Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu decides to accept the Cauldron Sect, despite the risk of opposing the Pure Yang Lineage, to rapidly enhance the Great Tang's national strength.
• Zhou Xuan, the Cauldron Sect's leader, agrees to Jiang Yuechu's terms, swearing loyalty and offering no resistance.
• Jiang Yuechu remains at Phoenix-Perch Ridge to improve her strength, using the opportunity to refine the nine Flying Swords into her body using the [Bone and Flesh as Furnace] technique.
• She attempts to refine the Golden Seal but fails, indicating that the technique may have limitations or require further understanding.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates her strategic thinking and willingness to take risks for the Great Tang's benefit. She also shows her determination to improve her strength, even in the face of challenging refinements.
• Zhou Xuan shows submission and desperation, willing to accept Jiang Yuechu's terms to save his sect. He also displays loyalty and a willingness to eliminate disloyal members.

Significant Themes

• Risk vs. Reward: Jiang Yuechu weighs the risks and potential benefits of accepting the Cauldron Sect, ultimately choosing the latter.
• Loyalty and Betrayal: Zhou Xuan's loyalty to Jiang Yuechu is tested, and he vows to eliminate any disloyal members within his sect.
• Cultivation and Growth: Jiang Yuechu's focus on improving her strength, both through refining treasures and upgrading her cultivation, highlights the importance of continuous growth in the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu and Zhou Xuan: Their interaction is brief but significant, with Zhou Xuan submitting to Jiang Yuechu's terms and swearing loyalty to her.
• Wang Ziyu and Jiang Yuechu: Wang Ziyu watches Jiang Yuechu's actions with a mix of admiration and helplessness, acknowledging her courage but also recognizing the potential consequences of her decisions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu attempts to cultivate the Great Black Heaven Body-Forging Scripture to the Perfection realm using her Dao Cultivation points.
• She encounters a terrifying behemoth, the Great Black Heaven, and faces a backlash of demonic souls within her body.
• She gains immense physical strength but struggles to control the demonic energy and fears for her soul's safety.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu realizes the dangers of relying solely on her physical cultivation and decides to focus on improving her soul cultivation.
• She reflects on her current innate divine abilities and decides to exchange two of them for new ones.

Significant Themes

• The importance of balance in cultivation, both in physical and soul aspects.
• The dangers of relying too heavily on external aids (Dao Cultivation points) and the need for self-control and patience.
• The exploration of new abilities and techniques to adapt to stronger opponents.

Character Interactions

• No significant interactions in this chapter, as Jiang Yuechu is primarily alone in her cultivation and reflection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu smelts two of her Demon Talents, 'Mountain-Moving and Sea-Filling' and 'Wide Learning and Strong Memory', along with 500,000 years of Dao Cultivation in the Bronze Giant Cauldron.
• She obtains a 'Source-Returning Demon Heart', which she uses to upgrade her 'Everlasting Green' talent, transforming it into 'Rare Immortality'.
• She continues smelting two more innate divine abilities, 'Silver Bone Glazed Body' and 'Taiyin Chain-Form', but only obtains the useless 'Sturdy Physique' talent.
• Despite the loss, she decides to continue smelting the remaining two divine abilities, 'Poisonous Torrent Evil Mist' and 'Heavenly Flame Golden Radiance', obtaining the 'Primordial Wonder Aperture' talent.

Character Development

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates her determination and willingness to take risks, comparing herself to a gambler who doesn't always lose.
• She shows a strategic mindset, considering the long-term benefits of upgrading her divine abilities despite the initial losses.

Significant Themes

• Risk and Reward: Jiang Yuechu's decision to continue smelting her divine abilities despite the initial losses highlights the theme of risk and reward. She gambles on the potential long-term benefits, echoing the saying "no gambler always loses."
• Transformation and Growth: The smelting process represents transformation and growth, as Jiang Yuechu's divine abilities are upgraded and changed into new forms.

Character Interactions

• There are no significant character interactions in this chapter, as Jiang Yuechu acts alone throughout the smelting process.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu discovers she can now connect to the heavens and earth's spiritual energy, making her true qi nearly inexhaustible and allowing her to strike with full power at all times.
• She decides to use the Source-Returning Demon Heart to upgrade her divine ability, Golden Virtue: Soaring Ambition, increasing her speed significantly.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu becomes more confident and strategic in her decisions, weighing the pros and cons of different upgrades.
• She shows determination and resolve in her cultivation journey, not being discouraged by setbacks.

Significant Themes

• The importance of speed in combat.
• The struggle between wanting quick, powerful upgrades and taking a steady, honest approach to cultivation.
• The concept of 'luck' in cultivation, and the realization that there are no shortcuts to success.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu interacts with the Martial Arts Arena, a tool that allows her to upgrade her divine abilities, and the Bronze Giant Cauldron within it.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Treasure Gathering Assembly on Phoenix-Perch Ridge ends, the cultivators disperse and the Lu Family’s territory returns to calm. Jiang Yuechu’s presence had deterred the various powers coveting the Chess-Player Realm treasure.
• Lu Gexian and Lu Changfeng visit Jiang Yuechu to thank her for protecting the Lu Family.
• Lu Changfeng presents her with a copied version of the Lu Family’s secret cultivation technique, the Ten Thousand Transformations Golden Body Method. Jiang Yuechu’s system confirms it is genuine, though incomplete, so she accepts it without personally comparing it to the original.
• Lu Gexian then gives Jiang Yuechu a storage pouch containing the Lu Family’s research on the path of incense offerings, along with materials for constructing temples and statues.
• He warns that mastering this complicated system could take years and proposes that Lu Changfeng accompany Jiang Yuechu to Great Tang, where he can guide her in establishing it.
• Jiang Yuechu agrees, recognizing that Lu Changfeng’s practical experience will save her considerable time and prevent mistakes.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu remains calm, restrained, and confident. Her willingness to trust the Lu Family strengthens their respect for her. She also shows practical judgment by accepting Lu Changfeng’s assistance despite initially being surprised by the offer.
• Lu Gexian reveals the Lu Family’s strategic ambitions. He is grateful to Jiang Yuechu but is also deliberately investing in her future, hoping that her eventual rise will allow her to help the Lu Clan escape its dependent position under Qingcheng Mountain.
• Lu Changfeng demonstrates loyalty and usefulness beyond his cultivation. His knowledge of incense offerings makes him valuable as Jiang Yuechu’s guide, and his respectful conduct reinforces the Lu Family’s sincerity.
• Wang Ziyu recognizes the deeper political meaning of the arrangement. He realizes that the Lu Family is betting on Jiang Yuechu’s future potential, though he remains confident in his own connection with her and does not feel threatened.

Significant Themes

• Mutual trust and strategic alliances: Jiang Yuechu’s trust in the Lu Family encourages them to offer even greater support, while the Lu Family hopes to secure a powerful ally for the future.
• Political dependence and the desire for independence: The Lu Family’s relationship with Qingcheng Mountain is portrayed as subordinate and fragile. By supporting Jiang Yuechu, they seek an alternative path to power and autonomy.
• Investment in future potential: The Lu Clan is willing to sacrifice Lu Changfeng’s time and opportunities because they believe Jiang Yuechu may eventually reach the highest realms and repay their assistance.
• Practical knowledge versus raw cultivation: Although Jiang Yuechu can learn techniques instantly through her system, incense offerings require organizational and worldly expertise that cannot be replaced by cultivation alone.

Character Interactions

• Lu Gexian and Lu Changfeng approach Jiang Yuechu with formal respect and gratitude.
• Jiang Yuechu’s simple statement, “I trust the Lu Family,” deeply reassures both men and strengthens their determination to support her.
• Lu Gexian carefully proposes sending Lu Changfeng with her, framing it as assistance while implicitly advancing the Lu Family’s long-term interests.
• Wang Ziyu observes the exchange and correctly interprets it as the Lu Family effectively staking its future on Jiang Yuechu.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The once bustling streets of Chang'an are now filled with dust due to the construction of new temples.
• Commoners discuss the purpose of these temples, speculating that they are being built for the Grand Princess.
• A middle-aged Daoist, later revealed to be a Mountain-Viewing Martial Venerable, causes trouble in the city, injuring an old man and provoking Liu the Third, a local martial artist.
• Liu the Third, despite his Ink-Dotting Realm cultivation, is easily defeated by the Daoist, who reveals his status as a Mountain-Viewing Martial Venerable.

Character Developments

• Liu the Third: Initially portrayed as a man of some standing in Chang'an, he shows bravery and concern for the common people but is later humiliated and defeated by the Daoist.
• The Grand Princess: Mentioned as a revered figure who protected the Great Tang from demons, she is rumored to be the reason for the temple constructions.

Significant Themes

• The changing political landscape of the Great Tang, with the imperial court turning a blind eye to the arrogant behavior of outsider cultivators.
• The power dynamics between cultivators and common people, with cultivators often treating the latter with disdain or violence.

Character Interactions

• Liu the Third and the commoners in the teahouse: They discuss the temple constructions and the strange behavior of cultivators in the city.
• Liu the Third and the Daoist: Their interaction highlights the power imbalance between cultivators and martial artists, with the Daoist easily defeating Liu the Third despite his initial bravado.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Daoist in blue robes attempts to stomp a severely outmatched young man, likely a peddler or laborer, after attacking common people in Chang’an.
• Before the attack lands, You Wujiang, a newly promoted Mountain-Viewing Martial Venerable and Gold-Robed Inspector of the Great Tang Demon Suppression Bureau, intervenes with a silver dragon-shaped attack.
• You Wujiang confronts the Daoist, accusing him of disgracing his status by bullying civilians and offering to fight him himself.
• The Daoist backs down, unwilling to openly antagonize the Great Tang court. He excuses his actions as merely giving the young man “pointers” and leaves without facing punishment.
• You Wujiang’s subordinates are angered by the Daoist’s escape, but You Wujiang orders them to care for the injured instead. Once alone, he reveals his frustration and exhaustion.
• At the Demon Suppression General Bureau, You Wujiang hears reports of increasingly brutal incidents caused by powerful outsiders, including eye-gouging and conflicts involving Tower-Ascending Martial Immortals.
• Deputy Commander Zhao Zhongliu explains that large numbers of unidentified martial artists and cultivators have suddenly entered Chang’an. They appear to be searching for something that has emerged within Great Tang, but the Bureau does not know what it is.
• Zhao reveals that Great Tang’s forces are severely strained. Commander Bai is injured and in seclusion, while only High Ancestor—a Lamp-Lighting expert—remains near the emperor to protect him.
• Zhao orders You Wujiang to leave the city’s external defense and serve in the Imperial City, where he can protect His Majesty.
• Though worried about abandoning the overburdened Bureau, You Wujiang is dismissed. Zhao admits that even several more Mountain-Viewing experts might not be enough to control Chang’an’s current crisis.
• The chapter ends with the grim hope that “His Highness returns soon,” implying that the absent prince is powerful enough to restore order.

Character Developments

• You Wujiang: Demonstrates both his newly acquired strength and his strong sense of justice by defending civilians. However, he is forced to retreat diplomatically because the court lacks the power to confront every invading expert. His confidence in the usefulness of the Mountain-Viewing Realm is shaken, and he becomes weary and disillusioned.
• The Blue-Robed Daoist: Reveals himself as arrogant, violent, and politically calculating. Although he looks down on Great Tang, he recognizes the danger of directly fighting You Wujiang and chooses to withdraw.
• Zhao Zhongliu: Appears exhausted and deeply discouraged by the worsening situation. Despite his seniority, he has little information and even less ability to control the crisis.
• The absent Highness: Never appears, but his importance is emphasized. Both Zhao and the chapter’s conclusion suggest that his return is Great Tang’s main remaining hope.
• The Great Tang court and Demon Suppression Bureau: Are portrayed as severely weakened, understaffed, and unable to enforce their authority against the sudden influx of elite outsiders.

Significant Themes

• Powerlessness amid overwhelming strength: You Wujiang has reached a realm he once believed would let him protect others, yet Chang’an is now filled with people far stronger or more numerous than the local authorities can handle.
• The collapse of law and order: Powerful outsiders openly injure civilians and commit atrocities, knowing that the court may be unable or unwilling to punish them.
• Political restraint versus justice: You Wujiang wants to punish the Daoist, but must avoid escalating tensions with powerful forces. His restraint reflects Great Tang’s precarious position.
• Uncertainty and hidden opportunity: The mysterious event or treasure drawing cultivators to Great Tang remains unknown, creating an atmosphere of impending upheaval.
• Hope placed in absent power: The chapter closes on dependence upon the return of a powerful figure, suggesting that the existing leadership cannot resolve the crisis alone.

Character Interactions

• You Wujiang and the Daoist: Their confrontation is a clash between justice and arrogance. You Wujiang challenges the Daoist’s treatment of civilians, but the Daoist retreats after recognizing the political and martial risks.
• You Wujiang and his subordinates: His officers look to him for decisive action, but are disappointed when he allows the Daoist to leave. He nevertheless prioritizes treating the wounded.
• You Wujiang and Zhao Zhongliu: Their conversation exposes the Bureau’s desperation. You Wujiang questions the court’s tolerance of the outsiders, while Zhao admits that no one understands the situation and assigns him to protect the emperor.
• Zhao Zhongliu and the absent Highness: Though the Highness is not present, Zhao’s final words establish him as the figure upon whom Great Tang’s survival may depend.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Inside Great Tang’s Imperial City, the young emperor angrily confronts the empire’s strongest martial experts for hiding in the palace while outsiders mistreat the people of Chang’an.
• Cheng Buxiu explains that protecting the emperor is their priority and that the outsiders have shown some restraint since True Person Wu Shisan appeared.
• Three mysterious black-robed cultivators suddenly break into the imperial hall and demand to know the whereabouts of the emperor’s younger sister, Guyue.
• The intruders reveal that the foreign cultivators have likely gathered in Great Tang because of Guyue. They suspect that the emperor, as a member of the Li clan, might be connected to the person they are seeking—possibly through reincarnation—and decide to abduct him for questioning.
• The leading black-robed man unleashes a terrifying ghost claw formed from dark smoke. It effortlessly destroys the combined attacks of Great Tang’s Mountain-Viewing Martial Venerables, injuring and scattering them.
• Just as the emperor is about to be seized, Great Tang’s High Ancestor arrives, wielding the empire’s dragon qi and confronting the invaders.
• High Ancestor’s first attack forces the leading cultivator back slightly, but he soon realizes that his opponent was barely exerting himself.
• In a brief exchange, the black-robed man severely wounds High Ancestor and knocks him beneath the dragon throne.
• The chapter ends with one of the invaders mockingly stepping on High Ancestor and declaring, “I haven’t even used any strength yet. Why did you fall?”

Character Developments

• The young emperor shifts from anger to helplessness as he recognizes that Great Tang’s military strength is insufficient against the outsiders. Despite his fear, he maintains his dignity and refuses to retreat when threatened.
• Cheng Buxiu and the other martial experts are shown to be loyal but powerless. Their collective strength, once enough to dominate Great Tang, is completely overwhelmed by the invaders.
• Great Tang’s High Ancestor demonstrates courage and uses the empire’s dragon qi to protect the royal family. However, his defeat emphasizes the enormous gap between Great Tang’s remaining foundation and the foreign cultivators.
• The black-robed invaders are established as arrogant, ruthless, and overwhelmingly powerful. They treat the emperor and Great Tang’s defenders with contempt and view the Li clan merely as a means to uncover Guyue’s whereabouts.
• Guyue, although absent, becomes the central focus of the conflict. The mysterious outsiders’ interest in her suggests that her identity, origins, or possible connection to a reincarnated figure is far more significant than previously understood.

Significant Themes

• National weakness and humiliation: Great Tang’s former power is rendered meaningless in the face of stronger outsiders, leaving the emperor unable to protect his own people or palace.
• Pride versus helplessness: The emperor and High Ancestor attempt to preserve royal dignity despite recognizing that they are outmatched.
• The cruelty of overwhelming power: The invaders do not merely defeat their opponents; they ridicule them, demonstrating how easily strength can become a tool of humiliation.
• Mystery surrounding Guyue: The outsiders’ search for her expands the larger conspiracy and implies that her past or identity may be tied to a major secret.
• Decline of the Li clan: High Ancestor’s defeat symbolizes the fragility of Great Tang’s ruling family and its remaining protection.

Character Interactions

• The emperor reprimands the martial experts for failing to defend Chang’an, while Cheng Buxiu counters that preserving the emperor is their highest duty.
• The invaders insult the emperor’s status and dismiss him as a mere mortal ruler of a “backwater wasteland.”
• The emperor attempts to demand an explanation, but the cultivators disregard him and openly discuss abducting him for information.
• Cheng Buxiu and the other experts unite to defend the emperor but are defeated instantly.
• High Ancestor intervenes to protect the Li clan, briefly confronting the leading invader before being brutally defeated.
• The final exchange between High Ancestor and his attacker highlights the invader’s contempt and the overwhelming disparity in strength.

Key plot points and events

• Three Tower-Ascending cultivators overpower Great Tang’s defenders. One humiliates and injures the Li clan’s High Ancestor, while another binds the young emperor with a green vine.
• The invaders intend to abduct members of the imperial family, believing one may be the legendary reincarnated figure they seek. One attacker warns that Dao-lineage powers may intervene if they delay.
• Wu Shisan True Person enters the hall. His reputation alone unnerves the invaders, despite their confidence that three cultivators of the same realm could defeat one man.
• Wu Shisan retrieves the High Ancestor from the black-robed attacker, returns him safely to Great Tang’s ministers, and makes the vine-caster release the emperor. He then orders the three outsiders to leave.
• The black-robed man refuses to accept the humiliation and urges his two companions to join forces against Wu Shisan.

Character developments

• The young emperor is furious and ashamed at being powerless while his ancestor is abused. His cultivation has reached Ink-Dotting, but he recognizes how insignificant that is against the invaders.
• The High Ancestor is badly wounded and captured, but Wu Shisan rescues him before the attackers can take him away.
• Wu Shisan is calm, economical, and protective: he resolves the immediate threats without boasting or escalating, while his presence exerts overwhelming pressure.
• The black-robed cultivator shifts from smug mockery to fear, then to defiant aggression when Wu Shisan humiliates him.
• The two companions appear more pragmatic than the black-robed man. One urges haste, mindful that outside forces may intervene.

Significant themes

• Powerlessness and the fragility of authority: Great Tang’s rulers and defenders cannot protect themselves against the outsiders, exposing the limits of imperial and national strength.
• Reputation as power: Wu Shisan’s famed status affects his opponents before he even acts.
• Restraint versus arrogance: Wu Shisan uses minimal force, while the black-robed man’s need to taunt others repeatedly undermines his judgment.
• Risk and ambition: The attackers weigh the danger of fighting Wu Shisan against the rewards of capturing a possible legendary reincarnation.

Character interactions

• The black-robed man taunts the emperor and High Ancestor, while the emperor can only watch in anger.
• The more cautious attacker restrains the black-robed man’s theatrics and releases the emperor when Wu Shisan demands it.
• Wu Shisan’s quiet intervention protects both the High Ancestor and the emperor, reassuring Great Tang’s court while confronting the invaders.
• The chapter ends with the black-robed man rallying his companions to attack Wu Shisan rather than retreat.

Key plot points and events

• Three rogue cultivators appear to accept Wu Shisan’s warning and leave the hall, though their exchanged glances suggest they intend to scheme against the Great Tang later. The black-robed man follows their lead.
• Once they are gone, Cheng Buxiu thanks Wu Shisan for saving the imperial family. The young emperor also expresses his gratitude.
• The emperor presses Wu Shisan to explain why cultivators are targeting the Great Tang and, specifically, his sister, Guyue. Wu Shisan initially discourages him from asking, but finally agrees to tell the story behind the crisis.
• Wu Shisan reveals that the Great Tang’s Grand Ancestor once secretly attempted to establish a new Imperial Position Orthodoxy using the body of a Human Emperor. A rumor later spread that the Grand Ancestor had survived by reincarnating and was preparing to rebuild his power.
• Though Wu Shisan believes the rumor is false, cultivators are drawn by the possibility of seizing the supposed reincarnation’s Dao Foundation. Powerful Orthodoxies also fear a rival rising, leaving the Great Tang caught between greed and political hostility.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Shisan proves both formidable and reluctant to explain the crisis. He saves the court, brushes off its thanks, and ultimately softens when he sees the damage and despair around him.
• The young emperor moves from relief to urgent, personal resolve. He is determined to understand the threat because Guyue is his sister and her safety matters more to him than his own.
• Cheng Buxiu is visibly shaken by the encounter and grateful to Wu Shisan.
• The three attackers withdraw outwardly, but the old man’s glance signals that their retreat may be tactical rather than genuine. The black-robed man understands and plays along.

Significant themes

• Greed and rumor: Even an unverified claim can provoke violence when people believe it might bring immense power.
• Power politics: Established Orthodoxies seek to prevent a potential rival from emerging.
• Duty and protection: The emperor’s concern for Guyue drives him to demand answers despite the danger.
• Truth withheld: Wu Shisan must weigh the risks of revealing a secret against the need to explain the crisis.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Three hostile Tower-Ascending Martial Immortals secretly plant black stones around the Imperial City, preparing an incomplete formation from the ruins of the East Glory Sect.
• The old man explains that, once activated, the formation will temporarily daze all Tower-Ascending experts within its range, giving them the chance to capture Great Tang’s emperor and High Ancestor.
• The silent member is chosen to infiltrate the Imperial City, while the old man activates the formation and the black-robed man provides support.
• As the plan begins, a thunderous explosion and golden light appear above the city—but these are not caused by the formation. They mark the arrival of Jiang Yuechu.
• Jiang Yuechu instantly destroys the bodies of all three attackers: she bisects the old man, obliterates the black-robed man’s head, and crushes the infiltrator’s crown.
• The three Primordial Spirits realize too late that their formation never activated; Jiang Yuechu’s arrival created the disturbance they mistook for it.
• Jiang Yuechu destroys their Primordial Spirits with a massive scarlet crescent attack, eliminating them completely.
• She collects their corpses and storage bags, then sits calmly atop the Imperial Palace, overlooking Chang’an.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu is revealed to possess overwhelming strength, effortlessly killing three Tower-Ascending Martial Immortals before they can threaten the Imperial City.
• Her return also shows that she has obtained the Golden Body method, which she intends to bring back to Great Tang to strengthen the country.
• Although she recognizes that Great Tang remains weaker than top-tier forces, Jiang Yuechu is determined to prevent it from remaining helpless against foreign cultivators.
• The old man, black-robed man, and silent infiltrator are exposed as overconfident and poorly coordinated enemies. Their infighting and flawed assumptions contribute to their defeat.
• The emperor and High Ancestor, along with the people of Chang’an, develop a profound reverence and fear toward Jiang Yuechu after witnessing her power.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and deterrence: Jiang Yuechu’s effortless victory establishes that Great Tang now possesses a figure capable of terrifying even powerful outsiders.
• The protection and strengthening of one’s homeland: Her thoughts emphasize her intention to improve Great Tang through the Golden Body method.
• Arrogance and miscalculation: The attackers assume their formation will succeed and mistake Jiang Yuechu’s arrival for its activation, leading to their immediate destruction.
• Changing perceptions: The people of Great Tang can no longer view their nation as weak or defenseless after witnessing Jiang Yuechu’s dominance.
• Imperial authority and symbolism: Jiang Yuechu’s decision to sit upon the Imperial Palace’s dragon ridge symbolizes her power and her role as a guardian of Great Tang.

Character Interactions

• The old man reprimands the black-robed man for nearly ruining their earlier plan by talking too much.
• The black-robed man and the silent man compete over who will carry out the assassination, trading insults and displaying mutual distrust.
• The old man mediates between them and assigns the silent man to capture the emperor and High Ancestor.
• Jiang Yuechu does not directly converse with the attackers; instead, her actions completely overwhelm them before they can respond.
• The emperor and High Ancestor emerge from the hall and silently witness Jiang Yuechu’s victory, while the citizens and cultivators of Chang’an look at her with newfound awe.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Changfeng, Niu Ben, Zhou Xuan, and Wang Ziyu arrive in Chang'an on a flying ship.
• They notice an unusually high number of powerful auras (Tower-Ascending Realm) in the city, belonging to various Daoist lineages, not the Great Tang.
• Jiang Yuechu (Grand Princess) returns to the capital, and the Emperor, along with officials, welcomes her back with a grand display of respect.

Character Developments

• Lu Changfeng: Realizes the Great Tang's true strength and decides to help them, seeing an opportunity for his family to rise again.
• Niu Ben: Expresses shock and suspicion about the Great Tang's situation but keeps his thoughts to himself.
• Wang Ziyu: Recognizes the unique spiritual rhythms of different Daoist lineages, indicating their presence in Chang'an.
• Jiang Yuechu: Returns to Chang'an, showing her importance and influence over the Great Tang.

Significant Themes

• The Great Tang's hidden strength and its attraction to powerful outsiders.
• The complex relationships and alliances between different Daoist lineages.
• The importance of the Grand Princess (Jiang Yuechu) to the Great Tang's survival.

Character Interactions

• Lu Changfeng, Niu Ben, Zhou Xuan, and Wang Ziyu discuss the unusual situation in Chang'an.
• The Emperor and officials welcome Jiang Yuechu back to the capital, showing their respect and dependence on her.
• Wu Shisan and Wang Ziyu discuss the Great Tang's situation, with Wu Shisan showing disapproval of Wang Ziyu's prying.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu introduces Lu Changfeng and the Cauldron Sect to the Emperor and officials.
• The Emperor welcomes Lu Changfeng warmly, acknowledging his assistance in cultivating the Golden Body Method.
• Wu Shisan reveals that the Cauldron Sect is a successor to the Lanshan Alchemy Sect, which was once a major sect with tens of thousands of alchemists.
• Zhou Xuan reveals that the Cauldron Sect has pill formulas that can directly facilitate a breakthrough to the Mountain-Viewing Realm.

Character Developments

• The Emperor shows his enthusiasm and sincerity towards Lu Changfeng and the Cauldron Sect, indicating his desire for their assistance.
• Zhou Xuan displays his knowledge and confidence in the Cauldron Sect's alchemy capabilities.
• Wu Shisan shows his wisdom and knowledge of the past, revealing the history of the Lanshan Alchemy Sect and the Cauldron Sect.

Significant Themes

• The power of alchemy and its potential to aid martial artists in breaking through cultivation barriers.
• The historical significance and influence of the Lanshan Alchemy Sect and the Cauldron Sect.
• The Emperor's desire for external assistance to strengthen the Great Tang.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor interacts warmly with Lu Changfeng, showing his appreciation for his assistance.
• Wu Shisan interacts with Zhou Xuan, revealing his knowledge of the Cauldron Sect's origins.
• Officials of the Great Tang interact with Zhou Xuan, expressing their interest in the Cauldron Sect's alchemy capabilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Xuan reveals that the Realm-Breaking Pill can only be used once in a lifetime, and taking a second one would be ineffective and harmful.
• The Great Tang officials initially think the pill is a great bargain, but Zhou Xuan hints that it's a waste to use it for the Mountain-Viewing Realm when a Lamp-Lighting Realm pill exists.
• The Cauldron Sect's pills are discussed, including one that allows a direct breakthrough to the Lamp-Lighting Realm, but with a 30% success rate and requiring rare treasures.
• In the West of Chang'an City, a group of white-robed figures discuss the possibility of the Li family's Grand Ancestor being reincarnated and the threat posed by the mysterious girl.

Character Developments

• Zhou Xuan: Shows humility and caution in dealing with the Great Tang officials, trying not to hurt their pride while hinting at the pills' true value.
• The Great Tang Emperor and Generals: Initially excited about the Realm-Breaking Pill, they become disheartened when they learn about its limitations and the existence of a Lamp-Lighting Realm pill.
• The white-robed figures: The old man shows caution and wisdom, the woman displays arrogance and confidence, and the younger man shows concern and impatience.

Significant Themes

• The value and limitations of medicinal pills in cultivation.
• The arrogance of powerful cultivators and their disregard for lesser powers.
• The potential threat posed by the mysterious girl and the possibility of the Li family's Grand Ancestor being reincarnated.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Xuan interacts with the Great Tang Emperor and generals, trying to manage their expectations about the pills.
• The white-robed figures discuss the mysterious girl and the potential threat she poses, with the woman displaying arrogance and the old man showing caution.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Yuechu returns to Chang'an after her training.
• The Great Tang is facing threats from unknown foreign cultivators.
• Three Tower-Ascending Martial Immortals attempt to capture the Emperor and the High Ancestor.
• Wu Shisan reveals that these cultivators covet something within the Great Tang.
• Jiang Yuechu decides to confront the cultivators immediately.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu: Shows determination and decisiveness in facing the threats to the Great Tang. She is willing to confront the cultivators immediately, demonstrating her strong sense of responsibility.
• The Emperor: Struggles with revealing the truth to Jiang Yuechu but ultimately decides to do so. He shows concern for his sister's well-being but also recognizes her capabilities.
• Wu Shisan: Reluctant to reveal the full truth but eventually does so. He shows respect for Jiang Yuechu's strength and acknowledges her role in protecting the Great Tang.
• Wang Ziyu: Tries to dissuade Jiang Yuechu from confronting the cultivators immediately, showing concern for her safety and the potential consequences of her actions.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility: Jiang Yuechu feels a strong sense of responsibility towards the Great Tang and is willing to face the threats head-on.
• Power Dynamics: The foreign cultivators' actions highlight the power imbalance between them and the Great Tang, with the cultivators showing little regard for the Great Tang's authority.
• Confrontation vs. Diplomacy: Jiang Yuechu's immediate response to the threats contrasts with Wang Ziyu's advice to wait and consider the potential consequences, raising the theme of when and how to confront adversaries.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu and the Emperor: Their sibling relationship is evident, with the Emperor showing concern for Jiang Yuechu's well-being while also acknowledging her strength and capabilities.
• Jiang Yuechu and Wang Ziyu: Wang Ziyu shows concern for Jiang Yuechu's safety and tries to dissuade her from immediate action, highlighting his role as a mentor figure.
• Jiang Yuechu and Wu Shisan: Their interaction is brief, but Wu Shisan's acknowledgment of Jiang Yuechu's strength and role in protecting the Great Tang shows respect for her abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Demon Suppression Bureau, led by a Lieutenant General, arrives in Chang'an to investigate and suppress demonic activities.
• The Formless Lineage, a weak orthodoxy, is targeted by the Bureau.
• The Formless Lineage's master and disciple are cornered in an inn, with the master displaying his power to assert their dignity.

Character Developments

• The young disciple of the Formless Lineage becomes increasingly nervous and fearful as the situation escalates.
• The master of the Formless Lineage remains calm and composed, showing a mix of pride, dignity, and resignation.

Significant Themes

• Pride and Dignity: The Formless Lineage, despite their weakness, values their status as an orthodoxy and refuses to leave Chang'an in disgrace.
• Power Dynamics: The Demon Suppression Bureau's actions highlight the power imbalance between the orthodoxies and the Great Tang imperial court.
• Fear and Uncertainty: The young disciple's fear reflects the uncertainty and danger faced by the orthodoxies in the current political climate.

Character Interactions

• The master and disciple of the Formless Lineage interact, with the master displaying a mix of patience and condescension towards his disciple's fear and anxiety.
• The Demon Suppression Bureau's arrival creates a tense standoff with the Formless Lineage, with neither side making the first move.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The old man, True Person Cangxuan of the Formless lineage, is defeated and captured by Jiang Yuechu.
• Jiang Yuechu is accompanied by a group of Demon Suppression Guards, including Old Red Flood Dragon and Niu Ben.
• Cangxuan attempts to intimidate Jiang Yuechu with his lineage and status, but she remains unfazed.
• Cangxuan's Primordial Spirit emerges and attacks Jiang Yuechu with the "Hundred Rivers Returning Spirit Dragon Curse."

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates her fearlessness and indifference to threats from orthodox sects.
• Cangxuan reveals his desperation and willingness to fight despite his dire situation.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between orthodox and unorthodox cultivators.
• The importance of respect and dignity in cultivation society.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu and Cangxuan: Jiang Yuechu shows no respect for Cangxuan's lineage or status, while Cangxuan attempts to intimidate her but fails.
• Old Red Flood Dragon and Niu Ben: Old Red Flood Dragon shows sycophancy towards Jiang Yuechu, while Niu Ben expresses disdain for the Demon Suppression Guards.

Chapter Summary: “Cultivating Backwards”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Azure Wrath Dragon, summoned by True Person Cangxuan, attacks Jiang Yuechu and the Great Tang’s Demon Suppression Guards.
• Despite the dragon’s overwhelming Tower-Ascending Realm power, Jiang Yuechu casually catches its head with one hand and crushes it.
• Cangxuan is stunned by her physical strength, realizing she may rival the strongest Tower-Ascending cultivators despite seemingly lacking the backing, resources, and lineage foundations of the Eastern Territory’s great Dao lineages.
• Desperate, Cangxuan unleashes the Formless lineage’s powerful water-based technique, Sea-Subduing Great Curse, creating hundreds of deadly water serpents.
• Jiang Yuechu destroys the attack with a single punch.
• Cangxuan activates the Mystic Heavy Water Turtle Curse to form a defensive barrier, then attempts to escape through Water Escape Thousand Miles, transforming his body into moisture.
• Jiang Yuechu breaks through the turtle-shell barrier and captures Cangxuan’s Primordial Spirit before he can flee.
• Cangxuan threatens her with retaliation from the Formless lineage and offers to forget the conflict, but Jiang Yuechu rejects his attempt to rely on his sect’s reputation.
• She summons a vast black mist filled with demon souls, then pierces Cangxuan’s Primordial Spirit with her left hand.
• Red, baleful energy spreads through his spirit, killing him. Jiang Yuechu gains 2,171 years of Dao Cultivation.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu is established as vastly more powerful than ordinary Tower-Ascending cultivators. She defeats a formidable opponent almost effortlessly through overwhelming physical strength and combat instinct.
• She demonstrates a decisive, pragmatic personality. Once Cangxuan attacks her, she refuses to show mercy, reasoning that allowing him to escape would only invite future retaliation.
• Her command over black mist and demon souls reveals a frightening and possibly sinister aspect of her power.
• True Person Cangxuan shifts from arrogance to panic. Initially confident in the prestige of the Formless lineage, he quickly becomes desperate when his strongest techniques fail.
• Cangxuan’s attempts to intimidate Jiang Yuechu expose his weakness and hypocrisy: despite presenting himself as an orthodox True Person, he prioritizes survival and tries to dismiss the conflict as a “misunderstanding.”

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming strength versus established status: Cangxuan relies on the prestige of the Formless lineage, but Jiang Yuechu’s individual power makes such institutional authority meaningless.
• The limits of talent and conventional cultivation: Cangxuan struggles to understand how Jiang Yuechu became so powerful without the resources and foundations normally required by elite Dao lineages.
• Consequences of initiating violence: Once Cangxuan attacks, Jiang Yuechu believes mercy would be dangerous. The chapter emphasizes eliminating future threats rather than trusting empty promises.
• Arrogance and hypocrisy: Cangxuan invokes his lineage only after losing, expecting its reputation to protect him, while Jiang Yuechu recognizes this as a common tactic among defeated cultivators.
• Fear beneath power: Although both characters possess extraordinary cultivation, Cangxuan’s reaction shows that status and technique cannot compensate for a lack of courage when confronted by a superior opponent.

Character Interactions

• The Demon Suppression Guards initially fear Cangxuan’s dragon but regain confidence when Jiang Yuechu destroys it effortlessly.
• Cangxuan repeatedly attacks Jiang Yuechu with increasingly powerful techniques, while she responds with minimal movement and overwhelming force.
• After capturing his Primordial Spirit, Jiang Yuechu silently rejects his threats and bargaining, treating his sect’s authority with open contempt.
• Their final interaction reverses the expected power dynamic: the supposedly superior True Person begs for survival, while Jiang Yuechu calmly decides his fate.

Chapter Summary: “Fighting the Immortals Alone”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After destroying the azure Primordial Spirit, Jiang Yuechu ends the battle at the ruined inn.
• She captures True Person Cangxuan’s body and kills his terrified young disciple, collecting both of them in her Hanxu Bag.
• Jiang Yuechu intends to use their belongings—pills, Dharma treasures, and other resources—to support the impoverished Great Tang dynasty.
• Completely unfazed by the killings, she orders the group to proceed to the next household.
• Her actions provoke the orthodox factions of Chang’an. More than ten Tower-Ascending Martial Immortals emerge from across the city, determined to defend the dignity of the Formless lineage and the collective authority of the Twenty-Five Lineages.
• The arriving cultivators surround the ruined inn from above, displaying overwhelming power and hostile intent.
• In the Imperial City, the emperor and his ministers realize that Jiang Yuechu—also known as Li Guyue—is responsible for the disturbance.
• The emperor panics, fearing that Jiang Yuechu cannot withstand the combined forces of so many Martial Immortals and the orthodox lineages.
• The scruffy Daoist Wu Shisan appears and is asked to save her. He explains that Jiang Yuechu “only” killed a True Person from one orthodox lineage, but that doing so publicly humiliated the entire group and forced them to respond.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu/Li Guyue: Demonstrates extreme ruthlessness, confidence, and emotional detachment. She treats killing powerful cultivators as routine and views their possessions pragmatically as potential resources for Great Tang. Her willingness to challenge all the orthodox lineages establishes her as fiercely independent and nearly fearless.
• Wang Ziyu: Recognizes the severity of Jiang Yuechu’s actions and views her behavior as tyrannical, questioning whether she truly intends to destroy the factions one by one.
• The Great Tang Emperor: Shifts from political discussion to alarm and regret. He realizes that he indirectly enabled Jiang Yuechu’s actions by allowing the Demon Suppression Bureau to accompany her.
• High Ancestor and You Wujiang: Immediately understand the danger and identify Jiang Yuechu as the cause of the crisis, showing concern despite their confidence in her abilities.
• Wu Shisan: Remains outwardly lazy and irritated, but his comments reveal that he understands the seriousness of the situation and may be the only figure capable of intervening.

Significant Themes

• Defiance against established authority: Jiang Yuechu openly challenges the orthodox lineages, refusing to acknowledge their prestige or collective power.
• The cost of humiliation: The lineages respond not primarily because of personal concern for Cangxuan, but because his death damages their shared reputation and authority.
• Power versus numbers: Jiang Yuechu is extraordinarily strong, but the chapter emphasizes the danger of facing more than ten Martial Immortals and their organizations alone.
• Pragmatism amid violence: Jiang Yuechu treats the bodies and treasures of her enemies as resources for a struggling dynasty, blending brutal action with practical loyalty to Great Tang.
• Political legitimacy and dignity: The orthodox factions’ outrage reflects their fear that allowing a mortal dynasty to kill one of their leaders would undermine their status throughout the Eastern Territory.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu ignores the pleading young disciple before killing and collecting him.
• Wang Ziyu silently criticizes her actions and worries about the retaliation they will provoke.
• The emperor, ministers, and Lu Changfeng discuss the sudden military display and gradually identify Jiang Yuechu as its cause.
• The emperor begs Wu Shisan to rescue her, while Wu Shisan dismisses his panic and explains why the orthodox lineages have mobilized.
• Wu Shisan’s dry remark that Jiang Yuechu merely killed one True Person highlights both her astonishing audacity and the enormous political consequences of her actions.

Chapter Summary: “So What?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A tense confrontation unfolds on a deserted street as more than a dozen powerful Tower-Ascending Martial Immortals from various great lineages surround Jiang Yuechu.
• The Demon Suppression Guards are overwhelmed by the enemies’ immense pressure. Jiang Yuechu orders them to withdraw so they will not be caught in the impending battle.
• The Old Red Flood Dragon, despite being terrified, loudly defends Jiang Yuechu and insults the hostile cultivators in an attempt to show loyalty.
• Wang Ziyu explains that he cannot intervene because the opposing figures represent powerful lineages, including Formless, Spirit-Writing, and Ash of Calamity. Acting against them would mean involving Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven in the conflict.
• An elderly woman accuses Jiang Yuechu of going too far by killing True Person Cangxuan, destroying his Primordial Spirit, and eliminating his disciples. She claims Jiang has disregarded the dignity of the great lineages.
• Jiang Yuechu dismisses the accusation with the defiant response, “So what?”
• She then ascends into the air and unleashes her full power. Golden light and terrifying black mist erupt from her body, overwhelming the divine radiance of the gathered lineages.
• Her body cracks open, revealing crimson light beneath her skin, while white vapor streams from her shoulders. The previously confident Tower-Ascending Martial Immortals finally become visibly serious and wary.

Character Developments

• Jiang Yuechu demonstrates absolute composure, independence, and defiance. She neither relies on allies nor shows regret for her actions, placing her confidence entirely in her own strength and convictions.
• The Demon Suppression Guards reveal their loyalty to Jiang Yuechu. Although frightened, they do not resent her for creating the dangerous situation and obey her command to retreat.
• Old Red Flood Dragon struggles with fear but chooses to remain loyal. His exaggerated insults and willingness to defend Jiang Yuechu show his desire to prove his usefulness as her subordinate.
• Wang Ziyu displays maturity and political awareness. Though unable to fight because of the consequences for Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven, he remains behind rather than abandoning Jiang Yuechu.
• The hostile immortals shift from confidence and superiority to caution once Jiang Yuechu releases her true aura.

Significant Themes

• Personal strength versus institutional power: Jiang Yuechu stands alone against numerous representatives of prestigious lineages, emphasizing that individual power and resolve can challenge established authority.
• Defiance against oppression: The lineages invoke tradition, dignity, and status to condemn Jiang Yuechu, but she refuses to submit to their judgment or intimidation.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: The guards retreat to avoid burdening Jiang, while Old Red Flood Dragon risks humiliation and danger to support her.
• Political restraint: Wang Ziyu’s inability to intervene highlights the limits imposed by alliances, sect interests, and the consequences of representing one’s entire organization.
• Hidden and terrifying power: Jiang Yuechu’s transformation suggests that her strength is far greater and more ominous than the opposing immortals initially understood.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu calmly dismisses the Demon Suppression Guards’ concerns and orders them away for their own safety.
• Old Red Flood Dragon loudly confronts and insults the powerful figures in the sky, then pledges to defend Jiang Yuechu despite his fear.
• Wang Ziyu honestly tells Jiang Yuechu that neither he nor his master can assist her politically, but he still stays nearby in silent support.
• The elderly woman attempts to lecture Jiang Yuechu about her crimes and the authority of the great lineages, only to be cut off by Jiang’s indifferent “So what?”
• Jiang Yuechu’s eruption of power reverses the emotional balance of the confrontation: the numerous immortals, previously dominant, become cautious before her overwhelming and sinister presence.