Chapter Summaries

Li Chen brought Orchid Fairy and several disguised Saint Realm experts back to the Great Luo Dynasty, then encouraged Matvei to reclaim imperial authority. He lured the hidden Founding Emperor Romanov toward a trap in the Holy Capital, leaving Romanov suspicious but unable to ignore the summons.

• High Person Clear Void denied Late Breeze True Person’s teasing and discussed the formation with him.
• Li Chen told Orchid Fairy about the Witch Ancestor’s Grotto-Heaven and persuaded her to oversee its women and ancient spirit plants.
• Li Chen returned to the Great Luo Dynasty with Orchid Fairy, Late Breeze True Person, and other disguised Saint Realm experts.
• Li Chen urged Matvei to seize real imperial power, and Matvei resolved to take back what he believed was his.
• Li Chen announced that he wanted to discuss the Empire’s future with Romanov, who received the news and suspected a trap.

Romanov visited Li Chen, disguised as the Witch Ancestor, and agreed to let him spread his faith if he could make Heavenly Strategy withdraw. After Romanov left the palace, Azure Deep Heavenly Venerable tracked his footprints and found his hiding place.

• Romanov dismissed Ivan’s worries and went alone to the Imperial Palace.
• At the banquet, Li Chen asked to establish shrines in Imperial and noble territories, and Romanov demanded that he deal with Heavenly Strategy in return.
• Li Chen agreed to try to make Heavenly Strategy withdraw, while Romanov secretly planned to eliminate him once he was no longer useful.
• Romanov left the palace believing he had secured his goal, unaware that an invisible power had marked his footprints.
• Azure Deep Heavenly Venerable used Earth-Treading Without a Trace to track Romanov and reported his hiding place to Li Chen.

Li Chen sent a force to raid Romanov and Ivan’s secret grotto-heaven in the Misty Imperial Mausoleum. Romanov discovered the intruders and prepared to fight, but the Witch Ancestor appeared, leaving Romanov accusing him of betraying Daluo.

• Li Chen ordered his people to gather and carry out the plan against Romanov and Ivan at the Imperial Mausoleum.
• Romanov and Ivan praised one another’s supposed strategy, unaware that intruders were approaching their hidden base.
• Romanov sensed a breach in his grotto-heaven, confronted the intruders, and found Late Breeze True Person and High Person Clear Void arguing over their infiltration.
• Helan Xuan and Azure Deep Heavenly Venerable joined the others, while Ivan arrived with Imperial Clan experts; Romanov claimed his grotto-heaven’s formations gave him the advantage.
• The Witch Ancestor appeared with a beautiful companion, and Romanov accused him of colluding with foreigners and betraying Daluo.

Li Chen revealed that he was the Witch Ancestor, shocking Romanov and Ivan as they realized how thoroughly he had manipulated the Great Luo Dynasty. Facing overwhelming odds, Romanov accepted that Li Chen would not spare a powerful rival and asked him one final question before the fight.

• Li Chen removed his disguise and revealed himself as the Emperor of Heavenly Strategy, leaving Romanov stunned.
• Romanov identified Li Chen to Ivan, who realized that he and the court had unknowingly given Li Chen women, territory, authority, and influence over Daluo.
• Romanov assessed that Li Chen's side had at least six Saint Realm powerhouses while he alone could fight at that level, and that the grotto-heaven cut them off from outside support.
• Romanov accused Li Chen of destroying his dynasty despite their lack of serious grievances, but Li Chen asked whether Romanov would abandon the chance to annex a rival power.
• Romanov admitted that he would seize the same opportunity and asked Li Chen to answer one final question, which Li Chen said he might refuse.

Romanov challenged Li Chen to a duel, but Li Chen refused and ordered his allies to trap Romanov inside his own Grotto-Heaven. As the formation empowered Li Chen and suppressed Romanov, the two prepared to clash with their strongest attacks.

• Romanov asked whether Li Chen had planted Tuoba Zhen in the Great Luo Dynasty, and Li Chen denied it while admitting Tuoba Zhen’s upheavals had unexpectedly benefited him.
• Romanov summoned the Ancient Giant Bear and offered to settle the conflict through single combat, but Li Chen rejected the offer and declared his intent to kill him with minimal risk.
• Late Breeze True Person and High Person Clear Void activated two linked formations that disrupted Romanov’s control of his Grotto-Heaven and empowered Li Chen.
• Helan Xuan and Azure Deep Heavenly Venerable held off the Ancient Giant Bear while the formation bound Romanov and suppressed his strength.
• Romanov unleashed a destructive orb at Li Chen and the formation’s nexus, while Li Chen gathered seven-colored power at his fingertips.

Li Chen defeated Romanov with a Seven-Colored Sword Aura and rejected Ivan’s surrender, determined to eliminate the former regime’s leaders. After Romanov and Ivan died, Li Chen’s allies searched and purified the battlefield to prevent anyone from escaping.

• Li Chen’s Seven-Colored Sword Aura destroyed Romanov’s attack and defenses, leaving him gravely wounded.
• Ivan pleaded for surrender, but Li Chen refused and said he would take everything by killing them.
• Li Chen beheaded Romanov, and Helan Xuan killed Ivan and the Imperial Clan experts behind him.
• Azure Deep Heavenly Venerable ordered a thorough search, and the Saints swept the Grotto-Heaven world for survivors and lingering souls.
• The Saints purified the battlefield and began sorting through the spoils.

After eliminating Romanov, Li Chen gave most of his lair’s treasures to the five Saints and returned to the palace, where he promised Matvei that the emperor’s troubles would soon end. A week later, Matvei learned that the ancestor and Ivan had vanished after attending Li Chen’s banquet and realized his master was behind the Imperial Clan’s sudden change of allegiance.

• Li Chen let the five Saints divide most of Romanov’s treasure and then returned to the Sacred Palace.
• Li Chen found Matvei struggling with hostile ministers and told him that his troubles would soon end.
• After morning court, a previously contemptuous imperial granduncle offered Matvei support, and other powerful clan members soon followed.
• A guard captain reported that the ancestor, Ivan, and their court informants had been unreachable for more than seven days.
• Matvei connected their disappearance after Li Chen’s banquet with his master’s warning and the Imperial Clan’s sudden loyalty.

Matvei concealed his suspicions about Ivan and Romanov’s disappearance, then consolidated his rule with Li Chen’s support. After asking how to handle Grand Duke Sergei and the Heavenly Strategy Army, he was stunned when Li Chen told him to offer Daluo as Heavenly Strategy’s vassal.

• Matvei ordered a secret investigation around the Imperial Mausoleum, but the searchers found no evidence of what had happened to Romanov and Ivan.
• Matvei and supportive Imperial Clan factions purged old ministers accused of corruption, treason, and plotting against the throne, strengthening his control of the Holy Capital.
• Matvei told Li Chen that Grand Duke Sergei remained defiant in the Eastern Region and the Heavenly Strategy Army threatened Daluo from the border.
• Li Chen told Matvei to send a state letter offering to make Daluo a vassal of Heavenly Strategy, and Matvei jolted in shock.

Li Chen convinced Matvei that the Emperor of Heavenly Strategy would accept Daluo’s submission, then announced he would leave once the crisis was settled. Matvei, overwhelmed with gratitude, pledged Daluo’s allegiance to the Witch Ancestor and Witch Cult, while Li Chen departed the Holy Capital with Orchid Fairy and his core personnel.

• Li Chen assured Matvei that he could mediate with the Emperor of Heavenly Strategy and secure acceptance of Daluo’s Letter of Submission.
• Li Chen told Matvei he planned to return to the Witchfolk Sacred Land after Daluo’s situation stabilized, prompting Matvei to beg him to stay.
• Li Chen praised Matvei’s growth and offered to help with future problems if Matvei sent a letter to the sacred land.
• Matvei realized Li Chen had never tried to control Daluo, repented of doubting his master, and pledged the Witch Ancestor as Daluo’s sole State Preceptor and the Witch Cult as its sole state religion.
• Li Chen left Daluo’s Holy Capital with Orchid Fairy and his core personnel, ostensibly to cultivate in seclusion.

After securing Matvei’s rule and returning to Heavenly Strategy, Li Chen collected his system rewards and received a mission to investigate the East Sea Dragon Palace. He began considering how to manage relations with the Dragon Race before Sining arrived to greet him.

• Matvei sent Li Chen a procession of palace beauties and promised to send new holy maidens to his grotto each year, and Li Chen approved the arrangement.
• Li Chen settled the women in the Witch Ancestor’s Grotto-Heaven, while Matvei used his status as the Witch Ancestor’s disciple to strengthen his rule and the Witch Cult’s influence.
• Li Chen entrusted the grotto’s management to Orchid Fairy and returned to Heavenly Strategy’s Imperial Capital.
• Li Chen completed the Northern Frontier Tempering mission with a perfect assessment and received Void-Breaking Pills, Ten-Thousand-Year Earthcore Milk, and the Sky-Piercing Blade.
• The system assigned Li Chen the East Sea Dragon Quest, and he planned to investigate the Dragon Palace and prevent the Dragon Race from opposing his ambitions.
• Sining arrived and asked Li Chen where he had been and why he had left her alone in the palace.

Li Chen considered whether to exploit turmoil in the Eternal Day Empire while preparing to receive Matvei, who was leading Daluo into submission. Matvei defended his decision to travel to Heavenly Strategy and present tribute, despite opposition from his ministers.

• Li Sining celebrated Li Chen's success in securing the Great Luo Dynasty's submission, and he gave her Void-Breaking Pills and Ten-Thousand-Year Earthcore Milk.
• Eunuch Cui reported rumors that the Pope of the Everlasting Day Holy See had disappeared and Emperor Charles had been attacked.
• Li Chen and Li Sining realized his honorary titles in Eternal Day might become a path to influence, though Li Chen suspected the turmoil could be a trap.
• Li Chen decided to investigate the western developments before pursuing the Dragon Palace matter in the East Sea.
• Matvei overruled Daluo's hard-line nobles and declared that he would travel to Heavenly Strategy's capital to submit and present Daluo's sincerity.

Li Chen accepted Matvei’s submission for the time being and summoned him to court to judge his sincerity, balancing officials who favored peace against generals who wanted to conquer Daluo. Matvei arrived at Heavenly Strategy’s border and traveled toward the capital, astonished by the empire’s advanced technology.

• Matvei’s submission won support from peace-minded officials in Daluo while Tuoba Zhen expanded his power across the northwestern kingdoms and tribes.
• At court, Zhao Wenyuan and other civil officials urged Li Chen to accept Daluo’s submission, while Guo Poyun and the military officials argued for continuing the invasion.
• Li Chen accepted Matvei’s Letter of Submission provisionally and ordered him to attend court so he could assess whether Daluo would truly become a vassal.
• Seven days later, Matvei reached Heavenly Strategy’s border with a large delegation and traveled toward the capital under the Ministry of Rites’ guidance.
• Along the journey, Matvei saw trains and mobile phones for the first time and felt embarrassed by his ignorance and the Heavenly Strategy officials’ condescension.

Matvei arrived at Heavenly Strategy’s capital to meet Emperor Li Chen, fearing how the powerful ruler would treat Daluo after its surrender. When they met, Matvei unexpectedly knelt and accepted every term without resistance, then requested a private audience with Li Chen.

• Matvei marveled at Heavenly Strategy’s prosperity and order as he approached its capital, then resolved to face Li Chen without asking the Witch Ancestor for help.
• Matvei entered the Golden Throne Hall and saw Li Chen on the Dragon Throne, only to kneel and offer an unusually practiced, devout salute.
• Matvei agreed without hesitation to Li Chen’s demands, including territorial concessions, troop reductions, trade privileges, and annual tribute.
• Li Chen told Matvei to return to Daluo and stabilize its internal affairs, and Matvei thanked him before asking for a private audience.

Li Chen accepted Matvei’s personal gift and greetings on behalf of the Witch Ancestor, then let him return to Daluo to oversee state affairs. Daluo’s submission became final, bringing celebration across Heavenly Strategy and further elevating Li Chen’s reputation.

• Matvei requested a private audience with Li Chen after court, and Li Chen granted it in the Imperial Study.
• Matvei presented Li Chen with Ice-Soul Snow Spirit Fruits and invoked his connection to the Witch Ancestor to express gratitude and build goodwill.
• Li Chen accepted the gift and asked Matvei to convey his greetings to the Witch Ancestor.
• Matvei asked to return to Daluo to manage state affairs, and Li Chen allowed him to leave.
• Daluo’s submission was confirmed, and news of its vassal status spread through Heavenly Strategy as its people celebrated Li Chen’s achievement.

Li Chen told Zhao Wenyuan and Guo Poyun that he planned to secretly enter the Eternal Day Empire to investigate the Pope’s disappearance and the suspected attack on Emperor Charles. He declared that his goal was to unite the continent, leaving both ministers convinced his ambition might be within reach.

• Li Chen explained that his papal-successor and State Preceptor titles could draw Emperor Charles’s hostility, and Zhao Wenyuan warned that Charles might be behind the Holy See’s troubles.
• Guo Poyun learned that Li Chen was also the Witch Ancestor, and Li Chen promised to include both ministers in a group chat next time.
• Guo Poyun warned that Li Chen’s return as the Pope’s successor could turn Holy See infighting into conflict between nations.
• Li Chen revealed that he would disguise himself as a low-ranking Holy See member and infiltrate the Eternal Day Empire to investigate discreetly.
• Zhao Wenyuan urged Li Chen not to risk his life, but Li Chen declared that he intended to unite the continent.

After entrusting domestic affairs to Zhao Wenyuan and Guo Poyun, Li Chen secretly inspected the prosperous Imperial Capital before setting out on another campaign. He encountered Lin Yue'e outside the Ministry of Sect Affairs, and she postponed her official trip to approach him.

• Zhao Wenyuan and Guo Poyun pledged to keep the empire stable and support Li Chen's ambition to unify the continent.
• Guo Poyun wondered whether he would live to see unification and imagined telling the Previous Emperor that Li Chen had become a sovereign for all ages.
• Li Chen decided to delay his departure and inspect the Imperial Capital, including its prosperity, fitness halls, and growing cultivation culture.
• Li Chen watched Minister Lin Yue'e leave the Ministry of Sect Affairs and saw her authority and efficiency command the respect of her subordinates.
• Lin Yue'e recognized Li Chen in disguise, postponed her trip, and approached him with unexpected gentleness.

Li Chen inspected the Ministry of Sect Affairs and heard Lin Yue'e's report on the Empire's growing sects and cultivation talent. After Xu Zifeng recognized Li Chen during a boastful drinking session, he panicked and abandoned his plans to follow him, wondering what His Majesty intended to do.

• Ministry officials recognized Li Chen as the person Lin Yue'e served and warned their juniors to stay silent.
• Lin Yue'e reported the Ministry's orderly management and the Empire's growing number of cultivators and promising talents to Li Chen.
• Xu Zifeng boasted to his companions about his battlefield achievements and influence in the Imperial Capital.
• When an adviser suggested clearing the street, Xu Zifeng saw Li Chen and kicked his companions unconscious to hide his arrogance from the emperor.
• Li Chen passed by without speaking, and Xu Zifeng later woke his companions and told them they had drunk too much.
• Xu Zifeng left his companions and hurried away, wondering what Li Chen was going to do.

Li Chen inspected the Ministry of War and Ministry of Personnel incognito, observing officials and rewarding Fang Qian for his service. The chapter ended with Fang Qian confronting Xu Zifeng for secretly following the emperor and taunting him with Li Chen’s gift.

• Li Chen watched the Ministry of War’s officials, and Wu Qi spotted him but kept his presence secret as requested.
• Wu Qi caught Xu Zifeng following Li Chen, warned him to be careful, and let him continue.
• Li Chen visited Fang Qian at the Ministry of Personnel, praised his work, and gave him a Pure Spirit Pill.
• Fang Qian spotted Xu Zifeng following Li Chen and threatened to report him for plotting treason.
• Xu Zifeng claimed he was secretly protecting Li Chen, but Fang Qian mocked his military record and flaunted the emperor’s gift.

After losing his argument with Fang Qian, Xu Zifeng followed a mysterious man and discovered he was a surviving member of the Wang Family, who abandoned his vow to avenge his father. The encounter made Xu Zifeng realize he, too, would be too afraid to oppose Li Chen, and he resolved to warn his father to avoid offending the emperor.

• Xu Zifeng argued with Fang Qian outside the Ministry of Personnel, then felt dispirited and stopped following Li Chen.
• Xu Zifeng noticed a concealed man trailing Li Chen and Lin Yue'e and followed him out of the city to a secluded grave.
• The man mourned his father and admitted he could not defeat Li Chen, then tore his robe and declared he was severing their father-son relationship rather than seeking revenge.
• Xu Zifeng recognized the man as a surviving member of the Wang Family, once condemned for supporting the Former Dynasty Remnants.
• Xu Zifeng imagined Li Chen killing his father and realized he would not dare seek revenge, so he decided to urge the Prince of the South not to offend the emperor.

Li Chen visited Lin Yue'e, encouraged her cultivation, and questioned consorts from the Eternal Day Empire for intelligence. Meanwhile, Cardinal Derek pushed to elect an acting pope while the Pope remained missing, and Cardinal Pamilian opposed him.

• Li Chen visited Lin Yue'e's residence, recalled how he had helped her, and urged her to cultivate beyond the Saint Realm.
• Li Chen questioned consorts from the Eternal Day Empire about its Holy See, imperial house, customs, and power relationships.
• Li Chen reviewed their accounts alongside intelligence from his covert guards and considered what he might gain by visiting Eternal Day.
• In the Papal Palace, Cardinal Derek called for an acting pope after the Pope had been missing for more than a hundred days.
• Cardinal Pamilian sat opposite Derek as the Holy See's leaders gathered amid rising factional tensions.