Chapter Summaries

The allied forces breached Northern Profound Pass and began slaughtering the Northern Liang Army, only to discover they were trapped in an Evil Formation. The Prison Tiger Bureau purified the Demons inside, but the formation then contracted and crushed the soldiers with its pressure.

• The allied forces broke through Northern Profound Pass’s walls and overwhelmed the Northern Liang Army, while Great Yan’s troops advanced under the arrow fire.
• The Prison Tiger Bureau warned that the allied forces were inside an Evil Formation, but the formation activated and trapped them in the pass.
• Thousands of Demons attacked and infected allied soldiers, so the Prison Tiger Bureau established a Demon-Purifying Grand Formation.
• The Demon-Purifying Power destroyed the Demons and released the wronged souls of the murdered commoners, exhausting the Prison Tiger Bureau members.
• The Evil Formation contracted and pressed down on everyone, causing the untrained soldiers to collapse under its force.

The Northern Liang King revealed himself as an ally of Prince Fu's Residence, the Blood Race, and the Demon Race, trapping the allied forces inside the contracting Evil Formation. As the allies faced defeat, the Prison Tiger Bureau activated the Demon-Slaying Array to clash with the formation, leaving them to endure its backlash.

• Zhu Xuanye and the allied forces attacked the Evil Formation, but Prince Fu's Residence joined the Evil Cultivators and Northern Liang Royal Residence to block them.
• Xing Wuhen and Shen Tianyi fought the Succubus while the Northern Liang King attacked Supreme Elder Qin and pinned down the elders outside the formation.
• Four Divine Repository Realm experts surrounded Wei Dongling, and Xing Wuhen, Supreme Elder Qin, and Shen Tianyi joined him to withstand their assault.
• Blood Race and Demon Race cultivators entered the Evil Formation, overwhelming the suppressed allied forces and exposing the Northern Liang King's betrayal of the Human Race.
• The Prison Tiger Bureau activated the Demon-Slaying Array after failing to break the Evil Formation, while Zhu Xuanye and the others protected them.
• The Demon-Slaying Array clashed with the Evil Formation, and its backlash worsened the Prison Tiger Bureau's injuries as they struggled to hold on.

The allied forces broke out of Northern Liang after discovering that the Northern Liang King had joined the Otherworldly Races, but suffered crushing losses and called for a counteroffensive. As news spread and Li Xuancang resolved to eliminate the Northern Liang King and his son, several of his subordinates broke through to the Profound Connection Realm, strengthening his forces.

• The Prison Tiger Bureau shattered the Evil Formation, and the allied forces fled Northern Liang after three days and nights of fighting, while Supreme Elder Qin burned his foundation to escape.
• Supreme Elder Qin, Shen Tianyi, Wei Dongling, and Xing Wuhen agreed to rally Human Race factions to reclaim Northern Liang and pressure Great Yan to deal with Prince Fu's Residence.
• News of the defeat and the Otherworldly Races' occupation spread across the land, frightening many people while others called for resistance.
• Li Xuancang resolved to kill the Northern Liang King and his son to protect his family from their growing threat.
• Bai Meng emerged from seclusion after reaching the Profound Connection Realm, and Zhang Tianhu, Zhang Tianbao, Ouyang Meng, and Su Xinghai broke through over the following half month.

After Su Xinghai broke through, Li Xuancang armed his subordinates and agreed to kill Mulin Stockade's third chief in exchange for Shangguan Hong setting up a grand formation. He also granted the Blackbird Merchant Association unrestricted commercial passage through Yu Prefecture, enabling it to expand while local merchant associations reluctantly gave way.

• Li Xuancang gave Su Xinghai the Abyss-Rending Dragon-Soul Spear, and Wang Xiaoniu and the others entered seclusion to prepare for breakthroughs.
• Dong Linghui told Li Xuancang that formation master Shangguan Hong would build the formation if Li Xuancang killed Mulin Stockade's third chief, and Li Xuancang agreed.
• Dong Linghui asked Li Xuancang to help the Blackbird Merchant Association enter Yu Prefecture, and Li Xuancang arranged a prefecture-wide commercial travel permit and special passage privileges.
• Yu Prefecture's merchant associations learned of the permit and Li Xuancang's backing, abandoned plans to obstruct the Blackbird Merchant Association, and watched it enter the market in force.
• The Blackbird Merchant Association cut prices to seize Yu Prefecture's markets, while other merchant associations envied its advantage but feared challenging Li Xuancang.

The Emperor and Zhu Xuanye sought help from the Imperial Clan’s wounded Divine Repository Realm ancestor, who agreed to confront Prince Fu. As the Blood Race’s occupation of Northern Liang brought the Human Race to the brink of war, Li Xuancang learned that Shangguan Hong could build a formation capable of holding off a Divine Repository Realm expert.

• The Emperor and Zhu Xuanye told the Imperial Clan ancestor that Prince Fu’s Residence had allied with the Northern Liang Royal Residence and that other powers were pressuring Great Yan.
• The ancestor agreed to use his remaining strength to deal with Prince Fu, despite knowing that fighting would worsen his fatal injuries and leave Great Yan vulnerable.
• A Blood Race member whipped a Northern Liang commoner and ordered other captives to carry him away as food.
• Human factions debated whether to join the campaign to reclaim Northern Liang, while opportunists and rival races prepared to exploit the coming conflict.
• Shangguan Hong told Li Xuancang that he could build an upper-grade earth-rank formation capable of holding off a Divine Repository Realm expert temporarily, and Li Xuancang promised to provide the needed materials.

Li Xuancang traveled to Mulin Stockade to fulfill his promise to Shangguan Hong and avenge the destruction of Shangguan Hong’s family. He began slaughtering the stockade, killing its Second Chief with a single punch as the survivors reeled in disbelief.

• Shangguan Hong told Li Xuancang that Mulin Stockade’s Third Chief had destroyed his family, and that he had waited years for revenge.
• Li Xuancang secretly left Yu Prefecture and discovered that Barbarians had occupied Peace Prefecture, resolving to deal with Prince Fu’s Residence after returning.
• Li Xuancang entered the Qilian Mountains, learned Mulin Stockade’s location, and flew to its stronghold.
• Li Xuancang unleashed his aura and crushed the bandits who tried to stop him, drawing the three chiefs out to confront him.
• The Second Chief recognized Li Xuancang as Marquis Wu'an of the Great Flame Dynasty and warned his brothers of his strength.
• Li Xuancang attacked the three chiefs and obliterated the Second Chief with one punch, leaving the stockade in shock.

Li Xuancang annihilated Mulin Stockade, rescued the captive women, and brought the stockade chiefs to Cloud Prefecture. There, he found Prince Fu fighting the Imperial Clan's ancestor and watched as the ancestor unleashed a desperate sword strike.

• Li Xuancang crippled the First Stockade Chief and Third Stockade Chief, then slaughtered all the bandits at Mulin Stockade.
• Li Xuancang freed more than a thousand captive women, who gathered supplies and burned the stockade after he left.
• Li Xuancang carried the two chiefs to Cloud Prefecture and covertly approached Prince Fu's Residence.
• Li Xuancang saw Prince Fu, transformed by demonic power, grievously wound the Imperial Clan's ancestor.
• The Imperial Clan's ancestor, poisoned by black mist and near defeat, spent his sword's last golden light on a slash at Prince Fu's head.

Li Xuancang rescued the Imperial Clan patriarch from Prince Fu, a half-human, half-demon who commanded an army of monsters, and drove him to safety. The dying patriarch headed back to the Imperial City to warn the emperor, while news of Mulin Stockade’s destruction began spreading through the Qilian Mountains.

• Prince Fu overpowered the Imperial Clan patriarch and prepared to kill him, but Li Xuancang intervened and rescued him.
• Li Xuancang fought Prince Fu, saw more than a thousand monsters emerge from Prince Fu’s Residence, then escaped with the patriarch when he could not safely finish the fight.
• Li Xuancang learned the rescued man was Great Yan’s Imperial Clan patriarch and used Blood Qi Force to stabilize his injuries.
• The Imperial Clan patriarch left for the Imperial City to make arrangements and tell the emperor that Li Xuancang had reached the Divine Repository Realm.
• Li Xuancang left with the two chiefs as rumors spread that a Divine Repository Realm expert had destroyed Mulin Stockade.

Li Xuancang helped Shangguan Hong avenge his family before Shangguan sacrificed himself to complete a powerful defensive formation in Yu Prefecture City. As Prince Fu and the Barbarians prepared for war, the Imperial Court summoned Li Xuancang to the Imperial City.

• Li Xuancang brought the crippled chief and third chief to Shangguan Hong, who tortured them to death to avenge his family.
• News spread that Prince Fu had reached the Divine Repository Realm, allied with the Barbarians, and handed Peace Prefecture to them, while Great Yan's factions scrambled to prepare for war.
• Du Tianfeng learned that the Grassland People were massing at Cool Prefecture's border, but the Imperial Court could not send reinforcements.
• Nangong Zhan broke through to the Astral Qi Realm, and the Blacksteel Camp gained fifteen more Astral Qi Realm experts.
• Shangguan Hong completed the grand formation and sacrificed himself to strengthen it, making it capable of suppressing Profound Connection Realm cultivators and resisting a Divine Repository Realm cultivator.
• After Liu Jin told Li Xuancang that Prince Fu and the Barbarians were mobilizing for war, Li Xuancang spent two days with his family and then left for the Imperial City with Su Xinghai, Zhang Tianlong, and Bai Meng.

Li Xuancang gathered the Imperial Court’s remaining forces and prepared to face Prince Fu’s Residence and the Barbarians at Spirit Yang Prefecture. As the army marched out from the Imperial City, Du Tianhao headed for Sweet Spring Commandery and Pei Qingyuan prepared to join the battle.

• At court, Li Xuancang learned the Imperial Court had only two hundred thousand troops and three Profound Connection Realm experts, while Wenxin Academy offered two great Confucians and its students.
• The Emperor committed the Imperial Guards and sought aid from the martial factions, while Li Xuancang warned that the Grassland People might attack and the court had ordered Shen Chongyuan to defend Sweet Spring Commandery.
• At the Du Family, Li Xuancang assured Du Tianyuan he could protect himself and warned Du Tianhao to distrust Shen Chongyuan; Du Tianhao then left for Sweet Spring Commandery.
• At Wenxin Academy, Pei Qingyuan prepared her weapons for her first battlefield deployment, hoping it would help bring her father back from Origin Forest Commandery.
• At dawn, Li Xuancang led hundreds of thousands of Imperial Court troops out of the Imperial City toward Spirit Yang Prefecture as the people prayed for victory.

Li Xuancang led the army, including more than three thousand Wenxin Academy disciples, to defend Spirit Yang Prefecture as the Human Race alliance fought the Northern Liang forces. Five days later, Prince Fu's army and the Barbarians attacked the defensive line, where the frightened defenders braced for battle.

• Li Xuancang sent for the Blacksteel Camp and led his army toward Spirit Yang Prefecture while the Human Race alliance and Northern Liang's forces began a bloody battle.
• The Human Race factions unleashed their techniques, and thirteen Divine Repository Realm experts faced fourteen experts from the Northern Liang side as the wider battlefield reached a stalemate.
• Li Xuancang's army reached Spirit Yang Prefecture and entered its defensive line.
• Five days later, Prince Fu's army and the Barbarians arrived, and Yang Yuntian ordered the assault.
• The defenders fired arrows as Zhao Chongwu's Imperial Guards maintained order, while the other troops performed poorly and darkened Li Xuancang's expression.

Li Xuancang ambushed the enemy rear and killed most of Prince Fu's Residence and the Barbarian army's Profound Connection Realm experts with one punch, then fought Prince Fu and Tuoba Hong at once. His strength turned the tide of the battle, and Great Yan's forces charged forward as Pei Qingyuan realized how far beyond her he was.

• Li Xuancang left Zhao Chongwu in command and slipped behind Prince Fu's Residence and the Barbarian army.
• Li Xuancang struck down more than forty Profound Connection Realm experts with one punch, leaving only thirteen alive.
• Prince Fu and Tuoba Hong attacked Li Xuancang, who fought both Divine Repository Realm experts without falling behind.
• Inspired by Li Xuancang, Zhao Chongwu and the Imperial Guards charged, followed by Wenxin Academy's students.
• Pei Qingyuan and the remnant soul were stunned by Li Xuancang's strength, and Pei Qingyuan realized the gap between them had widened.

Li Xuancang turned the battle against the Barbarians and Prince Fu’s forces by defeating their leaders and enabling the Imperial Court army to rout the rebel army. After returning to the defensive line, he ordered scouts to monitor the enemy as news of his breakthrough and victory spread across the rear.

• Li Xuancang fought Prince Fu and Tuoba Hong while Bai Meng and Su Xinghai helped the Imperial Court forces overwhelm the enemy on the battlefield.
• Tuoba Hong ordered the Barbarian army to retreat, and Bai Meng and the others pursued and slaughtered the fleeing troops.
• Li Xuancang pursued Tuoba Hong and Prince Fu, fighting them for three days and three nights before they escaped.
• Li Xuancang returned to the defensive line, ordered scouts to watch Prince Fu's Residence and the Barbarians, and received a jubilant welcome.
• News spread that Li Xuancang had reached the Divine Repository Realm and defeated Prince Fu and a Barbarian Divine Repository Realm expert in a two-on-one fight.

After repelling the enemy, Li Xuancang prepared to counterattack while the Barbarians and Prince Fu's Residence remained encamped nearby. Su Xinghai suffered a devil's deviation after breaking through, and Li Xuancang subdued him and arranged for a soul cultivation technique; Prince Fu and Tuoba Hong continued searching for a way to defeat Li Xuancang.

• Li Xuancang ordered scouts to monitor the Barbarian and Prince Fu's Residence armies and waited for the Blacksteel Camp before launching an offensive.
• Su Xinghai suddenly went berserk in the military camp, and Li Xuancang suppressed his turbulent Soul Sea and restored him to normal.
• Su Xinghai told Li Xuancang that devouring enemies and attempting to break through had caused him to lose control; Li Xuancang warned him to strengthen his soul and stabilize his cultivation.
• Li Xuancang sent a request to the Emperor for a soul cultivation technique and continued preparing to counterattack once the Blacksteel Camp arrived.
• Prince Fu complained to Tuoba Hong that Li Xuancang had no weaknesses and was preventing their advance toward the Imperial City.

Li Xuancang tricked the Barbarians and Prince Fu's forces with a feint, then led the Blacksteel Camp in a surprise attack and crushed their army. As his troops advanced on Prince Fu's Residence, Li Xuancang kept fighting Prince Fu and Tuoba Hong, who were left battered after five days and nights.

• Tuoba Hong and Prince Fu agreed that Li Xuancang had to be eliminated, while Tuoba Hong called for reinforcements.
• Li Xuancang sent Zhao Chongwu and the Imperial Guards forward as a smokescreen while secretly bringing the Blacksteel Camp to attack the enemy camp.
• Prince Fu and Tuoba Hong joined the battle against Li Xuancang, but he suppressed them while Bai Meng, Su Xinghai, Zhang Tianlong, and the others routed the enemy troops.
• Tuoba Hong ordered a retreat, but fewer than one hundred thousand of the combined force of over four hundred thousand escaped after the defeat.
• Li Xuancang ordered the Blacksteel Camp to advance on Prince Fu's Residence, while he kept Prince Fu and Tuoba Hong engaged in battle.
• After five days and nights, Tuoba Hong urged Prince Fu to retreat, but Prince Fu ignored him and continued fighting Li Xuancang.

Li Xuancang defeated and killed Prince Fu after Tuoba Hong fled, then discovered the horrific arts in Prince Fu's Residence and ordered them destroyed. He resolved to destroy Northern Liang Royal Residence and planned to blame the Barbarians for the battle.

• After three days and nights of fighting, Tuoba Hong abandoned Prince Fu and fled, leaving Li Xuancang to face him alone.
• Li Xuancang fought Prince Fu for five more days and nights, then killed him and annihilated his body and soul.
• Li Xuancang reached Prince Fu's Residence, where Zhang Tianlong reported that it held only Demons and no living people; the search for Prince Fu's family was underway.
• Li Xuancang examined the sealed texts, learned Prince Fu had killed his relatives to sever his emotions and gain power, and ordered the evil arts burned.
• Suspecting Northern Liang Royal Residence also possessed the evil arts, Li Xuancang vowed to destroy it and ordered that the Barbarians be blamed for Prince Fu's death.

After Li Xuancang destroyed Prince Fu's Residence and reclaimed Cloud Prefecture, Prince Ning sacrificed the Peace Prefecture Marquis to protect himself from Li Xuancang's potential retribution. The Peace Prefecture Marquis was imprisoned, and Lin Jingtan resolved to seek Prince Ning's help, unaware that Prince Ning had arranged his father's downfall.

• Ministers urged the Emperor to reward Li Xuancang for his victories, and Prince Ning joined them in court.
• Prince Ning ordered evidence of the Peace Prefecture Marquis's crimes submitted so the estate could be destroyed.
• Liu Jin arrested the Peace Prefecture Marquis and had the Imperial Court seal his estate.
• Zhou Grand Scholar told Lin Jingtan that his father had been imprisoned, and Lin Jingtan decided to ask Prince Ning to save him.

Zhou Grand Scholar helped Lin Jingtan escape Great Yan after explaining that Li Xuancang had caused his father’s imprisonment. News of Prince Fu’s death boosted Human Race morale, but Li Xuancang’s false account enraged Tuoba Hong as the Northern Liang war dragged on and exhausted the Human Race factions.

• Zhou Grand Scholar told Lin Jingtan that Prince Ning had moved against his family and urged him to flee Great Yan before the academy could no longer protect him.
• Lin Jingtan accepted Zhou Grand Scholar’s supplies, left the Imperial City in disguise, and vowed to return for revenge on Li Xuancang and Prince Ning.
• News that Li Xuancang had killed Prince Fu spread across the Human Race, and his claim that Tuoba Hong had betrayed Prince Fu was widely believed.
• The Human Race launched fierce attacks on the Northern Liang battlefield, while the Demon Race and Blood Race committed more troops and the Evil Cultivators profited from the carnage.
• Tuoba Hong raged at Li Xuancang’s slander and vowed to march on Cloud Prefecture once his tribal reinforcements arrived.
• As the war continued, medium-sized sects sought to withdraw, and the major Human Race factions promised to answer complaints from those bearing the heaviest losses.

As the Barbarians invaded Spirit Yang Prefecture, Great Yan and the Human Race’s allied forces decided to concentrate their strength there and risk a surprise attack. Supreme Elder Chen’s plan left the Northern Liang battlefield temporarily understaffed, but the Profound Heart Sect’s Teleportation Talismans offered a way to return swiftly.

• The Prison Tiger Bureau and other major powers pressured factions that had stayed out of the war, while the Barbarian army returned in force.
• Li Xuancang ordered the evacuation of Cloud Prefecture and requested reinforcements as he prepared to fall back to Spirit Yang Prefecture.
• The Emperor recalled Lin Fengxian and Zhu Xuanye to reinforce Spirit Yang Prefecture, and Qin Huaiyuan persuaded him to abandon Cool Prefecture and transfer its forces there.
• Supreme Elder Chen proposed that the allied forces leave Northern Liang, defeat the Barbarians, and then return by surprise; most leaders initially objected.
• Shen Tianyi pledged the Profound Heart Sect’s ten Teleportation Talismans, and the leaders secretly departed for Spirit Yang Prefecture while Zhu Xuanye and Great Yan’s army stayed behind.

Li Xuancang gathered reinforcements to defend Spirit Yang Prefecture against the Barbarian army, then confronted Tuoba Hong on the battlefield. As Li Xuancang overwhelmed Tuoba Hong, the watching Otherworldly Races grew alarmed and resolved to kill him.

• Otherworldly Races watched the conflict as the Blood Race and Demon Race eased their offensives after the Barbarians mobilized.
• Li Xuancang relocated Cloud Prefecture’s people and led his army out to buy time until reinforcements arrived.
• Lin Fengxian and other commanders joined Li Xuancang, strengthening the Human Race’s defenses, while Li Xuancang secretly left his tent one night.
• Tuoba Hong led the Barbarian army in an assault on the defensive line, and Li Xuancang charged out to face him.
• Li Xuancang blocked Tuoba Hong’s Heaven-tier spear with his fist and drove him back with a giant dragon formed from Blood Qi Force.
• The watching Otherworldly Races, fearing Li Xuancang’s growing strength, formed killing intent against him.