Chapter Summaries

Princess led the Mandarin Duck Army deep into Demon Race territory and launched a night assault on Bi Xuan Valley. The Great Sage Dynasty forces defeated the valley’s defenders, but Yangli escaped and fled north toward Xiangliu Demon Emperor.

• Zeng Shilin and Master Xu looked south and awaited Qin’s return, while Master Xu recalled a butterfly into his jade-green compass.
• Princess led nearly five thousand Mandarin Duck Army soldiers through the mountains, where they defeated several small Demon Race tribes and lost a thousand soldiers before reaching Bi Xuan Valley.
• Princess, Zeng Anmin, and Wu Qianfeng planned a night assault, expecting to face Weishi, Yangli, and four Demon Generals.
• Princess led four thousand soldiers into the valley and slew Weishi after fighting him for seventy exchanges, while Yangli never appeared.
• Zeng Anmin killed the four Demon Generals, and the Mandarin Duck Army routed the demon forces, killing nearly twenty thousand and capturing over five thousand as the survivors fled north.

After the Mandarin Duck Army captured Bi Xuan Valley, Princess discovered a Spirit Mine, but she and Zeng Anmin learned that Duke Wei Tian Ji’s besieging army was nearly out of provisions. Zeng Anmin arrived at Tian Ji’s camp offering food from the demons they had slain and revealed that they had captured Bi Xuan Valley, leaving Tian Ji stunned.

• Zeng Anmin sat on Bi Xuan’s throne after the Mandarin Duck Army captured Bi Xuan Valley and ordered Wu Qianfeng to guard the mountain paths.
• Princess returned from searching the valley and told Zeng Anmin she had discovered a Spirit Mine, crediting him while he insisted Dean Qin deserved the foremost merit.
• Princess and Zeng Anmin traveled to Qianxing Path, where a transport officer told them that no provisions had reached their troops for three days.
• Tian Ji learned that his besieging army had supplies for only seven days and that the supply route had been attacked, then refused to meet Zeng Anmin, assuming he had come to demand food.
• Zeng Anmin entered Tian Ji’s camp and offered provisions from the Demon Race corpses, revealing that Dean Qin had slain Bi Xuan and the Mandarin Duck Army had captured Bi Xuan Valley.

Zeng Anmin explained how he captured Bi Xuan Valley and devised a plan to make Prince Nan believe Tian Ji’s army was vulnerable to a demon attack. The provisions and demon captives reached Tian Ji’s camp, and Prince Nan saw the apparent demon assault begin, leaving him poised to strike.

• Zeng Anmin told Tian Ji that Princess had held Biyu Path and helped defeat the Mengya Demon King, then explained how timing and surprise had let the Mandarin Duck Army seize Bi Xuan Valley.
• Zeng Anmin proposed using the demon captives to create the appearance of a demonic assault and lure Prince Nan into opening Guangnan Prefecture’s gates; Tian Ji agreed that the plan could work if provisions arrived in time.
• Princess returned to Bi Xuan Valley, ordered Wu Qianfeng to put the four thousand demon captives to work bundling corpses, and the transport team reached Qianxing Path with provisions before sunset on the fourth day.
• Zeng Anmin sent nearly a thousand soldiers to escort the demon corpses to Tian Ji’s army, while Prince Nan mistook the smell of meat for proof that Tian Ji’s starving soldiers were killing men for food.
• Two days later, Tian Ji set fire to the northern camp as the demon captives howled, and Prince Nan saw the chaos from Guangnan Prefecture’s walls and was told that demons were sweeping through the camp.

Prince Nan launched a surprise attack on Tian Ji’s camp but was captured, and Tian Ji’s army secured Guangnan Prefecture and expanded into Bi Xuan Valley. At court, Liu Chengqian accused Zeng Shilin of leaking military intelligence, but a messenger’s report of sweeping victories stunned Emperor Jianhong.

• Prince Nan opened Guangnan Prefecture’s gates to attack Tian Ji’s army, but Tian Ji and Zeng Anmin captured him and took control of the city.
• Tian Ji advanced east, occupied Prince Nan’s remaining territory, and sent troops to secure Bi Xuan Valley.
• At court, Emperor Jianhong demanded answers about leaked military intelligence, and Liu Chengqian implied Zeng Shilin had arranged the leak to shield his son’s reputation.
• Zeng Shilin denied the accusation and declared his faith in Tian Ji, the Princess, and victory for the Great Sage Dynasty.
• A messenger announced that Tian Ji had captured Prince Nan and Guangnan’s two cities, while Zeng Anmin and the Princess had defeated the demons in Bi Xuan Valley.

A court messenger reported that Zeng Anmin’s three strategies had helped the Great Sage Dynasty seize Bi Xuan Valley and capture Guangnan Prefecture, prompting Emperor Jianhong to reward him alongside Qin Shouchang. Zeng Shilin humiliated Liu Chengqian in court, while Zeng Anmin’s fame spread under the title Zeng Sance as he turned seventeen on the army’s return journey.

• A soldier told the court that the Princess and five thousand Mandarin Duck Army troops had captured Bi Xuan Valley after Qin Shouchang and Bi Xuan perished together, following Zeng Anmin’s lightning-strike strategy.
• Grand Tutor Yang praised Zeng Anmin’s achievement, and Emperor Jianhong agreed that Qin Shouchang deserved to share the foremost merit of the battle.
• The soldier explained that Zeng Anmin had proposed using demon corpses for provisions and demon captives to lure Prince Nan out of Guangnan Prefecture, where the Duke’s army captured him and took two cities.
• Emperor Jianhong praised Zeng Anmin’s three strategies, dubbed him Zeng Sance, and announced rewards for the victors.
• Zeng Shilin spat in Liu Chengqian’s eye and called him a fit spittoon after challenging his accusation of leaking military intelligence.
• Zeng Anmin’s fame spread throughout the Great Sage Dynasty as he celebrated his seventeenth birthday while returning to the capital with the army.

Zeng Anmin and the Princess continued their triumphant journey toward the capital, where Bai Ziqing met them and celebrated Zeng Anmin’s seventeenth birthday. As they neared the capital, Zeng Anmin considered the court’s shifting balance of power and ended the chapter wondering whether a foot-washing hall could be profitable.

• Zeng Anmin and the Princess traveled toward the capital with a thousand Mandarin Duck Army soldiers, while Zeng Anmin reflected on how his influence made him the force’s true controller.
• The people of a county near the capital lined the streets to welcome Zeng Anmin, and Bai Ziqing arrived to greet him five hundred li from the city.
• Bai Ziqing told Zeng Anmin about Liu Chengqian’s slander of Minister Zeng and Emperor Jianhong’s promise to welcome Zeng Anmin and Dean Qin outside the capital.
• Zeng Anmin reasoned that Dean Qin’s death had temporarily eased Emperor Jianhong’s wariness of his father’s growing Jiangnan Faction.
• Bai Ziqing, Zeng Anmin, and the Princess drank together for Zeng Anmin’s birthday, and Bai Ziqing returned to the capital the next day.
• The Princess teased Zeng Anmin about his friendship with Bai Ziqing, and Zeng Anmin wondered whether a foot-washing hall would make money in the Great Sage Dynasty.

Empress Gu Xiangnan’s court debated the fall of Guangnan Prefecture and the threat posed by Zeng Anmin’s victories, while she resolved to visit the Eastern Cult. Zeng Anmin returned to the Great Sage capital to a jubilant welcome, where Emperor Jianhong praised him as another immortal of war, but Zeng Anmin showed no joy.

• Empress Gu Xiangnan condemned Prince Nan’s loss of Guangnan Prefecture, and Duke Cao blamed Prince Nan while praising Li Changle’s strike on the enemy supply route.
• Ji Hongli explained that Zeng Anmin’s Mandarin Duck Army had defeated the demon forces at Bi Xuan Valley through daring mountain warfare and deception.
• Duke Cao urged the Jiang court to eliminate Zeng Anmin if he could not be recruited, while Ji Hongli asked the Empress to secure Prince Nan’s safe return.
• Gu Xiangnan dismissed court and ordered a carriage to the Eastern Cult as she considered Zeng Anmin and the Mandarin Duck Army.
• Emperor Jianhong and the officials welcomed Princess and Zeng Anmin outside the capital, while Zeng Shilin secretly spoiled their chess game before joining them.
• Emperor Jianhong praised Zeng Anmin’s victories at Bi Xuan Valley and Guangnan Prefecture as he welcomed him, but Zeng Anmin showed no joy.

Emperor Jianhong rewarded Zeng Anmin with a noble title and an Imperial Academy post after Zeng Shilin refused the military command, while Zeng Anmin visited the grieving Qin family. The chapter ended with Qin Wanyue fainting into Zeng Anmin’s arms as he blamed himself for Qin Shouchang’s death.

• Zeng Anmin mourned Qin Shouchang before Emperor Jianhong, who granted Qin Shouchang the posthumous title of Duke Yong'an, revenues from a thousand households, and an Imperial Edict of Iron-Bound Books.
• Emperor Jianhong offered Zeng Anmin the rank of Guangbei General and the title of County Son of Feng County, but Zeng Shilin rejected the military post, so Zeng Anmin received an Imperial Academy appointment instead and Wu Qianfeng took command of the troops.
• Zeng Anmin returned to the capital amid the people's acclaim and declined officials’ invitations, saying he wanted to see his parents.
• Zeng Anmin told Zeng Shilin that he wanted to visit Qin Wanyue and questioned Qin Shouchang’s death; Zeng Shilin proposed a marriage, but Zeng Anmin said he would ask Qin Wanyue what she wanted.
• At the Qin Residence, Qin Wanyue grieved over her father’s death and found his calligraphy bearing the words “Using oneself as bait.”
• Zeng Anmin visited Qin Wanyue, blamed himself for failing to protect Qin Shouchang, and caught her when she fainted.

After Qin Wanyue mourned her father, Zeng Anmin learned from Zeng Shilin that Qin Shouchang had knowingly sacrificed himself to kill Bi Xuan and secure the Mount Bai Range. Zeng Shilin revealed the larger plan against the Demon Race, while Zeng Anmin’s capture of the range with the Princess and five thousand soldiers had exceeded their expectations.

• Qin Wanyue woke from a grief-stricken dream, accepted Zeng Anmin’s promise to care for her, and said she would observe mourning for three years before considering marriage.
• Zeng Anmin returned to the celebratory Zeng Residence and told Zeng Shilin he planned to take the Illusion Array Imperial Examination.
• Zeng Anmin pressed Zeng Shilin to explain Qin Shouchang’s death and the plans involving Master Xu.
• Zeng Shilin explained that Xiangliu had unified the Demon Race, that Bi Xuan controlled the strategic Mount Bai Range, and that Bi Xuan had to die to protect the human race.
• Zeng Shilin revealed that Master Xu had used the Sky-Covering Array to lure Bi Xuan from his valley, after which Qin Shouchang chose to sacrifice himself and kill Bi Xuan.
• Zeng Shilin said he had expected Qin Shouchang’s death to lead to a campaign for Mount Bai, but Zeng Anmin and the Princess had already captured it with five thousand Mandarin Duck Army soldiers.

Zeng Anmin began his new post at the Imperial Academy and agreed to bring Shen Jun to the Liu Residence when he reached the capital. At the Qin Residence, Qin Wanyue used a firearm to stop two men who tried to steal the Qin family’s Manuscript for Posterity, then ordered Lü Liu to bring the Imperial Edict of Iron-Bound Books as she prepared to go to the Imperial City.

• Zeng Anmin entered the Imperial Academy through the back gate, met Liu Xian, and learned that the Princess and Liu Xian’s father wanted to invest in Jin Taiping and Shen Jun’s Wangxianju.
• Zeng Anmin agreed to bring Shen Jun to the Liu Residence after he arrived in the capital and began work in Qin Shouchang’s former office.
• At Qin Shouchang’s funeral, Emperor Jianhong delivered the Imperial Edict of Iron-Bound Books and rewards to the Qin Residence.
• An official and his martial artist servant searched Qin Shouchang’s study and seized the Qin family’s Manuscript for Posterity, claiming they needed it for a monument.
• Lü Liu’er and the household servants tried to stop the men, but the martial artist defeated them and the official struck Lü Liu’er as she clung to him.
• Qin Wanyue shot the martial artist and the official, recovered the bamboo scroll, and ordered Lü Liu to bring the Imperial Edict of Iron-Bound Books as she set out for the Imperial City.

Qin Wanyue accused officials of attacking the Qin Residence and begged Emperor Jianhong to return her father, prompting him to order a full investigation. Zeng Anmin then examined the crime scene and the Confucian Sage's Manuscript, suspecting the attackers had targeted it for a specific reason.

• Qin Wanyue knelt outside the palace with the Imperial Edict of Iron-Bound Books and told Zeng Shilin that men had tried to seize her family's Confucian Sage's Manuscript.
• Bai Ziqing reported that Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue Duan Yuanpei and a servant had been killed, and Emperor Jianhong ordered Duan Yuanpei's household confiscated.
• Qin Wanyue begged Emperor Jianhong to give her father back, and he ordered the Imperial City Department, Ministry of Justice, and Court of Judicial Review to investigate within ten days.
• Bai Ziqing told Zeng Anmin what had happened, and Zeng Anmin rushed to the Qin Residence to comfort Qin Wanyue and question her about the attack.
• Qin Wanyue explained that the attackers searched the study for the Confucian Sage's Manuscript and that she had shot them with the firearm Zeng Anmin had left behind.
• Zeng Anmin examined the manuscript and concluded that the attackers' search had been deliberate, then considered the implications of Emperor Jianhong's investigation.

Zeng Anmin investigated the deaths of Duan Yuanpei and his servant, concluding that Duan had staged a conspicuous attempt to steal the Confucian Sage's Manuscript to distract pursuers while an accomplice carried it south. He sent Bai Ziqing after the real spy, while keeping the manuscript safe with him.

• Zeng Anmin examined the bodies and learned that Duan Yuanpei had been an incorruptible official who prepared a carriage north, though his actions and motives seemed inexplicable.
• Qin Wanyue persuaded Zeng Anmin to safeguard the Confucian Sage's Manuscript, and he accepted it before announcing he had an idea.
• At Duan Yuanpei's home, Zeng Anmin found a blank wooden token matching one he claimed to have recovered from an Eastern Cult spy, leading Bai Ziqing to suspect Duan was connected to the Eastern Cult.
• Zeng Anmin reasoned that Duan had drawn attention northward so an accomplice could carry the manuscript south, and Bai Ziqing raced south to pursue the spy.

Zeng Anmin examined a strange jade pendant, then returned to the Qin Residence as the Ministry of Justice and Court of Judicial Review argued over the investigation. Bai Ziqing returned with a captured Eastern Cult suspect, and Zeng Anmin’s deductions began to reveal how Duan Yuanpei’s plot had unfolded.

• Zeng Anmin found no response when he tested the jade pendant, so he stored it in the Preparation Space.
• Liu Dongdong and Wang Haiyan argued at the Qin Residence until Qin Wanyue told them Bai Ziqing had gone to search Duan Yuanpei’s home.
• Zeng Anmin arrived and told the officials Bai Ziqing had identified Duan Yuanpei’s methods and was pursuing accomplices, but Liu Dongdong left to investigate anyway.
• Wang Haiyan recognized Zeng Anmin and asked him to explain his deductions, while Zeng Anmin invited him inside.
• Bai Ziqing returned with a captured suspect from Wuzhen Town and asked Zeng Anmin to use Heart Inquiry on him.
• Bai Ziqing told Wang Haiyan that the suspect possessed Eastern Cult cultivation methods, then credited Zeng Anmin’s deductions with helping capture him.

Zeng Anmin helped Bai Ziqing expose a Jiang Kingdom spy, then declined offers from the Court of Judicial Review and Ministry of Justice to focus on the imperial examinations. Later, Shen Jun arrived in the capital to expand Wangxianju and, after a gatekeeper turned him away, met Liu Xian, who recognized him and offered to take him to Zeng Anmin.

• Wang Haiyan and Liu Dongdong praised Zeng Anmin and each offered him a post in their respective offices, but Zeng Anmin declined to prioritize his studies.
• Bai Ziqing explained that Duan Yuanpei had colluded with Jiang Kingdom agents to steal the Qin Residence's Confucian Sage's Manuscript, and credited Zeng Anmin with exposing the plot.
• Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing decided to have the captured spy examined for defenses against Heart Inquiry before questioning him.
• The Profound Formation Division removed the spy's protective method, but he yielded no important information, and Zeng Anmin returned to his work at the Imperial Academy.
• After Zeng Anmin allowed him to develop Wangxianju in the capital, Shen Jun arrived and tried to visit him, but the gatekeeper refused to announce him.
• Liu Xian recognized Shen Jun as Zeng Anmin's old friend and invited him to come along to see Brother Quanfu.

Zeng Anmin learned that the Princess was selling the Good Friend Trading Company's assets for a major venture and brought Shen Jun into the discussion. Shen Jun offered thirty million taels of silver, while Liu Sanjiang’s auction struggled to raise money, leaving Liu Xian arriving with unexpected good news.

• Zeng Anmin welcomed Shen Jun warmly at the Imperial Academy and took him and Liu Xian to Apricot Blossom Tower to discuss the Good Friend Trading Company.
• Liu Xian revealed that the Princess had ordered his father to sell company assets after the victory at Bi Xuan Valley, though neither he nor his father knew the purpose.
• Zeng Anmin realized what the Princess intended and asked how much money was needed; Shen Jun said Jin Taiping could mobilize thirty million taels of silver.
• Liu Xian was astonished by Shen Jun’s wealth and asked Zeng Anmin if he could leave his studies to work at Wangxianju.
• At Apricot Garden, merchants refused to bid for the Good Friend Trading Company’s seventeen Cangzhou trading houses, and the Han Blood Jade Pot sold for only thirty-seven thousand taels.
• Liu Sanjiang told the hidden Honored one that the auction was failing, but the Honored one ordered him to continue; Liu Xian then rushed in, excited to announce good news.

Liu Xian brought word that Shen Jun had pledged thirty million taels to Good Friend Trading Company because of Zeng Anmin, prompting the Princess to summon Zeng and offer him a share in her Spirit Mine venture. After striking a deal, Zeng returned to the Minister's Residence and found Sai Chuxue waiting to ask for his help.

• Liu Xian told Liu Sanjiang that Shen Jun had promised thirty million taels to Good Friend Trading Company because of Zeng Anmin, and the Princess overheard him.
• The Princess ordered the Blood Jade Pot given to Zeng Anmin and sent Liu Xian to bring him to Apricot Garden.
• Zeng Anmin met the Princess, discussed his investigation and the Qin Residence, and agreed to provide thirty million taels for a twenty-percent share of her venture.
• The Princess explained that her venture was a reward after the victory at Bi Xuan Valley, and Zeng Anmin realized he would profit from the Spirit Mine.
• Zeng Anmin returned to the Minister's Residence, where Sai Chuxue was waiting and asked him for help.

Sai Chuxue asked Zeng Anmin to test a new array imprinting, offering access to her Fourth Senior Brother’s storehouse in return. At the Profound Formation Division, she prepared to inscribe the array on his whole body, promising it could bring his strength up to that of a Seventh Rank Martial Artist.

• Sai Chuxue brought Zeng Anmin snacks and asked him to test her unknown array; he agreed after she offered to sneak him into her Fourth Senior Brother’s storehouse.
• Zeng Anmin learned that Sai Chuxue’s Fourth Senior Brother had developed Dark Sinking Incense and forged the Demon Searching Compass.
• Concubine Lin questioned Huzi about Sai Chuxue’s visit and grew embarrassed when he repeated what he had overheard about Zeng Anmin’s Huiyin Acupoint.
• Sai Chuxue led Zeng Anmin through a hidden passage to her cultivation room at the Capital City Profound Formation Division.
• Sai Chuxue told Zeng Anmin to remove all his clothes for the new imprinting, explaining that it needed to cover his bones and that it could make him as strong as a Seventh Rank Martial Artist.
• Zeng Anmin undressed, lay facedown on the bed, and braced himself for the array imprinting.

Sai Chuxue used Demon Emperor Dong Jun’s essence blood to imprint a strength array on Zeng Anmin, greatly enhancing his body. After Xu Mingxin recognized Zeng Anmin and asked about the missing Demon Searching Compass, the group activated the array in the Profound Formation Division courtyard, where Zeng Anmin prepared to test his new strength.

• Sai Chuxue used Dong Jun’s essence blood to inscribe an Intent Condensing Array on Zeng Anmin, and they both passed out after the array released a powerful surge.
• Xu Mingxin entered the quiet chamber, mistook the scene for a bridal ceremony, then recognized Zeng Anmin and asked him for the Demon Searching Compass.
• Zeng Anmin denied knowing where the compass was, and Xu Mingxin thanked him when he offered to help search for it.
• Sai Chuxue and Xu Mingxin took Zeng Anmin to activate the array with a spirit-stone belt in the Profound Formation Division courtyard.
• Zeng Anmin connected his intent to the belt, felt the array’s power fuse with his body, and threw a punch toward a great tree.

Zeng Anmin tested Sai Chuxue’s Strength Array and demonstrated strength enough to break a great tree, drawing the attention of Zhu Wanjun. He accepted Zhu Wanjun’s three-move challenge for a Prismatic Spirit Stone, but was sent flying by the first strike.

• Zeng Anmin used the array and a spirit stone to punch through a great tree, revealing strength comparable to an ordinary Sixth Rank Martial Artist.
• Zhu Wanjun arrived, scolded the disciples for damaging the courtyard, and challenged Zeng Anmin to withstand three moves.
• Zhu Wanjun offered a Prismatic Spirit Stone if Zeng Anmin lasted three moves and claimed Sai Chuxue’s porcelain bottle if he failed.
• Sai Chuxue gave Zeng Anmin a fresh spirit stone, and he accepted Zhu Wanjun’s challenge.
• Zhu Wanjun struck with one finger, and the force sent Zeng Anmin flying while Zhu remained unmoved.

Zeng Anmin survived Zhu Wanjun’s three attacks by using his Confucian power and belt device, winning their wager and the Prismatic Spirit Stone. After Sai Chuxue saw him off, the Crown Prince secretly came to the Minister’s Residence and begged him for help.

• Zhu Wanjun attacked Zeng Anmin, who survived the first two moves and used his Confucian Dharma Aspect and belt device to weaken the third, then declared victory.
• Zhu Wanjun accepted the loss and began sweeping the courtyard, while Sai Chuxue gave Zeng Anmin the Prismatic Spirit Stone and praised him.
• Sai Chuxue told Zeng Anmin that Zhu Wanjun had burned rare formation manuals and been sentenced to ten years of sweeping, then left to pursue her breakthrough.
• Zeng Anmin returned to the Minister’s Residence and found the Crown Prince, Wang Yuanzhen, waiting there in disguise.
• After Zeng Anmin pressed him to explain his visit, Wang Yuanzhen threw himself at him and begged him to save his life.