Chapter Summaries

Qing Mo advised Li Shimin to exploit Wei Zheng’s love of vinegared celery, and the emperor’s banquet left Wei Zheng craving it until he finally ate his fill. Later, Tang envoys were killed by Annam’s king, prompting outrage in Chang’an and the launch of a military campaign against Annam.

• Qing Mo told Li Shimin that vinegared celery was Wei Zheng’s weakness and devised a banquet that would make him crave it.
• Li Shimin hosted Wei Zheng and his trusted ministers, served vinegared celery to everyone but Wei Zheng, and teased him until Wei Zheng begged for some.
• Qing Mo and the other ministers gave Wei Zheng their servings, and Wei Zheng ate the celery with delight.
• Tang Jian and twelve companions departed from Chang’an by train on a mission to Luzon and Annam.
• News reached Chang’an that Annam’s king had killed three Tang envoys, and Li Chengqian visited their families and granted them a page in their genealogies.
• Li Shimin appointed Li Jing to lead fifty thousand troops against Annam, with Qin Qiong as deputy marshal and Hou Junji as vanguard general.

After Li Chengqian and Sun Simiao announced a lifelong smallpox prevention method, Li Chengqian was saddled with imperial memorials and called his brothers to help. Meanwhile, Li Shimin sought Qing Mo’s support for personally leading the first Tang overseas campaign against Japan, and Qing Mo endorsed his plan.

• The people of Chang'an read that Li Chengqian and Sun Simiao had developed lifelong smallpox prevention and rushed to the Tang Medical Academy for protection.
• Li Shimin confronted Li Chengqian for keeping the achievement secret, but Empress Zhangsun calmed their quarrel.
• Li Shimin ordered his memorials sent to Li Chengqian, who summoned Li Tai and Li Ke to help review them.
• Li Shimin argued with Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and other officials, who opposed his plan to lead the overseas campaign against Japan.
• Qing Mo arrived at court and declared that Li Shimin could lead the expedition personally and must do so.

Qing Mo persuaded the Tang ministers to support Li Shimin personally leading an expedition across the sea against Japan, arguing that the emperor’s voyage would usher in a new era of maritime expansion. After the court agreed, Qing Mo revealed his plan for Li Shimin to perform fengshan rites on Japan’s Mount Fuji after its conquest.

• Qing Mo told the ministers that oceans covered most of the world and that the Tang Dynasty had to control the seas to become a world power.
• Qing Mo argued that Li Shimin must personally lead the first overseas expedition to inspire future generations, and the ministers abandoned their objections.
• Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, and the other officials pledged support for Li Shimin’s campaign against Japan.
• Li Junxian summoned Qing Mo to the Hall of Establishing Governance, where Li Shimin praised his persuasion of the court.
• Qing Mo proposed that Li Shimin offer sacrifices to Heaven and perform fengshan rites on Mount Fuji after conquering Japan, making him the first emperor to do so overseas.

Qing Mo took Li Shimin, Li Chengqian, Li Xiu'er, and the officials overseas to see blue whales and explore North America, where the group began imagining Tang expansion. The chapter ended with Qing Mo killing several bison and promising Li Shimin a recipe for their bull whips.

• Zheng Ping'an brought Li Xiu'er to join Qing Mo and the Tang court, and Li Chengqian secretly held her hand during the trip.
• Qing Mo flew the group over the sea, introduced them to blue whales, and arranged for them to touch one.
• Qing Mo brought the group to North America, where Li Shimin and the officials admired the land and discussed Tang expansion.
• Li Tai hinted at being enfeoffed in the new land, while Li Shimin rebuked him; the court's discussion was part of a plan to mislead the great clans about Li Ke's and Li Tai's intended territories.
• Qing Mo showed the group a herd of North American bison, killed five bulls, and told Li Shimin to collect their bull whips for a medicinal stew.

Qing Mo took Li Shimin and his companions to Africa and Australia, where they encountered unfamiliar animals, rode ostriches, and admired the scenery. They returned to the Tang Dynasty with exotic animals and an amethyst, and the next morning, Chang'an's people were astonished by the strange creatures.

• Qing Mo explained Africa's animals to Li Shimin and the others, who mistook giraffes for qilin.
• Qing Mo summoned ostriches for Li Chengqian, Li Shimin, Cheng Yaojin, and the others to ride across the grasslands, while he photographed them.
• Qing Mo brought ostriches and giraffes back to the Tang Dynasty and gave Li Shimin an amethyst to set in his crown.
• Qing Mo led the group to Australia, where they watched the sunset from atop Ayers Rock and took photographs.
• Qing Mo returned the group to the Tang Dynasty, and the next morning Chang'an's people were astonished by the exotic animals.

Li Shimin led a Tang fleet across the sea to Japan, where Qing Mo and the officials celebrated Wei Zheng’s enormous fishing catch during the voyage. After the fleet landed and bombarded Japan, they found a rich gold mine, leaving Li Shimin thrilled at the wealth Tang would claim.

• Li Shimin led thirty thousand naval troops and more than a hundred cannon-equipped ships toward Japan, while Yuchi Gong suffered seasickness and Qing Mo gave him sour plums.
• Wei Zheng discussed building more schools, then joined Li Shimin and the others in fishing; with everyone’s help, he hauled in a giant grouper weighing over a hundred jin and posed for a photograph with it.
• The Tang fleet arrived in Japan and opened fire with its cannons as soon as the enemy came within range.
• Qing Mo led the landed Tang forces to a rich gold mine, where a miner quickly unearthed a fist-sized piece of natural gold.
• Li Shimin accepted the gold, declared the mine Tang’s, and ordered generous rewards for the soldiers and officials.

Li Shimin and Qing Mo led the Tang army in conquering Japan, taking its capital and capturing its Heavenly Locust as Li Shimin prepared to hold an overseas Fengshan ceremony. After Qing Mo explained how Zhao Heng’s Mount Tai ceremony had discredited the tradition, Li Shimin embraced the idea of opening a separate table for his own ceremony overseas.

• Li Shimin’s army swept across Japan, while Wei Zheng kept accounts and Japanese captives were forced to work in the mines.
• After a Japanese envoy offered to surrender most of Japan, Qing Mo ordered the envoy killed and the other envoys sent to the mines.
• The Tang army advanced on Japan’s capital, shattered its walls with cannon fire, stormed the royal palace, and captured the Heavenly Locust alive.
• Li Shimin rewarded the soldiers who entered the palace first and discussed holding an overseas Fengshan ceremony with Qing Mo.
• Qing Mo told Li Shimin about the emperors who had performed Fengshan ceremonies and explained Zhao Heng’s reputation as the Mount Tai Terminator.
• Li Shimin laughed and declared that he would hold his own ceremony overseas, opening a separate table throughout history.

Qing Mo persuaded Wei Zheng to support Li Shimin performing the Fengshan ceremony on Japan’s sacred mountain, arguing that the overseas rite would proclaim Tang’s power without burdening its people. After preparations were made, Li Shimin completed the ceremony before the princes, ministers, and army, leaving the gathering acclaiming him as Emperor.

• Qing Mo proposed that Li Shimin hold the Fengshan ceremony in Japan, and Wei Zheng initially objected because it would burden the people.
• Qing Mo convinced Wei Zheng that an overseas ceremony would promote Tang’s maritime ambitions and use resources already available in Japan.
• Qing Mo told Li Shimin, Cheng Yaojin, and Yuchi Gong that Wei Zheng had agreed, and Li Shimin sent Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong to help prepare the route and mountain.
• Tang soldiers cleared the roads and swept the surrounding forests as Li Shimin and the assembled princes and officials traveled to the Wa Islands Sacred Mountain.
• Li Shimin ascended the mountain, recited his sacrificial proclamation, and received the assembled crowd’s kneeling cries of “Long live the Emperor.”

Tang Jian led a two-ship expedition from Dengzhou to circumnavigate the world while Li Shimin and Qing Mo later discussed how the Tang Dynasty survived for a century after the An Lushan Rebellion. Qing Mo credited the dynasty’s longevity to Li Shimin’s Black Tortoise Gate succession system, leaving Li Shimin stunned.

• After a year of preparations, Tang Jian and nearly two hundred crew members gathered at Dengzhou as Li Shimin, Li Chengqian, Qing Mo, and the court saw them off.
• Qing Mo gave Tang Jian writing supplies and urged him to document everything the expedition encountered for future generations.
• Tang Jian led the crew aboard two treasure ships, drew the Tang-Pacifying Blade, and ordered the fleet to set sail.
• On his day off, Li Shimin visited Qing Mo’s residence, enjoyed a meal, and learned how Qing Mo prepared Six-Shrimp Noodles.
• Li Shimin asked how the Tang Dynasty endured for more than a century after the An Lushan Rebellion, and Qing Mo said its survival stemmed mainly from Li Shimin’s Black Tortoise Gate succession system.
• Li Shimin sprang upright in shock at Qing Mo’s answer.

Qing Mo reassured Li Shimin that the Black Tortoise Gate succession system had helped produce resilient Tang emperors, easing his guilt over the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Li Shimin then persuaded Qing Mo to devise a way to preserve that legacy without tarnishing his reputation, paying him with two treasures and losing his beloved Wang Xizhi painting.

• Qing Mo explained that the Black Tortoise Gate succession system had selected capable, determined Tang rulers and helped the dynasty endure repeated crises, easing Li Shimin’s remorse over his descendants’ deaths.
• Qing Mo began recounting how a performance of Prince of Qin Breaks the Formation had extended the Tang Dynasty’s life by thirty years, leaving Li Shimin moved by the story.
• Li Shimin asked Qing Mo to help future Tang emperors gain the system’s benefits without blaming him for it, and Qing Mo initially denied having a solution.
• Li Shimin offered Qing Mo two items from his treasury in exchange for a plan, and Qing Mo agreed despite worrying that it would burden Li Chengqian.
• Qing Mo requested sheets of blank paper stamped with the Imperial Heirloom Seal and Wang Xizhi’s Timely Clearing After Snowfall, leaving Li Shimin furious at losing another treasured work.

Li Shimin learned that the Imperial Heirloom Seal would vanish in the future and entrusted Qing Mo with preserving it forever. Qing Mo then persuaded him to be buried beyond China’s borders, turning his tomb into a lasting pressure on Li Chengqian and his descendants to defend and expand the realm.

• Li Shimin learned that the Imperial Heirloom Seal would be lost after Li Congke burned himself to death with it, so he asked Qing Mo to protect the seal and ensure it remained in China forever.
• Qing Mo used Words Become Law to make the Imperial Heirloom Seal indestructible and impossible to remove from China in this time and space.
• In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke complained as they worked through memorials, while Li Chengqian briefly shuddered without knowing why.
• Qing Mo showed Li Shimin maps comparing Tang territory with China fourteen hundred years later and proposed that Li Shimin be buried beyond China’s borders.
• Qing Mo explained that Li Shimin’s foreign tomb could encourage later emperors to expand China, give Li family descendants a pretext to challenge weak rulers, and reinforce the legitimacy of Li Chengqian’s succession.
• Li Shimin embraced Qing Mo’s plan, deciding to die and be buried outside China so his tomb would keep pressure on Li Chengqian and his descendants.

Over the decades, Qing Mo helped the Tang Dynasty become a world-spanning power, and Li Chengqian succeeded Li Shimin as emperor. As Li Shimin lay dying, he entrusted Qing Mo with safeguarding the dynasty; Qing Mo promised to watch over it for a hundred years before leaving the world with his family.

• Tang Jian returned from the first voyage around the world with fewer than ninety survivors, and later died after living a fulfilled life.
• Li Shimin abdicated in favor of Li Chengqian, who married Li Xiu'er, took the reign title Yongle, and showered Qing Mo with honors.
• When Li Shimin fell gravely ill, Qing Mo took Li Chengqian to his bedside, where Li Shimin refused more elixirs and entrusted Qing Mo with the Golden Longwhip, As If I Were Present.
• Qing Mo promised to leave an avatar to protect the Tang Dynasty for a hundred years and, if necessary, use the whip to replace a disastrous emperor with a wise ruler.
• Li Shimin died aged sixty-one and was buried with Empress Wende at the border of Asia and Europe; Qing Mo witnessed his soul reincarnate in the cultivation world.
• In the sixteenth year of Yongle, Qing Mo left the Tang Dynasty with his wives, pets, and mounts after leaving an avatar behind.

Qing Mo discovered and extracted an Eerie Parasite that had been draining Feng Shayan’s divine body, cultivation, and vitality. After learning the parasite’s owner had fled to another divine domain, he promised to help Feng Shayan recover and take her to seek revenge.

• Xiao Yayun led Qing Mo and the others through a teleportation array to the Goddess Palace, where they found Feng Shayan’s body and cultivation nearly depleted.
• Qing Mo identified an Eerie Parasite fused with Feng Shayan and painfully extracted it, stabilizing her condition.
• Qing Mo explained that the parasite had been secretly raised to drain Feng Shayan for its owner, and that her lost strength had become that person’s nourishment.
• Qing Mo traced the culprit through the parasite’s karmic ties and promised to help Feng Shayan recover before taking her to another divine domain to retaliate.
• Mo Yanyu and the others prepared to cook while He Xi and Yun Zhiyi took the parasite to study; Feng Shayan then led Qing Mo to the lotus pool, with Angel Leng following.

After his avatar returned from the Tang Dynasty, Qing Mo reunited with his companions and learned they had killed Jun Zile in a secret realm. During a flight afterward, the group stopped an attack on a mountain village, then killed the surviving girl after mistaking her for a demonic cultivator.

• Qing Mo's avatar returned after a hundred years in the Tang Dynasty, reported that it had deposed Li Chengqian's corrupt great-grandson, and merged with him.
• Angel Leng, Xiao Yayun, and the others returned from a secret realm, where they had killed Jun Zile, his Dao Protector, and several fellow disciples.
• Qing Mo and his companions left the Flame Universe Divine Sect to find dinner, but Xiao Yayun spotted an evil aura and led them toward it.
• Xiao Yayun and Yun Zhiyi killed the evil cultivators slaughtering a mountain village, leaving one terrified little girl alive.
• The girl blamed Qing Mo's group for arriving too late, and Angel Leng, Xia He, and the others mistook her for a possessing demonic cultivator and killed her.

Qing Mo and his companions arrived in Yongchu City, shopped, and sat down to eat before Gao Shengwu barged into their private room and demanded their food and the women’s company. Qing Mo killed Gao Shengwu and his men, then announced that they would visit the Gao Family and see how many relatives came looking for revenge.

• Qing Mo and his companions entered Yongchu City, where the women bought ornaments and other goods as they explored the streets.
• At a restaurant, Qing Mo and his companions enjoyed the signature dishes, with Qing Mo feeding several of the women.
• Gao Shengwu kicked open their private-room door and demanded the deer liver, fish-dragon marrow, and Yun Zhiyi and Haruhara Ikumi’s company.
• After Gao Shengwu identified himself as a member of the Gao Family, Qing Mo killed him, his attendants, and the hidden guardian with a single command.
• Qing Mo reassured the innkeeper and waiter, then told his companions they would visit the Gao Family before its members came seeking revenge.

After Gao Shengwu was killed, the Gao Family sent Gao Fangmao and a powerful retainer to capture Qing Mo and his companions, while the other great families considered how to exploit the conflict. Qing Mo’s group learned that the Gao Family was coming, and their courtyard was attacked just as they prepared to fight.

• Gao Yansheng learned that Gao Shengwu had been killed and ordered Gao Fangmao to take men and Consecrated Elder Liu after the culprits.
• Bai Jingru and Bai Jianxi discussed whether the outsiders could withstand the Gao Family, while Wang Changsong sent Wang Teng to warn them and stir up trouble; the Chen Family stayed uninvolved.
• Qing Mo and his companions waited comfortably in their courtyard, with Feng Shayan and Angel Leng eager to fight the Gao Family’s people.
• Yun Zhiyi returned from the gate and reported that a disguised messenger had warned them Gao Fangmao and the mid-stage God Venerable retainer Liu were approaching.
• Angel Leng claimed Liu as her opponent, and the women agreed that Haruhara Ikumi would support them from the rear.
• The courtyard wall collapsed, and a fierce palm strike shot through the dust toward Qing Mo and his companions.

Qing Mo’s group fought the Gao Family after Gao Fangmao confronted them over his relatives’ deaths. Angel Leng crippled Guest Elder Liu with her Violet Nether Divine Eyes, and the women killed Gao Fangmao before returning to Qing Mo, who rewarded Xiao Yayun despite winning their bet.

• Gao Fangmao and his subordinates attacked Qing Mo’s group, and the women charged into battle while Xiao Yayun stayed to massage Qing Mo’s shoulders.
• Angel Leng broke Guest Elder Liu’s spine and used Violet Nether Divine Eyes to devastate his consciousness and divine soul.
• The women killed several Gao Family subordinates, while Yun Zhiyi fought Gao Fangmao and drew him away from Yongchu City.
• Chengcheng and the others joined Yun Zhiyi, overwhelmed Gao Fangmao, and killed him; Angel Leng returned carrying the crippled Guest Elder Liu.
• The women brought Gao Fangmao’s head back just before Qing Mo’s predicted time, so he won his bet with Xiao Yayun but still promised to cook her hometown dishes.

After defeating the Gao Family’s Fifth Elder and Liu, Qing Mo moved his household to a secluded courtyard and promised to cook for the women. As the Gao Family sought revenge and the Bai and Wang Families schemed to recruit the group, Qing Mo’s household spent a week feasting before someone knocked at their gate.

• Xiao Yayun revealed that Qing Mo had promised her several days of hometown cooking despite her losing their bet, prompting the other women to demand a share.
• Qing Mo ordered Fifth Gao’s head left in the ruined courtyard, had Angel Leng turn Liu into a human stick, and transported everyone to a secluded courtyard.
• Gao Yanwu flew into a rage over his family’s losses, while the Bai Family debated how to approach Qing Mo’s group and Bai Jianxi advised secretly testing the waters.
• Wang Changsong ordered Wang Teng to recruit Qing Mo’s group for the Wang Family.
• During the following week, Qing Mo cooked lavish meals for the women while the Gao, Bai, and Wang Families searched for his group.
• As Qing Mo and the women ate together, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

Bai Jianxi and Wang Teng each tried to recruit Qing Mo and his companions to their family, but Qing Mo refused both offers. Wang Teng threatened them and attacked, and his protector and Wang Teng were killed in the courtyard.

• Bai Jianxi visited Qing Mo’s group, failed to recruit them, and decided the Bai Family must avoid becoming their enemy.
• Bai Jianxi told Uncle Li that Qing Mo’s gaze had filled her with terror, and she went to inform her grandfather about him.
• Wang Teng visited Qing Mo’s group and offered protection and resources if they joined the Wang Family, but Qing Mo refused.
• Wang Teng threatened Qing Mo, and his two servants and protector attacked; Xiao Yayun and Yun Zhiyi engaged the servants while Haruhara Ikumi crippled and killed the protector.
• Chengcheng, Feng Shayan, Angel Leng, and the other women surrounded Wang Teng, who tried to flee before they killed him.

Qing Mo went to the Wang Family and annihilated the family after its members threatened him and coveted his women. He left with the Wang Family’s resources divided into seven portions for the women waiting at home.

• Angel Leng, Chengcheng, and the others killed Wang Teng and his companions, and Qing Mo announced that he would finish off the Wang Family himself.
• Wang Changsong learned that Wang Teng, his guards, and the family’s Third Elder had died, then vowed revenge as Qing Mo blasted open the Wang Family gates.
• Qing Mo strolled through the estate, killing Wang Family members with a glance as their attacks failed to harm him.
• Wang Haoyuan appeared and attacked Qing Mo, but his palm strike vanished and he exploded into blood mist.
• The surviving Wang Family members begged for mercy, but Qing Mo killed them all, took the family’s resources, and left the ruined estate.