Chapter Summaries

Li Chen received Romanov after keeping him waiting for seven days, and Romanov tried to negotiate peace by blaming the war on Grand Duke Andrei and Tuoba Zhen. Li Chen demanded evidence and refused to halt the fighting on empty promises, leaving Romanov unable to answer.

• Romanov greeted Li Chen formally and recognized his formidable authority.
• Li Chen curtly invited Romanov to speak without offering him a seat or pleasantries.
• Romanov claimed unnamed schemers had driven the two nations into war and said Daluo would capture Andrei and Tuoba Zhen if Heavenly Strategy suspended hostilities.
• Li Chen challenged Romanov to provide evidence or bring the two men for a confrontation, rejecting the proposed ceasefire.
• Romanov fell silent because Andrei was unconscious, his son was rebelling, and Tuoba Zhen had disappeared.

Romanov pleaded with Li Chen to agree to a truce, offering Daluo’s resources and reparations, but Li Chen refused and demanded impossible conditions. Romanov left the Golden Throne Hall furious and powerless to change the situation.

• Romanov suppressed his anger and offered Li Chen any land, resources, mineral deposits, or reparations Daluo could provide for a truce.
• Li Chen rejected Romanov’s guarantee and demanded that Ivan negotiate in person.
• Romanov erupted with his saint-realm peak aura, and Li Chen met it with overwhelming imperial might until Romanov backed down.
• Romanov asked what would secure a truce, and Li Chen demanded that Andrei and Tuoba Zhen be brought in alive along with proof that Daluo’s Imperial Court was uninvolved.
• Romanov recognized Li Chen’s terms as a refusal, threatened him, and stormed out of the hall.

After Romanov left the court, Li Chen heard arguments over whether to press Heavenly Strategy’s advantage against Daluo and decided that war was certain. He then visited Chu Ruoyan, who prepared to welcome him without bringing up the old dispute involving her clan.

• Romanov left the Golden Throne Hall, and the Minister of Rites warned Li Chen that humiliating him could drive Daluo into a costly war.
• Guo Poyun urged Li Chen to exploit Daluo’s internal crises and attack, sparking a debate between cautious civil officials and eager military officers.
• Li Chen listened to the officials argue, then declared that Heavenly Strategy would fight and said Daluo needed a helper to stabilize its situation.
• Li Chen dismissed the court and went to the Imperial Harem, where Chu Ruoyan’s maid suggested she apologize for her younger clansman’s offense at the border.
• Chu Ruoyan declined to raise the matter, reasoning that Li Chen had already let it go and should be welcomed with comfort and consideration.

Li Chen learned that the Pope of Everlasting Day’s Holy See had vanished, leaving its rival cardinals divided and Emperor Charles preparing to act. Carlos urged Li Chen to claim the papacy as the Pope’s publicly named heir, and Li Chen considered exploiting the crisis to extend Heavenly Strategy’s power.

• Li Chen reviewed intelligence reports describing escalating conflict between Everlasting Day’s Imperial Clan and Holy See.
• Eunuch Cui announced that Carlos, a special envoy of the Holy See, had arrived, and Li Chen granted him an audience.
• Carlos told Li Chen that the Pope had disappeared and that Emperor Charles was secretly mobilizing forces against the divided Holy See.
• Carlos reminded Li Chen that the Pope had publicly named him the sole heir to the papacy and urged him to claim the position.
• Li Chen weighed using his claim and the Holy See’s internal turmoil to expand Heavenly Strategy’s influence.

Li Chen weighed whether to exploit the Eternal Day Empire’s turmoil over the Pope’s disappearance, then chose to focus on the Great Luo Dynasty. After resting in the imperial harem, he traveled incognito toward Daluo and arrived at Cold Iron Pass, where Feng Shuo recognized him as the emperor.

• Li Chen considered whether the Pope had been trapped, whether Charles had engineered his disappearance, and what danger the affair might pose to him.
• Li Chen ordered Carlos to investigate the Pope’s disappearance and the Red-robed Cardinals, while quietly testing their reactions to a claim that Li Chen would temporarily serve as Pope.
• Carlos eagerly accepted Li Chen’s orders and left to continue his work in Everlasting Day.
• Li Chen postponed intervening in Everlasting Day, rested for two days with his consorts, and then set out for the Great Luo Dynasty to deal with Ivan and the nobles.
• Li Chen reached Cold Iron Pass, where Commandant Feng Shuo recognized him and immediately fell to his knees.

Li Chen visited Cold Iron Pass in disguise, declined to force Feng Shuo into frontline service, and learned that Tuoba Zhen had left Daluo to build a power base among the western small countries. After arranging for his consorts to enter the palace, Li Chen continued toward Daluo to pose as Witch Ancestor Urge and watch Ivan’s response.

• Feng Shuo recognized Li Chen and guided him through Cold Iron Pass while reporting that the pass had been peaceful.
• Li Chen offered Feng Shuo a chance to join the front lines, but Feng Shuo refused because he knew he was better suited to guarding the pass.
• Tuoba Anyu feared Li Chen’s trip to Daluo meant harm had come to Tuoba Zhen, but Li Chen told her that Tuoba Zhen had left with his former subordinates to conquer western small countries.
• Li Chen privately planned to let Tuoba Zhen consolidate those territories before taking them for Heavenly Strategy and eliminating Tuoba Zhen.
• Li Chen ordered the Head Palace Maid to bring the consorts into the palace, then continued toward Daluo as Witch Ancestor Urge to see how Ivan would respond.

After Li Chen humiliated Romanov, Ivan erupted in anger, but Romanov laid out a survival plan for the Great Luo Dynasty: appease the Witch Ancestor and Sergei, resist Heavenly Strategy, and postpone dealing with Tuoba Zhen. Ivan accepted that he would have to abdicate and bear the blame, leaving Daluo to seek a chance to survive.

• Ivan smashed the Imperial Study and raged at his ministers over Li Chen’s treatment of Romanov until Romanov returned and calmed him.
• Romanov warned Ivan that Daluo could not afford to confront Heavenly Strategy while facing Sergei’s rebellion and the Witch Ancestor.
• Romanov told Ivan to issue an edict of self-condemnation, abdicate to a prince, and grant the Witch Ancestor legitimacy and standing; Ivan reluctantly agreed.
• Romanov proposed clearing Andrei’s name to weaken Sergei’s rebellion and defending Daluo against Heavenly Strategy until it could negotiate a ceasefire.
• Romanov advised leaving Tuoba Zhen alone for now, and Ivan accepted that dealing with him would have to wait until Daluo stabilized its other crises.

Romanov persuaded Ivan to abdicate in favor of the pliable Matvei, hoping to preserve the Great Luo Dynasty by submitting to Li Chen. As Matvei prepared to seek the Witch Ancestor’s favor, Sergei received a lavish imperial decree that made him suspect a trap.

• Romanov comforted Ivan and convinced him to summon Matvei, whose meekness made him easier to control than the Crown Prince.
• Romanov coached Matvei on issuing an edict of self-reproach, abdicating, clearing Grand Duke Andrei, and seeking the Witch Ancestor’s support.
• Ivan abdicated in favor of Matvei, shocking the Great Luo Dynasty and sending its political order into turmoil.
• Li Chen, disguised as Master Urge, agreed to receive Matvei and ordered the Old Witch Canggu to gather information about him.
• Matvei exonerated Grand Duke Andrei and made Sergei Southern Frontier Guardian Grand Duke, but Sergei felt alarmed rather than pleased.

Sergei sought the Witch Ancestor’s help after Matvei’s amnesty and rewards undermined the rebellion’s cause. Canggu’s attempt to humiliate Matvei instead boosted the Imperial Clan’s standing, but Li Chen claimed the outcome would make taking control easier.

• Sergei decided Romanov’s edict had trapped his rebellion and rode through the night to seek his master’s advice.
• Canggu required Matvei to perform humiliating kowtows in freezing weather before granting him an audience with the Witch Ancestor.
• Matvei accepted the rites and endured them, while Romanov secretly guided public opinion to portray his submission as a sacrifice for peace.
• Canggu apologized to Li Chen for strengthening the Imperial Clan, but Li Chen said the result had made his plans simpler.

Li Chen rejected Sergei’s plan for a direct uprising and instructed him to accept Matvei’s rewards while demanding more land and resources. When Matvei arrived at the Witch Ancestor’s sacred land, Li Chen turned his plea for help into an offer to make him a Named Disciple, leaving Matvei to answer.

• Sergei told Li Chen that Romanov had cleared his name and that unrest was growing in the army, then proposed joining rebellious Imperial Princes to seize the Holy Capital.
• Li Chen rejected Sergei’s plan and told him to accept the Grand Duke title and demand additional territories, people, and resources from Matvei.
• Sergei understood Li Chen’s strategy and left to prepare his requests for rewards.
• After several days of travel and kowtowing, Matvei arrived at the Witch Ancestor Sacred Land, where Li Chen welcomed him with a grand ceremony.
• Matvei knelt before Li Chen and pleaded for help, then faltered when Li Chen rejected the State Preceptor title and claimed the right to decide the terms himself.
• Li Chen offered to accept Matvei as a Named Disciple and required him to obey his master’s commands.

Li Chen cultivated Matvei’s dependence on him while using the Witch Ancestor’s promised aid to draw himself and Ivan into the Holy Capital. Romanov realized that attacking the Witch Ancestor there would give Sergei and the witch factions grounds to rebel.

• Li Chen accepted Matvei as his disciple, raised his cultivation, gave him flawed arts and treasures, and protected him during dangerous training.
• Matvei experienced the respect and authority he lacked in the Imperial Palace, while Li Chen considered whether the new backing might awaken his ambition.
• Ivan praised Romanov’s plan after learning that the Witch Ancestor had agreed to send witches to help defend against the Heavenly Strategy Army.
• A palace attendant reported that the Witch Ancestor and the New Emperor were traveling together to the Holy Capital.
• Romanov recognized that Li Chen had made himself impossible to attack without risking rebellion and public outrage.

Romanov and Ivan planned to limit the Witch Ancestor’s influence by keeping Matvei powerless and leaving the Holy Capital themselves. On the journey back, Li Chen punished a guard commander for disrespecting Matvei, and Matvei showed unexpected mercy by asking that the man be spared.

• Romanov explained that refusing the Witch Ancestor entry would risk driving him to support Sergei or seize power himself.
• Romanov advised Ivan to leave the Holy Capital while secretly retaining influence through ministers, and planned to enter secluded cultivation himself.
• Li Chen traveled with Matvei toward the Holy Capital as the guard commander treated Matvei with contempt.
• Li Chen struck the commander down for disrespecting Matvei, then spared him after Matvei pleaded for his life.

Li Chen made a miraculous entrance into the Holy Capital and insisted on living in the Sacred Palace with Matvei, aiming to separate him from Ivan and Romanov. Ivan and Romanov recognized the move as a direct challenge to their control, intensifying the struggle for power.

• The guards became fearful and respectful toward Matvei after Li Chen protected him, and Matvei began to feel the appeal of borrowed power.
• Li Chen displayed his command of nature outside the Holy Capital, causing the crowds and soldiers to kneel before him.
• Matvei offered Li Chen a manor far from the Sacred Palace, but Li Chen declared that he would reside beside Matvei to guide him.
• Matvei accepted Li Chen's demand, despite the Sacred Palace's tradition of being reserved for the imperial family.
• Ivan and Romanov reacted with alarm, realizing Li Chen intended to keep Matvei close and weaken their influence over him.

Ivan and Romanov plotted to ruin Li Chen’s reputation by arranging for palace women to approach him, expecting rumors of debauchery to drive him from the Holy Capital. Li Chen instead welcomed the beauties’ attention, leaving Ivan’s plan poised to backfire.

• Ivan asked Romanov how to respond to Li Chen keeping Matvei by his side, and Romanov advised against a direct confrontation.
• Romanov proposed spreading rumors that Li Chen debauched the Imperial Harem and meddled in state affairs, then told Ivan to wait for a pretext.
• Romanov urged Ivan to have his palace consorts approach Li Chen so their contact could fuel the rumors, and Ivan agreed despite his jealousy.
• Li Chen arrived at the Sacred Palace and noticed Empress Dowager Yulia, Vorontsova, Anastasia, and Matvei’s mother, Golitsyna, among the beauties.
• Li Chen restrained himself from immediately inspecting the palace women but decided he would not waste the opportunity Ivan and Romanov had provided.

Li Chen taught Matvei the principles of imperial rule, but Matvei’s attempt to assert himself at court ended in humiliation. Meanwhile, Li Chen saw through Vorontsova’s plan to entrap him and spent five hours with her in the bathing chambers.

• Li Chen secretly taught Matvei how to balance court factions, manage officials, and command respect as an emperor.
• Matvei attended court the next day, but the ministers ignored his opinions and treated him as a figurehead, leaving him hurt and resentful.
• Vorontsova invited Li Chen to her palace under the pretense of discussing the Way of Nature, intending to seduce him and create a scandal on Ivan’s orders.
• Li Chen recognized Vorontsova’s trap when she went to bathe, then entered the chambers instead of leaving.
• Vorontsova’s initial panic faded, and she abandoned her mission during the five hours she spent with Li Chen.

Li Chen promised Matvei that he would win support from the Imperial Consorts, then used Vorontsova to learn about the palace women and bring Empress Dowager Yulia to him. After spending the night with Yulia, Li Chen left to report his progress to Matvei.

• Matvei complained that the ministers ignored him, and Li Chen suggested gaining the Imperial Consorts' support to build political influence.
• Li Chen promised to handle the Imperial Consorts himself, and Matvei gratefully believed his master was sacrificing for him.
• Li Chen returned to Vorontsova's palace and used his secret arts to make her reveal what she knew about the other Imperial Consorts.
• The next morning, Vorontsova invited Empress Dowager Yulia to the palace and served her medicinal wine prepared by Li Chen.
• Yulia lost consciousness after drinking the wine, and Li Chen spent ten hours with her before leaving to report to Matvei.

Li Chen secured Empress Dowager Yulia’s support for Matvei and used her authority to bring more of Ivan’s consorts to him. Matvei believed his master was sacrificing himself for his rise to power, while Ivan remained unaware that his plan was benefiting Li Chen.

• Matvei anxiously welcomed Li Chen back, and Li Chen told him that Yulia had agreed to support him and contact her relatives in court.
• Li Chen advised Matvei to promise court positions to those who helped him remove disobedient officials, and Matvei hurried off to build alliances.
• Li Chen returned to Yulia, secured her devotion, and ordered her to summon Anastasia.
• Yulia claimed Ivan had secretly ordered the consorts to serve the Witch Ancestor for the dynasty, and Anastasia reluctantly went to Li Chen.
• Over the next five days, Yulia ordered more than a hundred consorts to serve Li Chen, while Matvei mistook this for a sacrifice made on his behalf and Ivan congratulated himself on his plan.

Ivan learned that the Witch Ancestor had taken his harem and, after Romanov urged him to endure it for the dynasty, discovered that Romanov had concealed the Witch Ancestor’s lechery to make the plan succeed. Meanwhile, Tuoba Zhen conquered two small kingdoms while restraining himself to master his cultivation art, and Li Chen continued favoring Anastasia in the palace.

• Ivan learned that the Witch Ancestor had been summoning his consorts and prepared to attack, but Romanov stopped him and argued that their sacrifice would secure the Witch Ancestor’s support for Daluo.
• After Romanov left, Ivan’s aide reported that the Witch Ancestor had taken in over a thousand women at Grotto-Heaven Paradise, and Ivan realized Romanov had hidden the news to manipulate him into offering his harem.
• Ivan suppressed his anger toward Romanov because Daluo still needed the patriarch’s strength, but he vowed to repay him and lost what remained of his trust in him.
• Tuoba Zhen led his veteran troops to destroy two small kingdoms in a week, then housed their captured consorts while he pursued mastery of the Nine Yang Heaven-Burning Art.
• Li Chen continued enjoying the consorts in the Imperial Palace and gave Anastasia special favor, preferring to gradually win her over rather than control her mind directly.

Li Chen advised Matvei to hold a three-day palace banquet so he could use the ministers’ female relatives to frame fifteen senior officials for treason and clear the way for Matvei’s people. As the banquet began, Li Chen left the main hall and surveyed the women in the side hall, preparing to start his scheme.

• Ivan seethed over Li Chen’s influence in the palace and Anastasia’s devotion to him, but Romanov warned Ivan not to move against the Witch Ancestor during the war.
• Matvei told Li Chen he had replaced minor officials but could not find grounds to dismiss fifteen powerful senior ministers.
• Li Chen told Matvei to host a three-day banquet for the Witch God’s Heavenly Longevity and have Empress Dowager Yulia entertain the ministers’ female relatives separately.
• Matvei understood Li Chen’s plan and gave him a list of the fifteen ministers he wanted to remove.
• Matvei hosted the banquet, while Li Chen and the ministers gathered in the main hall and Yulia presided over the side hall.
• Li Chen left the main hall, surveyed the gathered women, and considered how to enlist the targeted ministers’ wives and daughters in his scheme.

Li Chen used Empress Dowager Yulia and the palace’s noblewomen to weaken Ivan and Romanov’s influence over the Imperial Court while Emperor Matvei purged their allies. When Romanov sought a face-to-face meeting, Li Chen avoided exposing himself by speaking through a voice-altering mist barrier.

• Li Chen gave Empress Dowager Yulia a list of women, and she arranged for the seventy noblewomen and young ladies to visit palace Prayer Halls where Li Chen could approach them.
• Over three days, Li Chen guided the women and secured their support through their connections and influence.
• Emperor Matvei dismissed or transferred five of Ivan’s key ministers and promoted new officials, prompting Ivan and Romanov to recognize the Witch Ancestor’s role in the court reshuffle.
• Ivan considered deposing Matvei, but support for the emperor and the Witch Ancestor made the plan too dangerous, leaving Ivan frustrated with Romanov’s scheme.
• Romanov decided to meet the Witch Ancestor, but Li Chen arranged a Mist Voice-Transmission Barrier and refused to meet him in person.