Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Qingmu, the Director of the Town Night Division, is impressed by Gu Chengming's actions and believes he's extraordinary.
• Gu Chengming returns home to find Yu Wenqiu has bought a swing set for their courtyard.
• Gu Chengming considers using the Myriad Wonders Same Abyss Method to build a Da Gan version of the Myriad Wonders Society but decides against it for now.

Character Developments

• Zhou Qingmu shows recognition and high expectations for Gu Chengming's abilities.
• Gu Chengming demonstrates strategic thinking and caution in his plans.
• Yu Wenqiu shows a nurturing side, caring for their shared living space.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and bureaucracy within the Capital City and Da Gan territory.
• The potential and limitations of Gu Chengming's abilities and plans.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Qingmu and Gu Chengming: Zhou Qingmu shows approval of Gu Chengming's actions, while Gu Chengming considers using his resources to aid her.
• Gu Chengming and Yu Wenqiu: They bond over Yu Wenqiu's new purchase, and Gu Chengming considers involving her in his plans.

Plot points and events

• Deputy Commander Liu warns Gu Chengming to ignore any private approaches or provocations from the Demon Catching Division. If they cause trouble, Gu should contact him through his Night Patrol Order; the Town Night Division will protect its own.
• Liu takes Gu to Jicheng Mansion, where the Division stores treasures that can be exchanged for merit points. Gu has earned enough through recent killings to rival long-serving veterans.
• Seeking an escape technique, Gu searches the Earth Vault. Most options demand more Agility than he has. He finds the Mortal World Illusory Body Technique, an unconventional art that uses Charisma to create deceptive movement and convincing illusory doubles. Its requirements suit Gu’s high Charisma, though he is one Agility point short.
• Liu tries to steer him toward the Division’s forceful, orthodox techniques, partly fearing that the Demon Catching Division’s signature art might draw Gu closer to them. Gu nevertheless chooses the Mortal World Illusory Body Technique. Since he lacks the Agility and merit points needed to obtain the manual and its required Illusion Spirit Pills, he decides to hunt more Evil Spirits first.
• Gu then visits the Division’s Artifact Forging Workshop with the Tinglan Sword. An elderly craftsman recognizes it as a high-grade sword blank whose power is sealed within its meridian patterns, and identifies its unusual “Seal Meridian, Hide Edge” forging method as belonging to the Wenjian Sect.

Character developments and interactions

• Liu shows genuine concern for Gu’s safety and loyalty to the Town Night Division, while also revealing his protectiveness over Gu’s future: he worries the Demon Catching Division may recruit him.
• Gu responds warmly to Liu’s support but makes his own decision about the technique, judging it a better fit than the alternatives.
• Gu’s confidence and ambition grow as he recognizes how his Charisma can compensate for his limited Agility and begins planning to earn the resources he needs.
• The old swordsmith’s expertise opens a new lead into the Tinglan Sword’s origins and potential.

Significant themes

• Belonging and institutional rivalry: The two Divisions compete for influence over talented Cultivators, while Liu emphasizes loyalty and mutual protection.
• Individual fit over convention: Gu chooses an unconventional technique tailored to his strengths rather than the more imposing arts favored by his Division.
• Progress through earned merit: Merit points, combat, and preparation link Gu’s advancement to practical effort.
• Hidden potential: Both the illusory technique and the sword conceal greater power that Gu has not yet unlocked.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Chengming seeks to repair his sword and is directed to an old master who can do so quickly using an Earth Fire Spirit Vein.
• The repaired sword, Tinglan, is revealed to have the potential to form a Sword Array with other Magic Swords.
• Gu Chengming decides to sell some Magic Treasures to buy more Magic Swords and learns about an upcoming auction at the Jubo Merchant Association.

Character Developments

• Gu Chengming shows determination in pursuing his cultivation path and resourcefulness in finding a solution for his sword.
• Song Qing demonstrates his knowledge of the cultivation world's market and his connections within it.

Significant Themes

• The importance of wealth and resources in cultivation, as highlighted by Gu Chengming's need to acquire more Magic Swords.
• The power dynamics and safety measures in the cultivation world, as seen in the Jubo Merchant Association's background and the auction's security.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming and Song Qing interact as they discuss the auction and the sale of Magic Treasures, showing mutual respect and trust.
• Gu Chengming and the old master interact briefly, showcasing the old master's confidence and skill in sword repair.

Plot points and events

• Gu Chengming attends a large auction with Song Qing, who assures him the event is safe because it has a long record without trouble and usually attracts no powerful cultivators.
• The auction proceeds normally until the formation above the hall activates a Spirit Locking Dragon Trapping Formation, binding the attendees and suppressing their Spiritual Power.
• Five masked Second Realm cultivators reveal themselves and begin looting the stage, including Gu Chengming’s three Magic Treasures. Gu realizes the attack seems aimed less at profit than at ruining the auction.
• Despite the formation’s pressure, Gu waits for an opening, then kills the lead robber with a swift sword strike. He holds off two more attackers, using his sword technique and Entangling Sword Intent to disrupt their coordinated attacks.
• Song Qing overcomes his shock and supports Gu with his fire-based Treasure Bead, forcing one robber to defend against both the flames and Gu’s sword.
• Gu kills the fast-sword robber, but a concealed Third Realm expert suddenly attacks from the back of the hall, revealing a far greater threat. The chapter ends as Gu turns to meet the attack and Song Qing fears they are doomed; a calm voice then steadies him.

Character development

• Gu Chengming proves alert, decisive, and highly capable under pressure. Though the formation restricts him, he acts when his property is threatened and quickly gains the upper hand against two Second Realm opponents.
• Song Qing is first overconfident and stunned when the robbery begins, but recovers enough to join the fight and assist Gu.
• The masked robbers are shown to be disciplined sword cultivators rather than crude thieves. Their elaborate attack and the concealed Third Realm fighter suggest a larger or more deliberate plan.

Significant themes

• False security and tempting fate: Song Qing’s confident assurances are immediately overturned.
• Courage and responsibility: Gu fights because the robbers are stealing his belongings, while Song eventually chooses to help despite the danger.
• Escalating danger and hidden motives: The costly formation and small haul make the robbery seem irrational, while the secret Third Realm attacker hints that the apparent theft may conceal another purpose.

Character interactions

• Gu questions Song about the auction’s security, but Song dismisses his concern.
• During the attack, Gu takes the lead in combat; Song shifts from stunned bystander to active support.
• Gu’s teamwork with Song creates an opening against the robbers, but the concealed expert’s arrival abruptly changes the balance of the fight.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Chengming and Song Qing encounter Robber Cultivators at an auction house.
• Gu Chengming uses a Three Talents Sword Array to fend off the Third Realm Robber Cultivator.
• The Town Night Division arrives, led by Deputy Commander Wang Daoling, who secures the scene and takes credit for the case.
• The Demon Catching Agency arrives later but is unable to claim jurisdiction.
• The next day, Deputy Commander Liu informs Gu Chengming that the Robber Cultivators were connected to Red Apricot Sword Manor, which has ties to high-ranking officials in the Imperial Court.

Character Developments

• Gu Chengming demonstrates his prowess in combat, using a powerful sword array to hold off a Third Realm cultivator.
• Song Qing suspects that Gu Chengming is a mighty remnant soul in disguise due to his strength and lack of a ring.
• Deputy Commander Liu shows concern for Gu Chengming's safety and warns him about the political implications of the case.

Significant Themes

• Power struggles within the Imperial Court and the consequences of interfering with them.
• The importance of credit and jurisdiction in maintaining face and authority within the government offices.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming and Song Qing work together to defend against the Robber Cultivators.
• Deputy Commander Wang Daoling secures the scene and takes credit for the case, much to the frustration of the Demon Catching Agency.
• Deputy Commander Liu warns Gu Chengming about the political implications of the case and expresses concern for his safety.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Chengming receives the spoils from the Robber Cultivators he killed, which include two second-grade Magic Swords, Splitting Light and Splitting Stone.
• The Capital City is in political turmoil due to the Jubo Merchant Association case, with the Second Princess, Ji Yixi, secretly involved.
• Gu Chengming completes the final volume of his story.

Character Developments

• Gu Chengming continues to adapt to his new life, showing growth in his writing and cultivation.
• Yu Wenqiu, despite her tough exterior, shows vulnerability and emotional depth when moved by the story's ending.

Significant Themes

• The theme of endings and new beginnings is explored through Gu Chengming's completion of his story and Yu Wenqiu's emotional response.
• The political intrigue in the Capital City highlights the theme of power struggles and manipulation.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming and Yu Wenqiu's relationship deepens as they spend more time together, with Yu Wenqiu showing increased trust and comfort around Gu Chengming.
• Gu Chengming's interaction with his cultivation methods, Huiyuan Sword Art and Hundred Bones Ming, shows his growing proficiency and understanding of his cultivation path.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The story of the Outer Sect Disciple ends, leaving Yu Wenqiu feeling empty.
• Gu Chengming comforts Yu Wenqiu with rice cakes, symbolizing life going on despite the story's end.
• Gu Chengming agrees to start a new story in three days.
• Gu Chengming receives a summons from the Town Night Division, where he meets Princess Ji Yixi.
• Princess Ji Yixi offers Gu Chengming a promotion to the Demon Catching Division, but he declines.
• Princess Ji Yixi invites Gu Chengming to the Lantern Festival's 'Drunken Dream Boat' event on the Qinzhun River.

Character Developments

• Yu Wenqiu: Shows vulnerability and attachment to the story, feeling lost when it ends.
• Gu Chengming: Demonstrates empathy and understanding, comforting Yu Wenqiu and agreeing to start a new story.
• Princess Ji Yixi: Shows interest in Gu Chengming's abilities and offers him a promotion, but her true intentions remain unclear.

Significant Themes

• The impermanence of stories and life's continuity.
• The allure of the unknown and the desire for new experiences.
• The complexity of royal intentions and political intrigue.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming and Yu Wenqiu: Share a moment of understanding and connection over the ending of the story.
• Gu Chengming and Princess Ji Yixi: Have a formal yet cryptic conversation, with Ji Yixi offering Gu Chengming a promotion and an invitation to an event.

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Gu Chengming receives an invitation to the Lantern Festival's Flower Queen Banquet on the Drunken Dream Boat from both Ji Yixi and Manager Yun of Elegant Garden.
+ Gu Chengming and Yu Wenqiu attend the Lantern Festival, visiting the Drunken Dream Boat.
+ Yu Wenqiu, disguised as a sword-bearing maid, infiltrates the Joyful Union Sect's territory to investigate.

Character Developments

+ Gu Chengming: He remains calm and collected, handling invitations from both Ji Yixi and Manager Yun tactfully. He also shows understanding and patience towards Yu Wenqiu's eccentric behavior.
+ Yu Wenqiu: She displays her intelligence and resourcefulness by quickly devising a plan to infiltrate the Joyful Union Sect's territory. Her love for food is also evident as she immediately heads for the food tables upon boarding the Drunken Dream Boat.

Significant Themes

+ The Lantern Festival: It serves as a backdrop for the story, highlighting the contrast between the festive atmosphere and the secretive activities of the Joyful Union Sect.
+ Investigation and Infiltration: Yu Wenqiu's actions emphasize the importance of gathering information and understanding one's enemy, a common theme in cultivation and spy novels.

Character Interactions

+ Gu Chengming and Yu Wenqiu: Their interaction shows their growing camaraderie and understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. Gu Chengming supports Yu Wenqiu's plan, while Yu Wenqiu acknowledges Gu Chengming's abilities.
+ Gu Chengming and Ji Yixi: Though not present, Ji Yixi's invitation and Gu Chengming's reaction to it hint at a potential future conflict or alliance between them.
+ Gu Chengming and Manager Yun: Manager Yun's invitation and Gu Chengming's acceptance of it suggest a growing connection between Elegant Garden and Gu Chengming, which could have implications for the story's main plot.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Chengming attends the Joyful Union Sect's Flower God Festival on the Drunken Dream Boat.
• He discovers the Third Realm Robber Cultivator from the Jubo Merchant Association who escaped half a month ago is also on the boat.
• Gu Chengming uses his cultivation method, Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa, to identify the robber cultivator by creating a ritual disorder, removing chairs meant for female cultivators.

Character Developments

• Gu Chengming demonstrates his resourcefulness and strategic thinking by using the ritual to expose the robber cultivator without alerting him.
• Yu Wenqiu, Gu Chengming's Elder, shows a more relaxed and carefree side while enjoying the festival, but remains alert and ready for action when Gu Chengming informs her about the robber cultivator.

Significant Themes

• The theme of order and disorder, with Gu Chengming using the Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa to create a ritual disorder that highlights the robber cultivator's presence.
• The theme of deception and exposure, as Gu Chengming deceives the robber cultivator into revealing himself without directly confronting him.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming interacts with Song Qing, a fellow cultivator and friend, who introduces him to other prominent young cultivators in the Capital City.
• Gu Chengming interacts with Manager Yun Wan from Elegant Garden, who offers him special wine and hints at potential arrangements for the Flower God Festival.
• Gu Chengming communicates with Yu Wenqiu, his Elder, using Spiritual Sense to inform her about the robber cultivator without drawing attention.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Chengming discovers a Robber Cultivator at the Drunken Dream Boat, who is preparing a mass soul absorption ritual.
• Gu Chengming informs Manager Yun, who deploys Joyful Union Sect Elders to handle the situation.
• The Robber Cultivator activates a formation that controls everyone except Gu Chengming, revealing his true power and intent.
• Gu Chengming engages in a battle against the Robber Cultivator, struggling due to the vast difference in their realms.
• The Great Gan Dragon Qi is stirred and begins to suppress the Robber Cultivator, despite his concealment.

Character Developments

• Gu Chengming demonstrates his combat prowess and resourcefulness but is overwhelmed by the Robber Cultivator's power.
• Manager Yun shows competence in handling the crisis but is ultimately controlled by the formation.
• The Robber Cultivator reveals his true power and ruthlessness, prioritizing his grand plan over collateral damage.

Significant Themes

• The power of the Great Gan Dragon Qi and its role in maintaining order in the capital.
• The ruthlessness and cunning of the Robber Cultivator, who is willing to sacrifice many lives for his goals.
• The struggle between Gu Chengming's resourcefulness and the overwhelming power of his opponent.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming and Manager Yun work together to handle the crisis, with Gu Chengming providing crucial information and Yun Wan deploying sect resources.
• Gu Chengming and the Robber Cultivator engage in a fierce battle, showcasing their respective powers and techniques.
• The Robber Cultivator's disregard for the lives of those controlled by his formation highlights his ruthlessness and single-minded pursuit of his goals.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Chengming encounters a Fourth Realm robber cultivator on the Drunken Dream Boat, who is attempting a blood sacrifice using the Human Energy of the Lantern Festival.
• Gu Chengming uses Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa to break the formation's illusion and resist the evil cultivator.
• Zhou Qingmu, the Director of the Great Gan Town Night Division, intervenes and kills the robber cultivator with a single blade strike.
• Gu Chengming is summoned by Zhou Qingmu, who praises his performance and offers him access to her personal notes on Ritual Law and cultivation at the Imperial Academy Library.
• Zhou Qingmu reveals that the robber cultivator was from the Longevity Sect, an evil sect that practices demonic arts.

Character Developments

• Gu Chengming demonstrates his growth in using Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa, gaining recognition from Zhou Qingmu.
• Zhou Qingmu shows appreciation for Gu Chengming's actions and offers him guidance to improve his cultivation.
• Yu Wenqiu feels guilty for falling asleep during the critical moment on the Drunken Dream Boat and tries to make amends by helping Gu Chengming with chores.

Significant Themes

• The power of Ritual Law and its use in maintaining order and protecting the masses.
• The struggle against evil cultivators and their demonic practices.
• The importance of diligence and humility in cultivation, as shown by Gu Chengming's growth and Yu Wenqiu's self-reflection.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming and Zhou Qingmu: Gu Chengming gains recognition and guidance from Zhou Qingmu, while Zhou Qingmu sees Gu Chengming's potential and offers him help.
• Gu Chengming and Yu Wenqiu: Though not directly interacting, Yu Wenqiu's guilt leads her to help Gu Chengming with chores, showing a change in her attitude towards him.
• Gu Chengming and the Robber Cultivator: Their battle highlights Gu Chengming's growth in using Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa and his ability to resist evil cultivators.

Plot Points and Events

• Gu Chengming is invited to Elegant Garden by an Elder of the Joyful Union Sect.
• Upon arrival, he finds the place unusually quiet and empty.
• He meets the Elder, who is surprisingly a young girl, and she offers him a chance to join the Joyful Union Sect.
• The Elder reveals that Gu Chengming has a unique bone structure (Beguiler Bone) that makes him exceptionally suited for their Sect's Cultivation Methods.
• When Gu Chengming declines to join the Sect, the Elder presents an alternative: he can learn their Cultivation Method by signing a contract that requires him to "feed" the Sect every ten years.

Character Development

• Gu Chengming remains humble and respectful despite the Elder's praise and offers.
• He shows loyalty to his original Sect, the Wenjian Sect, and refuses to switch allegiances.
• The Elder displays a mix of maturity and immaturity, showing both wisdom and a lack of worldly experience.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty vs. Ambition: Gu Chengming's loyalty to his Sect is tested, and he chooses to remain true to his roots despite the tempting offer from the Joyful Union Sect.
• Appearance vs. Reality: The Elder's young appearance contrasts with her powerful cultivation base and the respect she commands, challenging the reader's initial perceptions.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming and the Elder have a tense yet respectful interaction, with the Elder trying to recruit Gu Chengming and him politely declining.
• Yun Wan, the manager of Elegant Garden, is mentioned but does not interact with Gu Chengming in this chapter.

Key Plot Points

• Gu Chengming learns about the Joyful Union Sect's source of wealth: the Yin Yang Fish, which produces Yin Yang Pills every ten years.
• The Sect needs a male cultivator with strong Yang Qi to help the Yin Yang Fish produce pills smoothly.
• Gu Chengming agrees to cooperate with the Sect, starting his cultivation of the Yin Yang Creation Strategy.

Character Developments

• Gu Chengming: Shows maturity and understanding as he agrees to help the Sect, demonstrating his growth.
• Elder of the Joyful Union Sect: Reveals her past beauty and influence, hinting at her complex history.

Significant Themes

• The balance of Yin and Yang: The Sect's struggle to maintain this balance is a central theme.
• The power of desire: The cultivation method's reliance on desire and the Sect's use of it to attract cultivators is a recurring theme.

Character Interactions

• Gu Chengming and the Elder: Their interaction shows the Elder's playful and teasing nature, contrasting with Gu Chengming's seriousness.
• Gu Chengming and Yu Wenqiu: Their dynamic shows Yu Wenqiu's concern for Gu Chengming and her attempts to compensate for her past mistakes.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter begins with the protagonist, Ye Xingyu, waking up late in the morning, indicating a relaxed and carefree lifestyle.
• He receives a letter from the Martial Saint Palace, inviting him to participate in the Martial Saint Selection.
• Ye Xingyu decides to participate, motivated by the reward of a high-grade spirit stone.

Character Developments

• Ye Xingyu is portrayed as laid-back and somewhat lazy, but he is also determined and ambitious when it comes to martial arts.
• He shows respect for the Martial Saint Palace and its authority, as he considers it an honor to be invited.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and Determination: Ye Xingyu's desire to improve his martial arts skills and participate in the Martial Saint Selection highlights his ambition and determination.
• Respect for Authority: The Martial Saint Palace is portrayed as an authoritative and respected institution, which Ye Xingyu acknowledges.

Character Interactions

• There are no character interactions in this chapter, as it is focused solely on Ye Xingyu's thoughts and decisions.

Key plot points and events

• Following the destruction of the Longevity Sect cultivator and his formation aboard the Drunken Dream Boat, the gray mist disperses and the enthralled guests regain their senses. The Town Night and Demon Catching Divisions secure the scene.
• The official account credits Gu Chengming’s warning, investigation, and resistance for helping prevent disaster. Great Qian’s dragon qi—secretly used to suppress the formation—is deliberately omitted from the reports.
• Director Zhou Qingmu privately questions Gu about the dragon qi. He denies noticing it, and she lets the matter drop, warning him to keep it secret.
• Zhou praises Gu’s use of the Ritual Law Eye and his understanding of Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa, but notes a subtle stagnation in his cultivation. She gives him a jade slip and a letter granting access to her private Imperial Academy notes.
• Zhou identifies the slain cultivator as a member of the Longevity Sect, an evil sect that once devastated the capital and now seeks to revive its influence amid the coming demon tide.
• Back at the Joyful Union Sect, Yun Wan feels grateful and remorseful over her earlier underestimation of the danger. Yu Wenqiu, ashamed that she slept through the crisis, tries to make amends by caring for Gu’s cat and attempting to cook.
• Yun Wan later visits Gu, presents a jade token from her sect, and invites him to meet an elder who has heard of his interest in their cultivation methods.
• Gu accepts and visits the unusually quiet Elegant Garden. Yun Wan escorts him to a secluded residence, where the elder is waiting.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Chengming gains public recognition as the incident’s second-greatest contributor. He remains discreet about the dragon qi and continues pursuing cultivation knowledge and connections with powerful factions.
• Zhou Qingmu shows confidence in Gu’s ability and offers practical help, while carefully protecting the secret of the dragon qi and explaining the threat posed by the Longevity Sect.
• Yun Wan moves from regret to sincere gratitude, honoring her promise and opening a path for Gu to meet a Joyful Union Sect elder.
• Yu Wenqiu feels deep guilt over failing to protect Gu and responds with unusually diligent, if inept, acts of service.
• Song Qing spreads word of Gu’s heroism, boosting morale within the Town Night Division.

Significant themes

• Duty and benevolence: Gu’s defense of the passengers earns recognition from the ritual-law cultivation method.
• Secrecy and political power: Officials conceal the role of imperial dragon qi, underscoring the sensitivity of national authority.
• Redemption through action: Yun Wan and Yu Wenqiu each try to make amends for their shortcomings.
• Knowledge and advancement: Gu seeks instruction from both Zhou Qingmu’s scholarship and the Joyful Union Sect’s methods.
• Lingering evil: The Longevity Sect’s survival suggests that past threats can return when larger dangers emerge.

Plot points and events

• Gu Chengming meets a senior elder of the Joyful Union Sect, who appears as a small, fifteen-year-old girl despite radiating fourth-realm power.
• The elder praises his looks and asks whether he is interested in the sect’s dual-cultivation methods. She offers him an unusually fast track to becoming a core disciple if he switches sects.
• Gu refuses, affirming his loyalty and debt to the Wenjian Sect. The elder accepts his answer and says she would have doubted him had he changed allegiances so easily.
• She offers him another way to learn the Joyful Union Sect’s methods: sign a contract requiring practitioners to visit the sect’s forbidden grounds to “feed” something once they reach full mastery, or every ten years.
• She explains that the sect’s wealth ultimately depends on a rare Yin Yang Fish, which produces a valuable pill only when supplied with exceptionally pure yin and yang qi. The sect has plenty of yin, but has struggled to find a suitable source of yang.
• The elder considers Gu ideal because he has a “beguiler bone,” abundant yang qi, and the durability of a sword cultivator. Gu accepts the arrangement, though the meaning of the feeding obligation remains ominous.
• Afterward, the elder teases Gu, boasting of her former beauty and legendary ability to captivate people.

Character developments

• Gu Chengming remains steadfastly loyal to the Wenjian Sect, refusing a prestigious offer without hesitation. He is cautious and visibly uncomfortable with the elder’s flirtatious behavior, but accepts the cultivation arrangement once its terms are explained.
• The Joyful Union Sect elder is playful, direct, and confident. Beneath her teasing manner, she is practical and willing to negotiate seriously to secure a solution to her sect’s shortage of yang qi.
• The Hundred Heavenly Emperor, speaking through an interjection, angrily corrects the elder’s “beguiler bone” label, claiming Gu possesses an “emperor bone.”

Significant themes

• Loyalty versus opportunity: Gu’s commitment to his sect outweighs the benefits of changing allegiances.
• Desire and power: The Joyful Union Sect treats attraction and dual cultivation as both natural human impulses and tools for cultivation.
• Hidden costs of advancement: Access to the sect’s methods comes with a recurring obligation tied to a mysterious spiritual creature.
• Appearance versus reality: The elder’s youthful appearance contrasts with her age, authority, and suggestive manner, creating both comedy and unease.

Character interactions

• The elder alternates between probing Gu’s interest, flattering him, and making a serious recruitment offer; Gu responds with formal respect but resists her flirtation.
• After Gu refuses to defect, the elder preserves goodwill by offering a contractual alternative rather than pressuring him further.
• Their playful, awkward dynamic continues as the elder tries to draw him into a less formal rapport, while Gu insists she behave with dignity.

Key plot points and events

• A Joyful Union Sect elder uses an illusion to appear as a mature beauty, but Gu Chengming sees her true, adolescent-looking, flat-chested form. Embarrassed by his candid description, she throws him the Yin Yang Creation Strategy and sends him away.
• Back home, Gu Chengming studies the method. Its unusual meridian routes and demanding control should make it risky, but his spiritual power responds to it effortlessly. The Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa, another sentient cultivation method, disapproves and prepares to monitor it.
• In the days after the Drunken Dream Boat incident, authorities search for the vanished Longevity Sect, while the city gradually returns to normal.
• Yu Wenqiu awkwardly tries to make amends for having fallen asleep during the incident by preparing Gu Chengming a medicinal tonic. Her cooking is so bad that he declines it and makes noodles instead.
• After five days of practice, Gu Chengming reaches the strategy’s introductory level, gaining two points of charm. The newly awakened method turns out to be a crude, matchmaking-minded “gooner” personality: it immediately asks how many heroines he has recruited and insists they should all be virgins.
• The method condemns the Joyful Union Sect’s approach to dual cultivation as a corruption of its principles. It warns Gu Chengming against cultivating with non-virgin women, citing mixed qi and the complications of their former partners.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Chengming remains pragmatic and unflappable: he speaks honestly to the elder, accepts the method, and quickly masters its first threshold. His surprise at the method’s personality gives way to amusement and confusion.
• The Joyful Union Sect elder is exposed as deeply insecure about her youthful true appearance and lack of curves, despite presenting herself as a mature beauty. Gu Chengming’s blunt description humiliates her.
• Yu Wenqiu shows guilt and concern for Gu Chengming, but her attempt to care for him only produces a scorched, inedible tonic.
• The cultivation methods are personified as characters: Yin Yang Creation Strategy is judgmental and obsessed with recruiting ideal heroines, while Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa is prudish and suspicious of it.

Significant themes

• The chapter uses comedy and embarrassment to undercut the elder’s alluring public persona and the conventions of seductive cultivation arts.
• It contrasts authentic cultivation ideals—harmony of yin and yang—with the sect’s transactional practice, while also poking fun at the method’s own obsessive purity rules.
• Sentient techniques and cultivation systems are treated as characters with competing moral views, turning Gu Chengming’s progress into a humorous ideological clash.

Key plot points and events

• The Yin Yang Creation Strategy argues that romance should be based on sincere, faithful love, not collecting partners or pursuing intimacy for cultivation. This unexpectedly wins over the Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa, which recognizes a shared commitment to restraint and propriety.
• Gu Chengming continues cultivating in Jishan Ward. The Yin Yang Creation Strategy’s balanced approach helps his True Essence flow more smoothly and efficiently, allowing him to advance to Second Realm, Level Two.
• The technique also makes him more sensitive to emotional shifts in others. However, raising its Favorability proves difficult: it wants genuine romantic intimacy, while Gu refuses to pursue an innocent woman merely to gain points.
• Gu experiments by sweet-talking the Huiyuan Sword Art, praising her importance to his beginnings. She is overwhelmed with happiness, despite already having maximum Favorability. The Yin Yang Creation Strategy admires his audacity—he is willing to “flirt” even with his own techniques—and its Favorability rises by five points.
• Words alone do not persuade the technique much further, so Gu decides to wait for a suitable opportunity rather than force a relationship. He also cheers up the disappointed Hundred Bones Ming with a few compliments, gaining five Favorability points.
• During a rare holiday, Gu relaxes at home. The Yin Yang Creation Strategy grows impatient with his lack of romantic initiative just as Yu Wenqiu emerges from her room, unusually early and diligent after the Drunken Dream Boat case.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Chengming grows stronger and more controlled in combat, while remaining wary of manipulating someone’s feelings for personal gain. His playful, strategic side shows in his attempt to treat cultivation techniques as possible romantic targets.
• The Yin Yang Creation Strategy emerges as a moralizing but romance-hungry personality: it prizes purity and fidelity, yet wants actual intimacy rather than empty flattery. It is both exasperated and impressed by Gu’s approach.
• Zhou Li Tian Ren Zheng Xin Fa shifts from suspicion to respect for the Yin Yang Creation Strategy, seeing it as a kindred advocate of propriety.
• Huiyuan Sword Art remains devoted to Gu and is easily overwhelmed by his affectionate praise. Hundred Bones Ming is eager for Gu’s approval and quickly cheers up when praised.
• The chapter ends by setting up a possible interaction between Gu and Yu Wenqiu, whose recent diligence may stem from a wish to regain her standing or guilt over past events.

Significant themes

• Love versus exploitation: Gu resists using romance as a mere way to gain cultivation rewards.
• Propriety and fidelity: Both cultivation techniques value restraint and sincere commitment, despite their different origins.
• Growth through balance: The Yin Yang Creation Strategy strengthens Gu by harmonizing force with flexibility.
• Affection as influence: Praise can deepen bonds, but genuine progress requires more than clever words.

• Yu Wenqiu visits Gu Chengming: Dressed in her formal Action Suit, Elder Yu brings him cloud cakes, hoping he will praise her thoughtfulness. Gu quickly realizes she has eaten half the box herself and made up the story about feeding the rest to stray cats. Rather than embarrass her, he wipes crumbs from her mouth and gently offers to make tea next time. She accepts his care, growing flustered and increasingly attracted to him, though she blames the reaction on the heat—or on a cultivation method he may be testing.
• Yin Yang Creation Strategy misreads the exchange: The strategy urges Gu to seduce his “pure” elder with clumsy romantic advice. Watching his quiet, familiar care, it decides he is effectively “raising a pet” and gains five Favorability points. Gu begins to suspect that the strategy rewards physical contact and behavior that plays with a person’s status.
• Ji Yixi prepares to meet Gu: Traveling to Jishan Ward, the Second Princess consults an ancient bronze mirror whose voices advise her to establish dominance, reveal that she knows Gu’s secret, and promise him “anything he asks.” Nervous but earnest, she writes down and resolves to follow their plan.
• The princess arrives: Gu opens his door to find Ji Yixi accompanied by a powerful guard. The guard pressures him for failing to open the main gate, but Gu stands his ground: he will welcome her courteously as a guest, yet this is his home, not the imperial palace.
  Character developments and interactions: Yu Wenqiu’s familiar affection for Gu is shifting into a more intense, confusing attraction, while Gu remains gently attentive and unselfconscious. Ji Yixi is anxious and inexperienced in handling Gu, relying on the mirror’s overconfident counsel. Gu, meanwhile, is increasingly observant about how the cultivation strategy works and asserts his independence against the guard’s intimidation.
  Themes: The chapter contrasts genuine, everyday care with calculated seduction; explores attraction that characters struggle to explain; and emphasizes the tension between social rank and personal boundaries.

Plot points

• Ji Yixi, the Second Princess of Great Qian, visits Gu Chengming at home. Her guard tries to intimidate him, but Yu Wenqiu intervenes with sword qi, injuring the guard and forcing him to apologize. Ji Yixi also offers Gu spirit stones as compensation.
• Once inside, Ji Yixi asks Gu to help her. He refuses, wanting to stay out of political complications after the Drunken Dream Boat incident.
• Ji reveals she knows Gu can stir Great Qian’s dragon qi—a secret he had kept from Zhou Qingmu, the Town Night Division, and others. She insists she is not using it to threaten him, but Gu becomes more wary.
• Ji explains that an ancient ruin, the Green Lotus Sword Realm, lies sealed beneath the capital region. Every sixty years, the imperial family sends people inside to reinforce its seal and retrieve items. Entry is restricted to those below the third realm, and the dangerous sword qi makes divine-level sword mastery essential.
• She says Gu is uniquely suited to the task and offers to grant him any one request if he returns. Gu rejects the offer, criticizing her approach as intimidation followed by a reward. He leaves without hearing her explanation.
• Yu Wenqiu backs Gu’s decision and prepares to show Ji out, openly dismissing the princess’s status.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Chengming remains cautious and independent, prioritizing safety and refusing to be drawn into imperial affairs. He recognizes Ji’s behavior as manipulative, even while sensing that she bears him no ill will.
• Ji Yixi is composed and purposeful, but her attempt to recruit Gu is undermined by her guard’s aggression and her use of his secret as leverage. She appears genuinely eager to gain his help, yet struggles to communicate that effectively.
• Yu Wenqiu demonstrates both her formidable sword skill and fierce protectiveness toward Gu. She treats Ji’s royal rank as irrelevant when defending her household.
• The guard is humbled after his threat is effortlessly countered and forced to apologize.

Significant themes

• Trust versus coercion: Good intentions are not enough when a request is framed through intimidation and leverage.
• Personal agency and caution: Gu resists powerful institutions and tempting rewards to avoid being pulled into dangerous conflicts.
• Power and status: Ji’s royal authority proves ineffective against Yu Wenqiu’s strength and Gu’s refusal to be impressed.
• Comic contrast: The cultivation techniques react enthusiastically to the secret realm and Ji’s promised reward, while Gu finds their responses ridiculous.