Chapter Summaries

After Chongxuan Zun’s power play cost Chongxuan Sheng much of his influence, Jiang Wang brought him Stone Gate Grass from the Li Family, and Chongxuan Sheng resolved to answer the setback by going to the palace. The chapter ended with Chongxuan Sheng telling Jiang Wang to accompany him and claiming the Chongxuan Family would present a picture of harmony to the emperor.

• Jiang Wang told Chongxuan Sheng about his welcome from the City-Crushing Marquis Mansion and his meeting with the Li Family’s Old Lady.
• Chongxuan Sheng identified the gift as Stone Gate Grass, and Jiang Wang ate it and strengthened his physique.
• Chongxuan Sheng admitted that he had underestimated Chongxuan Zun and vowed to face him with renewed caution and effort.
• Jiang Wang reported that Li Longchuan had accepted the Qiushan Bow but was unlikely to openly oppose Chongxuan Zun.
• Chongxuan Sheng said he would sleep, then visit the palace the next day with Jiang Wang.

Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang sought an audience with the Qi Monarch, and Li Zhengshu persuaded the ruler to receive them. The chapter left Chongxuan Sheng answering the monarch’s pointed questions about his struggle against Chongxuan Zun.

• Chongxuan Sheng brought Jiang Wang to East Brilliance Pavilion before dawn to request an audience with the Qi Monarch.
• Li Zhengshu learned that Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang were waiting and informed the Qi Monarch of their recent military achievements and the Chongxuan family rivalry.
• The Qi Monarch decided to summon Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang, curious about the young man who could not defeat Chongxuan Zun.
• Chongxuan Sheng hurried into the pavilion with Jiang Wang close behind, and the Qi Monarch questioned why he had run.
• Chongxuan Sheng told the Qi Monarch that worrying about the affairs of the world was a way of suffering for him.

Chongxuan Sheng used his military service to secure a year of cultivation at Jixia Academy for Chongxuan Zun, disguising a move to leave his elder brother’s holdings vulnerable as fraternal devotion. The Qi Monarch approved the request and bestowed Purple Robes on both Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang.

• Chongxuan Sheng recounted his service in Yang Land, and Jiang Wang displayed the scars from his battles to the Qi Monarch.
• The Qi Monarch awarded Jiang Wang a Purple Robe in recognition of his bravery.
• Chongxuan Sheng asked the Qi Monarch to reward his service by allowing Chongxuan Zun to cultivate at Jixia Academy for a year.
• The Qi Monarch accepted the request as an expression of brotherly love and granted Chongxuan Zun entry to Jixia Academy.
• The Qi Monarch ordered another Purple Robe for Chongxuan Sheng.

Chongxuan Sheng secured a year of cultivation at Jixia Academy for Chongxuan Zun by trading away his own military achievements and cultivation opportunity. Chongxuan Zun departed for the academy, leaving Wang Yiwu to handle affairs in Linzi.

• Chongxuan Sheng took Jiang Wang to Ji Gate to meet Chongxuan Zun before the imperial envoy delivered the Qi Monarch’s decree.
• Chongxuan Zun and Chongxuan Sheng exchanged courteous words despite their rivalry and the cost of the reward.
• Wang Yiwu arrived, and Chongxuan Zun entrusted the mess in the city to him before leaving for Jixia Academy.
• The eunuch from East Brilliance Pavilion set out to deliver the decree, while the chapter revealed that Chongxuan Zun had learned of it early and chosen to alert Wang Yiwu.

Chongxuan Sheng began his counterattack against Chongxuan Zun by forcing him to leave the Chongxuan Family struggle in Wang Yiwu’s hands for a year. After drinking Marquis Le Drunkenness with Jiang Wang, Chongxuan Sheng planned a public banquet to display shifting family loyalties before confronting Xu Fang.

• Chongxuan Zun left Linzi and entrusted Wang Yiwu with handling the struggle over the Chongxuan Family estate.
• Wang Yiwu threatened Chongxuan Sheng, but Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang ignored him and went to Red Sleeve Pavilion for tea.
• Jiang Wang drank Marquis Le Drunkenness and found inspiration for developing his Exploding Flame Sparrow Daoist Art.
• Chongxuan Sheng explained that his public celebration signaled a fresh contest against Wang Yiwu, who could not inherit the Chongxuan Family.
• Chongxuan Sheng asked Jiang Wang to invite Xu Xiangan and Li Longchuan to a banquet, while he invited the Yan, Tian, Gao, and Mo families.
• Chongxuan Sheng said he planned to spend the day drinking before meeting Xu Fang.

After Chongxuan Sheng’s banquet helped make the contest with Chongxuan Zun uncertain, he and Jiang Wang slipped away to Yuli Ward in search of Xu Fang. Chongxuan Sheng revealed that Xu Fang had been reduced to a cripple after his Dao Heart and cultivation collapsed.

• Chongxuan Sheng hosted a banquet attended by Li Longchuan, Xu Xiangan, Gao Zhe, and Yan Fu, while many other powerful families stayed away.
• Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang left the Red Sleeve Pavilion in disguise after the guests had gone.
• Chongxuan Sheng guided Jiang Wang through the impoverished Yuli Ward and explained its uncertain origins.
• Jiang Wang asked whether Xu Fang lived in Yuli Ward, and Chongxuan Sheng said Xu Fang’s Dao Heart, Celestial Circuits, and Heaven-Connecting Palace had collapsed.

Jiang Wang and Chongxuan Sheng searched Yuli Ward for Xu Fang and found him hiding in a shack. Chongxuan Sheng persuaded the broken man to come with them, while Jiang Wang left a beggar with gold and a warning before refusing to take him along.

• Jiang Wang and Chongxuan Sheng found only a dying old man at the address and realized Xu Fang had likely noticed their search.
• Jiang Wang used threats and a gold ingot to persuade a beggar to look for the shack’s former resident.
• Chongxuan Sheng used Gravity Art to catch Xu Fang, who recognized the Chongxuan Family and insisted he was a cripple who could not help them.
• Chongxuan Sheng challenged Xu Fang’s despair and told him he could still put him to work, prompting Xu Fang to cry out.
• Jiang Wang returned to warn the beggar that keeping the gold could get him killed, but refused when the man begged to follow him.

The chapter revealed how Su She destroyed Xu Fang’s family and drove him mad, then showed Chongxuan Sheng recruiting Xu Fang to help take revenge on the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce. Xu Fang agreed to follow Chongxuan Sheng’s orders, and Chongxuan Sheng left him to rest until the next day.

• Xu Fang’s attack on the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce had once damaged its reputation, so Su She retaliated by denying Xu Fang’s family food and aid until they starved to death.
• Xu Fang returned too late to save his family, lost his sanity, and disappeared after the Chamber told him that the people of Qi did not kill men of renown.
• Chongxuan Sheng brought Xu Fang to a secretly controlled inn and told him to bathe and change so he could reclaim the bearing of a renowned scholar.
• Chongxuan Sheng asked whether Xu Fang could avenge himself or bring down the Chamber, and Xu Fang fell silent before agreeing to follow orders.
• Jiang Wang worried Xu Fang might act rashly, but Chongxuan Sheng decided to let him rest and return the next day.

Cheng Eleven and Su She tried to anticipate Chongxuan Sheng’s next move while Jiang Wang secretly carried out his plan. After meeting Xu Fang, Jiang Wang directed him to confess a crime at Blue Stone Palace, revealing that the target was the Deposed Crown Prince, Jiang Wuliang.

• Cheng Eleven reported that Chongxuan Sheng had returned to the Marquis of Bowang’s Mansion while Jiang Wang remained at his residence on Xia Mountain.
• Su She warned Cheng Eleven that Chongxuan Sheng would target the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce and ordered her to watch Jiang Wang, organize the books, and contact Wang Yiwu.
• Jiang Wang lost his Blessed Land challenge, falling to thirty-fifth place on Golden Essence Mountain and reducing his monthly Merit yield to 650 points.
• Jiang Wang used a look-alike to cover his escape from the private residence and met the restored Xu Fang at an inn.
• Jiang Wang told Xu Fang to confess a crime to the Crown Prince at Blue Stone Palace, and Xu Fang realized that Jiang Wuliang lived there.

Jiang Wang told Xu Fang to confess to the crime he had cursed most viciously, while acknowledging that Xu Fang’s family might never know he had acted out of public spirit. At the Marquis of Bowang’s Mansion, Chongxuan Sheng sparred with Chongxuan Mingguang over his plans to host friends at Xia Mountain, and the old Marquis declined to attend.

• Jiang Wang told Xu Fang to confess to cursing the deposed Crown Prince Jiang Wuliang and warned him that the inn would close after he left.
• Xu Fang asked whether his family still blamed him, and Jiang Wang admitted he could not answer for them, though he and Chongxuan Sheng knew Xu Fang had acted out of public spirit.
• Chongxuan Sheng spent the day with Chongxuan Yunbo after Chongxuan Zun left for Jixia Academy.
• At the family gathering, Chongxuan Mingguang criticized Chongxuan Sheng for sending Chongxuan Zun to Jixia Academy, but Chongxuan Yunbo told him to be quiet.
• Chongxuan Sheng invited Chongxuan Yunbo to view the autumn scenery at Xia Mountain, but the old Marquis refused, saying he was tired of seeing blood.
• Chongxuan Mingguang offered to attend Chongxuan Sheng’s gathering at Xia Mountain, but Chongxuan Yunbo questioned why he would join the youngsters, and Mingguang insisted he could host.

Chongxuan Sheng hosted a Mid-Autumn banquet at Xia Mountain Villa, drawing powerful guests including Li Zhengshu and Qing Xi. Chongxuan Mingguang tried to promote his son Chongxuan Zun and diminish his nephew, while Chongxuan Sheng kept his intentions hidden as dusk settled over Xia Mountain.

• Old Master Chongxuan recognized that Chongxuan Sheng was preparing to act but refused to take sides, and Chongxuan Sheng left with Chongxuan Mingguang for Xia Mountain Villa.
• Fu Miao angrily received Chongxuan Sheng’s invitation, but Qing Xi decided to attend in his place after hearing of Chongxuan Sheng’s actions at East Brilliance Pavilion.
• Li Zhengshu, Qing Xi, and other influential guests arrived at Chongxuan Sheng’s banquet, making the gathering far more prominent than Chongxuan Mingguang expected.
• Chongxuan Mingguang praised Chongxuan Zun and Jixia Academy while trying to diminish Chongxuan Sheng, who remained cheerful and served the guests.
• Li Zhengshu asked Chongxuan Sheng to speak, but Chongxuan Sheng simply toasted the guests and urged them to enjoy the scenery.
• As evening fell, red clouds spread over Xia Mountain’s fiery maples, completing the view known as Maple Clouds and Evening.

Xu Fang came to Blue Stone Palace to beg the imprisoned Jiang Wuliang’s forgiveness for having helped bring about his downfall. His public confession stirred the Great Qi palace, and its powerful heirs waited to see how Crown Prince Jiang Wuhua would respond.

• Xu Fang knelt at Blue Stone Palace and begged the “Holy Crown Prince” Jiang Wuliang to forgive his past slander.
• Xu Fang confessed that his words had helped cost Jiang Wuliang the throne and said he deserved Heaven’s punishment.
• Eunuchs and palace maids spread news of Xu Fang’s confession through Linzi, alarming the palace.
• Jiang Wuyou stopped her military drill to watch, while Jiang Wuxie laughed and called for wine.
• Jiang Wuqi calmly told his attendant to see what Changle Palace would do.
• Jiang Wuhua continued cooking pork knuckle in Changle Palace, and a sigh eventually came from within Blue Stone Palace.

At the Maple Clouds and Evening feast, Xu Fang publicly repented for helping bring down Jiang Wuliang and cut open his body to prove his sincerity. Qing Xi and Li Zhengshu recognized that the spectacle could expose the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce and serve Chongxuan Sheng’s effort to destroy it, while Chongxuan Mingguang sensed the danger too late.

• Xu Fang denounced his past attacks on Jiang Wuliang outside the Blue Stone Palace, then cut open his body to demonstrate his repentance.
• As messengers brought news to Xia Mountain Villa, Qing Xi and Li Zhengshu realized Xu Fang’s act might be a test of support for Jiang Wuliang and threaten the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce.
• Qing Xi connected the Chamber’s past persecution of Xu Fang’s family to the events surrounding Jiang Wuliang’s fall and judged that Chongxuan Sheng meant to crush the entire organization.
• Qing Xi toasted Chongxuan Sheng publicly, apologized for his subordinates’ offenses in Yang Territory, and proposed working together.
• Chongxuan Sheng accepted Qing Xi’s offer, while Chongxuan Mingguang watched the red scenery and felt it had been dyed in blood.

At Jiang Wang’s banquet, news of Xu Fang’s public death and confession unsettled the guests while Chongxuan Sheng’s allies signaled their support. The gathering paused when Su She, head of the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce, arrived with Cheng Eleven, setting the stage for a public confrontation.

• News spread that Xu Fang had gone to Blue Stone Palace, begged Jiang Wuliang’s forgiveness, and died after laying bare his supposed sincerity.
• Jiang Wang reflected that Xu Fang had actually used his final confession to frame the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce and conceal his revenge.
• Gao Zhe and Yan Fu showed goodwill toward Jiang Wang, while the young heirs discussed visiting Warm Jade Water Pavilion together.
• A servant announced that Su She had come to visit, causing the banquet guests to return to their seats to watch what would happen.
• Chongxuan Sheng ordered Su She to be shown in, and Su She entered with Cheng Eleven behind him.

Su She visited Xia Mountain Villa to apologize and offer Chongxuan Sheng a lucrative development plan in exchange for ending his retaliation against the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce. Chongxuan Sheng left the offer hanging by refusing to take the jade scroll.

• Su She arrived at Xia Mountain Villa and greeted Chongxuan Mingguang, Li Zhengshu, Qing Xi, and Chongxuan Sheng.
• Chongxuan Mingguang tried to smooth over Cheng Eleven’s earlier offense, but Chongxuan Sheng insisted that only the people involved could decide whether to forgive it.
• Su She recognized that he had underestimated Chongxuan Sheng and that his counterattack against the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce was dangerous.
• Su She and Cheng Eleven offered sincere apologies, while Chongxuan Sheng called her “Aunt Cheng” and dismissed the dispute as a small matter.
• Su She presented Chongxuan Sheng with a jade scroll containing a valuable development plan, hoping to stop further retaliation.
• Chongxuan Sheng said he was too fat and his arms were too short to take the jade scroll, leaving Su She’s offer unanswered.

Chongxuan Sheng rejected the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce’s apology and made clear he stood by Jiang Wang, while Su She’s visit failed to implicate him in Xu Fang’s troubles. After the guests left, Chongxuan Sheng told Jiang Wang that the next phase of his campaign against Chongxuan Zun would require vast resources.

• Chongxuan Sheng accepted the jade scroll from Cheng Eleven but set it aside, refusing to discuss business with Su She that day.
• Chongxuan Sheng reminded Su She that Jiang Wang had promised to visit Cheng Eleven once he opened his Inner Palace, then dismissed Su She without seeing him out.
• Li Zhengshu explained that Su She had tried to link Chongxuan Sheng to Xu Fang’s situation, but Chongxuan Sheng’s refusal to take the bait left no evidence of involvement.
• Li Zhengshu told Li Longchuan and Xu Xiangan to preserve their friendship with Chongxuan Sheng and avoid making an enemy of him.
• After the banquet, Chongxuan Sheng told Jiang Wang that his next effort would be a full-scale assault on Chongxuan Zun’s influence, and Jiang Wang said being busy was good.

Chongxuan Sheng went with Jiang Wang to meet Marquis of Bowang Chongxuan Yunbo, who confronted him over his attack on Jiang Wuliang. The reason for Chongxuan Sheng’s hatred remained unrevealed as the old Marquis began to tell a long-buried story.

• A servant summoned Chongxuan Sheng to the Marquis of Bowang’s Mansion, and he joked with Jiang Wang about his uncle Chongxuan Chuliang’s loyalty to the old Marquis.
• Chongxuan Sheng brought Jiang Wang to meet Chongxuan Yunbo, where they found Shi Si standing beside the old Marquis.
• Chongxuan Sheng insisted that Jiang Wang and Shi Si stay for the family discussion, saying they had shared his hardships and had a stake in his enterprise.
• Chongxuan Yunbo noted that Shi Si’s Mountain Bearer armor had been damaged again, and Chongxuan Sheng said that people, like armor, should not be repaired if they could not be restored.
• Chongxuan Yunbo urged Chongxuan Sheng not to destroy Jiang Wuliang’s remaining hope after nineteen years in the Blue Stone Palace, and Jiang Wang realized an old family tale was about to be revealed.

Chongxuan Yunbo tried to persuade Chongxuan Sheng to let go of his hatred, while Chongxuan Sheng refused to soften his resolve against the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce. After Sheng left, Yunbo and Chongxuan Chuliang discussed Chongxuan Futu’s sacrifices and worried that Sheng’s actions involving the Deposed Crown Prince could bring disaster.

• Chongxuan Sheng recounted how Chongxuan Futu’s refusal to lead the army and his later death had brought suffering upon the family, and questioned whether he should forgive Jiang Wuliang.
• Chongxuan Yunbo urged Chongxuan Sheng to understand his father’s friendship with Jiang Wuliang and admitted that he regretted ignoring Futu before his death.
• Chongxuan Sheng left with Jiang Wang and Shi Si, declaring that he would pursue the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce to the bitter end.
• Chongxuan Chuliang told Chongxuan Yunbo how Futu had pleaded for the Deposed Crown Prince, fought to protect the family, and died when Sheng was two.
• Chongxuan Chuliang said he would support Sheng becoming head of the family, while Yunbo warned that Sheng’s use of the Deposed Crown Prince could invite disaster.
• Chongxuan Chuliang revealed that Seven Fingers had been one of Futu’s old subordinates and had killed himself, and Chongxuan Yunbo ordered him given a proper burial.

After defeating the White Bone Venerable God’s divine will, Zhang Linchuan took control of the White Bone Underground Palace and began planning his next moves. Lu Yan sought a way into the Netherworld to find his wife, while Miao Yu refused to return and cut off her connection with Zhang Linchuan.

• Zhang Linchuan reflected on his control of the White Bone Saint Body and his wariness of Wang Changji, who had defeated the Netherworld Deity.
• Lu Yan asked Zhang Linchuan how long it would take to devise a way to move unseen through the Netherworld, and Zhang Linchuan promised to begin after refining the Saint Body.
• Zhang Linchuan contacted Miao Yu through a Bone Mirror and invited her to help rebuild the White Bone Sect as its Saintess.
• Miao Yu warned Zhang Linchuan that Wang Changji could threaten him and told him not to pursue her because it was dangerous.
• Miao Yu severed the Bone Mirror connection, leaving Zhang Linchuan unable to contact her or learn where she had gone.

Jiang Wang met the Eleventh Imperial Prince, Jiang Wuqi, while visiting Cloud Mist Mountain with his companions. Jiang Wuqi challenged him over his treatment of the Fourteenth Prince, and Jiang Wang stood by his actions.

• Jiang Wang, Xu Xiangan, Li Longchuan, Gao Zhe, and Yan Fu drank Hidden in the Clouds at Heavenly Fragrance Cloud Pavilion and decided to visit the summit.
• The group encountered Jiang Wuqi and his entourage on the mountain walkway, including Zhang Yong.
• Jiang Wuqi praised Jiang Wang's service in the Yang Land but confronted him for publicly humiliating Jiang Wuyong in Nanyao.
• Jiang Wang declined Jiang Wuqi's offer of a reward and said he had done nothing wrong in Nanyao.