Chapter Summaries

Xu Yi confronted Deputy Director Zhao over the Zhao clan’s crimes and demanded terms for keeping their secrets. Deputy Director Zhao denied responsibility for the northern district, leaving their negotiation unresolved.

• Third Young Master Zhao explained how blood slaves, the Silver Corpse, and Xiong Jiukui’s operation had drawn attention to his corpse-refining activities.
• Deputy Director Zhao suspected Xiong Jiukui had revealed too much and told Third Young Master Zhao to destroy the Silver Corpse once he was released.
• Xu Yi returned to Third Young Master Zhao’s cell, knocked him unconscious, and left without explaining himself.
• Deputy Director Zhao waited for Xu Yi, then met him at Moonlit Lake after Xu Yi summoned him.
• Xu Yi placed a Shadow-Sound Pearl between them and demanded a blood-binding art and one hundred thousand spirit stones for his silence.
• Deputy Director Zhao denied knowing about the northern district and rejected Xu Yi’s accusation against the Zhao clan.

Xu Yi confronted Deputy Director Zhao with a recording of Third Young Master Zhao admitting to corpse refining north of the city, using it to threaten the Zhao family. Deputy Director Zhao grasped the danger to his family and asked for time to consider Xu Yi’s demand.

• Xu Yi played Deputy Director Zhao a four-word recording of Third Young Master Zhao: “corpse refining north of the city.”
• Xu Yi explained how he had secretly recorded Deputy Director Zhao and Third Young Master Zhao with a Hidden Spirit Pearl and concealed the device’s existence.
• Deputy Director Zhao realized the recording could expose Third Young Master Zhao and bring down the Zhao family.
• Xu Yi asked whether a hundred thousand spirit stones was still too much, and Deputy Director Zhao asked for time to think.

Xu Yi confronted Deputy Director Zhao over evidence tied to the Zhao Lineage, but Zhao attacked him rather than pay. Xu Yi turned the tables with the Soul-Summoning Banner, killed Zhao, and collected his True Soul and remains to complete the official process.

• Xu Yi demanded a hundred thousand spirit stones from Deputy Director Zhao in exchange for the evidence in his Sumeru Ring.
• Deputy Director Zhao rejected the deal and attacked Xu Yi with soul force, repeatedly tearing open his chest.
• Xu Yi revealed the Soul-Summoning Banner and used it to hinder Deputy Director Zhao while the Immortal Slaying Spear struck him down.
• Xu Yi captured Deputy Director Zhao's True Soul in a Soul Collecting Bottle and gathered his mutilated remains for the final legal step.

Xu Yi reviewed his plan to kill Deputy Director Zhao and then faced Wang Fengqi’s meeting-room accusations over the delayed funds. He revealed that Zhao Tingfang had been brought to justice, leaving Wang Fengqi collapsed as Xu Yi departed with three stewards.

• Xu Yi searched Deputy Director Zhao’s Sumeru Ring, took most of its spirit stones and two books, and reviewed the risks of making the killing public.
• Xu Yi returned to First Division and spent the day working before setting out to see Guan Zongyuan the next morning.
• Wang Fengqi, Cao Jie, and Guan Shan berated Xu Yi for failing to secure funds and disrupting matters with his arrests.
• Steward Zhang, Steward Song, and Steward Qin entered the meeting and announced that Xu Yi had done what no one had done before.
• Xu Yi told Wang Fengqi that Zhao Tingfang had been brought to justice, and Wang Fengqi collapsed as Xu Yi left with the three stewards.

Xu Yi faced a gathering of officials after killing Deputy Director Zhao Tingfang, with Jiang Beiming trying to accuse him of acting unlawfully. Bei Ming arrived on the Prefect’s orders and took charge of hearing Xu Yi’s account, leaving the three departments to learn what had happened.

• Xu Yi prepared the case files and reported Deputy Director Zhao Tingfang’s death to Guan Zongyuan, who told him to wait for news.
• Xu Yi arrived at a joint hearing on Immortal Martial Cliff, where Jiang Beiming ordered guards to seize him.
• Xu Yi challenged Jiang Beiming’s authority and rejected his accusations, arguing that the Household Registration Department had no jurisdiction over the case.
• Bei Ming, Director of the Imperial Guard Department, arrived as the Prefect’s envoy and announced that he would investigate the matter.
• Bei Ming asked Xu Yi to explain what had happened, and Xu Yi recounted the case from beginning to end.

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.