Chapter Summaries

Zhang Yuanqing’s attempt to recover Miao Fengling’s seed failed when Ling Tuo outmaneuvered him and destroyed the Eight-Span Mirror protecting his duplicate. After arranging to have the mirror repaired and telling Fu Qingyang what happened, Zhang Yuanqing was surprised by Uncle’s return.

• Ling Tuo located Zhang Yuanqing’s concealed duplicate, resisted its protection, and tried to devour its soul and hypnotize it, but the duplicate vanished when the Eight-Span Mirror shattered.
• Zhang Yuanqing learned from Elder Zhao that Miao Fengling’s seed was gone and concluded that Ling Tuo had used him to find it.
• Zhang Yuanqing told Ling Jun that his mother’s relic was gone, then asked Xiahou Aotian to arrange for the Xiahou Family head to repair the broken Eight-Span Mirror.
• Xiahou Aotian brought the mirror fragments to the Xiahou Family head, who agreed to repair them but rejected Xiahou Aotian’s request to do it for free.
• Zhang Yuanqing told Fu Qingyang about the seed incident, then saw Uncle return and wondered whether he had found the Thunder God Set or rescued the Sole-Heir Knight.

Zhang Yuanqing inspected the Thunder God Set, then refined Princess Yinyao into a stronger yin creature and the Ninth Elder into a Spirit Servant. The chapter left him entering the A-rank multiplayer death dungeon “Lord of a Fallen Kingdom.”

• Zhang Yuanqing told Uncle about the seed and examined the Thunder Spear, discovering its power and the Thunderstorm effect of the three-piece set.
• Zhang Yuanqing entered the Mohist Mechanism City dungeon and summoned Lady of Three Paths Mountain, who brought materials for Princess Yinyao’s advancement and his Spirit Servant.
• With Lady of Three Paths Mountain’s guidance, Zhang Yuanqing inscribed the formations that advanced Princess Yinyao, who gained the ability to speak.
• Zhang Yuanqing told Lady of Three Paths Mountain about the Pure Yang Sect Leader’s thousand-year killing move, then refined the Ninth Elder into a Spirit Servant after taking her artifacts and materials.
• Zhang Yuanqing ordered the Return of the Dead guild to enter a dungeon and then received the Spirit Realm notice for the A-rank multiplayer death dungeon “Lord of a Fallen Kingdom.”

Fu Qingyang entered a role-playing Spirit Realm as Yang Ce, the disgraced marshal defending Summer's Edge City, and began assessing the overwhelming Northern Dynasty threat. After learning that the captured enemy prisoner howled every day, he went to investigate.

• Fu Qingyang learned that Yang Ce had recently led a disastrous attack and lost the trust of his officers, then summoned them to discuss the city's defenses.
• Ling Jun, Zhao Chenghuang, and All Under Heaven Returns to Fire joined the council, where Fu Qingyang gathered intelligence about Tuoba Guanghe, the enemy forces, and the city's dwindling morale.
• Fu Qingyang privately learned that his teammates' quests only required them to survive ten days, while his own demanded that he repel the army or preserve the capital; they had not found Yuanshi or the other members of Return of the Dead.
• Fu Qingyang pointed out that their dungeon was called Lord of a Fallen Kingdom, prompting Ling Jun to realize that the Southern Dynasty ruler might be the foolish one.
• A Northern Dynasty prisoner howled outside, and Fu Qingyang ordered a soldier to take him to the prisoner.

Fu Qingyang freed Demon Eye Heavenly King, who adopted his identity as Wanyan Butcher and pledged loyalty to Marshal Yang, while the team prepared to defend Linxia. At the capital, Zhang Yuanqing awakened in the body of the Southern Dynasty’s emperor after spending the night with a young consort.

• Fu Qingyang recognized Demon Eye Heavenly King as the prisoner Wanyan Butcher and cut him free from his restraints.
• Demon Eye Heavenly King swore allegiance to Marshal Yang, winning the soldiers’ astonished acceptance and completing his character’s predicament.
• Demon Eye Heavenly King and Fu Qingyang learned their main quest was to repel the Northern Dynasty or defend the capital, and Fu Qingyang argued that they should hold Linxia.
• Xiahou Aotian entered the marshal’s tent as the strategist, prompting the group to realize that both their brains and their strength were gathered there.
• Zhang Yuanqing awoke in the imperial palace beside a young consort and received a fragmented memory through the sun wheel on his forehead.

Zhang Yuanqing awoke in the body of Emperor Zhao Shun, whose palace was threatened by a hidden spy, and began searching for clues while trying to survive. After learning Zhao Shun had recently been poisoned, he obtained the inner palace’s daily records to investigate who might have done it.

• Zhang Yuanqing received quests to repel the Northern Dynasty or preserve the capital, survive for twenty-four hours, identify a palace spy, and win the people’s support.
• Zhang Yuanqing questioned Eunuch Li about his medicine and learned Zhao Shun had been poisoned three days earlier.
• Zhang Yuanqing refused the medicine and dismissed Eunuch Li after the eunuch threatened to force-feed him.
• Zhang Yuanqing questioned the palace maid, learned Eunuch Li had discovered the poisoning, and asked for records of Zhao Shun’s palace activities.
• The palace maid brought the daily records, and Zhang Yuanqing began reading them for clues.

Zhang Yuanqing investigated the women who might have poisoned Zhao Shun, then turned to inspect the harem while trying to protect Yang Ce from political attacks. He arrived at Beauty Chu’s pavilion and found her eating an enormous meal.

• Zhang Yuanqing read Zhao Shun’s daily records and identified Beauty Wan, Beauty Chu, Virtuous Consort, Elegant Lady, and Songstress Wang as possible suspects in the poisoning.
• Zhang Yuanqing ordered Zheng Longtu to find the traitor within six hours, and Zheng Longtu left to continue the investigation.
• Zhang Yuanqing reviewed memorials attacking the Yang Family and Yang Ce, suspected Yang Ce was Fu Qingyang, and rejected every impeachment of him.
• Zhang Yuanqing rode to Beauty Chu’s pavilion to investigate her and found her eating roast chicken and lamb as she scrutinized him.

Zhang Yuanqing investigated Consort Chu and discovered that she was Jiang Jingwei, then encountered the imposing Consort Wan and noticed a mysterious pavilion. Meanwhile, Fu Qingyang learned that an assassination squad was heading for the capital, and poisonous insects appeared at Linxia.

• Zhang Yuanqing questioned Consort Chu about her background and recognized her as Jiang Jingwei after she nearly revealed her name.
• Zhang Yuanqing favored Consort Chu and ordered that she be brought another roasted lamb before leaving to investigate Consort Wan.
• Zhang Yuanqing discovered that two women shared the title Consort Wan, including a warrior who had rescued Zhao Shun from a lake.
• Zhang Yuanqing noticed a stag eagerly eating salted branches outside a pavilion and heard a beautiful voice from within.
• Fu Qingyang learned that the Northern Dynasty had sent an assassination squad to the capital and warned that spies might be in the palace.
• Drums sounded as soldiers reported that poisonous insects had appeared at Linxia.

Fu Qingyang’s forces repelled a gu-insect attack and learned that the Northern Dynasty had far more powerful experts, while Zhang Yuanqing searched the emperor’s harem for teammates who could protect him from an unknown assassin. Beauty Chu arrived at his bedchamber, then drew a dagger, leaving Zhang Yuanqing facing a possible attack.

• Fu Qingyang and his teammates helped the army destroy the gu-insect swarm, and Fu Qingyang flew off to confront the Northern Dynasty’s experts.
• Fu Qingyang returned wounded and reported that the Northern Dynasty had many powerful experts, including a level-eight Fog Master and possibly the peak-level-eight Tuoba Guanghe.
• Zhang Yuanqing tested Beauty Wan, Virtuous Consort, palace maids, and Songstress Wang for signs that they were Spirit Realm Walkers, identifying several possible teammates but not the spy.
• Zhang Yuanqing learned from Attendant Li that the emperor had been poisoned by multiple poisons and drank his medicine after having it tested.
• Beauty Chu arrived at Zhang Yuanqing’s bedchamber, asked him to dismiss everyone else, and drew a dagger after the room emptied.

Zhang Yuanqing was trapped in bed by three Spirit Realm Walker assassins posing as beauties, each intent on killing the debauched emperor. Attendant Li intervened and helped Zhang Yuanqing escape, leaving the assassins fighting inside the bedchamber.

• Beauty Chu attacked Zhang Yuanqing, but stopped when Beauty Wan arrived and ordered him to send her away.
• Beauty Wan revealed her own dagger and joined Beauty Chu in trying to kill Zhang Yuanqing.
• Songstress Wang arrived with a dagger, and the three women realized they had all come to assassinate the emperor.
• Attendant Li's fire attack burned the assassins' hands and disrupted their attempt to kill Zhang Yuanqing.
• Attendant Li threw Zhang Yuanqing off the bed and fought Beauty Chu and Beauty Wan while Songstress Wang pursued him.
• Zhang Yuanqing escaped through the lattice door and shouted for help, telling Attendant Li to leave the assassins alive.

Zhang Yuanqing escaped the bedchamber attack only to be confronted by Zheng Longtu, who revealed that he had planned to assassinate the Emperor. At Summer's Edge City, the Northern Dynasty launched a fog-covered assault, and the arrival of its elite Great Gate Army revealed that Tuoba Guanghe was a level-nine opponent.

• Zhang Yuanqing ordered the Imperial Guards to capture the three female assassins, while a swarm of gu insects attacked the guards and palace attendants.
• Zhang Yuanqing suspected Little Round had sent the gu insects to help the assassins escape, then followed Zheng Longtu into a side hall, where Zheng Longtu turned on him with a sword and admitted to plotting his assassination.
• Zhao Chenghuang spotted fog and an enemy advance beyond Summer's Edge City, sounded the alarm, and Xiahou Aotian dispersed the fog with a giant feather fan.
• Fu Qingyang and the defenders repelled the Northern Dynasty assault as the Demon Eye Heavenly King fought Wanyan Batian across the battlefield.
• The Great Gate Army joined the battle, and Fu Qingyang realized that Tuoba Guanghe was level nine.

Zhang Yuanqing uncovered Zheng Longtu’s plot to poison him and seize the throne, then survived with Beauty Wan’s help. Beauty Wan killed Zheng Longtu, leaving Zhang Yuanqing alive and the instance’s main storyline clearer.

• Zheng Longtu forced Zhang Yuanqing to swallow a poison pill and revealed that his family planned to take the throne with the Imperial Preceptor’s support and a deal with Tuoba Guanghe.
• Zheng Longtu began showing symptoms of the plague, and Beauty Wan appeared after secretly protecting Zhang Yuanqing from the pill with her water-controlling ability.
• Zhang Yuanqing realized Beauty Wan was the bodyguard the instance had hinted he could rely on, and admitted he had kept Zheng Longtu talking until she arrived.
• Zheng Longtu attacked Zhang Yuanqing, but Beauty Wan shielded him and used Water Deprivation to kill Zheng Longtu.

Fu Qingyang challenged Tuoba Guanghe to protect the Southern Dynasty’s morale, and his refusal to retreat culminated in a sword strike that pierced the seemingly invincible Ancient War God. Elsewhere, Zhang Yuanqing discovered that Lady Wan was a hidden bodyguard and used her to capture the three beauties before staging a rescue.

• Tuoba Guanghe appeared over the battlefield and offered to endure three of Fu Qingyang’s sword strikes in exchange for a three-day ceasefire if Fu Qingyang wounded him.
• Fu Qingyang accepted and struck Tuoba Guanghe with the Jade Dragon Sword, but Tuoba emerged unharmed; Fu’s bronze soldier puppets also failed to penetrate his defenses and were destroyed.
• Ling Jun stopped the Demon Eye Heavenly King from interrupting Fu Qingyang and explained that Fu’s refusal to retreat came from the bullying he endured as a youth.
• Fu Qingyang recalled his vow never to retreat, poured his remaining strength into the Jade Dragon Sword, and pierced Tuoba Guanghe’s chest with a final throw.
• Zhang Yuanqing learned that Lady Wan was a level-six plague god and a dead soldier trained by the Empress Dowager, then promised to make her a Noble Consort.
• Zhang Yuanqing ordered Lady Wan to capture the three beauties, staged a panicked call for help, and sent the Imperial Guards after her as Attendant Li emerged from the burning bedchamber.

Zhang Yuanqing pieced together the assassination plot in the palace and questioned Consort Wan, while Fu Qingyang recovered from his duel with Tuoba Guanghe and planned a nighttime attack on the Northern Dynasty camp. The chapter left Fu Qingyang preparing to brief the Southern Dynasty generals on a raid intended to devastate the enemy army.

• Zhang Yuanqing moved to the Summer Palace, reviewed the conflict between the Zheng Family, the Northern Dynasty, and the Imperial Preceptor, and summoned the other Beauty Wan to speak privately.
• Beauty Wan told Zhang Yuanqing that Beauty Chu had poisoned Zhao Shun and later joined the assassination attempt, prompting him to infer that his teammates had received a side quest to kill the tyrant.
• Zhang Yuanqing connected the beauties’ actions and Zheng Longtu’s remarks to the multi-poison scheme, then asked Consort Wan whether she knew the Imperial Preceptor.
• Fu Qingyang woke in the Linxia City camp and explained that his sword intent could pierce Tuoba Guanghe at the cost of his life force.
• Fu Qingyang ordered Demon Eye Heavenly King to lead five thousand men with torches to draw out Tuoba Guanghe while he led the main force in a surprise assault on the Northern Dynasty camp.
• Fu Qingyang outlined plans to burn provisions, slaughter horses, and destroy siege equipment before calling for a meeting with the Southern Dynasty’s senior generals.

Zhang Yuanqing learned how the Imperial Preceptor had enabled Zhao Shun’s excesses and gained influence, then completed two side missions and recovered Transcendent power. After using a poem to signal his identity to his teammates, he waited for them but was approached by Attendant Li, who asked if he was Yuanshi Tianzun.

• Beauty Wan told Zhang Yuanqing that the Imperial Preceptor had gained the late emperor’s favor through pills and healing, and had encouraged Zhao Shun’s extravagance and cruelty.
• Zhang Yuanqing asked Beauty Wan to guard him overnight, and she stayed beside his bed while he slept.
• Zhang Yuanqing received notice that he had survived 24 hours and found the spy, unlocking Transcendent power and a new 72-hour survival mission.
• Zhang Yuanqing regained Transcendent cultivation and planned to signal his teammates without openly summoning them.
• Zhang Yuanqing recited “Spring Dawn” to Beauty Wan as a coded message for his teammates, then waited for them to visit.
• Attendant Li came to Zhang Yuanqing and quietly asked whether he was Yuanshi Tianzun.

Zhang Yuanqing reunited with Red Chicken Bro and Little Round, learning that the dungeon had placed teammates in opposing factions and that Little Round was a Northern Dynasty spy assigned to destroy the Southern Dynasty. He rescued Jiang Jingwei and the other two assassins from the lake, then demanded Jiang Jingwei explain her character information.

• Zhang Yuanqing discovered that Attendant Li was Red Chicken Bro, whose quest was to protect the tyrant emperor and identify a spy.
• Elegant Lady revealed herself as Little Round, who had a mission to assassinate the emperor and destroy the Southern Dynasty; Zhang Yuanqing realized she was likely a Northern Dynasty agent.
• Little Round gave Zhang Yuanqing a bronze yin-yang token and explained that she had saved the three assassins during their attempt on the emperor.
• Zhang Yuanqing sent Red Chicken Bro to obtain palace maid outfits, then secretly left the bedchamber and went to the lake.
• Zhang Yuanqing used the Yin-Yang Robe to free Jiang Jingwei, Songstress Wang, and Beauty Wan from their underwater restraints and carried them to the rock grove.
• Zhang Yuanqing scolded Jiang Jingwei for trying to assassinate him and asked her to share her character information.

Zhang Yuanqing reunited with his teammates in the imperial palace and learned that their conflicting assassination missions came from the instance’s faction setup. As the group weighed whether to leave the palace and how to win the people’s support, Prime Minister Zheng requested an audience, bringing the danger to their door.

• Jiang Jingwei, Xie Lingxi, and Songstress Wang revealed their missions and factions, all of which included assassinating the tyrant, and Zhang Yuanqing discovered that their target was himself.
• Red Chicken Bro helped the women disguise themselves and enter the sleeping quarters, where Zhang Yuanqing reunited with Stop-Killing Palace Lord and compared the team’s quests and information.
• Stop-Killing Palace Lord and the others analyzed the threats from the Zheng Family, Divine Sharp Army, Azure Dragon Gang, and Imperial Preceptor, and they debated leaving the palace to pursue the quest to win popular support.
• Zhang Yuanqing sent Red Chicken Bro to investigate the Divine Sharp Army and fetch a dance troupe while he planned how to leave the palace without losing his imperial identity.
• Zhang Yuanqing watched the troupe perform until an Imperial Guard announced that Prime Minister Zheng had arrived, and he ordered that Zheng be admitted.

Zhang Yuanqing deceived Zheng Wenhan about Zheng Longtu’s death, then learned how the Divine Sharp Army had been betrayed and destroyed. He summoned Consort Wan to uncover the Empress Dowager’s secrets, but an approaching force interrupted her account.

• Zheng Wenhan questioned Zhang Yuanqing about the assassinations, Zheng Longtu’s actions, and a pill, but Zhang Yuanqing’s answers convinced him to leave.
• Red Chicken Bro explained that Wu Xin’s Divine Sharp Army had defeated the Northern Dynasty before the court ordered Wu Xin back, cut off his supplies, and destroyed the army after his death.
• Zhang Yuanqing suspected the Divine Sharp Army’s story concealed a greater threat and decided to question Consort Wan before leaving the palace.
• Red Chicken Bro, Xie Lingxi, and Jiang Jingwei joked about the absent Guan Ya and Sun Miaomiao as they left the bedchamber.
• Zhang Yuanqing questioned Consort Wan about the Divine Sharp Army, and she began explaining its connection to the Empress Dowager.
• Consort Wan and the others heard heavy, orderly footsteps approaching the bedchamber as a large force drew near.

Zhang Yuanqing and his companions fought off Zheng Wenhan’s forces as the Summer Palace came under siege, then devised a plan to scatter and escape while disguised as Zhao Shun. Zhang Yuanqing stayed behind with Consort Wan to cover their retreat as Zheng Wenhan prepared to lead an attack on the remaining decoys.

• Zheng Wenhan’s troops attacked the Summer Palace, and Red Chicken Bro was wounded by an arrow from a powerful Swordsman.
• Zhang Yuanqing stalled Zheng Wenhan while his companions set traps that killed the first wave of Imperial Guards, then helped extinguish the palace fire with water manipulation.
• After fireballs struck the palace, Zhang Yuanqing arranged for his companions to disguise themselves as Zhao Shun and flee in different directions, giving some escape tools to Red Chicken Bro and Queen.
• Red Chicken Bro and Jiang Jingwei led the first escape attempt, followed by more pairs of Zhao Shun decoys, drawing pursuing Imperial Guards away from the palace.
• Zheng Wenhan recognized the danger of the decoys and called on the Warriors of the Southern Dynasty to join him in attacking the remaining group.

Zhang Yuanqing and Consort Wan fought their way out of the imperial palace, but level-six pursuers and Plague God bacteria left Zhang Yuanqing badly weakened. He escaped through an underground river and reunited with Jiang Jingwei and the Queen, who hid him in a household while they considered how to treat his illness.

• Zhao Shun summoned water dragons to shield Zhang Yuanqing and Beauty Wan as they fled through the palace, but a Swordsman and a Fire Demon joined the pursuit.
• Beauty Wan fought the Swordsman and Fire Demon to protect Zhang Yuanqing, while Zhang Yuanqing used Howl at the Moon and dodged the flying swords before Plague God bacteria weakened him.
• Consort Wan stopped the Fire Demon from making it rain, allowing Zhang Yuanqing to escape invisibly; the guards trapped her in earthen walls filled with flames, and she revealed that Minister Zheng was responsible before dying.
• Zhang Yuanqing fled back through the ruins of the Summer Palace and escaped through an underground river, emerging in the southern part of the capital.
• Jiang Jingwei and the Queen found Zhang Yuanqing, carried him to a nearby home, and used hypnosis to persuade the residents to shelter them.
• The homeowner recommended the Immortal Medicine Workshop to treat Zhang Yuanqing, while Queen and Jiang Jingwei concealed their identities.

After escaping the palace, Zhang Yuanqing planned to rally allies and used the Imperial Seal and Twin Dragon Jade Pendant to preserve his claim to the throne. Meanwhile, Fu Qingyang won a costly night raid against the Northern Dynasty but faced a dangerous retreat decision, and he recognized Little Round approaching at dawn.

• Zhang Yuanqing, Queen, and Jiang Jingwei discussed treating his illness, building a reputation, and seeking allies against the Zheng Family.
• Zheng Wenhan failed to find the Imperial Seal or Twin Dragon Jade Pendant and learned that the deposed emperor and several companions had escaped the palace.
• Zhang Yuanqing showed Queen and Jiang Jingwei the Imperial Seal, treasure seals, and Twin Dragon Jade Pendant, explaining that the unique relics proved his imperial identity.
• Zhang Yuanqing said he would investigate Zheng Wenhan's role in destroying the Divine Sharp Army, which might relate to Jiang Jingwei's side quest.
• Fu Qingyang led a night raid that inflicted heavy losses on the Northern Dynasty, then weighed the danger of retreating to the capital as Summer's Edge City faced a siege.
• Fu Qingyang spotted the approaching Little Round.