Chapter Summaries

Ning Chen attended the Courtesan Queen competition with Mingyue, where an assassin attacked Liu Ruoxi during her dance. Su Feiyan later tried to draw Ning Chen into taking Liu Ruoxi in, but he refused, so Su Feiyan ordered her sent to the Zhiming Marquisate.

• Ning Chen gave Mingyue ten taels to cast a vote, and Liu Ruoxi won the title of Courtesan Queen.
• An assassin struck at Liu Ruoxi during the Startled Swan Dance, but a zither note diverted the sword into her shoulder; Ning Chen did not intervene.
• Su Feiyan summoned Ning Chen and asked what he thought of Liu Ruoxi, then hinted that he had never been castrated.
• Ning Chen rejected Su Feiyan's offer to take Liu Ruoxi and left with Mingyue.
• Su Feiyan ordered Qiulan to send Liu Ruoxi to the Zhiming Marquisate, with Madam Hong to decide her fate if it refused her.

Ning Chen attacked Su Feiyan at Lingyan Pavilion, but their battle worsened his old injuries and exposed his use of the Scroll of Earth. The Ghost Maiden confronted him to reclaim the scroll, and Prince Yan intervened, compelling Ning Chen to return it.

• Ning Chen put on an evil ghost mask and attacked Su Feiyan at Lingyan Pavilion, where he and Su Feiyan exchanged powerful blows.
• Su Feiyan stopped Qiulan from pursuing Ning Chen, while Ning Chen escaped with his old injuries flaring up.
• The Ghost Maiden arrived with her underworld attendants and demanded the Scroll of Earth from Ning Chen.
• Ning Chen fought the Ghost Maiden, and their clash destroyed her ghost carriage and shattered his sword.
• Prince Yan sent the Azure Sword to disperse the ghosts and ordered Ning Chen to return the Scroll of Earth.
• Ning Chen expelled the broken Golden Pages from his dantian qihai and gave them to the Ghost Maiden, who promised him a favor.

Ning Chen learned that Su Feiyan was descended from the Hexi Dynasty and heard that the Third Prince had contacted Northern Meng. He rejected Liu Ruoxi’s pleas for shelter, but later offered her a chance to stay if she could give him a reason to keep her.

• Ning Chen accepted a Netherworld Pearl from the Ghost Maiden, who warned him about the Underworld Son and told him where to find the underworld entrance.
• Prince Yan identified Su Feiyan’s Spring Thunder Zither and Seven-String Heavenly Art, explaining that she was likely descended from the Hexi Dynasty and that the Ziyin Dynasty also had surviving descendants.
• A scout reported to Ning Chen that the Third Prince had been in contact with Northern Meng, and Ning Chen ordered continued surveillance.
• Ning Chen rejected Liu Ruoxi’s request to stay at his residence, and Su Feiyan ordered that Liu Ruoxi be handed over to Madam Hong.
• On the Tenth Prince’s flower boat, Ning Chen offered Liu Ruoxi one chance to give him a reason to keep her, but her pleas that she could learn anything failed to move him.

Ning Chen staged an assassination attempt against Xia Mingri to rescue Liu Ruoxi and make the Tenth Prince reveal his hidden abilities. After Xia Mingri believed Liu Ruoxi had died, Ning Chen secretly brought her back to his residence, where she awoke as he told her he had given her a place to belong.

• Xia Mingri asked Ning Chen to support him against the Third Prince and revealed that the Third Prince was secretly contacting Northern Mongolia.
• Kong Yu and Yin Wugou, acting on Ning Chen’s plan, attacked Xia Mingri on the pleasure boat, and Ning Chen defeated them while Liu Ruoxi appeared to be killed.
• Xia Mingri ordered Liu Ruoxi buried, while Ning Chen returned to his residence and later met with Changsun at the palace.
• Ning Chen checked on the drugged Liu Ruoxi and told Mingyue that he had arranged the apparent assassination to save her.
• Liu Ruoxi woke at Ning Chen’s residence, and Ning Chen told her he had given her the place to belong that she wanted.

While Liu Ruoxi recovered at the marquis’s residence, she heard from the shopkeeper and Xiaoyun that Ning Chen was kinder and poorer than his reputation suggested. After caring for Little Mingyue, Ning Chen learned that Duke Xiyu had left the capital and that his disciple Yin Moxiao had been meeting with Peerless City, leaving him wary of the growing political turmoil and Fan Lingyue.

• The Du'an Pharmacy shopkeeper treated Liu Ruoxi, demanded that Ning Chen repay his debt, and urged Liu Ruoxi not to trust rumors about the marquis.
• Xiaoyun told Liu Ruoxi that Ning Chen treated his servants kindly but had little money, and Liu Ruoxi wondered whether she had misjudged him.
• Ning Chen and Xiaoyun chased Little Mingyue through the residence when she refused her medicine; she hid in Liu Ruoxi's bed and accidentally exposed her as they tried to catch her.
• Little Mingyue agreed to take her medicine after Ning Chen soothed her, then asked to sleep with him and hear the story of Snow White.
• Ning Chen secretly used his true qi to help Liu Ruoxi recover, then listened to a spy report that Duke Xiyu had left the capital and Yin Moxiao had met frequently with Peerless City.
• Ning Chen ordered the spy to keep watching and worried that Duke Xiyu's actions, the Three Grand Ministers, and Fan Lingyue could worsen Great Xia's unstable situation.

Ning Chen left the Imperial City and began wiping out Cloud Ridge Stockade, a bandit stronghold hiding several Ninth Rank experts. After silently killing much of the stockade with his bow, he revealed himself by striking down one of its chieftains with a powerful arrow.

• Ning Chen sent Xia Mingri a letter promising to help him ascend the throne, and the news of their correspondence soon spread through the Imperial City.
• Xia Yanwu rode to the Zhiming Marquisate, but the old steward told him Ning Chen had left and asked him to return another day.
• Ning Chen went alone to Cloud Ridge Stockade, where his informant confirmed that its three chieftains were Ninth Rank experts.
• After nightfall, Ning Chen used the darkness and an east wind to shoot the bandits silently, killing nearly half before a woman's scream exposed the slaughter.
• As Huamu left the wooden hall to investigate, Ning Chen fired a powerful arrow that tore through his body and calmly counted it as his first arrow.

Ning Chen attacked Cloud Ridge Stockade, killing its experts and overpowering its leaders. He ordered the bandit-clad woman to take the surviving purple-clad woman down the mountain while he stayed to kill the remaining bandits.

• Ning Chen used the Po Shang Bow to kill the stockade’s Eighth-Rank and Seventh-Rank fighters, then entered the wooden hall to confront the leaders.
• The purple-clad young woman recognized Ning Chen as the Marquis of Knowing Fate, and he discovered more hidden experts inside the hall.
• Ning Chen defeated the stockade’s Seventh-Rank, Eighth-Rank, and Ninth-Rank fighters as they attacked him together.
• Ning Chen unleashed Nine Heavens Void Wave Fury, destroyed the wooden hall, and killed two of the remaining Ninth-Rank experts.
• Ning Chen crippled the purple-clad young woman and told the bandit-clad woman to take her down the mountain while he stayed to kill the rest.

Ning Chen wiped out Cloud Ridge Stockade, tortured a captive to death, and persuaded Eunuch Pei to leave the imperial mausoleum by promising him a chance to kill him in a fair fight. Badly injured by Eunuch Pei, Ning Chen recovered enough to depart, still determined to carry out his urgent plans.

• Ning Chen descended from the blood-soaked Cloud Ridge Stockade and kept Little Mingyue at a distance when he returned home.
• Ning Chen questioned the purple-robed captive in the Ministry of Justice's dark chamber, then ordered the blue-robed woman to bury her after she died from his torture.
• Ning Chen obtained Changsun's edict to enter the imperial mausoleum and persuaded Eunuch Pei to leave by offering him a future fair battle.
• Eunuch Pei struck Ning Chen hard enough to send him flying from the mausoleum, and Qing Ling stopped him from attacking in return.
• Qing Ling carried the injured Ning Chen back to the palace, where she and Changsun treated him until his bleeding eased.
• Ning Chen left the Heavenly Edict Hall despite Changsun's protests, insisting that he had urgent matters to handle.

After the Cloud Ridge Stockade massacre, Changsun suspected Ning Chen was responsible and ordered the Dark Shadow Guard to watch for any fallout. Ning Chen concealed the true severity of his injuries, then sent the Nine Marvelous Separation-Reunion Flower to auction to draw out people tied to Duke Xiyu and the Tenth Prince; Xia Yanwu visited as Ning Chen pretended not to know about the auction.

• Qing Ling told Changsun that Ning Chen likely destroyed Cloud Ridge Stockade, and Changsun ordered the Dark Shadow Guard to monitor the imperial city without intervening.
• Ning Chen secretly watched Duke Xiyu's residence and the Tenth Prince's side, then coughed up blood from injuries he had concealed from the court.
• Liu Ruoxi helped Ning Chen into her room and agreed not to reveal his condition; seeing his weakness eased her fear and resentment toward him.
• Changsun sent Ning Chen a Nine Marvelous Separation-Reunion Flower, but Ning Chen ordered it taken to Kylin Pavilion for auction with an opening bid of one hundred thousand gold.
• Kylin Pavilion announced the flower's auction, and Xia Yanwu visited Ning Chen, offered help, and asked how much money remained in the marquisate.

Ning Chen accepted Mu Qianshang’s challenge and borrowed the Great Yin Azure Sparrow Sword to fight him despite his injuries. He met Mu Qianshang outside the imperial city, and their battle began beneath the moon.

• Xia Yanwu left Ning Chen after asking him to consider supporting the Third Prince, and Ning Chen weighed the succession before Mu Qianshang’s challenge arrived.
• Ning Chen asked Xia Ziyi for a sword and learned the Ink Sword was not ready, so Xia Xinyu suggested borrowing the Great Yin Azure Sparrow Sword from Changsun.
• Changsun lent Ning Chen the sword, warned him to admit defeat if necessary, and urged Xia Xinyu to reconsider her marriage to him.
• Ning Chen returned to the Marquisate, prepared himself for the duel, and left Mingyue at home before setting out to meet Mu Qianshang.
• People across the imperial city noticed Ning Chen’s fighting intent and went to watch as he and Mu Qianshang faced each other a hundred li away.
• Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang exchanged formal invitations to fight, then collided as frost and snow scattered around them.

Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang fought to a standstill in a battle that pushed both to their limits, until Mu Qianshang began breaking through to the Xiantian Realm. As three Ninth Rank experts attacked the vulnerable Mu Qianshang, Ning Chen stood between them and the breakthrough.

• Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang exchanged increasingly powerful sword techniques, and Mu Qianshang’s mountain-and-water sword realm wounded Ning Chen and drove him to the brink of defeat.
• Ning Chen shattered Mu Qianshang’s sword realm with a wave of palm force, then drew the Great Yin Azure Sparrow Sword after smiling at the chance to fight without carrying the burden of guaranteed victory.
• Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang unleashed their strongest attacks, gravely injuring each other without producing a winner.
• Mu Qianshang halted their duel as a black-and-white pillar of light revealed that he had entered the Xiantian Realm and begun crossing the Heavenly Demon Tribulation.
• Three Ninth Rank peak experts attacked Mu Qianshang, and the severely wounded Ning Chen blocked their strikes and vowed that no one would pass him.

Ning Chen protected Mu Qianshang as he entered the innate realm, suffered grievous wounds, and survived with help from Xia Ziyi and Qing Ling. After returning to the marquis's residence, he weighed the imperial princes’ claims and warned Xia Ziyi about the Third Prince, while Liu Ruoxi began to suspect Mingyue was a girl.

• Ning Chen blocked the hidden attackers from reaching Mu Qianshang, enduring a sword wound and two palm strikes until Mu Qianshang took over and Xia Ziyi and Qing Ling rescued him.
• Mu Qianshang pursued the fleeing attacker, while Xia Ziyi and Qing Ling supported Ning Chen back to the imperial city.
• Ning Chen recovered at the marquis's residence with the Great Sigh Pill and Qing Ling's innate power, and Qing Ling returned the Great Yin Azure Sparrow Sword to Changsun.
• The Tenth Prince admitted to Ning Chen whose martial cultivation he had concealed, and the Third Prince later tried to recruit Ning Chen.
• Ning Chen told Xia Ziyi that the Third Prince must be killed and warned that his contact with the Northern Mongols might be real; Xia Ziyi also relayed that Changsun would not interfere in Ning Chen's marriage with Xin Yu.
• Ning Chen warned Liu Ruoxi not to mention that Mingyue resembled a little girl after she voiced her suspicion, and Liu Ruoxi promised to keep quiet.

Ning Chen attended Kylin Pavilion’s auction with Mingyue and Liu Ruoxi, secretly determined to obtain the Nine Marvelous Separation-Reunion Flower. After winning Blazing Sun Iron at a low price, he watched the flower appear as the auction’s final treasure.

• Ning Chen learned that Duke Xiyu had ordered Lord of Yingcheng’s death and heard that Eunuch Pei had left the imperial mausoleum.
• Ning Chen invited Liu Ruoxi to the auction, concealed her identity with true qi, and reflected on having less than half a month to live.
• Fan Lingyue remained awake at the Northern Mongol encampment and sent a figure away after speaking with them.
• Ning Chen arrived at Kylin Pavilion with Mingyue and Liu Ruoxi, and the auction began.
• Ning Chen outbid another attendee to buy Blazing Sun Iron for thirteen thousand one hundred taels, knowing the Daoist Sect’s refining method.
• The Nine Marvelous Separation-Reunion Flower was revealed as the final treasure, with bidding starting at one hundred thousand taels of gold.

Ning Chen swore to help Xia Yanwu claim the throne in exchange for the Separation-Reunion Flower, shifting the succession struggle as support for Xia Mingri grew. Xia Yanwu’s faction prepared to mobilize troops, while the Empress Dowager refused Ning Chen an audience and the Three Grand Ministers and Changsun reconsidered their choice.

• At the auction, Ning Chen bid against Mu Chengxue for the Nine Marvelous Separation-Reunion Flower, and Kylin Pavilion delivered the flower, Blazing Sun Iron, and gold notes to him.
• At the Yanwu Prince's Estate, Ning Chen learned that Xia Yanwu had agreed to help Fan Lingyue withdraw Northern Meng’s troops, then swore to help Xia Yanwu ascend the throne in exchange for the flower.
• Duke Xiyu and Duke Jingwu met with the Grand Tutor, and the Grand Tutor shifted toward Xia Mingri; the Empress Dowager also leaned toward Xia Mingri, unsettling Xia Yanwu’s faction.
• Xia Yanwu ordered his allies to prepare to deploy troops, and Nangong Qing revealed that Marquis Nangong’s forces stood ready to obey him.
• The Empress Dowager again barred Ning Chen from Heavenly Edict Hall, and news of the refusal spread through the court.
• The Three Grand Ministers and Changsun met in Heavenly Edict Hall, while Duke Jingwu sent Xia Yanwu a letter saying, “Your teacher has done his best.”

Ning Chen set a trap for Xia Yanwu’s planned coup, using the Third Prince’s confidence in him to bring troops toward the capital while preparing the imperial forces to contain the rebellion. As Xia Ziyi’s forces surrounded the Divine Wind Camp, Ning Chen’s elite Dragon Guard Army emerged from Chuwu Gate.

• Ning Chen told Qing Ling that Xia Yanwu planned to force the palace and revealed that Marquis Nangong secretly served the Third Prince.
• Xia Yanwu ordered Ning Chen to mobilize troops from Guming and Luo River, and Ning Chen set out with Qing Ling as the deadline arrived.
• Ning Chen left Qing Ling with the military token while the Divine Wind, Swift Rain, and Purple Lightning Camps moved to seize control of the capital.
• The Tenth Prince and Xia Ziyi surrounded the Swift Rain and Purple Lightning Camps, while Duke Xiyu and Eunuch Pei stopped Marquis Nangong from reinforcing them.
• Xia Ziyi ordered the Divine Wind Camp surrounded, and Ning Chen’s elite Dragon Guard Army appeared at Chuwu Gate.

Xia Ziyi defeated Xia Yanwu but spared him, only to protect him from Yin Wugou and Kong Yu when they moved to kill him. Xia Yanwu sacrificed himself to save his brother, leaving Xia Ziyi grieving amid the battlefield.

• Ning Chen left Xia Ziyi and Xia Yanwu to settle their final fight, and Xia Yanwu admitted he had secretly contacted the Northern Mongols.
• Xia Ziyi and Xia Yanwu fought with their signature techniques, and Xia Ziyi revealed his half-step innate strength before defeating Xia Yanwu.
• Xia Ziyi could not bring himself to kill Xia Yanwu and ordered him to leave Great Xia, but Yin Wugou and Kong Yu attacked them on the Chief's orders.
• Xia Ziyi broke into the innate realm and shielded Xia Yanwu from the attackers and a heaven-shaking arrow, declaring he would bear his brother's mistakes.
• Xia Yanwu remembered how Xia Ziyi had protected him since childhood, destroyed his own qi sea, and self-destructed to block Yin Wugou and Kong Yu's sword strikes.
• Xia Ziyi watched Xia Yanwu's remains fall and broke down in grief.

After the Third Prince’s rebellion collapsed, Ning Chen hunted Northern Mongolian assassins and confronted Su Feiyan at Lingyan Pavilion while the Tenth Prince was crowned. Eunuch Pei exposed Duke Xiyu’s impersonation and struck him down, but Yin Moxiao fled as Duke Xiyu urged him to take the princess and escape.

• Ning Chen used the Po Shang Bow to kill Northern Mongolian assassins, but Mu Chengxue attacked him and left with Mingyue.
• Ning Chen sent Yin Wugou and Kong Yu to carry out his orders, then went to Lingyan Pavilion to kill and blocked Su Feiyan from reaching Heavenly Edict Hall.
• The Three Grand Ministers named Xia Mingri emperor, and the Tenth Prince took the Dragon Throne.
• Eunuch Pei recognized that the new emperor had spoken the wrong first sentence, struck him, and revealed Duke Xiyu’s true appearance.
• Eunuch Pei’s attack crippled Duke Xiyu, while Yin Moxiao fled and Duke Xiyu shouted for him to take the princess and leave.

Ning Chen fought Eunuch Pei before Heavenly Edict Hall to fulfill his promise to die by dawn, while Xia Mingri took the throne and the court learned what was happening. Ning Chen survived the duel, but heavenly fire descended at sunrise to punish him for breaking his oath.

• Eunuch Pei killed Duke Xiyu, while Ning Chen defeated Su Feiyan’s guards and drove her away with Yin Moxiao after an arrow wounded her shoulder.
• Kong Yu told Ning Chen that Xia Mingri had been found in a secret chamber, and Ning Chen returned to the imperial palace to face Eunuch Pei before dawn.
• Ning Chen told Xia Mingri to become a good emperor, then battled Eunuch Pei with all his strength as the officials watched.
• Ning Chen and Eunuch Pei unleashed their final attacks, devastating the steps and hall before Heavenly Edict Hall; Ning Chen survived the clash.
• At sunrise, heavenly fire began burning Ning Chen for breaking his oath, and Qing Ling arrived and understood what was happening.

Ning Chen suffered heavenly punishment for his actions, and Prince Yan and the Ghost Maiden carried him into the underworld to escape the flames, though his life was nearly gone. Meanwhile, Fan Lingyue moved the Northern Meng army to seize Jialing City as rebellion broke out across Great Xia.

• Ning Chen was engulfed by heavenly fire as Changsun and Qing Ling tried to reach him, but lightning struck Qing Ling and Eunuch Pei restrained her at Ning Chen's request.
• Prince Yan used the Azure Sword and five swords to shield Ning Chen from heavenly punishment, then followed the Ghost Maiden's carriage into the underworld, where he placed Ning Chen in her chamber.
• Mu Chengxue returned Mingyue to Fan Lingyue, declared that Arid City's debt was repaid, and departed.
• Fan Lingyue ordered Qing Wuyou to escort the emperor back to the palace and directed the Northern Meng army to march toward Jialing City.
• The Northern Meng army captured Jialing City, while uprisings bearing the Third Prince's banner erupted in cities across Great Xia.

After the rebellion, Great Xia’s court changed while Ning Chen remained alive but crippled and dependent on the Yellow Springs Flower’s poison. He chose to stay in the Underworld Netherworld, and the chapter ended with the Ghost Maiden warning that he might eventually lose his sense of self and become a living corpse.

• Yin Wugou left the Ministry of Justice and retired from the world, while Kong Yu was appointed its acting overseer.
• Prince Yan and the Ghost Maiden awakened Ning Chen by releasing the Yellow Springs Flower’s power, and Ning Chen chose to live despite the risk of becoming a monster.
• The Ghost Maiden made Ning Chen a wheelchair, helped control the poison, and carried his letter to Qing Ling at the palace.
• Qing Ling read Ning Chen’s message that he was still alive and shared it with Changsun, who wept upon seeing his handwriting.
• A'man woke at the Barbarian King's palace, sensing that Ning Chen was alive while still feeling heartache.
• The Ghost Maiden warned Ning Chen that the poison could make him lose himself, and Ning Chen asked her to sink him beneath the Weakwater if that happened.