Chapter Summaries

Chu Zhiyuan considered the scale of the Evil Sect and decided to urge the Imperial Court to address it in the three-dynasty peace talks. After helping Shen Hanyue and Xu Yingying with their cultivation, he learned that the Imperial Court planned to transfer him from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of Personnel.

• Chu Zhiyuan realized that tens of thousands of Evil Sect disciples might remain and resolved to propose adding the sect’s eradication to the peace talks between the three dynasties.
• Shen Hanyue asked Chu Zhiyuan to help her and Xiao Ruoling determine the Moon Phase each day, and he agreed.
• Xu Yingying announced that she had reached Grandmaster Perfection, and Shen Hanyue challenged her to see who would become a Great Grandmaster first.
• Three more Bone Towers made from Evil Sect corpses appeared outside Ziyang Villa, attracting crowds of onlookers.
• Chu Minghou told Chu Zhiyuan that the Imperial Court intended to transfer him to the Ministry of Personnel while keeping him as Left Assistant Minister.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that the Imperial Court tolerated the Southern Border’s evil sects because their violence weakened the region, and he refused to stop killing their members despite mounting opposition. He considered how to continue without letting the sects simply kill one another, while Chu Yi proposed finding a way to have the best of both worlds.

• Chu Yi urged Chu Zhiyuan to serve in the Six Ministries and then visit the provinces, while Chu Zhiyuan questioned whether the Imperial Court wanted him to stop killing evil sect members.
• Chu Minghou explained that the Imperial Court tolerated the evil sects because their strongholds weakened the unruly Southern Border, which Great Jing struggled to govern.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Yi reasoned that the Imperial Court’s policy aimed to weaken the Southern Border, and Chu Minghou warned that wiping out the sects could provoke the court to transfer Chu Zhiyuan away from Jade Capital.
• Chu Zhiyuan insisted that the evil sect Demonic Humans should die, even if his actions meant opposing the court, because abandoning his campaign would impede his cultivation.
• Chu Yi asked whether they could have the best of both worlds, and Chu Zhiyuan said they could only let the evil sects kill one another, though that would not help his Bright Moon Blade God grow stronger.

Chu Zhiyuan decided to avoid clashing openly with court officials and instead spread rumors about four jade pendants said to hold the Evil Emperor’s inheritance, stirring conflict among the evil sects. He then took up his post as Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, where he planned to build his credentials in the Selection Department.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Chu Yi that he would let Demonic Humans attack him rather than oppose court officials directly, and that he had a third move prepared.
• Rumors spread that four Evil Emperor Jade Pendants could unlock the Evil Emperor’s inheritance, with the Demonic Heart Sect holding one and the Wanxing Sect having obtained another.
• After Wanxing Sect disciples were killed, the second pendant was said to have fallen into the hands of the Sangmei Sect, whose masters were pursued from all directions.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Zou Fang arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, where guards let the Fourth Heir Apparent enter without waiting in line.
• Ouyang Xun welcomed Chu Zhiyuan and showed him the Selection Department, where clerks were reviewing examination candidates’ résumés.

Chu Zhiyuan studied the Selection Department’s work as part of his preparation to govern, while the Flying Heaven Sect debated how to handle a deadly secret realm. Qu Ying returned to the sect and began recounting what she had experienced on her journey.

• Chu Zhiyuan asked Ouyang Xun to continue following precedent and studied the documents to learn how the Six Ministries and Great Jing operated.
• Chu Zhiyuan considered recruiting capable officials and recalled Huang Shirong’s talent for handling affairs.
• Lu Donghu and the Flying Heaven Sect elders argued over whether to reenter a secret realm where unseen Demon Beasts had killed and injured many of their people.
• Lu Donghu suggested seeking outside assistance, but Qu Qianbi and Liu Ruixiang doubted the Imperial Court could help.
• Qu Ying returned to the sect, greeted the elders, and announced that her journey had opened her eyes before recounting what she had seen.

Qu Ying told the Flying Heaven Sect leaders that Chu Zhiyuan had effortlessly slain Demonic Humans and cultivated a Blade Soul, then urged them to ask him to investigate the secret land’s invisible killer. Chu Zhiyuan heard her request but remained unconvinced that the offered Miracle Fruit and Heavenly Blade were worth the risk.

• Qu Ying described Chu Zhiyuan’s feats, and Lu Donghu, Qu Qianbi, and Liu Ruixiang discovered that the returned saber held a Blade Soul cultivated by Chu Zhiyuan.
• Lu Donghu explained that a Mysterious Beast in the secret land killed people invisibly, and Qu Ying advised inviting Chu Zhiyuan to investigate.
• Lu Donghu gave Qu Ying a Miracle Fruit to offer Chu Zhiyuan, alongside access to the true Heavenly Blade.
• The next day, Qu Ying met Chu Zhiyuan at Prince Qing’s Estate and asked him to help, but he said the Imperial Court could provide the spirit fruit and that the two sabers were enough.

Chu Zhiyuan entered Flying Heaven Sect’s secret realm to investigate the Heavenly Blade and its Mysterious Beast. He returned with two dangerous, kitten-like beasts captured in his hands.

• Chu Zhiyuan agreed to inspect Flying Heaven Sect’s secret realm before deciding whether to help with its Mysterious Beast.
• Lu Donghu welcomed Chu Zhiyuan and led him to the secret realm’s entrance, where Chu Zhiyuan sensed it was worth exploring.
• Chu Zhiyuan entered the secret realm while Lu Donghu, Qu Qianbi, Liu Ruixiang, and Qu Ying waited outside.
• After an hour, Qu Qianbi and Liu Ruixiang prepared to enter, but Chu Zhiyuan reappeared holding two fluffy white kittens.
• Chu Zhiyuan warned Qu Ying not to touch the kittens and demonstrated their speed and ability to conceal their auras.
• Qu Qianbi and Liu Ruixiang recognized the kittens as the Mysterious Beasts that had attacked them before.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that the swift, snow-white Mysterious Beasts could be active threats in the secret realm and brought two back to study. After a night of trying to contain them, he decided to use the Spirit-Connecting Heavenly Talisman to tame them.

• Lu Donghu and Qu Ying asked Chu Zhiyuan about the Mysterious Beasts, and he explained that they traveled in groups and likely preferred daylight.
• Chu Zhiyuan agreed to keep the two cats and observe them after Lu Donghu declined to house them at the Flying Heaven Sect.
• At the guest courtyard, Chu Zhiyuan used four Flying Daggers to keep the cats from escaping or attacking him.
• Chu Zhiyuan reflected that the Flying Heaven Sect was risking its experts by pursuing the secret realm and chose not to advise them.
• Chu Zhiyuan examined three Heavenly Treasures he had found, then concluded he needed a beast-taming method for the stubborn cats.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided to try the Spirit-Connecting Heavenly Talisman.

Chu Zhiyuan studied the Spirit Cats and used the Golden Jade Heart Contract to sense the locations of three other pendants, hoping to trace them to their main altar. The next morning, after eating a Spirit-Nourishing Fruit that expanded his Super Sensation, he set out with Qu Ying to see the Heavenly Saber.

• Chu Zhiyuan watched the Spirit Cats fight and gained further insight into the Ways of Speed and Slowness and Reality and Illusion.
• Chu Zhiyuan used the Golden Jade Heart Contract and sensed three other pendants in distant locations, planning to use them to trace the enemy’s main altar.
• The next morning, Chu Zhiyuan found that the Spirit Cats had fought all night without submitting and decided to keep wearing them down before trying to tame them.
• Qu Ying gave Chu Zhiyuan a Spirit-Nourishing Fruit, which expanded his Super Sensation by a hundred meters.
• Chu Zhiyuan agreed to eat breakfast with Qu Ying before they went to the sect master’s grand hall to see the Heavenly Saber.

Chu Zhiyuan examined the Flying Heaven Sect’s Heavenly Blade and discovered that he could lift it despite its immense weight, but Spiritual Qi triggered a violent counterattack. He then used the Bright Moon Blade God to confront the lightning within the blade, leaving Lu Donghu and the others watching as golden patterns appeared and Chu Zhiyuan’s hair stood on end.

• Lu Donghu, Qu Qianbi, and Liu Ruixiang combined their power to summon the Heavenly Blade from a turbulent space and showed it to Chu Zhiyuan.
• Chu Zhiyuan lifted the thousand-jin blade with his physical strength, surprising Lu Donghu, Qu Qianbi, and Liu Ruixiang.
• Chu Zhiyuan’s attempt to inspect the blade with Spiritual Qi triggered a counterattack that hurled him toward the hall entrance, but he quickly stopped himself and reclaimed the blade.
• Chu Zhiyuan used the Bright Moon Blade God to perceive lightning within the Heavenly Blade and met its purple bolts head-on.
• Lu Donghu watched as golden patterns appeared on the blade and Chu Zhiyuan’s hair began to stand on end.

Chu Zhiyuan studied the Heavenly Blade and gained insight into its Blade God, while the force of his breakthrough overwhelmed the Flying Heaven Sect elders. He learned that the sect’s current blade art descended from an ancient Thunder Blade Art that later generations could not cultivate.

• Qu Ying insisted on witnessing Chu Zhiyuan’s encounter with the Heavenly Blade as his presence grew stronger and forced the others out of the hall.
• Chu Zhiyuan’s Blade Intent manifested as a vast moon, leaving Lu Donghu, Qu Qianbi, and Liu Ruixiang drenched in sweat while Qu Ying remained unharmed.
• Chu Zhiyuan said he had gained insight from the Heavenly Blade and realized its Blade God had strengthened his Bright Moon Blade God by one-third.
• Chu Zhiyuan examined the Heavenly Blade’s unusual material and discovered it resembled the Iron Ring, giving him hope of finding similar material in the world.
• Lu Donghu explained that the sect ancestor’s Thunder Blade Art was too demanding for later generations, so he derived the Purple Sun, Crimson Sun, Blazing Sun, and Flying Heaven Blade Arts.

Chu Zhiyuan asked to see the Flying Heaven Sect’s Thunder Blade Art, but its elders initially refused to share their foundational technique. Qu Ying persuaded them that befriending the nearly unmatched Fourth Heir Apparent mattered more than guarding the art, and Lu Donghu agreed to show it to him at noon.

• Chu Zhiyuan admired the Heavenly Blade and asked Lu Donghu to let him see the Thunder Blade Art.
• Lu Donghu and the elders refused at first, so Qu Ying led Chu Zhiyuan away while promising the sect would decide by lunchtime.
• Qu Ying scolded Lu Donghu, Qu Qianbi, and Liu Ruixiang for underestimating Chu Zhiyuan’s power and political importance.
• Qu Ying argued that Chu Zhiyuan would not spread the Thunder Blade Art and could discover the Flying Heaven Blade Art’s weaknesses without it.
• Lu Donghu agreed to give Chu Zhiyuan the Thunder Blade Art at noon and said he would visit Jade Capital in a few days.

Chu Zhiyuan tamed two Spirit Cats by linking with their minds and feeding them the Dragon Transformation Technique's aura. After Qu Ying showed him the ancient Thunder Blade Art, he promised not to take the Heavenly Blade and planned to return to Jade Capital before gathering Miracle Fruits for her.

• Chu Zhiyuan doubled the Flying Daggers' assault on the Spirit Cats, then used the Spirit-Connecting Heavenly Talisman to communicate with them and earn their trust.
• Chu Zhiyuan stroked the Spirit Cats and fed them the Dragon Transformation Technique's aura until they settled on his shoulders.
• Qu Ying arrived, and Chu Zhiyuan told her the Spirit Cats would avoid anyone smeared with the juice of a certain Miracle Fruit, then gave her a painting of it.
• Qu Ying showed Chu Zhiyuan the ancient Thunder Blade Art, and he memorized it while assuring her he would not seize the Heavenly Blade.
• Chu Zhiyuan said he would return to Jade Capital and then come back to gather Miracle Fruits for Qu Ying.

Chu Zhiyuan warned Qu Ying that Flying Heaven Sect was risking lives by exploring the Secret Land without Imperial Court support, then returned to Ziyang Villa. There, Xiao Ruoling told him that news of the jade pendants would be leaked the next day, including the one Tianxin Sect had kept secret.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Qu Ying that Flying Heaven Sect should rely on the Town Martial Division and explore the Secret Land alongside the Imperial Court's Great Grandmasters, criticizing Sect Master Lu for risking the sect's experts.
• Qu Ying escorted Chu Zhiyuan down the mountain and reflected on the disciples and elders lost in the Secret Land and whether the sect should have consulted the Imperial Court.
• Chu Zhiyuan returned to Ziyang Villa with two Spirit Cats, which Xu Yingying and Shen Hanyue tried unsuccessfully to catch.
• Xiao Ruoling told Chu Zhiyuan that only Tianxin Sect's jade pendant had not been leaked and that she had arranged for its location to become public the next day.

Chu Zhiyuan played with the Spirit Cats and discussed Flying Heaven Sect’s dangerous secret realm with Lu Donghu before entering it again. He found spirit-nourishing Red Fruits and a Golden Flower, then continued exploring.

• Chu Zhiyuan let the Spirit Cats grow comfortable with Xu Yingying and Shen Hanyue, who fed them roasted meat.
• Chu Zhiyuan showed Xiao Ruoling his findings and asked her to identify them.
• At Flying Heaven Sect, Lu Donghu agreed to limit future exploration after Chu Zhiyuan warned that stronger Demon Beasts might inhabit the secret realm.
• Chu Zhiyuan entered the secret realm with the Spirit Cats and used Super Sensation to explore its forest.
• Chu Zhiyuan found two Red Fruit Trees and a Golden Flower on a nearby cliff.

Chu Zhiyuan gathered nine Golden Flowers in the secret realm and consumed them to strengthen his soul and Spiritual Qi. He expected Golden Tower to break through its first level within half a month, then turned to cultivating the ancient Thunder Blade Art.

• Chu Zhiyuan crossed the secret realm, avoided dangerous Demon Beasts, and collected nine Golden Flowers along with several fruits.
• Chu Zhiyuan warned Lu Donghu about two powerful ape-like Demon Beasts and considered his favor to Flying Heaven Sect repaid.
• Chu Zhiyuan consumed all nine Golden Flowers, sensing his soul, Spiritual Qi, and Sword Qi grow stronger.
• Chu Zhiyuan estimated that Golden Tower would break through its first level in half a month and began cultivating the Thunder Blade Art.

Chu Zhiyuan mastered the Thunder Blade Art’s transformations, discovering its power to kill, strengthen his body, and increase his speed. At breakfast, he warned that Great Zhen might use peace talks to pressure Great Jing over Phoenix Camp and the Martial Arts Hall.

• Chu Zhiyuan demonstrated the Thunder Blade Art in the courtyard, creating a vast pool of thunderlight that nearly pulled Zou Fang into it.
• Chu Zhiyuan concluded that the Thunder Blade Art rapidly strengthened his body and doubled his qinggong speed, but its ultimate intent was inferior to the Glazed Saber Scripture.
• At breakfast, Chu Minghou told the family that Great Meng and Great Zhen were holding secret peace talks and might form a marriage alliance.
• Chu Zhiyuan said Great Zhen was maneuvering because it feared Great Jing’s growing numbers of Grandmasters.
• Chu Zhiyuan predicted that Great Zhen would raise Phoenix Camp and the Martial Arts Hall in negotiations, and that the Imperial Court might compromise by trading access to them.

Chu Zhiyuan weighed a possible diplomatic mission to Great Meng against his campaign to destroy the evil sects, insisting he would not leave until he had dealt with most of them. As the public celebrated his efforts and worried about threats to him, he spotted Cheng Yifeng, Cheng Miaozhen, and Consort Shu at Feiyun Tower.

• Chu Minghou told Chu Zhiyuan that the Imperial Court might send him as an envoy to Great Meng, but Chu Zhiyuan said he would wait a month and destroy most of the evil sects first.
• Chu Zhiyuan reflected that eradicating the evil sects would require finding their main altar and severing Outer Heavenly Power's connection to the world.
• At Feiyun Tower, Cheng Yifeng, Cheng Miaozhen, and Consort Shu overheard diners discuss the Fourth Heir Apparent obtaining the last Evil Emperor Jade Pendant and the danger posed by evil sect Grandmasters.
• The diners praised the Fourth Heir Apparent for killing Demonic Humans, while Cheng Yifeng and the others discussed his growing merit and the criticism aimed at him.
• Chu Zhiyuan walked through a cheering crowd with Guo Chi and the others protecting him and Zou Fang carrying a chest, then noticed Cheng Yifeng, Cheng Miaozhen, and Consort Shu at the window.

Chu Zhiyuan drew out the Evil Sect’s hidden attackers as he walked through Yujing City, then advanced to the residence where Weng Qifeng was breaking through to the Grandmaster realm. Chu Zhiyuan’s Golden Tower’s first layer shattered, and he reached the Second Layer of Grandmaster.

• Chu Zhiyuan declined Cheng Yifeng’s invitation, while concealed Demonic Humans of the Evil Sect suddenly died around him.
• Eighteen of the people who had knelt to thank Chu Zhiyuan collapsed and were exposed as Demonic Humans; Town Martial Division experts carried away the bodies for the Bone Tower at Ziyang Villa.
• Chu Zhiyuan tossed the Golden Jade Heart Contract into the air and challenged anyone to take it, killing more hidden attackers as they leaped toward it.
• Chu Zhiyuan walked through an alley and silently killed nine more Grandmasters of the Evil Sect before heading to another residence.
• Thunderclouds gathered as Weng Qifeng broke through to Grandmaster, while Chu Zhiyuan shattered the Golden Tower’s first layer and attained Grandmaster Second Layer.

Chu Zhiyuan completed the first step of the Dragon Subduing True Scripture and cleared nearly all the evil sects’ Demonic Humans from Yujing City. Weng Qifeng and Zou Fang both became Grandmasters, and Chu Zhiyuan arranged for Weng to guard the Prince’s Manor despite Chu Qingyan’s objections.

• Chu Zhiyuan broke through to the Second Layer of Grandmasterhood and completed the Dragon Transformation Technique’s first step.
• Chu Zhiyuan searched Yujing City and killed nearly all the evil sects’ Demonic Humans there.
• Zou Fang followed Chu Zhiyuan’s guidance and broke through to Grandmasterhood.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Weng Qifeng to move to the Prince’s Manor and guard it, and Weng agreed.
• Chu Qingyan arrived and objected to Weng serving outside the Grandmaster’s Mansion, but Chu Zhiyuan refused to register him there.

Chu Zhiyuan prepared to attack the evil sects and met Xu Haode, the Evil Emperor’s successor, who offered to help locate their hidden nests. Chu Zhiyuan suspected Xu Haode wanted to devour Outer Heavenly Power, and Xu Haode froze when he voiced the guess.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Chu Qingyan he would take on the evil sects, and Chu Qingyan warned him to flee if danger arose.
• Chu Zhiyuan returned to Prince Qing’s Estate with Weng Qifeng and Zou Fang, then recognized the strange aura of Xu Haode, a visitor from Great Meng.
• Xu Haode identified the Golden Jade Heart Contract as a fake but said only he could recognize the Evil Emperor’s genuine relics.
• Xu Haode offered to help Chu Zhiyuan locate evil sect nests and revealed that he had secretly killed Demonic Humans for years.
• Chu Zhiyuan guessed that Xu Haode wanted to devour Outer Heavenly Power, leaving Xu Haode stunned.