Chapter Summaries

Yang Qing and the others prepared to leave Xiangyang City, but a sudden manifestation drew the city's residents into the streets and revealed their ties to Eastern Splendor. The appearance of the Imperial Mausoleum interrupted their search for answers and left them caught in the crowd.

• Ouyang Lin brought back bundles of baked flatbreads, and Yang Qing distributed them before the group set out for the city gate.
• Yang Qing and the others wondered whether their journey was leading them toward Eastern Splendor's ultimate secret and decided they could only wait for what came next.
• Before they reached the gate, Xiangyang City's residents gathered, proclaiming that their exalted immortal had manifested.
• Yang Qing recognized the statue as the man from the portrait, not Ji Shan, though he suspected Ji Shan was closely connected to him.
• Ouyang Lin tried to question a resident about the exalted immortal but learned nothing, and Yang Qing concluded the matter was likely tied to Eastern Splendor's greatest secret.
• Someone shoved Yang Qing as a thunderclap sounded, and the crowd announced that the Imperial Mausoleum had emerged.

Yang Qing and his companions heard that the Eastern Splendor Imperial Mausoleum had appeared and withdrew to a quiet restaurant to assess the commotion. After suspecting the waiter’s warning was meant to mislead them and learning they were being watched, Yang Qing decided they would investigate after eating.

• Yang Qing and his companions avoided the excited crowd and found a private room in a nearby restaurant.
• The waiter warned Yang Qing not to discuss the Imperial Mausoleum, saying the Sacred Emperor had hidden his resting place and that similar rumors had caused trouble before.
• Yang Qing suspected the waiter was trying to portray the mausoleum’s appearance as an unreliable rumor because the man showed no reverence for Emperor Zetian.
• Jiang Zhizhou and Mu Feng returned with lotus chicken and reported that at least three groups were watching the restaurant.
• Yang Qing and his companions agreed to join the commotion after finishing their meal.

A mysterious figure punished Yang Qing’s group for resisting their control, killing Ouyang Lin and gravely injuring Jiang Zhizhou. As Yang Qing stayed in Xiangyang City to care for Jiang Zhizhou and arrange Ouyang Lin’s funeral, he discovered that the temples had been closed and decided to handle the rites himself.

• Ouyang Lin questioned a passerby about the Imperial Mausoleum, but the man admitted he had been paid to join the crowd and would not reveal who hired him.
• An unseen attacker threatened Yang Qing’s group, then used Ouyang Lin’s own blade to stab him and left Jiang Zhizhou gravely injured.
• Ouyang Lin died in Yang Qing’s arms after urging him not to lose heart and asking for his ashes to be scattered into the sea.
• Yang Qing postponed the group’s departure from Xiangyang City so Jiang Zhizhou could recover and Ouyang Lin’s funeral could be arranged.
• Bu Er returned from the temples empty-handed because every temple in the city had closed its doors, so Yang Qing decided they would perform Ouyang Lin’s funeral rites themselves.

Yang Qing and his companions laid Ouyang Lin to rest, and Jiang Zhizhou woke gravely injured and urged everyone to unite under Yang Qing against the mastermind. The chapter ended with Jiang Zhizhou and Mu Feng swearing oaths to become Yang Qing’s followers.

• Yang Qing, Bu Er, and Mu Feng performed Ouyang Lin’s funeral rites for three days, then Yang Qing collected his ashes in a porcelain urn.
• Jiang Zhizhou woke after three days, still unable to move, and asked Yang Qing to accept him as his master.
• Jiang Zhizhou argued that uniting under Yang Qing and the Rootless Wood could help them resist the mastermind and prevent further losses.
• Mu Feng agreed that they should gather their strength, and he and Jiang Zhizhou each offered blood and swore allegiance to Yang Qing.
• The hovering drops of blood flew into Yang Qing’s forehead and vanished.

Yang Qing discovered he could briefly draw on the power of Bu Er, Mu Feng, and Jiang Zhizhou, and planned to hide this new ability while they prepared to honor Ouyang Lin. As they made plans to travel to the salt fields, Yang Qing sensed eavesdroppers and used a deliberately spicy meal to expose their presence.

• After Jiang Zhizhou acknowledged Yang Qing as his master, the Rootless Wood healed him, and Yang Qing discovered he could unleash the combined strength of his three companions in a crisis.
• Yang Qing urged the group to conceal their abilities and avoid confronting their unseen opponents until they had more time to understand their new bond.
• Yang Qing and his companions decided to take Ouyang Lin's ashes to the shore beyond the salt fields, planning to hire a carriage for the three-day round trip.
• Yang Qing felt both drawn to and uneasy about the Imperial Mausoleum, which he expected would be their next destination under their opponents' control.
• The Rootless Wood signaled that someone had arrived to listen, so Yang Qing suggested serving Chili Pepper and the group heard eavesdroppers sneezing beyond the courtyard wall.

Yang Qing realized that he and his companions remained under the control of a hidden power and chose to temporarily stop resisting so they could recover and learn what their enemy wanted. He and the others set out by carriage, intending to settle Ouyang Lin’s affairs and wait for the hidden figure to reveal the next step.

• Yang Qing used stir-fried chili peppers to drive the Rootless Wood’s lurking agents into the open and concluded that their strongest enemy was absent.
• As Yang Qing reflected on Ouyang Lin’s death, he recognized that their apparent progress had been allowed by the person manipulating them.
• Yang Qing discussed his plan with Bu Er, Jiang Zhizhou, and the others, arguing that they needed time to recover and could not risk further losses.
• Yang Qing and the others boarded a carriage, choosing to show weakness for now and follow the hidden power’s direction after settling Ouyang Lin’s affairs.

Yang Qing and his companions scattered Ouyang Lin’s ashes into the sea, then agreed to go with the people waiting to take them away. They departed by carriage and fell asleep, leaving their destination and what awaited them unknown.

• Yang Qing led Bu Er, Mu Feng, and Jiang Zhizhou past the waiting men to the rocks above the sea.
• Yang Qing scattered Ouyang Lin’s ashes into the water and offered him wine with his companions.
• Yang Qing asked the waiting men to lead them away, and their leader directed them to two carriages.
• Yang Qing and his companions boarded the carriage and quickly fell asleep as they were taken away.

Yang Qing and the others were taken from a small town by escorts who tried to provoke them, but Yang Qing refused to react or demand details about their destination. After the escorts changed and led them on another carriage journey, they arrived at the foot of a mountain.

• Yang Qing noticed that outsiders were watching his group in the town and decided not to take their bait.
• Yang Qing and the others slept through the night while their watchers stayed awake, puzzled by their lack of reaction.
• Yang Qing asked the escorts where they were taking the group, but accepted their refusal to answer and returned to his room.
• The original escorts disappeared, and a colder group took their place and led Yang Qing and the others away in a carriage with open curtains.
• Yang Qing and the others arrived at the foot of a mountain without learning their destination.

Yang Qing and the others climbed through a barren mountain range, finding no food or other living creatures and sensing an unseen danger. After rationing their supplies and resting, Yang Qing discovered a second path at night and led the group onto it, hoping it would offer a way forward.

• Yang Qing and the others followed the mountain paths upward after their escorts left them at the foot of the mountain.
• The group reached a second lookout platform and found the surrounding mountains empty of animals and edible plants.
• Yang Qing gathered their food and water and divided the supplies into ten daily portions.
• Yang Qing and the others built a shelter and slept for four hours on the platform.
• Yang Qing spotted a previously hidden path at night and decided the group would take it.

Yang Qing and his companions climbed a hidden mountain path to a city built into the mountainside, but a river they could cross only by boat blocked their way. As they waited beneath an unnatural, scorching sun, Yang Qing warned them not to touch the water, and Mu Feng’s still-soaking clothes supported his suspicion that something was wrong.

• Yang Qing, Mu Feng, Bu Er, and Jiang Zhizhou climbed the newly discovered path until it became a bluestone road and led them through the Returning Dust gate.
• The group found a river and a silent city embedded in the mountain, but their attempts to cross the water failed and no boats were in sight.
• Yang Qing and the others waited at the riverbank through the night and into the day, unable to advance or retreat.
• As the harsh sunlight grew unbearable, Bu Er tried to fetch river water, but Yang Qing stopped him and warned that the water might be dangerous.
• Mu Feng showed that his clothes were still soaking wet hours after he had entered the river, agreeing that something was wrong with the water.

Yang Qing and his companions discovered that Mu Feng had picked up deadly Ghost Shadows from the river, then waited all day for a way into the mysterious city. After nightfall, a bridge of light appeared, and the four crossed it to reach the city's gate tower.

• Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou burned Mu Feng's clothes after finding Ghost Shadows crawling through them, and Mu Feng explained that the trained worms were deadly but could not survive fire.
• Yang Qing had Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou check Mu Feng for wounds, then the four waited by the river as the city gates stayed shut.
• As night fell, Yang Qing arranged for the group to take turns keeping watch because they had no materials to build a fire.
• A brilliant light spread from the city and formed a bridge across the river.
• Bu Er tested the bridge, then helped Yang Qing cross as Jiang Zhizhou and Mu Feng followed; all four reached the gate tower before the bridge vanished.

Yang Qing and his companions entered a bustling city whose customs matched those of the long-lost Eastern Splendor Imperial City. After learning that their welcome meal came with an unstated purpose, they ate while waiting to meet the proprietor.

• Yang Qing and his companions entered the city, found its streets lively at night, and went into a restaurant to ask questions.
• The waiter asked whether they had Red and Blue Tokens, then seated them in a private room as newcomers.
• Mu Feng recognized the tokens as a defining feature of Eastern Splendor Imperial City and explained how they identified customers’ status and preferences.
• The waiter brought them eight dishes and wine, saying the proprietor had offered the meal as a welcome gift.
• Yang Qing questioned what the proprietor expected in return, but the waiter said they should eat and rest before speaking further.
• After the waiter left, Yang Qing asked his companions what they made of the situation.

Yang Qing and his companions met Yun Niang, the shopkeeper of Upside-Down City, and learned how their route through the mountains had brought them there. Yun Niang explained the danger they had avoided and began to tell them what to do next, placing a Bone Jade Thumb Ring before Yang Qing.

• Yang Qing reasoned that the food served in the city showed its residents lived comfortably, then ate with Bu Er, Mu Feng, and Jiang Zhizhou.
• Yun Niang introduced herself as the restaurant’s shopkeeper and asked how the group had entered Upside-Down City.
• Yang Qing said they had crossed a bridge of light, surprising Yun Niang.
• Yun Niang led the group to a quiet courtyard and explained that they had passed the first trial by finding the second path up the mountain before their third ascent.
• Yun Niang said waiting for the boat would have brought them to a different Upside-Down City, then placed a Bone Jade Thumb Ring before Yang Qing.

Yun Niang returned Yang Qing’s Bone Jade Thumb Ring and took charge of his group, then led them through Upside-Down City and revealed its connection to Eastern Splendor’s Eldest Princess. The city had been founded by the princess, and its purpose was to serve the Sacred Emperor alone.

• Yun Niang gave Yang Qing the Bone Jade Thumb Ring, and he recognized it as one of the Twelve Holy Envoys’ tokens.
• Yun Niang said she would manage Yang Qing and his companions, and Yang Qing agreed on their behalf.
• Yun Niang explained that Upside-Down City’s residents rested at dawn and were active at night, unlike people outside the city.
• Yun Niang brought Yang Qing and his companions to a courtyard and revealed that the Eldest Princess had founded Upside-Down City.
• Yun Niang explained that the city’s current lord descended from the Eldest Princess’s family and that Upside-Down City existed for the Sacred Emperor alone.

Yang Qing and his companions learned that Yun Niang was testing them while arranging their next assignment in Upside-Down City. The chapter left them facing Yun Niang and an even more captivating woman, who arrived without explaining why.

• Yun Niang told Yang Qing and his companions that women held all positions of authority in Upside-Down City and questioned their resolve to act for righteousness.
• Yang Qing said that doing something even when it seemed impossible was righteousness, but he did not explain their purpose to Yun Niang.
• Yun Niang led the group to their lodgings and said someone would discuss their assignment with them the next day.
• Yang Qing and his companions ate, rested, and remained unaware that Yun Niang's subordinates had secretly watched them and reported back to her.
• Yun Niang and another beautiful woman entered the courtyard while Yang Qing and his companions were having breakfast, then watched them in silence.

Yang Qing and his companions entered the Holy Temple in Upside-Down City and learned that the Sacred Emperor had foretold a realm-wide calamity due within half a year. Gongsun Ru said they would need to follow orders, and Yang Qing asked to understand the task before proceeding.

• Gongsun Ru introduced herself as the city lord and led Yang Qing and his companions to the Holy Temple.
• Inside the temple, Yang Qing and the others viewed paintings depicting the Sacred Emperor’s life and campaigns.
• The final painting showed that a calamity would strike all nations five hundred years after the Sacred Emperor’s fall unless his chosen person was found.
• Gongsun Ru and Yun Niang reappeared and explained that the prophecy was credible and that the group should help protect the people.
• Yang Qing said they would accept the task but asked Gongsun Ru to clarify what she expected of them.

Gongsun Ru and Yun Niang revealed that the person foretold by the Sacred Emperor was trapped beneath Upside-Down City in the Imperial Mausoleum. They told Yang Qing that rescuing him required the Rootless Wood, the Bone Jade Thumb Ring, and Yang Qing’s blood, leaving his companions to fear that the task would cost him his life.

• Gongsun Ru told Yang Qing that the prophesied person had appeared and was trapped in the Imperial Mausoleum.
• Yun Niang explained that the Imperial Mausoleum lay beneath Upside-Down City, which had been established to guard it.
• Yun Niang said that rescuing the person required the Rootless Wood, the Bone Jade Thumb Ring, and Yang Qing’s blood.
• Jiang Zhizhou asked how much blood was needed, and Yun Niang said it depended on how much the door absorbed.
• Bu Er refused to let Yang Qing risk his life, while Mu Feng challenged Yun Niang’s demand that he sacrifice himself for the world.
• Yun Niang insisted that Yang Qing had been chosen by the Rootless Wood and the Bone Jade Thumb Ring and said their lives had not been their own since they entered Spirit Mountain.

Yang Qing learned that Emperor Zetian’s prophecy had driven the group’s trials and that saving the prophesied person required Yang Qing’s blood. He agreed to go to the Lower Imperial Mausoleum to uncover the truth, while Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou urged everyone to prioritize survival.

• Yang Qing realized Emperor Zetian’s legacy was behind the Eastern Radiance Remnants’ efforts and the dangers his companions had faced.
• Yang Qing told Bu Er and the others they would save the person in the prophecy so they could learn what lay behind the plan.
• Yang Qing asked Yun Niang when they would go to the Lower Imperial Mausoleum, and she accepted that he had agreed to the mission.
• Yang Qing returned to the courtyard and told his companions to prepare, then warned that they might die in the mausoleum.
• Bu Er said he would follow Yang Qing, and Jiang Zhizhou urged the group to put survival first.

Yang Qing and his companions prepared to descend into the Imperial Mausoleum, while a mysterious dream challenged his understanding of his past and himself. The chapter ended with Yang Qing questioning Yun Niang about whether she might regret discovering that her beliefs were wrong.

• Yang Qing withheld his suspicion from Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou, then insisted that the foretold person was in the Imperial Mausoleum.
• Yang Qing dreamed of the Yang Family massacre and met a blue-robed man who called him an illusion and warned him to conduct himself wisely.
• Yang Qing woke in a cold sweat, joined Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou, and set out with Yun Niang.
• Yun Niang asked whether Yang Qing had any thoughts about the dangerous journey, and he replied that they would carry no weight.
• Yang Qing asked Yun Niang if she would regret learning that things were not as she believed, making her wary before he fell silent.

Yang Qing and his companions followed Yun Niang from a tavern in Upside-Down City to the entrance of the Eastern Splendor Imperial Mausoleum. They entered the passage armed despite Yun Niang’s warning and emerged on a mountain overlooking the city, where Yun Niang directed them toward a nearby palace.

• Yun Niang led Yang Qing and his companions through the tavern’s hidden entrance and explained her role guiding them into the Lower Imperial Mausoleum.
• Yun Niang warned the group to obey her instructions, but Yang Qing assured her they had no other plans and said they would keep their weapons.
• Yun Niang activated the stone door, and after distant rumbling sounds, it opened to reveal a torch-lit passage.
• Yang Qing and the others walked through the passage and emerged on a mountain overlooking Upside-Down City.
• Yun Niang pointed the group toward a nearby palace and told them to look ahead.