Chapter Summaries

Jin and Liang faced each other on the Great Plains, where Wanyan Lie’s cavalry charged Aaron’s formations of Six Jia Divine Soldiers. As the heavy cavalry broke through the spearmen, Wanyan Kan found the enemy still fighting without retreating and ran into Liang’s armored infantry.

• Wanyan Lie learned that Void Spirit Master’s rumored sorcery might be real and ordered his cavalry prepared for battle.
• Aaron saw Jin’s military fortune take the form of a dragon and ordered his soldiers into formations designed to stop cavalry.
• Old monk Wisdom used the Three Lives Brahman Seal, saw that the King of Gold was in peril, and died after warning the monks.
• Wanyan Kan led ten thousand armored cavalry in a charge against Liang’s spearmen as archers fired into their ranks.
• The Six Jia Divine Soldiers held their formation despite heavy losses, and Wanyan Kan’s cavalry broke through to Liang’s heavy infantry.
• Liang’s armored infantrymen advanced and swung their blades at the cavalry horses’ legs.

Wanyan Lie completed a blood sacrifice and summoned a divine domain that let ghosts and gods possess his generals and soldiers. Aguda’s supernatural power turned the battle against the Liang Army, and he charged at Aaron as the chapter ended.

• Wanyan Kan was surrounded by Liang infantry, thrown from his horse, and beheaded after the archers’ volley.
• The Gold Army endured the Liang cavalry’s harassment until Wanyan Lie’s hand mark filled with blood and night fell.
• Wanyan Lie invoked the gods and ghosts, creating a divine domain that possessed his generals and soldiers.
• Aguda led the possessed Gold Army against the Liang Army, cutting through its heavily armored infantry and pushing it into retreat.
• Aaron used Beast Taming against the ghostly cavalry, but his guards were cut down as Aguda charged at him and swung his saber toward his head.

Aaron defeated Wanyan Lie and shattered the Jin domain, but killing the true dragon drew Heaven’s direct condemnation. As Aaron faced heavenly tribulation, King Liang became a true dragon, and Poison Dragon received its protective aura.

• Aaron used his flying swords to kill Aguda and numerous Jin generals, then revived fallen Liang soldiers as Six Jia Divine Soldiers with red beans.
• Aaron flew to Wanyan Lie’s camp, killed a scholar who challenged him, and beheaded the King of Gold, causing the domain to collapse and the Jin forces to retreat.
• Aaron realized that killing Wanyan Lie had made Heaven target him, and he concluded that King Liang had to unify the Nine Provinces and separate the Human Dao from the Heavenly Dao to resist.
• At Goldstone, Poison Dragon sensed a crisis and saw King Liang transform into a true dragon, which granted him protective dragon aura.

In the sixteenth year of Opening Peace, Yang Fei traveled to Goldstone by steamship to sit for the civil service examination and saw how Liang’s prosperity had changed the realm. Children’s talk about Void Spirit Master and the court’s Hall of Merits left him fearing that the famed former chancellor was being pushed aside.

• Liang expanded its territory, Xiao Liang took the throne and later began ruling personally, while Void Spirit Master became Imperial Preceptor and president of the Supreme Way Academy.
• By the sixteenth year of Opening Peace, Yang Fei traveled toward Goldstone on a steamship to take the civil service examination and discussed the ship and commerce with Zhen Bao.
• Yang Fei reflected on his teacher Master Junshan’s decline from Great Song scholar to rural science teacher and resolved to serve an enlightened ruler and reform the realm.
• Children aboard the ship argued over illustrated stories about the former era, including whether Tiger Strength Great Immortal’s feats were real.
• Yang Fei feared that the court was marginalizing Void Spirit Master despite his past victories and service.

Tai Chong, Tai He, and Tai Yin visited their ailing teacher, Aaron, at Nourishing Heart Temple and reported the court’s growing hostility toward his former allies. Aaron sent them away without intervening, leaving Tai Chong worried that his power had weakened and that his enemies were testing him.

• Tai Chong met Tai He at Supreme Way Academy, where Tai He described the academy’s new weapons and their role in Great Liang’s suppression of the Three Teachings.
• Tai Chong, Tai He, and Tai Yin traveled to Purple Azure Mountain and entered Nourishing Heart Temple, where Xiao Zi received them.
• The three disciples told Aaron that Zhang Jushi had entered the Grand Secretariat, Lu Xiaoyi had suffered a political and literary defeat, and Zhan Da had died in battle.
• Tai Chong reported that Tang Xun, Si Yunming, and Zheng Fang had grown powerful in the military, while the Emperor’s Meritorious Officials Pavilion had excluded Aaron.
• Aaron dismissed his disciples after assuring them he was still alive, and Tai Chong left worrying that his teacher’s strength had faded.

Zhang Jushi urged Xiao Liang to challenge the Supreme Way Academy and the military factions while claiming stolen blessings kept dragons rising, but Xiao Liang hesitated over breaking with Void Spirit Master. Xiao Liang secretly consulted an altar’s spirits, then sent a message to Poison Dragon, who rejected involvement and prepared to withdraw into the mountains.

• Zhang Jushi met Xiao Liang after Si Yunming left and presented evidence that the Supreme Way Academy was researching dragon qi, destiny, and captured dragon seeds.
• Zhang Jushi told Xiao Liang that his blessings had been stolen and urged him to rely on the orthodox officials and the navy against Si Yunming and Zheng Fang, but Xiao Liang remained conflicted.
• Xiao Liang entered an underground palace and offered incense at a hidden Altar of Heaven, where spirits urged him to worship Heaven openly, reclaim the title Son of Heaven, and kill Void Spirit Master.
• Xiao Liang ordered a palace maid who had seen his movements beaten to death, then sent a brocade pouch and a message to Poison Dragon.
• Poison Dragon refused Xiao Liang’s implied request for help, ordered the pouch burned, and told his Daoist boy to close the temple while he went into the mountains.

Yang Fei witnessed a Supreme Way disciple kill a scholar and later heard that the disciple had been released, while students prepared to protest the Daoists’ influence. Meanwhile, Si Yunming and his allies discussed their covert preparations to eliminate the Daoist Lord and the risks of relying on the Divine Fire Army.

• Yang Fei saw Zhang Han kill a drunken scholar during a brawl at the Xie Family Old Shop, and constables took Zhang Han away.
• Three days later, Yang Fei learned from Bai Xin and Ouyang Zhi that Zhang Han had been released and that the victim’s family had been ignored by the yamen.
• Ouyang Zhi set out to gather students and petition the Human Emperor against the Daoists, but Yang Fei declined to join him.
• Si Yunming, Zheng Fang, Tai Chong, and Tai He met in a secret chamber and discussed how difficult it would be to eliminate the Daoist Lord.
• Tai He warned that the reorganized Divine Fire Army could not be trusted, while the group discussed their naval marines and a smokescreen stirred up by impoverished Confucian scholars.

As the civil service examination began under storm clouds, Aaron’s allies and enemies moved against one another after the secret of his life-prolonging imperial mandate was exposed. Si Yunming’s attempt to march on Nourishing Heart Temple collapsed when grassroots officers turned against him, while Tang Xun rode to the Nine City Military Command after receiving a report.

• Daoist Tai Yin warned Aaron that Xiao Liang planned to offer sacrifices to Heaven, which would sever the imperial mandate prolonging his life, and revealed that his senior brothers had known.
• A palace messenger informed Xiao Liang and Zhang Jushi that the secret had been exposed, and Xiao Liang ordered Grand Secretaries Ming and Fang to act.
• Si Yunming ordered his naval forces to surround Nourishing Heart Temple, but Zhang Sangou and other grassroots officers revolted and executed the commanders on the Dao Lord’s orders.
• Tang Xun received a report at the Ding Kingdom Duke’s Estate and set out for the Nine City Military Command.

Aaron stopped Xiao Liang from restoring the Son of Heaven’s title, killed Tai Chong and Daoist Tai He, and left Xiao Liang’s fate to a public vote. Three days later, Goldstone’s residents were ordered to decide whether the emperor would live or die by keeping or casting away a silver bean.

• Tang Xun was arrested by Six Jia Divine Soldiers after arriving at the Nine Cities Military Command Office to seek Commander Zhang.
• Xiao Liang hurriedly restored his title as Son of Heaven with a sacrifice at the Altar of Heaven, while Yang Fei and the examinees watched.
• Aaron arrived at the altar alone, killed officials and guards who tried to stop him, and survived gunshots with his Indestructible Vajra Body.
• Aaron killed Tai Chong and Daoist Tai He, then ordered that Xiao Liang’s fate be decided by Everyone Under Heaven.
• Aaron visited Zhang Jushi and Xiao Zi in prison and explained that Xiao Liang could have lived if he had not rebelled.
• Three days later, Yang Fei saw a proclamation calling for Jinshi’s residents to vote on the emperor’s life or death by keeping or returning a silver bean.

Yang Fei witnessed the referendum’s near-total rejection of Xiao Liang, while Aaron and Poison Dragon discussed the consequences of executing the founding Emperor. Three days later, Aaron began the executions and ordered Xiao Liang brought forward, leaving his fate imminent.

• Yang Fei kept the silver bean he received for voting and decided to preserve it as a family heirloom after seeing how few beans were in the vat.
• Poison Dragon told Aaron that the referendum had doomed Xiao Liang, and Aaron confirmed that the Emperor would be executed in three days.
• Poison Dragon warned Aaron that killing Xiao Liang would bring Heaven’s backlash and draw Daoist True Persons and Brahman Arhats to Goldstone City, but Aaron welcomed their arrival.
• Three days later, Aaron supervised the executions of Xiao Liang’s supporters, including Zhang Jushi, before ordering Xiao Liang brought forth at noon.

Aaron executed Xiao Liang publicly, stripping away the aura of divine sanctity surrounding the Son of Heaven, then opened a passage between the mortal realm and the Underworld. The Red Moon appeared in the Underworld as the backlash devastated the Brahman Gate, the Daoist sect, and the ghost gods, while Yang Fei watched the sunlight return with a faint scarlet tint.

• Aaron ordered the Six Jia Divine Soldiers to behead Xiao Liang before the gathered crowd, and the execution made the emperor seem mortal to the commoners.
• Brahman Gate’s monks entered nirvana and the Daoist True Persons formed an array, each staking their sect’s destiny to aid Aaron.
• After Xiao Liang died, the destinies of Brahman Gate, the Daoist sect, and the ghosts and gods formed a black true dragon that struck Aaron with Heaven’s condemnation.
• Aaron endured the resentment and invoked the system’s final power to open a passage between the two realms.
• A scarlet moon appeared over the Underworld, driving the River Earl and other ghost gods into madness and chaos.
• The Daoist sect’s fortunes were cut in half, and Yang Fei watched the clouds clear while sensing scarlet threads in the sunlight.

Centuries after Aaron established the Supreme Way's rule over Great Liang, high schooler Xiao Lin met a Daoist who claimed he was descended from the Liang imperial family and destined to become emperor. Aaron arrested the Daoist at Xiao Lin's home, then wondered how the imprint he had cultivated was affecting his main body.

• Xiao Lin skipped school to meet Jin Bao, Chen Lulu, and Pan Miao, who discussed their plans to join the Supreme Way or pursue stable careers after graduation.
• After Pan Miao left, Xiao Lin met Daoist Mystic Heart, who identified him as a descendant of the Great Liang Emperor and urged him to become emperor.
• Xiao Lin fled from Daoist Mystic Heart and later learned from his father that the Xiao family might once have been connected to Liang's imperial family.
• Xiao Lin asked his parents about interning at a Taoist temple, but they shut down the idea and ordered him to study.
• Daoist Mystic Heart climbed into Xiao Lin's home at night, but Aaron stunned and arrested him, revealing that he had used Xiao Lin to draw the Daoist out.
• Aaron reflected that centuries of influence had strengthened an imprint and wondered how his main body was doing.

Aaron completed the Imprint ritual and foresaw the Fate Controllers awakening, threatening to unleash a disaster from the Spirit Realm into the Mortal World. He gathered the Invisible Cult and warned them that a tremendous change was coming.

• Aaron confirmed that his Imprint ritual was complete and decided to wait until he became a Secrecy existence before pursuing the final battle.
• Aaron divined that the Spirit Realm was collapsing as the Fate Controllers awakened and began driving other powerful beings into flight.
• Aaron realized the Fate Controllers would soon attack him or force him to Ascend, putting the Mortal World and its Secrecy realm in danger.
• Aaron summoned Motula, Mother Nature, and the Invisible Cult to a dreamlike meeting hall.
• Aaron told the gathered members that a tremendous change would spread from the Spirit Realm into the Mortal World.

Aaron summoned Raven to learn that the Fate Controllers planned to drain spirituality from the Mortal World, leaving it without supernatural power. Aaron prepared his followers for the disaster and assured them that he could protect them even if their powers failed.

• Lilliat asked Mother Nature and Motula about the coming disaster, but they were bewildered, so Aaron summoned Raven for answers.
• Raven revealed that the Fate Controllers would awaken together because the Mother Tree of Flesh had truly fallen, and Aaron named the great sources of spirituality and the Spirit of Void.
• Raven explained that the Fate Controllers planned to drain all spirituality from the Mortal World, causing rituals, extraordinary abilities, and possibly longevity to fail.
• Aaron told Lilliat and Ye Funai to prepare for the disaster, and Lilliat realized she could stockpile firearms and train an army.
• Aaron assured his followers that they could pray to the Spirit of Void if their powers vanished, since he could preserve his own spirituality and shelter the Invisible Cult's believers.

The five Fate Controllers awakened and drained spirituality from the mortal world, leaving occult practices and extraordinary beings in crisis. Aaron protected Lilliat, imposed secrecy on knowledge of the Spirit of Void, and prepared to exile himself from the world and sleep while his ritual ran its course.

• Lin Olivia and Motula sensed the Keeper of Secrets being reclaimed as the Fate Controller of Secrecy awakened and multiple histories collapsed.
• Raven dissolved into knowledge as the Fate Controllers of Tower, Underworld, Twisted Bubble, and Cocoon awakened, and spirituality began vanishing from the mortal world.
• A Crimson criminal's abilities failed during a burglary, while a secret-organization mentor discovered that his prayer ritual no longer worked and his spirituality was draining away.
• Lilliat prayed to the Spirit of Void and regained spirituality, then ordered a review of her troops; Aaron answered her prayer and maintained his power through the Secret Source.
• Aaron forbade William from proclaiming the name of Void and erased the Spirit of Void's honorific name from records and memories, leaving only a few believers able to remember it.
• Aaron concluded that he needed to exile himself and sleep until his secret ritual was complete, while the Fate Controllers sank back into dormancy.

Aaron awakened in the body of Bai Zhu, an injured rebel who had fought against Great Xuan, and learned that his companions had seized the World-Shocking Book. He discovered that his cheat ability was missing just as he prepared to investigate the book’s arcane arts.

• Aaron woke in a ruined temple with Bai Zhu’s memories and realized the court’s forces had badly injured him during the rebels’ retreat.
• Xiao Huan tried to give Bai Zhu meat soup, but Ma Dang took it and dismissed Bai Zhu as doomed.
• Aaron assessed Bai Zhu’s recovering body and martial skills while deciding he wanted to escape the rebellion.
• Aaron asked Xiao Huan about the World-Shocking Book, which the Heaven and Earth Society had stolen from the county yamen.
• Aaron recalled that arcane arts caused contamination and thought his cheat ability could cleanse it, but found that the ability had vanished.

Aaron realized that the Heaven and Earth Society had used Ma Dang and the others as decoys, while his true body was waging a larger war against the Fate Controllers and the [Crimson Creator]. He prepared to leave with Xiao Huan, but Ma Dang challenged him, and Aaron struck him down.

• Xiao Huan told Ma Dang that Cheng Dongnan and the others had split up to escort the World-Shocking Book, and Ma Dang realized their group had been used as disposable decoys.
• Aaron sensed the conflict between his true body and the Fate Controllers and considered how the revived will of the [Crimson Creator] fit into his plans.
• Aaron invited Xiao Huan to leave with him, and she agreed despite Ma Dang's objections.
• Ma Dang accused Aaron of being a spy and attacked him, but Aaron used Tiger-Crane Dual Form to overpower him.
• Aaron kicked Ma Dang to the ground, then punched him in the temple when Ma Dang dared him to strike.

Aaron killed Ma Dang, left the Heaven and Earth Society, and wandered into a steam-era city in Great Xuan. He discovered Hawkins Wax Museum and sensed something abnormal inside as he entered.

• Aaron killed Ma Dang with a blow to the temple, then left the ruined temple after Xiao Huan refused to go with him.
• Aaron traveled alone, wondered where to go next, and reflected on the World-Shocking Book and the supernatural arts sought by martial artists.
• Aaron reached a dock and entered a city blending Eastern and Western styles, where he saw a national wanted notice for the Heaven and Earth Society.
• Aaron sensed something strange at Hawkins Wax Museum, went inside, and found a lifelike wax figure dressed as an attendant.

Aaron discovered that a wax figure of the martial artist Ding Hu had produced Corpse-Sealing Wax Oil, and his remaining supernatural ability modified its dangerous effects into a single-use talisman recipe. He gathered the required ingredients and began preparing it at an inn.

• Aaron touched Ding Hu’s wax figure and saw visions of the martial artist’s life, his practice of a mysterious wax scripture, and his transformation into a wax figure.
• Hawkins told Aaron that Ding Hu’s figure had been delivered to the museum as the work of an unknown artist.
• Aaron saw wax oil fall from Ding Hu’s eye, and his supernatural ability revealed a modified recipe for using it without side effects.
• Aaron made a baby cry with a lollipop to collect a pure-hearted tear, then picked pomelo leaves and went to an inn.
• Aaron cut his finger and collected three drops of blood in a porcelain bowl to begin preparing the talisman.

Aaron used a wax-leaf talisman to unleash the power of an Other, then was caught in a fight with Sun the Flying Yaksha and her Xuan Court troops. Wounded and surrounded, he activated the talisman, freezing Sun and her subordinates in place.

• Aaron examined the pomelo-leaf talisman and realized he had succeeded in wielding the power of an Other.
• The next morning, Aaron spotted Sun the Flying Yaksha and tried to flee, but she recognized him and pursued him into an alley.
• Aaron fought Sun with Tiger-Crane Double-Form Fist, landing a strike despite her superior martial rank.
• Sun's troops arrived with matchlocks and shot Aaron in the thigh, while another squad blocked his escape.
• Surrounded by Sun and her troops, Aaron activated the wax-leaf talisman, and a strange yellow light froze them in place.