Recaps

Xu Yi arrived at Dongshan Prefecture with his veteran soldiers and found Cheng Yan maimed after Zheng Bahuo punished him for refusing to kneel. When a gold-armored young man threatened Cheng Yan, Xu Yi killed him in front of Gong Chao and Zheng Bahuo, leaving the officials stunned.

• Xu Yi welcomed the newly recruited veterans into his army and warned them to obey his orders as they pledged their lives to him.
• Xu Yi led his troops to the Dongshan Prefecture government office, but Cheng Yan did not return after announcing their arrival.
• Xu Yi and his soldiers charged into the government compound, where three companies confronted them and Gong Chao praised their battle-hardened discipline.
• Xu Yi found Cheng Yan hanging from a flagpole with both lower legs broken, and Zheng Bahuo admitted he had punished him for refusing to kneel.
• After a gold-armored young man threatened to cut out Cheng Yan's tongue, Xu Yi endured their attacks and tore off the young man's head, shocking Gong Chao and the others.

Xu Yi defended Cheng Yan from Zheng Bahuo’s attack and prevented the confrontation from becoming an open battle. Gong Chao then proposed that Xu Yi and Zheng Bahuo compete for the post of prefect of Dongshan Prefecture.

• Xu Yi stopped Xu Yi from carrying out further harm to Cheng Yan, and Zhong Wu’s men moved to seize Cheng Yan.
• Xu Yi praised Cheng Yan for standing firm on his behalf, then blocked Zheng Bahuo’s purple lightning attack and challenged him to fight openly.
• Gong Chao intervened and urged Zheng Bahuo to restrain his anger, preventing the soldiers from starting a battle.
• Zheng Bahuo apologized to Gong Chao after learning that Xu Yi’s actions had left him with little room to retaliate.
• Gong Chao explained that Zhongshan Prefecture had sought reinforcements from both Shuanghe and Fanyang Prefectures, then proposed choosing the better candidate for prefect of Dongshan Prefecture.

Xu Yi challenged Gong Chao’s proposed contest for the Dongshan Prefectural Commander post and agreed to negotiate with Huang Kai on Fengqi Mountain by the next day. After arranging his troops, Xu Yi returned to camp, where Zhong Wu arrived with another report.

• Gong Chao proposed that Xu Yi and Zheng Bahuo compete to resolve the threat posed by Huang Kai, a powerful demon on Fengqi Mountain.
• Xu Yi offered Zheng Bahuo the first attempt, but Zheng Bahuo avoided facing Huang Kai and accepted Gong Chao’s revised terms.
• Gong Chao made Xu Yi’s task to meet Huang Kai, convey the authorities’ position, and present evidence by the next day.
• Xu Yi set up camp, briefed his squad leaders, and ordered his soldiers to avoid rash action.
• Zhong Wu entered Xu Yi’s tent, eager to share another report.

Zhong Wu warned Xu Yi that Huang Kai’s power and apparent immunity suggested hidden backing, but Xu Yi still went to Fengqi Mountain. As Gong Chao and Zheng Bahuo celebrated what they expected to happen to him, Huang Kai prepared to hear a newly captured troupe perform.

• Zhong Wu told Xu Yi that Huang Kai was a powerful demon with possible official backing and no obvious weakness.
• Xu Yi asked Zhong Wu to persuade Gong Chao to withdraw the assignment, and Zhong Wu hurried away on a pretext.
• Xu Yi left camp the next morning and entered Fengqi Mountain, while Gong Chao watched through his Ruyi Pearl.
• Gong Chao and Zheng Bahuo mocked Xu Yi and arranged for Prefectural Judge Cao to join them.
• Huang Cheng told Huang Kai that his men had captured a troupe able to perform The Tale of Long Bo, and Huang Kai ordered them to gather for the show.

Xu Yi arrived at Fengqi Mountain to meet Huang Kai, but the Great King’s spear tested him before he could speak. After Xu Yi caught the weapon and proved his strength, Huang Kai asked why he had laughed, and Xu Yi answered with a pointed lament.

• Huang Kai watched a play about Long Bo with his officials and rewarded the performers.
• A leopard-headed demon reported that the magistrate of Dongshan Prefecture had arrived, then revealed a half-eaten human hand and was killed by Huang Kai’s spear.
• Huang Kai ordered Xu Yi brought in and attacked him with the black steel spear.
• Xu Yi caught the spear barehanded and slammed it into the floor, breaking the tiles.
• Huang Kai praised Xu Yi’s skill and asked why he had laughed, and Xu Yi lamented that meeting Huang Kai was worse than hearing of him.

Xu Yi used stories of virtuous commoners to persuade Huang Kai that humans could not be treated as prey, and Huang Kai banned his monsters from devouring people. The hall then learned that Xu Yi was the newly appointed governor of Dongshan Prefecture, whose arrival threatened to bring a major storm to Fengqi Mountain.

• Huang Kai demanded that Xu Yi explain why he was unworthy of his reputation, and Xu Yi challenged him over the monsters eating people.
• Xu Yi told Huang Kai the story of Wang Huizhi, whose spontaneous snowy-night journey revealed his carefree and refined nature.
• After Huang Kai welcomed Xu Yi and offered him a seat, Xu Yi recounted Dai Feng’s acts of loyalty, generosity, and virtue.
• Huang Kai bowed to Xu Yi, admitted his ignorance, and decreed that any monster who devoured commoners would suffer the same fate as his vanished table.
• Huang Cheng asked Xu Yi’s name and purpose, recognizing him as the newly appointed governor of Dongshan Prefecture.

Xu Yi used stories of Guo Jie and Yuan She to stir Huang Kai’s admiration for heroic virtue before leaving Fengqi Mountain, while Gong Chao’s banquet with Zheng Bahuo and Prefectural Judge Cao continued as they waited for Xu Yi’s deadline to pass.

• Xu Yi praised Huang Kai’s willingness to learn, then recounted how Guo Jie showed mercy and humility despite insults and violence.
• Xu Yi told Huang Kai about Yuan She’s generosity, mourning, and aid to others, and urged him to look beyond the mountains and emulate worthy heroes.
• Xu Yi left the hall, and Huang Cheng feared that Xu Yi had won Huang Kai over and doomed Fengqi Mountain through persuasion.
• At the banquet, Gong Chao toasted Zheng Bahuo and Prefectural Judge Cao, who agreed to help and asked Gong Chao to hand Zheng the seal.
• Gong Chao said he would wait another quarter-hour for his agreement with Xu Yi to expire before calling soldiers to clear Zheng Bahuo’s name.

Xu Yi returned from Fengqi Mountain and demanded the seal, but Gong Chao and Zheng Bahuo tried to overturn their wager with Prefectural Judge Cao Neng’s support. Just as Zheng Bahuo claimed his family background gave him the advantage, Huang Kai arrived and praised Xu Yi, leaving everyone stunned.

• Xu Yi returned before the deadline and used a Ruyi Pearl to show images from Fengqi Mountain, while Zheng Bahuo challenged whether he had met Huang Kai.
• Xu Yi argued that the wager required him only to enter and leave Fengqi Mountain, but Cao Neng declared that official appointments could not be decided by a wager.
• Gong Chao invoked the rule favoring kin and the well-born, claiming Zheng Bahuo’s prominent family gave him the advantage over Xu Yi.
• Huang Kai entered the hall, praised Xu Yi as a hero, and bewildered Cao Neng, Gong Chao, and Zheng Bahuo.
• Zheng Bahuo angrily demanded to know who Huang Kai was.

Xu Yi secured the post of prefect of Dongshan after Huang Kai killed Zheng Bahuo and forced the remaining officials to hand over the seal and documents. Huang Kai disbanded Fengqi Mountain and set out to seek heroes, leaving Xu Yi in control of the prefectural office as he began addressing the region’s problems.

• Huang Kai recognized Zheng Bahuo’s arrogance and killed him with his black steel spear after Xu Yi yielded the prefecture to him.
• Huang Kai threatened Cao Neng and Gong Chao, and Gong Chao handed Xu Yi the seal and official documents.
• Xu Yi offered Zheng Bahuo’s scattered wish beads to Huang Kai, who told him to use them for the people of Dongshan Prefecture.
• Huang Kai revealed that he had disbanded Fengqi Mountain, gave Xu Yi an IOU promising to repay Dongshan, and left to travel the world.
• Xu Yi returned to the prefectural office, announced that he had become prefect, and ordered Zhong Wu to summon the district official who had stayed behind.

Xu Yi learned that war, population losses, and rampant unorthodox sacrifices had left Dongshan Prefecture in a dire financial state, while the authorities might still demand taxes based on prewar figures. He moved to secure his authority by appointing his own officials to rebuild the prefectural administration.

• Li Ping described the population losses in Anlu, Jingshan, and Fengle and explained why he had chosen to support Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi asked whether Dongshan Prefecture’s taxes could be reduced, but Li Ping warned that the authorities might calculate them using prewar population figures and effectively increase the burden.
• Li Ping revealed that rampant unorthodox sacrifices were draining wish power, making it impossible to estimate the remaining Wish Pearls.
• Li Ping advised Xu Yi to appoint section chiefs before the Prefectural Judge and Prefectural Guard Captain arrived and constrained his authority.
• Xu Yi assembled his officers and appointed Zhang Jian, Li Xin, Zhong Wu, and Li Ping as the Four Section Chiefs, filling the other named posts with his own men.

Xu Yi investigated the sudden decline in wish power while the Household prepared to send officials who might use the shortfall against him. Suspecting illicit shrines and facing threats on multiple fronts, he went to Fengle City to meet Zhong Wu and Li Xin.

• A Black Lotus Cult gathering discussed Xu Yi’s investigators and ordered its followers to be cautious while completing the Black Lotus incarnation.
• Li Ping told Xu Yi that wish power collection across the three cities had sharply declined despite the population returning to normal.
• Zhong Wu reported that he had found no illicit shrines, though he believed powerful people were concealing them.
• Cheng Yan informed Xu Yi that Prefectural Judge Cao would arrive the next morning with a new Prefectural Judge and Prefectural Guard Captain.
• Li Ping warned Xu Yi that the Household might use the falling wish power to accuse him of mismanaging Dongshan Prefecture.
• Xu Yi traveled to Fengle City and asked Zhong Wu about the suspicious locations he had recorded, with Li Xin present.

Xu Yi used his tracking methods to help Li Xin capture a Black Lotus Cult member, then learned Prefectural Judge Cao had arrived with Gong Chao and two other officials. As Cao forced his way into the office, Xu Yi prepared to face the confrontation.

• Xu Yi marked a cluster of suspicious locations on a map and sent Li Xin to intercept a young man in green.
• Li Xin captured the young man without casualties and brought Xu Yi a Black Lotus Token and seven wish pearls.
• Xu Yi gave the wish pearls to Li Xin to distribute among the soldiers and learned that Prefectural Judge Cao had arrived with Gong Chao and two other officials.
• Xu Yi told Cheng Yan to receive Cao and ask him to wait while he finished with a distinguished guest.
• Cao rejected the request, and a purple-robed man struck Cheng Yan aside as Cao and his companions advanced toward the main hall.

Cao Neng fled after Xu Yi made it seem as though Huang Kai was inside the government hall, then weighed the danger of confronting Xu Yi. He left the matter to Gong Chao while Qi Huan and Long Yu stayed behind, with Long Yu realizing Qi Huan had understood Cao Neng’s fear.

• Cao Neng and Gong Chao heard a staged commotion suggesting Huang Kai was inside the hall, and both fled.
• Gong Chao admitted Huang Kai might not have been there, and Cao Neng realized Xu Yi could have tricked him.
• Qi Huan and Long Yu caught up, and Gong Chao urged Cao Neng to prioritize the Prefect’s summons.
• Cao Neng decided not to confront Xu Yi openly and left with Gong Chao, telling Qi Huan and Long Yu to wait.
• Long Yu questioned Qi Huan for not urging Cao Neng to stay, then realized Qi Huan had seen the danger more clearly than he had.
• Gong Chao returned through the night after leaving with Cao Neng.

Gong Chao returned to Xu Yi’s office after Huang Kai’s departure and tried to make amends, but the discussion was interrupted when Li Xin reported that Kui Yong had been taken. Niu Wudao arrived to explain the prefectural office’s claim on the prisoner, leaving Xu Yi to confront a powerful official.

• Gong Chao, Qi Huan, and Long Yu returned to the shattered prefectural office and learned from Cheng Yan that Huang Kai had left.
• Gong Chao tried to curry favor with Xu Yi and introduced Qi Huan and Long Yu as the newly appointed Prefectural Judge and Prefectural Guard Captain.
• Cheng Yan and Li Xin rushed into the hall, and Li Xin told Xu Yi that prefectural office personnel had taken Kui Yong.
• Niu Wudao arrived, and Xu Yi asked why he had taken the criminal arrested by Li Xin’s department.
• Niu Wudao claimed Kui Yong was wanted in several major cases and said he had come to ensure the prisoner’s capture went smoothly.

Xu Yi faced pressure from Niu Wudao and Gong Chao, then survived a Spirit Cannon attack that destroyed the Prefectural Office. He took shelter in a tent among the ruins and considered the powerful officials and cult now threatening his rule.

• Gong Chao ordered Long Yu to investigate the slow gathering of wish-clouds in Dongshan’s three cities and report his findings by noon the next day.
• Niu Wudao failed to provoke Xu Yi and left, while Gong Chao accused Xu Yi of disrespecting the Prefectural Office.
• A Spirit Cannon blast aimed at Xu Yi destroyed the Prefectural Office and wounded Gong Chao, Qi Huan, and Long Yu after Xu Yi dodged.
• Fireworks appeared in the western sky, threatening Xu Yi, and Gong Chao left Dongshan Prefecture with Qi Huan and Long Yu withdrawing separately.
• Xu Yi moved into a tent among the ruins and reflected on the officials and cult opposing him.

Xu Yi learned about the heretical sects’ methods for gathering wish power from Pan Meiren, the former leader of the Dongxiang Cult. He revived the cult in Dongshan Prefecture to challenge the Black Lotus Cult, and former followers began returning.

• Xu Yi asked Li Ping about other heretical sects and learned that Pan Meiren, the imprisoned founder of the Dongxiang Cult, might still be alive.
• Xu Yi ordered Li Ping to bring Pan Meiren from prison, where he had been left near death after years of torture.
• Pan Meiren agreed to help Xu Yi oppose the Black Lotus Cult, and he explained how sects gathered wish power, including through Wish Power Golden Bodies.
• Xu Yi hosted Pan Meiren and listened as he described the Dongxiang Cult’s doctrine and its former strength.
• The Dongxiang Cult quietly returned under Pan Meiren’s leadership, and many of its former followers rejoined.

The Black Lotus Cult's Dongshan Branch discussed how to deal with Xu Yi and the rising Dongxiang Cult, then sent Qin Shousheng to meet its negotiators. The chapter ended with Qin learning that the visitor's identity remained uncertain, even if he might be one of Xu Yi's men.

• Protector Zhang and Qin Shousheng urged action against the Dongxiang Cult, while Kui Yong warned that Xu Yi was dangerous and the Sixth Senior Brother called for caution.
• Kui Yong proposed eliminating Xu Yi, and Qin Shousheng suggested exaggerating the threat to persuade prefectural officials to intervene.
• The Black Lotus Cult received word that Dongxiang Cult representatives wanted to negotiate a division of territory, and the Sixth Senior Brother chose Qin Shousheng to meet them.
• Qin Shousheng learned that the visitor was Xue Xiang, a first-realm aide to Pan Meiren, but the intelligence agents could not confirm whether he was one of Xu Yi's men.

Xu Yi infiltrated the Black Lotus Cult’s underground chamber, defeated Dong Xinchang and three others, and captured them for the Dongxiang Cult. He left the prisoners with Li Xin to interrogate, while Pan Meiren broke down after seeing his revenge accomplished.

• Qin Shousheng dismissed the idea that Xu Yi would come in person and received a challenge from the Black Lotus Cult for Dong Xinchang to meet Pan Meiren at Naotou Mountain.
• Xu Yi followed Qin Shousheng into the underground chamber and transformed into a golden-furred ape as Dong Xinchang, Protector Zhang, Kui Yong, and Qin Shousheng attacked.
• Xu Yi broke through the attackers’ defenses, saw through Dong Xinchang’s invisibility talisman, and captured all four men before escaping the chamber.
• Xu Yi brought the unconscious captives to Li Xin, Zhong Wu, Cheng Yan, Li Ping, and Pan Meiren, who recognized the Black Lotus Cult leaders and collapsed in tears.
• Xu Yi ordered Li Xin to take the captives away and deliver results within an hour.

Xu Yi received the Black Lotus Cult leaders' confessions and resources, then forced Dong Xinchang and Qin Shousheng to record written denunciations of the cult. He left Pan Meiren and Dong Xinchang bound together as allies under his authority.

• Li Xin reported that Dong Xinchang and Qin Shousheng had confessed, while Kui Yong and Protector Zhang had died under Pan Meiren's torture, and he delivered more than two hundred Wish Pearls and Dong Xinchang's nearly mature Wish Power Golden Body to Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi summoned Dong Xinchang, Qin Shousheng, and Pan Meiren, and Pan Meiren realized Xu Yi might use Dong Xinchang rather than kill him.
• Pan Meiren challenged Dong Xinchang and Qin Shousheng to prove their loyalty by writing confessions denouncing the Black Lotus Cult and having Xu Yi record them with the Ruyi Pearl.
• Qin Shousheng and then Dong Xinchang wrote the confessions under pressure, and Xu Yi recorded both.
• Xu Yi brought Dong Xinchang and Pan Meiren's hands together and told them to cooperate in serving him.

Xu Yi secured Dong Xinchang and Qin Shousheng’s help in managing the Black Lotus Cult in Dongshan and completing the Wish Power Golden Body. Meanwhile, Cao Neng learned of the turmoil in Dongshan and prepared to use it against Xu Yi, leaving others to lead the charge.

• Xu Yi made Pan Meiren and Dong Xinchang cooperate, then asked Dong Xinchang to assess the Black Lotus Cult’s situation.
• Qin Shousheng proposed quietly taking control of the remaining cultists, while Dong Xinchang gave Xu Yi a list of people planted in the prefectural government.
• Dong Xinchang offered to turn in the Wish Power Golden Body, but Xu Yi chose to have him help complete it instead.
• Xu Yi dispatched men to gather the cultists, and the group infused the Wish Power Golden Body with faith until it turned pure gold by dawn.
• Gong Chao brought a young man’s suspicions about Xu Yi and the Dongxiang Cult to Cao Neng, who planned to exploit the troubles in Dongshan to strip Xu Yi of his position.
• Cao Neng hinted that someone else would be sent to Dongshan, and Gong Chao understood and smiled.

Niu Wudao arrived in Fengle City to use slow Wish Power gathering as grounds to undermine Xu Yi, but Dong Xinchang summoned him with news of a problem with the Wish Power Golden Body. The chapter ended with Niu Wudao meeting Dong Xinchang in a secret chamber and asking how he could help.

• Niu Wudao inspected Fengle City's Wish Clouds and prepared to submit a report accusing Xu Yi of failing to improve Wish Power gathering.
• Long Yu revealed through his thoughts that he had helped Cao Neng feed Niu Wudao intelligence in hopes of using him against Xu Yi.
• Dong Xinchang contacted Niu Wudao and said something had gone wrong with the Wish Power Golden Body.
• Niu Wudao ordered his men to wait and entered the city alone despite their warnings that Xu Yi might be setting a trap.
• Niu Wudao met Dong Xinchang underground, where Dong warned him that others might be manipulating him and urged caution around Xu Yi.
• Niu Wudao dismissed Cao Neng's motives and asked Dong Xinchang what had gone wrong with the Golden Body and how he could help.

Xu Yi arranged for Dong Xinchang to kill Niu Wudao, then used Niu Wudao’s death and the Black Lotus Cult’s rebellion to frame his actions as a belated rescue and victory. Cao Neng and Gong Chao recognized the danger to their influence and considered seeking Mr. Ge’s help.

• Dong Xinchang lured Niu Wudao into sealing his acupoints, then killed him with a lightning spear and a barrage of attacks.
• Xu Yi entered the chamber after Niu Wudao’s death, and Dong Xinchang realized the armies had already clashed outside.
• Gong Chao delivered Cao Neng a copied urgent report claiming Niu Wudao and his guards had died fighting the Black Lotus Cult.
• The report credited Xu Yi with killing cult leaders and capturing a banner, while asking the prefecture to punish him.
• Gong Chao warned Cao Neng that Xu Yi must not claim credit for destroying the cult, then suggested they approach Mr. Ge.

Cao Neng abandoned Gong Chao’s plan to block Xu Yi’s credit after the Black Lotus Cult’s banner made the achievement impossible to deny. Xu Yi rewarded his forces for destroying the cult and secured his position as Prefectural Commander, while Dong Xinchang faced the arrival of Pan Meiren and Qin Shousheng.

• Cao Neng slapped Gong Chao out of the hall and decided to stop opposing Xu Yi and think about retreating.
• Qi Huan read the Prefectural Commander’s order promoting and rewarding those who helped destroy the Black Lotus Cult in Dongshan Prefecture.
• Dong Xinchang reflected on how Xu Yi had used the battle to defeat Niu Wudao’s forces and capture the cult’s core forces.
• Xu Yi held the reward ceremony, spending the proceeds of the battle to raise morale and cement his authority in Dongshan Prefecture.
• Dong Xinchang requested an audience with Xu Yi, then turned ashen when Cheng Yan announced that Pan Meiren and Qin Shousheng had arrived.

Dong Xinchang warned Xu Yi that the Black Lotus Cult would retaliate for the destruction of its Dongshan branch and offered to take the blame on himself. After Xu Yi allowed him to leave, Dong Xinchang traveled to a secret meeting and told Mr. Ge that the branch’s destruction had resulted from an accidental clash.

• Dong Xinchang showed Xu Yi a message from the Black Lotus Cult’s higher-ups and proposed blaming Niu Wudao for the branch’s destruction.
• Pan Meiren and Qin Shousheng argued against Dong Xinchang, while Xu Yi told him to wait for a decision.
• Cheng Yan delivered Xu Yi’s order allowing Dong Xinchang to leave Dongshan the next day.
• Dong Xinchang traveled west to a secret meeting near Wufu City and entered a secluded mountain hall.
• Dong Xinchang told Mr. Ge that Qin Shousheng’s mishandling had sparked the clash that ended with Xu Yi’s forces destroying the Black Lotus branch.

Senior Brother and Mr. Ge confronted Dong Xinchang over the collapse of the Black Lotus Cult in East Mountain and exposed his lies. Dong Xinchang continued to plead for help, concealing that his remorse was an act and trying to win Mr. Ge over.

• Mr. Ge questioned Dong Xinchang about Qin Shousheng’s actions and the loss of his Wish Power Golden Body.
• Senior Brother revealed himself, and Dong Xinchang begged him for mercy.
• Mr. Ge used a dark jade tablet and a Ruyi Pearl image to show that Dong Xinchang had lied.
• The White-faced Middle-aged Man explained that Mr. Ge could detect lies, while Senior Brother threatened Dong Xinchang with the Ten Directions Fire Prison.
• Dong Xinchang claimed a restriction prevented him from betraying the person who had trapped him and begged Senior Brother to remove it.
• Dong Xinchang secretly appealed to Mr. Ge for help while pretending to accept punishment.