Chapter Summaries

As the Mysterious Spirit Monster Race united and joined the South Sea war, its tribes sought a standard portrait of their revered cult leader, Xing Yan. The painters finished a grand but wildly inaccurate image, which everyone else praised as a perfect likeness.

• South Sea raids failed, and victories by the Four Rivers and Highest Clarity restored the sect’s standing and drew other Daoist groups into the conflict.
• Mysterious Spirit envoys spread news of their victories and gave treasures to monster tribes, persuading warriors from across the wilderness to join Xing Yan’s forces.
• The monster tribes’ portraits of Cult Leader Zhang varied wildly, prompting Kun Xiang and Ironcliff to summon painters to portray Xing Yan from life.
• After four hours of sitting for the painters, Xing Yan saw a towering giant holding Mount Tai and the North Sea and questioned the portrait’s likeness.
• Qiong Rong and the elders praised the painting, and Xing Yan comforted himself that it had no extra tails or horns.

Xing Yan’s army began its final campaign against the South Sea, but the Phoenix Goddess Xuan confronted its vanguard and asked Qiong Rong for guidance. Xuan vanished in flames after Qiong Rong’s words, leaving Qiong Rong grieving and wondering whether she might meet the Phoenix Goddess again.

• Xing Yan found Qiong Rong riding True Person Three Sceneries and Flowstep Immortal’s Manman Birds while their black leopard chased after her, and the elders asked him who had taught her beast-taming.
• The Four Rivers Dragon King’s allied forces launched their final offensive, with Xing Yan leading the vanguard toward Nine Wells Isle.
• The Phoenix Goddess Xuan arrived in a vast tide of fire, and Qiong Rong went out to face her after Xing Yan gave permission.
• Xuan asked Qiong Rong for guidance, and Qiong Rong warned her that she would bring destruction upon herself if she did not turn back from her mistaken path.
• Xuan thanked Qiong Rong, set herself ablaze, and disappeared after asking Qiong Rong not to forget their promise.
• Xing Yan comforted the tearful Qiong Rong by explaining the Phoenix’s name, and Qiong Rong spotted a phoenix-shaped cloud and wondered where its radiant path led.

Zhang Xingyan’s vanguard joined the Four Rivers army near Nine Wells Isle, where Meng Zhang confronted him and offered to share the South Sea if he surrendered. Xing Yan rejected the offer and demanded the return of Xueyi; after Meng Zhang revealed she was safe in his palace, the two began fighting.

• After Qiong Rong defeated the lord of Blazing Phoenix City, Xing Yan halted his vanguard and ordered the troops to stay alert near Nine Wells Isle.
• Lord of the Clouds and Bingyi arrived with the main army, and the South Sea Dragon Clan’s forces emerged from black mist to face them.
• Meng Zhang flew between the armies on a Winged Dragon and called Xing Yan forward to speak with him.
• Meng Zhang praised Xing Yan and offered him half the South Sea, but Xing Yan refused and declared he had come to collect a blood debt.
• Xing Yan asked for Xueyi, and Meng Zhang said she was safe in a secret ice cavern in his palace.
• After Xing Yan’s eyes reddened, Meng Zhang accused him of refusing good advice and attacked with the Rift Lightning Divine Whip.

Xing Yan fled Meng Zhang’s attacks until the Water Marquis unleashed his Eightfold Divine Lightning, but Xing Yan survived with his sword and Flying Moonstream art. Meng Zhang transformed into a dragon and pursued him, while the Four Seas forces finally joined the battle.

• Meng Zhang attacked Xing Yan with his divine whip, and Xing Yan dodged his repeated lashes while the spectators watched without intervening.
• Xing Yan noticed his Sushuang wind-steed battling Meng Zhang’s black dragon mount as Meng Zhang grew frustrated with the chase.
• Meng Zhang released the eight bolts of his Heavenly Flash Rift Lightning Whip and sent a devastating bolt at Xing Yan.
• Xing Yan’s God-Sealing Sword intercepted the first lightning strike, and he stopped Meng Zhang’s second attack by sending Flying Moonstream lights against it.
• Meng Zhang transformed into a giant red dragon and pursued the exhausted Xing Yan, who fled toward his ranks as the Four Seas forces finally rushed to help.

Xing Yan’s allied army gained the upper hand against Meng Zhang’s South Sea forces, but Long Ling brought a Nine-Headed Kuihui under his control and turned the battle into a devastating rout. Xing Yan led troops toward the beast’s rear flank at Nine Wells Isle to find a way to stop it.

• Meng Zhang and Xing Yan returned to commanding their armies as the Four Rivers forces and the Land Monster Race used newly practiced formations to press the South Sea army.
• The South Sea troops’ morale crumbled as soldiers questioned why they should die in a Dragon Clan power struggle, and Meng Zhang’s forces began to flee.
• Long Ling arrived with a Nine-Headed Kuihui and controlled it using his Dragon Core.
• The Nine-Headed Kuihui unleashed blasts of Five Phases energy, killing many allied warriors and forcing the Four Rivers forces to scatter.
• The Lord of the Clouds told Xing Yan to circle behind the beast at Nine Wells Isle, and Xing Yan led picked troops toward its rear flank.

Xing Yan led a cavalry assault onto Nine Wells Isle, but the South Sea Dragon Army trapped his force in the Ninefold Netherworld Death Trap. As the trapped soldiers faced deadly creatures in the dark, Zhang Xingyan demanded a way out, and someone spotted something in the formation.

• Xing Yan's cavalry swept ashore on Nine Wells Isle and advanced through the woods toward the Nine-Headed Kuihui.
• The Nine-Headed Kuihui routed the Four Rivers Mystics, while True Person Zhao used the Three Sceneries spell to distract it and help the retreating army regroup.
• Xing Yan's force spotted six sorcerers channeling power into the Nine-Headed Kuihui, but a water formation suddenly swallowed the cavalry before they could attack.
• Xing Yan's soldiers became trapped in a dark water passage, where trained stingrays and poisonous jellyfish wounded and killed several of them.
• Wangxiang identified the formation as the Ninefold Netherworld Death Trap but admitted he did not know how to break it.
• Zhang Xingyan cried out that he would not remain trapped, and a soldier suddenly called attention to something in the darkness.

Zhang Xingyan led his battered force through Fan Chuan and Runlan’s magical guidance out of the underwater maze, then escaped the South Sea Dragon Army’s ambush and fled toward reinforcements. Qiong Rong vanished during the retreat, climbed the Nine-Headed Kuihui, plucked its dragon core, and handed it to Xing Yan as the armies watched.

• A blue octopus and other poisonous creatures attacked Xing Yan’s force in Fan Chuan’s shifting underwater maze, leaving many soldiers wounded and poisoned.
• Xing Yan deciphered the glowing orchid and paired wooden strips as signs for Runlan and Fan Chuan, and followed them through paths opened in the maze.
• Xing Yan’s force emerged near the Nine-Headed Kuihui, found Long Ling and the South Sea Dragon Army waiting, and broke through the northern flank to flee west toward reinforcements.
• Xing Yan shielded his retreating troops from the beast’s flames and enemy spells while exchanging taunts with Long Ling, but then noticed Qiong Rong had disappeared.
• Qiong Rong reached the Nine-Headed Kuihui’s crown, seized its dragon core, and returned to Xing Yan, who accepted it in stunned silence.

After Qiong Rong accidentally took the Nine-Headed Kuihui’s Dragon Core, the beast fled and the Four Rivers army captured Nine Wells Isle. When Xing Yan asked about Qiong Rong’s origins, she feared he would reject her and tried to leave, while the chapter ended with a great wind rising as Xing Yan gazed toward the Southeast Dragon Domain.

• Qiong Rong took the Dragon Core from the Nine-Headed Kuihui, causing the beast to flee into the sea and devastate South Sea soldiers in its path.
• Xing Yan kept the Dragon Core, promised Long Ling he would return it after restoring order, and ordered the Four Rivers army to attack.
• The South Sea forces fled, and the Four Rivers Mystics won the battle for Nine Wells Isle; Qiong Rong received the highest distinction for her part in the victory.
• After the battle, Xing Yan asked Qiong Rong about her parents and her past near Luoyang, and she returned with her bundle and said she was leaving.
• Qiong Rong wept because she feared Xing Yan would despise her origins, while Ling Yier defended and comforted her.
• Qiong Rong put her bundle away and returned to Xing Yan and Ling Yier as a mighty wind rose and Xing Yan looked toward the Southeast Dragon Domain.

Xing Yan’s memories of a strange dream resurfaced, while the Four Rivers forces captured Shocking Waves Isle and Turbulent Currents Isle and destroyed the Wind-Lion God’s forces. After learning that Rain Master Juntai threatened Qiong Rong, Xing Yan stayed behind the lines and began preparing a trap with Lingyi’s help.

• Xing Yan told Lingyi and Qiong Rong about his dream of a woman amid a storm, and Lingyi grew embarrassed after explaining that the woman could not have been one of them.
• The Four Rivers forces captured Shocking Waves Isle and Turbulent Currents Isle after a bloody campaign, killing the Wind-Lion God and his Wind-Born Beasts with Silver Frost’s wind-stilling spell.
• The Lord of the Clouds warned Xing Yan that Meng Zhang had ordered Young Master Nether Rain to win over Qiong Rong or kill her, so Xing Yan kept her out of battle and stayed in the rear.
• After days of guarded seclusion, Xing Yan devised a plan to neutralize Rain Master Juntai and recruited Lingyi, who agreed to help.
• Xing Yan decided his trap needed further preparation and went to the Lord of the Clouds to ask to borrow something.

While Xing Yan prepared a secret plan against the Four Rivers’ enemy, Jun Tai tracked Qiong Rong away from Divine Tree Island and became entranced by a beautiful woman playing the legendary zither Sunset Glow and Startling Waves. As Jun Tai stood helplessly lost in the music, someone struck him with a devastating blow and accused him of spying on his wife.

• Xing Yan decided that keeping Qiong Rong in seclusion was no lasting solution and began preparing a secret plan to eliminate the threat.
• Jun Tai tracked Qiong Rong’s movements and traveled toward the waters southeast of Divine Tree Island, reflecting anxiously on the worsening war and Fan Chuan’s departure.
• Jun Tai searched for Qiong Rong in the Crane-Releasing Ocean but instead heard zither music and followed it toward its source.
• Jun Tai saw a beautiful immortal maiden playing Sunset Glow and Startling Waves and became entranced by the music and her song.
• As Jun Tai danced, a sudden blow plunged him into darkness and pain, and a voice accused him of spying on its wife.

Xing Yan captured Jun Tai with the Origin Spirit Lock and God-Binding Sinew, then persuaded him to abandon Meng Zhang and support Boyu. After Xing Yan and Ling Yier played a duet, Jun Tai departed for Southern Heaven, eager to recover from the music’s overwhelming effect.

• Xing Yan used Qiong Rong and Ling Yier’s music to lure Jun Tai into dropping his guard, then captured and bound him.
• Jun Tai denounced Xing Yan’s underhanded tactics and refused to abandon the South Sea, but Xing Yan threatened him with ghosts guarding the path to reincarnation.
• Jun Tai admitted Meng Zhang was no longer his lord and agreed to serve Boyu, explaining that Ling Yier’s music had made him reluctant to die.
• Jun Tai asked Ling Yier to play again and required Xing Yan to learn an instrument, so Xing Yan and Ling Yier performed a zither-and-flute duet called Cloud and Water’s Inquiry of Love.
• Jun Tai left for Southern Heaven with his ears covered, while Qiong Rong joked that he was scurrying away like a rat.

Xing Yan returned to Divine Tree Island with Lingyi and Qiong Rong after persuading Jun Tai to support Boyu’s leadership of the South Sea. That night, Lingyi’s zither music enchanted the Daoist disciples, while Qiong Rong reflected on her recent behavior and fell asleep in Xing Yan’s arms.

• Jun Tai agreed to support placing Boyu in charge of the South Sea, and Xing Yan led Lingyi and Qiong Rong back to Divine Tree Island.
• Xing Yan reported his success to the Huai River Water God and cooked supper for Lingyi, who was deeply moved by his kindness.
• Xing Yan explained Refining Spirit into Void to the Daoist disciples, and Qiong Rong described how she had climbed onto the Nine-Headed Kuihui to retrieve its control pill.
• Lingyi played her zither beside the lake, enchanting the disciples and drawing glowing green spirits from the island’s grasses and trees.
• Qiong Rong reconsidered her earlier tantrum, wondered about the Silver River and the life of the night, and fell asleep in Xing Yan’s arms.

The Four Rivers alliance gained support from the Hometown of Dark Rain, Red Spring Dan Hill, and the Devil Domain, whose forces devastated Dou Hou’s Dragon-Rearing Ridge. As the war turned against the South Sea, Xi Ying faced pressure to defend her family’s last stronghold while wrestling with her feelings and an unspoken concern for the child she carried.

• Jun Tai proclaimed that the Hometown of Dark Rain withdrew from the conflict and supported Boyu, and Red Spring Dan Hill soon made the same declaration.
• Yinghuo led the Devil Domain’s Earth Drought Dragon War Riders into the South Sea and routed Dou Hou’s forces in the Turbid Surge Ocean.
• The Devil Domain’s communiqué credited Zhang Xingyan and the Lord of the Clouds as Yinghuo’s and Gaoyao’s old friends, stirring jealousy in Ling Yier and unsettling the Lord of the Clouds.
• Gaoyao fainted from embarrassment over Yinghuo’s declaration and later withdrew into seclusion to cultivate her devil arts.
• Xi Ying stood beside the Sea-Soul Flower Tree as her father and third brother urged her to hold the Dragon Palace’s final gateway, and she wondered what duty required of her while touching her abdomen.

Boyu offered to become the South Sea’s new ruler to buy time for Meng Zhang, but Chi Gang and Meng Zhang believed their forces could still defeat the Four Rivers at Divine Wrath. Xi Ying appeared before the assembled troops, and her sorrowful appeal stirred them to renewed resolve as the Four Rivers army advanced toward the reefs.

• Boyu proposed taking the South Sea throne to blunt the Four Rivers’ political attack and give Meng Zhang time to summon the God King.
• Meng Zhang set out his plan to lure the enemy into the perilous Divine Wrath Reefs, where South Sea forces and Xi Ying could face them.
• Chi Gang praised Boyu, told him to arrange Xi Ying’s appearance before the troops, and urged Meng Zhang to focus on summoning the God King.
• Xi Ying appeared at the Divine Wrath Reefs, but her grief left her able to say only, “Everyone... I am counting on you.”
• Xi Ying’s brief appeal inspired the South Sea troops to raise their weapons and roar, giving the Four Rivers army its greatest setback of the war.

Xi Ying’s conflicting feelings about Zhang Xingyan and loyalty to the South Sea led her to join the war, where her control of the Divine Wrath Sea helped the defenders win the first three days. As the Four Rivers army gathered for a decisive assault, Xing Yan and Lingyi prepared to charge into the storm.

• Xi Ying struggled between her memories of Zhang Xingyan and the accusations against him, then decided to fight for the South Sea.
• Xi Ying’s storms and whirlpools devastated the invading Four Rivers and Mysterious Spirit forces, while South Sea defenders used the reefs to launch counterattacks.
• After three days of fighting, the South Sea celebrated its gains, and Meng Zhang sent Xi Ying thanks and their father’s commendation.
• Zhenzhu delivered victory reports to Xi Ying and noticed that her faint smiles seemed tinged with bitterness.
• On the fourth day, the Four Rivers army assembled its forces for a major assault, and Xing Yan and Lingyi prepared to attack the South Sea defenses.

The Four Rivers and Mysterious Spirit forces struck the South Sea army’s defenses, and Ling Yier’s archers destroyed much of Giant Thunder Pass before Princess Xi Ying unleashed her Moon-White First Dance. Xing Yan survived her attack by pretending to be dead, but Xi Ying disappeared before he could capture her, and the next day astonishing news halted the armies’ advance.

• The Four Rivers forces attacked Divine Wrath Reef, while Xing Yan protected Ling Yier’s archers as they advanced under Whirlwind Turtle shields.
• Ling Yier’s archers shot down the Thunder Ai lightning spirits and destroyed Giant Thunder Pass, allowing the allied armies to push deep into the reef.
• Xi Ying arrived on the battlefield and used Moon-White First Dance, whose final blade struck Xing Yan and hurled him into the sea.
• Xing Yan pretended to be dead so he could capture Xi Ying when she approached, but she disappeared before he could act.
• The following day, astonishing news reached the gathered Four Rivers and Mysterious Spirit armies and stopped their planned advance.

Xing Yan learned that the South Sea had surrendered after Xi Ying disappeared and its forces lost hope of victory. As Meng Zhang went to meet his father, Crown Prince Boyu, and Long Ling, he remained unaware that the meeting would bring disaster upon him.

• Xing Yan woke late, hurried toward the Command Platform with Qiong Rong, and found the Four Rivers soldiers and Mysterious Spirit Monster Race kneeling to announce the South Sea’s surrender.
• Xing Yan confirmed the news with Qiong Rong, celebrated with the gathered forces, and watched the sunrise with Ling Yier and Qiong Rong.
• Xi Ying vanished after confronting Xing Yan, and the South Sea forces lost their morale when they realized no great deity remained who could defeat him.
• Meng Zhang found the Sea-Quelling Hall ministers unable to offer a plan, then left for Clear Abyss Palace after a Reporting Official summoned him to meet his father.
• Meng Zhang learned that Boyu and Long Ling were also meeting the old Dragon Deity, but continued toward the palace without suspecting danger.

Chi Gang agreed to surrender the South Sea and install Boyu as Water Marquis while Meng Zhang went to God's Field to seek the Divine Lord's help. At the Farewell Pavilion, Boyu and Long Ling revealed that they had betrayed Meng Zhang and imprisoned Chi Gang.

• Chi Gang accepted Boyu's plan to yield the throne, preserve the clan's strength, and send Meng Zhang to God's Field to seek the Divine Lord.
• Chi Gang announced Boyu's succession and the South Sea's impending surrender, and the ministers accepted the change without opposition.
• Meng Zhang insisted on leaving immediately and asked Boyu to share a farewell drink with him at the Farewell Pavilion.
• Long Ling warned Meng Zhang that accepting defeat and letting go took courage, and Meng Zhang discovered his wine had been poisoned and his Heavenly Flash Divine Whip was missing.
• Boyu ordered guards to bind Meng Zhang and revealed that Chi Gang had also been secured in the Jade-Locking Pavilion.

Boyu consolidated his uprising in the South Sea, while the imprisoned Chi Gang learned from Zhenzhu that Xi Ying might be pregnant. The chapter left Chi Gang grieving for his daughter and placing his hopes for the clan’s future on her unborn child.

• Boyu ordered Bing'e to watch the ministers, donned his armor, and rebuked Meng Zhang for his failures as ruler.
• Dan Liang reported that the Dragon Scale Guard camps were under control, and Boyu ordered the execution of Xuan Du and Ye Guang.
• Boyu had the former Water Marquis imprisoned and secured the uprising’s hold over the South Sea.
• Chi Gang, confined in the Jade-Locking Pavilion, raged against his imprisonment before sinking into despair.
• Zhenzhu told Chi Gang that Xi Ying had shown signs of pregnancy and might have left to give birth.
• Chi Gang accepted the possibility of a grandchild, vowed that the child would avenge the clan, and wept for Xi Ying and the unborn heir.

The South Sea Dragon Clan formally surrendered to the Four Rivers and Mysterious Spirit, and the Lord of the Clouds accepted the surrender while promising a peaceful settlement. As Xing Yan went to inspect Meng Zhang’s prison, he asked Boyu where Meng Zhang had taken the remains of Xing Yan’s friend from Mount Luofu.

• Boyu led the South Sea Dragon Clan through the surrender ceremony, but the old Dragon Lord welcomed him warmly instead of requiring repeated obeisance.
• Xing Yan welcomed the South Sea ministers and returned Long Ling’s Dragon Core, easing tensions between the former enemies.
• The Lord of the Clouds reviewed the surrender documents, struck out dubious accusations against Meng Zhang, and ordered the South Sea’s reparations distributed to the families of fallen soldiers.
• The Lord of the Clouds declared the war over and urged the peoples of the seas to cooperate while preserving their differences.
• Envoys from Zhuyou Ghostside summoned Xing Yan to discuss the surrender and Ghost Spirit Abyss, delaying his inspection of Meng Zhang’s prison until nightfall.
• On the way to the prison with Boyu and Long Ling, Xing Yan asked Boyu where Meng Zhang had placed the remains of Xing Yan’s dear friend from Mount Luofu, and tears filled Xing Yan’s eyes.