Recaps

Chen Yi used a Figure in the Painting to spy on Chen Zhitang and Jia Xingzhi as they discussed a plot against Chen Yu and Chen Xuanji. Chen Zhitang agreed to kill Chen Xuanji, but discovered Chen Yi’s figure was a clone, leaving Chen Yi to weigh whether Chen Xuanji could be protected.

• Chen Zhitang told Jia Xingzhi she would not kill Chen Yu because the White Immortal had chosen him as a successor for the Central Plains.
• Chen Zhitang agreed to kill Chen Xuanji as repayment for the Cui Family’s past help, and told Jia Xingzhi their ties would end afterward.
• After Jia Xingzhi left, Chen Zhitang tried to share wine with the Figure in the Painting and realized it was a clone controlled by someone elsewhere.
• Chen Zhitang warned Chen Yi not to interfere with her plan, and Chen Yi maintained that Chen Xuanji could be killed.
• Chen Yi considered that False Tiger, as deputy Pavilion Master of the White Tiger Guard, would likely protect Chen Xuanji.

Chen Zhitang confronted Chen Yi’s Painting Dao avatar, then reunited with her old companion Chen Xuanji, who revealed himself and discussed their past. Chen Xuanji told her to carry out the Cui Family’s order to kill him so that certain people would reveal themselves.

• Chen Zhitang chose not to kill Chen Yi’s avatar, and he left after discussing his desire for a peaceful, idle life.
• Chen Zhitang realized the vanished figure had been created through the Painting Dao and complained about heaven-blessed geniuses.
• Chen Xuanji appeared, revealed his identity, and reminded Chen Zhitang of their old bet; she reluctantly called him big brother and wished him good fortune.
• Chen Zhitang explained that the Cui Family had saved her and asked her to kill Chen Xuanji, and he told her to go through with it to draw certain people out.

Chen Xuanji met Chen Zhitang, who learned he had returned from the Western Buddhist Kingdom and that Black and White was in Capital Prefecture, while Chen Yi watched from afar and divined that Chen Xuanji would survive his coming troubles. Three days later, Shuzhou had fallen quiet, and Zhao Yi and Jia Xingzhi waited outside the Xiao Family estate, each seeking an audience with Elder Master Xiao.

• Chen Xuanji told Chen Zhitang he would return after the Cui Family matter and revealed that Black and White was in Capital Prefecture before leaving.
• Chen Yi suspected the departing earthly immortal was False Tiger, divined that Chen Xuanji's life was safe, and received the Willow-Folding Sword Technique as a reward for witnessing Jia Xingzhi and Chen Zhitang discuss Chen Xuanji's assassination.
• Chen Yi cultivated the Four Symbols Technique, using Vermilion Bird and Mysterious Turtle spirits to strengthen his mind and body, though his greater capacity for true essence delayed his breakthrough.
• Three days later, Shuzhou's streets had quieted, and rumors about the Qinghe Cui Family's collusion with the Barbarian Tribe and Poshushuo Kingdom had disappeared from public discussion.
• Zhao Yi continued waiting outside the Xiao Family estate after repeated failed attempts to meet Elder Master Xiao, while Jia Xingzhi arrived to seek an audience after covering up rumors and seeing no progress in Zhao Wenjing's death investigation.
• Jia Xingzhi pondered why nothing had gone smoothly in Shuzhou after Cui Qingwu ordered him to present a visit card to Elder Master Xiao over his plan to erect the Shuzhou Stele.

Zhao Yi disguised himself as a Xiao Manor servant and bribed Xiao Shen to arrange a meeting with Elder Master Xiao, hoping to undermine Cui Qingwu’s plan to erect a monument in Shuzhou. Elder Master Xiao refused to let either Zhao Yi or Cui Qingwu lead the project, and Chen Yi later secretly summoned Zhao Yi to the Chishui River that night.

• Jia Xingzhi left Xiao Manor after delivering his visiting card, while Zhao Yi followed a servant, bought his clothes, and entered the manor in disguise.
• Zhao Yi convinced Xiao Shen to arrange a meeting with Elder Master Xiao by offering him a thousand taels in silver notes.
• Zhao Yi told Elder Master Xiao he wanted to contribute to the monument for Shuzhou’s fallen, but Elder Master Xiao insisted that he would lead the project himself.
• Zhao Yi left disappointed that Elder Master Xiao had rejected his offer, though he was satisfied that Cui Qingwu would not succeed either.
• After Zhao Yi left the manor, Chen Yi secretly told him to meet at the west bank of the Chishui River at the hour of the Pig.

Chen Yi returned to Guiyun Academy, taught the Way of Calligraphy, and visited Jishi Pharmacy before overhearing a royal order for Li Huaigu to investigate the Dingyuan Army’s Three Towns. The chapter ended with Chen Yi wondering what His Majesty was planning.

• Zhao Yi received Chen Yi’s invitation to meet at the western bank of the Chishui River at the hour of Hai and agreed.
• Chen Yi returned to Guiyun Academy, where visitors crowded around him, and taught his students about the spirit and essence of calligraphy.
• Chen Yi visited Jishi Pharmacy, rewarded its staff, and learned that business had shifted toward selling Tea Drinks since Ma Liangcai and Yuan Liu'er left for Dragon Field Academy.
• Chen Yi overheard a messenger deliver His Majesty’s oral decree ordering Li Huaigu to familiarize himself with the Dingyuan Army’s Three Towns.
• Chen Yi wondered why His Majesty had ordered Li Huaigu to investigate the garrison towns.

Chen Yi ordered Zhao Yi to target Jia Xingzhi before Chen Xuanji arrived in Shuzhou, while he arranged surveillance on Li Huaigu and further moves with General Star. Jia Xingzhi received a warning about an impending assassination and began to suspect both the would-be killer and the messenger.

• Chen Yi deduced that His Majesty had secretly assigned Li Huaigu to investigate the Dingyuan Army, adding another hidden move to Shuzhou’s political struggle.
• Zhao Yi told Chen Yi that Old Marquis Xiao had rejected his proposal, and Chen Yi then tasked Zhao Yi with killing or capturing Jia Xingzhi, a trusted Cui Family man who controlled its finances.
• Chen Yi explained that Jia Xingzhi should be dealt with before Chen Xuanji arrived to purge Shuzhou’s aristocratic families, and Zhao Yi accepted the assignment.
• Chen Yi asked General Star to watch Li Huaigu and continue spreading a rumor, while also reporting that he had sent Yang Ye a register for the Judicial Department.
• Chen Yi delivered a warning to Yunqing Tower, prompting a young waiter to carry it to Tingyu Pavilion, where Jia Xingzhi learned someone planned to assassinate him and began questioning the messenger’s motives.

Chen Yi broke through to the Second Grade and strengthened his body, then spent the morning at Chunhe Garden while waiting to see how Jia Xingzhi and Zhao Yi responded to his plans. A letter from Chen Xuanji said she would arrive in Shuzhou in a few days, and Chen Yi learned Xiao Jinghong was expected to return as well.

• Chen Yi cultivated through the night, broke through to the Second Grade · Lower Stage, and expanded the world within his Chess Dao Illusion Realm.
• Chen Yi discovered that his body had grown much stronger and credited the Barbarian Tribe's Spirit Fusion Method.
• Chen Yi greeted Wang Lixing, Xiao Wuge, Xiao Die, and Pei Guanli, then heard that Grandpa Xiao planned to hold an ancestral ceremony next month.
• Chen Yi fished in the pond with A Touch of Cold Plum and playfully tangled with the golden-haired carp.
• Shen Huatang delivered a letter from Chen Xuanji, and Chen Yi learned she would arrive in Shuzhou in a few days, with Xiao Jinghong expected to return too.

Xiao Jinghong reported on the Barbarian Tribe’s conflict, then trained under Li Wudang as she worked toward a breakthrough and repaired flaws in her Sword Dao. Meanwhile, Xiao Fengchun prepared to meet Chen Xuanji and strengthen the Xiao Family’s position against the Qinghe Cui Family, while Liu Lang heard that the Judicial Department planned to arrest “Dragon Tiger.”

• Xiao Jinghong wrote a memorial describing the Barbarian Tribe’s internal conflict and predicted it would end within two years, then visited Li Wudang to discuss her cultivation and Sword Dao.
• Li Wudang guided Xiao Jinghong through basic sword practice, pointing out that worldly concerns had weakened her state of mind and left flaws in her Sword Dao.
• Li Wudang observed Xiao Fengchun and Dingyuan Army soldiers guarding a hidden cave, where Xiao Fengchun arranged to meet Chen Xuanji and ordered his men to monitor the Qinghe Cui Family.
• Li Wudang judged that Xiao Fengchun’s forces could not defeat the Qinghe Cui Family’s Earthly Immortals without Xiao Jinghong becoming stronger or gaining a powerful ally.
• As a storm drove people into shelters across Shuzhou, Liu Lang overheard someone say that the Judicial Department was coming to arrest “Dragon Tiger.”

Liu Lang escorted Wang Ji to Xiao Manor with the Xiao Family’s share of Hundred Herbs Hall’s proceeds, where Chen Yi warned Wang Ji not to worry about the Judicial Department or Jia Xingzhi. Chen Yi then returned his attention to Yunqing Tower, waiting to see whether Jia Xingzhi or Zhao Yi would act first.

• Liu Lang silenced people speculating about the Judicial Department arresting Dragon Tiger, then agreed to protect Wang Ji on the journey to Xiao Manor with more than two hundred thousand taels.
• At Xiao Manor, Liu Lang waited in Jiaxing Garden and traded barbs with Xie Tingyun before Chen Yi summoned Wang Ji to his study.
• Liu Lang felt an inexplicable threat from Chen Yi’s gaze, and Chen Yi secretly told him to return to Hundred Herbs Hall and wait for an assignment.
• In the Chess Dao Illusion Realm, Wang Ji told Chen Yi he feared Jia Xingzhi was stirring up trouble; Chen Yi confirmed someone was acting behind the scenes and told him to do nothing.
• After Wang Ji and Liu Lang left, Chen Yi sent his Figure in the Painting back to feign sleep and kept watch on Yunqing Tower, wondering whether Jia Xingzhi or Zhao Yi would make the first move.

Chen Yi arranged for Liu Lang to place four scrolls around Shuzhou while Jia Xingzhi prepared to capture the assassin targeting him. Zhao Yi went to attack Jia Xingzhi at Yunqing Tower, unaware that Chen Yi had already subdued the guard watching nearby.

• Chen Yi reasoned that Xiao Fengchun would be needed to stabilize Shuzhou and waited for Liu Lang at the hidden residence.
• Liu Lang returned, and Chen Yi gave him four scrolls to place at specific locations after learning that Chu Xiudao had entered seclusion.
• Jia Xingzhi gathered his experts at Yunqing Tower and ordered them to capture the assassin alive.
• Zhao Yi questioned two beggar children, learned that a powerful guard was among Jia Xingzhi's party, and searched nearby before approaching Yunqing Tower.
• Chen Yi and the old guard watched Zhao Yi enter Yunqing Tower, and Chen Yi ordered the old man to stay put if he wanted to live.

Chen Yi restrained Jia Xingzhi’s black-robed guard and refused to intervene as Zhao Yi attacked Jia Xingzhi inside Yunqing Tower. Jia Xingzhi’s Jade Tablet blasted Zhao Yi out of the tower, but Zhao Yi rose furious as Jia Xingzhi called for Li Yan.

• Chen Yi prevented the black-robed old man from using Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi and said he had come only to watch, not to save Jia Xingzhi.
• Zhao Yi killed a guard on Yunqing Tower’s roof, confronted Jia Xingzhi, and attacked him and his guards with his iron fan.
• Jia Xingzhi used a Jade Tablet to block Zhao Yi’s attacks, while Zhao Yi revealed that he served the Jizhou Trading Company.
• Zhao Yi’s stronger attack triggered the Jade Tablet’s Fist Dao true intention, which shattered his strikes and hurled him out of Yunqing Tower.
• Zhao Yi got up furious, and Jia Xingzhi called for Li Yan to come to his aid.

Chen Yi allowed Li Yan to rescue Jia Xingzhi, then ordered Zhao Yi to retreat after the fight devastated Yunqing Tower. Li Yan pursued Zhao Yi to the Chishui River, where Zhao Yi revealed his face and Li Yan learned he had been trying to kill Jia Xingzhi.

• Chen Yi released Li Yan to save Jia Xingzhi, hoping the attack would prompt the Qinghe Cui Family and Jizhou Trading Company to investigate their ranks.
• Li Yan fought Zhao Yi while Zhao Yi repeatedly tried to reach Jia Xingzhi, and Chen Yi protected Hundred Herbs Hall from the battle's shock waves.
• Chen Yi told Zhao Yi to retreat and warned him not to head east; Zhao Yi fled west, and Li Yan pursued him.
• Jia Xingzhi left the ruined Yunqing Tower to report to Cui Qingwu, while Fang Hongxiu questioned Chen Yi about Zhao Wenjing's death and the night's events.
• At the Chishui River, Zhao Yi removed his face covering, and Li Yan recognized him and questioned why he had targeted Jia Xingzhi.

Zhao Yi realized Dragon Tiger had deceived him and joined Li Yan at the Chishui River, where they were ambushed by four swordsmen bearing the Uncontested Sword. Li Yan suspected they were Dragon Tiger’s clones, while Liu Lang watched from a nearby tree and marveled at their strength.

• Li Yan explained that Jizhou Trading Company tokens were coin-shaped and showed Zhao Yi his own, leading Zhao Yi to suspect Dragon Tiger had used him to sabotage Jia Xingzhi’s assassination.
• Zhao Yi crushed his token and demanded Dragon Tiger’s whereabouts, but Li Yan urged him to return to the Prefectural City and explain everything to Jia Xingzhi.
• A masked swordsman in black struck Zhao Yi with a crimson sword attack, and Li Yan recognized the Uncontested Sword and suspected the fighter was Dragon Tiger.
• The swordsman unleashed a powerful strike, and Li Yan flew to help Zhao Yi before another attacker appeared behind him.
• Two more swordsmen wielding Uncontested Swords appeared, surrounding Zhao Yi and Li Yan with four identical fighters.
• Li Yan guessed the swordsmen were clones of Dragon Tiger, while Liu Lang watched from a nearby tree and remarked that four Great Grandmasters were unheard of.

Chen Yi killed Zhao Yi and Li Yan after using four painting-born Song Jin Jians to trap them by the Chishui River. He returned to the Prefectural City, where Jia Xingzhi learned that Zhao Yi and Li Yan were dead.

• Liu Lang watched four Song Jin Jians emerge from hidden paintings and attack Li Yan and Zhao Yi by the Chishui River.
• Li Yan called for help, but Chen Yi revealed himself and told the two men he had come to see them off.
• Chen Yi suppressed the area’s sounds and spiritual energy, allowing the Song Jin Jians to kill Zhao Yi and Li Yan.
• Chen Yi sent one Song Jin Jian west to suggest an escape, dismissed Liu Lang, and destroyed the paintings and his traces.
• Chen Yi returned to the Prefectural City and visited Tingyu Pavilion, where Jia Xingzhi’s messenger reported that Li Yan and Zhao Yi were dead.

After Zhao Yi and Li Yan were found dead, Cui Qingwu, Chen Yunfan, and Jia Xingzhi investigated the killings and learned that the killer had likely used Song Jin Jian’s Killing Sword. As Cui Qingwu prepared to report Zhao Yi’s death to her family, Jia Xingzhi secretly summoned Bright Moon Tower to Shuzhou.

• A guard reported that Attendant Li and Zhao Yi had died, and Cui Qingwu ordered an investigation through the Judicial Department.
• Jia Xingzhi suspected someone had manipulated him, while he and Cui Qingwu considered who might be behind the deaths.
• Chen Yunfan ruled out the Barbarian Tribe and the Poshushuo Kingdom because both were occupied by conflicts, then proposed investigating the bodies.
• At the Chishui River, a coroner said a highly skilled swordsman had killed Zhao Yi and Li Yan; Lin Zhong identified the killer’s technique as Song Jin Jian’s Killing Sword.
• Han Ruixuan said the killer had probably fled west, and Cui Qingwu decided to inform her grandfather because Zhao Yi’s death could implicate the Cui Family.
• After the carriage departed, Jia Xingzhi secretly dropped a Token, and a figure used it to summon all members of Bright Moon Tower to Shuzhou.

Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu discussed Song Jin Jian’s apparent role in Zhao Yi’s death and the uncertain future of their relationship as Cui Qingwu prepared to return to Qinghe. Meanwhile, Chen Yi guarded Chu Xiudao during his breakthrough and punished Liu Lang for sneaking back to look at the Painting.

• Chen Yunfan told Cui Qingwu that the wounds on Zhao Yi’s body resembled Song Jin Jian’s Killing Sword Style, and they agreed to wait for the Cui Family’s response while taking precautions.
• Chen Yunfan said the Judicial Department planned to question Dragon Tiger at Hundred Herbs Hall about Zhao Wenjing’s death.
• Cui Qingwu said she would return to Qinghe after visiting Chen Yunfan’s father, and Chen Yunfan told her he could not return to Jiangnan Prefecture yet.
• Zhang Dabao reported that the Hundred Herbs Hall in Guang’an had opened quickly and said the group planned to establish one in Tianshan for Heroine Tingyun.
• After drinking with the returning disciples, Liu Lang saw strange lights outside Chu Xiudao’s meditation room and found himself trapped in an illusion created by Chen Yi.
• Chen Yi revealed that Liu Lang had sneaked back to look at the Painting and repeatedly struck him with lightning in the illusion while threatening to settle accounts.

Chen Yi tested his Yi Dao Talisman Characters on Liu Lang, then taught him how to extend his Blade Dao into movement techniques while they waited for Chu Xiudao's breakthrough. After learning from a daily intelligence alert that Chu Xiudao would become an Earthly Immortal that night, Chen Yi left to return to Xiao Manor, where he discovered Xiao Jinghong had come back and wondered how to get home without being seen.

• Chen Yi struck Liu Lang with lightning and wind in the illusion until Liu Lang begged for mercy, then advised him to strengthen his spirit.
• Liu Lang worried that he and Chu Xiudao had trained for decades yet remained inferior to the paintings, and Chen Yi explained how practicing other arts could nourish the Blade Dao.
• Liu Lang applied his Blade Dao to movement techniques, improved his footwork, and named the technique Ghost Step.
• Chen Yi instructed Liu Lang to guard Chu Xiudao through the night, then left and saw a daily intelligence alert predicting Chu Xiudao would reach the Earthly Immortal realm during the hour of the Pig.
• Chen Yi sensed Xiao Jinghong returning to Chunhe Garden and realized he had to find a way back without being discovered.

Chen Yi hid near the Xiao Family estate while Xiao Jinghong returned home, longing for a quiet life with her family and unaware of his presence. After hearing Zhao Yi had died during an attempted assassination, Xiao Jinghong went to see her grandfather, while Chen Yi hurried back to conceal his movements and keep his identity and relationship with Xiao Wan'er secret.

• Chen Yi waited on the hillside because Xiao Jinghong's return made it too risky for him to approach the estate.
• Xiao Jinghong reviewed reports about the Barbarian Tribe and Zhao Wenjing's assassination, then reflected that she wanted to stay in Shuzhou with her family rather than pursue the Sword Dao or wider conflicts.
• The next morning, Xiao Jinghong learned from Su Zhenyue that Zhao Yi had died after fleeing a failed attempt to kill the Cui Family steward Jia Xingzhi.
• Xiao Jinghong went to see her grandfather and told Pei Guanli to inform Chen Yi that she had returned and would come back for breakfast.
• Chen Yi rushed back to Chunhe Garden and pretended he had only just learned Xiao Jinghong was home when Xiao Wuge asked him about her.
• Xiao Wan'er arrived as Xiao Wuge began to reveal that Chen Yi had said he shared a bed with Xiao Jinghong, and Chen Yi covered the boy's mouth.

Xiao Jinghong discussed the Zhao Yi and Cui Family crises with Elder Master Xiao, then revealed her plan to train ten thousand elite troops along the Tea Horse Road. After returning to Chunhe Garden, she brought her disguised mother Fu Wanqing into her own household and reunited with Xiao Wuge and the others.

• Xiao Jinghong persuaded Elder Master Xiao to inform Marquis Zhaowu, the Cui Family, and Capital Prefecture about Zhao Yi's death, while using the incident to sound out the Qinghe Cui Family.
• Xiao Jinghong told Elder Master Xiao she planned to train ten thousand soldiers by sending small units to the Tea Horse Road, and he agreed despite warning her about the Emperor's displeasure.
• Elder Master Xiao told Xiao Jinghong that Xiao Fengchun was training military elites to investigate the Cui Family, and explained how Cui Mao had deflected rumors by offering to resign.
• Xiao Jinghong met Xiao Shen on her way back and arranged for Fu Wanqing, disguised as a servant, to serve in Chunhe Garden.
• Xiao Jinghong reassured Fu Wanqing that she could stay near Xiao Wuge, then entered the Wooden Tower and greeted Xiao Wuge and the others.

Xiao Jinghong reunited with her family at Chunhe Garden, where they welcomed Fu Wanqing and planned a family portrait painted by Chen Yi. After Chen Yi left with Pei Guanli, Fu Wanqing watched Xiao Wan'er manage the household and tried to reconnect with Xiao Wuge.

• Xiao Jinghong praised Xiao Wuge's progress in martial training and promised him a present when he reached the ninth-rank upper stage.
• Xiao Jinghong greeted Chen Yi and the household, then told him that Li Wudang had left after returning with her to the prefectural city.
• Xiao Wan'er proposed that Chen Yi paint a Chunhe Garden family portrait, and the gathered family welcomed the idea.
• Fu Wanqing helped prepare for the day while Xiao Wan'er handled household affairs and arranged gifts for Xiao Jinghong's visit to the Minister of War.
• Chen Yi left to buy painting supplies and visit Guiyun Academy, taking Pei Guanli with him.
• Fu Wanqing brought pear soup to Xiao Wuge and learned that Chen Yi had encouraged him to read history to understand dynastic rise and decline.

Chen Yi took Pei Guanli shopping, bought her a Central Plains dress, and teased her about marrying him before bringing her to Guiyun Academy. After painting there and discussing Zhao Yi’s death and the Cui Family’s influence, Chen Yi left with Pei Guanli, who carefully avoided puddles in her new clothes.

• Chen Yi thought about Xiao Jinghong’s decision to bring Fu Wanqing close and took Pei Guanli to Kanning Street.
• Pei Guanli tried on a yellow dress that Chen Yi chose, and she asked whether he would marry her if she became stronger than Xiao Jinghong.
• At Guiyun Academy, Mr. Yue Ming told Chen Yi how Cui Mao had thwarted Yang Ye’s farmland survey proposal.
• Chen Yi painted a secluded lake scene and discussed a poem and calligraphy copybook with Mr. Yue Ming.
• On the way home, Pei Guanli carefully avoided puddles, and Chen Yi pretended he had lost his painting.

Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden with Pei Guanli, prepared a family portrait, and advanced his Yi Dao to perfection. As the Xiao Family gathered for a banquet, Xiao Jinghong returned with Su Zhenyue, and the chapter ended with Elder Master Xiao teasing her and Chen Yi about having a child.

• Chen Yi persuaded Pei Guanli not to search for the painting he had deliberately lost, then reflected on how his plans had left the Imperial Court, Jianghu, and the aristocratic clans occupied with troubles in Shuzhou.
• Chen Yi planned a Chunhe Garden group portrait and spent his fortune to advance the Yi Dao from great accomplishment to perfection, gaining profound knowledge of the stars and their power.
• Chen Yi overheard Elder Master Xiao and Xiao Jinghong discussing Commander Li Fu, Chen Xuanji's coming visit, and the Xiao Family's precarious position amid scrutiny from the Imperial Court, Jianghu, and aristocratic clans.
• Elder Master Xiao and Xiao Jinghong arrived at Chunhe Garden with Xiao Wan'er and Su Zhenyue, and Elder Master Xiao teased Chen Yi and Xiao Jinghong for not yet giving him a great-grandchild.
• Xiao Jinghong blushed at Elder Master Xiao's remark, then turned away and said she was hungry.

At a lively Xiao Family meal, Chen Yi began painting everyone present, including the household maids, with his extraordinary painting Dao. As the portraits emerged, Elder Master Xiao saw in his own image a resemblance to his late father and lamented that he had failed to care for the Xiao Family.

• The Xiao Family discussed winter preparations, family affairs, and the success of the Wushan Mutual Market, which had benefited both the family and the Mountain Tribe.
• Elder Master Xiao accepted Chen Yi’s offer to paint the gathering, and Chen Yi began sketching everyone on a long sheet of Yunsong Paper.
• Xiao Jinghong quietly called Chen Yi “Husband” and imagined a warm future with him before he continued painting.
• Pei Guanli peeked at the painting and praised Xiao Jinghong and Xiao Wan'er, while Chen Yi playfully shooed her away from the work.
• Chen Yi dotted the portraits’ eyes, bringing the figures to life; Xiao Die, Cui'er, and the other household members were delighted to find themselves included.
• Elder Master Xiao saw his dignified portrait and remembered his father, Xiao Zhongnan, then lamented that he had failed to care for the Xiao Family.

Chen Yi created a living painting of the Xiao Family and later sent a Figure in the Painting to observe Song Jin Jian at the Rear Residence. There, Chen Yi spotted Chu Xiudao cultivating amid brilliant seven-colored light.

• Chen Yi’s painting brought the Xiao Family and Chunhe Garden to life, though he left Fu Wanqing out at her request.
• Xiao Jinghong and Su Zhenyue left to visit Yang Ye, while Chen Yi stayed behind and fished unsuccessfully for Golden-haired Carp.
• That night, Chen Yi used a Figure in the Painting to slip into the Rear Residence and meet Song Jin Jian in his meditation room.
• Chen Yi told Song Jin Jian he had come to watch a show connected to the attempt on Jia Xingzhi’s life.
• Chen Yi observed Chu Xiudao cultivating in a blaze of seven-colored light and recognized the power as the pinnacle of the Dao.

Chen Yi deduced that the Land Immortal Realm came from merging mind and body with Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi, then watched Chu Xiudao break through and proclaim himself an Earthly Immortal. As old allies and powerful figures gathered in Shuzhou, Chen Xuanji arrived and was joined by Chen Zhitang.

• Chen Yi divined the nature of the Land Immortal Realm while Chu Xiudao meditated, and explained to Song Jin Jian that Jia Xingzhi was still alive because he had uses for him.
• Chu Xiudao announced his breakthrough to the Land Immortal Realm, drawing people from across the region toward his meditation chamber.
• Xiao Jinghong flew to congratulate Chu Xiudao and met Li Wudang, who told her that Chen Zhitang and Chen Xuanji were also approaching.
• General Star sent a secret letter after learning of Chu Xiudao's breakthrough, then called for Luanfeng and Harrier Eagle when he realized the Pavilion Master might be nearby.
• Chen Xuanji encountered Li Wudang and Xiao Jinghong on his way to Chu Xiudao, and Chen Zhitang arrived as the old friends gathered.