Chapter Summaries

Fang Yun revealed that the Lei and Zong Families had coerced him during his Book Mountain trial and implicated their allies in Sage Kong’s Literary World. The Kong Family rose in anger, leaving the Qing Lord and Lei Tingzhen visibly shaken.

• People across the Ten Kingdoms cursed Lei Tingzhen until Ge Yiming defended him and redirected attention to Fang Yun’s killing of Lei Zhongmo.
• Fang Yun described how Lei Tingzhen had forced him to agree to a literary contest during a perilous Book Mountain trial, and he accused the Lei, Zong, and Gu Families of involvement.
• Fang Yun revealed that Zhu Fengqiong had acted as a mouthpiece for the Zong and Lei Families inside Sage Kong’s Literary World.
• Kong Family members stood and condemned the threat to their lineage’s heartland, while the Qing Lord and Lei Tingzhen showed signs of alarm.

Fang Yun exposed the Zong Family’s scheme, prompting the Kong Family to rise in support of him and leaving the Zong Family in disarray. The Gu Lord withdrew from the gathering, and Fang Yun challenged his opponents’ accusations before an elderly Provincial Graduate declared that the wager’s winners had been right.

• A Qing Kingdom Hanlin Academician’s Literary Guts cracked, and onlookers attributed his collapse to the revelations about Zhu Fengqiong and the Kong Family’s fury.
• Fang Yun’s exposure of Zhu Fengqiong’s ties to Saint Zong left nearly all the Zong Family members despairing, while the Lei Family silently counted itself fortunate.
• The Gu Lord apologized to the gathering, announced that he felt unwell, and left with several Gu Kingdom officials.
• Li Fanming and others said the Gu Lord had avoided a crisis by withdrawing before the Kong Family could hold Gu Kingdom accountable.
• Fang Yun asked whether anyone would still use the old wager to accuse him of harming its participants.
• An elderly Provincial Graduate declared that Fang Yun’s sixteen transmissible battle poems and lyrics made the wager’s supporters the winners.

Fang Yun accepted the scholars’ apologies and exposed the Zong and Lei Families’ schemes, while Zong Wuyuan refused to admit defeat and continued accusing him of deception. Fang Yun explained why he had hidden his identity and turned the families’ literary challenge against them, leaving the crowd cheering.

• Tens of thousands of scholars apologized to Fang Yun, and he forgave them.
• Chen Mingding reminded Zong Ganyu that the Zong Family owed the Chen Family its lost properties and asked Zong Wuyuan to apologize to Fang Yun.
• Zong Wuyuan dismissed the demand, praised Fang Yun while suggesting he had plotted against the Zong Family, and claimed he had not lost.
• Fang Yun said he had used his literary reputation to survive and had plotted to escape his enemies and help win the Battle of Bi and Shen.
• Fang Yun declared that he had concealed his identity to retaliate against the Zong and Lei Families and turned their scheme into a public spectacle, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Fang Shouye reported that Qing-backed unrest had erupted across Xiang Prefecture, but Fang Yun’s preparations contained it without civilian casualties. A ridiculous tale about the short-lived Little Gully Kingdom turned the unrest into a joke and further embarrassed the Qing Lord.

• Fang Shouye told Fang Yun that coordinated disturbances had broken out across Xiang Prefecture, with agitators urging rebellion and gangs attacking shops.
• Fang Shouye reported that the Prefectural Army had suppressed the unrest under Fang Yun’s emergency plan, with no civilians injured and only limited property damage.
• Fang Shouye recounted how bailiffs had arrested four men after one proclaimed himself king of the Little Gully Kingdom in Little Gully Town.
• The assembly laughed at the story, then recognized that it made the Qing Lord appear connected to the foolish rebellion.
• Qing officials and the Qing Lord realized that Fang Yun had blunted their scheme and damaged the Qing Lord’s reputation.

Fang Yun quelled the unrest in Xiang Prefecture and declared the literary assembly decided, but the Qing Lord and the Zong and Lei Families remained confident that they had not lost. Zong Wuyuan revealed their confidence in overwhelming strength, and Fang Yun answered by reminding him that he stood against the Demon Realm.

• Fang Shouye reported that Qing Kingdom businesses had paid people to carry out the unrest, then left to continue the investigation.
• Fang Yun announced that the literary assembly should proceed as usual and said its winner had already been decided.
• Fang Yun noticed the Qing Lord, Lei Tingzhen, Zong Ganyu, and others smiling despite his apparent victory, alarming the Jing Kingdom attendees.
• Zong Wuyuan mocked Fang Yun for declaring victory too soon and warned that the Zong and Lei Families and the Qing Kingdom had not yet used their strength.
• Fang Yun compared Zong Wuyuan's threat to a wooden sword and said he stood facing the Demon Realm.

Mountain Bearer altered the stars around the Ten Cold Ancient Land to protect it as its ancient power began to stir. In Ninth Monarch City, Xiao Yetian prepared to watch Fang Yun’s trial and discussed his hopes of confronting him someday.

• Mountain Bearer recognized the Ten Cold Ancient Land as part of the Grand Arena and shifted three suns to form a protective trap around it.
• Xiao Yetian sensed the ancient land’s power awakening and anticipated the birth of new Ten Frost Lords, while lamenting that Fang Yun would not be there.
• Xun Ye told Xiao Yetian that the Lei Family and other forces had gathered in Baling City to target Fang Yun.
• Xiao Yetian and Xun Ye headed toward the Temple of Sages to view the Discourse Ranking, but Xun Ye’s Official Seal could not reach it from so far away.
• Xun Ye admitted he still resented Fang Yun, while Xiao Yetian said he hoped to challenge him after becoming a Great Scholar.
• Xun Ye predicted Fang Yun would lose the Literary Assembly and fail to advance, but Xiao Yetian doubted that a powerful figure would intervene.

Demon Emperor Gu Xu learned that Fang Yun was Zhang Longxiang and decided to offer the Star Path to the Ancestral Position ruins to secure help stopping him from entering Burial Saint Valley. In Kong City, Kong Family elders debated how to respond to Saint Zong’s interference, while their family head urged patience.

• Gu Xu rejected giving Fang Yun a Sirius starstone but considered revealing Ancient Demon Ancestral Emperor ruins to persuade him.
• An ape Demon King told Gu Xu that Fang Yun was Zhang Longxiang, and Gu Xu offered the entire Star Path leading to the Ancestral Position ruins if someone would act against Fang Yun.
• Kong Family elders gathered at the Confucius Mansion to discuss Saint Zong’s interference in Sage Kong’s Literary World and whether the family should strike back.
• The elders learned that the Kong Family head was fishing and had advised them to be patient and stay calm.

Ge Yiming invoked his diplomatic immunity to challenge Fang Yun, while Lei Tingzhen accused Fang Yun of murdering Lei Zhongmo and demanded justice. The confrontation ended with the Lei Family publicly demanding that Fang Yun answer for the killing.

• Ge Yiming accused Fang Yun of abusing his power and urged him to resign as governor-general.
• The Qing Lord revealed that Ge Yiming had been appointed a goodwill envoy, granting him diplomatic immunity, with the appointment approved by the Jing Kingdom.
• The Wu Lord condemned Ge Yiming, while the people of Baling City denounced him for betraying the Jing Kingdom.
• Lei Tingzhen recounted the Lei Family’s aid at the first Battle of Two Worlds Mountain and accused Fang Yun of ambushing and killing Lei Zhongmo.
• Lei Tingzhen said the Lei Family had once considered letting the feud rest but now demanded justice from Fang Yun.

At Yueyang Tower, Fang Yun rejected Lei Tingzhen’s demand for a public confession and prepared to write an essay, while the Lei Family revealed that the Flood Dragon Sage had been summoned. The chapter ended as the Sage’s river patrol approached, heralded by a vast crimson cloud.

• Lei Tingzhen used Subtle Words, Profound Meaning to win sympathy for the Lei Family and offered to end the feud if Fang Yun admitted he was wrong to kill Lei Zhongmo.
• Jiang Hechuan exposed Lei Tingzhen’s attempt to influence the crowd, but many still sympathized with the Lei Family.
• Fang Yun thanked his supporters and announced he would write an essay on Yueyang Tower to commemorate the Mid-Autumn Literary Gathering.
• Lei Tingzhen declared that the Lei Family would oppose Fang Yun forever and summoned the Flood Dragon Sage’s River Patrol.
• The conch call spread along the Yangtze River system, water demons gathered, and a vast crimson cloud appeared in the eastern sky.

The Flood Dragon Sage’s elite forces advanced up the Yangtze River as scholars in Baling City watched and debated whether he was coming to patrol the river. The Wu Kingdom officials concluded that Fang Yun could not prevent the Sage from punishing him without invoking the Temple of Sages, and they sought to reduce the punishment’s severity.

• Fang Yun ordered authorities along the riverbanks to evacuate the populace as the surging tides advanced upstream.
• Three Raging Waves Battle Platforms rose from the Yangtze River, signaling either a major war or the Flood Dragon Sage’s river patrol.
• The scholars in Baling City debated the Flood Dragon Sage’s history and whether he would dare intervene against Fang Yun.
• The Zong Family, Lei Family, and Qing Lord showed confidence, while Fang Yun’s allies and the Jing Kingdom’s people grew alarmed.
• The Wu Lord’s officials concluded that the Flood Dragon Sage could punish Fang Yun under the agreement between the human and water races, and urged the Wu Kingdom to lessen the punishment.

As the Flood Dragon Sage prepared to appear, Fang Yun's allies feared they could not protect him from the punishment arranged by the Lei and Zong Families. Lei Tingzhen and his allies taunted Fang Yun to kneel and repent, but Fang Yun remained composed and prepared to write.

• Fang Yun's friends and allies discussed asking powerful figures to intercede, but concluded they lacked grounds or strength to stop the Flood Dragon Sage.
• The Milky Way appeared to pour into the Yangtze River, transforming it into a star-filled river as rows of colossal water statues formed along its banks.
• Ge Yiming and Zong Wuyuan suggested that the Flood Dragon Sage had come because of Xiang Prefecture's conflict with the Flood Dragon Palace and Fang Yun's killing of Lei Zhongmo.
• Lei Tingzhen declared that he would force Fang Yun to kneel before Lei Zhongmo's portrait, while Zong Wuyuan, Ge Yiming, and the Qing Lord joined in taunting him.
• Fang Yun asked whether they were finished and said he was going to start writing.

Fang Yun ignored Ge Yiming’s taunts and began composing a preface for Yueyang Tower that praised Dong Wencong’s governance while subtly condemning Qing rule in Xiang Prefecture. As Fang Yun continued grinding ink without writing, Ge Yiming and Zong Wuyuan claimed the approaching Flood Dragon Sage’s River Patrol had frightened him.

• Ge Yiming repeatedly taunted Fang Yun, while the Qing Lord and the Zong and Lei Families allowed him to continue.
• Fang Yun recited a preface describing Dong Wencong’s achievements in Xiang Prefecture and the planned expansion of Yueyang Tower.
• Scholars interpreted Fang Yun’s phrasing as a subtle criticism of Qing officials and an expression of confidence about keeping control of Xiang Prefecture.
• Fang Yun ground ink on the Inkstone Turtle but did not begin writing for several dozen breaths.
• Ge Yiming said Fang Yun’s hand was trembling, and Zong Wuyuan announced that the three great tidal surges would soon bring the Flood Dragon Sage’s River Patrol to Yueyang Tower.

As the Flood Dragon Sage’s tidal surges approached Dongting Lake, Fang Yun remained silent while Ge Yiming and Qing officials tried to force him to cancel his Yueyang Tower plans. The Yangtze River rose into the air and took the shape of a gigantic dragon, and Fang Yun began writing “Record of Yueyang Tower.”

• A nine-story wave passed Brightfort Town without spilling onto its banks, though the resulting surge destroyed more than a hundred houses, and the townspeople credited the Water Sage Temple with protecting them.
• Ge Yiming accused Fang Yun of damaging a historic site and demanded that the Governor-General rescind his order, while Qing officials and merchants echoed his demand.
• Fang Yun ignored the repeated demands and watched as the first tidal surge approached Yueyang Tower.
• Zong Wuyuan announced the opening of his own literary gathering and called on everyone to welcome the Flood Dragon Sage.
• The Yangtze River rose above its banks without flowing outward, then took the shape of an enormous dragon as Fang Yun picked up his brush and wrote “Record of Yueyang Tower.”

Fang Yun faced the Flood Dragon Sage as the Yangtze River transformed into a colossal dragon, while his allies and friends urged him to retreat. The dragon grew a complete head and moved toward Baling City, leaving the Jing Kingdom in despair.

• The Yangtze River rose into the sky and began transforming into a dragon as crimson clouds gathered above it.
• The Li Family’s head told Fang Yun that Sage Li was away in the Myriad Worlds and could not intervene.
• Fang Yun realized the Flood Dragon Sage was using a powerful treasure to control the Yangtze, while Lei Tingzhen calmly watched.
• Fang Yun received messages from friends urging him to retreat, including Ao Qingyue’s explanation that the dragon race could not persuade the Dragon Sage to help.
• The Yangtze Dragon drew closer to Baling City and grew a complete head, prompting many Jing Kingdom residents to despair.

Fang Yun wrote Record of Yueyang Tower as the Yangtze Dragon coiled over the city and the Flood Dragon Sage prepared to emerge. The essay’s sacred declarations rang across a hundred thousand li, drawing down a hundredfold Wenqu starlight as the river’s horns surfaced and statues along its banks stirred.

• The Yangtze Dragon coiled overhead and surveyed the people while tens of thousands of female demons surfaced near the Flood Dragon Sage Palace.
• Fang Yun began writing Record of Yueyang Tower, describing Baling’s scenery and the contrasting sorrow and joy of visitors to Yueyang Tower.
• Fang Yun wrote that the benevolent ancients neither rejoiced in external things nor grieved over their own fortunes, and scholars recognized the essay’s meaning rising beyond its earlier passages.
• Fang Yun completed the essay with the principle of worrying first over the world’s troubles and rejoicing last in its joys.
• Three voices proclaimed the essay’s central lines, Wenqu poured down a hundredfold starlight, two horns rose from the Yangtze River, and statues along both banks stirred.

The Voice of the Sacred Way stirred scholars across the world, prompting Zhou Huanyu to resign and advance toward Grand Academician. As Zhang Poyue’s defenders heard the Voice and celebrated Fang Yun’s achievement, the Great Xia Nine Tripods appeared above Baling City.

• Zhou Huanyu resigned from his post, declared he was seeking joy, and began advancing toward Grand Academician.
• Two Metropolitan Graduates discussed how Zhang Poyue had concealed the northern fortress’s crisis to keep Fang Yun from being distracted during the Mid-Autumn Literary Gathering.
• Zhang Poyue woke when the threefold Voice of the Sacred Way sounded across Northern Wei City and laughed that Fang Yun had brought peace amid turmoil.
• Nine enormous bronze tripods appeared above Baling City, astonishing the people who recognized them as the Great Xia Nine Tripods.

Fang Yun summoned the Great Xia Nine Tripods through the Record of Yueyang Tower, and the first three descended to suppress the Yangtze Dragon. The dragon broke free of their combined power with help from a mysterious radiance rising from the river mouth.

• Fang Yun's summoned Great Xia Nine Tripods astonished the gathered scholars, while Ge Yiming dismissed them as useless.
• The Pacify Chaos Tripod descended and forced the Yangtze Dragon downward, revealing that Fang Yun's essay had summoned it to protect the human race.
• The Yangtze Dragon broke free of the first tripod, but the Calamity-Calming Tripod joined it and forced the dragon down again.
• The Yangtze Dragon summoned dark clouds and rain, knocked the first two tripods aside, and then was restrained when the Suppress Rebellion Tripod descended.
• A mysterious radiance rose from the mouth of the Yangtze River and enveloped all nine tripods.

The Great Xia Nine Tripods and a crimson Dragon Race treasure remained locked in a clash as the Wu Lord punished the Qing River Trading Company after Ge Yiming spoke in support of the Flood Dragon Sage. Fang Yun watched the Flood Dragon Sage begin rising from the Yangtze as the supreme treasure gave him room to ascend.

• Ge Yiming used Tongue Blossoms Thunder to claim that the crimson treasure was a Dragon Sage’s artifact lent by the Dragon Palaces, drawing the crowd’s disgust.
• The Wu Lord ordered the Qing River Trading Company’s assets in Wu confiscated and all Wu trading companies to sever ties with it, citing Ge Yiming’s actions.
• The Qing Lord threatened to end cooperation with the Great Wu Trading Company if the Qing River Trading Company lost even a single copper in Wu.
• Yi Zhishi praised the Wu Lord, and onlookers realized that the punishment was a calculated move to win Fang Yun’s favor and secure future support for Wu.
• Fang Yun looked toward the Yangtze mouth and saw the Flood Dragon Sage’s enormous horns rise as the crimson treasure allowed him to resume ascending.

As the Flood Dragon Sage prepared to emerge and punish Fang Yun, Li Daoyuan appeared through the Record of Yueyang Tower and confronted him. Li Daoyuan restrained the Yangtze Dragon with the Commentary on the Water Classic, and the Flood Dragon Sage threatened war as the standoff continued.

• The Dragon Race’s supreme treasure countered the Great Xia Nine Tripods as the Flood Dragon Sage began to surface.
• The Record of Yueyang Tower split Dongting Lake’s weather into two realms, and Li Daoyuan appeared from the shattered statues along the Yangtze River.
• Fang Yun paid his respects to Li Daoyuan, who declared that he would strike if the Flood Dragon Sage emerged.
• Li Daoyuan summoned the Commentary on the Water Classic, causing the Yangtze Dragon to lose his dragon form.
• The Flood Dragon Sage accused Li Daoyuan of provoking war, while Li Daoyuan defended his intervention and challenged him to exchange pointers.

Li Daoyuan protected Fang Yun from the Flood Dragon Sage and blessed the Record of Yueyang Tower, while the Water Race threatened to end its alliance with humanity. The Flood Dragon Sage halted as Saint Clouds appeared above Kong City, signaling that a human Half-Sage was on the move.

• Ge Yiming urged Li Daoyuan to let the Flood Dragon Sage punish Fang Yun, but the Flood Dragon Sage rebuked him.
• Li Daoyuan asked Fang Yun to send a poem to the Li Family and placed the Record of Yueyang Tower inside Yueyang Tower, blessing it with the Temple of Sages' power.
• The Flood Dragon Sage threatened to suppress Li Daoyuan and Fang Yun, then began rising from the Yangtze River and declared the human-Water Race agreement would be rewritten.
• The Flood Dragon Sage suddenly stopped as Saint Clouds appeared above Kong City, and Li Daoyuan turned toward Upside-Down Peak Mountain.
• Yan Yukong told Li Fanming that a human Half-Sage had acted, but he did not know whether they intended to help Fang Yun or oppose Li Daoyuan.