Chapter Summaries

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.

Chen Xuanji, Chen Zhitang, and Li Wudang confronted Great Asa after he used his Hidden Immortal power to pressure Shuzhou. They damaged his storm with their sword techniques and Chen Xuanji’s four divine beasts, but Great Asa challenged them to stop the Hidden Immortal Mirror.

• Chen Zhitang arrived in Shuzhou, where Chen Xuanji said he had invited her to help put on an act, and Li Wudang questioned their presence.
• Great Asa descended his pressure on the group and accused them of protecting a newly ascended Earthly Immortal, prompting Li Wudang to strike toward a Barbarian settlement.
• After Li Wudang’s sword killed several hundred Barbarians, Great Asa summoned a storm over Shuzhou, and Xiao Jinghong went down to help protect the people.
• Chen Zhitang used her sword technique, Breaking Willows, to resist the storm, while Chen Xuanji manifested four divine beasts and sent them to tear through the clouds.
• Chen Xuanji made the four divine beasts explode, punching holes in the clouds, but Great Asa asked whether they thought that would stop the Hidden Immortal Mirror.

The Great Asa used the Hidden Immortal Mirror to unleash a devastating storm over Shu Prefecture City, forcing Li Wudang to confront him while the others rescued citizens. Li Wudang resisted the mirror’s power with a sword technique called Treading Snow, leaving the Great Asa stunned.

• The Great Asa intensified the storm over Shu Prefecture City, and Xiao Jinghong, Chen Zhitang, Chen Yi, Liu Lang, and others rushed to rescue citizens swept into the air.
• Li Wudang and the Great Asa revealed that the Barbarian Tribe had refined the Hidden Immortal Mirror and was preparing for the Hidden Immortal Competition two years later.
• Li Wudang drew an ice-crystal longsword and entered the storm’s center while Chen Xuanji stayed behind to support him.
• The Great Asa commanded the mirror to seal Li Wudang, and Li’s sword phantom shattered under the pressure.
• Li Wudang sent the sword fragments racing through the clouds, dispelled the storm, and named his technique Treading Snow.

Great Asa withdrew after Li Wudang blocked the Hidden Immortal Mirror’s thunder punishment, and the Central Plains Earthly Immortals discussed the Barbarian Tribe’s schemes and the coming Hidden Immortal Competition. As Chu Xiudao neared his breakthrough, Chen Zhitang mistook Chen Yi for Chen Xuanji’s illegitimate son and publicly called him her dear nephew.

• Great Asa spared Li Wudang, Chen Xuanji, and the others after they resisted the Hidden Immortal Mirror’s punishment, then warned Chu Xiudao to obey the rules.
• Li Wudang and Chen Xuanji resolved to oppose the Barbarian Tribe’s control of the Hidden Immortal Mirror and decided to go to the Eastern Sea.
• Chen Xuanji watched Chen Yi rescue commoners with the Figure in the Painting, while Li Wudang criticized Chen Yi for concealing his abilities.
• Chen Zhitang told Chen Xuanji that Chen Yi had threatened her, then wrongly concluded that Chen Yi was his illegitimate son.
• Chen Zhitang publicly called Chen Yi her dear nephew, and Liu Lang introduced himself as Chu Xiudao’s disciple.

After Chu Xiudao’s breakthrough, Chen Yi learned more about the different paths of the Sword Dao and watched Chen Xuanji and Chen Zhitang leave. A conversation about their old companions led Chen Yi to realize that Chen Xuanji was Dong Xuanmu and the Pavilion Master of the White Tiger Guard, and that he had been manipulating events around Chen Yi for years.

• Liu Lang described the damage Great Asa’s attack had caused in Shuzhou, while Chen Zhitang spoke warmly to Chen Yi and Chen Xuanji called her away.
• Chen Yi praised Li Wudang and asked whether one path of the sword reigned supreme; Li Wudang explained how his Sword Dao, Chen Zhitang’s, and Old Chess Ghost’s differed.
• Chen Xuanji punched Chen Zhitang for speaking too freely about Chen Yi, then warned her not to reveal his identity before they returned to the courtyard.
• Chu Xiudao emerged from seclusion after breaking through, greeted Li Wudang and the others, and agreed that he would one day travel into Barbarian Tribe territory with Li Wudang.
• Chen Xuanji departed, and Chen Zhitang followed him; after hearing Chu Xiudao and Li Wudang reminisce about Dong Xuanmu and Black and White, Chen Yi deduced that Chen Xuanji was Dong Xuanmu and the White Tiger Guard’s Pavilion Master.

Chen Yi treated Shuzhou residents injured by Great Asa’s attack and considered how the devastation might fuel calls for war against the Barbarian Tribe. After reviewing the factions competing for control of Shuzhou, he cultivated and reflected on how the province was only one corner of a larger game.

• Chen Yi realized Chen Xuanji was Dong Xuanmu and judged that Chen Zhitang could not kill the powerful Earthly Immortal, while he wondered why Chen Xuanji concealed his strength.
• Chen Yi declined Chu Xiudao’s invitation to celebrate and went to treat the injured; Chu Xiudao told Li Wudang that Chen Yi had reached the Extreme Realm in spear technique, movement arts, and physical cultivation.
• Chen Yi and Liu Lang’s group discussed whether the Central Plains should attack the Barbarian Tribe, and Chen Yi warned that the Central Plains’ internal divisions made war dangerous.
• Chen Yi treated people across Shuzhou into the night, then returned to Xiao Manor and found that its residents were safe.
• Chen Yi read his reward and the intelligence about an imperial delegation, then concluded that the emperor’s factions, Cui Mao, and the Xiao Family were competing over Shuzhou before he began cultivating.