Chapter Summaries

Chen Wei interrogated Land God Li over his false accusation, but a hidden curse silenced him before he could name his orders. A search found no evidence, while rumors of torture spread through the Heavenly Court and left Chen Wei blamed for the incident.

• Land God Li recanted his accusation, then admitted that unnamed higher-ups had promised him immortal status and a Heavenly Immortal post for making it.
• As Chen Wei pressed for the names of those involved, a death curse struck Land God Li; Yang Chan’s Treasure Lotus Lamp shielded Chen Wei from the curse’s backlash.
• Chen Wei sent Ma Muzhi and Pang Long to search Land God Li’s cave abode on Cangwu Mountain.
• Rumors spread that Chen Wei had tortured Land God Li, causing officials to avoid the Censorate.
• Ma Muzhi and Pang Long returned with no evidence, and Chen Wei realized the spotless cave and silenced witness had been arranged to frame him.

Ma Muzhi met with a mysterious High Immortal, who assured him Chen Wei was safe and instructed him to nudge Chen toward a plan. Chen Wei returned home to his family, but Great Emperor Ziwei’s unexpected invitation left him wary.

• Ma Muzhi reported to a mysterious High Immortal that Southern Dipper and Randeng had trapped Chen Wei and damaged the Censorate’s reputation.
• The High Immortal told Ma Muzhi that Chen Wei would be fine and secretly instructed him to give Chen a nudge without revealing the source.
• Chen Wei returned to the Chen Residence and reunited with Yang Chan, Chen Xiang, and Chen Xiaochan.
• Chen Xiang tried to demonstrate Heaven-Sweeping Cloak, but the cloak slapped Chen Wei in the face.
• A Heavenly General told Chen Wei that an Immortal Official from North Pole Ziwei Palace had arrived with Great Emperor Ziwei’s invitation, and Chen Wei grew wary.

Chen Wei and Yang Chan met Great Emperor Ziwei, who tried to halt Chen Wei’s corruption investigation by citing the death of Land God Li and unrest among the immortals. Yang Chan invoked the Great Heavenly Venerable’s authority and firmly refused to let the investigation stop, leaving Great Emperor Ziwei silent.

• Yang Chan insisted on accompanying Chen Wei to Great Emperor Ziwei’s palace, while Chen Wei arranged for Lu Beiwang to watch Chen Xiang and Chen Xiaochan.
• Chen Wei and Yang Chan entered the Ziwei Palace and waited as Great Emperor Ziwei let them stand before the Star Throne.
• Great Emperor Ziwei questioned Chen Wei about Land God Li’s death and urged him to explain himself to the assembled immortals.
• Yang Chan countered that the Great Heavenly Venerable had appointed Chen Wei to investigate corruption and asked whether Great Emperor Ziwei meant to oppose that decree.
• Great Emperor Ziwei argued that suspending the investigation would protect the Heavenly Court from panic and preserve stability.
• Yang Chan rejected his reasoning and vowed to investigate the corruption and whoever was using the greater picture as cover, leaving Great Emperor Ziwei silent.

Chen Wei and Yang Chan confronted Great Emperor Ziwei over corruption in the Heavenly Court, but his pressure on them ended when Yang Jian arrived with the Great Heavenly Venerable’s order. Yang Jian took the couple to the Lingxiao Palace for an inquiry into Heavenly Court discipline.

• Yang Chan rejected Great Emperor Ziwei’s defense of minor misconduct, arguing that the Heavenly Laws could not shield corrupt officials.
• Chen Wei stepped in front of Yang Chan and sarcastically praised Great Emperor Ziwei for protecting rotten officials and beasts drawing salaries.
• Great Emperor Ziwei challenged Chen Wei over Land God Li’s death and pressed the couple with the power of the stars.
• Yang Jian arrived at the Ziwei Palace and presented the Great Heavenly Venerable’s order to bring Chen Wei and Yang Chan to the Lingxiao Palace.
• Great Emperor Ziwei accepted the order, and Yang Jian led the couple away.

Chen Wei returned to the Discipline Inspection Court and calmed his anxious officials by pretending his transfer to the Heavenly Court had been for the sake of his family. Pang Long and Ma Muzhi then arrived, and a recording showed Ma skillfully evading the Lunar Mansions Government Office’s interrogation while accusing its officials of corruption and silencing Land God Li.

• Yang Jian gave Chen Wei a blank imperial decree and told Yang Chan and Qingquan to take shelter in Guanjiangkou if trouble worsened.
• Xiao Yan informed Chen Wei that Lunar Mansions Government Office investigators had taken Ma Muzhi for questioning, so Chen Wei and Yang Chan went to the Discipline Inspection Court.
• Chen Wei reassured his anxious subordinates and claimed he had transferred to the Heavenly Court because living apart from Yang Chan had been unbearable.
• Pang Long brought Ma Muzhi back and played a recording of the investigators questioning him.
• Ma Muzhi denied taking a bribe, claimed he had been investigating illegal trade in Heavenly Court incense offerings, and accused the investigators of forcing Land God Li to make a false accusation before silencing him.

Ma Muzhi devised a memorial that recast Land God Li as a loyal undercover agent and requested that he be posthumously named Loyal Martyr Star Lord. Yang Chan agreed on the Great Heavenly Venerable’s behalf and revealed that she had his seal, allowing the memorial to be stamped and submitted without the usual procedures.

• After the Recording Stone’s images ended, Ma Muzhi warned Chen Wei that his earlier performance would not withstand scrutiny and said he had a plan.
• Chen Wei cleared the hall and gathered his trusted men with Yang Chan to hear Ma Muzhi’s proposal.
• Ma Muzhi presented a memorial claiming Land God Li had uncovered a scheme to sell Heavenly Court incense offerings and had been killed before naming the mastermind.
• The memorial requested that Land God Li receive the posthumous title of Loyal Martyr Star Lord, which would make it difficult for him to return to life.
• Yang Chan said she could agree on her uncle’s behalf, and Chen Wei stamped the memorial with his Official Seal.
• Yang Chan took the memorial and revealed that she also had the Great Heavenly Venerable’s seal.

Chen Wei and Yang Chan used the Heavenly Dao Seal to approve a commendation petition, then Chen Wei told the supposedly dead Land God Li that the Great Heavenly Venerable had posthumously honored him as a Loyal Martyr Star Lord. Land God Li realized that revealing he was alive would make him a threat to the Heavenly Court’s schemers, leaving him trapped and in danger of being killed for real.

• Yang Chan stamped the commendation petition with the Heavenly Dao Seal while Chen Wei’s subordinates pretended they had seen nothing.
• Chen Wei ordered Ma Muzhi to pursue the petition and urged him to make a major commotion.
• Chen Wei went to the Rear Hall, where Land God Li lay bound under a spell that made him appear dead.
• Chen Wei told Land God Li that the Great Heavenly Venerable had named him a Loyal Martyr Star Lord and arranged a grand funeral.
• Land God Li understood that his masters would not dare rescue him and that his false death could become real.

Chen Wei forced Land God Li to confess that Lian Zhen Star Lord had ordered him to frame Chen Wei, then killed him because a dead witness better served the Heavenly Court’s interests. In Lingxiao Palace, the Great Heavenly Venerable approved Chen Wei’s handling of the case and offered his seal to Chen Xiang and Chen Xiaochan, who chose it while Chen Xiang declined.

• Chen Wei revived Land God Li, who confessed that Lian Zhen Star Lord had ordered him to die in the Censorate and frame Chen Wei.
• Chen Wei explained that Land God Li’s absence mattered more than his testimony or the three hundred thousand merit points, and Land God Li died.
• Chen Xiang returned the Heavenly Dao Seal to the Great Heavenly Venerable, while Yang Chan acted innocent about taking it.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable approved Chen Wei’s use of the Loyal Martyr Star Lord appointment to silence the Constellations Faction and settle the merit-point matter.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable offered his seal to Chen Xiang and Chen Xiaochan; Chen Xiang declined, and Chen Xiaochan accepted it after letting her older brother choose first.

The Heavenly Court held a grand memorial for Li Xuantong, the land god posthumously named Loyal Martyr Star Lord. Chen Wei used the ceremony to unsettle the Lian Zhen Star Lord, and the chapter ended when Li Xuantong moved inside his coffin.

• The Great Heavenly Venerable named Li Xuantong Loyal Martyr Star Lord and ordered a memorial service at the Discipline Inspection Court.
• Representatives from across the Heavenly Court and the Netherworld attended, while the South Dipper Star Lord and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions arrived as rival factions.
• Chen Wei delivered a eulogy praising Li Xuantong and invited officials to offer condolences to his frightened disciple.
• The South Dipper Star Lord and other immortals assured Li Xuantong's disciple that the Lunar Mansions Government Office would support him.
• After the Lian Zhen Star Lord offered incense, Chen Wei loudly told him that Li Xuantong had admired him, making the star lord recoil nervously.
• Ma Muzhi cried out that Li Xuantong had moved inside the coffin, claiming that even in death he admired the Lian Zhen Star Lord who had him killed.

Chen Wei used Li Xuantong’s death to unsettle Lian Zhen Star and watched tensions erupt between the civil officials and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions. Ancient Buddha Randeng arrived before the factions could fight and praised Chen Wei, saying he had an affinity with the Western Paradise.

• Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi confronted Lian Zhen Star over Li Xuantong’s assassination, and Lian Zhen Star retreated after denying any wrongdoing.
• Kang Jinlong and Xin Yuehu mocked the Lunar Mansions Government Office, prompting the Star of Literary Excellence to insult the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions and ignite a confrontation between the civil and military constellations.
• Chen Wei held back from intervening while the South Dipper and Big Dipper Star Lords watched the escalating dispute.
• Ancient Buddha Randeng arrived at the Discipline Inspection Court, and both factions put away their weapons.
• The South Dipper and Big Dipper Star Lords welcomed Ancient Buddha Randeng ahead of Chen Wei, who restrained Ma Muzhi from objecting.
• Ancient Buddha Randeng praised Chen Wei’s composure and said he had an affinity with the Western Paradise.

Ancient Buddha Randeng’s chanting revealed Li Xuantong’s incense-offering merit body, giving South Dipper Star Lord a chance to accuse Chen Wei. Sun Wukong arrived, sealed Li Xuantong’s mouth, and confronted Big Dipper Star Lord as he threatened to appeal to the Great Heavenly Venerable.

• Chen Wei declined Ancient Buddha Randeng’s invitation to join the Western Paradise, and South Dipper Star Lord asked Randeng to chant for Li Xuantong.
• Randeng’s scriptures revealed a merit golden body formed from Li Xuantong’s incense offerings, and Li Xuantong begged Randeng for help before accusing Chen Wei.
• Sun Wukong arrived and sealed Li Xuantong’s mouth with a flash of golden light before he could state his grievance.
• Sun Wukong pretended not to know why Li Xuantong could not speak, while Chen Wei suggested Li was challenging the Great Heavenly Venerable’s decree.
• Big Dipper Star Lord threatened to take the matter to Lingxiao Palace, and Sun Wukong appeared before him and asked, “Discuss what?”

Sun Wukong invoked his title as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven to take control of the confrontation and free Li Xuantong from his seal. Li Xuantong named Lian Zhen Star, whom Sun Wukong seized and brought face-to-face with him as Chen Wei prepared to record their meeting.

• The Big Dipper Star Lord and South Dipper Star Lord backed away from confronting Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong shed his kasaya and asserted his authority as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, prompting the officials to salute him.
• Sun Wukong broke the seal on Li Xuantong’s golden body and asked him to name the source of his grievance.
• Li Xuantong named Lian Zhen Star, and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions called for him to come out.
• Sun Wukong seized Lian Zhen Star and brought him before Li Xuantong while Chen Wei told Ma Muzhi to prepare to record.

Li Xuantong accused Lian Zhen Star Lord of framing Ma Muzhi and hiding a three-hundred-thousand-year merit shortfall, but Lian Zhen Star Lord defended the funds as public expenses. Chen Wei challenged him to prove his innocence, leaving the Star Lords demanding an investigation.

• Sun Wukong urged Li Xuantong to explain how he had been wronged, and Li accused Lian Zhen Star Lord of ordering false testimony and concealing a three-hundred-thousand-year merit shortfall.
• Lian Zhen Star Lord denied the accusations and claimed the merit had paid for the stars’ operating wastage.
• Chen Wei prompted Ma Muzhi to explain that the supposed operating-wastage funds came from levies on Southern Jambudvipa, though Ma did not know where the merit actually went.
• Sun Wukong concluded that Lian Zhen Star Lord had collected merit under the guise of public business, while Li Xuantong agreed.
• Lian Zhen Star Lord challenged Li Xuantong to dissolve his merit-forged golden body to prove his innocence, and Ancient Buddha Randeng denied knowing where Li’s merit came from.
• Chen Wei challenged Lian Zhen Star Lord to prove his own innocence, and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions called for a soul search or an inspection of his treasury.

Chen Wei cornered Lian Zhen Star over the missing merit, but the Lunar Mansions officials and Ancient Buddha Randeng refused to protect him. After Lian Zhen admitted taking the merit and began to expose where the rest went, the Big Dipper Star Lord silenced him, while the South Dipper Star Lord and other officials pressured him to die before he could reveal more.

• Chen Wei demanded that Lian Zhen Star prove his innocence, while the Big Dipper Star Lord and South Dipper Star Lord withheld their support and Ancient Buddha Randeng declined to intervene.
• Lian Zhen Star confessed to taking one hundred thousand years of merit and began to say who received the remaining two hundred thousand.
• The Big Dipper Star Lord slapped Lian Zhen Star and accused him of embezzling the merit, cutting off his confession.
• The South Dipper Star Lord blamed himself for failing to discipline Lian Zhen Star while presenting him as a disgraced subordinate who had conspired against Lord Li.
• The Star of Literary Excellence and other civil-official Star Lords urged Lian Zhen Star to take his own life so the investigation would end without further disclosures.

Chen Wei watched the Southern Dipper and Big Dipper force Lian Zhen Star to confess to a string of crimes before they killed him, while Li Xuantong destroyed his own golden body to prove his innocence. The officials declared Li a loyal martyr, and Chen Wei sensed that the Star of Literary Excellence might soon face misfortune.

• Chen Wei realized the Southern Dipper and Big Dipper were trying to pin the Lunar Mansions Government Office's unresolved crimes on Lian Zhen Star, but the South Dipper Star Lord claimed the matter was an internal affair.
• The Southern Dipper and Big Dipper seized control of Lian Zhen Star's Dao Fruit and divine soul, coercing him into accepting every accusation.
• Lian Zhen Star offered to destroy his Dao Fruit, and the Southern Dipper and Big Dipper helped him turn to ash while Ancient Buddha Randeng blocked Sun Wukong from intervening.
• The Star of Literary Excellence challenged Li Xuantong to prove he had not embezzled incense offerings, and Li dispersed his golden body of merit to demonstrate his innocence.
• Chen Wei gathered Li Xuantong's scattered merit and called him an innocent loyal martyr, while the Star of Literary Excellence apologized and Chen Wei suspected misfortune awaited him.

After Lian Zhen Star’s death, the Lunar Mansions Government Office covered the missing merit and won approval to close the case. Its Star Lords gathered to perform the ordered self-reflection, using Lian Zhen Star’s memorial tablet to claim his possessions and property.

• Chen Wei called the Star of Literary Excellence as sly as a snake, provoking him into an angry defense of his scholarly dignity.
• The South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord submitted a case file saying Lian Zhen Star had embezzled merit and died from shame, while the office had covered the shortfall.
• The Six Imperial Sovereigns approved the case file and ordered the Lunar Mansions Government Office to conduct self-examination, self-reflection, and self-study.
• The South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord organized a solemn meeting where each registered Star Lord had to speak before Lian Zhen Star’s memorial tablet.
• The Star of Literary Excellence, Wuqu Star Lord, Greedy Wolf Star, Giant Gate Star, Prosperity Star, and Army-Breaking Star each used the ceremony to claim something belonging to Lian Zhen Star.

After Lian Zhen Star's death, South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord praised Star of Literary Excellence and gave him authority over Lian Zhen's duties and incense-offering territories. They subtly pushed him to confront Chen Wei, and Star of Literary Excellence eagerly accepted the challenge.

• South Dipper Star Lord asked Star of Literary Excellence to remain after the assembly, drawing envy from the other Star Lords and concern from Wu Qu Star.
• In the Inner Hall, South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord flattered Star of Literary Excellence and praised his actions against Lian Zhen Star.
• South Dipper Star Lord transferred authority over Lian Zhen's document allocation and incense-offering territories to Star of Literary Excellence.
• South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord warned Star of Literary Excellence not to provoke Chen Wei while hinting that someone should deal with him.
• Star of Literary Excellence dismissed their warnings, vowed to restore the office's dignity, and claimed he had a foolproof plan against Chen Wei.

The Star of Literary Excellence celebrated his new assignment while ignoring Wu Qu Star’s warning that Chen Wei’s situation was dangerous. Meanwhile, the Great Heavenly Venerable took Chen Wei, Yang Chan, Chen Xiang, and Chen Xiaochan on a walk, where the children debated the heavenly laws and family rules.

• The Star of Literary Excellence told Wu Qu Star that the Star Lord had entrusted him with overseeing matters and dismissed Wu Qu Star’s warnings about Chen Wei.
• The Star of Literary Excellence spoke of rising to the top of the Heavenly Court, while Wu Qu Star noticed tribulation aura above his friend.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable led Chen Wei, Yang Chan, Chen Xiang, Chen Xiaochan, and Taibai Jinxing along the Cloud Road.
• Chen Xiang stepped on an immortal crane, then argued that the heavenly laws were his maternal great-uncle’s rules and could be treated as family rules.
• Chen Xiaochan rebuked Chen Xiang for making light of the laws, and the Great Heavenly Venerable explained that family could relax behind closed doors but had to set an example outside.

Chen Wei brought Chen Xiang and Chen Xiaochan to the end of the Cloud Road, where the Great Heavenly Venerable asked them who was strongest in the Three Realms. Chen Xiaochan named the Great Heavenly Venerable, leaving him amused and Chen Wei and his wife impressed by their daughter’s tact.

• Chen Wei reflected on Chen Xiang’s mischievous nature and Chen Xiaochan’s cautious, diplomatic temperament as they reached the end of the Cloud Road.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable asked Chen Xiang who had the strongest spells, cultivation, and martial arts, and Chen Xiang named Yang Jian and Sun Wukong.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable asked Chen Xiang to choose between Yang Jian and Sun Wukong, but Chen Xiang could not decide.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable asked Chen Xiaochan who was strongest, and she declared that he was the strongest in the Three Realms.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable laughed at Chen Xiaochan’s answer, while Chen Wei and his wife recognized her tact and Chen Xiang doubted her claim.
• Chen Xiang ran after the immortal cranes, and Chen Wei called him back to the residence.

The Star of Literary Excellence enjoyed his new power but worried that the seventy-two territories could not meet the tripled merit quotas he had promised Southern Dipper and Big Dipper. Li Zhenji offered to solve the problem within ten days and received full authority to act.

• The Star of Literary Excellence basked in praise from the Lunar Mansions Government Office officials and appointed Li Zhenji to attend him.
• After dismissing the officials, the Star of Literary Excellence revealed that the struggling territories could not meet their increased merit quotas.
• Li Zhenji recognized the Star of Literary Excellence’s worry and proposed that the Heavenly Court cared about the merit collected, not how it was obtained.
• Li Zhenji promised to bring good news within ten days, and the Star of Literary Excellence entrusted the matter to him.