Chapter Summaries

The Great Liang Army began its assault on the Capital after filling much of its moat, and the defenders prepared for a decisive battle. Zhang Luan and the other innate martial artists engaged Da Rong’s fighters on the city wall, where Wang He revealed his betrayal by attacking Miaoxin.

• The Great Liang Army besieged the Capital for five days, filling the moats while both sides suffered heavy casualties and civilians near the walls were caught in the destruction.
• On May first, Li Feihe and Li Chao gathered with Da Rong’s innate martial artists atop the city tower as Emperor Tianwu prepared to launch the decisive assault.
• Zhang Luan, Li Zhen, Jian Chengfeng, and Yang Jiushi flew to confront the defenders, and Zhang Luan rebuked Chen Wansong and the others for Da Rong’s collapse.
• Chen Wansong charged Zhang Luan, while Miaoxin attacked Jian Chengfeng and the other fighters moved to join battle.
• Wang He surprised Miaoxin with a sword strike and revealed that he had sided with Great Liang to place his bet on the rising power.

Great Liang captured the Capital after Wang He killed Miaoxin and the fighting wiped out Da Rong’s leading martial artists; Emperor Tianwu took the throne as the city burned. The chapter ended with news that the Liaodong Yang Clan had mobilized, prompting Zhang Luan and Jian Chengfeng to warn Tianwu not to underestimate them.

• Wang He killed Miaoxin with a feint and a hidden second sword, shifting the balance of the battle.
• Yang Jiushi, Li Zhen, Wang He, Jian Chengfeng, and Zhang Luan defeated Da Rong’s remaining Innate Martial Artists, while Li Chao fled with Li Feihe.
• Great Liang troops broke through the western wall and massacred the Capital’s defenders and residents; Emperor Jianxing burned the Imperial Palace and died in the fire.
• Emperor Tianwu entered Taiji Hall, sat on the Dragon Throne, and received the generals’ acclamation as emperor.
• A messenger reported that the Liaodong Yang Clan had sent Chongshan Town’s forces south, moved the North Sea Naval Force, and placed Jizhou under martial law.
• Zhang Luan and Jian Chengfeng urged Emperor Tianwu to treat the Yang Clan as a serious threat, though Tianwu had little understanding of its strength.

Emperor Tianwu learned of the Liaodong Yang Clan’s strength and redirected his forces to march north after a ten-day rest, while Yang Chengye established the Chongshan Town Grand General’s Mansion’s rule across Liaodong and prepared a four-route campaign. The chapter ended as An Yuxing, Zhou Tianci, and Liang Shengze arrived, and Yang Chengye went to welcome them.

• Zhang Luan warned Emperor Tianwu that Yang Zhengshan and the Liaodong Yang Clan were powerful, and Emperor Tianwu agreed to march north rather than south into Jiangnan.
• Emperor Tianwu assigned Zhang Luan to attempt to win over the Yang Family and ordered his troops to rest and reorganize for ten days before advancing.
• Yu Tonghai led the North Sea Naval Force south and sealed the Ru River channel as Yang Chengye’s troops entered Pingyuan and the Yang Family took control of Liaodong.
• Yang Chengye established the Grand General’s Mansion’s administration across Liaodong and Liaoxi, appointing governors and officials to oversee the provinces.
• Yang Chengye and Lin Zhan reviewed the four-route army’s strength and provisions, and Yang Chengye explained that Yang Zhengshan had prepared large reserves of grain and equipment.
• An Yuxing, Zhou Tianci, and Liang Shengze arrived to join Yang Chengye, who went out to welcome them.

Yang Zhengshan welcomed An Yuxing, Zhou Tianci, and Liang Shengze, then asked Zhou Tianci about the Great Zhao and his voyage there. Zhou Tianci revealed that he had fled back after killing the young sect master of the powerful Tianwu Sect, and that his old companion had died during the sect’s pursuit.

• An Yuxing arrived with Zhou Tianci and Liang Shengze, and Yang Zhengshan hosted them with roasted lamb and wine.
• Yang Zhengshan asked about the Great Zhao, and Zhou Tianci described its turmoil, its greater number of spirit fruits and Innate Martial Artists, and the rare Martial God realm.
• Zhou Tianci explained that crossing the Storm Sea Region had cost him ships and companions, and that he returned by a long route through the Tianfeng Sea Region.
• Zhou Tianci recounted how he and his companion became pirates in the Great Zhao to seize spiritual resources.
• Zhou Tianci said he killed the young sect master of the Tianwu Sect after mistaking his escort fleet for a shipment of spiritual fruits, provoking a pursuit that killed his companion and forced him to flee.

Zhou Tianci explained how Innate Martial Artists from the Wanli Sea Region became pirates in Great Zhao, while Yang Zhengshan considered expanding there after settling Da Rong. With Capital City fallen and Emperor Jianxing dead, Yang Chengye prepared to campaign against Great Liang, and the chapter ended with Guo Ziqiao weighing letters from Chen Hengchang and Qu Shaogong about Yunling Town’s allegiance.

• Zhou Tianci told Yang Zhengshan, An Yuxing, and Liang Shengze that Innate Martial Artists in Great Zhao often had to join powerful forces or become pirates to acquire resources.
• Yang Zhengshan considered going to Great Zhao eventually and noted that Yang Chengye’s forces already had a strong contingent of Innate Martial Artists.
• After Capital City fell and Emperor Jianxing burned himself to death, Yang Chengye, Chen Hengchang, and other regional powers issued denunciations against Great Liang, while Yang Chengye and Chen Hengchang emerged as the main forces able to march on the capital.
• Qu Changkong, Qu Shaogong, and Yang Wanqing discussed Yang Chengye’s campaign, and Qu Changkong ordered Qu Shaogong to probe the Guo Family’s stance in Yunling Town.
• Qu Shaogong sent Guo Ziqiao a letter explaining the Yang Family’s actions and the Qu Family’s support, while Chen Hengchang offered the Guo Family Yunling Town as a fief.

Guo Ying and Guo Ziqiao weighed the Guo Family’s choices as the Taiping Army began conquering Bashu, then halted their advance and adopted a defensive stance. Meanwhile, Chongshan Town’s forces crossed the Ru River and the North Sea Naval Force landed at Jinhai Guard, completing a four-sided approach toward Shuntian Prefecture and the Capital.

• Guo Ziqiao argued that the Guo Family should eventually seek refuge with the Yang Family, citing Yang Zhengshan’s strength and his extensive network of former Martial Arts Pavilion disciples.
• Guo Ziheng reported that the Taiping Army had captured Yuzhou Prefecture and slain the Black Tiger King, and Guo Ying ordered the Guo Family’s army to halt and hold its positions in Cangyuan and Nanyun.
• Yang Mingzhao led the Taiping Army in attacking its former allies to unify Bashu before the Sun Family of Anxi Town could take Wusi Town.
• In the fifth month of Jianxing’s sixth year, Chongshan Town’s three armies crossed the Ru River and advanced toward Shuntian Prefecture from the north, east, and west.
• The North Sea Naval Force landed at Jinhai Guard, allowing Chongshan Town to surround Shuntian Prefecture and the Capital from four directions.

Yang Zhengshan took command of Chongshan Town’s armies and redirected their campaign toward Great Liang’s base in Hanzhong Prefecture, forcing Emperor Tianwu to abandon the capital and retreat. The Great Liang Army looted Capital City as it withdrew.

• Yang Zhengshan entered Yang Chengye’s camp and rejected the plan to wait for Great Liang to run short of provisions.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Zhou Lan to sweep through Longyuan, Yang Qinteng to advance on Hanzhong, Yu Tonghai to guard against Chen Hengchang, and the central and eastern armies to seize Baoding Prefecture.
• Chongshan Town’s forces captured Baoding Prefecture after its defenders held out for three days, leaving the Great Liang Army in Capital City unsure of their next move.
• Zhang Luan advised Emperor Tianwu to abandon Capital City and return to Hanzhong Prefecture, warning that trying to hold both would risk losing both.
• Emperor Tianwu ordered the Great Liang Army to retreat to Hanzhong Prefecture, and the departing troops looted Capital City.

Yang Zhengshan ordered Chongshan Town’s army to launch a decisive night raid on the Great Liang Army before the siege began. The attack caught Emperor Tianwu’s forces as they prepared for battle, and the chapter ended with reports of enemy troops approaching from several directions.

• Yang Zhengshan tested Yang Chengye’s judgment, then ordered the whole army to leave Baoding Prefecture City and attack the Great Liang camp that night.
• Emperor Tianwu’s council debated how quickly to besiege the city, and he decided to begin the siege the next morning despite Zhang Luan’s warning to be cautious.
• After the third watch, Chongshan cavalry and armored troops rode out through Baoding’s gates and divided around the city.
• Scouts spotted the advancing Chongshan forces, and Great Liang soldiers sounded the alarm and strengthened the camp’s defenses.
• Emperor Tianwu hurried from his tent as reports announced enemy forces charging from the south, west, and north.

The Chongshan Army launched a surprise night assault on Emperor Tianwu’s camp, with cavalry and heavy infantry tearing through Great Liang’s forces. As the camp descended into chaos, Yang Chengye led a force toward Emperor Tianwu’s command tent.

• Emperor Tianwu ordered the Great Liang Army to arm itself after reports that the Chongshan Army had mobilized, but Chongshan troops had already entered the camp.
• Lu Miaoheng led cavalry through the camp’s western sector, breaking through Great Liang reinforcements and plunging back into the battle.
• Zhou Shang'an attacked the southern sector, where heavy armored cavalry led by Lv Zhichao crushed fleeing Great Liang soldiers.
• Luo Feiyu’s Reinforcement Battalion rode around the camp while the Town Garrison Camp forces attacked the central army camp.
• Liang Xiu and Song Jie led heavy infantry through the Great Liang elites as Yang Chengye and his companions charged toward Emperor Tianwu’s command tent.

Yang Chengye led the Chongshan Army’s assault on Emperor Tianwu’s camp, where Yang Zhengshan arrived and confronted the Innate Martial Artists surrounding the emperor. Yang Zhengshan began fighting Wang He as he sought to bring Zhang Luan and the others over to his side.

• Yang Chengye charged through the enemy lines on a Spirit Spring Space-raised warhorse and challenged Emperor Tianwu to fight.
• Song Chenxing urged Zhang Luan and the other Innate Martial Artists to protect Emperor Tianwu, but Zhang Luan revealed that they were surrounded by at least twenty old acquaintances.
• Emperor Tianwu charged Yang Chengye but was knocked flying, and Zhang Luan intervened to block Yang Chengye’s pursuit.
• Yang Zhengshan appeared in a bolt of thunder, stopped Zhang Luan’s saber strike, and greeted Zhang Luan, Jian Chengfeng, Li Zhen, Yang Jiushi, and Wang He.
• Wang He demanded that they fight, so Yang Zhengshan attacked him and smashed him out of the air.

Yang Zhengshan defeated Wang He and killed him after rejecting his attempt to yield, then killed Emperor Tianwu in revenge for Chen Zhaoxuan. With Da Rong defeated, Yang Zhengshan offered Zhang Luan, Jian Chengfeng, and the others a place under the coming dynasty, leaving them to accept that they had little choice but to join the Yang Family.

• An Yuxing, Zhou Tianci, and Liang Shengze arrived to support Yang Zhengshan, while Yu Qingyi used Dao Intent to create a huge vine cage around the battlefield.
• Yang Zhengshan fought Wang He for dozens of rounds, defeated him, and killed him despite Wang He’s attempt to surrender.
• Song Chenxing pleaded for Emperor Tianwu, but Yang Zhengshan revealed his grudge over the death of his disciple, Chen Zhaoxuan.
• Emperor Tianwu accepted his fate, and Yang Zhengshan killed him with his Thunderbolt Spear, promising him a dignified death and burial.
• Yang Zhengshan told Zhang Luan and the others that Da Rong had fallen and offered their descendants a century of status and wealth in the new dynasty.
• Zhang Luan questioned the limited reward, and Yang Zhengshan explained that his many allies left few noble titles available, making the group’s choice to join the Yang Family effectively inevitable.

After the Great Liang Army was destroyed, Yang Chengye consolidated the Yang Family’s rule and began building the new dynasty’s government. As foreign powers stirred and military appointments remained unsettled, Yang Zhengshan advised him on reorganizing the army and overseeing martial artists.

• The Chongshan Army defeated the Great Liang Army, and Yang Chengye’s forces took the Capital as officials across Longnan and Longxi surrendered.
• Yang Chengye established the Grand Secretariat, appointed officials from the Taiping Army, and left surrendered officials without posts while he sorted out the court.
• The Qu Family and Guo Family pledged allegiance to the new dynasty, while Chen Hengchang, the Sun Family, and forces in the northwest retained their own territories.
• Yang Chengye received a report that the Great Yue Dynasty had assembled one hundred thousand troops near Da Rong’s border.
• Yang Zhengshan advised Yang Chengye to strengthen the Military Commissions, abolish the garrison system, and reorganize provincial forces.
• Yang Zhengshan named commanders for the Military Commissions and proposed elevating the Martial Temple into a Ministry of Martial Affairs to oversee martial artists and jianghu forces.

Yang Zhengshan advised Yang Chengye to proclaim himself emperor and drafted reforms for the new Great An Dynasty. As Yang Chengye began implementing them, they agreed to stabilize the realm and focus on recovery rather than further expansion.

• Yang Zhengshan told Yang Chengye to enforce official term limits, purge corrupt officials, and proclaim himself emperor; they chose Great An as the dynasty's name.
• Yang Zhengshan drafted reforms establishing a Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Martial Affairs, replacing military households with recruitment, improving service careers, and introducing land-based taxation and official silver notes.
• Yang Zhengshan gave Yang Chengye his reform booklet and answered his questions about how the proposed institutions would work.
• Yang Chengye reported that the Wuliang King had allied with the Chici Tribe and Alaman Tribe to threaten Longbei Town, while Chen Hengchang sought to expand into Yungui.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yang Chengye agreed to halt further advances, defend their borders, and prioritize rebuilding the people's livelihoods and government.
• Yang Chengye began implementing the reforms with help from Lu Wenyuan and Lin Zhan.

Yang Chengye founded Great An and completed his enthronement, while Chen Buyu arrived in the Capital after the ceremony and learned that Yang Mingzhao was the emperor’s uncle. Ma Yan brought Chen Buyu to the Jing'an Marquis Mansion, where the imperial family was staying.

• Yang Chengye issued his ascension edict, founded Great An, and enfeoffed members of the imperial family and former allies with noble titles.
• Yang Chengye performed the enthronement rites and proclaimed himself emperor before officials and the people.
• Chen Buyu and Ma Yan arrived in the Capital too late to attend the ceremony, and Chen Buyu complained that Yang Zhao had received no title.
• Ma Yan revealed that Yang Mingzhao was the emperor’s uncle and explained his own ties to the Yang Family.
• Ma Yan led Chen Buyu toward the Jing'an Marquis Mansion, where the Empress and Crown Prince were staying, and identified himself to the guards as a Yang Family senior manager.

Ma Yan and Chen Buyu visited Yang Zhengshan at the Marquis Mansion after Chen Buyu’s rise to nobility in the new Great An dynasty. Yang Zhengshan welcomed Chen Buyu as Wu Zheng’s disciple and granted him access to Shenmu Island’s cultivation salary, while Ma Yan reported that Yang Mingzhao planned to return there after handing over the Taiping Army.

• Ma Yan presented his plaque at the Marquis Mansion, and Dafu brought him and Chen Buyu to meet Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Zhengshan assessed Chen Buyu’s cultivation, gave him pills as a first-meeting gift, and allowed him to collect a cultivation salary on Shenmu Island.
• Ma Yan told Yang Zhengshan that Yang Mingzhao was transferring the Taiping Army to Guo Ying and planned to return to Shenmu Island.
• Chen Buyu asked Ma Yan about the cultivation salary and learned that it included resources such as wine and Dongling Spring Tea, as well as the possibility of settling on Shenmu Island.
• Ma Yan planned to report to the Ministry of War and seek an audience with Yang Mingcheng, while Chen Buyu also needed to arrange his awarded residence through the Ministry of Rites.

Chen Buyu settled into the new dynasty’s capital and received his post, while Chen Hengchang turned to violence to secure resources for his resistance. Lü Hua decided to contact the Yang Family and sent Wei Cen toward the Capital.

• Ma Yan helped Chen Buyu report to the Ministry of War, register in the Imperial City, and move into his mansion after Yu Qingyi welcomed him and arranged assistance.
• Yang Chengye summoned Chen Buyu on his fifth day in the Capital, where he offered him a few words of encouragement.
• Chen Hengchang learned that Jiangnan merchants and powerful clans were selling grain and other goods to the Yang Family Trading Firm, and he ordered Lin Fu'an to use the Shenyang Sect’s methods against those who obstructed him.
• Lü Hua returned to his residence and told Wei Cen that they needed to contact the Yang Family as soon as possible.
• Wei Cen agreed to travel to the Capital, and Lü Hua warned him to avoid being discovered.

The Shenyang Sect massacred Jiangnan’s wealthy families, officials, and martial artists, leaving the region devastated and strengthening Chen Hengchang. Yang Chengye considered exploiting the chaos to invade, but Lu Wenyuan persuaded him to focus on stabilizing Great An and rebuilding its administration first.

• Shenyang Sect believers led by a brutal general killed Liu Tinghu and slaughtered the Liu Family, then looted and burned their residence.
• Over seven or eight days, the Shenyang Sect exterminated numerous noble houses, official families, sects, merchants, and martial artists across Jiangnan, gaining wealth and blood-powered strength for Chen Hengchang.
• Dagui reported the devastation in Jiangnan to Yang Chengye, who recognized that its destruction might offer a chance to take the region.
• Yang Chengye convened his ministers and military governors to discuss a possible southern campaign.
• Lu Wenyuan advised Yang Chengye against attacking because Great An faced threats on several fronts and lacked officials, supplies, and preparations.
• Yang Chengye abandoned the campaign and chose to repair Great An’s internal administration before seeking to unify the realm.

Yang Zhengshan met with Chen Zhongshu, offered to spare the Da Rong imperial clan and invited him to seek a breakthrough beyond the Innate Realm. As Chen Zhongshu considered the offer, Yang Zhengshan learned that Lü Hua had arrived from Jiangnan as Chen Hengchang’s close subject.

• Chen Zhongshu reminded Yang Zhengshan of Emperor Chengping’s trust, and Yang Zhengshan promised to leave the imperial mausoleum and surviving Da Rong royals undisturbed.
• Yang Zhengshan offered Li Chao a First-Class Earl title, gave Li Shangxi the choice to serve him or remain at the mausoleum, and invited Chen Zhongshu to join his search for a way beyond the Innate Realm.
• Yang Zhengshan told the court to let Chen Hengchang’s campaign against Jiangnan’s powerful clans proceed, since it would spare Great An from carrying out the same purge.
• A visitor’s calling card revealed that Lü Hua had come to see Yang Zhengshan; Yang Zhengshan explained that Lü Hua had reached the Innate Realm and was serving Chen Hengchang in Jiangnan.

Yang Zhengshan reunited with Wei Cen, learned that Lü Hua’s hidden Secret Martial Guard forces were ready to serve him, and ordered Lü Hua to come to the capital as a test of loyalty. He then visited Three Mountain Valley with Yu Qingyi to begin transplanting spirit fruit trees, hoping to strengthen Great An’s cultivation resources.

• Wei Cen told Yang Zhengshan how the Secret Martial Guard had been weakened under Emperor Yanping and how he had secretly commanded Lü Hua’s Northern Suppression Division forces in Liaodong.
• Wei Cen said Lü Hua had not sincerely submitted to Chen Hengchang and had sent him to seek Yang Zhengshan’s protection, so Yang Zhengshan ordered Lü Hua to come to the capital immediately.
• Yang Zhengshan offered Wei Cen a chance to cultivate on Shenmu Island and potentially become an Innate Martial Artist, and Wei Cen gratefully accepted.
• Several old acquaintances visited Yang Zhengshan in the capital, while Chen Zhongshu and Li Shangxi chose to follow him and Ji Zhen returned to guard Cuixia Valley.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi visited Three Mountain Valley, where he brought out a Jade Dew Spirit Peach Tree and a Star Origin Fruit Tree to transplant.

Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi used Spirit Spring Water and her ability to transplant two spirit fruit trees in Three Mountain Valley, while Yang Zhengshan explained his staged display of thunder and rain. In Jiangnan, Lü Hua decided to flee to the Capital, eliminated the men watching him, and set a major fire at Chen Hengchang’s residence as he began his escape.

• Yang Zhengshan planted a Star Origin Fruit Tree and a Jade Dew Spirit Peach in Three Mountain Valley, then used Dao Intent and Spirit Spring Water to nourish the valley.
• Yu Qingyi used her ability to help the saplings take root and sprout, and Yang Zhengshan explained to An Yuxing that he had only intensified rain that was already coming.
• Lü Hua decided to leave Jiangnan for the Capital despite Chen Hengchang’s surveillance, believing the journey was Yang Zhengshan’s test of him.
• Lü Hua ordered his people to kill the men watching his residence and prepare a parting gift for Chen Hengchang.
• A fire broke out in the warehouse at Chen Hengchang’s Prince Qing Mansion in Jiangning Prefecture City as heavy rain fell.