Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi escaped the Phantom Cloud Beast and concealed his identity by adopting the name Xue Xiang. After defeating the forces at Hundred Fragrance Tower and Xuanwu Road without killing them, he left them believing he was the legendary Xue Xiang.

• Xu Yi was spat out by a Phantom Cloud Beast, killed two Big Dipper Palace cultivators who recognized him, and disguised himself by changing his appearance and Spiritual Platform.
• Xu Yi killed the Phantom Cloud Beast and scattered Huang Ming’s formation at Hundred Fragrance Tower with thunder, sparing the cultivators.
• Cao Dagang and Xun Yong arrived with an army, but Xu Yi defeated them and routed their forces without killing anyone.
• Xun Yong questioned Xu Yi’s identity, and Xu Yi introduced himself as Xue Xiang, claiming the beast had swallowed him while he was unconscious.
• Xie Yuan recognized the name Xue Xiang from a story about a man who guarded a grave for a hundred years, while Ar-Mei realized Xu Yi had invented the identity as a long-term plan.

Xu Yi used his identity as Xue Xiang to enter the Big Dipper Palace through Li Tieya, after Xun Yong tried to recruit him for Kongming Prefecture. Li Tieya explained the tensions between the palace’s pirate recruits and the established officials, leaving Xu Yi aware of the factional conflict.

• Xie Yuan recognized Xu Yi as Xue Xiang and invited him to meet the prefect, but Xun Yong persuaded him to join the Big Dipper Palace instead.
• Xun Yong escorted Xu Yi to Kongming Island, where Li Tieya greeted him and drew him away from Xun Yong.
• Li Tieya introduced Xu Yi to former bandit chiefs, who warmed to him after hearing about his achievements in the Big Dipper Palace.
• Xu Yi asked Li Tieya why Xun Yong seemed displeased, and Li Tieya described the pirate recruits’ unofficial status and his feud with Wu Zui.

Xu Yi rejected Wu Zui’s offer to recruit him and stood by Li Tieya, but their confrontation was interrupted when Xu Longwei attacked with Chi Jiuyou. Xu Yi destroyed the beast and struck Xu Longwei down, leaving Wu Zui and the gathered officials stunned by his strength.

• Li Tieya promised to help Xue Xiang join the Big Dipper Palace through his connection to Chen Fanghai.
• Wu Zui arrived and offered Xue Xiang an Imperial Guard Commander post and a promised promotion, but Xue Xiang declined in favor of Li Tieya.
• Chi Jiuyou charged into the gathering with Xu Longwei riding on its head, and Li Tieya warned Xue Xiang to retreat.
• Xue Yi caught Chi Jiuyou’s tail, swung and hurled the beast, then watched magnetic lightning reduce it to ash.
• Xu Longwei lunged at Xu Yi, who struck him away with a thunderous palm before Wu Zui caught him.
• Li Tieya and the gathered officials realized Xu Yi’s strength far exceeded what they had expected.

Xu Yi, disguised as Xue Xiang, fought off Wu Zui’s forces after Wu Zui accused him of crimes and deployed the Kongming Guard. Palace Elder Xu Hongsheng moved to attack him, but Palace Elder Chen Fanghai intervened and defended Xue Xiang, leaving the elders confronting each other over what had happened.

• Xu Longwei demanded that Wu Zui punish Xue Xiang for killing Chi Jiuyou, and Wu Zui ordered Xun Yong to accuse Xue Xiang of several crimes.
• Wu Zui summoned the Kongming Guard and its Spirit Cannons, while Li Tieya denounced him for turning a failed recruitment into a scheme against Xue Xiang.
• Xu Yi attacked Wu Zui, dodged the cannon fire, and used a thunder technique to scatter the soldiers and badly injure Wu Zui.
• Palace Elder Xu Hongsheng arrived and sealed the airspace, but Palace Elder Chen Fanghai intervened before Xu Hongsheng’s attack could reach Xu Yi.
• Chen Fanghai told Xu Hongsheng that Xue Xiang had been attacked repeatedly and had shown restraint, and questioned whether Wu Zui’s failed recruitment had sparked the conflict.

Chen Fanghai protected Xu Yi from further punishment and said he would recommend him for a post in the Big Dipper Palace, but a rampaging Commander-class Titan Dragon Python interrupted the dispute. Wu Zui appeared to win the beast’s allegiance, leaving the crowd awaiting its decision and Xu Hongsheng ready to reward him.

• Xu Yi accepted a sentence of one thousand Profound Yellow Essence for mistakenly killing two Big Dipper Palace guards, and Chen Fanghai collected the payment.
• Chen Fanghai defended Xu Yi’s recruitment and said he would report the question of his official post to the Palace Master.
• A Titan Dragon Python broke free of its star chains, and Yu Zida asked Chen Fanghai and Xu Hongsheng to help capture it.
• Wu Zui claimed the Titan Dragon Python wanted to acknowledge him as its master, and Yu Zida instructed him to use spirit pills and an image of himself stroking the beast.
• Xu Hongsheng proposed raising Wu Zui’s rank if he secured the Commander-class beast, while Chen Fanghai said he would celebrate if Wu Zui succeeded.
• The Titan Dragon Python approached Wu Zui and lowered its head as he reached out to touch it.

Xu Yi unexpectedly tamed the Titan Dragon Python and left with it, discovering that it was actually his long-lost little wolfdog, Big Yellow. Big Yellow explained that he had grown powerful and intelligent, and had swallowed Wu Zui because he sensed the man was hostile to Xu Yi.

• Wu Zui touched the Titan Dragon Python, which swallowed him, while the others watched in shock.
• Xu Yi attacked with lightning, then landed on the python's head and directed it with gestures, showing that he had tamed it.
• Xu Hongsheng left after Chen Fanghai challenged him over whether to report Xu Yi's talent to the Palace Master.
• The Titan Dragon Python carried Xu Yi far away and revealed through thoughts that it was Big Yellow, his former little wolfdog.
• Big Yellow explained how he had taken control of the python by devouring its savage core and had grown stronger by hunting Ancient Ferocious Beasts.
• Big Yellow told Xu Yi that he had deliberately swallowed Wu Zui to punish him for being hostile to his master.

Xu Yi returned to Kongming Prefecture with Big Yellow, whose bond with him astonished Yu Zida and impressed Li Tieya. As Chen Fanghai moved to recommend Xue Xiang for the vacant Prefectural Judge post, Xu Hongsheng and Fang Zhongping planned to relocate Kongming Prefecture to weaken Chen Fanghai’s influence.

• Xu Yi praised Big Yellow, learned that the puppy expected to regain his original form after advancing, and sent him to the Imperial Camp with Yu Zida for a few days.
• Xu Yi returned to Kongming Island, where Li Tieya welcomed him with a grand banquet as a powerful prospective ally.
• Fang Zhongping warned Xu Hongsheng that Chen Fanghai had recommended Xue Xiang for the vacant Prefectural Judge post, and Xu Hongsheng realized he could not easily oppose the appointment.
• Xu Hongsheng feared Xue Xiang might ally with Chen Fanghai and asked Fang Zhongping how to stop their influence from growing.
• Fang Zhongping proposed moving Kongming Prefecture near the ancestral source to remove Li Tieya’s Starry Sky Pirates from Chen Fanghai’s reach, and Xu Hongsheng approved the plan.

Xu Yi was appointed acting Prefectural Judge of Kongming Prefecture and accepted a dangerous border assignment. Chen Fanghai became his sworn brother, and Xu Yi returned to organize the prefecture’s relocation while entrusting its affairs to Li Tieya.

• Fang Zhongping promised Xu Hongsheng he would quickly resolve their problems, and Xu Hongsheng pledged him the Grand Censor’s post when he ascended the throne.
• Chen Fanghai announced that Xu Yi would serve as acting Prefectural Judge of Kongming Prefecture, which was being relocated to guard Big Dipper Palace’s dangerous border.
• Xu Yi accepted the assignment, and Chen Fanghai proposed that they swear an oath as brothers; they burned incense and became sworn brothers.
• After a banquet, Chen Fanghai sent Xu Yi back to prepare for the relocation, and Xu Yi received his official seal and took up his post.
• Xu Yi assigned Li Tieya to manage Kongming Prefecture and asked him to send Li Xin to serve as Xu Yi’s Personal Guard Commander.

Xu Yi consolidated his control in Kongming Prefecture, arranged for Big Yellow to roam the starry sky, and formed a stronger connection with the little wolfdog. He then discussed Yan Wuyi with Huangmei, who suspected Yan remained trapped on Rust Star, while Xu Yi feared he was waiting to ambush him.

• Li Tieya accepted Xu Yi's authority to relocate Kongming Prefecture and began contending with resistance from Wu Zui's veteran officials.
• Xu Yi appointed Li Xin as his Personal Guard Commander, formed a loyal guard, and assigned Zhao Hui to replace the troops protecting the ancestral vein.
• At the Imperial Camp, Xu Yi declined Yu Zida's request to keep Big Yellow there and released the little wolfdog into the starry sky.
• The little wolfdog drank Xu Yi's blood, established a long-distance connection with him, and departed after promising to visit again.
• Huangmei awoke and asked about Yan Wuyi, and Xu Yi said Ren Cong and Liu Mingzhao had reported that all was normal but feared Yan was waiting to ambush him.

Xu Yi rushed to Rust Star to keep Yan Wuyi imprisoned and recovered Sui Kuohai’s fire dragon while learning the Splitting Flame Technique. He re-bound Yan Wuyi with the Eight Banners Locking Array, then fled when Yan Wuyi unleashed his domain root, leaving the damaged chains mostly repaired.

• Xu Yi left Kongming Island for Rust Star after Huang Mei warned that Yan Wuyi remained trapped by the Eight Banners Locking Array.
• Xu Yi found Sui Kuohai’s weakened fire dragon, learned the Splitting Flame Technique from Huang Mei, and collected the dragon in his soul tablet.
• Xu Yi sensed that Yan Wuyi had nearly broken the array’s last chain and transformed into Suijie to bind him again with four chains.
• Xu Yi used his source fire to repair the chains while resisting Yan Wuyi’s domain and its Grass, Wood, and Stone Armored Soldiers.
• Yan Wuyi activated his domain root, forcing Xu Yi to break free of the domain and flee; the four chains were left mostly repaired.

Xu Yi tricked Yan Wuyi into swallowing the Iron Core Pill, but Yan Wuyi destroyed his own acupoints and dragged Xu Yi through a light gate into the Four-Colored Seal Space. Xu Yi sent Yan Wuyi flying and told him he would have to make a home there.

• Xu Yi set the Eight Banners Locking Array chains ablaze, then fought Yan Wuyi’s three Armored Soldiers while practicing the Splitting Flame Technique.
• Xu Yi used the Iron Core Pill to impose a bloodline restriction on Yan Wuyi, who swallowed it and asked Xu Yi to release the array.
• Yan Wuyi explained the advantages of ancient divine arts, then used one to pull Xu Yi close and seized him.
• Yan Wuyi destroyed the acupoints throughout his body to prevent Xu Yi from activating the pill’s restriction, and the two were dragged through a light gate as the Eight Banners Locking Array shattered.
• Xu Yi and Yan Wuyi landed in the Four-Colored Seal Space, where Xu Yi’s spiritual power sent Yan Wuyi flying and the space began breaking down his power.

Xu Yi failed to keep Yan Wuyi imprisoned when Yan burned his Life Wheel with the Nine Deaths Burning Sun Technique, but he salvaged Yan’s remaining Life Wheel and seized his vast resources. After returning to Deep Space Prefecture, Xu Yi learned that Yan had mastered the True Spirit Divine Art, though Xu Yi doubted he could cultivate it yet.

• Yan Wuyi burned his Life Wheel with the Nine Deaths Burning Sun Technique, and the Four-Colored Seal Space disintegrated all but a tiny remnant.
• Huang Mei absorbed Yan Wuyi’s remaining Life Wheel while Xu Yi restored Yan’s Starry Sky Ring and searched unsuccessfully for the Eight Banners Locking Array.
• Xu Yi headed for Deep Space Prefecture, taking Yan Wuyi’s Starry Sky Ring and discovering it held more than two thousand Profound Yellow Beads and over two hundred thousand Profound Yellow Essence.
• Xu Yi secretly entered Deep Space Prefecture and resumed his duties, while two days passed without news from the Evil Court’s central stronghold.
• Huang Mei woke and told Xu Yi that Yan Wuyi had mastered the True Spirit Divine Art, then offered to pass on its method and insights.
• Xu Yi replied that the divine art likely required cultivation in the Third Realm of Domain.

Xu Yi learned and mastered True Spirit Divine Art, then contacted Cao Wushang after hearing nothing from the Ruyi Pearl. Cao Wushang revealed that Yan Wuyi had likely died and that Reverse Star Palace was preparing to select a Deputy Palace Master.

• Huang Mei taught Xu Yi True Spirit Divine Art and explained how his Witch Spirit and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva visualization suited its cultivation.
• Xu Yi practiced the art, first creating a brief fiery-armored soldier, then transforming a sunflower into a Flower Armored Soldier and later manifesting Wood and Stone Armored Soldiers.
• Xu Yi refined the remaining Lightning Cloud Essence, but when the Ruyi Pearl stayed silent, he contacted Middle Envoy Cao Wushang.
• Cao Wushang told Xu Yi that Yan Wuyi had likely passed away and that the Three Saints had emerged from seclusion as leaders gathered at Reverse Star Palace.
• Cao Wushang revealed that the gathering would likely select a Deputy Palace Master, with candidates nominated by Reverse Star Palace.

After Yan Wuyi's death, Xu Yi went to Starry Sky Island as Suijie to attend the gathering on choosing a Deputy Palace Master. The meeting opened with competing proposals about who should control the selection, and Divine Fire Demon King suggested postponing it.

• Cao Wushang told Xu Yi that the Deputy Palace Master position had been created to keep the Third Saints in check and asked him for future support.
• Xu Yi gathered his six Guard Masters and Huang Mei, then traveled with Cao Wushang toward Starry Sky Island.
• The Left Guard General barred Xu Yi from entering, so Xu Yi seized him and loudly demanded an audience with the Palace Master; the wards then opened.
• Xu Yi entered Starry Sky Hall, where Venerable Moyun announced Yan Wuyi's death and said the gathering would choose a Deputy Palace Master candidate.
• Song Gongbo, Zheng Beidao, and Long Yongyan supported letting Venerable Moyun decide, while Tong Sheng and Tan Shengxiao called for a broader discussion.
• Divine Fire Demon King pointed out the disagreement and proposed setting the selection aside for now.

As the Reverse Star Palace deadlocked over choosing a Deputy Palace Master, Suijie interrupted the debate by weeping for the absent Palace Master Yan Wuyi and criticizing the gathering for neglecting his memorial. Suijie then asked to preside over the memorial, drawing an angry rebuke from Grand Censor Jiang Beili.

• Venerable Moyun and the Divine Fire Demon King argued over whether Jiang Beili or Wei Wuyi should become Deputy Palace Master, while Third Saint Chen Tuanfeng refused to take sides.
• Venerable Moyun called for a vote, but the Divine Fire Demon King realized his candidate, Wei Wuyi, lacked enough support to win.
• Suijie began sobbing, then said he had come expecting a memorial for Palace Master Yan Wuyi and condemned the assembly for focusing on the Deputy Palace Master position instead.
• Venerable Moyun agreed that a memorial should be held after the palace chose someone to preside over it.
• Suijie asked to preside over the memorial because of his gratitude to Yan Wuyi, and Jiang Beili angrily challenged his status.

Xu Yi produced a decree supposedly issued by Yan Wuyi appointing him Deputy Palace Master, though he claimed he only wanted to officiate the memorial ceremony. His move unsettled the contenders, and Venerable Moyun challenged whether Xu Yi’s Witch Tribe heritage and Golden Witch strength qualified him to lead Reverse Star Palace.

• Xu Yi presented a purple-covered decree bearing Yan Wuyi’s seal and said the Palace Master had ordered him to assume the Deputy Palace Master position if anything happened to him.
• Chen Tuanfeng confirmed the decree appeared genuine, while Divine Fire Demon King praised Xu Yi’s timing for disrupting the contest.
• Jiang Beili questioned the decree’s authenticity and Xu Yi’s qualifications, but Xu Yi insisted he only sought to serve as chief officiant.
• Jiang Beili agreed to let Xu Yi serve as chief officiant, and Wei Wuyi pointed out that the concession implicitly accepted the decree’s authenticity.
• Venerable Moyun argued that a Witch Tribe member had never served as Deputy Palace Master and that Xu Yi was too weak to lead Reverse Star Palace.

After Palace Master Yan’s death, Divine Fire Demon King argued that Suijie should become Deputy Palace Master in accordance with Yan’s dying wish. Suijie defeated Jiang Beili with True Spirit Divine Art, and the Reverse Star Palace confirmed his appointment.

• Divine Fire Demon King defended Suijie’s appointment by citing Palace Master Yan’s official decree and dying wish, while Venerable Moyun questioned Suijie’s suitability.
• Chen Tuanfeng proposed that Suijie fight Jiang Beili, with the result determining the appointment or sending the matter to the central authorities.
• Suijie agreed to fight Jiang Beili, and the two faced off in the martial arena.
• Suijie used True Spirit Divine Art to defeat Jiang Beili in less than two breaths.
• Chen Tuanfeng recognized Suijie’s cultivation and the divine art Yan had taught him, and Venerable Moyun declared Suijie Deputy Palace Master.

Jiang Beili doubted Suijie’s rise but abandoned his bid for power after Suijie’s new policies stripped the central government of authority and won over the prefectures. Xu Yi consolidated control of Reverse Star Palace and explained that he cared more about commanding its military forces than managing finances or appointments.

• Jiang Beili questioned the decree naming Suijie Deputy Palace Master and the circumstances surrounding Palace Master Yan’s death, but Venerable Moyun urged him to accept the outcome.
• Song Gongbo told Jiang Beili that Suijie had delegated lower appointments to the prefectures, introduced a lump-sum system, allocated revenue shares to the Palace Saints, and formed a joint council.
• Jiang Beili asked Venerable Moyun to help him leave Reverse Star Palace, and Venerable Moyun agreed.
• The prefectures celebrated Suijie’s new policies as resignations flooded the Censor’s Office, while Xu Yi approved them, brought Ren Cong in to oversee palace security, and appointed Jin Junmei to lead the joint council.
• Xu Yi told Huang Mei that he valued control of Reverse Star Palace’s military forces more than its financial and administrative authority.

Xu Yi cultivated in the True Spirit Cave, manifesting perfect-circle domain roots and forming a third-rank Dao Fruit, then emerged to find Huang Mei waiting with news about Chen Bingying. Huang Mei said he had already handled the matter Chen had come to discuss, leaving Xu Yi eager to hear what he had done.

• Xu Yi sent Huang Mei to Deep Space Prefecture to keep Liu Mingzhao in line while he entered seclusion in the True Spirit Cave.
• Xu Yi used the Four-Colored Seal to refine more than two thousand Profound Yellow Beads, but his newly formed perfect-circle domain roots blurred before he reached the Second Realm of Domain.
• Xu Yi refined Dao Source and formed a third-rank Dao Fruit, gaining the qualifications to become a Great Immortal.
• After nearly half a month, Xu Yi left seclusion and dealt with messages from the Big Dipper Palace and Starry Sky Prefecture.
• Huang Mei told Xu Yi that Chen Bingying had followed him to Starry Sky Prefecture and that Huang Mei had already handled Chen's matter.

Xu Yi and Huang Mei staged evidence of Xu Yi’s death to convince Chen Bingying and buy time. Chen Bingying accepted the evidence and promised compensation, then hurried away to report the news.

• Huang Mei showed Xu Yi a Ruyi Pearl image of Xu Yi’s apparent death, and Xu Yi agreed to use the plan to deceive Chen Bingying.
• Xu Yi contacted Lu Zhongyi, who agreed to shatter Xu Yi’s Life Tablet and spread news of his death.
• Xu Yi met Chen Bingying at Starry Sky Hall and claimed that Xu Yi had been killed, showing him the Ruyi Pearl recording.
• Chen Bingying verified that Xu Yi’s Life Tablet had been destroyed and accepted the recording as evidence.
• Xu Yi asked for one or two thousand Profound Yellow Beads, and Chen Bingying promised to seek compensation before reporting the news to Wu Xinshan and Banerchan.