Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning reunited with Lin Qingyi, who had come to the Royal Capital seeking him, and their intimacy revealed the strength of her Lunar Yin inheritance. After she left, he realized their union had restored his energy and accelerated his cultivation, and he resumed training with renewed urgency.

• Jiang Ning met Lin Qingyi, who descended through the moonlight and said she had come to the Royal Capital to find him.
• Lin Qingyi explained that the Lunar Yin inheritance made her body deeply cold, then challenged Jiang Ning before they became intimate that night.
• Jiang Ning woke to find Lin Qingyi gone and sensed that her strength and abilities had grown far beyond his expectations.
• Jiang Ning realized their intimacy had eased his weariness and helped balance yin and yang, while his thoughts returned to Lin Qingyi’s hidden circumstances and inheritance.
• Jiang Ning cultivated in his Inner Landscape Grounds and raised his Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method experience from 10227 to 13167.

Jiang Ning completed the third limit break of the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method, gaining the deep-purple trait Insight into the True Spirit and bringing his Inner Heaven and Earth close to solidifying. As powerful figures across the Royal Capital sensed the disturbance, Jiang Ning discovered that his cultivation speed had increased again.

• Jiang Ning cultivated until the technique reached its experience limit, then spent 50,000 source energy points to trigger its third limit break.
• The three flowers manifested above Jiang Ning and stirred heaven and earth, while Su Qingying contained the disturbance with the array around the National Preceptor's Residence.
• Jiang Li's blood-qi surged in response to the phenomenon, and the Blind Elder, Xiang Yuan, Xiao Wuque, and Li Tianwen sensed the disturbance from across the Royal Capital.
• Jiang Ning gained silver spiritual eyes that let him perceive the inner workings of his essence, qi, and spirit, while the three flowers formed a chaotic pillar around his nearly complete Inner Heaven and Earth.
• Jiang Ning's panel revealed the deep-purple trait Insight into the True Spirit, and he resumed cultivation after noticing his experience gains had accelerated again.

Jiang Ning cultivated the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method while Lü Yi and Zhong Ling arrived safely at the National Preceptor's Residence. On New Year's morning, his Inner Heaven and Earth merged with his body, and he broke through to first-rank Hunyuan.

• Lü Yi and Zhong Ling arrived at the National Preceptor's Residence, where Jiang Ning welcomed them inside.
• Jiang Ning used Insight into the True Spirit to examine his forming Inner Heaven and Earth and foresaw that his breakthrough was near.
• Jiang Ning continued cultivating through the final days of the year as the three flowers and his miniature domain grew more stable.
• At the start of the new year, Jiang Ning's Inner Heaven and Earth merged completely with his body, forming a self-sustaining cycle of essence, qi, and spirit.
• Jiang Ning formed a three-yard Hunyuan domain, sensed the changes in his body, and declared that he had reached first-rank Hunyuan.

After reaching the Hunyuan realm, Jiang Ning celebrated the New Year with his family and friends at the National Preceptor's Residence, where he discovered that his breakthrough had strengthened Jiang Li, Little Doubao, and Jiang Yiming. Su Qingying joined their festivities and gifted Jiang Yiming a secret art, while Jiang Ning invited her to visit friends with him.

• Jiang Ning noticed that Jiang Li and Little Doubao had grown stronger, and Jiang Li said his cultivation had surged while Jiang Ning was in seclusion; Jiang Ning suspected his breakthrough had benefited his blood relatives.
• Jiang Ning told Jiang Li that Jiang Yiming could cultivate at the Dao Palace after the New Year, and Yiming said he was nearing the fifth rank.
• Su Qingying joined the New Year's breakfast, exchanged gifts with the family, gave Little Doubao a jade pendant, and presented Jiang Yiming with the Divine Sword Technique.
• Jiang Ning sparred with Jiang Li and saw how much his brother's strength had improved while the family decorated the residence and celebrated.
• Jiang Ning invited Su Qingying to visit friends with him; she agreed to change into festive clothes before they went.

Jiang Ning and Su Qingying visited Xiang Yuan and Xiao Wuque for the New Year, then enjoyed the temple fair before returning to the National Preceptor's Residence. There they reunited with Ji Minghao and Ji Mingyue, and Little Doubao brought Ji Mingyue and Jiang Ning's hands together.

• Jiang Ning and Su Qingying visited Martial King Manor, where Xiang Yuan welcomed them and spoke about the uneasy quiet on the northern frontier.
• Jiang Ning and Su Qingying visited the Xiao Residence, where Xiao Wuque noticed Jiang Ning's increased strength and warned him to prepare for future threats.
• Jiang Ning bought Su Qingying a hairpin at the temple fair, then sensed familiar visitors near the National Preceptor's Residence.
• Ji Minghao and Ji Mingyue arrived at the residence, gave New Year gifts and money to Jiang Ning's family, and waited for him to return.
• Jiang Ning and Su Qingying returned, and Little Doubao took Ji Mingyue's hand and Jiang Ning's hand and brought them together.

Jiang Ning declined the year-end palace banquet and cultivated at the National Preceptor's Residence, strengthening his Inner Heaven and Earth through the harmonious flow of yin and yang. Lin Qingyi refused Shadow Elder's request to return to Prince Qi's Residence and prepared to face the Old Prince's scrutiny, while Jiang Ning ended the day sharing a peaceful holiday meal with his family.

• Jiang Ning declined Ji Minghao's invitation to the palace banquet, citing his cultivation, and Ji Minghao warned him that the emperor's health was worsening.
• Lin Qingyi completed the refinement of the Lunar Yin power left by her union with Jiang Ning, then refused Shadow Elder's request that she return to Prince Qi's Residence.
• Shadow Elder warned Lin Qingyi that the Old Prince might soon emerge from seclusion and would expect her to remember that everything she had came from him.
• Jiang Ning cultivated his Inner Heaven and Earth, found that lingering Lunar Yin power nourished his soul, and raised his Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method experience above thirty thousand.
• Jiang Ning joined his family for a warm holiday meal and felt content with the peaceful gathering.

Jiang Ning cultivated on year-end day, celebrated New Year's Eve with his family, then used his newly formed domain to travel from the Royal Capital to Luoshui and visit his former master, Wang Jin. He shared wine with Wang Jin and left him three Essence-Nourishing Foundation-Firming Pills before returning to the night.

• Jiang Ning cultivated until dusk, saw that the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method was nearing another limit break, and joined his family for New Year's Eve dinner and fireworks.
• Jiang Ning left the Royal Capital after the celebration and tested how his primal domain let him travel swiftly while conserving his power.
• Jiang Ning reached Luoshui City and entered the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, where he found Wang Jin alone on year-end night.
• Jiang Ning told Wang Jin that he had come from the Royal Capital after dinner, and the two shared wine while Wang Jin spoke about the academy and Jiang Ning's rise.
• Jiang Ning gave Wang Jin three Essence-Nourishing Foundation-Firming Pills, then departed as Wang Jin marveled at how far he had traveled.

Jiang Ning returned to the National Preceptor's Residence on New Year's Eve and spent the night cultivating until he broke the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method's limits for a fourth time. He gained the Threefold Unity trait, which let his essence, qi, and spirit transform into one another, and discovered that Jiang Li, Jiang Yiming, and Little Doubao were also growing through their bond with him.

• Lu Qingshan watched Jiang Ning leave Medicine King Valley and resolved to build his ties with Wang Jin after the new year.
• Jiang Ning visited Dongling City, returned to the Royal Capital at midnight, and entered the National Preceptor's Residence, where Qinghe welcomed him.
• Jiang Ning cultivated through the night until the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method reached its third limit-break threshold.
• Jiang Ning spent 100,000 source energy on a fourth limit break, recalled fragments of his True Spirit, and merged his three flowers into a unified halo.
• Jiang Ning gained the pale-gold Threefold Unity trait, allowing his essence, qi, and spirit to transform into one another and amplify each other.
• Jiang Ning sensed that Jiang Li, Jiang Yiming, and Little Doubao were rising in strength through their invisible bond with him.

Jiang Ning and Lin Qingyi spent the night together, and their yin-yang energies strengthened and stabilized his cultivation. He resolved to protect her from the Prince Who Stands Shoulder to Shoulder with the Emperor and turned his attention to raising his combat strength before the old prince emerged from seclusion.

• Lin Qingyi told Jiang Ning that the old prince was nearing the end of his seclusion and that she might return to Prince Qi's Residence, but Jiang Ning asked her to stay and promised to face the old prince with her.
• Jiang Ning concluded that Lin Qingyi's Lunar Yin inheritance had nourished his Pure Yang body, raised his source energy, and helped stabilize his Inner Heaven and Earth.
• Jiang Ning suspected the old prince had chosen Lin Qingyi as Prince Qi's consort because her constitution could help someone overcome a cultivation bottleneck, and he resolved to protect her.
• Jiang Ning examined the effects of Threefold Unity and found that his essence, qi, and spirit were rapidly approaching balance, with full harmony expected by the next day.
• Jiang Ning decided to set aside the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method for now and considered advancing the Four Seasons Canon and Ninefold Nether Tribulation Fire True Formula to improve his combat strength.

Jiang Ning practiced the Ninefold Nether Tribulation Fire True Formula, discovered that drawing in Great Sun True Fire rapidly advanced his cultivation, and agreed to let Lin Qingyi stay at the National Preceptor's Residence. After arranging her welcome with Su Qingying, he returned to his room to inspect the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Fragments Hong Mian had retrieved.

• Jiang Ning cleansed and tempered his body with the Ninefold Nether Tribulation Fire True Formula while preserving his seven emotions and six desires.
• Jiang Ning drew Great Sun True Fire into his dantian, refined his inner elixir, and gained substantial experience in both the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and the Ninefold Nether Tribulation Fire True Formula.
• Jiang Ning told Lin Qingyi that she could stay at the National Preceptor's Residence, and Lin Qingyi agreed to face the Co-Regent King with him.
• Jiang Ning explained Lin Qingyi's situation to Su Qingying, who approved of her staying; Lin Qingyi thanked Su Qingying, and the two chose to talk together.
• Hong Mian told Jiang Ning that she had placed the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Fragments from Myriad Splendor Tower in his room, and Jiang Ning hurried to retrieve them.

Jiang Ning opened the chest and mastered the Autumn and Winter solar-term fragments, combining them into the Autumn Canon and Winter Canon. With all four seasonal canons now assembled but at different levels, he set aside uniting them and prepared to advance the Ninefold Nether Tribulation Fire True Formula.

• Jiang Ning snapped the chest’s brass lock, found all twenty-four solar-term fragments, and began studying the autumn intents.
• Jiang Ning mastered the six autumn solar terms, which merged into the Autumn Canon.
• Jiang Ning studied the six winter fragments outdoors and mastered them, causing them to merge into the Winter Canon.
• Jiang Ning examined the four seasonal canons and realized he needed to raise them to the same realm before he could unite the four seasons.
• Jiang Ning postponed the Four Seasons Return to Origin and decided to cultivate the Ninefold Nether Tribulation Fire True Formula while the sun was high.

Jiang Ning cultivated the first chapter of the Ninefold Nether Tribulation Fire True Formula, then spent 100,000 source energy to break through and gain the Water-Fire Two-Tribulation Body. Elsewhere, Xia Xuanyan arrived at the Curse-Killing Altar, which was ready to target Jiang Ning once it obtained a trace of him.

• Jiang Ning drew in spiritual mist and Great Sun True Fire, refining his inner elixir and advancing his cultivation techniques.
• Jiang Ning reached the formula's third limit-break threshold and spent 100,000 source energy to begin the next breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning endured alternating water and fire tribulations that tempered his body and granted him the Water-Fire Two-Tribulation Body.
• Jiang Ning recalled the Great Heavenly Venerable's teachings on the formula's three chapters and reflected on its path of water, fire, yin, and yang.
• Xia Xuanyan arrived at a remote altar, where an elderly woman told him the Curse-Killing Altar was ready to strike Jiang Ning once they obtained his blood, flesh, hair, or similar material.

Xia Xuanyan enlisted the Heaven-Crying Cult Master to curse Jiang Ning with a slow, debilitating ritual meant to pressure him into joining the Primordial Yellow Grotto-Heaven. The chapter ended with Jiang Ning suddenly suffering chest pain and coughing up blood, unaware that the curse had begun.

• Xia Xuanyan met the Heaven-Crying Cult Master at Heaven-Crying Mountain and gave her a strand of Jiang Ning’s hair as the curse’s medium.
• The Heaven-Crying Cult Master used the hair and a ritual doll to begin a long-range curse, while Xia Xuanyan paid her with a Primordial Yellow One-Qi Pill.
• Xia Xuanyan said he wanted Jiang Ning to suffer a slow decline and despair, and promised a second pill once Jiang Ning died.
• After Xia Xuanyan left, the Heaven-Crying Cult Master told her attendant that he likely intended to make Jiang Ning join the Primordial Yellow Grotto-Heaven and ordered her to oversee the curse.
• At the National Preceptor’s Residence, Jiang Ning sensed a stabbing pain in his chest, spat up saliva mixed with gold, and realized he had been injured despite finding no wound.

Jiang Ning discovered that a killing curse was eroding his body, but found that the Ice Coffin could halt its effects and restore him. He concealed his countermeasure from visitors and let them believe the curse was still weakening him, while Lin Qingyi arrived with Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan.

• Jiang Ning sensed a frigid power around his heart, recognized it as a curse, and realized someone was targeting him after his recent displays of strength.
• Jiang Ning entered the Ice Coffin and found that it isolated him from the curse; he restored his body with his vitality and blood before emerging.
• A blind old man at the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau concluded the curse had no known solution and sent ripples toward several important locations.
• Su Qingying visited Jiang Ning after hearing from the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau, and he concealed the Ice Coffin's protection while allowing the curse to erode him.
• Lin Qingyi arrived with Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan; Jiang Ning reassured Liu Wanwan, while Lin Qingyi sensed the cursed power and hesitated to speak.

Jiang Ning concealed his ability to resist the curse, while friends and Emperor Changning worried over his condition and sought ways to help. By the end, Xiao Wuque and Xiang Yuan learned Jiang Ning was deliberately letting the curse spread to mislead his hidden enemies.

• Lin Qingyi suppressed the curse's corrosive power in Jiang Ning's chest and said she would stay with him to help.
• Xiao Wuque told Xiang Yuan that Jiang Ning had already reached the first-rank Primordial Unity realm, giving him some ability to withstand the curse.
• Chief Steward Hai reported Jiang Ning's curse to Emperor Changning, who abandoned a plan against him and sent Nine-Turn Reviving Sun Grass and Wang the Divine Physician to help.
• Ji Mingyue went to Emperor Changning and asked whether Jiang Ning could survive, then asked to visit him.
• Xiao Wuque and Xiang Yuan visited Jiang Ning, who revealed he was deliberately showing weakness and allowing the curse to spread so his enemies would not strengthen it.
• Xiao Wuque agreed that Jiang Ning should temporarily let the curse erode him to mislead the enemy watching from the shadows.

Jiang Ning and his allies discussed how to conceal and resist the curse, while Wang the Divine Physician examined him and warned that it could progress through three stages. The emperor’s gifts briefly eased the curse, and Ji Mingyue and Ji Minghao promised to help Jiang Ning survive.

• Jiang Ning told Xiao Wuque that his Primordial Unity Domain and blood and qi could suppress some of the curse, while Lin Qingyi offered to neutralize more of it with lunar yin power.
• Ji Minghao, Ji Mingyue, Chief Steward Hai, and Wang the Divine Physician arrived at the National Preceptor's Residence with the emperor’s gifts and an offer to examine Jiang Ning.
• Wang the Divine Physician diagnosed a powerful curse that could reach Jiang Ning’s organs within seven to ten days, then target his qi sea, dantian, and divine soul; he said only destroying its ritual could end it at the source.
• Wang the Divine Physician gave Jiang Ning a Vitality Pill, and Chief Steward Hai delivered three stalks of Nine-Turn Reviving Sun Grass from the emperor.
• Jiang Ning took the pill, which eased his pain and drove back the curse, while Ji Mingyue and Ji Minghao vowed to help him; Ji Minghao then encouraged Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue to take a walk together.

Jiang Ning reassured Ji Mingyue that his Primordial Unity realm could withstand the curse, then secretly used the curse as cover while strengthening himself. After stabilizing his cultivation and refining the Vitality Pill, he turned to practicing the Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword as he prepared for the old prince’s likely challenge.

• Ji Mingyue begged Jiang Ning to let her bear his heir, but he revealed that his Inner Heaven and Earth could block most of the curse and convinced her he was not about to die.
• Ji Minghao warned Jiang Ning not to leave regrets for Ji Mingyue before departing with her, and Jiang Ning reconsidered his opinion of him.
• Jiang Ning examined the curse and refined the Vitality Pill into nourishment, strengthening his blood and qi while allowing the curse to remain as a false sign of his decline.
• Jiang Ning assessed the path from Primordial Unity to the Unity Realm and concluded that patient cultivation and stronger Martial Dao techniques were needed for further progress.
• Jiang Ning considered the old prince’s impending return and noticed that his Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword had reached minor mastery, then prepared to practice it with his sword blank.

Jiang Ning prepared to leave the Royal Capital for Guangning Prefecture while publicly displaying the effects of the curse that was consuming his organs. After mastering the Grand Void Sword Domain, he departed with Ji Mingyue on an imperial Cloudshadow Crane, as Emperor Changning’s failing health raised questions about his plans.

• Jiang Ning told Lin Qingyi that Guangning Prefecture had requested reinforcements against the Immortal Crossing Sect and Heaven-Answering Alliance, and that he planned to travel south while appearing gravely ill.
• Jiang Ning’s Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword reached major mastery, giving him the Grand Void Sword Domain and the ability to vanish from Lin Qingyi’s sight.
• Jiang Ning allowed the curse to continue eroding his organs and decided to leave the Royal Capital openly, trusting his new domain to protect him.
• Ji Mingyue arrived with the imperial Cloudshadow Crane and said Emperor Changning had ordered her to accompany Jiang Ning south.
• Jiang Ning agreed to travel with Ji Mingyue, said farewell to his family and companions, and asked Su Qingying to stall Prince Qi’s old prince if he came to take Lin Qingyi away.

Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue left the Royal Capital on a celestial crane so he could serve as a provincial inspector despite the curse ravaging his organs. As they flew south, onlookers discussed the danger awaiting him in Guangning Prefecture, while Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue enjoyed their journey above the clouds.

• Ji Minghao, the Third Prince, and the Fifth Prince greeted Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue at the Southern Gate; the Fifth Prince's Dragon Bone Wine triggered Jiang Ning's violent coughing, and Ji Minghao gave him Nine-Peak Jade Dew that temporarily halted the curse's spread.
• Ji Mingya arrived to see Ji Mingyue off and urged Jiang Ning to protect her sister and take care of his health.
• Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue departed on the celestial crane as Xiao Wuque and a blind old man judged that Jiang Ning could not escape the death calamity.
• At Ten-Li Town, jianghu wanderers discussed the fighting in Guangning Prefecture, Ji Mingzhou's strength, and the risks Jiang Ning would face; news of his departure spread from the town.
• Above the clouds, Jiang Ning sensed that the sunlight would help his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, while Ji Mingyue enjoyed the flight before the crane's sudden flip sent her tumbling into his arms.

Shen Wenyuan sought the retired Nine-River Dragon, Wang Wenzong, as Guangning Prefecture faced the Heaven-Answering Alliance and the threatened destruction or defection of the Zhuge Family. Wang Wenzong received Shen Wenyuan and Ye Zhengqi, but had not yet agreed to help.

• Zhu Huaijin and Liu Teng debated whether Guangning Prefecture should risk confronting the Heaven-Answering Alliance to save the Zhuge Family.
• Shen Wenyuan learned that Wang Wenzong would only protect Guangning City, then decided to personally ask him to intervene.
• Shen Wenyuan explained to Ye Zhengqi that outside reinforcements were unlikely and that Wang Wenzong was their only hope.
• Shen Wenyuan and Ye Zhengqi reached Wang Wenzong’s residence, where a child let them inside.
• Wang Wenzong invited Shen Wenyuan and Ye Zhengqi to sit with him for wine, while Shen appealed to the people of Guangning Prefecture.