Chapter Summaries

Ren Ling spent the night with Li Chen, while Chu Jingsong confronted Chu Pengzhan over his clash with Commandant Cheng. Chu Jingsong concluded that Cheng Li was almost certainly His Majesty in disguise, leaving Chu Pengzhan terrified.

• Ren Ling accepted Tuoba Anyu's invitation to stay and went to Li Chen's room, where he seduced her.
• The next day, Ren Ling remained shaken by her night with Li Chen as he left for work.
• Chu Jingsong arrived at Cold Iron Pass and kicked Chu Pengzhan before demanding to question him in private.
• Chu Pengzhan described his confrontation with Commandant Cheng and complained that Cheng had seized palace tribute snow lotus.
• Chu Jingsong told Chu Pengzhan to read Cheng Li's name backward, and Chu Pengzhan realized it spelled Li Chen.
• Chu Jingsong said that Cheng Li was probably His Majesty traveling incognito, and Chu Pengzhan collapsed in terror.

Chu Jingsong and Chu Pengzhan tried to appease Emperor Li Chen after learning that Chu Pengzhan had offended him, then beat Chu Xiang in the military jail instead of rescuing him. The chapter ended with Huyan Lan and his elite cavalry arriving outside Cold Iron Pass, where Zhou Meng waited to welcome him.

• Chu Jingsong told Chu Pengzhan to cancel the welcoming ceremonies, keep Emperor Li Chen’s identity secret, and seek his forgiveness.
• Chu Jingsong praised Military Supervisor Wang for imprisoning Chu Xiang and asked to see the prisoner without disturbing Commandant Cheng.
• Chu Xiang boasted to Huyan Xun and Han Zhen that his uncles would rescue him, but Chu Jingsong and Chu Pengzhan entered the cell and beat him.
• Huyan Xun and Han Zhen mocked Chu Xiang after his relatives left him injured and humiliated.
• Huyan Lan arrived at Cold Iron Pass’s North Gate with several thousand elite cavalry, where Zhou Meng waited to welcome him.

Huyan Lan arrived at Cold Iron Pass furious over his nephew’s imprisonment, but recognized that Commandant Cheng was actually Li Chen and immediately submitted to him. Li Chen asked about the Northern Region and Huyan Lan’s cultivation, leaving Huyan Lan eager to prove his loyalty and promising to defend the border against Great Luo.

• Huyan Lan berated Zhou Meng for allowing Huyan Xun to suffer in prison and ordered the gates opened so he could confront Cheng Li.
• Huyan Lan saw Cheng Li directing drills in the Martial Arena, recognized Li Chen, and obeyed when Li Chen told him to follow.
• Zhou Meng realized Cheng Li was Li Chen and felt relieved that he had not offended the emperor.
• Huyan Lan knelt before Li Chen in the Armory, apologized for Huyan Xun’s offense, and feared punishment.
• Li Chen asked Huyan Lan about the Northern tribes and his cultivation, and Huyan Lan reported reaching the mid-Heavenly Abyss Realm.
• Huyan Lan vowed to keep the northern border secure and to lead the Iron Cavalry against Great Luo if it threatened the Heavenly Strategy.

Huyan Lan punished Huyan Xun in the Military Jail after learning how badly his nephew had offended Cheng Li, while Han Qi arrived with a promotion offer from Grand General Han Wu. Zhou Meng revealed that Cheng Li was actually Li Chen, leaving Han Qi terrified and unsure how to answer the Grand General.

• Huyan Lan thanked Li Chen for sparing him and then went to the Military Jail to confront Huyan Xun.
• Huyan Lan beat Huyan Xun and nearly killed him before ordering him to remain in his cell and reflect.
• Han Zhen watched Huyan Lan's outburst from the neighboring cell and feared he would be beaten next.
• Han Qi arrived at Cold Iron Pass to check on Han Wu's young master and offer Cheng Li a promotion to Assistant General.
• Zhou Meng warned Han Qi to reverse Cheng Li's name, and Han Qi realized Cheng Li was Li Chen.
• Han Qi asked Zhou Meng what to do because the Grand General was still waiting for an answer.

Han Wu accepted Li Chen’s order to punish Han Zhen under military regulations, then beat his son in jail and ordered him to serve his full sentence. As Cold Iron Pass wondered about Commandant Cheng’s power, Lü Mumu prepared to visit him with gifts, while Lady Lianxing learned that Huyan Lan had also been humbled.

• Han Qi reported Han Wu’s submission to Li Chen, who told him to follow military regulations.
• Han Wu entered the Military Jail at Cold Iron Pass, beat Han Zhen, and ordered him to serve his entire sentence without complaint.
• Zhou Liang begged Zhou Meng to beat him too, and Zhou Meng complied after deciding it would show his loyalty to Li Chen.
• News of the powerful figures’ humiliations spread across Cold Iron Pass, and Lü Mumu’s elder advised her to visit Commandant Cheng with modest gifts.
• Lady Lianxing learned that Huyan Lan had returned humbled and felt an impulse she could scarcely contain.

Lianxing visited Li Chen’s residence to thank him, only to discover Tuoba Anyu and Lü Mumu there and learn that Tuoba Anyu claimed to be Cheng Li’s lawful wife. Tuoba Anyu and Ren Ling kept inviting the women to stay for a meal and drinks, while Lianxing’s insecurity grew.

• Lianxing arrived at Li Chen’s courtyard with Spirit Tea to thank Commandant Cheng and met Tuoba Anyu at the door.
• Tuoba Anyu introduced herself as Cheng Li’s lawful wife, and Lianxing’s hopes of romance with him faded.
• Lü Mumu greeted Lianxing, and Tuoba Anyu warmly questioned Lianxing about her sect and interests when she tried to leave.
• Tuoba Anyu persuaded both Lianxing and Lü Mumu to stay for a meal.
• Ren Ling arrived with aged wine, and she and Tuoba Anyu joined forces to keep the two guests from leaving.

Li Chen took advantage of Lü Mumu and Lianxing after Ren Ling got them drunk, then escorted the confused Lü Mumu to her sect’s residence. The elder recognized Li Chen and greeted him with extraordinary deference, leaving Lü Mumu and the disciples stunned.

• Ren Ling served Lü Mumu and Lianxing Worryless Drunk until both women became helplessly intoxicated, and Li Chen returned to find them collapsed beside Tuoba Anyu and Ren Ling.
• Li Chen spent the night with Lü Mumu and Lianxing, while Tuoba Anyu and Ren Ling accepted his decision.
• The next morning, Lianxing felt glad that she could stay with Li Chen, while Lü Mumu worried that her sect’s rules required her to kill or marry the man who had taken her virginity.
• Li Chen requested leave and escorted Lü Mumu to the Mount Sumeru Skyward Pavilion’s temporary residence, where he asked to meet her elder.
• The elder saw Li Chen, hurried over, and welcomed him with unusual warmth and deference, shocking Lü Mumu and the disciples.

Li Chen visited the Mount Sumeru Skyward Pavilion, where its elder and sect master True Person Ice Lotus treated him with extraordinary deference. True Person Ice Lotus agreed to let Lü Mumu leave with Li Chen to cultivate under his guidance.

• The elder ordered the disciples to prepare refreshments for Li Chen and offered to escort him to the sect.
• The elder took Li Chen and Lü Mumu through a spiritual barrier into the Pavilion's mountain valley on the Snowcloud Tiger.
• True Person Ice Lotus emerged from seclusion to welcome Li Chen and invited him into the Main Hall.
• Li Chen demonstrated a strange, scorching energy from the Eternal Day Empire, and True Person Ice Lotus praised its unusual power.
• Li Chen asked True Person Ice Lotus to let Lü Mumu stay by his side and cultivate, and she immediately agreed.

Li Chen revealed his Saint Realm cultivation to Lü Mumu while guiding her through the Snow Mountain Immortal Wonderland, then disclosed that he was Emperor Li Chen. Lü Mumu’s shock gave way to acceptance, and she asked whether her master and the elders had already recognized him.

• True Person Ice Lotus asked Lü Mumu to show Li Chen around the Snow Mountain Immortal Wonderland.
• At Contemplating Sword Cliff, Li Chen mastered the Star-River Shattering Shadow Sword Art at a glance and helped Lü Mumu improve her swordsmanship.
• Li Chen protected Lü Mumu in the sect’s secret realms, then told her he was in the Saint Realm.
• Li Chen hinted that he had destroyed the Snow Eagle Court, and Lü Mumu realized he was Emperor Li Chen.
• Lü Mumu accepted that Li Chen was the emperor and asked whether her master and the elders had already guessed his identity.

Li Chen brought Lü Mumu away from Mount Sumeru Skyward Pavilion after she agreed to join him, while Ling Jueyun abandoned his attempt to stop her upon learning Li Chen was the emperor. At Cold Iron Pass, Lü Mumu struggled to serve Li Chen as deftly as Holy Maiden Lianxing.

• Li Chen spoke with True Person Ice Lotus, who agreed to send a representative to the Ministry of Sect Affairs in the Imperial Capital.
• Ling Jueyun confronted Lü Mumu as she packed to leave, but backed down after she revealed that Emperor Li Chen was taking her.
• Lü Mumu left Mount Sumeru Skyward Pavilion with Li Chen and chatted happily with him along the way.
• At Li Chen's courtyard, Lü Mumu fumbled while trying to serve him, while Holy Maiden Lianxing impressed him with her attentive care.

Li Chen’s border orders heightened tensions with the Great Luo Dynasty, while Tuoba Zhen secretly tried to provoke a war so he could restore the Snow Eagle Court. In the Great Luo court, ministers suspected Tuoba Zhen and proposed sending him to the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty to prevent further conflict.

• Lianxing and Lü Mumu competed to pamper Li Chen, who enjoyed their attentions before returning to the military camp.
• Feng Shuo showed Li Chen exaggerated deference, and Li Chen sent for Xu Zifeng to hear about his assignment.
• Xu Zifeng reported that his forces had killed three Great Luo scouting parties, escalating the border crisis, and said Grand General Han Wu had agreed to support the operation.
• Tuoba Zhen revealed that he had secretly incited the Great Luo border army and ordered further provocations, including attacks by men disguised as Heavenly Strategy soldiers.
• Emperor Ivan Radis Romanov’s ministers discussed the suspicious border clashes, blamed Tuoba Zhen, and suggested sending him to the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty.

Emperor Ivan approved a plan to exploit Tuoba Zhen’s rebellion while preparing to disavow him and blame Grand Duke Andrei if it failed. Persuaded by his adviser Vasily Sokov, Andrei agreed to secretly contact Tuoba Zhen and gamble on regaining power.

• A minister proposed secretly supporting Tuoba Zhen while sending a peace embassy to the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty, allowing Great Luo to profit or deny responsibility.
• Emperor Ivan chose Grand Duke Andrei as a scapegoat and used concealed agents to encourage him to work with Tuoba Zhen.
• Vasily Sokov urged Andrei to support Tuoba Zhen, arguing that the unrest offered a chance to restore Andrei’s influence and challenge Ivan.
• Andrei overcame his fear of failure and ordered Vasily to contact Tuoba Zhen in secret, offering generous terms while insisting Tuoba recognize him as his true master.

Emperor Ivan used Grand Duke Andrei’s offer to support Tuoba Zhen as a pretext for his southern ambitions, while Li Chen prepared for the swelling crowds and factions gathering on the northern frontier. Tuoba Zhen accepted Andrei’s aid but resented Sergei, who demanded real command of troops and threatened to have the support reconsidered.

• Vasily and Sergei persuaded Grand Duke Andrei to submit a memorial offering secret aid to Tuoba Zhen, and Emperor Ivan saw it as proof he could use to blame Andrei for disrupting imperial policy.
• Li Chen learned that cultivators were flocking to the Northern Frontier to seek Great Luo’s rare resources, while Dao Alliance and sect representatives gathered in Northern Peak City to negotiate wartime cooperation and spoils.
• Tuoba Zhen welcomed Grand Duke Andrei’s promised support and grew confident after refining true blood from an Elder Ice Saint Beast.
• Vasily brought Sergei to Tuoba Zhen’s camp, where Tuoba Zhen judged him an inexperienced noble and planned to give him an idle logistics post.
• Sergei demanded command of troops so he could oversee the aid supplies, warning that he would report the situation to his father if Tuoba Zhen refused.

Tuoba Zhen granted Sergei command of a ten-thousand-man cavalry unit while secretly planning to keep him away from the main battlefield. At Northern Peak City, Han Wu prepared for Tuoba Zhen’s tactics, and Helan Xuan arrived to help lead the defense, while Li Chen remained unconcerned about the war.

• Tuoba Zhen gave Sergei command of a cavalry unit, intending to assign it to an unimportant flank or harassment duties.
• Sergei left Tuoba Zhen’s tent believing he could use the unit to build his own following and prove himself in the Southern Expedition.
• Han Wu and his generals discussed the threat of Tuoba Zhen’s raids and decided to guard against infiltration while keeping key commanders inside Northern Peak City.
• Han Wu rejected a proposal to reinforce Cold Iron Pass, explaining that Li Chen’s presence there was classified and that extra defenses might alert Tuoba Zhen.
• Helan Xuan arrived at Northern Peak City with Sun-Moon Dragon Clan generals and joined Han Wu to plan against Tuoba Zhen.
• Li Chen showed little concern about the war and regarded Tuoba Zhen as an insignificant figure.

Li Chen learned about the Great Luo Dynasty’s shamanic curse arts and studied artifacts Feng Shuo had seized from a group of Shamans. As Li Chen began to grasp their energy patterns, an ancient and eerie aura gathered around him.

• Tuoba Anyu explained that Great Luo Shamans used curses and drew power from nature’s spirit realm, and Li Chen resolved to study their arts.
• Feng Shuo reported that he had killed seven or eight Great Luo Shamans near Cold Iron Pass and brought back their artifacts and scrolls.
• Li Chen examined the ceremonial objects, totem staffs, and shamanic scrolls, intrigued by their unfamiliar diagrams and energy paths.
• Li Chen experimented with the artifacts and quickly began to radiate an ancient, vast, and eerie aura.

Li Chen used shamanic implements to conjure a storm, then encountered Sergei’s troops trapped by an Icefield Giant Rhino. Disguised as a shaman, Li Chen drove the beast away and saved Sergei, who called after him as he began to leave.

• Li Chen performed a Rain-Prayer Ritual, impressing Feng Shuo with his command of the shamanic implements.
• Li Chen led a patrol near Cold Iron Pass and heard a battle in a nearby valley.
• Sergei ignored an officer’s warnings and led troops toward Cold Iron Pass, where they disturbed an Icefield Giant Rhino.
• The rhino cornered Sergei’s men, killing his guards and shamans and leaving him wounded and facing death.
• Li Chen disguised himself as a shaman and used Ice Spikes to halt the rhino, which retreated.
• Sergei thanked the mysterious shaman and begged Li Chen to stay.

Li Chen posed as the powerful Shaman Master Urge and entered Sergei’s camp, where he learned about the army’s plans near Cold Iron Pass. Sergei begged him to stay as a military adviser, but after Li Chen refused, Sergei knelt and asked to become his disciple.

• Li Chen rescued the wounded Sergei and escorted him to camp after Sergei offered a Shaman’s amulet as proof of his reverence for Shamans.
• Li Chen used the name Master Urge and claimed to be an ascetic from Silent Snow Mountain in the Northern Region to infiltrate Sergei’s army.
• The camp’s Shaman sensed Li Chen’s overwhelming spiritual pressure, and the generals treated him with awe after Sergei described how he had defeated an Icefield Giant Rhino.
• Li Chen judged Sergei’s force of roughly ten thousand cavalry poorly suited to attack Cold Iron Pass, while the generals privately condemned Sergei’s reckless plan.
• At a banquet, Sergei asked Li Chen to serve as his military adviser, but Li Chen refused because he wanted to avoid worldly affairs.
• Sergei knelt before Li Chen and begged him to accept him as a disciple so he could cultivate the shamanic Dao.

Li Chen secured his place in Sergei’s army by accepting him as an honorary disciple and using his influence to encourage an attack on Cold Iron Pass. Sergei embraced Li Chen’s advice, while the generals reluctantly prepared to follow his decision.

• Li Chen accepted Sergei as an honorary disciple, gaining a position of authority and trust within the army.
• Li Chen demonstrated basic Shaman Spells and gave Sergei high-quality pills, impressing the accompanying Shaman and helping Sergei learn a few rudiments.
• During a military meeting, the generals urged Sergei to withdraw and join the main force after the scouting party’s disastrous ambush.
• Li Chen encouraged Sergei to trust his judgment and press forward, secretly hoping the attack would earn him military merit.
• Sergei took Li Chen’s words as proof that his master believed in him and resolved to attack Cold Iron Pass, leaving the generals to accept the order.

Li Chen returned to Cold Iron Pass after making Sergei believe he was a powerful master, then secretly prepared the pass for a possible Great Luo attack. Sergei’s scouts suffered heavy losses, and Li Chen called a military council as their advance stalled.

• Li Chen gave Sergei a sensing talisman, left the Great Luo camp, and returned to Cold Iron Pass.
• Li Chen told Batu about Sergei and instructed him to prepare secretly; Batu warned Zhou Meng that Great Luo troops might attack, and Zhou Meng ordered the pass to heighten its vigilance.
• Encouraged by Li Chen’s disguise, Sergei ignored his officers’ objections and planned an attack on Cold Iron Pass.
• Sergei’s scouts struggled against Demon Beasts and Heavenly Strategy patrols, while Li Chen’s troops secretly tracked them without intervening.
• Batu reported that the Great Luo scouts were advancing too slowly, so Li Chen convened a military council.

Li Chen arranged a trap at Cold Iron Pass to lure Sergei’s Great Luo cavalry into Heavenly Strategy territory, while the war between the two dynasties intensified elsewhere. As Sergei’s nearly twenty-thousand cavalry approached, Batu learned that Heir Apparent Xu would lead the ambush.

• Li Chen ordered Zhou Meng to kill some attackers, capture others, and let Sergei escape, while Military Supervisor Wang secretly cleared routes and adjusted defenses.
• Sergei mistook the easing obstacles and predictable patrols for good fortune and advanced deeper into Li Chen’s trap.
• Tuoba Zhen and Helan Xuan fought repeatedly in the Northern Frontier, keeping Tuoba occupied as Heavenly Strategy’s Northern Army drove the Great Luo forces back.
• Feng Shuo watched the approaching cavalry and recalled clearing snow and reinforcing avalanche-prone slopes to keep them from being buried.
• Batu assessed Sergei’s elite cavalry and learned that Heir Apparent Xu and his undefeated Northern Wind Cavalry would lead the ambush.