Chapter Summaries

Wang Daoyuan and Zhao Jingguo accepted the Netherworld Sect's surrender, while the Zhao Emperor activated a hidden plan to secure Hanjiang Pass. Two surviving Zhao elders learned that the Ninth Prince had restored the kingdom and prepared to seize the pass with help from the Wei Family.

• Zhong Zhenyang, Gu Wangzong, and Ming Huai presented the Netherworld Sect's inheritances, assets, and disciples to Zhao Jingguo, who pardoned them and granted titles to their leaders and Qian Yang.
• Zhao Jingguo ordered the Luo Family cultivators to redeem themselves through service and their ordinary family members to be divided among the Zhong, Gu, and Ming families.
• Wang Daoyuan asked how the court would handle Crimson Sun Palace, and Zhao Jingguo reported that the Zhao Emperor had ordered them to hold the Netherworld Sect and await news.
• The Zhao Emperor cracked a dragon-patterned jade token, prompting two hidden elders near Hanjiang Pass to learn that the Ninth Prince had taken the throne and that the Netherworld Sect had surrendered.
• The blue-robed elder ordered Wei Xuanhu to help seize Hanjiang Pass, and Wei Xuanhu planned to lead his clansmen there in three days while the elders infiltrated in disguise.

Wei Xuanhu and two Zhao Golden Core Cultivators seized Hanjiang Pass by ambushing Jade Sun True Person and forcing Crimson Sun Palace’s disciples to surrender. With the pass secured, the Zhao Emperor prepared a campaign against Myriad Spirit Sect, while Wang Daoyuan organized Netherworld Sect’s forces and supplies for an assault on Crimson Sun Palace.

• Wei Xuanhu led two disguised Zhao Golden Core Cultivators into Hanjiang Pass, where they ambushed Jade Sun True Person and compelled him to surrender by making him swallow a Gui Water Thunder Pearl.
• Jade Sun True Person ordered Crimson Sun Palace’s disciples to stop resisting, and the Wei Lineage and allied cultivators killed those who refused before preparing to defend the pass from Wei Kingdom.
• The Zhao Emperor learned that Hanjiang Pass had been captured, ordered preparations to attack Myriad Spirit Sect, and appointed Qingli County King Southern Mountain Pacification Commissioner to lead an assault on Crimson Sun Palace.
• Zhao Jingguo told Wang Daoyuan that Hanjiang Pass was secure, handed him Netherworld Sect’s formation tokens and treasury keys, and left with Zhao Golden Core Cultivators.
• Wang Daoyuan ordered Gu Chengfeng to summon the Golden Core Cultivators at Golden Goose City and directed Zhong Zhenyang to assemble Netherworld Sect’s fighters and gather supplies for the army.

Wang Daoyuan accepted Zhong Zhenyang’s gifts and agreed to speak in favor of the Netherworld Sect’s families when fiefs were granted. He led an army to Crimson Sun Palace, where he learned its leaders had fled and a weakened elder offered to surrender the remaining people.

• Zhong Zhenyang gave Wang Daoyuan the Netherworld Sect’s copied inheritance and local specialties, asking him to speak for the three families when Zhao Emperor granted fiefs.
• Wang Daoyuan led seven Golden Core Cultivators and an army west to Crimson Sun Palace after arranging for a Golden Core Cultivator to guard the Netherworld Sect.
• At Sunset Valley, Qian Yang urged Crimson Sun Palace to surrender, but no one inside responded.
• Wang Daoyuan attacked Crimson Sun Palace’s defensive formation with flames from his Meteorite Fire Control Gourd and Vermilion Bird Fan while Zhong Zhenyang searched for a weakness.
• A failing Late Violet Mansion Cultivator revealed that Crimson Sun Palace’s leaders had fled with talented disciples and resources, then offered to shut down the formation if Wang Daoyuan spared those left behind.

Wang Daoyuan pursued the Crimson Sun Palace cultivators who had fled Sunset Valley, then rushed to Hanjiang Pass to reinforce the Zhao forces against Wei Kingdom. He drove back the attackers and began arranging the defense of the pass.

• Wang Daoyuan learned that Golden Sun True Person and Earth Flame True Person had escaped through a lava-sealed tunnel, and he spared the remaining Crimson Sun Palace cultivators.
• Wang Daoyuan learned from Zhou Luan that the fugitives had reached Myriad Spirit Sect territory, sent warnings to the Golden Core Cultivators at the Netherworld Sect, and left guards at Sunset Valley.
• Wang Daoyuan led the remaining Golden Core Cultivators and Zhao Clan cultivators toward Hanjiang Pass, leaving most lower-ranked cultivators behind for a future attack on Sanhe Market.
• Wang Daoyuan arrived as Wei Kingdom cultivators attacked Hanjiang Pass and forced them to retreat by revealing his strength and announcing the Zhao Emperor's recovery of Hanjiang County.
• Wang Daoyuan calmed the Zhao Clan cultivators' anger toward Zhong Zhenyang and Gu Shenghai, explaining that their surrender and service had earned them pardons and noble ranks.
• Wang Daoyuan told the two Zhao Clan Golden Core Cultivators to remain at Hanjiang Pass because it was strategically vital and needed reliable defenders.

After receiving news that the Myriad Spirit Sect was seeking Song Kingdom’s support, Wang Daoyuan marched south to seize its territory before Song Kingdom could expand into Zhao Kingdom. He captured much of Myriad Spirit Commandery and encountered Song Yan near Fulóng Mountain.

• Wang Daoyuan left Hanjiang Pass guarded and returned to Sunset Valley, where he learned that the Zhao Emperor was fighting the Myriad Spirit Sect in Zhennan Commandery.
• Qian Yang offered Wang Daoyuan Crimson Sun Palace’s local specialties and asked him to recommend him for a fief in Qingli Commandery.
• After Zhou Luan reported that the Myriad Spirit Sect had contacted Song Kingdom about surrendering, Wang Daoyuan led six Golden Core cultivators south to seize territory.
• Wang Daoyuan’s forces captured seventy percent of Myriad Spirit Commandery in five days and advanced to Fulóng Mountain, the Myriad Spirit Sect’s final barrier.
• While scouting Fulóng Mountain, Wang Daoyuan heard Song Yan greet him from within a hundred li of the mountain.

Wang Daoyuan confronted Song Yan over Song Kingdom’s intervention, using the Song Emperor’s alliance with his maternal grandfather’s killers to undermine his reputation. As Song Kingdom joined the fighting, the Sixth Prince feigned bravery before defecting to the Myriad Spirit Sect and proclaiming himself emperor, giving Song Yan a pretext to seize Zhao territory.

• Wang Daoyuan rebuked Song Yan for claiming the Myriad Spirit Sect’s lands while accepting the cultivators who had killed his maternal grandfather, and Song Yan returned to Fulóng Mountain.
• Wang Daoyuan moved his forces to Crescent Moon Mountain, warned the Zhao Emperor about Song Kingdom, and sent Soul Chasing Bees to scout the surrounding area.
• The Sixth Prince fought bravely against Song Kingdom’s forces, then pursued their retreat into the Myriad Spirit Sect’s Defensive Formation.
• The Sixth Prince proclaimed himself emperor and accused the Ninth Prince of usurping the throne, while praising Song Yan as his rescuer and claiming the Myriad Spirit Sect and Crimson Sun Palace had joined his cause.

The Zhao Emperor gathered his forces at Nanli Mountain and summoned Wang Daoyuan and Zhong Zhenyang to help counter the Sixth Prince’s alliance with the Song Kingdom and its allies. The Sixth Prince arrived with the Song Emperor to demand surrender, and the chapter ended as True Dragon Tamer challenged Zhao Jingguo.

• The Zhao Emperor rejected calls to eliminate the Sixth Prince’s descendants and ordered his forces to target the Song Family’s Golden Core cultivators.
• King of Linhai summoned Wang Daoyuan and Zhong Zhenyang from Crescent Moon Mountain to Nanli Mountain.
• Wang Daoyuan and Zhong Zhenyang assessed the enemy’s strength, and Zhao Jingguo proposed that they strike the Song cultivators while he and Lingjiang held off the enemy’s top fighters.
• The Sixth Prince and the Song Emperor advanced on Nanli Mountain with True Dragon Tamer, Profound Nether True Person, Earth Flame True Person, and four Song Kingdom Golden Core cultivators.
• The Sixth Prince demanded that the Zhao Emperor’s forces surrender, Zhao Jingguo denounced him, and True Dragon Tamer moved forward to confront Zhao Jingguo.

Song Yan and the Zhao Emperor’s forces fought across Nanli Mountain while Wang Daoyuan and Zhong Zhenyang prepared an ambush. Wang Daoyuan and Zhao Lingxu killed two Song Family cultivators, forcing Song Yan to retreat in grief and anger.

• Zhao Jingguo, Profound Nether True Person, Earth Flame True Person, and other cultivators engaged the Zhao Kingdom’s fighters in separate battles.
• Song Yan sent two main-line Song Family cultivators after Zhao Lingxu, who drew them north of Nanli Mountain toward Wang Daoyuan and Zhong Zhenyang.
• Wang Daoyuan trapped the pursuers in Black Tortoise Purgatory and killed one with the White Tiger Blade while Zhong Zhenyang prevented the other from self-destructing.
• Wang Daoyuan and Zhao Lingxu killed the remaining Song Family cultivator before Song Yan could reach them.
• Song Yan mourned his clansmen, threatened revenge, and ordered his forces to retreat.

Wang Daoyuan and Zhong Zhenyang helped Zhao Kingdom defeat Song Kingdom’s forces, then Wang Daoyuan proposed a risky campaign to cut off the enemy’s supplies and force its Golden Cores into battle. The Zhao court considered the plan as the war threatened to become a contest of endurance.

• Wang Daoyuan and Zhong Zhenyang concealed themselves and attacked the Song Kingdom Golden Cores fighting Shi Zhizhong.
• Wang Daoyuan killed the white-haired Golden Core with Shi Zhizhong, while the Sixth Prince’s Guishui Divine Thunder let the remaining middle-aged cultivator escape.
• Song Kingdom’s forces withdrew, and Zhao Kingdom’s fighters returned to Nanli Mountain to divide the spoils from the three slain Golden Cores.
• The Zhao Emperor and his court discussed Song Kingdom’s dwindling Golden Core forces and Zhao Kingdom’s damaged industries and limited supplies.
• Wang Daoyuan proposed sending stronger Golden Cores across Fulóng Mountain to attack Myriad Spirit Sect industries and intercept Song Kingdom’s supply vessels, risking a counterattack if Song Yan called in reinforcements.

The Zhao Emperor chose to avoid a decisive battle and instead let his Golden Cores raid Song supply routes and industries, weakening the Song Kingdom without risking further attrition. After weeks of losses, Song Yan rejected a plan to send more Golden Cores and decided to seek peace, promising to protect the Sixth Prince.

• The Zhao Emperor decided the Zhao Kingdom would stop trying to destroy the Song forces outright and would target their supply vessels and industries instead.
• Wang Daoyuan and nine other Golden Core Cultivators sailed around Fulóng Mountain, destroyed Song Kingdom industries, and intercepted more than fifty supply vessels over twenty-odd days.
• Song Yan and the Sixth Prince watched as the Myriad Spirit Sect's supplies were cut off and its industries were destroyed, while Zhao territory continued rebuilding.
• True Dragon Tamer proposed transferring more Song Golden Cores to eliminate the Zhao family's experts, but Song Yan warned that this would leave the Song Kingdom exposed and risk losing nearly all its Golden Cores.
• Song Yan decided to seek peace from the Zhao Emperor and promised to protect the Sixth Prince.

The Zhao Kingdom and Song Kingdom negotiated peace after the Zhao forces’ raids, with the Zhao Lineage refusing to surrender any territory. The Sixth Prince abdicated after twenty-nine days as emperor and became King Zhennan, while the treaty left the Zhao Kingdom’s borders intact.

• The Zhao Emperor agreed to peace talks after Zhao forces seized supplies from Song Kingdom flying boats, and both sides arranged to meet between Nanli Mountain and Fulóng Mountain.
• At the first meeting, Zhao Jingguo, Zhao Jingbang, Wang Daoyuan, and Shi Zhizhong rejected Song Kingdom’s proposed division of Zhao territory and threatened to keep fighting.
• Three days later, the Song Kingdom Golden Core accepted the Zhao Kingdom’s demands, including Zhao control of Wucheng Pass and a fief for Zhao Lingtian limited to territory Song Kingdom already held.
• The Zhao Emperor and Song Yan signed a peace treaty, and the Sixth Prince abdicated and received the title King Zhennan.
• Wang Daoyuan and the other Zhao Kingdom Golden Cores mocked the Sixth Prince for ruling as emperor for only twenty-nine days, but he kept his composure.

The Zhao Emperor rewarded the allies who helped restore Zhao Kingdom, granting Wang Daoyuan authority over the lands north of the mountains and assigning surrendered sect cultivators fiefs there. He also arranged a marriage between Wang Mingshan and a royal granddaughter, then asked Wang Daoyuan to let one of Zhao Liang’s descendants return to the Zhao Clan.

• The Zhao Emperor convened the Golden Core Cultivators in Sanhe Market to distribute rewards for their service in the campaign.
• The Zhao Emperor praised Wang Daoyuan’s contributions and entrusted him with all affairs north of the mountains.
• The Zhao Emperor granted titles and fiefs to the Zhao Family, Gu Chengfeng, other allied lineages, and the surrendered cultivators, placing the latter’s fiefs in the north.
• Wang Daoyuan supported granting the surrendered Netherworld Sect and Crimson Sun Palace cultivators lower status by settling them in the bitterly cold northern lands, and the Zhao Emperor agreed.
• The Zhao Emperor proposed betrothing Zhao Yu Ying to Wang Mingshan, and Wang Daoyuan accepted.
• The Zhao Emperor asked Wang Daoyuan to allow one of Zhao Liang’s descendants to return to the Zhao Clan and continue the line of his elder brother.

Wang Daoyuan secured the Zhao Emperor’s support for the Wang Clan and took control of Green Willow Continent. He then discovered that its underground secret realm had been artificially created, likely by Myriad Beast Valley.

• The Zhao Emperor granted Wang Mingze the title of Duke Yansi and ordered him to cultivate the Zhao Clan’s inheritance, then sent the Sixth Prince’s cultivator descendants to join him.
• After the Zhao Emperor assigned Green Willow Continent to Wang Daoyuan, Wang Daoyuan returned to Jade Spring Peak and traveled onward to take possession of the territory.
• Wang Daoyuan met Shi Zhenbang and Zhao Yuqi, recognizing Zhao Yuqi as the old acquaintance Zhao Qi from Mysterious Yin Market.
• Shi Zhenbang handed Wang Daoyuan the accounts, formation tokens, and treasury keys for Green Willow Continent, and his Finance Hall cultivators began taking over its holdings.
• Shi Zhenbang and Zhao Yuqi led Wang Daoyuan to an underground light curtain, where he determined the secret realm beyond it was artificially made and likely left by Myriad Beast Valley.

Wang Daoyuan inspected the Green Willow Secret Realm after Zhao Yuqi and Shi Zhenbang handed it over, discovering extensive spirit fields, plants, and resources that greatly strengthened the Wang Clan’s foundation. He concluded that the artificial realm drew vitality and spatial power from the great willow tree, tying their fates together.

• Zhao Yuqi explained that the Zhao family had moved away half of each type of spirit plant and left the rest for Wang Daoyuan before he and Shi Zhenbang departed.
• Wang Daoyuan surveyed the secret realm’s spirit plants and found abundant medicinal herbs, Phoenix Feather Firs, and third-order Purple Gold Yellow Sprout Millet.
• Wang Daoyuan assessed the vast spirit fields and considered how the Wang Clan could cultivate and maintain them using its Spirit Planter inheritance.
• Wang Daoyuan investigated the energy entering the secret realm and inferred that it came from the great willow tree, likely the Hollow Willow, and that the realm and tree shared their fate.

Wang Daoyuan handed the Green Willow Secret Realm’s management to Third Brother and moved the commandery prince’s estate to Wanchuan Market. He then mastered pill patterns, successfully refined Marrow Foundation Cultivation Pills, and became a Low-grade Fourth-order alchemist.

• Wang Daoyuan summoned Third Brother and the Spirit Plant Hall cultivators to Green Willow Secret Realm, gave them Fourth-order spirit planter inheritances, and entrusted Third Brother with managing Green Willow Continent.
• Wang Daoyuan moved the commandery prince’s estate to Wanchuan Market, leaving Twelfth Uncle in charge as prime minister of Qingli Commandery.
• Wang Daoyuan returned to Jade Spring Peak and spent time with Zhou Luan in the hot spring.
• Wang Daoyuan practiced for a year in the Underground Cave Mansion and learned to condense the pill patterns needed for Fourth-order alchemy.
• Wang Daoyuan forged a Low-grade Fourth-order pill furnace and, after three failed attempts, refined three Marrow Foundation Cultivation Pills, becoming a Low-grade Fourth-order alchemist.

Wang Daoyuan completed the Marrow Foundation Cultivation Pills and welcomed Zhao Yuying’s marriage into the Wang Clan, while Wang Mingshan received a marquis title and held a grand wedding. After the celebrations, Gu Chengfeng proposed a trade partnership between Linhai Prefecture and Qingli Commandery, and Wang Daoyuan agreed to expand the Wang Clan’s business there.

• Wang Daoyuan successfully refined three Marrow Foundation Cultivation Pills, and Zhou Luan swallowed one to aid her cultivation.
• Zhao Jingguo arranged Princess Zhao Yuying’s marriage to Wang Mingshan and set the wedding for two months later.
• Wang Mingshan received the title of Marquis of Jade Spring before Zhao Yuying’s bridal procession arrived at Mount North for their wedding.
• Wang Daoyuan and the Wang Clan hosted the wedding guests, including Gu Chengfeng and Zhong Zhenyang, and celebrated Wang Mingshan’s marriage.
• Gu Chengfeng offered to trade Linhai Prefecture’s sea resources for Qingli Commandery’s goods and proposed giving the Wang Clan shops in Linhai City.
• Wang Daoyuan accepted Gu Chengfeng’s proposal to expand the Wang Clan’s business into Linhai Prefecture.

Wang Daoyuan agreed to trade marine Demon Beast materials for Qingli Commandery refining materials with Gu Chengfeng, then heard Zhong Zhenyang’s request for a fief north of the mountains. He approved the lineages’ settlement by the Nether King River while warning them about a powerful ghost cultivator and forbidding them from establishing a sect.

• Wang Daoyuan and Gu Chengfeng agreed to barter marine Demon Beast materials for refining materials, with the Finance Hall handling the remaining arrangements.
• Zhong Zhenyang asked Wang Daoyuan to grant several lineages fiefs north of the mountains and pledged their allegiance to Qingli Commandery.
• Zhong Zhenyang explained that the Nether King River, formed from Yin Energy flowing out of Ghostly Soul Cave, offered a suitable place for the lineages to settle.
• Wang Daoyuan approved the lineages’ choice of spirit mountains by the river and agreed that some of Zhong Zhenyang’s descendants could serve at the Commandery Prince’s Manor.
• Wang Daoyuan warned Zhong Zhenyang about the intelligent ghost cultivator and powerful corpses in the Yellow Springs Secret Realm; Zhong Zhenyang said he could handle the danger.
• Wang Daoyuan set fief size limits and prohibited the lineages from founding a sect, and Zhong Zhenyang promised they only intended to preserve their bloodline.

Wang Daoyuan continued strengthening his cultivation and developing the Green Willow Secret Realm, then prepared a Pseudo Spirit Fire to nourish the Hollow Willow. Spirit Devourer returned after rescuing Zheng Ping and exploring the outer formations of the Myriad Beast Valley branch, leaving the core formations—and their likely treasures—unexplored.

• Wang Daoyuan improved his pill-refining skills, expanded the Spirit Pearl Space, and helped Green Willow City and its marketplace become fully established.
• Wang Daoyuan created a Pseudo Spirit Fire from the Life Spirit Fire and placed it in the Spirit Pearl Space to nourish the Peach Sapling.
• Wang Daoyuan sensed Spirit Devourer’s return and examined his memories of the trip to the Myriad Beast Valley branch.
• Spirit Devourer had rescued Zheng Ping and recovered several Fourth-order Universe Rings containing artifacts and other items from the outer formations.
• Wang Daoyuan learned that Spirit Devourer could not overcome the core formations, which might conceal Fifth-order spiritual objects.

Wang Daoyuan told Zhou Luan about the Myriad Beast Valley branch hall and set out with Spirit Devourer to explore it. He reached the deepest courtyard, where a powerful, nearly intact formation blocked the way.

• Wang Daoyuan explained True Man Ten Thousand Corpses' origins and the branch hall to Zhou Luan, who agreed to stay behind after he promised to share the route.
• Wang Daoyuan left Jade Spring Peak, met Spirit Devourer, and examined the degraded high-order Universe Rings and Magic Tools Spirit Devourer had found.
• Wang Daoyuan and Spirit Devourer traveled through underground caves and reached the Purple Gold River branch hall.
• Wang Daoyuan explored the ruined palace complex, passing the first six courtyards and finding scattered bones, broken Magic Tools, and some surviving formations.
• Wang Daoyuan arrived at the seventh courtyard's entrance and found its formation exceptionally powerful and nearly intact.

Wang Daoyuan studied the powerful formation surrounding the seventh courtyard and realized it could be fueled by valuable Fifth-order spiritual objects. He stayed nearby to cultivate, hoping to strengthen the Gui Water Nether Flame enough to explore the courtyard, and emerged three years later at late Golden Core with all five spirit fires advanced to top-grade Fourth-order.

• Wang Daoyuan tested the courtyard’s mist and discovered that its Law Power could suppress his abilities and burn at a level beyond his understanding.
• Wang Daoyuan reasoned that the formation’s Formation Eye likely contained Fifth-order or higher spiritual objects, which could help him advance and extend his master’s life.
• Wang Daoyuan decided to cultivate nearby, sent Spirit Devourer to scout, and ordered Zheng Ping to return to the karst cave and maintain contact with Zhou Luan.
• Wang Daoyuan spent three years absorbing essence from the mist and balancing his cultivation with the Five Spirits Immortal Transformation Art.
• Wang Daoyuan reached late Golden Core, and all five of his spirit fires advanced to top-grade Fourth-order.
• Wang Daoyuan found that the Gui Water Nether Flame could now cover a thousand zhang with the Vermilion Bird Fan, enough to envelop the seventh courtyard.