Chapter Summaries

Chu Zhiyuan learned that Grandmaster Song would secretly protect Xiao Ruoling during her journey to Moon Invitation Palace, while Bai Ningshuang struggled to accept their ten-year separation. Xiao Ruoling told Chu Zhiyuan about her path to becoming a Saintess, and she agreed to train hard for the contest beginning in a month.

• Bai Ningshuang told Chu Zhiyuan that the Imperial Consort had arranged for Grandmaster Song to secretly accompany Xiao Ruoling.
• Chu Yi explained the situation to Bai Ningshuang and persuaded her not to confront the West Palace Consort or the Emperor.
• Chu Zhiyuan practiced swordsmanship while listening to Bai Ningshuang and Chu Yi, relieved when Chu Yi calmed their mother.
• Xiao Ruoling told Chu Zhiyuan that she had formally taken the West Palace Consort, a former Saintess, as her master and learned about the Great Yin Refinement.
• Xiao Ruoling explained that she could become Saintess by finding a secret place and defeating the other candidates, and that she would leave in one month.
• Chu Zhiyuan urged Xiao Ruoling to train for the contest, and she agreed after deciding she wanted to preserve her youth.

Bai Ningshuang told Chu Zhiyuan that the West Palace Consort was compensating him for a delayed marriage by promoting him to Left Assistant Minister, and Chu Zhiyuan considered how to balance power with cultivation. When his Meridians could no longer be strengthened by Dragon Fat Incense, he set out for the Heavenly Treasure Department and encountered Li Hongzhao on Phoenix Avenue.

• Bai Ningshuang reported that the West Palace Consort had apologized for delaying Chu Zhiyuan's marriage and planned to promote him to Left Assistant Minister.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided that he wanted both authority over the realm's resources and the chance to pursue immortality.
• Chu Zhiyuan found that Dragon Fat Incense could no longer strengthen his Meridians, so he considered searching for a stronger method or extraordinary pill.
• Chu Zhiyuan left for the Heavenly Treasure Department and met Li Hongzhao on Phoenix Avenue.
• Guo Chi and the other three used the Four Spirits Formation to clear a path through Li Hongzhao's guards, and Chu Zhiyuan greeted her by praising Linglong Bookstore's wine and beauties.

Chu Zhiyuan met Li Hongzhao, who offered him information about Heaven-Connecting Grass in Moon Invitation Palace’s secret land as a way to strengthen his Meridians. Their conversation also revealed that Li Hongzhao was confident Great Meng could make Great Jing and Great Zhen’s alliance useless.

• Li Hongzhao blocked Chu Zhiyuan and challenged him to drink at Bright Moon Tower, hinting that she knew of his battlefield exploits and had information about strengthening Meridians.
• At Bright Moon Tower, Li Hongzhao told Chu Zhiyuan that Heaven-Connecting Grass grew in Moon Invitation Palace’s secret land and could strengthen his Meridians.
• Chu Zhiyuan questioned whether Li Hongzhao had ties to Moon Invitation Palace, but she said she had no way to obtain the grass herself.
• Chu Zhiyuan accused Li Hongzhao of plotting to disrupt Great Jing’s alliance with Great Zhen and target its envoy mission.
• Li Hongzhao said her orders were only to verify the alliance and asserted that even an alliance would be useless; Chu Zhiyuan’s Super Sensation confirmed she was not boasting.

Chu Zhiyuan deduced that Great Meng might be plotting to attack a grandmaster, then investigated a meridian-strengthening pill and returned to Duke An's Estate. The chapter ended with him sparring against Xiao Ruoling as Xiao Ruoyu eagerly asked to take her place.

• Chu Zhiyuan questioned Li Hongzhao and concluded that Great Meng's allies might be targeting Grandmaster Mo rather than Cheng Tianfeng.
• Chu Zhiyuan noticed Su Qiuyan, Great Meng's grandmaster, listening from a nearby restaurant and apologized to her.
• Chu Zhiyuan left Li Hongzhao and found a meridian-strengthening spiritual pill and the first-grade Mortal-Shedding Pill at the Heavenly Treasure Department.
• Chu Zhiyuan arrived at Duke An's Estate and watched Xiao Ruoling practice the Moon Shadow Swordplay Amidst Flowers of Moon Invitation Palace.
• Chu Zhiyuan repeatedly scattered Xiao Ruoling's sword shadows and called her attacks too slow, while Xiao Ruoyu asked to spar with him.

Xiao Ruoyu challenged Xiao Ruoling and repeatedly lost to her Flower Between Moon Shadow Sword, prompting Chu Zhiyuan to explain the flaws in both siblings’ swordsmanship. The chapter ended with Chu Zhiyuan offering to teach Xiao Ruoyu a sword art he had comprehended from the White Cloud Sword Tablet.

• Xiao Ruoyu challenged Xiao Ruoling, but her Flower Between Moon Shadow Sword repeatedly struck through his Sea Calming Sword Art.
• Chu Zhiyuan advised Xiao Ruoyu to sense the true sword among the false ones, while Xiao Ruoling gained confidence from her victories.
• Chu Zhiyuan explained that Xiao Ruoling had not grasped the moon’s role in the Flower Between Moon Shadow Sword and that its real and false strikes remained too obvious.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Xiao Ruoyu that the Sea Calming Sword Art required a still heart and did not suit him at his current age.
• Chu Zhiyuan offered to pass on a sword art he had comprehended from the White Cloud Sword Tablet, and Xiao Ruoyu became excited.

Chu Zhiyuan taught Xiao Ruoyu the Raging Waves Sword Art, helping him break through into the Xiantian Realm, then reassured Xiao Ruoling about her future as the Moon Invitation Palace's Saintess. Xiao Ruoling planned to visit her lonely Master daily, while Chu Zhiyuan remained unsure whether the West Palace Consort's vulnerability was genuine.

• Chu Zhiyuan taught Xiao Ruoyu the Raging Waves Sword Art, and Xiao Ruoyu mastered it and broke through into the Xiantian Realm.
• Chu Zhiyuan encouraged Xiao Ruoling to continue practicing the Flower Between Moon Shadow Sword because it suited her cultivation.
• Xiao Ruoling told Chu Zhiyuan that she had suggested he marry a secondary consort if she became Saintess, and he showed her a Moon Invitation Palace jade pendant that could secure their marriage sooner.
• Xiao Ruoling explained that her becoming Saintess would fulfill an oath between the Moon Invitation Palace and the Great Jing Imperial Clan, and she described the complicated ties between the sects and imperial consorts.
• Xiao Ruoling said she would visit the West Palace Consort every day to keep her company, while Chu Zhiyuan wondered whether the Consort's loneliness was sincere or feigned.

Chu Zhiyuan accepted his promotion to Left Assistant Minister and invited Gao Lingfeng to serve under him, but declined a second-rank merit reward because it could not earn him a Mortal-Shedding Pill. He began refining his Gang Qi and relentlessly attacking the fourth level of the Bronze Tower, while Xiao Ruoling continued her sword training under Zeng Yuan with Chu Zhiyuan’s guidance.

• Chu Zhiyuan returned to the Ministry of Rites Office, where officials congratulated him on becoming Left Assistant Minister, and he asked Gao Lingfeng to join him in the Left Courtyard.
• Gao Lingfeng agreed to follow Chu Zhiyuan and handle much of the Imperial Court’s routine affairs in the Left Courtyard.
• Chu Zhiyuan received a second-rank merit token but declined its reward, choosing to save his merit toward first rank and a Mortal-Shedding Pill.
• Chu Zhiyuan tested the Imperial Sword Art to refine his Gang Qi and repeatedly sent twelve streams of Sword Qi against the Bronze Tower’s fourth level without damaging it.
• Xiao Ruoling sparred with Zeng Yuan, who praised her rapid progress and approved of Chu Zhiyuan helping her train for the Saintess position.

Xiao Ruoling learned from Zeng Yuan about Heaven-Connecting Grass and its dangers as she considered seeking it for Chu Zhiyuan. Meanwhile, Chu Zhiyuan listened to Ma Tianhe report on the Heir Apparent of Great Lie.

• Xiao Ruoling asked Zeng Yuan about treasures in Moon Invitation Palace’s secret realm and learned that male disciples had failed to master the Nine Chapters of Qionghua Record.
• Zeng Yuan warned Xiao Ruoling that Heaven-Connecting Grass could strengthen meridians but had driven a Grandmaster to suicide after its power overwhelmed him.
• Xiao Ruoling decided she would try to find Heaven-Connecting Grass for Chu Zhiyuan, leaving its use and risks for him to judge.
• Xiao Ruoling told Zeng Yuan how Li Hongzhao had bewitched Cheng Tianfeng, and Zeng Yuan cautioned her to be wary of the Ninth Princess.
• Chu Zhiyuan sat in the Supervisory Department and listened gravely as Ma Tianhe spoke about the Heir Apparent of Great Lie.

Chu Zhiyuan investigated the possibility that Great Lie’s Twelfth Prince was an impostor using the Formless Sect’s disguise art and learned that Great Lie and Great Guang were both mobilizing their armies. He went to Leisure Cloud Tower to observe Li Hongzhao, who resolved to meet him again and uncover his flaw.

• Ma Tianhe reported that Great Lie’s Twelfth Prince showed no obvious signs of being an impostor, and Chu Zhiyuan considered whether the Formless Sect’s Great Formless Technique could explain his lack of imperial aura.
• Ma Tianhe revealed that Great Lie was reorganizing its army and that Great Guang was mobilizing too, prompting Chu Zhiyuan to suspect the two dynasties might be cooperating against Great Jing.
• Ma Tianhe informed Chu Zhiyuan that Li Hongzhao was listening to songs at Leisure Cloud Tower, so Chu Zhiyuan went there with Zou Fang and the others.
• Chu Zhiyuan watched two veiled singers whose performance cultivated their martial skill, while Li Hongzhao and Su Qiuyan noticed him on the second floor.
• Li Hongzhao admitted she feared Chu Zhiyuan would detect her secret, but decided she would meet him again and find his flaw.

Chu Zhiyuan confronted Li Hongzhao about the Formless Sect’s impersonation of Great Lie’s Twelfth Prince, while she denied his deductions and warned him that evil-sect disciples had entered the city. The two ended by discussing a possible bargain to deal with the intruders.

• Li Hongzhao summoned Chu Zhiyuan, and he challenged her about Xiao Ruoling avoiding her.
• Chu Zhiyuan accused Li Hongzhao of using a Formless Sect expert to impersonate the Twelfth Prince, then deduced that the real prince was imprisoned.
• Li Hongzhao denied his claims and warned that evil-sect disciples had entered the city, possibly targeting either her or Chu Zhiyuan.
• Chu Zhiyuan proposed that Li Hongzhao provide information so the Town Martial Division could eliminate the evil sects, offering to release one of her prisoners for every disciple killed.

Chu Zhiyuan negotiated with Li Hongzhao to exchange Demonic Humans of the evil sect for Great Meng prisoners, while deducing that the sect planned to strike Taizhou. Li Hongzhao later realized the exchange could raise her military prestige, despite the prisoners being unable to fight again.

• Li Hongzhao demanded twenty Great Meng prisoners for information, but Chu Zhiyuan offered ten and warned that returned prisoners would have their thumbs severed.
• Chu Zhiyuan deduced that the evil sect’s Demonic Humans were targeting Taizhou, and Li Hongzhao challenged him to go there.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao agreed to exchange one Demonic Human for fifty Great Meng soldiers, or thirty soldiers for a Grandmaster.
• After Chu Zhiyuan left, Li Hongzhao asked Su Qiuyan whether her eyes had revealed anything to him, and Su Qiuyan said he seemed to have seen through her.
• Su Qiuyan explained that exchanged prisoners would be unable to wield weapons, but Li Hongzhao decided the deal would still boost her prestige and military morale.

Chu Zhiyuan received Prince Zhuang’s approval for exchanging Great Meng captives for Demonic Humans, then visited Xiao Ruoling and learned about the Heaven-Connecting Grass. Later, Li Hongzhao challenged him to join a hunt for the evil sects’ Demonic Humans, but he refused.

• Prince Zhuang praised Chu Zhiyuan’s handling of the prisoner exchange and urged him to act more decisively as Heir Apparent.
• At Duke An’s Estate, Chu Zhiyuan watched Xiao Ruoling defeat Xiao Ruoyu in a sword spar and offered her guidance.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling discussed the drawbacks of the Heaven-Connecting Grass and the threat posed by the evil sects.
• Li Hongzhao demanded that Chu Zhiyuan personally accompany the Town Martial Division to hunt Demonic Humans and compete with her in kills.
• Chu Zhiyuan refused Li Hongzhao’s challenge, calling it absurd.

Chu Zhiyuan refused Li Hongzhao’s invitation to hunt evil sects in Taizhou, then sensed that the Jade Cauldron Sect was secretly watching him or Li Hongzhao. He set out with Li Hongzhao and Huang Shirong to find the hidden Demonic Humans.

• Li Hongzhao tried to provoke Chu Zhiyuan into going to Taizhou, but he refused despite wanting to study the evil sects’ Demonic Humans and arts.
• Chu Zhiyuan learned that the Fearless Sect, Shadow Sect, and Lingxu Sect were active in Taizhou, then warned that the Jade Cauldron Sect might be lurking nearby or heading for Yujing City.
• After expanding his Super Sensation, Chu Zhiyuan concluded that the Jade Cauldron Sect was watching him or Li Hongzhao and challenged her to see who could uncover its Demonic Humans first.
• Chu Zhiyuan summoned Huang Shirong, who sent Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu to gather Grandmasters to follow them.
• Chu Zhiyuan, Li Hongzhao, and Huang Shirong went out with guards to search for the hidden watchers, and Chu Zhiyuan noted that the Jade Cauldron Sect had grown harder to detect.

Chu Zhiyuan used Flying Daggers to kill two disguised Jade Cauldron Sect watchers in the market and brought their bodies to the Town Martial Division. He revealed that the moles on the corpses were Severing Gu, leaving the group to investigate their purpose.

• Chu Zhiyuan gathered Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan to help capture the Jade Cauldron Sect expert secretly watching him.
• As the group searched the market, Chu Zhiyuan inferred that Great Meng's Secret Agents had carried out Cheng Tianfeng's assassination.
• Chu Zhiyuan located two middle-aged vendors and killed them with Flying Daggers, prompting the Town Martial Division to secure the bodies.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked Huang Shirong to take the corpses to the West Second Hall, while Li Hongzhao wondered how powerful his Flying Daggers were.
• Chu Zhiyuan pointed out black moles on the vendors' glabella and jaw and identified them as Severing Gu.

Chu Zhiyuan uncovered Jade Cauldron Sect agents using Severing Gu and the Five Viscera Needle Technique, prompting him to seek an imperial crackdown. Chu Qingyan agreed to report the threat to the emperor and ordered Chu Zhiyuan to join the encirclement and suppression.

• Chu Zhiyuan identified the Severing Gu on Guo Chi and a Cloud-Treading Iron Cavalryman, revealing the insects were being used to track them.
• Huang Shirong and Chu Zhiyuan discovered the Five Viscera Needle Technique and a Jade Cauldron mark on the jewelry peddler, exposing his ties to the Jade Cauldron Sect.
• Chu Zhiyuan urged the group to destroy the Jade Cauldron Sect, while Li Hongzhao objected that their action could disrupt her plans in Taizhou.
• Chu Zhiyuan went to the Imperial Clan Court and told Chu Qingyan about the Jade Cauldron Sect's methods.
• Chu Qingyan decided to report the matter to the emperor and told Chu Zhiyuan to join the sect's encirclement and suppression.

Chu Zhiyuan examined two Heaven-Connecting Grass stalks Xiao Ruoling obtained and sensed that one was dangerous while the other seemed safe. He asked for more to investigate, and Zeng Yuan gave Xiao Ruoling the final two stalks after praising her rapid swordsmanship progress under Chu Zhiyuan’s guidance.

• Chu Qingyan explained that joining the impending encirclement of Jade Cauldron Sect would give Chu Zhiyuan a rare opportunity, then told him to rest until the Emperor acted.
• After sleeping and recovering, Chu Zhiyuan met Xiao Ruoling, who gave him two Heaven-Connecting Grass stalks obtained through her master.
• Chu Zhiyuan’s Super Sensation could not see through the grass, and he sensed danger from one stalk but a faint delight from the other.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked Xiao Ruoling to request more stalks for research without explaining his suspicions, and she agreed.
• Xiao Ruoling asked Zeng Yuan for more Heaven-Connecting Grass; Zeng Yuan obtained the final two stalks and then tested Xiao Ruoling’s swordsmanship, finding that it had improved remarkably.

The Town Martial Division delivered an All Heroes Conscription Order to Lu Feihong of the Flowing Wind Sect, summoning him for a dangerous Imperial Court mission. Lu Feihong accepted the order and received a powerful sword and spiritual pills before the two officers departed.

• Two Town Martial Division officers arrived at the Flowing Wind Sect and presented Lu Feihong with an All Heroes Conscription Order.
• Lu Feihong accepted the Imperial Court’s summons despite the officers’ warning that the mission was dangerous.
• The officers offered Lu Feihong a Gang Breaking Divine Weapon and two bottles of Fourth Grade spiritual pills.
• Lu Feihong chose the Flying Cloud Sword and accepted the sword and pills as the sect members watched.
• The Town Martial Division officers reminded Lu Feihong to arrange his affairs, then left Taizhou City for Jade Capital.

The Imperial Court prepared to hunt down the Jade Cauldron Sect using thirty-six tracking experts and four Grandmasters, with Chu Zhiyuan joining the operation. At Duke An's Estate, Chu Zhiyuan safely consumed one Heaven-Connecting Grass, strengthening his Meridians and easing Xiao Ruoling's fears.

• Martial sects across the region celebrated receiving the Imperial Court's Conscription Orders and hoped to gain access to the Town Martial Division's cultivation resources.
• Chu Qingfeng told Chu Zhiyuan that thirty-six tracking experts and four Grandmasters would pursue the Jade Cauldron Sect, and Chu Zhiyuan arranged to bring Guo Chi and the others.
• Chu Qingfeng said the operation would begin in ten days, while Chu Zhiyuan reflected that his merit still could not be raised to first rank.
• At Duke An's Estate, Chu Zhiyuan tested four Heaven-Connecting Grass plants and warned Xiao Ruoling that only one was safe to consume.
• Chu Zhiyuan ate the safe Heaven-Connecting Grass and used the Flying Dragon Pearl, the Dragon Transformation Technique, and Earth Venerable's golden light to withstand its black flames.
• After a quarter of an hour, Chu Zhiyuan recovered and found his Meridians had grown about one-tenth stronger, while Xiao Ruoling returned her attention to sword training.

Chu Zhiyuan advanced to the fifth heaven after absorbing the Heaven-Connecting Grass’s power, while Gao Lingfeng wielded broad authority during the campaign against the Jade Cauldron Sect. News of King Ying’s victory at Fuyuan Town reached Yujing, and the chapter ended with Li Hongzhao arriving at Chu Zhiyuan’s room.

• Chu Zhiyuan guided Xiao Ruoling’s sword practice as she steadily mastered the Flower Between Moon Shadow Sword.
• Chu Zhiyuan broke through to the fifth heaven of the Grandmaster’s Ninth Heaven and discovered that his Gang Qi could withstand ordinary Divine Weapons and Sharp Blades.
• Gao Lingfeng used Chu Zhiyuan’s delegated authority to enforce harsh punishments on martial artists in Yujing City while Chu Zhiyuan tolerated the changes during the Jade Cauldron Sect campaign.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling heard that King Ying had retaken Fuyuan Town, and Chu Zhiyuan explained how merit and fault could be balanced by reason and sentiment.
• Chu Zhiyuan called to Li Hongzhao as she entered Leisure Cloud Tower, and she overcame her hesitation to come up to his room.

Chu Zhiyuan celebrated Great Zhen’s recovery of Fuyuan Town and revealed that he had advanced to the fifth heaven while discussing cultivation and the alliance negotiations with Li Hongzhao and Cheng Tianfeng. The chapter ended with thunder breaking across the clear sky as Chu Zhiyuan looked toward Prince Jing’s Estate, where the Second Prince lived.

• Chu Zhiyuan welcomed Li Hongzhao and Xiao Ruoling, and Li Hongzhao praised Xiao Ruoling’s cultivation progress to nearly Innate Perfection.
• Chu Zhiyuan revealed that he had reached the fifth heaven, and Li Hongzhao questioned whether his rapid progress would let him become a Grandmaster.
• Li Hongzhao declared that mastering the Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique would guarantee someone became a Grandmaster and explained that only young girls could cultivate it.
• Cheng Tianfeng visited Chu Zhiyuan, congratulated him on King Ying’s victory, and heard Chu Zhiyuan ask him to end the negotiations quickly.
• Thunder suddenly broke across the cloudless sky, and Chu Zhiyuan turned his gaze toward Prince Jing’s Estate.