Chapter Summaries

Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode agreed to work together against the evil sects, with Xu Haode seeking to devour the power of their main altars. Before their plans could proceed, Chu Zhiyuan discovered that evil sect forces were besieging the Flying Heaven Sect and set out to help.

• Chu Zhiyuan questioned Xu Haode about his devouring techniques, and Xu Haode explained that he sought to destroy evil sects and grow stronger by consuming their power.
• Chu Zhiyuan gave Xu Haode a Golden Jade Heart Contract and showed him Venerable Statues that could sense evil sect Demonic Humans; Xu Haode agreed to fetch his own statues.
• Chu Zhiyuan secretly followed Xu Haode with Super Sensation and saw that he hurried away from Yujing City at great speed.
• Chu Zhiyuan sensed a disturbance in the Venerable Statues and told Chu Qingyan that four evil sect Grandmasters and sixteen masters were heading to besiege the Flying Heaven Sect.
• Chu Qingyan sent Chu Zhiyuan to support the Flying Heaven Sect, since he was the only one available to go at once.

The Evil Sect’s Demonic Humans attacked the Flying Heaven Sect, but Chu Zhiyuan arrived and stopped them before the battle caused further casualties. Interrogation revealed that the attackers planned to use a Gold Venerable Statue to unleash Demon Beasts from the secret realm and plunge the world into chaos.

• Qu Ying saw four Evil Sect Great Grandmasters besieging Qu Qianbi while more than twenty Grandmasters fought the Flying Heaven Sect’s disciples.
• Qu Ying reported the attack to Lu Donghu and Liu Ruixiang, who stayed in the main hall to guard the sect.
• Chu Zhiyuan arrived after sensing the Evil Sect gathering and discovered that the attackers had brought a Gold Venerable Statue.
• Chu Zhiyuan killed the attacking Demonic Humans, and Qu Qianbi sealed the acupoints of the three survivors.
• Liu Ruixiang and Qu Qianbi interrogated the survivors and learned that they planned to use the Gold Venerable Statue to release Demon Beasts from the secret realm.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that Yutian Sect had used its Gold Venerable Statue and a sacrifice method to control Demon Beasts, then obtained the statue for study. Xu Haode brought him a chest of Venerable Statues that could help locate evil sect experts, and Chu Zhiyuan began organizing them as plans to clear out their main altars moved forward.

• Liu Ruixiang explained that Yutian Sect had used its Gold Venerable Statue and sacrificed disciples to control Demon Beasts after Fengtian Sect destroyed its main altar.
• Chu Zhiyuan obtained the Gold Venerable Statue and found fifty-three red threads linking it to Yutian Sect disciples, though its black thread concealed the other party's location.
• Xu Haode brought Chu Zhiyuan six Silver Venerable Statues and forty-two black ones that he had collected while killing Demonic Humans.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode agreed to clear evil sect main altars in Great Jing first, while Xu Haode set out for a Huaisu Sect altar.
• Chu Zhiyuan sorted the Venerable Statues, set aside ten whose red threads had vanished, and had Zou Fang store the Gold Venerable Statue in a separate courtyard.

Chu Zhiyuan prepared to attack the Huaisu Sect’s main altar and received Coronation Jade, a treasure said to ward off Demonic Beings from Beyond the Heavens. He reached the hidden altar in the Southern Border with Xu Haode, who revealed its concealed valley with a stone that broke the array.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Chu Qingyan he planned to raid evil sects, and Chu Qingyan warned him about the danger of Demonic Beings from Beyond the Heavens.
• Chu Qingyan gave Chu Zhiyuan Coronation Jade from the Emperor and explained how the Jade Cauldron Sect’s main altar had once been destroyed.
• Chu Zhiyuan rode into the Southern Border on a Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse and met Xu Haode near the Huaisu Sect’s hidden main altar.
• Xu Haode threw a black stone that broke the array, revealing a valley hidden within the Green Bamboo forest.

Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode attacked Huaisu Sect’s headquarters by hurling giant boulders at its barrier, hoping to force the sect members out and destroy their golden statues. When Xu Haode tried to absorb the barrier’s power, it ignited in his palm, leaving the attack’s outcome uncertain.

• Chu Zhiyuan saw Huaisu Sect’s valley headquarters through its formation, and Xu Haode explained that his Formation Breaking Stone could not break formations created by people or military formations.
• Chu Zhiyuan silently killed two Huaisu Sect members who had left the valley, then discussed ways with Xu Haode to attack the headquarters without entering its traps.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode gathered giant boulders and hurled them at the valley, but a black barrier deflected the stones until the kneeling disciples empowered it into a golden shield.
• The pair brought more boulders and continued their assault, while Chu Zhiyuan deduced that the barrier’s power came at a price and suggested Xu Haode try absorbing it.
• Xu Haode rode a boulder toward the golden barrier and touched it, but its power burned his palm and flared when he fed it Spiritual Qi.

Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode broke into the Huaisu Sect headquarters and killed the Demonic Beings from Beyond the Heavens controlling its disciples. After Chu Zhiyuan rescued the injured Xu Haode, they prepared to search the headquarters, while approaching figures suddenly fell into the bamboo grove.

• Chu Zhiyuan rescued Xu Haode from the burning Outer Heavenly Power on his arm and used the Fearless Realm to extinguish it.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode bombarded the Golden Light Barrier with boulders, then Xu Haode pierced it with his divine sword while Chu Zhiyuan sent a rain of stones through the opening.
• Chu Zhiyuan unleashed his dragon thought and Bright Moon Blade God, and Flying Daggers killed the people inside the valley, including the Demonic Beings from Beyond the Heavens.
• Xu Haode laughed at their victory, and Chu Zhiyuan healed his burning injuries before telling him to recover so they could search the headquarters.
• A dozen figures approaching the valley suddenly dropped into the bamboo grove and disappeared.

Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode entered the Huaisu Sect headquarters after defeating the waves of disciples who tried to reach it. As Xu Haode uncovered his hatred of Demonic Humans and searched for treasure, Chu Zhiyuan studied the Phoenix Patterns and the Venerable Statues.

• Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode waited until three waves of Huaisu Sect disciples had been swept away, then entered the valley.
• Chu Zhiyuan found Phoenix Patterns carved into the jade ground and asked Xu Haode for permission to take the stones for study.
• Xu Haode said Demonic Humans had killed his entire family when he was three and vowed to eradicate every Demonic Human and heretical sect.
• Xu Haode offered to leave the headquarters' treasures to Chu Zhiyuan, then agreed to take one item whenever they found treasure.
• Chu Zhiyuan compared the black line on the giant Venerable Statue with the one at the Yutian Sect as Xu Haode carried caskets and chests into a large pile.

Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode searched the Huaisu Sect’s hidden storehouses and uncovered a black iron token that activated the sect’s inheritance. Chu Zhiyuan destroyed the transformed token without learning the inheritance, then produced another black iron token.

• Xu Haode thoroughly searched the Huaisu Sect’s buildings and found its chests and boxes, which he opened with Chu Zhiyuan.
• Chu Zhiyuan noticed that an ordinary-looking black iron token had been kept in the sect’s sole Spirit Sealing Box and took it for study.
• Xu Haode explained that he had received the Evil Emperor’s inheritance through the Evil Emperor Jade Pendant when he was three years old.
• Chu Zhiyuan realized the Huaisu Sect’s cultivation inheritance was missing and threw the black iron token onto the golden Venerable Statue, activating a transmission chant.
• The token turned crystalline and began transmitting the inheritance, but Chu Zhiyuan crushed it between his palms before receiving it.
• Xu Haode called Chu Zhiyuan ruthless, and Chu Zhiyuan produced another black iron token.

Chu Zhiyuan used the Yin Yang Void Return Art to weaken and destroy the golden Venerable Statue, then he and Xu Haode returned to Yujing City after destroying three evil sects’ main altars. They parted ways, agreeing to meet again in Great Meng if the Imperial Court sent Chu Zhiyuan there.

• Chu Zhiyuan placed Lu Yuhua’s black iron token on the golden Venerable Statue and discovered it revealed Tianxin Sect’s inheritance and could lead to its main altar.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode decided to target smaller evil sects first, then found that Xu Haode’s sword could not damage the statue.
• Chu Zhiyuan refined the statue with the Yin Yang Void Return Art, allowing Xu Haode to cut through it and destroy its dantian.
• The weakened golden Venerable Statue turned to powder, and Chu Zhiyuan realized the Yin Yang Void Return Art could counter the evil power from beyond the heavens.
• Half a month later, Chu Zhiyuan and Xu Haode returned to Yujing City after destroying three sects’ main altars.
• Xu Haode left for Great Meng, and he and Chu Zhiyuan agreed to meet there again.

Chu Zhiyuan returned from the Southern Border after destroying three evil sect headquarters, then accepted the Emperor’s order to lead a delegation to negotiate with Great Meng. His party departed for Tianjing, but at noon he secretly rode back to Jade Capital to check that Prince Qing’s Estate and Ziyang Villa were safe.

• Chu Zhiyuan returned to Prince Qing’s Estate, recounted how he destroyed the main altars of Huaisu Sect, Jade Cauldron Sect, and Tianxin Sect, and explained how he infiltrated and dismantled Tianxin Sect’s mountain formation.
• Huang Cheng delivered the Emperor’s order for Chu Zhiyuan to lead negotiations with Great Meng, and Chu Zhiyuan agreed to leave after attending to a few matters.
• Chu Zhiyuan reassured Bai Ningshuang that he would accept the difficult assignment and said he wanted to see Great Meng.
• On the third day, Chu Zhiyuan’s party departed Yujing City for Tianjing, Great Meng’s capital.
• At noon, Chu Zhiyuan rode the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse back to Jade Capital to check whether anyone had targeted Prince Qing’s Estate or Ziyang Villa.

Elder Chen convened leaders of the evil sects after Chu Zhiyuan destroyed the headquarters of Tianxin Sect, Huaisu Sect, and Jade Cauldron Sect. He revealed that Tianxin Sect had a Divine Artifact capable of hiding its bearers from Chu Zhiyuan, but the sects had so few surviving Grandmasters that assembling a team of twelve seemed impossible.

• Elder Chen warned the gathered sect leaders that Chu Zhiyuan was determined to eradicate them and could find and destroy their headquarters.
• The leaders debated how to kill Chu Zhiyuan, and Elder Chen rejected attacking Prince Qing's Estate before dealing with him.
• Elder Chen explained that Chu Zhiyuan's extraordinary intuition had foiled past assassination attempts and revealed a Divine Artifact of twelve beads that could conceal its bearers from him.
• The gathered leaders realized that the evil sects might not have enough surviving Grandmasters to use all twelve beads.

Chen Zhongming gathered the evil sects to plan an assassination of Chu Zhiyuan, persuading three Grandmasters to join despite the risks. At dusk, he learned Chu Zhiyuan had secretly returned to Yujing City and killed the Grandmasters and Masters sent there, leaving the assassination plan in ruins.

• Chen Zhongming told the evil sect leaders that their sects faced destruction unless they killed Chu Zhiyuan, and Zhao Shenggu and Fu Dengjue agreed to provide Grandmasters.
• The leaders planned to gather three Grandmasters and nine Masters for a coordinated attack on Chu Zhiyuan.
• At dusk, Chen Zhongming waited for the assembled forces and asked the leaders how their recruitment had gone.
• Fu Dengjue reported that Chu Zhiyuan had secretly returned to Yujing City and killed the Grandmaster and Masters his sect had sent there.
• The other leaders revealed that their fighters had also been killed, and Chen Zhongming realized the evil sect forces near Yujing City had suffered a devastating loss.

Chen Zhongming and Feng Rui investigated Zhao Shenggu’s absence and discovered that Chu Zhiyuan had killed him. Chen Zhongming resolved that Chu Zhiyuan had to die and agreed they should seek allies in Great Meng.

• Chen Zhongming insisted that Zhao Shenggu would not have broken his word, so he and Feng Rui went to investigate the Bone Towers at Ziyang Villa.
• Chen Zhongming gave Feng Rui a Black Pearl to conceal his presence as they discussed the sect leaders’ fear of Chu Zhiyuan and their plan to gather twelve people for an assassination.
• The two men quietly inspected the Bone Towers and saw Zhao Shenggu’s bones among them.
• After leaving the plaza, Feng Rui confirmed Zhao Shenggu was dead, and Chen Zhongming regretted not acting sooner.
• Chen Zhongming declared that Chu Zhiyuan had to die, and Feng Rui said they should seek allies in Great Meng.

After Zhao Shenggu’s death shattered the group’s confidence, Chen Zhongming left with the Black Pearl, but Chu Zhiyuan intercepted Feng Rui and learned how the artifact worked. Chu Zhiyuan planned to wait for Chen Zhongming to return, unaware that Chen was already watching from nearby.

• Feng Rui reported Zhao Shenggu’s death, and the group lost heart at the thought of confronting Chu Zhiyuan.
• Chen Zhongming tried to rally the group, then left after returning the Black Pearl to Feng Rui as a parting gift.
• The others surrounded Feng Rui for the pearl, but Chu Zhiyuan’s arrival rendered them unconscious.
• Chu Zhiyuan examined the Black Pearl and questioned Feng Rui, who explained how Chen Zhongming had obtained it.
• Chu Zhiyuan killed Feng Rui and said he would wait for Chen Zhongming to return, while Chen watched from three li away.

Chu Zhiyuan confronted Chen Zhongming, learned more about the Tianxin Sect and tested the Black Pearls before sparing him to use as bait. He and Xiao Ruoling discussed their journey to Great Meng, while Chen Zhongming survived and began planning another assassination.

• Chen Zhongming returned to the battlefield, found the Tianxin Sect members dead and the Black Pearls missing, then discovered Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling waiting for him.
• Chu Zhiyuan questioned Chen Zhongming about the Tianxin Sect and his faith in the Venerable, arguing that the promise of ascending after death was a lie.
• Chu Zhiyuan used the Bright Moon Blade God against Chen Zhongming, but a Black Pearl blocked the strike by crumbling in its owner's place.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Xiao Ruoling he would spare Chen Zhongming as bait and seek the secrets he knew, and Xiao Ruoling warned that traveling with them to Great Meng could invite criticism.
• At Ziyang Villa the next morning, Shen Hanyue hurried Xu Yingying to get ready before Senior Sister and the others departed.

Chu Zhiyuan secured the Black Pearl and led Great Jing’s delegation toward Tianjing, anticipating a hostile reception from the new emperor, Li Hongzhao. After eight days of travel, they stopped at a post station outside the city and planned to enter the next morning.

• Chu Zhiyuan confirmed the Black Pearl had remained unchanged overnight, sealed it in a Spirit Sealing Box, and stored it in his Iron Ring.
• Chu Zhiyuan, Shen Hanyue, Zou Fang, Xu Yingying, Xiao Ruoling, and Xu Suying prepared to travel to Great Meng despite the Palace Master’s objections.
• Chu Zhiyuan sent the three women ahead separately, then joined them outside Ziyang Villa and led the group toward Tianjing using lightness skills.
• Xiao Ruoling asked whether Li Hongzhao would make things difficult for Chu Zhiyuan, and he expected the emperor to take revenge for past grievances.
• Chu Zhiyuan led Great Jing’s delegation to a post station twenty li outside Tianjing on the evening of the eighth day and planned to enter the city the next morning.

At a Great Meng relay station, Chu Zhiyuan and the three women discussed timing their simultaneous breakthroughs into Grandmasters to strengthen Great Jing’s position in negotiations. News arrived that Li Hongzhao had stripped the Hao Prince of his title, a decision Chu Zhiyuan expected to stir turmoil within the imperial clan and court.

• Chu Zhiyuan used his blade technique to slice the meat and divide a piece evenly between Shen Hanyue and Xu Yingying, who had been arguing over it.
• Xu Yingying suggested breaking through at the relay station, but Shen Hanyue proposed waiting until they entered the city so Great Meng would witness their advancement; Xiao Ruoling agreed.
• Ma Tianhe brought Chu Zhiyuan a letter, and Chu Zhiyuan told him to have his people act more carefully and discreetly.
• White and green messenger birds brought Shen Hanyue and Xu Yingying news that matched Chu Zhiyuan’s intelligence.
• Chu Zhiyuan explained that Li Hongzhao had demoted the Hao Prince, whose hereditary title and Golden Bloodline made the decision likely to provoke turmoil.

Chu Zhiyuan left the relay station to meet Li Hongzhao in private after she secretly summoned him. Li Hongzhao admitted that ruling as emperor had left her constrained by powerful opponents and asked Chu Zhiyuan how he would handle them.

• Xiao Ruoling, Shen Hanyue, Xu Yingying, and Chu Zhiyuan discussed how Great Meng's court turmoil might affect negotiations, and Chu Zhiyuan said they would wait and watch.
• Su Qiuyan told Chu Zhiyuan that Li Hongzhao wished to meet him privately, and he left the relay station with her.
• After Chu Zhiyuan departed, Xiao Ruoling told Shen Hanyue and Xu Yingying that Li Hongzhao had summoned him, and they discussed the complicated relationship between the two.
• Chu Zhiyuan met Li Hongzhao beside a river, where she admitted she regretted taking the throne because it had left her unprepared and constrained.
• Li Hongzhao explained that some opponents could be managed, while influential officials devoted to public principles were difficult to oppose, and she asked Chu Zhiyuan what he would do.

Chu Zhiyuan discussed Li Hongzhao’s political troubles and learned that she planned to divert the Great Meng military by forming the Divine Dragon Camp. He warned her that Great Zhen would likely break its impending alliance with Great Meng, leaving her to reconsider which power she could trust.

• Li Hongzhao told Chu Zhiyuan that the court and military opposed her and that she intended to establish the Divine Dragon Camp to draw grandmasters away from their factions.
• Chu Zhiyuan recognized that the camp’s recruitment scheme would keep the military factions anxious and prevent them from uniting against Li Hongzhao.
• Li Hongzhao revealed that Great Meng’s negotiations with Great Zhen were nearly complete and claimed their alliance would hold.
• Chu Zhiyuan argued that Great Zhen would abandon the agreement when convenient and urged Li Hongzhao to compare Great Zhen’s record with Great Jing’s.
• Li Hongzhao questioned whether Great Jing was any more trustworthy, and Chu Zhiyuan insisted that Great Jing had always been the side whose agreements were broken.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao failed to agree on terms for a lasting ceasefire, with Li Hongzhao demanding access to Great Jing’s Martial Arts Hall and accusing it of stalling. Their negotiations nearly turned into a duel with the Emperor’s Sword, but Li Hongzhao backed down after Chu Zhiyuan used the Bright Moon Blade God and concealed his aura.

• Chu Zhiyuan proposed a three-sided ceasefire, but Li Hongzhao rejected Great Jing’s offer of border trade and demanded that Great Meng receive places in the Martial Arts Hall.
• Li Hongzhao argued that Great Zhen’s willingness to open its new Secret Realm showed greater sincerity, while Chu Zhiyuan warned that the realm was dangerous.
• Chu Zhiyuan realized Great Zhen might align with Great Meng to prevent Great Jing from becoming the strongest dynasty.
• Li Hongzhao threatened to use Great Meng’s Emperor’s Sword to eliminate Chu Zhiyuan, while he argued that the strike could damage their sword and benefit Great Zhen.
• Chu Zhiyuan summoned the Bright Moon Blade God and concealed his aura with the Yin Yang Void Return Art, making the Emperor’s Sword less certain to hit him.
• Li Hongzhao lowered the Emperor’s Sword and ended the confrontation, telling Chu Zhiyuan to consider himself formidable.