Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi reveals to Fang Zheng—deliberately in a misleading way—that she is secretly involved with Sword Venerable Mingxiao. Fang initially assumes they are having an illicit affair because Mingxiao is already preparing to marry someone.
• The misunderstanding is cleared up when Song Zhizhi explains that she is actually Mingxiao’s future Dao companion. Their Bonding Ceremony will take place in ten days, though their relationship has not been publicly announced.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao overhears the exchange and silently accepts Song Zhizhi’s playful deception. Sect Master Mingxu also realizes what is happening and humorously reacts to the pair’s behavior.
• Fang Zheng is relieved and becomes excited rather than suspicious. Knowing Song Zhizhi is connected to Mingxiao restores his confidence before the Sect Tournament, since he hopes an impressive performance will earn him Mingxiao’s attention or guidance.
• Song Zhizhi joins her tournament team, consisting of Song Miaomiao, Pei Yuqing, Kong Xing, and the injured or absent Zhong Jing’s original position as a team member/substitute arrangement.
• Song Miaomiao explains the tournament’s treasure-hunting format: participants will collect treasures worth varying points in a Secret Realm. Golden Core cultivators will explore the inner region, while Foundation Establishment cultivators handle the outer region.
• Song Zhizhi declares her confidence because she must find the Heart of the Earth Stone.
• The team’s embarrassing name is revealed: “Sword Sect Is Number One, If You Don’t Accept It, Come Fight Us Team.” Zhong Jing created it, and the members selected it by drawing lots after rejecting one another’s suggestions.
• A new rule is announced: treasures may be stolen from other teams. Song Miaomiao reassures Song Zhizhi that, as sword cultivators, they need not feel too pressured if they cannot break certain formations.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates her mischievous side by intentionally allowing Fang Zheng to misinterpret her relationship with Mingxiao. She remains focused and determined to obtain the Heart of the Earth Stone.
• Fang Zheng shifts from shock and moral outrage to relief, enthusiasm, and renewed fighting spirit after learning the truth. His admiration for Mingxiao grows into a strong desire to impress him.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao appears tolerant and indulgent toward Song Zhizhi’s teasing, reinforcing how deeply he cares for her.
• Song Miaomiao is shown as practical, supportive, and well-informed about Song Zhizhi’s abilities. She takes responsibility for preparing the team.
• Zhong Jing’s bold and unconventional personality is reflected in the provocative team name, consistent with his earlier reckless behavior.
• Pei Yuqing and Kong Xing act as cooperative teammates, though Pei is embarrassed by the team name and Kong remains quiet and reserved.

Significant Themes

• Secret relationships and public perception: Song Zhizhi and Mingxiao’s concealed engagement creates room for misunderstanding and humor, while also emphasizing the gap between private affection and public status.
• Humor through miscommunication: Fang Zheng’s exaggerated assumptions create a comedic scene and reveal how idealized Mingxiao is within the cultivation world.
• Confidence and support: Learning Song Zhizhi’s connection to Mingxiao gives Fang Zheng renewed motivation, showing how reputation and mentorship influence young cultivators.
• Competition and teamwork: The upcoming tournament requires cooperation, strategic planning, and the ability to adapt to new rules such as stealing treasures.
• Determination and hidden goals: Song Zhizhi’s participation is driven by her specific objective of obtaining the Heart of the Earth Stone.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi teases Fang Zheng about her relationship with Mingxiao, while Mingxiao and Sect Master Mingxu observe the exchange.
• Fang Zheng’s fear of being silenced turns into excitement once he understands that Song Zhizhi is Mingxiao’s legitimate future Dao companion.
• Song Miaomiao briefs Song Zhizhi, Pei Yuqing, and Kong Xing on the tournament and encourages them to work together.
• The team jokes and avoids revealing its embarrassing name until Song Miaomiao finally gives Song Zhizhi the jade token.
• Song Miaomiao closes the discussion by explaining the treasure-stealing rule and reminding the team not to overestimate the importance of formations.

Chapter Summary: The Grand Tournament Ends

Key Plot Points and Events

• A new tournament rule allows teams to plunder points from other groups, but it ultimately favors sword cultivators. Because sword cultivators are exceptionally strong in direct combat, few teams dare attack them unless they have overwhelming numbers.
• Song Zhizhi admires Song Miaomiao’s ruthless, protagonist-like decisiveness, though the Sword Sect still avoids excessive plundering to prevent provoking the other sects into uniting against them.
• Upon entering the Secret Realm, Song Zhizhi signals to Xie Xiuji that she will retrieve the Heart of the Earth Stone for him. The teams are separated, and Song Zhizhi lands with the Golden Core disciples in a vast grassland.
• The grassland contains few treasures and requires roughly three days to cross. This creates a difficult choice: remain and search for hidden treasures or leave immediately to avoid falling behind the other teams.
• The grassland’s treasures are concealed by formations and illusions. Since Song Zhizhi is the only disciple capable of sensing formations, the team depends on her expertise.
• Outside the Secret Realm, the Heavenly Feather Sect gains an early lead, while the Sword Sect appears to be making no progress. Sect Master Tianyu mocks the Sword Sect and predicts his sect will win.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao calmly responds that an early lead means nothing and that the final winner is the one who laughs last, frustrating Tianyu and hinting at tensions connected to Tianyu’s past conflict with True Lord Liu Yi.
• Song Zhizhi examines the grassland and discovers that it is governed by a chained formation. Although she has studied formations under her master, she has never attempted to break one in practice and estimates only a fifty percent chance of success.
• The chained formation contains treasures worth approximately 300 points—nearly a third of the total points available around the Secret Realm’s outer perimeter.
• The team must decide whether to risk several days attempting to break the formation or abandon it and begin hunting elsewhere. At this point, the Heavenly Feather Sect leads with ten points, followed by the Profound Moon Sect with seven, while the Sword Sect remains near the bottom.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi becomes the team’s crucial problem-solver. Despite her inexperience and uncertainty, she accepts responsibility for handling the formation and gives the group its only realistic chance at a major score.
• Song Miaomiao demonstrates strong leadership by weighing the enormous potential reward against the danger of wasting time. She does not blindly pursue the 300 points and carefully asks about Song Zhizhi’s probability of success and the required time.
• Pei Yuqing provides practical knowledge about the Secret Realm and recognizes that the grassland is normally a poor location for scoring.
• Kong Xing keeps track of the rankings and helps the team assess the strategic consequences of their decision.
• Fang Zheng reacts with shock to both the difficulty of the chained formation and the possibility of gaining 300 points.
• Sect Master Tianyu is shown to be smug and antagonistic, taking pleasure in the Sword Sect’s apparent misfortune.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao remains composed and confident, refusing to be intimidated by the Heavenly Feather Sect’s early advantage.

Significant Themes

• Strategy versus immediate advantage: The teams must choose between pursuing a potentially decisive reward and maintaining steady progress.
• Hidden strength and delayed victory: The Sword Sect’s poor opening does not necessarily indicate defeat, reinforcing the idea that early rankings can be misleading.
• Team dependence and trust: Because only Song Zhizhi can perceive and potentially break the formations, the entire group must trust her abilities despite her limited practical experience.
• Risk and leadership: Song Miaomiao’s decision-making highlights the burden of leadership when every option carries serious consequences.
• Competition and rivalry: The tournament intensifies existing tensions among the sects, particularly between the Sword Sect and the Heavenly Feather Sect.

Important Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi silently reassures Xie Xiuji that she will obtain the Heart of the Earth Stone.
• Song Miaomiao and the other disciples rely on Song Zhizhi to determine whether the formation can be broken.
• Song Miaomiao questions Song Zhizhi’s odds and the time required before committing the team to the risky plan.
• Sect Master Tianyu taunts the Sword Sect over its lack of progress, while Sword Venerable Mingxiao counters with a calm warning that the final outcome has not yet been decided.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Sword Sect team realizes that, because the Heavenly Feather Sect and Profound Moon Sect are far ahead in momentum and points, they must obtain the chained formation’s 300 points if they hope to win the competition.
• Outside the Secret Realm, Sect Master Tianyu mocks the Sword Sect, claiming they should abandon the formation and settle for fourth place. He argues that formation-breaking is not the Sword Sect’s strength and that Song Zhizhi risks severe backlash.
• Qingyu arrives and sharply rebukes Tianyu for insulting her disciple. She confidently declares that Song Zhizhi can solve the formation within two days, silencing Tianyu.
• Inside the Secret Realm, Song Miaomiao chooses to trust Song Zhizhi despite the formation having only a fifty-percent chance of being successfully broken. Song Zhizhi begins painstakingly mapping the formation’s spiritual-energy flow and calculating its weak point.
• For two days and two nights, Song Zhizhi works without rest while the other disciples cultivate or practice swordsmanship. Her team remains at zero points and falls to last place, while the Heavenly Feather Sect rises far ahead.
• Just as Tianyu mocks the Sword Sect’s ranking, Song Zhizhi finally identifies the Formation Eye. Exhausted, she nearly collapses, but Song Miaomiao supports her and replenishes her spiritual energy.
• The other four Sword Sect disciples attack the Formation Eye together. Their overwhelming sword force destroys it completely, allowing them to claim all 300 points.
• The Sword Sect team suddenly jumps from last place to first, confusing everyone in the Secret Realm and leaving the other sects wondering whether the scoring system malfunctioned.
• Their lead does not last long. After several days of travel, the Heavenly Feather Sect catches up, and points become increasingly difficult to obtain. Some sects begin robbing weaker teams.
• Song Zhizhi proposes a morally questionable strategy for rapidly earning points and possibly ending the competition early. Her cryptic reference to “Grand Duke Jiang fishing” implies that the team will bait other contestants into an ambush or trap.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates exceptional patience, intelligence, and formation expertise. Despite physical exhaustion and external doubts, she successfully analyzes a highly complex chained formation.
• Song Miaomiao shows strong trust in Song Zhizhi, accepting the risk of failure and later protecting her when she becomes weak. Their cooperation strengthens their team’s unity.
• The other Sword Sect disciples, particularly Pei Yuqing and the remaining swordsmen, prove their combat ability by destroying the Formation Eye through coordinated brute force.
• Qingyu is established as a fiercely protective mentor. She openly defends Song Zhizhi and intimidates even Sect Master Tianyu.
• Sect Master Tianyu is portrayed as arrogant and antagonistic, but he is repeatedly humiliated because Qingyu and the Sword Sect leaders are stronger or more verbally capable than he is.
• Sect Master Mingxu gains satisfaction from reversing Tianyu’s mockery once the Sword Sect takes first place.

Significant Themes

• Trust and teamwork: Song Miaomiao’s willingness to rely on Song Zhizhi allows the team to attempt a difficult challenge that other sects would avoid.
• Skill versus appearances: Although the Sword Sect initially seems incompetent because it has no points, Song Zhizhi’s hidden expertise allows them to surpass every other team at once.
• Perseverance and sacrifice: Song Zhizhi’s two days of tireless calculations show that success requires endurance as well as talent.
• Pride and rivalry: The sect leaders’ arguments mirror the competition inside the Secret Realm, with each side eager to prove its superiority.
• Moral ambiguity in competition: As resources diminish and weaker sects are robbed, Song Zhizhi considers using deception to secure victory, suggesting that survival and winning may require questionable tactics.

Character Interactions

• Tianyu insults the Sword Sect and Song Zhizhi, while Qingyu immediately retaliates by mocking his failed relationship with Suyuan and defending her disciple.
• Qingyu and Tianyu’s exchange establishes Qingyu’s authority over him and highlights his inability to challenge her.
• Song Miaomiao encourages Song Zhizhi to proceed with breaking the formation and later transfers spiritual energy to stabilize her.
• Song Zhizhi directs the team once she identifies the Formation Eye, while the other four disciples carry out the physical attack.
• Mingxu turns Tianyu’s earlier ridicule back on him after the Sword Sect claims the 300 points.
• At the end, Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao communicate through a suggestive gesture, indicating their shared understanding of a coming trap-based plan.

Chapter summary

• Song Zhizhi and her companions devise a scheme to prevent rival teams from uniting against them. They plan to appear weak and tempting, lure other disciples into attacking, then turn the tables. Sect masters watching through a water mirror react with disapproval and amusement; Sect Master Mingxu praises the young disciples’ quick thinking.
• The plan unfolds during the final days of the tournament. The group—three men and two women disguised as disciples of other sects—pretends to carry a large stash of points. A team of stronger Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators takes the bait and tries to rob them, only to be swiftly defeated.
• One opponent’s torn clothing reveals the attackers’ Sword Sect uniform. The group’s larger strategy becomes clear: they disguise themselves, bait teams into ambushes, and steal both points and outer robes. The stolen uniforms help frame their victims as the thieves.
• The scheme causes widespread confusion across the tournament’s outer ring. Many teams are robbed, then accused of robbing others. Distrust and repeated fights make the final three days chaotic, while also discouraging participants from attempting further thefts.

Character developments and interactions

• Song Zhizhi emerges as a strategic, morally calculating leader, intent on gaining an advantage while making sure her side does not appear to strike first.
• The disguised team proves far more formidable than it looks: the girls pose as vulnerable bait, while the whole group fights with startling strength and ruthlessness.
• The sect masters provide a humorous contrast: Profound Moon’s master condemns the disciples’ scheming, while Mingxu defends it as cleverness.
• Tournament participants turn against one another, unable to recognize the common pattern behind their misfortunes. Accusations quickly become fights, preventing anyone from comparing stories and uncovering the truth.

Significant themes

The chapter explores cunning and deception, showing how appearances can conceal a trap; the contagious nature of mistrust, as one scheme destabilizes the entire tournament; and the blurred line between clever strategy and dishonorable conduct.

Chapter 65 Summary

• Tournament conclusion: The Sect Tournament ends amid widespread suspicion. Because stolen treasures only increased a sect’s score when placed in special storage bags, no one could identify the Sword Sect through the score changes. However, the participants realized that the five Sword Cultivators who had repeatedly lured and defeated them belonged to the Sword Sect.
• Sword Sect’s victory: The Heavenly Feather Sect briefly overtakes the Sword Sect and appears to claim first place, but the Sword Sect suddenly gains more than one hundred points at the last moment. The Sword Sect’s team had been using “self-defense” as an excuse to rob cultivators who tried to attack them. Although other sects accuse them of shameless entrapment, the Sword Sect turns the situation around by claiming they had merely defended themselves against those who initiated hostilities. Since the other sects had indeed harbored malicious intentions first, they can only accept the result. The Sword Sect takes first place, with the Heavenly Feather Sect falling to second.
• Impact on other disciples: Those who were defeated are deeply traumatized by the Sword Sect’s deceptive tactics. They become suspicious even of innocent-looking male and female cultivators, fearing that anyone might suddenly draw a sword and attack them.
• Mingxiao’s concern for Song Zhizhi: Sword Venerable Mingxiao waits anxiously at the Secret Realm’s exit. Although the Water Mirror showed that Song Zhizhi was not in mortal danger, it could not reveal whether she still possessed enough spiritual energy after ten days inside. When she finally emerges, he immediately asks whether she is hurt, openly prioritizing her safety despite being surrounded by other sects.
• Song Zhizhi’s advancement: Song Zhizhi reassures Mingxiao that she is unharmed and reveals that she has advanced to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Her breakthrough occurs during the repeated battles in the Secret Realm, when she is nearly exhausted and running out of Spirit-Replenishing Pills. The advancement restores enough spiritual energy for her to continue fighting and is crucial to the Sword Sect’s victory.
• Importance of strategy and timing: The victory depends on several factors aligning perfectly: Song Zhizhi’s ability to decipher the formation, her timely breakthrough, the group’s coordinated “defensive” ambushes, and their efficient use of resources. Any failure could have prevented them from taking first place.

Character interactions and relationships

• Mingxiao’s anxiety and instinctive concern reveal his strong affection and protectiveness toward Song Zhizhi.
• Song Zhizhi playfully reassures him and proudly announces her advancement.
• Xie Xiuji praises her warmly, rubbing her head and telling her she did well. Their closeness is reinforced by their cultivation of the Spiritual Heart Art and his careful effort to prevent her cultivation from advancing too rapidly.
• Song Zhizhi tells Xie Xiuji that she won first place, showing her excitement and desire for his approval.
• Tournament prize: Song Zhizhi only wants the Heart of the Earth Stone, a material useful for artifact refinement. The other Sword Sect disciples willingly agree, recognizing that her formation-breaking efforts made their victory possible. Despite Mingxiao wanting to take her home so she can recover her spiritual energy, Song Zhizhi insists on collecting the prize first.

Chapter Summary — Page 66

Key Plot Points and Events

• Although Song Zhizhi has already secured first place, she remains uneasy until Xie Xiuji retrieves the Heart of the Earth Stone for her. He uses an effortless long-distance technique, impressing her.
• With the stone safely in hand and her spiritual power depleted, Song Zhizhi allows Xie Xiuji to carry her back to Clear Snow Peak on his spirit sword.
• Their close behavior attracts criticism from Sect Master Tianyu, who accuses Xie Xiuji of acting improperly despite his upcoming marriage to Mingxiao.
• Qingyu counters by reminding Tianyu of his own scandal involving Yuan Shiyao and the hot springs. Tianyu is unable to defend himself convincingly.
• When Tianyu objects to Xie Xiuji holding Song Zhizhi around the waist, Qingyu reveals that Song Zhizhi is his bonded partner, leaving Tianyu shocked that Xie Xiuji’s partner is a young Foundation Establishment cultivator rather than a more powerful senior cultivator.
• Tianyu insults their relationship by calling it an “old ox eating tender grass,” but his judgment is dismissed.
• Upon returning to Clear Snow Peak, Song Zhizhi discovers that Xie Xiuji has decorated the area with red silk, albizia flowers, bridal furnishings, and other festive ornaments for their Bonding Ceremony the next day.
• Song Zhizhi becomes nervous upon realizing that she is about to marry Xie Xiuji, whom she has known for only three months.
• Xie Xiuji leads her to the bedroom, but rather than initiating anything romantic, he asks her to cultivate with him so she can replenish her depleted spiritual power.
• Their joint cultivation through the Spiritual Heart Art restores Song Zhizhi’s strength and nourishes the unborn child. The intimate spiritual connection makes both of them self-conscious, though they eventually settle into a harmonious state.
• Afterward, Xie Xiuji tells Song Zhizhi that her parents have arrived at the Sword Sect and are staying in the inner-sect guest quarters, giving her the opportunity to visit them.

Character Development

• Song Zhizhi grows increasingly aware of her emotional and romantic attachment to Xie Xiuji. She feels nervous about their imminent marriage and becomes flustered by their physical and spiritual intimacy, while still trusting him completely.
• Xie Xiuji demonstrates his care through practical actions: retrieving the stone, carrying Song Zhizhi home, preparing Clear Snow Peak for the ceremony, and helping restore her spiritual power. Though outwardly composed, he is also affected by Song Zhizhi’s beauty and their closeness.
• Qingyu acts as Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji’s outspoken defender, mocking Sect Master Tianyu and firmly asserting the legitimacy of their bond.
• Sect Master Tianyu is hypocritical and embarrassed when his own questionable conduct is brought up. His surprise at Song Zhizhi’s age and cultivation level highlights the unconventional nature of the couple’s relationship.

Significant Themes

• Trust and intimacy: Song Zhizhi’s unreserved trust in Xie Xiuji deepens as they cultivate together and prepare for marriage.
• Romantic anticipation: The decorated peak and bridal bedroom create a strong sense of impending union, while Song Zhizhi’s nervous thoughts add playful romantic tension.
• Public judgment versus private sincerity: Others interpret the couple’s closeness through gossip and social expectations, but their relationship is portrayed as genuine and mutually caring.
• Hypocrisy and double standards: Tianyu condemns Xie Xiuji while being unable to explain his own scandalous behavior.
• Care expressed through actions: Xie Xiuji’s affection is shown less through declarations than through preparation, protection, and support.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji: Their relationship becomes more openly intimate. He carries her, holds her waist during flight, prepares their future home, and cultivates with her; she responds with trust, gratitude, and growing romantic awareness.
• Qingyu and Sect Master Tianyu: They trade accusations, with Qingyu turning Tianyu’s moral criticism back against him.
• Xie Xiuji and the wider sect: Their public closeness sparks gossip, but Qingyu and Mingxu clarify that Song Zhizhi is Xie Xiuji’s bonded partner.
• Song Zhizhi and her parents: Their arrival at the sect sets up a forthcoming family meeting before the Bonding Ceremony.

Chapter Summary: “Portrait of Song Chao”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning from the Lesser Secret Realm, Song Zhizhi realizes that although her body is not physically exhausted, her mind is deeply worn out. She agrees to rest before meeting the original owner’s relatives.
• Upon waking, she finds that Xie Xiuji has left for business but has prepared a food box filled with her favorite dishes. The gesture comforts her after days of surviving on Fasting Pills.
• Once she has eaten and cleaned up, Song Zhizhi decides to visit the guest residence where the original owner’s maternal uncle and aunt are staying.
• She hesitates outside, worried that they may sense that the soul inhabiting the original owner’s body is no longer the same. Song Miaomiao finds her and casually encourages her to enter.
• Song Zhizhi meets the Song Family Head and Madam Song. Their affectionate, familiar behavior helps ease her anxiety, and she quickly settles into the family interaction.
• Madam Song serves peach blossom pastries for Song Zhizhi and osmanthus cakes for Song Miaomiao, revealing that she remembers both girls’ preferences.
• The taste of the peach blossom pastry triggers a vague but powerful memory from Song Zhizhi’s former life.
• Madam Song gives Song Zhizhi an old painting discovered in the family study. It portrays a beautiful young woman in a wedding dress, identified by the inscription as “My wife, Song Chao—Feng Ling.”
• Song Zhizhi is stunned because the woman in the painting looks almost exactly like her mother from her previous life and shares the same name, Song Chao.
• She realizes that the similarities between her two lives extend beyond appearance and names: her mother’s peach blossom pastries also taste identical to Madam Song’s, while she and the original owner share similar looks, preferences, and habits.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Becomes more emotionally connected to the original owner’s family and begins confronting the possibility that her transmigration is linked to her former life. Her uneasiness about being discovered gradually gives way to shock and confusion over the mysterious similarities between the two worlds.
• Song Miaomiao: Remains straightforward and emotionally detached due to her cultivation of the Heartless Sword Dao. Though she does not understand Song Zhizhi’s anxiety, her simple encouragement helps Song Zhizhi move forward.
• Madam Song: Demonstrates warmth, attentiveness, and deep affection for Song Zhizhi and Song Miaomiao. Her memories of Song Chao and her gift of the painting introduce an important mystery.
• Song Family Head: Maintains a playful, affectionate relationship with his wife and niece, joking about his beard while showing pride in Song Zhizhi’s compliment.
• Xie Xiuji: Does not appear directly, but his care is shown through the meal he leaves for Song Zhizhi.

Significant Themes

• Identity and belonging: Song Zhizhi struggles with her status as both an outsider and a member of the original owner’s family.
• Connections across lives and worlds: The matching appearances, names, tastes, memories, and food suggest an unexplained bond between Song Zhizhi’s former life and her current one.
• Family memory and affection: The painting and pastries preserve memories of Song Chao and reveal how strongly family relationships endure over time.
• Fate and hidden connections: The chapter strongly hints that Song Zhizhi’s transmigration may not have been accidental.
• Emotional healing: Familiar food and affectionate family interactions help Song Zhizhi recover from the mental strain of the Secret Realm.

Character Interactions

• Xie Xiuji expresses affection indirectly by preparing Song Zhizhi’s favorite foods.
• Song Miaomiao notices Song Zhizhi’s hesitation and encourages her to meet the family, though she remains unaware of the deeper reason for Song Zhizhi’s anxiety.
• Madam Song and the Song Family Head warmly welcome Song Zhizhi, recalling her childhood closeness to her mother, Song Chao.
• Madam Song’s gift of the portrait creates the chapter’s major revelation, linking Song Zhizhi’s current identity to her mother and memories from her previous life.

Page 68 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi examines the portrait of the original owner’s mother and becomes troubled by the possibility that this woman may also be her mother from her previous life. She questions whether her transmigration was truly accidental and wonders about the connection between herself and the original owner.
• From the painting’s inscription, she realizes that her biological father in this world was named Feng Ling.
• Song Zhizhi brings the portrait back to Clear Snow Peak and hangs it in her study. She reflects sadly that her mother will not be able to see her dressed for her wedding.
• Xie Xiuji comforts her by saying that her mother can still “see” her. He then takes Song Zhizhi to Scarlet Cloud Hall, the wedding venue prepared for their ceremony the following day.
• Xie Xiuji places Song Zhizhi’s mother’s portrait in the wedding hall beside a calligraphy painting of “Dao” and a portrait of his own master, Immortal Venerable Yinglian. This symbolically gives both of their families a place at the wedding.
• Xie Xiuji shows Song Zhizhi around Scarlet Cloud Hall, including their elaborately decorated bridal chamber.
• Song Zhizhi notices a magnificent red wedding dress prepared for her by Martial Uncle Qingyu and asks to try it on.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi becomes increasingly suspicious about her origins and the relationship between her current identity and her former life. Her grief over her mother also reveals her emotional vulnerability beneath her usual composure.
• Xie Xiuji demonstrates his attentiveness and devotion. Rather than offering only verbal comfort, he ensures Song Zhizhi’s mother is symbolically present at the wedding and carefully prepares a place for her in his home.
• Xie Xiuji’s normally reserved personality softens around Song Zhizhi. His embarrassment regarding the bridal chamber and his careful wedding preparations reveal his anticipation and affection.
• Song Zhizhi’s feelings for Xie Xiuji deepen. His considerate gesture causes her heart to race, though she tries to maintain her composure.

Significant Themes

• Identity and fate: Song Zhizhi questions whether her transmigration was connected to her family history and whether her life in this world was predetermined.
• Family and remembrance: The portrait allows Song Zhizhi’s deceased mother to remain part of an important life event. Xie Xiuji’s gesture emphasizes that marriage joins not only two people but also their families and memories.
• Love expressed through action: Xie Xiuji shows his care through practical, meaningful preparations rather than grand declarations.
• Marriage and emotional intimacy: The decorated wedding hall and bridal chamber mark the couple’s transition into married life, while Song Zhizhi’s embarrassment suggests their growing romantic tension.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi confides her sadness to Xie Xiuji, telling him she wishes her mother could see her in wedding robes.
• Xie Xiuji reassures her and takes her by the hand to Scarlet Cloud Hall.
• He explains the significance of the wedding hall and shows her that her mother’s portrait has been placed beside the portrait of his master.
• Song Zhizhi thanks him sincerely, then asks him to show her around.
• When he reveals that one courtyard is their bridal chamber, both become shy and flustered.
• Their interaction ends with Song Zhizhi eagerly asking to try on the ornate wedding dress prepared for her.

Chapter 33: “Grand Ceremony Begins” — Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Xiuji gives Song Zhizhi the wedding dress prepared for her, called “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix.”
• Qingyu explains that the dress was made from the feathers of 999 kinds of red-feathered birds, woven by a skilled weaver bird and embroidered by an exceptional insect spinner. The garment carries powerful blessings and vows.
• Song Zhizhi realizes how costly and difficult the dress was to create and becomes deeply emotional, addressing Qingyu as her master.
• Qingyu reassures her that, as Feng Ling’s daughter with half of the True Phoenix Bloodline, Song Zhizhi deserves even a genuine Phoenix Feather Wedding Dress.
• Song Zhizhi tries on the magical dress, which automatically adjusts to fit her. Xie Xiuji places the phoenix coronet on her head and tells her she looks beautiful.
• Qingyu interrupts the couple’s romantic moment and shifts the discussion to Song Zhizhi’s three-month-old child.
• Qingyu examines Song Zhizhi to determine whether the baby possesses the True Phoenix Bloodline. Song Zhizhi anxiously hopes the child will be ordinary, fearing the burdens that come with extraordinary talent.
• Xie Xiuji comforts her by promising that, regardless of the result, he will protect both her and their child.
• Qingyu examines Song Zhizhi’s belly, and the fetus moves, giving Song Zhizhi a second clear sign of the baby’s activity.

Character Development

• Song Zhizhi: Becomes emotional over the effort and affection invested in her wedding dress. Her concern for her unborn child is revealed through her wish that the baby avoid the pressures associated with the True Phoenix Bloodline. She remains anxious but gains strength from Xie Xiuji’s support.
• Xie Xiuji: Shows restrained but obvious affection toward Song Zhizhi. He is captivated by her appearance in the wedding dress and provides steady emotional reassurance when she worries about their child.
• Qingyu: Demonstrates her deep care for Song Zhizhi through the extraordinary wedding gift and her protective, maternal attitude. She also fulfills the role of examining the baby’s bloodline.

Significant Themes

• Love expressed through sacrifice and craftsmanship: The wedding dress symbolizes the immense effort, resources, and blessings devoted to Song Zhizhi.
• Heritage and responsibility: Song Zhizhi’s True Phoenix lineage grants her status and privilege but also creates expectations and burdens for her and her child.
• Parental anxiety and protection: Song Zhizhi worries that exceptional talent may lead to suffering, while she and Xie Xiuji resolve to protect their child regardless of its inheritance.
• Romantic intimacy: The wedding preparations bring Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji closer and highlight their affectionate, playful relationship.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Qingyu: Qingyu treats Song Zhizhi lovingly, gifting her a magnificent wedding dress and reassuring her of her worth and lineage. Song Zhizhi responds with gratitude and emotion.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji: Their mutual attraction is evident when he sees her in the dress. He crowns her, compliments her, and holds her hand while she anxiously awaits the bloodline examination.
• Qingyu and the couple: Qingyu humorously interrupts their romantic exchange, then redirects their attention to the serious matter of examining the unborn child.

Chapter Summary: “Bonding Ceremony”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi feels the child move after Qingyu transfers a strand of the Phoenix Clan’s origin power into her.
• Qingyu explains that only someone with the True Phoenix Bloodline—not merely one-quarter Phoenix blood—could absorb the power. The child’s reaction confirms that Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji’s baby truly possesses the rare bloodline.
• Although Qingyu worries about the dangers of the pregnancy, Song Zhizhi remains calm and reassures her. She and Xie Xiuji already possess the Heart of the Earth Stone and plan to travel to the Demon Realm to find the Ten-Thousand-Year Parasol Tree Heart and Phoenix Essence Blood.
• Qingyu promises to ask the Phoenix Clan to help search for the remaining treasures.
• Song Zhizhi stays overnight at Scarlet Cloud Hall rather than returning to Clear Snow Peak, though she deliberately sleeps in a guest room instead of the bridal chamber.
• The following day, the Sword Sect is decorated for the Bonding Ceremony between Xie Xiuji, Sword Venerable Mingxiao, and Song Zhizhi. Guests from across the cultivation world arrive with extraordinarily valuable gifts.
• While preparing for the ceremony, Song Zhizhi is dressed in the magnificent “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix” wedding gown and receives makeup and hair styling from a professional artist.
• Song Miaomiao and Liu Changfei tease Song Zhizhi about her beauty and the possibility of intimacy on her wedding night, embarrassing her.
• Qingyu arrives to place the ceremonial cape over Song Zhizhi and escorts her out when the auspicious hour begins.
• Song Zhizhi sees Xie Xiuji waiting in red wedding robes. He appears warmer and more worldly than usual and reaches out to her, gently saying, “Zhizhi, I’ve come to take you away.”

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Demonstrates emotional strength and confidence regarding her pregnancy and the child’s True Phoenix Bloodline. She remains hopeful about finding the resources needed to protect the baby. Her embarrassment around the wedding night contrasts with her growing closeness to Xie Xiuji.
• Xie Xiuji: Shares Song Zhizhi’s determination and concern for their child. His appearance in wedding robes and his gentle words reveal a softer, more affectionate side beneath his usual aloof demeanor.
• Qingyu: Acts as a protective and loving mentor or maternal figure. Her initial worry shifts into practical support as she agrees to mobilize the Phoenix Clan to help with the search.
• Song Miaomiao and Liu Changfei: Support Song Zhizhi as companions from her maternal side. Their playful teasing adds humor and highlights the intimacy and familiarity of their friendship.

Significant Themes

• Family and protection: The child’s dangerous but powerful heritage unites Song Zhizhi, Xie Xiuji, and Qingyu in preparing for its safe birth.
• Love and commitment: The Bonding Ceremony formalizes Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji’s relationship, while their shared resolve emphasizes their commitment to one another and their unborn child.
• Destiny and bloodline: The confirmation of the True Phoenix Bloodline suggests that the child has an extraordinary fate and may face both great potential and danger.
• Tradition and celebration: The ceremony brings together the Sword Sect and the wider cultivation world, showing the couple’s importance and the prestige of their union.
• Humor amid tension: Friends’ teasing and the festive atmosphere balance the serious concerns surrounding the pregnancy and the child’s lineage.

Important Character Interactions

• Qingyu confirms the child’s bloodline and discusses the risks with Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji.
• Song Zhizhi comforts Qingyu, reversing the expected mentor-and-disciple dynamic.
• Song Miaomiao and Liu Changfei tease Song Zhizhi about her appearance and wedding night, causing her embarrassment.
• Qingyu tenderly prepares Song Zhizhi for the ceremony.
• Xie Xiuji and Song Zhizhi share a quiet, romantic moment when he comes to escort her, marking the emotional beginning of their formal union.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi nervously takes Xie Xiuji’s hand before entering the wedding hall. She realizes that although he appears calm, his palm is also damp with nervousness.
• Red Cloud Peak undergoes a dramatic transformation through the Four Seasons Array. The year-round snow disappears, plants sprout, and springlike warmth spreads across the mountain. The array’s immense spiritual-energy cost highlights Xie Xiuji’s extraordinary wealth and status.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji enter the wedding hall together, immediately drawing the attention of the assembled cultivators. The guests are shocked to discover that Xie Xiuji’s mysterious dao companion is Song Zhizhi, a young Foundation Establishment disciple.
• Many guests privately question why the powerful Sword Venerable would choose someone with such low cultivation, though they acknowledge Song Zhizhi’s beauty and her impressive performance during the recent Sect Tournament.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji perform the Cultivation World’s bonding ceremony before the symbol of the Dao. They prick their fingers, place their blood on the Fate Stone, and recite vows promising lifelong loyalty and shared fate.
• The Fate Stone turns red and the Dao symbol glows, confirming the pact. A Dao Companion Contract Seal forms in Song Zhizhi’s sea of consciousness, creating a deep connection and mutual understanding between the couple.
• The contract grants a ten-percent increase in cultivation speed when they cultivate together, but it also binds their lives: if one dies, the other may die or suffer severe injury.
• Just as the guests prepare to leave, purple qi descends from the sky, celestial music fills the hall, and a Phoenix phantom appears behind Song Zhizhi. Countless birds then gather above the wedding hall.
• The phenomenon is interpreted as Heaven’s blessing. The guests conclude that Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji are a destined pair recognized by the Dao of Heaven.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Moves from anxious uncertainty to emotional reassurance and confidence. She is comforted by Xie Xiuji’s quiet support and openly commits herself to him through the binding vows. Her appearance and the heavenly Phoenix omen also suggest that she possesses an extraordinary destiny beyond her current Foundation Establishment cultivation.
• Xie Xiuji: Though outwardly composed and immensely powerful, he is revealed to be nervous about the ceremony. He protects and reassures Song Zhizhi through small gestures, especially by tightening his hold on her hand. His willingness to enter a life-and-death pact demonstrates the depth of his devotion.
• The Cultivation World’s guests: Their initial curiosity and skepticism shift to shock and awe. They move from judging the disparity in the couple’s cultivation levels to accepting the union as divinely sanctioned.

Significant Themes

• Love as mutual commitment: The ceremony emphasizes loyalty, trust, and choosing to share both happiness and danger.
• Fate and divine recognition: The heavenly omens suggest that the couple’s relationship is not merely personal but supported by the Dao of Heaven.
• Strength beyond cultivation level: Song Zhizhi’s low cultivation does not reflect her true importance or potential. Her beauty, intelligence, achievements, and Phoenix omen mark her as exceptional.
• Risk and sacrifice in relationships: The Dao Companion Contract offers spiritual benefits but also imposes grave consequences, presenting love as a willing acceptance of shared vulnerability.
• Public judgment versus private devotion: While the guests scrutinize Song Zhizhi and gossip about the match, Xie Xiuji focuses only on comforting her and standing beside her.

Character Interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji repeatedly communicate through touch and shared glances rather than words. Their clasped hands calm her anxiety and symbolize their unity.
• They recite their vows together and complete the ritual in perfect coordination, reinforcing their emotional and spiritual compatibility.
• Their interaction contrasts with the guests’ intrusive speculation: while outsiders judge the couple’s cultivation disparity, the pair demonstrate genuine trust and commitment.
• The final heavenly blessing publicly validates their relationship, silencing doubts about whether a powerful Sword Venerable and a young Foundation Establishment disciple truly belong together.

Chapter Summary: “Toes Curling”

Key plot points and events

• During the wedding ceremony, a phoenix phantom appears beside Song Chao’s portrait and the character “Dao.” While the guests interpret it as an auspicious blessing, Song Zhizhi recognizes the aura as belonging to her father, Feng Ling.
• Xie Xiuji explains that Feng Ling is likely not alive; the apparition was only a remnant of his consciousness, awakened by Song Zhizhi’s Phoenix Bloodline. The remnant soon disperses.
• The appearance of Feng Ling’s remnant reveals his immense power, even impressing Xie Xiuji, who regrets never having had the chance to fight him.
• After the ceremony, birds are drawn to Song Zhizhi because of her Phoenix aura. She gently feeds them Spirit Rice and sends them home, demonstrating that she can naturally command or attract avian creatures.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji discuss their unborn child, who may be born as a phoenix egg and hatch into a young phoenix. Song Zhizhi becomes more accepting of the idea after seeing how cute the young birds are.
• That night, Song Zhizhi waits in the bridal chamber for Xie Xiuji. She becomes increasingly flustered while imagining the possibility of consummating their marriage.
• Xie Xiuji eventually returns in his wedding robes. He is visibly affected by Song Zhizhi’s appearance, while she nervously admits that she has been waiting for him.

Character development

• Song Zhizhi: Learns that her father’s consciousness may have lingered after death, deepening the mystery surrounding Feng Ling. Her Phoenix heritage becomes more visible and influential. She also grows more comfortable with Xie Xiuji as her husband, moving from embarrassment toward anticipation of greater intimacy.
• Xie Xiuji: His strength and awareness are emphasized through his reaction to Feng Ling’s remnant. Despite his intimidating reputation, his emotional dependence and slight jealousy toward the birds reveal a softer, more vulnerable side. He is also clearly attracted to Song Zhizhi but remains restrained.
• Feng Ling: Though absent in person, his lingering consciousness demonstrates his extraordinary power and establishes a continuing connection to Song Zhizhi through her bloodline.
• The unborn child: The baby’s unusual, possibly phoenix-born nature becomes a source of affectionate anticipation for both parents.

Significant themes

• Bloodline and inheritance: Song Zhizhi’s Phoenix Bloodline connects her to Feng Ling, the avian creatures around her, and the child she carries.
• Life, death, and lingering consciousness: Feng Ling’s remnant suggests that death does not entirely erase a powerful cultivator’s presence.
• Marriage and intimacy: The chapter shifts from a public wedding ceremony to private romantic anticipation, portraying Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji’s growing emotional and physical closeness.
• Power versus gentleness: Feng Ling and Xie Xiuji represent formidable strength, yet Song Zhizhi’s interactions with the birds emphasize compassion, tenderness, and nurturing.
• Domestic happiness: Amid larger cultivation mysteries, the couple begins imagining their future family and child.

Character interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji communicate privately through voice transmission about Feng Ling’s remnant.
• Song Zhizhi comforts and feeds the young birds, treating them almost like children.
• She teasingly reassures Xie Xiuji that the birds are not fleeing because he is frightening, easing his unspoken jealousy.
• The couple discusses the appearance and future of their child, sharing a warm moment of anticipation.
• In the bridal chamber, their awkward but affectionate exchange—especially Song Zhizhi’s “Waiting for you”—signals their transition into married intimacy.

Page 73 Summary

Key plot points and events

• On their Bonding Ceremony night, Song Zhizhi tells Xie Xiuji that they have not yet “cultivated,” unintentionally making the statement sound suggestive.
• Xie Xiuji, having drunk wine with the sect master, removes his outer robe and goes to wash before spending the night with her.
• Song Zhizhi suddenly remembers something and rushes barefoot into the bathing room, where she finds Xie Xiuji shirtless and discovers a piece of red Phoenix-embroidered fabric in his hand.
• Distracted by his muscular physique, Song Zhizhi slips on the wet floor. Xie Xiuji catches her around the waist, creating an intimate and embarrassing moment.
• Overcome by attraction, Song Zhizhi gets a nosebleed. Xie Xiuji mistakenly assumes she injured herself and anxiously tries to treat her.
• He uses the mysterious red fabric to stop the bleeding, while Song Zhizhi gradually realizes that the fabric is not an ordinary handkerchief. Xie Xiuji, however, innocently identifies it as something similar to one.

Character developments

• Song Zhizhi: Reveals her strong physical attraction to Xie Xiuji, becoming flustered, self-conscious, and comically embarrassed. Her nosebleed exposes how easily she is affected by his appearance, though she tries to conceal the true reason.
• Xie Xiuji: Shows a gentler, more considerate side after drinking with the sect master. He is attentive to Song Zhizhi’s comfort and health, quickly catching her when she slips and worrying seriously over her nosebleed.

Significant themes

• Romantic tension and attraction: Their relationship becomes increasingly intimate through physical proximity, mutual concern, and Song Zhizhi’s obvious attraction.
• Miscommunication and comedy: Song Zhizhi’s ambiguous wording, her concealed embarrassment, and Xie Xiuji’s innocent misunderstanding of the fabric create humor.
• Care within marriage: Xie Xiuji’s concern and promise to prepare cooling medicinal food demonstrate growing domestic affection.
• Contrast between appearance and innocence: Xie Xiuji looks physically formidable, but his earnest misunderstanding of the fabric emphasizes his straightforward nature.

Character interactions

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji share several close encounters: he catches her by the waist, examines her nose, wipes away her blood, and gently reassures her.
• Their physical closeness heightens Song Zhizhi’s embarrassment and romantic feelings, while Xie Xiuji remains largely unaware of the real cause of her reaction.
• The scene ends with Song Zhizhi recognizing that Xie Xiuji used the mysterious embroidered garment to wipe her nose, setting up further embarrassment and comedic tension.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Xiuji discovers that the “handkerchief” he is holding is actually Song Zhizhi’s intimate garment, decorated with a golden phoenix. Realizing what it is—and imagining Song Zhizhi wearing it—causes his usually controlled demeanor to become noticeably darker and more restrained.
• Song Zhizhi is mortified because Xie Xiuji used the garment to wipe away her nosebleed. She tries to escape the embarrassing situation, but Xie Xiuji stops her after noticing that she is barefoot.
• He carries her back to the bed and carefully wipes the dirt from her feet, treating them with exaggerated gentleness. The intimate act heightens the romantic tension between them.
• Song Zhizhi assumes Xie Xiuji is about to kiss her passionately, but he only kisses her forehead and tells her that he will sleep on the outside of the bed.
• Confused and disappointed, Song Zhizhi begins to suspect that Xie Xiuji may be sexually incapable, leading to a humorous misunderstanding.
• Xie Xiuji senses her thoughts through their Dao Companion Contract Seal and realizes what she is thinking. Determined to correct her assumption, he corners her on the bed and confronts her about the matter.
• The chapter ends with Xie Xiuji displaying an unusually intense, restrained, and dangerous side of himself, while Song Zhizhi becomes nervous under his gaze.

Character Developments

• Xie Xiuji: His normally calm and proper personality gives way to visible desire and possessiveness. Although he remains self-controlled, his reactions to Song Zhizhi’s clothing, bare feet, and closeness reveal strong attraction. His gentle care also shows his affection, while his later confrontation suggests that his restraint is deliberate rather than a result of incapacity.
• Song Zhizhi: She becomes increasingly flustered and self-conscious, especially after realizing what Xie Xiuji used to wipe her nose. Her expectations rise when he carries out intimate gestures, but his restraint leaves her confused and insecure. Her impulsive assumption about his sexual ability creates the chapter’s central comedic misunderstanding.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and restraint: Both characters clearly desire one another, but Xie Xiuji deliberately suppresses his impulses, intensifying the tension.
• Miscommunication: Song Zhizhi misinterprets Xie Xiuji’s restraint as incapacity, while he struggles to explain himself without embarrassing them both.
• Intimacy through caretaking: Carrying Song Zhizhi and cleaning her feet function as tender expressions of affection, even though they stop short of physical consummation.
• Contrast between appearances and reality: Xie Xiuji appears cold and self-controlled, but his internal reactions reveal a much stronger passion.

Character Interactions

• Xie Xiuji examines Song Zhizhi’s intimate garment, while she desperately tries to hide it and flee.
• He catches her hand, notices her bare feet, carries her to bed, and gently cleans them.
• Their near-kiss becomes only a forehead kiss, leaving Song Zhizhi bewildered.
• Through the Dao Companion Contract Seal, Xie Xiuji detects her suspicion that he is incapable.
• He then traps her against the bed and challenges her assumptions, creating a charged confrontation that ends on a cliffhanger.

Key plot points and events

• After Song Zhizhi challenges Xie Xiuji about whether he is capable of intimacy, he kisses her. The kiss quickly becomes intense, and Song responds, but she pushes him away when it becomes too much.
• Xie stops, apologizes, and helps straighten her robe. Because Song is pregnant, he says they cannot go further. Song privately reflects that she had only meant to ask whether he needed a cold shower, not suggest continuing.
• Xie takes a long, cold bath to regain control. Later, the two complete their usual cultivation together. He then holds Song while she sleeps and gently kisses her forehead.
• The next morning, Song hopes Xie might take her out after their Bonding Ceremony. Instead, he proposes sword practice and begins planning lessons in the offensive Sun Yang Sword Art to complement her defensive swordsmanship.

Character developments

• Xie Xiuji loses his usual composure around Song, but stops as soon as she signals discomfort. His restraint and care are evident in his apology and decision not to go further during her pregnancy.
• Song Zhizhi is nervous but increasingly willing to respond to Xie’s affection. She is flustered by the kiss and by their new closeness, while still maintaining her candid, teasing manner.
• Xie’s serious, practical side remains dominant: he interprets Song’s wish to go out as an opportunity to train her rather than as a romantic suggestion.

Character interactions

• The kiss brings the couple closer, blending desire with mutual trust: Xie becomes passionate, Song participates, and her hesitation immediately leads him to stop.
• Their quiet bedtime and morning moments—his embrace, forehead kiss, and shared cultivation—show growing tenderness.
• The next morning’s conversation highlights their contrasting temperaments: Song seeks leisure and romance, while Xie responds as a dedicated teacher and swordsman.

Significant themes

• Restraint and consent: Xie’s passion is tempered by attention to Song’s limits and pregnancy.
• Growing intimacy: Their physical and emotional closeness deepens, though both remain awkward and easily embarrassed.
• Romance versus practicality: Song hopes for a newlywed outing, while Xie expresses affection through care, cultivation, and training rather than conventional courtship.

Chapter Summary: “Dating at the Lantern Festival”

Key plot points and events

• After their marriage, Xie Xiuji subjects Song Zhizhi to an intense training schedule: sword practice in the morning, sparring in the afternoon, and Spiritual Heart Art cultivation at night—over twelve hours a day.
• Because Red Cloud Peak lacks suitable fire spiritual energy, Xie Xiuji brings Song Zhizhi to Clear Snow Peak to train.
• He personally teaches her the offensive Sun Yang Sword Art, guiding her hand-in-hand and helping her adapt the art to her strengths.
• Song Zhizhi struggles at first because the Sun Yang Sword Art differs from the balanced Heavenly Profound Sword Art she previously practiced. Xie Xiuji defeats her repeatedly, but she refuses to give up.
• By the end of the day, she has achieved an initial mastery of the new sword art in only six shichen.
• Qingyu witnesses the newly married couple spending their entire first day practicing swords and is bewildered by their unconventional “romance.”
• The sect master later points out to Xie Xiuji that a wife is not a disciple and that marriage requires romance and time spent together, not only cultivation.
• Taking this advice seriously, Xie Xiuji realizes he should arrange leisure and surprises for Song Zhizhi.
• That night, Song Zhizhi bathes and changes into a thin sleeping robe. Xie Xiuji is visibly affected by her appearance and struggles not to stare. The author’s note clarifies that the chapter contains only a kiss and no further intimacy.

Character developments

• Song Zhizhi: Demonstrates determination, discipline, and resilience. Although disappointed that her first day of marriage becomes a training session, she values the opportunity to grow stronger, especially because she wants to protect herself and her unborn child.
• Xie Xiuji: Shows exceptional dedication as a teacher and husband, but initially lacks awareness of romance and Song Zhizhi’s emotional expectations. His pride in her talent and willingness to accept advice reveal that he is earnest and capable of learning.
• The sect master: Acts as a perceptive and humorous mediator, recognizing Xie Xiuji’s emotional cluelessness and offering practical relationship advice.
• Qingyu: Provides comic commentary by viewing the couple’s intense sword practice as a strange form of newlywed entertainment.

Significant themes

• Love versus duty: Xie Xiuji expresses care through training and protection, while Song Zhizhi also prioritizes strength, but the chapter emphasizes that emotional intimacy requires more than shared responsibilities.
• Growth through perseverance: Song Zhizhi’s repeated defeats highlight her refusal to surrender and her commitment to becoming powerful enough to protect her family.
• Learning how to be a spouse: Xie Xiuji must move beyond treating Song Zhizhi like a talented disciple and learn the emotional and romantic obligations of marriage.
• Romantic comedy and misunderstanding: The contrast between Xie Xiuji’s serious interpretation of marriage and everyone else’s expectations creates much of the chapter’s humor.

Character interactions

• Xie Xiuji trains Song Zhizhi closely, repeatedly knocking away her sword while encouraging her through persistent practice.
• Song Zhizhi responds to each defeat by retrieving her sword and demanding another attempt.
• Qingyu silently observes their unusual newlywed routine and is shocked by it.
• The sect master teases and advises Xie Xiuji, warning him not to neglect romance as Sect Master Tianyu allegedly did.
• At the end of the chapter, Xie Xiuji and Song Zhizhi share a more intimate moment, with his attraction becoming apparent; according to the author, this culminates only in a kiss.

Chapter Summary: “Shy and Innocent”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Xiuji invites Song Zhizhi to attend the lantern festival in Myriad Sword City after noticing her eagerness to leave the mountain. Song Zhizhi excitedly changes clothes and asks his opinion on her hairpins; he chooses and places the phoenix-butterfly tassel hairpin in her hair.
• At the festival, the pair attract considerable attention because of their striking appearance, though everyone assumes they are already a couple.
• Song Zhizhi enjoys the crowded festival, buying lanterns and trinkets. A merchant persuades Xie Xiuji to purchase overpriced jewelry for her, and Song Zhizhi realizes he has been treated as an easy target. She hurriedly pulls him away before they can be swindled again.
• After eating numerous festival snacks, Song Zhizhi struggles to finish a large candied hawthorn. When she asks Xie Xiuji for help, he takes the remaining piece directly from her mouth, startling and flustering her. He then finishes the rest and remarks that it is “very sweet,” leaving the meaning deliberately ambiguous.
• Back on the mountain, Song Zhizhi maintains an exhausting schedule: swordsmanship training with Xie Xiuji, formations and illusion arts with Qingyu, and nightly cultivation of the Spiritual Heart Art with Xie Xiuji.
• Her talent in formations and illusion arts proves extraordinary because of her half-Phoenix blood. She can see through ordinary illusions, reproduce formations after seeing them once, and deduce how to break them.
• After a month of intense training, Song Zhizhi reaches the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, an unusually rapid advancement.
• Qingyu discovers a possible lead concerning Phoenix Essence Blood: the city lord of Extreme Sea City may possess a drop.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi becomes more comfortable and openly joyful around Xie Xiuji. Her excitement at the festival reveals her youthful, innocent side, while her concern over his careless spending shows her practical nature.
• Her romantic feelings for Xie Xiuji deepen significantly after his intimate gesture with the candied hawthorn. She is embarrassed and confused by his sudden flirtatiousness but admits internally that he has completely charmed her.
• Song Zhizhi’s cultivation and confidence develop rapidly. Her Phoenix heritage gives her exceptional aptitude for formations, illusion arts, and spatial abilities.
• Xie Xiuji shows increasing attentiveness toward Song Zhizhi, arranging the outing, helping her dress, buying her jewelry, and carefully holding her hand in the crowd. Though usually restrained, he demonstrates unexpected boldness and subtle romantic teasing.
• His innocence regarding ordinary marketplace transactions creates a humorous contrast with Song Zhizhi’s greater worldly awareness.
• Qingyu continues to guide Song Zhizhi’s studies and contributes important information about the Phoenix Essence Blood.

Significant Themes

• Growing romance and intimacy: Everyday gestures—choosing a hairpin, holding hands, sharing food, and buying gifts—strengthen the bond between Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji.
• Innocence and flirtation: Xie Xiuji’s normally reserved personality contrasts with the unexpectedly intimate candied-hawthorn incident, while Song Zhizhi’s shy reaction highlights her developing romantic awareness.
• Exceptional talent and inherited power: Song Zhizhi’s Phoenix blood grants her rare abilities, establishing her as unusually gifted and suggesting that her heritage will be central to future events.
• Discipline and rapid growth: Despite the romantic interlude, Song Zhizhi continues an intense training regimen and makes remarkable progress.
• Pursuit of rare resources: The possible existence of Phoenix Essence Blood introduces a new objective and connects Song Zhizhi’s heritage to the broader cultivation world.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Xiuji and Song Zhizhi share a playful, increasingly affectionate dynamic throughout the festival.
• Their interaction over the jewelry shows Song Zhizhi’s protectiveness and Xie Xiuji’s desire to please her.
• The candied-hawthorn scene marks their most openly intimate moment so far, leaving Song Zhizhi flustered and emotionally affected.
• Qingyu acts as Song Zhizhi’s instructor in formations and illusion arts, while Xie Xiuji trains her in swordsmanship and cultivation, making both men important influences on her growth.

Chapter Summary – Page 78

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qingyu reveals that the lord of Extreme Sea City once possessed a drop of Phoenix Essence Blood, which Xie Xiuji hopes to obtain to help with Song Zhizhi’s pregnancy. Although the blood may have been used centuries ago, he decides the possibility is worth investigating.
• Song Zhizhi insists on accompanying Xie Xiuji. Because she is four months pregnant and requires constant spiritual energy, Xie Xiuji cannot leave her behind for the three-day round trip.
• Traveling by tearing through space would endanger Song Zhizhi, so they choose to travel by spirit vessel instead. The journey will take approximately ten days and requires transferring between two vessels.
• Extreme Sea City is located at the southern edge of the continent, bordered by the vast and mysterious Extreme Sea. It is an important coastal settlement but has become increasingly dangerous because of frequent Sea Demon Tides.
• Sea Demons differ from the land-based Demon Race: most retain aquatic features when transformed, while only the royal Merfolk can take perfect human form. They are generally more savage and cannot remain on land for long.
• In recent years, Sea Demon attacks have become unusually frequent and aggressive. A major tide occurred three months earlier, and although Sword Venerable Mingxiao deterred the main force, smaller groups continue to threaten the city.
• Because of the danger, the spirit vessel traveling to Extreme Sea City is sparsely populated. Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji attract curious looks but conceal their identities by calling each other junior and senior disciples.
• On deck, an older woman tells Song Zhizhi that the Sea Demons have become far more violent than in the past. She recalls that, three years earlier, they continued attacking despite heavy losses and the presence of powerful cultivators, forcing Sword Venerable Mingxiao to intervene personally.

Character Developments

• Xie Xiuji demonstrates deep concern for Song Zhizhi and their unborn child. He carefully weighs the dangers of each travel method and chooses the safest available option.
• Song Zhizhi shows determination and independence by refusing to remain behind, despite her pregnancy and limited cultivation. She is also cautious with strangers but becomes willing to ask questions when the conversation concerns Extreme Sea City.
• The unborn child is already placing enormous demands on Song Zhizhi’s spiritual energy, emphasizing the pregnancy’s physical and magical risks.
• Sword Venerable Mingxiao/Xie Xiuji’s identity and strength remain concealed from the nearby cultivators, though his intimidating presence is still noticeable.
• The older woman provides local knowledge about the worsening Sea Demon threat and helps establish that the danger is part of a long-term change rather than an isolated incident.

Significant Themes

• Devotion and sacrifice: Xie Xiuji risks an arduous journey in search of a nearly impossible cure or aid for Song Zhizhi and their child.
• Pregnancy and vulnerability: Song Zhizhi’s condition affects every decision and highlights the tension between her determination and the dangers to her body.
• Growing supernatural threat: The increasingly frequent and relentless Sea Demon Tides suggest that a larger crisis may be developing.
• The unknown and the frontier: The unexplored Extreme Sea represents danger, mystery, and forces beyond human control.
• Power and responsibility: Xie Xiuji’s intervention previously saved Extreme Sea City, showing the responsibility powerful cultivators bear toward ordinary people.

Character Interactions

• Qingyu informs the couple about the possible Phoenix Essence Blood.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji discuss traveling together, with Xie Xiuji ultimately accommodating her wishes while prioritizing her safety.
• During the voyage, they maintain the appearance of ordinary fellow disciples to avoid drawing attention.
• The older woman approaches Song Zhizhi and warns her about the dangers of Extreme Sea City. Song Zhizhi listens cautiously and encourages her to explain the recent changes in the Sea Demons’ behavior, while Xie Xiuji remains silently watchful beside her.

Chapter Summary: “One Against Three”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Zhizhi and her senior brother, Sword Venerable Mingxiao/Xie Xiuji, travel by spirit vessel toward Extreme Sea City.
• A female passenger warns them that the city is endangered by recurring Sea Demon beast tides. The Sea Demons recently retreated when the Sword Sect’s Sword Venerable arrived, but resumed sending smaller groups after he left.
• Song Zhizhi pretends to be a weak Foundation Establishment cultivator from an insignificant sect, while presenting her senior brother as a talented but merely Golden Core cultivator.
• After Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji leave, the seemingly kind auntie reveals herself to be part of a group of demonic cultivators. She and a vessel guard discuss targeting the pair, especially because Song appears easy to overpower and Xie’s cultivation is difficult to determine.
• Once inside their room, Song Zhizhi detects that something is suspicious. Xie Xiuji confirms that five demonic cultivators are aboard the vessel: one Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator and four Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators.
• Xie could easily defeat them, but deliberately allows the danger to develop. Their journey is meant not only to find Phoenix Essence Blood but also to give Song practical combat experience and help stabilize her rapidly advancing cultivation.
• He predicts the demonic cultivators will attack on the third day, after determining that the pair have no powerful background.
• Xie plans to restrain the Golden Core enemy himself while Song fights the four Foundation Establishment cultivators. Song confidently accepts the challenge.

Character Developments

• Song Zhizhi: Demonstrates sharp judgment by recognizing that the auntie’s excessive friendliness is suspicious in the dangerous Cultivation World. She also displays convincing acting skills, disguising her identity and cultivation while maintaining an innocent, harmless persona. Despite her rapid cultivation progress, she is willing and eager to gain real combat experience.
• Xie Xiuji/Sword Venerable Mingxiao: Reveals his overwhelming strength and keen perception by seeing through the cultivators’ concealment artifacts. Rather than protecting Song completely, he intentionally creates an opportunity for her to fight and mature as a sword cultivator. His confidence in her abilities also reflects their close relationship.
• The auntie and vessel guards: Their friendly appearance is exposed as a disguise. They are calculating demonic cultivators who prey on seemingly vulnerable travelers, though the auntie becomes particularly interested in Xie because of his striking appearance and uncertain cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The seemingly warm and harmless auntie is secretly a demonic cultivator, while Song and Xie deliberately hide their true identities and strength.
• Caution in a dangerous world: Song’s suspicion reflects the harsh nature of the Cultivation World, where kindness can conceal murder or robbery.
• Growth through hardship: Xie believes Song must face genuine danger rather than remain dependent on him. Combat and adversity are necessary for her development as a sword cultivator.
• Strength and deception: The chapter contrasts outward cultivation levels with true ability. The demonic cultivators underestimate Song and Xie because of their disguises, while Xie sees through theirs effortlessly.
• Romantic and trusting partnership: Xie’s confidence in Song allows him to treat her as a capable equal rather than someone to be sheltered, and Song readily accepts the responsibility.

Character Interactions

• Song charms the auntie with an innocent act, falsely claiming that she and her senior brother come from a minor sect.
• The auntie questions them and assesses their apparent strength, while secretly discussing them with a guard after they leave.
• Song and Xie privately analyze the threat once they return to their room.
• Xie explains the enemies’ numbers and cultivation levels, then assigns himself the strongest opponent and Song the remaining four.
• Song responds with confidence, showing that she accepts Xie’s guidance and is prepared to prove herself in battle.

Chapter 80 Summary

Plot and Key Events

• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji continue walking around the spirit vessel while secretly being watched by a group of evil cultivators.
• The watchers are led by Snake Lady, who suspects that the pair are concealing their true cultivation. Despite another cultivator’s confidence that Xie Xiuji is only an early Golden Core cultivator, Snake Lady insists on caution.
• Since the vessel will land the following day, the evil cultivators decide to attack that night. They plan to drug and capture Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji, selling Xie Xiuji to Alluring Madam and Song Zhizhi to Fox Lord in exchange for wealth and status.
• The attackers release a drug into the couple’s cabin, believing it will weaken their spiritual power. However, Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji detect the smoke immediately and protect themselves with a barrier.
• After deliberately allowing the attackers to break through the door, the pair ambush them. Song Zhizhi kills one of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators with a sword strike to the throat.
• This is Song Zhizhi’s first time killing someone. Though she turns slightly pale, she remains steady and accepts that becoming a sword cultivator means being prepared to shed blood.
• The remaining attackers react with shock and vulgar threats. Snake Lady assigns herself and two companions to attack Xie Xiuji, while another man is sent after Song Zhizhi.
• Xie Xiuji effortlessly suppresses Snake Lady and the two men with his overwhelming pressure. Snake Lady suffers severe internal injuries and dies, while the other two are immobilized.
• Rather than killing the surviving attackers immediately, Xie Xiuji orders them to fight Song Zhizhi together, promising to spare them if they defeat her.

Character Development

• Song Zhizhi demonstrates confidence, composure, and growing readiness to fight. Her first killing unsettles her emotionally, but she does not hesitate or lose control, marking an important step in her development as a sword cultivator.
• Xie Xiuji continues concealing his true identity and power. His effortless defeat of the attackers reveals the enormous gap between him and ordinary cultivators, while his decision to let Song Zhizhi fight shows his intention to help her gain practical combat experience.
• Snake Lady is characterized as cautious and experienced, but greed ultimately overcomes her judgment. Her suspicion of Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji is correct, yet she is unable to recognize how completely outmatched her group is.
• The evil cultivators’ arrogance and lust lead them to underestimate their targets and provoke a much stronger response.

Themes

• Caution versus greed: Snake Lady understands the danger of underestimating mysterious opponents, but the promise of profit and advancement drives her to attack anyway.
• Growth through violence: Song Zhizhi’s first kill represents a difficult but necessary transition into the harsher realities of cultivation.
• Hidden strength and deception: Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji deliberately appear vulnerable while concealing their abilities, turning the attackers’ plan against them.
• Power imbalance: The attackers believe numerical advantage and preparation will guarantee victory, but Xie Xiuji’s true Mahayana-level strength makes their efforts meaningless.
• Mentorship and trust: Xie Xiuji protects Song Zhizhi while still giving her room to confront enemies herself and strengthen her swordsmanship.

Character Interactions

• Snake Lady argues with her companion over whether Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji are truly dangerous, revealing her caution and his overconfidence.
• Song Zhizhi and Xie Xiuji communicate silently and seamlessly when they detect the drug, showing their mutual understanding and coordination.
• After Song Zhizhi kills one attacker, the survivors insult and threaten her, intensifying the hostility of the confrontation.
• Xie Xiuji responds to the attackers’ assault with overwhelming pressure, then deliberately redirects the surviving men toward Song Zhizhi, turning the battle into a test of her abilities.