yi around as a useful ally until he could deal with him, while Huang Mei complained about Xu Yi's submissive act.
• Gu Beiting and Old Sui complained to Xu Yi after Hu Sifeng voided recent personnel changes, but Xu Yi advised them to protect themselves and wait.
• Xu Yi explained to Huang Mei that Gu Beiting and Old Sui would have to lead the first challenge against Hu Sifeng, while he held back for a later move.
• Gu Beiting and Old Sui chose to endure Hu Sifeng's rule while secretly stirring up opposition throughout Wuji Hall.
• Hu Sifeng discovered that the Prefectural Treasury held only thirteen thousand Profound Yellow Essence and learned that he needed both command tokens, including the Treasury Envoy's, to open it.

Hu Sifeng discovered Wuji Hall's treasury was nearly empty and faced a royal tax demand he could not meet. He blamed Xu Yi for the deficit and ordered him to find the missing funds, while Xu Yi secured authority to act and left Huang Mei warning him against further involvement.

• Hu Sifeng found only thirteen thousand Profound Yellow Essence in the treasury and demanded that Wang Tingzan return twenty thousand, but Wang Tingzan walked away.
• A notice from the Heavenly King's Mansion demanded taxes raised by twenty percent, and Hu Sifeng flew into a rage.
• Hu Sifeng summoned Xu Yi and blamed him for Wuji Hall's deficit, ordering him to raise the money or answer to King Xia.
• Xu Yi explained that he had lacked authority over the treasury and persuaded Hu Sifeng to issue an official order protecting his actions.
• Huang Mei warned Xu Yi that he was stirring up trouble and advised him to step aside while Hu Sifeng's position collapsed.

Xu Yi visited the halls under Wuji Hall to collect funds for Hu Sihai’s tax shortfall while secretly stirring resentment against him. After taking contributions from Rising Sun Hall and Zizai Hall, Xu Yi left to continue his campaign against the remaining halls.

• Xu Yi avoided Gu Beiting and Old Sui, then went to Long Ling Peak to present Long Qianqiu with Hu Sifeng’s official order for funds.
• Long Qianqiu complained about the demand, and Xu Yi accepted two hundred pieces of Profound Yellow Essence before proposing a way for Rising Sun Hall to comply.
• When Long Qianqiu tried to bargain further, Xu Yi shattered Rising Sun Hall’s protective formation and collapsed Long Ling Peak with a golden palm strike.
• Xu Yi traveled to Zizai Hall and destroyed its mountain gate while Bai Motian cried out over Hall Master Jin’s fate.
• Xu Yi left with two hundred and fifty pieces of Profound Yellow Essence from Bai Motian, having visited the last of Wuji Hall’s twelve halls that morning.

Xu Yi collected Profound Yellow Essence from Wuji Hall’s branches and sects while making himself their public enemy, then handed over the proceeds to Hu Sifeng. After Hu Sifeng restored order across Wuji Hall, he learned the Evil Court’s tax collector would arrive in seven days and considered asking Xia Bingzhong for help.

• Xu Yi collected nearly three thousand Profound Yellow Essence by attacking Wuji Hall’s branches and more than a hundred sects, and he returned to report to Hu Sifeng.
• Xu Yi gave Hu Sifeng a thousand Profound Yellow Essence and supplies, then defended his work when Uncle Long accused him of failing his orders.
• Uncle Long confirmed Xu Yi had caused a major uproar, while Hu Sifeng secured Profound Yellow Essence from the Hu clan after signing an IOU.
• Hu Sifeng postponed reorganizing Wuji Hall to suppress widespread unrest, which took two months to bring under control.
• Wang Tingzan told Hu Sifeng that the Central Authority’s Treasury Envoy would arrive in seven days, forcing Hu Sifeng to confront the unpaid Evil Court taxes.
• Uncle Long urged Hu Sifeng to seek help from Xia Bingzhong, but Hu Sifeng worried that returning to him would damage his standing.

Hu Sifeng sought Su Bingjun’s help to delay an inspection by the Treasury Envoy, while his conflict with Suijie escalated over funds for the Yonghe Grand Ceremony. The Heavenly King of the Imperial Way agreed to help Hu, leaving him relieved and grateful to Su Bingjun.

• Hu Sifeng contacted Su Bingjun, who agreed to report Hu’s predicament to the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way when he returned.
• Xu Yi asked Hu Sifeng for five hundred pieces of Profound Yellow Essence and the Left and Right Guards’ help for the Yonghe Grand Ceremony.
• Hu Sifeng refused the request, struck Xu Yi with a thrown vessel, and dismissed him despite Uncle Long’s warning about the fallout.
• After three anxious days, Hu Sifeng visited the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way, and Su Bingjun told him the Heavenly King had agreed to speak to the Treasury Envoy and seek about half a year’s delay.

The Cloud Deity on Mount Hetai collapsed after Suijie’s dispute with Hu Sifeng left the project without the spiritual energy it needed. The Heavenly King of the Imperial Way drove Su Bingjun from the hall, and Hu Sifeng realized Suijie had set him up.

• Wang Rongrong reported that the newly built Cloud Deity on Mount Hetai had collapsed.
• The Heavenly King of the Imperial Way demanded an explanation, and Wang Rongrong privately blamed Hu Sifeng for refusing Suijie’s request for two guard squads.
• Su Bingjun tried to warn the Heavenly King against Wang Rongrong’s accusation, but the Heavenly King ordered him out.
• Hu Sifeng left the hall, and Su Bingjun angrily confronted him on Magic Cloud Cliff.
• Su Bingjun used the Ruyi Pearl to learn what had happened, and Hu Sifeng realized Suijie had made a vicious move against him.

Xu Yi’s scheme left Hu Sifeng isolated and scrambling to survive the central administration’s Treasury Envoy, while Xu Yi and his allies celebrated their victory. Hu Sifeng secured a loan of Profound Yellow Essence from nine merchant guilds, but the twelve hall masters arrived with urgent business before he could finalize the deal.

• Su Bingjun warned Hu Sifeng that the Heavenly King would not believe his excuses, then abandoned him to face the Treasury Envoy alone.
• Xu Yi celebrated with Wang Rongrong, Gu Beiting, and Old Sui, and urged them to remain cautious about Hu Sifeng’s retaliation.
• Uncle Long stopped Hu Sifeng from summoning Xu Yi and advised him to borrow Profound Yellow Essence from major merchant guilds.
• Hu Sifeng gathered the heads of nine guilds and secured their agreement to lend him forty thousand units of Profound Yellow Essence.
• A Left General announced that the twelve hall masters had gathered to report something important, and Uncle Long told him to hold them off.

Xu Yi and the twelve hall masters confronted Hu Sifeng as he tried to borrow money for Wuji Hall, exposing the disorder and distrust within the organization. A representative of Yiwen Pavilion revealed Hu Sifeng’s existing debt, driving away the potential lenders, and Uncle Long stopped Hu Sifeng from striking Xu Yi.

• Xu Yi rallied the twelve hall masters to confront Hu Sifeng and urged him to address the widespread banditry.
• Hu Sifeng blamed Xu Yi for making trouble and ordered the Left Guard General to expel him and the hall masters.
• Wang Rongrong escorted a red-robed Yiwen Pavilion representative into the hall, who revealed Hu Sifeng’s unpaid debt and contract terms.
• The association heads lost confidence in Hu Sifeng and left without lending him money.
• Hu Sifeng attacked Xu Yi in anger, but Uncle Long crushed the spiritual power before it could hit him.

After Hu Sifeng’s fortunes worsened, he attacked Xu Yi in a rage, only to be defeated. Xu Yi offered to help solve Yiwen Pavilion’s debt and tax problems, leaving Hu Sifeng and Uncle Long to hear out his proposal.

• Xu Yi left Wuji Hall after Hu Sifeng failed to deal with him, and the Central Treasury Envoy later gave Hu Sifeng one more month to repay the debt, with ten-percent daily penalty interest afterward.
• An Earth Witch gravely wounded Hu Sifeng, and Uncle Long traced the attack to Wuyuan witches angered by Hu Sifeng’s treatment of Xu Suijie.
• Hu Sifeng learned Xu Yi had requested an audience and decided to attack him, despite Uncle Long’s warning.
• Hu Sifeng unleashed the Hu family’s Three Dragon Art, but Xu Yi blasted him into the hall wall and left him badly injured.
• Xu Yi said he had a way to repay Yiwen Pavilion’s debt and the Central Authority’s taxes, then urged Hu Sifeng to set aside their grudges and work with him.
• Uncle Long privately advised Hu Sifeng to hear Xu Yi out because he likely had planned for this situation.

Xu Yi used Hu Sifeng’s debts and growing troubles to negotiate his resignation as Hall Master of Wuji Hall, offering to take over the liabilities. Hu Sifeng considered the deal, while Xu Yi’s path to the position remained uncertain.

• Xu Yi offered to work with Hu Sifeng and suggested he give up the Hall Master position, but Hu Sifeng initially accused him of coveting it.
• After Xu Yi started to leave, Hu Sifeng called him back and said he was willing to resign if compensated for his expenses.
• Xu Yi outlined Hu Sifeng’s debts and offered to negotiate with Yiwen Pavilion to take over them, while refusing to cover the full amount Hu had demanded.
• Hu Sifeng questioned how Xu Yi could be sure he would become Hall Master, and Xu Yi replied that Hu’s efforts would determine whether it happened.
• Huangmei remarked from inside the Starry Sky Ring that someone was shameless again.

Xu Yi negotiated to take over Hu Sifeng’s debts in exchange for Hu Sifeng’s help securing the position of master of Wuji Hall. He persuaded Yiwen Pavilion to transfer the debt to him and extend the repayment deadline, then arranged to sign the agreement as Wuji Hall’s incoming master.

• Xu Yi demanded that Hu Sifeng support his succession as master of Wuji Hall in exchange for assuming his debts, and Hu Sifeng agreed to contact his clan.
• Hu Sifeng contacted Yiwen Pavilion to negotiate repayment, prompting Li Yi to arrive and object to changing the debtor.
• Xu Yi offered eighteen great wu as guarantors and presented two sealed treasures as collateral for the debt.
• Li Yi consulted Yiwen Pavilion, then approved transferring the debt to Xu Yi and extending the repayment date by two months.
• Xu Yi insisted on signing a new debt-transfer contract under his title as Wuji Hall’s incoming master.

Suijie became Hall Master of Wuji Hall after Hu Sifeng resigned, then invited merchant associations to help establish a new city beside Jubao Lake. The chapter ended with Xu Yi proposing that they open branches there to trade the Wu tribe’s abundant resources.

• Hu Sifeng persuaded the Hu family to accept Suijie taking over the debt, and the debtor change was cleared within two days.
• Hu Sifeng resigned, and the central authorities appointed Suijie as Hall Master of Wuji Hall.
• Xu Yi reassured Wang Rongrong, Gu Beiting, and Old Sui that he would leave hall affairs to them while focusing on repaying his debts.
• Xu Yi received two portions of Dao Source and urged Wuji Hall’s people to avoid trouble and keep the peace.
• Xu Yi met with merchant association heads at Hesheng Studio and proposed building a city beside Jubao Lake where they could open branches and trade Wu tribe resources.

Xu Yi established Treasure Gathering City as a trade hub linking the Wu Clan with Human Race merchant guilds, and its success drew in merchants, cultivators, and valuable resources. With guild leaders seeking a management council, he proposed selling them shares and left the negotiations to grow over the next three days.

• Xu Yi persuaded more than thirty merchant guilds to open branches in a new city connecting Wu Clan resources with Human Race traders.
• Xu Yi mobilized the four guards to build Treasure Gathering City in less than a day, and the guilds agreed to open their branches there.
• A sale of thirty-thousand-year-old Five Elements Grass drew cultivators and Wu Clan members to the city, while Xu Yi enforced strict laws and security.
• Xu Yi sold rare spirit herbs and collected over three thousand Profound Yellow Essences in taxes as trade flourished.
• Shopkeeper Tong and the guild heads proposed a joint management body, and Xu Yi agreed to a council whose shares would depend on investment.
• Xu Yi asked Shopkeeper Tong and the guild heads to discuss the plan and return in three days, while news of the proposed council spread and the city continued to grow.

Xu Yi established Treasure Gathering City’s management council, earned a large surplus, and settled into a routine of governing and cultivation. The city also gave the Witch Clan easier access to trade and alchemists, further strengthening Xu Yi’s standing as Saint of Wu Yuan.

• Hu Sifeng asked Xu Yi to let the Phoenix Society join Treasure Gathering City’s management council and offered to restructure the Hu family’s debt; Xu Yi agreed and learned that someone from Heavenly King Zheng Yi’s Mansion had intervened at Yiwen Pavilion.
• More than a hundred merchant guild leaders gathered at the Warm Breeze Hall, where Xu Yi announced fair council rules and Shopkeeper Tong proposed elections with rotating leadership to resolve concerns over shares and influence.
• Xu Yi collected over one hundred and sixty thousand Profound Yellow Essence, paid debts and subordinates, and kept around forty thousand for himself before beginning secluded cultivation.
• Xu Yi delegated his duties at Wuji Hall and the Traveler Department, spent most of his time cultivating on Empty Island, and occasionally refined Witch Pills for the Witch Clan.
• Treasure Gathering City made it easier for the Witch Clan to sell resources and hire alchemists, reducing demand for Xu Yi’s Witch Pill refining by nearly ninety-nine percent.

After five years of steady cultivation and reading, Xu Yi watched over Qiu Wa as she awakened her spirit and showed off her powerful Green Vine spell. Qiu Wa took Desolate Charm away to play, and Xu Yi found them happily building a tower together.

• Xu Yi spent five years cultivating, reading, and maintaining Wuyuan, but nearly two hundred thousand Profound Yellow Essence was still not enough for him to enter the Domain Realm.
• After more than ten days of watching over Qiu Wa in the Spiritual Plant Garden, Xu Yi saw her awaken amid Ten Thousand Zhang of Rosy Clouds.
• Qiu Wa bound Xu Yi with Green Vine that withstood his Crimson Flame True Art, then said she wanted to live in the garden.
• Qiu Wa asked Xu Yi to release Desolate Charm, bound him with Green Vine, and took him away to play.
• More than ten days later, Xu Yi found Qiu Wa and Desolate Charm playing together and building a wooden-block tower.