Recaps

At Wang Rongrong’s gathering, Suijie proposed undermining Xu Yi’s official position by arranging for him to liaise with the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way’s Mansion. The group agreed to recruit Kuang Wenyuan, but a violent shockwave then struck the hall, and everyone rushed outside to find three men in black destroyed by a beam of light.

• Biao Cen demanded that Xu Yi be killed, but Gu Beiting and Old Sui warned that assassinating a Southern Heavenly Court official could unite its leaders against them.
• Suijie argued that Xu Yi’s official status was his golden body and proposed attacking his position within the Traveler Department.
• After the others insisted on hearing the full plan, Suijie proposed having Xu Yi liaise with the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way’s Mansion.
• Wang Rongrong ordered Suijie and Gu Beiting to work together to win over Kuang Wenyuan and help transfer Xu Yi to the Third Battalion.
• A shockwave struck the hall, and Biao Cen blocked it before the group rushed outside and saw a beam of light destroy three men in black.
• Jin Xiu and Jin Xian raced over to Left Peak after noticing the commotion.

Suijie confronted Xiong Wan at Wuji Cliff and killed his cloaked companion with the Sui clan's Origin Fire, revealing his formidable strength to Wang Rongrong and the others. After Suijie settled at Shaoqing Mansion, Wang Rongrong discussed cultivating him as an ally, while Huangmei finished digesting the Witch Spirit and Xu Yi's real reason for attacking Xiong Wan was revealed.

• Jin Xiu and Jin Xian apologized to Wang Rongrong for the trouble at Wuji Cliff, then Suijie rushed to the Left Peak and fought Xiong Wan and a cloaked companion.
• Suijie accused Xiong Wan of causing trouble, but Jin Xiu and Wang Rongrong urged him not to fight because Xiong Wan was a guest of Wuji Hall's Master.
• Suijie unleashed the Sui clan's Origin Fire, burned Xiong Wan's companion to ashes, and seized the man's Witch Spirit before Xiong Wan vanished.
• Wang Rongrong escorted Suijie to Shaoqing Mansion, then discussed Suijie's cultivation and possible alliance with Gu Beiting and Old Sui.
• Huangmei finished digesting the Witch Spirit, and the narration revealed Xu Yi had attacked because Xiong Wan had hired an assassin to kill Xu Yanzhi.

Xu Yi learned that Xiong Wan was secretly seeking Wuji Hall’s help to defeat Xu Yanzhi in the contest for Lord Shaoqing, and he planned to aid her after handling his current scheme. He secured funding from Wang Rongrong’s faction and infiltrated Kuang Wenyuan’s Spring Hut disguised as Lu Yuan.

• Huangmei explained that Xiong Wan was recruiting Wuji Hall to help Commander Xiong win the excavation contest against Xu Yanzhi.
• Xu Yi decided to deal with his immediate plan before preparing to help Xu Yanzhi.
• Xu Yi persuaded Gu Beiting to raise a thousand Profound Yellow Essences to help him approach Kuang Wenyuan.
• Gu Beiting reported Xu Yi’s plan to Wang Rongrong, who released the funds.
• Xu Yi disguised himself as Lu Yuan and passed the Spring Hut gatekeeper to enter Kuang Wenyuan’s base.

Xu Yi disguised himself as Suijie and pressured Kuang Wenyuan into helping transfer Xu Yi to a post where he could be dealt with. Kuang agreed, and Xu Yi left disguised as Lu Yuan.

• Xu Yi entered Spring Hut disguised as Suijie and told Kuang Wenyuan that they shared an enemy in Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi explained Wang Rongrong’s grudge and said he wanted Xu Yi transferred to handle matters involving the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way's Mansion.
• Kuang Wenyuan demanded a reward and threatened to arrest Suijie, but Xu Yi revealed he had recordings that could implicate Kuang.
• Xu Yi argued that cooperating would benefit them both, and Kuang Wenyuan agreed to rid the Traveler Department of Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi transformed into Lu Yuan and left, while Kuang Wenyuan summoned the gatekeeper but decided not to change Spring Hut’s security.

Kuang Wenyuan arranged Xu Yi’s rapid transfer to the Third Battalion, then sent him on a dangerous assignment. Xu Yi publicly accused Kuang of abusing his authority, so Kuang had him seized and taken to the court prison.

• Kuang Wenyuan fortified the Vast Sea Northern Court’s gates and arranged Xu Yi’s transfer after He Beiyi agreed to sign the paperwork.
• He Beiyi sent Jiang Yushu to warn Xu Yi, but Kuang secured approval quickly, and Xu Yi began his post at the Third Battalion two days later.
• Xu Yi attended Wang Rongrong’s banquet, then left for Wuyuan the following morning.
• Kuang Wenyuan arrived at the Third Battalion and ordered Xu Yi to go to South Mountain over the Heavenly King’s Third Guard crossing the Golden Light Line.
• Xu Yi challenged Kuang Wenyuan publicly, accusing him of using his office to settle a personal score.
• Kuang Wenyuan ordered Lu Yuan and Zhang Beiyue to seize Xu Yi, who did not resist as they dragged him to the court prison.

Kuang Wenyuan realized Xu Yi had provoked him into a public confrontation that could damage his reputation, then sought help from the Personnel Department and Protocol Department to contain the fallout. He began planning a slower retaliation while Lu Yuan and Zhang Beiyue prepared to monitor Xu Yi and investigate in Qiyu City.

• Kuang Wenyuan dismissed Jiang Yushu and the other junior officials, then discussed Xu Yi's intentions with Lu Yuan and Zhang Beiyue.
• Lu Yuan explained that Xu Yi had used his fame as the Empty Guest to make Kuang's real actions look like mistreatment, putting the Chief Censor under public scrutiny.
• Kuang Wenyuan contacted allies and arranged for the Personnel Department to reprimand Xu Yi and the Protocol Department to confirm it had selected him for the assignment.
• Kuang Wenyuan told Zhang Beiyue to watch South Mountain and Xu Yi's movements, and sent Lu Yuan to Qiyu City to meet someone at the Xifeng Wine Tower.

Xu Yi, disguised as Suijie, met Lu Yuan to negotiate Kuang Wenyuan’s covert plan against Xu Yi. He used their need to preserve Kuang’s reputation to demand payment for changing the plan, leaving Lu Yuan to consider his demand for three to five thousand pieces of Profound Yellow Essence.

• After being reprimanded and released from prison, Xu Yi received the Protocol Department’s assignment to handle the South Mountain dispute and went to Qiyu City.
• At Xifeng Wine Tower, Xu Yi met the cloaked Lu Yuan, who contacted him on Kuang Wenyuan’s behalf and urged a slower plan against Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi argued that Wang Shaoqing’s side wanted to move quickly, while Lu Yuan said Kuang Wenyuan needed to avoid making Xu Yi’s accusations appear true.
• Lu Yuan threatened to end their cooperation, but he realized Xu Yi knew Kuang Wenyuan could not back out after the plan had been set in motion.
• Xu Yi offered to accommodate Kuang Wenyuan’s slower approach if Lu Yuan’s side paid three to five thousand pieces of Profound Yellow Essence.

After refining Dao Source, Xu Yi swallowed Biao Wei's Blood Freeze and unexpectedly awakened a Witch Spirit, transforming into a powerful Great Witch with a mysterious human-shaped form. Huang Mei suspected Xu Yi possessed the extinct Heavenly Witch Body and advised him to move the Sui clan's Origin Fire into his body.

• Xu Yi finished refining Dao Source and realized his Dao Fruits were close to advancing to fourth grade.
• Xu Yi felt an intense longing for Biao Wei's Blood Freeze and swallowed it, nearly dying as its blood energy tore through his body.
• Xu Yi merged his two Fate Wheels into Clear Light, which turned the destructive blood energy into power and strengthened the vortices in his body.
• Huang Mei realized Xu Yi had developed a Witch Spirit and said the change supported the legend that humans and demons descended from the Witch Race.
• Xu Yi activated his blood energy and transformed into a giant with a human body and face, discovering a new form of power.
• Huang Mei told Xu Yi to store the Sui clan's Origin Fire inside his body, and Xu Yi welcomed the prospect of controlling it more easily.

Xu Yi manipulated Lu Yuan into agreeing to pay two thousand Profound Yellow Essence, then used news about Kuang Wenyuan to turn Wang Rongrong’s allies against him. The group debated how to proceed with their campaign against Xu Yi after learning Kuang demanded a large payment and wanted to keep Xu Yi from being transferred.

• Xu Yi negotiated with Lu Yuan and secured a promise of two thousand Profound Yellow Essence.
• Xu Yi visited Wang Rongrong’s residence, where Gu Beiting described the guards assembled near South Mountain to attack Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi told the gathering that Kuang Wenyuan might arrange Xu Yi’s transfer out of the Third Battalion.
• Wang Rongrong urged Xu Yi to explain Kuang’s terms, while Biao Cen criticized Xu Yi for wanting to withdraw.
• Xu Yi said Kuang demanded a gradual campaign and three to five thousand Profound Yellow Essence to preserve his reputation and prevent Xu Yi’s transfer, prompting the group to curse Kuang.

Xu Yi deceived Wang Rongrong into handing over four thousand Profound Yellow Essence by posing as an intermediary with Kuang Wenyuan. He then reached the South Mountain negotiation hall, where Wang demanded that Xu Yi’s side withdraw and left him feigning shock.

• Xu Yi persuaded Wang Rongrong to give him two thousand Profound Yellow Essence to deliver to Kuang Wenyuan’s side.
• Xu Yi met Lu Yuan in Qiyu City, collected the essence, and told Wang Rongrong that he had fulfilled his mission while claiming he would wait for further messages.
• Wang Rongrong praised Suijie’s talents to Gu Beiting and Old Sui, then invited them to watch his meeting with Xu Yi.
• After pocketing four thousand Profound Yellow Essence, Xu Yi arrived at the negotiation hall atop South Mountain and confronted Wang Rongrong about joining forces with Kuang Wenyuan.
• Wang Rongrong demanded Xu Yi’s unconditional withdrawal from the southern foothills and the surrounding three thousand li, then left as his followers praised him and mocked Xu Yi.

Xu Yi kept pretending to be cornered by Wang Rongrong and Kuang Wenyuan while steering their plot toward a final assault, but Xiao Tao arrived to reveal that her Chief Inspector had decided to intervene. The chapter ended with Xu Yi asking what fire she planned to put out for him.

• After Xu Yi reported his failed South Mountain negotiations, Kuang Wenyuan publicly comforted him to appear magnanimous.
• Xu Yi continued shuttling between Wang Rongrong's negotiation hall and Kuang Wenyuan, enduring staged praise and written reprimands.
• Xu Yi, disguised as Suijie, warned Wang Rongrong's group that Xu Yi might have prepared a countermeasure, but they dismissed his concern.
• Wang Rongrong sent Suijie to tell Kuang Wenyuan that they planned to launch their final strike, and Xu Yi returned to the Vast Sea Northern Court expecting an assault by the next day.
• Xiao Tao told Xu Yi that her Chief Inspector had decided to put out the fire at the Traveler Department, leaving Xu Yi asking what she meant.

Xu Yi interrupted Kuang Wenyuan’s gathering and cursed him under the guise of paying his respects, enraging the Chief Censor but preventing him from immediately sending Xu Yi to prison. He then rebuked a young heir of the Cao family for feasting while war threatened the border.

• Xu Yi arrived at Spring Hut and heard Director Yu and Yi Bingwei performing for Kuang Wenyuan and his guests.
• Kuang Wenyuan urged the two women to play and dance without their veils and formal robes, but Xu Yi entered before they could comply.
• Xu Yi bowed three times to Kuang Wenyuan and claimed he was honoring him before a foretold bloody death.
• Kuang Wenyuan ordered Xu Yi seized, but Lu Yuan warned him that doing so would let Xu Yi escape the negotiations and Wang Rongrong’s planned strike.
• A youth in gold robes challenged Xu Yi, and Xu Yi identified him as the young master of the Cao family before condemning the gathering as unfilial amid the threat of war.

Xu Yi humiliated Kuang Wenyuan at a banquet and then defied his accusation of neglecting the South Mountain negotiations, vowing to stay there until the rebels withdrew. After leaving the court, Xu Yi received news that Xu Yanzhi had injured Lord Shaoqing in an attempted assassination and threatened Wang Rongrong.

• Xu Yi shamed Kuang Wenyuan and the gathered young masters with a poem, prompting them to leave Spring Hut in anger.
• Director Yu and Yi Bingwei argued with Xu Yi over their attempt to help him, then left him alone at Leisure Pavilion.
• Kuang Wenyuan summoned Xu Yi to the central hall and threatened to remove him from office if he failed to end the South Mountain standoff.
• Xu Yi accused unnamed officials of arranging the clashes and vowed not to leave South Mountain until the Imperial Dao rebel army withdrew.
• Xu Yi received Gu Beiting's message that Xu Yanzhi had injured Lord Shaoqing in an assassination attempt and threatened Wang Rongrong.

Xu Yi confronted Wang Rongrong and his allies at the negotiating hall, claiming he could control the Five Elements Spirit despite their belief that Biao Wei's witch power governed it. He demonstrated his control, leaving the assembled conspirators stunned and Biao Cen demanding an explanation.

• Xu Yi arrived at the negotiating hall, where Wang Rongrong had gathered the people involved in the hunt for him.
• Biao Cen mocked Xu Yi, but Xu Yi taunted the group and asked why Suijie was absent.
• Xu Yi revealed that the Five Elements Spirit was the only card he had and accused Wang Rongrong of breaking their supposed peace.
• Wang Rongrong summoned Gu Beiting and Old Sui, who brought the Five Elements Spirit in an open brocade box.
• Xu Yi raised the Five Elements Spirit and made it shine, stunning Wang Rongrong and Biao Cen.
• Biao Cen insisted the demonstration was impossible because Biao Wei's witch power was supposed to control the Five Elements Spirit.

Xu Yi pressured Wang Rongrong’s group over the damaged Five Elements Spirit, then negotiated with Suijie for its restoration. Suijie returned with Xu Yi’s demand of five thousand Profound Yellow Essences and an end to the South Mountain standoff, and Wang Rongrong urged him to accept.

• Xu Yi dismissed Wang Rongrong’s attempts to explain and said he would discuss terms with Suijie at Xifeng Wine Tower in Qiyu City.
• Old Sui blamed Kuang Wenyuan for exposing their plans, while Wang Rongrong contacted Suijie and offered at most three thousand Profound Yellow Essences.
• Suijie arrived and apologized to Wang Rongrong, then recounted how he had warned Xu Yi about Kuang Wenyuan’s plans and the threat to Xu Yi’s Official Status.
• Suijie said Xu Yi had demanded eight thousand Profound Yellow Essences and an end to the South Mountain standoff, then left after Suijie countered with five thousand.
• Wang Rongrong panicked and told Suijie to contact Xu Yi and accept the five-thousand-essence demand.

Xu Yi negotiated the South Mountain Pact with Wang Rongrong, exchanged the restored Five Elements Spirit for two thousand Profound Yellow Essence, and left South Mountain. He then headed to Qiyu City to settle old scores, where Lu Yuan was waiting for him.

• Suijie convinced Wang Rongrong to hold firm, then returned with Xu Yi’s agreement to accept two thousand Profound Yellow Essence.
• Xu Yi arrived at South Mountain and had Wang Rongrong sign the pact barring the Heavenly King of the Imperial Way’s Mansion from crossing South Mountain’s southern foothills for ten years.
• Wang Rongrong paid Xu Yi two thousand pieces of Profound Yellow Essence, and Xu Yi returned the Five Elements Spirit for inspection.
• Shopkeeper Tong verified the Five Elements Spirit with the Source Spirit, while Wang Rongrong arranged to pay him within seven days.
• Xu Yi left South Mountain and traveled to Qiyu City, where Lu Yuan was waiting at Xifeng Wine Tower.

Xu Yi’s tip led to Lu Yuan’s capture, while Xu Yi escaped and earned major credit for signing the South Mountain Pact. The chapter ended with an imperial commendation granting Xu Yi a special promotion to Principal Sixth Rank once he met the requirements.

• Lu Yuan confronted Suijie over the South Mountain Pact, but armored soldiers arrived and accused him of colluding with Witches.
• Xu Yi used his Origin Fire to pin Lu Yuan down, then escaped the soldiers with the Shadow Clone Technique of Fire.
• Director Yu and Yi Bingwei discussed Xu Yi’s accurate tip and teased each other about their concern for him.
• Kuang Wenyuan accepted Lu Yuan’s absence calmly and prepared to greet an envoy arriving to reward Xu Yi.
• The Pacification Commissioner read a commendation that granted Xu Yi a direct promotion to Principal Sixth Rank once his cultivation and Dao Fruit qualified.

Xu Yi revealed that he had met the requirements to become a Principal Sixth Rank High Immortal, devastating Kuang Wenyuan. After Xu Yi exposed Lu Yuan’s capture, Kuang Wenyuan died, and Zhang Beiyue attacked Xu Yi.

• Kuang Wenyuan told Zhang Beiyue that Xu Yi’s provocations had helped him recognize the flaw in his cultivation.
• Xu Yi asked Lord Wei how to become a Principal Sixth Rank High Immortal, then revealed his Fourth Realm Divine Map and refined Fourth-Grade Dao Fruit.
• Zhang Beiyue realized Xu Yi qualified to become a High Immortal, while Kuang Wenyuan’s condition deteriorated.
• Xu Yi told Kuang Wenyuan and Zhang Beiyue that the Department of Governance had captured Lu Yuan, causing Kuang Wenyuan’s vital energy to collapse and killing him.
• Zhang Beiyue charged Xu Yi and struck him, prompting Lord Wei’s attendants to attack Zhang Beiyue.

Xu Yi received his formal appointment as Venerable Immortal Kongxu, along with a Daoist sanctuary and other rewards, after Zhang Beiyue’s attack and arrest. He Beiyi told Xu Yi that Hong Tianming might soon return to office and urged him to keep a low profile while preparing his sanctuary.

• Lord Wei left in anger after his attendants subdued Zhang Beiyue, while the officials feared Xu Yi’s strength and suspected he had pretended to be badly injured.
• An imperial envoy formally appointed Xu Yi Venerable Immortal Kongxu, granted him the rank of Principal Sixth Rank, named his island Empty Island, and bestowed other honors and resources.
• Zhang Beiyue was taken away to serve thirty years in the Criminal Department’s prison, and He Beiyi dismissed the assembled officials.
• He Beiyi thanked Xu Yi for taking down Kuang Wenyuan and said Hong Tianming was about to return to office.
• He Beiyi advised Xu Yi to keep the news secret, lie low, and prepare his Daoist sanctuary, then handed him a Sumeru Ring.

Xu Yi exploited the custom of congratulating someone who established a Daoist sanctuary, collecting Profound Yellow Essences from Vast Sea Northern Court colleagues. He Beiyi tried to stop his gift-harvesting spree, but Xu Yi finished with more than two thousand seven hundred essences and found that his celebrity made people view his greed as an amusing anecdote.

• He Beiyi gave Xu Yi eighty Profound Yellow Essences to celebrate his new Daoist sanctuary, and Xu Yi then pressured Jiang Yushu into giving thirty more.
• Xu Yi persuaded Jiang Yushu to accompany him around the Vast Sea Northern Court, where he solicited gifts from colleagues and threatened to publish a gift ledger for anyone who gave too little.
• Xu Yi hosted banquets for True Immortals and planned another for Senior Officials, prompting He Beiyi to intervene through the Criminal Division.
• He Beiyi asked Deputy Supervisor Zhang Cheng how people viewed Xu Yi's conduct, and Zhang said they treated it as a celebrity anecdote rather than ordinary greed.
• He Beiyi warned Xu Yi to be more careful, but Xu Yi revealed that he had collected more than two thousand seven hundred Profound Yellow Essences.

Xu Yi established his new Daoist ground on Empty Island and visited Wang Rongrong, whose authority had been weakened after the Heavenly King took away his military tally. Wang Rongrong and his allies feared further defections and asked Xu Yi for advice, leaving him to respond to their predicament.

• He Beiyi considered holding a belated ceremony with his Dao companion, but the prospect was abandoned as he worried about his official reputation.
• Xu Yi hired Shopkeeper Tong of Hesheng Studio to plan and set up his Daoist altar on Empty Island.
• Xu Yi visited Wang Rongrong's Shaoqing residence and learned that the Heavenly King had taken Wang Rongrong's military tally.
• Gu Beiting reported that Biao Cen and Gan Yong seemed to be switching allegiance to Xun Bingjun's side.
• Wang Rongrong reassured Xu Yi that he did not blame him and asked him to advise on how to handle the crisis.

Xu Yi persuaded Wang Rongrong to appoint him Wind Observer Envoy so he could draw Xun Bingjun and Biao Cen into a dispute with the Jin family. After reaching Wuji Hall, Xu Yi openly explained his and Wang Rongrong’s aims to Jin Xiu and Jin Xian, leaving the brothers uncertain how much to trust him.

• Xu Yi proposed that becoming Wind Observer Envoy would provoke Biao Cen and force Xun Bingjun to focus on the Jin family’s plans at Xiao Huan Mountain.
• Wang Rongrong agreed to the strategy and secured Xu Yi an appointment as Wind Observer Envoy.
• Xu Yi traveled to Wuji Cliff, where Jin Xiu and Jin Xian welcomed him while Jin Mang remained absent.
• Xu Yi invited the Jin brothers to a pavilion and revealed that Wang Rongrong hoped to use the Ancient Forbidden Area to win back the Heavenly King’s favor and retaliate against Xu Yanzhi.
• Jin Xian privately asked Jin Xiu how much of Xu Yi’s explanation was true.

Xu Yi secured a place for Suijie in Wuji Hall’s operation and brought Biao Cen in as a powerful ally, but the alliance quickly became tense when Suijie and Xiong Wan fought. Wang Rongrong warned Xu Yi to withdraw if the operation became too dangerous.

• Jin Xiu agreed to let Suijie join the operation in seven days, and Xu Yi promised to send Wuji Hall a powerful ally.
• Biao Cen was appointed Deputy Wind Observer Envoy and assigned to Wuji Hall, while Xun Bingjun escorted him to the welcoming banquet.
• Jin Xiu, Jin Xian, and Meng De discussed whether Biao Cen should join the operation and how to handle Suijie’s role.
• Jin Xiu’s men reported that Suijie and Xiong Wan had fought, and the two explained their clash to Jin Xiu and Biao Cen.
• Xiong Wan accepted Suijie’s participation after Jin Xiu intervened, while Wang Rongrong warned Xu Yi to withdraw if the mission became impossible.

Xu Yi joined Xiong Wan and Meng De’s force for the expedition to Xiao Huan Mountain, where they planned to kill Xu Yanzhi and break the Ancient Forbidden Formation. After challenging the group’s lack of a detailed plan, Xu Yi dismissed them as too arrogant to plot with, while Jin Xian privately worried that the Xiong clan’s dominance would leave their side unable to negotiate a good price.

• Xu Yi slept for six days to restore his strength while Biao Cen watched the quiet room and waited for him to emerge.
• On the day of the operation, Xu Yi mocked Biao Cen and Xiong Wan, then joined Meng De’s contingent aboard the Starry Sky Boat to Xiao Huan Mountain.
• Xiong Ling’s forces met the group at a cliff, where Xiong Ben showed them a map of the Ancient Forbidden Formation and described the plan to eliminate Xu Yanzhi.
• Xu Yi asked how they would counter Xu Yanzhi’s preparations, but Xiong Wan and his followers dismissed his concerns and mocked him.
• Xu Yi called the group arrogant fools and said there was no point plotting with them, while Jin Xian privately agreed with his concerns and worried about negotiating with the Xiong clan.

Xu Yanzhi used a Spirit Cannon array and a purported decree from Heavenly King Zheng Yi to turn Commander Xiong’s forces against him. Xu Yi exposed the decree as a possible bluff, but the accusation split Commander Xiong’s side, letting Meng De and Jin Xiu attack as the battle began.

• Xu Yanzhi’s Spirit Cannons trapped and battered the group, until Commander Xiong, Xiong Ben, and Biao Cen raised mountains to shield them.
• Xu Yanzhi presented an image of Heavenly King Zheng Yi ordering Commander Xiong back to headquarters and placing the others under Xu Shaoqing’s orders.
• Xu Yanzhi called on the Heavenly King’s followers to attack the Wuji Hall forces, but Xu Yi claimed she had forged the decree.
• Commander Xiong charged Xu Yanzhi and offered a reward for her head, while many of his subordinates hesitated.
• Meng De ordered his people to attack Commander Xiong’s divided forces, and Jin Xiu urged Jin Xian to join the fight.