Chapter Summaries

Li Xian persuaded Chet to accompany him to the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range, while Li Chen prepared to visit the Guixu Boundless Sect with Fairy Yunya and Xuan Ji. In the Eternal Day Empire, Charles learned the Pope was moving against him and began considering how to use Li Chen’s actions to his advantage.

• Li Xian pretended he could not track Li Chen and invited Chet to join him at the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range, where Chet hoped to see his sect’s backing.
• Orchid Fairy told Li Chen that four hidden sects possessed Immortal Tokens, and Li Chen decided to visit them, beginning with the Guixu Boundless Sect.
• Li Chen reassured Fairy Yunya that he would keep their relationship secret from Jade-Washing Fairy, then told Xuan Ji that their journey would let her visit her sect.
• Three days later, Li Chen left the palace with Fairy Yunya and Xuan Ji after arranging Imperial Court affairs.
• A hidden Red-robed Cardinal warned Charles that the Pope was investigating military documents and would convene the Cardinal Meeting in three days.
• Charles refused to act against the Pope immediately and resolved to exploit Li Chen’s apparent involvement in recent developments.

Charles considered provoking a conflict between Li Chen and the Pope, while the Pope summoned the Red-robed Cardinals and announced plans to spread the faith into the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty. He claimed that a coming catastrophe could only be weathered by bringing the continent under God's guidance, leaving the Cardinals concerned about Li Chen's opposition.

• Charles investigated Li Chen's rise and concluded that a clash between Li Chen and the Pope could benefit him whichever man died.
• Charles considered arranging a meeting between Li Chen and the Pope and stirring up conflict between them.
• The Pope summoned the Red-robed Cardinals to the Papal Palace, where they expected to discuss deposing Charles.
• The Pope announced that he intended to spread the faith to the Northern Kingdoms, specifically the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty.
• The Pope said a catastrophe was approaching and that the whole continent needed God's guidance, prompting a Cardinal to warn that the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty would resist.

The Pope ordered Charles to handle the Holy See’s mission in Heavenly Strategy and demanded that Chet return, while Chet traveled through the dynasty and met Li Chen in disguise. The two exchanged false names and contact information, unaware of each other’s true identities.

• The Pope decided to use Charles to test whether he was colluding with Li Chen, summoned him for an audience, and ordered the Red-robed Cardinals to bring Chet back.
• A Red-robed Cardinal secretly prepared to report the meeting to the emperor as Chet rode a Railway Train with Li Xian and discussed Charles’s secret plans.
• Li Xian left Chet near a town in the Eastern Region, arranging to meet him at the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range in half a month.
• Chet approached Li Chen, mistaking him for a merchant, and discussed foreign trade with him under the false names Chad and Cheng Li.
• Li Chen and Chet exchanged contact information and parted, each unaware of the other’s real identity.

Li Chen visited the Guixu Boundless Sect and reunited with the Jade-Washing Fairy, who welcomed him to her pavilion. He asked to borrow the sect’s Immortal Token to open the Ancient Immortal Ruins, and Daoist Baichuan agreed to meet him.

• Li Xian asked the Jade-Washing Fairy when the sect would set out for the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range, and she told him to go ahead while she finished refining pills.
• Li Chen arrived at the spirit herb fields with Fairy Yunya, and the Jade-Washing Fairy invited him to her pavilion for tea.
• Li Chen told the Jade-Washing Fairy that he needed three Immortal Tokens to open the Ancient Immortal Ruins, and she offered to seek her sect’s token and help with the others.
• The Jade-Washing Fairy asked Daoist Baichuan to lend her the Guixu Boundless Sect’s Immortal Token, and he agreed after teasing her about Li Chen.
• Daoist Baichuan decided to meet Li Chen and followed the Jade-Washing Fairy from the Main Hall.

Li Chen obtained the Guixu Boundless Sect’s Immortal Token and learned where to search for the other three. He set out for the Southern Sea while Charles received a summons to the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty and prepared to confront Li Chen.

• Daoist Baichuan lent Li Chen the Immortal Token on the condition that he take three Guixu Boundless Sect disciples into the ruins.
• The Jade-Washing Fairy told Li Chen where the other immortal sects were hidden and gave him a jade slip to identify their disciples.
• Li Chen invited the Jade-Washing Fairy to join him, but she stayed behind to finish her duties and promised to meet him at the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range.
• Li Chen secretly spent the night with Fairy Yunya, then left the sect with her the next morning and received a protective sachet from the Jade-Washing Fairy.
• Li Chen headed for the Southern Sea to find Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall disciples.
• Charles received the Pope’s summons to discuss preaching in the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty and vowed to challenge Li Chen.

Zhao Wenyuan ordered Zheng Shiqing to delay the Eternal Day Empire’s request to send Holy Light Church missionaries until Li Chen returned. Meanwhile, Charles considered sending an envoy to meet Li Chen, who was traveling outside the capital and saw no need to hurry back.

• Zheng Shiqing brought Emperor Charles’s request to Lin Yue'e, who sent him to Chancellor Zhao Wenyuan to decide.
• Zhao Wenyuan warned that the Holy See’s missionaries posed a danger and ordered Zheng Shiqing to reply courteously while stalling for Li Chen’s return.
• Charles and Chief Justice Albert suspected the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty was delaying the request, so Charles proposed sending someone to meet Li Chen in person.
• Li Chen traveled through the countryside with Fairy Yunya and said his officials should handle court affairs in his absence.

Li Chen traveled with Xuan Ji and Fairy Yunya to Abyss-Facing City, where he met Dai Xiaoyao. Dai Xiaoyao offered to take him to meet his beautiful godmother, whom he had called a treasure.

• Fairy Yunya showed Li Chen the Southern Sea, and Xuan Ji arrived after settling her personal affairs and pledged to serve him.
• Li Chen, Xuan Ji, and Fairy Yunya spent the night in a coastal town before reaching Abyss-Facing City five days later.
• Li Chen settled into the Sea-Viewing Tower and looked for disciples of the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall.
• Dai Xiaoyao met Li Chen and privately offered to introduce him to his peerlessly beautiful godmother.
• Li Chen agreed to follow Dai Xiaoyao to the nearby village to meet her.

Li Chen followed Dai Xiaoyao to Greenwood Village to meet his godmother, Tang Shan's mother, while Dai Xiaoyao tried to impress them both. After hearing that her son was safe, she invited Li Chen into her home for tea, leaving him poised to pursue the meeting.

• Li Chen left Xuan Ji and Fairy Yunya in Abyss-Facing City and followed Dai Xiaoyao along a mountain path to Greenwood Village.
• Li Chen recognized the village's hidden formations and Dai Xiaoyao praised his insight while boasting about Starfall Kingdom's loyalty.
• Dai Xiaoyao brought Li Chen to the Bamboo-Fenced Courtyard, where they waited for his godmother to return.
• Tang Shan's mother returned with herbs, and Dai Xiaoyao reassured her that Tang Shan was safe in the Starfall Kingdom.
• Dai Xiaoyao introduced Li Chen as a member of the Heavenly Strategy Imperial Clan with influential business interests, and Tang Shan's mother invited him inside for tea.

Li Chen spent the afternoon charming Tang Shan's Mother with his knowledge, compliments, and thoughtful offers while learning that she had a hidden past. Dai Xiaoyao returned as their conversation ended, ready to help Li Chen make further progress.

• Tang Shan's Mother served Li Chen tea, and he impressed her by identifying the herbs and recipe behind her Pure Heart Pills.
• Dai Xiaoyao left the two alone, giving Li Chen and Tang Shan's Mother a chance to talk privately.
• Li Chen learned that formations concealed spiritual energy throughout Greenwood Village, but Tang Shan's Mother declined to discuss her past.
• Li Chen entertained Tang Shan's Mother with stories of the north and offered to bring her heavenly mountain snow lotuses.
• Tang Shan's Mother revealed that she had gone a long time without company, and Li Chen praised her spirit-fruit pastry.
• Dai Xiaoyao returned near sunset and recognized that the conversation had gone well.

Dai Xiaoyao tried to persuade Tang Shan's mother that Li Chen could help with the hidden power threatening her family. After learning Li Chen was the Human Emperor, she asked what he liked, and Dai Xiaoyao prepared to reveal his real aim.

• Dai Xiaoyao helped Tang Shan's mother cook dinner while Li Chen waited in the courtyard.
• Dai Xiaoyao told Tang Shan's mother that Li Chen was the Saint Realm Emperor of Heavenly Strategy, and she wondered whether he might help her.
• Tang Shan's mother asked what Heavenly Treasures Li Chen liked, hoping she could offer him something.
• Dai Xiaoyao hinted that Li Chen liked something but withheld the answer until Tang Shan's mother pressed him to tell her for Tang Shan's sake.

Dai Xiaoyao persuaded Tang Shan’s Mother to seek Li Chen’s favor in hopes of rescuing Tang Shan’s father. After Dai Xiaoyao left them alone, Li Chen followed her to the guest room, where their encounter grew intimate.

• Dai Xiaoyao convinced Tang Shan’s Mother that offering herself to Li Chen could help free Tang Shan’s father.
• Tang Shan’s Mother changed into a silk dress and served Li Chen dinner while Dai Xiaoyao watched their flirtation.
• Dai Xiaoyao announced that he was leaving for Abyss-Facing City and told Tang Shan’s Mother to take care of Young Master Li.
• Li Chen caught Tang Shan’s Mother when she tripped, and Dai Xiaoyao privately gave him a bottle of Spring Breeze Jade Dew Pills.
• Tang Shan’s Mother prepared Tang Shan’s room as a guest room and led Li Chen there.
• Li Chen stood close behind Tang Shan’s Mother and brushed her hair and earlobe as she trembled.

Li Chen spent the night with Tang Shan's Mother while Dai Xiaoyao guarded the courtyard and hoped to secure the emperor's favor. After Li Chen praised Dai Xiaoyao's rule, Tang Shan's Mother asked him to rescue her imprisoned husband from the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall's Dark Underworld Abyss.

• Li Chen carried Tang Shan's Mother inside, and Dai Xiaoyao stood guard through the night and into the next day.
• Tang Shan's Mother forgot Dai Xiaoyao's request during the night, then told him Li Chen planned to return for her cooking that evening.
• Li Chen praised Dai Xiaoyao's rule of the Starfall Kingdom, and Dai Xiaoyao kowtowed, believing the emperor's words secured his throne.
• Dai Xiaoyao left the courtyard early that night, and Tang Shan's Mother asked Li Chen to save her husband, who had been imprisoned in the Dark Underworld Abyss for more than ten years.

Tang Shan's mother told Li Chen how her husband stole an Immortal Destiny Crystal and was captured by the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall, and Li Chen promised to help rescue him. Guided by her Star-Guiding Compass, Li Chen and his companions crossed a magical sea fog and reached the hall's hidden island.

• Tang Shan's mother confessed that Tang Shan's father had stolen an Immortal Destiny Crystal from the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall and been captured, and Li Chen agreed to help rescue him.
• Li Chen rewarded Dai Xiaoyao with military equipment for a third-rank vassal kingdom after he completed his mission.
• Tang Shan's mother gave Li Chen the Star-Guiding Compass and explained how to find the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall's entrance in the Mist-Tracing Sea.
• Li Chen introduced Tang Shan's mother to Xuan Ji and Fairy Yunya, then set sail with them aboard the Wave-Chaser.
• Tang Shan's mother guided the ship through a fog-bound formation, and the travelers emerged before the floating island of the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall.

Li Chen arrived at Immortal Island and overwhelmed the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall with his aura, forcing its elders to recognize him as the Human Emperor and submit. He proceeded onto the island with Tang Shan's Mother as the sect sent for its master.

• Over a hundred disciples and three elders confronted Li Chen's party as their spirit beasts guarded Immortal Island.
• Li Chen released his aura, shattering the island's protective formation and forcing the disciples, beasts, and elders to their knees.
• Xuan Ji identified Li Chen as the Emperor of Heavenly Strategy, and the white-haired elder begged forgiveness.
• Xuan Ji ordered the elders to inform their sect master, while the disciples formed two submissive lines.
• Li Chen stepped onto the island with Tang Shan's Mother following close behind, grateful for his protection.

Li Chen arrived at the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall, and Yuan Tianhe quickly abandoned his anger to welcome the powerful Human Emperor with lavish hospitality. At the Moon-Gathering Pavilion, Li Chen began to explain that he had come to discuss something with Yuan Tianhe.

• Yuan Tianhe was roused by a disturbance and ordered the Heavenly Net Formation activated, but an elder warned him that Li Chen had come to inspect the sect.
• Yuan Tianhe learned of Li Chen's strength, hurried to greet him, and ordered his disciples to prepare a banquet and treasured wine.
• Yuan Tianhe welcomed Li Chen at the island's shore and led him, Tang Shan's Mother, and the others toward the Moon-Gathering Pavilion.
• Yuan Tianhe served Li Chen Cold Jade Nectar, and Li Chen said he had come to discuss something with him.

Li Chen secured Yuan Tianhe’s cooperation in turning Tang Chen over to the Imperial Court and discussed opportunities for the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall to expand across Heavenly Strategy. After the banquet grew lively, Li Chen asked Yuan Tianhe to show him around the sect.

• Li Chen reminded Yuan Tianhe that the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall had not registered with the Ministry of Sect Affairs, and Yuan Tianhe promised to register and follow Heavenly Strategy’s policies.
• Li Chen asked whether the sect held Tang Chen, and Yuan Tianhe agreed to hand him over as a wanted criminal for trial by the Imperial Court.
• Li Chen asked Yuan Tianhe to send Tang Chen to the Imperial Prison through a formal handover, and Yuan Tianhe ordered the Grand Elder to escort him to the Imperial Capital.
• Li Chen offered to have local officials support the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall in establishing branches across the provinces, and Yuan Tianhe accepted the offer.
• Li Chen asked Yuan Tianhe to show him the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall’s scenery.

Li Chen borrowed the Eight Gates Token from Yuan Tianhe to open the Ancient Ruins and asked him about the Eternal Day Empire's Holy Flame Legion. After Li Chen left, Yuan Tianhe confronted Tang Shan's Mother, leaving their unresolved history and his decision about Tang Chen hanging over them.

• Li Chen privately showed Yuan Tianhe the Immortal Token and explained that he planned to open the Ancient Ruins in the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range.
• Yuan Tianhe lent Li Chen the Eight Gates Token after Li Chen promised to return it once the ruins had been opened.
• Yuan Tianhe told Li Chen that the Eternal Day Empire's Holy See commanded fanatical believers and controlled the powerful Holy Flame Legion.
• After Li Chen departed, Tang Shan's Mother thanked Yuan Tianhe for sparing Tang Chen, but Yuan Tianhe said he had never intended to spare him.
• Yuan Tianhe asked how Tang Shan's Mother had brought Li Chen to the sect, and she said her godson was a king in the Southland.
• A watcher in the shadows reflected that Yuan Tianhe might have spared Tang Chen if Tang Shan's Mother had returned to the sect and pleaded with him.

Li Chen accepted an Immortal Destiny Crystal from the Eight Gates Heaven-Sundering Hall and set out for the Northern Region to seek a third Immortal Token. Meanwhile, Prince Morris departed the Eternal Day Empire on a mission to visit Heavenly Strategy, and his delegation reached its border as his officials grew nervous.

• The Grand Elder gave Li Chen an Immortal Destiny Crystal on Yuan Tianhe's behalf, and Li Chen accepted it and handed it to Xuan Ji.
• Li Chen decided to travel north to inspect the former Northern Court's territory and seek the Immortal Token held by the Ten Netherworld Palace.
• Charles instructed Prince Morris to carry out the Pope's mission while diverting any conflict toward the Holy Court, and Albert warned Morris not to submit or provoke Li Chen.
• Morris's delegation passed through Lorraine and Carson without acknowledging their kings' attempts to welcome him or offer gifts.
• Morris's delegation reached Heavenly Strategy's border, where the accompanying officials began to grow nervous.

Morris reached Heavenly Strategy and greeted Vice Minister Zhang Mingyuan with unexpected courtesy, while Yun Xu discussed the Prince of the South’s possible interest in the Eternal Day Empire’s Holy See. News of Morris’s visit spread along the route for reasons no one understood.

• Morris stopped at the border and personally greeted Zhang Mingyuan, surprising the Eternal Day officials with his respect.
• Zhang Mingyuan welcomed Morris and arranged for the delegation to rest at a guesthouse before traveling to the capital.
• Li Su watched Morris arrive with Yun Xu, who warned the Prince of the South not to enter his territory again.
• Yun Xu told his adjutant that Li Su might seek resources by aiding the Eternal Day Empire’s Holy See, though he had no reason to help its Imperial Clan.
• News of Morris’s visit spread throughout the places along his route as if an inexplicable force were driving it forward.

Zhang Mingyuan and Chen Zhen grew suspicious that Morris’s visit to Azure Mist City had been exposed to set up an assassination and provoke war between Heavenly Strategy and Eternal Day. They realized that secretly moving Morris could leave him unprotected, and Zhang Mingyuan asked whether a Saint Realm expert was stationed nearby.

• Zhang Mingyuan noticed the unusually large crowd gathered to watch Morris arrive in Azure Mist City and ordered Chen Zhen to secure the city gates.
• At the City Lord’s Residence banquet, Zhang Mingyuan warned Chen Zhen that the crowd’s enthusiasm and knowledge of Morris’s route seemed suspicious.
• Zhang Mingyuan and Chen Zhen suspected assassins might be hiding among the crowd and planning to kill Morris to spark a war between the empires.
• Chen Zhen proposed secretly sending Morris to the Imperial Capital, but Zhang Mingyuan objected that Morris would lose the delegation’s protection.
• Zhang Mingyuan asked Chen Zhen whether a Saint Realm expert was stationed nearby.