Chapter Summaries

Chen Zhen arranged for the Witch Gu Holy Land’s Holy Lord to accompany Morris’s delegation after suspicious details raised concerns about an attack. As the Holy Lord joined the northbound procession, conspirators held back, while Zhao Wenyuan gathered Saint Realm cultivators to defend the Imperial Capital.

• Chen Zhen and Zhang Mingyuan decided to ask the Witch Gu Holy Land’s Holy Lord to escort Morris, and the Holy Lord agreed while traveling to visit his daughter.
• The Holy Lord joined Morris’s procession, and the two grew cordial after discussing their respective powers and Li Chen’s absence.
• Li Xian and Chet abandoned their planned attack because the Holy Lord’s presence made it too dangerous, and they resolved to wait for another opportunity.
• Zhao Wenyuan arranged defenses in the Imperial Capital, and Lin Yue'e’s invitation brought four Saint Realm cultivators to the city.
• The Holy Lord sensed watchers tracking the delegation as it continued north, while Mu Qingrou accepted the need to help protect the Imperial Capital.

Morris persuaded the Holy Lord to take him into Heavenly Strategy’s Cultivation World so he could see its sects firsthand and advance his plan to break the Holy See’s monopoly in the Eternal Day Empire. The Holy Lord agreed to meet him at the posthouse that night, tempted by the resources Morris offered.

• Morris told the Holy Lord how the Holy See punished him for practicing an unapproved cultivation method and described its suppression of other schools.
• Morris proposed using the Pope’s planned journey north as an opportunity to bring Heavenly Strategy’s cultivation systems south and weaken the Holy See’s monopoly.
• Morris asked the Holy Lord to show him Heavenly Strategy’s true Cultivation World and offered Gu Cultivators valuable materials, supply channels, and other support.
• The Holy Lord rejected Morris’s offer to recruit disciples in the south but agreed to take him to visit nearby sects.
• The Holy Lord told Morris to meet him at the posthouse’s back entrance at midnight and dress plainly.

Venerable Hidden Moon learned that Li Chen was gathering Immortal Tokens and decided to meet him on the way to the Mount Sumeru Skyward Pavilion, hoping to secure support for the weakened Ten Netherworld Palace. He prepared to bring the sect’s Immortal Token and another concealed item, warning Han Shuang to speak carefully when they met Li Chen.

• Li Chen traveled north with three beauties, taking his time to observe the people’s livelihoods and cultivators’ development.
• Venerable Hidden Moon read Yuan Tianhe’s letter and learned that Li Chen had collected two Immortal Tokens and was likely heading to the Mount Sumeru Skyward Pavilion.
• Han Shuang realized that his master wanted to build ties with Li Chen to help the Ten Netherworld Palace recover from its losses.
• Venerable Hidden Moon decided to intercept Li Chen and bring the Ten Netherworld Palace’s Immortal Token, despite the risk of angering the Mount Sumeru Skyward Pavilion.
• Before departing with Han Shuang, Venerable Hidden Moon ordered him to bring a concealed red sandalwood box and warned him that even he could not protect Han Shuang if he misspoke to Li Chen.

Venerable Hidden Moon and Han Shuang traveled toward Li Chen to present him with a treasure, but repeatedly encountered Azure Glow Sect cultivators who revealed the railway train’s astonishing speed and reach. Guided to a nearby station, Venerable Hidden Moon stepped onto the platform and stopped in amazement.

• Venerable Hidden Moon warned Han Shuang to be respectful when they met Li Chen, then set out from the Ten Netherworld Palace with him in an ice wolf carriage.
• Venerable Hidden Moon and Han Shuang repeatedly encountered the same Azure Glow Sect group despite the carriage’s great speed.
• Han Shuang asked the Azure Glow Sect elder how his group had traveled so quickly, and the elder explained they had ridden a railway train developed by Heavenly Strategy’s Ministry of Works.
• Venerable Hidden Moon learned that Li Chen had conceived the railway train and grew more impressed with the emperor.
• The Azure Glow Sect elder guided Venerable Hidden Moon and Han Shuang to a nearby station, where Venerable Hidden Moon stopped in amazement upon reaching the platform.

Venerable Hidden Moon and Han Shuang rode a railway train and saw how its speed and sect stations could help their declining sect attract disciples and resources. Meanwhile, Morris marveled at the technology and visited Azure Cloud Sect, where the Holy Lord showed him its crowds of aspiring students.

• Venerable Hidden Moon and Han Shuang bought tickets, sent their Snowfield Ice Wolves back to the mountains, and boarded the train after waiting for the correct departure.
• Venerable Hidden Moon and Han Shuang marveled at the train’s speed as the elder explained its design and the subsidies offered to sects with railway stations.
• Venerable Hidden Moon considered seeking a station for the Ten Netherworld Palace and decided that his sect might need to change with the times.
• Morris praised the railway train’s potential to transform the Eternal Day Empire, while the Holy Lord explained how quickly trains crossed Heavenly Strategy.
• The Holy Lord took Morris to Azure Cloud Sect, where Morris saw thousands of aspiring students waiting to seek a master.

The Holy Lord and Morris encountered Venerable Hidden Moon while traveling by train, unaware that both were seeking Li Chen. Meanwhile, an attack destroyed the carriage Morris was expected to ride in, and Emperor Charles suspected his younger brother Chet had staged it.

• The Holy Lord and Morris met Venerable Hidden Moon and his party while changing trains, and the two groups exchanged polite greetings as they traveled toward the Imperial Capital.
• Venerable Hidden Moon and Morris secretly assessed each other, unaware that both were looking for Li Chen, who was relaxing in another compartment with three beauties.
• An unidentified attacker destroyed the carriage assigned to Morris, prompting Ministry of Justice officials led by Xiao Ming to investigate the wreckage.
• The Saint Remnant Soul told Xiao Ming the powerful Thunderfire Talisman had likely been used by an exceptional Saint Realm expert and resembled a technique from his lineage.
• Xiao Ming ordered officials to question suspicious people nearby, despite doubting they could arrest a Saint Realm culprit.
• Emperor Charles burned a letter confirming Morris was safe and had traveled separately, then asked whether Chet had arranged the attack.

Charles and Albert suspected the attack on Prince Morris was a deliberate attempt to provoke war, while Charles welcomed the possibility of using Heavenly Strategy’s cultivation system to weaken the Holy See. A thief’s escape attempt on Morris’s train led Venerable Hidden Moon to mistake Li Chen for an attacker, but the misunderstanding ended when Holy Lord Li recognized the emperor; Li Chen then questioned the captured thief about his reasons.

• Albert told Charles that the attackers’ Heavenly Strategy techniques and planted talismans appeared to be a clumsy disguise intended to provoke war between the countries.
• Charles said he wanted Heavenly Strategy’s cultivation system to counterbalance the Holy See, while Morris and Venerable Hidden Moon discussed cooperation aboard the train.
• Han Shuang warned Morris and Venerable Hidden Moon about a disturbance, and Venerable Hidden Moon went to investigate as officers chased someone through the train.
• A skinny thief rushed into Li Chen’s compartment and evaded Fairy Yunya, prompting Li Chen to attack him with an invisible force.
• Venerable Hidden Moon mistook Li Chen for an assassin and attacked, but Holy Lord Li stopped him and revealed that Li Chen was the emperor.
• Li Chen forgave Venerable Hidden Moon and asked the immobilized thief to explain his reasons.

Li Chen intervened in a dispute between a thief and Zhou Ya, ordering the Ministry of Sect Affairs to investigate their claims. Venerable Hidden Moon then presented Li Chen with an Immortal Token, completing his collection of all three.

• A thief hid in Li Chen's compartment, where Fairy Yunya failed to seize him and Venerable Hidden Moon realized Li Chen was the Saint Realm Emperor.
• Zhou Ya arrived with disciples and accused the thief of being as vile as his father, while the thief accused Zhou Ya of killing his father and stealing their family jade pendant.
• Xuan Ji stopped Zhou Ya from seizing the thief, and Li Chen ordered both parties to register their dispute with the Ministry of Sect Affairs in the Imperial Capital.
• Holy Lord Li introduced Prince Morris and Venerable Hidden Moon to Li Chen, who welcomed Hidden Moon's assurances that the Ten Netherworld Palace followed his leadership.
• Venerable Hidden Moon offered Li Chen an Immortal Token, giving Li Chen all three, while Morris watched in amazement.

Li Chen returned to the Imperial Capital with Morris and faced the Eternal Day Empire’s request to let the Holy See spread its faith northward. At a state banquet, Li Chen and Morris maneuvered over who represented Eternal Day, leaving the Minister of Rites to reject Morris’s authority.

• A group of conspirators learned that Morris had escaped their planned attack and discussed tracking his route to the Imperial Capital.
• Li Chen returned to the palace, learned that Eternal Day’s delegation wanted to discuss the Holy See spreading its faith, and ordered a formal welcome for Morris.
• Morris entered the Imperial Capital in a public procession and charmed the onlookers and ministers at the state banquet.
• Morris asked Li Chen to consider the Holy See’s request, while making clear that Charles was conveying the Pope’s wishes.
• Li Chen asked whether Morris represented the Eternal Day Empire or the Holy See, and Morris said he represented the Empire.
• The Minister of Rites declared that Morris was not qualified to represent Eternal Day because the Holy See held power in the empire.

At the banquet, Li Chen agreed to write to the Pope about his prediction of a continent-wide calamity, then heard Charles’s secret proposal to cooperate against the Holy See. Li Chen said Heavenly Strategy would consider helping only if Charles sought to destroy the Holy See, and Morris also asked to obtain Railway Train technology.

• Morris defended the Holy See’s mission to preach in Heavenly Strategy by repeating the Pope’s prediction of a great calamity within three years.
• Li Chen stopped the argument and said he would write to the Pope to ask about the predicted disaster.
• In the Imperial Study, Morris revealed that Charles wanted to cooperate with Heavenly Strategy against the Holy See and presented Charles’s proposed terms.
• Li Chen told Morris to report that he would refuse cooperation aimed only at restraining the Holy See, but might consider helping to destroy it.
• Morris asked Li Chen to introduce Railway Train technology to Eternal Day, and Zhao Wenyuan said it was a core technology tied to national security.

Morris proposed exchanging Everlasting Day’s crystal-ball chip technology for Heavenly Strategy’s railway technology, while Zhao Wenyuan showed him the dynasty’s prosperous court and open Invention Institute. Meanwhile, Li Chen prepared to host the first National Cultivator Development Symposium, where the arrival of two Saint Realm experts left everyone wondering who would take the foremost seats.

• Morris demonstrated crystal balls that could transmit images and messages, and Li Chen agreed to send Ministry of Works experts to investigate a possible technology exchange.
• Li Chen ordered Zhao Wenyuan to show Morris around Heavenly Strategy, and Morris attended morning court, where officials reported rising grain production, a completed railway line, and successful irrigation trials.
• Zhao Wenyuan took Morris to the Invention Institute, where Morris described the Holy See’s strict control of innovations and the execution of a physician who improved Hemostatic Powder without permission.
• Li Chen went to the Heavenly Strategy Grand Hall to prepare for the first National Cultivator Development Symposium as sect and alliance representatives gathered.
• Venerable Hidden Moon and Holy Lord Li arrived and took secondary seats, making the gathered cultivators wonder whether an even more powerful figure was still coming.

At the National Symposium on Cultivator Development, Li Chen encouraged the sects to grow stronger and revealed that ancient cultivation resources would emerge, while Lin Yue'e mediated disputes between them. Venerable Hidden Moon later presented Li Chen with an Immortal Destiny Gem and hinted that his battered sect needed Imperial support, leaving Li Chen to decide what aid to offer.

• Li Chen arrived at the symposium displaying Saint Realm Peak strength, urged the sects to hold Sword Debate Tournaments, and warned that cultivators would need sufficient strength to access ancient resources.
• Lin Yue'e reported on the Ministry of Sect Affairs and used the gathered leaders to settle disputes between sects, including an argument over a cold iron mine.
• Holy Lord Li visited Li Meng, who told him that Li Chen had mentioned undoing a Heaven-Earth Seal and granting priority to those who had rendered meritorious service.
• Venerable Hidden Moon presented Li Chen with an Immortal Destiny Gem and praised the benefits his policies had brought the Hidden Moon Sect.
• Venerable Hidden Moon revealed that internal strife had left his sect with few treasures and barely enough resources for daily expenses, and Li Chen asked whether the situation had stabilized.

Li Chen rewarded Venerable Hidden Moon with resources and authority to stabilize the Western Region, then examined rare crystal chips from Prince Eternal Day and considered making cheaper versions for ordinary cultivators. He explained to Jiang Rong and Li Meng that common materials could substitute for costly ingredients, leaving the possibility of affordable crystal chips under consideration.

• Li Chen offered Venerable Hidden Moon access to Western Region ore veins and secret realms and tasked the Ten Netherworld Palace with helping maintain stability.
• Venerable Hidden Moon thanked Li Chen, then gave Eunuch Cui a bottle of Mystic Spirit Jade Liquid, which Li Chen permitted him to keep.
• Li Sining visited Li Chen, admired the crystal chips Prince Eternal Day had given him, and received a pink one to show her sisters.
• Jiang Rong and Li Meng brought Li Chen tea and refreshments and asked why he was studying the crystal chips.
• Li Chen told Jiang Rong and Li Meng he wanted to find cheap substitutes for the crystal chips and cited his past use of ordinary materials to imitate rare magic treasures.

Li Chen discovered that Sasanian moonstone and star sand could be used to produce affordable, reliable Crystal Chips independently of the Eternal Day Empire. After planning how to promote them, he was interrupted by news that Pang Jin had requested an audience.

• Li Chen searched for substitute materials and learned from Li Sining that Elissa had repaired her cracked Crystal Chip with Sasanian moonstone.
• Li Chen summoned Elissa, learned that moonstone and star sand were plentiful in Sasan, and ordered officials to arrange bulk purchases.
• Li Chen explained his plan to develop Crystal Chip technology independently and make it accessible to ordinary people.
• Li Chen and Elissa spent several days testing materials and created a reliable, inexpensive Crystal Chip from moonstone and star sand.
• Li Chen and Elissa discussed promoting the new Crystal Chips, but Eunuch Cui interrupted to report that Pang Jin requested an audience.

Li Chen learned that the Starfall Pavilion, a mysterious organization with a likely deep-sea base, was behind the attack on the Eternal Day Delegation. Meanwhile, Tang Shan expanded his network with Dai Xiaoyao’s help and planned a risky trade route north, unaware that his mother was already in the Imperial City.

• Pang Jin reported to Li Chen that a Saint Realm expert from the Starfall Pavilion had attacked the Eternal Day Delegation, and Li Chen ordered him to pass the information to Morris.
• Li Chen reflected on the Starfall Pavilion and returned his attention to the Crystal Chip rollout as Heavenly Strategy’s Children of Fortune pursued their projects.
• Xu Zifeng headed north with Ma Hei as Tuoba Zhen regrouped in the Great Luo Dynasty, while Lin Mo planned railway routes for the Southern Kingdoms.
• Tang Shan told his relatives that his group controlled thirteen restaurants, seven martial arts halls, five escort agencies, and three secret trade routes in the Imperial Capital.
• Tang Shan said Dai Xiaoyao had helped launder most of the Wang Family’s assets and proposed using the rest to establish a trade route through the Northern Frontier.
• Tang Shan dismissed Tang Yurou’s suspicion that the Wang Family’s support was a trap, while the narration revealed that his mother had already been staying in Tang Hongxiu’s courtyard.

Tang Shan's mother and Dai Xiaoyao's mother stayed at Tang Hongxiu's residence, where Tang Hongxiu pressed for news about her brother's imprisonment. Dai Xiaoyao's mother suggested that Tang Shan's mother offer the Tang Family a way to seek Li Chen's help, leaving her to consider the proposal.

• Tang Shan's mother and Dai Xiaoyao's mother met Tang Hongxiu after leaving the palace, and Tang Shan's mother assured the Tang Family that she was confident in her plan.
• Tang Hongxiu asked Tang Shan's mother about progress in rescuing her brother, but she said the matter was complicated and would take time.
• Tang Hongxiu persuaded both women to stay overnight at her residence, while Dai Xiaoyao's mother quietly admired her and considered winning Li Chen's affection.
• Dai Xiaoyao's mother urged Tang Shan's mother to let Tang Hongxiu help with her brother's rescue and suggest seeking Li Chen's aid.
• Tang Shan's mother recognized that Li Chen could offer the Tang Family a way forward and fell into thought.

Tang Shan's Mother and Madam Dai plotted to introduce Tang Hongxiu to Li Chen by presenting him as a high-ranking member of the Imperial House who could help the Tang Family. Madam Dai then invited Li Chen to accompany her on an incognito outing, and he recognized the implication behind her smile.

• Madam Dai persuaded Tang Shan's Mother that Tang Hongxiu could win Li Chen's favor and help secure the Tang Family's future.
• Tang Shan's Mother stayed in Tang Hongxiu's courtyard and claimed Madam Dai could arrange a meeting with an Imperial House connection who might help Tang Shan's father.
• Tang Hongxiu agreed to host a family banquet and resolved to cultivate ties with the supposed royal guest.
• Madam Dai visited Li Chen in the Imperial Palace and invited him to accompany her incognito for the approaching Mid-Autumn Festival.
• Li Chen understood Madam Dai's suggestive invitation and became interested in her plan.

The Tang family prepared to curry favor with Li Chen, a young member of the Heavenly Strategy Imperial House, by offering him a rare spirit sword and arranging a lavish Mid-Autumn banquet. Li Chen arrived at Tang Hongxiu’s courtyard and recognized the Monkey Wine served to him, while the family’s plan to draw him closer began over the banquet table.

• Tang Hongxiu explained that Tang Shan’s Mother had connections to a lady from the Starfall Empire and was seeking help to free their eldest brother.
• Tang Zhen persuaded the family to buy the Blazing Sun Sword for Li Chen, despite its enormous cost, and Tang Hongxiu supported him.
• Tang Yue and Tang Zhen learned from Tang Shan’s Mother that Li Chen seemed to like women, and they agreed to prepare on two fronts.
• The Tang family sold ancestral possessions to acquire the Blazing Sun Sword and hosted Li Chen at an elaborate Mid-Autumn banquet.
• Li Chen arrived with Dai’s Mother, noticed the Tang family’s women, and took the seat of honor beside Tang Hongxiu.
• Li Chen praised the Monkey Wine, and Tang Shan’s Mother explained his connections to the wine trade and how the drink was made.

At a Tang family dinner, Li Chen impressed the family with his appraisal of the Blazing Sun Sword and his insight into swordsmanship, prompting Su Qinghe to experience a breakthrough. The Tang family continued to seek his favor while keeping Tang Shan’s mother’s circumstances secret from Tang Shan, who was away from the Imperial Capital.

• Tang Yue and Tang Zhen encouraged Tang Hongxiu to get close to Li Chen, hoping to gain his favor and help the Tang family.
• Tang Hongxiu exchanged toasts and conversation with Li Chen before asking him to appraise the Blazing Sun Sword.
• Li Chen identified the sword’s materials and abilities, then explained that a sword’s essence lay in concealment rather than slaughter.
• Su Qinghe pondered Li Chen’s words and felt as if a restriction within her was about to break, while the Tang family regarded Li Chen with newfound awe.
• Tang Shan’s Mother reflected on her improved standing in the palace and worried that Tang Shan would reject how she had obtained it; the Tang family resolved to keep it from him and prepare a surprise for his return.

After Li Chen’s visit, the Tang Family urged Tang Hongxiu to pursue a match with him, while Tang Shan's Mother used her Imperial Clan connections to protect herself and her companions from intrusive young gentlemen. The outing ended with Tang Shan's Mother returning to the palace and hearing pleas for mercy from Li Chen and Dai Xiaoyao's mother.

• After Li Chen left, Tang Zhen and Tang Yue persuaded Tang Hongxiu to give him a chance, and she agreed to dress up for their next meeting.
• While walking through the Imperial Capital with Liu Yuran and Su Qinghe, Tang Shan's Mother revealed her palace plaque to frighten off young gentlemen who tried to invite them for a drink.
• Liu Yuran and Su Qinghe teased each other about their interest in Li Chen, and Tang Shan's Mother noticed suspicious figures and urged them to return to the estate.
• In the Imperial Study, Li Chen praised the outing and told Dai Xiaoyao's mother to arrange more diversions, then promised to reward her.
• When Tang Shan's Mother returned to the palace, she heard pleas for mercy.