Chapter Summaries

Li Xuancang impressed the Pei Family elders with his composure and judgment, and the old patriarch approved his marriage to Pei Qingyuan. When Wan Cui reported the decision, Pei Qingyuan rejected the match and resolved to find a way to call it off.

• The Pei Family elders tested Li Xuancang about his achievements and his conduct in the army, and he answered with humility and respect for military rules.
• The elders approved of Li Xuancang, and the old patriarch declared that the marriage could be settled.
• Wan Cui secretly watched the banquet and hurried back to Qing Yuan Cottage to report that the engagement had been approved.
• Pei Qingyuan heard that the families would soon settle the wedding date and exchange betrothal gifts.
• Pei Qingyuan insisted she would not marry Li Xuancang and resolved to find a way to cancel the match.

Pei Qingyuan sent Wan Cui to tell Lin Jingtan that her family planned to marry her to Li Xuancang and begged him to propose first. Lin Jingtan agreed and hurried to seek his father’s help, revealing a possessive and violent determination to claim Pei Qingyuan.

• Pei Qingyuan ordered Wan Cui to secretly visit Lin Jingtan and urge him to act before her family finalized her marriage to Li Xuancang.
• Wan Cui reached the Peace Prefecture Marquis Estate and told Lin Jingtan that Pei Qingyuan refused to marry anyone but him.
• Lin Jingtan agreed to prepare betrothal gifts and personally propose to Pei Qingyuan.
• Lin Jingtan declared that Pei Qingyuan belonged to him and went to meet his father, the Marquis of Peace Prefecture.

Lin Jingtan asked his father, Lin Zhenyue, to seek Pei Qingyuan’s hand in marriage, and Lin Zhenyue saw the alliance as a chance to revive the declining Lin Family. Their grand betrothal procession arrived at the Pei Residence just after the Pei elders had agreed to marry Pei Qingyuan to Li Xuancang, leaving the family facing a sudden dilemma.

• Lin Jingtan told Lin Zhenyue that Pei Qingyuan favored him and asked permission to pursue her before her engagement to Li Xuancang was finalized.
• Lin Zhenyue approved the match and ordered the estate to prepare its finest six betrothal gifts and a grand ceremonial procession.
• Lin Zhenyue and Lin Jingtan sent servants to spread news of their plans, then led the procession toward the Pei Residence.
• After the Pei elders settled on an engagement between Pei Qingyuan and Li Xuancang, Lin Jingtan and Lin Zhenyue arrived at the gates to seek her hand.
• Pei Hongwen and the Pei elders realized someone had likely informed the Lin Family of their decision, and they were thrown into uncertainty.

Lin Zhenyue and Lin Jingtan arrived at the Pei Residence to claim Qing Yuan’s hand, and the Pei Family began favoring their noble status and longstanding bond over Li Xuancang. Li Xuancang calmly withdrew from the engagement and left, while the Pei Family and Lin Jingtan were left shaken by his composure.

• Lin Zhenyue and Lin Jingtan entered the Pei Residence and asked the Pei Family to honor Lin Jingtan and Qing Yuan’s childhood promise.
• The Pei Family weighed Li Xuancang against Lin Jingtan and quietly decided to cancel Li Xuancang’s marriage agreement in favor of an alliance with the Lin Residence.
• Li Xuancang preempted the Pei elders by willingly voiding the engagement and wishing Lin Jingtan and Qing Yuan well.
• Li Xuancang took his leave, leaving the Pei Family ashamed and unsettled, while Lin Jingtan watched him go without feeling triumphant.

Li Xuancang accepted the annulment of his engagement to Pei Qingyuan and resolved to rely on his own strength rather than marriage ties. At the Pei Residence, Lin Jingtan agreed to marry Pei Qingyuan but postponed the wedding for years, leaving the Pei family regretting their choice.

• Li Xuancang left the Pei Residence calmly, deciding that he would not force a match with Pei Qingyuan and should focus on building his own strength.
• Li Xuancang reassured Father Li and Mother Li after explaining that the engagement had been annulled.
• The Pei family patriarch approved the marriage between Lin Jingtan and Pei Qingyuan, and Pei Hongwen suggested setting the wedding date and exchanging birth charts.
• Lin Jingtan said he would return to Wenxin Academy for closed-door cultivation and proposed postponing the wedding for several years.
• The Pei family elders condemned Lin Jingtan for delaying the marriage and regretted choosing him over Li Xuancang.

Lin Zhenyue and Lin Jingtan forced the Pei Residence to accept a marriage agreement by threatening its reputation, while postponing the wedding for years. Pei Qingyuan learned that Lin Jingtan had set her aside, and she was left shaken and regretful.

• Lin Zhenyue and Lin Jingtan used public rumors and a grand marriage procession to leave the Pei Residence unable to break the agreement without ruining its reputation.
• Pei Hongwen accepted the marriage agreement but agreed that the wedding would be delayed until Lin Jingtan returned from cultivation.
• Pei Qingyuan rejoiced at first, believing Lin Jingtan had secured their future marriage and that she could await the wedding.
• Wan Cui told Pei Qingyuan that Lin Jingtan would return to Wenxin Academy in five days and postpone the wedding for several years.
• Pei Qingyuan realized the agreement left her bound to wait for Lin Jingtan, and she grew confused and regretful.

As rumors mocked Li Xuancang over the Pei Residence’s broken marriage agreement, he stayed focused on his military duties and learned that the Profound Yin Old Man was hiding in Profound Sun Commandery. After securing Du Tianfeng’s permission, Li Xuancang traveled with Shen Qingshan to Azure Cloud Ridge to hunt him down.

• Rumors spread through Peace Prefecture City and the army, ridiculing Li Xuancang and the Pei Residence while praising the Peace Prefecture Marquis Estate.
• Li Xuancang remained composed and continued managing the troops despite the mockery, while Nangong Zhan protested on his behalf.
• Shen Qingshan returned with the Profound Yin Old Man’s whereabouts in Profound Sun Commandery and warned that the lead might be a trap.
• Li Xuancang sought Du Tianfeng’s permission to pursue the Profound Yin Old Man, and Du Tianfeng approved.
• Li Xuancang told Nangong Zhan to inform his family, then traveled secretly with Shen Qingshan to Profound Sun Commandery.
• Shen Qingshan led Li Xuancang to Azure Cloud Ridge, where Li Xuancang prepared to kill the Profound Yin Old Man.

Li Xuancang and Shen Qingshan were ambushed at Azure Cloud Ridge by Profound Yin Old Man, a Barbarian, a tiger-headed demon, and a three-eyed Demon, all in the Astral Qi Realm. Li Xuancang sent Shen Qingshan away and fought back alone, ending the chapter by hurling the Barbarian and his Giant Axe toward a rocky cliff.

• Profound Yin Old Man and three other Astral Qi Realm experts surrounded Li Xuancang and Shen Qingshan at Azure Cloud Ridge.
• Li Xuancang told Shen Qingshan to escape, but Shen Qingshan refused to leave him behind.
• The three-eyed Demon attacked Li Xuancang's soul while the other three enemies launched a simultaneous assault.
• Li Xuancang resisted the soul attack, threw Shen Qingshan out of the battlefield, and charged the four enemies head-on.
• Li Xuancang smashed Profound Yin Old Man's attack, caught the Barbarian's Giant Axe, and leapt into the air with the Barbarian still gripping it.
• Li Xuancang hurled the Giant Axe and the Barbarian toward a huge rocky cliff.

Li Xuancang fought four Astral Qi Realm experts who combined soul attacks, evil arts, and brute force against him. He survived their strongest coordinated strike, but emerged bloodied and gravely wounded as the battle continued.

• Li Xuancang sent the Barbarian strongman crashing into the rocks, then punched him away despite his Giant Axe.
• The Three-Eyed Demon attacked Li Xuancang’s soul while the Profound Yin Old Man trapped him in an Evil Net, which failed to penetrate his powerful body.
• Li Xuancang fought the Tiger Demon at close range, suffering a deep chest gash while breaking one of its paws.
• The Barbarian strongman returned to the fight, and the Three-Eyed Demon’s soul attack left Li Xuancang vulnerable to a coordinated assault from three enemies.
• The Profound Yin Old Man’s dagger, the Barbarian’s axe, and the Tiger Demon’s claws struck Li Xuancang together, leaving him bloodied and severely wounded but alive.

Li Xuancang fought off his attackers with terrifying strength, but Profound Yin Old Man seized Shen Qingshan to force a hostage exchange. The exchange revealed that Shen Qingshan had been replaced by a Demon, and Li Xuancang fled into the mountains while seriously wounded as his enemies pursued him.

• Li Xuancang crushed the Barbarian strongman's axe and killed him, then battered the tiger-headed Demon until Profound Yin Old Man stopped him by capturing Shen Qingshan.
• Li Xuancang threatened the tiger Demon in return, and Profound Yin Old Man agreed to exchange the captives.
• The disguised Shen Qingshan stabbed Li Xuancang during the exchange, revealing that he was a Demon and that the real Shen Qingshan was likely dead.
• The Three-Eyed Demon attacked Li Xuancang, who escaped into the mountains to recover while Profound Yin Old Man and the others chased him.

Li Xuancang hid from the Barbarian and Demon Race armies while recovering from his wounds, then infiltrated their mountain search disguised as a soldier. He waited for the enemy leaders to split up and chose to target Profound Yin High Person once his injuries had healed further.

• Profound Yin Old Man and Three-Eyed Demon failed to find Li Xuancang and called in the assembled Barbarian and Demon Race armies to search Azure Cloud Ridge.
• Li Xuancang recovered somewhat at dawn and realized the armies had been stationed at the border, prompting him to plan to send warning back to the Human Race.
• As the troops closed in on his cave, Li Xuancang decided to stay and seek revenge for Shen Qingshan by killing Profound Yin Old Man.
• Li Xuancang knocked out a Barbarian soldier, disguised himself in the man's clothes, and joined the search party without being recognized.
• Profound Yin High Person and the other Astral Qi Realm experts split up to search, and Li Xuancang followed Profound Yin High Person while waiting for his injuries to heal further.

After recovering from his injuries, Li Xuancang ambushed Profound Yin Old Man and learned that Shen Qingshan was supposedly in the Barbarian military camp. He killed Profound Yin Old Man and set out to verify Shen Qingshan’s whereabouts.

• After searching for Li Xuancang for another day and night, Profound Yin Old Man and the other experts continued hunting for him.
• Li Xuancang, disguised in Barbarian clothing and hiding his aura, tricked Profound Yin Old Man into approaching before attacking and capturing him.
• Li Xuancang fought off the pursuing experts, resisted the Three-Eyed Demon's soul attack, and escaped with Profound Yin Old Man to a deserted place.
• Li Xuancang tortured Profound Yin Old Man until he revealed that Shen Qingshan was in the Barbarian military camp.
• Li Xuancang killed Profound Yin Old Man, then decided to go to the Barbarian military camp to search for Shen Qingshan.

Li Xuancang infiltrated the Barbarians' main camp to rescue Shen Qingshan and overheard that the Barbarians had allied with forces from the Human Race to attack Peace Prefecture. He found Shen Qingshan, exposed the Faceless Demon's ambush, and captured the demon alive while the enemy surrounded him.

• Li Xuancang reached Lakeside Station and searched the Barbarian camp for Shen Qingshan.
• Li Xuancang overheard Barbarian soldiers discussing an alliance with Human Race forces to divide Peace Prefecture.
• Li Xuancang searched the guarded tents and burst into the one where Shen Qingshan was being held.
• Li Xuancang freed the unconscious Shen Qingshan, but the apparent Shen Qingshan attacked him with a dagger.
• Li Xuancang dodged the ambush, recognized the Faceless Demon, and captured him by the throat as Wu Xiaotian and the others closed in.

Li Xuancang rescued the gravely wounded Shen Qingshan from the Barbarians, but carrying him left Li Xuancang exposed to attacks. Surrounded by Wu Xiaotian, Tuoba Shou, and the Barbarian army, Li Xuancang faced an increasingly desperate fight with no clear way to escape.

• Li Xuancang tore away the Faceless Demon's disguise and demanded that Wu Xiaotian hand over Shen Qingshan.
• Wu Xiaotian brought out the barely conscious Shen Qingshan, and Li Xuancang bound him to his back.
• Tuoba Shou and the other Astral Qi Realm enemies attacked Li Xuancang, targeting Shen Qingshan to keep him on the defensive.
• The Three-Eyed Demon struck Shen Qingshan with Soul-Seizing Demon Light, and the Faceless Demon wounded Li Xuancang while he protected him.
• Wu Xiaotian and the others steadily injured Li Xuancang as tens of thousands of Barbarian soldiers sealed off his escape routes.

Li Xuancang fought five powerful enemies while carrying the helpless Shen Qingshan, then escaped the Barbarian army by charging through its undefended rear. He entered the heartland of the Barbarians, still pursued by his enemies and facing dangers across the wilderness.

• Li Xuancang, wounded and poisoned, protected Shen Qingshan while battling the three-eyed Demon, the faceless Demon, Tuoba Shou, Wu Xiaotian, and a great Demon Race demon.
• Li Xuancang traded injuries to strike the three-eyed Demon and opened a brief gap in the encirclement, but the Barbarian army blocked his escape ahead.
• Li Xuancang spotted the weak rear of the Barbarian formation and charged through enemy attacks toward it.
• Li Xuancang smashed through the rear ranks and crossed into the Barbarian heartland as Wu Xiaotian, the other experts, and the Barbarian army pursued him.

Li Xuancang escaped into the Barbarians' territory with the gravely wounded Shen Qingshan and sheltered with him in a cave. Shen Qingshan woke to learn his cultivation had been destroyed, accepted his fate calmly, and agreed to let Li Xuancang take him back to Human Race territory.

• Wu Xiaotian and the others pursued Li Xuancang after he escaped, while Li Xuancang hid with Shen Qingshan in a misty mountain range.
• Li Xuancang discovered that Shen Qingshan's dantian and meridians were destroyed and that he could no longer cultivate.
• Li Xuancang treated his own injuries and refined the demonic qi in his body while Shen Qingshan remained unconscious.
• Shen Qingshan woke, told Li Xuancang he had already known his martial foundation was ruined, and urged him not to feel guilty.
• Li Xuancang promised to take Shen Qingshan back to Human Race territory and fed him deer blood before they continued their recovery.

Li Xuancang carried the wounded Shen Qingshan through Barbarian territory while avoiding a sweeping search, then broke through a heavily guarded border pass. He escaped into Human Race territory with Shen Qingshan as Tuoba Shou failed to catch them.

• Li Xuancang avoided the Barbarian search by hiding deeper in their rear until his injuries fully recovered.
• Li Xuancang carried Shen Qingshan through the mountains and forests to the border pass guarded by over a thousand Barbarian soldiers.
• Li Xuancang rejected Shen Qingshan's suggestion to take a detour and launched a direct assault on the pass.
• Li Xuancang smashed through the Barbarian ranks with his fists and leapt over the checkpoint.
• Tuoba Shou tried to stop Li Xuancang with an axe strike, but Li Xuancang escaped and left him behind.

Li Xuancang rushed to Profound Sun Commandery City to warn Zhou Xingzhan that the Barbarian army was coming, then returned to Peace Prefecture City to seek reinforcements. Du Tianfeng could spare only one thousand Battle Soldiers, and Li Xuancang accepted command of them to reinforce Profound Sun Commandery.

• Li Xuancang reached Profound Sun Commandery City with the gravely wounded Shen Qingshan and gave him Zhou Xingzhan's healing pills before military physicians took him for treatment.
• Li Xuancang warned Zhou Xingzhan that the Barbarian army would soon attack and explained what he had learned at Azure Cloud Ridge.
• Li Xuancang carried Shen Qingshan back to Peace Prefecture City and urged Du Tianfeng to send troops to defend Profound Sun Commandery.
• Du Tianfeng explained that his forces were stretched thin and that he could not spare troops without risking Peace Prefecture City.
• Du Tianfeng assigned one thousand Battle Soldiers to Li Xuancang, who accepted the mission to reinforce Profound Sun Commandery.

Li Xuancang said farewell to his family and led a thousand soldiers from Peace Prefecture City to reinforce Mystic Sun City as the Barbarians invaded Profound Sun Commandery. Meanwhile, Prince Fu’s allies in Peace Prefecture chose to wait for the battle’s outcome, and Wu Xiaotian ordered the Barbarian army to strike Mystic Sun City and kill Li Xuancang if they found him.

• Li Xuancang reassured his family, asked Nangong Zhan and others to protect them, and left to lead a thousand soldiers toward Profound Sun Commandery.
• Du Tianfeng ordered Du Xiong to patrol around the Li Residence after Li Xuancang departed.
• Elder Yan told Prince Fu’s allies that Li Xuancang had gone to reinforce Profound Sun, and they agreed to wait rather than challenge Du Tianfeng.
• Li Xuancang ordered his troops to march at full speed toward Mystic Sun City as the Barbarian army advanced into Profound Sun Commandery.
• Wu Xiaotian directed the Barbarians to bypass other cities, seize Mystic Sun City, and kill Li Xuancang if he was there.

The Barbarian and Demon armies arrived at Mystic Sun City, terrifying its outnumbered defenders. Zhou Xingzhan restored their resolve after Jiang Tianqi tried to flee, and the chapter ended as the Barbarians launched their assault on the city.

• The defenders panicked at the sight of the massive Barbarian and Demon armies, while Zhou Xingzhan urged them to hold out for reinforcements.
• Jiang Tianqi tried to persuade the other experts to flee, but Zhou Xingzhan rallied the wavering defenders by warning that escape would leave them exposed.
• Jiang Tianqi and more than a dozen disciples fled over the wall, and the Azure Wolf Great Demon led a pack of wolves in pursuit.
• The defenders watched Jiang Tianqi's group flee as the assault horn sounded and the Barbarian army surged toward Mystic Sun City.