Chapter Summaries

Ma Hong told Huangfu Yu that Li Xiao was a powerful young genius in Willow City, prompting the Third Prince to investigate and plan a visit. After learning Li Xiao’s standing in the Three Origins Sect, Huangfu Yu decided to seek an alliance and asked Wang Chongshan to arrange an introduction, leaving Wang Chongshan puzzled about Li Xiao’s return.

• Ma Hong told Huangfu Yu that Li Xiao was a Fifth Turn Martial Master in his early twenties and urged him to win Li Xiao over.
• Huangfu Yu ordered an investigation into Li Xiao and decided to leave for Willow City the next day with Ma Hong.
• Huangfu Yu reviewed reports revealing Li Xiao’s achievements as a Three Origins Sect competition champion, an Alchemist, and a Candidate Saint Son contender.
• Ma Hong realized how formidable Li Xiao was and regretted having opposed him.
• Huangfu Yu asked Wang Chongshan to arrange an introduction to Li Xiao, and Wang Chongshan summoned Wang Shichong after wondering how Li Xiao had returned.

Wang Shichong learned that the Third Prince, Huangfu Yu, wanted him to arrange a visit to Li Xiao in Willow City and realized the prince sought an alliance rather than Li Xiao’s obedience. As they rode toward Willow City, Huangfu Yu’s intelligence revealed Li Xiao’s achievements, and the party continued on to meet him.

• Wang Shichong told Wang Chongshan that Huangfu Yu’s request to visit Li Xiao could draw their family into the struggle for the throne, but Wang Chongshan ordered him to accompany the prince.
• Wang Shichong joined Huangfu Yu’s party and rode with him toward Willow City.
• Huangfu Yu asked Wang Shichong about Li Xiao’s past, then showed him intelligence detailing Li Xiao’s cultivation, Inner Sect Grand Competition victory, alchemy, and candidacy for Saint Son.
• Wang Shichong asked whether Huangfu Yu intended to win Li Xiao over, and Huangfu Yu explained that he wanted Li Xiao’s friendship and an alliance with influence in the Northern Border.
• The party continued along the road as Willow City drew near.

Li Xiao received Wang Shichong and Huangfu Yu, the Third Young Master of the Prince of Nanyang's Mansion, after Huangfu Yu arrived with gifts and expressed a desire to meet him. He welcomed Huangfu Yu into the reception hall, while the reason for the royal visitor's interest remained unclear.

• Li Xiao advised Wu Tieshan and Wang Hai as they sparred, helping them improve their Iron Wire Fist techniques.
• A servant told Li Xiao that Wang Shichong had arrived, and Li Xiao went to greet him at the gate.
• Wang Shichong introduced Huangfu Yu, a Fifth Turn, Second Realm martial master from the Prince of Nanyang's Mansion, who had brought gifts for Li Xiao's family.
• Huangfu Yu greeted Wang Jinshan and Li Youde respectfully and presented gifts to them.
• Li Xiao had Li Youde rest and invited Huangfu Yu into the reception hall.

At a banquet, Huangfu Yu tried to win over Li Xiao by praising him and urging him to help restore order amid the Demon Race invasion and the Demonic Path’s emergence. Li Xiao used Wind Listening and Qi Observing to judge the guests’ Fortune and Destiny, then left the gathering more interested in Wang Shichong’s rapidly growing purple qi than in Huangfu Yu’s ambitions.

• Huangfu Yu discussed the troubled state of the world and appealed to Li Xiao to contribute his talents, while Li Xiao politely agreed without committing to join him.
• Li Xiao activated Wind Listening and Qi Observing and saw that Huangfu Yu’s Fortune and Destiny was mostly azure with only a trace of purple.
• Li Xiao noticed that Wang Shichong’s Fortune and Destiny had grown from a few strands of purple to a rich, dominant purple in only a few months.
• Li Xiao exchanged warm remarks with Wang Shichong, and Huangfu Yu sensed that Li Xiao favored him more.
• Li Xiao decided Huangfu Yu was not worth betting on and resolved to pay closer attention to Wang Shichong, whose sudden rise in Fortune and Destiny puzzled him.

Huangfu Yu failed to recruit Li Xiao, and Wang Shichong privately apologized and warned him about the Third Prince. Wang Shichong later recalled that an Exotic Insect called the Exquisite Heart had transformed his talent and perception two months earlier.

• Huangfu Yu tried to recruit Li Xiao to serve the Prince of Nanyang's Mansion, but Li Xiao declined without directly refusing.
• Wang Shichong visited Li Xiao at night, apologized for his conduct, and explained that his family could not oppose the Third Prince.
• Li Xiao and Wang Shichong agreed that Huangfu Yu was arrogant and would discard people once they were no longer useful.
• Wang Shichong warned Li Xiao that the Third Prince would not give up easily, then struggled to sleep in the Li Family guest room.
• Wang Shichong recalled finding the transparent heart-shaped Exotic Insect, the Exquisite Heart, in a ravine; after it entered his chest, his talent, cultivation speed, and ability to read people greatly improved.

Wang Shichong kept his Exquisite Heart secret while Li Xiao advanced Zhi’s fusion and cultivated his True Qi. After Huangfu Yu confronted Ma Hong and failed to win over Li Xiao or the Wang family, he directly proposed an alliance with Li Xiao to contend for the heirship of the Prince of Nanyang’s Mansion.

• Wang Shichong resolved to conceal the Exquisite Heart, which let him read people’s intentions and navigate political dealings.
• Li Xiao fed Zhi several drops of essence blood, saw its fusion progress exceed eighty percent, and cultivated the Three Absolutes Returning Origin Qi with an Origin-Returning Pill.
• After learning Ma Hong had tried to use him against Li Xiao, Huangfu Yu kicked Ma Hong and ordered him to leave after hearing his explanation.
• Huangfu Yu repeatedly visited Li Xiao and the Wang family with gifts, but neither side gave him a commitment.
• Huangfu Yu returned to the Li Family without gifts and asked Li Xiao to ally with him in his bid to become the heir to the Prince of Nanyang’s Mansion.

Li Xiao rejected Huangfu Yu’s attempt to form an alliance and heard Wang Shichong describe Huangfu Yuan as a thoughtful, ambitious prince with a loyal circle of talented followers. Li Xiao agreed to meet Huangfu Yuan after finishing his current business, then returned to feeding Zhi and cultivating.

• Li Xiao told Huangfu Yu he needed more time to consider an alliance, and Huangfu Yu left.
• Wang Shichong asked whether Li Xiao planned to support Huangfu Yu, and Li Xiao said Huangfu Yu had no future and he would not place that bet.
• Wang Shichong described Huangfu Yuan’s neglected upbringing, broad knowledge, sincere conduct, and ability to gather capable people around him.
• Wang Shichong urged Li Xiao to consider meeting Huangfu Yuan, and Li Xiao agreed to visit him after handling his current matters.
• After Wang Shichong departed, Li Xiao fed Zhi, saw its fusion progress rise, and resumed cultivating the Three Absolutes Returning Origin Qi.

Huangfu Yuan reflected on his rebirth and his plans to win the heir apparent position of the Prince of Nanyang, while recalling that a mysterious golden insect had returned him to childhood. He considered the imperial family’s hidden power struggle and began weighing how to turn it to his advantage.

• Huangfu Yuan told his concubine that he had accomplished his purpose in Tianyang Commandery and recalled how Wang Shichong had aided his brother in his previous life.
• Huangfu Yuan resolved to win Wang Shichong’s support and secure the position of heir apparent to the Prince of Nanyang.
• A pale golden insect moved beneath Huangfu Yuan’s forehead, reminding him that it had burrowed into his brain when he was killed by Black-Robed Men and sent him back to age ten.
• Huangfu Yuan considered Emperor Zhou’s hidden game and the rivalry among the princes, especially his third brother, Huangfu Yu.

Li Xiao completed his bloodline connection with Zhi and left home to continue preparing for the Candidate Saint Son Battle. At Wang Chongshan’s mansion, he offered to refine Viscera Refining Pills to help Wang Shichong break through, and asked for Fourth Turn Demonic Beast heart meat.

• Li Xiao fed Zhi three drops of essence blood, completing its fusion and enabling it to influence people who consumed its flesh and blood.
• Li Xiao told his family and companions he would leave the next morning, and they urged him to stay safe as he departed.
• After a farewell meal, Li Xiao rode Frost Shadow from the Old Residence to the Prefecture City.
• Wang Shichong and Wang Chongshan welcomed Li Xiao to the Commandery Lieutenant's Mansion and shared food and wine with him.
• Li Xiao learned Wang Shichong was stuck at the Third Turn Peak and offered to refine Viscera Refining Pills if they could obtain Demonic Beast meat.
• Li Xiao said Fourth Turn Demonic Beast heart meat would produce the finest pills, and Wang Shichong looked to Wang Chongshan.

Li Xiao refined Viscera Refining Pills for Wang Shichong, helping him break through to the Fourth Turn while secretly using Zhi’s flesh to foster his trust. After preparing more pills, Li Xiao arranged to meet Huangfu Yuan in Wuping Commandery.

• Wang Chongshan agreed to obtain Fourth Turn demonic beast meat, and Wang Shichong gathered the ingredients and a pill furnace for Li Xiao.
• Li Xiao refined six Viscera Refining Pills, secretly adding flesh and blood from Zhi to influence Wang Shichong and improve the pills.
• Wang Shichong took three pills and broke through from Third Turn Peak to Fourth Turn Early-Stage, then thanked Li Xiao and praised his alchemy.
• Li Xiao refined additional pills over several days, and Wang Shichong grew increasingly close to him as he took them.
• Li Xiao asked where Huangfu Yuan was and arranged with Wang Shichong to travel to Wuping Commandery in a few days to meet him.

Li Xiao and Wang Shichong traveled to Wuping Commandery, where Huangfu Yuan personally welcomed them and escorted them toward his mansion. The chapter ended with Huangfu Yuan warmly introducing them to the city as they walked together.

• Wang Chongshan gave Wang Shichong a wolf rider before he and Li Xiao set out for Wuping Commandery.
• After traveling for more than ten days, Li Xiao and Wang Shichong arrived in Wuping Commandery.
• Huangfu Yuan left the city with his trusted subordinates to wait for Wang Shichong and the prodigy he had mentioned in his letter.
• Wang Shichong introduced Li Xiao as a Three Origins Sect Inner Sect disciple and Fifth Turn Martial Master, and Huangfu Yuan greeted him with deep respect.
• Huangfu Yuan led Li Xiao and Wang Shichong into the city, enthusiastically telling them about Wuping Commandery's streets and sights.

Li Xiao met Huangfu Yuan’s trusted retainers and discovered that each possessed exceptional Fortune and Destiny. At a banquet, Li Xiao saw Huangfu Yuan’s Fortune and Destiny turning golden, while Huangfu Yuan sensed that Li Xiao was observing him through an unknown method.

• Huangfu Yuan introduced Du Tianshan, Qingyunzi, and his other retainers to Li Xiao, who used Wind Listening and Qi Observing to see their extraordinary Fortune and Destiny.
• Huangfu Yuan said that his followers trusted him to lead them toward great accomplishments as the world approached chaos.
• Huangfu Yuan hosted Li Xiao, Wang Shichong, and the retainers at a lively banquet, personally pouring wine for the guests.
• Li Xiao used Wind Listening and Qi Observing on Huangfu Yuan and saw crimson Fortune and Destiny beginning to turn gold, which left his eyes bloodshot.
• Huangfu Yuan’s Reverse Scale alerted him that Li Xiao was observing him, but Huangfu Yuan concealed his suspicions and continued the banquet.

Li Xiao declined Huangfu Yuan’s attendants, absorbed the remaining power from the Imperial Wine and Sarira, and strengthened his Life-Slaying Amitabha Sword Qi. Huangfu Yuan suspected Li Xiao possessed an Exotic Insect like his own and resolved that Li Xiao was worth befriending.

• Li Xiao sent away the two Third-Turn Martial Masters Huangfu Yuan had assigned to attend him.
• Li Xiao absorbed the Imperial Wine’s power into his Three Absolutes Returning Origin Qi and drew the remaining Buddha Qi from the Sarira into his golden sword.
• Li Xiao controlled the enlarged golden Sword Qi and realized the Life-Slaying Amitabha Sword Scripture had reached a measure of mastery.
• Huangfu Yuan recalled Li Xiao’s strange, bloodshot stare at the banquet and the Time Reverse Scale’s reaction.
• Huangfu Yuan concluded that Li Xiao likely possessed an Exotic Insect and decided to win him over.

Li Xiao attended a banquet hosted by Huangfu Yuan, who warned him that Zhou Xuan and Chen Jing were powerful, low-profile rivals in the Candidate Saint Son Battle. Li Xiao questioned how Huangfu knew so much, but Huangfu withheld the source, leaving Li Xiao resolved to verify the warning after returning to the sect.

• Huangfu Yuan welcomed Li Xiao to a banquet and built rapport with him over wine and conversation.
• Huangfu Yuan warned Li Xiao that Zhou Xuan and Chen Jing were peak Fifth Turn experts who intended to compete for Candidate Saint Son positions.
• Li Xiao questioned how Huangfu, who lived far from the Three Origins Sect, knew so much about its disciples.
• Huangfu said it was not yet time to explain, and Li Xiao chose not to press him further.
• Huangfu encouraged Li Xiao to prepare to defeat Zhou Xuan and Chen Jing, and Li Xiao returned to his guest room to cultivate.

Huangfu Yuan reflected on the Three Origins Sect’s hidden strength and his plans to help Li Xiao gain power within it. Meanwhile, Li Xiao considered using the Seven Orifice Insect on the extraordinary people around Huangfu Yuan and grew suspicious that Huangfu Yuan might be a transmigrator with a system; he decided to test him the next day.

• Huangfu Yuan recalled that the Three Origins Sect’s hidden Old Monsters had once revealed their strength and considered how Li Xiao becoming Sect Master could help him.
• Li Xiao thought about the Seven Orifice Insect’s third ritual and resolved to grow closer to the Great Fortune Bearers around Huangfu Yuan before trying to parasitize them.
• Li Xiao recalled Wang Shichong’s account of Du Tianshan, who had abandoned his family’s succession to serve Huangfu Yuan.
• Li Xiao suspected Huangfu Yuan had deliberately rescued Wang Shichong and won over his other followers by arranging favors in advance.
• Li Xiao wondered whether Huangfu Yuan was a transmigrator with a system and decided to test him the next day.

Li Xiao agreed to stay in Wuping Commandery and cooperate with Huangfu Yuan by refining Pills from Demonic Beast meat. Seeking a place to practice archery, Li Xiao joined Huangfu Yuan and his companions on an expedition to Cangwu Mountain, the site of an ancient seal on an Eighth-Turn Great Demon.

• Li Xiao pretended he planned to leave for the Three Origins Sect, and Huangfu Yuan urged him to stay by offering cultivation resources and Pills.
• Li Xiao proposed refining Pills from Demonic Beast meat and splitting the results with Huangfu Yuan, who eagerly accepted.
• After several days at the Commandery Governor Mansion, Li Xiao asked Huangfu Yuan for a larger place to practice archery.
• Huangfu Yuan told Li Xiao that Cangwu Mountain held a sealed Eighth-Turn Great Demon whose Demonic Qi had turned local beasts into Exotic Beasts, and offered to accompany him there.
• Huangfu Yuan gathered Du Tianshan, Qingyunzi, Zhao Mengchen, Wang Shichong, and other subordinates, and the group departed for Cangwu Mountain the next morning.

While traveling toward Cangwu Mountain, Li Xiao asked Qingyunzi about transplanting Spiritual Roots and learned that the Heavenly Dao cursed the practice after the Heavenly Secret Sect schemed against a Great Fortune Bearer and an Eight Turn Martial Venerable. Qingyunzi then used a Sound-Isolating Talisman to explain that the Heavenly Dao’s hostility toward Qi Cultivators involved secrets connected to the Transcendents.

• Li Xiao asked Qingyunzi whether Spiritual Roots could be transplanted, and Qingyunzi warned that recipients could not cultivate and would suffer a curse.
• Qingyunzi said the Heavenly Secret Sect had plotted against a Great Fortune Bearer and an Eight Turn Martial Venerable, provoking the Heavenly Dao and bringing calamity upon Spiritual Root transplantation.
• Qingyunzi advised Li Xiao to focus on the Martial Dao rather than risk pursuing dual cultivation.
• Li Xiao asked whether the Heavenly Dao possessed consciousness, and Huangfu Yuan asked why Qi Cultivators were constrained by it.
• Qingyunzi cast a Sound-Isolating Talisman and began explaining the secrets of Heaven, first naming the Transcendents and their roles in founding the cultivation paths.

Qingyunzi revealed that the Human Emperor’s failed attempt to replace the Heavenly Dao damaged it and led it to favor human martial practitioners over qi cultivators. He then praised Huangfu Yuan as a fortunate leader destined to rise amid Great Zhou’s growing turmoil, strengthening the resolve of those traveling with him.

• Qingyunzi told Li Xiao and the others that the Human Emperor’s attempt to merge with and replace the Heavenly Dao ended in a devastating battle, after which the Human Emperor fled and the Heavenly Dao changed.
• Qingyunzi explained that the damaged Heavenly Dao developed a faint consciousness, detested qi cultivators and the Demon Race, and favored human martial practitioners.
• Qingyunzi suggested that Huangfu Yuan was a great bearer of fortune, startling Li Xiao, while Huangfu Yuan concealed his own belief that destiny favored him.
• Qingyunzi cited Huangfu Yuan’s care for the people, loyalty to worthy followers, and far-reaching ambitions as signs of his exceptional fortune and leadership.
• Qingyunzi warned that Great Zhou was nearing collapse and predicted Huangfu Yuan would rise above the powerful in the chaos, drawing agreement from his companions.

Li Xiao and his companions reached the Cangwu Mountain Range and learned that an Eighth Turn Flood Dragon remained sealed beneath it, its Vengeful Qi tainting the mountains. As they camped on the outskirts, Zhao Mengchen challenged Li Xiao to spar.

• Li Xiao and the group arrived at Cangwu Mountain, where Huangfu Yuan identified the sealed Demonic Beast as a living Flood Dragon.
• Qingyunzi explained the Demon Race's branches, while Huangfu Yuan recalled that people of the Demonic Path would later free the Flood Dragon and cause millions of deaths.
• The group camped by a stream, and Qingyunzi explained how the Flood Dragon's Vengeful Qi affected the mountain and its creatures.
• Huangfu Yuan said the group would hunt only on the outskirts, where Fifth Turn Demonic Beasts could test their skills.
• Zhao Mengchen invited Li Xiao to spar, and Huangfu Yuan encouraged them to fight for the group's entertainment.

Li Xiao sparred with Zhao Mengchen at camp, using his superior movement and varied techniques to outmaneuver the military veteran. Zhao Mengchen conceded, and the group returned to the fire on friendly terms as Li Xiao suspected Huangfu Yuan had arranged the test.

• Li Xiao and Zhao Mengchen agreed to spar and faced one another beside the camp while the others watched.
• Zhao Mengchen attacked with his fierce military fist technique, but Li Xiao met his blows with the Iron Wire Fist and Azure Wave Palm.
• Li Xiao used the Dragon-Snake Flying Cloud Step and Flying Cloud Leg to evade Zhao Mengchen and exploit gaps in his defense.
• Zhao Mengchen stopped the match and conceded because he could not keep up with Li Xiao's movement technique.
• Li Xiao and Zhao Mengchen returned to the fire, where the others praised them and Zhao Mengchen acknowledged Li Xiao's strength.
• Li Xiao suspected Huangfu Yuan had prompted Zhao Mengchen to test him.