Chapter Summaries

Hu Xiaotian refused Xu Fengwu’s attempt to reclaim Xiao Rou and challenged him after discovering the Gold-Extinguishing Den’s connection to the Xu Family of Jinling. Xu Mubai intervened, recognized Hu Xiaotian’s martial arts, and Xu Fengwu began to realize Hu Xiaotian’s identity.

• Hu Xiaotian accepted Xu Fengwu’s sixty thousand taels but refused to return Xiao Rou, whose freedom he had already bought.
• Hu Xiaotian tested Xu Fengwu’s connection to the Xu Family of Jinling, confirmed his suspicion, and threatened to destroy the Gold-Extinguishing Den.
• Hu Xiaotian attacked Xu Fengwu with the God-Demon World-Ending Fist and Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps, overwhelming him as Zhao Wusheng watched the two women.
• Xu Mubai rode in and asked Hu Xiaotian to show mercy, then recognized his footwork as a perfected form of the Xu Family’s Heavenly Net Tracing Steps.
• Hu Xiaotian named his footwork the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps, and Xu Fengwu inferred that he was Hu Xiaotian of the Hu Family.

Hu Xiaotian discovered that Xu Mubai and the Gold-Extinguishing Den belonged to his maternal relatives, the Xu Family of Jinling, and agreed to attend a welcoming feast. He arrived at the den with Zhao Wusheng and more than eighty men, while Xiao Rou recovered aboard the ship.

• Xu Mubai recognized Hu Xiaotian as his cousin and revealed that his mother was Hu Xiaotian's aunt and his father was Hu Xiaotian's maternal uncle.
• Hu Xiaotian concealed his resentment toward the Xu family while accepting Xu Mubai's invitation and arranging to take Xiao Rou away from the Gold-Extinguishing Den.
• Hu Xiaotian changed Xiao Rou's dressing, reassured her that the den would not trouble her again, and left Xia Changming aboard to care for her.
• Hu Xiaotian gathered Zhao Wusheng and more than eighty men to attend the feast at the Gold-Extinguishing Den.
• Xu Mubai welcomed Hu Xiaotian at the entrance and led him inside, where the den had prepared tables for his men and a separate place for him and Zhao Wusheng.

Hu Xiaotian reunited with the Xu Family on South Ferry Island, concealing his resentment toward Old Madam Xu while agreeing to travel with Xu Mubai to the Fragrant Kingdom. After eight days at sea, they reached Golden Sands, and Xiao Rou’s reattached hand continued to heal well.

• Hu Xiaotian accepted Xu Fengwu’s conciliatory welcome and concealed his determination to demand justice from the Xu Family for the wrong done to his mother.
• Hu Xiaotian revealed that he was traveling to the Fragrant Kingdom to compete for the position of imperial son-in-law, and Xu Mubai said he was going there too.
• Hu Xiaotian and Xu Mubai agreed to travel together, and Hu Xiaotian learned that Old Madam Xu was ill and living in seclusion at White Sand Bay.
• Hu Xiaotian left South Ferry Island with Xu Mubai aboard his ship after the supplies were loaded.
• Eight days later, Hu Xiaotian and Xu Mubai arrived at Golden Sands, while Xiao Rou’s reattached hand continued to heal with its function expected to recover.

Hu Xiaotian, Xu Mubai, and Zhao Wusheng traveled overland toward Fragrant City and visited the Mirror Seal Pagoda Forest, where Xu Mubai recounted its history. At an inn, Zhao Wusheng fought a foreign brute named Dahalu over rooms, and the clash escalated when Dahalu drew his scimitar before a voice outside ordered him to stop.

• Hu Xiaotian and Xu Mubai chose to leave their ship at Golden Sands and travel overland, while Xia Changming stayed aboard with Xiao Rou.
• Xu Mubai told Hu Xiaotian and Zhao Wusheng the story of Dharma King Lingbao and the Mirror Seal Pagoda Forest, and the group offered incense there.
• Hu Xiaotian's party arrived at an inn, where Dahalu demanded the entire inn despite Zhao Wusheng having arrived first.
• Dahalu and Zhao Wusheng fought, and Zhao Wusheng dodged his attacks before kicking him to the floor.
• Dahalu drew his scimitar and his men armed themselves, but a deep voice outside ordered Dahalu not to behave insolently.

Hu Xiaotian’s party clashed with a group from Shajia over rooms at an inn, but the dispute ended peacefully after Zhao Wusheng defeated Mengya and spared her life. Hu Xiaotian then discovered that the group’s leader, Heldan, was Huo Ge’s younger brother, and the two parties welcomed each other as family.

• Mengya attacked Zhao Wusheng, who fought back with Hu Xiaotian’s Wind-Slayer and accidentally broke her scimitar before knocking its flying fragment away from her face.
• Hu Xiaotian offered the Shajia party the first choice of rooms, and Heldan apologized and paid for the damage as both groups avoided further conflict.
• Mengya barged into the east hall and demanded that Zhao Wusheng compensate her for the broken saber, but Heldan persuaded her to leave.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Heldan whether he knew Huo Ge, and Heldan revealed that he was Huo Ge’s brother and introduced himself.
• Hu Xiaotian told Heldan that he was Huo Ge’s sworn brother, and Heldan joyfully welcomed him as family.

Hu Xiaotian met Heldan and learned that they would both be competing for Princess Yingyue’s hand, while the Shajia Kingdom’s State Preceptor Jialuo warned Heldan to distrust him. Before parting ways, Xu Mubai cautioned Hu Xiaotian about Jialuo, offered him help in Fragrant City, and heard him ask about his missing father.

• Hu Xiaotian welcomed Heldan, and the two discussed their shared plans to seek the Fragrant Kingdom’s prince-consort position while insisting their rivalry would not harm their friendship.
• Dahalu summoned Heldan to Jialuo, who warned him that Hu Xiaotian was dangerous and ordered Kangtu to watch Hu Xiaotian’s group because Jialuo suspected him of killing Duoji.
• Xu Mubai told Hu Xiaotian he would handle business the next day and arranged to meet him at the Moon-Gazing Tower during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• Xu Mubai warned Hu Xiaotian that Jialuo had watched him with hostility and offered him a token to seek help from the Xu Family’s Yuqing Treasure House, but Hu Xiaotian declined it.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Xu Mubai about his missing father, then used the conversation to signal to the Xu Family that he intended to pursue the matter.

Hu Xiaotian and the Shajia party were delayed on the road to Fragrant City by fights among prince-consort candidates, until a dark-skinned young swordsman defeated Dahalu and challenged the Shajia party. Kangtu used the Soul-Seizing Art to overpower the young man, but after the party moved on, the young man rose under lingering control and appeared ready to attack someone.

• Hu Xiaotian left the inn for Fragrant City and later caught up with Heldan and the Shajia party, who had also been delayed by fights on the road.
• Heldan sent Dahalu to clear the road, but a dark-skinned young man struck Dahalu from his horse and claimed the mount.
• Mengya attacked the young man with her whip, and Zhao Wusheng stopped her from falling when the young man turned her force against her.
• Heldan sent Kangtu to confront the young man, and Kangtu used the Soul-Seizing Art to daze him before punching him off his horse.
• Hu Xiaotian stopped Dahalu from striking the fallen young man, then noticed the young man rise with blood-red eyes and warned Zhao Wusheng that danger remained.

Hu Xiaotian rescued Xie Tianqiong from the Fan Monk’s mind control and reached Fragrant City with his companions. They settled into the Emerald Garden and discussed the enormous prince-consort selection, which Hu Xiaotian believed Long Xuanjiao intended to use to secure a powerful ally.

• Xie Tianqiong attacked a martial artist while under the Fan Monk’s control, but Hu Xiaotian used the Soul-Shocking Roar to break the spell and stop him.
• Xie Tianqiong explained that the Shajia invasion had destroyed his home and killed his family, then agreed to travel with Hu Xiaotian toward Fragrant City.
• Hu Xiaotian’s party entered Fragrant City and learned that accommodations were scarce, while Xie Tianqiong gave them the location of Dong Family Manor before parting ways.
• Hu Xiaotian’s companions welcomed him to the Emerald Garden, where he reunited with Zhan Peng and Liang Yinghao and heard that more than seven thousand people had registered for the prince-consort selection.
• Hu Xiaotian said Long Xuanjiao was seeking a valuable ally through the selection, which had attracted representatives from royal families, major sects, and powerful clans.

Hu Xiaotian investigated the dangers surrounding Princess Yingyue’s prince-consort selection and searched for answers about Murong Feiyan and Hu Buwei. He learned that the contest could destabilize the region, discovered Zhou Mo’s identity and military position, and went to register before the deadline.

• Hu Xiaotian and his companions suspected Long Xuanjiao was using the selection to provoke factional conflict and make the leading candidate a target.
• Zhan Peng told Hu Xiaotian that Murong Feiyan had become deputy commander of the Phoenix Feather Guard but had acted as if she did not know him.
• Liao Yuansheng told Hu Xiaotian that Long Xuanjiao would offer Redwood River as Princess Yingyue’s dowry, threatening the existing balance between the Fragrant Kingdom and Southern Yue.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Hu Buwei was at Nanyang Bay with the Fragrant Kingdom’s naval forces, and Liao Yuansheng identified Zhou Mo in Hu Xiaotian’s portrait as Di Zhentian, commander of those forces.
• Liao Yuansheng gave Hu Xiaotian a Phoenix Cry Token, and Hu Xiaotian went with Zhao Wusheng to register at the crowded Court of State Ceremonial.

Hu Xiaotian entered the Fragrant Kingdom’s princess selection and paid Wang Qiezhi to secure a place among the final hundred. After trading insults with Li Honghan, he left the Empress Dowager curious about him and his influence.

• Hu Xiaotian used Liao Yuansheng’s Phoenix Cry Token to meet Wang Qiezhi and asked him to arrange an audience with the King.
• Wang Qiezhi explained the selection process, and Hu Xiaotian gave him a letter containing a hundred thousand taels of silver to secure favorable treatment.
• Hu Xiaotian encountered Li Honghan and Zhang Ziqian outside the court, taunted Li Honghan, and mentioned Li Wuyou before they parted.
• Zhang Ziqian warned Li Honghan that the Empress Dowager sought an advantageous ally rather than merely a son-in-law.
• Long Xuanjiao questioned Wang Qiezhi about Hu Xiaotian, and Wang Qiezhi praised him so enthusiastically that she suspected he had accepted a bribe.

Yang Longjing confronted Long Xuanjiao over her plan to choose a prince consort for Yingyue, then left after she collapsed in anger. Hu Xiaotian reunited with Zhu Ba and learned the Beggar Gang wanted him to help its Young Chief win the selection, but Hu Xiaotian refused because he intended to become the prince consort himself.

• Wang Qiezhi praised Hu Xiaotian to Long Xuanjiao, who declined to meet him so she would treat visiting nobles equally.
• Yang Longjing told Long Xuanjiao that he loved Yingyue and wanted to leave the throne for a quiet life with her; Long Xuanjiao collapsed, then ordered Prince Fu to entertain the arriving guests and had him watched.
• Zhu Ba reunited with Hu Xiaotian and revealed that the Beggar Gang's headquarters were in the Fragrant Kingdom and that Chief Shangguan had arrived with the Young Chief.
• Zhu Ba relayed the old man's request for Hu Xiaotian to help the Young Chief become prince consort and explained that the Beggar Gang sought an ally in the Fragrant Kingdom.
• Hu Xiaotian refused to help the Young Chief, declaring that he intended to become the Fragrant Kingdom's prince consort.

Hu Xiaotian refused the Beggar Gang’s request to withdraw from the contest to become the Fragrant Kingdom’s prince consort, then attended Prince Fu’s banquet with the leading candidates. He met Shangguan Yunchong and learned more about the competition, while Zhao Wusheng went to investigate someone following Xie Tianqiong.

• Hu Xiaotian refused Zhu Ba’s request to abandon the contest, despite the Beggar Gang offering its full support for his attack on Great Kang.
• Hu Xiaotian met Xie Tianqiong outside the Emerald Garden and noticed a gray-clad rider following him, so he sent Zhao Wusheng to investigate.
• Yang Longyue hosted a welcoming banquet for the Fragrant Kingdom’s distinguished guests, including Hu Xiaotian, Shangguan Yunchong, and Xu Mubai.
• Xu Mubai described Shangguan Yunchong’s martial arts and offered to help Hu Xiaotian, while Hu Xiaotian remained wary of his cousin.
• Yang Longyue toasted the guests, and Hong Yingtai struggled to drink the final two cups.

A dispute over Hong Yingtai’s refusal to drink erupted into a fight at Prince Fu’s banquet, which ended with several rivals leaving on bad terms. Afterward, Heldan invited Hu Xiaotian to talk and revealed that several suitors had secretly formed an alliance.

• Wanyan Tianyue berated Hong Yingtai for refusing Prince Fu’s toast, and Xue Daoming and Heldan challenged his accusations.
• Hong Yingtai forced down the wine, vomited on Wanyan Tianyue, and was saved from the prince’s punch by Shangguan Yunchong; Tang Jingyu blocked Hong Yingtai’s warriors.
• Yang Longyue separated the guests, Wanyan Tianyue left to change, and Hong Yingtai departed while Xue Daoming challenged Hu Xiaotian with a threat to settle an old score.
• Hu Xiaotian left Prince Fu’s Manor with Xu Mubai, then accepted Heldan’s invitation to discuss something important over drinks.
• Heldan told Hu Xiaotian that several of the suitors had secretly joined forces.

Hu Xiaotian and Heldan formed a temporary alliance, but a coordinated attack and the collapse of a bridge plunged them into danger. After rescuing Heldan, Hu Xiaotian encountered Murong Feiyan, who acted as though she did not recognize him.

• Hu Xiaotian accepted Heldan's proposal to join forces against the other candidates for prince consort.
• An assassin shot at Heldan from a boat, and Heldan caught the arrow while Zhan Peng pursued the attacker.
• A Gray-Clad Man attacked Heldan, then the bridge collapsed, sending Hu Xiaotian, Heldan, and dozens of others into the river.
• Hu Xiaotian threw Heldan a rope while National Preceptor Jialuo killed the men dragging him underwater, allowing Heldan to escape.
• Murong Feiyan arrived with female warriors and let Hu Xiaotian and Heldan leave after confirming Heldan's identity.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Murong Feiyan her name, but she coldly dismissed his question as a stale attempt to strike up a conversation.

Hu Xiaotian and his companions investigated a wave of assassinations targeting candidates for the Fragrant Kingdom’s imperial-son-in-law selection, while Long Xuanjiao ordered tighter security and confidential screening. The chapter ended with Rong Feiyan reporting that the attackers who targeted Heldan appeared to be from Shajia, though their motives remained uncertain.

• Murong Feiyan treated Hu Xiaotian as a stranger after the attack on Heldan, and Hu Xiaotian later lamented to Zhan Peng that she had given her name as Rong Feiyan.
• Zhao Wusheng told Hu Xiaotian that Xie Tianqiong had killed a pursuer and appeared to be working with assassins who had accepted several contracts.
• Liang Yinghao reported that three candidates for the imperial-son-in-law selection had been killed, and Hu Xiaotian suspected someone was trying to stir up chaos before the selection.
• The Fragrant Kingdom tightened security and closed registration early, while Wang Qiezhi reported the candidate count to Yang Longjing and Long Xuanjiao at court.
• Rong Feiyan briefed the court on the attacks, and Long Xuanjiao ordered the selection results kept secret and called for the guests’ safety to be protected.
• Rong Feiyan privately told Long Xuanjiao that the attackers who targeted Heldan appeared to be from Shajia, leaving open whether they opposed their royal family or Heldan had staged the attack.

As Fragrant City grew tense ahead of the princess-consort selection, Hu Xiaotian received a warning about poison before meeting Xu Mubai for the Mid-Autumn Festival. A silver-masked stranger attacked them, then fled with Hu Xiaotian in pursuit.

• Long Xuanjiao told Rong Feiyan to let the gathered visitors make trouble as long as nobody died, while Yang Longyue and Liao Yuansheng expected the rivals to turn on one another.
• Hu Xiaotian received an anonymous warning that someone was using poison, but went alone to meet Xu Mubai at the Moon-Gazing Tower.
• Hu Xiaotian encountered Murong Feiyan outside the tower, but she rejected his invitation and rode away.
• Xu Mubai had the food and wine tested before he, Hu Xiaotian, and Xu Mucheng began their Mid-Autumn feast.
• A silver-masked stranger appeared across from the room and attacked Xu Mubai with flying roof tiles before fleeing along the eaves.
• Hu Xiaotian chased the stranger using the Aerial Gliding Art, while Xu Mubai landed safely and lost sight of them both.

Hu Xiaotian reunited with Ji Feihua, who warned him about the Xu Family and questioned his assumptions about Princess Yongyang and Hong Beimo. After examining the Lightsaber, Ji Feihua revealed that the blue skull might hold the true secret of the Dragon Spirit Wonderland and proposed that his grandfather, Hong Beimo, and others had descended from people who came from another world.

• Hu Xiaotian chased the masked man to the Universal Cloud Pagoda and discovered that he was Ji Feihua.
• Ji Feihua shared food and wine with Hu Xiaotian, read the warning letter, and suggested the Xu Family might have let him go in order to catch him later.
• Hu Xiaotian explained his conflict with Princess Yongyang and Hong Beimo, and Ji Feihua examined the Lightsaber.
• Ji Feihua said the blue skull, not Heaven and Earth Unveiled, held what was truly precious.
• Ji Feihua theorized that his grandfather, Hong Beimo, and others or their ancestors came from another world, and that a disaster had led to his grandfather's downfall.

Hu Xiaotian and Ji Feihua resolved to stop Hong Beimo from using the hidden skulls and a spaceship to bring an extraterrestrial force to their world, while investigating the Fragrant Kingdom’s strange royal marriage contest. Qiqi searched for the missing skull as Hu Buwei reunited with Long Xuanjiao, who lamented her distance from Longjing.

• Hu Xiaotian warned Ji Feihua that Hong Beimo might use the Imperial Mausoleum’s spaceship to return home and bring a powerful legion, and Ji Feihua agreed to help destroy one of the Blue Skulls.
• Ji Feihua told Hu Xiaotian that Hu Buwei had suggested the Fragrant Kingdom’s public selection for a princess’s husband, though neither man understood Hu Buwei’s true purpose.
• Qiqi learned that the search of Yilan Palace had not uncovered the second skull and suspected Hu Buwei might know where it was hidden.
• Qiqi asked whether Hu Xiaotian had gone to the Fragrant Kingdom, and Quan Dean stayed silent as she concluded that Hu Xiaotian would not miss the opportunity.
• Hu Buwei arrived at Long Xuanjiao’s bedchamber on Mid-Autumn night, and she welcomed him and shared a meal with him.
• Long Xuanjiao told Hu Buwei that Longjing had visited only briefly, and Hu Buwei comforted her by saying their grown son had to follow his own path.

Hu Buwei opened the chest he had kept hidden for decades and discovered that the Blue Skull inside was fake, while Hu Xiaotian returned safely to the Emerald Garden. As the consort selection rapidly narrowed its applicants, Hu Xiaotian remained intent on taking Long Xiyue away.

• Long Xuanjiao showed Hu Buwei the chest she had safeguarded for more than twenty years, and he unlocked it to reveal a metal box containing a transparent blue skull.
• Hu Buwei examined the Blue Skull, declared it a fake, and shattered it before accusing Long Xuanjiao of opening the chest; she insisted she had never touched it and said the late King had also known about it.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to the Emerald Garden after claiming he had escaped an ambush, while Xu Mubai questioned him about where he had gone.
• Xia Changming arrived in Fragrant City as the consort selection accelerated and thousands of applicants began leaving; a leaked list of likely finalists prompted further departures.
• Hu Xiaotian focused on preparing to take Long Xiyue away, while Liang Yinghao surveyed the Green Shadow Pavilion and Zhao Wusheng and Xia Changming prepared for the return journey.

Hu Xiaotian followed Xie Tianqiong to a Land God Temple and rescued him from Tong Tiejin, who had tried to force him to lure Hu there. Tong Tiejin revealed that the Beggar Gang leader had ordered the attack and threatened Hu with his grandfather’s life, but he did not know where either the leader or Hu’s grandfather was.

• Hu Xiaotian saw Xie Tianqiong at the shortlist and had Xia Changming send a Black-beaked Sparrow to track him after Xie warned him of a financial calamity involving beggars.
• Xie Tianqiong met Tong Tiejin at a Land God Temple and admitted he had refused to betray Hu Xiaotian, so Tong paralyzed him and threatened to cut off his ears.
• Hu Xiaotian burst into the temple, caught Tong Tiejin’s knife, and pursued him through a wall with help from Xia Changming’s crows.
• Hu Xiaotian captured Tong Tiejin and learned that the Beggar Gang leader had ordered the plot and that Tong had threatened Hu’s grandfather, Xu Lingkong.
• Hu Xiaotian cut off Tong Tiejin’s ears and wounded his arm while questioning him, then spared him at Xie Tianqiong’s request but had Xia Changming sever his wrist and ankle tendons.