Chapter Summaries

Li Shouming restored his Confucian path and joined Xu Qingxiao’s School of the Mind, drawing scholars toward the academy as Xu offered to restore others’ paths too. Xu then recruited Li Xian as a potential ally and ended the chapter by telling the Female Emperor he wanted to forge a sword to slay treacherous ministers, crush rebel factions, execute vassal kings, and quell calamities.

• Xu Qingxiao shared literary qi with Li Shouming, who illuminated his will anew, established his words, and pledged to spread the School of the Mind.
• Confucian Sun struck Li Shouming from the Literary Palace’s rolls and forbade its scholars from associating with him, so Xu invited scholars to join his school and promised to restore their Confucian paths.
• After Li Shouming urged the scholars to choose for themselves, many entered Shouren Academy, where Xu explained the School of the Mind and asked them to decide after reflection.
• Xu sent Li Shouming to keep the Ten Kingdoms’ talented scholars from leaving the Capital, then met Li Xian and secured his loyalty while offering his younger brother a place at the academy.
• Xu met the Female Emperor and said he had come to forge a sword of slaughter and conquest, naming treacherous ministers, rebel factions, vassal kings, and sources of calamity as his targets.

Xu Qingxiao proposed a Sword of Execution to help the Female Emperor control the court and presented a merchant-official system to fund Great Wei and draw merchants under its authority. After leaving the palace, he went to Peach Blossom Nunnery, where the person he had come to meet appeared before him.

• Xu Qingxiao described the Sword of Execution and the Son of Heaven's Sword, while privately planning a People's Heart Sword as his own safeguard.
• The Female Emperor asked how to forge the Sword of Execution, and Xu Qingxiao outlined its requirements before hinting that Zhao Wan'er might be suitable.
• Xu Qingxiao proposed granting merchants ranks and status in exchange for funding the waterwheel project, and the Female Emperor approved his plan and gave him the Dragon Tally and authority over the Six Ministries.
• After Xu Qingxiao left, the Female Emperor considered whether a eunuch might meet the requirements for the Sword of Execution.
• Xu Qingxiao visited Peach Blossom Nunnery, spoke with Wang Ru at the Gathering of Worthies Banquet, and met the person he had come to see.

At Peach Blossom Nunnery, Xu Qingxiao received a recruitment offer from the White Robe Sect, apologized to Lady White Robe, and gave her the name Luo Baiyi. He then confronted Prince Kong for insulting Great Wei’s women and carrying armed guards before meeting Zhang Ruhui to discuss a major business deal.

• Xu Qingxiao met the White Robe Sect’s contact, Wu Zhangyi, who offered him a high position in the sect and asked for the Booklet Wu Yan had entrusted to him; Xu Qingxiao accepted the token but said he would decide later.
• Xu Qingxiao visited Lady White Robe with imperial pastries, apologized for their previous misunderstanding, recited a poem, and promised to help buy her freedom and gave her the surname Luo, calling her Luo Baiyi.
• Xu Qingxiao heard Prince Kong and his companions insulting Lady White Robe and Great Wei’s women, then ordered the armed guards to slap themselves and warned Prince Kong against further insults or misconduct.
• Xu Qingxiao left Prince Kong’s party after telling Peach Blossom Nunnery to reject foreign guests who tried to force Pure Courtesans to meet them.
• Xu Qingxiao met Zhang Ruhui and asked whether he was interested in a major business deal.

Xu Qingxiao persuaded Zhang Ruhui to donate ten million taels and revealed Great Wei’s new official-merchant system, with ranks, commercial privileges, academy admission, and possible noble titles. The Female Emperor enacted the system despite fierce court opposition, appointed Zhang Ruhui a second-rank official merchant and Great Wei Baron, and the news spread across the realm.

• Xu Qingxiao told Zhang Ruhui that merchants could enter officialdom through a new official-merchant path and outlined its three benefits; Zhang agreed to donate ten million taels and help publicize the Waterwheel Project.
• Xu Qingxiao drafted donation requirements and rules for official-merchant ranks, tenure, and possible ennoblement, then returned to Shouren Academy.
• Zhang Ruhui donated ten million taels to the Waterwheel Project, earning public praise and drawing attention from the Ministry of Revenue and other merchants.
• The Female Emperor decreed the creation of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the official-merchant system, assigning Xu Qingxiao responsibility for it.
• Chen Zhengru, Zhang Jing, other ministers, military officials, Dukes, and Grand Confucians opposed the official-merchant system, but the Female Emperor refused to reconsider.
• The Female Emperor granted Zhang Ruhui the rank of second-rank official merchant and the title of Great Wei Baron, then left court as most officials continued protesting; news of the system spread through Great Wei.

Xu Qingxiao’s merchant-official scheme provoked fury among officials, but merchants rushed to apply, and he used their payments to organize the Great Wei Merchant Guild and prepare further plans. When Gu Yan stormed into Shouren Academy to denounce him, Xu Qingxiao handed him the accounts, leaving Gu Yan stunned.

• Common people rejected merchants receiving official posts and academy priority, but defended Xu Qingxiao against accusations that he had betrayed them.
• Prince Huaining recognized that the Female Emperor’s support for the Waterwheel Project made the merchant-official plan dangerous, while the Jin Merchants’ clan leader decided to pursue a first-rank seat to protect his clan’s position.
• A masked woman’s gifts proved to be the ingredients for a seventh-rank Realm-Breaking Pill, and the Pill Deity Ancient Scripture promised to produce the pill in seven days.
• Xu Qingxiao received applications from all Eight Great Merchants and many other merchants, returned three applications to make them wait, and arranged for Zhang Ruhui to buy bookshops and printing workshops.
• After officials ended their protest and left the palace, Gu Yan found the Ministry of Revenue working at Shouren Academy and angrily confronted Xu Qingxiao.
• Xu Qingxiao handed Gu Yan a thick stack of accounts, and Gu Yan’s anger vanished into shock as he read them.

Xu Qingxiao won the support of Great Wei’s ministers and military leaders for the Official-Merchant Path by showing them the enormous revenue it could bring and allocating funds to their institutions. He left the Ministry of Rites untouched and wondered how Wang Xinzhi would respond at court the next day, while Hua Xingyun arrived outside Shouren Academy.

• Xu Qingxiao showed Gu Yan the official-merchant accounts, and Gu Yan agreed to support the proposal after learning it could raise as much as fifteen billion taels and bring merchants under the court’s control.
• Xu Qingxiao promised Ministry of Revenue staff triple pay, then persuaded Chen Zhengru to support the proposal by allocating one hundred million taels to the Ministry of Personnel.
• Xu Qingxiao secured Zhang Jing’s agreement with twenty million taels for the Ministry of Punishment and Li Yanlong’s agreement with twenty-five million taels for the Ministry of Works.
• At the Duke’s Estate, Xu Qingxiao offered two billion taels for the armies, winning the military faction’s support before being forced to drink with them for hours.
• Xu Qingxiao left the Ministry of Rites for later and wondered whether Wang Xinzhi would object at court as Hua Xingyun arrived outside Shouren Academy.

Xu Qingxiao planned to use merchant inspectors to balance the official merchant associations, while Gu Yan learned of his ambitious education proposal and criticized his generous spending. At court, the officials unexpectedly backed the Official Merchant Reform, leaving Wang Xinzhi isolated; after learning the Ministry of Rites had received no silver, he stormed off to confront Xu Qingxiao.

• Hua Xingyun presented Xu Qingxiao with a plan to divide the three merchant associations, but Xu Qingxiao declined to use it and kept his suspicions to himself.
• Xu Qingxiao explained to Gu Yan that four major associations would receive first-rank status while four others would become inspectors, and he proposed gradually expanding free schooling across Great Wei.
• Gu Yan questioned Xu Qingxiao's generous payments to other ministries, while Xu Qingxiao concealed a Heavenly Edict beneath his pillow that summoned the court.
• Wang Xinzhi presented a memorial against the Official Merchant Reform, only for the other ministers and dukes to voice their support for it instead.
• The Female Emperor ordered Chen Zhengru to issue a decree confirming Xu Qingxiao's authority over official merchant affairs, and Wang Xinzhi reluctantly withdrew his objection.
• Li Yanlong explained Xu Qingxiao's dealings to Wang Xinzhi, who realized the Ministry of Rites had received no silver and stormed toward Shouren Academy to demand an explanation.

Wang Xinzhi confronted Xu Qingxiao over the Ministry of Rites being excluded from funding, then agreed to give the foreign envoys printed copies of Xu’s poem in exchange for thirty million taels. Xu Qingxiao reluctantly attended the Peaceful Age Poetry Gathering, wrote half a poem, and left after ordering the Ten Kingdoms’ Great Talents to submit pledges; the chapter ended with Cheng Lidong arriving at the Ministry of Punishment with a written complaint.

• Wang Xinzhi demanded an explanation for the Ministry of Rites being left out of the funding, and Xu Qingxiao proposed giving the envoys printed copies of his poem instead of lavish gifts.
• Xu Qingxiao promised thirty million taels for the Ministry of Rites, and Wang Xinzhi accepted the plan and warned him not to escalate the struggle between schools of thought.
• Prince Huaining learned that the Great Wei Literary Palace intended to accuse Xu Qingxiao of practicing an unorthodox art, while the masked man said Xu’s death would create an opportunity to halt the Waterwheel Project.
• Rumors spread that Xu Qingxiao would compose another immortal poem, and the Ten Kingdoms’ Great Talents tried unsuccessfully to avoid the closing banquet.
• Xu Qingxiao attended the banquet, wrote half a poem, declined to summon manifestations, and ordered the Ten Kingdoms’ Great Talents to submit pledges or kowtow before leaving Great Wei.
• After the Peaceful Age Poetry Gathering ended, Cheng Lidong appeared outside the Ministry of Punishment carrying a written complaint.

Cheng Lidong submitted an accusation that Xu Qingxiao practiced unorthodox arts, but Minister Zhang Jing secretly concealed the case file. Xu Qingxiao refused Cheng Lidong’s offer to cooperate, prepared for the Literary Palace’s planned attack, and negotiated with the merchant associations as the Birthday Celebration and the expected crisis approached.

• Cheng Lidong submitted a case file accusing Xu Qingxiao of secretly studying unorthodox arts, and Zhang Jing placed it in an inner cabinet without opening it.
• Cheng Lidong demanded Xu Qingxiao’s cooperation, but Xu Qingxiao refused and explained that Cheng Lidong had become a pawn of Yan Ru’s faction.
• Xu Qingxiao consulted Zhaoge and Evil-Breaker, who offered to activate the Heaven and Earth Literary Palace against a Sage Artifact at the cost of falling into a long slumber.
• Scholar Peng ordered Sun Jing'an to act against Xu Qingxiao after the foreign envoys returned, while the Great Wei Literary Palace withheld its own public involvement.
• Xu Qingxiao negotiated waterwheel supplies and official positions with the Eight Great Merchant Associations, securing agreements and arranging inspector roles.
• Xu Qingxiao returned to Shouren Academy and anticipated that the crisis would begin after Her Majesty’s Birthday Celebration.

At the Female Emperor’s birthday celebration, Xu Qingxiao discussed Great Wei’s new revenues and plans for the nation before Prince Huaining decided to act against him. The chapter ended with Prince Huaining accusing Xu Qingxiao of practicing unorthodox arts, throwing the Capital into turmoil.

• Xu Qingxiao’s copied poetry and stamped seals were prepared as return gifts for the foreign envoys, while he presented the Female Emperor with a bamboo flute.
• Xu Qingxiao told the Female Emperor that the Official-Merchant System would bring in fourteen billion taels and proposed spending the funds on waterwheels, abandoned farmland, military needs, and agriculture.
• Xu Qingxiao left the banquet with Zhang Jing, who silently walked him back to Shouren Academy, and Xu Qingxiao realized Zhang Jing wanted to help him with the case.
• Prince Huaining accepted Cheng Lidong’s request to move against Xu Qingxiao, while the ministries collected their shares of the new revenue.
• At dawn, Prince Huaining struck the grievance drum outside the Ministry of Punishment and accused Xu Qingxiao of practicing unorthodox arts, murder, and plunder.
• The accusation spread through the Capital, alarming the Female Emperor and prompting officials and nobles to react as Zhang Jing remained silent.

Prince Huaining accused Xu Qingxiao of practicing an unorthodox art, forcing Zhang Jing to resign rather than accept the case. At court, a witness transformed into a monster, and Xu Qingxiao realized the ordeal was meant to awaken his own demonic seed.

• Prince Huaining demanded that the Ministry of Punishment accept his accusation, but Zhang Jing refused and resigned to protect Xu Qingxiao.
• Xu Qingxiao arrived, and the Female Emperor summoned him and the officials to court to examine the charge.
• Sun Jing'an and Yan Lei pressed for the Heaven-Investing Mirror to be activated, and Xu Qingxiao agreed to let the people witness the proceedings.
• Prince Huaining presented a dossier and Cheng Lidong as a witness, who accused Xu Qingxiao of practicing an unorthodox art and colluding with the White Robe Sect.
• Chen Zhengru detected an unorthodox art in Cheng Lidong, whose body transformed into a serpent-like monster as Xu Qingxiao sensed his own demonic seed stirring.

Xu Qingxiao faced an imperial investigation into whether he had practiced unorthodox arts, but popular will concealed his demonic seeds from Scholar Peng’s examination. He agreed to visit the Great Wei Literary Palace to prove his innocence, and the chapter ended as he set out with the court officials.

• Cheng Lidong’s demonic seed awakened, transforming him into a serpent demon, and Chen Zhengru killed him while Sun Jing'an’s attempt to provoke Xu Qingxiao’s demonic seed failed.
• Sun Jing'an proposed that Scholar Peng examine Xu Qingxiao, and the Female Emperor summoned the Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian to court.
• Scholar Peng examined Xu Qingxiao but found that popular will blocked his righteous Haoran qi, prompting Sun Jing'an to demand that Xu Qingxiao disperse it.
• The Female Emperor and nearly all the court officials supported ending the investigation, while citizens gathered outside the palace to voice their support for Xu Qingxiao.
• Scholar Peng proposed testing Xu Qingxiao at the Great Wei Literary Palace, and Zhaoge told Xu Qingxiao that she and Brother Evil-Breaker could help him withstand the Sage Artifact and sage intent.
• Xu Qingxiao agreed to go to the Literary Palace, demanded that Sun Jing'an and Yan Lei give up their Confucian Ranks if he proved innocent, and set out with the officials.

Xu Qingxiao entered the Great Wei Literary Palace to prove he had not practiced an Unorthodox Art, and instead resonated with Sage Zhu, who bowed to him. After the Sage’s recognition suppressed the Demonic Seed within him and destroyed a demonic embryo, Xu Qingxiao remained on the Sacred Steps Platform and announced that he would write a book and become a Confucian scholar.

• Xu Qingxiao challenged Sun Jing'an and Yan Lei to give up their Confucian ranks if he proved his innocence, then entered the Great Wei Literary Palace as Zhaoge and Evil-Breaker awakened the Heaven and Earth Literary Palace in his mind.
• The Literary Palace shook and blazed with light, and Scholar Peng realized that Xu Qingxiao had resonated with sage intent rather than incurred the Sage’s wrath.
• Xu Qingxiao climbed the Nine-Tier Sage Platform, where Sage Zhu’s spectral manifestation appeared and bowed to him before sending Sage Intent into his body.
• Sage Zhu’s divine radiance destroyed the Seven Demon Cult’s Divine Embryo, while an old Daoist at the Supreme Sacred Sect resolved to travel to Great Wei’s Capital to meet Xu Qingxiao.
• After sitting silently on the Sacred Steps Platform for hours, Xu Qingxiao declared that he would write a book and become a Confucian scholar.

Xu Qingxiao wrote the Thousand Character Classic as a Peerless Divine Book and became a peerless Grand Confucian. When Scholar Peng tried to shield Sun Jing'an and Yan Lei from their promise to renounce their Confucian ranks, Xu Qingxiao ordered troops to surround the Literary Palace and threatened to execute them.

• Sage Zhu's phantom bowed to Xu Qingxiao, confirming his standing and leaving Prince Huaining, Scholar Peng, Sun Jing'an, and Yan Lei alarmed.
• Xu Qingxiao announced that he would write a book to attain the Grand Confucian rank and recited his Thousand Character Classic, whose golden characters drew in popular will and starlight.
• The Literary Palace Grand Confucians recognized the Thousand Character Classic as a Peerless Divine Book, and Xu Qingxiao advanced to become a peerless Grand Confucian.
• Xu Qingxiao demanded that Sun Jing'an and Yan Lei honor their promise to renounce their Confucian ranks, but Scholar Peng offered compensation and argued against punishing them.
• Xu Qingxiao rejected Scholar Peng's pleas, summoned the Eight Gates Capital Troops with the Great Wei Dragon Tally, and ordered the Literary Palace sealed until Sun Jing'an and Yan Lei renounced their ranks or faced execution.

Xu Qingxiao forced Sun Jing'an and Yan Lei to renounce their Confucian Ranks, then received new authority and a noble title from the Female Emperor. As ministers and factions argued over his future, enemies plotted against him, and an old Daoist and a young Daoist appeared outside the Capital.

• Xu Qingxiao ordered the Eight Gates Capital Troops to prepare to kill Sun Jing'an and Yan Lei unless they renounced their Confucian standing, while the Bright Confucian endorsed his demand.
• Sun Jing'an renounced his Confucian Rank, and Yan Lei did the same after Xu Qingxiao ordered the troops to kill him.
• The Female Emperor appointed Xu Shouren Minister of Judicial Review, Censor of the Censorate, and Commander-in-Chief of the Eight Gates Capital Troops, and granted him the title Marquis of Changguo.
• Chen Zhengru and the ministers agreed to prepare Xu Qingxiao to become Chancellor, while the Duke of An told military officials that Xu Qingxiao supported a future Northern Expedition.
• Scholar Peng promised Yan Lei that his Confucian Rank could be restored after a great undertaking and dismissed Sun Jing'an; Prince Huaining burned a message declaring that Xu Qingxiao must not be allowed to live.
• Four days later, an old Daoist and a young Daoist appeared outside Great Wei's Capital.

Daoist Wuchen brought Lu Ziying to the Great Wei palace to ask Xu Qingxiao for an evil-suppressing composition to help seal a Demon Cavern, while Xu Qingxiao advanced to the Seventh Rank in martial cultivation. Xu Qingxiao agreed to help and asked Lu Ziying to teach him about the Immortal Dao; Lu Ziying entered Shouren Academy reluctantly, still convinced Xu Qingxiao could not match his talent.

• Daoist Wuchen warned Lu Ziying to temper his pride and explained why Xu Qingxiao's rapid rise in the Confucian Dao deserved respect, but Lu Ziying remained unconvinced.
• Xu Qingxiao used a Realm-Breaking Pill to reach the Seventh Rank of martial cultivation, then learned that a Sixth Rank pill would require a rare medicine king.
• The Female Emperor summoned Xu Qingxiao, and Daoist Wuchen asked him to write an evil-suppressing composition to help seal a Demon Cavern; Xu Qingxiao agreed and asked Lu Ziying to explain the Immortal Dao.
• The Female Emperor refused to send Great Wei's First Rank martial artists to guard the Demon Cavern but offered five Grand Confucians instead.
• Shui Yunyan urged Lu Ziying to teach Xu Qingxiao, so Lu Ziying went to Shouren Academy intending to test him with difficult Immortal Dao lessons.

Xu Qingxiao studied a Spirit-Testing Talisman before Lu Ziying arrived at Shouren Academy and offered to teach him immortal cultivation. After one hundred talismans burned up during aptitude tests, Xu Qingxiao tried the Supreme Qi Guidance Method and entered the ranks in two hours, leaving Lu Ziying astonished.

• Xu Qingxiao planned the Waterwheel Project and his next priorities, including developing agriculture and suppressing the demonic seed within him.
• Lu Ziying and Chen Xinghe met at Shouren Academy and clashed over the Immortal Dao and the Confucian Dao until Xu Qingxiao mediated.
• Xu Qingxiao tested his aptitude with one hundred Spirit-Testing Talismans, and every talisman burned up when his blood touched it.
• Lu Ziying gave Xu Qingxiao the Supreme Qi Guidance Method and warned him not to force cultivation.
• Xu Qingxiao sensed, guided, and absorbed spiritual qi, completing his first cultivation session and entering the ranks after exactly two hours.

Xu Qingxiao revealed his plan to establish the Great Wei Literary Newspaper and enlisted Zhang Ruhui to prepare its first edition. As he designed the paper, news arrived that ministers of the Six Ministries had started fighting, giving him a promising front-page story.

• Xu Qingxiao entered the Immortal Dao ranks in one double-hour, stunning Lu Ziying, who agreed to let him try reaching the Ninth Rank after seven days of accumulating spiritual energy.
• Zhang Ruhui reported that he had bought bookstores and arranged printing supplies, and Xu Qingxiao explained his plan for a newspaper that could shape public opinion and earn money.
• Xu Qingxiao set Zhang Ruhui tasks for launching the paper, including gathering news, recruiting writers, arranging advertisements, and preparing distribution within seven days.
• Xu Qingxiao planned the newspaper's sections and considered how to attract readers, then struggled to find a truthful headline for its first edition.
• Li Shouming told Xu Qingxiao that the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Works had beaten Minister Gu, and Xu Qingxiao hurried to the Ministry of Personnel, eager to use the fight as his front-page story.

Xu Qingxiao settled the Six Ministries’ dispute over Great Wei’s treasury by allocating funds to waterwheel construction, officials’ benefits, public order, and other needs, then pushed the Waterwheel Initiative across the realm. He prepared the first issue of the Great Wei Gazette for its debut the next morning, with the Capital abuzz over rumors of the ministers’ brawl.

• Xu Qingxiao arrived at the Ministry of Personnel after the Six Ministries’ ministers had fought over how to divide the treasury’s funds.
• Xu Qingxiao secured the ministers’ agreement to accept his final decision and allocated funds for waterwheels and reclaimed farmland, officials’ benefits, the Ministry of Punishment, military reserves, and the Ministry of Rites.
• Xu Qingxiao promised to become a Sage within ten years to end the demonic scourges and persuaded the ministers to support his future money-making plans.
• Xu Qingxiao wrote a softened front-page account of the ministers’ dispute, then supervised the Waterwheel Initiative as construction began in twenty-five commanderies.
• Xu Qingxiao and Zhang Ruhui completed the first issue of the Great Wei Gazette, agreed to divide its profits, and increased the initial print run to 150,000 copies.
• Zhang Ruhui reported that rumors of the ministers’ brawl had captivated the Capital, and the Gazette’s first issue was set to go on sale at Mao Hour.

Xu Qingxiao’s Great Wei Gazette debuted and became an instant sensation across the capital, selling nearly a million copies in half a day. The Female Emperor decided not to seize control of the publication, while she and Li Guangxiao worried about the Great Wei Literary Palace and Sage Zhu’s Lineage.

• Capital residents rushed to buy the Great Wei Gazette, whose coverage of court affairs and local gossip sparked a buying frenzy and lively discussion.
• The Duke of An first objected to the gazette’s coverage of government matters, then praised it after learning Xu Qingxiao had created it and summoned other dukes and marquises to discuss its success.
• Zhang Ruhui ordered the printing workshops to produce more copies as the gazette sold out repeatedly, reaching sales of 950,000 copies and a net profit of 4,750 taels of silver.
• Officials in the Six Ministries and Grand Confucians recognized the gazette’s influence after learning Xu Shouren had created it, and Grand Confucian Chen Xin sensed another storm was coming.
• Li Guangxiao urged the Female Emperor to bring the Great Wei Gazette under court control, but she refused, saying that taking Xu Qingxiao’s third sword would deepen their rift.
• The Female Emperor told Li Guangxiao that the Great Wei Literary Palace and Sage Zhu’s Lineage worried her most, leaving him silent.