Recaps

Xu Yi defended his investigation into the Zhao family before Huaixi officials, presenting evidence linking Zhao Bingkun to the Azure Dragon Jade Pendant and the corpse-refining case. He then explained that Deputy Director Zhao had tried to kill him at Moon Lake, and began presenting evidence of their confrontation.

• Xu Yi explained how Xiong Jiukui’s crimes and denunciation had led investigators to Zhao Bingkun, while Jin Kuixing accused him of torture and abusing his authority.
• Xu Yi presented the Azure Dragon Jade Pendant and Shadow-Sound Pearl footage of its discovery in Zhao Bingkun’s residence, and Bei Ming confirmed the pendant’s identity.
• Xu Yi played a recording linking Zhao Bingkun to the corpse-refining case, prompting the Northern Court Envoy to order the Imperial Guard Department to search the west of the city.
• Xu Yi said Deputy Director Zhao had arranged to meet him at Moon Lake after learning of Zhao Bingkun’s involvement, then tried to silence him, forcing Xu Yi to kill him in self-defense.
• After Jiang Beiming demanded evidence, Xu Yi activated another Shadow-Sound Pearl and showed an image with sound.

Xu Yi’s Shadow-Sound Pearl footage exposed Zhao Tingfang’s attempt to kill him and led the Northern Court Envoy to condemn Zhao Tingfang and the Zhao Household. Jiang Beiming challenged Xu Yi’s methods, but the Envoy rebuked him and insisted on evidence.

• The hall watched footage of Zhao Tingfang attacking Xu Yi and denouncing the Sacred Court and Official Law, prompting the Northern Court Envoy and others to condemn him.
• The black-clad investigator reported that Zhao Bingkun had arranged the courtyard where a refined corpse was nurtured and that Xiong Jiukui had helped him buy blood.
• Jiang Beiming urged the Northern Court Envoy to stay and argued that Xu Yi’s methods of handling cases needed scrutiny.
• Xu Yi explained that he had recorded Zhao Tingfang in person as a precaution and defended his evidence against Jiang Beiming’s accusations of editing.
• The Northern Court Envoy told Jiang Beiming to stop making unsupported claims and stressed that the cases should be judged by evidence.

Jiang Beiming challenged Xu Yi’s account of Zhao Tingfang’s death, arguing that Xu Yi could not have killed a stronger opponent without help. Xu Yi admitted he had killed Zhao Tingfang and mocked Jiang Beiming’s reasoning, leaving the accusation unresolved.

• Jiang Beiming said he had solid evidence that Xu Yi lied about meeting Zhao Tingfang alone at Youyue Lake.
• Xu Yi argued that if Jiang Beiming falsely accused him, Jiang should face the same punishment he proposed for Xu Yi.
• Jiang Beiming questioned how Xu Yi could have killed Zhao Tingfang, who had formed a True Spirit Circle, and suggested Xu Yi had plotted with an accomplice.
• Xu Yi admitted that he had killed Zhao Tingfang and asked whether Jiang Beiming had witnessed anyone helping him.
• Jiang Beiming argued that Xu Yi must have had help and planned Zhao Tingfang’s death, while Xu Yi mocked him for spinning a story.

During the hearing over Zhao Tingfang’s case, Xu Yi accepted Jiang Beiming’s challenge and insisted on a life-and-death agreement. Jiang Beiming finally agreed to fight, leaving the dispute to be settled in the ring.

• Jiang Beiming questioned Xu Yi’s account of killing Zhao Tingfang, and Xu Yi challenged him to come down and test him.
• Guan Zongyuan tried to stop Jiang Beiming, while Han Xuedao ordered Xu Yi to prepare the case files for review.
• Jiang Beiming blocked Xu Yi from leaving and renewed his challenge after Xu Yi agreed to face him.
• Xu Yi demanded that they sign a life-and-death agreement, making Jiang Beiming hesitate as he considered Xu Yi’s hidden abilities.
• Jin Kuixing urged Jiang Beiming not to turn the contest into a fight to the death, but Han Xuedao backed Xu Yi’s proposal.
• Jiang Beiming accepted the challenge and agreed to fight Xu Yi.

Xu Yi fought Jiang Beiming in a duel to the death and overcame Jiang Beiming’s soul attacks and devastating Fire Talisman. The fight ended with Xu Yi killing Jiang Beiming and absorbing his true soul into the Soul-Summoning Banner.

• Jiang Beiming accepted Xu Yi’s challenge, and both men signed the death warrant before entering the arena.
• Jiang Beiming opened with soul attacks, forcing Xu Yi onto the defensive until Xu Yi revealed his Soul-Summoning Banner.
• Jiang Beiming unleashed a Level 1 Grade 3 Fire Talisman that trapped Xu Yi inside a barrier of blazing flames.
• Xu Yi used talismans and the iron essence to break through the barrier, suffering injuries and damaging the iron essence in the process.
• Xu Yi attacked Jiang Beiming with the Soul-Summoning Banner, killing him and drawing his true soul into the artifact.

After Xu Yi killed Jiang Beiming, the Discipline Department’s leaders and officials used the victory to rally around a chance to expand their authority and reform Huaixi’s bureaucracy. Han Xuedao proposed making Xu Yi Chief of the First Section, and Tong Potian supported giving him the position.

• Xu Yi’s battle with Jiang Beiming ended with Jiang Beiming dead, and the Northern Court Envoy, Jin Kuixing, and Xu Mingyuan departed.
• Han Xuedao called a meeting of the Discipline Department and asked everyone to discuss the day’s events.
• Feng Nuancheng praised Xu Yi’s handling of the Zhao family case and set the meeting’s supportive tone.
• Guan Zongyuan and Tong Potian urged the department to unite, investigate corruption, and seize the opportunity to strengthen its authority.
• Han Xuedao proposed appointing Xu Yi Chief of the First Section, and Tong Potian endorsed giving Xu Yi the proper position.

After Xu Yi became chief of the First Section, Deputy Envoy Cen told him Elder Qin wanted three mid-grade Water Spirit Stones from the Gloomy Forbidden Area. Back at Snow Plum Ridge, Xu Yi learned Zhao Xing and Zhou Rui hoped to transfer to the First Section and continue serving under him.

• After the meeting, Xu Yi met Deputy Envoy Cen, who invited him to talk at a residence in the rear hills.
• Deputy Envoy Cen told Xu Yi that Elder Qin approved of his recent actions and wanted him to seek three mid-grade Water Spirit Stones in the Gloomy Forbidden Area.
• Xu Yi agreed to prioritize finding the stones and considered what guidance or reward Elder Qin might offer him.
• Xu Yi returned to Snow Plum Ridge, where the First Division clerks celebrated his case and promotion to chief of the First Section.
• Zhao Xing and Zhou Rui asked Xu Yi to transfer them to the First Section so they could keep serving under him.

Xu Yi settled into his new post and confronted Gong Xiuhua, who had come to confirm that Xu Yi killed Liu Xiangdao. After Xu Yi removed a Yin Cha Worm from Gong Xiuhua, Gong Xiuhua realized his stepmother, Third Sister, had cursed him when he was young.

• Xu Yi officially took up his position at Hanchun Ridge and met with the First Section's officials and division deputies.
• Gong Xiuhua visited Cold Sun Peak and confronted Xu Yi about the Soul-Summoning Banner and Liu Xiangdao's death.
• Overcome by conflicting emotions, Gong Xiuhua drew the Abusive Demon Blade and stabbed himself in the chest.
• Xu Yi subdued Gong Xiuhua, removed a Yin Cha Worm from his chest, and revived him.
• Gong Xiuhua recognized that Third Sister, his stepmother, had infected him with the curse when he was young.

Xu Yi learned that Qu Ying and several colleagues wanted to join his expedition into the Gloomy Forbidden Area as miners, and he agreed to take them along. After Gong Xiuhua left in a disturbed state, Xu Yi urged Qu Ying to check on him, suspecting he was going to seek revenge over the Yin Cha Worm.

• Xu Yi greeted Qu Ying, who teased him and Gong Xiuhua before Gong Xiuhua abruptly departed.
• Qu Ying told Xu Yi that Qiu Dao Ming, Fei Si, Li Tong, Yang Jun, and she wanted to join his expedition into the Gloomy Forbidden Area.
• Xu Yi agreed to bring them along after Qu Ying explained they would swear not to claim any spirit ore and hoped to explore the area and help the team.
• Xu Yi asked Qu Ying to gather their colleagues and check on Gong Xiuhua, whom he believed had identified who planted the Yin Cha Worm.
• Qu Ying agreed to visit Gong Xiuhua with the others, then teased Xu Yi before leaving.

Xu Yi returned to Cold Sun Peak, where Yan Zi reached the peak of Qi Sea and Zhao Wuliang agreed to oversee her condensing Killing Intent. He and Steward Fang then planned to screen the five hundred recruits for the Sincere Grade, though Xu Yi remained unsure whether the strict standard would drive too many away.

• Xu Yi found Yan Zi meditating and learned she had advanced to the peak of Qi Sea, then shared a meal and an outing with her.
• Steward Fang and Zhao Wuliang arrived, and Xu Yi assigned Zhao Wuliang to help Yan Zi condense Killing Intent.
• Zhao Wuliang accepted the task and reported that the sect had recruited five hundred powerful Mid Soul Sensing Stage members.
• Xu Yi decided the recruits should join the Sincere Grade or be allowed to leave, reassuring Zhao Wuliang that his early loyalty would always matter.
• After Zhao Wuliang departed, Steward Fang praised him, and Xu Yi asked whether Fang was confident the Sincere Grade screening would keep the recruits from scattering.

Xu Yi and Steward Fang prepared for an expedition into the Gloomy Forbidden Area by arranging maps, mining tools, and protective formations. Xu Yi bought the Great Evolution Array of Rotation formation disc and returned to Cold Sun Peak to cultivate before the dangerous journey.

• Steward Fang advised Xu Yi to recruit trustworthy people and acquire maps of spirit mines left behind in the Gloomy Forbidden Area.
• Xu Yi tasked Steward Fang with arranging maps and mining equipment, while he took responsibility for obtaining a protective formation.
• Steward Fang explained that robbery and murder occurred in the Gloomy Forbidden Area, but Yang Venerate experts could not enter through the Sacred Court's portals.
• Xu Yi gave Steward Fang twenty thousand spirit stones and went to the armory to buy a formation.
• Xu Yi found the Great Evolution Array of Rotation formation disc priced at fifty thousand spirit stones, bought it, and returned to Cold Sun Peak to begin seclusion.

Gong Xiuhua returned to Tianyi Dao and confronted Su Qin and Gong Dao Yi over the Yin Cha Worm curse that had been planted in him. After learning that Gong Dao Yi had concealed the truth, he renounced his family and attacked Su Qin, leaving Gong Dao Yi to take the blade strike.

• Xu Yi ended his reading when the voice-transmission ball rang again.
• Gong Xiuhua returned to Tianyi Dao and found Su Qin, Gong Dao Yi, Gong Zhongyue, and Su Guangzhao gathered in the main hall.
• Gong Xiuhua questioned Su Qin about the Yin Cha Worm, and Gong Dao Yi's reaction revealed that he had known she cursed him.
• Gong Xiuhua renounced Gong Dao Yi and the Gong name, then threatened to kill Su Qin.
• Gong Xiuhua summoned the Abusive Demon Blade and slashed at Su Qin, but Gong Dao Yi stepped in front of her and took the strike.

Gong Xiuhua attacked Su Qin and fought off his father and Tianyi Dao members before Gong Dao Yi captured him. Qu Ying and her companions arrived, but after Su Qin described the fight as a family matter, Qu Ying hesitated to intervene.

• Gong Xiuhua attacked Su Qin, but Su Guangzhao intercepted his true soul as Gong Dao Yi joined the fight.
• Gong Xiuhua defeated Su Guangzhao's magical weapon and wounded Gong Dao Yi before Tianyi Dao members rushed in to seize him.
• Gong Dao Yi ensnared Gong Xiuhua with a magical net and sealed his blood and qi, while Gong Zhongyue urged that he be imprisoned.
• Su Qin defended Gong Xiuhua and persuaded Gong Dao Yi to leave him in her care, claiming someone had manipulated him.
• Qu Ying, Li Tong, Fei Si, and Qiu Dao Ming arrived as Gong Xiuhua's examination-graduate friends, but Qu Ying held back after Su Qin called the conflict a family affair.

Gong Dao Yi tried to keep Gong Xiuhua from his companions, but Fei Si and the others insisted on seeing him. Su Jianming arrived and invoked military authority, escalating the standoff as Qu Ying and Qiu Dao Ming tried to stall Gong Dao Yi and alert Boss Xu.

• Gong Dao Yi tried to take Gong Xiuhua to Master Chu, but Qiu Dao Ming and the others refused to let him go without seeing their companion.
• Fei Si confronted Gong Dao Yi and demanded access to Gong Xiuhua, while Su Qin warned the visitors to respect the Gong household.
• Su Jianming arrived and ordered Gong Dao Yi to prepare to welcome the Tiger Fang Guard Vice Commander, but Fei Si blocked his way.
• Su Jianming summoned Silver Armored Soldiers and threatened to deal with the group under military law, while Fei Si realized the confrontation had become dangerous.
• Qiu Dao Ming told Qu Ying to notify Boss Xu, and Qu Ying said she had already sent word and urged them to stall Gong Dao Yi.

Qu Ying, Qiu Dao Ming, Fei Si, and Li Tong fought to keep Gong Dao Yi from releasing his True Soul while waiting for the Vice Commander. Tong Fengchao arrived and, after Fei Si claimed they had come to visit Gong Dao Yi’s sick son, began to question the situation.

• Qiu Dao Ming and Qu Ying staged a fight, while Li Tong and Fei Si joined in and blocked the exits.
• Su Jianming ordered the walls broken, but the four fighters repositioned around Gong Dao Yi and attacked his spiritual platform with True Soul fragments.
• Gong Dao Yi struggled to hold off the soul attacks until Tong Fengchao arrived and blasted the four Star Officials away with soul power.
• Fei Si identified himself as Fei Changfang and told Tong Fengchao that Gong Dao Yi was refusing to let them see his supposedly ill son.
• Tong Fengchao doubted Su Jianming’s account, while Gong Dao Yi struggled to explain what was happening.

Xu Yi intervened when Tong Fengchao’s forces tried to take control of the dispute, overpowering the golden-armored soldiers and punishing Su Guangzhao. He freed Gong Xiuhua from Gong Dao Yi’s grasp, but Gong Xiuhua remained trapped in an Attached Spirit Sky Snail web that required a True Spirit Circle cultivator to break.

• Tong Fengchao requisitioned the location for the Tiger Fang Guard and ordered everyone to withdraw, while declining to interfere in the family dispute.
• Xu Yi arrived and repelled the golden-armored soldiers’ killing intent, then knocked Su Guangzhao unconscious and crushed his Shadow-Sound Pearl.
• Xu Yi confronted Gong Dao Yi and struck him away, freeing Gong Xiuhua from his grasp.
• Gong Xiuhua coughed up heart’s blood but remained bound in the web, and Qiu Dao Ming explained that only a True Spirit Circle cultivator could destroy the Attached Spirit Sky Snail’s divided soul and release him.

Xu Yi confronted Gong Dao Yi and Tong Fengchao over taking Gong Xiuhua to the Discipline Department, then used a Shadow-Sound Pearl to stop Tong from forcing him out. The chapter left Tong panicking as Xu Yi publicly questioned whether he had made a deal with Gong Dao Yi in exchange for military funding.

• Xu Yi said he had come to take Gong Xiuhua in for questioning, while Su Jianming persuaded Gong Dao Yi not to resist because there was no evidence against her.
• Xu Yi asked Tong Fengchao to help break Gong Xiuhua free, then challenged him to return to the Discipline Department when Tong refused.
• Su Jianming urged Tong Fengchao to use his military authority against Xu Yi, and Tong ordered the Seventh Squad of the A-Character Unit to clear the hall.
• Xu Yi produced a Shadow-Sound Pearl and repeatedly asked whether Tong intended to conduct official business there, leaving Tong too wary to answer.
• Xu Yi said he would leave if Tong was conducting business, then challenged him to explain why he was driving them out and suggested he had an unspeakable deal with Gong Dao Yi over army sponsorship.

Tong Fengchao abandoned his attempt to interfere after Xu Yi exposed his fear of the Discipline Department, and Xu Yi freed Gong Xiuhua before leaving him to settle matters with his family. Gong Xiuhua crippled Gong Zhongyue and renounced the Gong family, leaving Gong Dao Yi and Su Qin to face his departure.

• Tong Fengchao stormed away and dismissed Su Jianming from the march after Su Jianming kept urging him to stay.
• Xu Yi sent the Soul Sensing Realm experts away, freed Gong Xiuhua from his restraints, and departed.
• Su Qin begged Gong Xiuhua for forgiveness, while Gong Xiuhua confronted Gong Dao Yi about whether he had planned to cripple him.
• Gong Xiuhua seized Gong Zhongyue and struck his lower abdomen, crippling him as Gong Dao Yi and Su Qin rushed to intervene.
• Gong Xiuhua declared that he no longer existed in the world and left, telling Gong Dao Yi their debts were settled.

Gong Xiuhua left Gong Zhongyue alive but destroyed his Qi Sea, setting off a violent family breakdown. Xu Yi reunited with his companions, hosted them at Cold Sun Peak, then returned to seclusion to study Zhao Tingfang’s notes and investigate his True Spirit Circle.

• Gong Xiuhua vanished after leaving Gong Zhongyue alive, but Gong Zhongyue soon discovered that his Qi Sea had been destroyed.
• Gong Zhongyue blamed Su Qin and beat her while Gong Dao Yi erupted in fury.
• Xu Yi explained that he had bluffed Tong Fengchao about the Official Law to make him leave Tianyi Dao’s main hall.
• Xu Yi and his companions met Gong Xiuhua, then gathered at Cold Sun Peak for a feast that lasted until dawn.
• Xu Yi sealed his cave and resumed studying Zhao Tingfang’s notes, identifying the halo above his True Soul Figure as the True Spirit Circle but remaining puzzled by his soul thoughts’ limited power.

Xu Yi decided to seek the Thunder Spirit Land to perfect his True Spirit Circle and prepared wind talismans for the Gloomy Forbidden Area. Far away, Young Master Xu struggled with her feelings for Xu Yi as Old Qin urged her to let the impossible affair go and warned her not to endanger him.

• Xu Yi concluded that he needed to achieve True Soul Complete to be promoted to Third-rank Star Official and decided to seek the Thunder Spirit Land.
• Xu Yi returned to preparations for mining the Spirit Mine Vein and began refining Swift Body Talismans and Swift Wind Talismans.
• Young Master Xu listened to Old Qin's flute and gave him her last flask of Drunken Beauty before her arranged marriage into the Bai family.
• Old Qin reminded Young Master Xu of his prophecy and urged her to keep her feelings for Xu Yi as a memory, warning that the Exalted One had already shown Xu Yi favor.

Young Master Xu defied the Exalted One’s plans and asked Old Qin to arrange something for her, while Xu Yi prepared for his expedition and received a mysterious visitor promising him a great fortune. The visitor, Gu Mou, had yet to reveal what he was offering.

• Young Master Xu insisted that the Exalted One let her capture the Earth Soul on her own terms, and Old Qin agreed to report her request.
• After deciding to marry if the man had no feelings for her, Young Master Xu told Old Qin what she wanted and left him stunned.
• During seven days of seclusion, Xu Yi made Swift Body and Swift Wind Talismans and worked out how to produce fire-element talisman paper.
• Old Cai confessed that he had kept a persistent visitor waiting, and Xu Yi told him to bring the man in.
• Xu Yi met the visitor, who introduced himself as Gu Mou and said Heaven intended to send Xu Yi a great fortune.

Xu Yi met Gu Mou, who offered information about a Spirit Mine Vein in the Gloomy Forbidden Area in exchange for an Earth Soul Talisman. Xu Yi rejected the price as unreasonable, leaving the deal unresolved.

• Gu Mou told Xu Yi that Old Yu had referred him and explained how they had built reputations as sources of information and opportunities.
• Gu Mou offered to sell Xu Yi the location of a Spirit Mine Vein that he claimed could yield at least five hundred thousand Spirit Stones.
• Gu Mou explained that decades of exploring the Gloomy Forbidden Area and collecting maps let him find the vein again, and promised not to charge Xu Yi if the search yielded nothing.
• Gu Mou demanded an Earth Soul Talisman as payment, and Xu Yi objected that the talisman was too valuable for the information offered.

Xu Yi agreed to partner with the middle-aged man in black robes, who spent more than twenty days teaching him about the Gloomy Forbidden Area and mining. When Steward Fang reported that several Yin Venerables wanted to join the expedition, the black-robed man warned that a Sincere Grade agreement might not keep them from betraying the team if they found a vast spirit mine.

• The middle-aged man in black robes offered Xu Yi his knowledge of the Gloomy Forbidden Area, Five Elements Spirit Mine Veins, and mining in exchange for an Earth Soul Talisman.
• Xu Yi tested the man by grabbing him and accusing him of working for the Chen family, then apologized and agreed to partner with him after the man passed the test.
• Xu Yi invited the man to Cold Sun Peak, where he taught Xu Yi about the Gloomy Forbidden Area for more than twenty days while Xu Yi studied fire-element Talisman Patterns at night.
• Steward Fang told Xu Yi that several Yin Venerables were willing to join the expedition and had agreed to sign a Sincere Grade agreement through a Martial Edict.
• Xu Yi approved Steward Fang's arrangements but the middle-aged man in black robes warned that powerful recruits might be tempted to betray them if they found a great quantity of spirit stones.

Xu Yi settled the rules for his mining team and decided to rent a dragon boat for their expedition into the Gloomy Forbidden Area. As the strange fog began to clear, he finalized arrangements with the team and met the Yin Venerables who agreed to join.

• Mr. Gu persuaded Xu Yi and Steward Fang to inspect Sincere Grade cultivators' Sumeru Rings and require Yin Venerables to take the Life-Death Gu.
• Xu Yi considered buying a large dragon boat, then realized he could rent one instead.
• Xu Yi told Steward Fang to organize the team and continued studying Spirit Mine Veins with Mr. Gu.
• Zhao Wuliang reported that the fog over the Gloomy Forbidden Area would disperse within two days, while Steward Fang reported that the team had accepted the new rules.
• Half of the six Yin Venerables left when they heard the conditions, and Xu Yi met the three who stayed and completed the formalities with them.

Xu Yi led a five-hundred-person group aboard Qiu Dao Ming’s Endless Flying Boat to enter the Gloomy Forbidden Area. After teleporting in, they found a dim, spiritually rich landscape, but the middle-aged man in black admitted he did not know where the Spirit Mine Vein was.

• Qiu Dao Ming provided the Endless Flying Boat for Xu Yi’s expedition, and Xu Yi assembled a group of five hundred people for the journey.
• Xu Yi’s party flew to Ren Kong City, completed the Sacred Court’s entry formalities, and entered a teleportation array aboard the dragon boat.
• Xu Yi and the others arrived in the Gloomy Forbidden Area beneath a gray, hazy sun and identified a Blue Separation Flower to determine direction.
• When Xu Yi asked which way to go, the middle-aged man in black admitted he had never visited that area and could not locate the Spirit Mine Vein.