Chapter Summaries

Jian Shang and his companions discovered that the tomb’s ancient guards were Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards, an exceptionally powerful force from Great Shang, and he approached their formation to test it. A warning voice answered him, and a Purple-Copper General rose from the ranks, leaving Jian Shang unsure whether the guards were truly corpses.

• Jian Shang estimated that roughly fifty thousand armored ancient corpses stood in five formations and ordered his companions to avoid fighting them if possible.
• Xiao He identified the guards as Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards and explained that their armor came from Great Shang’s Divine Tree and that they were powerful, agile fighters.
• After hearing their strength, Jian Shang decided to approach the guards himself and said the others should withdraw if the fight proved too dangerous.
• Jian Shang advanced toward the formation, which remained motionless as he drew near.
• A voice warned Jian Shang to leave the forbidden ground, and a Purple-Copper General stood up from the formation.

Jian Shang and his companions encountered the Purple-Copper General and the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards inside the ancient tomb. After the General overwhelmed Jian Shang and knocked away his Scarlet Sky Sword, Jian Shang ordered a retreat deeper into the tomb.

• Jian Shang attacked the Purple-Copper General and the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards, but the General's shield stopped his sword techniques and the guards' shields restored themselves after being damaged.
• The Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards surrounded Jian Shang and pressed him with halberds, while the Purple-Copper General blocked his repeated attacks.
• The Purple-Copper General recognized the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Sword, warned Jian Shang to withdraw, and then drew his ancient sword when Jian Shang continued fighting.
• The Purple-Copper General's strike shattered Jian Shang's Yin-Yang Lotus Platform, knocked the Scarlet Sky Sword from his hand, and sent him flying and vomiting blood.
• Jian Shang ordered Hua Qiandai, Meng Tian, Li Tong, and the others to retreat, then led them deeper into the ancient tomb.

Jian Shang tried to flee the ancient tomb but was struck by the Purple-Copper General’s heavenly sword and forced through the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards’ formation. He escaped with Hua Qiandai, Meng Tian, Xiao He, and Yu Ji, then reached a palace complex where Xiao He suspected the guards had let them pass deliberately.

• Jian Shang recalled the Scarlet Sky Sword and fled, but the Purple-Copper General’s heavenly sword and the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards’ shield wall trapped him between them.
• Xiao He ordered the others to retreat, while Meng Tian carried him away and Hua Qiandai rushed after Jian Shang; Yu Ji followed using her mysterious dance-like movement technique.
• The heavenly sword broke through Jian Shang’s defenses, wounded him, and hurled him into the guards, where Hua Qiandai helped him escape through the formation.
• Jian Shang and Yu Ji opened a path for the group, and the five survivors broke through the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards without stopping to fight.
• At the ancient palace complex, Xiao He wondered whether the Purple-Copper General had deliberately let them go and noted that the guards had been crying “sorrow.”

Xiao He speculated that Great Huan’s rise over Great Qin might fulfill the five virtues cycle, while Jian Shang’s group explored the tomb and reluctantly allowed Yuhuang Shenao to accompany them. After Yuhuang Shenao triggered a formation in the plaza, the group was transported to a barren desert that Xiao He identified as the God-Eater Dimensional Illusory Realm.

• Xiao He argued that Great Huan’s virtue of wood succeeding Great Qin’s virtue of water could be an omen, and Meng Tian grew excited at the prospect of serving a true Son of Heaven.
• Yuhuang Shenao emerged from the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guard Formation and persuaded Jian Shang to let him join the group.
• The group entered the palace complex, where Yuhuang Shenao recognized a distant building as King Wen Hall and revealed his skill at exploring tombs.
• Xiao He urged Yuhuang Shenao to search the other palaces, but Yuhuang Shenao continued after Jian Shang’s group toward the plaza.
• Xiao He sensed faint power fluctuations as Yuhuang Shenao stepped into the plaza, triggering a formation that replaced the palace complex with a vast desert.
• Xiao He identified the formation as the God-Eater Dimensional Illusory Realm and began to explain what made it terrifying.

Jian Shang’s group crossed the God-Eater Dimensional Illusory Realm and encountered the deadly God-Devouring Ants, which Xiao He identified as the realm’s true danger. Xiao He urged Jian Shang not to use his gu-insect techniques, hinting that he wanted the ants to kill Yuhuang Shenao, whose identity and strength he suspected.

• Xiao He explained that the group should cross the illusory realm rather than seek a specific way to break it, and Jian Shang led them into the desert.
• Jian Shang noticed that Yuhuang Shenao could withstand the wind and sand, while Yu Ji walked through it unharmed and joined Jian Shang at his side.
• After more than two hours, the group heard rustling and saw swarms of God-Devouring Ants approaching.
• Xiao He warned that the ants could devour nearly anything and said their appearance meant the group was nearing the realm’s end.
• Jian Shang prepared to use the Heavenly Gu Codex to subdue the ants, but Xiao He told him to protect their companions and not interfere.
• Xiao He argued that Yuhuang Shenao might not be an Otherworlder and proposed letting the God-Devouring Ants kill him.

Chapter Summary: “Strong Enemy, Clouded Suspicions”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao He and Meng Tian grow suspicious of Yuhuang Shenao, who has displayed extraordinary strength and luck since entering the illusion realm. They suspect his apparent panic is an act and warn Jian Shang that he may be concealing a powerful identity.
• Jian Shang activates his Seven-Colored Demon Butterfly Gu Matriarch, hoping its natural dominance over insects will suppress the approaching God-Devouring Ant swarm.
• The swarm is revealed to contain enormous numbers of black Demon Ants, along with White, Scarlet, and Purple Ants. A powerful Purple Ant King leads nearly a hundred Purple Ants and thousands of Scarlet Ants. Fortunately, no God-Eating Golden Ant appears.
• The butterfly matriarch’s restrained aura temporarily slows and intimidates the ants. Jian Shang’s group—Jian Shang, Xiao He, Meng Tian, Hua Qiandai, and Yu Ji—forms a protective formation around Jian Shang and prevents Yuhuang Shenao from approaching.
• The group charges through the swarm using the butterfly’s seven-colored light and venom. The ants instinctively avoid the warning coloration, allowing the group to advance, but Yuhuang Shenao is left exposed and becomes covered in rapidly multiplying ants.
• Yuhuang Shenao screams for Jian Shang’s help. Jian Shang hesitates, but Xiao He pulls him onward, prioritizing escape. The group eventually spots an oasis, which Xiao He identifies as the exit from the illusion realm.
• As the butterflies’ deterrent effect weakens, Jian Shang unleashes the Gu Matriarch’s stronger abilities, including Myriad Butterflies Heaven-Dance. Instead of repelling the ants, the appearance of the butterfly wings and swarm enrages the God-Devouring Ants.
• Jian Shang carries Xiao He and Meng Tian toward safety with Shadow-Slaughter Tianya, while Hua Qiandai carries Yu Ji and follows using Boundless Lovesickness.
• Yuhuang Shenao, now completely encased in a massive cocoon of ants, roars that Jian Shang—whom he calls “Xiao Ying”—stole his wife and deliberately lured him to his death. Jian Shang and the others escape into the oasis, while Yuhuang Shenao is left behind.
• Jian Shang realizes that “Xiao Ying” is his real-world name and suspects Yuhuang Shenao may actually be Zhao Jiang, the husband of Lin Qianlian. However, Zhao Jiang’s apparent lack of power in reality conflicts with the terrifying strength demonstrated in the illusion realm.
• Meng Tian concludes that Yuhuang Shenao is a dangerous enemy who should be killed. Xiao He remains skeptical, arguing that the figure may not be an Otherworlder—or even a living being—because no ordinary person could survive such a massive ant swarm.

Character Developments

• Jian Shang: Becomes increasingly conflicted. He recognizes Yuhuang Shenao as a possible enemy but hesitates when the man cries for help. His use of the butterfly Gu develops from cautious suppression to desperate, full-scale intervention, though the latter worsens the situation.
• Xiao He: Acts decisively and pragmatically, taking command during the escape. He prevents Yuhuang Shenao from approaching Jian Shang and forces Jian Shang to continue forward when Jian Shang hesitates.
• Meng Tian: Reinforces the suspicion that Yuhuang Shenao is dangerous and urges Jian Shang to eliminate him before he becomes a greater threat.
• Hua Qiandai: Remains alert and reacts quickly to Jian Shang’s escape technique, rescuing Yu Ji and helping the group reach the oasis.
• Yuhuang Shenao: His false appearance of helplessness collapses into rage and accusation. His knowledge of Jian Shang’s real-world identity suggests an intimate connection and raises the possibility that he is Zhao Jiang—or another entity using Zhao Jiang’s identity.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Yuhuang Shenao’s panic may be an act, while his true power and identity remain hidden.
• Trust and suspicion: The group must decide whether to protect, abandon, or attack someone whose intentions are unclear.
• The danger of overwhelming power: Jian Shang’s strongest technique, which should have provided an advantage, instead provokes the ants and turns the situation into a crisis.
• Sacrifice and survival: The group’s escape depends on abandoning Yuhuang Shenao, creating moral unease and possible future consequences.
• The connection between worlds: Yuhuang Shenao’s use of Jian Shang’s real name suggests that events, identities, and powers in reality may be linked to those in Forging the Sacred Court.

Character Interactions

• Xiao He and Meng Tian privately persuade Jian Shang to treat Yuhuang Shenao as a threat.
• Xiao He physically blocks Yuhuang Shenao from approaching Jian Shang and later drags Jian Shang onward when he hesitates to leave him behind.
• Jian Shang and Yuhuang Shenao exchange seemingly cooperative words, but both remain suspicious of the other.
• Jian Shang works closely with Hua Qiandai, Xiao He, Meng Tian, and Yu Ji during the escape, using his butterfly abilities to protect them.
• Hua Qiandai mirrors Jian Shang’s rescue maneuver, carrying Yu Ji through the ants and overtaking Jian Shang.
• Yuhuang Shenao’s final accusation shocks the group, causing them to question Jian Shang’s past and believe he may have betrayed or stolen another man’s wife.

Jian Shang and his companions escaped the God-Devouring Ants by jumping into the oasis lake, then entered King Wen Hall and discovered that the tomb held King Wen’s treasures rather than King Wu’s legacy. After Jian Shang paid his respects, a voice began speaking of Heaven’s mandate and an inheritor of Great Shang, leaving the hall’s response unresolved.

• Jian Shang confirmed that Xiao Ying was an Otherworlder and watched Yuhuang Shenao escape the God-Devouring Ants, prompting Xiao He to warn that the survivor remained a threat.
• Xiao He explained that the oasis lake was the way out of the dimensional illusory realm, and Jian Shang jumped in first, followed by Xiao He and the others.
• Jian Shang and his companions emerged before King Wen Hall, where Yuhuang Shenao remained trapped inside the ant-covered plaza.
• Jian Shang led the group into King Wen Hall and found its statue, treasures, and numerous statues bearing valuable artifacts, but realized the tomb was not King Wu’s.
• At Xiao He’s urging, Jian Shang bowed and asked King Wen to grant him the legacy and possessions; a voice then spoke of an inheritor bearing Great Shang’s direct bloodline.

Jian Shang and his companions discovered that King Wen’s Tomb concealed Great Shang’s suppressed legacy and treasures meant for an imperial successor. After Jian Shang overcame King Wen’s lingering force to seize the treasures, Xiao He caught a mysterious scroll and returned it, leaving Jian Shang wondering why Xiao He felt like one of his own.

• A timeworn voice identified Jian Shang as the inheritor of Great Shang’s direct bloodline and warned that the road to the Emperor Realm demanded a terrible price.
• Xiao He concluded that the tomb had suppressed Great Shang’s power and that its inheritance could help its successor challenge Heaven.
• Jian Shang tried to seize the treasures, but King Wen’s phantom suppressed him until Yu Ji empowered him to shatter it.
• A purple scroll flew into Xiao He’s hands, but he promptly gave it to Jian Shang after Meng Tian warned him not to compete for the inheritance.
• Jian Shang identified the treasures as supreme imperial arts and relics, then ordered the group onward to King Wu’s Tomb and asked Xiao He why he seemed like one of his own.

Jian Shang discovered that King Wen’s statue controlled the tomb, but binding it would take three days, so he left Meng Tian to oversee the effort while he rushed toward King Wu’s Tomb. After reaching the passage entrance, he reorganized his forces and asked Li Yin for an update on King Wu’s Tomb.

• Xiao He accepted the Heaven-Changing Eight Trigrams Canon and assured Jian Shang that Yu Niang would remain loyal to him.
• Jian Shang and his companions collected the treasures in the hall, then Xiao He reasoned that King Wen’s statue or the Myriad Emperors’ Heavenly Seal might control the tomb.
• Jian Shang failed to bind the Myriad Emperors’ Heavenly Seal, but confirmed that King Wen’s statue was the control hub and would take about three days to bind with Yu Ji’s support.
• Jian Shang ordered Meng Tian to oversee the statue’s binding and hold the tomb while the rest of the group hurried toward King Wu’s Tomb.
• Jian Shang reached the passage entrance, sent Meng Zhang and Meng Jin with experts to assist Meng Tian, and ordered the remaining forces to guard the entrance.
• Jian Shang asked Li Yin about the current situation at King Wu’s Tomb.

Jian Shang entered King Wu’s Tomb and pushed through its deadly forest and mountain pass toward the Martial King’s Palace, where the Huan forces had already reached an ancient ship. The great adepts gathered around the statue of King Wu of Zhou and his legendary treasures, but none dared to make the first move.

• Li Yin told Jian Shang that King Wu’s Tomb was brutally dangerous and that every faction had suffered heavy losses, though no one had targeted the Huan Kingdom.
• Jian Shang followed Zhao Lei into the tomb, crossed the corpse-strewn Soul-Eating Forest, and continued toward Soul-Severing Ridge as treasure hunters fought over its riches.
• Jian Shang ordered his party to hurry to the tomb’s heart, then crossed Soul-Severing Ridge and reached the maze-like Martial King’s Palace with Three-Headed guiding them.
• Deep inside the palace, Liu Bang, Xiang Yu, King Wu of Qin, Huan Kingdom leaders, foreign great adepts, and other factions gathered aboard an enormous ancient ship before a statue believed to be King Wu of Zhou.
• A scholar identified the statue’s sword as possibly the Xuanyuan Sword, its armor as the Martial King’s Armor, and the nearby platform as the Investiture Platform, while the gathered adepts remained in a standoff.

Liu Bang, Xiang Yu, and the other factions raced to seize treasures aboard the ancient ship before the Huan King arrived, while the Huan Kingdom forces tried to delay them. As battle erupted around the Martial King Statue, Jian Shang and his party reached the ship and Xiao He recognized its material as that of a mature Heaven-Piercing Divine Tree.

• Liu Bang chose the Xuanyuan Sword as his main target but also listed other treasures he wanted to seize.
• Xiang Yu ordered his forces to claim the Martial King Statue, while the Huan Kingdom faction planned to delay everyone until the Huan King arrived.
• Liu Bang warned the assembled factions of the Huan King's approach, and Lan Ge urged them to settle ownership through discussion rather than fighting.
• Fan Zeng recognized that Lan Ge was stalling, so Xiang Yu and Liu Bang's forces launched attacks toward the treasures.
• Long Ju intercepted Xiang Yu, Ji Bu was overwhelmed by Liu Bang's three Great Adepts, and the Huan Kingdom fighters attacked those approaching the Martial King Statue.
• Jian Shang and his party arrived beneath the ancient ship, where Xiao He identified it as being built from a mature Heaven-Piercing Divine Tree.

Jian Shang arrived at the Heaven-Piercing Divine Ark and plunged into the battle over the Martial King Statue and Investiture Platform. Xiang Yu and King Wu of Qin escaped with the treasures, but the Martial King Statue shattered and released a terrifying presence.

• Jian Shang flew to the Heaven-Piercing Divine Ark, saw the Huan Kingdom’s forces under attack, and struck down their enemies with his roar and sword.
• Jian Shang and his allies fought off the surrounding factions as Xiang Yu seized the Martial King Statue and King Wu of Qin lifted the Investiture Platform.
• Xiang Yu charged off the ship with the Martial King Statue while King Wu of Qin escaped in the opposite direction carrying the Investiture Platform.
• Jian Shang fired nine arrows from the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow at the fleeing Xiang Yu and King Wu of Qin as other factions attacked Xiang Yu.
• The Martial King Statue cracked and shattered under the barrage, releasing a terrifying presence that laughed within everyone’s souls.

After Qin Shi Huang’s apparent return shattered the Martial King Statue, the factions fled with its treasures while Jian Shang claimed the Eternal Battle Flag, the Heaven-Piercing Divine Ark’s control hub. A phantom of King Wu of Zhou appeared to condemn whoever had awakened King Zhou of Shang’s spirit and the Witch Clan’s will, leaving Jian Shang convinced that Qin Shi Huang—not he—was responsible.

• A violent upheaval convinced the Chinese experts that Qin Shi Huang was returning, and Xiao He identified the command flag in the Martial King Statue’s hand as a likely control hub.
• Jian Shang seized the tattered flag as the Martial King Statue shattered, while Liu Bang, Xiang Yu, King Wu of Qin, and the other leaders grabbed treasures and fled.
• Jian Shang discovered that the flag was the Heaven-Grade Sacred Artifact Eternal Battle Flag, vessel and control hub of the Heaven-Piercing Divine Ark.
• A vast fissure tore open the sky, and a phantom of King Wu of Zhou demanded to know who had awakened King Zhou of Shang’s spirit and the Witch Clan’s will before vanishing with a warning.
• Jian Shang said King Wu of Zhou had seemed to watch him, then concluded that Qin Shi Huang was the only one who could have awakened the Witch Clan’s will.

Xiao He concluded that Qin Shi Huang had planned his return through years of schemes, while Jian Shang and his allies prepared to seize control of King Wu's Tomb. Their discussion of how to handle the returned emperor ended when they learned his countless Terracotta Warriors had surrounded the Two Civil-Martial Tombs and killed everyone who tried to leave.

• Xiao He explained how Qin Shi Huang had used the Huan King, bloodline, and King Wu's Secret Treasury to evade heaven's mandate and return to life.
• Jian Shang raised the Eternal Battle Flag, expelled the figures from the Heaven-Piercing Divine Ark, and ordered his forces to take control of King Wu's Tomb.
• Li Yuan, Xiao He, Long Ju, and Di Wushuang debated whether Qin Shi Huang would target the Huan Army or whether they should avoid a clash.
• A Secret Division expert reported that Qin Shi Huang had surrounded the Two Civil-Martial Tombs and demanded that the Huan King come out.
• The expert revealed that Qin Shi Huang's countless Terracotta Warriors had killed everyone attempting to leave the tombs.

Jian Shang led the survivors out of King Wu’s Tomb to confront the reborn Qin Shi Huang, who revealed himself in Prince Hua’s body. As Qin Shi Huang and Jian Shang challenged each other, Princess Huating exposed how Jian Shang had protected her during Great Qin’s decline.

• Jian Shang ordered his people to find King Wu’s Tomb’s control hub, then led the trapped survivors toward the exit when it remained undiscovered.
• Liu Bang offered to support Jian Shang but claimed the Son of Heaven Sword had been lost, while Xiang Yu said he had fused with it; Jian Shang agreed to face Qin Shi Huang with them.
• Jian Shang’s group emerged to find Great Qin’s army surrounding the tombs, with Qin Shi Huang standing in Prince Hua’s body and King Wu of Qin at his side.
• Jian Shang and Qin Shi Huang exchanged challenges, with Jian Shang refusing to submit and reminding Qin Shi Huang that his power and allegiance had been part of an agreement.
• Qin Shi Huang showed affection toward Princess Huating, who told him Jian Shang’s protection had kept her alive and prevented her from becoming a political sacrifice.

Qin Shi Huang offered Guanzhong to Jian Shang if he made Princess Huating his queen, then demonstrated his power by capturing the Gemini Golden Saint. Jian Shang struggled with the tempting offer but refused to take a shortcut to power, and Princess Huating told her father she would not accept a marriage arranged for political gain.

• Qin Shi Huang regretted the wrongs he had done, then explained to Jian Shang that an emperor needed the will to defy Heaven.
• Qin Shi Huang offered Jian Shang Guanzhong as a dowry if he made Princess Huating his queen, shocking everyone present.
• Jian Shang used Eye of Deliverance on Qin Shi Huang but received only question marks, while Qin Shi Huang said Jian Shang had not mastered the Cosmic Star Tribulation.
• Qin Shi Huang exposed and seized the Gemini Golden Saint with Mastery of the Stars, then presented him as a reunion gift to Jian Shang.
• Jian Shang began refusing Qin Shi Huang's offer, citing past choices that showed there were no shortcuts on a king's path.
• Princess Huating interrupted Jian Shang and told Qin Shi Huang that she and Jian Shang were only brother and sister, and that she would not accept a political marriage.

Qin Shi Huang and Jian Shang clashed over Princess Huating’s marriage, but Huating rejected the match and insisted their rival ambitions made a future together impossible. Qin Shi Huang then offered a choice over the Two Civil-Martial Tombs, and Xiao He realized he was maneuvering to claim King Wu’s Tomb.

• Princess Huating wept as Qin Shi Huang and Jian Shang struggled to resolve her feelings, and Jian Shang formally asked for her hand without seeking Guanzhong as a dowry.
• Qin Shi Huang demanded to know whether Jian Shang intended to make Huating a consort, and his anger stirred lightning and storms.
• Princess Huating rejected Jian Shang again, declared that she and the two rulers could never coexist peacefully, and told them to stop arguing over her.
• Jian Shang deflected Huating’s accusations by teasing Dishi about becoming Qin Shi Huang’s imperial consort, and Dishi played along.
• Qin Shi Huang offered Jian Shang a choice between a direct battle and taking one of the Two Civil-Martial Tombs, with the other going to the Great Qin Empire.
• Xiao He concluded that Qin Shi Huang had been seeking King Wu’s Tomb all along.

Qin Shi Huang demanded King Wu’s Tomb, demonstrated his power by capturing Amonras, and gave the pharaoh to Jian Shang, who killed him for valuable rewards. Qin Shi Huang then proposed a nonaggression pact and an offensive and defensive alliance with Jian Shang, leaving Jian Shang uncertain and asking for time to consider.

• Qin Shi Huang told Jian Shang that he wanted King Wu’s Tomb and claimed only he could control it, while promising the Huan King both tombs if he proved otherwise.
• Qin Shi Huang forbade everyone from leaving; when Amonras tried to escape, Qin Shi Huang captured him with Heaven and Earth in the Palm.
• Qin Shi Huang handed Amonras to Jian Shang, who killed the pharaoh and received system rewards, including the Imperishable Heavenly Strategy and Pharaoh’s Heart.
• Qin Shi Huang proposed mutual nonaggression along the Guanzhong boundary and said he intended to campaign against foreign peoples instead of fighting within China.
• Qin Shi Huang asked Jian Shang to join an offensive and defensive alliance, and Jian Shang asked for time to consider the proposal.

Jian Shang and Qin Shi Huang negotiated an alliance as Zhao Ji’s arrival made attacking the Great Qin Empire too costly. They agreed to focus on the foreign threat, while Zhao Ji mediated a settlement over the Two Civil-Martial Tombs and the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards.

• Jian Shang reconsidered attacking the weakened Great Qin Empire after Zhao Ji arrived with Ying Tianlong, Changsun Yu, Zhi Ji, Rong Ji, and the Spring-Autumn Trading House experts.
• Zhao Ji warned Jian Shang that killing Qin Shi Huang could cost the Huan Kingdom half its great adepts, and Jian Shang abandoned the attack.
• Jian Shang and Qin Shi Huang agreed that the Great Qin Empire would remain within Guanzhong while the factions refrained from invading one another and fought the foreign peoples.
• Liu Bang asked about a boundary for his faction, while Xiang Yu supported a truce and said he wanted to test himself against foreign warriors.
• Zhao Ji proposed that the Huan King receive King Wen’s Tomb and Qin Shi Huang receive King Wu’s Tomb, with Qin Shi Huang teaching Jian Shang to control the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards; Qin Shi Huang reluctantly agreed.
• Zhi Ji told Jian Shang that Zhao Ji’s arrangement gave him a way to control the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards and protect himself from Qin Shi Huang.

Jian Shang secured King Wen's Tomb and its legacy after resisting Qin Shi Huang's attempts to steer their agreement, then reviewed the expedition's gains as the Huan Kingdom prepared to leave. The chapter ended with the kingdom holding treasures and scriptures that could greatly strengthen its power.

• Jian Shang rejected Qin Shi Huang's warnings and chose King Wen's Tomb, while Zhao Ji confirmed the agreement and Qin Shi Huang revealed how to bind the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards with blood essence.
• Qin Shi Huang took Zhao Ji to revisit her old residence and withdrew the Great Qin Terracotta Warriors to Xianyang, allowing the gathered forces to disperse.
• Gao Gong complained that Jian Shang had let Qin Shi Huang off cheaply, and Xiao He explained that the Huan Kingdom had gained King Wen's complete Tomb while King Wu's Tomb was an empty shell.
• Jian Shang agreed with Li Yuan that the Huan Kingdom should return, then assessed the expedition's gains, including King Wen's Tomb, the Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards, the Heaven-Piercing Divine Ark, the Eternal Battle Flag, and several powerful legacies.