Chapter Summaries

He Caitou announced that he was Xu He, the last surviving heir of the former dynasty, and demanded that the gathered nobles choose whether to support his claim against Xu Tianran. With Jiang Yuheng backing him, he gave them three minutes to decide, but one noble stood to oppose him.

• He Caitou dismissed the Guild Masters’ fears and proceeded with the announcement, trusting Jiang Yuheng’s plan to establish authority.
• At the ceremony, He Caitou revealed his identity as Xu He and accused Xu Tianran and his wife of killing his family and usurping the throne.
• He Caitou demanded that everyone choose a side within three minutes, warning that neutrality would count as support and threatening those who later rebelled.
• The nobles debated the danger of joining Xu He, weighed the threat posed by Jiang Yuheng, and questioned whether the claim could succeed.
• One noble stood and declared his opposition to Xu He, arguing that Xu He had no advantage and could not frighten them with death.

He Caitou demanded that the nobles submit to Xu He, then beheaded the only noble who openly resisted. When a military affairs manager asked how Xu He could defeat Xu Tianran, Jiang Yuheng promised to prove their strength by capturing Frontier City in one night.

• He Caitou dismissed the nobles’ objections and demanded that they treat Xu He with respect, while the nobles stayed silent.
• He Caitou beheaded the lone noble who openly defied him, and the other nobles watched in shock.
• A military affairs manager asked He Caitou what gave him the strength to defeat Xu Tianran.
• He Caitou introduced Jiang Yuheng as the future king with a different surname, and Jiang Yuheng promised to capture Frontier City in one night.

Jiang Yuheng secured the Harbor District administrator’s allegiance by promising him control of Frontier City, then arrived at Frontier City on the Frost Dragon. The city’s leaders and most nobles had already decided to surrender, leaving Jiang Yuheng poised to begin his advance.

• The Harbor District administrator pledged allegiance to He Caitou and offered the district’s resources, and Jiang Yuheng promised to make him Frontier City’s lord after its conquest.
• Jiang Yuheng left, having rewarded the first noble to defect in hopes of encouraging others to follow.
• Frontier City’s captain and vice city lord discussed their fear of facing Jiang Yuheng, while the vice city lord said he planned to defect with his family.
• Jiang Yuheng arrived at Frontier City on the Frost Dragon, and a patrol captain told him the city had decided to surrender.
• The city lord and most nobles knelt before Jiang Yuheng, who greeted City Lord Zhang as a former fellow student from Mingdu.

Jiang Yuheng accepted the City Lord of Jiang City’s surrender and agreed to march on the corrupt Sky City of Heaven’s Mandate. He reached its walls and froze the Soul Engineer guards, beginning his attack.

• The City Lord of Jiang City greeted Jiang Yuheng and explained why he had surrendered rather than risk the city’s destruction.
• Jiang Yuheng threatened to massacre Jiang City unless the City Lord helped him establish his prestige, and the City Lord pointed him toward Heaven’s Mandate.
• Jiang Yuheng agreed to target the nobles who ruled Heaven’s Mandate and promised to consider placing Jiang City and the City Lord’s family under his rule.
• Jiang Yuheng rode his Frost Dragon to the Sky City and condemned its corrupt nobles and guards.
• The Frost Dragon released a freezing aura that turned the Soul Engineer guards on the city wall into ice sculptures.

Jiang Yuheng rode his Frost Dragon into Sky City and declared that the city belonged to him. After killing a young noble who defied him, he questioned the nobles and used a little girl’s account of their abuse as grounds to confront them.

• Jiang Yuheng entered Sky City on his Frost Dragon and announced that he claimed the city.
• A young noble insulted Jiang Yuheng, and Jiang killed him by turning him into ice shards.
• Jiang Yuheng asked the nobles who had forced the young noble to act, but none of them answered.
• Jiang Yuheng approached the gathered commoners and asked Tiantian which nobles bullied her.
• Tiantian said the nobles beat her mother and the other townspeople, and Jiang Yuheng told her to return to her mother.
• The nobles protested that they had paid the commoners’ commissions on time.

Jiang Yuheng rejected the nobles’ desperate offer to serve him and killed them, then prepared to distribute Sky City’s seized wealth to its civilians. He left He Caitou and the City Lord of Jiang City to handle the aid while keeping the emperor’s order as the public explanation.

• Jiang Yuheng dismissed the nobles’ claims that their wealth and underground connections could make them useful, saying he had no reason to trust disloyal dogs.
• Jiang Yuheng gathered the nobles with his Soul Power and crushed them with the Frost Dragon’s cold air.
• The next day, He Caitou and the City Lord of Jiang City arrived near Sky City with support and plans to receive civilians.
• Jiang Yuheng told them not to bring the Soul Engineer Legion into the city, so the civilians’ lives would not be disrupted.
• Jiang Yuheng said he had stored the city’s treasures at the city lord’s residence and instructed He Caitou to distribute them to the civilians while claiming the emperor had ordered it.

Jiang Yuheng secured the City Lord of Jiang City's allegiance and warned Ju Zi that he had noticed her surveillance. After taking two cities, he discussed his aggressive campaign with Wang Dong'er, who cautioned him against killing every opponent.

• Jiang Yuheng explained that he had helped He Caitou win popular support while Xu Tianran could afford to surrender some of his inherited wealth.
• The City Lord of Jiang City pledged his personal allegiance to Jiang Yuheng, who revealed that he knew Ju Zi was watching from the shadows.
• Ju Zi received the dark guard's report and ordered continued observation, while concealing her pregnancy from Xu Tianran.
• Wang Dong'er questioned Jiang Yuheng about taking two cities in one night, and he admitted he wanted to establish his might.
• Jiang Yuheng vowed to eliminate those opposing his plans, and Wang Dong'er urged him to show restraint.

Jiang Yuheng arranged for Huo Yuhao to reinforce him and paused his advance to secure supplies and win over the people. In Mingdu, Xu Tianran ended a bitter court debate by allowing the Attack Faction representative to lead a campaign against Jiang Yuheng.

• Jiang Yuheng asked Wang Dong'er to join him, but she stayed at the Spirit Pagoda and agreed that Huo Yuhao could provide support.
• Jiang Yuheng told He Caitou that Huo Yuhao was coming and ordered a month-long pause in the fighting to protect their supply lines and focus on winning over the people.
• At court in Mingdu, the Attack, Defense, and Middle Factions argued over how to respond to the loss of the port, Frontier City, and Sky City.
• The Attack Faction representative asked Xu Tianran for permission to lead troops against Jiang Yuheng, while the other factions argued for caution or continued trade.
• Xu Tianran dismissed the factions' self-interested arguments and allowed the Attack Faction representative to go, challenging him to defeat Jiang Yuheng.

Xu Tianran ordered an expedition against the Frost Dragon Butterfly despite warnings that the Sun Moon Empire’s Soul Engineers would suffer heavy losses, then forbade Ju Zi from interfering in state affairs until she had borne his heir. After learning of the expedition, Jiang Yuheng discussed Xu Tianran’s unpredictable behavior with the City Lord of Jiang City and was asked what he planned to do.

• Xu Tianran dismissed Kong Deming’s proposal to delay the campaign and ordered him away from court.
• The ministers from the Defense and Middle Factions criticized the plan to risk a direct clash with the Frost Dragon Butterfly.
• Ju Zi warned Xu Tianran that sending Soul Engineers to fight would cost the empire dearly, but he told her to focus only on bearing his heir.
• Jiang Yuheng questioned why the Sun Moon Empire had chosen to launch an expedition that seemed certain to fail.
• The City Lord of Jiang City asked Jiang Yuheng what he planned to do.

Jiang Yuheng calmly awaited the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineer army and effortlessly defeated the force sent to Sky City. He spared its two leaders and teleported them to the capital with a warning for the Empire's rulers and commanders.

• Jiang Yuheng told the City Lord of Jiang City that he welcomed the Sun Moon Empire's forces and that the strong did not concern themselves with the weak.
• The Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineer army arrived outside Sky City, where the citizens ignored them and continued working.
• Jiang Yuheng appeared behind the Soul Engineers and revealed that he was the Frost Dragon Butterfly, known as the Light of Sun Moon.
• Jiang Yuheng summoned the Frost Dragon and used rain and ice spikes to kill the Soul Engineers from Suqian, sparing their two team leaders.
• Jiang Yuheng teleported the two leaders to the Sun Moon Empire's capital and ordered them to warn Xu Tianran, the Empress War God, and Commander Kong not to interfere.

The Sun Moon Empire’s court argued over how to respond to Jiang Yuheng and the Frost Dragon Butterfly, with Xu Tianran pushing the ministers to choose between risking a city and letting the threat grow. He forced the Attack Faction representative to face the consequences of his proposal and ordered a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon placed at the man’s residence.

• Reports of Jiang Yuheng’s strength reached the Sun Moon Empire, and the court split over whether to attack or rebuild its strength.
• The Defense and Middle Factions opposed sacrificing a city, while the Attack Faction insisted that delaying would let the Frost Dragon Butterfly become unstoppable.
• Xu Tianran asked how many troops it would take to defeat Jiang Yuheng, and the Attack Faction representative proposed sacrificing a city to fire a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon.
• When Xu Tianran demanded the representative’s confidence in the plan, the man hesitated and claimed he was concerned about damage to the emperor’s reputation.
• Xu Tianran ordered a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon placed at the representative’s residence and told him to take care of the matter ahead of time.

The Sun Moon Empire’s factions debated whether to use a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon against Jiang Yuheng, but its representative hesitated over the civilian casualties and personal consequences. Jiang Yuheng welcomed the delay as a chance to strengthen He Caitou’s standing, while considering further attacks near Mingdu.

• Xu Tianran approved the use of a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon, then left the Conference Hall as Kong Deming refused to intervene.
• The Attack Faction representative took the cannon but worried about civilian deaths, damage to his family’s interests, and being blamed for the consequences.
• Jiang Yuheng received intelligence that the Sun Moon Empire was hesitating and said the delay would help He Caitou build support among civilians.
• The City Lord of Jiang City suggested keeping the fighting around Mingdu so the empire’s people and nobles would feel the threat of the Former Emperor’s heir.

The Attack Faction's representative secretly prepared a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon attack on Sky City, while Huo Yuhao arrived before the shot could be fired. He killed the commanding Captain and covered the forest with the Ice Emperor Domain, leaving the attack's fate unresolved.

• Jiang Yuheng agreed to let the City Lord of Jiang City pursue his plans without interfering further.
• The Attack Faction's representative arrived near Sky City with a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon Shell after Jiang Yuheng had conquered two more cities.
• The representative ordered his Soul Engineer Legion to harass nearby cities while secretly preparing to fire the cannon at Sky City.
• The Captain hesitated over firing on the city, but the representative insisted and ordered the shot launched.
• Huo Yuhao appeared, pierced the commanding Captain's heart with an ice blade, and activated the Ice Emperor Domain across the forest.

Huo Yuhao and Jiang Yuheng confronted Sun Moon Empire Soul Engineers who had set an ambush, and Jiang Yuheng demonstrated his overwhelming control over time by stopping and destroying a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon. He spared the Attack Faction representative to carry a warning back to Mingdu, while Huo Yuhao asked to learn the Time Domain.

• Huo Yuhao revealed himself among the trees after his Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion attack killed the hidden Soul Engineers, and the reconnaissance captain admitted that he had pledged allegiance to Jiang Yuheng.
• The Attack Faction representative rushed to fire a Level Nine Fixed Soul Cannon, while He Caitou assured the worried finance minister that Jiang Yuheng would win.
• Jiang Yuheng used his Time Domain to stop the cannon, handled it casually, and crushed it into scraps before the Attack Faction representative.
• Jiang Yuheng spared the representative and sent him back to Mingdu with a warning for those who opposed him.
• Huo Yuhao praised Jiang Yuheng's mastery of time and asked him to teach the skill, and Jiang Yuheng said he would do so after Huo Yuhao completed his Godhood trial.

Jiang Yuheng let Jiang Yuheng's defecting forces go assist He Caitou, while Huo Yuhao remained wary of a possible trap. As news of Jiang Yuheng’s power spread, Xu Tianran’s ministers argued over whether to attack him, until Xu Tianran asked to borrow the Death God Tower.

• Jiang Yuheng sent Jiang Yuheng and his subordinates to assist He Caitou after warning them not to betray him, and Huo Yuhao decided to check on them despite Jiang Yuheng’s confidence.
• Jiang Yuheng spared the Soul Engineers who stayed behind if they surrendered their Soul Tools, then allowed rumors of his destruction of a Level Nine Fixed Soul Tool to spread.
• The Guard Captain asked Kong Deming to help protect Xu Tianran, but Kong Deming refused without command authority and left the Conference Hall.
• Xu Tianran’s ministers disputed whether to launch an all-out attack on Jiang Yuheng or stabilize the empire, while Jing Hongchen publicly supported an attack.
• Xu Tianran asked the ministers what they would say if he wanted to borrow the Death God Tower.

Xu Tianran considered using the Death God Tower against the Frost Dragon Butterfly and proposed involving the Holy Spirit Cult if Kong Deming refused to act. Jing Hongchen went to ask Kong Deming to intervene, but Kong supported letting events unfold so they could regain the initiative if the plan failed.

• The Attack Faction leader proposed using the Death God Tower, while the Defense and Middle Factions warned about its danger and Jiang Yuheng's Flawless.
• The Attack Faction leader said he was confident he could defeat the Frost Dragon Butterfly with help from the Holy Spirit Cult, prompting Jing Hongchen and the other faction leaders to warn Xu Tianran against involving them.
• Xu Tianran said he would ask Kong Deming to end his seclusion, but otherwise the Holy Spirit Cult and Imperial Tutor would act and the outcome would not change.
• Jing Hongchen told Kong Deming that Xu Tianran planned to use the Level Ten Soul Tool and involve the Holy Spirit Cult if Kong refused to come out of seclusion.
• Kong Deming dismissed Jing Hongchen's alarm and said they could let the plan proceed, since its failure would give them a chance to regain the initiative.

Jing Hongchen rejected Kong Deming’s plan to use the Death God Tower and vowed to stop him, while Jiang Yuheng learned that the Sun Moon Empire and Holy Spirit Cult were preparing to act together. The group concluded that they needed to strike the Holy Spirit Cult first, as their existing plan could not withstand attacks from both forces.

• Kong Deming admitted he would support anyone who served his goals, and Jing Hongchen refused to ally with him and promised to stop him.
• Jing Hongchen told Jiang Yuheng that Kong Deming planned to use the Death God Tower and had joined forces with the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Jiang Yuheng said Yuhao would come to help, while Wang Dong'er would remain behind to manage the Spirit Pagoda.
• Jiang Yuheng shared the intelligence with the group, and the First Guild Master warned that their plan could fail against the combined forces.
• The group agreed that they needed to target the Holy Spirit Cult before war broke out.

Jiang Yuheng persuaded the Sun Moon Empire’s leaders to keep the Holy Spirit Cult out of the coming battle, then went undercover to its Mingdu headquarters to seek Zhongli Wu. He claimed he had come to give Zhongli Wu a chance to survive, and waited as the cult’s representatives asked what intelligence he would sell.

• The First Guild Master and the City Lord of Jiang City urged Lord Frost Dragon Butterfly to prevent the Holy Spirit Cult from joining the battle, and Jiang Yuheng asked whether everyone agreed.
• Jiang Yuheng explained that the Holy Spirit Cult’s forces had to be kept separate, and Huo Yuhao understood his plan while He Caitou worried about its effect on his future reputation.
• Jiang Yuheng told He Caitou that victory and stability required relying on himself, and He Caitou chose to act against the Holy Spirit Cult despite the possible cost to his reputation.
• After whispering to Huo Yuhao, Jiang Yuheng left Sky City and traveled under another identity to the Underground Black Market in Mingdu.
• Jiang Yuheng offered the shopkeeper money for rare metal, then demanded a meeting with Zhongli Wu and said he had come to give him a chance to survive.
• The Holy Spirit Cult’s representatives brought Jiang Yuheng to a VIP room and asked what valuable intelligence he had to sell.

Jiang Yuheng demanded to negotiate directly with Zhongli Wu and revealed his identity as the Frost Dragon Butterfly to convince the Holy Spirit Cult to hear him out. Zhongli Wu arrived with several Elders, and the chapter ended as he welcomed the prospect of joining forces with Jiang Yuheng.

• Jiang Yuheng rejected the Fourth Elder as an unqualified negotiator and revealed that he was the former Light of Sun Moon, Jiang Yuheng, known as the Frost Dragon Butterfly.
• The Fourth Elder suppressed the Holy Spirit Cult members who moved to attack Jiang Yuheng and agreed to summon Zhongli Wu.
• The First and Fourth Elders argued that the Holy Spirit Cult should meet Jiang Yuheng because its alliance with the Sun Moon Empire was already unstable.
• Zhongli Wu agreed to hear Jiang Yuheng's proposal and traveled with several Elders to the Underground Black Market.
• Zhongli Wu greeted Jiang Yuheng and expressed excitement about joining forces with him.

Jiang Yuheng confronted Zhongli Wu with evidence of the Holy Spirit Cult’s betrayal and bargained to keep the cult from joining the fight against him. The next morning, Zhongli Wu refused the Attack Faction’s request in front of Xu Tianran, leaving his future cooperation ambiguous.

• Jiang Yuheng gave Zhongli Wu a manuscript revealing that he had uncovered the cult’s betrayal of the Sun Moon Empire.
• Jiang Yuheng threatened to spread the information unless the Holy Spirit Cult refused to send troops, while Zhongli Wu countered with the Death God Tower.
• Jiang Yuheng said that Flawless could stop the Death God Tower as long as he remained alive, and Zhongli Wu agreed not to act against him.
• The Attack Faction’s leader visited the Holy Spirit Cult the next morning, and Zhongli Wu refused to assist him.
• Zhongli Wu told Xu Tianran that he no longer wanted to participate and claimed the cult would retreat behind the scenes to protect the Empire’s reputation.