Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi, disguised as Suijie, put Desolate Charm in command of Chen Bingying’s army, which marched first toward Donglai Island and then redirected to Piling Island after learning Xu Yi had moved there. Chen Bingying chose to pursue Xu Yi even if Zhong Yang’s people were caught in the coming battle, and the attack on Xishan Road began.

• Xu Yi introduced Desolate Charm to Chen Bingying as commander while pretending to leave for Reverse Star Palace.
• On the thirteenth, Desolate Charm delayed the army until Jia Mingyuan received confirmation that Xu Yi had gone to Donglai Island.
• The army set out for Donglai Island, but Desolate Charm learned Xu Yi had already left and was hiding on Piling Island.
• Desolate Charm suggested warning Zhong Yang and contacting Wu and Ban, but Chen Bingying refused to risk alerting Xu Yi to protect them.
• Desolate Charm redirected the army to Piling Island, where its first attack broke through Xishan Road’s defensive formation.

The Desolate Ancestor’s forces trapped Xu Yi on Piling Island, but Xu Yi seized Chen Bingying and escaped after forcing the formation open. Back in the secret chamber, Chen Bingying blamed Wu Xinshan and Banerchan for the failed operation, and they agreed to share responsibility.

• The Desolate Ancestor’s forces attacked Piling Island and raised the Ancestral Witch Spirit-Locking Array to trap Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi repeatedly escaped the searching Great Witches, then burst from the ground and captured Chen Bingying.
• Xu Yi forced the Desolate Ancestor to open the formation and escaped Piling Island after throwing Chen Bingying down to stop the Earth Witches from attacking.
• The Desolate Ancestor withdrew his army, and Chen Bingying later sat in the secret chamber until Wu Xinshan and Banerchan arrived.
• Chen Bingying blamed Wu Xinshan and Banerchan for the operation’s failure, and they admitted their mistakes to keep the blame from falling on him alone.

Chen Bingying and his allies struggled to keep Suijie committed to killing Xu Yi after Li Sheng resigned and their latest plot failed. Meanwhile, Xu Yi helped Lu Zhongyi return to power, took control of Xishan Road, and left its affairs with Wang Cheng before returning to the Deep Sky Prefecture.

• Li Sheng's steward told Chen Bingying that Li Sheng had resigned, and Wu Xinshan learned Xu Yi had exposed enough loose ends to force his departure.
• Suijie told Chen Bingying he no longer wanted to pursue Xu Yi, but Chen extended the deadline and persuaded him to continue; Chen, Wu Xinshan, and Banerchan then agreed to give him forty thousand.
• Chen Bingying visited Desolate Charm and gave him a Sumeru Ring to seek Desolate Ancestor's favor.
• Lu Zhongyi returned to the Starry Sky Prefecture, praised Xu Yi for driving out Li Sheng, and gave him two portions of Dao Source while urging him to take control of Xishan Road.
• Xu Yi filled key posts with officials from Huisha Tower and Lu Zhongyi's people, brought Xishan Road under his control, and entrusted it to Wang Cheng before returning to the Deep Sky Prefecture.

Xu Yi discovered an omen of exceptionally pure Profound Yellow Fiend Qi in the forbidden zone, then returned to Deep Space Prefecture and strengthened his ties with the Wuyuan Witch clan. After receiving a troubling message from A Li about the two beauties and Qiu Wa, he decided to go back.

• Xu Yi crossed the forbidden zone and spotted the Five Stars Emerge from the East omen near the ancestral veins, suggesting pure Profound Yellow Fiend Qi had appeared.
• Xu Yi left the forbidden zone undisturbed, returned to Deep Space Prefecture, and gave lavish gifts to the great witches, especially Jiaorong and Kuiming.
• Xu Yi practiced Ten Directions Thunder Roar in seclusion for five days and dissolved three Lightning Cloud Essences.
• Xu Yi received A Li's pinyin message through the Sui Clan's Four Attendants and read it with growing alarm.
• Xu Yi decided to return, while Huang Mei agreed to manage Deep Space Prefecture in his absence.

Xu Yi returned to the Great Desolate World and rescued Yu Zixuan after she had spent days seeking help for Yuwen Tai. He killed Liu Hanyue and warned Shen Qingfeng that he was back, while a banquet of powerful nobles was underway elsewhere.

• Xu Yi received leave from Lu Zhongyi, informed Wang Cheng, and returned to the Great Desolate World.
• At Shen Qingfeng's Daoist grounds, Liu Hanyue harassed Yu Zixuan as she sought help for Yuwen Tai.
• Xu Yi restrained Liu Hanyue, learned he was Shen Qingfeng's brother-in-law, and killed him.
• Xu Yi took Liu Hanyue's belongings, comforted the exhausted Yu Zixuan, and carried her away as she fell asleep.
• Shen Qingfeng confronted Xu Yi, who declared his return and defended killing Liu Hanyue; Shen Qingfeng chose not to pursue him.
• Kuang Zhaohui hosted a banquet attended by Jiang Xinghan, Wu Yaotian, and Xie Jianghai.

Kuang Zhaohui and his allies plotted to use Yuwen Tai as bait to draw Xu Yi into a scheme that might also ensnare Hong Tianming. At Kuang Zhaohui’s birthday banquet, Xu Yi arrived unexpectedly, leaving the guests anticipating a confrontation.

• Zheng Gao reported Xu Yi’s return, and Kuang Zhaohui explained that he had targeted Yuwen Tai to lure Xu into his plan.
• Kuang Zhaohui told Jiang Xinghan, Wu Yaotian, and Xie Jianghai that he hoped Xu would seek out Hong Tianming and take the scheme further.
• Kuang Zhaohui’s birthday celebration drew officials and guests eager to honor his status and ties to Wu Xiuxian.
• As Kuang Zhaohui began his banquet speech, Xu Yi announced his arrival, and the hall erupted in commotion.
• Kuang Zhaohui recognized the disruption and prepared to activate the barrier.

Xu Yi disrupted Kuang Zhaohui’s birthday banquet, turning aside attempts to humiliate him and publicly exposing Wu Yaotian and Jiang Xinghan. The banquet ended in open confrontation as Xie Jianghai urged Kuang to drive Xu Yi out.

• Xu Yi challenged Kuang Zhaohui’s refusal to admit him, and Kuang grudgingly let him enter the banquet hall.
• Wu Yaotian arranged for literary guests to criticize Xu Yi, but Xu Yi mocked them in verse and slapped the gaunt critic out of the hall.
• Xu Yi rebuked Wu Yaotian by invoking their official ranks, then stayed at the banquet after Kuang Zhaohui said he could leave.
• Jiang Xinghan told Xu Yi to leave, but Xu Yi exposed his ties to Lord Chun and questioned why he served under Kuang Zhaohui.
• Kuang Zhaohui tried to dismiss the guests and apologize for the disruption, but Xu Yi insisted no troublemaker would disturb the birthday banquet.
• Xie Jianghai called Xu Yi shameless and urged Kuang Zhaohui to drive him out.

At Kuang Zhaohui’s birthday banquet, Xu Yi exposed footage showing Kuang attacking him after the battle at Sun Peak and challenged him to a formal duel. Kuang and his allies denied the evidence, but Xu Yi’s pressure left Kuang and the three men backing him unwilling to fight.

• After Xie Jianghai urged him on, Kuang Zhaohui tried to drive Xu Yi away, but Xu Yi asked the gathered officials how to avenge a grudge against a powerful colleague.
• Jiang Xinghan and Kuang Zhaohui denied having any such grudge, so Xu Yi played footage of himself defeating Wu Xiuxian and then collapsing at Sun Peak.
• The footage showed Kuang Zhaohui attacking the helpless Xu Yi before Ning Wuyou rescued him, and Kuang, Jiang Xinghan, Xie Jianghai, and Wu Yaotian called the recording fake.
• Xu Yi challenged Kuang Zhaohui to settle their grudge in the arena and threatened to submit the footage to the Tribunal and the Bureau of Officials if Kuang refused.
• When Xu Yi accused Kuang of lacking the courage to fight, Jiang Xinghan, Xie Jianghai, and Wu Yaotian mocked him, so Xu Yi challenged all three to fight him at once.
• Jiang Xinghan, Xie Jianghai, and Wu Yaotian faltered rather than accept Xu Yi’s challenge.

Xu Yi defeated and humiliated Kuang Zhaohui in a public duel, then left him fuming on his birthday. Kuang planned to rally allies against Xu at the Autumn Moon Gathering, but learned that nearly all the invitees had withdrawn after witnessing Xu’s strength.

• Xu Yi accepted Kuang Zhaohui’s challenge and drew him into a duel at the martial arena.
• Xu Yi’s thunderous ancient divine ability shattered Kuang’s Mountain River Refining technique and the arena’s protective formation.
• Xu Yi subdued Kuang, battered him around the arena, and left after wishing him a happy birthday.
• Kuang recovered at the North Dipper Small Dwelling and claimed that Xu still feared his official authority, then ordered preparations for the Autumn Moon Gathering.
• Jiang Xinghan told Kuang that nearly all the invitees had returned their invitations after the duel.

Kuang Zhaohui’s attempt to use Yuwen Tai against Xu Yi collapsed when Judge Si released Yuwen Tai, and Chen Bingying rebuked the plotters for endangering his own plans. Yuwen Tai was promoted, while Xu Yi and Yu Zixuan celebrated the news on Empty Island.

• Kuang Zhaohui ordered Song Wu to whip Yuwen Tai, but learned Yuwen Tai had already been released by Judge Si.
• Kuang Zhaohui and the others traced the release to Chen Bingying, who warned them not to act against Xu Yi without his permission.
• Chen Bingying, Wu Xinshan, and Banerchan agreed to follow Suijie’s plan to promote Yuwen Tai and get Xu Yi back to the Starry Sky Ancient Path.
• Yuwen Tai received a promotion to Subordinate Fourth Rank, Chengzhilang, with double pay.
• Yu Zixuan kissed Xu Yi after hearing of Yuwen Tai’s promotion, and Xu Yi caught her as she tried to flee.

Xu Yi spent several days with Yi Bingwei, Yu Zixuan, and Qiu Wa before returning to the Starry Sky Ancient Path and resuming his official duties. Cao Wushang then told him that the Palace Master had uncovered Sui Kuohai’s last known location on Rust Star and hinted that Xu Yi might be favored for a future appointment.

• Xu Yi used magic to bring Yi Bingwei and Yu Zixuan to his cave abode, where the three spent the night together.
• Xu Yi enjoyed a few days with the two women and a week with Qiu Wa before returning to the Starry Sky Ancient Path.
• Xu Yi reported back to the Starry Sky Prefecture, handled personnel changes at the Xishan Road Judge's Office, and traveled to the Deep Space Prefecture.
• Desolate Charm met Xu Yi near the Triangular Forbidden Zone, reported that the prefecture was running normally, and hurried off to meet Chen Bingying.
• Cao Wushang visited Xu Yi and relayed that the Palace Master had found Sui Kuohai’s last known movements near the southeastern coast of the Dust Sea on Rust Star.
• Cao Wushang said the central authorities planned to appoint a Deputy Palace Master and suggested Xu Yi could be a leading candidate.

Xu Yi traveled to Rust Star to find Sui Kuohai’s Origin Fire and discovered a fire dragon guarding a stone hall near the Dust Sea. When he brought out the Sui clan’s Origin Token, the dragon entered it before he could lure it in.

• Xu Yi agreed to stage another operation for Chen Bingying, then persuaded the reluctant Desolate Charm to accompany him on an expedition.
• Xu Yi searched Rust Star for more than ten days before finding the Dust Sea and locating a stone hall along its southeastern shore.
• Xu Yi approached a dried-up skeleton in the hall, but a fire dragon struck him and revealed itself as Sui Kuohai’s powerful Origin Fire.
• Xu Yi fought the fire dragon with his own Origin Fire, then brought out the Sui clan’s Origin Token to try to capture it.
• The fire dragon darted into the Origin Token ahead of Xu Yi’s own Origin Fire.

Xu Yi confronted Kun Sha, an Earth Witch of the Kun clan who revealed that he had pursued Xu Yi to seize the Sui clan's Origin Token and its Origin Fire. Xu Yi offered him the token, but as it flew toward Kun Sha, fiery serpents erupted and trapped him.

• Xu Yi discovered the cloaked figure in the hall and recognized him as the pursuer he had fought near Starry Sky Island.
• Kun Sha revealed that he knew Xu Yi and Suijie were the same person, and said he had tried to kill Xu Yi to protect Suijie.
• Xu Yi realized Kun Sha had arranged the trap with Yan Wuyi and wanted the Origin Fire tied to the Sui clan's Origin Token.
• Kun Sha explained that he belonged to the Kun clan, which had once been the elder branch of the Zhu clan, and accused the Sui clan of taking the Origin Token through deceit.
• Xu Yi offered to give Kun Sha the Origin Token, then sent it toward him as fiery serpents burst out and encircled him.

Xu Yi fought Kun Sha, but was trapped by the Eight Banners Locking Array and had his Origin Fire and Witch Spirit swallowed. His body reappeared in a distant cavern with Huang Mei, while Kun Sha struggled to digest Xu Yi’s Witch Spirit.

• Kun Sha attacked Xu Yi with Flame Giants, and Xu Yi used Wrath of Burning Heaven to destroy them.
• Xu Yi tried to escape, but Kun Sha trapped him in the Eight Banners Locking Array and extracted his Origin Fire and Witch Spirit.
• Kun Sha swallowed Xu Yi’s Witch Spirit and took his Starry Sky Ring, but Xu Yi’s corpse vanished when the array dissolved.
• Xu Yi’s body appeared in a distant cavern, where Huang Mei feared their blood contract meant his own death if Xu Yi was truly gone.
• Kun Sha tried to refine Xu Yi’s Witch Spirit and absorb his memories, but his secret art proved strangely ineffective.

Kun Sha tried to refine Suijie's Source Fire underground, but Yan Wuyi arrived and demanded the promised Witch's Five Elements Spirit and Suijie's Starry Sky Ring. After Kun Sha handed them over, the two fought, and Kun Sha transformed into a giant to attack Yan Wuyi.

• Kun Sha began melding Suijie's Source Fire with his own while trying to imprint Suijie's difficult Witch Spirit.
• Yan Wuyi split open the mountainside and demanded the Witch's Five Elements Spirit in exchange for helping Kun Sha scheme against Suijie.
• Kun Sha gave Yan Wuyi the spirit and Suijie's Starry Sky Ring, while both men used their conversation to recover their strength.
• Yan Wuyi demanded Kun Sha's Starry Sky Ring, and Kun Sha agreed to fight him.
• Yan Wuyi animated a stone, grass, and tree with his True Spirit Divine Art, and Kun Sha began losing ground against the nearly undying warriors.
• Kun Sha transformed into a towering witch giant and reached down to seize Yan Wuyi.

Yan Wuyi drove Kun Sha to flee, but Kun Sha’s attempt to refine Suijie’s Witch Spirit ended with Xu Yi destroying him and reclaiming his body. Xu Yi reunited with Old Desolate and threatened to end their life-and-death pact, leaving Old Desolate scrambling to stop him.

• Yan Wuyi overwhelmed Kun Sha with his manifested deities and Domain Realm power, but Kun Sha escaped by sacrificing his vital essence.
• Kun Sha fled underground, replenished himself with the blood of Domain Realm powerhouses, and tried to refine Suijie’s Witch Spirit.
• Suijie’s Witch Spirit split into two life wheels, destroying Kun Sha’s Witch Spirit and allowing Xu Yi to manifest as a spirit.
• Xu Yi seized Kun Sha’s fragmented Witch Spirit, source flame, Origin Token, and Starry Sky Ring, then fled to find Old Desolate.
• Xu Yi restored his body and said he would dissolve their life-and-death pact, prompting Old Desolate to beg him to take it back.

Xu Yi refined Kun Sha’s Origin Fire and skin jelly, breaking through to the Earth Witch realm, then began refining Sui Kuohai’s fire dragon and learned from his fire techniques. Yan Wuyi arrived, mistook Xu Yi for Suijie, and heard Xu Yi calmly dismiss the past and promise to serve him.

• Xu Yi fed the Wild Charm Kun Sha’s Witch Spirit and initialized the Sui clan’s Origin Token with the Four-Colored Seal.
• Xu Yi refined Kun Sha’s Origin Fire and swallowed his skin jelly, advancing from Golden Witch to Earth Witch.
• Xu Yi bound the Sui clan’s fire dragon and began refining it, discovering Sui Kuohai’s lingering will and studying his Ultimate Fire Technique.
• Yan Wuyi broke into the mountainside cave and found Xu Yi transformed into Suijie.
• Xu Yi told Yan Wuyi he understood the decision to sacrifice him for the Five Elements Spirit and promised to serve him, leaving Yan Wuyi stunned by his shamelessness.

Xu Yi accepted Yan Wuyi’s offer of an Iron Core Pill but refused to be controlled, and the two fought after Xu Yi revealed his newly advanced Earth Witch realm. Xu Yi’s fierce witch form endured Yan Wuyi’s attacks, then he countered Yan Wuyi’s domain with the Ultimate Fire Technique, triggering Yan Wuyi’s buried memories.

• Yan Wuyi offered Xu Yi an Iron Core Pill in exchange for continuing to serve as lord of Deep Sky Prefecture, but Xu Yi stored the pill and asked for more.
• Yan Wuyi attacked Xu Yi with a spirit mountain, and Xu Yi split it apart with his source fire, revealing that he had reached the Earth Witch realm.
• Yan Wuyi summoned mountain, river, and cloud giants, but Xu Yi transformed into his witch form and fought them until Yan Wuyi prepared to unleash his domain.
• Yan Wuyi’s domain turned raindrops into monstrous hands, and Xu Yi used the remaining source fire to form eight pillars that carved out space within it.
• Yan Wuyi recognized Xu Yi’s technique as Sui Kuohai’s forbidden Ultimate Fire Technique, and painful memories surfaced in his mind.

Xu Yi fought Yan Wuyi while using the Ultimate Fire Technique to resist his domain, then fled toward the stone hall. As Yan Wuyi attacked again, Xu Yi advanced the technique to nine pillars, but the Eight Banners Locking Array suddenly struck, leaving Yan Wuyi struggling to keep the array’s lights from binding him.

• Xu Yi broke Yan Wuyi’s domain with the Wrath of Burning Heaven, then used the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Aspect’s Spirit Calming Technique to escape as Yan Wuyi released his Domain Root.
• Yan Wuyi pursued Xu Yi, who headed for the stone hall after Huang Mei sent him a plan.
• Yan Wuyi caught Xu Yi at the stone hall and trapped him in his domain, but Xu Yi held it back with his eight pillars of fire.
• Xu Yi formed a ninth pillar, creating a three-dimensional space, but Yan Wuyi strengthened his domain with his Domain Root and shattered it.
• Eight points of light flew from the stone hall, and the Eight Banners Locking Array attached four of them to Yan Wuyi’s limbs while he used his domain to repel the other four.

Xu Yi fought Yan Wuyi but was swept away by a Profound Yellow Storm after the battle’s explosion drew it near. He survived and woke in a swamp, where two unfamiliar voices discussed how to make him vomit.

• Xu Yi failed to damage Yan Wuyi with the Five-Colored Bead and Ten Directions Thunder Roar while four chains of the Eight Banners Locking Array restrained Yan Wuyi.
• Yan Wuyi summoned three Armored Warriors, and Xu Yi struggled to fight them as his attacks proved costly and ineffective.
• A Profound Yellow Storm swept Xu Yi away, and he endured it with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, his life wheels, and his Witch form.
• The storm weakened and dispersed, and Xu Yi drifted through space before crashing onto an island.
• Xu Yi woke in a foul-smelling swamp and heard two unfamiliar voices argue about feeding him Blood Killing Grass to make him vomit.