Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Song Zhizhi suffers a dangerous episode in which her spiritual power surges uncontrollably and is drawn toward her fetus. Liu Changfei treats her with Spirit-Recovery Pills and confirms that both mother and child are safe. However, she discovers that Song Zhizhi is on the verge of Foundation Establishment. Her meridians and Dantian have unexpectedly expanded to the level of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even though she remains at the ninth layer of Qi Refining and has not yet learned a Foundation Establishment technique.
Liu Changfei concludes that the unusually talented fetus is absorbing increasing amounts of spiritual power, especially whenever Song Zhizhi attempts to advance. This has repeatedly prevented Song Zhizhi from breaking through and now threatens her ability to sustain the pregnancy. She warns that Song Zhizhi must urgently find someone—preferably the child’s father or another Fire Spirit Root cultivator—to transfer spiritual power to her.

Character developments

Song Zhizhi’s fear and guilt intensify as she worries that her delay in seeking help may have harmed the child. Once she learns the fetus is unharmed, she becomes more resolute about confronting the child’s father. She decides to confess to Xie Xiuji rather than continue hiding the pregnancy, accepting that he may either acknowledge the child or reject her.
Liu Changfei acts as both healer and trusted confidante. Her medical observations lead her to recognize the fetus’s extraordinary talent and the seriousness of Song Zhizhi’s condition.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes maternal responsibility, fear of abandonment, and the consequences of secrecy. Song Zhizhi’s willingness to risk rejection in order to protect her child marks a shift toward honesty and decisive action. It also develops the cultivation-world theme that talent can create both extraordinary potential and dangerous burdens: the fetus’s high aptitude is directly threatening its mother’s cultivation and health.

Character interactions

Liu Changfei comforts Song Zhizhi, restores her spiritual power, and explains the cause of the crisis. When Liu suggests finding other Fire Spirit Root cultivators, Song Zhizhi refuses because Xie Xiuji is already close to her and the arrangement would effectively expose the truth anyway. She confides that the child’s father is within the sect but still unaware of the pregnancy, asking indirectly for advice on how to reveal it. Liu analyzes the likely candidates and realizes that the father must be an exceptional cultivator with a Single or Mutated Spirit Root and a special physique—ultimately identifying Xie Xiuji as the only person who fits.

Chapter 42 Summary

Key plot points and events

Song Zhizhi reveals to Liu Changfei that the father of her unborn child is Sword Venerable Mingxiao—Xie Xiuji. Liu is stunned and initially assumes that Xie Xiuji abandoned Zhizhi after their encounter. Song clarifies that their relationship began when she was poisoned by Spring Day Powder, and Xie Xiuji helped detoxify her. She did not know his true identity at the time and only discovered it after joining the Sword Sect. Although he has not mistreated her, Song worries that he may reject the child, which is why she has delayed telling him. Liu advises her to indirectly test his feelings about children before revealing the truth.
Later, Xie Xiuji visits Clear Snow Peak with food and finds Song holding a beautifully crafted rattle drum. She deliberately addresses him by his personal name and asks whether he likes children. The question catches him off guard. His thoughts reveal that he has little experience with children and remembers them primarily as dirty, unruly youngsters from a village he visited decades earlier.

Character developments

Song Zhizhi finally confides in Liu Changfei, easing the burden of keeping her pregnancy and the child’s identity secret. Her anxiety about Xie Xiuji’s reaction becomes clear, as does her lingering guilt over having initiated their encounter under deceptive circumstances. Despite her fears, she begins taking steps toward honesty. Liu demonstrates her loyalty and protectiveness, while also showing a tendency to jump to dramatic conclusions. Xie Xiuji’s stoic, cleanliness-conscious personality is emphasized, along with his growing awareness that Song is preparing to tell him something important.

Significant themes

The chapter explores secrecy, fear of rejection, emotional vulnerability, and the difficulty of confessing an unexpected pregnancy. It also contrasts appearances with reality: Liu initially imagines Xie Xiuji as an irresponsible seducer, while the truth is more complicated. The chapter further highlights the tension between romantic intimacy and the practical consequences of their past encounter.

Character interactions

Liu reacts dramatically but compassionately to Song’s confession, first offering to defend her and then reassuring her that Xie Xiuji is unlikely to be heartless. She helps Song devise an indirect way to approach the subject. Song and Xie Xiuji’s interaction is more restrained but charged with hidden meaning: the rattle drum, her formal use of his name, and her question about children all signal her attempt to prepare him for the truth. Xie Xiuji senses that something is wrong but does not yet understand that Song is referring to their unborn child.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Song Zhizhi carefully probes Sword Venerable Mingxiao’s feelings about children, asking whether he dislikes them and admitting that she likes them.
• Mingxiao misunderstands her hints, assuming she is homesick rather than pregnant. He kindly suggests she return to Xingling City after reaching Foundation Establishment.
• Unable to confess directly because she fears rejection and humiliation, Song Zhizhi decides to reveal the truth indirectly.
• Mingxiao brings her several Xingling-style dishes, and she eats before giving him the rattle.
• Song Zhizhi tells him that the rattle is connected to something he may not be able to accept. She says that if he cannot accept it, he should return the rattle and never see her again, then sends him away.
• Back at Red Cloud Peak, Mingxiao examines the rattle and gradually realizes the meaning of Song Zhizhi’s behavior: her questions about children, her hand on her abdomen, and her emotional hesitation.
• The rattle activates a concealed recording formation. Song Zhizhi’s message confirms that she is pregnant and that the child is already one and a half months old. She explains that the pregnancy was accidental but that she has decided to give birth.

Character developments

• Song Zhizhi: Becomes increasingly anxious and vulnerable as she struggles to tell Mingxiao about the pregnancy. Her pride and fear of rejection prevent her from speaking openly, so she creates a recorded message as a safer alternative. Despite her uncertainty, she firmly chooses to keep the child.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao/Xie Xiuji: Initially fails to understand Song Zhizhi’s hints, interpreting her behavior as homesickness. His gentle concern is shown through his attempt to comfort her and the carefully prepared food. Once he recognizes the truth, his normally calm and clear mind is overwhelmed by shock.

Significant themes

• Fear of rejection and emotional vulnerability: Song Zhizhi worries that Mingxiao may dislike children or reject her because of the pregnancy.
• Miscommunication: Her indirect hints and his mistaken assumptions create tension, illustrating how difficult honest communication can be when pride and fear interfere.
• Responsibility and choice: Although the pregnancy is unexpected, Song Zhizhi consciously decides to have the child.
• Emotional restraint versus sudden shock: Mingxiao’s composed, rational personality contrasts sharply with the moment his understanding arrives and leaves him stunned.

Character interactions

• Song Zhizhi repeatedly tests Mingxiao’s attitude toward children while concealing the real reason for her questions.
• Mingxiao responds with kindness but misreads her emotional state, offering practical comfort rather than recognizing the pregnancy.
• Their meal briefly creates a warm, domestic atmosphere, but Song Zhizhi’s anxiety returns when she looks at him.
• Through the rattle’s recording, Song Zhizhi finally communicates directly, leaving Mingxiao to confront the revelation alone.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi reveals to Xie Xiuji through a Formation that she is pregnant with his child. She gives him a choice: if he cannot accept the child, he should return the rattle drum, and she will leave the Sword Sect with the baby.
• She explains that the child has inherited both of their exceptional Spiritual Roots and requires a large amount of spiritual power to develop safely. Because her cultivation is currently insufficient, the child’s father must supply spiritual power daily.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao—Xie Xiuji—listens to her explanation and realizes that he had overlooked several signs of her pregnancy, including her fatigue, protective movements around her abdomen, and weakened spiritual power. He feels intense guilt that she had faced the discovery alone.
• Rather than returning the rattle drum, Xie Xiuji spends the night outside Song Zhizhi’s residence, silently confirming that he accepts responsibility.
• The next day, Song Zhizhi finds him waiting outside. She understands that his presence means he has chosen to accept both her and the child.
• Xie Xiuji assures her that the child is also his responsibility and that she does not need to apologize. He asks what he must do to help.
• Song Zhizhi places his hand on her abdomen and explains that he must transfer spiritual power to the baby each day. Liu Changfei confirms that direct contact with her belly is the most effective method, leading to mutual embarrassment and romantic tension.
• Song Zhizhi decides to change clothes so that the daily spiritual-power transfer will be easier.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi moves from fear and avoidance toward honesty. Although she worries that Xie Xiuji may reject the child or see the pregnancy as a burden, she ultimately confesses the truth and prepares herself to accept his decision.
• Xie Xiuji shifts from ignorance and shock to acceptance and responsibility. His initial reaction is dominated by guilt for failing to notice Song Zhizhi’s struggles, but he quickly demonstrates that he is willing to support her and their child.
• Liu Changfei continues to serve as a blunt, practical source of information. His direct comments unintentionally intensify Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji’s embarrassment.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and family: Xie Xiuji accepts the child as his own and refuses to treat Song Zhizhi’s pregnancy as her burden alone.
• Communication and trust: Song Zhizhi’s confession marks an important step toward overcoming her fear and avoidance.
• Guilt and emotional neglect: Xie Xiuji recognizes that his failure to notice Song Zhizhi’s condition allowed her to suffer in silence.
• Romantic intimacy: The necessary physical contact for transferring spiritual power creates awkwardness and rekindles awareness of their previous intimacy.
• Protection and sacrifice: Song Zhizhi’s efforts to protect the child and Xie Xiuji’s willingness to expend spiritual power emphasize the sacrifices both are beginning to make as parents.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi communicates her fears and conditions to Xie Xiuji through the Formation rather than face-to-face.
• Xie Xiuji silently watches over her during the night, then directly reassures her of his acceptance the following morning.
• Song Zhizhi places his hand on her abdomen, initiating their first practical interaction as parents.
• Their conversation becomes increasingly bashful when they discuss skin-to-skin contact and the need to expose her belly for spiritual-power transfer, creating both comedic awkwardness and romantic tension.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi changes into thin sleepwear and joins Xie Xiuji for their planned spiritual-energy treatment.
• Xie Xiuji places his hand on her lower abdomen and channels his cool Ice Spirit Root energy into their unborn child.
• The child absorbs the energy with unusual eagerness, causing Song Zhizhi to involuntarily make a satisfied sound. Embarrassed, she angrily tells Xie Xiuji not to look at her.
• After roughly fifteen minutes, the child reaches its limit—but then extends a faint thread of divine sense and touches Xie Xiuji’s fingertip.
• Xie Xiuji is stunned and emotionally moved by the contact. Song Zhizhi is initially skeptical, then becomes jealous and playfully offended that the child reacted to Xie Xiuji but not to her.
• When the child cannot absorb more energy, Xie Xiuji insists that Song Zhizhi eat. Since he failed to prepare their usual meal, he unexpectedly cooks lunch himself.
• Song Zhizhi follows him into the previously unused kitchen, surprised to discover that he is highly competent with a knife and able to prepare an appealing meal.
• Xie Xiuji apologizes for the modest meal and promises to cook more of Song Zhizhi’s favorite foods that evening.

Character Developments

• Xie Xiuji: His normally detached, immaculate Sword Venerable persona is contrasted with his growing embarrassment, physical attraction, tenderness, and domestic attentiveness toward Song Zhizhi. His reaction to the baby’s divine-sense touch reveals deep emotional attachment to both mother and child. He also begins taking on a more openly nurturing, household role by cooking for Song Zhizhi.
• Song Zhizhi: She remains outspoken, playful, and unreserved, but becomes flustered when she realizes how intimate the spiritual-energy treatment feels. Her jealousy toward the baby is comedic and affectionate, revealing her desire for emotional closeness with both Xie Xiuji and the child. She also begins to view Xie Xiuji in a more domestic and attractive light.
• The unborn child: The child demonstrates extraordinary spiritual talent by absorbing Xie Xiuji’s energy and briefly using divine sense before birth. Its contact with Xie Xiuji creates an early emotional bond between father and child.

Significant Themes

• Growing family intimacy: The spiritual-energy treatment becomes a tender bonding moment among Xie Xiuji, Song Zhizhi, and their unborn child.
• The contrast between aloofness and domestic affection: Xie Xiuji’s majestic, untouchable image is humorously undercut by his embarrassment, cooking, and concern for Song Zhizhi’s meals.
• Pregnancy and emotional vulnerability: Song Zhizhi’s physical sensations, hunger, self-consciousness, and desire to connect with her baby are portrayed with both humor and warmth.
• Extraordinary destiny: The unborn child’s early use of divine sense suggests unusual power and foreshadows its importance.
• Playful romantic tension: Physical closeness and mutual embarrassment strengthen the romantic relationship between Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji.

Character Interactions

• Xie Xiuji and Song Zhizhi share an intimate but awkward spiritual-energy session, with her teasing and his restrained embarrassment.
• The unborn child reaches toward Xie Xiuji through divine sense, creating a profound father-child interaction.
• Song Zhizhi jokingly complains that the child has “defected” to Xie Xiuji and demands another chance to feel its divine sense.
• Xie Xiuji responds with indulgent patience, prioritizing both the child’s limits and Song Zhizhi’s need for food.
• Their relationship shifts from formal care and spiritual treatment toward a more natural family dynamic, culminating in Xie Xiuji cooking for her.

Chapter Summary: Expelled from Humanity

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi discovers that the delicious meals she has been receiving were secretly prepared by Xie Xiuji at Red Cloud Peak.
• While transferring spiritual power to Song Zhizhi and sensing their unborn child, Xie Xiuji proposes marriage. He explains that he wants to marry her not only out of responsibility for the pregnancy, but because he genuinely wishes to protect and care for her.
• Song Zhizhi reflects on how her feelings toward Xie Xiuji have changed. Unlike when she first arrived in this world, she no longer wants to avoid him. She believes the original story’s plot—and possibly Xie Xiuji’s destined transformation into a villain—has already begun to change.
• Hoping to help him escape his tragic fate, Song Zhizhi accepts his proposal.
• Their intimate moment is unexpectedly interrupted when Qingyu returns to the courtyard and sees Xie Xiuji touching Song Zhizhi’s stomach while she leans against him.
• Although they were only transferring spiritual power to the baby, the scene appears highly compromising. Qingyu is shocked, awkwardly leaves, and shuts the door.
• Xie Xiuji reassures Song Zhizhi that he will explain the situation to Qingyu. Song Zhizhi regains her composure and jokingly warns him that Qingyu may now consider him a lecher and try to punish him.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Becomes increasingly comfortable and emotionally attached to Xie Xiuji. She moves from wanting to distance herself from him to actively choosing marriage and resolving to change his villainous destiny.
• Xie Xiuji: Reveals a softer, domestic side through cooking and shows sincere romantic commitment by proposing marriage. His concern for Song Zhizhi and their child demonstrates his protective and affectionate nature, while his brief awkwardness emphasizes how unfamiliar he is with romantic situations.
• Qingyu: Returns as a protective, elder-like figure and is shocked to discover the relationship between her disciple and Xie Xiuji. Her reaction introduces humorous tension and suggests she may scrutinize or disapprove of their intimacy.

Significant Themes

• Changing fate: Song Zhizhi believes her arrival and choices have already altered the original plot, especially Xie Xiuji’s future as a villain.
• Love versus responsibility: Xie Xiuji’s proposal is presented as motivated by genuine affection rather than merely duty toward Song Zhizhi and their child.
• Family and protection: Marriage, pregnancy, and Xie Xiuji’s desire to shelter Song Zhizhi establish the beginnings of a new family unit.
• Comic misunderstanding: The innocent transfer of spiritual power is made scandalous by its appearance, creating a humorous contrast between reality and perception.
• Emotional trust: Xie Xiuji’s reassurance helps calm Song Zhizhi, showing the growing security and trust between them.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji share a tender domestic interaction over his cooking and his marriage proposal.
• Their growing intimacy is shown through physical closeness and his gentle care while supporting her pregnancy.
• Qingyu’s accidental discovery creates an embarrassing confrontation, though neither Song Zhizhi nor Xie Xiuji directly denies their romantic relationship.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji end the scene with playful teasing, reflecting their increasing ease and affection with one another.

Chapter 47 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xie Xiuji channels spiritual power into Song Zhizhi’s abdomen to protect and nourish their unborn child. He promises that after explaining their relationship to Qingyu, he will formally ask for Song Zhizhi’s hand in marriage.
• After Song Zhizhi leaves to change, Qingyu confronts Xie Xiuji about their apparent intimacy. Xie explains that Song Zhizhi saved his life before entering the Sword Sect, and that he fell in love with her at first sight. He admits he once accepted her as his disciple partly to stay close to her and win her affection.
• Qingyu remains skeptical, believing Xie is concealing something. Xie takes responsibility for his earlier behavior and asks to be punished, but Qingyu sees this as an attempt to protect someone else.
• Song Zhizhi overhears the conversation and realizes Xie has been hiding her pregnancy to protect her reputation. She decides they should stop concealing the truth and openly tells Qingyu that she is nearly two months pregnant and intends to give birth.
• Qingyu confirms the pregnancy through pulse examination and realizes Song Zhizhi was already pregnant before joining the Sword Sect.
• Xie formally asks Qingyu for permission to marry Song Zhizhi. Rather than immediately agreeing, Qingyu asks Song Zhizhi to hear a serious matter first and then decide whether she still wants to marry him.

Character developments

• Xie Xiuji/Mingxiao: Reveals the depth and duration of his feelings for Song Zhizhi. Although normally upright and restrained, he accepts blame for their intimacy and prioritizes protecting her reputation over his own. He demonstrates commitment by openly requesting marriage.
• Song Zhizhi: Becomes more decisive and courageous. Instead of allowing Xie to bear the social consequences alone, she openly acknowledges her pregnancy and affirms her intention to keep the child. She also publicly accepts their relationship by taking Xie’s hand.
• Qingyu: Shifts from suspicion and disbelief to serious concern. As Song Zhizhi’s master, she feels responsible for protecting her and refuses to approve the marriage until Song Zhizhi knows the full situation.

Significant themes

• Love and responsibility: Xie’s love is shown through his willingness to protect Song Zhizhi’s dignity and marry her.
• Reputation and social judgment: The pregnancy before marriage could expose Song Zhizhi to gossip, prompting Xie to conceal the truth.
• Honesty versus protection: Song Zhizhi recognizes that secrecy cannot last and chooses honesty, even if it brings criticism.
• Choice and consent: Qingyu does not forbid the marriage; instead, she insists that Song Zhizhi make an informed decision after learning a troubling secret.
• Maternal protection and guardianship: Qingyu’s reaction reflects her role as Song Zhizhi’s master and guardian.

Important character interactions

• Xie comforts Song Zhizhi physically and emotionally while nourishing the unborn child.
• Qingyu interrogates Xie about his intentions and challenges his attempt to take all responsibility.
• Song Zhizhi supports Xie by taking his hand and stopping him from hiding the pregnancy.
• Xie asks Qingyu for her blessing, acknowledging her authority as Song Zhizhi’s master.
• Qingyu separates Song Zhizhi from Xie to reveal information that may affect Song Zhizhi’s decision about the marriage.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi follows her master, Qingyu, beneath a parasol tree, where Qingyu creates a soundproof barrier to discuss a serious secret.
• Qingyu reveals that Song Zhizhi’s biological father was the last Phoenix in the Cultivation World, the king of the bird clan, and the former Demon King.
• Twenty years earlier, Song Zhizhi’s father was betrayed during civil unrest in the Demon Realm, gravely wounded, and believed to have died after failing to undergo nirvana.
• Qingyu explains that Song Zhizhi inherited half of the Phoenix Bloodline. Her unusual aura was concealed by a secret art, which is why no one—including Song Zhizhi herself—had known her true identity.
• Song Zhizhi’s mother was likely the human woman who accompanied the Phoenix King. Because demons have different gestation periods, Qingyu explains how Song Zhizhi could have been born despite her father’s apparent death twenty years earlier.
• Qingyu warns that Song Zhizhi’s heritage could become dangerous, especially because the Demon Realm is leaderless and unstable. She advises Song Zhizhi to remain in the Sword Sect and reconsider her relationship with Xie Xiuji.
• Qingyu fears that Xie Xiuji, who has spent years guarding the Barrier and killing demons, may reject Song Zhizhi if he discovers her identity.
• Song Zhizhi ultimately rejects this doubt, firmly asserting that Xie Xiuji is honorable and would not change simply because she is half-demon.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Learns the shocking truth about her lineage and initially feels disbelief, anxiety, and concern about being alienated from humanity. However, she regains composure and demonstrates clear judgment and strong trust in Xie Xiuji.
• Qingyu: Reveals that she is also a half-demon, with an Azure Luan mother, making her especially capable of sensing Phoenix Bloodline. Her warning reflects both concern for Song Zhizhi’s safety and skepticism about the durability of human-demon relationships.
• Xie Xiuji: Though largely absent from the conversation, he is characterized through Song Zhizhi’s memories as strict but caring, gentle, honorable, and unlikely to discriminate against her because of her heritage.
• Song Zhizhi’s Parents: Their hidden relationship and the concealment of Song Zhizhi’s bloodline suggest they deliberately tried to protect her from political and racial conflict.

Significant Themes

• Identity and hidden heritage: Song Zhizhi must confront the revelation that she is not fully human and is connected to a powerful but endangered bloodline.
• Prejudice between humans and demons: The chapter highlights the hostility toward demons in the Human Realm and the danger of being associated with the Demon Race.
• Trust versus fear: Qingyu urges caution, while Song Zhizhi chooses to trust her understanding of Xie Xiuji’s character.
• Love, marriage, and uncertainty: The revelation forces Song Zhizhi to question whether her relationship with Xie Xiuji can survive the truth about her origins.
• Protection through secrecy: Her parents and Qingyu have hidden information from Song Zhizhi to keep her safe, though the secrecy may create future complications.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi initially draws strength from holding Xie Xiuji’s hand before speaking privately with Qingyu.
• Qingyu speaks to Song Zhizhi as a concerned master, revealing her secret lineage and warning her against blindly trusting her relationship.
• Song Zhizhi listens thoughtfully but ultimately defends Xie Xiuji, insisting that his established kindness and integrity prove he would not reject her for being half-demon.
• The chapter ends with Song Zhizhi’s confidence in Xie Xiuji contrasting with Qingyu’s fear that racial prejudice may eventually threaten their relationship.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qingyu questions Song Zhizhi about her decision to marry Xie Xiuji, warning that he might one day change because of her origins.
• Song Zhizhi confidently insists that she can leave him if he ever betrays her, prompting Qingyu to approve of the marriage.
• Xie Xiuji, who has overheard the conversation, takes Song Zhizhi’s hand and swears a Dao oath never to betray her. If he breaks it, he will be destroyed by tribulation lightning.
• Song Zhizhi is deeply moved by the seriousness of his vow, realizing that his commitment affects her more profoundly than ordinary romantic declarations.
• Qingyu interrupts their romantic moment to reveal a potentially dangerous matter concerning Song Zhizhi’s unborn child.
• She suspects the child may possess a True Phoenix bloodline rather than being merely a human-demon hybrid.
• Qingyu explains that a True Phoenix requires immense spiritual energy to survive gestation, hatch safely, and endure tribulation lightning after hatching.
• Xie Xiuji’s Mahayana-level spiritual power may be sufficient to protect the child before birth, but rare treasures will be needed afterward:
  • A Heart of the Earth Stone to incubate the egg
  • A Ten-Thousand-Year Parasol Tree Heart for a protective artifact
  • Phoenix Essence Blood to help the child survive tribulation lightning
• Since Phoenixes have disappeared, obtaining Phoenix Essence Blood may be nearly impossible.
• Qingyu notes that the child’s bloodline cannot be confirmed until the pregnancy progresses further, but Song Zhizhi instinctively fears that her child truly is a True Phoenix.
• Xie Xiuji reassures her that he will protect both her and their child.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Recognizes that her trust in Xie Xiuji has grown beyond ordinary friendship. Though she tries to appear emotionally independent, his oath affects her deeply. Her confidence gives way to fear when she learns of the possible danger facing their child.
• Xie Xiuji: Demonstrates absolute devotion by making a life-and-death oath before the Dao of Heaven. His normally cold demeanor softens, and he openly commits himself to Song Zhizhi and their unborn child.
• Qingyu: Initially appears opposed to the marriage, but her harsh questioning is revealed to be concern for Song Zhizhi. She ultimately supports the relationship while warning them about the child’s uncertain future.

Significant Themes

• Trust and commitment: Xie Xiuji’s oath transforms their relationship from a practical marriage arrangement into one grounded in solemn, emotional commitment.
• Love versus practicality: Song Zhizhi originally agreed to marry mainly to give her child a father and believes she could leave if necessary, but Xie Xiuji’s sincerity begins to challenge her guarded outlook.
• Inherited bloodlines and destiny: The possible reemergence of the True Phoenix bloodline connects the child to a powerful but dangerous ancestral destiny.
• Parental protection and sacrifice: The chapter introduces the immense sacrifices that may be required to ensure the child’s survival.
• Uncertainty and foreshadowing: The child’s bloodline, Song Zhizhi’s origins, and the dangers surrounding the pregnancy establish major future conflicts.

Character Interactions

• Qingyu tests Song Zhizhi’s resolve and then unexpectedly approves her marriage.
• Xie Xiuji overhears Qingyu’s doubts and responds by publicly swearing never to betray Song Zhizhi.
• Song Zhizhi is embarrassed and emotionally shaken by his declaration, while Qingyu feels awkward witnessing their intimacy.
• Qingyu shifts the conversation from romance to the child’s possible True Phoenix bloodline.
• Song Zhizhi seeks reassurance from Xie Xiuji, who embraces her and promises that their child will be safe.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi finds comfort in Xie Xiuji’s presence and becomes more confident about protecting their unborn child.
• She and Xie Xiuji reaffirm their determination to obtain the Heart of the Earth Stone, Chinese Parasol Wood Heart, and Phoenix Essence Blood, which are needed to help the child.
• Qingyu gives Song Zhizhi a cultivation manual suited to her pregnancy. A normal Heaven-tier technique would consume too much spiritual power, so Qingyu instead offers the Spiritual Heart Art, a rare technique discovered in the ruins of the Hehuan Sect’s founding ancestor.
• The technique must be cultivated by Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji together. It can accelerate their cultivation, allow them to share a sea of qi, and potentially help Song Zhizhi reach the Spirit Transformation Realm before age one hundred.
• Song Zhizhi discovers that the technique involves “soul fusion” and harmonizing yin and yang—in other words, it is a dual-cultivation technique.
• Although embarrassed and uncertain, Song Zhizhi accepts it because of its immense benefits and because it is the best option for both her cultivation and the child’s safety.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi becomes emotionally steadier and more optimistic, drawing courage from Xie Xiuji’s support. She also demonstrates practicality and determination by choosing the powerful Spiritual Heart Art despite her embarrassment.
• Xie Xiuji shows deep commitment as both husband and father, promising to protect Song Zhizhi and their child. He respects her choice and assures her that he will not pressure her into using the technique.
• Qingyu acts as a caring but teasing master. She provides Song Zhizhi with an extraordinarily valuable cultivation method, though she seems oblivious—or unconcerned—about how awkward its nature is.

Significant Themes

• Family and responsibility: Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji’s shared concern for their unborn child strengthens their partnership.
• Trust and mutual support: Their relationship is built on reassurance, respect, and a willingness to face danger together.
• Practicality versus embarrassment: Song Zhizhi must overcome her shyness to accept the most effective method available.
• Cultivation and sacrifice: Advancement requires intimacy and cooperation, while the child’s survival remains the couple’s primary motivation.
• Romantic comedy: The serious discussion of cultivation is undercut by Qingyu’s teasing and Song Zhizhi’s mortified realization that the technique is explicitly dual cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi thanks Xie Xiuji for accepting her and the child; he responds tenderly, emphasizing his role as her husband and the child’s father.
• Qingyu interrupts their romantic moment and gives Song Zhizhi the cultivation manual.
• Qingyu explains the Spiritual Heart Art’s extraordinary benefits and encourages Song Zhizhi to practice it with Xie Xiuji.
• Xie Xiuji notices Song Zhizhi’s hesitation and offers her the option of choosing a safer, ordinary Heaven-tier technique, showing respect for her boundaries.
• Song Zhizhi ultimately chooses the Spiritual Heart Art, privately rationalizing that the benefits outweigh the awkwardness.

Chapter Summary

• Preparation for Foundation Establishment: Qingyu examines Song Zhizhi and concludes that her previous attempt at Foundation Establishment failed because she lacked sufficient spiritual energy. She urges Song to try again that night. Since Song has half Phoenix blood and Clear Snow Peak is filled with ancient parasol trees, Qingyu suggests that Song remain there to cultivate.
• The dual-cultivation technique: Qingyu gives Song and Xie Xiuji a dual-cultivation technique intended to help Song grow stronger, especially before giving birth. Embarrassed, Song retreats to her room to read it privately. She expects something erotic but discovers that the first stage is relatively innocent: they only need to circulate spiritual energy together. The second stage involves soul mingling and requires both partners to be at least Golden Core cultivators. The third stage is sealed until Song reaches the Nascent Soul stage, leaving her humorously disappointed.
• Mingxiao announces the marriage: After handling sect affairs and attending a meeting, Xie Xiuji—referred to publicly as Sword Venerable Mingxiao—stays behind to speak with Sect Master Mingxu. With great seriousness, he announces that he is getting married. Mingxu initially assumes something disastrous has happened, then is shocked to learn that Mingxiao intends to marry Song Zhizhi.
• The pregnancy is revealed: Mingxiao explains that Song Zhizhi is pregnant. He decides it is better to reveal the truth rather than attempt to hide it, especially since Qingyu already knows and is unlikely to keep the secret. Mingxu is stunned and drops his teacup.
• Misunderstanding about the Fertility Pill: Instead of believing Song is genuinely pregnant, Mingxu assumes Mingxiao used a long-lost Fertility Pill to fake the pregnancy and force Song into marriage. He angrily accuses Mingxiao of manipulating the situation to increase his status, revealing how implausible he considers it for a powerful cultivator such as Mingxiao to father a child naturally.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Song Zhizhi remains embarrassed by the implications of marriage, pregnancy, and dual cultivation, but her competitive and curious nature pushes her to examine the technique. She also becomes increasingly focused on strengthening herself.
• Xie Xiuji/Mingxiao appears calm and decisive. He accepts responsibility for Song and the child, chooses to disclose the pregnancy to the sect, and intends to marry Song despite her uncertainty.
• Qingyu acts as Song’s mentor and protector, offering both medical advice and cultivation resources. Her blunt, open nature creates pressure because she may reveal private matters unintentionally.
• Sect Master Mingxu reacts dramatically to the pregnancy, misunderstanding Mingxiao’s motives and assuming deception rather than accepting that the child is real.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and commitment: Mingxiao’s decision to marry Song and publicly acknowledge the pregnancy emphasizes his willingness to take responsibility.
• Cultivation and personal strength: Song’s pregnancy does not prevent her from seeking power; instead, it motivates her to improve quickly.
• Communication and misunderstanding: The revelation produces immediate confusion because Mingxu cannot believe the pregnancy is genuine, showing how unusual the circumstances are in the cultivation world.
• Romantic embarrassment and comedic contrast: Song’s private embarrassment and expectations about dual cultivation contrast with the technique’s restrained nature and Mingxiao’s calm demeanor, creating much of the chapter’s humor.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sword Venerable Mingxiao clarifies to the Sect Master that Song Zhizhi’s pregnancy is genuine and that he is truly going to become a father. The Sect Master had mistakenly believed Mingxiao had used a Fertility Pill to force Song Zhizhi into marriage.
• Mingxiao asks the Sect Master to keep the pregnancy secret until the Bonding Ceremony, since revealing that Song Zhizhi is pregnant before marriage could damage her reputation.
• The Sect Master proposes holding the Bonding Ceremony after the Sword Sect’s tournament, which will take place in one month and attract the leaders of the major sects. Mingxiao agrees to ask Song Zhizhi for her opinion.
• The Sect Master begins discussing ceremony arrangements with Mingwei, while Mingxiao returns to Clear Snow Peak.
• Song Zhizhi finishes practicing her sword, bathes, changes clothes, and prepares to cultivate the Spiritual Heart Art with Xie Xiuji. Because she is pregnant and needs more nourishment, Mingxiao has prepared especially high-quality food for her.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji begin cultivating together while seated on her bed. The technique requires direct skin contact, so they hold hands as they circulate and blend their spiritual energy.
• Xie Xiuji carefully controls the amount of spiritual energy he shares, preventing Song Zhizhi from being overwhelmed. Their cultivation partnership is currently modest, but the technique could eventually allow them to cultivate at more than triple the speed of either person alone.

Character Developments

• Xie Xiuji/Sword Venerable Mingxiao: Openly acknowledges his excitement about fatherhood and takes responsibility for protecting Song Zhizhi’s reputation. He is considerate and attentive, preparing nourishing food and patiently guiding her through the Spiritual Heart Art.
• Song Zhizhi: Becomes increasingly aware of her emotional and physical attraction to Xie Xiuji, especially during their intimate hand-holding cultivation session. Although she tries to remain composed, she is flustered by their closeness and his warmth.
• The Sect Master: Initially misunderstands the situation and reacts with jealousy, wishing similar happiness could come to him and Mingwei. He nevertheless agrees to keep the pregnancy secret and takes an active role in planning the couple’s Bonding Ceremony.
• Mingwei: Does not appear directly, but is implied to be the Sect Master’s romantic counterpart and someone with whom he wishes to share the same marital happiness.

Significant Themes

• Marriage and social reputation: The pregnancy must remain secret because Song Zhizhi is not yet formally bonded to Mingxiao, emphasizing the social importance of propriety and public perception.
• Growing romantic intimacy: An apparently innocent cultivation exercise becomes emotionally charged as Song Zhizhi notices Xie Xiuji’s warmth, physical strength, and closeness.
• Mutual cultivation and partnership: The Spiritual Heart Art symbolizes the couple’s developing bond, requiring trust, cooperation, and the sharing of spiritual energy.
• Domestic care and responsibility: Mingxiao’s cooking and concern for Song Zhizhi’s pregnancy show his increasing role as a supportive partner and future father.
• Jealousy and contrasting relationships: The Sect Master’s envy highlights his own desire for the domestic happiness Mingxiao and Song Zhizhi are beginning to experience.

Character Interactions

• Mingxiao corrects the Sect Master’s false assumptions and asks him to protect the secret of Song Zhizhi’s pregnancy.
• The Sect Master proposes a practical and prestigious date for the Bonding Ceremony and begins planning it with Mingwei.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji share a meal before cultivating together.
• During cultivation, Xie Xiuji guides Song Zhizhi calmly, while she struggles to suppress her embarrassment and growing awareness of their attraction. Their joined hands become both a literal mechanism for cultivation and a sign of their increasing intimacy.

Chapter Summary: “Song Household Invitation”

• Key events: Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji begin cultivating together using a Half-Immortal Tier dual-cultivation technique. Unlike Xie Xiuji’s previous one-way transfers of spiritual power, this method allows their powers to merge and circulate between them. The fusion produces an intense sensation resembling the collision of ice and fire, leaving both physically shaken and emotionally flustered.
• They complete the spiritual-power cycle several times. Each round strengthens the effect, and Song Zhizhi gradually becomes absorbed in the sensation, while Xie Xiuji struggles to maintain his usual composure and suppress his reactions.
• After four cycles in less than half a shichen, Song Zhizhi’s spiritual power reaches saturation. She realizes that this technique has allowed her to gain nearly as much cultivation in half the usual time, confirming its extraordinary effectiveness.

Character developments and interactions

• Song Zhizhi is initially surprised and embarrassed by the intimate effects of merging spiritual power with Xie Xiuji. However, she quickly becomes fascinated by the technique and agrees to continue. Her cultivation improves dramatically, and she begins to appreciate the advantages of their partnership.
• Xie Xiuji remains outwardly restrained, but the experience affects him deeply. Song Zhizhi’s warmth contrasts with his naturally cold, controlled nature, making him crave the connection while forcing him to exercise considerable self-control. His concern for her remains hidden beneath his calm guidance.
• Their physical contact—holding hands, gripping wrists, and meeting each other’s eyes—creates an increasingly charged atmosphere. Although neither openly acknowledges the romantic tension, their spiritual connection brings them emotionally and physically closer.

Significant themes

• Spiritual and emotional intimacy: The cultivation technique acts as both a practical method of power enhancement and a symbol of growing closeness between the two characters.
• Contrast and complementarity: Song Zhizhi’s warmth and Xie Xiuji’s icy restraint are portrayed as opposing forces that become mutually beneficial when united.
• Cultivation through partnership: The chapter emphasizes that cooperation can produce results far beyond solitary effort, with Song Zhizhi’s progress accelerating significantly.
• Self-control and suppressed desire: Xie Xiuji’s struggle to remain composed highlights the tension between disciplined cultivation and powerful personal attraction.

Author’s note

The author also previews a future novel, The Original Wife in a Xianxia Novel Targeted the Wrong Person, a comedic xianxia romance in which Yuan Chu, reincarnated as a doomed original wife, mistakenly pursues the favor of the supposed female lead—who is actually the male second lead in disguise. The preview emphasizes mistaken identity, gender-role reversals, a useless conquest system, and a secretly dark male lead.

Chapter 54 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi continues cultivating with Xie Xiuji through their intertwined spiritual power. Her unborn child consumes an enormous amount of energy, especially her fire-aligned spiritual power, leaving her struggling to keep up.
• During cultivation, the child unexpectedly communicates for the first time. He touches Song Zhizhi with his spiritual sense and calls her “Mama,” greatly exciting her.
• Xie Xiuji realizes that the child’s ability to use spiritual sense before two months of age indicates extraordinary talent and possibly a True Phoenix Bloodline. Privately, he resolves to protect both mother and child, even at the cost of his own life.
• Song Zhizhi suddenly begins her second Foundation Establishment. She experiences intense pain as spiritual energy floods into and transforms her meridians, but remains calm because Xie Xiuji is beside her.
• Using her training and knowledge, Song Zhizhi successfully compresses her spiritual power into liquid form and completes Foundation Establishment.
• Her dantian expands, her meridians strengthen, and her body is cleansed of impurities. However, the process leaves her covered in foul-smelling black sludge, forcing her to repeatedly use cleansing spells and bathe.
• After advancing, Song Zhizhi discovers that her senses have greatly improved. She can see and hear tiny details from a distance and is immediately drawn to the smell of the meal Xie Xiuji prepares: several spicy fish dishes and braised pork ribs.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Becomes more aware of the challenges of motherhood as she supports her spiritually demanding child. She grows emotionally attached when the child calls her “Mama.” Her disciplined training allows her to advance safely and rapidly to Foundation Establishment, strengthening both her body and spiritual foundation.
• Xie Xiuji/Sword Venerable Mingxiao: Shows amusement at Song Zhizhi’s complaints but remains deeply attentive and protective. He admires her hard work, quietly monitors her during her breakthrough, and becomes firmly determined to safeguard her and their child after recognizing the child’s exceptional potential.
• The unborn child: Demonstrates unusual intelligence and spiritual ability by absorbing vast amounts of energy, communicating through spiritual sense, and calling Song Zhizhi “Mama” while still very young.

Significant Themes

• Maternal bond and sacrifice: Song Zhizhi experiences both the burden and joy of supporting her child, while Xie Xiuji commits himself to protecting them.
• Cultivation and perseverance: Song Zhizhi’s advancement is portrayed as the result of sustained effort and a solid foundation rather than merely relying on Xie Xiuji’s assistance.
• Extraordinary destiny: The child’s rapid spiritual development hints at a powerful bloodline and foreshadows future dangers or responsibilities.
• Intimacy and shared power: The intertwined ice-and-fire spiritual cultivation deepens the connection between Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji, blending physical, emotional, and spiritual closeness.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi complains to Xie Xiuji about the child’s endless appetite for spiritual power.
• She excitedly tells him when the child speaks, and he responds with warmth while concealing his concern about the child’s potential bloodline.
• Xie Xiuji gently comforts and supports Song Zhizhi during her breakthrough, leaving spiritual sense nearby even when he goes to prepare food.
• The chapter ends on a domestic, affectionate note as Song Zhizhi emerges from cultivation and eagerly reacts to the meal Xie Xiuji has made.

Chapter 55 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi rushes to meet Xie Xiuji and is delighted to find that he has prepared spicy dishes for her, including Boiled Fish.
• She eats enthusiastically, finishing three dishes and two bowls of rice. Xie Xiuji notices her larger appetite and jokingly attributes it to her “carrying two,” hinting at her pregnancy.
• Xie Xiuji reveals that he and the Sword Sect’s Sect Master have chosen the tenth day of the following month for their Bonding Ceremony. Song Zhizhi agrees without objection.
• Because Xie Xiuji is the Sword Sect’s Sword Venerable, the ceremony will be a major event. Invitations are sent to powerful sects, cultivators, and aristocratic clans across the cultivation world.
• Song Zhizhi asks Xie Xiuji to send an invitation to the original owner’s uncle and aunt, whom she still wishes to maintain ties with despite having transmigrated into the original owner’s body.
• In Xingling City, the Song Household gains prestige because both Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao have entered the Sword Sect’s inner sect.
• Song Family Head Song Zhenxu learns from friends that Xie Xiuji is holding a grand Bonding Ceremony. They try to discover whether he can obtain invitations for them, but Song Zhenxu admits that his family probably lacks the influence to secure any.
• He is then urgently summoned home by Madam Song, who is waiting with a mysterious envelope and a worried expression.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Shows increasing comfort and intimacy with Xie Xiuji. She openly enjoys his care and food, agrees easily to the ceremony date, and demonstrates loyalty to the original owner’s family by requesting an invitation for them.
• Xie Xiuji: Becomes more openly attentive and domestic, cooking specifically to satisfy Song Zhizhi’s cravings. He also shows subtle nervousness about her reaction to the ceremony date, revealing that her approval matters deeply to him.
• Song Zhenxu: Takes pride in his daughters’ success and the resulting rise in the family’s status, though he is humbled when he realizes he has no special access to the Sword Venerable’s ceremony.
• Madam Song: Appears unusually serious and concerned, creating suspense around the contents of the envelope she has received.

Significant Themes

• Domestic affection and marital intimacy: Xie Xiuji’s cooking and concern for Song Zhizhi express affection more powerfully than grand declarations.
• Belonging and family ties: Despite transmigrating into another person’s life, Song Zhizhi chooses to preserve the original owner’s relationships rather than abandon them.
• Status and social prestige: The Bonding Ceremony highlights the enormous influence of the Sword Venerable, while the Song Household’s rise reflects the importance of association with powerful institutions.
• Hidden information and anticipation: The chapter builds suspense through Song Zhizhi’s pregnancy-related hint and the unexplained letter awaiting Song Zhenxu.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji share a warm, teasing domestic exchange over food, appetite, and the upcoming ceremony.
• Their discussion of the ceremony shows mutual respect: Xie Xiuji seeks her opinion, and she responds with trust and acceptance.
• Song Zhenxu’s friends flatter him while attempting to obtain invitations, exposing the gap between his family’s growing reputation and its actual influence.
• The chapter ends with Song Zhenxu returning home to confront Madam Song’s unexplained concern, leaving the family plot on a cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Madam Song and the Song Family Head accidentally reveal separate shocking pieces of news at the same time: he has been hiding private funds, while Song Zhizhi has sent an invitation to her Bonding Ceremony.
• After teasing and scolding her husband over his secret money, Madam Song gives him the invitation. Its luxurious red Radiant Silk decoration immediately signals that the ceremony is connected to someone extremely influential.
• The signature confirms the shocking truth: Song Zhizhi is to bond with Sword Venerable Mingxiao, revealing that she is the mysterious Dao companion previously associated with him.
• The Song Family Head is delighted, believing an alliance with the Sword Venerable will elevate the Song household. Madam Song is instead deeply concerned that the marriage may have been forced, given Zhizhi’s youth and Mingxiao’s age. She plans to contact Song Miao at the Sword Sect to investigate.
• Meanwhile, Song Zhizhi has begun learning Sword Flight after reaching Foundation Establishment. Her previous spirit sword was broken, so Xie Xiuji has lent her one of his former swords.
• Song Zhizhi struggles to rise more than a short distance before falling, though Xie Xiuji catches her each time. He patiently teaches and supports her, physically steadying her as they practice.
• Xie Xiuji falsely claims that he once needed half a day to learn Sword Flight, encouraging Song Zhizhi and concealing how naturally talented he actually was. His real motivation is to ensure she can escape or defend herself if danger arises while he is absent.
• Qingyu observes the couple’s intimate training and silently complains about their constant displays of affection.

Character Developments

• Madam Song is shown as protective and suspicious. Unlike her husband, she prioritizes Zhizhi’s safety and autonomy over the social advantages of marrying the Sword Venerable.
• The Song Family Head reacts with comic panic to his hidden funds being exposed, then becomes ecstatic upon learning of Zhizhi’s connection to Mingxiao. His priorities center on the family’s potential rise in status.
• Song Zhizhi remains eager, competitive, and somewhat self-critical. Her difficulty with Sword Flight frustrates her, but Xie Xiuji’s encouragement restores her confidence and determination.
• Xie Xiuji/Sword Venerable Mingxiao displays patience, tenderness, and foresight. Though he teases Zhizhi with a harmless lie, his concern for her future safety reveals how deeply he cares for her.
• Qingyu continues to act as a detached but observant master. Her irritation at the couple’s affection humorously contrasts with her awareness of their relationship.

Significant Themes

• Family protection versus social ambition: The Song Family Head sees the marriage as an opportunity for prosperity, while Madam Song worries about coercion and Zhizhi’s welfare.
• Misunderstanding and dramatic irony: The parents do not know the true circumstances of Zhizhi and Mingxiao’s relationship, leading Madam Song to fear that Zhizhi was forced into the bond.
• Romantic intimacy: Sword Flight practice becomes a tender, physically close interaction that highlights the growing affection between Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji.
• Protection and independence: Xie Xiuji wants Zhizhi to learn Sword Flight not merely for convenience, but so she can survive and escape if he cannot protect her directly.
• Humor through contrast: The parents’ simultaneous revelations, the Family Head’s panic, and Qingyu’s exasperation provide comic relief alongside the more serious concerns about the marriage.

Important Character Interactions

• Madam Song confronts the Song Family Head about his hidden funds, then joins him in reacting to the invitation.
• The couple interprets the same news differently: he sees political and familial advantage, while she sees possible danger to Zhizhi.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji practice Sword Flight closely, with him guiding her movements and catching her whenever she loses balance.
• Qingyu witnesses their affectionate lesson and reacts with silent annoyance, reinforcing the chapter’s playful portrayal of their romance.

Chapter Summary: “Mutual Love”

Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi continues training under Sword Venerable Mingxiao and makes modest progress in Sword Flight after three hours of personal instruction. Although she remains unsteady, she believes practice will solve the problem.
• That evening, Song Miaomiao visits her after hearing a rumor that Song Zhizhi is being forced into marriage by the Sword Venerable. She offers to help Song Zhizhi escape.
• Song Zhizhi clarifies that she is marrying Xie Xiuji willingly and that he respects her. The rumor arose from a misunderstanding of Song Miaomiao’s father’s concern that Song Zhizhi might not be willing.
• Song Zhizhi contacts the Song Family Head and Madam Song to reassure them as well. She tells them that she and Xie Xiuji knew each other before she entered the Sword Sect and are mutually in love, while deliberately concealing her pregnancy.
• During the conversation, Song Zhizhi experiences deep affection for the Song family, partly because she has inherited the original owner’s memories and emotions. She reflects on the original owner’s past jealousy toward Song Miaomiao and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the attempt to drug her with Spring Day Powder.
• Song Zhizhi remembers only fragments of the incident: an unknown woman’s hand wearing a silver bell may have been involved. This suggests that someone else could have influenced or manipulated the original owner.
• Xie Xiuji unexpectedly hears Song Zhizhi tell her family that they are “mutually in love.” Though she explains that she only said this to reassure them, his reaction reveals that the statement affects him emotionally.
• The chapter ends by introducing the upcoming Sect Tournament, a major ten-year competition among the great sects. The Sword Sect is hosting this year, and the winning participants will be allowed to choose spirit swords from the Sword Tomb.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Gains confidence in Sword Flight, openly defends her relationship with Xie Xiuji, and becomes more emotionally connected to the Song family. She also continues investigating the original owner’s past and begins suspecting outside manipulation in the Spring Day Powder incident.
• Xie Xiuji: Remains outwardly calm but is visibly affected when Song Zhizhi describes their relationship as one of mutual love. His reaction hints at growing emotional investment and patience regarding their future relationship.
• Song Miaomiao: Demonstrates strong loyalty and concern for Song Zhizhi by immediately offering to rescue her from what she believes is a forced marriage.
• Song Family Head and Madam Song: Their concern for Song Zhizhi shows that they genuinely regard her as family and want to protect her.
• Original owner of Song Zhizhi’s body: Her past jealousy and impulsive actions are explored more deeply, but the possibility that someone manipulated her remains unresolved.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and rumor: A protective concern is distorted into an absurd rumor that the Sword Venerable forced Song Zhizhi into marriage.
• Family and belonging: Despite having lost her own parents, Song Zhizhi discovers that she still has a loving family through the Song household.
• Mutual affection versus appearances: Song Zhizhi publicly describes her relationship with Xie Xiuji as mutual love, though their emotional relationship may still be developing unevenly.
• Identity and inherited emotion: Song Zhizhi’s feelings toward the Song family reflect the blending of her own identity with the memories and emotional attachments of the original owner.
• Mystery and manipulation: The unidentified woman with the silver bell may hold the key to understanding why the original owner attempted to harm Song Miaomiao.
• Romance amid political and sect conflict: The upcoming marriage and Sect Tournament place Song Zhizhi’s personal relationship within the larger world of sect rivalries and cultivation politics.

Important Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao discuss the marriage rumor, with Song Miaomiao offering protective support before learning the truth.
• Song Zhizhi reassures the Song Family Head and Madam Song that her marriage is voluntary, strengthening their emotional bond.
• Xie Xiuji overhears Song Zhizhi calling their relationship one of mutual love and reacts with restrained but noticeable emotion.
• The chapter also establishes the broader interaction among the major sects through the upcoming tournament and its valuable prizes.

Chapter 58 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• News spreads that the Sword Sect’s Sword Tomb contains countless Superior Spirit Swords, possibly including the founding ancestor’s legendary Azure Dragon Sword. The rumor greatly motivates the sect’s eligible disciples to train for the upcoming Sect Tournament.
• Song Zhizhi asks Xie Xiuji whether the Azure Dragon Sword is truly in the Sword Tomb. He reveals that it was once there, but he has already removed it.
• Song Zhizhi realizes that the ordinary-looking sword she had been using to cut grass is actually the Azure Dragon Sword. However, the sword lost its Sword Spirit long ago and has been worn down by ten thousand years of time, leaving it only an ordinary Superior Spirit Sword.
• Because the sword is wood-aspected while Song Zhizhi’s spiritual root is fire-aspected, it is less compatible with her than the fire-aspected sword given to her by Master Qingyu.
• Song Zhizhi stops using the Azure Dragon Sword to cut grass and stores it properly, switching back to her more suitable weapon.
• Since Song Zhizhi is pregnant and Xie Xiuji must transfer spiritual power to her daily, she decides not to participate in the tournament and instead watches from the sidelines.
• The Sect Tournament begins, bringing together the Sword Sect, Heavenly Feather Sect, and Profound Moon Sect. The different sects’ clothing and equipment reveal their contrasting strengths and wealth.
• Before the tournament starts, the sect masters announce their stakes. The Sword Sect offers access to the Sword Tomb, while the Heavenly Feather Sect presents a rare treasure called the Heart of the Earth Stone.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi becomes more synchronized with Xie Xiuji through her cultivation of the Spiritual Heart Art, allowing her to understand his unfinished thoughts almost instantly.
• She displays humility and self-awareness by recognizing that participating in the tournament would burden the others because of her pregnancy and current circumstances.
• Her discovery that she had casually used the legendary Azure Dragon Sword as a gardening tool adds to her awareness of how far reality has diverged from the original novel.
• Xie Xiuji demonstrates his familiarity with the Sword Sect’s hidden history by revealing the Azure Dragon Sword’s true condition and explaining why it is no longer a powerful divine weapon.
• His own sword, Blood Drinker, was personally forged from collected materials and is now comparable to—or perhaps stronger than—the degraded Azure Dragon Sword.

Significant Themes

• The unreliability of rumors: The disciples imagine the Azure Dragon Sword as an immensely powerful divine weapon, but the truth is far less glorious.
• The passage of time and decline: Even a legendary sword can lose its spirit and power after thousands of years, emphasizing that nothing remains unchanged.
• Reality versus the original narrative: Song Zhizhi continues to observe that events differ from the novel’s plot, though she refuses to fully acknowledge her possible influence on these changes.
• Practicality over reputation: The famous Azure Dragon Sword is less useful to Song Zhizhi than an ordinary fire-aspected sword because compatibility matters more than prestige.
• Sect rivalry and hidden strength: The tournament prizes serve not only as rewards but also as public demonstrations of each sect’s resources and status.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji share a revealing conversation about the Azure Dragon Sword. Their growing spiritual and emotional understanding allows her to infer that the sword in her hand is the legendary weapon.
• Song Zhizhi’s interaction with the sword is humorous and embarrassing: she realizes she has been using a revered divine weapon to cut grass.
• The sect masters engage in a competitive exchange over tournament stakes. Sect Master Mingxu pressures the Heavenly Feather Sect to offer something more impressive than pills, prompting its master to reveal the rare Heart of the Earth Stone.
• The three major sects are contrasted through their disciples’ appearances: the Heavenly Feather Sect appears wealthy and heavily protected, the Profound Moon Sect is colorful and ornate, while the Sword Sect is plainly dressed and comparatively poor.

Chapter Summary: “Attend the Tournament”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Heart of the Earth Stone is revealed as one of the prizes at the Sect Tournament. Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji are shocked because they have searched extensively for it.
• Xie Xiuji worries that obtaining the stone will be difficult because it belongs to Sect Master Tianyu, who deeply resents him due to Xie’s connection to Tianyu’s former partner and former disciple.
• The Sword Sect’s Sect Master attempts to negotiate for the stone but fails. Sect Master Tianyu insists that it remain a tournament prize.
• The only remaining option is for a Sword Sect disciple to win the stone and trade for it afterward.
• Xie Xiuji becomes determined to secure first place. He offers every participating Sword Sect disciple an additional Heaven-Tier Sword Manual if they win the tournament, causing the disciples to become intensely enthusiastic.
• The tournament prizes, including the Heart of the Earth Stone and the Azure Dragon Sword, are displayed before the competition begins.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji plan to trade for the stone from whichever disciple wins it, particularly trusting Meng Ping or Song Miaomiao to succeed.
• Just before the tournament starts, Zhong Jing accidentally injures himself while drawing a formation and is rendered unable to participate, creating an unexpected setback.

Character Developments

• Xie Xiuji shows how much he cares about Song Zhizhi and their unborn child by becoming unusually determined to win the tournament and obtain the stone needed for her.
• Song Zhizhi remains calm and supportive when Xieji apologizes for failing to negotiate with Sect Master Tianyu. She reassures him that knowing the stone’s location means they can eventually find another way to obtain it.
• The Sword Sect’s Sect Master helps Xie Xiuji but does not know the true reason for his urgency. He mistakenly assumes Xie wants the stone to forge a weapon for Song Zhizhi.
• The Sword Sect disciples are motivated by the promise of Heaven-Tier Sword Manuals and become fiercely competitive.
• Song Miaomiao is presented as a highly trusted and fortunate figure because of her status as the novel’s female lead, though Song Zhizhi’s confidence in her may be overly optimistic.
• Zhong Jing becomes the first apparent casualty of the tournament preparations after accidentally blowing himself up with a formation.

Significant Themes

• Love expressed through action: Xie Xiuji’s willingness to offer rare sword manuals and aggressively pursue the tournament prize reflects his devotion to Song Zhizhi.
• Rivalry and resentment: The conflict between Xie Xiuji and Sect Master Tianyu is rooted in old romantic and personal grievances, complicating what should be a simple exchange.
• Fate versus uncertainty: Song Zhizhi trusts the “female lead’s plot armor,” yet her ominous intuition and Zhong Jing’s accident suggest that events may not follow the expected story.
• Competition and desire: The tournament becomes more than a contest; it is tied to the characters’ personal goals, sect prestige, rare treasures, and future plans.
• Hidden motives: The true importance of the Heart of the Earth Stone is kept secret, while others believe Xie Xiuji merely wants to use it for forging.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji discuss the difficulty of obtaining the stone and agree to pursue a trade after the tournament.
• Xie Xiuji asks the Sword Sect’s Sect Master to negotiate with Tianyu, but the attempt fails.
• The Sect Master offers the participating disciples extra rewards on Xie Xiuji’s behalf, dramatically boosting their morale.
• The Sword Sect disciples openly challenge one another over the tournament prizes, while disciples from other sects view their sudden excitement with suspicion.
• Fang Zheng reports Zhong Jing’s accident to the Sect Master, interrupting the pre-tournament preparations and introducing immediate tension.

Chapter Summary: “A Setback at the Start”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhong Jing attempts to modify a Formation Diagram during preparation for the Sect Tournament, causing it to explode.
• Fang Zheng is only lightly injured thanks to a protective talisman, but Zhong Jing suffers backlash and must remain bedridden for two days.
• Since Zhong Jing is the team’s only Foundation Establishment disciple skilled in formations, his injury creates a serious problem: the team may be unable to compete in the formation portion of the tournament.
• Song Zhizhi volunteers to replace Zhong Jing, revealing that she has studied formation-breaking techniques and has recently reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
• The sect master and Sword Venerable Mingxiao initially oppose her participation because she is pregnant and the competition is dangerous.
• Song Zhizhi insists that she can protect herself and emphasizes that she must win first place to obtain the Heart of the Earth Stone, which is important for her unborn child.
• Mingxiao ultimately accepts her decision, though he urges her to return safely and embraces her, surprising Fang Zheng, who knows that Mingxiao is supposedly preparing to marry someone else.
• The narrative then explains why Song Zhizhi is reasonably confident: after half a month of difficult practice, she has become exceptionally skilled at sword flight. Her Phoenix bloodline gives her outstanding speed, allowing her to outpace Foundation Establishment cultivators and even contend with Golden Core cultivators while fleeing.
• Her greatest limitation is spiritual-energy consumption. Because the child requires increasing amounts of energy and Xie Xiuji will be absent for ten days, Song Zhizhi can last roughly five days normally or seven with Spirit-Replenishing Pills. She plans to rely on Song Miaomiao’s Ice Spirit Root if necessary.
• As Fang Zheng escorts her back to the team, he finally asks about her relationship with Mingxiao, confused by their apparent intimacy and Mingxiao’s upcoming Bonding Ceremony.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates determination, courage, and maternal devotion by volunteering for a dangerous tournament despite her pregnancy. She is no longer inexperienced: her Foundation Establishment cultivation, knowledge of formations, Phoenix bloodline, and improved sword flight give her real confidence in surviving.
• Zhong Jing is revealed to be both talented and impulsive. His willingness to alter a formation shows initiative but also recklessness, resulting in injury and leaving the team without its specialist.
• Fang Zheng is anxious and practical, recognizing how disastrous Zhong Jing’s absence could be. He also becomes increasingly suspicious of the closeness between Song Zhizhi and Mingxiao.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao shifts from firm opposition to reluctant support. His concern stems from both Song Zhizhi’s pregnancy and his desire to protect their child, but he respects her determination enough to let her participate.
• Song Miaomiao is established as a possible source of spiritual-energy support because of her Ice Spirit Root, though she has not yet acted directly in the chapter.

Significant Themes

• Maternal sacrifice and responsibility: Song Zhizhi is willing to risk herself because securing the Heart of the Earth Stone may protect her child.
• Courage versus recklessness: Zhong Jing’s failed modification contrasts with Song Zhizhi’s calculated willingness to take risks; she insists that her decision is based on preparation rather than impulse.
• Protective love and mutual understanding: Mingxiao’s concern for Song Zhizhi and the child conflicts with her determination, but he ultimately supports her choice.
• Growth through training: Song Zhizhi’s progress in sword flight shows how perseverance, combined with her Phoenix heritage, has transformed her from a novice into an unusually capable fighter.
• Hidden relationships and misunderstandings: Fang Zheng’s confusion about Song Zhizhi and Mingxiao hints at unresolved romantic complications surrounding Mingxiao’s planned Bonding Ceremony.

Important Character Interactions

• Fang Zheng reports the explosion and explains Zhong Jing’s injuries to Song Zhizhi and the sect master.
• Song Zhizhi offers herself as Zhong Jing’s replacement, prompting objections from the sect master and Mingxiao.
• Song Zhizhi argues with Mingxiao indirectly through her determination, while he ultimately accepts her choice and tells her to return safely.
• Their embrace exposes a level of intimacy that Fang Zheng finds inconsistent with Mingxiao’s supposed upcoming marriage.
• Fang Zheng ends the chapter by asking Song Zhizhi directly about her relationship with Mingxiao, setting up further revelations.