Chapter Summaries

Chu Zhiyuan discovered that the stone wall concealed the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm and summoned the court to investigate. Huang Cheng identified the realm and warned that its Demon Beasts could emerge during Xuan Ri, leaving the group facing an ominous mutation.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Huang Shirong that the vanished Chu Qingfeng and the others might have entered a Secret Realm hidden within the stone wall.
• Chu Zhiyuan reported the disappearance and his battle with Zhang Youling to Chu Qingyan, who ordered him to guard the site while he informed the Emperor.
• Chu Zhiyuan returned to the valley with Huang Shirong and found it surrounded by Town Martial Division experts; the Jade Cauldron Sect had been wiped out, but the Shadow Sect's experts were absent.
• Huang Cheng arrived with two Grandmaster eunuchs, examined the stone wall, and ordered more Grandmasters to be sent and everyone else to leave the valley.
• Huang Cheng identified the place as the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm and warned Chu Zhiyuan that its Demon Beasts might emerge during Xuan Ri amid an inexplicable mutation.

Chu Zhiyuan learned why the Jade Cauldron Sect’s strange arts required the bloodline of the Chu clan and discovered that Grandmasters had entered the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm. As the secret realm shook, he stayed outside with Huang Cheng and considered a possible link between the sect and the Southern Border.

• Chu Zhiyuan questioned Huang Cheng about the expanding Dragon Mountain Secret Realm and learned that its growth had outpaced the number of Grandmasters available to guard it.
• Huang Cheng explained that the Jade Cauldron Sect’s Yin Fiend power harmed the soul and that its secret art used the Son of Heaven’s bloodline to refine Yin Fiend into the power needed to become a Grandmaster.
• Chu Qingyan arrived with Chu Jinglin and Chu Jingge, and the three Grandmasters entered the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm while Chu Zhiyuan remained outside.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Huang Cheng that a Jade Cauldron Sect expert had nearly killed him while Jade Capital’s Grandmasters were occupied, then showed him the Azure Silk True Robe and learned it had been exchanged by someone from the Southern Border.
• The mountain wall shook, and although Huang Cheng urged Chu Zhiyuan to leave the valley, Chu Zhiyuan chose to stay with him.

Chu Zhiyuan waited outside the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm while the Grandmasters suppressed the Demon Beasts, then discovered he could see and destroy the hidden Shadow Beasts following them. He examined a crystal remnant they left behind, which his Super Sensation could not perceive clearly.

• Chu Zhiyuan watched the mountain wall shake through the night while Huang Cheng stayed close to protect him.
• Chu Qingyan, Chu Jinglin, Chu Jingge, Chu Qingfeng, and four purple-robed elders emerged after suppressing the Demon Beasts and reported that the Secret Realm had expanded slightly.
• Chu Zhiyuan spotted transparent, rat-like Shadow Beasts clinging to the Grandmasters, which they had failed to notice.
• Chu Qingyan explained that Shadow Beasts could possess people below the Grandmaster realm and drive them toward slaughter.
• Chu Zhiyuan used the Heart-Questioning Blade Art and the Violet Sun True Scripture to destroy the nine Shadow Beasts.
• Chu Zhiyuan picked up a crystal remnant from the creatures and found that his Super Sensation could not perceive it clearly.

Chu Zhiyuan secured a month of guarded cultivation at the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm and returned to Duke An’s Estate, where he used his sharpened perception to guide Xiao Ruoling’s sword practice. She reached a momentary state of perfection in the Flower Between Moon Shadow Sword and began to comprehend how to make it her own.

• Chu Zhiyuan accepted a demon beast crystal from Chu Qingyan and learned that the secret realm’s abundant Spiritual Qi made it an excellent place to cultivate.
• Chu Zhiyuan proposed using himself as bait for the Jade Cauldron Sect, and Chu Qingyan agreed to station a Grandmaster there for one month.
• Chu Zhiyuan returned to Duke An’s Estate, told Xiao Ruoling what had happened, and began instructing her in swordsmanship.
• Chu Zhiyuan used his keen perception to disrupt Xiao Ruoling’s sword moves, then guided her practice until her Flower Between Moon Shadow Sword reached a momentary state of perfection.
• Xiao Ruoling spent half an hour immersed in realization, then opened her eyes as she began to understand her new swordsmanship insight.

Chu Zhiyuan studied the Shadow Beast’s memories and learned that demon beasts could ascend after surviving tribulation, while Grandmasters could not. After beginning plans to cultivate in a valley with his companions, he received first-rank merit and wondered whether another pill could improve his talent.

• Chu Zhiyuan used the Shadow Beast’s demon crystal to experience its memories and learned about the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm, its powerful demon beasts, and their ascension after tribulation.
• Chu Zhiyuan arranged to cultivate in a valley outside the city, and Chu Mingxuan and two companions insisted on joining him.
• Chu Zhiyuan searched Bright Martial Hall’s records and learned from Chu Qingfeng that Grandmasters could not undergo tribulation or ascend from the Secret Realms.
• Two women from the Audit Department presented Chu Zhiyuan with a first-rank merit plaque, prompting him to wonder whether a spirit pill could improve his talent as the Mortal-Shedding Pill had.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that first-grade pills offered limited benefits but chose to take another Mortal-Shedding Pill to test whether it could further strengthen his meridians. Afterward, he warned his family to take extra guards against retaliation and arrived at the valley to prepare for training with his relatives.

• Chu Zhiyuan asked two Heavenly Treasure Department clerks about Marrow-Cleansing pills and learned that their effects were limited, while the Longevity Pill could add at most ten years of life.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided to keep testing pills to push his meridians to their limits, despite the small expected gains.
• Bai Ningshuang told Chu Zhiyuan that people at court were praising him after his fight with the evil sects, and he warned his family to use extra guards against retaliation.
• Chu Zhiyuan used his Golden Vertical Pupil to check whether Bai Ningshuang might face danger and said he would keep checking her intuition each day.
• Chu Zhiyuan visited the valley with his family, told Chu Mingxuan to train there, and demonstrated his Flying Dagger for Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan.
• Chu Zhiyuan swallowed a Mortal-Shedding Pill and found after circulating his cultivation that its effect was limited.

Chu Zhiyuan discovered that mysterious black stones beneath the valley absorbed sunlight and produced violet rays that could purify his Gang Qi. He told Chu Qingfeng about them, and they agreed to secretly excavate the stones and move them to Bright Martial Hall, while Chu Qingfeng considered Chu Zhiyuan a strong candidate for the throne.

• Chu Zhiyuan realized the Mortal-Shedding Pill had only slightly expanded his Meridians and resolved to study the Void Controlling Sword Sect for other ways to improve his strength.
• While cultivating with Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, and Chu Zhichuan, Chu Zhiyuan searched for the source of the valley’s dense violet rays and found a buried mineral deposit.
• Chu Zhiyuan tested a fist-sized black stone and discovered that it absorbed sunlight, produced violet rays, and made his Gang Qi purer when he absorbed them.
• Chu Zhiyuan found that the stones continued absorbing violet rays after being drained, but only his strong Spiritual Power let him draw those rays out; the others could still benefit by cultivating nearby.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Chu Qingfeng about the stones, and they agreed to keep the discovery secret and arrange to excavate and move them to Bright Martial Hall.
• Chu Zhiyuan said he would compete for the throne based on ability, and Chu Qingfeng judged him a leading candidate to wield the Emperor’s Sword.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that the valley ambush had killed eighteen Grandmasters from the Jade Cauldron Sect and Shadow Sect, then returned to his duties and heard of Zhou Tianqi’s attempted assassination of Kong Xueming. The chapter ended with Chu Zhiyuan arriving at Prince Qing’s Estate, where Feng Xi told him the Grandmaster Residence had sent eight guards.

• Chu Zhiyuan warned Chu Qingfeng of an approaching threat, and Chu Qingfeng assigned more Grandmasters to guard the valley.
• Chu Zhiyuan found that Huang Cheng’s forces had killed twelve Jade Cauldron Sect Grandmasters and six Shadow Sect Grandmasters, and he warned that the attackers might target his family next.
• Chu Zhiyuan cultivated through the night, refining his Gang Qi, then returned to the Ministry of Rites Office and told Gao Lingfeng to ease the city’s harsh restrictions.
• Gao Lingfeng told Chu Zhiyuan that White Cloud Sword Palace True Disciple Zhou Tianqi had tried to assassinate his master, Kong Xueming, and was being pursued.
• Chu Zhiyuan spoke with Huang Shirong, Wen Qianqian, and Xu Mengyu about the scandal, then returned to Prince Qing’s Estate, where Feng Xi reported that eight guards had arrived from the Grandmaster Residence.

Chu Zhiyuan trained twelve Grandmasters to use the Four Spirits Formation, helped Xiao Ruoling prepare for a rival seeking the Moon Invitation Palace’s Saintess position, and broke through to the Sevenfold level. He planned to move the valley’s Mysterious Stones to Bright Martial Hall and remained eager to learn what reward the Emperor would give him.

• Chu Zhiyuan assigned twelve Grandmasters to protect the Princess Consort and taught them the Four Spirits Formation, which they learned rapidly.
• Xiao Ruoling told Chu Zhiyuan that Grandmaster Song had begun secretly protecting her and described a newly prominent rival for the Saintess position; Chu Zhiyuan taught her a powerful new sword art.
• After ten days of seclusion, Chu Zhiyuan broke through to the Sevenfold level and told Chu Mingxuan and the others they could return to Bright Martial Hall to train.
• Chu Zhiyuan explained that Mysterious Stones beneath the valley would be moved to Bright Martial Hall, where they would greatly improve cultivation.
• Chu Zhiyuan reflected that the Emperor’s eight Grandmaster guards were not his reward and wondered what the Emperor would grant him.

Chu Zhiyuan investigated the rapidly growing sapling in Ten Thousand Green Courtyard and recognized it as the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree. He showed Chu Yi and Li Suyue how to help it grow faster, then left them to cultivate.

• Chu Zhiyuan returned to Listening to Waves Courtyard and told Mo Yi to move the black altar underground.
• Chu Zhiyuan visited Ten Thousand Green Courtyard, where Chu Yi and Li Suyue showed him a person-high sapling that had been enriching the plants around it.
• Chu Zhiyuan touched the sapling and experienced its immense age and history, identifying it as the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree.
• Chu Zhiyuan advised Chu Yi to inject internal energy into the tree, and Chu Yi made it grow slightly taller.
• Chu Yi and Li Suyue went to cultivate the Great Returning Yuan Step while Chu Zhiyuan sensed the divine tree's spirituality.

Chu Zhiyuan discussed Zhou Tianqi’s escape with Huang Shirong and suspected the Jade Cauldron Sect was involved. After attacks struck the Great Zhen and Great Meng envoys, he visited the injured Cheng Tianfeng and deduced that disguised assassins had caught him off guard.

• Chu Zhiyuan asked Huang Shirong about Zhou Tianqi, and they considered whether he had ties to the Jade Cauldron Sect.
• Chu Zhiyuan sensed that martial artists were leaving Yujing after Great Jing and Great Zhen concluded their negotiations, then observed that the Thick Earth Sect’s Earth Venerable Statue had gained more golden light.
• Gao Lingfeng told Chu Zhiyuan that the Great Zhen and Great Meng envoys had been attacked, leaving Cheng Tianfeng in critical condition while the Ninth Prince escaped unharmed.
• Chu Zhiyuan visited Cheng Tianfeng, who complained about the failed security and refused to describe the attack.
• Chu Zhiyuan deduced that two assassins disguised as beauties had entered Cheng Tianfeng’s room and attacked him, and that a protective treasure had saved his life.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that the Jade Cauldron Sect had used the secretive Sky Concealment Sect’s aura-concealing art, then discovered the Heart-Questioning Blade Art could damage the soul and block the path to grandmasterhood. Cheng Tianfeng warned him that Li Hongzhao planned to kill him and said he would leave Jade Capital in secret, promising his senior brother would eventually challenge Chu Zhiyuan.

• Chu Zhiyuan questioned Cheng Tianfeng about the attackers, and Cheng revealed that the Jade Cauldron Sect had hidden them with help from the Sky Concealment Sect and its Heavenly Robe Secret Mechanism Art.
• Cheng explained that Wentian Cliff had once besieged the Sky Concealment Sect and taken some of its inheritance, while Chu revealed that he had reached Sevenfold Heaven.
• Cheng recognized Chu’s flying-dagger techniques and described the Heart-Questioning Blade Art, which drew on a trace of grandmaster power but damaged the soul and prevented its practitioner from becoming a grandmaster.
• Cheng warned Chu that Li Hongzhao was preparing to kill him, then said he would leave Jade Capital secretly the next day.
• Cheng told Chu that his senior brother from Wentian Cliff was more formidable than he was and would soon reach the grandmaster realm; Chu then departed.

Chu Zhiyuan visited Li Hongzhao after her assassination attempt and tried to draw her into cooperating on a prisoner exchange and a campaign against demonic sects. Li Hongzhao revealed that she wanted his help against a powerful member of the Fearless Sect, but their negotiation ended with her attacking him over his demand for ten Phoenix Undying Pills.

• Chu Zhiyuan considered Cheng Tianfeng's information about the Sky Concealment Sect, the Heart-Questioning Blade Art, and Li Hongzhao's assassination attempt as he made his way to the Great Meng embassy.
• Li Hongzhao told Chu Zhiyuan that she had killed her assassin, then argued with him over his delayed prisoner-exchange plan and his proposal that Great Meng withdraw its troops.
• Li Hongzhao urged Chu Zhiyuan to cultivate prestige by competing for the throne, but he insisted that he intended to focus on cultivation and had recently reached the Sevenfold.
• Li Hongzhao offered a possible first-rank merit opportunity tied to wiping out demonic sects, but Chu Zhiyuan said he planned to enter seclusion and advance toward the Eighth Heaven.
• Li Hongzhao admitted that she wanted Chu Zhiyuan's help killing a formidable member of the Fearless Sect, and Chu Zhiyuan demanded ten Phoenix Undying Pills.
• Li Hongzhao drew her sword and thrust it at Chu Zhiyuan after rejecting his demand.

Chu Zhiyuan agreed with Li Hongzhao to help kill a target in exchange for Phoenix Undying Pills, then learned that Chu Minghou had been appointed Assistant Minister of Works. He traveled to Taizhou for an operation against the evil sects, where Huang Shirong presided over the assembled force.

• Chu Zhiyuan sparred with Li Hongzhao, criticized her swordsmanship, and bargained for six Phoenix Undying Pills in exchange for helping her kill a target at dawn the day after tomorrow.
• Chu Zhiyuan received an imperial decree appointing Chu Minghou Assistant Minister of Works, and he persuaded his reluctant father to accept the post.
• Bai Ningshuang and Chu Yi welcomed Chu Minghou’s appointment and helped him prepare for his new duties.
• Chu Zhiyuan told his family he would travel to Taizhou on official business the day after tomorrow.
• Chu Zhiyuan arrived in a snowy pine forest outside Taizhou with Li Hongzhao, Huang Cheng, Su Qiuyan, and over a hundred others as Huang Shirong presided over the operation.

Chu Zhiyuan prepared the Town Martial Division to purge Taizhou City's evil sects, teaching them how to recognize and evade the Mutual Destruction technique. After the officers set out, he and Li Hongzhao went to deal with Xu Guijian of the Fearless Sect, who was alone at the city's largest restaurant.

• Chu Zhiyuan learned that Great Meng's Secret Agents had far better information on Taizhou than the Supervisory Department, and the officers agreed to test the map during the next day's operation.
• Chu Zhiyuan warned the Town Martial Division that evil sect disciples must be killed without mercy and showed them the expression that signaled an impending Mutual Destruction attack.
• Chu Zhiyuan startled the officers into memorizing the warning expression, then left Huang Shirong to assign their targets and positions.
• The Town Martial Division officers dispersed across Taizhou City to attack the evil sects and bring back corpses for merit.
• Li Hongzhao gave Chu Zhiyuan the location of Xu Guijian, a Fearless Sect True Disciple at the largest restaurant, and Chu Zhiyuan agreed to confront him despite the risk to the building and its guests.

Li Hongzhao confronted Xu Guijian, the Fearless Sect prodigy who had killed her junior sister, but his Fearless True Body resisted her sword attacks. Chu Zhiyuan intervened and struck Xu Guijian through the heart and both eyes, then retreated to avoid his Mutual Destruction.

• Li Hongzhao told Chu Zhiyuan to cover her while she personally fought Xu Guijian, and explained that she had sworn to avenge her junior sister.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao wandered through Taizhou City, where Chu Zhiyuan bought jewelry for his companions and gave Li Hongzhao a string of Phoenix Stone beads.
• Chu Zhiyuan called Xu Guijian out of Dengyun Tower, and Xu Guijian tried to turn the gathered crowd against Li Hongzhao.
• Li Hongzhao attacked Xu Guijian, but his Fearless True Body blocked her Phoenix Sword Art and divine sword.
• Chu Zhiyuan pierced Xu Guijian's heart and both eyes, then retreated to avoid Xu Guijian's Mutual Destruction.

Chu Zhiyuan killed Xu Guijian, helped the Town Martial Division defeat the Shadow Sect without losing anyone, and negotiated the return of captives with Li Hongzhao. Back in Jade Capital, he examined an ancient-looking jade pendant taken from Xu Guijian that he could not see through.

• Chu Zhiyuan killed Xu Guijian with his Flying Dagger, and Li Hongzhao claimed the corpse as an offering for her junior sister's grave.
• Zou Fang collected Xu Guijian's belongings, and Chu Zhiyuan kept them while discussing the captured Demonic Humans with Li Hongzhao.
• The Town Martial Division experts returned with their gains, having all survived by recognizing Chu Zhiyuan's warning about Mutual Destruction.
• Li Hongzhao and Chu Zhiyuan bargained over the captives to be exchanged, and Chu Zhiyuan wondered whether Great Jing and Great Meng might make peace.
• After returning to Jade Capital, Chu Zhiyuan examined a blood-stained jade pendant from Xu Guijian that concealed its contents from his perception.

Chu Zhiyuan absorbed the jade pendant’s spiritual radiance and learned the Fearless Great Perfection Hand Seal, then arranged for Zou Fang to advance her cultivation. As Xiao Ruoling’s departure drew near, Chu Zhiyuan continued his training while Li Hongzhao kept quiet.

• Chu Zhiyuan infused the jade pendant with the Dragon Transformation Technique and saw giant hands form nine seals, which he unconsciously copied as the Fearless Great Perfection Hand Seal entered his body.
• Chu Zhiyuan recovered his depleted soul power with help from the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree, then tested his new hand seal by stopping Zou Fang’s Gang Breaking Flying Dagger an inch from his palm.
• Chu Zhiyuan explained that the hand seal drew on the Fearless Realm’s power and that his Divine Dragon Intent had suppressed its dangerous spirituality.
• Chu Zhiyuan sent Zou Fang to ask Huang Cheng for help advancing her cultivation, and she returned the next day at the Eighth Heaven.
• Chu Zhiyuan trained arduously at Bright Martial Hall and the Listening to Waves Courtyard as Li Hongzhao quieted down and Xiao Ruoling’s departure approached.

Xiao Ruoling left Yujing City with Chu Zhiyuan to enter Moon Invitation Palace, while her family said farewell. The pair reached the palace’s mountain entrance, where Xiao Ruoling presented her disciple token and was admitted.

• Xiao Ruoling reassured Xiao Youping and Xiao Ruoyu that she would return after studying at Moon Invitation Palace, and Xiao Youping reluctantly approved her departure.
• Chu Zhiyuan promised Xiao Ruoyu he could visit Xiao Ruoling regularly, then carried her away from Duke An's Estate on a Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling raced out of Yujing City and reached the mountain beneath Moon Invitation Palace two hours later.
• Two White-Clad Girls stopped Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling, but let them enter after Xiao Ruoling showed Zeng Yuan's Green Jade Pendant.

Xiao Ruoling arrived at Moon Invitation Palace, where Shen Hanyue questioned her relationship with Chu Zhiyuan before the two continued into the sect. Chu Zhiyuan returned to Yujing City, while Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue reached the palace at the mountain peak, where nine young women awaited them.

• Shen Hanyue arrived on horseback and showed immediate disgust toward Chu Zhiyuan, who bid Xiao Ruoling farewell and rode back toward Yujing City.
• Xiao Ruoling explained to Shen Hanyue that Moon Invitation Palace disciples could marry and that she had ridden with Chu Zhiyuan as his future consort.
• Chu Zhiyuan let the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses run at full speed back to Yujing City, then returned to his residence and began cultivating.
• Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue followed two White-Clad Girls through Moon Invitation Palace, passing junior disciples, animal companions, and training grounds filled with Xiantian Masters and Grandmasters.
• Xiao Ruoling and Shen Hanyue reached the white jade palace at the mountain peak, where nine young women stood waiting.