Chapter Summaries

Yun Ruyi brought Lin Muyao to a drought-stricken village and persuaded her to use her wood spiritual power to revive its fields. After the villagers thanked Lin Muyao, Yun Ruyi pointed out a nearby underground water vein that could provide lasting relief.

• Lin Muyao collided with Yun Ruyi's lamp, then followed her down to a drought-stricken village after Yun Ruyi asked her to see the villagers' hardship.
• Yun Ruyi spoke with the villagers and encouraged Lin Muyao to use her wood spiritual root to help them.
• Lin Muyao cast the Greenwood Art, moistening the soil and reviving the withered grass and fields.
• The villagers thanked Lin Muyao, who grew flustered as Yun Ruyi praised her spellwork and kind heart.
• Yun Ruyi said the revival would only provide temporary relief and revealed that a water vein lay underground nearby.

Lin Muyao helped villagers restore irrigation and shelter while forgetting the silver bell meant to guide her to Ye Tianchen. Meanwhile, Yun Qing and Fu Sanyuan returned to the Chancellor’s Residence together, where Fu Sanyuan needled Yun Qing about the Great Xia Imperial Examination’s chief examiner, who shared his surname.

• Lin Muyao channeled water, organized villagers, and repaired a cottage while Yun Ruyi watched approvingly.
• The silver bell at Lin Muyao’s waist began to sway, but Yun Ruyi looked at the sky and the bell fell still.
• Yun Qing and Fu Sanyuan arrived together at the Chancellor’s Residence and asked Xie Junheng for lodging, insisting on separate courtyards.
• Xie Junheng told Yun Qing and Fu Sanyuan that the Great Xia Imperial Examination would begin in three days and that registration had opened.
• Fu Sanyuan praised Xie Junheng’s prospects, then told Yun Qing that the examination’s chief examiner was a high-ranking official named Yun.

Yun Qing warned Xie Junheng to thank the chief examiner repeatedly if he was selected, then returned to his room and wondered whether Ye Hui should take the Imperial Examination. Far away in the Myriad Spirits Divine Realm, Qing Kitty was still enjoying the sun instead of cultivating.

• Yun Qing told Xie Junheng to visit and thank the chief examiner often if he placed highly at the Deer-Cry Banquet.
• Fu Sanyuan hinted that the Human World’s tangled game made a fight unwise for now, and Yun Qing agreed to settle their contest after returning to Heavenly Origin.
• Xie Junheng arranged separate courtyards for Fu Sanyuan and Yun Qing, then escorted Yun Qing to his room.
• Yun Qing stroked Ye Hui, shared a rabbit-shaped rice cake with him, and teased him about taking the Imperial Examination.
• Yun Qing wondered whether Qing Kitty had broken through Qi Refining, while Qing Kitty sneezed in the Myriad Spirits Divine Realm and went back to sunbathing.

Yun Qing promised to help Ye Hui settle his score with the Heavenly Pivot Sect after the Imperial Examination. In the Southern Wasteland, Yun Ruyi revealed that Lin Muyao’s protection came from her long-dead parents’ merit, then led her toward another village in need.

• Yun Qing asked Ye Hui whether he had anyone in the Heavenly Pivot Sect he wanted to save, and Ye Hui said he had no friends or loved ones there.
• Ye Hui angrily described his former master, and Yun Qing promised to go with him to the sect and help him settle the score.
• Yun Qing told Ye Hui that he should tell his guardian when he was hurt, and Ye Hui quietly coiled around his fingers.
• Yun Ruyi asked Lin Muyao about her father, while Lin Muyao described how kindly the sect leader had treated her.
• Yun Ruyi explained that a couple who aided the Southern Wasteland had died leaving a child, and recognized their merit as the source of Lin Muyao’s protection.
• Yun Ruyi invited Lin Muyao to continue to the next village, and Lin Muyao was surprised they were going to help more people.

Great Xia opened its Imperial Examination in Chen Capital Prefecture, with Yun Tianluo serving as Chief Examiner and declaring that candidates would be judged by merit regardless of birth or allegiance. As the examination began, Yun Qing and Fu Sanyuan watched from a nearby rooftop.

• Xie Wenheng anxiously advised Xie Junheng before he and Pei Junyao and Liu Niang left to take the examination.
• Pei Junyao refused to visit the prince's residence, recalling how its elders had judged whether Liu Niang could be accepted based on their future child's aptitude.
• Yun Tianluo presided over the examination and announced its rules, warning that cheating or abusing influence would be punished by beheading.
• Yun Tianluo dropped the Command Token, activating the dragon pillars and Examination Formation as the candidates began their tests.
• Yun Qing watched the examination with Fu Sanyuan, who teased him about Yun Tianluo's imposing public manner.

Yun Qing recognized that Yun Tianluo was finding his own Dao after leaving the Yun Clan, while the Great Xia Imperial Examination began its four rounds of trials. The first candidate to emerge, Xie Junheng, was named Top Scholar and ranked first in the First Class.

• Yun Qing watched Yun Tianluo and realized he was pursuing the Dao by embracing his true nature.
• A ritual official announced the four rounds of the Imperial Examination, and the candidates entered an illusion of a drought-stricken commandery.
• Xie Junheng faced the commandery’s famine and unrest, with an immortal sect controlling the only water source.
• Yun Qing and Fu Sanyuan played Go while the examination proceeded and the candidates’ results took shape.
• Xie Junheng emerged as Top Scholar after earning high marks across all four rounds and bringing peace to the commandery.

The Imperial Examination ceremony announced Xie Junheng as top scholar, Pei Junyao second, and Liu Fuqu third, while Tao Qi earned a place on the Officials' Talent Roll. Yun Tianluo left before recognizing the top scholar’s Dao heart, while Yun Qing and Fu Sanyuan watched from a nearby building and Xia Wujie explained Yun Tianluo’s role in Great Xia’s court; Xia Wujie then realized Yun Tianluo might not know his elder brother was in Chen Capital Prefecture.

• Xie Junheng emerged as top scholar, and his father Xie Wenheng struggled to hide his joy.
• Pei Junyao and Liu Fuqu were announced as second and third, and Pei Junyao and Liu Fuqu shared a proud, emotional moment.
• Tao Qi earned a place on the Officials' Talent Roll and was assigned to study at Great Xia's official school.
• Yun Tianluo left the ceremony before realizing that Xie Junheng possessed the perfected seven-aperture exquisite Dao heart he had sought.
• Yun Qing defeated Fu Sanyuan’s Go strategy as Xia Wujie joined them and explained that Yun Tianluo had voluntarily entered Great Xia's court.
• Xia Wujie realized Yun Tianluo might not know that Yun Qing was in Chen Capital Prefecture.

Xie Junheng was asked to rescue the injured Ye Tianchen but chose to attend the Deer-Cry Banquet first, while Yun Tianluo faced an ominous situation. The chapter ended with Xie Junheng leaving for the banquet and the warning that Yun Tianluo was in peril.

• Xia Wujie avoided telling Yun Tianluo about Yun Qing and left Yun Qing and Fu Sanyuan to continue their game.
• Yun Tianluo reviewed the examination results, sneezed, and felt a foreboding as Yun Qing finished his game of Go.
• At the Chancellor's Residence, Xiao An told Xie Junheng that Ye Tianchen was gravely injured and hiding outside the city, asking for help.
• Xie Junheng declined to leave for Ye Tianchen immediately and said he would make arrangements after attending the Deer-Cry Banquet.
• Xie Junheng left for the banquet with Pei Junyao and Liu Niang, while Xiao An was brought inside.

At the Deer-Cry Banquet, Chief Examiner Yun Tianluo sensed that top laureate Xie Junheng possessed a perfectly open seven-aperture exquisite heart and concealed his shock behind warm praise. He then summoned Xie to sit beside him, leaving Xie uneasy under Yun’s persistent scrutiny.

• Yun Tianluo warned the newly successful scholars to serve Great Xia faithfully and obey its laws.
• As Xie Junheng, Pei Junyao, and Liu Fuqu offered wine, Yun Tianluo sensed Xie’s seven-aperture exquisite heart and abruptly set down his cup, silencing the banquet.
• Yun Tianluo questioned Xie Junheng by name, praised his talent and clear heart, and drank the wine he offered.
• Yun Tianluo invited Xie Junheng to sit beside him and chatted about classics and policy while repeatedly watching his heart.
• Xie Junheng maintained his composure but feared Yun Tianluo was fixated on examining his exquisite heart.

After the banquet, Yun Tianluo took Xie Junheng to his residence and confronted him over his seven-aperture exquisite heart. Xie Junheng helped Yun Tianluo recognize that his self-made Dao Path was freer and stronger than the perfection he had once pursued, and Yun Tianluo’s lifelong obsession finally broke.

• Yun Tianluo ordered Xie Junheng to help him back to his residence after the banquet, while Pei Junyao and Liu Niang left to seek help from Shopkeeper Yun.
• Xie Junheng escorted Yun Tianluo to his quarters, served him sobering tea, and tried to take his leave.
• Yun Tianluo revealed his resentment over Xie Junheng’s perfected seven-aperture exquisite heart and questioned whether he deserved to be called his teacher.
• Xie Junheng told Yun Tianluo that his own insight had left him powerless, while Yun Tianluo had broken free of convention and forged a stronger path.
• Yun Tianluo realized his imperfect Dao Path was freer than the perfection he had once sought, and spiritual currents trembled as Dao Resonance rang through the room.

Yun Tianluo overcame his lingering resentment over his heart and agreed to attend a banquet at the Chancellor’s Residence after Xie Junheng invoked his promise of a favor. There, Xie Junheng asked for guidance about Ye Tianchen and pleaded for Yun Tianluo’s help.

• Yun Tianluo’s seven apertures of light shattered as he overcame his obsession and accepted his Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart with equanimity.
• Xie Junheng invited Yun Tianluo to a banquet at the Chancellor’s Residence, and Yun Tianluo agreed to go in return for owing him a favor.
• Xie Wenheng welcomed Yun Tianluo, then left him alone with Xie Junheng at the prepared feast.
• Xie Junheng described how Ye Tianchen seemed favored by fate and said a servant had asked him to leave the city to rescue the injured Ye Tianchen.
• Yun Tianluo recognized Ye Tianchen as a possible Child of Heaven’s Mandate and objected to Xie Junheng risking his Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart for him.
• Xie Junheng bowed and directly asked Yun Tianluo to help him, leaving Yun Tianluo momentarily speechless.

Xie Junheng persuaded Yun Tianluo not to intervene in Ye Tianchen’s troubles, and Yun Tianluo promised to protect him once if he got into danger. Yun Qing arrived at their private banquet just as Yun Tianluo complained about being ranked below his elder brother, and began drawing a gun.

• Xie Junheng asked Yun Tianluo to let someone else save Ye Tianchen, and Yun Tianluo agreed while promising to protect him once if needed.
• Yun Tianluo advised Xie Junheng to rely on his cultivation and pursue manuals for his seven-aperture exquisite heart.
• Yun Tianluo complained that he had to call a younger relative his elder brother because he could not defeat him.
• Yun Qing returned to the Chancellor's Residence, learned that Xie Junheng and Yun Tianluo were drinking together, and headed to the bamboo grove with Ye Hui.
• Yun Tianluo loudly asked why he had to be number two while his elder brother was Eldest Brother, and Yun Qing appeared and began pulling a gun from his storage space.

Yun Qing reunited with Yun Tianluo, teased him about becoming a Great Xia official, and gifted him a treasure after congratulating him on breaking through an old fixation. Yun Qing then admitted he still had not found a Dao that accorded with his heart and left to help Ye Hui settle a score.

• Xie Junheng hurriedly left Yun Qing and Yun Tianluo alone in the bamboo grove.
• Yun Qing made Yun Tianluo pour wine and congratulated him on breaking an old fixation and unraveling a knot in his heart.
• Yun Qing gave Yun Tianluo the Seven-Emotion Heart-Reflecting Cup, which he had taken from Langhuan Clear Void.
• Yun Qing told Yun Tianluo that he had yet to find a Dao path that truly accorded with his heart.
• Yun Qing stroked Ye Hui and said he was going to help his little friend settle a score.

Yun Qing learned the location of the Heavenly Pivot Sect, while Lin Buqun struggled to rally help against Great Xia’s Dragon Cavalry. Ye Tianchen returned to the sect and accused Great Xia of tyranny, whereupon Third Prince Xia Wujie dismissed his speech.

• Yun Tianluo gave Yun Qing a Jade Slip with the Heavenly Pivot Sect’s location and explained that Great Xia had summoned its sect master to answer for the Immortal-Slaying Order.
• Great Xia’s Dragon Cavalry surrounded the Heavenly Pivot Sect, and Lin Buqun prepared to flee while seeking Lin Muyao’s help.
• Lin Muyao told Lin Buqun she was helping a drought-stricken village with her wood spiritual power, then ended their call to tend to an injured woman she called Sister Goddess.
• Ye Tianchen returned to the Heavenly Pivot Sect with the Eldest Princess of Purple Dusk and accused Great Xia of trying to destroy the sect and silence its critics.
• Xia Wujie listened to Ye Tianchen’s accusations and told him to stop making noise.

Yun Qing arrived at the Heavenly Pivot Sect with Ye Hui and asked Xia Wujie to let them settle Ye Hui’s unfinished business. He challenged Ye Tianchen to a fair rematch, sealed the Jade Pendant’s power, and sent Ye Hui to fight him.

• Xia Wujie brought the Great Xia Dragon Cavalry to the Heavenly Pivot Sect, but Yun Qing arrived on a Chaos Heaven-Devouring Python and asked to speak with the sect alone.
• Xia Wujie ordered the Dragon Cavalry to seal the mountain gates while Yun Qing revealed Ye Hui to the sect.
• Ye Tianchen and Lin Buqun condemned Ye Hui as a member of the heretical evil path, and Yun Qing challenged Ye Tianchen to a fair rematch.
• Yun Qing used the Immortal Court Seal to suppress Elder Mu inside Ye Tianchen’s Jade Pendant.
• Ye Hui and Ye Tianchen moved onto the open ground before the gates as the sect watched their fight begin.

Ye Hui defeated Ye Tianchen in a duel, overcoming his past humiliation and weakening his inner demon. When Lin Buqun tried to shame Ye Hui into submission, Yun Qing forced the sect master to his knees and invited him to talk.

• Ye Hui fought Ye Tianchen at the Heavenly Pivot Sect gates, using his chaos devouring power and powerful body to withstand Ye Tianchen's attacks.
• Ye Hui's strength grew as the duel continued, and he defeated Ye Tianchen with a giant black python formed from his serpent shadow.
• Lin Buqun accused Ye Hui of betraying the sect and ordered him to kneel and confess.
• Yun Qing pinned Lin Buqun to the ground with overwhelming pressure before he could further provoke Ye Hui.
• Yun Qing told Lin Buqun that elders should not interfere in a younger generation's contest and invited him to have a proper chat.

Ye Hui defeated Ye Tianchen and was about to devour his soul when Gu Princess froze the world and extracted their intertwined fate. She revealed that Ye Hui was Yun Qing and prepared to manipulate his fate, while the real Yun Qing remained imprisoned in the Outer Void with the wounded Chaos Heaven-Devouring Python trying to protect him.

• Ye Hui defeated Ye Tianchen, drove the Snake Sword into his heart, and began to devour his divine soul.
• Gu Princess froze the world, extracted Ye Hui and Ye Tianchen's scarlet fate thread, and watched Ye Hui's eyes transform to reveal Yun Qing's divine soul.
• Gu Princess identified Ye Hui as Yun Qing and prepared to use Calling a Deer a Horse to set him on a fate thread leading to his downfall.
• A Chaos Heaven-Devouring Python battered its Void Cage while shielding the unconscious Yun Qing, whose chest bore a Black Curse Seal.

Gu Princess used the Immortal Court Seal to twist Yun Qing, Ye Hui, Ye Tianchen, and Yun Huang’s fates, then Yun Qing awakened as the Heavenly Pivot Sect’s adopted son and chief disciple. The chapter ended when Yun Huang arrived at the sect, called Yun Qing an adopted son, and drew a shocked reaction from him.

• Gu Princess revealed she had planned to graft Ye Hui’s fate onto Yun Qing, then used the Immortal Court Seal to begin another fate-changing scheme as Ye Hui tried to protect the unconscious Yun Qing.
• Yun Qing awoke in the Heavenly Pivot Sect with memories of being Lin Buqun’s adopted son and prepared to guide the newly admitted disciples.
• Yun Qing instructed the new disciples in the Martial Arena until word arrived that Lin Buqun’s biological son had come to join the sect.
• Yun Huang entered the Martial Arena, surrounded by sect elders and stewards, and confronted Yun Qing.
• Yun Huang called Yun Qing the old bastard’s adopted son, and Yun Qing stared at his familiar golden eyes in shock.

Yun Qing recognized the white-haired boy challenging him as a youthful fragment of Yun Huang, while memories revealed their first meeting in a past life. Yun Qing accepted Yun Huang’s duel, and the Gu Princess watched, believing her fate-bound plan was still on course as the fight began.

• Yun Qing saw through Yun Huang’s disguise and realized he was a youthful fragment of the real Yun Huang.
• Yun Huang recalled meeting Qing Yun in the Ji Clan courtyard, where he had scorned him as an unworthy stray and Qing Yun had privately insulted him in return.
• Yun Qing treated Yun Huang warmly as a younger brother, but Yun Huang rejected the kindness and challenged him to a sword match.
• Yun Huang silenced a steward who tried to delay the duel, and Yun Qing drew his sword, eager to test himself against his younger opponent.
• The Gu Princess watched the confrontation through her crystal ball and believed Yun Qing was still following the fate that would lead to his defeat.

Yun Qing fought the young Yun Huang in a fierce duel, eager to test himself against his future brother and secretly record the match. Their battle escalated into a clash between Yun Qing’s double pupils and Yun Huang’s great sun, with the outcome left unresolved.

• Yun Qing secretly placed an Image-Recording Stone in the Heavenly Origin Cauldron so he could show Brother Huang the duel later.
• Yun Qing opened the fight with Silent Thousand Mountains, and Yun Huang countered with a radiant-sun ruler, shaking the Martial Arena.
• Yun Huang summoned nine phantom sun wheels, and Yun Qing abandoned his sword to meet them with a punch empowered by his chaos dao embryo.
• Yun Qing opened an enormous double-pupiled eye as Yun Huang merged his nine suns into a great sun and formed a golden halberd.
• Yun Huang and Yun Qing unleashed their ultimate attacks, and the double pupils collided head-on with the falling great sun.