Chapter Summaries

Ning Chen intervened in the Hulei palace battle and discovered that Jiang Xin’s Quiet Moon Technique could counter the White Mist Insect Swarm, while the insects possessed terrifying vitality. Elsewhere, Zong Qianqiu and the Four Extremes Realm Lord plotted to fracture Great Xia’s ties with the Confucian Sect, and the Eternal Night Divine Canon revealed a possible new host for the Seven Absolutes Body.

• Ning Chen wounded Duke Muyang with a hidden Snow Sword, giving the Hulei Emperor the chance to confront the elder in blue while Jiang Hua continued fighting Venerable Yuan.
• When the White Mist Insect Swarm surged toward Jiang Xin, Ning Chen shielded her briefly, then urged her to use the Quiet Moon Technique, which drained the insects’ strength and brought them down.
• Ning Chen tested an insect frozen in his wine and watched it revive, then suspected the swarm might come from the Four Extremes Sacred Lands.
• The Four Extremes Realm Lord met with Zong Qianqiu at the Eternal Night Divine Cult, and Zong proposed framing the Confucian Sect for Xia Mingri’s poisoning to deepen its rift with Great Xia.
• The Four Extremes Realm Lord ordered Xuan Zhi to carry out Zong Qianqiu’s plan, then departed.
• Zong Qianqiu consulted the Eternal Night Divine Canon and found a clue suggesting that a woman might now bear the Seven Absolutes Body, though Consort Luo’s presence made dealing with her difficult.

Ning Chen followed the attackers from the Hulei Imperial Palace to the White Mist Insect Swarm’s hidden gorge, then killed Duke Muyang and rescued Li Youwei. He offered to help the endangered Lihuo Dynasty in exchange for military authority, leaving Li Youwei to decide as war with Hulei and pressure from the Four Extremes Sacred Lands loomed; meanwhile, King Shoushan suddenly collapsed in Great Xia.

• Jiang Xin protected the survivors from the White Mist Insect Swarm while Venerable Yuan and the blue-robed elder helped Duke Muyang escape with the unconscious Li Youwei.
• The Hulei Emperor vowed to march on the Lihuo Dynasty, and Ning Chen secretly followed the fugitives to a gorge completely filled with white insects.
• Ning Chen returned to Duke Muyang’s manor, killed him, and took Li Youwei back to the Lihuo Royal Palace.
• Li Youwei begged Ning Chen to help save the Lihuo Dynasty, but he demanded military authority in exchange and left her to consider his offer.
• Ning Chen told Li Youwei that Duke Muyang was dead, and she weighed reclaiming his military authority against the Sacred Lands’ likely anger.
• In Great Xia’s Imperial City, King Shoushan coughed up black blood and fainted.

After King Shoushan died from the same poison that killed the late Emperor, Xia Ziyi ordered an investigation and struggled to contain his grief and anger. Meanwhile, the Hulei Dynasty sent an army under Duke Qinghua toward the northeast, and Ning Chen went to meet Jiang Hua.

• King Shoushan died in Xia Ziyi’s arms, and Xia Ziyi ordered that he receive a proper burial.
• Elder Gu told Xia Ziyi that King Shoushan and the late Emperor had both been poisoned with Tuoluo Flower combined with Udumbara Flower Pollen.
• Xia Ziyi ordered Kong Yu to investigate everyone who had entered or left King Shoushan’s residence, warning him to act carefully.
• The Hulei Emperor sent Duke Qinghua and the dynasty’s army to reclaim the humiliation suffered at the imperial palace.
• Ning Chen watched the Hulei army depart, then appeared at Jiang Hua’s residence to speak with him.

Ning Chen and the Golden Staff National Master attacked Longevity Palace to search for Phoenix Blood, but the sect’s ancient defenders awakened and used its accumulated fortune to raise one of their number into the Three Calamities. Ning Chen killed the defenders opposing him and protected the Golden Staff National Master as their battle against the newly empowered ancient man intensified.

• Jiang Hua refused to openly oppose the Sacred Lands but agreed to take Jiang Xin to the Divine Continent so she could visit her master's grave before Ning Chen sealed the passage between realms.
• After waiting thirteen days, Ning Chen answered the Golden Staff National Master's summons, and they traveled together to Longevity Palace.
• Ning Chen held off three innate experts while the Golden Staff National Master destroyed the Longevity Pool, found traces of Phoenix Blood, and discovered an abandoned water prison.
• Four ancient defenders emerged from Longevity Palace's hidden foundation and attacked the Golden Staff National Master, while Ning Chen continued fighting the three innate experts.
• A Half-step Three Calamities defender absorbed Longevity Palace's accumulated fortune and broke through, forcing the Golden Staff National Master onto the defensive.
• Ning Chen revealed his strength, killed the three innate experts with blade and sword, and held off two ancient defenders while the Golden Staff National Master fought the newly empowered man.

Ning Chen defeated the Longevity Palace’s ancient-robed man, seized the Longevity Fortune, and arranged for the wounded Golden Staff National Master to recover while concealing that the Phoenix Blood was gone. Meanwhile, the Confucian Sect Elders considered how to respond to a Ministry of Justice investigation that could expose their conflict with the imperial family.

• The ancient-robed man and the Golden Staff National Master unleashed their ultimate moves, while Ning Chen fought the two Longevity Palace ancestors.
• Ning Chen pierced the ancient-robed man with Nianqing, absorbed his Longevity Fortune, and survived as the ancient-robed man and the two ancestors withered into ash.
• Ning Chen supported the injured Golden Staff National Master to an abandoned temple and brought him three Moonlight Herbs, hoping to keep him available for a later conflict with the Four Extremes Sacred Lands.
• The Minister of Ceremonies told Master Bing, Music Elder, Commander of Rites, and Ritual Elder that the Ministry of Justice was investigating officials who had entered King Shoushan’s residence before his death.
• Master Bing and the other Elders discussed the risk that the investigation could expose the Confucian Sect’s role in the tensions with the imperial family, and Master Bing warned that Xia Ziyi would be difficult to deal with.

Xia Ziyi faced a growing crisis as the Confucian Sect and Eternal Night Divine Cult spread rumors that he was the reincarnation of the Underworld King, while Ning Chen remained away in the Four Extremes Realm. News of Longevity Palace’s destruction and the Calamity King’s death unsettled the Four Extremes Realm as the Hulei Dynasty pushed deep into Lihuo territory.

• Mu awakened in Lingbo Pool, and Xia Ziyi ordered the Dark Dragon Guard to stop watching her.
• Kong Yu told Xia Ziyi that an Udumbara Flower had been found in Dragon Garden and revealed the Ministry of Justice had undercover agents among senior officials; Xia Ziyi ordered him to gather their intelligence.
• Master Bing and Music Elder planned to use a public petition to expose Xia Ziyi’s changed appearance, while Zong Qianqiu agreed to help the Confucian Sect spread rumors that the emperor was the reincarnation of the Underworld King.
• Seven respected elders visited Xia Ziyi and later confirmed the rumors to the waiting crowd, prompting panic and resentment; Xia Xinyu and Ning Xi worried that Ning Chen had not returned from the Four Extremes Realm.
• Jiang Hua and Jiang Xin arrived in Great Xia, judged its dynasty disappointing, and headed north after deciding Jiang Xin would pay respects to her master.
• News of Longevity Palace’s destruction and the Calamity King’s death destabilized the Four Extremes Realm; meanwhile, the Hulei Dynasty captured eleven Lihuo cities under Duke Qinghua’s command, and Ning Chen continued bringing spiritual medicines to the recovering Golden Staff National Master.

Ning Chen secured half of the Lihuo Dynasty’s military command token from Li Youwei and then sought Wang You’s help sealing the passage between the Four Extremes Realm and the Divine Continent. As Wang You considered his proposal, the Sacred Lands ordered her to go to the battlefield, leaving Ning Chen uneasy.

• With the Lihuo Dynasty losing ground to Duke Qinghua’s forces, Li Youwei gave Ning Chen the imperial half of the military command token after he demanded it as the price of helping her.
• Ning Chen urged the injured Golden Staff National Master to recover before they searched for Phoenix Blood, then left and headed west.
• Disguised as Wang Chenyuan, Ning Chen visited Flower Cherishing Palace and privately revealed himself to Wang You and Wang Yu.
• Ning Chen told Wang You about the Calamity King and the Longevity Palace, then asked her to help seal the passage between the two realms; he said he was seventy percent certain of success.
• A woman arrived with a new Sacred Lands order naming Wang You to go to the battlefield, and Ning Chen grew uneasy.

Ning Chen left Wang Yu and fought Duke Qinghua to force the Hulei Dynasty’s troops to withdraw, defeating him and wounding two Imperial Attendants. Three months later, Zong Qianqiu secretly watched the Princess’s Residence in Great Xia and ordered Canfeng to intensify the rumors as he sought the Seven Absolutes Body.

• Wang You left alone under the Sacred Land’s decree, and Ning Chen reassured Wang Yu before departing without revealing his identity.
• Ning Chen challenged Duke Qinghua before his camp and fought him with the Great Yin Azure Sparrow Sword against White Lightning’s Mark.
• Ning Chen defeated Duke Qinghua in their final clash and severely wounded two Imperial Attendants who had entered the battle; the Hulei Dynasty’s three Xiantian experts could no longer advance north.
• Three months later, Zong Qianqiu secretly watched the Princess’s Residence, wary of Consort Luo as he planned to take the Seven Absolutes Body.
• Canfeng reported that Great Xia’s dukes, marquises, and influential nobles were heading to the imperial city, and Zong Qianqiu ordered him to spread the rumors further.

As the Xia Emperor pushed for broad tax reductions amid rumors and political strife, the Confucian Sect worked to undermine Great Xia and prepared to stop the Martial Marquises from returning to court. Zong Qianqiu recruited Old Man Bai as a pawn in a plan he believed would bring down Great Xia’s thousand-year dynasty.

• Xia Ziyi proposed tax reductions, but the Minister of Ceremonies advocated limiting them to the western frontier and delaying relief elsewhere, prompting Xia Ziyi to dismiss the court.
• At Dragon Garden, Ritual Elder and Master Bing discussed the Confucian Sect’s chances against the imperial family, while Music Commander vowed to kill any Martial Marquis who returned to court.
• Zong Qianqiu questioned Old Man Bai about the rumor that Xia Ziyi was the reincarnation of the Underworld King, and Old Man Bai was too frightened to answer.
• After Canfeng escorted Old Man Bai away, Zong Qianqiu explained that the man would help bury Great Xia’s golden age.

Ning Chen steered the Golden Staff National Master toward investigating the Four Extremes Sacred Lands as the likely source of the White Mist Insect Swarms and the missing phoenix blood. Ning Chen prepared to destroy the Sacred Lands’ teleportation formation and seal the passage between realms, but he still had no news from Senior or A'man.

• The Golden Staff National Master asked Ning Chen where the White Mist Insect Swarms were being raised, and Ning Chen linked Duke Muyang and the Four Extremes Sacred Lands to the matter.
• The Golden Staff National Master reasoned that the Sacred Lands likely controlled a large-scale insect-rearing site and the phoenix blood taken from the Longevity Palace.
• Ning Chen guided the Golden Staff National Master toward the Four Extremes Sacred Lands while concealing how much he knew.
• Ning Chen planned to destroy the Four Extremes Sacred Lands’ teleportation formation and try to seal the passage between the two realms.
• Ning Chen remained worried because he had received no news from Senior or A'man.

Ning Chen lured Golden Staff National Master into the White Mist Insect Swarm, then attacked the Four Extremes Sacred Lands and destroyed its teleportation formation after taking the Yin-Yang Jade. Wounded while fleeing, Ning Chen entered the insect swarm to evade the Four Extremes Realm Lord, as Golden Staff National Master fought free and faced the Realm Lord’s attack.

• Ning Chen secretly led Golden Staff National Master to Lingchuan Maze Valley by planting a trace of phoenix blood, then used the Scroll of Earth to shake the ground and alert the Four Extremes Realm Lord.
• Golden Staff National Master fought through the White Mist Insect Swarm and confronted the Four Extremes Realm Lord while Ning Chen disguised himself and attacked the sacred land.
• Ning Chen overpowered the four innate experts, seized the Yin-Yang Jade, and destroyed the teleportation formation with his sword.
• The Four Extremes Realm Lord struck Ning Chen as he fled, but Ning Chen entered the insect swarm and concealed his aura with the Scroll of Chaos.
• The Four Extremes Realm Lord ordered Yuan Hong to withdraw the insect swarm, allowing Golden Staff National Master to defeat the blue-robed elder before the Realm Lord attacked him.

Ning Chen attacked a mysterious white cocoon, rescued the wounded Golden Staff National Master, and learned that Great Xia might be in danger. After hearing Jiang Xin’s warning, he chose to cross the spatial turbulence toward Great Xia rather than follow the signal from A'man, while Xia Ziyi prepared a tax-reduction decree ahead of his wedding.

• The Four Extremes Realm Lord overwhelmed the Golden Staff National Master, while Ning Chen destroyed much of the White Mist Insect Swarm surrounding a giant cocoon whose red glow restored it.
• Ning Chen severed Venerable Yuan’s arm, escaped the arriving Four Extremes Realm Lord, and carried the wounded Golden Staff National Master to safety before helping him heal.
• Ning Chen heard that Jiang Xin was ill, traveled to Tianchen City, and learned that Mingyue had warned Great Xia might face a crisis.
• Ning Chen asked the Golden Staff National Master to return with him, then headed for the spatial turbulence between the realms.
• Ning Chen saw A'man’s familiar pillar of light but chose to continue toward Great Xia because he feared for Ziyi.
• Xia Ziyi drafted an Imperial Edict reducing taxes ahead of his wedding and went to meet the Empress Dowager.

As Great Xia prepared for An Rongruo’s wedding to the Xia Emperor, Zong Qianqiu abducted Xia Xinyu and Confucian Sect forces ambushed Great Xia’s returning Martial Marquises. Marquis Buyi and Marquis Ziyang sacrificed themselves to break the siege, while the Emperor’s wedding began amid the crisis.

• Consort Luo sensed something to the west and vanished, then Zong Qianqiu used Soul Seizing to take Xia Xinyu away.
• The Music Elder ambushed Marquis Buyi and Marquis Ziyang and slaughtered most of their eight hundred personal guards.
• Marquis Buyi stayed behind to hold off the Music Elder while Marquis Ziyang fought through Confucian Sect forces toward the imperial city.
• Marquis Buyi burned his life to enter the Innate Realm and ultimately gave his life to wound the Music Elder.
• Surrounded by the Music Commanders and Confucian Sect experts, Marquis Ziyang detonated his cultivation to clear a path for his remaining guards to escape and warn the Emperor.
• The seven princes and ministers gathered in the imperial palace as the Xia Emperor’s wedding began.

During Xia Ziyi’s wedding and investiture, the Confucian faction accused him of treason after the princes and two Martial Marquises were poisoned and killed. Overcome by grief and demonic power, Xia Ziyi destroyed the palace and was taken away by Consort Luo, leaving Ning Chen amid the ruins.

• Prince Luo learned from Elder Gu that he, too, had Tuoluo Flower poison in his blood, then collapsed after returning to the ceremony; all seven princes and Xia Ziyi soon vomited black blood and fell.
• A bloodied soldier reported that the two Martial Marquises had been ambushed and killed as Confucian leaders and tens of thousands of commoners demanded Xia Ziyi abdicate.
• Old Man Bai presented Xia Xinyu’s bloodstained Phoenix Plume, and Xia Ziyi’s grief drove him to fall to demons and unleash a terrifying demonic aura.
• Xia Ziyi slaughtered people as he left the ruined Heavenly Edict Hall, while the rain washed blood across the palace grounds.
• Consort Luo arrived and claimed Xia Ziyi for the Eternal Night Divine Cult; when Ning Chen tried to stop her, she used the Scroll of Moon to restrain him and vanished with Xia Ziyi.
• Ning Chen arrived too late to save his friend and found the palace in ruins, where Silence of Autumn Water had lost its Grand Righteous Qi.

Ning Chen returned to Dragon Garden to rescue Xia Ziyi and slaughtered the Confucian Sect’s leaders and fighters, leaving the Commander of Soldiers gravely wounded and the sect destroyed. After learning that rebels had risen in Prajna City and Prince Hua had been wounded, Ning Chen arrived there and took charge of the defense.

• Liu Ruoxi brought Ning Chen his stone-blue Martial Marquis Robe, and he left for Dragon Garden with Silence of Autumn Water.
• Ning Chen cut down the commoners who tried to block his way and attacked the Confucian officials inside Dragon Garden.
• Ning Chen killed the Music Elder and Ritual Elder, shattered the Sky Trapping Array, and defeated the Commander of Soldiers, pinning him to the Confucian Sect’s holy hall.
• Kong Yu reported that rebels had seized much of Prajna City and severely wounded Prince Hua, while Ning Chen ordered him to clean up Dragon Garden.
• Ning Chen arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion in Prajna City, told Prince Hua to hold his position, and said he would handle the rest.

Ning Chen returned to Prajna City and brutally suppressed the Confucian rebellion, stopping only when Qing Ling and Prince Hua intervened. After visiting Changsun and promising to bring Xin Yu and Ziyi back, he ordered Kong Yu to pursue the rebellion investigation and search for Wang You.

• Ning Chen slaughtered rioters and Confucian scholars throughout Prajna City until Qing Ling pressed down his sword and Prince Hua asked him to leave the rest to him.
• Ning Chen returned to Weiyang Palace, knelt before Changsun, and promised to bring Xin Yu and Ziyi back.
• At the Eternal Night Divine Cult, Consort Luo confronted Zong Qianqiu over Xia Xinyu, and Zong Qianqiu went to the Abyss of Darkness, where a voice said the returned former Great Xia emperor's mind had been devoured.
• Ning Chen returned to the Zhiming Marquisate and ordered Kong Yu to secure a confession from the captured half-step innate expert and continue investigating the Confucian faction.
• Ning Chen asked Kong Yu to have Marquis Zhongyong help search for Wang You and said he would send her portrait.

Ning Chen and Marquis Kaixuan led Great Xia’s armies through the Eternal Night forces and reached the Divine Cult, where they challenged Zong Qianqiu and Bai Qi. As Ning Chen wounded Zong Qianqiu and Kaixuan pressed Bai Qi, the Saintess declared her wager won and summoned the Devil Lord.

• Ning Chen stayed behind to fight Bai Qi while Marquis Kaixuan pursued the retreating Eternal Night army, and Bai Qi eventually withdrew from their clash.
• Marquis Kaixuan, Ning Chen, Marquis Qinghe, Marquis Jiyu, and Marquis Taiping drove the Eternal Night forces east, while Ning Chen defeated nearly half of the Divine Martial Army in a battle that made his name famous.
• Ning Chen and Marquis Kaixuan advanced to the Eternal Night Divine Cult and confronted Zong Qianqiu and Bai Qi before its assembled defenders.
• Ning Chen broke through Zong Qianqiu’s array and wounded him, while Marquis Kaixuan gained the advantage over Bai Qi.
• The Saintess appeared and told Zong Qianqiu that he had lost their wager, and Zong Qianqiu invited the Devil Lord to act.
• A white-haired figure in a dark royal robe emerged from the Eternal Night First Divine Hall.

The Eternal Night Cult Master emerged in the Third Divine Hall and ordered the battle to stop. The combatants withdrew, while the Cult Master warned the Devil Lord that the war had only begun.

• Prince Yan called for the person in charge of the Eternal Night Divine Cult to appear.
• The Eternal Night Third Divine Hall rose behind the Second Divine Hall, and Ning Chen recognized its powerful aura.
• The Cult Master ordered Zong Qianqiu, Bai Qi, and Consort Luo to end the battle.
• Consort Luo and Zong Qianqiu obeyed the Cult Master's order.
• Xia Ziyi returned to the First Divine Hall with the demonic sword and the demonic one.

After Xia Ziyi fell into demonic corruption, Ning Chen returned toward the Great Xia Imperial City with Prince Yan and A'man, while the Ghost Maiden asked him to kill her if she ever fell into demonic corruption. A'man took Ning Chen's Knowing Fate Sword, and the Four Extremes Realm Lord descended upon the Divine Continent before the travelers reached the capital, where Prince Yan reunited with the weakened Changsun.

• Prince Yan led Ning Chen and A'man away from the western frontier as Ning Chen grieved for Xia Ziyi and worried about the consequences of his violent actions.
• The Ghost Maiden confronted Ning Chen, asked whether he would help her if she fell into demonic corruption, and vanished after he promised he would not abandon a friend.
• A'man asked for Ning Chen's Knowing Fate Sword, and he gave it to her, weakening himself as the sword chose her as its new master.
• The Four Extremes Realm Lord descended at Featherfall Valley, alarming Ning Chen and the innate experts across the Divine Continent; Ning Chen suspected the force resembled the white giant cocoon from Lingchuan Maze Valley.
• Prince Yan, Ning Chen, and A'man reached the Great Xia Imperial City, where soldiers welcomed Prince Yan and the travelers went to Weiyang Palace.
• Prince Yan visited the ailing Changsun, while Ning Chen saw how much the Empress Dowager had weakened.

Changsun asked Ning Chen to consider candidates for new Martial Marquis titles as Great Xia struggled to replace its fallen leaders. The Four Extremes Realm Lord attacked Ning Chen, but Prince Yan fought him off, and the Realm Lord withdrew after Ning Chen drew the Po Shang Bow and Heavenly Pardon Arrow.

• Changsun showed Ning Chen Marquis Anguo's memorial and asked him to weigh Kong Yu against Marquis Anling for a Martial Marquis title.
• Ning Chen left Changsun's room and joked with Qing Ling and A'man before a Sacred Land execution order descended, naming him as its target.
• The Four Extremes Realm Lord appeared and attacked Ning Chen, but Prince Yan intercepted him and began a battle above the Imperial City.
• Prince Yan fought the Four Extremes Realm Lord with the Condensing Abyss Sword, End War, and Fallen Ruin while Ning Chen shielded the city with snow.
• Ning Chen drew the Po Shang Bow and Heavenly Pardon Arrow, prompting the Four Extremes Realm Lord to retreat and warn that they would meet again.