Chapter Summaries

Zeng Shilin explained why the court was concealing Prince Jiang’s rebellion and warned Zeng Anmin not to become the Crown Prince’s Study Companion because its assessment could expose his identity. Zeng Anmin secretly welcomed the challenge, and the family’s party set out for the capital with Qin Wanyue riding beside him.

• Zeng Shilin told Zeng Anmin that the imperial decrees omitted Prince Jiang’s rebellion to protect the imperial family’s honor, but Qin Shouchang held evidence of Prince Jiang’s other crimes.
• Zeng Shilin explained that Qin Shouchang’s failure to capture Wang Lin had preserved his four-year plan, leaving Zeng Anmin troubled over Zhang Lun’s death.
• Zeng Shilin warned Zeng Anmin to feign illness rather than take the Crown Prince’s Study Companion assessment, which suppressed Divine Soul and Spiritual Power and might reveal his Black Cat Martial Artist identity.
• Zeng Anmin agreed to his father’s warning while privately anticipating the assessment, since his Unyielding Martial God ability made him immune to Divine Soul and Spiritual attacks.
• Zeng Shilin’s party departed for the capital, and Zeng Anmin invited Qin Wanyue to ride beside him while Qin Shouchang watched from his carriage.

After arriving in the capital, Zeng Anmin was summoned by the Crown Prince, who admired his “Two Rivers Rhapsody.” Zeng Anmin reached Qianyuan Palace and was warmly welcomed, while a second prince’s invitation arrived too late and Wang Qianzhi watched the meeting with a cold smile.

• Zeng Anmin and Zeng Shilin entered the capital and took up residence in the Minister's Residence.
• Zeng Anmin woke, learned Zeng Shilin had gone to the palace, and set out to explore the city with Dachun.
• A young eunuch summoned Zeng Anmin to Qianyuan Hall in the Crown Prince’s name, and Zeng Anmin went with him.
• An old eunuch arrived to invite Zeng Anmin to Qianqing Hall, but Dachun told him another eunuch had already taken Zeng Anmin away.
• Wang Qianzhi prepared Spirit-Cleansing Incense as the Crown Prince waited anxiously for Zeng Anmin, worrying that his fourth brother might interfere.
• The Crown Prince welcomed Zeng Anmin into the courtyard, where the incense’s fragrance refreshed him, while Wang Qianzhi watched with a cold smile.

Zeng Anmin was caught in the Crown Prince’s Illusion Array assessment after Wang Qianzhi fell and triggered it. In the Imperial Study, Emperor Jianhong informed the officials that Zeng Anmin was taking the assessment, and Zeng Shilin mocked Prince Qi for his lack of literary understanding.

• The Crown Prince introduced Zeng Anmin to Wang Qianzhi, who withheld his courtesy name, and Zeng Anmin provoked him by mentioning that his father could grow close with Prince Qi.
• Fourth Prince Wang Yuanhao arrived to meet Zeng Anmin and asked him to discuss poetry, while Wang Qianzhi suggested moving to a larger table.
• Wang Qianzhi tripped over a stone and fainted, triggering the Illusion Array; a green net trapped Zeng Anmin as the Crown Prince and Wang Yuanhao realized the spirit stone had not been removed.
• A eunuch told Emperor Jianhong that the Eastern Palace’s Illusion Array assessment had begun, and Emperor Jianhong revealed that Zeng Anmin was participating.
• Prince Qi challenged Zeng Shilin over observing the assessment, and Zeng Shilin mocked him for not understanding Confucian literature.

Zeng Anmin faced the illusion formation’s test by disguising himself as Crown Prince Wang Yuanzhen and sacrificing himself to protect the prince from Prince Qing’s rebels. After the illusion ended, Emperor Jianhong praised Zeng Anmin, and officials rushed to recommend him for posts.

• The spirit-stone formation showed Emperor Jianhong and the officials an illusion in which Prince Qing’s rebels invaded the Eastern Palace, while Zeng Anmin retained his memories of the test.
• Zeng Anmin cut the Little Fatty Crown Prince’s hair, traded clothes with him, and sent him to flee while he posed as Wang Yuanzhen.
• Zeng Anmin let Prince Qing’s soldiers capture him, but Prince Qing recognized that he was not the real Crown Prince; the real Wang Yuanzhen was soon brought before them.
• When Prince Qing demanded a poem to spare Wang Yuanzhen, Zeng Anmin declared, “My lord is in the south. How could I face north and die?” and Prince Qing struck him down.
• The illusion ended, and Emperor Jianhong praised Zeng Anmin as officials eagerly proposed him for positions in the government and military.

Zeng Anmin impressed Emperor Jianhong and the court with his performance in the illusion formation and a stirring poem, securing his place as the Crown Prince’s Study Companion. Zeng Shilin then revealed the assessment had been scheduled for another day, raising suspicion that Wang Qianzhi had deliberately triggered the formation.

• The ministers argued over which ministry should recruit Zeng Anmin, until Emperor Jianhong silenced them and asked about his experience in the illusion formation.
• Zeng Anmin explained that he had treated Prince Qing as a rebel unworthy of hearing his poem, then agreed to compose a new one for Emperor Jianhong.
• Zeng Anmin recited a poem about defending the realm and dying for his sovereign, earning Emperor Jianhong’s praise and approval as the Crown Prince’s Study Companion.
• Zeng Shilin objected to the appointment, revealing that Zeng Anmin’s assessment had not been scheduled for that day.
• Zeng Anmin feigned illness and asked Emperor Jianhong to withdraw the appointment, prompting the emperor to turn a hostile gaze toward the unconscious Wang Qianzhi.

After refusing the Crown Prince’s offer, Zeng Anmin learned that his immunity to Illusion Arrays could give him an advantage in the imperial examination and enrolled at the Imperial Academy. There he reunited with Qin Wanyue, was followed by Crown Prince Wang Yuanzhen, and came face to face with Qin Wanyue’s father as class began.

• Prince Qi confronted Wang Qianzhi over the Illusion Array and ordered him to keep secret that he had used Dark Sinking Incense.
• Zeng Anmin and Zeng Shilin discussed Prince Qi’s hostility and the Illusion Array imperial examination, and Zeng Anmin decided to try that path.
• Zeng Anmin entered the Imperial Academy as a Hereditary Student and chose the empty seat beside Qin Wanyue.
• Qin Wanyue welcomed Zeng Anmin warmly, surprising the students who had watched her turn other classmates away.
• Crown Prince Wang Yuanzhen arrived, greeted Zeng Anmin enthusiastically, and sat behind him.
• Qin Shouchang entered to teach, saw Zeng Anmin, and stiffened.

At the Imperial Academy, Zeng Anmin comforted Huzi after other children questioned whether Zeng Anmin was truly his father, and promised to tell him about his real father. The next day, Zeng Anmin set out to visit the Profound Formation Division, hoping to obtain a spiritual-artifact bow, while Dachun misunderstood his plans.

• Qin Shouchang was stunned to see the Crown Prince following Zeng Anmin, and Wang Yuanzhen recited Zeng Anmin's frontier poem to Qin Wanyue.
• Zeng Tian told Zeng Anmin that academy children had upset Huzi by saying Zeng Anmin was not his real father and that his father should share his original surname, Duan.
• Zeng Anmin comforted Huzi, called his real father a brave Great General, and promised to find stories about him to tell Huzi.
• Zeng Anmin took Dachun out on his day off and suggested visiting a pleasure house to study music.
• After spotting Profound Formation Division disciples, Zeng Anmin decided to visit the division and seek a spiritual-artifact bow, while Dachun asked whether it had pleasure houses too.

Zeng Anmin visited Sai Chuxue at the Profound Formation Division and learned about Dark Sinking Incense, which could explain the incense he had noticed in the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace. The chapter left him suspecting Wang Qianzhi had used it.

• Zeng Anmin entered the Profound Formation Division with Master Xu’s jade pendant and followed a disciple to Sai Chuxue’s residence.
• Zeng Anmin and Dachun surprised Sai Chuxue while she practiced inscribing a Strength Array on her body, then reunited with her.
• Sai Chuxue explained that Dark Sinking Incense was a substitute study incense that could unsettle people who encountered arrays after smelling it.
• Zeng Anmin connected the incense to the three sticks burning in the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace and asked whether Dark Sinking Incense circulated on the market.
• Sai Chuxue said her senior brother had stopped making the flawed incense and that only a few Profound Formation Division true disciples knew about it, prompting Zeng Anmin to suspect Wang Qianzhi.

Zeng Anmin suspected Prince Qi had deliberately sabotaged his assessment, then won Sai Chuxue’s help by enticing her with Chicken Essence and a promise of more. After meeting Master Xu, he obtained a powerful long-range bow from the Profound Formation Division’s treasury and rode away with Sai Chuxue eager for more of the seasoning.

• Zeng Anmin concluded that Wang Qianzhi, who was Prince Qi, had deliberately used Dark Sinking Incense to make him fail the illusion-array assessment.
• Sai Chuxue devoured the meal, then became captivated when Zeng Anmin added Chicken Essence to the soup and hinted he could provide more.
• Zeng Anmin reminded Sai Chuxue of her promised favor and asked for a bow, so she led him and Dachun to the Profound Formation Division’s treasury.
• Zeng Anmin met Master Xu, who recognized his father Zeng Shilin and asked him to send his regards.
• Sai Chuxue showed Zeng Anmin a Black Gold Bow that could shoot at least seven hundred paces, and he chose it.
• Zeng Anmin rode away with the bow, telling Sai Chuxue to visit the Minister’s Residence if she needed more Chicken Essence.

Zeng Anmin tested the Black Gold Bow and learned from Qin Wanyue about the Confucian Six Arts before asking Wang Yuanzhen about the Battle of Yinwu to Exterminate Demons. Wang Yuanzhen revealed that Prince Qi and Prince Jiang had fought in that battle, leaving Zeng Anmin considering what it might mean for his father.

• Zeng Anmin returned home, let Uncle Qi try the Black Gold Bow, and discovered he could draw it to seventy percent without using Martial Arts True Qi.
• Zeng Anmin decided to ask Sai Chuxue about a storage space when she next visited, then met Wang Yuanzhen at the Imperial Academy the following day.
• Qin Wanyue explained the Confucian Six Arts to Zeng Anmin, who said he planned to focus on archery.
• After class, Zeng Anmin went to the library, where Wang Yuanzhen demonstrated his extensive knowledge of history and warfare.
• Zeng Anmin asked about the Battle of Yinwu to Exterminate Demons and learned that Prince Qi and Prince Jiang had served under Ji Qing alongside Loyal Far Count.
• Zeng Anmin wondered what Prince Qi and Prince Jiang's involvement in the battle meant for his father.

The Little Fatty Crown Prince told Zeng Anmin that Loyal Far Count Duan Yuheng had supposedly betrayed the allied forces during the Battle of Yinwu, leaving Zeng Anmin troubled by what that meant for his cousin and Huzi. At the Imperial Academy, students celebrated an exaggerated account of Zeng Liangjiang’s loyalty in the Crown Prince’s illusion assessment, and Zeng Anmin returned home still reflecting on the uproar.

• The Little Fatty Crown Prince explained that Duan Yuheng had led the demons away from an ambush after allegedly leaking its location, and that his body bore an emerald-green tail linked to demonic vital blood.
• Zeng Anmin thanked the Crown Prince, called him Juxian, and agreed that they were friends before inviting him to eat.
• At the Imperial Academy, students retold how Zeng Liangjiang had disguised the Crown Prince and faced the rebels in his place during the illusion assessment.
• Qin Wanyue praised Zeng Anmin’s character after hearing the story, while the Crown Prince teased him about it.
• Zeng Anmin returned to the Minister’s Residence, where he met his father and reflected on how the students had celebrated Zeng Liangjiang.

Zeng Anmin told Zeng Shilin that Dark Sinking Incense had caused him to enter the Eastern Palace illusion formation, prompting his father to reveal the factional plot behind Duan Yuheng’s disgrace and his plan to bring down Prince Qi. After Bai Ziqing discussed Duan Yuheng’s martial intent, Zeng Anmin realized it might connect to the Xi Huang Diagram.

• Zeng Anmin told Zeng Shilin that Miss Sai had identified the incense in the Eastern Palace as Dark Sinking Incense, which unsettled anyone exposed to it who later encountered a formation.
• Zeng Shilin explained that Duan Yuheng had been framed amid court factional strife and that he had protected Anlin and Huzi while gathering evidence against Prince Jiang and Prince Qi.
• Zeng Shilin said evidence that Prince Qi had secretly contacted Profound Formation Division disciples could invoke the prohibition against their meddling in government and destroy Prince Qi.
• Bai Ziqing visited Zeng Anmin for more hair dye, answered his questions about the Falling Jade Plate, and described how Duan Yuheng’s martial intent had surpassed his own.
• After Bai Ziqing left, Zeng Anmin entered his room and murmured, “Xi Huang Diagram...”

Zeng Anmin suspected that Loyal Far Count had possessed the Xi Huang Diagram and been killed for it, then questioned the Heavenly Dao Alliance about their awakened diagrams. Gu Xiangnan compared Bei’s answers with intelligence about Zeng Anmin and concluded that Bei was the Black Cat Martial Artist.

• Zeng Anmin manifested dragon claws and reasoned that Loyal Far Count may have extracted the intent of a Heavenly Dao Diagram, leading him to suspect Prince Qi had arranged the family’s deaths to obtain the Xi Huang Diagram.
• Zeng Anmin decided to investigate who from the Imperial City Department had led the search of Loyal Far Count’s home and entered the Sea of Consciousness Space to question the Heavenly Dao Alliance.
• Gu Xiangnan reviewed intelligence linking Zeng Anmin to Prince Jiang and the Black Cat Martial Artist, then replied to Bei through the Phoenix Strategy Diagram.
• Zeng Anmin asked how long the others had possessed their diagrams; Dao, Huang, and Nan shared their awakening timelines and cultivation experiences.
• Gu Xiangnan noted that Bei had stopped writing poems after Zeng Anmin entered the capital and concluded that Bei was the Black Cat Martial Artist.

Zeng Anmin told Zeng Shilin about his Dragon Survey Map abilities, and they planned to use evidence of Prince Qi’s ties to the Profound Formation Division to bring him down. The plan reached court, where Zeng Shilin publicly accused Prince Qi of arranging Prince Jiang and Qi Xianlin’s collusion.

• Zeng Anmin revealed his Dragon Survey Map transformation and its connection to the Heavenly Dao Diagram to Zeng Shilin, who warned him to keep it secret and prioritize his safety.
• Zeng Shilin explained that Dark Sinking Incense could support a case against Prince Qi but that they needed a witness; Zeng Anmin devised a plan involving the Ask the Heavens Formation.
• Zeng Anmin visited the Imperial City Department, where Bai Ziqing intervened when Prince Qi tried to bar him from entering; Zeng Anmin then recruited Bai Ziqing to help with his plan.
• Qin Shouchang presented evidence of Prince Jiang’s crimes to Emperor Jianhong, and Zeng Shilin later revealed that Prince Qi had brought Prince Jiang and Qi Xianlin together.
• Prince Qi angrily accused Zeng Shilin of slandering him before the silent court.

Zeng Shilin accused Prince Qi of plotting against Zeng Anmin and of colluding with Qi Xianlin to frame Loyal Far Count, prompting Emperor Jianhong to investigate the old battlefield case. The court dismissed after a physician found Qi Xianlin’s life force severely depleted, leaving Prince Qi under suspicion and Zeng Shilin confident that his son’s plan was working.

• Zeng Shilin revealed that Prince Qi’s son, Wang Qianzhi, had used Dark Sinking Incense from the Profound Formation Division to disrupt Zeng Anmin’s illusion formation assessment, and Emperor Jianhong punished Wang Qianzhi and docked Prince Qi’s salary.
• Zeng Shilin impeached Prince Qi for colluding with Qi Xianlin to frame Loyal Far Count, alleging that Prince Qi had revealed the count’s marching route to Demon King Bi Xuan seven years earlier.
• Zeng Shilin proposed questioning Qi Xianlin about the Ask Heaven Formation, and Emperor Jianhong ordered him brought before the court.
• When Qi Xianlin could not speak, Li Zhen suggested examining his lifespan; Imperial Physician Liu found his vital energy severely depleted, and Emperor Jianhong abruptly dismissed the court.
• Zeng Shilin left the hall convinced that Emperor Jianhong’s suspicion of Prince Qi would let Zeng Anmin’s plan succeed.

Emperor Jianhong tested Bai Ziqing while quietly setting Prince Qi’s downfall in motion, and the court stripped Prince Qi of his title and power. Zeng Anmin then sought a way to search Prince Qi’s estate for the Xi Huang Diagram and asked Bai Ziqing for the route of Prince Qi’s exile, intending to kill him.

• Emperor Jianhong questioned Bai Ziqing about his loyalty and ambitions while they played Go, and Bai Ziqing concealed that he recognized Qi Xianlin.
• Wang Lang impeached Prince Qi at court with evidence of his crimes, and Si Zhongxiao arrested him and destroyed his martial arts foundation.
• Emperor Jianhong stripped Prince Qi of his office and title and sentenced his household to exile in Xiliu, while Zeng Shilin drew the court’s attention as the apparent force behind the purge.
• At the Imperial Academy, Zeng Anmin resolved to search Prince Qi’s estate for the Xi Huang Diagram and discussed joining the confiscation party with Bai Ziqing.
• Zeng Anmin asked Bai Ziqing for Prince Qi’s exile route and said he would not feel at ease unless Prince Qi died.

Zeng Anmin persuaded Bai Ziqing to help him kill Prince Qi, and the two slipped out of the capital to intercept his convoy. Before they could act, a mysterious attacker killed Prince Qi and his family, leaving Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing to hurry back toward the capital before dawn.

• Zeng Anmin convinced Bai Ziqing to help kill Prince Qi by appealing to his ambition to become Imperial City Department Northern Commander and praising his hair and swordsmanship.
• Bai Ziqing carried Zeng Anmin over the city wall, and the two traveled west to find Prince Qi's convoy.
• Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing reached the convoy at night, but a mysterious attacker killed the guards and colonel before they could act.
• The attacker killed Prince Qi, Wang Qianzhi, and Prince Qi's wife with hidden weapons, then disappeared.
• Bai Ziqing admitted the attacker's hidden-weapon technique surpassed his own, and he and Zeng Anmin confirmed Prince Qi was dead before rushing back to the capital.

After helping investigate Prince Qi’s death, Zeng Anmin returned home and reassured his father that he would keep searching for the Xi Huang Diagram. At the Imperial Academy, Tian Qilin taught archery intent, and Zeng Anmin began to sense how firing an arrow could tug at his Righteous Qi.

• Zeng Anmin told Bai Ziqing to keep their actions that night secret and to include him in the raid on Prince Qi’s residence.
• Zeng Anmin recounted the night’s events to Zeng Shilin, who praised his political instincts and warned him not to neglect the Xi Huang Diagram.
• Emperor Jianhong ordered the Imperial City Department and Jingzhao Prefecture to find Prince Qi’s killer within seven days.
• At the Imperial Academy, Tian Qilin explained that archery cultivation required comprehending intent, while Qin Wanyue clarified how that intent related to the Confucian Path.
• The Little Fatty Crown Prince shot a bullseye but failed to describe a personal insight into archery intent.
• Zeng Anmin repeatedly fired arrows, eventually sensing his Righteous Qi being tugged as the bow and arrow flew.

Zeng Anmin’s archery practice awakened a bow-shaped Confucian power and pushed him beyond the Sixth Rank Gentleman Realm without reaching the Fifth Rank Dharma Aspect Realm. After Tian Qilin explained his unusual foundation, Zeng Anmin chose to pursue the Way of Music and ended the evening sharing Qin Wanyue’s pastries.

• Zeng Anmin struck the target with his eyes closed, then shot an arrow that hit the fletching of the arrow already at the bullseye, prompting Tian Qilin to identify his achievement as Arrow Intent.
• Zeng Anmin’s Vast Righteous Qi condensed into a dark blue-green bow bearing the words, “A gentleman should conceal his weapon upon his person, awaiting the right time to act.”
• Tian Qilin explained that Zeng Anmin had advanced beyond the Sixth Rank Gentleman Realm but remained below the Fifth Rank Vast Qi Realm, and that his foundation resembled Sub-Sage Lin’s unusual cultivation.
• Zeng Anmin chose the Silver Preparation Space entry, gained three storage slots, and asked to study the Way of Music; Tian Qilin agreed to speak with Li Lianting and warned him to keep his breakthrough secret.
• Qin Wanyue offered Zeng Anmin glutinous rice cakes, which he eagerly ate, and promised to bring him more the next day.

At the Imperial Academy, acclaimed new student Liu Xian became infatuated with Qin Wanyue, who openly doted on Zeng Anmin and defended him from her father’s scolding. Liu Xian learned that Zeng Anmin was connected to the powerful Zeng family, while Qin Shouchang ended the day discovering that his daughter had used the fish he meant to bring to Master Yu for pastries.

• Liu Xian enrolled at the Imperial Academy, introduced himself as a celebrated Recommended Student, and gave classmates gifts from the Four Treasures of the Study.
• Liu Xian became captivated by Qin Wanyue, while Crown Prince Wang Yuanzhen warned him not to set his sights on her or underestimate the people in the classroom.
• Qin Wanyue shared Fish Pastry with Zeng Anmin and gently wiped crumbs from his mouth, drawing Liu Xian’s envy.
• Qin Shouchang caught Zeng Anmin eating in class and scolded him, but Qin Wanyue took the blame and persuaded her father to let it go.
• Liu Xian learned that the student Qin Shouchang had called Zeng Anmin was connected to the influential Zeng family.
• Qin Shouchang planned to bring his fish to Master Yu, then learned his daughter had used it to make Fish Pastry and struck his forehead on a pillar.