Chapter Summaries

Chu Ming repaired the Red Qilin Gloves and set out for Qi Capital with Jiang Zhan and Meng Zhen, while the Blood Fiend Cult prepared an ambush at Qianli Mountain. After Chu Ming detected poison planted by Lin Yong, Lang Feng began sacrificing captives to awaken the mountain temple’s Evil Spirit for the attack.

• Chu Ming agreed to help Hong Ying and memorized the Red Flame Casting Method, then repaired his Red Qilin Gloves using the Blade-Horned Red Deer King's hide.
• Yan Qu and Baili Xinghua chose Lang Feng to ambush Chu Ming, equipping him with a Wolf Totem Replica Crown and a Blood-Devouring Guard.
• Chu Ming left West Rong Prefecture with Jiang Zhan and Meng Zhen, and Meng Zhen revealed that Xiang Yue had asked Chu Ming to protect the Xiang Family if he did not return from Qi Capital.
• At Qianli Town, Chu Ming and Meng Zhen detected that Lin Yong had helped poison their group, so Chu Ming gave Meng Zhen antidotes and sent Jiang Zhan to fetch the horses.
• At the ruined temple on Qianli Mountain, Lang Feng sacrificed people to the Evil Spirit and ordered Lin Yong brought in after the escort master poisoned the travelers.

Lin Yong lured Jiang Zhan, Meng Zhen, and Chu Ming to a ruined temple, where Lang Feng revealed that Lin Yong’s son was dead and attacked them. Chu Ming defeated Lang Feng and the Blood-Devouring Guard, then confronted a newly awakened fourth-rank evil spirit possessing a Buddha Statue.

• Lin Yong agreed to lead Jiang Zhan, Meng Zhen, and Chu Ming to the mountain temple, hoping to save Lin Xing from Lang Feng.
• At the temple, Lin Yong found Lin Xing dead, and Lang Feng killed Lin Yong before identifying Chu Ming as the Water Transport Bureau Chief.
• Jiang Zhan tried to shield Chu Ming from Lang Feng, but Chu Ming blocked Lang Feng’s attack and revealed his strength by killing Blood Fiend Cult members and defeating the Blood-Devouring Guard.
• Chu Ming overwhelmed Lang Feng even after he used a counterfeit Wolf Totem Crown, then recovered the fake crown and watched the real Wolf Totem Crown devour it.
• Chu Ming detected an evil spirit inside the ruined Buddha Statue, which awakened and revealed itself as a fourth-rank spirit possessing an object.

Chu Ming destroyed the fourth-tier Evil Spirit at Qianli Mountain, while the Blood Fiend Cult’s plans and Baili Xinghua’s transformation unleashed a new threat across West Rong and Shan County. After reaching Chi'an Prefecture, Chu Ming perfected his Meridian Opening Realm cultivation and derived a blood-burning method that let him wield the Wolf Totem Crown without transforming.

• Chu Ming destroyed the awakened Buddha Statue and the fourth-tier Evil Spirit, then took the Origin Artifact material as Jiang Zhan searched the fallen Blood Fiend Cult members for spoils.
• Yan Qu told Baili Xinghua that Chu Ming had left their jurisdiction and that he would wait for his father’s orders, while Liu Bingmu learned that a Lake Realm Qi Master had met with Baili Xinghua.
• Qu Yan gave Bai You Origin Artifact materials for his fellow disciples, then secretly continued feeding Primordial Nature to the Black Tower as he plotted to seize West Rong Prefecture.
• Baili Xinghua used the Black Abyss Bead to unleash black mist, which devoured Hu Han and hundreds of people before Baili Xinghua fled and began attacking people in Shan County.
• Chu Ming, Jiang Zhan, and Meng Zhen reached Chi'an Prefecture, where Chu Ming opened all twelve regular meridians and the first of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
• Chu Ming derived the Tiger Python Wolf-Capturing Blood Burning Method and used the Wolf Totem Crown to amplify his power without transforming into a wolf.

Chu Ming tested the Wolf Totem Crown and considered forging a multi-part Origin Artifact to carry him through the air. Meanwhile, Baili Xinghua devoured Meridian Opening experts across Chi'an Prefecture, and the resulting massacre was blamed on the Void Underworld Sect; Huan Ming escaped as Chu Ming heard the rumors over breakfast.

• Chu Ming tested the damaged Wolf Totem Crown, then considered using a huge piece of Origin Artifact material to forge a flying device and found that riding his Golden Sword and Black Blade was impractical.
• Baili Xinghua devoured gangs, martial halls, and powerful martial sects across Chi'an Prefecture, while Chu Ming sensed a sinister aura nearby and chose not to pursue it.
• He Ze and He Xiao led the survivors to confront the Void Underworld Sect, and Cao Nan encouraged suspicion of the sect while seeking the vacant Origin Sword Sect leadership.
• Huan Ming revealed that he was studying a Golden Fragment and vowed to abandon the Void Underworld Sect once he uncovered its secret.
• He Xiao ordered the arrest of the Void Underworld Sect, Huan Ming resisted, and later rumors claimed that he escaped while the sect was captured.
• At the Five Lakes Inn, Jiang Zhan recounted the massacre to Chu Ming and Meng Zhen, and Chu Ming listened without answering.

Chu Ming confronted the man-eating fiend at Golden Snake Ridge and purified Baili Xinghua’s black miasma, leaving the Prefecture Governor dead and revealing a Black Bead as its source. As Chu Ming questioned whether fate could be defied, a white mote reached a battlefield and transformed a dark-skinned boy into Heiqing.

• Chu Ming chose the road through Golden Snake Ridge and discovered that its bandit hideout had been abandoned, with the same frigid aura he had sensed in Chi'an Prefecture lingering there.
• Chu Ming pursued Huan Ming, whose Golden Fragment had drawn him toward the ridge, while Baili Xinghua’s black miasma devoured the Zhenlang Pavilion caravan.
• Huan Ming attacked Chu Ming, then was killed by Baili Xinghua, who revealed himself as the man-eating fiend and recognized Chu Ming as his junior brother.
• Chu Ming’s Qi Rhyme White Radiance consumed Baili Xinghua’s ghostly domain, and Baili Xinghua died after speaking about his predetermined fate.
• A golden-robed figure named Cangqing sent a mote of white light to a battlefield, where it entered a young man who named himself Heiqing.
• Chu Ming retrieved Baili Xinghua’s Black Bead and found that black aura seeped from it when it touched his hand, alarming Meng Zhen and Jiang Zhan.

Chu Ming purified the Black Bead into a storehouse for Qi and Blood Power, gained a Golden Fragment, and reached Lindu Prefecture with Jiang Zhan and Meng Zhen. There, he encountered the Silver Moon Phantom Thief’s brother and overheard plans involving Crimson Beauty Leaves, while two princes discussed the strain in Qi Capital.

• Chu Ming purified the Black Bead into a White Bead that stored Qi and Blood Power, then connected with Huan Ming’s Golden Fragment and expanded Palm Universe.
• Chu Ming shared the spoils from the Zhenlang Pavilion caravan with Jiang Zhan and Meng Zhen, including a Millennium Crimson Beauty Leaf, before storing the remaining treasures with golden light.
• Yan Gao learned that the Zhenlang Pavilion caravan had been killed by Huan Ming and ordered news of the Silver Moon Phantom Thief spread so the Martial Immortal Alliance could pursue him.
• At the Golden Goblet Pavilion, Zhuge Rui sensed Chu Ming’s Silver Moon Armor, tried to pressure him, and surrendered pills before leaving with his frail brother Zhuge Chen.
• Chu Ming overheard Zhuge Rui planning to steal Crimson Beauty Leaves from Colored Jade Pavilion, while the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince discussed the pressure in Qi Capital.

The Fifth Prince explained that the Crown Prince had exposed the First Rank Humble Gate’s members as a test for them and the Martial Immortal Alliance, while the princes discussed Chu Ming’s work on the Mountain Classic and the approaching birthday celebrations. In Lindu Prefecture, Chu Ming followed Zhuge Rui, the Silver Moon Phantom Thief, as he gave stolen wealth to the poor and lured pursuers out of the city; the chapter ended as a gigantic blood-red fist struck toward Zhuge Rui.

• The Fifth Prince told the Seventh Prince that the Crown Prince had spread the identities of fifteen humble-born talents to test their loyalty and had prepared twenty decoys and Martial Immortal Alliance members to counter the Blood Fiend Cult.
• The princes discussed Chu Ming’s rapid deciphering of the Mountain Classic, the Yan Han Order, Empress Duan’s birthday, and the Prince of North Snow’s expected visit.
• In Lindu Prefecture, Guo Xiang and Han Yong disguised themselves to trap the Silver Moon Phantom Thief, while Venom Fang and Venom Ghost watched the Colored Jade Pavilion for the Blood Fiend Cult.
• Chu Ming secretly followed Zhuge Rui as he robbed officials’ homes, distributed the valuables among poor families, and returned to steal again, drawing Dai Yuanshu’s forces away from the pavilion.
• Zhuge Rui took the Crimson Beauty Leaf from the Colored Jade Pavilion and fled the city with pursuers from the Martial Immortal Alliance and Blood Fiend Cult chasing him; Chu Ming followed and learned the Blood Fiend Cult wanted Zhuge Rui’s Silver Moon Heart Mirror.
• After Zhuge Rui refused to abandon the Crimson Beauty Leaf he needed for his brother Zhuge Chen, the Shadowless Blood Envoy attacked him with a gigantic blood-red fist.

Chu Ming defeated Jue Ying, obtained the Silver Moon Heart Mirror, and discovered how it linked his six Silver Moon pieces into stronger armor. After reaching Cloud Mist Villa with Jiang Zhan and Meng Zhen, he tried to forge a Shield Shuttle from fourth-tier Origin Artifact material, but his furnace could not melt it.

• Chu Ming killed Jue Ying, took the Silver Moon Heart Mirror, and connected it with his other five Silver Moon pieces to increase their defensive power.
• Chu Ming spared the wounded Zhuge Rui, left him healing medicine and the Millennium Crimson Beauty Leaf, and took the Silver Moon Heart Mirror and two cultivation manuals; Zhuge Rui later thanked Chu Ming and reunited with Zhuge Chen.
• Chu Ming learned the Pure Yang Body Forging Technique and Heaven Opening Seven-String Saber, then advanced his Mountain-Sea Origin Body Technique to the seventh meridian of the Lower Realm.
• The Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince dismissed Guo Xiang and Han Yong after counting Jue Ying's death as a completed mission but treating the escaped Zhuge Rui as a failure.
• Chu Ming, Jiang Zhan, and Meng Zhen reached Cloud Mist Villa; Meng Zhen reported that the State Supervision Office was watching Xiang Estate, so they planned to wait until morning before approaching.
• Chu Ming attempted to forge a Shield Shuttle from fourth-tier evil-spirit material, but the furnace could not reach the temperature needed to melt it.

Chu Ming broke the seal on Jiang Jing’s Golden Fragment, gained a larger Palm Universe and a powerful Sword Qi, then went to Qi Capital to investigate the Xiang Estate and prepare for the Golden List Hundred Knowledge Competition. Hong Ying revealed her grudge against Tang Bai and asked Chu Ming to defeat Tang Zhe under her younger brother’s name, Hong Jun; Chu Ming agreed, while Hong Ying disclosed that she had been carrying twins when her brother died.

• Chu Ming used the White Bead’s Qi and Blood Power to break the seal on Jiang Jing’s Golden Fragment, but its Sword Qi struck him and cracked the Silver Moon Heart Mirror.
• The main Golden Fragment swallowed the Golden Sheet, expanding Palm Universe from three zhang to six and revealing a Sword Qi that could potentially threaten someone in the Marrow Cleansing Realm.
• Chu Ming, Jiang Zhan, and Meng Zhen watched the heavily guarded Xiang Estate, then Chu Ming went alone to seek Xiao Wen and learned that Xiao Wen had taken Xiao Jianxin to the Imperial City.
• Chu Ming visited Hong Ying at the Green Fire Blacksmith Shop, where she explained that Tang Bai’s abandonment of her mother had led to her mother’s death and asked Chu Ming to compete against Tang Bai’s disciples.
• Hong Ying gave Chu Ming the lower half of the Red Flame Casting Method and a Red Flame Tribe token naming him Hong Jun; Chu Ming promised to defeat Tang Zhe under that name but declined to keep the Red Veil until after the competition.
• Hong Ying revealed that Hong Jun had been her younger twin brother, who died at age three, and that she had chosen his name for Chu Ming to use.

Chu Ming traded with Hong Ying for the Red Flame Tribe’s Red Flame Body Casting Technique and learned that a rare Li Fire Feather could substitute for Red Flame Scorching Fire. After arriving at Qi Capital, he uncovered Tang Xuan’s suspicions and saw the misery outside the city, where a hungry girl’s mother had died.

• Chu Ming called Hong Ying “Sister,” and she gave him a Heaven-Asking Token, rare ores, and the location of a fifth-tier Li Fire Feather at Heaven-Asking Pavilion in exchange for his cultivation manual.
• Hong Ying traded Chu Ming the Red Flame Body Casting Technique, whose final pages contained the Lower Realm Meridian Opening method, and he left the Green Fire Blacksmith Shop with her gifts.
• Tang Xuan connected Chu Ming to the deaths of Lang Feng and Baili Xinghua, then ordered Tang Nan to spread word of Chu Ming’s arrival so Cui Ye and Shi Zhao could be tested first.
• Chu Ming bought food and wine, learned that Tianqiao Platform was being built for Empress Dowager Duan’s birthday, and found destitute people living outside Qi Capital.
• Chu Ming followed a little girl into the Shanty District with food and discovered that her mother was already dead.

Chu Ming witnessed the brutality and poverty in Qi Capital’s Shanty District, where Ji Wujiang took in Xiao Yuzi and hinted that Chu Ming could seek him out to investigate something. While cultivating, Chu Ming opened his fifth meridian and began cleansing his marrow; afterward, he met Commissioner Xiao Wen, who explained that Commander Xiang remained confined to his estate amid the emperor’s suspicions.

• Chu Ming watched Ji Wujiang let Xiao Yuzi’s meat be stolen, then rescued her and buried her mother after three starving men threatened to eat the corpse.
• Ji Wujiang explained that the Shanty District’s residents had lost their land through forced labor for the Longevity Platform, and he took Xiao Yuzi in to teach her martial arts and reading.
• Chu Ming cultivated the Red Flame Body Casting Technique, opened his fourth and fifth extraordinary meridians, and began purging impurities from his body, strengthening his skin.
• Chu Ming developed a concealment method, converted jade and fruit into special substances, and cultivated his Void Lake before dawn.
• Chu Ming met Xiao Wen, who said His Majesty’s suspicions had left Commander Xiang trapped in his estate and that Xiao Wen’s elder brother would plead for him after the eastern front stabilized.
• Xiao Wen ordered Xiao Sheng to keep Chu Ming’s arrival secret and prepare a carriage for his trip to Kuacheng.

Chu Ming entered the First Rank Humble Gate, learned that his assignment involved investigating corruption, and received permission to read in Wenyuan Hall. While searching its books, he broke through the Reading skill and found the complete Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense travelogue, leaving him with newly enhanced perception.

• Xiao Wen escorted Chu Ming into the Imperial City, where the Fifth and Seventh Princes assigned him a corruption investigation and gave him a Meridian Opening Realm personal guard, Zhuge Rui.
• The Seventh Prince privately told Chu Ming that his tea was poisoned, promised an antidote if he uncovered corruption in the Ministry of Works Construction Bureau, warned him away from the Xiao Family, and gave him access to Wenyuan Hall.
• Chu Ming went to Wenyuan Hall with Zhuge Rui, but Tang Bai barred Zhuge Rui from entering the rear hall.
• Chu Ming read through the collection until the Reading skill advanced to Hundred-Eye Exquisite, allowing him to absorb books far faster.
• Chu Ming found and read the complete Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense travelogue, advancing the skill and gaining exceptionally clear perception of the hall and its contents.

Chu Ming discovered that the Seventh Prince’s hidden Ancient Oracle Script could lead to knowledge beyond the Mountain Classic, then began investigating Cui Ye’s embezzlement case while secretly checking on Xiang Yue and Fang Xiao. After sending Zhuge Rui away, Chu Ming entered the Shantytown disguised as the Youth in Black and met Ji Wujiang and Xiaoyu.

• Chu Ming found a page of Ancient Oracle Script in Record of All Things and inferred that the Seventh Prince was testing his ability to decipher it before granting him access to further material.
• Tang Bai recognized Chu Ming, praised his talent, and told him to leave the Imperial City before nightfall; Chu Ming then received the assignment to investigate Cui Ye’s embezzlement within ten days.
• Chu Ming discovered through his Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense that Zhuge Rui had been poisoned and that Xiang Yue and Fang Xiao were safe, stronger, and under supervision at Xiang Estate.
• Chu Ming overheard that the Prince of North Snow would visit Qi Capital for Empress Dowager Duan’s birthday and that six experts would be sent to oversee the thirteen prefectures.
• Chu Ming bought food, frustrated Zhuge Rui until he left to investigate alone, and then disguised himself as the Youth in Black before entering the Shantytown.
• Chu Ming gave the food to Ji Wujiang and met Xiaoyu, who recognized him as the big brother who had shared meat with her.

Chu Ming traced Sun Jun’s hidden account book to the Meian Mountain Stone Processing Plant and uncovered evidence of corruption by Cui Ye and Cui Dong, while an attempted rescue of Sun Jun ended in Sun Jun’s death. After evading detection, Chu Ming slipped into Xiang Estate and reunited with Xiang Yue, who was astonished that his disciple had bypassed the guards.

• Chu Ming found Sun Jun’s bloodstained account book beneath the old dead tree and followed its trail to the Meian Mountain Stone Processing Plant.
• Cui Ye interrogated Sun Jun about the account book, then killed him after Sun Jun revealed where he had hidden it.
• Chu Ming secretly entered the plant office, took ledgers documenting suspicious transactions, and overheard Cui Ye and Dong Zhao agree to arrange his death.
• Chu Ming left the plant, tracked the men’s auras, and used concealment techniques to slip past the guards surrounding Xiang Estate.
• Chu Ming appeared beside Xiang Yue, who questioned how he had entered, and Chu Ming assured him that the Marrow Cleansing expert could not detect him.

Chu Ming visited Xiang Yue, supplied him with pills and a complete Lower Realm technique, then uncovered evidence of Cui Ye’s corruption while investigating in Qi Capital. The chapter ended with North Snow Prince Changqin Wenshuo preparing to move against the court during Empress Dowager Duan’s birthday celebrations, with Blood Fiend agreeing to help.

• Chu Ming met Xiang Yue, discussed the threat of military trouble during Empress Dowager Duan’s birthday, and gave him pills and a complete Lower Realm Mountain-Sea Origin Body Technique.
• Cui Dong falsely convinced Cui Ye that the incriminating ledger had been burned, while Chu Ming observed Cui Ye retrieve a hidden key at his mansion.
• Chu Ming questioned Zhuge Rui about Cui Ye’s concubines and followed the lead to Jiping Cloth Store, where he found a hidden box of account books and letters implicating Cui Ye, Tang Xuan, and other officials.
• Chu Ming took evidence against Tang Xuan and the Chief Secretariat but left documents that could support the case against Cui Ye, while Zhuge Rui discovered the locked box without opening it.
• In North Snow City, Changqin Wenshuo told Blood Fiend he would make his move during Empress Dowager Duan’s birthday and secured the Blood Fiend Cult’s help against the Imperial Observatory’s experts.

Chu Ming visited the Heaven-Asking Pavilion to exchange Primordial Qi jade pendants for a Five-Colored Li Fire Bird's Fire Plume, while uncovering the pavilion's dealings with the Prince of North Snow and the Seventh Prince. After the pavilion's elder recognized the pendants' unusual origin, Chu Ming asked whether it possessed cultivation techniques beyond the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

• The Prince of North Snow and Blood Fiend discussed the missing Golden Silk Feather Garment materials and the possibility that Yan Huan had fled to North Snow Prefecture to find the Yan Han treasure vault.
• Two Blood Fiend Cult members used the North Snow Token to order rare garment materials at the Heaven-Asking Pavilion, and Chu Ming overheard them with his [Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense].
• The Seventh Prince ordered Youli Sea Rhyme Cloud Mud as a birthday gift for Empress Dowager Duan, while Chu Ming learned that the Heaven-Asking Pavilion had powerful experts and an extensive reach.
• Chu Ming presented Master Hong Ying's Heaven-Asking Token and discovered that she had already paid half the deposit for the Five-Colored Li Fire Bird's Fire Plume.
• Mo Jili appraised Chu Ming's Primordial Qi jade pendants and agreed to exchange ten for the Fire Plume, while the pavilion master secretly ordered Manager Wan to mark the plume.
• Chu Ming asked Mo Jili whether the Heaven-Asking Pavilion had cultivation techniques beyond the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Chu Ming forged a Primordial Qi Shield Shuttle that let him fly, advanced to the sixth Meridian Opening, and instructed the Wind Spirit Tribe to stop recruiting and begin screening its bandits. In Qi Capital, Tang Xuan was drawn into a plan against Chu Ming, while Chu Ming followed three suspicious men after separating from Zhuge Rui.

• Chu Ming obtained the Fire Plume from Heaven-Asking Pavilion, discovered a tracking mark on its ice box, and left the box hidden in a cave before returning to Cloud Mist Villa.
• Chu Ming spent the night forging a Shield Shuttle from Primordial Nature material, then tested its flight form as Jiang Zhan and Meng Zhen watched in astonishment.
• Chu Ming opened his sixth of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, ordered the Wind Spirit Tribe to stop expanding its bandit force, and continued cultivating.
• Pei Yan told Tang Xuan to investigate Baili Xinghua's death and suggested using evidence against Cui Ye to lure Chu Ming and his protectors into a trap.
• After hearing that a murder at Jiping Cloth Store might put Cui Ye's evidence at risk, Zhuge Rui hurried there while Chu Ming pretended to lag behind, changed back into his black-clothed identity, and followed three suspicious men to a residence.

Chu Ming killed Cha Xiu, a Zixiao Sect elder sent by Tang Xuan, and recovered evidence against Tang Xuan. He helped Zhuge Rui retrieve a hidden metal box from Jiping Cloth Store, where Zhong Yang opened it and found account books and letters implicating powerful officials.

• Dong Zhao reported that his plan had lured people to Jiping Cloth Store, and Chu Ming overheard Tang Xuan arranging a trap and hiring Cha Xiu to kill him.
• Chu Ming ambushed Cha Xiu in a bamboo grove and killed him with the Crimson Palm, then found a Mustard Seed Space bracer containing techniques, pills, and letters about Tang Xuan.
• At Jiping Cloth Store, Cui Ye distracted Zhong Yang while Cui Xing tried to retrieve a hidden metal box, but Chu Ming disguised himself as Cui Xing and let Zhuge Rui escape with it.
• Zhuge Rui met Chu Ming on the road as Xiao Wen and Xiao Jianxin arrived, and Zhong Yang's Supervision Envoys caught up with them.
• Chu Ming let Zhong Yang inspect Zhuge Rui's bundle, and Guo Heng opened the box to reveal two account books and five letters implicating powerful officials.

Chu Ming presented evidence implicating River Transport Commissioner Tang Xuan and the Zixiao Sect, then earned the Crown Prince’s praise and was assigned to Wenlin Garden. There, Tang Bai gave Chu Ming and two other candidates an abstract drawing test, which Chu Ming began studying.

• Zhong Yang, Chu Ming, and Xiao Wen examined the evidence from Jiping Cloth Store and identified Tang Xuan as the official behind the corruption and persecution described in the ledgers and letters.
• Chu Ming reported the evidence to the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince, who reviewed it and summoned him and Zhuge Rui to meet the Crown Prince.
• The Crown Prince praised Chu Ming, rewarded Zhuge Rui with Yellow Armor, and assigned Chu Ming to Wenlin Garden instead of giving him an official post.
• The Crown Prince secretly ordered Ziyue to spread word about Tang Xuan and inform Left Prime Minister Zuo Yuan that Chu Ming was entering Wenlin Garden.
• At Wenlin Garden, Tang Bai required Chu Ming to pass a test before joining, giving him and two other candidates an abstract drawing to interpret within an hour.

Chu Ming deciphered thirty pictographs in Tang Bai’s test, impressing Tang Bai and surpassing Lu Xi, Qi Chen, and Pei Yi. Zuo Yuan then set a second test of deriving pictographic-script poems from complex script, and as the test continued, Lu Xi, Qi Chen, and Pei Yi wrote steadily while Chu Ming considered his approach.

• Chu Ming recognized that the line drawing concealed 133 pictographs resembling Ancient Oracle Script and worked out their meanings.
• Zuo Yuan arrived at Wenlin Garden with Lu Xi, learned that Chu Ming was taking Tang Bai’s test, and proposed a further assessment.
• Chu Ming deciphered thirty pictographs correctly, while Lu Xi got twenty-eight, Qi Chen twenty-three, and Pei Yi twenty-two.
• Zuo Yuan set a test requiring the four candidates to derive pictographic-script poems from complex-script versions, and Tang Bai added ten more sets.
• Lu Xi used Ancient Oracle Script as one of his scripts, while Qi Chen and Pei Yi each filled eight lines and started a ninth; Chu Ming remained thoughtful as the test passed its midpoint.