Chapter Summaries

Gun Juan delivered Daji’s evidence against Queen Jiang Wenqiang to Du Yuanxian, who began arranging to use it against her. At Nuwa Temple, Di Xin carefully inspected the offerings and made Du Yuanxian carry the incense, leaving the hidden Daoist Zhunti anxious that his scheme had not worked.

• Gun Juan identified herself to Du Yuanxian and gave him evidence of Queen Jiang Wenqiang’s crimes along with a communication incense stick.
• Du Yuanxian passed the evidence to his steward and secretly instructed him to leave through the back gate.
• Di Xin and his family led a large procession from Chaoge City to Nuwa Temple to offer incense.
• Warned by Yang Jian, Di Xin scrutinized the temple and its incense for signs of a hidden scheme before choosing the largest sticks.
• Di Xin gave the incense to Du Yuanxian to place in the censer, and Du Yuanxian found that it weighed as heavily as Mount Tai in his hands.
• Daoist Zhunti grew anxious as Di Xin delayed placing the tampered incense in the censer.

Daoist Zhunti used a Saint's method to control Di Xin and make him inscribe a lewd poem in Nuwa Temple, but Yang Jian summoned the Saints of Azure Lotus Island. Nuwa and the other Saints surrounded Zhunti, while Di Xin and the officials left the hall at Nuwa's instruction.

• Daoist Zhunti drew Di Xin into an illusion and controlled his body, making him carve a lewd poem on Nuwa Temple's wall and refuse to erase it.
• Yang Jian sensed Zhunti's aura and called for help, prompting the Three Pure Ones, Fuxi, and his sister to appear above Nuwa Temple and seal the surrounding space.
• The Saints' arrival broke Zhunti's control, and Di Xin regained command of himself as Yang Jian explained that a Saint had plotted against him.
• Nuwa confronted Daoist Zhunti and threatened his Western Religion with the consequences, while Tongtian noted that Zhunti had returned to the Heavenly Dao before.
• Daoist Zhunti revealed himself as Nuwa and the other Saints surrounded him, and Di Xin led the officials in greeting the Saints.
• Nuwa dismissed Di Xin and the officials from the main hall, saying she had matters to discuss with them later.

Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones attacked Daoist Zhunti for manipulating Di Xin, but he destroyed his body and fled as a relic toward Mount Sumeru. After Di Xin returned to Chaoge, Du Yuanxian committed himself to his scheme against Queen Jiang, while Daji reconsidered her path as a Saint’s death brought a rain of blood.

• Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones attacked Daoist Zhunti, and Fuxi trapped him with the Earth-Mountains and Rivers Statecraft Diagram.
• Daoist Zhunti destroyed his physical body, ruined Nuwa Temple, and escaped toward Mount Sumeru as a relic while the five Saints pursued him.
• Di Xin ordered Nuwa Temple rebuilt and Daoist Zhunti’s deeds publicized, then discussed the suspected conspiracy with Yang Jian.
• Du Yuanxian decided to embrace darkness and sent evidence against Queen Jiang to Bi Gan, who suspected it was a trap and took it to Shang Rong.
• Daji worried about the struggle between Saints and considered her connection to Tushan Nüjiao as a rain of blood announced a Saint’s death.

Daji abandoned the Teaching of Elucidation’s plan and confessed her true identity and mission to Di Xin, hoping to escape her fate as an evil consort. Di Xin heard her out and lifted her chin, leaving her request to become his pawn unresolved.

• Daji feared that following her sect’s orders would lead to her death, so she asked Gun Juan to accompany her to Xiande Hall and help her see Di Xin.
• Shang Qingjun urged Di Xin to meet Daji, and he agreed to hear her confession.
• Daji told Di Xin that she was a Tushan Nine-Tailed Fox sent by Guangchengzi to impersonate Su Hu’s daughter and ruin Great Shang from within.
• Di Xin questioned why Daji had betrayed the Teaching of Elucidation, and she explained that she wanted to fight for her own fate rather than become an infamous evil consort.
• Daji admitted that the events at Nuwa Temple had changed her mind and offered to become Di Xin’s pawn; Di Xin laughed, rose, and lifted her chin.

Daji tried to prove her loyalty to Di Xin by investigating an attack on Bi Gan and Shang Rong, then used her natal blood essence to revive Bi Gan. As she prepared to save Shang Rong, an unknown voice questioned how many drops of blood essence she had.

• Daji swore loyalty to Di Xin and revealed that Jiang Ziya would soon aid Xiqi while court officials planned to frame Di Xin.
• Zhu Sheng reported that Bi Gan and Shang Rong had been attacked, and Di Xin sent Daji to investigate with his jade pendant.
• Di Xin and Shang Qingjun revealed that Yang Jian was secretly protecting Bi Gan and treated the mission as a test of Daji.
• Daji told Gun Juan she had chosen to protect their family by siding with Di Xin, then found Bi Gan and Shang Rong apparently dead at Bi Gan's residence.
• Daji used a drop of her natal blood essence to revive Bi Gan and prepared to use another on Shang Rong before a voice warned her about the limits of her blood essence.

Daji sacrificed her blood essence to save Bi Gan and Shang Rong, losing most of her cultivation and tails. After Yang Jian revealed he had wounded the ministers, Di Xin reassured Daji and Yang Jian gave her a Yellow-Center Plum to restore her nine tails.

• Daji used her blood essence to heal Shang Rong and help save him and Bi Gan, then withdrew to recover as the ministers declared their apparent deaths would be kept secret.
• Daji discovered she had lost several tails and confronted Yang Jian, who admitted he had stabbed Bi Gan and Shang Rong.
• When Di Xin entered, Daji warned him that Yang Jian was responsible and tried to shield the king from him.
• Shang Qingjun explained that Yang Jian was a Dao Sect protector rather than a disciple of the Teaching of Elucidation, and Daji recognized him as Yang Erlang of Guanjiangkou.
• Yang Jian gave Daji a Yellow-Center Plum that could restore her nine tails, and Di Xin promised to grant her the title she desired if she remained by his side.

Di Xin and his allies planned to manipulate the Teaching of Elucidation’s scheme while protecting Daji and Shang Qingjun. The chapter left them learning that Jiang Huan was preparing to flee Chaoge, with Yang Jian awaiting orders on how to deal with him.

• Shang Rong proposed faking his and Bi Gan’s deaths to draw out Queen Jiang and make Daji appear to be the successful demon consort in the Teaching of Elucidation’s plan.
• Di Xin rejected the idea of making Daji a scapegoat and decided to make Shang Qingjun Queen and Daji Noble Consort, using Qingjun’s fate to keep the enemy unsuspecting.
• Daji discovered that Bi Gan and Shang Rong had faked their deaths and learned that she was being considered for Queen.
• Di Xin explained that making Qingjun Queen would protect her and Shang Rong from the Teaching of Elucidation’s schemes.
• Yang Jian’s Howling Celestial Hound reported that Jiang Huan was packing to flee Chaoge, and asked how to deal with him.

Di Xin devised a plan with Yang Jian to expose the traitors while making himself appear tyrannical, as Queen Jiang plotted to kill Daji. Queen Jiang’s attempt to get Wen Zhong to intervene failed when he left to suppress a rebellion, leaving her worried and Jiang Huan still in her hands.

• Daji warned Di Xin that capturing Jiang Huan would not prevent people from accusing him of framing Queen Jiang, so Di Xin decided to embrace the tyrant’s reputation and root out Great Shang’s traitors.
• Yang Jian sent the Howling Celestial Hound to retrieve Jiang Huan and transformed into Jiang Huan, then agreed to disguise himself as the old chancellor as part of Di Xin’s plan.
• Queen Jiang learned that Bi Gan and Shang Rong had been attacked, welcomed the real Jiang Huan into the palace in disguise, and began plotting to kill Daji.
• When Queen Jiang heard Di Xin had gone to Longevity Immortal Palace, she sent word to Wen Zhong, expecting him to remove him from Daji’s company.
• Wen Zhong was driven away from the palace, then left to lead troops against King Pingling of the East Sea, forcing Queen Jiang to postpone her plan against Daji.
• Queen Jiang grew fearful of Daji’s influence and privately reminded herself that she had not yet had the chance to kill Jiang Huan.

Di Xin promoted Daji and ordered a search of officials’ homes after the failed assassination of Bi Gan and Shang Rong. The search uncovered corrupt officials, and Daji proposed Bronze Scorching as their punishment, which Di Xin ordered built for a public execution.

• Di Xin announced that Daji had saved Bi Gan and Shang Rong, elevated her to Noble Consort, and appointed Su Hu Imperial Father-in-Law.
• Di Xin charged Wen Zhong with suppressing the East Sea rebellion and put Huang Feihu in charge of military affairs at court.
• After E Lai reported that the assassin remained at large, Di Xin ordered searches of all officials’ residences.
• E Lai and Huang Feihu searched for three days, failed to find the assassin, and filled a prison with corrupt officials.
• Daji proposed Bronze Scorching to punish the corrupt officials, and Di Xin ordered Fei Zhong and You Hun to build it for a public execution.

Queen Jiang’s assassination plot against Daji and Di Xin was exposed, but the ministers persuaded Di Xin to spare her and confine her in the Cold Palace. As Di Xin advanced a plan to replace Du Yuanxian and find teachers for his sons, Yin Jiao and Yin Hong rescued the deposed queen, and Yang Jian warned that Huang Feihu would not be able to bring them back.

• Queen Jiang sent a secret letter summoning Jiang Huanchu to Chaoge, and Di Xin learned of her plot and ordered E Lai to ambush Jiang Huan.
• E Lai’s men captured Jiang Huan during his attempt to kill Daji, while Di Xin arrested Queen Jiang and presented the evidence against her at Nine-Room Hall.
• Shang Rong, Bi Gan, and other ministers urged Di Xin not to execute Queen Jiang or attack Eastern Lu, so Di Xin executed Jiang Huan and confined the queen in the Cold Palace.
• Di Xin, Shang Rong, Bi Gan, and Yang Jian discussed Shang Rong taking Du Yuanxian’s identity, and Di Xin asked Yang Jian to train Yin Jiao and Yin Hong.
• Zhu Sheng reported that Yin Jiao and Yin Hong had taken Queen Jiang from the Cold Palace, and Yang Jian told Huang Feihu to make a commotion because he would not be able to bring the princes back.

Yang Jian explained the Teaching of Elucidation’s plan for Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, and Chen Xuan arrived in Xiande Hall to reassure Di Xin and direct him to build a Deer Terrace with an Investiture Platform. Chen Xuan revealed that the princes would eventually reconcile with Di Xin and help suppress the rebels, while the Teaching of Elucidation would disguise its support for Xiqi as a campaign against corrupt officials and demon consorts.

• Yang Jian told Di Xin and his court that Guangchengzi and Chijingzi had steered Yin Jiao and Yin Hong toward a conflict with their father so the Teaching of Elucidation could use them.
• Bi Gan and Shang Rong worried about the princes betraying the Human Race and the prospect of Di Xin killing his sons, but Yang Jian said Great Shang’s fate depended on the calamity’s outcome.
• Chen Xuan appeared in Xiande Hall, identified himself as the Qinglian Patriarch, and said he would stay in Chaoge under the guise of overseeing a Deer Terrace.
• Chen Xuan gave Di Xin a blueprint for an Investiture Platform to be built within the Deer Terrace and explained that the princes would be taken from the execution ground by their masters.
• Chen Xuan said Yin Jiao and Yin Hong would later turn against their side, reconcile with Di Xin, and help suppress the rebels, while the Teaching of Elucidation framed its support for Xiqi as purging corrupt ministers and demon consorts.

Chen Xuan explained the Teaching of Elucidation’s plan to eliminate Di Xin and Great Shang’s heirs, then urged Di Xin to bring Yin Jiao and Yin Hong back. The chapter left Yang Jian on his way to confront Guangchengzi and Chijingzi, while Chen Xuan adopted the identity of Junior Minister Chen Xuan in Chaoge.

• Chen Xuan explained that the Teaching of Elucidation planned to force Di Xin to execute his sons and take his own life, clearing the way for Ji Chang to rule.
• Chen Xuan warned that the Teaching of Elucidation would prevent Yin Jiao and Yin Hong from reaching Eastern Lu and becoming a rallying point for the feudal lords.
• Di Xin decided to have Yin Jiao and Yin Hong brought back and tell them why their mother had been confined to the Cold Palace.
• Chen Xuan sent Yang Jian to retrieve the princes and teach Guangchengzi and Chijingzi a lesson if he encountered them.
• Chen Xuan asked Di Xin to keep his arrival secret and adopted the name Junior Minister Chen Xuan, with Bi Gan explaining how the court should treat him in that guise.
• Chen Xuan asked about Di Xin’s next plan and was shocked by what he heard.

Yang Jian intercepted Yin Jiao, Yin Hong, and Jiang Wenqiang as they fled toward Eastern Lu, then ordered the princes to return with their mother to Chaoge. Yin Jiao attacked him and was easily disarmed, leaving Yang Jian threatening Jiang Wenqiang if the princes resisted.

• Di Xin’s strategy impressed Chen Xuan, who gave his approval to Di Xin’s arrangements.
• Yang Jian and the Howling Celestial Hound intercepted Yin Jiao, Yin Hong, and Jiang Wenqiang in the mountains outside Chaoge.
• Jiang Wenqiang recognized Yang Jian and urged her sons to flee while Guangchengzi and Chijingzi watched from the shadows.
• Yang Jian ordered Yin Jiao and Yin Hong to bring Jiang Wenqiang back to the royal palace, but Yin Jiao accused him of serving treacherous ministers and offered him a reward to escort them to Eastern Lu.
• Yin Jiao charged Yang Jian, whose protective aura knocked the prince’s sword away, and Yang Jian raised his saber toward Jiang Wenqiang to make the princes comply.

Yang Jian captured Jiang Wenqiang and her sons and brought them back to Di Xin, where Chen Xuan exposed her crimes through the river of time. Yin Jiao and Yin Hong learned that their mother and masters had manipulated them, and Di Xin left the punishment of the Jiang clan to his sons.

• Yang Jian bound Jiang Wenqiang, Yin Jiao, and Yin Hong, then carried them to Xiande Hall while Guangchengzi and Chijingzi stayed behind.
• Di Xin confronted Yin Jiao with evidence that Jiang Wenqiang had poisoned him, but she denied the charges and tried to kill herself to turn her sons against him.
• Chen Xuan stopped Jiang Wenqiang and used the Great Dao Law of Time to reveal her past crimes to Yin Jiao and Yin Hong.
• Bi Gan explained that Jiang Wenqiang had plotted to help her father seize Great Shang and that Guangchengzi and Chijingzi had used the princes as scapegoats for the Investiture of the Gods List.
• Di Xin embraced Yin Jiao and Yin Hong and entrusted them with deciding how to deal with the Jiang clan.

Yin Jiao and Yin Hong pleaded with Di Xin to spare their mother, Jiang Wenqiang, but her indifference to their sacrifice changed their minds. Di Xin imprisoned Jiang Wenqiang in the cold palace, while Guangchengzi and Chijingzi failed to reach the princes because Great Shang’s Dark Bird totem drove them away.

• Yin Jiao and Yin Hong offered their lives to save Jiang Wenqiang, but she showed no concern as Di Xin raised his sword against them.
• Yin Jiao declared that he and Yin Hong had no mother, then offered to die in her place while asking Yin Hong to live and serve Great Shang.
• Di Xin stopped his attack, praised his sons’ devotion, embraced them, and ordered Jiang Wenqiang imprisoned in the renamed cold palace.
• Guangchengzi and Chijingzi waited for Yin Jiao and Yin Hong to be sent to the execution ground, then decided to investigate the royal palace when the princes did not appear.
• The Dark Bird totem attacked Guangchengzi and Chijingzi as they approached the palace, forcing them to retreat beyond its range.
• Guangchengzi explained that their plan to abduct the princes had provoked the totem, and the two decided to wait outside the palace until they could seize Yin Jiao and Yin Hong.

Di Xin announced that he would depose Jiang and make Shang Rong’s daughter Shang Qingjun queen, despite Shang Rong’s objections and Du Yuanxian’s support for Su Daji. Shang Rong publicly appeared to die opposing the forced marriage, but he was alive at home and sent Shang Qingjun to the palace, where she prepared to become queen.

• Di Xin stripped Jiang of her position and confined her, spared the Eastern Marquis’s family, and announced his intention to make Su Daji queen.
• Shang Rong opposed Su Daji’s appointment, while Du Yuanxian cited the Dark Bird’s auspicious sign in support of it.
• Fei Zhong and You Hun accused Shang Rong of hypocrisy and urged Di Xin to take Shang Qingjun as his queen; Di Xin agreed and ordered preparations for the wedding.
• Shang Rong condemned Di Xin and struck a jade pillar, apparently dying before the court, while Di Xin ordered his burial and pressed ahead with the marriage.
• At Shang Rong’s residence, Shang Qingjun dressed for the wedding, and Shang Rong told her to assist Di Xin as queen.

Di Xin punished corrupt officials while hiding Shang Rong under Du Yuanxian’s identity, drawing further accusations of tyranny. Chen Xuan then arranged for Yin Jiao and Yin Hong to become Guangchengzi and Chijingzi’s disciples while secretly protecting them and securing their future with Azure Lotus Island.

• Fei Zhong and You Hun raided officials’ homes and sent thousands of people to the mines for treasonous plotting and slandering Di Xin.
• Du Yuanxian feared being punished and secretly sought refuge with Ji Chang, but an attacker killed him and burned down his estate.
• Shang Rong, disguised as Du Yuanxian with his memories fused into him, received his former residence from Di Xin.
• Daji warned Shang Rong that Guangchengzi and Chijingzi might try to use him to take Yin Jiao and Yin Hong out of Chaoge City.
• Chen Xuan brought Yin Jiao and Yin Hong to Di Xin, explained that his secret art would protect them, and instructed Shang Rong to accept Guangchengzi and Chijingzi’s request to take them as disciples.

Chen Xuan explained that Daji could break through by refining a Ninth-Grade Merit Golden Lotus and arranged for her to join the Dao Sect, guiding the fox clan toward cultivating through merit. Daji accepted his plan to lead the newborn Demon Race in serving the Human Race, while Chen Xuan told her to keep up appearances with the Teaching of Elucidation and help Di Xin oppose it.

• Chen Xuan told Daji that relying on the Human Emperor’s investiture would bind the fox clan’s future cultivation to it, and Di Xin offered to appoint the clan as protectors of the Human Race.
• Daji refused Di Xin’s offer because the fox clan belonged to the Demon Race, and she did not want to expose him to accusations of collusion.
• Chen Xuan proposed that Tongtian accept Daji as a registered disciple and have the fox clan protect Dao Sect temples while cultivating through merit.
• Chen Xuan gave Daji a Ninth-Grade Merit Golden Lotus and instructed her to lead the newborn Demon Race in repaying its karmic debt to the Human Race.
• Daji asked about her ties to the Teaching of Elucidation, and Chen Xuan told her to continue helping Di Xin deal with them until the time was right to leave.

Ji Chang traveled to Chaoge despite foreseeing seven years of imprisonment, then adopted the newborn general star Lei Zhenzi and entrusted him to Yun Zhongzi. On the way to Jade Pillar Cave, Yun Zhongzi was stopped by Golden Spirit Holy Mother, who claimed Lei Zhenzi was her granddisciple.

• Daji promised Chen Xuan she would prevent the Teaching of Elucidation disciples from detecting their deception.
• Ji Chang told Bo Yikao and Ji Fa about his predicted imprisonment and forbade them from going to Chaoge before his return.
• After a storm at Mount Yan, Ji Chang divined that a general star had descended and received the newborn Lei Zhenzi from his guards.
• Yun Zhongzi arrived and asked Ji Chang to let him take Lei Zhenzi as a disciple; Ji Chang agreed and named the child.
• Golden Spirit Holy Mother intercepted Yun Zhongzi and accused him of taking her granddisciple, while Yun Zhongzi explained that Ji Chang had given the infant to him.

Golden Spirit Holy Mother demanded that Yun Zhongzi surrender Lei Zhenzi, prompting Yun Zhongzi to summon Zhen Yuanzi for help. Tongtian intervened when Zhen Yuanzi attacked, and the confrontation ended with Tongtian preparing the Immortal-Slaying Formation over their dispute about who could claim Lei Zhenzi.

• Golden Spirit Holy Mother demanded Lei Zhenzi from Yun Zhongzi and threatened to tear down Mount Zhongnan if he refused.
• Yun Zhongzi crushed Zhen Yuanzi's jade talisman, and Zhen Yuanzi arrived to hear his plea for justice.
• Zhen Yuanzi used his Sage pressure against Golden Spirit Holy Mother and swung his Dragonhide Seven-Star Whip at her, but Tongtian's Green Duckweed Sword cut the whip in two.
• Tongtian blocked Zhen Yuanzi from leaving and challenged him over taking a disciple of the Dao Sect, while Zhen Yuanzi argued that Lei Zhenzi belonged with Xiqi.
• Tongtian pointed out that Guangchengzi and Chijingzi had taken Di Xin's sons as disciples, leaving Zhen Yuanzi unable to answer.
• Tongtian summoned the Four Swords of Execution and the formation diagram, preparing to form the Immortal-Slaying Formation.