Recaps

Xu Qingxiao survived the Netherworld Poison by cultivating the Golden Crow Body Tempering Art, then advanced rapidly in the Confucian Dao and gained tools to suppress its demonic influence. As Cheng Lidong investigated him and Wu Yan urged him to leave Ping'an County, Zhou Ling stood by Xu and prepared to give him a courtesy name.

• Xu Qingxiao stole the Golden Crow Body Tempering Art from the Document Archive, cultivated it to the Tenth Rank, and survived its murderous side effects when the Literary Palace suppressed them.
• Xu Qingxiao exchanged the Golden Crow manual with the fugitive for the Taiyin Meridian Condensation Art, then concealed his recovery from the Southern Yu Prefecture officers who interrogated him.
• Xu Qingxiao studied Confucian texts, awakened a figure inside the Literary Palace, and reached the Qi-Nourishing Realm, astonishing Zhou Ling with his sudden advancement.
• Xu Qingxiao engraved the Song of Righteousness into his body, expanding his Literary Pool and forming a Sage Artifact brush with the Divine Ability Speech.
• The fugitive gave Xu Qingxiao a booklet and a message to deliver in Changping County, while Cheng Lidong’s men secretly copied strange writing from Xu’s desk.
• Zhou Ling lent Xu Qingxiao 157 books for the Prefectural Examination and introduced him to Chen Xinghe, while Cheng Lidong increased surveillance and summoned Xu for questioning.
• Xu Qingxiao concealed his use of an Unorthodox Art from Zhou Ling and Chen Xinghe, and Wu Yan told him to leave Ping'an County within five days.
• Zhou Ling affirmed his faith in Xu Qingxiao and asked whether he would accept a courtesy name, and Xu knelt and asked his teacher to bestow one.

Xu Qingxiao reached Southern Yu Prefecture, drew attention for his poetry, and faced Cheng Lidong’s suspicions while preparing for the Prefectural Examination. His essay on securing the nation brought a major Confucian breakthrough, and Zhaoge began helping him address the risks of his Martial Dao training.

• Xu Qingxiao and Chen Xinghe departed for Southern Yu Prefecture, where Xu Qingxiao investigated poisoned tea and took evidence to the authorities.
• At Li Xin’s banquet, Xu Qingxiao recited “Man Jiang Hong: Rage Crowns My Head,” advanced to the Ninth Rank, and awakened the Sight divine ability.
• Xu Qingxiao learned that Cheng Lidong suspected him of practicing unorthodox arts, refused Cheng’s offer of cooperation, and asked Li Xin to keep Cheng under watch.
• At Bailu Academy, Xu Qingxiao identified the handsome man in his Literary Palace as Zhaoge, the Great Sage’s foremost disciple, and Zhaoge confirmed his identity.
• Xu Qingxiao wrote an essay arguing that Great Wei should restore its finances and people’s livelihoods before pursuing more wars, and the essay produced a white rainbow and rang the Sacred Bell five times.
• Xu Qingxiao advanced to the Eighth-Rank Self-Cultivation Realm and formed an ancient azure bell as his Literary Artifact.
• Zhaoge recalled much of his Martial Dao, offered to complete Xu Qingxiao’s Golden Crow Body Tempering Art, and Xu Qingxiao agreed to wait before advancing further.
• Zhao Yuan warned Xu Qingxiao that his writings had attracted demons and monsters and arranged for experts of three paths to guard him.

Xu Qingxiao survived the Nightmare Demon, gained imperial attention, and used his Dream-Entering Divine Ability to investigate the White Robe Sect and the Martial Emperor's Legacy Treasure. After reaching the ninth rank, he left for Autumn-Gazing Mountain to seek the treasure.

• The Nightmare Demon invaded Xu Qingxiao’s dream, but Xu Qingxiao wounded him with three Sage Artifacts, and Zhaoge later absorbed the demon’s Primordial Spirit.
• The masters of Southern Yu Prefecture killed four seventh-rank demons, while Xu Qingxiao inherited the Nightmare Clan’s Dream-Entering Divine Ability and received visits from imperial scholars and envoys.
• Xu Qingxiao used the Dream-Entering Divine Ability on Mu Nan'ning, then met her and Mu Nanping, who discussed court factions and Great Wei’s political conflicts with him.
• At Wenxuan Tower, Xu Qingxiao composed a lyric about lovesickness and learned from Mu Nanping that the Embroidered Guard could investigate and arrest officials under the Empress’s authority.
• Xu Qingxiao read Wu Yan’s case file, discovered his connection to the White Robe Sect, and planned to pose as the sect’s operative while investigating its hidden contact in Ping'an County.
• The Empress sealed Xu Qingxiao’s Great Wei Pacification Policy as a new doctrine and postponed summoning him, fearing its implementation would provoke court factions and endanger him.
• Xu Qingxiao used dreams and passwords to meet Chief Constable Chen, learned the sect’s suspicions about Autumn-Gazing Mountain, and inferred that the treasure required practicing two Unorthodox Arts.
• Xu Qingxiao absorbed the Golden Crow Divinity to forge a great sun sacred body, then used the Taiyin Meridian Condensation Art to reach the ninth rank and set off for Autumn-Gazing Mountain.

Xu Qingxiao defended the men imprisoned after the Southern Yu brawl, established the School of the Mind, and entered the capital amid conflict with the Confucian lineage. After exposing obstruction in the Ministry of Punishment and restoring Great Wei’s national fortune, he set out to investigate the Pingqiu Relief Case.

• Xu Qingxiao discovered the Pill Deity Ancient Scripture and learned about its pill-refining abilities before traveling to Southern Yu Prefecture.
• Xu Qingxiao took responsibility for the men jailed after attacking Bright Dawn Academy’s students, despite warnings that doing so could ruin his scholarly prospects.
• At the tower banquet, Xu Qingxiao recited the Preface to the Southern Yu Pavilion, declared Unity of Knowledge and Action, and entered prison to defend the accused.
• Xu Qingxiao illuminated his gentlemanly will, established the School of the Mind, and received recognition from heaven and earth as the people of Southern Yu Prefecture saluted him as Master Xu.
• Xu Qingxiao rejected the Literary Palace’s offer to join Sage Zhu’s lineage, then traveled to the capital, where he accepted noble youths as disciples and received a post in the Ministry of Punishment and the Censorate.
• After officials obstructed his investigation of the Pingqiu Relief Case and mistreated Zhou Nan, Xu Qingxiao impeached and punished Ministry of Punishment officials, prompting the Female Emperor to order a one-month investigation.
• Xu Qingxiao restored Great Wei’s national fortune with his maxim about small evils and good deeds, secured appointments for Yang Hu and the others, and returned to the Ministry of Punishment to investigate the case.