Chapter Summaries

Chu Zhiyuan visited the gravely ill Twelfth Princess, Li Miaotan, and learned that saving her might require awakening her Divine Race Bloodline. Li Miaotan stirred at his arrival, and Chang Xihua left as she prepared to wake.

• Li Yuzhen told Chu Zhiyuan that Li Miaotan had fainted again, then led him to her secluded courtyard while Fu Zheng stayed behind.
• Elder Guo and Elder Meng scrutinized Chu Zhiyuan and criticized his cultivation before Li Yuzhen ushered him into Li Miaotan's room.
• Chu Zhiyuan saw that several Venerable auras were ravaging Li Miaotan, while Chang Xihua struggled to repair her body.
• Chang Xihua explained that Li Miaotan could be saved by a Spirit Venerable or by awakening her Divine Race Bloodline, and Li Yuzhen urged them to wait for Li Miaotan to decide.
• Li Miaotan moaned at Chu Zhiyuan's presence, and Chang Xihua said she would wake soon before leaving the room.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that Li Miaotan was dying from curses cast by the Demon Race and Heavenly Devils, and that ordinary healing could not save her. Li Miaotan revealed that awakening her Phoenix Bloodline required him to cultivate the Dragon Transformation True Scripture, though the scripture was nearly impossible to master and could cost him his life.

• Li Yuzhen explained that Li Miaotan’s condition was too perilous for ordinary Venerables to treat, while the Phoenix Nirvana Incantation could not be cultivated in her weakened state.
• Li Miaotan woke and told Chu Zhiyuan that the Demon Race and Heavenly Devils had targeted her with the Sky Burning Curse and Heaven Sacrificing Curse.
• Chu Zhiyuan examined Li Miaotan and concluded that the hostile auras inside her were growing stronger and might kill her within a month.
• Li Miaotan disclosed that her dormant Phoenix Bloodline could be awakened by a Heavenly Dragon Bloodline, which could be condensed by mastering the Dragon Transformation True Scripture.
• Li Miaotan warned Chu Zhiyuan that the scripture was nearly impossible to master, caused extreme pain, and could shorten or end his life.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that the Heavenly Dragon Incantation was a dangerous art that could save Li Miaotan by granting a powerful bloodline, but cost lifespan until its first level was mastered. After viewing its secret manual, he immediately comprehended its cultivation method and began practicing, while Li Miaotan and Li Yuzhen watched in alarm.

• Li Miaotan explained that the Heavenly Dragon Incantation could remold the body and bones, extend lifespan, and grant Dragon Curses, but its painful cultivation consumed lifespan and was exceptionally difficult to master.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked to see the secret manual, saying he was curious, while Li Miaotan warned that he might die before reaching its first level.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Li Miaotan considered whether the Devil Race and Demon Race had calculated the danger of their marriage and arranged the attempts on their lives.
• Li Yuzhen brought the sealed iron box, and Li Miaotan opened it with three drops of blood to reveal a golden sheet bearing a single dragon image.
• After Chu Zhiyuan saw the image, he entered a vision of soaring as a dragon, and his Dragon Transformation Technique neared completion in the Lesser Beyond the Heavens.
• Chu Zhiyuan assumed a strange posture and began cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Incantation as his heartbeat and breathing grew thunderous, convincing Li Miaotan that he had comprehended its true method.

Chu Zhiyuan cultivated the first transformation of the Heavenly Dragon Incantation, forming a Heavenly Dragon Bloodline and gaining greatly increased strength and spiritual power. Li Miaotan and Li Yuzhen realized he might be able to save Li Miaotan, and the chapter ended with Chu Zhiyuan leaving to recover while they planned to find a Dragon Curse.

• Chu Zhiyuan’s cultivation drew in immense Spiritual Qi as his body cracked and became concealed inside a blood-red cocoon.
• The cocoon darkened, then gradually turned transparent as Chu Zhiyuan emerged after completing the first transformation of the Heavenly Dragon Incantation.
• Li Yuzhen and Li Miaotan recognized that Chu Zhiyuan had formed a Heavenly Dragon Bloodline, and he reported that his strength had increased around tenfold.
• Chu Zhiyuan tested his expanded Super Sensation, which reached nearly two hundred li, while Li Miaotan wondered about awakening her Phoenix Bloodline.
• Chu Zhiyuan suggested finding a Dragon Curse that might restrain Li Miaotan’s Sky Burning Curse and Heaven Sacrificing Curse, then left to regulate his breathing.

After Chu Zhiyuan successfully cultivated the Heavenly Dragon Incantation and saved Li Miaotan, he examined his transformed body and discovered he could cultivate the Spiritual Abyss Body Cleansing Record without restraint. The chapter ended with him testing a movement technique that let him cross several zhang in an instant.

• Chu Zhiyuan returned to his courtyard after succeeding in his cultivation, while Li Miaotan ordered Li Yuzhen to deliver the iron box and keep his visit and the incident secret.
• Li Yuzhen brought Chu Zhiyuan the box containing the golden silk, and he explained that his powerful soul, dragon will, and prior cultivation had helped him comprehend the Heavenly Dragon Incantation.
• Chu Zhiyuan said there was no longer a need to rush the wedding and planned to enter Great Bright Peak to improve himself; he also asked to visit the city in disguise with Fu Zheng.
• Chu Zhiyuan sensed how the Heavenly Dragon Bloodline had transformed his body, but found that it had not raised his cultivation realm or sped up his practice of the Immeasurable Light Sutra.
• Chu Zhiyuan went to the Spiritual Abyss, cultivated the Spiritual Abyss Body Cleansing Record without restraint, and discovered he could use a movement technique to cross three zhang in an instant.

Chu Zhiyuan cultivated the Immeasurable Light Sutra, then disguised himself and went with Fu Zheng to gather news in Phoenix Imperial City. There, he heard people denigrate him and praise Marquis Xiao Ming as a match for the Twelfth Princess, leaving him suspicious that Marquis Xiao Ming was stirring up opposition.

• Chu Zhiyuan cultivated the Immeasurable Light Sutra with eight karma stones but realized that reaching the Nascent Soul Stage would take too long.
• Chu Zhiyuan changed his appearance with a Disguise Technique, and he and Fu Zheng left the Princess Mansion for Bùshēng Restaurant, a Thousand Mechanisms Tower stronghold.
• Fu Zheng told Chu Zhiyuan that people in the restaurant were criticizing his marriage to the Twelfth Princess and calling for it to be canceled.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Fu Zheng heard diners praise Marquis Xiao Ming and say he was more worthy of the Twelfth Princess, so Chu Zhiyuan decided they should establish his authority by defeating a suitable opponent.
• Chu Zhiyuan heard diners discuss the abnormal clouds over the Princess Mansion and speculate that someone might cripple him to prevent the marriage.
• Fu Zheng left to gather information on Marquis Xiao Ming, while Chu Zhiyuan suspected that Marquis Xiao Ming was using others to stir up trouble against him.

Chu Zhiyuan investigated the mysterious Marquis Xiao Ming while testing Thousand Mechanisms Tower’s reliability and contacting Ninth Uncle Chu Hongwei. After meeting him, Chu Zhiyuan raised the repeated mentions of the marquis, and Chu Hongwei responded with a cold sneer.

• Chu Zhiyuan questioned whether Thousand Mechanisms Tower had reliable information on Marquis Xiao Ming, and Fu Zheng admitted that its report had not even mentioned him.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided to wait for further information while considering other sources of support, and Fu Zheng worried that Thousand Mechanisms Tower might fail him when it mattered.
• Chu Zhiyuan activated his Jade Ring and sensed Ninth Uncle Chu Hongwei in a private room across the street.
• Chu Zhiyuan overheard three elderly men speculate about the Twelfth Princess, Chu Liezhao, and the possibility of a Jade Scenery Dynasty prince inheriting its throne.
• Chu Hongwei left the restaurant, recognized Chu Zhiyuan, and heard him mention that people had been talking about Marquis Xiao Ming; Chu Hongwei sneered.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that Marquis Xiao Ming, backed by the Third Prince, might challenge him and threaten his marriage to the Twelfth Princess. He advised Fu Zheng to establish authority at Thousand Mechanisms Tower through careful, informed action, then examined intelligence files on the imperial court’s powerful figures.

• Chu Hongwei told Chu Zhiyuan that Marquis Xiao Ming hated the Jade Scenery Dynasty, served the Third Prince, and was likely to challenge him; he warned that Xiao Ming’s Nascent Soul cultivation, defenses, and speed made him formidable.
• Chu Zhiyuan learned that his Spirit Transformation-level Great Brightness Fist might break Xiao Ming’s defenses, and Chu Hongwei gave him a map with information about Xiao Ming, the princes, and influential nobles.
• Fu Zheng grew angry at Thousand Mechanisms Tower’s conduct, but Chu Zhiyuan urged her to gather information first and establish authority through a balance of firmness and restraint.
• An old woman slipped a small pill into Fu Zheng’s hand as she and Chu Zhiyuan walked back.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Fu Zheng entered a residence marked on the map and found booklets detailing the lives of eight princes, twenty-four imperial relatives, and powerful nobles.

Chu Zhiyuan and Fu Zheng studied the factions and rules surrounding the Phoenix Dynasty’s succession struggle, then discussed how to deal with Marquis Xiao Ming. Back at the Twelfth Princess’s residence, Chu Zhiyuan tried to carve the divine script for “Light” but could not overcome its backlash.

• Chu Zhiyuan and Fu Zheng read the booklets about the Princes and their supporters, and Chu Zhiyuan explained the rules governing the struggle for the throne.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided they should avoid Marquis Xiao Ming for now, while Fu Zheng and Li Yuzhen discussed how to confront him if he threatened Chu Zhiyuan.
• Li Yuzhen said she could deal with Marquis Xiao Ming, and Fu Zheng asked her for advice on defeating him.
• Chu Zhiyuan took out his glazed Flying Dagger and a jade pendant and attempted to carve the divine-script characters for “Light.”
• Chu Zhiyuan struggled against the divine script’s backlash but finally gave up before completing the characters.

Chu Zhiyuan discovered how to cultivate the second transformation of Heavenly Dragon Incantation on Spirit Abyss First Peak, gaining a red dragon that strengthened him and empowered his Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm. After returning to the courtyard, he learned Marquis Xiao Ming would return to the imperial capital in three days, and prepared to have breakfast with Li Yuzhen.

• Chu Zhiyuan used the golden silk to cultivate on Spirit Abyss First Peak, where Spiritual Qi formed a black dragon and accelerated his Heavenly Dragon Incantation training.
• Chu Zhiyuan completed the second transformation, becoming linked to a red dragon that supplied him with powerful, pure Spiritual Qi.
• Back at the courtyard, Chu Zhiyuan tested two forms of Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm and pulverized bamboo stalks with their strikes.
• Fu Zheng told Chu Zhiyuan that Marquis Xiao Ming would return to the imperial capital in three days and that she and Li Yuzhen were unsure they could handle him.
• Chu Zhiyuan said he was not worried about Marquis Xiao Ming, then agreed to have breakfast with Li Yuzhen, and Fu Zheng joined them.

Chu Zhiyuan discovered the Sweet Dew Curse in a Dragon Curse pearl and used it to temporarily replenish Li Miaotan’s essence, qi, and spirit. With her strength restored for two hours, Li Miaotan went outside to enjoy the flowers and was left alone with Chu Zhiyuan, seeming to have something she wanted to tell him.

• Chu Zhiyuan visited Li Miaotan and learned that the medicinal pills sustaining her were losing their effect, while the Spirit Venerable had not appeared.
• Li Miaotan told Chu Zhiyuan not to worry about Marquis Xiao Ming and said Li Yuzhen would warn him; she then revealed they had found a Dragon Curse.
• Chu Zhiyuan touched the Black Pearl, learned it contained the Sweet Dew Curse, and used it to replenish Li Yuzhen’s essence, qi, and spirit.
• Chu Zhiyuan cast the Sweet Dew Curse on Li Miaotan, temporarily restoring her vigor for about two hours, though he explained that using it consumed his own essence, qi, and spirit.
• Li Miaotan got dressed and went outside to admire the flowers, then sat alone with Chu Zhiyuan while the others withdrew.

Chu Zhiyuan learned how the three princes’ factions shaped the Phoenix Dynasty’s succession struggle and how Marquis Xiao Ming’s hostility had damaged Li Miaotan’s standing. To break the deadlock, Chu Zhiyuan proposed revealing that he had mastered the Heavenly Dragon Incantation, despite Li Miaotan’s warning that it was dangerous.

• Li Miaotan explained that the First Prince relied on the military, the Second Prince on civil officials, and the reluctant Third Prince was backed by the Empress and meritorious families.
• Chu Zhiyuan learned that Marquis Xiao Ming belonged to the Third Prince’s faction but acted without firm control, and that the other princes might exploit his public hostility toward Chu Zhiyuan.
• Li Miaotan said Marquis Xiao Ming’s actions were lowering both her and Chu Zhiyuan’s standing, and she considered having Yuzhen beat him and drive him from the imperial city.
• Chu Zhiyuan proposed spreading news that he had mastered the Heavenly Dragon Incantation, but Li Miaotan called the plan too dangerous.

Chu Zhiyuan persuaded Li Miaotan to turn the threat of Demon Race and Devil Race assassins into an opportunity to ambush them, and she agreed to help reveal his mastery of the Heavenly Dragon Incantation. He then tested his Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm against Li Yuzhen, whose reaction showed that its power could threaten even formidable defenses.

• Chu Zhiyuan explained that he could stay inside Phoenix Imperial City and proposed using himself as bait to ambush Demon Race and Devil Race assassins.
• Li Miaotan agreed to help him attempt the plan, saying she could mobilize a dozen or so Venerables.
• Chu Zhiyuan explained that his Heavenly Dragon Bloodline, Heavenly Dragon Incantation, and Super Sensation let him detect enemies and benefit from devouring Demon Race resources.
• Li Miaotan agreed to let everyone know that Chu Zhiyuan had mastered the Heavenly Dragon Incantation, and Chu Zhiyuan asked whether more Dragon Curses could be found.
• Li Miaotan called Li Yuzhen and Fu Zheng, and Chu Zhiyuan struck Li Yuzhen twice with his Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm.
• Li Yuzhen stepped back from the second strike and marveled at its tyrannical force and penetrating power.

Chu Zhiyuan tested his Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm with Li Yuzhen, then practiced it in the Spiritual Abyss while Li Yuzhen and Fu Zheng went to confront Marquis Xiao Ming. He sensed their return and discovered that both women were injured.

• Chu Zhiyuan tested the first three forms of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm against Li Yuzhen, who said he would need the fourth form to challenge Marquis Xiao Ming and the fifth to be certain.
• Li Miaotan sent Li Yuzhen to warn Marquis Xiao Ming and test his cultivation, and Fu Zheng went with her.
• Chu Zhiyuan returned to his courtyard, entered the Spiritual Abyss, and practiced the Heavenly Dragon Divine Palm using Super Sensation to refine his movements.
• As the sun slanted westward, Chu Zhiyuan sensed Fu Zheng and Li Yuzhen nearby and saw that both of them were injured.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that Fan Yaohui’s sister, a Qingwu Sword Sect disciple recently returned from the Outer Realm Battlefield, had injured Fu Zheng and Li Yuzhen while provoking their rivalry. As Chu Zhiyuan discussed her dangerous nature and Fu Zheng resolved to improve her swordsmanship, Miss Fan arrived at the Twelfth Duke’s Residence.

• Chu Zhiyuan questioned Fu Zheng and learned that Li Yuzhen had defeated Fan Yaohui, but Fan Yaohui’s sister injured Fu Zheng and Li Yuzhen in a clash.
• Fu Zheng explained that Miss Fan and Li Yuzhen had been childhood rivals and that Miss Fan had attacked her to provoke Li Yuzhen.
• Chu Zhiyuan suspected Fan Yaohui had returned because his sister could protect him and warned Fu Zheng not to assume the best of people.
• Fu Zheng admitted Miss Fan’s swordsmanship surpassed hers for now and vowed to cultivate until she could catch up.
• Li Yuzhen told Chu Zhiyuan that Miss Fan was injured and unlikely to visit, but Chu Zhiyuan saw her arriving at the residence gate with a calling card.

Fan Yuxuan visited Li Miaotan’s mansion to apologize for her brother Marquis Xiao Ming’s role in the uproar over the Imperial Son-in-Law. She learned Li Miaotan had survived an assassination attempt but faced a difficult recovery, and the chapter ended with Fan Yuxuan recognizing that the Princess favored her future Imperial Son-in-Law.

• Li Yuzhen received Fan Yuxuan at the mansion gates, and the two argued over Li Yuzhen’s earlier confrontation with Marquis Xiao Ming.
• Li Yuchun explained that Li Miaotan was recovering from an assassination attempt, and Fan Yuxuan hurried to see her.
• Li Miaotan told Fan Yuxuan that her brother needed to take responsibility instead of relying on her to smooth over his troubles.
• Fan Yuxuan described how a cultivation method she gained on the Outer Realm Battlefield had helped her evade the Heavenly Demons and improve her swordsmanship.
• Fan Yuxuan promised that Marquis Xiao Ming would apologize, but Li Miaotan said she was not receiving outside guests.
• Li Miaotan questioned what Marquis Xiao Ming would do if he encountered the Imperial Son-in-Law, and Fan Yuxuan realized the Princess favored her future husband.

Chu Zhiyuan completed the Light Talisman and used it to reach the Perfection Realm of the ninth transformation. Meanwhile, Li Miaotan prepared for her wedding and Li Yuzhen defended her choice of the Imperial Son-in-Law to Fan Yuxuan.

• Li Miaotan said she would postpone going to the Outer Realm Battlefield until she could remove the tracking auras or become powerful enough, and she expected to awaken her Phoenix Bloodline after the wedding.
• Chu Zhiyuan used the Dragon Curse to restore his strength and successfully inscribed the Light Talisman.
• Chu Zhiyuan circulated the Immeasurable Light Sutra with the talisman, rapidly advancing his cultivation until he reached the Perfection Realm of the ninth transformation.
• Fan Yuxuan left Li Miaotan and told her she would speak with Marquis Xiao Ming, while Li Miaotan advised her not to say too much to him.
• Li Yuzhen told Fan Yuxuan that the Imperial Son-in-Law was a rare dragon and phoenix among men, and the two agreed to meet for a match in a few days.

Chu Zhiyuan broke through to Reverence in the Princess Mansion, summoning a formidable dragon from the Heavenly Dragon Incantation. After the dragon vanished and the storm clouds cleared, Li Yuzhen and Fan Yuxuan entered his courtyard to meet him.

• Li Yuzhen and Fan Yuxuan sensed Spiritual Qi gathering over the Princess Mansion and wondered who was attaining Reverence.
• Violet lightning and a red dragon appeared above the mansion, and Li Yuzhen recognized the breakthrough as Chu Zhiyuan’s.
• The red dragon changed into a larger yellow dragon, whose bloodline pressure awed everyone in the mansion.
• Li Miaotan identified the dragon as a sign of the Heavenly Dragon Incantation and decided there was no point concealing it.
• The clouds and dragon disappeared, and Chu Zhiyuan invited the women into his courtyard after completing his breakthrough.

Chu Zhiyuan reached the third transformation of the Heavenly Dragon Incantation and became a Venerable, drawing attention to the dangers of the art. After using his stronger Dragon Curse to restore Li Miaotan, he went to meet Marquis Xiao Ming, Fan Yaohui.

• Chu Zhiyuan became a Venerable as his tanzhong acupoint transformed into a lake of True Essence and his Little White Snake became a Little White Flood Dragon.
• Li Yuzhen and Fan Yuxuan told Li Miaotan of Chu Zhiyuan's breakthrough, and Fan Yuxuan identified the dragon as the Heavenly Dragon Incantation.
• Li Miaotan explained that the Demon Race would target Chu Zhiyuan because of bloodline suppression, while the Devil Race would target him because of her.
• Fu Zheng told Li Yuzhen that Chu Zhiyuan could now help Li Miaotan, and Chu Zhiyuan used his stronger Dragon Curse to restore her.
• Chu Zhiyuan met Marquis Xiao Ming, Fan Yaohui, in the main hall of the front courtyard.

Fan Yaohui visited Li Miaotan, discussed the rumors targeting him with Chu Zhiyuan, and learned more about Chu Zhiyuan’s importance as the Imperial Son-in-Law. With the wedding approaching, Li Miaotan arranged for Li Yuzhen to act as her substitute, while Chu Zhiyuan continued cultivating and later left the Princess Mansion with Fu Zheng.

• Fan Yaohui apologized to Li Miaotan and met Chu Zhiyuan, who warned him that someone other than the First Prince and Second Prince might have spread the rumors against him.
• Fan Yaohui and Fan Yuxuan discussed investigating who had fueled the rumors, and Fan Yuxuan urged her brother to respect Chu Zhiyuan and stop pursuing Li Miaotan.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Li Miaotan agreed that Fan Yaohui should not be pushed too hard because Third Prince needed him in the military, while Chu Zhiyuan continued observing him.
• With fifteen days remaining before the wedding, Li Miaotan decided that Li Yuzhen would impersonate her because the ceremony would last longer than the Dragon Curse’s effects.
• Chu Zhiyuan spent the following days cultivating, then left the Princess Mansion early one morning with Fu Zheng and walked through the imperial city.