Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• Jiang Yuechu tests the new White Flood Dragon Spirit Imprint and discovers it greatly strengthens her water-controlling Divine Ability. Even without the Dragon Transformation Scripture, she can summon a huge, seemingly inexhaustible wave—powerful enough that, if combined with the Scripture, it might flood Liangzhou City.
• She loses control of her excitement and blasts a hole through her roof. Wei He, Xu Changfeng, and armed Demon-Suppression Guards rush in, mistaking the sudden disturbance for an attack.
• At the Western Regions Demon Court, a rat Demon reports that the two White Flood Dragon Demon Kings, Jiao Li and Jiao Xuan, were killed near Liangzhou and their bodies paraded through the streets.
• The Mao-Ri Demon King fears the deaths will provoke the White Flood Dragon Clan and possibly draw Great Tang’s forces into the borderlands. He orders an immediate retreat, disguising his flight as a long-overdue visit to his family.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yuechu gains a major new source of power, but her impulsiveness has immediate consequences: her test alarms her allies and damages her residence.
• Wei He and Xu Changfeng respond swiftly, arriving armed with the guards to protect Jiang Yuechu.
• The Mao-Ri Demon King is revealed as deeply cautious and self-preserving. He had hoped the two White Flood Dragon Kings would die, but their deaths frighten him into fleeing rather than seeking revenge.
• The rat Demon delivers the news and cautiously questions the retreat order, but obeys after being kicked and scolded.

Significant themes

• Power and control: Jiang Yuechu’s newfound ability is formidable, but her lack of restraint creates danger and disruption.
• Political consequences: The deaths of the Demon Kings threaten to destabilize relations among the demons and Great Tang.
• Self-preservation and hypocrisy: The Mao-Ri Demon King presents his retreat as filial devotion, masking his fear and political calculation.

Key plot points

• In the Demon Court, Jiao Mo urges the Demon Emperor to avenge the deaths of two White Flood Dragon Demon Kings, who were publicly killed by a human in Great Tang.
• The Demon Emperor, still weakened by wounds from a battle sixteen years earlier, initially gives no sign of agreeing. Jiao Mo offers the rare Cold Jade Udumbara, prized for healing damaged foundations and souls.
• The Emperor accepts the treasure and proposes a different route to revenge: Jiao Mo must visit Little Thunder Mountain and tell its ruler, the Little Sage King, that he can claim the Demon Emperor’s throne if he kills the human responsible.
• Jiao Mo reaches the mountain and asks to see the Little Sage King. The sleepy gatekeepers make him wait; he discreetly bribes one with two night pearls.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiao Mo shifts from openly demanding vengeance to bargaining and showing deference when the Emperor remains unresponsive. Though the Emperor’s proposal unsettles him, he obeys and approaches the Little Sage King cautiously.
• The Demon Emperor reveals both his physical vulnerability and his continued authority: he consumes a maid’s flesh to recover strength, then accepts Jiao Mo’s valuable offering while presenting his decision as reluctant generosity.
• The Little Sage King does not appear directly, but is portrayed as ambitious and powerful enough that the Emperor can use his desire for the throne to direct him toward the human target.
• The gatekeepers treat Jiao Mo casually, while he tolerates their disrespect and pays for access, underscoring his weakened position and urgency.

Significant themes

• Power and political calculation: The Emperor avoids a direct conflict with Great Tang, redirecting vengeance through an ambitious rival.
• Pride and status: The White Flood Dragon Clan fears that failing to respond will invite ridicule and weaken its standing among demons.
• Bargains and loyalty: Jiao Mo offers a treasured healing relic in hopes of securing action, while the Emperor frames the exchange as devotion rather than payment.
• Vulnerability beneath authority: Though gravely injured, the Emperor maintains control through intimidation and strategic command.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• Jiao Mo is led into the lavish inner chamber of Little Thunder Mountain, where he meets its ruler, the Cosmic Demon King—a powerful, arrogant descendant of the Golden-Winged Roc.
• Jiao Mo reports that two White Flood Dragon Demon Kings were killed in Liangzhou by a human woman, who also insulted the Demon Court and mocked the Cosmic Demon King.
• Enraged by the insult, the Cosmic Demon King is further tempted by Jiao Mo’s claim that the wounded Demon Emperor is near death and will give him the throne if he kills the woman.
• Though suspicious that the offer may be a trap, the Cosmic Demon King decides the chance to rule the Western Regions is worth the risk. Confident he can escape if necessary, he prepares to travel to Liangzhou.

Character developments

• The Cosmic Demon King is introduced as formidable, vain, defiant, and politically ambitious. He recognizes Jiao Mo’s provocation but lets his pride—and desire for the throne—override his caution.
• Jiao Mo carefully manages the Demon King’s temper, using the woman’s insult and the promise of succession to steer him toward Liangzhou.
• The Demon Emperor remains offstage, but is portrayed as injured and politically calculating; his supposed offer of the throne is difficult to believe.

Character interactions

• Jiao Mo approaches the Cosmic Demon King deferentially, despite the latter’s disrespect toward the Demon Emperor and open contempt for the Flood Dragon clan.
• The Cosmic Demon King mocks the dead Demon Kings, then erupts when told the woman called him a “plucked pheasant.”
• Jiao Mo flatters him and presents the throne as a reward, while the Cosmic Demon King questions the offer before choosing to accept its risks.

Significant themes

• Pride as a vulnerability: The insult helps draw the Cosmic Demon King into a dangerous mission.
• Ambition and political manipulation: Jiao Mo uses the promise of power to influence him, while the Demon Emperor’s motives remain uncertain.
• Power, status, and inherited reputation: The Cosmic Demon King’s ancestry protects him and feeds his confidence, but may also encourage reckless choices.

Key plot points and events

• After several quiet days following the deaths of two Wicked Dragons, a visitor arrives from the capital: You Wujiang, a Gold Robe inspector, accompanied by Ji.
• You Wujiang explains that the Head Office wants the two Great Demon corpses returned to the capital. He also brings a personal message from the emperor to Jiang Yuechu.
• The emperor misses his younger sister and urges her to return to Chang’an before the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month to celebrate Minor New Year with him. He even threatens to come to Longyou and fetch her himself.
• Jiang Yuechu understands how much her brother cares for her and agrees to consider returning.
• You Wujiang tries to leave immediately with Ji and the corpses, but Wei He insists they stay the night. You Wujiang is caught between politeness and his reluctance to socialize.

Character developments

• Jiang Yuechu shows growing warmth toward her brother, recognizing that his message comes from genuine loneliness and concern.
• You Wujiang remains proud and reserved, but his discomfort around Jiang Yuechu reveals that her power and standing impress him. He also dutifully delivers the emperor’s message.
• Wei He feels renewed pride in Jiang Yuechu, comparing her remarkable achievement at seventeen with You Wujiang’s status as a famous young talent.

Significant themes

• Family bonds and homesickness: The emperor’s message emphasizes his longing for his sister and the importance of reunion.
• Talent and opportunity: Wei He reflects on how Jiang Yuechu’s extraordinary ability was recognized and nurtured despite Longyou’s limited resources.
• Power and humility: You Wujiang’s reputation does not prevent him from feeling intimidated by Jiang Yuechu’s accomplishments.

Character interactions

• Jiang Yuechu greets You Wujiang and Ji warmly, while You Wujiang approaches her with visible awkwardness.
• Jiang Yuechu lets Wei He remain present during the emperor’s private message, showing trust in him.
• Wei He attempts to host the visitors and persuade them to stay overnight; You Wujiang hesitates, reluctant to refuse but equally unwilling to accept.

Key plot points and events

• You Wujiang initially tries to leave Liangzhou, but his junior sister Ji Shuyu’s exhaustion and Jiang Yuechu’s insistence on proper hospitality persuade him to stay.
• Wei He hosts a lavish dinner for Jiang, You, and Ji. Xu Changfeng, a stern young officer from a prominent military family, joins them after finishing official business.
• You Wujiang recognizes Xu’s name and recalls that he was once considered a brilliant talent before leaving the capital for the frontier. Their restrained greeting hints that You may know more about Xu’s past.
• As the meal progresses, the guests relax. Jiang observes that, despite their different paths, everyone at the table has roots in the capital and has ended up in Longyou. They share a toast and a new sense of kinship.
• The scene shifts to the border between Longyou and the Demon Court. The Demon Court’s Young Saint King races east with Jiao Mo close behind. Jiao Mo warns him that Longyou is home to a reclusive old Taoist who has reached Half-Step Lamp-Lighting.

Character developments

• You Wujiang shows courtesy despite his reluctance to stay, and gradually loosens up during the dinner. His complicated reaction to Xu suggests an unresolved history or concern.
• Ji Shuyu is openly hungry and energetic, bringing humor and warmth to the formal gathering.
• Jiang Yuechu balances her cool, composed manner with consideration for her guests, then recognizes the unlikely bond their shared origins create.
• Wei He proves an attentive host, using food, wine, and conversation to ease the awkwardness.
• Xu Changfeng remains quiet and stern, but acknowledges You with a restrained greeting; his reputation and unexplained departure from the capital are emphasized.
• Jiao Mo flatters the Young Saint King while cautiously warning him about a powerful local Taoist.

Significant themes

• Unexpected connections: People from the capital’s elite find themselves together on a distant frontier and discover common ground.
• Courtesy and fellowship: Hospitality and shared food help bridge social awkwardness.
• Past and reputation: Xu’s former promise and departure hint that a character’s history may shape present relationships.
• Power and danger: The Demon Court’s confidence is tempered by the presence of a formidable Taoist in Longyou.

Character interactions

• Ji persuades You to accept Jiang’s hospitality; Jiang’s courtesy reinforces the decision.
• Wei He manages the tense dinner, while Ji’s uninhibited eating and the others’ conversation gradually lighten the mood.
• Jiang’s observation prompts You, Xu, and Ji to join a shared toast, creating a sense of solidarity.
• Jiao Mo follows and advises the Young Saint King, mixing praise with a warning about the Taoist threat.

Key plot points and events

• The Cosmic Demon King boasts of his Roc Bloodline and speed, then flies toward Liangzhou City. Jiao Mo follows, hoping revenge will be achieved, but he knows either possible outcome could harm the White Flood Dragon Clan.
• As a feast hosted by Jiang Yuechu winds down, she and You Wujiang sense danger. A golden streak crashes into central Liangzhou City, leveling homes and terrifying its people.
• The Cosmic Demon King retrieves his dragon-and-phoenix-carved halberd and demands the person who killed the White Flood Dragon Clan members appear within the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Otherwise, he threatens to massacre the city.
• The old Daoist You Chenzi tries to intercept him, but the Roc Demon’s speed lets him fly past. As You Chenzi moves to protect Liangzhou, Jiao Mo blocks his way and addresses him by name.

Character developments

• Jiao Mo is torn between seeking revenge and protecting his clan’s interests. He recognizes the Cosmic Demon King’s political motives and reluctantly chooses the possibility of the Demon King’s defeat, despite the dangers that could bring.
• The Cosmic Demon King shows his arrogance and ruthlessness, treating the city’s inhabitants as expendable leverage.
• You Chenzi prioritizes civilian safety and immediately attempts to stop the attack, even after the Demon King outpaces him.
• Jiang Yuechu and her companions shift abruptly from a relaxed feast to an emergency response; Jiang Yuechu takes the lead in going outside to assess the threat.

Significant themes

• Power, vengeance, and political ambition: The feud is being used to reshape power within the Western Regions Demon Court.
• The cost of revenge: Jiao Mo’s desire for retribution clashes with the risk it poses to his own clan.
• The vulnerability of ordinary people: Liangzhou’s citizens become targets in a conflict between powerful beings.
• Duty and responsibility: You Chenzi’s attempt to defend the city contrasts with the Demon King’s indifference to its people.

Character interactions

• Jiao Mo flatters the Cosmic Demon King and offers to hold You Chenzi back, while privately calculating the political consequences of both victory and defeat.
• Jiang Yuechu urges the feast guests to rest, but quickly leads them toward the disturbance once it begins.
• The Cosmic Demon King issues Liangzhou a deadly ultimatum.
• You Chenzi confronts the Demon King, but Jiao Mo intercepts him, setting up a clash between the two elders.

Plot points and events

• Jiao Mo blocks You Chenzi from reaching Liangzhou City, threatening to hold him off while the White Flood Dragon heir attacks the city. You Chenzi recognizes that even a brief delay could leave the people below in danger.
• Inside the city, the Cosmic Demon King gives the residents a deadline to surrender a human girl—Jiang Yuechu—or face further destruction.
• Jiang Yuechu orders Wei He and the Demon Suppression Office to evacuate civilians, then confronts the demon herself.
• Her opening blade strike surprises the Cosmic Demon King and forces him back, but his Golden-Winged Roc speed lets him attack from behind. Jiang Yuechu survives the halberd blow through her formidable defenses, though it sends her crashing to the ground.
• You Wujiang steps in to protect her. His sword technique forms a silver dragon, but the demon’s treasured golden armor shatters the attack and leaves only a faint mark.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yuechu remains composed under pressure and prioritizes civilian safety, accepting that the demon has come for her. Her strength is formidable, but the Cosmic Demon King’s speed and power put her at a disadvantage.
• You Wujiang moves from wary restraint to direct action when Jiang Yuechu is threatened and the demon insults Great Tang. His attack demonstrates his skill, but also exposes the limits of his sword against the demon’s armor.
• Wei He and Xu Changfeng are shaken by the demon’s presence and recognize how far outmatched they are, while still preparing to help protect the city.
• The Cosmic Demon King is arrogant and brutal, boasting of his Golden-Winged Roc ancestry and nearly invulnerable armor.
• Jiao Mo serves as a delaying obstacle for You Chenzi, keeping the danger focused on the city below.

Significant themes

• Protective responsibility: Jiang Yuechu sends others to safety and faces the danger herself.
• Courage against overwhelming odds: You Wujiang intervenes despite the disparity in strength.
• Power and its limits: Jiang Yuechu’s toughness and You Wujiang’s swordsmanship are not enough to overcome the demon’s speed and armor.
• Pride and inherited power: The demon’s confidence rests on his lineage and the treasure supplied by his clan.

Key plot points and events

• The Cosmic Demon King boasts of his strength, then attacks Jiang Yuechu. She catches his halberd barehanded, revealing crystalline dragon horns and slit pupils.
• Jiang Yuechu unleashes Mirage Breath, filling the area with supernatural mist. When it clears, both she and the Cosmic Demon King have vanished, leaving You Wujiang to find only a crater.
• Above the clouds, You Chenzi confronts Jiao Mo, ancestor of the White Flood Dragon Clan, who refuses to let him pass because the conflict concerns his clan.
• Jiao Mo uses his Yin Mountain arts, summoning a sea of black water and ghosts. You Chenzi pierces through it with his horsetail whisk, forcing Jiao Mo into close combat.
• Jiao Mo’s attacks fail to overwhelm the Daoist. Hoping to buy time for the Little Saint King to kill the human, he unleashes Moonfall, dropping a pale moon with the force of the black sea.
• You Chenzi answers with a tiny green light that rapidly expands into a brilliant sun. The chapter ends before the result of their clash is shown.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yuechu reveals formidable, possibly dragon-related power and a cold, predatory determination toward the Cosmic Demon King. She shifts from appearing vulnerable to controlling the encounter.
• The Cosmic Demon King goes from confident and dismissive to terrified when Jiang Yuechu stops his strongest attack and traps him in her mist.
• You Chenzi displays overwhelming skill and composure, breaking Jiao Mo’s spell and evading his physical attacks with ease.
• Jiao Mo is powerful and resourceful but increasingly anxious: he is fighting to protect his clan and stall You Chenzi while awaiting the Little Saint King’s success.
• You Wujiang witnesses the sudden reversal in the fight and searches unsuccessfully for the vanished combatants.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and sudden reversals: apparent power and confidence can collapse when an opponent’s true abilities emerge.
• Escalation and suspense: both confrontations build toward major techniques, but neither is resolved by the chapter’s end.
• Different paths to power: the chapter contrasts Yin Mountain sorcery and spirit arts with physical strength, combat skill, and supernatural dragon abilities.

Key plot points

• You Chenzi reveals the power of his nearly lit Heart Lamp and defeats Jiao Mo’s attack with a single word: “Break.” Though Jiao Mo is gravely wounded, You Chenzi does not pursue him.
• Jiao Mo realizes the Cosmic Demon King has vanished from Liangzhou City. Suspecting an even greater threat there, he abandons the fight and flees toward the Western Regions.
• The story then shows what happened to the Demon King: Jiang Yuechu has trapped him inside a ten-zhang space concealed by uncanny white mist. His wings, halberd, and strength cannot break the barrier.
• Jiang Yuechu summons a vast flood, with the shadow of a gigantic White Flood Dragon behind her, and declares, “This world… I… am the tide!”

Character developments and interactions

• You Chenzi demonstrates that even before fully reaching Lamp-Lighting, his Heart Lamp makes him powerful enough to overcome a Mountain-Viewing Realm opponent. His restraint and puzzlement at Jiao Mo’s escape suggest his attention is fixed on the strange disappearance in Liangzhou.
• Jiao Mo shifts from aggression to fear and self-preservation once he recognizes You Chenzi’s strength and senses that the Demon King may have been defeated.
• The Cosmic Demon King goes from swaggering confidence to helpless panic when his speed and weapons prove useless against Jiang Yuechu’s confinement.
• Jiang Yuechu remains calm and controlled throughout the confrontation. Her effortless command of mist and water establishes her as a formidable force and overturns the Demon King’s assumption that his armor makes him untouchable.

Significant themes

• Power and thresholds: The passage contrasts the vast gulf between Mountain-Viewing and Lamp-Lighting with the further, mysterious power Jiang Yuechu displays.
• Pride versus reality: The Demon King’s confidence collapses when brute strength cannot solve the problem he faces.
• Water as irresistible power: Jiang Yuechu’s declaration frames water as yielding yet ultimately impossible to oppose—a theme embodied by the overwhelming tide she commands.

at this point
in his eyes
as if
said
upon hearing this
Jiang
saw
was
yet
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she
moved
said
Jiang
said
said
said
she
said
said
said
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Zhejiang
after waking up
today
sorry
tomorrow

Chapter Summary

• Jiang Yuechu kills the Golden-Winged Roc demon, ending the Mirage Barrier that had sealed off the area.
• She uses Shadow Tracing to record the previously unknown demon. The technique costs 8,600 years of Dao Cultivation and grants her Cloud Journey, a Golden-Winged Roc secret ability that lets her travel at extraordinary speed.
• With her remaining Dao Cultivation, she advances Ten Thousand Demons Devour Heaven to minor mastery, then absorbs the Roc’s exceptionally rich vital essence.
• The influx of power forms a fifth lotus petal and pushes Jiang Yuechu from the Early to the Middle Lotus-Seeding Realm.
• Outside the barrier, You Wujiang and Wei He fear Jiang Yuechu has been taken or killed. Wei He is especially distraught because she is not only his commander but also the Great Tang’s eldest princess.
• You Chenzi arrives and confirms the dead demon belonged to the Golden-Winged Roc Lineage. He is puzzled: although the Roc was extraordinarily fast, it should have left traces, yet he can find no sign of where it went—or how it disappeared.
• You Wujiang recognizes the lineage’s significance and is visibly shaken. Wei He asks You Chenzi to explain it; the Daoist begins, noting that he learned of the lineage from an unusually talkative “chick.”

Character Developments and Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu turns a dangerous encounter into a major gain: she acquires a powerful movement ability, improves her devouring art, and breaks through to a higher cultivation stage.
• You Wujiang shifts from tense uncertainty to alarm when the demon’s prestigious origin is confirmed.
• Wei He shows deep personal and official concern for Jiang Yuechu, fearing both the loss of his commander and the political consequences of the princess’s death.
• You Chenzi brings expert knowledge but cannot explain the barrier’s disappearance, leaving the central mystery unresolved.

Significant Themes

• Power through risk: Defeating a formidable foe yields both new abilities and rapid advancement.
• Bloodline and status: The Roc’s lineage marks it as exceptional among demons and explains its arrogance and unusual strength.
• Uncertainty and hidden forces: Jiang Yuechu’s disappearance and the lack of any detectable trail suggest that ordinary movement cannot explain what happened.
• Duty and personal loyalty: Wei He’s concern reflects the overlap between Jiang Yuechu’s command role and royal identity.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• You Chenzi explains the ancient origins and immense power of the Roc lineage. The Phoenix gave birth to the Peacock and Roc, and Roc descendants are born in the Lotus-Seeding Realm, possessing extraordinary speed, physical strength, and the ability to travel vast distances.
• The enemy Demon King is revealed to be a direct descendant of the Golden-Winged Roc clan. Its lineage and treasures—especially its golden armor—explain its overwhelming strength.
• Wei He urgently asks You Chenzi to locate Jiang Yuechu, hoping she is still alive and can be escorted to Chang’an for protection. You Chenzi admits he cannot find her.
• You Wujiang decides to return to the Head Office to request reinforcements, while Wei He remains behind to search and keep watch.
• You Chenzi privately assumes Jiang Yuechu is probably dead. He worries that even if Great Tang wants revenge, it may be unable to challenge the powerful Golden-Winged Roc clan. He also blames the imperial authorities for allowing such a valuable and vulnerable prodigy to travel through dangerous Longyou.
• Just as You Chenzi resigns himself to the possibility that Jiang Yuechu’s death is fate, a figure emerges from the dissipating mist.
• Jiang Yuechu appears alive, battered but composed, beside the brutally slain corpse of the Cosmic Demon King. The demon’s shattered head, broken wings, golden armor, and Fangtian Halberd confirm its identity.
• Jiang Yuechu casually states that she merely killed a demon, shocking everyone present. Wei He is overwhelmed with relief and immediately asks whether she is unharmed.
• Jiang Yuechu says she is fine and that the battle was only somewhat troublesome.
• You Chenzi, unable to understand how a Lotus-Seeding Realm human defeated such a powerful Roc descendant, concludes that the Tang imperial family must have secretly given Jiang Yuechu a powerful protective treasure.
• He formally greets her as the Eldest Princess.

Character developments

• Jiang Yuechu is revealed to be far more formidable than expected. She not only survives the confrontation but kills an exceptionally powerful Roc-blooded Demon King. Her calm, understated attitude contrasts sharply with the magnitude of her achievement.
• Wei He shifts from desperate fear to overwhelming relief. His concern for Jiang Yuechu reveals both his loyalty and his emotional attachment to her, though he remains mindful of her status.
• You Wujiang acts decisively and responsibly, intending to obtain reinforcements rather than remain idle in uncertainty.
• You Chenzi moves from pessimistic grief and frustration to astonishment and admiration. His misunderstanding—that Jiang Yuechu relied on an imperial treasure—allows him to preserve his assumptions about the limits of her true strength.
• The Cosmic Demon King, previously arrogant because of his noble bloodline, is definitively humbled and destroyed, demonstrating that lineage and treasures do not guarantee victory.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated talent: Jiang Yuechu’s true capabilities are far greater than others realize, and her victory overturns everyone’s assumptions.
• Bloodline versus individual ability: The Roc lineage represents ancient, overwhelming power, yet Jiang Yuechu defeats its direct descendant despite appearing to share the same cultivation realm.
• Duty, protection, and political responsibility: The chapter questions whether Great Tang properly protected an imperial princess and irreplaceable prodigy by allowing her to enter a dangerous frontier region.
• Fate versus human action: You Chenzi briefly attributes Jiang Yuechu’s possible death to fate, only for her sudden return to prove that his pessimism was premature.
• The dangers of political power: Even if Jiang Yuechu had died, Great Tang might have hesitated to retaliate against the immensely powerful Golden-Winged Roc clan, showing the limits imposed by larger political realities.

Character interactions

• Wei He pleads with You Chenzi for help finding Jiang Yuechu, while You Wujiang organizes a search for reinforcements.
• You Chenzi internally criticizes Wei He’s concern and the imperial authorities’ decisions, though he outwardly remains restrained.
• Jiang Yuechu’s return silences everyone and dramatically reverses the emotional atmosphere from grief and anxiety to shock and relief.
• Wei He openly expresses concern for her safety, and Jiang Yuechu responds with calm reassurance.
• You Chenzi respectfully acknowledges Jiang Yuechu’s imperial identity, marking a shift from treating her as a missing young cultivator to recognizing her as the Eldest Princess of Great Tang.

Plot points and events

• Jiang Yuechu meets You Chenzi, a formidable former grand elder of the Pure Yang Palace who returned to his birthplace, Longyou, thirty years ago. He has protected the frontier from demons without serving the court or seeking reward.
• Impressed by his selfless service, Jiang Yuechu formally salutes him. You Chenzi, in turn, praises her courage and achievements.
• Jiang Yuechu tells You Wujiang to take the Lotus-Seeding Realm demon’s corpse back to the Demon Suppression Office and report her victory.
• You Wujiang offers her the demon’s weapons and armor, despite the Office’s usual rule that spoils must first be submitted for inspection.
• Wei He, the guards, and You Chenzi all pretend they cannot see the treasures, letting Jiang Yuechu keep them without an official dispute.
• Jiang Yuechu claims the demon’s red-gold Fangtian Halberd and Golden Chainmail Armor, delighted to gain a powerful weapon and the defensive treasure she has lacked.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yuechu shows respect for genuine service and accepts You Chenzi’s generosity. Her usual reserve softens as she recognizes his devotion. She also readily embraces the opportunity to keep the demon’s valuable equipment.
• You Chenzi is established as a principled, humble protector of the frontier. He deflects Jiang Yuechu’s praise and praises her in return.
• You Wujiang struggles with the realization that Jiang Yuechu has likely surpassed him. Though stung in his pride, he remains gracious and fair, recognizing her achievement and offering her the spoils.
• Wei He and the guards support You Wujiang’s unofficial offer by comically claiming not to see the treasures.

Significant themes

• Duty and selflessness: You Chenzi protects ordinary people without official position or compensation.
• True righteousness: His conduct contrasts with sects that ignore public suffering or even cooperate with demons.
• Humility and mutual respect: Jiang Yuechu and You Chenzi each praise the other while minimizing their own merits.
• Merit over status: You Wujiang accepts Jiang Yuechu’s growing superiority rather than letting pride turn into envy.
• Camaraderie and flexible rule-following: The group quietly bends procedure to reward Jiang Yuechu’s hard-won victory.

Key plot points and events

• After defeating the Cosmic Demon King, Jiang Yuechu is unsure how to use the demon’s armor. The Daoist You Chenzi explains that treasured artifacts contain a sealed Spirit Imprint, granting their bearer an additional supernatural ability—hence their other name, “External Spirit Imprints.”
• You Chenzi tells her that a treasured artifact can change size when its user channels True Essence into it. Jiang tests this and reshapes the armor to fit herself.
• The armor identifies itself as the Flowing Gold Cloud-Treading Armor. She also shrinks the demon’s oversized halberd, learning that it is the Great Wilderness Star-Shattering Halberd.
• Delighted by her new weapons and confident in how they will amplify her strength, Jiang stores the halberd in her bodily storage space.
• She sends Wei He, Xu Changfeng, and You Chenzi back to reassure the frightened townspeople, then thanks You Wujiang for his efforts. You Wujiang, embarrassed that he was outmatched, absorbs the demon’s enormous corpse into a jade pendant and leaves.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yuechu reveals that, despite her formidable combat ability, she knows little about treasured artifacts. She learns quickly, adapts the artifacts to her needs, and recognizes how much they might strengthen her.
• You Chenzi patiently explains the artifacts’ nature and use. He assumes Jiang’s superiors simply failed to teach her about them.
• Wei He understands Jiang’s unspoken wish to speak privately with You Wujiang and follows her order without asking questions.
• You Wujiang is humble and visibly ashamed of his poor showing, even as he handles the demon’s remains with a powerful storage artifact.

Significant themes

• Knowledge as power: Understanding how treasured artifacts work reveals the strength the demon possessed and the advantage Jiang had denied him.
• Power and preparation: The demon’s multiple Spirit Imprints made him exceptionally dangerous, while Jiang’s ability to disrupt his attacks was decisive.
• Humility and status: Jiang accepts praise but remains practical, while You Wujiang downplays his contribution and withdraws out of embarrassment.

Chapter Summary

• After the others leave, Jiang Yuechu asks Daoist You Chenzi to examine the red silk taken from the slain Cosmic Demon King. He identifies it as an imitation of a Dao Armament—a legendary object said to contain the laws of the Great Dao. Though made from excellent material, the demon-crafted treasure lacks the true essence of such an artifact. Jiang Yuechu’s struggle has severed its channels and drained its spiritual power, making repair impractical. She keeps it anyway, valuing its rare material.
• You Chenzi warns Jiang Yuechu that the Cosmic Demon King belonged to the powerful Golden-Winged Roc Lineage, whose members will seek revenge. He urges her to leave the frontier region of Longyou and return to Chang’an. She accepts his advice politely, though inwardly she remains confident that her rapid cultivation gains will let her face any pursuers.
• The scene then shifts to wintertime Chang’an. The emperor frets over the cold in the distant northwest, clearly worrying about Jiang Yuechu’s welfare. An elderly eunuch plays along, exaggerating how harsh the region is, and the emperor enthusiastically agrees.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Jiang Yuechu is practical and unsentimental about the damaged treasure, but retains it for its useful materials. She listens respectfully to You Chenzi’s warning without showing fear, trusting her own potential.
• You Chenzi acts as an experienced adviser: he identifies the artifact and cautions Jiang Yuechu about the political danger of killing a Roc lineage scion.
• The emperor is revealed as deeply concerned for Jiang Yuechu, despite her great strength and ability to withstand the cold. The eunuch recognizes that his worry is excessive but tactfully encourages it.

Significant Themes

• Power and consequences: Killing a powerful clan’s heir can provoke retaliation, even when the victory itself is decisive.
• Practicality over appearances: The silk resembles a legendary artifact but is only a flawed imitation; Jiang Yuechu judges its actual usefulness rather than its reputation.
• Confidence and ambition: Jiang Yuechu believes her growth may eventually let her turn the tables on those who come after her.
• Affection expressed through worry: The emperor’s anxious concern contrasts humorously with Jiang Yuechu’s resilience.

Chapter Summary: “Brotherly Friendship, Sisterly Respect”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Emperor orders the Imperial Food Bureau to send ten elite chefs to Liangzhou, along with Glimmering Brocade and Fire Silkworm Silk quilts, for his sister, the Eldest Princess Jiang Yuechu.
• The old eunuch worries that the supplies may arrive too late, since Liangzhou is far away and Jiang Yuechu may already be returning to the capital.
• The Empress arrives with bird’s nest and snow pear soup for the Emperor, having heard that he has lost his appetite.
• After learning that the Emperor’s agitation concerns Jiang Yuechu, the Empress gently warns that sending such extravagant gifts is impractical and may make it appear that he is excessively indulging her.
• The Emperor reacts angrily, insisting that Jiang Yuechu is his own sister and deserves his care after suffering outside the capital for sixteen years. He dismisses the Empress’s concerns and harshly orders her to leave.
• Once the Empress departs, the Emperor asks whether Gold Robe Inspector You Wujiang has delivered his message and whether Jiang Yuechu will return for the New Year.
• The eunuch reassures him that Jiang Yuechu must miss her family and will surely come back.
• Encouraged, the Emperor decides to personally write a spring couplet for the Golden Jade Palace. It celebrates the Eldest Princess’s return and reunion with the imperial family.
• He adds the horizontal inscription: “Brotherly Friendship, Sisterly Respect.”

Character Developments

• The Emperor: Revealed as deeply affectionate and protective toward Jiang Yuechu. His normally stern and unpredictable personality becomes anxious, sentimental, and even childish when worrying about his sister. He is willing to disregard practicality and courtly criticism to show his concern.
• The Empress: Demonstrates tact, reason, and concern for political appearances. Although her advice is sensible, she misjudges the emotional importance Jiang Yuechu holds for the Emperor and is hurt by his sharp rejection.
• The old eunuch: Acts as a cautious mediator and emotional support for the Emperor. He recognizes that Jiang Yuechu is strong-willed and may not obey simply because of an imperial summons, but he wisely offers optimistic reassurance.
• Jiang Yuechu: Although absent from the chapter, her reputation and past are emphasized. Her sixteen years of hardship and her powerful cultivation make her independent, formidable, and unlikely to return merely out of obedience.

Significant Themes

• Familial affection versus political restraint: The Emperor places personal love for his sister above logistical concerns and worries about how his actions may appear to the court.
• The lasting pain of abandonment: Jiang Yuechu’s years outside the imperial family continue to trouble the Emperor, who feels guilty that she never enjoyed the comfort and protection of her birthright.
• Public duty and private emotion: The Empress approaches the matter from the perspective of statecraft and propriety, while the Emperor responds as a brother rather than a ruler.
• Anticipation of reunion: The approaching New Year and palace preparations create a festive setting, but the Emperor cannot feel joyful until he knows whether Jiang Yuechu will return.
• Sibling bonds: The chapter highlights the Emperor’s intense desire to restore the family relationship, symbolized by the spring couplet celebrating their reunion.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor and old eunuch share a familiar dynamic: the Emperor gives emotional orders, while the eunuch cautiously points out practical difficulties and tries to soothe him.
• The Emperor and Empress clash over Jiang Yuechu. The Empress speaks respectfully and logically, but the Emperor interprets her caution as opposition to his love for his sister.
• The Emperor’s interaction with the absent Jiang Yuechu is indirect but central: he sends gifts, summons her home, worries about her feelings, and prepares a welcome for her, revealing how important reconciliation and reunion have become to him.

Key events

• The morning after the Cosmic Demon King’s attack, Liangzhou City is already rebuilding. The Demon Suppression Office and local soldiers clear rubble and repair homes, while porridge and generous compensation are distributed to residents on Jiang Yuechu’s orders.
• News spreads that Jiang Yuechu is both the Jiao-Slaying Fairy and the Tang Empire’s Princess Royal. Her actions during the crisis make her popular, while men who once failed to court her comically regret missing the chance to become imperial in-laws.
• You Wujiang and Ji Shuyu prepare to leave for the capital with the demon corpse. Ji wishes to stay, but You insists the matter must be reported promptly.
• You asks Jiang Yuechu to return with them, noting that the twenty-third day of the lunar month is approaching. Jiang refuses to leave Liangzhou while its recovery remains unfinished, but promises she will be back in time.
• You doubts she can travel from Liangzhou to Chang’an within four days, yet accepts her decision and rides away with Ji and the corpse.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yuechu shows practical compassion by directing relief efforts, strengthening her standing among the people. She remains committed to her responsibilities as Liangzhou’s commander, even with an important deadline looming.
• You Wujiang balances loyalty to the Emperor’s request with respect for Jiang’s judgment. He voices his concern, then departs after making his position clear.
• Ji Shuyu is reluctant to leave Liangzhou, contrasting with You’s urgency.
• The townspeople’s admiration for Jiang—and the would-be suitors’ exaggerated regret—adds a humorous counterpoint to the city’s recovery.

Significant themes

• Duty and public service: Jiang prioritizes stabilizing Liangzhou over personal plans.
• Reputation and recognition: Her heroism and royal identity rapidly reshape how the city sees her.
• Regret and comic irony: The men fantasize about the status they might have gained, unaware that pursuing Jiang would likely have ended badly.
• Loyalty and responsibility: You carries out the mission while trying, unsuccessfully, to persuade Jiang to return with him.

Key plot points and events

• In the Demon Court, the battered Jiao Mo reports that the Little Sage King vanished during a battle in Liangzhou against a powerful old Daoist. He cannot confirm the prince is dead, but fears the worst.
• The Demon Emperor feigns grief while refusing to help avenge the White Flood Dragon Clan or investigate the Little Sage King’s fate. He insists the matter is between Great Tang and the dead prince, leaving Jiao Mo to recognize that his ruler considers the Demon Race’s members expendable.
• Two days later, Liangzhou is recovering from the recent disaster. Jiang Yuechu finishes overseeing local affairs and plans to return to Chang’an before the Minor New Year.
• The Hundred Demons Register unexpectedly alerts her that the Black Mountain Bear Lord has reached a flash of insight but cannot progress without more cultivation methods.
• Jiang Yuechu realizes that the Bear Lord needs a foundation of multiple techniques, as the Tiger Mountain God had when deriving his powerful blade art. She decides to visit the Imperial Secret Vault in Chang’an to find suitable methods.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiao Mo returns devastated and injured, then grows bitter as he sees the Demon Emperor’s indifference. Though he obeys the order to leave, he no longer seems to trust his ruler.
• The Demon Emperor presents himself as sorrowful but prioritizes the Demon Court’s safety and his own convenience. His hollow condolences clash with his refusal to act.
• Jiang Yuechu shows practical insight in diagnosing the Bear Lord’s difficulty and plans to use her imperial status and resources to help him.
• Jiang Yuechu and Wei He briefly discuss Liangzhou’s recovery: she entrusts him with the remaining repairs and relief work, and he promises to keep the city stable after her departure.
• The Black Mountain Bear Lord shifts from routine training to visibly struggling with a new insight, prompting the Register’s warning.

Significant themes

• Political self-preservation versus loyalty: The Demon Emperor abandons allies and kin when helping them might endanger his power.
• Power requires foundations: Martial breakthroughs depend not just on talent but on the right knowledge and supporting techniques.
• Responsibility and resources: Jiang Yuechu uses her position not only to leave Liangzhou but to seek what the Bear Lord needs to advance.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Yuechu decides to return to Chang’an and tests her new Cloud Journey ability. She launches into the sky at tremendous speed, quickly learns to control her flight, and savors the freedom of traveling anywhere.
• In Chang’an, the emperor anxiously waits for news of her return. His attendant reassures him that the lack of a message likely means she agreed to come.
• Jiang Yuechu reaches the capital in a dramatic, near-uncontrolled descent. The shockwave from her arrival alarms the city’s defenders, who assume Chang’an is under attack.
• Zhao Zhongliu and the imperial High Ancestor fly up to confront the intruder. Recognizing Jiang Yuechu, they are stunned by her speed and ability to hover far above the city, and suspect she has entered the Mountain-Viewing Realm.
• Jiang Yuechu clarifies that she is borrowing power through a Spirit Imprint and has not reached that realm.

Character developments

• Jiang Yuechu discovers the exhilaration and practical power of aerial travel. Though she is still learning to control her speed, she adapts quickly and remains composed when confronted.
• The emperor reveals how deeply he cares about Jiang Yuechu’s return, becoming agitated over the absence of news before allowing himself to feel hopeful.
• Zhao Zhongliu and the imperial High Ancestor shift rapidly from alarm and aggression to astonishment and uncertainty when they recognize Jiang Yuechu.

Significant themes

• Freedom and expanded possibility: Flight transforms Jiang Yuechu’s sense of travel from a difficult journey across terrain into near-limitless movement.
• Power and misperception: Her extraordinary ability leads others to mistake borrowed strength for a major cultivation breakthrough.
• Homecoming and concern: The emperor’s anxious waiting underscores Jiang Yuechu’s importance to those in Chang’an.

Character interactions

• The emperor complains to his attendant about You Wujiang’s lack of communication; the attendant calms him by interpreting the silence as evidence that Jiang Yuechu is returning.
• Chang’an’s defenders confront Jiang Yuechu after her arrival, but their hostility gives way to disbelief once they recognize her.
• Jiang Yuechu answers their speculation plainly, distinguishing her Spirit-Imprint-assisted flight from true Mountain-Viewing cultivation.

Plot and events

• Jiang Yuechu returns to the Imperial City, flying at a speed that astonishes Zhao Zhongliu and the imperial High Ancestor. They confirm she is in the Lotus-Seeding Realm, but her flight far surpasses what they believe that level should allow.
• The High Ancestor chooses not to question her further, trusting that the extraordinary power behind her Spirit Imprint will serve the Li family and Great Tang.
• Her arrival creates a tremendous disturbance. The emperor’s guards prepare for a possible demon attack, but an old eunuch reports that the Princess Royal has returned.
• The emperor rushes out to meet her so eagerly that he leaves wearing only one boot and runs barefoot through the snow.
• At the Imperial City gates, he checks Jiang Yuechu over and laments that she looks thin and tanned. She reassures him that she is well, then points out his exposed, freezing foot. Once his boot is restored, he leads her back to the palace, welcoming her home.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Yuechu remains composed and respectful despite the attention her abilities attract. Her concern for her brother shows her affection and thoughtfulness.
• The emperor reveals his deep love and worry for his sister through his frantic, undignified rush to see her. His claims that she has grown thin and tanned reflect his emotional relief more than reality.
• The imperial High Ancestor is protective and pragmatic: he stops Zhao Zhongliu’s questioning and accepts Jiang Yuechu’s power as long as it benefits the realm.
• Zhao Zhongliu is both impressed and suspicious, struggling to reconcile Jiang Yuechu’s confirmed cultivation with her astonishing speed.

Themes

• Family reunion and belonging: Jiang Yuechu’s return matters more than ceremony or imperial dignity; the emperor’s welcome turns the palace into a homecoming.
• Power and trust: Her abilities exceed established expectations, but the High Ancestor prioritizes faith in her loyalty over demanding explanations.
• Affection expressed through concern: The emperor’s fussing and Jiang Yuechu’s worry about his bare foot show their bond through protective, affectionate gestures.